Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…In this crazy world in which we are living today, we are experiencing information overload. “How do you process it?”, “How do you know what to believe, or who to trust?” We are called to be discerning, but that assumes you have a solid foundation of truth on which you stand; do you? In our culture today, truth is relative, and morals are individualized because everyone wants to “be free!”; free, that is, to do what they want to do. How’s that working for you?

Throughout history, there have always been those who have professed to have the gift of prophecy, meaning they could accurately predict what was going to happen in the future. As you might suspect, by far the majority of those “barkers” were charlatans, but those with the true gift of prophecy have contributed immensely to the direction listeners have chosen to follow.

For instance, we just came through the Christmas season, a time when the birth of Jesus is celebrated. To some, this is a time of awe and wonder, but to others it is a time of skepticism, doubt, fear, and even mockery. No doubt the story is miraculous and it challenges “rational thinking”, but the prophecies from previous thousands of years have substantiated the details of the story with pin-point accuracy. While there are numerous examples of world history books, there is no book of prophecy that can even begin to compare to the Bible. (God spoke through prophets to warn His people of perilous times.) Those thousands of prophecies not only predicted the birth of Jesus, but there are many that have predicted with great detail what will happen in the “end times.” Reading those Scriptures right now is akin to reading the front page of most major newspapers.

Now I would like to introduce to you a modern prophet. Many of you will know him because of his incredibly popular radio show. Paul Harvey, (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast News and Commentary on weekdays, and at noon on Saturdays, along with his famous The Rest of the Story segments. From 1951 to 2008, his programs reached as many as 24 million people per week. Paul Harvey News was carried on 1,200 radio stations, on 400 American Forces Network stations, and in 300 newspapers.

Paul Harvey was indeed one of my favorites for many years. He was a brilliant and witty radio host, but I suspect he got his wisdom and guidance from a power greater than himself. (I am saying that because he said that about himself.) The excerpt below was penned over fifty years ago. I will leave it up to you to evaluate his accuracy.

If I Were the Devil

If I were the Devil, the Prince of Darkness, what methods of deception would I use to rule the world? What areas of society would I target? What tactics would I employ? In the transcript below, Paul Harvey in 1965 aired one of the most astonishing monologues ever recorded. Now nearly 50 years later, everything that Paul Harvey said the Devil would have to do to rule the world, has come to pass.  How did 100% of what he said in 1965 come true?  Was Paul Harvey a modern-day prophet? Was this glimpse of the future inspired by a supernatural power? No doubt, he was plugged into something particularly special. Ponder that as you will, but enjoy, or rather be appalled with… the rest of the story!

If I were the Devil, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness and I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, thee.

So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first. I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”

To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good and what is good is “square.” And the old, I would teach to pray after me: “Our Father which art in Washington.”

And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d make TV look worse than movies and then make movies look worse than TV in a vicious cycle that just gets worse and worse. I’d peddle narcotics to whomever I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves, until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions; just let those run wild until, before you knew it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. Within a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing. I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money.

If I were the Devil, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the Devil, I would take from those who have and give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what will you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich. I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be and thus I could undress you in public and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the Devil, I’d just keep on doing what he is so successfully doing.

Paul Harvey…. Good Day!

I’ll be back next week with a new set of blogs. May God Bless you All!

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

As Christians approach the day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is a time that is filled with wonder, majesty and awe.  Yet for some, this history changing event is wrapped in skepticism and doubt resulting from questions that have never been answered in a way that redirects worldly thinking.  I mean, come on… a virgin birth?   The Son of God?   Savior of the world?   I understand the weight of those questions and the need for answers.  Those very questions kept me separated from God’s truth for many years.  Today however, I understand the prophetic Scripture that speaks perfectly to this challenge.  The “stone that makes people stumble” was first referenced by Isaiah eight centuries before the birth of Jesus.  It was repeated again in 1 Peter 2:8 when he referred to Jesus as “the stone that makes people stumble; the rock that makes them fall.”

God knew people would have trouble grasping His ways and His majestic qualities, such as omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, Alpha and Omega, the Godhead of the Trinity, immutable, and of course the Biblical truth that proclaims, “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37)  That is why He spoke through the prophet Isaiah telling us, “My ways are not your ways, My thoughts are not your thoughts.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, as far as the east is from the west, My ways are not like your ways, and My thoughts are not like your thoughts.”  And again, in Psalm 46:10 he tells us, “Just be still and know that I am God.”  I believe that God was/is clearly telling us that we will never understand, with our finite minds, the wonders and ways of the Creator of the Universe.  That is why, throughout the Bible, He uses the most unlikely people, situations and methods to carry out His plans.  He delights in showing His power and strength through the least likely characters.  That, however, is the same reason so many people stumble or fall when grappling with His thoughts and ways.  God is so far outside our paradigm of rational thinking that we will never be able to intellectually wrap Him up and put Him in a box.  But let us not forget… Christianity is based on faith, and faith comes from standing on the truth of God’s word.

Let’s look at three examples of God’s “nothing’s impossible” ways, starting with Samuel, chapter 17, to see how a boy named David saved a nation.  When Jesse sent his son David, a young man of about fourteen years, to the front lines to deliver food to his three older sons who were fighting with the Israelite army, little did he know he was sending the nation’s next hero.  When David arrived at his destination, he was shocked that the army was shackled with fright at the sight of Goliath, who was shouting insults and demanding a volunteer come out to fight him.  David asked, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God.” (vs. 26).  David volunteered to meet the challenge, picked up five stones and walked toward the giant armed only with a slingshot.  He knew the same God that protected him from the jaws of lions and bears as he tended his father’s sheep in the hills would also protect him against this opponent.  With one stone he took down Goliath, brought victory to Israel, and brought honor and glory to God when he told the giant, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty – God of the armies of Israel…”  A miracle?  Yes!  But how?  Because “Nothing is impossible with God!”

Now let’s look at what was probably the most outlandish battle plan in the history of the world.  When Moses died, Joshua was appointed leader of the Israelites.  Their plan was to conquer the land of Canaan under the Lord’s guidance. God spoke to Joshua, who felt terribly unqualified, with this message: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

As the Israelites prepared to move into Canaan, God commanded Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the center of the Jordan River, which was at flood stage. As soon as they stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing. It piled up in heaps upstream and downstream, so the people could cross on dry ground. God performed the same miracle for Joshua that he had done for Moses when he parted the Red Sea.  The people were now in the Promised Land, but the first obstacle they encountered was the walled city of Jericho.

God had a strange plan for the battle of Jericho. He told Joshua to have the armed men march around the city once each day for six days. The priests were to carry the ark; appointed trumpeters were to blast forth on their rams’ horns, but the soldiers were to keep silent.  On the seventh day, the assembly was to march around the walls of Jericho seven times, and during the last round, at Joshua’s command, the men were to give a great shout and Jericho’s walls would come tumbling down. When that happened, the army was to march into the city and conquer it.  Remember…God had already promised Canaan to the Israelites.  All they had to do was take it.  Joshua certainly knew that, so even with this less than orthodox battle plan, he relied on two Biblical truths: “God would never leave him or forsake him”, and “nothing is impossible with God”.

But undoubtedly the most mysterious display of God’s thoughts and ways can be found in the whole scenario of Jesus’ birth, as presented in Luke, chapter 1.  The angel Gabriel visits Mary, a virgin in her middle teens, and tells her, “You have found favor with God.  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son who will be called Son of the Most High.  He will reign over Israel, and His Kingdom will never end.”  Mary asks the angel, “But how can that be?  I have never known a man.”  Gabriel replied, “…nothing is impossible with God”.  Mary replies, “I am the Lord’s servant.  I will do whatever he asks.”

As we continue reading the story, new questions will undoubtedly arise, such as Mary’s encounter with the angel, Gabriel; Joseph’s acceptance of conception by the Holy Spirit; the trip to Bethlehem and the birth in the stable; then there was the host of Angels proclaiming to the shepherds in the hills, “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born tonight in Bethlehem.” (Luke 2:11) Absolutely, none of this makes sense to a logical, rational thought process.  I mean…

• Who were Mary and Joseph?  What were their qualifications?
• Why Bethlehem, of all places, for the birth?  Wasn’t Jerusalem just up the road with more accommodations?
• And a stable (Yikes!) for the birth of The Savior; the Messiah; the Lord?   Nothing about that seems appropriate for the long-awaited Messiah!
• And the announcement of his birth to shepherds.  Didn’t they occupy the bottom rung on the social ladder?  Why them? Who would believe them??

The only way to grasp the truth of this event is to come to know God and His ways. Only then, through revelation from Him, can the pronouncement from Isaiah become authentic, “My ways are not your ways, My thoughts are not your thoughts…”

This story has always been God’s plan, “even before the world was created” (Ephesians 1:4). Because God is a loving God who wants an eternal relationship with us, Romans 5:6 tells us, “While we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time to die for us sinners.”  Then Romans 3:23 also tells us, “All have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”  Because of our “human nature”, we could never make ourselves holy and acceptable to God through our own effort. And 1Peter 1:16 tells us, “we have to be Holy (sin free) because God is Holy.  That is why Jesus HAD to come as Savior of the world.  He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament, and at the same time, He gave us a new way of being made acceptable to God.  Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”  God’s gift of love to us is His Gift of Grace, which allows us to be in Christ. 

No doubt about it, Jesus – the Savior of the World, the Messiah, the Lord -arrived in a totally unorthodox manner.  Everything about this story challenges our intellect.  But when we come to know God as a loving God who wants an eternal relationship with us based on our faith in Him and not by our own works – AND, as a God who was willing to sacrifice his Son as payment for our sins so we could become part of that relationship, we need to stop and ask ourselves: “would I want to worship a lesser God?”   I might not understand His ways and His thoughts, but why would I put my faith in a lesser god that even I can figure out??   Remember…God knew Jesus would be a stumbling block to the world. We are supposed to be challenged.  Yet this same Jesus becomes a Savior to all who will allow their minds and hearts to be transformed by the truth and love of God.  I gotta tell ya…that’s one Christmas gift that fits all!

Feel free to respond to this message, and please “like” and share it with other social media friends.

Merry Christmas, 2021, to all of my Dear Friends, and Happy New Year!

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…It appears to be Christmas season right here in Southshore Falls, Apollo Beach, FL. Even though It’s only early December and our temperature today will hover around 75 degrees, our community is in the holiday spirit and could not be more beautifully decorated. Almost everyone we pass on our walks comments on the splendid decorations.

While I too love the sheer beauty of our surroundings, at the same time I am saddened by the fact that the Christmas being celebrated is “commercial Christmas.” There is no shortage of Santas, snowmen, reindeer, bells, carolers and wrapped presents, but the reason for the season is missing. I can count on one hand any reference to the glory of Jesus’ birth. I could write it off as, “just the state of our culture today”, but I don’t want to do that because Christmas is the first of two events that completely transformed both heaven and earth. No celebration on earth could begin to compare to the celebration that took place that holy night when the heavenly host proclaimed the truth of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Therefore, I would like to share, not only the beauty of the Nativity story itself, but some background information that I hope will clarify the necessity for this extraordinary event.

In the Beginning was God’s Perfect Plan: The good news is… this plan begins with, and ends with LOVE. We are told in Genesis, the first book of Scripture, that once God had the world prepared for human inhabitance – which took the first five days of Creation – at the end of the sixth day, He breathed life into His “proudest creation” -.Man.  Genesis 2:7 tells us that “God created Man in His own image, male and female He created them.” God created Man (us) for a loving relationship…and not just to be a here-and-now relationship, but for an eternal relationship. Therefore, before that all-important relationship could develop, we had to have the ability to “make the choice” to enter (or not to enter) into that all-important union. That is why we are His “proudest creation”. God gifted Man with a brain for rational thinking; we can think and plan. (All other animals rely on instinct.)

God placed the first occupants of this world in the Garden of Eden, which was Paradise. He provided for all of their needs; He communed with them, and they wanted for nothing. His only directive to His occupants was, “Do not eat from the tree in the center of the Garden. If you do, you will surely die! (Genesis 2:16-17) As I’m sure you know, they did disobey God’s directive, and at that moment the Spiritual connection that existed between God and Man was severed. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden, sin now existed in the world, and paradise came to an end.

SIN– the Chasm That Separates Man from God:  Sin, when spelled with capital letter, is a noun and denotes a state of being. Sin simply means that Man is living separated from God. Instead of honoring God, Man’s focus is on “self”. (Therefore, we are outside of God’s will because our behavior is contrary to His first Commandment.) Now let’s look at “sin” (with a small letter). This is a verb and denotes action. Since Man, without God, is a Sinner, the action (or behavior) that results is sin.

Sin is what keeps Man and God separated. God is LOVE; Sin spreads, kills and destroys. Love and sin are polar opposites, therefore they can never be partners? But fear not, because Ephesians 1:4 reveals God’s perfect plan for bridging the chasm that exists between a Sinful Man and a Holy God. “Long ago, even before God created the world (and Man), He loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” Let’s take a moment and examine the grandeur of that Scripture.

This Scripture attests to God’s Omniscience (His ability to look into the future). Even before God created the world (and Man), He knew that Man was going fall victim to satan’s deception in the Garden. This first act of disobedience is what created the inevitable chasm between Sin and Righteousness. (holiness). But here is the most incredible part of this story so far: God still created us!  Can you imagine that?

God’s Plan for Our Salvation: This incredible plan reveals His unconditional, unending, and unfailing love for us. This is evidenced by the last part of this Scripture that specifically reveals His plan to save US!. Because we are in Christ, “He would find us holy and without fault in His eyes.” He knew we could never save ourselves, therefore His plan was always to provide a Savior (Jesus Christ) to do for us what we would prove we could never do for ourselves. Verse 5 concludes this “Good News”: “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and this gave Him great pleasure.”

Man had from Creation until the coming of Jesus 2021 years ago to wrestle with the dilemma of Sin, but instead of overcoming our “sin nature”, we continued to spiral downward into a dark abyss. Romans 5:6 is the report card on our best effort at overcoming sin: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Utterly helpless…Wow! That’s quite an inditement?

Now let’s turn our attention to the implementation of God’s plan for our salvation: The coming of Jesus Christ into this world. (These Scriptures are taken from the Gospel of Luke 1,2) “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord has found favor with you! Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ‘Don’t be frightened, Mary’, the angel told her, ‘for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will have no end!’ Then Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.’

The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The baby born to you will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. People used to say she was barren, but she’s already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God!’ Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. I am willing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true.’ Then the angel left.”

The night of Jesus’ birth, shepherds were in the fields outside the village of Bethlehem, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize Him: You will find the baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by other heavenly hosts – armies of angels – praising God and proclaiming, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.!’

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come, let’s go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing the Lord revealed to us.’ They ran to the village and found the Baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger. Filled with joy, the shepherds then told everyone what had happened, and what the angel had told them about this child.”  

God’s unfathomable, perfect plan to save His proudest creation was just presented in these wonderful Scriptures. Here’s what that means to you: The fruit of this plan is available to anyone who wants to experience eternal life. How’s that for the ultimate Christmas gift? Are you ready to receive the Gift He is prepared to give YOU? John 3:16 succinctly presents that plan: “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.”

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share it with other social media friends.

May God bless you abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Isn’t it amazing how easily our focus can get tainted by worldly activities? Even when we know better, satan can still get us caught up in his web of deception. Christ-followers…we’re his target, and his sole purpose is to take our focus off of God and His Truth and redirect it to worldly circumstances. He is the father of lies, the master manipulator, and he knows exactly what buttons to push because we were in his domain before we were drawn to the domain of light.

In this crazy world in which we are living today, change happens at break-neck speed. Your challenge is to discern from the barrage of new information what is rooted in truth or rooted in lies. The next step is to decide, “What can I believe?” and “Who can I trust?”. This scenario is taxing, frustrating and it can suck the joy right out of our hearts…if we let it. Our only defense against the world’s insanity is to stay rooted in the truth of God’s Word, and that truth is: Our God is a sovereign God, and He is still on the throne. As crazy as this world might look right now, His divine plan is still playing out.

Let’s start by looking at the definition of ‘Sovereign? It is defined as having supreme authority, control and power over all that has happened, is happening or will happen in the future. Therefore, since God Jehovah is THE Sovereign God, He has the right, the authority and the power to govern all that has happened, is happening, and will happen according to His divine will throughout all eternity. These few verses substantiate that truth:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, formless and clothed in darkness, but the Spirit of God was hovering over the darkness. And God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light.” (Genesis 1-2);

“Lord, through all generations You have been our dwelling place. Before the mountains were created, before You made the earth and the world, You are God without beginning or end.” (Psalm 90:1-2);

“How great is our Lord. His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” (Psalm 147:5);

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘Humanly speaking it is impossible. But with God, everything is possible!” (Matthew 19:26);

“Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities.  Everything has been created through Him and for Him. He existed before everything else began, and He holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:16-17);

Knowing these truths provide a Scriptural foundation on which we can stand when the world starts closing in on us. Listening to the news, or any preponderance of negativity CERTAINLY ZAPS OUR HOPE AND OUR JOY, so let’s look at Romans 8:28: “In ALL things, God works for the good for those who love Him and are called to His good purpose”. Does it say in some things, or many things, or does it say in “ALL” things? Does it say only in good times, or does it mean in ALL times?

Jonathan Cahn, author of the Harbinger, reminds us of God’s hand in the founding of our great nation. “But what does America have to do with ancient Israel” you ask? Israel was unique among nations in that it was conceived and dedicated at its founding for the purposes of God. Those who laid America’s foundations saw it as a new Israel, an Israel of the New World. And as with ancient Israel, they saw it in covenant with God, meaning its rise or fall would be dependent on its relationship with God. If America followed His ways, it would become the most blessed, prosperous, and powerful nation on earth.

From the very beginning they foretold it, and what they foretold did come true. America did rise to heights no other nation, other than ancient Israel, ever experienced. Not that it was ever without fault or sin, but it did aspire to fulfill its callings. ‘What calling?’ you ask. To be a vessel of redemption, an instrument of God’s purposes, a light to the world. It would give refuge to the world’s poor and needy, and hope to its oppressed. It would stand against tyranny. It would fight, more than once, against the dark movements of the modern world that threaten to engulf the earth.”

As Cahn so poetically portrays, God’s hand and blessings have certainly been on America.  But to whom much is given, much is expected.  America certainly did rise to greatness and prosperity, but with those blessings often comes an unwarranted sense of complacency. Whenever that happens within a culture, it provides an opportunity for evil to rear its ugly head. And just as in previous cultures, that evil opportunity is cloaked in greed, and a desire for power, wealth and control. I have written about this on numerous occasions, and previously referred to it as the “Liberal Progressive Agenda”. Today that same philosophy defines the Democrat Socialist party. Their objective is to dismantle our current country and reshape it in a socialistic fashion where the government becomes our god and our provider.

So why should we not become anxious, doubtful or fearful about what we see taking place in our country right now? Because God has a divine plan that is playing out right before our eyes, and regardless of how difficult it is for us to see that plan, or even believe that such a plan exists, again let us take refuge in the truth of God’s Word. Genesis 50 provides this victory proclamation: At the age of 17, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Twenty plus years later, he met his brothers again when they came to Egypt to get food for their families. His victory statement to them was: “What you intended for evil, God used for good.”  That is a recurring theme in the Bible and it reflects God’s loving nature. Our challenge is to trust that He is still in control, regardless of our circumstances or our feelings. The Truth is, “No weapon formed against Him will prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Feel free to respond to this posting, and please “like” it and share with other social media friends.

May God bless you abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…I suspect that today’s title-line may have seemed a bit weird to many of you, and I can perfectly understand that. No doubt, if you were to ask ten people if they would rather be happy or unhappy, you would probably get a unanimous vote for “happy”.  That’s because we are hard wired to get our basic needs met, such as air, food, water, clothing, shelter, warmth and sleep. But we also have to consider our psychological and emotional well-being, such as feeling loved, respected, safe, valued and desired if our goal is to find that positive state of “homeostasis”. (How’s that for a “cost of tuition” word? The good news is…I’ve already looked it up.  “Homeostasis” is a self-regulating process that regulates internal variables necessary to sustain life. In other words, “homeostasis” is a mechanism that maintains a stable internal environment despite the changes present in the external environment.) When these factors get out of whack, we find ourselves in a tail spin.

The simple truth is, like most other people, I always searched for happiness. From infancy on, I learned what I liked and what I didn’t like. Therefore, my “self-centered” nature always led me toward that “feel good” decision. No doubt, some of my choices were thwarted by my parents, my teachers, or even by some of my best friends, because when I look back now, I can see that they had my best interest at heart. But truth be told, more often than not I pushed the envelope to get as much as I wanted, when I wanted it. All too often I was willing to do whatever I had to do to satisfy “self.” (FYI…this behavior is a sure-fired pathway to addiction.)

Now let’s look at a simple definition of “happiness”…my definition. I believe that “happiness” is an outside job, meaning it exists when circumstances line up with my intentions. For instance, I would be happy IF she would just go out with me; I would be happy IF I had that job; I’ll be happy WHEN this project is over; or I would be happier IF I just had a bigger house.  As you can see from these examples, to reach that elusive state of happiness, it is dependent upon circumstances, people or things fulfilling this equation: you + ? = fulfillment.  People change; cars lose their sparkle, and that new job may be the source of unforeseen stress and strain. Therefore, happiness is temporal. When that state of fulfillment fades away, you find yourself returning to the well to get your next fix.

In the above paragraph, did you take notice of the number of “I” statements? When searching for that elusive happiness, it is usually tied in with the desire to exalt, pleasure or promote self. When your focus is on “me”, “me”, and “me”, whether you know it or not, you have slipped back under the law. This means that you are counting on your best effort to accomplish your purpose. Now compare that scenario with the truth found in Matthew 6:33: “If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added to you.” And what are “all these things?” All these things are in the previous two paragraphs that Man works so hard to get. But if we seek first His kingdom with a desire to bring honor and glory to Him, He will honor us by providing those desires as blessings. (Just for clarity… as long as our desires are in line with His will.)

Unfortunately, most people settle for happiness when they could be experiencing joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” And joy, unlike happiness, is an inside job.  It is not dependent on people, places or things to fulfill our needs. The source of joy is also quite different from the source happiness, in that it is a spiritual process.  According to Theopedia, “joy is a state of mind, and an orientation of the heart.” That very inclusion of “the heart” is the true difference between happiness and joy. The later definition is the result of “transformation”, which means “we’ve chosen to change our nature, or our character.

Once we make the decision to accept God’s gift of grace (meaning, we are were willing to surrender to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior), we are poised to start a journey that leads to transformation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 succinctly explains this: “We are a new creation in Christ. The old is gone (we are no longer enslaved to our “sin nature”), the new has come.” (indwelling Holy Spirit) This means that we have made a decision to change our ways (repentance), and we no longer want to make the same “default choices” that characterized our old nature.  Galatians 5:16-18 explains this. “I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives you desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer slaves to your sin-nature.”

Part of God’s salvation plan for us was/is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Since Man proved his inability to rise above his “sin-nature” from Creation until the coming of Jesus Christ 2021 years ago, God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to become the person He created us to be.  Ephesians 2:10 substantiates that: “We are NOW His masterpiece. He has created us anew in Jesus Christ, so that we can NOW do the good things He planned for us long ago.”  (my added emphasis) We are NOW in the process of becoming more Christ-like, and this is a life- long journey.  Remember, before we accepted God’s gift of grace, our only hope for over-coming our flesh, the world, and satan was our very best effort. Romans 5:6 is our report card on that endeavor: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” (Apostle Paul included himself in this indictment)

2 Peter 1:3 tells us: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His divine nature gives us everything we need for living a Godly life.”  We have been gifted with the ability to tap into the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to insure our victory over the dark domain. Knowing that truth and walking in that truth gives us an incredible sense of confidence, strength, and patience. It is no longer about our best effort, but about getting out of the way so the Holy Spirit can work through us.

“And how does that happen”, you might ask?  We call the Holy Spirit into action to empower us to make choices that bring honor and glory to God. We say aloud, “Holy Spirit, give me your wisdom, courage, strength, patience, perseverance, eyes to see, ears to hear –whatever it is we need – to honor Him.   James 4:10 reinforces this statement. “When we come humbly before the Lord and admit our dependence on Him, He will lift us up and give us honor.”  When we know who we are in Christ, and the power that comes from that identity, how can we not be bubbling over with JOY; how can we not have a thankful heart?

To recap: Why settle for temporal happiness, when you can have abounding JOY?  After all, “Christ came to give us life, and life to the fullest!”  (John 10:10)

Feel free to share this post, and please feel free to share it with other social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…This is one of the many timeless truths from our Freedom in Christ class. It is good for my soul to revisit these gems every now and then, because if you’re like me, I can get all wound up in life and it’s ensuing minutia, and then I realize, “I’ve lost my focus”. Unfortunately, we all have grown up in a fallen world where love and acceptance can often be conditional, meaning “I’ll love you if…” or  “you can join us when….” Nothing is more unsettling than conditional love and conditional acceptance.

Unfortunately, that same mindset can put up roadblocks when it comes to grasping the all-important concept of God’s unconditional love for us. No doubt, the way love is portrayed in the media, in popular magazines, and then played out in today’s marital reality, makes it clear that love is frighteningly “conditional.”  “Well, if he (or she) would just do, act, or look-like this, that would make me happy.”  Falling short of this ‘iffy” performance standard is a strong contributor to today’s divorce statistics: 50% – 65% of new marriages fail (depending on where one looks for statistics), and the success rate for the second-time-around crowd isn’t much better.

I know there are times when everyone feels separated from God for one reason or another, but I want to point out a wonderful quote from Neil Anderson, author of “Victory Over the Darkness”, that quickly draws me back to reality. “Do not let your feelings define you, because your feelings change. Instead, stand on the truth of what God’s Word says about you.” (I’m a Child of God; I’m forgiven; I’m unconditionally loved; God delights in me; He created me for a relationship with Himself; He will never leave me nor forsake me; God is merciful and full of grace; He is faithful.) Regardless of who we are or what we have done, if we have accepted His Gift of Grace, the sin issue is over for us! Romans 8:1-2 confirms our position in Christ: “There is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (my caps) And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

But you might be saying, “How can that be? I know I continue to sin! I don’t want to, but I just can’t help myself. I know I disappoint God, and I suspect He’s ready to kick me out of the Kingdom!”  My answer to your pathos would be, “Is that really what God says about you? I don’t think so. You’re listening to the “accuser of the Brothers.” (Revelation 12:10) Now let’s contrast satan’s lies and deceptions with the truth of God’s Word: “Can anything ever separate us from God’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble staying the course? No!  Despite these shortcomings, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t and the demons can’t. Our fears for today and our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away!” (Romans 8:35,37-39) That, Dear Readers, is the truth!  And make no mistake…nothing means NOTHING!

When we were of this world, satan didn’t bother us because he already had us in the palm of his hands. We were solid citizens of the domain of darkness! But once we made a decision to break free from that domain and move into the domain of light by accepting God’s Gift of Grace, that’s when the relentless torment began. All of a sudden, we have targets on our backs! And the more we grow in Christ, the bigger the target, and the more hellacious are the lies, deception, schemes and accusations! And believe me, he is a master at his craft.

You must remember, satan’s sole purpose is to shipwreck your best effort to mature in your relationship with Jesus. He knows he was defeated 2021 years ago at the cross, and he also knows his eternal fate is the lake of fire. Therefore, the only way he can get back at God is by enticing, tormenting and ultimately destroying His children. 1 Peter 5:8-9 describes his tactics this way: “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Remember, all Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering (and torment) you are experiencing.”

Satan knows you intimately, but his interest is in your weaknesses. Therefore, he and his minions (helpers…the other fallen angels who were kicked out of heaven with him after their rebellion against God) keep constant watch for opportunities to exploit your vulnerabilities. And trust me when I tell you…he (or they) NEVER fail to show up when they see a chink in your character. They are as predictable as flies at a picnic!

Satan’s battleground is your soul, which consists of mind, emotions and will. Before you were in Christ, you lived separated from God. Therefore, imprinted in your soul are old thought patterns, defense mechanisms, emotional successes and failures, willful decisions and activities that pleasured and exalted you! Even after you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, even after you became that new creation in Christ, satan relentlessly continued his diabolical schemes to take you down. “But since I’m reborn, how can he do that?” you might ask. And the answer would be, no one pushed the mental delete button when you accepted God’s Gift of Grace.  All of that old “stuff” is still stored in strongholds in your soul, and it becomes satan’s ammunition. But fear not! At rebirth you also received the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower you to be victorious.

From this point forward, the Spirit’s job is to bring your earthly soul in line with God’s will. Apostle Paul explains this battle in Galatians 5:16-18: “So I advise you to live your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.  But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer a slave to your sin nature.”  It’s all about making the right choices!

One of satan’s favorite tactics is planting thoughts in your mind (in the “first person”, of course, so you think they are your own thoughts) then tempting you with lustful thoughts, fearful thoughts, prideful thoughts, jealous thoughts, covetous thoughts, etc. This sets up an expectation, and most likely an action will follow. He always wraps these enticements in a most appealing way, such as “remember how much you liked that”; “no one will know”; “no one will get hurt”; “you deserve it”! He knows how to push all the right buttons, but it’s all a lie.  And here’s the double whammy; once the indiscretion is complete, he shows up again as the accuser: “What a disgrace; how can you call yourself a Christian?” “You’ll never be able to please God. Go have some fun!”   Does any of this sound familiar?

Even though satan is a formidable adversary, God’s plan for your redemption far surpasses satan’s abilities. The whole purpose for God giving you the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is so you can rise above your circumstances, and your trials and tribulations, to become the person He created you to be. All you have to do is call Him into action. “Holy Spirit, give me your wisdom, courage, strength, patience, perseverance, whatever it is I need to bring honor and glory to God through my choices.”  His Word tells you that He will answer that prayer. “When you come humbly before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor.” (James 4:10)

As I mentioned in an earlier paragraph, since Christ paid the penalty for our sins, the sin issue is over for those in Christ. Instead of being labeled as Sinners, we are now referred to as Saints, which means followers of Jesus Christ. Now when we fall short of God’s glorious standard, and we will, it is NOT counted against us as sins. Instead, we are  Saints who have fallen short. At this point, God just wants us to stay in the process of becoming more Christ-like by yielding to the Holy Spirit’s direction, rather than caving-in to satan’s lies, deceptions, schemes, and accusations.  Even when we feel like total loosers for falling short, FEAR NOT! NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. He wants ALL of us to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

Feel free to respond to this post, and please “like” it and share it with other social media friends.

May God Bless Ya…

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…I have recently been drawn to the Book of 1 John, often referred to as the “Book of Love”. John had a particularly unique perspective for his writings because of his close relationship with Jesus. He was one of the first disciples chosen, and he was one of Jesus’ “inner- circle”, along with James and Peter. Therefore, he had the opportunity to witness three incredible events the other disciples missed (the rebuking of Peter’s mother’s fever; Jesus’ Transfiguration, and that harrowing time in the Garden of Gethsemane). John walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, saw His miracles, touched Him, saw the empty tomb, and witnessed His ascension. Also known as the “Apostle Jesus loved”, he was the lone disciple comforting His mother at the crucifixion. Jesus spoke to both of them from the cross saying, “Woman, here is your son”; to the disciple, He said, “Here is your mother.” John obediently took Mary into his home and cared for her.     

John continued to be a fearless leader in the early Church, sharing his vibrant testimony about the Messiah Jesus and His resurrection. This continued to inflame the Pharisees, so a brutal attempt was made to take his life (he was boiled). God, however spared his life, because He had other plans for this dedicated Apostle. When he was banished to the Greek island of Patmos in the Agean Sea, the government and the Pharisees both breathed a sigh of relief. At last John was gone! But John continued his ministry through his writings, producing 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and the Gospel of John. He was also taken into heaven where Jesus shared with him His letters to the seven churches in Asia, then gave him visions that allowed him to see and record certain future events so they could be an encouragement to all believers. This monumental book was the Book of Revelation.

John’s love, respect and total trust in Jesus is undeniable in the opening introduction of 1John. “I proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning. I saw Him with My own eyes and touched Him with My own hands. He is the Word of Life. This One, who is Life itself, was revealed to Me, and now I testify that He is also eternal Life. He was with the Father before He was revealed to Me. I am writing these things so that you may fully share My joy.” Notice that John immediately attested to Jesus’ majestic quality of “timelessness”. “The One who existed from the beginning” means that Jesus was part of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) even before God began creating. A second affirmation came when he stated, “He was with the Father before He was revealed to Me! (1 John 1:1-4) In these few verses He revealed Jesus’ Holy splendor when he stated, “the Word of Life”, meaning that He IS the Word incarnate; “Life itself”, meaning He IS the source for a reborn you, and “eternal Life”, meaning He IS the only way to salvation.

Concerning living in the light, John declares this message that he heard from Jesus: “God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.” Therefore, if we are living in the light as God is in the light, “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” What a message of hope and joy for all Believers.

In 1 John 4:7, God is described with one word: “God is LOVE!” Notice this is a noun; it doesn’t say He loves or that He is loving. It says His very essence is LOVE! This is quite important because it reveals that nothing can emanate from Him other than qualities of love, such as forgiveness, mercy, grace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, acceptance, courage, strength, confident assurance, self-control and joy. If anyone experiences anything that is not rooted in those qualities of love, the source of what you are experiencing is not from God. We are called to be discerning, so this gem of truth is of utmost importance when making decisions.

John restates the necessity of loving God, but He also highlights the necessity of loving our fellow man. “Anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.” (1 John 1:10) He goes on and cautions us about loving the world and what it has to offer. He points out that “the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These things are NOT from the Father, but are from our enemy, satan. He is the prince and power of this world, and the author of all chaos, anxiety, depression, doubt, fear, pain and suffering that is so prevalent around us today.

John also turns the spotlight on the false teachers that have wormed their way into our churches. These antichrists, these liars, are already among you, twisting God’s Truth. “And who are these liars? Anyone who says Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and/or the Son is an antichrist. You must remain faithful to what you have been taught. If you do remain faithful, you will enjoy eternal life that He promised you.” (1 John 2: 22-25)

John has shown his fear that believers might fall victim to satan’s insidious lies and schemes. That was certainly most troubling to Him, so in Chapter 3, He shifted his focus to who we are in Christ. He reminds us that we have been grafted into God’s family, and that He now calls us His Children. (Take special note of these words, because these words are the key to walking in the victory that IS ours!)  “Anyone who continues to live in-Christ will not continue sinning! (1John 3:6)  John’s “Book of Love” certainly solidifies His love for us, but when the power of that message gets ingrafted in our hearts and we realize what it really means, HOW CAN WE WILLIFULLY CONTINUE SINNING? This is why the Scripture tells us, “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) (Remember, even before He created us, He knew we were going to be sinners, but He still created us. He knew we were never going to be able to overcome the issue of Sin through our own effort, but He created us anyhow And He was willing to sacrifice His only Son to pay our sin ransom so we could qualify for eternal life). ARE YOU SERIOUS? If it wasn’t for what God and Jesus did for us, we would all be condemned to Hell. 1 John 3:9 is the exclamation point behind that truth. “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning because God’s life is in them. They can’t keep on sinning because they are God’s Children.”

“Don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If you love your brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that you have passed from death to life. But remember, we can’t just say we love each other, let us show it with our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” (1 John 3: 18-19)

John closes his “Book of Love” with these words: “Who will win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life.”   That Truth, My Friends, cannot be stated more simply. I pray that those who have ears will hear.

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share it with other Social Media Friends.

May God Bless You abundantly

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

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Dear Meetpastordan Readers…When I was a youngster attending the Evangelical United Brethern Church in Crooksville Ohio, my favorite part of the service was singing hymns.  I wasn’t particularly mindful of the words at that time, but I loved picking out the alto or tenor parts and fitting them into the musical fabric.  This was when I first came to realize that it was these parts – the harmony parts – that really sold the melody line. But over the years, I have been drawn back to the words of some of the most well-known hymns, and have been both amazed and inspired at the depth of their message.  Since I am in the spirit of thanksgiving today, I would like to delve into one of my personal favorites, “How Great Thou Art”.

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;

Refrain

And when I think that God His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin:

Refrain

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art! 

I love the personal acclamation of these opening words…O Lord MY God!  I am standing in AWE of YOU!  Will I ever begin to grasp the magnificence, the splendor, the depth of who YOU are?

I believe that everyone reading this has probably asked that same question, and I believe God knew we would wrestle with…or in some cases struggle with, this very dilemma.  But I also believed He provided answers for us in two specific scriptures.  Isaiah 55:8-9. “My thoughts are not the same as your thoughts”, says the Lord.  “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”  And again, in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted throughout the earth.”  I believe that God is saying to us, “Folks, don’t sit around trying to figure Me out. You’ll never be able to do that.  I am God!”  Enter into a relationship with Me; Get to know Me intimately through Jesus Christ, because “Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before I made anything at all, and is supreme over all creation.”  (Colossians 1:15) The more you grow in your relationship with My Son, the more you will come to know and trust Me!  

Apostle Paul addresses the majestic powers of God in the last part of verse 1 when he writes in Romans 1:20, “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God has made.  They can clearly see His invisible qualities, His eternal power and His divine nature, so they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God!”  Therefore, when we begin to get only a glimpse of the unfathomable nature of God, we can only stand in AWE of who He is. And The Truth is, …HE IS! (He introduced Himself to Moses as “I AM…”. therefore, we proclaim that “He IS… He is EVERYTHING!) When this Truth starts taking shape in our hearts, how can our souls not sing, “How Great Thou Art!”

When we look at the second verse, we see another side of God’s grandeur.  Contrasted with the mighty thunder and the power of His creation, our attention is now drawn to the birds sweetly singing in the trees, the unobtrusive sound of a flowing brook and a gentle breeze.  In Matthew 6:26-34, Jesus assures us that God cares for the needs of the birds as well as the flowers that adorn His creation.  The point of these verses is to draw our attention to how much more valuable to God are we than the birds or the flowers.  Therefore, since He takes care of the lowly things, why should we worry about His provision for us? Verse 33 is very specific: “…He will give you ALL you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”  This is very clear;  God rewards us for our trust and our faithfulness.  Wow!  “How Great Thou Art”.

Verse 3 unfolds the Gospel of Grace with a sparsity of words.  Ephesians 1: 5 tells us, “God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  And this gave Him great pleasure.”  God gave Mankind from creation to 2021 years ago to solve the dilemma of SIN!  After all, it was Sin that separated God from His proudest creation. Even today, it is Sin that prevents God from having an eternal relationship with many of His proudest creations.  1Peter 1:16 tells us, “You have to be holy because I am holy.”  In other words, we can’t come into the presence of God if we are stained with sin.  Revelation 21:27 reinforces that statement: “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (meaning, all who are now in Christ.) 

But Romans 5:6 also states God’s perfect plan, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”  “Utterly helpless” leaves little doubt about the pathetic state of Mankind.  And did God wait for us to clean up our act so we could be worthy of His Gift of Grace?  Absolutely not!  Christ became the sacrificial lamb for Mankind while we were still sinners.  This is the ultimate example of God’s unconditional love for His proudest creation.  Again, one more reason to proclaim “How Great Thou Art”.

As Christ-followers, we anxiously await the fulfillment of the last verse.  King Solomon had it right in Ecclesiastes 3 when he stated: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to sow, a time to reap;  A time to grieve; a time to dance; a time to laugh; a time to cry; a time to live; a time to die.” We all know that a time will come when we will be called home.  But because we are in-Christ, we can face this inevitable fate with confident expectation rather than fear.

Why?  Because we know our true identity in-Christ.  Our sins are forgiven; we are worthy and acceptable in God’s eyes; we are the righteousness of Christ; we have inherited eternal life; and we are grafted into God’s family.  We are NOW His children!  AND, we have God’s promise, as stated in Romans 8:1-2: “So now there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. 

My greatest desire today is to bring into reality verse 4 of Psalm 27: “The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.  And Psalm 84:10: “For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”  MY GOD, when I think of Your majestic qualities: Creator of the Universe, Godhead of the Trinity, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, Alpha and Omega, and Your personal qualities personifying love, mercy, grace, kindness and patience; I want to burst into song proclaiming, “How Great Thou Art!”

So, my question to you today is…Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  If yes, then you too can look forward with confident expectation to the fulfillment of verse 4 of this magnificent hymn.

Feel free to respond to this post, and please “like” it and share it with other social media friends.

May God bless you abuntantly…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…I am filled with joy today as I write this message, and I can only credit this euphoria to my growing relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For quite some time, I have been consciously choosing to live in the “victory that is mine” because I am in Christ. Jesus gave me, and all other Christ-followers, “authority over all the evil schemes of the devil”; He said, “no harm will come to you.” And James tells us, “rebuke satan, in the name of Jesus Christ, and he will flee from you.” Are these promises true? How do you know? It’s one thing to say they are true, but are you willing to step out in that truth? That’s when the rubber hits the road. Getting from “believing” to “stepping out” all depends on the intimacy of your relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Stepping out and becoming the living Word yourself, is the goal of being a Christ-follower.  The more you grow in your personal relationship, the more you will come to believe, without a doubt, that “if He said it, it is true!”

2 Peter 1:1-4  substantiates the above paragraph: ”The more we grow  in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His divine power (the indwelling Holy Spirit) gives us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, He has given us ALL of His great and wonderful promises. He has promised that we will escape the decadence of this world caused by evil desires, and that we will share in His divine nature.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are immediately “justified” (made right) in God’s sight. This happens in the blink of an eye; we are transformed. We are now the living truth found in  2 Corinthians 5:17: “We are a new creation in Christ, the old is gone (we are no longer slaves to our sin-nature), the new has come” (the indwelling Holy Spirit). We are now covered by the blood of Jesus. When God looks at us, He sees this new creation (that re-born us) that has inherited the righteous of His Son. We are now His children, and we are Jesus’ brother or sister. We’ve definitely moved from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.

As overwhelming as this is, it is only the first step in an intended journey to become more Christ-like ourselves. Being justified only prepared us for this journey; now it is up to us to participate in the process of growing and maturing in Christ. This is where we find the new wisdom, courage, strength, perseverance, patience, peace, serenity, and joy! This is where our faith grows; this is where we can begin experiencing the promises and the blessings that God so delights in giving. This is how we become the person He created us to be while living in this fallen world. (ref. the last sentence two paragraphs above.) It is through this process that Jesus can become our Lord!

As I’m sure you are aware, many people make the decision to accept Jesus as their Savior only to get fire insurance. While that decision does seal their eternal destiny, they miss out on the journey of transformation. They continue to live the lifestyle they lived before, then wonder why they’re missing the abundant life that Jesus came to give them. Other than professing the title “Christian”, they are ensconced in the values and mores of this world. Unfortunately, that is a very sad existence.

Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion, He came to shine the light of the deficiencies of the religion into which He was born. He did, however, come to teach Kingdom principles in order to show how far Man had drifted away from God’s standard. Those who followed His teaching were known as Christ-followers, or The Body of Christ. Jesus told His disciples: “If you follow My teachings, you will know The Truth, and The Truth will set you free.”  (John 8:32) That promise is still very much alive today, but notice His specificity; He said, “My teachings”, meaning the Truth of God’s Word as opposed to worldly teachings, philosophies, or religious doctrines. Following Jesus’ teachings IS the pathway to freedom.

God’s salvation plan for Mankind is perfect. Not only does it seal our eternal destiny, but God also provided a special gift to those of us who are living in this fallen world. This gift is available to ALL who are in Christ, and it is a power that allows us to tap into the spiritual (or supernatural) realm to accomplish more than we could ever accomplish through our own best effort. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit, that is referred to in the second paragraph as “His divine power”, or “His mighty power”. This power is unique to Christianity, but unfortunately, many people tackle life as though they are totally unaware of this blessing. Apostle Paul addressed this same issue two thousand years ago with the Galatians when he sent them this letter. He stressed the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit to guide their steps and decisions.

“Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the Law? Of course not! The Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your new Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? It is clear that no one can ever be right with God by keeping the Law. For the Scriptures say, ’Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey ALL of God’s Law.’ Let me say it again, “If you want to find life by obeying the Law, you must obey ALL of the Law.” But Christ has rescued us from that curse. When He hung on that cross, He took upon Himself the curse of OUR wrong-doing. Through the work of Christ Jesus, God was pleased to gift all Christians with the indwelling Holy Spirit “ to empower us to do more than we could ever accomplish through our own effort.

“So, I advise you to live your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. For the old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives you desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature craves. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you walk according to the Holy Spirit, you are no longer a slave to your sin nature.” (taken from Galatians3-5)

Do you get that? Take a few moments and let that incredible Truth sink in. The above paragraph is what I have referred to many times as “Man’s dilemma”, and this is why I say that. When Sin entered the world, God allowed man to wrestle with the issue of.Sin through his own effort. But when it became obvious that Man could never meet God’s standard through his own effort, God, in His mercy, implemented His plan that had been in place even before the world, and Man, were created. To substantiate that statement, Romans 5:6 is Man’s report card on his best effort. :”When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time to die for us sinners.” And what was “just the right time”? When we proved ourselves to be utterly helpless. Wow! That’s quite an indictment.

Now I want to clarify what sometimes is a misconception. The Holy Spirit does not fight our battles for us. But if called upon, He will empower us with His wisdom, courage, strength, insight, patience, perseverance, words to speak, ears to hear, whatever it is we need, to be victorious in our battle against worldly teachings or philosophies, our flesh, or satan’s lies. Remember, when you made the choice to move from the domain of darkness into the domain of Light, satan marked you with a target on your back. You are now subject to his barrage of lies, schemes, and accusations, which are intended to shipwreck your walk and growth in Christ. Don’t sell him short…he is a master at his craft.

But, here is the Good News! Because God knows what we have to deal with in this fallen world -remember, he saw what the world did to His Son – He gifted us with the Holy Spirit so we can be victorious right here, right now. As the Scripture from Galatians (three paragraphs above) so clearly states, it’s all about the choices we make. We can either choose the domain of darkness or the domain of Light. We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 that “satan is constantly prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  But fear not, because “the Spirit that is in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the spirit that is in this world” (satan). This IS a promise from God. Are you ready to step out in that truth?

I will close with this beautiful promise found in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s Masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can NOW do the good things He planned for us long ago!  How beautiful and true is the Word of God!

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share with other social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…Last week, while meeting (via zoom) with one of my Bible studies in St. Louis, it was suggested that we read and study the Book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament, since the concern he expressed is the same lament we feel and hear today. He asked God why the wicked in Judah were not being punished for their sin, and why a just God would allow such evil to exist. It seemed to Habakkuk that the righteous were being abandoned. “Where are You, God? We need You, God!” God’s answers to Habakkuk’s questions might surprise you, as they did him. (BTW, these concerns were expressed around 600 BC)

Selected verses from Habakkuk 1,2,3. (There are only 3 short chapters…45min. read)

“How long Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? I cry out to you, “Violence!”, but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me, and strife and conflicts abound. Therefore, the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so justice is perverted.”

The Lord’s Answer: “Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, to sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law unto themselves, and promote their own honor. They fly like an eagle, swooping down to devour; they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind, and gather prisoners like the sand. They sweep past like the wind and go on…their own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s next question: “You, Lord, have appointed them (the hedonous Babylonians) to execute judgement; You, My Rock, have ordained them to punish? Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why, then, do You tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”

The Lord’s Answer: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it. It will certainly come.

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous will (be forced to) live by his faithlessness. He is arrogant and never at rest. Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion. Because you have plundered many nations, the people will now plunder you. For you have shed human blood, now it is time to pay. Woe be to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the people’s clutches. They will rise up and destroy you. 

Habakkuk’s prayer: “Lord I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds. Lord, repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath, remember mercy. (Habakkuk talks of Christ’s second coming, and gives a glimpse of God’s wrath.) Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength!”

In this crazy world…in these crazy times, haven’t we all lamented,” Lord, where are you? Please don’t abandon us to evil.” In view of this perspective, let’s review two fundamental principles: When nations (or people) are in line with God’s will, they are blessed; when they are outside of God’s will, the blessings cease and there will be “hell” to pay.  Habakkuk, saddened by the violence and corruption he saw around Him, poured out his heart. He couldn’t understand why God would allow the wicked to flourish at the expense of the righteous. But when God answered with His plan, Habakkuk was shocked. “You, Lord, have appointed them (the hedonous Babylonians) to execute judgement; You, My Rock, have ordained them to punish?

There are two things to be learned here. First: God is a Sovereign God; He is still on the throne and He does have a plan. He hates sin, and He is a just God who will exact judgement on the sinners. Second: “His ways are not our ways”. (Isaiah 55:8) Many times we don’t understand that He is already at work, or that He works according to His perfect timing. Both of these Truths are challenging to our human thinking, but Habakkuk grasped those Truths when he exclaimed, ‘Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength!”

So, how does this lesson apply to our culture right now? Well, our great country is eight months into a new leadership that is committed to Socialism, an agenda that is absolutely contrary to the teachings of God, and the principles of our founding documents. No doubt, this direction is abhorrent to God! “Why”, you ask? Because this country was dedicated to God when George Washington, his cabinet, congress, and supreme court, on bended knee at St. Paul’s Chapel, dedicated this country to God.

For the first two centuries of this covenant, we did aspire to fulfill the commitment that was made: to be that shining light on the hill to all who wanted to experience the blessings of freedom, and a force for good against tyrannical powers that threatened to envelop the world in war. But for the last half-century, our country has lost its direction; we’ve become a country that is morally and spiritually bankrupt; what used to be sacred is now profane; what used to be profane is now basking in the spotlight.

But, there is “Good News”: God is a God of love, mercy and grace. He wants us back; He wants us to participate in the age-old proclamation, “Repent! Turn from your Sin and turn to God!” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

God’s plan in the Book of Habakkuk was to punish Judah’s sin. The irony in this scenario was that He was willing to use evil to punish evil, showing that God will use any means necessary to accomplish His purpose. (Afterwards, the Babylonians were to be punished for their sin against Judah.) God hates sin, but He always exalts the righteous. His desire has always been to win back the hearts of His people.

Could this same scenario be playing out right now before our eyes? Are we being permitted to experience the wrath of evil to wake us up? Is this God’s way of getting His fallen country to repent and return to Him? In lieu of this happening, is there a potential “Babylon” in our future? Hum…let’s see, there’s China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Isis, or the Taliban.

Therefore, I choose to follow Habakkuk’s realization that our God is a Sovereign God who has a plan, and this plan is being worked out right now. And like this example, it is to punish the wicked and exalt the righteous. That is who HE IS, and that is my continuous prayer!

Please feel free to respond to this message, and please share this with other social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)