Utterly Delightful

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Utterly Delightful

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God.” — Psalm 100:2-3

One of my very favorite devotional writer’s is the late A. W. Tozer. This morning’s devotional is from the book HOW GREAT THOU ART — published by Multnomah:

God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is. Hearts that are “fit to break” with love for the Godhead are those who have been in the Presence and have looked with open eye upon the majesty of Deity,

Men of breaking hearts had a quality about them not known to or understood by common men. They habitually spoke with spiritual authority. They had been in the Presence of God, and they reported what they saw there. They were prophets, not scribes, for the scribe tells us what he has read, and the prophet tells what he has seen.

The distinction is not an imaginary one. Between the scribe who has read the prophet and the prophet who has seen there is a difference as wide as the sea. We are today overrun with orthodox scribes, but the prophets, where are they? The hard voice of the scribe sounds over evangelicalism, but the church waits for the tender voice of the saint who has penetrated the veil and has gazed with inward eye upon the Wonder that is God. And yet, to penetrate, to push in sensitive living experience in the holy Presence, is a privilege open to every child of God.

The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the church is famishing for want of His Presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. This would lift us out of our pitiful narrowness and cause our hearts to be enlarged.

Powerful words for our consideration this morning. Is HE utterly delightful to you this morning?– Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 20; 1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71

Great Quote: The Christian soldier must avoid two evils-he must not faint or yield in the time of fight, and after a victory he must not wax insolent and secure. When he has overcome, he is so to behave himself as though he were presently about to be assaulted. For Satan’s temptations, like the waves of the sea, do follow one in the neck of the other. George Downame

Iron Sharpens Iron

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Iron Sharpens Iron

“As iron sharpens iron, so a many sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

I want to get you think about your friends today. There are several types of friends:

1. There are causal acquaintances that we have made over the years that we refer to as “friends.” These are the friends that we see occasionally or maybe frequently. While we enjoy their company or fellowship, we’ve never gone beyond the surfacy kinds of things with them.

2. There are our “fair-weathered” friends. These are the people that I describe as “when I need you, or when I need something from you, you are my “friend.” But when I don’t — well, don’t bug me.

3. There are those deep friendships that have been tested and tried over the years. These are people you may not have seen for years, but the moment you reconnect, you pick up exactly where you left off. These are the people that you really have a heart connection with. They are the ones that bring you great value.

4. Some friends are brought into our lives to help us grow and bloom where God has planted us. They are the ones that aren’t afraid to say the tough things to us. They will pat us on the back, applaud our victories, but will also be willing to get in our face and tell us when we are off base or need to readjust our thinking. They will often do that even though it makes them uncomfortable.

I have several friends that have recently been used by the Lord to tell me things I really didn’t want to hear, but were necessary for my growth. While the hard stuff hurts — they actually helped me in an area where I had a huge blind spot.

I like what Dr. Blackaby says about friends: “According to Scripture, a friend is one who challenges you to become all that God intends. Jonathan could have succeeded his father to become the next king of Israel. But he loved his friend David, and he encouraged him to follow God’s will, even though it meant Jonathan would forfeit his own claim to the throne. (1 Samuel 19:1-7)

The mark of biblical friends is that their friendship draws you closer to Christ. They ‘sharpen’ you and motivate you to do what is right. True friends tell you the truth and even risk hurting your feelings because they love you and have your best interest at heart (Proverbs 27:6)”

Are you thankful for your friends today? When was the last time you thanked your friends for sharpening you? Holding you accountable? Getting in your face (in love) and telling you the hard stuff? Why not drop them an email or pick up the phone and say, “Thanks for being my friend.” — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 19; 1 Chronicles 7-9; John 6:22-24

Great Quote: Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest thing right and doing it all for love…Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love. Therese of Lisieux

Feelings Follow Actions

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FEELINGS FOLLOW ACTIONS

My good friend, Pastor Van, sent this to me last night. It is good.

July 3, 1998

Dear FRIEND

Here is my advice to those who are depressed. Repeat the following daily until
you do not need this paper.

1. I will read Ephesians 4 every day in every translation until I
understand it. Especially verse 14.
2. I will question every negative thought I have.
3. I will never question any positive thought at all.
4. I will not use up the present worrying about the future.
5. I will not waist the present regretting the past.
6. I will invest all of my energy using the present to it fullest.
7. I will meet as many new people as is possible today.
8. I will not try to impress anyone at all.
9. I will say, “Yes” only if I mean yes.
10. I will say, “No” only if I mean no.
11. I will trust other people because I know that I can be trusted.
12. I will not assume that I am better than other people.
13. I will not assume that other people are better than I am.
14. I will trust God because He is able to cause all things to work out.
15. I will trust God because there is no other.
16. I will trust God as I trust the instruments in the aircraft.
17. I will believe that each day can be better than the last.
18. I will lie down and sleep because I cannot protect myself, God can!
19. I will not remake any reasonable decision I have made.
20. I will trust God with my life as I trust Him with my soul.

We have lived too long with the bumper sticker, If it feels good do it, instead of Do right no matter how it feels even if it feels wrong. — Dr. Van is a Christian counselor and friend of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18, 1 Chronicles 4-6; John 6:1-27

Great Quote: Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way. Vance Havner

Using Trials Redemptively

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Using Trials Redepmtively

The God of All Comfort — 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4. who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9.Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11. as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Today’s passage of Scripture is longer than I normally post on this blog, but one that is important. For the past two days I have reflected on what our family went through this time last year.

When we face the trials of life, we often are perplexed and confused about why God allows us to walk through these dark valleys. Sometimes people never catch a glimpse of how God could ever use their pain and suffering redemptively.

But Paul in this passage teaches a powerful principle: one of the byproducts of trials is that we can share with others how God has worked in our lives during the suffering. God will often bring across our paths other men and women who are suffering so that we can bring comfort and encouragement.

I am sure that you have been in situations where someone has said, “Here is what I am going through — you can’t possibly understand.” Then God opens the door for you to share what you have learned through your trial and suffering.

Several weeks ago, Laura, Jon and Tanner went back to Children’s Hospital Boston to deliver baskets of goodies that they had put together for families on Eight South were Lindsay spent the last six weeks of her life.

One of the doctors told Laura that she was so wanting to give out her name and phone number to other parents of patients who were experiencing the pain and hurt that they experienced. Laura has been ministering to other parents through Lindsay’s blog that is now over 69,000 hits.

While we may never understand all the whys and hows of life, we can be confident of this — God will use your trials redemptively to help other hurting people. Will you make yourself available? If you are willing, you will be amazed at the doors of ministry that will open for you. Allow God to use you in the process. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; 1 Chronicles 1-3; John 5:25-47

Great Quote: Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way.Vance Havner

That They May Marvel (Part 3) — First Year in Heaven

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That They May Marvel (Part 3) — First Year in Heaven

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all thing that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works, that you may marvel.” John 5:19-20
On the morning of May 16th, we arrived early at Lindsay’s room. As we walked down the corridor of the CICU, we could tell by the look on the faces of the nurses that something was very wrong.
Lindsay condition deteriorated during the night and the surgery was postponed. The evaluation from her doctors indicated that Lindsay’s little body was shutting down. The doctors and nurses began to prepare the kids that Lindsay’s life was quickly ebbing away.
The next couple hours were bittersweet. I will never forget the wonderful care that the staff at Children’s Hospital Boston provided to our kids. They did everything humanly possible to make this difficult situation a memorable time.
Surrounding the kids as they held Lindsay for the first time in almost four weeks, we all had a opportunity to love on Lindsay and say “good-bye.” There were tears, hugs, kisses, prayers and singing.

While Jon’s Dad and I were on our knees saying goodbye to Lindsay Bear, we began to hear harp music. We looked at each other with amazement. We heard AMAZING GRACE, HOW GREAT THOU ART. We made an assumption that the hospital called this harpist when a child was dying. What we found out was that this was “the day” that this volunteer harpist was scheduled to be outside the cubicle that was Lindsay’s temporary home for the past several weeks. Coincidence? Not at all. God sent that lady at JUST THE RIGHT TIME.
During the process of disconnecting the ECMO (heart and lung machine), a doctor came into the cubicle and was observing what was happening. While the kids had seen him, they had not had interaction with him prior to this day.
When it was obvious that Lindsay was “absent from the body and home with the Lord,” this doctor lovingly put her on the bed and rather than “pronouncing her death,” he said to the kids, “Lindsay is home with the Lord!” Coincidence? No way! He gave the time — 1:00 PM. Through tears Laura looked at Jan and said, “God was faithful to HIS Word — He healed Lindsay at 1:00 PM.
Through the tears and broken hearts, God flooded that room and together we sang the Doxology. We experienced the promise that “God IS our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble.” Psalm 46:1
So much has happened since Lindsay’s homegoing. Tear? Disappointments? Grief? Absolutely. But we have all experienced God’s amazing comfort and peace that has enabled us all to get THROUGH. Without God? Impossible!
I am so very proud of Laura and Jon. They have bravely and valiantly worked through the many ups and downs of grief this year. They have remained victorious in their faith, strong in sharing God’s grace with others, and resting in the promise that they will one day be reunited with Lindsay.
In just a few days and prior to Lindsay’s 3rd birthday on June 14th, Laura and Jon will have the joy of welcoming a brand new baby to their family. God has blessed them with a healthy pregnancy.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK
If you would like to write a note to encourage Laura and Jon today, I want to encourage you to visit Lindsay’s blog and leave a message: http://lindsaykeswick.blogspot.com/
God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; 2 Kings 24-25; John 5:1-24
Great Quote: Salt seasons, purifies, preserves. But somebody ought to remind us that salt also irritates. Real living Christianity rubs this world the wrong way. Vance Havner

That They May Marvel (Part 2)

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That They May Marvel (Part 2)

Yesterday I shared with you some illustrations of ways that God has recently showed up in ways to make us marvel.

On this day last year, Jan, Zach and me were gathered with some of our family at Children’s Hospital in Boston. Our little granddaughter not progressing after six weeks in the CCIU. She was hooked to a heart and lung machine, and the doctors met with our kids to share with them that the only hope for her “possible” survival was to proceed with an artificial heart. The surgery was a huge risk! There was not statistic for survival.

That morning during my quiet time, everything that I read from the Word to devotionals indicated to me that God was going to take Lindsay Bear home. My heart was heavy and filled with fear, disappointment, frustration, but yet peaceful that God was in control.

Later on in the day, Jan and Laura (my daughter) “just happened” to be in different corners of the room with their Bibles. The Holy Spirit led them to the same chapter — John 4. The story is of the man who came to Jesus to come heal his son who was ill. Jesus told the man to go home because his son was already healed. The man inquires of Jesus, “What hour?” Jesus told him that he healed him at the sixth hour. The girls looked at the footnote in their Bibles and the sixth hour is 1:00 PM.

Jan and Laura were filled with excitement. They were sharing the same passage. The same hope. Could it be that on May 16th the Lord would finally heal Lindsay? Her surgery was scheduled for 1:00 PM.

We have taught our kids since they were young to go to the Word for His promises. Could it be that this was false hope? How could God tell me one thing and Laura and Jan something else. In fact, Pastor Chris Thompson’s devotional that day was even called “Going Home?”

God what are you doing? Is this some sick joke? I don’t understand. I was willing to be wrong. I was willing to be the one misreading the verses. But don’t disappoint my girls. Romans 5 says that HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT … Could I trust Him to be true to His Word? Could they?

Well what God did was something that caused us to marvel! I will tell you about it tomorrow. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; 2 Kings 22-23; John 4:31-54

Great Quote: Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read of or hear of to be gone to heaven, went thither because they were so good and so holy…Yet not one of them, not any man that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted), did ever come thither any other way but by forgiveness of sins. And that will also bring us higher, though we come short of many of them in holiness and grace.John Owen

That You May Marvel

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That You May Marvel

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all thing that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works, that you may marvel.” John 5:19-20

I think one of the things we miss as men is seeing the wonder of it all. God is always at work around us, yet for some reason we just miss so many of the marvels that are right before our very eyes.

They come in shapes and sizes. They are packaged in so many different ways. Let me name just a few that have touched me in recent days:

1. We had our first Family Freedom Walk fundraiser for the Colony of Mercy. All week long the weather forecasters predicted rain and thundershowers for Saturday. God blessed us with an absolutely beautiful day despite the forecast on the day of the event which still called for a high percentage of thunderstorms.

2. Our Director of Development, Bill Pruitt (a Colony grad) had what I believe were high hopes for the amount of money that would come in for this event. When he said, $30,000 — my flesh was saying, “yeah right” and my heart was saying, “Please honor Bill’s faith.” Guess who was wrong — ME! The Lord brought in over $35,000 and the funds are still coming in.

3. Today was our Spring Ladies Day with Allison Durham Speer. She was scared to death to speak to 700 ladies, but there were numerous times that God spoke in a “marveling” way. She shared an illustration about a friend who had committed suicide. Significance? Little did Allison know that there were five ladies who have all had someone commit suicide in the past six months!!!

During the next several days, I want to share with you some of the amazing ways we have seen God at work since this time last year when we walked through our granddaughters going to heaven. Many of you followed with us on the journey. It has been an incredible ride — and we MARVEL at what the Lord has done. I would encourage you to take a look at Lindsay’s blog — since this time last year, there have been 68,856 visits to her blog: http://lindsaykeswick.blogspot.com/

Guys: open your eyes and heart. God is at work all around you. Can you see Him? Hear him speaking? He’s real! He’s there! He wants to show Himself in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14; 2 Kings 19-21; John 4:1-30

Great Quote: I did not know my savage thirst until You led me to Your well. I did not know I lived in chains until You freed me. Randy Stonehill

God’s Requirement

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GOD’S REQUIREMENT

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than man.” (Acts 5:29)

What would you consider to be the most important principle in the Christian life? Some would say love or faith. Others would say prayer. Still others would say giving or some other vital part of the Christian life.

We must ask ourselves what unlocks love or faith or prayer or giving or any of the other Christian principles. What is key to the function of any aspect of the Christian life? The answer is obedience to God. The Christian life moves forward in direct proportion to our obedience to the revealed truth of God’s word.

What does it mean to obey God? It means to obey His will. We are to obey God’s will generally. There are aspects of God’s will that are general in nature. This simply means that they apply to all Christians. There are other aspects of God’s will that are specific. This means that God has a specific plan for each individual Christian. Obedience is required in both areas of God’s will.

In the model prayer Jesus instructed us to pray, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven (Matthew 6:10). How do you think God’s will is done in heaven? I will tell you! It is done immediately and exactly! Many, many times I have heard Dr. Stephen Olford say in his lectures to preachers, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.”

We are to obey the will of God, but we are to also obey the word of God. What do you do with all those passages of Scripture that talk about loving your neighbor, forgiving your enemies, sacrificing your life, giving your time and resources, worshipping God, and living pure and holy lives. Remember, our Christian life moves forward in direct proportion to our obedience to the revealed truth of God’s word.

You hold the key to a successful, victorious Christian life. The key is obedience to the will of God and the word of God. Obedience is not always easy, but it is always right.
Obey God! — Dr. Roger D. Willmore

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; 2 Kings 17-18; John 3:19-36

All the paths of the Lord are loving and faithful” Psalm 25:10 I have pondered this verse lately, and have found that it feeds my spirit. All does not mean “all – except the paths I am walking in now,” or “nearly all – except this especially difficult and painful path.” All must mean all. So, your path with its unexplained sorrow or turmoil, and mine with its sharp flints and briers – and both our paths, with their unexplained perplexity, their sheer mystery – they are His paths, on which he will show himself loving and faithful. Nothing else; nothing less.A my Carmichael

Comfortable in Our Bondage

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Comfortable in Our Bondage

“And they said to them, ‘Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Exodus 5:21

Serving in the ministry of addiction recovery has been a real eye-opener in many ways. There are some folks that from the moment that they trust Christ, they are free from their bondage. Others work through their “besetting sins” and continue to put to death their bondage (I die daily …).

There are some guys that just struggle and struggle and struggle. I had a conversation with a friend last week who said, “Bill, I just don’t know why I can’t get victory over this area …”

Well Dr. Henry Blackaby’s insight really nailed the problem — for some of us — we are just more comfortable in our area of bondage. Listen to his practical words of wisdom:

It is possible for [us] to become so accustomed to our bondage, that we resist efforts to free us. The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt for four hundred years. Slavery mean that they were not free to do God’s will or to go where they wanted.

Moses had come to tell the Israelites how they could experience freedom, yet they were more concerned about the reaction of their taskmasters than they were about please God. For them to be free would mean that the Pharaoh they were serving would be angry! It would mean that the Egyptians that they had served all their lives might attack them. Freedom from their slavery did not seem to be worth he hardships they would inevitably endure.

When God sets out to free us, there will often be a price we will have to pay. Grief can be a terrible form of bondage, yet we can become comfortable with it. We can grow so comfortable with fear that we don’t know how to live without it.

As destructive as our sinful habits and lifestyle might be, we may prefer living with the familiar, rather than being freed to experience the unknown. We may recognize the harmful influence of a friend but choose to reject God’s will rather than offend our friend.

As incredible as it seems, the Israelites were angry at Moses for disrupting the life of slavery to which they had grown accustomed. Have you been lulled into a comfortable relationship with your bondage? Do you fear change more than your fear God? Are you willing to allow God to do what is necessary in order to free you? ” — Experiencing God — the Devotional

Brother (sister) … is there an area on bondage that must go? Are you too comfortable with it? Purpose in your heart to surrender it and experience His power and forgiveness. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; 2 Kings 15-16; John 3:1-18

Great Quote: The church has spent so much time inculcating in us the fear of making mistakes that she has made us like ill-taught piano students; we play our songs but we never really hear them because our main concern is not to make music, but to avoid some flub that will get us in dutch…I have now heard the strains of grace, and I grieve for my friends who have not”. Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing About Grace?

God’s Power to Keep

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GOD’S POWER TO KEEP

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24, 25)

As Jude concludes a letter of warning about false doctrine and false practices, he adds an encouraging note in the form of one of the greatest benedictions in the Bible. The key to the purity of his readers does not lie in their ability, but in God’s. He does not offer a self-help strategy but a divine provision. This is found in the person and power of God.

One of the essential elements of the benediction is the simple phrase, who is able. Our omnipotent God is able. Regardless of the demand or difficulty, God is able. The old axiom is still true, “Our extremities are God’s opportunity.” This fact is found throughout scripture.

A question was asked of Daniel by Darius the king, calling to him from the mouth of the lions den, “Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel replied, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so they have not hurt me.” God is able to deliver.

In the New Testament there are other declarations of His ability. “He is able to save…to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). “He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews2:18). “He is able to establish you” (Romans 16:25-26). “He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). “He is able to make all grace abound toward you” (2 Corinthians 9:8). “He is able to keep what I have committed to Him” (1 Timothy 1:12).

The Apostle Paul seems to sum up all of these statements in one of his benedictions, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Obviously there is no power shortage with God. Whey they are we Christians so poverty stricken and powerless? Is there no connection between His ability and our need? The missing element is faith. My believing that His is able does not make Him able; He is able. But it connects His ability to my inadequacy and victory results. — William A. Raws —

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; 2 Kings 13-14; John 2

Thou sentest Thine hand from above, and drewest my soul out of that profound darkness – my mother, that faithful one, weeping to Thee for me, more than mothers weep the bodily deaths of their children. For she, by that faith and spirit which had form Thee, discerned the death wherein I lay, and Thou heardest her, O Lord; Thou heardest her, and despiseth not her tears, when streaming down, they watered the ground under her eyes in every place she prayed; yea Thou heardest her…Thine ears were towards her heart. O Thou God omnipotent, who caredst for every one of us, as if Thou carest for him only; and so for all, as if they were but one!Augustine

This Thursday night is our Father Daughter night with Christian comedian, Gordon Douglas. Why not plan to come share the evening with your daughter. Call today for reservations: 732-350-1187.