Here For A Reason E-Book

Del Downs

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

In this second devotional, expanded to cover 12 new original songs, one of the authors describes how his airplane, carrying the shrouded body of a heart attack victim, landed only to have the man throw off his covers and walk off the plane.

Another of the writers of this book explains seeing a miracle when a young man walked unharmed out of what should have been electrically charged swimming pool waters.

And the third scribe tells for the first time a previously untold secret of why his army platoon buddies were fatally ambushed and why he wasn't with them.

All this and lots more awaits the reader in ‘Here for a Reason.’ 

Leseprobe

David Harder, Del Downs

Here For A Reason

To the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, This is for Your glory! BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Title Page

Here For A Reason

Thoughts and devotions that apply to each of the 12 songs on the album

‘Here For A Reason’

by

Del Downs

David Harder

Gary Harder

E-mail us at: [email protected]

Visit our website at: www.daveanddelministries.com to purchase copies of this book and its companion CD.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2017 Del Downs, David Harder and Gary Harder

All rights reserved.

Use of portions of this book, other than brief quotations in media reviews, requires written permission of the authors.

Foreword

FOREWORD

Three Amigos

You would think this "Foreword" would begin by explaining something about this Devotional. You know, the one entitled "Here For A Reason." (Like it says on the cover.) Well, hold on, those words are coming. But first, we want to give you something that most forewords don't--and that is a good old fashioned news scoop! (Probably the newspaperman in me). So I can tell you that while the ink on these pages is barely dry and while the last tone of a musical instrument has barely ebbed on the musical CD for this second in a series, this group of artists is already deep into work on a third project which currently carries the working title of "The Dream!"

In interviews before this was written I learned that “The Dream” has been in the works since Day One, and was originally to be part of the first devotional and its companion CD. When that did not work out, The Dream was slated to become part of this book/CD but it did not work out this time either.

But now the authors/song writers/performers are laser-focused on this next production with the storyline about a dreamer who goes on a journey and his travels are told through stories and songs. I see this as an exciting new formula for their next production and I have no doubt that they will crank it out. Watch for it! (End of my scoop).

Have you read SQuire Rushnell's "When God Winks" book? (The capitalization of the "Q" is officially part of his name). This book suggests God brings people together under great coincidences to enrich their lives for various reasons. The coming together of Del Downs and David Harder and then David's brother Gary could well be a chapter in a Rushnell book. Who knows, perhaps it will one day.

Three years ago neither of the Harders knew Downs and even the Harder brothers were (and still are) separated by 500 miles. Then Downs, a well-established trumpet player in the eastern Kansas Christian area, became a member of the Praise and Worship team at David Harder's church, Grace Community Church in Overbrook, Kansas. God was moving the two men closer to meeting each other. Later, they found out that both men had worked at the same company at the same time and actually sat just one wall away from each other, and passed each other in the hallways daily without meeting each other. (The next time you come down a hallway, look up. You may be seeing someone God wants you to meet). Finally, in another "coincidence" the two men and their wives just happened to be assigned to the same four-couples-at-home monthly worship group. The two couples had some common interests and soon became friends. As the Bible-study days dwindled down, David Harder got up the nerve to ask Downs if he would care to look at a couple of songs David had written. Downs said sure, sing them on a tape and he'd listen. That news was great but also not so great for Harder: he'd never ever sang in front of anyone nor made a tape for anyone to hear. But he did make the tape and Del liked his songs. He even saw potential in Harder's voice and convinced him to sing the songs that landed on both CDs.

Long story short, David Harder and Del Downs began weekly get-togethers to develop a number of songs.  The two hit on the idea of attaching scripture that fit the point of each song, added personal comments and then brilliantly made the whole project serve as a devotional keyed to a musical CD. At one point in this first venture, they needed just one more song.

Enter Gary Harder. From his home in Minnesota, Gary was hearing about the project from his brother and became immensely interested. He had one song of his own and ideas for others, not yet developed. A fast trip to Topeka brought the three together and they hit it off and became, as Downs put it, "a biblical version of the 'Three Amigos,'" a reference to the 1980s MGM comedy starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Sheen. By joining the team on that first work, Gary not only contributed his first song but also wrote narratives and Scripture references on each of the other nine songs. Because of all of this, the book and its companion musical CD, both entitled "Time Is Of The Essence," was finished.

David Harder and Downs are continuing their weekly studio get-togethers and developing songs, even now. Gary Harder still sends narratives and song ideas. (He credits Downs for completing them and giving him co-author credit for songs that Gary modestly says are more Downs' than his). While the reader will find all of the personal narratives of the three writers meaningful and interesting, Gary Harder's stark and sober narratives of when he was outside God's Will includes a fall from a mountain (in the first book) and military service that went horribly astray (in this book).

It seems God wanted these three to come together for that first devotional based on experiences they've lived and songs they would write. Wouldn't it be just like God to know what is in their hearts and how that goodness would come out to serve His people once He got this "gang" up and running?

David sings and Downs produces the finished CD from the musical magic of his studio. David gets everything for the devotional assembled and into print and Del and Gary add their final touches and adjustments.

In discussing David, Downs sees in his friend personal conduct reflecting Christianity in its highest. Both Harders seem equally awed by Downs' talents and Christian ways and Downs says he took to Gary quickly in their first encounter. (Hence his "Three Amigos" comment.)

So there you have them: there's Del Downs, a biblical teacher with God-given musical talents he uses to honor the Father; David Harder, a natural writer now developing his singing while routinely showering God's love on those around him; and Gary Harder, who appears to have many a song in his heart while wanting so badly to warn others of the pitfalls he's encountered during the time he lived a life outside God.

There they are, folks, a Christian version of the "Three Amigos." I think it's a gang that God conjured up and one that serves Him well!

--Everett R. Daves

Everett Daves was founder-publisher of The Kansas CHRISTIAN newspaper in Topeka for 14 years and wrote for Kansas daily newspapers in Topeka, Great Bend and Iola. He is a retired Major, Kansas Army National Guard and was Special Assistant to The Adjutant General of Kansas.

I Stand Amazed

I STAND AMAZED

Words and Music by Del Downs

Verse 1

Wanna be with You, Where I belong

Wanna worship You, Sing You a brand new song

Wanna be taught by You, Learn right from wrong

Just want the Rock because I’m weak but You are strong

Chorus:

Lord You have perfect ways

New mercies all my days

I give You every praise

I stand amazed!

Verse 2:

It’s Your Word I’m needing, to distinctly hear

I just want You Jesus, help me to draw near

From Your straight and narrow, I never want to veer

Safe from every worry and every fear

Chorus:

Lord You have perfect ways

New mercies all my days

I give You every praise

I stand amazed!

Verse 3:

Open my eyes so, I may clearly see

Spiritual truth showing how I should be

Grant me discernment, to help set others free

Let my life reflect You eternally

Chorus:

Lord You have perfect ways

New mercies all my days

I give You every praise

I stand amazed!

Chorus 2:

Lord You have perfect ways

New mercies all our days

We give You every praise

And stand amazed, with our arms raised!

My Thoughts on ‘I Stand Amazed’

Del Downs

The word “amazed” means: “Astonished, confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder.” Just look at this list of synonyms: surprising, astounding, blindsiding, dumbfounding (also dumfounding), eye-opening, jarring, flabbergasting, jaw-dropping, jolting, shocking, startling, stunning, and stupefying.

Luke 4:31- 36 “Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’”

Luke 4 tells the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum in Galilee. His teaching had such an impact, that the people used these words in an effort to describe what they had witnessed. There are two specific instances in particular that stood out. The first was in verse 32 when they were “astonished” by what He said and how He said it. His words had authority. They displayed His absolute power and authority to give orders, make decisions, and command obedience.

The second instance was verse 36 when they were “amazed” by the results. There was a demon-possessed man in their midst who didn't like Jesus and made no bones about saying so very loudly. Without lifting a finger, Jesus told the demon in the man to be quiet and come out of the guy. The people in the synagogue were very excited as they proclaimed that Jesus' words had so much authority and power, He commanded unclean spirits to come out and they watched them come out!

“Surprising, astounding, blindsiding, dumbfounding, eye-opening, flabbergasting, jarring, jaw-dropping, jolting, shocking, startling, stunning, stupefying”, none of these words were adequate to express how they felt after what they had witnessed. The people of Capernaum were there. They knew what they had seen. They knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus had the authority to say what He was saying and to accomplish what He accomplished.

I am just as convinced as the people of Capernaum. Why? In my own life, I personally witnessed a similarly “astonishing” demonstration of God’s amazing authority and power. On a flight to Nairobi, Kenya from London, as part of a mission’s team, I and two other team members were sitting in the middle of the plane when a gentlemen sitting directly in front of us had a heart attack. The entire cabin was in complete shock at what was happening right before our very eyes.

God is so good! It “just so happened” that there were two doctors on the plane. Both worked feverishly for a period of time, as soon as they became aware of the situation. I'm not sure how long, because time seemed to stand still. My team members and I grabbed hands and began to pray. After quite a while, the man died and both of the doctors agreed to stop trying to resuscitate him. They checked their watches and officially called his time of death. They covered his body and moved him out of the main cabin. Arrangements were made to have the body picked up as soon as we landed in Rome, our next stop.

When we landed however, we heard gasps of shock all over the plane. The man pronounced dead by not one, but two doctors, started moving under the sheet on the cart. All of the passengers were astonished as the man stood up and walked off that plane!

I know that some of you may have just decided to quit reading anything else I might write, but in exactly the same way as the people in the synagogue at Capernaum, I saw it with my own eyes. Believe me or not, no one will ever talk me out of what I saw. I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus not only had the authority and power to do it, I have incontrovertible evidence. He did it. He raised a man from the dead! This was not my “believing by faith” that Jesus could do something, I was an eyewitness! Once you trust Him for yourself and experience His reality (as opposed to just who others say He is), you will understand the depth of these words: “I Stand Amazed.”

My Thoughts on ‘I Stand Amazed’

David Harder

Luke 5:26 “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today!’”

There are many reasons we should stand amazed at what the Lord has done; from all creation around us to the fact that Jesus died for us, whether or not we have yet accepted that gift of salvation.

But sometimes He just amazes us with outright miracles. One such miracle occurred when a few of us from church went to help do some spring maintenance at a rural church camp nearby.

While the ladies worked on some landscaping projects the guys all went to remove the pool cover. It was an in-ground pool that had apparently leaked out some water over winter allowing the cover to sag and collect many gallons of water on top.