Pursuing our Destiny, Part 6—The Disciplines of Abstinence

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11, ESV).

Recognized as the “seven deadly sins,” the church has identified throughout its history some sins as being particularly dangerous to our spiritual lives.  They are pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lasciviousness (lust).  Gregory the Great (A.D. 540-604) described these as a “classification of the normal perils of the soul in the ordinary conditions of life.”

All of us who want to be like Jesus (the destiny for which we’ve been chosen, Romans 8:29) know the “normal perils” that trouble our souls—that “wage war against our soul(s)” as Peter warns us.    In that warning, Peter helps us understand that part of the way we guard our souls against the “normal perils” is to practice abstinence.  He didn’t just mean abstinence from sex or drugs or alcohol, the context in which we normally understand the word.  It meant far more than that for Peter.

The disciplines of abstinence, as practiced by Jesus, were broader and more comprehensive, and they prepared him for life and the “normal perils” of life.  As we choose to become living icons of Jesus, it’s good for us to remember that Jesus experienced temptation just like we do.  He dealt with it every day just like we do.  He had to make choices every day just like we do.  And, just like Jesus, we can avoid the “normal perils” if we invest the same energy and effort that Jesus did in preparation for those perils.

I invite you to take a journey through the gospels.  Allow your focus to rest on Jesus—what He did, what He didn’t do.  Pay attention to the times he stepped away from the crowd.  Notice his prayer times and his simple life.  In all your noticing, be aware of the ways God’s Spirit may call you to the same practices.  Perhaps we become more like Jesus by doing the things Jesus did!

Allow me to remind you of the disciplines of abstinence: solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice.  Each one is important.  Each one is part of the life of Jesus.  Each one helped him confront the “normal perils,” the “passions of the flesh that war against our soul.”

In his book “The Spirit of the Disciplines,” Dallas Willard quotes Bishop Wilson from the Isle of Man.  Wilson wrote, “Those who deny themselves will be sure to find their strength increased, their affections raised, and their inward peace continually augmented.”   Willard goes on to say, “An adequate course of spiritual discipline will single out those tendencies that may harm our walk with God.”  Anything that harms our walk with God keeps us from fulfilling our destiny to become living icons of Jesus.  Where do each of us need a “course of discipline” in our lives to protect us from those things that “may harm our walk with God?”  We may already know where discipline is needed.  If not, we can ask God’s Spirit to show us.  Let that be our work for this week—to find out which disciplines of abstention we need to incorporate into our lives. – Pastor John Strain recently retired from full-time ministry at First Baptist Toms River. He is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Joel 1-3; Philippians 4

Quote of the day: Every problem is an opportunity to know God better.

Larry Crabb

Verse to Memorize: Therefore I love you commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. Psalm 119:127-128 ESV

Right Back at You

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Father of mercies and God of all comfort”

2^nd Corinthians 1:3

The next verse goes on to say, “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”.

These verses are the basis on which I stand in ministry. I can go to these verses when I question my purpose in life.

God has shown me mercy and comfort for which I am eternally grateful and will spend my remaining days sharing that same hope.

These last few months have been very difficult for me. When I reach back on what I believe to be true I can take my next step.

I wish I could say that His written word is enough for me to stay focused, but God knows I need more.

I have been told many times by the men I minister to, how much of an encouragement I’ve been to them. The other day that returned a dividend that was invaluable.

I received a phone call from a Colony Grad who along with another Grad heard about my situation and decided to make a date to take me out for dinner and a TNT service.

It wasn’t until we were sitting in the Chapel that I realized as I looked at these two guys that it was them encouraging me.

“Right back at You”.

There is something about that Chapel that can bring the “unseen” to light. I was overwhelmed by the moment that God would use these guys to “comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”.

This reminded me of some advice I received when I was considering to go into full time ministry. He said “always remember, ministry is never one sided. You should always be receiving as much as you put out”.

I don’t know who God is putting on your heart today, but don’t wait. Pick up the phone and make a difference.  – Rob Russomano serves on the full-time team at America’s Keswick and writes for Freedom Fighter

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 51-52; Philippians 3

Quote of the day: Distrust your religion unless it is cheerful, unless it turns every act and deed to music and exults in attempts to catch the harmony of the new life. Phillips Brooks

Verse to Memorize: Therefore I love you commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. Psalm 119:127-128 ESV

WORDS THAT HEAL – WORDS THAT HURT

I have shared with you before that I am writing a book – “I Thought I Heard It All … Until.”

The problem with this book is that the things I would share would not be pretty. They would not be even nice. They would be downright nasty.

We live in a world where we feel entitled to say what we want, how we want, when we want, to whomever we want whether it is hurtful, spiteful, or plain down right rude.

Obviously as Solomon wrote, there is nothing new under the sun. When he penned the book of Proverb he had to be experiencing the same frustrations:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spout folly. Proverbs 15:2

A man who has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word. Proverbs 15:23

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure. Proverbs 15:26

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Proverbs 15:28

The kicker verse for me was Proverbs 16:23 – The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Ouch! If I am pursuing God’s wisdom and want to be wise – then I need to allow Him to teach my lips say the RIGHT things. No where in Scripture do I find justification for using my mouth as a weapon of mass destruction.

Am I entitled to my opinion? Yes. Am I free to express my opinion in an un-Christ-like way? Absolutely not!

Maybe our grandparents really had it right – Think before you speak! If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

How are you using your words? To build up or tear down? To encourage or discourage?
Think about it.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 50; Philippians 2

Quote of the day: Do you want to live a supernatural life of victory? The VICTORY EXPRESS runs on two tracks – TRUTH & OBEY! – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize: Therefore I love you commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. Psalm 119:127-128 ESV

“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” ~Psalm 42:9-10

 Just Remember

 This past week I attended a TNT service at America’s Keswick. For those of you that don’t know, TNT stands for text and testimony. It’s a time where the men who are involved in Keswick’s addiction recovery program can share what’s on their hearts. Mid-way through the evening there was a man who stood up and began to say how much he was struggling that past week. He shared that He didn’t understand what God was doing in his life and how he was just plain angry and confused. You could see the pain in his face and the look of uncertainty of what would come next. As he finish sharing and began to sit back down my mind ran with regards to my own past struggles.

 You see, as a young teenager I can remember countless times when I struggled with my own faith. Not whether Christ was my Savior, but why He would let certain things happen the way they did or in times of trouble why He always felt so far away. As Christians I think we are subconsciously taught that, if we are living life worthy of His name, we wouldn’t struggle with these dark thoughts and emotions. As we look at the passage from the book of Psalms though we see a different story altogether. King David, a man after God’s own heart had many moments of deep despair and heartache when he felt God was far away.

 So where do we go with this from here, how are we able to pull ourselves out of this dark place? First is to accept the fact that it is ok to feel abandoned in our own Christian walk. One thing I’ve learned is that Christ is never far away. He promises to stand by our side in every step and if we feel He has left, it’s because we have taken a step back from His presence.  Two is the mere fact that we should bring these feelings to Him. One of the worst things we can do is to put further distance from ourselves and our creator in times of feeling abandoned. Lastly and most important is to remember who we put our hope in. In the following verse is says “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God! ~Psalms 42-11”. We need to come to a place again where we simply remember who our Savior and our God is and rest in that fact. I’m not sure if you are going through a dark moment in your life today but if so, just remember.

 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” ~Deuteronomy 31:8 – Graeme Wilson serves on our full-time ministry team in the areas of AV/IT and Social Media

 Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 43-45; Matthew 27:51-56

Quote of the day: Ignorance is no excuse when we have neglected to learn what we are obliged to know. Ambrose

Verse to Memorize: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! Psalm 119:116-117 ESV

 

Reminders of Truth

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  Deut. 6:6-7 (ESV)

I would think that any good teacher realizes the value of repetition. I have also been told that research has shown that within an hour after hearing a spoken message, people forget up to ninety percent of it. Certainly God knew that when He said to Israel what we have read as my opening verses. As my son gets ready to go from high school to the adult world I wonder how much of God’s spiritual truths he has remembered, let alone those academic things that has made him better with math than me. However, he and I share a love for history so sharing the Biblical past has been a joy.

In spite of all the warnings and reminders through the centuries, Israel has had a great memory for the wrong things and a seemingly poor memory of God’s truth. Isaiah makes mention of it when he wrote: “For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge” (Isaiah 17:10a) Even we, as a modern-day people who place the label of Christian upon ourselves, tend to remember the things that are best to forget and forget those things that really should be remembered. The writer of Hebrews makes this comment concerning this: “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him.”(Hebrews 12:5)

These are just some of those things said in the Biblical past I have shared with my son by way of reminder. The Apostle Peter did that as well with the flock that Jesus entrusted him with. In 2Peter 1:12-14 Peter wrote; “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.” Jesus Christ has called Peter to be a Pastor and has revealed the passion for that calling in four motivations.

1. URGENCY: Peter indicates that he “will always” or “every chance I get” remind his listeners or the flock of truth whenever he was given the opportunity.

2. KINDNESS: Contrary to what we have read about Peter once he became “firmly established in the truth” the kindness of the Good Shepherd came out through him.

3: FAITHFULNESS: Peter as the Biblical Shepherd exhibits faithfulness in teaching the people God has given him. He stimulates the flock “by way of reminder” or to “refresh your memory” as long as they live in “the tent of this body”.

4. BREVITY: Peter makes it quite clear to us that he knew that the laying aside of his earthly dwelling was on the horizon.

It’s been my urgency to make sure my son, Kevin, listened to me when I told him how at one time I forgot God and didn’t regard His discipline in my own life. However, I do, by way of reminder, get the privilege of sharing with him what the Way of the Master has done and still does for me. (Props to Ray Comfort) Jesus Christ choses us, just like He choose Peter, to be His divine repeaters of His divine truths. As much as it important for us to be joined together as Freedom Fighters is it just as equally important for us to be Reminders of Truth. Amen? – Chris Hughes writes weekly for Freedom Fighter and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 40-42; Matthew 27:27-50

Quote of the day: “No one can know truth except the one who obeys truth”—A.W.Tozer

Verse to Memorize: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! Psalm 119:116-117 ESV

After Bearing the Fruits

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.                                                                                                                 Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV)

Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement. He was the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and despite their closeness, Charles and his brother John did not always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the Church of England into which they had been ordained. They both sailed to America and hung out in Georgia. Charles preached the Good news to Native Americans and was largely rejected by the settlers.

In July 1736, Charles was commissioned to England as the bearer of dispatches to the trustees of the colony. In August 1736, he sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, never to return to the Georgia colony again. Wesley experienced a “conversion” on the 21 May 1738. Before his conversion to Christ, Charles Wesley looked like a believer. It was only after he began reading Martin Luther’s book on Galatians, however, did he understand his own need for salvation. Wesley’s conversion had a clear impact on his doctrine, especially the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The change in doctrine can be seen in his sermons after 1738, but is most notable in his hymns written after 1738.

I took a peek at that book on Galatians and zoned in on the fruits part of Luther’s commentary. Figuring that maybe it was there that Wesley felt conviction but that wasn’t really the case. It’s the tougher dialogue found concerning verses 24-25 in the 5^th chapter. “The ministers of the Gospel should be men who are not too easily affected by praise or criticism, but simply speak out the benefit and the glory of Christ and seek the salvation of souls.” wrote Luther concerning verse 25. Wow! So it’s not so much about displaying the fruits of the Spirit as it is how they affect our temperament. Guess the nice guy is different than the guy made kind by the Holy Spirit?

Luther wrote this about verse 24, “True believers are no hypocrites. They crucify the flesh with its evil desires and lusts. Inasmuch as they have not altogether put off the sinful flesh they are inclined to sin. They do not fear or love God as they should. They are likely to be provoked to anger, to envy, to impatience, to carnal lust, and other emotions. But they will not do the things to which the flesh incites them. They crucify the flesh with its evil desires and lusts by fasting and exercise and, above all, by a walk in the Spirit.”

My friend from Brooklyn shared this with me once that the genuine fruit of the Spirit is produced through a vital, ongoing connection between the believer and Jesus Christ. We can’t produce the fruit of the Spirit by attending seminars and reading books. To become more loving, joyful, self-controlled, and gentle, we need, as the Gospel of John says, to abide in Christ. (John 14:25–15:17) To understand what this means, we are commanded to “remain” in the words of Christ. So, if we are holding every thought, captive, to the obedience of Christ, abiding in His love and walking by the Spirit we will be led by Him as one made kind after the bearing of the fruits. Amen? – Chris Hughes writes weekly for Freedom Fighter and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 37-39; Matthew 27:1-26

Quote of the day: “There is a law, of course, but it does not apply to those who bear these fruits of the Spirit. The Law is not given for the righteous man. A true Christian conducts himself in such a way that he does not need any law to warn or to restrain him. He obeys the Law without compulsion. The Law does not concern him. As far as he is concerned there would not have to be any Law.”—Martin Luther

Verse to Memorize: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! Psalm 119:116-117 ESV

Pursuing our Destiny, Part 5—The Work of Transformation

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.  Rather train your self for godliness; (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV; emphasis added)

In his book, The Spirit of the Disciplines, the late Dallas Willard makes the case that we must live like Jesus if we’re going to look like Jesus.  He calls all believers to a fresh understanding of what Jesus meant when he invited us to walk with him in what Willard calls “the secret of the easy yoke.”  Do you remember Jesus’ words?  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mt. 11:29&30, ESV).

To live out our destiny, i.e., to become living icons of Jesus (Romans 8:29) requires the training the Apostle Paul advocated in 1 Timothy 4:7.  The training needed is the training Jesus offers in the invitation to “the easy yoke.”  Willard defines it this way: The secret of the easy yoke . . . is to learn from Christ how to live our total lives, how to invest all our time and our energies of mind and body as he did . . .. We have to discover how to enter into his disciplines from where we stand today—and no doubt, how to extend and amplify them to suit our needy cases. 

Choosing to “train ourselves for godliness” calls us to look at Jesus’ life.  How did he prepare for ministry?  How did he maintain his spiritual vitality while facing the demands of needy people and the attacks of the religious leaders of his day? How did he thwart every trick of the Evil One, even when those tricks came unexpectedly?  How was he always prepared?  Don’t make the mistake of attributing his success to his deity!  Remember: the writer of Hebrews tells us that he was tested just like all of us (Hebrews 4:15).  Jesus lived in a body of flesh and blood and did so without sin.  How did he do it?

Dr. Willard makes the case that Jesus being “the unique Son of God didn’t relieve him of the necessity of a life of preparation that was mainly spent out of the public eye.”  Simply put, Jesus trained himself for godliness!

G. K. Chesterton once said, “Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.”  I invite you to consider the disciplines of abstinence (solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice) and engagement (study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission) that will aid in our transformation into the image of Christ.

Choosing to live in the “easy yoke,” practicing the same disciplines Jesus practiced, coupled with the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, will make us look increasingly like Jesus.  May God help us live in the yoke! – Pastor John Strain recently retired from First Baptist Toms River and is available for pulpit supply

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 34-36; Matthew 26:51-75

Quote of the day: God prefers fruits of the Spirit over religious nuts. – Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! Psalm 119:116-117 ESV

Bird Theology

Last weekend in church our pastor was sharing a message from Psalm 11 and made a statement about a verse in the chapter and said, “This is bird theology.” It was a phrase that stuck in my mind and I thought I would journal about it on this Monday morning of a new week.

The Bible does talk much about birds. The God of the universe created the birds and he also cares for them.

1. He feeds the birds: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matthew 6:26) But as much as he loves and cares for the birds he created, He cares even more for you and me. He is committed to caring for you no matter what.
2. He knows when even a sparrow falls: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hair of your head are numbered.” Matthew 10:29 If he knows when a sparrow falls, even more so he knows where you and I are every single moment of our lives. Not sure you believe that? Then take a moment to read through Psalm 139. David tells is that there is no place where we can escape His presence!!!
3. God created birds with great strength. And he promises that he will give us strength like “eagles” when we are weak and needy: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Isn’t it cool that we have a God who cares for us even more than he cares for the birds!  He provides for us. He is totally aware of where we are every moment of the day! And when you are weak, He will give you eagle wings!!! That’s truth that not just for the birds – it’s for you and me!

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 32-33; Matthew 26:26-50

Quote of the day: We need to pull some more of the groans out of our prayers and shove in more hallelujahs! – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! Psalm 119:116-117 ESV

Happy Father’s Day

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

I had a really hard time pulling this Freedom Fighter together. Quite honestly – I was having a Bill Welte pity party. I started the other day when I had to run to the store to get a card for someone and saw the Father’s Day cards.

Father’s Day is really a tough day for me. The Lord called my Dad home 28 years ago. I was only 31! At times I really feel ripped off. My Dad was a great dad, but I think of all things that I would love to have him experience. He would be so proud of his grandkids. All of them are walking with the Lord.

And he would love his great-grandkids. They would be the apples of his eye for sure. He missed all my kids weddings. He missed my graduation from Lancaster Bible College. He would have loved to be a part of the lives of the Colony men’s lives.

God blessed me with several other Dads. My Uncle Jake stepped in when Dad died and became Dad to me. He died shortly after our coming to America’s Keswick and Pastor Bill Raws stepped in to be a wonderful Dad. Then the Lord called him home.

Throughout the years Pastor George VanSandt was a major part of my life. He was Pastor Van, Dad, friend. And now he is with the Lord. So I was having a big pity party – feeling like an orphan.

That’s when the Holy Spirit gently nudged me and reminded me that I have a Heavenly Father that will never leave me or forsake me. He is my forever Dad. The one that the Apostle Paul called, “Abba Father” (literally my Pappa) in Romans 8.

Thankfully I KNOW that all of my Dads are with Jesus and that I will see them again. And God has blessed me with four wonderful sons – Josh, Zach, Garrett and Jon. All four young men are walking with Jesus. Three of them are married and are great Dads – better Dads than I ever dreamed of being for them.

So guys – here’s the deal as we close out this week: If you have a Dad – PLEASE call him this weekend and let him know you love him. Give him a big hug. Send him a card. Don’t miss the opportunity to have that relationship with your Dad. And when you are hugging your earthly Dad, know that your Heavenly Poppa loves you in ways you can’t begin to fathom.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 24-26; Matthew 25:1-30

Quote of the day: My farther didn’t tell me how to live – he lived, and let me watch him do it. Clarence B. Kelland

Bible Memory: Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. Psalm 119:111-112 ESV

Where is your heart?

II Chronicles 12:1 “Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established his kingdom and strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord.”

How often do we as Christian men when we are in distress or danger, or even facing death seem so engaged in seeking and serving God. But when grace and mercy are so freely given and our deliverance comes we so easily forsake holiness and harden our hearts believing a lie just like king Rehoboam. How quickly we throw off humility in exchange for self-confidence and the old man reappears awaiting the next shipwreck. We substitute Gods power for human effort. Instead of commitment we become carnal. Instead of consecration we choose compromise. Instead of being obedient we make excuses. Brothers we can never have victory or lasting change if we become satisfied to live with substitutes for God.

Where is your heart today? Can you say without doubt that you really know the Lord? Is your heart right with God? Or has the enemy stolen your joy because you have replaced him with substitutes? Are you saved, surrendered, and serving? If not lets take steps to get back on track.

1. Repent by turning from your sin and toward God.

2. Confess by agreeing with God about your sin and your need for Jesus as your savior.

3. Believe on the fished work at Calvary.

4. Read Gods word daily, as you will grow in his grace by his spirit, as you will begin to see Gods will for your life, and how you can prepare for it.

5.Serve God by serving others in humility.

6.Present yourself as a vessel of honor II Timothy 2:20-21

As a Christian man I had to learn what it meant to really seek the Lord with ALL my heart and for the first time in my life I can say with confidence that I know that I know. – Dan Gavin is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy serves on our full-time staff as Head Lifeguard

Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 22-23; Matthew 24:29-51

Quote of the day: Believers aren’t satisfied being on the fence for Jesus Christ because He has put in their hearts a desire to be totally involved for Him. A Christian life of mediocrity, selfishness and fruitlessness only produces frustration and dissipation. Dan Hayes

Bible Memory: Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. Psalm 119:111-112 ESV