Notes of Faith December 1, 2023

Notes of Faith December 1, 2023

God Guides the Wise

Holiday time is highway time.

Ever since the magi packed their bags for Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus has caused people to hit the road. Our Christmas trips have a lot in common with the one of the wise men. We don’t camp with camels, but we have been known to bump into a knobby-kneed in-law on the way to the bathroom. We don’t keep an eye out for star lights, but flashing lights of the highway patrol? We watch for them at every curve. And we don’t ride in a spice-road caravan, but six hours in a minivan with four kids might have made the wise men thankful for animals.

It’s not always ho ho ho on the high, high highway. Extended time in the car reveals human frailties.

Dads refuse to stop. They hearken back to the examples of their forefathers. Did the pioneers spend the night at a Holiday Inn? Did Lewis and Clark ask for directions? Did Joseph allow Mary to stroll through a souvenir shop on the road to Bethlehem? By no means. Men drive as if they have a biblical mandate to travel far and fast, stopping only for gasoline.

And children? Road trips do to kids what a full moon does to the wolf man. If one child says, “I like that song,” you might expect the other to say, “That’s nice.” Won’t happen. Instead the other child will reply, “It stinks and so do your feet.”

There is also the issue of JBA — juvenile bladder activity. A child can go weeks without going to the bathroom at home. But once on the road, the kid starts leaking like secrets in Washington. On one drive to Colorado, my daughters visited every toilet in New Mexico.

The best advice for traveling with young children is to be thankful they aren’t teenagers. Teens are embarrassed by what their parents say, think, wear, eat, and sing. So for their sakes (and if you ever want to see your future grandchildren), don’t smile at the waitstaff, don’t breathe, and don’t sing with the window down or up.

It’s wiser to postpone traveling with children until they are a more reasonable age — like forty-two.

Christmas and travel. The first has a way of prompting the second and has done so ever since the delegation from the distant land came searching for Jesus. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? — Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

Matthew loved the magi. He gave their story more square inches of text than he gave the narrative of the birth of Jesus. He never mentions the shepherds or the manger, but he didn’t want us to miss the star and the seekers. It’s easy to see why. Their story is our story. We’re all travelers, all sojourners.

In order to find Jesus, every one of us needs direction. God gives it. The story of the wise men shows us how.

We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

— Matthew 2:2 NKJV

God uses the natural world to get our attention. Earth and stars form the first missionary society.

The heavens declare the glory of God. — Psalm 19:1 NKJV

In order to find Jesus, every one of us needs direction. God gives it.

As Paul wrote,

The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. — Romans 1:19-20 MSG

God led the wise men to Jerusalem with a star. But to lead them to Jesus, He used something else:

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ — Matthew 2:3-6 NLT

The star sign was enough to lead the magi to Jerusalem. But it took Scripture to lead them to Jesus.

People see signs of God every day. Sunsets that steal the breath. Newborns that bring tears. Migrating geese that stir a smile. But do all who see the signs draw near to God? No. Many are content simply to see the signs. They do not realize that the riches of God are intended to turn us toward Him.

Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives. — Romans 2:4 NCV

The wise men, however, understood the purpose of the sign.

They followed it to Jerusalem, where they heard about the scripture. The prophecy told them where to find Christ. It is interesting to note that the star reappeared after they learned about the prophecy. The star “came and stood shining right over the place where the Child was” (Matthew 2:9, emphasis mine).1 It is as if the sign and word worked together to bring the wise men to Jesus.

The ultimate aim of all God’s messages, both miraculous and written, is to shed the light of Heaven on Jesus.

They came to the house where the Child was and saw Him with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They opened their gifts and gave Him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. — Matthew 2:11 NCV

Behold the first Christian worshippers. The simple dwelling became a cathedral. Seekers of Christ found Him and knelt in His presence. They gave Him gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for his burial.

They found the Christ because they heeded the sign and believed the scripture.

Noticeably absent at the manger were the scholars of the Torah. They reported to Herod that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Did they not read the prophecy? Yes, but they did not respond to it. You’d think at a minimum they would have accompanied the magi to Bethlehem. The village was near enough. The risk was small enough. At worst they would be out the effort. At best they would see the fulfillment of prophecy. But the priests showed no interest. The wise men earned their moniker because they did.

Their hearts were open to God’s gift. The men were never the same again. After worshiping the Christ child, “they departed for their own country another way” (Matthew 2:12 NKJV). Matthew uses the word way in other places to suggest a direction of life. He speaks of the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB) and “the way of righteousness” (Matthew21:32). He may be telling us that the wise men went home as different men. Called by a sign. Instructed by Scripture. And directed home by God.

It’s as if all the forces of heaven cooperated to guide the wise men.

God uses every possible means to communicate with you. The wonders of nature call to you. The promises and prophecies of Scripture speak to you. God Himself reaches out to you. He wants to help you find your way home.

Many years ago I watched the television adaptation of the drama The Miracle Worker, the compelling story of two females with great resolve: Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan.

Helen was born in 1880. She wasn’t yet two when she contracted an illness that left her blind, deaf, and mute. When Helen was seven years old, Annie, a young, partially blind teacher, came to the Kellers’ Alabama home to serve as Helen’s teacher.

Helen’s brother James tried to convince Annie to quit. The teacher wouldn’t consider it. She was resolved to help Helen function in a world of sight and sound. Helen was as stubborn as her teacher. Locked in a frightening, lonely world, she misinterpreted Annie’s attempts. The result was a battle of wills. Over and over Annie pressed sign language into Helen’s palm. Helen pulled back. Annie persisted. Helen resisted.

Finally, in a moment of high drama, a breakthrough. During a fevered exchange near the water pump, Annie placed one of Helen’s hands under the spout of flowing water. Into the other hand she spelled out w-a-t-e-r. Over and over, w-a-t-e-r. Helen pulled back. Annie kept signing. W-a-t-e-r.

All of a sudden Helen stopped. She placed her hand on her teacher’s and repeated the letters w-a-t-e-r. Annie beamed. She lifted Helen’s hand onto her own cheek and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! W-a-t-e-r.” Helen spelled it again: w-a-t-e-r. Helen pulled Annie around the yard, spelling out the words. G-r-o-u-n-d. P-o-r-c-h. P-u-m-p. It was a victory parade.2

Christmas celebrates a similar moment for us — God breaking through to our world. In a feeding stall of all places. He will not leave us in the dark. He is the pursuer, the teacher. He won’t sit back while we miss out. So He entered our world. He sends signals and messages: H-o-p-e. L-i-f-e. He cracks the shell of our world and invites us to peek into His. And every so often a seeking soul looks up.

May you be one of them.

When God sends signs, be faithful. Let them lead you to Scripture.

As Scripture directs, be humble. Let it lead you to worship.

And as you worship the Son, be grateful. He will lead you home. Who knows? Perhaps before Jesus comes again, we’ll discover why men don’t ask for directions. Then we can pursue the other great question of life: Why do women apply makeup while they are driving? But that’s a question for ones wiser than I.

God will not leave us in the dark. He is the pursuer, the teacher. He won’t sit back while we miss out. So He entered our world.

Excerpted from Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Be aware of the signs that God is sending your way. Let them lead you to truth, the Word of God, Scripture, the Bible. As you read and listen to God through the Bible, let truth lead you to worship Him. Give Him the gift of yourself to love Him and serve Him because He is your Lord and King!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 30, 2023

Notes of Faith November 30, 2023

Breath as Prayer: Christmas!

They say it's “the most wonderful time of the year,” but it sure can sometimes feel more like the most stressful time of the year. For all its wonder and joy, the holiday season can be the most anxiety-ridden season of the year. Unrealistic expectations, overwhelming demands, overflowing calendars, and increased social obligations can lead to all kinds of increased stress and anxiety.

If you struggle with anxiety through the holidays, you’re not alone.

The pressure to try to do everything, to plan the “perfect” Christmas and implement all the traditions, not to mention traveling to visit family, meeting year-end deadlines at work, the financial burdens of shopping for everyone on your list, along with all the cooking and cleaning and wrapping and decorating…. whew! Just typing out that list is raising my anxiety already!

But what would happen if we let go of all the to-do's and the lists and the expectations this Christmas?

What if we chose to enter this season with only one goal: to rest in the presence of God and let His peace fill our hearts?

After all, this is the season of Advent. It’s a time of anticipation, a season of expectant waiting for the coming of our Savior. Advent invites us to slow down and believe that there's more to Christmas than the loud noise of the holidays, more than the hustle and bustle of the crowds, more than the pressure to produce and perform and perfect.

Advent is a season of hope, peace, love, and joy.

The truth is, there's nothing you have to buy, nothing you have to do to make this a good Christmas. Christmas is already good because our good God has already given us the greatest gift the world has ever known: Jesus.

So how can we intentionally seek peace this Christmas? How can we ease the anxiety and the stress and the pressure that so often fills these days and instead learn to simply rest and wait in Christ, and breathe in His love and goodness through the season?

Plan ahead for peace. Pull out a calendar and be proactive. List all the things you know you will have to do: events to attend, shopping, baking, travel, etc. Identify what brings you joy and what brings you stress. If possible, eliminate things that bring you unnecessary anxiety. At the same time, be intentional about planning things you know will bring you peace and joy. Be sure to leave plenty of white space in your days. Plan for rest, for time outside, for prayer and quiet time with God.

Set good boundaries with realistic expectations. Know your limitations. You don’t have to do all the things. Let yourself off the hook and learn to say no. If you can’t say no, plan time around the stressful things for some self-compassion and down time. Simplify. Don’t spend money you don’t have. You can’t buy peace with a carload of gifts and a wallet full of debt. Slow down the pace. Take a deep breath. This season is not an emergency. There is no race to Christmas day.

Give yourself grace. Anxiety and depression can be especially hard at the holidays. Be gentle with yourself. It’s ok if you’re not feeling in the “holiday spirit.” There can be pressure at the holidays to be happy and social, but it’s really ok if you’re not. You may be walking through deep hurt or loss this season. Be kind to yourself and gentle with the feelings you are processing. Remember: Jesus entered this world in the middle of the mess and muck of a lowly stable to meet you right where you are, in the middle of whatever hard things you’re going through. He came to be your Savior, and He invites you to give Him your burdens and let Him give you rest.

Take time to breathe and pray. Want a practical and powerful tool to help ease your anxiety while drawing your heart closer to Christ? I invite you to try the centuries-old Christian practice called breath prayer: a simple but deeply meaningful spiritual practice that combines deep breathing with prayers of meditation on God’s Word.

What if we chose to enter this season with only one goal: to rest in the presence of God and let His peace fill our hearts?

Made of just two lines from a verse of Scripture, breath prayers are prayed to the rhythm of your breath. You inhale slowly and deeply as you pray the first line of the prayer, then exhale slowly and fully as you pray the second line, repeating the prayer as many times as you’d like.

The slow, deep breathing is scientifically shown to help calm the physical symptoms of anxiety, while prayer turns your mind toward Christ and the truth in His Word.

I’ve personally found breath prayer to be an amazing tool to not only help manage my anxiety but also to strengthen my faith. It has helped me change the way I respond to feelings of anxiety. Instead of spiraling into overwhelm and panic, when I begin to feel anxious, I simply slow down for a few minutes and take time to breathe and pray a short breath prayer. As I do this, I can feel my anxiety begin to ease and my soul finds renewed strength as I focus on a truth that is greater than the overwhelming feelings of my anxiety.

You can give it a try with this simple prayer from 1 Peter 5:7:

Inhale: I give You my worries and cares,

Exhale: for You care about me.

Repeat this prayer a few times, breathing slowly to the rhythm of God’s Word.

Anxiety doesn’t have to be your enemy this Christmas.

There may be hard and stressful days, but you don’t have to spiral out of control when anxiety builds. You can change the way you respond to your anxiety and use it as an opportunity to slow down and turn your heart toward Christ. When you do this regularly, you may just find that you are able to experience a deep and abiding peace as your soul draws closer to the One who split the veil between heaven and earth to be wrapped in infant skin so He could be near you and rescue you and give you real hope and true peace.

So, when you begin to feel overwhelmed or stressed this Christmas, simply slow down, breathe deep, and try praying a breath prayer. Better yet, try beginning every day with a few quiet minutes of breath prayer. Before the stress piles on, invite Christ to meet you right where you are as you turn your mind toward the truth in His Word and give your worries to Him.

He is Immanuel.

God is WITH us.

You can breathe deep this Christmas season and know:

You are safe and held and loved.

You don’t have to worry. You don’t have to stress.

Jesus is here.

Written for Devotionals Daily by Jennifer Tucker, author of Breath as Prayer.

It seems that every day, not just a season or time of year brings it busyness. There is always a list of things to complete, to work on, with many carrying over to another day. Life is busy. But if it is worrisome, it is leaving out the peace of God, who is sovereignly in control of all things! Let us be prepared for each day in the confidence that God is with us, loves us, cares for us, provides for us, and will give opportunity in each day for purpose, spiritual growth and service for Him and those He places around us. Start each day with anticipation of what God will place before you to love and serve others.

Matt 6:34

34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 29, 2023

Notes of Faith November 29, 2023

God has spoken and He does not stutter.

Everything we are facing — economic crises, political crises, financial crises, familial crises — goes much deeper than what’s on the surface. Everything visible and physical is preceded by that which is invisible and spiritual. If you want to address the visible and physical, you must identify the cause and cure to that which is invisible and spiritual. To put it another way, if all you see is what you see, then you do not see all that there is to be seen.

I believe this disruption we are experiencing has been allowed in order to precipitate a spiritual realignment and center us back toward God.

Second Chronicles 15:5-6 says,

In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress.

In these verses the Bible describes a world in chaos and individuals without peace. When the people of Judah and Benjamin went home, there was family conflict. City rose up against city and nation against nation. There was no peace in the land.

At the end of verse 6 it says,

For God troubled them with every possible distress.

Wait a minute. Who is behind this chaos and lack of peace? The Lord took the blame.

In the Old Testament, when God’s people departed from Him, judgment followed soon behind. With the sacrifice of Jesus, God recast His relationship to the world. Second Corinthians 5:19 says that the world was reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ.

No longer does the Lord God rain down fire and brimstone or send floods, like in Noah’s day, but we can experience the passive wrath of God that is described in Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28. The Scripture says that God turned them over to impurity. Then, again, later in the chapter, God turned them over to disgraceful passions. A third time, God turned them over to a corrupt mind.

Because the people of God no longer took Him seriously, choosing to dishonor Him and drift away, He let them experience the consequences of their behavior and see what life looked like without His provision.

Romans 1:21-24 describes what happens when an individual, family, church, or nation depart from God:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals, and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. — NIV

Yes, we know God exists everywhere, but I am talking about the relational absenteeism of God. It is as if God has said, If you don’t want Me, you’re going to have to see what life is like without Me. So I believe God is interrupting the normal, natural, and preferred order of things on every single level. God is sending a worldwide message.

Returning to the Old Testament story, 2 Chronicles 15:3 speaks to the causes of the chaos and crisis at that time:

For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction.

He didn’t say there was no belief in God; he said their belief was not in “the true God.” The Israelites had replaced “the true God” with idols.

His Word is perfection, ever relevant, speaking to all issues, for all of life.

Many of our churches have failed as they have bowed to culture and dumbed down His deity by ignoring His Word. We are no longer teaching unapologetic truth. We are teaching what we think or what feels good to the people. We teach what is popular and preferred.

There are two answers to every question: God’s answer and everybody else’s. And everybody else is wrong. God has spoken and He does not stutter.

His Word is perfection, ever relevant, speaking to all issues, for all of life.

God defines marriage. God defines gender. God defines identity. God defines what it means to be parents and how children should respond. God defines religion and how the church operates. He creates and defines governments and how they should be run. He has spoken on how the citizens of a nation are supposed to act. God defines sexuality. We don’t. When we start to redefine seminal issues like these, chaos will ensue.

In creating our own rules and parameters, we insult God.

When there are no teaching priests in the land and the pulpits allow society to vote on what God has said, we do not conform to God’s standard. We only make people comfortable with their own standards.

God speaks to the issues of righteousness and justice and how to handle the poor, pursue equity, and stabilize economic structures and personal finances. The mission of a teaching priest is to declare God’s truth with love and clarity on every issue in society.

God’s Word must become the current standard by which all issues are addressed, by which all people must conform, and by which all systems must be adjusted. No matter how high or how low, regardless of political, social, or economic position, the teaching priest must never kowtow to the culture. The leader must speak with spiritual authority and Holy Ghost power.

The best way for the servants of God to love and care for the people is to speak God’s truth. The pulpit must preach in a way that overrides the opinions of society or what your parents may have taught you. God’s Word must override what professors or politicians have to say. It overrules what the media is trying to promote. We have no more time for clever sermonettes or cute Christian phrases. This is a season for preaching the full counsel of God’s Word with grace but without apology.

The desire of God is relationship with His people. Make knowing Him your goal. God will bless us, our families, and our culture as we learn that the God who causes distress also alleviates the distress when we return to His side.

~ Dr. Anthony Evans

Excerpted from Divine Disruption by Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans, copyright Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans.

Those who do not believe in God do believe in a god…it is themselves (mankind). Believing that there is a God and not having a relationship with Him will not give you a home in heaven, an eternal life, a salvation from condemnation and judgment. God reveals Himself to the world through His creation, His Word, His Son Jesus the Christ, His Spirit, drawing man to Himself for relationship! In the beginning, God walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, real place, real people, real relationship. Respond to the call of God in your life. Seek deep and intimate relationship with the God of life, your life, all life, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 29, 2023

Notes of Faith November 29, 2023

God has spoken and He does not stutter.

Everything we are facing — economic crises, political crises, financial crises, familial crises — goes much deeper than what’s on the surface. Everything visible and physical is preceded by that which is invisible and spiritual. If you want to address the visible and physical, you must identify the cause and cure to that which is invisible and spiritual. To put it another way, if all you see is what you see, then you do not see all that there is to be seen.

I believe this disruption we are experiencing has been allowed in order to precipitate a spiritual realignment and center us back toward God.

Second Chronicles 15:5-6 says,

In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress.

In these verses the Bible describes a world in chaos and individuals without peace. When the people of Judah and Benjamin went home, there was family conflict. City rose up against city and nation against nation. There was no peace in the land.

At the end of verse 6 it says,

For God troubled them with every possible distress.

Wait a minute. Who is behind this chaos and lack of peace? The Lord took the blame.

In the Old Testament, when God’s people departed from Him, judgment followed soon behind. With the sacrifice of Jesus, God recast His relationship to the world. Second Corinthians 5:19 says that the world was reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ.

No longer does the Lord God rain down fire and brimstone or send floods, like in Noah’s day, but we can experience the passive wrath of God that is described in Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28. The Scripture says that God turned them over to impurity. Then, again, later in the chapter, God turned them over to disgraceful passions. A third time, God turned them over to a corrupt mind.

Because the people of God no longer took Him seriously, choosing to dishonor Him and drift away, He let them experience the consequences of their behavior and see what life looked like without His provision.

Romans 1:21-24 describes what happens when an individual, family, church, or nation depart from God:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals, and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. — NIV

Yes, we know God exists everywhere, but I am talking about the relational absenteeism of God. It is as if God has said, If you don’t want Me, you’re going to have to see what life is like without Me. So I believe God is interrupting the normal, natural, and preferred order of things on every single level. God is sending a worldwide message.

Returning to the Old Testament story, 2 Chronicles 15:3 speaks to the causes of the chaos and crisis at that time:

For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction.

He didn’t say there was no belief in God; he said their belief was not in “the true God.” The Israelites had replaced “the true God” with idols.

His Word is perfection, ever relevant, speaking to all issues, for all of life.

Many of our churches have failed as they have bowed to culture and dumbed down His deity by ignoring His Word. We are no longer teaching unapologetic truth. We are teaching what we think or what feels good to the people. We teach what is popular and preferred.

There are two answers to every question: God’s answer and everybody else’s. And everybody else is wrong. God has spoken and He does not stutter.

His Word is perfection, ever relevant, speaking to all issues, for all of life.

God defines marriage. God defines gender. God defines identity. God defines what it means to be parents and how children should respond. God defines religion and how the church operates. He creates and defines governments and how they should be run. He has spoken on how the citizens of a nation are supposed to act. God defines sexuality. We don’t. When we start to redefine seminal issues like these, chaos will ensue.

In creating our own rules and parameters, we insult God.

When there are no teaching priests in the land and the pulpits allow society to vote on what God has said, we do not conform to God’s standard. We only make people comfortable with their own standards.

God speaks to the issues of righteousness and justice and how to handle the poor, pursue equity, and stabilize economic structures and personal finances. The mission of a teaching priest is to declare God’s truth with love and clarity on every issue in society.

God’s Word must become the current standard by which all issues are addressed, by which all people must conform, and by which all systems must be adjusted. No matter how high or how low, regardless of political, social, or economic position, the teaching priest must never kowtow to the culture. The leader must speak with spiritual authority and Holy Ghost power.

The best way for the servants of God to love and care for the people is to speak God’s truth. The pulpit must preach in a way that overrides the opinions of society or what your parents may have taught you. God’s Word must override what professors or politicians have to say. It overrules what the media is trying to promote. We have no more time for clever sermonettes or cute Christian phrases. This is a season for preaching the full counsel of God’s Word with grace but without apology.

The desire of God is relationship with His people. Make knowing Him your goal. God will bless us, our families, and our culture as we learn that the God who causes distress also alleviates the distress when we return to His side.

~ Dr. Anthony Evans

Excerpted from Divine Disruption by Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans, copyright Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans.

Those who do not believe in God do believe in a god…it is themselves (mankind). Believing that there is a God and not having a relationship with Him will not give you a home in heaven, an eternal life, a salvation from condemnation and judgment. God reveals Himself to the world through His creation, His Word, His Son Jesus the Christ, His Spirit, drawing man to Himself for relationship! In the beginning, God walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, real place, real people, real relationship. Respond to the call of God in your life. Seek deep and intimate relationship with the God of life, your life, all life, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 28, 2023

Notes of Faith November 28, 2023

God Is Good All the Time

Death and suffering comes to all of us. Tim Challies shares his very personal journey of trauma and heartache after the loss of his son and finding comfort in Jesus.

I’ve heard of an old man, a stalwart of the Christian faith, who slipped from earth to heaven with the words of a child’s song upon his lips: “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”

I’ve heard the account of a renowned theologian who summarized his entire life’s work in a melody he learned upon his mother’s knee: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”1 Sometimes the simplest words are the most important. Though we hike beyond theological foothills to explore the towering mountains of God’s thoughts and deeds, we never forget the beauty, never stop needing the blessing, of the simplest truths.

I once attended a church where it was the custom of the pastor to pause in his liturgies or sermons to say, “God is good,” to which the congregation would reply, “All the time.” Then he would say, “All the time,” and the congregation would answer, “God is good.” It was a recital of the simplest of truths — that goodness is not an occasional attribute of God, not an infrequent disposition, but a constant one. It was meant to remind us that God’s goodness does not vary with our circumstances but is fully present and on display in our worst moments as well as our best, in our most lamentable experiences as well as our most joyful. And though the pastor’s little phrase may have become trite over time, though I may have grumbled about it in the past, today, right now, nothing is more precious to me, nothing is more important to me, than this:

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

This is not the only truth that is propping me up.

I’ve heard people in grief speak of God’s sovereignty, perhaps repeating a well-known phrase that compares it to a pillow upon which the child of God rests his head, giving perfect peace.2 Sovereignty speaks to power and the right to reign. It is the attribute of kings or potentates or others in positions of supremacy. Ultimately, it is an attribute of God himself, who rules Heaven and earth to such a degree that nothing happens or can happen apart from his will. Nothing is given to us that does not pass first through God’s own hand.3 God’s sovereignty is a sweeping doctrine that touches every aspect of life across every moment of creation and every corner of the universe. There is no moment, no spot, no deed, no death, that falls outside of it.

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

God’s sovereignty is offering me comfort in these dark days. It assures me that there was no earthly power, no demonic power, no fate or force above or below, that had its way with my boy, that interrupted or superseded God’s plan for him. There was no mo- ment in which God turned his back or got distracted with other affairs or nodded off to sleep. There was no medical deformity or genetic abnormality that had been overlooked by God. God’s sovereignty assures me that it was ultimately no one’s will but God’s that Nick lived just twenty short years, that he died with so much left undone, that he has departed and we have been left here without him. When Job was told of the death of his children, he did not say, “The Lord gave, and the devil has taken away,” but

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.

And with that certainty he blessed the name of that Lord.4

But while God’s sovereignty offers comfort, it offers comfort only if I know something more, something of his character. After all, God might be sovereign and capricious. He might be sovereign and selfish. He might be sovereign and arbitrary. He might be sovereign and evil. So for this reason I ask, “What else is true of God?”

If I am laying my head on any pillow in these days, it is the pillow of God’s goodness. I keep saying it: “God is good all the time.” I may be saying it with sorrow and bewilderment and something less than full faith. I may be saying it as a question: “God is good all the time, right?” But I am saying it. I don’t necessarily understand how God is good in this, or why taking my son is consistent with His goodness, but I know it must be. If Nick’s death was not a lapse in God’s sovereignty, it was also not a lapse in His goodness. If there was no moment in which God stopped being sovereign, there is no moment in which He stopped being good — good toward me, good toward my family, good toward Nick, good according to His perfect wisdom.

God can’t not be good!

God’s goodness means that everything God is and everything God does is worthy of approval, for He Himself is the very standard of goodness. Those things that are good are those things that God deems good, that God deems fitting, that God deems appropriate. For something to be good is for it to meet the approval of God, and for something to meet the approval of God is for it to be good.5 If that’s the case, then who am I to declare evil what God has declared good?

Who am I to condemn what God has approved? It falls to me to align my own understanding of goodness with God’s, to rely on God’s understanding of good to inform my own. Ultimately, it’s to agree that if God did it, it must be good, and if it is good, it must be worthy of approval. To say, “Thy will be done,” is to say, “Thy goodness be shown.” It’s to seek out evidence of God’s goodness even in the hardest of His providences. It’s to worship Him, even with a broken heart.

1. The first anecdote I heard long ago but cannot now place; the second is widely attributed to Karl Barth.

2. This is widely attributed to Charles Spurgeon, but I’ve had trouble tracing it to its original source.

3. See “Lord's Day 10” (Q&A 27), Heidelberg-Catechism.com, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, accessed April 19, 2022, www.heidel berg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/10.html.

4. Job 1:21.

5. See Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical

Excerpted from Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies, copyright Tim Challies

We have had a home-going in our church family today (Tuesday, November 28, 2023). Shirley Gooding passed away very near the time that Robin and I arrived back in California from our Thanksgiving visit to Kentucky. Please be in prayer for Forrest, the family, our church family, to be attentive to the needs of all during this time of grief, (great joy for Shirley) and things that must be done. Those of you who have a loved one who has died know the pain and loss and ongoing grieving that Forrest will have. Ask God to make you a blessing to Him as He continues to worship and trust God with us at Community Grace.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 27, 2023

Notes of Faith November 27, 2023

Slowing Down in a World That’s Gaining Speed

When my family and I lived in Turkey a few years ago, we witnessed a pace of life we thought only existed half a century ago. A neighbor invited us over to their home at 2 p.m. on a Sunday. And before we could say “baklava,” we were all cramming into their car like clowns, headed for a teahouse down on the Aegean Sea shoreline.

Our afternoon was spent lingering over hot çay, sugar cubes, laughing children, and words mangled somewhere between two languages, adults laughing as we attempted conversation like toddlers. We would sip tea down by the water for hours, with no agenda, no rush to the next better thing, the red-fire sunset ablaze over Mediterranean waters.

Life was... slower. Savored.

It wasn’t perfect, of course. There were many challenges to living cross-culturally, and a slower pace of life didn’t compensate for the complexities of hovering somewhere between a natively Western worldview and Eastern mores.

But still, it was fascinating to experience life in the slow lane surrounded by electricity, subway systems, and fluorescent-lit grocery aisles. It was indeed possible to live slower in the twenty-first century, so we learned.

Fast-forward years later, and we’re well immersed back into our North American life. Smartphones were released sometime when we were abroad, so when we moved back, I saw many loved ones’ tops of their heads for the first time. People were absorbed in their handhelds, their heads, the four walls of their houses.

Eyes freshly opened, I saw there was a direct correlation between an obsession with self and an exhausting pace of life. Centering an entire day on productivity or effectiveness as a goal equaled very little focus on other people or relationships.

Jesus, of course, poured Himself out as an offering.

His world was slow when He fully touched earth, so that we could be wholly alive and whole with God. He is the embodiment, the very manifestation of sacrifice — the giving of self for other people. His agenda wasn’t on getting things done. And as a follower of His, I want to be like that too.

If we want to put others first, like Jesus did, then we must. slow. down.

I want this so fervently — so why is it so hard to shift my focus, my center, my default, to other people? Why does it feel like a burning of my flesh and a rewiring of my brain to give up my to-do list in order to make time for people?

I want to put relationships first. Hearts before agendas. Lives ahead of schedules.

I want to die to my productivity, so I can truly be with people. And I have to remind myself daily that slowing down matters.

It matters because then I can hear people. It’s absolutely essential, really.

The more crammed our schedules, the less time we have to give others. When we only allow nooks and crannies in our days for rest, time alone, and self-care, then we are left threadbare to love others when they most need it. When our calendars are scribbled out in the margins because they are too full, we have no way to empty ourselves out in sacrifice.

If we want to put others first, like Jesus did, then we must. slow. down.

It’s the only way we can survive, thrive, be who we are meant to be in this rapid, rapid world.

My mind drifts back frequently to our life in the Middle East. Sure, my glasses are rose-colored, but what I remember most is how I felt. I felt... slower. More contemplative. More at rest with myself and those put purposely around me. There, we could equate our life’s measure not by boxes filled with pencil scratches but by how much freedom in our days we had to linger over çay with neighbors. With people. In relationship.

I think a slow life can happen anywhere, in any culture.

But it’s harder, and it requires swimming upstream, when we live in one where the default setting is lightning fast.

And we have to be vigilantly aware of this so that our fingers continually twist the dial on our life to slower, slower, slower.

A slower-paced life isn’t just a good idea, or hip, or wishful thinking. It’s essential if we want to have time to be the body of Christ.

~ Tsh Oxenreider

Excerpted from Prayers to Help You Thrive by contributors: Christine Caine, Chike Chukudebelu, Katie Hardeman, Margaret Hogan, Denise Hildreth Jones, Shauna Niequist, Tsh Oxenreider, Rachel Randolph, Alece Ronzino, and Ruth Soukup. Copyright Zondervan.

A slower paced life comes from a perspective. Living in the country as opposed to to city does not necessarily make life slower. There are many who work hard from sun up to sun down, often before and after. It is an attitude that makes one take in the joy of each day. I wanted to hunt and shoot a deer or two this season but there were none in shooting range of the property we were hunting on. However, driving home one day God let me see and be mesmerized by the most handsome and glorious buck that I have ever seen. It was near the side of the road as we drove by and as we approached ran back the other direction. Though I could not shoot at it, it was a glorious experience of a creation of God. The slower pace of life idea is to enjoy such opportunities as they come. Being with five of our grandchildren is never slow paced but again relishing each opportunity and participating in their growth, both physically and spiritually brings great joy, and adds to the wholeness of who I am. Seize the day, for it was given to you by God!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 26, 2023

Notes of Faith November 26, 2023

Growing Strong

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us. — 2 Peter 1:3

How can we develop a faith strong enough to see us throughout our lives?

The key is this: God wants us to be spiritually strong and has provided us with every resource we need.

We need God’s strength to face life’s challenges — and He wants to give it to us.

Tragically, many Christians never discover this. They have committed their lives to Christ… they may be active in their churches… they pray and read their Bibles on occasion — but they remain spiritually immature and weak in the face of life’s temptations and setbacks.

We may be old in years, but if our faith is immature, we will be fearful and unprepared. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Just as a baby needs food and exercise in order to grow, so we need the spiritual food and exercise God has provided for us. Without them our faith is weak, but with them spiritual strength increases, and we are better prepared for whatever life has in store for us.

What are you doing now that will make you spiritually mature when you’re older?

*

"God wants us to be spiritually strong and has provided us with every resource we need."

— Billy Graham

From Seedling to Tree

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season. — Psalm 1:3

It is no accident that the Bible compares us to trees, urging us to grow spiritual roots that are deep and strong. But a tree wasn’t always a tree. It began as a small seed. Spiritual life also begins with a seed — the seed of God’s Word planted in the soil of our souls that eventually sprouts and becomes a new seedling as we are born again. But though we’re saved, we aren’t meant to remain spiritual seedlings, weak and vulnerable to every temptation or doubt or falsehood or fear. God’s will is for us to grow strong in our faith and become mature, grounded in the truth of His Word and firmly committed to doing His will (1 Peter 2:2).

Giving your life to Christ is an essential first step — but it is only the first step. God’s will is for you to become spiritually mature, growing stronger in your relationship to Christ and your service for Him. Conversion is the work of an instant; spiritual maturity is the work of a lifetime.

Is your faith like a seedling, a sprout, or a mature tree?

*

Mature Fruit

Be mature and complete, not lacking anything. — James 1:4 NIV

We cannot pretend to be something we are not; a Christlike character cannot be faked. If Christ is not real to us or if we haven’t learned to walk with Him and submit our lives to Him every day, then our spiritual impact will be far less than it might have been. People are very sensitive to hypocrisy; if they sense it in us, they will dismiss our pretenses and pay no attention to our advice. On the other hand, if they can sense our faith is sincere and our love is authentic, then they will respect us and take us seriously (even when they know we are not perfect).

This is why it is important to begin building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ now, instead of waiting until it is too late and the problems of old age overwhelm us. Every gardener knows that mature fruit does not appear overnight. It takes time to grow — and so does the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Start tending your garden today, so you may be “mature and complete.”

In what place in your life do you most need spiritual growth?

Excerpted from Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham, copyright Billy Graham Literary Trust.

Do we just seek to get into heaven or to have a deep intimate and mature relationship with the God who created us? I pray for you the latter…

No matter how old we are we should continue growing in faith, hope and love. To be more like Christ is a promise God gives in His Word, to those that He calls and adopts as His children. He will discipline in love to make us more like Christ.

Do you still have a desire to draw closer to God? I do. Let’s pray for each other, that we might be drawn to the light of the world, closer and closer every day!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 25, 2023

Notes of Faith November 25, 2023

The Inescapable Problem of Pain

The problem of pain is perhaps the most profound question many of us raise against Christianity. How could a good God — a loving God — allow so much pain and suffering in the world?

All God would have to do is move the geological plates a few inches and we wouldn’t have tsunamis or earthquakes. All he would have to do is eradicate the cells that attack our bodies and cause cancer and other horrendous diseases. Why doesn’t he do those things? Why doesn’t God stop it all? How can we trust God, considering how painful life is? How could our pain have any significance?

These are huge questions — and great questions. They’re questions we’ve both asked God, and I’m sure you have as well. And yet the apostle Paul talks about pain being fundamental in the life of a Christ follower. He wrote,

Since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. — Romans 8:17–18 NLT

As loyal followers of Jesus, we are liberated from the controlling power of sin and death. We are God’s children, part of His family, and we wait in expectation of a pain-free forever in Heaven with our living Lord! That is our incredible inheritance.

However, the world has not yet been liberated from the controlling power of sin and death. Sin still wreaks havoc in our world, bringing death, decay, and dysfunction — from the smallest cells in our bodies to the leadership of the largest countries.

The growing effects of sin lead to evil and suffering that God allows but does not cause.

Paul goes on to explain that pain is woven into the very nature of creation itself:

The creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. — Romans 8:20–21 NIV

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Creation was subjected to frustration by the will of the one who subjected it? Why does Paul say that? If we go back to the creation story in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read that God gave His great gift of life and relationship to Adam and Eve. They lived in perfect harmony with God for a while, but then they rebelled.

That’s when sin entered the equation, and God allowed frustration to collide with creation. Why? Because He gave us free will. Frustration is the result of sin, a result of our free will, and it ushered in decay and eroded God’s perfect creation — a creation that included a world without pain.

To deal with pain means we must first acknowledge it, and that requires being painfully honest about it.

Who’s Responsible for Pain?

The fall of humanity, this rebellion, was not and is not God’s responsibility. It’s ours.

And because of that choice, we live in a place that’s frustrated, that is not perfect and is often marked by pain. Because of that choice, the storms of life rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

You might say, “Well, I certainly wasn’t in the garden of Eden. I didn’t rebel against God. Why am I paying for someone else’s mistake?” Have you ever sinned? Ever told a lie, even a “little white lie”? Ever coveted what your neighbor had? Ever fudged a bit on some of your tax numbers? Dealt with pride? Battled selfishness?

All of us are guilty of sin, so all of us have contributed to the fallenness of the world.

But the good news is that Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sin and restore us to a perfect relationship with him! Remember, Paul tells us that our current sufferings are nothing compared to what Jesus can and will do in us.

Pain is inescapable, yet it is also explainable when we understand that we live in a fallen world. But having that knowledge doesn’t necessarily make enduring it any easier, does it? It doesn’t stop the hurt, doesn’t heal the wounds, and doesn’t teach us how to maintain joy and peace despite the constant flow of pain in and out of our lives. Navigating our way through our pain and making progress toward healing is a process — one that requires honesty.

Being Painfully Honest

The problem with pain isn’t just that it hurts but that we have no idea how to handle the hurt. We want to avoid it. Ignore it. Make it go away by any means possible. Above all, we don’t want to face our pain — anything but that! Why? Because pain makes us uncomfortable, and we’re creatures who cherish our comfort.

To deal with pain means we must first acknowledge it, and that requires being painfully honest about it.

As part of Lisa’s and my decision to be honest about what we’ve been through, we recently did a pain audit of the years we’ve been married. Some people a lot smarter than us conducted a study and put together a list of especially stressful experiences that often lead to divorce, a list that includes infertility, having a child with special needs, and the death of a child. When we read their synopsis together, we just looked at each other, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

As we look back on our life together, do we still have questions? Oh yeah. Are some of these experiences still painful to talk about? Incredibly so. Are there times we are both still angry, wondering why God has allowed us so much pain? Absolutely. But we also know it is essential to be honest about our pain, not only with ourselves but also with God. Our honest anger doesn’t frighten Him, and our difficult questions don’t intimidate Him. How do we know? Just read some of the psalms, such as this one, in which David pours out his heart to God:

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Why are You so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer,

by night, but I find no rest. — Psalm 22:1–2 NIV

That’s some pretty raw honesty. And we’ve all been there, haven’t we? God, where are You? Why aren’t You answering? Why aren’t You acting? Why am I still in pain?

While it’s okay to ask, “God, why? Why?!” there comes a time when we must also ask another question. That’s when we move from “Why me?” to “What now?” At some point, we transition from the disappointment and grief that consume us to the hope and healing only Jesus can provide. Our daily decision to navigate through the pain together with God will determine how well our pain management and recovery go.

Adapted from A Path Through Pain by Ed & Lisa Young, copyright Ed & Lisa Young.

I have come to understand pain and have more compassion and empathy for those that struggle with pain, the older I get. When God created the heavens and the earth and then made man and woman, He called everything good. It was great! It was perfect! There was no pain and suffering. So what caused it to happen? Man, through His rebellion and sin, brought pain, suffering and death, all through disobedience to God. Wouldn’t we all like to go back and be obedient?! But God, in His love, provided a path to perfect healing, no pain, no suffering, no tears, no more medications… When Jesus walked on the earth He healed many of their physical maladies, but more importantly spoke truth about the kingdom of God, spiritual truth that would bring reconciliation with God, and life eternal in a perfect environment. If you know God, truly know God, you will endure this life through any pain and suffering, looking for the return of your Savior, and the perfect healing that only He can provide.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 24, 2023

Notes of Faith November 24, 2023

Perfect time to share a personal note… I have been deer hunting the last few days and supposed to be today…maybe a little later… that is why I am having to catch up with my Notes to you. Have seen many a deer, but none where we have the right to hunt and shoot. God’s will be done. Having fun with my family1 What a blessing from God!

Let Me fill you with My Love, Joy, and Peace

Delightful Lord,

I love listening to the song that You continually sing to me: “I take great delight in you; I renew you by My Love; I shout for Joy over you.” The voices of this world are a cacophony of chaos, pulling me this way and that — especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Help me not to listen to those voices but to challenge them with Your Word. Show me how to take breaks from the noise of the world — finding a place to be still in Your Presence so I can hear Your voice.

I believe there is immense hidden treasure to be found through listening to You. You are always pouring out blessings upon me, but some of Your richest blessings have to be actively sought.

I rejoice when You reveal Yourself to me — through Your Word, Your people, and the wonders of creation.

Having a seeking heart opens me up to receive more of You. The Bible gives me clear instructions: Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.

In Your generous Name, Jesus, amen.

Let Me fill you with My Love, Joy, and Peace. These are Glory-gifts, flowing from My living Presence.

The Lord your God is in your midst; He is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; He renews you by His love; He shouts for joy over you. — Zephaniah 3:17 NET

While [Peter] was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” — Matthew 17:5 NASB

Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. — Matthew 7:7 AMP

‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands.

Restful Lord Jesus,

I come to You seeking to find rest in Your Presence. As I relax with You, Lord, I can enjoy Your Peace during this exciting, hectic season. How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I long to be increasingly mindful of You. You’ve been teaching me that awareness of Your Presence can give me rest even when I’m very busy. An inner peacefulness flows out of remembering that You are with me always. This remembrance permeates my heart, mind, and spirit — filling me with Joy.

I confess that sometimes I get so focused on the problems I see and the predictions I hear that my joy gets buried under layers of worry and fear. When this happens, I need to bring my concerns to You — talking with You about each one, seeking Your help and guidance, asking You to remove those worry-layers. As I entrust My concerns into Your care and keeping, Joy begins to emerge again. I’ve learned that the most effective way for me to nurture this gladness is speaking and singing praises to You — the King of Glory!

In Your praiseworthy Name, amen.

I, your Lord and Savior, am alive within you. Learn to tune in to My living Presence by seeking Me in silence.

Excerpted from Jesus Listens for Advent by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

No matter our circumstances we can rest in the perfect joy and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you, like me, and sometimes get wrapped up in the moment that you forget that God is always with you, through anything and everything? Learning to live in the presence of God takes practice…kind of like learning patience but takes even more spiritual discipline. If you have never tried living in His presence, always knowing and feeling His heart and desire for you… start today. If you have… keep it up. I’m praying for you to continue to grow in His grace, mercy, strength and power.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith November 23, 2023

Notes of Faith November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!: The Right Attitude

Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name. — 1 Chronicles 29:13

The Pilgrim Fathers who landed at Plymouth to settle in what became the United States of America can teach us an important lesson about giving thanks.

During that first long winter, seven times as many graves were made for the dead as homes were made for the living. Seed, imported from England, failed to grow, and a ship that was to bring food and relief, brought instead thirty-five more mouths to feed, but no provisions. Some Pilgrims caught fish, and others hunted wild fowl and deer. They had a little English flour and some Indian corn.

Yet William Brewster, rising from a scanty dinner of clams and water, gave thanks to God “for the abundance of the sea and the treasure hid in the sand.”

According to today’s standards, the Pilgrims had almost nothing, but they possessed a profound and heartfelt gratitude to God for His love and mercy. Gratitude is one of the greatest Christian virtues; ingratitude, one of the most vicious sins.

Our English words thank and think come from the same word.

If we’ll stop to think, we’ll be more thankful.

For the Christian, every day is Thanksgiving Day!

Give Thanks

Enter [God’s] gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. — Psalm 100:4

Throughout the Bible we are commanded to be thankful. A spirit of thanksgiving is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord.

First, we are to be thankful for the material blessings God gives us. Some people are never satisfied with what they have, but what a difference it makes when we realize that everything we have has been given to us by God!

Second, thank God for the people in your life. It is so easy to take them for granted, or to complain or become angry because they don’t meet our every wish. But we need to give thanks for our spouse, our children, our relatives, and our friends. Most of all, thank God for Christ and His love for you.

Third, thank God in the midst of trials and ever persecution. We draw back from difficulties, but not one of us is exempt from trouble. Yet in the midst of trials we can thank God because we know He has promised to be with us and help us.

For the Christian, every day is Thanksgiving Day!

Excerpted from Wisdom for Each Day by Billy Graham, copyright Billy Graham Literary Trust.

Give thanks with a grateful heart = every day!

I pray that you have a wonderful time of giving thanks with family, friends, or just you and God. He is enough for everyone!

Pastor Dale