Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-July 24, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

(Matthew 25:36).

The ministry of visitation is a wonderful one, both for the person being visited and for the one doing the visiting. Over the years I have visited many people in the hospital and other care facilities, and I always got a great blessing myself.

Jesus taught that whatever we do in His name, we do it unto Him. Our Savior said, “And the King will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:40).

The word visit is defined as, “to pay a call on as an act of friendship or courtesy; to go to see in order to comfort or help.” Giving comfort and encouragement is so important in the body of Christ.

Tomorrow I am going with Pastor Adel to visit his wife Sylvia in a rehabilitation facility where she is recovering from hip surgery. I have been with him on many visitations over the years. This one is special. I have been in the hospital myself several times, so I know how encouraging it is for those in the hospital or in their home.

It takes love, compassion, and comfort. It shows how much we really care. It doesn’t really take any special training, though I was trained when I was in a Bible training program. I have learned to keep visits short and to say a word of prayer before leaving.

Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

When you visit a person in need, it makes a huge difference indeed.

Dean

-July 23, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land anymore be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.”

(Isaiah 64:4).

God is considered the Husband of Israel. They wandered and strayed from Him; but in a coming day He will regather and restore them. Their future will be bright and glorious with the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah in the new earth.

Israel’s story is very much like our story. We were lost, sinners, separate from God, aliens to the covenants and the promises. We note how Israel was called Forsaken and Desolate. God has something great in restore for them in their land, where Jesus will reign forever on the throne of David.

Israel will be called Hephzibah, meaning, “My delight is in her;” and her land shall be called “Beulah, which literally means, “Married.” Beulah land is only mentioned this one time in Scripture.

For us as believers in Christ, our Beulah land will be in heaven, in the New Jerusalem. Heaven will be beyond description. If you think this earth is beautiful, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! It will beyond beautiful, glorious, amazing, and awesome! Just read Revelation 21-22 for some of the details.

We all love beautiful things. God is the Designer and Creator of them all. My friend and sister in the Lord in our church loves taking pictures on her phone of butterflies and other creatures. She posts them on Facebook. I was never good at art, but I do love God’s beautiful creation. I especially like forest scenes, ocean scenes, valley and mountain scenes. I also enjoy seeing wildlife.

One of my favorite spots is Monterey, CA. In fact, I am going to spend a couple days there August 12-14. I also love Yosemite National Park, which is also in California. I am a California native and lived all my life here. There is a lot of beauty and variety in our state; lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. And the weather is great too!

Have a blessed day enjoying the beauty of God’s creation all around you. Stay safe and healthy.

They say, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” Let’s keep our eyes open and take the time to see it.

Dean

-July 22, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.”

(Isaiah 40:17).

Put all the nations, big and small, rich and poor, strong and weak on the scales; they are nothing compared to the Lord. This world seems so vast, yet it is but a tiny planet composed of various peoples spread over seven continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia/Oceania, and Antarctica.

Asia is the largest continent composed of a population of 4,753, 079, 726, representing 59.08 percent of the global population. Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent with only 46,004, 886. Antartica has no population at all.

God created the world and He is sovereign over all. No one and nothing is greater than the Lord. If you put the whole world on one side of the scale and the Lord God on the other, there is no comparison.

Isaiah 40:15 says, “Behold the nations are as a drop in the bucket, and are counted as as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.”

Yet, man thinks he is great, builds mammoth structures, walks on the moon, develops innovations and technologies that change so rapidly; yet man still can’t get along. There are wars and conflicts all over the world. Sin is rampant in every human being. Only those who have received Jesus Christ are saved, forgiven, and have eternal life.

The world is our mission field, the gospel is our message, and this lifetime is our opportunity to spread the gospel. God’s priority should be our priority: to save sinners. Just because the world is as nothing before the Lord doesn’t mean each person isn’t important to God.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God desires that everyone be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Time is short and our mission, the Great Commission is urgent. Souls are at stake for all eternity.

God sees the world as nothing but each soul as everything. You and I mean everything to Him. Though the world is crumbling and decaying, the church is growing and expanding all over this world.

Have a blessed day on this earth. What we say, how we live our lives, and the message we share must point those who are lost to Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Each one has a part in God’s kingdom.

Dean

-July 21, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.”

(Acts 20:5-6).

We notice that the narrative changes with the words us and we. This means that Luke joined Paul and his ministry team. Luke was the writer of the Gospel of Luke as well as the Book of Acts. Luke not brought with his spiritual gifts but also his medical knowledge and skills. He is often referred to as Dr. Luke.

Paul loved and appreciated Luke, who in turn served faithfully in the work of the Lord. It is always encouraging have new workers join in the work of the Lord.

I have many brothers who serve with me, and it is such a blessing. Teamwork is essential in the work of the Lord; No one person can do everything. There is a multiplicity of gifts and variety of ministries in our church. It is exciting to see so many serving the Lord. Even the young people are learning to serve. We all encourage them in their service.

According to Acts and historical records, Luke was with Paul the rest of Paul’s life. Luke was a learned man and a humble servant. He likely encouraged the saints to call him Brother Luke, rather than Dr. Luke. There is nothing wrong with titles, but we as Christians in many churches are in love with titles. My nickname, given by my dear brother in Christ and friend Bill, is Dr. Dean. He gave me this title in 1979. I am just a simple brother in Christ and servant.

May the Lord help us to appreciate our teammates at church in the ministry. It is such a joy and blessing to serve together. We are all equal in Christ. We may have different titles such as pastor, elder, deacon, etc. With titles come responsibility and accountability. I am always happy when one of my brothers in Christ does well. We encourage and pray for one another.

Have a blessed day in worship and service. Stay safe and healthy.

We can’t do it alone, we need each other.

Dean

-July 20, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

(Psalm 29:11).

Those who know the Lord can face anything, including death. He knows all about what we are going through, and will see us through by His strength and peace. He with us and all times. He knows our weaknesses, fears, and worries.

1. Strength – We have no strength of our own to face the challenges, obstacles, and hardships of life. So many times we wonder how we are going to make it; but we make by the strength of our omnipotent God. He is the God of grace. His grace is sufficient to handle any storm.

There is a hymn I like so much, entitled “He Giveth More Grace” by the prolific hymn writer, Annie Johnson Flint. She wrote, “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; to added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun.” The chorus says, “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; for out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

2. Peace – Not only does the Lord give us strength, but He gives us peace. The inner rest and comfort of soul for any and all situations. Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Oh, how blessed we are to have these two strong, immovable pillars to rest our souls on: strength and peace. Have a blessed day relying on the Lord, for He loves us and cares for us. Stay safe and healthy.

When conditions seem impossible, impassable, and immovable—Jesus is the Way, the truth, and the life.

Dean