Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. — 1^st Peter 5:7

As a 14 year old boy when I watched my parents’ marriage fall apart and end in divorce, I became very angry and I acted out. When confronted about my behavior, I would respond with “who cares?” I think some of my darkest times have come when I find myself thinking and saying “who cares?” When I get to the point of not caring, it becomes very difficult to find my way back to the joy that I know God wants for my life.

The answer to that question is God cares, and He wants us to be the messengers of His love and caring nature. The only way to understand God’s love for us is through humility. A proud person will fail at seeing God cares for them. The writer in Hebrews quotes Proverbs 3:34 when he says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Hebrews 5:5b.

My prayer for the one I’m reaching out to is for God to soften their heart somehow to make them care. I see so much pain being distributed through anger towards one another, I have to believe it’s from not caring how people feel. I know I can be guilty of caring too much about a principle I feel strongly about, but if I care more about a principle then I do about the person, I’ve become unloving. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

To care is to think of others, and to think of others we need to think about God and the amazing gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus along with the Holy Spirit that guides and directs us. When I consider the love of God towards me, I can allow my heart to be softened and then caring becomes possible.

Some of the major obstacles to caring can also be past hurts and disappointments that prevent us from opening ourselves up to being hurt again. That’s where verses like 5:7 come in, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you”. The idea is when we are reaching hurting people and become the victim of rejection, it’s not us they’re rejecting but God. So, cast your cares on Him, lace up your boots and get back out there and care. 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: Proverbs 26-27| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Jesus’ coming is the final and unanswerable proof that God cares.” – William Barclay

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

 

 

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Most of what we call ‘rights’ today are better described as desires. We desire better health care, higher pay, and greater pleasure and ease. These are all things we can obtain, but at the expense of our labor and hard work, or what our Founding Fathers called, ‘the pursuit of happiness’ (meaning to be content). This pursuit, along with ‘life and liberty’, are called inalienable rights, and they are endowed to every human being by God, our sustainer and provider (Jehovah Jirah). We are free to live this ‘life’ that is breathed into us by God, by the natural laws and limitations of His design or will. We are also at liberty to operate in this life, unconstrained by what brings harm and corruption to God’s creation and its design. All of this means we have these inalienable rights only because God endowed and sustains them, and we are able to pursue happiness and find contentment only within the confines of His will. Jesus summed this methodology up perfectly when He stated, “I am the Way (method), the Truth (design), and the Life (source), and no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)

There are many enemies to our freedom founded in God, the greatest of which is ‘selfish ambition’; the idea that man doesn’t need God and can establish and sustain his own life and liberty. Paul describes mans desire for autonomy in Romans 1:18 as, “suppressing the truth in unrighteousness” and “exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man.”

Because God ‘is Love’, He allows man to choose which path he will travel; to do otherwise would be ‘unloving’ and totalitarian. Those that choose the path of ‘corruptible man’, God in His perfect love, “…gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25)

But God does not do this without a fight; “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world (and its choice), but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17) “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes (chooses live at liberty within the boundaries of His natural law and design, His will) in Jesus will not perish (in corruption) but have eternal (incorruptible) life.” (John 3:16)

Jesus has fought for your salvation on the Cross and has defeated your greatest enemies, sin (living against God’s design or will) and death (the result of that choice). No matter what you have done, when you, by faith call on His name, and join His revolution, you are guaranteed eternal life in God’s presence.

Not only has Jesus done this, but He continues to fight for you because the enemy is at the gate of your life, desiring to corrupt you with its lusts and pride. But as He told Peter when Satan wanted to ‘sift Him like wheat’, Jesus says to you, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail. And when you repent, (turning again to me), strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 21:31-32)

You are not alone; Jesus has led the revolution and defeated our enemies of ‘life, liberty, and pursuing contentment in Christ.’ And He continues to walk with you through every skirmish along the way Home. Won’t you walk with Him, enjoying the strength and security His presence in your life provides?

Choose wisely….

“…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Praying 4 U

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: 2 Chronicles 11-15| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Let us remember, as people of faith, that our primary mission is not to have a political ideology, it’s to change the world so that every man, woman, boy, and girl can experience true freedom.” – Mike Huckabee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:12-13

Dr. George Murray was our speaker recently for our Young at Heart conference, and he made a profound statement that many of us take for granted. “Christ is above me, below me, behind me, before me, around me – and He is in me!” If that isn’t powerful enough – the moment we trust the Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit resides in us as well. Now that’s a double “wow!”

Dr. Paul David Tripp says that “if you’re God’s child, you are blessed with the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.”

The question is, are you listening? So here are some convicting statements that Dr. Tripp asks in his book, New Morning Mercies, regarding willingness to obey the prompting and convicting work of the Holy Spirit in our lives:

1. It is tempting to not listen to the protective promptings of the Holy Spirit because you think you have a more accurate view of yourself than you ever really have.
2. It is tempting to resist the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit because few of us actually believe that we need the sight-giving ministry of others in our lives.
3. It is tempting to harden your heart against the ministry conviction of the Holy Spirit by arguing for your righteousness when a sin, weakness, or failure is revealed.
4. It is tempting to refuse to listen to the convicting voice of the Spirit by comparing yourself to other believers and arguing that you are surely more righteous than they are.
5. It is tempting to resist the personal insight-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit by confusing biblical literacy and theological knowledge with the evidence of a transformed and God-pleasing life.
6. It is tempting to run from the Spirit’s restoring and protective work by rewriting your history, swindling yourself into believing that your wrongs are not so wrong after all.
7. It is tempting to resist the Spirit’s loving work of conviction by confusing ministry skill, experience, and success with personal spiritual maturity.
8. It is tempting to resist the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit when he uses an instrument who you think is unqualified or less mature than you.

As you read through these statements, does this describe you? I don’t know about you, but this week, I want to allow the Holy Spirit to work me through these statements and do that spiritual heart surgery in my life.

Take time to read through each statement. Then prayerfully speak to the Holy Spirit if you are bold enough, brave enough, daring enough. Allow Him full access to your life this week.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO America’s Keswick

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

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 25-28| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: We cannot add time; we can only exercise stewardship over the time we are given. —Albert Mohler

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

 

 

 

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” — Colossians 4:6 (NASB)

I guess it has become the everyday norm to wake oneself up and sharpen the edges of one’s tongue. I mean, you don’t have to turn on the TV anymore to hear the ugly use of words. Sometimes all you have to do is go to work, go to school, go to the grocery store or go to church (oops did I let that one slip out?) In any case, you get my drift. We are walking around in society that runs without a filter. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes that ain’t a bad thing. We could be stuck with plastic people in a plastic society making plastic expressions, but instead we’ve got ugly people in an ugly society making ugly expressions. How…deplorable!

Anyway, for the Christian the ugly use of words is like a major no-no. We are advised to let our speech be as salt to the listener. Now salt has it’s many uses like getting stains out of a coffee pot or de-icing the sidewalks. If ya gargle with salt water when you have a sore throat it will alleviate the discomfort somewhat. You can use it to bring flavor to your food and if you use it as a preservative you can keep meat from decaying. It can also eliminate odors, so I dare say that if you use a little salt in your speech you’ll keep the stench of decay from penetrating the ears of someone who needs to hear the words of Jesus Christ.

And speaking of Jesus, here’s what He said about salt, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13). Hmmm…the ionic compound formula for common salt is NaCl, so if you take the Na or the Cl outta of it you’ll get sodium or chloride by themselves, and that is kinda toxic to put on French fries… so what does Jesus mean when he says, “if salt becomes tasteless?” Well from a secular standpoint, in a book titled “The Land & The Book” there is an account of a time when salt was stored right on top of an earthen floor and spoiled in a few years so it became “good for nothing” and was “trampled under foot” when it was thrown out into the streets.

So, what’s the idea behind being as salt and speaking with salt? Well it doesn’t take a lot of salt to make food taste better and check this out, only 3% of sea water contains salt and whole ocean is salty, so with this in mind here’s what I come to… (kindly swiped from my boy Matt Henry).

“The doctrine of the Gospel is as salt; It is penetrating, quick, and powerful (Heb 4:12); It reaches the heart (Acts 2:37). It is cleansing, it is relishing, and preserves from putrefaction. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ (2nd Cor 2:14); for all other learning is insipid without that. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt (Num 18:19); and the gospel is an everlasting gospel. Salt was required in all the sacrifices (Lev 2:13), in Ezekiel’s mystical temple (Ezekiel 43:24). Now Christ’s disciples having themselves learned the doctrine of the gospel, and being employed to teach it to others, were as salt. Note, Christians, and especially ministers, are the salt of the earth.”

Our job, in a Great Commission kinda way, is to sprinkle the Gospel upon all who we encounter. Granted, we’ve got folks out there that think dumping the payload on the unsaved will do the trick, but the idea is to flavor what is out there…not preserve it. A little salt will go a long way in making things better, but too much of it will go to waste because it isn’t being spread evenly. The intention is that all come to a saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ not just one big lump and we’re done.

In closing today, I hope we can realize that we are God’s salt shakers. We may have those times where we, ourselves, are in need of salt… salt shakers do get emptied from time to time, but so long as we are constantly going to the source, we should do well. For everything the world is offering from their podiums, the one thing they aren’t offering is a peace that surpasses all understanding. Their words are seasoned with pepper and at times they dump the whole payload on people. Jesus was clear, “Salt is good, but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1-4| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Sine sale, vita humana non potest degere’ — “Without salt human life cannot be sustained.” — Pliny

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

 

I really didn’t like cats even though our first pet when we first married was a cat.

I was on the same page as Dr. Charles Zimmerman when his daughter asked him, “Dad do dogs go to heaven?” Charles: “Yes, Megan. All dogs go to heaven.” Megan: “Do cats go to heaven?” Charles: “No, Megan, they have been assigned to the other place!”

Everything changed when our son Zach’s fiancée moved in with us, and she brought her cat, Zeus! It was going to be a stretch, but the guy warmed his way into our hearts.

When Zach and Elizabeth were married this month, we decided to check into adopting a cat. I can’t believe it. We went to our local humane society. You’ve seen those pathetic commercials on the television about pets that need adoption.

Well, I learned something. It is easier to get an abortion in the state of New Jersey than it is to adopt a cat. There is a two room “cat room” that is fully furnished with sofas, chairs, plants, bay windows for about 30 cats who have been “willed” to the humane society to live out their days in luxury.

But go ahead and try and adopt a cat that is going to be put down if someone doesn’t take pity on it and take it home with them. I filled out a five-page application, and the bottom line is they wouldn’t approve my application. In fact, four of my staff members have tried to adopt pets from that same facility, and they have all be turned down.

I laughed to myself as this was unfolding. Well, truthfully, it wasn’t funny. I was ticked off. And thankfully they finally did allow us to adopt “Smitten” and we are glad he is part of our family.

I am so thankful that being adopted into God’s forever family isn’t like adopting a pet in New Jersey:

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may be also glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16-18)

“But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the curse of the Lord, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God!” Galatians 4:4-7

“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He FREELY bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:5-6

Praise God that HE adopted you and me. The cost? The blood of His Son Jesus Christ. And when we were adopted into His family, we are no longer slaves but SONS AND DAUGHTERS of the King!!! We are no longer paupers and orphans – we are HIS kids!!!

John Murray said, “Adoption, as the term clearly implies, is an act of transfer from an alien family into the family of God himself. This surely the apex of grace and privilege.”

1. I. Packer said, “Adoption is the highest privilege of that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.”

Bill Gaither wrote: “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint-heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.”

I am so thankful today that I have been adopted into God’s forever family! How about you? Cats will never experience the real richness of this word: FOREVER!

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO America’s Keswick

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

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 21-24| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “Adoption is a greater mercy than Adam had in paradise.” – Thomas Watson

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

“Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your logic. It teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your actions, how to problem solve in an uncertain environment.”  ~ Kasparov

One of the most absurd things I hear often is that ‘truth is relative and there is no right or wrong.” The statement is absurd because it is a judgment of right and wrong. To say something ‘is’ subjective as opposed to objective is to distinguish a right from a wrong. The simple truth is we need objective rules in order to make correct judgments about anything.

Imagine playing chess, or for that fact, any game you wish to choose, imagine playing by the ‘subjective truth’ position. Each player gets to decide at any moment how each piece is to be used…? Would you enjoy the game? Chess is extremely precise and mimics life to a tee. Each piece has its own rules on how it can be moved. Sure, you can choose to move or not move a piece, and yes you have options in which direction you want to move the piece, but the pawn, like the King, can only move one space at a time and the knight must move in a series of 1 lateral and 3 horizontal spaces.

Life is the same way… our environment operates by several precisely designed and objective rules, I.e. Law of Thermodynamics, Law of Gravity; the oxygen content in our atmosphere, the distance earth rotates from the sun. All of these we have discovered and participate in, and since we are not the origin of these rules, we must operate by them, just like we must play by the rules of any game we participate in, because we are not the creator of the game.

Life has a rule book whether we like it or not. The cool and scary thing is we get to choose if we want to live by those rules or try to live by our own subjective standards. The fact that we have this choice or what we call ‘free will’, is an amazing testimony to the perfection of life’s fundamental truths. They can withstand any choice we make and remain unaltered in all time, in all places, for all people, and in all circumstances. All of the frustration, pain, and suffering we know are in result of mankind’s choice to reject the Rule Book, God’s perfect Word.

Why the ‘free will’ choice then if it has the potential to cause such harm? Because Even though it has the potential for such a great a harm as man has yet to know, it has a greater potential for allowing us to participate in a magnificently perfect ‘love.’

Love has no potential without a freely made choice to participate in it. We all know this from experience, we never love anything that we are forced into or determined to experience. Just as Christ displayed His love for God by willingly choosing to obey His Father and willingly participated in His plan of Salvation; when we willing choice to obey His Word and rest in His works, we too display ‘love’ for Him.

The rules are built in by the creator, just like the rule book of any game you play. How much you will be content and enjoy participating in life will depend on how your choices ‘line up’ with the objective rules.

But there is even more at stake here than just how you live now, our choice to obey and therefore Love God, or to willfully reject His Word will determine our position in the next chapter called eternity. We will either, by love and grace reside in the light of God’s presence… Or, we will forever live in the darkness of our own willfulness.

There is a right and wrong and every choice you make reveals it, both in this life and the one to come.

Choose wisely…

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

(Revelation 20:11-12, 14-15)

Praying 4 U

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: 1 Chronicles 25-29| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “How true it is that without the guidance of the Holy Spirit intellect not only is undependable but also extremely dangerous, because it often confuses the issue of right and wrong.” – Watchman Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. Revelation 11:17

I had an interesting text message several months ago, and then a phone call asking me the question ‘why is America’s Keswick not addressing the race issues from the pulpit?’

My response today is what it was several months ago when I responded to the brother who questioned me. It’s one thing to TALK about it; it’s another thing to LIVE it out.

20 years ago the Board of Trustees mapped out our Core Value, and Value #5 is that we will be a ministry that will be “cross-cultural and multi-generational” in our conferences and retreats.

Come on our campus on most weekends, and you will quickly discover that we are living out that value. On any given weekend you will see Black, Asian and Hispanic Christians utilizing our retreat facilities.

Each summer we have seen an increase in the ethnic diversity of at our conferences. In fact, this summer I shared with our guests that we are becoming a ministry of “color.” Our guests have embraced our diversity and differences, and we see brother and sisters fellowshipping, worshipping, praying, studying God’s Word, and playing together.

In our addiction recovery ministry, the Colony of Mercy, we have for years served every ethnic group. What I love about the residents who are in the program is that they can put their differences aside and live in unity because they are fighting from level ground at the foot of the cross.

We have had several Black speakers for our conferences, and now are working with a group of Asian pastors to provide an Asian pastor to our summer conferences.

I do get frustrated that the rhetoric fueled by recent events tends to build walls that have been in the process of being torn down. I know so many Christian leaders and ministries that have worked very hard at tearing down racial walls not to be politically correct, but because that is what God would want from us.

Social media posting fans the flame of sarcasm and cruel humor that unfortunately adds fuel to the fire. Yes, there is freedom of speech, but I am concerned that sometimes to be funny, we only make matters worse. I have to set tough parameters on myself not to enter the fray.

America is concerned about what happens in North Korean attacks our shores. I don’t think that is our greatest threat. If we continue to follow the current trajectory of hate speech and unrest, my concern is that we will destroy ourselves from within without having to worry about a nuclear warhead taking us out.

The Apostle Paul addresses this head-on in several passages:

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:28

I want America’s Keswick to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We want to tear down the walls that divide us, and yet at the same time, build walls that will help us protect and guard our unity.

I encourage believers everywhere to pray for our country. As my friend Pastor Manny Mill would say it, “We need radical praying for our country.”

May God help us.

Rejoice! Pray! Give Thanks!

Bill Welte
President & CEO America’s Keswick

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

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 17-20 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love! – Peter Scholets

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.” Revelation 11:17

 

 

 

“The Christian Life is a continual struggle against the old self. Not just a struggle in the sense of a BATTLE, but a real putting in the tomb… All authentic Christian lives… know these long ‘tunnels’ where one does not see anything anymore, where one understands nothing, or one is disgusted. Jesus makes us descend with him in the tomb, in the weakness, in the darkness, in everything that seems dead in our heart, but always to rectify us, to purify us, to liberate.” ~Thomas Philipe, Reflection on the last station of the cross

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
~ Paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Philippians 3

Oh beloved, it is true.

Though, we have not yet even begun – beyond a smattering – to believe it.

Somewhere though, it begins. It scratches at the edge of our consciousness. Oh, we have heard it since our earliest years in Sunday School, but the battering rams of our “religious” upbringing, push our sense of Who He really Is, so far away.

And, those of us who have grown up in the West, and especially in America, have been fed copious doses of the idea that god is somewhere “up there,” and that he is none-too-pleased with us in our disobedience. We take our pictures of the evil earthly fathers we have had (and the ones we have been) and we try to wedge the Eternal One into this very small, and very inaccurate mold.

Really, our pride is astounding. We make the very G_d of the universe so small.

We make Him distant, though He is omnipresent.
We downgrade His power, though He is omnipotent.
We cast Him as fickle, though He is omniscient.
We refuse to see Him as He is – Though He Himself defines Himself as Steadfast, Eternal, and Unchanging Love.

Can we see it?

Paul did. Something had to die within him though, before he could truly grasp it. And even Paul, an Hebrew scholar of great renown (who would have seen the mega theme of G_d’s steadfast Love in the Old Testament), had to go through nearly two decades of having himself reprogrammed by the Holy Spirit to begin to see it.

Jesus Loved Paul… And as Paul came to know Him, nothing else, absolutely nothing else, mattered.

Now beloved, don’t downgrade the word. Love is not a little thing. Love is the profound concern for the wellbeing of another, without regard as to whether we love the Lover back. Love never changes, and Love changes us if we let it. Love makes us whole and real and true and free. Love is what we have all been wanting, though we sometimes did not know the word. Love makes us powerful, and gives us the desire to give the very same Love away to others…

Said simply: G_d’s Love changes everything.

So yes, this is a life and death struggle. And, we will not succeed in the struggle unless we actually die. We must die to our false belief that G_d has anything other than purposing our very best within His Infinite Heart. We must die to the idea that we could ever perform our way into being good enough to deserve this avalanche of goodness moving towards us.

But something happens when do… Just when we begin to accept it. Just when we begin to think we understand it. The Love we think we can handle blows us away. We climb what we think is the mountain peak of His Love towards us, and just as we get to the top, we realize that it was nothing than a foothill at the base of a mountain range that extends to infinite heights – with range upon range, and peak upon peak bursting upwards into heavens higher than we ever used to be able to even comprehend.

So, are you struggling to sense the Love that He has for you? Perhaps that is the problem. You are still thinking He is far away, and that you are trying to attain something. Stop. Die to that way of thinking, even now – right now.

Tonight is your night beloved. Time to start at the beginning: “Jesus Loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

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 102-104| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “The secret to loving, he says, is living loved.” ~ Max Lucado

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12

 

 

 

“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory. That’s the essence of it.”  ~ Lombardi

How often do we consider giving up? When do the odds against us seem overwhelming? When does it seem that nobody cares? Is the answer to these questions ‘almost every day?’ It can seem that way when our view of life is only what we perceive.

But what if we could see through God’s eyes? Even better… what if we could just trust that He has everything under control and is at work pushing aside what corrupts, allowing ‘good’ to shine through?

I have been intrigued by the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. Her tenacity captivates me, realizing that it is what she knows that drives her and not the character of the ‘unjust judge’. Often in class there are those students who want to arbitrarily state there is no right or wrong. They get very frustrated when I ask them “how do they know that?”, or “by what standard do they make that judgment?” They don’t realize that their frustration with the possibility of a different answer, making their statement false, is evidence enough that they are wrong. We make thousands of judgments a day, most concerning the right way and the wrong way to do something. In doing so, we are living out the idea of Justice… or ‘that which brings order’. For instance, driving down the left side of the road would be poor judgment, bringing about chaos. But when we operate within the limitations of what is ‘just’ or ‘right’, we can be confident in our judgments and our expectations of what is ‘good.’ The widow in the parable knew that she was on the side of Justice, and it was this confidence that enabled her to come time after time, wearing down the judge, not with her nagging, but with the ‘truth.’

You too can be this confident in your prayer and belief in God. God is Good, and you can be assured of this ‘goodness’ if you would just read and apply His Word. We falter and fail, becoming frustrated because we take our eyes off Jesus and His Word, and look down at our mere existence. Look up and find hope!

The widow knew that God is Good and therefore would bring about justice for her, regardless if it was in this life or in His very presence before His throne. I pray you know Him this way too… causing your confidence in Him to soar on the wings of eagles.

Choose wisely…

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Praying 4 U

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: 1 Chronicles 20-24| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God.” – Assorted Authors

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12

 

 

“But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” – Acts 9:22

I adopted a saying that helps me when I’m confused about a certain situation: “Help me understand.” I picked it up from a good friend of mine and often use it when I’m in a conversation and confusion has set in. This term helps the person I’m talking to realize I have no idea what they’re talking about. There are times when I have confusion and need to be better oriented about a subject before I can understand.

If you have ever tried to talk to someone about Jesus, you probably have found yourself trying to explain to someone who is very confused. For an unbeliever, it as if you’re talking a different language. In the book of Acts, we see God initiating a relationship with a number of people and He had established a group of followers that had moved from confusion to being convinced. The church in Acts is a fine oiled machine that has been empowered by the Spirit of God to either convince or confuse.

In chapter 9, we open with the conversion of Saul. He very quickly is convinced that the road he was traveling was the wrong path. He is confronted with Jesus on the road to Damascus and quickly after a short conversation Jesus “helps him understand.”

After that, Ananias is moved from confusion to being convinced that he was to go into Saul and lay hands on him. There is a common response by both Saul and Ananias in this account, Paul says in verse 6, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Ananias’ response is similar in verse 10 when called by God, And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

There is a sharp contrast to those who remain confused and those who have moved from confusion to being convinced. I find in my life when I am confused, I have two choices: trust God and move to being convinced, or remain in a state of confusion and allow myself to be tossed like a wave.

In verse 22, we see Saul dealing with the Jews who remain in confusion and the outcome in verse 23 was to kill Saul.

I believe when I am in a state of confusion I can come to the Word of God and even though I may not fully understand, I can be convinced of His faithfulness and trust Him. This account in chapter 9 separates those who believe from those who doubt. Doubters remain in confusion while believers move to being convinced.

We see that when the churches were convinced in verse 31, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied”.

Where are you today? Are you convinced or still have doubts? Let the Word of God “Help you understand” and move to being convinced. 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: Proverbs 19| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Jesus was God spelling himself out in language humanity could understand.” – S.D. Gordon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16-7