Author: America's Keswick

The purpose of America's Keswick is to model and teach Biblical victorious living in Christ Jesus, to provide an environment in which Biblical life transformation takes place and to foster active personal involvement in the local church.

The Adventure Begins, January 1, 2010

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The Adventure Begins January 1, 2010

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon ME and go and pray to ME, and I will listen to you. And you will seek ME and find ME, when you search for ME with all of your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:11-13
I want to invite you to join me and the Keswick family on an exciting adventure that begins in two days. I have already invited 450 people to join me on this year long adventure — and I’d like to have you be a part of it too!
It started out as our theme for summer 2010 — DIGGING DEEPER into GOD’S WORD — Exploring the Promises of God’s Word … but the more I thought about it, the more God impressed upon my heart that this needs to be our 2010 theme for the entire year.
It all began when I was given a copy of a survey that was done by our good friends from Back to the Bible. The results were astounding and confirmed in my heart that we as a ministry need to do our part to encourage people to get into God’s WORD.
Here are some of the results:
*** Respondents who read the Bible at least four times a week are less likely to engage in behaviors such as gambling, pornography, getting drunk, and sex outside of marriage.
*** Having a mentor or following a Bible reading plan, may increase Bible reading and literacy.
*** Respondents who use a journal are significantly more likely to read the Bible at least four times a week, compared to those who do not use a journal.
*** Following a Bible reading plan was significantly more common among people who read the Bible five to seven times a week than those who read less frequently. Seven out of ten respondents who use a Bible reading plan read the Bible daily, compared to only a little more than one-third of those who do not follow a plan.
*** Those that prefer to read the Bible in the morning are significantly more likely to read the Bible five to seven times per week, compared to people who prefer to read in the evening.
*** Having an accountability partner is associated with more days and more time spent reading the Bible.
*** Respondents with a spiritual mentor read the Bible significantly more than their counterparts without a mentor.
The question was asked, “What hinders you from reading the Bible?” There were 11,025 reasons given for not reading the Bible … some of the top answers were: too busy, too distracted, to tired, no discipline, not a priority …. The bottom line is that hearing from God is of low importance to a majority of the people polled who claimed to be His followers.
So here is my invitation: will you join me in 2010 in reading through the Bible? I want to provide you will all the resources that will make that easier for you to do. I have a limited number of copies of the English Standard Version (ESV) that I am willing to send you at NO COST (you make a donation for postage) if you are willing to make the commitment. We will include a copy of the DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN — Daily Proverbs, Old and New Testament to help keep you on track.
I believe that this adventure will be the catalyst to transform our personal lives, our marriages, our churches, and ultimately, our country. Are you willing to join me on the journey? Let me hear from you today. I will be posting resources on our website to help us on the journey. I trust you will join me. Please let me hear from you today.
To obtain you free copy of the ESV, please respond to this email/blog/Facebook page with your snail address.
God bless you, my brothers. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD: Proverbs 30; Zech. 13-14; Revelation 21
Great Quote: God is not a crotchety, self-righteous prude who delights in never doing anything wrong. He is a living, dynamic Being actively involved in making wrong right. He is scintillating light. — W. Bingham Hunter

The Meaning of Abiding in Him

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As we approach the end of 2009, would you take a moment to read my “End of Year” report and consider a gift to America’s KESWICK. You can give online (www.americaskeswick.org) or call 732-350-1187 to make your gift. Thanks for your consideration: http://www.americaskeswick.org/files/documents/brochures/yearinreview2009.pdf

The Meaning of Abiding in Him

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

Today’s devotional is another classic in helping you and me understand the meaning of victorious Christian living. It was written by the late Dr. Glyn Evans, former professor at Moody Bible Institute (Daily with the King):

Every disciple will pass through three levels of relationship with Jesus Christ, each one in response to an invitation. “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28) is the first one. It is Christ’s invitation to find rest and relief from the awesome burden of sin, the first and most necessary step in anyone’s life.

The second is “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and invitation to a closer relationship, a relationship of servant and master. Christ needs workers to carry out His purposes for this age, and the second invitation is His plea for help.

The third is “Abide with Me” (John 15:4), and it refers to the deepest human relationship any human can have with Jesus. It is the KEY to victorious Christian living, and it is the greatest way in which we can glorify God.

What does it mean to abide in Him? I think it means three things:

1. A CONSCIOUS AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE AT ALL TIMES! That does not mean direct verbal communication with Him, but the feeling that He is there, as a child playing is aware of its mother’s nearby presence.

2. A CAREFUL CONSULTATION WITH HIM ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT AFFECTS US. That consultation may be in direct prayer, or else in scanning the Bible indirectly for any message He has for us there. The important thing is to keep the lines of communication open with Him so that we are instantly ready to receive any message sent from Him.

3. A CONTINUAL ENJOYMENT WITH HIM AS A PERSON. That means He is a joy, a delight to us at all times; the very thought of Him fills us with pleasure.

Lord, help me to graduate up the scale from convert, to ambassador, to confidant. To abide in You is right the high places of the earth.

Brothers, are you ABIDING IN HIM today? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 29; Zech. 9-12; Revelation 20

Great Quote: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD. GOD ALMIGHTY! God’s holiness is central to understanding who and what He is. Nowhere in Scripture is God called “love, love, love”; “eternal, eternal, eternal”; or “truth, truth, truth.” “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:3). Whenever you see three words like this, you are reading an emphatic statement that shouts, “This is the centerpiece, this is key, this is something you don’t want to miss.” — Dr. Tony Evans

The Second Advent

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The Second Advent
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“… denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12, 13).

The Second Advent, known also as the Return of Jesus or Christ’s Return, is based on the Scripture that Jesus promised to return to earth and rule His kingdom forever. The Second Coming should excite and encourage the new convert as well as the oldest saint and produce motivation to minister.

Important to avoid confusion, we should realize that the Second Coming (Advent) is in two phases: 1) the Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and 2) the Revelation of Christ coming in glory (Revelation 19:11-21). These two phases are separated by the Tribulation and other important events. The main single difference between the Rapture and the Revelation of Christ is that in the former, Christ comes “for” the Church and meets it in the air, and at the latter event Christ comes “with” His Bride (the Church) and lands on planet earth.

Why study prophecy? Where are we in the prophetic time table? Frankly, the first phase, the Rapture, is imminent. The next event in history! Is the finish line in sight? Consequently, we enthusiastically are “looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13).

Elwood McQuaid, Executive Director for the Friends of Israel, says, “Many people today want to know if we’re in the last days. There is an easy way to tell. You just need to know what you’re looking for.” Several current trends (not signs) provide insight into how far into the end times we have progressed.

Image Over Substance: decision making based on appearance and polls rather than proven substance.

The Plunge Into Apostasy: 2 Thessalonians 2:3, a “falling away” from the true faith and the Word of God.

Materialistic Madness: recent uncovered corruption, deception and thievery in the world of high finance and the near collapse of their corrupt system (1 Timothy 6:10).

Suppression of Israel: This “suppression” is the conscious international exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling. Jihadist fanatics desire to make Israel a mere memory (Zechariah 14:2,3).

We are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 to comfort one another with these words. Personally, I believe we are living in the last days, and time as we know it is short. Jesus tells us to be ready for His Return, not to get ready! Are you ready? If not, why not? “Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). — Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired pastor and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 28; Zech. 5-8; Revelation 19

Great Quote: Faith is the eye by which we look to Jesus. A dim-slighted eye is still an eye. A weeping eye is still an eye. An injured eye is still an eye.””Faith is the hand by which we lay hold of Jesus. A trembling hand is still a hand. A maimed, deformed hand is still a hand. Faith is the tongue by which we taste how good the Lord is. A feverish tongue is still a tongue. Faith is the foot by which we come to Jesus. A lame, slow hurting foot is still a Foot. George Muller

The Hidden Life

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The Hidden Life

“… Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:10

Good morning on this first Sunday after Christmas. I trust you are looking forward to spending your day with the Lord and His people.

Here is the second part of the teaching I wanted to share with you from the pen of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

The Spirit of God testifies to and confirms the simple, but almighty, security of the life that “is hidden with Christ in God.” Paul continually brought this out in his New Testament letters. We talk as if living a sanctified life were the most uncertain and insecure thing we could do. Yet it is the most secure thing possible, because it has Almighty God in and behind it. The most dangerous and unsure thing is to try to live without God. For one who is born again, it is easier to live in a right-standing relationship with God than it is to go wrong, provided we heed God’s warnings and “walk in the light” ( 1 John 1:7 ).

When we think of being delivered from sin, being “filled with the Spirit” ( Ephesians 5:18 ), and “walking in the light,” we picture the peak of a great mountain. We see it as very high and wonderful, but we say, “Oh, I could never live up there!” However, when we do get there through God’s grace, we find it is not a mountain peak at all, but a plateau with plenty of room to live and to grow. “You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip” ( Psalm 18:36 ).

When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. If you see Him when He says, “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” (John 14:27 ), I defy you to worry. It is virtually impossible to doubt when He is there. Every time you are in personal contact with Jesus, His words are real to you. “My peace I give to you . . .” (John 14:27 )— a peace which brings an unconstrained confidence and covers you completely, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. “. . . your life is hidden with Christ in God,” and the peace of Jesus Christ that cannot be disturbed has been imparted to you.

Rejoice, brothers! Your life is hidden with Christ in God. That’s reason to celebrate as you worship HIM today — Your audience of ONE! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 27; Zechariah 1-4; Revelation 18

Great Quote: Shut out the evil love of the world so that you may be filled with the love of God. — Augustine

Sharing in the Atonement

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Sharing in the Atonement

God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ … Galatians 6:14

I want to share today and tomorrow two very powerful teachings from Oswald Chambers that express the “victorious Christian life” message that has been a part of the fabric of the ministry of America’s KESWICK for over 112 years.

Take time today and tomorrow and reflect on this life-transforming truth:

The gospel of Jesus Christ always forces a decision of our will. Have I accepted God’s verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ? Do I have even the slightest interest in the death of Jesus? Do I want to be identified with His death— to be completely dead to all interest in sin, worldliness, and self? Do I long to be so closely identified with Jesus that I am of no value for anything except Him and His purposes?

The great privilege of discipleship is that I can commit myself under the banner of His Cross, and that means death to sin. You must get alone with Jesus and either decide to tell Him that you do not want sin to die out in you, or that at any cost you want to be identified with His death. When you act in confident faith in what our Lord did on the cross, a supernatural identification with His death takes place immediately. And you will come to know through a higher knowledge that your old life was “crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6 ).

The proof that your old life is dead, having been “crucified with Christ” ( Galatians 2:20 ), is the amazing ease with which the life of God in you now enables you to obey the voice of Jesus Christ. Every once in a while our Lord gives us a glimpse of what we would be like if it were not for Him. This is a confirmation of what He said— “. . . without Me you can do nothing” ( John 15:5 ). That is why the underlying foundation of Christianity is personal, passionate devotion to the Lord Jesus.

We mistake the joy of our first introduction into God’s kingdom as His purpose for getting us there. Yet God’s purpose in getting us into His kingdom is that we may realize all that identification with Jesus Christ means.

Allow this truth to penetrate your heart today, my brothers. Have a great day after Christmas. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER — Proverbs 26; Haggai; Revelation 17

Great Quote: If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love. Amy Carmichael

Did you download your free A DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN — Daily Proverbs, Old and New Testament? Use this link to get your copy today and join us on the DIGGING DEEPER adventure: http://www.americaskeswick.org/BibleReading

Merry Christmas — His Birth and Our New Birth

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Merry Christmas — His Birth and Our New Birth

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.'” — Matthew 1:23

Good morning, my brothers. Merry Christmas. On behalf of the Board and staff of America’s KESWICK and the team of Freedom Fighter writers, we pray that your day will be blessed as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today’s devotional comes from the pen of my favorite devotional author, Oswald Chambers, and is the December 25th reading from My Utmost for His Highest:

His Birth in History. “. . . that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God ( Luke 1:35 ). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of— He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate— God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent— the appearance of God in human form.

His Birth in Me. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you . . .” (Galatians 4:19 ). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” ( John 3:7 ). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.

God Evident in the Flesh. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ.

Rejoice, my brothers — the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King! May God bless you! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 25; Zephaniah; Revelation 16

Great Quote: For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all; No palace too great, no cottage too small. Phillips Brooks

Did you download your free A DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN — Daily Proverbs, Old and New Testament? Use this link to get your copy today and join us on the DIGGING DEEPER adventure: http://www.americaskeswick.org/BibleReading

Who Should Keep Christ in Christmas?

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Thanks for your patience as we work through the difficulties we have been experiencing with getting the email version of Freedom Fighter to you these past several weeks. I want to remind you to please check the website if you do not get your email version: http://www.americaskeswick.org/. I want to thank Brian Bitler, our Director of IT for all he is doing to resolve this problem so that we can enjoy our journey together. Thanks, Brian.

I am thankful for the guys that assist me in writing Freedom Fighter throughout the year: Chris Hughes, Pastor John Strain, Dr. Henry Lutz and Dr. George Van Sandt. Their help is much appreciated and I know you are blessed as they write. I also want to thank Keswick Board member, George Hutchison, for his STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT blog. Today’s Freedom Fighter is his post for yesterday, and I felt it was important to share it with all of you today on this Christmas Eve, 2009:

Who should keep Christ in Christmas?

As we see Merry Christmas being replaced with the more “politically correct” Happy Holidays, I have always fought the noble battle to tell merchants and society to keep Christ in Christmas. As I leave a store, I defiantly tell the cashier “Merry Christmas” when every sign screams loud and clear “Happy Holidays”.

I always made sure that our “Holiday Cards” not only include a manger scene on the front, but a Bible verse on the inside. I send emails with a bold “Merry Christmas” no matter who the recipient is. Yes, in my little mind I felt I was a good soldier in the “Keep Christ in Christmas” war in our society.

But yesterday in Sunday School, someone referred to this quote by Warren Wiersbe. “Today…the world is telling the church to face up to her sins, repent, and start being the true church of the Gospel” (The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson). And then I remembered what Larry Burkett used to say. “We don’t need to preach to the unsaved world to put Christ back into Christmas. They shouldn’t, we should.”

I started to think; whose job is it to keep Christ in Christmas? I began to realize that to our society and lost world, Christmas is just a holiday. Christmas represents time off from work, time to be with friends and family and time to get and receive gifts. That is a great holiday and a great reason to be happy. So Happy Holidays is very appropriate.

But for the follower of Jesus Christ, Christmas is so much more. It is more than the time off from work and gifts and time to share with family and friends. It is even more than the baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Christmas represents a gift from God to all mankind that opens the way to God Himself. This gift is the only way to God and a way that never could be created by mankind.

So how can we expect society, or mall stores or our government to keep Christ in Christmas when it really is nothing more than a happy holiday to them? So then exactly whose responsibility is it to keep Christ in Christmas?

We, individually as believers and collectively as the church have so much more to celebrate than the world does on December 25th. If we (followers of Jesus Christ) don’t keep Christ is Christmas, it will very quickly become just a happy holiday.

So as we celebrate Christmas this year we must remember it is our job; not our politicians or local communities or merchants to keep Christ in Christmas. To them, it is just a happy holiday.

Merry Christmas and thank you God for opening the way to You through the greatest gift of all, your son, Jesus Christ!! — George Hutchison is a member of the Board of America’s KESWICK and is a certified instructor with Crown Financial

God’s WORD for US: Proverbs 24; Habakkuk, Revelation 15
Great Quote: Your Lord is Love: love Him and in Him all men, as His children in Christ. Your Lord is a fire: do not let your heart be cold, but burn with faith and love. Your Lord is light: do not walk in darkness of mind, without reasoning or understanding, or without faith. Your Lord is a God of mercy and bountifulness: be a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbours. If you will be such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory. John of Kronstadt

Did you download your free A DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN — Daily Proverbs, Old and New Testament? Use this link to get your copy today and join us on the DIGGING DEEPER adventure: http://www.americaskeswick.org/BibleReading

Home for Christmas

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Technical Difficulties … we are having some issues with the email version of Freedom Fighter and Victory Call. Don’t miss your time with us each day. You can check out the daily version on the America’s KESWICK website. We apologize for the inconvenience. We are working on resolving the problem. Thanks for your patience.

Home for Christmas

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on earth. For people who speak this make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country. that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city … absent from the body — and to be at home with the Lord.” Hebrews 11:13-16 & 2 Corinthians 5:8

I’ve told you before that I love the music of Christmas. I love the carols and hymns, but I have to admit I have always been a sucker for the secular Christmas … please don’t send me letters 🙂

One of the songs that almost always brings me to tears is the song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Christmas was one of those special holidays for me while growing up. My Mom and Dad were basically poor people all their lives, but Christmas was a time of celebration and our dining room was always filled with lots of people — family as well as seniors that might not have a place to go for Christmas.

After we got married, everyone came to our house for Christmas. It was awesome to all be together. But times have changes and our individual families have grown with their own kids and traditions. And one by one, loved ones have gone home to be with the Lord, making Christmas just a wee bit different.

As a Dad with grown kids, it is hard for me to think of Christmas without having all my kids home for the holidays. It is pretty selfish on my part, but it means so much to me to have them all gathered together. Last Christmas was very difficult for us because it was our first Christmas without Lindsay. While we were all together, we were all missing her deeply.

Many of you will be experiencing something similar this Christmas. You’ve lost a loved one, and this will be the first Christmas without them. I have a good friend in ministry whose wife recently went home to be with the Lord. My heart is very heavy for him and his young kids as they experience this first Christmas without her.

In just the past few days, we have lost three really good friends of America’s KESWICK: Jane Eron has been a faithful partner and friend to all of us. She has daily prayed for our ministry and been such an encourager. Last week she went home to be with Jesus at age 81.

Gladys Platt was a special servant of the Lord. She and Al were pioneers in organizing and leading our Hispanic Weekends that have been going on for over 25 years. They were married for 62 years. They served as missionaries in Latin America, and then served as the Directors of CAM International. They have faithfully cared for a special needs daughter, Brenda, for over 50 years. After a long, hard battle with cancer, Gladys entered the presence of Jesus on Saturday night.

Jim Shields has been the Executive Director at Twin Pines camp in the Poconos for years, and has been a major part of the Christian Camps and Conference Association. In his role in CCCA he has mentored hundreds of men and women who serve in camping and conference ministry. He has battled cancer for 5 years, and on Sunday afternoon, he went home to be with Jesus.

These losses are hard for us — but guess what — Jane, Gladys and Jim are home for Christmas! They will be celebrating Christmas in a way that we can’t even imagine! My sanctified imagination pictures Jesus welcoming them into His house with his big open arms saying, “Welcome home! I’ve been waiting for you! Come and enjoy Christmas with me!”

Brothers, that is our hope! One day we will be celebrating the real Christmas — Christmas with Jesus. But until then — make your Christmas one that is Christ-centered. Enjoy your families and loved ones as you celebrate Him — the reason for the season. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for US; Proverbs 23; Nahum; Revelation 14

Great Quote: We have a God who delights in impossibilities. Andrew Murray

I am really excited about inviting you to join us on an a adventure in 2010 that I believe can turn your world upside down. Our theme for 2012 is DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD — Exploring the Promises of God.

This year I want to encourage our friends and partners in joining me each day reading God’s WORD. We are preparing a number of practical resources to help you on the journey, and they will all be available on our website.

To get you started, here is a link to our brand new DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN. The guide gives you a chapter in Proverbs, as well as an Old and New Testament reading for each day of the year. Reading them daily will take you through the entire Bible in a year. Will you join me?
Now here is the link: http://www.americaskeswick.org/BibleReading

The Hallelujah Chorus

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The Hallelujah Chorus

Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.” Psalm 150:1
Christmas is a season filled with music. I love Christmas music. I love the carols of Christmas. It is a time for all of us to celebrate and praise the Lord for His gift to us — the birth of His Son, Jesus — the Messiah! The Anointed One! Immanuel — God with us!
I love what Dr. Don Wrtyzen says about Psalm 150 …
This psalm is an orchestra of praise — every instrument imaginable poised and lifted up in worship, celebrating God’s incomparable excellence.
Wherever His creatures live, God should be praised, the psalmist says. First, he encourages believers to praise the Lord in the sanctuary. Second, he urges the angels to praise the Lord in the sky, the vault of heaven. Since God’s glory fills the universe, his praise must do no less!
Many of us organize our lives into neat convenient categories — business, domestic, spiritual. We find it hard to think about praising the Lord at work, or while swimming or playing tennis, or at home with the family [or shoveling snow!]. Worship is slotted in on Sunday mornings.
Many of us have fallen into the sacred vs. the secular dichotomy, which robs of spontaneity and vitality in our relationship with the Lord. Such a narrow concept of praise leads to a life of truth without beauty, which, in turn, can result in legalism, disillusionment, or even rebellion.
We need to learn to praise the Lord wherever we are. We ought to try standing around the dinner table, holding hands with our loved ones, and singing the “Doxology” together. We ought to dare humming the tune to a hymn at break in the office. We ought to join some major community choir in the Easter of Christmas season, sing the “Hallelujah Chorus,” and allow ourselves to lose control of our emotions, letting tears flow down our cheeks and the chills run up our spines! That will be a preview of heaven when we join the angelic choir of millions upon millions! Hallelujah!
Prayer: Dear Lord, may I be bold enough to praise You wherever I am today. You inhabit praise, so my joyful heart is your “sanctuary.” (from A Musician Looks at the Psalms — Dr. Don Wyrtzen — Broadman and Holman)
Good words today to help prepare our hearts for December 25th. Praise Him today, brothers! He is your All in All! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
God’s WORD for US: Proverbs 22; Micah 6-7; Revelation 13
Great Quote: We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God.Matthew Henry

We are getting ready to kick off the new year — 2010 with a new theme for the year. We are excited to challenge our partners and friends to join us on a journey in DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD … Exploring the Promises of God. Watch for information the next few days how YOU can join us on this journey.

Lines in the Grass

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Lines in the Grass

“And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.” Judges 6:38-40(ESV)

“Number seven…number seven.” yep that’s me. I had number seven at the Christmas party. I walk up to a full table of presents and try to proclaim the aforementioned verse. “What did he say?” “He’s trying to quote from the story of Gideon.” Well, I grab a box and unwrap it. It’s a game called “Armchair Quarterback” and for those of you who read Freedom Fighters, this is the gift that Pastor Dave Rittinger swaps with me. I got the watch and we were both very happy. However little did I know that when it was all done and over with this verse was going to repeat itself the next morning.

I heard a brother give testimony on cutting grass during his time at the Colony of Mercy. One a grad just happen to walk by this brother and jokingly stated that his lines in the cut grass were straighter during his time. This joke had got this brother to thinking. “I do need to make my lines better.” He asked someone how cornfields get straight lines and the answer was to focus on one point and walk towards that point. This brother tries this and it works.

But after a while he notices that he cannot keep his focus just on this one point so he looks down to follow his lines in the grass. Then he noticed his lines were going crooked again. All ready being full of conflict within himself along with the everyday frustrations of being at the Colony this brother wonders why. And then he looked up, there was the Cross that is already on the grounds behind the Raw’s Memorial Lodge.

Now I am not giving you the whole testimony but within it I was reminded at times of Gideon. This brother wants to save his marriage and he needed assurance from God that He was even there. That He was even listening. This brother understands that God puts guys like us in the Colony but it’s finding out why that drives Colony men to our knees. I have asked for a sign even after the sign earlier in my walk. Now I can just envision the Savior looking down and saying, “C’mon now, don’t make me get the heavy stuff out.”

Gideon asked God for a sign and he received a wet fleece, this brother asked for straighter lines in his grass cutting and was given a focal point. In Gideon’s moment of doubt he asked for another sign and he found wet ground, in this brother’s moment of doubt he was given this Proverb “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you, ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left, remove your foot from evil.”Then he looked and saw the Cross. — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor

God’s WORD for US: Proverbs 21; Micah 4-5; Revelation 12

Great Quote: “The main problem with this definition of love is that when you try to apply it to God’s love for us, it distorts reality. God’s love for us is not mainly His making much of us, but His giving us the ability to enjoy making much of Him forever. In other words, God’s love for us keeps God at the center. God’s love for us exalts His value and our satisfaction in it. If God’s love made us central and focused on our value, it would distract us from what is most precious; namely Himself.” “Pierced by the Word” John Piper

Watch for information about our special DIGGING DEEPER theme for 2010.