Daniel Skognes

Can you believe it has been 20 years since we were attacked? I remember that day very clearly. I was still working in the medical field and was getting ready to call on the VA hospital in Oklahoma. I was eating my breakfast and watching TV as the news flash came on saying a plane had struck one of the twin towers in New York city. It was a surreal moment to be watching the smoke and flames coming out of the tower and the speculation was that a small private plane had run into the tower. It was just a few minutes when the next plane was seen plowing into the second tower and we knew that we were under attack.

Many people have likened that moment to Pearl Harbor, but that was before my time. I do remember watching the first man walk on the moon when I was living in Abilene, TX, and I remember hearing about JFK being shot when I was in elementary school in Dallas.

We tend to remember moments like these because it brings us to an understanding that we are witnessing history. Whether it is horrific or just historic, we remember those moments because we know that life as we know it has changed. The Covid Pandemic is the most recent shocker that has changed our world forever. While I don’t remember the exact day I heard about it, I will never forget that year. 2020 was definitely an eye opener for everyone.

I don’t know what today holds, much less tomorrow, but I am grateful for the sacrifices that have been made to safeguard us and protect our freedom. We still live in perilous times, and evil is alive and well, so we have to be diligent and on guard continually. To those who have given their lives, we salute you. To those who serve in our armed forces now, we thank you and pray for you. To those who work as first responders, you are our heroes. Thank you for the sacrifices you make for us on a daily basis. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May God bless and keep you.

Shalom!

Daniel Skognes

It is pretty easy to find something to complain about these days, and some folks seem to be masters at the art of complaining. I try to distance myself from the negative folks, but they seem to chase me down at times to spread their misery and invite me into their pity party. LOL.

This past weekend I had the privilege to attend a men’s conference in Arlington, TX called Promise Keepers. The highlight of the weekend was getting to hear Nick Vujicic. Nick is a pretty unusual guy. He was born without arms and legs, and yet he has the most positive attitude of anyone I have ever heard that has a physical handicap. The truth is, Nick would tell you he is not handicapped. He has no limits.

Having been born that way, I can only imagine what life must be like for him to have grown up and having to have someone help him do pretty much everything. He had a quote that really hit me between the eyes: “God will not allow you to go through the pain in vain.”

Nick prays every day that God gives him arms and legs, but he adds, “Even if you don’t, God, use me today with what You’ve given me,” and boy has God used him! He has traveled all over the world and had the opportunity to speak to millions of people. His message is simple: God has a purpose for each of us, and He will give you what you need to walk out your purpose if you let Him. He truly has the most remarkable attitude of anyone I have every heard. After hearing Nick, I told the guy I rode with to the conference, “I don’t have any problems!”

Life is pretty amazing when you think about it. We all have problems. We all have issues to deal with. We all have pain to overcome. What makes the difference is how we look at the problems we face. Every problem presents new opportunities, and we have to decide if we are going to give up and quit, or are we willing to commit? Nick would be the first to tell you, “Don’t quit. Trust God.”

God has a plan despite what you see, what you feel, what you know, or what you hear. That is where faith comes in. The good news is even when we don’t have enough faith to sustain us, God will give us that too! I came away from the conference with a new sense of gratitude for all that God has done for me in the past, is doing for me now, and will be doing for me in the future. Now abides faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. That about sums it up.

P.S. Did I mention that he married a beautiful Godly woman and they have 4 children?

Shalom!

Daniel Skognes

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You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that life isn’t fair. Bad things happen to good people, evil people seem to thrive when you are in need, and the team that you KNEW was going to win loses! What is up with that?

I am reminded of the story of Job in the Bible. He apparently was a pretty good dude and did nothing to bring on all of the problems that hit him. He lost his wealth, health, and even his wife told him that he should just curse God and die! Kind of makes you glad you are not Job, right?

The lesson from Job is that no matter what life throws at you, God is still there with you to see you through it. In all of the trials and tribulations that Job faced, he never lost his faith. God ended up restoring to him double of everything that was taken from him.

We may never understand why life if unfair, but we can trust that God is there. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His promises are “Yes and Amen.” If you are struggling with making sense of the bad hand you have been dealt, look up and let God direct your next steps. When you are pressed upon, press in to Him.

Shalom!

Daniel Skognes

Friends can make or break you. They can build you up or tear you down. They can encourage you to do the right thing, or they can lead you to destruction. This is why I tell kids that friends are so important. Be careful who you call friend, because they will influence you in many instances more than your family.

My parents told me many times as I was growing up to be careful of who I decided to hang out with. The funny thing is, I still have to remind myself that who I call friend matters…and I have Grandkids.

I am blessed to have people in my life that share my core values. They love God, love their friends, love their family, and love America. If you have one really good friend, you are truly blessed! I have several, and that makes me rich! I have men in my life that speak truth, encouragement, and accountability. I try to be the kind of friend that is there 24/7 for my friends. We know that we can call each other no matter what the occasion and we will do what we need to do to help.

I have good news for you, even if you don’t have a really good friend. Jesus said that He is our friend! John 15:15 says: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” It does not get any better than that. Talk about a friend in high places! Let God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be your BFF.

1 John 4:19 says: “We love because He first loved us.”

John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.”

Proverbs 18:24 says: “A man that has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

Choosing your friends are some of the most important decisions that you will make.

Shalom!

Daniel Skognes

Serve day for me began by serving on the prayer team. We prayed over 70 different service projects that the church was going to do, then we prayed over every seat in the sanctuary. When I left I prayed over the schools…then God put it on my heart to go pray over our new animal shelter in Grapevine. When I got there I was talking to the manager. As I was talking to him, a young couple came in carrying a bag. They asked if the shelter took donations. The manager said they did, so they handed him a grocery bag full of cat food. Their cat had just died. They said they had two boxers at home and one of them was old and not doing well. I mentioned how sorry I was to hear that and asked them if I could pray over them. They said I could. When I was done the wife had tears running down her face. She gave me a hug and they both thanked me for praying for them. We prayed for divine appointments this morning and God delivered. My wife was also very thankful that she was prayed over this morning. It has been a great day to serve the Lord.

Shalom!

Daniel Skognes

When your world is crashing down around you, and you have no where else to turn, you won’t be calling Ghost Busters, trust me. You are going to be crying out to God for deliverance. They say that there are no atheists in foxholes. With bullets flying around your head, people dying all around you, who would YOU cry out to?

I am not sure why so many people have to get to that point before they realize that God is there for them if they will just turn their lives over to Him. There was a commercial years ago for Eggo Waffles. The memorable line in the commercial was, “Let go my Eggo!” Well, I think we need to revise that line to “Let go my EGO!” Too many people think that they have control of their lives. It is pretty ridiculous when you think about how many things we can’t control.

What do you do when:

1. You get that Doctor’s report telling you that you have an incurable disease?

2. You get let go from you job unexpectedly?

3. You have someone that you love betray you?

4. You face financial ruin?

We have all faced tough situations in our lives, and I think we can agree that many of the situations that blew up in our faces were because we did things OUR way and did not seek God’s help. We reaped what was sown. We have also had situations that were not of our making where we were victimized. Either way, God is still God. He is still on His throne and in control. We just have to let Him be God in our lives.

There is an old saying that needs revision. The old saying is, “God is my co-pilot.” I get the gist of the statement, but it is not anywhere close to the truth. He is not my co-pilot. He is God almighty, creator of everything. I am not even the co-pilot. God allows me to be a passenger and occasionally invites me into the cockpit to see what is going on.

Before you face another crisis in your life, consider asking God to help you “Let go of your EGO.” Giving God control is one of the most freeing experiences you can do. You will find peace that passes understanding, and joy in the journey of life. You will find a thankful heart replacing your worries and fears.

If you are in the middle of a crisis, don’t despair. When Jesus was in a boat with His disciples one day, they were surprised by a terrible storm. What did Jesus do? He slept! LOL. The disciples were petrified and woke Jesus up with an attitude of, “What is wrong with you?” How would you like to have that kind of peace in YOUR life? The waves are crashing over the side of your boat and you are about to sink, and you are able to sleep through it! Wow. What a picture of perfect peace. Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and immediately they were safe.

None of us knows what today holds, much less tomorrow. We have to trust God for strength, endurance, wisdom, peace, provision, and protection. Whatever the outcome of the storm, we can trust God. He does not promise us that there will be no storms, but He does promise us that He is with us through the storms. That, my friends, is the meaning of Shalom! Let go…and let God.

Daniel Skognes