Tag Archives: DalenKeys

Stand Strong – Dalen Keys
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“Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the LORD, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the LORD Almighty. Haggai 2:4b NIV

I stepped into a damp and dreary night as I once again left the church board meeting with a heavy heart. I regretted getting a little short with Sister Kimble in the board meeting as she rambled on and on about yet another doctor’s visit, but I really didn’t want to hear it. I’d have to call and apologize tomorrow. I was tired from a hard day at work and I was feeling a heavy burden for our little church because of tight finances.

Money had always been an issue in our congregation, but the economy had made things even worse and we just couldn’t seem to dig our way out. We were getting by week-to-week, but just barely.

As I drove home, I let my mind wander. I could see a high-tech sign shining brilliantly in front of our church, drawing throngs of people to our many well-staffed activities. We had a freshly paved parking lot jammed with cars and, more importantly, a contract service to remove snow during the winter. We enjoyed selecting from a broad array of exciting Sunday school classes described in a fabulous, full-color brochure. I laughed and talked with friends in a cozy coffee lounge before we headed into the beautiful sanctuary for the morning service. Sadly, it was just a dream.

I guess I’m discouraged like the exiles that were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem in Haggai’s day. No doubt they found the work hard and it was taking a long time, longer than they expected. They had forgotten their purpose and worse yet, they had forgotten that God was with them.

It makes me think, God must have a purpose for our little church and he must be right there with us too. When I take a moment to see things from God’s point of view, I can see him. We are growing in our spiritual walk. We actively study and discuss God’s word. We are reaching out to the basic needs in our neighborhood – the hungry, the homeless, and the lonely. We share one another’s concerns and burdens, just like a family. And we pray, really pray, for one another.

God’s way is not always an easy path. Sometimes we must simply stand strong and trust that God is with us.

Are you ready to trust him today?

Dalen Keys proclaimed firmly that he would never write a children’s picture and certainly nothing about quilting. But, God had other intensions. His first book, a children’s picture book titled Just A Quilt? was published in February 2009. Dalen thrives in the creativity environment of science and technology and he loves being a technology manager at DuPont. He lives in Landenberg, PA with his quilter wife who often smirks as they travel quilting events that he has scheduled. They have three children, one grandchild, three dogs and far too much fabric around the house. Dalen can be contacted at dkeystone@comcast.net.

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Possession Obsession – Dalen Keys
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Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed: a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15 (NIV)

I’d never heard of The Simple Way in Philadelphia but my daughter who was away at college certainly had. The phone couldn’t mask her excitement as she said, “Dad, you’ll love them. They serve their inner city community and they’re reaching people for Christ. They really live a simple life and don’t have a bunch of material stuff. I’d love to attend their open house but I won’t be home for Christmas break yet.”

I hopped on the computer to check out this group. As I read about them, I almost couldn’t believe they were true. I became increasingly interested in attending the open house myself. So, after much thought, my wife and I drove up to the Kensington district of Philadelphia to attend the open house at The Simple Way. As we grew nearer, my wife said, “Have you noticed the street names? They’re the ones mentioned on the nightly news; you know, for the murders.” I made sure the car doors were locked.

We stepped gratefully off the tough street into a very plain row house as other people from the neighborhood began to arrive. Some clearly came just for something to eat while others needed some warmth and shelter for a few hours. Others, we found out, were in recovery programs and my mouth hung open as I listened to their stories. Most were shocking. They were all so thankful for God’s touch. I grew increasingly ashamed of my easy life. I wasn’t sure how a middle class, middle aged, white guy had landed in this place, but I was glad to be here.

When we left that night, we were unable to express what we had experienced. I couldn’t help but reflect on my life. I have a large house, plenty of food, multiple cars, lawn service, televisions in most rooms, and new furniture in rooms which I haven’t even sat in. How different from The Simple Way.

There is nothing wrong with possessions, but I cannot allow myself to be defined by all my stuff. Rather, I must be defined by what I do with my stuff. The way is simple; I need to serve God with my stuff.

God caused my increase, not me. He’s a good and generous God and He expects us to use our wisdom with His provision. He expects us to share the grace. Look at your provisions and ask yourself; “Am I grateful? Do I share? Am I living life the Simple Way?”

Dear Lord, teach me to better use the possessions you have given me for your glory.

Dalen Keys proclaimed firmly that he would never write a children’s picture book and certainly nothing about quilting, but God had other intensions. His first book, a children’s picture book titled Just A Quilt was published in February 2009. Dalen thrives in the creativity environment of science and technology and he loves being a technology manager at DuPont. He lives in Landenberg, PA with his quilter wife who often smirks as they travel quilting events that he has scheduled. They have three children, one grandchild, three dogs and far too much fabric around the house. Dalen can be contacted at dkeystone@comcast.net       Read Dalen’s devotions
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Legacy – Dalen Keys
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True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. Malachi 2:6 (NIV)

It was cold on this late autumn afternoon as I walked over a bed of leaves in the old cemetery. I pulled my coat tightly around me as a chill wind blew through the tree branches overhead shaking any last leaves free for their brief flight to the ground below. I sometimes wondered what drove me to continue these genealogical missions. And, this time, I knew I would have to be lucky to find the grave site of my distant ancestor that was supposedly buried here. The tombstones were worn and many were broken. Tall mounds of grass and piles of crumbling leaves added further complications to my hunt.

This was a lonely, forgotten cemetery. Yet under me lay the bones of people that had once laughed with their friends and loved their families. I am sure that as their coffins were placed in the grave, loved ones shed tears of loss. But now, there were no friends and family. These bones lay quietly and forgotten. A cold gust of wind swept past me as a chill pierced my heart. I realized that this could be my fate. I might lie buried in some lonely ground, totally forgotten.

But, I realized I didn’t need to worry about being forgotten under a broken marker in a lonely grave. I have a victory within my soul. I don’t need to worry about being forgotten by the generations to come. I need only to be God’s man and my legacy will survive through the generations with the Lord.

My legacy is built every moment of every day in my walk with the Lord. I will strive to live my life so that He sees me as a man of true instruction, with no falsehood on my lips, who walks in peace and turns many from their sin.

Won’t you do the same?

Dalen Keys proclaimed firmly that he would never write a children’s picture and certainly nothing about quilting. But, God had other intensions. His first book, a children’s picture book titled Just A Quilt? was published in February 2009. Dalen thrives in the creativity environment of science and technology and he loves being a technology manager at DuPont. He lives in Landenberg, PA with his quilter wife who often smirks as they travel quilting events that he has scheduled. They have three children, one grandchild, three dogs and far too much fabric around the house. Dalen can be contacted at dkeystone@comcast.net

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Homemade Tomato Soup – Dalen Keys
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“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13b (NIV)

For years, I have been my wife’s right-hand man in her homemade tomato soup sweatshop (it’s not really that bad – but I can’t let her know). I love her homemade tomato soup; it’s the only tomato soup I eat. So, late in the summer each year, we drive to our favorite farm and buy bushels of tomatoes. I have to admit that it can be rather demoralizing when we are just getting started and we have 15 to 20 bushels of tomatoes sitting in front of us – but, I love the results! In my opinion, there is nothing better than pulling out one of those jars of homemade tomato soup on a cold winter’s day. It’s just plain comforting – it tastes like a hug.

The first step in the preparation of the soup is washing and sorting the tomatoes. After so many years of washing and sorting tomatoes, probably thousands of them, I consider myself as somewhat of an expert on tomatoes. Tomatoes fall into three categories for me; the unblemished – those that have the right color and have not been damaged; the damaged – those that have been scarred by the handling or their surroundings but are still usable; and then finally, the rotten – they are good for nothing but the trash (and they usually stink too!).

It occurred to me that maybe those tomatoes are a lot like us and the choices we make in our lives. Maybe Jesus sees us somewhat like I see those tomatoes. Some of us are unblemished and walking a pure life in Christ. Some of us are damaged by the choices we have made, almost spoiled through and through. But we can turn things around with God’s help. And, sadly, some of us have chosen a life that is rotting us – setting us apart from God’s love. Thank God he loves each one of us and does not give up on people as easily as I do on those rotting tomatoes.

Dalen Keys proclaimed firmly that he would never write a children’s book and certainly nothing about quilting. But, God had other intensions. His first book, a children’s picture book titled, Just A Quilt? was published in February, 2009. Dalen thrives in the creative environment of science and technology and he loves being a technology manager at DuPont. He lives in Landenberg, PA with his quilter wife who often smirks as they travel to quilting events that he has scheduled. They have three children, one grandchild, three dogs and far too much fabric around the house. Dalen can be contacted at dkeystone@comcast.net

Publisher: Fruitbearer Publishing
ISBN-10: 1886068348
ISBN-13: 978-1886068346

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.