Stephen

“So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, which we may put in charge of this task.”   (Acts 6:2, 3)… “And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 6:5)

Stephen was living his life in such a way that it caught the attention of the leaders in the church. One must reason: What were the leaders seeing in Stephen that set him apart from others? What does a man of good reputation look like? Would you consider yourself a man of good reputation? What would the leaders of your Church or work, report? I asked various individuals these questions and the responses were ambiguous. I came to realize some people live their lives in fear of what others think about them. This can be unhealthy because you cannot always appease men (learned that working in food service). On the other hand, there are those who disregard anyone else’s opinion, not allowing accountability to challenge their walks. There has to be healthy median.

In any case, the Apostles chose the right man for the job. As you read Stephen’s story he is constantly characterized as a man full of the Spirit, and he goes on to defend the faith and becomes one of the first martyrs for Christ. The interesting conclusion is that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father, not sitting as it is usually stated. There are various theories on this occasion; but I personally believe that Christ was ready to receive him and was pleased by the level of obedience.  Stephen ends with two prayers: 1) Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, 2) Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Wow! In the midst of his persecution, he pleads to God for his accusers. This is an example a man filled with the Holy Spirit.

I ask myself am I a person full of the spirit, or did I receive Christ and become unproductive? Everyone will have a legacy to pass on, and similar to Stephen we can finish this race well, with endurance, and leave a testimony to our families, friends, but most all, to the glory of God. Stephen’s story is still influencing individuals, and with the power of Jesus Christ, we can do the same.

Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) – Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the full-time staff at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1-5

Think About This:A cross without offense in the world is a cross without power in the world. —Steven Lawson

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me. 2 Samuel 22:2-3

Less is More

“He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff,  no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts” Mark 6:8

I find that the more experienced I become at traveling the better I get at packing. When I first began to travel I would usually forget something, then, I would bring too much. Now, I’ve come to the realization that “less is more”.

I think back to a time when I was struggling to carry all my bags from the baggage claim, I saw a guy grab a small suitcase and he was on his way. More than half the stuff I had I really didn’t need. It only served to slow me down.

I believe there’s something about trusting God then being prepared that can prevent us from a less burdensome journey. I marvel at reading scripture and never hearing about Jesus carrying a bag or packing before a journey.  I wonder what we would do if we just went out one day with no phone, computer or money, nothing but faith. How long could you survive with just a “Kingdom” mindset?

I don’t think I’m ready for this type of journey but I do think that I can get along with a lot less. Is it possible that some of our preparedness and efforts to be ready are actually hindrances and stumbling blocks? We tend to trust in our stuff then in the basic training of life walking with Jesus. I have a few friends on Facebook who do street evangelism, at best they have a small back pack and are often seen one-on-one holding someone’s hand, making eye contact and simply telling them the love of Christ. My guess is they have very little in regards to material things that require monthly payments and extra hours of work to maintain.

If we’re honest we spend most of our time making “provision for the flesh”. My experience with “fleshly” things is they become burdensome, even the things that aren’t sinful become added weight, like me trying to carry four suitcase when I could have easily treaded lightly with one. Paul gives us some good advice in the 13^th chapter of Romans when he says “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”. I wonder what heavenly rewards await those who have less now. Something to think about… Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the full-time staff of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Joel 1-3

Think About This:To put it shortly, the Church forgets that Christianity is not an attitude of mind, but a type of life: a man’s spirit is not known by his opinion, but by his action and general conduct. William Temple

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me. 2 Samuel 22:2-3

Father’s Day 2015

The command says, “Honor your father and mother.This is the first command that has a promise with it—  “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”Ephesians 6:2-3

The picture below are my three earthly Dads: my own father holding our son Josh, Pastor Bill Raws and Pastor Van.

I didn’t make a mistake with today’s heading. I want to talk about Father’s Day 2015 and give you some things to ponder in preparation for next year.

My guess is that for some of you, Father’s Day is a tough day. You may have not had the greatest relationship with your earthly Dad, and that has even impacted your relationship with your heavenly Father.

My challenge for you is this: if you already have a good relationship with your earthly Dad, build on that relationship. If you have had a difficult relationship with your Dad, would you pray about what YOU can do to turn that relationship around? Paul challenged the Romans “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

I sat with too many friends over the past ten years who have no relationship with their earthly Dads. Some have had big issues that have caused a rift in the relationship. But to be really honest with you, most of what I heard has been petty stuff that has festered into bitterness and hard heart.

Many of my friends at the death of their father have wept uncontrollably because of the regret of not making things right. That’s a terrible and unnecessary burden to carry. Bitterness and hard-heartedness never stays with just you – it is always transferrable to others – and most often it is your kids.

I am thankful that I have no regrets with my relationship with my Dad. He has been in heaven for 25+ years. Our relationship up to the end was amazing.

Having said that, there are some things I would have done differently:

1. Take lots of pictures with you and your Dad and with your own kids. I don’t think I have one picture of just me and my Dad. That stinks! I wish I had at least one or two. Snap away – you can’t go back and redo those memories.

2. Communicate weekly with your Dad. I called my Mom and Dad daily. Some told me that was crazy and excessive. I have no regrets about keeping the lines of communication open.

3. Express gratitude to your Dad for his role in your life. There has to be something in the past that you can thank Him for. My Dad’s generation was not good at building us up. They didn’t want us to get big heads. It had to be how they were raised. You can turn this around by demonstrating gratitude.

4. Tell your Dad you love him. My Dad’s generation really had trouble with this too. They didn’t use the “love” word often. You have no idea how much it will mean to your Dad, particularly in the golden years to know he is loved by his kids.

I am certain that if you practice these four things, your Father’s Day in 2015 will be one you will cherish for years to come. Will you give it a try?

What are some of the ways you have built your relationship with your Dad?

Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Hosea 8-14

Think About This:It would be much more valuable for people to change their actions less, and to change more rather the disposition which makes them act.Francois Fenelon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me. 2 Samuel 22:2-3

That In all Things He Might Be Preeminent

And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. ~ paul, the least of The Apostles, in Colossians 1

Oh beloved, it is true. There is for each of us a crisis in our faith. And we may come to a saving knowledge of the One who has so mightily saved us years before it occurs. We believe, and this is good. But there is something within us that still does not know into what we have bought.

Because the problem is that we still believe something that is not true. We believe that Jesus is some sort of a choice to be made. Or that He is someone to Whom we commit our lives. And in thinking we are making some sort of additive or substitutive choice in our lives, we drive ourselves further towards the crisis we all must face.

We go through the first moments of our relationship with Him, thinking that there is some sort of mistake we are going to make that is going to ruin the whole thing.  We run under some set of impressions that we have to get everything right, or everything is going to go terribly wrong on Judgement Day.

Our peace is lacking. Our ear is still tuned to condemnation. And we are missing the point completely until the crisis really comes to a head in our lives. Even so, the questions really do scream around and rant in our heads and heart until we are so miserable that we just don’t have any idea what to do.

“Stop child.  Put it down.”

He says it, and we hear it. And somehow our lives are getting crazy enough that we reckon we might just chuck this whole “Christianity” thing and go another direction.  All of this is just too much work.

Somewhere, we just come to the end of ourselves. Finally though, instead of only hearing something, we begin to listen to a very Still Voice filling the yawning emptiness that threatens to overtake our beings.

“I AM enough.”
“I AM your Peace.”
“I AM able.”
“I AM Love.”
“I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”

And something in us breaks. Instead of reckoning ourselves tired and worn out, we reckon we are just going to quit fighting and surrender to the One speaking. But, when we do, something amazing happens.

All along, we had been thinking that this getting saved was about something we needed to do. But now, in the moment of our defeat, we finally see that the victory was, is, and will always be His. We see that this mighty Savior at work within us has already declared that the work needed to do the saving is already done.

Can we see it? He is everything. All of this, is all about Him and His enormous Love rolling out across eternity and smashing our tiny efforts to bits. To think we could have even chosen Him (beyond looking in His direction) and had anything to do with getting drawn out of the pit we were in, is a position beyond foolish… even laughable.

So, beloved, are you in a crisis of faith? Perhaps the question is not about faith. The question is rather in whom we are placing that faith. Are you still holding onto a bit of a hope that you had something to do with yourself getting saved? Are you experiencing the misery of that thought?

Time to let go. Time to let Jesus Christ take His rightful place as Lord and King of your life. – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 44-25

Think About This: Hope proves man deathless. It is the struggle of the soul, breaking loose from what is perishable, and attesting her eternity… I learn the depth to which I have sunk from the length of the chain let down to up-draw me. I ascertain the mightiness of the ruin by examining the Machinery for restoration.~ Henry Melvill

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Join us this tonight for the last Men’s Fellowship Night of this season. Pastor Bruce Koczman from Jesus Fellowship Calvary Chapel will be our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM. Come and enjoy a great night of praise and worship, challenge from the Word and fun in the Activity Center. Call America’s Keswick for your reservation: 800-453-7942

The Triple H Factor

“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 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”! <heavy sigh>

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 with 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, ‘cos any other thoughts will just be sludge (that is under MY feet). Amen?

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42-43

Think About This:“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: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Join us this Thursday night for the last Men’s Fellowship Night of this season. Pastor Bruce Koczman from Jesus Fellowship Calvary Chapel will be our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM. Come and enjoy a great night of praise and worship, challenge from the Word and fun in the Activity Center. Call America’s Keswick for your reservation: 800-453-7942

Fear vs. Faith

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 ESV)

The closer David’s relationship with God grew, the more he put his trust in Him. David gets it! The Bible reassures/encourages us over three hundred times in various fashions to “fear not.” Fear is a choice! In fairness, if we look at the news long enough we realize danger is real. Personally, we know that situations are tough, and life happens to all of us. In addition, many of us have past circumstances that shape our anxieties, making us apprehensive. However, the reality, it is counterproductive to try to process through life by the emotional channel of fear.

Instead of walking on eggshells, David shows us another outlet, Salvation. In David’s writings, we see that salvation is more than the redemptive work on the cross. Yes, salvation offers the remission of sin, and gives hope to those who are distressed and dealing condemnation. And yes, it is the channel thru which a believer will experience eternal life with Christ. But it also is a covering for life now, and it saves people throughout the trials of life. Despite the past or what is happening at present, we have future hope of positive expectation that we can hold onto. God’s perfect love casts out our fear and where there is divine intercession it will cause us to look at our issues and potential struggles as merely momentary afflictions.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surelygoodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwellin the house of the LORD forever. (Psalms23)

We have a choice in every situation to either, have faith in our creator, or live in fear. – Juan Mendez is a graduate and serves full-time at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 39-41

Think About This:They who truly come to God for mercy, come as beggars, and not as creditors: they come for mere mercy, for sovereign grace, and not for anything that is due.Jonathan Edwards

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Join us this Thursday night for the last Men’s Fellowship Night of this season. Pastor Bruce Koczman from Jesus Fellowship Calvary Chapel will be our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM. Come and enjoy a great night of praise and worship, challenge from the Word and fun in the Activity Center. Call America’s Keswick for your reservation: 800-453-7942

Return to Default

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” John 21:3a

I’m far from computer literate but I do like to customize my computer. I can have my email account as my home page and make my background to look a certain way. I can change my settings so, for the most part it makes it easier to navigate. The problem is that sometimes when I have to reboot or if something goes wrong and the Tech leads me to the solution my computer “Returns to Default” settings.

In This passage of scripture we see Peter and the others “returning to default”. Even though they’re lives where changed, the directions and life lessons given them where amazing there seems to be a disconnect and they returned to they’re default settings, the settings that they came to Jesus with.

I’m not sure what the problem was and why after they had their encounter with the living Christ they went into default but I can relate. It’s as if the joy of my salvation is muted when I see myself as inadequate or I’m on the outside looking in. Maybe Peter was living in the his remorse of denying Jesus and sees himself as a failure.

“But now the rest of the story.” Even in our default mode the Lord is ready to customize us and uses familiar settings to do so. Bringing Peter back to an occasion when he first met God. A familiar place of that taste of freedom, then commissioning him to service and a life of meaning and purpose.

I know for me, if I’m willing to see the Lord in my everyday life He shows Himself to me even when I return to my default way of living. When I am just not feeling it there are those reminders of the “Joy of my Salvation”.

So if you find yourself living in default, and don’t really have a spiritual purpose, know that God wants to restore you to that place where He began a good work, knowing that He is faithful to complete it. Amen! – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full time at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 35-38

Think About This:What we need above all is a sense of God’s enabling power and presence, along with a reconstituted vision of what authentic moral responsibility requires. When we have this, we shall become more willing to claim our power, and not just talk about claiming it.Anne Patrick

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Join us this Thursday night for the last Men’s Fellowship Night of this season. Pastor Bruce Koczman from Jesus Fellowship Calvary Chapel will be our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM. Come and enjoy a great night of praise and worship, challenge from the Word and fun in the Activity Center. Call America’s Keswick for your reservation: 800-453-7942

Just Do It

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7: 7-8 NIV)

I have found myself frustrated over the years thinking and verbalizing this: “Why is prayer such hard work?” Why have I been so frustrated in my prayer life?

I have collected and read dozens of books on prayer. I’ve looked for the right model, the right formula, the right method, so that I can pray effectively. The bottom line is that I can have the largest collection of books on how to pray – but in the words of Nike © – I need to JUST DO IT!

Rather than get so hung up on the right and wrong way to pray, figuring out the right position and posture for prayer, and trying to make sure I say the right things and not say the wrong things, God wants me to come to Him in childlike faith and just pray.

It’s really not as complicated as I make it. It isn’t about saying a prayer that will impress the Lord. Who am I kidding? He knows the real me. He knows when I am using “vain repetitions” or praying things I don’t really mean.

I am new on this journey – but I have made a commitment to myself – to move from reading and learning about prayer – to become a man who prays. I will make mistakes, I’m sure. But at the end of the day, it matters more to Him that I love Him enough that I want to spend time with Him at the throne of grace.

Lord, help me to keep it simple – JUST DO IT! Pray! Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 5932-5950).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 32-34

Think About This:Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.Oswald Chambers

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Deserted Dwellings

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven. (2 Corinthians 5: 1-2)

I received a magazine yesterday that has a picture on the front of a deserted house. Our country is in the grips of a mortgage crisis and many families are losing their homes. There are housing developments that resemble the ghost towns of the old west springing up all across the USA. And while it is sad, the loss of a house made of wood and stone is dwarfed by the loss or deterioration of a human body. Many people suffer the loss of their health due to old age or sickness resulting from man’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.

Many people are quick to blame God when tragedy comes upon them in any shape or form, whether financial or physical. But the truth is that our Father God never intended us to be in this predicament. It was only when we separated ourselves from God by sinning that we got into trouble. We are fortunate that our God didn’t give up on us, but has a plan for our redemption.

We all have the opportunity to return to God by receiving the forgiveness offered to us by Jesus Christ our Redeemer. The good news is that as we do this we gain the hope of knowing our future is brighter. According to the verses above, our ailing physical bodies, called tents because of their temporary nature, will be deserted and we will inhabit buildings instead. Imagine a house made by God that will last for eternity!

I don’t know about you but my tent is breaking down, as are the tents of some of the people that I love. But I have hope in Christ my Redeemer. Romans 8: 23 is a promise from God, Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. The day is coming when this tent will be deserted but I will be in my new home with Jesus!

Thank you, Lord, for the hope I have in You. Chaplain Jim Freed is the Director of Men’s Addiction Recovery Ministries at America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 5808-5829).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 21-23

Think About This:To ask that God’s love should be content with us as we are is to ask that God should cease to be God.C.S. Lewis
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Be sober, be vigilant; becauseyour adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Recall What God Remembers

…Thus says the LORD, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth…” (Jeremiah 2: 2) Have you ever noticed that we tend to remember what we should forget, and forget what we should remember? Well here are some questions and thoughts from the pen of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest) that are worth our consideration today:

 

“1. Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me?

2 . Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4: 7).

3. How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week?

4. Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation? God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2: 2).

5. Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him?

6. Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him?

7. Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him?

8. Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me?

9. Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7: 10).” Take some time to work through these questions today. Recall today what GOD remembers. Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 5638-5665).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18-20

Think About This: The worst thing thou has to fear is the treachery of thine own heart. —C.H. Spurgeon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Be sober, be vigilant; becauseyour adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9