Video Devotionals

Thursday, October 18, 2018

What’s God Like?

| 1:24 min read |

Your thoughts matter. According to the Bible, your thoughts are shaping your life! Proverbs 4:23 (GNT) “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

One of the areas of thought that seriously affects every part of your life is your beliefs about God. How you view God makes a big difference in how you approach Him, and in how you live your life. Faulty perspectives of God cause us lots of problems.

Here are a few things to remember about God:

• He’s eternal. He has always been and always will be.
• He’s holy and perfectly righteous. Everything He is and does is right.
• He never changes. There is no fickleness or lack of predictability about His nature. What He is, He is, and always will be.
• He has no needs. He is the ultimate Provider—fully sufficient.
• He’s all-powerful. Nothing is impossible or too hard for Him.
• He’s all-knowing.
• He’s ever-present.
• He’s all-wise.
• He’s completely faithful, reliable and trustworthy. He will never fail you.
• He’s totally good. Everything He is and everything He does is good.
• He’s completely just. There is no “unfairness” or injustice in Him.
• He’s loving, merciful, gracious, kind and compassionate.
• He’s great and majestic.
• He’s transcendent—nothing or no one on earth or in heaven compares to Him—He is above and over all!

Be careful how you think about God. Your thoughts about Him shape your relationship with Him!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

What Do You Think About You?

| 1:12 min read |

Everybody thinks about themselves. It’s a part of what we do, consciously and unconsciously. The thoughts we have about ourselves shape our character, our interactions with others, and affect our personal joy and peace.

There’s a starting point to healthy thoughts about yourself. You can only think the right way about yourself if you know what God thinks of you. Knowing God’s perspective about you gives you a foundation for how you are to think about you!

Here are a few things to remembers about God’s view of you:

• You are created by God.
• You’re not an accident, you were designed by God on purpose, with a purpose.
• You are lavishly loved by God.
• God, out of His love, offers you abundant and eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
• As His child, God will never leave you; He promises to provide for you.
• God’s love makes you secure and gives you strength.

Focus on what God says about you. The apostle, John reminded us of who we are in God’s sight, and how we should think about ourselves in 1 John 3:1 (TPT) “Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children … “

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

The Right Way to Think

| 1:07 min read |

Your thoughts matter. According to the Bible, your thoughts are shaping your life! Proverbs 4:23 (GNT) “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

To change your life, you must change your thinking. 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.”

Your thoughts can be divided into 4 primary categories:

• Thoughts about God.
• Thoughts about yourself.
• Thoughts about others.
• Thoughts about life circumstances and events.

When you’re thinking in any of these 4 areas is faulty, your life will be malformed and dysfunctional. You can’t function at your best when your foundational thinking is negatively skewed.

Part of growing as a believer in Jesus Christ involves changing our thinking about God, ourselves, others and the world around us. We need to build our thoughts on the truth of God’s Word. When we think the right way, we’ll live the right way!

Pastor Dale

Monday, October 15, 2018

Change Your Thinking

| 1:15 min read |

In life, there are things that are “out of our control.” Things happen, situations arise, people react, and decisions are made that we have no influence over. When we experience lots of uncontrollable events, we can become passive. We resign ourselves to simply surviving whatever life throws our way.

While certain things are out of your control, one thing isn’t. How you choose to think about life is up to you. It’s something you can control. While it’s not always easy to wrestle with and change our thoughts, it’s possible to do so.

Controlling your thoughts makes a big difference. It transforms you from a passive recipient of whatever life dishes out to an active responder — from a passive survivor to a conquering, overcoming thriver! Taking charge of your thoughts changes your perspective and actions.

Look at this description of the power of thinking in Proverbs 4:23 (GNT) “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Notice that your life isn’t shaped by events, it’s shaped by your thinking! What fashions your life isn’t what happens to you, but how you think about what happens to you.

Take some time and think about how you think? What thought patterns do you need to change?

Pastor Dale

Friday, October 12, 2018

Do Gooders!

| 1:37 min read |

Are you a do-gooder? This term isn’t always used positively. Often people describe a self-righteous, holier-than-thou person as a do-gooder.

While self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitudes and actions stink, we shouldn’t dismiss the power and importance of being the proper kind of do-gooder.

The Bible actually tells us to become a do-gooder, in the right sense. Take a look at a couple of passages that call us to this way of living:

Matthew 5:16 (NLT) “ … Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.”

Romans 12:21 (NLT) “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

It doesn’t get any clearer than this! God is looking for some real do-gooders in the world. Not the self-righteous, holier-than-thou type, but the humble, loving, genuine type. People who turn the tide of evil by living honorably, doing kind and good things for others, showing the true nature of God and His light to a dark world.

Be a do-gooder!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Avoid Infection!

| 1:07 min read |

We all understand the nature of viruses. They’re contagious. Without proper care, we can inadvertently be infected through infected people. Viruses are passed on.

Just as there are viruses that affect our bodies, there are viruses of the spirit and soul. We can be infected with them by contact with the wrong people. Unprotected eyes, ears, minds and mouths become entry points for these potentially devastating “bugs.”

One such virus is anger. Did you know that a perfectly peaceful person can become inflamed with rage simply by hanging around with someone spewing their anger? It’s true!

Take a look at this warning from Scripture found in Proverbs 22:24, 25 (MSG) “Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected.”

The world today is a breeding ground for anger. Practically, everywhere you turn someone is spewing frustration and anger about someone or something. To avoid being infected with this destructive virus, we need to be selective in what we listen to and the people we associate with. Avoid infection!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Time Out!

| 1:26 min read |

Practically, every sport gives coaches and players opportunities for timing out. At strategic moments in the competition, it’s sometimes wise to bring the play to a stop. When used the right way, timeouts can win games.

In life, God sometimes calls a timeout for us. He brings things to a halt and says, “wait.” As the supremely wise Coach, He knows when it’s best to put things on hold. He not only knows when timeouts are strategic, He knows how long they need to be to most positively impact us.

The problem with these “timeouts” is that we don’t usually appreciate them at the moment. When things aren’t happening according to our timetable, or not happening at all, we tend to blame the Coach instead of trusting the Coach. We think we’re more capable of calling the shots for our life than He is.

Great things happen when we learn to “wait patiently” during the timeouts of life. Look at the promise God gives to those who learn the value of waiting, recorded in Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Do you feel like your Heavenly Coach has called “timeout” in your life? Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing. The “game’s” not over. He’s doing something in you. You’re being renewed in strength to run for the next season He’s planned for you!

Pastor Dale

Friday, September 21, 2018

Don’t Let Your Disappointments Get You Down

| 1:07 min read |

What’s disappointed you recently? Sometimes we’re disappointed by people. Promises and commitments are made that aren’t fulfilled. We’re also disappointed by circumstances. We expected things to happen a certain way at certain times, only to experience something very different.

Disappointments are the result of unfulfilled expectations. When something doesn’t happen the way we anticipated, we’re let down, disheartened and discouraged. If we don’t process it well, we can become cynical, untrusting and bitter.

Part of what helps us overcome the pain of disappointments is to transfer our hopes and expectations from people and circumstances to God. When all our hope is in people or events, we are on very shaky ground. We need a hope that transcends sources other than God. We need a secure hope in Him.

Look at what the psalmist says about this in Psalm 62:5 (NIV) “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.”

Are you disappointed about someone or something? Don’t let your disappointments get you down. Look up to God. Remember that He is still in control and you can trust Him!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, September 20, 2018

How to Start Your Day

| 1:22 min read |

Starts are important. Ask anyone who runs races or is engaged in swimming competitions. They know that how they handle themselves at the starting block can be the difference between winning and losing. Poor starts immediately put you in catch up mode. You’re behind from the beginning.

While we often think of how we start relationships, jobs and other significant commitments, it’s also important to bring the concept of strong starts to our day. When you start your day the right way, you’re more likely to have a successful, victorious and positive day.

Jesus gave us an example of the right way to start our day. Take a look at this description of what was, most likely, His daily pattern. Mark 1:35 (NIV) “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Jesus started His day with God. He began His day by opening His heart to His Heavenly Father. In these early morning times with God, Jesus was strengthened, directed and empowered to do His work.

If Jesus needed this time with His Father, how much more do we? While schedules may not always allow an early morning appointment with God, connecting with Him at the beginning of our day is the way to get a good start.

During these times we’re strengthened, directed and empowered to do God’s work too!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

What to Remember When You’re Rejected

| 1:33 min read |

Certainly, you’ve been rejected at some point in your life. You can’t live very long without experiencing the pain of someone’s rejection. It happens at school, at work, and in all human groups and interactions.

The fear of rejection is one of the most common and strongest fears we experience. Many people will go to great extremes to avoid the possibility of having someone reject them. People do all kinds of things they would not normally do, just to be accepted by others.

While we shouldn’t intentionally seek to be rejected, we should understand that it can’t be avoided. It’s going to happen to you. The key is to know how to handle it when it happens.

The best way to handle rejection is to have an internal base of affirmation and approval that no rejection can rob from you. This kind of base can only come from God, and the love He has for us.

John, the apostle, wrote these words reminding us of God’s love in 1 John 3:1 (NLT) “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! …”

John experienced his share of rejection as one of Jesus’ followers, and one of the leaders of the early church. He knew the pain of people hating him for his faith. John not only survived these rejections but thrived through them because he knew how much God loved him. No matter who rejected him, he was loved, accepted and approved of by God!

The same is true for you. Rejection by people isn’t the worst thing in the world. You’re loved by one who never rejects you. Find your security in Him!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

How to Make Yourself Miserable

| 1:39 min read |

A fast way to misery is through comparison. When you compare your circumstances, opportunities, experiences and resources to others, you’ll never be happy. There will always be someone who seems smarter, more popular, more likable, wealthier, enjoying life more fully than you.

Comparison is a social epidemic. It’s creating lots of frustrated people. Social media is contributing to this. Viewing the social feeds of friends and acquaintances we see their lives as far more exciting and fulfilling than our own. Their children look perfect. Their meals look delicious. Their vacations look fabulous. Overall, their lives seem so much better than our own! What we fail to remember is that social media feeds are usually the highlight reel of a person’s life. We don’t see the ugly, mundane, and plain parts of their lives. Comparing our lives to others is unfair to us and to them.

Jesus addressed this issue in Peter’s life. After Jesus explained what kind of life and death Peter would experience, Peter immediately went into comparison mode. Take a look at his interaction with Jesus in John 21:20-22 (TLB) “Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following … Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord? What sort of death will he die?’ Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to live until I return, what is that to you? You follow
me.’”

Jesus had to adjust Peter’s thinking. He fell into the same trap we frequently fall into. He was worried about John, when he should have focused his attention on himself and his relationship with Jesus.

Do you want to be happy? Stop the comparisons and your joy will increase!

Pastor Dale

Monday, September 17, 2018

Upbeat or Downbeat?

| 1:25 min read |

In music there’s a difference in an upbeat and a downbeat. Upbeats and downbeats set the rhythm of a song.

These musical terms are often used to describe our emotional rhythms also. When we’re happy, positive and cheerful, we’re upbeat. When we’re discouraged, down and gloomy, we’re downbeat.

You can improve your life by becoming more upbeat. This happens when we get rid of the thoughts, attitudes and words that bring us and others down.

Nothing brings us down faster than grumbling and complaining. When these become habitual, we consistently view life through negative lenses. This robs us of joy, faith and hope. It makes us unpleasant to be around. It hinders our progress and restricts our productivity.

This is why the Bible warns us about these patterns. Look at Philippians 2:14 (TPT) “Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves.”

It’s interesting that we’re told that a cheerful life is actually a choice we make. It’s determined, in large part, by the amount of complaining we do. Complaining steals our cheer.

Complaining can easily become a habit. And like any habit, it can be changed. Stopping this bad habit starts with awareness. Are you a complainer? Do you spend a significant portion of your life grumbling? Are you an upbeat person or a downbeat person? Stop the complaining and you’ll change the course of your life and relationships.

Pastor Dale

Friday, September 14, 2018

Available?

| 1:49 min read |

Are you available? This question is used in many ways to determine the status of someone? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “available” as “present or ready for immediate use.”

One of the main requirements for being used by God is availability. In fact, God seems to be more concerned about our availability than our ability. God can and will take someone who is available to be used by Him, and put them to work in His Kingdom, even if they’re short on ability! Why? Because God can easily give you whatever ability is needed for the assignment, but only you can provide the availability.

Samuel the prophet learned this lesson early in his life. As a young boy, being raised by Eli the priest in God’s house, Samuel was awakened one night by the voice of God. God had a plan for Samuel’s life and wanted to communicate His plan to the young boy. Eli told Samuel how to respond when God spoke to him in 1 Samuel 3:9, 10 (NIV) “So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’”

Samuel received an education that night in spiritual availability. He made himself ready to respond to God.

How often does God give us an opportunity to be used by Him, to bless or help someone, to share an encouraging word with them, or to make a difference through our willingness to serve others around us or in the church? Yet we miss the moment because we’re not available. We’re not ready. We’re not willing. We’re not listening.

Let’s stop worrying so much about our abilities and work on our availability. That’s when great things for God will get done through your life. Are you available?

Pastor Dale

Thursday, September 13, 2018

When Everything is Said and Done…

| 1:32 min read |

We live in a world of words. Practically everyone has something to say, a message to share, and an agenda to promote. Social media and the online world are saturated with ideas, comments, opinions, and the like. It’s easier than ever to have a voice. All too often the positive results of all these words are hard to measure. Sadly, they sometimes do more harm than good.

Years ago, I heard and fell in love with a short phrase that describes how I want to live my life. Perhaps in our world of words, it’s a good mantra to adopt. The statement—When all is said and done, may more be done than said!

This statement zeros in on a tendency we all have. To talk bigger than we walk! Although we might say that actions speak louder than words, we live as though our words speak louder than our actions.

Jesus addressed this issue in us. After giving the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus made this statement in Luke 10:36, 37 (NLT) “‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say “Go and talk about mercy.” He said, “Go and do the same.” The key word is “do!” Take action. It’s as though Jesus said, “Stop talking so much about your theological ideas, go and do things that show others God’s love.”

When everything is said and done, may more be done than said! What good will you do today that will speak louder than anything you might say?

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Grace Changes Things

| 1:09 min read |

I appreciate grace. Grace is far more than a Bible concept. Grace is a real-life experience. When you receive it, you know it! When grace shows up, forgiveness flows, condemnation and judgment go, fresh starts happen, the mistakes of the past are released and hope for the future rises. When you get grace, you know you don’t deserve it, but you deeply appreciate it, and enjoy it.

Grace is a very good thing. It’s freeing. It’s empowering. It’s motivating. It’s transformational.

Grace is something we need to live and grow in. The more grounded we are in grace, the more love we’ll have for God and for people. This is why Peter, the apostle, wrote these instructions to us in 2 Peter 3:18 (TPT) “But continue to grow and increase in God’s grace and intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ …”

Notice that grace is something we’re told to grow in. Over time, we need to experience and appreciate more and more of God’s grace, which Jesus Christ has made available to us. We’re also called to become more gracious toward others. Growth in grace changes us, and it changes the way we treat others.

Are you growing in grace?

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Words that Change Lives

| 1:19 min read |

Words are powerful. One short statement can make or break someone’s day. I have experienced both. There have been times when someone’s short encouragement propelled me forward with hope and faith. There have also been times a person’s harsh, negative or critical words continued to pummel my heart and mind for days, robbing my confidence and peace.

Some people are experts at discouraging people. They have honed their harsh, judging, demeaning and belittling skills to the point of “perfection.” They can take others down and out with a quick slice of their tongue, and seem quite proud of themselves for doing so.

There are other folks who are great at encouragement. They speak just the right word at just the right time. Their comments lift, inspire and energize others to be and do their best. They serve other people well with their words.

The writer of Proverbs made this observation about our words in Proverbs 16:24 (TPT) “Nothing is more appealing than speaking beautiful, lifegiving words. For they release sweetness to our souls and inner healing to our spirits.”

Do you want to change someone’s life for the better? Speak words that lift, inspire and energize them. You’re called to serve others, and there’s no better way than by speaking life-giving words!

Pastor Dale