FROM THE ARCHIVES: Assuming His Presence

08/26/201608/23/2016Leave a comment

“…supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey…” (Luke 2: 44)

Jesus’ parents had taken Him to Jerusalem for the Passover. They travelled homeward in the company of a large crowd of pilgrims returning to Galilee. Assuming that Jesus was somewhere in the crowd, they went a day’s journey before they discovered His absence. When they failed to find Him among their relatives and friends, they returned to Jerusalem.

Several lessons and applications can be drawn from this incident.

First, there is a danger in assuming that He is walking with us in fellowship. It is true that He has promised His presence to be with us always, but the realization of His presence is conditional – if we walk in the light (1 John 1: 7).

Second, it is possible for Him to be obscured by the crowd. There were instances in His ministry when needy persons could not see Him for the crowd . Zacchaeus, because he was short of stature, was prevented by the crowd from seeing Jesus. He overcame the problem by climbing a tree for a better view. In a different situation, a paralytic in need of the Master Healer was prevented from getting to Jesus because of the crowd in the house. His enterprising friends solved the problem by removing roof tiles and placing the man directly before the Lord. Crowds and popular opinion can deter people from finding Jesus.

Third, Jesus was found in the place where His parents had left Him. When we have turned away from the Lord and assumed that He would follow us on a way that we have chosen, we can only be restored by returning to the place of departure. In this account, it was the place chosen by the Heavenly Father for His business to be carried on (Luke 2: 49). Instead of merely assuming that He is with us, we must learn to practice His presence. Don’t lose Him through the influence of the crowd. Before the day’s journey begins, be sure you’re in the fellowship of His presence.

Written by Rev. William A. Raws (Pastor Bill): Pastor Bill served at America’s Keswick for over 50 years. He is the grandson of our founder, William Raws.

Taken from Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 3130-3150). Kindle Edition. Keswick, America’s (2012-12-13).

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 87; Proverbs 26

Daily Quote: “Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read or hear of to be gone to heaven, went there because they were so good and holy…Yet not one of them, not any one that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted), did ever come there any other way but by forgiveness of sins.” ~John Owen

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. ~Romans 8:28-30

Living Beyond Fear

08/25/201608/23/2016Leave a comment

What would you do if you had no fear? What would your life be like if you had no fear? What would you attempt for God if you knew you couldn’t fail? What would you plan to do if you were convinced that God would resource you? What would your approach be to setbacks and challenges if you were empowered by God’s faithfulness? ~Graham Cooke

But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.” ~from Isaiah 43

Oh beloved, it is true. There is a place for fear. But it is not in this world. We are getting it dreadfully backwards when we have no dread of the Almighty and are scared to death of the littlest things in this life.

Lest any of you brothers reading this think that i am writing from some place where i do not have an understanding of what is going on in life, may i present a few details? i have been in a near plane crash in Costa Rica, followed by some bad guys in Palestinian Territory (really), stopped and questioned by a radical Muslim on a trash mountain outside of Jakarta, and survived a knife attack in the Philippines. And each time, G_d was there with me in ways that go beyond words.

Yeah, the life of an international worker can be a little exciting.

But, beyond this, i have had truckloads of the opportunity to be afraid of the more daily things. Like…

What people think of me

Where my next paycheck or meal is going to come from

How my health is working out

Being misunderstood by my spouse

Dealing with waves of chronic pain

Loss of relationship with children

Being disliked by coworkers and students

Being misunderstood (sometimes purposely) by those who could not believe what G_d was and is doing in my life.

There’s more… Each of us could come up with a long list of thing about which we could be afraid. And nearly all of them seem reasonable. But, they are not. Can we be honest with ourselves? Fear is nothing other than a lack of faith. Fear is my damnable pride getting in the way of truth. Fear is an excuse to avoid the unavoidable truth of the Gospel.

Read the passage beloved. The cure for fear is not just believing real hard in some self-powered attempt at faith. No, the cure for fear is to rest in the one thing that draws us towards real and abiding strength. Love is the cure.

But, can we see what kind of Love this is? The Love of G_d is not some sort of warm fuzzy feeling (though this fool of a writer is sure that He has those for us too). No, the Love of G_d has traded away influence and interest in nations to get ahold of us. The Love of G_d is a lifesaving, firewalking, river-fording, and all-consuming Love! We a precious to the very One who defines value itself. We are honored by the One who is more honorable than 10,000 princes of the purest royal houses.

Oh my!

Yeah.

Can we see it? Love like this grows something powerful within us. Love like this steels the heart and calms the nerves. Love like this drives out fear. And this is exactly what the only One we should fear intends. For as we look to Him and become dreadfully aware of our fallenness in light of His dreadful perfection – we see the one thing we never thought we would see: Acceptance in His Son, and Love beyond our wildest dreams in His eyes. Forever.

So, is fear dogging you lately? Maybe you could take it from an old guy like me out in the field. Fear is a liar. It was one of the best things i ever let go of. And when it wants to poke its head up in my life, i pray for the grace to look away from the foul thing, and just look into His eyes. When i do, when i look into those eyes – the fear is gone – replaced by the strength of His Love.

Tonight is your night. Time to believe you are Loved.

Written by Makala Doulos: Makala 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 86; Proverbs 25

Daily Quote: “Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.” ~Karol Józef Wojtyła

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Trauma Care

08/24/201608/23/2016Leave a comment

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

After 9/11, the level of security and fear escalated in America. People understood that we weren’t exempt from the extreme evil of the World. It actually made us think a little different about our comfort zones. It affected us in various practical ways; the way we renew our license, passports, traveling, schools, etc… Americans flocked to churches, government officials, clergy, counselors, therapist, medicine, and the like…it really shook us.

That happened on a universal scale, but how about the trauma in your personal life? Most men, in my dealings, won’t admit or deal properly with the trauma in their own life, moreover stay in denial that it even existed. Wake up, stuff happens! Loss of a spouse or child, divorce, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, substance abuse, even the lack of meaningful love can be detrimental and traumatic. Whether we like or not if we don’t pay attention to these areas, they will manifest themselves in other compartments and behaviors, Ask the people closest to you? Unchecked trauma will only produce drama.

However, we can experience true freedom when we invite God to walk us through those traumatic issues. He reminded His people, in this passage and many others, that everything has purpose, even pain. Don’t waste your experiences! Life will get messy but God is faithful to see you through, and to use it for His glory and your good.

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 85; Proverbs 24

Daily Quote: “If we have got the true love of God shed abroad in our hearts, we will show it in our lives. We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it. We will show it in everything we say or do.” ~Dwight L. Moody

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

HOW DO YOU SUFFER?

08/19/201608/18/2016Leave a comment

We had the opportunity to take a vacation to florida to see my mother. My wife, sister and her husband, our daughter were all together for a week to enjoy time with mom. On the second day of the trip I developed a rash across my back and stomach? SHINGLES! I did not want to burden my 91 year old mother, “If one part suffers, every part suffers: 1Cor. 12:16. I did not mention that I had shingles as I knew she would worry and did not want to spoil the vacation.

How often do we hid our suffering from those that love us the most? Jesus suffered more than anyone could imagine. I had family support, Jesus had no one, his disciples abandoned him, no one come to his defence. “The son of man must suffer many things and be rejected.” Luke 9:22 For many, addictions are the pain that takes over our lives. We feel that we have lost all hope. We have given in to our earthly desires and forgotten the one who suffered the most for us, the one who gave his life for us, the one that has the power to save us from ourselves! “My comfort in my suffering is this, your promise preserves my life” Psalm 119:50. We keep our pain of addiction hidden from the ones we love, but they are the ones that truly suffer the most. Reach out to the one who loved you before you were born. “On the day the Lord gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage” Isaiah 14:3

Written by Robert Breault: Robert is a full time staff member at America’s Keswick and married to his lovely wife Shirley.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 80; Proverbs 19

Daily Quote: “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” ~Augustine

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ~Romans 8:18

Knockdown Sorrow and Grief

08/12/201608/11/2016Leave a comment

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. ~Augustine

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me.” And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand. ~Jesus, King of The Universe – and Man of Sorrows – in Matthew 26

Oh beloved, it is true. We can be hurt. Actually, to be a person who Loves, is to guarantee that we will hurt. We enter into our newfound faith thinking that this is going to be wonderful (and it is), but we have no idea how bloody and beat up we are to become on the path.

In our better moments, though often far in between the normal rhythms of our lives, we have learned to be profoundly concerned for the wellbeing of those around us. We have learned to Love. And while we know, really know, that Love just loves regardless of the return it gets, we often come to a place of great sorrow and grief.

It pummels us with its waves. We are knocked down on the floor, and the grief chokes us.

This fool of a writer has learned how Love. i am not good at it, and still i am learning. And what i have learned in the Loving, is that most people have not. And those who have not learned what Love really is, cannot even begin to believe that Love is truly possible. So, they

will look upon one who Loves and project their own motives and strategies onto who the lover is and what their Love does.

The difficulty comes closest in, when those closest to us do not or will not understand. And it is here that the punches actually take the air out of us. The very people we are hoping to lift by our Love, feel oppressed by it. And instead of receiving it, they lash out. And as much as we would hope to be noble and keep some sort of British stiff upper lip, we are nearly done in.

Beyond relationships, as Lovers of Him and others, our comfort with the physical realm becomes tenuous to the point of nervousness. There is within, sometimes, a dull ache. We long for Home. And for some of us we don’t even know where that is… At least we don’t know where it is on this planet. The great joy of being a believer in Jesus, and in being an international worker is that The Kingdom is not just an idea – it is Home. We ache for it. We moan in our sleep, and toss in our bed for it.

Where is this entry going? It is going where all sorrow takes us. It is taking us down to the end of a path that has no outlet. Sorrow takes us to the end of ourselves. We are made to feel the utter futility of existence apart from G_d. We are left gasping on the floor of our souls and find there really is no hope in this life.

And no, this obviously not the end.

We come to realize in our knocked down state, that SomeOne is right there with us. His strong Hand and sweet Breath is breathing life into us. We are in a dark valley for sure sometimes, but He goes into it with us. He feels the pain with us. He has been in the pain Himself.

And this is enough. To be known in our grief – this is enough.

So, are you hurting believer? This is normal. But what is not normal is for you (or this writer) to feel alone and despondent. No, it is in the dark valleys of shadow and grief, that our King is most really with us. His very Spirit is Comfort and Healing and Strength.

Tonight is your night. Time to let the hurt have its way… Let it show you He is with you always.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 73; Proverbs 12

Daily Quote: “Are you looking unto Jesus now, in the immediate matter that is pressing and receiving from His peace? If so, He will be a gracious benediction of peace in and through you. But if you try to worry it out, you obliterate Him and deserve all you get. We get disturbed because we have not been considering Him. When one confers with Jesus Christ the perplexity goes, because He has no perplexity, and our only concern is to abide in Him. Lay it all out before Him, and in the face of difficulty, bereavement and sorrow, hear Him say, “Let not you heart be troubled.” ~Oswald Chambers

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17

Humility Vs. Pride I

04/12/201604/11/2016Leave a comment

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

I have been wrong, I have made many mistakes, life and people have crushed me plenty of times; and most of them left me in despair. In addition, losing a loved one has way of bringing me to my knees. These are all situations that push or should push us back to a broken state before God.

However, I have been asking God to keep me in that state of humility in spite of life’s condition. You might think I’m crazy, but I believe if I can keep myself with a broken sprit and a contrite heart, that God doesn’t need to do it for me, or at least as often. I am certainly not the example of the humblest person, but that doesn’t stop me from checking my motives and dispositions.

The beauty about Humility, besides the constant command in the scripture, is that it reflects the attitude of Christ. It sets us apart from our natural prideful make-up and forces us to total reliance on God. It allows us to be in a right fellowship with God. James mentions, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” And all of us could benefit from the grace of God.

Humility is characteristic and evidence of the Christian faith. It understands who the boss, who is in control, who is right. Even secular recovery starts with admitting that they are not in control and need a power greater themselves. The good news; we know that power, we know that person. Jesus Christ humbled himself to the will of the Father and at the right time the Father lifted Him up and made His name above every name. Take down, and He will lift you up.

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 103; Proverbs 12

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “To love someone means to see him as God intended him” ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him. ~Psalm 28:7

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Tag: christian faith

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Assuming His Presence

Living Beyond Fear

Trauma Care

HOW DO YOU SUFFER?

Knockdown Sorrow and Grief

Humility Vs. Pride I

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