journey in spiritual revelations

2010-04-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

On this wonderful spring day as I sit here in my office wanting to be outside but knowing that I have work that must get done I began reflecting back on Palm Sunday and the message that God gave me to proclaim. Again I was stirred by the message not because I thought it was so great and Billy Graham would call be blessed because of it. I was stirred because God spoke again to me about the message. The message was taken from Luke 19:28-41 and the text of the message was verse 41, "As he (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city he wept over it." God asked me the same question I asked the people that Palm Sunday morning when was the last time you wept over your city, town, neighborhood, friends, and family. Jesus' weeping was not because he was excited about coming into Jerusalem he was weeping because of the judgement that some would face because of their action that would result in Jesus' crucifixtion. I believe he wept because he knew Peter would deny him and Judas would betray him. Jesus wept because he knew some would go into eternity with out God's redeeming love that he wants to give so freely. It is easy to write people off it is easy to say they are not worth much anyway, but God does not think that way Luke 12:6-7 tells us that five sparrows are sold for two pennies and not one of them is forgotten by God. So what does this say to me while my earthly attitude would want to say they are not worth it my Heaven father tells me tp weep over my city because the people are worth it because they afre his creation. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few pray for workers into the harvest field and as Isaiah said in his commission "Here am I send me"
May I weep over my city
Blessings

Holy Discontent

2010-03-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a book that was written several years ago by Bill Hybels titled "Holy Discontent" and maybe some of you have already read this book and if you have I hoped it has challenged you as it has e and I would encourage you to reread it and for those who have not read this book I would encourage you to read it.
As I began reading this book I thought to myself this is not what I thought this book would be about and actually I had no idea what I thought the book would be about I liked the name of the book. The book talked about fixing a broken world doing something to help the homeless, the Aid victims those in poverty and so on. The further I read into this book the more i wanted to read of this book and the more I prayed Lord give me a holy discontent. You see this holy discontent is not just about aids, the homeless the poverty level it is about that which gives you a vision and a burden to do something about it. Just this morning I was talking to a man at a local Hardees and he was telling my wife and I about a time in an airport in which there was a elderly man who was having a hard time with all of the things you have to go through at the airports these days since 911 and the person who was to be helping this man was standing there talking about something to a friend of hers and so this man spoke up and mentioned to this girl about her helping this older man to keep this story short this girl did not like it that this man mentioned this and was not very nice to him as well yuou could say for this friend of mine he had a holy discontent time there in the airport (Bill Hybels calls it a popeye moment "Thats all I can stands...I can't stands no more"). This book got me thinking of my own little world and how I have become comfortable in it and as long as it is status quo then everything is alright. The last chapter of this book was where I had to come to grips with my life and my holy discontent which had become an unholy contentment. Bill Hybels challenged church leader to examine their life and see if they have that holy discontent or not and if not that they should stop what they are doing and get with God and ask him to fill them with this holy discontent. It was again I realized that I needed a refilling of this holy discontent. While the which I talked about was for church leaders it holds true for all of us we need that holy discontent may it be for the homeless, the aids victim those in poverty and what ever it may be to fix our broken world my cry has been Lord help me to have a burden and a vision for the spiritually lost help me to have a holy discontentment and let me reach out to the lost. What is your Holy Discontentment?
blessings

Total dependence Total Trust

2010-03-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

Today I got to hold a new baby that was not even 24 hours old and she was beautiful. As I stood and held her she just laid their in my arms not afraid not scared that I was going to drop her or harm her in any way there was total trust as she was in my arms. Later on today as i was driving home from the hospital I was thinking about that total trust and total dependence in our Heavenly Father. You see when Roxanne and I got to the hospital and we entered the room the dad of this new little baby asked if I wanted to hold her and when the dad put that little one in my arms I thought that as how we must be with our Heavenly Father we must place our self in His loving arms and rest in His arms it must be total trust and total dependence. Now on to the total dependence. Just as this little one was totally trusting in me she will be in total dependence of her mom and dad for many years to come and being the parents that I know they will be they will meet the need of that small child. Paul said to the Philippians and my God shall supply all your needs. I know in my life that has been true time after time. So what have I learned from this little baby? My trust my dependence must be in my Heavenly Father I must surrender all that I am and will be to Him each day of my life. I do not know about the future but i know who holds my hand
Blessings

Is there a do not enter sign

2010-03-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Well this has been a great week I am on vacation I am not at home I am not in the office I am with family and spending some quality time with my granddaughter and what a treat that has been especially when she sees me and comes to me and raises her arms for me to pick her up.
But while on this vacation I am still walking and eating right except when it came to Culver's. Since I really do not know my way around the neighbor we are in I try to stay to a walking route that I do know and at the end of one of the streets that I am on the road narrows and it is enough space for one car to go from on road to another. Where these two roads meet there is a sign stating the familiar Do Not Enter words and I have to admit when driving toward that sign I have not paid any attention to it and drove right past it. There has been times I wondered why that sign was put there and why the road was not made at that point to handle traffic from both ways and why do we ignore that sign. Well yesterday was no exception as I was walking a car saw the sign but instead of turning around and going a couple of blocks over this driver slowed down to see if anyone was coming or if police were watching and then drove right past the Do Not Enter sign my thought was how many times have we seen God's Do Not Enter sign and have just kept going the way we were going and wondered why every thing went crazy on us and it did not turn out like we thought it would. God's word tells u that he has a plan for us these plans do not harm us but give us hope and a future. In my devotions today I was reading from an e-mail devotion sent by the Purpose Driven Life organization and Rick Warren said in this devotional that we have to admit that we need guidance from God. That also includes God's Do Not Enter sign even though we do not see God physically he is watching may we become sensitive to his direction in our life and not only see the Do Not Enter sign but may we see all that God has for us as he leads us in our daily life
Blessings

2010-02-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

I got a text for my son-in-law William today telling me that I have not posted a blog lately and I needed to do that. For me just to write something on my blog is not easy because I just don't post something to be posting I only do it when I am lead by God to do just that. So I am taking this as direction by God to post something, but this may not always be the case. I was telling the people at church today that i feel like a kid on Christmas eve and there is a package for me under the tree and there is a note on it that says do not open til Dec 25 (which is a cruel thing to do to a child). So what brought me to this point I guess I would say that it was Saturday eve when I was doing my walk I had taken some time when I was done working just to unwind before I came home I went by McDonalds and got a carmel Frappe' (which is not on the diet plan), but it sure did taste good. The after about and hour or so I put on my walking clothes and drove to the place that I am walking right now until it warms up. Many times it is during this time that I spend alot of time talking to God and He talking to me and it is always a good time. It was during this time that I had such a presence of God about my life that I knew he was walking along beside me even at the pace I was walking. I was crying out in my mind Lord what are you going to do I don't want to wait any longer it was then he said to me "Be still andknow that I am God" Then to add to that the message that God laid on my heart for today was 1.The Desire for more 2. The power for more and 3. Faith is more. For this post I want o talk about point number 3 and Faith is more. Faith is more than believing in certain fact it is responding to those even when it does not make sence or sounds logical. Faith is words and action together doing that which God has for us to do. So what are we living by established facts or faith in the God who created not only this world but each one of us
Blessings

I woke up this morning

2010-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Many mornings i wake up with a song o the heart and mind and many times it is a praise chorus such as "Now Is the Time to Worship" or it could be "How Great is Our God or any number of songs, but this morning it was an old one (I tell the people at church these are not old songs but traditional songs and we are not old people but traditional people) I think that part of the verse says "I woke up this morning feeling fine but I do remember part of the chorus I've got heaven on my mind." Now don't get me wrong I am not wanting to go to heaven right now and if God would say Darrell you have a choice to go to heaven now or at a later date I would want to say not now Lord but ask me again in about 35 or 40 years. What a way to wake up thinking about Heaven and walking the streets of Gold and seeing the saints that have gone on before us what a great day that will be. But for now I am here on this earth and I must do all that I can to help others to find God or to come back to Him. May your mornings begin with Heaven on your mind
Blessings

Reflection

2010-01-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Just recently I recieved a note on Facebook from someone I had not heard from in more than 30 years and I have to say that it was a shock. Asw much as I could remember it was back in 1973 that I last talked with this person then for some reason we lost contact with each other. Because of this note it has been a time of reflection thinking about old friends and what they are doing now and where they are at. With this time of reflection I thought of a good friend who for some reason knew when I was home from college for the weekend and he would come over and that first night him and I would spend the evening running around together (I know that my parents would have liked for me to spend the time with them) I thought about when my brother called me to tell me he was killed in upstate New York. This time of reflection has also reminded me that when God forgives us he does not remember the sins we have commited and that we start a new with Him. Since I have been on Facebook I have had contact with several friends from my teenage years and there are many who I do not know where they are at are what they are doing, but each of us in some way have taken different roads to travel in this thing called life. One thing we have in common is a God who loves us and wants us to travel this road with Him some have accepted that invitation and others have not my prayer is that many more will begin to walk that road called life with God.
Though out this week I have thought back over my life and there are things I remember doing and I think to myself I wish I would have handled that difeerently or had not said tht or sometime I wish I would have said that, but one thing I know is that I can not change the past and there are thing I would not change like meeting a girl by the name of Roxanne who later became my wife and this year in July will mark our 33 year as husband and wife. I would not change having two beautiful daughter who have blessed us with two wonderful sons-in-law and also 3 grandchildren (who this grandpa thinks are pretty special). I have been blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law (and if she reads this she will say you remember that) a super father-in-law who is with Jesus now and I miss and sometime miss even more when I know he would want to experience what we are doing.
I must mentioned this of all the things that has happen in my life that has been the best, and I know I would not change is that my relationship with God I thank Him many times over for not giving up on me for a church family who prayed for a teenager named Darrell Cox and one lady named grandma Geiger who said I knew God would call you to be a preacher. Times have not always been easy but God has always been there His word tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us
Blessings

Make me a Shepherd again

2009-12-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

Just recently I was with a group of pastors for our weekly prayer time together and as I mentioned in an earlier blog that through that time I was challenged to become a shepherd again and that being a preacher was a part of that shepherd. So over the past several weeks I have been praying that God would again give me a shepherd's heart. God did not call me to be a preacher but a shepherd and that preaching was just a part of that shepherding. I believe that as God makes me a better shepherd I will become a better pastor and preacher. This past week has been a week in which that prayer had a test would I be the preacher or shepherd. It would take me to long to tell in detail of all that has happen this week, but just to say was fun being a shepherd. I do want to reflect one time when I was a shepherd and it was so cool some would say a God thing. It happen Saturday (Dec 26) I was undecided if I was going to walk my 4 mile because I really wanted to walk outside, but the weather was not cooperating so I decided i would walk indoors but I was not happy. As I began my walk I met a man who was also walking and said the hi how are you thing and his comment was he was okay. After I finished my first lap his wife stopped me to tell me that this man had just got out of the hospital on the 23 of December from a 5 bi-pass heart surgery. I told them how neat that was that he wasdoing so good, but I have to admit that mind was on finishing my walk and not talking to these people so as I began my walk again God said to me you want to be a better shepherd yet you did nothing just now and was more concerned about your walk. My prayer became right then Lord help me to see this couple just one more time so I can pray with them and God answered my prayer and I was able to pray for the continued healing of this man and the regaining of his strength. I have to say it was so cool being that shepherd again I know I have more to relearn and God is faithful to help me to do just that. When i had stopped and prayed with this couple I was about a mile into my walk and I have to admit that the remaining 3 miles flew by it is so neat to be used of God to touch others.
Blessings

Jesus is not the reason for the season He is the season.

2009-12-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

Well it is less than a week before Christmas and for many people the pace of things start to accelerate. With out a doubt there will be things that will be over looked ad other things will be forgotten.
Soon families will be together friends will meet and a good time will be had by all. Presnts will be opened and some will be to big and others to small or not the right color and some will be just plain ugly (How I remember the tie I got and only worn once and then it disappeared)
Through all of this where does the baby Jesus fit in.
I wondered what it was like on that first night the baby Jesus was born what people thought when they heard him cry did they think just listen to that baby why don't the parent make him be quiet, but soon he was forgotten about because he was just another baby.
To many times he is the one forgotten or over looked I hear people say Happy Holiday and not Merry Christamas well I say in return and a Merry Christamas to you. Even some of those who say keep Christ in Christmas are the very one who have forgotten or overlook the baby Jesus and am I one of them. Have I gotten so wrapped up in the comercialization of Christmas that I have forgotten what Christmas is all about.
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed the coming of Jesus he told about a child will be born he meantioned of his suffering that of a redeemer and one who proclaim the word of God's salvation to man yet where does He fit into my life? Have I become just someone who thinks of the Christmas season as just that a season a time to decorate, party, and share gifts or have I kept Christ in Christmas.
When I look at Jesus or think about him do I see the Savior just like Simeon did. Do I proclaim it to all I see that Christ came into this world to bring peace to all men. Does His glory shine in my life just as it shined when the angels told of Jesus birth to the shepherds watching their flock. Well I have a lot to think about my prayer is Jesus may you not be just another part of this holiday season may you be the reason in my life for this season may I let you liht so shine in my life that others will see you and you will become in their life the reason for this season
Blessings

Preachers being preached to

2009-12-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

One of the highlights of my week is the regular Tuesday morning prayer time that I and 7 other pasters have each week. There are times we laugh, and then there are time we cry and other times we encourage each other. This morning we listen to as one pastor told of a break through with a prodical daughter and another pastor the struggles that come with having a teenage daughter, but then the host pastor began to share with us and he confessed to us that he went from being a shepherd to being a preacher. It was at that time that the toes of this pastor were stepped on. I had to ask myself have I gone from being the shepherd to being just a preacher am I more comcern about making sure that the sermon is just right and not the daily needs of the people God has made me the shepherd to. Well I had to say yes I am. What happen to my shepherd heart were did it go and can I get it back? The good news is that I can get it back and I can become that shepherd again I can not do it on my own but with the help of God I can again be that shepherd that God has called me to be. About a year ago I read a book by Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak and the title of that book is "The Way of the Shepherd" while it deals with how to relate and treat people in the business world it really close to home for pastors as well. I believe it is time to pull that book back out and read it again. Help me Jesus to be that shepherd again.
Blessings
Darrell

practice what you preach

2009-11-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

Just recently I preached a sermon on getting alone with God not just in our daily devotional time but a special time set aside just to be alone with God and to listen to him. So many times we come to God with a laundry list of things that we don't take time to listen to him. Then there are times in our life where it seems like what else could go wrong or take up my time and for me that has been the way for the past several weeks. Let me just recap a bit there was revival and working my part time job six days the week of revival, then there was ministers and mates retreat which was good to be at and a good time over all but then you come back to everything that needs to be caught up on, and then it is another six day a week spell because of sickness at work (need I say more). At the end of this message I challenged the people to take sometime that week just to get alone with God and to be still before Him so that we may hear what he has to say. Today (11/05/09) God said to me Darrell should you not also do what you challenged the people to do and that is to get alone with me and listen to what I have to say. So today when I got home from work and before supper I went for my afternoon/evening walk and I told Roxanne after my walk I will be in my office. When I got to the office I fixed me a cup of VIA coffee from Starbucks (and I recommend it for people who are coffee drinkers especially Starbucks fans) and put on a cd of music set to the sounds of the outdoors such as birds chirping and the sound of water going over the rock in a creek and I was quiet before God. I wish I could say it was easy to do and that God revealed his whole plan for my life, but at times my mind began to wonder and to think about all that is happening right now and God did not reveal anything earth moving to me other than He quieted my spirit and I found rest for my soul. Matthew 14:23 tells us, "he (Jesus) went up on a mountainside by himself to pray." i was on my mountainside today. May I challenge you to do the same thing go to your mountainside and be with Jesus. "Be still and know that I am God" Ps 46:10 When I went home for supper I was in a much better frame of mind
Blessing

2009-11-01T10:48:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a some time since I have posted a blog. I was wanting to do one several weeks ago after returning from our annual minister and mates retreat, but other things took priority.
What a rich retreat it was as we sat under the spirit of the Lord. I was not sure if I was wanting to be there because I knew from the description of the speaker I may have to be vunerable and open myself up to others and yes that did happen, but it was not so bad. It help to see that others are just as vulnerable as I was and have the same struggles as I have, but we all have the same GREAT GOD who cares and loves us. You know what it is not to bad being vulnerable Paul said when I am weak then I am strong we know this not to be of himself but through the power of God. More later
Blessings

Hanging Out With Jesus

2009-10-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

The other day I had the previledge to attend a Holiness Pastor's Day sponsored by the Wesleyan Holiness Consortium. This consortium is made up of 8 different Weslyan Holiness Denominations. It was a day filled with God annointed preaching and discussion. The first speaker was Dr. Kevin Mannoia who is the head of this consortium. His message was titlled "Hanging Out With Jesus" he began his message by telling us that the word "tarry" which we see in the bible means to hang out with so when the disciples tarried with Jesus they were hanging out. Dr. Mannoia went on to say that when we hang out with someone there is no agenda (as he illustrated this by telling of how his son was just going to hang out with his friends) they were just going to hang out. Dr Mannoia made a statement I will remember for a long time, "we become like the people we hang out with". When he said that my mind flashed back to my high school years and the people I hung out with and as well as the young people I see today and how they seem to be one in the same because they hang out together. This is true for we adults as well I just read on the Internet tonight about a small (micro) brewery that was closing because it was not making money one of the people who was sad to see this brewery closed was a man who said, "It was the owner of the brewery that got him started drinking beer instead of always drinking wine." So you see we become like the people we hang out to be. So if we want to be like the grumpy old man in town just hang out with him or if we want to become like the one in town everybody knows and love hang out with them, but more importantly if you want o be like Jesus HANG OUT WITH JESUS hang out with no personal agenda see what Jesus show you. May it be your desire to be like Jesus. Let us hang out with Jesus
Blessings

May Jesus be seen in me

2009-09-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Just recently I finished reading a book by Nina Gunter and Gay Leonard titled "Holy Leadership in a Hectic World" It was what I called my Monday night book because I took it with me to my part time job on Monday night and when I had time I would read a chapter or two. While it was a very good book, but for me the last chapter was the most powerful chapter of the book. I read the last chapter when the song "It Is My Desire to be Like Jesus" when going through my mind all day long and that was my constant prayer. This book is about Godly Leadership principles and one of the authors had this to say, "The Jesus style of leadership is as old as His Word. If you want to know more about God look at His Son, read His Word, model His Character, emulate His prayer life, adopt His servanthood. In short in all your leadership responsibilities, remember Jesus. This is not good direction for the Christian Leader but for each child of God. Again it is my desire to be like Jesus.
Blessings

2009-09-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

Maybe I have already touched on this subject and if I did I apologize, but I must say that this is a new insight. Garth Brooks had a popular song at one time and it talked about thanking God for unanswered prayers. For me though it was to help me see that it was not an unanswered prayer, but an answer I thought God had given to me. This answered did not come from God but from my emotions and if God HAD NOT opened my eyes as he did it would have been a very large mistake again based on emotions and not an answer from God. In some way I felt like Jonah I did not want to hear what God was really telling me but I went by my on emotions the difference was mine was based on family and Jonah's was based on hatred. While each one had a different reason they both were wrong just as Jonah ran I was wanting to do the same thing. God could have said okay Darrell I will give you what you want, but don't come to me crying when it all blows up in your face, but instead he said Darrell I love you so much that I must do all that I can to keep you from making this mistake and so he helped to see as it has been said the error of my way. I thank God for unanswered prayer or in this case the right answer but for me the wrong interpretation of that answer. The song of my heart is still, "It is my desire to be like Jesus"
Blessings

My prayer my desire

2009-09-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

At times most of us have had an annoying tune that has stayed with us all day long then there has been other times in which God has placed a song on the heart and mind. This evening after my walk as I was doing a few things around the house the word from a great hymn came to my mind "It is my desire to be like Jesus"now I can not rememeber the remainder of the song, but for me this is enough. As a little boy I remeber wanting to be every thing from a fireman to a garbage collector and as I grew God called me to his service and as great as this has been even in the low times my desire is to be like Jesus.
Blessings

Two Mile Prayer Time

2009-09-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

On June 9th and 10 th my wife and I became a part of a program to improve the physical health, the financial health, and church health of the pastor and his wife. In these two days we heard from some who have had physical problems in days and years past and how finding out what was wrong and how they became healthier had changed their life. About 2 weeks after these two days I got a call from a nurse who told me that first of all I had Sugar diabetes and second that I was dangerously over weight and the plan was to see my doctor, begin to excesise, and eat healthier. I have to admit that none of this sounded like fun and I started thinking why did I even want to go to this Health and Welness Summit, but I did and now go along with the plan. So I saw the doctor, saw a dietician, and began walking. I soon was up to 1 and a half miles of walking at one time and then 2 miles andI have even don 2 1/2 miles. While I have lost weight and have started eating healthier and I feel better the neatest thing that has come from it is the 2 miles of praying I do I talk to God and he talks to me. I have started praying for the occupants of the houses I past or for blessings on some of the business I pass and I even pray Lord close down that drinking establishment. The other morning I was out walking as the kids were waiting for the school bus and God said pray for those kids some of them have never been in church the only time they hear God's word is when mom or dad use my name in vain. I have to admit I began to cry as I prayed for these kids I past, at different corners waiting on their bus knowing that they need Jesus. Before I started praying that 2 mile seemed like a long way but when I am have a conversation with God time goes fast. For me it is not praying for an hour but for 2 miles. May each of us continue in an attitude of prayer ready to pray at a moments notice
Blessings

A time for Darrell

2009-08-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today I took time for Darrell just to get away from the phone, the office, the T.V. and such things. I packed my a light lunch, book,and a bottle of water and headed for a nature preserve I had just heard about a couple of weks ago. It is only about 15 minutes from home and a good place to go just to destress as I sometimes say. As I was sitting there eating and reading I realized ther was no other sound than nature and how peaceful that was. After eating my lunch and reading I headed out for the trails which went by a small pond then into the woods. My first encounter with nature was a spider web that had spun a web between two trees right in the middle of the trail which I was walking on. For you who do not know me and spiders ae not the best of friends. After getting around the spider web I started seeing other signs of nature such as deer tracks and other animal tracks at one point there were even some very small frogs that were trying to get away from a human. One trail ended up overlooking a small lake, I took advantage of the benches that were placed by this lake and just sat and watched and listened and prayed. The lake was so still that all of the clouds reflected off of this body of water. It was then that I thought about the time that Jesus calmed the storm and imagined the water had that calmness about it. Then God said to me I can calm your life storms just as I calmed the storm that scared the disicple so bad or I can calm you and all I need to do is trust in Him. I thank God for the bit of respite that I had today in his creation called nature.
Blessings

WHAT I NEED AT THE RIGHT TIME

2009-08-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

This past week has not been a good one.The days I have set a side for the major part of my church work was mostly taken up in my secular job and so I did not feel as prepared as I usually do and the devil has used that against me by telling me that I am washed up as a minister and I should just give it up. Then this afternoon I read a devotional that I get on line from the purpose driven life web sight and the writer was saying we all have been put on this earth for a purpose and that God knew us and set us apart for his service before we were formed in our mother's womb. God knew what I needed and he knew that I would need this afternoon as I did not take time to read the devotional until just a short time ago. In the book of Philippians Pauls tells us that God will provide for all of my needs according to his riches in glory and I am thankful that he was there to take care of this need today, God's word also tell us that he will never leave us nor forske us. Well another week is before me and it does not seem to be as busy in my secular job right now I am watching T.D.Jakes and he just made a statement that if we can see the invisible (meaning God) we can do the impossible. I do not know what this week will hold but on thing I do know is that God is holding me
Blessings

I'm Blessed

2009-08-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Just recently I was watching a Gaither video on T.V. and it featured Anthony Burger and I thought why did God take him home he was so talented and God was using him. Then God spoke to me and I realized that he had completed the plan God had for him. It is not important for me to know the plan God had for Anthony Burger, what is important is to know that God has a plan for my life. God's word tells us the he knew us before we were formed in the womb and he had already set us apart for his special purpose ( I know the plan I have for you says the Lord). So what must I do? I must be obedient to his word and direction for my life. At time I don't know where God is taking me and that can be a little scarey (as it is right now), but then God blesses me as he did today and he assured me it will be okay and he is in total control. So if someone ask me how I am? I can say with total assurance "I AM BLESSED".
Blessings

A New Born

2009-08-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I got two text messages from my son-in-law in Independence, Mo. One message basically said "How great is our God sing with me how great is our God." When I read that one I thought that is what has been in my mind all day and have been singing it in my mind all morning then the second text message said that my grandson Nick asked Jesus to forgive him today in church and I sang again "How great is our God sing with me How great is our God." There has been alot going on in my life lately from Roxanne bein in Kansas City for sometime now being with family and looking for work to life style changes due to medical reason (I have to admit the change while it is difficult has been good) just recently I made the statement that eating differently and walking more and kicking the pepsi habit is highly overrated, but again it has been good and I am feeling the difference (please keep praying for me with these issues). I have said all that I have said because it is God who is giving me the strength that I need. God's word tells us in 2 Timothy 4:17-18 the Lord stood with me, strengthen me ,and will deliver me. So as I look at all that has happen and look toward the future I need not fear for it is God who has control
Blessings

Doing God's will

2009-07-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Doing God's will I was reminded of that today in an e-mail from my son-in-law Justin. Over the past several days I have felt a full range of emotions from being sad because my family went back to Kansas City and Roxanne went along and will be there for 6 weeks, to content but excited of what God wants to do in my life, to a reflective day (maybe because it is raining) As being a human in our society I am bombarded by all types of messages and most of the time it is you are your own god, you have control of your destiny (and maybe that part is true for my destiny is on how I respond to God and his call on my life) to grab for all the gusto that you can yet nothing is mentioned about letting God be the directing force of your life.
As I sit here in my office and look out on the rain that is falling a nice slow soaking rain my mind goes to that of God and how after we go through a dry time spiritually then he blesses us with a slow soaking rain of his presence and things begin to look brighter. I don't know what the future hold I don't even know what the next second holds but I do know who holds all of that and I am secure in the fact that God has my best interest in mind. May I daily pray "your kingdom come your will be done."
Blessings

Same thought different people

2009-07-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

Over the past week I have had two different conversation with two differnt people and the conversation has gone to the very same subject. That subject is ,"if God is not a God of confusion then why do things seem so confusing in my life". I have been thinking about that alot over these past few days and I think the reason why it seems so confusing is that we are not doing as the acronim F.R.O.G. (Fully Relying On God) encourageous to do. Jesus tell us to come to him who are over burben and we are to take his yoke on us and learn from him. Things get confusing when we begin to muddy the water I remember as a small boy going on family vacation to the foothills of the Ozark mountains just below the cabin that we stayed in was a small river and we could tell how wet of a winter the area had by how clear the water was in the river. Along the shore of this river you would find pockets of water that were crystal clear until you began to stir up the water with your hand and the dirt that had settled to the bottom of the pocket of water was brought up and the water went from crystal clear to muddy. We do the same thing when it comes to God and our lives it is when we put our hand into the mix that things get muddied up and confusing. It is not God who brings confusion but we who bring the confusion if we would just Fully Rely On God trust in his wisdom confusion would flee (Iknow this is easier said than done)
Blessings

paper or plastic

2009-07-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

They say that life was simple at one time (well at least there were some simple ways). I remember an episode of the Andy Griffith show and a busy business man came through town and his car broke down and he wanted to get it fixed now and Walley the owner of the local gas station was off because it was a weekend and this busy business man was forced to slow down and take it easy for the weekend. This business man saw the simplicity of sitting on the porch after church on Sunday and trying to peel and apple without breaking the peel on the apple and having one long continuous peel well by the time the car did fixed the busy business man was enjoying the simple life. I wonder if you would ask some one of that era if life was simple what they would say. Simple is a relative term what is simple to one person is complex to another and life today as we know it maybe simple or complex but we have to admit there are a lot of decisions to make even if we want paper or plastic to bring or groceries home from the store in. Sometimes I wish life was that simple all I would have to say is paper or plastic, but at time life demands a more complex answer and at times they are not easy to come by, but for the child of God we have an advantage it is found in God who will direct our foot steps be that counselor and all we need to do is come to Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Paper or plastic what ever the decision may be I know the Lord has a plan for me and I can rest in sweet assurance that it is not to harm me but to make me prosper not in the eyes of this world but in his precious eyes. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all that we will ever need he will provide
Blessings

Coming Down From the Mountain

2009-07-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I spent a few days in Maggie Valley, NC the cottage we stayed in was 3000 feet about Maggie Valley and Maggie Valley is 3000 feet above sea level so I was told. The area was beyond words and the view from the upper deck of the cottage we were staying at was great, but at the end of those few days we had to come down from the mountain top and back to the every day grind of life. It is true of our spiritual journey some times we are in the valley and some times we are on the mountain top, but most of our living is not in the valley or even on the mountain top but as I would call it on the flat land. When we are on the flat land we go through the regular routine of life face the daily hassles and struggles. It is those days of being on the flat land that we learn the daily need of manna for our life we are not basking in the extra blessing of God nor or we struggling in the valley it is just routine. But through that routine I learn that God is ever presnt there is no showers of blessing and again nor is there any crying out to God to get me out of the valley, but just the assurance of his presnce and know he will always be there
Blessings

But for your Grace

2009-07-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

As I was reflecting back on this morning worship service I began to go through every part of the service from the I worship videos to the announcements to the message and everything in between. My thoughts went to one of the I worship videos "But For Your Grace"sung by the Women of Faith the first line of this song says, "But for your grace I could not be saved, but for your gace I would go my way I am forever grateful that you have been faithful." I must admit at times I have not been faithful in my walk with God but he has always been faithful and waiting for my return. This spiritual journey that I am walking now has been one of God's faithfulness and my learning what FAITHFULNESS ON MY PART MEANS. So all day long I have been singing "but for your grace I could not be saved" and I know if it was not for God's grace well my life would be of a different sort and one that I would not be proud of. As I said at the beginning of this blog I was reflecting back on the service and when I came to the message I verbally said well that was not one of my best sermons and at that time God checked me and said to me who made you judge of that message and what right do you have to think that way and did you preach the message I gave you to preach? Well all you were to do is be obedient and leave the rest up to me. But for your grace I could not be saved but for your garce I would go my way I am forever grateful that you have been faithful" help me Lord to be ever more faithful as we walk this thing call life
Blrssings

Taking up the cross

2009-07-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard a tune and it has stuck in you mind all day and you have hummed it, whistled it, or even sung the words and some times it is a child song that can become very annoying or other times it brings back memories of days past. Today the words "take up your cross and follow Jesus take up your cross every day" was the words that I sung all day long sometime out loud (when know one was around) and other times just to myself. So what does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus. In Matthew 8:18-22 Jesus talks about the cost of following him and at times we use excuses to not follow just as these did that came to Jesus. If we look at the passage that follows Matthew 8:18-22 we see that Jesus and the disciples face a storm tossed lake. God's word tells us that Jesus got into the boat and the disciples followed, Jesus knew the storm would hit but he moved out anyway across the lake. The disciple followed in ultimate faith and and when the storm hit they witness his power to calm the storm. But God does not always calm the storm but he calms his child. So to get back to the question what does take up your cross and follow Jesus mean to me. There will be and have been storms in my life and at times Jesus has calmed the storm and other time he had to calm this very frighten child of God. For me to take up my cross means no matter what to follow Jesus into the storm or where ever it may be. It is not about me it is all about Jesus, it is not about what I want but what Jesus wants, it is not my will but his will .
Blessings

A Day Late?????

2009-06-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

A popular bother and sister singing duet back in the 70's Karen and Richard Carpenter sang a song and some of the lyrics were "rainy days and Mondays always get me down". For the most part I like rainy days and secondly Mondays are no different than any other day of the week they all have their problems so I don't know why Monday gets such a bad rap when things go wrong, but yesterday I can say was one of those Mondays it was even suggested that I go back to bed and this time get up on the right side of the bed and my comment was that won't help. As the day went on I was reminded of who was in control of my life it was not my secular job, the workings of the church, or even my bank account, but it is in the hands of God. Need I say it but the Monday turned out to be pretty good and by the end of the day i was laughing again and not being a grump. Then this morning as I was reading a devotional I get via e-mail it talked about "Give us this day our daily bread" then I realized that I was trying to live off of the daily bread of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the rest of the week. When God directed Moses to tell the people to gather just enough manna for that day and not any more he had warned them if they gathered more it would go bad so gather just enough for that day. We are to do the same thing and yesterday I tried to gather more than my daily need and I looked to the days to come and said what if this happens and this will happen and so I better gather more today and be ready for the what ifs and the manna went bad then I heard God say Darrell I will provide.
God knew what I needed for yesterday and he knew I needed to work through it and today he confirmed in my mind and heart I did good. Some may say well it would have been a whole lot easier if you would have received that devotional a day earlier maybe so but God knew I had to work through it.
Blessings

A daily need

2009-06-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

There is or was a commercial on t.v. and part of the slogan had this phrase it is like a day with out sunshine. One part of my morning routine is to spend time with God in bible reading and reading a chapter from a book and lately it has been a book of sermons from the General Superintendents of the church of the Nazarene and I must say it has been great reading and rich sermons. On Saturdays I start my secular job at 4:30 am and come home about 3:30 pm it is a very long day with the end result being very tired and swollen feet and ankles. My first priority is to get off of my feet and the second it to keep from falling asleep for a long period of time. Do not get me wrong I thank God each day for the job and yet pray that it would soon be over and my time would be spent at the work of the church. As you may imagine I do not start out my day on Saturday with time spent in prayer and bible reading and when I come home there is a battle between what I need physically and what I need spiritually. There have been times that the physical has won out and other times the spiritual wins. When the physical wins I can tell a difference in my physical well being as well as my spiritual well being the physical feels great but the spiritual feels weak and in need so what must I do? The answer is simple spend time with my Lord and let him refresh the physical along with the spiritual. There are many things we can do without each day, but time with God can not be neglected for even one day (we can say it is a day with out sonshine). When we pray give us this day our daily bread may we feast on the rich manna of personal time with God.
Blessings

FeDar Not

2009-06-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned the last several years in the ministry have not ben easy years and at time they have been quite hard and there have been times when I wanted just to run away, but each time that feeling came up God intervened and kept me at the place he has called me to. We have heard the saying bloom where you are planted and till recently I did not see a bloom little less a bud, but God was not done with me.
The other morning as a part of my time with God I read a sermon by General Superintendent James Diehl. Dr Diehl is a General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene and one of the most Godly man I have ever met. In this sermon he was saying that the Holy Spirit that God does not want us to be bound by fear and he compared it to a spider that slowly spins a web of fear around us one stran at a time. "God wants to fill us with his power he wants to give us power to live Christlike lives in a sin filled society, power to be holy in an extremely unholy world, power to live victoriously in Christ." (D. Jmaes Diehl Blameless at His Coming pg.80)
With all that has been happening in the lives of my wife an I it has been hard not to let the web of fear begin to be spun, but God has been faithful and we have learned how to be faithful in all we do as well. What a rich time it has been to know that God will and does suppliy my daily need of manna and yes it is as sweet as honey, but I know that at time it will be hard and fearful and yet God will be there telling me "it is I do not be afraid" Sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He calms his child
Blessings

Good Friends

2009-06-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Over this past weekend my wife and I had friends who came to spend the weekend and what a great time we had as we always do. We ate alot, talked alot and laughted alot we even celebrated my daughter's 25th birthday. In the movie "Clear and Presnt Danger" there is a comment made by the President of the United States he said we are not just friends but we are good friends and that is the way it is with these people we are not just friend we are good friends.
Good friends are able to talk and share and not be judgemental with each other and above all else love. This is the way it is with God we can tell him anything we want and he will not be judge and above all else he will love us. Thank yuou God for old friends

Give us today our daily bread

2009-06-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I made a very passive decision that pertained to the church. At the time I thought I was being wise and caring pastor of the church, but in reality it was a huge mistake and an act of disobedience toward God.
Just recently after much prayer and spiritual growth I came to another decision and reversed my decision of several years ago. I instructed the people who needed to know what they must start doing along with that I set into place several points of accountability and I believe that pleased God.
In my first blog I mentioned a book I have been reading titled "Manna" and this book helps us see how we must learn to live on that daily bread which God will provide for that day not for tomarrow but for today not in abundance but just enough. This decision that I made recently also affects my wife and I and what we must do. To know that God will provide for my daily needs is an assurance that keeps me from fretting. As the author of the book Manna tell us to seek after the blessing giver an not the blessing I am again reassured today that God is providing for my daily bread.

In the midst of the storm literally

2009-06-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning I got a phone call from my son-in-law who lives in Independence, Mo. and he asked me if I had talked to my daughter he then informed me that during a storm that came through their area about 1 am Tuesday morning a large tree roots and all was toppled onto my daughter's car. Now a car can be replaced or if it had fallen onto the house it could be repaired the thing that concerned me is that if it had fallen on the house it would have ended up in our grandaughter's bed room which could have been devestating. As I thought about the tree and the storm my mind went to Psalms 121 and how God watches over us both day and night. I am thankful that the tree fell the direction that it did and I wonder what God has in mind for my grandaughter as she grow phyiscally as well as spiritually.

quiet time

2009-06-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

This morning my devotional time was being quiet. I spent the morning at a small lake and yes I did have my fishing pole but it was a time away from the office, the phone, and any busy work that I could find. It was a time to wonder at the sunrise the stillness of the water (I picture it in my mind when Jesus stilled the water) and how God provided for even for the fish and their ability to be able to take the bait off of the hook with out themselves being on the end of that hook. Most of all it was a time to listen to God and not giving Him my laundry list of concerns, burdens and needs. I under stand more of Samuel when he was directed by Eli to say speak Lord you servant is listening. We can not neglect our time in God's word and talking to him but sometimes it is good just to be quiet before our Lord.

our daily bread

2009-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Just recently I started reading a book by the title of "Manna" iy has reminded me that we will have what we need for that day. As God's word instructs us to ask for our daily bread "give us to day our daily bread" and over the past few weeks God has showed himself again in this matter as he has provided for our daily needs.