Who's In Charge #117

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 38:2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 38:3 "Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct me! 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, 38:12 “Have you ever…” 38:19 “Where is the way…” 38:35 “Can you send forth lightening…” 39:27 “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up…” 40:1-2 Then the Lord said to Job, Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? 40:3-4 Then Job answered the Lord and said, “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.”

Job and his friends had questioned God and His intentions. After 37 chapters God finallyspeaks and gives wise counsel. The declaration of God and the conclusion of Job is that the Creator makes the decisions, determines outcomes, and directs the action. Job’s friends tried to blame Job for his problems. His wife asked him to curse God and die.

Finally, God speaks and says that as His creation you cannot challenge His decisions. He is in charge. HE IS GOD!! You’re not!! Job’s understanding of himself is that in the scheme of things he is insignificant. It does not mean he was of no worth, but simply that in comparison to God, he is insignificant. Whenever you recognize the Almighty nature of God and His sovereignty you will see and exclaim along with the Psalmist, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:4 (NIV)

God has a purpose for your life, and He will fulfill it. Job 42:1-3 says, "Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Rest assured God knows all that is happening to you, through you, for you and in you. He has a purpose that will bring glory to His wonderful name.

Praise Him today for His watch-care and providence in your life. Matthew 19:26 And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but withGod all things are possible." (NAS) Take time right now to thank God that He is in charge.

___________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from home in Tempe, AZ.

Sandy and I are glad to be home for a few days. We will leave again next Wednesday for Columbus, Ohio where we will lead a

retreat. Our friends Bob and Pat Moser are the leaders of a

Sunday School class that has an annual retreat. We feel

priviliged to share with them again this year.

The conference in VA was wonderful. We had a great time with

our friends the Elmores and all the folks at Tabernacle Baptist

Church. God blessed as many were encouraged in their walk with God and as they walk

through trials.

Sandy went to the Doctor this morning (WED) and got a clean bill of health on her bladder cancer. She will return in six months for a checkup. I meet tomorrow with the oncologist to find out about the tests that have recently been run. Pray for a great outcome. One of my Doctors recently found he also has cancer. Pray for Dr. Duwe. He has become a special friend as well as doctor.

Sandy and I will be teaching at Church on Mill on Wednesday nights, Nov 17, Dec 1 and 8. We look forward to being in our church for those three weeks. We will be sharing our Celebrating Life conference with them. The Mission Service Corp retreat is in Avondale, Arizona on November 19-20.

Sandy and I have been asked to speak at it also. Grace Community Church has asked me to preach three services on January 2, 2011. They are a wonderful church near our home. And the annual Quartizite revival at Quartzite Southern Baptist Church will be in mid January. Sandy and I will also be speaking at it. The Campers on Mission chapter willbe doing street ministry during the Annual Gem and Rock Show. Pray for the details to be worked out for this big undertaking.

Wow! I am tired thinking about all these opportunities for ministry. Pray for our preparation.

That is the most time consuming and difficult part. As most of you are aware standing in front of a group of people and teaching is not hard for me or Sandy.

May God Bless Your Life This Week. ~DGW

Taking Advice #116

Acts 27:21-26
Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listenedto me in the first place and not left Fair Havens. You would have avoided all this injury andloss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and hesaid, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God inhis goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believeGod. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

The Apostle Paul was on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar as a common criminal. The ship he was on not only had a crew but other prisoners as well. Paul had warned the crew of impending disaster if they did not follow his instructions. They refused and found themselves in major difficulties. As things grew worse Paul gathered the crew together and reprimanded them for not paying attention and following his advice. The problems and difficulties they faced could have been avoided if only they had listened and heeded Paul's warnings. Do you ever find yourself in trouble for not taking the advice of those who are wise and knowledgeable?

Paul did give them encouragement and hope in spite of their lack of following his counsel. Take courage, because no one would lose their life even though the ship would sink. Sometimes our ship sinks because of our poor decisions, yet life is not over. There is still hope. God had spoken to Paul and assured him that he would arrive in Rome and stand before Caesar. God’s purpose would be fulfilled.

He also assured them that all on board would also be safe. This was because of no other reason than the goodness and grace of God. Even though you often fail in your obedience to God and fail to follow His directives He still promises that His goodness will see you through. So Paul concludes with, “Take Courage.” How could they take courage in light of the future prophesy of Paul concerning the ship’s destiny? They could be courageous because Paul believed God.

Even though your ship may sink, your faith will see you through because God said it would. You may be on a sinking ship but God is still in charge. Take courage and believe God. He will seeyou through to His intended purpose.

___________________Today's personal note from Dennnis

Greetings from Starbucks in Salem, Virginia!

Sandy and I arrived in Salem on Monday. We are excited about our week with the Tabernacle Baptist Church and Pastor Rick Elmore and his wife, Lynne. They are long time friends. We met in seminary in Fort Worth in 1968. Wow! That was a long time ago.I will be speaking tonight (Wed) at their weekly prayer meeting. Sandy and I both will be speaking Saturday morning and again on Sunday morning. We look forward to seeing the wonderful folks at Tabernacle. During my illness they have been faithful prayer warriors for us. We are grateful to them.

Thanks for your prayers for our family. Our daughter, Mandy and baby to be, are doing wonderful. How we praise God for that. Needless to say daddy to be, John, is likewise excited.

Our daughter Susan is working on her new condo. She has a lot of work to do to make it ready to live in. She is working hard at ripping out cabinets, tearing up flooring, removing popcorn ceiling and lots of cleaning.

Roger and Jennifer and boys are also moving into a new home this weekend. Lots to do to be ready to move.

God is so good. I appreciate your prayers and know that God is working in my life and ministry. Doors have opened for ministry. Already in November I have scheduled nine speaking engagements and several in January already. Praise the Lord.

Pray for continued health. I meet with the oncologist, and my primary care doctors when I get home. Both have called to schedule appointments to discuss the latest tests that have been run.

Do you know that God loves you!! He does. So much so that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for you in order that you might have life and life abundantly. May He bless you today with His grace and mercy and show you His goodness. ~ DGW

Only By Faith #115

Romans 4:1-5
1 What should we say about those things? What did our father Abraham discover about being right with God?
2 Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn't brag to God.
3 What do we find in Scripture? It says, "Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham's faith, and so his faith made him right with God."— (Genesis 15:6)
4 When a man works, his pay is not considered a gift. It is owed to him.
5 But things are different with God. He makes evil people right with himself. If people trust in him, their faith is accepted even though they do not work. Their faith makes them right with God. (New International Reader's Version)

How important to you is your faith? What are you trusting in to give you a right relationship with God. You may believe how you live, things you do or don’t do, or your own performance would cause God to accept or reject you. Let me encourage you. You are right with God by faith and faith alone. Our father, Abraham, received a relationship with God because he believed in God and God’s promises.

Abraham was justified or made righteous by his faith and his faith alone. If he could have done works or deeds which could have given him a right relationship with God then he could have bragged or boasted of himself and not given glory to God.

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, Genesis 15:6.

Your relationship with God is based not on keeping laws or rules, or on your deeds and works, or your performance. It is based on your faith in God Himself, Jesus Christ. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory and holiness of God. The only way for that sin to be forgiven and a relationship with God to be established is faith in God the Son, Jesus. He died for you on a cross and arose from the dead to give you life. But life, forgiveness and right standing with God is received only by faith.

Your faith determines not only your right relationship with God, but your faith keeps you daily assured of your relationship with God. Trusting God brings hope and encouragement. Trust God with your life today. He loves and cares for you and desires to save you from your sin and guide your life.

__________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from San Diego, CA!

Sandy and I have taken a few days to enjoy one of our favorite places on the planet, San Diego, CA. We have been here almost a week. We will be back in Tempe on Wednesday afternoon. We have met new people. I was able to share a testimony at First Baptist Church of Clairmont on Sunday morning and have lunch with Pastor Alan Thompson and his wife, Beth. What a great time.

We have had some really exciting things happen in our family. Our daughter Mandy and her husband, John, have been married nine years and unable to have children. They announced to us recently that we will be grandparents again in May. They are excited and so are we. Mandy and the baby are doing fine. They saw the heart beat on ultra-sound last week. We praise the Lord for an answer to prayer. Continue to pray that all will go well.

Our other daughter, Susan and her son, Collin, have bought a condo and will be moving out of our home and on their own in the next couple of months. We again praise the Lord for finding them a great place to live.

Sandy and I leave early Sunday morning for Salem, VA where we will be leading a "Celebrating Life" conference on October 23-24. Pray for us that we could be an encouragement to the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Pray for that church and Pastor Rick Elmore and his wife, Lynne. They have been close friends for over forty years.

What a great God we serve. He has so blessed our lives with family, friends, faith and hope. To Him be the glory.

I pray for you that God would bless you this week. ~ DGW

"Deep" Faith #114

Matthew 13:3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed (NIV)

Matthew 13:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, be-cause the soil was shallow.
Matthew 13:6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, andthey withered because they had no root. (NIV)

Matthew 13:20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears theword and at once receives it with joy.
Matthew 13:21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a shorttime. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. (NIV)

What is the depth of your walk with Christ? In Jesus’ own words he admonishes those who are shallow in their faith. Actually He gives an emphatic warning that those who have a superficial faith will find their faith withering away when trouble or persecution comes. Some translations use the word tribulation to describe the cause of falling away.

Notice that this person is an ‘immediately’ person. They respond to the word with enthusiasm,quickly, and with joy. They like what they hear. The problem comes in that they have no root within themselves. The result of the word only lasts a short time. The result being that as quickly as the word was received it also abruptly left with no evidence of ever having been received.

Trials, tribulations, persecution, adversity are all causes for the recipients of the word to fall away. It is like a river that is a mile wide but only six inches deep. The river is disturbed by drought, floods and algae. So is someone who receives the word into a life that is shallow.

What kind of recipient are you? Do you have roots that run deep into Christ? Do you flounder when things get tough? Anchor your life into the depths of Jesus and find strength to weather the worst storms. God bless you in your spiritual growth into a deep relationship with Jesus.

______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from wet and cool Tempe, AZ!

Thanks for your prayers for the liver tube change last Monday. IT NEVER HAPPENED! The Doctor looked at my scans, ultra sound and blood work and said he thought I didn't need it changed for now. In fact he is talking about removing it completely in November if I continue to do well. Praise the Lord.

We had other great news this past week. Our daughter, Mandy, and her husband, John, have been married for nine years and unable to have children. This past week they announced that in May Sandy and I would be grandparents. We all hugged, and yelled and even cried a little with the wonderful news. Mom, Dad and baby are doing fine. Continue to lift them in your prayers. Needless to say Sandy and I are really excited.

We continue to minister to people when and wherever we can. We will be sharing in a weekend seminar at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Salem, VA October 23-24. Pray for us and the people at Tabernacle. We pray that they will be encouraged in Christ.

A BIG THANK YOU for praying for us and for hitting reply last week. It is always good to hear from you. I pray God will bless you and your family this week and that you will find encouragement to face your every challenge. Love you all. ~ DGW