It’s Not That Difficult?

05/19/201705/16/2017Leave a comment

“Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.”

– Psalm 54:4 (NKJV)

There are no problems quite like “difficult people” problems, are there? Sometimes I would rather shove a broken plastic fork into my right eye than deal with difficult people, but when one claims to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the fork idea can only remain as a comical footnote in a Freedom Fighter. I also have a regular job that is full of difficult people who assure me that it is better for me to clean the sludge from the bottom of a waste water evaporator unit that handles 350 gallons of dirty shop water than to give them audience. So, when it comes to the daily grind of my every day, difficult people can be the road bumps that really didn’t need to installed…ever.

Scholars say it may have been anywhere from 18 months to 20 years that King Saul pursued David. Maybe it began with 5 stones that were picked up to slay The Giant instead of wearing that over-sized armor that set the guy off. I know Saul wasn’t too cool with hearing “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (1 Sam 18:7). This king even hurled a spear at David while he was trying to ease his unsettled spirit with a harp…toys in the attic don’t even describe how difficult it was for David to deal with King Saul. The history of this pursuit can be found in 1 Samuel and you should go check it out yourself, but what I would like to focus in on is a little song that David wrote called Psalm 54.

David gives us a perfect example of what we should do when we are faced with difficult people—pray!! “Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them” (Psalm 54:1-3). David acknowledges that YHVH was not in the minds of his enemies before they all sought to destroy him. It just may his way of saying to YHVH “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.” Coolness!

“Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth” (Psalm 54:4-5). In these verses, David not only acknowledges that YHVH is his defender but he reinforces what is written in the first verse of Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” David also points out that the wrong that is being done will backfire on those who are against him, and that his integrity would win the day… like when the coyote tries to catch the road-runner in those cartoons of old!! Beep-beep!!

“I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies” (Psalm 54:6-7). And then David concludes this Psalm with praises to his One true Defender!! If you turn to 1 Samuel 23:26-29, read it then see that the enemies of David actually left the mountain that he and his men were hiding out in. Saul and his men were surrounding David, but a Philistine raid turned the table and David gave the praise due to his Defender. David was even afforded the chance to watch as Saul and his men got smaller and smaller as they went off into the distance.

If we were to think about it, difficult people take up a big slice of everyone’s life and if we allow it to happen, they can dominate our thinking and drain our energy. This is why we need to pray—for them. Pray that the constant hostility turn to friendly relationship (easy to type on paper, hard to get the rubber to the road).

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 32-36| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote:“It seems strange to me that we all talk of the glory and delight of heaven where we will be surrounded by the very saints we couldn’t look at or get along with on earth!” — Charles R. Swindoll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:16

It Will Be Okay.

05/18/201705/16/2017Leave a comment

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” – 2^nd Corinthians 1:3

Those four words that are supposed to make everything better, “it will be okay.” That phrase has been ringing out for years by those who try to comfort the sorrows of another. We as believers in Jesus bring a message of hope that is truly able to make all things good.

As we were discussing the importance of a surrendered life to the Lord the other day, a thought came to my mind about how difficult it is to surrender or submit to something I didn’t know anything about. God slowly revealed to me all of the insecurities and anxieties I had that were paralyzing me and keeping me from experiencing the comfort of hope and peace.

I felt like a walking container of baggage that had accumulated over my life. It was as if I was carrying the weight of the world, and for the first time in my life, I had a glimmer of hope that there was a better way. So, how do we enter into a relationship with God that will help us to trust Him with all the issues of our lives? After all, I just wanted to feel safe and secure knowing that, well, “it was going to be okay.”

As I began to read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit began to assure me that this was real, that an important element is fellowship with other believers that have walked by faith with God and could help me see it played out. Paul starts his 2^nd letter to the Corinthian church by revealing an important aspect to the Christian walk.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

This equation is simple, we share with others what God has given us, and then they tell two friends who tell their two friends and so on. God, in His economy, has designed a system that we can use to comfort and give hope to one another. As believers, we can comfort someone with “it can be alright” by leading them into the hope that we experience. This has to be followed up with scripture and testimony that leads to putting their faith in God. We can come along side of a person who is in distress and is having a hard time carrying a heavy load by simply sharing the hope that is found in Christ. Once we come to a trusting and secure place where we know God is for us and our lives have a purpose, we can claim Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

It’s a simple equation that can make all the difference in the world. So, if you’re in need of being comforted, pray through God’s Word and seek out fellowship from like-minded believers who can remind you and comfort you with the Hope we all need. Also, be ready to minister that same comfort that you have experienced to others. This is how the body of Christ can be effective in a world full of uncertainties.

So remember, when times are tough, “It will be okay,” Amen?

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Job 37-38| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.” – Andrew Murray

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:16

To Know…

05/17/201705/01/2017Leave a comment

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

Last week a couple of the guys in the program and I went to see Lee Strobel’s Case for Christ. It was a refreshing movie with a lot of great insight. Without spoiling, the movie was interesting story of how Lee and his wife came to know Jesus on different journeys. The Word coupled with some sensitive circumstances and the actions of a kind woman pricked his wife. Alternately, Lee the investigative reporter needed hard-core evidence. Lee sought, with a hardened heart, to disprove the risen Savior with every protocol that contemporary journalism offers. He wanted to know…

Paul approaches Jesus with both personal encounter and a wealth of understanding. In addition, he never settled for mediocre Christianity; he wanted to know more. Paul knew what the scriptures were saying, but he wanted the knowledge of the ‘Person.’ He yearned for deeper complexity and sustenance; a richer understanding of the Christ.

Know that there is no complete comprehension of the righteousness of Christ, without proper understanding. We will never have a full understanding of the whole counsel of God; however… Have you become complacent in your understanding, have you built towers around a theology that leaves no room for error, how do you know what you know? To know is to allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate God’s Word, His presence, His Way to directed you in the purpose He has for you. Wouldn’t it be awesome to really Know?

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 54-56| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “We need to learn to know Him so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. To know in that way is a prerequisite of all true prayer.” – Ole Hallesby

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:16

The Future is as Bright as the Promises of God

05/16/201704/28/2017Leave a comment

“The future is as bright as the promises of God.” ~ Judson

Jesus’ resurrection bolstered up the faith of His followers. In fact, all of them went on to willingly give their lives in martyrdom, all looking forward to God fulfilling all of His promises. This is the emphasis in Hebrews 11 where the writer describes each Believer enduring hardship and reproach ‘because they considered God faithful who had promised, being sure of what they hoped for.’

The word translated ‘being sure’ was used for a ‘title deed’ which legally guaranteed the possessor future possession of a property. Faith gives certainty to our hopes. Faith is not the projection of our wishes and desires into the future, a kind of spiritual wishful thinking; rather, faith is the title deed to what we hope for. It gives solid confidence… a compelling certainty that what God has said, He will do. It is a certainty planted in the Believer’s heart by The Spirit, based on God’s Word (Ingid). It is why Jesus could pray ‘thy will be done’ in the garden, knowing the horrific sacrifice that was yet ahead of Him. God has promised to ‘never leave you nor forsake you.’ As for Christ’s Sacrifice, God had said, “But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.” (Isaiah 53:10)

Do you see the promise of resurrection and eternity in the verse? It was this ‘joy that was set before Jesus that enabled Him to endure the cross, despising its shame.’ It was the promise of your salvation and becoming a descendant that bolstered Him up in His trial and grief.

You too can press on through whatever besets you, knowing He who has promised is leading the way, caring for your every need. When our thoughts, desires, hopes, and actions line up with His “Perfect Will” and we are operating according to His “Perfect Design”, as Jesus was, we can say ‘being sure of what we hope for’ as we press on through each day.

Choose wisely…

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him…. 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.” (Hebrews 11:6,16)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 10-14| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:16

I Saw A Different Side of Addiction

05/15/201705/01/20171 Comment

Jan and I were privileged to take an 11 day trip to the Holy Land with America’s Keswick. When people say it will change you, they are so right. I will never read the bible the same way again.

We met a couple on our trip that have lived in Toms River most of their lives and yet have never heard of America’s Keswick. They come from a Catholic background and it was fascinating to hear the husband’s questions. You could see the wheels turning as we visited each site.

As we arrived at the airport to leave, the wife’s cell phone rang and she screamed and almost fainted. The call was from the coroner reporting that their 22 year old son had been found dead in his room from an overdose to heroin.

The next hour was very painful to watch as this Mom sobbed over the death of her son. He had been through Teen Challenge and was at a halfway house with good accountability.

I have served at America’s Keswick for 20 years and this was my first time to be in the presence of a family when they received the news that their loved one had died from an overdose. This moment will be forever etched in my mind.

It is a reminder that:

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.
Addiction is such a powerful thing and too often ends in death.
Every man or woman who is yielding to their drug of choice should have to sit with a family when the news is delivered to witness first hand the pain that comes with an addiction related death.
Statistically, parents who lose kids to death are at great risk for marital failure and even suicide.
Jesus Christ has come to give life and set the captives free. We’ve seen it happen over the course if our soon to be 120 years.

If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, we have a team of folks who stand ready to pray for you and your loved one. If you will email me their first name, we will join you in crying out to a God to rescue, redeem and restore them.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte D.D.

President/CEO

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader..

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 21-24| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “Whoever wants the next generation most will get them.” – Adolph Hitler

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:16

I Was There (but He did the work)

05/12/201705/10/2017Leave a comment

“It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.” ~Ephesians 2:1-2 (The Message)

It is quite possible that by the time you get to read this edition of Freedom Fighters it will have been 14 years ago to the day when I heard a quiet, still voice say, “This has to stop.” After a 27-year run with an addictive lifestyle that took me too far, held me too long and cost me too much The Most High God let me know it was time for a change. Now for many of my kind (yeah, I went there) we are offered a few things when this lifestyle has rule in our lives. We can die (yeah, I went there too), we can end up incarcerated, we can constantly live a life that spins outta control then lose it all OR you let God intervene and it gets betterer than you deserve. As for me, I chose intervention.

The end result of that intervention is something we find ourselves reading in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” I gotta say that the only way this passage has any power in your existence will come from a simple process known as surrender. Once you have surrendered (or maybe exchanged is a better word) your will over for His will the newness of Christ will be in you and you will be “In Christ”. And with that you’ll find that the benefits are many but since I am limited on word count and you may be limited on reading time let’s just hit the top five on the list.

First you are redeemed. Romans 3:24 says, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”, now we need to understand that this redemption happened through the shed blood of Christ. Secondly you are made alive. Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Your relationship to sin is exactly the same of Christ’s. It goes like this, in His death the connection that Christ bore on The Cross was broken, forever. Those of us who are united with Christ share in the same broken connection. “Go, and sin no more.”

Thirdly you are richly supplied. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The whole earth is full of God’s riches but here we receive according to the riches of His grace. Fourthly there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Hopefully after you get outs the spin cycle of Romans 7:14-23 and then cry out,

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) you can find comfort in knowing the combat is over and you can rest on the solid foundation of spiritual peace and joy that is found…In Christ!!

Lastly you become justified by faith. Galatians 2:16 says, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Hmmm…where to go from here you may ask? How about Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ya see, if you did the work I guarantee it would be sloppy in an area or two. Why? Because you don’t have the blueprints. Who has them? Dumb question but here’s the answer, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

On May 9th, 2003, all my plans fell by the wayside and there was nothing left of the “me” I once knew. It was time for a change and boy oh boy did I get one…”No Turning Back, No Turning Back.” If there is anything I can you with today it is this, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:8) If you have questions, I’ll be at Keswick, walking around the lake this Saturday.

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Jer 27-31| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “The Bible-instructed man knows that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and that men are saved by Christ alone altogether apart from any works of merit.” — Aiden Wilson Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:9

Remind Me Again

05/11/201705/10/2017Leave a comment

Join us tonight for Men’s Fellowship Night! The night begins at 6:15PM when we serve you a delicious meal, and is followed by Chaplain Bill Pruitt, Director New Hope Philly sharing a message geared to you.

Tickets are only $12 per person! (includes dinner, message and use of our Activity Center) Call 800.453.7942 and purchase your ticket today!

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God ~Psalm 42:2

I’ve become a big fan of reminders, whether it’s a written note or an electronic device beeping. The object is to eliminate that awful feeling of forgetting something, especially if it’s important and others are depending on me.

I’ve become a firm believer in living a life of balance, not too much one way or the other. In the past my inability to keep myself from extremes was causing me to fluctuate too much. It is a common character flaw associated with addiction, so it’s important for me to weigh things out and keep a proper perspective.

I could easily take a scripture like the second part of Philippians 3:13 “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”, and intentionally ignore everything I’ve experienced in my past. The things Paul is talking about are the works of the flesh. However, it’s important to me to reminisce about what God has done for me and be reminded of His faithfulness.

So here, my reminder is to revive me again, to bring me back to life when it seems like my soul is parched and I’m disquieted. Psalm 42 starts off with, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God”. As physical thirst causes me to recount the nearest water fountain, my spiritual thirst has to lead me to the place that will satisfy my soul.

I find that as believers in Christ part of our commission is to minister to one another by reminding each other of who God is. That type of encouragement is essential to the wellbeing of our soul. I cherish our Monday night Men’s Bible study and am always refreshed by the fellowship that brings me back to reality. In verse 4 we read,

“When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.”

No, I don’t live in the past but a good reminder of what I learned and experienced is helpful to face an uncertain future called today. A comforting reminder was once told to me “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but I do know my future is in His hands”.

Jesus finishes up His instruction in Matthew 6 with “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”.

Also, prayer, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7.

So, “Remind Me Again”.

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Job 35-36| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: To love someone means to see him as God intended him ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:9

The Bible Translation In The Right Direction

05/10/201704/27/2017Leave a comment

See God’s Word is strange. Is peculiar. It’s a higher kind of thought world. We can’t simply translate it without remainder into mere human speech. Rather, think of the word now, “to translate” – it means to “carry across” in Latin. Rather, we have to be translated into the Biblical word, into the Biblical world.
~ Bishop Robert Barron

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual… The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in 1 Corinthians 2

All that I have written seems like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.
~ The “Dumb Ox” and Doctor of the Church, Thomas Aquinas, in remarks on being requested to resume writing, after a mystical experience while saying mass on or around 6 December 1273

Oh beloved, it is true.

There is, most definitely, an end to our knowledge. We are far and away unable to comprehend The Infinite. And beings with strength and wisdom well beyond our own are overcome as they fly into His Near Presence.

And even as we have the Deus Dixit, The Word of G_d. Literally: “God has spoken,” we come up against it and our faculties fail. We. Just. Can’t. Think. Big. Enough.

Oh, there are dozens more… but, try these on for “mind blown” material.

Grace,
Chesed,
Mercy,
Eternity,
G_d becoming man, and staying Man after the resurrection,
man participating in the very Life of G_d.

We just can’t. It’s like an Everest of Everests. It is like trying to shoot to the moon with a pogo stick.

Yes, we can turn the Bible into a little machine. We can turn the dials, and we can come up with a (fairly large) number of coherent systematic theologies. But none of them can survive the process of time, or culture, or pervasive interpretive pluralism.

And, in creating our little models of what the Bible says, we strap on an incredible load of pride, that weighs us down and pulls us away from the Truth we are trying to find in the first place.

Can we see it?

We can’t translate Scripture. We were never meant to do it. Yes, we study. Yes, we labor. It is the life’s work of someone who is in Love with Him. We want to know Him. Yes!

But something else has to happen.

Just as a dad needs to lift his little child up on his shoulders to give a kid a view over the crowd. The Author and Finisher of our Faith, needs to carry us up to a completely different level, for us to begin to understand what much of the word is about.

He lifts us up,
He gives Light to understand,
He shows us His heart,
He provides the lessons.

So, are you having trouble understanding the Bible? It is a common problem. But the problem is easily remedied when we go to The Author of the same and ask Him to change US, that we might begin to understand.

Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to be translated, that you (and this fool of a writer) might understand.

Written by Makala Doulos: Makala Doulos is a child of G_d, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and a teacher to his students. But mostly, he is a prisoner set free by Jesus. Love has invaded his life, crushed it, and made it new. Now, G_d’s Love is what constrains him to live in full surrender to the freedom The Father and Son and Holy Spirit have bought for us all. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 51-53| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: Suddenly I feel myself transformed and changed; it is joy unspeakable. My mind is exhilarated; I lose the memory of past trials; my intelligence is clarified; my desires are satisfied. I grasp something inwardly as with the embracement of love.
~Hugh of St. Victor (1096-1141)

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:9

Keep Your Heart With All Vigilance

05/09/201704/10/2017Leave a comment

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

(Prov 4:23) ~ Solomon

We have failed to focus on the idea of ‘vigilance’ and its heightened sense of urgency when it comes to our heart and what we have let ‘in it.’ I read this earlier,

“Perhaps the problem isn’t what you aren’t doing, but what you are consuming.” (Lusko)

This brings to mind the many times the psalmist referred to God as a refuge. We often focus on its idea of warmth and security and forget what ‘abiding’ in Him and obeying His Word is defending us against, how it’s keeping our ‘spring’ from corruption and what will limit its flow.

Our Body naturally defends our heart at all cost, shutting down other organs, effectively putting the body in a coma, so that our limited resources can be redirected to maintain the heart. Maybe we need to shut down ‘influences’ in our lives to do the same thing with our spiritual heart. We can do this by ‘abiding’ in Christ, filling our minds with His Word, and loving Him by obeying His Word. This brings to mind Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ who lives within me… and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

What is crucified or shutdown is our selfish will, allowing the life of Christ that I now abide in as a refuge, to supply all I need as a spring overflowing, as well as ‘vigilantly’ keep my heart.

Choose wisely what you’re letting in… And what it will cost you…

Praying 4 U…

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1-4| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “In my daily walk with Him, He gives me victory as He teaches me how to abide.” – Judy Harrell

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:9

How Much Do I Trust Him?

05/08/201704/13/20172 Comments

How much do I trust Him? It’s easy to preach and teach about it. But when it really gets personal, sometimes it isn’t as easy as we think.

Before you jump all over me, think about it. Most likely you’ve been there. You’ve shared the verses from Scripture to others and told them what and how to do something. But when you are in a similar situation, well somehow those same Scriptures don’t apply?

A great Bible teacher of our era who has taught for decades on the sovereignty of God would never fly to a speaking engagement because he was deathly afraid of being on a plane. He traveled everywhere by car or train.

On one speaking assignment, he took the train to Florida and his train derailed on a bridge and he found himself dangling over the everglades in railroad car. Guess what? He started flying!!!

I have found countless numbers of people who share with people who have lost a loved one that they need to trust God because He is sovereign and rejoice that their loved one is in heaven, only to find themselves in a similar situation unable to handle their grief.

We knew of a dear pastor who drilled the sovereignty of God into his congregation and when his son was killed in a tragic automobile accident, his was so wracked with grief that he had to step down from his pulpit ministry for over a year. Was God not sovereign in this situation?

The reality is, yes. God is alive and well and still on the throne. But we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our former Maintenance Director, Ken Brown, used to say, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made, but sometimes our fearfulness gets in the way.”

We all battle fears at different levels. If you don’t think it is real, the Bible address it over 350 times. Dr. Jack Carhart used to say fear is defined as “False Evidence Appearing Real.”

This is real for me because we are flying to Israel for 11 days. I am not really fearful about being in Israel – but I am really not fond of flying. I am afraid to fly. I said it. But I am asking God to help me move from fear to faith. Pastor Hibbard says faith = Forsaking All I Trust Him.

Are you fearful today? Well I remind you of the verse I continue to preach to myself: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte
President/CEO
America’s Keswick

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 17-20| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God.” – Hannah Whitall Smith

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 2 Corinthians 7:9

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