Delmar answers, “come on in boys, the waters fine!"

[drmike]

Cover Your Heart

Today's Scripture

So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Ephesians 6:14, GW

No matter how you feel every morning, no matter how many mistakes you made yesterday or how many weaknesses you’re dealing with now, you need to put on the breastplate of God’s approval. “God, thank You that You approve me, that You accept me, that You love me.” When you put on that approval, chains of insecurity, low self-esteem, condemnation, and guilt are broken. There’s a freedom when you know you’ve been approved by God. You are the apple of His eye. He created you in His own image. Don’t go through life feeling wrong inside. You’re not a finished product. God is still working on you. He doesn’t say, “I’ll approve you when you perform perfectly.” God approves you right where you are. He may not approve what you did, but that’s not who you are. He approves you. You don’t have to work to try to gain God’s approval. You already have it by His grace.

You have to shake off the disapproval and remind yourself, “I’ve been approved by the One who matters most. God is pleased with me.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I can put on the breastplate of Your approval to cover my heart because You have made me righteous through Christ Jesus. Thank You that I can shake off the disapproval and feel good about who I am. I believe that You are pleased with me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

Something Far Greater

Today's Scripture

So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. Ruth 1:22, NIV

Life had been good for Naomi in the land of Moab, but then her husband died. Ten years later, both her sons died. Both she and her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth, were left heartbroken and very poor. Naomi decided to move back to her hometown of Bethlehem, and Ruth went with her. You can imagine how devastated they were, but God was doing things they couldn’t see right then. He was getting them back to Bethlehem so that Ruth would meet a man named Boaz who was very influential and wealthy. This was a part of God’s divine plan. Ruth ended up marrying Boaz. They had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David, through whose lineage Jesus was born. The disappointment was all a setup for something far greater.

When we isolate a loss or a door that closed by itself, it’s not fair. But when we understand that God works generationally, we step into generational blessings. We see things that were orchestrated long before that catapult us into our destiny.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You know best when it comes to the difficulties that come into my life. Thank You that Your sovereign plans are always so much more fulfilling and bigger than my plan. I declare that You are in control, and I believe that something big is coming my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

It’s the Small Things

Today's Scripture

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23, NKJV

It’s not always the big things that are keeping us from God’s best; it’s the small things. If we aren’t showing respect and honoring our spouse by doing a small thing that’s important to them, that small thing will keep you from your greatness. You can’t be harsh, contentious, and hard to get along with and reach your potential. Sometimes it involves things we don’t feel like doing, something that doesn’t seem fair. At work, you’re not getting credit or someone is not treating you right. Why should you be kind to them, keep a good attitude, and go the extra mile? God is saying, “Will you do it as unto Me? Will you keep your mouth closed for Me? Will you be kind to that undeserving person for Me? Will you be your best at work for Me?” Do it as unto God. He’s the One who matters. Promotion doesn’t come from people; it comes from Him. When you do the right thing when it’s hard, you’re passing the test. You’re going to go to levels that you’ve never imagined.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for calling me to be a person of excellence in everything I do, to go the second mile and always be my best. I want being my best to flow out of my heart of love for You. I believe that as I give it my all, I will see Your goodness and favor in my life in new ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

Stand Out

Today's Scripture

When [Joseph’s] master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did…Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.Genesis 39:3–4, NIV

Because there was a blessing on Joseph’s life, he went from being an unnoticed, insignificant slave to being the favorite. Potiphar was so impressed he put Joseph in charge of his household. That’s the power of the blessing. When people try to push you down, it causes you to rise up. When people try to discount you, it causes you to be noticed. There were other people working for Potiphar who had more seniority, more training, and more experience, but the blessing on Joseph’s life caused him to stand out.

People may not recognize you yet. Your boss doesn’t give you credit. Relatives discount you and think you don’t have much to offer. You may be overlooked now, but the time is coming where you’re going to be noticed. Keep doing the right thing, honoring God, being your best. People are going to recognize your value, your gifts, your talents. God is going to cause you to stand out. You’re going to go from being unnoticed to being in charge, from being not recognized to being the favorite. That’s the blessing on your life.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the gifts and talents that You have given me. Thank You for calling me to keep developing my skills and being my best in whatever I do. I choose to walk in Your blessing no matter what my situation is, knowing You are causing me to rise to the top. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

Forgive Yourself

Today's Scripture

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9, NIV

We have all sinned, made mistakes, done things that we’re not proud of. We know that God has forgiven us, but too often we keep reliving our failures, replaying our mistakes, thinking about the times we haven’t measured up. All that’s doing is making you feel more guilty, more condemned. God is not judging you because you haven’t performed perfectly. Don’t go around thinking about everything you’ve done wrong and beating yourself up over it. You have to do something important, and that’s to forgive yourself. You have enough people in life against you. Don’t be against yourself. If God has forgiven you, why don’t you let it go?

Don’t be defined by your mistakes. Don’t let what you’ve been through taint the rest of your life. You can’t change what’s behind you, but you can do something about what’s in front of you. You have to take off the negative labels and thoughts—divorced, addicted, compromiser, failure, loser, doubter—and put on what God says about you—forgiven, cleansed, redeemed, restored, a new creation, a child of the Most High God.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that when I sin and make mistakes that Your mercy covers me. Thank You that You forgive and forget my sins the moment that I ask You. I am saying goodbye to the guilt and the shame of the past and believing You have something awesome in my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

Sovereign

Today's Scripture

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne. Psalm 89:7, NLT

We all go through situations that are unfair, things we don’t understand, but God is sovereign. It’s interesting that the word “sovereign” has the word “reign” in it. God is showing us that even when things happen that don’t make sense we have to keep Him on the throne. He’s still in control. He’s still directing our steps. When the medical report is not good, when somebody did us wrong, when we lost our biggest client, we may not understand it, but God is sovereign. He is the Most High God. He reigns over those circumstances. But here’s the key: His power and favor won’t do you any good unless you have Him on the throne.

When things go wrong and don’t make sense, it’s easy to get bitter and go around discouraged, but if you put Him on the throne, He’ll start reigning. He’ll make a way where you don’t see a way. He’ll promote you when people try to hold you down. He’ll give you beauty for those ashes. He’ll restore you and bring you through the disappointment better than you were before.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are sovereign and worthy of my unconditional trust. There are things in my life that I don’t understand, situations I want to see changed, but even if things don’t happen the way I hope, I’m still going to trust You. I believe You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

You Can Handle It

Today's Scripture

“Let him take hold of My strength.” Isaiah 27:5, NKJV

We all face pressure, opposition, situations that are unfair. Someone who should be for you turns against you. We all have times when we feel overwhelmed and think it’s too much. But God promised that you’ll never face anything that you can’t bear. You have to remind yourself that you can handle it. You’ve been designed for it. You’re not going to collapse under that weight. You don’t have to try to get revenge or live bitter. You can overlook an insult, you can take the high road, and you can forgive.

The key is to take hold of God’s strength. He will put in you the courage, the power, the determination, and the fortitude you need. Instead of thinking about how difficult it is, turn it around and say, “I can do all things through Christ. I’ve been armed with strength for this battle. I’m anointed for difficult times. I may walk through the dark valley, but I am not settling here. This valley is not my home. I’m coming out better, stronger, victorious, into new levels of my destiny.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are the Most High God and seated on Your throne. Thank You that I can come to You and take hold of Your strength when I feel overwhelmed. I declare that You have armed me for the battle I am to fight and that I am strong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

The Hidden Person of the Heart

Today's Scripture

…let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:4, NKJV

There’s a lot of compromise in our society. People think nothing about being dishonest, making underhand deals, not keeping their word. Then they wonder why they can’t get ahead. It’s because they don’t have integrity. It’s because in “the hidden person of the heart,” their motives are wrong. In their hearts, they’re thinking, “How much can I get away with and still get by? How late can I come to work and not get in trouble? How far can I stretch this half-truth and not get caught?” Rather than trying to cross the line, a person of integrity is careful to see how far behind that line they can stay.

Many decisions we face are simply tests. God is seeing if we are ready to go higher. People may not be watching, but God is watching what we do in secret. How we live in private will determine how high we go in public. Don’t let small things keep you from the big blessings God has in store. Be trustworthy, honorable, a person of your word. Start passing these tests.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that down at the foundation of my life I can be a person of integrity, someone who’s true to You no matter what. Thank You that You see what I do in secret and bless me when I do what’s right. I will not let small things keep me from Your big blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

Restoring Relationships

Today's Scripture

Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11, NIV

In Acts 13, during the apostle Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas, a young assistant named Mark “deserted” them and returned to Jerusalem. God had given Mark something sacred to do, but he let it slip away. He lost his opportunity, soured his relationship with Paul, and damaged Paul’s relationship with Barnabas. I imagine that he lived with regrets over how he’d messed up and felt trapped in shame and defeat, thinking it was over. But God never writes you off. Later, He gave Barnabas another chance for his relationship with Paul to flourish, another chance to accomplish the dream, another chance to answer the call on his life.

You may have mishandled some things, missed opportunities, had relationships soured, mismanaged the favor on your life, but God is waiting to give you another chance. Quit living guilty, thinking that you’ve blown it too many times. Nothing you’ve done has stopped your purpose. In His great mercy, God is calling you today. If you start believing again, He’s going to restore what you messed up.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that no matter what challenges I face, You have the final word over all things, including broken relationships. Thank You that You are working behind the scenes and bringing restoration to what I thought was dead. I believe that You are bringing new chances. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878

[drmike]

When the Real Victory Happens

Today's Scripture

Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:13–15, NLT

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah was so deep in anguish and praying so passionately for a baby that Eli the priest thought she was drunk and accused her of it. This was a defining moment for Hannah who was barren. We focus on her great victory when she later gives birth to Samuel, but the real victory took place when she didn’t let Eli’s initial rebuke keep her from stepping up. Had she not refused the negative words, she would have never received her Samuel. Before you give birth to your promise, before you reach a new level, there will be an Eli who discourages you. Someone will tell you, “You can’t get well. You can’t start your business. You’ll never break that addiction. You’ll never meet the right person.” Your real victory is when you refuse the doubt, refuse what the naysayers are telling you. You have to win the battle in your mind before you give birth to your promise. Too many people get talked out of ever seeing the fulfillment because they receive the negative words.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I can be still and know that You are God. Help me to stand strong in the defining moments when things come against me and try to stop the good thing You want to do in my life. I declare that I’m going to stay in peace and know that You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

COFA-Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America needs your help. COFA is looking for volunteers to help our growing ministry reach out to the unchurched outdoor enthusiast (locally and nationally). If you're retired or have extra time on your hands and can spare a few hours a week, we need you. Areas we need volunteers: Prayer team, Social media, church outreach, accounting, administrative work, IT, National women's director, National men's director, webpage design. If you have an interest in serving the Lord with your talents, we'd love to hear from you. You can email Leslie at lesliea@cofausa.org or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at mikeb@cofausa.org or call him at 303.880.9878

Mike Brooks is COFA's prayer coordinator. Please feel free to contact him anytime for prayer, and with your permission, pass it on to COFA's prayer team. You can contact Mike at 303.880.9878 or email him at mikeb@cofausa.org with your requests. Guidelines for all prayer requests, last names must be withheld due to privacy issues, no gossip, or slandering of people you want prayer for. If you have immediate prayer needs, you can call Mike at 303.880.9878