dennis j adams

Watching, praying, reading the Word all with great hope for the life of a loved individual.  Last night I stayed up late and prayed and read with my mother-in-law.  Looking at her face and deep into her eyes, searching for a sign or some form of communication. None! There is a peace which I am grateful to witness and thankful to be chosen by God to be part of a well fought journey.  Paul when writing to the Church in the Book of Philippians speaks of a peace, which now has even a deeper meaning to me.

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 AMP)

No fear, just peace, peace that the world does not understand, and quite honestly, I certainly am learning each day, to understand.  Theda, my mother-in-law, has chosen to trust Him at the crossing.  C. H. Spurgeon once wrote:  Christians do not fear death, they fear the crossing! Oh, the crossing!  Again, to be part of a saint’s life at this moment brings me to an understanding of the trust and absolute peace that we must have in our relationship with the Lord.

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Today as we continue to journey with a saintly women as draws close to eternity spritual activity is “real”. The smile is so peaceful and the eyes so patient and full of compassion. Waiting on the Lord in Psalm 40:31 has whole new depth to by inner-man.

I am typing this blog on my iPhone.

Peace

Dennis

Just a quick blog! My mother-in-law has had a major stroke.  I am in Maryland. Please pray for her. Her name is Theda Pagan.  She had so much to do with all of us coming to the Lord 30+ years ago.  She has chosen to not receive any food or water and wants to go on.  Please pray for Kathy, myself and her brother John.  This is really devastating to the family.  We trust God and Theda is a really strong Christian women.  She ministered to a generation of hippies and brought many to know Jesus.  She was also a pioneer in the “homeless” outreach in the Pentecostal movement in Florida and California.

Peace

Dennis

Tonight, as I sit here in front of this glaring yet inviting monitor I began to ponder or contemplate the response of so many people that I minister to. This is also a reflection on many people in the Kingdom who just settle for what comes! Anyway, my point is quite simple: Don’t settle for anything less than what God has promised!

Many of the people who I serve as pastor just get by with a little help from their friends (Joe Cocker mentioned that in one of his songs “Get By With A Little Help From My Friends”. I knew some of these people when they had more and when their families were together. But, what happened is that life started to offer them pleasures that don’t satisfy and cause short-term reactions with long term affects. They begin to settle for less. They once loved their children around them and would do anything to keep them safe. As they continued to settle for less and gain short-term amiable receptivity through bad decisions the family became less important. What we need to understand is that life can offer some short-term answers for difficulties and can be very persuasive, however, what God promises has long-term affects. He offers a connection and position in life that does not impair the short-term! I like what David testified:

Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed. (Psalm 37:24-26 AMP)

My heart is so burdened for those that settle for the less and loose the most!

Look to the Lord for the connection and position you should have in life. The problem can be solved and the result will have a inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable affect on your life and the lives of your children. Do not settle for less, God has so much for you!

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

It’s raining here and we need it but I wish we could do without it! This really makes me think of life as it rolls by and takes us for a long ride. There are things that happen in life that I really wish it would go away. As mentioned before, with a deep sigh, we need the lessons that life teaches us. If you think you have the bull by the horns you have better look to make sure it’s not a measly little calf that you have ( I know calves do not have horns)! These lessons in life throw me for loop and when I land it really hurts! How about you? But when I get up I really appreciate the ride I had been on! I learned to be stronger and more courageous! The Word mentions the fall of a righteous man:

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. (Proverbs 9:9 AMP)

For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16 AMP)

The [consistently] righteous man knows and cares for the rights of the poor, but the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge. (Proverbs 29:7 AMP)

Where this comes into practice for me, at least, is a progression of principles:

1. Instruction is needed to live this life holy and upright before God.
2. Trials come and tribulation can be excessive but you should never give up on life dreams.
3. Having a concern for life and for the outcome of others will give you knowledge that cannot be found in a classroom.

It is still raining out, but I have decided to learn from it and not run from getting wet!

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

I have again been face to face with a computer screen for about twelve hours. I am such a “geek”! New programs to learn, new designs to make and time just flies by.

I want to say that I am praying for victory in all our lives. The life of a Christian is so different today than it was a few years back. The message has not changed! The method has and so has the approach. I see so much here in Santa Cruz that often I wonder if people knew that they could be set free if they would just believe. Believe in the One True, Holy God, that loves them so much that He desires to forgive them of all their sin. I see so much in the “dirt” that I come home and pray that God would just breathe on this community and America as a whole.

There are so many “weak” Christians today that have relaxed their “standing” of beliefs! It is all comfort and pleasure! I like comfort and pleasure is really a nice addition to life, however, souls are on the scale and the weight of sin is outweighing the truth of forgiveness! My heart is heavy with the burdens of the lost. So simple, so easy, to reach out to God and be set free. Comfort and pleasure sneak up and snatch away the truth of a relationship with God. As sin grows in this country, like aides and cancer, there is cure that grows up higher than all! Nothing is higher than the Cross of Calvary and certainly nothing is greater than the Christ who died there for you and I. Tell it loud and tell it clear: Jesus cares and wants you to be delivered, happy,and living a fulfilled life!

Peace

Dennis

Have you ever wondered who “13″ is or “554″? You know what I mean don’t you? When you buy a new clothing article and in the pocket you find a loose tag. That tag usually has these words: “Inspected by (‘a number’)”. I have often thought who is this person? Since a child I have found these tags. I would be really impressed if someone came forward and said I am the one who has inspected all these clothes for all these years. I am sure it would be a bunch of people, however, who are they?

So lately I have been trying to tie this into the scripture in some way. I found a great word from Peter instructing us on how to live amongst the unbelievers of this world. Oh yeah, also the unbelievers that attend church and act as though they are believers!

Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock]. (1 Peter 2:12 AMP)

Thank God, He will be doing the inspecting and not men! Also, it is really cool to know that we know the inspector! We are tagged (sealed) by His Holy Spirit! (Ephesians 1:12-14). No one can come along and say “Hey, not this one or that one, no not at all, I have inspected them.” the Lord Himself will inspect us, as He inspects us everyday. The Word shines deep into our hearts. Each day we wake the Holy Spirit bears witness in our hearts that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:14-17). When reading further into the Word, we find in the Old Testament that the Lord sent Nehemiah to inspect the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:10-16). No one knew he went out to inspect either! Yes, there were men that did not want the walls to built nor inspected. Just like today! There are people that do not want to know who the inspector is and they do not care. They just want to leave everything broken and in disrepair. How wonderful and magnificent it is to know that God has sent His Holy Spirit to rebuild the walls of our lives and to restore that Church on the foundation of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Yes, the nay sayers and the scoffers do not want it done, nor do they want you to be faithful.

The best wisdom I have for anyone is this: Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], (Proverbs 24:3) AMP)

God is the inspector of your life and your thoughts. Your sealed and free to build with wisdom and with knowledge (understanding) it (your life, family, home, church, ministry) will be fulfilled.

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in the blog article are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. Links are BibleGateway.

The elections of new leadership is showing to be quite a race. Republican against Democrat, just like usual. Who will win? The question, like always, is up to the voters of America. Issues that are so intertwined with each other that to untie one would unravel them all. What are the real issues: The war, the economy, unemployment, housing, medical insurance, the National Budget, the price of oil and as always abortion. This is just the beginning. When the radical polluted people (American Civil Liberties Union) come out from the cracks and start demanding that same sex marriage and the rites for internet pornography then the politicians begin to speak with twisted words. This is going to be quite a year! The media will elect who they think will be good (let’s hope that that does not happen this time.) However, I want to say, this is a prime time for prayer and fasting for our nation and the Church in America. On the other hand the voting for new spiritual leaders is also on the agenda for 2008. These religious politics have issues too. They are also intertwined and would bring out great debate if not handled with Godly wisdom. My point for this current blog is to remind each of us to stay focused on the issues of Faith, Hope and Charity. The greatest of these is Charity. We need a miracle in this nation and in the Church of America! Healing must come to this nation and the Church.

Peace

Dennis

This past Christmas service was really dynamic. They say that a picture is better than a thousand words. Just thought it would be cool to show all of you some great photos! Acts of love Foundation, Inc. in action!

[album: http://dennisjadams.info/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/Christmas 2007_1/]

Peace

Dennis

The storm, recently here in Northern California, could be compared to a the word “horrible” and not one that would be welcome again. However, I learned some things (or reminded) that are worth blogging about.

1. God is in control of the weather. (DUH!)
2. It is really cool not having electricity. (Reminded Kathy and me of our hippie days in the late sixties and early seventies when we lived in a truck or tepee.)
3. You can rebuild relationships. (Because the television is not blasting in your face.)
4. Being quiet is really quite nice.
5. Not having the internet! (I really do not like to admit it, but it was nice to take a break from coding, beta testing, emails, and of course, blogging for a while.)
6. My iPhone was down because AT&T’s towers were affected. (I am still working on this emotion.)
7. Candles smell good when they burn.
8. I have to remember to get more lamp oil!
9. Reading the Word under candle light is really inspirational.
10. My granddaughter reminded me of how to trust God in the dark times! (She jumped off the table into her gram gram’s lap just knowing that gram gram would catch her! Gram gram was looking the other way when she jumped! Yes, gram gram cauhgt her just in time!)
11. Food tastes just as good from the propane stove. (Again, a great reminder of the hippie days! Man I miss them: sorry it is true!)
12. Storms pass and God is still there waiting for me to trust Him!
13. My heart grew even more compassionate toward those in need.
14. I went to bed early (now if you know me that is miracle in itself!)
15. There is only one shelter that really protects and that is God, Our Farther!

Through it all I really learned to fall deeper in love with God, my family, my friends and humanity.

Peace

Dennis