Notes of Faith March 2, 2024

Notes of Faith March 2, 2024

Upside Down

So we’re talking about living a life that’s been overturned, turned upside down by the power, the presence, and the love of Jesus Christ. And, because of that, how you can use that life to turn the world upside down and bring more people to the Basement. But before we rush into anything, I want to take the time to break this down a little. Let’s start with Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them. — Acts 17:1–9

If you pick up the New King James Version or the English Standard Version (or if you grew up reading the King James Version like I did, which just sticks in my memory), it says Paul and Silas have turned the world “upside down.” But the word in Greek — the language the book of Acts was originally written in — literally means “to upset.” Instead of “caused trouble” in verse 6, that phrase could be translated, “they caused the world to be upset, and now they are here disturbing our city, too.”

But... why be upset? Why would you want to live your life turned upside down? Who wants to do that — live in an entirely different way than you’re living right now? Who wants to go to the Basement initially? Aren’t we all trying to make it to the top?

I’m a bit of a literalist, so I love definitions — a lot. Just in case you’re not a nerd like me, I want to give you the definition of “upset” so you have the necessary context for the coming pages.

Upset (v.): 1. to overturn, to destroy the power of, to overthrow, to defeat, or to vanquish. 2. to disturb, or derange completely; to put out of order, to throw into disorder.

The definition in dictionaries always goes on to give a few examples, like upsetting a system, a mechanism, or an apartment, or defeating a more formidable opponent in war, politics, or sports, as we talked about already (see, nerds do rule the world).

Give permission to God to come in and turn your life — your everything — upside down.

WHY BE UPSET?

Well, truth is that there are people all over the world who somehow made a commitment to have their lives turned upside down — even me. I came to a revelation that I was not living my life the way I should be. I was determined to make it to the penthouse, but through Scripture and through an understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I found out what so many others — to the tune of more than two and a half billion people (by most recent records) — have discovered: that my life should not be lived the way I want it but the way that He wants me to live it. This threw the way I’d lived my whole life up until that point into chaos and disorder until I landed in the Basement.

Look back at the italicized statement in that quote from Acts 17 for just a second. I wonder if the Jews in that city had any idea how wildly exaggerative and unintentionally prophetic their words were. Paul and Silas hadn’t turned the whole world upside down — they’re in freaking Thessalonica. It’s not like the Jews in this city were getting letters from the tip of Latin America... it’s been only thirty years since Jesus’ death. You’re telling me Paul and Silas did a lap around the whole world — mostly walking — and made it back to this tiny city? Suuuuure...

Come on. Stop.

That being said, it is a wildly exaggerative and unintentionally prophetic comment for that moment. That now, over two thousand years later, what they said out of their melodrama is still happening — all over the world.

The gospel is still invading people’s cities and turning lives upside down with the message, love, and hope of Jesus Christ.

It’s happening in every city. In every country. In every tribe. In every language. Every day.

That a couple of angry Jewish guys could make a wild statement that was both untrue and true at the same time... Man, I just think God has a sense of humor!

Listen, I know there are a lot of people who might put this book down right now. If living their life for Jesus means they have to make hard lifestyle choices and changes in their habits, the places they go, and the people they spend time with — not only is that something they’re not really into, that’s the last thing they want. They are on their way to the penthouse and their minds will not be changed; they will not be stopped!

But can I challenge you to stick around for a moment? [In this book] I want to give you what I believe are my top three reasons why you should be upset and why you should give permission to God to come in and turn your life — your everything — upside down.

Excerpted with permission from Welcome to the Basement by Tim Ross, copyright Tim Ross.

Certainly our lives are turned upside down when we come to Christ. We move from death to life, darkness to light. Choices, decisions, even thoughts become affected by this newness of life. Being turned upside down is a good thing, spiritually, for all of us, since we were sinners headed to the condemnation of eternal hell, then saved by grace through faith in Jesus to eternal blessing and reward with God in His heavenly home. Earthly life is also turned upside down as we live for Christ instead of rebelling against Him, doing His will instead of our own. Maybe we just need a few more reminders of our upside down life. This sounds like a good day for a pineapple upside down cake!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 1, 2024

Notes of Faith March 1, 2024

Crisis: Three Principles to Help You Move from “Why Me?” to “What Now?”

When crisis calls, the first place we should take our pain is to the pages of God’s survival guide, written for us. In those pages, we find principles we can stand on that will move us from “Why me?” (shock and struggle) to “What now?” (sailing and sharing). And three of the most important principles to understand are these:

God is not your enemy, God is your security, and God desires intimacy with you.

PRINCIPLE 1: GOD IS NOT YOUR ENEMY

We have to realize and accept that while God allows storms to hit your life and mine, He is not the storm maker; Satan is. Satan is the instigator and the mastermind behind all the evil in the world.

We see this clearly in Job’s crisis story. The Bible tells us that Satan approached God to trash-talk Job:

You have made him prosper in everything he does... But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face! — Job 1:10–11 NLT

But Satan was wrong. Here’s how Job responded when he lost everything:

Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face downward on the ground.

He said, “I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now He has taken away. May His name be praised!”

In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.

— Job 1:20–22 GNT

Remember, because we’ve sinned, we live in a fallen world; and because our world is fallen, we will encounter evil and crises. That may be difficult to understand and hard to accept, but to blame God for the storms of life would be inaccurate.

Recognize that Satan is the enemy, and resist the temptation to distance yourself from God out of anger or misplaced blame. You might argue, “But I’m not distancing myself from God. I just don’t understand. Why me?” But do you know what you’re really saying when you ask, “Why me?” Here’s the full expression of that question: “God, why did You make this happen to me? Why did You perpetrate this hurt on me and on my family? God, explain Yourself to me.”

I (Lisa) was full of questions for God in the wake of LeeBeth’s passing. “Why? Why did LeeBeth have to die? Why do other people do much worse and live? Why are we going through this hellacious time when we have served God faithfully? Why couldn’t her story be the story of victory here on earth? Why did God cause this to happen? Why, why, why?”

I accepted Christ when I was nine years old, and I have always loved the Lord and tried my best to obey His commands. I have sinned — of course I have — but I have never rebelled. I remember when I first read the book of Job and something akin to a shiver of dread went through me. I hope the Lord doesn’t allow Satan to test me, is what that shiver said. I don’t want to be like Job. No one does.

No one wants to endure pain or loss or suffering.

Even Job got to the point where he asked, “Why me?” Not long after becoming sick, Job threw himself a pity party. The Bible records a monologue that goes on for many chapters in which Job asked all kinds of why questions — why hadn’t he died at birth, why did God keep testing him, and why wouldn’t God simply allow him to die? And then he said this:

I am tired of living.

Listen to my bitter complaint.

Don’t condemn me, God.

Tell me! What is the charge against me?

Is it right for You to be so cruel? — Job 10:1–3 GNT

Job asked what many of us ask when pain levels us: “What have I done to deserve this? Why me, God? Why me?” After Job’s long lament, God responded to Job in an interesting way. He said,

Who are you to question My wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?

Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you. Were you there when I made the world?

If you know so much, tell Me about it... Can you shout orders to the clouds

and make them drench you with rain? And if you command the lightning to flash,

will it come to you and say, “At your service”? — Job 38:2–4, 34–35 GNT

God kind of played a game of Not-So-Trivial Pursuit with Job, saying, “Okay, Job, think fast. Category: History. Where were you, Job, when I laid the foundations of the earth? That’s right. You weren’t there. Next category: Sports and Leisure. Job, have you ever on a Sunday afternoon kind of just played with lightning bolts? No? Didn’t think so.” And on it went.

The book of Job devotes four whole chapters to God’s response (Job 38–41). In His response, God asked Job this killer question:

Are you trying to prove that I am unjust — to put Me in the wrong and yourself in the right? — Job 40:8 GNT

Wow. Have you ever thought about it that way? That when we ask, “Why me?” we’re essentially putting ourselves in the right and God in the wrong?

No, God is not the enemy. And Job finally realized that. He said,

I know, Lord, that You are all-powerful; that You can do everything you want.

You ask how I dare question Your wisdom when I am so very ignorant.

I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels too great for me to know. — Job 42:2–3 GNT

We have a very real enemy — Satan. He is a liar and a thief. When we’re in pain and we need someone to be mad at, he is the one to be mad at. The temptation to blame God and ask, “Why me?” is incredibly strong when we’re hurting. In our anguish, we may want to distance ourselves or turn away from our Father in Heaven. But that will not lead us forward on the path to healing. Instead, we must stay anchored to Christ, connected to Heaven by the truth of God’s Word, and accept that God is not the enemy.

God is not your enemy, God is your security, and God desires intimacy with you.

PRINCIPLE 2: GOD IS YOUR SECURITY

Even when the storm seems fierce and unending, know that God will give you the power and provide the resources to get through it. He will lead you through any hardship when you rely on Him. How do we know? It’s in his crisis survival guide, the Bible.

A powerful passage in Isaiah repeats one word we can cling to during the storms and pain of life. See if you can pick up on what that word is:

When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;

your troubles will not overwhelm you.

When you pass through fire, you will not be burned;

the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God,

the holy God of Israel, who saves you. — Isaiah 43:2–3 GNT

If you noticed the two uses of the word through, you got it right. Embedded in the word through is a promise — you will reach the other side. You will pass through the deep waters and through the fire.

God does not promise immediate escape, but He does promise a way through the trial when you persevere under the pressure and remain loyal to Him. He will guide you, protect you, heal you, and help you grow. Though at times your journey through pain may feel like it’s one step forward and two steps back, you won’t be crushed beneath the weight of your pain and challenges. You won’t stall out. You won’t succumb to despair. Why? Because you have this blessed promise:

When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you.

I will be with you in the hospital room.

I will be with you at the divorce hearing.

I will be with you at the graveside service.

I will be with you at the rehabilitation facility.

I will be with you when you pack your bags to leave.

I will be with you when you enter that meeting.

I will be with you when you are all alone.

I will be with you.

I will see you through to the other side of it. I will be with you on the path through pain.

God has promised to see you through your pain, to help you navigate your crisis. When the skies turn black and the winds threaten to capsize your boat, reach out to God as your life preserver. He is your security.

PRINCIPLE 3: GOD DESIRES INTIMACY

Job was a righteous man. He was obedient to God and devoted himself to living with integrity and doing the right things. But until Job was allowed to suffer, he didn’t know God intimately. In that sense, we might say Job was spiritually immature — more of a rule follower than a lover of God.

When God confronted Job with that killer question, “Are you trying to prove that I am unjust—to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?” (Job 40:8 GNT), Job responded with contrition and repentance. He said,

You told me to listen while You spoke and to try to answer Your questions.

In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen You with my own eyes.

So I am ashamed of all I have said

and repent in dust and ashes. — Job 42:4–6 GNT

Job’s faith had been based on the stories of others — on the faith of others. He knew God’s laws and obeyed them, but he didn’t know God. Until he started walking the path through pain, he hadn’t personally experienced the redemption of God.

Job’s reward for persevering was to see God with his own eyes; and that encounter gave Job a whole new perspective — not only on his suffering but also on who God is.

After Job’s repentance, God showed him favor. The last part of Job’s life was even more blessed than the first:

The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had had before. — Job 42:10 GNT

But more than the children and the livestock God restored, Job received life’s greatest blessing: intimacy with God. When we’re in crisis, Job’s story teaches us not to focus on the why of our suffering but on the who — the God who is with us through it.

God is not your enemy. Rather, He’s the kryptonite to your enemy — He’s your security. But to experience His ever-present help, you must establish intimacy with your heavenly Father. Maybe you need to invite God into the darkness of your pain. Maybe you need to repent like Job did. Maybe you need to do both. I promise that whatever steps you take toward God are also steps you’re taking on the path through pain.

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

Intimacy with God is what even the pastor of a church could miss by being distracted by many things, whether it is health, family needs, a crisis of circumstances, life brings many distractions to intimacy. Walking with God as Enoch did is something all Christians should desire and pursue. Being intimate with our Creator and Savior is the greatest of blessings!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 29, 2024

Notes of Faith February 29, 2024

Loving Beyond Slander

Years ago, I was slandered publicly on the internet. People said awful things about me and my beliefs, about my work, about what I stand for. And other people believed them.

I hung up the phone after reading the hateful words to my friend who lives across the country. She had tried to comfort me, but the situation was too big, overwhelming, and distressing. Feeling sad that her words didn’t lift me, I walked into my bathroom and turned on my shower. Getting under the showerhead, I released all the tension in my body, and the flood of tears came pouring out.

I cried tears for every awful word this person said about me. I cried tears for the people who believed her. I cried tears for the pit in my stomach that made me think, How could someone actually believe all that?

The experience brought so much pain, self-doubt, and confusion. Self-doubt in what I was doing online cultivating the community of Blessed is She and about my pure and transparent heart for others. Confusion about my ability to trust others and how someone could treat me so poorly and have little to no regard for my feelings, my family, my faith.

And yet, as painful as it was, it did not discourage me from my work spreading God’s teachings, especially on love.

Despite that situation, I still believe in people, redemption, and mercy because of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In today’s scripture, Jesus is very specific:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:27–28

Our Lord Himself teaches us that even if someone hates us, we still love her. Even when someone curses us, we still pray for her and bless her.

I believe when Jesus Christ commanded this, He meant a soul-surrendering sort of love. One that doesn’t make sense, is contrary to every instinctual feeling. This kind of love means that even if someone were to try to harm your heart... you would love her.

Lord, if that’s not one of the hardest commandments You’ve ever said, I don’t know what is.

Loving her means treating her with dignity even when it is painful to do.

I’ve come to understand that loving someone doesn’t always mean letting him or her in your life over and over again to potentially cause you more harm. If we are in a position of danger, we absolutely should get out of the situation and pray for and bless someone from afar.

Sister, Jesus knows about that suffering you or someone close to you may have gone through or is currently going through. And He is with you in that pain. He will never leave or forsake you.

Jesus gave His life even for those enemies who crucified Him.

Even when (not if) someone hurts you — in your workplace, in your families, in your friendships — you are invited to treat them as you would have them treat you, just as Jesus commands us today in Luke 6:31.

But He doesn’t stop there. His commands are actualized in His life and death. He isn’t asking us to do something He Himself isn’t willing to do. He demonstrated that on the cross. He showed us what it costs to “love [our] enemies” (Luke 6:27).

Jesus gave His life even for those enemies who crucified Him.

He lived in the freedom of the Holy Spirit to give even in the midst of the attempt to strip Him of His dignity, His worth, His life.

And in the midst of that suffering, He freely gave for you and me. In the midst of whatever comes our way, we can listen to our Savior’s commands and see how He lived His life to love as He did.

Like Him, we can lay down our lives, every single day. Like Him, we can love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who hurt us. With Him, we can live a life of mercy.

If you don’t have a Bible and want one… I will give you one!

READ: LUKE 6:27–28, LUKE 6:30–31

Take a mental inventory of how you’ve approached being wronged at work. Are you self-righteous in your venting or condemnation of the person or his or her actions? Have you tried to approach the situation with today’s scripture in mind? What would you do differently, if anything?

Who in your life has shown you how to live out the Golden Rule? Who has treated you kindly when you didn’t return the favor? Offer a prayer for these people now.

Excerpted from Made New: 52 Devotions for Catholic Women by Nell O’Leary, Leana Bowler, Brittany Calivitta, Jenna Guizar, and Liz Kelly, copyright Blessed Is She Inc.

Living a life of grace and mercy is extremely difficult. Our fallen nature wants only for itself – self protection, self provision, self position. Being humble, loving God and our neighbor just seems wrong without the perspective of a relationship with God. Let us seek Him more, to commune with Him, walking every moment in His presence, responding to this life with His perspective, His love and compassion, giving grace and mercy to all.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 28, 2024

Notes of Faith February 28, 2024

Practice the Art of Gentleness

Nothing is so strong as true gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as true strength. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Have you ever seen gentleness de-escalate a tense situation? If so, maybe you were the source of that gentleness.

The Bible tells us that a gentle answer can calm a person’s anger (Proverbs 15:1). Gentleness almost always contributes to contentment as well as peace. Throughout His life, Jesus showed us by His example the power of gentleness.

See in Matthew 11:29 the way He described Himself:

Accept my teachings and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. — NCV

And consider His gentleness with a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were ready to stone her in accordance with Jewish law. Then Jesus made this simple statement:

Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.

— John 8:7

When no one did, when each one walked away, Jesus was alone with the woman. To her He said simply,

Go and sin no more. — John 8:11 NLT

Choose gentleness today. Refrain from judging others. Treat the people you encounter the way you would like them to treat you, the gentle way your Good Shepherd treats you.

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most beautiful expression of Jesus’ gentle ways with us:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Extend Grace

Grace is the face that love wears when it meets imperfection. ~ Joseph R. Cooke

The world was a kinder place when people interacted face-to-face. It isn’t easy to say rude things when you’re looking someone in the eyes. Slamming someone over social media or with a flippant text message is much easier — and that is happening far too much. Freedom of speech has lost its filter. Thoughtless, disrespectful, hurtful comments run rampant today in social media, late-night talk shows, and even the news.

How do you deal with rude people? When someone is rude to you, maybe your first reaction is to be rude right back. Rudeness responding to rudeness destroys peace. There are better ways to deal with a person’s lack of courtesy and kindness.

Recognize that someone’s imperfections are just that. If a person makes a disagreeable comment on your social media post, cuts in front of you in the grocery line, or, ignoring you, keeps talking on their cell phone, don’t take it personally. Their behavior is about them, not you. So rather than allowing something to upset you and steal your contentment, practice grace by taking the following steps:

1. Take a deep breath.

2. Remember what you’re committed to in your heart.

3. Lead by example and treat them the way you would like to be treated.

4. Go one step further and offer authentic listening, an act of kindness, or help with something you learn they are dealing with.

5. Extending grace to difficult people takes practice, but remembering how many times you have received grace makes extending it to others a little easier. Blessing people with grace — with the grace of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, or patience — can help break the cycle of upset in the world. Become a beacon of grace and peace.

Grace is the face that love wears.

Excerpted from Love the Life You Have by Jean Fischer, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Extending grace to others is a sign of spiritual maturity. It is almost impossible to do in our old nature because we only think of self. Speaking of self, we often need to extend grace to ourselves, accepting faults, failures, even sin. We are a work in progress, (sanctification) and are pursuing holiness, yet we continue to fall and need to forgive ourselves as God does because they are all forgiven in Christ. Grace does not say sin, faults, failures are good. It allows a person to see their sin and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is a gift, undeserved. Believers in Jesus have received this gift and also need to offer this gift to others… more often than we do!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 27, 2024

Notes of Faith February 27, 2024

The Value of Time Alone with God

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. – Mark 1:35 NIV

There are two reasons we find it agonizing to spend time alone: either we get bored easily, or we want to avoid the reality of where our life has ended up. I was the latter. I didn’t want to be honest with myself or with God about how confused I was or how disappointed I felt with where I had landed in life (because of my own choices). But spending intentional time alone every day proved to be the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

You Listen Better in Solitude

In the Bible, God gave visions to people while they were in quiet places of solitude: the desert, the wilderness, the hills. Paul spent time alone. Moses spent time alone.

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. — Luke 5:16 AMP

Alone is where you receive direction, clarity, answers, wisdom, and confidence.

When was the last time you sat quietly by yourself and just thought? About life. Your future. What you really want. What you want to change. Who you need to forgive. What God is speaking to your heart.

Perhaps, like me years ago, you haven’t been still long enough to ask yourself those vital questions and — more importantly — to listen to God for answers.

Stop Talking and Listen

I used to do all the talking when I prayed. Like many people, I told the Lord what was on my heart, pleaded for things, and then said Amen. But your dream is never revealed to you while you’re talking. You must be quiet and just listen. You’ll be amazed how loudly God speaks! As God promises in Jeremiah:

Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things. — Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

Getting away from all the distractions vying for your attention and just listening is the most challenging and rewarding thing you will ever do to discover your purpose. It is truly the greatest private habit of the most successful and fulfilled people in the world. They make time to be alone, in quiet, to listen.

God wants to give you the healing, the wisdom, the direction you so desperately desire. He wants to reveal His next steps for your life. He wants to whisper insights and creative concepts. But, as we see in scripture, you must get quiet and alone to listen.

God wants to give you the healing, the wisdom, the direction you so desperately desire.

Welcoming the Holy Spirit to Your Space

To do this, it is important that you designate a space in your house that brings peace to you. Make that your special place to get quiet, even if it’s a closet.

If you go into a room desiring to hear from God and that space is disorganized, junky, and cluttered, you’re likely to focus more on what needs to be cleaned up than you are on hearing from the Lord.

Imagine the Holy Spirit as a holy guest in your home. How would you want your room to look if someone you considered a holy guest were to walk in? In what condition would it need to be for you to not feel embarrassed? Create a space that welcomes the Holy Spirit and removes anything competing for your attention.

A few years ago, I was speaking at a conference in Denver, Colorado. When I walked into the speaker’s room, I gasped! I was shocked at how well my host knew my style, my taste, and my favorite everything. Everywhere I looked, she had creatively placed little displays of “Terri.”

On one table sat a gorgeous vase of blooming pink roses. Pink — my signature color. Another table was scattered with miniature Eiffel Towers and dozens of mouthwatering cupcakes piled high with pink buttercream icing. French music was playing, and some women were even wearing French couture, knowing my love of France. I was truly overwhelmed by their hospitality and the detailed preparation for my arrival. Bottom line, I felt so welcomed.

Prepare for International Time with God

You don’t have to get this creative as you prepare to spend intentional time alone with God every day. But you can create an atmosphere for your heavenly Father that causes Him to feel welcome and that is conducive for you to hear His voice. As Jesus taught,

When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then you Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

— Matthew 6:6 ESV

Invitation for You: Ask the Lord what He is calling you to do in this season of life? Make time to be alone in the quiet and ask the Lord to help you hear His voice. Make sure you bring a journal and write down what the Lord reveals to you.

Start with Prayer: God, I want to welcome You into this time. I pray for an undivided heart, that I might know You more. Amen.

Written for Devotionals Daily by Terri Foy, author of The Alone Advantage.

There could never be a better experience than walking and talking with God. Though we do this now as believers, one day we will experience this in reality as did Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before their sin against God. Being still and knowing God is not an easy thing to do, but, oh the glory we inhabit when we recognize His presence and “snuggle” in the glory of God. Let us endeavor to walk more closely with God today and closer still tomorrow, until He comes to claim those who belong to Him, making us complete and perfect, holy and pure, to enjoy our eternal journey with our Savior and Lord!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 26, 2024

Notes of Faith February 26, 2024

What Lies Beneath

When Amy and I were first married, we purchased a really small home built in 1910. The only two closets in the entire house were shoebox size. We moved in and hung a few shirts and pants in each closet. That was it. No more room. We put a couple of pairs of shoes in each closet, which maxed out the floor space. Uh-oh. What about our big bag of dog food, board games, photo albums, VHS tapes (this was the early 1990s), rollerblades (again, early ’90s), toilet plunger, winter clothes, and coats?

No problem. Our little house had a little basement, which we used as storage for everything.

It worked great!

Until our first big rainstorm.

You’ve heard the expression “It was raining cats and dogs”? Well, it was raining Great Danes and bobcats. (Not really, but my incident from the driveway causes me to see bobcats everywhere.)

We’d been out for the evening, and after a cautious drive through torrential rain, we made it home. When we walked into the house, we found our basement flooded with three feet of water. Our real estate agent had neglected to mention that the basement flooded several times a year. We looked and saw, to our dismay, floating dog food and board games and photo albums and rollerblades.

I leaped into the torrent and found myself standing waist deep in water. Our toilet plunger floated by. I considered grabbing it so I could start plunging, but I didn’t know where to start. That’s when Amy, peering safely from four steps up, reminded me that the previous owners had left a sump pump in the basement. I felt around until I found it. I pulled it out of the water and looked around for an outlet. I noticed the end of an extension cord dangling from a rafter directly overhead.

Hmm. I needed the sump pump to work. The sump pump required power to work. As I was still standing waist deep in the water, I knew this could be problematic, but the connection had to happen.

Had. To.

I thought, If I plug this in really, really quickly, maybe I won’t get shocked.

So I said a quick, wet prayer and pressed the two metal prongs of the pump cord into the corresponding slits in the extension cord.

When they connected, power happened. I know power happened because my body became the pathway for billions and billions of teeny-tiny electrons. Electric power surged through the cords and into my body. Apparently the piercing shock triggered certain neurons in the language center of my brain where a long-unused word — a very bad word — was stored.

Milliseconds later, the sheer force of the electric current pushed the foul word toward the front of my face and out of my mouth. Unfortunately, it did not come out quickly. Probably because of the gazillion volts of electricity surging through my body, it came out at an unusually increased volume and seemed to last as long as an episode of The Bachelor.

I looked up and saw the horror on my new wife’s face. Her preacher-husband had just shouted the mother of all bad words. I also saw fear — I think she believed I was about to die, and that word would be the last thing I ever said.

Part-Time Follower

You know how my house had an issue under the surface that the real estate agent hadn’t acknowledged? Well, I had an issue under the surface that I hadn’t acknowledged.

To be very clear — the bad word was not the problem. It was just embarrassing, outward evidence of the real, inward problem. Deep down, like in my basement, I knew there was something seeping into my heart and starting a flood that could create an even bigger issue sooner than later if I didn’t deal with it. In that shocking moment, I got a wake-up call.

I realized that when it came to my devotion to God, I was simply “going through the motions.”

As followers of Jesus we know we’re supposed to prioritize Him. You may have seen it on your friend’s Instagram bio: God first.

But it’s not just a cool thing we put on social media and T-shirts, it’s in Scripture. It doesn’t just appear in the Bible, it’s a major theme. In the book of Matthew alone, we find Jesus saying:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37).

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37–38).

Why should we put God first? Well, it’s kind of like a car. The manufacturer tells you to put gas in the gas tank. We don’t question, “What’s your problem? Why do you insist on my putting gas in the gas tank?!” We understand that’s the way a car works.

God first.

How you work is to have God at the center of your life. You put God “in your gas tank” by putting Him first. If you don’t, you will always feel empty. And always seek more.

If you don’t put God first, nothing else will work right. Have you ever buttoned a shirt and by mistake put the first button in the second buttonhole? You keep buttoning, then get to the end and realize, Wait a second. Everything is wrong. Your shirt is totally screwed up. Why? Because if you put the first button in the second buttonhole, every button thereafter is in the wrong place. And if we don’t put God first — if we put something else in that top spot — everything else ends up wrong and you find yourself wondering why your life feels screwed up.

If you don’t put God first, you’ll put something else first, and nothing else can handle the pressure of being the most important thing in your life.

If you make your job the most important thing, your job will always disappoint you.

If you make your marriage the most important, your marriage will struggle.

If you put your kids and their success first, they’ll be burdened by the weight of that pressure and will probably disappoint you.

If you prioritize being happy, you will forever be disappointed, because you won’t be able to achieve true, lasting happiness without God.

First is too much pressure to put on anything else. God knows that, so he invites you to put Him first.

And I wasn’t putting God first.

Yes, I was a Christian. And yes, I was a pastor. But somehow, somewhere along the way, instead of being faithfully devoted to pursuing Jesus, my devotion devolved to duty.

I still read the Bible, but only to prepare sermons.

I still prayed, but mostly in public during church services.While I was waist deep in electrified water, God revealed something to me that stopped me in my tracks. He didn’t speak audibly. But what I felt seemed louder than audible. God showed me this:

I had become a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ.

Instead of being devoted to Jesus, I was devoted to pleasing people and looking “spiritual” and being a “good pastor.” I was devoted to doing what I wanted to do.

But I wasn’t fully devoted to Jesus.

Can we pause here?

I’d like to give you a moment to reflect on and honestly answer this question:

Are you faithfully, passionately pursuing Jesus?

Are you seeking Him first? Are you pursuing Him with whole-hearted devotion? Or are you a bit more like I was?

You might realize that you are a full-time mom and a part-time follower of Christ. Or a full-time student but only partially devoted to Jesus. You could be fully invested in your business, your fitness routine, your YouTube channel, or your freakishly stylish appearance, but you are not fully devoted to the one who is fully devoted to you.

In this moment of honesty, you may discover that you are not as committed, not as close, not as intimate with God as you once were. Or you might acknowledge that you’ve never really walked closely with Him, sensing His loving presence, His ongoing guidance, and His supernatural power.

Why do we want to be devoted but find it so challenging?

When you think about it, the answer may seem obvious. No one ever gets close to Jesus by accident. Right? Has anyone ever said this:

I didn’t mean to, but somehow I’m stronger spiritually today than ever before.

I’m not sure what happened, but all of a sudden I know God’s Word and sense His presence.

I was just doing my own thing, minding my own business, and suddenly I’ve become full of spiritual power and confidence in Christ.

We will never accidentally get close to Jesus, so instead we will choose to think ahead and pre-decide:

I will be devoted.

Because of who God is and what He has done for me, I am willing to do anything and give up everything for Him. God is first.

God deserves that. Because God is God.

When you understand who God is, nothing else makes sense but to put Him first.

I. Will. Be. Devoted.

Excerpted from Think Ahead by Craig Groeschel, copyright Craig Groeschel.

This is not me, thankfully, but it could easily be. There are so many earthly distractions that try to take God’s place. But if we do that, everything else seems so messed up. We need to let God, and God alone be in first place, the priority of our lives before anything else. Sounds easy. But you will find yourself having a hard time, pastor or not. Let us pursue God not because of His incalculable blessings but because of who He is!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 25, 2024

Notes of Faith February 25, 2024

There’s a Snake at Your Feet

The enemy is good at his job. He uses our desires against us, persuades us, tricks us, and lies to us all so we reach for that thing we think we need. He tells us God is holding out on us, but A. J. Swoboda reminds us to be aware of temptations and fix our eyes on Jesus.

Was the tree of knowledge of good and evil bad? No, God created this tree. It was a good tree.

Still, it was dangerous, and humans weren’t to eat from it. Satan’s appeal, then, was that the fruit of this tree was “good for food,” “pleasant to the eye,” and “desirable for wisdom.” Notice that Satan’s appeal to the humans is to take something that was good. The tree was good — just off limits for the humans.

This is often how temptation works. We are tempted to take good, beautiful, and glorious things and use them in unintended ways. Food, sex, and pleasure aren’t bad. But they can be dangerous, and their boundaries must be honored.

Just because something is desirable and good does not mean it is for us.

Satan is good at arousing human desire to use good things in ways God does not bless. This is why the ancient author of the Shepherd of Hermas said the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” aroused within humans something called “overcuriosity.”1 Satan was piquing interest.

The importance of this, in part, lay in us developing a maturing awareness that God can (and does) create good things that simply aren’t for us. Just because something is beautiful and desirable doesn’t mean it is for our desire’s consumption. The temptation for more than what’s been provided is how the serpent deceived the man and the woman — and how he often deceives us. There’s a reason the Sanskrit word for “war” is “desire for more cows.” Our world is ravaged by a desire for more. One could say it is the reason for most wars.

Humans had plenty. Yet the serpent aroused a desire for more. Upon believing this message, the woman “saw” and “took.” Notice how these two words are used together:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. — Genesis 3:6

We’re surprised to discover that the man was standing right there, “with her.” The text doesn’t put the weight of all responsibility on the woman’s shoulders. They both were there. The man was there too, watching, observing, and doing nothing. Yes, she saw, and she took. But he just passively watched.

This won’t be the last time seeing and taking are connected in biblical literature.2 When they are, something evil often takes place. For example, when King David observes from his Jerusalem rooftop the beautiful Bathsheba below, he sees and takes her (2 Samuel 11:2–5). And the prophet Samson sees a Canaanite descendent and takes her (Judges 14). Achan does the same thing as he observes the glories of the Babylonian cape, seeing and taking it for himself (Joshua 7:20–21) Time and again, humans see and take what’s not theirs. Perhaps Ariana Grande was reading her Bible when she wrote her famous song: “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.”

One telltale sign of a world rebelling against its Creator is that its God-given limitations and boundaries are thrown aside.

As Dallas Willard put it, “I will have what I desire.”3 Sinful humanity, in its newfound “freedom,” seeks to take and conquer and steal that which it was not given. This is the essence of sin and the danger of unmitigated desire: seeing and taking what isn’t ours. We see and take when we abuse or weaponize sexuality. Those in power see and take the lands and places of others. All of us see and take when we store up greedily and mercilessly hoard more than what’s needed. It’s the spirit of Julius Caesar who declared in the battle of Zela, “Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”). All sin, at its core, is the act of seeing and taking something that isn’t given by God.4

There is no missing out in Jesus.

This story of Genesis 3 can be read alongside Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness in Matthew 4. There, Jesus comes face-to-face with Satan and faces three temptations: to turn stones into bread, to jump off a high place, and to bow down and worship Satan so he might have the nations. One of these temptations particularly parallels the Genesis 3 account:

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give You,’ he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me’. — Matthew 4:8–9

The serpent promises to give Jesus all of the kingdoms, or nations, if and only if Jesus bows down and worships Satan. Go back to the garden where the serpent makes a promise to the woman:

‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’. — Genesis 3:4–5

The serpent promises, “You will be like God.” But there was a catch. The woman had to obey the serpent’s words to receive the serpent’s promise. A thread weaves between these two accounts. What’s the singular problem with offering Jesus the nations? All the nations and kingdoms were already His. What’s the singular problem with offering the woman to be “like God”? She had already been endowed with the image of God from the moment of her creation.

By a simple question, he convinces her that she wasn’t already like God through the mother tongue of the serpent: insinuation.

Both stories put the serpent’s methodia on full display. He offers us the gift of something we already have in God. He often awakens our desires for something God has already provided for us. In short, he awakens our desires by insinuating that we are missing out. This is where our desire becomes most twisted. As Jen Pollock Michel writes, “And here is how desire becomes corrupt: wanting derails into selfishness, greed and demanding ingratitude when we’ve failed to recognize and receive the good that God has already given.”5

There’s a solution: awakening to the reality that there’s no such thing as “missing out” when we are in Christ. As Paul wrote,

All things are yours. — 1 Corinthians 3:21

There is no missing out in Jesus. No, we won’t be fulfilled when we get married because we are already fulfilled in Christ. No, we don’t have to find our own identities because we already have names and love in the One who named us and made us. No, we won’t experience true happiness when we get the job or the paycheck we want because we are already, now, full of the presence and grace of God.

When you begin believing you are missing out, look down. There’s a snake at your feet. The serpent awakens our flesh by trying to convince us that we lack something. This is just his old bag of tricks.

Excerpted from The Gift of Thorns by A. J. Swoboda, copyright A. J. Swoboda.

From the beginning of man to today and into the future, Satan tells us that we are missing something. We are given everything in Christ. There is nothing that is not ours already. He offers us things that cause us to sin and rebel against God. We must choose whom to hear and obey.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 24, 2024

Notes of Faith February 24, 2024

He Speaks Our Language

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. — John 10:3-5

How do we hear and recognize God’s voice?

It’s one of the most important and challenging aspects of faith. Here, the Bible returns to one of its favorite metaphors.

God is the Shepherd; we are His sheep.

Tangent alert: Have you ever wondered why humans couldn’t have been a more impressive animal in these allegories? Perhaps a magnificent bird? Or how about a cheetah? Sheep aren’t exactly majestic. And they have a terrible reputation. For being dumb. Or blind. Or always getting lost. Or frightened by just about everything.

On the other hand, in this passage, the sheep are having a moment. They’re discerning — they know their caretaker’s voice and follow him. And they’re shrewd — they’re not fooled by an impostor.

They spot the counterfeit a mile away and wisely skedaddle.

Sheep — they’re just like us?

Maybe on our good days. It is incredibly hard to hear God’s voice in our whirring, mile-a-minute culture of commotion. The internet is loud. The news is loud. Our music is loud. Our kids are loud. Our problems are loud. Our distractions are loud.

And God is described as having “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 NKJV). No wonder we miss so much.

When I had my first baby, I was amazed at something. Well, a lot of things: her little squeaks, her sweet sighs, her pretty rosebud lips. The astonishing, adult truck driver volume of her burps. But back to the subject. Somehow, even though she was only days old, she seemed to recognize my voice.

Newborns are fascinating, but let’s face it, they don’t do much. Some say the first month of life is really the tenth month of gestation; infants aren’t ready for the world but are just too darn big for the womb. (When I was pregnant with Charley — who came into the world early at nearly ten pounds — I was so enormous that my work colleagues said my belly entered the room thirty seconds before I did.)

God is the Shepherd; we are His sheep.

In those first weeks, newborns mostly sleep and cry and barely open their eyes. And even when they do, they can’t see much. But babies can hear — and much more than just the indistinct clang and clamor of the world. By the time they are born, many newborns know and recognize the sound of their parents’ voices. In Vale’s first few weeks, sometimes I swear I could see it happen: this tiny lump of flesh, barely days old, eyelids shut tight, reacting — stirring, shifting, eyes flickering — when my familiar voice entered the room.

Let’s underline the point. How could my little newborn seem to recognize her mother’s voice from the moment she entered the world? Because we had spent a lot of time together. We had been intimately connected. Inseparable — literally. She would know my voice anywhere.

And so it is with our relationship with God.

If we want to recognize God’s voice, an intimate connection is vital. Moments spent together, just logging time. We must do life with Him, like a baby does with Mom.

We can extend the metaphor even more (yay, let’s!). Think about someone you really know. Your spouse, your sibling, your parent. Not only do you recognize their voice but you also know their tone. You know their inflections. You know what they’re saying — even if they don’t come right out and say it. For example, when I ask my husband, “Would you want to put the kids down tonight?” I am really saying, “You should put the kids down tonight.” I am not really asking. He knows me so well that he knows what I mean.

(Luckily, God is not passive-aggressive.)

To be quiet enough to hear God’s voice, we need more than a quiet place; we need quiet in our spirits and our souls. We need to make space for Him, just being present to Him — hearts open, ears peeled.

And by the way, quietness is hard. Stillness is hard. This is not a prerequisite, yet another impossible threshold we have to cross before God will speak. But it sure makes it easier to hear Him when He does.

Excerpted from Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie, copyright Savannah Guthrie.

Be still and know that I am God.

I recently read this and may have heard about it before but it bears repeating over and over…

Rearrange the letters in the word listen and you get . . . silent.

(I’ll wait, you’ll get it eventually)

Even when listening to God we have need to be silent. Stop talking or thinking about what you are going to say. Listen to His Spirit within you. Listen to His Word speak to you. Listen to Him speak to you through a trusted fellow believer. But be silent while you listen. After meditating on what you have learned, then respond in faith and trust in what you know to do.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 23, 2024

Notes of Faith February 23, 2024

Keep Fixing Your Eyes on Me

I, the Creator of the universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything.

It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? — Romans 8:31-32

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. —Micah 7:7

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

— 1 Corinthians 12:3

Switch your focus from the problem to My Presence

When things don’t go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life . In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come. Don’t let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. — 1 Peter 5:5-6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

Excerpted from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

Living in the presence of God…meaning you recognize that He is always with you, every moment, in every circumstance, even when you are sleeping… is difficult. We get distracted by daily living, no matter what the day brings. All of those things take us away from the presence of God. But in reality they cannot. He is there. He will always be there. May we pursue living in the presence of God and we will experience more of His love, power, protection, guidance, in all things, including our physical need for rest…He is still there!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 22, 2024

Notes of Faith February 22, 2024

Prayers for Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety are at an all-time high the world over. We pray that you find these prayers comforting, exhorting, and hopeful!

Son of God, who subdued the troubled waters and laid to rest the fears of men,

let Your majesty master us and

Your power of calm control us.

Replace our fears with faith

and our unrest with perfect trust in You,

who lives and governs all things, world without end.

~ John Wallace Suter (1859–1942), Adapted

Set free, O Lord, the souls of Your servants

from all restlessness and anxiety.

Give us that peace and power which flow from You. Keep us in all perplexity and distress,

that upheld by Your strength

and stayed on the rock of Your faithfulness,

we may abide in You now and forevermore.

~ Francis Paget (1851–1911)

To You alone, O Jesus, I must cling; running to Your arms, dear Lord,

there let me hide, safe from all fears, loving You with the tenderness of a child.

~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)

You say that if I give You my burdens,

You will take care of me.

You say that I should cast all my cares upon You,

because You love me,

because You can handle them all, and because it shows my faith in You.

A burden that is heavy enough to sink me is as light as a feather to You.

A fear that can paralyze me

has no power over You.

So I unload it all before You

and hand it over for You to manage.

I put my trust in You — not in my perspective or resources. You can do anything, God!

I will not be afraid, because You are my King and Father. You are with me, and You are for me.

You accept me as I need You and rely on You,

and You walk with me now and always.

You will strengthen me for whatever comes.

~ C. M.

Lord, my emotions could propel me downward or pull a curtain around me, blocking Your light. But instead, I look to You and pray:

Train my mind on Your truth.

Shape my thoughts with Your Spirit.

Fill my heart with Your peace.

Guide me and give me self-control to do what is wise. I trust that what You say is more real than what I feel.

~ C. M.

Make my body healthy and agile,

my mind sharp and clear,

my heart joyful and contented,

my soul faithful and loving. . . .

Above all let me live in Your presence, for with You all fear is banished

and there is only harmony and peace.

Let every day combine the beauty of spring, the brightness of summer,

the abundance of autumn,

and the repose of winter.

And at the end of my life on earth,

grant that I may come to see and know You in the fullness of Your glory.

~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

Fill my heart with Your peace.

Everything I could be worrying about right now, I’m praying about instead.

My concerns could take over my mind all day and seize my heart with despair.

But instead I’m taking those thoughts captive

and turning to You.

I want to make my mind obedient to You, the Truth.

I tell You what I need and hope for,

then let the matters rest in Your hands.

I rejoice that I belong to You, and You are a good Father. You’ve provided before, and You will again.

I realize my situation is an exercise in faith-training,

an opportunity to trust You and give You glory.

Now, Holy Spirit, the Great Helper,

give me self-control throughout this day

and help me fix my thoughts where You want them. May I find the good all around me.

May I fill my mind with what’s right and pure—

“the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

May I dwell on—and give power to—what is true.

May I find even simple things to delight in.

Help me choose joy; choose hope; choose peace.

~ C. M., quoted materials from Philippians 4:8 The Message

Most loving Father,

who has taught us to dread nothing but the loss of You, preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties.

~ William Bright (1824–1901)

O my Lord and Savior,

in Your arms I am safe.

Keep me and I have nothing to fear. . . .

I know nothing about the future,

but I rely upon You.

I pray that You would give me what is good for me. . . .

If You bring pain or sorrow on me,

give me grace to bear it well—

keep me from fretfulness and selfishness.

If You give me health and strength and success in this world, keep me always on my guard

lest these great gifts carry me away from You.

O Christ, You died on the Cross for me,

even for me, sinner as I am.

Help me to know You,

to believe in You,

to love You,

to serve You,

to always aim at bringing You glory,

to live to and for You.

~ St, John Henry Newman (1801–1890)

Excerpted from A Prayer for Every Occasion by Carrie Mars, copyright Zondervan.

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps.

Prov 19:21

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Prov 16:3

3 Commit your works to the Lord

And your plans will be established.

We do not know what tomorrow or even the next moment brings, but God knows all from the beginning to the end. We rest and trust in His provision and care. Without trust in God we have no one to make us secure and safe. The Scriptures are filled with such provision of God to those who seek Him. Draw near to the throne of grace and rest secure in His love and power.

Pastor Dale