Darkness Before The Dawn

"For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me". 
-Job 3:25

  Have you ever had a dark time in your life? I'm referring to a time when it seems that all that could go wrong does go wrong despite how much you pray.  Even the very things that you have feared happening actually do happen; and seemingly all at once.  When these times occur in our lives, (and they will come), our initial thought is to rigorously examine our own life.  You ask yourself "What could I possibly have done to bring such calamities into my life"? And soon you begin to scrutinize every move you've made in the last few days/weeks/ months.

  Very soon, the enemy will come in the form of doubt, self-pity, anger, fear, defeat, loneliness, confusion, rejection and self-condemnation.  Depending on the time of the day your thoughts could easily fluctuate between pressing through the situation and giving in.  It's not an easy place to be; in fact, it's sometimes so unbearable that your very breath feels as if it will be your last.  

  After hearing of several deaths of people she knew or who were close associations of other friends and family, my granddaughter remarked "I don't like this year. There are too many deaths".  She called it "A Haunted Year". 

  I personally believe in prayer.  For years I have witnessed the unrestricted and boundless power of my own prayers and many of my sincere and imperfect friends.  (I say "imperfect" because I try my best to only associate with "real" people; those who know of their imperfections but do not let them stand in the way of sincerely loving others, showing true empathy, are never judgmental and who have the most astonishing sense of loyalty, friendship and understanding.  These friends are not religious in any fanatical sense and they always seem to have the ability to love people when others have turned away. 

  If I were to divulge a brief synopsis of my own life it would include many of the things mentioned above. I have seen and felt dark days and gut-wrenching pain brought on by false associations and those with the express knack for usury; both mental and physical.  But I have not been drowned.  When my soul had become overwhelmed God reached out his hand to me; often in the form of one or more of those wonderful people I call FRIEND.

  Today, I wish only to encourage you to hold on throughout your storm, your test, your trial.  "Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you". (James 4:7).  People will attempt to make you believe that there are no true friends left in this mean world.  I tell you the truth when I say that God has 7,000 who has not bowed down to the devil. (Romans 11:4).

  Love deeply.
  I love you all,
  Dennis

  

  

    

  

Letting Our Hearts Affect Our Prayers

  

"Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth." Colossians 3:2

  Today, after eating lunch in my home, I closed off all interruptions from the outside world, (television, cell phone), and purposed to devote some time to reading and studying my Bible. I desired to read something light and encouraging; something that would make me "feel good" because sometimes I simply get tired of being alone and of hearing all the depressing news reports, dealing with negative people and the silence around me. (Did you know that it is possible to have the t.v. on or the radio blaring and still not hear a thing)?  I had a moment of prayer and then opened my Bible to the book of Daniel.  "Too deep", I thought too myself. "I'm not in the mood to go there right now".  I prayed again and this time I opened my Word to the Book Of Revelations.  "Oh, my Lord", I exclaimed, "Can't a brother get some joyful reading in this morning"?  Insistent on finding a "happy" verse of scripture I prayed a third time.  As I opened my Bible I found myself in the book of Ezekiel chapter 14.  More prophesy and deep revelations. "Okay Lord", I thought, "Thy will be done", and I proceeded to read.

  Have you ever heard sayings such as "The best leaders/people/friends a person can have are those who have actually been through some hard times,  (or have made similar mistakes to yours), because they know what your situation feels like".  These people are usually not judgmental concerning your own shortcomings and/or failures and often will have winning advice to share with you. Sadly, this is not true of all persons who have fought their way out of a pit because many forget where they have come from once they reach the top.  These same folks can be found in our churches, in our places of employment, in our communities, and yes; even in our very homes.  They appear to have it all together. They may have risen to positions of power, prestige and authority in these aforementioned environments. On the outside they smell of success, they possess the finest wares, they seem to have no failures or weaknesses. 

  In Ezekiel 14:1-10 the prophet was approached by such people; a group of elders whose hearts were consumed with false idols, (an idol is anything or anyone in our lives which we put above God), to receive a Word, (a prophesy, blessing, advice), from God through the prophet. 

  Knowing the hearts of all men, God said “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the Lord, will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves.  I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.'  (Ezekiel 14:3-5)

  God went on to warn the prophet, himself, that if he, (or any man of God), would prophesy goodness to such persons out of respect for them they would suffer the same fate as those whom they prophesy to falsely.  What a lesson. 

  Recently we have been inundated with news of prosperity preachers shamelessly prostituting the Word of God for their own personal gain. They preach a new age doctrine which teaches that all who call on the name of the Lord should be living a life of wealth and unimaginable riches.  This preaching directly contradicts Jesus who said "The poor you will always have with you.." (Matthew 26:11).  

  Do not cease to aspire to live well by way of promotions, advancements, or education. Do not stop trying to look your best on Sunday or any other day of the week. Don't ever let anyone convince you that having fine things is an abomination towards God. Just as it is not a sin to want or have money, the sin comes when we begin to LOVE the money, (or any of these other things). When this is done, we have set our affections on things and not God's people. Our designs in life become self-centered, greedy and out of the will of God and before one realizes it we no longer love as God loves. 

  I suppose it's not always a "happy" message we need to hear, but my reading today has, indeed, made me glad.

  Help make someone's life better by first being true to yourself and by being true to them.  I've tried it, (as have some of you), and I can openly tell you there is no way that one love love the things of this world and love God equally. (1 John 2:16-17).
 I love you all,
 Dennis  

Carrying Around An Unnecessary Burden

"Throw the whole of your anxiety upon Him, because He Himself cares for you"

1 Peter 5:7

  Years ago, (when I was in the Army and stationed in Germany), I met a young man who attended the church my family and I attended on one of the local kaserne's, (Army bases).  I had previously noticed how he faithfully attended Sunday service and Bible study and often Sunday School. There were occasions when he would also travel with the church across Germany as we went to fellowship with other congregations within our faith. He and I eventually became somewhat good friends.  I was a young minister at the time and I once asked him if he had decided what ministry he wanted to become involved with within the church.  He stated that he was quite content just attending the church and contributing to the cause monetarily. 

  As our friendship progressed the subject came up again as to why he did not desire to find a meaningful place in the ministry of our church  He then confessed that some years ago his grandmother had become desperately ill; near the point of death. He told me how he went to God in fervent prayer and pleaded for the life of his beloved grandmother. He promised God that if He would allow his grandmother to live that he would turn away from the riotous and self-serving life he was living and go to church at every opportunity. 

  God was faithful and his grandmother made a miraculous recovery; perhaps because of his prayers or because of the sheer mercies of God, I do not know.  My friend went on to say that he believed that if he did not hold up his side of "the bargain" that God would not keep His and his grandmother would be taken from this life. 

  I lost contact with my friend after my time in Germany was served. I sometimes wonder if he still is attending church under his deal with the Lord.  I do not fault him, or anyone else, who is "stuck" in such a situation with God. After all, it is what we have learned to do through erroneous teachings of things passed down to us through generations or perhaps from within the very church(s) we may attend. 

  My friends, God is not a God of 'bargains and side-deals'. He is not like a mafia member with whom you made a deal with in some dark alley and now threatens to break your knee caps because you are now not able to uphold your end of the deal.   2 Timothy 2:13 states "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for he cannot deny Himself." In other words, our faith may fail in a particular thing; we may even find that our previous resolution we made to God is too much for us to uphold so we stay in church and go through the motions; devoid of any real power in Christ.  The faith and promises of God never wanes. What we may have, our success or even our ability to succeed is not based on our promises or vows we make to God but rather because of His promises to us.  If you, or someone you know, is living a life serving God but are doing so under shame or conviction or because of a vow you once made but are now unable to keep, I want you to know that God did not give it to you. God wants us to serve Him in freedom and in peace of mind.  Today, be free.

 I love you all,
 Dennis

The Beginning Of My Extra-ordinary Year

Photo by Sparky Jones, Fairbanks, Alaska

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

  Today was a quiet day for me. I stayed up rather late last night watching television and stayed in bed for hours this morning. Sometimes I get out and move about the city to keep myself entertained so as not to become a recluse. There was a time when I would wrap myself in my loneliness and excommunicate myself from the outside world; always cognizant that I was alone and without the constant company of a friend to talk to, to eat with or to go see a movie with. In 2015 I have vowed to have a different mindset. I vowed that I would love my own self and to stop looking for others to love me; to validate me, to make me smile. I did this greatly today. I cooked for myself and enjoyed my company. A friend reached out to me and we talked for long hours on the telephone, (something else that I do not regularly do), and I enjoyed it because the conversation brought me no pressure. 

  This morning I awoke with an anticipation that was different from the previous day. I immediately lubricated my insides with the bottle of water at my bedside and gave thanks to God for another day. I felt famished so I went into the kitchen and prepared myself a breakfast of pancakes and turkey sausage with orange juice. Loneliness was nowhere to be found.

  I turned on my music, I cleaned my house, I danced, sang, shaved, showered and dressed with expectation.  

  Later I went out to take care of some business locally and while I was out I received a call on my cell phone. Recently I had mailed a copy of my CD In My Father's House to Bobby Jones Gospel headquarters in Nashville  Tennessee. ( I included a handwritten note to Dr. Bobby Jones asking him to please help me with my singing career. Hey, you have not because you ask not). 
 The representative on the phone was calling to tell me that they had, indeed, received a copy of my CD and asked if I would be interested in participating in the Bobby Jones new Artist Showcase in Nashville on February 28th.  Inwardly I was shouting praises to God as I exchanged information with the gentleman on the phone.

  What can I say other than " Our God is an awesome God". I have spoken and affirmed every day that this year will be my extra-ordinary year. By the power of Christ within me I am breaking every chain, losing every naysayer, believing in the impossible and accepting the inheritance He has laid out for me. My heart is full of love for those who have continued to stand and pray with me and have not chosen to abandon me when my decisions and actions were not to their liking. It is those true and sincere friends who have given me the courage to boldly come before the throne of grace and, once again, obtain mercy. I am surrounded by true love. I am blessed to know real fellowship. 

  I do not stop at this latest blessing. I am bold enough to have faith in even greater things and I anticipate presenting you all with another praise report soon. I will keep you updated to the best of my abilities. Continue to pray for me as I do for you.

I love you all,
 Dennis

Thoughts After Breakfast

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi

  Sometimes my breath is taken away; not from doing an exorbitant amount of physical activity, but rather from thoughts and memories that resurface in subtle ways either in my sleep or during my waking hours.  I am sometimes amazed as to how much I have seen and done in my 57 years of life on this earth. Granted, it isn't nearly as much as some have experienced throughout their own lives, but to me it's monumental. 

  This morning, after breakfast, I sit here in my bed not knowing exactly what I want to write but at the same time my mind is full of thoughts. Although I have known God and many things of God I still cannot keep up with Him. He is continually blowing my mind with signs and wonders that are too deep for me to even begin to fathom.  The only true solace I have as I blindly follow Him in faith is the assurance that he will never leave me nor will he ever forsake me. In His presence I have experienced both riches and poverty, pleasure and pain, sadness and joy, fellowship and loneliness, love and betrayal.  Throughout the gamut of these circumstances I have found no better place to be than in His shadow where I know I will suffer no harm. 

  As I write these affirmations the sun outside has burst through my bedroom window in a most spectacular way. It's as if God is saying "I am here and I will warm your heart with my presence and I will dash your fears with my promises".  Suddenly I can vividly see my lack become plenty. I see my needs met and my desires fulfilled. I feel my body regenerating and my mind rising above the clouds. My five senses are more attuned than they have ever been and I crave no substance that is harmful or a detriment to my body. God is continually rebuilding me where I have been torn down. His work is so meticulous within me that it reaches down to my most base emotions. 

  It has been said that the greatest fear is the fear of change. This is true and it is also the reason many never rise above a mediocre and mundane existence. They stay with what is safe and with what is familiar; not willing to break the generational cycle of normalcy that has been demonstrated in their lives for generations.  I recently began eating foods that I have always considered to be distasteful or unpleasant to the eye. I avoided these foods for decades; primarily because they were not the foods that I grew up eating as a child.  By accepting this change in my diet I have realized just how much I had been depriving myself of the abundance of richness contained in these foods.  I now break the chain of normalcy, complacency and comfort in my whole life.

  Be brave today. Be bold and be daring. Be willing to step outside of the norm and try new things; exciting and different things. Do not allow anyone to keep you contained in a box. He who the Son sets free is free, indeed.

I love you all,
Dennis