SEARCH MY HEART 2

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me …” Psalm 139:23-24a

Yesterday I shared with you some probing questions written by David Powlison that helps to diagnose the idols of our hearts. Here are six additional questions to add to yesterday’s questions.

Take some time to allow the Holy Spirit to use these to probe your heart:

7. What do you THINK you need? In most cases a person’s FELT needs picture his or her idol cravings. Often what we have called necessities are actually deceptive masters that rule our hearts. They control us because they seem plausible. They don’t seem so bad on the surface and it isn’t sin to want them. However, I must not be ruled by the “need” to feel good about myself, to feel loved and accepted, to feel some sense of accomplishment, to have financial myself, to feel loved and accepted to feel some sense of accomplishment, to have financial security, to experience good health, to live a life that is organized, pain-free, and happy.

8. What are your plans, agendas, strategies, and intentions designed to accomplish? What are you really going to after in the situations and relationships of life? What are you really working to get?

9. What makes you tick? What sun does your planet revolve around? Where do you find your garden of delight? What light up your world? What food sustains your life? What really mattters to you? What are you living for?

10. Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, and escape? When you are fearful, discouraged, and upset, where do you run? Do you run to God for comfort and safety or to something else? (To food, to others, to work, to solitude?)

11. What do you trust? Do you functionally rest in the Lord? Do you find your sense of well-being in His presence and promises? Or do you rest in something or someone else?

12. Whose performance matters to you? This question digs out self-reliance or self-righteousness. It digs out living through another. Do you get depressed when you are wrong or when you fail? Have you pinned your hopes or another person? Are you too dependent on the performance of your husband, wife, children or friends?

Take some time to allow the Holy Spirit to work through your heart. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18; Obadiah; Revelation 9

Great Quote: Christmas has lost its meaning for us because we have lost the spirit of expectancy. We cannot prepare for an observance. We must prepare for an
experience.– Handel Brown

Search My Heart (Part 1)

We are still trying to work out the kinks with the new format for Freedom Fighter. If you cannot open your email, please let me know as soon as possible. Please note that the date is off on the email version, but right if you open it in your browser. Please bear with us while we are “under construction.”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me …” Psalm 139:23-24

One of my staff told me that on Sunday night they wanted to slap the preacher! Don’t get mad and write me letters. The reason why she wanted to slap the preacher was because he was speaking through the Holy Spirit right to her heart. God does that.

I am back in the exercise mode. I am embarrassed to tell you that I have been very negligent in this area of my life for more months this year than I want to admit. But I started back on the treadmill and have some major catch up to do in listening to CD’s that I’ve wanted to all year, besides trying to walk off the pounds I’ve gained in 2008.

Diane Hunt, our Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries loaned me a set of messages by Pastor C. J. Mahaney on “The Idols of the Heart.” The first one has been a real … well let’s put it this way — very convicting.

In this first message he drew attention to a list of questions written by CCEF counselor/speaker/author, David Powlison. It is a powerful list of questions to help you figure out the the “stuff” you are dealing with in your heart. I have written him to see if we can get permission to do a PDF file, so until we hear from him, don’t mass produce these.

I will share the 34 questions over the next couple of days. Hold on …

1.What do you love? Is there something you love more than God or your neighbor?

2.What do you want? What do you desire? What do you crave, long for, wish? Whose desires do you obey?

3. What do you seek? What are your personal expectations and goals? What are your intentions? What are you working for?

4. Where do you bank your hopes? What hope are you working toward or building your life around?

5. What do you fear? Fear is the flip side of desire. For example, if I desire acceptance, then I fear your rejection.

6. What do you feel like doing? This is a synonym for desire. Sometimes we feel like eating a gallon of ice cream, or staying in bed, or refusing to talk, etc.

(From X RAY Questions by David Powlison)

Pretty intense questions? I sure think so. But worth asking as we prepare for the new year. More to come tomorrow. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Amos 7-9; Revelation 8

Great Quote: I would rather play with forked lightning, or take in my hand living
wires with their fiery current, than speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christian are hurling on others. — A. B. Simpson

Christmas in Heaven

“But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 2 Corinthians 2:10

We walked into the first Christmas shop on our recent trip to Branson. There it was — a beautiful Christmas ball with a saying that gripped our hearts: “Please don’t miss me — I am spending this Christmas with Jesus!”

Tears welled in our eyes and we know that we needed to purchase the Christmas ornament. It was a reminder that this Christmas, our precious little Lindsay was going to celebrate Christmas like none of us could even begin to imagine.

I have no clue what people in heaven know or don’t know about their loved ones here on earth. But I do know this — Lindsay’s Christmas will be truly amazing because she’s spending it with Jesus.

After having the real deal, why would anyone every want the substitute! The angels cannot fully comprehend why the Father gave His Son — His only Son — for all of us! Yet He did — and His love is eternal!

There won’t be Christmas trees in heaven! Sorry! There will be trees according to the book of Revelation — but you know what is really neat — the One who hung on Calvary’s tree will bear the nail prints in His hands for all eternity to remind us of His love for us. Every time we see Him — I think we will notice those hands!

Today marks Lindsay’s seventh month in heaven. In the Scriptures, seven is the perfect number. How fitting that her seventh month is the month we celebrate Christmas. So many of you have sent notes, cards and emails telling us that you will be praying for us especialy this Christmas. We cannot thank you enough for those prayers. I know our kids are experiencing the pain of loss, but even greater, the comfort that God, and God alone showers upon His kids during times like these.

The good news is that one day, we will all be gathered round the throne. I wonder if we will sing:

“O come let us adore Him!
O come let us adore Him!
O come let us adore Him — Christ, the Lord.

We’ll give Him all the glory!
We’ll give Him all the glory!
We’ll give Him all the glory — Christ, the Lord.

For HE alone is worthy!
For HE alone is worthy!
For HE alone is worthy — Christ, the Lord.”

Thank You, Lord — that despite the pain, Lindsay is enjoying her best Christmas yet! And it is only the beginning of what You have prepared for her and for all those who love You. Merry Christmas, Lindsay. Pop-pop loves you a bushel and a peck! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; Amos 4-6; Revelation 7

Think About This: A saint’s life is in the hands of God as a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see; He stretches
and strains, and every now and again the saint says, I cannot stand any more. But God does not heed; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. — Oswald Chambers

Check out our brand new website: http://www.americaskeswick.org as well as this week’s STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT BY GEORGE — http://www.americaskeswick.org/363836.ihtml#h_5978

Humility At Its Best

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

This weekend I had the honor to be a groomsman for a very dear friend. This man has enriched my life in so many ways, and I am thankful to the Lord for his friendship.

My friend’s wedding was truly one of those lifetime experiences that I will never forget. His bride’s family have made wonderful friendships over the years with a number of prominent Christian leaders.

Friday I had the wonderful privilege of meeting three very high profile Christian leaders: Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Tim LaHaye and Beth Moore. There was one common thread that I observed in all three of these servants of the Lord Jesus Christ — humility.

I’ve rubbed shoulders with some “heavy-hitters” during my years of ministry at America’s KESWICK and Sandy Cove. I have often joked that I would write a book that would paint the “other side of the story” of certain high profile Christian leaders. Some of the “biggest” names have demonstrated grace and charm in the pulpit or on the concert stage, but “off camera” have been some of the most arrogant and unreasonable people I have ever met.

However, I was so humbled to witness the humility of these three servants. All three have had national, and some world-wide recognition. All three could not have been more gracious and warm, as well as just down right humble.

During the rehearsal, one of the groomsmen was sitting next to Dr. Dobson. Adrian inquired about how Dr. Dobson was doing. I overheard Dr. Dobson say, “I have been pretty busy, as I work for a ministry called Focus on the Family.”

Quite honestly, Dr. Dobson could have said, “Yo Adrian — you DO know who I am? I am THE Dr. James Dobson. I’m the guy that founded Focus on the Family.” But that was not the case — he was so matter-of-fact about being a part of the ministry, not the founder and President.

Paul reminds us that because of the grace of God in our lives, that there is level ground at the foot of the cross. Because we are all on level ground and have experienced God’s grace — something we don’t deserve — we are not to think more highly of ourselves that we should — we are to be humble — humble — and more humble.

If the “big guys “can do it — so can I. What great role models for us. It was a good lesson for me as President and CEO of America’s KESWICK — I am just a part of the ministry team that serves people from all walks of life who need Jesus. How about you? Are you living a life of humility? I am re-memorizing this verse — will you join me? Congratulations, Beth and Bernie. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your very special day! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; Amos 1-3; Revelation 6

Think About This: If I crave hungrily to be used to show the way of liberty to a soul in bondage, instead of caring only that it be delivered; if I nurse my disappointment when I fail, instead of asking that to another the word of release may be given, then I know nothing of Calvary love. Amy Carmichael

The Third Sunday of Advent (Titus 2:11-14)

How is God breaking into your life and mine during this Advent season? I remind you again of Robert Webber’s statement about the season. “Advent is a time when God disturbs the waters of our lives.” That “disturbing” has past, present and future implications. The primary message of Advent is simple: God chooses to walk in our world and work in our world. Advent reminds us to wait for the work and for His imminent appearing.

Paul talks about the waiting in his epistle to Titus. “ . . .looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . ..” He reminds Titus and us to live in the anticipation of Jesus next appearance. That anticipation prompts us to live godly lives in an ungodly world.

I urge you to live in “watch mode.” Choose to listen for God’s voice in your life as He shows you His work in your life and your world. Let the Advent season renew you and remind you that you live for more than now. As followers of Jesus, all of us live with an eye toward heaven. We watch for His work and His second coming into our world. We know our world is a hostile environment for the person who follows Jesus. To live in the expectation of Jesus’ return demands willingness to live “against the flow” for as long as it takes. We’ll wait for Him for as long as is needed.

The problem for most of us is that we don’t like waiting. We don’t do well in the patience practice. Scripture teaches us, however, that patience is part of the Christian life. If we don’t see God work today, we wait patiently for the day when He does work. If we look for Him to return today and He doesn’t, we wait patiently for the day to come. We know He will. We just don’t know when. So, we wait. And, while we wait we live our lives in the expectation that He could some today or tomorrow or the next day. It’s always too soon to quit waiting with expectation.

The Advent wreath with its five candles reminds us of the waiting. Each week we light another candle and remember that we’re waiting for the full reality of Christ’s work to invade our world. The third week we light the “Joy” candle. It reminds us to rejoice at the first coming of Jesus into our world and to take joy in the promise that He will come again. So far the Advent candles have reminded us that we have HOPE, we’re LOVED and we can live with JOY because Jesus has come into our world and into our lives.

I pray the spirit of Advent—Hope, Love and Joy–will fill your soul this week. — Pastor John is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14, Joel; Revelation 5

Think About This: What, then, is the biblical basis for social concern? Why should Christians get involved? In the end there are only two possibleattitudes which Christians can adopt towards the world: Escape and Engagement…’Escape’ means turning our backs on the world in rejection,washing our hands of it … and steeling our hearts against its agonized cries for help. In contrast, ‘engagement’ means turning our facestowards the world in compassion, getting our hands dirty, sore and worn in its service, and feeling deep within us the stirring of the love ofwhich cannot be contained. John R. W. Stott

The Fruit of Belief (Exodus 4:31)

The Children of Israel spent four hundred years in bondage. Life was getting worse, rather than better. They saw no end to their misery, and hope was in very short supply. Then God showed up! He heard their cries for a deliverer and sent them Moses and Aaron. For the first time in a long time, God’s people had a glimmer of hope.

Upon their arrival in Egypt Aaron and Moses met with the leaders of the Children of Israel. They told them everything God told Moses, and Aaron performed some signs to confirm the message. The leaders knew that God had taken notice of the oppression and affliction under which they were living. As word spread among the people, they, too, believed that God had shown up to help them. Listen to the description of their response as given to us by Moses: “So the people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:31)

Belief and worship go together. As I read these words it occurred to me that we can know something of our belief by the way we worship—or don’t worship. We can assume that the worship the Children of Israel offered God flowed from what they believed. Had they NOT believed, they would not have worshiped. Worship really is the fruit of belief.

So, I asked myself this question: Does my worship adequately reflect what I believe about God? My concern is that the shallowness of our worship in church and in private is a reflection of weak beliefs that won’t really sustain us throughout our lives. Real worship flows from genuine belief. That belief in God and His concern for us that touches us deeply and permanently will move us to bow our heads (and our hearts) in true worship. That worship will focus on God, not ourselves. It will reflect our love for God, not our own preferences and tastes.

Does your belief in God, and mine, move us to bow our heads and worship the true and living God? Anything less gives us reason to question the sincerity of our beliefs and the quality of our worship. We have no better time of the year than Advent to reflect on God’s work in our lives, our trust (belief) in that work and our response to His work in us and for us. I pray that reflection will move us to stronger faith and more genuine worship. God deserves both! — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; Hosea 12-14 Revelation 4

Think About This: Satan loves the gullible Christian, who likes sensations and thespectacular; he provides the spectacle and sensation, with which he cankeep them off the true track. Anonymous

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare: Lengthen the cords, and strengthen your stakes.” — Isaiah 54:2

Good morning! Surprise! I trust that you are excited about our new look. I am very proud of Brian Bitler, our Director of Marketing and Technology, Dina Seaton (Brian’s assistant) and our good friends from Susquehanna Design, for the new look that they are providing for our blogs.

If this daily ministry is an encouragement to you, send it on to a friend and encourage them to join us on the journey.

Today’s devotional was written by Dr. Henry Blackaby in his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD — The Devotional:

“When God comes to a life in power, it is always a time of rejoicing and expectation of the future! Isaiah described this experience as similar to that of a child born to a previously barren woman. The child’s arrival changes everything! Life cannot continue as usual! Whereas the dwelling place might have been large enough for two, not it must be made bigger. The child’s presence causes the parents to completely rearrange the way they were living.

Isaiah proclaimed that when God comes, you must make room for Him in your life. You must ‘enlarge the place of your tent’ because God’s presence will add new dimensions to your life, your family, and your church. YOU DO NOT SIMPLY “ADD CHRIST ON” TO YOUR BUSY LIFE AND CARRY ON WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Whereas before you may not have expected good things to come through you or in your life, now you have a spirit of optimism. You ought to expect your life to become richer and fuller. You can anticipate God blessing others through your life. You can look for God to demonstrate HIS power through your life in increasing measure.

As a Christian, how do you make room for Christ in your life? You repent of your sin. You allow Christ the freedom to do what He wants IN you. You watch eagerly for His activity in your life with the expectancy that Christ will fill you with HIS power in the days to come and will ‘stretch’ you to do things in HIS service that you have never done before!”

How about it, my brothers? Are you willing to let the Lord enlarge YOUR tent? If you are, hold on! You are going on the ride of your life! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3

Think About This: “You can never pray “the prayer of faith” if you look at the person who is needing it; there is only one place to look and that is to Jesus.” Smith Wigglesworth

God’s Gift of Love “The expression of love is to care”

Gifts originate from some form of love. Even God’s gift comes from His great love. He so loved us that He gave His only Son. So says John in his gospel.(3:16) We can not originate love. We need love to generate love. That is the reason the Word says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:10)

Since God is the source of love, when did love begin?

God showed His love in His constant caring. When He made man He put him in the garden that He had provided. Daily man knew of God’s care when they awoke to new fruits and vegetables to eat. Because man was forbidden to eat ALL of the fruit it was the forbidden fruit that he wanted.

When man ate of the tree that God kept from him, he lost the home of God’s care but not the care of God. Man was given labor to keep him from boredom. God cared for those who cared not for Him. He provided an ark to protect those few who remained faithful.

He cared for both Abraham and Lot. He cared enough for us to call Moses to write His rules for us to follow. In the “fullness of time,” He gave us the gift of His love wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. That gift was hung on a tree. His body was ripped open on the cross so that we could see the magnitude of God’s great love.

When the beloved pastor, Frank Ellsworth Graeff (1860-1919)
penned the words to his hymn, “Does Jesus Care?” it was due to all of the tragedies in life that he saw. He asked,

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong?
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Tho my tears flow all the night long?

O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

When Peter writes of our burdens too heavy to bear (in 1 Peter5:7) he says, “Casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you!” The word casting means when you can not handle your problems, you can roll them over onto Him. He is able to take care of them but most of all He cares for you.

The Poet’s Thoughts

When the road ahead is dark and I can not see
I can trust in Your great love to take care of me
I need but to call your name in some secret place
You will give me the strength to finish my race

For when there is no other who truly cares
I will trust the one who answers prayers
Because His love is pure and His love is strong
It puts into my heart this song.

Though all may forsake me and from me depart
I can trust in our God for I know His heart! — Pastor George VanSandt

God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 11; Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2

Think about this: In the same manner in which we clean and prepare our homes in the anticipation of welcomed guests and family members this Christmas season, let us also prepare our hearts in anticipation of the Lord’s coming. Christ, our most honoured and eagerly anticipated guest, desires to meet with us in a heart prepared for his arrival. So eager is he to meet with us that he offers to help us with our spiritual housecleaning, working with us; creating a resting place for Himself within our hearts. — Katherine Walden

The Time Dimensions of Heaven and Prayer

I read this sometime ago and thought it would be a blessing to you today. It is from the book., A MINUTE OF MARGIN by Dr. Richard A. Swenson (NavPress).

The elasticity of time is not a spiritual apparition but rather a proven fact of physics. In physics we know the elasticity of time is related to both velocity and gravity. The faster the velocity or the greater the gravity, the slower time passes. This effect is not simply an observational phenomenon. It really happens! It is called time dilation. The time dilation effect maximizes at the speed of light when the passage of time stops altogether.

What does this tell us about God? If time can be influenced by velocity and gravity, imagine how it can be influenced by the Creator of velocity and gravity. In fact God stops time.

When we arrive in heaven we will discover some very liberating ideas regarding the nature and experience of time. We will discover how dramatically we underestimated the true nature of time simply because our earthbound imaginations could never rise that high.

Even more, for the first time we will understand God’s own radical power over the time dimension. When His mastery over time is fully displayed, we will wonder what we could have been had we not so foolishly limited Him during our short stay on earth.

Try to conceive of the extreme facility with which God operates within time. He lives in the past, the present, and the future all the same time. “God does not ‘foresee’ you doing things tomorrow; He simply see you doing them now,” wrote C. S. Lewis, “because, though tomorrow is not yet there for you, it is for Him.”

Some people balk at prayer because they can’t get beyond the time issues involved. They wonder, “How can God listen to a million people praying all at once?” Actually, there are no obstacles in physics that would prevent God from hearing a billion prayers simultaneously. As a matter of fact, God can listen to an infinite number of prayers at the same time and take an infinite amount of time in answering each – all within the bounds of both theological and scientific orthodoxy. A pilot crashing into a mountain can shoot a last minute prayer to God, and God has an infinite amount of time to consider His answer.

Life on planet earth is full of time stress. Life in heaven is devoid of time stress. In His calm power, God patiently waits for His children to look up. The doctors prescription? Pray! Realizing just how effortlessly and powerfully God moves around within time encourages the habit of prayer. God has no difficulty whatsoever hearing your prayer, considering it, and answering it. If there is any defect in prayer, it is always from the human side related to faith and never from the divine side related to time or power. – Dr. Richard A. Swenson

I thought this devotional would encourage your hearts today. It did mine. Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of prayer. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’ Keswick

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1

Think About This: Pray, pray very much; but beware of telling God what to do. – French Proverb