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

The Tree of Life

Today's Scripture

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12, NLT

One definition of hope is “the happy anticipation of something good.” If you’re anticipating something good, for a dream to be fulfilled, it brings you joy and gives you passion. When you believe that God is arranging blessings in your favor, you’re going to be excited about life. It will affect your attitudes, your relationships, and your productivity. But if you’re not anticipating anything good, if you think you’re stuck, that a problem is permanent, that you’ve reached your limits, that mind-set will drain your energy, stifle your creativity, and take your joy. You’ll just drag through the day as you endure life.

God created you to have something to look forward to. Faith is all about believing that God has good plans for you, that He’s taking you where you’ve never gone, and that the best days of your health, finances, and relationships are still in front of you. That’s not just being positive; that’s getting in agreement with God. That’s what allows Him to do amazing things and bring your dreams to fulfillment as a tree of life.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the hope rising in my heart that You have good things in store for me. Thank You that my hope is secure in who You are, that You never fail, and that You will bring my dreams to fulfillment. I expect to see You do amazing things. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Release the Gifts

Today's Scripture

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10, NIV

God has placed gifts and talents inside each of us for the purpose of serving others. Too often we have gifts lying dormant because we’re not taking time to develop them. We’re not being disciplined to study, to grow, to get better. We have talent that’s underutilized because we’re comfortable. We don’t want to stretch and do something out of our routine. We think, “I’m doing good enough.” But good enough is not your destiny. Sometimes we’re stuck because we’re intimidated. We let thoughts of fear and doubt talk us out of it. “You can’t take that management position. You can’t teach that Bible study. You haven’t trained your voice so you can’t join the worship team.” All the “what if” thoughts come. “What if you try and fail? What if you get up there and you’re embarrassed?” But what if you get up there and you succeed, go to a new level, or set a new standard for your family? Don’t let fear keep you from your destiny. Start stretching and taking steps of faith to release the gifts that God has put in you.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for what You have called me to do and for the gifts and talents You have given me to fulfill my destiny. Thank You for the privilege of serving others and making the most of what You’ve given me. I declare that I will not let fear hold me back from releasing my gifts. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Rule Your Feelings

Today's Scripture

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32, ESV

God created us as emotional beings. At times, we may feel joy, excitement, or passion. At other times, we may feel sadness, sorrow, or discouragement. Feelings come to us all, but feelings are not facts. You wake up in the morning feeling gloomy, but then you get a cup of coffee and feel great. Feelings can change on a dime. The mistake we make is to let feelings determine our mood. We feel the blahs, then go around discouraged. We feel offended by someone and go around upset. We have a bad break and feel self-pity, then wonder why we don’t enjoy life. It’s because we’re being ruled by our feelings.

You can’t stop negative feelings from coming, but you have a choice to not let those feelings dictate your mood. You can rule over those feelings and decide what kind of mood you’re going to be in. You can choose to say, “Feelings, you are not my boss. You are not going to control my life.” Get your mind filled with the right thoughts, and the feelings will eventually follow your thoughts.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I have the power to remain full of joy and stay in peace when circumstances and people try to take them from me. Thank You that You made this day, and I’m not going to live sour and defeated. I’ve made up my mind I’m going to rule over my moods. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

From the Back to the Front

Today's Scripture

But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Genesis 48:14, NIV

When Israel blessed the sons of Joseph, he purposefully crossed his hands and gave Ephraim the firstborn blessing. The tradition was that the right hand always gave the greatest blessing to the firstborn son. Israel was saying, “Ephraim may have been in the back and is not next in line, but I’m shifting him to a new position. I’m taking him from the back to the front. I will give him what he doesn’t deserve.”

That’s the way our God is. He has shifts in your future that will put you in positions you didn’t earn and didn’t qualify for. You may not have the seniority, but God will cross His hands and say, “I’m moving you from the back to the front, from not being qualified to suddenly being qualified, from being looked down on or disrespected to being honored and seen with influence and credibility.” This shift will put you at a place where you look back and say, “God, You amaze me with Your goodness.” Start expecting unprecedented favor, believing for God to do something new in your life.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that there are new levels of my destiny to which You are taking me that come from Your goodness and love. I expect to see Your hand of unprecedented favor working in ways exceedingly abundantly above and beyond my greatest dreams. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Sign or No Sign

Today's Scripture

Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me?” 2 Kings 20:8, NIV

King Hezekiah was dying of an illness when God heard his prayer and promised he would be miraculously healed in three days and his life would be extended for fifteen years. But after the excitement of the promise wore off, Hezekiah started wondering how he could know his healing was for certain. So he asked for a sign, which God gave him, and he was healed.

God is merciful, and He’ll give us a sign sometimes. But if you live by the approach that God has to prove that He’s going to do what He’s said or you’re not going to believe, you’ll always be dependent on signs and never reach the fullness of your destiny. Perhaps you’re praying for a sign but you’re not seeing anything. The right attitude is: “God, I don’t need a sign that You’re going to do it; You’ve already proven to me who You are. You’ve already made ways where I didn’t see a way, opened doors I couldn’t open, and defeated giants. I trust You with no evidence. You’ve already shown Yourself faithful.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You have proven Your faithfulness to me over and over. Thank You that I don’t need signs to know that You are going to do what You’ve said You will do in Your Word. I declare that I will walk by faith and not by sight. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

In the Fire

Today's Scripture

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25, NKJV

In Daniel 3, when three Hebrew teenagers were thrown into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol, not only did they survive without being harmed, but their enemies saw a fourth man, one “like the Son of God,” with them. What’s interesting is that the teenagers couldn’t see the fourth man. When you’re in the fire, in the adversity, you may not see what God is doing. You don’t think anything is changing or improving. But you can be sure the fourth man is in there with you. The beauty of our God is that He never lets you go in the fire alone.

Meanwhile, the king was stunned. He had the teenagers brought out and decreed that no one in the nation speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Sometimes God lets you go through the fire so other people will see the hand of God on your life. They’ll see that the cancer or the bad break or the betrayal couldn’t take you out. They’ll see God’s power displayed through you and be changed.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that when I am overwhelmed with challenges, You will show out with Your power so others will know that You are God. Thank You that You are with me in the fire whether I can see You or not. I believe that You will display Your power through 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

What’s in Your Hand?

Today's Scripture

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. Exodus 4:1–2, NIV

When God called Moses to lead two million Israelites out of Egypt, Moses asked Him how he could prove to the people that God had spoken to him. God said, “Moses, what’s in your hand?” Moses looked down at his staff and must have thought, “It’s just a stick.” God said, “Throw it down.” He threw it down, and it turned into a snake. God said, “Pick it up.” He picked it up, and it turned back into a rod. God was showing Moses he had what he needed, even if it looked ordinary and insignificant.

You may have small faith today. That’s okay. Use it, and God can move mountains. You may have average talent. That’s all right. Use it, and God can do something exceptional. He’s going to multiply your talent, your resources, and your creativity. You may feel weak, but God is breathing on your dreams, your finances, your health, and your children. This is not the time to shrink back in fear. This is the time to move forward in faith. You are equipped with everything you need to fulfill your destiny.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You have provided me with exactly what I need for the season I am in. Thank You that You have equipped and empowered me with every good thing right now, and You will keep providing for me as I need it. I declare that I am moving forward in faith. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Make Things Right

Today's Scripture

Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. Genesis 33:4, NLT

When Jacob was a young man, he tricked his brother, Esau, out of his birthright, then he deceived his father into giving him the firstborn blessing that should have gone to Esau. When Esau found out, he was so angry that Jacob had to flee for his life. Jacob ran away from a problem he created, a relationship he severely damaged, and lived for twenty years in exile from his immediate family. When Jacob finally decided to go back home, it meant facing Esau. You always have to go back and deal with what you run from.

You can imagine Jacob’s apprehension of Esau’s anger and revenge, but Esau met him, embraced and kissed him, and they both wept. When you stop running, when you deal with things that you’ve pushed down, when you get honest with yourself and make things right, the grace of God goes before you. God will soften people’s hearts. You may need to ask for forgiveness or call that loved one you haven’t spoken to and make peace. Don’t wait. God will make your crooked places straight.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You restore broken relationships and soften people’s hearts that have been offended. Thank You that I can stop running away or staying away from people with whom I need to make peace. I believe that You are going before me with Your grace and straightening the crooked places. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Going Before You

Today's Scripture

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14, NIV

You may be discouraged today and think that your life situation will never change. Maybe you can’t see anything happening. But if the curtain was pulled back, you could see into the unseen realm. There, you would see God at work arranging things in your favor. It may not happen overnight, but at the right time, in your due season, God will not only move the wrong people out of the way, but He also will pay you back for every injustice. He will make up for lost time, open doors to the right opportunities, and bring the right people across your path. He’s even looking years down the road and arranging solutions to problems that you haven’t had yet. He will guide you to where you’re supposed to be.

You may have taken a couple of steps backward in recent times, but right now, God is going before you to prepare the next chapter of your life. If you stay in faith and keep the right attitude, you will enter a better chapter, a chapter with greater victories and greater fulfillment.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You have called me to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank You that Your power is working in the unseen realm to bring about Your promises in my life. I will live with a sense of expectancy that You are guiding me and leading me into new chapters of my life. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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

Pruning

Today's Scripture

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1–2, NIV

Sometimes God will remove things in our lives that we don’t understand. Perhaps He will remove a friendship, someone who’s pulling us down, causing us to compromise. We don’t like change. We were comfortable. Now we’re going to have to stretch and grow. Don’t fight the pruning of the branch. God knows what He’s doing. He’s not going to leave something on you that will keep you from your purpose. He’ll never ask you to do something and then not give you the ability to do it. If He’s asking you to walk away from an unhealthy relationship, you know a season is coming to an end for your good. If you resist it, you’re going to miss the greater things God has in store. Let Him remove what He knows is keeping you from the true you He created you to be. He’s not trying to take something from you; He’s trying to get something better to you. He wants to bring out the true you. The true you is more fruitful, more blessed, and more successful than you can imagine.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for knowing what’s best for my life and for tending over me as a gardener. Thank You for times of pruning when You cut back something in my life so I can bear more fruit. I believe that Your purpose is to bring something better into my life. 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, IT, National women'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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 303.909.3707 or Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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