Word of the Week - Honor

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

On this very special day that is set aside to recognize and Honor Mother’s, I thought it would be appropriate to remind ourselves the importance of Honoring our mothers and others.  I was blessed with an amazing mother, Lillie May LeJeune Donner, who we lost to cancer just over 17 years ago.  I think about her very often and miss her deeply.  I am grateful to God for blessing me with such a wonderful godly mother who taught me and my family so much about love and Honor, especially towards God.Honoring the Lord by Honoring others:  Honoring the Lord and those in authority, especially our parents is one of the key themes of God’s Word.  It was so important that God made it number four on the list of the 10 Commandments.  It is also the first Commandment with a promise that clearly states if we Honor our parents then we will live long healthy and productive lives. The principal of Honoring others is based on the concept that we value them and their positions by giving them worth and weight.  That we don’t dishonor them by taking them lightly or overlooking them.  I did not understand this truth until I was born of the spirit 19 years ago.  The truth of the matter is that when we Honor God, our parents, those in authority and people in general we are blessed and benefit.  Similar to the principal of giving, the more we Honor others, the more we gain favor and receive Honor and blessing.  “Honor god with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Then your barns will burst, you wine vats will brim over” Proverbs 3:9-10.  That being said, our motivation should come not from what we can get out of the process but from understanding that Honoring God and others pleases our Father and promotes the Gospel, which produces goodwill and fruit.Honoring those in authority: We should especially Honor those in authority to include Parents, Teachers, Leaders, and yes especially Government Officials.  Unfortunately, the biblical principal of Honoring those in authority is not a function of the persons skill, competence, performance, how they treat us or even their character; the concept is that God calls us to Honor all authority, even if we don’t like them or agree with their approach or philosophy.  This is one of the more challenging mandates of our Christian faith, especially in today’s world that seems to be driven by dishonor and disunity.  Just to be clear, Honoring someone in authority does not mean we have to obey them or agree with them, it just simply means we need to recognize and consider the weight of their position and authority.  1 Peter 2:13-17 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men; whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone:  Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king,”  Expect persecution when we stand in righteousness:  All of that being said, if we disobey or disagree with those in authority then we have to be willing to face the consequences; if done in a godly manner with the right motivation this is called persecution, being willing to suffer for a greater purpose.  There are many examples of this in the Bible and throughout history and during these days we may be called to stand up and be ready to be persecuted for the Gospel of Christ.So how do we Honor God and others?  1) By prioritizing them; 2) By using words of praise that build them up and not tearing them down; and 3) By protecting them and standing up for them, especially if they don’t have a voice. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves”. Romans 12:10“If we sow honor we will reap honor” Pastor/Coach Tom MullinsHappy Mother’s Day to all you moms, I celebrate and Honor you for all that you do day in and day out.   You are amazing and greatly appreciated.  I personally believe there is no greater role or influence on raising up godly offspring than the role of a mother.  So be encouraged, you are changing the world one son and daughter at a time, hopefully with lots of help from your husband 😊.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Community

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:24-25COVID-19 Perspective on Community – During this time of “quarantine” and “social distancing” it is most important that we maintain connection and Community.  Even though we need to continue to do our best to practice physical distancing, we should not distance ourselves socially.  Thank God for technology, which gives us the means to stay connected and put to good use social media tools.  Social isolation is not good or healthy and it is truly a tactic of the enemy to separate us from God and each other to bring us to a place of vulnerability.  I hope this Word on Community encourages you to stay connected to the vine of Christ and to your brothers and sisters of faith.What is community?  The definition is simply to have common unity with others.  For people to come together under common values and beliefs to live in fullness.  God created us for relationship, first and foremost with Himself and secondly and as important with each other.  It is impossible to live to our full potential without being in Community with others.   ^“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12: 4-5  As a body of Christ we do life with others in healthy interdependent relationship that allow the body of Christ to function in fullness.Community is Healthy and Life Giving – Life Giving Community should lift us up and bring out the best in us as we help bring out the best in others by using our God given gifts to love, relate and serve others.  I love the quote from John Maxwell that says “show me your friends and I will show you your future”.  The bottom line is that we become who we commune with; life begets life but bad company corrupts good character.  It is very important that we develop Community with people who are like minded and share our core values, especially as it relates to our faith.  We need to pursue Community with godly people who desire to grow and live to their full God given potential.  People who are authentic and speak the truth in love.  Friends that will challenge us and love us enough to admonish us and call us out if we are headed down the wrong path.  Friends that we enjoy spending time with and have our best interest at heart and visa-versa.  Friends that will be there for us in the good times and especially through the storms and challenges of life.Community is Covering and Protection  – Part of the reality of life is that we will all face trials and adversities in life.  “In this life you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world”  John 16:33.  One of the keys to going through tough times and persevering through the trials is to have a strong Community support system around us to provide encouragement and protection as we endure the trials of life.  We were not created to do life alone and we all need help and encouragement to navigate the challenges of life.  We can comfort one another with words, physical presence and prayer.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.  We can encourage each other in the process and always point to the hope of the Lord and his promises, helping each other keep an eternal perspective.  We often are inclined to give up too early but with good Community of believers “band of brothers” we can be encouraged to hang in there through the pain to get to the other side so we can experience God’s best for us.  “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all”.  1 Thessalonians 5:14Man was made for relationship and Community and was not made to do life alone in isolation.  The abundant life that God promises is one of Community with others.  I have truly found that the most joyous experiences in life come through being connected to others through Christ.  It can be hard for some of us to commit to Community, especially if we’re guarded due to past wounds or simply more introverted and prefer solitude.  Community is God’s desire and design for us and a sign of mature faith.  At the end of the day, when we grow in our relationship with others through authentic and vulnerable Community, we are growing in our relationship with God.  We really are better together!!!!If you are not connected with a small group of friends that know you and what you are going through then I encourage you to pursue this type of Community.  Church small groups are one way to find this type of Community, the following is a link to a directory of small groups https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/groups . Remember that we all desire to be connected in good healthy Community and we have as much to offer as we have to receive.Have a great week,-Duane

Word of the Week - Soulful 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

It is amazing to me how quickly the entire world has downshifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.  This is a great opportunity for all of us to “find rest for our souls”.  We have all been forced at some level to move from our busy day to day routines that seem to be accelerating each year due to technology and the digital age, to a much slower and more simple pace.  There is no doubt that many 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, leisure time off or vacations; even though these are good things that we all need to remain healthy, the Rest referred to in Matthew 11 above is a much deeper level of Rest that is needed for our souls and spirits 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?Rest is security through Salvation:  It starts with eternal security that comes by 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.Rest is trust in God through taking Sabbath:  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.  If we truly trust God as our provider then we will be able to embrace the sabbath and find good healthy rest to be restored weekly.Rest is living with true Purpose and Significance:  We find true Rest when we live with purpose and significance towards our eternal destiny.  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, like the one we are facing today.  Understanding that we are made on purpose for a “time such as this” so we can step into our destiny with confidence and know that God is using us for His plans that are much greater than our plans, even though we may not clearly understand how it all works together.  Simple faith and trust in God brings tremendous Rest to our souls.Psalm 23 is an amazing scripture that exudes the idea of Resting in God even in facing the darkest 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.”COVID-19 from a Spiritual/Biblical Perspective:The official lock down started March 23 and will likely end May 1st. That is EXACTLY 40 days.  The Latin root of the word "quarantine" is "forty".  So what does the Bible say about 40?  The flood lasted 40 days. 40 years Moses fled Egypt.  40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.  Exodus lasted 40 years.  Jesus fasted for 40 days.  40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.  Optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40.A group of theologians thinks the number 40 represents "change”. It is the time of preparing a person, or people, to make a fundamental change.  Something will happen after these 40 days. Just believe and pray. Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a "change".  Please know that during this "quarantine" rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution, there is less theft and murder, healing is happening, and most importantly, people are turning to Christ. The Earth is at rest for the first time in many years and hearts are truly transforming.  Remember we are in the year 2020, and 20 + 20 = 40.  Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born during a census.  Lastly, 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us in the palm of His hand.May these days of "quarantine" bring spiritual liberation to our souls, our nation, and our world in the name of Jesus.-Duane

Word of the Week - Strength

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Physical Strength – BodyWe all desire to be strong and have the ability to overcome the challenges of life by having strength and fortitude.  The real question is where does our strength come from.  Physical strength is easiest to understand as a function of genetics, diet and exercise.  If we are blessed with good genes and take care of ourselves through eating well and exercising regularly, we can have tremendous strength and endurance and thus overcome amazing physical challenges.Inner Strength – Soul  As important as physical strength is to our lives, I would suggest that one’s inner strength (heart, mind and emotions) is most important to their health and wellbeing.  So what gives some people the strength to deal with and overcome challenging circumstances with grace, peace, fervor and serenity, whereas some people are crushed by similar situations?  I believe it is based upon their perspective, how they see the situation and where they draw their strength from.  Do they have hope beyond their circumstances.  Do they have a more eternal perspective vs. a temporal perspective?  If you put almost any challenging issue in the lens of eternity then it becomes relatively insignificant.  The apostle Paul had an amazing inner strength that was exemplified through tremendous trials: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.  Paul’s hope remained in something well beyond this world.Abiding Strength – Spirit Similar to physical strength, in order to build our faith and trust in God, we must exercise our spirit daily to maintain and build our faith.  The discipline of consistency pays off;  just as our bodies become strengthened over time through the proactive process of working our muscles daily to build strength and resistance; similarly, we must exercise our spirit each day to build our relational trust and faith in the Lord by seeking Him and knowing Him at a deeper level through seeking and connecting with Him.  We receive our spiritual food (daily bread) and strength by abiding in Christ through our daily disciplines (spiritual exercise) that include but are not limited to: praying, reading God’s word, fellowshipping with other believers, worshipping Him and giving thanks and praise to acknowledge what God has done and is doing for us.  This builds our faith and spiritual strength so when life deals us challenges we are prepared and have the strength to draw upon to overcome and hopefully thrive.  “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you and my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10COVID-19It looks like our leaders are working at a local, state and federal levels to coordinate and build a plan of restarting our economy as the data shows that we are trending on the downslope of Coronavirus cases.  Let’s continue to pray for godly wisdom for our government and business leaders as they develop these plans toward recovery.  Hopefully we will see more specifics with trigger dates this week.  I pray that you will find tremendous strength, hope and peace through your abiding walk with Christ even in the midst of this unprecedented time of crisis.Abiding in Christ daily renews our strength and allows us to soar like an eagle and not grow weary so we can overcome the adversities of life and continue to grow and strengthen or faith and ultimately be made mature and complete so we can overcome, grow and thrive and ultimately finish our lives well and attain our reward in Christ.Have a blessed week,-Duane

Word of the Week - Resurrection Power - He is Risen!!!!!!!!

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  Romans 8:11

For those of us who are Christians, the death and Resurrection of Jesus over 2000 years ago is by far the most significant event in world history.  By the way, Jesus death and Resurrection is a recorded historical event. Through His death on the cross Jesus bore the sin of all mankind (past, present and future) so we can be saved from the wrath of God through forgiveness of our sins and have eternal life with the Father.  ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.  This is truly Good News for us to embrace and celebrate on this special Easter day remembering and celebrating this amazing event.  By accepting and believing in Christ and what He did for us on the cross, we receive the full benefits of the Resurrection.  As amazing as it is for us to receive the gift of communion with God for eternity, there is even more.  Through the cross we have access to the same power that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead.  God has empowered us as His sons and daughters to walk out our faith with confidence and trust in Him, which is what activates this power in our day to day lives.Here are 5 ways that God desires for His resurrection power to become alive in us:

• Resurrect Hope – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
• Resurrect Purpose – “ For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared for us in advance” Ephesians 2:10
• Resurrect Faith –  ^“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
• Resurrect Joy – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
• Resurrect Life – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

In a world that lacks hope, purpose, faith, joy and life; Easter (Resurrection Day) is a day that reminds us that we have access to tap into God’s power so His life can come alive in each of us.  Jesus is the source of Resurrection.  "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25Especially in this precarious time of COVID-19 pandemic, let’s embrace and rejoice in the Good News that He is Risen!!!, and by faith step into the Resurrection Power of Christ Jesus as we live out our lives with true hope, purpose, faith and joy = Abundant Life!!!!Just a quick note of encouragement on the Coronavirus, that data indicates that we have reached the crest of the Covid-19 wave in the U.S. and should start seeing the number of new cases continue to decline moving forward.  That being said, our hearts go out to all who have lost friends and relatives to this terrible virus.  We also pray for all who are being impacted physically, emotionally and financially.  We pray for breakthroughs in a vaccine and treatments to heal those that are infected.  I am hopeful that we will begin the process of recovery very soon and God is using this challenging time to do a good work in each of us.  Romans 5:8Have a blessed Easter…-Duane

Word of the Week - Peace in the Storm - Look for Good/Blessing - Week 4 COVID-19

“For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those that are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

Throughout history God has allowed many calamities to occur even though He possesses the power and authority to prevent and/or stop them.  As we read scripture we begin to understand how God uses all sorts of challenges and adversities to do amazing work and miracles, especially within the hearts and lives of those who call Him Father (those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose, His children).  We don’t often understand how or why, but in hindsight we generally can see God at work doing great things within our lives during the most trying times.  I believe the key to receiving the blessing is to press in towards the Lord during times of trial and uncertainty and pray that He will show us what it is He is trying to teach us.  He is surely more interested in developing our godly character than He is in making us happy and comfortable.  I believe that the Lord mostly desires for all mankind to come into relationship with Himself and He will go to extreme measures to draw us to Him.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”. 2 Peter 3:9  But He also desires for us, the body of believers to become fully dependent upon Him as we walk through the trials of life so we can grow and mature to our full potential.  “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:4  So how is God using the COVID-19 pandemic to draw unbelievers to Him and the body of believers closer to Him so that we can grow to become mature and complete in Christ?  I think this is a good question we should be asking as we navigate this unprecedented time.  Here are a few ways it seems like God is using this circumstance to impact everyone:Our calendar / Time  – Over the past 3 weeks our lives and plans have essentially been put on pause.  Our busy calendars have been redirected to shelter in place / work from home.  Simple pleasures and freedoms to go out for dinner, fellowship or entertainment has pretty much gone away.  What might be the blessing in this?  “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15Our jobs / Economy -  After over a decade of growth and prosperity, almost overnight our entire economy has essentially been put on idle which has created havoc in the capital markets and caused the stock market to drop over 25% in less than a month.  There are millions of people losing their jobs and tremendous uncertainty about the future of business and our economy.  If we ever thought we as a people had control over these things we have just been humbled and brought to our knees by an invisible virus.  We must turn back to the Lord and recognize that He is our God and provider of all good things.  Are we depending on God as our provider or looking to something else?  “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.  Matthew 6:31-33Sports and Entertainment -  Pretty much all sporting events have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.  Things like the college final four, The Masters, Wimbledon etc. Most recreational entertainment establishments have been shut down to include movie theatres, restaurants, country clubs etc.  All of the sudden these things that seemed to be so important to us are no longer available and we find ourselves with lots of time and energy that was typically consumed by these activities and pass times.  What are you doing with this time and energy?  Have you considered using it to grow in your relationship with God and others.  It might be that God is allowing these things (idols) to be removed to get our lives in proper order.  “Jesus replied; “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Even though none of us would desire to be in this situation and we are praying for healing for all being affected by this terrible virus, I truly believe God is using this to do a great work in our nation, community, families and personal lives.  Let’s not miss the opportunity to seek the Lord and find what He has for each of us during this time.  He promises us that if we seek Him we will find Him if we seek Him with all of our heart.  We have the opportunity to experience the first 3 verses of Psalm 23 during this time:  “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” Psalm 23:1-3Founders Data tracking tool for COVID-19 Cases: For your reference I have linked a recently updated version of our COVID-19 tracking tool.  I remain hopeful and optimistic that we are will see the wave crest and will be witnessing some positive trends over the next week or so, which will lead to our country stabilizing and moving to a recovery phase in the not too distant future.  I hope this encourages you to stay positive and trusting in the Lord as we continue to humble ourselves, pray and serve.“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”  2 Chronicles 7:14See encouragement from last week below on Keeping Perspective, Experiencing Peace, Making a Plan and Tapping God’s Power.Stay healthy and keep the faith…..-Duane

Word of the Week - Peace in the Storm - Serve Others - Week 3 COVID-19

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45

During this time of sickness and uncertainty let’s look for ways to love and serve those around us.  It can be as simple as calling a neighbor, friend or co-worker to see if they are okay and if they need anything.  It is much more blessed to give than to receive and to serve rather than be served.  Serving is also and antidote to anxiety/worry, it is hard to worry too much about yourself if you are focused on serving others.  This is really the essence of the Gospel that Jesus “Gave His all for us” to model what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.  As believers, we exist to serve others by showing God’s love in practical ways through meeting the needs within our communities, families and spheres of influence.  Simple acts of personal kindness can open hearts to the love of Jesus for both those being served and those serving, especially during this time of crisis and uncertainty.  The following are a few biblical principles of fostering a heart of Service.We over Me – One of the most amazing blessings of the Christian life is fellowship among the believers is the fact that we are better together.  God set up the Church for synergy through the body of believers.  We are all part of the body/community and have a specific gift and role to play in God’s plan.  God’s Kingdom will not advance to its fullest without us all serving together as a body.  “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given one spirt to drink.  Even so the body is not made of one part but of many”. 1 Cor 12:12-14Serving others is Worship -  We win the Lord’s heart by loving Him through worship.  Serving others in the name if Jesus is one of the highest forms of worship to the Lord Jesus.  It is a way to tangibly love the Lord.  Especially when we serve the needy and less fortunate who could never repay us.  So serve others with all of your heart and do it with no strings attached in the name of Jesus and for this you will be blessed both now and for eternity.  “The King will reply.  “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did unto me”.  Matthew 25:40Let’s look for opportunities this week to Serve others in the name of Jesus.Founders Data tracking tool for COVID-19 Cases: For your reference I have attached a report we developed to track data associated with total cases and reproduction/growth in cases for COVID-19.  This is a tool we are using to better understand how things are progressing relative to what other countries (China, South Korea & Italy) have experienced since they are ahead of us in the pandemic wave.  Based on what we are seeing in the data, I am optimistic that we are will see the wave crest and will be witnessing some positive trends over the next week or two, which will lead to our country stabilizing and moving to a recovery phase in the not too distant future.  I hope this encourages you to stay positive and trusting in the Lord as we continue to humble ourselves, pray and serve.“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”  2 Chronicles 7:14See encouragement from last week below on Keeping Perspective, Experiencing Peace, Making a Plan and Tapping God’s Power.Stay healthy and keep the faith…..-Duane 

Word of the Week - Peace in the Storm (Coronavirus) - Week 2

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge, and make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” Psalm 91: 9-11

Friends, Family and Colleagues, I pray this email finds you well in the midst of what we are experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.  I want to reemphasize and expound on the message that I shared last week (see previous post), I believe it is critical for all of us so we can experience God’s peace in the midst of the chaos and be ambassadors of hope and encouragement during this time.

• Perspective – Remember that God is sovereign and His plan is a good one.  He loves you and your family and will protect you if you make him your refuge - Psalm 91: 9-11 above
• Peace – The Serenity prayer is powerful, “asking God for serenity to accept what we cannot change/control, courage to take action to change/affect things that are in our area of influence/responsibility and godly wisdom to know the difference”.  Don’t waste your time worrying “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life” Matthew 6:28
• Plan – It is amazing how much a good plan can ease fear and anxiety.  It is the “not knowing” that is most scary.  Run the numbers, look at the data/facts, gain input and counsel by bouncing it off of people you respect and have wisdom, then put it into place knowing that it will change as we get more clarity.  By the way, there is no perfect plan but any good plan is better than no plan at all.  As a leader what is most important is how you communicate the plan.  Be positive and empathetic to how it impacts people but remain strong in resolve to do what is best for the whole.
• Power – We all have access to the greatest power of all, which is God’s spirit.  God promises us that if we dwell in Him that His spirit will dwell in us and we will bare much fruit. John 15:5  One of the fruits of the spirit is “Peace” and it comes from God.  This is simply a daily decision to seek God first for direction, peace and wisdom or seek other things like government, media, information etc. to try to find solace.  The Lord makes it clear in His word that if we seek Him first then He will take care of us.  “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness then all things will be given to us” Matthew 6:33

Stay strong by reading God’s word and remaining connected to the vine of Christ and the fellowship of the church.  We have more time and lots of technology to stay connected to God and each other.  Here are a few resources to encourage you and hopefully make you laugh:

• Read Psalm 91 -  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91&version=NIV
• Watch this message - Converting Fear to Faith – Pastor Chris Hodges - https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/converting-fear-into-faith/
• Watch this youtube video - Toilet Paper Dealer – Humor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIJalKceRxU

Keep the faith,-Duane

Word of the Week - Peace in the Storm (Coronavirus)

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord.  “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2With the recent spreading of the Coronas Virus (COVID-19), we are experiencing unprecedented times in our country and world.  It is during these times that God does His best work in us and through us if we simply turn to Him for comfort, guidance/wisdom and peace.  As noted above in Psalm 91 and throughout scripture God promises us that He will protect us and lead us if we simply love Him by abiding in Him and put our faith and trust in Him.  So many scriptures come to mind in regards to what we are facing to include on of my lifetime favorites Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all things and He will direct your paths and keep you safe”.  It is times like these when are faith is truly tested and we have a great opportunity to stand on the promises of God and receive the perspective and peace of God so we can be a light of hope and encouragement for those around us.  As I have  prayed, reflected and pursued the Lord over the past few days He has filled me with peace and hope along with very practical wisdom that I would like to share to encourage you my friends and family in this time of uncertainty.  Here are a few God principals and truths along with some data based information to help you as you navigate through this time:Perspective - God is Sovereign so let’s Trust Him – The essence of knowing God is understanding that He is God and His ways are not our ways.  We cannot understand all the ways of God but we can trust that His plan is a good plan and that He loves us and “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for us who are called according to his purpose and plan” Romans 8:28.  The key here is that we simply “trust God” and know that He is a good and loving Father who is “Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” Psalm 103:8  The word of God is the story of God’s love for us and there are numerous examples where He allows things like disease and illness to impact humanity for the purpose of drawing people to Himself.  He does make it clear that His children will be under His protection during these times “Because they love me, “says the Lord,”  I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name” Psalm 91:14Peace - Having serenity balanced with courage and wisdom – “Lord give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference” I love the Serenity prayer because it puts things into a healthy and godly perspective when we understand that there are many things out of our control and thus it is futile if we exert our energy trying to change things that we cannot influence or change. That being said, we all have gifts, authority and centers of influence that we should focus our energy and resources to serve and influence during this time.  The key is to have godly wisdom to know the difference especially as the world around us is dazed and confused and the media is over dramatizing the situation creating fear and panic.  The good news is that God promises us that He will give us wisdom and courage if we pray to Him and ask for it.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him” James 1:5Plan - Know the facts, gain counsel and make a sound plan – We must trust God in His sovereign power and pray for Wisdom as we use our eyes, ears and intellect to gain knowledge (facts & data) and seek godly and wise counsel from trusted sources.  Once we gain perspective and find peace in Christ, we have courage to step up and take action and face things head on so we can have clarity to make good decisions and a sound plan of action.  In times of crisis it is important that we discern facts from fodder, especially in situations like this where political undertones can really skew news and information.  “In God we trust, and all others bring data” Edward Deming  See following links for recent data driven report “Coronavirus “Why you must act now””   https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca and this short video that explains the math behind “How the Coronavirus is growing” https://youtu.be/Kas0tIxDvrg .  Having a sound and well thought out plan based on current facts and good reason is simply smart and reassuring to those around us who are depending on our leadership. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty”.  Proverbs 21:5  Even with a great and well thought out plan we must remain open to be led by the Lord and His spirit as things develop knowing that the plan will change and evolve as we move forward and gain more insight and understanding.  “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps”. Proverbs 16:9Power – Abiding in the Lord through prayer and meditating on God’s Word – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all of my fears” Psalms 34:4.  God’s power is supernatural and has the ability to instantly change our perspective and move us from fear to faith then to focus on what we can do to turn an adverse situation into an opportunity for growth and blessing.  “For God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity but one of power, love and sounds mind” 2 Tim 1:7  Let’s seek after the Lord through prayer and standing on the promises of His word so our faith can rise up and we can walk in the power of God with love and sound mind towards God and those around us.  I encourage you to read Psalm 91 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.91.1-4,6-16.niv each day to build your faith and know the Power of the promises of God.Finally, I pray that as you seek first the Lord during this time He would bless you with a God perspective that gives you peace that surpasses understanding, and godly wisdom and clarity so you can have sound mind as you plan for your family, business and community.  Mostly I pray that you would remain in Him and encounter His power during this time and use it to be a light of hope and encouragement to those around you for a time such as this.“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge, and make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” Psalm 91: 9-11 We are better together, so as we practice physical distancing let’s stay connected to Christ and each other.-Duane

Word of the Week - Love of Money

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 6-10

As a businessman who makes his living 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 placing our hope in the things of this world with a focus on money as the means to that end; therefore, we must proactively guard our hearts from this human tendency 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 less to do with temporal possessions and wealth but have much to do with eternal things of God and people (relationship), which last forever.“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 counter/anti 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:

• Contentment - 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. “
• Gratitude – If we have an attitude of Gratitude we realize that God desires to bless us so we can be a blessing. 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
• Giving - 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 - Be Still

Be still and know I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46

Being Still is one of the bigger challenges in my life.  I seem to be built for doing; therefore I am either in the middle of doing something or thinking about what I need to do next.  That being said, God is clear about the fact that there is something very powerful about simply being still by bringing our body and soul (mind, will and emotions) to a place of stillness and quiet.  This is really where we become conscious of the here and now and fully present to connect with God and receive what He has for us.  To fully experience and know God, we must sit before Him undistracted, which is the power of learning how to be still.  This is not my strong suit but I have developed some disciplines that seem to help me in this area.  “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes” Psalm 37:7

• Finding a quiet place – Our environment and the ambiance can either set the stage for stillness or be very distracting.  Every one of us is different but when we find or create a space that allows us to quiet our mind we can begin to experience the power of being still before God.  Whether your truck, basement, closet, chapel, library, cabin in the woods or back porch try to find a place where you can mentally and physically retreat from the noise of life and the worries of the world.  “The Lord is in His holy Temple.  All the earth – be quiet in His presence” Habakkuk 2:20
• Praising and worshipping God – Focusing our energy towards God through praise and worship can usher us into a place of stillness by putting things in the right perspective.  When we exalt God to His proper place we find trust and safety in Him, which allows our cares and worries to lose power creating space for us to be still. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.  Proverbs 18:10
• Sabbath – The principal of Sabbath is for this purpose, to set aside time and space each week for “being” with the Lord and enjoying His presence in a state of rest.  Giving ourselves permission to stop doing and producing by trusting God as our provider is very powerful and can lead to experiencing relationship with God at a deeper level.  “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath” Mark 2:27
• Taking thoughts captive –  The 3 disciplines noted above can really help quiet our minds but we may still have thoughts that are trying to sabotage us, in this case we can take captive the thoughts by acknowledging them mentally or by writing them down so we can release them to the Lord.  So when thoughts come that are not welcomed we can “take them captive and make them obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

When it comes to building relationship, the key is connecting at a deeper level.  Being still before the Lord allows us to connect with God and know Him at a deeper level.  So let’s make the discipline of “being still” a priority in our daily and weekly walk with God so we can experience His amazing power and presence to the full.  This is well demonstrated in the story of Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42Lord I pray we can learn to be more like Mary and “Be still in knowing you are our God and Abba Father”.Have a great week…-Duane

Word of the Week - Healing

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2-3

There are many benefits to a relationship with the Lord Jesus but one powerful benefit that seems to be overlooked by many Christians is the gift of Healing. We all have areas of our lives that have dis-ease and need healing.  Whether we are struggling with physical, mental, emotional, relational or spiritual brokenness, our God wants to bring us healing.  In Exodus 15:26 God introduces Himself as Jehovah- Rapha, “the Lord who heals.”  The word Rapha means “to heal, to cure, to restore and make whole”.  By calling Himself Jehovah-Rapha, He is saying, Healing is what I am”.  Our God is the Great Physician.  Wholeness and restoration is what God desires for us in all areas of our lives.  Nothing that causes pain or suffering in our lives is above the healing touch of Jesus.  The key to receiving healing in our lives is first to be accept and receive the fullness of God’s grace and forgiveness through the blood that He shed on the cross, this is salvation.  “He (Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds we have been healed” 1 Peter 2:24.  Second, we should draw close and seek the Healer (Jesus) because He has the power to bring healing, draw close to the Lord.  ^“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”Salvation and healing are God’s twin mercies.   So let’s posture ourselves for forgiveness and Healing of all of our disease and be restored in the name of Jesus.  And for the many situations when healing does not come as we hope, pray and expect, let us not lose heart but trust God in His sovereignty knowing and trusting that His plan is better than our plan.  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge Him in all things and He will lead you in the way you should go”. Proverbs 3-6  Our ultimate healing is not in this world but in heaven united with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for eternity.  So if we can truly embrace an eternal perspective then we will find healing in all circumstances as the apostle Paul understood and shared in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What we lose in life we will gain in heaven.  Before that time comes, our purpose on earth is to live as a light of hope in the darkness of sin and death and point others to the hope that brings healing.Have a great week….-Duane

Word of the Week - Prayer

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

Prayer is a wonderful gift that God gave us so we can simply communicate with Him as needed when needed, and He encourages us to pray frequently. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes 5: 16-18.  It is an amazing and powerful way of communing with the Lord and building our relationship and trust in Him.  It is one of the primary ways we get to express ourselves to God.  Prayer is so powerful because it actually puts our faith into action, which literally prompts God to put things into motion in the heavenly realm where God does His work. Because it is so powerful, our enemy does everything in his power to keep us from engaging in prayer.  Besides God’s Word, this is one of the most valuable offensive weapons we have as believers, and thus we should embrace prayer and use it as our First response instead of our Last resort.  Praying is much more than simply reciting memorized words, it is truly communing with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  There are different types of prayers just like we have many types of conversations.  The Lord’s prayer is an outline/protocol Jesus gave us to guide us in our conversations with God:

• Our Father in Heaven – connecting with God intimately and relationally as our loving Abba father who deeply loves us and wants what is best for us.
• Hallowed be Your Name – worshipping the name of God and acknowledging His position as our Sovereign God, Savior and Creator of the universe.  Praising Him for all that He is to us to include: our Righteousness, Sanctifier, Healer, Banner of Victory, Shepherd, Peace, Provider, Salvation, the Great “I Am” and much, much more…..
• Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven – praying God’s agenda first and making His priorities our priorities – i.e. praying for the lost and for those in leadership.   Seeking God’s direction and will for our lives.
• Give us this day our daily bread –  we acknowledge that God is our source and we are dependent on Him for everything. This is our opportunity to present our requests to God and petition Him in our needs and desires we have for ourselves and others.  This is generally what people think of first in prayer but it should not be the first order of business in our conversations with God.  We should first acknowledge God for who He is then praise and thank Him and try to better understand His agenda for us.
• Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors – this is our opportunity to repent and ask God to forgive us for our sins and also remember that we are called to forgive others who have sinned against us and hurt us in the process.  We must be willing to forgive if we want to receive forgiveness. This allows us to live in freedom.
• And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one – we do have an enemy that is doing all that he can to keep us from deep connection with God and the fruit of His Spirit.  We must recognize that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities , against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the spiritual realms” Ephesians 6:12; therefore, we must take our stand against the enemy of our soul and proactively fight the good fight of faith.  Replacing every lie with truth from God’s word.
• For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever – we express our faith in God’s sovereignty and His ability to move heaven and earth by His power for His Kingdom and eternal Glory.  We declare our faith in God for who He is and what He has done and what He will do in the future.

Just like any good relationship, the key to success is communication that leads to deep connection.  Prayer is a key to maintaining our relational connection with God and gives us access to His power.  So let’s make prayer a part of our day to day lives and watch God do His work in us and through us.  Pray first and pray often….”Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed” Mark 1:35Have a great week…-Duane

Word of the Week - Worship

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. John 4:23

God makes it very clear throughout scripture that He loves it when we His children Worship Him.  “He inhabits the praise of His people.”  Psalm 22:3  The word Worship in the Greek is “Proskuneo” which means to literally kiss the hand of the master or bow down in awe.  The picture that my pastor recently shared that was so relatable for me was the picture of a dog running up to its master at the end of the day and jumping up with excitement to greet his/her master and desiring to lick its master because it is so happy to see him and be in his presence.  I have awesome German Wirehair pointer named Kira who points birds and retrieves ducks.  I think God is so amazing that He created hunting dogs😊.  I love my dog Kira for many reasons but mostly because every day when I come home in the evenings she is always joyfully excited to see me and desires to jump on my lap and lick me in her excitement.  This analogy gives me insight into why it deeply pleases the Lord when we praise and worship Him with everything we have, heart, soul, mind and body.Throughout the bible there are stories of God showing up and doing miracles in response to worship.  Here are two examples:

• Jehoshaphat Victory over their enemy – As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and there enemy was defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22 God will go ahead of us to fight our battles as we focus on praising and worshipping Him in spirit.
• Paul and Silos Freed from Prison  – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all of the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose”  Acts 16: 25-26  In our darkest times of life as we are walking through the valley of tears if we turn to God in praise and worship He will bring us hope, life and freedom.

So what does it look like to worship God?  “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind” Matthew 22:37

• Worship is simply an expression of our love for God  We worship by expressing our love and affection for God.  If we really love God and understand what He has done for us through our Lord Jesus, we will enthusiastically express our love toward Him in our worship.  Singing, dancing and raising our hands in excitement is analogous to us jumping up to lick the hands of our master.  “Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod” 2 Samuel 6:14
• Worship is focusing our mind and thoughts on God  We worship by placing our focus and attention towards God and making Him a priority in our thoughts each day.  Meditating on God and His word day and night.  Giving Him our First Fruits – the First and best of our time, energy and resources.  Practically making God the first thought of our day and pursuing Him first thing each morning is an expression of Worship.  “Worship the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits of all of your produce” Proverbs 3:9  Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
• Worship is how we spend our time, money and energy  I once heard it said that we can know a person’s heart and priority by where they spend their time and money.  We Worship God by using what He has given us to bless Him and show our love toward Him and others.  How much of our time, money and energy do we invest toward God to show our love and thanksgiving.  This is true Worship.  “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Opposition

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Opposition is a reality of the world we inhabit during our time here on earth.  As a result of original sin, God allows the enemy of our soul to exist as an opposing force of darkness  in our world and in our lives.  If you have lived any life and are aware of what is going on around you, you will see this force at work.   The “Good News” is that through the cross we have been equipped with the power and victory of Christ to overcome the enemy/opposer.  The key is to understand and recognize that we are in battle, and we have a real enemy trying to destroy us.  The opposer’s simple objective is to keep us from being effective in living out our God mission and purpose while we are here on earth.  This enemy is ruthless and will attack us in our most vulnerable areas such as marriages, families, and close relationships.  The enemy will do everything he can to destroy our key relationships to keep us from realizing our potential in Christ and living to the full.  But be encouraged because God has equipped us with all that we need to overcome “For God does not give us a spirit of fear and timidity but one of power love and self-discipline”.  2 Timothy 1:7So how do we fight the good fight and overcome the opposer of our soul?  Mostly by recognizing that we have an enemy and calling upon the Lord who is our protector and strength through a daily abiding relationship with Christ.  We must remain covered in Christ through prayer, fellowship, staying in the Word, and worship of the living God, this is our shield of defense.  But we can and should also take an offensive stance by using our “sword of the spirit” which is God’s Word combined with praying in the Spirit against the attacks of the enemy.Handling opposition is difficult, especially if the opposition is from those you love.  Jesus faced opposition continually, even from those in His own family who said, “He’s out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).  In addition, Jesus also faced opposition from the teachers of the law who remarked, “He’s possessed by Satan” (v. 22).In Psalm 37: 1-7, King David, “a man after God’s heart” gave us a great prescription for handling opposition:

• Trust in the Lord – “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture” Psalm 37:3  See the attack/opposition for what it is and don’t make the problem yours.  Give it to God and invite Him to lead you in the process of fighting the battle.  Our God is way bigger than our opposition and enemy.
• Delight in the Lord – “Take delight in the Lord, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Psalm 37: 4  Keep your focus on the delightful and powerful relationship with God.  Remember what God has done in your life and “Give thanks in all circumstances” 1 Thes 5:17
• Commit your battle plan to the Lord – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust Him and He will do this; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun”.  Psalm 37: 5-6  Shift the weight of the opposition from your shoulders onto the shoulder of your God who is more able to carry it.  “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30
• Be Still/Patient and wait upon the Lord – “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7  How quickly we desire to attack and take matters into our own hands and begin to “fight hand to hand”.  We must learn the discipline of waiting upon the Lord to go ahead of us and clear the path for victory.  “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Proverbs 27:14

Trust, delight, commit and be still, and in the end you will see victory over your opposition and experience the true joy of the Lord.  In the process, God uses the opposition and process to build you into a mighty warrior in Christ so that you can realize all that He has called you to be in Him.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Fasting

"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Acts 14:23

Fasting is a powerful discipline of our faith that many believers overlook.  Most professing Christians believe in the practice of praying on a regular basis and have the discipline of prayer integrated into their lives in some form but rarely do I find believers that value and practice Fasting on a regular basis.  The word of God is full of many scriptures that reveal the power of Fasting especially if combined with focused prayer.  Jesus told His disciples that there were certain spirits that were only cast out by “Prayer and Fasting”.  “However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting;” Mathew 17:21. Even Jesus, God in the flesh, went out into the desert to fast and pray for 40 days and 40 nights Luke 4:2-4.  There is no doubt that as disciples of Christ we are called to fast and pray if we desire to realize all that God has for us:What is Fasting, Fasting is essentially giving up food or other things that you desire, need or enjoy for a designated period of time in order to focus your thoughts, attention and prayers on God.  Fasting is most powerful if combined with prayer, worship and scripture.  In Fasting we are simply working to intensify our spiritual connection with God by seeking connection to the spirit of God by feeding the things of the spirit and depriving the things of the soul and flesh.  As I mentioned in my “word of the week” last week, we are Triune beings comprised of body, soul and spirit and these 3 dimension of our being are in constant competition with one another.  By Fasting we are willfully and intentionally making our spirit the highest priority and thus our flesh and soul man tends to decrease and our spirit man comes more alive, which gives us heightened connection to God that results in increases spiritual awareness and power.  “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded” James 4:8  Fasting is simply a way to intentionally live out James 4:8 and draw closer to God.What does it look like, Since Fasting is a personal and spiritual practice, there is no right or wrong way to Fast but there are some best practices that are helpful.  Most Fast involve giving up some or all food for a period of time.  Of course, our body must have food and water or it will die so Fasting needs to be well advised to ensure we are not doing something that is dangerous to our health.  That being said, we can go many days without food if we are drinking water or juices.  There are many different food related fast that include short term total fast whereby you give up eating for 24 hours or for 2-3 days; or more extended selective food fast where you may give up meats, sweets and breads and only do fruits and vegetables for 21 days.  This is referred to as the Daniel Fast. You can also Fast certain meals each day for a period of time.  You can reference the following link for more detail on various types of fast  https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/fasting.  You can also starve your soul by fasting certain hobbies or activities that you enjoy.  Minimizing media and social media intake is also a great way to quiet our emotions of the soul and feed become more attuned to the voice of God. The key is that you are giving up things that feed the body and soul and focusing your heart, mind and body on God and the things of the spirit.Benefits of fasting, The goal and most exciting benefit in Fasting is getting closer to God and that should be enough, but God is so good and loving that He gives us many more benefits.  Since our spirit is heightened and in deeper connection with God, we often can experience major breakthroughs and miracles in our lives through prayer and Fasting such as physical or mental healing and deliverance from strongholds or addictions that have plagued us or loved ones.  We can also experience revelation and gain clarity for our lives, especially if we are in seasons of trying to find direction or make big life decisions.  During times of fasting it is not uncommon to have revelation on new ideas and new vision that can profound and life changing.  Physically our bodies benefit from Fasting and typically become more healthy by ridding ourselves of toxins and other things that are purged out of our bodies through the process.  Most people lose weight and simply become more healthy and just feel better.  The act of Fasting by depriving our soul and flesh helps to cleanse and purify our hearts, minds and bodies.  God ways are so amazing because He truly knows what is best for us and there are always practical benefits to doing things the way God intended.The bottom line is that Fasting is a powerful discipline and tool for us a believers and when combined with prayer can really be the difference maker in our lives and walk with the Lord, especially when it comes to breaking through strongholds as noted in Matthew 17:21.  I have been practicing this discipline for the past 19 years since I came to faith and it has had a tremendous impact on me and my family.  It has had such an impact in my life that in addition to Fasting and praying with our church for 21 days in January, which is currently underway and you can join or check it out online at  https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/, I felt led over 15 years ago to begin each week with a 24 hour Fast from sundown on Sunday to sundown on Monday and this has been a true blessing and protection in my life and walk of faith.   Fasting is the act of humbling ourselves before God and declaring that we are dependent upon God as our provider and sustainer.  “The reward of humility and fear the Lord Are riches, honor and life.  Proverbs 22:4“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:23-Duane

Word of the Week - Triune Man

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5:23

God created humanity in His image as a Triune being comprised of a Body, Soul and Spirit.  This makes us eternal beings unlike animals and other living things.  God also gave us free will, which allows us to choose whether we want to walk with God in spirit and live in connection with Him or simply follow our soulful and fleshly instincts in the carnal ways of our world.  Left up to ourselves, without a connection to God through our spirit, we are destined toward flesh, which leads to death in the spirt.  “For there is a way that seems right to a man but in the end leads to death” Proverbs 14:12  So why did God create us with these 3 dimensions and what does that mean for us in our walk of faith?Body/Flesh, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” Romans 8:5  God made us with a physical body that houses our soul and spirit man.  Our body is comprised of our 5 senses to include smell, touch, hearing, seeing and tasting.  Our bodies are made by God to have natural needs, wants and desires very similar to animals.  In fact our fleshly desires are very instinctual and animalistic and thus if not restrained by our soul and spirit can run ramped and create much chaos in our lives.  In order to sustain life, we have to feed our bodies food and drink and keep our soul healthy. If we allow our flesh to dominate then we will be controlled by the flesh, which leads us to a path of death and destruction.  The enemy of our soul operates very effectively in the realm of the flesh and is characterized at the “god of the earth”.Soul/Mind, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that is by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is the good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2  Our soul is comprised of our mind, will and emotions. This gives us the ability to think and feel and have relationship.  This dimension of our being allows us to experience life and interact with the world, it goes beyond our bodily senses to our inner thoughts, desires, dreams and emotions.  As we all have experienced, this is what drives most of us day to day and gets us out of bed to do whatever we do.  We don’t necessarily control our thoughts and emotions but we surely have tremendous influence over these things and must recognize that what we feed our minds and emotions is directly correlated to what we think, feel and do, who we really are as a person.  The principal of garbage in equals garbage out applies as does the principal of life and growth.  This is why it is most important to feed our minds and souls things that are good, healthy and life giving.  We should be very aware of what we are feeding our souls in terms of what consume through books and media along with the people we hang out with and the environments we spend time in.  We must be wise about what we feed our soul and guard our hearts and minds in Christ.Spirit/God within us, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:17-18  Our Spirit man is the part of us that allows us to be in connection with God through the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).  This is the part of our being that lives forever either with God our away from Him.  This is the part of our being that is awakened when we are born of the Spirit in Christ and are saved through surrendering our hearts to God through salvation.  Interestingly, the process of being born of the Spirit typically involves us dying to our soul and flesh so that the Spirit can come alive in us and be regenerated in Christ.  Only after we are born of the Spirit do we truly begin to live as a complete being, which is why the experience is so powerful especially for people who have lived a large portion of their life without their Spirit being alive.  I know this to be true because I personally experienced this at the age of 33 and it was the most profound experience of my life to date.Living in the Spirt from the Inside out, Our tendency and natural inclination is to live from the outside-in as we go through life day to day focused on our bodily senses, thoughts and feelings leaving little if any room for our Spirit to be fed and grow.  I believe the key to life in Christ, the abundant life that Jesus speaks about in John 10:10, is to live from the inside-out.  If we make it our daily pursuit and priority to feed our Spirit by abiding/connecting with the Lord through praise, prayer, reading scripture, fellowship with believers and other spiritual disciplines, we will experience life and I Spirit will flourish allowing us to be Spirit led and have dominion over our soul and flesh.  The result/biproduct of living in the Spirit is that we will produce Spiritual fruit. This is the true goal of a believer and follower of Christ, that our lives would be fruitful.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23I pray you will experience the fullness of life in Spirit, Soul and Body as you live from the Inside-out in Christ…-Duane

Word of the Week - Everything "New"

"He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” Revelation 21:5

As we begin 2020, a New year and a New decade, we have the opportunity to start fresh and begin a “New” chapter of our lives, especially in our walk of faith.  I love this about God and our faith as Christians; as foundational as God is in the fact that He has been around since the beginning of time, He is the same today as He was in the beginning, but He is a God who loves to make everything New.  He desires for us to be born anew in His spirit so that we can experience the abundant life He promises us.  He also desires for us to be renewed and refreshed so we can continue to experience the fresh life of God and have the capacity to minister this hope to others.  In the Spirit of God there is always life and Newness and He calls us to pursue New things in Christ so we can flourish and rejoice in this truth.New Life in Christ, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 The New life in Christ, which is the abundant life that He speaks about in John 10:10, comes to us when we surrender our hearts and lives to Christ and are born afresh of His spirit.  In order to experience the New things of God we have to get ourselves out of the way and allow Him to do His work in each of us.  This is where salvation and New life begins and we literally become New persons in Christ.  I experienced this at the age of 33 and literally it changed the way I see God, myself and the world and I have not been the same since.  I was given a New identity in Christ and it awakened in me a New perspective that has truly been the biggest blessing of my life and made me a New person with New priorities, values, interest, disciplines, hopes and dreams.New daily perspective, disciplines and rhythms, “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17  The truth is that no matter how much we love God, life has as a way of taking a toll on us as the years pass and we experience the challenges, pain and disappointments that we will all experience since we live in a fallen and broken sin filled world.  According to this passage in God’s word, the key to living a healthy life is that we allow God to renew us each day by connecting to the vine of Christ, which provides the sustenance that we need to stay strong and faithful within our inner spirit man.  This is what gives us the strength to press on through the challenges of life with strength, faith and hope.  To maintain a healthy perspective we must have daily disciplines and rhythms that keep us in connection with the Lord.  Investing focused time each day with the Lord by talking with Him about life and our challenges (prayer), receiving guidance and instruction from Him (reading His word), and telling Him how much we love Him while gaining love and encouragement from Him (praise and worship), are some of the basic disciplines and rhythms of our faith that are key to having intimacy with the Lord and experiencing New things in Christ.As we begin this New Year I pray we will take inventory and make adjustments to our lives so we can experience the Newness and Goodness of God.  If you have never experienced the fullness of God by being born anew of the Spirit, there is no better time than now to surrender your life and start afresh in 2020.  This will be the best decision you ever make.  Simply praying the prayer of salvation and making Jesus your Lord and savior.  For those who have already surrendered their hearts and are pursuing God, there is no better time than now to assess, adjust and recommit to our daily disciplines in pursing an abiding relationship with Christ.  My friend John Maxwell says “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily.  The secret to your success is found in your daily routine”  Like any relationship, our relationship with the Lord is something that requires daily focus and attention.  Since it is the most important relationship in our lives, I would submit that it requires the most focus and attention.I pray the you will experience God in a New and Fresh way in 2020…-Duane

Word of the Week - Refuge and Strength in times of trouble

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46: 1-3

Life is filled with all types of experiences that include: joyous celebrations, challenging situations, spontaneous encounters, exciting adventures, triumphant victories and unfortunately sometime tragic events that we did not see coming.  I have heard it said that we are all either approaching a storm, in a storm or coming out of a storm.  So what do we do on those days when we find ourselves in the middle of the storms of life and tragedy.  When we get the unexpected phone call about the plane going down, like happened yesterday in my home town of Lafayette, LA where 5 lives were ended (3 of whom I knew personally), or the call about the diagnosis of Cancer for a loved one etc.  The reality is that we will all face these types of situations in life, the real question is how will we process and deal with these storms.  I love God’s word because it is full of true life stories where people like you and me were facing tremendous peril and tragedy and God used these situations to show His love and power by providing the strength and peace needed to weather the storms of life and ultimately overcome in victory.  I also love God’s heart as stated in the verse about that “He is our refuge and strength, and He is present as our helper and comforter in times of trouble”.  He does His best work in us and through us in the challenging and tragic storms and circumstances of life.As our refuge, God provides covering and protection to us so we can find comfort, protection and peace in the middle of the storm.  We literally can get under His covering and find rest in the midst of the emotional chaos, which is what we need when we are struggling with tragedy.  We simply need to look to Him and call upon His name and trust that He will show up and give us what we need.  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:2As our strength, God allows us to face these trials and tragedies with courage and He actually emboldens us to step up so we can extend love and empathy to those around us who are also facing the storm but may not have the hope of faith in Christ.  So many times our first instinct is to try to fix things in our own strength but I have learned through my experiences in life to look to the Lord for His supply of strength.  He will give us the divine strength we need to rise to the occasion.  An example of this was the amazing strength Coach Ensminger’s displayed in last night game after just finding out the tragic news about his 30 year old daughter-in-law perishing in the plane crash yesterday morning.  This is a quote from Ensminger’s player and wife last night after the game “For Coach E to come out and call the plays he called… somebody was watching over him,” says running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Asked in the postgame celebration how her husband did it, Amy Ensminger’s eyes begin to swell with tears and she points up to the heavens, “God,” she whispers.”  See  https://www.si.com/college/2019/12/29/steve-ensminger-lsu-carley-mccord-death for full story from Sports Illustrated article.  This is the essence of our faith, to trust God when all hope seems lost and we are broken and distraught by the calamity of life.  Somehow in the midst of the pain and darkness, through faith and trust in Him, He shows up and His light and love supplies us what we need.  He cast out fear and brings joy, hope and peace that allows us to receive the love of God and gives us the capacity to extend this love to others to encourage them in these times of need.  He is ever-present to those who know Him and call upon His name.I pray God’s blessings over you and your family in the New Year…..-Duane

Word of the Week - Christmas

" For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Have you ever taken time to think about the impact that Christ birth had on our world?  Beginning with the celebration of Christ birth on December 25^th, which has culminated in the holiday of Christmas that is recognized and celebrated by most everyone around the world.  It is by far the most celebrated holiday in the western world and has an unrivaled impact on our world both economically, relationally and spiritually.  Further, our entire world calendar is based upon this event!!!  We actually measure time BC (Before Christ) and AD (After Death) by this single event.  This was obviously a major historical event that changed the world forever but yet it was such a simple and humble happening; a child being born in a stable amongst a handful of people.  The most amazing part of the Christmas story is that God sent Jesus “Unto us” you and me, as the gift of all gifts.  This is truly the reason for the season of Christmas, to celebrate the amazing gift of Christ unto us, all of humanity.  Anyone who wants to receive the gift has access, through a relationship with the person of Jesus.  Jesus came as God in the flesh and He is known as the great “I am” everything we need He is for us.  Jesus is both awesome and magnificent but personal and intimate, which makes Him our God, our friend, our comforter.  740 years before Christ, Isaiah prophesied the birth of Christ and some of the characteristics of Christ:Wonderful and Mighty  – In His awesome and eternal power, Jesus is King of all the heavens and the earth.  He is beyond our ability to understand, which makes Him our wonderful and magnificent God almighty.  His power is endless; He has been given authority over all things and literally sits at the right hand of God our Father and intercedes (advocates) for us.  We will ultimately stand before Him and He will have the final say as it relates to our eternal destiny.  If we “know Him” then we will enjoy eternity with Him.  “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22-23  He will ultimately return to earth in His second coming as a mighty King with a legion of angels with a mission to reconcile the world. Whether we choose relationship with Jesus or not, ultimately we will acknowledge who He is. “It is written, “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God” Romans 14:11Everlasting Father – We all desire to have a loving and caring Father in our lives to be there for us in the ups and downs of life.  There is nothing like the presence of a loving father when we are struggling and need strength and encouragement.  It is also a blessing to have a father who can share in our victories and success in life and who has our back no matter what the circumstance.  This is who Jesus is for us, He gives us access to Father God through the trinity and desires to be our loving “Abba” father in all circumstances of life.  Regardless of the status of our earthly Fathers, who are also a very important to us and our wellbeing, Jesus is there to be our connection to our Everlasting Heavenly Father. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."”Counselor and Prince of Peace – As our Counselor, the Lord desires to be our friend and confidant in times of need. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14  The death and resurrection of Jesus gave us access to the Holy Spirit who comes as the great Comforter to give us what we need in times of trouble.  As the Prince of Peace, the Lord offers us the ability to stand in peace even during the most trying times of life.  One of the names of Christ is Jehovah Shalom, the giver of Peace.  We all desire to have peace in our lives but it is not something we can produce in our own strength but we can surely find peace in Christ our Prince of Peace.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27I pray that the Lord’s grace over each of us to receive the true blessings of Christmas in Christ and remember the reason for this holiday season.  “For unto us (you & me) a Child is Born”.Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!-Duane