Missing the Feast for a Bite of Porridge

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. ~ The Encourager, in Hebrews 12

Oh beloved, it is true. After the victories will come the testing. Don’t think that they won’t.

A powerful witness will be followed by the taunts of the enemy.

A period of purity will be followed by an onslaught of curves.

A portion of victory will be followed by the opportunity for failure.

Don’t buy into it. The devil wants you to believe you are a failure, but G_d is using it to show you how much Power He has brought into your life.

So, in the moment of testing after the moment of victory, we have the opportunity to grow further – or to fall back into failure. And while the failure is tempting, the price is enormous.

This fool of a writer often goes on a bit longer in these entries, but that is not necessary here.

Hopefully, the question is obvious. Will we be made better by testing, or will we allow it to make us bitter?

However, what may not be so obvious is that the option to go bitter carries with it risks that are much deeper than we can imagine. In allowing the discipline of G_d to miss its effect, we take on the mantel of the same kind of pride that damned the liar who is tempting us now. And in allowing the enemy to get a foothold, we can lose a lot of ground in our walk Home.

Thankfully, there is the other option. In allowing ourselves to suffer the growth inherent in the discipline of following Him, we take on more of His likeness. We begin to see that it is all worth it. We begin to care less and less for any other option than Him. In finding this approach, we come into an even deeper peace with Him – and our actions begin to look more and more like His.

So, are you struggling after a victory?  Are you tensing under the discipline of the L_RD? Good. But, make the right choice here beloved. Tonight is your night. Time to choose suffering in His Presence over a bit of selfish pleasure apart from Him. – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is serving with his family in China. Email him at Makala@ps1611.org

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 10-12; Ephesians 5:17-33

Think About This: To ignore, repress, or dismiss our feelings is to fail to listen to the stirrings of the Spirit within our emotional life. Jesus listened. In John’s Gospel we are told that Jesus was moved with the deepest emotions (11:33)… The gospel portrait of the beloved Child of Abba is that of a man exquisitely attuned to His emotions and uninhibited in expressing them. The Son of Man did not scorn of reject feelings as fickle and unreliable. They were sensitive antennae to which He listened carefully and through which He perceived the will of His Father for congruent speech and action. ~Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

What’s Your Report?

“When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”   Luke 10:17-19 (NLT)

So I am pretty sure a majority of us had some kind of summer off from Bible Studies, breakfasts and fellowships. I am also sure they are all up and running by now. Now that we’ve all gotten back together what was your summer like? Nah, that’s a ‘tardy question so here’s a better one…What’s your report? With everything you learned at study was there growth during the break? Those who gathered at fellowships and asked for prayer did God answer? Was there a moment during the break where you saw a need and then meet it? Was there healing? Was there conviction of sin? Did someone you have been witnessing to come to Christ? Have you been bold enough to witness? Are you getting my drift, if so…What’s Your Report?

In the 10^th chapter of Luke Jesus sends out 70 anonymous, ordinary people as lambs amongst the wolves. They are to take none of their stuff with them. I believe it so they are not burdened with holding on to stuff that has no Kingdom value. They are to greet no one along the way. I believe it so they will not be talked into doing something that has no Kingdom value. They are to make camp at one location in the town they arrive in, they are to heal the sick, tell them the Kingdom of God is at hand, accept hospitality and whatever is provided for meals then move on. But they are also told that if they are not accepted in a town they can kick the dirt off their heels…“We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!”(Luke 10:11)

The cool part of the story is all 70 came back and they were rejoicing in the power they had by proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. These were pre-Cross and pre-Pentecost believers and they were in absolute awe of the great spiritual success they had received because of Jesus and they knew it. They were given jurisdiction, in the name of Jesus, to cast out the demons that had invaded the land and they came back with a report of joy and thanksgiving. Then Jesus tells them that since He watched as Satan fell like lightening from Heaven He was giving more authority to those unknown 70 people to do far more they could imagine. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!!

Now…how about us? We are post-Cross, we are post-Pentecost and I wonder what Jesus sees with us. We are told to go out and spread the Gospel Good News after we’ve received but are we doing it? And if so we need to be praising God for it because God has given us authority right where we are to tell the devil where he can go before he has a chance to tell us where we can go. We have been given the power, in the name of Jesus, to arrest the poison from the bites of the serpent that is meant to corrupt our minds and to heal the sting, like that which comes from a scorpion, from things like jealousy, strife, anger, envy, disappointments. Believe it or not, we have the same jurisdiction where we are in life just like those 70 unknown people and yet I wonder…if I really believe at times in my own life.

Sometimes I can get myself all fired up because hearing that there is a clear and present danger of becoming a nominal Christian is just around the corner in my life. And unlike Cain I really believe that sin is crouching right outside the door waiting to destroy my testimony in what I received from Jesus Christ. Ya see, like it or not, I will have to give an account on what I did with Jesus. Did I give a cup of cold water, did I comfort someone in prison, did I pray for the needs of those less fortunate, did I lay hands on someone who need healing….CHRIS HUGHES WHAT’S YOUR REPORT? will bellow in the Throne Room. I better be ready…and so should you. Amen?

(I thank Pastor Colin Days of The Second Baptist Church in Atlantic City for stirring the pot.) – Chris Hughes blogs weekly and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. Email him at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 7-9; Ephesians 5:1-16

Think About This: “Since the authorization and equipment of the messengers is absolutely dependent on the word of Jesus, it is essential that nothing should obscure their royal mission or make it incredible. The messengers are to deliver their testimony to the riches of their Lord in royal poverty.”—Dietrich Bonheffer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

Is Your Calling and Election Sure?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Your probably questioning am I Am one of those Christians that declares faith plus. This concept has caused schisms, dismantled churches, and is still constantly debated. I am not claiming or debating my stance on anything but it’s Peter, moreover God that’s saying add to your faith. Let’s explore! 

Virtue– is having a quality or striving for of moral excellence or righteousness. Not being perfect, but honorable in how you make decisions according to the Word of God. What are the standards that you hold or stand on?

Knowledge – This in not limited to academics or intelligence, it’s spiritual practicality, it’s governing our lives with wisdom of God. What we know we should do, and if we don’t do want we know; do we really know?

Self-control– or some versions mention temperance; in development of our faith we began to grasps the concepts that God has provided all things to withstand the temptations from Satan, the world, and even our own fleshly patterns.

Steadfastness– or Patience Be Still! I wish I could explain how much I have mastered this, but I have a lot to learn about this concept. As Christian we must not be moved and persevere as a light and salt of the world. Be still and know He is God!
Godliness-which respects our immediate duty towards God, and truly comprehending all the duties that reality. God is Holy, and as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit we are encouraged towards Holiness.

Brotherly kindness-to have a deep regard for everyone, especially loving those that are apart of the household of faith. This is joined to godliness, to show that it is in vain to pretend to true religion and yet be destitute of brotherly love.

Love – the whole law of of Moses impinged on love, the greatest commands were surrounded by love. Charity, love in action, even extends to our enemies themselves. Love is unconditional!

Later in the passage it mentions if we grasp these concepts, we will never stumble, this is God’s Word. This is not teaching perfection but encourages since we are influence by the Holy Spirit it causes a matureness in our walk. Have a bless day! – Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves there as a full-time Chaplain. You can email him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 4-6; Ephesians 4

Think About This: If we tread our vices under our feet, we make of them a ladder by which to rise to higher things. Augustine

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

Act of God

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

I remember one of the first conflicts as a new believer was rethinking the term “Act of God”. I would hear this term when a natural disaster would take place and an insurance company’s scape goat would be to use this term to nullify coverage. In the past my natural reaction would be to blame God for ruining people’s property and not providing the insurance to fix it, “mean old God”…

Now I’m not sure why there are natural disasters and I know that God allows these things to happen but when I apply the things I know about God and understand that He works all things out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose I look for the good.

In his opening letter to the twelve tribes which are scattered, James the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem writes a letter to encourage, warn and instruct the believers in times of trials. His intentions are to help them focus on their hardships as something that is good.

In verse 17 James tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from God to us. Previously he tells us not to be deceived, he goes on to remind his readers that God does not change or shift like something unstable, He’s the same God that, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures”, (vs 18), and saved us by offering us salvation.

I find that when trials come our way, they will be used to show us and others the legitimacy of our faith. In the old west there was something called “fool’s gold”, a brassy yellow mineral that resembled gold and would lead people to believe that they were rich. The test would come when acid was applied and revealed the thing that they were boasting about was not authentic.

So, I’m not sure what you are going through, but know that if you are a child of God it is a perfect gift and will be used to test your faith in order to grow you up spiritually. Amen? Rob Russomano serves on the full-time staff at America’s Keswick. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. You can email him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1-3; Ephesians 3

Think About This: Holiness is the centerpiece of God’s attributes. Of all the things God is, at the centre of His being, God is holy. Never in the Bible is God called, “love, love, love,” or “eternal, eternal, eternal,” or “truth, truth, truth.” On this aspect of His character, God has laid the most stress. Tony Evans

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

Mentoring the Next Generation

“And the things which you have seen and heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Being 61 isn’t all bad. Yes, I admit, it is a weird place to be especially when you are beginning to think about where you fit into the big scheme of things.

But one of the things that I am becoming more and more passionate about is mentoring the next generation so that when the time comes, they can pick up the baton and run with it.

There are lots of biblical examples of mentoring like Moses and Joshua and Caleb, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy to name a few.

Over the years we’ve done a pretty lousy job of mentoring next generation leaders in the church. Some of us have tried to hold onto the reigns beyond our effectiveness, and in a sense, the younger generation abandoned ship and gave up trying to fit in or find a niche for service.

In my home church growing up there was some jealously when it came to the piano and organ. While our folks wanted to get the “kids” involved, it would have never meant someone else “getting off the bench” even for one service.

And my generation didn’t do it much better. Even if our parents or elders wanted to mentor, we didn’t want it or feel we needed it because we had all the answers.

The millennial generation which is now the largest generation on the planet, wants to be mentored. These are the next generation leaders for tomorrow in our churches, para-church ministries and organizations.

They are looking for answers, direction and help, and we as Boomers and Busters have a wonderful window of opportunity to build into their lives – and part of that process is giving them opportunities to serve. No, they won’t do it our way (we didn’t do it the way our parents did) – in fact, they might figure out a better way to do it and do it ever more effectively. But by golly, they want it and we should take the opportunity to come alongside them and cheer them on.

Paul must of done that as he built into Timothy’s life. He modeled his walk with the Lord and taught Timothy well and was his greatest cheerleader. He told Timothy – take what you’ve learn and teach others. And the rest is history.

Are there Timothy’s in your life that you need to mentor? My guess is that you already know someone in your church or ministry. Invite them to lunch and take time to get to know THEM first. Once they see you care, you’ll have their ear. Remember the John C. Maxwell principle: “People don’t want to know how much you know as much as they want to know you care.”

We have the opportunity and privilege to come alongside this generation and equip them for the future. They ARE our legacy.

Can you identify one or two young men you can mentor? What steps will you take to begin the process. – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 6-8; Ephesians 2

Think About This: By faith we expect rich harvest fields and breaking nets, for the gospel is specifically designed to bear fruit. —Jack Miller

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

“Mindful of the Things of God”

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, And take up his cross, and follow Me” Matthew 16:24b

I can still hear the echoes of my parents or a teacher, “are you listening to me”? My response would usually be, “I hear you”, but hearing and listening are two different things. There have been too many times I sat through a sermon or even read a passage of scripture and even though I heard it I didn’t hear it, “In one ear and out the next”.

Throughout scripture there are many times it will exhort the reader to pay close attention, in the Bible important things were said two or three times to get the attention of the reader,
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Rev 4:8), or” Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 KJV).

In Matthews account in chapter 16 we see Jesus giving His disciples a very important lesson on ministry or how to be “mindful of the things of God”.

Like any good teacher the unveiling of a person’s desires and motives are important, Jesus first asks “if anyone desires to come after Me”. Have you ever sought out what your true desires are? The first step to being mindful of the things of God is to examine what’s most important to you. When I receive a call from a man in addiction who has chosen to get high again it’s usually followed by the question, “I don’t know why I did it”, followed by my response, “because you wanted to or desired to”.

Unless we are satisfied with what the world has to offer we need to be willing to change our desires and want the things of God. From the sons of Korah in psalm 42 we read. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God”, much easier said than done.

Then we read “let him deny himself”, put away our fleshly desires, to be unmindful of myself and recognize the things of God. It’s not until we get these two things right that it becomes fitting to “take up our cross”, whatever that means, I’m still working on changing my desires and denying myself. I would imagine when I’m ready to take up my cross it would look a lot like the ministry of Jesus and although I can sometime resemble the Master and be a witness of Him I have a long way to go to be conformed to His image.

I’ve seen the dangers of those who take up their cross before their desires have changed or have denied themselves. That’s the difference between a ministry and an agenda, an agenda is a cause of our own that we disguise as the things of God. This is what Peter does in verse 23 when Jesus tells him “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”  Peter was doing just fine when he confessed “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

So today if you’re not sure if your desires are first to follow God, and not mindful of the things of God, ask Him to show you the idols that are in the way, then we can begin to deny ourselves and seek out that cross that we are to bear, but until then we can continue to confess Him as “The Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Amen – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick. You can email Rob @rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 47-48; John 20

Think About This: God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illumined by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason. Dag Hammarskjold

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

Tonight start’s our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night’s. Come join us this Thursday for our kick-off event at 6:15 PM with dinner followed by a great message from Pastor Sam Sutter. Call for information: 800-453-7942

Watch

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16: 13) That simple word was written to a troubled church and to troubled people. Among the various meanings of the word are other words such as wake, be vigilant, and be cautious. There is also a warning in the word that unless we watch we may become indolent and overtaken by “some destructive calamity” (Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon).

In essence, that simple instruction is telling us to wise up – to be aware and to be alert, to exercise wise disciplines. This is a responsibility assigned to those of us who desire to experience victory in Christ. To be sure, the victory we have in Christ is in fact in Christ. We cannot afford to overlook that. Neither can we afford to overlook our human responsibility in the opportunity of such victory.

Therefore we must watch. We must be informed by God’s Word about the crucial issues of life. And one of the first things for which we must watch is that we do not gain our knowledge of evil and danger by receiving our information from that which is evil and dangerous. We just simply cannot go there.

The Bible tells us that we are to be …wise in that which is good, and simple (unmixed with evil) concerning evil (Romans 16: 19).

Watch is a clear instruction. We are to be aware of all our Lord has provided for our spiritual enrichment. We are to be aware of where we may find what He has provided and how we may attain that which He has provided. We must watch in order to find that which is good and to avoid that which is evil. Our watch must be active – not passive. It must be guarded – not careless.

Victory is often lost when one chooses to carelessly explore rather than carefully watch. Watching involves prayer, Bible study, worship, proper fellowship, being in the proper places, avoiding the places of evil enticement. You get the idea.

Watching means knowing what to turn to as well as what to turn from. Now for the question: have you taken an inventory lately of the matters influencing your spiritual victory – or lack of it? Have you watched lately? Do you watch constantly? Are you being honest with what you are finding? Do you deal quickly and adequately with what you find?

Watch. It is a serious part of our victory in Christ. Dr. Robert L. Alderman is minister-at-large at Shenandoah Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA. He is a popular speaker at America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 9285-9318).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 45-46; John 19:23-42

Think About This: When we bring God’s word directly into our praying, we are bringing God’s power into our praying. —Joni Eareckson Tada

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

This month start’s our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night’s. Come join us this Thursday for our kick-off event Thursday, October 8^th at 6:15 PM with dinner followed by a great message from Pastor Sam Sutter. Call for information: 800-453-7942

Common Practice

“When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” Mark 7:14-16 (NKJV) 

Ever since the arrival of “social media” the ability for people to voice their opinion has sky-rocketed. Sometimes we can see stuff that we agree on and press some sorta “like” button to show our solidarity but in those times where we don’t something else can happen…we retort! Something just takes over and we begin to type out stuff, we proof-read it (well this should happen more often in some cases), POSSIBLY edited it, then we hit SEND and WAA-LA!! Our statement has offended someone and then retort turns, then it twists, then it seems to enter in this insane kinda spiraling vortex that everyone participates in and what started out as a simple contrary opinion has turned into an angry mob of people sitting behind their techno gadgets hitting their SEND buttons (but I just gotta say this one thing) hoping no one comes to their house to beat them up!!

So with that said there is something that we are doing to each other as Christians on social media? We are treating each other as common and it has become a common practice. Disagree with me? Well you can send me an e-mail and I’ll be happy to work it out with you but from where I sit I see much in the way of Christians treating Christians as common or at times even worse, we demonize each other. It’s like we are so familiar with the things of God that we have elevated ourselves to be almost above Him and it therefore qualifies us to speak harshly and think we are doing this in Christian love and rebuke. Problem is if we really think we are familiar with the things of God we treat God as common and that my friends is not our God!!

Jesus says that what comes from our mouth is what defiles us…so what does this mean? Basically if we haven’t dealt with the lusts and idolatries that has taken up residence in our hearts, those wrathful thoughts and corrupt ideas that have taken up space in our minds and those moments of unforgiveness that “Occupy Conscience” we become those “unwashed on the inside” cups that Jesus said those wacky Pharisees were. We seem to forget that our heart can be deceitful, desperately wicked and full of pollution. If these issues aren’t washed clean at the foot of the Cross they bubble out of us like too much coffee in too little of a pot.

I also am reminded by what we read in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NASB)  In the King James Version the word love (in this verse) is charity. And in that charity John Gill explains that it isn’t in the giving of alms, which is something given for free, “but the grace of love is here meant, even love to God, and love to Christ, and love to the saints, which is a grace implanted in regeneration by the Spirit of God”, pretty much saying that we should be displaying the Holy Spirit that dwells within us as much as possible. As Paul would also say, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”—Romans 12:18 (NASB)

So when it comes to this social media slandering that we are doing, let’s do what would make the Savior smile and KNOCK IT OFF!!! Our words should be seasoned with salt, displaying attitudes of grace and building up of our Brethren. So am I doing this? Even though I think that (at times) I preach a better Freedom Fighter than I live, I am doing what I can to be at peace with all Facebookers on my friends list. I love engaging in discussions that are more “Talking Torah” (a Pastor Joe Olachea term) than trash talking theology. I would also rather be silly than stupid but that is a grey area…it depends on the reader. But in any case, If you claim to name The Name then utter the grace of love in your life. It’s a better thing to click “SHARE” with and then press “LIKE”!! Amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger. You can email Chris at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42-44; John 19:1-22

Think About This: “Our great honor lies in being just what Jesus was and is. To be accepted by those who accept Him, rejected by all who reject Him, loved by those who love Him and hated by everyone that hates Him. What greater glory could come to any man?” —A. W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

This month start’s our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night’s. Come join us this Thursday for our kick-off event Thursday, October 8^th at 6:15 PM with dinner followed by a great message from Pastor Sam Sutter. Call for information: 800-453-7942

My Freedom Fighter this week is a poem written by one of my counselees at the Colony of Mercy. Dan has given me permission to share it with you. He is a life that is being transformed:

HE IS MY FATHER                        

I sit in wonder, deep in thought, in awe of God the Father

And why I’M one of these elect, and why He’d even bother,

Reflecting back upon my life, and patterns of my sin

The things I’ve done, the things I’ve said, the places that I’ve been,

If God is love, and God’s above, then who am I down here?

A selfish man who’s dealt a hand that no-one can revere,

My stinkin pride would coincide with how that I’d survive

But I’d comply, cause I’m obliged, but not transformed inside,

And here I was a Christian, stuck in bondage, feeling lost

Until I REALLY understood what happened on the cross,

For years I struggled with the truth of who I am in Christ

And Satan’s lies that I believed had overcome my life,

I couldn’t see just how deceived I was, so legalistic

Performance based, a life of works, so subtle, so sadistic,

I’d try to earn this thing called love that He already gave

But in my mind, I’d fall behind, if I did not behave,

And there were times where I’d abide, but then I’d grow complacent

I’d base my walk on empty thoughts, on feelings and sensations,

I’d ask God why I couldn’t grasp this intimate relation

Then He revealed that I’d lost sight of Christ’s propitiation,

My flesh still rises, in fresh disguises, and some so boldly open

But I track back unto the fact of how I must be broken,

So now, I kneel before You God, surrender You my heart

I trust You’ll sanctify my life and keep me set apart,

I thank You for Your patient love, and saving me from death

And for the hot refining fire burning off my flesh,

I thank You for the pain that comes from trials and different tests

And thank You for conviction that will lead me to confess,

I thank You that You shined Your light, when I was in the dungeon

I thank You that You gave me life, and gave me life abundant,

I thank You that it’s not who’s best, or who deserves it most

I thank You that it’s not of works, lest any man should boast,

So remember when I said before, “Why would He even bother

I’ll tell you why, cause I’m His son, and God, He is my FATHER!!!!

(Poem inspired by the Holy Spirit, written by Daniel M. Petters, dedicated to my Father God)  Chaplain Juan Mendez graduated from the Colony of Mercy and serves there as a full-time Chaplain. You can email him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 40-41; John 18:19-40

Think About This: Can you have any greater assurance that you are praying the will of God than when you are praying the Word of God? —Don Whitney

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

This month start’s our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night’s. Come join us this Thursday for our kick-off event Thursday, October 8^th at 6:15 PM with dinner followed by a great message from Pastor Sam Sutter. Call for information: 800-453-7942

When The Foundations Are Destroyed

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah Psalm 46:1-3

If you haven’t figured it out, our world is in chaos. We’ve talked about this before, haven’t we? But think about it:

* Extreme weather pattern changes
* Racial tensions that are escalating across our country
* Increased numbers of shootings that have moved from schools to other venues. The most recent shootings were an outright target against Christians
* The recent Supreme Court rulings that will shake the foundation of marriage and open the door for the testing of our values by the LGTB community
*And now escalation of war and threats of war in the Middle East. Russia now trying to prove to the world that is still a viable super power and now partnering with Iran and Iraq

And the list goes on and on.

From a human perspective, there are very perilous times. And things are not going to get better, my friend. I believe that we are the cusp of some very challenging and difficult days that are going to test the mettle of every believer.

By they are not times to give up in despair!!! GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE This is not the time for us as believers to retreat, fear, or run to the caves.

Our theme this summer has been LIVE COURAGEOUSLY and it has been very timely. Next year’s them is TOMORROWLAND: Facing the Future With Confidence.

We are committed as a ministry to help you do just that by getting resources into your hands to help you build up your courage and your confidence in our BIG God.

This month our Discovering Victory Podcast features a message that our good friend, Dr. Ray Prichard shared on Labor Day Weekend. Every believer needs to hear this message. The title of the message is “When the Foundations are Destroyed.” I want to encourage you to watch the podcast and share the link with other brothers.

Ray has graciously agreed to give us the message in print. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please respond to this email, or call 800-453-7942 and we will get it mailed to you.

Psalm 46:1-3 is a powerful reminder, my friend. God IS our refuge and strength even when the foundations are being destroyed all around us. Live Courageously!!! – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 37-39; John 18:1-18

Think About This: And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us. We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; One little word shall fell him. – Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7