Is he sifting you? #246

Luke 22:31-34  31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” (NAS)

Failure for most people comes as a result of pride. Peter was no exception. He bragged to Jesus that he would be willing to go to prison or be martyred before he would ever turn his back on Jesus. He saw himself as a loyal, faithful, and strong follower of Jesus. In the deepest part of his heart he was sure he would never fail. You are very aware that failure is a part of everyone’s life. At some place, sometime, some situation there is failure lurking in the darkness to pounce on you like an animal on its prey.

Your pride is the beginning of your failure; and yet something else is in the background also. “Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat” is the word of Jesus to Peter. Satan is the author of failure. For some reason Jesus allowed the request of Satan and Peter was indeed tempted and fell into failure by denying three times he even knew Jesus. In Peter’s most vivid imagination he could not conceive that he would ever fail Jesus. He was the faithful follower ready to die for his leader.

Have you ever failed? Have you ever considered you were the blunt end of Satan’s attack? Have you thought that your own pride was the open door for failure? Surely you and everyone else struggles with temptation. The desire for success will often lead you to an inflated concept of your ability to overcome whatever comes your way. No amount of determination will overcome the temptations you face to try to handle the ups and downs of life. Only God can provide you that strength.

Jesus had a word of encouragement for Peter. “I have prayed for you.” What a privilege and hope to know that Jesus is praying for you. His prayer is that Peter’s faith would not fail; even in the face of failure. He also promised that, “Once you have turned” back to God you still have a place in the work of the Kingdom to strengthen your fellow believers. 

_________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

It was in April of 1963 that I answered the call of God to enter the ministry. At that time that call meant I would be a missionary or a pastor. God led me to the pastorate. This is now fifty years of preaching and teaching God's word. I spent 44 years of that as a pastor of a local church. These past few years I have been preaching wherever the Lord opens the doors of opportunity. I have reflected on the sense of call I received fifty years ago and know that had it not been a clear sense that God was calling me I would have quit long ago. I thank God for the rich fulfilling life He has given me. God is good. 

Arizona is a great place for people in the cold country to come to warm up during the  winter and early spring. We have had several people visit us this spring. The Kuckkahn's from Wisconsin and the Nunn's from Nebraska. The Muelfelts from Wisconsin will be here this week. We met up with former church members on Sunday. We had lunch with the Ginn's; who were at Church on Mill. We met at Starbucks for coffee with the Marolf's from Southview Baptist Church in Nebraska. They currently live in Phoenix. What a joy to reflect on past memories.

This winter in AZ has been windy. So what do you do? FLY A KITE. Mandy and Johnny had fun during one of those windy days. 

Sandy continues to watch the grandsons a couple of days a week. We so enjoy them. Burke and Collin spent the night on Friday night. Bennett has been in a musical this past week. Sandy and I are going on Friday. We have heard he is great. Of course that was his Dad's opinion. I am sure mine will be the same. 

The latest surgical procedure of placing a stent in my bile duct seems to be working great. I have received the rest of my lab tests this week. The markers for the cancer have increased which means the cancer is growing. I am just grateful that I feel good. 

Please continue to pray for my strength, which is increasing thank God, to allow me to return to a preaching schedule. Also might also pray for the door of opportunity to open for me to preach. 

God bless all of you. I am praying today that you will find friends who will encourage you and lift you up.   ~ DGW                                                                                                                 

Drink the Water #245

Jeremiah 2:13                                                                                       For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me--the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! New Living Translation (©2007)


Have you ever felt abandoned, rejected, forsaken, left all alone? Did you ever consider that God has feelings? God had chosen the nation of Israel as His own people. He had provided for them for centuries. He loved them with unconditional love. He led them from slavery to freedom. He fed them with manna in the wilderness. He had shown them that they were special to Him.

God was their fountain of living water. He was life itself. God is that to you also. Jesus calls Himself the living water. He provides you with life. He declared that He is the way, the truth and the life. To the Jews of Jeremiah’s time God had been their strength, their rock, their provider, their healer and the One who loved them. Jeremiah has watched as they committed two sins that he reminds them are evil.

They had done the evil of abandoning the One who was their God. He was truly their fountain of living water. It was bad enough to abandon God, but on top of that they had become idolaters. They abandoned God and dug cisterns for themselves. They were trying to provide what they needed as living water by digging a hole that relied on runoff water to supply their needs. How easy it is to look to something or someone else to provide that which only God can provide. He is life. He provides you with life. Don’t abandon the only true God just to find something or someone else that you think will fulfill your life. Only God can do that.

The Jewish people were soon to be captured by Babylon and carried into seventy years of captivity. Again they would be enslaved because they had abandoned God. They were searching for something apart from God that only God could provide. What are you willing to trade for your relationship with God. What cistern are you digging that you believe is the answer to your own needs and in the process you have abandoned God.

Return to God. Instead of abandoning God turn your back on your cisterns that can only hold runoff water on a temporary basis. They are full of holes. They will not sustain true life. God provides you with living water. Drink from His endless supply. 

______________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Praise the Lord. I am so glad to be back among the living. I am feeling much better and have finally stopped loosing weight. I lost 28 lbs in 8 weeks. Way too fast and way too much. It seems to have leveled off. Looking forward to regaining my strength.Thanks again for your prayers and concern. It means a lot and God does answer prayer. 

We celebrated Sandy's birthday last week. It was fun to be with the family and help Sandy celebrate her maturity. LOL The pic of the four older boys was taken at the birthday party. 

Collin is a part of an Honor's Class and they have monthly learning projects. This month it was time for some art work. He loved painting the picture, even though he does not enjoy art. see pic

Justin continues to grow. He smiles all the time and is a very pleasant little boy. He is trying to roll over. The problem is his attempts in the middle of the night wakes him up. Mandy and John are tired of waking up at 2AM to roll him back on his back. see pic

Our children are all busy with jobs and raising kids. Susan's real estate business is finally recovering. It has been a hard four years. Roger's new law firm is now a year and a half old. He is gaining new clients constantly. Take a look at his web site. jrogerwoodlaw.com  Mandy continues her career in retail. She is a co-manager at a retail store. John continues his business of providing checks and office materials for businesses, banks etc. 

I pray that you are doing well. God is Good and continues to bless our lives. Keep your eyes on Him and on the good things He is doing in your life. 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV)

God bless you with good thoughts.     

~ DGW

"Eliminate the Negative" #242

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us… In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Do you have the disease, Negativitis? It has symptoms like most diseases. Also like other diseases is gets worse unless something is done about it. Also you may have it and not know it. Do you find yourself complaining about your situation? How about being critical of people and problems you encounter. Maybe you need to go the Great Physician and thank Him for the cure He has already provided. Ephesians says you are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. Keep your eyes on the spiritual life and not too much on the problems of the here and now. You have been saved, redeemed by Christ’s blood; forgiven completely.

You have been given God’s stamp of approval and acceptance through the truth of the gospel that you accepted. You were sealed for all of eternity in the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t leave much room for negativitis. Your life is for the praise of His glory; not your comfort or prosperity. Allow the presence of God’s Holy Spirit to teach you that His Life is your life.

__________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Do you like riding on a roller coaster? The unexpected turn or dip can throw you for a loop. Some of the ride is fun, some scary and some downright awful. That is sort of the past week in our family. 

Burke had his end of quarter summative. The class built a tent after learning about architecture and what wind and water do to structures. The tent is the result. His presentation and tent project was one of the fun parts of the ride this week. 

Johnny's birthday was actually the week before but I like the picture so you will just have to endure the repetition.

Collin says our family is now in the 21st century. That is due to fact Sandy, Collin and I got Iphones this week. He was so excited. It just means I have to try to put some 21st century technology into a mid 20th century brain. 

One of my cousins sent me this old photo of our young family. Enjoy.

Now for the wild part of the ride. Last Thursday I began to almost pass out every time I stood up. Finally called the Dr and Saturday. Didn't help much so I called again Monday morning and he said I needed to get to the emergency room immediately. It seems that the strain of the cancer and liver struggles is now causing my heart some problems. I now have a cardiologist to add to my ever growing list of drs. It is nothing too serious. The procedure is still a go for Monday. Really will appreciate your prayers. 

I look back across the years and realize how incredibly blessed I have been. It will be 7 years in May since the cancer in my liver was discovered. At that time the Dr said I had a few months to live. Seven years later I am still here and praying daily that my life will bring glory to God no matter what happens. 

                                                                                He has been good to me and my family. To God be the glory.

God bless you today with an attitude of gratitude. You will be blessed. 

I love and appreciate all of you.   ~  DGW

You Can't Buy Grace #244

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit… 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

It is so easy to fall prey to the lie of Satan that somehow you can earn, or buy God’s grace. Simon, the Sorcerer, observed John and Peter as they laid hands on the believers in Samaria. He had been the man of magic that had mystified Samaria with his abilities at magic to the point he was called, “The Great Power of God.” He now desires the gift of God to lay hands on someone who would then receive the Holy Spirit. He missed the truth that only by God’s grace is His work accomplished. Somehow he believed he could pay money to perform God’s works.

Peter rebuked him and declared that Simon would perish because he thought he could buy God’s gifts and favor. BEWARE: It is easy to forget that all you are or all you do in God’s work is accomplished through grace. It is not you it is God. He will share His glory with no one. Whether it be good works, hard work, money, personal power, or influence you cannot receive God’s gifts through your efforts. God gives His gifts to whomever He wishes. No purchasing power exists to diminish the grace of God.

How often are you deluded as Simon was into believing that he somehow could pay the right amount, accomplish the right stuff and somehow be endowed with God’s power. God’s miracles are brought about by God Himself and not by your effort or money. The next time you are tempted to ignore the grace of God in order to accomplish God’s work remind yourself of Simon, the Sorcerer. Peter was prophetic with his words, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.”    

________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

My words are inadequate to describe my gratitude for your prayers and concern during these last 8 weeks. I have been in and out of the hospital 5 times since 

February 6th. Currently I am home and trying to regain strength. Your emails, cards, phone calls have been such an encouragement to me and Sandy. We are truly blessed to have friends like all of you. 

I do have a prayer request. I am so missing the preaching ministry. God will open doors for me to return to preaching, but right now the strength still eludes me. Pray for the renewal of my physical body so that I can return to the calling of God in my life; to preach His Word. Hopefully it will not be long until I can return to the preaching ministry. 

Thursday April 11th is Sandy's birthday. She looks a lot younger than I, but we are actually the same age again. She is such a blessing to me. The last few years have been hard for her, but she keeps going. I thank God for her.

My whole family is very special to me. My grandsons are a real motivation to keep on and not give up. See pic of Justin and Johnny. I retrieved one of my baby pictures that was taken when I was Justin's age. (4 months) Finally I have a grandson that looks like me. Bless his heart.

Laying around for the past few weeks has given me much time to pray. I have brought your name before our Heavenly Father. There is such power in prayer, because of the recipient of our prayers. God does love us and cares for our every need. God is good. 

I pray He will bless you this week with a renewed commitment to be prayer warriors. Matthew 7:7 “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.”                                                                                            

Love and Appreciate you all.  ~ DGW