Good morning,
As Christians, it is so difficult for us to understand why the culture would be so opposed to this life with Jesus. To us it is peacefulness, contentment, and joy. Can I share with you a thought from A. W. Tozer this morning? Are You Feeling the Wind? “God hath called you to Christ’s side,” wrote the saintly Rutherford, “and the wind is now in Christ’s face in this land; and seeing ye are with Him, ye cannot expect the leeside or the sunny side of the brae.” With that beautiful feeling for words that characterized Samuel Rutherford’s most casual utterance he here crystallizes for us one of the great radical facts of the Christian life. The wind is in Christ’s face, and because we go with Him we too shall have the wind in our face. We should not expect less. The yearning for the sunny side of the brae is natural enough, and for such sensitive creatures as we are it is, I suppose, quite excusable. No one enjoys walking into a cold wind. Yet the Church has had to march with the wind in her face through the long centuries. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 Are you feeling the wind this morning? Acknowledge Christ's presence, be blessed and remember that you are loved!!!
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Good morning,
The people at Dogwood yesterday morning, were eager to pray. For a soon as Anthony appealed to the church to pray for our country, the leaders, and the moral health of our culture, the alter was lined with folks pouring out their their hearts desire to the Father. Later in the service Paul brought us a wonderful message on what it means to be under the Lordship of Christ. We hope that you are still praying and meditating on these two matters today. Jesus ask us: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30 We are all yoked to something or someone, and we all have burdens. However, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Today crosses are placed on church steeples or made of gold and used as necklaces or lapel pins. The cross of which Jesus spoke is an instrument of death--ours! We choose to obey Christ and by so doing choose to carry the cross. Carrying a cross means to be attached to the Person of Christ, committed to the Lordship of Christ and obedient to the commandments of Christ. The man who is so attached, so committed, so obedient, has found himself, and his rightful place. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 Have a Great Monday, and always remember that you are loved!!! Greetings,
For a Christian to hang onto his guilt and regret is not a humble act, but a selling short the work of Christ in our lives. Let's never be afraid of telling the world what Jesus is capable of doing for the sinner. It may be argued that the absence of regret indicates a low and inadequate view of sin, but the exact opposite is true. Sin is so frightful, so destructive to the soul that no human thought or act can in any degree diminish its deadly effects. Only God can deal with it successfully; only the blood of Christ can cleanse it from the pores of the spirit. The heart that has been delivered from this dread enemy feels not regret but wondrous relief and unceasing gratitude. The returned prodigal honors his father more by rejoicing than by repining. Had the young man in the story had less faith in his father he might have mourned in a corner instead of joining in the festivities. His confidence in the loving-kindness of his father gave him the courage to forget his checkered past. Can you rejoice with the prodigal son today, forget the past, and join the festivities? "I love the Christ who died on Calv'ry, For He washed my sins away, He put within my heart a melody, And I know it's there to stay. "In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody, with heaven's harmony; In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody of love." "Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 My you be that blessed witness for the Lord Jesus today, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Good morning,
We draw great strength from our church family, and from the times of worshiping our Lord. It was such a time yesterday at Dogwood. As one of our heroes from the past said: "Best of all, God is with us." If you could just dwell in the house of the Lord forever, would life be easier for you? Less temptations to draw one away from God? But for now we are to face this world in a new day, and a new week. But not alone, for He is always with us, and we have this great promise. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:27 In the forests of northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal that we know best for its snow-white fur. Instinctively the ermine protects its white coat lest it become soiled. European hunters often capitalize on this trait. Instead of setting a mechanical trap to catch the ermine, they find its home in the cleft of a rock and daub the entrance with tar. A chase ensues and the frightened ermine flees toward its home. When it arrives at the cleft of the rock and finds it covered with dirt, the animal spurns its place of safety. Rather than soil itself and its white fur, it courageously faces the hunters. That's character. To the ermine, purity is dearer than life itself. Never forget that we have an enemy pursuing us, Satan Himself, "seeking whom he may devour." But unlike the ermine, when we turn to stand our ground, the Lord is with us, and promises: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 If today we are tempted to cast off our righteous lifestyle, let's remember the ermine. To keep ourselves ".....unspotted from the world" James 1:27c , is as important to the Christian as life itself. "Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow; Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." We pray for God's blessings on you today, and always remember that you are loved!!! Henry Hello,
We recently read a story about Raynald III, who was a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. He was grossly overweight. Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.” After a heated confrontation, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald, but decided to not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year—a prisoner of his own appetite. What is it about sin that so easily draws one in? Just like Edward, Satan will always to it that see that you are offered those things that are a great temptation to you. While one reads the story of Raynald and shakes the head in disbelief, there is no difference when one choose sin and self-indulgence over the abundant life Christ offers. So instead of sin, let's choose Christ, who died for us so we could experience freedom from the chains of disobedience! "ONCE I WAS BOUND BY SIN'S GALLING FETTERS; CHAINED LIKE A SLAVE, I STRUGGLED IN VAIN. BUT I RECEIVED A GLORIOUS FREEDOM, WHEN JESUS BROKE MY FETTERS IN TWAIN. GLORIOUS FREEDOM! WONDERFUL FREEDOM! NO MORE IN CHAINS OF SIN I REPINE! JESUS, THE GLORIOUS EMANCIPATOR! NOW AND FOREVER HE SHALL BE MINE." "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36 We pray for Christ's blessings on you today, as you remember throughout this day that you are loved!!! Henry Hi,
We enjoyed a wonderful day at Dogwood yesterday, with music and preaching that was outstanding. Love it! Now we have a new day and a new week to serve our Lord. Pray for opportunities to brag on your savior. "CONSECRATE ME NOW TO THY SERVICE, LORD, BY THE POWER OF GRACE DIVINE. LET MY SOUL LOOK UP WITH A STEADFAST HOPE, AND MY WILL BE LOST IN THINE. DRAW ME NEARER, NEARER, BLESSED LORD, TO THE CROSS WHERE THOU HAS DIED DRAW ME NEARER, NEAR, NEAR, BLESSED LORD, TO THY PRECIOUS, BLEEDING SIDE." "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." Hebrews 10:20 May His blessings be on you throughout the day, and never doubt that you are loved!!! Hi,
"I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" (Rev. 3:8). This prophecy concerning the church at Philadelphia doubtless looks forward to a future day. Just a little later we find in Revelation 4:1, what many believe could be a fulfillment of that prophecy: "After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." But who can deny that Revelation 3:8 contains a lesson for our day? In Sunday school we are studying "Finding Your Ministry". When, in our walk through life, God sets before us open doors of opportunity, He clearly intends us to enter them. The only way to avoid entering an open door set before us would be to deliberately sidestep the opportunity. Sadly, how prone we are to do this! Indeed, we often pray God for open doors when He has already set them before us. Paul thanked God for open doors. Acts 14:27: "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." The open doors did not always lead to a pleasant environment for Paul, but he entered with God's help. I Cor. 16:9: "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." Let's learn to pray: "Lord help us see the open doors you have already set before us; opportunities now, and pray for more of those opportunities. But help us not to be selective, but accept the work you call us to. For we know that you always mean it for our good, no our best." God bless you and yours today, and throughout this day, know that you are loved!!! Henry Good morning,
From the funny paper: Sluggo: "That new kid in school is a big fat-head!" Nancy: "You shouldn't call people names like that. I never call people names." Sluggo: "Well, I just got mad when he said you were silly looking." Nancy: "What else did that big fat-head say?" Are you one that finds fault? Is it easy for you to criticize? Do you look for those chances? If so, the first thing we can do is look for the motive. Is there something behind our criticism? Nancy had nothing bad to say about that new kid until she "thought" he didn't like her, she "thought" he criticized her. Beware of that trap, and avoid it by your compliments of others. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8 May the Lord Jesus bless you and yours today, and always remember that you are loved!!! Hello,
We are told to "fight the good fight of faith", but are you to point today where you feel you have no strength left to fight? If it is a physical or spiritual battle you are experiencing, take note of this giant of faith. Hudson Taylor was so feeble in the closing months of his life that he wrote a dear friend: "I am so weak I cannot write; I cannot read my Bible; I cannot even pray. I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust." This wonderful man of God with all his spiritual power came to a place of physical suffering and weakness where he could only lie still and trust. And that is all God asks of you, His dear child, when you grow faint in the fierce fires of affliction. Do not try to be strong. Just be still and know that He is God, and will sustain you, and bring you through. "There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God,..." Psalm 65:1a Christ's blessings on you today, as you wait silently before Him, keeping in mind that you are loved!!! Henry Good morning: The photographer for a well-known magazine was assigned to take photos of a great forest fire. The problem was that smoke at the scene hampered him. So he frantically called his home office to hire a plane. “It will be waiting for you at the airport!” he was assured by his editor. As soon as he got to the small, rural airport, sure enough, a plane was warming up near the runway. So the reporter jumped in with his equipment and yelled, “Let’s go! Let’s go!” The pilot swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air. “Fly over the north side of the fire,” said the photographer, “and make three or four low, level passes.” “Why?” asked the pilot. “Because I’m going to take pictures!” said the photographer with great exasperation. “I’m a photographer, and photographers take pictures!” After a long pause the pilot said, “You mean you’re not the instructor?” "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want." Proverbs 21:5 May the Lord bless you and yours today, and throughout this day remember that you are loved!!! Henry |
Henry DeatonHenry D. is from Southern Indiana and writes these wonderful daily devotionals to encourage those at the Dogwood Community Church located in Paoli, Indiana. Henry has graciously agreed to share these wonderful devotionals here at Without Excuse Ministries to encourage you our valued guest! Archives
January 2013
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