Given June 9, 2006, (to my wife)
My wife has been going through a time since August 2005, where she has experienced a variety of medical abnormalities beginning with chest pains. During the course of the past 10 months, she has had several tests and procedures which all have turned out fine. The Lord is taking care of her and we thank Him for that at every turn.

The last thing that was “found” was swolen lymph nodes in her chest which were scanned on three separate occasions to see if they had grown. After the last scan and they were still the same size, her doctor insisted she have a biopsy to, “put this thing to rest”. She did and it was found to be only an inflamatory condition, Praise the Lord!

But she remembered this story from her recovery time after the surgery. She was still “out of it” past the time of normal recovery and they were walking her around to wake her up. She was real wobbly and she was looking at her feet to steady herself to keep from falling. But the nurse told her, “Mrs. Dotson, look up, don’t look down. If you look up, you won’t fall.”

My wife thought, “How true”. If we keep our eyes looking up to Jesus, we won’t fall! Even when fear tries to make us look down where we think we’re going, He wants us to look up and trust Him. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28“. When you’re feeling weak and you think you’re going to fall, don’t look down, LOOK UP!

Given April 18, 2006

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalms 23:6“. What does it mean to live in God’s house? I don’t think it means to stop by sometime, maybe have a meal with Him, just visit for awhile, or sit on the porch. No, but isn’t that what most Christians do?

We might visit God’s house once or twice a week, maybe we talk to Him a few minutes once in a while, (usually asking Him for something), but, there’s not too much time spent with Him here.

What He wants us to do is to move in and stay, to abide there! If we’ll do that, I think the benefits of the Father’s house will make a great difference in our lives AND the lives of those around us. When you live with someone, you get to really know them and learn from them. And, I’d really like for those two guys, Goodness and Mercy, to follow me around! Take us residence in the Fathers’ House.

Given June 5, 2006
We sang a song during Praise & Worship that really got to me. We’d sung it many times but, this morning, I got a different picture of what it means. It’s the song, “Trading My Sorrows” by Darrell Evans and this is the verse,
“I’m trading my sorrow
I’m trading my shame
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.”

This is the picture I got; I saw myself at a swap meet and Jesus was standing there behind a little table with a variety of wonderful things on it. I come up burdened down with my, “sorrow, shame, pain and sickness” and Jesus says, “Why don’t you trade what you’re carrying for something on the table?” It really made me think.

We carry around all this “stuff” that comes from the world and I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of dragging it around! Jesus says, “Cast your care on me because I care for you.” 1 Peter 5:7“. Isn’t it about time we trade this stuff in for what Jesus is offering? Go ahead, make the deal! We don’t have to carry it anymore.

Given May 25, 2006
The Bible says we have a certain amount of power that we can use against the devil and his outlaws. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19”. Now, Jesus was telling this to His disciples but it applies to us too. So why aren’t we using more of this power?

Think about people you know who have “power”. Where do they get it? How do you know they have it? What do they do with it? Well, usually people get their power from some higher authority; a parent, a company, the government, the electorate; somebody or some entity higher up. We know they have power because they wield it! They’re confident with it and it shows. And, because of this, they use their power to exercise their place in life. They influence those around them and command respect.

But, as Christians, we have an awesome power in us that we usually don’t use. Most people don’t know we have it because we don’t do anything with it, it’s dormant. And the forces of darkness certainly don’t pay much attention to our “power” as evidenced by the constant troubles many of us experience.

I’d like to see it more in my fellow Christians, and myself, that we show off our power in such a way that demons will get out of our way when we come around instead of laughing at us and throwing stuff at us. When we realize we have this POWER in us and begin to use it against the enemy like Jesus and others did, we’ll see demons flee, James 4:7. And God will get the glory from it and be pleased with us, AND, we’ll be better able to be of service to others.

Realize today that YOU have this power, you can speak the Word of God into your situation, and see positive results! Wake up the power in you!

Given May 24, 2006
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Acts 16: 25 – 26“

I was reading this familiar passage and it happened again; I saw something I’d not realized before. Here were Paul and Silas, in prison, after being beaten for being bold and casting an evil spirit out of a girl and stirring up trouble in the town. It was the middle of the night, they were in the inner cell, and in leg irons with a bunch of other “criminals”. Not too good of circumstances, wouldn’t you say? And what do they do? Not complain and cry, “Woe is me!” like many of us would. No, they prayed and began to sing praises to God! And apparently, they didn’t do this quietly over in the corner but they prayed and sang out loud because the Word says, “…the prisoners heard them.”

Now, that’s a message right there. When we’re in dire circumstances, PRAISE GOD ANYWAY! And don’t be ashamed to do it out loud! Let other people around you see that you still praise God even in your circumstances.

But look what happened. When the earthquake came and the doors were opened, EVERYONE’S bands were loosed! The guys who were just nearby and heard Paul and Silas’ praise & worship service got the favor of God too! Wow! And, they didn’t run off like you’d think criminals would. They stayed with the men of God. There must have been something powerful in that place.

This speaks two things to me: Be bold with my praise and don’t stop when trouble comes. You never know who’s listening and watching.