I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. – John 12:46

Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life . . . or have you relegated Him to a far corner of your life? The answer to this question will determine the quality, the direction, the tone, and the ultimate destination of your life here on earth and your life throughout eternity.

Thomas Brooks spoke for believers of every generation when he observed, “Christ is the sun, and all the watches of our lives should be set by the dial of His motion.”

Christ, indeed, is the ultimate Savior of mankind and the personal Savior of those who believe in Him. As His servants, we should place Him at the very center of our lives. And every day that God gives us breath, we should share Christ’s love and His message with a world that needs both.

When we are in a situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need. – Gigi Graham Tchividjian

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Jesus, You are my Savior and my protector. Give me the courage to trust You completely. Today, I will praise You, I will honor You, and I will live according to Your commandments. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.  – Hebrews 6:19 NASB

Once again we here at the 118th are facing a furlough and going home early without pay. For many of us ( including myself) this brings up all kinds of emotions. This is a time where we worry about paychecks, jobs, bills, and what is next for each of us. Just like in 2013 when the government shut down, we worry about when the government will begin again and what that means for each of us.

All this chaos got had me in prayer this morning. During my prayer time I began thinking about what it means to have hope in difficult times. What does it mean to have hope when the future looks uncertain.

Throughout my ministry, I have found there are few sadder sights on earth than the sight of a man or woman who has lost all hope.

In difficult times, hope can be elusive, but those who place their faith in God’s promises need never lose it. After all, God is good; His love endures; He has promised His children the gift of eternal life. God has promised to be with us no matter what may come. And, God keeps His promises.

Despite God’s promises, despite Christ’s love, and despite our countless blessings, we frail human beings can still lose hope from time to time. When we do, we need the encouragement of Christian friends, the life-changing power of prayer, and the healing truth of God’s Holy Word.

It was Jesus who promised, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” ( John 16:33 KJV). This world can be a place of trials and tribulations, but as believers, we are secure. God has promised us peace, joy, and eternal life. And, of course, God always keeps His promises. Always.

If you’re experiencing hard times, you’ll be wise to start spending more time with God. And if you do your part, God will do His part. Keeping holding onto hope and never be afraid to ask—for a miracle.

I think that during this difficult time we can still find reasons to hope. If we take a moment to stop and reflect, each of us are extremely blessed. Although we don’t know about the future we know that God has given us more than we could ever imagine. Even though we are worried about what will happen next, we have the promise from God that his love goes before us no matter what may come.

So I invite you during this difficult time to have faith. I invite you to trust that God will take care of each of you. I encourage you to spend some time in prayer for our country, for you colleagues, and for yourself. I hope and pray that each of you may find hope in the midst of the chaos.

My prayer for all of us is that no matter what may happen in Washington and beyond, that we will find hope and assurance that God will take care of it all. My hope today is not in people, or institutions or governments. Rather my hope is in a loving a compassionate God who goes before us and carries us during uncertain times.

May you find that hope today!!!

Blessings,

Chaplain Dunbar

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. – Philippians 3:20-21

Being ‘real’ is the result of being transformed by the love of God. It’s not about wealth, or beauty, or power. Heck, most of the time it’s suffering, failing, and waiting. Maybe that’s why we sometimes miss it. I think the wise old horse in the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit says it well. As he explained to the stuffed bunny:

‘It doesn’t happen all at once, you become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.’

Be real. Be true to who God created you to be. Be transparent and open yourself up to God and His transforming power.

Blessings,

Chaplain Rob

Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse. – Proverbs 19:19 MSG

From experience, we know that it is easy to criticize others. And we know that it is usually far easier to find faults than to find solutions. Still, the urge to criticize others remains a powerful temptation for most of us.

Negativity is highly contagious: We give it to others who, in turn, give it back to us. This stress-inducing cycle can be broken only by positive thoughts, heartfelt prayers, encouraging words, and meaningful acts of kindness.

As thoughtful servants of a loving God, we have no valid reason—and no legitimate excuse—to be negative. So, when we are tempted to be overly critical of others, or unfairly critical of ourselves, we must use the transforming power of God’s love to break the chains of negativity. We must defeat negativity before negativity defeats us.

Winners see an answer for every problem; losers see a problem in every answer. – Barbara Johnson

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, let me be an expectant Christian. Let me expect the best from You, and let me look for the best in others. If I become discouraged, Father, turn my thoughts and my prayers to You. Let me trust You, Lord, to direct my life. And, let me be Your faithful, hopeful, optimistic servant every day that I live. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

For I know the plans I have for you'[this is] the Lord’s declaration’, plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB

Why did God put me here? It’s a simple question to ask and, at times, a very complicated question to answer.

As you seek to discover (or perhaps, to rediscover) God’s plan for your life, you should start by remembering this: You are here because God put you here, and He did so for a very good reason: His reason.

At times, you may be confident that you are doing God’s will. But on other occasions, you may be uncertain about the direction that your life should take. At times, you may wander aimlessly in a wilderness of your own making. And sometimes, you may struggle mightily against God in a vain effort to find success and happiness through your own means, not His. But wherever you find yourself, whether on the mountaintops, in the valleys, or at the crossroads of life you may be assured that God is there . . . and you may be assured that He has a plan.

If you manage to align yourself with God’s plan for your life, you will be energized, you will be enthused, and you will be blessed. That’s why you should strive mightily to understand what it is that God wants you to do. But how can you know precisely what God’s intentions are? The answer, of course, is that even the most well-intentioned believers face periods of uncertainty and doubt about the direction of their lives. So, too, will you.

When you arrive at one of life’s inevitable crossroads, that’s the moment when you should turn your thoughts and prayers toward God. When you do, He will make Himself known to you in a time and manner of His choosing. When you discover God’s plan for your life, you will experience abundance, peace, joy, and power, God’s power. And that’s the only kind of power that really matters.

God has a wonderful plan for your life. And the time to start looking for that plan and living it, is now. And remember, discovering God’s plan begins with prayer, but it doesn’t end there. You’ve also got to work at it.

One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is the knowledge that God has a plan for our lives. – Warren Wiersbe

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, your word says that the footsteps of a righteous man are guided by you. I pray Lord that you will guide my steps and my plans. Thank you that the events in my life are not meaningless coincidences but they are plans that you have set in motion for me. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV

It’s a promise that is made over and over again in the Bible: Whatever “it” is, God can handle it.

Life isn’t always easy. Far from it! Sometimes, life can be very, very difficult, indeed. But even when the storm clouds gather overhead, even during our most stressful moments, we’re protected by a loving Heavenly Father.

When we’re worried, God can reassure us; when we’re sad, God can comfort us. When our hearts are broken, God is not just near; He is here. So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him. When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why?

Because He is our shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved, upheld and placed purposefully, exactly where we are. Can you believe that? Can you trust God for that? – Elisabeth Elliot

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You never leave or forsake me. You are always with me, protecting me and encouraging me. Whatever this day may bring, I thank You for Your love and Your strength. Let me lean upon You, Father, this day and forever. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

Everywhere we turn, or so it seems, the world promises us contentment and happiness. But the contentment that the world offers is fleeting and incomplete. Thankfully, the contentment that God offers is all encompassing and everlasting.

Happiness depends less upon our circumstances than upon our thoughts. When we turn our thoughts to God, to His gifts, and to His glorious creation, we experience the joy that God intends for His children. But, when we focus on the negative aspects of life—or when we disobey God’s commandments—we cause ourselves needless suffering.

Do you sincerely want to be a contented Christian? Then set your mind and your heart upon God’s love and His grace . . . and let Him take care of the rest.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. – John Piper

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, You offer me contentment and peace; let me accept Your peace. Help me to trust Your Word, to follow Your commandments, and to welcome the peace of Jesus into my heart, today and forever. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid”. – Matthew 14:26-27

Every day we are confronted by events that strike fear in our hearts. Headlines shout disaster, violence, crime, poverty and depravity—we live in such turbulent times. How do we stay afloat as the waters swirl out of control around us?

The Bible is filled with God’s pledges of divine intervention, but nothing is clearer than the Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Tim. 1-7 NIV). Christians have the tools to turn back fear!

Rather than using these tools, we often want to live in a world free of fearful situations. When we don’t find this, we give up and exist in hopeless desperation. We may even turn away from God because we expected Him to keep us from harm’s way – something God never told us He would do.

Remember the story of the disciples in the fierce storm in Matthew, chapter 14. They watched him feed five thousand people with a few fish and five loaves of bread. They witnessed Him heal blind men and yet, when it came to facing their first crisis in the midst of the storm, they raised the bar of cowardly behavior to a new level. The bottom line of this story is this, Jesus knew of the pending storm and the struggle they would face, but He allowed them to get into the boat and into turbulent waters.

Here’s what we can learn from this. Sometimes there are valuable lessons that God wants to teach us in our difficult times – before He calms the storm and quiets our fears. God never promised us a trouble free life. He did promise to be there with us in the dark times and the stormy seas, to give us hope in spite of fear. This knowledge becomes the foundation for living free of fear’s chains.

Facing your fear is not based on the abstract idea of simply believing. It is not based on the nebulous commitment to positive thinking. It is based on the concrete promise that He will be there, in the midst of our storm. Whether He carries us through the storm or whether He simply calms it down, we have the guarantee of His word that He will be there. As believers, we cannot simply say no to apprehension. We must say yes to the Master of the storm.

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. – Charles Stanley

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Lord, I acknowledge that I have the truth of your Word which promises me that You will be with me in the midst of my storm. I stand firm in the truth that You will never leave me or forsake me. No matter how violent my storm might be, You are the Master of my storm. I will not fear. Amen.

Blessings,

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

We live in a world that is, at times, a frightening place. We live in a world that is, at times, a discouraging place. We live in a world where life-changing losses can be so painful and so profound that it seems we will never recover. But, with God’s help, and with the help of encouraging family members and friends, we can get through it.

During the darker days of life, we are wise to remember the words of Jesus, who reassured His disciples, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27 NIV). Then, with God’s comfort and His love in our hearts, we can offer encouragement to others. By helping them face their fears, we can, in turn, tackle our own problems with courage, determination, and faith.

So I ask you today, Are you afraid? Are you worried about the future? If you are, remember the words of God through Christ. Remember that God will never leave you during the days ahead. God will walk by your side. God will carry you when the road gets too rough.

So have no fear!

Facing our deepest fears means making peace with our seen self and with our unseen self. – Sheila Walsh

TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me. Thank You, Lord, for Your perfect love, a love that casts out fear and gives me strength and courage to meet the challenges of this world. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

You hear it from almost every corner: American culture is becoming increasingly marked by loneliness and isolation. In one way it’s understandable. There is a sense of safety and control in isolation and disconnection, but it’s a false sense of safety. In fact, living lonely is anything but safe. It’s a dangerous lifestyle because it allows a person to overlook real life, real people, and all the benefits and rewards that go with growing relationships.

And probably more important, our character has little chance to grow when we live life in isolation from others. It allows our thinking to go unchallenged and allows damaging issues we may struggle with to grow and thrive in the fertile soil isolation provides.

If you’re feeling isolated, do what an old commercial on television used to say, ‘Reach out and touch someone.’

You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you. – Dale Carnegie

Blessings,

Chaplain Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG