WYOMING ON I-80 ~ July 5, 2025
…His splendor covers the heavens,
And the earth is full of His praise.
His radiance is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,
And the hiding of His might is there.
Habakkuk 3:3–4
Hi Men:
Well…… since July 4th, we have had a lot to reflect on….. right? We all need to be reminded that the ONLY safe place is to be hidden “in” Christ……
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
(Colossians 3:3)
In light of what’s going on in the world today, I thought it might be good to review a truth we have stated often and forget often: God is Sovereign. No discussion….
He’s in control of EVERYHING…. Period!
We can easily list a dozen things that occupy our thoughts, and right now, #1 this week is most likely the horrendous tragedy in Texas…. in our prayers I’m sure most of you, “…..weep with those who weep.” (Rom 12:15)
About 8 years back, I presented these (9) statements to a large group of pastors in India. For all of us though, I think it’s appropriate to have a brief refresher on God’s Sovereignty. Why? Because it helps us to look up, rather than horizontally at our circumstances. In your Bible study groups, look up the verses that apply to each one of those statements.
Do you believe the following about God?
- The nations are under His control
- Nature and animals are under His control
- God is Sovereign over Satan and evil spirits
- God uses wicked people for His plans
- God hardens hearts
- God sends trouble and calamity
- God puts people to death
- God does what He pleases and His purposes cannot be thwarted
- God guides all our steps and works all things after the counsel of His will
PHOTO ABOVE
WE ARRIVED!….. My son John and daughter-in-law Paige made it across the country arriving in the Capitol of Nevada, Carson City, late Sunday evening. As a passenger in John’s truck, with a full 16′ trailer, our motto: Keep On Truckin’…. and with my broken foot w/ a Frankenstein Boot (as my older brother calls it), I had to focus on the Red Book devotional below.
We had some dicey situations as we cut across the bottom of Wyoming (like plowing through a cloud-burst), but God was so faithful. The beauty we saw was breath-taking and their were jaw-dropping rainbows that appeared (as John & Paige reported – I couldn’t see them because of the trailer).
The real blessing was the (4) days of conversations I had with my son. We didn’t turn on the radio once and the only time I looked at my phone was to double-check the Google map……. and when we pulled into the hotels @ night, the TV never went on. I really don’t have any words to express how great it was not to have our minds “jacked-up.”
To give you an idea of how many boxes were in that trailer, check this out. The furniture, etc., was shipped by U-Haul (U-Box)
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD…… OR AT THE AIRPORT
There were Uber drivers, airport mobility assistants, front desk personal, maids, etc, etc. Where do I begin. Maybe with the Uber driver from Carson City to the Reno Airport. Michael went to Rome to be a priest, 40 years ago – he’s Italian. I pulled out Steps to Peace with God – he didn’t know what the Gospel was…… I kid you not!! We had a great conversation and wanted everything I had. He had one more client and was going home to read, the Million Dollar Gospel of John….
Maybe I just give you one more. Meet Stephanie, an airport mobility assistant (she pushed my wheel chair).
Her story is beautiful. Stephanie was a full-blown alcoholic, etc. and a terrible mom to her daughter and a terrible person. She was going to commit suicide. Her life was rack and ruin. A friend invited her to church. Nothing was really going on as she sat there, but she started weeping and couldn’t stop. At the time she didn’t understand what was happening. But later she knew God was pulling her to Himself. She repented and Jesus Christ is now her Lord.
That was two years ago. I’m just giving you a thumbnail version of her amazing story. What stood out most was the clarity of her testimony and how confidently her voice carried through the boarding area. There must have been several dozen people who heard her share what Christ had done in her life.
All the tracts I gave her, she is going to pass them to her unsaved friends. She said she is doing “great” in the Lord. May God pour out His blessings on Stephanie!
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Check this out: Amazing Grace by Alan Jackson (YouTube 4 min – 38 million views)
Trusting only Jesus,
Dan
“Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more”
Louisa Stead (1882)
Watch on YouTube (5 minutes)
Listen to this 25 year evangelist who works with the prisoners in the state of Maharashtra, India. He attended a 4 day workshop presented by Daniel Janagam. Listen to what he says about the scriptural damage done by the Pentecostal Ministries. It will astonish you!
Watch on YouTube (2 minutes)
Men: We all need to read this a couple of times
“Most Americans live in a culture that enjoys feeling sorry for themselves. People think they are victims………” (yet) “The Bible does not recognize the existence of victims”
Feeling Sorry for Yourself – Red Book Day 191
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically.
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
Link to PDF – Send this to your buddies that are feeling sorry for themselves
I’m not a big fan of AI generated images, but this one hit me!
“We are reminded that our life here, is to prepare us for the life to come”
A buddy sent me this:
In the aftermath of the loss of all these people, teens, and precious children. Apart from God I don’t know how to handle this. According to God’s promises God met and was with every one of those precious children. God always knew their first and last moments on this earth.
Yesterday I was reading in my Bible the story of a man whose daughter was sick and dying and he sought out Jesus who saved her. Without that suffering for his child and not knowing they never would have found God. We see that suffering has meaning and can lead to the Life that is Eternal.
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
(Job 1:21)
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”
(Proverbs 18:10)
Why Did God Let Them Drown?
In this conversation, Ray Comfort confronts one of the hardest questions about God’s character, how to reconcile tragedy with divine love. Discover how the Bible addresses suffering, judgment, and God’s justice in a fallen world. Hear the full gospel message and the hope we have, even in the face of death.
WATCH this impacting video on YouTube (9:37 min)
I was just reading about what has been going on in the Sudan. Horrific. Talk about suffering……. wow! They are being bombed by Islamic armies in the Nuba Mountains to mention just one of many atrocities. One woman said, “We don’t have food. We don’t have anything; we are eating leaves.”
Photo from Voice of the Martyrs
Enlarged PDF
Men: I thought this was appropriate for our reflection this week. Dwight Hill was discipled in the same home as Walt Henrichsen by Skip Gray
Facts of the Matter
DEALING WITH SUFFERING
How are we to respond to suffering?
Don’t blame God:
Upon learning of his cataclysmic loss, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. When Jobs wife told him to curse God and die, He replied, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said As his illness progressed Job stated, Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him (Job 1:20-22; 2:10; 13:15) (See Job 23:8-10a; Isa. 40:27; Rom. 9:19, 20; Jms. 1:13)
Rejoice in our suffering:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (Jms. 1:2-4, 12; I Pet. 4:16). (See Lk. 6:22, 23; Act. 5:40, 41; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:35-37; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Eph. 3:13; Phil. 2:17, 18; I Pet. 3:14)
Grasp the fact that Gods presence is with you amidst your suffering:
[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] The first time I [Paul] defended myself, no one helped me. Everyone left me. I pray that God will forgive them. But the Lord stayed with me. He gave me strength so that I could fully tell the Good News to the non-Jews. The Lord wanted all the non-Jews to hear it. So I was saved from the lion’s mouth (Heb. 13:5 Amp.; 2 Tim. 4:16, 17). (See Psa. 109:31; Isa. 41:10; Jer. 15:20; 20:11; Act. 18:9-11; 23:11; 27:23)
This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.
~Dwight Hill~
These verses from Ken Boa were great. Take a moment to reflect on them.
If you would like Ken’s “Daily Growth Devotional” Sign Up Here
Focus: The Works of God––Redemption
I have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, to myriads of angels, and to the assembly and church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven. I have come to God, the Judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22–24)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
(James 1:17–18)
As living stones, we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:5, 9)
Christ suffered for me, leaving me an example that I should follow in His steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When He was reviled, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that I might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds I have been healed. For I was like a sheep going astray, but now I have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. (1 Peter 2:21–25)
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring me to God. Having been put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, after angels and authorities and powers were made subject to Him. (1 Peter 3:18, 22)
By this the love of God was manifested to us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(1 John 4:9–10)
Has God crossed you lately?
