Several weeks ago a friend of Pastor Mike Woods, Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries at America’s KESWICK, dropped off two white Peking ducks to put on the lake down by the Colony of Mercy. These two precious ducks have become pets to the men of the Colony and would add additional beauty to our lake.

The problem is that we have an adult swan who is very territorial and refuses to let the ducks swim in the lake. As soon as they make attempts to get into the lake, he aggressively comes to chase them away. There is no negotiating with the swan — he stands his ground and protects his turf.

While I am not particularly a fan of the swan (please, swan lovers, no letters . . . ) it was an excellent reminder to me about keeping sin out of my life. The enemy of our souls wants us to think we can take little steps with our sin. Think about it . . . we make little compromises in
our lives that then lead to falling head first into sin. Martin Luther said “we play with fire thinking we can’t be burned.”

My son-in-laws dad had open heart surgery while he was in his late thirties. At his recent check-up his cardiologist told him that if he didn’t lose 45 lbs. immediately, he was going to die in his sleep. That is radical news with an easy fix. Stop eating the wrong things and exercise. Within 48 hours of the news, he was already cheating! We need to learn from the swan. Don’t play with sin. Protect your God-given turf. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus! You are adopted by the Father, purchased and loved by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Be vigilant and don’t give the enemy a foothold. Flee! Run! Protect! Guard! Don’t toy with sin.

Good words for your consideration.

Yesterday I was blessed with one of those special “God sightings” in my life. One of my dear brothers and partner-in-ministry invited me to come to share the Word at his church. The church is in a beautiful section of Vineland, NJ, and Pastor Tony is the pastor of a growing family of special believers who are in love with Jesus.

Tony grew up on the mission field and his huge heart for people is quite obvious. But more than that, Pastor Tony has fallen in love with Jesus and it was downright refreshing and exciting to see him with his people. He is a gifted pastor-teacher, but on top of that, because of the make-up of his congregation which is comprised of Anglos, Mexicans and Hispanics, he does the service in English and Spanish. He does his own translating from English to Spanish.

I went yesterday to share God’s word with these precious people, but I came away with my socks blessed off! The worship was absolutely incredible. As I stood there listening and watching, I couldn’t help but think of David’s words: “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2)

Several things touched me:
The worshiped with joy! Their faces radiated their love for God. There were three distinct people groups represented in the congregation. But that didn’t hinder them from worshipping TOGETHER! The worship was not all about them — it was all about HIM! Watching the musicians serve yesterday was awesome. The musicians were smiling and excited to be serving Him And the singing — oh my! The singing was exhilarating. And why shouldn’t it be? They were lifting there sacrifices of praise to the one who has TRANSFORMED their hearts.

One young man behind me was recently saved from a life of drug addiction. Not only was he using — he was a dealer. And when Jesus came into his heart — he was TRANSFORMED. He placed a new song in his heart and gave him something to shout and sing about.

How about you? Is your worship joyful? Do you serve the Lord with gladness? Is there a new song in your heart this morning? Then don’t hold back! Sing to the One who loves to hear you praise Him. It isn’t all about you! It’s all about Him!

Good words to ponder today.

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” (Psalm 33:1)

Our team of missionaries was based at a church in one of the rougher parts of London. We decided to put on an “international night.” We printed up invitations, and spent a week on the streets encouraging the locals to come. Our plan was to spend most of the evening entertaining them, then to ease our way into the Gospel. When the big night came, about thirty guests had responded. Half of them were young teens, and most of these had been drinking heavily and sniffing glue.

We gave it our best shot. The Swiss guy was funny, and the Korean flag dance was great, but our visitors were just mocking. Later on, in broken English a young Korean called Peter, (we couldn’t pronounce his real name), tried to share his testimony. Someone threw a can of coke at him. Peter looked up and said, “Before I Christian, Me, one punch, You, heaven!” From that point on, anything could have happened. I was the preacher that night, and due up after Peter. Why
me? I recalled the words of a friend, “You will find yourself in situations that you just can’t pray your way out of; but you can always praise your way out.”

And so I did. In a room that was about to explode, I found God. I told him how much I loved Him. I thanked Him for taking me from the sewer and filling my life with joy. I told Him what an honour it was to be in this place, on this night. I was absolutely lost in His presence. When someone tapped me and said, “You’re up,” the room was calm. The ring leaders had left. They must have gotten bored. Those that remained settled in and I spoke for fifteen minutes on The Good Shepherd. The end of the story is that three people came to know Jesus that night as Saviour and Lord. Wow!

And so now I can say to you, “You will find yourself in situations that you just can’t pray your way out of; but you can always praise your way out.” There is never a time when it is not fitting for the upright to praise Him. That includes in anything that you face today.

Chris Thompson Scripture Reading: Psalms 66-67; Romans 7

Today’s devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE, our 365-day daily devotional. It is available in the KESWICK Bookstore by calling 800-453-7942. Chris and Pam Thomspon serve in Leicester, England as church planters. Chris is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Who should worship? Anyone who has placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior has the privilege of worshipping the one true God. I Peter 2:9 says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Why should we worship? Because God desires to have a personal relationship with us, He created us for His glory that we might worship Him. Romans 12:1-2 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.

When should we worship? Hebrews 13:15 says “Through Jesus, therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.” A.W. Tozer said “It does not seem to be very well recognized that God’s highest desire is that every one of His believing children should so love and so adore Him that we are constantly in His presence, in Spirit and in Truth.” “True worship of God must be a constant and consistent attitude or state of mind within the believer.” I Thessalonians 5:17 says “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

How should we worship? Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Colossians 3:16-17 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” I Chronicles 28:9 says “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of
your father and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

Robert Hayes Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 25-27; Mark 14:27-53

Today’s Freedom Fighter Devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE — 365 Daily Meditations published by America’s KESWICK. Call the KESWICK Bookstore to order your copy today.

“May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:21 NLT)

Someone once said that character is who you are when no one is watching. Stan and Bruce, in their book GOD IS IN THE SMALL STUFF . . . AND IT ALL MATTERS, reminds us that our character defines who we are. When your character is “broken in two or more pieces, you no longer have integrity. And without integrity, you don’t have character.”

“[We think] we can keep a break in one part of [our lives] from impacting the other parts, but it doesn’t work that way. An integrity breach in one compartment of our lives quickly spills over to another until our entire life begins to sink . . . One of the best ways to keep your life whole is to pay attention to the small stuff. Do what it takes every day to develop your character and preserve your integrity. Most of all don’t live your life to please others. Live your life to please God.

Some things to remember:
1. People of integrity make an easy target for critics because they stand upright.
2. Let your word be your bond: Keep you promises, meet your deadlines, honor your commitments, pay your bills.
3. It’s one thing to know what’s rigt, and another thing entirely to do it.
4. Others determine your reputation — YOU determine your character.
5. If you want to know what’s in your heart, listen to your mouth.
6. If you find yourself in a questionable situation, get out immediately.
7. Before you can ask integrity of others, you must attempt to be blameless yourself.
8. The PRACTICE of honesty is more convincing than the PROFESSION of holiness.
9. Character is made by what you stand for; reputation by what you fall for.”

Good words to consider on this Friday, July 8, 2005.

“If there’s one thing we need in the midst of our busy, loud, and nervous lives, it’s the inner peace and quiet and assurance that only God can give. It’s the only way to see God’s purposes for us, let alone keep our sanity.

The thing is, God doesn’t yell out and say, ‘Hey, you’re neglecting me. Sit still for a moment so you can hear me.’ He is fully capable of getting our attention when we really need it, but you don’t want to make a habit of giving God a reason to chase you down ( and He will).

Rather than waiting for God to whack you over the head with a spiritual two-by-four, would it be far better to give God some time each day to quietly speak to you? Actually, this is God’s preference. ‘BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. (Psalm 46:10). Being still may be the hardest thing you will ever do, but it may be the most important. When you give God time, you show Him respect. In effect you’re saying, ‘God, You’re important enough to me to set aside some time each day. I want You to teach me, and I want to learn.’

The doorway to letting God into the details of your life — into your concerns and dreams — is time. We know this won’t be easy. Many other voices will call out for your time and attention, and many of them are worthwhile. But if you want to hear the one Voice who will make all the
difference in your life, you’ll need to let God in … quietly!

Some “small stuff” suggestions:

1. Make and appointment with God every day and then keep it as if you were meeting with the most important person in the world.
2. Set aside a designated period of time each day, each week, each month, and each year to focus on God.
3. The advantage of meeting god at the same time each day is that you don’t have to decide when you are going to do it.
4. Sometime in the next month, try giving the Lord a day out of our life. An entire day.
5. Make moments of stillness, quiet, and solitude part of your daily routine.
6. Rising early to meet the Lord gives you a jump on the day. Meeting God at night enables you to reflect on the day. Either option is good.
7. If you hurry through life without giving God time, this world will seem like a hospital, a place to get sick and die.
8. If you go through life with God, this world will seem like an inn, a place to stay while you’re passing through.
9. Depending on your spiritual condition, being alone with God will either be unnerving or invigorating.
10. The time to find moments of stillness and quiet is when it’s most difficult to do so.”

from GOD IS IN THE SMALL STUFF . . . AND IT ALL MATTERS written by Bruce and Stan, published by Promise Press.

“God’s will is a paradox. It’s both easy to find and difficult to discern. God’s will can be immediate, or it can take years to figure out. God’s will can frustrate you or give you tremendous peace. One thing is for sure. YOU CAN KNOW GOD’S WILL. Although it may seem
mysterious, there’s really no mystery to it. If you know where to look, God’s will is there. And if you listen carefully, God will speak to you in amazing ways.

First of all, God speaks through His Word. Everything we need for living a life that pleases God — and what could be more in His will that — is in the Bible. As you get to know God’s Word, you will get to know God’s will.

Second, God speaks through your own judgment and common sense. BUT BEWARE! Your decisions will line up with God’s only if you know God personally in the first place, and then only if your relationship with God is right. When you’re in this condition, you will operate with ‘the
mind of Christ.’ The Holy Spirit will guide you from the inside.

Finally, and most commonly, God speaks through the details of your life. Oswald Chambers put it this way: ‘God speaks in the language you know best — not through your ears but through your circumstances.

Some additional thoughts . . .

* God’s plans are always perfect. Seek HIS will.
* Don’t make plans and then ask the Lord’s approval. Ask God to direct your planning.
*If you’re going to wait for someone, wait for the Lord.
*GOD MAY BE USING PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH YOU.
*The call of God is sometimes difficult to hear.
*Once discerned, the call of God is difficult to avoid.
*Remember that God’s will is not so much a function of time and place as it is an attitude of the heart.
*If you want to know God’s will, spend time with Him.
*Circumstances may be outside of your control, but the way you respond to them is not.
*You will begin to live when you lose yourself in God’s purpose for you.
*When God speaks, listen.
*When God commands, obey.
*When God leads, follow.”

from GOD IS IN THE SMALL STUFF . . . AND IT ALL MATTERS by Bruce and
Stan, published by Promise Press.

Good reminder for today. Are you living in God’s will?

THE NEGATIVE AND THE POSITIVE

Sometimes we fill our heads with all the negatives . . . God has a positive answer for the negative things we think and feel . . .

You say: “It’s impossible!”
God says: “All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired!”
God says: “I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me!”
God says: “I love you.” (John 3:16; John 13:34)

You say “I can’t go on!”
God says: “My grace is sufficient. (1 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out!”
God says: “I will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it!”
God says: “You can do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able!”
God says: “I am able!” (1 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it!”
God says: “It will be worth it.” (Romans 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself!”
God says: “I FORGIVE YOU!” (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say “I can’t manage!”
God says: “I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid!”
God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated!”
God says: “Cast all your cares on Me!” (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith!”
God says: “I’ve given everyone a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough!”
God says: “I’ve given you wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone!”
God says: “I will NEVER leave you or forsake you!” (Hebrews 13:5)

Is the glass of your life half empty or half full? Are you focusing on the negative instead of the positive? May these truths encourage YOUR heart today!

The preacher was Jonathan Edwards, pastor of the Congregational church in Northampton, Massachusetts, and a future president of Princeton College. The date was Saturday, July 8, 1741, and the place was Enfield, Connecticut, where Edwards had been invited to speak.

Enfield was not a religious place. The Great Awakening had touched surrounding towns but not Enfield. In fact, Christians nearby feared that God would pass them by because of the lethargy of the folk of Enfield. As the crowd entered the meetinghouse to hear Edwards speak, it was with curiosity and nonchalance.

Then Edwards began to speak. He did not sound like the evangelists of today. He wrote out his sermons word for word and then usually read them. Listening to Edwards was like listening to a lecturer who made his case in an even-tempered, intellectually demanding style in which he
tried to develop each step of his argument logically.

The title of the sermon? “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” His text was Deuteronomy 32:35: “Their foot shall slide in due time.” “As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning. Which also is expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down in destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment . . .” The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being drunk with your blood. Thus all you that have never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new. and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God . . . And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands calling, and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are coming from the east, west, north, and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God.”

As Edwards preached, members of the audience cried out, ‘ What shall I do to be saved? O, I am going to hell!’ Some crowded toward the pulpit begging him to stop. At one point during the sermon there was so much noise that Edwards asked everyone to be quiet so that he could be heard. He ended the sermon by saying, ‘Let everyone that is out of Christ now awake and fly from the wrath to come! The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let everyone fly out of Sodom: Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed.”

The little town of Enfield was never the same.

from THE ONE YEAR BOOK OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY by Michael and Sharon Rusten
published by Tyndale House.

What a great message that needs to be proclaimed from the pulpits of America on this July 4, 2005. May God bless America! May God bring revival to America.

This poem was written by my childhood Pastor and friend, Pastor George
Van Sandt. It is a powerful! I trust on this Lord’s day it will
encourage your heart.

AMERICA’S 229TH BIRTHDAY

I try to remember just how long it is.

Israel was 500 years in Egypt held

Then Moses came to them

Just to ring liberty’s bell.

Among the nations of the world

We may be the youngest of all

Yet in the annals of history

No one can recall

A nation that grew so fast

Or that has traveled so far.

Industrialization came first to Europe

Yet they are not where we are.

How long will we be the leader?

Who would dare to guess?

A nation that forgets its God

Cannot by God be blessed.

When all of the nations of the world

Rise up to stamp us out,

Who will come to aid us then?

Do you know what its all about?

Talk about Goliath

And David with his sling,

But it was the God of David

That enables us to sing.

Our weapons may be many

And powerful beyond any known

But without the Lord of Hosts to aid

We will stand-alone.

“If my people…” God said,

Not President, Congress or Court.

If only God’s people will repent and, as

His soldiers, for their duty report.

The God who opened up the Red Sea,

Who made Syrian soldiers run,

Will fight our battles for us

Will stop the enemies gun.

So trust not in diplomacy

Or military might.

Trust in our Lord above

For He will do what’s right.

When they killed the Righteous one

And laid Him in His grave.

They thought they had destroyed all hope,

Killing Him who came to save.

They thought that the war was ended

For His disciples fled and froze.

Yet Easter dawn turned it all around

As from the grave He arose!

gvansandt@yahoo.com