Notes of Faith May 11, 2023

Notes of Faith May 11, 2023

Run Toward the Roar

One of the great privileges of parenting, grandparenting, and being an auntie or uncle is sharing your faith with little ones. A great way to do that is to read devotions together and pull out the Bible! Devotionals for kids are some of our most popular! Enjoy this one and share with your favorite kids.

I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’ — Isaiah 41:13 NCV

When you hear the word lion, you might think of a big, fuzzy mane or super-sharp claws. Then, of course, there’s that whole “king of the jungle” thing. But chances are, the first thing you’ll think of is its roar.

A lion’s roar is big and loud and really scary. Especially if you happen to be a cute little gazelle trotting across the African plains. Just hearing that sound will send a gazelle running as far away from the roar as possible. Which is the worst thing it could do!

Why? Because that roaring lion isn’t where the most danger is. The real hunters are the lionesses, hiding in the tall grass behind the gazelle. You see, the lion’s job is to creep out in front of the gazelle and ROOAARR! — making it turn around and run right into the middle of all those lionesses. Gulp!

As crazy as it sounds, the safest thing for the gazelle is to run toward the roar.

That’s true for you too. When you run from the things that scare you — like trying something new, standing up for what’s right, or telling someone about God — you actually move closer to the danger. That’s because you’re moving closer to what the devil wants you to do and farther away from what God wants you to do.

Facing your fears is the best thing to do.

And guess what! You’re not some cute little gazelle surrounded by lions and lionesses. You’re a child of God, and you’re always surrounded by Him. He’ll help you face your fears. Trust Him. Be brave. And run toward the roar!

GET READY TO ROAR!

Is something roaring in your life right now? Something you’re afraid to do? Maybe it’s trying out for the team, singing a solo, or inviting a friend to church. Or maybe it’s standing up to that older kid and telling him to leave the little kids on the bus alone. What’s the first step you could take to run toward the roar? Talk to God about it, and then run.

Dear God, when fear is roaring at me, please give me the courage to run toward the roar. Amen.

Facing your fears is the best thing to do.

CRAZY FEAR

I asked the Lord for help, and He answered me. He saved me from all that I feared. — Psalm 34:4 ICB

Some fears are perfectly logical. For example, if you take a step outside and see a giant, growling grizzly bear charging down the street and headed straight for you, it makes sense to be afraid. You might wonder how this huge, hairy beast happened to be on your street, but being afraid of it would be perfectly reasonable.

Other fears aren’t so logical. Like me and spiders. I hate those guys. In my head, I know I’m like a zillion times bigger than they are. I could squish one with my little toe — covered in a massive steel-toed boot, of course. But when I see a spider, all I can think about are those eight creepy little legs crawling up my arm. I know my fear is crazy, but if I see a spider, I’m outta here. And don’t get me started on snakes!

Maybe you have a crazy fear too. Maybe it’s a fear of numbers — which, by the way, is called arithmophobia. Or maybe it’s just the number eight — octophobia. Maybe you’re afraid of heights or speaking in front of people. Just because your fear seems crazy doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid.

But don’t let fear keep you from experiencing everything God has planned for you. Sure, there may be spiders in that cabin, but I’m not missing that camping trip. Don’t you miss out either — on riding the tallest roller-coaster ride, telling people about Jesus, or even visiting the octopus exhibit at the zoo. Give your fears — crazy or not — to God, and He’ll help you be brave.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some people aren’t just reasonably scared of bears; they are terrified of all kinds of bears. This fear is called arkoudaphobia.

I have no idea how to pronounce it, but I do know it means a fear of all kinds of bears — whether they’re angry grizzly bears, wandering black bears, or cute and cuddly panda bears. It even describes people who are afraid of teddy bears!

Lord, I don't want my fears — real or crazy — to keep me from all You have planned for me. I will trust You to help me be brave. Amen.

Excerpted from Roar Like a Lion by Levi Lusko, copyright Levi Lusko.

Ps 111:9

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

This is the only fear that makes sense to me. It is righteous and true and leads to abundant and eternal life. All other fear that I experience take away from life and cause all sorts of suffering. May we leave all of our fear with the Lord and trust His love to care for us in every circumstance, especially those that cause fear in our heart and mind.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 10, 2023

Notes of Faith May 10, 2023

We Travel to a World Unseen

Article by Greg Morse

Staff writer, desiringGod.org

When I talk with modern men who dismiss God without a second to even consider him, I cannot help hearing a herd of cows mooing upon a hillside. These scientifically minded men (they claim) live to stare at the patch of grass in front of them and call the scheme real life. That is all they can prove exists, after all. They can feel the field under hoof, chew the cud in their mouths, feel the rain upon their backs — these are objective realities.

They show no interest in anything beyond their immediate experiences and senses.

Sure, crows may bring them tales of mighty birds exploring worlds above the clouds, or rumors of far-off sea kingdoms and mythical beasts buried in water, or even of goats prancing upon mighty rock hilltops in the skies — but they see no towering mountains, nor swelling oceans, nor lofty heights — nothing to even suggest such a possibility. Foul tales from fowls is all; ravens raving ill dreams. Cows who live to watch the skies have more than sun dropped in their eyes.

Myths and stories, like viral diseases, infect some in their farm society, but not them. Some hoot and chirp and baa of worlds elsewhere. But claiming to be wise, they always knew some chickens are a few eggs short of a dozen; some pigs hit their heads rolling in mud; some horses will remain unbridled. Truth be told, if these dreamers did not bring ethical claims with their feverish imaginations, they might deserve pity. Who wouldn’t mind worlds beyond this? But reality, they’ve come to know, is less enchanted. These hills and gates and patches of mud are all that have been or will be.

Foundation of Reality

We live increasingly in a culture of cows. These do not need to cling to children’s tales or superstitions. They know the world is not flat. Science and reason solve mysteries formerly left to religion. Now we have morphine and highways and YouTube. As David Wells stated of our modern world, “The hand that gives so generously in the material realm also takes away devastatingly in the spiritual” (No Place for Truth, 56). What spiritual realm? many even ask.

But such questions are nothing new. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” wrote the ancient poet (Psalm 14:1). They cannot tell us who or why man is or how he got to this hill — but here he is and here he remains. Nothing lies above or beyond his existence on this patch of earth. He has bravely looked the situation in the face and contents himself to live head down, grazing this world for all it’s worth, unbothered by distant horizons. Out of sight, out of existence.

Christians know better. We understand that the physical realm — full of bones, flesh, trees, stones — is derivative of the spiritual. It must be so, for the God who created the physical is spirit (John 4:24). His immaterial speech created the material world; the invisible begot the visible. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

But we must ask how much of this secular spirit we have unknowingly adopted. Here is probably the most important question you will be asked today: What is most real to you — this world or the next? What holds greater reality — the seen or the unseen? What is more ultimate — this physical realm or the spiritual?

“Can your life be explained apart from faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ?”

You don’t necessarily need to tell us; your life answers well enough. Where do you spend your attention, energy, affections, time, talents? Can your life be explained apart from faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ?

This can be a Copernican revolution, or a caution and reminder, if you accept it: The invisible world — the unseen, untouched, unmeasured — is most substantial, most enduring, most real. The immaterial world does not orbit our physical realm; the physical orbits the immaterial. Theirs is the unyielding reality; we inhabit silhouettes and shadows.

People Who Saw the Invisible

Faith, in other words, tells us that the world is turned upside down, flipped inside out. Faith does not regard the physical as unreal or unvaluable simply because it is physical — what the apostles saw with their eyes and touched with their hands is paramount to their witness to Christ (1 John 1:1). But faith sees beyond to the unseen. It demotes this world — its values, its dictates, its desires — in preference for the world to come. And it waits for this current physical world to be remade into that place where spiritual and physical perfectly abide: the coming New Heavens and New Earth.

Our spiritual forefathers — though without flushable toilets and supercomputers — knew to give precedence to the just-out-of-view, and wagered their very lives upon it. The history of the saints in Hebrews 11 shows the contrast of sights.

They were convinced of things they hoped for, were assured of things they could not yet see (Hebrews 11:1). Noah, for example, spent decades building a boat on dry land, preparing for the unseen flood. Abraham looked upon the only home he knew, turned his back, and wandered into the unknown to live in tents. He and Sarah then eyed wrinkled skin and aged bodies and waited to see children more numerous than the stars. Moses gazed at the shackles and the scarred backs of the Israelites and chose these over the gold coins, luxuries, and lush pleasures of Pharoah’s house — “for he looked to the reward” and “endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:26–27).

Others gazed past beatings and mockings and jail cells and death in this world to see a resurrection to a higher life (Hebrews 11:35–36). Salvation from their God was more real than swords of the enemy; conviction about the Christ felt more solid than their chains. They were those of whom this world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:37–39).

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised,” the writer admits. But notice their vision: “Having seen them and greeted them from afar,” they “acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Their hearts smiled as they bowed into the grave because they saw promises coming. Promises more powerful than death. They declared plainly that they sought the life over the hill, their distant homeland (Hebrews 11:14). And their God did not disappoint, and will not disappoint them, when they awake in the better country they longed for, a city built by God, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:14, 16). Do you see as they did?

This World, a Dream

This passing world is the phantom, the shadow. While great things are gained or lost in its short span, this age will soon break upon eternity as a tiny bubble against the rock shore. This life, so fragile, so fleeting. “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4). The wind passes over us, and we are gone (Psalm 103:16). Only a few more sunsets, a couple more nights of sorrow, a handful more days of laughter, and you will be gone. To chase this world and all its pleasures is to chase nothing but the wind.

“This age will soon break upon eternity as a tiny bubble against the rock shore.”

What is coming, what is near, what is not yet seen with physical eyes is most real. Light and momentary were Paul’s calculations of all his heaviest sorrows compared to the nearing “eternal weight of glory” for Christ’s people (2 Corinthians 4:17). He saw as we must see: “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

So what now? Henry Scougal paints it perfectly when he writes in a letter to his friend,

We must therefore endeavor to stir our minds towards serious belief and firm persuasion of divine truths and the deeper sense and awareness of spiritual things. Our thoughts must dwell on divine truths until we are both convinced of them and deeply affected by them. Let us urge ourselves forward to approach the invisible world and fix our minds on immaterial things till we clearly understand that they are not dreams. No, indeed; it is everything else that is a dream or a shadow. (150)

Indeed; it is everything else that is a dream or a shadow.

So turn off the screen and gaze — and keep gazing — up at the heavens, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1–2). Despise the tantalizing trivialities, and keep your heart fixed on the next world — its glories, and foremost, its God. Wipe the crust of materialism from your eyes, wake from the sedative of worldliness, rise from slumber in this Enchanted Ground and look at Christ by faith until you see him more clearly than as trees walking. Spend your life exploring the mountains of glory summed up: “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

“Though you have not seen him,” Peter wrote to the early church, “you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9).

Beloved, we travel to a world unseen, a place to make this all a dream.

The things of earth that we experience are but a shadow of things in the glory of heaven.

1 Cor 2:9

no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love Him.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 9, 2023

Notes of Faith May 9, 2023

You Can Trust God When You Don’t Understand

Breathe Deep and Know: The way of God may not always make sense to you, but you can trust Him without fear.

At the root of my fear is a lack of trust in the heart of God.

When the story of my life isn’t unfolding the way I thought it would, when a season of suffering lingers longer than I think I can bear, when the news is too bad and bills are too high and tasks are too hard and the pain is too much — when everything looks lost and nothing seems right — it can be hard to see or understand the heart of God. And it’s difficult to trust what we don’t understand.

But His ways are not at all like ours. There is always more happening than we can see.

Just look at Jesus: the Hope of the world born in the form of a vulnerable infant, the way of salvation forged through significant suffering. What looked like utter death and defeat on the cross was really the way to ultimate life and salvation. What looked like the end was really the beginning of all things being made new.

So that hard thing we don’t understand? That pain we fear may break us? It may turn out to be the tool for our rescue. The storm that threatens to drown us may actually be the path to freedom. When we shift the way we see our suffering and trust the heart of God, we can let go of fear and be filled with peace because we know that He is working even if we don’t understand.

See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. — Isaiah 12:2

Inhale… You are my salvation.

Exhale… I will trust You and not be afraid.

Excerpted from Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker, copyright Jennifer Tucker.

Perspective is a wonderful thing, yet we often do not consider any other than the first thing that comes to mind. Even during the worst times of suffering we must stand firm in what we know to be true about God. His perspective is perfect and ours is not, therefore, let us trust in Him to work all things together for good, to those who are called according to His purpose! Though we may go through tough times … Everything is Going to Be Okay. EGBOK! Believe. Trust. Praise God.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 8, 2023

Notes of Faith May 8, 2023

Why Does God Allow Mental Illness?

And what is the purpose of suffering?

I once worked with a man who started limping around the office one day. He had tripped during a recent half-marathon and thought his ankle was just taking longer than usual to recover. But then he started to trip when walking down the hallway and couldn’t keep his balance when leaning over the fountain for a drink of water. One time he walked into my office to deliver a letter and fell forward as if he’d been shoved hard from behind. He was flustered and embarrassed, and I felt awful for him. Within months he had his diagnosis.

ALS.

For the next nine months he trekked into work while the disease went about its nasty work inside his body. It wasn’t long before he needed a walker to get a drink from the water fountain. In less than one year’s time, he went from running half marathons to moving as slowly and robotically as any person I’ve ever seen. It was devastating to watch. What must it have been like to live through?

Soon thereafter, at barely forty years old, he was forced to retire. The week he left the office for the last time, one of my colleagues observed that this man was now “going home to face his cross.” Everyone in the room gave solemn nods of agreement. I just stood there thinking, This is so unfair.

And it was. And it is.

He died a short time later.

I hand-fed him a meal a few weeks before his death, and I have never seen a more ravaging disease in my life. The kind of physical suffering this man endured was beyond my comprehension. I wouldn’t wish this form of death on my worst enemy.

You know other stories like this one. Perhaps you’ve even lived one or are living one right now. On average, twenty-five thousand people die of starvation each day.1 Are you kidding me? A client of mine is currently facing charges of aggravated assault. If she receives time in prison, she’s decided she’d rather die by suicide than face imprisonment. Please, no.

Why is this the world we live in?

The best answer I can find is the one revealed in the first pages of Genesis when God created humans and made them distinct from other creatures in a very particular manner: He gave us freedom.

God told Adam and Eve that they could have their run of the garden of Eden. They had total dominion over the land and could do as they saw fit with only one exception: They were not to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But you know the story. They did just that, demonstrating in that moment what has been and remains true for all of humanity: we have the freedom to choose what we do in this life.

God, apparently, loves freedom.

And since God created humanity in His own image, it must necessarily be the case that we, too, are free and designed to love and explore our freedom. Unlike the beasts of the earth who operate by instinct, we humans can choose to resist our instincts and make decisions by using more complex moral constructs, like right and wrong, to make decisions. If we were unable to veer away from good, we would not be truly free.

Could God have set this whole affair up differently? Of course. God is God, and God can do whatever God wants to do. But this is what God has done. This is the world we live in, and this is the world we must learn to make sense of if we are to find some semblance of peace within the suffering.

But what about mental illness when there is no choice involved? I can understand that God did not will Hitler to murder millions of Jewish people but rather that Hitler and others like him were the cause of that immeasurable suffering. But what about brain abnormalities that cause perfectly kind people to believe the trees in the park are trying to eat them? And what about mothers who give birth to their children and want nothing more than to hold and care for them but are stricken so hard by postpartum depression they must be readmitted to the hospital and kept away from the babies they just carried for nine months?

How does God’s love for freedom help us to make sense of this kind of suffering?

Again, I wish I had a better answer for you, but the best I can find also comes from Genesis.

From the moment Adam and Eve made the decision to stray away from God’s intentional plans for life on earth, nothing has been the same. And this includes our bodies and the illnesses that plague them. I want to be careful here. I am not suggesting that illnesses are God’s way of punishing humans but that they are simply another reality of our living in a fallen world. Mental illness is not the fault of any one individual but rather a disappointing reality for what it means to live life on this earth. Should I say it again, just in case?

Mental illness is not a punishment. It is just one of the gnarly waves of suffering we humans ride in this thing called life.

He was willing to crawl into the deepest pit of suffering known to humanity so all of humanity might know there is no darkness into which He will not give chase.

To accept this mindset requires a certain deference and humility toward God, for it could be easy to stamp our feet and demand that it ought not to be so. We want to say, God should have done this! God should have done that! God should have done better! But then, where would that get us? As Job learned, we are not God. And we cannot undo what God has already done. This brand of humility is exemplified quite beautifully in the words from a survivor of Auschwitz:

It never occurred to me to question God’s doing or lack of doings while I was an inmate at Auschwitz, although of course, I understand others did… I was no less or no more religious because of what the Nazis did to us; and I believe my faith in God was not undermined in the least. It just never occurred to me to associate the calamity we were experiencing with God, to blame Him, or to believe in Him less or to cease believing in Him at all because He didn’t come to our aid.

God doesn’t owe us that. Or anything. We owe our lives to Him. If someone believes God is responsible for the death of six million because He didn’t somehow do something to save them, he’s got his thinking reversed. We owe God our lives for the few or many years we live, and we have the duty to worship Him and do all that He commands us. That’s what we’re here on this earth for, to be in God’s service, to do God’s bidding.2

There is something to this. It is hard to swallow, for sure, but there is a deep truth in these words. If our purpose in life is to journey back to God and become fully human along the way, then, yes, we must oppose suffering at every opportunity; but to find ourselves stuck in an existential crisis over the nature of this existence is to miss the boat entirely. The point, as a Christian, is not to eradicate all suffering or even overcome suffering but to endure it faithfully and ease it in people and places when we are able to do so, as Jesus did. All of this makes it a little easier for me to swallow the reality of mental illness.

I think.

I hope.

What helps the most, however, is the image of Jesus Christ on the cross. The truth is that I’m not sure I could worship a God who hadn’t tasted the bitterness of the kind of suffering we humans experience on a daily basis, especially those of us who suffer in the mind.

But when I look at the cross, I see a God so intent on loving and living with His people that He was willing to crawl into the deepest pit of suffering known to humanity so all of humanity might know there is no darkness into which He will not give chase.

During one of my particularly brutal battles with depression and misuse of alcohol, I went away for in-patient rehab in California. As you can imagine, when I first got there, I was in a very dark place. I had not only hurt a lot of people on my way there, but being there now meant I had left my wife at home to care for our two sons alone while also fielding countless calls from friends and onlookers who were wanting to know what was going on with me. Why had Ryan suddenly disappeared? The guilt I felt was so overwhelming, I was all but certain it would take me under.

On one of the worst nights during treatment, I hid away in my room and read from Elie Wiesel’s book Night. I had always wanted to read this book but had never taken the time to do so. Going to rehab has its perks, I suppose. Anyway, once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. One of the passages that wedged into my heart that night, which I have never forgotten, was about a young boy who was hanged in Wiesel’s concentration camp. Because the child was so small and light, he did not die immediately when the SS tipped over his chair but instead suffered for more than half an hour. “Where is merciful God, where is He?” someone asked who was standing behind Wiesel in the crowd of onlookers. “For God’s sake, where is God?” And Wiesel wrote that, from within him, he heard a voice answer: “Where is He? This is where—hanging here from this gallows.”3

That passage helped me understand that God doesn’t stop every panic attack, nor does He stay the finger on the trigger of a barrel pointed in one’s own mouth. He doesn’t prevent the brain from sloshing into dementia, nor does He protect children from a father who promises to come home early but stays at the bar all night instead. He doesn’t stop these things. What He does, I believe, is experience them with us.

He rides out the panic attack, feeling its uncontrolled bursts of adrenaline, and His hands shake as the suicidal person quakes with fear and hatred and utter despair. He comes alongside the disappointed boy, who only wished to see his father for a few moments before bedtime.

He does not take this pain away. What He does is envelope Himself in it and whisper:

Me too.

Me too.

Me too.

1.John Holmes, “Losing 25,000 to Hunger Every Day,” UN Chronicle 45, no. 2 & 3 (April 2008), https://unchronicle.un.org/article/losing-25000-hunger-every-day.

2. Reeve Robert Brenner, The Faith and Doubt of Holocaust Survivors (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2014), 102.

3. Elie Wiesel, Night (New York: Hill and Wang, 2012).

Excerpted from Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About by Ryan Casey Waller, copyright Ryan Casey Waller.

We all have issues of life caused by sin…not our nature to sin, but because sin exists there is death and all things that lead to death. Suffering through these things is indeed a part of life, yet only those in Christ can truly understand His suffering, His love, His being with you and going through whatever you are going through. Suffering is hard. Seeing someone else suffer is hard if you have the heart of Christ and share empathy with the one suffering. Let us pray fervently for the suffering of the world because of sin. May we be used to draw people to Jesus, who can and will heal them, if they would believe in Him. Only God can save, heal, redeem, transform, glorify…let us all seek the truth that is found only in Jesus Christ!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 7, 2023

Notes of Faith May 7, 2023

Anxious for Nothing: Cling to Christ

The phrase “fruitless and fret filled” describes too many of us.

We don’t want it to. We long to follow Paul’s admonition:

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. — Philipians 4:8 NLT

With a grimace and fresh resolve, we determine, Today I will think only true, honorable, and right thoughts… even if it kills me.

Paul’s call to peace can become a list of requirements: every thought must be true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Gulp. Who can do this?

Confession: I find the list difficult to keep. Heaven knows, I’ve tried. A random idea will pop into my head, and I’ll pass it through the passage. Was it true, honorable, pure… What’s next? I have trouble remembering the eight virtues, much less remembering to filter my thoughts through them. Maybe the list works for you. If so, skip this chapter. If not, there is a simpler way.

Make it your aim to cling to Christ. Abide in him.

Is He not true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise? Is this not the invitation of His message in the vineyard?

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

— John 15:4-10 NASB

Jesus’ allegory is simple. God is like a vine keeper. He lives and loves to coax the best out of His vines. He pampers, prunes, blesses, and cuts. His aim is singular: “What can I do to prompt produce?” God is a capable orchardist who carefully superintends the vineyard.

And Jesus plays the role of the vine. We non-gardeners might confuse the vine and the branch. To see the vine, lower your gaze from the stringy, winding branches to the thick base below. The vine is the root and trunk of the plant. It cables nutrients from the soil to the branches. Jesus makes the stunning claim, “I am the real root of life.” If anything good comes into our lives, He is the conduit.

And who are we? We are the branches. We bear fruit:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

— Galatians 5:22 NASB

We meditate on what is “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable… excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). Our gentleness is evident to all. We bask in the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NIV).

And as we cling to Christ, God is honored.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. — John 15:8 NASB

The Father tends. Jesus nourishes. We receive, and grapes appear. Passersby, stunned at the overflowing baskets of love, grace, and peace, can’t help but ask, “Who runs this vineyard?” And God is honored. For this reason fruit bearing matters to God.

And it matters to you! You grow weary of unrest. You’re ready to be done with sleepless nights. You long to be “anxious for nothing.” You long for the fruit of the Spirit. But how do you bear this fruit? Try harder? No, hang tighter. Our assignment is not fruitfulness but faithfulness.

The secret to fruit bearing and anxiety-free living is less about doing and more about abiding.

Lest we miss this point, Jesus employs the word abide(s) ten times in seven verses:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me… he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit… If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up… If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you… abide in My love... abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. — John 15:4-10 NASB

“Come, live in Me!” Jesus invites. “Make My home your home.” Odds are that you know what it means to be at home somewhere.

To be at home is to feel safe. The residence is a place of refuge and security.

To be at home is to be comfortable. You can pad around wearing slippers and a robe.

To be at home is to be familiar. When you enter the door, you needn’t consult the blueprint to find the kitchen.

Make it your aim to cling to Christ. Abide in him.

Our aim — our only aim — is to be at home in Christ. He is not a roadside park or hotel room. He is our permanent mailing address. Christ is our home. He is our place of refuge and security. We are comfortable in His presence, free to be our authentic selves. We know our way around in Him. We know His heart and His ways.

We rest in Him, find our nourishment in Him. His roof of grace protects us from storms of guilt. His walls of providence secure us from destructive winds. His fireplace warms us during the lonely winters of life. We linger in the abode of Christ and never leave.

The branch never releases the vine. Ever! Does a branch show up on Sundays for its once-a-week meal? Only at the risk of death. The healthy branch never releases the vine, because there it receives nutrients twenty-four hours a day.

If branches had seminars, the topic would be “Secrets of Vine Grabbing.” But branches don’t have seminars, because to attend them they would have to release the vine — something they refuse to do. The dominant duty of the branch is to cling to the vine.

The dominant duty of the disciple is the same.

We Christians tend to miss this. We banter about pledges to “change the world,” “make a difference for Christ,” “lead people to the Lord.” Yet these are by-products of the Christ-focused life. Our goal is not to bear fruit. Our goal is to stay attached.

Maybe this image will help. When a father leads his four-year-old son down a crowded street, he takes him by the hand and says, “Hold on to me.” He doesn’t say, “Memorize the map” or “Take your chances dodging the traffic” or “Let’s see if you can find your way home.” The good father gives the child one responsibility: “Hold on to my hand.”

God does the same with us. Don’t load yourself down with lists. Don’t enhance your anxiety with the fear of not fulfilling them. Your goal is not to know every detail of the future. Your goal is to hold the hand of the One who does and never, ever let go.

*

Jesus taught us to do the same. He tells us, rather bluntly,

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. — Matthew 6:25

He then gives two commands: “look” and “consider.” He tells us to

look at the birds of the air. — Matthew 6:26

When we do, we notice how happy they seem to be. They aren’t frowning, cranky, or grumpy. They don’t appear sleep deprived or lonely. They sing, whistle, and soar. Yet

they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. — Matthew 6:26

They don’t drive tractors or harvest wheat, yet Jesus asks us, do they appear well cared for?

He then turns our attention to the flowers of the field.

Consider the lilies. — Matthew 6:28

By the same token, they don’t do anything. Even though their life span is short, God dresses them up for red-carpet appearances. Even Solomon, the richest king in history, “was not arrayed like one of these” (v. 29).

How do we disarm anxiety? Stockpile our minds with God thoughts. Draw the logical implication: if birds and flowers fall under the category of God’s care, won’t He care for us as well? Saturate your heart with the goodness of God.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. — Colossians 3:2

How might you do this? A friend recently described to me her daily ninety-minute commute. “Ninety minutes!” I commiserated. “Don’t feel sorry for me.” She smiled. “I use the trip to think about God.” She went on to describe how she fills the hour and a half with worship and sermons. She listens to entire books of the Bible. She recites prayers. By the time she reaches her place of employment, she is ready for the day. “I turn my commute into my chapel.”

Do something similar. Is there a block of time you can claim for God? Perhaps you could turn off the network news and open your Bible. Set the alarm fifteen minutes earlier. Or rather than watch the TV comedian as you fall asleep, listen to an audio version of a Christian book.

If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. — John 8:31-32 ESV

Free from fear. Free from dread. And, yes, free from anxiety.

Excerpted from Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Being anxious for nothing is difficult. But if we truly believe in God, that God is in control of everything, that He is working out His plan for His creation… then we can be anxious for nothing. It does not mean that we are apathetic and do nothing in a world that claims evil is good and good is evil. It does not mean that we sit on the sidelines and watch the world go by. No! The faith that God has given us provides boldness to stand for truth, to defend the truth of God and His word against the lies of Satan that are being propagated each and every day. Reading the Word of God should give you clarity that we are in the last days of the last days before Jesus returns. No, we are not in the seven-year Tribulation. The bride of Christ will be resurrected and taken to be with Him before that time. But we are seeing the signs preparing us for those days. We are close. The world is moving in the direction of a one-world society, government, military, economy, and religion. You cannot miss the signs. But have no fear! Do not be anxious! Jesus has defeated Satan and his lies. Jesus has conquered death. Jesus is coming again to reclaim what He created and belongs to Him! Stand firm in Jesus. Believe and trust in Him. Believing in Him and His death and resurrection, paying for your sin and rebellion against God, you have been offered salvation and eternal life. Do you truly believe? Not that Jesus existed, lived a real life, and then died. Do you place your faith, your existence in Jesus, who is God. Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus! Therefore, be anxious for nothing! In the world, you will experience tribulation, but take courage, I (Jesus) have overcome the world!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 6, 2023

Notes of Faith May 6, 2023

Embracing the Lifestyle

You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.

— 2 Timothy 4:3-4 The Message

Horse ownership means that we are making a commitment to a horse — and that we are willing to accept the lifestyle change that comes with it. Nothing says unconditional love like leaving your warm house to feed horses when it’s fifteen degrees below zero outside. Once we commit to ownership, even in trying times, there are many joys and benefits that come with it.

Some people want the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ but not the accompanying lifestyle change. Yet we must ask ourselves if we’re on a truth quest or a happiness quest. We can always find a person, web page, or even a church that will promote lies — spiritual junk food — that sound good but lack the whole truth of the Bible.

By accepting the lifestyle change that comes with the love of Jesus, we can receive the full benefit of having a relationship with Him.

When it comes to a horse lifestyle, you know you’re growing when it becomes second nature to clean out the stall, brush and feed your horse daily, and ride as often as you can.

When it comes to our spiritual lives, growing in truth means tapping into God’s faith-building resources: having a daily quiet time, reading devotionals, and engaging in spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, church, and sharing our faith. Personally connecting with God on a daily basis is essential to the life of every believer. God’s Word is alive and active, and it will change our lives.

Truth isn’t always easy to hear, but by accepting the lifestyle change that comes with the love of Jesus, we can receive the full benefit of having a relationship with Him.

Lord, help me to avoid spiritual junk food. I want the solid food of Your truth, amen.

Excerpted from Unbridled Faith by Cara Whitney, copyright Cara Whitney

Obedience is the word described but left out here. Repentance (turning from our sin), and obedience (following Jesus in all things), is required of true faith. How is your faith? Are you a true believer? Remember, you are what you eat! Don’t eat spiritual junk food and THINK you are a Christian. You will be in for a rude eternal awakening. Feed on the words that provide eternal life even now!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 5, 2023

Notes of Faith May 5, 2023

A Word to the Church

If we really believe the good news is to

heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, [and] pardon all prisoners — Isaiah 61:1 The Message,

those of us in the church had better start talking about what people are really going through and find ways to meet them there. We need to show them the acceptance God shows to us. We must normalize the battles of depression so those who suffer from it will be willing to turn to us for help, comfort, and community.

Satan has done a masterful job of shaming us for how we feel and what we do. But when we don’t deal with things in our lives, we fall into a continuous cycle of defeat. To make matters worse, we live in a culture that stigmatizes certain types of brokenness more than others. Sadly, this is true even in the church. Whether we realize it or not, Christians often encourage people to keep hiding because of our subtle, and not so subtle, attitudes and actions toward them. Too often, we heap shame on those who are struggling rather than help them come out of their caves and into the light.

The truth is, our whole world is a fallen, broken mess — not without hope, but messy all the same.

We are all broken in different ways. No particular shape of brokenness is worse or better than any other.

When I see the remains of houses still standing after a tornado, I don’t compare the broken windows of one house to another and think, that one is broken more severely than this other one. No! Shattered windows, like shattered lives, are all simply in need of repair.

Part of offering real help to those we care about who are suffering from depression requires looking at the “logs” in our own life rather than judging the “specks” we see in the lives of others (Matthew 7:5). We’ve got to stop stigmatizing brokenness and demonizing fallenness. God helps each of us with whatever shape our fallenness takes.

One of the simplest ways we can begin to extend compassion and acceptance to those struggling with depression is to choose our words with care. However well-meaning we might be, some words do more harm than good, and we need to stop saying them. As a starting point, here’s a list of ten things not to say.

What Won’t Help Someone Struggling with Depression

Trying harder: “Come on, now, you can snap out of this! Just try a little harder and I’m sure you’ll feel better in no time.”

Disbelieving: “You suffer depression? But you’re always smiling and seem so positive and upbeat! How can you be depressed?”

Over-spiritualizing: “What does your quiet time look like right now? Maybe you aren’t spending enough time reading the Bible. Maybe you should wake up earlier and pray more.”

Deflecting: “But you have so much to be thankful for! Just look at all the blessings in your life.”

Minimizing: “Well, I’m sure you feel bad, but honestly, it could be so much worse. Did I ever tell you about the time…?”

Criticizing: “If you weren’t so hard on yourself, I bet you would feel a lot better. Just try to relax, okay? Don’t be such a perfectionist all the time.”

Comparing: “I know it’s hard for you right now, but have you thought about what it must be like for people suffering bigger losses? Maybe you just need to consider helping others instead of focusing on yourself so much.”

Dismissing: “This too shall pass. You’ll get over it — I know you will! Just give it a little time.”

Redirecting: “Wow, I wish I had your problems. That’s nothing compared to what I’ve been going through. Have I ever told you about…?”

Reducing: “You just need to get out of your head and quit thinking about stuff so much. Lighten up!”

No one wants to hear these responses when they’re depressed and anxious. When you say something to someone you care about that implicitly or explicitly conveys, “You don’t have to be that way,” they will resent you. If you’ve ever had others say something similar when you’re struggling, you know how insensitive such words can be. The speakers might mean well, but their words only leave us feeling more isolated, more alone, more detached.

When we’re not okay, we need others who are willing to come alongside us. We need people who will use their words to shine God’s love into the darkness of our cave.

God is calling you out of your cave.

So what should you say to someone experiencing depression? How can you help them see a glimmer of God’s light while they’re still deep in the darkness of their cave? Basically, the rule is to say the same things you want to hear when you are struggling! Here are ten suggestions for how you can use your words to bring light to someone in the darkness of depression.

What Will Help Someone Struggling with Depression

Committing: “I’m here to sit with you wherever you are right now. I’ll listen and be with you no matter what you’re facing.”

Connecting: “No matter how alone you feel, I care about you. I want you to know you’re not alone.”

Accepting: “I care about you and what’s going on in your life. Don’t hold back. I’m here for you no matter what.”

Encouraging: “God loves you right where you are, and I know He loves you too much to let you stay there. Trust Him. He is working in you, even if you don’t see it.”

Listening: “If you can, please tell me what it feels like. I want to listen and understand more of what this is like for you.”

Being trustworthy: “I’d like to know what’s going on, and I promise to keep it confidential. You can trust me if you need someone to confide in. I’m not here to judge you but to show you I care about you.”

Supporting: “We’re going to get through this, together.”

Helping: “Can I do something practical for you that might be helpful to you right now — clean your house or cook some meals?”

Giving hope: “This is not a dead end. I know God has more for you than this. Let’s talk through some options of what might be a helpful next step for you.”

Offering a new perspective: “Let’s see how we can look at this battle from another angle.”

The Bible tells us,

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. — Proverbs 16:24 ESV

This is never more evident than when we speak words of life to those in need of deep encouragement.

The Ultimate Win-Win

Let me share one final thought that often encourages me when I’m not doing okay. After Jesus conquered death and rose again, He appeared to people on earth for forty days before His final ascension into heaven. Now, if I were Jesus, I would have wanted to take my “I told you so!” tour and revisit certain Jewish religious leaders (“Ha! Guess what? I won!”) and Roman soldiers (“I’m ba-ack! You can’t kill me!”).

So good thing I wasn’t given that opportunity, right? Instead of what you or I might do after rising from the dead, Jesus appeared specifically to three individuals. The first was Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus met just outside the tomb following His resurrection (John 20:11-18). Not only was she a woman, but a fallen woman, many scholars believe. His visit with her broke tradition — and gender barriers — by showing how highly Jesus valued everyone, even those society deemed unimportant or immoral. Their encounter is a reminder that no matter who we are or where we find ourselves in life, God still values us and shows us compassion.

Next, Jesus made it a point to appear to His disciples, and particularly to Thomas, while all of them had locked themselves into an upper room for fear that they, too, might be arrested and suffer as Jesus did. Thomas had previously voiced his doubts about his Master’s resurrection, but Jesus was willing to do whatever it took for Thomas to realize that He was indeed alive — even if it meant allowing Thomas to put his fingers in the nail wounds on His hands and side (John 20:24-29). The encounter with Thomas reminds us that our doubts and demands don’t bother Jesus at all. He reveals Himself to us even when we’ve gone into hiding.

Finally, Jesus connects with His disciple Peter, the only one of the Twelve to flat-out deny knowing Him the night and early morning before He was crucified. Jesus had even foretold that Peter would deny knowing Him three times, which Peter adamantly denied he would do. But a few hours later, there he was, lying about knowing Jesus before the cock had crowed three times (Luke 22:54-62). And yet, Peter’s betrayal didn’t prevent Jesus from choosing Peter to be a foundational leader of His church. In a beautiful encounter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the Lord forgave Peter and restored him (John 21:15-19). Jesus saw beyond the emotional denials in the midst of the worst night of Peter’s life. Jesus’ message to Peter is the same message He speaks to us:

Your past is your past and I still love you. I see who you are — who you really are, as My Father created you — and want you to thrive. I want to use you and have you represent Me to everyone you encounter.

Jesus meets you right where you are. He has defeated death and He is more powerful than anything that could ever come against you. His victory is your victory. He invites you to share in His triumph, the ultimate win-win.

It’s okay to not be okay.

But don’t settle for a lifetime of “not okay.”

God is calling you out of your cave.

Excerpted from Out of the Cave by Chris Hodges, copyright Chris Hodges.

Everyone has issues that they struggle with…admittedly or not. People are different from one another completely like snowflakes, each created with a special individual flair by God. We must recognize differences, and be willing, as God is, to consider each one special, important, on an eternal journey, some following a righteous path with God, while others are lost in their journey to find what they think will fill the need of their heart. Let us begin today to look at everyone as if they are a special creation of God, on the same journey we are, some ahead of us, some behind us, but all created that we might encourage one another along the way. We will be blessed helping others, even if they don’t follow the same path that we are chosen and called to. In loving others as God loves us, we are obeying the commands of Scripture and will experience the peace of God that passes all understanding. I challenge you to try this today with all whom God brings across your path.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 4, 2023

Notes of Faith May 4, 2023

The Power of Praying In Jesus' Name, Amen

IT troubles you, fatigues you, shames you. IT is the disease you can’t heal, the job you can’t stomach, the marriage you can’t fix, the rage you can’t tame.

IT hurts.

IT looms over life. Two towering letters, tall and defiant. IT! They march like Frankenstein’s monster. Each step a thud. Each thud an earthquake. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. IT! IT! IT!

“Look out! Here IT comes!” “I can’t take IT anymore!”

IT overshadows and intimidates everyone — everyone, that is, except people who take IT to Jesus. People like the Roman soldier.

He was a centurion. He held unquestioned authority over his men. Yet there was something special about this particular officer. He loved his servant.

‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him’. — Matthew 8:6-7

The soldier’s prayer was unembroidered. He simply stated a fact: “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

That was enough to set Jesus in motion. He turned and immediately began to walk in the direction of the centurion’s house. But the officer stopped him.

Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.

— Matthew 8:8-9

The centurion understood the dynamic of authority. He was a man under authority and a man with authority. His superiors sent directives to him, and he obeyed. He gave commands, and his soldiers obeyed. They didn’t question his decisions. The Roman army respected the chain of command. The centurion knew authority when he saw it. And he saw ultimate authority in Jesus Christ.

“Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” [Jesus] marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!.. Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. — Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:10, Matthew 8:13

The centurion’s confidence in Jesus ran deep. Jesus could handle the request long distance. Just a word from Jesus would suffice. Jesus was stunned. Finally, His response implies, someone understands my authority!

Do we?

Jesus has unimpeachable authority.

He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. — Hebrews 1:3

God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. — Philippians 2:9

The Roman government tried to intimidate Him. False religion tried to silence Him. The devil tried to kill Him. All failed. Even “death was no match for Him” (Acts 2:24 MSG).

Jesus “disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:15 NLT). He was not kidding when He declared,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. — Matthew 28:18

Jesus is the command center of the galaxies.

Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father’s knowing it. — Matthew 10:29 NCV

He occupies the Oval Office. He called a coin out of the mouth of a fish. He stopped the waves with a word. He spoke, and a tree withered. He spoke again, and a basket became a banquet. Economy. Meteorology. Botany. Food supply.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father. — Matthew 11:27

Since God is good, prayer is good.

That includes Satan. The devil was soundly defeated by Christ on the cross. Jesus outranks him in every situation. He must obey Jesus, and he knows it.

Prayers offered in the name of Jesus have “divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). Demolish! Not damage or hamper but demolish. Prayer falls on strongholds like lit matches on a grass hut.

The devil fears prayer. Imagine this scene. He sat in the back of the room during a strategy session. A dozen demons had gathered to hear a report on the life of a particularly stalwart saint.

“He won’t stumble,” groused the imp responsible for his demise. “No matter what I do, he won’t turn his back on God.”

The council began to offer suggestions.

“Take his purity,” one said.

“I tried,” replied the fiend, “but he is too moral.” “Take his health,” urged another.

“I did, but he refused to grumble or complain.” “Take his belongings.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve stripped the man of every penny and possession. Yet he still rejoices.”

For a few moments no one spoke. Finally, from the back of the room, came the low, measured voice of Satan himself. The entire council turned as the fallen angel rose to his feet. His pale face was all but hidden by the hood. A long cape covered his body. He raised his bony hand and made his point. “It’s not enough to take his purity. It’s not enough to take his health. It’s not enough to take his belongings. You must take what matters most.” “What is that?” asked the subordinate.

“You must take his prayer.”

Prayer slaps handcuffs on Satan. Prayer takes problems out of the domain of the devil and into the presence of God. Prayer confesses, “God can handle IT. Since He can, I have hope!”

When we pray in the name of Jesus, we come to God on the basis of Jesus’ accomplishment.

Since we have a great high priest [Jesus] over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. — Hebrews 10:21–22

As our high priest, Jesus offers our prayers to God. His prayers are always heard.

Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. — John 16:23

There are those who say, “Prayer changes things because it changes us.” I agree but only in part. Prayer changes things because prayer appeals to the top power in the universe. Prayer is not a magical formula or a mystical chant. It is the yes to God’s invitation to invoke His name.

Mark it down: IT won’t have the last word. Jesus will.

God raised [Christ] from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. — Ephesians 1:20–22 MSG

The phrase “In Jesus’ name” is not an empty motto or talisman. It is a declaration of truth: My cancer is not in charge; Jesus is. The economy is not in charge; Jesus is. The grumpy neighbor doesn’t run the world; Jesus, You do! You, Jesus, are the Head Coach, CEO, President, King, Supreme Ruler, Absolute Monarch, High and Holy Baron, Czar, Overlord, and Rajah of all history.

Just speak the word, Jesus...

Pray! Since God works, prayer works.

Since God is good, prayer is good.

Since you matter to God, your prayers matter in Heaven. You’re never without hope, because you’re never without prayer. And on the occasions you can’t find the words to say, pull these out of your pocket:

Father,

You are good.

I need help. Heal me and forgive me.

They need help.

Thank You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Excerpted from Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Today is the National Day of Prayer, though I do not believe that our national leadership as a whole place their faith and trust in God, we, who do believe and trust in God must pray that God will do the things only He can do. Our world is sick and wandering hopelessly away from truth and life, seeking things that only bring condemnation and death. May we pray today and every day for the world in which we live, for the lives God has put around us, for the leaders in every country, for them to repent of their rebellion against God and that they turn to the One who provides all that they need on earth and offers them eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 3, 2023

Notes of Faith May 3, 2023

Prayers for Peace and Protection

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. — John 14:27

Father, You are slow to anger, gracious in mercy, and abounding in love. You are worthy of all praise and honor.

I humbly ask for Your peace in my life. The stressors in my life cause many sleepless nights and worries and concerns. Fill me with Your peace, and reassure me that You are there and in control.

Comfort and bless my loved ones. They, too, have to endure many challenges. Calm their spirits, and focus their hearts on You.

Thank You for caring about every part of our lives and every member of our families. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who is our great Comforter.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

*

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

— James 5:16 NIV

Father, You lead your people and hear their prayers. You know each of Your sheep by name. You are the great and wonderful Shepherd.

Help me find a trustworthy prayer partner. Too often, I try to go it alone, and I’m reluctant to share my spiritual life with others. Please change my heart. Give me a passion to reach out to other Christians so we can pray for one another and seek Your will together.

Help those in my community. Ignite a desire in them to know You. Use me, and raise up Christians in our midst. I pray that those who live around me will come to know You.

Thank You for putting people in our paths who can walk this road of faith with us. Thank You for all the believers worldwide. May Your mighty name continue to spread throughout the earth.

In Jesus’ holy name, amen.

*

I humbly ask for Your peace in my life.

The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. — Psalm 33:11–12 NIV

Dear Father, from the beginning of time, You have planned the path Your people would take. Your infinite mind thought of me long before I was born. I am humbled by Your incredible love.

I struggle with doubts and fear about my future. I don’t trust You nearly as much as I should. Please forgive me and reinforce my faith in You. Help me understand and believe that You are in control and have a good plan for me, my family, and my career.

Bless my family today. Help them know that all things rest in Your hands and that You always have their best interests in mind. Don’t let them fear the future.

Thank You for ordering our steps and guiding our way. I am thankful to know that Your thoughts are always for our good.

In Your Son’s name, amen.

Excerpted from Start with Prayer by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

We need to rest in the love of our Lord and Savior who is in control of all things created. Trust Him for who He is and His plan for your blessed eternal life with Him!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith May 2, 2023

Notes of Faith May 2, 2023

For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. — 2 Chronicles 20:12

Jehoshaphat and his people were about to face a great enemy, and they were afraid. Armies were on their way to drive them out of the land God had given them, and Jehoshaphat did the only thing he could think to do: he prayed. In his prayer, Jehoshaphat admitted that the people were powerless to stop what was coming at them, and they simply did not know what to do.

Haven’t we all, at some point in our lives, prayed a similar prayer? We’ve all faced a scary situation, an uncertain outcome, or a devastating diagnosis. Just like Jehoshaphat, we’ve experienced times when — on our own — we were powerless against what was coming at us. Hasn’t each of us prayerfully uttered the words, “I don’t know what to do”?

The beauty of this prayer is that, while the people didn’t know what to do, they did know where to look. To focus their gaze on the enemy or themselves would have served only to heighten the people’s fear and despair. They knew their only hope was to fix their eyes on God.

There will be times in our lives when we feel powerless, fearful, and uncertain as to what to do. In those moments, however, we can choose to fix our eyes on the One who can calm any storm, defeat any foe, and lead us through any valley.

Father, I fix my eyes on You as You fill me with Your certainty.

*

Suffering allowed him to see with his own eyes what he had always heard to be true of God.

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. — Isaiah 25:1 ESV

God is the One who knows the end from the beginning. He is never caught off guard by our circumstances or bewildered by our behavior. He never feels pressured by the passing of time. God has always been — and will always be — in complete control of His creation.

Isaiah’s acceptance of God’s eternal nature, sovereignty, and faithfulness was evident in the way he prayed. He knew that God had a plan — a faithful and sure one formed long ago. Isaiah knew what Jeremiah knew: God’s plans for us have been prepared in advance (Jeremiah 1:5), and they are plans to prosper us (Jeremiah 29:11).

When we understand that God has a plan and that nothing about our existence is haphazard or out of control, it changes the way we pray. And when we understand that we were made on purpose and with a purpose, it changes the way we live. Each of us is intentionally and uniquely handmade by a holy God who has a plan for us.

God has proven time and again that He is able “to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:9 ESV). He led His followers out of lions’ dens, fiery furnaces, and prisons because He still had plans for those individuals. If there’s still breath in your body, He isn’t finished with you. Trust Him to be as He has always been: faithful and sure.

Only You, God, are worthy of my trust. You know the plans You have made for me, and I can rest assured in Your promise.

*

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.

— Job 42:5

When have you felt the closest to God? For many of us, it is during seasons of sorrow and suffering that we sense the nearness of Him the most. God has promised us that He will never leave us. We can always be assured of His presence, but it is often in those moments of agony that He chooses to reveal Himself in a whole new way.

Job was a man of great faith. He was described as a man who was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1 ESV). He made it his practice to rise early and offer prayers and sacrifices for his entire family. By all accounts, Job was a good and godly man. Yet, in his prayer, Job acknowledged that his suffering allowed him to see with his own eyes what he had always heard to be true of God.

We can all think of times when we’ve seen God at work with our own eyes. Maybe it was in the form of physical protection from an accident or illness that should have had a worse outcome. Or perhaps it looked like provision from an unexpected source in a time of great need. Or it may have been a person who came along at just the right moment to comfort, guide, or assist us.

We have heard of You, Lord, but now our eyes see You.

Excerpted from 100 Favorite Bible Prayers by Stacy Edwards, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Again, I bring you a note to encourage you toward a more intimate walk with God. May your prayers draw you close. May you ask for wisdom, help from the Holy Spirit to be more obedient, and to love God and others the way Jesus does. We will always be able to draw closer to the Lord all the days of our life and enjoy His love for us, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Pastor Dale