God’s Glory on Display (Part 2)

God’s Glory on Display (Part 2)

I love reading from a scientist’s point of view, how our great God displays his glory in nature. It reminds me of how truly awesome and majestic He is.

Mark Batterson in his new book, PRIMAL, shares Psalm 29 from The Message. He calls this Psalm “Ode to a Thunderstorm”

Bravo, God, bravo!
Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”
In awe before the glory,
in awe before God’s visible power …

God’s thunder tympanic,
God’s thunder symphonic.

God’s thunder smashes cedars,
God topples the northern cedars …

God’s thunder spits fire.
God thunders, the wilderness quakes;
He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.

God’s thunder sets the oak tree dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees — we call our, “Glory!”

During the past few days we have witnessed God’s power and glory as He has painted the landscape with snow — and tons of snow! The last storm brought down many trees on our property (as well as wires!!!).

When the sun comes out the trees just seem to sparkle and glow with beauty. Icicles are hanging every where, and when the sun shines on them, they are spectacular.

As a kid I was not real found of thunderstorms. But even thunderstorms display the glory of our God. I learned something new about thunderstorms from Mark Batterson’s book:

There are approximately two thousand thunderstorms somewhere on planet Earth at any given time. And there are approximately one hundred lightning strikes per second, or 8.64 million lightning strikes per day! That is a lot of standing ovations.

Batterson reminds us in the Psalm 29 that the angels shout, “Encore!” after each one!

When was the last time you shouted, “Bravo!” when you saw a sunrise? A sunset? The beauty of a moon as it arises each night? The heavens declare God’s glory. Don’t miss it. It is another gift He gives us daily to enjoy. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; Leviticus 23-24; Mark 1:1-22

Dig This Quote: The purpose of simplicity is not to prune those things away that bring us joy and enrich our lives. Instead, the purpose of simplicity is to streamline our loves in such a way that we have more room, time and energy for the pursuits and people that God ordains for us. – The Rewards of Simplicity Pam and Chuck D. Pierce

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 27:4; Level 2 —Psalm 34:1-10

God’s Glory on Display

God’s Glory on Display

“God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures every evening.

Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
Unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

God makes a huge dome for the sun — a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.

That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.” — Psalm 19:1-5 — from The Message

The heaven’s do declare the glory of our great God. In his book, PRIMAL — A QUEST FOR THE LOST SOUL OF CHRISTIANITY (Multnomah), Pastor Mark Batterson shares this amazing insight about the glory of the God displayed in the heavens:

The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are a miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. Our planet spins around its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while our planet does a 360 every twenty four hours, it is also hurtling through space at an unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph.

You may not have big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. Quite an accomplishment! And to top it off, the Milky Way galaxy is spinning at approximately 490,000 mph. It takes the Milky Way two hundred million years to make one full revolution.

No wonder David the Shepherd boy wrote in his journal:
I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world! — Psalm 8 from The Message


Ponder this today, my brothers, the God who made the heavens and earth, the One who has put the universe on display — loves YOU with an everlasting love! “How majestic is YOUR name, O Lord, in all the earth!” — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

NEW FEATURE: The Scriptures are now linked right to Bible Gateway. Click on the highlighted verses and it will take you right to the text. Today’s verses are from the New American Standard Version

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 17; Leviticus 21-22; Matthew 28

Dig This Quote: Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship!” – Thomas Carlyle, nineteenth-century Scottish essayist

Determined Digging: Level 1 —Psalm 27:4 ; Level 2 — Psalm 34:1-10

The Exchange of Grace

The Exchange of Grace

“Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Romans 6:1

Today’s devotional gets right at the core of the issues of grace and our sin. It is taken from THE ONE YEAR WALK WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL written by Chris Tiegreen, who serves with our good friends at Walk Thru the Bible. We love that ministry and commend it to you: http://www.walkthru.org/.

Listen to Chris’ insight today: It seems so unreal. The gospel of grace, the thought that EVERYTHING we have ever done and ever do is covered by the sacrifice of Jesus, seems so unlikely. The world we live in has not conditioned us to be that anything truly valuable is free.

The knowledge deep within us that we are spiritually and morally corrupt has not conditioned us to accept mercy so easily. We’re trained to understand that people get what they deserve, not that a something-for-nothing transaction is worth anything. Especially when the “something” is so huge and the “nothing” is so clearly devoid of merit.

So, Paul asked this question: Shall we go on sinning? If none of this gospel is based on merit, should we just give up trying to behave ourselves? It’s a question that, if we have to ask it, unmasks our motives. We’d prefer not to have much to do with God.

The answer to this question of sinning in the face of grace, according to Paul, is a horrified, “Of course not!” Paul is clear on one thing we frequently forget: We did not simply sign a contract for our salvation; we exchanged lives with a Redeemer. He took our sinful selves into the grace with Him and brought us a resurrected life instead. And that life can NEVER be comfortable with sin. Never.

Do you view your salvation simply as a contractual agreement that you guarantee you a pleasant eternity? They you will epic struggles with sin. You will find it much to easy to justify your indiscretions because, after all, a merciful God will overlook them. But if you view your salvation as a life-exchange –a once profane existence now traded for a Holy Substitute — then the very thought of sin will seem ludicrous.

Yes, there will be struggles, but not from any attempt to justify disobedience. The struggle will only be with the power of the flesh, which Jesus is ready and willing to subdue. With that kind of Savior, is there ANY reason to go on sinning?

Good stuff for this cold Tuesday in February. Don’t allow your sin to make your heart cold to His wanting you live HIS life in and through you, today. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; Leviticus 19-20; Matthew 27:51-56

Dig This Quote: Free grace can go into the gutter and bring up a jewel. — Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1- Psalm 27:4; Level 2 — Psalm 34:1-10

Being Just in an Unjust World

Being Just in an Unjust World

“He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

As a young child, when things did not go my way, I would make the accusation that I was not being treated fairly. As I grew older, it translated into feelings that there was no justice at all. Now that I’m an adult, I know that there is very little justice in the world and that God never promised justice from the world.

The pledge to the American flag ends with the words, “… with liberty and justice for all.” Webster’s Dictionary defines justice as the quality of being just, impartial or ethically correct. Do you believe there is justice for all? Have you ever been unjust toward others? How do you respond to being treated unfairly? I expect to shed some light on these questions and encourage all to be just in an unjust world.

In English, the terms “righteousness” and “justice” are different words, but in both the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament thee is only one word group behind these two English terms. In the Old Testament, the terms primarily translate forms of the “tsedek” word group. In the New Testament translation it is of the “dikaios” word group. These two terms will be sundered together as speaking of one attribute of God. God is Just!

Justice is one of many key themes of the Minor Prophets. While it is an attribute of God, justice is also an obligation on the part of man God created. “… and what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humble with your God” (Micah 6:8b). Here is a common standard of justice to which we are held accountable.

The reality of sin necessitates the connection between justice and mercy. Israel complained that God had been unjust in holding what they considered their proper amount of material blessings. “Where is the God of justice?” they complained. The people asked for justice, justice is what they should get. God should come and destroy their land, obliterate their city, and confine them all to an eternal hell for their wickedness. However, God’s grace and mercy prevailed, even as it does today. We should be grateful God does not give us what we deserve.

Because of sin we are unjust, and many times we are the victim of unjust acts. Don’t try to bring God down to our level of petty justice or understanding. Accept that God is good, that this is the age of grace and come to Him through Jesus while there is still time. While on planet Earth, with God’s grace, mercy and love we are able to maintain a good testimony before God and man. — Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired pastor and friend of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; Leviticus 17-18; Matthew 27:27-50

Dig This Quote: The marvel of the grace of God is that He can take the strand evil and twistedness out of a man’s mind and imagination and make him simple towards God. Restoration through the redemption of Jesus Christ makes a man simple, and simplicity always show itself in action. – Oswald Chambers

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 27:4; Level 2 –Psalm 34:1-10

Psalm 89 — A paraphrase


Psalm 89 — A paraphrase

Today is the Lord’s day — a day set apart for Him and Him alone. I recently read this paraphrase of Psalm 89 and thought it would be fitting for this Lord’s Day:

I feel like singing this morning, O Lord.
I feel like telling everyone about me how great YOU are!

If only they could know the depths of YOUR love
and Your eternal concern for those who will follow You!
But my songs are so often off-key.
My speech is inadequate.
I simply cannot express what I feel,
what I know to be true about YOUR love for Your creatures upon this world.

But even the songs of the birds proclaim Your praises.
The heavens and the earth beneath them,
the trees that reach toward YOU
the flowers that glow in colorful beauty,
the green hills and soaring mountains,
the valleys and the plains,
the lakes and the rivers,
the great oceans that pound our shores.
they proclaim YOUR greatness, O God,
and YOUR love for the sons of men.

How glorious it is to be alive, O Lord!
May every breath of my body,
every beat of my heart,
be dedicated to YOUR praise and glory!

Brothers, enjoy HIM today. He is your AUDIENCE of ONE. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; Leviticus 15-16; Matthew 27:1-26

Dig This Quote: As a good Christian should consider every place holy because God is there, so he should look upon every part of his life as a matter of holiness because it is to be offered unto God. – William A. Law

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 27:4; Level 2 –Psalm 34:1-10

Is Your Mind Stayed on God?



Is Your Mind Stayed on God?

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

Today’s devotional is from the pen of Oswald Chamber’ February 11th reading from MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. It is a great follow-up to our discussions this week on anxiety:

Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22 ).



Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (
2 Corinthians 10:5 ). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together.



When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.



“We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . .” (
Psalm 106:6-7 ). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.

Is your mind staying on God today, brothers? Memorize Isaiah 26:3. It’s a great verse to have in your spiritual arsenal. — Bill Welte is President and CEO

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 14; Leviticus 14; Matthew 27:51-75

DIG THIS QUOTE: Until we understand how holy God is, we will never understand how gracious he has been in his long-suffering attitude toward sin. – R.C. Sproul

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Psalm 19:14; Level 2 — Psalm 27:1-6

The Sin of Anxiety

THE SIN OF ANXIETY

“He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Ok … so it must be ME that needs to get this anxiety thing! I opened my devotional readings again for today and got hammered yet again. Not only am I to be anxious for NOTHING … absolutely NOTHING … but I was reminded again this morning that my anxiety is SIN!

Dr. Jerrry Bridges in his devotional book, HOLINESS — TRANSFORMATIONAL THOUGHTS FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (NAVPRESS) writes:

When we tell someone, “Don’t be anxious,” we’re simply trying to encourage or admonish that person in a helpful way. But when GOD in His Word tells us, “Don’t be anxious,” it has the force of a moral command. It’s His moral will that we not be anxious. Or to say it more explicitly, ANXIETY IS SIN!

Anxiety is sin for two reasons. First, it’s distrust of God. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus said that if our heavenly Father takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, will He not much more take care of our temporal needs? When I give way to anxiety, I’m in effect believing that God won’t take care of me!

Anxiety is also a lack of acceptance of God’s providence — His orchestrating ALL circumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of all His people. Some believers have difficulty accepting the fact that God does in fact do this, even those who believe this glorious truth often lose sight of it. Instead we focus on the immediate causes of our anxiety rather than remembering that those causes are under God’s control.

Anxiety is one of my persistent temptations. If you’re frequently tempted to anxiety as I am, can you recognize the types of circumstances that tend to make you anxious? Do you identify with me in chafing under God’s providential will for you when it differs from your own agenda? If so, I encourage you to ask God to give you faith to believe that His providential will for you in these circumstances flows from His infinite wisdom and goodness and is ultimately intended for His glory and your good. Ask Him to give you a heart that is submissive to His providential will.

Wow! I want to be “more than a conqueror” in this area of my life. Thanks, Lord, for this reminder. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 12; Leviticus 13; Matthew 26:26-50

DIG THIS QUOTE: His words are as true as His own existence. He is unchangeable. He has never had to alter one saying or call back a single sentence. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 –Psalm 19:14; Level 2 — Psalm 27:1-6

Footprints in the Snow

“Footprints In The Snow”

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 131:1-3(ESV)

When I was a child, I spoke like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child but when it snows I play like a child. Twenty plus inches fell down on this Saturday and I must go out into this amazing blessing of God. I realize there are those of you who disagree with snow being a blessing but I find a silence in the morning snow that you get nowhere else. So as I was walking to see if the morning paper was even there, I mediated on Psalm 131. Our Church does Bible readings and we are reading from Psalms. It will be my turn the following Sunday but because of this snow fall…ah, I won’t go there, it’s only Saturday morning but I have Psalm 131 to read.

It may only be three verses but this Psalm keys in on humility, being content and having confidence in the Lord. These three verses have the contrast of a self that can be puffy and “in-your-face” but rather with the soul that is calm and serene, an illustration of a patient soul with simile of a weaned child with its mother. We have here three verses that can say with assurance to have “hope in the Lord.” In these three verses we can take the stance that there is no dependency on self and no belief that the present time is a prison.

When we do our Bible readings we are encouraged by our Deacon to share something on what we have just read. Either something where the verses have applied themselves to our everyday life to maybe something we might have found in something we have read or seen. I try to find a commentary or two and see if there is something in my life where I can show how God’s Word influence’s me. On this morning, God’s blessing of snow makes me feel like…well…a child. Wanna throw a snowball at something…anything. Alright maybe that ain’t too Christ-like…I still wanna do it.

Anyway, on this snow driven morning I wonder about my “posture” when it comes to people seeing me walk as a Christian man. I mean when it comes to “walking uprightly” do I do it too self-consciously or do I feel like drooping and being hunched over so it looks like a burden? How about “Am I excited as a child in the morning snow, knowing that the news for the morning will be “NO SCHOOL TODAY!!” Am I excited this morning as I know all this snow has to be removed and my back ain’t what it use to be? Or can I wean myself off the notion that my burden is my own and I can’t share it with anyone…even Him!

This may be hard thing to realize but I should be excited about my Christian walk just like a little child. Even if I am a 47 year old man. So if you are taking a quiet morning stroll in the morning, even if it’s been snowing, and start to wonder “Do I need to humbly approach the Cross like a man?” you can refer yourself to what Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Feel like throwing a snowball? I do!! But with the love of Christ. — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 11; Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8:18-34

DIG THIS QUOTE: “We must become as little children, Mat 18:3. Our hearts are desirous of worldly things, cry for them, and are fond of them; but, by the grace of God, a soul that is made holy, is weaned from these things. The child is cross and fretful while in the weaning; but in a day or two it cares no longer for milk, and it can bear stronger food. Thus does a converted soul quiet itself under the loss of what it loved, and disappointments in what it hoped for, and is easy whatever happens.” — Matthew Henry

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 — Psalm 19:14; Level 2 — Psalm 27:1-6

Be Anxious for Nothing (Part 2)

Be Anxious for Nothing (Part 2)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication … “Philippians 4:6

God does have a sense of humor! Don’t let that shock you — He does. After all, He created YOU!

Yesterday I wrote about anxiety and was impressed with myself! I had read Chuck D. Pierces book on THE REWARDS OF SIMPLICITY and new that I would be able to share that information with you at some point. Good stuff …

And then the Lord this morning reminded me about what I wrote and said, “Now do you REALLY believe it?” Ouch — I hate when that happens.

EVERYTHING I read in my devotional time all tied together this morning. And guess the topic? Anxiety!!! In fact, Blackabys devotional today was titled: BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING!

There are two major things that I am anxious about right now: 1. The snowstorm this weekend meant that our weekend guests cancelled their conference resulting in a $20,000 loss in income on a week that we have payroll! 2. I have a key employee that resigned on Friday. When I say key, he really does the work of two employees. He is one of these unbelievably gifted young men. Filling his shoes is going to be humanly difficult.

So when God spoke to me today, I NEEDED IT! STREAMS IN THE DESERT really nailed it for me:

“Surely I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Never look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear. Instead, as they arise look at them with full assurance that God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. Hasn’t He kept you safe up to now? So hold His loving hand tightly, and He will lead you safely through ALL things. And when you cannot stand, He will carry you in His arms.

Do not look ahead to what MAY happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you TODAY will take care of you TOMORROW and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you may bear it. BE AT PEACE, THEN, AND SET ASIDE ALL ANXIOUS THOUGHTS and worries.

The Lord IS my Shepherd. — Psalm 23:1. Now WAS, not MAY be, nor WILL be. “The Lord IS my shepherd.” He IS on Sunday, on Monday, and through every day of the week. He IS in January, in December and every month of the year. He IS when I am at home and in China. He IS during peace or war, and in times of abundance and poverty.” — J. Hudson Taylor

God KNOWS all about today as well as tomorrow. He knows how HE will provide the $20,000 short-fall. He knows how he will provide for America’s KESWICK as he has lead and directed my key employee to start a new venture. He knows exactly the next steps. Therefore I need not fear, worry or fret. Today I can replace them with TRUST and move from fear to faith.

Thank You, Lord, for speaking to MY heart today in such a CLEAR way. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 10; Leviticus 8-10; Matthew 25:31-36

DIG THIS QUOTE: It was said of Moses that he spent forty years in the wilderness learning to be nothing, so that he might spend the next forty years proving God to be everything. – James Montgomery Boice

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING …

“Be anxious for nothing …” Philippians 4:6
Have you ever heard the phrase, “You’re just like your father?” Well I had to chuckle this weekend because I saw that ring true in my son, Zach this weekend.
He wasn’t really feeling well on Thursday night, and by Friday morning he was feeling pretty lousy. I went out to our family room and asked him what was wrong and he said, “I’m all churned up!” I asked him why and he said, “I’m up tight about the blizzard that’s coming, going to the doctors today, and about snowboarding on Monday.”

Apart from the snowboarding, I knew exactly what he was feeling. He’s just like me in more ways than I want to admit. I’ve struggled with anxiety for a good portion of my life. Anxiety can tie us up in knots, make us sick, and cripple us from living life as God intends.

Paul in this amazing passage in Philippians 4, makes it very clear. He gives us a list of the things that we can be anxious about. He makes is really simple to remember the outline: 1. Nothing. 2. Nothing. 3. Nothing.
One author says this about anxiety: Anxiety is progressive. Anxiety moves into fear. Fear develops into control. The fear of losing control eventually becomes panic. Panic then becomes trauma. Your present becomes your past, which is called post-traumatic stress syndrome. (Chuck D. Pierce — The Rewards of Simplicity — Revell)

Chuck Pierce in the book mentioned above, shares 15 practical ways to address your anxiety. I found this list very helpful to me:

1. Be simple. Call your sin -sin!
2. Agree with the Word of God.
3. Allow the Word and the Holy Spirit to work in you mightily.
4. Forgive those who have hurt you in any way.
5. Break the power of isolation around you.
6. Become vulnerable.
7. Experience God’s love.
8. Be willing to pray for others who are struggling with the same issue.
9. Let go and lose control.
10. Give! Give! Give!
11. Submit quickly to His will even when you are confused by a circumstance.
12. Resist the enemy’s voice that convinces you that you have failed. Rejoice evermore and align every situation of your life with God’s perfect will.
13. Learn to listen to others so you can sense their emotional communication within their verbal communication.
14. Trust that God can send help and intervene in your life in time.
15. Be simple. Do what God tells you to do.
Are you struggling with anxiety today? Take some time to check out Philippians 4:6 and the verses that follow. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 9; Leviticus 6-7; Matthew 25:1-30
DIG THIS QUOTE: If God is sovereign, and he is on our side, then nothing can stop Him from His determination to keep us secure. – R. C. Sproul
DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 — Psalm 19:14; Level 2 — Psalm 27:1-6
Join us this Thursday night for our February Men’s Fellowship Night with special speaker, Dr. Glenn Blossom. The evening begins with dinner at 6:15 PM. Come bring a friend. Call for reservations: 732-350-1187