Dale Cresap's blog

Do you find some people to have an enormous force of will, and an eagerness to impose that will on others? They may succeed, but they also succeed at driving you away. Such mannerisms are oppressive and you run from them with good cause. In like manner are you not attracted to those who are kind and gentle? You know that my power is unlimited, yet it is my goodness that leads you to repentance. It is my will for you to turn from darkness to light. Do you think this method is too gentle for other people? For yourself? Yet in the process I want to draw you to myself rather than driving you away, for this is the same thing as drawing you to the light. Respond to my goodness and turn to me.

My word declares itself to be living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. Do you perceive it this way? Does it leap off the page and come alive to you? It is an accurate account of events that have taken place, and also of events that are to come, yet it is presented to you as text on paper. I give you permission to do whatever it takes to make it more vivid to you. Do you hold the Bible in reverence and tremble at my word? If so I invite you to use your sanctified imagination to place yourself in the role of Bible characters and situations that you may live them yourself. Better yet, entreat me to do this for you and I will speak to you through my word.

Do you think I speak often, or seldom? Which would you expect from my own descriptions of myself? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness… And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. These things are as true of me now as when they were written. How shall the living Word not speak? Listen and you will hear me. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

[posting early today. I will be flying/camping tonight.]

Do you minister life to people in my name? Are you surprised and disappointed if they do not seem grateful for this? Get over it. You are not working for wages in my Kingdom. The heaven is high above the earth and the economic models are different. In the Kingdom you are to give freely because you have received freely. What do you have to give that you did not first receive? Do not measure your life by what you accumulate, but by what you scatter abroad. Trust me to watch over it and derive value from it. Your Father who sees your secret sacrifice and selfless giving will reward you openly. 

Some people are restless and impulsive. The other end of the spectrum is timid and lethargic. Most people fall somewhere in between. The first type charges ahead, and their failures can be dramatic and visible, but their successes can be too. What about the failures of the second type? There is no evidence of risks not taken, ventures not attempted, opportunities refused. You can only imagine what could have been. If you are moving ahead I can intervene to correct you and alter your course. If you are stationary how will I motivate you to get moving? My word is a testimony to action: seek, ask, and knock; and you have the promise that you will find. 

Do you perform better while you are being observed? Most people have a keen sense of whether anyone is watching, and who is paying attention to them. Do you have this same awareness in a spiritual sense? For I promised to be with you always. Do you find this to be a great comfort, or does it make you uneasy to know that I see everything you do? If you want to live and walk in the spirit, take an eternal perspective of everything you do. Run the race that is set before you knowing that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Run in such a way that they will cheer you on. 

I spoke to a Roman officer who understood authority because he was under authority. Are you under authority? In an ultimate sense you are under my authority but there are people with spiritual authority in your life as well. For most of my people there is a defined structure of clergy or parents who watch for your soul. If this does not apply to you then you would be wise to seek it on your own. Ask me to provide people you know who know you, whose walk of faith and integrity you admire, whose counsel you are willing to seek and submit to. If you understand the value of this you will seek it rather than waiting for it to be imposed on you. 

Do you understand that I can speak in many ways? There is a place in the Bible where Paul says he has received nothing from the Lord, and goes on to give his own opinion, and there it is, included in my word. Have you ever heard me speak to you in an overheard conversation between two strangers? Have you ever had someone make no claim to be speaking for me and yet speak divine wisdom into your life? I once spoke through the voice of a donkey. Is there any avenue I cannot use? Pay attention and you will hear me speaking in ways that you did not expect.

[My wife's post-surgical infection is still not resolved and your continued prayers are appreciated. DC] 

Have you ever heard a skeptic describe your faith in me as a crutch? This is hardly an adequate description. A total life support system would be more accurate. For a person who needs a crutch can still hobble or crawl without one, but I have told you that without me you can do nothing. A crutch is of no use to someone who needs life support. Those who reject this precept are blind and walk in darkness even though I provide for them. I want you to understand and even embrace it, that you may cease to lean on your own strength and learn to walk in total dependence on me. Then you will be equipped for every good work, and do the exploits of abundant life.

Do you have a passion? This may not be the way you earn your living. Is there something you feel compelled to do, as by an inner drive, whether it pays well or whether others appreciate or even notice it? Blessed are those who have the opportunity to pursue their passion. Do you understand the source of it? Even those who can identify their passion find that it started earlier than they can remember. I have for every person a future and a hope. This includes a unique identity and the drive to pursue the vision and dreams I created in you. The opportunity to carry this out is part of the abundant life that I promised those who follow me.