Video Devotionals

Monday, February 11, 2019

What has been in my life will not determine what will be!

| 1:35 MIN READ |

Faith is a powerful force. It’s a quality that lives in us and is expressed through the way we live and the words we speak. It’s something that needs to be nurtured and grown within us.

Speaking words of faith are one way to increase faith and put it to work. The Bible teaches us this principle in many places. One is found in 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NIV) “It is written, ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak …”

You can’t divorce faith in the heart from words in the mouth. They go together.
This week we’re looking at five faith declarations that will change your life. Believing and declaring them will set you free to experience the life God wants you to experience, and more importantly, to be the person God wants you to be.

Today’s declaration is: What has been in my life will not determine what will be!

God’s will for your life is to give you hope for your future. It’s to help you realize and understand that no situation from your past needs to be a hindrance to your present and future.

All too often we allow our past to define us. We allow our past to become a prophecy of our future. When we have experienced difficulties and disappointments in the past, we can easily begin to believe that what has been always will be. This belief undermines faith and confidence in God and His ability to help us change. It undermines the expectation of a better future.

Take a stand today. Open your mouth and declare with confidence, “What has been in my life will not determine what will be!”

Pastor Dale

Friday, February 8, 2019

Delivered from Disappointments

| 00:58 MIN READ |

Some of the lowest moments in life are times when someone or something deeply disappoints us. We expected loyalty, love, and fidelity from someone, and their words or actions disappointed our expectations. We anticipated the fulfillment of some promise or hope, and it didn’t happen. These situations are painful. If we’re not careful, they can be devastating and debilitating.

What do you do when someone or something disappoints you?

Here are a few choices we can make in these moments:

• Praise God anyway.
• Believe that God will work in and through your disappointment.
• Forgive anyone you need to forgive.
• Re-focus your trust to God, and Him alone. Only God is fully trustworthy.
• Learn lessons for your own life.
• Refuse to live in the past; keep moving forward.

When you’re disappointed remember and practice this command found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Pastor Dale

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Losing the Labels

| 1:33 MIN READ |

Labels are all around us. Walk into any grocery store and you’ll see labels. Labels define what’s on the inside of the package, the container or the can. When you open the product, you expect to find consistency with the label.

We all live with personal labels. While these labels can be accurate, they can also be inaccurate. Often people place labels on themselves that are inconsistent with who and what they really are. We may over-estimate who and what we are, or perhaps under-estimate our identity, skills, and character. Either way, it’s not good.

We need an honest assessment of who and what we are to live well, to grow and to be the person God created us to be. And the only “person” who can truly label us is God because He knows us thoroughly.

The psalm-writer David understood this. Look at his words:

Psalm 139:1-4 (GW) “O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me. You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away. You watch me when I travel and when I rest. You are familiar with all my ways. Even before there is a single word on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.”

Psalms 51:4 (NCV) “…You are right when you speak and fair when you judge.”

David understood that no one knew him like God — the good, the bad and the ugly! The only label that mattered to David was God’s label on his life!

Our lives get better when we seek to know how God labels us. When God labels us it is true, right, and good for us. It helps us grow, develop, and find security. Don’t build your life around false labels. Let God label you!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Stop the Blame Game

| 2:09 MIN READ |

Emotional pain is something everyone experiences. No one goes through life without some rejections, betrayals and hurts that happen in relationships.

The natural response to these wounds is pay back. When a person hurts us, there’s a desire to give them “a taste of their own medicine.” Emotional hurt fuels anger. Anger turns to resentment and bitterness. Bitterness feeds grudges and a desire for revenge.

Many people live life focused on their pain and the resentment they feel toward those who caused it, or who they perceived caused it. Their minds and emotions want to get even. They want to settle the score.

Resentment and obsession with revenge are dangerous and destructive. It causes lots of problems in our lives. It stunts our spiritual, emotional, and relational growth. It keeps us looking back rather than forward. It becomes a weight on our soul that hinders the flow of God’s grace in and through us.

Take a look at several Bible passages that warn us of the danger of resentment and how to overcome it:

Hebrews 12:14- 15 (TLB) “Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.”

Romans 12:17-18 (TPT) “Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. Do your best to live as everybody’s friend.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 (TLB) “Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”

Here are the instructions — Don’t give resentment or bitterness any place in your life! Period!

How do we stop the blame game? Grace! Take the grace God has shown you, and show it to others. Grace-filled living changes everything! Let’s stop the blame game. Overcome the pain in your past by forgiveness!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Saved from Shame

| 1:40 MIN READ |

Shame is a painful feeling. It’s an emotion we feel over sins we’ve committed, mistakes we’ve made, and humiliating things we’ve experienced. Shame and guilt go together.

There’s a healthy part of shame. When we’ve genuinely done something wrong, shame can motivate us to address it. It can move us toward God for forgiveness and healing. It can help us seek reconciliation with people we have hurt. When we handle our shame this way, we’re freed from its presence.

On the other hand, if shame isn’t handled well, it haunts and harasses us. Shame drives people into a hidden life of fear and failure. Shame brings insecurity, self-hatred, and isolation. Unresolved shame fuels all kinds of bad things in people’s lives. Shame can cause people to run away from God instead of to Him.

One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn as believers is that our shame should move us toward God instead of away from Him. He’s a God who forgives, heals, restores and embraces people ridden with shame. When we bring our shame to Him, He frees us with His love. He saves us from our shame!

Take a look at the following verses. Psalm 103:2, 3 (NIV) “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins …” and Psalm 103:11, 12 (NIV) “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Are you struggling with shame? Is there any lingering, haunting guilt in your life? Run to God today in honesty and humility. Tell Him about your shame, and receive His love, grace, forgiveness, and healing. He saves people from shame!

Pastor Dale

Monday, February 4, 2019

Redeeming Your Regrets

| 1:26 MIN READ |

Do you have any regrets? One origin of the word “regret” means to weep. “RE” = continue. “GRET” = weep. We might say that regret is to keep weeping over something you have done or experienced, or some choice you have made. Regret is an ongoing reminder of a mistake or failure.

There are lots of people who live in regret. They continue to weep, perhaps without physical tears, but certainly in their hearts and minds, over certain decisions in the past. They regularly and painfully revisit their foolish moments and choices.

The reality is, everyone has regrets. No one has lived a perfect life, made perfect decisions, or been completely wise. Everybody has foolish moments, bad choices and experiences in their past. How do we move past our past regrets?

One of the names of God is the answer! The psalmist described a group of people who had some significant regrets and the remembrance that freed them from their regrets. Take a look at Psalm 78:35 (NIV) “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.”

In the midst of their regrets, these folks remembered one of the names of God — REDEEMER! We need to remember this too!

God is able to redeem our regrets. He is able to take our failures and transform them into valuable lessons. He is the God who redeems the ashes of our lives and makes something beautiful out of them!

Do you have any regrets? Remember, God is your Redeemer!

Pastor Dale

Friday, February 1, 2019

Speak Words of Faith into Your Life

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Change Your Words, Change Your Life

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Your Words Set Your Direction

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Your Words Shape Your Life

Monday, January 28, 2019

The Power of Your Words

Friday, January 25, 2019

Curing A Bitter Heart

| 1:54 MIN READ |

Have you ever bitten into something intensely bitter? The moment you do, your taste buds tell you. Your mouth usually reacts by automatically rejecting the item. Your body is telling you, “Don’t eat this!”

Bitterness can happen in the heart too. Life experiences and relationships can be bitter and can make us bitter. Unfortunately, our internal systems are not as quick to react to it or reject it as our mouths are. Far too often, bitter thoughts and feelings lodge in our soul, and slowly leach their poison into our choices and interactions with others. Over time, bitterness in the heart wreaks havoc on us; spiritually, emotionally, relationally and even physically. Sadly, there are lots of bitter people in our world.

The Bible warns us about bitterness in Hebrews 12:15 (TPT) “…And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

Bitterness is dangerous, not only because of what it does to you, but because of what it does through you to others. It’s contagious!

What’s the cure for bitterness? Bitterness is purged from the soul by a choice — a decision to release. Bitter people hold on to things that have hurt or angered them. They carry grudges, and often are still seeking revenge. They ruminate over their pain and imagine the pleasure of a potential payback. They’re storing up poison in their hearts that seeps into their thoughts, conversations and interactions. Bitterness can only be cured by forgiveness.

Look at these words of guidance from Paul, the apostle in Ephesians 5:31, 32 (NLT) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Let go of your bitterness today. Forgive. It will cure your soul!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Calming An Anxious Heart

| 1:14 MIN READ |

Worry is one of the most common human activities. Almost everyone does it. We imagine and play out worst case life scenarios in our heads. We contemplate catastrophic future events and fret ourselves about them, as though they were already reality.

An honest look at worry reveals how worthless it generally is. It wastes huge amounts of time and energy, and subjects us to terrible psychological torment. It erodes physical health and affects our relationships with others. When worry gets into your heart, it does you no good.

Note what the Bible says about this in Psalm 12:25 (NLT) “Worry weighs a person down…” How true this is! When you’re worrying, you’re carrying a weight you weren’t designed to carry, and it will eventually take its toll on you.

Jesus instructed us to avoid worry several times. Here are a couple of examples:

Matthew 6:25 (TPT) “This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided…”

John 14:1 (TPT) “Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.”

How do you calm an anxious heart? Trust that God’s got you! He’s going to take care of you. He’s working in and around you. He’ll never disappoint you!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Healing A Wounded Heart

| 1:30 MIN READ |

Has your heart ever been broken? Broken hearts are often the by-product of broken relationships. When we’re betrayed, rejected, condemned or dismissed by people we care about, our heart can be wounded. And a wounded heart is a dangerous thing. People with broken hearts suffer. They also make poor decisions.

Healing a heart wound starts with an awareness and acknowledgment of it. Denying or ignoring the pain hinders us from overcoming it. We need to do the very thing we often don’t want to do — open up the wound so that the infection brewing within can be cleansed.

Our broken heart needs to be brought in the presence of someone who is safe, caring, kind and capable of bringing healing. All of these are characteristics of God. The psalm writer spoke of God as the Healer of broken hearts. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” And again, in Psalm 147:3 (NIV) “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

When Jesus came, He came as a Healer to the brokenhearted. Isaiah described the work Jesus would do in Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

If you’re brokenhearted, your best Friend is Jesus. He can and will guide you to healing, as you open the wounds in your soul to Him. Let Him in to your pain today!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Restoring A Hopeless Heart

| 1:19 MIN READ |

To live life well, you need something deep inside your soul called hope. Hope is the confidence and internal assurance that good is on the way. It’s the expectation that positive change isn’t only possible, it’s inevitable. It’s just a matter of time.

The Bible describes what happens to us when we lose hope. Look at these words in Proverbs 13:12 (NLT) “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”

When the things we hope for are delayed, the Bible says that our hearts can become “sick.” The Hebrew word means “ill, weak, faint and diseased.” It implies a condition that robs a person of vitality. When hope runs low, we become discouraged about our future. Hopelessness in the soul feeds on itself and breeds more of the same.

What’s the cure for hopelessness? Renewed confidence in God’s love and care! Look at Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Hope increases as our trust in God grows.

Do you need more hope today? Believe that God loves you, He has a good future planned for you. There is a purpose for your life. He is with you. He hears you. He will help you. Let your hope rise. God is for you, not against you!

Pastor Dale

Monday, January 21, 2019

Softening A Hard Heart

| 1:33 MIN READ |

How’s your heart? If you’ve had a physical recently it probably included an EKG. It’s one of the ways physicians discover heart issues that need attention.

There’s another kind of heart that needs a checkup also. It’s your spiritual heart. It’s a part of you that is invisible, but very real. It includes the way you think, what you feel and how you process life.

As surely as your physical heart has a state or condition of health, your spiritual heart does too. Your spiritual heart can be sick. It can be seriously diseased.

One of the diseases of the spiritual heart is hardness. The Bible warns us of the dangers of heart hardness. Take a look at Hebrews 3:15 (NLT) “… ‘Today, when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.’”

The word “harden” describes a condition we need to avoid at all costs, and recover from, if it’s present. The symptoms of a hard heart include stubbornness, rebellion and resistance to God, and often times, callousness toward others. A hardened heart produces coldness, cynicism and contempt in us.

The good news is, a hard heart can be softened again. It starts with admitting the problem. The cure involves acknowledging the causes of our hardness. When we confess our sin and pride, anger, hurt and disappointment to God and ask Him to forgive us, the softening begins. Connecting with people who demonstrate tenderness of heart also helps us soften up on the inside.

Is your heart hard? Don’t let it stay that way. Begin to address this condition today.

Pastor Dale