Moving On #139

John 14:1 On the contrary, [I am going away] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do. "Get up; let's leave this place. (HCS) Where do we go from here? Ever been between the proverbial rock and a hard place? The disciples had just spent some lengthy time listening to Jesus give them His last minute instructions as He prepared them for His death. He comforted them with the hope of eternal live. John 1:1, "Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me." (NAS) He told them, "I am The way, the truth and the life." John 14:6 (NAS). He gave hope that they would not be left alone, but that He would send another comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with them. He also promised a peace that passes understanding that would come within them through the presence of God's Spirit.

After finishing his discourse He announces in John 14:31, "Arise, let us be going from here" or "Get up let's leave this place." His mission at that time and place had been accomplished. He is not preparing for His arrest and ultimately His crucifixion.

Is there a time in your life that you need to move on? Sure there is. Often our mission is accomplished and we continue to drag on. In chapter 15, Jesus continues teaching, but with a new purpose. His betrayer is awaiting the opportunity to turn Him over to the Roman soldiers and be led to His death. Jesus' response instead of running away is, "Arise, let us go from here." He has a new mission, a new purpose, a new direction, and wastes no time in moving on.

After praying with His disciples and by Himself the reason for 'moving on from here' became apparent. Judas had led the Roman cohort to Jesus. With weapons drawn they entered the Garden of Gethsemane and dragged Jesus away. His reason for moving on was accomplished. It was not the time for more teaching or instructions. It was time for action. Have you considered today may be a day for action. Today may be your time to move on. That which is ahead is God's direction for you and He is waiting for your obedience. In Jesus' own words in John 14:21, "But so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. So let's move on." Is God asking you to move on today. Why not listen and follow His instructions?

____________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks,

Hope and pray all is well with you and your loved ones. I am so grateful that we have a God of love, compassion , holiness, joy, and joy.

Sandy and I are doing well. I continue to stand amazed at the wonderful health I am experiencing. I remember about a year and one half ago when I was impressed with the verse in Psalms 118:7, "I shall not die, but live and tell what the Lord has done." Almost daily I have an opportunity to tell someone of God's love and His grace to me. It is my prayer that He will always receive the glory.

Our little Johnny continues to do well. He is still on oxygen, which the doctors say is normal. He is eating more and more, although he is being fed through a tube. We are praying that He will soon be able to breathe without the oxygen and that he will be able to nurse. Thanks again for your prayers for Johnny.

I am sending pictures of all four grandsons, Bennett, Burke, Collin and Johnny with this encourager. They are a real blessing to me.

Continue to pray for me and Sandy to have opportunities for ministry. We especially are asking for the opportunity to teach God's word. I love and appreciate all of you. May God bless you today with spiritual insight. What a joy it is to see things from God's perspective. ~ DGW

Need Rest? #138

Matthew 11:28-30

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (RSV)

It is difficult to conceive that someone knows everything, but God does. Thankfully God knows and understands the weariness and burden will likely not be the same that someone else carries, but it is real and overloads your body, soul and spirit. Thank God He is aware of your need and has done something about it. He overcomes your struggles with His rest. It is not a nap, or a good night's sleep, or even a long vacation. His rest provides a supernatural strength you cannot muster or create. He is your rest.

The yoke was the wooden crossbeam placed on the shoulders of two animals that allowed them to pull a load together. It was used as a symbol of the teachings of the rabbis. Jesus used the word to describe His relationship with you. You are never alone. As you are under the yoke of God you are being led and taught by Him. You are to take the yoke of God and place it on yourself to learn of and from Him.

Jesus, as your rabbi, is humble and gentle. Jesus drew a comparison between the wonderful yoke of a Christian believer and the discouraging yoke of heaviness and slavery placed on the people by the rabbis of the day. Jesus' gentle and humble heart results in a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.

You can make a great trade today. Why not trade your heavy burdens, your weariness in life for the yoke of Jesus. He is ready to give you REST FOR YOUR SOUL.

What a wonderful trade.

______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from home in AZ,

We have lots of things to praise the Lord for this week. Baby Johnny is doing well. Although he is still fed through a tube, he is eating 40cc per feeding. He is to be removed from the incubator into a bed soon. He is still on oxygen, but breathing on his own.

My wire is out and my pain is gone. Wonderful!! It is the first time in 21 months I have not had a tube in my liver.

We had a wonderful visit from our niece, Meredith, this weekend. She brought her fiance. We greeted them with cold rainy weather. It was actually warmer in Kansas City where they live than it was here. What a bummer.

Prayer requests remain the same. Please continue to pray for little Johnny. Pray for ministries opportunities for Sandy and me.

God bless you and yours! ~ DGW

Climbing In The Chariot #137

Acts 8:29-35

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

30 And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading Isaiah, the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31 And he said, "well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth.

33 "In humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth."

34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?"

35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. (NAS)

Can you imagine taking a walk and suddenly God's Holy Spirit speaks to you and requests that you sit in a chariot of a total stranger? That is exactly what happened to Philip. He was a leader in the early church and ready for God to use his words as an encouragement to a court official from Ethiopia. He heard the man reading from the Book of Isaiah; a passage about the suffering servant. The suffering was compared to a lamb taken to slaughter.

Philip asked if he understood what he was reading. He said he did not and at that moment Philip opened his mouth with the greatest message ever. The message was of the God-Man, Jesus. The Bible says he spoke unto him about Jesus.

What great things we learn from the Bible. We learn that God is looking for people who have something to share. If you have met Jesus as your own Savior, you know Him, and can tell others of Him. We also learn there are people searching for the way, the truth and life. The Bible records the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, and the life", John 14:6.

We also learn that Jesus was a suffering servant. He came to die for the sins of the entire world. God so loved the world that He gave Jesus as a sacrifice and substitute for our sin. He is our Savior.

We also learn that much like the Ethiopian, people are desirous to know Jesus and become His followers. Often they are waiting for you or someone like Philip to tell them. If you do not know Jesus, I pray that today you will believe in Him and find true salvation. God loves you and wants you to know Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Happy Saint Patrick's Day,

Another challenging week with the Wood family. Baby Johnny is doing well. He is breathing on his own, yet labored due to his lungs have not completely developed. He is being fed through a feeding tube. His meal consists of 15cc's at a time. About three tablespoons. We are very optimistic that he will develop into a strong young man. The doctors are saying he might even go home sooner than anticipated.

I have had a rough week with lots of pain. The pain has been so great I have had to resort to pain meds which I do not like to take. Lab tests and CT scans have been done and the result is that Friday morning at 11AM I will have the wire removed. So back to the hospital I go. Should be home by early evening. I would appreciate your prayers. I anticipate a great ending.

Susan and Collin moved out to their new home on Sunday afternoon and Monday. Sandy and I are truly empty nesters for the first time in 39 1/2 years. Susan's new home still has some things that need done, but she and Collin are excited. Sandy and I have already had the bedrooms repainted and the carpet people are coming this afternoon to install three bedrooms of carpeting. Sandy thinks I am on a manic! :)

Our niece from Kansas City, Sammy and Kathy's daughter is coming for a visit this weekend. Meredith is bringing her fiance with her. We are eager to meet him. They are eager to be in nice weather.

I will celebrate my 65th birthday on Sunday. I know most of you thought I was only 55. LOL

Thanks for your prayer for the wire removal. I will be glad when it is over and done. May God bless you today with loved ones who share their lives with you. A support system is so essential. ~ DGW

'On Guard' #136

2 Timothy 1:7-14

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

8 So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News.

9 It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began - to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.

10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.

11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.

12 And that is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (NLT)

'Standing Alone' is more than just words or a slogan; it is where many of you find yourself. You may be the only Christian in your family, neighborhood, or work. That could mean that in order for you to walk with God takes real courage and strength. The Bible gives to you some wonderful words of encouragement. You need not be ashamed of the gospel, who you are, or in whom you believe. You also have been given from God's Holy Spirit who lives within you a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. For that reason you need never be ashamed of speaking of Jesus. The Apostle Paul found himself in jail as a result of the testimony of his hope in Christ, but also found the strength God gives to endure the suffering. He realized his reason for being in jail was his faith. You may not face jail; but instead ridicule, rejection, lack of respect, and persecution.

The word of encouragement from the Bible is simply to guard what God has given to you. He has given you salvation and guards your eternal life. You entrusted your eternity to Him and He will protect and guard you until the end. Guard what was given to you.

_________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from beautiful Arizona,

This week has been an emotional roller coaster. On Tuesday we received a phone call from our daughter, Mandy, that she was in early labor. She was only 29 weeks and 3 days into her pregnancy. the doctors tried everything to stop the contractions, but to no avail. At 11:45PM Tuesday night John Joseph Koleszar IV was born. Currently he is in the NICU and is doing well for being born so early. The doctors say he will likely be in the hospital for two months. We praise God that he is with us and is doing well.

Sandy and I got home at 1:30AM and then back up in order to get me to the hospital by 6:30AM to have my liver tube removed. It has been removed with a wire left in place. I am still not on top of it yet. Between anesthesia, antibiotics and pain meds I am still in a bit of a stupor. The pain has lessened. I will go back and have the wire removed after two weeks if all goes well.

Pray for Mandy, John, and Baby John. I would also appreciate your prayers that the wire can be removed in two weeks. Pray for no infection and no jaundice.

It is so good to hear from all of you from time to time. You are a blessing. I appreciate your prayers so much. One of my doctors recently told me, "Dennis, there is no medical reason for you to be alive. It is only the result of prayers" PTL

I do hope you have a wonderful day. I am sorry this is late, but I think you know why. May you experience God's love in abundance today. ~ DGW

Hypocrites in Action #135

Luke13:10-16

10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 And behold, there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all.

12 And when Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness."

13 And He laid His hands upon her; and immediately she was made erect again, and began glorifying God.

14 And the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the multitude in response, "There are six days in which work should be done; therefore come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day."

15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him?

16 "And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath Day?"

17 And as He said all this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire multitude was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him. (NAS)

Jesus had an incredible ability to aggravate religious people. His method: Do something against their rules. In this case, as in many others, He healed someone on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the day of rest and not a day for work. The religious Pharisees interpretation of the law of the Sabbath did not allow for healing anyone. Jesus did it anyway. He freed the woman of an infirmity in which her back was bent double. Her response was praise to God. The religious crowd was indignant.

Jesus immediately labeled them hypocrites, play actors. They lived from the written script of their interpretation of the law which meant no healing on the Sabbath. Jesus reprimanded them and expressed the value of this crippled woman over their interpretation of the Sabbath. The crowd turned on the Pharisees and the Bible says they were humiliated. People are pretty important to God. In spite of some people's religious rules in which they question your worth; He still loves you and wants the best for you. Rejoice over the glorious things He has done.

__________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks!

I am praying that you have a wonderful day in the Lord. Who is that "cute couple".

The baby shower for our grandson (to be born around May 21) was a great success. We had so much fun and enjoyment with our son-in-law's family as we celebrated the new one's (John Joseph Koleszar IV) coming birth. The other three JJK's were present at the shower.

Bennett had a choir concert on Tuesday night. It was so enjoyable to be alive and able to see and hear him perform. Burke, Collin, Roger and Jennifer are headed to Legoland in California during spring break. They are excited.

Susan is still waiting on counter-tops to be installed in order that she can move into her new townhome. She and Collin are ready to move in.

Several of you have asked about my doctor's appointment last week. I still am having pain and the doctor is starting treatment by removing my liver tube. There are risks involved, primarily infection and jaundice, by removing it completely. At this time it seems a need. It has been in almost two years. the date will be Tuesday, March 8th. I went on Medicare on Tuesday, March 1st so all the insurance changes are part of the holdup. Pray for this procedure and that no complications will happen.

I have a couple of prayer requests for other pastors. A long time pastor in Arizona, Nathan, has had two strokes and is in serious condition in the ICU.

The pastor at Quartzsite has a little daughter who has developed a very serious infection and is in the hospital. Please pray for Aaron, Keli and their daughter, Allison. It has been a life threatening situation for her.

Sandy and I are so grateful for your love, prayers and concern. We both are doing well. It is good to have prayer warriors like you to intercede for us. We continue to pray for opportunities for ministry. We both enjoy sharing God's Word.

May God bless you today with His love and mercy. He is full of compassion and desires to reach His arms around you and give you a big hug. By the way, He may send someone into your life to give you the hug. ~ DGW