Be Strong and Courageous!

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:7 (NIV) "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go." Ephesians 6:10 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. What exactly is courage? According to the dictionary, courage is 'the quality of mind or spirit that enables us to face difficulty or pain or danger without fear.' The Latin roots of the word 'courage' simply mean to have heart. If you are courageous, you act in such a way that you will not be timid or afraid. There are many ways to be courageous, especially in today's world. God gives us many opportunities each day to take a stand for Him, at work or home, or when we are in social situations. I do think, however, that we must be careful to not be so overly courageous that we do more harm than good. The verses above instruct us to not be afraid, and to rely on God for our strength and courage as we face our day. We are also instructed as we are being courageous, that we are to obey the laws that have been given us. Dear Friend, how about you? Are you strong and courageous? Do you follow the law of the land? Do you rely on God for your strength each day? Do not be afraid or terrified. Take a few moments right now to ask Him to guide you and to provide strength, so that you may truly be strong and courageous as God called you to be! Blessings to You, Dave Henry

Praise Him All Day!

Psalm 113:3 (NIV) "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." This morning as I was eastbound in my car with corn fields on both sides, the sun was rising in the midst of a very dense fog. While focusing on the road ahead, I was able to catch a few peeks. I noticed as the sun gently made its presence known, and began to dominate the sky, the fog quickly disappeared. What a gorgeous, colorful view as I experienced the green and brown corn fields and the rich, golden sunrise over the top of the corn as far as I could see! My heart exploded with an anthem of praise to God for experiencing such a beautiful sunrise, especially since I wasn't expecting it! I must admit that I am aware that the sun has been rising later and setting earlier each day since it is that time of year, but I hadn't planned to see the beautiful sight this morning. Have you ever been moved to a state of great gratitude while driving, that your response was immediate praise and thanks to God? Today's verse came to me as I returned my thanksgiving to Him. Read the verse again. At the end of the day, as I conclude this inspiration, the colorful images remain very clear in my mind. My heart continues to be overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving to God for serving up such a beautiful sunrise! Dear Friend, how about you? Have you had a good day today? I was reminded once again that God is able to gain our attention even when we aren't looking for Him. If we start our day praising Him, and are seeking him early in the morning, our praise will continue until the setting of the sun. Blessings to You, Dave Henry

A Music Lesson from God

Psalm 92:1-3 (NIV) "It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp." Earlier in the week I had committed on a short notice to play my harp for a local business luncheon. The first part of the request was very simple—to play for thirty min, which I have done numerous times at other gatherings. The second part of the request was a little more difficult to achieve. I was asked to play only secular music, because they did not want to offend anyone who may be uncomfortable with hymns, choruses, and other Spiritual songs. Based on this specific request, which was not what I had in mind, it would have been very easy to quickly and quietly bow out just this one time. I asked the coordinator of the event to allow me a few hours to make my decision. After all, I promised God when I purchased my new harp two years ago that I would use it to be a blessing to others. The next morning, I accepted the invitation to play. After I had some time to quietly reflect on why I had committed to play the harp, it became an easier decision. I realized that once again, I had an amazing opportunity to be a blessing to others. As I entered the building carrying the harp during a very busy lunch hour, I knew that God had placed me in a very unique setting with a wonderful opportunity to spread His love. I learned a very valuable lesson yesterday. God heard those songs and so did the people in the dining area. The applause that I received belongs to God and God alone for allowing me to share this wonderful gift of music with His instrument of peace. As I loaded my harp and returned home, I said, "Thank you, God, for teaching me to be obedient and for allowing me to share Your love with everyone through the beautiful harp." Dear Friend, all of us have been given opportunities to be a blessing to others. Take a few minutes right now to ask God to use you in a special way this day. Blessings to You, Dave Henry