Dan O’Deens Blogspot

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

We all have the same amount of time – 168 hours a week. 525,600 Minutes….The number of minutes in a year.  The song made popular by the Broadway show, RENT.  The only question is, “How am I investing that time?”

If you had a bank account and I were to tell you that every morning someone was going to put in $86,400 into that bank account – that you could spend it any way you wanted to, but at the end of that day, whatever money you hadn’t spent from the account would be lost – do you think you’d try to spend it? Or do you think you’d let it go to waste? Guess what? You have 86,400 seconds every day! Utilize the present by doing it now.

Just thinkin’.   These are certainly critical days for those of us who live in the United States of America.  Not since 1929, the Great Depression has America faced such a difficult financial obstacle than the one our leaders are now facing.   In the midst of a potential depression or recession, where is your trust?   Proverbs 3:5,6 is pretty clear….TRUST in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not to your own understanding, in ALL your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.    That sounds like great advice.   In the meantime…I hope we are all praying for those leaders that need to make critical decisions.

Today, I saw my daughter almost all grown up…ok…she will never be grown up in my eyes.   She is so beautiful…yes her outward appearance but more her heart for God.  As we have been working on colleges ’stuff’, I asked her what she really wants to do or where she wants to go?   Without knowing, she paid me the greatest compliment as a dad and pastor.   She said, I want to stay local, because I love my church.  I just want to serve here at Gateway.  I love to hear you sing Cory…I love to hear you now, lead our entire congregation in worship!   You make your dad and Dad proud.   Lovingly, your earthly and heavenly Father!  We love you so very much!  

September 21, 1997  The Lord launched yet another local church adding to his Kingdom.   We met with 83 believers in a fire hall in Downingtown, PA.   Today, the church is strong.   After our 2 services we all packed up our cars, and drove over to our 34 acres of land, and had a ’steel signing’ party.   The walls are up, the roof is on, the floors are poured.   3 more months and we are moving in!   To YOU be the GLORY, Lord Jesus!  You have and are building your church.   So glad to be a part of it!

Beauty

This past Sunday we had a great Sunday in our current series TATTOO:  Marked By God.   This week…Marked By His Image.   I am so grateful for Jesus’ unconditional love.   I am so glad that He came to serve and not to be served.  I want to be like Jesus.   I want to have eyes to see, like Jesus and ears to hear like Jesus.   I thought this Clip from Mosaic Church captures it without words!    Our actions often speak LOUDER than words.  Let it minister to your hearts.  Make sure you click on BEAUTY!