Up The Creek Without My Cell Phone

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

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

– Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

It was supposed to be a typical Thursday morning. I thought I had everything together when I got into my truck and drove off to work. After a 28-minute drive, I located a parking space in the lot where I work, shut the truck off, grabbed my coffee mug, and then I found out I had done the most horrific thing I could have ever done to myself. I was in a panic, OH NO this wasn’t happening. ITS GOTTA BE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE… but with a small cab to look around in, my search was quick and I finally accepted my fate…I forgot my cell phone. My first thought was to go home and get it. After all, how was the known world gonna know that I am even alive? I was gonna justify being late, even though my forgetful self was a mere football field away from the front door of where I work.

“Oh well, I’m just gonna have to do without it” I finally told myself. Then, on the walk up to the front door I gave myself a glimmer of hope. “I’ll ask one of the office ladies to let me jump on her computer and I’ll send out a Facebook message and my panic will be over.” Well when I logged on to my FB account, from a different computer, I got a prompt that said it was gonna send the six-digit code to allow me to log on…to my cell phone. My reaction was simple, “Chris, you’re an idiot” and I just went about my work day.

So, with the outside world shut off from me, I hear this go through my mind sometime after lunch: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:19-20). HUH? Where did that come from? UH-OH…I know from where. Then I thought it through. Sometimes we just covet worldly things and justify their worth to us by saying they’re tools that we need to get through our everyday lives.

Now when Jesus gave this teaching on holding on to worldly objects, the iPhone 6 plus wasn’t attached to everyone’s hip like it is to mine. He wanted His followers to understand that the selfish accumulation of stuff wasn’t good for them. It’s okay to save for a rainy day. After all, Scripture praises the ant for its ability to save for the winter “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6) and then makes this statement, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim 5:8) As John Stott put’s it “So neither having possessions, not making provision for the future, nor enjoying the gifts of a good Creator are included in the ban on earthly treasure-storage.”

What was Jesus going for when He told His followers not to lay up treasures on earth? The heart, that’s what. If we were to guard our hearts like we guard our stuff, we all would be in better state of existence. Even though nothing was safe in ancient times, in our modern world we do all kinds of things to protect our stuff from being stolen or rotting away. It can become all too consuming and draw us away from what really matters. Even the over doing of doing good deeds (the medieval Roman Catholic Church called this a “treasury of merits”) can draw us away from what really matters. So, what really matters? The Kingdom of Heaven!!

Yeah, so I did kinda feel up the creek without my cell phone that Thursday morning and I gotta give it up to my wife, Kathy, who made a choice not to rifle through it (talk about the ultimate in trust). HOWEVER, what I was taught that day I won’t soon forget. I had a friend that once said that if you can’t use it in eternity it is eternally useless and that day I found that is true, because without the noise of the outside world to contend with God spoke to me and let me know it. All that really matters is the vertical connection. The connection where YHVH says “Can you hear me now?” and then we finally make the decision to listen. Amen?

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 22-26| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Whenever the Gospel is taught and people seek to live according to it, there are two terrible plagues that always arise: false preachers who corrupt the teaching, and then Sir Greed, who obstructs right living.” — Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. – Romans 5:10-11

One Thing?

05/04/201705/01/20171 Comment

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way…” – Mark 10:21a

I was having a conversation with a guy the other day and he said “since coming to Christ and spending time understanding his relationship with God, I have contentment.” In other words, he can sit – without anything to do – and be okay, not feeling overcome with anxiety. I told him “enjoy the moment, it’s only borrowed time.”

There are those moments that I can be at a place of total peace with a glimpse of what Heaven might be like, but then my focus turns to my “One Thing.” I know there are times when it seems like my list of woes are long and it would take a miracle to get to a place of contentment once again. What is your “One Thing” that will bring you to a place where you know Whose you are and that, although the world around you is falling apart, there’s hope.

Jesus encounters a man with many possessions with a need for eternal life, the answer Jesus gives him to the question “what must I do” is the same answer for me most of the time when I want to feel safe and secure. Go your way, give it away, and follow Jesus. It was the answer to my need of salvation and it remains the answer to my need of security. The only difference in my emotional status is whose way I am going. Now, at salvation, my eternal destination is secure once and for all, but my daily walk needs a thought process to determine if the path I’m on is the one God has laid out. If not, then I need to go my way, give it away and follow Him.

I remember as a kid I would get an attitude with my parents, and after enough was enough, a command would come from my Dad, “turn around, go back to your room and don’t come back until your attitude has changed.” I find sometimes if I get in a mood where everything is bothering me, I want to take my Dad’s advice, go home, and start over. Obviously this isn’t always practical and it’s not necessary. When I find I’m going my own way, it’s a simple process that doesn’t require a positional change, it requires a spiritual change. It has to be “not my will, but Your will be done” exchange. It doesn’t benefit anyone when my attitude is my agenda, trying to fit a square peg in a round hole never works.

So if you’re looking for that place of serenity, follow the advice of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

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 33-34| 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:

True Glory

05/03/201704/10/2017Leave a comment

“They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.”

– Psalms 106:20 ESV

The primary teaching/counseling in the Colony of Mercy helps men to embrace their new life in Christ. A child of God, you have the righteousness of Christ, a new identity, new worth, new value, you are loved, you are accepted… you name it. But indelibly, some will believe the lies and return to the old way of life. Exchanging their newfound freedom to old fleshly patterns.

The Psalmist seems to be going through similar issues with the people of Israel. Earlier in this passage, he is sharing about the grace of God in their lives and the intimate relationship with Jehovah. The Psalmist glorifies Him and gives Him the praise… and yet, the people ended up settling for lower level gods.

“Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” (Romans 1:25).

Paul reminds the early Church (furthermore, we can benefit from this warning), of unhealthily exchanging from the glory towards idols of the heart. What idols do you have hidden in your heart? What is hindering you from embracing the fullness of His Glory? What habits or lies you are exchanging for the only true and mighty God? Get back in the game.

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 48-50 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “”What each one honors before all else, what before all things he admires and loves, this for him is God.” – Origen

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Protect Your Future By Living Carefully Right Now

05/02/201704/06/2017Leave a comment

“Following your feelings can lead to disaster. Blindly following your heart is a really bad idea. Our most noble achievements, and our most tragic mistakes, all come from the same exact place: the human heart.” ~ Lusko

What separates the noble from the tragic are the instruments we use to guide us through the circumstances. How do you determine how much gas is left in your car – by your feelings, or do you check the gauge? How about your speed… feeling or gauge? I wonder what the cop who pulls you over is using; Does He say, “I have a feeling you were speeding…?” How about when you respond, “Officer, I have a feeling I was going much slower…” How about the pilot who says to his passengers, “I have a feeling that we are at 10,000 feet, so there is no reason to put down the landing gear”, when in reality you can see the ground approaching rapidly out your little window. Whose feeling are you going to trust now, theirs or the terror building in your gut?

Feelings are good for warning signals, but we need objective reference points to make accurate decisions that our lives and our futures depend on.

Everything in this world is designed and has a purpose and a function. Everyone knows it, just because we are willing to except a lie that things are subjective, does not make the truth of design any less real. God’s Word and His revealed creation are objective reference points by which we can make our decisions. We can choose to live in accordance with these two and enjoy all that God has provided for us, or we can live by our own limited and bias will and be frustrated and miserable when things don’t work out.

Some of the best advice I have heard recently is ‘don’t trade your future of certain joy for a bucket full of pleasure that never lasts more than a moment.’

What God has promised is certain because He has promised. He is absolute perfection, therefore His promises cannot fail and joy is guaranteed.

I pray you grasp this truth and protect your future by choosing wisely today.

“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” (Romans 1:19-22)

I encourage you to read the rest of the chapter on your own…

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

Daily Quote: “But when the cross is working deeply a believer comes to know himself. He realizes how undependable are his ideas, feelings and desires.” – Watchman Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

How Great Is Our God?

05/01/201704/13/2017Leave a comment

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:4-8

At the Creation Museum, they had a Planetarium show that was off the charts. Did you ever have one of those moments where you were so blown away by something you couldn’t wrap your head around that it actually made your weak in the knees?

That’s what the show did for me as Ken Ham’s team did an overview of the heavens and what modern technology has allowed us to learn. It is actually so mind-blowing and hard to comprehend.

One of the guys who has studied the universe is Bible teacher Lou Giglio. Listen to his insights into just a few things about the greatness of God as displayed in the universe:

There is one star in our solar system, and that star is called the Sun.
The surface of the Sun 10,00 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Sun 93 million miles away
The Sun is a million times the earth
Psalm 33 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. Their starry hosts by the breath of his mouth.” God breathes out stars.
If the earth were the size of a golf ball, the sun would be 15 feet in diameter.
The sun is so big you could put 960,000 earths inside the Sun.
That is enough golf balls to fill a school bus in its entirety.
The Sun is just one of hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
The star, Betelgeuse or “beetlejuice” is 427 light years away from us, or 5.888 trillion miles away from earth. The star, Betelgeuse is twice the size of the earth’s orbit around the Sun.
If the earth were a golf ball, Betelgeuse would be the size of 6 Empire State buildings stacked on top of each other.
You could fit 252 trillion Earths inside Betelgeuse. If the Earth were a golf ball, that would be enough golf balls to fill up the Superdome 3 thousand times.
The star Mu Cephei use to be called Hershel’s Garnett star
If the earth were a golf ball, Mu Cephei would be the width of 2 Golden Gate Bridges end to end. It is so big you could fit 2.7 quadrillion Earths inside this one star.
To give you an idea of just who big one quadrillion is… a quadrillion seconds ago would be 38,800,000 years ago.
The largest star science has found thus far is called Canus Majoris. If the earth were a golf ball, Canus Majoris would be the height of Mt. Everest… almost 6 miles above sea level , the highest point on the planet. 17. You could fit 7 quadrillion Earths inside Canus Majoris. That is enough earths, if the earth were a golf ball, to cover the entire state of Texas in golf balls 22 inches deep. (From How Great is Our God – Louie Giglio)

Trying to grasp His infinite power is mind-blowing and mind-boggling. And to think that He spoke all of this into existence and holds it all together by “the word of His power.”

And yet this amazing God created you and me so that we could love Him and enjoy Him. He loves you and me with the most incredible love – that love that sent His Son to Calvary’s cross for you and me.

This morning take a moment to thank Him for His great love.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO
America’s Keswick

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 13-16| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: Men go abroad to wonder at the height of the mountain, the huge waves of the sea, the long course rivers, the vast compass of the ocean, the circular motion of the stars, but they pass by themselves and they don’t even notice.” Saint Augustine

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Not In This Town

04/28/201704/25/2017Leave a comment

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to Me.” – Acts 18:9-10 (NLT)

Okay… so imagine you have this reputation for bringing people before the authorities because of their beliefs and then one day you have a life changing encounter that changes you forever. Your whole mission does an about face and now you believe what they believe…and then you were lead to go out into all of the known world to share this Good News, but your own people didn’t wanna hear a thing you had to say. It’s like a New England Patriots fan all of sudden coming to Lincoln Financial Field and rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles…yeah boy, that ain’t flying with the die-hards, so you need to ship yourself back up to Foxborough.

If there is anything you can take away with the apostle’s Paul position as an evangelist, it is that he wasn’t an “in and out” kinda guy, meaning his missionary trips weren’t like a traveling P.T. Barnum circus show. Ya know, the kind that did massive “healings” so that when the hat got passed around people threw in healthy amounts of money so that God would “bless them richly.” On the contrary, Paul was into making disciples everywhere he went and, at times, it got him in trouble with the locals. Jew and Gentile alike. I guess being a onetime Hebrew of Hebrews, Pharisees of Pharisees’ and Roman citizen had its downside when he converted.

So, he’s in Corinth, second missionary trip, he’s developed a kinship with some folks named Aquila and Priscilla, he’s preaching in Synagogue, he gets rejected and when he has had enough of the blasphemy he kicks off the dust and shouts out, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6b). I guess there was a-foot-stompin’ along the way to Titus Justus’ (now there’s a Roman name for ya) house, and then Jesus shows up with words of encouragement, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”

There are two things I can see in this passage of Scripture. In the first sense, we see the same straight arrow command that was given Joshua from YHVH through Moses and is standard Americas Keswick, “And the LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed.” (Deut 31:8) And in the second sense I see a parallel with an Old Testament prophet named Elijah. It starts off quietly, “What are you doing here Elijah?” and then he is told, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18) You’ll also notice that Jesus didn’t tell Paul that his opponents wouldn’t try to stop him, just that they would be unsuccessful, and you will notice that there are no coincidences when it comes to Kingdom principles.

So, what can we glean from this? Well first off, if you’re out there telling people about Jesus and their chasing you outta the way, keep at it. You may have to find a different audience from time to time but Jesus doesn’t tell us to be silent on His salvation message. But then realize that you’re not alone, even if you’re not gifted as a vocal evangelist. Your “spiritual walk” is all that an unbelieving world really needs to see anyway. We have been given so many stories in the Bible about how ordinary people like us get the privilege of doing God-size things that maybe we oughta go back and read them in those times of doubt, because one time there was an apostle who doubted and the response was simple, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Most encouraging. Amen?

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 17-21| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Patiently endure the ups and downs of everyday life. Behind every annoying circumstance, learn to see God governing all things. See that He trains you through troubling situations as well as through pleasant ones. The intrusions God sends you will no doubt upset your plans and oppose all that you want. But they will also chase you toward God.”— Fenelon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2

You More Than I

04/27/201704/25/2017Leave a comment

“You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.” – Psalm 139:5

A wise man once told me “you can tell a lot about a person by the number of times they refer to themselves in an average conversation.” Me, Myself and I, the trinity of stupidity. I’m learning that when I am at my best, it’s because my focus is on others more than myself. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3,4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”.

I’ve lived a life where I did nothing but try to keep myself happy, and I became frustrated and empty. I also figured out others aren’t interested in conversations that highlight myself. Although there is still a selfish streak in me that at time screams “WHAT ABOUT ME?” … and that’s when I need to retreat. I need to find myself looking at the source of all my joy and contentment. It has to be “You more than me”, and the ‘You’ has to be God before others. When I need to be reminded of my true identity and get a fresh perspective of who God says I am, it’s Psalm 139 for me. A Psalm of David where I counted at least 22 times he uses the pronoun “You” in his prayer. It’s a prayer of adoration and also puts us in the picture with God.

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.”

Once I gain a security in knowing who I am in Christ, I am able to serve the Lord with a pure perspective, no longer filtering my motives through a deceitful heart that at times contains insecurity, bitterness, anger, and malice. I have to know when to act and when not to. It’s the prompting of the Holy Spirit that needs to be acknowledged. I can only be aware of this if all my selfish ambitions are set aside, also not looking for the praise of man rather the praise from God. Paul addresses this in Romans 2:29 when comparing the motives of our heart, he says, “No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people” NLT.

So if you’re finding yourself in a discontent of frustrating mood try and replacing some of you” I’s” with “You’s” because it should always be “You more than I”. 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 31-32| 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:

Why I Listen to Christian Music

04/26/201704/06/2017Leave a comment

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2

I have been down a journey of different types of music through the years. I have always thought that my music preferences should be made up from a balance of genres that I like, and if I’m working with a worship team, Christian music must be a part of that balance. But now that I have been through some of that journey (and I’m sure there is still more to come), I can see for now where God wants me. I have determined that for me, that Christian music is where I want to listen. Here’s why:

I would say the biggest reason that Christian music fits me has two parts; One – it keeps my affections on things above (Col, 3:2). I always thought it said… “Keep your heart on things above.” Eh, nope. It says ‘affections’ or ‘mind’, as other translations have it. You could say, “What I love is to be about things above.” Also in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” So in the Christian music world, it points to God or Jesus Christ, worship and surrender. As I listen, there are reminders and encouragements that are all uplifting to my spirit. There is a lot of ‘Transforming by the Renewing of Your Mind’ going on, so music becomes the vehicle of keeping my mind pointed towards my true love, Christ.

Secondly, all the other music is what I would call shallow or hollow. It’s just music that in most cases only appeals to feelings. It’s a very temporary satisfaction if it even satisfies at all. Even when I’m humming a tune later on, it feels shallow. However, throughout the day as I listen to Christian music, and I am humming a song of worship, it helps keep my spirit joyful and positive even when there is no music. As I have been growing in the Lord, I am seeing that my heart desires the worship that is in Christian music. Additionally, the ministry of music in my personal life leads my heart to desire things above. That’s powerful. Let’s face it, I can’t read scripture every waking moment of the day, but I can have music going while I work or when I’m home.

How else can Christian music have a positive effect in my life? As time goes on, I have been listening to KLove at work. I listen for 4-6 hours a day. A lot of great music plays on that station, but one other thing that happens is that I periodically hear testimonies of how God has worked things out in the caller’s lives, and even in those times when I’m reaching out to God and trying to trust Him in personal things, there’s a caller who states their story and it’s an “Oh wow!” moment with me. It reminds me of the truth and power of God that’s right here with me. God’s not dead, He’s surely alive!

Written by Brian Rainey. Brian Rainey from Elmer Nj, has been reading freedom fighter since 2006, married to Sharon since 1992, they have 2 boys, Chris and Matthew, attend Christ Community Church in Newfield NJ, where Brian is actively involved with the worship team and audio/visual.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 45-47| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” – Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Managing Choice

04/25/201704/06/2017Leave a comment

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” “Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”

~ Steve Maraboli

What can you control in your life? My heart attack taught me that very little of what we think we are controlling is ours to manage. We do not give life, therefore we don’t control what life does. But there is one thing given to us to mange that does determine how we experience this life, and that is choice. In philosophical terms, we call it free will, and it is the capacity to discern between options life presents to us. Victor Frankl wrote concerning his time in Auschwitz, “the only thing no one can take away from you is your ability to respond.” Yes, the Nazis could take his life, or make life absolutely miserable, even to diminishing his humanity, but they could not determine how he would choose to respond to it. He went on to say, ‘Many chose to kill themselves, others chose to give up, having no hope. Those sent to be exterminated, chose to face the end with dignity, others with hysteria, and some with indifference. All of these are choices that no one else can manage for you, your response to circumstances is yours alone to make.’ This is what is known as free will and it is the very thing that sets human beings apart from all else in creation.

Thankfully, I have never experienced the brutal realities of places like Auschwitz. What I have endured though has left its scars on my life. One of the worst of these would probably have to be the betrayal of a close friend. The physical stuff I could rehabilitate from, but the emotional and psychological wounds to the heart are much more penetrating and harder to come to grips with. It was in this struggle that I learned what Faith truly was.

Only a friend can betray, an enemy cannot betray what they never had, that is trust. The pain it causes is so great because the betrayal takes pieces of the heart with it, the very thing you chose to freely give to another person.

It would be easy at this point to respond as the culture tells us and harden our hearts, sealing them against ever being hurt again. But that is choosing to live a slow death, having no hope. It is now that we need something larger than life itself to hold onto, something that has the capacity to sustain us. It is at this point we need to listen to the voice of The Spirit of God saying, “Don’t abandon all you know about God, do not throw away your confidence in Him; for it will be richly rewarded.”

It was here that I had to make a choice. Was I going to allow the despair of the betrayal to consume me, or would I respond to the voice of my God and allow Him to heal my heart through the work of His Spirit in my life? My ‘will’ wanted to protect myself from ever being wounded again, but what I knew about God’s love and power of His Word enabled me to ‘put off my will’ and humble myself under the mighty hand of God, who has lifted me up time and time again.

I learned through this experience that ‘faith is not the absence of fear, but the facing of that fear with confidence in God.’ Paul often speaks of endurance, but enduring or staying ‘under’ hard circumstances in life requires a confidence in the source, reason, and purposes of the motivating principle. The writer of Hebrews said, “…for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame…” (12:2). Why? Because of what He was confident in; the character and nature of ‘The One’ who has spoken and fulfilled every promise. He knew the purpose and ‘The One’ behind the purpose.

My choice to follow Christ and not my ‘will’ was not me controlling my life. It was me crucifying my will (Gal 2:20) and giving control of my life to the One who has proven time and again, He is able to do wonderfully more than I could ever imagine. Has it been easy? No, like I said – we don’t control life, we don’t control what others choose to do, and how their poor choices cause suffering and great harm. But have I known joy in the midst of the suffering? Yes! This is the essence of Faith in Jesus Christ. It tells us that the eternity promised in Him is of much greater worth than anything that can be taken away or harmed in this life. It is this ‘joy’, not anchored in what is corrupted and passing away, but in the grace of God as manifested to us through Jesus the Son.

It is by God’s enablement that I still stand. I can look back now and see where He has carried me by His grace and love. And I can look forward ‘fixing my eyes on the author and perfecter of my faith’ (Hebrews 12:2a) and press on through the current circumstances, knowing without a doubt that He stands at the Fathers side advocating for me, guiding me home. It is here that I will truly know that ‘rich reward’ He has promised those who endure to the end.

I look forward to the day when I see my Savior face to face. I pray many of you will have chosen to be there too.

Choose wisely….

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you…. Consider all the hostility Jesus endured from sinful people (for your benefit); then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Psalms 16:1-2; Hebrews 12:3)

Praying 4 U

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 26-31| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Every choice you make has an end result.” – Zig Ziglar

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Seven C’s

04/24/201704/13/2017Leave a comment

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Several weeks ago, Jan and I were blessed to host 70 of our America’s Keswick friends on a bus trip that included a visit to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter.

If you have never been there, it needs to be on your bucket list. Ken Ham and his ministry did an awesome job.

At the Creation Museum, I saw this chart posted and couldn’t resist buying it and then I thought, “I need to share this with my Freedom Fighter family.”

The Seven C’s in God’s Eternal Plan – Seven pivotal events from the beginning to the end of time …

Creation – In the beginning – God made a perfect creation.

Corruption – The first man, Adam, disobeyed the Creator. His sin brought death and corruption into the creation.

Catastrophe – Adam’s race became so wicked that God judged the earth with a great catastrophe – a global flood – saving only those on the Ark built by Noah.

Confusion – When Noah’s descendants disobeyed God’s command to fill the earth, God brought confusion on their language, forcing them to spread over the earth.

Christ – The Creator became a man, Jesus Christ, who obeyed God in everything, unlike the first man, Adam.

Cross – Jesus, the Messiah, died on a cross to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin against God. He rose from the dead, providing life for all who trust in Him.

Consummation – One day, at the consummation, the Creator will remake His creation. He will cast out death and the disobedient and dwell eternally with those who trust in Him. Creationmuseum.org

This is a great tool to understand God’s plan of redemption. As Pastor John Hibbard used to say, “Work this plan into your head and you will have it all in a nut shell!”

Last week we celebrated Easter! Today we live in the power of His resurrection poised to be His ambassadors to a lost and dying world that need to hear HIS story! Think about who you might share Jesus with today.

The Son is out! He is risen!!!

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO
America’s Keswick

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 9-12| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: God’s story has a beginning and an end that never ends, and if you’re a child of God, His story is now your biography! Wow! Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Freedom Fighters

A Daily Email Encouragement for Men!

Author: America's Keswick

Up The Creek Without My Cell Phone

One Thing?

True Glory

Protect Your Future By Living Carefully Right Now

How Great Is Our God?

Not In This Town

You More Than I

Why I Listen to Christian Music

Managing Choice

The Seven C’s