FIVE on FRIDAY - August 8, 2025

    

 Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE PASSAGE I'M FOCUSING ON

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 NIV

The Apostle Paul was being warned about going to Jerusalem; he would be walking into a dangerous and difficult situation. Paul heard and understood the warnings, but something greater than his own life drove him forward. He had to go to Jerusalem. Paul was a man who knew who He was and knew what he was and what his God-given call in life was - to declare the Good News (Gospel) of God's amazing grace. He would let nothing, even his own safety, deter him from doing the work God had called him to. 

This is the statement of a man who was fully devoted to following Jesus!

2. BOOK I'M READING

Men Don't Run In the Rain: A Son's Reflections on Life, Faith, and an Iconic Father, by Rick Burgess

I heard the author, Rick Burgess, on a podcast recently talking about this book. When I heard him describe his dad, Bill Burgess, it reminded me of my own dad, and many others I came to know growing up. Rick shares the important and powerful life lessons he learned from his father, and iconic college football, and a genuinely good man. 

3. EMAIL NEWSLETTER I AM READING

1440  Email Newsletter

1440 has become my 'go-to" source for national and local news. So far, it has been about as unbiased in their coverage of events as I have been able to find. They report the news, and they offer interesting bits of information of things I probably would have never known about. They cover everything from national and international politics, to business, sports, culture, history and more. I really enjoy this newsletter. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"You can't out-train a bad diet." Ted Naiman

This quote is on the whiteboard of the classroom of my Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle class (HEAL) that I am taking at UT. It bothered me at first because I've always thought I could eat what I wanted and burn it off through extra exercise. Of course, my health track record should have told me I was wrong. 

The quote comes from Ted Naiman, a Family Medicine physician and a health and fitness author. He is living proof that he knows what he is talking about! What you eat is just as important as how much you eat; it is quality over quantity that makes the difference. 

5. FRIDAY FUNNY!

Get it? 

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

HOPE FOR THE STRUGGLER

HOPE FOR THE STRUGGLER

I'm reading a daily devotional book called "Stand Firm Day by Day: Let Nothing Move You: A Men's Devotional" by Walk Thru the Bible. Each morning it gives a Scripture and a short commentary and application on the verse. Monday morning's verse is/was: 

 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” Romans 7:8

The Apostle Paul is writing about the struggle of the heart for those who are following Jesus. Paul had been following Christ for a couple of decades when he wrote this. He was being used of God in mighty ways: missionary, evangelist, church-planter, pastor, disciple-maker, and writer of Scripture. In spite of all of his successes,  he was still battling the flesh, and sometimes the flesh won. 

Paul is amazingly transparent here: though he desires to do what is right, his sinful nature still fights against him. It’s a reminder that even the most faithful are not immune the struggle. Paul’s words are about the conflict between wanting to live a holy life and falling short again and again. And for us "ordinary folk" who are trying to follow Jesus, it’s usually not that we aren't trying to live godly lives, it’s that, in our own strength, we simply cannot overcome sin. 

This realization shouldn't lead to despair but rather dependence on God. God never asked us to be perfect in ourselves. Instead, He offers us the power of the Holy Spirit to live differently. At the end of the chapter, Paul says, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:24-25) 

And He will deliver us as well. 

Are you tired from trying to do what’s right and continually falling short? Lean on God’s grace and strength to bring you through the battle and walk in victory over not only the flesh, but the enemy also. Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith, and your will experience the victory in your struggles. 

FIVE in FRIDAY - August 1, 2025

   

 Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE PASSAGE I'M FOCUSING ON

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

This passage is at the heart of prayer - asking, seeking, knocking. All of those are active words. Prayer isn't a passive activity, it is an act of faith to pray and trust God to deliver.  

2. BOOK I'M READING

Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction

I will be teaching Wisdom Literature at our local prison this fall for Carson Newman University and I had to choose a textbook for this class. I've never taught this course before, and I don't remember what the textbook was when I took the class back in the dark ages, so this was my best guess for a textbook. I'm about halfway through and I really like it. Some of it is really academic, but much of it is solid interpretation and application. The authors, Craig G. Bartholomew and Ryan P. O'Dowd do a good job of weaving in the practical application with the academic information. I think it will be a helpful book to the students, and to anyone who wants to learn about this unique genre of literature in the Old Testament. 

3. BOOK I'M LISTENING TO

Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment, by Dave Hollis

Dave is the the husband of Rachel Hollis, a best selling author and sought after conference speaker. Dave is also a former Disney executive who handled business deals for blockbuster movies. 

The book is his journey of victory over alcoholism, depression, mental frustration and anguish, and getting control of his life. He talks about the mental shifts,  resources, and the power of God that enabled him to take full responsibility for his health, life and future. He also teaches about the discipline it takes to not only get back on track and stay on track. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"You have to train your mind as much as your body." Venus Williams

That is a powerful quote from one of the greatest and most successful tennis players in history. For a great "mind-training" program, follow the instructions of Philippians 4:8, "Fix your thoughts (train your mind) on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

5. FRIDAY FUNNY!

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

FIVE on FRIDAY - July 11, 2025

 

It has been a couple of weeks since I've done one of these. I didn't have as much time on the computer as I thought I would while we were in Alaska. So here are Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M WORKING ON

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

This verse was our theme verse for the Alaska Mission Team. In the book of Galatians, Paul is defending the gospel of grace against those who wanted to pull the believers in Galatia into a "hybrid" type of Christianity where faith in Jesus was important, but keeping the law and the Jewish rituals such as circumcision, were essential for salvation. Paul reminded the followers of Jesus that because of grace, they were not only free from sin, but also of religious trappings and rituals. But then he also reminded them that their freedom in Christ didn't mean they could live anyway they wanted to, but instead they were to use their freedom to humbly serve one another. (We just finished a study of Galatians on Wednesday nights, so its fresh in my mind. 

We had a portion of this verse printed on the back of our Alaska Mission shirts, and when we arrived at the mission house in Tok, Alaska one of the canisters on the kitchen counter had the verse on it as well (picture above). It was just one of the ways God affirmed our mission work while we were there. 

It's a great verse to quote, but a hard verse to live out - but I'm working on it. 

2. BOOK I'VE READ

The Power of a Praying Husband, Stormie Omartian

Two things I am working to improve in my life - praying and being a good husband. I've had this book on my shelf for a number of years but had never read it. The travel for the Alaska trip was a great opportunity to read. 

Omartian is a best-selling author, and her "The Power of a Praying" series has over 32 million books sold worldwide. In the "Praying Husband" she offers insight from the perspective of a wife, but also includes testimonies from her husband Michael as well as other husbands and pastors. The book provides very practical encouragement in praying for numerous areas of a wife's life and ministry. 

Omartian has a powerful testimony. Coming from an abusive childhood situation and suffering mental and emotional issues from her trauma, she now ministers to people worldwide through her writings and as a highly sought-after public speaker. God has done a remarkable work in her life and marriage, and is now using her to serve others. 
 

3. PODCAST I AM LISTENING TO 

Broke to Awoke, by Britnie Turner and Jeremy Newsome

I've been listening to this podcast for sometime now. The original title of the podcast was "Broke to Woke" but because of recent negative connotations with the word "woke", the hosts made a slight change to the title. Honestly, I think they were just tired of defending their use of the word woke. 

The podcast is hosted by Britnie Turner, an award-winning entrepreneur based in Nashville. She is the founder and CEO of Aerial Group, a Tennessee-based social enterprise company that provides real estate development, media production, education, motivational speaking, disaster relief, nation development, and other non-profit work. Her passion is seeing children and women set free from human trafficking and slavery, but she is also heavily involved in disaster relief worldwide, and personal development for individuals and companies that want to be a force for good in the world. 

The co-host is Jerremy Newsome, a best-selling author, and world-renowned educator on finance, investment strategy, and the markets. He is the founder and CEO of Real Life Trading, a stock market and wealth building education company. 

Both Turner and Newsome are serious followers of Jesus and their podcast focuses on their personal journeys from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success. The podcast explores how to overcome setbacks, adopt a positive mindset, and become a "force for good" in the world. I highly recommend it! 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING 

"And, I just put my boots on, and I went out there, and I figured it out. So I want to encourage you. When things go wrong, put your boots on and get out there, and figure it out…" Britnie Turner

In a podcast interview with Joe Mccall, Turner talked about the challenges she faced when getting into real estate developing. At one point, after moving to Nashville, she lived in her car for about 9 months. Everything that could go wrong, did. But she didn't give up, she stayed determined and learned how to work through the problems. It made her tougher, wiser and successful. Now she is teaching these things to others. 

No matter what you do in life, there are going to be problems. Things are going to go wrong. But as the above quote says, when things go wrong, put your boots on and get out there and figure it out! I love it!

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

"Happy" Memorial Day?

 

Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day. 

It seems weird to say "Happy" Memorial Day, since Memorial Day is a day we remember and honor those who have lost their lives in the service of our country. It seems weird to be "happy" about the loss of lives of our soldiers. 

But, while we are remembering and honoring the fallen, we are also celebrating the freedoms we have in this country because of their sacrifice. Their deaths were not in vain because we are free. To honor them and their sacrifice, we must continue to live in the freedom they gave us. 

Thinking about this brings to mind what Paul wrote in Galatians: 

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 NIV 

Christ's death on the cross set us free from sin and death. He set us free from the burden of religious laws and rituals. We honor His sacrifice today by living in His grace and love, and not being slaves to sin or "religious ritual." 

So honor our fallen soldiers by enjoying your freedom today. And honor Christ's sacrifice by living in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God bless you and God bless America! 

Check out more posts here!

Jesus Said, "Follow Me"

 

(Almost) every Monday I text a couple of groups of men. I call it "encouragement" because I figure that is what most of them (and I) need on a Monday morning. Many of these guys pour themselves out for their families, and their jobs during the week and their church on the weekends, and I want to try to pour a little back into them. 

I am also trying to be more disciplined in writing and blogging; so to kill-two-birds-with-one-stone so to speak, here is the Monday Morning Encouragement for this week: 

Good Monday morning men. A little encouragement from the Lord's word this morning. 

Yesterday we studied John 21:15-19, where Jesus forgave Peter and restored his faith. At the end of v.19 it says, John 21:19 NLT ... Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” These were the same words Jesus used when He first called Peter to be His disciple. Those two words (follow Me) reveal Jesus' love and grace. They are an invitation to a relationship, or in this case a continuing relationship. Jesus wanted Peter to continue in a relationship with Him, and stay close to Him. 

Sometimes when I sin and fail, I think the Lord is so disappointed in me that He wouldn't want to even be around me, much less want me to identify with Him. Nothing could be further from the truth. The problem with my thinking is that I focus more on myself and my failure than I do on Jesus and His grace. He reminds me that His grace is greater than any and all sin I have committed. Though there may be consequences for my sin and failure, one thing that never happens is that Jesus gives up on me and distances Himself from me. On the contrary, He comes to me, like He did Peter, and restores me and says, "Keep following Me." 

Jesus wants us to stay close to Him even when we have failed. What an amazing Savior!

Love you guys. Praying you have a blessed week!

If you'd like to be added to a text group (guys only 😉) you can comment on this post (only I will see it) and I will reach out to you to get your number (or just text me if you already have my number).

And sometime today, out loud and on purpose, praise the Lord! (DD)

FIVE ON FRIDAY - April 18

 

One of my goals is to be more productive with my blog. I have things I want to share, but I struggle with the discipline to write. My plan is to do better, and to post more regularly on my blog. 

I recently started receiving a weekly email from Tim Ferris, author and entrepreneur (check out his blog here). The email is called "5-Bullet Friday" where he shares short points of interest with his readers. To help get me started I am blatantly borrowing his idea and plan to make at least a weekly blog on Fridays of things from my life that I find interesting, and I hope you will too. So here goes ... 

1. BIBLE READING PROGRESS

I am using the YouVersion Bible App for my daily Bible reading and following a reading plan from The Bible Project (check out the plan here). This week's readings have been in 2 Kings 1-19. The nations of Israel and Judah are pretty much on a downward spiral and judgement from the nations of Assyria and Babylon is coming. The reading is like watching a train wreck about to happen - you know something bad is coming, but you just can't look away. 

2. BIBLE VERSE I AM MEMORIZING/MEDITATING ON

"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22 

Confession - I am guilty of "Yo-Yo" praying about my "burdens." That is, I throw them at the Lord in prayer, but there is an invisible string attached that brings them right back to me, so I don't really turn loose of control. Through this verse God is reminding me that it really doesn't work that way if I want Him to sustain me. The word "cast" in this verse literally means to "throw down" and turn loose of something. I'm learning to cut the string on the Yo-Yo, so to speak. 

3. BOOK I'M READING

"Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate" by Jerry Bridges. (NavPress, 2007). I'm about a third of the way into the book and Bridges has laid out a pretty compelling argument that Christians are hard on blatant sins (and sinners) like adultery, murder, false witness, etc., but tend to be soft on "respectable" sins like pride, unthankfulness, selfishness, anger, sins of the tongue, etc. It's a hard read because it hits so close to home. 

4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING

    From the above book - Bridges emphasizes the need for Christians to rely on the Holy Spirit not only to deal with sin, but to live a life that honors God: 

"Regardless of how much we grow, however, we never get beyond our constant need of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual life may be compared to the motor of an electric appliance. The motor does the actual work, but it is constantly dependent upon the external power source of the electricity to enable it to work. Therefore we should cultivate and attitude of continual dependance on the Holy Spirit." (pgs. 48-49)

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Shared by my friend (and Deacon) Dennis: 

A pastor interrupts his sermon to ask three men on the front row: "What would you want your friends and loved ones to say as they are looking down at you in your coffin?" 

Tom: "That I was a good husband and father." 

Bill: "That I lived a good life of kindness to others." 

Dan: "Hey look, he's moving!" 

A merry heart does good like a medicine ..."  😊

If you have any thoughts or ideas for future "Five on Friday" blogs, let me know. 

Have a blessed weekend! Hope to see you Sunday!

EASTER @ Grace Point

 

“From death came life, from sorrow came joy; this is the hope of Easter.” -Aloo Denish Obiero

Easter is the glorious foundation of our faith - we celebrate the most significant event in the history of our world, the resurrection of the Christ Jesus our Lord. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: 

17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 

1 Corinthians 15:17-22 NLT

Because of Jesus and the resurrection, we have hope and we have new life in Christ. 

Sunday morning we will celebrate the resurrected Lord beginning at 7:00 am with and Easter Sunrise service at Community Fellowship Church in Christ (515 Lakeshore Road, Talbott) I will be preaching and our worship leader, Lydia de Santos will be leading the music. Refreshments will be provided, and everyone is invited (bring your own camp chair)

At 9:00 am we will gather for worship at Grace Point. The message is titled "Why Do You Still Doubt?" and will focus on Jesus's interactions with Thomas following the resurrection. If you or someone you know has ever struggled with spiritual doubts, I encourage you to be there. 

Following the service, the kids will have their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Kids need to bring their baskets, but eggs will be provided. They will all receive Easter Treat Bags from Ms. Cecelia. Also following the service we will have a brief "finger-food fellowship" in the fellowship hall. We are asking our members to bring some light snacks for refreshments and it will give us an opportunity to fellowship while the kids are finding eggs. 

I believe we are going to have an amazing time of worship and fellowship on Easter Sunday. I hope you will plan to join us!

Monthly Prayer Focus: Relationships

Our prayer focus at church this month is relationships and our weekly verse is "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 This command is not just a suggestion, but a fundamental principle for all relationships.

Jesus' love is the ultimate example of how we should love one another. It is a selfless, sacrificial love that puts the needs of others before our own. This kind of love is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

When we love others as Jesus loves us, we create a ripple effect of love that can transform our relationships, our communities, and even the world. Love is the is the key to building strong and lasting relationships.

Love is a command from Jesus, it something we are to do, not just something we are to have. As you think about putting love into action, here are some questions for reflection: 

How can you love others as Jesus loves you?

What relationships in your life need more love?

How can you show love to those who are difficult to love?

As you think through those questions, remember that Jesus is not only our example of love, but through the Holy Spirit, He also empowers us to love as He does. 

Disciples Who Make Disciples: Defining Discipleship

 

The last words Jesus gave to His followers were

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

These words were the continuation of the first words that He had spoken to the men He called to be His disciples: And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17  ESV Jesus spent three years of His earthly life discipling His followers to be fishers of men. Following His commission, they went into all the world and made disciples, who made disciples, who made disciples, and the process continues today. And it will continue into the future, as we who are His followers now obey His command and make disciples of all nations. 

What is a disciple? 

According to Bobby Harrington at discipleship.org, there are three primary characteristics of a disciple. 

• He/she follows Jesus
• He/she is being changed by Jesus
• He/she is committed to the mission of Jesus

Discipleship.org uses the diagram at the beginning of this post is a visual way of showing how people grow as disciples:

• Head – in the mind the decision to follow Jesus has been made (now he/she needs to connect in discipling relationships)
• Heart – in discipling relationships we are changed by the Spirit to be more and more like Jesus (now he/she needs to minister to others)
• Hand – by our actions we actively committed to the mission of Jesus (now he/she needs to share the gospel and disciple others)

Being a disciple of Jesus is a "full-body" commitment. He demands nothing less than the all of us. Are you a disciple? 

Read the full article from disciplship.org here. 

Learning From the Little Ones

 

This coming Sunday we will continue our study of Luke 18 at Grace Point Church. The passage we are looking at is a beautiful teaching moment Jesus has with His disciples. Some parents were bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus, but His disciples stopped them from coming, thinking they would be bothering the Master. But Jesus corrects them and tells them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." (v.16). And then He makes this powerful statement, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (v.17)

Wow, that is a pretty significant statement: Unless you receive the Kingdom of God like a child, you aren't getting in. What is it about children that would cause Jesus to make a statement like that? What is He wanting us to learn from the little ones? 

In thinking about this passage, I think there are Four Childlike Characteristics that are important to Jesus, and He wants us to know: 

1. Total Dependence - The word that is used in v.15 for "children" is "brephos" and refers to a very young child, typically an infant or newborn. It can also refer to a pre-born baby in it's mother's womb. Luke uses the term for Elizabeth's unborn baby that leaps within her womb when the expecting Mary comes to her. In the Greco-Roman world, infants were often seen as the most vulnerable members of society, dependent entirely on their parents or guardians for survival. 

The point here is that entrance into God's Kingdom means that we are totally dependent on Him for our salvation. As Paul writes in Ephesians, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

B. Fearless Faith - Scientist tell us that we are all born with only two fears - the fear of falling, and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned as we grow, and sometimes the learning comes from hard experiences. Kids seem to have a fearless faith that they can do anything their minds imagine - anything from flying by jumping off a rooftop, or running across the road before the car can hit them. Parents have to teach kids safe boundaries, but in doing so, sometimes we instill a fear of failure or adventure into their lives. 

It is interesting that when Jesus called His first disciples, He didn't call them to develop a systematic theology, or a Robert's Rules of Order for obedience. He didn't even ask them to believe in Him in the beginning. He just said, "Come, follow Me ..." By nature, faith requires risk, and following Jesus implies movement. As Henry Blackaby says in his book Experiencing God, “You cannot stay the way you are and go with God.” We are called to follow Jesus with fearless faith. 

C. Innocent Optimism - I've never met a kid who was afraid to ask for what he/she really wanted. Infants have a way of letting their parents know when they need something even before they can talk. And once they start talking, they have no fear in asking for anything and everything. It comes natural to them. As they grow, they learn they can't have everything on the toy aisle, or everything in the commercials on TV and that life is hard and sometimes (most times) things don't go the way we think they should. It is easy to become jaded and lose our optimism. 

But Jesus tells us that our hope is not in the things of this world, but in Him. Jesus once told His disciples that it is hard for a rich person to get into heaven and His disciples were amazed and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) We worship and serve the God who can do anything, therefore we shouldn't be afraid to trust Him to do great things. As William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God."

D. Infectious Enthusiasm - This may be what I love most about kids - when something catches their attention, they act like it is the greatest thing in the world. I love Christmas because I get to see the wonder and amazement on the faces of my kids and grandkids. My grandkids are excited about their presents and gifts, and my kids are excited that their children are excited, and that excites me. It's infectious. When I see my grandkids playing enthusiastically with their toys, I want to join them (even if I don't understand the game, lol). 

Jesus tells His followers in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father." Letting our light shine means serving God with enthusiasm and joy, so that others can see God in us. Perhaps the worst witness for the Lord in world is a "Christian" who has lost his/her enthusiasm for the Lord and for His Kingdom. 

I'm sure there are more characteristics of children Jesus had in mind when He was teaching His disciples. These are just the ones that He brought to my mind. Feel free to share yours in the comments section below. 

Successful in Prayer

 

I just finished reading Roger Steer's book, "George Muller: Delighted in God," the biography of one of histories greatest men. I have read this book numerous times over the years because it is so inspirational (and convicting) to me.

George Muller (1805-1898) was a German pastor who moved to Bristol, England and founded the Ashley Down Orphanage as way to glorify God and show the world that God still answers prayer. In the life of his ministry, Muller asked only God for provision and supplies for the ministry and for his own personal life (he never took a regular salary from the church he pastored, or from the orphanage.) During his 70+ years of ministry, he provided care for more than 10,000 orphans, and stewarded what would today be more than 10 million dollars. That alone would be remarkable, but Muller also started the Scriptural Knowledge Institute (SKI) that established 117 schools worldwide which offered Christian education to more than 120,000 kids. SKI also provided financial and material support to many missionaries including Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission. AND in the later years of his life, at the age of 71 Muller and his wife began traveling for evangelistic preaching. In 17 years of evangelism, they traveled more than 200,000 miles and visited more than 20 countries preaching the gospel. All the funds needed for these ministries and more came in answer to prayer. (BTW, his ministry is still active today, you can learn more at georgemuller.org) 

His name has become a by-word for prayer and faith throughout the world, but Muller insisted that he was just an ordinary man who believed God answered prayer. And he believed that anyone could experience the same as he, if they would just pray as the Bible teaches us to pray. At the funeral of his friend Henry Moorhouse, George Müller outlined four conditions of successful prayer. 

1. We must pray in accordance with God's will. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIV Muller taught that if you were uncertain if a matter was according to God's will, you must pray about it until you are sure of God's will, and then pray according to God's will on the matter. 

2. We must not pray and ask on our own goodness and merit, but "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 NIV. We must not ask because we “deserve” it or have “earned” it. At this point, Müller emphasized the importance of regular confession of sin and repentance. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” “‘That is,’ he said, ‘if I live in sin, and go on in a course hateful to God, I may not expect my prayers to be answered.'”

3. We must ask in faith of God's power and His willingness to answer our prayers. 

"This is deeply important," Müller said. "In Mark 11:24 we read, 'Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' … I have found invariably that in the fifty-four years and nine months during which I have been a believer, that if I only believed I was sure to get, in God’s time, the thing I asked for." Müller offers proof of God’s power and love in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

4. Persevere! "We have to continue patiently waiting on God till the blessing we seek is granted." 

Müller said, “For observe, nothing is said in the text as to the time in which, or the circumstances under which, the prayer is to be answered. ‘Ask, and you will receive.'” We must keep asking, seeking, and knocking until we receive from the Lord the blessing He has promised. 

In his life, Muller recorded more than 50,000 answers to specific prayers in his prayer journal. More than 30,000 were answered within the hour or day in which they were asked, others weren't answered until after his death. But Muller believed God would and did answer all of his prayers. 

May we do the same!

HUMILITY AND PRAYER

 
At Grace Point Church we began the year with a couple of different emphases; first we returned to our study of the Gospel of Luke. We started studying through Luke all the way back in November of 2021, so we've been at it a little over 3 years. We've taken some brakes for different sermon series, but we started this year in Luke 18. Which contributed to our second emphasis - prayer. For the last couple of years we've started the year with 31 Days of Fasting and Prayer, and you can check out the Prayer guide for this year HERE. 

Luke 18 has a lot of Jesus' teaching on prayer. Last Sunday we talked about being Persistent in Prayer, Luke 18:1-8. To encourage His followers to always pray and not lose heart, Jesus taught a parable about an unjust judge and widow who wouldn't leave him alone until he gave her justice. Jesus taught that, if a widow can get justice with an unjust judge through persistence, HOW MUCH MORE will God's children who pray to Him regularly, receive "justice" quickly. God is a gracious Father who loves to answer the prayers of His people. 

This coming Sunday, Nick Oakes, one of our Elders, will be teaching on "Humility: The Prerequisite of Effective Prayer and the Dangers of Spiritual Blindness." He will be teaching on Luke 18:9-14, The Parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This will be one of the most important messages in our prayer emphasis. I encourage to plan to join us Sunday morning at 9:00am for the worship service. And get a head start on the study by checking out the SERMON STUDY GUIDE HERE.

31 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Focus on Fasting

 

 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

When you fast …

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us surrender ourselves to God by voluntarily abstaining from a physical need or activity for a time, in order to better focus our thoughts and senses on God. 

Guidelines for Fasting: 

1. Fast SYSTEMATICALLY. When Jesus taught His disciples about fasting, He began with the words “when you fast” (Matthew 6:16). Jesus expected that we would fast on a regular basis, whether one day a week or a portion of a day each week. In our "31 Days of Prayer and Fasting" we encourage people to set aside Fridays as a day of fasting, but if there is a better day for you, for with it. 

2. Fast SECRETLY. Jesus cautioned His disciples not to make a spectacle out of fasting like the religious leaders did. Don’t draw attention to yourself; act normal

3. Fast SENSIBLY. Don’t feel that you must fast for many days to be effective. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew” (pun intended). You may fast for a meal, or a day or a longer period, but don’t feel like you have to do a 40 day fast like Jesus did. If you aren’t accustomed to fasting, start slow, and allow God to lead you. Discipline takes practice and time.

4. Fast SACRIFICIALLY. By nature, fasting requires giving up something meaningful. If we normally do not eat breakfast it is not really a sacrifice to fast breakfast. A true fast must be a sacrifice. Doesn’t have to be food. Some are not able because of medical reasons, to fast from food. Social media, TV, sports, shopping. It really isn’t up to you to figure this out. Pray and ask God what He wants you to fast from. 

5. Fast SUPERNATURALLY. The very nature of fasting requires dependence on God’s supernatural power to see us through. You’re not in this alone, trust the Holy Spirit. When the early church fasted before sending out workers, the Bible says, “The Holy Spirit came” (Acts 13:2,3). We need God’s Spirit as we fast.

6. Fast SPECIFICALLY. Have a fasting focus. God said to Israel, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen?” (Isaiah 58:6). (Isaiah 58, note that fasting isn’t just about “doing without” it is also about blessing others.) We must ask God to direct us in the focus of our fasting.

7. Fast SENSITIVELY. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. When Israel fasted before a crucial battle, the Bible says they “inquired of the Lord.” (Judges 20:23; I Samuel 23) When we fast we should take special time to hear God speak. (Acts 13:1-2)

 The goal of this month of Prayer and Fasting is to draw nearer to God and listen for His guidance and direction in our lives. 

So when you pray

Do it to the Lord, not to be seen by others. Eliminate the distractions, and you don’t have to pray for hours on end - say what we need to and then listen to the Lord. 

And when you fast: 

We are going to have a plan, and we’re not going to draw attention to ourselves, but we are going to be sacrificial and give up something significant, and we are going to trust the Holy Spirit to guide us, and to give us a focus for our fast and we are going to listen for His voice. That is why we are doing this - we want to hear from God! God will speak in His own way at His own time, so we aren’t trying to manipulate God, but we are putting ourselves in a position so we can hear when He speaks. 

31 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Focus on Prayer

 

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matthew 6:5-8 NLT

Prayer is communicating with God. Prayer is talking to and listening to God. It really is that simple, but it is also incredibly essential for the Christian life. Martin Luther once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” The gospels record numerous instances of Jesus praying, and if Jesus felt the need to pray and He was the Son of God, how much more do you and I need to pray?

I know you know this, but the truth is that the average Christian isn’t very satisfied with their prayer life. In a 2019 survey, 14,000 Christians were asked to rate their satisfaction with their prayer life. Only 1% indicated they were very satisfied with their prayer life, while 11% indicated they were very dissatisfied with their prayer life. The majority of the participants gave their prayer life a 3 out of 10 on the scale. Most of us acknowledge that our prayer life needs a boost. So let’s look at some very practical instructions Jesus gives about prayer: 

When you pray …

1. Don’t pray to get attention - Jesus says, “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites” Who are the “hypocrites”? Religious people who want to draw attention to themselves.  They like to stand up in the synagogue and even on the street corners and pray loud prayers because they think other people will look at them and think they are super spiritual. But what is their reward? The applause and admiration of others, but not of God. Jesus said: Don’t do that. Don’t pray to get the attention of others. 

2. Eliminate distractions - go to your room and shut the door, pray in secret. He is teaching an important principle here. This isn’t just about not praying to get attention, this is also about eliminating distractions. How do you eliminate distractions? 

    a. Have a time - We are more consistent when you have a set time. Put it on your calendar or "to do" list as an appointment with God. 

    b. Have a place - Go where the distractions are minimal. Jesus says go to your room or "prayer closet" but it doesn't necessarily have to be inside; it might be a porch or quiet place in the woods.  Find a place where you feel peaceful and spend time in prayer. Also, remove technology - leave your phone in another room or turn it off while you pray. People lived thousands of years without the use of cell phones, you and I can live without it for a little while to focus on God. 

    c. Have a plan - Begin your prayer time meditating on Scripture. Use the 31 Day Prayer Guide for Scripture prompts, or any passage God has brought to your mind. Also have a pen and paper, and keep a list to pray over and write what you hear God saying. 

3. Pray briefly

    Not all prayer times have to be lengthy. Sometimes God may keep you longer in prayer, but don't feel like you have some time quota to meet. Also, avoid:

a. Vain repetitions - don’t use  “religious words” as magic formulas

b. Many words - don’t try to stretch it out for the sake of length. Say what you have to say and then listen

Prayer improves with practice. You don’t learn how to pray better from a sermon, or from a book. You learn how to pray better by praying. 

All to Jesus I Surrender - The Story Behind the Song

 

If you grew up in a traditional church, you undoubtedly sung many of the verses of the hymn, "I Surrender All." It was/is a staple of the invitation portion of church and revival services. Songs of personal commitment to Christ often stem from a particular experience in the life of the author. This is a good example.

The author of the hymn, Judson Van de Venter (1855-1939) was raised on a farm near Dundee, Michigan. After graduating from Hillsdale College, he taught art in public schools in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Van Deventer was active in his Methodist Episcopal Church, including participation in revivals held at the church. He had a heart for God and a passion to share the Good News with others. Based on his fervent faith and service to the church, friends encouraged him to leave his field of teaching and become an evangelist, but it took him five years to finally "surrender all" and go into full-time ministry. He writes of the experience: 

The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring. For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became and evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing. (Quoted by Kenneth Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories.)

After surrendering his all to the Lord, he joined the ministry of evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman. His ministry took him to various places in the United States, England, and Scotland. In his life he wrote around 75 hymns, but his most famous is also his most personal. Judson Van de Venter surrendered his all to the Lord, and the Lord is still using this man's works to impact the world for the kingdom of God. 

You never know what God will do through one moment of surrender!

Advent: Getting Ready for Christmas

 

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”  Galatians 4:4-6 NLT

What is Advent? 

Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas, and is a time dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent," of Jesus. It is also a season that Christians can use to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Christmas. 

Christmas is a time for joy, peace, and reflection. While the commercial aspects of the season can sometimes overshadow its spiritual significance, it's essential to take time to connect with the true meaning of Christmas. Here are some ways to spiritually prepare for this special time of year:

1. Reflect on the True Meaning of Christmas

Spend some time each day reading Scriptures related to the birth of Jesus in the Bible. The YouVersion Bible App (or Bible.com) has Advent/Christmas reading plans for this season. But don't just read the Scriptures, meditate and reflect on the significance of God sending His Son Jesus. Pray for understanding of the love of God shown through Christmas. 

 2. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is good for you ... always. The Apostle Paul writes, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT. Our Christmas season often gets consumed with consumerism; we're focused on buying gifts and keeping lists. Gratitude gets us refocused on the right things at Christmas. Even if you don't journal, take five minutes every day and write down 1-3 things that you are thankful for.  

3. Engage in Acts of Service

Christmas is about giving, but not just gifts. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave ... but He didn't just give a gift, He gave Himself to us at Christmas. Find ways to give yourself to others. Volunteer your time to serve in your church, or visit the less fortunate (i.e. nursing homes), offer to assist neighbors, family or others in any way you can. Practice "Random Acts of Kindness" for strangers, or someone you know, but do it anonymously. The main thing is to keep your focus outward instead of inward. 

4. Spend Time Daily in Prayer

Take time each day to pray, thanking God for this season to celebrate His Son, praying for your own personal focus in this season, and for others who may be hurting or less fortunate. Christmas is not always a happy season, especially for those who have lost loved ones recently. As you pray, ask God to show you ways you can encourage others. 

By incorporating these spiritual practices into your daily life, you can deepen your connection with the true meaning of Christmas and experience a more meaningful and fulfilling holiday season.

“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.” 

Mother Teresa, Love: A Fruit Always in Season

Contending with the Dark Side

Wednesday evening we began a new Bible study on forgiveness. To guide us in our study, we are using a book written by a friend of mine, Dr. Randall O'Brien, (who graciously provided the books for us). I had read the book several years ago, and was helped and encouraged by it.

The first chapter is "Understanding our Dark Side." By "dark side" Dr. O'Brien is referring to the carnal, sinful nature ingrained in every human being. The Bible calls it our "old man" and we all have one. Even those of us who have been saved still have to deal with the old nature. Even the Apostle Paul recognized he had dark side. In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul declares, "This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'—and I am the worst of them all." (NLT) Notice Paul doesn't say, "I USED to be the worst of them all," or "I WAS the worst of them all." He said "I AM the worst of them all" - present tense, active verb.

Paul also reveals his battle with his dark side in Romans 7:15-23. He wanted to do right, but didn't; he didn't want to do wrong, but he did. He even says there was a war going on within him (v.23).

The reality is saved sinners still sin. Though we should sin less, we aren't sinless (only Jesus achieved that status). So what do we do when our dark side flairs up and gets the best of us from time-to-time? How do we contend with our dark side? A few suggestions ...

1. Run to Jesus. Sin has separating effect on our relationship with God and the old man wants to run and hide when we've sinned and messed up. This has been true from the beginning (see Genesis 3). But don't do it; don't run from Jesus, run TO Him. Paul knew this. At the end of the confession of his battle with his dark side, Paul writes - "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 7:24-25 NLT) Even though his old man was undoubtedly wanting to run and hide like Adam and Eve in the garden, Paul knew that he had an advocate with the Father who had atoned for his sins, and he could run to Jesus knowing that he was forgiven.

The Apostle John writes: "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins..." (1 John 2:1-2a NLT) Jesus knows we will sin, He's accounted for it and He's already taken care of it. That's not a license to sin (note the first line of the above verse, "I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin"), but it is a recognition that the sovereign Lord of the universe isn't surprised by our sin, and He isn't discouraged by it, because He has already dealt with it. You can run to Him because He loves you, forgives you and restores you.

2. Give yourself some grace. I'm always harder on myself than anyone else. I don't know about you but I tend to dwell on my failures. I can still remember striking out in a Little League baseball game with two outs and two runners on base and the game on the line ... and I still feel bad about it. (I even remember the name of the guy who struck me out ... 44 years ago.) I also tend to dwell on my spiritual failures, and not only do I feel bad about them, I usually beat myself up over them.  I also have an accomplice that helps me with my self-abuse - the devil who is the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:9-11). He likes to help me beat myself up and tries to convince me that God is mad at me, and that I'll never change, and God could never love me or use me. None of that is true, of course, but it hurts.

In times like these when I get down on myself I have to remind myself that I am loved by God. And though He doesn't approve of my sinful behavior, He has already proven His love for me, and He has already forgiven me through His grace (see Romans 5:8). If God has forgiven me, and has shown me grace, I can have grace for myself ... and you can too. There is nothing you have done that would ever cause God to love you less. Your sin is dealt with on the cross and your forgiveness is secured by Christ ... so give yourself some grace. What happened has happened, and there is nothing you can do to change it, but you can move on from it in His grace.

3. Give grace to others also. Everyone has a dark side - that means every person you meet every day has the nature of sin and the potential for their sin to hurt you. When my "old man" slips out and I sin, it doesn't affect just me, it affects those around me as well ... and vice-a-versa. And just as I need grace from God, I need grace from others, and they need grace from me. If we aren't gracious toward others who have a dark side, we haven't fully understood the gospel. We forgive because we have been forgiven. We can love those who hurt us because we have been loved by the One we hurt the most. His grace is sufficient ...

Contending with our dark side is an ongoing war. Through Christ we will overcome and experience ultimate victory over the dark side (ours and THE dark side).  Even if we lose a battle every-once-in-a-while, don't give up, don't give in, and don't stop fighting the good fight of faith and grace. Contend with the dark side knowing that the outcome of victory is already secured.

#ThankfulThursday

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

As Paul is wrapping up his second letter to the church at Thessaloniki, he kind of creates this "punch-list" of things Christians should be doing, or at least that's what it seems like. It could be kind of a check-list that we could run through and check off. But the things he lists can't be done in a short time or even a day - these are lifetime practices. Really what Paul is describing is what should be the default setting for every follower of Christ, but Paul makes the list, because he knows (and God knows) we are a work in progress and need to be reminded and encouraged. 

In the heart of this punch list, Paul gives what I think is the Big Three - Always be joyful, never stop praying, and give thanks in every situation and circumstance. While I think they go together, it is the last one that Paul says is "the will of God in Christ Jesus for you all." They're all important commands, but Paul spotlights giving thanks as God's express will for our lives. 

I'm not sure we value the giving of thanks as God would have us to. As kids, we’re taught that “please,” and “thank you” are magic words— a formula that will compel adults to give us stuff. As an adult who follows Christ, I've treated the giving of thanks as a perfunctory duty, something I generally do before committing the sin of gluttony at the meal table. Even when I would read a "thanksgiving" passage in the Bible, I would just kind of skim over it and not really think about it. I trivialized the word “thanks” so much that it doesn’t stop me when I read it. I don’t think about what it means. 

The Bible makes a big deal about giving thanks. The word or concept is mentioned more than 200 times between the Old and New Testaments. There are several words that are used for giving thanks, but the two big ones are "yadah" in the OT and "eucharisteo" in the NT. 

Yadah is defined as "Acknowledging what is right about God in praise and thanksgiving" (Baker, Word Study Dictionary). In it's earliest form it meant to "throw or cast" with the hand. It came to mean expressing with words and actions, a deep appreciation for God and His goodness. I love the Hebrew definition of thanks because it is totally tied to who God is. The more we learn about God, the more we should praise and glorify Him.

Eucharisteo means "To show oneself grateful, to be thankful, to give thanks..." (Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary). It is formed from two Greek words - eu (good) and charis (grace), so literally it means expressing "good grace" or we could also say, "thanking God for His good grace."

What both of those words mean is is that giving thanks is not just a thought process or attitude, it is an action - we are to GIVE thanks, express our gratitude toward God, not just for what He does for us, but for who He is to us. Giving thanks not only recognizes God's goodness, but it spotlights His greatness of character and being. He is God and there is no other - give Him thanks and praise! 

Take some time to day to express in words, through prayer and maybe even writing, your gratitude to God for who He is and for all He has done for you!

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