Someone in between

I know how important it is to be apart of bringing people together and I’ve learned through the years, that before I set up a meeting between people, to spend intentional time with each of them separately, for a while, and when an opportunity arises and I trust that the match would be a safe one for them, I just might get a chance to introduce them to a new friend.

Although, I believe how I have approached, what I just described, to be the best for all involved, guess what? Jesus didn't introduce God to us that way.

Jesus was sent, by his Father, to us, his enemies. There was no safety involved for Him, no house for him to dwell in, no one put a welcome mat out, no hoopla for him to get going with. No, He came down from heaven, from his beautiful home, his secure position, his safe relationship, all to make a way for us to be reconciled to His Father. We read this in -

Romans 5:10 it says, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,

So, there were no meetings involved between us and God, because we had nothing good to bring to Him. The meeting had already taken place in the heavens between the Trinity and it was decided that Father God would offer everything, His one and only Son Jesus, to bring us to himself.

When we really think about it, what could we possibly bring to God that he doesn’t already have? we can only offer ourselves! and its the only thing he wants. The Father’s love and salvation are completely available and I pray that each of you have already done this.

For most of us reading this, we've already been introduced to God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, so the question that now remains is for us, is to know how we are living out of our relationship that we have with our Father.

For most of my Christian life, I had a relationship with Jesus, as my Savior, and I knew He loved me and gave Himself for me so that I could go to heaven one day and have everlasting life. This was very good truth for me, but, there seemed to be a void in my everyday life experience. I believe this was because I didn't understand what to do with my relationship with the part of the trinity, called, Father. I thought of him as a God of the heavens and He felt very distant to me. I didn't understand that Jesus was the introducer to His Father and that in Romans 5:10 we read that it was his sacrifice made it possible to bring this heaven dwelling God down to me and that He, along with the Holy Spirit were living inside of my spirit. Think about it…The trinity, all of them are inside of me and you! This was so new to my experience in my life. I just thought about Jesus and he was the One that I prayed to and I felt safe with, but not so safe with God and I think its because I didn’t see them together, as One, in me.

Several years ago, I was talking with my mentor about this confusion I had and she began to explain that I may have a concept of God that was not in the right light. As she began to share with me, her words rang true and I knew I needed a change.

I’d like to share a small portion of this conversation with you, so that it may help to bring to light where you may be living in your relationship with the Father. She began to explain to me that….

There are 3 father’s for us to consider.

The first father we have is the one we have when we are born. We enter this world as a sinner, seperated from God because of the fall of Adam.

In John 8:44 it says, You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

So what we had was a father of lies! Not so good!

The second father is The God-father - for a Christian who lives life as though everything they do is on a sliding scale of performance, they will experience this guy. Have you heard of the movie The Godfather? it portrays a mob boss who was scary and definitley not approachable. You’d better do what he says or else, is the belief wrapped around this guy. By the way the father of lies, although not the father anymore of the Christian, can still talk and try to sell this fake father to us. Telling us he’s a a father who is a demander, a withholder. A father who is always distant and doesn’t really care about you and he always sells the “just try harder to please him”! card. It’s a treadmill life that leads no where, and he knows it. Have you ever been on a treadmill? I have and it’s exhausting!

The Biblical Counseling Coalition has an article titled Breaking Free From the Performance Trap. It is very helpful for anyone struggling with what I call the Godfather syndrome.

Here is a link-.

https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2019/03/11/breaking-free-from-the-performance-trap/

Our third option and only TRUE father is Abba, Father - This father is for a Christian who knows that he/she has a Father God who is safe and faithful and offers a deep loving relationship to his children, unconditionally. The Father who delights in us. This Father I speak of is the Holy God!, who wants me to call Him “daddy”. Yes, you heard me….Seem too familiar to you? Jesus said we could, so we can. I like that Jesus calls him Abba, Father. It looks like this…. my dad and I are really close (Abba) and He’s got everything under control (Father).

Here is a verse that shows us how Jesus the Son and his Father interact.

Mark 14:36 (Jesus was on his way to the cross)

And He (Jesus) said, “Abba (daddy), Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Here is another verse along the same line. Paul describes the intimacy of relationship with God for US with Him in Romans 8:15:

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Jesus calls Him Abba…. and we can, too!

When I heard this teaching of the 3 fathers explained in such a way, I realized that I may have an Abba Father, but I wasn’t spending anytime with Him. I had bought the lie that He wasn’t a good father. I was always, and I mean always, looking over my shoulder, paralyzed in my decision making and always thinking “I’m such a disappointment”. Because, I was living my life every day with the GOD-FATHER standing over me. Makes me quezy, right now, just thinking about how I lived.

I was so encouraged that there could be another Father relationship experience and that I could have it right now. So, I fired the God-father! But I realized that I had to learn how to live differently because it was so ingrained in my mind that I had to perform for acceptance in every area of my life, that I needed help to move forward. Truth had to replace these lies!

One simple thing I began doing each morning was to say “good morning, my Father”. Seems small, but it was where I needed to start. He wasn’t far away, He was right there in the room, actually even closer, He was and is, in my spirit. The more I did this, the more comfortable it became. And yes, I still do it to this very day.

Through a process of time, I had a lot of old tapes that ran through my mind that had to be thrown away. As soon as one of those tapes started to play in my mind, I started learning to pause and to reject that thought. Then put in a new tape, or thought. (Romans 12:2) Here’s just one tape I had playing over and over, in my mind -

“Dayna, you are such a disappointment and you need to try harder next time”.

These kinds of thought over time began to shift to what my Father said about me, more than what I had believed before when I thought he didn’t really see me, except when I messed up.

As a Christian, or better said this way, as someone IN Christ, I know that what Father says about his Son, Jesus, he also says about me. So, what does he say about Jesus? How about Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

then, as one IN Christ…. I am also loved and he is well pleased with me, not because of what I’ve done, but because he wants to. As simple as that!

It was through this process I started to learn how to be loved by the Father that had always been loving me, even when I didn’t get it.

A book I recommend would be “Captivating” by John & Staci Eldridge. It was a very helpful one for me to start seeing God as my Abba, Father in a whole new way. It’s helpful for anyone who needs to be introduced to the Father through love.

Another one is Fret Busters by Roy Lessin, especially day 24. It describes the liar’s voice and Jesus’ voice and and they are very different from each other. I have it pretty much memorized, because I’ve had to visit it many times.

I hope this brought you to a place to have a serious look at which father you know and experience on a daily basis.

So grateful Jesus stood in between for my benefit and yours.

Held close in Father’s Love,

Dayna

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash‍ ‍

Someone in between (3).m4a

Dayna Wulf

The sweet spot

It’s a beautiful day at the diamond today!

The field has been prepared and we are ready for the players, runners, the activity.

As I look over at the bench, the most important person for our team is the coach. Mind you, not just any coach, but THE Coach with a 100% winning record. You think, who has this kind of a record? God of course! I’m talking about what our spiritual life can look like using baseball today. I know there’s a couple of you out there, that are thrilled that I’d use this in my blog time.

Back to the diamond -

As you get ready for the big day, you take time to stretch, get dressed and look in the mirror in the locker room and check out your jersey. Maybe you think, how fortunate you are to be apart of the team and dream of the day that all of your practicing will bring the opportunity to get the call to leave the bench…. Your eyes are trained and your ears are tunes for “Player on deck”, the Coach calls out and points to you. You rise up, walk over to grab your favorite bat and then approach the deck. What happens at the deck? well, this is where you take practice swings to warm up before heading to the box in front of the plate.

While on deck - there is my coach and He is whispering to me the play he wants me to do. But most of all, He is encouraging me with things like, “you’ve got this, we’ve done this a million times” or “just remember how we did this in practice, I’m right here”. One thing about practice and an actual game, is that I’ve got adrenaline going all through my body. Because, now my walking, running, batting and standing are all on display in front of everyone. There are those who are depending on me and there are those who aren’t for me. Lot’s of pressure for sure. But my coach says, “Pressure is a priviledge” because, it keeps you humble and it requires more than you’ve got.

Then the time comes and I’m instructed to advance to the plate. The whole time my heart is beating fast and I’m sweating a little more than I did on the deck. But, it quickly comes to me, as I look over to my Coach, that He HAS spent hours and hours of time with me one and one, and with my team to bring me to this exact moment. (check out the link for deeper study and verses that explain this further)

I take a quick mental note of my equipment:

Helmet (check), glove (check), shoes (check), bat (check), jersey #333 (check)

I could leave us right here and let you imaging what happens next, but the reality is that just being in the box doesn’t do me any good for my team, even if I’m dressed and equipped.

One thing to know is there’s always opposition in the field. That team has a coach, too! He’s had some wins, he’s got uniforms, but he doesn’t have my coach and my bat and my bat has a “sweet spot”.

So, let’s play ball!

I step up to the plate and I align my bat to the postion and close my eyes and hope for the best. Actually, if I want to hit the ball out of the park, that approach won’t work will it? but, this is how I think we can live our lives in a lot of circumstances. If, I approach life this way, I will end up with a lot of foul balls or worse, a wild hit that could literally hurt or kill someone or even get hit by the ball myself.

Thank goodness our Coach is right there to remind me not to close my eyes and guess. In His commanding yet loving voice, He says, “keep your eye on the ball and swing”.

So, I again approach the plate and clear my thoughts of doubt and stand still and look straight down the pike and even though I may feel afraid, I swing and then Whack! With one hit, I’m running off to run the bases, one at a time. Dirt flying, players running at me, the pitcher tryng to get me “out” of the game, it seems like opposition is everywhere. But, I keep running and remembering, I’m not alone out there on the field! I have my Coach and my teammates encouraging me to “keep going” “keep moving forward” “go all the way”!

When I cross home plate, my team runs out to congratulate me and my Coach is so pleased that I listened to him, but most of all that I trusted the process and ran all the way home.

Later after the game, Coach tells me again over and over that He was and is so well pleased. Although, a lot of the time, I didn’t know what I was doing and had a lot of mind challenges, but, my Coach never left me and He was always encouraging, instructing and Yes! He was loving me. You see, my Coach, He is my Father. He’s invested in my life and in the outcome of my life, because I’m His and we win, together.

While we wait on the bench sometimes, just know that this isn’t a passive place. Listening to the Coach, reading up on the plays, watching other players on my team and especially the veterans who have been at the plate many more times than I have, is all quite necessary. Watching, waiting and learning is the only thing that enables me to take the next step to the Deck. From the bench, I take note of how the other players take their posture and align themselves. Each player has their own stance in the box, but hopefully, we all have the same desire in mind….Hit the sweet spot and watch the ball sail out of the park. A good reminder though is that there are bases, one at a time and they have to be ran to take you all the way Home. There are not shortcuts! or you’re gonna hear, “You’re out” and then you go back to the bench and start the process over again. You’re not out of the team, you’re just out of alignment and need to be reminded and adjusted how to run the bases. By the way, sometimes we are called to bunt or hit a grounder but that’s always up to the Coach. He doesn’t always explain to me His strategy, I just need to trust Him, because He wrote the playbook. He know what a win looks like in my life and the team’s life. I may always want a homerun, but He may need me to just go to first base. He knows who’s in the lineup and I trust my Coach, especially when I don’t see the whole field of play, which is usually always the case.

Just one play at a time, this is where we are to live.

Let’s spring into action and see what our Heavenly Coach will do in us, if we will just let Him call the plays.

Blessings!

Dayna

“bench” is waiting and studying, “deck” is practicing what we’ve been learning and “at bat” is trusting in His Word and walking by faith all the way with our Coach to our Heavenly Home. BTW, we will hit some foul balls from time to time, just realign your focus and get back to the plate, there will be another pitch coming your way.

Photo from unsplash by Kenny Nguyễn

Microwave faith?

The Temptation of Jesus: In the New Testament, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness serves as a powerful counter-example to the lure of immediate gratification. Satan offers Jesus immediate power and sustenance, yet Jesus responds with Scripture, demonstrating restraint and obedience to God's will. Matthew 4:3-4 states, "The tempter came to Him and said, 'If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' But Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (Biblehub.com)

Satan wanted Jesus to take the quick and simple solution. He definitley didn’t want what was best for Jesus, he was only for his own self interest. Didn’t he know that the One who made the bread and who is the bread of Life didn’t need bread. The enemies temptation was one made in something that held no substance for Jesus.

Have you ever been tempted to settle for immediate results?  I know I have many times!  For the longest time, I thought if I would put in some effort and a little bit of work I get the result, the instant result I wanted.  I can't be the only one who has done this I'm sure.  I’ve experienced this when making a loaf of bread, ironically. It takes the right ingredience, Yes! But, it also requires for the best result, times of patiently waiting for the rise to happen, not once, but twice. And just so you know, the time in between rises, requires beating the dough and kneading it and reashaping it. Ouch! But as the baker, I know, it’s necessary for the best bread. If I don’t go through the full rising periods, my bread comes out flat or worse yet, a heavy brick. If you aren’t a baker, maybe my next illustration will hit home for you.

Have you ever blown bubbles with your kids or grandkids and saw the delight in their eyes as they ran around the yard trying so hard to catch them.  But, once they caught up to one, it would either pop before they could get to it, or they would try to capture it carefully, but non the less the bubble would pop.  There could be a moment quick delight and then disappointment for them…. but then on to another bubble.  I think this is a good illustration for us to look at what our lives can offer us, if we live our lives like this.  We can make a choice to run after something that gives that instant relief or satisfaction, only to have it pop and disappoint and then on to the next we go.  It can be an exhausting process as you run around in circles chasing down bubble after bubble.

It is comforting to me to know that Jesus also had these moments come to him, as in the verses I just shared.  The enemy and Jesus had no relationship, yet the enemy offered him instant success if he'd only bow to him. These are the moments in Jesus’ time on earth that speak to me in such greatness.

As, I continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus, I’m being developed and strengthened in and through the trials or storms that come to me.  Although, I may not want to have the storms, the reality is that without them, I will be a weak tree, with shallow roots, because I've been pampered and haven't withstood what actually strengthens me.  In other words, I just want what I want and don't want what my God wants.  Example: better house, more money, no health issues, perfect job.

I recently ran across this and thought it was so powerful.

His Perfect Will

“For I know the plan that I have for you declared the Lord God plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 19:11)

What is the plan that God has for us? Many believe that God’s plan is a specific area of service, a place to live, or the right job. Those types of things are merely the vehicles by which to complete His plan, which is the expression of Christ’s lfe through us as described in Matthew 5-7 (Heavenly Discipleship by Mike Wells)

It's no news to you that I love looking into God's Word and exploring the different words that stand out to me.  Today is a little different in that, I'm spending some time with you, looking at two words together.  First let's look at the word Gratification.

Gratification means:

the state of being gratified; great satisfaction.

Synonyms: comfort, enjoyment, delight, relish, pleasure

When we read the list of synonyms,  I think like you do, that it sounds pretty good.  We know that God is the God of all comfort and joy and delight and we relish in his love and lastly, we know he takes pleasure in us.  He says all of this in His Word!

But, this isn't because we've done something, it's because we trusted someone.  When first introduced to God, you may have felt something, like lightness or joyfulness but He is more than an emotion, He is a person to get to know.  Chasing after emotional experiences will leave you with dissatisfaction that needs a new fix or experience, just like the bubbles.

When you first meet a new person, you may have an instant connection with them somehow.  I'm in a new place and this happens to me quite offen.  Maybe, familiar likes or places you've been might start a conversation, but just meeting someone and feeling good for a moment doesn't mean you have any depth with them.  This takes a while and patience to know and be known.  Then there comes times in that relationship that a deeper root system is called upon for deep faith to be shared together.  

On to our second word….

instant:

occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation. ex: an instant book; instant answers; instant history. Designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately.

By reading through this dictionary meaning and explanation, it may leave us with a thought that a quick result is pretty good. But, I wonder if we put instant with gratification and see that, as we look at our day today, we can run after emotional bubbles, with empty calories that disappoint or give a quick high, or we can take this opportunity to grow in solid ingredience and go through the rising process for the best result. If we choose this, it has more benefits for our life than we can count.

I don’t know about you, but when I see God, face to face, I will delight in the Bread Maker and Provider as we commune and share what He’s done in my life, through all the highs and lows of my life. But most of all, I just want to be with Him and thank Him for all that I got to be apart of with Him.

Here are some verses for you to look at and meditate on that speak to this faith I'm talking about.

biblegateway.com is a great tool for looking up multiple verses and seeing them in sequence.

I Kings 2:4, 3:6, Psalm 69:13, Romans 1:5, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 22:32

Also, a deeper dive on instant gratification can be looked at here: Topical Bible: The Illusion of Immediate Gratification

Nothing can come to us that He didn't allow for our maturity, not for our defeat.  

Surrender to Him and the process as you come to know that He is trustworthy, even when we don't understand.

Stress over time shows us if we are living for our own self gratification or if we are trusting in Him for whatever, wherever and with whomever He leads us to.

I hope this encourages you today.

In His Sustaining Love,

Dayna

Photo by Drew Beamer https://unsplash.com/@dbeamer_jpg

Yeti

Before I moved to Oregon, some dear friends of mine, gifted me a YETI that was orange and had the Denver Bronco’s horse on it. I'd never had a YETI, so I thought this was pretty special, especially since it gave me delight to enjoy a yummy beverage while rooting on my favorite team.

In the box it was packaged in, there was the instruction booklet an a sticker. I liked the sticker, so I decided to use it as a bookmark, so, that when I saw it, I would be reminded of my friends. Pretty simple really, until one day…I was reading and had placed the bookmark on a small table by me. I looked over at it, and something caught my eye, Yet I. Does that ever happen to you, where you see something different in a word than what was the intent? I think words are facinating and I love to find out their meaning. I looked up the definition of the word '“yet”.

It’s funny how we use words all the time and the word yet wasn’t one I’d think about looking into, until now.

The little word "Yet" means now or still, at the present time

A scripture came to my mind after finding this out….

Galatians 2:20 (one of my favs)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now (yet) live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The little word "Yet" had led me to look a little deeper to the word “now”.

“Now” means - at the present time or moment.

This word "now" is found 1321 times in the Bible, that’s alot of now don’t you think?

and if we look deeper in the word now, we find the word still.

“Still” means remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary.

This word "still" is found 98 times in the Bible

Thanks for the word study Dayna, but, where is all of this leading us today? First, I encourage you to do the same when something stands out to you in a word. Jesus in John 1:1 said that he is the Word and that he was in the beginning as the Word and He, as the Word, is God. I know that words are important! That’s why I share with you when I see something like this.

As I've continued growing in my Christian Life through the years, its become more and more clear to me that God is in the now of every now in my life. He's not in the past or the future, He's in the now, of the present still, the yet I of this moment.

Another verse to ponder is, one where, God calls us to hear him today.

Hebrews 3:15a

We have seen what the Bible says: ‘You must listen when you hear God speak today.

How can this look in our lives practically….

Have you ever had a person try to make a collect call to you from a place they had no money to pay for the call? I have! But, before I could talk to the person that is calling me collect, another voice on the phone, asks me, "will you accept the charges for the call"? This call has now been put in the Yet I, the right now, and I have a choice to say “Yes or No” to the collect caller.

Today, if you hear His voice calling you, just so you know, he's already paid for the call! How?by sending His Son, Jesus to the cross in your place, He's cleared the line for you to just say "Yes" to him. Then after you have done that act of faith for salvation, we turn to Galatians 2:20 which becomes another call for you to take and make another choice.

Your response to this call would be a reckoning (coming into agreement) that....”I’m dead, crucified, done away with, spiritually, because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. He acomplished everything, and because I took the call of salvation, Yet I live, in Christ”. I live in Him right Now because I'm alive in Him, spiritually, not just physically. If you are still trying to work your way through your day just to get to another day, please take the call right now! He’s paid it and its free for you to walk out the rest of your day, in His joy, His life, His love and the list goes on. Don’t put off to tomorrow what He’s calling you to in this today.

If it’s stillness in Him, if it’s present with Him, if it’s silence to hear, I encourage you…. listen and obey. You won’t regret it.

I’m going to leave you with this from Mike Wells, a dear Christian author and teacher who knew the meaning of the word Yet I.

This comes from the book Heavenly Discipleship. (highly recommend)

There is No God in the Past

Men and women, for certain, possess the present and, in a measure, the future. They don’t possess the past, ever! If we choose to live in the past, we choose darkness that excludes God, who is always calling us to move from the past. Therefore, every time our thoughts and emotions venture into the past, we go there alone and without hope. The Jews in the Bible, were in the world without a hope, trusting in the things of the past (Egypt) - the law and the security of ritual and formula - but neglecting what God was presenting to them in the present, which was and is Jesus!

I close with this…. Today is the day to Be Still and Know that He is God, in your relationships, your circumstances and your words could be… I Choose Life! I Choose Him! I Choose Now!

Cheers! clink from my YETI to yours.

Picture by: Daniel Romero from unsplash

Well done? or still needs to cook?

Well Done!

Were you brought up in a family that would cook steak well done? For many of you, that makes you cringe at the thought of it. I think the intention behind this was, undercooked food was a breeding ground for getting sick. It was with good intention, but I've since learned that the flavor of a good steak dimishes with the flame of the grill, if you overcook it.

On that note... Although “well done” in cooking may not be desired for some, it does have it's place in our lives, when we look at what God said about Jesus and about us, in the Well Done!

Matthew 3:17

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

For many of us we may have read this verse and probably just moved right on by to the next one, but if we slow down, we can see it significantly has importance.

Let's back up to the previous verse, verse 16...

Matthew 3:16 (ESV)

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Wow! what an incredible moment! a oh, so holy moment, but I think we need to go one step further...because, I think that we can look at what just happened and rewrite verse 17 to say,

This is my beloved Son, with whom I’m well pleased, because of what He just did, but that’s not what His Father said.

I’m going to change the translation to the Message version for us to re-read each line with an intentional breath and a moment of pause to the next line.

Matthew 3:16-17 (The Message)

The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters,

(breathe and picture in your mind)

the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit— (breathe)

it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. (breathe)

And along with the Spirit, a voice:

“This is my Son, chosen! marked by my love! the delight of my life!

This brings me to tears, when I think of how much love was on display.

Have you ever had anyone talk about you like this? or even yet, have you thought about yourself in this way? The delight of someone's life? marked by their love? belonging to someone? I think, we've had different experiences in life that we could possibly say yes to one or two of these questions. I'm wondering though, if the answer was "Yes"?, then let me ask you, was it because you DID something to have it happen?

Maybe you cleaned for someone, or how about you took someone on a surprise outing, or better yet, you called or sent a note to someone? These all sound really good, and COULD get someone to say these things about us.

Jesus had just done something very significant, I'll give you that. He got baptized! But, he didn't need to get baptized, did he? No! He did it, merely to show us what was about to happen (his death, burial and resurrection) and then what it would mean for you and me to accept his salvation.

What he did was a response to who He was. God's Son! His Father spoke because he wanted to share this moment with him. With those there as witnesses, he gave a peek as to what He and Jesus shared before this moment ever happened. God was declaring his love, not because of what Jesus did, but because of who they were together. Don't you think it would be out of place for a Father to say, in this moment with his Son, "this is my Servant, and he has done well? Would you say this to your kids in front of your friends?

This is my servant and she cleaned her room today, so I say I’m well pleased with her. Sounds kinda off to me.

Let us consider the difference of a Son and a Servant.

I love the passage in Galatians 4 (The Voice)

Listen. I am going to explain how this all works: When a minor inherits an estate from his parents, although he is the owner of everything, he is the same as a slave. 2 Until the day set by his father, the minor is subject to the authorities or guardians whom his father put in charge. 3 It is like that with us; there was a time when we were like children held under the elemental powers of this world. 4 When the right time arrived, God sent His Son into this world (born of a woman, subject to the law) 5 to free those who, just like Him, were subject to the law. Ultimately He wanted us all to be adopted as sons and daughters. 6 Because you are now part of God’s family, He sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; and the Spirit calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 You no longer have to live as a slave because you are a child of God. And since you are His child, God guarantees an inheritance is waiting for you.

“Abba” is an address spoken by children to their fathers expressing intimacy and respect. It would not be out-of-the-question to think of it as “Dad,” or “Daddy.”

The 3 places we can find ourselves in are:

- servant or slave to sin (pre salvation)

- child (thinks they are a servant first) immature in their understanding

- sons and daughters that have grown up and now have a heart to serve

To be clear, each of these, can take different timings in an individuals life, but they are in this order. You can go through your whole life always thinking you’re a servant of God and never understanding what it means to be a son who serves.

When we accept the gift of Jesus as our Savior, we leave the “servant of sin” life. This means that we are now in the family of God and can now learn who we belong to. This new family has a Father who never leaves, that listens and just like a parent with their treasured child, they hold you. I'm hoping you get and I get that He is enough all by Himself! Then as we know this more and more, we turn and serve with Him, to those around us.

I love the verse that says, Jesus didn't come to us to be served, but to serve. He doesn't need us to serve Him.

Acts 17:25 ESV

25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

He wants us to join Him as He serves in and through you! and me! We are the instrument or vessels he uses to do this. What a priviledge to be apart of this with Him.

Let's stop trying to serve God. He doesn't need it. He says so. He wants a son/daughter who rules and reigns with Him from a posture and position of Safe, Secure, Loved and Delighted, just like Jesus does.

What do we rule and reign over with him from this position? for starters, our emotions!!!!! Those things are a killer if we live only for them. Believe me when I say that we have emotions, but don’t make your decisions in life all wrapped up in them. They are tricky! and very fickle! and they don’t always tell the truth.

I’m learning more and more that I am his beloved daughter (with full sonship rights) in whom he IS well pleased. That's who I am! not what I feel or do.

That is why we NEED to know that we are Well Done! He did it! It's finished! Now we move in our lives with hearts to serve others.

In the Father’s love,

Dayna

https://www.opendooraccess.com for class information

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

A Bucket Full of Holes?

There is No Lack in Jesus, He Is Enough! 

When I first started to learn this, I was at a place in my life that I would have said, I was NOT enough and had no idea what to do about it, except...just try harder to be enough!

This month's blog is going to be a little different, as I'm going to share why the classes I teach are not just for learning, but for transformation in the Christian life and experience.

At the age of 40, I was at a crossroads of asking myself:

"was this all there was to my Christian life"?

I was married, a mom and invested in the local church.  That should have been enough, right?

But, to let you into my behind the scenes of life thinking…

Shouldn't life just be grand? Would I ever feel whole? Could I ever know real love?  These are the shoulda, woulda, coulda's that rampantly ran through my mind.

The answer to those 3 questions, had to come from a different start than me.  What I thought and what I felt and what I chose over and over and over again to get my needs met, was just not enough!

I thought if I did really well and gave good effort in every area of my life, I would achieve some peace. Sounds good, but the part that never quite worked out was, that there were other people involved in this equation and circumstances I didn’t see coming.  I could perform all day long, but my heart attitude was always in a "lack", so I was always coming to everything with

"please tell me I'm someone to you". 

Can you feel this?  It's a miserable place to be when you see things from this perspective and the holes in my bucket were becoming more and more visable.

I started this blog by letting you know I was 40 years of age when my story of self-sufficiency started unravalling beyond my control and of how I did my Christian life.  On the outside, you’d have never known, but on the inside, I was a ticking emotional time-bomb.

There is a story we can look at together for a few moments that will help to show what God's solution was for me as we read about the people of Israel.

Please read this chapter so that the rest of this blog will have more impact.

Numbers 13 ESV - - Bible Gateway

Joshua and Caleb (two of the spies) are the people, we need to focus on, in this account of Israel's learning to see their self-sufficiency versus God's supply.

In these verses we see how Moses gave instruction to those going into Canaan.  We can look at this in our own lives.

17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, 18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

There were 12 spies, but only 2 of them came back with a Report of Life. The other 10 gave a report of Defeat! and Depleat! Joshua and Caleb saw God’s provision and chose to live out of that supply daily. There were some practical things that we can gleen from this story for where we might be living from in our daily experience.

God’s supply

- take time to ascess where you're at

- look to Jesus by beginning to pray

- take note of who your surrounded by: Depleaters or Fruit bringers?

- what verbage or attitudes are happening around you?

- do you have campers in your life or difficult walls to scale?

- is there fruit anywhere in your situation?

- is the tree of Life impacting you or the tree of Good and Evil ensnaring you?

It's important to take inventory, so you can know what God's supply is.  God doesn't tell us to go solve all of these things I just mentioned.  He just tells us to take an inventory.  Isn't that interesting?  He wraps up this section of verses by saying, take an ascessment and then gather the fruit of the land and do it with courage and a good attitude.

Well, this isn't how I approached solving problems in my life.   My list always started with me at the center of it! Maybe you can relate.

Dayna’s lack!

- Why can't I just be happy?

- Jesus is probably the answer, but I'm not sure how to make that happen.  Throwing out, "help me" prayers seemed to be all I knew.

- Those around me weren't complying with my demands of "just love me already"

- my verbage and attitude usually started with self analyzing, self management, and add some more self.  Arggh!

- I had campers and difficult walls and had no idea what to do with them.  Just being honest with ya!

- The fruit I could see in my life was, I knew for sure I was a born again Christian.  I accepted Jesus when I was 5 years of age and I knew I was going to heaven.  Beyond that, I pretty much just tried and tried to be a good girl.  Don’t ruffle any feathers, or keep the peace as best I could. Exhausting!

- Jesus is the Tree of Life and He was there as a reminder that I would be with him after death.  But the other tree, That Good and Evil tree, was my main focus as I always attempted in my daily experience to be on the Good side of that tree.

I hope you can understand after reading through these two lists, how one had a Giver and one was a Depleter.

Something was amiss and I knew it.  I was at the end of my "self life" at the age of 40, but I was also at the threshhold of the beginning of New Life in Christ.    He had been there all the time, but I always had Him in the "not enough" category of my life.

I reached up and out of my dissatisfied life and called a family member that knew Christ as her life.  I saw great difficulty in her life, yet, I also so JOY in the midst of it, that I couldn’t explain. We both had Jesus, but mine wasn’t working….I WAS working! She began to mentor me and share what I share now in the classes I teach.  It wasn't just more information on “How to be Good-er”, it was life transforming.  I remember when I heard her say, Jesus is the only One who can live His life.  We aren't to mimick Him. Dayna, we are to let Him.  This is where it all began to start my journey with moving out of the Tree of perfomance and allowing Jesus to BE my life.    If this doesn't make sense to you, it's okay, because it didn't to me in the beginning either.  That's why as each class I teach shares a piece of truth, it then builds from one class to the other of having Christ at the helm of Life and I get to join Him in Who He Is - Enough!

There is no Lack in Him, only supply!

I would love to spend time with you and answer any questions about what the classes look like for us to walk through your lists.

Jesus can take your lists of do's and don’t’s- of woulda, coulda, shoulda's and exchange them for "It Is Finished!

Walk in courage and a joyful heart today.  It is possible, He made it possible.

Blessings to you all, and I hope to hear from you soon.   If you’re intersted, I do have sponsors for the classes, if needed.  Please just let me know and don't hestitate to inquire as there are no expectations,  just an Open Door Access for you. Come on In!

In His Sufficient Supply in His Holy Bucket!

Dayna

https://www.opendooraccess.com for class information

Everwhere I go we go together

Mark 16:15

Jesus said to the followers, “Go everywhere in the world. Tell the Good News to everyone.

Everywhere!  Everywhere?....yes, Everywhere!

For some of us, our Everywhere may be to our next door neighbor.  For some of us, this may be at our school, place of employment or volunteering events.  No matter where your Everywhere is, as a Christian you are bringing Jesus with you and He'd like to meet the people your hanging out with.

Recently, my Everywhere, has taken me to Springfield, Oregon.  Over the past year, I've made some life changing decisions that have stetched my faith in Jesus in very big ways.  As we walked through the process of bringing me where I'm now living, I have had a question roll around in my mind that sounds something like this....How do I share the good news about who Jesus is?  I'm here in this new place, new culture, new stores, everything is new to me.  It can be a little overwhelming at moments as I find my way, but there is one thing I know for sure, the world needs Jesus!  I need Jesus!  Doing this without Him would be, without a doubt, the scariest thing I could have done in my life.  

I've been thinking alot about missionaries that go to other countries and what they must go through when they leave the comfort of all they have known.  They can sometimes bring a few things that remind them of where they came from, but mostly they have to start over by investigating what's available to them where they are now living.  

Although, I've been in Oregon for less than 2 weeks, I've already had the experience of being involved with my church's Halloween Meet and Greet.  Being the Light to the people in the neighborhood of our church was truly astounding.  People from all walks of life came to the parking lot of our church and received a yummy cup of cider and a cookie, served with a smile.  It was simple, but also very impactful. 

My pastor, Mike, referred to the Bible verses, Matthew 10:40,42 which say, that when we give a cold cup of water to someone, we are giving it in the name of Jesus. He said what we were offering was the alot like that.  

My mission here is a simple one! Share Jesus, in what ever ways He'd like me to.  I'm not on this mission alone, I'm on a co-mission with Him.

Whereever I go today, we go together.  

From search assist:

The phrase "those he calls, he equips" reflects the biblical principle that God empowers individuals for the tasks He assigns them. This concept is supported by verses such as 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, which emphasizes that God chooses the weak and ordinary to accomplish His purposes, and Philippians 2:13, which states that God works in us to fulfill His will.

thelife.com livingmagazine.net

Key Scriptures on God Equipping Those He Calls

1. Romans 8:30

"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

2. 2 Peter 1:3

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."

3. Hebrews 13:20-21

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ."

4. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

5. Philippians 2:13

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

These verses emphasize that God not only calls individuals to His purpose but also equips them with the necessary strength and resources to fulfill that calling.

Be encouraged today and know that you may have an opportunity to introduce Jesus to someone in your Everywhere! 

What’s on your radar?

My friend Jessie shares her homeschooling journey with us this month. God directed her and her husband into unchartered waters. Be Encouraged and Enjoy!

As we cruise through our second year of homeschooling, it seems strange to me that this wasn’t always MY plan for my life. But it absolutely was not. For much of my life, being a mom was not even on my radar, BUT if I ever did become one, I would be one of those successful career mom types. Which definitely didn’t include homeschool.

To understand my call to homeschool, it’s important to understand my journey with the Lord. I grew up around the church, going many weekends as a child, but my faith was shallow and lukewarm for much of my life. I had my all-in moments, surrounding myself with believers in Jesus, going to youth groups and trying to learn the stories in the Bible. I said the “Salvation Prayer” many times, just to make sure I was “in”, but lacked assurance every time. While in college, I didn’t attend church often, but I still spent time around Christians and longed to know the God they did. I did this until the Christian life, I was leading, no longer meshed with the life I was choosing… at which point I was out. I actually had a conversation with God that went something like this, “I know you exist, but I don’t want to follow you anymore. So, you’ll be there, doing your thing, while I go about doing my thing. Thanks for everything.” That poor girl.

Fast forward many years and many crash and burn moments. I was a mom of a sweet toddler, a wife of 7 years, a regular church-goer and active in my communities. I was reading the Bible, participating in Bible studies, doing and saying all the right things. And I was CRAZY! I sat down with a friend to talk about Jesus and she asked me when I became a Christian. I broke down because I couldn’t answer. Even though I’d “accepted Christ” on multiple occasions, there was no lasting change, no clear distinction that I had a solid salvation. It felt so strange to not be able to answer this very simple question, the one that should be a foundation. So, that day, March 22, 2019, I prayed and reaffirmed my faith in Jesus and what He did for me and EVERYTHING changed.

Years prior to my reaffirmation, as a new wife, still undecided on children, I had a moment where I felt God give me specific direction. To homeschool. It seemed strange, but I shared it with my husband. I told him I think I want to do this, but not sure if I’m ready for kids yet. He was absolutely in for homeschooling and we left it at that.

A few years later, we became first time parents a bit earlier than expected in August of 2017. Amelia was born at 26 weeks weighing only 1 lb. At this point, being a mom to her long term was in question, so thinking about school was definitely not on my mind. As Amelia improved, slowly but surely, we began to think about what life would be like with a child who may have extreme medical needs. Remember, career mom was my plan prior to all of this, so another strange moment happened when I felt a tug to stay home with her. She’d been in the NICU 4 months and came home on oxygen with a very weakened immune system. Providers stressed childcare not being a good option for her, but I was paralyzed to make a decision. Soon, a friend called out the angst that was obvious in me. She said, “Just say it. You’re not going back. You’re staying home with Amelia.” As I said the words out loud to my husband, the weight I had apparently been carrying lifted and life changed quickly. The numbers didn’t pencil out, but over the next year and a half, I saw God remain faithful to us as we took this step of obedience. Even though we’d agreed to homeschool one day, the part of it that meant I’d be a stay at home mom didn’t fully sink in. And now that change was happening, much earlier than it would have.

During Amelia’s toddler years, I struggled deeply with her delays in development. I wrestled continuously with separating my identity from her achievements (or lack thereof). As a person who is prone to personal development and growth, I spent a lot of those years also working on myself, healing, processing and leaning into the Father. This was also when I reaffirmed my faith. I’d love to draw a graph of how this time looked in my life and have it be a lovely diagonal line going up… but that’s not true. If we graphed these years of my life, it’d look more like a rollercoaster. I had good days, weeks or months along with some bad. Between the time Amelia was 2 ½ and 6, we welcomed 3 little boys into our world. Amelia was a great big sister to each, but it was a wild time for everyone. In the midst of our growing family, I continued to lean into the Father and began choosing to be obedient when He called me. It wasn’t perfect, but there was lots of growth during this time, and I now see the foundation He was laying in my life and heart.

For most of these pregnancies and newborn seasons, we were in a pandemic. Many around us were considering their options for school for their children. Homeschool started to seem more normal and there were also some hybrid school options popping up. I started to feel nervous because I was looking at possiblities that looked differently than my friends around me. Many were sending their 4 or 5 year olds to preschool. We felt strongly we shouldn’t, but the lies about our daughter being “behind” were loud. Thankfully, during this time, God started bringing homeschool moms and families into my life. One mom in particular had girls just a little bit ahead of my kids in age. I spent lots of time with her and began to learn from her as we mothered alongside each other. I asked questions and she shared her wisdom and insights. I appreciate now that she never asserted anything, nor spoke from a position of authority. Each answer she shared was personal to her and she always pointed back to being led to it, and discussions with her husband.

The time spent together was deeply impactful for our family’s journey and helped me stand more solid in being firm in my decision to obey my call to homeschool. During those transitional years from about 3.5 to 5.5 years old, I wavered daily in our decision. I couldn’t answer the questions I was being asked with a firmness the people asking expected. I felt unconfident and unsure. And all the questions and other people’s concern for my children’s education started to get to me. I’m thankful I had my husband to run to, along with God, during those years. He was confident in our stance when I didn’t have the same confidence. He reminded me of my call and my decision to obey when I wanted to abandon it all to do what I perceived to be the easier thing.

Over the years, homeschool moms whom I’ve grown to respect, have shared resources. I’ve read tons of books and blogs, listened to podcasts and attended workshops. But the things my husband and I have done most is pray and discuss together. The question you often get as a homeschool mom is “Why?” and as a family we’ve decided this is our foundation. When fear creeps in or we get distracted or overwhelmed, we are able to go back to our “Why” over and over.

--Does this line up with our reasoning for “Why” we are doing this in the first place? If yes, ok, let’s pray about it. No? Great, move on.

There are homeschool philosophies and curriculums galore. You could spend so much money and time exploring and shopping. Our “Why” helps us make decisions on resources and approaches. Part of our “Why” is keeping things between my husband and myself as it relates to making decisions for their activities and lessons. This helps me tremendously when I get overwhelmed with ideas from well-intentioned homeschool mom friends.

The best thing about homeschooling is there are so many options, approaches, resources, timelines, activities, etc. The hardest thing about homeschooling is all that I just listed. We want the best for our kids. We want to know we are doing the best and we have no magic ball to know if what we are doing is that. But we have the Spirit. And since I’ve stopped trying to control and do more, more, more, I am able to listen for guidance and nudges. I’m more firmly rooted in the “Why” we decided together, in prayer. And our “Why” doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. Lately, I’ve felt much more secure when asked what we do and why. I don’t feel the need to apologize for making others uncomfortable with my answers. That’s not my job. My job is to be obedient in what we’ve been called to do and to be able to answer to God, my husband, and our kids.

As I mentioned, we’re two years into this homeschooling thing. I’m only working with one of my 4 children, formally. The boys show up for storytime, they love the “field trips”, but mostly they play during our short formal lesson time. There’s lots of time to change things, and lots of different personalities to dictate my approach for each child. I remain open and willing to deviate from what we have set up at this point. That’s huge growth for me. Taking things term by term, reevaluating and adjusting. It’s been so good for Amelia and myself. I’m prone to focusing on checking boxes and reaching the finish line. I could easily do this with homeschooling, but I fear I’d miss the whole point of being called to this, if I took that approach. So, I see Him, my Father, refining me here.

Honestly, I’ve seen more growth in myself since we’ve started homeschooling than any other time in my life. I can confidently say my Father, called me to homeschool as much for my sake and what He wants to do in me as much as what He wants to do through me and for my kids. I’ve had to lay down lifelong beliefs I didn’t realize I had. I’ve been humbled by my children daily. I’ve had to admit I was wrong, to myself, my kids, my husband, and friends – which is not something I have been willing to do much of in my life. Ultimately, homeschooling has brought me to my knees and to the feet of the Father more than any other experience in my life. I’ve learned so much about myself and about Him. On my hard days, I see that I’m doing the work. The days that go smooth are absolutely when I stop focusing on my list and allow Him to guide me.

--

Jessi Huenink

This is only a test

Have you ever been in a room and heard a very loud and abrupt voice say “this is a test, only a test”? then you discover where the test (sound) is coming from, a television, a radio or a computer.

This can be a shock to our hearing! and can send our emotions through the ceiling, but then we realize we’ve been told that the National Broadcasting Network is just doing a test of their system for an emergency. We then settle back down and move about our day. The test didn’t really change how we’re going to continue in our day, it was just letting us know that it works.

As we look at the word “test” today you may have varying thoughts, depending where you are in life (student, worker, teacher, parent, etc.) Let’s look at a few questions around taking a test.

What’s on the test?

What score am I aiming for or what do I need to pass this test?

What’s the purpose of this test?

Who is giving the test?

What if I fail this test?

If you are like most people, you may associate anxiety with a test.

I know I’ve heard many people say, “I’m just not a good test taker”.

You may have even skipped a day of school because you know there is a test scheduled and you’re not quite ready to take it. In all honesty, I’m sure I did this.

Testing is all throughout the Bible so it’s got to be a necessary part of our lives.

I think the word test, kind of scares us and we are okay to just skip them if possible and stay in the elemetary stage of spiritual life. It’s manageable and it doesn’t require much distruption to our day.

But, if we as Christians came to the tests from a different place or view, we could actually know that the Test Giver has designed the test for us to always pass. Too easy? Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about it thourgh a devotional by Oswald Chambers.

Test of Faithfulness

By Oswald Chambers

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God… —Romans 8:28

It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.

Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.

The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.

Testing is not a setup for failure, but a time to show us who we are relying upon to walk through the circumstances we face. As we draw from Christ as our resource of power, love and strength, he shows us that the testing is necessary for our growth in relationship with Him.

No one else can take our tests, but just as in school, we can have study partners to encourage us through the testing times. First and foremost, the Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide and secondly, he uses others to help direct us through His Word. This is why Bible study is so important and having purposeful time with Jesus and our Christian family is so important. Encouragement is the best when it comes time to taking tests.

So the next time you find yourself in an abrupt test sounding out, just remember it’s okay! Pray! and ask others to pray for you.

James 5:16

….pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.

This is a test, only a test and it’s there for your benefit as well as those around you. Testing can lead to growth and you can come through to the other side of a test, changed in an area of your life that was needing a change. This IS the point of the test and the Test Giver wants that for His students (children).

We take tests all the time througout our lives, so set your mind differently and see what God wants for you to know about Him, instead of what do I have to learn from this testing. The test is here to show you His faithfulness In it, For it and Through it. He’s a great test giver and taker! You can trust Him!

Happy Test Taking!

Dayna

Know about? or truly known

Do you have a favorite scripture or Psalm that speaks to you over and over? One that you find yourself sharing it with others as an anchor and a sail all at the same time? Well, there is a scripture that I have tethered to throughout the years that I'd like to share with you.

Phillipians 3:10

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I grew up with the Bible being taught and read to me and around me, but it wasn't until I was in my 40's that it truly started to come alive to me. Actually, He came alive to me, that is God, my Father, started becoming real and tangible in my every day life. He had always been there for me, I just didn’t know it in a real way. I remember reading the Phillipians scripture one day and the first five words stuck out to me….that I may know Him.

Although, I had accepted Jesus as my Saviour as a child in Sunday school, I didn't know the reality of what had occurred with God the Father and the Holy Spirit being in me, also. I had believed that Jesus came into my heart and that God was in heaven looking down and the Holy Spirit was something I would get later on when I had a spiritual experience to get Him. I know my concept was a little wonky to say the least, but, the more I spent time in God's Word, this verse became an open door for me to actually start to get to know the truth about Him, in a a more full way. There is so much to share about this verse, but we are going to just sit with the first 5 words.

One night many years ago, I sat down with a pen and paper and began to start writing down words that I believed, and had shared in my relationship with God up to that exact moment in my life of "Knowing Him". I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to write down things instead of just keeping them in my thoughts. This is the list I wrote down and it was quite surprising to me how much I DID know about Him. I decided to share this with you, as a way, that you also might start to see how you may know him.

Grab a yummy drink (coffee for me) and enjoy hearing about God our Father as you read this. Welcome to my living room….

April 18th -

What do I know about you?

You are....

Good, Love, Peace, Joy, Fun, Plenty, Sacrifice, Big, Trust, Time, Life, A must, fair, Mindful, for me, on it, pleasant, fabulous, a trained eye, encouragement, my all in all, my everything, steady, oak tree, enjoyment, faithful, strength, above all, gracious, bright, financially responsible, the ticket, refreshing, visible, everywhere, the winner, trustworthy, tall, meaningful, here with me, longsuffering, kind, fellowship, relief, camped out around, truth, strong, frank, royalty, King, majesty, Light, all knowing, commander & chief, Ready & waiting, accessible, at Rest, not worried, patient, desirable, caring, a good communicator, relational, on your throne, turned toward me, authentic, Real, a hard worker, self control, wonderful, counsellor, Perfect, invested, with me, in me, generous, enough, coming back, prepared, all seeing, all knowing, Emmanuel, warm, cuddly, close, near, In, all powerful, a good listener, blessed, eager, a great story teller, triumphant, conqueror, growing me, protector, my focus, redeemer, Savior, excited, open armed, forgiveness, available, order, all powerful, well-able, precious, beautiful, creative, the best, family, unmoveable, at work, accomplished, eloquint, legitimate, wisdom, understanding, the Word, Teacher, Leader, Guider, Smart, all knowing, constant, able, keeper, preparer, my maker, Father, Abba, Daddy, interested, caring Healer, crazy for me, very lovely, never late, proud of me, engaged, likeable, gentle, awesome, cozy, delight, everything, merry, mercy, relevant, rejoicing over me, taking care of me, not heavy, pointing the way, a hugger, tremendous, leaning in, quiet, soft, victory, freedom, Hope, unfailing, you are my Husband!

Wow! I know alot about you =) and I KNOW You!

You are my God!

Did you like hearing all about Him? or maybe this made you a little uncomfortable.

There is a saying, "you can't give what you don't have". If we believe that God is a far away God, then we wouldn't be able to write a list like this. As, I began knowing that God is near, so near that he is actually in me, with me through is son Jesus by evidence of the Holy Spirit in my spirit, it will change everything.....and it did for me.

Each word I wrote was a part of what He had shown me about Himself to that moment. It really became a love letter between us.

Maybe your letter is waiting to be written. I get teary eyed everytime I read through the list I wrote so many years ago, because it was and still continues to be apart of our journey together, He and I. Your list, could start with one word….Love! He is love!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Loved by Him,

Dayna

I am & the thing

Have you ever read any Dr. Suess books? They had the cat, who wore a funny tall top hat, and rhymed everything? Some of his rhymes involved other fun characters, like Sam in “Green Eggs and Ham”, who was called Sam I am.

Then there was “Cat in the Hat” featuring Thing One and Thing Two.

As I’m taking you back into my early book learning days, I want us to take these 3 characters with us into our blog time.

Let’s start with our first character, Sam I am.

Although, I don’t introduce MYself to people as Dayna I am, there is some real truth in this.

Let’s look at this scripture and see how it can expand our thinking here.

found at biblestudytools.com (I am)

The phrase "I AM" is prominently featured in the Bible, particularly in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name to Moses, saying, "I AM WHO I AM." This name signifies God's eternal and self-sufficient nature. Additionally, in the New Testament, Jesus uses the "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John to affirm His divinity, such as in John 8:58, where He states, "Before Abraham was, I am."

The 2 words “I am” are used every day by everyone on the planet earth, in some conversation I’m sure.

“I am” can be a lead into so many things, but have we ever thought about it as a person?

John 14:20 is one of my favorite verses because of where we, as Christians, can find our true position.

20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Do you see the I am? twice?

Jesus says I am in the I am and then he says that we - YES WE, are in this same, I Am.

This sounds kinda like the Dr. Suess book about Sam I am. Of course, his was to be a silly, fun way of learning to read, but I think we can take Sam’s statement of identity for ourselves.

I am Dayna.

I am in the I am, that I am.

The I am is in me, also.

Let’s move on to Thing One and Thing Two. How many things do you deal with in a day? I believe if you’re anything like me, this is too many to count, not just 1 or 2. How can us knowing we are in the “I am” bring more clarity to our things and what we choose to do with them?

I found that the word THING is found over 1500 times in the Bible. That’s a lot of things! In just the Psalms alone, we find the word 46 time in the King James version.

I’d like to put what I’ve just share with you into practical life. If you are going through a thing or two, could you bring them into the I am? The answer is Yes! and resounding Yes!

Example: My car broke down (thing one)

reaction or response - I can’t believe this or A prayer could follow:

What do you have in this Father for me and those that could be involved? I am trusting in you, Jesus, to make a way through this thing, no matter what the result, whether it gets fixed or not.

This isn’t pacivity, this is soundness of being in a person who has THE plan.

The Great I am!

I heard a sermon several years ago that spoke so clearly to this. The pastor said something like this -

I can live in…. I am broke, I am sick, I am sick and tired, I am abandoned, I am always taken advantage of,

…..or I can choose to start with who I am in Christ first.

Then I can state confidently….

With this thing

I am SAFE

I am SECURE

I am LOVED

We can choose to take our stance in Jesus, and know that these are not just things to him, they are opportunities for us to know Him, rely on Him, grow in Him and most assuredly - Trust Him!

With your next thing, which is probably in just a few minutes, I encourage you to set your mind in the “I am” and see if it doesn’t make a huge difference in the way you walk through it. We may have to remind ourselves many times through the thing or things, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, He will direct your path.

I hope this encourages you with your next things.

In His Freedom!

Dayna

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Course Correction

I remember many years ago I was not very far away from a shuttle being launched into space. I was at a theme park in Florida not far from Kennedy Space Center. Although, it wasn't expected, I remember hearing something loud and looked toward the commotion and there it was off in the distance with big puffs of smoke, a space shuttle slowly beginning to rise up into the atmostphere…. and then it was gone. I don't remember where I heard it was going to, but there was a course most likely that had been programmed into the computer, to ensure it was headed where it was needed to be. Did you know that even though the shuttle headed straight up, it would need course corrections along it’s journey.

As I've been getting into this month's blog, the word course has been my focus. These are some of the quick phrases that came to mind. See if you've ever had these cross your brain waves.

I’m just stayin' the course!

How do I know I'm on the right course?

Where does this course lead?

Does it feel like an obstacle course?

And one little fun one....but of course, ha, ha.

Course correction is one that we see over and over throughout the Bible in people's lives.

A couple of verses that we can look at today, with "course" in mind, start with the story of Mary and Elisabeth in Luke 1.

Elisabeth’s son, John, who bacame known as John the Baptiser, was a man who had a course set for him from the womb of his mother. In this account we find that she and her cousin Mary were both given gifts to carry in their wombs. They were each on a journey which in a quick moment were both given course corrections in their lives. They both accepted the course change. Elizabeth’s son would pave the way for the other in life.

We can take note that John completed his course and directed his followers to change course and start following Jesus.

Acts 13:25 NASB

And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, One is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

John 1:35-37 KJV

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The two disciples took the course correction required to move forward.

Let's now turn our attention to Paul, the apostle, and his course correction and conclusion. He was a man who hated Jesus and anyone who wanted to have anything to do with him. He was on a couse to destroy all Christians and was not going to stop, until He met Jesus on the road to Demascus. Jesus has a course correction for him and it would require turning and going a completely different direction.

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul not only took the corrected course, he shows us that in our unexpected things in life, we can complete the course with Joy!

This is the definition I found of “What a course correction requires for a spacecraft”.

https://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/navigation/1-what-is-course-correction.html

When a spacecraft gets off of its trajectory, or path through space, it must be put back on the right path. The location of the spacecraft is determined and its course vector (the speed and direction of its flight) is calculated. This is compared with the path it should be on. A new vector is computed that will put it back on course. The ship's attitude thrusters aim the ship and the main thruster pushes it along the path.

Did you see it? It’s the ship’s attitude thrusters! I’m not making this up. Even something like correcting a space craft needs an attitude adjustment. I love that it helps the ship to take a new aim.

Have you ever looked at where you are in your life and thought, "I'm just going through the same old thing over and over again?"

I know there have been different seasons where I could say this. Maybe an "attitude course correction" is needed!

If we look at John, he was looking at Jesus and walking his course proclaiming Jesus.

If we look at Paul, he was looking at Jesus and walking his course in an attitude of joy.

Today, is a new day for us to do the same. Jesus is the course correction needed for our lives. He's not critcal, he's not a controller, but rather, He is a loving, compassionate God that is looking for those who will take the course corrections.

Neither John nor Paul, ended their lives in a manner that would be attractive to us. Rather it was their perspective from Jesus that gave them a full and enjoyable life, to the end. Paul died being executed after a prison stay and John spent a lot of alone time on the Isle of Patmos.

We can get so stuck in our ways, that when the course correction comes, we fend it off and say I'll fly it myself. I'm sure you know this is not going to end well, when we do this. It’s like sending a person to a new job and telling them to just figure it out. That's just silly! They need help all along the course. The course is designed for two, not one.

I close with this -

Hebrews 12:2 NASB

looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There was a moment in the Garden of Gethsemene where Jesus asked His Father if the course could go another way, but then he was reminded of the flight plan again, and took the course correction, of his soul, and let His Father do the flying....

We have opportunities in our days to have course corrections. Just look to Jesus from the beginning of the day to the end of it and see if you are experiencing joy no matter what the circumstances bring.

Your will be done!

Dayna

Adversity brings University

Ice skating was something that I learned when I was around 12 years old. It wasn't the easiest quest and after strapping on the skates and wobbling around for a while, I was able to actually glide around. I even, on the same day was able to turn around on my skates and go backwards a bit. I had been a pretty good roller skater, so it didn't take much to get it. One thing to mention in this is that I was on a lake in the mountains of Colorado. If you've ever skated on a frozen lake, its a bit different than a skating rink inside. The water on a lake has little ripples that have frozen and can even have some choppiness to it that can put you on your backside fairly quick.

Do you ever start out your morning with the thought of "I don't want any choppy ice today?" I hope there's no ripples in my plans? Nothing wrong with this thought process, but in reality, we have no idea what our day will fully bring. Just as I started out on the ice, we can set out on the day with our plans, in hand, to start accomplishing them. Things seem pretty easy until....

Then the text comes! the phone rings! the children start coughing, the cable's out...whew! and I could go on with this list. You say this wasn't on my radar and I have things to do today that I don't want interruptions.

When Joseph in the Old Testament woke up one morning, it was just another ordinary day to complete the plans of the day. His father gave him instructions to take go check on his brothers and see how they were getting along. Pretty simple plan and you may have read this account in the Bible, many times, just like I have, but have you put yourself in the story. We look back at these people's lives and know the whole story from beginning to end, but have you considered your own story as you look in?

In a blog I wrote in January, I mentioned that I would share with you the difference between Positive Thinking and Setting your mind on Jesus. They are not the same.

The first one is putting on a happy face no matter what the circumstances are.

The second is a heart attitude of trust in someone greater than yourself, even when things are choppy.

If we think that the Christian life is to always have a smile on your face then what on earth do we do when we read scriptures like these?

This is Jesus' words to Father

John 12:27a

Now is my soul troubled;

This is the Apostle Paul's words

2 Timothy 1:15

15 I’m sure you know by now that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me,

Two of the most incredible men with powerful testimonies, were troubled and had people desert them. You don't hear in either of these accounts, that they were just putting on a smile and continuing on with their plans for the day.

They were both grieved and sorrowful. But what changes everything is that they didn't just pull themselves up by their boot straps, get a new plan and keep trudging on. They both looked to the One, the Father, the Holy Spirit, the Teacher to lead them through where they were at. They didn't go around the "choppy" they had to go through it.

The one thing I didn't mention in the start of this blog, was that I wasn't by myself out there on the lake. I had a teacher that took careful time to instruct me about the lake, like the deeper parts in the middle, the soft edges on the perimeter and Yes! the choppy ice that was created by mostly other skaters around me that had made this choppiness by their skating. As the teaching commenced we held hands and I was led where the safety of the lake was for me. This teacher was my eyes, my ears, my strength, my wisdom as each word came out of their mouth.

You know, I could have learned a few skating techniques and skated away from the safety of the teacher. I had this choice many times, but the teacher’s voice kept calling me to stay close, trust me, let's do this together.

There are many things in this day, that want to intice us to go on our own.

Thoughts like “You don't need anymore lessons from that teacher, just figure it out on your own, you're smart enough and if it feels good to you then just do it”.

Instead, of leaning to our own devices, we get opportunities to trust in One greater than ourselves. Let’s be real, we DON’T want any choppy ice but if we listen to the Teacher, we can learn to navigate through it.

Example:

Here comes the text, the phone call, the crisis......the interuption to my plans.

Before you do anything -

Pray: “Holy Spirit, my Teacher, the One I find my safety in, I give you thanks for this and I know that I can trust you with it, no matter what. Is there anything you want me to know about you in this? and how would you have me to respond (or not respond)?, In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Then wait. Yes, just wait. Don't skate off on the ice ahead. Stay right where you are, do some figure eights while you wait. Practice what you know and then, when the Teacher gives the go ahead, you together make the next glide, together.

One last thought -

Positive thinking isn't going to make Goliath's head fall off. Nope! David had been with the Teacher, who showed him day in and day out, how to face this giant. Earlier that day, it was just another day to David when his dad came to him with instructions for his day. David was to deliver sandwiches to the family. Seriously! just the Door Dash Guy? He had no idea what meal was really going to be served up that day.....

Today's special....head on a platter day! Pretty grusome, but oh so very real.

The next time you wake up with the thought, I really want a good day, just remember, we do have those days, but when we have interuptions, we can either go off on our little plan, or we can stop, pray, put our plan in our pocket and join the Teacher in His plan. You can always pull out the paper in your pocket another day, but be willing to put in right back in the pocket.

I hope this has encouraged you today!

If you want to read these men’s stories in more depth:

Joseph's daily plan went differently than he thought.

Genesis 37

12-13 His brothers had gone off to Shechem where they were pasturing their father’s flocks. Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers are with flocks in Shechem. Come, I want to send you to them.”

Joseph said, “I’m ready.”

14 He said, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing and bring me back a report.” He sent him off from the valley of Hebron to Shechem.

15 A man met him as he was wandering through the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 “I’m trying to find my brothers. Do you have any idea where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 The man said, “They’ve left here, but I overheard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph took off, tracked his brothers down, and found them in Dothan.

18-20 They spotted him off in the distance. By the time he got to them they had cooked up a plot to kill him. The brothers were saying, “Here comes that dreamer. Let’s kill him and throw him into one of these old cisterns; we can say that a vicious animal ate him up. We’ll see what his dreams amount to.”

21-22 Reuben heard the brothers talking and intervened to save him, “We’re not going to kill him. No murder. Go ahead and throw him in this cistern out here in the wild, but don’t hurt him.” Reuben planned to go back later and get him out and take him back to his father.

23-24 When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn’t any water in it.

25-27 Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, “Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 By that time the Midianite traders were passing by. His brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who took Joseph with them down to Egypt.

29-30 Later Reuben came back and went to the cistern—no Joseph! He ripped his clothes in despair. Beside himself, he went to his brothers. “The boy’s gone! What am I going to do!”

31-32 They took Joseph’s coat, butchered a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. They took the fancy coat back to their father and said, “We found this. Look it over—do you think this is your son’s coat?”

33 He recognized it at once. “My son’s coat—a wild animal has eaten him. Joseph torn limb from limb!”

34-35 Jacob tore his clothes in grief, dressed in rough burlap, and mourned his son a long, long time. His sons and daughters tried to comfort him but he refused their comfort. “I’ll go to the grave mourning my son.” Oh, how his father wept for him.

36 In Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, manager of his household affairs.

Just another day for David?

1 Samuel 17

17-19 One day, Jesse told David his son, “Take this sack of cracked wheat and these ten loaves of bread and run them down to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten wedges of cheese to the captain of their division. Check in on your brothers to see whether they are getting along all right, and let me know how they’re doing—Saul and your brothers, and all the Israelites in their war with the Philistines in the Oak Valley.”

50 That’s how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

51 Then David ran up to the Philistine and stood over him, pulled the giant’s sword from its sheath, and finished the job by cutting off his head. When the Philistines saw that their great champion was dead, they scattered, running for their lives.

Penny for your thoughts

Or how bout this one....”One track minded” or “narrow minded” could also be a way to talk about how we can think.

I don't know about you, but I have lots of thoughts through out the day and some are up and some are down.

Have you ever thought about what you have available to you regarding your thoughts as a Christ one?

There are many scriptures that point us to what our thinking can be like. Here is one we can look at today.

Philippians 4:8

.... whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

There's many things we can set our minds on throughout the day. One way I like to ponder God's Word is to look at the opposite of a word.

Taking the words from the scripture we just read into the dictionary - True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely, Good Report, Virtue, Praise could be expounded like this.

True is not - false, fake, phony, mock, counterfeit

Honest is not - dishonest, false, lying, mendacious

Just is not- unfair, unjust, irrelevant, incorrect, unjustified

Pure is not- mixed, contaminated, polluted, diluted, spoiled, tainted

Lovely is not- poor, vile, lousy, terrible, pathetic, rotten, awful

Good (Report) is not - bad, wicked, wrong, sinful, indecent, improper

Virtue is not - evil, sin, iniquity, immoral, badness, villainy

Praise is not - blame, criticize, censure

Wow! what a list of heaviness on the mind if we go to the opposite thoughts of where we find Life! When you do a quick study like this, it can really open up to you what a verse is wanting you to know about our heavenly Father. All of the words we just looked at, in the verse, speak of attributes of God, Himself.

As you look through all of those negative words that leave you with a bad taste or a heaviness in your mind, we are instructed in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

How can we cast our cares (relationships, decisions, health concerns, etc.) on Him? Best place to start? Prayer! Just start opening up and telling God all about it. Then look or press in, by listening to him as He shows you in His Word His truth, His honesty and so on. He doesn't just say to do these, He IS these! I love the end of the First Peter scripture, because it tells you why?

He cares! FOR YOU! in every situation and every relationship. He's not a far away God who looks down on us, He's available 24/7 in us as his child. When the Holy Spirit moved into our spirit, we gained all of these in the treasure box. It tells us this in:

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Heaviness isn’t to be apart of our daily life experience, it truly does not belong to us. So if you’re feeling a weight, I would encourage you to think about, what your thinking about. When you identify it, look at what the exchange from Jesus is. Let me be clear, I’m not talking about positive thinking, or just get it over it. I’m hoping you’ll see through what I’ve just shared, that we can go through difficulty and still think on the things we just mentioned. Instead of dwelling on a list of the “is nots”.

If you’d like to spend some time with me talking through this subject more, please contact me to set up a phone call or schedule a face to face meeting.

I’m going to expand on this a bit more in my next blog.

I hope you found this encouraging.

Growing In Him,

Surprise!

I have a sweet aunt that lives in a town named “Surprise”. Throughout the years she has been a faithful steward of kindness by sending celebration Hallmark cards for each birthday and Christmas I’ve had. Although, I know she will send the cards, I’m always somewhat pleasantly surprised when I open the mail box and see it waiting there for me. Thankful for her, my dear aunt Jeanette!

What does this have to do with Christmas, besides card giving?

The wisemen were bringing gifts to Joseph and Mary. These wisemen, if you want to say, were the mailmen bringing packages for them from far away. Although, this was a one time event, this family was still very surprised, I’m sure. They weren’t expecting these packages but non the less they were on the way.

Do you ever wonder what is on the way for you today? I’m not just talking about your Amazon boxes, I’m talking about the anticipation of starting your day with a humble heart. “Father, thank you for all you have for today”. This could be a set appointment or an unexpected one. This could be bad or good news! Whatever comes to your life today, I encourage you to open it up in God’s timing and kind care for you. God’s gifts are very valuable and hold things in them you can’t even image.

Joseph and Mary had to trust every moment of every day with their new baby boy. My hope is that we will not be skeptical or naysayers through this next few weeks of December. Open up yourself to Jesus and be surprised by what he shows you and has for you all throughout your day. We all get bad news and difficult situations - no one is exempt! But we get opportunities throughout the day as to how we respond. Is this package of news full of a loving Father’s provision or do I think it’s a dud. I choose the first, how bout you?

In the midst of this season, I hope you grow and know Jesus in a very special way! One day He will surprise us with His return for His church. One thing I know about Jesus is that He’s the best gift giver - He gave His life! There’s no surprise there!

Merry Christmas everyone,

Dayna

Luke 21:27-28

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

You’ve got mail

Do you remember the movie "You've Got Mail"? It was a fun movie about sending and receiving email between two people. Every time the computer chimed, there was a new email waiting for a response. The more the emails went back and forth, the more the two people got to know each other.

This got me to thinking about how God sends an initial invite and then waits for a reply.

We see this in John 3:16. I know we all probably could quote this one, but did you ever think that God sent an invite through His Son, Jesus? And there is the hope of a response from us.

Until the email is opened up, it will remain "Unread" in your inbox.

Now maybe, I'm being silly with this analogy, but I think it can help us to see that God is not out of touch and that He's the one who originally starting texting and emailing us.

Yes, Jesus is the Word. This is found in:

John 1:1

In the beginning there was the Word [the Word already existed; The Word refers to Christ, God’s revelation of himself]. The Word was ·with [in the presence of; in intimate relationship with] God [the Father], and the Word was [fully] God.

What are words? they are texts from God to us. I love this, because I know that I have struggled with reading the Bible through the years. I thought it was a book I needed to read or should read, but then I started to see it as a message for me from Someone who loves me.

Some of the mail (scripture) I've opened through the years have been these:

1. He invites us into His family. John 3:16

2. He invites us to know Him. Phil 3:10

3. He invites us to rely on Him. I Cor. 1:9

4. He invites us to a true love relationship 2 John 1:16

5. He invites us to life everlasting John 12:50

You just start by opening the mail and reading. Pretty simple!

But let me be clear, just reading the Bible, doesn't give you connection to God. You first have to open up your heart (spirit) and respond in faith to the invite. God says that we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and then we will be saved.

Once we receive the initial invite and respond, there is now a relationship established for emails to go back and forth. You can now send Him an invite and He can respond. Is this too simple? Isn’t this what pray looks like?

I start my day with "Thank you Father for your invitation to join you in another day". I then invite Him to direct the day and show me Himself more deeply.

A relationship is not a one-way street, it’s a continuous movement back and forth.

Taking this a little wider:

I volunteer at a little thrift store and I had an opportunity present itself to me this week. I thought it might be fun for you to see how we can also have mail to open with people through out a day, too.

(chime) You’ve God Mail

Yesterday a Christian woman I know, invited me to pray for someone she knew.

Email waiting (blinking)

I had an opportunity to open that invite or leave it unread.

I chose to open it (by listening). She began to share with me the content of the need. I listened as she shared her heart for a young man her church family is praying for.

My Response

I replied to her that I would be praying for him.

I then had a choice, pray or move on with my day. I chose to pray!

Just because you read an email from someone, doesn't mean relationship. There has to be a response to move things forward.

Invitations are calling for us to be apart of truly great gifts - The Kingdom of God has many benefits throughout our day.

My hope is that we are not just readers, let’s be receivers and responders.

Have a thankful season in Him,

Dayna

P.S. I’m going to share the prayer request with you that was shared with me, so you can join in this very serious situation.

A man in his 20’s, named Micah, was on a ladder a few days ago putting up Christmas lights and was electrocuted. He’s at a hospital in Omaha. He was spared his life only because he was on his tip toes on the ladder which kept the electrical current from going all the way through his body. He has 3rd degree burns on his hands and has undergone surgery to repair the skin. This young man is attending college to become a pastor. He’s in serious condition. I’m praying for a miracle and full recovery for him. Please add his wife to this prayer request. Thank you!

I see you!

Matthew 18:10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Luke 1:76

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:17

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers;

2 John 1:12

Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

3 John 1:14

but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you.

I was having coffee with someone I love dearly, recently. As we began to share things about our lives, we were quickly talking about someone very near and dear to us. His name is Jesus! He's our Savior, He’s our Lord and He’s our Life! He's everything to us.

As I reflected on this day, I was brought to the thought that we could have talked on the phone, which we have done many times. We could have written a letter or a card to share our things, this we’ve done also. We could even have texted a quick update…. again, we've done this. But, there is a depth that has so much more meaning as we share, face to face. I had been waiting to go and see her and to look into her eyes and have her look into mine. We could see the lines of time that had knitted us together through so many years of prayer, tears of joy and sorrow, and over abounding sounds of laughter between us. We have seen each other! But more that that, we have seen Jesus in each other!

As I looked into the scriptures I started with at the beginning of this blog, they show us many things and many scenerios of face to face importance.

Jesus, Paul and John were very desirous of being face to face with people. They knew the importance of it! In 2 John 1:12, you can hear in John's voice how he longed to be with these believers in Christ. He tells us that there is a joy of fullness that can be apart of the time appointed to be together. It's not just a "hang out session" it's an intentional heart to heart, face to face, love for one another.

As we have longed to be together with people we love, let me say, it’s can be so much more, when we long to be with Jesus. I’m shifting the subject but it will come together in the end of this blog.

A friend said to me recently that it had been a hard season of waiting in her life circumstances and I got to share with her that Jesus has been waiting, too. What? Yes, Jesus is in the waiting room!

What is He waiting on or for we may ask?

He's waits for people to accept Him as their Savior. He's knocking and waiting.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him ....

He's waiting for us to trust Him with our whole hearts. Not just pieces of it.

He's waiting for us to ask Him questions and bring our inquiries to Him.

He's waiting for His Father to give Him the go ahead to come get His bride.

Yes, He's very familiar with the waiting room.

Do you know who else is in that waiting room? the Comforter (John 14:16).

As we pray for those we love and wait for change of circumstances and desire “face to face” with them, we can draw on the Life of Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, and take Comfort.

In 1 Corintians 13:12 there is a reality of seeing things dimly here on earth, meaning we can’t see ahead to the solved problem, but we can see Jesus in the midst of our waiting.

So, what are you waiting for? and do you see Jesus in your waiting room? He’s right there!

Take a look at the italicized list above and see what He may be waiting for from you.

I hope this has encouraged you to make more face to face conversations with Jesus and people in your life, no matter what you’re waiting for.

Blessed to share this with you today!

Looking forward to our next face to face!

A new view

I'm so over this!

John 16:32-33

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

As I begin this blog, I want to express that in this season of stressful challenges, Jesus has given us his encouragment for them.

He tells of what he was experiencing and what was to come as we read through the verses above.

Have you ever said.... I'm so over this? maybe it is a circumstance that continues to happen over and over or a trial that just won't come to an end.

These verses in John can bring you a new perspective as a Christ-one on how to face each challenge.

I remember in 2020 when Covid first came on the scene, I saw the letters C O V I D from a new perspective.

At the time there was a chalkboard in the lobby where I work and I wrote this message on it.

Christ

Over

Virus

In

Deed

This was to be an encouragement with a new perspective on the challenges at hand. We could walk it out in a Full Confidence of Christ as the overcomer in everything. Did we have a "head in the sky" casualness, No! We experienced loss, hardship and great suffering, but with these was “Peace” in knowing that Christ knew all that would be needed for every step. We could trust Him with all of it.

We don't know what each day may bring, but we can know that Jesus made THIS day and no matter what, we can choose to see it from under... or over.

This is a devotional that I think will bring you hope and joy in the midst of your storms that want to take you under.

SIMPLE TRUST

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

There will always be secrets and motives of God that lie beyond our grasp. God knows everything; we do not. Only in Heaven will we understand God's ways more fully. As Paul Said, "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (I Corinthians 13:12)

But based upon what we do know about God's character, demonstrated supremely in the Cross, we can trust that God is doing what is best for us. God says in His Word, "I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

As Corrie ten Boom once explained, "Picture a peice of embroidery placed between you and God, with the right side up toward God. Man sees the loose, frayed ends; but God sees the pattern."

God is in control. Whatever comes into our lives, we can confindently say, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Billy Graham

We all face things we can't understand, but for those of us in Christ, we can look down on "the things" with a completely full overcoming view and perspective.

For a deeper understanding of this, please reach out and let's discuss how you can have this assurance.

Love In Him,

Dayna

If you are not familiar with Corrie ten Boom, I would highly encourage you to read her story. We really have no excuses when we see what she walked through. Christ was her anchor in each storm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrie_ten_Boom

The inside Door

Have you ever been watching a television show or athletic game and have this come on the screen?

" We pardon the interruption but...."

then after the interruption starts, we may go through a meriad of emotions, like…

anger, frustration or fear. The emotions that don’t usually rise to the top are joy, gratefulness or peace.

This happened to me recently as I was watching a basketball game, that I had eagerly been wanting to watch. Right in the middle of the NBA finals, a huge thunderstorm was moving through my area and it had the potential of damage involved with it.

Although, the meteorologist was apologetic, it didn't change his course to warn me and those in my town. He did say several times that he knew the game was on but this was a much more pressing matter.

This brings me to our next door. So far we've looked at the door of the Ark and the Passover Door. I encourage you to go back and read those blogs.

The Temple's Inner Door is what we will focus on in this blog.

After digging in and learning about this door it has taken me to look at the Inner Door of our Heart, not our physical heart, but the inner spiritual heart of a person.

Have you ever thought of your heart having a door associated with it? The bible has a lot to say about the spiritual heart.

The hurts and wounds of life can take up residency in there. That's why it's so important to know what Christ's answers are for these as we attempt to walk through each day not wanting to look at them. Or, even worse, not really knowing what to do with them. We've all had things we experienced in our upbringing that left a mark of some kind of hurt, and as I know from my own life, that hurt can be damaging to me and those around me.

Just like the meteorolist, I think the Holy Spirit wants to interrupt our thoughts with a warning.

The inner door of our heart (inner temple door) is something that we have the ability to open or close.

Ezekiel 36:26

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

This verse tells us that if we are in Christ, we've received a new heart and spirit when we opened the door to him and let him in.

This verse is a statement of fact. Not how I feel! I may not feel new or have new thoughts about myself or others, but the fact still remains that I have a NEW HEART.

So, where do I go from this fact to an actual reality in my life?

The first thing I would ask you to look at would be if you have a repeating thought about yourself that might sound like this....

"I'm always a disappointment"

"I should have know better"

"I'm trying to figure out my life"

and the list can go on for days, like this.

These are just a few of the thoughts that I have had to work through in my own life.

Take a good look at the 3 things I’ve just listed - they all start with "I". That is my first issue!

Galatians 2:20 says -

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christ is the end of my "I" that starts and ends a sentence in my mind. This verse tells us that my "I" in now joined to Jesus and we have become "We". What do I mean by we?

I love John 14:20 that tells us that as a Christian we have been placed into Jesus and Jesus is in us. What a wonderful picture of knowing how safe and loved we are. Yes, I've had hurts and wounds in my life. But, now I can turn my attention or mind on my new Heart that Jesus gave me and trust that when I have a thought that wants to take me back to that hurt, I'm not alone there. Do you know how many times Jesus was hurt by others? I don't think we could count it. Jesus was fully man as was he fully God and in his humanness, he had to continually turn to his Father and be in constant reliance that his Father was enough for everything.

Sometimes, we can get stuck in our muck and need a little help to find our way through it. If this is where you keep finding yourself, I encourage you to contact me and set up the classes that I teach. These classes are designed for you to know how to take those hurts and wounds and exchange them for the New Heart. God wants to show you that your inner door is a Person. He is the Door!

The interruption has now become an intervention.

Blessed to walk Life with you!

Dayna

Take the dive!

I've never actually water skied, but I've seen it done many times. It looks so cool as the skier is gliding on the top of the water and going over the wakes from the boat pulling it around the lake. I learned to swim at a young age, so anything to do with water, like a swimming pool, ocean or lake always excited me.

While at the beach a few years ago, I remember seeing people go across the top of the water with surfboards and boats. As I stood scanning the horizon, I saw a very large, hump backed whale, jump high out of the water. It was fantastic! and although he was very far away, he still looked very BIG! I had a thought about how small those people on the boards and boats looked compared to this magnificent creature of the sea.

One afternoon while at the beach the water rush up on my feet and I started to wade around in it a bit. It was so powerful and very inviting! I knew there were things under the surface that were much bigger than me, so I was a bit timid at first when I decided to go snorkeling for the first time. As I put on a mask and snorkel I started walking toward the water with some hesitancy. I saw others moving toward the water too, so it encouraged me to keep moving forward in my uneasiness. I really did want to see what was below the surface and the only way that was going to happen was to step beyond my fear and take the plunge. On top of the water, I could see a few things, but what was waiting for me to discover below….were many beautiful fish, gliding turtles, brilliant coral, I even saw a few reef sharks and an eery eel.

What if I had just stayed on top of the water, saw a whale every once in a while and never went into the depths of the all the ocean had to offer? Yes, I saw a BIG whale, but that was just skimming the surface.

Let’s take a “dive” into a spiritual view on this.

These two scriptures give us deeper view of God’s love and care for his children.

In Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:17-19

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Growing in the Depth of God's Love

When we are in a new relationship with someone, there can be a time of just skimming the surface and sharing what you're comfortable with. As you spend time with that person, you may start finding out that you have some common life experiences, likes, and dislikes. Continuing on in the time you spend together, there can become those moments where you have a choice to go a little deeper, maybe by sharing something in your life that makes you feel a bit vulnerable. This isn’t something you do right away, you wait until trust has been established, to share.

So, the same is with Jesus! When we first come to know Him, (metaphorically) we may strap on some water skiis and begin skimming the top of the water with our Christianity. Just like when I was timid at first with snorkeling, we can be timid in how to start our walk with Jesus. In the beginning we just need to show up at the beach or in this case, show up for time with Jesus. Start a simple prayer with Him right away in the morning. Nothing complicated, just “good morning, Jesus”. Then as you continue to show up in the morning to be with Him, you can go a bit deeper and add more dialogue with Him. He’s a great listener. I love in Genesis where God would come into the garden and walk and talk with Adam. He wants us to know Him and He loves to share Himself with us. Then the more we learn and grow in the relationship, we can start to share some deeper things with Him.

We see that Jesus had those deep times with His Father in the Garden of Gethsemene.

John 12:27

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

The word BUT is so important in this verse. It shows us that Jesus had already spent those times across the table in deep conversation with His Father before this moment. I love the humanness of Jesus as he reveals to us his thoughts and emotions and then shows us how we can choose to step beyond our fears, our struggles, our disappointments and lonliness and take the plunge into God's incredible love for us.

How could He do this? First, he took off the skiis and dove in! I know this can be scary, especially when we've spent all of our time perfecting our skiiing skills, but God want us to dive in and swim in His love and care for us.

If our Father can be trusted in the shallow, he can most definetly be trusted in the deep. Has he been talking to you? Has he been wanting to share His Life with you? I encourage you to take the plunge! Step out, start a conversation and He will be there!

Let Jesus become your entry point into a fullness like you've never known! Going to church, reading the Bible, hanging with church people, feeding the poor, going to conferences about Jesus are just on the surface. He wants us to dive in and give Him our attention for a beautiful, eternal-life long relationship. Let’s go Diving!

In His great Love,

Dayna