WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

Many of my Freedom Fighter entries come right from my own personal quiet
time and what God is showing me in my own walk and relationship with
Him. This week I have been reading in my daily devotional Bible, from
the book of Job.

I came across this verse which I have read numerous times, but in The
Message, the clarity of the message hit me “right between the eyes.”
Job, a man whom God described as one of the most righteous and blameless
men who walked the earth, penned these words: “I have made a solemn pack
with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes.” (Job 31:1)

Now some of you will have a hard time with the bluntness of this
statement from the pen of Job, but it almost seems like he has stepped
foot into the 21st century and with great accuracy described where many
of us find ourselves in our world. The media and advertising gurus have
spent billions of dollars to entice and encourage us to look at women in
a perverted and lustful way. Forget about spending a buck on porn – we
just have to drive down the highway to see gigantic billboards that show
scantily-clad women sprawled across the billboard. Or you can turn on
the TV, open a newspaper, magazine, or store advertisement, and find
yourself with an eyeful of temptation.

The advertising philosophy is to get you and me to look so that we will
desire and act on our desires. I think that they have learned the truth
of advertising right from the Word. Remember the verse I shared with you
the other day from James 1:14: “But each one is tempted and enticed when
he is carried away by his own lust …” King David understands the
concept – it all started with a look! The lust of the eyes is a powerful
thing and must be brought under the Spirit’s control.

Imagine yourself standing in an art gallery and observing one of the
world’s most magnificent paintings of one of the most beautiful gardens
in the world. You are all alone and your eyes are taking it all in. You
even find yourself stepping into that garden so that you can feel the
grass beneath your feet, smell the lush pine-scented air, feel the
warmth of the sun beating on your skin.

Without you even knowing it, someone walks up alongside of you and after
several minutes says: “What are you looking at? A penny for your
thoughts!” What would you tell him? Most of us would flip him off with a
comment like, “just looking at the picture.” Come on now, be honest!
Would you describe in detail what you are seeing, thinking, or doing?”

Now let’s go to the verse I shared at the beginning of the email. What
are you looking at when you see that beautiful women on the billboard,
on the TV, in the magazine? Or what about when you are at the Mall or
the grocery store and that women walks by not appropriately attired? Are
we looking at her with Superman’s x-ray eyes? We THINK know what knows
what we are really doing – except Job drives the nail in the lid of our
coffin by making this statement: “Isn’t God looking, observing how I
live? Doesn’t He mark every step I take?”

Next time you are tempted to look, think about this: HE’S STANDING THERE
RIGHT BESIDE YOU LOOKING WITH YOU – and even more, KNOWING what you are
thinking. Allow the Holy Spirit to ask the question: “What are you
looking at?”

Good words to consider.

Great quote: “The Spirit of God works through the Word of God in the
life of the child of God for the glory of God.”
Pastor Mike Woods

I’VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU

Christian Comedian, Mark Lowry, shares with his audiences that his mom
had the greatest set of eyes. She was the church pianist and had the
ability to play and scan the audience at the same time. Mark shares that
he would sit in the balcony trying to evade her look, but somehow, some
way, she had the ability to zero in on him with precision and accuracy.
Despite his attempt to hide, she could find him within seconds.

Growing up in our church, we had a lady who was also a pianist with
supersonic vision. She would often be playing the piano which was facing
the front way, and with great accuracy, she’d say, “Tommy, stop fooling
around and sing.” We were convinced that she had eyes in the back of her
head.

I will often announce to a Colony man: “I’ve got my eye on you!” It is a
good reminder that someone is always watching us.

We often forget that the One who created us, has the ability to see
where we are any given second. With precision and accuracy, He sees
where we are and what we are doing. His eyes are piercing and
discerning. And as the old saying goes, “We can’t pull the wool over His
eyes.”

While you and I may THINK He doesn’t see us – He does! All the time!
Today be reminded of this: “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro
throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is
completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

What are His eyes seeing in YOU today? Good thoughts to ponder.

THE POWER OF A THOUGHT

I am sitting here outside our cabin overlooking the most gorgeous view
of trees beginning to transform from green to brilliant yellows, oranges
and reds over the back drop of a beautiful blue sky and lake. It is a
wonderful spot to be still and allow God to speak to your heart and
transform your life.

I just finished reading John C. Maxwell’s book The Difference Maker and
wanted to share some things I learned from it. The premise of the book
is that our attitudes affect every part of our lives. What we THINK
certainly has a profound effect on our behavior.

Temptation begins with our thoughts. James says: “But each one is
tempted and carried away and enticed by his own lust.” It doesn’t take a
rocket scientist to prove that point to you. Think about it for a
moment. When you finally commit sin it wasn’t just something you did
without thinking about it ahead of time. Much of our life-dominating
issues with lust, drugs, alcohol, food – you name it – begin with the
thoughts we allow to fester and dominate our minds.

The Apostle Paul says that our thoughts need to be brought “into
captivity”: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing that
raises itself up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking captive
EVERY THOUGHT captive to the obedience to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Sowing a thought results in developing a habit. Habits affect our
character that ultimately leads to our destiny.
So what are the thoughts today that are dominating your life? Today
would be a good time for you to make a conscious decision to take those
thoughts captive!
Look at these words that John C. Maxwell shared about the power of our
thoughts:
I can make you rise or fall. I can work for you or against you.
I can make you a success or a failure.
I control what you feel and the way that you act.
I can make you laugh . . . Work … love. I can make your heart sing
with joy … excitement … elation.
Or I can make you wretched … dejected … morbid.
I can make you sick … listless.
I can be as a shackle … heavy … attached … burdensome.
Or I can be as the prism’s hue … dancing … bright … fleeing …
lost forever unless captured by pen or purpose.
I can be nurtured and grown to be great and beautiful … seen by the
eyes of others through actions in you.
I can never be removed … only replaced.
I am a THOUGHT.
Why not know me better.
Bob Conklin

Think on these things today.

COME APART BEFORE COMING APART

Years ago I heard the late Vance Havner say, “If you don’t take time to
come apart, you will come apart!” For weeks now I felt like life has
been one roller coaster ride. It started with our summer season and all
the stress comes with ministering to guests and staff.

If you have followed Freedom Fighters with me, you know that in the
middle of our summer season, our Director of Development, Dave Shoppy,
went home to be with Jesus. And then this month has had seven
anniversary banquets and two new grandbabies, both coming early and with
emergency c-sections, in addition to the “normal” routine.

I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel coming this week. We
planned to get away for a break. I knew that I needed it as I was
starting to get “short” (not size wise) with Jan and the kids, as well
as with my staff. I felt like I was starting to “come apart” at the
seams.

We drove on Saturday to the Lake Wallenpaupak to a timeshare place and
guess what . . . We are on top of a mountain overlooking a beautiful
section of the lake. But God has blessed us with something we didn’t
plan – we have no cell or internet access! I have to drive 5 miles into
town to get internet access and cell phone coverage.

In fact, I am writing this Freedom Fighter while we are driving back
from Walmart. (Relax … Jan is driving.)

Jesus told his disciples that they needed to “come apart and rest
awhile.” It’s easy to talk about it … but as you know, in our world,
it is not always easy to do. We continue to live life on the treadmill
thinking we are “Superman!” Well guess what – if Jesus rested, then I
need to do the same.

I may begin to twitch by the end of week from technology withdrawal, but
somehow, I know it will be worth it.

Great Quote: Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and
crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness,” he will
rest satisfied. — Richard J. Foster

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF A CHANGED LIFE
September 25, 1897

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians
5:17)

Someone once said to Dwight L. Moody “that the world has yet to see what
God will do with and for, through and around the man who is fully and
wholly consecrated to Him.” That statement is certainly true of the
life of William Raws, founder of the Colony of Mercy.
William Raws’ life was radically changed on February 17, 1886 when he
trusted Christ as his personal Savior in the Germantown section of
Philadelphia. His bondage to alcohol was broken and Raws was gloriously
saved. In his own words William Raws said, “One day, fairly dying from
the effects of rum, unable even to keep hot rum brandy on my stomach, I
staggered penniless too my room and fell against an old arm
chair…Although under the influence of drink, a poor dying drunkard, a
swearing, lustful, sinful man, I cried unto God. He heard my cry and
save me. For days and nights thereafter I could neither eat nor sleep. I
was on the verge of delirium tremens…But peace came at last and
victory through our Lord and Savior.”
Raws went on to begin the Whosoever Gospel Rescue Mission in
Philadelphia but was burdened years later to begin a work in the country
for men to escape city life and get alone with God. On September 25,
1897, the family and some friends met around an old pump organ and sang
ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME. The crowd pooled their resources of
$1.87 and claimed the promise from Philippians 4:19 — But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
God birthed the ministry of THE COLONY OF MERCY. And the rest is
history.
Thousands of lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ because of the transformed life of William Raws.
The ministry continues over a hundred years later with the good news
that Christ can set men and women in bondage to sinful addictions and
through Christ, can live victoriously.
God used the ordinary life of William Raws to impact thousands. He wants
to take your ordinary life and doing extraordinary things. Are you
willing to allow your life to have a ripple effect on others? Surrender
you ALL to Him today.

Today’s devotional was taken from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE -365 Daily
Devotionals published by CLC and America’s KESWICK. Order a copy today
from the KESWICK BOOKSTORE.

MEAN WHAT YOU SING

“Nothing touches the human heart deeper than music. This is never more
true than when a group of Christians sings heartily unto their Lord.
Many a cold heart on skid row has melted as the strains of some old hymn
lingered steamy streets and sleazy alleys surrounding a gospel rescue
mission.

When congregations sing the praise of the King, even demonic hosts stand
at attention. “The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they
hear: May Jesus Christ be praised!”

Such moving melodies hold out warm welcome to strangers, comfort to the
broken, refreshment to the lonely, and affirmation to the discouraged.
Great music from God’s people instructs, reproves, blesses and relieves.

Who hasn’t nodded in agreement while singing, “Prone to wander, Lord, I
feel it, prone to leave the God I love”? Who hasn’t stood taller or felt
more confident after all the stanzas of “And Can It Be” or “Am I a
Soldier of the Cross?” or “A Mighty Fortress is Our God?” And who hasn’t
found himself lost in wonder, love, and praise while declaring, “My Hope
is in the Lord’? Or received fresh strength from “It Is Well with My
Soul?”

Charles Wesley, perhaps the most prolific hymnist of all times, realized
the value of corporate singing as he wrote, “Oh for a thousand tongues
to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.” There is nothing to compare to that
sound. Nothing.

But have you noticed the fly in our melodic ointment? It is not a lack
of beauty or harmony, nor is it insufficient volume or intensity. It is,
plain and simple, the presence of WORDS with an absence of MEANING. We
sing well, but we fail to heed the message hidden behind the bars.

Stop and think. There’s a line in “Take My Life and Let it Be” that
always makes me pause as the words stick in my throat: ‘Take my silver
and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.’ Imagine! Not even a mite! We
all sing that with such ease, yet I have known few who wouldn’t withhold
something. Including me.

And how about this one:

Have Thine own way Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Really? Truly yielded? Genuinely still? Absolutely willing to be molded
after His will?

Think of the songs you will sing today as you gather with God’s people
to praise and worship Him. Think of each song or hymn as a promise to
God, a binding statement of your commitment. Picture the results of this
commitment as you sing it with gusto. Then, after the song has ended,
apply it with the same gusto.

God not only loves a cheerful giver, he honors a sincere singer.”
Adapted from A FINISHING TOUCH – BECOMING GOD’S MASTERPIECE by Charles
R. Swindoll – Word Publishing

Great quote: We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we
profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. But
we are “harmless,” and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists,
non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with
principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for
contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part
in the comradeship of the Cross. We are “sideliners” — coaching and
criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the
enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much
like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous! Jim Elliot

JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY

Another one of my great heroes has gone home to be with Jesus. For over
years I have been involved with church music, and one of the great
composers and arrangers of the past several decades was John W.
Peterson. Much like Martin Luther did during his lifetime, John Peterson
brought music back to the church through his choruses and Christmas and
Easter cantatas. John loved to get people together to sing and worship
the Lord, and many of his songs have made it into our modern hymnals,
including: Jesus is Coming Again, Heaven Came Down, Over the Sunset
Mountain, and Shepherd of Love.

John worked with many wonderful composers/arrangers like Don Wrtyzen, Al
Smith, Roger Strader, Don Marsh, and if you listen to Christian radio,
many of his songs and arrangements have been recorded by your favorite
gospel musicians.

John’s signature song was JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY which has been one of
my all-time favorites. This song truly reflects the leading of Jesus in
our lives from the moment we place our faith and trust in Him as Savior,
until we see Him face to face:

Someday life’s journey will be o’er,
And I shall reach that distant shore;
I’ll sing while ent’ring heaven’s door,
JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY .

If God should let me there review,
The winding paths of earth I knew,
It would be proven clear and true
JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY .

And hither to my Lord hath led,
Today He guides each step I tread ;
And soon in heav’n it will be said ,
JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY .

chorus:
Jesus led me all the way ,
Led me step by step each day ;
I will tell the saints and angels
As I lay my burdens down ,
“JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY.”

Thanks, John, for teaching us to sing again. Thanks for teaching us how
to worship. I wouldn’t be surprised that the heavenly choir isn’t
already singing your songs!

John W. Peterson (1921-2006)

MAKE LOVE YOUR GOAL – Part 2

“We know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere
within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with love.” Romans 5:5 (Living Bible)

“The Lord wants us to reproduce His love in your life and mine. Let us
consider more characteristics of that love.

Love “is not touchy” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love is not irritable,
bad-tempered, resentful or sensitive. A woman apologized to a friend for
something at which her friend could have taken offense. The friend just
laughed it off. ‘I am honest,’ she said. ‘I never pick up things that
don’t belong to me – not even slights.’

Love “does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of
other people” (v.5). Love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs done against
it but will keep a record of kindness. It is never glad when others
fail.

“On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails” (vs.
5). Love will look for and be delighted with what it sees of good in
others. It does not expose the weaknesses of other people.

Love “knows no limit to its endurance” (vs. 7.). Love endures patiently.
It bears its load to the limit. It bears slights and wrongs – even from
friends and relatives – without retaliation.

Love knows “no end to its trust” (vs. 7). Love is not suspicious but
believes the best in people as long as it can. It always looks for the
good.

Love knows “no fading of its hope” (vs. 7). Love never despairs of
anyone. The Lord never gives up on anyone.

Love “can outlast anything (vs.7). When all else is gone, love endures
to the very end. Love is permanent, for God is love.

Does this type of love seem impossible? Can anyone live that way all the
time? There was ONE of whom this love-filled life was completely true:
Jesus Christ Himself. Perhaps you are saying, ‘If only this were true of
me. But I am impatient. I say things I am later sorry for. Can I love as
Paul has described? Can it be real in my life?”

We cannot do it in our own strength. It is not the result of our own
effort. We can only love in this way by submitting to the work of the
Spirit of God in us. “The fruit of the Spirit IS love!” (Galatians 5:22)
– from HE IS REAL – 365 Daily Devotions – Millie Stamm – published by
our good friends at Zondervan.

Check out the courses that you can be a part of beginning next week by
joining us this semester at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies @
http://www.americaskeswick.org.

MAKE LOVE YOUR GOAL

“In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion
and attains perfection with us.” (1 John 4:17 Amplified)

“Paul paints a picture of a love-filled life in 1 Corinthians 13. It is
the picture of Jesus Christ’s inner character. He is the ORIGINAL, but
her desires many reprints.

“This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience.” (1 Corinthians
13:4 – Phillips) In the rush of life today, we see little patience
exhibited. We are impatient if an appointment is delayed, impatient to
be waited on in a shop, impatient with our families. Genuine love,
however, is slow to lose its patience. Even though treated unjustly, it
doesn’t strike back. It refuses to be resentful even though it may have
a reason. Peter writes of Jesus, our example, ‘Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again.’ (1 Peter 2:23)

“Love is kind” (vs.4). The Phillips paraphrase reads, ‘It looks for a
way to be constructive.’ This is not just being kind to those who are
kind to us. It is being kind to those who are unkind. This love is quick
to return good for evil – being kind to someone who has wronged us. It
does not retaliate. Love not only takes the wrong but shows kindness to
the person responsible.

“Love never is envious or boils over with jealousy (vs. 4). Love does
not begrudge another what they HAVE or what they are DOING. It rejoices
in their success and advance. It is not possessive. Love is content with
God’s will.

Love “is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas
of its own importance” (vs. 4). It does not parade or display self. It
doesn’t boast or brag. If self is prominent, love is lacking. Love is
not arrogant or proud, but humble. Love cannot coexist with a
superiority complex.

Love “does not pursue selfish advantage” (vs. 5) Such love is
self-forgetful. It is not rude but courteous. It lives to serve others.

Love “does not demand its own way” (vs. 5) or seek its own rights. Love
has good manners. It is always thinking of what is best for others. And
love is more important that knowledge. “While knowledge may make a man
look big, it is only love that can make him grow to his full stature.”
(1 Corinthians 8:1) Bottom line: make love your goal.

How’s your love level today? With your spouse? Kids? Employees?

Great quote: Life is the journey. It isn’t always the destination. As we
walk this path of life, we will make mistakes, stumble many times, fall
once in a while. But a hand will reach down and pull us back up, perhaps
a friend’s hand, perhaps the hand of God. But always there is hope, and
as long as there is a single breath left in you, there is the chance for
success, not defeat. Anonymous

SIN

“The chief of sinners.” “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy
1:14-15

“Never forget for a moment, as you enter the secret chamber, that your
whole relation to God depends on what you think of sin, and of yourself
as a redeemed sinner. It is sin that makes God’s holiness so awful. It
is sin that makes God’s holiness so glorious, because He has said: “Be
holy. I am holy.”

It is sin that called forth the wonderful love of God in not sparing His
Son. It was sin that nailed Jesus to the cross, and revealed the depth
and the power of the love with which He loved. Through all eternity in
the glory of heaven, it is our being redeemed sinners that will tune our
praise.

Never forget for a moment that it is sin that has led to the great
transaction between you and Christ Jesus; and that each day in your
fellowship with God His one aim is to deliver and keep you fully from
its power, and lift you up into His likeness and infinite love.

It is the THOUGHT of sin that will keep you low at His feet, and give
the deep undertone to all your adoration.

It is the THOUGHT of sin, ever surrounding you and seeking to attempt
you, that will give fervency to your prayer, and urgency to the faith
that hides itself in Christ.

It is the THOUGHT of sin that makes Christ so unspeakably precious, that
keeps you every moment dependent on His grace, and gives you the claim
to be more than conqueror through Him that loves us.

It is the THOUGHT of sin that calls us to thank God with the broken and
contrite heart, which God will not despise, that works in us that
contrite and humble spirit in which He delights to dwell.

It is the inner chamber, in secret with the Father, that sin can be
CONQUERED, the holiness of Christ can be IMPARTED, and the Spirit of
holiness take possession of our lives.

It is the inner chamber that we shall learn to know and fully experience
fully Divine power of precious words of promise: ‘The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanses us from all sin.’ ‘He that abides in Him sins not.’ (1
John 1:7; 3:6)

Good words from the pen of Andrew Murray – GOD’S BEST SECRETS

Great Quote:
“Our proper guilt is God’s methodology of bringing us to himself. Just
as sickness sends us to a physician, guilt sends us to God-and keeps us
there. In fact, it is that guilt (and here I use the word guilt in it
broadest possible understanding of ‘helplessness’, ‘discomfort’,
’emptiness’, ‘disunity’, ‘fear’, ‘shame’, and ’embarrassment’) that is
the impetus of prayer. It is guilt that builds a fire of love in our
hearts. It is guilt that makes us more like Christ. It is guilt that
becomes our greatest blessing, because something happens when we come to
God for his grace and mercy-something that is so radical and so amazing
that it can only be described as death to our old selves. It is the
overwhelming desire to please the One who has loved us with such amazing
and unconditional love.” Steve Brown, Approaching God