31st July, 2008
In The Twilight
In the twilight of your dreams revelation comes. Deep thoughts that can only be promoted from the heart and creativity of God. Wondrous moments of deep revelations that stir the inner most being of your own creativity. Often during these moments I just want to be released into the revelation and the goodness that I sense.
As the Lord continues to release the depth of His riches into the heart that is receptive He continues to be pleased with the response: Yes, Lord yes! Twilight is a momentary time in our hearts between activities and worldly responses. It is that sensational space of time that equips us to be able to hear God clearly and respond honestly to His presence.
At this moment. listen, envision, embrace and go forth with the fresh revelation from God. It is God speaking to you and revealing Himself to you! How awesome is that? Hunger, seek after, ask for this moment in the twilight of your dreams. He desires to bless you from His own creativity and resources.
It is when that twilight time embraces you that your heart and mind is clear and wide open to the spiritual presence of the One True God. Wait on the Lord and be renewed through His presence and take what He gives you and be alive in the twilight of your dreams.
Best
Dennis
Posted at 11:08 pm | Comment (0)
10th July, 2008
Moving Forward Into Blessings
Looking into the future through the promises of God can be very exciting and refreshing. Keeping focused on what He has planned for you is deeply important for your success as you move forward! Everyone has a dream, hope, purpose and destiny. Yet, so many act as though they are never going anywhere on a road that offers destination into the Throne of Grace. The detours that some may take will, in time, cause failure and jealousy of others. Knowing what God has planned is the “key” to never taking the detour that the enemy places on the road of your destiny. How can anyone keep this from happening? The answer is simple, yet it takes a pursuant faith and trust in God. The likelihood of falling short of the promise becomes “nil” when you spend time in prayer. Asking the Lord each day to direct your steps and give wisdom to your thoughts and words. If there is a moment of question or concern: Stop! Ask, wait and be renewed in your destiny. The Lord desires only the best for you and the depth of your life’s path. I really do like the scripture in Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Take a moment today and reflect on your path and future. Ask the Lord to make any adjustments that need to be made. Keep your eyes upon Him. Cast every care upon Him today! He cares for you and the blessed future He has for you.
Best
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.
Posted at 10:06 am | Comment (0)
2nd July, 2008
Do You Have Church Growth Plans?
Just what is in your future? Has your heart or mind been looking ahead to what the future may hold for you and your dreams. The most qualified statement is always going to be: Do not stop dreaming your dream! When I was just a very young minister of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, I was the pastor of a small country church. I would pray for growth and go to every seminar and read all the books on Church Growth I could find. Yes, the little country church grew and it was quite exciting! It grew only to the capacity that it would hold though! Even though I had prayed and overcame many obstacles I wanted to grow further in the “plan” for renewal and soul discipleship application. I was not satisfied! The one thing that stopped the growth where I was came to me simply but incredibly incomprehensible for me. The “folks” of the church did not want to grow any further. I thought my dream had ended! This is all there is? This cannot be! So I contacted a pastor who had grown to about 2500 people and was highly respected in the field of Church Growth. To my ultimate surprise and highest encouragement he agreed to meet me for lunch. Well, to make a story get to the point he said these words to me: Never stop dreaming your dream, you will make it if your keep dreaming. People will always try to wake you up and bring you into there nightmare! It is a nightmare because you do not belong in their dream. Always be spiritually asleep, dreaming on what God’s future is for you. Be spiritually awake so you can take others along on the journey of your dream. Make your dream real to them and you will grow.
I have never forgot those words. One of my favorite scriptures in the Word of God is: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
So my heart has always dreamed and my dream continues as I am asleep spiritually in His great promise and I am alive (awake) in Him so I can tell others of His great love. Do not stop dreaming your dream! It will come as that which you have dreamed.
Best
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.
Posted at 10:13 pm | Comments (2)
1st June, 2008
Compassion Of The Heart
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
Compassion is defined as a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.
When Jesus spoke of the heart in the Gospel of Mark, He mentions the evilness of it. (Mark 7:21) The heart is an evil thing and out of it comes the deepest and richest of sins and deceptions. Human nature is not very compassionate, especially in the day we live in. (Matthew 24:12). When Jesus looked over the city of Jerusalem and noticed the people and how they acted and He was moved with compassion. (Mathew 9:36)
The heart of man holds in it the emotions and responses that can change a world. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 All mankind must have a heart transplant, spiritually speaking of course. As one matures in faith there is a “life” change that takes place in the heart. In other words take out the heart of stone (Job 41:24) and replace it with a heart of compassion! (Ezekiel 36:26) The heart of man can plan and most likely he will follow the plans, but the counsel of the Lord is what really matters (Proverbs 19:21.) The shed blood of Jesus can make the heart clean and restore it to its actual creative design. Not one person can make the heart clean, only the Lord can! (Proverbs 20:9) Thanks be to God, who was moved by the cries of this world, to send His Son to restore, once again, the compassion needed to show love one to another. A man’s heart will always reveal his real character (Proverbs 27:19) and that character will express the compassion toward evil or toward good. (Matthew 12:35).
Doing well to others and helping those carry their burden are “marks” of a pure heart that is compassionate and full of the mercies of God. Open your heart to the Lord and He will fill it with compassion and the desire to help those in need!
Best
Dennis
Posted at 12:09 am | Comment (0)
5th March, 2008
The Distance Of A Memory
Time just seems to slip by even as we grasp at it like reaching into the wind. Dreams embrace our rest like the moss on the Oaks of California. Thoughts race through our minds swiftly as thought they have a better place to be and time is running out. Just to ponder over mental pictures and past activities causes one to embrace what hope has for the future. How distant is a memory? Could it be so far away that the very thought bring loneliness? Could it be so close that it is seemingly reachable by the physical touch? The mind is vast and can hold the world in its grasp. The designs of the great artists and architects of our present time and history all began as a thought or in essence, a dream which fostered a completed task that then became a memory. The distance of memory can be far away but brought close in proximately to the individuals ability to embrace hope. I personally enjoy what Paul stated:
“Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. ” (Ephesians 5:16, AMP)
Memories are the reward of our thoughts and actions. One should grasp each opportunity to create a memory that will bring joy and peace to the heart and soul. Procuring the positive aspects of life through a relationship with God as the center of all that you are. Asking of God to give you His thoughts for the future so that your memories of the past are wholesome and lively to your heart. Memories are not so far away that they are impossible to experience again. What makes them distant is your inabilities to embrace the wind.
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.
Posted at 8:59 pm | Comment (0)
23rd February, 2008
Don’t Loose Your Dream
When I was young and just starting out in my ministry I sought wisdom from seasoned people. These people had walked with the Lord much longer than I and I really respected them for the accomplishments they had made for the Kingdom of God. I am not going to name a name (because I really do not like name droppers) but this person really had it rockin’ for the Lord in the late 70’s. He continued so till he went on to the Dream Giver’s House!
As I remember, we stood in a dusty, dirt parking area outside my first church in Salida, CA on a exceptionally hot summer day. There were six people in attendance at this time, besides, my wife and myself and our four children. We were living in the basement of the church in the three Sunday School rooms. I had been the pastor for about 2 months. This great person of God came to visit me after I made a call to gain audience and lunch with this individual. As we stood there, I ask about dreaming the dream of faith. The response was incredible and has stayed with me now for about 30 years. The response: “Dream the dream that you have from God. Dream till it comes true. Your dream is over when you let someone or something wake you up from it!” I thought that is it! My dream from the Lord is a not just a small mediocre dream but a big dream! I could not manufacture a dream this big. So here is what I say: “Just dream and dream big! Don’t let anyone or anything take a bite out of your dream!”
Here is an interesting picture that I found to justify the point.
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 1:25 am | Comment (0)