How Are You Doing with Your Word?

“Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” Philippians 3:1a

How are you doing with your word for this year? I was glad that I heard from some of you about the word you have chosen this year as your theme word. I you haven’t emailed me, I would still love to hear from you.

The word I chose is “JOY!” I have been amazed at how many times that I have seen that word over the past several days. It has popped up everywhere.

Last week I read another blog and guess what? It was all about JOY! Blogger Paul Tautges suggests that there are 23 Reasons to Be Joyful contained in the book of Philippians! They are too good not to share with you, so I will do 13 today and 10 tomorrow:

1. You have grace and peace from God (1:2)
2. God will finish the good work of transformation into the image of Christ that He began through the gospel (1:6)
3. Fellow believers are a gift from God, partakers with you of grace (1:7)
4. In Christ, you are filled with the fruit of righteousness (1:11)
5. God works your circumstances to His glory (1:12)
6. Christ is proclaimed, whether or not the preacher’s motives are always pure (1:18)
7. Christ will be exalted in your body, whether by your life or by your death (1:20)
8. Your death will be gain (1:21)
9. True like-minded believers who live in love and unity (2:2)
10. Setting your mind on the humility of Christ (2:5-11)
11. The privilege of serving in gospel work (2:17-18)
12. One loyal friend and co-worker (2:20)
13. The mercy of God in the sorrows of life (2:28-30)

You may be down in the dumps this Monday morning, but I want to encourage you to REJOICE! You have much to be joyful about today, my brother. How has God demonstrated HIMSELF to you today through your word?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 18-19; Romans 7

Quote of the day:  Superficial Christians are apt to be eccentric. Mature Christians are so near the Lord that they are not afraid of missing His guidance. They are not always trying to promote their loyalty to God by their independence from others. A. B. Simpson

Bible Memory: “Blameless are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!” Psalm 119:1-3

Bucket List Complete!

​“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, ​​According to Your word; ​​For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Luke 2:29,30

The weeks leading up to Christmas we have been going over the “four songs” of those who were divinely apart of the birth of Jesus (all found in the Gospel of Luke).

The one that spoke to me the most was Simeon’s song, Luke 2:25-35.

The Bible says “ At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him”.

It caused me to consider as a believer in Jesus, “what am I waiting for”?

I’m sure we are all familiar with the term “Bucket List”. That list of things that are must do’s before we die. How many of us can say like Simeon, “I’m waiting on the promises of God” as the old hymn says. What is it that is “according to His word” that becomes our desire?

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4.

I would imagine Simeon went thru a lot of doubt and ridicule while waiting for that promise, people questioning his faith and why was he wasting his time. There are a lot of things that will come against the hope we have and cause us to lose focus. What is the promise you have?

For me, it’s Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it”. I know I may never see it but “according to His word”, and although it doesn’t look good right now, I believe it to be true.

I can’t say what it’s like moments before death but I can’t imagine I’ll be laying there thinking “I’m sure glad I bought all those things I wanted”. No, I want to be dismissed with hope and peace that I was trusting in the One who is the Lover of my soul. How ‘bout you? – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the full-time ministry team at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 7-9/Romans 3

Quote of the day:  Faith draws the poison from every grief, takes the sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain; and only faith can do it. Josiah Gilbert Holland

Bible Memory: But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself; so that I may finish the race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

The Hyksos Key

“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Exodus 1:8

So I’ve got the last Sunday school of 2012. Praise God that all that “Mayan Calendar” malarkey has passed us by. Not too sure who it all happened to but I guess they’re in a happier place? Anyway…I have to review some key verses from the Sunday school booklet and I was introduced to a new group of people. They are the Hyksos and I found them mentioned in Nelson’s KJV Parallel Bible Commentary. I Googled them and found some interesting facts that I would like to share this morning.

The first one ties in with Exodus 1:8…”Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” An interesting fact here to note is that 20 years before the birth of Moses, Egypt had enacted a “get –tough–with-the-slaves” policy. This policy was enacted because a strong reaction to foreigners, which included the rapidly growing population of Israelites, began after the Hyksos were expelled. “Who were the Hyksos?” you may be asking…well they were a mixed people that came from West Asia. They adopted the Egyptian desert and storm god “Seth” as their own because it identified with their own native storm god. 

The Hyksos brought several technical improvements to Egypt and the height of power came to the Hyksos came around the 15^th Dynasty and by the 18^th Dynasty, under pharaoh Ahmose I, the Egyptians successfully expelled the Hyksos out of Egypt. Now it was time for those Israelites to be put under foot! This brings me to a second interesting fact that ties in with Hebrew 11:23…“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”

If we take a look at where we read “and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” we not only understand that Moses’ parents were not afraid that Pharaoh commanded the Egyptians (and that may have meant the Egyptian Army) to throw all Hebrew male babies into the Nile but that they didn’t even observe it. It was a command that is contrary to nature, to the laws of God and at that time to the promise of God’s multiplying of Abraham’s descendants. It was even contrary to their hopes of deliverance from the very same Egyptians who wanted to decrease their population so they could subdue them in the same fashion that the Hyksos had done to them. Slow infiltration to assimilate a culture into submission to another.

The last interesting fact ties in with Exodus 3:17. God the Father revealed to Moses that the Abrahamic Covenant has reached it’s time of fulfillment and that He will be using Moses to bring His people out of Egypt. So here’s the interesting tidbit…when the Egyptians chased the Hyksos out from Egypt, they were chased into “the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” The very same land that God had promised to give to the children of Israel. According to some secular historians these same peoples that were living in Canaan when Joshua comes in leadership of the nation of Israel will remember the resiliency of the Hebrews slaves and they will greatly fear the coming Israelite invasion.

This may not have been your usual Freedom Fighter but I hope you can see what God was doing at a time when His people needed revival…kinda like today huh? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 4-6/Romans 2

Quote of the day:  The doctrines of grace humble a man without degrading him and exalt him without inflating him. Charles Hodge

Bible Memory: But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself; so that I may finish the race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

Happy New Year – 2013

But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Happy 2013 my dear brothers.

Yesterday I shared a challenge about reading the Bible with me in 2013.

Today I want to remind you that Real Victory Vol. 2 was released several weeks ago. It is a fantastic compilation of daily readings to help you grow in your walk with God.

The late Pastor Bill Raws, along with Drs. Robert Alderman and Roger Willmore and a host of speakers and Keswick staff have written from their hearts to yours.

You can order your copy from the Keswick Online Bookstore, or call 800-453-7942 to place your order.

Have a wonderful day with your family. May God bless you in this new year.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 1-3/Romans 1

Quote of the day:  The law is a storm which wrecks your hopes of self-salvation, but washes you upon the Rock of Ages. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Bible Memory: But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself; so that I may finish the race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

The End of Another Year

“Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4

2012 is quickly coming to a close and what a year it has been. Today is the last Freedom Fighter of the year. If you have been following the Daily Bible Reading plan, you have finished reading through the Bible! Congratulations.

2013 is right around the corner and I am really excited about all that lies before us as we begin a new year.

Last week I sat down and mapped out my goals for 2013. If you have done so, it’s not too late to do it. It was hard to narrow my goals down to six – but I did it. And they are posted right above my desk at home and on my desk at work. They are posted on my computer, my electronic devices and posted in the front of my paper Day-Timer.

I shared with you last week that I also chose a word for 2013. Did you do so? I only heard from four brothers. Their words? Joy. Encouragement. Train. Prayer.

Our Keswick theme for 2013 is “Joy in the Journey – Walking in the Promises of God.” One of my challenges to you is to make your personal time with God a consistent, non-negotiable part of your day. Some people think that a challenge like this is too legalistic and sets one up for failure. Really?

Well I have watched too many brothers go down the tubes because they have chosen to neglect spending time with God each day. Too many of my “grace-junkie” friends think about their spiritual life like I used to do “weight-watchers.”  Figure out all the ways you can cheat and still lose weight? Guess what – it doesn’t work.

I am not saying that if you don’t spend time with God each day you will burn in hell. You won’t lose your salvation. And He won’t love you any less if you skip a day.

But I can tell you this – the more you spend time with Him the more you will fall in love with Him and the more you are in love with Him the more time you will want to spend time with Him. And the more you spend time in His presence you will find yourself growing and maturing into the man He wants you to be!

Here is the link for our 2013 Bible Reading Plan. It is not as challenging as last years. It will move you around the Bible rather than spending long times in one book. It will be a goal worth making for this new year.

Will you join me? If so, will you do me a favor and drop me a note and tell me you are going to join me? I won’t hound you, but I want to encourage you along the way to keep at it. I look forward to hearing from you.

Running the race with joy,

Dr. Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Malachi 1-4; Proverbs 31; Revelation 22

Quote of the day:  The cry of this world for meaning and hope and life, was met one morning far away in the cry of a tiny babe. And with that cry, time stopped and started again. And it was new. Anonymous

Bible Memory: James 5:19-20

Prayer Quotes:  Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.

A Prayer about Jesus Transforming Worship

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36–38 NIV)

I have enjoyed sharing the prayers written by Pastor Scotty Smith. Since Sunday is the last one in 2012, I thought this prayer on worship was very timely for us.

Jesus, there are so many reasons to love and praise you. Today I’m grateful for how you radically transformed the worship of God. The main reason we’ve been created is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, so nothing is more important than how we worship God.

Though I admire Anna for her life of devotion—worshiping God ceaselessly in the temple—I adore you for removing all the limitations temple worship imposed. You were just eight days old when Anna met you in the temple. There’s no way she could have imagined you came into the world to fulfill and replace temple worship forever.

By giving yourself for us on the cross, you have once and for all atoned for our sins and exhausted God’s righteous judgment against us. You fulfilled the entire sacrificial system. It will never resume. Hallelujah!

Not only is there now no condemnation, there is now full celebration, for we are fully and eternally acceptable to God in you. The sacrifice we make is one of praise, for you are the Lamb of God who has taken away our sin forever. The gospel put an end to all self-centered fears and concerns in worship.

I also praise you, Jesus, for removing all spatial and calendar limitations on God’s worship. Because of what you have done for us, “true worshipers” are those who worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:21–26), not just in one place but in every place. Though we are still to gather with our brothers and sisters for services of worship, you have transformed the entire Christian life into worship service.

Because of you, Jesus, one day the entire earth will be covered with the knowledge of the glory of God. The final sanctuary will be the new heaven and new earth. Every creature and all creation will be liberated for the praise of your glory and grace. Oh, hasten that glad and glorious day!

Until that day, Jesus, may the gospel free us to worship God more passionately and faithfully through prayer and fasting, like Anna, but also by everything else we do in life—with our thoughts, by our words, and through many gospel deeds. We pray in your holy and loving name. Amen

Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers for a Transformed Life: 365 Days to Gospel-Centered Faith (Kindle Locations 9003-9028). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition.

What have you learned from today’s prayer? Next week I will share two additional challenges for you to prayerfully consider. Thanks for joining me this week.

Running with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 5-8; Proverbs 28; Revelation 19

Quote of the day:  “Learn to let God within you spring forth from within your spirit. Nothing is so sterile and cold as someone who only loves himself. There is nothing to compare to the tender and lovely gentle-ness that God’s love produces in a human heart.”—Francois Fenelon

Bible Memory: Level 1: James 5:12  Level 2: James 5:13-18

Prayer Quotes:  Quit praying about yourself, and be spent in vicarious intercession as the bondslave of Jesus. Oswald Chambers

One Word

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, Deuteronomy 11:20

As we approach the new year 2013, I have three challenges with you. One I will share today and the other two I will share next week.

Recently I read a powerful little book written by three men who are involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The book is called ONE WORD THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE and is published by Wiley Books.

The challenge of the book is to prayerfully think through one word that you can use this next year as your theme word. One word! Not a phrase. Not a purpose statement. One word!

The writes suggest that there are three steps to this process:

1. Prepare your heart by looking IN.

2. Discover your word by looking UP.

3. Live your word by looking OUT.

I took the challenge and the word that I have chosen for me this year is the word JOY! One of the reasons that I chose the word JOY for 2013 is that our theme at America’s Keswick for this year is JOY IN THE JOURNEY.

I am looking forward to learn about joy this year and to see how I can live it out in my life. I am curious as I read through the Bible to discover all that the Bible says about JOY.

Are you willing to join me in taking up the challenge and discovering YOUR word? Post your word our desk – your laptop – places you will see it and be reminded of your word.

And would you do me a favor? Would you please share your word with me?

Running with JOY,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

PS – You can check out the book at www.getoneword.com

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 1-4; Proverbs 27; Revelation 18

Quote of the day:  As the bus passed a church with a crib outside it, my brother heard a woman on the bus say, “Oh, Lord! They bring religion into everything. Look, they’re dragging itn eve into Christmas now. – C. S. Lewis

Bible Memory: Level 1: James 5:12  Level 2: James 5:13-18

Prayer Quotes:  God expects us to be intercessors, not dogmatic-fault-finders, but vicarious intercessors, until other lives come up to the same standard. – Oswald Chambers

Herod Unleashed

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:16-18 (KJV)

(It’s my hope you only reflect with me and not think harshly of me for what I am writing about this morning. I pray that I am following the Lord’s leading with this Freedom Fighter)

I recently received a texted devotional from a close friend from Brooklyn and what he covered made me zoom in on what has recently taken place in Newtown CT. It spoke about how Herod the Great conducted himself during his reign in Israel. Might have made Caesar proud but none of what he did was very pretty. For example, even though King Herod was known for expanding the reconstructed temple in Jerusalem, he was also known for his evil deeds such as ordering the execution of his wife and sons.

If you were to go into Josephus’ book “The Antiquities of the Jews” (17.6.5) you can read how “Herod the Great” was concerned that in his final days no one would grieve his death. “I shall die in a little time, so great are my pains; which death ought to be cheerfully borne, and to be welcomed by all men; but what principally troubles me is this, that I shall die without being lamented, and without such mourning as men usually expect at a king’s death.”(He knew he was hated by the Jewish people) Then this paranoid man of pure evil ordered that when he died, a group of principled men should also be killed (Herod had them held hostage at the Hippodrome), so that displays of grief would take place. His family did not carry out his wishes.

(borrowing the words from my friend from Brooklyn)

“Matthew 2:13-19 describes the actions of the desperate king trying to hold on to his earthly power in the face of a heavenly rival. After the Magi left, an angel again appeared to Joseph in a dream. This time the angel warned that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus should leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt to hide. Foiled by the lack of cooperation by the Magi in his first attempt to locate this young King, Herod now took more drastic measures to end any competition for his throne. His next actions were horrific: he ordered the slaying of all boys age two and under, hoping to eliminate any chance of survival for this promised King (v. 16). The Bible tells us that this action on Herod’s behalf was actually a fulfillment of prophecy (v. 17). How could anyone destroy the lives of children to protect his own ambition?”

And then I got to thinking about Newtown .As a father, who has been saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, I can’t put my head around this tragedy at all. I wanted to cry so very hard then I got angry at all the media blitz that had to happen over it. I personally felt it my duty to wipe out the name of the one who did this…but that’s not my job is it? God was there when Herod did his terrible act and He was there during this terrible act. My job is to pray for the children…then remember that evil will never ultimately prevail. We must hold fast to this promise: God is greater than Satan—and He will triumph. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a regular blogger on Freedom Fighter

Daily Bible Reading: Haggai 1-2;  Proverbs 26; Revelation 17

Quote of the day:  Some businessmen are saying that this could be the greatest Christmas ever. I thought the first one was!

Bible Memory: Level 1: James 5:12  Level 2: James 5:13-18

Prayer Quotes:  The reason for intercession is not that God answers prayer, but God tell us to pray. Oswald Chambers

RING THE BELLS

Merry Christmas, my dear brothers. Many years ago Rev. Harry Bollback, “Mr. word of Life wrote this beautiful Christmas song that has been sung by millions around the world:

Ring the bells! Ring the bells!
Let the whole world know
Christ was born in Bethlehem
Many years ago;
Born to die that man might live,
Came to earth new life to give,
Born of Mary, born so low —
Many years ago.

God the Father gave His Son
Gave His own beloved One
To this wicked sinful earth,
To bring mankind His love – new birth!

Ring the bells! Ring the bells!
Let the who world know
CHRIST THE SAVIOR LIVES TODAY —
As He did so long ago!

Powerful words penned by a special man of God who at age 89 is still serving the Lord with Word of Life. Thanks, Harry, for this special gift from God that has touched so many of our lives each Christmas.

From all of us at America’s Keswick – Merry Christmas.

Running with Joy

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Zephaniah 1-3; Proverbs 25; Revelation 16

Quote of the day:  Mary had a little Lamb!

Bible Memory: Level 1: James 5:12  Level 2: James 5:13-18

Prayer Quotes:  How God works in answer to prayer is a mystery that logic cannot penetrate, but that He does work in answer to prayer is gloriously true. – Oswald Chambers

‘Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

“But you, Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter – from you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He’ll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. Micah 5:2 (The Message)

On this Christmas Eve, this poem kept running through my head. It’s source – unknown, but nonetheless, powerful:

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was The matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His Hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said “It’s not here” My head hung in shame!

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after ALL!   Source unknown

Prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our Savior – Christ, the Lord!

Running with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Habakkuk 1-3; Proverbs 24; Revelation 15

Quote of the day:  Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehem’s of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present. An old abbot was fond of saying, “The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.” The supreme trick of Old Scratch is to have us so busy decorating, preparing food, practicing music and cleaning in preparation for the feast of Christmas that we actually miss the coming of Christ. Hurt feelings, anger, impatience, injured egos—the list of clouds that busyness creates to blind us to the birth can be long, but it is familiar to us all. Edward Hays

Bible Memory: Level 1: James 5:12  Level 2: James 5:13-18

Prayer Quotes:  Prayer is a moment of incarnation – God with us. God involved in the details of my life. Paul Miller