Dan O’Deens Blogspot

So…I am driving down the street this morning…and most often I am not a patient man…especially behind every school bus that stops.   What an inconvenience.  But, this morning was different.  I was driving down Route 10 which is a main and very busy highway. 

I was so captured as I watched a Father take both of his kids by the hand, looked both ways, then properly escorted them to the front of the bus.  He made eye contact with the driver assuring his kids safety then ran back across the road. 

What a great picture!  A dad, who has takes time to see his kids off in the morning and then provides for them an arm of safety.  

I am equally glad that I have a heavenly Father that waits each morning to spend time with me each day and then provides that same safety as I walk through life!  

You can have that too!  Do you know Jesus in a personal way?   If you accept Jesus, you get the Father!   It’s a package deal!   It just might be the best deal of your life!

Every time I see something wrong with the world, “I” want to do something….”I” want to fix it.   There are so many social injustices in our world.   Poverty…Orphans…AIDS…

Most of these were on the heart of Jesus, but Jesus knew that the fix was not a social program, the fix would come through HIS Program called the “Church.”   We are the church and the church is the hope of the world when it’s working right!     

People’s needs are deeper than “I” am able to fully understand.   But what I get clearly as the primary need that everyone has in their lives is the need for Jesus.   He is the hope of the World.   We shine when people look at us and see Jesus….hear Jesus…AND when we respond like Jesus would respond.   

Well these are critical days, and so I think we “just” need to pray.  HELLO!   “JUST!”  Like prayer is our last resort.  We get to go to our Heavenly Father and ask Him anything that is on our minds or hearts.  When we pray, we need to pray according to his will and then Ephesians tells us that He desires to bless us ‘according to’ His riches.   Well…God is on our side and He wants to bless his children, so let’s ask of Him beyond our wildest imaginations.

Some things to seriously pray about: 

1.  Alene McDermott and Robin Criswell – Cancer

2.   Needed funds to finish our building (about $300,000)

3.  Our church plant (daughter) Elk Creek as they seek a place to meet.  They have ONE month.

4.  Our commitment to follow Jesus at any cost.   Let’s pray for eachother….

I prayed for all of you today!  

Sometimes Jesus intersects our lives.   I know some of you hate that statement!!   He ought to BE our lives!  We ought to be in sync with Him at every impass.  Maybe you are there.  Often I get ahead of the God.  (I am not sure that is theologically possible either).  Anyways!  This week I had one of those “GOD MOMENTS”.  It was a “call to the wall,” moment.  

Reading the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus lays it out and then walks away.  I think he pretty much had everyone confused.  His disciples say, What was that about?  Jesus says, “to some I speak in parables, SO THAT,”  and then he goes on to tell them that sometimes His message is intended for those who are “insiders,” for those that have chosen to be a part of the family of God. 

It was a call to commitment.  A call to the wall.  What is the message of the Church?   The answer to this is the same answer to the question Jesus gives his disciples.  ”Who do you say that I am?”   YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!  

I want to be TOTALLY Committed to the GOSPEL of JESUS Christ.   That is the name, that is what my life is all about!   Does my calendar reflect that?  Does my checkbook?  Does my lifestyle?   Do I love Jesus?  Do I love the people in my church?  Do I love the people in my world?   

The “Call To The Wall” has everything to do with Love and Commitment!  I am “ALL IN!”    Are You?