Deep Roots #104

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. 8"For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when theheat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought norcease to yield fruit. (NAS)

Do you wish God would bless you? God wants to bless you. He desires to fill your life with blessings. But the question is: “What does God want of you?” The answer is simply that He wants you to trust Him. That would mean you are no longer in control of your life, God is. It means that in all and every situation and circumstance your trust is not in anything you can do,no one you know, or any influence you can exert. Your trust is in the Lord.

Jeremiah explains that the person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree with a deep root system. It is planted by the water with an endless supply of moisture. The roots extend into the stream and when heat comes it never lacks the strength to survive. The result is a tree whose leaves are ever green and does not fear drought nor does it cease to produce fruit.

So it is with your life. When you trust in the Lord your roots are grounded in Him. You have no reason to be afraid or loose sight of your purpose for life. Your life will produce the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlenessand self control. Trust, depend on, lean on, rely upon, yield to, and be supported by the Lordand you will be blessed.

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 Lake Oahe South Dakota,

We have been on the road for two weeks now with one more to go. God has opened doors for me to share what a great God He is. Most everyone is willing to listen. What a joy to tell people about God's grace and love. The verse God gave me back in October of last year was Psalms 118:17 "I shall not die, but live and tell of the works of the Lord." It seems daily I have the privilege of telling of the works of the Lord."

Sunday, August 1st, I will be preaching at Community Bible Church in Pierre, SD. They have three morning services so pray for the extra physical and emotional strength to get through. We plan to leave for home on Sunday afternoon and spend our first night in Nebraska somewhere.

Sandy took a hard fall yesterday off the gangplank of the houseboat. She fell onto her face and chest and hand. She is skinned up and bruised, but nothing broken. For that we are grateful. Pray that she can sleep better. The discomfort of the bruises and scrapes makes it hard to get a good night's sleep.

Collin has had a great time fishing, boating, riding the tube behind the boat and hiking. It has been the fulfillment of the promise I made him last year. Again God is faithful and provided an answer to lots of prayer.

I do hope you will be blessed today from the God who loves you so much. He gave His life on the cross for you and lives in you by faith. God bless. By the way thanks for the prayers and concern and for being so supportive. You are a blessing. ~DGW

An Encouraging Heart #103

Philippians 2:1-2

1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Is your heart tender and compassionate? What a probing question. What is inside of you? The encouragement you are to others is determined by what is in your own heart. Is it a heart of an encourager? Is it a heart of love? Is your heart at one mind and purpose with another? Then you can be an encourager.

The theologian William Barclay once wrote, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement….It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals: it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.”

Is your heart a heart of encouragement. Be aware that everyday God will send someone into your life who needs uplifted. He will send them your way in order that you can ‘be there’ for them. Look for them. They may be as near as your spouse or child. It may be a discouraged student or a co-worker. It may be in a hospital room, or a nursing home. You are God’s emissary of the moment. Be available with a heart ready to encourage.

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 downtown Custer, SD in the beautiful Black Hills. Sandy, Collin and I arrived on Monday in order to spend a few days camping. Tuesday we fulfilled a promise to Collin to see Mt. Rushmore. We made the hike up to the faces and spent almost three hours at the marvelous creation.

Almost two years ago I had promised Collin that I would take him to see Mt. Rushmore. Of course last year that became an impossibility. Not only did we not get to Mt. Rushmore but I spent most of the summer in the hospital. Part of me doubted I would ever fulfill that promise, BUT another part believed God would give me the health to show Collin what a magnificent place Mt. Rushmore is. God was gracious enough to see that come to be. PTL

I will be preaching on August 1 at the Community Bible Church in the capital of Pierre, SD. Looking forward to seeing people again from that great church.

I have been telling you we are making changes to The Encourager. The changes are made.We have set up a blog site. ALL of the 103 encouragers are found on the blog site,Several of you have commented that you wish you had saved copies or could refer to an Encourager you may have read a year ago. Well now you can. I will continue to send The Encourager as usual, BUT if you want the new format and would like to receive your Encourager from the blog site please go to Follow the simple directions to submit your email address.You can also check it out by a google search to dgtheencourager.blogspot.comI hope you will change to the new Encourager. I will repeat this message for the next two or three weeks. You will receive the Encourager by email, but it will be the blog site you will receive. All you need to do is sign up.

Blessings to you. ~DGW

The Secret #102

Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)

Much has been written about the secrets to this and that. Maybe the secret to happiness, success, a great marriage, the right job, gaining wealth and on and on. The Apostle Paul gives a secret to living in every situation. Can you imagine that life is never changing, always the same? Of course that is not the case. You may find yourself in one situation one day and it be totally changed the next. The Bible’s answer to the secret of living in every situation is: CONTENTMENT.

Obviously it is difficult to be content. The reason is the lack of strength to overcome viewing life by the situation of the moment. To view life as only the struggle of the moment will be discouraging and bring hopelessness. Paul explained his life as one in which he had experienced living on almost nothing or having everything. The secret he learned was that Christ provided the strength in order for him to face everything. The power of Christ led him to contentment because he realized and accepted that Christ was in charge of his life.

Do you need to find that secret? Do you need to find strength for your situation in the strength that only Christ can provide? Trust Him today because you can truly do all things through the one who gives you His strength. To Him 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. ~DGW

___________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from HOT HOT TEMPE! The thermometer is to hit 117 before the week is over, and our monsoon season has hit so it is no longer DRY. But I love it.

God blessed again this week. My procedure went well and I am doing wonderful. My Dad is in a rehab and out of the hospital and doing well also.

God has blessed with opportunities for ministry. I will be preaching in South Dakota at Community Bible Church in Pierre on August 1 and at the Laveen Baptist Church in Laveen, AZ on August 15. Sandy and I will be leading conferences in Virginia and Ohio in November.

Sandy, our grandson, Collin, and I will be leaving Friday, July 16 for South Dakota. Pray for safety. The picture is our home away from home. Yes, we are driving. Road trip #2 for the summer of 2010. Quite a change from the summer of 2009. Thank you for your prayers and concern.

I have been telling you we are making changes to The Encourager. The changes are made. We have set up a blog site. ALL of the 101 Encouragers are found on the blog site, Several of you have commented that you wish you had saved copies or could refer to an Encourager you may have read a year ago. Well now you can. I will continue to send The Encourager as usual, BUT if you want the new format and would like to receive your Encourager from the blog site please go to http://dgtheencourager.blogspot.com Follow the simple directions to submit your email address. You can also check it out by a Google search to dgtheencourager.blogspot.com I hope you will change to the new Encourager. I will repeat this message for the next two or three weeks.

God bless you today. God loves you and HE IS GOOD!!

The Simple Message #101

Acts 13:15,29-32,38-39
15 After the usual readings from the books of Moses and from the Prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for us, come and give it!"
29 "When they had fulfilled all the prophecies concerning his death, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.
30 But God raised him from the dead!
31 And he appeared over a period of many days to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem -- these are his witnesses to the people of Israel.
32"And now Barnabas and I are here to bring you this Good News.
38 "Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
39 Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God -- something the Jewish law could never do. (NLT)

Paul and Barnabus found themselves in the temple with an invitation to teach the Hebrew Bible to all present. The men in charge of the temple called it “a word of encouragement.” Paul of course had the greatest word of encouragement possible. The simple message was that Jesus had been crucified on a cross, three days later arose from the dead, never to die again, and appeared to countless witnesses. That this same Jesus because of His death and resurrection could forgive all their sins and free them from guilt and make them right with God.

They called this the “good news” which it truly was and still is. The Jewish people had been given the law which gave them knowledge of sin, but no way to remove or forgive it. The coming of Christ, the Messiah, assured all of us a way to a true relationship with God.

The death of Jesus on the cross was a substitute for us who truly deserve to die for our sin. The resurrection brought justification for our sin. Paul and Barnabus saw their mission was to declare this “good news.” Encouragement, hope, eternal life, forgiveness, and freedom from guilt and a right relationship with God were all theirs through Jesus.

Have you found the “good news” or have you only heard the condemnation of the law and not the freedom of the cross and resurrection. Jesus came to give you life and life abundantly. Trust Him today.

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 Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ.

Have I told you lately how good God is? Well He is and I praise Him every day for being full of grace and mercy. He has so blessed me and Sandy. We are so grateful.

Prayer needs:

1. I am writing this on WED the 7th because I will be in the hospital getting a liver tube change again at the end of the week. Some of you will get this WED and some TR. Please pray for a smooth exchange of tubes and that no infection happens.

2. As of this morning, WED, my Dad is in the hospital in Jefferson City, MO. It is still not known what the problem is that has caused him to fall, be confused and other motor skills. Pray for him and my brother who is caring for him. I will know more later today.

3. Sandy and I plan to leave on the 17th for an extended trip to South Dakota. Pray for preparation and safety.

4. God is opening doors for ministry. Pray He will continue to do so.

I have been telling you we are making changes to The Encourager. The changes are made. We have set up a blog site. ALL of the 101 Encouragers are found on the blog site, Several of you have commented that you wish you had saved copies or could refer to an Encourager you may have read a year ago. Well now you can.

I will continue to send The Encourager as usual, BUT if you want the new format and would like to receive your Encourager from the blog site please go to http://dgtheencourager.blogspot.com Follow the simple directions to submit your email address. You can also check it out by a Google search to dgtheencourager.blogspot.com. I hope you will change to the new Encourager. I will repeat this message for the next two or three weeks.

God bless you today. God loves you and HE IS GOOD!! ~DGW

If you know someone who might like to receive The Encourager please send me their name and email address or send them to the blogspot.

No Never Alone #100

John 16:1-7
1I HAVE told you all these things, so that you should not be offended (taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away). [I told you to keep you from being scandalized and repelled.]
2They will put you out of (expel you from) the synagogues; but an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he has offered service to God.
3And they will do this because they have not known the Father or Me.
4But I have told you these things now, so that when they occur you will remember that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, Where are You going?
6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken
complete possession of them].
7However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

Jesus had warned the disciples that things were transitioning from bad to worse. He had been their constant companion, friend and teacher for three years. His life was coming to an end although he was a young man of thirty-three. He then brings down their high expectations of their Jewish Messiah by announcing that He was leaving them. He informed them that they would be expelled from the Temple and be killed.

Because of His leaving them alone He made a promise that another one would come to replace Him. How many times have you heard or said you would have liked to have walked with Jesus. The announcement of Jesus to the disciples was that after His departure another like Him would come and have close fellowship with them. The Holy Spirit would be a comforter, counselor, advocate, intercessor, strengthener, and standby. He would be with and in them. He would be with each of them all at the same time.

Today you have the privilege to have God, the Holy Spirit, to live inside you. He is all to you that Jesus promised to the disciples. You are truly never alone. No matter the circumstances or situations your life brings you way God is with you. Rejoice today in the ever present God the Holy Spirit who desires close fellowship with 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.

________________________Today's Personal Note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks!
Number 100!! It is hard to believe I am sending you the 100th issue of The Encourager. I have so enjoyed trying to lift your spirits, give you hope and encourage you in your daily life. God has certainly led through some eventful times during the years I have written to you. It is my continued hope that The Encourager will remind you that God is in charge of your life, that He loves you and desires for you to have a full and meaningful life. He has certainly blessed me and Sandy during this time.

We are still working on a new format for The Encourager. More information will be forthcoming.

I do hope and pray that today you are blessed in a real special way. Please pray for another upcoming liver tube change which is scheduled for Friday July 9th. This again is the critical exchange that has often caused infections. The last change was 9 weeks ago and went without incident. Pray for the same results this time. Thanks for your concern and prayers.

Continue to pray for opportunities for ministry for both me and Sandy. Pray for our upcoming trip to South Dakota. We will be in the Pierre area on Sunday July 25 and August 1. I do not have a place to preach yet so pray for that door to open.

In Christ, ~DGW