THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER

THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER

" . . . One of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray.' " (Luke 11:1)

Prayer is not a normal part of the life of a NATURAL man. We hear it said that a person's life will suffer if he doesn't pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life.

Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simple as a means of GETTING THINGS for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.

'Ask, and you will receive ...' (John 16:24) We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ASK Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, ' . . . Unless you ... become as little children ...' (Matthew 18:3) Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work.

The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at WIT'S END. When a person is at WIT'S END, it no longer seems to be the cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems -- the very things that have brought you to your WIT'S END. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.

To say that 'prayer changes things' is not as close to the truth as saying, 'PRAYER CHANGES ME and then I change things.' God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things EXTERNALLY, but one of working miracles in a person's inner nature." from the pen of Oswald Chambers -- MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST
Good quote: When we in prayer seek only the glorification of the name of God, then we are in complete harmony with the Spirit of prayer. Then our hearts are at rest both while we pray and after we have prayed. Then we can wait for the Lord. Ole Kristian O. Hallesby

Good words for your consideration today.

GUARD YOUR MOUTH

GUARD YOUR MOUTH

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from trouble." Proverbs 21:23

I feel like I am in really good company. Yesterday could have been one of those embarrassing moments. This morning as I was waking, the Fox News team were laughing about an incident that occurred to a CNN reported during President Bush's news conference yesterday. Apparently a reporter went to the ladies room and didn't know her mic was still on. Rather than the tech team turning it off -- they left the mic run! Yikes.

Well that happened to me yesterday. During the morning service we were waiting for someone to come make an announcement and they were not there. I introduced the man from the Colony who was to give his testimony, walked off the platform and proceeded to walk out of the Raws Auditorium to find the person who was to make the announcement.

Little did I know that the mic was still on! Little did I know the long distance range of a remote mic! Thankfully what I said was minimal for my sanguine mouth. But everyone in the room heard my remarks. As I talked later with Robert and Joyce Hayes, we thought about how the Lord protected me ... it is scary to think what I MIGHT have said. And I am even more thankful that I WASN'T in the restroom.

As I reflected on this throughout the day, I was reminded again that my words can have devastating effects. The things that we say to others may not necessarily get broadcasted over a PA system, but think how many times our words are repeated to others -- sometimes the words can get twisted and taken out of context -- and people are hurt and offended because of the misuse of our tongues.

Sometimes we say things that we don't want anyone else to hear. Have you ever been in a situation where you were talking about someone thinking they weren't there only to discover that they were standing right there or in close proximity?

Next time you are ready to say something unkind, untrue or unnecessary -- ask yourself this question ... would I say this if I knew that my words were being broadcasted over the PA system in my church? Or in the boss's office?

Well think about it ... You may think no one hears what you say -- but God does! He hears it all -- a sobering thought.

Good words to consider today.

Great Quote: " . . . The great test of a man's character is his tongue." Oswald Chambers

TRANSFORMED

TRANSFORMED

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful gift from a dear friend -- a 18 year old motor home! We haven't named her yet, but she has become a work in progress. We have had a good time the past few weeks working on her from the inside out. It started with removing all the old curtains and blinds which then led to peeling off some of the old "Sana toss" (not sure if that is even spelled right ...) wallpaper that has become bubbled from sheer old age.

Then we ripped up the old carpet and began the task of laying new floor tiles on the wooden floor. We started laying the tiles on Saturday afternoon and finished the task late Saturday night. While the floor looks great for two amateurs, as we stepped back to admire it, there is still work to be done. Our skills are limited so we still need some finishing touches like moldings and carpet treads where the upfront carpet meets the tile. The more we are into in, the more we realize that the trailer is a "work in progress."

As I was laying in bed this morning trying to shake off the sleep cobwebs, the thought struck me that the trailer reminds me of our lives as Christians -- we are works in progress. God is in the process of conforming and transforming our lives for HIS glory ... we are a work in progress ... Paul writes about this is several of his letters:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one would boast. For we are His WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being TRANSFORMED into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." -- 2 Corinthians 3:18

I am reminded of the illustration that Bill Gothard uses that our lives are like a painting that is still on the easel. The Master artist is painting the portrait of our lives and one day the masterpiece will be complete. My friend, rejoice today that the Master is at work in your life -- transforming you from the INSIDE OUT. Your life is a work in progress.

Good words to ponder today.

Great quote: "Gracious souls are never perfectly at ease except they are in a state of nearness to Christ; for mark you, when they are not near to Christ they lose their peace. The nearer you are to Jesus, the nearer to the perfect calm of heaven; and the further from Jesus, the nearer to that troubled sea which images the continual unrest of the wicked. There is no peace to the man who does not dwell under the shadow of the cross; for Jesus is our peace, and if he be absent, our peace is absent too. I know that being justified, we have peace with God, but it is 'through our Lord Jesus Christ.' so that the justified man himself cannot reap the fruit of justification, except by abiding in Christ Jesus, who is the Lord and Giver of peace." Charles Spurgeon, Sermon, "The Bride and the Bridegroom"

REDEEMING THE TIME

REDEEMING THE TIME

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

"These days we are bombarded with opportunities that entice us to invest our time and energy. Each day the voices of urgency cry out for every available moment. So many causes promise that time spent on them will reap great rewards; how can we recognize God's voice among so many competing voices?

A fool makes unwise choices with his time. With every new opportunity that comes along, the fool chases off in a different direction, not questioning whether that is the best choice. The loudest voice gains his attention. At some point the fool discovers to his dismay that he has squandered the investment of his time.

The days in which you live are evil. Marriages are under tremendous pressure; families are disintegrating. Multitudes are dying each year without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Investing your life wisely is critical to you and to those around you. Foolishly spending your time in sinful or wasteful pursuits can you and others dearly.

Often, it is not evil pursuits that rob your time. Rather, the temptation is to sacrifice what is BEST for what is good. The enemy knows that blatantly tempting you with evil will be obvious, so he will lure you with distractions, leaving you no time to carry out God's will. He will tempt you to so fill your schedule with GOOD things that you will have no time for GOD'S BEST. You may inadvertently substitute religious ACTIVITY for GOD'S WILL, pursuing your OWN goals for God's kingdom instead of waiting for HIS assignment. Time is a precious commodity. Be sure to invest it wisely." from the pen of Dr. Henry Blackaby -- EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY -- Devotional.

Several weeks ago I had a brief conversation with a 91-year old retired doctor who served in Africa for over 50 plus years. He was observing my schedule and activities and pulled me aside to give me some "grandfatherly" advice. He told me that early on in his ministry of medicine as Chief of Staff of the hospital, he was headed for burn-out. It was overwhelming to him that there were so many people that demanded his time and attention. One day he began to pray, "Lord, please only bring into my life today the people and things that I must handle for YOU today." For fifty plus years he prayed that simple prayer and God answered. He was able to accomplish God's purposes for his life and never experienced burn-out or fatigue. Good advice for those of us that face the pressures of life on a daily basis.

GREAT QUOTE: Work is a blessing. [YES! A BLESSING!] God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and thirst that make food and drink such pleasures. - Discipline: The Glad Surrender -- Elisabeth Elliot

AMAZING GRACE

AMAZING GRACE

I just finished reading a historical fiction book based on the life of John Newton, the "slave-ship captain turned pastor" and composer of the hymn AMAZING GRACE. Most of our hymnals include five of the seven stanzas from the original hymn. May these words penned by one who was overwhelmed by the grace and mercy of God, be a stimulant to you this morning as you prepare to worship HIM -- the Author and Perfector of AMAZING GRACE.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.

The following epitaph penned by John Newton himself, is inscribed in marble resting beside the pulpit in his church:

John Newton
Clerk
Once and infidel and libertine,
A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ,
Preserved, Restored, Pardoned,
And appointed to preach the faith
He had long labored to destroy!

THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER

THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER

"What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe . . . " (Ephesians 1:19)

"Come, my heart, satisfy and delight yourself, this morning, with the thought of what your mighty God can do for you -- the grace He is able to give you now -- the glory He is reserving for you -- the uplifting, upholding, strengthening, and preserving power which is all invested in His living hands on your behalf. Here is a storehouse of riches on which your largest demands can make no perceptible diminishment, and all this is YOURS!

EXCEEDING GREATNESS -- Yes, Lord, more vast and wonderful than my poor finite mind can conceive. Your power bids the sun pour forth his radiant light and heat -- your power holds the stars in space, and hangs the earth upon NOTHING -- your power rules the universe with a WORD! Is it not exceeding great? All nature shows your handiwork, and your wondrous power is as much seen in the lowest forms of life and growth as in the higher developments of your creative hand. All the discoveries of science, all the revelations of its secrets which has so late surprised and delighted us, are but GLIMPSES of the infinite might and wisdom of the God whose 'love is as great as his power, and knows neither measure or end.'

But, Lord, it is not on the majesty of your omnipotence as shown in your material world that I would meditate at this moment; it is the 'power to us-ward who believe' that enchains my heart, and thrills my soul with joy. Help me to draw near to you, dear Lord, humbly and reverently, that I may 'see this great sight'; for though this is holy ground, and the bush burns with fire, there is no barrier as of old, to prevent a near approach to you, seeing that, now, we are made nigh by the blood of Christ...

Look to yourself, my soul. Is the exceeding greatness of your Lord's power manifest in you as it should be? Blessed be his Name, you can say, 'He has redeemed me from death and hell, pardoned my sins through the shedding of His precious blood, and given me a promise of life eternal in His presence.' But what more? Those are gifts of His grace, the cornerstone of His mercy and love. What do you possess of the details of his mighty working, the filling up, as it were, of the great plan of his will and design concerning you? What does the 'effectual working of his power' produce in your heart and life? Are you wholly consecrated to his service? Have you given yourself and all that you have into his loving hands? Are you filled with his Holy Spirit? Does he control every thought, word and deed? Are all the powers of your being and all the possessions of both soul and body subject and surrendered to his absolute sway?

Put forth in me the mighty grace which will make my daily life a proof that you are working you own will in me, and giving me to know is some measure, 'what is the exceeding greatness of his power to -us-ward who believe." adapted from Susannah Spurgeon -- Free Grace and Dying Love, published by our good friends at The Banner of Truth Trust.

Good words to consider today.

LIFE ON THE CUTTING EDGE

LIFE ON THE CUTTING EDGE

" . . . Who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness made strong." (Hebrews 11:33, 34)

"Is faith a risk? Of course. But failing to step out in faith is to risk missing real life. I have been challenged by the following thought from an unknown author.

RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To place our ideas, our dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.

Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing , has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love ... live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave; he has forfeited freedom.

What a privilege for us to be able to walk by faith in God Himself, armed with all the promises of His Word. I suppose we all desire the security of the solid tree trunk, but the fruit is out on the limb. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The timid soul asks, 'What do I stand to lose if I do it?' The fruit-bearing Christian asks, 'What do I stand to lose if I DON'T do it. Real life is lived on the cutting edge." from DAILY IN CHRIST by Neil Anderson

Is God asking you to set out today BY FAITH to live on the cutting edge? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Drop me an email today.
Great Quote: Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen. John Wesley

TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS PART 2

TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS PART 2

Here are ten more faith-builder truths from Dr. Neil Anderson's devotional, DAILY IN CHRIST:

11. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is? (2 Corinthians 3:17)
12. Why should I ever feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ? (Romans 8:1)
13. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me? (Matthew 28:28; Hebrews 13:5)
14. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit? (Galatians 3:13, 14)
15. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances? (Philippians 4:11)
16. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him? (2 Corinthians 5:21)
17. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me? (Romans 8:31)
18. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through His indwelling Spirit? (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12)
19. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ? (Romans 8:37)
20. Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations? (John 16:33)

Allow these 10 truths to burn into your heart and mind today. If you did not get the previous ten, you can get them from our website. If Freedom Fighter has encouraged you, why not share it with a friend. They can sign up right from the Keswick website: www.americaskeswick.org

SUCCESS COMES IN CANS -- PART 1

SUCCESS COMES IN CANS -- PART 1

Dr. Neil Anderson shares in his book, DAILY IN CHRIST, that success comes in "cans" and failure in "cannots." Here shares 'TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS" to expand your knowledge of our faith-object- the Almighty God.

1. Why should I say I CAN'T when the Bible says I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength? (Philippians 4:13)
2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19)
3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind? (2 Timothy 2:7)
4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith? (Romans 12:3)
5. Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God? (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)
6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world? (1 John 4:4)
7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph? (2 Corinthians 2:14)
8. Why should I lack wisdom when Christ becomes wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it? (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)
9. Why should I be depressed when I can recall to my mind God's lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness and have hope? (Lamentations 3:21-23)
10. Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me? (1 Peter 5:7)

Tomorrow I will share Part 2. Good principles for us to ponder!

Great Quote: I must confess that there are days when my circumstances don't seem to lend themselves to worship. Days when I feel so caught up in my own problems or so pulled down by my own depression that entering into worship would almost feel hypocritical. What am I to do on those days? - On those days I am to worship anyway! I am to bring the Lord what the Bible calls sacrificial praise: 'So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak His name.' (Hebrews 13:15) Claire Cloninger

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHO I AM

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHO I AM

Listening to the news last night before going to bed, I was interested to hear that many in the world consider today to be a significant day in history. Many see today as the day when the President of Iran will need to prove if he has the metal to be the world leader that he professes to be. Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad really believes that he is the one who will usher in the end times and is very passionate about who he is. Many fear that today is the day that he will attempt to follow through on his commitment to wipe Israel off the map.
One thing is certain about this Iranian President who needs Christ -- he is passionate about what he believes. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be what Allah wants him to be and do. As I reflected on that last night, I was reminded of this reading, and was surprised to see it today in one of my devotionals.
Dr. Neil Anderson writes in his devotional DAILY IN CHRIST: "An African pastor was overwhelmed by rebels who demanded that he renounce his faith. He refused. The night before they took his life, he wrote the following lines on a scrap of paper:

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away and be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and
Dwarfed goals!

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't shut up, let up, burn up till I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops.
And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!"

Would that we had that passion for Christ. Good words to ponder today on this August 22, 2006.

DIG DEEPER -- TEN THINGS ABOUT CLAIMING HOLY GROUND

DIG DEEPER -- TEN THINGS ABOUT CLAIMING HOLY GROUND

Yesterday in church, my mentor and friend, Dr. Robert Alderman shared a powerful message from Exodus 3 entitled TEN THINGS ABOUT CLAIMING HOLY GROUND from the life of Moses. I want to share these ten principles with you with the prayer that you will dig deeper on your own:

1. Claiming holy ground is not vocationally dependent. (Exodus 3:1) Moses was tending sheep

2. Claiming holy ground is enhanced by our separation from the distractions of life. What steals my attention from pursuing God? Are you willing for a backside of the desert experience? (Exodus 3:1)

3. Claiming holy ground is dependent on our willingness to come just as we are to where God is. (Exodus 3:1) Moses didn't get cleaned up before going to the mountain to meet God. He came just as we was.

4. Claiming holy ground is dependent on our willingness to come just as we are to where God is and where there is likely to be no one else but GOD! Nothing but God. (Exodus 3:1)

5. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to be approached by a messenger of God, which includes fire: to bring about purity, to make useable what is unusable, and to destroy that which is not useful. (Exodus 3:2)

6. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to approach God even where there are unexplainable and uncertain factors. (Exodus 3:3)

7. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to go one on one with God. (Exodus 3:4)

8. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to accept the limitations of God. (Exodus 3:5) God draws the lines! This principle is worth looking at. Even in our Christian circles we are uncomfortable with and forget that GOD does draw the lines in terms of what HE expects from us. (Exodus 3:5)

9. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to honor with my actions the holiness of God. (Exodus 3:5)

10. Claiming holy ground is base on our willingness to affirm my encounter with the God of history. (Exodus 3:6)

Good principles for your consideration. Take the text and principles and dig deeper.

This week on KESWICK TODAY, Diane Hunt, our Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries for Women, shares our vision for reaching women in addiction as we seek God's timing for our residential program for women. You can listen to KESWICK TODAY right from our website: www.americaskeswick.org.

THE DANGER OF FRIENDSHIPS ... The Other Side of the Coin

THE DANGER OF FRIENDSHIPS ... The Other Side of the Coin

We have been talking the past couple of days about the value of friendship. Here is the "other side of the coin" so to speak written by the late theologian, FENELON:

"It is natural to want to have a good friend whom you admire and like. It is a great pleasure in life to have friends, but friendships can be full of danger, especially if you line in community with a close circle of people.

As a member of the Body of Christ, you no longer belong to yourself. In a group that meets to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, you must guard against special friendships. These will lead to cliques or a party spirit. Sometimes, when someone you like has been hurt, you become emotionally involved and 'pick up their offense.' This will cause division in a house faster than anything I know. You are soon plotting and chatting in secret and a sense of divisiveness permeates the entire affair. Of course you appear to yourself without blame, and insist you are only standing up for what is right.

Others watching this are harmed. You set a bad example for them and usually force them, in a way, to take sides. On top of this I just want to tell you that jealousy comes between two people who are devoted to the same friend. Each fears the other will be preferred. And what problems that causes!

Furthermore, when you have a special or favorite friend, it puts that person in a difficult spot. A person who is loved by another often makes the whole community jealous or critical. They either want to enter into a special friendship also, or are critical for what they think that person to be. Often there is suspicion and misjudgment. Everyone is caught up in looking at someone other than JESUS.

Finally, you harm yourself. You can become so preoccupied with others that you lose sight of the lordship of Jesus in your life. You spend less time alone with Him. You think of your friends and neglect your Lord.

Try not to single people out to love them. Love equally all those God asks you to love. If you know you are preoccupied with a friendship, try to cure yourself little by little. See all people as they are -- with their good and bad points. Then you will not romanticize them. What is your self-nature getting out of these unhealthy attachments? There is something you ought to look at. Love your friends in and for God, and not for what they give you. Don't be so selfish." from THE SEEKING HEART by Fenelon.

Good words to ponder as you think about "the other side" of friendship. Have a great Lord's day.

THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

It never ceases to amaze me how what I am reading seems to always get tied into my devotional readings. Yesterday's Freedom Fighter was on VITAL FRIENDSHIPS. "Coincidentally" here was the reading today from the devotional, OUR DAILY WALK, by one of the great KESWICK speakers, the late Dr. F. B. Meyer:

"Two are better than one ... for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow." -- Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10

"We cannot have many inner friends, but sad is the life that has not been its other self. The friendship of David and Jonathan, has passed into the current talk of the world. It is especially good for the Christian disciple to travel to heaven with a comrade.

A friend is INVALUABLE if we stumble or fall on the path of life. "Woe to him that is alone when he falls." "Brethren," says the Apostle, "if a man may be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.' Let us watch for each other's souls; if any is falling away from the truth or into some insidious trap, let us lift him up. Let us exercise the brotherly solicitude that Barnabas, the encourager, did for Paul.

Friendship should make our spirits glow. "How can one be warm alone?" Of course, in a spiritual sense there are divine resources of spiritual heat. The love of Christ kindles to vehement heat. But it is certainly easier to keep up the temperature when we have a kindred heart beside us. Perhaps this is one reason why our Lord sent forth His disciples by two and two. (Mark 6:7)

Without companionship material things cannot satisfy. The ties of nature, friendship and religious communion give a zest to a poor man's life, which the miser with all his wealth forfeits. It is all-important, not only in ordinary life, but pre-eminently in the pilgrimage of the spirit, to have fellowship with some kindred soul.

In temptation a true friend makes us more able to withstand the devil. It is a help in the hour of trial to have a friend who will appropriate the words of our Lord, saying, ' I have prayed for YOU, that your faith will fail not.' There is no fellowship like that of Jesus, our Faithful Friend, who lifts us when we fall, chafes us when chilled with cold, and assists us against the tempter. Does He not make the third in the THREEFOLD cord? "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Good word for today. Take time today to thank that special friend in your life.

Great Quote: If the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural. Andrew Murray

FRIENDS

FRIENDS

I just read an article in the USA Today about a new book entitled VITAL FRIENDS ... THE PEOPLE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WITHOUT. Men are not usually good with the friendship thing. Many of us have "acquaintances" but few have allowed themselves to get close and personal with someone who they can call "friend."

In the book, the author lists 8 characteristics of a friend that I thought were worth sharing with you this morning. They are good things for you to consider if you are looking for a friend or if you are someone's friend.

A vital friend is a:

1. Builder -- one who motivates you in your life.
2. Champion -- one who sings your praises.
3. Collaborator -- one who shares his passions and dreams.
4. Connector -- one who always widens your circle.
5. Companion -- one who is always there for you.
6. Energizer -- one who gives you a boost and makes you laugh.
7. Mind-Opener -- one who helps you to expand your horizons and embrace new ideas.
8. Navigator -- one who helps you to make decisions.

As you think about your role as a friend today, which one of these characteristics describe you? Good thoughts to ponder for today. Your friendship CAN make a difference in someone's life.

Have a great day.

WAITING

WAITING

I do not know about you, but over the years I have not been good at waiting. It can be waiting in line at the grocery store or waiting in traffic -- I tend to be impatient. Yesterday's reading in STREAMS IN THE DESERT addressed this issue. Some of us also have trouble waiting for the Lord. What struck me was that waiting and patience seem to go hand in hand . . .

"I waited patiently for the Lord." Psalm 40:1 "Waiting is much more difficult than walking, for waiting requires PATIENCE (I knew it!), and patience is a rare virtue. We enjoy knowing that God builds hedges around His people, when we look at the hedge from the aspect of protection. But when we see it growing higher and higher until we can no longer see over it, we wonder if we will ever get out of our little sphere of influence and service where we feel trapped. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand why we do not have a larger area of service, and it becomes difficult for us to "brighten the corner" where we are. But God has a purpose in all of HIS delays for 'the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord' (Psalms 37:23).

Next to this verse, in the margin of his Bible, George Mueller made this note: 'And the stops too!' It is a sad mistake for someone to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of the Lord's guidance for a Christian never to move from the spot where he is sure God has placed him, until the 'pillar of cloud' moves. (Exodus 13:21)

Once we learn to wait on for the Lord's leading in EVERYTHING, we will know the strength that finds it HIGHEST POINT IN AN EVEN AND STEADY WALK. Many of us are lacking the strength we so desire, but God gives complete power for every task He calls us to perform. Waiting -- keeping yourself faithful to His leading -- this is the secret of strength. And anything that does not align with obedience to Him is a waste of time and energy. Watch and wait for His leading.

Must life be considered a failure for someone compelled to stand still, forced into inaction and required to watch the great, roaring tides of life from shore? No -- victory is then to be won by standing still and quietly waiting. Yet this is a thousand times harder to do than in the past, when you rushed headlong into the busyness of life. It requires much more courage to stand and wait and still not lose heart or lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up opportunities for work and leave honors to others, and to be quiet, confident, and rejoicing while the busy multitude goes happily along their way."

The greatest life is: 'after YOU have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

Powerful words for you and me to ponder today.

We are now accepting registrations for the fall semester of KESWICK INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES in partnership with Lancaster Bible College. For information, visit our website: www.americaskeswick.org.

CAN WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

CAN WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Romans 6:1-2

"A Christian has died to sin! Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Galatians 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin's power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God's grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God's grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those who He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin DESPITE our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses towards us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Romans 6:1-2). We cannot presume upon God's forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The VICTORY has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You need only to apply HIS victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ's resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you." -- EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY -- The Devotional by Dr. Henry Blackaby -- published by our friends at Broadman Holman.

Good words to ponder again and again.

Great quote: "Our first point about adoption is that it is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher than justification...that justification, by which we mean God's forgiveness of the past together with His acceptance for the future, is the primary and fundamental blessing of the gospel is not the question...but this is not to say that justification is the highest blessing of the gospel. Adoption is higher, because of the richer relationship with God that it involves...Justification is a forensic idea, conceived in terms of law, viewing God as judge...justification does not of itself imply any intimate or deep relationship with God the judge...but Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs...to be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is a greater blessing." J I Packer, Knowing God.

THE EXUBERANT OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD . . . REASSERTING GOD'S RIGHTFUL PLACE IN ALL OF LIFE

THE EXUBERANT OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD . . . REASSERTING GOD'S RIGHTFUL PLACE IN ALL OF LIFE

Today's Freedom Fighter comes from the writings of one of my favorite authors, Dr. John Piper.

"Where is God in your daily newspaper or in your talk radio show or the network TV programming or TIME or NEWSWEEK or the theater or the public school classroom? God is the most important reality in the universe. But he is almost totally ignored. And if not, he is as likely belittled as reverenced. Yet he is the most crucial factor in every issue facing the nation. There would simply be no nation without God. But he is regarded by our cultural leaders in almost all they do. Disregard for God is the greatest evil in the West today. It is as though an ant on his anthill should disbelieve in the earth.

If the church is going to reassert God's rightful place in the soul of a man and the center of all life, we will need a sharpened focus of who HE is and what HE is like/ One of the reasons our witness to God's reality is minimal is that our UNDERSTANDING of God's reality is minimal. In the name of quick and relevant impact we minimize the very greatness that would he his renown. Without this, we will not boldly and graciously assert his rightful place in all of life.

What we need is a big picture of a great God who is utterly committed to joyfully demonstrating his greatness is doing us good. That is, we need to see the MAJESTY of God and know the SPLENDOR of God overflowing toward us with exuberant omnipotence. It is not enough to believe that God is big and strong and fearsome -- which he is. We must experience this magnificence as the explosion of God's uncontainable zeal to satisfy his creatures by showing them himself.

We need a vision of the God that Jonathan Edwards had already at the age of twenty when he preached a sermon titled 'Nothing Upon Earth Can Represent the Glories of Heaven.' He revealed in the God of this sermon so much that he preached the same message in at least six towns outside his own parish of Bolton.

The 'doctrine' of the sermon he stated like this: 'The godly are designed for unknown and inconceivable happiness.' This he discerns from the purpose of God to glorify himself in creating the world and from his conviction that 'this glory of God, [consists] in the creature's admiring and rejoicing [and] exulting in the manifestation of his beauty and Excellency. For God has not glory actively from those that beheld his glory and take no pleasure in it; but the essence of [the] glorifying of God consists, therefore, in the creature's rejoicing in God's manifestations of his beauty, which is the joy and happiness we speak of.' In other words, the CERTAINTY and Greatness of the happiness of God's people is as sure as God's zeal for his own glory.

This is the vision we need. And we would do well to meditate on some of the great texts that capture the wonder of God's exuberant omnipotence in doing good to those who hope in him:

Zephaniah 3:17-18
Jeremiah 32:40-41
2 Chronicles 16:9
Deuteronomy 30:9
Psalm 149:4
Psalm 147:10-11
Psalm 35:27
Philippians 4:19
Ephesians 2:7
Isaiah 62:4-5

God's omnipotent exuberance to do us good is one of the most freeing discoveries a human can make. Oh, that we might believe it and savor it and bring it to mind again and again until it is our very nature to feel the truth that 'the godly are designed for unknown and inconceivable happiness.' Unremitting confidence in this truth would surely transform our attitudes and keep is steady in the face of great adversity." from TASTE AND SEE ... Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by Dr. John Piper, published by our good friends at Multnomah.

Take some time today to look up the verses and meditate on the truth contained in them. Have a great day!

Great quote: Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. Jim Elliot

SECRET DUTIES -- OPEN REWARDS

SECRET DUTIES -- OPEN REWARDS

Matthew 6:6 -- " . . . And Your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly . . . "

I have been laboring through a wonderful book about prayer written by Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks. It is a labor because there is so much meat to chew, but it has been so helpful. God loves it when His kids pray in secret. Around the world there are men and women who do not have the freedom to pray openly because if they did, they would be persecuted or even killed for their faith.

Thomas Brooks writes that "God, in the great day, will recompense his people before all the world, for every secret prayer, and every secret tear, and secret sigh, and secret groan that has come from his people. God, in that great day, will declare to men and angels, how often his people have been pouring out their souls before him in such and such holes, corners and secret places; and accordingly he will reward them."

He goes on to say, "Ah, Christians! Did you really believe this, and seriously dwell on this, you would:
1. Walk more thankfully.
2. Work more cheerfully.
3. Suffer more patiently.
4. Fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, more courageously.
5. Lay out yourselves for God, his interest and glory, more freely.
6. Live with what providence has cut out for your portion, more quietly and contentedly. And,
7. You would be in private prayer more frequently, more abundantly.

Good words to ponder as we begin this new week. Join is this week on KESWICK TODAY as Colony grad, Chris Hughes and his wife, Kathy, share what God did in their lives through the ministry of the Colony of Mercy. If you cannot get the broadcast in your area, you can listen right from our website: www.americaskeswick.org.

GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN

GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN

"Now therefore, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." Joshua 14:12

There are time when we face what seem to be insurmountable obstacles in our lives. It is during these times that we rely on God to give us the courage to face those obstacles and trust Him to see us through.

Several years ago, God renewed our vision to begin a residential program for women similar to what we have been doing for men for the past 108 years. We have been taking baby steps to move forward, and Lord willing, in the next few weeks, we will be standing in front of the mountain as we submit a proposal to two major players to seek approvals to move forward.

Humanly speaking, it is a bit intimidating standing at the foot of the mountain. But with God all things are possible. Dr. Henry Blackaby in says this about asking for mountains: "Caleb's faith in God never wavered, though everyone around him doubted. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by GIANTS and FORTIFIED CITIES (Numbers 13:28-22). Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in GOD'S POWER!

When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. This did not intimidate Caleb -- he asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence. Caleb longed to see God work power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he would have to trust God. Caleb KNEW his inheritance from was on a mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.

If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by HIS mighty presence." from EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY.

I needed that encouragement today. Trust it will encourage you too!

PLEASING GOD, PLEASING OTHERS

PLEASING GOD, PLEASING OTHERS

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

I have struggled throughout my life with being a people-pleaser. Dr. Ed Welch wrote a powerful book with the title: WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG, GOD IS SMALL. Today's reading by Dr. Henry Blackaby, in his daily devotional EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY spoke to my heart today.

"At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing GOD and pleasing those around you, for God's ways are not man's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As important as it is to strive for good relations with others, it is more important to maintain a steadfast and obedient relationship with Christ. Disobeying God to keep peace with other people is never wise. Peace with God is always paramount.

Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in your relationships (Matthew 10:35-36). If Paul's primary goal had been to please others, he would never have become an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul went completely against the wishes of his colleagues in order to obey Christ. At times, obedience to God sets family members at odds with each other (Matthew 10:35-36). When you follow Jesus' lordship, your family may misunderstand, or even oppose you, yet your obedience to God reflects your identity as His child. Jesus said that those who obey His will are His brothers and sisters (Luke 8:21). God does not intend to divide the home, but He places obedience before domestic harmony.

It is important to get alone in quietness with God so that you understand what pleases Him. The WORLD'S thinking will mislead you more easily when you are not clear about what God desires. It broke Peter's heart to know that the opinion of a servant girl had mattered more to him that the approval of His Lord! If the desire to appease others tempts you to compromise what you know GOD wants YOU to do, learn from Peter's mistake. Determine that you will please the Lord regardless of the opinion of others."

"The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe." Proverbs 29:25

NOTE: The Memorial Service for Dave Shoppy, our Director of Development, will be held on Monday, August 14, 2006 at Bayside Chapel in Barnegat. The service will begin at 2:00 PM.

Great quote: The key to lasting happiness and real pleasure in this world is not found in seeking gratification, but in pleasing God. And while the Lord desires that we enjoy His gifts and the people to whom we are joined, He wants us to know that we were created first for His pleasure.

WIT'S END CORNER

WIT'S END CORNER

Yesterday I shared with you what the Lord had given me in the morning, the promise that "My grace IS sufficient." The turned out to be another day of testing and challenges. At one point during the day I felt like I had really reached the limit of what I could handle. It was like I was at my wit's end. It was in the still small whisper that God spoke to my heart and reminded me that His grace IS sufficient.

This morning in my time with the Lord, the phrase "WIT'S END" showed up. How timely! God knows what we need when we need it. Oswald Chambers said today, "When you come to your wit's end and feel inclined to panic -- don't! Stand true to God and He will bring out HIS truth in a way that will make your life and expression of worship."

David in Psalm 107:28 said: "They were at their wits end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress." Psalm 107:27-28. I was reminded of a poem that I read in STREAMS IN THE DESERT ...

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner,"
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember -- at "Wit's End Corner"
Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at "Wits End Corner,'
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember at "Wit's End Corner"
Is where Jesus loves to come/

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner"
You work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember at "Wit's End Corner"
The Burden-Bearer stands.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner"?
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wit's End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.

Well my friend, are you at Wit's End Corner? I was yesterday. And God met me at my point of need! His grace WAS sufficient, it will be ... and it is!!! Rejoice in that promise today.

WELL DONE, DAVE SHOPPY

WELL DONE, DAVE SHOPPY

Yesterday heaven gained another friend of America's KESWICK. Dave Shoppy, our Director of Development closed his eyes on this side of heaven and opened them in eternity. From what we can determine, Dave had a massive heart attack and was instantly in the presence of Jesus.

Dave was a faithful servant who was committed to serving His Savior and loving people. He invested most of his life in education and served as Administrator of several Christian schools. During the past several years, Dave ministered to our donors and guests as Director of Development. He was a man that was committed to integrity and excellence. (www.americaskeswick.org)

During the night as I was reflecting on the events of yesterday, the enemy was flooding my mind with all the "what ifs" that he likes to use. A number of our key staff have already been feeling overwhelmed, and the thoughts of now having to add Dave's responsibilities to the list, well quite honestly, it felt very overwhelming. The Holy Spirit quickly brought to my mind this verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9: "MY grace is sufficient for you." It immediately brought peace to my aching heart.

As I started by quiet time, I flipped through Streams of the Desert and remembered this devotional from August 5th:

"God was pleased to take my youngest child from this world, under circumstances that caused me severe trials and pain. As I returned home from the church cemetery, having just laid my little one's body in the grace, I felt a compulsion to preach to my people on the meaning of trials.

I found the verse 'My grace is sufficient for you' was the text of next week's Sunday School lesson, so I chose it as my Master's message to the congregation, as well as His message to me. Yet while trying to write the sermon, I found that in all honesty, I could not say that the words were true in my life. Therefore I knelt down and asked the Lord to make His grace sufficient for me.

While I was pleading in this way, I opened my eyes and saw this exact verse framed and hanging on the wall. My mother had given it to me a few days before, when I was still on vacation resort where our little child had been taken from us. I had asked someone to hang it on the wall at home during my absence but had not yet noticed its words. Now as I looked up and wiped my eyes, the words met my gaze: 'My grace IS sufficient for you.'

The word IS was highlighted in bright green, while the words MY and YOU were painted in yet another color. In a moment, a message flashed straight to my soul, coming as a rebuke for having prayed such a prayer as, 'Lord, make your grace sufficient for me.' His answer was almost an audible voice that said, 'How dare you ask for something that IS? I cannot make my grace any more sufficient than I have already made it. Get up and believe it, and you will find it to be true in your life.

The Lord says in the simplest way: 'My grace IS [not will be or may be] sufficient for you.' The words MY and YOU were from that moment indelibly written upon my heart. And thankfully, I have been trying to live in the reality of that truth from that day to the present time.

The underlying lesson that came to me through this experience, and that I seek to convey to others is this: NEVER CHANGE GOD'S FACTS INTO HOPES AND PRAYERS BUT SIMPLY ACCEPT THEM AS REALITIES AND YOU WILL FIND THEM TO BE POWERFUL AS YOU BELIEVE THEM!" Webb Peploe as written in STREAMS IN THE DESERT

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendedth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted OUR store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our horded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has NO limit, His grace has NO measure,
He power NO BOUNDARY known unto men;
For out of HIS infinite riches in JESUS
He giveth and giveth and giveth again. -- Annie Johnson Flint

THE TROUBLED HEART

THE TROUBLED HEART

In light of what is happening all around us in the world, I felt that this devotional this morning written many years ago by Susannah Spurgeon was particularly timely:

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

"From whose lips do these tender words fall like 'rain upon the mown grass?' Whose heart has such intimate knowledge of my need, and such profound sympathy with my weakness, as thus to meet both with the grace of his exceeding love?

It could be no other than 'Jesus Christ himself', my gracious Lord and Master, who thus speaks, and I shall do well to ponder each weighty sentence as I listen to his loving voice.

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED. Dear Lord, these words of yours, though so sweet, are imperative. They are a command, and should be instantly obeyed. Perhaps I have never before looked upon them in this light, never realized that, in carrying a troubled spirit about within me, I am acting in direct DISOBEDIENCE to your wishes!

'Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law.' Say the words over again to me, dear Lord! Speak 'as one having authority,' and, with your gracious command, issue also the mighty power which will enable me to fulfill it. How often must I have grieved you by my want of trust in your tender love and care! How often must you have marveled at my foolishness in attempting to bear burdens which might have been cast at your feet.

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED. Truly, I hear a grave note of rebuke and disappointment mingling with the music of these sweet words on my Lord's lips. It may indeed be so, dear Master, for after all that you have done and said, my heart should never be troubled, I ought not to let it be afraid.

And yet how soon does fear overtake the steps of joyful assurance, how quickly do I pass out of the light of your presence into the deep shadow cast by the mountain of my sin!

Lord, help me to reason with myself about this, for a few moments, or rather to say, 'Come now, and let us reason together,' for then I know that your infinite love with conclusively silence my fears, and hush all my anxious restlessness of my soul.

WHY should my heart be troubled? Is it on account of the overwhelming sense of sin and unworthiness which sometimes threatens to crush all the spiritual energy out of my life? Then, I have but to turn again to the 'fountain of the blood,' and there see all my iniquities pardoned because laid upon the Sin-bearer, all my guilt forgiven because He suffered in my stead.

Can I keep a troubled heart when he died that I might have peace through believing? Can I have trusted HIM with my soul's salvation, and yet permit myself to doubt whether he has truly saved me?

WHY should my heart be troubled? Is it the things which seem temporal, which are distressing me? The cares of this life, the struggle for daily bread, perhaps, or if not that, the thousands of stresses and disappointments which are the lot of our poor humanity?

Come again to your dear Lord, my soul, and bring to his feet all the perplexes and grieves you; you will surely hear him say, 'LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID; all your sorrows are known to me, and I am guiding and directing ALL that concerns you. Is it more difficult to trust my love in earthly sorrows than for eternal joys?'

WHY should my heart be troubled or afraid? There is nothing on earth or in hell that can harm a soul who believes in Jesus. Every fear is put to flight by his perfect love. Even the fear of death -- so great a bondage in some lives -- is lifted quite away when 'God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Blessed Lord, help me to be obedient to your command, and to receive meekly your well-deserved rebuke, glorifying you from know on in my daily life by a restful faith, which NOTHING can disturb or dismay! The soul that on Jesus hath leaned fro repose', ought never to know trouble or fear."

Timely words from the pen of Susannah Spurgeon from MORNING DEVOTIONS BY SUSANNAH SPURGEON: Free Grace and Dying Love, published by BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST

Great quote: The right way to pray is to stretch out our hands and ask of One who we know has the heart of a Father.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

THE DETAILS OF EVERY DAY LIFE

THE DETAILS OF EVERY DAY LIFE

Most people have heard the name Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of the great preachers from England who pastored the Metropolitan Tabernacle. But little is known about his wife, a woman who greatly supported her husband and his work despite physical challenges and difficulties. Mrs. Spurgeon also was committed to helping pastors, missionaries and lay leaders through her book fund.

Today's Freedom Fighter comes from her writings. It was an encouragement to me today and I share it with you:

"You know my downsitting and my rising up, you understand my thoughts afar off . . . " Psalm 139:2

"YOU KNOW. Come my soul, here is a test as to your present spiritual condition! Will you apply it? Will you be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, and see whether or not you are found wanting? Does your Lord's intimate knowledge of your every thought, and desire, and action, oppress and disconcert you, or are you willing and glad to live under such close inspection, and even to covet the glances of that eye which searches your through and through?

Nothing but 'full assurance of faith' in the precious blood shed for you on Calvary can give you this boldness. Happy are you, my soul, if you know that God 'looks through Jesus' wounds on you, and through those wonderful ruby windows sees you so changed and beautiful that he can say, 'You are all fair, my love there is not spot in you.'

MY SITTING DOWN AND MY RISING UP. Lord, do you love me so much as to watch tenderly over me in such small matters? How the thought comforts me! We do not care about the details of everyday life of strangers: but when we love anyone very dearly, we take great interest in all that concerns them; and even so, my God, this searching, knowing, understanding, compassing, besetting, laying of your hand upon me, are all most precious tokens to me of your indescribable love.

How watchful and careful should this knowledge make me! 'My sitting down and my rising up!' My home life! My daily duties both of work and of leisure. My going out and my coming in, my conduct and bearing under all circumstances! How these are gathered into the compass of those five words! Lord, help me to walk worthy of you, unto all pleasing!

YOU UNDERSTAND MY THOUGHTS FROM AFAR. What infinite knowledge! Well may the psalmist say, 'It is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it!' BEFORE I think, God knows my thought! O my soul, are not your thoughts the source of most of your grievous perplexities and sorrows? They are often so unruly and rebellious, sometimes so unholy and profane, that all your efforts to bring them into captivity to the law of Christ are unavailing! Then, see where your help lies.

The God who understands your thoughts 'from afar" has the power to restrain them; no, more than that; before they reach you, while they are yet distant and unexpressed, he will purify and cleanse them, so that they shall enter your heart as angel whispers, and pass your lips only as words of love and blessing.

Dear Master, I make your servant David's prayer my very own and say, 'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." from MORNING DEVOTIONS BY SUSANNAH SPURGEON -- FREE GRACE AND DYING LOVE, published by our good friends at THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST.

Great quote: Lord, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray; Keep me, my God, from stain of sin just for today. Let me both diligently work, And duly pray. Let me be kind in word and deed, Just for today. Let me be slow to do my will, Prompt to obey; Help me to sacrifice myself Just for today. And if today my tide of life should ebb away, Give me thy sacraments divine, Sweet Lord today. So for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, But keep me, guide me, love me, Lord, Just for today.
- Augustine

LOVE 'EM OR LIKE THEM

LOVE 'EM OR LIKE THEM

A number of weeks ago, I asked one of our staff members to step out of their comfort zone and doing something that would stretch them. They looked at me and said, "Right now I don't like you!" They were joking (I think ...) and I responded ... "You don't HAVE to like me -- but you gotta love me."

Our Director of Human Resources shared this quote with me in an email this morning: "God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to know the difference." I love it.
Jesus reminded the disciples several nights before his death, that the way the world would know that they were his was not because of all the wonderful miracles they would do. It wasn't about their eloquence or their ability to accomplish great things. The benchmark that would demonstrate that they belonged to Him was this: "by this all men will know your are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
What does that kind of love look like? Paul gave us a pretty thorough description in the love chapter -- I Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is never jealous or envious.
Love is never boastful or proud.
Love is never haughty, selfish or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable or touchy.
Love does not hold grudges.
Love will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.
Love is never glad about injustice.
Love rejoices when the truth wins out.
If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.
If you love someone you will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

So how are your doing today in this area of your life? Good question to think about today.
We all have friends and love ones who experience grief and hurt. This week on KESWICK TODAY we will talk with author, speaker and KESWICK counselor-in-residence, Marilyn Heavilin about grief and how to handle it. Marilyn is the author of ROSES IN DECEMBER and shares what God taught her through the pain of losing three children. You can listen to the broadcasts right from our website: www.americaskeswick.org.

PRAISE TO THE LORD

PRAISE TO THE LORD

Many of the great hymns and songs we love have been written out of times of great difficulty and trials. Joachim Neander wasted most of his early days living in immorality and sin. A preacher came to town and Neander decided to go to hear him with the intention of ridiculing the man. Instead he was converted. Four years later he became the headmaster of a school and wrote over sixty hymns. Eventually he was fired because of his beliefs. After losing his job, he wandered around, mostly living in caves. Despite the trials he faced in his short lifetime, he left us a legacy of praise to His great God:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all thing so wondrously reigneth,
Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the amen sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him! Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

I love the line in stanza three: PONDER ANEW WHAT THE ALMIGHTY CAN DO. As you prepare your hearts for worship today, take some time to ponder what HE has done in your life -- and then praise HIM!

Sunday Afternoon concert today with Frank Boggs. 2:30 PM Hymnsing followed by the concert at 3:00 PM.

CHOICES

CHOICES

From the Prayers of the Puritans ... a prayer to prepare your heart for the Lord's Day.

O God,
Though I am allowed to approach you
I am not unmindful of my sins,
I do not deny my guilt,
I confess my wickedness, and earnestly plead forgiveness.

May I with Moses choose affliction rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin.
Help me to place myself always under your guiding and guardian care,
To take firmer hold of the sure covenant that binds me to you,
To feel more of the purifying, dignifying, softening influence of the religion I profess,
To have more compassion, love, pity, courtesy, to deem it an honor to be employed by you
As an instrument in your hands,
Ready to seize every opportunity of usefulness,
And willing to offer all my talents to your service.

You have done for me all things well,
Have remembered, distinguished, indulged me.
All my desires have not been gratified, but your love denied them to me
When fulfillment of my wishes would have proved my ruin or injury.
My trials have been fewer than my sins,
And when I have kissed the rod it has fallen from your hands.
You have often wiped away my tears,
Restored peace to my mourning heart,
Chastened me for my profit
All your work for me is perfect, and I praise you.

Good prayer to prepare your heart for worship!

THANKING GOD IN ADVANCE . . .

THANKING GOD IN ADVANCE . . .

Addision Raws, the son of the founder of America's KESWICK preached a message often about God being "The God of the Previous." In his message he shared that we need to thank the Lord IN ADVANCE for the answers to the prayers that we have offered to him.

We are in the midst of some challenges financially. The summer slump is upon us and we have been asking God to supply the needs for the ministry, something we have done consistently over the course of 109 years of ministry. God HAS BEEN faithful. Ten years ago a Christian businessman looked at our financials and said, "I give this ministry two years and it will be down the tubes." The interesting thing is that this ministry belongs to God. He is the One who has preserved and protected it for 109 years. It is unexplainable apart from God.

Today's reading in my quiet time reminded me that HE KNOWS our need and that we can praise and thank Him in advance of the victory that is to come:

"Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me.'" (John 11:41)

The sequence of events in this passage seems strange and unusual. Lazarus was still in his tomb, yet Jesus' thanksgiving PRECEDED the miracle of raising him from the dead. It seems that thanks would only have been lifted up once the great miracle had been accomplished and Lazarus had been restored to life. But Jesus gave thanks for what He was about to receive. His gratitude sprang forth BEFORE the blessing had arrived, in an expression of ASSURANCE that it was certainly on its way. The song of victory was sung BEFORE the battle had been fought. It was the Sower singing the song of the harvest -- it was thanksgiving BEFORE the miracle!

Who ever thinks of announcing a victory song as the army is just heading out to the battlefield? And where do we ever hear a song of gratitude and thanksgiving for an answer that has not yet been received? Yet in this Scripture passage, there is nothing strange, forced, or unreasonable to the Master's sequence of praise BEFORE the miracle. PRAISE is actually the most vital preparation to the working of miracles. Miracles are performed through spiritual power and our spiritual power is always in proportion to our FAITH." from STREAMS IN THE DESERT

Are you facing a challenge in your life right now? Have your prayed about it? If so, thank and praise God IN ADVANCE for the answer that is already on its way!!!

OBSTACLES . . . HIS PURPOSE?

OBSTACLES . . . HIS PURPOSE?

"I will turn all my mountains into roads." (Isaiah 49:11)

"God will make our obstacles serve HIS purposes. We all have mountains in our lives, and often they are people and things that threaten the progress of our spiritual life. The obstacles may be untruths told about us; a difficult occupation, 'a thorn in the flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7); or our daily cross. And often we pray for their removal, for we tend to think that if only these were removed, we would live a more tender, pure, and holy life.

'How foolish you are, and slow of heart ...!' (Luke 24:25) These are the very conditions we need for achievement, and they have been put in our lives as the means of producing the gifts and qualities for which we have been praying so long. We pray for patience for many years, and when something begins to test us beyond our endurance, we run from it. We try to avoid it, we see it as some insurmountable obstacle to our desired goal, and we believe that if it was removed, we would experience immediate deliverance and victory.

This is not true! We would simply see the temptations to be impatient end. This would not be patience. The only way genuine patience can be acquired is by enduring the very trials that seem so unbearable today.

Turn from your running and submit. Claim by faith to be a partaker in the patience of Jesus and face your trials in Him. There is nothing in our lives that distresses or concerns you that cannot become submissive to the highest purpose. Remember, they are GOD'S mountains. He puts them there for a reason, and we know He will NEVER fail to keep His promise.

'God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under heaven.' (Job 28_33-34) So when we come to the foot of the mountains, we will find our way.'

THE PURPOSE OF OUR TRIALS IS NOT ONLY TO TEST OUR WORTHINESS BUT ALSO TO INCREASE IT, JUST AS THE MIGHTY OAK IS TESTED BY THE STORMS AS WELL AS STRENGTHENED BY THEM." from STREAMS IN THE DESERT by Mrs. Cowman and published by our good friends at Zondervan. You can order a copy of this classic devotional from the KESWICK BOOKSTORE (732-350-1187 ext. 31)

HIS ACCEPTED, ADOPTED CHILD

HIS ACCEPTED, ADOPTED CHILD

"Beloved, now we are the children of God." (1 John 3:2)

"Having a right relationship with God begins with settling once and for all the issue that God is your loving Father and you are His accepted, adopted child. That's the foundation of your spiritual heritage. You are a child of God, you are created in His image, you have been declared righteous by Him because you trust that what Christ accomplished in His death and resurrection is applicable to you. As long as you believe that and walk accordingly, your daily experience of practical Christianity will result in growth. But when you forget who you are, and try to produce in your daily experience the acceptance God has already extended to you, you'll struggle. We don't serve God to gain His acceptance; we are accepted, so we serve God. We don't follow Him in order to be loved we are loved, so we follow Him.

That's why you are called to live by faith (Romans 1:16, 17). The essence of the victorious Christian life is believing what is already true about you. Do you have a choice? Of course! Satan will try and convince you that you are an unworthy, unacceptable, sin-sick person who will never amount to anything in God's eyes. Is that who you are? No, you are not! You are a saint whom God has declared righteous. Believing Satan's lie will lock you into a defeated, fruitless life. But believing God's truth about your identity will set you free.

Your perception of your identity makes such a big difference in your success at dealing with the challenges and conflicts of your life. It is imperative to your growth and maturity that you believe God's truth about who you are.

The Bible says, "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; an such we are!" (1 John 3:31) Tragically, many believers are desperately trying to become something they already are, while other are living like something they aren't. It's true: "Beloved, NOW we are the children of God."
(1 John 3:2)

From DAILY IN CHRIST by Neil T. Anderson, published by our good friends at HARVEST HOUSE.

Great Quote: Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things - things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Oswald Chambers

Check out our newest feature on our website: ADDICTION IN THE NEWS ... Finding Truth in the Midst of Chaos -- http://www.americaskeswick.org/AddictionintheNews.htm

FEAR OF THE LORD (Part #3)

FEAR OF THE LORD (Part #3)

"The fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that God knows, weighs and sees every one of my thoughts, deeds, words, and actions." -- Bill Gothard.

I did a search through the Scriptures and want to share with you 24 benefits of fearing the Lord. I will share 12 today and 12 tomorrow.

1. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
2. The fear of the Lord results in serving God in sincerity and truth (Joshua 24:14).
3. The fear of the Lord will result in serving God with a whole heart. (1 Samuel 12:24)
4. The Lord instructs those who serve the Lord. (Psalm 25:12)
5. Prosperity will abide in those who fear the Lord. (Psalm 25:13)
6. The descendants of those who fear the Lord will inherit the land. (Psalm 25:13)
7. God reveals secrets to those who fear Him. (Proverbs 3:32b)
8. Goodness is laid up for those who fear Him. (Proverbs 31:19-20)
9. God's eye is on those who fear the Lord. (Proverbs 33:18)
10. Angelic protection and rescue is provided for those who fear the Lord. (Psalm 34:7)
11. God blesses us so that other will fear Him. (Psalm 67:7)
12. God has compassion on those who fear Him. (Psalm 103:13)

I encourage you to take some time to look up these verses and search the Scriptures. It will be a good study for you.

Need a break this weekend? Why not bring your family to America's KESWICK to enjoy a peaceful weekend away. We have some rooms that have opened up and will offer our Freedom Fighter family a reduced rate. Enjoy the lakes, the pool and allow God to speak to your heart and transform your life as you get alone with Him. For information, call today -- 732-350-1187. Remember to tell our reservationists that you are a member of the Freedom Fighter family.

GREAT QUOTE: It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. It is our glory to trust him, no matter what. Joni Eareckson Tada

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS TEACHER

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS TEACHER

I am thankful for the way God is at work in people's hearts, especially in the lives of the men who are in the Colony of Mercy, our 120-day residential program for men. One of our recent grads, now serves in our internship program. Chris did not grow up in any church. Has never been to church and at 34, his first exposure to church was when he came to the program.

During his time he, he trusted Christ as Savior, and what a transformation that is taking place. But the thing that has been so cool is to see the GROWTH that has occurred as the HOLY SPIRIT does HIS work in teaching Chris. It thrills me because that is exactly what Jesus told the disciples the role of the Holy Spirit would be in our lives: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things that I send to you." (John 14:20) The Holy Spirit is STILL doing HIS job, even though there are some who believe that post-moderns and busters, etc. can't handle truth like we used to! Some 2000 years since Jesus spoke those words, the HOLY SPIRIT is teaching and guiding.

As we prepare our hearts to worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit on this Lord's day, reflect on this words from one of the prayers of the Puritans:

THE SPIRIT AS TEACHER

O God the Holy Spirit,

That which I know not, teach me,
Keep me a humble disciple in the school of Christ,
Learning daily there what I am in myself,
a fallen sinful creature,
justly deserving everlasting destruction;
O let me never lose sight of my need of a Savior,
or forget that apart from Him I am nothing,
and can do nothing.
Open my understanding to know the Holy Scriptures;
Reveal to my soul the counsels and works of the blessed Trinity;
Instill into my dark mind the saving knowledge of Jesus;
Make me acquainted with his covenant undertaking,
and his perfect fulfillment of them,
that by resting on his finished work,
I may find the Father's love in the Son,
his Father, my Father,
and may be brought through Your influence
to have fellowship with the Three in One.
O lead me into all Truth, Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
that I may know the things that belong unto my peace,
and through you be made new.
Make practical upon my heart the Father's love
as you have revealed it in the Scriptures;
Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, effectually, continually,
and help me to believe, with conscience comforted,
that it cleanses from all sin;
Lead me from faith to faith, that I may at all times have freedom
to a reconciled Father,
And may be able to maintain peace with Him
against doubts, fears, corruptions, temptations.
Your office is to teach me to draw near to Christ with a pure heart,
steadfastly persuaded of his love
in the full assurance of faith.
Let me never falter in this way.

Good prayer for this Lord's Day.

Have a great day IN CHRIST!

ATTENTION: HAND SUPPORTERS NEEDED

ATTENTION: HAND SUPPORTERS NEEDED

"But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set." Exodus 17:12
The battle was intense and Moses was weary. As long as Moses' hands were raised, Israel was winning the battle. As soon as his hands came down, defeat! Aaron and Hur were clued into what was happening and realized that the length and intensity of the battle was wearing Moses' down. He was bone tired and was having difficulty staying with the stuff. So they came alongside of him, put a stone under him to sit on, and these two friends, rather than stand by and criticize and "Monday morning quarterbacking" -- got involved and became a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Notice they didn't give Moses advice or even quote Scripture to him. They stepped up to the plate and stood by their man. Their encouragement and support not only helped Moses, it enabled the enemy to be defeated.
Last week I shared with you that I was pretty discouraged and felt the intensity of the battle. The Lord has sent several Aaron's and Hur's into my life in the past couple of days, and I want to share with you what happened yesterday. The mother of one of my leadership staff stopped in to see me yesterday to encourage me. She has been a very faithful prayer warrior and has such a sweet spirit.
Mrs. Beltle came into my office and I walked over to give her a big hug. She put her arms around me and said, "Now Bill Welte, I want to pray for you." And for the next five minutes, this precious lady poured out her heart to God on my behalf and her faith and love strengthened my spirit in a special way. Mrs. Beltle did what the writer of Hebrews exhorted believers to do in Hebrews 12:12 "Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble . . ." She became a "Hand-Supporter" for me and I praise the Lord for using her in my life to encourage me at just the right time!
There are people all around you who need encouragement. I have a burden for Pastors, and I want to encourage my Freedom Fighter family -- become an Aaron or Hur to your Pastor. He needs your encouragement and prayers. Take some time this morning and ask the Lord to show you people who need your support. Your hand support can make a difference in someone's life today. Stop standing on the sidelines. Get involved and make a difference!
Thank You, Lord, for Mrs. Beltle!
Great quote: A church that has passion is a church where discouraged folks cheer up, dishonest folks 'fess up, sour folks sweeten up, closed folk, open up, gossipers shut up, conflicted folks make up, sleeping folks wake up, lukewarm folk, fire up, dry bones shake up, and pew potatoes stand up! But most of all, Christ the Savior of the entire world is lifted up.

Davon Huss

THE BIBLE . . . A TREASURE

THE BIBLE . . . A TREASURE

Yesterday I received a treasure from one of my friends who is now in her nineties. She believes that she is going home to be with the Lord and has been giving away some of her possessions. I was given her Bible -- her friend and companion for these many years. You can learn so much about a person by looking at in their Bible. For the next couples of days, I want to share some of the precious nuggets that I have found within the pages of her Bible.

Here is a poem pasted into the flyleaf of her Bible:

"Now, said this Book to me,
Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine
Gold and silver in every line
And you may claim them if you will
Open my pages and take your fill.

Open my pages and run them o'er
Take what you choose of my golden store
Be you greedy, I shall not care
All that you seize I shall gladly spare
There is never a lock on my treasure door
Come, here are my jewels make them YOURS.

I have just been a book on your shelf
But I can be part of your living self
If only you'll travel my pages thru
Then I will travel the whole world with you.

As two wines blended make better wine (not a good Keswick phrase!!!)
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.
I'll make you better to talk with men,
I'll touch with silver the lines you pen.
I'll lead you nearer the truth you seek
I'll strengthen you when your faith grows weak
This place on the shelf has been a prison cell
Let me come into your mind to dwell.

Make THE BOOK live to me, O Lord.
Instill with my heart, dear Lord,
A deep desire to know Your Word;
I want to learn to hear YOUR voice
And always make YOUR will my choice.

Good words to consider today. Well this has been an exciting week at America's KESWICK and I want to make you an offer that will be hard to refuse. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung has been sharing God's Word in light of Bible prophecy and this is a series that you don't want to miss. I am willing to give to my Freedom Fighter friends, a set of CD's (8 messages) but ask that you consider a gift to the ministry to help us this summer with the many expenses we face. Here is how it will work . . . If you will respond to this email, we will send you the CD's and it will then be between you and the Lord to send your gift. I am telling you ... this is a "must hear" series for every believer. I look forward to hearing from you today. To order your CD's ... simply respond to this email. Your gift will be much appreciated. Thanks.

BENEFITS OF FEARING THE LORD

BENEFITS OF FEARING THE LORD

Here are twelve more benefits of fearing the Lord:

13. He gives food to them that fear Him. (Psalm 111:5)
14. He fulfills the desires of them that fear Him. (Psalm145:18-19)
15. He hears and saves those who fear Him. (Psalm 145:18-19)
16. The fear of the Lord produces healing to our bodies and health to our bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8)
17. The fear of the Lord creates a hatred for sin. (Proverbs 8:13)
18. The fear of the Lord prolongs life. (Proverbs 10:17)
19. The fear of the Lord brings godly confidence. (Proverbs 14:16)
20. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27)
21. The fear of the Lord is from envying sinners. (Proverbs 23:17)
22. Mercy is on those who fear the Lord. (Acts 9:31)
23. The fear of the Lord allows for growth and peace. (Acts 9:31)
24. The fear of the Lord helps us to persuade men by the example of our godly lives. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

And I discovered a 25th one yesterday as I read through Proverbs 19

25. The fear of the Lord leads to a peace-centered life. Proverbs 19:24

Take time today to read these verses and allow them to penetrate your HEART today.

Are you free this weekend? Enjoy a weekend away at America's KESWICK. Special rate available for our Freedom Fighter family. Call today for information. We'd love to serve you.