Word of the Week - Mammon

But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  1 Timothy 6-10As a believing American businessman who works in the financial services industry where value, profit and success are mostly measured in the currency of money, this verse is sobering but also quite refreshing. Sobering in the sense that we are all susceptible to the temptation of lacing our hope in the things of this world with a foacus on money as the means to that end; therefore, we must proactively guard our hearts from this human condition that I believe is part of our nature.  Refreshing in the sense that at the end of the day we will leave this world the same way we entered it, with nothing; thus, all that really matters are things of eternal value which we know have nothing to do with temporal possessions and wealth but have everything to do with eternal things of God and people (relationship), which last forever.If the “love of Money” is the root of all evil then what does that really mean.  “Love of money” is synonymous with the word Mammon which implies we idolize and worship money and materialism such that we put our faith in money believing that money will meet our needs and make us happy.  On the surface this sounds extreme but if we truly evaluate our hearts it is not hard to understand how we might find instances of Mammon in our lives, at least it is for me.  So love of money or Mammon is the alternative to faith in God’s grace and provision.  It is faith in future human and material resources – the kind of thing you can obtain or secure with money.  Therefore the love of money, or trust in money, is unbelief in the promises of God.  Jesus said during the sermon on the mount that “No one can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and money (Mammon)” Matthew 6:24.  Because of the value system of our world and the way our financial system is organized it is easy to fall into this trap.  The truth of the matter is that we are all susceptible to this temptation and must be keenly aware of the trap so we can work to build protection in our lives.  So how do we reject the spirit of Mammon and find godliness with true contentment when it comes to dealing with money and wealth?  Paul gives us the key in verse 1 Timothy 11 “ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith.” I think the key is to take an offensive stand and proactively pursue the things of God along with some other key strategies outlined by Paul in the book of 1Timothy that I found to be well-articulated by Pastor Larry Stockstill in his daily devotional:Paul taught Timothy three vital truths about money/finances:

• First, he taught him that the love of money can be dangerous to one's spiritual health. Money itself is not evil, but the love of money is a dangerous deception that can lead even to being drawn away from the faith. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9.  The proper attitude toward money must be one of contentment. As we live our lives, we must be thankful for what we have, not always wanting what we don't have. “
• The second truth is that God desires to bless us. He "richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17). God is not a taker- He's a giver! He longs to bless us for our enjoyment. ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17
• The third truth Paul shared regarding money is the principle of giving, which is the true antidote to the spirit of Mammon. He urged Timothy to instruct the rich to remember to use their earthly wealth for doing good, thus laying up an eternal reward in heaven.  ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19

As we proactively invest in God’s Kingdom Work we will be protected from the spirit of Mammon and our investment will be multiplied back to us in the life to come. Let's use our money as a tool for eternal investment, and one day we will see it again as “Treasures in Heaven”.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Difficult People

What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but don’t get it.  You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want.  You quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask God.  James 4:1-2

I don’t know about you but dealing with difficult people is one of the biggest challenges in my life.  I am convinced it is part of God’s perfect plan to put difficult people in our lives to test us and help us grow and become more Christlike.  I believe this is what God calls sanctification.  Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, you will have to deal with difficult people in life.  So what does God’s word say about dealing with difficult people?  I can assure you that God’s ways are not our ways, in fact from my perspective, God’s ways seem to be quite counter-intuitive.  That being said, I am convinced by my experiences on this topic that God’s ways are much better than my natural inclinations and surely much more purposeful and life giving.  The bottom line is that we can only change what how we respond and act towards others, so it is more about us then it is about them.  In fact, I think we need to continue to ask the question to ourselves if we might just be the “difficult person”.I heard a recent message by Pastor Chris Hodges on what God’s word instructs us about dealing with difficult people:

• First, He tells us to Overlook offenses.  “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense”.  Proverbs 19:11
• Second, He tells us to Pray for them.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44  
• Third, He tells us to Forgive them.  “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”  Colossians 3:13
• Fourth, He tell us to Bless them.  “Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult.  But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing”. 1 Peter 3:9
• Finally, He tells us to do Good to them.  “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written;  “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, “ says the Lord.  On the contrary:  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. “Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21

I am convinced that the only way we can even come close to walking this out in our lives is by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is that if we truly receive and comprehend what God has done for us, then we will have the capacity to love and bless difficult people.  Since we have been forgiven much we have the capacity to forgive much.  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us”. Ephesians 4:31-32We are blessed so we can be a blessing, especially to those that are most difficult because it is the Kindness of the Lord that leads us/them to repentance.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Freedom in Christ

This is a word from my good friend Jesse May who along with the Holy Spirit inspired me several years ago to start writing my Word of the Week. He sends out a “Word of the Day” and last Thursday when I received this it was exactly what I needed so I wanted to share it with you this week in my “Word of the Week”.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Thought for the Day: "Freedom in Christ is something that we all search for and long to have in our lives.""Scripture shows us that when sin entered the world, it brought these three cages along with it: fear, pain, and shame. We are all broken in these areas. We have fears that paralyze us, pains that defeat us, and shameful thoughts that distort who we truly are in Christ.The good news is Christ gave us keys to get out of these cages! Faith. Hope. Love.Faith to believe who we truly are in Christ demolishes our shame. Hope to persevere through our pain. Love that casts out all fear.We may find ourselves coping in a life guided by fear, pain or shame: We keep secrets. We wear masks. We believe lies. However, a life of faith, hope, and love is characterized by the opposite — trust, transparency, and God’s truth!Prayer: "Thank you, God, for not giving me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-discipline. In your name, Jesus, I ask you to remove the power of fear, pain and shame in my life. Help me not be tangled up in them but to break through to the true freedom found in the faith, hope and the perfect love you've give me." Amen (Greg Gackle - Life Church)Have a great week walking in the Freedom of Christ Jesus through Trust, Transparency and God’s Truth….-Duane

Word of the Week - Graciousness

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6Solomon taught that wise men speak graciously, but fools destroy themselves with their words (Ec 10:12). While he attached the critical adjective “odious” to women, he attached “froward” to men. A froward man is difficult, harsh, obnoxious, perverse, and unreasonable; he is the opposite of gracious. Kings delight in righteous speech (Pr 16:13), for they want counselors and ambassadors that advise and represent them well. Solomon highly praised pleasant words. Graciousness begins with a pure heart. Bitterness, envy, or strife in the heart is from the enemy of our soul, and leads to all sort of confusion and evil (James 3:14-16). A man’s speech reflects his heart (Luke 6:45), so you must keep your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23). If your heart is cheerful, contented, forgiving, kind, and thankful, you will think gracious thoughts. We must reject all sinful thoughts of bitterness, envy, evil surmising, malice, or revenge.  A pure heart produces gracious speech. Paul said, “Let your speech be always seasoned with grace” (Col 4:6).  Graciousness is wonderful character trait. A gracious person is often described as a beautiful or charming person. Whether man or woman, graciousness makes a person delightful, pleasant, and winning. It is a rare and sweet pleasure to meet one. And this trait is most clearly shown by excellent speech. You will meet very few in life; they will have great reputations; they will warm your soul; and you will crave their company.  Lord create in me a pure heart and renew in me a steadfast spirit so I can have a full portion of your graciousness to dispense from my inmost being.-Duane

Word of the Week - Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

In the busyness of the world we live in that seems to be moving so fast with all of the technology that is constantly bombarding us from every direction, the idea of Rest seems elusive.  There is no doubt that most of us are stressed and worn out because we are so busy and we don’t really know how to Rest.  “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.” Psalm 127:2  We think we can find Rest in more sleep, time off or vacations; even though these are good things that we all need to remain healthy, the Rest that is referred to in Matthew 11 above is a much deeper level of Rest that is needed for our souls to be refreshed and restored.So what is this “Rest” that the Lord is referring to in Matthew 11 and how can we receive it.  It starts with salvation and knowing deep within our being that we are safe and secure in Christ as a child of God.  Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”  Our souls long to know that we are safe and secure in God our Father similar to a child’s longing to know that he or she is under the loving protection and security of parents.  This brings a deep sense of security that allows to experience a deeper state of Rest.  We also find true Rest by putting healthy and intentional boundaries in our lives so that our souls have space to Rest and be refreshed.  This is the principle of Sabbath that is contrary to how the world operates but is truly a key to finding real Rest.  “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God”. Exodus 20:8-10.  God our Creator, designed us with the Sabbath in mind for our own good, and we will only find true rest and perform at our best if we adhere to God’s design and embrace the Sabbath.  The idea of Sabbath is that we stop and don’t engage in our “vocational work” for one day a week.  During our Sabbath day of Rest, we would engage in feeding our body, mind, soul and spirit with good healthy and godly things that refresh us.  Going to church on Sunday is just one of these things, but the Sabbath principle is much broader than church attendance.  It should include time for prayer, study, exercise, fellowship, enjoying family and recreation/hobbies.  Most importantly having space between your work and your soul life.  Finally, we find true Rest when we live with purpose and significance.  If we truly understand why we are on this earth and have an eternal God perspective then we can find Rest in knowing and trusting that God “works all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.  This gives us a deep sense of security and Rest even in the trials and storms of life.Psalm 23 is an amazing scripture that exudes the idea of Resting in God even in facing the trials and tribulations of life.“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”I pray the Lord gives you a wonderful day of Rest and you will experience the deep Rest that comes from knowing and walking with the Lord Jesus. Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Righteousness

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14

The Righteousness of God is one of the most powerful attributes of God but it is also one of the most elusive and misunderstood.  Put simply God is Righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu) and only through Him can we be made right and possess godly Righteousness.  By His very nature and essence, God is the standard for Righteousness.  In our culture, we have this idea that Righteousness is some sort of group consensus or personal view on what we think is fair and equitable measured against our own man made rules and laws; or even more concerning, the interpretation of the law by a human judge or court.  It is only through God’s word that we can understand true godly Righteousness, for God’s Word is the foundation of His Righteousness.While the most common Old Testament word for just means ‘straight’, and the New Testament word means ‘equal’, in a moral sense they both mean ‘right’.  When we say that God is just, we are saying that He always does what is right, what should be done, and that He does it consistently, without partiality and prejudice.  God’s Righteousness is the natural expression of His holiness.  He is infinitely pure thus opposed to all sin, and that opposition to sin must be demonstrated in His relationship with us, His creation.  Richard Strauss defines Righteousness in relation to men as our conformity to God’s standard.  Unlike men, God is not subject to anything outside of Himself, He is the standard.The reality of mankind is that we were not capable of adhering to the standard/law of the Old Covenant and thus God in His Righteousness and amazing love and grace sent His son Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be covered by the Righteousness of Christ and have the opportunity for fellowship with our Holy and Righteous Father in Heaven.  We are only made Righteous before God and man by taking on the nature of God and allowing His Righteousness to become alive on inside of us through repentance and fellowship with the Lord Jesus.  Jesus taught that true Righteousness is not that which men regard as Righteous based upon external appearances, but that so judged by God based upon His assessment of our hearts.  “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” Luke 16:15Most importantly, God reveals His Righteousness to redeem us to Himself because He loves us and deeply desires for us all to come to repentance and have salvation.  “The Lord has made know His salvation; He has revealed His Righteousness in the sight of the nations.  He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  Psalm 98:2-3.Thank you Lord that you are our Righteousness!!!!!!!!!!Have a great week..-Duane

Word of the Week - Willing Spirit

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

So what exactly is a Willing Spirit?  When it comes to our walk with the Lord, being positioned to say “yes” to what God has for us and where God is leading us, knowing that He loves us as a good Father and has our best interest at heart.  If you have children, you can definitely understand and relate to this concept.  There is nothing more challenging than a child that is defiant and lacks a Willing Spirit.  This is simply difficult and not in the best interest of the child or the family but for some reason, which is typically due to a skewed perspective, a child can create their own demise by not being willing to take the lead from parents. Parents typically know what is best and have the child’s best interest at heart but they cannot help the child if the child is not willing to be helped, especially as kids become teenagers and young adults. Similarly as children of the living God, we tend to think we know better; therefore we don’t have a Willing Spirit” and we choose to go our own way, which always leads to less than the best outcome.King David knew that his posture towards the Lord was key to his blessing from the Lord.  Knowing that God alone is our source, we must position our hearts and minds to receive what God has for us and be open and willing vessels, with the “Yes Lord” on the inside.  The verses prior to the one above help us understand how to posture ourselves to receive what God has for us “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”  Psalm 51:10-11.  This shows David’s dependence upon the Lord and his deep desire for God’s presence in his life, knowing he could not even trust his own motives but needed the Holy Spirit within him.  I pray that we will posture ourselves to allow God to grant us a Willing Spirt so we can receive all that God has for us; for He has great things in store for each of us.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Have a great week…-Duane

Word of the Week - Hardships

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

In last week’s Word of the Week I shared how God Comforts us in times of trouble, because He loves us and desires to strengthen us in times of trial to encourage us to press forward toward His divine plan for our lives.  Through these trials we continue to be sanctified and become more Christlike, which is an important part of God’s plan for us.  He promises to always be there with us because He knows that the journey of a follower of Christ is one of Hardship.  No one experienced this greater than Saint Paul; you have to love and admire his almost unfathomable determination and perserverance in some of the most challenging of circumstances.  He was only able to do this because he was so clear about his mission in Christ and the reality of the end goal.  He also clearly understood the implications and what was at stake for the balance of eternity, he had a clear sense of urgency and purpose.  The following verse really shows Paul’s heart and clarity of understanding of what God had called him to undertake in His calling and mission to advance God’s Kingdom on earth for the good of all God’s children.  By the way, Paul endured his Hardships with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you,  and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;  through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;  sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”  2 Corinthians 6:1-10This is a challenging message and probably not a refrigerator verse for most of us, but the reality is that when we sign up on God’s team as followers of Christ, we are also signing up for an everlasting adventure that will be very challenging and require everything, our all and all.  It is like joining the Special Forces, you are part of the world’s most elite military forces; it is not for the faint of heart and will require you to be all in and willing to give everything, yes even your life, but the reward far outweighs the cost.  The key is that we have clarity of our mission, vision and purpose in Christ then we will have the internal peace and fortitude to press on through the trials of life knowing that the eternal reward far outweighs the short term pain and Hardships that we will endure.^“ Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12-14 So be encouraged and press on through your Hardships knowing that there is purpose in the pain and we are overcomers and ultimately victorious in Christ. We are on the winning team…By the way, God is with us through it all and so are fellow believers if we invite them to walk through the Hardships with us.  Remember that we all face Hardships and we are not in this alone.  They only last for a while and then the joy come.Hope you and your family have a blessed Labor Day and great week. -Duane

Word of the Week - Comforter

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  2 Corinthians 1: 3-7

Regardless of your status or circumstance, in this life we all experience tough times that create distress, fear, anxiety pain and dis-ease.  In fact, one of God’s promises to us is that we will have trouble “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.  The good news is that as followers of Christ we have victory due to His work on the Cross.  But He does not stop there, He goes much further and tells us that in the midst of our troubles and pain He desires to be with us and Comfort us.  Just like a good earthy father would do to a son or daughter who is facing difficult circumstances in life, our heavenly Father desires to Comfort us when we are facing trials and feeling pressed and trapped.  As part of His design He gave us Himself in the three persons of God (Trinity), the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  God’s Holy Spirit literally means – Great Comforter.As follower of Christ it is critical that we know and understand that God deeply desires to be with us and Comfort us in all situations and circumstances of life but especially when we are going through the difficult and fiery trials in life.  Suffering is an inevitable part of our Christian life that gives us an opportunity to learn and experience the gentle and loving hand of our great Comforter. God desires to meet our every need if we simply invite Him into our situation and surrender to Him our circumstances and trust in His provision.  In doing this God can literally turn dire and hopelessness into Hope and life giving encouragement.  This is the work of God.So why would God allow us to suffer in the first place?  That is what is so amazing about God our Father, He cares more about developing us in His purpose so He uses the trials we face in life to show us His love and kindness in order to help us grow more faithful and dependent upon Him, for a much bigger God purpose.  In our trials, if we turn to God and depend on His strength in our weakness and vulnerability, we can truly experience His tangible peace and Comfort.  This is how we experience God in His supernatural ability and our faith increases.  He also does this to align us to His divine plan for all humanity; for us His children to become His hands and feet to give Comfort to those in need; in doing so, we become ambassadors/disciples of His peace and Comfort to show the tangible Love of God.  “It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance”  Romans 2:4  This allows God to use us to love and Comfort our fellow believers and bring Good news of the Gospel to those who are lost who don’t know Christ and need salvation.  Finally, at the most intimate level, God allows us to share in His suffering so that we can relate with at some level how He suffered for us, which leads us to rejoice in the reality of our salvation and hope in Christ.  We would never be able to appreciate the reality of what Jesus endured if we did not know suffering and the hope of redemption.  Without suffering there is not an opportunity to be Comforted.So when we are pressed, depressed, suffering, or in despair – let’s remember to turn it over to God and seek Him for Comfort. Let’s Worship and praise Him in the midst of our pain when we feel like we are locked in to a narrow, dark place - - Let’s remember, as Christians we can receive Comfort from the highest source. And when He gives us peace and Comfort let’s share it with others.  And finally, let’s rejoice in our suffering and Comfort because we understand that we have a seat at the table and are co-laboring with Christ.By the way, I received an immeasurable amount of Comfort from the Lord this week in a very dire situation, which is why I am sharing this with you😊.Have a great week….-Duane

Word of the Week - Truth

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Last week’s “Word of the Week” was about the power of our Thoughts and how important it is to feed our minds a daily diet of divine food, so we can experience the fullness of God.  I also shared Philippians 4:8, where Paul is instructing us on how to think and proactively manage our thought life “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such thing”.  The first thing he mentions in his list of things to think about is Truth – he says to think about “What is True”.  So what is Truth?Webster defines Truth - as most often being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard.  As Christians our faith is founded on biblical Truth, the original standard, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and all Truth comes from Him and through the Bible – the Living Word of God.  The truth of the matter is that we have to fully accept God at His Word to know Truth in order to receive the full benefits of our faith.  We cannot believe some of what God says, we have to believe and receive all of Him and His Word and Truth.  As human beings this can be very hard for us because much of the Truth does not make sense or resonate with us, we simply don’t understand.   If you step back for a second and realize that God is God, the Creator of heaven and earth and we are simply people, His creatures that He made in His image for His purpose; it does not take long to realize that we may not understand many things of God because His ways are not our ways and His ways are higher and not fully comprehensible to us.If you believe that God’s Word is absolute Truth then you will know and experience the power and freedom in seeking, discovering and knowing the Truth.  We also understand from God’s Word that we live in a fallen world and have any enemy of our souls who is literally out to destroy us through perverting the Truth through lies.  The Devil is the father of lies and deception – anti-Truth.  “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies”  John 8:44  Our enemy desires to destroy us by keeping us in the dark and away from the Truth.  God came to bring Truth and light so we can overcome our adversary and be set free to live in the fullness of Christ and do what God has called us to do.  “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32So as believers what how do we walk in the freedom of the Truth?  We seek God and His Truth with all of our heart.  We have an offensive and defensive game plan for each day that God gave us in Ephesians 6.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  John 8:31-32  We also trust and believe God and His promises and put these into memory and practice within our minds.  Here are a just a few that are powerful.

• I am alive with Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)
• I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
• It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
• I am greatly loved by God. (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12)
• I can do all things through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:13)
• I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
• I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. (Romans 8:37)

Have a great week walking in Truth….-Duane

Word of the Week - Thoughts

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

If you think about it, our perspective and how we see things is what pretty much drives our lives in terms of what we do, how we treat people, and how we feel about ourselves and life in general.  Our perspective is simply our minds eye view of ourselves, the world and all that is going on around us.  The essence of this perspective is simply a function of our thoughts and what is going on in our heads.  Most of what happens in our thought life is subconscious, meaning we just allow it to happen to us, opposed to intentionally protecting and directing what comes into our mind and thoughts.  Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be this way.  In fact God’s word tells us that we should actively and vigilantly guard what we allow to enter our minds and hearts.  I truly believe that this is key to healthy and godly living, to simply choose to take control of our minds and our thoughts.  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.  This is a choice that we make each and every minute of every day.  If we allow our minds to be fed with bad thinking then it is likely that over time our minds will be conditioned and we will form negative or perverted perspectives.  The old saying “garbage in garbage out” holds true.  As important to keeping the garbage out, we must feed our minds with good thoughts that are based on truth.  God’s Word, which is our daily bread of life, literally has the power to transform our minds and thus transform our lives.  I personally experienced this 17 years ago when I decided to follow Christ wholeheartedly and started to live out what I am talking about here by protecting my mind and feeding it a nutritious daily diet of good godly food.  It is by far the most meaningful and impactful decision I have ever made in my 50 years on earth and has had an unbelievable positive impact on my life, my family and my circle of influence and I feel like I am just getting started.So what do we do about this?  First and foremost, we need to call upon the Lord and give our lives to Him so that we can tap into His power to overcome the attacks against our minds.  This is the process of surrender and salvation Romans 10:9.  Second we must replace the old stinking thinking with new godly thinking by renewing our minds daily through God’s word.  This needs to be reinforced by meditating on God’s Word and by taking hold of several of His truths and promises such as:

1. Think Good thoughts about yourself knowing you are a child of God and heir to His Kingdom.  Eph 2:10, Jeremiah 29:11
2. Think God thoughts and understanding that we are operating in a different realm when we are with God. Eph 3:20, Matthew 19:23
3. Think Grateful thoughts by counting our blessings and understanding how good God is to us.  1 Thes 5:18, Psalm 100

I encourage us to do what Paul talks about in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”I pray that God will renew our minds in Christ Jesus.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Forgiveness

“Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins as we also forgive those who have sinned against us”.  Matthew 6:12

God’s love for us is demonstrated by His amazing grace that “While we were still sinners God died for us” Romans 5:8  In doing so, by His blood Jesus took away the sin of the world to give us access to salvation through Forgiveness of the original sin of Adam and our own personal sin.  God offers us Forgiveness of our sins with only the stipulation that we admit we are sinners in need of His saving grace by confessing our sins to God, and that we extend this same Forgiveness to others.  The truth is that no matter how good we are, we are still sinners “We are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God”. Romans 3:23.  So whether you are a proclaimed Christian or not, you are in need of Forgiveness.  God is so loving and good that He literally came to earth in the flesh to give us the gift of Forgiveness and model what it looks like.  Yes, he hates sin but He loves sinners (us) and desires to wash us clean by His blood through the miracle of Forgiveness, which is available to all who call upon His name with humble and contrite hearts.Just as the Lord freely Forgives us, He requires us to extend this same grace to others.  This can be really challenging because people can really hurt us and it is very hard to Forgive someone who has wounded you deeply.  That being said, it is much worse for us if we allow our hurts to grow bitter roots of resentment.  Research has shown that unresolved conflict and resentment can negatively impact your health and cause emotional, mental and physical issues such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.  It has been said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison hoping the other person gets sick; it really impacts us rather than the other person.  On the other hand, if we truly receive and understand the power of God’s Forgiveness, then we will have the capacity, strength and grace to Forgive others in the same way that God has Forgiven us.  In Forgiving others and letting go, we will find deep healing and restoration in our soul, regardless of how the person we are extending Forgiveness to reacts.  It is really not about them, it is about us and our relationship with the Lord.Personal health and freedom is a big reason to Forgive others but there is even a more important reason, unforgiveness breaks our fellowship with God.  “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” Matthew 5:23-24.  By the way it is up to us to make the first move in the process of Forgiveness and it is not a function of the other persons remorse or lack thereof.  Whether they apologize or not, we are still called to Forgive the person for the offense, no matter how meaningful. We are also called to offer people unlimited Forgiveness even for the same offenses. “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven”  Matthew 18:21-22By the way, Forgiveness is not to be confused with reconciliation.  Just because we Forgive people does not mean we have to hang out with them and it surely does not mean that we minimize what they have done to hurt us.  We are called to Forgive but not necessarily to forget.  The idea of Forgiveness is that we let go so we are not weighed down by the offense so we can move forward with freedom, but it does not mean that we foolishly repeat the same thing over and over. We have to pray for wisdom when it comes to relationships, sometimes they simply may not be healthy for us.  We are ultimately called to Love God and Love others and in doing so we must receive the fullness of God’s love and His Forgiveness so we have the capacity to extend the same Love to others.  This is the amazing Love and Grace of the Lord.“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32Sorry, I got a little carried away on this one and went too long.  But Forgiveness is so important and misunderstood by many.Have a great week…-Duane

Word of the Week - Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

As followers of Christ we are called to be a Living Sacrifice unto the Lord.  The scriptures below from Romans 12:3-21 outline what it looks like to live sacrificial lives through humility, love for God and His people, and yes even love for our enemies.  Most of what is stated below is not natural for us and thus requires supernatural ability.  How do we get the motivation, strength and power to live like this and do it with pure hearts?  I believe that this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms and renews our minds so that we are made new with a mind and heart that is Christ like.  This comes by surrendering our hearts and wills to Christ and staying connected to the vine of Christ so we can remain in Him and have ongoing access to His power.³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodWow, this is a tall order from the Apostle Paul but I know that these things are attainable through Christ who strengthens us.  I pray the Lord would give us the strength and ability to live the words of Romans 12 this week so that we are Living Sacrificially to the Glory of God.  This is what brings glory and honor to our Lord.  By the way, when we fall short of this standard, and we will, He forgives us and encourages us to learn, grow and overcome.  This is the sanctification process of a follower of Christ.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Abiding

“I am the vine you are the branches, if you abide in me I will abide in you and you will bare much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” John 15:5

I truly believe that a daily abiding relationship with the Lord is the single most important thing we can do after we make a decision to follow Christ and receive salvation.  This is truly where our faith becomes active and we receive the power and benefits of our faith. The word Remain is used synonymously with Abide in several translations, simply put it means to stay connected and become one with the Lord.  What is interesting about this quote from Jesus, is how He makes it clear that there is a condition for us to stay connected to Him, we must go first and be the initiator/pursuer.  He says that if we Abide in Him, then He will reciprocate and Abide in us.  He wants us to pursue Him and desire His presence in our lives.  I am convinced that abiding is an active process that manifest in daily actions of pursuing the Lord, which allow us to respond in love to what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Abiding is not just an idea or a nice thought or feeling, it is truly a passionate pursuit to know the Lord and be in deep ongoing relationship with Him.  So what does it mean to Abide in the Vine of Christ and how do we actively connect with an invisible God.  Here are a few examples of abiding in Christ:  1) talking with the Lord daily and intimately – Prayer,  2) telling Him how great He is and how much we appreciate what He has done for us – Praise & Worship, 3) learning about His very nature and what He cares about – Reading His Word/Bible, 4) making a point to care about what He cares about – loving and serving others, 5) telling people about Him and how great He is – discipleship/evangelism, 6) encouraging each other in our walk of faith – fellowship of believers / church body.   The best part of all of this is that the Lord blesses us with amazing gifts when we stay connected to Him in an abiding relationship.  These are gifts that we cannot manufacture for ourselves, they are simply a byproduct of His very nature at work within us.  These gifts include: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.  Who would not want these wonderful gifts that are the fruit of God’s spirit within us.  What an amazing God we serve.-Duane

Word of the Week - Sowing and Reaping

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Galatians 6:7-8

The principal of Sowing and Reaping is one of key truths of life both on earth from a practical sense and in heaven from a spiritual sense.  Whether we like it or not, we will Reap what we Sow over the course of time.  Just like many of God’s principals within His economy, this is a wonderful truth that can really be a blessing if we understand it and align our lives accordingly.From a more practical perspective, if you have lived any amount of life you have a general understanding of how this works.  If we Sow good seeds of life, we will generally Reap good seeds, like for like.  Of course life is not perfect and there are times when we may be Sowing good seed into bad soil or Sowing during seasons of drought that prevent the seed from sprouting and taking root.  We cannot control the outcome but we surely can resolve to continually Sowing good seeds and look for good soil to Sow into.  This is the opportunity we have each day, and over time, the sum of our Sowing is what results in the fruit of our lives.  On the contrary, if we Sow bad seed then we can expect Reap the same.  For example, good healthy life disciplines such as eating well, exercising regularly, getting good sleep/rest and building healthy relationships generally will result in a healthy person with flourishing relationships, whereas lack of discipline such as poor eating, neglecting health, bad habits such as excessive drinking or use of drugs and neglecting or mistreating family and others will lead to destruction, brokenness and ultimately death.   I think we have all witnessed this to some degree or another in our lives or in the lives of those around us.From a spiritual perspective this is even more important and pronounced.  The Lord makes it very clear that when we Sow seeds into His Kingdom through praying, worshipping, giving, serving, loving and sharing the Gospel with others with pure motives, then we can expect to Reap a harvest in heaven.  Moreover, God’s is so awesome that He multiplies the harvest and allows us to Reap in abundance.  In the parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Mark he talks about how the seed was sown into good ground produced and abundant crop “Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty and some a hundred times” Mark 4:8.Finally, it is important to note that these things are not mutually exclusive.  I think some believe that we can only Sow one dimensionally in life.  We are either Sowing into our vocations/jobs or into our faith through religious church activities.  One of the most exciting truths I ever discovered was the fact that God desires for us to integrate all of these things together.  We have the opportunity every day to get a twofer.  For example we can serve people in our vocations whether it be customers or employees both practically and spiritually.  We don’t have to separate the two, we can Sow seeds of life by practically serving them with excellence while at the same time building a personal relationship that would allow us to minister to them as they navigate the challenges of life.  This is the Gospel.Let’s resolve to Sow some great seeds this week and look for fertile ground for Sowing into.Blessings,-Duane

Word of the Week - Freedom

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 

Coming off of the July 4^th celebration of our nation’s Independence/Freedom, I think it presents a great opportunity to reflect on the true blessings and responsibilities of Freedom.  In a practical sense, we are truly blessed to live in a country that values Freedom and Independence for its citizens.  The United States of America was founded by men of faith on the premise that we must value and protect individual rights and hold these things sacred as outlined in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”.  It is easy to take this for granted because we are so accustomed to this reality that we really cannot relate with not having these Freedoms and individual rights.  Besides bar-b-que, fireworks and time on the water with family and friends, the purpose of the July 4^th Holiday is to set aside a day to recognize the high price that has been paid over the past 200 plus years to gain and defend this amazing gift of Freedom and to never take it lightly or for granted.  To understand that this is a gift that has been bought with much blood and sacrifice by so many and it is a very big deal.As American citizens and believers (citizens of the Kingdom of God), I think it is most important that we take on the mantle and responsibility that comes with the gift of Freedom.  Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  It is our responsibility as Americans to value, protect and steward our Freedom.  Similarly, but more importantly, Christ Jesus was crucified, died and rose again so that we could overcome death and have the ultimate Freedom that comes with salvation through Christ.  His blood gives us the power to find true Freedom from the wrath of God and the sin and strife of this world.  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:36  It is interesting that the Freedom of Christ is received not through a spirit of independence but by a spirit of dependence whereby we live our lives depending on God through an abiding relationship that He describes in John 15:5.  By living connected to the vine of Christ He blesses us with Freedom so that we can do His good work and produce godly fruit in our lives for His glory and purpose.  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13Lord we thank you for the many Freedoms we have as a nation and all of those who have sacrificed and died to make this a reality for us.  Lord, most of all, we thank you for the fact that while we were still sinners you died for us so that we can be Free from the wages of sin and live with you in Freedom for eternity.God Bless you and God Bless America, the land of the Free,-Duane

Word of the Week - Sabbath

Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

The principal of Sabbath is misunderstood by most.  Since it is the 4^th commandment and associated with the old covenant most people see it as a constraining and legalistic Jewish religious tradition, or they simply think it is a day to attend church, which is certainly a good thing to do as part of your Sabbath. The truth, as stated in Mark 2:27 above is that Jesus gave us the Sabbath for our own good and health.  Since He actually designed and created mankind, He understands what is best for us and desires only the best for His sons and daughters.  In Exodus 20:8-11 God makes a clear connection to the Sabbath day by modeling it for us in the Creation story “on the seventh day God the Creator rested”.  Sabbath observance therefore involves the affirmation that God is Creator and Sustainer of the world.  If God took a day of each week to rest surely we would benefit from doing the same.So it is pretty simple, if we really Trust God for who He is we will Trust that He is our provider and we can rest in Him.  He makes it clear that we are here on earth to glorify Him and serve others through our work and being productive, adding value to this world.  We should work heartily at all we do with passion and vigor.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”, Colossians 3:23. But God is so amazing and good that He did not create us to be machines; He created us for soulful fellowship with Him and His creation. He truly desires us to be healthy and enjoy the blessings of life.  Since He is our Maker, He knows we need time away from the day to day grind of life to recharge and be refreshed spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.  We all need space between us and our work or else we run the risk of burnout, not to mention the fact that we are more productive and creative when we have time off.  This is the principal and gift of Sabbath.  To cease from our work to simply rest in knowing God   To honor God by putting our faith in action by demonstrating we trust God and desire to set apart one day a week, typically the first day, to refocus your energy and attention on Him and those closest to us.  Most Christians who observe the Sabbath on Sunday because that is the day they are off of work but the Sabbath is not necessarily a specific day of the week.  For some like pastors who have to work on Sunday, they make other days of the week their Sabbath.If you are not already doing so, I encourage you to take one 24 hour day of your week and make it your Sabbath by not engaging in your day to day work/job.  Instead of working spend your time fellowshipping with the Lord, your family and other believers (Church and more) enjoying praise and worship, prayer, bible reading and just hanging out with family.  Enjoy a long walk with your wife or some one on one time with your son or daughter playing a game.Rest in Him…. -Duane

Word of the Week - Rest

Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Rest is an interesting and important human need.  Similar to peace, we all desire and require Rest to remain healthy.  Rest is powerful because it can be a source of refreshment and new energy to empower and sustain.  All too often the more we need Rest the harder it is to find, which leads to restlessness.  It seems there is just too much going on within us and around us to enter a place of true Rest.  There is always something that needs to be tended to or we have something bothering us in regards to our internal struggles,  relationships or responsibilities.  The truth of the matter is that we live in a fallen world where there will always be something that is incomplete or needs attention.  In fact, from the beginning of mankind God designed life so that we would have to work and toil in life and be dependent upon God and others.  This allows us to grow and develop into what God made us to be.  This is the process of life and sanctification.  At some point we have to accept the fact that no matter how hard we try, we will never be good enough or be able to do enough to justify ourselves.  We could not do it so He did it for us, this is the good news of the Gospel!!  Only through true faith and dependence on God can we find the place of deep soulful Rest to receive the strength and energy we need to live life to the full and have a healthy soul.  This type of Rest is only found in Christ as we understand God’s love and His sovereignty over our lives.  “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1.  So how do we enter this place of true Rest?  I believe it starts by first acknowledging that we are not in control of our lives but God is.  If we really believe this at the depths of our soul then we will gain peace and serenity and become dependent upon the Lord.  We also need to pursue and develop an intimate relationship and connectivity with God so we can receive the reassurance that He loves us and He is for us; therefore all is well.  As a father of 3 daughters it is important for me and my girls to remain connected at a deeper level so they are reassured of my love for them and the fact that I will be there for them when they need me.  Similarly, we need to find that place of constant reassurance that God is with us and He loves us deeply and unconditionally.  There is an adversary of our soul that would love us to never to Rest or receive this degree love and security in our relationship with God because it is so powerful.  This is why our daily abiding relationship with God is so important to our spiritual health and finding Rest.  Finally, we must simply trust God and take Him for His Word.  If we truly trust God and His word then we know that He has our back and “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5-6  Living in the place of faith, trust, intimacy and connectivity to God through His Word results in security that allows us to find true soulful rest no matter what circumstances we face in life.Next week I will share about the benefits of the Sabbath and how God instituted the Sabbath for us so we can stay healthy and filled with faith.I hope you can find a place of true Rest in Christ today.-Duane

Word of the Week - Father

“And I will be a Father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.  2 Corinthians 6:18

How powerful is the role of a Father?  Research confirms that a good Father/child relationship is key in the healthy development of children and young adults.  Even more sobering is the fact that the Father relationship has the power to shape our view of God and ourselves at the deepest level.  A Father has many critical roles in a child’s life to include provider, protector, teacher, modeler, encourager, exemplar and much, much more. These are all very important roles to meet the very real needs of a child, growing adolescent and young adult.  As important as all these characteristics are to the development of a child, what matters most is that the child experience and know the unconditional love of the Father.  Love is the trump card, because “love overcomes a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8.  I am blessed with a wonderful dad who demonstrated the characteristics noted above throughout my childhood and life, but like all of us he was not perfect and did some things that wounded me along the way.  That being said, I never ever doubted his deep and unconditional love for me. This reality along with Jesus’ healing hand has been the catalyst for healing in our relationship and most importantly receiving and knowing the love of God the Father.  Now as a Father of 3 daughters and 2 Grandkids (it is true, this is the best ever😊), I have the amazing responsibility and privilege to be a Father to my children and grandchildren and I can say it is the most meaningful, joyful and fulfilling role of my life.  Just like my dad, I am doing my very best but I surely have made many mistakes along the way and unintentionally hurt my children.  That being said, I am so grateful to God our Father in Heaven who gives us the perfect example of how to be a loving Father, our Abba Father.  “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast (unconditional) love” Psalm 103:8.  With this love and example from God our Father through His son Jesus along with great examples from our parents and others, we can be equipped to be godly Fathers who sow blessings and life into our kids for many generations to come.  I just returned from my 6^th trip to JH Ranch www.jhranch.com with my youngest daughter Isabella for Father/Daughter week.  Once again, God showed up in an amazing way and blessed me and Isabella beyond measure as we grew closer to God and each other.  I also continued to learn and grow as a Father and Grandfather.  This experience has blessed me and my family immensely and I would highly recommend it for any dad who wants to grow closer to God his son or daughter and become a better Father.  “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” Malachi 4:6.Finally, no matter what your situation and relationship or lack thereof with your earthly Father, God is our eternal Father and He loves you and deeply desires to redeem and restore you to wholeness through the power of His unconditional and everlasting love.  This is available for all His children (us), through the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our Abba Father God is a Good, Good, Father…..He will gladly leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep, that is how much He loves us….Happy Father’s Day…..-Duane

Word of the Week - Treasure

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

What do we truly treasure?  This a great question and a litmus test for our walk of faith and what we truly value.  Because we live in a fallen world governed by the spirit of mammon (material wealth and possessions), we will always be tempted and drawn to the things of this world.  So how do we live in this world and not be of this world?  I would suggest that the antidote to worldliness and materialism is generous giving. That we give of what the Lord has given us by investing our time, talent and treasure in God’s Kingdom.  Something interesting about this spiritual principal is that it works both ways.  As we grow in our relationship with God, we generally develop a heart desire to respond to God’s love by giving.  Similarly as we intentionally invest our time, talent and treasure into God’s kingdom our heart follows and what we value changes.  We begin to really treasure the things of eternity and recognize that God and His people are the only things that will last forever.  This is the walk of faith to take a step forward and witness the Lord do His work in our hearts.  So “Let’s not store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But let’s store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” Matthew 6:19-20.  Just FYI, I am sending the Word of the Week today instead of Sunday because I am in Northern California travelling to JH Ranch www.jhranch.com with my 13 year old daughter Isabella for father/daughter week that starts tomorrow morning.  I love JH Ranch because God has really used JH to bless and equip me and my family in the many ways of the Lord as it relates to parenting and family, so I am excited to see what God has in store for us this week.  We are truly on an Everlasting Adventure!!!!!!!!Have a great week….-Duane