Lake Tahoe at Sunset 3/24/21
Hi Men:
I pray you had some quite time “in” the word this week.
So what gives with the photo above? Even though it’s kind of a low-quality photo, I thought it was interesting. As mentioned, it’s a partial shot of Lake Tahoe with one of the many ski resorts in the foreground taken out the window of our Southwest Airlines flight back to Las Vegas. On Monday of this week, my wife and I got to visit with our son, daughter-in-law and meet our 1 MONTH OLD GRANDSON, EZRA………. What a blessing!
The first photo below is of our new little grandson and the next one is from our son and daughter-in-law’s condo at So. Lake Tahoe. I asked my son John if he had a tripod so we could take a group photo, he said no, but not to worry. He could pull out his drone, hover it and take a photo with its camera….. go figure! And that’s what he did (Note: Check out what John is holding in his hands….. the controller). As I have mentioned in previous letters, John uses these type of drones for is position with the Sheriff’s “Search & Rescue” team. You will also see that my wife has Ezra in her arms. She was determined not to let him leave those arms the whole time we were there 😊
I know what you are saying, ‘there he goes again….. Family Photos!’ But you should know by now, I usually have something mulling around in my head. But first I need to place the following disclaimer:
WARNING
The sender of this email will not be responsible for sleepless nights nor an increased Fear of the Lord!
I guess we need to start with a few Bible verses. Here is one you all are familiar with and a memory verse:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Ok, so now we know that “ALL” Scripture is inspired by God, let’s get to the heart of the matter. Jesus said:
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [See the two examples Jesus gives in verses 28-32 on “counting the cost”]. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” (Luke 14:26,27,33)
So what do these verses mean to you? Have you actually given them any thought? Have you talked to the Lord about them?
Let’s now do this………. put everything in the center of the table that’s important to you. Not only what Jesus mentions (father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and your own life), but your house(s), cars, boats, job, business, investments including: 401-K, pension, annuities, savings, gold, bitcoin, collectables, guns, jewelry, etc. What about your reputation, your hobbies or ministry? Now that you have all that in the middle of the table, do you value any of it more than you value Jesus Christ? If any of those things stand in between you and Jesus, are you willing to say to the Lord, “take them?” Given the choice, what would you do? God wants us to live a surrendered life. Never forget, we don’t direct our own steps (Jeremiah 10:23, Lamentations 3:37-38) and our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Whatever “temporal” attachments we have, if they get in the way of our love for Jesus, are we willing to let them go? We have said many times, “Jesus + Nothing”……… Do you believe that?
“For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
(Romans 14:8)
Dying to Live,
Dan
(Galatians 2:20)
Coming to God When You Are Ready – Red Book Day 86
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
Audio Teaching of the Week
Many Aspire, Few Attain – Walt Henrichsen discipleshiplibrary.com/ 
Men: If you haven’t listened to this message that Walt gave to a group of young people right after the Vietnam War, please find some quiet time to listen to it. If you have listened to it, I encourage you to go through it again. I have also attached a PDF with the 14 points that Walt included. Example: Point #10 “Avoid the Root of Bitterness” Walt includes the quote of George Washington Carver, “I will never let another man ruin my life by making me hate him.”
Interesting comment from an Indian Pastor that was born in Northern India and has spent considerable time in the United States:
“Satan is singing a lullaby to American churches. The majority of churches in America are so busy making themselves big. They are inwardly focused on themselves and their members. The Church has lost its focus of reaching the lost and those outside of the church. We have kept sinners out of church and have no desire to reach those on the highways and byways. We don’t carry out our God-given mission mandate. As a result, the Church has lost its influence. We are on the decline and drifting away from God into our own selfish desires.”
“The Church must be a place where people can come and get discipled and sent out,” he stressed. “We think if we just send money to missions, we are doing God’s work. But Jesus’ command is to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world. That means reaching people locally and globally. That means, we must get active in reaching the lost, both locally and globally, even if it means risking our own comfort.”
He also said, “The fear of God is lost in many Western churches.”
His above statement reminds me of the old quote: “The church that marries the spirit of the age, will be a widow in the next generation.”
One More Time
Paint the Wall Black: The Story of Nini’s Deli
Men: If you still haven’t listened to the story of Juan-Elias Riesco, please find some time to do so. You won’t be disappointed.
