Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal."
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
It was time to remove the climbing vine and put a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the garage door area. As I began to pluck the individual vines from the brick on the house and on the trim of the garage door, I noticed how frequent and strong the plant had anchored itself as it grew each day.
As I examined each vine and each anchor, I noticed that there were several fibrous 'feet' that anchored the plant to both surface types. In fact, I thought it probably didn't matter what surface this plant was near, it would likely grow and place anchors periodically in order to be able to climb to higher heights. I wondered as I labored to remove the unwanted vines, that they would likely climb in excess of 100ft if surrounded by a tall structure.
Being rooted in God's Word each day is much like that plant, isn't it? As we continue to read our bibles and pray and trust God, we are able to climb to higher heights, and develop anchors along the way. The vine had endured periods of drought and excess rain, and has even continued to grow after many chilly nights with heavy frost.
Dear Friend, how about you? Are you like the climbing vine and are seeking to grow each and every day? When you spend time alone with Him will you develop the strong anchors you need to endure all the storms of life. Take a few moments right now to root yourself in prayer and in the reading of His Word and be Anchored in Him.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
There is a 10 day festival in our area that attracts over a million visitors each year. It is an annual tradition for families and other groups of people to spend time walking and talking and shopping for several hours. Numerous vendors in all directions sell everything from crafts and other household goods and clothing to delicious, freshly prepared foods.
As we walked by several booth areas, many vendors provided free samples of popcorn, cheese, dips, nuts and many other foods. In fact, representatives actively walked outside of the booth areas, offering samples to everyone in an effort to lure prospective customers to make a purchase.
Many thoughts filled my mind as we passed from booth to booth. Some products simply sold themselves by being fragrant, and were being offered at a reasonable price. Other products required a greater effort to convince customers that the product was truly worth the price. The use of microphones, mass sampling, and an outgoing, friendly staff often made a measurable difference in ultimately obtaining the sale.
You see, as God's children, we are like these vendors. Our words and actions each day can attract many people to follow Him. By being pleasant and fragrant to everyone we interact with, we can make a measurable difference in promoting God's love to a world who desperately needs Him.
Dear Friend, how about you? Are you sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone to ask you about God, or are you initiating contact with as many people as possible in an effort to share His redeeming love? He has commanded us to make disciples in all nations and to teach them everything He has taught us. It takes a gallant effort from all of us to reach the world, but it will truly be worth it when we see Him in Glory!
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal."
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Decisions, decisions, decisions! Each and every day we are faced with many decisions. From the moment we rise in the morning, to the time we go to bed, we have perhaps hundreds of decisions to make throughout the day. Some decisions we make are routine and require no thought, while other decisions should find us on our knees seeking God's wisdom for our lives.
Think about it for a moment. At the beginning of the day, we have the choice to sleep for a few extra minutes or to get up and get going. We have the choice of what we will wear today. We choose how fast we will drive our car and maybe whether we will run the red light or slam on our brakes.
Other decisions, however, are very difficult to make and we should take time to meditate so that we can seek and understand God's direction for our life. We may have job opportunities or residential changes, or we may consider the purchase of a vehicle that will require us to make payments or empty our savings account.
Dear Friend, how about you? In all of the decisions you will make today, have you asked Him to guide you? Every decision, great or small, is important to our Heavenly Father, and He has promised that He is eternal and is ready to guide us if we will put our faith and trust in Him and lean not on our own understanding.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Matthew 13:31-34 (NIV)
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
Last night as I made cinnamon rolls for a special group of friends, I was reminded of these two parables as I mixed the yeast with the flour. I don't know how many times I have made yeast breads and rolls during the last 30 years, but every time I use yeast, I remember this parable.
Isn't it amazing that something as small as a mustard seed can grow to be such a large tree and even provide shade and shelter for the birds and other animals? Isn't it amazing also that merely one tablespoon of yeast can have such an impact on several cups of flour and other ingredients?
I remembered my Grandma Pauline last night as I stirred the rolls. Grandma always had a contagious smile on her face, and she mastered the principle of sharing God's joy with others. Grandma frequently said that she had God's sunshine in her heart and she wanted to share it with others. Much like the yeast, a little bit of her joy went a long way in ministering to others.
Dear Friend, how about you? Are you like the yeast and the mustard seed? Sometimes we aren't aware of the blessing that we are to others, but being filled with God's love and sharing it with others produces great results. Ask God right now to help you show His love to others in a small way today, and He will multiply the effect as He has promised in these two parables.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Joshua 1:7 (NIV)
"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."
Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
What exactly is courage? According to the dictionary, courage is 'the quality of mind or spirit that enables us to face difficulty or pain or danger without fear.' The Latin roots of the word 'courage' simply mean to have heart. If you are courageous, you act in such a way that you will not be timid or afraid.
There are many ways to be courageous, especially in today's world. God gives us many opportunities each day to take a stand for Him, at work or home, or when we are in social situations. I do think, however, that we must be careful to not be so overly courageous that we do more harm than good.
The verses above instruct us to not be afraid, and to rely on God for our strength and courage as we face our day. We are also instructed as we are being courageous, that we are to obey the laws that have been given us.
Dear Friend, how about you? Are you strong and courageous? Do you follow the law of the land? Do you rely on God for your strength each day? Do not be afraid or terrified. Take a few moments right now to ask Him to guide you and to provide strength, so that you may truly be strong and courageous as God called you to be!
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Psalm 113:3 (NIV)
"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."
This morning as I was eastbound in my car with corn fields on both sides, the sun was rising in the midst of a very dense fog. While focusing on the road ahead, I was able to catch a few peeks. I noticed as the sun gently made its presence known, and began to dominate the sky, the fog quickly disappeared. What a gorgeous, colorful view as I experienced the green and brown corn fields and the rich, golden sunrise over the top of the corn as far as I could see!
My heart exploded with an anthem of praise to God for experiencing such a beautiful sunrise, especially since I wasn't expecting it! I must admit that I am aware that the sun has been rising later and setting earlier each day since it is that time of year, but I hadn't planned to see the beautiful sight this morning.
Have you ever been moved to a state of great gratitude while driving, that your response was immediate praise and thanks to God? Today's verse came to me as I returned my thanksgiving to Him. Read the verse again. At the end of the day, as I conclude this inspiration, the colorful images remain very clear in my mind. My heart continues to be overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving to God for serving up such a beautiful sunrise!
Dear Friend, how about you? Have you had a good day today? I was reminded once again that God is able to gain our attention even when we aren't looking for Him. If we start our day praising Him, and are seeking him early in the morning, our praise will continue until the setting of the sun.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Psalm 92:1-3 (NIV)
"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp."
Earlier in the week I had committed on a short notice to play my harp for a local business luncheon. The first part of the request was very simple—to play for thirty min, which I have done numerous times at other gatherings. The second part of the request was a little more difficult to achieve. I was asked to play only secular music, because they did not want to offend anyone who may be uncomfortable with hymns, choruses, and other Spiritual songs.
Based on this specific request, which was not what I had in mind, it would have been
very easy to quickly and quietly bow out just this one time. I asked the coordinator of the event to allow me a few hours to make my decision. After all, I promised God when I purchased my new harp two years ago that I would use it to be a blessing to others.
The next morning, I accepted the invitation to play. After I had some time to quietly reflect on why I had committed to play the harp, it became an easier decision. I realized that once again, I had an amazing opportunity to be a blessing to others.
As I entered the building carrying the harp during a very busy lunch hour, I knew that God had placed me in a very unique setting with a wonderful opportunity to spread His love. I learned a very valuable lesson yesterday. God heard those songs and so did the people in the dining area. The applause that I received belongs to God and God alone for allowing me to share this wonderful gift of music with His instrument of peace.
As I loaded my harp and returned home, I said, "Thank you, God, for teaching me to be obedient and for allowing me to share Your love with everyone through the beautiful harp."
Dear Friend, all of us have been given opportunities to be a blessing to others. Take a few minutes right now to ask God to use you in a special way this day.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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Proverbs 16:1-3 NIV 1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD. 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed. How often we set out to achieve our goals. We are on a mission.
We get into a mode of setting plans and moving forward. Checking
off the marks as each task is completed. Never taking our eyes
from the goal. Set you eyes on JESUS. Lay down your plans, watch and listen to
what God is doing and join Him. Let God set the plans, commit your
life to completing the goals that God has set. These plans will
succeed. In God's time. In God's will. Have a great day!
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Luke 23:34 (NIV)
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Yesterday morning I had the wonderful privilege of attending a little country church for the Sunday morning service. As the pastor began speaking, he quoted Luke 23:34. Many thoughts filled my mind as he delivered his message and continued to speak about loving and forgiving others.
How could Jesus forgive His enemies after receiving painful, agonizing punishment that was delivered so brutally and spitefully? And how could Jesus forgive his enemies when he did nothing wrong? He did not deserve even the first strike on his body, but yet as He continued to endure the pain, He sought the Father's forgiveness for their sins.
There are a couple lessons that I learned yesterday that are very valuable and worth sharing. Forgiveness only comes from our Father in Heaven. Jesus didn't say I forgive you, he pleaded with the Father in Heaven to provide them with the ultimate forgiveness. In the same way, when we forgive each other, we are asking God to cancel the sin. Isn't that awesome?!
The second main point is that forgiveness is available for everyone. Everyone is eligible to receive God's forgiveness! Matthew 6:14-15 says, "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." In Mark 11:25, Jesus said, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins."
Dear Friend, how about you? Have you forgiven your enemies? Jesus said to 'forgive them for they know not what they do' but sometimes this is the most difficult task, especially after enduring hardship and suffering. Take a few moments right now and ask God to cleanse your heart and to show you how to love and forgive others as He has so lovingly demonstrated on the cross.
Blessings to You Today,
Dave Henry
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Luke 17:12-19 (NIV)
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Today's message is very clear—I am returning to give praise to God! Until last week, I had suffered for the two previous weeks from severe, ongoing shoulder and arm pains. I was so very stiff and uncomfortable that I wasn't able to be in the same position for more than a few minutes without squirming and desperately trying to reposition myself to find a position of comfort.
Our band practiced Monday and Tuesday evening for about an hour. I had struggled to hold my left arm in an upright position to play my harp as I normally play. At the end of the hour on Monday, the guys from the band laid hands on me and offered a prayer of healing.
I was reminded of today's verse as I heard Jonny pray for me. I want to make sure that I recognize and publicize God's healing powers, and that I also am not ashamed or too busy to return thanks to our God who cares for me. I have no aches or pains in the same area that gave me so much trouble for two consecutive weeks. Hallelujah, and Praise God!
Dear Friend, how about you? Do you have a need for healing in your life? Suffering comes in many forms. You may suffer emotionally, physically, or spiritually. Whatever you suffer from today, our God is an awesome God who loves you, provides for you, and will heal you, especially when you come to him in faith as His child. When you receive your healing, be like the one who returned to Jesus to give thanks. For He alone is worthy to receive all glory and all honor and all thanksgiving.
Blessings to You,
Dave Henry
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