DON’T LET THE SONG GO OUT OF YOUR HEART

“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the
day with song.” — Proverbs 15:15 (The Message)

He died at age 99 and he certainly lived a full life. During the course
of his life he and his wife had no children of their own, but during the
course of their ministry, they parented hundreds of kids. He was not
your typical senior citizen — in fact, when we were in his youth group
— he and his wife were already in their late 60’s. Age didn’t hold him
back — up until his late 80’s, Kale Tomlin was still skiing in the
winter and canoeing in the summer.

During the last several years of his life when his physical body was
beginning to show signs of “old age” he couldn’t sleep at night. His
dear wife, Peg, said at three in the morning, Kale would lay on the bed
and sing at the top of his lungs the hymns and choruses that had been a
blessing in his life over the years. He’d sing — he’d whistle.

That was Kale. I can remember as a teen riding in his car to the mission
— the car jammed with kids (illegal today for sure). And we would sing
and sing and sing. He always had a song on his lips. You could tell when
he was approaching because if he wasn’t singing, he was whistling. When
Kale walked into a room, the music of his life turned the light on in
the room. He had a song in his heart.

As I read this verse this morning, I was reminded of a song that I
learned years ago. The Freedom Fighter is a little later today because I
needed to find the song in my office. Here are the lyrics from the pen
of John W. Peterson . . .

Tho the road is often rough and stormy,
Tho the hills are often steep and high,
You can wear a smile and keep on singing,
Never let your courage die!

And when crushed beneath a weight of sorrow,
When the falling tear drops stain your cheeks,
Jesus is your Friend — He’ll lift you burden:
Comforting, the words He speaks.

When the sky is dark and life’s uncertain
And the future fills your heart with fear,
Just remember God still watches o’er you
And His help is ever near.

Refrain
Don’t let the song go out of your heart,
No matter how dark the day;
Don’t let the song go out of your heart —
Your troubles will soon pass away.

Good words for today.

Check out the Keswick Today radio broadcast today with Dr. Fred Hartman
as we discuss God’s prophetic timetable — http://www.americaskeswick.org.

PRAYER FOR A DOG?

Well yeah! I really can’t stand her. She is big and stupid — but she is
Zach’s dog. Her name is Crystal and she is part German Shepherd and
Boxer. She is an offspring of our son and daughter-in-laws boxer. Her
father was supposed to be a boxer, but — well you know what happens
sometimes — Ruby was out roaming and a German Shepherd caught her fancy
(romantic story for Valentine’s Day).

I REALLY can’t stand this stupid dog, but Zach loves her —
unconditionally! She can annoy the tar out of him, but he loves her any
way. She’s big, clumsy, and I did say stupid? Last night he put her
outside and normally she needs about 15 minutes to figure out what she
needs to do. Well he forgot her and a half hour later, he remembered
her. He went to the door and she wasn’t there. He called and called —
no Crystal! She was gone.

Jan and Zach hopped in the car and drove the Keswick grounds. No
Crystal. Then Zach and I drove the grounds. Then Julie and I drove the
grounds. No Crystal. Zach was trying to hold it together — and I was
torn. Part of me was thrilled, but the other part saw the love he had
for that dog and how it was breaking his heart that she was gone.

We were in the car, and we prayed together. Yep! That we would find that
stupid dog. I reminded Zach that God knew where EVERYTHING was —
nothing is hidden from His eye — not the stars, the hairs on our heads,
the sparrows. He knew where Crystal was. Zach prayed a kids prayer. It
was precious. We went to bed and he was sad. Jan was praying. I was
praying. And around 12:01 — one of our staff gals who was out walking
her SMART dog, found her!

Zach was half asleep when he heard us yell, “She’s home!” His words
were, “Thank You, Jesus, You found her!”

Why is it that the kids have to be the ones to teach us the value of
prayer? He really BELIEVED that God would answer his prayer. This
morning I was reminded that “when the righteous cry for help, the Lord
hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near the
brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18.

Thanks, Lord, for answering the cry of our child, Zach. And now, that
big, stupid dog is fast asleep in her cage. Oh yeah — she was chasing a
skunk — glad Jan and Zach had to clean her up!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Confused about what is going on our world right now? Listen to our
scholar-in-residence, Dr. Fred Hartman, as he shares insights this week
on the Keswick Today radio ministry. To hear the broadcast, visit our
website http://www.americaskeswick.org.

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Here is a powerful devotional from Oswald Chambers — My Utmost For His
Highest (available from the KESWICK BOOKSTORE ONLINE —
http://www.americaskeswick.org)

“Just because I have listened carefully to ONE thing from God does not
mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of
love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind
toward what He says . . .

Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized
that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed
it. But most of us show incredible DISRESPECT to God because we don’t
even hear Him. He might as well never spoken to us.

The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus
Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me
(John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time
through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God
may convey God’s message to me.

What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not
that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas
of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own
convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him.

The attitude of a child of God should always be, ‘Speak, for your
servant hears.’ If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of
hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I
become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things — which I
THINK I must do. The is not living the life of a child of God. Have you
heard God’s voice today?”

Powerful for words that we need to HEAR today from HIM!

Join us on Thursday night, February 16th, for our monthly MEN’S
FELLOWSHIP NIGHT. Steve Schmidt, a full-time staff member at America’s
KESWICK and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy will be sharing God’s
Word. Steve just returned Saturday from Siberia. Great food, fellowship
and a challenge from God’s WORD. Call today for your reservation. Dinner
begins at 6:15 PM in the Raws Dining Room. 732-350-1187

ANOTHER INCREDIBLE GIANT

“I can do the very best I know how — the very best I can; and I mean to
keep doing so.” — President Abraham Lincoln

This giant of a man and a life of great difficulty and sorrow:

1831 — Failed in business

1832 — Defeated for legislature

1833 — Again failed in business

1834 — Elected to legislature
1835– Sweetheart died

1836– Had a nervous breakdown

1838– Defeated for Speaker

1840– Defeated for elector

1843– Defeated for Congress

1846– Elected to Congress

1848– Defeated for Congress

1855– Defeated for Senate

1856– Defeated for Vice-President

1858– Defeated for Senate

1860– ELECTED PRESIDENT

” . . . A crisis does not make character; a crisis REVEALS character. A
man’s character is what he habitually is.” — Oswald Chambers

Good words to consider on this day to honor President Abraham Lincoln’s
birthday.

“A WOMAN OF GRACE . . .”

This is an email for men! Don’t panic. Everyone of us has had at least
one woman in our life or we wouldn’t be on the planet. If you didn’t —
I’d sure like to know how you got here.

On Thursday, my associate and I went to visit the granddaughter of the
founder of America’s KESWICK, Sister Ruth Raws. I believe that Solomon’s
words describe this precious woman: “A woman of gentle grace gets
respect” (Proverbs 11:16 The Message).

I have had the privilege of watching this lady’s life for the past 9+
years. She is 87 years old and has lived a full life having served in
the Armed Forces and on the mission field. She has been an incredible
prayer warrior and a woman whose who life has been spent in serving
others. Her gentle spirit has been a testimony to countless thousands
through the years.

She is also a wonderful prayer warrior who often puts her own needs and
problems behind her so that she can be praying for others and helping
them in their time of need.

Sister Ruth has been diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer that is
spreading. We left her room today amazed at God’s grace in her life
despite the face that she is facing some difficult days in the next
several weeks, and ultimately her going home to glory. Despite her
situation, the topics of her conversation centered around her concern
for others: nurses, friends at the retirement community where she lives,
family, and our staff at America’s KESWICK.

Thank you, Sister Ruth, for modeling a life of gentle grace — is it any
wonder that your family and friends love and respect you? May God grant
you His perfect peace in the midst of your storm. We love you.

If you would like to send a card to Sister Ruth Raws, you can send it
to:
America’s KESWICK

601 Route 530

Whiting, NJ 08759

Be sure to let her know that you are a member of the Freedom Fighter
family.

DO YOUR WORDS MATTER

I really don’t ever want to use this tool as a means to push a
particular political agenda. I must confess that I was very disappointed
in the remarks that were made at Coretta Scott King’s memorial service
by former President Jimmy Carter.

My Grandmother taught me that the President of the United States was to
be respected no matter which party he was involved with. She believed
that God was in control of all things, and if her choice for President
lost a race, she would still get behind the new President with her
prayers and encouragement.

Proverbs 11:12 says, “Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet
discretion accompanies good sense.” I believe that our President
exercised great self-control and dignity by not lashing out at those who
used a memorial service for a great patriot to defend his agenda or
criticize the opposition. President Bush’s words were carefully selected
and demonstrated “quiet discretion.”

As brothers in Christ, we need to be mindful of our words. They are
powerful. They destroy or bring life. As Chuck Swindoll says, “Our words
reveal what is in our hearts — they are the dictionary of our heart.”
How does your dictionary read?

Do you have trouble saying the right things? To your kids? Your spouse?
Your employees?
Then pray what David prayed: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep
watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

PRAISE AND BELIEF GO HAND IN HAND

“I promise to value praise more than before. Praise is the natural
outgrowth of trust. The one who truly believes will automatically praise
God. Before, I thought praise should come AFTER the act was done. I
asked, God answered, so I praised. This is weak, sickly praise. Jesus
thanked His Father BEFORE He raised Lazarus. I should look at problems,
difficulties, impossibilities, and then praise God AHEAD OF TIME for the
opportunity of glorifying His name. If Romans 8:28 is still in the
Bible, and believable, then praise should characterize my life.

Difficulties, to the Christian, are only miracles that have not yet
happened. Faith cannot tell time very well. To say we should praise only
after the miracle has occurred makes no sense to faith. Faith means God
WILL just as us as God HAS. So if I am to always believe, then I should
always praise, since perfect trust eliminates worry and anxiety and
fills me with good feelings.

To live a life of praise, I must thank God FOR evil circumstances as
well as to thank Him WHEN I am in evil circumstances. The difference is
whether or I am going to endure evil or make it a vehicle of blessing.
The Bible tells me that God is not complacent about evil, but He uses it
for a greater good.

When God surrounds me with harassments, He is preparing me for a
breakthrough TO victory and growth that He could not accomplish in any
other way. So, in a sense, evil circumstances are my FRIENDS and I
should welcome them as much a David welcomed the lion and the bear,
which made him ready for Goliath. If I welcome them, I will praise; and
if I praise, they are not longer my enemies but my conquests. Therefore
as James advises, I will ‘rejoice and jump for joy’ when surrounded by
impossibilities.” (James 1:2)

Good words for you to ponder today. I am thankful that God knows WHAT I
need precisely WHEN I need to hear it. Today’s devotional is from DAILY
WITH THE KING by Dr. Evans and is available from the KESWICK ONLINE
BOOKSTORE (www.americaskeswick.org)

Have a blessed day, my friend.

FAULT FINDING

From the pen of Fenelon in his classic work, THE SEEKING HEART
(available from the KESWICK ONLINE Bookstore — http://www.americaskeswick.org)

“It seems that you need a larger heart when dealing with others’
shortcomings. Why are you so impatient if people don’t correct their
faults immediately? Everyone has faults. I know that you cannot help
seeing them, nor can you prevent yourself from forming opinions about
the motives of those around you. If you were perfect, you could deal
with the imperfections of others without letting them bother you.

Don’t be surprised at the defects in good people. God leaves weakness in
all of us. In those who are advanced, the weakness is our of proportion
to their otherwise mature life. In a field, a workman may leave a pillar
of earth to measure the amount of material removed. God leaves similar
pillars within those He is perfecting.

A person with visible shortcomings can be more spiritually advanced than
someone who is free from such defects. ‘Perfect’ people often want to
find fault with others for not being perfect. Fault-finding, even within
yourself, is just soulish enthusiasm. God’s way is entirely different.
He sometimes allows people to remain deeply flawed in order to keep them
from being too satisfied with themselves. It would be easier for them to
be corrected of their failings than to feel conquered by their weakness.

People must learn to bear their own weakness as well as the weakness of
others. Why are you so upset by your neighbors’ faults when your own are
still uncorrected? Your motives are not entirely pure in wanting to see
people perfected for God’s glory. PEOPLE’S FAULTS BOTHER YOU BECAUSE
YOU ARE TOO FUSSY AND HARD TO PLEASE.

You can help others more by correcting your own faults than theirs.
Remember — and you should, because of your own experience — that
allowing God to correct your faults is not easy. Be patient with people!
Wait for God to work with them as HE wills. You need to be more
tender-hearted and compassionate toward the faults of others. Let
everything that bothers you flow like water under a bridge. Live in the
presence of God.”

Wow — not that is way too convicting? Pray through this as you think
about your relationship with your spouse, kids, co-workers and others
that the Holy Spirit might bring to mind today.

OUR AWESOME GOD . . .

“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the
salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the
Egyptians you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.
The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

My nature is fix things. And sometimes there are things that are just
not fixable. I am a slow learner — but I am learning that rather than
my trying to fix things and messing them up, I need to keep silent and
allow the Lord to do HIS work.

A number of years ago when we lived in Maryland, we received a notice
from the State that we owed a significant amount of money for taxes
because of an error that we were unaware of on our income tax return.
Our accountant who had prepared our forms had inadvertently missed a
major detail on our form and now we were being asked to pay a
significant amount of money.

The problem was that our accountant was no longer in business and so
another accountant friend said he would take care of getting the
situation resolved. There were a series of letters written, and we
thought that everything was fine. Several years later we were attempting
to open a credit card account and were denied. After checking, we found
out that we were denied because of our back taxes. Not only did we owe
the taxes, we were also being assessed a penalty which now had mounted
up to a very large amount.

We didn’t have the funds to make the payment and were quite distressed
about the situation. It was at that time that I was reading through the
Bible and came to these verses in Exodus. I had been trying to figure
out how to FIX this on my own, but knew that the Lord wanted me to allow
HIM to take care of the situation. But how? Didn’t he need my help?

I committed the matter to prayer and purposed to “stand still” and “keep
silent.” Several weeks went by and nothing happened. As I was praying
one morning, the Lord spoke to my heart and directed me to check out the
State’s website. I thought that was odd, but decided to act on His
prompting. When I opened the site, the headline was that the State was
providing tax amnesty for the next three weeks which would enable people
to pay their back taxes without the penalties being assessed.

I called the office so that we could set up a payment plan and God led
me to just the right person. As I laid out my case, she said, just a
moment. The error on our form was because half of the year we had lived
in PA, and the other half in Maryland. We were renting in Maryland, but
still had our home in PA and were commuting. What we needed was proof
that we still maintained residency in PA. She told me that if we could
provide copies of our telephone, electric and gas bills, they would
waive the ENTIRE amount.

Within 24 hours, we went from this huge debt, to having our account
wiped clean! When we shared this with several of our accountant friends,
they said — this is absolutely amazing! God is awesome.

Are you facing an obstacle in your life? An impossible situation? One
YOU can’t fix? GIVE IT TO GOD — then stand still and see the salvation
of the Lord! Good words for your consideration this morning.

PLAY THE TAPE TO THE END . . .

I have a good friend who shared a message that bears repeating over and
over . . . He was talking about temptation and playing with sin. In his
message he makes this statement . . . “Play the tape to the end . . . “

We need to remind ourselves often that we cannot play with temptation
and sin and not expect to be burned. Martin Luther said that when we do,
it is like placing our hands in the fire and expecting not to be burned.

We cannot play with sin. We must continue to see it from God’s
perspective — He hates it! He has never changed His position on it. One
of the saddest things we see occurring in the church is a dumbing down
of the truth. We see many Christians dabbling in areas where they have
no business going — and then sooner or later they find out the reality
of bad choices — sin has one MO — your destruction! As I have share
with you many times — sin will always take you further than you want to
go; it will always cost you more than you are willing to pay; it will
always keep you longer than you want to stay.

In reading Proverbs this morning, there is a great reminder of PLAYING
THE TAPE TO THE END . . . Listen to these words . . . and as you do —
replace the “adulteress woman” with that area of your life that has
become your besetting sin — the idol of your heart . . .

“You can buy an hour with a whore for a loaf of bread, but a wanton
woman may well eat you alive. Can you build a fire in your lap and not
burn your pants? Can you walk barefoot on hot coals and not get
blisters? It’s the same when you have sex with your neighbor’s wife:
touch her and you will pay for it — no excuses! Hunger is no excuse for
a thief to steal; When he is caught he has to pay it back, even if he
has to put his whole house in hock. Adultery is a brainless act —
soul-destroying, self-destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye,
and a reputation ruined for good. For jealousy detonates rage in a
cheated husband; wild for revenge, he won’t make allowances. Nothing you
say or pay will make it all right; neither bribes nor reason will
satisfy him.” — Proverbs 6 from THE MESSAGE

Are you playing with sin this, my friend? Watching porn? Involved in a
relationship that you KNOW is wrong? Whatever it is — don’t play with
it! It WILL destroy you! PLAY THE TAPE TO THE END!!!

If you need help, email us. We would love to share with you how you can
be SET FREE from bondage to live VICTORIOUSLY in the ever-crazy,
changing world.