Sunday Reflections - October 28, 2015

I WISH THAT ALL OF YOU WOULD READ THIS!

This Sunday is going to be one of the best reasons to invite someone to attend.  Here’s why…

Galatians 4:6   “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son in our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'”

Have you ever realized that God is pictured in the Bible as a Father? In His prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26). What name was Jesus referring to? It was the name “Father”. If there was anything close to Jesus’ heart, it was to introduce God as “Father” to us.

In the Bible, Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31–32) Once, He said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)

Jesus wants you to always have this image of God in your mind - that He is your Abba, Father. Why? Because He wants you to know that there is nothing more important or too insignificant for the Father when it comes to His children. Why? Because If it is important to you, it is important to your Abba, Father!

I will be speaking about this Name on Sunday, and I can promise you that if you will get people here, they will be engaged...and hopefully changed!  Go for the ask!!!  Don't just tell people about it – bring them with you!!  Let's do this!  

Two other IMPORTANT things:

          1. DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCK BACK ONE HOUR – Enjoy the extra hour of sleep.

         2. THERE IS A SPECIAL “NEW MOTHERS” ROOM NOW IN THE NURSERY. We are rapidly working to put the new furniture in and the “big screen”, so that our New Moms can stay connected to the worship service.  We value ALL of our Moms!

Can’t wait to see you Sunday!

Loving You and Him,

Pastor D

Sunday Reflections - October 21, 2015

Hello Deer Flat Family,

We’ve been in a series about the Names of God.  Each week we take an in-depth look at one of the amazing names of God and discover some significant insights.  I’m reminded often in studying the Bible, that we lose so much of the meaning and richness of what the Hebrew language says, when it is translated into English.  For instance, in English, most of the titles we bestow upon God are somewhat synonymous with one another: Lord, God, Almighty, Creator, Holy One, etc., are all titles of God that have nearly identical meanings. But in Hebrew, God’s many names are each unique and express a different aspect of His divinity.

Whenever Adonai is given in the Scriptures, it implies a measure of mercy, that God is merciful and gracious. Whenever Elohim is mentioned, it implies there is a measure of justice.

As Moses stood in front of the burning bush (Ex. 3:6) and asked, “When they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?”  And God said to Moses, “I am what I may be.”  The Rabbi’s teach, God said to Moses, “You wish to know My Name?  I am differently called, in keeping with my diverse deeds:  El Shaddai, Tzivaote, Elohim, Adonai.  When I judge created beings, I am called Elohim, ‘God’.  When I wage war against the wicked, I am called Tzivaote, ‘Hosts’.  When waiting for a man to repent I suspend judgment of his sins, I am called El Shaddai, ‘All Nurturing.’  And when I have mercy on My world, I am called Adonai, ‘Master.’  Hence, ‘I am what I may be – I am called in keeping with my diverse works.”

Ann Spangler’s book, Praying The Names of God, is a great devotional book that you can grab off of Amazon, but you can also subscribe to her daily devotional of the same by CLICKING HERE. You can study the Names of God at a deeper level and discover far more than what I can give you on a Sunday morning.

This Sunday, we are tackling another great Name.  I can’t wait to share it with you.  It’s nothing short of amazing, and I promise, it will touch your heart!  NO ONE SHOULD MISS THIS WEEK BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC!  Why not reach out and invite someone to attend with you, especially if you know they are feeling like nothing is working, they must not amount to much, “I’m a nobody” and just feel overlooked by God.  Their heart will definitely be touched!

I can’t wait to see you this weekend.  And I ALWAYS love having a chance to meet your friends, neighbors or family.  May the Great God of Heaven meet your needs and bless your life this week.  And, may all of the Hunters of Deer Flat get their tags filled!  See you Sunday!

You are dearly loved!

Pastor D

Sunday Reflections - October 7, 2015

My Dear Church Family,

I hope you’re off to a great week. I am walking this week with the constant reminder that I have the most amazing Master, the greatest LORD, who is willing to take full authority and responsibility for my life as I’ve surrendered it to Him. This is the God we serve who introduces Himself as our Adonai – the One who desires to be in the “driver's seat” of our lives so that He can maximize His blessings and His will through us. What a blessed Master we have!

I have to tell you, I’m really looking forward to sharing another one of God’s outstanding Names this Sunday. I believe you’re going to appreciate having a chance to meet another side of the God we serve. I hope you’ll come expecting a tremendous morning at Deer Flat. Between now and then, I seek your prayers. Here’s what I know about myself, I need a HELPER. I must have God helping me or I’m in BIG trouble. Your prayers play a key role every week of my life. Thank you! It’s perhaps the best thing you ever do for me and for the rest of the Staff and our families.

Let me move quickly to something that I have on my heart. Like you, I find myself waking up every morning to a world that is rapidly changing. There’s almost a feeling that I’m moving into unfamiliar territory. As I hear what’s going on around me, it is creating growing concerns with the people I interact with. The “stuff” that is supposed to happen someday, seems to be happening now.

Most people respond in one of two ways: Either, “Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know. Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na”, and there is a preference of being uninformed. Or, “I want to know so I can live informed and act wisely.”  Both of these can be carried to extremes. 

This is why NEXT TUESDAY EVENING is going to be such an important time for us. As you know Erick Stakelbeck will be with us and he will be speaking about what is currently happening in the Middle East and beyond. Erick is an expert on Middle East Terrorism and has his finger on the pulse of what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Iran. You will find the evening very informative. It will help you to feel informed and equipped in understanding the current events and a glimpse of the future.

Between now and next Tuesday, I want to ask you to do two things: 1) Keep this in your prayers.  Pray for Erick. 2) Would you be sure to invite someone to attend this event with you.  Because this event is brought to us by CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL, we will be taking an offering, so come prepared to give. You guys ALWAYS are so generous – THANK YOU!

I am so looking forward to being with you this Lord’s Day! In the mean time, I’m thanking God for you!

For The Kingdom…

Pastor D