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

What Keeps You Up at Night?

Today's Scripture

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7, NIV

We all have opportunities to live anxious and worried about the future, wondering what’s going to happen with our children, our finances, our health. There’s always something trying to steal our peace. Some experts say so much stress and pressure is coming against our mental health today that we’re living in an epidemic of anxiety. That’s not the way we were created to live. You can’t go around carrying everything, trying to solve it all, living in tomorrow, wondering, “What if my health doesn’t improve? How can I fix this family problem? What if my business doesn’t turn around?”

One antidote is to “cast all your anxiety on God.” Anxiety is not going to just go away on its own. To cast a net means to forcefully swing your arms and body and release it. When anxiety attacks, you can’t be passive. When thoughts come, “What if gas prices and food costs keep going up? What if you can’t pay your bills?” cast off those thoughts and say, “No, thanks. My Father is my source. He will provide, just as He always has.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are in control of all the situations in my life and You are fighting my battles. I choose to let go of the worrisome, anxious thoughts that trap me in worry and discouragement. I declare that my trust is in You alone. 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 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

A Receiving Mindset

Today's Scripture

…how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17, NIV

God has great things in store for us, but too often we think we’ve made too many mistakes to deserve it. Instead of receiving His mercy, approval, healing, or abundance, we come up with excuses and push away the very thing we’re praying for. “I can’t get well. You saw the medical report.” “I can’t be blessed. I’ve had a rough past.” We feel we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive enough. We don’t realize we’re self-sabotaging our future.

Instead of believing those lies, try a different approach. Have a receiving mindset. God has gifts for you. He has mercy, wisdom, favor, and abundance. You can’t earn them. You don’t work for them. They’re not based on your education or your background. They’re gifts. But you have to receive them. “God, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I receive Your forgiveness. You promised that ‘whom the Son sets free is free indeed,’ so I receive Your freedom today. I don’t see how I will ever get out of debt, but I receive Your abundance.” Start receiving them today.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the abundant provision of gifts that You have stored up for me because of what Jesus has done for me. Thank You that I don’t have to work for Your mercy, love, and approval. I declare that I have a receiving mindset today based upon Your gift of righteousness. 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 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

Dare to Say No

Today's Scripture

Despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:15–16, NLT

When Jesus was on earth, everywhere He went people would come up and say, “Will You heal my child? Please come to my town. Teach us about Your kingdom. Show us a sign.” As the Son of God, He was anointed with power and went about doing good and healing, yet He knew His limits. He knew when He had to take time to get replenished, so He often withdrew to pray and be refreshed in His Father’s presence.

We should know our limits as well. Are you burning out, wearing yourself down, taking time and energy from the main things you need to do? You make your own schedule. Don’t make commitments that you know are not wise for your health. You can’t just keep adding to your schedule without depleting yourself. You have to be selective about what you commit to and perhaps even eliminate some good things in order to stay healthy. It’s not about living selfishly; it’s all about living in balance. Are there some things you need to say no to?

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that Jesus constantly went about doing good and healing, yet He knew His limits. I want to have His heart and to always be ready to give and help others, but help me to know my limits. Give me the courage to say no to commitments that cause me to live out of balance. 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 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

Look Back and See

Today's Scripture

That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. 2 Kings 19:35, NIV

In 2 Kings 20, soon before King Hezekiah received a promise of healing from God and then asked for a sign of assurance, he had seen the greatest victory of his life. The powerful Assyrian army was about to attack Jerusalem, but when Hezekiah prayed and asked God to help them, that very night an angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Hezekiah and the people of Judah were spared. You would think Hezekiah wouldn’t need a sign for his promised healing. He had just seen a supernatural victory.

But how often do we forget what God has done? As with Hezekiah, God has shown up and turned things around for us. He’s healed us, protected us, freed us, promoted us. If you need a sign, look back at the goodness of God in your life. Look back at how He gave you strength, how He promoted you and gave you breaks, how he turned your child around, how he brought someone great into your life to love. When you need evidence, look back at the faithfulness of God.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the history that I have with You and for the mercies You have shown out in my life. Thank You that I can remember Your constant goodness and every victory You’ve given me. I declare that Your faithfulness is all the evidence I need. 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 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

Beyond the Flaws

Today's Scripture

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19, NKJV

One day Jesus saw Peter casting his net into the Sea of Galilee and called him to be His disciple. Peter was a poor fisherman, not a religious leader, synagogue priest, or man of faith. He wasn’t refined and was hot-tempered, impulsive, and used bad language. Jesus already knew that Peter would deny Him three times. Yet God chose him to be one of the twelve disciples who would change the world. Why Peter? Because Jesus could see that in that poor, disadvantaged, uneducated fisherman was a world changer, a history maker. God looks beyond our flaws, our failures, our weaknesses, and He sees the masterpiece we can become.

The enemy would love for us to go through life feeling inferior, focused on our weaknesses, weighed down with regrets, guilty from past mistakes, condemned, ashamed. But Jesus calls us to leave our nets and follow Him. Don’t let negativity limit your life. You are who God says you are. He says you’re a masterpiece. He says you have greatness in you. He says you are destined to leave your mark. Rise up and follow!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You see world changers in rugged fishermen like Peter. Thank You that You’re working in my life just as You did in Peter, and You will bring me to completion. I am looking beyond my flaws and failures to see the masterpiece in the making. 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 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

The Best Is Coming

Today's Scripture

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. Exodus 3:2, NLT

For forty years Moses had lived in the desert for killing an Egyptian foreman who was mistreating a Hebrew slave. Moses knew he was called to deliver the Israelites, but he got out of God’s timing and had to flee for his life. He felt like he had missed his destiny. But one day God appeared to him in a burning bush. He could have come to him in a cloud, very peaceful, or at a lake, very serene. But God came to Him in a fire, and He didn’t say, “Moses, you made too many mistakes and missed your destiny.” No, God said, “You’re still going to deliver the Israelites.” The fire was saying, “Moses, you’re about to see new gifts and opportunities come out.”

You may think you’ve failed too often, made too many mistakes, and missed your destiny, but God has not given up. You haven’t seen the best part of your life. Out of the fires of adversity, God is bringing blessings, favor, promotion, and influence. He will use it to propel you into new levels of your destiny.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the calling You put in my heart and that my mistakes and failures cannot nullify it. Thank You for the refining process You are working through the fires of adversity to bring it to pass in my life. Help me to be patient and know You are always on schedule. 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 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

Rise Back Up

Today's Scripture

So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them. Ezra 5:2, NKJV

In the book of Ezra, fifty thousand Israelite men had returned to Jerusalem from exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua to rebuild the temple. But opposition had arisen after the completion of the foundation, and for sixteen years all construction was halted until the prophets Zechariah and Haggai showed up. Despite year after year of discouragement, delay, and opposition, when the prophets said it was time to start rebuilding, Zerubbabel stirred up his faith. He got in agreement with God, got his passion back, and rose up to lead the people.

Perhaps today you’re facing some delays, opposition, and setbacks to your dreams and desires. There are times when it seems as though the enemy gets the best of us and the bottom falls out. You’re right where Zerubbabel was. But God has not changed His mind. He’s saying, “It’s still going to happen.” Now your part is to rise up. Get your passion back and start believing again. This is a new day. Get ready. What didn’t work out the first time is about to happen.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for the dreams and the desires You put in my heart. Thank You that the setbacks and opposition do nothing to change Your mind and that a breakthrough is coming. I believe that it’s time to rise up and begin again. 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 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

No Intimidation

Today's Scripture

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. Philippians 1:28, NLT

You have gifts and talents that you’ve not tapped into yet. There is a treasure inside you, but negative thoughts will try to keep it pushed down. The enemy doesn’t want you to reach your full potential. There are forces constantly trying to make you feel intimidated, inferior, and unqualified. You may be flooded with doubts and feelings of fear, thinking of all the things that can go wrong. If you’re going to fulfill your destiny, you have to shake off the negative voices. Shake off the thoughts that are telling you, “I am unable. I am unqualified.” Don’t invite weakness. Don’t give intimidation an invitation. You may feel unqualified, but before you were born, God equipped you. He empowered you. You are not lacking anything. God has already stamped His approval on you. People may try to push you down, but when you know Almighty God has approved you, you realize, “I don’t need other people’s approval. I’ve been equipped, empowered, and anointed by the Creator of the universe.” Stay in agreement with God and declare who you are and know who you are not.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I am Your child, a victor and not a victim of the enemy’s intimidation. Thank You for the promise that You have approved me, equipped me, and empowered me. I declare that I am staying in agreement with what You say about who I am. 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 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

Joy Is Coming

Today's Scripture

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5, NKJV

You may go through seasons of weeping, of sorrow, of pain. But when you’re in the suffering and the struggle, you can’t see what God is about to do. All you can see is more of the same. It seems like there’s no way out. But notice that the psalmist says weeping “may” endure, which means it’s not certain, it’s questionable. Don’t let what you’ve been through convince you that the suffering is permanent.

God’s promise is that joy is coming—not maybe, not hope so, not there’s a good chance. The Most High God says that joy is on the way. That means no more heartache, no more mourning, no more loneliness. Those tears of sadness are coming to an end. God is about to do a new thing. You’re going to laugh again, you’re going to dream again, you’re going to love again. You’re going to see God’s blessing in such a way that you’ll have tears of joy, tears of gratitude, tears of thanksgiving. Get ready to laugh in amazement, laugh in gratefulness, laugh with songs of joy.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that in times of sadness, when I don’t see the way out of suffering or a loss seems too great, I can know that the morning is coming and the tears of sorrow will be turned to joy. I believe Your promise is on the way and I will laugh in amazement and gratefulness. 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 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

Don’t Waste Another Day

Today's Scripture

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10, NLT

When we come to the end of our days, God is going to ask us, “What did you do with the time I gave you? Did you develop your gifts and talents? Did you accomplish your assignment? How did you spend your life?” It’s not going to work to make excuses for why we did not redeem the time. “God, my friend got me off course.” “God, I lived bitter because somebody did me wrong.” “God, I was negative because my company let me go.”

You have a responsibility to live your life well. Make the decision that you’re going to be an on-purpose person. Set your goals and be disciplined to stick with it. Prune off the relationships that are not adding to your life. And don’t go to bed with any kind of defeat, bitterness, or negativity still in your mind. Every day is a gift. Make sure you’re investing your time and not wasting it. If you do this, the seeds of greatness inside you are going to take root and flourish. You’re going to see God’s abundant favor.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for giving me the gift of this day to live to the full. Thank You that You are calling me to invest my life in what’s best for me, to redeem the time, and to run my life with purpose. Help me to make the most of every opportunity. 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 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