Dean Foster
Dean's Blogs
The Journey: God is with us 10-18-2024
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14: 27
We couldn’t talk while she was on the vent... I ached for the sweet love of my life to be well again. It was simply as Sandy had said though, “God was in control.” There was nothing to fear.
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The Journey: The Glove 10-25-2021
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27
Some people work two jobs just to keep their car running and a few cans of cat food in the top cupboard. Other people pray, trust, and depend on God, because He is their All in All. This is one of those stories.
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The Journey: First Things 6-3-2021
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27
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The Journey: and the Culvert Pipe 3-25-2021
5Thomas said to him, "Lord we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me; you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14:5—7
The following is a gospel story. Jesus, came to us some twenty centuries ago and said, "Come, follow me."
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The Journey: Inspiration 1-22-2021
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Luke 13:34&35
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The Journey: Misfits 12-2-2020
Sitting higher and thinking higher God chooses the eccentrics, the loners and the misfits to go in His name. "John the Baptist" out at the Jordan River was one of those. We know him from the Gospels as the one
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The Journey: "The wind blows wherever it pleases." 10-9-2020
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3Jesus replied, " Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." John 3:1-3a
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The Journey: This Way 10-1-2020
38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked, "Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." Mark 6:38
After sending his disciples off in pairs to smaller towns and villages Jesus spent some time with us teaching and healing the sick. I'd call it driving the darkness from our lives. It was amazing to watch him touch blind men and women, instantly giving them the light. As stunning as it was to see him heal lifelong handicaps and teach the truth of God, any of the signs we know are from him, and the message he brings, there is something more about
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The Journey: Presence 9-21-202
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
The absence of God is good news, because it shows us, he wants an authentic, intimate relationship that grows and develops with us. It has been said in different ways but if we could call him to us, force him to meet us when and where we want, simply because we chose the moment, two things would be obvious. First of all, he wouldn't be God, and second, there would be no relationship. We can only do that with an image, with our imagination, and with the idols we put in front of us instead of God. …. but certainly not with true God. A relationship can only begin and develop in mutual freedom. The living God knows the truth of this.
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The Journey: Courage 9-14-2020
“16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 16—20
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The Journey: With Power 9-10-2020
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the winds ceased and there was dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:37—41
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The Journey: is Not from Men 8-25-2020
Jerusalem takes on a different personality as the city prepares for the Passover festival. In truth it becomes a more exciting place for those of us who live here. I remember how the joyous outdoor market, bazaar like atmosphere we were accustomed to was missing or strained that week though. As the city and Temple made ready for the great mass of pilgrims that were already beginning to arrive, there was an anxious feeling in the air.
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The Journey: Kingdom 6-5-2020
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
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The Journey: The Fence 5-27-2020
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
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The Journey: Humanity 5-7-2020
Do you ever notice the outsiders, the strays? Do you think that type even wants to be noticed? Don't they like to "stay to themselves?" That could be it you know. Some people just like the edge of the room or to stay in the background. Or are you the kind who invites the shy ones in, welcomes them? Count yourself blessed if you are.
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The Journey: Meeting 4-29-2020
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28 & 29
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The Journey: Worship 4-20-2020
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24
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The Journey: One Time 4-13-2020
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:5-8
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The Journey: Jesus Welcomes Sinners 4-2-2020
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1&2
Welcome to the Journey.
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The Journey: Offers and Answers the Question 3-26-2020
. . ."Who do the crowds say that I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist: others Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
"But what about you?" he asked, "Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:19&20
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The Journey: To the Cross 3-18-2020
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God calls us to believe all that He has promised so that He may guide us, help us, and heal us. It is for times such as these that God seeks us and has made it part of us to seek Him.
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The Journey: To What Is 3-11-2020
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8
I've written before on The Journey how God first invaded my life when I was a youth. I told briefly how he stormed the beaches of my life before I knew Him and took me by surprise. What God did back then was to plant the seeds of faith in me. The soil He pressed those seeds into must have needed tending and preparation though,
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The Journey: When the Road is Long 3-2-2020
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
When God is ready, He rushes in or simply finishes what He started in you some time earlier. In God's time He reveals Himself and sets you free. If you learn what it means to be set free, you learn to walk with Him and pray. Your praying means the time will come as you walk with God when you will not see Him move and hear only the
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The Journey: Is Where You Will Find Assurance 2-24-2020
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13
"God will never ask you to go through something he hasn't already prepared you for," is a stumbling block idea the enemy throws at believers in different ways. You may have heard it said differently but it remains the same lie wherever he puts it.
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The Journey: Is An Invitation 2-18-2020
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." Acts 8:9
On a previous Journey we saw that after God saves, He sends us. To review: He grabs us by the collar and pulls us back from the edge of the abyss. Then He points us in the right direction and says, "Go!" If we humble ourselves and do as He says, it works and the adventure begins.
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The Journey: Answers a Question 2-10-2020
"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet, be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Mark 4:39
The Journey is a place to discover how your life has been invaded by the One True Loving God. The Journey is a closer walk with Jesus Christ. The Journey is where you can walk with others who seek a closer walk
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The Journey: God Is In The Details 2-3-2020
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made: without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3
Today on the Journey we see that God is in the details. Everyone can see Him there. When God invades your life, eyes are opened wide and you see there is but One Way to the Father.
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The Journey: Will Make You Brothers 1-27-2020
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5-6
Today on the Journey we will see that when the Lord Jesus invades our lives he is there to take over, wear us down, and change our point of view. He wants everything and in return will make us even more. He's the
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The Journey: Whatever It Takes 1-20-2020
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5
Today on the miraculous Journey, Mark shows us that Jesus invades the lives of people who want everything to remain the same. Christ wants us to know that in the act of saving us he knows he will shake things up. He plans to. Which may explain why the Lord loves a maverick. His Spirit is always with anyone willing to
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The Journey: Deep Water 1-13-2020
"Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything
but because you say so, I will let down the nets." Luke 5:5
Luke's description of how Jesus called the first disciples has always struck me as simple and "down to earth." Chapter five in Luke's gospel is where we see Jesus skillfully changing men's lives in a way that builds
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The Journey: A Day's Work 1-6-2020
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
A man standing on the street corner in Akron Ohio seemed dangerously close to a life changing decision. "After all these years is this really all I have left? Just dressing the part and going through the motions until I retire." It can come to that you know. Feeling like just another cog in the wheel can send you off in the wrong
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The Journey: God Takes Point 12-23-2019
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
There is just this one Journey in life that you will never travel alone. As Journeymen we are called to travel together of course, bringing our friends and brothers along. Something I find useful to remember is that
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The Journey: Conversation 12-16-2019
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:1
From the other side of the kitchen counter where they drop their bookbags he said, "Hi uncle Dean, look what I got at school today."
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The Journey: Finding the Way 12-9-2019
The story has been told of three bricklayers working on the same job, each of whom was asked the question, “What are you doing?”
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The Journey Begins 12-2-2019
Do you remember how God first invaded your life? What God did to interrupt your plans? Tone down the wording if you like, doesn't matter, you let your guard down a little and God charged in.
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