Notes of Faith August 28, 2025

Notes of Faith August 28, 2025

Persistent, Patient Prayer

Then [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:1

If we make a request of someone—perhaps a friend or coworker—and don’t receive an answer, we wonder why. Did they forget? Does their silence mean no? Are they still considering our request? We may be afraid to ask again and so continue in a state of confusion. Sadly, we take that human experience and apply it to God in the case of unanswered prayer.

Recommended Reading:

Luke 18:1-8

Several things are different when it comes to unanswered prayer. First, Jesus taught that God knows what we are going to pray for before we even ask (Matthew 6:8). That eliminates the possibility of God not having heard our prayers. Second, Jesus told a parable illustrating the fact that we should continue to ask and not give up (Luke 18:1-8). In the parable, a woman petitioned a judge with her request and continued to ask until she received an answer. A second parable of Jesus illustrates the similar points of boldness and persistence in prayer (Luke 11:5-8).

Third, God is good and will not withhold anything from His children according to His perfect plans. Pray and be patient while awaiting God’s answer.

The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.

F. B. Meyer

We are taught from instinct, our parents, and educators that we need to pull our pants up and take care of every problem that comes our way. This is a bleak attempt to leave God out of every issue of life. But it is God who has created each one of us in our mother’s womb, knows us more intimately than any other, and is involved in every moment of our lives. Let us not only be aware that God is… but that God hears and answers prayer. Jesus prayed continually. Jesus is God and yet He prayed to His Father intimately and always. Let us learn to be like Jesus, talking to “our” Father, as He taught us to pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray about everything. Your Father loves conversation with you.

James 4:8

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 27, 2025

Notes of Faith August 27, 2025

Learning to Pray

And when you pray.... But you, when you pray.... And when you pray.

Matthew 6:5-7

When a child tells his father he wants to learn to ride a bike, what does the father do? He could explain the parts of the bike. He could show the child a video about bikes. He could talk about the dangers involved in bike riding. Or he could put the child on the bike and work with him until he could ride! In other words, the best way to learn most things is by doing and practicing them.

Truth be told, most Christians don’t pray as well as they wish they did. They can identify with the disciples who asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus devoted extensive time to teaching about prayer (Matthew 6:5-14). He even provided a model prayer for His disciples to use, as if to say, “If you want to learn to pray, pray like this.” Prayer is a discipline, a practice, that only gets better when it is exercised. The best way to learn to pray is to pray!

Life is fragile—handle it with prayer.

Unknown

1 John 4:14-15

14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Let the Holy Spirit within you speak to your heavenly Father because of the saving grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ! Prayer…just do it! As you live each day growing in Christ, you will discern more and more the will of God, and learn to pray…“Thy will be done!”

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 26, 2025

Notes of Faith August 26, 2025

Praise and Thanks

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

If you met with a prominent person whom you highly respect in order to ask for a favor, at first you might say, “It is an honor to meet you; I’ve heard so much about your generosity to our local community.” Upon leaving, you might say, “Thank you so much for seeing me and for considering my request.” In other words, you might begin with praise and conclude with thanksgiving.

You could also conduct a prayer meeting with God the same way: praise at the beginning and thanksgiving at the end. Praise and thanksgiving are found throughout Scripture in psalms and prayers. It is interesting that even some of the New Testament epistles begin with words of praise to God (2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3). Others begin with thanksgiving to God for the spiritual progress of the recipients of the letter. Regardless of the order, praise and thanksgiving are consistent themes.

Remember to praise and thank God when you pray: praise for who He is, thanks for what He will do.

Ps 150

150 Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,

praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Ps 69:30

30 I will praise the name of God with song

And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Ps 95:2

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Ps 100:4-5

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

5 For the Lord is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations.

Ps 147:7

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

What God does is not always what we expect that He will do but it is always for our good and His glory! Offer Him praise and thanksgiving!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 25, 2025

Notes of Faith August 25, 2025

I thank my God for the gift of my wife, Robin, as we celebrate 46 years together today!

End With Praise!

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:13

Reba McEntire says that singing the Lord’s Prayer is spirituality at its most profound. “It’s all God,” she said. “He’s the reason for everything.”

The climactic moment in the Lord’s Prayer, whether sung or spoken, is when it all circles back to God: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Notice that word “for,” which links all our requests with God’s glory. Why do we ask for God’s will to be done on earth? Why do we request our daily bread? Why do we pray, “Deliver us from evil?” It’s all for God’s glory.

We end the Lord’s Prayer by praising the great attributes of God. It would be very difficult for us to bring Him all of our needs and issues if we ended our prayer with a sense of our need rather than a sense of the One who has promised to meet our need. As you pray, remember God’s sovereignty, His power, His majesty, and His eternity. In prayer and in all of life, let’s end with praise!

We are often so preoccupied with our petitions to our Father that we completely forget to praise Him for who He is and what He has done.

1 Chron 29:10-13

"Praise be to you, O Lord,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;

you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name.

We express our maturity in Christ when we revere and honor God. We speak to God not only to confess sin, request forgiveness and seek His provision but to know Him and have intimate relationship with Him. May our thoughts be the heart and desire of our Father in heaven through whom we have life… and that eternal!

We praise You God for who You are and love You because You first loved us!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 24, 2025

Notes of Faith August 24, 2025

This devotion is from my dear friend in Yeshua (Jesus), Olivier Melnick. He has a daily devotional, which you are seeing today. Please join us in praying for the peace of Jerusalem, (it is the city belonging to God!), and that the Jewish people would recognize their Messiah and be saved through believing faith, that we might share the glory of eternity together with them!

Numbers 6:24-26

Yahweh (The Lord) bless you, and keep you;

Yahweh (The Lord) make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

Yahweh (The Lord) lift up His face on you,

And give you peace.’

This prayer given by God to Aaron to bless the children of Israel became known as the “Aaronic Benediction” and is still recited today at the conclusion of religious services both in synagogues and some churches. It is a reminder that God wants to bless people and watch over them. Only God can bring true shalom onto people, and that is through the Prince of Peace, known as Yeshua the Messiah.

Olivier Melnick

There will be peace when Jesus comes to rule and reign for one thousand years on this earth! Pray that He might come soon, perhaps today… Are you ready for the King of kings to return? Are you ready to meet your Lord and Savior? Judgment is coming for those in unbelief and sin. Let us pray that they might repent and come in believing faith to Jesus! Two things we must do while we yet live…

LOVE GOD! LOVE OTHERS!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 23, 2025

Notes of Faith August 23, 2025

Times of change and transition can upset our hearts and minds more than we realize. A new school year, a new job, a new home… Change can be both good and difficult! What better time than to lean into prayer and depend upon God to be our Rock and our hope.

Prayers…

It is well and good, Lord,

if all things change,

provided we are rooted in You.

~ St. John of the Cross (1542–1591)

Help me to accept that change is part of life,

to welcome the newness each change brings,

and to embrace the gifts and joys of each season.

I trust Your guiding hand, God.

Help me adapt and

have a willing, adventurous spirit.

May I look for the valuable opportunities

You’re giving me in this situation

and make the most of them.

May I say yes to wherever You lead,

being glad and grateful to be on

a journey of discovery and growth with You.

~ C. M.

Lord, I am disoriented and unsettled in the midst of change.

Steady my heart and be my constant. I thank You for Your word to me:

“The mountains may move and the hills disappear,

but even then my faithful love for you will remain.”

Surround me now with Your unfailing love.

You are my refuge, my strong tower, my foundation.

You are my heart’s home forever,

no matter where I am or what happens around me.

Help me sense Your nearness, guidance, and love throughout this season of change,

and may I grow closer to You as I depend on You more.

~ C. M., quoted material from Isaiah 54:10 NLT

Be present, O merciful God, and protect me...

As I am fatigued by the changes

and the chances of this fleeting world,

I rest in Your eternal changelessness;

through Jesus Christ,

who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

~ Leonine Sacramentary (5th C.)

I trust Your guiding hand, God.

ASKING FOR HELP

God, You are the source of all that is worth having.

Every good gift in this world comes from You!

You are a generous Father,

providing what we need

and delighting in showering blessings on us.

As we think of You even giving up Your Son for us,

may we never assume You’d hold back Your generosity.

Jesus taught us to knock, ask, seek,

and persist!

So we ask You now to give us

what we need and hope for—

as it pleases You.

We worship the One on the throne

and open up our hands to receive from the Giver of life.

We say that You’re good,

we need You,

and we’re glad to rely on You.

Help us to honor You as we steward whatever You give,

hold loosely whatever we have,

and always love You, the Giver, more than the gifts.

~ C. M.

O Lord, to be turned from You is to fall,

to turn to You is to rise,

and to stand in Your presence is to live forever.

Grant us in all our duties Your help,

in all our perplexities Your guidance,

in all our dangers Your protection,

and in all our sorrows Your peace.

~ St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430), Adapted

We ask not for wealth, reputation, honor, or prosperity; we pray

for a calm and peaceful spirit,

for every opportunity of leading a holy life,

and for circumstances that are most free from temptation.

We pray for Your preserving grace.

~ Henry Thornton (1760–1815)

Dear Lord Jesus, I shall have this day only once; before it is gone,

help me to do all the good I can,

so that today is not a wasted day.

~ Stephen Grellet (1773–1855)

Teach me, O Father, how to ask You silently for Your help moment after moment...

If I am uneasy or troubled, enable me,

by Your grace,

quickly to turn to You.

May nothing come between me and You today.

May I will, do, and say just what You,

my loving and tender Father,

would have me will, do, and say.

~ Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800–1882), Adapted

O Lord, send down Your grace to help me, that I may glorify Your name...

Grant me humility, love, and obedience...

Implant in me the root of all blessings:

the reverence of You in my heart.

~ St. John Chrysostom (C. 347–407)

God, I need You every hour.

I ask You to meet my needs

as I offer up my hopes and dreams to You.

~ C. M.

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

We experience change every day whether we realize it or not. Even with regular habits that make us feel comfortable, there will be change for each new day. Going through major life changes can be more stressful; job changes or lack of a steady income, moving to a new home, a death in the family, marriage, newborns… These events can be more joyful experiences when following the handbook, (your Bible), and walking hand in hand with the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that you belong to Him and that you are able, in Christ, to handle anything that comes your way.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 22, 2025

Notes of Faith August 22, 2025

Deliverance

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly.

2 Peter 2:9

When Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” He was tapping into a glorious biblical theme. Our God is One who delivers. Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you” (Deuteronomy 23:14). David said, “He delivered me because He delighted in me” (2 Samuel 22:20). Job 5:19 says, “He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven.” The psalmist said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). Paul said, “[He] delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10).

Often, we need deliverance. Do you need to be delivered from something today? Fear? Poverty? Illness? Injustice? Depression? Addiction? We’re overwhelmed by evil, yet God knows how to deliver the godly from trouble. If we only ask for His deliverance, we’ll receive what He has promised. “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19).

It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them.

Charles Spurgeon

2 Tim 4:16-18

16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

There is a perfect peace that God gives to those who belong to Him and a sure comfort of deliverance from this world into His glorious kingdom to live eternally, walking with the One who made us and brought us to Himself. What joy we will experience when we see God in all His glory and receive His love in ways that we have yet to know! I pray for all who read this to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, to know the peace and joy of the Lord through this world’s trials and the secure and true hope that He promises for our future together.

2 Peter 2:9

the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation,

1 Sam 2:9

9 He will guard the feet of his saints,

Ps 4:3

3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself…

John 9:31-32

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.

2 Peter 3:10-13

the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:17-18

be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matt 6:10

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

KJV

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 21, 2025

Notes of Faith August 21, 2025

Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation in Christ

Fight Guilt with God’s Truth

Did you know that if you are a child of God, there is no condemnation that comes from God. Nothing you have ever done, or will do, can’t be covered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. So why do we sometimes live with guilt and fear of past sins?

Do you ever beat yourself up or struggle with guilt, even of your thoughts?

I do. I start to think things like…

“You should know better.”

“You have failed.”

“You never get things right.”

“You let everyone down.”

“Why do you always forget the details?”

“You are a disappointment to God.”

After this conversation with myself, I am feeling miserable. These lies have weighed me down. The guilt hangs on me like a heavy millstone. I feel myself slipping away from God, too ashamed to be in His presence.

I forget the most important thing:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1

Freedom Through Christ’s Sacrifice

We have gained our freedom from condemnation through Christ’s sacrifice. He put himself on the Cross because He loves us and wanted to take the weight of our sin away. That weight is eternal suffering and separation from God.

Since we are children of God, when we repent of our sins, He promises to forget it. It is as if the sin never occurred. When we choose to continue to dig up that sin or feel guilty about it after receiving God’s forgiveness, we are basically saying that our sins are too big for the Cross of Jesus.

Nothing is bigger than the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

No Condemnation Comes from God

When you are unable to forgive yourself, remember that no condemnation comes from God. God convicts our hearts when we sin, but offers love, forgiveness and ways to change. Any lasting guilt and shame you are feeling comes from Satan. We have an accuser, an enemy of our soul who seeks to destroy us through false accusations, shame and guilt. When you are struggling with this, you are being attacked, friend.

When those attacks come against you, fight back with truth.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103 NIV

“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

Hebrews 10:17

When guilt comes, remember: You are loved. You are chosen. You are forgiven.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 20, 2025

Notes of Faith August 20, 2025

Response Ability

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Responsibility is “response ability.” That is, we can avoid sin if we choose the right response. The apostle Paul recounted Israel’s history in the wilderness as a warning to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). The Israelites failed to respond to God appropriately, and God judged them. And Paul says that their judgment should be an example for us (verses 6, 11). The tests they encountered in the wilderness became temptations to sin—and they did.

But tests and temptations are “common to man”—we will always encounter them. So what is the remedy? With every temptation, God provides a “way of escape” so that we can avoid sin. It is our responsibility to find and take the way of escape that will allow us to bear the test successfully. It is important that we cultivate our “response ability” through prayer and meditating upon God’s Word.

Our first step is obedience: “Depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7) and “flee” from temptation by pursuing “righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22).

He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin.

Unknown

2 Tim 2:22-26

22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

We may believe that we cannot stop sinning, but if you are a true believer and follower of Jesus, God lives within you. You have the power of God fighting on your side! We must yield to the Holy Spirit, and we will do the will of God, not the devil. Be persistent and fervent in faith, striving to obey the truth, not the lies of Satan. Use trusted brothers and sisters in Christ to hold you accountable with tender love and acceptance yet boldly challenging you to obey God’s Word. Remember that in Christ, you will win this war!

John 16:33

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 19, 2025

Notes of Faith August 19, 2025

A Test Is Not a Temptation

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:13-14

The late comedian Flip Wilson created fictional characters for his comedy sketches—one of which was famous for saying, “The devil made me do it!” While the devil can’t make anyone sin, blaming him is more accurate than saying, “God tempted me to sin.”

The apostle James made it clear: God does not tempt anyone to sin. That is not to say that God doesn’t use tests in our life. For instance, when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the people saw the thunder and lightning and were afraid, Moses told them, “God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20). While the same Greek word for “test” can also be translated “temptation,” a test from God is not a temptation from God. As James wrote, temptation arises from within.

When you are tempted, “fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). Ask God to help you cultivate desires from the Spirit rather than from the flesh (Romans 7:7-8).

Temptation has its source not in the outer lure but in the inner lust.

D. Edmund Hiebert

Rom 7:14-25

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Rom 12:1-2

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

We have an ongoing need to be transformed! Becoming like Christ, being holy, blameless before God, will not happen until Christ makes us new at His coming to take us to be with Him. But, in our daily walk in this world, transformation begins with the mind! We think an action before we do it. It may be infinitesimally quick, but we still think before we act. Let us pursue holiness, thinking on things of God and not things of this world, spiritual things, not earthly things. I pray for myself, that I may be given grace to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and present to you and others a reflected image of Jesus, that you might follow me as I follow Jesus!

Pastor Dale