The first step in getting good advice is deciding to seek it. This, of course, is very scriptural. The Bible is full of words about how ones strength can be multiplied with the advice of others. I especially think of the proverb that says, “But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” ( Prov. 8:14 nkjv )

Cheryl and I have given advise for years to people around us. One of the problems I see in helping people, is that usually they have failed to differentiate between asking for advice and asking other people to make their decisions. I will never let anybody else take the responsibility of making my decisions. I am asking their advice, not delegating the decision to them. It amazes me how many people want me to tell them what to do. 

The second step is to decide what specific help you need. Before asking for advice, you need to do your homework, getting your questions as specific as possible. The question I test myself with is, If these questions were answered, would my problem be solved? Then, when you’ve focused your questions, you need to know when to ask them. Timing is crucial. There’s no reason to ask how to close the barn door after the horses are out. Many people who are afraid of asking for advice tend to procrastinate.

A woman came up to me a few years ago and said, “I have the gift of correction.”  Oh- I said! I run from people like that. Unsolicited advice is usually criticism, not advice. This woman is just couching a critical spirit as a spiritual gift. Since good advice seldom comes unsolicited, whom do we ask?

In seeking someone for advice, one of the biggest temptations is to assume that a person who verbalizes well also analyzes well. It’s not true. Good talkers aren’t always good thinkers. When I evaluate my advisers, I ask myself several questions.

1. Is the person technically qualified? If I go to a doctor, I want to make sure he or she is licensed in the specialty. If I go to a lawyer, I want to see a diploma. I want evidence that the person is technically qualified.
2. Does this person have a good track record in handling the type of problem I’m asking about? For example, if I ask a man about an investment, I want to be sure he’s been successful in his own investments. If I ask about personal relations, I want to be sure he is not in divorce proceedings with his spouse.
3. Next, I have found that those who give the best advice have a personal empathy for me.
    So before seeking advice, I ask myself, Does this person care about me or the cause I represent? If he does, he will listen well. One way to tell if someone is being empathetic is to mention a problem. If the person asks a question that helps me to express the problem more clearly, I begin to sense empathy, and I’m more likely to seek and to trust this person’s understanding of my question.
4. Does the adviser take his responsibility seriously? I’ve been involved on some organizations’ boards on which board members don’t do their homework. They come without thinking through the issues before the meeting. They don’t take responsibility seriously. Not only does that lack integrity, in my opinion, but it invalidates the reliability of their advice.
5. I want to know if the person has the time to do what I’m asking him to do. I often will ask, Do you think this is going to take more time than you can commit? I realize I’m asking the person for a favor, and I want to give a graceful out if he’s too busy. If a person says, “No, I’m interested and willing to commit whatever time is required,” I am much more willing to bare my problem.
   
   Blessings,
   Danny

        

I was reading this week in Psalm 91:1, which says - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I witnessed firsthand this week the shadow of prayer in the face of attack and fear. Cheryl and I were up against a humanly impossible feet. But, GOD!

We prayed, things got better, then worse, we prayed again, what was worse then disappeared. The hand of the Lord removed the impossibility with his goodness.

God does not play the game of counter attack with the devil — the devil does something bad, then God steps in to bring something good out of it.

Let me give you a little quiz..
What are these opposite answers?

1. Cold -
2. Light -
3. Summer -
4. Night -
   
   Now try this one last word,
5.  God -
   
   The truth is, when something bad happens, it is the devil reacting to something good that God has started.

If you answerd Satan as being God's opposite, You are wrong!
The Lord has no opposite, Satan does not have the power of God, he is not equal or opposing to God. Satan is just an unemployed fallen angel. He is not God's opposite, God created Satan when he was Lucifer. God is eternal, all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere.

Satan can only try to opposes what God does.  He cannot oppose who God is.  Satan react to what God does, and try and stop what God is already doing in our lives.  That is the attack in your life - Satan's reaction.  I hope this is clear.

If we want to understand what God is doing, then look at what the devil is doing and see it in reverse — that is what God is doing, multiplied many times over.” Think about it in your own life!

I see this truth in the Bible. When Christ was born, soldiers were sent to kill all baby boys under the age of two in Bethlehem. The people in Bethlehem then would have seen only evil. But there were those like Mary who saw God’s goodness. They knew that God had sent a Savior into the world!

The killing of the infants was just the devil’s reaction to something wonderful God had started.

You must understand this!  Satan reacts, not God. God only Acts!   He is sovereign.

With every new attack that the devil throws at us, you must discern that he is trying to pervert and reverse what God is already doing.

Then, you will know that something good is going to come out of it. Cheryl and I saw this first hand this week. You see, every new attack tells us that God has already released a new anointing of blessings, health and peace for His people.
And I believe that God releases new levels of prosperity for His people too. He did for us! So don’t just see the evil — see what the Lord is already doing!

Blessing,
Danny

 

What are your thoughts?                                       Click the add comments link and let me hear from you!

        

Today is the national day of prayer. Prayer for our nation and leaders top today's agenda. 

I found myself today praying and thanking the Lord for what he has done and is doing.

The Lord has blessed Cheryl and I beyond words. My prayer today, Lord I'm Grateful!

I chose the word grateful over thankful for a reason.  The word grateful means, a deep appreciation of someone's kindness with an expression of gratitude with passion.

I like that! Thats how I feel today. Grateful with passion!

For my family, our friends and our futures. My heart is filled with hope and a renewed passion for deeper relationships. 

I was reminded further how grateful I am when earlier in the week I was reading a blog written by my brother in law, who pastors a church in East Texas. In it, he always speaks of his family and their church activities which are always humorous, exciting and heartfelt. 

But this one particular blog I read captured my attention.  

He spoke of a sermon he had preached, It was a message on a Passion for the Lost. 

He says, "It is imperative that the American Church fulfill the Great Commission, and that, It is our responsibility to reach the lost." What a message! I couldn't agree more!

That my friend is the meaning of grateful. Passion! Passion! Passion! Not just sharing Jesus with others, but having a passion and concern for their eternity. 

When I read his blog, "I thought how grateful I am that Jesus is my Lord and Savior."  I'm grateful to be saved. I say that with Passion! I really am!

I think it is remembering that fact, that causes us to have a passion for the lost; being grateful and wanting to share the Lord.

Again, I'm passionately grateful!

Blessings,
Danny

        

Over the past few days we have had some bad storms. It reminded me of spiritual storms we go through.

In Matthew 14:27 a storm was brewing, The bible says "But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

It seems like when things are going good that out of no where a spiritual storm comes. Fear and anxiety follow.
Are you going through a dark, difficult moment in your life? Cheryl and I have faced many storms this year.

Like us, perhaps the storm just rages on with no let-up and you are trembling in fear. You feel that any time now, you may just cave in and go under because you cannot beat this storm.

Be comforted that Jesus sees what you are going through and He always comes to where you are in your darkest hour. He did that for His disciples one stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came, walking on the stormy sea, walking on top of the problem that was threatening to overwhelm them. He is indeed the King and Lord over the storm!

When you know that you are in Christ, you will know that though the storms are raging and the winds are blowing, you are above your troubles and above the circumstances. When people ask you how you are doing under the circumstances, tell them, “I am not under the circumstances, I am on top of them because my God is above all!”

He will come walking to you, but sometimes you may not recognize Him because the storm has made you fearful. Hear His comforting voice telling you, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And as you behold Jesus, you become like Him. You will find yourself doing things you did not know you could do. You will, like Peter, walk on water. This happens when you are occupied with the person of Jesus, with His resources, love, wisdom, ability, power and majesty.

However, know that even during the times when you take your eyes off Jesus, He never takes His eyes off you. And when you cry out to Him, He will immediately stretch out His hand to catch hold of you. You will not go under.

There will be times you will not be able to find your way back. Jesus will then hold your hand and walk you back to the boat. And like Peter, you will realize that with your hand in His, the storm will come to a standstill!

Blessings,
Danny

        

Persistent Prayer clarifies my request. 

 

A delayed answer gives us time to clarify exactly what we want.  A delayed answer gives me time to refine my prayers – Do I really want it? 

As a pastor I’ve heard many, many prayers.  The problem with your prayers is they’re too vague. 

When we pray, we don’t pray specifically enough.  We say things like “God be with us.”  He’s already with you whether you prayed that or not.  You don’t have to pray that one.  

We need to be more specific.  The more specific you are in your prayers, the more dynamic they are, the more God can answer them. 

 

On top of that, when you pray persistently, when you ask for something more than once from God, what it does is show what you really want.  It shows your heart’s desire.  It shows that you really mean business.  If I don’t care about praying about something more than one time, it’s just a whim.  It means that it’s really not that important to me.  If I pray about something more than once it means I really care about this.

I have three suggestions for your prayer time.
One, have a set time to pray, or else you will unintentionally neglect

prayer. Perhaps a good time for you is just before retiring for the evening or in the early morning.

Two, have a place to pray to shut out the cares of the world and steal away with God. Because prayer creates an atmosphere for intimacy with God, choose a quiet place conducive for private worship.

Three, find a way to pray. It may help to play soothing worship

music to calm your mind and quiet the distractions of the day.

 

God hears and answers. When you call upon Him, He will answer. So persevere in prayer. The answer may come as you read God's Word ... as you hear a sermon ... or it may come from the still, small voice of God speaking in your heart. The answer may come in a flash, or it may come to you slowly over time. But the answer will come.

Blessings,
Danny

        

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:18 “Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers.” 
The questions I hear the most are: Why should I do that?  Why should I be persistent in my prayers?  If God wants to answer and He doesn’t do it, why should I keep praying?  I want to take it from three different angles over the next few days:

 

            1.  Why should I keep on praying until I get an answer?

            2.  How long should I keep on praying?

            3.  What do I do while I’m waiting for the answer, while I am praying?

  

1.  WHY DO I KEEP ON PRAYING EVEN THOUGH I DON’T GET AN ANSWER?

 

There are four Biblical reasons: 

 

            1.  Persistent praying

 

Praying over and over and over – focuses our attention.  When you pray a prayer request over and over, it’s not to remind God.  He doesn’t need to be reminded.  It’s to remind yourself who’s the source of your answer, who’s the source of all your needs.  Persistent prayer is not blackmail where you finally beat up God until He gives up and answers your prayers.  That’s not what He’s saying.  Persistent prayer keeps you focused.

 

If every prayer you ever prayed was instantly answered, two things would be true.  One, in your life, prayer would become a weapon of destruction.  Two, if every prayer your prayed was instantly answered, you’d never think about God.  Because God would become a vending machine to you – put in the prayer, get out the candy.  You don’t think about vending machines.  You don’t think, “Look how well designed this vending machine is.  Look at what great things it can give me.”  All you care about is the results.  If you prayed and every time you prayed you instantly got results, all you’d think about is the blessing.  God wants you to think about the Blessor.  “I want you to focus on Me. I’ll hold back the answer to force you to focus on Me.  I am the source of everything you need.” 

 

Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 (ESV paraphrase) “Here’s what I want you to do.  Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role play before God.”  He’s saying when you’re playing get alone by yourself.  Have you noticed that when you pray in front of other people you pray differently?  You role-play.  You often take on another voice!  “Our most gracious heavenly Father…” And the Father in heaven is going, “Who?” 

 

I’ve got three kids.  If ever my kids walk in the door and say, “O mighty omnipotent creator of our family, thou please that we beseech thee that thou would give us an allowance.”  I will know they’re role-playing.  Likely, because of our relationship, they’ll say, I need toys, food or cash!”  I can understand that. 

 

He says get off by yourself.  Be honest to God.  Be there as simply and as honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God.  You will begin to sense His grace.  The focus shifts.  God wants us to recognize Him as the source of everything that we need.  Whatever you need, He’s the source.  You should be asking Him for it, not looking to other people to meet your needs.  We like to look to everybody else.  We look to our families to make us feel good, to our friends to make us feel good.  We want to look to the government, society, to make us feel good.  God says, “Why aren’t you looking to Me. 

 

“Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.  Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God.”  When you’re caught up in your problems you’re not thinking about God.  You end of thinking more about self than God.  That person ignores who God is and what He’s doing.

 

Psalm 105 “Look to the Lord and ask Him for help.”  That’s what persistent praying is.  It focuses us on God. 

Have a great week.
Blessings,

Danny

        

How Long do you believe that you could smile without stopping?
How long could you hold it?

I read of a little lady named Lisa Lester, a little girl smiled for 10 hrs 5 min. without breaking that smile, she broke the old record of 7 hrs. 32 min.

A smile is outward, but Joy is inward.


Sometimes smiles are not enough, we must go deeper.

The past few weeks have been hard on my sweet wife Cheryl. It has been tough for her to smile. Her family has been under constant stress and heartache. Of course I pray for her and them, but my focus is encourage Cheryl in the Lord and be there for her needs and fears.

Inspite it all, this week, the Lord has stenghtend her with amazing virtue and allowed us to minister to our family. Thinking about it even now, my heart is again filled with overflowing joy. Not just that my childern are home and healthy or because my wife is by my side and our church is growing very fast,  No! There is more!

For me my joy is deep inside of me.
An internal confidence in my relationship with the Lord. Let me explain! 

A smile at its best can last a few hours, but Joy is eternal.

Did you hear that? Joy is eternal!
Not based on what we have done, but what Jesus has done! Hallelujah!

As a matter of fact do you know what the shortest verse in the bible is?

Most would say, "I know that its Jesus wept."

Jesus wept is the shortest verse in English, but not in Greek

In Greek the shortest verse is  1 Thess. 5:16 Rejoice ever more

Not 10hrs? Rejoice Evermore,   That's Eternal, I like that.

There is a difference between Joy and Happiness. We live in a generation that is seeking Happiness.

You are not going to be happy all the time. Happiness, depends on what happens.

If your hap is good your happy, and if you put your trust in happiness, you will become a victim of circumstances. Because your happen stance will change.

Joy never changes because, God never changes…..See the bible doesn’t tell us to rejoice in circumstances it tells us to rejoice in the Lord.

Happiness comes from out side circumstances, But Joy comes from within.

What I'm saying is Joy is an inside Job. Happiness meets surface needs, But Joy meets your deepest needs.

Happiness is like a thermometer, it registers conditions, Joy is like a Thermostat, it regulates conditions.

Now happiness many times evaporates in suffering, But Joy frequently intensifies in times of suffering.

I encourage you this week to examine your Joy, not just happiness. Let other people see your joy or as Jesus put it, You light shine!

I am continuing our series Saturday night on "The Gospel of Grace". May the joy of the Lord be with you and shine out of you to touch someone else.

Blessings to you this weekend.

Danny

        

The true condition of our heart is revealed in the way we treat other people.

 

Many times when people hurt us, betray us or mistreat us, we feel unforgiveness and pain. 

This week I had an opportunity to forgive someone who has hurt me deeply for years. I was on my way to Houston and the Lord began to deal with me about this issue. I have fought talking about it for years. The pain and wounds were too deep. But I truly believe the Lord's love for me brought it back to my mind. His beckoning was very gentle and  kind.  

I didn’t feel condemnation or guilt, I felt his love. We must remember how much the Lord loves us. He knew how hurt I have been, and how deep my pain went. So right there in my car the precious Holy Spirit began the healing of my pain and hurt with such sweet warmth of God's anointed love and grace. I cried most of the way there. IT WAS AWESOME!

It made my heart so soft. I was broken. The pain vanished and a love for that person entered my heart, it caused me to cry out for the Lord to love them like I was feeling right then. My heart was changed regarding this person.

Forgiveness released me! My spirit and mind were freed. How awesome it felt!

 

Having a forgiving spirit is not only something the Lord wants all of us to do individually—

He also wants us collectively, as a church, to be characterized by a forgiving spirit.

 

The Lord reminded me that our hurting world is watching us. Church come on now!
What do they see?

For years the problem of unforgiveness has plagued churches, families and individuals.
I have seen people who won't speak to each other because of some minor disagreement; people who look down their noses and say, "She hurt me or he hasn't spoken to me." But sometimes real hurts have been done. I understand.

Even so, we have to be the kind of church where anyone and everyone feels loved, forgiven and welcome—no matter who they are or what their past has been.

The Lord has given us a second, third, fourth and If you are like me, two hundred thousand and counting chances;

We should do the same for each other. Regardless who has wronged you.

We owe it to Jesus to forgive.

Everything it seems in my life leads to the issue forgiveness.

Whether I dealing with my family, my children or co-workers, Everything that is done, spoken or thought leads to the issue of forgiveness.  

 

I also understand from time to time, we all get hurt, but the person who won't forgive is the one who remains miserable. I was miserable for years, but on the other hand, the person who can overlook hurt and forgive will be freed and live happy.

 

Being hurt by people is inevitable, but with forgiveness, relationships can be mended and restored.

 

Remember, very few of the hurts we suffer are done intentionally. If we are going to have relationships, we must understand that people are going to hurt us...just like we sometimes hurt them. Those things just happen—even in the best of relationships.

Even when we hurt our Lord, He is always willing to forgive. He is anxious to heal you and extend His kindness into our lives.

I John 1:9 says "If we will confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us."

 

I heard of a man who was once involved in a hit and run accident. He had been drinking and somehow sideswiped another car. The other car stopped, but the offender took off. Finally, he couldn't live with the guilt any longer—so he went to the police station and turned himself in and confessed to what he had done.

 

Maybe that's what you need to do today in a spiritual sense—to "turn yourself in" and confess your unforgiveness before the Lord. No matter how difficult it is to face those failures, He is always willing to cover you with his precious love and eternal forgiveness. You will be blessed you did.

Blessings,

Danny                          Let me know your thoughts!

        

There is an amazing story in I Samuel where David has come down to fight Goliath. All the other men are afraid to fight, the men see Goliath come out and everyone runs to hide.

David has come down to the battle ground with supplies and hears what Goliath says.

But, then out of now where, David's brother Eliab come to him, and the bible says that his anger was kindled toward David.

He said some interesting things to David.

The first thing he says to David is "What do you think your doing here? Basically, who asked you to come down here? Don't you know your place?
Then he says don't you know, that you are only qualified to tend sheep? Where did you leave them?  You are not qualified to be here. You can only tend sheep!

Isn't it amazing that the people who are closes to you have the greatest issues with you?

And lastly, he says I know what kind of person you are. You have a heart of evil.

Wow! Did you see what just happened? He is about to face Goliath A giant. But before he can fight that battle he first must fight another enemy attack before he even stepped on the battlefield. 

One thing we have to learn is to avoid the opinions of people who try to dull our spiritual sensitivity and distract us from what God has called us to do. 

This week I really noticed an increase of this kind of attack. Satan will use any person he can to try and discourage  and condem you. (your family, your friends and even Preachers)

Who are these pople who condem others? 
Like David's brother,  to say that people are disqualified? or try putting restrictions on others?

Have you ever felt like that?
Like, people only wanted to disqualify and restrict you?

David sure did, But then David's brother says something worse, he says "I know you, You have an evil heart". Your just a sinner!

But the truth was, God told Samuel, "David was a man after his own heart".

You are not who other people say you are, you are who God says you are!

One thing I have learned about critical people is that, if I don't do certain things exactually the way they expect, they automically have issue with me and say something about my past or that I'm just evil.

I want to encourage you not to let man talk you out of your dreams and purpose. Satan is relentless in his efforts to try stopping you. Don't allow him! The devil is a lie!

But listen to what David said next, he asks his brother, "what have I done now"?  
That is an awesome statement, I have felt like that before. David says All you see is the wrong I do. Like David, sometimes no matter what you do it is never good enough. 

But then David say  "Is there not a cause? Didn't God call me?




He says I'm here to do God's work and not listen to your big mouth! I like that!! 
The Bible say he turned away from him and rebuked him.

Can I tell you, sometimes you have to walk away from people. Friends, our greatest battles are really the distractions and discouragements that Satan tries to take away our dreams, hopes and destiny.

But like David once you overcome other peoples opinions, and walk away, the giants are no problem at all!

Let me remind you, "There is a cause worth fighting for", be encouraged this weekend!


Don't lose heart over one persons opinion of you! You are somebody! Jesus died for you. Don't let people give you excuses to fail. You can do it! The very first memory verse I taught my little girls, is Phillipians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  

I don't want them to see Giants on the battle field, I want them to see the giant inside of themselves.

You can do it, Fight for it! The dream God put in you is worth fighting for. I promise you!

Blessings,
Danny                                                                                   Let me know your thoughts.