Author Archives: normdave

We are addicted to the spectacular. We want the wind that splits the rocks, the earthquake that shakes the mountains, the fire that rains from heaven. And we assume the most gifted, the most charismatic, the most intelligent, the most powerful person is the one whom God will use the most.But watch what happened toContinue reading “Prep Day-Colorado…”

We are all safe at our homes in different parts of Arizona. Grateful to serve God as members of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief ministry… “And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”‭‭Philemon‬Continue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day 9…”

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesse, Pat and myself visited the last to sort things, as the rest of our team packed up all of our gear. Around 1000 we left Bayou Des Glaises church and drove to Big Spring Texas. Of course, that included a stop at Buc-es’s. “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man inContinue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day 7”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬Continue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day 4…”

Our crew, from left to right, Pat, Russ, Mike, Robbie, Michelle and Diana. We have all worked together on numerous callouts… “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “May you alwaysContinue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day 3…”

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We hit some bad weather and this instruction came in handy as Russ and I had many praying for us. “May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love ourContinue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day 2…”

Sadly, this establishment had run out of food, but the owner directed us to a Mexican restaurant down the road and from what my teammates shared, it was delicious! The best thing is that we prayed for our server as she said she was a tough time as of late. We prayed and shared aboutContinue reading “TS Arthur, Louisiana, day one…really…”

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Good council when you have bad wheels…

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Tis not that I did choose Thee For, Lord, that could not be. This heart would still refuse Thee But Thou has chosen me. A back in day hymn… JesusContinue reading “Ephesians 1:4…”

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.Continue reading “Jesus Teaches…”

The mind of God is revealed in the Word of God, and the mind of the Christian NEEDS to know the Word of God in order to be guided by it. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live inContinue reading “The Mind of Christ…”

God loved the world of sinners lost And ruined by the fall; Salvation full, at highest cost, He offers free to all. Martha M. Stockton.

Christ stands without your door and gently knocks, But if your gold or swine the entrance blocks, He forces no man’s hold- he will depart And leave you to the treasures of your heart. No cumbered chamber will the Master share, But one swept bare By cleansing fires, then plenished fresh and fair With meeknessContinue reading “…At the Door…”

Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea: Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rocks and treacherous shoals; Chart and compass come from Thee- Jesus, Savior, pilot me! Edward Hooper.

“He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If the Lord be with us, we have no cause to fear. His eye is upon us, His arm overContinue reading “No Fear…”

Yesterday is a cancelled check… Tomorrow is a promissory note… Today is ready cash!!!… Pray today about how you will spend your cash. May we all spend it wisely… “because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,Continue reading “Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today…”

The last twelve days have been such a great gift from the Lord. Our team worked so well together, we had many close calls but managed to come home with all of our digits. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the lifeContinue reading “Ruidoso New Mexico Chainsaw, closed…”

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and thenContinue reading “Ruidoso New Mexico Chainsaw, day eleven…”

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭

After a nice lunch we were blessed with nice weather to perform much needed maintenance on our equipment… “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, FeedContinue reading “Ruidoso New Mexico Chainsaw, day 8…”

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest partsContinue reading “Ruidoso New Mexico Chainsaw, day seven…”

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ God is good toContinue reading “Ruidoso New Mexico Chainsaw, day 4…”

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”‭‭I Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ FBC Ruidoso parking lot…

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ!!!

Somewhere beyond the stars Is a Love that is better than Fate, And when night unlocks her bars, I shall see Him, and I shall wait.

“God stands in the shadows, keeping watch over His own.” Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means “star.” PROVIDENCE, is the way God leads the man who will not be led… God is behind the scenes, keeping watch over His own… What a sad commentary on our present day that most Christians only know GodContinue reading “Book of Esther…”

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “For such a time as this,” look forward toContinue reading “Home Safe…”

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,”‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“A song of ascents. By David: Oh, how good, how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in harmony.”‭‭Tehillim (Psa)‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭CJB‬‬ It is such a blessing to serve the Lord and work with our brothers and sisters from AZDR and California Disaster Relief…

“Don’t withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it.”‭‭Mishlei (Pro)‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬ ‭CJB‬‬

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, And do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, And your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; No one shall make him afraid. Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” saysContinue reading “Jeremiah 46: 27-28…”

There’s something about Israel that makes people uncomfortable, and it’s not what they say it is. They’ll point to politics, settlements, borders, and wars. But scratch beneath the outrage, and you’ll find something deeper. A discomfort not with what Israel does, but with what Israel is. A nation this small should not be this strong.Continue reading “There is something about…”

“Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until allContinue reading “The Bible…”

““Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ God is saying the same thing today! He has provided His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us, to pay our sin debts, arising so weContinue reading “The way of life, The way of death…”

You are a Christian, and someone quoted this verse to you. Remind them of the very next verse… “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Only God can make a heart transplant! If youContinue reading “Your heart is filthy…”

Horatio Gates Spafford was born in New York, on 20th October 1828, but it was in Chicago that he became well-known for his clear Christian testimony. He, and his wife Anna were active in their church, and their home was always open to visitors. They counted the world-famous evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, among their friends.Continue reading “It is well…”

“And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took themContinue reading “Addiction…”

“If religious books are not circulated among the masses and people do not turn to God, I do not know what is to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be. If God and His Word are not received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy. IfContinue reading “America…”

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!””‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ These verses are the only bright spot inContinue reading “Lamentations…”

There’s something about Israel that makes people uncomfortable, and it’s not what they say it is. They’ll point to politics, settlements, borders, and wars. But scratch beneath the outrage, and you’ll find something deeper. A discomfort not with what Israel does, but with what Israel is. A nation this small should not be this strong.Continue reading “But God…”

“O most glorious God, direct my thoughts, words, and work, wash away my sin in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit, daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ whom You gave to die for me and hast given me theContinue reading “President George Washington…”

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In the land of Israel, there was not a man to be found, that could stand inContinue reading “Stand in the Gap…”

A couple of months ago the obituaries of two women were published in major newspapers1.  Both were centenarians; Julia Parsons, an American, was 104, and Betty Webb, a British woman, was 101.  More newsworthy was the fact that both women were code breakers during World War II, part of top-secret teams working to unscramble messagesContinue reading “Pastor Tom…”

“And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.””‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ God called Ezekiel by this title one hundred times in the Book of Ezekiel. Daniel is also called by this term. These are the only two men in the Old Testament to be called theContinue reading “Son of man, or Son of Man…”

Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God, that, no matter how dark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome. For God’s people there is a GLORIOUS FUTURE…Henry H Halley. “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive mayContinue reading “The Just Shall Live by Faith…”

Habakkuk signifies an embrace, or one who embraces another, takes him into his arms. He embraces his people, and takes them to his arms, i.e., he comforts them and holds them up, as one embraces a weeping child, to quiet it with the assurance that, if God wills, it shall soon be better. Dr. CharlesContinue reading “To Embrace…”

God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. God hath not promised we shall not know Toil and temptation, trouble and woe; He hath not told us we shall not bear Many a burden, many a care.Continue reading “God is Love…”

Is there no other way, Oh, God, Except through sorrow, pain, and loss, To stamp Christ’s likeness on my soul, No other way except the cross? And then a voice stills all my soul, As stilled the waves of Galilee. Can’st thou not bear the furnace, If midst the flames I walk with thee? IContinue reading “Home, for now…”

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Gold, incense, but no myrrh. Wonder why? Myrrh spoke of Jesus’s death at His first coming. His secondContinue reading “AZDR Chaplain, Brownsville Texas, day 8…”

“We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Darkness! The reality of every person that does not have a personal relationship with God! Believe on the Lord, Jesus ChristContinue reading “AZDR Chaplain, Brownsville Texas, day 7…”

““I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.””‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “God alone can speak peace to the heart of the sinner.”