Notes of Faith October 3, 2026

Notes of Faith October 3, 2026

Seasons Change: Autumn

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

As Anne gazed at the glory of autumn in Anne of Green Gables, she couldn’t contain her delight. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” she said.

When God created the world, He built seasons into the rotation. We experience them differently depending on where we live, but most of us recognize summer and winter, springtime and harvest (see Genesis 8:22).

In the Lord’s brilliant design, the shifting of the seasons also represents the cycle of our lives. What season of life are you in? If you look closely, you’ll find it’s beautiful. God does all things well. When He leads us through the seasons, two things happen. We grow in our maturity, and He grows more precious to us every day.

Look around you today and find some beautiful spot to rest your eyes—and praise the Lord. Look within you today, and find some sweet blessing to rest your heart—and praise the Lord.

It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November…. The world looks like something God had just imagined for his own pleasure, doesn’t it?

Anne of Green Gables

Eccl 3:1-6

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven — 

2 A time to give birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

Indeed, there is an appointed time for everything.  Autumn is here! Leaves are turning, even beginning to fall.  It is a beautiful time of year.  And yet life goes on… accidents happen, doctor and hospital visits, unexpected bills, arguments with neighbors, even the death of a friend or family member. 

I was at the jail last night, given opportunity to share from God’s Word the truth of His love for us.  This morning, I will be sharing at a graveside for a family that I have never met but who are in need of a pastor who loves God and loves the people that God created in His image.  Please pray for those in jail and this family that is without a husband, father, grandfather and friend.  May they all come to truly know Jesus, His love, comfort and peace that passes all understanding.

May our spiritual journeys lead from hearing about Jesus to knowing Him personally and placing our trust in Him for our lives, both now, and for all eternity!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith October 2, 2026

Notes of Faith October 2, 2026

The Best Water

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV

Last year in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, the 35th Annual International Water Tasting Convention took place. Judges, who tasted eighty waters from four continents, gave the Gold Medal to water from the Goura Spring in Greece. This is some of the purest water on earth.1

The Lord Jesus is the water of life that satisfies our thirsty souls. He renews us day by day. As Christians, we have learned that only Jesus quenches our inner thirst. He satisfies our deepest longings better than the purest, sweetest water on earth. All our springs are in Him.

Give thanks that the Lord renews your soul day by day. Enjoy your time of Bible study and prayer because that is where your soul drinks in the refreshing water of life.

Soul-restoration is peculiarly the work of God. He alone knows that wonderful instrument, and He only can keep it in tune. The inward man is renewed day by day!

Joseph Parker

1Ashley Epperson, “The Best Spring Waters in the World: Highlights from the 2025 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting,” Salacious Drinks, February 24, 2025.

Ps 42:1

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God.

John 3:5-7

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.

John 4:13-14

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

John 7:38

38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Eph 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Heb 10:19-25

 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Water is used often in the Bible to represent spiritual cleansing and refreshment.  The Word of God (as water) washes our repentant soul and presents us clean and pure before a holy God.  This same cleansing water flows from us, a living stream, to offer the life God freely gives to those who will receive the truth from His heart of love for all mankind!  Come to Jesus and drink deeply of His pure, cleansing water and be saved to eternal life with Him in heaven!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith October 1, 2026

Notes of Faith October 1, 2026

Today’s notes from a friend that sits at the feet of Jesus, draws near to His heart to have a true relationship that God desires for all of mankind!

Relationship

I’ve been thinking. If I could eliminate one phrase from the “Christianese” vocabulary, it would be, “I just want God to use me.”

Why? you might ask. It sounds so humble, so pious, so “servanty”!

Unfortunately, I think it promotes an unhealthy idea of who God is and how He sees us. God is not utilitarian; He is relational. We are not objects to Him, not tools. We are people. Human souls that He loves dearly. He is not so much concerned about what He can get out of us, as He is about how much of Himself He can pour into us.

At best, this misconception promotes a transactional view of God, and something like an employer/employee way of relating to Him. We want to produce and please Him, expecting a corresponding compensation. “If I do this, He will do that.” We end up trying to bargain, manipulate, and “use” God in return. This performance/reward mindset also causes us to see fellow humans as objects, too—trophies to be won and collected or “jewels in our crown” or—if they don’t cooperate—barriers or obstacles to goals we need to achieve and the good that we hope to receive.

At worst, this image of God can make Him seem cruel. A relationship where one party has power over another, and uses them for their own personal gratification or gain is an abusive relationship. We can begin to see God as a self-serving sadist, not caring how much pain or trouble He puts us through, as long as He gets what He wants in the end.

But this is NOT our God. God is love. He gives us Himself in the hopes that we will reciprocate, and eagerly pursue knowing Him. Our hearts will then be turned in love toward others, reflecting the very heart of God. And yes, this will transform the world, one life at a time. But there is nothing mechanical or utilitarian about it. It isn’t even efficient. It’s organic, relational, and messy. And that’s the way He prefers it!

May you have the joy of “wasting time with God” this week, releasing the need to produce or see results.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 30, 2026

Notes of Faith September 30, 2026

Let God Lead

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

It is true that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But it is also true that straight lines rarely exist in real life. More often than not, the plans we make involve many twists and turns that we had not planned on encountering. One measure of our trust in God is seen in how we navigate the unexpected changes in our plans.

Jonah had a plan—rather than obey God and head east to Nineveh, his plan was to go west to Tarshish (modern Spain) in order to avoid meeting his enemies face-to-face. But God’s original plan did not change. Instead, God changed Jonah’s plan by casting him into the sea and having him swallowed by a great fish. When faced with the likelihood of dying as fish food, Jonah repented of his disobedience and decided to submit to God’s original plan. Even then, Jonah’s story does not end well. He was not happy with God’s mercy toward Nineveh, and Scripture leaves him in a state of self-pity.

A valuable lesson from Jonah’s life is that God’s plans will not be foiled by human failure or intervention. If God changes your plans, seek His will and follow His lead.

God has no problems, only plans.

Corrie ten Boom

James 4:13-17

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

I have not seen a life that did not experience changes to plans, divergence from a straight line travel to a myriad of movements away from that original straight-line plan.  Life is responding to those changes through which God is leading.  May we understand the changes and be truly blessed in following God’s plan for our daily walk with Him!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 29, 2026

Notes of Faith September 29, 2026

Sulking

Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?

Jonah 4:9

The book of Jonah is a remarkable testimony of a man who learned valuable lessons in unusual ways. The fact that he wrote his story indicates he came to understand what God was teaching him. God wanted to pass the lessons on to us. One of the greatest lessons has to do with God’s compassion even when we’re in rebellion against Him or when we are feeling resentful toward Him. Just as we help our own children when their emotions spiral one way or the other, so the Lord helps us.

No matter where we are in life, God is always with us—when we are obeying Him, when we are running from Him, when we are struggling to view others as He views them, and even when we are sulking about something as ordinary as a wilting plant.

Lift up your heart and rejoice today that you have a God who understands your moods and who intends to transform you into the image of His Son from one degree of glory to another as you gaze on Him and contemplate His beauty (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When our trials come…it is our joy and comfort to lift our faces heavenward and to go on, standing on the promises of God.

W. A. Criswell

It is hard to believe that God would see a defiant, disobedient, creation, designed in His image, and love that person, leading, guiding, disciplining, encouraging, uplifting, everything to ensure the salvation and forgiveness of one in need.  I would not respond to my outbursts, anger, frustration, contempt, and disobedience in the loving manner in which God loves me.

May you be comforted, assured that God knows everything about you, and still pours out His love on you.  Let the cry of your heart be heard in heaven in your earthly struggles.  He will respond to your prayers and be the perfect heavenly Father that you need for any and every moment and situation. 

Start each day with God in prayer and His Word and focus on things that are eternal and you will find the things that are causing you emotional angst, frustration, and anger will begin to change through His power and authority in the child (you) that belongs to Him.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 28, 2026

Notes of Faith September 28, 2026

It Is Well

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.

Jonah 4:1

When Christian author Jennifer Rothschild was a teenager, the doctor told her she was going blind. Returning home with her parents, everyone was silent in the car. Jennifer recalls, “When we got home, I went straight to our old upright piano…. I started to play a song I had never played before. I could no longer see to read music. I played the song by ear. Yes, that was a gift from God, that ability to play by ear. But the greater gift to me was what I played…. I played ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’ I think God, even then, was reminding me what He had already embedded in my spirit—that while it was not well with my circumstances, it was probably not ever going to be well with my circumstances, but because of Jesus, He really had already made it well with my soul.”1

Jonah became very upset with the way he perceived God was treating him, but he was wrong. The Lord was blessing him, molding him, and using him in ways we are still talking about today. Even when you feel upset with the events of life, you can trust the Lord.

So I chose, even then, to believe He was good and to trust Him.

Jennifer Rothschild

1Jennifer Rothschild, “Is God Just, Not Fair?” C. S. Lewis Institute, May 15, 2025.

There is nothing that happens to us that God does not know.  He is not surprised.  All things are under His control and used for our ultimate spiritual blessing!  Even during what we see as the most horrible of circumstances, it actually lasts for a short time, for our lives are but a vapor that soon disappears.  Our eternal lives will be perfect, healthy bodies that will never decay or die, full of strength and vigor, we will serve the Lord and praise His name always, while we live in the awe of what He has planned for those who love Him!

Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 27, 2026

Notes of Faith September 27, 2026

Seeing My Life from Your Perspective

Victorious Jesus,

Help me to welcome problems as perspective lifters. When things are going smoothly in my life, it’s easy for me to sleepwalk through my days—­just following my routines.

But if I bump into an obstacle that blocks my way, I suddenly wake up and become more attentive. I’ve discovered that when I encounter a problem with no immediate solution, my response to that situation takes me either up or down. I can lash out at the difficulty—­resenting it and feeling sorry for myself. But experience has taught me that this negative attitude will take me down into a pit of self-pity.

Instead of this hurtful response, I can view the problem as a ladder—­enabling me to climb up and see my life from Your perspective. Looking down at the problem from this elevation, I’m able to see that the obstacle that stymied me is only a light and momentary trouble.

Once my perspective has been heightened, I’m free to look away from the difficulty and turn wholeheartedly to You. As I focus my attention on You, the Light of Your Presence shines upon me—­blessing and refreshing me.

In Your radiant, refreshing Name, amen.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18; Psalm 89:15; Numbers 6:24–25 NKJV

I really want to live in the present, where Your beautiful Presence awaits me continually.

Loving Savior,

Help me to stop overthinking things—­obsessing about unimportant matters. When my mind is idle, I tend to go into planning mode, attempting to figure things out and make decisions before I really need to. I realize this is an ineffective way of trying to be in control; it’s also a waste of precious time. I often end up changing my mind anyway, or even forgetting what I decided. I know there is a time for planning, but it’s definitely not all the time—­or even most of it.

I really want to live in the present, where Your beautiful Presence awaits me continually. As I refresh myself in Your nearness, Your Love soaks into my innermost being. I delight in relaxing with You—­putting aside problems so I can be attentive to You and receptive to Your Love. My soul thirsts for You, but so often I don’t realize what I’m really longing for: awareness of Your Presence with me.

Lord, please lead me beside quiet waters and restore my soul. Just as lovers can communicate deeply with very few words, so it is in my relationship with You—­the Lover of my soul.

In Your tender Name, Jesus, amen.

Ephesians 3:16–18; Psalm 63:1 NKJV; Psalm 23:2–3

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

God desires relationship with mankind – the only part of His creation made in His image.  This is the best definition of communion…to commune with God.

May we seek His presence continually and live a life pleasing to our Creator and Savior!  May we bless those around us with the gifts that God has given us!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 26, 2026

Notes of Faith September 26, 2026

Traveling day today… notes expected soon…

Great Reunions: Reunited in Heaven

1 Thess 4:13-18

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 We often experience the sorrow of separation—a child leaving for college, friends or family moving to another city, children getting married and leaving home. In each of these cases our sorrow is tempered by the fact that we know we will likely be reunited with them.

At Thessalonica some of the Christians were concerned about fellow believers who had died prior to the return of Christ. Paul wrote to them to assure them that they would be reunited with their deceased loved ones. At what we refer to as the Rapture of the Church, Christ will raise deceased believers from the grave, followed by those who are alive. “And thus we shall always be with the Lord”—deceased and living believers reunited in heaven.

Take comfort in Paul’s words if you long to be reunited with deceased friends or family who died in Christ. A great reunion is coming which will last for eternity.

The church is the only society in the world that never loses any of its members, even by death.

John Blanchard

John 14:1-3

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

John 11:25-26

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

We were created eternal beings and though we experience death (because of sin), God planned for us eternal destinations, in heaven with Him, or in hell, separated from Him forever!

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and receive the free gift of salvation and redemption, along with eternal life in the presence of the one true God!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 25, 2026

Notes of Faith September 25, 2026

Look to Others

So [Jonah] prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

Jonah 4:2-3

The Assyrians were powerful and brutal. Jonah disobeyed God’s command to go and preach to them because he was afraid of what they might do to him. When he eventually went and the Assyrians repented, Jonah was not happy because they were spared judgment.

Jonah fell into the trap of being more concerned about himself than about others. His very words—“It is better for me”—indicate that his priority was on his own desires rather than the well-being of others—even others who had been his enemies in the past. Instead of rejoicing at the Assyrians’ repentance, Jonah was mad at God for having mercy on them.

The apostle Paul wrote that we should look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-5)—the very attitude that Jesus Himself demonstrated.

Phil 2:2-8

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Jesus took the form of man, lived a perfect life, obeying His heavenly Father, and then gave His life, a sacrifice for our sin, that we might truly live on earth and have eternal life with Him forever!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith September 24, 2026

Notes of Faith September 24, 2026

Fair Warning

Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?

Ezekiel 18:29

Many people say that if there is a God, He is not fair. Even in times of great trauma and loss, Christians understand that life doesn’t seem fair. This is especially true in a culture that says everyone should be treated the same.

Recommended Reading:

Ezekiel 18:25-32

What do we do, then, when we encounter more difficulty than others, when we face our own unique troubles, and when we’re tempted to feel disappointed in God? Ezekiel told the people of his day to trust in the wisdom and ways of the Lord. He said, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:31).

When Abraham could not fully understand what the Lord was doing, he simply said, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) That is a good sentence to remember, for we can rest assured and give thanks today that the Judge of all of the earth will always do what is right.

[The Christian] believes [God] to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind.

Charles Spurgeon

Ezek 18:25-32

you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 "When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. 27 "Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28 "Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 "But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord God. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31 "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord God. "Therefore, repent and live."

Repeat of a previous suggested song…

https://youtu.be/OEf82zBz5wE

Pastor Dale