A Woman's Heart

a sermon by Pastor Dan Langerock

“A Woman’s Heart”
Intro
Think for a moment about some of the things God has asked of you during your lifetime? Imagine the biggest one He has asked you to do? Or perhaps, think about what God is asking you to believe Him for in the near future. Something that is so momentous you can’t see how it can be accomplished? This is the scene we see as we look at Mary’s reaction and what follows, when the angel told her about the birth of Jesus through her.
Have you ever wondered why God chose Mary to bring the Son of God into the world. Today we will be looking at some of the attitudes that Mary had that were some of the reasons why God chose her for this momentous task
Luke 1:26-38
(Luk 1:26) In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,

(Luk 1:27) to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

(Luk 1:28) Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! [Blessed are you among women.]"

(Luk 1:29) Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

(Luk 1:30) "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!

(Luk 1:31) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.

(Luk 1:32) He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David.

(Luk 1:33) And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!"

(Luk 1:34) Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."

(Luk 1:35) The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.

(Luk 1:36) What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month.

(Luk 1:37) For nothing is impossible with God. "

(Luk 1:38) Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.


· She had a normal human reaction to the news initially, just like any of us would have. But she didn’t let that reaction keep her from the blessing that was about to be given to her. Remember, by contrast, Moses made all kinds of excuses when he was asked by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
· She asked the angel a question, again like many of us would have done. But she didn’t let the questions she was thinking about get in the way of her blessing. Sometimes we have so many questions, we cancel out our blessings by not going forward with what God has for us.
· Mary’s faith took over at this point when the angel told her that “nothing is impossible with God”. This is when we need to remember all the times God has bailed us out of impossible circumstances. This is one lesson the Israelites never remembered when they were traveling from Egypt. Every time they ran up against a problem or an enemy they forgot what God had done for them already. So we , too, need to transfer our faith from one circumstance to another in our lives just as Mary did when the angel brought her this good news.
· Mary now ends the passage with a humble attitude before God. She is a faithful servant waiting to be assigned one of the greatest honors in history. Yet, she didn’t let it make her prideful. God knew the effect already that this news would have on her. God has many assignments for us in this life as well, some are greater than others. But we need to make sure they don’t make us prideful. Otherwise we are in danger of losing our blessing from the Lord.
Luke 2:21-51
· (Luk 2:21) Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, He was named Jesus, the name given Him by the angel even before He was conceived.
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· (Luk 2:22) Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so His parents took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
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· (Luk 2:23) The law of the Lord says, "If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD."
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· (Luk 2:24) So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—"either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
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· (Luk 2:25) At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him
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· (Luk 2:26) and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
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· (Luk 2:27) That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,
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· (Luk 2:28) Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
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· (Luk 2:29) "Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised.
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· (Luk 2:30) I have seen Your salvation,
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· (Luk 2:31) which You have prepared for all people.
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· (Luk 2:32) He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!"
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· (Luk 2:33) Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about Him.
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· (Luk 2:34) Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but He will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him.
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· (Luk 2:35) As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."
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· (Luk 2:36) Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.
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· (Luk 2:37) Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
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· (Luk 2:38) She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
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· (Luk 2:39) When Jesus' parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
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· (Luk 2:40) There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on Him.
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· (Luk 2:41) Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
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· (Luk 2:42) When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.
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· (Luk 2:43) After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss Him at first,
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· (Luk 2:44) because they assumed He was among the other travelers. But when He didn't show up that evening, they started looking for Him among their relatives and friends.
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· (Luk 2:45) When they couldn't find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for Him there.
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· (Luk 2:46) Three days later they finally discovered Him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
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· (Luk 2:47) All who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
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· (Luk 2:48) His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," His mother said to Him, "why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for You everywhere."
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· (Luk 2:49) "But why did you need to search?" He asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in My Father's house?"
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· (Luk 2:50) But they didn't understand what He meant.
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· (Luk 2:51) Then He returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And His mother stored all these things in her heart.
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His Peace

by Dan Langerock

Let Me speak into your heart
The peace I have for you.
Then, trust me completely,
And watch what I will do.

Ministry of Hope

By Dan Langerock

There are so many people in need of encouragement nowadays with the economy being what it is. Stress in people’s lives is at a breaking point and they need to know someone cares about them. I am putting forth a challenge for the Christian community and others who want to use their gifts to help others. Here is the idea:
I believe there are many of you out there with gifts the Lord has given you for singing, playing instruments, encouragement and a host of others. Why not use them to benefit our nation by going in your own city, area and wherever God leads you to spread this hope from God? One person cannot hope to meet all the needs our country has, but all of us working together can make a difference for God, and even an impact. That is the true point of being a Christian, to make an impact for God wherever you go.
We cannot accomplish this momentous task in our own strength because we are not strong enough in ourselves. The issues are too complex. The problems are too big for our wisdom. That is why we need the marvelous wisdom of God that transcends description. We need His power and His love and His wisdom to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Jesus said, “What is impossible for man is possible with God.”
You don’t have to be perfect to be able to use that gift God has given to you. If you will step out in faith, I believe God will work in a wondrous way in our beautiful country of America. Everyone, at some point in their lives needs hope and encouragement. There are many without jobs, places to live, and most of all hope for the future to believe once again. It has all been drained out by what they have been through, just as things may have happened in your life as well.
So, what can you do? Pray about how God wants you to help our nation, first of all. Then use the gifts God has given you to show people the love of God in your neighborhood and city. If we put God in a small box we will get small results. However, if we let Him out of the proverbial box and believe with all our being, God will do wonders for America---one person at a time.
I am challenging every Christian in America to at least pray for God to move in a mighty way in the hearts of Christians everywhere. Then, step out in faith and do what you have prayed about. Get out there and encourage people. If you play an instrument or sing, use those gifts wherever you can. It doesn’t matter what your gift is, the point is to use it for the glory of God.
One church I know of is making quilts for people at a mission to keep. So look for needs in your own sphere of influence: where you work, shop, and everywhere you go. The Bible tells us that wherever Jesus went, He did good for others. If we claim to be Christians and His disciples, can we do any less than He did?
Thank you for praying and joining us in our Mission of Hope to America. You will be truly blessed if you pray about this and then act upon it by using what God has given you. Remember, we are not to be a reservoir but a funnel of His blessings to those around us. God bless you as you obey.

The Two Blind Men

by Dan Langerock

I once was blind and could not see
A beautiful rose or cypress tree.
A man’s color I could not begrudge
For sightless men cannot prejudge.

A man I knew was also blind,
But his was centered in his mind.
His hate was plain for all to see.
I think my blindness was the best to be.

Someone Special

by Dan Langerock

Dedicated to Ginger
My One and Only Sweetheart

Is there someone special
Who prays for you each day?
It helps to lift your burdens
When problems come your way.

Is there someone special
To stand with you in prayer?
It gives your heart a comfort
To know someone is there.

The Last Time

by Dan Langerock

It’s the last time I can hold you
On this side of the grave.
They tell me to be strong.
I don’t feel like being brave.

Someday when I get there,
I will knock on heaven’s door.
Then we’ll be together,
And I will hold you once more..

Setting the Tone for Your Relationships

You've just had a fight with your girlfriend or wife. The problem is, you can't figure out why? When I was first married, I couldn't hear the tone of my voice as I spoke to my wife. So, many times, she thought I was mad at her when I wasn't. It was all because I hadn't taught myself to listen to the tone of my own voice.
It is commonplace to listen to others and react when the tone of their voice is contrary to what it should be. We may wonder, "What did I do wrong?" Probably nothing! That person, like me with my wife, hadn't listened to their own tone of voice.
One way you can gauge how you are coming across to others is to watch their facial reactions and body language as you talk to them. This will help to cue you in when your tone of voice is not right. However, by that time, it may be too late because you could have already said something amiss if you notice it in the language of their body.
Practice by yourself, perhaps with a tape recorder, as you speak as you normally would. Then play it back and see if your intent was evident in what you said and how you said it. Another way to do this is to have a friend or loved one listen to you as you practice and give you feedback.
We can avoid a lot of unnecessary squabbles with those around us if we will just take the time to listen to ourselves. This listening will also help you de-stress your life and make it more peaceful. You can set the tone of your life for the better by practicing this simple technique.

When Grief Comes

by Dan Langerock

Hold me, and love me,
When grief comes my way.
And I will do
The same for you,
Upon another day.

Have I Told You?

Have I Told You?
by Dan Langerock

Have I told you that I love you
In what I do and say?
Have I put my arms around you
And held you close today?

Have I told you that I love you
From my heart with romance?
Have I taken you for granted,
And left our love to chance?

There's no one else as special, dear.
My heart's in love with you.
Have I told you that I love you?
I hope you know I do.

On-the-Job-Training

by Dan Langerock

As an employee, I have tried to comply with my boss’s requests as soon as I can, instead of waiting. This will keep me from forgetting to do the task and make me more dependable.
When someone tells us to do something, we can have bad attitudes that keep us from being good employees. Some of these attitudes are:
· Pride The task is below what we think we should be doing.
· Stubbornness We just don’t want to do what we are told.
· Uncooperative We don’t feel like helping someone else or find ways to avoid it.
· Competition If you feel threatened by someone possibly getting the job you . want, you may refuse to help that person.
· Too busy We think there isn’t enough time to do anything extra.
These same attitudes can also deter us from serving God as we should. Think what your spiritual life would be like if you obeyed God as quickly as possible when He asked you to do something. If you were that kind of employee in the secular world, you might be considered for a raise or promotion. Even when our bosses don’t recognize our good work, God does, and rewards us according to our attitude not just for the job we have done. How much more will God, who loves you, bless you if you set your heart to obey Him promptly?

Keeping Your Marriage Alive and Well

by Dan Langerock

After the first few weeks of being married, life tends to settle down into the routines of work and other activities you and your spouse are involved in. Here are a few ideas to help keep your marriage alive and well as you progress in your relationship.
· Plan activities you can do together as well as individually. Make a point of setting aside time when you can be together in spite of the busyness of your life. Otherwise, it may happen too infrequently, and begin to deteriorate your relationship as a couple.
· Keep the surprise factor in your marriage: a dozen roses for no certain occasion, a date night together on the spur of the moment or a drive along the beach on a moonlit night.
· Have a set time you can be together as a couple with the Lord to worship and study together. Take the time to share ideas and listen to each other’s point of view about the topic of your study. Perhaps play a tape of a favorite ministry and discuss the content when it is finished.
· Look for ways you can please each other: help with the dishes when the other one is tired, put your arms around your mate and ask how they are doing, writing love notes or poems to each other, and a host of other ideas you can imagine.
· Be sincere with your compliments. When your spouse does something use a compliment to show your appreciation. If they are involved in public speaking or whatever support them in whatever way you can to uplift them.
· Be interested in what they are interested o and learn as much as you can about it so you can be knowledgeable and show you care. For instance, when my wife used to crochet, I would ask her a question about a certain type of stitch she was using
· Just because you are married doesn’t mean there will be less romance. In fact, now there should be more. If you keep the romance alive in your relationship, you will grow closer and more in love with each other.
Don’t let your relationship dwindle away into drudgery and boredom with each other. Use the wisdom and love of God to keep it fresh and alive as a testimony to what God is doing in your lives. Remember, your marriage and how you conduct it are part of your witness. Let your marriage make an impact for God with the love you have for each other.

How to Jump-Start Your Marriage Relationship

By Dan Langerock

Too often, discussions about attitudes and other important information about the individuals getting married are left unsaid until a crisis arises. Then, you may find out too late the way a person reacts in a given situation is not to your liking. As an alternative, I would like to suggest a new way of thinking about the beginning of a marriage.
Common thought tells us that a marriage begins when the vows are said, but does it really? What would happen if you began relating to each other as married once you knew for certain God wanted the two of you to be a couple. This could begin as early as the moment the engagement is announced, if not before. What I am referring to is how you talk and respond to each other, not in a sexual sense.
If you were to begin at this point of knowing you were meant for each other, you would have a better chance to evaluate how you function as a couple in God’s eyes as well as others. After all, isn’t the beginning of a great marriage when your hearts become as one before the vows are said. When that first blossom of love begins to grow toward maturity?
Begin by relating verbally to one another as if you were married. Take the time to also listen to each other so you know what your lover is feeling at the moment. If you don’t take the time to listen to them, how will you know their true needs?
Observe and ask questions as you grow in your relationship about how and why your mate reacts in various situations. If you don’t know why they reacted in a given manner, sit down with them and discuss the situation you are curious about.
Nurture the love you have begun together and ask for God’s wisdom in your relationship. That is the beginning of a truly great relationship, when God is at its center. Take time to talk and listen to each other’s ideas on spiritual and other areas of interest. What relational habits you begin at this point will greatly benefit your marriage at a future date. Remember the admonition from Proverbs 3:6 “Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.”(NLT) He will not only direct your paths as individuals but as a couple also. Let the light of your love for each other be a beacon to the world around you.

The Worship Test

by Dan Langerock

Have you ever thought about the concept of worship? Man instinctively worships something whether self, an object, a person, work or whatever. But today let us consider the worship of God and how we approach Him. Here are some questions to help you to realize the way you are worshipping God compared to how you should:

1) Does it awe you to think that you are in the presence of the Creator of the universe when you worship? Have you taken this aspect of worship for granted? Sometimes it is easy to fall into the trap of ho-hum when we go to church, and we forget why we are there and whom we are worshipping. We need to examine our motives for why we go to church in the first place, to worship God who loves us dearly—all other reasons for being there are trivial compared to this one.

2) If you go to church, do you look forward to it with anticipation? Do you resent this interruption to your busy schedule? Perhaps even dread going at all? Would you rather be somewhere else instead? Do you think about the game you are missing, your house that needs cleaning, the fishing you would like to be doing? Our time and thought-life are two things we can also offer to God.

3) Are you consistent in your worship? Do you believe it is a vital part of your life? Do you honor this portion of your life enough to prevent distraction from keeping you from it such as people coming to visit you when you are preparing to leave for church, phone calls at the last minute that could wait for another time, etc. Is it the most important thing in your life to be there consistently without fail, not in a legalistic sense but because you love God and want to be with others who also love Him?

4) Do you have personal worship times outside of church? Are you consistent in these, or is it okay to skip whenever you want? Is God and His worship the most important item in your life? If not, what else is more important? God wants to be your number one priority but you have to make the choice that makes that happen.

5) If you pray, what is the content of these prayers? Complaining about what is happening in your life? Magnifying God for who He is? Asking for God’s will to be done in your life? Asking for needs you have, solely, without praise for God who has supplied your needs?

6) Do you act one way on Sunday and another way the rest of the week? Is worship and what you believe part of your lifestyle? If you want your life to be a good witness to others, you must be consistent in this area.

7) After a church service, how do you conduct yourself? Are you considerate of others in the parking lot? Do you talk about what happened in the service, your blessings, etc.? Do you talk about the latest sports scores? Your topics of conversation say a lot about you and where your priorities are. It is said that Oral Roberts always went off by himself after a service to meditate on what was said and maintain that worship awe he had acquired during the church time. He didn't indulge in talking about the game on TV but concentrated on what he had learned from where he had just been.

8) When you need help in your life, is God and godly counsel your first resource or your last? Do you have people you can turn to who are good examples of godly character, someone you can look up to and ask for help when that need arises? Is the person you confide in consistent in their spiritual life? Do they practice what they say? What you believe is often evidenced by whom you consult when trouble comes.

9) Do you take time to be quiet before the Lord prior to the service? It is important to quiet yourself outwardly and inwardly before worship so you can receive what God has for you. Otherwise it is like static interference when you are trying to listen to the radio or television—the message doesn’t always get through.

This is the time the Lord speaks to my heart about what He wants me to write. My best poems and articles come from this quiet time before the Lord prior to the service.

10) How do you conduct yourself at church? Do you reverence where you are or do you act like you do anywhere else? Do you respect God and others by your conduct at church? You can learn a lot about a person when you watch how this plays out in this setting.

Who is God to you? Is He worthy of your praise? Is He your top priority in life? Does God care about you? Do you care about God? Is worshipping with others of like faith important to you? These are questions we must answer for ourselves. However, the answers we derive will help to tell us about ourselves, and what is really important to us. Hopefully, they will be the right answers.

Quietude

by Dan Langerock

Quiet my heart before you.

Give me your awesome peace.

So that in this stillness

I may hear when you speak.

Grandma Gave a Present

by Dan Langerock

Grandma gave a present
To our little girl, one day.
A loving heart of purest gold
That time can't take away.

Grandma gave a present,
One to keep and cherish
The gift of memories
That won't break or perish.

Unlike toys forgotten
Upon a dusty shelf,
Grandma gave the very best
Because she gave herself.

A Pastor's Advice to Our New President

by Dan Langerock

The Lord showed me today that being a president is like being a Christian. A president and a Christian can both talk a lot but what really matters is what they do.

For a president, any president, it is certainly important for him to communicate his thoughts to the nation. But what really matters is what he does. Without the doing, the talking doesn't mean much.

The same is true of a Chrisitan. We can witness to people all day long and tell them about God, but what really matters is how we act and live out our Christianity in our lifestyles. Without that doing part, our words are just hollow and virtually meaningless. This illustration applies to any president as well as any Christian.

1) You are the president of the United States. That is a grand title for sure. The most prestigious job in America. How will you lead us spiritually? In the Old Testament in the Bible, the spirituality of the king toward God determined whether that nation would be blessed or not. As our new president, will you lead us as a nation closer to God or further away? I pray it is the former rather than the latter.

2) You have a huge job on your shoulders, one I would not wish to have for myself. What kind of people will you have around you to give you counsel when you need it? Will they be Godly men and women or someone different? What you choose in this area will affect us all as a nation, not just you, Mr. President.

The same was true in Old Testament times as is true now. Our nation is depending on you to make the right choices in your Cabinet and others who counsel you. Are you a praying man? Will you ask God for the wisdom He has for you? It is so important to humble yourself in His sight because then He will lift you up and America as well.

3) The economy is on a downhill slide, but you know this already. The evidence is all around you. You have inherited a monumnetal job Mr. President. We, as Christians, are holding you up in prayer regardless of what color you are. That is our duty and privilege to support you in this way. The Bible tells us we must honor our government even though we don't always agree with its actions and policies.

The economy is just a symptom of the spiritual slide America has undergone in the past several decades. If you want to fix the economy and the other problems that face us, the spiritual side of America needs to be one of your top priorities.

Just as when we go to the doctor and tell him what is wrong with us, then he can prescribe what we need to become well. The same is true for us as a nation. The Bible shows us where we have strayed from the path of God. The symptoms are showing up in all the problems that we face together in this wonderful country called America.

As Christians, we hope you will lead us closer to God with your example and the decisions you make each day. We will not cease to pray for you, you can count on that. We are here to help you and encourage you in any way we can. Surround yourself with Godly people who will hold you up when you are weary from all the problems you must face.

Above all, remember that God is in control. He is sovereign in all things whether you believe this or not. That should be a humbling thought to you as you go about your daily schedule. Also, don't forget that He loves you so much Mr. President and is only a prayer away whenever you need Him. Turn your heart toward God and he will answer. May God bless you as you follow His ways, and in so doing all of America will be blessed. Amen

The Negative Side of Positive Thinking

The prevailing attitude in society today is that negatives in life are taboo. But, this mandate carries over into the arena of making decisions and other areas too. Let’s look at several areas to see how negatives and positives work together:
Medically

As a chaplain, I have encountered people who have never been sick in their lives until the moment they arrive in the hospital. They often became panicked and sometimes died because their body was not accustomed to the normal cycle of getting over a sickness. They had no prior experience to fall back on so, consequently, they thought they would not get better.

Illness of any kind is a negative, whether it is a stuffy nose or a major illness. We learn as we live that if we take care of ourselves, we will eventually get better again. Without this experience of the cycle of illness and recovery, the mind and body have nothing to relate to that they will get better.

Spiritually

When Jesus was here, He dealt with many negative situations: demon possession, death, lameness, epilepsy, blindness etc. He also had to deal with people like the Pharisees who were bound up in their religious traditions, failing to see and do what God wanted for them spiritually. These were all negatives, but they did not remain that way. He started with the negative situation and made it into a positive when the person was healed, thereby giving glory to God. Nicodemus, in John 3, stands out as one of the Pharisees who wanted to change, and Jesus helped bring this about in his life.

The subject of sin is a negative. Mankind decided to turn away from God and the result was an inherent sinful nature all of us have, whether we admit it or not. But God didn’t let us in that state. He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin. Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” God took a negative situation and made it into a positive according to what choice you make spiritually.

There are those who resist the idea of there being only one way to God, but that is all we need. If you find yourself lost in the forest or anywhere else, you only need one way to get back to where you belong. If you get lost on the freeway and ask for directions, you only need one good set of directions to help you find your way to your destination.

Decision-making

There are those who cannot confront negatives in the decision-making process, so their outcome can be flawed because of this lack of objectivity. If a problem is brought to them, they cannot solve it because it is not positive enough. Problems certainly are negatives in our world but they don’t have to remain that way. As we work through them, they become positives as we solve them with God’s wisdom and help.

Let’s look at the subject of algebra. When you first begin learning this area of study, you start with all positives. But you are severely handicapped in solving the majority of algebra problems by just concentrating on the positive examples. Eventually you progress to using negatives and positives, enabling you to solve the problems set before you.

Yes, it is good to have a positive attitude in your life, but don’t exclude the negatives. Part of the reasons for negative situations is so that we can hopefully learn our lessons and not repeat the same mistakes. The other reason is to see whether we will turn to God for guidance and help rather than our own wisdom.

If you notice, a balance scale has two sides, we could say positive and negative. Without both sides operating together, there would be no balance. This is also true in our lives: all positives or all negatives don’t make for a good life. But when you balance the two, turning the negatives into positives and learning from past mistakes, you can have a good life with God’s help.

Chaplain Dan's Book Press Release

Book Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David – Man After God's Heart To Be Released By Author Dan Langerock
New Christian book series to offer in-depth Bible study

[San Jacinto, CA– January 5, 2009]- Dan Langerock announced today the release of the first in a series of Bible studies. 'David – Man After God's Heart', will be published by Living Waters Publishing in January 2009. The book is the first release in a series of Christian Bible studies.

The in-depth series is designed to help readers learn from the life of each biblical character studied, and will afford the opportunity for readers to apply those lessons in their own lives.
“I am very excited and pleased to be able to offer this series now,” stated Mr. Langerock, “as I believe that many people are searching for a Bible study series with depth. After David, there will be a study on Solomon as well as Abraham. There will then be a grief devotional, which will be followed by two poetry books.”

Mr. Langerock has been actively writing for over 45 years. From birth, his life was affected by blindness and epilepsy. As an adult, he was a hospital chaplain for 10 years. Mr. Langerock is currently working on an internship to become a pastor and specializes in grief ministry. His wife, Cathy, recently died after 33 years of marriage. However, he nonetheless considers himself to be blessed.

“It has been a hard adjustment, certainly,” stated Mr Langerock, “but God has provided the comfort I need, as has my daughter Carolyn. After Cathie’s death, four books were contracted in four days to Living Waters Publishing. There will be a total of six books coming out in 2009.”

“While the Bible studies out there now are very good, the ones I write are geared to help the reader maximize the lessons that can be derived from the scriptural character's life. 'David: Man After God’s Heart', helps readers apply what David went through in his life to their own lives.

Readers will be given the opportunity to study at least six characteristics of David, and will then have questions to help apply what has have learned. It is my hope that once people experience this new type of study it will help them grow closer to God. I believe the Holy Spirit gave me this to draw people closer to God; that is the ultimate aim. With so much uncertainty in the world, I believe we certainly need to be closer to God.”

Mr Langerock's books will be available from Living Waters Publishing, and from most Internet book outlets.

David – Man After God's Heart
Living Waters Publishing

www.livingwaterspc.com

Don't Be Embarrassed by Your Grieving

Don't feel embarrassed by your grieving
by Dan Langerock
Grieving is something foreign to us as humans. It feels uncomfortable because we are not used to its emotions, and the things it makes us feel and do. But grief is a normal part of what we feel. Even though it is uncomfortable to go through it, grief is a way we say goodbye to the ones we have loved. How would it be if we were just the opposite and said, "Oh well, it was nice knowing you!" and walked away when someone we loved died, and never shed a tear or felt sad at their passing?
There are around a dozen steps in the grieving process, and we all go through them in a different way, and perhaps out-of-order. You cannot expect yourself or someone else to turn their grief on and off like a light switch, because each of us is different, and we feel things in diverse ways. Therefore, the way you or I go through the grieving process is unique and cannot be dictated by a set of hard-and-fast rules of conduct.
It is absolutely normal to miss someone and to display emotions because of their death. Just as it is normal to be happy when a child is born, it is just as normal to be sad at a person's demise.
Don't disdain someone for how they are displaying their grief, encourage them to let their feelings out. Be supportive, and look for opportunities to help them in their grieving process. Encourage them to talk about how they felt about the person, how they met, or just sit with them in silence for awhile and show you love them with your presence. Don't feel you have to keep the conversation going because there is value in silence also.
Use wisdom in how you respond to them. James 1:5 tells us, "If you need wisdom----if you want to know what God wants you to do----ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking."(NLT) Remember, they are under a lot of stress now, and will probably respond differently than normal. Make allowances, and look for ways you can help them both emotionally and in the physical sense, perhaps by preparing a meal, going shopping for them or whatever is an apparent need.
Show your compassion for this person in their time of need as you would want to be helped under similar circumstances. Be supportive but not overbearing! Sensitivity to their needs, whatever they are, is the key to being a valued and welcome companion during this period of intense emotion. Ask God to help you see the needs behind their words and actions. Proverbs 17:17 states, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (KJV)

In His Hands

In His Hands
by Dan Langerock

In His hands He molds the future.
In His hands He holds the seas.
He is all-wise-and-powerful
To guide the lives of you and me.

In His hands all times and seasons--
Future, past, and present too.
He is there with matchless power
When we don’t know what to do.

In His hands He shapes each moment;
Nothing can surprise His Will.
Even when we are faithless,
He is there and faithful still.

In His hands our cares and troubles,
Sickness, pain, when we’re depressed.
If we trust Him through each trial
In His hands can be our rest.

Observations of God's Loving Care

Observations of God’s Loving Care
By Dan Langerock

Imagine a baby being born in the 1950’s with a birth weight of only 3 lbs. 7 ounces. That was me! According to the doctors, I wasn’t supposed to live. God had another idea.
Due to my small size I was in an incubator which affected my eyes through most of grade school. By second grade, I had to go to a school where they could deal with my worsening sight. This is where I learned to type with a large chart on the wall, and blanks on the keys. This special class helped me take tests and assisted me with anything I couldn’t handle in my regular classes.
During the time I was losing my sight, I was privileged to be a part of the Foundation for the Junior Blind. They took us to various events like The Hollywood Bowl, Cinerama, baseball games, and also had a camp in the summertime for us. The Lions Club drove us wherever we needed to go which was a blessing.
My mom, seeing me getting progressively worse vision, decided to show me all the beautiful things around me so that I would have a memory of them if I should completely lose my sight. Thankfully, my loss of sight never went to that limit.
After several eye surgeries into my early teens, I was able to see fairly well, although my right eye was always worse than the left. The right eye is blind now due to a retina detachment.
To add to the trial of what I was already going through, I also had epilepsy from an early age which plagued me until later in my life. At the present time, I have been seizure-free for over twenty years. Praise the Lord.
Unfortunately, due to these two strikes against me, I was never able to have normal dating relationships. I was mostly a loner who was very lonely. One day, during my second year of college I was so lonely and depressed I just sat on a bench and cried. God saw those tears because three months later I met my future wife, Cathie, in one of my speech classes. We have been married 33 years and are blessed with one married daughter. The Lord is good!

Four Roadblocks that Keep You from Growing as a Christian

Four Roadblocks That Keep You from Growing as a Christian

Introduction
A traffic detour
Pride
The “I’m Okay” Attitude
“A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor.”
Prov. 29:23
One of the seven things that God hates: “A proud look, the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others.” Proverbs 6:17a
Refusing Wise Counsel
The “I Don’t Want to Change” Attitude
“Hear my sons, the instruction of a father, and give ttention to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension and interpretation of spiritual matters. For I give good doctrine----what is to be received; do not forsake my teaching.” Proverbs 4:1-2 to v. 13

Do you want to be healed?
.”
There’s No Hope
John 5:1-9 The pool of Bethesda:
(Joh 5:1) Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.

(Joh 5:2) Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches.

(Joh 5:3) Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches [waiting for a certain movement of the water,]

(Joh 5:4) [for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and stirred up the water. And the first person to step in after the water was stirred was healed of whatever disease he had.]

(Joh 5:5) One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

(Joh 5:6) When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked him, "Would you like to get well?"

(Joh 5:7) "I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me."

(Joh 5:8) Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!"

(Joh 5:9) Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,


Where God is, there is always hope. It is we who lose hope in God and His power. God knows what He can do when we have faith to believe it. Isaiah 55:8-9 says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts
Something in the way?
Let the Holy Spirit show you if something in your life is keeping you from God’s best for you, whether it is healing or something else. Don’t have a condemning attitude toward yourself but humbly and prayerfully ask God to show you if something in your life is blocking your growth in Him. You may have a dream to do something for God. God knows those dreams of your heart and He will bring them to pass in His time. Psalm 37:4 states: “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.”
Rebellion
A Dangerous Place to Be
(1Sa 15:23a) Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idol.”


How is rebellion shown?:


Posture

Attitude

How we act

What we say

The thoughts of our heart

The way we dress


God knows how to reward us when we are obedient and have the right attitude toward Him and our fellow human beings.

Think about the attitudes of your heart and ponder them before God. Have you seen any of the attitudes we have talked about in your life? God doesn’t want roadblocks between you and Hm.

Only you can make what is wrong right in your life by opening your heart to God and what He has for you. You have a choice to keep the attitudes you have or let God do a makeover in your life. God has wisdom and healing and so much more for your life and gives it freely. He loves you. Will you respond to that love and allow God to take down the roadblocks in your life?

Five Things God Wants You to Remember in 2009

Five Things God wants you to Remember in 2009

1. When you sin:
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

2. When you feel condemned:
Rom 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

3. When you feel abandoned:
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Hebrews 13:5b I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.

4. When you don’t understand what is happening in your life:
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

5. God loves you and wants to be close to you this year.
Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Psa 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires.
Psa 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.


Dan Langerock is a former hospital chaplain. The Lord has blessed him with five books coming out in 2009. For more information contact www.livingwaterspc.com. God bless you this coming year.