Courage in the Presence of G_d.

02/10/201702/06/2017Leave a comment

Oh, If only once we could be convinced of God’s goodness towards His children and of His desire to reveal Himself to them! We would no longer seek out own selfish desires. We would not be so quickly discouraged from pursuing what He is so long to give us: Romans 8:32 – “He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, also freely give us all things?” We only need a little courage and perseverance. Actually, we have enough of both in our earthly affairs, but none at all in the only thing that really matters (Luke 10:42). ~Jeanne Guyon

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The LORD your God Himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them. And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God Who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
~ Moses, a man of The Presence, in Deuteronomy 31

Oh beloved, it is true.

Throughout our lives, we find people to look up to. And no, this is not wrong. It is wonderful for us to have examples in our lives. It is wonderful for us to have people in our lives, that show us how to live better, love better, and be better.

The problem, though, is that whoever we look up to, it will never be enough.

Good people fail. Also, there are plenty of bad people, who try to look good, but take us through the the wringer. They look good on the outside, but they aren’t. This problem is relatively easy to comprehend, because many of us guys from the Colony were like this. We really tried to present like everything was OK, when truly we were coming apart on the inside. And in our coming apart, we pulled people down and wrung them dry as well.

Joshua, The Captain of The Hosts of Israel, really did have someone to look up to. He had served with and under Moses for decades. He watched this powerfully humble man lead a stubborn and stiffnecked people through the wilderness. And Moses did not just gain experience through His second forty years in the wilderness, he had the best of education from the finest schools of Egypt – then integrated into his soul through an earlier forty years of desert meditation in the rolling hills of Midian.

Joshua was well trained by Moses. He was an able leader who had observed and served in some very difficult circumstances. But now, he was coming up on a situation that not even his mentor could have handled alone. But, both of these men had a secret…

Moses had learned it first. First, at the burning bush, where the ground was so holy that the very fabric of space within the plant was alight with the Presence of G_d. Later, in a forty day gauntlet of experiencing the very near Presence of G_d, which he only survived by YHWH putting Moses into the cleft of a rock, and placing His hand over him, whilst All His Goodness passed by. And finally, in an ongoing, face-to-face conversation with The L_RD of Hosts, in the tent of meeting. The Presence of G_d is everything. It assures victory, and healing and the courage needed to do what we need to do.

Joshua was a disciple of Moses, and a close one at that. And so, we find in Scripture that Joshua was an attendant in the meeting tent where Moses and YHWH spoke to each other. Most of his training in how to actually do things was learned in observing the conversations between The Very Maker of The Universe, and Moses, the man of powerful humility – in the Presence.

Can we see it?

But, when they went out of the tent, Joshua watched how Moses dealt directly with the people. And he had probably come to a place where he had thought that Moses was a vital aspect of how G_d was dealing with His chosen people. Oh, to be sure, Moses was important. But, Moses was not the key factor in the success of Israel as it came up on her entrance into the promised land.

Time had caught up with Moses. His first forty years in Egypt, his second forty years in Midian, and his final forty years in the wilderness had brought his physical frame to an end. However, he did have one final and truly vital piece of learning to give to Joshua: It was not Moses’ strength, it was G_d’s all the time. And now Joshua was going to receive the message Moses had just received directly from Him.

G_d fights our battles. He is with us. He goes before us. He never leaves us. In Him, we always win. And, Joshua took this to heart. His valor and courage is legend, even to today in military writings. This guy could not lose, as long as he dwelt in the place where G_d was.

So, are you feeling your courage (the fullness of your heart) waning? Maybe it is because you honestly do not know the truth that Moses learned over 80 years, and has passed onto the next leader of the team. You are never alone. G_d is always with you. You cannot lose.

Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to understand that He is with you, and He has some victory to bring about in your (and this fool of a writer’s) life.

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: Isaiah 23-28 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Never, never, never give up.” ~ Sir Winston Churchill

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

Teach All Nations

02/09/201702/06/2017Leave a comment

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19)

Yes, I went King James, and I love the phrase here: ‘teach all nations.’ The reality is that we all have been involved in teaching, even in our early informative years. We’ve just not always been teaching for Jesus. In that, teaching derives from many avenues. Who are you following? How are you influencing the people watching you?

Here three ways we teach, or in this case, make disciples.

The Word

The most basic understanding of teaching is to communicate the truth. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31,32) Communicating the Word is one the most powerful weapons we can use to teach people the things of God. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God. Right handling God’s Word, has the ability to change hearts, conform lives, transform mind etc…

A Living Apostle

Are we living in such a way that people are seeing Christ? How are we using our Words, is our service reflecting a life indwelled by Holy Spirit? Right now, I’m being convicted writing this thought. After Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, he commanded them to do likewise. Furthermore, he even washed the feet of Judas, knowing who he was and what he was about to do. “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27)

Dealing with Sin/issues

I know with hyper-grace movement, we don’t think we can talk about sin… but the realty of our sin, our issues, will in fact hinder the disciple-making process. “The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12) Sin affects our ability see God clearly, to hear truth, be an effective minister and the like…

These are three of the many ways we can teach people the things of God and for ourselves stay teachable. Remember: We are disciples and we are making-disciples.

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: Job 9-10 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Live as a credible witness. If our actions don’t line up with the message we’re proclaiming, we risk losing our credibility.”

– David Jeremiah

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

The Second Son

02/08/201702/06/2017Leave a comment

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” – Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

So, it’s probably a Tuesday morning, a fig tree gets withered, the disciples are told about having the faith to throw a mountain into the sea, and Jesus had just returned to THE temple to teach. Then, a question arises… “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”. Now the guys asking this are those wacky Pharisees, Sadducees, (and let’s throw in the Scribes for good measure.) Now, if I were Jesus, I would have something really ‘out of the box’ for them, but I am not He (though still strive to be.) What He is going to ask is really gonna butter their biscuits. It starts with this question, “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” (Matt 21:25a)

Well, apparently they didn’t see that coming, so “They talked it over among themselves. ‘If we say it was from heaven, He will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.'” (Matt 21:25b-26) They go to Jesus and give Him the “play it safe” answer, “I don’t know” and since they couldn’t figure out how to choose one answer over the other, Jesus pretty much tells them He doesn’t owe them an answer either but He does tell a parable. So open your Bible and turn to Matthew 21:28-32…

It’s always about choice. The verse I opened with today from Deuteronomy clearly defines the way God gives us a choice – they will always come in 2’s. For the Old Testament folks, it was pretty clear it was either life or death, but as time went along, religious leaders found a way to blur the lines and made choice a burden. Jesus came to lift that burden from people and get them back into the choice of 2’s. Build your house on sand or Rock, travel a wide road or a narrow one, and if you have a vineyard ask your two sons to go out and work the fields.

Now, you construction guys understand that putting a foundation on sand ain’t a good idea, and for those who drive those superhighways all the time, you understand the chaos that happens when you travel on them. However, when these two sons are asked to work the vineyard we see something a bit more dangerous…the selfishness of religion. Go ahead, you can say “HUH?” So, let’s take this a step further…

The first son is asked, by the father, to go work in the vineyard. His reply is positive but his action is negative. If we take the position that the vineyard is the nation of Israel and the first son is a representation of those wacky Pharisees, we can see that Jesus is pointing out that the Pharisees and their gang of not-so-merry men aren’t doing what they were called to do and that is the will of YHVH. When the second son is asked the same thing, his reply is negative but his action is positive. If you take the position that you’re the second son, hopefully you see that the repented heart did the will of The Father and went out into the vineyard. This brings me to The Book of James.

In the 2^nd chapter of James (verses 1-7) we see James pointing out the sin of partiality. Now Jesus needed to point out to the Pharisees that they were showing the Nation of Israel partiality when it came to Kingdom principles, “At least I am not like this sinner” and that mentality kept them from extending grace to their own people. But after the church age gets it start, church leaders themselves forgot that they were “the second son” and that mentality kept them from extending grace to their own people.

The selfishness of religion can do a dangerous thing in us if we’re not careful with what God has given us. We’re not allowed, and we were never allowed for that matter, to selfishly hold on to grace. Jesus came to all those second sons, showed them grace, and then told the Pharisees they those they looked down on will see heaven before they do. James had to remind people that just because they think themselves fancy enough doesn’t mean they’re good enough for a front row seat. We weren’t saved just so we could show it off, far from it. We’ve been saved because He first loved us and His desire is for us to be with Him. I don’t see it written anywhere that we get to choose who gets in or who stays out. Remember this…. “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF’ you are doing well” (James 2:8) 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: Psalm 12-14| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “I may have got over the problems of sin and the flesh, and yet still be a confirmed individualist. I want holiness and victory and fruitfulness for myself personally and apart, albeit from the purest motives. But such an attitude ignores the Body, and so cannot provide God with satisfaction.” —Watchman Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

Keep Looking

02/07/201702/06/2017Leave a comment

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” – Romans 8:25

One of my favorite movie lines is from the movie Arthur. His lifelong butler Hobson was ill and Arthur was reminiscing about when he was a child.“Hobson, do you remember when I was a child and we played hide and seek? Remember, you could never find me?”

Hobson replied, “Because I never looked.” You’ll never find what you don’t look for.

In our walk with the Lord, there is a call for perseverance and determination. With all that comes against us and with all the daily battles we face, we need to have Hope. Paul is instructing his readers in Rome to not lose hope just because they can’t see it. It doesn’t mean it’s not there, just that we need to “keep looking.” Let’s face it, even with the “still small voice” I can sometimes find myself fighting off anxieties and battling doubt. When I am confronted with a choice to panic or trust, it can be a fine line to determine my next step. What’s the answer? “Keep Looking!”

The opening verses of Colossians 3 tells us “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” There is this idea of lifting our heads above the circumstances and focusing on the things above. When I choose to do this, it helps me stand and effectively deal with my issues at hand with a Biblical solution that should ultimately give God glory.

There’s nothing like an outcome that has Divine intervention. I’m sometimes amazed at the response I have when I wait on the Lord for His solution. It’s as if my mouth is speaking but I’m not sure where what I’m saying came from.

If I “look” into the word of God and patiently wait until He returns, I can continue to build my God given faith which brings hope and I can persevere till the end when faith and hope are no longer needed, and all that’s left is Love. So, if today you find yourself with your head down and the weight of this world bringing confusion, lift up your head, get into God’s word, and be strengthened and “Keep Looking!” 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: Joshua 16-20 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Trust to God to weave your thread into the great web, though the pattern shows it not yet.” – George Macdonald

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

Habit of Holiness

02/06/201702/06/2017Leave a comment

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.” ~ J.C. Ryle

Imagine it being a hot day and you purchased an ice cold refreshing drink. Imagine opening the cap and seeing that clear liquid that’s about to cool your thirst … but then you notice ‘pieces’ floating in the liquid… they look like something that dead!

Do you drink it? It’s not pure… so has the drink lost its effectiveness to quench your thirst? Oh, your still thirsty, but the drink, because it’s ‘impure’, has become diminished in its appeal to assist you… and is tossed in the trash.

This is John’s argument for personal holiness. It is a mistaken belief that ‘the freedom found in Christ allows us to indulge in pleasures’ because we are saved. That’s like dropping ‘pieces’ into a refreshing beverage. John writes that, ‘the one who practices sin (drops the pieces in the drink) is of the ‘deceiver’; for the devil has sinned (operated against God’s design) from the beginning.’ He goes on to point out that, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil’ (1 Jn 3:8)

To put it another way, Jesus came to destroy all efforts that would corrupt you, keeping you from living at the level God created you for.

The one who understands the achievement and cost Christ paid for this purpose, also desires to be like Him in His Holiness. (vs. 3) The lifestyle of the Believer is of obedience to God’s Word or, as John says, ‘abiding in Him.’ This lifestyle will not be defined by ‘habitually sinning’ but in a reliance on God’s Spirit to assist in becoming holy as God is Holy. And if the Believer does sin, he knows he has an advocate with the Father (Jesus), and turns in repentance to seek forgiveness. (1 Jan 2:1-2)

Personal holiness is important to the effective life of the Believer, for it determines their ability to ‘abide’ or rest in a relationship with Christ. You know what having any kind of corruption (pieces) does to your relationships.. it makes them useless. It is no different when abiding in Christ… practicing sin weakens the relationship, making it ineffectual.

Jesus came and paved the way for your redemption and the giving of His Spirit so you could effectively ‘abide’ in Him. You have only to humble yourself and give up your willful pride, allowing Him to lead and guide you home to where you were always intended to be … abiding in Our Heavenly Fathers presence forever.

Choose wisely…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

(John 3:16, 18)

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: Genesis 16-19 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “A true Christian desires to be free from sin, not to sin freely.” – PureFlix

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

ARE YOU HUMBLE PERSON? 20 Characteristics of Humble People

02/06/201702/05/2017Leave a comment

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

The theme for the Colony of Mercy this week is Humility. In preparing for my message, here are 20 characteristics of humble people. What I want to challenge you is to go back to the Scriptures and find verses to support these characteristics.

1. Humble people are willing to be obedient no matter what the cost.

2. Humble people care more about the rights others before themselves.

3. Humble people are servants.

4. Humble people don’t care who gets the credit.

5. Humble people put others before themselves.

6. Humble people do not write or read their own press releases.

7. Humble people protect others.

8. Humble people are gentle. (Matthew 11:29)

9. Humble people are like little children. (Matthew 18:4)

10.Humble people are quick to forgive.

11.Humble people are thankful.

12.Humble people treat others with respect.

13.Humble people have tender consciences are quick to repent.

14.Humble people are quiet. They know when to speak and when to be silent.

15.Humble people see their weaknesses and readily admit them.

16.Humble people are patient and don’t get easily frustrated with others.

17.Humble people ask for help and are they are not know-it-alls.

18.Humble people can rejoice and weep with others.

19.Humble people are peacemakers.

20.Humble people have a deep, abiding walk with God.

Humility allows you to see your weaknesses and embrace God’s strength; it allows you to see your insufficiency and embrace His adequacy; it allows you to see your poverty and embrace His riches; it allows you to see your sin and embrace His righteousness; it allows you to see your lack and embrace His supply. ~Roy Lessin

Humility is not measured by what you do or don’t do. It is not measured by what you say or how you look. Humility is by the attitude and disposition of your heart. It is measured by your surrender, your obedience, your faith, and your complete dependency upon God. ~Roy Lessin.

Prayer: “Lord, I love being nothing so that YOU can be my all in all.”

Rejoice! Pray! Give Thanks!

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: He 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: Gen 16-19 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote:Until a man is nothing God can make nothing of him. ~Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!” Psalm 40:16

Humility’s Heights

02/03/201701/31/2017Leave a comment

Christ-confidence is the basis for the healthy Christian’s walk. Sinful self-confidence is the basis for the sickly Christian’s defeat.
~Miles J. Stanford

“Have I not held My peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear Me? I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me shall possess the land and shall inherit My holy mountain. And it shall be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from My people’s way.’ For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of life that I made.'”
~ from Isaiah 57

Oh beloved, it is true.

We are so afraid of humility. We think that it is going to crush us into something that we are not. The problem, though, is that we cannot realize who we are – unless we take proper account of who we really are.

So much of what we try to project has nothing to do with what we are. We are trying to project a reputation. We are trying to get people to see us a certain way. And, in trying to make anything like this happen, we generally fail.

Even if G_d Himself were to call out to the world, the things that we have done in our own strength, on this earth to help others, none of it would be of any use to anyone really. The passage above makes the point. Our own deeds and the positions and things we worship, will in no ways save us, serve us, or set us free.

There is though, an answer. And, it is not at all what we expect when it comes to humility.

Can we see it?

Humility does not lower us. Humility exalts us far above where we ever thought we could be. As we take refuge in Him, we pull away from the “self” within us that seeks to lift itself up and be recognized. As we look to Him, where He dwells – HE draws us into a completely new place.

In Him.

This means something totally different from what we have been trying to attain. This Triune One we come to know, when we cast off the shackles of self, is the Ancient One. He is so large that He does not even simply exist. He is the very wellspring of existence. Time is within Him. And He Himself is so much, that One of Him does not contain Him. Though He is One, He is Three. Three infinities spilling over in lavish and joyous love and strength and glory and relationship.

This means that we are drawn up and away from our self, and into this very same relationship. We are drawn up into the heavenlies, into a place that has nothing to do with reputation, but has everything to do with the character of what G_d is really like: Love, power, hope, strength, joy and everything else we have ever been looking for.

So, are you afraid that you will lose everything if you are willing to be humble? Don’t be. Actually, you may lose everything – but you will realize it was nothing in the first place. Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to let it all go, that He might lift you up beyond your wildest dreams.

Mother Teresa’s Humility Checklist
1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3. Avoid curiosity.
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5. Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7. Accept censures even if unmerited.
8. Give in to the will of others.
9. Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.
13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
15. Choose always the more difficult task.

The Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 18-22| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.”

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!” Psalm 90:14

List Makers

02/02/201701/30/2017Leave a comment

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions etc…” (Galatians 5:19, 20)

Are you a list maker? I have been accused of being a list maker, and I can’t lie… lists have given me the ability to prioritize and succeed in daily operations. Lists help me stay focused on task and unplug when needed. Lists are an agent in remembering things; they assist me in keeping my life responsible and manageable. My life has benefited greatly from the organizational structures of list making.

However, when I approached God in the same way, I didn’t get the same results. I would strive to accomplish a list of dos and don’ts and some small victories, but I was with met with quick defeats. Fear would allow me to put off all the deeds of the flesh “the list” and would provide false security. The list of the flesh deeds was one list, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:20) Here goes another list.

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)

Enough list making! We can’t control the uncontrollable; it’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace a God that anyone can complete the work of Christ. List making might work in your natural responsibilities, but God work requires availability and flexibility. Confession: I still make lists, but with a pencil to erase and to add as God leads. God Bless!

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: Joshua 16-20| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser.” – Unknown

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7

The Triple H Factor

02/01/201701/31/2017Leave a comment

(I have always considered my Freedom Fighters my way of journaling…just in front of all of you. I ran across this in the archives and thought it was worthy of repeat.)

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV)

So as I sat in a stainless steel tank, with what I’ll call a scooper, I thought to myself, “This is humiliating!” The tank is about aj 4’x4’x’4 square with an opening that loses a foot to accommodate various temperature probes. It is used to separate water from metal powder and leaves behind what I’ll call ‘sludge.’ Once a month, this tank has to be cleaned out and apparently the only solution to it is someone getting in it and scooping the sludge out. Then it has to be polished. So there I was with a haz-mat suit on, in a confined space, working around the heating coils, with a scooper saying to myself, “This is humiliating!”

I kept trying to keep a focus on what the Chinese church has to endure, or any other third world Christian church for that matter, but I could only focus on the sludge MY feet were in…”Man, this just plain sucks!!” But as the task went along and I was making progress, my pseudo-humiliation started to leave me. I began to tell myself that this was God’s way of humbling me. “Yeah, that’s the ticket. Then I’ll be stronger for it, yeah.” After all, I was getting a bit carried away with myself this time last year and my pride in ministry work SWELLED . It is only fitting that El Elyon chasten me in such a way…what a load of sludge (that MY feet were in).

So as I sit here and write this to you, I wonder how my pseudo-humiliation was God’s way of humbling me. Being in that tank is what all us regular guys call “Doing your job.” My boss wasn’t being hard on me, it’s just that until a better way is thought of, this is how it goes. AND as far as God humbling me goes…who am I kidding? For me to even think along those lines had no HUMILITY to it. The bottom line here is that Satan uses humiliation, not God, so as far as me feeling humiliated goes that was a load of sludge (that MY feet were in). Our God may do things in painful ways but He is not in the business of making us feel like fools (we do that without His help)…He wants us to understand we’re more than conquers IN Christ Jesus.

In Andrew Murray’s book “Humility” he wrote this concerning humility in our daily lives, “It is easy to think we humble ourselves before God. Yet, humility toward men will be the only sufficient proof that our humility before God is real. It will be the only proof that humility has taken up its abode in us, and become our very nature—that we actually, like Christ, have made ourselves of no reputation. When in the presence of God lowliness of heart has become, not a posture we assume for a time when we think of Him, or pray to Him, but the very spirit of our life, it will manifest itself in all our bearing toward our brethren.”

I’ll be honest with you all, I did not come out of that tank a humble man. On the contrary, I came out with a bitter taste of sludge on my tongue. However, God has saw fit to deal with me on the experience anyway. The lesson I gleaned from it is that humility doesn’t come through humiliation, and forgive me YHVH for even thinking it. The process of humility starts with God’s wisdom prevailing over your wisdom and manifesting itself in your daily life. Yeah I’ll have to go back into that tank in a month, BUT it won’t be outta humiliation…it’ll be my job to do. I just pray that His thoughts be my thoughts that day, because any other thoughts will just be sludge (that is under MY feet). 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: Psalm 9-11| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Many Christians are tempted to downgrade themselves too much. I am not arguing against true humility and my word to you in this: Think as little of yourself as you want to, but always remember that Our Lord Jesus Christ thought very highly of you—enough to give Himself for you in death and sacrifice.”—A.W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!” Psalm 90:14

Please Don’t

01/31/201701/31/2017Leave a comment

“That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” – 1 Corinthians 12:25

Schisms – there’s a word you don’t hear every day. It comes at the end of Paul’s illustration of how the body should and shouldn’t work. The word means, according to one definition, “a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.” He shows us two examples of people who, on one hand don’t feel they are important and therefore never get involved. On the other hand, he shows an example of people who think that they don’t need others or are able to perform all types of ministry on their own.

I believe Paul is trying to give us an antidote to schisms here in chapter 12 of 1^st Corinthians. It is so important to find that particular area where God has gifted you by His Spirit, no matter how big or small, in order for us to give special attention in regards to serving. If my foot, with all good intentions, decides one day it wants to be a hand… it could get very messy. If my ears decide to find its way around without using my eyes, I can expect some trouble. I’m a part of the maintenance team at Keswick but it doesn’t mean I can do all maintenance. If you come to me with an automobile problem and because I want to be a good guy, I give it a go, it could get ugly, and the end result could be worse than when we started.

To pursue those “chosen by God” areas so that we can be a part of a solution is key to preventing schisms. I learned early on, and can relate to my former mentor and boss Ken Brown, that God has called me to work with “drunks and drug addicts” and not with teens. It has saved me a lot of grief. Even though I was both, give me a guy who wants to overcome an addiction over a teenager any day. So if someone asks you to serve in an area you don’t feel comfortable in, “Please Don’t.”

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 7-8| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Faithful servants never retire. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God.” – Rick Warren

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!” Psalm 90:14

Freedom Fighters

A Daily Email Encouragement for Men!

Author: America's Keswick

Courage in the Presence of G_d.

Teach All Nations

The Second Son

Keep Looking

Habit of Holiness

ARE YOU HUMBLE PERSON? 20 Characteristics of Humble People

Humility’s Heights

List Makers

The Triple H Factor

Please Don’t