ADs January 2015 Devotional

     Sharpening your focus in 2015     

The year 2015 is upon us. I pray for greater clarity of purpose and a sharpened focus of what is important. Let’s keep the main thing, the main thing. C.S. Lewis’ apologetic trilemma is often quoted to prove the Divinity of Jesus. As the argument goes, Jesus was either the Lord or a Lunatic or a Liar. An opinion that asserts that Jesus was merely a good moral teacher is challenged by the choice among three options of which only one is true. Jesus’ Divinity is the truth that gives meaning to everything that He said and did.

     In our missionary service, what is the compelling truth that challenges any lesser options? Following the alliteration of Lewis, I propose that we will either live lives that are lethargic, lapsed, or ones that leave a legacy, there is no compromise among these three options.

* A lethargic life is one defined by laziness, limitations, and is recognized 

as being listless. When the passion for the Call of God is not fresh, 

the fruit of that life is putrid.

* A lapsed life is one defined by lasciviousness, lawlessness, or loftiness. 

The heart once broken at the altar of prayer, hungering for a fresh revelation 

of God’s Glory is now caught up with lust, compromise, or pride. This life is lived in the past tense.

* Finally, a life that leaves a legacy is defined by its liberality of Grace, it’s lifting influence on others, and its lasting impact. As Psalms 92:13-14 (nkjv) depicts this life: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age. They shall be fresh and flourishing.” I pray that you will choose to live a life that flourishes this year. Let’s leave a legacy for the Glory of God!

ADs December 2014 Devotional

It’s December 2014 and the world is ablaze. A spark of rage from Ferguson MO lights a nation-wide fire of perceived injustice. ISIS uses the pent-up anger of naïve and disenfranchised youth to recruit them to their horrific cause. What a perfect time for us as believers to show His peace to a world that has none.  
    Paul, facing extremely unjust circumstances, said, “I have learned the secret of being content.” (Phil 4:11).   His secret? “I can be content in any and every situation through the Anointed One who is my power and strength” Phil. 4:13 (Voice). This type of contentment is not natural; it is learned!
    My prayer for you this Christmas season is that you are learning to walk with Jesus, depending on Him whatever your challenges. If we are to speak prophetically to our angry and discontent generation, we must learn this secret of contentment. Let’s let His peace radiate through us as we speak prophetically to our world desperate to know Him.

ADs Devotional November 2014

Nearly 40 years ago, I held my marriage proposal in my hand anxious to know how Patti would respond. In a rare moment of poetic inspiration, I had scripted the events of our relationship past, present, and future as a dream we remembered. This is a small portion of the proposal:

“I remember the sparkle in your soft brown eyes when first we met. You were standing alone. I was standing lonely. I remember a life of ministry together, first God, then each other, then the world. I remember life together. But how can I remember the joys of the future yet to be lived… is it a dream?

Dreams are the unfulfilled wishes of the future, yet to be realized until faith declares the present to be now. Patti, declare with me, the dream of the future to be now. Say you remember, say you’ll marry me.

   Thirty-nine years of life and ministry together testify to the power of that dream. With maturity comes a greater capacity to understand the power of a vision and dreams. Joel 2:28 (The Voice) declares  “Your elders will dream dreams; your young warriors will see visions.” Whether you’re an elder or a young warrior, allow the power of your visions and dreams to declare your present to be now, a God-shaped reality that trumps whatever obstacle you may be facing. Dream with me the vibrant and rich dreams God has yet to fulfill in your lives and ministry. There is power in those dreams.

AD's October Devotional

Nothing demands our focused contemplation on the value of life as the death of an innocent child. Philip and Darla (Eytzen) Brown laid their 17-month-old baby boy to rest. The memorial service was a powerful witness that hope trumps sorrow when believers choose to live their lives on purpose. The courage of the extended family and the compassionate koinonia of lifetime friends corporately declared victory over death, Jesus the victor over the grave. This is life… lived on purpose.

   On the way to the interment, I saw this vision statement on a local church: 

“Love God, love people… on purpose.” 

What a commanding counterbalance to the unexamined life of Proverbs 19:3 

“A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.” NIV

   As believers, let’s live our lives on purpose. Choose to take full responsibility 

for your decisions. Bring Glory to God in every phase of your lives. As 

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves.

 The process never ends until we die.

 And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."

   Living life on purpose. It’s a potent ideal. Our prayers and our love 

are with our missionary colleagues Dale and Delight Eytzen and the family, especially Philip and Darla.