We’d love to see you this week at America’s Keswick. Dr. Roger Willmore is speaking Sunday night through Thursday night, and Dr. Dino Perdrone is speaking Monday – Thursday morning. You can also watch live at: www.americaskeswick.org. We’d love to see you. Check out our website or call 800-453-7942 for more information.

A Hard Bargain

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.” Psalm 115:1

One thing I will never be accused of is being a salesperson. The few times I sold my cars have been less than a “joyful experience”. There are people who can get excited and even feel very comfortable being the salesperson. I find that sometimes even trying to share my faith I am looked at as a door to door insurance guy.

Did you ever try telling someone that money will never make you happy? That’s a hard bargain to sell. I remember thinking to myself when someone told me that and saying “it would sure help”. The truth is money can make you very happy, but is “happy” something you want to pursue? It’s like trying to grab a hold of sand and keeping it in your hand.

There have been many attempts to “sell Jesus” that have gone wrong. The truth is we are an “assurance” salesperson, I just think the advertising we use make Jesus a hard sell.

The Psalmist tells reminds us that we are to give glory to the Name of God because of His mercy and to give glory to His truth. His sales pitch is God is our help and shield.

When I think of giving glory to God’s name I believe we do that through our character and the way we carry ourselves. I can remember growing up there was a time when my Dad would give me strict warning not to do anything that would cause my name to be in the newspaper in a negative way.  In our small town people were judged by their name sake. There are multiple times in the Bible where someone is asking for mercy and deliverance “for Your name’s sake”.

Then there’s “Your truth” he speaks about. I believe the truth of God is best received when we patiently wait for someone to ask. A witness only answers when he is asked for his testimony. Our actions will raise questions. I read a billboard which said “God isn’t looking for attorneys, He’s looking for witnesses”.  Another moto I live by is “before you tell someone about Jesus, Tell Jesus about that somebody”. In other words, asking God to draw a person unto Himself makes us a vessel for the work He alone can do. Than when someone trusts Jesus as savior or surrenders to His lordship we can say, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”  Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 133-139

Think About This:If God’s peace is in our hearts, we carry it with us, and it can be given to those around us, not by our own will or virtue, but by the Holy Spirit working through us. We cannot give what we do not have, but if the spirit blows through the dark clouds, and enters our hearts, we can be used as vehicles of peace, and our own peace will be thereby deepened. The more peace we give away, the more we have.Madeleine L’Engle

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Oh, what joy for those who disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Psalm 32:1-2