Author Archives: Pastor Dale

| 0:54 MIN READ |

Nurturing our bodies with the right kind of food is essential for our physical health. Just how our bodies need nourishment, our souls need nourishment too. A key to managing stress and finding rest is learning to feed our souls with the right spiritual nourishment. What we spiritually feed ourselves will determine what we experience on the inside.

One way we can spiritually nourish our spirit is by setting a time to seek God in prayer and diving into His Word. The scripture reminds us in Matthew 5:6 (MSG) that God is the only one who can truly satisfy our souls, “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

Today, make a decision to draw closer to God. Start feeding your soul through daily reading your Bible and spending time in prayer. The Word of God will help you grow into a strong and healthy believer!

Pastor Dale

| 1:11 READ TIME |

One of the realities of living in a stressed out world is experiencing restlessness. While we all experience restlessness from time to time, God wants to empower us to overcome it and experience real rest.

We often think experiencing rest is about getting enough sleep or doing things we enjoy. While there is value to those things, they cannot give us true rest. To experience true rest, we must understand that we need to experience it on the inside. Rest is a spiritual need.

Only God can satisfy our spiritual needs. The starting point for experiencing rest for our spirit is understanding that rest starts with a relationship with Jesus. In John 10:11 (NLT), Jesus reminds us of who he is, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” Jesus was the Good Shepherd to David, and He’ll be the same Good Shepherd to us.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Good Shepherd, let today be the day you give your heart and life to Him and start your relationship with Him. If you already know Jesus as your Good Shepherd, continue to depend on Him as He guides your life.

Is your spirit at rest? Enter into the Lord’s rest today. It liberates us from stress!

Pastor Dale

| 0:50 READ TIME |

There is no doubt we are living in a stressed out world. The inevitability of stress does not mean we are powerless in the face of it. A key to having a handle on stress is learning how to rest.

God created us in such a way that we function best in a state or condition of rest. Rest from a biblical perspective, is not determined or created by external circumstances but by our internal condition.

In Psalm 23:2 (NIV), David described the rest the Great Shepherd provides for us as his sheep, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” David knew that freedom from stress required being directed by the Shepherd to a place of rest.

As we go through a time when things are changing daily, invite the Lord to lead you to a place of rest. Our Good Shepherd knows where to guide you. He can help you find rest in Him.

Pastor Dale

| 1:33 MIN READ |

Most of us have experienced some of the wounds of darkness. You’ve likely gotten up from sleep in the middle of the night and had a few of the “toe against the bedpost” accidents. Maybe, like me, you’ve walked into several walls or stepped on a few legos left on the floor by your kids. Walking around in the dark is dangerous.

While these accidents aren’t super-serious, there are other kinds of accidents of darkness that wreck lives. Spiritual darkness causes lots of bad life accidents.

This is one reason why the coming of Jesus is so wonderful. He came as “the Light of the world!” John, the gospel writer, reminded us of this in John 1:4, 5 (TLB) “Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

Because Jesus came, died for the sins of the world, and rose from the grave, we no longer have to live in darkness. He is available to anyone who will call on Him and put their faith in Him. When we do, He lights up our life. He helps us to see things more clearly and make wiser decisions. He lights up our way so that we can avoid destructive hazards and pitfalls.

Has your life been a little dark lately? Has your spirit been suppressed under the shadows of discouragement or despair? Have you had a hard time seeing the sunrises of new tomorrows, new hopes, or new possibilities for your life? If so, call on the name of Jesus, with faith! Remind yourself that He’s your light. Put your trust in Him. He knows how to light up your life!

Pastor Dale

| 1:17 MIN READ |

Impact is real. You know it when it happens. Impact refers to a force that is not only noticeable, but transformational, either positively or negatively. It changes things.

One of the important truths Jesus taught His disciples is the truth of impact. Every follower of Jesus is called to make a positive impact on others.

Here’s one of the statements Jesus made about this, found in Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The reality is, everyone impacts others, for good or bad. Jesus called His followers to pay attention to their impact. He reminded us to intentionally be a positive influencer. We are to be like salt, seasoning the world around us. We’re called to be light-shiners, brightening the world of people we encounter.

What kind of impact are you making with your life?

Pastor Dale

| 1:17 MIN READ |

What’s your address? Your address is the city and street location where you live. It’s unique to you, and those living in your household. It pin-points you.

In life, we have a spiritual address. Whether you realize it or not, you’re located on a spiritual street. The Bible describes only two potential spiritual addresses. Listen to what Jesus said about this in Matthew 7:13, 14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Where you live physically involves a choice. You also make a choice about your spiritual address. You can follow the crowd taking the wide road most folks take, disregarding God. There’s also another option. You can turn onto a different road. This other road is narrow. It’s not crowded. It’s not popular. Taking it is a more challenging decision. It leads in an altered direction from the masses.

It’s important to remember whatever road you take; then it takes you! Roads go somewhere. Before you choose a street, it’s important to know where it leads. Jesus said, the wide road leads to destruction, and the narrow road leads to life. The wise choice is obvious!

Pastor Dale

| 1:17 MIN READ |

Voices are all around us! It’s hard to go anywhere nowadays without the noise and voices. Even our gasoline pumps have screens!

Voices have power. Words impact us. What or who we listen to forms our thinking and determines our actions. With all the different voices, we must become better listeners — more selective in the voices we let into our souls.

The psalm writer David references this in Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT) “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

David reminded us to be selective in our listening. He warns us about taking advice from people who ignore, reject, or mock God and His Word. He’s talking here about refusing to seek spiritual advice or life input and direction from people who fail to take into account God’s perspective.

Additionally, David points us to God’s promises for people who turn their ears to Him. Shutting out the God-rejecting voices and tuning in to the God-centered voices makes a difference in our destiny. It assures us of a better future!

Pastor Dale

| 1:13 MIN READ |

Have you looked at any old photos of yourself recently? It’s an interesting process. Not only have your looks changed, but your clothing choices have too! When viewing the old you, you’ve probably said something like, “I can’t believe I wore that!”

Why do we wear the things we wear? It’s called fashion. It’s about being in style. As times change, the dress codes of the culture change, and we all tend to follow along.

While there’s certainly no reason to reject certain fashion trends purposefully, there are other cultural trends we would do well to question and reject. The Bible warns us about the culture of the world and how it often influences us in ways we’re not even aware of. The flow of the culture around us can imperceptibly take us away from God, His Word, and His will for our lives.

Paul, the apostle, wrote about this in Romans 12:2 (NLT) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

It’s good to remember, no matter what style of thinking and behaving we see in the world around us, it’s always better to be in style with God!

Pastor Dale

| 1:10 MIN READ |

God wants to bless you! What a statement. It’s true. God is a God of blessing. He wants His blessings to be evident in your life.

The biblical word for “bless” means, “to pronounce a wish of happiness to one; to express a wish or desire of happiness; to make happy; to make successful; to prosper in temporal concerns; as we are blest with peace and plenty; to set apart or consecrate to holy purposes; to make and pronounce holy; to consecrate by prayer; to invoke a blessing upon.” (KJV Dictionary)

The first significant occurrence of this word in the Bible is found in Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV) “The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing …’”

God promised Abraham a blessing. But the blessing on Abraham’s life was not for himself only. God wanted to bless Abraham so that Abraham could and would be a blessing to others!

God wants to bless you. Ask Him to bless you. But when you do, remember this, He blesses you for a reason—so that you can and will become a blessing to others!

Pastor Dale

| 1:28 MIN READ |

You can’t give what you don’t have. This is a simple, obvious fact. To share something with others, you must first have it yourself. It is as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the material realm. When you’re bankrupt, depleted, drained, or emptied of resources, it is hard to be generous to others.

This is often seen in our relationships. An absence of love in our own lives usually results in a lack of love in our relationships. People lacking love can’t effectively give love. People with low love levels in their souls have nothing to draw from in their interactions with others.

For our relationships to improve, our personal love levels need to rise. We need a source, a supply of love continually flowing into us, filling us, and ultimately overflowing from us. When our love tanks are regularly replenished, our relationships benefit.

John, the apostle, described this principle in 1 John 4:7 (TPT) “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him.”

No person will ever love you the way you need to be loved. We’re all broken and often love-starved. We can’t give to others what we don’t have ourselves. There is a Source of love that supersedes human love—an abundant, unending Source. He never runs dry. When you are secured by and filled with God’s love, you’ll have love to give away—overflowing love!

Pastor Dale

| 1:43 MIN READ |

Your thoughts are powerful. They affect your emotions and actions. It’s important to make sure our thinking is healthy.

The best way to improve your thinking is by reflecting on God’s love. Take some time to read and reflect on one of the apostle Paul’s prayers about the love of God:

Ephesians 3:14-20 (TPT) “I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”

Think about His love!

Pastor Dale

| 1:11 MIN READ |

Throughout the year, most folks have gift moments—birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, anniversary gifts, and the like. Receiving a gift is a blessing. It reminds us we’re valued. It makes us feel special. It creates gratitude for those who were thinking of us and generous toward us.

God has gifts for you too. He loves you and provides a new gift for you every day of your life. Jeremiah, the prophet, spoke of this gift in Lamentations 3:21-23 (Msg) “But there’s one thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!”

What a difference it would make if every morning we remembered what Jeremiah remembered. What if we started each day with the awareness that God is giving us a gift—the gift of His “loyal, merciful love.”

Every day is a gift day for you. Each morning when you arise, God delivers a fresh package of love and faithfulness to you. But like any gift, it’s of no value unless it’s received, unwrapped and enjoyed. Reach out and take the gift of a new day, new mercies, new beginnings, new hopes, new starts—today!

Pastor Dale

| 1:06 MIN READ |

Throughout the year, we usually experience one or more power outages in our home. Whether it’s from a snowstorm, thunderstorm, or some other weather event or accident, suddenly the power goes out. When this happens, we realize how dependent we are on electricity. Frantic calls are placed to the utility company to make sure repairs and restoration of power are in motion.

Just as your home needs electrical power to function, your life needs power also—spiritual power. Many people live without any spiritual power source or a sufficient and effective one.

To live your best life, you need a Source of power that is entirely reliable, more than sufficient, and continually available. God is the power Source needed. The psalm writer said it this way in Psalm 62:11 (TPT) “God said to me once and for all, ‘All the strength and power you need flows from me!’ …”

How do we receive this power? Connection! Communication with God, responsiveness to Him and faith in Him connects you to all the power you’ll ever need to live the life God designed you to live. Take time today and connect!

Pastor Dale

| 1:18 MIN READ |

In pop culture, fame is largely about name recognition. People pursuing celebrity status often expend huge amounts of time and money getting their name out—branding their identity. Why? Name and fame go together. People work hard to make a name for themselves.

One name needs no self-promotion—God’s name! God’s name is great, not because of His self-centered, self-branding efforts. His name is great because He is great. No one or nothing compares to Him. He is set apart from all things and all others.

Take a look at this reminder found in Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV) “No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.”

One of our primary assignments as believers is to proclaim the greatness of God’s name in all the world. Through our words and through our works, we are called to make His glorious name known. Instead of living for the fame of our name, we’re to live for the fame of His name—the matchless name of Jesus!

Remember who He is! Paul reminded us of His great name in Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) “… God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Pastor Dale

| 1:14 MIN READ |

It’s a popular expression. It describes events and experiences surpassing our most positive expectations. That was “so good” we say!

Goodness also describes the actions and nature of people. When someone shows unexpected or undeserved kindness to us, we call them “good.” When someone displays generosity to us, we think of them as “good.” When someone goes out of their way to help us, we appreciate the “goodness” they demonstrate.

The Bible shows us a God who is good. James, the New Testament writer, says it this way in James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father …”

The psalm writer echoed this assessment of God’s character and nature in Psalm 34:8 (NIVP) “Taste and see that the Lord is good …”

Why is it important to remember God’s goodness? Because it transforms the way you relate to Him. It changes the way you pray. You approach God with greater confidence. Admitting sins to God no longer is a frightful thing, it’s a helpful thing. You’re confessing your failures to a loving God. It increases your peace. You know you’re secure with a God who is good! Praise becomes more natural and consistent when you trust the God who is good!

God is good! He is so good!

Pastor Dale