Dealing With Others #312

I Thessalonians 5: 12-22                                                                     12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

The Bible often gives us words of encouragement, admonishment, counsel, and requests. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he gives a long series of words of advice and counsel. He is writing directly to believers in Jesus Christ. He first of all tells them to appreciate their spiritual leaders. His encouragement to them is to esteem them very highly in love because of the labor towards them.

He then gives advice as to how to deal with different types of fellow believers. He urges them to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with everyone. There are some within the flock that need reprimanded, some that are discouraged and need uplifted and some who are so weak they cannot do anything for themselves. The writer says you need to deal with each on as needed. He adds a way to show love to everyone by simply being patient with everyone.

He quickly reminds them to not get even, but to seek what is good for everyone. And then in five short but to the point verses he says: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophetic utterances, examine everything carefully, hold on to the good, and abstain from evil.

Good advice for you as you find purpose for your life today.                                            

_______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

God is so good. Daily I see people around me that have God's hand moving through their personal lives in such a way it is hard not to believe that God is good. Several years ago Sandy and I were introduced to the term and action called, "A God Search." It was whereby instead of just seeing things happen or life go by we began to look for God in literally everything. Today after years of practice we often say to one another, "God was in that." It is thrilling to observe things that would  just be daily experiences as God at work. Try it. God is not only good, but He is alive and working all around you and in you.

School is back in session. How do I know? Well a good give away is band concerts, volunteer work at the school, soccer games, musicals and homework. This week I will help chaperone the band at Collin's school on a field trip. We had the privilege of hearing both Burke and Bennett in a band concert and a Sock Hop music presentation this past week. We also attended Collins first soccer game. 

Justin and Johnny are doing well. They spend most Fridays at our house. Johnny says it is Grammies' house. I ask him where my house is and he says that I don't have one. Sad being homeless at 68. LOL Justin had a fever this week. With the new virus going around we were really concerned. 

I spoke on Thursday to our Senior Group at First Baptist. We had a wonderful time of food, fun and the Word. I saw the Doctor right after that and now am scheduled for a paracentesis at 8 Monday morning. (22nd) It is a short procedure to remove the ascites from my abdomen. Sure will be glad to be done with that, not because of the procedure but to rid my body of this access fluid. 

Sandy's new Young Mom's Bible Study is going well. Last week her lesson was on Lot's wife. Got a lot of comments and questions. The young moms seem to enjoy the study and the discussion.

I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Tempe on October 5th. It will be in the auditorium upstairs that we call the LOFT. Come join me a 9:30AM. My topic will be "The Crown of Life" from James 1:12.

I pray you will be watching for the God Moments in your life when you are aware that God is at work. 

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I also pray that God will show you His great love, mercy and grace this week. 

Blessings to all.  ~ DGW

God's Approval #311

Hebrews 11:5-6                                                                              5.By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The heart of mankind is the need for acceptance, approval, and to be pleasing. The very taproot of our need is to have other people approve of you. The more important issue is; does God approve of you? You may be one of those people who just give up and say that you will never receive God’s approval. You may be one of those who try and try and try just to do the right things, or not do wrong things to receive approval from God. Biblical characters and most of you who are believers would really like God’s approval.

How do you know you are pleasing to God? It is not trying or giving up. It is faith. Enoch is used as one of the examples in Hebrews 11 as a man who was approved of by God. The Bible is quite clear that it was because of his faith. He never died but was taken up by God to heaven. How did that happen? It was because he believed that God is and that He is rewarder of those who seek him.

The Bible is clear that we are saved from our sin and given eternal life by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved by faith and that not of yourself it is a gift of God.” Without faith it is impossible to please God or to even know Him.

The Bible says, “The just shall live by faith.” You not only are saved by faith but you are kept in a relationship with God by faith. It would appear your number one need is to trust God all the time.

The enemy would do anything and everything to destroy your faith. Be alert. Watch out for those times when your faith is tested and the enemy lies to you about you relationship with God. Faith is the answer!!

________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in Tempe, AZ

We almost got washed away in the desert of Phoenix last Monday. We received almost 6 inches of rain in about 9 hours at our house. The city was flooded. Many neighborhoods had homes flooded. The streets were impassable. The picture is one block from Collin's school. ​I-10 became a lake. Cars were covered up to the top. They are calling it the 1000 year flood. All of this from a Pacific hurricane, Norbert.

Well guess what? We have another hurricane coming in almost the same track. They say the flood waters could start by Wednesday. Thinking of building an ARK.

The family is doing well. As usual they are really busy. We have a couple of birthdays coming up. Jennifer and Bennett will celebrate birthdays in the next month. Those are special times when the whole family can get together. Always a great time. 

Sandy is back teaching her "YOUNG MOMS" Bible study. She enjoys her Moms and of course she loves teaching the Bible. She is teaching this fall about the "Special Women in the Bible"

I will be speaking on the 18th to our Senior Adult ministry luncheon. I chose to speak about how our spiritual growth brings glory to God. I will also be preaching in the LOFT at FBC at 9:30 AM on October 5th. The verse will be James 1:12 about the Crown of Life. Wow! Can't believe I will be back in the pulpit again. If your church is looking for a speaker consider me. At this time I have to stay close to Phoenix due to needing to no get too far from hospitals and doctors in case something comes up. 

You will never be able to understand how much your prayers and concern have been so encouraging to me and Sandy throughout the summer. It feels like I lost a couple of months. 

I like that verse in Joel 2:25-26“

25 Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

26 “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you;
I am counting on God to make up what I have missed. PTL. I so appreciate you and love you dearly. Thanks for praying now for God to open doors for ministry.  ~ DGW

The Morning Is Coming #310

Psalm 30:5b                                                                                Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

Ever go to bed with pain in your heart, your mind filled with stinking thinking, and an overall attitude of catastrophizing? Did you discover the tears trickling off your cheek onto your pillow and you just knew there was no hope? Don’t feel badly. You are not alone. It is a common dilemma to see things darkly at night; it is not because it is dark outside or because the sun has gone down. It is because night is a time to dwell on the negative things of life.

But just wait! The morning is coming and the light will shine in the darkness and overwhelm it. JOY comes in the morning even after a dark night. Someone has likely said to you, “Why don’t you just go to bed and get a good night’s rest, everything will be better in the morning.” Guess what? It will be.

The more important question you may struggle with is, why do I have to wait until morning. There is a story in the New Testament of a night  of doom that overcame the disciples. They were in a boat out in the Sea of Galilee when a terrible storm came up. They were catastrophizing. They were sure they would all die a horrible death. 

Matthew 14:22-27 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the]fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

You don’t have to wait for morning. Remember Jesus knows what is happening. He is prepared to come to you at any time. He is THE LORD OF THE NIGHT WATCH. Even though you may be full of fear in the night He will come to you anytime.  He tells you to take courage, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

_________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Are you not glad when you have faced a difficult time to be able to say, "I have turned the corner?" Well that is what I can say. Through your prayers and some great doctors I believe I have turned the corner. Things are looking up. Still not nearly back to strength and stamina but that will come. 

I will be speaking at First Baptist Church of Tempe's Senior Adult group at a luncheon on September 18th. It will be the first time speaking to a group since June the 8th. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity. 

Sandy has been the most incredible caregiver that you can imagine. She tells me it is because she loves me. That blows me away. Not that she loves me, but loves me in spite of all she has seen and experience during this summer she still does.  She is a wonderful wife. We celebrated our 48th anniversary on Thursday. Nothing spectacular, but at least we were together and got out of the house and did some shopping and lunch. 

(see updated pic) Guess which one is recent. Your right. One was taken at Mt Zion Baptist Church in 1968. The other September 7, 2014. We have not changed at all. LOL LOL LOL

I am back at Starbucks as you can see. I really missed the ministry there and seeing so many of you. Drop by anytime, but please give me call because I am not there everyday (YET). 

The 5th of September I did something I had said I would never do. YES., I JOINED FACE BOOK. Already have over 300 friends. Look me up. 

I am enjoying the opportunity to once again have a brain that works. Study, writing, and talking are so enjoyable to me. For two and a half months, because of illness and medications the brain pretty well shut down. Looked in the mirror some mornings and really wondered who that guy looking back at me was. I now recognize him most mornings. He sure looks old. LOL

I so enjoy hearing from all of you. Check out the devotional this week. Think it will bless you, Hope so. God is soooo good!!

Blessings to all of you.  ~ DGW

Where's Your Hope? #309

Romans 8:24-25                                                                         24 Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.  (HCSB)

In the Spiderman 2 movie, Spiderman’s girlfriend makes a valedictorian speech to her college class. Her theme is hope. Her words are very much in tune with the Biblical concept of hope. It is not a feeling, but a determined belief that things will be good, ok, and have positive results. When you say the word hope what are you really thinking. Is it like saying “I sure hope it rains today.” “I hope I win that contest.” “I hope I get the raise.” Is there an uncertainty to your hope. Biblical Hope is never uncertain. It is based on truth and trust.

In the Hebrew Bible there are 10 words translated hope. The most common is to wait with great expectation for something that will happen. There are only two words in the New Testament translated hope. They mean the act of expecting  or trusting. The hope you have for eternal life and the future life is because you hope in what you don’t even see. It is eagerly waiting for what is coming, but with patience.

Are you hoping for something right now. You may not see how, when or where the answer is coming, but you are trusting God is faithful.

Hope is a vital part of life. You will find the scripture that says, “three things remain; faith, hope and love.” I Corinthians 13:13 (writer’s paraphrase)

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

(HCSB)

Never give up your hope.

________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from HOME in beautiful Tempe, AZ

What a surprise when my temperature spiked again on Tuesday evening and I ended up back in the hospital all week. Got out of the hospital on Friday.  I am doing well and recuperating. Thanks for your prayers. I asked you to not stop praying although I was home and doing well. Now you see why.

Sandy and I will celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary on the 4th. Seems like a long time ago that we said our vows and committed our lives to one another on that Sunday afternoon in Independence, MO in 1966. In other ways it seems like yesterday. We have been blessed with three wonderful children and five fantastic grandsons, friends from all over the world, great times of ministry, and great churches that God has allowed us to serve together. WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED!!

Our grandsons are such busy guys. The three older boys have so much going on at their schools and churches. Collin made the soccer team at his Jr High this week. He will be playing goalie. He has grown to be one of the taller boys in his school. He is also in two bands and the  honors team. He also is active in his church youth group. 

Bennett and Burke are hard at work in the school drama and musical that will be performed in November. Lots of singing, memorizing lines, and rehearsals. They both are in the band and are in a school with high academic standards. Needless to say they are busy. Both are really active in their church's youth group. 

Sandy is still watching the boys one day a week. She has a great time. Johnny told her on Friday, "Grammie, you have really been nice to me today." I am not sure that he thinks she doesn't alway treat him nice or if he just wanted some more candy.  

May God really bless you this week. I so appreciate you and your encouragement. I am looking forward to regaining enough strength to begin preaching and teaching again. I am scheduled to speak at our church's Senior Adult group on the 18th of September. Pray for God to give me His Holy Spirit's strength and power to do it. 

Love you all.   ~ DGW