Bearing the Cross

“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His OWN blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Hebrews 13:12-13

Today’s reading is from one of my favorite devotionals, DAILY WITH THE KING by W. Glyn Evans. It is published by Moody Press and is available in the Keswick Book and Gift Shop (732-350-1187 ext. 31)

“Lord, I will not make a fetish about bearing my cross. The purpose of the cross is to release me from myself in order to become useful to the world. But if I am constantly occupied with my cross, I am of no use to myself or anyone else. Oswald Chambers once said, ‘Self-sacrifice may be a disease.’ I cannot afford to make my cross an object of adoration; I must make it an instrument of crucifixion.

My cross is ANYTHING that competes with the claims of Christ on me. My cross becomes my cross only when I am confronted with an to when Christ says, ‘Leave all that would compete with ME, and follow ME!’

I cannot manufacture my cross, for that is the worst kind of hypocrisy.
It is either there or not. Simply denying myself a tiny pleasure, then being proud about it, is certainly not the cross Jesus Christ was talking about.

The cross is continual. I cannot die to self once and for all. I must DIE DAILY as Paul did (1 Corinthians 15:31). Today the point of crucifixion may be one thing, tomorrow something else. As long as I live, and as long as my FLESH craves preeminence, I will be confronted by the continual alternative: not my will or Christ’s. Thus I am never free from the pain of being scarred by my cross.

Now I see why Paul said, ‘I fill up … what is still lacking in regards to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of … the church.’ (Colossians
1:24 NIV). The pain of my cross is Christ’s pain that He endured for others; only as I suffer the pain of dying to self can I live (as Christ
did) for others. That is the ‘glory’ life Paul exultantly proclaimed:
‘God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.’
Galatians 6:14 (NSRB)

Is there an area of your life where you need to take up HIS CROSS and follow HIM? Purpose in your heart to do it today. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

God’s WORD for YOU Today: 1 Chronicles 19-21; John 8:1-27

Think About It: Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness. David Rhodes

This Needs No Title…just surrender.

“Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall, My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:19-24

I’m writing this on the morning of May 9th. I have taken the day off from work so I can pack the family for our trip to the Colony reunion this weekend. My wife, Kathy and my children, Kevin and Karen always look forward to this reunion. Keswick is a beautiful place and the friends we have made there always uplift and encourage. But I am taking a different approach to this day.

I am taking one of my quick glances back. On this day five years ago I was in quite difficult place. I was beginning my morning loathing in self pity somewhere in the woods of South Jersey. I was trying real hard to drink my breakfast. My body, just like my soul, couldn’t take it no more and I hear “Chris, this has to stop.” What? I heard it one more time and got spooked. I went back into civilization and tried to sober up.

I hadn’t been home in awhile (Kathy tossed me) and I needed to act on what I just heard. That evening Kathy was allowing me to see our children and she told me this has to stop. That evening I seriously prayed. “Jesus, I don’t care what I have to do, please take this from me.” He heard me and this rest is history. A “gooder” history than I deserve.

Since that moment in time my life has become something I cannot put into words. I have been blessed. All I had to do was give up. Yeah that’s right, I gave up. I had to decrease. I wasn’t doing a good job of being a person anyway so I fired myself. I surrendered what I was to Christ and He is doing the work. Do I get in the way? Yeah once in awhile but I have been listening to the renewed mind and getting back in line.

What about you brother? Are you listening to the renewed mind? Are you surrendered enough to get back in line? The Word of God and the truths there in is a powerful tool to thwart off our adversary. Do yourself a favor this morning…listen to the Word of God. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

God’s Word for YOU: 1 Chronicles 16-18; John 7:28-53

Think about this: His will is our hiding place. Corrie Ten Boom

FAITH
Matthew 17:20 “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Why do we encounter so much difficulty when trying to enter into the doorway of faith? Have we forgotten the One who has pulled us from the pit of hell and given us eternal life? The One who has plucked us from eternal damnation!

How many times have we exhausted every avenue and every ounce of our strength to no avail and utter dismay, and without warning God intervenes and once again delivers us. Even in our unbelief He diligently pursued us and showed His faithfulness in times when we could not love Him or fall into His yoke, He kept us there. He made us lie down in green pastures. He led us beside still waters (Psalm 23), not because of our great faith, but because of His immeasurable faithfulness.

He relentlessly sought and pursued us because we are His children, the beloved of the Most High God. He loved us when we were incapable of loving ourselves. He loved us, despite us.

Faith is not something seen or taught, it is something experienced through God’s mighty works. As soon as we begin to see past ourselves and put aside our pride, and finally realize that we are not self-sufficient we can come to see God for who He is, the sustainer of our lives.

His faithfulness is never-ending, never-failing, and always full of grace. It wasn’t luck or our superb ability to conquer all. It had nothing at all to do with our strength or perseverance. It was because of the desire and faithfulness of Jesus Christ to pursue fellowship with His people. He is our all in all, our strong tower, our fortress, our gracious, merciful, and faithful Father in heaven.

It was in our greatest weakness that His power was perfected. It was in our moment of hopelessness, that He showed up and showered us with His grace (II Corinthians 12:9) Allow Him to open your spiritual eyes all you saints, and continue in your faith and grow in it, because He has already been so faithful. Let us have the faith that can move mountains and change the world, for we serve a God through whom all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

Prayer: Lord, we are sorry for our lack of faith. You have already been so faithful. You have brought us thus far!! Let us ever be mindful; open our eyes and hearts to see how great is Thy faithfulness. Amen – Ed Mayo – Ed is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is now in the Discipleship program.

God’s WORD for You: 1 Chronicles 13-15; John 7:1-27

Think About This: If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!
Elisabeth Elliot

You can listen to Linday’s Memorial Service online tonight at 7:30 PM by visiting: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lindsaybear

A TRIBUTE TO LINDSAY
“We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” Romans 8:28

Jan and I want to thank our Freedom Fighter family for walking with us during this past six weeks with our precious little granddaughter, Lindsay Alice Groen. We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of love and support from around the world.

This evening we will gather together as a family and friends to remember and reflect on Lindsay’s life. During the past six weeks there have been so many lessons learned because of what Lindsay has taught us. Some people question why we as a family are not pounding the walls crying, “Why?” Well, I’d be lying to you if I told you we haven’t. It doesn’t make sense, quite honestly. But that is our finite-short-sighted-couldn’t-it-have-been-someone-else perspective.

There have been many of us that have asked, “Why couldn’t have been me?” I know that right now I would gladly have taken her place so that Laura and Jon could escape this pain and suffering.

Were it not for our trust and confidence in a sovereign Lord who is in control of ALL things, this would cause us to give up in despair. Be we are assured that somehow, in His plan, He knows what He is doing – that this is fitting in His Master plan. Right now we can’t understand it, or even see the purpose. But we hold onto and cling to Him. Some of you have tracked along with us through Lindsay’s blog (www.americaskeswick.org and then click on her picture). Through the ministry of the blog, we have been able to capture from so many lessons that God has taught them about prayer, trust, faith, courage, and a greater love for the Lord. Hearing those stories don’t take away the pain and hurt, but they help us know that somehow God is at work, accomplishing His purpose.

I do know this – while this all stinks for us down here, Lindsay is enjoying the Savior in all of His glory. She’s the winner in all of this! We love you, Lindsay Bear. Thank You, Lord for sharing her with us. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71Think about this: “You’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have; when Jesus is all you have, you’ll know that Jesus is all you need.” – Dr. Mark Corts

Today you can hear a little bit about Lindsay’s impact on Dr. John DeBrine’s broadcast today: http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Songtime/

“On Being a Slave”

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

Many Freedom Fighters know about slavery. We’ve experienced the slavery of addictions. Some of you have come close to death from that slavery.
Many of us know people who lost their lives to the slavery to sin.

My experience as a pastor tells me that too many of us never discover the transition from “sin slavery” to “obedience slavery.” Somehow, we see God deliver us from the old slavery, but we have an unwillingness to accept the new slavery. That’s not acceptable to God, and it shouldn’t be acceptable to us.

The Apostle Paul assumes that we have to make a choice. He doesn’t leave us room to live in the middle between negative and positive slavery. Paul declares that we’re going to experience slavery one way or another. If I understand his insight, if we don’t choose slavery to righteousness, we set ourselves up for slavery to sin. The key is obedience.

Obedience to righteousness will make us slaves of our true Master, Jesus Christ. A lack of obedience to righteousness will take us down a path to “sin slavery.” Ultimately, Freedom Fighters must understand that “obedience slavery” is the path to true freedom.

The Apostle wraps it up for us in Romans 6:18: “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” The normal thing for someone set free from sin is to become a slave of righteousness.

How are you doing at practicing slavery today? I’m working on it, and I hope you are, too! – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River (http://www.fbctomsriver.com/)

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Chronicles 7-9; John 6:22-24 Think About This: There is a toleration which is treachery. There is a peace which issues in paralysis. There are hours when the Church must say NO to those who should ask communion with her, in the doing of her work, upon the basis of compromise. Such standing aloof may produce ostracism and persecution; but it will maintain power and influence…The reason why men do not look to the Church today is that she has destroyed her own influence by compromise. G. Campbell Morgan

Have you made your plans for Memorial Day Weekend? If not, we’d love to have you join as at America’s KESWICK. There is limited availability, so call today for your reservation. If you are local, plan to come for the day. Check out the website for details: www.americaskeswick.org. On Saturday night we will be having a patriotic concert featuring the Keswick Celebration Choir singing John W. Peterson’s I LOVE AMERICA. This is a free event, however, we will be taking an offering for the ministry of the COLONY OF MERCY. For more information, call 732-453-7942

HIS WORD IS TRUE

Yesterday will probably be remembered as one of the most difficult but precious days of my life. When Jan and I arrived at Lindsay’s room early yesterday morning, it was apparent that her journey was coming to an end. My heart ached for what I knew Laura and Jon would have to face apart from the miracle that we had all been fervently praying for.

Throughout our lives, we have gone to the Word for direction, comfort, answers, questions. God has never failed us and His Word is true. But could we believe it for this situation? On Thursday, God spoke to both Laura and Jan’s hearts with verse from John 4:46-47 And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. 54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

The Lord spoke peace to their hearts and used His Word to comfort them knowing that Lindsay was facing surgery at 1:00 PM.

Did God’s Word fail? Is it wrong to claim the promises He speaks to you from His Word? We can tell you His Word is true and can be trusted. For you see while we were counting on a physical earthly healing, God’s perfect plan for Lindsay was far different! When Jan and Laura read this passage, they thought God was showing them that Lindsay’s surgery at 1:00 PM would be the means to heal her. The ultimate healing came yesterday at 1:00 PM when God tenderly and lovingly picked her up and took her to His house.

To tell you that we are dancing around and jumping for joy would be such a lie. It hurts! It stinks for all of us. But we have the hope and confidence in our great God that Lindsay is “absent from the body and present with the Lord.”

Lindsay Bear has taught us all so much. The pain and hurt is very real, but we know that the God who has seen us through thus far, will continue to see us through “until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

If you’d like to share a verse of comfort with our kids, you can leave them a note on Lindsay’s blog. Let them know that you are a Freedom Fighter. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

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

Think about it: God gives us memories so we might have roses in December. – Sir James Barrie (Thanks, Marilyn Heavilin – your book will now have even greater meaning to our family!)

“Yet Will I Trust Him”

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. (Job 13:15)

The entire Keswick and Freedom Fighter family grieves with the Groen and Welte families today. Little Lindsay Groen went to heaven Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. She fought valiantly for almost six weeks, coming back again and again. Ultimately, God decided it was time for her to come to Him.

Life often doesn’t play out like we want or expect it to. We wonder why things happen like they do, especially when so many people (in Lindsay’s case, thousands) pray for a particular outcome. Sometimes life just doesn’t make sense to us.

One of the earliest God-followers knew our questions and frustrations.
Job was absolutely right with God when his whole world caved in. He didn’t see it coming; he had no reason to expect it. It still came.
His friends didn’t help. They gave him all kinds of reasons for his difficulty. All their collective wisdom was wrong. His wife was no help either. She told Job to just curse God and die.

Job’s response is both amazing and challenging. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Life sometimes comes fast and hard, and we have no control over it. We don’t begin to understand why God allows some things to happen. When those days come our ways we can learn from Job.

I don’t know where I read it or heard it, but I’ve never forgotten this little saying: “Don’t doubt in the dark what you know to be true in the light.” Job chose to believe what he knew to be true in the light during the darkest days of his life. We can do the same thing.

We pray for the Groen and Welte families, and we grieve their loss.
None of us has clear understanding why God allowed Lindsay’s death. For these two families and for ourselves we can echo Job’s words. Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. We can pray its truth to take root in the hearts of these grieving parents and grandparents. We can pray its truth for our lives because sooner or later we’ll need it, too. – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River and our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor. He is also Bill and Jan Weltes’ pastor.

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Chronicles 4-6; John 6:1-21

Think about this: Let us not be content to pray morning and evening, but let us live in prayer all day long. Let this prayer, this life of love, which means death to self, spread out from our seasons of prayer, as from a centre, over all that we have to do. All should become prayer, that is, a loving consciousness of God’s presence, whether it be social intercourse or business. Such a course as this will ensure you a profound peace. Francois Fenelon

A NEW HEART

And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:36

Today is going to be one of those defining moments for our family. Today Lindsay is going to finally receive the long-awaited Berlin Heart. After six weeks of struggling with our “old” heart, her loving surgeons are going to attach an artificial heart to her heart, which is a precursor to receiving a heart transplant in the future.

There have been many lessons learned by all of us during Lindsay’s days of hanging between earth and heaven. A beautiful, blonde-haired little girl who is attached to a ventilator and a heart and lung machine, and who has no ability to communicate, has taught us all volumes with her life.

This weekend, Dr. Jamie Mitchell reminded us that with a trial like Lindsay is facing, she really is in the greatest position to be – healing or heaven! If God in His mercy sees fit to allow the Berlin Heart to be successful – Lindsay wins! If He chooses to call her home to heaven – she wins!

Lindsay has accomplished so much in her 23 months of life. One of the things that she has done is connected people from around the globe to the Lord and to each other. She has taught us to pray with boldness and fervency. She has taught us to know what really matters – not the junk and garbage that we think life is all about. She has taught us that family really matter – stuff that seemed important to us becomes insignificant in light of eternal matters.

She has reminded us that God’s WORD is what brings comfort, strength, encouragement and guidance when life doesn’t seem to make any sense. She has taught us that God’s promises are true and dependable even in the midst of hearts that seem to be breaking.

And she has taught us that God will be God – just when the doctors think they have figured her out – she allows her suffering to remind them that they really are just PRACTICING. One of her doctors yesterday said that he has been amazed how she has overcome every obstacle that has been thrown at her – obstacles that could have been fatal.

Lindsay Bear – you need to know how very much we all love you today! As we have done so many times, we are placing you back in your Heavenly Father’s hands, surrendering you to Him. You have taught us so much about life, and most of all, our great God. Thank you, Lindsay, for being the catalyst that God has used to touch literally thousands of people around the globe. And know that Pop-Pop Welte loves you “a bushel and a peck, and a barrel and a heap …” – but that love is so minute in comparison to your Heavenly Father who has lavished His love on you! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK, the proud father of four wonderful kids, and five precious grandkids!

Track Lindsay’s progress today by visiting www.americaskeswick.org <http://www.americaskeswick.org/> .

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 24-25; John 5:1-24
Think About This: No sin is worse that the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges – always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.” – Oswald Chambers

The Man God Uses

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those blog who love Him.” James 1:12

I apologize for the lateness of Freedom Fighters this week. I am sending them from Children’s Hospital in Boston and having problems getting connected each morning. Our granddaughter, Lindsay, is still hanging between death and life, and will be evaluated today to see if they can proceed with the Berlin Heart tomorrow. We would appreciate your prayers. You can visit her blog at www.americaskeswick.org. If you leave a comment, let the kids know you are a Freedom Fighter.

This past weekend was our Colony of Mercy Reunion. Hundreds of grads came back to share what God has been doing in their lives. Dr. Jamie Mitchell shared a series on trials and concluded his message with this powerful poem to illustrate James 1:12

When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all HIS heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch HIS methods, watch HIS ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out —
God knows what He’s about! – Oswald Sawnders – Spiritual Leadership

That is a great illustration of James 1:12. Are you willing to persevere under trial today? You can’t do it alone – but Christ can do it through you! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

For a gift of any size, I’d love to send you Jamie’s four-part message on trials. To order, reply to this email with you snail address.

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

Think about it: Hell works the hardest on God’s saints. The most worthy souls will be tested with the most pressure and the highest heat, but heaven will not desert them. – William L. Watkinson

Full Coverage

“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Romans 4:7-8)

Most of the time when the Lord shows me something that I need to share, He does it through an experience. About a month ago, I had taken a trip into New York to meet my brother, whom I have not seen in about four years, at the airport. My wife was at a woman’s retreat and I was home alone. So I decided to meet my brother, spend some time with the family, and then come back to New Jersey because I had a commitment at my church the next morning.

Needless to say the time went well. I spent time with my family and we shared a meal together. By the time that was all done it was about 10:30 pm and I had been going all day. Now I had a full stomach and I had to make my way back to the pinelands.

My drive is about an hour and thirty minutes or so… I have to admit that I was not really up to the drive and I was tired. My sister asked me to call as soon as I got back because she knew I was tired.

Fast forward…

I was falling asleep behind the wheel when I was awakened by a loud “crack”, I didn’t know what it was but I dosed no more. I came to find out the next day that my windshield was cracked. I never noticed it until I picked my wife up later that afternoon. Past experienced told me that this was going to be an expense I could not afford. I made several phone calls to inquire about windshield replacement and spoke to several people. I could not afford to get it replaced, be it needed replacing.

But GOD!!! The Lord used one of my colleagues to ask me a simple question, ” Did you call your insurance?” Of course, not! The deductible is more than the glass was my reply, based on past experience. But it would not leave my mind. I came home and called my insurance and found out that I was fully covered with no deductible.

Then God said, “That is just how you are, fully covered and most times unaware.”

Beloved, if you are a child of the most High God, know that your sins are covered and the Lord will never count it against you. — Chaplain Robert is a graduate of the colony of mercy. He serves as Chaplain, Director of Aftercare, and Discipleship coordinator at America’s Keswick. He is a husband, father, and friend.

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

Think About This: “Postponed obedience can never bring us the full blessing God intended or what it would have brought had we obeyed at the earliest possible moment.” – Streams in the Desert