STARTING MISSION

Today begins a series of five Freedom Fighters on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.

Starting Mission - Jonathan Edwards and His Resolutions Part 1
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Everyone wants to live on purpose. We have names for this. We call it "purpose-driven" or "missional" or "being made for more than this".
There's a God-implanted part of us that wants to be part of something bigger than ourselves. his fuels our imagination, our entertainment, our stories and our ambition. We write purpose and missions statements to focus our imagination. It's all a subtle reminder that God has called us to victory and that our constant temptation is to depart from God has called us to do.


One inoculation against the disease of futility is to annually determine to change things - to make firm, specific resolutions to stay on the mission that God gave us. At age 19, a young man who would become a leading figure in the First Great Awakening took his fight, for the victorious Freedom Jesus won for him, seriously. Over a one-year period, Jonathan Edwards drafted 70 resolutions by which he governed his life and ministry.

Jonathan Edwards lived and taught a life by his mission - fighting to be free from sin and all that weighs him down. Obviously Edwards isn't the Apostle Paul - he didn't write under inspiration, and some of the language may be tough to get through - but for someone writing in America 300 years ago he has a lot to teach us about being on our
mission to live victoriously and serve Jesus.

Jonathan Edward's Resolutions

Knowing that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my life, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or forever. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of love and generosity.

50. Resolved, I will act in a way that I will think is best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph.
6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

(Pastor Samuel Sutter, Dix Hills EFC - http://www.dhefc.org/
<http://www.dhefc.org/> Sam grew up at America's KESWICK and served
as a summer staffer for a number of years. He was instrumental in helping us birth the KESWICK INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES. Sam is a graduate of Bob Jones University and Westminster Theological Seminary.)

Great Quote: The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Gilbert Keith G. K. Chesterton

A Table for Two

A TABLE FOR TWO

We thought about aspirations and the table reserved for two yesterday.
We considered Revelation 3:20 where Jesus invites us to sit down at the table with Him. What can you and I do to make sure we spend time at that table in 2008? Allow me to give you some suggestions.

It all begins with a choice. You can open the door and invite Jesus in, or you can choose not to. I'll assume that most who read Freedom Fighter have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If my assumption is correct, then what possible reason could we have for choosing not to allow Him time at the table with us? Nothing any of us has going on in our lives is worth missing table time with Jesus. So, we begin with a choice. We choose to spend time at the table.

Then discipline kicks in. We determine that we'll make the time and not let other things interfere with our time at the table. That may mean getting up a little earlier. Or we may have to turn the TV off earlier to have time before we close out the day. Because we believe table time with Jesus is important, we discipline ourselves to make it happen.

We also need nurturing to make the time profitable. In addition to reading the Scriptures, we need to read good Christian writers that can nurture our souls and enrich our time at the table. The little book I mentioned yesterday, "The Table of Inwardness," by Calvin Miller might be a good place to start. If enough of you request it, Bill Welte can have it ordered for the Keswick Bookstore.

Finally, accountability will help us in the pursuit of fulfilled aspirations. I have people in my life (like Bill Welte) who regularly question me about my walk with Jesus. For the last several months I've met with a Spiritual Director who has become a companion on my journey with Jesus. He helps me think through my time at the table and asks hard questions that help me keep focused.

Remember, however, that it starts with a choice. Don't forget the invitation. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

I pray that, by God's grace, many of us will spend time at the "table reserved for two." Just Jesus and you. Just Jesus and me. (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: We should go into His presence as a child goes to his father. We do it with reverence and godly fear, of course, but we should go with a childlike confidence and simplicity. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

Most hymnbook indexes will separate songs by subject matter. Almost all hymnals will have one section under the heading of "aspiration." The songs in that category will push us to think about "aspiring" to a better walk with the Lord. Our hymnal at FBC has songs of aspiration like "Close to Thee," "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "More Love to Thee, O Christ," and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee."

These songwriters expressed in the lyrics of their songs what many of us sense in our own spirits. We aspire to be more like Jesus in our daily lives. Something within us pushes us to walk in that yoke with Jesus.
We know a hunger for more of God in all we do. Many who read these Freedom Fighters also feel frustration because the "more of God" doesn't seem to happen.

Let me encourage you. Just the fact that you sense those aspirations is cause for hope! Those of us who are hungry for that "closer walk with Thee" wouldn't have that hunger apart from God's Spirit working in us.
Acting on that hope is the next step.

I just finished reading a wonderful little book by Calvin Miller. "The Table of Inwardness" is Miller's effort to encourage readers to nurture their inner life in Christ. It's about communion with Jesus. He creates a beautiful word picture of a table set for two. Just Jesus and you. Just Jesus and me. At that table, Jesus meets with us, loves us, and helps us become all we're designed to be.

The table is of no benefit to us, however, until we choose to sit down.
"Choose" is the operative word. Many of us have unfulfilled aspirations because we "choose" not to act on them. We "choose" other things that push the aspirations for fellowship with Jesus to the back burner.
Until we "choose" the table with Jesus, our aspirations will remain unfulfilled.

Jesus says to us "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20) That's not an invitation to salvation; it's an invitation to Jesus' followers to sit down at the table reserved for two. Jesus and you. Jesus and Me. Will you spend time at that table in 2008? You and I have to make that choice. It's the only way to fulfill our aspirations for a closer walk with Jesus.
(Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honoured for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him we have everything - we have all the rest. A. W. Tozer

Year End Evaluation Part 2

YEAR END EVALUATION QUESTIONS (Part 2)

Here are the next ten questions given by my friend, Dr. E. Glenn Wagner in his new book FIRE IN YOUR BONES! These questions will help determine if you are living the extraordinary NORMAL Christian life, or a fake imitation. The full list is downloadable from the Keswick website:
http://www.americaskeswick.org/conf/documents/FireinYourBonesQuestions.p
df

11. Have you heard other believers speak of these things as an ordinary part of daily life, yet you've never really lived in such a reality yourself?

12. Do you feel the presences of the Holy Spirit?

13. Do you experience supernatural power?

14. Have you felt a compassion for those with no faith?

15. Do you feel a desire to assist the poor and suffering?

16. Have you found yourself filled with joy and praise even in the midst of heartache?

17. Have you been propelled by an inner desire to know God in all His glory and to bring honor to Him?

18. Do you have moments of victory and inspiration, but they are sporadic and inconsistent?

19. Have you felt compelled to have a personal fellowship with the Lord?

20. Do you feel the need to ask God to set your soul on fire for Him?

Great quote: "My life must be full of God, my flesh His dwelling place, working through me in such a way that I know He is at work, going beyond what I could imagine." - Dr. E. Glenn Wagner

Year End Evaluation

YEAR END EVALUATION

My good friend, Dr. Glenn Wagner, recently sent me his new book "FIRE IN YOUR BONES." In his book he says that many Christians have settled in for a cheap, imitation of the "normal" Christian life, rather than be all that God wants us to be.

He includes a great list of 20 questions to help determine if we are experiencing the "real" deal or a fake imitation. These are good questions as we approach the end of the year to think about and to visit often during the new year. I will share the first ten today and the rest of the list tomorrow:

During the last three days:

1. Have you been driven by a desire to sacrifice your personal
preferences on behalf of someone else?

2. Did you walk with spiritual authority, not afraid to utilize
God's power to free others?

3. Have you been filled with a sense and understanding that your
decisions, choices and behavior were all being empowered by what can only be explained as supernatural?

4. Did you enter into someone's life with a wisdom that surprised
you and was beyond what you have previously known?

5. Has God's Word leaped off the pages as the Lord Himself was
speaking to you?

6. Were you compelled to run toward a 'sinner' rather than run away?

7. Were you repulsed by the merely 'religious?'

8. Did you risk your reputation on behalf of another?

9. Did you weep for those who don't yet understand God's power?

10. Did you speak truth in love and grace rather
than judgment or in retribution?

Watch for the rest of the list tomorrow. Good questions to ask yourself as this year comes to an end. Are you living the REAL DEAL or a fake imitation?

Great Quote: "It should disturb us that compared to the early church's spiritual power and authority we appear to be spiritually uncoordinated weaklings!" - Dr. E. Glenn Wagner

A Prayer of Worship

A PRAYER OF WORSHIP

One of my many collections is copies of prayers of great Christians.
They have become a great teaching tool for me in developing my prayer life that is still a work in progress.

On this day after Christmas, I thought you'd enjoy this Celtic prayer written between A.D. 790 and 820.

"Father, all powerful and ever living God, We do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You (O Father), with your only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit are God.
You are God, one and immortal;
You are God, incorruptible and unmoving; You are God, invisible and faithful; You are God, wonderful and worthy of praise; You are God, strong and worthy of honor; You are God, most high and magnificent; You are God, living and true.

We believe you,
We bless you,
We adore you,
And we praise your name forever more.

We praise you through Christ who is the salvation of the universe, through Christ who is the life of human beings; through Christ who is the resurrection of the dead.

Through him the angels praise your majesty; the dominions adore; the powers of the heaven of heaven tremble; the virtues and the blessed seraphim celebrate in exultation; so we grant, we pray you, that our voices may be admitted to that chorus, in humble declaration of your glory.
Amen.

(From THE PATH OF CELTIC PRAYER by Calvin Miller)

Have a great - "the day after Christmas."

Great quote: " ... much of our worship today as exemplified in megachurch 'entertainment evangelism,' has become so 'lite' that Jesus is trivializaed as a congenial host who smiles a lot." - Calvin Miller

We count on our friends to partner on us as we approach the end of the year. Your gift today of any size will be a big help towards helping us end this year in the black. If you'd like to make a year-end, tax-deductible gift to the ministry of America's KESWICK, you can call
(800-453-7942) or make your donation on-line by visiting www.americaskeswick.org.

Merry Christmas (December 25th)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I have read this verse hundreds of times and totally missed this truth:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given ... and His name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor (the Holy Spirit) , the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Jesus - the Prince!) ..."
Isaiah 9:6

God in flesh - born in a manger! As the hymn writer said - "veil in flesh the Godhead see - Hail the Incarnate Deity" -- Father, Son, Holy Spirit - all wrapped up in swaddling clothes and lying in the manager - born to die so that you and I might live - not just abundantly, here and now - but to enjoy zillions of Christmas's for all eternity!!!!!!!
Wow!!! Incredible. Don't miss the opportunity to worship Him today.

From the Board and staff of America's KESWICK - Merry CHRISTmas!

You can read the Welte Family Christmas letter by opening this link:
http://www.americaskeswick.org/conf/documents/Christmas2007Letter.pdf

Great Quote: Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries.

He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries. George W. Truett

An Early Christmas Present (December 24th)

An Early Christmas Present

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, the lightness has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

On Saturday we had the blessing of traveling to "The Hood" in New York to attend a production of "Scrooge Revisted" that was presented by the congregation of Manhattan Grace, a daughter church of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Our good friend, Damaris Carbaugh, was the lead actress in the production, playing the part of "Ebony" Scrooge.

Manhattan Grace is located right in the middle of a neighbor surrounded by several high rise apartments that have to house thousands of people.
They meet in a local school and the outreach of this church was refreshing. Because we arrived early, we had dinner at an incredible Spanish restaurant located right in the "neighborhood."

I was so blessed in seeing where Damaris and Rod serve. I was so blessed to think that this high profile Christian artist who has sung around the world, was serving right in the heart of her local neighborhood, doing what she loves to do - sharing the love of Christ with people walking in the darkness.

The hospitality of the church members was unbelievable. The warmth and caring of the people was very refreshing and touching. In fact, the program was supposed to start at 7:00 PM and because of the people needing seats, the Pastor finally got up and asked the people of the church to give up their seats for the guests needing seats. Now when was the last time that happened in the average American church?

The production was every bit as good as any off Broadway show you could see. The music, acting, and staging was very well done. But the most amazing thing was that you could feel the love of Christ from every person involved. When the invitation was given over 60 people came forward. I couldn't help but think of all the people who were finally experiencing THE LIGHT prophesied by Isaiah hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.

The final blessing afterwards was trying to find Damaris. She was back in the counseling room sharing the gospel and making sure people understood the commitment they were making this Christmas.

Thanks Rod and Damaris and Pastor and Mrs. Rodriquez for loving the people of "The Hood" and for modeling for all of us how to love people "who walk in darkness" with the love and light of Christ! Merry Christmas.

Great Quote: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon and old Anna, and the Magi all looked upon the babe and he melted their hearts. Jesus was a Savior born, the prince of peace and God with us. Let him melt your heart this Christmas. John Reed

Sunday Before Christmas

SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Today is the last Sunday of Advent. Yesterday we thought about Mary's'
willing to relinquish everything so that God's plan for her could take center stage. We all know the details of that plan. Mary, a virgin, would supernaturally conceive and give birth to the Son of God.
Emmanuel-God with us-is about to come into the world!

In this concluding day of Advent, let's think about Emmanuel.
Everything about His life speaks, like Mary's, of relinquishment. Do you remember the Apostle Paul's words about Jesus' entry into our world?
Look at Philippians 2:5-8. He tells us that Jesus "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant and coming in the likeness of men." He relinquished all He had been in heaven and became like us.
He lived His life in the flesh without the preeminence He had in heaven.

The story doesn't stop there, however. At the end of His life, just before He went to the cross, Jesus relinquished even more.
His prayer in the garden ends with Him saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) The entire story of Jesus' entrance into our world revolves around relinquishment!

Jesus calls us to the same thing. He calls us to give up our paltry plans for His eternal plans. He invites us to give up our dead end journeys to walk with Him. We receive the invitation to relinquish our way for His way. He models relinquishment for us, as did His mother. Without both of them choosing relinquishment instead of holding onto their own desires, we would not know freedom from sin. We would not possess the gift of eternal life.

I ask you again--what might the Lord Jesus want you and I to relinquish to more fully pursue our walk with Him? Christmas is just two days away. Listen for God's Spirit during these days. If He leads us to relinquish something of lesser value to pursue that which has ultimate value, let's do it! Let's give Jesus the gift of relinquished agendas and desires. We don't have a better gift to give Him than more of ourselves.

Let's enjoy a blessed Christmas marked by less of us and more of Him! (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. Corrie Ten Boom

Advent Meditation

ADVENT MEDITATION

I appreciate Bill Welte allowing me the privilege of writing the weekend Freedom Fighters-especially during Advent. This is a wonderful time of the year when we stay focused on its origin and purpose. The season is all about Jesus and His arrival in our world.
Losing that focus disallows us of the hope, peace, love, and joy that Jesus intends us to know.

Mary didn't lose focus. We've focused our Advent thinking on her and her responses to Gabriel the Angel. During these last two days of Advent, I want us to think about those responses in a particular way.
Most of us are far too self-willed. We want our way. We want what "the Joneses" have. We want makes us feel good. We're convinced we know best what we need. All those "we's" keep us from hearing God ask us to let Him do His best for us.

While talking with a friend earlier this week, he described Mary's words to the Angel, "Let it be to me according to your word," as "relinquishment." Mary "relinquished" her plans, her agenda, even her reputation to God's plan for her life. Nothing mattered as much to Mary as God's plan for her life. In her willingness to "relinquish" all that was important to her, she discovered the truth that her son, Jesus, would later teach. Jesus said "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

We may not have a more important lesson to learn from the Advent season. All of us who crave control and think we know best how to run our lives can learn to "relinquish" everything for the sake of Jesus. We'll never find the abundant life Jesus promises us without yielding our lives to Jesus' agenda. That's always a wise decision.

Christmas is just a few days away. What do you and I need to "give" Jesus? What do we need to "relinquish" to Him so that we can discover His best for our lives? Mary made the right decision. May God help us make those same right decisions. (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist Toms River)

Great Quote: You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.

John W Rice

JESUS: A Gift of Peace

JESUS: A GIFT OF PEACE

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

(Luke 2:13-14)

If I could give you a gift, it would be peace. If I could give the world a gift, it would be peace - not just the lack of war, but personal, inner peace. I find so many of us looking to settle our lives. We chase after all sorts of things to calm the turmoil but the relief never lasts. What do you want this Christmas? What gift is it that would really benefit you? Is it winning the lottery, or receiving a special gift from somebody, or restoring some relationship, or getting that job promotion, or getting a big bonus?

While those things may be okay, what many have discovered is these things never settle us. They're never enough to bring peace to our hearts. The angels announced that God had given his gift to us to bring peace. Yet peace doesn't seem to be what we have today. If we conducted an honest appraisal, we'd admit that many of us are still looking for something. Running to or running from something.

Jesus didn't come to give us a holiday. He didn't come so we could have a festive celebration. He came to reconcile the world to Himself.
"'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.'" (Acts 4:12) If we know God, we can know peace. Give yourself the gift of peace that comes from making a connection to God, for allowing God to begin to do His work in your life. All of those others things, some that may even be important,
won't ultimately settle us. Only God can do that. Dr. Glen Martin

Scripture Reading: Nahum; Revelation 14

Today's devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. This 365 daily devotional is available from the Keswick Book and Gift Shop. Call today for your copy: 732-350-1187.

Great quote: I have discovered that the people who believe most strongly in the next life do the most good in the present one. (Clive Staples) C.
S. Lewis

Jesus: A Gift of Humility

JESUS: A GIFT OF HUMILITY

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:5-7)

Oftentimes we're attracted by things that glitter. That's what stands out when we look at Christmas presents. So much so, we often overlook that which is meek, yet mighty. It's important for us to remember that the first Christmas gift came wrapped quite simply in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. God came to this earth to a peasant people and spent His first night on earth in an obscure village.
Most kings are on a throne in a palace, but not that first Christmas.
Jesus was born in a stable and He ruled from an animal's feeding trough.

We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ and yet, the greater miracle is the fact that He's God at the same time. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." (Philippians 2:5-6) You see, He was equal with God; Jesus wasn't vice-president. He wasn't the associate. He was equal with God. The verse goes on to say that He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. Even though it's years later, it's tough for us to look at a manger without looking ahead to see a wooden cross because that's why Jesus came in the first place.

Jesus was born in a manger but came to bear the cross. Not only did He enter this life in humility, but He lived, died, and arose with humility. The Bible calls us to humility as well in 1 Peter 5:5c "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." We are most like Christ when we humble ourselves before God. A life of obedience is truly a life of humility. Dr. Glen Martin

Scripture Reading: Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

Today's devotional is from our 365-daily devotional REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. This powerful resource makes a great Christmas present. Call the KESWICK GIFT & BOOK SHOP for a copy 732-350-1187

Great Quote: "How are we to think of the incarnation? The New Testament does not encourage us to puzzle our heads over the physical and psychological problems that it raises, but to worship God for the love that was shown in it. For it was a great act of condescension and self humbling. 'He, Who had always been God by nature' writes Paul, 'did not cling to His prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave to nature and being born as mortal man. And having become man, He humbled Himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death He died was the death of a common criminal. And all this was for our salvation." J I Packer, Knowing God.

Some Concluding Thoughts About Jabez

SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON JABEZ

I want to share some concluding thoughts on Jabez and encourage you to stick with the journey. I have gleaned so much from this verse the past few weeks, and have enjoyed hearing stories of how God is at work in your lives.

If you have been skeptical about this, I want to encourage you to think through several questions that I asked myself early on:

1. Are we bold enough, willing enough, humble enough to ask God for
His blessing on our lives?

2. Are we willing to be persistent in our praying to believe that
God will do what He has promised?

3. Are we willing to have Him expand our borders no matter what that
looks like for us personally or corporately?

4. Are we willing to look at the ways that He will keep us from evil
so that we don't cause pain to ourselves, our families and our ministry?

5. Are we willing to leave by faith vs. living by sight?

Lest you think that I have gone off the deep end, let me remind you again that the Jabez prayer is not:

1. A "genie-in-the-bottle-hocus-pocus" prayer.

2. An "escape clause" to allow us not to do our part.

3. A guarantee that things won't get worse before they get better.

4. An attempt to manipulate God into getting our way.

5. A way to escape God doing something in your own life.

My prayer is that you will have the boldness and courage of Jabez to take God at His Word and believe Him! Let me hear from you today.

Great Quote: All other passions build upon or flow from your passion for Jesus. A passion for souls grows out of a passion for Christ. A passion for missions builds upon a passion for Christ. When Hudson Taylor was once asked what was the greatest incentive to missionary work, he instantly replied, "Love of Christ." William Booth's passion for helping the underprivileged, the derelicts of society, and for world evangelization was built upon his passion for Christ. The most crucial danger to a Christian, whatever his role, is to lack a passion of Christ. The most direct route to personal renewal and new effectiveness is a new all-consuming passion for Jesus. Lord, give us this passion, whatever the cost! Wesley L. Duewel

Keep Me From Evil

KEEP ME FROM EVIL...

" ... keep from evil so that I do not cause pain ..." I Chronicles 4:10

More than one person during my lifetime has said something like this: "I wished I had" or "If only I had" or "Why didn't I" - in connection with making foolish mistakes that were very costly to their job, family, or church.

In his book, THE JABEZ EXPERIMENT, Jay Dennis shares 10 principles from the life of Job to help us guard our hearts from making stupid mistakes:

1. Be right with God. Like Job, we should have a heart for God, and
a reckless abandon to God. (Job 1:1)

2. Be morally pure. Like Job, we should have a pure heart that
refuses to allow immoral thoughts and actions to seize us. (Job 1:1)

3. Be honest. Like Job, we should tell the truth and be transparent,
striving not to be a hypocrite. (Job 1:1)

4. Be awestruck. Like Job, we should have a holy fear of God, a
sense of deep reverence and awe at his power and majesty. (Job 1:1)

5. Be avoiding. Like Job, we should avoid everything that even has
the appearance of evil. (Job 1:1)

6. Be responsible. Like Job, we should assume responsibility to pray
to pray for the people around us and remind them of God. (Job 1:5)

7. Be praying. Like Job, we should pray as a way of life, abiding in
prayer and not just praying in emergencies. (Job 1:5)\

8. Be ready. Like Job, we should prepare ourselves for Satan's
attacks. (Job 1: 5)

9. Be worshipping. Like Job, we should praise God even when our
world falls apart. (Job 1:20-21)

10. Be believing anyway. Like job, we should
believe God no matter what the circumstances. (Job 1:22, 13:15)

That is a powerful list to help us live lives that will be blameless and upright in this ever-changing, crazy world.

Great quote: In this new community where Christ is head, things are different. Here people are less concerned with finding their life than with losing it for Christ. Here meekness, not muscle, is the mark of greatness. If the church is not radically different from the world, something is radically wrong. To be salt and light in the world implies a marked contrast between the way of life in the world and the way of life in the church. Anonymous

Protect Me From Evil

PROTECT ME FROM EVIL

" ... Protect me from evil so that I do not cause pain." 1 Chronicles 4:10

The man whose name means "Pain" is the one who cries out to the God of Israel for His abundant blessing and for Him to enlarge his territory.
But he also begs God to keep him from evil so that he will not cause pain.

The enemy of our soul comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
Pastor Jay Dennis in his book, The Jabez Experiment, notes the qualities that the enemy want to steal, kill and destroy:

Cheerfulness - Satan wants to steal YOUR joy.
Contagiousness - Satan want our faith to be unattractive.
Confidence - Satan wants YOU to doubt God.
Convictions - Satan wants you to stand for NOTHING.
Compassion - Satan does not want us to care.
Commitment - Satan wants you indecisive.
Character - Satan does not want you to grow in Christ.
Certainty - Satan wants you to be unsure of your salvation.

It is at the times of when we are most victorious that we are often the most vulnerable, and those are the times we tend to drop our guard.
Listen to this powerful reminder from Pastor Dennis: "Although the devil cannot read our minds, he is a good observer. He knows exactly when and how to attack. He is always looking for opportunity to strike. In one unguarded moment, he moves in, and it's too late. Regrets come, remorse fills the heart, and while forgiveness is available through repentance, the consequences can no more be stopped that a driver trying to stop an eighteen-wheeler on a dime while doing a hundred miles per hour. We must be proactive in trying to stop Satan BEFORE sin gets out of control in our lives. Daily we must activate God's antitheft protection, as well as warn Satan to back off whenever we sense he is approaching us."

Men, this is a good reminder for us today! Allow this truth to burn into your heart and mind today. Cry out like Jabez did - "Protect me from evil so that I do not cause pain."

Great Quote: Just when the truth about life sinks in, his truth starts to surface. He takes us by the hand and dares us not to sweep the facts under the rug but to confront them with him at our side. Max Lucado

Sunday Advent

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. Some of you attend churches that have an Advent wreath and light the five candles included in the wreath.
Traditionally, the first candle speaks of hope. The second speaks of peace. The third candle reminds us of the love of God that allowed Him to send His Son into our world.

Freedom Fighters need to know of that love. We don't always "feel"
loved. The enemy of our souls will always look for ways to convince us that God doesn't love us. "How could He love us when we do such bad things and fail Him so often?" That's the lying question Satan will send our way.

Gabriel's message to Mary dispels the lie! God loves us enough to allow His Son to come into our world. Mary thought it seemed impossible.
Elizabeth thought it impossible that she might conceive a son in her old age. Gabriel's response-"For with God nothing will be impossible."
(Luke 1:37) The same God who can empower conception in a virgin and a woman well past childbearing years can love Freedom Fighters who struggle to maintain their freedom.

I know almost none of you who receive this email every day. You may know ongoing victory over sin, or you may struggle every day for each small step toward victory. This Advent season that reminds of Jesus'
arrival into our world should encourage you. Jesus came into the world at just the right time (Galatians 4:4) to redeem us from a law we could not keep. He knew our frailty and our inclination to failure. Knowing all He knew, He didn't turn from us but toward us. He took up residence in our world through His Son.

God knew our lack of hope. He knew peace escaped us. We knew nothing of His love, and joy was not ours. Those candles we light each week of Advent tell us to live in hope. They tell us to rest in the peace of Jesus and trust His love. They tell us to know the joy of sins forgiven and lives made knew.

You and I can choose freedom from despair, a lack of peace and love, and the absence of joy. We can choose freedom from sin and its bondage--all because Jesus came! Jesus said when describing His followers as sheep, "I came so they can have a real and eternal life, more and better life then they ever dreamed of." (John 10:10b in The Message) (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: When the devil is called the god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldliness.
Symeon

Third Week of Advent

THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT

Bill Welte has encouraged this week to think about the Prayer of Jabez and how we can apply it to our lives. We're approaching the third week of Advent, and it occurs to me that Mary saw much of Jabez's prayer answered in her own life.

We know so little about Mary. Her aspirations, other than becoming Joseph's wife, are unclear. Did she ask God to let her bring the Messiah into the world? I doubt it. Did she ask God to do incredibly wonderful things in her life? Probably not. We assume, by the fact that God chose her to give birth to Jesus, that she was humbly and faithfully before the Lord. Yet God did amazing things for her and through her.

I'll make another assumption. Most of us who read Freedom Fighter live simple lives. We're not "movers and shakers." We don't influence world events. We go to work, come home, spend time with our families, and start all over the next day. Our expectations are probably no less awe-inspiring that Mary's.

That's where God comes in. Even if Mary didn't pray the prayer, God blessed her. He expanded her territory of influence to include the whole world! She lived with God's presence and He protected her from evil.

May it be so with us. We go forward choosing freedom in Christ. We live humbly and faithfully before God. We stay true to what we know is right and good. In choosing to live that way, we make it possible for God to bless us, expand our territory, and know His presence. God loves us no less than He loved Mary. He's not going to use us just like He used Mary. Our spheres of influence probably won't expand like Mary's'.


He will bless us, though. He will give us influence for His Kingdom.
He will walk with us. And, He will protect us from evil. You and I can link Mary's Advent experience with the prayer of Jabez. We can anticipate God coming into our lives in remarkable ways to bless us and accomplish His purposes. The key is to walk humbly and faithfully in the yoke with Jesus and wait for God to work.

Jabez's prayer is important. So is Mary's when she prays "Let it be to according to your word." We pray. We wait. God works. That's what Jesus coming into your world and mine is all about! (First Baptist Toms River - Pastor John's Strain)

Great Quote: He became like us that He might make us like Him. Alan Redpath

Insights from the Prayer of Jabez

INSIGHTS FROM THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

I Chron. 4:10 - Lord, please bless me indeed and enlarge my territory!
Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.

Today's Freedom Fighter insights were written by Mr. Chris Connors, our Director of Housekeeping, and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

There is no such thing as luck. No matter how random things seem - they happen under God's watchful eye and according to His will. Because of the saving grace of My Lord and Savior, I no longer think I'm lucky - I'm chosen. Is there luck involved when the Creator of heaven and earth separates you from the world and speaks to you? God's decisions and actions are deliberate and motivated out of love. When a man responds to God's prevenient grace he is never the same again. What happens when a man starts to live for God? When an unworthy sinner is truly converted by the saving grace of Jesus? Does this man just feel lucky or truly blessed?

A man cannot deny the awesome power of God when He touches him.
Whatever is the reasonable understanding for this man, it starts with a remarkable degree of gratitude. But when does this gratitude grow into a boldness beyond our understanding?

Ask Jabez, a child born of pain. A boy who grew into a man constantly reminded by the pain and sorrow he brought at birth. Not much is told pertaining to the history of his name. Possibly, he was a difficult birth for his mother. Maybe he caused undo stress on a young couple that could not afford another child. Quite possibly his mother wanted a reminder that God delivered her from this great pain of child birth and brought unspeakable happiness into her life. When God delivers us from the pain and sorrow of our affliction, we should not forget it.
Scripture tell us that Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. That by prayer and devotion he was able to obtain truly great blessings from The Lord. Jabez may have been just starting out in life. He knew that his name would not predict his life if he gave his life over to The Lord.

Here's the thing; God does not force Himself on those who do not want Him, but He diligently looks for those who do, no matter who they are or what they have done. (2 Chron. 16:9) He seeks men and women, not because they're good and true, but because they want to be, and He wants to make them so. He will never give up or go away until His work is done. (I Thes. 5:24) Jabez called on God, who alone hears and answers prayers. Through Jabez, God revealed to us that not only He hears our prayers, but will answer them. There are not many facts concerning the nature of these blessings. History holds just this a small pocket of information concerning Jabez. We can only guess that Jabez was the reason behind the naming of the city in I Chron. 2:55.

God's blessings are real and produce real effects. Spiritual blessings from God ought to be our desire and prayer. That a man should be bold enough to ask for God-sized blessings and real life changing miracles he can hold on to. In addition, to fully believe that his prayers have been answered, and to ask for God's help in handling these blessings, is truly remarkable. Jabez asked for God's all, and God granted him his request. God is always ready to hear our prayers, and He is not short of blessings when we do.

What happens when we ask for God's all? What happens if we give ourselves to God so He can determine our outcome? If we live a life pleasing to The Lord, are we worthy of having such blessings? A life of great happiness and a reputation far greater than our brothers?
In this instance, God says yes!

Why did Ezra take note of this man? Why did he, in the middle of all these names, tribes, cities and lineages take time to mention
Jabez? Because God delights in blessing His children. And when He
does it in this magnitude, you can be sure that He will bring it to light. There are dozens and dozens of people mentioned only for a brief moment in scripture. Are these people less important to God? I think not. God constantly uses people like Jabez to remind us to think of Him often. To ask upon Him continually, to live and die with Him. To be with Him always, to rely on Him, to come to know He is our only comfort and support from our afflictions.

Great quote: "The Gospel teaches that Christ was born for our benefit and that everything he did and suffered was for us. As the angel says, 'I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.
Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city'. With these words, you can clearly see that he was born for all of us. He doesn't say a savior was born, but rather, 'your Savior, Christ the Lord was born'. In the same way he says, 'I have good news for you'...this joy is for everyone who has this kind of faith." Martin Luther, Faith Alone.

Faith vs. Sight

Faith vs. Sight

FAITH VS. SIGHT

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal ... We live by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:7

Jabez was bold enough to ask God to bless him - abundantly. He asked God to "enlarge his borders ..." When you ask God to enlarge your borders, it requires you to look at life through a different set of lenses. It isn't about ME enlarging my borders and manipulating God to do what I want, it is believing that HE will do the enlarging which is only traceable back to HIM!

Most of the time we are looking through the lens of SIGHT vs. FAITH. I love this description of the FAITH vs. SIGHT walk:

"Faith looks to God as the SOURCE;
Sight trusts in possessions, power and people.
Faith focuses on 'Who';
Sight is limited to 'how.'
Faith measures the SIZE of God;
Sight is controlled by the size of the problems.
Faith seeks God FIRST;
Sight takes matter into its own hands.
Faith waits on God;
Sight rushes ahead with self-solutions.
Faith is based on what God said;
Sight is based on how I feel.
Faith's seeing-eye-guide is the Bible;
Sight's guide is only what is visible.
Faith looks BEYOND circumstances to the possibilities;
Sight looks at how bad things are at the moment.
Faith believes God even when it seems NOTHING is happening.
Sight is controlled by the senses and feelings.
Faith doesn't require that it works on paper;
Sight demands facts and figures first.
Faith leaves it in God's hands;
Sight picks it back up, and worries and frets about it. (From THE JABEZ EXPERIMENT)

Are you willing to live today by FAITH? It is impossible to do it on your own - but through CHRIST it is possible. Are you bold enough to try it? Jabez was - how about you?

Great Quote: Charles Spurgeon was once asked, "How do you defend the Bible?" "Very easy" he responded. "The same way I defend a lion. I simply let it out of its cage." Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Enlarge My Borders

ENLARGE MY BORDERS ...

" ... Do something so big in my life that it is obviously from you ..."
- Paraphrase of Jabez Prayer

I've been digging for and mining treasure from this verse for the past several days now. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel and petitioned Him to bless him, indeed! And then he asks God to enlarge his borders, so that His hand would be with him.

Yesterday during our weekly staff chapel I gave my staff an opportunity to share how God has been using this time of praying the Jabez prayer in their lives. I challenged them to pray the prayer with me for 30 days.

It was thrilling to hear how God has been already "expanding" borders, doing things that are obviously from Him:

* A staff member invited family that they have had poor relations with for over 25 years and they accepted an invitation to come to their house for Christmas dinner

* A staff member and their family had an opportunity to present the gospel at the funeral of a family member in a unique way

* A staff member who was asked to be stretched on an upcoming missions trip

* A staff member who has received an open door to do ministry at a local detention center

* A staff member and wife who just found out that they are pregnant - their first child is 14 and they are in their 40's. (After hearing this news, one of my staff members said they aren't about to pray this now...:))

On Thursday night we had our Christmas dinner concert and our guest artist, Allison Durham Speer (well known from the Gaither Homecoming
Videos) shared a story about her last visit to America's KESWICK two years ago. She heard a Colony resident share a testimony and a passage of scripture that created in her heart a desire to dig deeper into the Word. Her search led to more study, caused her to be more hungry, and long story short, she ended up enrolling at Liberty University! During this last year, God has placed a burden on her heart to teach God's Word as well as sing. After the concert she said, "Beel, I know that God is about to expand my borders because of what He did in my heart when I was her two years ago!"

Someone has said, "Be careful what you pray for - you might just get it!" Are you bold enough to ask God to expand your borders? The qualifier here is that the answer will be only traceable back to God!
When He does it - you will stand back in amazement and say, "Wow!"

If you have joined me on this journey, I'd sure love to hear from you.
Normally I get feedback from our Freedom Fighter ministry, and lately you guys have been quiet. If what I am sharing is not hitting the mark, then let me know and I will prayerfully seek another direction. Your feedback is valuable.

"Lord, do something in my life today that is obviously from You!" Amen

Great quote: Perfect love, we know, casts out fear. But so do several other things - ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity.
It is very desirable that we should all advance to that perfection of love in which we shall fear no longer; but it is very undesirable, until we have reached that stage, that we should allow any inferior agent to cast out our fear. (Clive Staples) C. S. Lewis

Blessed -- The New Testament

BLESSED - NEW TESTAMENT

Yesterday I shared with you passages from the Old Testament describing the blessings that are already ours because of our relationship with our great God. Here are some examples this morning from the New Testament ...

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

2. Blessed are those who mourn (Matthew 5:4)

3. Blessed are the gentle (Matthew 5:5)

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
(Matthew 5:6)

5. Blessed are the merciful (Matthew 5:7)

6. Blessed are the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)

7. Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

8. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of
righteousness (Matthew 5:10)

9. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you ... (Matthew 5:11)

10. Blessed are they who believe even though they
have not seen Him (John 20:29)

11. Blessed are they whose sin has been covered!
(Romans 4:7)

12. Blessed is the man because the Lord does not
take into account his sin! (Romans 4:7)

13. Blessed is the man who perseveres under
trials (James 1:12)

14. Blessed is the man who reads and hears the
prophecy of Revelation (Revelation 1:3)

15. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps
his garments (Revelation 16:15)

16. Blessed are those who are invited to the
marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)

17. Blessed are those who have a part in the
first resurrection (Revelation 20:6)

18. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the
prophecy (Revelation 22:7)

19. Blessed are those who wash their robes
(Revelation 22:14)

This is certainly not an exhaustive list from the New Testament, but I was blown away at how blessed we already are before we even begin to petition the God of Israel to abundantly bless us ... INDEED! So today my friend, I trust you will have an even greater understanding of how wonderfully blessed you are ... Are you bold enough today to ask HIM to bless you ... abundantly bless your life today? Jabez was ... how about you?

Great Quote: Repentance is being sorry enough not to do it again.
Repentance is an action for keeps. Paul White

What Does It Mean to Be Blessed

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLESSED

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel ... "Oh that you would bless me, indeed ..." 1 Chronicles 4:10

We are continuing to have computer issues, so please pardon the delay in getting out this morning's Freedom Fighter ...

This verse is so filled with precious truth. I wanted to move on a share some things with you, but felt led to do a little more digging on this concept of what Jabez was asking the God of Israel, when he petitioned him to “bless” him.
There are basically three words for bless that I see in the Old Testament for bless. The first two appear to refer to both God’s blessing His people and how we bless Him. In both cases, the word “abundantly” is attached to the meaning.
The third word means “happy” and is the byproduct of how we walk with God.
A man is “blessed” or “happy” when:
1. He doesn’t walk in the council of the wicked, doesn’t stand in the
paths of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the scoffers. (Psalm 1:1)
2. He takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 2:12; Psalm 34:8)
3. He makes the Lord his trust. (Psalm 40:4; Jeremiah 17:7)
4. He considers the helpless. (Psalm 41:1)
5. He dwells in His house. (Psalm 84:4)
6. His strength is in the Lord. (Psalm 84:5)
7. He is chastened by the Lord. (Psalm 94:12)
8. He keeps justice and practices righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106:3)
9. He fears the Lord. (Psalm 112:1; 128:1; Proverbs 28:14)
10. His way is blameless. (Psalm 119:1)
11. His quiver is full. (Psalm 127:5)
12. His God is the Lord. (Psalm 114:15)
13. He finds godly wisdom. (Proverbs 3:13)
14. He keeps HIS ways. (Proverbs 8:32)
15. He listens to God. (Proverbs 8:34)
16. His sons are blessed because of his integrity. (Proverbs 20:7)
17. He is generous. (Proverbs 22:9)
18. He longs for his God. (Isaiah 30:18)
19. He waits for his God. (Daniel 12:12)

This is not an exhaustive list, but a list from just the Old Testatment.
Before you cry out to the God is Israel to abundantly bless you – think through how HAPPY you are when these 19 principles are true in your personal walk with God.

Tomorrow we will look at the “Happy” man from the New Testament.

Great quote:“If we interrupt the process of sanctification by procrastinating in meeting an issue that God has set before us or by reverting to a posture of backsliding unbelief, God in his love will inevitably bring our lives into circumstances of failure, frustration or suffering which will drive us back to sobriety. The progress of our spiritual growth is not a matter of our own initiative and designing; it is under the control and direction of God who has begun a good work in us and will work patiently to perfect it until the day of Christ.” Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life

The Second Week of Advent

Let's continue to look at Mary's life as we move into the second week of Advent. We don't know much about her. She was young. We can tell from her "song" in Luke 2:46-55 that she was familiar with the Old Testament scriptures. She was betrothed to Joseph. That means she was somewhere between what we call engagement and marriage. We know she was a virgin.
None of those things made her different than other girls in Israel in those days. Why did the Lord choose her?

The angel Gabriel tells us something of God's take on Mary. "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
(2:28) Something about Mary made her different. The angel also tells her that she has found favor with God. It's noteworthy that you never find anything negative said about Mary throughout the gospels.

We often talk about "The man God can use." We describe qualities of life that make us useful to God. This story that introduces Advent to us is about "The woman God can use." Something about the quality of her life and her walk with God made her the woman He could use to bring His Son into the world. I doubt that Mary was expecting Him to use her in that way; the text of the story certainly indicates her total surprise.

There are lessons to be learned from Mary's experience. We never know when God may want to use us, but we learn from Mary that being used by God is a great honor and privilege. Choosing to live carelessly might easily disqualify us from being used. Choosing to live in close fellowship with God keeps us in a state of readiness. When He chooses to use us, we're prepared!

Consider another lesson from Mary's unexpected calling. Most of us live in relative anonymity. We can often feel that our lives are insignificant. Mary might well have lived that way prior to meeting Gabriel. That didn't keep her from loving God and living for Him. It
didn't prevent her from pursuing faithful devotion to God. Most of us
will never get a call to do something great and noticeable in our lives.
All of us are called to faithfulness. We can pray with Mary for God to use us according to His plans and purposes. (2:37)

No one knew when Messiah would come. No one, including Mary, expected Him to come the way He did. Mary's choice to live faithfully prepared her for the unexpected. You and I can make that same choice. Choosing to live faithfully prepares us for God's unexpected callings in our lives. (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist of Toms River)

Great Quote: Truth without enthusiasm, morality without emotion, ritual without soul, are things Christ unsparingly condemned. Destitute of fire, they are nothing more than a godless philosophy, an ethical system, and a superstition. Samuel Chadwick

The Prayer of Jabez (Part 2)

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ (PART 2)

"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain. And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I would not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Yesterday I shared with you that the commentator, Dr. Herbert Lockyer, records over 469 prayers in his book, "All The Prayers of the Bible." As you think through the examples of the prayers that have been recorded for us in the Bible, most of them are recorded in a narrative of a story line, or given as a part of a teaching. For example, Paul in his letters to the churches shares how he is praying for them.

Yet this prayer seems to be different. It is recorded for us in the middle of a book of the Bible that is filled with what would appear to be boring, insignificant genealogies. For some reason, the Lord puts the VCR on pause, and in the middle of this list, He singles out Jabez, and of all the things that could be said about him, he gives us insight into his faith and his prayer life. Note in reading these early chapters, Jabez is the only one that seems to get attention like this.

We don't know much about his background other than what is recorded here. For some reason he was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother had a difficult time in childbirth with him, and named him, "Pain!" Imagine what it must have been like to have your name be "Pain!"

What made him more honorable than his brothers? Was it his financial assets? His reputation in the community? Or was it that in his growing up years he was the brother who took his relationship with God seriously, and was a man of integrity - a man whose walk with God was so real and genuine that it caused others around him to take note that there was something different in his life.

You and I meet people like that. You don't have to be in their presence long to know that there is something very special about their connection with God. I can list in my mind, so many people that fit that description. People that I look at and say, "Wow - they have a special walk with God."

Maybe that is why there is a boldness in his praying. He has spent so much time with God in his personal communion with him - that he is comfortable being bold in his petition.

Is that the kind of relationship you have with the Lord? When people are around you do they sense from your life that there is something different? Are you willing to be bold enough to pray like Jabez? Take up the challenge. Pray Jabez's prayer and then see what God will do in your life.

Great Quote: At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done. Thomas a Kempis

DIVINE WISDOM

DIVINE WISDOM

"Where can wisdom be found?" Job 28:12

Our Administrative team has been working on putting together our 2008 Annual budget. I am so blessed to have a CFO and COO who love God and who are men of integrity. They are dedicated to serving Christ at America's KESWICK and using the gifts God has blessed them with.

For weeks they have been working through the budget process and it has been tedious work. Getting the bottom line to balance has been a challenge, and yesterday, my CFO said that he is at a point where he doesn't know what else to do. We are facing a deadline to present the budget to the Finance Committee of the Board. It is coming to 11:59 - and often that is when God shows up!

This morning I couldn't wait to get out of bed to see what the Lord would show me from His Word. Here were the words from His Word to my
ears:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.-Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.-The only [wise, kjv] God.-Be not wise in your own eyes.

"Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."

"Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."-"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

Job 28:12; Jas. 1:5, 6; Prov. 3:5, 6; 1 Tim. 1:17; Prov. 3:7; Jer.
1:6-8; John 16:23, 24; Matt. 21:22

These were verses that ministered to my heart this morning. What an awesome thing to know that when all of our conventional wisdom is exhausted and we have nowhere else to turn, we can turn to the ONE who has ALL the answers. Notice that He says that He not only will give wisdom, but He will give it generously!

Are you facing a difficult situation in your life? Need answers?
Scratching your head trying to figure out the solution? Why not join me today in asking the God of the universe for HIS DIVINE WISDOM! Together, with eager anticipation, let's wait on Him and see what HE will do! I'd love to hear your story, too!

Great Quote: If you have a murmuring spirit, you cannot have true cheerfulness; it will generally show up in your countenance and your voice. Some little fretfulness or restlessness of tone will betray it.
Your cheerfulness is forced, it does not spring up freely and healthily out of your heart, which it can only do when that is truly at rest in God; when you are satisfied with His ways, and wishing no change in them. Anonymous

Advent

ADVENT

Today is the first day of Advent. Followers of Jesus take these four weeks to remember the first coming of Jesus and to await His second coming. Each of us determines how much change and growth Advent brings to our lives. We can look for the lessons and learn them, or we can see the month as just a little more tradition.

Let me bring you back to Mary and the events that meeting the Angel of the Lord put into motion. She accepted the message and the promises, but life had many lessons to teach her as she gave birth to Jesus, watched Him grow up, travel as an itinerant preacher, and become the sacrifice for our sins. She spent many of those years waiting to see how those words from the Angel would become reality in her life and the life of her son.

Most of us don't like waiting, but it's one of God's best resources for teaching us. I'm learning that in fresh ways right now. Advent couldn't come at a better time for me. Life has been pretty dry for me lately-especially my private times with the Lord. I've asked the Lord for direction, for some insight on how to get out of the desert.
Nothing seemed to work. It hadn't occurred to me that God might have a design in my wait.

Each month I meet with a retired pastor for spiritual direction. When I told him earlier this week about the dryness, he brought up the issue of waiting. He suggested attentiveness during dry times will teach us lessons we can only learn in the desert. That wasn't what I wanted to hear, but it made sense.

Advent helps me understand. Just as Mary waited to see God's work develop, we can learn through waiting for His work in our lives. We can learn by waiting for His coming. Most of us who have struggled with addictions know the demand of instant gratification. The Jews had waited 400 years for a word from God when Jesus came. Mary waited repeatedly to see God's design for her and her son. We can learn the lesson of waiting by paying attention to what God wants to say to us during the Advent season.

What's going on in your life that requires you to wait for God's work?
Be especially attentive during Advent; allow God to teach you through the lesson of waiting. "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14) (Pastor John Strain - First Baptist Toms River)

Great quote: God is everywhere. His truth and his love pervade all things as the light and the heat of the sun pervade our atmosphere. But...God does not touch our souls with the fire of supernatural knowledge and experience without Christ. Thomas Merton

Today's FF was late due to technical difficulties . . .

Tomorrow begins the Advent season in churches around the world. Many traditions within various denominations make the observance anything from really big to almost unnoticeable. For many in evangelical churches the Advent celebration will include and advent wreath, lighting the advent candles and brief mention of its significance.

Some pastors, like me, will use the season for a series of messages that bring us to Christmas and the celebration of Jesus' birth. Other pastors disdain the tradition and will go on with a regular schedule of services until Christmas Sunday. Since the Advent tradition isn't a specifically biblical observance, each church and pastor can choose what he will or won't do.

Let me suggest, over the next four weekends why I believe we can benefit from the tradition. I believe it can help us grow in our walks with Jesus enjoy the holiday season. Advent can help us remember the blessings of God that are ours through Jesus' coming into our world.
Let's think about it.

You'll remember the Christmas story as recorded in Luke 1. The Angel of the Lord came to speak to a young Jewish girl named Mary. Before the conversation was over, Mary knew that she was going to bring the Messiah into the world and would do so as a virgin. Can you imagine the shock!
In reviewing the story, I see some things in Mary's response that can help us prepare for the Advent season in the same way Mary prepared for His birth.

When Mary was afraid, the Angel told her "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." He put her at ease and assured her that what was coming was good news for all people. That hasn't changed.
Jesus coming into our world is good news! He comes to free us from bondage and the penalty of sin. His arrival is perhaps the greatest declaration of grace God has ever spoken. Jesus living in our world offers hope instead of despair and light instead of darkness and life instead of death.

Advent reminds us that we live with great trust in God's grace. We don't have to be afraid. The Advent season encourages men pursuing freedom to trust the One who came into our world. We can trust the One who not only came into our world but also came into our lives. Do you remember that day when Jesus came into your life? If it's gotten a little fuzzy in your memory bank, allow the Advent season to remind you that Jesus showed up at your door!

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son . .
. ." (Galatians 4:4) You and I trust God for freedom because we know He sent His son to purchase that freedom for us. Remember that this Advent season. (Pastor John Strain, First Baptist Toms River)

Great quote: The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christmas is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world. Stuart Briscoe