Progress

Time

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:52:07 GMT

The gift of life is an amazing thing! And time is so precious. The question is - what are we going to do with the time we're given? If I could encourage you with something today, it would be to live life everyday for God. In your workplace, your school, your home, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Blessings!
d.

Music

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:10:00 GMT

Lately, in concerts, I have been encouraging those in attendance to be careful what they listen to. And most times I get asked what the big deal is. I've been listening to a lot of different types of music, and really it makes me kind of sad. I've been hearing the lyrics to many of these so called "rock stars" and frankly, I just feel sorry for them. Think about it, from what I hear, among all their many problems, these guys don't know any nice girls. All they can sing about is either how horrible these girls are to them, or how trampy the girls can be. And the saddest part of all of this is that the people who are barraged with this on a daily basis often times will sing along with these very sad, and almost pathetic songs. Most times people will just say "I like the beat" or "the tune is catchy, but I don't listen to the words" yet they know every word by heart, and sing them. Once something is committed to memory, it is in your heart. The trouble with this is that young kids are subjected to these songs too. They're going to listen to them on the radio and hear people sing along with them and think that everything that is happening in these songs is normal. Boys are going to grow up thinking that all girls are going to be as they are portrayed in these songs, and girls will be because they want to be "cool and beautiful", like the songs are supposedly saying. All I'm getting at here is, be careful what you listen to. Why? Because the words in some of these songs affect you and those around you more than you know. Please be careful. What do you want in YOUR heart? Blessings! d.

Everyday

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:24:11 GMT

For most of us, from time to time, we may feel as though our lives get a little repetative, a little boring, and seem to feel like they're in a little bit of a rut. Let me tell you that this is normal. But in these situations, let us remember that every day is a gift. Maybe tomorrow, when you wake up, take just a moment to recognize the Giver of each day. It doesn't have to be anything official or drawn out, all you have to say is, "God, thank you for today". And remember, the majority of the time your day-to-day life is only as exciting as you let it be. "Lord, you have my life Everyday"
Blessings!
d.

Don't Give Up!

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:40:02 GMT

If I could encourage you with one thing this month, let it be this - don't give up! No matter what it may be, don't give up! Some people try out for the team, and don't make it, and get discouraged - don't give up! Some people try something new, like the guitar or piano but just can't seem to get the hang of it - don't give up! Some people have tests and quizzes that they study for, but just don't make the grade - don't give up! Probably the biggest one, some people are interested and want to know more about God, but there is so much negativity out there and it seems to bring people down - don't give up! Don't let what other people say keep you from learning and growing towards God. Let's not allow a busy lifestyle to get in the way either. Draw closer to Him, and don't give up! Blessings! d.

Easter

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:28:47 GMT

Chocolate eggs and clucking bunnies, delicious ham and fluffy mashed potatoes, searching for colourful eggs in cleverly hidden places - all great things, but what about Jesus? Between all the excitement, dinners, and egg hunts happening this weekend, please do one thing - Take the time to remember what Jesus did on the cross 2000 years ago. He died and arose from the grave for every one of us, so that we can be forgiven of the wrong things we do. All we have to do is accept it. It really is that simple.
Blessings!
d.

Good Samaritan

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:55:20 GMT

I want to quickly tell you about an experience we just had recently. We had just finished at a Sunday service, and drove out of the parking lot. We looked down at the gauge and noticed that we were almost out of gas. Knowing full well that we had no money at all, we pulled into a nearby parking lot. There we sat, not knowing what to do, almost out of gas, and needing to get home. So we prayed. A man came out of a nearby building, looked at us, nodded his head toward us and came over to the window of our car. As I rolled down the window he extended his arm, put some money in my hand and walked away. No name, no forwarding address, not even a word. Wow! We were in awe, but you know what? We really shouldn't be so surprised. God is awesome!
Blessings!
d.

Consistancy

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:01:09 GMT

The world is going crazy! People's finances are up, then they're down. People's morals are increasingly in decline. What one person says is often the opposite of what they do. In a world of uncertainty, we as followers of God need to be the consistancy that people can depend on. In other words, we need to constantly be praying and asking God to help us to be the shred of consistancy in this wavering world. In order to salt and light unto this world, we have to remain constant. I'm the first one to tell you that we can not do this on our own. We need God. Simple as that. This world needs God. In order for our testimonies to remain in an uncomprimising state, we need to have His unfaltering support. Reach out. Take His hand. Allow Him to lead you and be your guide. On our own we're all topsy-turvy - but He IS constant! Grab hold. Blessings! d.

You're Fired!

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:25:02 GMT

I heard on the radio that a woman in Florida was fired from her job for saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". What does that say about North America? Jesus is getting pushed out of government, Jesus is getting pushed out of schools, and now Christ is getting jilted out of His own birthday celebration. On a completely different note, getting fired for saying Merry Christmas seems a little extreme. What's next? They're going to fire Santa Claus because he flies around saying "Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!!" instead of "Ho Ho Ho! Happy Holidays!"... Come on. This little rant has a purpose. Christ IS Christmas. Now that we are into 2009 we have an entire year to plan for the next holiday season. Let's remember next time we get into December that you can't have a holiday season without Christmas and you can't have Christmas without Christ. We can make the difference.
Blessings!
d.

Happy Birthday!

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:05:08 GMT

In one week, when you are gathered with your families, friends, or whoever you celebrate with, I want you to think of something. Take a present on your lap and think of who's birthday it is. There's nothing wrong with the giving and receiving of gifts, but just remember that it is Jesus' day, and if anyone should be getting a gift, it's Him. The best part is that you don't have to spend a pile of money, or take hours trying to wrap a box all nice, all you have to do is give Him your heart. For Jesus, you love is the best birthday gift in the world. Merry Christmas! d.

Paint

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:59:33 GMT

I try not to get too political, but something must be said to tie into my later point. The way I see this issue with Canada's Prime Minister and the coalition is very simple. Let me paint a picture... Someone asks you to pick a colour for the wall. And no matter what that decision is, it is YOUR decision. Once that decision is reached, the wall will stay this colour for the next four years. You decide on blue, because you really really like it, it's your favourite, and you don't think that wall should be any other colour. So, according to your decision, the wall is painted blue. A short time later, you see people at your wall with cans of paint saying that they are going to repaint the wall with red, and orange, and a different colour blue than your choice. Wouldn't you feel like asking the question, "why ask me in the first place what colour I wanted?" "Wasn't this decision mine?" "Why paint it all these different colours when this red and that orange really don't mix all that well, and this other blue is just going to try to run away from the wall altogether in a month!?!?" Bottom line is, Canada voted, it was our choice, we made it, suck it up. It makes me very happy to know that God gives us the same free will to make our choices in life. However, if you haven't elected to make Jesus the Lord of your life today, your own personal President or Prime Minister, I would encourage you that there is no better time than right now. If we wait for that "perfect" time when we feel as though we are good enough, or clean enough for Jesus, it'll never happen. Ask Him into your heart, He'll take care of the rest. Blessings! d.

Politicians

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:32:58 GMT

Elections are happening this fall. In Canada, they have already happened. In the US, they are happening very soon. These political minds go hard at it for months preparing, gathering votes, gaining popularity (in some cases, losing it), and essentially doing everything they can to show you they are the best leader for your nation. Whether your elected officials are already in place, or are yet to be determined, these are the people who have been placed in charge to care for your nation. Please do not forget that they are people just like anyone else and they need prayer just like everyone else. Please don't forget to pray for your politicians. Whether the guy you were cheering for got in, or the guy you really can't stand got in, pray for them anyway, they need it.
Blessings!
d.

Time

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:30:59 GMT

Who has time any more? We are so busy with school, work, friends, family, traffic, sports, lessons, cleaning, mowing, raking, baking, forsaking, the list goes on and on... Who has time any more?! With all the things that we have in our lives that keep us from taking a moment to enjoy the day... Who has time any more!?! When it gets to the point when we see someone, and ask them how they're doing and don't stick around to see how they are really doing aside from "fine" or "okay" because we're too busy... Who has time any more?!?! No matter how busy you are, God always has time. Talk, listen, He's there for you.
Blessings!
d.

Lights, Thunder, Action!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:56:58 GMT

It's 5:30 in the morning while I'm writing this, why am I up? I just witnessed the most amazing light show I've seen in my lifetime. The thunder was so loud, that I could feel it. The lightning was so bright that it made me squint, and at times I simply had to close my eyes from the brightness. The water coming off the side of my house sounded like a flowing river. Where most times I would just see these things as an annoyance disrupting my sleep - this time I stopped, looked, and listened. If Leonardo Da Vinci set up an eisel on my porch, or if Mozart set up his orchestra in my basement, would I be sleeping? Here is one of God's amazing works in my back yard, and I was in bed?! So that's why it's 5:30 in the morning and I'm writing this, the storm has moved on now, but I didn't want to let the beauty of one of God's great works pass me by. It may not come to you early in the morning, it might be at work or at school, or while your on your way to have supper or to a practice. God's works are everywhere, I think we just need to stop, look, and appreciate. Blessings! d.

Yard Work

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:56:32 GMT

I've been out on my lawn doing some yard work lately and I will forever find it amazing how God makes it all work. You plant something, give it water and sunlight, and it grows. Through the simplicity of it, there's still that complex fact to grasp. What makes it grow? Sure there's the fact that you took the time to plant something, and that it is getting the essential nutrients from the Sun and soil, and it receives it's moisture from your sprinkler, but really what makes it grow? There's more to it than just "I plant it and it grows". There's more! God gave life to every flower, every tree, every single blade of grass. He is the one that causes everything to grow. What about us? Maybe we should grab some of what God has for us, so that we can grow too. Blessings! d.

Such

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:29:53 GMT

This one, I want you to think about. I titled this email "stores and such". I've mentioned the stores, now for the such. The word "such" by itself doesn't really seem like anything at all. The word has many meanings, and one in particular is to describe the extreme. This word can be found wherever Jesus goes, because Jesus IS the extreme. Everything He is is such - so much. Such love, so much greatness, He's an extreme God! Do you see Him as such? Blessings! d.

Summer

Fri, 09 May 2008 03:53:05 GMT

We hope you have a wonderful Summer holiday coming up and remember as you are outside in the beauty of nature that it is not beautiful by accident. It was created as a thing of beauty, and we need to stop for a moment to thank the God who ochestrated this exquisite symphony.
Blessings!
d.

Let it go

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:06:05 GMT

On my way to the airport yesterday, I witnessed something that I thought to be pretty ridiculous. At a gas station in Los Angeles there was a man waiting for a gas pump. As soon as that pump cleared, another man pulled in - before the man who was waiting could get to the pump. The first man flew out of his car in a rage, threw the second man's car door open and started screaming at him about how long he had been waiting for that pump. The second man tried to reason with the first man by saying that he would only be a couple minutes if the first man would leave him alone. The first man screamed some more, slammed the car door in the second man's face, and just stood there. Not moving, not going back to his car, not letting the second man fill his vehicle, he just stood there preventing the second man from leaving his car. I filled my car, paid, and when I left they were still arguing over this pump. In the time it took them to argue back and forth about this gas pump, both of them could have gassed up and left. Pretty ridiculous, eh? And yet, all too familiar. Sometimes in the church, fighting over the trivial things keeps us from filling up and moving on to do God's work. What would it really take to just let it go? Not that much... let it go.
Blessings!
d.

Renewed Purpose

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:04:20 GMT

Last weekend, I received a renewed sense of purpose for this ministry. And even for myself. To make a long story short, I was invited to go along to try out for Canadian Idol, and didn't make it past the second preliminary round. I was given some "constructive" criticism that I didn't really feel was accurate. Needless to say, I let it get me when I really shouldn't have. That same night, I had a concert with a youth group in Winnipeg. I have to say, it was one of my best. During the auditions, I felt very out of my element - during the concert, it was ALL element!! God renewed in me my purpose. My place is not on a TV show that more often than not seeks to glorify one's self. My place is with my guitar, telling people about the love of Jesus. It's where I belong. And I am so thankful for that! Blessings! d.

Thanks

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:08:05 GMT

With so many things we have to be excited about, we can't forget to thank God for everything He is doing in and through us. He is the Reason we get up in the morning, the One we live for every day, and the One we pray to in our beds at night. We know we wouldn't be able to do one single thing without Him. Thank You God!!!! Have you thanked Him lately for the good things He has done for you?
Blessings!
d.

Purpose

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:14:17 GMT

Each one of us has a purpose. For me, God has laid it upon my heart to go as far as I can with my guitar and sing and play my music for whomever will hear it. For some, your gift may not be in music. Your gift could be hospitality, your gift could be that you are a skilled listener, you could be great at encouraging and talking to people. Or you may have the gift of giving hugs that melt icebergs. Whatever the gift is that God has instilled in you, whatever purpose He has given you, I encourage you to use it for Him. Don't let it go to waste! God is waiting for you to LET Him use those gifts. So let go, you won't be disappointed.
Blessings!
d.