Video Devotionals

Monday, March 11, 2019

The Potential In Your Pain

| 2:06 MIN READ |

Someone once said, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” Perhaps the adage can more accurately be stated, “What doesn’t kill you, CAN make you stronger!” The possibility is there, but the choice is ours. Problems, pain, and limitations provide us with potential character-building fertilizer if we respond the right way to them.

There’s a story in the Old Testament that teaches this. It’s the story of Esther and Mordecai. The story happens sometime between 486–465 B.C. in the ancient Persian empire. The Persian king, Xerxes, was perhaps the most powerful ruler in the world. In the 3rd year of his reign (483–482 B.C.) Xerxes called his key leaders together and threw a 180-days party for them. During the party the king’s relationship with his queen, Vashti, took a turn for the worse and king Xerxes banished her from his kingdom.

It’s with this background that Esther, a Jewish young lady also known as Hadassah, and her cousin Mordecai enter the picture. Esther 2:5-7 (NLT) “At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin … His family had been among those who … had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.”

When Mordecai and Esther appear on the scene of history, they appear as people with limitations and problems. They were Jews living in Persia. Esther was an orphan. Mordecai’s family had been uprooted from their homeland by circumstances beyond their control. They experienced the pain of being exiled in a foreign land. Mordecai had taken on the responsibility as a young adult of providing, caring and raising his orphaned cousin.

Mordecai and Esther turned their limitations and pain into great potential and were used by God to change history. What about you? What are you doing with your limitations and pain? Are you grumbling or growing?

Pastor Dale

Friday, March 8, 2019

Time to Celebrate

| 1:22 MIN READ |

Unfortunately, the Bible has gotten a bad rap by many. It’s often viewed as a boring or gloomy book. Nothing is farther from the truth. The Bible is filled with stories of celebration and calls us to celebrate. It’s actually a roadmap to joyous living!

One of the reasons why people never discover joy is because they never personally get to know God. We often hold wrong concepts of God’s nature. We may think of Him as severe, angry, frustrated –– looking for a reason to judge and punish us –– a kind of cosmic killjoy. In reality, God is the Supreme Being of joy. He is the Fountainhead of joy. To be in His presence is to be in an atmosphere of indescribable, incredible joy. The psalmist says in Psalm 16:11-12 (NIV) “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

The highest form of celebration is the worship of God. When we get to know God and grow in our knowledge of Him, we automatically become a worshiper of Him. That’s why heaven is filled with worship!

Heaven is an environment filled with the presence of God. In heaven, the perfect holiness, glory, goodness, love, power and worthiness of God is fully known! Worship is simply celebrating the One who is the Source of all celebration. Worship is about enjoying God, not enduring Him. As we enjoy Him, He gives His joy to us!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Made to Contribute

| 1:27 MIN READ |

What is God’s plan for your life? Answering this question is one of the most important things you’ll ever do.

To understand God’s purpose for your life you must first understand something about God’s nature. One of the key characteristics of God is giving. God is a contributor. Giving is what He does because generous is what He is. He cannot, not give! God’s giving nature is reflected in many places in Scripture.

Not only is God a giver, He created us to give –– to be contributors. People are most healthy and happy when they are more than consumers; when they become true contributors. Many people never discover God’s purpose for their life because they never develop a spirit of giving. They never become generous in nature.

What keeps us from giving? It’s often because we feel we don’t have enough to offer someone else, or we don’t have anything of value to give. We yield to the fear of lack rather than the joy of generosity!

The decision to become a giver is one of the best decisions you will ever make. Listen to what Jesus said about this in Luke 6:38 (NLT) “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving –– large or small –– it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”

You’re called by God to be a generous giver. As you give, doors open for you and God’s purpose is fulfilled through you!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Created to Overcome

| 1:26 MIN READ |

Winning is something we enjoy. It’s a great feeling to conquer an obstacle, overcome a challenge or beat back the odds. God made you to win!

Becoming a winner is a process. It requires skills, focus and intentional effort. In the spiritual realm, becoming an overcomer — a winner — is critical to finding and fulfilling your God-designed purpose.

This principle goes back to the beginning of time. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He gave them the responsibility to rule over it. God commanded them to conquer their environment. Look at God’s instructions to them in Genesis 1:28 (NIV) “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” God instructed Adam and Eve to take control of their circumstances. His plan for them was never basic survival, it was success! He created them to overcome. He designed them to be winners.

To fulfill God’s purpose, we all have things we need to conquer. It may be sinful habits, destructive thoughts, emotional pain or unhealthy life patterns. As these enemies are conquered, we find greater joy and become more fruitful. Our victories also encourage others to rise up and overcome!

What things do you need to conquer in your life? Go for it, with God’s grace and power! God created you to overcome!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Made for Relationships

| 1:36 MIN READ |

Relationships are a key theme in the Bible. Starting in the book of Genesis and running through the pages of Scripture, we’re taught the importance of connecting with others. Many of the principles and commands in Scripture help us improve our relationships with people around us.

We need one another. We need to connect. We need to belong. Jesus reminded us of these needs in Mark 12:29-31 (NLT) “Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” There’s something inside all of us that longs for relationships.

As wonderful as good relationships are, bad relationships can be devastating and destructive. Our relationship choices are very important. Who we connect with effects who we become and what we do with our lives. Making the right connections with people is critical. Our destiny is determined by the quality of our relationships. Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) “Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm.”

Here are some important questions to think about. Do you value your relationships? Are you making strong connections with the right people? Are you wisely choosing your friends? Are you nurturing the good relationships in your life? All of us can do better in these areas. When we improve our relationships, we improve our lives!

Pastor Dale

Monday, March 4, 2019

Prepared for Purpose

| 1:18 MIN READ |

God is a people God. He is intimately and personally concerned with people. This includes you! He knows you, loves you, and created you on purpose, for a purpose.

You’re not an accident. God made you for a reason! The Bible is very clear about God’s unique purpose for your life. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

God planned things for your life. The unfolding of this plan starts with a personal relationship with God. He wants you to experience your full potential. For this to happen, you must get to know Him and grow in Him. You must also address things that stand in the way of fulfilling your potential.

All of us have sinful character flaws, messed-up thinking and painful life experiences that get in the way of us being all God created us to be. That’s why God wants to work on you, heal and restore you, and challenge you to change. He’s shaping you to be who He made you to be so that you can do what He created you to do.

The sooner and more completely we yield to God’s work in us, the sooner and more completely we discover more of His plan for us. When we cooperate with God, He transforms us, and we’re prepared to be all He created us to be and do what He created us to do.

Pastor Dale

Friday, March 1, 2019

Employed and Deployed

| 1:30 MIN READ |

It’s been said, if you have an important job that needs to be done, find someone who is busy to do it. The thought behind this statement is that productive people are busy people. Idle folks are ineffective folks.

This is true in God’s Kingdom. If you want to be used by God, you have to get busy working for God. Sitting on the sidelines doesn’t impress God. He’s looking for people who have rolled up their sleeves and willingly engage doing something worthwhile for the Kingdom.

When God chooses people for promotion in His Kingdom, He chooses the employed — the people who are busy in the work. Employment in the work of God leads to greater deployment in His work.

When Elijah was instructed to find Elisha to be his servant and successor, we learn a lot about him by observing what he was doing when Elijah approached him. Take a look at this part of the story in 1 Kings 19:19 (NIV) “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha … He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair …”

When God called Elisha, Elisha was a busy man. He was busy plowing, working, running his family’s farming operation. He was doing productive things with his life. His call from God was to simply shift his focus and energies from earthly work to heavenly work. God found a busy man and called a busy man. The employed man became a deployed man.

How productively are you living your life? If you want more with God, do your best with what He’s put in front of you now!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Up and Down

| 1:23 MIN READ |

One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is discouragement. Discouraged people are steps away from despair. Without intervention, a discouraged person is likely to give up and give in to their problems.

God wants to encourage you. He encourages you through the promises and examples of His love and grace in the Bible. God wants to encourage you today through His Word.

David gave us many powerful words of encouragement in the psalms. Let’s take a look at one today found in Psalm 18:16, 17 (NIV) “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” Also, note verse 19 of the same chapter, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

David described a time when King Saul was hot and heavy on his trail. His life was on the line. He was in a very low place emotionally. But David cried out to God. In his discouraging situation, David looked to God for help. What did God do?

As David looked up, God came down! Not only was David rescued by God, he was also ushered into a new and bigger place of blessing. When God came down for David, everything changed for the better!

Are you discouraged about something? Keep looking up. Keep crying out to God. As you look up to Him, you can be sure that He will come down to help you!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

To The Rescue

| 1:29 MIN READ |

Most of us love a great rescue story. The old proverbial imagery of a damsel in distress being rescued by a “superman” type character still plays well today.

Part of the reason this storyline is so attractive to us is because we can all identify with it. We’ve all found ourselves in situations when and where we needed to be rescued from something. We needed help outside ourselves to pull us out, free us, conquer some foe threatening to destroy us.

One of the key portraits of God in the Bible is that of a true Rescuer. That’s what the words “Savior, Redeemer, and Deliverer” mean. These titles describe God’s actions — who He is and what He does for people.

The psalm writer David often spoke of God’s power and commitment to rescue people. One example is found in Psalm 126:6-8 (NLT) “Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Sometimes we step into traps. Bad decisions, sinful behavior, poor judgment, inner brokenness, and dysfunction snare us. Trapped things become food for the predator that trapped them. The only hope when you’ve been snared is the arrival and help of a rescuer.

David reminded us that God is a Rescuer. He sees, feels love and compassion for the trapped, and takes action to help them when they call on Him.

Are you trapped in something? Cry out to God. He’s your Rescuer! He knows how to free you!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Self-Exams

| 1:28 MIN READ |

When it comes to certain physical diseases one of the best practices is self-exams. Paying attention to your body, and any significant changes in it can help you identify a potential problem earlier rather than later. It can save your life.

The same is true in the spiritual realm of life. The Bible teaches us the importance of self-exams. I’m not talking about unhealthy, continual introspection. That’s discouraging and dangerous. I’m referring to a consistent practice of reflection about your life based on the instructions of God’s Word. It’s taking the time, on a regular basis, to think about how you are living and whether you’re growing, changing and maturing in your walk with God.

There’s a passage in Proverbs that describes the consequences of an unexamined life. Take a look at this verse found in Proverbs 5:6 (NIV) “She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.”

This verse describes a person whose life is directed by unchecked passion and pleasure. She’s a person who is led by her feelings, never giving any thought to how she’s living or where her choices are taking her. She never examines her life, and therefore she ends up “wandering aimlessly” through life. Her life is wasted because she never valued self-examinations.

What about you? How often do you do spiritual self-exams? Building this practice in your life will save you from a wandering, aimless life!

Pastor Dale

Monday, February 25, 2019

Stepping Away

| 1:55 MIN READ |

Who are your friends? The impact of a person’s companions can’t be overstated. So much of our lives is determined by the kind of people we surround ourselves with. Choosing friends wisely is perhaps one of the most important things you’ll ever do in life.

When you hang around with someone, you become like them. Their attitudes and thoughts influence yours. What they do, you often begin to do. This can be very good if the friend inspires you to be and do better. However, more often the result is the opposite.

If you hang around a gossiper, you’ll become one. If you spend significant amounts of time with a cynic, you’ll become cynical. If you become a close friend with an angry, resentful person, it won’t be long before you’ll start thinking, looking and acting like them.

There’s an interesting story in the Old Testament that reminds us of the power of companions. When Elisha sent one of his servants to anoint Jehu as the king of Israel, he gave his servant some specific instructions recorded in 2 Kings 9:2 (NIV) “… Look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat … Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him to an inner room.”

Before God could anoint Jehu, he had to be separated from some unsavory companions. Without the separation, there would be no new anointing.

Sometimes this is true in our lives. The people we’re hanging around with can often be a barrier to the next good thing God wants to do in our lives. Without the separation, there’s no fresh operation of God in us. Sometimes there are some folks you need to step away from to move forward in your walk with God.

I am not suggesting that you reject people meanly or coldly. People who aren’t following God need your love, care, and witness. I’m talking about the importance of choosing wisely your closest companions. Be selective. Be careful. Choose wisely. Their influence is more powerful than you might imagine.

Pastor Dale

Friday, February 22, 2019

The Power of Resolution

| 1:45 MIN READ |

It’s a great relief any time a knotty problem or a relationship tension is resolved. It’s a weight lifted from our souls. It frees up energy we were expending, consciously or unconsciously, on the situation.

Far too often we live with internal closets filled with unresolved issues. We have lingering pressure from unresolved family situations, work problems, unwise financial decisions, struggling friendships, painful losses and all kinds of other things. The lack of closure keeps us brewing and stewing on the inside. We keep trying to push the problems out of our minds, but like a beachball being pushed underwater, they keep popping up in our thoughts, emotions, and conversations.

I’ve heard it said that it’s not problems that destroy you, it’s unresolved problems. There’s a lot of truth in the statement.

What should you do with the unresolved issues in your life? Resolve them! This is especially true when it comes to lingering relationship issues. Life is too short to let grudges, hurts, misunderstandings, and past pain to continue draining our spiritual and emotional energy.

Jesus spoke of the importance of resolving relationship issues speedily. Look at His instructions in Matthew 5:23, 24 (TPT) “So then, if you are presenting a gift before the altar in the temple and suddenly you remember a quarrel you have with a fellow believer, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go at once to apologize with the one who is offended. Then, after you have reconciled, come to the altar and present your gift.”

Jesus taught us that offenses toward others should be dealt with “at once.” Nothing should delay resolution of them! The longer they linger, the harder it is to resolve them. Be a resolver!

Pastor Dale

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Worrywart?

| 1:55 MIN READ |

Have you heard the term before — worrywart? It’s an interesting word that goes back to a 1930’s comic strip. The cartoon contained a character that went by this name. According to one source, the name was originally used to describe a child who constantly pestered and frustrated other people. It is used today to describe someone who is always worrying about something.

The truth is, when it comes to life, most people are inclined to be a bit of a worrywart. Our senses search for things we perceive as potential threats or dangers. Our minds ruminate on what painful, terrible things could happen to us or people we care about. We’re prone to reach out into our future, project and predict doom and gloom! No one teaches you to worry. We have to learn not to worry!

Corrie ten Boom, an incredible follower of Jesus who lived through the Holocaust and was herself sent to a concentration camp for hiding Jews attempting to escape capture by the Nazi’s, understood something about the temptation to worry. Among her many wise statements she penned these words, “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.” There’s no better definition of worry!

Worry does nothing good for us and lots of bad to us. Over and over again in the pages of the Bible, you will find the phrase “fear not.” God repeatedly reminds us that worry and fear never do us any good. They are counterproductive and ineffective.

One verse that reminds us of this is Isaiah 43:1-3 (MSG) “… ‘Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end — because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior …’”

What are you worried about? Resign from being a worrywart and choose to trust God. He’s got you!

Pastor Dale

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Alone But Not Lonely

| 1:48 MIN READ |

There’s a big difference between solitude and isolation. The first is healthy and necessary. The second is unhealthy and destructive.

Isolation is detachment from people. It’s a choice to separate yourself from meaningful relationships and connections with other people. Isolation breeds loneliness, discouragement, and depression. It locks us into the world of our own thoughts and emotions without anything to check or correct their validity. Isolated people are never happy people.

Solitude is quite different. It’s a vital part of becoming healthy and strong. Solitude is the decision to periodically pull away from people, and dependence on people, to grow your relationship with God, and to reflect on your personal life journey; spiritually, emotionally and relationally. It’s time alone with God, and with your thoughts.

Jesus showed us how to live in proper relationship with others while maintaining regular times of solitude. So much of the Gospels describes the significant amount of time Jesus spent with His disciples and with people who needed His love and power. Yet we also see Jesus’ alone moments. Take a look at Mark 1:35 (TPT) “… Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer.”

This is only one example of Jesus’ commitment to solitude. He demonstrated by example a life of meaningful relationships and connections, along with a daily commitment to solitude with His Heavenly Father. He was able to be alone without being lonely!

What about you? Are you isolated from others? If so, get connected! Or perhaps you’re a “people junkie.” You seldom dedicate time to be alone with God. Balance your life by committing to community with others and communion with God!

Pastor Dale

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Happier and Healthier

| 1:51 MIN READ |

Your body is an amazing creation. God designed it to work in wonderful ways. But it only works well, when we do our part in taking care of it.

One of the key parts of your body’s functioning involves chemicals like serotonin and adrenaline. Serotonin helps regulate your moods, impacts your social behavior and does lots of other important things. It’s a “feel good” hormone.

Adrenaline helps your body respond to threat. It’s sometimes referred to as the “fight or flight” hormone. When stressed or threatened, the adrenal glands kick into gear ramping up your heart-rate, heightening your senses, and releasing glucose into your system. It’s preparing you to stand your ground or run for your life! It’s meant to be an emergency chemical.

Unfortunately, when we don’t take good care of our bodies through proper nourishment, rest and renewal, our serotonin levels can be depleted, and adrenaline can be unnecessarily released into our system. When this condition continues, the hormone meant to help you in emergency situations creates trouble for you. Generally, and simplistically speaking, a stressed-out life is the result of a body running low on serotonin and running high on adrenaline.

This is why rest is so important! Rest brings renewal — of spirit, soul, and body. It replenishes the good things you need to be happier and healthier. And the best rest starts in your spirit and soul! It’s hard to experience a rested body with a troubled mind!

If you’re stressed out, living on adrenalin, hear the words of Jesus today found in Matthew 11:28, 29 (TPT) “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.”

What a promise!

Pastor Dale

Monday, February 18, 2019

Filling Up

| 1:59 MIN READ |

Have you ever run out of gas in your automobile? Some folks are notorious avoiders when it comes to visiting a gas station. They keep driving as long as possible. They drive on, even after the needle on their gas gauge reaches empty. They push the edge of the fuel envelope, refusing to fill up until the very last mile or minute. Sometimes they’re forced to re-fill after they stall on the roadside, completely out of gas!

While most people operate their vehicles with more caution and prudence, many of us push the edge of the envelope when it comes to our spiritual and emotional fuel. We run around on empty tanks. We’re constantly risking a stall out because we haven’t learned how to refuel, or we refuse to take the time and invest the effort to do so. It’s a dangerous way to live.

When spiritual and emotional resources are depleted, lots of bad things can happen. When your spiritual and emotional tanks are empty, you make bad decisions. In these moments you’re more vulnerable to temptation, more prone to distraction, and more likely to fill your tank with the wrong fuel.

Spiritually and emotionally drained people often attempt to fill their tanks with unhealthy relationships, destructive substances, food-binges, excessive entertainment and activities, and a variety of other things. The results of these choices are short-term highs, followed by increased emptiness. This can become a cycle of frustration, pain, and defeat.

The first step to breaking any negative cycle is seeing and admitting it. Look at the prayer the psalmist prayed in Psalms 19:13 (TPT) “Keep cleansing me, God, and keep me from my secret, selfish sins; may they never rule over me! For only then will I be free from fault and remain innocent of rebellion.” David understood that seeing his sins was the beginning point for overcoming them.

How about you? In what ways are you trying to fill your spiritual and emotional tanks? Are they healthy or unhealthy?

Pastor Dale