A SURPRISE VISIT

Well as the old saying goes, “turnabout is fair play!” Last night my grandson, Tanner, who I surprised for his birthday, showed up on our doorstep at 9:00 PM and surprised us. We had no idea that they were coming!!!

Not that we were not prepared — Granny always has the third floor guest room ready, and we always have plenty of grandkid “snacks” ready “just in case!”

As I thought about the surprise last night, I think that is exactly the way it will be when our Savior returns. We have no idea of the day or hour, but we are repeatedly told to be ready because He can come at any moment.

Anticipating His return affects the way we live in terms of our relationships, our service and in our obedience. The Master left with the warning that His return would be a surprise, but that we should be ready and waiting. But do I really love my life in light of the anticipation of His return?

Listen to the words from Scriptures — they are quoted from The Message –are relate to the stewardship of my time in relation to the return of the Master:

Luke 12:35-48 “Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He’ll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn’t matter what time of the night he arrives; they’re awake – and so blessed! “You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn’t have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. So don’t you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don’t expect him, the Son of Man will show up.”

Peter said, “Master, are you telling this story just for us? Or is it for everybody?” The Master said, “Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he’s doing his job. But if he says to himself, ‘The master is certainly taking his time,’ begins maltreating the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes. “The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!”

John wrote in the book of 1 John — “that everyone who has this hope (the hope of seeing Jesus …) purifies himself!” (1 John 3:3 Are you eagerly expecting His return? Do you so live your life that your are prepared for Him to come at any moment? Sobering thought — but one that we need to think about more often than we do. He is coming back! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Jeremiah 12-14; 2 Timothy 1

Think about this: Forgiveness is the only way to break the cycle of blame–and pain–in a relationship…It does not settle all questions of blame and justice and fairness…But it does allow relationships to start over. In that way,
said Solzhenitsyn, we differ from all animals. It is not our capacity to think that makes us different, but our capacity to repent, and to forgive.– Philip Yancey

The Benediction as a Statement of Faith

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
The previous benedictions we looked at expressed the writer’s desire to see God work in his reader’s lives. This benediction, written to the Thessalonian church, goes into more detail and defines what the writer, Paul, expects to see happen to his readers. It’s also what the Holy Spirit who inspired Paul wants to see happen in our lives.

We understand first that what Paul wants to see in the Thessalonian believers can only come from God. We can’t make it happen for ourselves, and no other human can make it happen in another person’s life. Only the God of peace has the power to work so definitively in our lives. No one else has the power.

Paul’s first faith statement about his readers involves them being “set apart.” That’s what sanctify means-to set apart. He wants to see them wholly devoted to God’s plan for them. The world that stains and maims and hinders God’s work has no place in the life of any Christ-follower. Paul’s statement of faith for his readers sees them living under God’s influence for God’s purposes. They are “in the world, but not of the world.”

His vision of God’s work in their lives (and ours) works its way into every part of life-spirit, soul and body. Paul wanted to see God so incorporated into his reader’s lives that nothing about them remained untouched by His work. He wanted to see those who read these words give God entrée into all of life, not just part of it.

Finally, his faith statement expressed the breadth of his vision. He saw his readers “preserved blameless” as they await the coming of Jesus. Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians and the Freedom Fighters so consumed by the “setting apart” work of God’s Spirit that they all would step into Jesus’ presence without fault-blameless.

Remember that benedictions are “words of blessing-good words.” This good word for us gives us a worthwhile goal for life. We can pursue God’s work in our lives. We can yield to God’s work in our lives. We can depend on God’s work in our lives. And, we can anticipate the result of that work: a life unstained by the world and blameless before the Lord Jesus. We can become the fulfillment of Paul’s statement of faith!

That’s a good word! – Pastor John is Senior Pastor at First Baptist Toms River\

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Jeremiah 9-11; 1 Timothy 6

Think about this: Truth is truth and error, error. That which is unlawful is unlawful, whether men think so or not. God has put an eternal difference between light and darkness, good and evil, which no creatures conceit can alter; and therefore no man’s judgment is the measure of things further than it agrees with the truth stamped upon things themselves by God. —Richard Sibbes

The Promise of Benedictions (2 Corinthians 13:14)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen ”

You may not find a more all-encompassing benediction in Scripture. Remember—a benediction is a “good word,’ or a “word of blessing.” This one sentence from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church gives us that “good word” in Trinitarian form.

First, Paul pronounces the blessing of Jesus’ grace on this particular body of Christ. Think about that grace and what Paul meant. He expressed the desire that the Corinthian church would know every benefit that comes from the grace of Jesus Christ. Salvation, forgiveness, cleansing, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and so much more all come through the grace of Jesus Christ.

In pronouncing this “good word,” Paul reminds the church of every benefit they have in Christ. It was important for them (and us) to remember all the blessings we have in Christ since the trials and hardships of following Jesus might make us forget. We know from Scripture and experience that the provisions of Jesus’ grace often get lost in the confusing hours of daily life.

Then, Paul offers to them (and us) the love of God. There is a wonderful old song titled “The Love of God.” I’ve heard Joyce Hayes sing it in medley with another song called “Think about His Love.” Both songs describe the wonder of God’s love and how it floods our lives with every good thing God has for us. The Apostle puts is so simply: “the love of God . . . be with you all.” Could we receive a better word of blessing?

Paul’s benediction—his “Good Word” to the Corinthians (and us)—concludes with the desire that they would know “the communion of the Holy Spirit.” This part of the benediction brings it all home! The Spirit of God lives in us to make real to us the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” and the “love of God.” Without the Spirit’s ongoing ministry we might see Jesus’ grace and the Father’s love as words on paper. God’s Spirit lives in us to make sure we don’t miss out on God’s love and Jesus’ grace.

Each day you and I have the privilege of knowing this “word of blessing” in our lives. As followers of Jesus, we have God’s Spirit. He lives with us—communes with us—so that we know the blessing of walking with the triune God.

I pray that the power of this “Good word” will take root in us as we walk with Jesus day by day. — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5

Think About This: Where two or three are met together, the prayer of one strikes fire from the soul of another; and the latter in his turn leads the way to nobler heights of devotion. And lo! as their joy increases, there is One in their midst whom they all recognize and cling to. He was there before, but it is only when their hearts begin to burn that they recognize Him; and in a true sense they may be said to bring Him there-“Where two or three are met together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” James Stalker

Economic Woes

Are you overwhelmed with the economic woes & political uncertainties plaguing the world today? Is your focus on how poorly your investments are doing in light of the current financial situation in our country? Or perhaps you are facing difficult circumstances with your business or job.

How do we cope with all that junk in our lives? By turning to the Bible, God’s Word. If you find yourself fretting, worrying, and looking for answers elsewhere, I would suggest that you focus your attention on these following portions from the Bible to find answers to the age old problem of wealth accumulation.

In 2 Kings 20:13, we read about King Hezekiah’s pride and political motives. “Hezekiah received the messengers and showed them all that was in his store-house – the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine oil – his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom that he did not show them.” Vs. 16 & 17, “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”

As we put our trust in our riches only one thing is certain, worry. We worry about will there be enough money, will I lose it all because of my bank failing, or my broker giving me sour advice, and you can add to the list.

In Psalm 119:14, we read, “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Do we? Psalm 49:12 -13 & 20, “But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves….. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beast that perish.” Proverbs 11:28, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” See also, Proverbs 8:17-20.

Lest you think all this Old Testament scripture is not appropriate for today, hear what we read in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The verses that follow these verses in Matthew 6: 25 -34 will direct us toward a worry free life if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Well, where does all this leave us today? God’s dividends will never be reduced nor will HE fail to pay them. But what are God’s dividends, you ask? Lives changed and transformed by His mercy and grace. When we witness firsthand the transformation that takes place in the life a man from the Colony of Mercy or a women from the Women of Character programs, they are truly dividends from the God of heaven. These two ministries have and will continue to provide a Sanctuary of Hope for men and women if you will invest in God’s investment program through prayer and perhaps also financial means. (All Bible quotes are from the New International Version.) – Stan Marsh is Director of Planned Giving at America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for you: Proverbs 24; Jeremiah 3-5; 1 Timothy 4

Think About This: The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is
that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer, because smaller things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of suffering. — Thomas Merton

I asked Stan for some insight into ways that folks can safely manage their finances during these challenging times. Have you considered a Charitable Gift Annuity? A Charitable Gift Annuity in today’s economic slowdown will provide those qualified to enter into such an agreement, with a great interest income that will never be subject to the economic slides of Wall Street. The guidelines for issuing a CGA by America’s KESWICK is as follows: Minimum age of 65; minimum amount of gift $2,500.00. The interest rate for a couple both age 65 will be 5.4% and for a couple both age 90 the interest rate will be 8.7%. For single annuitants the interest rate will be 5.7% for age 65 to 10.5% for ages 90 and over. Interest rates are determined by the age of the age of the donor or donors entering into the Charitable Gift Annuity agreement. If you’d like more information, you can contact Stan at 732-350-1187 ext 32 or email him at smarsh@americaskeswick.org.

Living the Surrendered Life

“Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them.” (Jeremiah 1:17 NKJV)

I am finding that as I grow in my relationship to Christ, the Lord is testing me to see if I truly believe and trust Him. Recently, I was put in a position to share a Word from God that to me was really difficult to share. Why? Because I was speaking to people who claim to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, soul, and strength. But the word God put on my heart was challenging.

I had no time to ponder the Word because God called in that instant. The Word convicted me because it was to me as much as it was to everyone else. Afterward, I went back to God and He reminded me of this verse in the Book of Jeremiah. The Lord used these words when He called me into the ministry and it was a reminder to me that my life is not my own. To live the surrendered life is to believe God knows best even when we think others will not receive what He has asked us to communicate. But then again, it does not matter what we think. What matters is that His will is done.

I thank God for giving me the boldness to proclaim His truth even when I don’t like it. I thank God for the surrendered life.

How are you doing with what God has entrusted to you? Are you living a life surrendered? Are you worried about how others will receive you? God says, “Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land; against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:18-19)

Rev. Robert Roman is a graduate of the colony of mercy. He is a husband, father, and minister of the gospel. He is a Defender of the Christian faith and Chaplain of Aftercare at the Colony of Mercy.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3

Think About This: God is not satisfied by the sound of our lips, nor the position of our bodies, nor external ceremonies. What he asks is a will which will no longer be divided between him and any creature, a will pliant in his hands, which neither desires anything nor refuses anything, which wants without reservation everything he wants, and which never, under any pretext, wants anything which he does not want. — Francois Fenelon

O GOD, MY HEART IS STEADFAST

Some days leadership is just downright fun, and other days it stinks. Sometimes decisions that I have to make are easy and are simply no-brainers. Other times I am faced with decisions that weigh very heavy on my heart.

This week I have had to make some very difficult decisions. Part of me wants to run away and hide because those decisions affect people, and God has wired me to be a people person. I know that what I am going through right now as a leader is a part of God’s growth plan for me – but it is hard.

This morning as I came to my quiet time with the Lord, the verses written in the little devotional, DAILY LIGHT, were just what I needed to hear for today:

“The Lord IS my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the STRENGTH of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

You will keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is STEADFAST, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid …

WHENEVER I am afraid, I will trust in You. In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

May the God of ALL grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.” – Psalm 108:1; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 112:7-8; Psalm 56:3; Psalm 27:5-6; 1 Peter 5:10-11

Wow! Those verses couldn’t have been more timely and right on for me this morning. Now I have the choice — to panic, fear, run, hide, fret, worry — or to trust Him to see me through. By faith, I choose today to trust. How about you? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 22; Isaiah 65-66; 1 Timothy 2

Think about this: God is looking for men and women whose hearts are firmly fixed on Him
and who will continually trust Him for all he desires to do with their lives. God is ready and eager to work more powerfully than ever through His people, and the clock of the centuries is striking the eleventh hour.– Anonymous

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZACH

“Nothing brings me greater joy nowadays than hearing that ‘my children’ are living in the truth.” 3 John 4

Twelve years ago today, we were at hospital in Maryland waiting for the arrival of our fourth child. Zach was our “surprise” baby. Julie was our youngest at that point and there would be twelve years difference between their ages!

God blessed us with a wonderful new baby that day, and it is hard to believe that he turns 12 today. We took a lot of ribbing because we were in our 40’s when he was born. One of my speaker friends, Dr. John DeBrine, announced that the reason they now had handicap ramps in the schools is for old fathers like me who would be in wheelchairs for parent teacher nights! Funny, John!

Time has a way of flying by, and Zach is now at that interesting age where life begins to change from boy to young man. It has been fun and scary to watch the transition. He has literally grown like a weed – he’s taller than me – and some of you are laughing saying, “That’s not hard, Welte!”

I am thankful that at an early age, Zach trusted Jesus Christ as His Savior. Living at Keswick has been good thing for Zach because he has fallen in love with the ministry of the Colony of Mercy. There are days that I think if we would let him, he would move in at the Colony. He loves the guys and isn’t afraid to tell them the tough stuff. In fact, in some ways, I think he has the upper hand because of his age of innocence – they seem to listen to him and consider his wisdom, which at times is way beyond his years.

Everyone of us prays that his kid grows up to be a man who loves Jesus. I am thankful today that Zach is not just one of God’s kids, he’s mine too! Zach, I love you and I am very proud of you. Happy 12th birthday. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU – Proverbs 21; Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1

Think About This: Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the “rests.” They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear. If we sadly say to ourselves, “There is no music in a ‘rest,'” let us not forget “there is the making of music in it.” The making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life. How patiently God works to teach us! How long He waits for us to learn the lesson! – Ruskin

Crown Financial Instructor and Keswick Board Member, George Hutchison, has a new weekly blog on our America’s KESWICK homepage. Check out this week’s entry: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

OUCHER #3 – IS GOD’S WILL MY WILL

“This is the will of God, your sanctification …” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

I am often asked the question by folks, “How can I determine God’s will for my life?” Part of answer to this question is not what some folks want to hear. I will often tell them to begin the process by searching the Scriptures to discover the things that we already KNOW to be God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 is one of those things — your sanctification.

I was thinking about as I was having my time with God this morning and today’s devotional by Oswald Chambers was one of those “right between the eyes” ones. It’s powerful, so take some time today to think about it:

“Sanctification is not a question of whether GOD is willing to sanctify me — is it MY will? Am I willing to let God do in me EVERYTHING that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His face be exhibited in my human flesh? (See 1 Corinthians 1:30)

Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.

All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed EVERYTHING for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that NOTHING “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.” — Oswald Chambers — My Utmost for His Highest

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 20; Isaiah 59-61; 1 Thessalonians 3

Think about this: “Today we tend to look to external things to enhance our worship. The true quality of worship, however, rests within us. If we have not allowed God to purify us first, our worship will be void of His presence. If we do not have a pure heart, we may give offerings, but they will not be acceptable to God. Attending a religious service will not automatically ensure an encounter with God.” — Dr. Henry Blackaby

“The Power of Benedictions, Part 2”

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Remember that benedictions are “good words” or “words of blessings.” They instruct God’s people even as they encourage us. They express the desire of the one pronouncing the benediction for those who receive it. And, we can’t forget that these biblical benedictions come by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, they tell us of God’s desire for us.

Yesterday Paul taught us that God is a God of patience and comfort. Today’s benediction teaches us that He is also “the God of hope.” In Romans 15:4, Paul reminds us that all God’s instruction is given that “we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” We’re learning through the benedictions that the God of patience, comfort and hope is the source of all we need in our lives.

Notice the progression of Paul’s “good word” for the Roman church and for us. He prays that the God of hope will fill us with “joy and peace in believing.” The joy and peace rest on believing (the word has the idea of “habitually” believing). Joy and peace flow from our justification through Christ’s atonement. The more we allow the reality of our salvation to take over our lives, the more joy and peace we’ll experience.

He goes on, though, and tells us that the result of having this joy and peace is that we may “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I did a little study on the word “abound.” It has the sense of exceeding a fixed number or measure or to be in affluence. Kenneth Wuest translates it as “super-abundance!”

Here’s the progression: the God of hope fills us with joy and peace as we focus on our new life in Christ. The more that joy and peace fills our lives, we see a super-abundance of hope in every part of our lives. And, this all happens because the indwelling Spirit of God displays His power in us.

Do you see why this is a “good word,” a “word of blessing?” The true and living God works in us to fill us with joy and peace, qualities we could not know without Him. Through the power of God’s Spirit, that joy and peace make us affluent in hope. All this comes from Scripture; we can trust it!

So, I pray for each of you who read this Freedom Fighter: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” That’s a good word! — Pastor Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 19; Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2

Think about this: God has work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God has a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him. — John Owen

THE POWER OF BENEDICTIONS

(Romans 15:5&6)

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The idea of a benediction is to speak a good word or a word of blessing.
Most of the biblical benedictions, but not all of them, come at the end of an epistle or the end of a section of Scripture. Each time I get a new Bible, I always mark all the benedictions with some distinctive color so they will stand out. I apply them to my life and use them to encourage others. Allow me to share some of my favorites over the next two or three weekends. I hope they’ll encourage you.

This benediction from Romans 15 is one of at least three in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Notice how it describes God-He is the God of “patience and comfort.” Given what Paul is asking for in the Roman church, it’s important that we see these qualities of God’s character.He wants the Roman church to know like-mindedness, and that definitely requires patience and the willingness to comfort one another. God shows up-this God who is the God of patience and comfort-and empowers us to accomplish the “good word” Paul speaks into the Roman church and our churches.

Then, after describing God, Paul urges the Roman church, and our churches, to be likeminded on the basis of our unity in Christ Jesus.By allowing God’s patience and comfort to work in our lives we can pursue a common mind and unity in our church bodies. By implication at least, Paul says we’ll never achieve that common mind without God’s work in us.

Then Paul tells us the goal of this “good word.” As we live together in one mind with others who share our love for Christ, we communicate a common word before the world. We “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” with “one mind and one mouth.”

Think for a moment about how difficult it is to get most of our churches to speak with one mind and one mouth. Think about how hard it is to get followers of Jesus to share a common mind about the things of God and the good of the church.

Paul gives us the “good word” and lets us know what church can be if we choose to love our brothers and sisters with the patience and comfort of God. May God help us during this new week to think about how we can contribute to like-mindedness in our churches. That’s a “good word!” – Pastor John is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18; Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1

Think about this: The more a true saint loves God with a truly gracious love, the more he desires to love Him, and the more miserable he is at his lack of love to Him. The more he hates sin, the more he desires to hate it. The more he mourns for sin, the more he longs to mourn for it. The more his heart is broken for sin, the more he prays that it may be far more broken. The more he hungers and thirsts after God, the more he faints and fails in seeking after God. Forgetting those things that are behind, he reaches forth to those things that are before. He ever presses toward the far-off mark. — Jonathan Edwards

Fantastic Opportunity: Many of you have been praying along with us about our finances. We had three special needs that we have been praying about: 1) a new water heater for the Raws Building 2) repairing the AC in the Raws Auditorium, and 3) the funds to reprint Pastor Bill’s book,Monitoring the Movement of God. The total of the three projects was $15,100. Yesterday a donor dropped of a check for $15,100 requesting that it be made a matching gift to raise $15,100 for help with our past
due bills. If you’d like to be a part of this special matching gift fund, please let me know. Thanks for praying with us. God is sooooo good.