He Is Worthy! (Part 2; Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31)

God is worthy of our complete devotion because He is God! We thought about that in last Sunday’s FF. That isn’t the only reason that He is worthy, however. The Scriptures teach us that God is also good. As we think about His goodness, we discover another reason to declare Him worthy of our love, labor and lives.

In Psalm 107, one verse is repeated four times. Each time it declares that God is good. “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” Let’s think about the goodness of God this morning. I pray that His goodness will move us to a deeper love for Him and commitment to Him.

Part of understanding God’s goodness is a theological issue. His goodness is part of His character. One writer says that His goodness is the summum bonum-the maximum good. Some words we’re familiar with describe His goodness. He is eternally good. He has always been good and always will be good. He is infinitely good. His goodness has no limitations, and He is completely good. No darkness exists in His character. (See 1 John 1:5) He is also uniquely good. No one else can claim goodness without the taint of sin. Only God is completely good.

I’ve thought of at least three ways we see the goodness of God in our lives. First, we see His goodness in creation. Read Genesis one and see how many times God says what He has done is good. The creation is a reflection of God’s goodness. Psalm 107 teaches us that God’s works display His goodness. When we take time to reflect on His goodness in our lives, we must agree with the psalmist. He has done wonderful works in our lives that declare His goodness. Finally, we see His goodness in the sending of His Son. Jesus’ arrival in our world is the supreme declaration of God’s goodness. God is worthy of our best because He’s good!

So, how do we respond to God’s goodness? Let me suggest two ways. First, we give Him our gratitude. Read Psalm 106:1. “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Reflecting on God’s goodness will always move us to gratitude. Another response, trust, is also appropriate. Confidence in God’s goodness empowers us to trust Him regardless of the circumstances that confront us. “The Lord is good, A strong-hold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”
(Nahum 1:7) – John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for you: Proverbs 16; Ezekiel 3-4; Hebrews 11:20-40

Think About This: Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You aren’t to deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die.– Anonymous

The Life of Faith (Habakkuk 2:4)

I am leaving on Saturday morning for an 8-day bus trip to Branson with
44 friends of America’s KESWICK. That is why you are getting two Freedom Fighters on Friday!!! Pastor John Strain will be sharing Freedom Fighters all week with you.

Have you read Habakkuk lately? It was part of my regular Bible reading schedule yesterday. Do you join me in amazement at God’s ability to schedule particular readings just when we need them? I experienced that amazement while spending time with Habakkuk yesterday. Think with me about what he says: “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

It’s easy these days to see darkness rather than light. The economy is in trouble. Our country is in trouble. Our world is in trouble. Most of us know churches that are in trouble. Much of life seems pretty dark. It was that way for Habakkuk, too. God called him to prophesy to the people of Judah during what my Bible (in the introductory notes to this book) call the “death throes” of the nation. He asked God to help him understand what was going on. God answered him, in part, with the words of vs. 4.

The situation Habakkuk faced in Judah was worse than our situation. I don’t know anyone who sees our country in “death throes.” We see hard times, but not death, on the horizon. How will we handle those difficulties? We do have choices. We can despair. We can doubt. We can complain. Or, we can live by faith. One of the men at First Baptist lost forty per cent of his retirement fund in one week of October. It would be easy to despair, doubt and complain. It’s better to live by faith. I believe that’s what my brother in Christ is doing, even though it’s hard.

God wanted Habakkuk, and us, to know that He will see all of us through whatever circumstances come our way. He doesn’t promise us that everything will be easy. He does assure us that we’re not alone. He does assure us that He does not forsake His own. God told Habakkuk to write “the just shall live by his faith.” Faith is the better option.
Doubt, despair and complaint won’t sustain us. Faith will.

How are you weathering the darkness that hovers over our world right now? Are you experiencing personal difficulties that make the world even darker? Hear God’s encouraging words to a discouraged prophet: “. . . the just shall live by his faith.” It was a good word for Habakkuk. It’s a good word for every Freedom Fighter. – John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; Ezekiel 1-2; Hebrews 11:1-19

Think About This: “Our nature struggles fiercely against being saved without our works and tries to deceive us with a grand illusion of our own righteousness. So we may find ourselves attracted to a life that merely appears to be righteous. Or because we know we aren’t righteous, we may be frightened by death or sin. Therefore, we must learn that we should have nothing to do with any other way of becoming righteous, except through Christ alone.” Martin Luther

Coming soon: JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY – Simple Piano Styles by Bill Welte. 14 Hymns recorded on CD. Cost is $15. If you are interested, respond to this email for information

CONTENTED LIVING

“Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” (Philippians 4:11)

Another one of my heroes of the faith is Dr. Gil Peterson, Chancellor of Lancaster Bible College. For the past 20+ years, Gil’s wife Delores has battled MS courageously and has demonstrated gratitude despite the challenges they have faced together. With the economic crisis looming over our heads, maybe contentment is an area that God is going to grow us in the days ahead. Here is Dr. Peterson’s perspective on contentment from our daily devotional, “REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE”:

“Contentment does not come automatically with conversion. There is no magic formula for it. We are instructed to be anxious for nothing, prayerful in everything, and thankful for anything (Philippians 4:6). Paul wrote with authority, for he had experienced flogging, being forsaken and even fiercely attacked by friends. He was confined in a prison and still wrote about joy, peace and contentment.

The late Dr. Lloyd Perry once said, “Paul had learned in experience that you travel third class with Christ present…Second class with Christ prominent…First class only when you have Christ preeminent.” Contented living is only possible through Christ Jesus. Even among Bible-believing Christians there are times of contention and strife. Paul was burdened for two women in the church at Philippi who were causing discord. Euodia (whose name means “sweet fragrance”) and Syntyche (whose name means “affable”) were not living up to their potential. They were instructed to rejoice in the Lord and live in harmony. In other words, to live contented lives!

Contentment comes not just from human resources, for Paul reminds the whole church that they can do these things only through Christ. He wrote a powerful instruction and example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (4:13). In one of the New Testament passages I love the most he stresses joy, grace, peace, clear thinking, and fervent positive action (4:4-9). This is a great checklist for us to evaluate our lives on a daily basis. Prepare a 3×5 card with these words on them, and carry it with you as a reminder of the standard that brings honor to God and blessing to others.

I love the poem by Ester Rusthoi that has become a favorite hymn. She
wrote:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

How about it, brothers? Are you content this morning? Something to think about on this rainy Friday morning. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs Numbers 35-36; Mark 10:1-31

Think About This: Those alone labour effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward toward God. — Charles H. Brent

GOD IS FAITHFUL

“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Sometimes we need reminders like this especially when things are going crazy. I shared this devotional in a Freedom Fighter in 2004 – almost hard to believe that we have been on this journey together for over 4 years!!!

“God never calls us to do anything without faithfully keeping HIS Word and enabling us to do it. We are not always faithful to do what God tells US, but HE remains faithful and stands by HIS Word to fulfill what HE has promised (Isaiah 46:11).

When the children of Israel reached the Red Sea, they might have concluded that God had abandoned His promise to them. The sea was barring their advance, and the murderous Egyptian army was racing to overtake them! Yet God proved then, as He has ever since, that HE IS ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL to EVERY word He speaks to His children.

God may have spoken to you about something in particular – a ministry in your church, the way to raise your children, or what you should do in your job. You have obeyed Him, but now you face a RED SEA experience. It seems that what you thought GOD wanted to accomplish is not happening. Perhaps your ministry has not been well received, or your children are rebelling, or those at your workplace are criticizing your actions.

Trust in the character of God. It is His nature to be faithful. The testimony of His people through the ages is expressed by the Psalmist, who declared: ‘I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.’ (Psalm 37:25)

Regardless of how bleak your circumstances are, DO NOT LOSE HOPE. No one has ever experienced unfaithfulness on God’s part! Allow time for God to reveal HIS faithfulness to you. Someday you will reflect on what GOD has done and praise HIM for HIS absolute faithfulness to YOU!” – Dr. Henry Blackaby – Experiencing God – The Devotional

Good stuff? I needed to hear this today. I trust it will be an encouragement to you. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; Lamentation 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-18

Think About This: Happy are they…who shall learn…not to despair, but shall remember, that though the day is past, and their strength is wasted, there yet remains one effort to be made; that reformation is never hopeless, nor sincere endeavours ever unassisted; that the wanderer may at length return after all his errors, and that he who implores strength and courage from above shall find danger and difficulty give way before him. — Samuel Johnson

Just one last reminder that tonight is our Men’s Fellowship Nite with Pastor John Helm. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM. Join us for a great evening. Please call for reservations: 732-350-1187

JESUS, I HEARD YOU HAD A BIG HOUSE

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would not have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 (New International Version)

Yesterday I shared my thoughts of what it must have been like for the Obama’s to finally have the “official” tour of their new home for the next four years. President-elect Barak was awe struck as he went into the Oval office for first time.

Can you imagine what it is going to be like his two girls the very first time the get to actually get inside their new home? For weeks they have talked about what it will be like. Most likely they have seen pictures. But what will it be like for them when they get to experience the REAL deal?

I think that is what heaven is going to be like. While we have little information about this place that has been prepared for us by Jesus, but imagine experiencing the real deal? Paul wrote: “No eye has seen, nor has ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him …” (1 Corinthians 2:6 – New International Version)

Bill and Gloria Gaither depicted what heaven might look like through the eyes of a child in their kid’s song, JESUS, I HEARD YOU HAD A BIG HOUSE:

Jesus, I heard you had a big house
Where I’d have a room of my own;
And, Jesus, I heard you had a big yard,
Big enough to let a kid roam.
I heard You had clothes in your closet
Just the right size that I wear;
And Jesus, I heard if I’d give You
My heart, you’d let me go there.

Jesus, I heard about mealtimes
When all of Your children come to eat;
I heard You’ve got a great big table
Where every kid can have a seat.
Jesus, I heard there’d be plenty
Of good things for children to share;
And Jesus, I just want to tell You
I sure would like to go there.

Jesus, I heard that in Your big house
There’s plenty of love to go ’round;
I heard there’s always singing and laughter To fill the place with happy sounds.
And I’ve been thinking that a friend who’s Plan to give me all that He’s got Before I even had met Him – Well, He sure must love me a lot!
Yes, He sure must love me a lot!
(Copyright 1975 by William J. Gaither. International copyright secured. All rights reserved)

I think that is so cool. But the big question is – have YOU given HIM your heart? You need not only an invitation to get into the White House, you need to accept the invitation! Jesus invites you to His House – but it is by invitation only! Have you accepted the invitation by asking Him to be YOUR Savior and Lord? If so, you can only imagine what He has in store for you when you get to HIS HOUSE! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

If you would like more information about having a personal relationship with God, please respond to this email and ask to receive our free booklet, “Steps to Peace With God.”

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 9

Think about this: No indulgence of passion destroys the spiritual nature so much as respectable selfishness. — George Macdonald

Check out this week’s Stewardship Insight from George. It’s a good one: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

Have you registered for Men’s Fellowship Night? Thursday, November 13, 2008 with Pastor John Helm. Come and enjoy a great evening of plentiful man food, fellowship, inspiring testimonies and a practical challenge from God’s WORD. Call today for your reservation and bring a friend: 732-350-1187.

What Would You Do If Jesus Came to Your House?

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must come to your house today.” Luke 19:5

Maybe it is my over active imagination that kicks in at times, but several thoughts have come to mind the past few days as I have contemplated what President and Mrs. Bush and President-elect and Mrs. Obama are thinking as the Obama’s are touring their new home. While from the outside the White House seems small, there is a total of 132 rooms in the White House. Of these, thirty-five are bathrooms; eleven are bedrooms; three kitchens; three dining rooms; one library; one bowling alley; and one movie theater. Twenty-eight rooms have fireplaces. Little house?

Just suppose that you received word today that you were going to have a guest come to your house. Suppose the guest was going to be President Bush. How would you react? What would you do to prepare your house for his arrival?I wonder what went through Zacchaeus mind when Jesus called him down from the tree and told him that he was coming to HIS house “today.” I wonder if he said, “Oh, no – my house isn’t clean!” Or, “I sure hope I can get home quick enough to hide …”

It’s one thing to have enough advanced warning to know a guest is coming – but what if the guest showed up unannounced?What if Jesus were to show up to YOUR house today? What would he find? Would we welcome him in to every room of our “heart house” with open arms? Would he have full access or would we be stuffing things in closets and drawers hoping He’d not see this or that?

Well guess what – He could show up at any time! The Bible tells us that His coming could happen at any time. Would you be ready for Him to appear if He came today?

In searching for some song lyrics that I will write about tomorrow, I came across these words:

“What would you do what would you do if Jesus came to spend some time with you?
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two
If he came unexpectedly I wonder what you’d do
When you saw him comin’ would you meet him at the door
With arms outstretched and welcome to your heavenly visitor
Or would you need to change some things before you let him in
Like burn some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been
Oh I know that you’d give your nicest room to such an honored guest
And all the food you would serve to him would be the very best
And you’d keep assuring him that you were glad to have him thereT
hat serving him in your home was a joy beyond compare
But what about your family conversation would it keep up its normal pace
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace
Would you be glad to have him stay forever on and on
Or would you sigh of great relief when finally he had gone
You know it might be interesting to know the things you’d do
If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you
What would you do what would you do if Jesus came to spend some time with you?”

So what would YOU do if Jesus came to YOUR house today? – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8

Think About This: Come all crosses, welcome, welcome! so I may get my heart full of my Lord Jesus. — Samuel Rutherford

Come join us Thursday evening for our November Men’s Fellowship with Pastor John Helm. It’s going to be a great night. Call today for information: 732-350-1187.

NEW STRENGTH

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I don’t know about you, brother, but lately I have felt like I have been on a roller coaster or a merry-go-round that just never seems to stop. At times I find myself overwhelmed, worn down, and even stretched beyond measure. I guess that is why today’s writing from Dr. Henry Blackaby resonated in my soul today. Maybe you need this today too?

“At times you may feel worn out and stressed not sure you can take another step. You may seem to spend all your time running from crisis to crisis and to constantly giving your time and energy to others. Your Lord wants to renew your strength and enable you to enjoy the abundant life He intends for you. The key is to WAIT up Him to do so.

Our generation does not enjoy waiting. We are harried by all the commitments we have made and the many responsibilities we hold. We rush through our lives without stopping to evaluate our activities. Sometimes in our haste to get on with our work, we race ahead of God. Part of God’s restorative process is to slow us down and make us listen to Him.

As we wait on Him, God will remind us of our utter dependence upon His strength. When we slow down and seek His will, He will reveal HIS plans.

Biblically , waiting on the Lord is never passive; it is always active. Waiting requires us to cease our own pursuits and give God our complete attention. We may have to give up some of the activities we have allowed to inundate our lives. We may need to take an entire day to sit quietly before the Lord. If we ask Him, God will show us the resources He has provided to help us with the Lord we have been attempting to do on our own. God may address feelings of guilt that have motivated us to do things that He has not asked us to do.

Jesus carried more responsibility than YOU do. More people needed HIM than will ever need you. Yet He was never overwhelmed or inadequate for the task. Now Christ offers to guide you so that you will fulfill your heavenly Father’s will and gain the strength necessary for each day . (Matthew 11:28) – Dr. Henry Blackaby – Experiencing God – The Devotional (Broadman/Holman)

Timely? Maybe not for you – but it sure was for me, brother. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

Join us this Thursday evening for our November Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor John Helm will be our speaker. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM followed by a time of worship, testimony, and a challenge from the Word. Call today for your reservations. (732-350-1187)

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; Jeremiah 48-49; Hebrews 7

Think About This: God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue. — Thomas Watson

He Is Worthy! (Deuteronomy 4:39)

Think with me about the greatness of our God this morning. J. B. Phillips wrote a book several years ago that he titled “Your God Is Too Small.” His premise was simple: humans try to “manage” God by bringing Him down to their level. It’s a mistake many of us will make if we don’t think carefully and regularly about our God’s greatness.

One way to reflect on God’s greatness and His worthiness is to think about His attributes. We do Him and ourselves a disservice if we forget those attributes. He is eternal. He is all-knowing. He is holy. He is wise. He is righteous. He is unlimited in power. He is unchanging. He is faithful. He is loving. He is everywhere present at the same time. Reflecting on His attributes will remind us that He is beyond our ability to manage. We don’t manage Him; we declare His glory!

We can also think about God’s names in Scripture. They reveal aspects of His character and His interaction with us. God is known in Scripture as “God Most High.” He is “God, My Peace.” He is “God, My Provider.” He is “God, My Banner (the One who goes before me). He is “God, My Healer.” He is “God, My Peace.” He is “God Who Sees.” He is “The Holy One of Israel.” He is “The Father of the Fatherless.” And that’s just a small list of names that identify Him as the majestic, good and wise God that He truly is. They tell us that our God is worthy of our devotion, praise and service.

We get another glimpse of God’s worthiness when we think about His works. Never forget the very first words of Scripture. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) He spoke simple words and our world came into existence. He is mighty, powerful and incredibly creative. He is also the sustainer of that creation. (See Acts 17:28) Not one second of time occurs without God’s powerful work in that second. Our world continues to exist because our worthy God sustains it. All of that should move us to declare Him worthy!

Finally, consider Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 4:39. “Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.” God is uniquely God. There is no other god. Anything else that presents itself as god is nothing more than an idol. Let that last line of Moses’ instruction resonate in our hearts this morning: “there is no other!”

The God of Scripture, He is God! There is no other! He alone is worthy of our praise, honor and love. He alone is worthy of our devotion and service. He alone is worthy of our trust and commitment. – John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’ WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; Jeremiah 46-47; Hebrews 6

Think About This: The next time you find yourself alone in a dark alley facing the undeniables of life, don’t cover them with a blanket, or ignore them with a nervous grin. Don’t turn up the TV and pretend they aren’t there. Instead, stand still, whisper his name, and listen. He is nearer than you think. Max Lucado

The Christian Citizen and His Responsibility (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

We have lived through a historic week in America. We now have a President-elect who will lead the country for the next four years. As of last Wednesday, it really doesn’t matter whether Senator Obama was your choice or mine. He became the President-elect. The position he will fill beginning January 20 demands that we give him our respect.

We still have freedom to disagree with his policies. It’s still our privilege and responsibility to communicate with him, our senators and representatives to let them know what we think about those policies. It’s also our responsibility and privilege to pray for him and his family and those who will serve around him. Whether we agree his election or understand why our country elected him is irrelevant. What we know about God trumps all that we don’t understand.

We know that God is sovereign. We trust Him even if we don’t trust most politicians. We have confidence in God’s power to preserve and protect us regardless of election outcomes. We obey the instruction of Scripture even when we have little confidence in most of those who run for office. Most of them do not serve well and don’t deserve our trust. Because we know God is all-wise and all-powerful, we’re protected from cynicism even when we don’t trust those who represent us.

Scripture tells us our responsibility as citizens. We’re to pray for those who are in authority. So, we’ll pray for Senator Obama. We’ll pray for his safety and the safety of his family. You and I should pray that God will give him wisdom beyond his own. We should pray that someone near him will influence him with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’m going to choose not to believe everything the liberal media says about him. I’m also not going to believe everything conservative hate mongers tell me. No one else is going to do my thinking for me; I’ll do my own and hope I’m somewhere near accurate in that thinking. None of us should allow someone else to do our thinking for us.

I love my country, but I know it’s far from perfect. By God’s grace, we live in a place where our freedom to hold our own opinions and voice those opinions is the law of the land. Also by God’s grace, we’re citizens of another kingdom that is eternal, equitable and engaged in work that is far more important than who lives in the White House.

All of us still have the same responsibilities today that we had last Tuesday. We still have work to do as Christians and as citizens, and we’ll need to do all that work well. I believe that’s all God asks of us. — John Strain is our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor and Senior Pastor First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; Jeremiah 43-45; Hebrews 5

Think About This: Waiting for God means…readiness for any command; that sense of perpetual suspense which listens for the word in order that it may be immediately obeyed. Those who wait for God are pilgrim souls that have no tie that will hold them when the definite command is issued; no prejudices that will paralyze their effort when in some strange coming of the light they are commanded to take a pathway entirely different to that which was theirs before; having no interests either temporal or eternal, either material or mental or spiritual, that will conflict with the will of God when that will is made known.– G. Campbell Morgan

Clarification

I want to thank all of you who have commented on the Freedom Fighter’s regarding the election. Some of the feedback that I have received implied that I might have been slanting my writing against a particular party, so I thought it would be good to clarify my position.

America’s KESWICK has chosen not to endorse political candidates. It has been my desire in this week’s Freedom Fighters to challenge you to not be so caught up in which party are the winner or losers, but to remind you that God is ultimately in control and still on the throne.

Some of the Colony men were praying for their candidate and were questioning why God didn’t answer their prayers. The answer I gave them was simple: God DID indeed answer their prayers. If we prayed for the man that God would have in the White House, then I must trust in the fact that the one who “puts up” and “puts down” was working behind the scenes to accomplish HIS purposes.

Like any sports competition, we all have a team we are rooting for, and we hope our particular team wins. Good sportsmanship is recognizing that there is a winner and loser. The team that loses are not losers – they are good people who just didn’t win the game. If the Rays had won the World Series, I would have cheered them on even though I love the Phillies.

As American’s we have the freedom to voice our opinions about the issues that are near and dear to our hearts. That is the privilege of being an American. As Christian American’s we have the responsibility to voice our opinion when there are clear violations of biblical principles by either party.

Scripture makes it very clear that we are to pray for our leaders. There doesn’t appear to be wiggle room taking us off the hook if we don’t “like” the person. I am committing to prayer for President -Elect Barak Obama and his family. The weight and responsibility of the office of the President is more than many realize. I was very pleased to read blogs and emails from many of the organizations that campaigned against Senator Obama that have now encouraged their constituency to pray for him. I have not seen that in the past.

I would also like to encourage you to be very discerning about forwarding emails that have not been verified by Truth or Fiction.com. There are some very hateful emails being forwarded that are not truthful and very malicious. We hurt our testimony by spreading rumors and hateful things that are not true. When I get a forward, I immediately check it out, and if it is false, I “reply to all” with the admonition to retract the erroneous forward.

Please hear my heart, brothers (and sisters) who are a part of the Freedom Fighter family – now is the time for us to pray. Now is the time for us to encourage. Join the Presidential Prayer team and be praying for President-Elect, Obama, and the transition team. Write me if you want information on the Presidential Prayer team.

May God bless America. May we see revival break out in our land, and may it start with me. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

God’s WORD for YOU: — Proverbs 7; Jeremiah 40-42; Hebrews 4

Think About This: Your part in intercessory prayer is not to agonize over HOW to intercede, but to use the everyday circumstances and people God puts around you by HIS providence to bring them before His throne, and to allow His Spirit in you the opportunity to intercede for them. – Oswald Chambers