That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. – Psalm 26:7

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8

People today are striving for personal improvement, self-empowerment, and inner strength. Yet, Christianity has a completely opposite way of thinking; it’s full of paradoxes. We die to live; we lose to find; we surrender to gain strength.

When Jesus overcame death, he defeated the worst enemy of all. Today we’re left to battle with far lesser foes, knowing that He’s already won the war.

When we stop trying to control the outcome of every situation and stop demanding that God resolves our problems according to our dictates, we unlock the door for God to show us his redemptive purpose.

Praying, ‘Your will be done’ gets us out of God’s way and removes our ideas as to how things are supposed to work out in our lives, and allows God’s ideas to take control.

Are you struggling to be a better follower of Jesus? Are you worried about the future? Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus. A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly without knowing what’s around the corner.

The trust comes from realizing that no matter what may come God will be there right beside you every step of the way!

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. – Henry Ward Beecher

Blessings,

Ch. Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers. – Philemon 1:4

The great English writer G. K. Chesterton once wrote, “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Wow! What a reminder! There’s no doubt in my mind that I could give thanks more often. We set aside meal time, Sunday mornings, and my favorite holiday; Thanksgiving. But, don’t let an hour go by without giving thanks . . . for your work, school, kids, health, your spouse, your blessings and your challenges.

When you have a God-awareness about life and when you see and sense Him in your day (in the big things and the little things), it’s hard not to be thankful

Blessings,

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Above are stanza’s from a song I heard on my way to work this morning. It is performed by Elevation Worship and it spoke to me and I hope you will look it up so it may speak to you. It reminded me of some things that I need to say to you and to myself daily. How often are we struggling with something, someone, or some issue and we don’t know what to do. How often do we live with regrets of things we have done or left undone? Well I have good news! Come to the Altar of God’s grace and mercy. Everyone is invited and everyone finds a home in God’s arms of love.

I don’t know about you but this is amazing news to my spirit. It’s a truth I need to hear every day. I need to know that my past does not define me. Rather I am defined as a child of God, loved, forgiven, and given new life. Being transparent, I sometimes forget this simple message in the midst of all that I have on my daily agenda. Sometimes I forget that God wants me to bring all of myself to him; the good, the bad, my joy and my sin. That is a hard concept for me at times. I can bring my success to God (that’s easy), however it’s hard to bring my failures to God. It’s hard at times to realize that I need God’s help with my sin.

But that is what God in scripture reminds us over and over. Using words like “Come to me”, “return to me”, “trust me”, we are encouraged to lay down our burdens before God’s altar. And let the freedom of God’s grace, forgiveness, and love wash over us like a wave of peace.

So the question I have for myself and you today is this; What do you need to lay down before the throne of Christ? Is it guilt, anger, or resentment? Is it your past, your failure, or your pride? No matter what you are carrying today you don’t have to carry it alone. Lay your burdens before the altar of God.

And stand amazed in the presence of Jesus our Lord.

“Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy” as the song says above.

When you surrender your burdens and your struggles to God’s care… You are free to rise from the ashes into new life in God’s mercy.

My prayer for each of you today is that you go to the altar of God. I earnestly hope you will lay down the things that you have been carrying and trust that God will lift you from the ashes to new life through is Son Jesus Christ.

My prayers go with you all,

Chaplain Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB

Life demands patience . . . and lots of it! We live in an imperfect world inhabited by imperfect people. Sometimes, we inherit troubles from others, and sometimes we create trouble for ourselves. In either case, what’s required is patience.

Lamentations 3:25-26 reminds us that, “The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord” (NIV). But, for most of us, waiting quietly for God is difficult. Why? Because we are fallible human beings, sometimes quick to anger and sometimes slow to forgive.

The next time you find your patience tested to the limit, remember that the world unfolds according to God’s timetable, not ours. Sometimes, we must wait patiently, and that’s as it should be. After all, think how patient God has been with us.

Two signposts of faith: “Slow Down” and “Wait Here.” – Charles Stanley

God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. – A. W. Tozer

As we wait on God, He helps us use the winds of adversity to soar above our problems. As the Bible says, “Those who wait on the LORD . . . shall mount up with wings like eagles.” – Billy Graham

Blessings,

Chaplain Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. – Psalm 106:1 NIV

Sometimes, in our rush to get things done, we simply don’t stop long enough to thank our Creator for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us. After all, we’re busy people with many demands upon our time . . . and we have so much to do. But when we slow down long enough to express our gratitude to the One who made us, we enrich our own lives and the lives of those around us.
Thanksgiving should become a habit, a regular part of our daily routines. After all, God has blessed us beyond measure, His blessings are new every morning and so our praises should also be new every morning. We owe Him everything, including our constant praise.

So today, pause and count your blessings. Then, give thanks to the Giver. God’s love for you is never-ending; your praise for Him should be never-ending, too.

Nothing we do is more powerful or more life-changing than praising God. – Stormie Omartian

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, today and every day I will praise You. I will praise You with my thoughts, my prayers, my words, and my deeds . . . now and forever. Amen

Blessings,

Ch. Rob Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. – Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

Sometimes God speaks loudly and clearly. More often, He speaks in a quiet voice, and if you are wise, you will be listening carefully when He does. To do so, you must carve out quiet moments each day to study His Word and sense His direction. And you can be sure that every time you listen to God, you receive a lesson in character-building.

Can you quiet yourself long enough to listen to your conscience? Are you attuned to the subtle guidance of your intuition? Are you willing to pray sincerely and then to wait quietly for God’s response? Hopefully so, because the more carefully you listen to your Creator, the more He will work in you and through you.

Usually God refrains from sending His messages on stone tablets or city billboards. More often, He communicates in subtler ways. If you sincerely desire to hear His voice (and strengthen your character), you must listen carefully, and you must do so in the silent corners of your quiet, willing heart.

In the soul-searching of our lives, we are to stay quiet so we can hear Him say all that He wants to say to us in our hearts. – Charles Swindoll

We cannot experience the fullness of Christ if we do all the expressing. We must allow God to express His love, will, and truth to us. – Gary Smalley

When we come to Jesus stripped of pretensions, with a needy spirit, ready to listen, He meets us at the point of need. – Catherine Marshall

The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God. – John 8:47 HCSB

Blessings,

Chaplain Dunbar

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.- 1 Peter 3:12 KJV

Oswald Chambers, the author of the Christian classic devotional text My Utmost For His Highest, advised, “Never support an experience which does not have God as its source, and faith in God as its result.” These words serve as a powerful reminder that, as Christians, we are called to walk with God and obey His commandments. But, we live in a world that presents us with countless temptations to stray far from God’s path.

Each new day presents countless opportunities to put God in first place . . . or not. When we honor Him by living according to His commandments, we earn for ourselves the abundance and peace that He promises. But, when we concern ourselves more with pleasing others than with pleasing our Creator, we bring needless suffering upon ourselves and our families. Would you like a time-tested formula for successful living? Here is a formula that is proven and true: Seek God’s approval in every aspect of your life. Does this sound too simple? Perhaps it is simple, but it is also the only way to reap the marvelous riches that God has in store for you.

So today, take every step of your journey with God as your traveling companion. Read His Word and follow His commandments. Support only those activities that further God’s kingdom and your spiritual growth. Be an example of righteous living to your friends, to your neighbors, and to your children. Then, reap the blessings that God has promised to all those who live according to His will and His Word.

If we have the true love of God in our hearts, we will show it in our lives. We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it. We will show it in everything we say or do. – D. L. Moody

TODAY’S PRAYER

Lord, please help me honor you in everything I say and do today. Help me to live my life as if it were the only Bible someone will ever see. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9 NIV

Some of our most important dreams are the ones we abandon. Some of our most important goals are the ones we don’t attain. Sometimes, our most important journeys are the ones that we take to the winding conclusion of what seem to be dead-end streets. Thankfully, with God there are no dead-ends; there are only opportunities to learn, to yield, to trust, to serve, and to grow.

The next time you experience one of life’s inevitable disappointments, don’t despair and don’t be afraid to try “Plan B.” Consider every setback as an opportunity to choose a different, more appropriate path. Have faith that God may indeed be leading you in an entirely different direction, a direction of His choosing. And as you take your next step, remember that what looks like a dead-end to you may, in fact, be the fast lane according to God.

Often God has to shut a door in our face so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. – Catherine Marshall

Every achievement worth remembering is stained with the blood of diligence and scarred by the wounds of disappointment. – Charles Swindoll

The amazing thing is that God follows us into the blackened ruins of our failed dreams, our misbegotten mirages, into the house of cards that has collapsed on us in some way and He speaks, not with the chastisement we feel we deserve, but of all things, with tenderness. – Paula Rinehart

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, when I face the inevitable disappointments of life, remind me that You are in control. You are the Giver of all good things, Father, and You will bless me today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Every day is hard for those who suffer, but a happy heart is like a continual feast. – Proverbs 15:15 NCV

Cheerfulness is a wonderful antidote to stress. And, as believers who have been saved by a risen Christ, why shouldn’t we be cheerful? The answer, of course, is that we have every reason to honor our Savior with joy in our hearts, smiles on our faces, and words of celebration on our lips.

Christ promises us lives of abundance and joy if we accept His love and His grace. Yet sometimes, even the most righteous among us are beset by fits of ill temper and frustration. During these moments, we may not feel like turning our thoughts and prayers to Christ, but that’s precisely what we should do. When we do so, we simply can’t stay grumpy for long.

Cheerfulness prepares a glorious mind for all the noblest acts of religion—love, adoration, praise, and every union with our God. – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

It is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look. – St. Francis of Assisi

God is good, and heaven is forever. And if those two facts don’t cheer you up, nothing will. – Marie T. Freeman

When we bring sunshine into the lives of others, we’re warmed by it ourselves. – Barbara Johnson

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, You have given me so many reasons to be happy, and I want to be a cheerful Christian. Today and every day, I will do my best to share my happiness with my family and my friends. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. – Psalm 55:22 HCSB

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 seem like a long, tiring, character-building, fear-provoking journey. But even when the storm clouds form overhead, even during our darkest 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.

God’s hand uplifts those who turn their hearts and prayers to Him. Will you count yourself among that number? Will you accept God’s peace and wear God’s armor against the temptations and distractions of our dangerous world? If you do, you can live courageously and optimistically, knowing that even on the darkest days, you and your Heavenly Father can handle every challenge you face, today and forever.

How wonderful to know that however difficult our trial might be, God knows the outcome. He sustains us, He gives us the strength to hold on when we feel like letting go and then if we do let go, He carries us through.

We do not understand the intricate pattern of the stars in their course, but we know that He Who created them does, and that just as surely as he guides them, He is charting a safe course for us. – Billy Graham

By ourselves we are not capable of suffering bravely, but the Lord possesses all the strength we lack and will demonstrate His power when we undergo persecution. – Corrie ten Boom

TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, help me to surrender my struggle and trial to you. Thank you for your armor that protects me and thank you that my strength is found in you. Amen

Rob Dunbar, Chaplain, Maj, TN ANG