SURVIVING OR OVERCOMING?

SURVIVING OR OVERCOMING?

"I am determined not merely to SURVIVE as a Christian, but to OVERCOME.
Too often my life has been a 'hanging in there' kind of thing, when
actually God has called me to be an OVERCOMER. Do I get into one scrape
after another and then say, 'Thank God I got out of that one alive'? Is
that all there is, getting out of things alive?

The secret of overcoming is ADEQUATE RESOURCES, and the secret of
adequate resources is tapping the infinite supply of God. I have been
struck with the poor widow's plight (2 Kings 4). She had little oil,
nothing more. Creditors were pressing her to sell her sons as slaves.
Elisha advised her to procure all the empty jars she could find, then
pour what little oil she into them one by one until each was full. Then
it happened!!! By some wondrous power the oil kept flowing until every
jar was full.

Where did the oil come from? Where else but the same place as the
loaves, the fish, the wine, the manna, and the thousand other things God
sent His poverty-stricken people! God was simply supplying out of HIS
storehouse that which was perfectly visible to HIM but not to them. If
only we could see God's infinite supply!

I am not an overcomer because I an not a taker. God's enormous
quantities are at my disposal if only I will claim them. The lack is not
with God, it is with me. I can grit it our with sheer determination and
scant faith, but I will never OVERCOME that way. God, let me believe
You, really believe You. for therein lies my ability to fight and
overcome, not merely exist. It is 'according to YOUR riches in glory
(Philippians 4:19). You measure supply; and according to our faith, You
allow that surely to be tapped."

from DAILY WITH THE KING, published by Moody Press and available in the
KESWICK BOOKSTORE (Online -- www.americaskeswick.org) or by calling our
bookstore (800-453-2942 ext 31)

Good words for you on this beautiful Tuesday, February 28, 2006.

ARE YOU DEPENDABLE?

ARE YOU DEPENDABLE?

Bill Gothard in his book THE POWER FOR TRUE SUCCESS . . . HOW TO BUILD
CHARACTER IN YOUR LIFE defines dependability as "purposing in our hearts
to do the will of God WHATEVER the cost. He states that a dependable
person is defined in Scriptures as one who is FAITHFUL. "The Greek word
for faithful is PISTOS and means 'trustworthy' true; reliable; and sure.
The Hebrew word for faithful is AMAN. It means 'to build up or support;
to foster as a parent; to nurse; to be steadfast."

Mr. Gothard lists 11 characteristics of dependability:

1. A dependable person will be in harmony with the heart and mind of
God. (1 Samuel 2:35; Isaiah 55:8-9; Psalm 37:4)
2. A dependable person has a great reverence for God. (Nehemiah 7:2)
3. Ad dependable person is faithful in LITTLE things as well as big
things. (Nehemiah 9:8)
4. A dependable person has a heart attitude of faithfulness. (Nehemiah
9:8)
5. A dependable person keeps confidential information private. (Proverbs
11:13)
6. A dependable person communicates energy and health. (Proverbs 13:17)
7. A dependable person is truthful in all that he says. (Proverbs 14:5)
8. A dependable person will not tell people how good he is. (Proverbs
20:6)
9. A dependable person encourages those whom he serves. (Proverbs 25:13)
10. A dependable person is faultless at his work. (Daniel 6:4)
11. A dependable person deals wisely with resources and relationships.
(See Luke 16:1-15)

Are you a dependable person? Ask yourself the question -- can others
count of YOU?

To keep your word?
To stay on schedule?
To be alert to details?
To make wise decisions?
To use your time wisely?
To complete assignments?
Good words to consider as we begin a new week. Have a great day!

SEARCH ME, O GOD

SEARCH ME, O GOD

"Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my MIND and HEART. Behold, You
desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden parts will make me
to know wisdom. I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your
testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep your commandments.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have an ADVOCATE with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself, is the propitiation
for our sins. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to ender the Holiest
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for
us, through the veil, that is His flesh, and having a HIGH PRIEST over
the house of God, let us draw near with a TRUE heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water.

(Lamentations 3:40; Psalm 26:2; Psalm 51:6; Psalm 119:59-60; 1 John 1:9;
1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 10:19-22)

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord -- in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me.
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

James Edwin Orr (1912-1987)

Good words as we prepare our hearts for this Lord's Day, February 26,
2006

HIS HEART OF LOVE

HIS HEART OF LOVE

Here are some verses that spoke to my heart yesterday in a powerful way:

"The Lord your God loves you. The kindness of God leads you to
repentance. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The Lord our God
is merciful and pardons even those who have rebelled against him. God
will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up. Blessed is
he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. You forgave
the iniquity of my sin. In You the fatherless finds mercy. Return to the
Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love. I will heal their faithlessness; I will
love them freely. His steadfast love endures forever! For great is your
love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
(Deut. 23:5; Romans 2:4; 1 John 1:9; Daniel 9:9; Proverbs 28:13; Psalm
32:1; Psalm 32:5; Hosea 14:3; Joel 2:13; Hosea 14:4; 1 Chronicles 16:34;
Psalm 108:4)

Allow those verses to work into your hearts and minds. What wonderful
truth for us as we begin to prepare our hearts for the Lord's day. I
read two powerful quotes yesterday that tie in with these verses. Let me
share them with you, and as a friend of mine wrote yesterday, these will
need time to work into your hearts . . .

"The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He
foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet,
nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this
should bow me in wonder and worship before Him!" -- A. W. Pink

"The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastening me (for
my sin), embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me
with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and
delights Himself with me incessantly . . . and treats me in all
respects as His favorite." -- Brother Lawrence

WOW! I trust these thoughts this morning will cause you to rejoice in
His heart that is full of love . . . FOR YOU!

Have you registered for our special FREEDOM FIGHTER DAY on Saturday,
March 11? Mark Fisher, President of Sandy Cove Ministries will be
sharing how God transformed his life from a bondage to sexual sin.
Invite a friend and join us for this powerful day of teaching, worship
and fellowship. Call today for reservations: 800-453-7942

WHO IS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER?

WHO IS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER?

One of my key staff leaders recently attended a prayer summit and gave
me the notes from on of the sessions. I think you will enjoy these
truths about your Heavenly Father:

Your Heavenly Father is:

1. A perfect Father -- ". . . be ye therefore perfect even as your
Father in Heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
2. A Creator-Redeemer Father - "Is not He your Father that has bought
you? Has He not made you . . . ?" (Deut. 32:6)
3. A Saving Father - "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my
salvation." (Psalm 89:26)
4. A Righteous Father - "O righteous Father, the world has not know
You." (John 17:25)
5. A Giving Father - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights..." (James 1;17)
6. A Grace-Filled Father - "God, even our Father, which hath loved us,
and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace."
(2 Thessalonians 2:16)
7. A Rewarding Father - "Pray to your Father which is in secret; and
your Father which seeth in secret shall reward you openly." (Matthew
6:6)
8. A Need-Knowing Father - "For your Heavenly Father knows that you have
need of all these things." (Matthew 6:32)
9. A Guiding Father - "My Father, You are the guide of my youth. . . "
(Jeremiah 3:4)
10. A Prayer Answering Father - "Whatever you shall ask of the Father in
my name, He may give it you." (John 15:16)
11. A Protecting Father - "Even so it is not the will of your Father
which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew
18:14)
12. A Family Father - "A Father of the Fatherless . . . " (Psalm 68:5)
13. A Providing Father - "Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us
to be partakers of the divine inheritance . . . " (Colossians 1:12)
14. A Just Father - "Call on the Father, who without the respect of
persons judges according to every man's work." (1 Peter 1:17)
15. A Comfort-Giving Father - "And I will pray the Father, and He shall
give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." (John
14:6)

I hope this morning that these truths about YOUR Heavenly Father will
cause you to rejoice in Him today.

Our Freedom Fighter Day is coming up on Saturday, March 11, 2006. We
urge you to attend and bring a friend. Call today for reservations --
800-453-7942.

THE VALUE OF MUSIC

THE VALUE OF MUSIC

Dr. Mark Swenson writes in his daily devotional, A MINUTE OF MARGIN: "I
suspect God knew life was going to be difficult, so He gave three gifts
to ease our way.

The first is NATURE. No matter where we turn our eyes, the nature we see
will have a lifting effect. And it is free. If we were required to pay
rent for sunsets, I doubt we'd be able to afford even five minutes.
Every sunsets unique. Nature is free, is equally available to every
person, and has a powerful healing effect on the human spirit.

The second is LAUGHTER. We can't explain what it is, where it comes
from, or why it works. Yet as a balm for frazzled nerves, laughter is
unique. Laughter is free, is equally available to every person, and has
a powerful effect on the human spirit.

The third is MUSIC. Again we can't explain what it is, where it comes
from, or why it works. One person warbles her vocal chords while another
blows on his pipe -- and somehow it soothes. Music is free, is equally
available to ever person, and has a powerful healing effect on the human
spirit.

Seventy-five percent of Americans use music to de-stress. In response to
the increasingly wearying conditions of everyday life, music therapists
are emerging all across the nation. Studies reveal that surgeons who can
choose their own music in the operating room have improved
cardiovascular parameters during stressful surgeries. If, on the other
hand, the music was chosen for them, there was no such benefit.

When God created music He somehow ordained that it would be able to
penetrate through multiple layers of our consciousness and go straight
to the depths of our spirit. It has been my own experience during times
of significant stress that music has helped me when nothing else could.
It sails right past all my defenses and snuggles up next to the pain.

Find the music that matches most precisely your need and play it over
and over, allowing it to massage your soul."

"The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice
over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He
will delight over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Good words for today.

IS HE REALLY THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE?

IS HE REALLY THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE?

"If you can"? . . . EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes." -- See
Mark 9:23

I wrote about this yesterday and shared devotional thoughts from STREAMS IN
THE DESERT. In reading today's devotional from the same book, I read these
powerful words: "You just have to believe that He's done it and it's done!
The greatest problem with most of us is, after asking Him to do it, we do
not believe it is done. Instead we keep trying to help Him, get others to
help Him, and anxiously wait to see how HE's going to work it out.

Faith adds God's 'Amen' to God's 'Yes' and then takes its hands off, leaving
God to finish the work. The language of faith is, 'Commit your way to the
Lord; trust in him and he will do this' (Psalm 37:5) . . . Active faith
gives thanks for a promise even though it is not yet performed, knowing that
God's contracts are as good as cash . . . " (from Matthew Henry as quoted in
today's reading from Streams in the Desert)

Well I can hardly contain myself because I have an illustration to share
with you this morning. Last week, Tom Paschke, our Director of Housekeeping,
flew back to Seattle, Washington to spend a week with his family. Every so
often Tom questions where he should be -- America's KESWICK or Seattle. He
was in one of his seasons of discouragement when he left. On Tuesday night,
he and his cousin were walking to their hotel when a homeless man was being
harassed in front of the hotel. The men involved took off when the biker
police showed up. Tom and his cousin were questioned by the biker police and
asked for his identification. When the police came back, they arrested Tom.
On his record was a 1992 parole violation that was never handled, so he was
taken into custody.

Tom was totally blindsided about this as several years ago went back to
Seattle to have his record clear. He was helpless and so were we. At the
moment, there was nothing

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

"It is possible for believers who are completely willing to trust the power
of the Lord for their safekeeping and victory to lead a life of readily
taking His promises exactly as they are finding them to be true,

IT IS POSSIBLE to daily 'cast ALL your anxiety on Him' and experience deep
peace in the process. (1 Peter 5:7)

IT IS POSSIBLE to have our thoughts and the desires of our hearts purified
in the deepest sense of the word.

IT IS POSSIBLE to see God's will in EVERY circumstance and to accept it with
singing instead of complaining.

IT IS POSSIBLE to become strong through and through by completely taking
refuge in the power of God and by realizing that our greatest weakness and
the things that

upset our determination to be patient, pure or humble, provide an
opportunity to make sin powerless over us. This opportunity comes through
Him who loves us and works to bring us into agreement with HIS will, and
thereby supplies a blessed sense of His presence and power.

All these are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES. Because they are HIS work, actually
experiencing them will always humble us, causing us to bow at His feet and
teaching us to hunger and thirst for more.

We will never be satisfied with anything less -- each day, each hour, each
moment in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit -- than walking with
God. We are able to have as much of God as we want. Christ puts the key to
His treasure chest in our hands and invites us to take all we desire. If
someone is allowed into a bank vault, told to help himself to the money, and
leaves without one cent, whose fault is it if he remains poor? And whose
fault is it that Christians usually have such meager portions of the free
riches of God?"

from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Cowman -- published by our good friends
at Zondervan. You can order a copy of this powerful devotional from our
KESWICK ONLINE BOOKSTORE (www.americaskeswick.org), or call our on-site
store -- 732-350-1187 ext. 31.

Join us for our special FREEDOM FIGHTER DAY coming up on Saturday, March 11.
Mark P. Fisher, Sandy Cove Ministries' new President, will be sharing the
day with us and telling his story of how God has delivered him from a long
battle with pornography. Invite some men to be a part of this day that can
radically change their lives!!! To register or for fliers, call
800-453-7942.

YIELD YOUR WILL

YIELD YOUR WILL

"Love does not depend on your feelings. Your WILL is what God wants from
you. Run your household in a godly way, raise your children properly,
and give up empty pleasures. Seek to be simple, quiet. and humble. Let
your life be hid with Christ in God. This is what God is after.

When God asks you for something, do not refuse Him. Learn to wait for
God. Do not move until He directs you. Each day will bring its own
problems. As you deal with them you will grow deeper and deeper in God.

Let your faith strengthen you. When you feel absolutely weak, you will
discover a strength that is not your own. You will KNOW that the
strength is not your own. And if you go astray for a little while, then
you will learn humility as you return. Your Lord lives in the center of
your spirit. Return to Him there as much as you can. Surrender yourself
to God and learn to live by Him rather than out of your own strength.
Little by little this learning to live by your Lord's strength unfolds
within you. No longer will you cling to things that you can see, but you
will cling to God, within you, and there you will find deep fellowship."
-- From the writings of FENELON -- The Seeking Heart. You can order this
from the KESWICK BOOKSTORE -- (1-800-453-7942 ext. 31)

"Will is the whole man active, and the whole active power and force of
the saint is to be laid at the feet of Jesus Christ. We busy ourselves
with work FOR Him while He waits for all our individual energy to be
curbed and submitted to Him that HE may re-direct it into the channels
HE wants." -- OSWALD CHAMBERS

Good words for today. Listen to the KESWICK TODAY radio broadcast this
week to find out how you can turn STUFF into treasures and build a godly
legacy for your family. Join us as we talk with Lauren Littaurer Briggs.
You can listen to the broadcast by visiting our website --
www.americaskeswick.org.

ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTORS

ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTORS

I am very concerned with what I am seeing happening in the church today.
During a recent conference at America's KESWICK, I had the opportunity
to meet over 250 pastors and wives -- men and women who are sold out for
Christ and serving on the front lines of the battle.

What we discovered is how many of these soldiers of the cross are
discouraged and on the edge of throwing in the towel. It was very
alarming to me to see these precious folks wounded and weary.

I am personally working with a number of godly men who faithfully
proclaim and teach the Word of God but who are being worn down because
they are expected not to be the shepherd of the flock as God has
intended them to be, but are being asked to be the "CEO" of a "church
business." One dear brother in Christ was recently told that while he
was one of the godliest men that they knew, and that he handled the
Scriptures faithfully, was a good husband and father, he was lacking the
leadership skills to be the CEO of the church.

The expectations of our Pastors today are out-of-control. I am afraid
that if many of our employers placed on us the number of expectations
that we place on our shepherds, we would have buckled in and quit a long
time ago.

On this Lord' day, I want to encourage you to encourage YOUR pastor.
Martin Luther said that encouragement is oxygen to the soul. Paul urged
the members of the church at Thessalonica with these words: "Now we ask
you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead
you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly IN LOVE
because of their work . . . " (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Sometime during the week, write a note to your pastor and his staff and
encourage them. Pick of the phone and tell the Pastor how his ministry
has impacted yours. Thank him for serving the Lord at your church.

Many years ago I attended a Bill Gothard seminar and we were encouraged
to write thank you notes to people who had impacted our lives. I wrote
to the Pastor who led me to Christ at age 3 and thanked him for pushing
a little kid aside. This dear servant of the Lord had led hundreds of
people to Christ during is 35 years of ministry, but he wrote back to me
saying that I was the first one to ever say thanks. He died several
months later.

Well, sorry for meddling this morning . . . well not really. Thanks for
doing the right thing this morning!

CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISES GOD

CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISES GOD

"When my little son was about ten years old, his grandmother promised
him a stamp collecting album for Christmas. Christmas came and went with
no stamp album and no word from Grandma. The matter, however, was not
mentioned, until his friends came to see his Christmas presents. I was
astonished, after he had listed all the gifts he had received, to hear
him add, 'And a stamp album from my grandmother.'

After hearing this several times, I called my son to m and said, 'But
George, you didn't get a stamp album from Grandma. Why did you say
that?' With a puzzled look on his face, as if I had asked a very strange
question, he replied, 'Well, Mom, Grandma SAID, and that is the same
AS.' Not a word would sway his faith.

A month passed and nothing else was said about the album. Finally one
day, to test his faith and because I wondered in my own heart why the
album had not been sent, I said, 'George, I think Grandma has forgotten
her promise.' 'Ph no, Mom,' he quickly and firmly responded. 'She
hasn't.'

I watched his sweet, trusting face, which for a while looked very
serious, as if he were debating the possibility I had suggested. Soon
his face brightened as he said, 'Do you think it would do any good for
me to write Grandma, thanking her for the album?' 'I don't know,' I
said, 'but you might try it.' A rich spiritual truth then began to dawn
on me.

In a few minutes a letter was written and mailed, as George went off
whistling his confidence in his grandma. Soon a letter from Grandma
arrived with this message:

My dear George,

I have not forgotten my promise to you for a stamp album. I could not
find the one you wanted here, so I ordered one from New York. It did not
arrive until after Christmas, and it was not the right one. I then
ordered another, but it still has not arrived. I have decided to send
you thirty dollars instead so that you may buy the one you want in
Chicago.

Your loving Grandma.

As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. From the
depths of a heart that NEVER doubted came the words, 'Now Mom, didn't I
tell you?' George, 'against all hope . . . in hope believed.' (Romans
8:14) that the stamp album would come. And while he was trusting,
Grandma was working, and in due time faith became sight.

It is only human to want to SEE before we step out on the promises of
God. Yet our Savior said to doubting Thomas and to a long list of
doubters who have followed, 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET
BELIEVED." (John 20:29) -- Today's Freedom Fighter is from STREAMS IN
THE DESERT, available from the KESWICK ONLINE BOOKSTORE --
www.americaskeswick.org

EVERYONE NEEDS A BURNING BUSH

EVERYONE NEEDS A BURNING BUSH

"I will not forget, Lord, what the burning bush means. What did it mean
to Moses? Exactly what You said it would mean: 'This will be a sign to
you that it is I who have sent you' (Exodus 3:12 NIV).

A sign! How many times, Lord, have You spoken to me through a sign?
Possibly none of them was as dramatic and arresting as a bush that
burned and yet was not consumed. But signs nevertheless. For the
important thing about a sign is not what it IS but what it POINTS to.
And Your signs have pointed me to the same all-powerful One as the
burning-bush sign pointed to Moses. The God of the burning bush was to
become the God of the Exodus. And the God of the Exodus became the God
of the Red Sea deliverance.

Moses was able to do such marvelous exploits because He believed in that
kind of a God. And he believed in that kind of a God because of what he
saw at the burning bush. The bush-burning experience created a
FOUNDATION for Moses' faith. If God could do that --

All of God's actions are designed to build a platform underneath our
faith. That is why I must have a personal burning bush. Someone else's
experience is valuable to me only as an incentive. But that incentive
does nothing for me inwardly unless it leads me to a burning-bush
experience in which spiritual reality becomes conviction.

Every child of God needs his burning bush, the place where God is so
real he can no longer doubt, no longer equivocate, no longer rebel. He
will never be the same person afterward. His remaining life may have its
share of trials, burdens, and afflictions as Moses', but it also will
have its victories and triumphs. The burning-bush tells us of a God who
is so real that He dares us to doubt." from DAILY WITH THE KING --
published by Moody Press

"For I am confident of this very thing, that HE who began a good work in
you will perfect it until the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

Good words for today. Visit our website to find out about our special
FREEDOM FIGHTER DAY!!! Don't miss it. -- www.americaskeswick.org

HOW DO YOU SMELL?

HOW DO YOU SMELL?

One of Zach's favorite shows growing us was BEAR AND THE BIG BLUE HOUSE.
Every morning he'd watch Bear go through the ritual of preparing his
house for his friends. Bear would pick up a scent and begin sniffing and
say, "I smell something . . . and . . . it's YOU!

Our nose is an amazing organ. Did you ever notice that you can be
someplace and pick up a scent that takes you back to another place you
have been? We were just at another conference center on the weekend and
as we were walking around, there was a distinct smell that took me back
years ago to when I was a camper at Sandy Cove. Scientists tell us that
our noses are so incredible that its six million olfactory cells inside
of it can detect 10,000 separate odors and as many as a half-million
combination odors. Without this sense, we would not be able to tell
perfumes from poisons, the fragrance of a flower from the stench of a
dead animal, Coca Cola from 7-Up, or a gas leak from baked bread.

We have a friend of the ministry that before she was even near you, you
could smell her perfume a mile away . . . well not quite. It would be
funny as our staff would catch a whiff of the perfume, look at each
other and say, "So and so is here!"

I have been reading in my ONE YEAR BIBLE through the book of Exodus and
Leviticus as God gives Moses instructions about the building of the
tabernacle and the use of offerings. The incense that Moses was to make
was to made with the finest of spices and was to be a sweet aroma to the
Lord. The different sacrificial offerings were designed to be a soothing
aroma to the Lord.

As I was meditating on these truths this morning, I was reminded that we
are to present ourselves to the Lord as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)
and was reminded that the fragrance of our lives does make an impression
on people. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: "But thanks be to God
who always leads us in triumph IN CHRIST, and manifests THROUGH us the
sweet aroma of the knowledge of him. For we are a FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST to
God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
to one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to
life." (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

When you walk in the room how do you smell? Is your life a sweet aroma
that points people to Jesus? Good thoughts to ponder on this Thursday,
February 16, 2006.

Listen to Dr. Fred Hartman as he shares more today on Bible Prophecy on
KESWICK TODAY. You can pick up the broadcast by visiting our website:
www.americaskeswick.org

DON'T LET THE SONG GO OUT OF YOUR HEART

DON'T LET THE SONG GO OUT OF YOUR HEART

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good words for today.

Check out the Keswick Today radio broadcast today with Dr. Fred Hartman
as we discuss God's prophetic timetable -- www.americaskeswick.org.

PRAYER FOR A DOG?

PRAYER FOR A DOG?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Valentines Day!

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

ARE YOU LISTENING?

ARE YOU LISTENING?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANOTHER INCREDIBLE GIANT

ANOTHER INCREDIBLE GIANT

"I can do the very best I know how -- the very best I can; and I mean to
keep doing so." -- President Abraham Lincoln

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

1831 -- Failed in business

1832 -- Defeated for legislature

1833 -- Again failed in business

1834 -- Elected to legislature
1835-- Sweetheart died

1836-- Had a nervous breakdown

1838-- Defeated for Speaker

1840-- Defeated for elector

1843-- Defeated for Congress

1846-- Elected to Congress

1848-- Defeated for Congress

1855-- Defeated for Senate

1856-- Defeated for Vice-President

1858-- Defeated for Senate

1860-- ELECTED PRESIDENT

" . . . A crisis does not make character; a crisis REVEALS character. A
man's character is what he habitually is." -- Oswald Chambers

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

A WOMEN OF GRACE...

"A WOMAN OF GRACE . . ."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

601 Route 530

Whiting, NJ 08759

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

DO YOUR WORDS MATTER

DO YOUR WORDS MATTER

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

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

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

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

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

PRAISE AND BELIEF GO HAND IN HAND

PRAISE AND BELIEF GO HAND IN HAND

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

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

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

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

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

Have a blessed day, my friend.

FAULT FINDING

FAULT FINDING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OUR AWESOME GOD . . .

OUR AWESOME GOD . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAY THE TAPE TO THE END . . .

PLAY THE TAPE TO THE END . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BE STILL

BE STILL

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has wrought desolations in
the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the
bow, and shatters the spear, he burns the chariots with fire! 'Be still
and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in
the earth!' The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
refuge." (Psalm 46:8-11)

One of the challenges, especially for those of us who are Type A
personalities is to BE STILL. Some of us our so wrapped up in the DOING
of the Christian life, that we neglect BEING all that God wants us to
be. Most men are afraid to BE STILL. We avoid it at all costs. But God
wants us to learn this wonderful truth.

Mrs. Cowman in her classic devotional work, STREAMS IN THE DESERT, wrote
these words: "I do not believe we have even begun to understand the
wonderful power there is in being still. We are in such a hurry, always
doing, that we are in danger of not allowing God the opportunity to
work. You may be sure that God will never say to us, 'Stand still,' 'Sit
still,' or 'Be still' unless HE is going to do something. This is our
problem regarding the Christian life: we want to do something to be
Christians, instead of allowing HIM to work in us.

Think of how still you stand when your picture is being taken, as the
photographer captures your likeness on film. God has one eternal purpose
for us: that we should be 'conformed to the likeness of His Son' (Romans
8:29). But in order for that to happen, we must stand still. We hear so
much today about being active, but maybe we need to learn what it means
to be quiet."

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! thy best, thy Heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul! the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul! when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina Amalia von Schlegel

Good words to ponder as we worship the Lord today -- on HIS day!

THE LOVE OF GOD

THE LOVE OF GOD

"For the love of Christ compels us . . ." 2 Corinthians 5:14

From the pen of Oswald Chambers (MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- available
at the KESWICK ONLINE BOOKSTORE . . . www.americaskeswick.org)

"Paul said that the was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by
'the love of Christ.' Very few of us know what it means to be held in
the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by
our own experience. The one thing that gripped Paul, to the exclusion of
everything else, was the love of God. When you hear that coming from the
life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know the Spirit of
God is completely unhindered in that persons life . . .

When this happens . . . we will accept EVERYTHING that happens as it
were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution
or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not
totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that
matters, and yet it is strange that it's the last thing we realize.

Paul said that he was GRIPPED by the love of God and that why he acted
as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane -- he did not care.
There was only one thing he lived for -- to persuade people of the
coming judgment of God and to tell them of 'the love of Christ.' This
total surrender to 'the love of Christ' is the only thing that will bear
fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God's holiness
and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness."

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me,
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward
To my glorious rest above.

O the deep, deep, love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore.
How he loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore.
How He watches o're His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the blest;
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'Tis a haven sweet of rest,
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee. Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925)

Good words for us today!

WHO PREACHED THE MESSAGE FIRST . . .

WHO PREACHED THE MESSAGE FIRST . . .

As you prepare for the Lord's Day, here are some thoughts for your
consideration . . .

"The first sermon preached each Sunday is not by the minister, but by
YOU! You preach a message of good cheer when you say 'good morning' to
those who you meet as you are parking, in the hallway, and classrooms.

You preach a message of welcome! -- 'We have room for you' when you
slide over in the pew instead of forcing others to squeeze in front of
you. You peach a message of hope and joy when you enthusiastically sing
and worship.

You preach a message about the power of prayer when you fervently enter
into out time of prayer together. You preach a message about respect
when you listen attentively while the special music is presented.

You preach a message of love with your smile, say hello, and introduce
yourself to visitors. You preach a message of faith why you give your
tithes and offerings. You preach a message about the importance of
Scripture when you open your Bible to the day's text.

Many messages are preached BEFORE the Pastor stands up to bring HIS
message. If your message is positive and consistent, then the message
given from the pulpit will be much better received. Go Sunday morning
prepared to preach YOUR best sermon." from Pulpit Helps

Good words to consider as we prepare our hearts for the Lord's Day.

GOOD REMINDERS

GOOD REMINDERS

One of the disciplines of life that I encourage men (and women) to do is
to journal. I have shared with you before that I journal my morning
prayers. Yes, I write out my prayers. It has helped me to stay focused
on what I am praying rather than have my wandering mind go all over the
place.

I also put dates and notations in my Bible and devotional books of
things that are taking place in my life. If you were to look at them,
there would not really be any significance to you, but for me, it is a
historical record of the things that the Lord is doing in my life. I
have noted by doing this, cycles of ups and downs in my spiritual
journey that help me understand how God has wired me. I find that some
of my staff go through cycles in their lives. It has been a good
exercise and one I commend to you.

Yesterday was one of those reminders of God's faithfulness in a very
difficult situation. Several years ago we were facing a monumental
financial struggle at America's KESWICK. Our employee health insurance
bill was due and we needed $25,000 to pay the bill. The bottom line was
that we did not have the money. Our staff gathered to worship and pray.
We knew we couldn't borrow the money -- so there was only ONE who could
provide it.

And the Lord did so in a dramatic way. A friend of the ministry loaned
us $25,000 as a short-term loan but said, "the real deal will be here on
Friday." Friday came. Friday went. No money. On Saturday morning before
our Board meeting, I met with God in the morning and from the devotional
STREAMS IN THE DESERT, here were the words from the WORD:
"This is my doing." (1 Kings 12:24)

As I read the message for the day, God reminded me that He was in
control and knew all about our situation. These words jumped off the
page, "Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends
meet? "This is my doing," for I am the One who keeps your finances, and
I want you to learn to depend on Me. My supply is limitless and I "will
meet all your needs." (Philippians 4:19) I want to prove MY PROMISES so
no one may say, "You did not trust in the Lord your God." (Deut. 1:32)

An hour later, God proved HIS faithfulness. A Board member shared with
me that a friend had wired money into his account for America's KESWICK
on Thursday. On Friday when he went to the bank to transfer the money to
his checking account -- the amount? $25,000!!! The real deal WAS there
on Friday. And the amazing thing is the person who gave the money lives
in France! How did she know? OUR GOD IS AWESOME! HE KNEW OUR NEED.

Facing a challenge in your life? Financial? Health? Kids? Talk to Him
about it. Trust Him! He wants to WOW you with HIS goodness. And when He
does it -- take time to write it down. It will be a great reminder to
you and to your children and your children's children of God's
faithfulness and amazing work in your life.

COUNT IT ALL JOY . . .

COUNT IT ALL JOY . . .

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Listen to the words of Fenelon about how to handle the trials we face:
"Don't bargain with God to get out of this mess in the easiest, most
comfortable way. Embrace the cross. Live by love alone. Let God do what
He needs to do to root out your self-love. Pray within yourself all day
long. Live in prayer -- let it touch everything you do. Be aware of
God's presence with you -- even when you are busy. Do this and peace
will be yours.

You will not become perfect by hearing or reading about perfection. The
important thing is not to listen to yourself, but silently listen to
God. Talk little and do much, without caring to be seen. God will teach
you more than any book or person can. Do you need to go to school to
learn how to love God and deny yourself? You already know much more
about good than you currently practice. What you need is to put into
practice what you already know! Don't try to gain knowledge before you
practice what you already see."

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has
stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised
to those who love him." James 1:12 (NIV)

"Growth and depth and strength and consistency and fruitfulness and
ultimately in Christlikeness is only possible when the winds of life are
contrary to personal comfort. Just as the storms make it possible for
eagles to soar, so suffering makes it possible for you and me to attain
the highest pinnacles in the Christian life. Suffering develops our
faith. God uses His will, which can go against human logic and sense.
The reason is to focus on our faith, not on our friends . . . or ability
. . . or resources . . . or knowledge . . . or strength . . . or
ANYTHING other than HIM ALONE!" -- Anne Graham Lotz

Good words for today, my friend. May God bless you.

THE SEEKING HEART by Fenelon and MY JESUS IS EVERYTHING by Ann Graham
Lotz, are available at the Keswick Online Bookstore --
www.americaskeswick.org