Beside Still Waters

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." – Psalms 23:2

Sheep are fearful animals and have no way of defending themselves.  They are easily frightened, and can only lie down when they are 100% secure. David's analogy of lying down in green pastures," indicates that the sheep are not only secure, but are fully fed, satisfied and lying in tender grass. And because sheep are easily spooked, they will only drink from quiet, calm waters. They are 100% dependent on the Lord for everything.

When we as Christians fully surrender to His will, we understand for the first time that we are also 100% reliant on the Lord for everything. And when we submit to His leading, we realize just how dependent we are.  Among the things we depend on Him for are our health, clothing, shelter, food and "security."

> The Lord is my shepherd:  He is my provider

> He makes me lie down in green pastures:  He is my guide and protector

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

The Lord is "MY" Shepherd

Thank you very much to Pastor Michael Hailey for the inspiration behind this series. His teaching over the last several weeks has been something in which I have cherished, and found great comfort and knowledge.

Perhaps there is no scripture more widely read than Psalms 23.  If you are like me, unfortunately you associate these verses with funerals. But as I studied along with Michael's teaching, I realized this scripture, while offering comfort at times when we grieve, should really be giving us daily assurance as we live.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." – Psalms 23:1

While we focus on the word "shepherd," perhaps the most important word here is "MY." He watches over MY life.  Cares for me and meets MY needs.  He is MY protector and MY guide. His love for me while undeserved, is unquestioned, unwavering and unconditional.  So complete are His provisions, that I desire for nothing. I have everything that I need through MY shepherd.

Philippians 4:11 says, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..."

> The Lord is my shepherd:  He is my provider.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

One If By Land

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ – Ezekiel 33:6


One if by land, two if by sea."  Those are the famous words from Paul Revere's midnight ride.  A night in our country's history that marked a beginning point in our quest for independence.  Some may say, because of our complacency over the years, that we are again at a critical crossroad.  Here again is a clamoring, warning Americans to awaken.  General Jerry Boykin (of Black Hawk Down fame) is said by some to be a modern day Paul Revere.  The two links below are from a recent speech given by General Boykin.  You will need several minutes to watch both, but please accept my encouragement to do so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q2y4WOVuho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJzR-EoHdA

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

The Eve of Destruction

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” – Luke 12:48

This past weekend, while attending the Florida Homeschool Convention, I heard one of the speakers (Rick Green) say: "Whenever you give of what you've been given, you honor the giver of your gifts." He went on to speak on our responsibilities as citizens of our great country. Later on in the conference I attended two sessions headed by General Jerry Boykin. Echoing Mr. Green, General Boykin reminded us that "God's truth is real and self-evident. That freedom comes from God, and liberty is a gift from Him."

All of this got me thinking about the overwhelming odds that our founders overcame in order to give birth to our country. In the book "1776," author David McCullough does a masterful job at laying out just how bleak the chances for victory really were. And without the hand of providence, we, as a country, most certainly would not be here today.  

So how has the greatest country in the history of the planet, glorified God for all that He has given to us?  

Well, we have banned prayer from school and most sporting events (NASCAR, they are coming after you next!).  We have aborted 55 million unborn children. We forbid the teaching of Intelligent Design. The Ten Commandments are being removed from public display. We are abandoning Israel. And we have become embroiled in a battle between moral relativism and moral absolutes.

Have we grown so powerful that we no longer need God? Do we no longer believe God governs the affairs of man? Have we as Christians grown so complacent, that we allow the secular world to lead us around like sheep?  2 Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Friends, judging the state of affairs that we now find in America, perhaps we should return to our roots. Find humility. Fall to our knees and seek His face. God has entrusted us with much, and of us, He is expecting more.

http://www.kingdomwarriors.net

http://wallbuilders.com/

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Cheater Cheater

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" – Matthew 16:26

We all know people consumed with winning. They don't care who, or how they cheat, so long as they come out on top. In fact, they compromise and turn a blind eye to ethics, principles and morals for the sake of the win. It seems as though the way of the world these days, has more to do with the scam than it does with integrity. 

Tony Dungy is challenging young people to become "uncommon" young men and women. To win God's way. To find victory through strength in character. And as much as I have enjoyed his book "Uncommon," I got thinking about the sad truth of the book's title.  How telling is it, that the world has declined to a point where values such as honesty, ethics, integrity and character are considered uncommon.

I fear that my prayer for a world in which those things are "common," is a distant dream that I will only see on the other side.

Uncommon

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Lesson 5 to Live By

LESSON 5: Our life does have purpose.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

You've heard "can't see the forest for the trees." Sometimes we are just too close to our daily lives. So close that we just can't see the value we bring to the lives of those around us. Fact is, even the least of these enrich lives around them. It may be that through your encouragement, someone decided to keep a child rather than abort it. Maybe the work that you find so ordinary saves lives every day.  Or maybe the smile on your face each day gives someone the encouragement they need to make it through another day. Sometimes, it's the smallest things that have the greatest impact.  So it is...your life does have purpose.  Every life does.  You may just need to take a step back to see what it is.

Lesson 5 concludes this series.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  To learn where my inspiration came from, rent the movie "5 People You Meet in Heaven."  It just may change your life.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Lesson 4 to Live By

LESSON 4: Love is not lost with death. 

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

Because of sin, life on earth must end at some point, but love does not have to. A memory is love meant to dance forever. Something to hold on to. Something to be cherished. Death, while the end of life in this world, is not the end, but a brief goodbye. As we learned in Lesson 2, when we lose something, something else is gained.  To the believer in Jesus Christ, life lost here, is a life gained in eternity. Those we loved in this world, we will be with again in Heaven.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

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Lesson 3 to Live By

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Mark 11:25

LESSON 3: Let go of any anger and to forgive those for the damage they caused in your life.

Everyone gets angry from time to time. It's a normal human emotion. But when we can't let go, anger consumes our thoughts, and begins to destroy our lives. Our hearts harden, we become bitter, and joy is sapped from our daily existence. 

Make it a habit to allow the offenses of others to roll off your back like water on a duck. Historical anger is like a malignant tumor.  While its effects may go unnoticed at first, it will eventually be a painful, all-consuming death sentence to your soul. Let go of it and smile.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Lesson 2 to Live By

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." – Philippians 1:21

LESSON 2:  When we lose something, we gain something else. 

All endings are new beginnings.  The day we graduate from high school is the end of our youth, but the beginning of adulthood. The day we get married is the day we say goodbye to our single life, and begin a union with our spouse. The day our first child is born is the day our life changes forever. And the day we turn our life over to Christ is the day we die to this world, but are born into eternity.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Lesson 1 to Live By

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

LESSON 1: There are no random acts in life, and that all incidents are intertwined in some way.

Remember the benediction at the end of each Brand New Day entry?  "You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power."

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

A Betrayal of Biblical Proportions?

"I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  – Genesis 12:3  (The New King James)

In the context of this verse, God has commanded Abram to leave the land of his birth, promising to create a great nation through him, which we now know to be Israel.  As the passage continues, we learn of another promise God made.  And it is this promise that is the focus of the Brand New Day today.

There is only one way to interpret Genesis 12:3. God blesses the people (plural) who bless Abraham and his descendants (Israel), and will curse the person (singular) who cursed Abraham or his descendants, and the world would be blessed by the His people (the Jewish) people.

We learn in the Old Testament, of God's many rewards for obedience, and His severe punishments for disobedience. God's truth is His truth.  What was true 5000 years ago is true today. And for our announced betrayal today of Abraham's descendants, may God show mercy upon our country.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

A Worth Greater than Diamonds

"A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.." – Proverbs 31:10-15

...for my wife Melanie, and my mother Lynda.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Lost in Our Selfishness

"

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice" – James 3:14-16

In our world, we are often so centered in pride and selfishness, that we find no room for God in our hearts. It's all about us, how much stuff we can accumulate, and our position in life. It's not until God knocks us down a peg or two, that we begin to realize that we have all we need in Him.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.