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Encouraging Words, PO Box 2035, Mission Viejo, CA (2025)

09/08/2025

The Power of Prayer
By: Darlene Sala
September 8, 2025

John Stonestreet might not now be the voice of a life changing radio program called Breakpoint, if it had not been for an experience he had as a teen. Near Christmas, John's teacher announced that she was sending out students to visit the elderly of their church who could not attend anymore. It was a very reluctant teenager who teamed up with his buddy Brian and knocked on the door of a house in the country. The boys were hopeful no one would answer, but Miss Buckner invited them in. After a very brief visit, the boys explained that they had another house call to make, which was a lie. "Can we pray before you go?" asked Miss Buckner. How could they refuse? Stonestreet recounts, "I'd heard thousands of prayers, but I had never heard anything like this. I remember looking up just to make sure Jesus wasn't sitting next to her, because it sure sounded like He was. She spoke to God as if she knew Him." But that's not all.

Two years later, John woke up one morning with a strange desire to see Miss Buckner. And did she remember the boy who was now much taller? She replied, "I prayed for you this morning." Stonestreet said, "At age 14, I found myself in the home of this elderly woman I didn't know and didn't particularly care to know. I had lied to her, and yet God used her to alter the trajectory of my life."

I found out later that she had impacted many, many others in that community as well. Are you praying for someone to change? Never give up. Matthew 7:7 says, "Keep on asking, and it will be given to you." Prayer powerfully opened John's heart, and prayer can open the heart of that person you are earnestly praying for too.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/the-power-of-prayer/

09/01/2025

God Can Solve That Problem
By: Darlene Sala
September 1, 2025

A verse that is often quoted when we are battling problems in life is Psalm 46 verse 10: "Be still and know that I am God." But what is its meaning and how should we apply this verse during the difficult times in our lives? Well, first of all, the phrase "be still" means more than merely to be quiet in God's presence. Though, I must say that if we would stop talking long enough to listen to what God wants to say to us, we'd no doubt be a lot better off. The phrase "be still" means to cease from frantic activity, to relax, to stop striving.

Some say it's a rebuke addressed to the nations that were attacking God's people. Others say that God is rebuking his own people for their lack of trust in Him. Perhaps both interpretations are right. Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll says the verse depicts the Lord as an angry parent breaking up a fight between siblings. While He is angry with those who are making war against His people, He's equally upset with the violence of His people who have turned to warfare rather than to trust in Him to fight their battles.

In our struggle to win the battles of life, it's easy to take more responsibility than we should, to try to overcome difficulties that God knows are actually too big for us to solve. God urges us to stop striving and instead fully commit, to trust Him to do what we can't do for ourselves. After all, Psalm 90 says that before God ever formed the world, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God. He knows that we can't win life's battles on our own.

Be still and know that He is God.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/god-can-solve-that-problem/

08/25/2025

It Is Finished
By: Darlene Sala
August 25, 2025

When Jesus was crucified, the last word He said before He bowed His head and died, was the Greek word "tetelestai," which means "it is finished." Tetelestai was a common expression in Bible days, perhaps most commonly used in collecting debts. When people finally paid off their loans, they were issued a receipt stamped with the word tetelestai, as proof that the debt was now paid in full. When a prison sentence was completed, tetelestai was declared over the person's punishment. And when an army marched home after being victorious in battle, the soldiers shouted, "Tetelestai! It is finished. The war is won."

Every Jewish person who was in attendance the day Jesus was crucified would have instantly recognized tetelestai as a Hebrew phrase that was used in the Old Testament system of sacrifices. Each year, on the Jewish holiday called the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the temple and kill a lamb as a symbolic sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. As soon as the priest had killed the animal, he would declare to the waiting crowd in Hebrew, "It is finished."

Jesus became the perfect and final sacrifice for all sin. Jesus, the ultimate lamb of God, by His sacrifice of dying on the cross, paid for our forgiveness. The book of Hebrews tells us Jesus did away with our sins by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26b).

So, by saying "It is finished," Jesus signaled to the world that our debt is paid. We can be free from all of our sins. All you need to do is to admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins, and tell Him you want Him to be Lord of your life. Don't put it off, do it today.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/it-is-finished/

08/18/2025

Finding God's Will
By: Darlene Sala
August 18, 2025

Around the turn of the 20th century, British Bible teacher F. B. Meyer wrote a tiny book called The Shepherd Psalm. Based on Psalm 23, you know, the one that begins, "The Lord is my shepherd …." Despite its small size, the book contains inspirational thoughts from that Psalm that have been an inspirational guide to thousands of people.

I particularly like what he wrote about a phrase that says, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Meyer wrote, "If you do not know which way to go, wait until you are sensible of the leadings of the Good Shepherd. It will be a sore mistake and wrong for you to act without being sure of what He wishes you to do. And if you are not sure what that is, it is evident that the time has not come for you to move. Stay just where you are."

If you dare to wait, you will be clearly shown your path, and the revelation will not come a moment too late. Most of us are in a big hurry to know what we should do in life. We may know that God's will is the best for us, that if we jump ahead of God and choose our own plan, in the end we'll be sorry.

Yet we find it irritating to have to wait until God makes the way plain. We want to know now, but that's the very reason we need a shepherd to guide us. It is easy to make our own decisions and miss the right path, but God is the Good Shepherd, and He will always make decisions for our best.

Wait for Him to make the way plain, that you should choose. You'll never be sorry, for His way is always best.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/finding-gods-will/

08/11/2025

Are You Worn Down by Your Responsibilities?
By: Darlene Sala
August 11, 2025

In the New Testament, Paul started out his first letter to Timothy by saying he was appointed to be an apostle by the command of his Lord. Here are his exact words: "This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:1). Since the word "apostle" means "one who is sent," Paul's assigned job was to carry out the instructions of the One who sent him—God Himself.

I believe whatever gift God has given each of us—whether it's in the field of music or cooking, teaching, administration, sales or whatever, we have that "job" by God's appointment. It His special gifting that makes it possible for us to bless others. We are sent to do His assignment.

Whatever God has equipped us to be, we are appointed by His command to that work. What an honor! Perhaps your appointment is to be a Mom or Dad to raise godly kids. Maybe your calling is in the medical field. Or a farmer who raises the food that we all need. Or maybe a businessman who earns money to help the needy. Or a teacher or a bookkeeper or a salesperson. Whatever your calling, realize it is a divine calling, not something to be taken lightly.

Are you going through a period in your life when you're not very excited about the responsibilities you have? Here's a truth that should encourage you: whatever God has given you to do is important in His overall plan for you. Trust Him not to waste anything in your life that He gives you to do. Accept it as your appointment from God Himself. Take heart! Besides, who knows what He has planned for you right around the corner!

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/are-you-worn-down-by-your-responsibilities-3/

08/04/2025

Have You Encouraged Anyone Today?
By: Darlene Sala
August 4, 2025

One Bible student has counted 3,237 different people mentioned in the Bible.[1] Granted, we're not given all their names, but still, each one serves as an example—for good or bad. One is a man called Onesiphorus, a friend of the apostle Paul.

Onesiphorus is mentioned only twice in the Bible, but the meaning of his name is interesting: it means "bringing profit," or "useful." Paul tells us about him in 2nd Timothy, chapter 1.

"May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 . . .You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus."

Okay, how did Onesiphorus help Paul? First, he often refreshed Paul. I hope someone can say that about your life and mine. Ask yourself: what have I done today to encourage another person? A word, a touch, a kindness?

Second, Onesiphorus was not ashamed of the fact that Paul was a prisoner, nor did that embarrass him.

Third, the Bible says at one time he cared enough about Paul to search hard for him until he found him. Probably he knew Paul was Rome in prison somewhere, but he didn't know where. He traveled from Ephesus to Rome looking for him until he found him and could bring him encouragement.

Then, fourth, the Bible says in many ways he helped Paul. And Paul never forgot his kindness. Yes, Onesiphorus was useful to Paul, just like his name inferred.

Today, Lord, use us to refresh someone who needs Your touch.

[1] https://www.wordsearchbible.com/authors/2646/david-g-stephan, accessed 12-30-2021.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/have-you-encouraged-anyone-today-2/

07/28/2025

God Can Heal Your Past
By: Darlene Sala
July 28, 2025

Rachel grew up in a terribly abusive home. Beatings, and burnings, threats, slave labor, family members sending her to men for sexual favors to repay their gambling debts—Rachel endured all these and more.

Rachel's story, however, has an amazing ending. Thanks to a Christian woman who took her into her own home and shared the love of Jesus with her, Rachel's life was transformed. Today she is a pastor's wife who ministers to needy women who have endured similar trauma.

I asked Rachel what helped her recover from the fear of death and darkness than descended on her because of the horrors of her young life. Here are the steps she took:

First, she got a Bible promise book and wrote out every verse that spoke to her heart.

Second, she kept a journal writing down thoughts, feelings and scripture that was meaningful to her situation.

Third, she printed out scripture promises and hung them all around the house.

And, fourth, every time there was a Bible study, she was there.

Was her healing instant? No, far from it. Rachel recalled, "There were times that I would cry out, 'Lord, Your Word says that You have "not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [2 Timothy 1:7]." I feel like I am going insane.'" Soon she would feel that she was okay.

But in a short time the wave of fear would again engulf her. Again, she would cry out to the Lord, read the scriptures on the walls around her and say, "Lord, help me to bring my fearful thoughts into subjection to You." It was literally a moment by moment battle—altogether, a year-long process, but eventually the healing was complete.

And God's Word can do the same thing for you.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/god-can-heal-your-past-2/

07/21/2025

Does God Really Love Me?
By: Darlene Sala
July 21, 2025

Do you ever have difficulty believing that God really, truly loves you? Perhaps you are so aware of your own imperfections that you think, "Why should He love me? How could He?"

Dwight L. Moody, the famous evangelist, used to tell a story about a farmer who was found kneeling at a soldier's grave. Someone asked him, "Why do you pay so much attention to this grave? Was your son buried here?"

"No," he said, "During the war my family were all sick, and I was drafted. I didn't know how I could possibly leave them. One of my neighbors came over and said, 'I will go for you; I have no family.' During the battle the neighbor was wounded and later died. And, sir, I have come a great many miles that I might write over his grave these words, 'He died for me.'"[1]

You and I could write those same words on a hill called Calvary—the place where Jesus was crucified. There the Savior took your place and died for your sins—yours and mine so that we did not have to. You can say those same four words that the farmer wrote: "He died for me."

The Bible says, "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us" "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:9,10).

Friend, you need never doubt that God loves you—no matter what the circumstances. Your proof is those four words, "He died for me."

[1] Dwight L. Moody, Prevailing Prayer (Abbotsford, WI: Aneko Press / Life Sentence Publishing, Inc., date unknown), chapter 5.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/does-god-really-love-me-2/

07/14/2025

What Distracts You from Jesus?
By: Darlene Sala
July 14, 2025

The story is found in the Bible in Luke chapter 10:

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-41 NLT).

Notice, first, that it was Martha, not Mary, who invited Jesus to their home. So, the big dinner she was preparing was her idea, not Mary's. Note, also, that the work was not trivial. Luke describes it as diakonia—the New Testament word for "ministry." Simply put, she had attempted more than she could handle on her own. Jesus said she was "worried and upset"—that is, "pulled in opposite directions" over details that weren't nearly as important as listening to His teaching.[1]

"Her fault was not that she served," observed Charles Spurgeon. "The condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. Her fault was that she grew [distracted]…, so that she forgot him and only remembered the service."[2]

Lord, help me to learn from Martha and remember that "While the world applauds achievement," You "desire companionship."[3]

[1] Thoughts gleaned from Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2002).

[2] Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (Nashville: Nelson, 1994) January 24, Evening.

[3] Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, 9.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/what-distracts-you-from-jesus-3/

07/07/2025

Three Ways to Combat Aging
By: Darlene Sala
July 7, 2025

When we were kids, we could hardly wait for birthdays to roll around. Parties with friends and family, presents, cake, ice cream—to children it's all so exciting. You've probably noticed, however, that the older you get, the faster birthdays seem to come around. And while they're still fun, we begin to see the effects of aging that birthdays bring to us.

The Bible does not avoid the issue of growing older. 2 Corinthians 4:16 confronts it head on saying that "outwardly we are wasting away." As the years slip by, we find ourselves developing wrinkles, hair loss, and aches and pains we never felt before. We may even shrink an inch or so in height.

But the Bible doesn't stop with saying that outwardly we are wasting away. The same verse goes on to say, "yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Are we? While we can't stop aging, can we really be renewed day by day? Yes, I believe so, and here are three ways:

First, we are renewed when we feed on God's Word. New insights from the Bible give us a fresh understanding of God each day.

Secondly, we're renewed when we worship. When Paul and Silas had been beaten in Philippi and thrown into prison, they sang praises to God in spite of the pain. And their strength was renewed.

Third, we're renewed when we change our focus. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT says, "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." Those three practices—reading God's Word, worship, and focusing on the eternal will renew your strength for the work God yet has for you to do.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/three-ways-to-combat-aging-3/

06/30/2025

How to Do the Will of God
By: Darlene Sala
June 30, 2025

It's one thing to know what God's will is for you in a situation—that is, what He wants you to do. It's quite another thing to follow through and do His will. In one of his sermons, Bible teacher and author A. W. Tozer pointed out that we have a part to play in doing God's will. God has given us a free will, and we can use that free will either to do what we know God wants us to do, or we can choose to disregard it and do what we want to do. Tozer reminds us,

The Old Testament tells us "Jacob vowed a vow," and Daniel "purposed

in his heart." … Above all, we have the example of the Lord Jesus "setting

His face like a flint" and walking straight ahead toward the Cross.[1]

Each of these from Bible times made up their minds that they were going to do what they knew God wanted them to do. God doesn't force us to do His will. Yet, the free will God has gifted to each of us can be firmly set to do what pleases Him. It's a decision we each make—God's will or my will?

After God's people, the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, had entered the Promised Land, Joshua realized he was soon going to die. So, he gathered the leaders of the nation together and challenged them: "Choose you this day whom you will serve." God presents that same choice to each of us today. Who will you serve—the supreme, eternal God or the god of this world?

Joshua made his decision—and it has echoed down through history: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15 ESV).

[1] A.W. Tozer, “Moral Determination,” SermonIndex.net, accessed June 29, 2021, https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=18734&forum=34, 1.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/how-to-do-the-will-of-god-3/

06/23/2025

Relying on a Spider's Web
By: Darlene Sala
June 23, 2025

The book of Job gives us an interesting picture of the person who forgets God in his life. Listen to this:

"Such is the destiny of all who forget God ... What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold" (Job 8:13-15).

While a spider's web is actually very strong for its weight, it is no match for the weight of a human being. Neither is anything else worth depending on short of depending on God.

Paul learned this. He wrote: "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

Because of the intense circumstances he was experiencing, he knew he needed to rely on God. And so do we.

To His people in the Old Testament God said, "Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name" (Jeremiah 50:34). When they were about finally to enter the land God had promised them, Moses cried out, "O Sovereign Lord ... what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?" (Deuteronomy 3:24). The Psalmist declared, "One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: that you, O God, are strong" (Psalm 62:11).

When the winds are raging in your life, hold on to Him. Unlike a spider's web, God will never let you down.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/relying-on-a-spiders-web/

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