Author Archives: Pastor Dale

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The last few weeks have been full of unprecedented moments. Fear about COVID-19 is everywhere. There’s a lot of turmoil around us. One of the things we are all experiencing right now is stress.

Stress can work for you, or it can work against you. When stress overwhelms and weighs you down, it disables you. When stress leads you to grow, it helps you develop into the person God wants you to be.

This dynamic of stress and its impact on us it’s seen throughout the Bible. In Psalm 31:9 (NLT), we see the effects of distress in our lives, “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away.” Jesus Himself describes the impact of stress in our lives in Mark 4:18, 19 (MSG) “The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”

Worry, distress, and stress do have an impact upon us. We can choose to let them render us unproductive, or we can choose to grow through them. This week we will focus on a familiar passage of Scripture that describes a very stressful time in the life of the psalmist David. Psalm 23:1. We will learn from David what we need to possess to overcome stress.

God doesn’t expect you to have your life altogether all the time. When you feel stress, there’s always a way to come out if we look in the right direction and do the right things!

Pastor Dale

When was the last time you were super tired — bone tired?

Tiredness is often more than physical. We sometimes suffer with tired minds and emotions. There is an inner kind of fatigue that can be very dangerous.

There are many stories in the Bible about the negative impact and effects of fatigue. Here’s one example:

Genesis 25:29-34 (NKJV) Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

This is the familiar story of Esau selling his birthright to his twin brother, Jacob. In one brief moment, Esau traded his future destiny and blessings to satisfy a temporary appetite.

The story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup starts out with a very telling statement, “…and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary…”

The Hebrew word for “weary” is “an adjective meaning faint, weary, exhausted. It describes a person becoming weak from hard work and needing nourishment; or from exhausting travels … It is used of a weary soul, or life, needing good news.” — (Complete Word Study Bible)

Weariness of spirit, soul, and body puts people in very vulnerable positions. In this situation, Esau’s weariness completely clouded his perspective, distorted his sense of values, and severely diminished his judgment. In a moment of weariness, Esau gave up a precious gift from his father. He sacrificed long-term blessings for a quick fix. His weariness sucked him into a dark hole of deception. The choice he made in this weak moment cost him one of the greatest gifts ever given to him.

Weariness can do these kinds of things to us. Tiredness can trick you into thinking strange thoughts. It can warp your perspective of what’s important. It can completely turn your priorities upside down. Fatigue will force you into a corner where foolish compromises seem to be your quick way out. A lot of great people have suffered at the merciless hands of spiritual, emotional or physical depletion.

What’s the solution for tiredness? What overcomes weariness and the potential pitfalls it longs to lead us into? Here are a few ideas:

• Recognize weariness for what it is.

Had Esau simply realized that he was tired, this awareness could have put him on notice to beware. When you’re aware, you can beware. Tune in to the inner voice of tiredness. Recognize its presence in your life. How do you know when you’re dangerously tired? What are the signs of significant fatigue in your life?

• Avoid unwise interactions and postpone important decisions.

Esau should not have talked to Jacob when he was tired! He should have been smart enough to realize that shrewd Jacob would take advantage of him in his weakened condition.

When you’re tired, avoid the interactions that can get you into trouble. Postpone important decisions until you’re rested and ready to make good ones.

• Remember that a tired mind and worn out emotions usually don’t tell you the truth.

In his weariness, Esau’s heart and mind said, “You’ve got to have some food. You’re going to starve if you don’t get it. Who cares about a birthright when you’re starving!”

A short reality check would have saved Esau from lots of pain and regrets. The truth was, he wasn’t about to starve! He was hungry, but he wasn’t starving. He could have waited for food. His tired mind and worn out emotions were lying to him. They will lie to you too!

Watch out for weariness. Don’t let it rob your blessings!

Pastor Dale

I suppose every sincere Christian believer has asked themselves this question at some point, if not at many points in their spiritual journey: How can I love God more? I have thought about it often, especially in low moments of spiritual failure, weakness or defeat. My soul cries out, “Lord help me love you more!”

Jesus actually addressed this question during His ministry time on earth. He gave us insight into one thing that is critical if our love for and devotion to God is going to grow deeper.

The answer is found in a story Jesus told after a specific and significant event in His life. Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of one of the Jewish religious leaders named Simon. This man, along with most of his spiritual colleagues, was quite self-righteous. He had a lot of knowledge about the Old Testament scriptures, was quite conscientious in keeping the law of God, and felt pretty good about his personal spiritual condition.

Then something unusual and unsettling happened. In the midst of this special meal, an uninvited lady showed up. This was no ordinary lady. She had a “reputation.” The gospel writer Luke described her as “a certain immoral woman.”

Without fanfare or spoken words, this woman broke open a very expensive bottle of perfume, knelt behind Jesus, at His feet. Suddenly the sound of her sobs filled the room. Her profuse tears fell on Jesus’ feet. She used her tears to wash His feet, wiping away the dirt and dust from them with her hair. She then proceeded to pour her precious perfume on the clean feet of Jesus.

As he watched all this happening, Simon, the “super spiritual” religious leader, began having some very ugly thoughts about Jesus. His judgmental, critical spirit generated some serious questions about Jesus’ character.

Jesus, who knows our thoughts, knew what Simon was thinking. In response, Jesus told this story that actually answers our original question:

Luke 7:41-48 (TLB)  Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people – $5,000 to one and $500 to the other. But neither of them could pay him back, so he kindly forgave them both, letting them keep the money! Which do you suppose loved him most after that?” “I suppose the one who had owed him the most,” Simon answered. “Correct,” Jesus agreed. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look! See this woman kneeling here! When I entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet with rare perfume. Therefore her sins — and they are many — are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Here we find our answer, and a very important lesson in our spiritual journey. The depth of our love for Jesus is determined, in large degree, by the awareness of our own deep sinfulness and need for forgiveness. This lady, although impure and unclean, humbly came to Jesus with repentance and worship and discovered the kind of relationship with God that religion can never get you. In a matter of a few moments in Jesus’ presence, with a broken, contrite heart, this woman found inner peace and fell in love with God in a way Simon the Pharisee had never known! Simon knew the Law. This lady found and experienced God’s grace!

The more you learn about the incredible, indescribable, amazing grace of God in Jesus, the more you’ll love Him!

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.” — John Newton

Pastor Dale

So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. — Matthew 24:42-44 (NLT)

Preparation is a key part of life. When significant, important activities, events, decisions or responsibilities are ahead of us, it’s wise to prepare. In military terms, soldiers in training are reminded that those who sweat in preparation are less likely to bleed in battle. Preparation is one of the ways you pave a path to a better future.

To prepare for something is to get ready, be ready and stay ready. It’s the wisdom to look ahead and understand what’s on the approaching horizon and to take positive action before you arrive there. A key phrase in this definition is “take positive action.” Preparation is never passive, it’s always active.

Preparation is also a statement of faith and belief. You know that someone believes an event is going to happen when you see them preparing confidently and intentionally ahead of time. You know that a person truly trusts in a promise when you see them getting ready in advance for its fulfillment.

During the final week of Jesus’ earthly life, what’s commonly known as His Passion Week, Jesus had a conversation with His disciples about preparation. On Tuesday of that week, after an intense morning at the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus took His disciples up on the Mount of Olives, directly east of the old city. In that peaceful setting, Jesus talked about some not-so-peaceful days to come. He spoke about preparing for them. Jesus gave some sobering instructions and warnings about getting ready, being ready and staying ready for the day when He would come again.

There are few topics that stir more interest, intrigue, and sadly in some cases, skepticism, than the Last Days, or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. “When will it happen? How will it happen? How will we know it’s about to happen? Is it really going to happen?” All common questions when the subject comes up.

While Jesus talked that Tuesday about certain signs of the Last Days and His Second Coming, He strongly emphasized one main thing: Get ready! Be ready! Stay ready!

Jesus reminded us that His death on the cross was not the end of His story. Not only would He rise from the dead and ascend back to heaven, He would, absolutely, no-doubt-about-it, come again! No one can predict the day, the hour or the moment, but it will happen. We are to live every day prepared for that day!

Are you ready, or not?

Pastor Dale

Has your heart changed recently? One of the goals of spiritual growth is continual, positive heart change. Our hearts should be getting better, purer, bigger, and humbler over time. We need to do some regular heart checks to make sure our ”insides” are consistently heading in the right direction.

We need some help in this process. The good news is that God specializes in heart help! Take a look at the following Bible verse:

1 Samuel 10:9 (NIV)  “As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.”

For Saul to become Israel’s king, he needed a heart adjustment. He needed some “inside” work before he started his “outside” work as king. God always starts on the inside. When you’re stuck in something external, it’s often because something needs to be addressed in your heart.

People’s hearts are changeable. Some times they change for the better, and some times they change for the worse.

The changing of a person’s heart involves the changing of their thoughts, perspectives, interpretations, attitudes and pursuits from one orientation to another. It’s true, what’s inside determines the output and outcomes of a life.

When evil gets into someone’s heart, destructive things happen. When a person allows seeds of hurt or anger a place in their heart, it changes them in bad ways. Over the years I have watched many nice, kind people turn into hard, cold, grudge-bearing souls, all because of an offense toward someone. At times these changes are extremely obvious, and at other times subtle but real. Unhealed heart wounds and unchecked heart sin transform people for the worse.

I have also watched hardened, resistant, wounded, sullen, prideful and poisoned people become soft, pliable, loving, healed and helpful people, all because of a positive heart change. As certainly as good hearts can go bad, bad hearts can become good, through God’s grace and power.

Nothing can substitute for a positive heart change. When the orientation of one’s heart is changed by God toward God, great things follow. When bad things are cleaned out of someone’s heart, space is made for the good!

Is your heart changing for better or worse? Ask God to help you grow a better, purer, bigger and humbler heart!

Pastor Dale

Luke 1:39-40 (NLT) A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. Shortly after receiving the news that she was to carry the Christ-child, Mary headed to the home of Elizabeth, the soon-to-be mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was Mary’s relative, perhaps an aunt or cousin. Mary and Elizabeth were family.

It is interesting that the first impulse of Mary, having received the news that she would give birth to the Messiah, was to tell her relatives. The anticipation of the first Christmas brought family members together.

Christmas is a time when families come together. Family holiday gatherings often are the highlight of the year. They can be fun, pleasant times when kids and grandkids, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins and all sorts of extended kin share a meal, exchange some gifts and generally enjoy being with each other.

For some families, these gatherings are not so enjoyable. They can be disappointing and painful experiences. Instead of sharing love and laughter, the holiday atmosphere is sometimes filled with tension and strife. Ugly interactions reopen old emotional wounds.

Resentments between family members are rekindled. Hateful, hurtful words are spoken. Dysfunctional family patterns are displayed.

When Christ came, He gave us the opportunity to join His family. When we make Jesus Christ our Lord, we become a part of the family of God. We have a Heavenly Father who loves and accepts us unconditionally. Jesus Christ watches over us as our big brother (see Hebrews 2:11). We are a part of the greatest family of all!

This Christmas, enter into the joy of your Heavenly family. Prayerfully look for ways to share the message of Jesus’ coming with your earthly family also. Let God’s love fill you and flow through you to others.

Lord, thank you for adopting us into your family. We are comforted when we think about your love and care for us. Help us share your love with our earthly family. May you heal hurts from the past and reconcile broken family relationships during this Christmas season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Delaying gratification is something most people don’t like to do. When we want something, we want it now. We like things fast — fast food, fast friends, fast fixes, fast fulfillment — FAST, FAST, FAST, FAST!

When it comes to our wants, life is usually more slow than fast. The journey through life includes delays, detours, unexpected interruptions, uncooperative circumstances, and uncooperative people! When we face these challenges we’re very vulnerable to a dangerous and potentially deadly attitude — impatience.

In the Old Testament, we find the story of the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land. If you’re familiar with the story, you know that it took much longer than they hoped to get there.

On one occasion, they had a wonderful solution that would have gotten them into Canaan more quickly. A shortcut through the land of Edom would have reduced a significant amount of time to their trip. But the Edomite king said “no” to Moses’ request to travel through their land. This meant that the Israelites had to travel around it. Going around something always takes a lot longer than going through something!

Take a look at the story:

Numbers 21:4-9 (NLT) “Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!”  

The Israelites had to go around Edom, since the Edomites wouldn’t give them permission to go through their territory. This trip around the Edomite territory took a lot longer than they anticipated.

The spiritual and emotional result of this extended route was frustration and impatience. Their frustrations were expressed through grumbling. They spoke against God and Moses. In their minds and mouths they went from “It’s taking a long time to get there” to “We’re never going to get there!”

How does this apply to you? Often the amount of time it takes to get something you desire, to accomplish a particular goal you’re pursuing or to complete a particular “journey” you’re on is much longer than you desired or expected.

There are so many things in life we long to see happen more quickly than they do. There are situations that linger, delays that feel unending and changes that seem impossible. These experiences can rob us of faith and hope. They can make us feel like we’re never going to make it to our desired destination; that we’re never going to see the Promised Land we long for.

What we do in times like these matter. God is watching and listening. Either we joyously and persistently continue the journey, or we give in to the poison of impatience.

Impatience is dangerous because it attacks our faith and hope. It paints worse case scenarios in our minds. It causes us to say and do things that are counterproductive to the very goals we want to see accomplished and dreams we want to see fulfilled. Impatient people become their own enemy.

Impatience never produces anything good. It destroys many people along the way. We pay a high price when we become impatient! Be patient and keep walking! You’re going to make it!

Pastor Dale

What’s in you determines your future! Who you are drives what you do!

This principle is found all through the pages of the Bible. It’s very clearly seen in the story of Moses and the twelve spies of the Promised Land.

The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land—the ones who incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report— were struck dead with a plague before the Lord. Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. — Numbers 14:36-38 (NIV)

When it came time to enter the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve spies in to check it out and bring back a report. These twelve leaders didn’t realize that this was the biggest spiritual test of their lives. How they handled this moment would determine their future. God was watching!

When these men returned, their true character and spiritual condition was revealed. Instead of showing an enthusiastic spirit of faith and readiness to enter Canaan, ten of the men were negative and resistant. Their mouths revealed what was in their hearts. Not only did they express personal doubt and fear, they spread it around and infected the majority of Israelites with the same attitude. The result was a missed opportunity, and ultimately death in the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb were the only positive ones in the group. Of the twelve, they were the only ones to eventually make it into Canaan.

A key phrase in this passage is “… Of the twelve … Only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.” Only two of twelve leaders made it! 83% didn’t! What a statistic! It should sober us all. Only 17% of Israel’s twelve main leaders made it into the Promised Land! At the end of their most important leadership test, only Joshua and  Caleb were left.

It’s incredibly important to “remain.” There are so many people who “die out” on the spiritual journey. When you look up and look around, they’re gone. Something “killed” them along the way. They still may be breathing, working and doing, but their God-designed purpose, potential and promise has been forfeited by ugly, unaddressed attitudes inside them.

What destroys people? It could be a hurt or offense they hold on to, resentment and anger they refuse to release, an infatuation with the world’s culture, pleasures and and things they will not turn their back on, an attitude of pride they continually failed to deal with. The list could go on and on.

What destroyed the 10 spies was not the unprovoked anger of God, it was the consequence of their own attitudes and actions. God’s response was simply that, a response to their persistent bad attitudes and actions. They destroyed themselves.

Attitudes have consequences. Attitudes birth behavior. It’s always what’s in us that propels us forward positively, or destroys us prematurely!

What’s in you? Ask God to help you address all the stuff within that’s hindering His plan for your life!

Pastor Dale

As a child I learned two “magic” phrases; “Please!” and “Thank you!” They’re called “magic” because of the amazing impact they have on others. When authentically used in conversations, and consistently (and sincerely) used in relationships, they become an incredible life lubricant. They make all of our interactions better.

Maybe it’s the “old school” training in me, but it seems that these words are being used less and less in our culture. Recently I mentioned to my wife how seldom I hear “thank you” after a store purchase. In fact, I can only recall one incident in the last couple of months where a business owner or retail employee actually said “thank you” after a transaction! More often than not, I’m the one saying “thank you.”

The lack of spoken appreciation is a symptom of a deeper issue — the lack of heart appreciation. What we say or fail to say is an indication of what’s present or not present in the heart. If the heart is unappreciative, self-consumed, and steeped in an attitude of entitlement, our words, or lack thereof, will reflect the same.

I regularly watch as people receive blessings, benefits, opportunities, platforms, and privileges, and then act disrespectfully or dismissively toward those who provided them. Ingratitude seems to be “trending!”

Paul, the apostle, warned about this. When writing to Timothy he commented on the increasing lack of gratitude in the world as we head toward the end of time as we know it:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, UNGRATEFUL, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good …  – 2 Timothy 3:1-3 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Among all the disturbing trends that come with the “last days,” Paul identified a lack of thanksgiving! As we march toward the last of the last days, one of the spreading spiritual diseases is ingratitude. It will dominate world culture.

But it doesn’t have to dominate your culture! You can guard against it. You can overcome it. You can be different! How? The three “C’s”:

• Count your blessings.

Stop and think about all the good things in your life. Stop cataloging what you don’t have and begin counting what you do have!

• Consider the sources.

Think about the sources of your blessings, benefits, opportunities, platforms and privileges. Who is the supplier? Who has helped you get to where you are today? Who has sacrificed and assisted you in your journey? Obviously, the primary Source is God! Put Him first on your gratitude list! Then think about all the others who have contributed to the good in your life. Move beyond the “what” of your blessings to “who” is behind your blessings!

• Communicate your appreciation.

Thanks is not thanks until it’s given! Who do you need to say “thank you” to? Who do you need to express appreciation for? Notice the “say” and “express!” Don’t just think it, do it. Start with God! Tell Him “Thank you!” And tell some others too!

Go against the grain of the world and say “Thanks!”

Pastor Dale

Life is filled with choices. Everyday, from start to finish, you’re choosing. It’s one of your main activities. Consciously and unconsciously, your heart and mind are constantly sorting through options, coming to conclusions, and making choices. Some decisions are simple and inconsequential–a blue shirt today, a tan shirt tomorrow–no big deal.

Other choices matter a lot. It never ceases to amaze me how carelessly and unwisely some folks go about their decision-making processes. A feeling, a conversation with someone, an impulse, a frustration, a restlessness, an exciting thought, an attraction to someone or something, a presumed “word from God,”–I’ve heard all of these as reasons for major life decisions that, in reality were not always well-considered, well-advised or properly guided.

One of the ways the devil detours and sometimes derails people is by toying with their decisions. Our spiritual enemy understands something we need to better understand. The truth is, one unwise decision can result in a lot of wasted time, treasure and talents, and on some occasions, significant heartache and unnecessary pain. Our unwise choices not only impact us, they usually impact others also.

The Bible reminds us of the importance of being careful and wise with our life choices:

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. — Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!  Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.  — Ephesians 5:15-17 (Msg)

When making important decisions, here’s some good advice, Be WISE:

W = Want God’s will above all.  Realize that God’s desire for you may be different from what you want for yourself. His will is what’s best. Happiness and fulfillment are not found in you getting your will, but in surrendering your will to His. Genuinely want what God wants for your life!

I = Inquire.  Ask God for wisdom. Ask mature, wise, godly people for guidance and advice.  Ask yourself tough questions about what’s driving and motivating you. Inquire with an open heart and mind, rather than with your decision already made. Remember, your own heart and feelings will deceive you. Ask honestly and humbly, putting your emotions aside. God answers honest, humble people who sincerely seek His wisdom and will.

S = Slow down.  Wait for true confirmations. Don’t act without them. Don’t invent your own confirmations. Don’t simply look for signs that affirm what you want to do. When you do this you’re the loser for it. Want true confirmation, even if it’s different from what you may want the answer to be. Give God time to show you His will. Look for His fingerprints, listen for His whisperings and heed the wise counsel He provides you.

E = Engage your present duties and responsibilities.  Remember, the grass always looks greener with someone else, somewhere else, doing something else. Your emotions can, and likely will paint romantic, fantastical images of some imagined change you’re considering. The truth is, whoever you are now, where you are now, is what you’ll be anywhere with anyone. A change of circumstances never changes a person’s character. Be engaged and faithful with what God has given you today. God guides the faithful!

Even with the best of intentions and efforts, at times you’re still going to miss the mark in your decisions. What do you do when this happens? Admit it! Don’t justify or rationalize an unwise or bad decision, own it. Do what you can to fix it. Learn from it and move forward, asking God to redeem it. When you live this way you’ll experience God’s grace in your failure.  You’ll also gain greater wisdom for your future!

Got decisions to make?  Be WISE!

Pastor Dale