Crying Out to God

Crying Out To God in PRAYER

The ministry of America's KESWICK is a faith ministry. It has been that for 110 years. Historically, we have had seasons where we have found ourselves in difficult spots financially and those have been exciting times because of our believe that God is the One who provides for our needs.

We have a rich historical perspective of crying out to God for Him to show up to display His glory during these crunch times. We are there right now. Our Board made a decision over 11 years ago not to borrow money from the bank, and it has been exciting to see HIM provide for our needs in ways that can all be traced back to HIM!

Today we are crying out to God to provide for our needs because we are facing a huge deficit. We don't want to be behind in paying our bills as we believe it is not a good testimony to our vendors. We don't want to borrow money from the bank. So we have made a commitment to cry out to the Lord as a staff.

I have a team who meet with me daily for prayer and we have been praying together for the past several weeks about our finances. We have looked at ways that we can make budget cuts and seek ways to be better stewards. We looked for all OUR answers to make it work, and then I was whacked on the side of the head -- where is God in all of this? I was seeking all of OUR ways to make this happen. Is HE not able once again to demonstrate HIS power and glory? Doesn't HE delight in HIS kids crying out for help?

I was reminded of one of my favorite chapters in the Scriptures. I first thought it was just my trying to force a passage to fit our current status except that in several places in the past three days it has come up in my devotional readings, and then our speaker in staff chapel referred to it yesterday. I encourage you to read it ... Here are several verses that reappear four times in this text:

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting ... Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them from their distresses." (Psalm 107:1,6) Check it out. It will encourage your heart.

I don't know HOW or WHEN HE is going to work, but I am thanking HIM today as we cry out to HIM. I do know this -- that when the answer comes it will only be traceable to HIM.

If you would like to be a part of our day of prayer right where you are, respond to this email. We are looking to fill fifteen minute time slots beginning at 7:00 AM.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Sometimes we don't feel like praying. But if there were ever a time that we need to pray, it's when we don't feel like it. We need to pray until we DO feel like it. -- Adrian Rogers

Words of Encouragement

Words of Encouragement

When you pray do you ever imagine who you are talking to and where He might be and what He might be doing?  Heb. 2:9 says “.. we see Jesus, .. crowned with glory and honor;” Picture Jesus on His royal throne with all of the holy angels and the saints that have gone before.
 
What do you think he might be talking about? In Hebrews 2:11&12 we read “... 11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."
 
Can you believe that? He is not ashamed of you! He has never been disappointed with you. Disappointment comes from failed expectations. Since He knows all about us from our birth until your death, He has known what we are even when He chose to redeem us.
 
When I first realized that God has never been disappointed with me I cried. I am so often disappointed with my walk and lack of faithfulness. He is not just “not disappointed,” He is actually proud of you and me telling the angels all about us and how He can’t wait for them to meet us

In verse 12 He says “… in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” He is actually writing a song about you. Can you imagine, next Sunday, during a church service, someone standing up and starting to sing about how proud they are of you and when you look you find it is Jesus? `       

(I know that some think that Hebrews is saying that we will be singing His praises but that does not seem worth commenting on but if He is singing your praises that is a miracle.)

It is almost be too much to believe, yet the next seems more impossible. In verse 13 He says. “..I will put my trust in him.” Imagine God trusting you when you find it difficult to trust yourself. WOW!

How does it happen that He can trust us. The Scripture tells us how. Jude 1:24 reads “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” The greatness of our good Shepherd is His great concern for His sheep. Trust Him who knows all about you and still loves you and believes in you when you can not understand. He will keep His world

Someone asked of the long distance runner, “What part of the race is the most difficult place for the athlete?” Some think it is the beginning, for a job well begun is half finished. I think not because we are fresh and all things are new. Such it is for a child of God when he first experiences his family relationship.

Others say it is at the end or near the end when the runner is exhausted and weary. It is then that he is tempted to give up and just quit. But it is the glimpse of the goal that reinvigorates the runner.

It is in the middle of the race, when one is just “picking them up and putting them down” that one is most tempted to just quit. It is now that you might feel most likely to give up, don’t do it.

Picture Jesus, having run the race before us sitting exhausted on a crate with the sweat pouring down His face looking for you as you run your race. Hear Him saying to you while gasping for breath, “Keep going! You can make it! I know you will!”

 Take courage He will never give up on you! (Pastor George Van Sandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:  “To understand the part of the Bible you don’t understand is to obey the part you do understand, and before long you’ll begin to understand what you didn’t understand!  UNDERSTAND? – Dr. Adrian Rogers

How did Sin begin?

How did Sin begin?

I remember in both Bible School and Seminary we tried to understand how sin came into the world. The consensus among the students was that it came into our world when Adam ate the forbidden fruit.

The problem is that a holy being cannot produce an unholy act. Or to state it more philosophically, does a man become a thief because he steals or does he steal because he is a thief? I think that it must be the later but then how does one account for Adam’s action.

Adam ate the “apple” because he was a sinner. The thought that preceded to action is itself sin, As you read the third chapter in the Bible you will find that Eve’s perception of the tree and act had changed.  Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it,

What made her concept of the tree change? Before the Serpent incident she saw the tree differently. It belonged to God. God had a right to do what He pleased with his creation. That was fine with her until she started listening to the snake. He convinced her that God was withholding something of value from her.

Once the thought that she should be treated differently by God entered her mind, she began to see the tree differently. It had value to her. Now John in his first epistle describes sin “2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

You will notice that what Eve thought, the lust of the flesh—“Good for food”, the lust of the eye—“Pleasing to the eye”, and the Pride of life—gaining of wisdom, are from the world and not from God.

If you read Psalm 139 you will find that David had a problem. When he saw the truth that God knows all about him: when he gets up, what he thinks even why he thinks what he thinks and knew him before he was born The Psalmist wants to escape from God. Things begin to change for David around verse 17

He discovered that the one who know all about him still loves him. Can you believe that? It is not God trying to get away from him but it was he who was trying to get away from God

In verse 19, David realizes that he is thinking like God’s enemies. The have corrupted his view of God and he wants to be free from their influences. Eve was corrupted by the words of Satan. We need to surround ourselves with people whose thoughts and words will support us in times of temptations.

Now here is my last thought on this subject, it is found in James 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. How dose Lust conceive. It must join with something else. Nothing is self-conceived. So while lust may always be a part of the human experience it by itself can do no harm. It is when the will of the person joins with the lust of the person that sin is conceived.

So while the desire has not accomplice it can and will die. It is when we dwell on our lusts that the will begins its deadly work of sin. So, what are we to do?
 

Feelings (lust) only last as long as our thoughts are causing them. Change your thoughts and you change your feelings (lust) Think of God. Think His thoughts after Him or as Scripture says “Meditate on them in the daytime and at night. Memorizing scripture helps. Victory comes when the struggler has reinforcement (The Bible)! (Pastor George Van Sandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: What we surrender, God takes. What He takes, He cleanses. What He cleanses, He fills. What He fills, He uses. – Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Best Rest Ever!

Before and during the time I’ve written the October Freedom Fighters, I’ve done five funerals in five weeks.  I can’t ever remember a similar time in almost forty years of ministry.  These five weeks have reminded me of the great need for rest from the trouble and pain of life and death on planet Earth.

I’ve sat in funeral home with families that live with grief and the pain of loss.  Some have lost a spouse.  Others have lost a mother or father.  Many have lost a good friend.  It hurts.  One man, standing at the casket of his wife of more than fifty years said, “I didn’t know it would hurt this much.” 

Jesus knew all the pain life can bring when He spoke the words Matthew recorded in his gospel (11:28-30).  He knew the stress that can invade our lives.  He knew the turmoil of troubled families, difficult jobs and loved ones who die too soon.  He knew we would need His help.

So, He invites us to come to Him.  He promised to give us rest.  He relieves us of the burden of sin and guilt.  Then He instructs us to take the Yoke and learn from Him.  Jesus tells us that the yoke is easy; it’s designed for each of us.  The burden is light.  He’ll teach us all we need to know.  He’ll protect us as we stay close to Him while walking in the yoke.  We’ll benefit from His wisdom as He shows us how to walk in the new life He’s given us.

Then He tells us the result of all it.  “And you will find rest for your souls.”  It’s the best rest ever!  It’s rooted in who Jesus is and His power to meet every need that comes our way.  When we lose jobs after a factory closes, He gives us rest for our souls.  If family members bring grief our way, His rest sustains us.  The loss of the one we love more than life itself doesn’t destroy us because His rest takes root in our souls.

It’s this simple: Jesus tells us to come to Him and receive forgiveness.  He tells us to come to Him and learn from Him.  He tells us that the result will always be the same—rest for our souls.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy lade, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Can you think of any good reason to do anything other than live in the yoke?  I sure can’t!  (Pastor John Strain)

Learning from the Master

We’ve considered Jesus’ invitation/instruction to come to Him and take His yoke for our own.  He expands the opportunity for us when He tells us that after taking the yoke and walking with Him, we can learn from Him.  I can’t think of anyone from whom I’d rather learn!

When the Apostle John   introduces us to Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel, he calls Jesus the logos.  He is the living embodiment of God’s Word.  He not only knows the Word, He is the Word!  When we receive the invitation to take the yoke and learn, we know we’re going to learn from God Incarnate—the Living Word!

He first invites us to come to Him, promising us that He will give us rest.  We’ve already learned that this rest is the rest we find in salvation.  Next, He instructs us to take the yoke.  It’s a different way for Jesus to say “Become my disciples.”  Disciples are learners.  So, Jesus calls us to discipleship and promises to be our teacher when we take the yoke.

Think about all we need to learn to live as Jesus calls us to live.  We all need to know about abiding in Christ (John 15).  How better to do that than to walk in the yoke with Jesus?  You and I need to know how to live in obedience.  Can we do better than to live in close relationship with Jesus as He teaches us how to live? 

We don’t think of it often, but we all live in danger.  The enemy of our souls lurks around us, looking for the perfect opportunity to attack.  Walking in the yoke with Jesus gives us opportunity to gain His wisdom for the war.  Without that wisdom, we’re sitting ducks waiting to be picked off.  Jesus knows that’s just one more reason we need the yoke.  It’s a safe and good place for those who follow Him.

What are you learning these days?  Do you have more knowledge of the world than you do the Word?  Do you live with Jesus in ways that allow you to learn from Him?  Jesus says “learn from Me.”  Don’t lose that opportunity.  It’s time for Freedom Fighters to get in the yoke. (Pastor John Strain)

Religion Personal but not Private

Religion Personal but not Private

The world today seems to say that what you believe is a private matter. It is all right if you believe something but you should not bother other people with what you believe. Keep it all to yourself.

Some parents boast that they will not even teach their children their religion. This, of course, means that they have none that they believe to be true.
Just because what one believes is quite personal it does not mean that it must be kept private.

The problem with truth is that it cannot share its throne with any error. Truth, by definition is the enemy of all error. When Pilate asked, “What is truth?” he walked away. Jesus had told His disciples that He is truth and Life and the only way to the Father. (John 14:6 ) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)
         

The trouble with Christianity is that it allows for no other way to heaven. All other religions provide for an entrance into heaven another way. Jesus said that those who enter another way are thieves and robbers. ( John 20:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.)

Now here is where what you believe that is personal should not be kept private. When you see a skull and cross bones on a package of poison. What you believe demands that you warn others in other words don’t keep it private.

If you see a building on fire and believe that people should escape and do not warn them you would be wrong. So, if you believe that there is a hell and that without Christ people will spend their eternity there, you need to make the others aware. You cannot save anyone from hell but your responsibility is to warn them and to tell them about Christ.

As a Christian, you can share what you believe. If they say, “But I don’t believe that” your response should be to tell them that “That is what the bible says, “He that believeth not shall be damned”, (Mark 16:16 ) Whoever believes .. will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

That’s all. Do not add anything to it. Logic will not convert but the Holy Spirit can.
          

The more you witness to others the easier it is to remain faithful. A story is told of a young man who wanted to go to Bible College. He told his congregation that he planned to work for a Logging company. They tried to warn him that working around men like that would mean a great deal of teasing and tormenting. He went anyway. He returned to inform the church people that he did not experience any hazing. They were surprised until he explained, “They did not even guess that I was a Christian!”
          

State your position early in every relationship for while it is personal it is not private. (Pastor George Van Sandt)
 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:  “Most people want to serve God but only in an advisory capacity.” – Dr. Adrian Rogers

ANGER

Today’s topic is concerning anger.

The reason for writing on this subject is that anger is the most used trigger in most addictions. It is not that anger in and of itself is sinful. For in Ephesians 4:26 we read “In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"

When people become angry they will often suddenly become very hungry. That hunger can be for food but it is also for drink, drugs, and sex.

When you are at peace within yourself you are more able to control appetite than at any other time. So let us look at anger.

What causes anger?

Anger happens. It may not always be in your control to choose anger but it should always be in your control what you allow anger to do to or through you.

I say “not always” for some of us are too sensitive (easily pained, annoyed, etc). We expect even drivers on the road to get out of our way. My mother would say that we wear our hearts on our sleeves. Such exposed hearts are easily hurt. For this reason we need what my wife calls Elephant’s skin.

We need to have a servant’s heart. Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

How to control anger.

The first step is to recognize that you are angry. Don’t deny it. Don’t confuse it with hurt. When a person is hurt we all want to kiss it away BUT when one is angry we guard ourselves with anger. When you feel angry you need to choose your reaction.

The second step is to delay your response. Speaking while angry will enable you to make the greatest speech you will ever feel sorry for making.

The third step is to recognize that anger is reserved only for enemies. It is an enemy that makes us angry for our friends we make some sort of an excuse. Matthew 26:50   Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for. Jesus refused to let Judas cause Him to react in anger.

The forth step is to recognize that your anger gives the one who causes it control over your feelings. When I see a parent hitting a child I want to ask him/her, “Why are you doing that?” The answer is probably “the child is making me” when we became adults we should have put away childish things.

The fifth step is to contact your attorney and turn the situation over to him. Jesus taught us that we have two such attorneys. One is in heaven (Jesus) and the other is with you here (The Holy Spirit).

May you find help and encouragement with every kind of anger. Remember Paul said not to let the sun go down on your anger, It is not that your problem must be solved before sundown.. Don’t hold on to your anger for you are as much a prisoner as the offender. Let him/her go and get on with the freedom from anger. (Pastor George Van Sandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “If I put things in between me and Christ, it is idolatry. If I put CHRIST between me and things, it is VICTORY!

Just a few more thoughts on forgiveness

Just a few more thoughts on forgiveness.

There are some things that forgiveness does not do:
1.     It may not stop the pain of the hurt right away.
2.     It may not be “once and for all”.
3.     It may need to be repeated over and over,
 
Now why is this so?
It is so because forgiveness has to do with our anger and it takes some time for us to sort out what we are angry about. And by the time we do, it is so stored within our memory bank that it is difficult to extract anger right away.

It may be repeated over and over because every time we remember the act we regenerate the anger and thus the process must be repeated; God gives Himself amnesia (Hebrews 10:17) "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."  But we have trouble in that area.

If we can totally forget the offending act, we will find ourselves in the same position. Suppose someone were to attack you when alone in their presence. It could result in the same action, so by remembering we can avoid the repeating of such act.

When Jacob and Esau met on Jacob’s journey towards Isaac, he finds forgiveness from Esau but they do not suddenly become loving twins. It does not erase the offence that Esau felt. In Genesis 33:18 & 19 Jacob bids farewell to his brother with a promise to meet again at home then crosses the river and buys property. He knows that when Esau remembers the hurt, his life would be in jeopardy.

Another thought that I cannot emphasize enough is that forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the forgiven. We may think that we are letting him/her off of the hook when we are really laying down the pole, so that we can be free to move on. To not forgive means that you must keep all of the negative feelings that you have. 

      
In time, that will become a heavier burden than you can handle.
While forgiveness will not restore the original relation it can be the foundation of a new relationship. It can make you a more giving and forgiving person.

Bitter people are unhappy people. Grateful people are happy people. That does no mean that they are never sad but being aware of the good times can lead to happiness.

Forgiveness helps create a healthy person. Most happy people experience less common sicknesses. Keeping anger is draining and creates pain and illness. It takes a lot of energy to stay angry. From morning to night you must keep guard lest you forget one reason for being angry.

Now here is a good question.

Why do angry people hit objects that hurt them like walls and trees?  You may say that it is because they do not want to hit the offending person. But why hurt themselves. May I suggest that as a small child they heard their father say, “Stop crying or I will give you something to cry for?”

What is he teaching his child? That only physical pain is worthy of tears and that emotional pain is not real. It is the pain of personal hurt that we are dealing with. The pain is real. It is not helped by expressing anger but will be helped by forgiveness.

Constantly expressing anger does not relieve it. What it truly does is make it harder to control. So, forgiveness not only frees us from the past but it helps us handle future hurts.

May God grant us the ability to forgive and to be forgiving. (Pastor George VanSandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “God doesn’t want a PLACE in your life. He demands and deserves PREEMINENCE. God’s throne is not a duplex!” – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Another Thought on FORGIVENESS

Another Thought on FORGIVENESS

They came into my office somewhat disheveled. It was obvious that they had not slept for sometime. He sat with his head in his hands while she sat with a Bible in her lap. Both were in great pain.

She had just heard of his infidelity. He had confessed.  She opened the session with the burning question of the moment, “How can I say that what he has done is OK?”  “You can’t,” was my calm response.  “But I have to,” was her anguished retort “Who told you that?” I asked knowing full well it wasn’t her pastor.  “My pastor told me that I have to forgive him.” They had been married for almost 40 years. She wanted desperately to save the family that God had created through them.  “Can you tell me the circumstances surrounding the adultery?” I put this question to the man.  After some time, I began to realize that he was full of remorse. The only thing that could heal this damaged relationship was forgiveness.  “But how can I say that what he did was OK?!” Her face and tone of voice showed that the hurt and anger was truly great.  “I never said that you had to make it OK. It can never be OK. Do you think that forgiveness is the same as OK?” I continued.  I have often found that even mature Christians rooted and grounded in Scripture struggle with their inability to forgive.  I try to remind them that an easy forgiveness is the seed of future failure. The offending party is often tempted to think that there was no harm done and will be tempted to repeat the action. This is not to be taken as a license to hold on to anger. Hurt becomes anger when held in the heart.  The next question is the pivotal point.  “What did Jesus say on the cross?” was the question that I put to her.   "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)  “Are you sure that he used the word forgive? Why did he not inform the Father that what they were doing was OK? ”  “It is because,” I continued, “ignorance is no excuse for wrong actions. Just ask any policeperson; OK and forgiveness is not the same thing.”  “I understand what you are saying--that I must forgive--but I can’t.”  “That is true. Open your Bible to Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”  “I have tried that but Christ has not helped me to forgive. It hurts too much!”  “True, so stop saying I can’t and tell God and yourself the truth, God will not do it for you or even with you. Many Christians like to use the word CAN’T for WONT. If the hurt is so fresh and great, it is OK to want justice and not mercy” “Then since I need justice, it is alright for me to be angry”  "No, What I am saying is that it is a normal reaction. You must engage your will before God can strengthen it. Can’t says that my will has nothing to do with it. What is Christ going to strengthen?”  “What does admitting that I do not want to forgive do for me?”  “First understand that most Christians stop trying to forgive and just try to make it OK. They say look what they did to Jesus so I must say that what was done to me is OK.  NO! What they did to Jesus was wrong too!”  “I think I am beginning to understand”  “Here is the secret, IF SOMETHING CAN BE MADE OK IT NEVER NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN. IF IT CAN NOT BE MADE OK IT NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN. So, unlock the prison door and with God’s help set yourself free.  “When can I be free of this pain?” she asked.  “When you are able to stop saying I can’t forgive and recognize that you won’t forgive. Then, when you want to be rid of the pain, you go to Christ and tell him that your heart’s desire is to forgive and Christ will enable you to forgive. Don’t make it OK just Forgive!”

Please use this information to help you forgive each other whether the offender is male or female, friend or family, neighbor or coworker. Just enjoy the freedom that forgiveness brings. (Pastor George Van Sandt)
 
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “To KNOW Him is to love Him. To LOVE Him is to trust Him. To TRUST Him is to obey Him. And to OBEY Him is to be blessed by Him.” – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Why do we need to forgive anyone?

Why do we need to forgive anyone?

Freedom Fighters for this week will challenge you to think.

One day I walked into the reception area during a conference. I think it was a Thursday afternoon when I met a young woman who was alone and our conversation went something like this I greeted her with “Hi. You look happy. How is the week going for you?” “Oh, it is just great,” was her reply, “I have finally forgiven my father.” My response at this point caught her by surprise, “Why have you forgiven him?” “I had to. If I did not forgive him, God would not forgive me?” “Really?” was my surprised response? “Yes, if we do not forgive then God will not forgive us.” “Do you really believe that?” “That’s what the Bible says.” Her remark should have stopped my line of inquiry. “It certainly seems to say that,” was my reaction, “but I thought that God’s love (and forgiveness) was not conditional. That is the most conditional kind of love that I can think of.”

Fortunately she agreed with me but timidly continued “Why did God say that we should forgive in order to be forgiven?”  “He didn’t” I pointed out that in the “Lord’s Prayer” we ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others. So it is our request for God to treat us as we treat others, “I am not so sure that we really want God to do that!” “Do you mean that God will forgive us no matter how we treat others?” was her reaction. “Isn’t that more like unconditional love and forgiveness?” “Yes, but now I am confused. I have tried all of these years to forgive my father but I did not have to!” “I didn’t say that. You can hold on to your anger and hurt until the day you die BUT you cannot experience God’s forgiveness without forgiving.” “It sounds like we are back at the beginning. If I don’t forgive, I won’t be forgiven.” “No, it is quite the opposite. God will and has and always will forgive His children but no child of God can sense His forgiveness while holding on to un-forgiveness.” “Why?”  “Because, how can you feel forgiven for everything that you have done when you are unable to forgive another for some slight hurt or small offence. It stands to reason that you are not greater than God so the debt that another owes you can never equal the debt that you owed God.” “Oh, I think I see what you mean. ”Yes, to enjoy the full and free forgiveness of God we must freely forgive one another” “Suppose he never asks for my forgiveness?

“If you wait for someone to ask you, that person has control over your happiness. Do you want to give that control over to another? It is better to forgive and move on with the happiness that one finds when doing what is right.” Why do I write this? Because if you are waiting to forgive, you need to go to God and “By Faith” forgive another, not to be forgiven, but because you are forgiven!

(This week’s Freedom Fighter’s have been written by Pastor George Van Sandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: The difference between the Anti-Christ and Christ is that one gives you a number and the other gives you a name. When Jesus comes will name be called or will your number be up? – Dr. Adrian Rogers

This Yoke's for You

This Yoke's for You!

We don't know a whole lot about yokes in our culture. Most of us have probably never seen one. After reflecting on Jesus' invitation to come to Him and take His yoke (Matthew 11:28-30), I decided to do some reading about yokes, and I learned a lot.One thing that I discovered is that any good oxen in Jesus' day were better dressed than I'll ever be.

I buy my suits off the rack at J.C. Penney. The oxen of Jesus' time wore custom-made yokes. They were perfectly fitted to each yoke of oxen by the yoke maker. One-size-fits-all was unacceptable.The yoke had to fit perfectly. Without the perfect fit, the oxen faced injury or infection. They could injure themselves pulling heavy loads of the yoke didn't fit. Or, the misfit yoke could rub the oxen's skin and cause abrasions or cuts that could get infected. Custom-fit was the only way to go.Jesus' hearers knew all that. They could have surmised that Jesus' call to the yoke implied a good fit. When He said to them My yoke is easy, they knew exactly what that meant. When they got in the yoke with Him, it would fit perfectly.

So it is for you and me. Jesus, all-knowing, all-powerful and every-where present, fits His yoke for you and me to the exact measurements He knows we need. It won't bind on us, and it won't hurt us. The yoke He offers us will hold us in His presence and never feel like a burden. Rather, we'll know perfect comfort for the journey with Jesus. Your yoke might well not fit me. Mine probably wouldn't fit you. Each of us will discover the pleasure of a custom fit!We can always trust Jesus to do what is best for us. We know His character and love well enough to know that He'll never call us to anything less than what is best for us. The yoke will always fit. When Jesus says take My yoke, He's saying this yoke's for you! (Today's Freedom Fighter was submitted by Pastor John Strain, First Baptist Toms River)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ...: The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smallerincidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call ringsthrough the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin. Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer

Choosing the Yoke

Choosing the Yoke

After Jesus invites us to himself and gives us rest, He goes a step further. He says to us "Take My yoke upon you and learn from me . . . ." The implications of this instruction almost boggle the mind. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, offers us the privilege of walking with Him each day! Think about what that means. Every day we have Jesus' presence. Not one day goes by that we don't have His guidance. Each day we walk in yoke with the One who can protect and provide for us! What possible reason might we have to decline the yoke?

The construction of Jesus' instruction is much more powerful in the Greek New Testament. Those who heard Him speak these words would have understood that He expected them to choose the yoke immediately. He wasn't offering them something to think about. Instead, He said to them, Take the yoke right now; make your choice right now!

Warren Wiersbe writes that the "come" of verse 28 and the "take" of verse 29 are "crisis" experiences; they need to happen right now! We hear Jesus' invitation to come to Him, and we come. We hear His invitation to take the yoke, and we do it. By the work of God's Spirit in our lives, we know both are the right thing to do.

Discovering the benefits/blessings of coming and taking begin immediately. The discovery process lasts for the rest of our journey with Jesus. We'll continually learn from Him. We'll find deeper levels of rest, peace and trust as we walk with Him in the yoke.

We must understand, however, that the discovery process begins with choices that may well feel like a crisis. Jesus' demands on our lives are always for our best. Choosing obedience often is frightening because we yield control and don't know what to expect.

Jesus comes to us and tells us to choose the yoke. Only a very foolish person would choose to decline the opportunity! (Pastor John Strain)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: A sinful act involves worship of the wrong kind, submitting ourselves at that moment to serve the appetites of our pride or lust, and so repentance is literally a transfer of our worship back to the One who rightfully owns it..... Worship has been misunderstood as something that arises from a feeling which "comes upon you," but it is vital that we understand that it is rooted in a conscious act of the will, to serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. The feelings, the joy of having been forgiven, follow on as a consequence of our reunion with him. Graham Kendrick

COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE

COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE

"Let us therefore draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

I've told you before that I am thick-headed and a slow learner. Yesterday I had one of those "duh!" moments. We are going through some tough days financially as a ministry. We've been here many times before in the life cycle of the ministry, and God has always been faithful.

I have really tried not to worry and fret over this, but at times, it gets pretty overwhelming. For 11 years we have not had to borrow any money from the bank which is a God thing. At our Board meeting last Friday, someone mentioned taking out a line of credit and inwardly I cringed. Thankfully we all agreed - we are going to trust God!

Yesterday I was really feeling in that overwhelmed state and I said to myself (that's for you Brian ...) "I wish my friend Pastor Conant was around. I'd call him and get him to pray!" Then there was that moment we've all experienced. My son Zach calls it the "duh" moment - when the light clicks on. What did I write in Freedom Fighter yesterday about having "a private audience" with the God? Did I not read that yesterday morning? "DUH!"

Pastor Conant was a great prayer warrior because he had confidence to go directly to the throne of grace. Jesus made it possible for him to do that. But I have that same privilege and opportunity to do that at any time of the day or night. I can solicit others to pray about issues with me - but I need to be praying myself.

Did you ever find yourself asking someone to tell someone else something for you? "Hey, in your meeting, tell so and so _____________," only to have the person say - "Tell them yourself!" Well isn't that what I was doing?

I knew that I would get hit this morning - so here is what I read:

"We are to rely on HIM as our VIGILANT PROVIDER, who 'supplies all our need' (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 34:22). He does not always employ ravens to feed His Elijah's, but by one means or another, He sustains them if they really rely on Him. We would not eulogize poverty, yet one of its blessings is that it keeps us more directly looking to God, and thus occasions more evidences that our extremities are God's opportunities.

But we are obliged to add a qualifying word. Our relying on God must be marked by three characteristics. First it must be a REAL relying; not merely pretended or imagined. Second it must be CONSTANT. We must be like the godly man of Psalm 112:7: 'His heart is FIXED, trusting in (relying on) Jehovah!" Third, our relying must be UNADMIXED! It must be on our LORD ALONE! A willy-nilly faith dishonors God and leaves its double-minded exerciser self-frustrated. We must learn to say with David, 'He ONLY is my Rock ... My soul wait thou ONLY upon God ... He ONLY is my defense.' (Psalm 62:2, 5, 6)" from AWAKE, MY HEART by J.
Sidlow Baxter (Zondervan)

I am thankful that today is a new day! I will continue to ask people to join me in prayer, but they are going WITH ME to the throne of grace! "Forgive me, Lord, for depending on others to pray when I have the privilege of a having "a private audience with you. Thank You, for this reminder, Lord."

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: "Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but God, and who hate nothing but sin, and who know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and I will shake the world." John Wesley

HEAD'S UP - Next week we are traveling with 45 senior citizens to the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Pastor George Van Sandt, my pastor growing up, will be our guest Freedom Fighter writer for the week. Pastor John Strain will be sharing with you both weekends.

You Have An Audience of One

YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE

Ok, I admit that I have a real problem in this area. Some of you won't be surprised. I really have to work at staying focused when I am talking to someone - especially when there is something else going on around me. I have to really work hard at making sure I have eye contact with the person I am speaking with, otherwise it is very easy for me to drift off and to listen in to the conversations around me.

I have prided myself over the years that I am a good multi-tasker. I can listen to music and write and read. But when it comes to listening, and doing it attentively, I am realizing that I have to make a concerted effort to really zero in on the one talking to me.

Yesterday two dear friends came into my office and both of them talk rather loudly and were both jabbering on a high decibels and at a rapid rate. My brain felt like a ping pong ball trying to keep up with what they were saying. It was pretty funny!

I began to think about the awesomeness of God. Imagine what it must be like for Him to have millions of people praying and crying out to Him at one time, and yet He is able to zero in our prayers as if we were the only one in His presence. And the Hebrew word picture in the Old Testament for listen when referring to God, says that He listens with BOTH ears!

This morning I read in Psalm 18 from THE MESSAGE: "I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From His palace he hears MY call; MY cry brings me right into HIS presence - a private audience! That is absolutely mind-boggling to me! When I pray to Him I have a private audience with the God of the universe! I have his undivided attention! Amazing!
Amazing! Amazing!

That's the God who LONGS for you to talk with Him throughout the day, my friends! Take time today to enjoy your private audience with the KING!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: "How often I have treated my quiet time as "Give me" time, when I am concerned with MY emptiness, MY weakness, MY weariness, and MY sinfulness. My, My, My! I fail to see that Jesus Christ also has a need. He needs MY love, worship, obedience, and above all, MY company. I need to sit by HIS side as a dear friend, sharing His heart secrets as He shares mine, rejoicing in the mutual balance of our love." - Glynn Evans

Stumbling Blocks Part 2

STUMBLING BLOCKS (Part 2)

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1

Good morning, men. Today is a new day and another day to see God at work in our lives. Yesterday I shared the first part of a devotional reading from the book STREAMS IN THE DESERT (Zondervan) and now here is part 2.
I pray that today it will speak to someone's heart. If that someone was you, I'd love to hear from you.

"The devil has two very masterful tricks. The first is to tempt is to become DISCOURAGED, for then we are defeated and of no service to others, at least for awhile. The other is to tempt is to DOUBT, thereby breaking the bond of faith that unites us with the Father. So watch out!
Do not be tricked either way!

I like to cultivate the spirit of HAPPINESS! It restores my soul and it keeps it so perfectly in tune that Satan is afraid to touch it. The chords of my soul become so vibrant and full of heavenly electricity that he takes his fiendish fingers from me and goes somewhere else!
Satan is always wary of interfering with me when my heart is full of the happiness and joy of the Holy Spirit.

My plan is simply to shun the spirit of SADNESS as I would normally shun Satan, but unfortunately I am not always successful. Like the devil himself, sadness confronts me while I am on the highway of USEFULNESS.
And it stays face to face with me until my soul turns blue and sad! In fact, sadness discolors everything around me and produces a mental paralysis. Nothing has any appeal to me, future prospects seem clouded in darkness, and my soul loses all its aspirations and power!

An elderly believer once said, 'CHEERFULNESS in our faith causes any act of service to be performed with DELIGHT, and we are never more moved ahead as swiftly in our spiritual calling as when we are carried on the wings of happiness. SADNESS, however, clips those wings or, using another analogy, causes the wheels to fall off our chariots of service.
Our chariot then becomes like those of the Egyptians at the Red Sea, dragging heavily on its axle and slowing our progress."

Good words to consider this morning.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: "I am the visible part of the invisible Christ. He is the invisible part of the visible me!" - Dr. Adrian Rogers

Stumbling Blocks

STUMBLING BLOCKS

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1

This devotional from STREAMS IN THE DESERT (Zondervan) was really powerful. It will be in two parts. I pray that it will be an encouragement to someone who may need to hear this message:

"There are certain things that are not sins themselves but that tend to weigh us down or become distractions and stumbling blocks to our Christian growth. One of the worst of these is the feeling of despair or hopelessness. A heavy heart is indeed a weight that will surely drag us down in our holiness and usefulness.

The failure of the children of Israel to enter the Promised Land began with their complaining, or as the Word says it, "All the Israelites GRUMBLED!" (Numbers 14:2) It may have started with a faint desire to complain and be discontent, but they allowed it to continue until it blossomed and ripened into total rebellion and ruin.

We should never give ourselves the freedom to doubt God or His eternal love and faithfulness toward us in everything. We can be determined to set our own will against doubt just as we do against any other sin. Then as we stand firm, refusing to doubt, the Holy Spirit will come to our aid, giving us the faith of God and crowning us with victory.

It is very easy to fall into the habit of doubting, worrying, wondering if God has forsaken us, and thinking that after all we have been through, our hopes are going to end in failure. But let us refuse to be discouraged and unhappy! Let us 'consider it pure joy' (James 1:2), even when we do not feel any happiness. Let us rejoice by faith, by firm determination, and by simply regarding it as true, and we will find that God will make it real to us."

Good word for today. I will share part 2 tomorrow morning.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: 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 Lord Is ...

THE LORD IS …
When reading through the Word each day, I am amazed at how many times words or phrases seem to jump off the page and minister to me in an amazing way. This morning as I was reading through the Scriptures in the devotional tool, DAILY LIGHT, I was reminded of the little word, “IS!”

By the way … this IS a great tool. The DAILY LIGHT is just Scripture verses arranged in a morning and evening reading. We have them available in the KESWICK BOOK & GIFT SHOP or you can read it online at http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/

I am thankful that I have a historical record from God’s Word of God’s faithfulness of who He WAS to the children of Israel and to many of the great Bible characters. But what is incredibly thrilling to me is that not only WAS God – HE IS today for me and for you.

Listen to some of these amazing verses:

The Lord IS my rock and fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior!

The Lord IS my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

When my enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. We may boldly say: ‘The Lord IS my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?’The Lord IS my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord IS the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

(Psalm 59:9; 2 Samuel 22:2-3; Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 59:19; Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 27:1)

I challenge you to work your way through the book of Psalms and underline all the verses that say: “The Lord IS …” You be absolutely amazed at what the Lord IS to you, right now – today – October 15, 2007. That ought to cause your heart to soar towards heaven with praise and thanksgiving.Write them down in your journal – and when you are tempted to have that pity party that we all face from time to time, go back and remind yourself – The Lord IS …

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT … “A God-hungry person soon becomes a God-filled person, then He becomes a God-explaining person. What a joy to be a God-explaining person, one who invitingly says: ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8) – Glynn Evans

Join us tomorrow for the first THE BUSINESS NETWORK breakfast of the new season. We will be studying business principles from the book of Proverbs. Pastor Bill Raws will be sharing on the topic of TRUSTING IN THE LORD. The breakfast is free and begins at 7:15 AM in the Raws Lobby. Come and bring a friend … but please call today for reservations!!! (732-350-1187)

The Gift of Rest

The Gift of Rest

Jesus’ initial invitation to us offers us the promise of rest. It’s anincredible gift, one that all of us need. It seems illusive and distantto so many people, especially those of us who know the heavy burden of sinin our lives.We need rest. All of us know the need to rest after long hours of work. My wife and I were recently on Nantucket Island. On the return trip toCape Cod by high speed ferry, we encountered a large group of constructionworkers who commute to the island every day. They can’t afford to live onthe island, so the contractors pay the high cost of getting them back andforth.When we met them, they were tired. They get up early for the commute. They work hard. The hour-long ride to the Cape was a chance to closetheir eyes and rest before getting to their cars and trucks for the drivehome.

We need other kinds of rest. Some of us know great guilt, and we needrest from that guilt. Others of us know great fear, and we need rest. Still more of us know the unrest that comes with life-controllingaddictions. We, too, need rest. All of us know the struggle with sin,and many of us have tried to win the struggle through our own efforts. We know the failure of those efforts. We need rest. Jesus comes to people like us and offers to us this incredible gift! Come to Me, He says, and I will give you rest. He adds no qualifiers orrestrictions. Come to Me.

The invitation is simple and the promised giftis everything we need.Only Jesus can give us the rest He offers. If you have come to Him already, you know His promise is true. If you’ve not come to Him, you can right now. It’s as simple as saying “Jesus, I accept your invitation tocome to you, and I receive your gift of rest. I trust you and you aloneto take away my burden of sin, guilt and fear. Thank you for the gift ofrest.”Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give yourest. You can come today! (Pastor John Strain – First Baptist Toms River)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: If you want a wonderful experience, take your New Testament and use aconcordance to look up the two little words, but God. See how many timeshuman resources have been brought to an utter end; despair has gripped theheart and pessimism and gloom has settled upon a people; and there isnothing that can be done. Then see how the Spirit of God writes inluminous letters, but God, and the whole situation changes into victory.Ray C. Stedman

Understand the Invitation

Understand the Invitation

Jesus’ invitation to walk in the yoke with Him isn’t like receiving aninvitation to dinner. Grasping the importance of the invitation from Jesus requires some understanding that begins with looking at thoseinvited.Jesus says to us Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. The people Jesus invites have problems; life is not good. They struggle with burdens and labor under more than they can manage. They need rest! The people to whom Jesus speaks are people like us. They, like us,labored under the heavy burden of sin, and they weren’t able to get outfrom under it. Every day reminded them that they were heavy laden.

Rest was not to be found in all their religious rituals and efforts atobedience to all the rules and regulations of first-century Judaism. Here comes Jesus, however. He speaks to them in the hearing of theirreligious leaders and tells them that He’ll give them rest! It’s justwhat they wanted and needed. It’s just what we want and need. All their works and all their effort hadn’t worked. They still labored under their heavy burdens.

In this first part of Jesus’ invitation, He offers us Himself. Come to me, Jesus says and I will give you rest. He invites them to discover theforgiveness of sin—the cause of their heavy burdens. This initial coming, before stepping into the yoke, is the coming to faith in Jesus Christ, hisdeath, burial and resurrection.Notice the breadth of the invitation. He doesn’t limit it to one group orone gender or one age group. All you who labor and are heavy laden maycome. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus includes you and me inthe all! Anyone who knows the burden of their own sin and the futility oftheir own labors to remove the burden can come.His promise is simple. I will give you rest. His rest will release usfrom the burden we carry and free us of the labors that don’t accomplishtheir goal.

If you are one of those who labors and is heavy laden, you can come to Jesus. He’s already invited you! (Pastor John Strain – FirstBaptist Toms River)

SOMETHING TO THING ABOUT: Whenever you are concerned to think and actabout your salvation, you must put away all thoughts of works, traditionsand philosophy - indeed, of the law of God itself. And you must rundirectly to the manger and the mother's womb, embrace this infant andvirgin's child in your arms, and look at Him - born, being nursed, growingup, going about in human society, teaching, dying, rising again, ascendingabove all the heavens, and having authority over all things. In this wayyou can shake off all terrors and errors, as the sun dispels the clouds.This vision will keep you on the proper way, so that you may follow whereChrist has gone. Martin Luther

His Plan Not Mine Part 2

His Plan . Not Mine (Part 2)

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

Here is part 2 of Bill Pruitt's testimony:

When we got to the cemetery I was tired and feeling like I had no more strength. The family was sitting in front of the casket with the guests standing behind us. I began to cry, feeling like I was going to lose it. The pastor opened up a hymn book and asked the crowd to sing Victory in Jesus. I could hardly believe my ears. It seemed like every guy in the Colony was standing behind me singing - OOOOHHHH Victory in Jesus my Savior forever. My mom, aunt and pastors that were familiar with KESWICK all smiled. It seemed planned, though not by us.

The days after the funeral were stressful; however, full of the presence of the Lord. On two separate mornings my mom woke up sad and nervous she would make her way into the living room and ask me to pray. I would get on my knees in front of the recliner she was sitting in and lean forward into her wrapping my arms around her (my brothers looking on). We prayed for his strength, peace, comfort and the Lord would do the rest. He pored comfort on us. It got us through each day's journey. We kept saying "His grace is enough." On the third morning my brother who had just come to know the Lord sat down and said "mom - how bout' letting me try." My mom's joy was apparent as he prayed the most beautiful and sweet prayer you have ever heard. As sorrowful yet always rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:10

Before coming back to New Jersey I went to have lunch with a couple of pastor friends. Jim helped me get to the Colony of Mercy. His dad had gone through the Colony thirty years earlier, his good friend ten years earlier and recently he brought another guy from Memphis. While visiting me in the colony last December the Lord put it on his heart to begin praying about starting an addiction recovery center in Tennessee modeled after The Colony.

We talked about how the details were getting in the way of getting something started soon. Tom said maybe we should be thinking how we would approach this if a house fell out of the sky as an interim solution to the larger plan. A thought popped into my head - Maybe a house did just fall out of the sky. Two days earlier mom and I were discussing how she would handle the maintenance of my father's childhood home and land until she was prepared to sell it in two or three years. The house is in the country and prefect for beginning an addition recovery center. I offered to mention them using and maintaining the house to my mom when the time seemed right.

When I arrived home my mom stated that the night before she had been praying about how she could be a part of the ministry that we had all been praying about - That's right the addiction recovery center. After thinking - you have got to be kidding me God. I told my mom of the conversation I had just had. Needless to say she has offered the house as an interim solution and help is coming out of the woodwork. People that were at my dad's funeral have offered to help in ways that blow my mind.

The way the Lord had used my journey out of bondage, my mother's spiritual growth and my father's death to create an amazing situation (still to unfold) reminds me of Genesis 50:20 where Joseph is talking to his brothers after his father has died. "as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Thank You, Lord, for what You are doing in Bill Pruitt's life.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Oh! blessed Jesus, reveal yourself to my heart; soften, melt, and renew it. Consume all the dross which it contains, and transform it, wholly, after your image; that, while surrounded by evils of every name, and sorrows of every kind, which abound in this rebellious, dying world, I may enjoy the light of your countenance, and the purifying influence of your love. Fill me with your love; satiate my soul with your goodness; and make me an everlasting trophy of your grace. Thomas Reade

His Plan Not Mine

HIS PLAN NOT MINE

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

Several weeks ago, we shared with you the story of Bill Pruitt, one of our recent grads who is now serving on our full-time staff. I asked Bill to write about a recent experience in his life that I think will be an encouragement to you.

On September 13, 2007 I was getting ready to share my testimony at an America’s KESWICK 110th Year Anniversary Banquet. I was very nervous about speaking and one of the guest pointed out that she had been praying for me and so had 2600 other prayer partners. It was the day I was listed as the staff member to be prayed for. This was comforting; however, I didn’t fully understand the significance. On the way back to Keswick in the van a friend asked what my family thought about me staying on after leaving The Colony of Mercy’s Addiction Recovery Center. I replied that they did not necessarily understand; however, I would be going home in November and I was looking forward to sitting across the table face to face and explaining my desire to serve Jesus. We discussed that I was uncertain about my father and brother’s salvation and that my dad had promised to go to church with me when I came home. We arrived home just before midnight and I was prompted to pray for my family.

At 6:45am I received a shocking call from my mother saying that my father had died from a massive heart attack. This couldn’t be true, he had worked until midnight the night before, he wasn’t sick. This felt like a nightmare; however I knew my mother’s cries were real. No coincidence that 2600 people had been praying for me the night before. While I had a great deal of sorrow I could feel the peace and strength of God all around me. On the way to the airport I told a friend that I knew God was going to use my dad’s death for something good. It was the only explanation for the peace I felt. I had a little more than a hunch since one of my three brothers came to know the Lord over the phone the night before – Praise The Lord!
The same day my dad passed away there was an enormous answered prayer.

As soon as I arrived home my mom and I went to plan my father’s funeral. My mother’s strength and peace were amazing. I could tell that she knew God had a plan and that he would give us the strength to handle the days to come. My mother was a different woman than the one that I said goodbye to when I was leaving for The Colony 14 months earlier. God had done a powerful work in her. She is a testimony to the grace of God. I asked to speak at my dad’s funeral. I wanted to honor him and I felt that I should read some scripture and pray. You see, when dad promised he’d go to church with me the Lord knew this would be the next time I would see him.

While praying at the funeral I prayed that we would not focus on the things we should have done or said but rather that God would help us to focus on the good that He would do as a result of my father’s death. Relying on the promises of the Lord’s word “… All things work together
for good, for those that are called according to his purpose.” The pastor that spoke at my dad’s funeral laid the gospel down plain and simple, yet direct. It was a beautiful time that honored Jesus.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “If you obey God in the first thing He shows you, then He instantly opens up the next truth to you. You could read volumes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of total, uncompromising obedience would make thins as clear as sunlight.” Oswald Chambers

Join us tonight for our first Men’s Fellowship Night of the new season. Dr. Peter Teague, President of Lancaster Bible College, will be our speaker. Call today to make your reservation: 732-350-1187.

Do Not Fret

DON'T FRET

"Do not fret." Psalm 37:1

Worry has a cousin - actually he is probably a brother - FRET! One of the definitions of the word FRET is "to gnaw or wear away, erode." Some of the synonyms for FRET are: fume, rage, harass, goad, tease, gnaw, corrode, grind, rust ...

The Bible not only instructs us not to worry, but it tells us not to fret - not to let things gnaw at us or wear us away or wear us down. That is what worry and fretting will do if we allow them to take control of our thoughts and our minds.

This is what I read this morning about fretting: "One person defined [fretting] as that which makes a person rough on the surface, causing him to rub and wear himself and others away. Isn't it true that an irritable, irrational, and critical person not only wears himself out but is also very draining and tiring to others?

When we worry and fret, we are a constant annoyance. This Psalm not only says, 'Do not fret because of evil men,' but leaves no room for fretting whatsoever. It is very harmful, and God does not want us to hurt ourselves or others.

Any physician can tell you that a fit of anger is more harmful to your system than a fever and that a disposition of continual fretting is not conducive to a healthy body. The next step down from fretting is being quick-tempered, and that amounts to anger. May we set it aside once and for all and simply be obedient to the command - DO NOT FRET!" Streams in the Desert (Zondervan)

Are you are worrier? Are you fretting today? Purpose today to be obedient to the commands of Scripture: Don't worry about anything! Don't fret!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
"Friend, I think that it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me! - Elizabeth Cheney

Don't Worry

DON'T WORRY

"Do not be anxious about anything ..." Philippians 4:6

I come from a long line of worriers. My grandmother had the gift of worrying. She was most happy when you have her something to worry about.
What she never figured out is that 95% of what we worry about never happens.

I love what Bill Gothard says about worry: "Worry is assuming responsibility that God never intended us to have!"

I have to admit, in my flesh, I tend to be a worrier. I am a recovering worrier, but every once and awhile, it rears its ugly head. Today's devotional reading from STREAMS IN THE DESERT, was a great reminder for me:

"Quite a few Christians live in a terrible state of anxiety, constantly fretting over the concerns of life. The secret of living in perfect peace amid the hectic pace of daily life is one well worth knowing. What good has worrying ever accomplished? It is never made anyone stronger, helped anyone to do God's will, or provided for anyone a way of escape out of their anxiety or confusion.

Worry only destroys the effectiveness of our lives that would be otherwise useful and beautiful. Being restless and having worries and cares are absolutely forbidden by our Lord, who said, 'So do not worry about worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" (Matthew 6:31) He does not mean that we are not to think ahead or that our life should never have a plan or pattern to it. He simply means that we are not to worry about these things.

People will know that you live in a constant state of anxiety by the lines on your face, the tone of your voice, your negative attitude, and the lack of joy in your spirit. So scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, and your perspective will change to the point that you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet.

It is a sign of weakness to always worry and fret, question everything, and mistrust everyone. Can anything be gained by it? Don't we only make ourselves unfit for action, and separate our minds from the ability to make wise decision? We simply sink in our struggles when we could float by faith.

Oh, for the grace to be SILENT! Oh, to 'be still and know that Jehovah is God!' (Psalm 46:10) 'The Holy One of Israel' (Psalm 89:18) will defend and deliver His own. We can be sure that His every word will stand forever, even thought the mountains may fall into the sea. He deserves our total confidence. So come, my soul, return to your place of peace, and rest within the sweet embrace of the Lord Jesus!"

So how about you today, my friend? Are you on "worry-patrol?" If so, let's start trusting Him today!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Sin is like a sugar coated pill. We loved those pills at first as a child - they were so sweet- but when we had sucked the sugar off, they were so bitter that we wanted to spit them out. Sin's pleasures first, then the remorse and pain. Anonymous

Don't Simplify Your Salvation

DON'T SIMPLIFY YOUR SALVATION

"And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11

This was a powerful reading from my quiet time with the Lord this morning:

"I must be careful, Lord, not to simplify Your salvation. Too often I have dismissed salvation as merely the forgiveness of my sins, whereas it is far more extensive than that. 'With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.' (Psalm 91:16) Lord, my salvation is an intensely personal thing and Your purpose for me is to show me how YOUR salvation has worked in my life.

My life is not only afflicted WITH sin, but with sin's RESULTS. Those results have permeated every corner of my personality, infecting my feelings, attitudes, and instincts. To be forgiven from the PENALTY of my sins is primary and basic, but to be delivered from all the damage sin has done is God's purpose for me until He can bring me to the place where He can SHOW me His salvation. The joy of God's salvation is that He sent His Son not only to save sinners but to 'save His PEOPLE from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

The biblical concept of salvation is basically deliverance. The gospel that Jesus came to proclaim includes the 'opening of the prisons to those who are bound (Isaiah 6:10. He not only breaks the chains that bind me, but also leads me out of the prison into sunlight and liberty.
He delivers me from the twists and turns of my own deviousness, from surliness and selfishness, from prejudice and hate, from dismal doubt and unbelief, from oppression by Satan and my own ego, and from my inner lustings and cravings. By the time God is finished with me at the end of my life, I will recognize that He has done an amazing work in me; I will "see" HIS salvation. That in itself will cause me to praise His name everlastingly, and give me the joy of His salvation. Lord, in that day 'my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness and Thy praise all day long.'
(Psalm 35:28)

Good stuff to think about today as we begin this new week.

Great quote: Christ is not a reservoir but a spring. His life is continual, active and ever passing on with an outflow as necessary as its inflow. If we do not perpetually draw the fresh supply from the living Fountain, we hall either grow stagnant or empty, It is, therefore, not so much a perpetual fullness as a perpetual filling. A. B. Simpson

The Ultimate Deception

The Ultimate Deception <http://intheyoke.com/?p=5>

Jesus' invitation to walk in the yoke with Him is simple, straightforward. He tells us the benefit of walking the yoke: rest for our souls. We might think that accepting the invitation is as simple and straightforward as the invitation itself. It isn't.

Most people who follow Jesus know we have an enemy. We know his name is Satan, and we often call him "the devil." He is a wily foe who has mastered the tricks of deception, misdirection and illusion. He can make truth look like a lie and lies look like truth. He has honed his craft through multiple millennia; we ignore him at our own peril.

If Jesus' invitation to walk in the yoke with Him is the ultimate invitation, Satan's efforts to keep us out of the yoke may qualify as "The Ultimate Deception." He'll use his bag of tricks to convince us that we can't really walk in the yoke. Or, he'll make us think it's just too hard to stay in the yoke. He may make something else look far more appealing and direct our attention from that which has eternal appeal.

In his little book The Seeking Heart Fenelon writes "You do not see the lovely side of following Christ. You see what He takes away, but you do not see what He gives. You exaggerate the sacrifices and ignore the blessings." We may think that way because of our own self-centeredness.
Behind that thinking, the devil lurks. He encourages us to see difficulty, hardship and discipline. He tries to hide the gifts of God and the blessings that come from walking with Jesus.

Jesus calls His followers to "yoke up" with Him. If we find that uncomfortable, we might want to consider the tricks of the devil, the master of "The Ultimate Deception."

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

(Pastor John Strain - First Baptist - Toms River)

Great quote: The habit of judging is so nearly incurable, and its cure is such an almost interminable process, that we must concentrate ourselves for a long while on keeping it in check, and this check is to be found in kind interpretations. We must come to esteem very lightly our sharp eye for evil, on which perhaps we once prided ourselves as cleverness. We must look at our talent for analysis of character as a dreadful possibility of huge uncharitableness. We are sure to continue to say clever things, so long as we continue to indulge in this analysis; and clever things are equally sure to be sharp and acid. We must grow to something higher, and something truer, than a quickness in detecting evil. Frederick W. Faber

The Ultimate Invitation

The Ultimate Invitation <http://intheyoke.com/?p=4>

One could not receive a more appealing invitation than the one Jesus gave us in Matthew 11:28-30. He invites us to walk with Him and learn of Him, assuring us that when we do we'll find rest for our souls. Is there a human being who does not, at some time in their lives, need that rest?
Do not all of us need it as we consider eternity?

It isn't what Jesus offers, however, that makes this the "ultimate invitation." It becomes the "ultimate invitation" because Jesus offers it! Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, speaks to common people, everyday people, and invites them to spend time with Him.

I know a missionary to East Africa who is tall, fair-skinned and blue-eyed. His Scandinavian descent is written over every inch of him! He tells the story of walking with dark-skinned African men, holding hands with them along the journey as is the custom in that part of the world.

Those who hear him tell the story of the looks they received always laugh; the image is striking! It dawned on me one day that we can change the image just a bit and understand Jesus' "ultimate invitation." He says to us, Come, take my hand and walk with Me. Let's talk about life and rest and the needs of your soul.

A friend of mine challenged me recently, knowing that I enjoy writing, to start a blog. He thinks I need a diversion from the everyday pressures of life. As I thought about the challenge one question came to mind: What do I write about?

Walking with Jesus, living in the yoke, is my passion. I want to know Him as well as I can. I want to see Jesus' life formed in me. Everything else is less important. Bill Welte's invitation to write the weekend Freedom Fighters for October gives me opportunity to start writing for that blog.

I invite you to walk with me as we walk together in the yoke. Let's discover together what living in the yoke means for us and how it changes our lives. I'm convinced this walk in yoke with Jesus is the best walk we'll ever take. (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms
River)

Great quote: Lord, save us from worrying, lest ulcers be our badge for our lack of faith. Peter Marshall

Returning to Your Failure

RETURNING TO YOUR FAILURE

"But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word, I will let down the net.'" Luke 5:6

There are times in all of our lives when we experience failure. When we do, we can either learn from it or become bitter and hard of heart because of it. Yesterday I shared about the experience that we went through when we lost our business. It was a very humiliating and embarrassing time for us, and it was especially hard on our pride. But looking back I can see how God used that situation in our lives to teach us so many wonderful lessons that helped to grow us closer to Him and each other.

I have often hear people say when facing difficulty, "I could have never made it through ________ without Jesus!" That is so true, my friend.
Listen to what Dr. Henry Blackaby writes about failure:

"No one knows how to help you in your times of failure as Jesus does! He will not overlook your shortcoming or simply encourage you to do better the next time. He will give you victory in the midst of your failure.

Peter had fished all night without success. His was not just a meager catch; he had caught NOTHING, even though he was a skilled fisherman.
Jesus could have said, 'Peter, don't worry about your empty net. You will soon be in a different business anyway.' Instead, Jesus told him to launch into the deep and to cast out his nets for a catch. How bumbling it must have been for Peter! Here was a carpenter telling this outspoken fisherman how to fish!

Jesus often gets your undivided attention when you fail. He sometimes take you back to your place of defeat in order to build something good in your life. You many assume He must not want you to continue because you have failed so miserably in your attempt. Perhaps your problem was that you relied on your own strength instead of the Master's. Maybe you failed in a relationship. Jesus will not allow you to abandon it; He will help you learn from your failure and experience the difference He can make when He guides your relationships. When you try in God's strength, you may discover that success is indeed within your grasp. If you have recently experienced failure, you may be on the brink of receiving a profound revelation from God." - from Experiencing God - The Devotional (Broadman & Holman)

What is God wanting to teach you today from the failure you have experienced in your life?

Great quote: God has given a Christian such power that he can turn afflictions into mercies, can turn darkness into light. If a man had the power that Christ had, when the water pots were filled, he could by a word turn the water into wine. If you who have nothing but water to drink had the power to turn it into wine, then you might be contented; certainly a Christian has received this power from God, to work thus miraculously.

It is the nature of grace to turn water into wine, that is, to turn the water of your affliction, into the wine of heavenly consolation.
Jeremiah Burroughs

Free Give (Part 4)

FREELY GIVE (Part 4)

"Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8b)

When we think of the area of giving, most times we think in terms of giving of our money. But there are other things we can give that can have an impact on others.

Almost 20 years ago we went through a very difficult time with a small business that we owned. We tried every which way to keep our heads above water, and in fact, I was working two other jobs to help keep the business afloat. Things went from bad to worse, and finally we received counsel from numerous friends that we needed to file for personal bankruptcy.

We were recommended to a Christian attorney who would help us and we made an appointment. For over an hour he berated us for even considering bankruptcy and then charged us $500 and sent us on our way. At the time, we were living in another state, and needless to say, the trip back home was a difficult one. By the time I arrived at my office, I was totally drained and emotionally a wreck. Sitting at my desk, I cried out to the Lord for help and moments later, the phone rang.

A godly Christian businessman was on the other end of the line and he said, "Bill, there's something wrong. How can I help you?" It was difficult for me to talk through the tears, and he went on to tell me that he already knew what I was going through and that I had no other choice but to file for bankruptcy. I explained what had taken place earlier in the day, and he gave me the number of his personal corporate attorney and instructed me to call him.

Fast forward six months later to the day we had to appear in court. We were giving up our home and car to help pay off our creditors, and Jan and I were both sick at our stomachs over the whole situation. We sat down in the courtroom and waited our turn to appear before the Judge. I remember this as if it were yesterday, sitting there and beginning to cry. Moments later, I felt two hands on my shoulders. I turned around and sitting behind me was this man who had referred me to his own attorney. He leaned down and said, "I am here with my CFO and we are going to stay with you until this is over. The Lord is going to get you through this, Bill. Trust Him!"

God used this man in our lives in so many ways over the years. It wasn't until several years ago, that I learned that he had quite a difficult childhood and went through some very difficult times. God blessed him financially and he has used his gift of giving in amazing ways. He and his wife have always opened their home to take in missionaries that are in need.

At a recent banquet, a mutual friend shared a story about a widow lady who was struggling with a dental bill. This man had learned about the bill and called the lady and took care of her need.

But beyond the financial help he has given, he has given of his time to meet face-to-face with hurting people of all ages. He has the unique ability to bring calmness in the midst of tough times. Because of the difficulties he experienced in his own life, he has been willing to give back in helping others.

Thanks, Joe Dariano, for being a spiritual giant in my life, and in the lives of hundreds of others.

How about you? Have you received freely? How can you freely give now to others?

Great quote: It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left - his Bible. Anonymous

Our first Men's night is Thursday, October 11th with Dr. Peter Teague, President of Lancaster Bible College. Call today to register and check out the link for details:
http://www.americaskeswick.org/conf/evmensnite.shtml

Freely Give (Part 3)

FEELY GIVE (Part 3)

"Freely you have received, freely give ..." Matthew 10:8b

I received an email yesterday from my Director of Marketing and IT and it would appear that many of you checked out the link with the picture of MERCY! Thanks for visiting the blog page.

My mother used to teach us the principle that you can never out give God! As kids, we watched with amazement how God provided for my parents needs. From the world's perspective, they were fairly poor, but they never lacked God's amazing supply in their lives. It was one of those life lessons that really stuck with me over the years.

Several years ago, a dear couple who have been soooooo good to the ministry of America's KESWICK, gave the staff a Christmas gift of $50 each. It was a huge encouragement to the staff. One of the guys was off the day the gifts were given out and I ran into him later in the day. He asked me if he could get his envelope. I didn't have access to the envelopes so I gave him the $50 bill that was in my wallet. He told me that when he got his envelope he would give it back to me.

After about and hour, the Lord reminded me that this family were going through some tough times financially. I walked back over to their home and told him that he didn't have to return the $50 bill. They were blown away and I left knowing that I had been able to give something to them that really was a gift from the Lord.

Several days later, I received a letter from a friend, and inside the letter was a brand new crisp $50 bill. The amazing thing is that I have probably given away that $50 dozens of times now and it still comes back within several days. I keep saying that I should be journaling the various stories ... but it has been so much fun seeing how God has multiplied the gift of a generous couple who allowed me to use their gift to bless others.

You can't out give God, men. If He has blessed you, why not think of a way to day to bless someone else today in your life.

Great quote: "God's promises are not mottos to hang on the wall. They are checks to take to the bank." - Dr. Adrian Rogers

Check out details for our monthly event for business folks - THE BUSINESS NETWORK: http://www.americaskeswick.org/conf/evbusn.shtml

An Unusual Gift

AN UNUSUAL GIFT!
“Freely you have received, freely give …” Matthew 10:8b

You are receiving a Freedom Fighter on Monday night because tomorrow is our Keswick Golf Tournament and I need to be at the golf course by 7:00 AM.

Yesterday (actually today if you want to be literal) I shared a devotional from Blackaby on this passage. It brought several stories to my mind that I thought I would share with you.
Over the years we have been blessed to meet some really cool people who have demonstrated by their lives, the gift of giving. I might tell you a few for the next couple of days … but for today, I want to share with you a really neat gift that was given to the men of the Colony of Mercy.

This gift comes from a family that has been impacted by a Dad who has been in addiction for a number of years. While he came through the Colony, he has not been living for the Lord, and in fact, is back using his “drug of choice.” He has a beautiful wife and two precious kids.

Several months ago while looking at a potential property for our residential women’s ministry, we looked at a site that had dog kennels on the property. We discussed the value of men and women in addiction having access to pets which has been proven to be helpful in the recovery process.

Long story short, this family had been here for a retreat and told us that their dog was having puppies. I boldly asked the wife if she would consider donating one of the puppies to the men of the Colony. I was blown away when she said, “Yes!” This is a significant blessing because this Mom, who really is a single-parent, could have received $500 for this puppy! But instead, she decided, along with her kids, to bless the men of the Colony with a beautiful pup whom they named, MERCY! I wish you could have seen the men’s faces when they delivered Mercy to the Colony!

I am praying that because of the generosity of this precious family, God will bless their socks off! They have truly experienced God’s grace and MERCY in their lives, and were led to give back to others in need! The last chapter has not been written in their lives!

Great quote: “To whom little is not enough – nothing is enough!” Epicurus

Freely Give

FREELY GIVE

"Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8b

I have made an observation in my lifetime: stingy people tend to be miserable people. Giving people tend to be happy, fulfilled people. I love the observation of Dr. Henry Blackaby from his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD - THE DEVOTIONAL: "There is no room for misers in God's Kingdom. When we begin to struggle in giving what we have to others, we have forgotten where we received our possessions. Every good thing we have ever received has come from God (James 1:17) All that we have acquired has been dependent upon His grace (1 Corinthians 4:7). Job accurately summarized our condition: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' (Job 1:21)

We easily assume a sense of ownership of our possessions, as if they were things earned ourselves, thereby giving us a right to then. Jesus reminds is to be prepared to give our possessions as freely and joyfully as we received them. It should be a pleasure for us to give what we have to others (2 Corinthians 9:7) We ought to be a conduit through whom the Lord can pour His blessings, knowing we will disperse them to everyone around us. Sometimes we claim we are trying to be good stewards of our resources when actually we are being selfish.

If you struggle to give freely to others, you have become more attached to the GIFT than to the GIVER. The account of the rich young ruler shows the tragedy of becoming too attached to worldly treasures (Luke 8:18-24). Meditate on all that your Lord has given you (John 3:16).
Resolve to express your gratitude to Him through giving."

Good words for today. Are you a stingy person or one who gives freely.
Tomorrow I will share a story of an unusual gift to the Colony that was a huge blessing to 40 men.

Great quote: It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Alas, it is worse than that. When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything. Gilbert Keith G. K.
Chesterton

Living with Influence

Living with Influence

For five weekends I've shared with you the lives of people who have influenced my life. Some of the relationships go back more than forty years; they seem as real as yesterday. I'm grateful for each of these people and so many more that remain unnamed. Each person who has influenced my life for the Kingdom is a gift from God, placed in my life by His design for my good.

What about you and me? Who do we influence today? Who are the people in your life and mine that live more like Jesus because they know us and have lived under our influence? Not a single one of us lives in isolation. As each one of us who read FREEDOM FIGHTER live our lives for Jesus, someone watches and can grow in their walk with the Lord.

So much of life is routine that we often live without thinking. Living without thinking leads to carelessness. Carelessness will prevent us from living with influence. Those who live with influence live intentionally. They live with purpose and forethought. Living with influence is one more area of life that requires choices. If my life will have influence in other people, it will only happen because I choose to live as a person of influence.

Here's the deal! Unless Jesus comes back, another generation will follow us. Will someone write a FREEDOM FIGHTER remembering the influence we had on his or her life? Will someone share a testimony that speaks well of our memory because of some influence we had in their life? Just as we choose to avoid addictions and choose to pursue victory, we can choose to live as people of influence.

I'm sure you have people of influence in your life. If you can, let them know you appreciate them. If you can't speak with them, thank God for their influence. Ask Him to help you each day to choose the way of godly influence. You just don't know whose life or how many lives you may touch.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

(Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: While it may break the heart of a wise parent, they realize that it is not love to shelter a child from every adversity and all hardship. It is through occasional adversity and the winds of life blowing against us that we develop the muscles to stand strong and steady, gaining our moral balance. Katherine Walden