1st March, 2008
The Coast Line Walk
Today, February 29, 2008, I took a prayer walk along the coast on the west side of Santa Cruz. The weather was awesome, about 70 degrees and the the sky was a beautiful blue. The part of the coast I was on is also where the National Surfing Championships are held once a year. The waves were breaking perfect to the right and there were about 40 surfers out. I walked for several miles and prayed and sought the Lord for direction on the new journey Kathy and I have accepted and begun. I am now pastoring two churches in two different cities. Please, understand, this is not what I wanted! I asked the Lord and I even was brash enough to tell Him that I did not want to do this! I know, that can be a real oops! Somehow though, through all the prayer and supplications I made and a bit of fleecing, which I normally do not do, it all fell into place. Others seem to think that I will do a great work in all of this! I have yet to write the poem on this one! This is what I centered my prayers on today after I prayed for my family, my friends in ministry, and others that the Lord put in my spirit. Well, anyway the journey begins, March 1, 2008. There is no promise of income nor any other benefits, but I have never moved in that realm. I have always accepted the direction of the Lord, blindly, in other words, looking through spiritual eyes. That is what happens to visionaries. Ah, yes, that is what people say that I am, a visionary and a highly gifted administrator and communicator. Obviously, the people who say these things do not know me at all!
This journey is crucial to the Kingdom of God. I know that it is important to Him! I know that He has given a journey that must be prayed over and fasted through. Sometimes I wonder if God really knows me! Sorry, I had to write that! I know what the scripture states about Him knowing each of us! Hey, anyway, I was walking along and I stopped and watched the surfers. Wow, these guys and gals are really great. The waves were about 10-12 feet high and consistent. So, all of a sudden, I realized that I had to do just as they were doing, find the wave that was for me and ride it. Keep out of the way of the guy on the outside who had a right to the wave. Find it, ride it, enjoy it and find peace in it!
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 12:24 am | Comments (2)
5th February, 2008
In Relation To Life
Life becomes so distant as defined in the natural, when death draws near. Spiritual relations, define life as a Christian, in such a way that the subject of “life” reaches deep into the heart of God. All of the Body of Christ should be spiritual and not carnal! To some degree (each different from the other) our lives wrestle with the “natural” man. Since my journey began here in Maryland, with Theda, my mother-in-law, I have found that my “natural” man is rearing up at me in a fashion of true “yuk”. That is my Greek word for “turmoil”! I have noticed that the Lord is allowing this in my life so I can grow and become what He desires for me! My hope is to obey Him in all processes. I am seeking to go deep into the heart of God.
O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You from the land of the Jordan [River] and the [summits of Mount] Hermon, from the little mountain Mizar.
[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep at the thunder of Your waterspouts; all Your breakers and Your rolling waves have gone over me.
Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:6-8 AMP)
What matters is just how spiritual we are on this earth to show others that God does care! He desires, deeply, as the darkness has not an exit, to embrace us with a spiritual life that worships Him!
A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.
God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). (John 4:23-24 AMP)
Now that is something to relate to His mercy and how it endures forever. I hope that I make sense in my own life, because I have a great responsibility to make sense for others!
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 11:22 am | Comment (0)
2nd February, 2008
LIfe! What Is Important?
This journey that I am joined in keeps going, no stopping at a rest area. Is there any surprises? No, not really, just learning experiences that cannot be learned in a classroom or from a favorite novel. Yes, people are people during the journey to the “crossing”. The spectators have all the ideas and opinions but none that weigh to the opinion of the Lord! The “call” home! The end of the journey: the sojourner can see the finish line. Completion is just breathes away when compared to the opening of the womb and a new life begins. Today, I must admit, I am glad that God has “life’s” watch on his wrist. So many opinions, so many ideas, so many thoughts spoken before thinking them out!
So, what is important? Certainly not prestige, pageantry, reputation, nor societies rankings. Socializing with the Who’s Who, NOT! The lesson now is that the journey speaks volumes of what is important. The list is short:
- Comfort.
- Relations.
- The mended heart.
- The small smile that is larger than life.
- Eyes that speak without words.
- The small touch that embraces like two lost friends meeting after years of being separated.
- Realizing that patience has been there all the time to help us not to convict us.
My life has grown, matured, been stretched, and allotted to look into my own heart and weigh out what is important. My conclusion is simple: My relation with God, my family, good friends, and fulfilling the journey without regret.
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 11:46 am | Comment (0)
22nd January, 2008
Don’t Settle For Less
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.
Posted at 11:49 pm | Comment (0)
10th January, 2008
Being Reminded During The Storm
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.
- God is in control of the weather. (DUH!)
- 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.)
- You can rebuild relationships. (Because the television is not blasting in your face.)
- Being quiet is really quite nice.
- 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.)
- My iPhone was down because AT&T’s towers were affected. (I am still working on this emotion.)
- Candles smell good when they burn.
- I have to remember to get more lamp oil!
- Reading the Word under candle light is really inspirational.
- 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!)
- 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!)
- Storms pass and God is still there waiting for me to trust Him!
- My heart grew even more compassionate toward those in need.
- I went to bed early (now if you know me that is miracle in itself!)
- 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
Posted at 6:36 pm | Comments (2)
22nd November, 2007
Great Thanksgiving Day
It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family and friends. Thank God for good cooks and warm hearts. I’m stuffed, and I like it!
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 11:28 pm | Comment (0)