It is Saturday
We are bewildered
We are scared
What happened to Him could happen to us
We are waiting for what He said but the silence is deafening
Doubt-filled fear controls most moments
If true, why silence?
If true, why wait?
If true, unleash power.
Show us now…. now!
The doubt is unbearable
Say something! Do something! Hurry. It is Saturday
~ Marty Caldwell

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.
~ Peter, speaking of Jesus, in 1 Peter 3

“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at My right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore My heart was glad, and My tongue rejoiced; My flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon My soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to Me the paths of life; you will make My full of gladness with your presence.’
~ Peter, quoting King David in Psalm 16, speaking of Jesus, King of the Universe, in Acts 2

Oh beloved, it is true.

If you were there, it would have been a wreck. There, John and Jesus’ mom, Mary – along with a few other courageous souls – watched Jesus bleed out and die. It had to be much more than a visceral experience. It had to be terrifyingly normal. For, in that time, to maintain Pax Romana, the local occupation forces regularly tortured, brutalized, and crucified people who were seen as someone who would get in the way of the Roman government.

He bled. He gagged on his own spittle. He defacated and urinated. And, the very people He loved even unto death, spit back in His face. He had spent 33 years being a perfect son, a really good teacher, and an Authority on Life and Love. However, as oppressive governments often do, they thought that killing someone was the easiest way to avoid a problem with a person.

So… from the perspective of everyone on the planet, another guy had just been killed off by the people in charge. They watched another man walk through the one-way door into death. Jesus did indeed die. However, he did not simply moan and expire. He yelled out one the clearest and most powerful linguistic constructions in all of language. In the original, it was τετέλεσται (tetelestai). Which translates rather easily into every language. It means: It is finished!

It does seem to this fool of a writer, that the evil forces at work to put Messiah Jesus to death would have looked up at Jesus as He bellowed this Reality across all time and space. And, those who truly know of The King of The Universe would have realized that something was not going according to their plan.

The devil and his demons had no clue.

Jesus’ victory over death was not when He walked out of the grave. The resurrection is powerful and crucial. But, it did not represent the victory over death. No, the resurrection was Jesus coronation as the Firstborn among many brethren. Jesus had already won the battle, and was just showing up to show off for 40 days, as a teaser for the coming forever Kingdom of Heaven.

And, this changes everything in our thinking if we allow it.

Can we see it? 

Jesus’ victory at the cross put Him in the position to do some very important work. Death, the most formidable foe of G_d, the very Author of Life, was now to be subject to some significant changes. Jesus – on the blackest of Saturdays in the world – leaned His head into the doorway of the place that no one had ever escaped.

And… He yank the keys to that door right off the wall. Further, He went and spoke to the prisoners in that place. He preached the Truth of Who He was, is, and will be. And, many in that place still rejected the offer of Life. They felt quite comfortable in their condemned state.

For they knew that if they gave into the preaching, they would no longer be in control of their own destiny. Jesus was inviting the dead to get up and leave the place they had chosen as their home. Oh, it was miserable and dark… But, at least it was their own place. So, most stayed.

However, others didn’t. And, while the words in The Word do not give a clear picture of how it was done, Jesus lead untold millions into freedom. He had visited the door of death, and He had torn it off its hinges. Now, no place in all of creation has been untouched by His Life and His Love.

So, what really happened on the blackest of Saturdays, that was so quiet on the earth, was a crushing display of Life and Power on the part of Jesus, in the other world on the other side of death’s door. Life met death, and beat it at the cross. This same Life went down through the place of the dead to lead others to life as well.

So again, are you able to see that everything that Jesus does, is a message to us? If Jesus went and spoke to the captives in the grave to offer them freedom, how much more is He offering it to those who are still alive? Everything declares His goodness, and power, and glory.

Even His death.

Tonight is your night. Time to see the time between Jesus’ death and resurrection in a whole new light.

Written by Makala Doulos: Makala Doulos is a child of G_d, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and a teacher to his students. But mostly, he is a prisoner set free by Jesus. Love has invaded his life, crushed it, and made it new. Now, G_d’s Love is what constrains him to live in full surrender to the freedom The Father and Son and Holy Spirit have bought for us all. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Daily Bible Reading: Judges 19-21| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: The chief end of our life is to live in communion with God. To this end the Son of God became incarnate, in order to return us to this divine communion, which was lost by the fall into sin. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we enter into communion with the Father and thus attain our purpose.
~St. Theophan the Recluse, Letters to various people, 24

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
Psalm 71:14

 

 

We all have a story – a narrative that defines who we are and what we are all about. Last week, we rehearsed the events leading up to the crucifixion.

Three days after He was laid in a borrowed tomb, Jesus stepped out of the tomb defeating sin and death. As the songwriter wrote, “The Gospel Changes Everything.”

The gospel IS Jesus. People were never the same after meeting him. It was life changing, life transforming.

An encounter with Jesus changes everything. You will never be the same.

There are so many illustrations in the Gospel narratives in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Matthew, the tax-collector, hated by everyone, left everything and followed Jesus.

The Samaritan women met Jesus at the well. He broke all the rules and engaged in conversation with her – a conversation that forever changed her life.

The woman caught in adultery was headed for the ultimate stoning. But Jesus steps in and her life is forever changed

I can relate to this guy being “height challenged” – Zaacheus. Not a real popular guy. But when he meets Jesus – he is startled when Jesus not only knows his name and location – He invites Himself to Zaacheus’ house for dinner. Imagine texting your wife to tell her that the Messiah is coming to your house for dinner.

Peter, James and John – what a trio. The band of brothers. I picture them as the Duck Dynasty crew of the day. Skilled fisherman. Not at all whimps – but rugged and leathered from the sun fisherman. The Scriptures said they left their nets to follow Jesus.

The man born blind since birth not was forgiven of sins, his sight was miraculously restored. Catch this narrative: ¹⁸ The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. ¹⁹ They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”

²⁰ His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, ²¹ but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.²³ That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.” ²⁴ So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this,^[b] because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” ²⁵ “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:17-25)

Hymnwriter Fanny Crosby knows what blindness is. She died having never really ever having her full sight. But her blindness never stopped her from having a fulfilled life. She had an encounter with Jesus and that turned her world upside down. In fact, she wrote close to 9,000 hymns.

Remember this one?

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of His Spirit – washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

You have a story! And your story is worth telling. It may not be one you’ll hear on YouTube – but it is YOUR story – the story of what Jesus has done in YOUR life.

Would you be willing to share your story with us in one or two paragraphs? Send it to me, and I would love to share them with our Freedom Fighter family: bwelte@americaskewick.org. Let me hear from you.

Overflowing and abounding with hope,

Bill Welte, President/CEO America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Judges 8-9| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: Prayer is the most important thing you can do for the most important people in your life. —Marshall Segal

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
Psalm 71:14

 

 

Don’t Forget – Men’s Fellowship Night is TOMORROW, Thursday March 8 at 6:15PM. See you there!

But now, O LORD, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

Life is a challenge, there are times when circumstances can cause us to lose our bearing. I find it’s in those moments I am prone to wander or make bad decisions. As a believer in Christ,  I have a system I use when I find myself in a quandary. I go back to basics.

To simplify things, I don’t have to spend a lot of time wondering Who’s in control, so it’s not the “Who.” I then have to remember “what” my role is, and that’s to glorify God. So after an analysis of the Who and what are settled, I am left with the “Where” I am supposed to be. That is where the journey continues.

Our place in life is a revolving door, we walk by faith and our destination is usually unknown, but I believe when we have established the “Who and what,” the where is God’s responsibility. Our understanding of who God is will never be accomplished, however we know enough about Him to trust Him. The identity we have in Christ serves as a confidence that is not in ourselves, but we are confident in who God says we are, accepted and beloved of the Father, children of God.

When God reveals Himself to us it gives us confidence to walk in faith. There’s a wisdom that comes from God that the Apostle Paul refers to in 1^st Corinthians 2 that provides us with direction,

“But God has revealed them (hidden wisdom) to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

It’s not always easy to find your way when life throws us a curve ball. Don’t get lost with the confusion of where you are in life. The basic practice of spending time in God’s word is to remind us of the “Who and what” which can help us to see the “Where.” Paul ends chapter 2 with a question and answer… For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Amen

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 28-30| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what kind of a person you are.” C.S. Lewis

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Psalm 39:7

 

 

By the time you read today’s Freedom Fighter blog, the 2018 Super Bowl will be history, and my prediction was that the Philadelphia Flyers will have defeated the Yankees.

My house was very divided over this year’s games. My grandson Tanner is a Minnesota Vikings fan, Josh is an Eagles fan, and Zach is a Patriots fan. Talk about tension!!!

I sorta feel about the Super Bowl like I do congregational meetings. I don’t like them. 🙂

Growing up, I dreaded congregational meetings!!! They made me sick at my stomach because we would watch people who were normally really cool people turn into vicious, unkind, mean people. And quite frankly, not much has changed. One of the last church business meetings we attended at a local church we were attending, I was so appalled and embarrassed at how the saints behaved, that Jan and I said ‘we can’t do this anymore.’

And I am sure that some of you saw the media comments of social media that probably fit the same description of the congregational meetings I’m talking about.

It would appear that for some reason when it comes to sporting events or congregational meetings, reason is tossed to the wind. Not only is reason tossed to the wind, but our ability to get along God’s way seems to be tossed aside.

Viciousness. Unkindness. Rudeness. Sarcasm. Meanness. Well, they are just a few of the words that I would use to describe the behavior that I observe when it comes to sporting events and congregational meetings.

I often think about what new believers or visitors must think when they attend most business meetings. What does this do for our testimony and the cause of Christ?

What is it about situations like these that we feel like we can toss aside biblical principles to justify bad behavior? These would most likely be the same people who mouth off about something that was undoctrinal about another church or a speaker/preacher/author they didn’t like, or point out issues with another brother or sister that was off base. But for some reason – situations like this become acceptable behavior?

Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”

Ah – maybe that is the disconnect. Maybe, just maybe we forget that God knows, weighs and sees every one of our thoughts deeds words and actions?
If the Lord were physically in the room during a congregational meeting, would we be apt to say the things that we do? Or would we consider more carefully our words and attitudes?

What I am NOT saying is that there isn’t a time to speak out or speak up. What I am saying that we can’t check our gentleness at the door and decide that we get to choose when we are gentle.

Grab your concordance and look up the word and check out the context. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. James addresses how gentleness plays into using wisdom.

Whether you are an Eagles or Patriots fan doesn’t mean you get a free pass on gentleness. Hopefully, your team won. Hopefully, you were a good representative of your spiritual team. May it be said of you and me, we demonstrate a spirit of gentleness to everyone – “the Lord is near.”

Overflowing and abounding with hope,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 39-40| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think about this: Treating a person with gentleness makes him or her want to move near you. Responding with gentleness teaches another person that he or she is safe in your care. It is an essential relational bond.

— Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 3987-3988). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, Psalm 33:18

 

 

So – think about it. When was the last time you heard a message in your church or Bible study about sin? Growing up I heard it regularly – but in our “Christian” world, we don’t seem to address this topic very often, even though the Bible deals with this word from cover to cover.

In fact, we have taken it another step downwards  — in some ways, we have relabeled what the Bible calls sin to make it more politically correct. We have taken the negative connotations of sin and spun them more positively.

It has become the elephant in the room that we don’t like to talk about, think about, and certainly, we do not want to have someone address it in our lives.

The Bible is pretty clear and direct. In fact, I have often remarked that the Bible doesn’t beat around the bush on any topic. God’s Word is quite direct and clear. We don’t usually have to question, “What was God really saying about …”

We need to remind ourselves often that God’s position on our sin has never changed and never will.

God hates sin.

God doesn’t tolerate sin.

God doesn’t want us to sin.

God made a way for us to deal our sin.

God sent His Son to take our sin upon Himself.

Dr. John Maxwell shared this truth some years ago. I think we should write it everywhere we can as a reminder:

Sin will always take me further than I want to go.
Sin will always cost me more than I want to pay.
Sin will always keep me longer than I want to stay.

If we really believed it – wouldn’t we live our lives differently?

I just read these two truths about sin in Dr. Paul David Tripp’s devotion, New Morning Mercies:

Sin does two very significant things to us all. First, it causes us all to insert ourselves into the center of our worlds, making life all about us. In our self-focus, we are all too motivated by our wants, our needs, and our feelings, and because we are, we tend to be more aware of what we don’t have than of the many wonderful blessings that we have been given. But there is more; because we are self-focused, we tend to be scorekeepers, constantly comparing our piles of stuff to the piles of others. It’s a life of discontentment and envy. Envy is always selfish.

There is a second thing of equal significance that sin does to us. It causes us to look horizontally for what can only ever be found vertically. So we look to creation for life, hope, peace, rest, contentment, identity, meaning and purpose, inner peace, and motivation to continue. The problem is that nothing in creation can give you these things. Creation was never designed to satisfy your heart. Creation was made to be one big finger pointing you to the One who alone has the ability to satisfy your heart. Many people will get up today and in some way will ask creation to be their savior, that is, to give them what only God is able to give.

Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 465-474). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Ouch! That is something for me to grasp in my heart and life. I am praying that I will be more aware of my sin this year and rejoice that my sin has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ – past, present, and future.

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 30-31| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: Think About This: My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin, not part, but the whole – is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul. – Horation Spafford

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Psalm 33:17

 

 

 

 

“But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” — Philippians 3:13b

Have you ever had someone tell you to “Forget about it?” How’d that work out for you? Usually forgetfulness is a non-voluntary thing that takes place and can cause anxiety when it occurs. We go through a wide variety of exercises to ensure that we don’t forget.

I think most of us would agree that there are a number of things we wish we could forget – that is what I think the Apostle Paul is trying to express, but how?

The reason I usually forget something is because I become occupied with something else that, if I’m honest, is more important to me at the time. When I look at the pattern that I see in chapter 3 of Philippians I can follow the example that will cause me to focus on what should be more important. I see the aim as being what is stated in verse 3, “and have no confidence in the flesh”. There seems to be a connection to past hurts and disappointments that fuels the flesh, when I’m in my own head I tend to be tormented by the past, “those things which are behind.” If I’m to forget about the unproductive past it will have to be a work of the Spirit, so as Paul would write to the Galatians, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

The recipe for walking in the Spirit is laid out for us, “Rejoice!” Over and over we are told to “Rejoice in the Lord.” I’m willing to bet the best way to forget about the negative past is to focus on the goodness of God. When I stop looking horizontally and begin to look vertically, the bad past is no longer on the forefront of my mind. I’m now able to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15), not tripping over my past.

Next he says, “Beware.” Beware of evil and legalism, and live in the grace of God. I must forget my own understanding that is based on the past and focus on the wisdom from above. Too many times I’ve gotten bad advice based on someone’s past experiences, referencing on past performances instead of seeking the Lord. I must make sure that my decisions are based on Biblical facts instead of my prior experiences.

Of course we have to use sound judgement and learn from past mistakes, but I think the focus here is the haunting past that keeps us from becoming who God wants us to be. I can’t let a disappointment prevent me from trusting again, building a wall to protect me from getting hurt also keeps me in seclusion.

So the next time someone tells you, “Forget about it,” and we really should forget about it, then turn to Philippians 3 and take it from Paul. Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 22-24| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.” – George Washington

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

 

 

 

“I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”  ~ Yancey

Faith is something that is developed in our lives as we participate in the spiritual life God has called us to. As part of the armor God has provided us, Paul describes Faith as ‘able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ That is an awesome defense! But like all the other pieces of armor, it is not enough to ‘have it’, you must ‘take up the shield of faith’ and actively place it strategically between you and the enemy. If you don’t, you are nothing more than target practice for the evil one.

Faith says, ‘I am going to trust God, even when I don’t understand…. and even if I will never understand.’

Faith does what God says, simply because God said it.

Faith knows that God loves me, and He always does what is perfectly good for me and glorifies Him… regardless of the time it takes or how it is accomplished.

Faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see…. And without faith, it is impossible to please God. (for) Anyone who wants to come to Him ‘must believe’ that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:1,6)

Do you want the protection of God’s ‘shield of faith?’ Then you must ‘take it up’ and strategically position it between you and everything that will harm your relationship with God. God is absolute perfection… holiness… no sin can exist in His presence. Therefore, to enjoy His presence and blessings, you must be holy as He is holy. That is why the commands to ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness’ and ‘take up the FULL armor of God’ are so important. These are the provisions from God that make us holy and able to boldly enter into His presence. Every ‘sin’ you allow in weakens and separates you from God who is the source of all ‘good’ and the power that has overcome sin and death.

Whether you realize it or not, you are in a battle against ‘the spiritual forces of wickedness’ and they want you destroyed! They will use everything you make vulnerable to them… so don’t let them in! Shield yourself with the faith God has provided you, strategically positioning it, protecting your heart and mind.

Choose wisely….

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go…. and Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

(Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 4:23)

Praying U choose Christ today

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: Esther 1-5| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God. and a scourge for Satan.” – John Bunyan

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Romans 12:12

 

“And you shall call His name Jesus – for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Billy Graham’s daughter wrote one of the most captivating books on Jesus. She put together a wonderful picture of this One whom the angel said would be named “Jesus.”

He is enduringly strong.
He is entirely sincere.
He is eternally steadfast.
He is immortally gracious.
He is imperially powerful.
He is impartially merciful.
He is the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizons of the
globe.

He’s God’s Son.
He is the sinner’s Savior.
He is the captive’s Ransom.
He is the Breath of Life.
He is the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands in the solitude of Himself.

He is august and He is unique.
He is unparrelled and He is unprecedented.
He is undisputed and He is undefiled.
He is unsurpassed and He is unshakable.

He is the lofty idea in philosophy.
He is the highest personality in psychology.
He is the supreme subject in literature.
He is the unavoidable problem in higher criticism.
He is the fundamental doctrine of theology.
He is the Cornerstone, the Capstone, and the stumbling Stone
of all religion.
He is the miracle of the ages.

He is the key to knowledge.
He is the wellspring of wisdom.
He is the foundation of faith.
He is the doorway of deliverance.
He is the pathway to peace.
He is the roadway of righteousness.
He is the gateway of glory.
He is the highway to happiness.

He supplies strength to the weary.
He increases power to the faint.
He offers escape to the tempted.

He sympathizes with the hurting.
He saves the hopeless.
He shields the helpless.
He sustains the homeless.

He gives purpose to the aimless.
He gives reason to the meaningless.
He gives fulfillment to our emptiness.
He gives light in the darkness.
He gives comfort in our loneliness.
He gives fruit in our barrenness.
He gives heaven to the hopeless.
He gives life to the lifeless!

He is the King of righteousness … that’s a moral King.
He is the King of the ages … that’s an eternal King.
He is the King of heaven … that’s a universal King.
He is the King of glory … that’s a celestial King.
HE IS THE KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS!

If you would like the complete version of “Just Give Me Jesus,” email me at bwelte@americaskeswick.org.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte
President/CEO at America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 29-31| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way.” – A. W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Romans 12:12

 

 

“That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us”

— Luke 1:71

As a child growing up,  I would always wanted to be the hero that comes in to save the day. I don’t think I ever thought of myself as the one that needed to be rescued. Even though I sometimes would have nightmares of being pursued by an enemy, I was usually trying to save myself.

I find it interesting that there was a time that God revealed to me that I could not save myself and that I was lost and needed a Savior. Entering the Christmas season always seems to bring with it the anticipation that we will celebrate our Savior’s birth.

In reading the account that Luke gives us of the birth of John the Baptist, there’s the depiction of us being in the need of saving. This is a concept that should bring about a grateful heart. The children of Israel were always looking for the Messiah that would come to their rescue. When did you realize you needed to be rescued?

John’s father was enlightened to the fact that God’s promises were being fulfilled, in Luke 1:67-71

“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: ​​’Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us ​​in the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,'”

Anticipation is the key to recognizing the promises of God, we should be found waiting while we work. When we are working out our salvation with anticipation, we are sensitive to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit.

I pray that as we enter this season of celebration we won’t forget the rest of His promises, the joy and peace He offers as we remember the promises in verses 77-79,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people ​​by the remission of their sins, ​​Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Revelation 1-6| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “There is no mystery in heaven or earth so great as this – a suffering Deity, an almighty Savior nailed to a Cross.” – Assorted Authors

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 7:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins, it makes them as if they had never been.
~Corrie ten Boom 

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
~ The Encourager, in Hebrews 12

Oh beloved, it is true.

There is one thing that us formerly lost boys can never afford. Oh, His grace is amazing! He can (and has) pull(ed) us out of messes that were so thick, we can barely tell the story. But, there is something that is worse than the stuff we used to drink, or smoke, or put into our eyes or veins.

Bitterness.

And no, I am not talking about the pain that may come from hard work, or from the loss of a friend (and oh G_d!, we have been losing too many of those.). I am not talking about the disappointment from coming up short in a tough competition. Nor am I talking about all the other things that can hurt us in life.

Bitterness is a different thing altogether, and much more dangerous.

Bitterness is the rage we let grow when someone wrongs us, rather than turning the other cheek.

Bitterness is the web of fear we weave within our own souls, when G_d has forbade such a behavior.

Bitterness is the permission we seek to give ourselves to give into a dangerous behavior, even when we know it is going to kill us.

Bitterness is allowing ourselves to stay in our own hurt, so we can keep trying to fix our own problems.

Bitterness is the chains of unforgiveness we bind about our own heart.

Bitterness is the unwillingness to believe that Jesus will take us through the darkest of spaces.

Can we see it?

Bitterness is not something that happens to us. Bitterness is something that I grow within myself. And, it cannot grow unless I tend the noxious weed. This is why we see the need for what is called for at the beginning of Hebrews 12. The Solution is clear. I must (absolutely must) look away from the waves of my circumstances, and the pain within my flesh. I must (absolutely must) look to Jesus for any of this to work.

Yes, my life might be swinging around like crazy. But the undulations of my cycles of failure will only get worse if I keep spinning around myself and other people. However, in looking to Jesus and attaching my hope to Him, He becomes an anchor to the pendulum of my life…. So, even if things get really crazy (and they will), I will always come back to center on Him.

So, are you enduring the painful discipline of life? G_d is not trying to hurt you. He is trying to prove that you can make it through ever more difficult trials. But it will only work if you refuse the bitterness that will always grow within, and look to Him.

Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to look outside yourself and refuse that temptation to bitterness.

Written by Makala Doulos: Makala Doulos is a child of G_d, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and a teacher to his students. But mostly, he is a prisoner set free by Jesus. Love has invaded his life, crushed it, and made it new. Now, G_d’s Love is what constrains him to live in full surrender to the freedom The Father and Son and Holy Spirit have bought for us all. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 131-133| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: There is one source of power that is stronger than every disappointment, bitterness or ingrained mistrust, and that power is Jesus Christ, who brought forgiveness and reconciliation to the world.
~Karol Józef Wojtyła

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7