Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; (NAS)
Easier said than done you say? Sure it is. The natural tendency of life is to complain, gripe, bicker, grumble and fight. To do even some things without it is quite difficult. But to do all things? Well, maybe you should live with my husband for while, or maybe be at my job, or have to put up with my health, or my neighbors, or maybe my pastor. It is not easy to keep from grumbling.
Yet God reminds you often that you need not grumble. Grumbling is really a lack of faith in a God who knows all and knows exactly where you are and what you need. Sometimes your lack of purpose is caused when you fail to trust and instead complain.
There is a reason: Philippians 2:15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.(NAS) Your purpose is to always Glorify our Father.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Repent Today #67
Jonah 4:2
2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore, in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. (NAS)
Ann Graham Lotz, Billy Graham’s daughter recently said that her passion was to daily know God more and more. How well do you know the nature of God? Jonah was called of God to preach to wicked city of Nineveh. The message was simply to repent or perish. Jonah preached it to them and they did repent. It was not Jonah’s desire for them to do so, but it was the will of God.
God forgave them and saved them from destruction. Jonah was furious and yet he knew what God would do because he knew the nature of God. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness. Do you understand the nature of God as Jonah did? For maybe you or someone you know needs to meet the God of love. God is a forgiving God just waiting for people to repent in order to express that forgiveness. Won’t you repent of your sin today and place your faith in Christ.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore, in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. (NAS)
Ann Graham Lotz, Billy Graham’s daughter recently said that her passion was to daily know God more and more. How well do you know the nature of God? Jonah was called of God to preach to wicked city of Nineveh. The message was simply to repent or perish. Jonah preached it to them and they did repent. It was not Jonah’s desire for them to do so, but it was the will of God.
God forgave them and saved them from destruction. Jonah was furious and yet he knew what God would do because he knew the nature of God. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness. Do you understand the nature of God as Jonah did? For maybe you or someone you know needs to meet the God of love. God is a forgiving God just waiting for people to repent in order to express that forgiveness. Won’t you repent of your sin today and place your faith in Christ.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Discouragement #66
IKing 8:17-20
17 "Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
18 "But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.
19 'Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.'
20 "Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; (NAS)
Have you ever been disappointed? Sure you have. Discouragement is often a result of having a dream, desire, hope or expectation and then seeing it come to an end. You find yourself disappointed. David desired to build a temple for God and told the prophet Nathan about it. Nathan then had a vision in which God revealed to him that David would not build a temple. God gave credit to David’s desire and then gave the assignment of the construction of the temple to his son, Solomon.
Disappointment on your part might also mean that God has a new direction for the fulfillment of His perfect will. You may have not gotten the raise, didn’t make the volleyball team, or a host of other dashed dreams. Remember that God still is in charge. The greater joy for David was to realize his son would fulfill his dream of building a house for the Lord.
God is in charge not only of your dreams, desires and aspirations, but of His intended outcome. His word will be fulfilled in you.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
17 "Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
18 "But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.
19 'Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.'
20 "Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; (NAS)
Have you ever been disappointed? Sure you have. Discouragement is often a result of having a dream, desire, hope or expectation and then seeing it come to an end. You find yourself disappointed. David desired to build a temple for God and told the prophet Nathan about it. Nathan then had a vision in which God revealed to him that David would not build a temple. God gave credit to David’s desire and then gave the assignment of the construction of the temple to his son, Solomon.
Disappointment on your part might also mean that God has a new direction for the fulfillment of His perfect will. You may have not gotten the raise, didn’t make the volleyball team, or a host of other dashed dreams. Remember that God still is in charge. The greater joy for David was to realize his son would fulfill his dream of building a house for the Lord.
God is in charge not only of your dreams, desires and aspirations, but of His intended outcome. His word will be fulfilled in you.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Mighty Work Through You #65
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (NAS)
Did you ever consider what God is doing in you? His Holy Spirit lives in every believer and that means you. As a result you have His power in you. His power is not only in you, but is at work. You may say, “At work for what reason?” The answer is that He will accomplish exceeding, abundantly beyond anything you could ask or think.
Consider the possibilities. The scripture says that He is able to do more than that which you could ask or think. What a tremendous thought. He is at work in and through your life to bring about the amazing miracles that only God can do, but He will be working thorough you.
God uses people to accomplish His works and you are no exception. He wants to do mighty works. He is using your thoughts and your requests to fulfill His mighty deeds. To God be the glory.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Did you ever consider what God is doing in you? His Holy Spirit lives in every believer and that means you. As a result you have His power in you. His power is not only in you, but is at work. You may say, “At work for what reason?” The answer is that He will accomplish exceeding, abundantly beyond anything you could ask or think.
Consider the possibilities. The scripture says that He is able to do more than that which you could ask or think. What a tremendous thought. He is at work in and through your life to bring about the amazing miracles that only God can do, but He will be working thorough you.
God uses people to accomplish His works and you are no exception. He wants to do mighty works. He is using your thoughts and your requests to fulfill His mighty deeds. To God be the glory.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Encourager is Back On Line #64
John 12:27-28 27 "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 "Father, glorify Thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (NAS)
Does the one who encourages others ever become discouraged? Have you found that the circumstances of life bring you to a point of wanting to give up, or as Jesus said, “for this purpose I came to this hour?” Jesus was the greatest encourager who ever lived and yet as He approached the upcoming suffering of the cross He was troubled. Some translations say He was despondent, others even depressed. He was an encourager who became discouraged.
He was even to the point of not knowing what to pray. “What shall I say?” Have you ever been speechless before God? It seems that Jesus did find the right words: “Father glorify Thy name.” That is your purpose for living: to glorify God. The Father responded that He has glorified His name before and He would do it again. He did in the most splendid of ways as He gave His Son to die on a cross the give eternal life to all who would believe. You may be despondent, troubled, depressed. Just remember the greatest encourager of all time also experienced your feelings.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
_____________________________Today's personal Note form Dennis
Dear Family, Friends, Co-laborers, Prayer warriors, As you can see I am finally getting strong enough to write “The Encourager” this week. The last one was May 13.2009. Little did I know then what the next 4 ½ months would bring. If you have been keeping up with the blog sight www.dgwhealthnews.blogspot.com then you know maybe more that I do.
For many days and weeks during that period of time I remember little. It was through your prayers that I am better today. I was surrounded by the best family and friends anyone could ever ask for. Sandy’s personal care for me has been an especially wonderful blessing. I am still in need of prayer. I am weak, on four infusions a day of very high powered antibiotics, seeing several doctors and anticipating more procedures on October 12. God has been so good to allow me to live. Twice in the hospital I quit breathing and had to have breathing tubes. One was a result of a brain bleed with a grand mall seizure, and the other septic shock. Prayers from you and many others along with some quick actions by some wonderful nurses provided me another chance at life.
As time goes on I hope to tell you some of the things God has taught me - from what it feels like when God seems very distant, to having a ministry in the hospital that I never dreamed God would accomplish.
I love all of you and thank God for you and your prayers. PLEASE DON’T STOP PRAYING!!! I still have a long way to go. Dennis
Does the one who encourages others ever become discouraged? Have you found that the circumstances of life bring you to a point of wanting to give up, or as Jesus said, “for this purpose I came to this hour?” Jesus was the greatest encourager who ever lived and yet as He approached the upcoming suffering of the cross He was troubled. Some translations say He was despondent, others even depressed. He was an encourager who became discouraged.
He was even to the point of not knowing what to pray. “What shall I say?” Have you ever been speechless before God? It seems that Jesus did find the right words: “Father glorify Thy name.” That is your purpose for living: to glorify God. The Father responded that He has glorified His name before and He would do it again. He did in the most splendid of ways as He gave His Son to die on a cross the give eternal life to all who would believe. You may be despondent, troubled, depressed. Just remember the greatest encourager of all time also experienced your feelings.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
_____________________________Today's personal Note form Dennis
Dear Family, Friends, Co-laborers, Prayer warriors, As you can see I am finally getting strong enough to write “The Encourager” this week. The last one was May 13.2009. Little did I know then what the next 4 ½ months would bring. If you have been keeping up with the blog sight www.dgwhealthnews.blogspot.com then you know maybe more that I do.
For many days and weeks during that period of time I remember little. It was through your prayers that I am better today. I was surrounded by the best family and friends anyone could ever ask for. Sandy’s personal care for me has been an especially wonderful blessing. I am still in need of prayer. I am weak, on four infusions a day of very high powered antibiotics, seeing several doctors and anticipating more procedures on October 12. God has been so good to allow me to live. Twice in the hospital I quit breathing and had to have breathing tubes. One was a result of a brain bleed with a grand mall seizure, and the other septic shock. Prayers from you and many others along with some quick actions by some wonderful nurses provided me another chance at life.
As time goes on I hope to tell you some of the things God has taught me - from what it feels like when God seems very distant, to having a ministry in the hospital that I never dreamed God would accomplish.
I love all of you and thank God for you and your prayers. PLEASE DON’T STOP PRAYING!!! I still have a long way to go. Dennis
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