In the course of the next 31 days there will be many changes going on in many different families at Dayspring:

·        Summer Vacations will be looked at through the rear-view mirror (unless you are already eagerly looking forward to summer 2012)

·        Many people’s sleeping patterns will change.

·        Many more activities (school, sports, clubs, organizations and special events) will be added to our lives.

·        Many of our weekdays and weekends will look different in the months to come.

·        The flexible days of summer are replaced with more consistent routine (that’s not bad just different)

Well, in the midst of the all the seasonal changes may we as Christians keep our eyes on that which matters most. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2

Let us focus supremely on Jesus Christ.  It is true the August ushers in various changes to our day to day lives but may one thing remain consistent, that we center our attention on the One who:

·       Is the gracious author of our faith (Heb 12:2)

·       Is the gracious perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2)

·       Is the awesome object of our faith (Gal 2:16)

·       Is the One who went to the cross for our salvation (John 3:16)

·       Is our strength, wisdom and peace (Phil 4:13, 1Cor 1:24, Phil 4:6-7)

So while there are many changes in the air over the month to come may we continue to joyfully look to Jesus Christ; the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) …and the One who is our Strength, our Song and our Salvation (Psalm 118:14)

As we all embark on a new season of the year please let me know how I may be praying for you.  Let me know and I would consider it an honor and privilege to pray for you and your family.

Take care, may the Lord bless you with an awesome August and may you worship Him well.

Sincerely,

In the course of the next 31 days there will be many changes going on in many different families at Dayspring:

·        Summer Vacations will be looked at through the rear-view mirror (unless you are already eagerly looking forward to summer 2012)

·        Many people’s sleeping patterns will change.

·        Many more activities (school, sports, clubs, organizations and special events) will be added to our lives.

·        Many of our weekdays and weekends will look different in the months to come.

·        The flexible days of summer are replaced with more consistent routine (that’s not bad just different)

Well, in the midst of the all the seasonal changes may we as Christians keep our eyes on that which matters most. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2

Let us focus supremely on Jesus Christ.  It is true the August ushers in various changes to our day to day lives but may one thing remain consistent, that we center our attention on the One who:

·       Is the gracious author of our faith (Heb 12:2)

·       Is the gracious perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2)

·       Is the awesome object of our faith (Gal 2:16)

·       Is the One who went to the cross for our salvation (John 3:16)

·       Is our strength, wisdom and peace (Phil 4:13, 1Cor 1:24, Phil 4:6-7)

So while there are many changes in the air over the month to come may we continue to joyfully look to Jesus Christ; the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) …and the One who is our Strength, our Song and our Salvation (Psalm 118:14)

As we all embark on a new season of the year please let me know how I may be praying for you.  Let me know and I would consider it an honor and privilege to pray for you and your family.

Take care, may the Lord bless you with an awesome August and may you worship Him well.

Sincerely,

A philosophy professor once gave a written exam with one simple question that was to be responded to. The question was Why? Students all over the large classroom wrote pages and pages to respond to the question.  One young man, however, wrote a two word response and received an “A” (others received an “A” in the class  as well).  What was his answer? “Why Not !!!”

While there is some humor attached to that story, we need to ask 5 questions that are quite honest and serious about our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. While the student’s response was brief, I too will be as brief as I can be in response.

Why is discipleship encouraged here at Dayspring? Because we are urged to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:18 ) and because we are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory (2 Cor 3:18).

Why is outreach encouraged here? Because we desire to make real the titles we have been given by Jesus Christ…Ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and  witnesses (Acts 1:8).

Why is fellowship encouraged here? Because there is a strengthening factor to Christians interacting with other Christians  ( Prov 27:17 ) and because there is a great joy attached to Christians connecting with Christians with the Lord among them (1 John 1:3-4).

Why is worship of the Lord encouraged here? Because that is a truly awesome way to express our love, gratitude and amazement for the Lord’s sweet love, grace, power and redemption. (Psalm 96:1-6)

Why are using our God-given spiritual gifts and helping others encouraged here?  Because we have been set free to lovingly glorify the Lord and help others ( 1 Peter 4:10-11 and Gal 5:13).

We are encouraged to prayerfully be active in these various ways because they bring about three wonderful things…Our God is glorified (1 Cor 10:31), we enjoy Him (Psalm 16:11) and people are helped as we are “Salt and Light” in the World (Matt 5:13-14).

May the month of October be a month that God’s people at Dayspring prayerfully live out even more the answers to these 5 “Why” questions.

Take care, have a wonderful month and worship Him well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Dean

The New  Year…Some Things Change,  And Some Don’t

We as come into the New Year I am struck once again upon a theme that some things change and some things don’t. 

Some things change in different ways for the better:

·    Better health

·    Better economy

·    Better technology available to us

·    Better ways to utilize the resources we

      have at our fingertips

·    Better growth in knowing Christ and

      the grace He has for us (2 Peter 3:18)

While some things change for the better, some things don’t…and that is both Important and Awesome:

The Word of God and our desire to understand it and live it out (through the empowering and illuminating ministry of the Spirit) are some things that the Lord wants to stay the same…

With that in mind I think that a particular passage of Scripture would be used by the Lord in a very strong and helpful way this coming year. That passage is Colossians 3:12-17:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Charles Simeon regarding the strong doctrinal truths of Colossians Chapters 1-3 followed by such wonderful and straight forward application, “Upon a basis of doctrine rises the superstructure of practical Christianity.”

May the Lord truly help us prayerfully read with understanding and apply His teachings that He has given us in this passage.  I believe that we will all change for the better when we prayerfully consecrate ourselves to intimately walk with Christ and obey in love what does not change…The Word of God (Isaiah 40:8)

Happy New Year and Worship Him Well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Dean

The New  Year…Some Things Change,  And Some Don’t

We as come into the New Year I am struck once again upon a theme that some things change and some things don’t. 

Some things change in different ways for the better:

·    Better health

·    Better economy

·    Better technology available to us

·    Better ways to utilize the resources we

      have at our fingertips

·    Better growth in knowing Christ and

      the grace He has for us (2 Peter 3:18)

While some things change for the better, some things don’t…and that is both Important and Awesome:

The Word of God and our desire to understand it and live it out (through the empowering and illuminating ministry of the Spirit) are some things that the Lord wants to stay the same…

With that in mind I think that a particular passage of Scripture would be used by the Lord in a very strong and helpful way this coming year. That passage is Colossians 3:12-17:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Charles Simeon regarding the strong doctrinal truths of Colossians Chapters 1-3 followed by such wonderful and straight forward application, “Upon a basis of doctrine rises the superstructure of practical Christianity.”

May the Lord truly help us prayerfully read with understanding and apply His teachings that He has given us in this passage.  I believe that we will all change for the better when we prayerfully consecrate ourselves to intimately walk with Christ and obey in love what does not change…The Word of God (Isaiah 40:8)

Happy New Year and Worship Him Well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Dean

The New  Year…Some Things Change,  And Some Don’t

We as come into the New Year I am struck once again upon a theme that some things change and some things don’t. 

Some things change in different ways for the better:

·    Better health

·    Better economy

·    Better technology available to us

·    Better ways to utilize the resources we

      have at our fingertips

·    Better growth in knowing Christ and

      the grace He has for us (2 Peter 3:18)

While some things change for the better, some things don’t…and that is both Important and Awesome:

The Word of God and our desire to understand it and live it out (through the empowering and illuminating ministry of the Spirit) are some things that the Lord wants to stay the same…

With that in mind I think that a particular passage of Scripture would be used by the Lord in a very strong and helpful way this coming year. That passage is Colossians 3:12-17:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Charles Simeon regarding the strong doctrinal truths of Colossians Chapters 1-3 followed by such wonderful and straight forward application, “Upon a basis of doctrine rises the superstructure of practical Christianity.”

May the Lord truly help us prayerfully read with understanding and apply His teachings that He has given us in this passage.  I believe that we will all change for the better when we prayerfully consecrate ourselves to intimately walk with Christ and obey in love what does not change…The Word of God (Isaiah 40:8)

Happy New Year and Worship Him Well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Dean