May 28, 2010

Decisions

When God created us He gave us an incredible gift –– a free will –– the power of choice. While God has provided us His Word to inform, guide and direct our decisions, He gives us the freedom to obey or disobey; to pay attention or ignore His instructions and commands. We get to choose what we will do and who we will become.

Freedom always carries with it consequences. Along with the liberty to choose comes the responsibility for our choices. God made this clear to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He placed before them two trees; the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He gave Adam and Eve a choice. Although they were His creation and owed their very lives to Him, God wanted them to obey and serve Him because they chose to, not because they had to.

With this freedom God included a promise and a warning. Eating from the Tree of Life would bring Adam and Eve great blessings, while eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would separate them from fellowship with their Creator and lead to their death. They had the freedom to choose, but their decision would determine their personal destiny!

Every day we make decisions that carry significant consequences –– decisions that affect our destiny. Everyday our choices move us closer to God and His purposes and plans or farther away from the destiny He has designed for us.

The psalmist David understood the impact of his choices. This prompted him to pray a prayer we all should regularly remember and pray:

“Teach me your way, O Lord … ” — Psalm 27:11 (NIV)

“Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street … ” — Psalm 27:11 (Message)

David wanted to make sure he didn’t get pulled off of God’s course by a bad big decision or foolish little decisions. He wanted to learn God’s ways and stay on God’s path. He understood that his choices had consequences.

God has given us all a great gift –– a free will –– the power of choice. With this wonderful freedom comes responsibility. Our choices have consequences. Let’s use the gift wisely!

Pastor Dale

May 27, 2010

Get Ready, Get Set … Wait!

Something or someone today will challenge a key part of your character. At some point during the day your patience will be tested! It might happen on the road, in the grocery store, with a co-worker, your spouse or your children, but be sure, it will be tested!

As with any test, we get a grade. And with patience, it’s a “pass or fail” score. There’s nothing in between. When the test comes, we’re either patient or we’re not.

Patience doesn’t come naturally. Impatience is our default mode. We unconsciously set internal expectations of how our life should go, and at what speed things should happen, and God forbid should anything or anyone get in the way!

When we objectively analyze impatience we see that a lot of bad comes from it. It creates stress in us and others. It leads to lots of other negative emotions and actions. It damages friendships, destroys marriages and produces tense work environments and relationships. Impatience is the wrong tool to use to fix things. It might get something done, but the collateral impacts are not good.

Growing in patience is the right goal for all of us. The Bible teaches us some wonderful truths about this quality.

It is one of the characteristics of God Himself:

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind … and patient God is with you? … ” — Romans 2:4 (NLT)

It is also a quality the Lord wants us to develop:

” … Be patient with each other … ” — Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with … patience.” — Colossians 3:12 (N,T)

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives … patience … ” — Galatians 5:22 (NLT)

How patient are you? What’s causing your impatience? Are you setting unrealistic expectations of life and people? Have you gotten into a bad habit of believing that things should always happen according to your timetable?

Whatever’s behind your impatience, decide to change the way you deal with slow-moving circumstances and people. Ask God to help you relax and be patient. Get ready and get set to wait. Choose to wait patiently!

Pastor Dale

May 26, 2010

Stubborn?

How stubborn are you?

Sadly there are some folks who don’t understand the downside of stubbornness. They wear their willfulness like a badge of honor; preening with pride about being their “own person.” They live life “their way” no matter the consequences, and irregardless of the pain their choices create for others.

A quick look at a thesaurus gives us an understanding of the ugliness of a stubborn spirit. Synonyms for stubbornness include:

Bullheaded.

Pigheaded.

Cantankerous.

Headstrong.

Stiff-necked.

Intractable.

Unmanageable.

Rebellious.

What a list of unflattering terms!

Stubborn people usually have a tough time in life, especially in relationships. They are impossible to lead, correct and instruct. Unfortunately, they are also blinded by their stubbornness. They place responsibility for their difficulties and conflicts on others by deflecting, justifying and blaming. Stubborn people plow through life leaving a wake of problems behind.

In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah we see a snapshot of some very stubborn folks. Jeremiah the prophet warned these people time after time that they were going to pay a high price for their sinful behavior. Their response was interesting.

Take a look at what they said to Jeremiah:

“We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! We will do whatever we want … ” — Jeremiah 44:16, 17 (NLT)

Without blinking an eye, these folks resisted the message that could and would have saved them. They were determined to live life “their way.” And just as Jeremiah promised, it ultimately cost them greatly. Their stubbornness destroyed them.

How stubborn are you?

It’s important to remember that stubbornness is a trait that brings trouble. Ask God to help you recognize and deal with it in your life!

Pastor Dale

May 25, 2010

Help Needed!

Do you need some help?

There are times when we try and lift certain things that are too heavy to lift alone. In life we experience burdens and pressures that are too much for one person to carry. There are situations when our wisdom is not enough to solve a problem or resolve a conflict. Each of these circumstances point to the need for help.

The good news is, help is available. Take a look at what the psalmist said:

“But God is my helper … ” — Psalm 54:4

We cannot always count on people to help us, but we can count on God!

What are you facing today that is too heavy, too big, too complex, too complicated, too challenging, too painful or too scary to face alone? Take it to God and ask Him to help you. Put it in His hands and watch what our strong and mighty God can and will do for you!

Pastor Dale

May 24, 2010

"Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.- Prov. 20:3 (NLT)

How To Manage Your Moods

In the 70’s someone created a piece of jewelry that, for awhile was quite a fad. It was called a “mood ring.” This ring contained a stone that changed colors as you wore it, supposedly based on the particular emotional state you were in at any given time. It came with a color code so that after wearing the ring for a while you could glance at it, note the color of the stone, and understand your mood — angry, anxious, calm, relaxed, happy or sad. Part of the theory of the ring was that moods just happen biologically and involuntarily, and the chemistry of your body will reflect them. Therefore, the best we can do is to recognize our mood in the moment, and go with it’s flow!

While we have moved on from wearing mood rings, unfortunately we have not left behind a basic part of the theory that made them popular. All too often we still buy into the idea that moods are outside our control. They just show up in our lives based on biology or circumstances or whatever. We can do nothing about them. We should enjoy them when they are good and endure them when they are not so good. They come and go, and there’s not a lot we can do about them. And when they are not so good, our attitude is “Just leave me alone, I’m in a bad mood!”

There certainly are biological rhythms to life, and reactions, not consciously chosen by us, in the chemistry of our brains that affect our moods and feelings, but we are not left to the mercy of our moods, with no control over them. According to the Bible, we are not absolved of responsibility for our moods. Scripture teaches us that moods can be managed. Attitudes and emotions can be changed.

Take a look at some of the Apostle Paul’s instructions to us about managing our moods:


“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with f love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” — Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)


This passage is filled with mood management instructions. Nowhere are we told to just go with the flow of feelings. We are taught to choose our moods — to determine our attitudes — rather than passively allowing them to conquer and control us.

Oswald Chambers, in his wonderful devotional, “My Utmost For His Highest” makes this statement about mood management for Christian believers:


“There are certain things we must not pray about – moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking … It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not … “


A great goal for all of us is to become better managers of our moods. It is challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort!

Pastor Dale

May 20, 2010

John 15: 13 " Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Handyman dies protecting Centreville family he worked for from armed home invaders

By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 19, 2010; A01

Jose Rosales was a devout Christian. He sent every spare penny he made as a landscaper and handyman back to his family in Guatemala, and he was so strong and industrious that he did the work of three men. He had the complete trust of the Brar family who hired him.

In turn, Rosales appreciated the steady work the Brars gave him in their construction and real estate businesses and around their 10-acre Centreville property and 9,000-square foot mansion, especially in tough economic times.

So on Monday morning, when two armed men broke into the family's four-car garage, Rosales stood between them and the Brars. "Get away from my brother and my mom," he said.

Then, the stocky Rosales decided to fight back. He jumped one of the invaders and wrested his gun away, sources familiar with the case said Tuesday. But the other man turned his gun on the family's mother. He threatened to kill the matriarch if Rosales didn't give the gun back. Rosales did, the sources said.

And then the gunmen shot and killed Rosales.

"Without Jose, I firmly believe I would not be alive right now," said Robbie Brar, a member of the stunned family, who spoke publicly for the first time Tuesday. "In a situation where most people probably run away, not only did he not run away, but he stood strong to protect people that are not related to him. He's a guardian angel."

The two intruders fled as soon they killed Rosales. Nothing was taken from the home, the sources said. Police said they did not know whether the family was targeted or the crime was random.

Fairfax County police said that the Brars did not know the intruders and that they do not know why the gunmen went to the Tudor-style mansion on Compton Road about 10:30 a.m. Monday. The police have no suspects. But they are looking for an older model white Toyota pickup. A witness reported seeing a man jump into the truck's bed on Compton Road near Bay Valley Lane about 10:50 a.m., and then seeing the man pull a tarp over himself as the truck sped east toward Union Mill Road, police said.

Jose Ramiro Rosales Cardona, 39, was the father of two sons, now in college in Guatemala, his friends said. When he wasn't working, he was studying to become a minister or spending time with a church group in Manassas discussing the Bible, playing the guitar and singing Christian songs, his friends said.

Fairfax police declined to discuss Rosales's actions Tuesday. But two sources familiar with the investigation used the same words: "He is a hero."

Rosales had been in the United States for at least eight years, his friends said, and most recently rented a room in a Manassas Park home. He came to the United States to work and support his family. Brar said Rosales hoped one day to return to Guatemala, build and own a home, and resume farming, as his family once did.

"He was an excellent person," said his housemate of two years, Jose Molina. "Never any problems. Always spending time at the church."

Rosales was part of a small church, Mision Evangelica San Juan, that met in the home of its pastor, Jaime Zuniga. He was there four times a week, Zuniga's brother Luis Zuniga said, and everyone at the church knew him as "Brother Jose."

"Every day that he has time," Luis Zuniga said, "he's here to talk about God. . . . Anybody who talks with him, the first thing he says is, 'Jesus Christ loves you.' "

On the day that Rosales died, Zuniga said, he was supposed to lead the Bible study. Instead, an overflowing group of Rosales's friends filled the house Monday after learning of his death.

Zuniga said Rosales was an accomplished guitarist and would join Zuniga on piano and another guitarist to form a trio. Rosales hoped to record a CD of his guitar playing sometime, Zuniga said.

The group had been looking at properties in Manassas to buy for a permanent church. Now the group will try to send the money to Rosales's family, Zuniga said.

Brar, 28, said his family has a number of construction and real estate ventures in Northern Virginia, in addition to a check cashing and mortgage store in Manassas.

The family regularly hires laborers to do landscaping and maintenance. About a year and a half ago, Brar said, he met Rosales and soon came to "trust him with anything."

The Brars would hire Rosales to paint, build, clean or mow lawns. "He pretty much could do anything," Brar said. "He painted like a professional. He did landscaping like a professional."

Sitting in the truck with him at jobs, Brar learned of Rosales's two children in college, his sick mother in Guatemala, his background as a farmer. When it came to religion, Brar said, "he was very tolerant of others' beliefs. He was a very intelligent guy." Brar said Rosales had some medical education, as well as police and military training before leaving Guatemala for work in America.

Rosales's focus was on becoming a pastor, Brar said. "I never saw him angry," Brar said. "He always spoke with respect to every single person he came across."

Brar said that when it came to money, "pretty much everything but his food and rent money he sent to his ill mother and children."

Brar did not want to discuss the specifics of the attempted home invasion. But, he said, "I believe Jose was sent into my life a year and a half ago by some higher power." Brar, his parents and younger brother were home at the time of the attack.

Brar said he plans to help Rosales's family "like he helped my family. Now I'm the brother and the son. Money comes and goes. We're going to help his family out however we can."

May 19, 2010

How Excellent Are Thy Names
What God invites us to call him says volumes about his relationship to us.
By Ken Hemphill

Most of us have several names or titles to which we respond. In my work, I am called "Dr. Hemphill." In most social settings, I am called "Ken." My wife calls me "Honey." My mother refers to me as "Son." Now that all three of my girls are out of the house, I love to pick up the phone and hear the words, "Hi, Dad, what are you doing?" And when any of my daughters says "Daddy," it still melts my heart.

Names are important. They are a means of self-revelation. They tell people something fundamental about us. What's more, the names people use to address us reveal something about the nature of their connection to us. When we meet someone, one of the first pieces of information we desire is that person's name. The disclosure of the name is the prelude for building a relationship.

Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals himself to his chosen people through various names or titles—both those that he gave to himself and those that his servants were inspired to ascribe to him or to the place where he appeared to them. These names served to identify and describe God, but they also exhorted God's people to holy living, gave them hope, reminded them of their heritage, and challenged them to continue their pilgrimage of faith.

The names of God are one way in which God speaks to us today. Studying them unlocks for us a fuller understanding of God's multifaceted character and offers us insight into his divine expectations. They are an invitation for us to know intimately and fully the God of creation and redemption.

All biblical names of God are built around two core names—"El," a general term for a god, and "Yahweh," a more personal and covenantal moniker. In the Scriptures, the name or title used for God depends on who's using it and the context in which it's used.


El, the common word for "deity" in the ancient Middle East, is used occasionally in the Old Testament to refer to heathen gods but most frequently designates the God of Israel. The name most likely means "first" and indicates that God is the strong and mighty One. The singular name El is rarely used alone in the Old Testament; it is most frequently found in compound constructions such as El Shaddai (God Almighty) or El Elyon (God Most High).

In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew name for God is Elohim, the plural form of El. Though technically a plural term, Elohim is usually translated in the singular. Some scholars believe that the use of Elohim points to the triune nature of God. In Genesis 1:26, for example, Elohim is used with the plural pronouns us and our: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness"' (NKJV).

Other scholars argue that the plural form simply intensifies the subject, indicating God's supremacy. Thus when Israelites confessed the name Elohim, they were acknowledging that God contained within himself all the divine attributes. In a predominantly polytheistic age, it was no small thing to assert that God alone is the one true God and that he can be known personally. This is not the place to debate the Trinitarian implications of Elohim, but God's triune nature and his supremacy are throughout Scripture. The God of creation is the one true God who, to provide for our salvation, has revealed himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The name Yahweh is not without its own theological controversies, though most biblical scholars agree that it is the closest thing we have to a proper, personal name for God. The name occurs 6,823 times in the Bible. In Hebrew, Yahweh is written with only four consonants—YHWH—and no vowels. (Theologians call this four-letter name "The Tetragrammaton"—the ineffable name of God.) Since about 300 B.C. the Hebrews avoided speaking the name for fear of profaning its holiness. When they came to yhwh in the text, they would substitute Adonai, the common Hebrew word for "Lord." Today, most English Bibles translate YHWH as "Lord."

Sometime before the 10th century, Jewish scholars inserted the vowel signs from the name Adonai between the letters in YHWH—or JHVH, as it was sometimes rendered. Consequently, the name Jehovah came into popular use. It remained in vogue from the 16th century, during the Renaissance period, until about 100 years ago. The name has since fallen out of favor with most scholars, who believe Yahweh is a more accurate transliteration.

Yahweh comes from the Hebrew verb "to be." At its very essence, "to be" is to have life. Some scholars believe this hints at a truth that became clearer later in history: The name Yahweh implies that God is absolutely self-existent. He is the One who in himself possesses life and permanent existence. When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush in Exodus 3, he revealed himself as "Yahweh." Most English translations render it I AM WHO I AM—an attempt to convey the idea that God was, is, and always will be.

Sometimes children surprise their parents with the question, "Who created God?" It's an inquiry that can give pause to even the most erudite mom or dad. Christian parents, however, will usually turn to Genesis 1: "In the beginning was God." Unsatisfied, the children repeat, "But who created God?"

The point of the name Yahweh is this: God is the uncaused cause. He is the first cause and before him there was no other and after him there will be no other. Life is found in him.

Overwhelmed by the Mystery

Many parents remember the agonizing struggle to choose a name for our firstborn. We considered honoring a relative or friend, we purchased books explaining the meaning of names, and we pondered our hopes and aspirations for our child.

My oldest daughter was born while my wife, Paula, and I were living in Cambridge, England, where I was a graduate student at the university. Ecstatic about the impending arrival of our new baby, we obsessed for months over possible names. We narrowed our list of choices for girls' names to two. But we couldn't make our final decision until we held her in our arms and looked into her face. Somehow we then knew that her name was Kristina. No matter how much we prepared for it, in the end, the process was rather mysterious.

Similarly, a certain degree of mystery will always attend our renderings of God's holy name, as it should. Putting the inexpressible into perfect words is finally impossible. Yet because words have some relation to meaning, God invites us to call upon his name and experience its truthfulness.

In the Old Testament, prophets and patriarchs were often inspired to declare a name of God in response to a theophany, a wondrous experience of the presence of God. They were so overwhelmed by God's visitation that they had to frame it with a title. They couldn't help themselves. It was a spontaneous act of worship.

For example:

* When Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, God provided a ram for the offering in Isaac's stead, prompting Abraham to declare that he now understood God as Yahweh-Yireh, The Lord Will Provide (Gen. 22:14 ).


* After God empowered Israel's army to defeat the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh-Nissi, The Lord Is My Banner (Exod. 17:15 ).


* Upon receiving God's call to be an instrument to deliver Israel, Gideon built an altar and named it Yahweh-Shalom, The Lord Is Peace (Judg. 6:24 ).


* Reflecting upon God's faithfulness through both exhilarating victories and depressing defeats, David called him Yahweh-Rohi, The Lord Is My Shepherd (Ps. 23:1 ).


* At the conclusion of the detailed description of the New Jerusalem, speaking for God, Ezekiel prophesied that the place would be called Yahweh-Shammah, The Lord Is There (Ezek. 48:35 ).

God's people came to realize that his resources were inestimable: Every revelation, every miracle, pointed to a different side of Yahweh.

The various names for God that we find throughout the Old Testament are not the invention of men who were struggling to define a hidden and unknowable God. Rather, they are a sort of gift from God—a personal and intimate self-expression of God and a vehicle for our worshipful response to him.

Power in the Names

When we discover the unique emphasis of each new title of God, it is as if we are turning a diamond in our hands and gazing at it as the light of revelation strikes a new and previously unexplored facet of the stone. God's names were a continual unveiling of his character in response to the unique challenges faced by his people.

As I have preached, prayed, and meditated on these names, my understanding of God's Word has been enhanced and my spiritual walk deepened. There are three particular reasons every believer should study the names of God.

* It enhances our worship and prayer. A number of contemporary musicians have, through their lyrics, introduced certain names into our vocabulary of praise (e.g., "El Shaddai" by Michael Card). These songs have greatly enriched praise and worship in many churches. Note how the Psalmist teaches us to sing praise (Psalm 7:17), set up banners (Psalm 20:5), boast in (Psalm 20:), ascribe glory to (29:2), trust in (Psalm 33:21), exalt (Psalm 34:3), wait on (Psalm 52:9), fear (Psalm 61:5), lift up our hands (Psalm 63:4), and rejoice (89:16) in the name of the Lord.


* It promotes spiritual growth. As I grew to understand the significance of God's names, I better understood God's character as well as his desire for my life. To encourage me in my spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit calls certain names to mind when I pray (and throughout the day). When I face temptation and possible spiritual defeat, I am reminded that he is Yahweh-Nissi, my banner of victory. Yahweh-Mekadesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) reminds me that he is constantly transforming me into his likeness (Lev. 20:8). And, of course, all of the names in some way point to the ultimate revelation of God to his people. In the New Testament we find names, such as Immanuel (God With Us) and Abba (Aramaic for Father), that take our relationship with God to a whole new realm. Through Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, God now dwells among and within his followers.


* It reminds us of our witness to the world. God wants his people, who are called by his name, to glorify his name through their daily behavior. The prophet Ezekiel (36:20-23) tells the Israelites that God had poured out his wrath on them because they had profaned his name among the nations. The Babylonian captivity was punishment for disobedience, but the peoples of other nations had wrongly concluded that the God of Israel was unable to care for his own. The Lord declared that he would deliver them from captivity in order to vindicate the holiness of his great name. The end result speaks of global evangelization: "Then the nations will know that I am the Lord."

We bear God's name; therefore our speech, attitudes, and actions lead others to make certain conclusions about the credibility of the God we serve. In Psalm 23:3, David says: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." That phrase does not mean that God is acting to save his reputation. What it means is that God is acting in conformity with his own nature. That is, God leads in paths of righteousness because he is by nature a righteous God. His names are a reflection of his character.

The day I left for college, I was prepared for the son-going-out-into-the-world speech from my dad—you know, the one with the extensive list of do's and don'ts. Instead, he gave me a single piece of advice: "Son, I have only one thing to give you. It's my name. Don't take it anywhere I wouldn't take it. Don't associate it with anything I wouldn't." With that sage counsel he sent me out into the world.

Just as I carry and represent the name Hemphill, I also bear my heavenly Father's name. The question is: What am I going to do with it?

Ken Hemphill is president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. His latest book is The Names of God (Broadman & Holman, 2001).

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information

May 18, 2010

How To Have A Great Day

Our lives are made up of individual days. How we live each day cumulatively determines the quality of our lives. Improve your days and you will improve your life.

As you go into each day, here are a few suggestions that will help you add value to your days, and ultimately to your life.

Each day:

Spend time with God in prayer, praise and reflection on His Word.
Take time to emotionally connect with your spouse and family.
Be friendly.
Do something out of the ordinary to help and serve somebody.
Be grateful and express your gratitude.
Sincerely and generously honor and compliment others.
Give something to someone.
Put your best effort into your tasks and responsibilities.
Give your problems and burdens to God and trust Him to take care of you.
There is no doubt that doing these things will improve your day. And consistently doing them will improve your life! Try it!

Pastor Dale

May 17, 2010

Is your default mode with people law & judgment or grace & mercy? "Forgive others as the Lord forgave you" Col. 3:13 (via @RickWarren)

Follow Me - Winning Your Battles

Just as there is a physical world that we see with our natural eyes, the Bible teaches us that there is an unseen spiritual world surrounding us. This world is populated with spiritual forces. There are angels that serve God’s purposes in people’s lives. There are also evil beings that oppose God’s purposes. And there are significant spiritual battles going on in this invisible realm.

Take a look at what the Apostle Paul said about this spiritual warfare:

“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

At times, we find ourselves in the throes of spiritual attacks. We feel the pressure of unseen evil forces assaulting and oppressing us. We sense that we are in the bullseye of a battle, targeted by the enemies’ artillery. Dark spirits are trying to bring us down and take us out.

How do we win battles like this?

The psalmist learned something about winning in spiritual warfare. He discovered that victory came from God. He experienced God stepping in to help him win battles he could not win on his own.

King David made this declaration:

“Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.” – Psalm 44:5

It is important to remember that God is the source of our victory. There are battles that only God can win. While we must aggressively fight against the attacks of these invisible, but very real spiritual enemies, only God can grant the power that overcomes these adversaries. While we must march out in battle against our spiritual foes, only God’s power, released through the authority of His name can and will trample and defeat them.

Are you in a spiritual battle today? God is coming to your rescue! Stand firm against the dark enemies of your soul, calling on His name, and trust God’s power to help you. Remember, God has never lost a battle. If you draw near to Him, you can be sure that your situation will not end in defeat!

Pastor Dale

May 14, 2010

Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half

By Rick Johnson

CBN.com - Marriage today seems less binding than a cell phone contract. The average first marriage in this country lasts seven years. The average second marriage lasts five. As if the challenges of a first marriage weren't tough enough, anyone who has been in a blended family will tell you about the myriad of additional trials this scenario presents:
two sets of kids; two separate histories; two completely different life philosophies, parenting styles, and sets of baggage. And when two sets of careers and monies are mixed in along with the obligatory prenuptial agreements, it's almost like admitting that the marriage is doomed to fail anyway.

Because of the legacy they've observed from their parents' generation, most young people today are fairly pessimistic about the chances of a marriage lasting a lifetime. If you talk to them about marriage, you can see that they yearn for the kind of intimacy possible only through a long-lasting relationship, but they have little hope of having one themselves. Couples may spend hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars on the actual wedding day, but no energy, resources, or forethought whatsoever toward the marriage that follows.

Many people quickly discover that being married and staying in love are just plain hard work-too hard. Combine that intense struggle with our society's instant-gratification mantra, the court's "no fault" divorce laws, and a cultural legacy of relative truth, and you have a recipe for divorce. Our Western culture does not like to suffer, so we shy away from anything that is uncomfortable or difficult. When marriage is tough, many people just think it's broken and then go look for another mate who won't be so much work.

Unfortunately, the problem is generally with us and therefore follows us from relationship to relationship. I recently told a friend that a first divorce we might be able to blame on our partner, but any divorces after that we need to look in the mirror to see where the problem lies. And one fact that almost no one wants to admit is that the person we fell in love with is at the same level of emotional maturity we are. Look at your spouse and know that they are probably just as emotionally mature as you are, all your protests notwithstanding.

Also, the expectations each partner brings into a relationship make a huge difference in how successful that marriage will be. Unrealistic expectations that cannot be met by either spouse can make both partners miserable.
Discussing numerous relevant topics such as religious expectations, number of children, parenting styles, familial obligations toward extended family, sexual expectations, and the roles and duties of each spouse (to name just a
few) before entering into marriage is a crucial factor to preventing problems later on.

So, if God ordained marriage as the way a man and woman should live together as one flesh, then there must be some way he designed that to happen. What guidelines did he provide to help us understand how to keep from killing each other or, even worse, creating families just to turn around and tear them asunder? What types of things do couples who have been married for a long time say are important, and what advice do they give to create longevity in a marriage?

In my research for this book, I discovered that men frequently operate on an objective-based, goal-oriented system, while women more often incorporate a whole-world view in their thematic approach to life. These observations can best be summed up as a husband's "seven modes" and a wife's "seven moods."

Guys tend to operate in modes, which allow them to compartmentalize the different areas of their life; women tend to be driven by moods or emotions.
Males are able to separate the various components of their life and forget about some while concentrating on others.

Seldom does one area of life bleed into the others. Women, on the other hand, tend to view life as an overall "whole" with every area of their lives interconnected and interrelated. These differences alone are baffling and often confusing to the opposite gender. Bill and Pam Farrel describe this as women thinking like a pot of spaghetti, where everything touches everything else, and men thinking like waffles, where each element of their life is in a separate box. Helen Fisher, in her book The First Sex, says women tend to think in terms of "interrelated factors, not straight lines," whereas men use "compartmentalized, incremental reasoning process."

When a husband understands and appreciates his wife's moods, and when a wife recognizes and respects her husband's modes of operation, marriage becomes a wonder instead of work, fascinating instead of frustrating, a commitment to intimacy instead of a settling for "just staying together."

People want an easy marriage. They don't want love to be so much work. Two people start out with their hearts melting as one in a natural way, but they're living on the high of bliss-filled hormones. This will carry them for a while, but people can't live on bliss; there will always be a "coming down," or crash, from the high. When that happens, and they are unprepared for the daily labor of love, they will soon be hitting their heads against the walls of each other's hearts.

When we're willing to put forth the effort to understand our mates and help our mates understand us, this softens our hearts and opens the door to intimacy. When we don't make this effort together, usually one partner will stop banging his or her head against the wall of the other's heart and give up. While fighting can be a red flag, a relationship reaches a critical stage when one spouse or the other stops trying and gives up.

When you have the key, it's easy to go in and out. You don't have to knock the door down or break a window. You just walk in. But without the key to understanding, marriage is hard work.

Ideally, a Christian marriage begins with both parties committed to loving God and each other. But later, after the "buzz" of love begins to fizzle, communication tails off and spouses can start taking each other for granted, losing empathy, respect, and love for one another. Life is tough, and instead of working as a team, they begin fighting with each other in an attempt to get their individual needs met.

They scream at and accuse their mates and then expect their mates to want to satisfy their needs. Each spouse soon loses the desire to meet the other's needs, and each loses sight of the fact that love is an action, not an emotion. That is why the very action of meeting the other's needs (acting
loving) can lead to feeling the emotion of love. Without that action, it is natural to slide into a state of need and self-indulgent gratification.

Harville Hendrix explains this mentality: Their partners are going to do it all-satisfy unmet childhood needs, complement lost self-parts, nurture them in a consistent and loving way, and be eternally available to them.

These are the same expectations that fueled the excitement of romantic love, but now there is less of a desire to reciprocate.

After all, people don't get married to take care of their partners'
needs-they get married to further their own psychological and emotional growth. Once a relationship seems secure, a psychological switch is triggered deep in the old brain that activates all the latent infantile wishes.

Eventually, husbands and wives allow their neediness-their lack of understanding, empathy, and respect for each other-to pull them away, instead of using their differences to glue them together. If lack of understanding and loss of respect happens over a span of years, the intimacy that could have been created through a couple's differences becomes a chasm that is often too wide to bring them together again as one flesh.

A chain reaction or vicious circle is the inevitable result: Lack of understanding and respect lead to hurt, confusion, anger, and frustration, which lead to contempt, hate, or resignation.

Those feelings then lead to physical escape (oftentimes sinful behavior) and/or emotional divorce, with the appearance of marriage but not the intimacy, and finally end in legal divorce, with all of the ramifications that this has to future generations.

Anyone who has been through a divorce will tell you what a painful, gut-wrenching experience it is. And we are only just now recognizing the devastating effects to children whose families have been ripped apart.
Perhaps now is the time to start trying to understand how to turn all marriages, good or struggling, into a satisfying lifelong commitment.
Previous generations did it. Why do we struggle so much?

May 13, 2010

"A fool is quick- tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted." - Prov. 12:16 (NLT)

Follow Me - The Low Life

It has been said that pride is a disease that makes others sick! How true this is. There really is something sickening about a boastful, arrogant, pride-filled person. Being around someone like this can be emotionally nauseating.

But there’s something even more troubling about the presence of pride. While it’s easily detected in others, we’re usually slow to identify it in ourselves. In fact, many prideful people go through their entire life never seeing pride’s symptoms or addressing this problem in their own soul.

Pride is a horrible thing. It reveals itself through prejudiced and judgmental attitudes, argumentative interactions, contentious relationships, blaming and shaming others, a projected sense of superiority, and a general “know it all” approach to life. It breeds a rebellious spirit.

Prideful people have a hard time genuinely and quietly serving others, being out of the limelight, apologizing sincerely for their mistakes, sins and failures, cheerfully following instructions or orders, appreciating and acknowledging others for their contributions.

Prideful people never develop a truly grateful heart. They may feign appreciation to God and others, but underneath is a sense of entitlement to their blessings; a feeling that they have earned good things by their hard work, great intellect or higher level skills, and they alone deserve the credit. They are begrudging in their praise and condescending in their communication.

What does God think of all this? There’s one Bible verse that aptly and succinctly answers this question:

” … As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble. ” - James 4:6 (NLT)

It should be sobering, and even frightening to think of attracting God’s active opposition. But, according to the Bible, this is God’s response to the presence of pride in us.

On multiple occasions Jesus weighed in on this sin and its consequences. Here is one of the things He had to say about pride:

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12 (NIV)

Jesus taught us that arrogant, pride-filled attitudes ultimately bring a person down. If pride doesn’t catch up with us in this life, it most certainly will in the life to come.

What is the antidote to pride? Humility! Not phony humility, but real humility; the kind Jesus demonstrated:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant … he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name … “ – Philippians 2:5-9 (NIV)

Jesus showed us that the way up is down! When we humble ourselves, we address a major problem of the soul — the sin of pride.

Let’s decide to live the “low life.” Let’s lay aside pride and walk humbly with God and others.

Pastor Dale

May 12, 2010

When Opposites Attract in Marriage

Barbara Rainey

Emperor Wang Tee of China is reported to have said to his wife, See Ling, "I have a problem. I notice that our mulberry trees are being damaged. I'd like for you to go and find out what's wrong with them."

So the empress discovered that a small, drab-colored moth was laying eggs on the leaves. The tiny eggs would hatch into little worms, which after a few days would spin cocoons and damage the leaves.

Wondering if she could destroy the little cocoons, she dropped one of them into a pot of boiling water. To her surprise, the cocoon began to slowly unwind. Soon she saw, glittering in the water, a silvery thread. Upon further inspection, the thread proved to be a half-mile long!

Thus, through the process of solving a problem, See Ling discovered something beautiful: silk.

Likewise, Dennis and I discovered the beauty of acceptance early in our marriage when we began to deal with some difficulties in our relationship. A couple of things—our differences and our personal insecurities—were eating away at the joy of our relationship, much like those little worms had eaten away at the mulberry leaves.

Discovering our differences

The old adage that "opposites attract" was really true for us. We were very different in many, many ways. For instance, Dennis was impulsive. He'd get an idea and, man, he'd be gone. I, on the other hand, tend to be very disciplined. I like to think things through and evaluate what we're going to do before we act. Often, during our first year of marriage, I found myself being left in Dennis's dust.

We also discovered other differences. Dennis was expressive; I tended to be quiet and cautious about what I said. Dennis wanted to spend money on fishing; I wanted to spend money on furniture.

In addition, both of us lacked self-confidence in certain settings. I was not good at meeting people at large social gatherings and tended to cling to Dennis. And he had some weaknesses that his boss pointed out to us one day during lunch. When I heard that, I remember thinking, Now what am I going to do with this information about my husband?

Like See Ling, we began to realize that we had a problem and we'd better find a solution if we wanted our marriage to be secure and happy.

Eye-openers

We are not alone. Like flies at a summer picnic, differences buzz in the ears of many couples, threatening to rob their relationship of its peaceful, accepting love. As humorist Sam Levenson once said, "Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle!" Someone else said, "Love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener." As you move past the honeymoon stage, all those differences—those little "eye-openers"—begin to affect your marriage.

When the honeymoon fades and reality sets in, those unique things that once attracted you to your mate are often viewed as aggravating weaknesses. As a result, you may be faced with several decisions.

First, you must ask yourself, Will I continue to accept my spouse in this particular area of difference, or will I withdraw a portion of my acceptance, thereby driving a sliver of rejection between us? Ignoring the question doesn't work because differences don't go away. If you can't accept that annoying quality, you are actually rejecting your spouse (either silently or verbally), and his self-image will suffer. Your only two options are to accept him or to reject him.

If you choose to pursue acceptance, then another question arises: How do I live with this difference? Here are some suggestions:

1. Pray for yourself. Ask God to make you content with your spouse as he is. Pray, too, that God will show you the positive sides of your spouse's differences.

As I mentioned earlier, Dennis and I are extreme opposites on the impulsive/disciplined scale. When we were first married, his impulsiveness tended to drive my disciplined nature crazy. I felt that we had no order, no schedule, no budget, and no regular devotions.

I remember praying diligently for God to change all the things in Dennis I didn't like. Then I realized what really needed to be changed was my attitude. God did change my perspective, and in time I began to see how much I needed Dennis's spontaneity to balance my more rigid control.

Ask God to examine your attitudes and your motives and to give you a greater capacity to understand, accept, and even appreciate your spouse's differences. This step may be necessary before God can use you to elevate your spouse's self-esteem.

2. Talk about it with your spouse. Ask for the privilege of being heard. Tell him you are not rejecting him and that you remain committed. Assure him that he is loved, no matter what.

One thing we have learned in our marriage is that we are teachable at some moments but not at others. If you find that your spouse is not emotionally prepared to discuss a touchy issue, leave the subject alone. Don't try to force a confrontation.

You also may discover that the territory you are about to encroach upon is marked: NO TRESPASSING. It may be off limits at this point in his life. If so, be satisfied with exploring small bits of turf at a time. Do not expect (or try) to cover the whole country in one evening. Go slowly.

If your spouse is willing to talk about a difference that is bothering you, share your feelings without accusing him and pointing the finger of blame. Don't be critical. Let him know you realize that you're not perfect and that you understand him, or want to understand him, in this area. Realize, too, that we all have weaknesses or tendencies we will never completely conquer. Because of our fallen nature, we'll never achieve perfection until we reach heaven.

If your spouse considers a difference to be a weakness, ask if you can help. Then, at the end of your discussion, remind your spouse again of your commitment and acceptance. We call this the "bookend principle." Just as bookends are used to prop up books that contain truth, so your reminders of love and complete acceptance at both ends of the discussion will support the truth of what you have said. And it makes the truth a whole lot easier to hear!

3. Tutor your spouse (with his permission). As a couple, we continue to assist one another in many areas, such as punctuality, patience, planning, feelings of discouragement, anger, and worry. We have discovered that the many opposites that attracted us to each other when we were dating are the very things that have provided balance in our marriage. Our differences have made us more effective as a couple than we ever could have been individually.

If your spouse grants you permission to help, ask God for wisdom in how to help. Offer your assistance in such a way that your spouse experiences your acceptance and in no way senses rejection.

4. Ignore certain differences. Some of the annoying differences in your spouse may not be weaknesses. Commit those differences to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to give you peace and contentment to live with them, even if your spouse never changes. It is important to accept him as he is, without pressuring him to change. Choose to ignore the differences that are off-limits and seemingly beyond change, and rejoice over the many benefits you enjoy because of your spouse’s strengths.

Unconditional commitment, unconditional love

Our spouses need to hear words of commitment and acceptance from us, not just once but many, many times. Tell your spouse often how much you love him. Then tell him that you accept him just as he is.

Each time a difficulty arises in your relationship—a misunderstanding, a difference, or a clash of wills—remind your spouse (even in the heat of battle, if necessary) that you intend to remain loyal to him. Assure him that your commitment will not change because of this particular situation. Those infusions of truth will become the reinforcements you both need to work through difficulties in your marriage. Total acceptance will motivate you to persevere.

Also, tell your spouse occasionally that you'd choose to marry him again. This declaration will give him value and approval and build his self-esteem. It will remind him of the truth—that he is accepted.

Reprinted by permission. Adapted excerpt from Building Your Mate’s Self-Esteem © 1995 by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Barbara Rainey has co-authored several best-selling books with her husband, Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife. She has also authored books of her own and is a regular contributor to MomLife Today, FamilyLife’s blog for moms.

May 11, 2010

"When a good man speaks, he is worth listening to, but the words of fools are a dime a dozen." - Prov. 10:20 (TLB)

Follow Me - A Select Group

As the Apostle Paul wrapped up his second letter to the Christian believers living in the Greek city of Corinth, he wrote these words:

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

While there are so many things noteworthy about the instructions Paul gave in this verse, let’s focus our attention on one simple phrase. “Encourage each other.” What a different world we would live in if we all put this into practice!

Recently my wife and I were discussing someone very dear to us. We both described this lady as an incredible encourager. She lives to bring encouragement to others. Her words and notes are always up-building, affirming, helpful and timely. Although she has problems and challenges of her own, she never ceases to communicate positive, encouraging comments to other people. She is doing what the Lord wants all of us to do!

While some people seem to encourage others naturally, every believer should develop this quality. It is not a gift for a few, it is an action to be practiced by all.

What does it mean to encourage others? How do we do it?

One of the words translated as “encouragement” in the Bible comes from a Hebrew term meaning “to feed and tend.” It was used to describe shepherds taking their sheep to good pastureland where they would graze until satisfied. The shepherds “encouraged” their sheep by making sure they were nourished and strengthened.

In spiritual and emotional ways, we are called to do the same today. We are to feed others in ways that build their faith, increase their confidence in God, help them make decisions to live for God’s purposes and believe in God’s plan for their lives. We are called to help lift others up!

Take a look at another instruction from the Apostle Paul that underscores this call to encourage others:

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” – Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Sadly, instead of encouraging others, many seem to possess a unique skill for discouraging people! Don’t let this be you!

We’re all blessed when encouragers show up in our lives. We remember them and gravitate toward them. Encouragers rise above the crowd, principally because there are so few of them. Decide to be a part of this select group!

Pastor Dale

May 10, 2010

The 3 “R’s” of Overcoming Anger

What makes you angry?

Everyday anger wrecks friendships, destroys marriages, greatly reduces personal and corporate productivity, and ravages human emotions. When we fail to deal with it properly, anger is a corrosive agent that eats a hole in our hearts. And it inevitably spills over from us to others. The end result is ugly and painful.

Take a look at one thing God has to say about anger:

“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm.” – Psalm 37:8 (NLT)

God says that we are to put a stop to anger. It should not be given a place in us.

Putting a stop to anger starts with knowing what causes it. Anger is a by-product of certain ways of thinking.

We get angry when:

• Our expectations are unmet.

• Our pride is offended.

• The pursuit of our goals is blocked.

• Our feelings are hurt.

When we get angry about these things, we respond in several ways.

Some people are:

Brewers.

“Brewers” internalize their anger. They stuff their anger, and over time it’s poison seeps into their soul, shuts down their emotions and cripples their relationships. Usually “brewers” are not even aware of their anger or the impact it is having on them or the people around them. It is hidden in their hearts, unacknowledged and unaddressed.

Stewers.

“Stewers” are a different breed. These folks are agitated, irritated and frustrated. Their anger is not hidden. You can see and sense it in them. Like a pot sitting on the stove at medium to high heat, there is an intense and steamy presence about them. You never know if or when the explosion is coming. They rumble and grumble their way through life in a heated, threatening way.

Spewers.

“Spewers” do what their name implies. Whatever is on the inside comes out, and whoever is nearby gets barraged by the blast. “Spewers” rant and rave. Like an emotional tornado, they detonate and then dissipate, but they leave lots of destruction in their wake.

Brewing, stewing and spewing are all bad options when it comes to dealing with anger. Each is the wrong way to handle it. God says to “stop it!” The appropriate question is “How?”

Here are some are some steps you can take to diffuse and defeat the controlling power of anger. We might call them the “3 R’s of Overcoming Anger:”

R = Recognize it.

Learn to recognize anger in yourself. All too often we are hijacked by anger without realizing what is happening to us. Develop a personal sensitivity to the signs and symptoms of anger in your own soul. Don’t let it sneak up on you!

R = Reflect on it.

To reflect is to think about something quietly and carefully. It is to contemplate.

Anger doesn’t want reflection, it demands reaction. It screams at you to throw caution to the wind; say what you want to say and do what you feel like doing. Don’t let anger have its way!

When you detect anger in yourself, slow down, step back, zip up the lips and take control of your mind. Take some time to think about where your anger is coming from. What is causing anger in you? What started it? What is making you vulnerable to it. Also reflect on the consequences of your anger. What damage will you do to yourself and others if you let it go unchecked.

R = Release it.

Make a conscious decision that you are going to give up your anger. Turn your disappointments, offenses, frustrations and hurts over to God. Determine that you will do whatever necessary to make sure that anger doesn’t invade you, poison or pollute you. Forgive people. Accept disappointments and delays patiently, trusting God’s plan and timing. Don’t stiffen yourself with pride. Be humble. Simply let it go!

Nothing can rob peace and joy and destroy relationships more quickly than anger. Break its grip on your life!

Pastor Dale

MAy 7, 2010

Why Worship God?

What kind of God would require people to worship him?
By Frederica Mathewes-Green

Q. My brother, although raised as a Christian, is now both an
ex-Scientologist and an agnostic. He asked me this question: "What kind of
God would require worship?"

-Karen Wright, Virginia Beach, Virginia

A. In an episode of The Simpsons, Homer is asked a similar question. He
replies, "God is very powerful, but also very insecure, like Barbra
Streisand before James Brolin."

If you picture God as being like a giant human being, that makes sense. But
in the Bible, the main thing people who've encountered God say is that he's
the opposite of ordinary humans. He's holy. Those who meet him say, "You've
never experienced anything like this before. It made my hair stand on end."

Their first reaction seems to be fear, since the first thing they are told
is usually "Do not fear." Then, as they continue to stand in God's presence,
they become overwhelmed with awe and love, and they start seeing their own
failings very clearly. Strong light makes long shadows. Isaiah sees God
"high and lifted up" and reacts, "Woe is me!" Peter sees Jesus perform a
miracle and falls to his knees saying, "I am a sinful man."

That's what people who have "been there" report: God is "other," he's
inexpressibly wonderful. When you experience Him, you suddenly see how much
you need to change. And that's worship in a nutshell. God doesn't command us
to do this; it's more like He warns us that this is what will happen. Get
ready, because his presence is going to knock you over. I hope your brother
will continue to evolve and soon become an ex-agnostic.

Frederica Mathewes-Green is the author of The Illumined Heart (Paraclete
Press).

Copyright C 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's
Christian magazine.

May 6, 2010

Don’t Forget!

Have you ever forgotten something you desperately needed to remember? So many times we create problems and heartache for ourselves and others because we forget certain things we should have remembered.

Paul the apostle, often reminded believers of key life principles and practices. Realizing the human tendency to forget, in his Holy Spirit-inspired writings he regularly refocused our attention on spiritual truths we should not forget.

One example of this is found in the book of Acts. As Paul shared his heart with the church leaders from Ephesus, he gave them an important reminder. His words are important for us as well:

” … You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35 (NLT)

Paul said, “Don’t forget that giving is one of the best activities you can ever do. It is the way to truly be happy and blessed!“

This kind of thinking runs counter to regular human reasoning. Most people equate happiness and blessing with getting. The more we get, the happier we think we will be. The more stuff we have, the more blessed we think we are.

Not true! God says that it’s actually the opposite. The happiest and most blessed people in the world are not those who focus on getting, but those who have learned the principle and practice of giving! Generous people are joyous people!

Why is giving so important?

One of the major ways God works in and on our hearts is by teaching and challenging us to give. Giving is a practical expression of our genuine trust in God. Giving confronts greed and breaks the grip of fear over us. It helps free us from a focus on ourselves. Stingy, parsimonious people are people with small hearts and small minds. A lack of generosity indicates something about the true state of our soul. Generous people are big-spirited people. They have allowed God to stretch and mold them into true channels of blessing.

Take an honest look at yourself for a moment. How generous are you? Do you regularly and cheerfully give to God’s work. Do you regularly stretch your giving muscles by challenging yourself to be more generous than you have been in the past? Are you growing as a giver? Are you allowing God to deal with any issues in your heart that make you resistant to giving?

Sometimes we forget the things we desperately need to remember. This is true when it comes to giving. We need to consistently remind ourselves of the lesson Jesus taught us by His words and deeds, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Pastor Dale

May 5, 2010

Praying Continually

Never stop praying.
—1 Thessalonians 5:17

If a law were passed tomorrow that prohibited praying in public, would you still pray? That is the dilemma the prophet Daniel faced. He was a godly man with a reputation for being a person of prayer.

It turns out that Daniel was so effective and successful at what he did that his enemies hated him. They wanted to bring him down. The problem, in their eyes at least, was that Daniel had no weak spots. He was a man of complete integrity. But one thing they knew about Daniel was that he was always praying. Three times every day, he would go into his house, open his windows, kneel down, and pray.

So his enemies went to the king and convinced him to sign a decree that would condemn to death any person who prayed to any god except him. Daniel was made aware of the decree. So what did Daniel do?

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. (Daniel 6:10)

The new decree didn't cause Daniel to change his habits at all. He still prayed. But notice what Daniel prayed for. We don't read of him praying for God's deliverance, but we do read that Daniel prayed, "giving thanks to his God." Daniel was aware that God was on the throne, that God was in control of his life, and that God was good. So he gave thanks to God.

Wherever you go, God is with you. And you can commune with Him and fellowship with Him and pray to Him and hear from Him. That is the idea of praying continually.

Copyright © 2010 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

May 4, 2010

When You Don’t Know What To Do.

There are times in all of our lives when we find ourselves in situations that are difficult to understand and tough to navigate. We’re at a loss — not knowing what to do. In such moments our abilities, wisdom, personal resources or experiences are insufficient to meet the demands placed on us, respond to the threat in front of us, or choose the path that is best for us.

What do we do in times like these?

We learn a great lesson about handling such situations from a story in the Old Testament. Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah, found himself facing a very difficult circumstance. Three large armies planned to attack this small nation. Jehoshaphat was out-numbered and out-resourced by these enemy forces. Everything about the situation spelled disaster for Jehoshaphat and this little country.

But Jehoshaphat had one good thing going for him. He knew God! Although Judah was small and weak, God was big and strong! Although a natural assessment of the threat read defeat, adding God to the equation meant victory!

Notice what Jehoshaphat did as soon as he heard about the approaching armies:

“The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” — 2 Chronicles 20:4

The first thing the king did was call a prayer meeting. He knew that Judah needed God’s help, and he did not hesitate to ask for it.

Jehoshaphat brought his prayer for God’s help to a conclusion with a very powerful, significant and instructional declaration:

” … We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

In the midst of his insecurity, uncertainty and consternation, King Jehoshaphat made the key decision that made a major difference in his situation. He focused his attention on God. He took his eyes off of the problem placed them on the One who was the solution!

Here is a great lesson for us. When you are facing something that is taxing your faith, strength or abilities, or threatening your destiny, and you don’t know what to do, do what Jehoshaphat did. Take your eyes off of the problem and focus on the One who is the solution to your problem.

God didn’t disappoint King Jehoshaphat. The Lord gave Judah an incredible, supernatural victory. And when you look to Him, the Lord will not disappoint you!

Pastor Dale

May 3, 2010

The following article is located at: http://www.kyria.com/topics/marriagefamily/marriage/healthhome/6m3010.html

Coming in Second
The only way to win at marriage is to let your mate take first place

Kevin A. Miller | posted 9/12/2008

Last summer Karen and I got into an interesting fight. I'd been mowing the lawn in the heat and humidity, and I was sweating. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to spray Weed & Feed on the lawn. It was freshly cut, and no rain was forecasted for days. All I needed were the chemicals.

"I'm going to the store," I told Karen.

"But the kids and I are waiting for you to go to the pool with us," she said. "And we've got to be back by 3."

"That can wait."

"Honey, we promised the kids we'd all go."

"Well, they'll just have to wait."

Karen was upset. "Why didn't you get the stuff before? I thought you said you had some."

"So I was wrong, already," I shot back. "I want to go to the store."

I'll spare you the rest of the conversation. But we went back and forth, and I got mad. Later, I chided myself: What were you thinking? She wanted you to go to the pool and cool off. And you fought with her so you could toil and sweat in the yard?

There was a force greater than logic at work: This was my project. What Karen wanted could wait.

Verbal Dynamite
At moments like those, it would help if the apostle Paul could walk right into my house to remind me, "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25). Those poetic-sounding words are verbal dynamite; they blow apart the way I want things to work. And when the dust settles, their wisdom remains: "Put your spouse first."

A wife is supposed to do that as well, the passage goes on to say, by showing respect, listening to her husband, honoring him and not tearing him down. A husband is called, meanwhile, to sacrifice himself for his wife. Make her feel special. Help her become a more holy, gracious person because of what he gives up for her.

This is a frighteningly high standard. It means dropping whatever I'm doing if it stands in the way of my wife's wellbeing. Not buying something I want, for her sake. Not working as long as I'd like, for her sake. The thing most essential to Christian marriage is the one thing I most don't want to do.

A lot of Christians stumble over this point. They can't accept that God would command them to do something so painful, so difficult, so outrageous as self-sacrifice. Recently I read about Leo Tolstoy, the world-class novelist and a Christian of strong principles. In a burst of compassion, he freed his serfs so they would no longer live in grinding poverty. But Tolstoy overlooked the person right next to him. After he died, his wife, Sonya, wrote this:

"There is so little genuine warmth about him … His biographies will tell of how he helped the laborers to carry buckets of water, but no one will ever know that he never gave his wife a rest and never—in all these thirty-two years—gave his child a drink of water or spent five minutes by his bedside to give me a chance to rest a little from all my labors."

Tolstoy, a great Christian in so many ways, couldn't bring himself to lay down his life for his wife.

Marriage Isn't Fair
Most of us stumble over this command—"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ"—because we're concentrating on what's fair. We expect our spouses to see how frazzled we are and give us a break. When there's a conflict, we demand what's rightfully ours: 50-50.

But if we play out marriage the logical, natural way, insisting on what's fair, we only bring pain to our spouses and ourselves. To paraphrase Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof,"If you insist on an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, you'll both end up blind and toothless." God wants to spare us that pain, so he gives us a better way: "Submit to one another."

Mutual submission will look different in every marriage. My first clue that I need to start submitting to Karen in some area is when I feel irritable about doing it. Should I sit and talk with her when I've got a hundred other things to do? Do I really have to go out with her and a couple of her friends—who are not my favorite people? Why must I remain open to her when I'd prefer to close off?

These things don't come naturally. That's why the Scripture has to remind me: Exaltation comes after humility. For your marriage to go up, you must go down. You have to descend into greatness.

In the movie The Poseidon Adventure, the ocean liner S.S. Poseidon is on the open sea when it hits a huge storm. A wall of water crashes through the ballroom chandelier. Men in tuxes and women in evening gowns scream and run. Lights go out, smoke pours into rooms and, amid all the confusion, the ship flips over.

Because of the air trapped inside the ocean liner, it floats upside down. But in the confusion, the passengers can't figure out what's going on. They scramble to get out, mostly by climbing the steps to the top deck. The problem is, the top deck is now 100 feet under water. In trying to get to the top of the ship, they drown.

The only survivors are the few who do what doesn't make any sense. They do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and descend into the dark belly of the ship until they reach the hull. By going down, they actually reach the ocean's surface. Rescuers hear them banging and cut them free.

In marriage, it's as if God has turned the ship over and the only way for us to get free is to choose what doesn't make sense: We lay down our lives by serving, supporting and sacrificing for our spouses.

Make the Impossible Possible
But such self-sacrifice raises a real problem. Often when our spouses need us to give to them, we dig deep down in ourselves and find there's nothing left to give. We scrape the bottomof the well and pull up nothing but mud. That's when we need a fresh-water spring fed by the Holy Spirit. The impossible demands of God become possible when he lives in us.

In Karen's third year of graduate school she was carrying a full course load, working 20 hours a week as an intern and writing a senior research paper. I'd come home from working a full day and then have to get dinner ready, put the kids to bed, proofread Karen's papers and sit alone while she studied. I was tired and lonely.

Halfway through the year, I didn't think I could go on. One day during the Christmas break, I took a walk to clear my head. I bundled up and walked down a snow-packed farm lane and began to talk to God. I could see my breath hanging in the air.

"God, I can't make it," I said. "She's got five more months of school, and I don't have it in me to support her through it. I can't keep giving for her sake anymore. I don't have the strength."

Then I sensed God say to me, "I'm going to help you through this." The next five months looked more like five years. But I knew that if I went forward, God would give me the strength each day to make it.

Five months later, on a sunny Sunday in May, I watched Karen put on a long black robe with a mortarboard and tassel. She marched across a stage to receive her diploma and the graduate hood. She had finished a lifelong dream, and I felt such joy for her that I cried.

When I threw myself on God, he gave me the power to obey his command: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." It seemed impossible, but the resentment that almost defeated me was gone.

Kevin A. Miller is a regular contributor to MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP. He and Karen, co-authors of More Than You and Me: Touching Others Through the Strength of Your Marriage (Focus on the Family), lead the marriage ministry at their church.

Copyright © 1996 by Christianity Today International/MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP magazine.