Graced by Jospeh’s Presence

Leave a comment

Graced by Joseph’s Presence

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:12-18 (NKJV)

I just got done spending eight plus days at America’s Keswick. My family and I took part in “Victory Week Three”. The last time I stayed for an extended time there it was during the summer/fall of 2003 when I was at the Colony. I was blessed with some messages from Glenn Blossom and Charles Zimmerman. The bald headed guy behind the keyboards wasn’t there but there were quite a few singing surprises. The Tuesday night talent show is still etched in my mind. That night I remember there was this guy with a guitar telling some bad jokes about penguins going to the zoo and then to the beach. By the way, they had sunglasses and apparently disturbed the police…any who….!!

I was asked by my good friend, Bill Jahns, if I would take the Friday morning devotions with Housekeeping. I found out that I was also giving his father-in-law the day off which Mr. Sparks made sure I was aware of. Bob I really do hope you enjoyed the time off. On this morning I thought it would be a great idea if I told the guys where God has taken me since I left the Colony. My writing Freedom Fighters was mentioned and I did get to answer some questions. I also hope I encouraged someone there that morning.

But there was this disciple named Joseph that stuck out. He had asked some poignant questions and I kinda remember seeing him around. He also must kinda pop in and out of view because the comment of him gracing people with his presence was mentioned. He took it in stride and the morning went quite well…well I think so. I also had to prepare for the “Families For Christ” Ministry over the weekend so it was a long stay at Keswick to say the least but the part that sticks out the most was my conversations with a graduate named Nabil on Friday night as quiet time was approaching and then with Joseph Saturday night as the Activity Center was closing.

Nabil shared what it is like for him to be a Christian in Jordan. This brother helped my wife and I take a different a view of what we get told in the press about the Middle East. He also told us about the difficulties with the handling of addictions in his homeland. I praise God that He used Nabil that night to straighten out my prejudice with the Middle East. And then there was Joseph on Saturday night. This young man was a refreshing challenge for me. I think of what it must have been like for the Apostle Paul to share the Gospel with Timothy and then raise him up to pastor a church dead smack in enemy territory.

I could hear a zeal in Joseph that I do not hear often enough in my community. That zeal is to die to self. I sometimes find it funny that I travel great distances to and attend conferences to hear preaching on the subject of dying to self. All I did to hear a young man’s quest for death to self was to walk outside an ice cream stand…sorta speak. I did travel to Keswick however and I have been blessed. Thanks to a young disciple named Joseph my view of dying to self has been refreshed. I sincerely thank you Joseph for gracing me with your presence. As for you, my brothers, take some time outside the Dairy Queen and see if there be any Joseph in you. — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; Psalms 100-102; 1 Corinthians 1

Dig This Quote: “A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family. He must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death, for this is written into the fabric of his being. Listen carefully now: You do. That is why God created you—to be His intimate ally, to join Him in the Great Battle. You have a specific place in the line, a mission God made you for. That is why it is so essential to hear from God about your true name, because in that name is the mission of your life.”Wild at Heart
John Eldredge

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: We are not wringing gifts from an unwilling God, but going to one who knows are needs better that we know them ourselves and whose heart towards us is the heart of generous love. If we do not receive what we pray for, it not because God grudgingly refuses to give it, but because he has some better thing for us. — William Barclay

Knowing What Your True Needs Are — Part 2

Leave a comment

Knowing What Your True Needs Are — Part 2
“Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing …” — Ephesians 1:3
Yesterday I shared with you 12 insights from Stormie Omartian’s new book, The Power of a Praying Life (Harvest House) to help us assess what our REAL needs are in life.

Here is the next set of principles. If you missed yesterday’s, go back and work through the list:

13. I need to know God as my Healer and grow in faith that He can bring healing to me and to those for whom I pray.
14. I need to find breakthrough in my life through the godly discipline of prayer and fasting.
15. I need the ability to take control of my mind and not be tossed to and fro by the lies of the enemy, who always tries to make me believe that his lies are truth and God’s truth is a lie.
16. I need to resist negative thoughts and emotions, and stop believing lies about myself.
17. I need to speak words that bring life, and be able to seek the truth in ALL situations.
18. I need to move in the power of God and not live an overwhelmingly life of powerlessness in the face of difficulties.
19. I need to be rid of destructive relationships that not don’t add to my life but tear it down.
20. I need to recognize who my enemy is so that I can resist him and not assist him.
21. I need to be strong enough to turn away from all temptation to do ANYTHING that is not glorifying to God.
22. I need to learn to pray without ceasing so that I can enjoy emotional peace and contentment.
23. I need to surrender my life to God and live in a manner deemed holy by Him.
24. I need to grow in faith and not be tormented or restricted by doubt and instability.
25. I need to be able to unfailingly stand strong in all I know of God, no matter what is happening.
26. I need to be the kind of person who never gives up hop, regardless of how hopeless things seem, because my hope is in the Lord.
As I encouraged you yesterday, why not take this list and pray through it. Allow God to fill you with more of Him and less of you. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
Dig This Quote: He has right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him, the right to help Himself to your life anytime He wants. Henry Blackaby
Determined Praying: “Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking.” The atmosphere and aroma of our lives is to be that of prayer. — Michael Catt

Knowing What Your True Needs Are

Leave a comment


Knowing What Your True Needs Are

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing … Ephesians 1:3

We just finished our third week of Victory Conferences. It was a blessed week, but we had some real challenges. Saturday I was running on an empty tank spiritually and physically, and as always, God knew that.

I was recently sent a copy of Stormie Omartian’s new book on prayer, The Power of a Praying Life — Finding the Freedom, Wholeness, and True Success God Has for You. It is published by our good friends at Harvest House.

Just several pages into the book, God spoke to my heart with truth that I needed to hear after such an intense week of ministry. Stormie shares 26 principles that define my true needs. I will share half of the list today, and the other half tomorrow:

1. I need to be frequently reminded of who God is and who I am and can be in Him.

2. I need to take charge of my thoughts and emotions, and seek to be delivered from anything that imprisons or restricts me so I can live in the freedom and wholeness God has for me.

3. I need to be deeply impressed with the knowledge of all Jesus accomplished on the cross so I am not continually wearing myself out struggling to make something happen in my life that has already been accomplished.

4. I need to always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit so I can know God’s will and be were I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to do.

5. I need to understand, recognize, and receive the gifts God has for me so I am not always striving for what He has already provided.

6. I need to know God’s rules for my life and be able to secure HIS help in fully obeying them.

7. I need to be free of guilt and able to maintain a heart of humility and repentance.

8. I need to receive GOD’S forgiveness whenever I miss the mark HE has for me and be able to extend forgiveness to others when they, too, miss the mark.

9. I need to have the fear of the Lord in my heart every day so I am in right relationship with Him, and then He will take away all tormenting fear from my life.

10. I need to be able to see and appreciate my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit so I can learn to care for it properly.

11. I need to experience God’s love every day and be able to share it with the people He puts in my life.

12. I need to be free to wholeheartedly give to God and to other in the way He would have me to do!

Wow, brothers. Is this not powerful! Take a moment and run back over the list. Turn it into a prayer today and watch God work! Do you know what your TRUE needs are? I will share the rest of the list with you tomorrow. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

Dig This Quote: The prayer life does not consist of perpetual repetition of petitions. The prayer life consists of life that is always upward and onward and Godward.
G. Campbell Morgan

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: Prayer is not about changing God’s mind; it’s about changing OUR mind in light of how God wants things to happen. It’s not about getting my will done on earth; it’s about seeing HIS will done on earth as it is in heaven. — Michael Catt

The Trinity

Leave a comment

Tonight begins our fourth week of conference ministry. Join us as Pastor Bob Alderman and Pastor Harold Vaughn share God’s Word. There are still some rooms open this week and next. Take advantage of the 25% special.

The Trinity

Today we worship HIM — God, three in One! Here is a wonderful prayer from the book, Valley of Vision — Prayers of the Puritans

Three in One, One in Three, God of my Salvation,
Heavenly Father, blessed Son, eternal Spirit,
I adore Thee as one Being, one Essence, one God in three distinct Persons,
for bringing sinners to thy knowledge and to thy kingdom,

O Father, thou hast loved me and sent Jesus to redeem me;

O Jesus, thou hast loved me and assumed my nature,
shed thine own blood to wash away my sins, wrought righteousness to cover my unworthiness;

O Holy Spirit, thou hast loved me and entered my heart, implanted there eternal life,
revealed to me the glories of Jesus.

Three Persons and one God, I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable,
so wondrous, so mighty to save the lost and raise them to glory.

O Father, I thank thee that in the fullness of grace thou hast given me to Jesus, to be His sheep, jewel, portion;
O Jesus, I thank Thee that in fullness of grace thou has accepted, espoused, bound me;
O Holy Spirit, I thank Thee that in fullness of grace thou hast
exhibited Jesus as my salvation,
implanted faith within me,
subdued my stubborn heart,
made me one with him forever.

O Father, thou art enthroned to hear my prayers,
O Jesus, thy hand is outstretched to take my petitions,
O Holy Spirit, thou art willing to help my infirmities, to show me thy MY need,
to supply words, to pray within me,
to strengthen me that I faint not in supplication.

O Triune God, who commandeth the universe, thou hast commanded me to ask for those
things that concern thy kingdom and my soul.
Let me live and pray as one baptized into the threefold Name. Amen

Worship Him today — Father, Son and Holy Spirit! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; Psalms 91-93; Romans 15:1-13

Dig This Quote: When you slight this or that person, though gracious; that is, look over them, and shun them for their poverty in this world, and choose rather to have converse with others, that possibly are less gracious, because of their greatness in this world, you deal with the sin of pride. John Bunyan

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: God is more willing to work than many of us are to pray!

Answered Prayer

Leave a comment

Answered Prayer

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

I came across this prayer written by an unknown confederate soldier. You might have seen it before, but I think it is powerful:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made week, that I might learn humbly to obey …

I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things …

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise …

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God …

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things …

I got nothing that I asked for —
but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself,
My UNSPOKEN prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.

Now go back to the top of today’s Freedom Fighter and read the verse! Are you thankful that He answers prayer HIS way? I sure am. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; Psalms 89-90; Romans 14

Dig This Quote: There is no joy when sin is present!

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: Prayer has been called the ‘native language’ of the soul — the universal expression of the innate human desire to make contact with the divine.

The Theology of Resting in God

Leave a comment

Brothers: We are halfway through our summer season. We have several rooms open the next three weeks, so please, take time to come to America’s KESWICK and allow God to refresh and nourish your soul. Take advantage of our 25% Freedom Fighter discount: 732-350-1187

THE THEOLOGY OF RESTING IN GOD

Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26

God has so often spoken to my heart through the devotional writings of Oswald Chambers. This devotional couldn’t have come at a more precise time in my life — but then isn’t that just like Him!

When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God.

We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.

There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.

I’ve been hit this summer with a number of storms. I needed to be reminded of this truth today. The hymn writer said: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are truly blessed — Finding as HE promised: perfect peace and rest! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; Psalms 87-88; Romans 13

Dig This Quote: It is grace at the beginning, and grace at the end. So that when you and I come to lie upon our death beds, the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us in the beginning. Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the Grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace wondrous grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. Yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: If we are going to leave a legacy of faith, we must teach our children to pray. If we are going to see power in our churches, we must have men of prayer in the pulpits. If we are going to reach the next generation for Christ, fulfill the Great Commission, and change our culture in the process, we must be people who have learned to lay hold of God. — Michael Catt

MACO 103 Reprised, Surprised?

Leave a comment

MACO 103 Reprised, Surprised!?

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”
Ephesians 5:22-27 (NKJV)

Hey you men that read Freedom Fighters, I have a question for the vast majority of you. How could you miss what I will cover today? That’s right you don’t even know what I am talking about yet but you guys missed it. A few weeks back I wrote about how Jesus had to rebuke those guys called “The Pharisees” on the issue of adultery because they wanted to trick Him into saying something that they could use against Him so that they could kill Him. And there was a point that I left out and you, my Brethren, missed it too, apparently, because I didn’t hear this point from a man’s point of view but a woman’s.

I have a dear sister in Christ who prayed for my salvation many years ago and in return for that I send her the Freedom Fighters that I write. As much as I value the opinion of my Brothers in Christ is as much as I value the circle of the Sisterhood that is part of the Church. So without further a-do I will share with you what my dear sister shared with me. And for her protection from you guys I’ll just call her….um…Judy.

I am going to not edit what Judy sent me but I will say that this is something that I missed and I am grateful that she spoke up about it. And now…Here’s Judy…

“There was one thing that I was curious as to why you didn’t mention. That is the one reason, adultery, where Jesus talks about divorce. It seems to me that I studied somewhere that “adultery” is equated in terms of our relationship with Jesus. In other words, those who commit “adultery” are in a relationship with the devil and not in a relationship with Christ. God wants all our affection and attention; He doesn’t want it “shared” with any other “god”, or anything else. Those who do that are in an ‘adulterous’ relationship with Christ. We are the ‘bride of Christ’…any other ‘relationship’ than the relationship with Him is adulterous.

Also, I recently attended a women’s brunch at my new church. The speaker was superb. One of the things she was speaking about was being the “bride of Christ”. Bingo! After all these years a ‘light went on’! I have been told that I was a “kid of the King”, “a Princess”, etc., but for the first time, being the ‘bride of Christ’ smacked me right in the heart! I said to her, “it’s been very difficult for me relate to being a child of royalty because my folk were just simple people…however, being a ‘bride’ I can relate to! I was a bride and can relate to all the things that pertain to being a bride…and even more so now, knowing that I am Christ’s Bride! It was a very special moment, even though I had heard those words for years.”

I think Judy is right. We are not just a kid of the King, we all are the Bride of Christ. If you are in the Body of Christ you get to be in the wedding. The Pharisees of the time of Christ went around putting burdens on God’s people for no good reason but to elevate themselves at a wedding they didn’t deserve to be part of. And guess what…neither do we, but because we come into right relationship with Jesus we get to be in the wedding and Jesus wanted us to hear that right from His very lips. I would like to thank my dear sister for her insight on this issue and the Apostle Paul’s use of marriage to illustrate just what Jesus meant for us to understand. I encourage you, my Brothers, to take a closer look at marriage. Or at least find yourself a Judy who will be able to show how she feels about the Bride of Christ!! — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 12; Psalms 84-86; Romans 12

Dig This Quote: We know it is the weight of our sin that accelerates us into the seasons at the bottom. But here’s the amazing, unbelievable thing—a profound mystery, as Paul says: “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’…and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:31-32). Marriage refers to Christ and the church—every marriage, no matter how pendulum-like because of our sin; every marriage, even if the couple doesn’t care one bit about Jesus. To change metaphors, God designed marriage to be a picture. That makes me ask myself, how clear and well-focused is the portrait of Jesus that our marriage is displaying?” Forward: Pendulums and Pictures
This Momentary Marriage Noel Piper

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: The act of praying is the very highest energy of which the human mind is capable; praying, that is, with the total concentration of the faculties. — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Prayer, Money and Chuck E. Cheese

Leave a comment

Prayer, Money and Chuck E. Cheese

This past week our two grandchildren from NC have been staying with us. So of course that meant a visit to Chuck E Cheese with all four grandchildren. In case you don’t know what Chuck E. Cheese is all about, it is one of the most exciting places in the entire world. That is if you are under 10 (…or a 60 year old grandfather).

After you get past the mediocre food, you get to do some really fun things. These fun things include kiddie rides and a bunch of games designed for children (ages 2 – 10). Each game and ride takes one token to play. We had 70 tokens.

Every time you play a game, you win tickets. Then you take your tickets to the “Ticket Muncher” and redeem them for really cool stuff. After an awesome night of accumulating 534 tickets, we left with three nerf rockets and a sheet of stickers.

Since I was the oldest in our group, I was assumed to be the most responsible, and became the “token bank”. At first I gave four tokens to each grandchild and received a huge smile, a well mannered “thank you PaPa” and a hug. I thought to myself; no wonder I love this place!

After about five minutes those four tokens were gone and I got a little excited. I was pretty sure I was about to receive another hug, cute little smile and gracious “thank you PaPa” from four of the most precious people in my life. I soon started giving out tokens one at a time instead of four at a time. I got the same cherished response; just four times as often.

And then it hit me. Doesn’t this sound familiar? My Heavenly Father, who loves me even more than I love my grandchildren, owns all the money in the world. (Haggai 2:8, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12) And He wants me to come to Him and ask Him for what I need. (Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 7:7-8)

I must admit that I started to use those little tokens in Chuck E. Cheese for three things that night. I used them to play the silly games. I used them to satisfy a craving for my grandchildren’s love and affection. But they also reminded me of one more way that God uses money in our lives.

Last week I was talking to a friend who is currently unemployed. In the conversation he mentioned that he was praying for employment. I assured him, that I too was praying for him.
I have talked to a number of Christian couples that are struggling financially. Most of them will tell me how they have taken their financial problems to God in prayer. Some have even gotten so desperate, they began fasting and praying over their financial situations. We all pray about our personal financial issues. This is what God wants.

God wants us to pray to Him (Psalm 50:15, Isaiah 65:24) and let Him know that we love Him and tell Him our needs. Isn’t it incredible that the God of the universe wants me to come to Him and fellowship with Him through prayer? Just like I used those tokens to drive my grandchildren to me at Chuck E. Cheese, God will use money (and possibly even withhold it) to drive us to Himself through prayer.

Yes, God definitely uses money in the Christians life. We have seen that in the last few posts. He will use money to show His faithfulness. He will use money in our lives to show us how much we need Him. And yes, He will use money in our lives to stimulate our prayer lives. — George Hutchison is a Board member at America’s KESWICK and an instructor with Crown Financial

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 11; Psalm 81-83; Romans 11:19-36

Dig This Quote: If in fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (i.e., to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.Amy Carmichael

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

One Day At A Time

Leave a comment

One Day At A Time

This has been a great summer, and it has been a challenging summer. There have been moment of intense battles and moments of glorious victory.

God knows JUST what we need and when. Today I came across this poem written by the song writer, Annie Johnson Flint who wrote the beloved gospel song, HE GIVETH MORE GRACE …

One day at a time with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong;
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time — but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong;
O Thou pitying Christ, be thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
“Yea, I will be with thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I will never leave thee.”

Not yesterday’s load we are called on to bear,
Nor tomorrow’s uncertain and shadowy care,
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is HIS day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient, we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

Aren’t you thankful that He asks us to live ONE DAY AT A TIM! I am! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 10; Psalm 79-80; Romans 11:1-18

Dig This Quote: We count on God’s mercy for our past mistakes, God’s love for our present needs on God’s sovereignty for our future. — Augustine

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: You can never be a worshipper until you are a confessor. There has to be a humbling before there is a hallelujah. There has to be a cleansing before there can be shouting. — Michael Catt

Parent’s Prayer

Leave a comment

Parent’s Prayer
One of our greatest privileges as parents and grandparents is to pray for for our kids. I learned this early on remembering how my parents prayed for me and my brother.
We are on our third week of PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) and each day there are parents who are PUSHing for God to do something in the hearts of their kids. Some pray for prodigals; others are praying that God will deepen the faith of their kids.

Amy Carmichael, a missionary who served in India for 45 years without a furlough, had a love for kids. She founded an orphanage there, and had a burden for her “children.” This is a bold prayer to pray for your kids:

Make them good soldiers of Jesus Christ; let them never turn themselves back in the day of battle. Let them be winners and helpers of souls. Let them not be ministered unto, but to minister. Make them loyal; let them set loyalty high above all things. Make them doers, not mere talkers; make them sound.
Let them enjoy hard work and choose hard things rather than easy. Forbid that they be slackers. Make them trustworthy. Give them grit. Make them wise, for it is written, He hath no pleasure in fools.

Let them pass from dependence on us to dependence on Thee. Let them never come under the dominion of earthly things; keep them free. Let them grow up healthy, happy, friendly, and keen to make others happy.

Give them eyes to see the beauty of the world and hearts to worship its Creator. Cause them to be quick to recognize the figures of the true. Let them be gentle to beast and bird (see Garrett — that does include parrots!); let cruelty be hateful to them.
May they walk, O Lord in the light of Thy countenance. Let this be the inheritance of these children — the upper springs and the nether springs of life. And for ourselves we ask that we might learn how to brace and never weaken. “God is my strong salvation …” We ask that we might train them to say that word and live life, and pour themselves out for others unhindered by self.
What a powerful way to pray for our kids. Don’t neglect this awesome privilege guys. PUSH for your kids today! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
Dig This Quote: If God is everywhere, that means that we are at all times in the situation, the setting, that makes prayer possible. For we are at all times in the presence of the One whom we desire to touch, to reach, in prayer. We don’t have to go looking for God, as if God were somehow missing from our lives. William H. Shannon
Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19
Determined Praying: Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.
Join us this week as Drs. Glenn Blossom and Charles Zimmerman share God’s Word from the pulpit of America’s KESWICK. Glenn will be speaking at 9:30 AM (Monday-Thursday) and Charles 7:00 (Monday-Thursday). Can’t come in person? Watch Live: www.americaskeswick.org