Monthly Archives: November 2017

God is not surprised nor dismayed, nor should we be. He told Joshua “Do not fear and do not be dismayed.” (Joshua 8:1, ESV)

“List the emotions that you struggled with in the last year.

Who do you need to forgive from the past year (or beyond)?

Now, take a moment or two and pray about the last two questions. If forgiveness is an issue for you in any respect, pause and pray by name for those damaged relationships that you have.

Remember: On the cross, Jesus said “It is finished.”

Our sin is PAID FOR!”

(Text excerpted from A Fresh Start – a booklet that will guide you to look back, in and forward into a deeper personal discipleship that is now available on Amazon.)

“Don’t look back with regret,

 or now with fear,

but forward, in faith, trusting God.

But looking back should not cause discouragement or create guilt. When you look back, the most important thing is to see life in the light of the gospel. As you stop and look back, the objective is to gain important insight into what is inside.”

(Text excerpted from A Fresh Start – a booklet that will guide you to look back, in and forward into a deeper personal discipleship that is now available on Amazon.)

In As We’re Going I urge that fellow disciples need to meet regularly and the disciple making conversation should be centered on Scripture.

YouVersion just put out an update that could be really helpful to that process. If you’re using YouVersion, the new update allows you and your YouVersion friends to read the same plan and have a conversation about it. (You must have YouVersion friends to use this feature.) Now, it’s brand new so there’s no way to find out than to test it. I plan to, and if it does work, and if it is helpful, I’ll get back to you. Meanwhile, if you’re on YouVersion, check this new feature out and give it a try. This might even turn out to be an important feature in disciple making.

Read the YouVersion blog post.

Here’s a screenshot of their instructions:

Give it a try!

The new header photo (see above) is one of my favorite photos (though cropped). I took it early one June morning from one of my favorite places, Duck, NC. I love sunrises because no matter what is going on, the sunrise signals that a new day has begun. I get another fresh start.

I am thankful that our God is a God of fresh starts. I am thankful that He took it upon Himself, through the work of the Son, to give us all a fresh start.

So, remember, our God is sovereign and faithful, no matter what we’re going through, He is with us and is not surprised or dismayed. We too need not be dismayed.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 125:1-2)

Mountains north of George, S. Africa

Because of our complete security in Him, we are safe.

Thanks be to God this Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sunset, high above and leaving Zagreb

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” (Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Recently a friend replied to an email with a helpful reminder: God is not surprised by your struggle. The next morning I was reminded that neither is God dismayed. To trust in a truly sovereign God is an incredible blessing. No matter where we are, or where we are going.

Following Jesus and being changed by Him day by day, month by month, year by year is a process.

Through the rough seas on rocky shores,

and through the approach of great dangers…

we hang on to Him, knowing that…

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” ‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

He is changing us, gradually. So don’t give up!