“Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary lists 550,000 words. And it is a solemn and beautiful thought that in our worship of God there sometimes rush up from the depths of our souls feelings that all this wealth of words is not sufficient to express. To be articulate at certain times we are compelled to fall back upon ‘Oh!’ or ‘O!’ — a primitive exclamatory sound that is hardly a word at all and that scarcely admits of a definition.

Vocabularies are formed by many minds over long periods and are capable of expressing whatever the mind is capable of entertaining. But when the heart, on its knees, moves into the awesome Presence and hears with fear and wonder things not lawful to utter, then the mind falls flat, and words, previously its faithful servants, become weak and totally incapable of telling what the heart hears and sees. In that awful moment the worshiper can only cry, ‘Oh!’ And that simple exclamation becomes more eloquent than learned speech and, I have no doubt, is dearer to God than any oratory.”

A. W. Tozer from TOZER ON THE ALMIGHTY GOD published by Christian Publications

Paul said this, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how nsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!’ (Romans 11:33)

As you prepare your heart for worshipping tomorrow with the body of believers that you fellowship with, think through some of the “OH!” moments in your spiritual journey. Write them in your journal.

>From the pen of OSWALD CHAMBERS on the subject of intercession . . .
“Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere seem to be crushing in on us? Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship? If so, we must put a stop to such distractions and get into such a living relationship with God that our relationship with others is maintained through the work of intercession, where God works His miracles.
Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don’t worship God, and we fail to intercede. If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshipping God, the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them. We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go. A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.
Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?
Good words to ponder from the April 1 reading of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, updated edition, published by our good friends at DISCOVERY HOUSE.

Be willing to talk to your wife often. Tell her what’s important to you.
Be willing to listen to your wife daily. Look in her eyes. Hold her hand.
Gaze into her eyes even if you aren’t talking.
Stroke her face.
Give her a massage with no sexual touching.
Dedicate one night a week to holding your wife in bed without sexual touching.
Smile at your wife for no reason.
Applaud her accomplishments.
Turn off the TV and tune into your wife as intensely as you would lose the latest game.
Turn the kitchen into an oasis of emotional bonding. Join her in the kitchen and help cook dinner or clean up.
If your relationship with your parents was emotionally distant, realize that you are most likely projecting that relationship onto your marriage. Also, understand that your wife probably will feel about you the way you felt about your parents when you left home.
Ask your wife to make a list of the top seven things that would make her feel emotionally intimate with you. Commit to doing one day for a week.
Then start over the next week.
Tell your wife she’s the most important person in your life.
Make a list of ways your wife has positively impacted your life and thank her for what’s on the list.
Share your dreams with your wife.
Ask your wife to sit down. Kneel before her, take her hand, look in her eyes, and say, ‘I would give my life for you.'”

Romancing Your Wife … A Little Effort Can Spice Up Your Marriage by Debra White Smith and Daniel W. Smith published by Harvest House
Good words for you to ponder and put into practice. Have a great day.

Proverbs 30:21-23 “Three things are too much for even the earth to bear, yes, four things shake its foundations —
when a janitor becomes the boss
when a fool gets rich,
when a whore is voted ‘woman of the year’
when a ‘girlfriend’ replaces a faithful wife.” (from THE MESSAGE)
Interesting verses this morning from the book of Proverbs. Over the years I have joked about writing a book entitled “I THOUGHT I HEARD IT ALL UNTIL …” There have been things that I have seen and experienced that were absolutely absurd. Mind boggling. Situations that rocked the foundation of my life.Things people have said or done that just baffled me. Often these absurd things have caused me to step back and think through their implications or to take inventory of my own life.
Solomon gives us some interesting “thought food” in these verses. I want to zero in this morning on that last phrase — “when a ‘girlfriend’
replaces a faithful wife. In my 50 years of life I have seen a number of couples that I loved and respected end their marriages. Most have gone through very painful divorces. I have watched the way divorce has destroyed the kids. I even witnessed how one divorce of a prominent couple in the church, actually destroyed the church. I have looked at some of these situations and scratched my head saying, “How can this be?
What were they thinking? How could they throw all this away?”
You might be reading this today and say, “Bill, I have never cheated on my spouse. I have been faithful and I am committed to my marriage.” If we are not careful, we can be so pious and proud that we miss what is going on in our lives. I don’t think I am stretching the text here — but if I am, hear me out anyway. You may be right — you are not replacing your wife with a physical or emotional relationship with another woman (or a man, if you are one of the ladies who read Freedom Fighters). But it could be that there is some other “girlfriend” or “mistress” in your life. Has your job/ministry become your mistress? Are you so consumed with what you are doing that you are neglecting your spouse? Could it be sports, money, possessions, or even cars?
Unfortunately, for too many men, the computer is sucking the life out of you. You avoid spending time with your spouse because you have become ensnared with “air-brushed” porn pictures or you are spending time in chat rooms where you will end up talking with someone for hours rather than having conversation with your spouse.
Is there a girlfriend or mistress in your life that you need to deal with today? Your spouse is a God-given blessing and responsibility. My guess is that your spouse is longing for fellowship and companionship with YOU. Why not purpose in your heart to replace that “mistress” with the wife of your youth! It could be one of the greatest decisions you make in your life apart from your salvation! If you need help in this area, please write.

“Lord, I must be very careful not to be sin conscious lest I become weak and exhausted. The burden of the Lord may be a conviction of my sin and is therefore necessary; but as soon as I am conscious of my sin, I must rid myself of it by confession (Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9). And once confessed, I must have nothing more to do with it.

Nehemiah had the correct solution for the sin-conscious people: eat and drink, share with others, and praise God, ‘for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'(Nehemiah 8:10)

Conviction of sin, while necessary, is weakening and must be turned into conviction and praise in order to save your sanity. The inward look is depressing and discouraging, and I must avoid, at all costs, people who are continually turning me inward. Many people are turned from Christ
because they see morbidity in Christians who have not gotten beyond sin’s conviction to sin’s confession.

I must never treat sin lightly; neither must I give it so much time, attention, and place in me that I am actually enslaved by it. Many Christians seem to enjoy looking within and relish seeing themselves corrupt and sinful. I must never give sin any more of my time than it takes to let it do a redemptive work in me — to drive me to my God and His cleansing, and then to praise, strength, and growth! For God wants me alive and well, not caught in the octopus arms of sin. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered!’ (Psalm 32:1)”
from DAILY WITH THE KING published by Moody Press

“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.” (Micah 7:18)

Good words to ponder today!

Proverbs 28:13 “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting them and leaving them.” (Proverbs 28:13 THE MESSAGE)

A good friend of mine thought he could do just that — whitewash his sins. He was in over his head with internet porn. He was not only visiting internet porn sites, but adult bookstores and even massage parlors. They were having work done on their house and his wife came home from the grocery store one afternoon only to discover copies of two porn pictures on his printer.

The thought never crossed her mind that they could be her husband’s. She was furious that the construction workers would have used their computer and violated them by printing out such filth. Later in the day, she showed my friend the raunchy pictures, and for my friend, it was now a “moment of truth!” He had a choice — he could easily blame the construction workers and buy himself some additional time for his life-dominating sin, or as Solomon said, he could try and “whitewash” his sin. Or he could come clean with her and tell the truth.

I am happy to say, he did the right thing. The initial response was painful, and for several weeks, their marriage teetered on the edge of disaster. But in the end, God honored his bringing his sin into the light.

King David is a great example of this truth. He thought he could get away with the sin of adultery. He did away with Urriah, the husband of Bathsheba. Everyone else was away in battle the night he took Bathsheba. He was free and clear. His sins were whitewashed! Except for one
problem. Nathan the prophet! God sent Nathan to David and in a matter of moments, David faced the same choice my friend faced. When confronted with the truth, David didn’t whitewash his sins — he admitted then and repented! (Read 2 Samuel 11-12)

Psalm 51 is the prayer of David after Nathan confronted him. Take some time to read it today. Is there an area of your life that you are whitewashing? My friend, make it right! Confess your sin(s) to Him and repent! Walk in the light today!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

The problem with us is we quickly forget. Many of us attended Good Friday services yesterday and focused our attention for an hour or more on all that Jesus did for us the day He died. But let’s be honest . . . how many of us actually spent the rest of the day reflecting on the events of the crucifixion? Within minutes of concluding the service, we immersed ourselves back into our routines, or for some of us, took the time to enjoy the rest of our “holiday.” How quickly it is for us to forget significant events in our lives.

Good Friday was a MAJOR event. The September 11 of Christianity. War was declared on the terror and reign of sin. And once and for all, sin was taken care of, not partially, not until next year — but FOREVER! The words of Jesus from the cross are ones that we ponder once a year. But let these words burn into the fabric of your being . . . IT IS FINISHED! He took care of our sins ONCE AND FOR ALL! Praise God! But not only were your sins crucified . . . You were crucified with Christ. And He now wants to be your life!

Tomorrow we celebrate the glorious resurrection. In between Friday and Sunday is Saturday. Can I suggest that today you get alone and take a few moment to reflect on the fact that YOU WERE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST! Paul wrote these powerful words in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood —
Sealed my pardon with His blood;
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilt, vile and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high!
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Good words to ponder on this Saturday, March 25, 2005

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most —
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Philippians 3:7-9

From DAILY WITH THE KING published by our good friends at Moody Press

“I must realize that the closer I walk with God, the more subtle sin will become. The natural man does not hate sin; he only hates the mess he has gotten himself into. But the disciple soon discovers that sin has great undoing power, the power not only to neutralize the present, but
also to cancel the past.

Israel made a calf of gold and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ (Exodus 32:4) This was a direct contradiction to what Israel said earlier, ‘Thou has led the people whom Thou hast redeemed.’ (Exodus 15:13)

Sin is always a contradiction. It is the great no to every manifestation of God’s truth and power. Even more, it destroys the PRESENT benefit that past blessings have brought us. The great strength occasioned by the song of Moses was wiped out by the creation of the golden calf.

God answered prayer for me yesterday, and I found that it still nourished me today — until I made a calf of gold. Yesterday’s blessing is dissolved by today’s idolatry. The subtle power of sin is that it prevents me from relying on my spiritual savings account. Sin not only defeats me but it also strips me of my armor.

What is my defense against the insidious thing? Only my bedrock relationship with God. That is one thing sin cannot change, remove, or dissolve. God has vowed my salvation, not on the basis of what I experience, but on what His Son has experienced for me. While sin can eliminate a day or a year’s growth in my soul, it cannot eliminate the thing that makes growth possible — the vibrant, pulsating life of God.”

“For the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and Death!” (Romans 8:2)

Good words for us to ponder today!

This is one of those reminders that as men (and women) we need to hear often — “Don’t play with sin.” One of the things that we see happening as a ministry that counseling people, is the tragedy that we think we can get as close to the edge and yet not get burned.

God’s Word makes the issues quite clear, and yet for some reason, we try to figure how close we can get before crossing the line. We may pride ourselves that we wouldn’t dare go to an adult bookstore to view or purchase pornography, but we will watch an R-rated movie that contains sexually-explicit material. We might pride ourselves that we are faithful to our spouses, but get close to the edge with flirtatious remarks to a co-worker or friend.

Recently, our Director of Marketing and Technology was running a job on our company copier which was going to tie up the copier for most of the day. Due to the wonders of technology, he was able to run the job from his office in the basement of the Raws building. There would be moments were it would appear the copier was ok to use, but doing so would interrupt and foul up the job. So he placed a sign on the copier that said, “Please do not touch!” It was funny to watch the reaction of the staff throughout the day, as many of us had the same reaction — we wanted to go up and touch it just for spite! Childish?

Well think about it. God has given you and me some pretty specific, detailed instructions about what we can and cannot do. He says, “Do not touch” and yet from the very beginning, starting with Adam and Eve, we have struggled with this.

Here are some reminders from the Word of God for you and me this morning . . . “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Remember Lot’s wife. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with
lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and separate,’ says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean.’ Do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light… finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Galatians 6:7; Luke 17:32; 2 Corinthians 6:14,17; Ephesians 5:7-8; 10-11)

What about you this morning? Are there areas in your life where you are playing with sin? Is there an area where you are deceiving yourself? Purpose in your heart today to say “NO!” — stop playing with sin.

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.