Hurtful Words #95

1 Corinthians 14:12,26 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. 26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (NAS)

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. (NAS)

Ever been hurt by a word from a friend, teacher, parent, relative, coach or another important person in your life? It has been said that for every negative word spoken that it takes seventeen positive ones to undo the damage. You have maybe been the recipient of such discouragement or maybe you were the one who let those hurtful words flow from your lips.

The Bible is very clear that words that you utter should be to edify. The word means to build up. In the use of spiritual gifts within the church setting it is possible to destroy or to edify one another. Paul encourages uplifting one another with the use of spiritual gifts. All things are to be done for edification. Words should be good for building up one another and the need of the moment.

The result is that words that edify give grace to those who hear. Why not be a committed to building up other believers and say words that edify and use your spiritual gifts to build up one another?

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 from Dennis

Greetings from the Ozarks!

Sandy and I are still in MO and will be another few days before heading back home to Tempe. We have had a great time seeing family and friends. We head to Branson tonight to see a show.
God continues to give me strength and stamina. PTL.

I hope God will give you a blessing of having someone say something to you today to edify you. You are so special to me and Sandy. Thanks for loving us. We do love you. Let us hear how you are doing.

PS Picture is me writing The Encourager in a campground on the Osage River just below Bagnell Dam. The water behind me is a small pond.

What Plans? #94

Jeremiah 29:11'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes. (NAS)

The nation of Israel had been taken into exile as captors of the Babylonians. It appeared from every perspective that all hope was lost of ever going back home to Israel. They needed the prophet of God, Jeremiah, to remind them that God was in charge of their present and their future. God had plans. Notice how many times Jeremiah uses the pronoun ‘you.’ God has plans for you. God has a future and a hope for you. If you call on Him and come to Him and pray to Him he will listen to you. If you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him. He will restore you.

What a great God YOU serve and love. He is for YOU. He cares about YOU. No matter what your circumstances or situation He is promising YOU His plans for YOUR future and give YOU hope. Never give up or give in. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and he will direct your steps to fulfill His plans for YOU.

Never forget that God loves you and knows what is best for your life. You may not understand why things are happening to you until you step into eternity. But rest assured God does have plans for you and He does cause all things to work together for good.

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 from Dennis

Greetings from the beautiful GREEN hills of the Missouri Ozark mountains. I even made it to Starbucks this morning in Osage Beach, MO. Sandy and I left last Friday right after the oncologist appointment and drove to MO. We have been able to spend time with family and old friends. It was especially good to see my DAD, who will turn 85 on June 3rd.

The oncologist visit brought a mixed report. Some things were good. Others not so good. My cancer markers are the highest they have ever been.(NOT GOOD) The CT scan and ultra sound were inconclusive. The CT did show some problems in the lower intestinal track. More test are already scheduled for early June. Pray for good reports from those.

The best part is that I feel good. Being able to drive three days to MO, visit with family and friends and preaching the next Sunday (May 23rd) at Second Baptist Lebanon, MO are all signs that things are good. I praise God for the strength and stamina to do what I could not have done just six weeks ago.

You will have to ask me about getting bitten by a dog. Appreciate your prayers and love you all.

Prayer Time #93

Luke 5:16 But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (NAS)

Jesus communicated with the Father in prayer. He was known for His praying and the strength and power He received from prayer. It was the only subject that His disciples specifically asked that He teach them. Luke 11:1 And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." (NAS)

No doubt you have been in a prayer meeting when several believers join together to ask God to meet a specific need or to just praise Him. Never underestimate the power of corporate prayer. BUT it appears from scripture that the major dynamic of Jesus prayer life was slipping away to pray alone.

Luke 6:12 And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (NAS) His prayer time was alone, in a secluded place, at a specific time, for a specific reason. When is the last time you went to a place to pray, by yourself, for a specific reason? Alone times with the Father are a vital part of your spiritual life and growth. It is also the secret to answered prayer.

Why not take time this week and remove yourself from the hustle of life, the struggles of work, school, family or ministry and be refreshed in a time of prayer. Remember: find the time to be alone, in a secluded place and with a specific reason. God will meet you there.

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 from Dennis

It is so good to be alive and sharing life with my family, friends and involved in ministry. So many people need encouraged that I feel like Paul in Romans 1:14-16 "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (NAS)

I so desire to share the GOOD NEWS. Jesus loves you and died for you. He forgives you and desires to give you a full life and hope for eternity. The Lord has so blessed me with a renewed physical life in order to serve Him. If you know of preaching and teaching opportunities please contact me. I AM READY!!

PRAYER NEED. I meet the oncologist on Friday morning May 14 in order to receive the reports from all the tests I took two weeks ago. Pray they will be good and that I will not need any further treatment at this time.

May God bless you today with a peace that passes understanding. If you have something that needs God's special touch I pray today that will happen for you and yours.
I love all of you. The picture is Sandy and the grandsons on Mother's Day (left to right-Burke, Bennett, Sandy, Collin.

PS: Soon The Encourager will take on a new format. Please be prepared to make that possible. It will require some help from you. You will hear in more in the next few weeks.

Shipwrecked? #92

Acts 27:7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us…v.8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, v.9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,[c] and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

v. 10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” v.11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. v.12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, andspend the winter there.

Acts 7:13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. v.14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

v.21 Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. v. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. v. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, v.24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ v. 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. v. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” (NLT)

Ever been shipwrecked? Not literally, but figuratively. Paul was on his way to see Caesar and appeal his imprisonment. He foresaw the change in weather, the disaster awaiting the ship, its crew and cargo. Paul warned the officer in charge but received a less than supportive response. As they proceeded the weather began to change and danger haunted their progress.

The sea became so difficult that the crew gave up. Things progressed worse and worse. Paul exhorted the men that they should have listened to him and stayed in Fair Havens. Instead they had chosen to not listen. Now it had become too late. Paul received a word from God through an angel telling him that although they would be shipwrecked, no life would be lost and that they should take courage and believe God.

You have probably been shipwrecked or close to it. Paul’s words are for you. “Listen. Don’t be afraid. Be of good courage. Believe God. You may be in the midst of a shipwreck or just headed into one because you failed to listen to God in the beginning. Don’t ignore the admonition Paul gave the sailors.

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 from Dennis

Thank you, thank you for your prayers. My procedure yesterday went well (WED) I anticipate a quick recovery and to be back in the swing of things. I really appreciate all your prayers. For the first time in over a year some of my liver counts are back in the normal range. PRAISE THE LORD!!Keep up the prayers. I am looking forward to doing more ministry. Pray for open doors for both me and Sandy to teach God's word.

I pray God will watch over you and bless you today. You are loved.