Welcome to the Blog of Don Finto

While in Israel recently I had an encounter that reminded me of the scripture describing Moses after he had been with God. ”He was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD” (Exodus 34:29). A young man whom I had not seen in months walked...

I have been re-reading Daniel. I have never been more encouraged through the reading than I have this time. I was struck by the concept of bringing Daniel’s experience into my own life, and it is giving fresh strength to my faith. If I should ever need to recall...

These are not the only ones, but I have found three that have been life-changing for me as I continue to desire to be all that God wants me to be. They are not new to anyone who has been walking with me for a while: 1. Know your destiny! You are predestined to be...

Read the Word aloud! Nashville just experienced two weeks of reading the Word of God aloud together at various events. For the third year, different ones of us took segments of Scripture and read them aloud into the airwaves over Middle Tennessee. Then we gathered...

I just read Jack Deere’s latest book, Even in Our Darkness, an amazing, raw life story of the Lord’s persistent and constant love in our brokenness. Though Jack had a major impact within the believing community in his earlier years, he went totally into seclusion...

I find that I have an unusual propensity for making snap judgments or decisions without “inquiring of the Holy Spirit.” I know very well that “my [Jesus] sheep listen to my voice (John 10:27),” and “whoever belongs to God hear what God says (John 8:47).” Yet, I find...

I brought a message to the Belmont Church years ago, based on four words out of Hebrews 12: Endure hardship as discipline. It was a fine message, perhaps even well crafted, but it’s easy to talk when you’ve never really experienced what you are talking about. Oh yes,...

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22 Let me give you a nice “holy land laugh!” One time, when Tod and I arrived with Micah and Steve Allen in Tel Aviv, our phones were not working, because of a new ruling about foreigners’ telephone accounts in Israel....

I have had some sciatica flare-ups and other such challenges lately that are new to me. I was sitting before the Lord this morning and began journaling (and I'm not even very good at journaling). Then I looked at what I had written and thought, "Wait a minute! I think...

God works everything for our good. Really? Everything? Bad things? Evil? Accidents? Sicknesses? Pain? Deaths? Divorce? Our own failures? Everything! It’s easy most of the time to believe this. I can generally push through and know that - somehow in some way - God...

The Path to Faith Someone recently asked me how I came to believe. Interesting question. In my case, like many people, I had what might be called an “inherited childhood faith,” but inherited faith is not sufficient for life. When, as a young adult, I had that crisis...

“Be joyful in Hope” Romans 12:12 The Bible is a book of hope. Depression moves in rapidly if we lose hope. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). That’s good! “Those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9). I like that...

Often, I ponder the me of the past and the me of the present. I am continually overwhelmed at the goodness of God, and I hope you do that also. Not even Martha, after those 64 years of marriage, ever totally could perceive of my crazy inferiority complexes and...

We are in a new season. God is into seasons. I began talking to the Lord recently about this “transition time,” pondering where, in Scripture, He might give us insights for such seasons. My mind immediately went to the opening verses of Joshua when God challenged...

Happy Chanukah! Merry Christmas! The Chanukah-Christmas season is an interesting season - a “connect” season between the Old and New Testament scriptures. Though it is a Jewish holiday, there is no mention of Chanukah in the Old Testament. The only biblical reference...

Let Scripture reign and let blessings flow! Yes, I am overjoyed that President Trump has acknowledged and declared what God declared 3000 years ago, that Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel. Though our congress made this acknowledgement in 1995, earlier...

Life in Isaac and Rebekah’s home was not always pleasant. For the first twenty years of their marriage, Rebekah was barren. Then she conceived the twins, Jacob and Esau, and the Lord told Rebekah that “the older would serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Isaac...

If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person...