Semper-Victoria

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Semper-Victoria

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 1:3-8

So, how in the world are we supposed to live a life as described in the passage above?

The Bible is abundantly clear that victory like this is truly possible, even normal, for the Christian who has simply (but absolutely) surrendered their lives to the One who has laid down the terms.  He wants everything, and upon giving Him everything, this sets the stage for Him to bring about these victories in our lives.  And just as clearly the Bible shows us that it is His Spirit’s power filling us and enabling us to both desire and to do His good and perfect will.

But, what does this look like in our lives?  What do we “do” as we live our actual physical existence in this world to help the process of living in victory?

What follows can be a dangerous exercise for someone trying to express some of the things that a Christian should actually “do” to live in a constant state of victory.  The temptation is to somehow think that if we are “spiritually disciplined,” God will be more happy with us, that we are doing things that get us closer to God and help complete the victorious path He has laid before us.  Could this writer ask you to abandon any of those thoughts (not just here – everywhere and always). 

What I am talking about is actually yielding our lives in such a way that we get “out of God’s way.”  We may, by His grace, practice some things that enable us to better hear Him, discern His will, obey Him fully and experience His Presence (which is a place of great strength born of joy). Ready?

1.Pray.  No, not just before meals.  Not just a couple times a day.  We gotta be praying like a Chicago Democrat – early and often.  Get out of bed early, roll out onto your knees and get on your face before the One who has begun the good work in you.  And may i be so bold?  Be quiet.  Listen.  He knows your request already.  He knows how to intercede for you already.  Just listen.  And let Him speak to you.  He will.  Pray all day.  Pray into sleep.  Pray, pray, pray.

2. Read your Bible.  No, not just for 3 minutes before you gotta leave for work.  No, not just listening to it on the stereo in the car.  Get quiet a few times a day, and read a chapter or three.  Yeah, really.  And may I be bold again?  Quit reading it like it some interesting book about God.  His Word is HIM talking to you – right now.  Listen.  Let Him teach you.  Ask Him to help you apply and live out what you have just read.

Repeat 1 and 2 constantly….

And to get the most out of the above:
> Turn off the TV.  Unplug it.  Put it in the closet for emergencies.  What?
> Stop consuming copious portions of printed media, images and news.  Huh?
> Trash the video game consoles.  Oh, don’t go there buddy!
> Fast from food and other stuff once in a while.  Crazy legalist!
> Be very careful about what you put into your body.  Who is this nut?
> Listen only to music that is uplifting to your spirit.  Oh come on!
> Drink lots of clean water.  You gotta be kidding me!
> Get good rest and physical exercise.  Oh, now this guy is starting to sound like a Puritan!

Please, beloved, it is not about rules.  It is about getting this stuff out of our lives, so there is room for Him to more fully fill our existence.  We know this.  Yet, we simply over-indulge in the world under the guise of freedom in Christ.  We know that if we remove most of the shiny, loud, crunchy, entertaining stuff – we might actually be able to hear Him speak.  And that sometime scares us.  Because once we can hear Him speak, we know that He will have places He wants to take us, and things He wants us to do. 
Do it anyway. Want to always live in victory?  Get out of the way! – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

Team YOU: Genesis 41-42; Proverbs 17; Matthew 12:1-23

Motivations: Victory in service is to be expected from supernaturally born men who are supernaturally delivered, supernaturally sustained, and supernaturally directed. We are thus supernaturally created for a supernatural work which is supernaturally prepared and is to be supernaturally performed. ~L. L. Legters

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:15-16; Level 2: Ephesians 1:15-23
Powered Up: Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication let your requests be made know to God … The Apostle Paul

The Sweetest Despair

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The Sweetest Despair

Don’t trust to hold God’s hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting. ~Hammer William Webb-Peploe

“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh… But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”  ~ from Philippians 3

One profound mystery of the Gospel is it’s utter backwardness to the ways of the cosmos.   Everything in this system screams that somehow we can be good.  We want to be good!  We want to reach out to god, as we understand that it is right to reach out to him.  We want to come to him on our terms and make him happy with our lives.  We know the difference between right and wrong.  Even the most evil among us seem to have some sense of justice – even if that sense is twisted beyond anything recognizable as normal.

We promise, we pray, we weep and we try – oh, do we try to get our act together. And we fail.

We try harder.  We make promises.  We write them down, and we share them with our friends so that we can be accountable to each other. And we fail again.

Then we get really serious.  We change friends, churches, locations, diets, jobs, and doctrinal positions.  We get a huge handle on truth.  We fight the battle in our mind and finally get things straightened out. And we fail again.

Then we realize that we really need this god’s help to get through the day.  Really, we just don’t have enough strength to make it happen.  We make god our “co-pilot.”  And we really understand just how vital it is to have a co-pilot in our lives… REALLY important.

And we fail again.  Epic fail after epic fail rolls with the credits.

And one day, we fall down on our face (spiritually and/or literally) and we just say:  i can’t do this G_d.  Not even one little bit.  i am desperate L_RD.  Please, i am just so fricking sick of myself.  Anything i try to do is really just veiled – but altogether abject – evil.   please… and i am desperately all out of any prospects that this might ever get better.  And we finally whisper… with our last bit of strength.

Please.  i am nothing.  i am fallen.  Save me. And  then it happens…

He just smiles and says…  “Oh beloved.   Welcome in from the storm.  Come in!  Would you like something to eat?   I AM drawing a bath, it will cleanse you completely and begin to heal your wounds. When you get out, I have prepared fresh clothes to cover you and comfort you.”

What?  Don’t I need to do something for all of this?  It is so beautiful and quiet and peaceful here.  Why is the sky different?  Why does everything just smell better here?

No, nothing at all.  I AM so glad you let me help you.  There is no other way in from the storm.  
Most die trying to get the Help they need. But…

Peace my child.  Your despair has yielded its fruit.  Like the death of a seed bringing life, your abandonment of any hope in yourself has finally brought about a death of yourself that has made room for my Hope to flood your entire being.  And my Hope never fades.  Not ever. What do I?

Nothing.  Would you like to sing with me?  I have been singing over you for years in anticipation of this day! Oh my!

Yes my beloved child.  Oh, how I Love you.  More than you will ever know.  And this will never end.   Just rest.  There is no need to ever do anything on the feeble power supply you had before.  I will provide all the power and purpose and strength you need – and I will teach you how to use it.   Sound OK to you dear one?

And for the first time since you remember… you just fall off to sleep that night, knowing, KNOWING that that final despair was the sweetest moment of your life…

Oh yeah, it is going to get even better from here. – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Team YOU: Genesis 39-40; Proverbs 16; Matthew 11

Motivations: No soul can be really at rest until it has given up all dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us. Feelings may change, and will change with our changing circumstances; doctrines and dogmas may be upset; Christian work may come to naught; prayers may seem to lose their fervency; promises may seem to fail; everything that we have believed in or depended upon may seem to be swept away, and only God is left, just God, the bare God, if I may be allowed the expression; simply and only God. ~Hannah Whitall Smith

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:15-16; Level 2: Ephesians 1:15-23
Powered Up: Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and more prevalent in supplication. C. H. Spurgeon

Happy Birthday, Neil and John

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Happy Birthday, Neil and John
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT
Today I want to honor and thank two men who have been heroes in my life. I want to show them “great respect and wholehearted love” because of their service to Christ (see above).

I have had the privilege of knowing Neil Fichthorn for 41 years. I have been blessed to have mad many godly men in my life – blessed beyond measure, but Neil has been the one man who has had the greatest impact on my life.

I first met him when I was 16, and little did I know how that encounter would be impacting my life 40+ years later. I have learned from him as a musician, supervisor, employer, leader, and friend. I have observed his life so closely that I find myself doing things he does, thinking about how he would do something or handle a situation.

I have watched him live a life of integrity and observe a man who has loved and served the Lord with his very best. Tomorrow is his 77th birthday, and I am privileged to call him my friend. Happy birthday, buddy!

I met Dr. John DeBrine the same year that I met Neil. He was a speaker at Sandy Cove and had a huge impact on my life. I still have notes in my file from his messages that summer. It was my privilege during my ministry years at Sandy Cove to get to know the real John DeBrine, and I have to tell you, while he is one piece of work, he is the real deal. Despite the fact that he calls me an “idiot” or a “moron” at times, he often calls me “kid!”
 Tomorrow is his 87th birthday. And he continues to faithfully proclaim the truth of God’s Word through the ministry of Songtime USA! John, we love you. Finish well, my brother and friend.

Has God put special people in your life? Today might be a good day to thank them for how they have blessed your life. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: Genesis 31-32; Proverbs 13; Matthew 9:18-38

Motivations: If we say that monsters [people who do terrible evil] are beyond forgiving, we give them a power they should never have…they are given the power to keep their evil alive in the hearts of those who suffered most. We give them power to condemn their victims to live forever with the hurting memory of their painful pasts. We give the monsters the last word. Lewis Smedes
                                                                                                
Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:13; Level 2: Ephesians 1:7-14
Powered Up:  Prayer is the conduit through which power from heaven is brought to earth. O. Hallesby

A Man of God

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 A MAN OF GOD

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”  (1 Timothy 6:11)

            Are you a man of God…a woman of God?  Though used frequently in the Old Testament, the term is used only here in the New Testament.  It was the term Paul chose to describe and define young Timothy.  It was a title that conveyed both compliment and challenge.

            What must one do to be worthy of such a title?  What are the characteristics of a man of God or a woman of God.  Paul reminds Timothy that there are at least four characteristics which should set him a part from others.  These are four characteristics for which all men and women of God should be known.  Paul lists these four distinguishing characteristics in First Timothy 6:11-14.
            We should be known by what we flee from, verse 11 “…flee these things…”  Paul reminds Timothy that a man of God will flee from certain things.  Here, Paul speaks specifically of lust and pride and greed.
            Flee these things.  It is important to note that there are some things with which Christians are not to fight or flirt.  The only safe option is to flee.  Have you ever heard the Holy Spirit shouting to you…RUN!  When He does it is a good thing to RUN!

            We should be known by what we follow after, verse 11, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness…”  Seven noble characteristics are to be pursued.  A.T. Robertson reminds us that verse 11 contains vivid verbs which indicate active effort on the part of the man of God.  We are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness as a lion pursues its prey.
            We should be known by what we fight for, verse 12, “Fight the good fight of faith…”  There is a time to flee, but there is also a time to stand.  Someone said that a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.  In a world that is becoming more and more resistant to Christ and His Gospel, it is imperative that the people of God stand fast and fight the good fight of faith.
            We also should be known by what we are faithful to, verse 14, “…keep this commandment…”   Paul’s use of the word commandment refers to the entire word of God. 
            What a marvelous title…O man of God!  Can God write this title across your life?  Roger D. Willmore is Senior Pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church in Weaver, Alabama. He is a frequent speaker at America’s Keswick
Team YOU:  Genesis 29-30; Proverbs 12; Matthew 9:1-17

Motivations: A true and faithful Christian does not make holy living an accidental thing. It is his great concern. As the business of the soldier is to fight, so the business of the Christian is to be like Christ. Jonathan Edwards

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:13; Level 2: Ephesians 1:7-14
Powered Up: Prayer is striking the winning blow…Service is gathering up the results.
S. D. Gordon

Honi … Right Between the Eyes

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Honi…Right between The Eyes!! 


“You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.” Joshua 6:3-4 (ESV) 

When you read about him in the writings of Flavius Josephus he is referred to as Onias, a righteous man of God who in a certain drought prayed for the intense heat to end and when it did rain fell. When he refuse to pray for God’s wrath to fall upon a man named Aristobulus, Onias was stoned to death by some pretty wicked Jews, who themselves suffered a vehement wind storm that destroyed the fruit of the land. And from a read of the whole text, it didn’t sound like they should have stoned Onias to death.  

The Talmud tells a different side to this man who was stoned to death. Instead he fell into a 70 year sleep and his name wasn’t Onias, it is really Honi ha-M’agel or Honi (for short) and he is known as “The Circle-drawer”. The Talmud tells how Honi drew a circle in the dust when the winter rains did not fall and did not move until the rains came. It started as drizzle, began to pour and then Honi explained to God that he really wanted a calm rain. In his book “The Circle Maker” Pastor Mark Batterson shared Honi’s story from “The Book of Legends” and it goes a little something like this. 

He drew a circle as a crowd looked on and with the authority of the prophet Elijah, Honi called down rain. “Lord of the universe, I swear before Your great name that I will not move from this circle until You have shown mercy upon Your children.” Now keep in mind that is happening during the last part of the four hundred year silence before Jesus Christ comes to live among the people. Honi’s voice has no hint of doubt but it does have authority in its tone.  

A drizzle begins but Honi was not happy with it. “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that fill cisterns, pits, and caverns.” It down pours now and causes a flash flood that sends people running to the Temple Mount to escape the rising waters. Honi does not move and then refines his request, “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of Your favor, blessing, and graciousness.” It is at this point where I get this strange feeling between my eyes as if God has just flicked His index finger and said “Get it?” 

Within the first thirty pages of Batterson’s book I found enthusiasm towards prayer. I also found some scary stuff about how we are doing it. Because, at times, I can pray in a vague way (as if I shouldn’t be asking) and I may not be heard because I am not circling my prayers in God’s promises. I have written about how great they are but it never dawns on me that I should conduct a prayer circle around God’s promises. OH WELL!! In any case it is back to the drawing board with my prayer life but in the meantime since Bill Welte recommended reading this, I will also recommend this book to you. I pray that you get Honi…right between the eyes!  — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular Freedom Fighter contributor

Team YOU: Genesis 27-28; Proverbs 11; Matthew 8:18-34

Motivations: “After seven days of circling Jericho, God delivered on a four-hundred-year-old promise. He proved, once again, that His promises don’t have expiration dates. And Jericho stands, and falls, as a testament to this simple truth: If you keep circling the promise, God will ultimately deliver on it.”-Mark Batterson

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:13; Level 2: Ephesians 1:7-14
Powered Up: Prayer is able to prevail with Heaven and bend omnipotence to its desires. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

S.W. 1-8-12

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S.W. 1-8-12

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:4-6 (ESV)

Do you remember when the year was 1999? They were saying that once the new year of 2000 hit we would experience the “Y2K” bug. Well when the countdown came to its three, two, one crescendo and the ball dropped, it was as the great Yukon Cornelius would say…nuttin’!!! No bugs, no systems crashing, no nothing. 

Well okay, maybe a new century started but there was no apocalyptic end of civilization as we knew it. All we really got from the “Y2K” bug was the i-pod and there are a lot of thankful people because of it. 
But now we are facing a new/old threat to end times and that is 12-21-2012. According to the Mayan calendar, Michel de Nostreame (Nostradamus) and Marvin the Martian of Looney Tunes fame, the world as we know it now will end before we are allowed to celebrate Christmas this year. Seems kinda unfair doesn’t it? That even though there are some of us who really think we have a right to long life, liberty and a continued pursuit of happiness, all of this is going up in a puff of smoke. My problem with this all is that it doesn’t align with what my Bible tells me. 

Matthew 24 is an almost solid red letter chapter and tells us of all kinds of done and over with stuff but Jesus never tells us an exact time and date. Instead He says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matt 24:36) This tells us that Jesus, Himself, is not going to even take a guess and we all need to rest in that. We need to focus in on what He says earlier in that chapter, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”(Matt 24:4-5) 

That is why what we find in 1 John 4:1-6 is our instruction to test the spirits. From that infamous moment in The Garden until now man (and woman) has had to deal with a spirit of antichrist. We need to be in an understanding that we are always going to be in spiritual warfare and that our adversary is at the ready to usurp the authority of God’s word. The parables of Jesus put emphasis on faithfulness, watchfulness, stewardship, expectancy and preparedness. Any other teaching only serves to take us off this path and have us all walk openly on New Age Boulevard.  

As this year goes by I will be paging through a book titled, “The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare.” The author of this book even goes as far as giving warning on a total focus on his book for fear of a constant thought pattern that puts emphasis on Satan and the evil we can do. That is a warning coming from a watchman isn’t it? This year I urge you Brothers (and Sisters) to purpose yourself to practice the lost art of being a Biblical Watchmen and be ready to give answer to Marvin the Martian. He has a P32 uranium explosive device and is ready to blow up the earth because it ruins his view of the planet Venus. Seriously folks…the prince of lies is hard at work. Be Ready!!! – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and Freedom Fighter contributor

Team YOU: Genesis 25-26; Proverbs 10; Matthew 8:1-17
Motivations: “Many Christians imagine that victory in Christ is to become the epitome of what the world desires in wealth and success and fame and to do it all better than the ungodly because Christians have Jesus on their side.”—Dave Hunt

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:13; Level 2: Ephesians 1:7-14
Powered Up: Units of prayer combined, like drops of water, make an ocean which defies resistance.

Mentoring

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Mentoring

Join us Thursday night for our first Men’s Fellowship of the New Year. Pastor John Helm is our speaker. Dinner is at 6:15 PM followed by a time of worship, Bible study and fun. Call 732-350-1187 for information.

“ … each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors – stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.” Psalm 78:7-8 (NLT)

I have been doing a lot of study about the Millennial generation as I believe God wants to really do something with that group. This is a group that I believe has the potential to turn this world upside down for the Kingdom if we can win them to Christ and encourage them to grow in their walk with God.

One of the characteristics of this group is that they want to be mentored. They want someone to teach them about their jobs, how to raise their families, how to handle money.

For those of us who are Boomers, this is unfamiliar territory. We didn’t want anyone’s help because we had all the answers. But this generation wants us to come alongside and not just tell them what to do – “teach us” is their mantra.

Singer-songwriter-worship leader, Darlene Zschech in her new book, The Art of Mentoring – Embracing the Great Generational Transition (Bethany House Publishers) writes that in order to foster the next generation, we must become selfless leaders who are not out to make a name or position for ourselves but rather willing to pass on our knowledge and understanding for the Kingdom’s sake … Man has a tendency to put his own reputation and desire for recognition above all else. Too often, when those who follow us start to advance beyond what we have accomplished, jealousy prevails and the mentoring comes to a screeching halt.

Mentoring takes place at home, on the job and in church. As leaders, parents, ministry leaders, we need to start thinking about ways to come alongside of these precious young people and lovingly find ways that we can pull up and say, “How can I help you get from here to there.”

Solomon says that there is nothing new under the son. That’s the kind of relationship Paul and Timothy had. Are there Timothy’s around you that need mentoring? Are their Paul’s in your life that you could learn from? Let’s be intentional and be there for the next generation. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: Genesis 23-24; Proverbs 9; Matthew 7

Motivations: If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we raise temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.
Daniel Webster
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Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:13; Level 2: Ephesians 1:7-14 

Powered Up: God does not keep office hours. A. W. Tozer

Forget the Resolutions

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Forget the resolutions, try some First Steps  
Today’s devotional was written by my friend, George Hutchison, who serves on staff with Crown Ministries. You can join his blog at: stewardshipinsights.
I just Googled “New Year’s Resolutions” and the search returned over 42 million results. I then Googled “Broken New Year’s Resolutions” and the search returned over 76 million results. I am sure there are other reasons for this, but it does say something about the effectiveness of making these promises.
So instead of making resolutions this year, why not take some “first steps” on a path that will lead us in a positive direction. First steps sound so much more realistic and are much easier to accomplish. Here are some simple first steps to get (back) on track to living by God’s Economy.
Set up a budget and stick with it: Don’t worry if you have tried this before and have failed. Almost everyone that is living on a budget today tried at least one time and failed before they were successful. I know Joyce and I did. If you feel you need someone to come along side of you, here is a link to Crown’s website that will put you in touch with a trained volunteer Money Map Coach. In addition to being trained most of these coaches have the gift of encouragement. Either chat on line, or you can access Crown’s database of Money Map coaches to see if there is one in your area that you could set up an appointment and personally meet with. (Luke 14:28-30)
Start an emergency savings fund: Things break, including cars, jobs and our health. We call these broken things emergencies. We need to be prepared for these emergencies. The way we prepare is by building up an emergency fund. Even if you only have $100, put it aside and start to build it up on a regular basis. Set a first goal of $1000 and do whatever you have to do to get to this level. Statistics tell us that over 90% of all family emergencies cost less than $1000. What happens if we don’t have that emergency savings? Out comes the credit cards and we get deeper in the debt hole. Here is an article from Crown that not only reinforces the importance of the emergency savings but offers 12 practical ideas to fund the account. (Proverbs 27:12)
Begin an Accelerated Debt Payoff Strategy: Come up with a plan and start to eliminate debt. Arrange your debts, smallest to largest and start making extra payments on the smallest and work towards the largest. Not only will you feel the exhilaration when you pay off your first debt, but you will quickly build momentum and motivation to keep going. Before you know it you will have all your non-mortgage debts paid off. Statistics indicate that the average family can pay off their credit card debt in 18 months and all non-mortgage debt in 4 years with a solid Accelerated Debt Payoff Strategy. Here is a handy Accelerated Debt Payoff Calculator from Crown that will calculate how quickly you can become debt free.(Proverbs 22:7)
Be a generous giver: If you want adventure in your financial life, start on a Journey of Generosity. In addition to reaping eternal benefits (1 Timothy6:18-19) and assuring greater spiritual usefulness (Luke 16:11-12) our giving brings glory to God (2 Corinthians 9:13). Being created in the image of God, there is no better way to reflect the character of God who gave His son, than by our giving. Here is a link to a website to begin your Journey of Generosity.
At this point you are probably saying; Wait!! I can’t even pay my bills, so how can I build up savings, pay off debts and be a generous giver? Remember these are not those broken New Year’s resolutions, these are first steps. Create the budget and be content and thankful with what God has blessed you with. With a first step of contentment, and a solid commitment of living on a budget, savings, debt reduction and giving will come along as naturally as a piece of pumpkin pie follows a Thanksgiving dinner. Matthew 6:21
Team YOU: Matthew 16-17; Proverbs 6; Matthew 5:27-48

Motivations: Do everything in its own time; do everything in earnest; if it is worth doing, then do it with all your might. Above all, keep much in the presence of God. Never see the face of man until you have seen his face, who is our light, our all. Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:3; Level 2: Ephesians 1:1-6

Powered Up: Prayer is only true when it is within the compass of God’s Word. John Bunyan

Believe, Pray and Trust

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Believe, Pray and Trust

“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe.” Mark 11:24

I was 12 years old and I have a Dutch rabbit named Snuggles. I took him out and took him to my best friend’s house (how happens to be my wife) and of the way home Snuggles had a massive stroke. It happened outside of the apartment of a dear lady whose name was Grandmom Geissler.

Grandmom Geissler was known in our church to have the ear of God when she prayed. Every day she spent hours on her knees in prayer looking at her map and working her way across the world praying for hundreds of missionaries.

I was really upset about the rabbit and we rang her door bell. She ran down the steps embraced us and began to pour her heart out to the Lord for that rabbit’s life. Even though rabbit died that day, I learned a huge lesson. This lady actually prayed because she KNEW that God heard and answered prayer.

How often we pray so haphazardly because deep down we really don’t believe God can answer our prayers. He’s answered big prayer and little prayers. This week I misplaced my car keys and sent an email to the staff. I offered a reward for the lost keys.

I also took the time to ask the Lord to help me find those keys. I know that to replace the car fob is expensive. Does the Lord care about my car keys. After using the restroom several hours later, I was walking back into my office. The Lord prompted me to look under the cushion of the padded chair in my office.

For a split second I brushed it off as “yeah right.” But I had asked Him for His help and maybe He really was prompting me. What did I have to lose? So I walked over to the chair lifted the cushion and there they were, not on the side of the cushion but right under it in the middle. I have no clue how they got there – but I do not this – is was another reminder to pray, believe and trust.

Are there small things in your life that you need to pray about? Big things? Do you have the faith to believe? I’d love to hear your stories. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick


Team YOU: Genesis 13-15; Proverbs 5; Matthew 5:1-26

Motivations: The Bible teaches that all sin begins with sinful thinking. Billy Graham
Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:3; Level 2: Ephesians 1:1-6

Powered Up: God loves to be consulted. Charles Bridges

Believing Prayer

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Believing Prayer

Call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. Joel 1:14

Question: do we really believe that God hears and answers prayer? Do we want to see the Spirit of God moving in our churches? Then my question is this – what happened to prayer?

Prayer meeting in most churches has become obsolete. If there is prayer meeting, much of our praying is praying for Aunt Susie’s sisters’s cousins brother who has a hang nail. I am being facetious for sure – but am I really?

When was the last time you experienced the power of God at a prayer meeting? Thankfully there are still churches like the Brooklyn Tabernacle who believe that God still wants to meet with us when we pray.


George Mueller was considered on the most successful prayer-ers in Christian history. Does God only answer Mueller’s prayers? Absolutely not. God did amazing things in the book of Acts when people prayed. Mueller wrote in his journal, “God will show up for prayer meetings, if only the people will.”

The late Norman Grubb said, “Prayer meetings are dead affairs when they are merely asking sessions. There is adventure, hope and life when they are BELIEVING sessions, and the faith is corporately, practically, and deliberately affirmed.

Hey, I am not attacking your PASTOR and your prayer meeting. What I am suggesting is that God wants to do so much more, and He longs to meet us when we pray corporately and cry out to Him with believing faith.

Are we willing enough to be a part of another revival in our day? Are we willing to PUSH – pray until something happens? Think about it. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: Genesis 10-12; Proverbs 4; Matthew 4
Motivations: Theology and prayer are inextricably intertwined. Richard Bewes

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 1:3; Level 2: Ephesians 1:1-6