Believe It Or Not! #143

Acts 13:38-41

38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

40"Take heed therefore, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you.

41 'Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; for I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.'"

Can you believe it? Believe it or not. The Book of Acts records words of encouragement. god is a forgiving God. Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection He provided a sacrifice and a substitute for us and our sins. Through His death He provided not only forgiveness but freedom. The writer calls it 'freedom from all things' which could not be accomplished through the Law of Moses. Free from guilt, free from condemnation, free from fear, free from failure, and freedom from punishment were all accomplished through Christ.

Yet the skeptics are prevalent among us. Those who would scoff at the freedom fund in Christ and the forgiveness He provides to all who believe. Instead you can marvel at God's work in you who without Him are perishing.

God is at work. Observe His will and work through you and the circumstances of your life that even if someone described it to you would be hard to believe or understand. Rest assured God is accomplishing His work in you.

You might think that nothing positive is happening in your life. Maybe it is because you don't see the big picture of the hands of a mighty, sovereign God who is at work in you and your life; but He is. Praise Him today for his work in you and even if you don't see it. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

______________________Today's personal not from Dennis

Greetings from Missouri,

Sandy and I made a quick trip to Missouri to see my Dad. For a couple with Arizona blood we almost froze when we got here. It was not warm.

I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Crane, Missouri on Sunday. Looking forward to that. Mother's Day has opened the door for me to preach at Northpointe Baptist Church in Chandler, Arizona. The following Saturday and Sunday I will be at Golden Valley Baptist Church in Arizona. I thank God for the opportunities.

Baby Johnny is doing well. Still mighty little, but has passed the five pound point. Pray for Mandy and John. The adjustment time is hard. Mandy has also gone back to work adding to the stress level. As always we ask for your prayers for family, ministry and health. God has blessed and as The Encourager says this week, "Can You Believe It?"

Love all of you. ~ DGW

Where's Your Joy #141

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (NAS)

Are you celebrating today? The Nation of Israel had just rediscovered the Law of Moses and were grieving over their son. In the midst of their failure God spoke through Nehemiah and encouraged the people to celebrate.

The reason for their celebration was the strength they received from the joy of the Lord. God declared the day a Holy Day. The day that God declared holy gave occasion to have a part. Joy can turn mourning and weeping into strength. Joy is such an intragal part of the nature of God. He is a God who not only brings rejoicing to His people, but He Himself is a God of rejoicing.

The Book of Galatians lists the fruit of the Spirit and includes in that list, joy. Joy is a result of God's presence in your life.Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (NAS)

No matter what is happening in your life God can bring you His joy. Through joy you will discover and experience His strength. Trials and tribulations will come to you from time to time. Your complete reliance upon the Lord and the joy only He can bring will give you hoe, strength, and encouragement.

God has your best interest at heart. He cares for and loves you. His desire is to bring joy to your heart. Why not ask Him right now to give you His joy. Joy is not the absence of problems, but the strength to see you through any and all circumstances while experiencing a happy heart. No wonder Nehemiah could say that the "joy of the Lord" was his strength.

____________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks!Daily I am reminded how good and wonderful God is. He loves us and meets our needs and blesses us beyond words.I still am able to share the blessings of how God has given me strength and life with as man people as will listen.

God also continues to open doors to preach. I will be at Northpointe Baptist Church in Chandler, AZ on Mother's Day, May 8th and at Golden Valley Baptist Church near Kingman, AZ on Saturday May 14th and Sunday May 15th. I am looking forward to these opportunities. Sandy and I both had a great week.

Sandy celebrated her birthday by having the opportunity of holding her new grandson, Johnny. He is still in the NICU, but doing well He has gained weight and is up to 4lb 10oz. He is 17 inches long and is now drinking from a bottle. He still is having problems with Brady. His heart rate drops too low. He will not go home until this is corrected. He is off of the oxygen. Thanks for your prayers. John and Mandy are doing well, but just tired of driving 75 miles a day back and forth to the hospital. They are ready for Johnny to come home.

Thanks again for all your prayers. My health is doing wonderful. No problems at this time at all. I am probably the best I have been in five years.I praise the Lord. He truly is good. - DGW

Praise! Praise! Praise! #140

Isaiah 12:4-5 4 And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted. 5. Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things; let this be known throughout the earth. (NAS)

"What a day this has been!" Normally if those were the words from your mouth it would indicate that you have had a 'not so good' day. Maybe things didn't go as you had hoped and planned; maybe you received some news that broke your heart; or maybe the knowledge of the unknown came to reality and it was not good. Whatever caused you to lament concerning the not so desirous experiences of the day has a counterpart.

The Prophet found the counterpart. "In that day you will say." these are the words of an encouraged man of God who recognizes the goodness of God and all His blessings. He bursts into praise as he says, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on God's people. He bursts into praise as he says, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name." He knows that God is good, holy, gracious, compassionate, and full of love.

How does he know that? He has watched and contemplated the deeds of God. He knows the God who has provided for His people, protected them, guided them, and given them salvation. Isaiah can only burst into song and express his gratitude for the excellent things that God has done. Not only does he remember them, but shouts from the housetops so all the world will know that God is good, excellent and worthy of praise.

What a difference it makes when we dwell on the goodness of God and all that He has done for you to show you His love, rather than live in a state of a negative, critical attitude and focus on something or someone other than the God who has blessed you so much. Try a refocus today. Praise God for all the good things God is and tell them of the excellent things God has accomplished in your life.

_____________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in Tempe, AZ

It will be three weeks on Friday since the tube and wire were removed from my liver. I haven't had such good health in several years. I continue to be pain free and with renewed energy and endurance. I have been able to do yard work, including cutting limbs from trees using a chain saw. It has been years since that was possible. I praise the Lord for giving me not only life, but strength and especially hope. My primary care Doctor told me recently, "Dennis, there is no medical reason for you to be alive. It is just an answer to prayer." I thank yu for your prayers during these last few years. According to the Doctors I still have cancer in my liver, and if I don't watch what I eat I find out the hard way that they are right. Even with that God has given me a new beginning to bring glory to Him.

Thanks for your prayers for open doors for ministry. I have three opportunities to preach in April and May already scheduled. Still praying for other privileges of sharing God's word to encourage God's servants. I still come to Starbucks most mornings and have ample opportunities to talk to people and encourage them. For years I joked that Starbucks was my other church. It definitely is my mission field.

Sandy and our children and grandchildren are doing well. the new baby Johnn, has grown an inch and has passed the four pound mark. At 4lbs 4oz and 17 inches long he is doing great. He still requires oxygen because his lungs have not totally developed and he is still being fed through a tube. We are praying both will change in the next couple of weeks Sunday we had a baby shower at our home with nearly 50 people in attendance. What a fun time for Mandy and John. They are wonderful parents.

Susan and Collin have settled into their new home. It is beautiful. Susan has made a wonderful home for her and Collin.

Roger's son, Bennett, has a lead role in the high school musical, Bye, Bye Birdie, although Bennett is just in the eighth grade. He is a talented musician. Burke, Roger's other son just received his yellow belt in Aikido on Saturday. You don't want to mess with him. Roger is taking a sabbatical from his position as worship leader at church. His job has him traveling quite a lot. He will be in Chicago all next week. Jennifer continues her work with school and the children at church.

Sandy has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. She is often stiff and has a hard time sleeping through the night without getting out of bed a few times. It has not slowed her down much though. She continues doing that which she is great at and that is being a wife, mom and a Grammie. In case you didn't know I married way above my head.

I pray all of you will receive God's rich blessings this week. Praise Him often, love Him with all your heart, and tell someone else about Him. ~ DGW