DON'T FORGET TO TURN BACK YOUR CLOCKS TONIGHT!!!
O My Nerds
"Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak for I am a child!" Jeremiah 1:6
I am not quite sure when it happened, but Donna Bitler, wife of our Marketing Director, made this statement when something took her by surprise: "O my nerds!" Over the years all of our kids have picked up on that funny phrase.
That phrase has been used when something has surprised us. It has been used when something has shocked us. And sometimes we have used it when we just didn't know what to say. I thought about that phrase when I read this quote from A. W. Tozer:
In theology there is no "OH!" and this is significant if not an ominous thing. Theology seeks to reduce what may be known of God to intellectual terms, and as long as the intellect can comprehend, it can find words to express itself.
When God Himself appears before the mind -- awesome, vast, and incomprehensible -- then the mind sinks into silence and the heart cries our "O Lord God!" There is the difference between theological knowledge and spiritual experience, the difference between knowing God by hearsay and knowing Him by acquaintance. And the difference is no verbal merely; it is real, and serious and vital.
We Christians should watch lest we lose the "Oh!" from our hearts ...
When we become too glib in prayer we are most surely talking to ourselves. When the calm listing of requests and the courteous giving of proper thanks take the place of the burdened prayer that finds utterance difficult, we should beware the next step, for our direction is surely down whether we know it or not.
That is good stuff to chew on today. Don't lose the "OH!," brothers!!! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 31; Jeremiah 24-26; Titus 2
Great Quote: Like supernatural effervescence, praise will sometimes bubble up from the joy of simply knowing Christ. Praise like that is...delight. Pure pleasure! But praise can also be supernatural determination. A decisive action. Praise like that is...quiet resolve. Fixed devotion. Strength of spirit. Joni Eareckson Tada
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
God's Awesomeness
God's Awesomeness
"O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments. and his ways past finding out." Romans 11:33
I am sure you have been there. There are those moments in life when we experience God and we find ourselves at a loss for words. We are so keenly aware of HIS hand in a situation or we see something of His creation that just catches us speechless.
Devotional writer and famous preacher, A. W. Tozer says this about God's awesomeness:
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary lists 550,000 words. And it is a solemn and beautiful thought that in our worship of God there sometimes rush up from the depths of our soul feelings that all this wealth of words is not sufficient to express. To be articulate at certain times we are compelled to fall back upon "Oh" or "O" -- a primitive exclamatory sound that is hardly a word at all and that scarcely admits of a definition.
Vocabularies are formed by many minds over long periods and are capable of expressing whatever the mind is capable of entertaining. But when the heart, on its knees, moves into the awesome Presence and hears with fear and wonder thing not lawful to utter, then the mind falls flat, and words, previously its faithful servants, become weak and totally incapable of telling when the heart hears and sees.
In that awful moment the worship can only cry, "OH!" And that simple exclamation becomes more eloquent than learned speech and, I have no doubt, is dearer to God than any oratory.
Brothers, have you lost the wonder of the moments? Are you so caught up in your agenda and your busyness that you have lost the wonder of it all? Are you missing those "OH" moments that God has for YOU? Then its time to step back and allow HIM to once again captivate you with what HE wants to do in YOUR life. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
It has been weeks since we have received feedback from you about the ministry of Freedom Fighters. We have had some technical difficulties since upgrading our server, and some of our brothers have been bumped off. If this ministry is an encouragement to you, take some time today to drop us a quick note. Thanks.
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Jeremiah 20-21; 2 Timothy 4
Great Quote: Thank God for the commonplace people! They turn our houses into homes; they make life restful and sweet. Jesus loves the commonplace. Here then is a great, comforting thought: we are all loved - the brilliant and the commonplace, the dreamy and the practical. Dr. John Henry J. H. Jowett
"O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments. and his ways past finding out." Romans 11:33
I am sure you have been there. There are those moments in life when we experience God and we find ourselves at a loss for words. We are so keenly aware of HIS hand in a situation or we see something of His creation that just catches us speechless.
Devotional writer and famous preacher, A. W. Tozer says this about God's awesomeness:
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary lists 550,000 words. And it is a solemn and beautiful thought that in our worship of God there sometimes rush up from the depths of our soul feelings that all this wealth of words is not sufficient to express. To be articulate at certain times we are compelled to fall back upon "Oh" or "O" -- a primitive exclamatory sound that is hardly a word at all and that scarcely admits of a definition.
Vocabularies are formed by many minds over long periods and are capable of expressing whatever the mind is capable of entertaining. But when the heart, on its knees, moves into the awesome Presence and hears with fear and wonder thing not lawful to utter, then the mind falls flat, and words, previously its faithful servants, become weak and totally incapable of telling when the heart hears and sees.
In that awful moment the worship can only cry, "OH!" And that simple exclamation becomes more eloquent than learned speech and, I have no doubt, is dearer to God than any oratory.
Brothers, have you lost the wonder of the moments? Are you so caught up in your agenda and your busyness that you have lost the wonder of it all? Are you missing those "OH" moments that God has for YOU? Then its time to step back and allow HIM to once again captivate you with what HE wants to do in YOUR life. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
It has been weeks since we have received feedback from you about the ministry of Freedom Fighters. We have had some technical difficulties since upgrading our server, and some of our brothers have been bumped off. If this ministry is an encouragement to you, take some time today to drop us a quick note. Thanks.
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Jeremiah 20-21; 2 Timothy 4
Great Quote: Thank God for the commonplace people! They turn our houses into homes; they make life restful and sweet. Jesus loves the commonplace. Here then is a great, comforting thought: we are all loved - the brilliant and the commonplace, the dreamy and the practical. Dr. John Henry J. H. Jowett
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Twinkies and Root Beer
Twinkies and Root Beer
The New Testament uses the term “friend” (philos) in two ways. The normal usage of this word is illustrated in the account of the prodigal son. See Luke 15:29 where the word friends is used here in the normal sense of special or trusted companionship. To better understand the point of the story I’m about to reveal I prefer to use Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary’s definition. “Of, relating to, or befitting a friend as: showing kindly interest and good will, not hostile, inclined to favor, cheerful and comforting.”
The story I am about to share was given to me sometime at least a year ago. A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pact of Root Beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again the man smiled at him, the boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him the biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later; his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he asked, “You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I ever seen!”
Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and asked, “Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” However, before his son responded, he added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.” (The source and author are unknown).
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! -- Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired pastor and a friend of the ministry of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 29; Jeremiah 18-19; 2 Timothy 3
Great Quote: God's Word will never pass away, but looking back to the Old Testament and since the time of Christ, with tears we must say that because of lack of fortitude and faithfulness on the part of God's people, God's Word has many times been allowed to be bent, to conform to the surrounding, passing, changing culture of that moment rather than to stand as the inerrant Word of God judging the form of the world spirit and the surrounding culture of that moment. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may our children and grandchildren not say that such can be said about us. Francis A. Schaeffer
Check out this week's Stewardship Insight from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
The New Testament uses the term “friend” (philos) in two ways. The normal usage of this word is illustrated in the account of the prodigal son. See Luke 15:29 where the word friends is used here in the normal sense of special or trusted companionship. To better understand the point of the story I’m about to reveal I prefer to use Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary’s definition. “Of, relating to, or befitting a friend as: showing kindly interest and good will, not hostile, inclined to favor, cheerful and comforting.”
The story I am about to share was given to me sometime at least a year ago. A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pact of Root Beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again the man smiled at him, the boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him the biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later; his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he asked, “You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I ever seen!”
Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and asked, “Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” However, before his son responded, he added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.” (The source and author are unknown).
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! -- Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired pastor and a friend of the ministry of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 29; Jeremiah 18-19; 2 Timothy 3
Great Quote: God's Word will never pass away, but looking back to the Old Testament and since the time of Christ, with tears we must say that because of lack of fortitude and faithfulness on the part of God's people, God's Word has many times been allowed to be bent, to conform to the surrounding, passing, changing culture of that moment rather than to stand as the inerrant Word of God judging the form of the world spirit and the surrounding culture of that moment. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may our children and grandchildren not say that such can be said about us. Francis A. Schaeffer
Check out this week's Stewardship Insight from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What Are You Thinking About?
What Are You Thinking About?
"Oh, how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97
Did you ever get a thought stuck in your brain and found yourself thinking about it all day? Isn't amazing how so small and trivial can end up occupying your every waking thought. For some of you, you have been thinking about the Yankees winning the world series -- well, some of you might be thinking it will be the Phillies!
God desires that we meditate on things that have eternal value. He desires that we meditate on HIS Word. Meditation has taken a bad rap over the years in evangelical circles because it is seen as something from Eastern religions. But meditation is something that goes back to the time of Joshua, and David devotes many verses in the Psalms to this topic.
Devotion author and pastor, the late Andrew Murray, gives us some insight about meditation that is worth considering:
Just as a person is trained to concentrate his mental powers to think clearly and accurately, a Christian needs to cultivate meditation. This power of meditation is developed, first, by presenting ourselves to God and His Word. His Word has no power of blessing apart from Him. His Word is meant to bring us into His presence and fellowship. Practice His presence and take the Word directly from Him, and be assured He will make it work in your heart.
[Meditation] is a process of letting the truth settle in and become part of us, not by striving but through a peaceful process. We plant or hide the truth in our hearts and let it germinate quietly. In meditation the personal application takes first place. This does not always happen with the intellectual study of the Bible, the object of which is to know and understand. By contrast, in meditation the chief object is to appropriate and experience. A readiness to believe every promise implicitly, to obey every command unhesistantly, to "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12) is the only true spirit of Bible study,
Meditation must lead to prayer. It provides material for prayer. It must lead us to ask God and to receive definitely what it has seen in the Word. The value of meditation is that it prepares us to pray for what the Word has revealed that we need or this is possible for us, That is where the rest of faith comes in, that looking upward with the assurance that the Word will be proven in us in power when we surrender to it.
In the course of time, the result of resting in meditation, after intellectual effort, will be that both the meditation of the heart and the effort of the intellect will be brought into harmony in understanding God's Word. All of our Bible study will be made alive by the spirit of quiet waiting on God and a yielding of our heart and life to the Word.
Our fellowship with God is meant to last the whole day. If we secure the presence of God through meditation in our morning watch, we will be brought closer to the experience of David: Blessed is the man ... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.
Brothers -- if meditating on God's Word was important for Joshua and David, should we not also make this a daily practice in our own lives? Let's purpose together to meditate on God's WORD. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for US: Proverbs 28; Jeremiah 15-17; 2 Timothy 2
Great Quote: Like supernatural effervescence, praise will sometimes bubble up from the joy of simply knowing Christ. Praise like that is...delight. Pure pleasure! But praise can also be supernatural determination. A decisive action. Praise like that is...quiet resolve. Fixed devotion. Strength of spirit. Joni Eareckson Tada
"Oh, how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97
Did you ever get a thought stuck in your brain and found yourself thinking about it all day? Isn't amazing how so small and trivial can end up occupying your every waking thought. For some of you, you have been thinking about the Yankees winning the world series -- well, some of you might be thinking it will be the Phillies!
God desires that we meditate on things that have eternal value. He desires that we meditate on HIS Word. Meditation has taken a bad rap over the years in evangelical circles because it is seen as something from Eastern religions. But meditation is something that goes back to the time of Joshua, and David devotes many verses in the Psalms to this topic.
Devotion author and pastor, the late Andrew Murray, gives us some insight about meditation that is worth considering:
Just as a person is trained to concentrate his mental powers to think clearly and accurately, a Christian needs to cultivate meditation. This power of meditation is developed, first, by presenting ourselves to God and His Word. His Word has no power of blessing apart from Him. His Word is meant to bring us into His presence and fellowship. Practice His presence and take the Word directly from Him, and be assured He will make it work in your heart.
[Meditation] is a process of letting the truth settle in and become part of us, not by striving but through a peaceful process. We plant or hide the truth in our hearts and let it germinate quietly. In meditation the personal application takes first place. This does not always happen with the intellectual study of the Bible, the object of which is to know and understand. By contrast, in meditation the chief object is to appropriate and experience. A readiness to believe every promise implicitly, to obey every command unhesistantly, to "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12) is the only true spirit of Bible study,
Meditation must lead to prayer. It provides material for prayer. It must lead us to ask God and to receive definitely what it has seen in the Word. The value of meditation is that it prepares us to pray for what the Word has revealed that we need or this is possible for us, That is where the rest of faith comes in, that looking upward with the assurance that the Word will be proven in us in power when we surrender to it.
In the course of time, the result of resting in meditation, after intellectual effort, will be that both the meditation of the heart and the effort of the intellect will be brought into harmony in understanding God's Word. All of our Bible study will be made alive by the spirit of quiet waiting on God and a yielding of our heart and life to the Word.
Our fellowship with God is meant to last the whole day. If we secure the presence of God through meditation in our morning watch, we will be brought closer to the experience of David: Blessed is the man ... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.
Brothers -- if meditating on God's Word was important for Joshua and David, should we not also make this a daily practice in our own lives? Let's purpose together to meditate on God's WORD. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for US: Proverbs 28; Jeremiah 15-17; 2 Timothy 2
Great Quote: Like supernatural effervescence, praise will sometimes bubble up from the joy of simply knowing Christ. Praise like that is...delight. Pure pleasure! But praise can also be supernatural determination. A decisive action. Praise like that is...quiet resolve. Fixed devotion. Strength of spirit. Joni Eareckson Tada
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
"May I never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14
For many of us the gospel is what we share with those who are lost. It is what we first heard that opened our eyes to the need for a Savior. But the gospel is something that we should keep in front of us on a daily, moment by moment basis.
Dr. Jack Miller, founder of New Life Presbyterian Church and World Harvest Mission, taught that we should preach the gospel to ourselves daily. Author and speaker, Dr. Jerry Bridges, picks up on this theme in his book The Discipline of Grace -- God's Role and our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness:
Preaching the gospel to ourselves every day addresses both the self-righteous Pharisee and the guilt-laden sinner that dwell in our hearts. Since the gospel is only for sinners, preaching it to ourselves every day reminds us that we are indeed sinners in the need of God's grace. It causes us to say to God, in the words of an old hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." It helps us to consciously renounce any confidence in our own goodness as a means of meriting God's blessing on our lives.
Perhaps more importantly, though, preaching the gospel to ourselves every day gives us hope, joy, and courage. The good news that our sins are forgiven because of Christ's death fills our hearts with joy, gives us courage to face the day, and offers us hope that God's favor will rest upon us, not because we are good, but because we are in Christ.
Bridges goes on to quote a letter he received from a pastor in Kenya that expresses so beautifully this truth:
Sin grieves God. We must not down-play the seriousness of it in the life of a believer. But we must come to terms with the fact that God's grace is GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and God's grace.
Any moment in our lives when we bask in God's mercy and grace is our highest moment. Higher than when we feel snug in our decent performance and cannot think of anything we need to confess.
Whenever we fail -- and fail we will, the Spirit of God will work on us and bring us to the foot of the cross where Jesus carried our failures. That is potentially a glorious moment. For we could all that moment accept God's abundant Mercy and Grace and go forth with nothing to boast except Christ Himself, or else we struggle with our shame, focusing on that as well as our track record. We fail because we have shifted our attention from Grace and Mercy. One who draws on God's Mercy and grace is quick to repent, but also slow to sin!
Brothers, preach the gospel to yourself today. Run to the cross and bask in His mercy and grace!!! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Jeremiah 12-14; 2 Timothy 1
Great Quote: God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose -- that He may be able to say, "This is My man, and this is My woman." We have to be in God's hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ just as He has placed us. -- Oswald Chambers
"May I never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14
For many of us the gospel is what we share with those who are lost. It is what we first heard that opened our eyes to the need for a Savior. But the gospel is something that we should keep in front of us on a daily, moment by moment basis.
Dr. Jack Miller, founder of New Life Presbyterian Church and World Harvest Mission, taught that we should preach the gospel to ourselves daily. Author and speaker, Dr. Jerry Bridges, picks up on this theme in his book The Discipline of Grace -- God's Role and our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness:
Preaching the gospel to ourselves every day addresses both the self-righteous Pharisee and the guilt-laden sinner that dwell in our hearts. Since the gospel is only for sinners, preaching it to ourselves every day reminds us that we are indeed sinners in the need of God's grace. It causes us to say to God, in the words of an old hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." It helps us to consciously renounce any confidence in our own goodness as a means of meriting God's blessing on our lives.
Perhaps more importantly, though, preaching the gospel to ourselves every day gives us hope, joy, and courage. The good news that our sins are forgiven because of Christ's death fills our hearts with joy, gives us courage to face the day, and offers us hope that God's favor will rest upon us, not because we are good, but because we are in Christ.
Bridges goes on to quote a letter he received from a pastor in Kenya that expresses so beautifully this truth:
Sin grieves God. We must not down-play the seriousness of it in the life of a believer. But we must come to terms with the fact that God's grace is GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and God's grace.
Any moment in our lives when we bask in God's mercy and grace is our highest moment. Higher than when we feel snug in our decent performance and cannot think of anything we need to confess.
Whenever we fail -- and fail we will, the Spirit of God will work on us and bring us to the foot of the cross where Jesus carried our failures. That is potentially a glorious moment. For we could all that moment accept God's abundant Mercy and Grace and go forth with nothing to boast except Christ Himself, or else we struggle with our shame, focusing on that as well as our track record. We fail because we have shifted our attention from Grace and Mercy. One who draws on God's Mercy and grace is quick to repent, but also slow to sin!
Brothers, preach the gospel to yourself today. Run to the cross and bask in His mercy and grace!!! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Jeremiah 12-14; 2 Timothy 1
Great Quote: God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose -- that He may be able to say, "This is My man, and this is My woman." We have to be in God's hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ just as He has placed us. -- Oswald Chambers
Monday, October 26, 2009
God's Wonderful Forgiveness
God's Wonderful Forgiveness
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
He is turning out to be one of my favorite contemporary authors. Dr. Paul David Tripp is the evening teaching pastor at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Tenth Pres has had some amazing Bible teachers in the pulpit, including Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse and Dr. James Montgomery Boice.
Tripp's book, Whiter Than Snow -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy (Crossway) is one that I have been slowly reading and digesting. It is available through the Keswick Online Bookstore (http://www.americaskeswick.org/233853.ihtml?id=233853). I want to encourage you to be a reader, brothers. This should be a MUST HAVE in your devotional library.
This reading is one God's wonderful forgiveness:
In the pain
of my confession
it's hard to collect
the fleeting pleasures
of my sin.
My shame
hides Your face.
My anguish
drowns out Your voice.
The lingering visions
of what I've done
haunt my soul
assault my heart
dominate my thoughts.
I want to undo
what I've done.
I want to turn back time
so that my thoughts would be
pure
and my hands would be clean.
BUT
lust was born
and the deed was done.
I can't undo
what dark pleasure has wrought.
So I come to YOU
just as I am.
I bow before You
shamed and unclean.
The searching light
of Your righteousness
puts fear in my heart
and reveals more stains than
I ever thought I had.
I bow before YOU
because I've nowhere else to go.
I confess to YOU
because I've no other hope.
There's no place to run
There's no place to hide.
I can't escape what I've done.
I can't erase my stains.
So in my grief
I ask for one thing.
I long to hear YOU sing.
I long to see YOU rejoice.
For when my ears are graced
with YOUR song
and when I am blessed
by YOUR gladness
and when the angels celebrate
then I can be sure
that I've been given
the greatest of gifts
the miracle of miracles
the thing only love
could purchase
the blessing that only love could offer;
forgiveness!!!
May you marvel, wonder, and rejoice today, my brother, in HIS forgiveness! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Jeremiah 9-11; 1 Timothy 6
Great Quote: Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin. Let me use disappointment as material for patience: Let me use success as material for thankfulness: Let me use suspense as material for perseverance: Let me use danger as material for courage: Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering: Let me use praise as material for humility: Let me use pleasures as material for temperance: Let me use pains as material for endurance. John Baillie
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
He is turning out to be one of my favorite contemporary authors. Dr. Paul David Tripp is the evening teaching pastor at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Tenth Pres has had some amazing Bible teachers in the pulpit, including Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse and Dr. James Montgomery Boice.
Tripp's book, Whiter Than Snow -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy (Crossway) is one that I have been slowly reading and digesting. It is available through the Keswick Online Bookstore (http://www.americaskeswick.org/233853.ihtml?id=233853). I want to encourage you to be a reader, brothers. This should be a MUST HAVE in your devotional library.
This reading is one God's wonderful forgiveness:
In the pain
of my confession
it's hard to collect
the fleeting pleasures
of my sin.
My shame
hides Your face.
My anguish
drowns out Your voice.
The lingering visions
of what I've done
haunt my soul
assault my heart
dominate my thoughts.
I want to undo
what I've done.
I want to turn back time
so that my thoughts would be
pure
and my hands would be clean.
BUT
lust was born
and the deed was done.
I can't undo
what dark pleasure has wrought.
So I come to YOU
just as I am.
I bow before You
shamed and unclean.
The searching light
of Your righteousness
puts fear in my heart
and reveals more stains than
I ever thought I had.
I bow before YOU
because I've nowhere else to go.
I confess to YOU
because I've no other hope.
There's no place to run
There's no place to hide.
I can't escape what I've done.
I can't erase my stains.
So in my grief
I ask for one thing.
I long to hear YOU sing.
I long to see YOU rejoice.
For when my ears are graced
with YOUR song
and when I am blessed
by YOUR gladness
and when the angels celebrate
then I can be sure
that I've been given
the greatest of gifts
the miracle of miracles
the thing only love
could purchase
the blessing that only love could offer;
forgiveness!!!
May you marvel, wonder, and rejoice today, my brother, in HIS forgiveness! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Jeremiah 9-11; 1 Timothy 6
Great Quote: Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life to-day that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin. Let me use disappointment as material for patience: Let me use success as material for thankfulness: Let me use suspense as material for perseverance: Let me use danger as material for courage: Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering: Let me use praise as material for humility: Let me use pleasures as material for temperance: Let me use pains as material for endurance. John Baillie
Sunday, October 25, 2009
It's All About Him
It's All About Him
"Now to the King eternal ... be honor and glory for ever and ever." 1 Timothy 1:7
So much of our worship today is centered around what I am going to get from the experience. Did I like the songs the worship team did? What did I get out of the message? Too quickly we forget that the reason we gather for worship really has nothing to do about us but it has everything to do about HIM!
Psalm 1oo makes it very clear that worship has nothing to do with me:
Shout joyfully TO THE LORD (vs.1)
Serve the LORD with gladness (vs.1)
Come before HIM with joyful singing (vs.2)
Enter HIS gates with thanksgiving (vs. 4)
Enter HIS courts with praise (vs. 4)
Give thanks to HIM and bless HIS name (vs. 4)
We need to get on track as a people of God. When we gather together for corporate worship, our focus needs to be on HIM -- the King eternal. He is the ONE who is worthy of our praise. When that happens, we will be truly worshipping. It isn't about us -- it is all about HIM!
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, THY great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish -- but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render; O, help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Lord, may our worship today be all about YOU and not about us! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5
Great Quote: Worship is not taught from the pulpit. It must be learned in the heart. -- Jim Elliot
"Now to the King eternal ... be honor and glory for ever and ever." 1 Timothy 1:7
So much of our worship today is centered around what I am going to get from the experience. Did I like the songs the worship team did? What did I get out of the message? Too quickly we forget that the reason we gather for worship really has nothing to do about us but it has everything to do about HIM!
Psalm 1oo makes it very clear that worship has nothing to do with me:
Shout joyfully TO THE LORD (vs.1)
Serve the LORD with gladness (vs.1)
Come before HIM with joyful singing (vs.2)
Enter HIS gates with thanksgiving (vs. 4)
Enter HIS courts with praise (vs. 4)
Give thanks to HIM and bless HIS name (vs. 4)
We need to get on track as a people of God. When we gather together for corporate worship, our focus needs to be on HIM -- the King eternal. He is the ONE who is worthy of our praise. When that happens, we will be truly worshipping. It isn't about us -- it is all about HIM!
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, THY great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish -- but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render; O, help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Lord, may our worship today be all about YOU and not about us! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5
Great Quote: Worship is not taught from the pulpit. It must be learned in the heart. -- Jim Elliot
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Nothing of the Old Life
Nothing of the Old Life
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
Oswald Chambers in his classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, gives us much insight into understanding that "the old is gone and the new has come" for those of us who are IN CHRIST! Allow these words to soak into your heart today, brothers:
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, "God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right." But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life!
Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and "all things are of God" (2 Corinthians 5:18 ).
How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that "is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil"? ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself.
Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
Are you trying to hold onto your old life today? The old life was crucified with Christ! Let the old man die! Allow Christ to live HIS life through you today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 24; Jeremiah 3-5; 1 Timothy 4
Great Quote: The chief thing is, not to know WHAT GOD has said, but that GOD HIMSELF says it to us ... We must have the words IN US, taken up into our will and life, reproduced in our disposition and conduct. We must have them ABIDING in us: our whole life one continued exposition of the words that are within, and filling us; the words revealing Christ within, and our life revealing Him without. -- Andrew Murray
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
Oswald Chambers in his classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, gives us much insight into understanding that "the old is gone and the new has come" for those of us who are IN CHRIST! Allow these words to soak into your heart today, brothers:
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, "God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right." But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life!
Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and "all things are of God" (2 Corinthians 5:18 ).
How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that "is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil"? ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself.
Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
Are you trying to hold onto your old life today? The old life was crucified with Christ! Let the old man die! Allow Christ to live HIS life through you today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 24; Jeremiah 3-5; 1 Timothy 4
Great Quote: The chief thing is, not to know WHAT GOD has said, but that GOD HIMSELF says it to us ... We must have the words IN US, taken up into our will and life, reproduced in our disposition and conduct. We must have them ABIDING in us: our whole life one continued exposition of the words that are within, and filling us; the words revealing Christ within, and our life revealing Him without. -- Andrew Murray
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Power of God's Word
The Power of GOD'S WORD
I enjoy sharing my heart with you each day and what God is teaching me in my walk with Him. I find that HIS Word is becoming more and more precious to me each day. As I was reading through the ONE YEAR BIBLE today (great tool guys!), today's Psalm was one that I committed to memory YEARS ago. It was so powerful that I decided to let the WORD speak for itself today. Let it soak into your heart:
Psalm 91 (from the ESV)
He will dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
For HE will deliver YOU from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
HE will cover YOU with his pinions, and under HIS wings YOU will find refuge;
HIS faithfulness is a shield and buckler. YOU will not dear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place -- the Most High, who is MY refuge -- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
For he will give HIS angels charge concerning you to guard YOU in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because HE KNOWS MY NAME. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
May HIS WORDS breathe strength, encouragement, and joy into YOUR heart today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3
Great Quote: If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back; neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of the heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God. Francois Fenelon
I enjoy sharing my heart with you each day and what God is teaching me in my walk with Him. I find that HIS Word is becoming more and more precious to me each day. As I was reading through the ONE YEAR BIBLE today (great tool guys!), today's Psalm was one that I committed to memory YEARS ago. It was so powerful that I decided to let the WORD speak for itself today. Let it soak into your heart:
Psalm 91 (from the ESV)
He will dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
For HE will deliver YOU from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
HE will cover YOU with his pinions, and under HIS wings YOU will find refuge;
HIS faithfulness is a shield and buckler. YOU will not dear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place -- the Most High, who is MY refuge -- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
For he will give HIS angels charge concerning you to guard YOU in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because HE KNOWS MY NAME. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
May HIS WORDS breathe strength, encouragement, and joy into YOUR heart today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3
Great Quote: If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back; neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of the heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God. Francois Fenelon
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Broken Things
A Broken and Contrite Heart
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17
This is a powerful word from STREAMS IN THE DESERT:
Those people God uses most to bring glory to Himself are those who are completely broken, for the sacrifice He accepts is a "broken and contrite heart." It was not until Jacob's natural strength was broken, when "his hip was wrenched" (Genesis 32:25) at Peniel, that he came to the point where God could clothe him with spiritual power. And it was not until Moses struck the rock at Horeb, breaking its surface, that cool "water came out of it for the people to drink (Exodus 17:6).
It was not until Gideon's three hundred specially chosen soldiers "broke jars that were in their hands" (Judges 7:19), which symbolized brokenness in their lives, that the hidden light of the torches shone forth, bringing terror to their enemies. It was once the poor widow broke the seal on her remaining jar of oil and began to pour it that God miraculously multiplied it to pay her debts and thereby supplies her means of support. (See 2 Kings 4:1-7)
It was not until Esther risked her life and broke through the strict laws of a heathen king's court that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. (See Esther 4:16)
It was once Jesus took "the five loaves ... and broke them" (Luke 9:16) that the bread was multiplied to feed the five thousand. Through the very process of the loaves being broken, the miracle occurred. It was when Mary broke her beautiful "alabaster jar of very expensive perfume" (Matthew 26:7), destroying its future usefulness and value, that the wonderful fragrance filled the house. And it was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken by thorns, nails and a spear that His inner life was poured out like an ocean of crystal-clear water, for thirsty sinners to drink and then live.
It is not until a beautiful kernel of corn is buried and broken in the earth by death that its inner heart sprouts, producing hundreds of other seeds and kernels. And so it has always been, down through the history of plants, people, and all of spiritual life -- God uses BROKEN THINGS.
Those who have been gripped by the power of the Holy Spirit and are used for God's glory are those who have been broken in their finances, broken in their self-will, broken in their ambitions, broken in their lofty ideals, broken in their worldly reputation, broken in their desires, and often broken in their health.
Yes, He uses those who are despised by the world and who seem totally hopeless and helpless, just as Isaiah said: "The lame will carry off the plunder." Isaiah 33:23
This reading ends with this prayer ... can you pray it today?
O, break my heart; but break it as a field
is plowed and broken for the seeds of corn;
Oh, break it as the buds, by green leaf sealed,
Are to unloose the golden blossom, torn;
Love would I offer unto Love's great Master,
Set free the fragrance, break the alabaster.
Oh, break my heart; break it, victorious God,
That life's eternal well may flow abroad;
Oh, let it break as when the captive trees,
Breaking cold bonds, regain their liberties;
And as thoughts sacred grove to life is springing,
Be joys, like birds, their hope, Your victory singing.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17
This is a powerful word from STREAMS IN THE DESERT:
Those people God uses most to bring glory to Himself are those who are completely broken, for the sacrifice He accepts is a "broken and contrite heart." It was not until Jacob's natural strength was broken, when "his hip was wrenched" (Genesis 32:25) at Peniel, that he came to the point where God could clothe him with spiritual power. And it was not until Moses struck the rock at Horeb, breaking its surface, that cool "water came out of it for the people to drink (Exodus 17:6).
It was not until Gideon's three hundred specially chosen soldiers "broke jars that were in their hands" (Judges 7:19), which symbolized brokenness in their lives, that the hidden light of the torches shone forth, bringing terror to their enemies. It was once the poor widow broke the seal on her remaining jar of oil and began to pour it that God miraculously multiplied it to pay her debts and thereby supplies her means of support. (See 2 Kings 4:1-7)
It was not until Esther risked her life and broke through the strict laws of a heathen king's court that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. (See Esther 4:16)
It was once Jesus took "the five loaves ... and broke them" (Luke 9:16) that the bread was multiplied to feed the five thousand. Through the very process of the loaves being broken, the miracle occurred. It was when Mary broke her beautiful "alabaster jar of very expensive perfume" (Matthew 26:7), destroying its future usefulness and value, that the wonderful fragrance filled the house. And it was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken by thorns, nails and a spear that His inner life was poured out like an ocean of crystal-clear water, for thirsty sinners to drink and then live.
It is not until a beautiful kernel of corn is buried and broken in the earth by death that its inner heart sprouts, producing hundreds of other seeds and kernels. And so it has always been, down through the history of plants, people, and all of spiritual life -- God uses BROKEN THINGS.
Those who have been gripped by the power of the Holy Spirit and are used for God's glory are those who have been broken in their finances, broken in their self-will, broken in their ambitions, broken in their lofty ideals, broken in their worldly reputation, broken in their desires, and often broken in their health.
Yes, He uses those who are despised by the world and who seem totally hopeless and helpless, just as Isaiah said: "The lame will carry off the plunder." Isaiah 33:23
This reading ends with this prayer ... can you pray it today?
O, break my heart; but break it as a field
is plowed and broken for the seeds of corn;
Oh, break it as the buds, by green leaf sealed,
Are to unloose the golden blossom, torn;
Love would I offer unto Love's great Master,
Set free the fragrance, break the alabaster.
Oh, break my heart; break it, victorious God,
That life's eternal well may flow abroad;
Oh, let it break as when the captive trees,
Breaking cold bonds, regain their liberties;
And as thoughts sacred grove to life is springing,
Be joys, like birds, their hope, Your victory singing.
Are you willing to be broken for the Master's use? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3
Great Quote: Distress of soul and grief of heart can only bring on destruction of body. Joy alone is a healer, and ye can have it in the darkest hour if ye will force thy soul to rise to Me in worship and adoration. I have not failed thee and ye have not failed Me. Remember that I am in the midst when ye praise me. Never let any kind of anxiety crowd out thy praises. Frances J. Roberts
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I Wonder
I Wonder
Then shall he answer them, saying , Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. -- Matthew 25:45
Sometimes we need to check ourselves when it comes to the matter of our service to the Lord. Too easily we can slip into the mindset of wanting others to notice what WE are doing and HOW we are serving. When we serve others, we are serving HIM not ourselves. When we serve HIM, it really doesn't matter when or if we ever get the credit.
I came across this poem by Ruth Harms Calkin, which was a good reminder for me:
You know, Lord, how I serve you
With great emotional fervor
In the limelight.
You know how eagerly
I speak for you at ___________.
You know how I effervesce
when I promote
a fellowship group.
You know my genuine enthusiasm
at a Bible study.
But how would I react, I wonder,
If you pointed to a basin of water
And asked me to wash
the calloused feet
Of a bent and wrinkled old woman (man)
Day after day,
Month after month,
In a room where nobody saw
And nobody knew?
Wow. Important words to ponder for us today. Each year we have a group of volunteers from SOWERS: Servants on Wheels Ever Ready. At the conclusion of their daily devotional they stand in a circle holding hands and sing an old hymn, OUR BEST:
Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”
For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.
Refrain
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;
Winning the smile of God brings its delight!
Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest,
All that we think or do, be it the best.
Who are you serving today? I wonder! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 21; Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1
Great Quote: I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to do anything that is not to the glory of God, or to fail to make the glorifying of Him my whole and entire business. If I murmur in the least at afflictions; if I am in any way uncharitable; if I revenge my own case; if I do anything purely to please myself, or omit anything because it is a great denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me; or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God's. I purpose to be absolutely His. Jonathan Edwards
Then shall he answer them, saying , Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. -- Matthew 25:45
Sometimes we need to check ourselves when it comes to the matter of our service to the Lord. Too easily we can slip into the mindset of wanting others to notice what WE are doing and HOW we are serving. When we serve others, we are serving HIM not ourselves. When we serve HIM, it really doesn't matter when or if we ever get the credit.
I came across this poem by Ruth Harms Calkin, which was a good reminder for me:
You know, Lord, how I serve you
With great emotional fervor
In the limelight.
You know how eagerly
I speak for you at ___________.
You know how I effervesce
when I promote
a fellowship group.
You know my genuine enthusiasm
at a Bible study.
But how would I react, I wonder,
If you pointed to a basin of water
And asked me to wash
the calloused feet
Of a bent and wrinkled old woman (man)
Day after day,
Month after month,
In a room where nobody saw
And nobody knew?
Wow. Important words to ponder for us today. Each year we have a group of volunteers from SOWERS: Servants on Wheels Ever Ready. At the conclusion of their daily devotional they stand in a circle holding hands and sing an old hymn, OUR BEST:
Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”
For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.
Refrain
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;
Winning the smile of God brings its delight!
Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest,
All that we think or do, be it the best.
Who are you serving today? I wonder! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 21; Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1
Great Quote: I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to do anything that is not to the glory of God, or to fail to make the glorifying of Him my whole and entire business. If I murmur in the least at afflictions; if I am in any way uncharitable; if I revenge my own case; if I do anything purely to please myself, or omit anything because it is a great denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me; or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God's. I purpose to be absolutely His. Jonathan Edwards
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
An Amazing Spiritual Giant
An Amazing Spiritual Giant
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:6
Tonight I have the wonderful privilege and honor to play the piano for the memorial service of an amazing spiritual giant that went home to be with the Lord last week at 99 -- she almost made 100!
Just so we are clear, the lady that I am about to tell you about is sitting in the chair -- NOT standing. The lady in the chair is Peg Tomlin.
Most of you don't have a clue who she is. She won't be recorded in the world's version of Whose WHO. But her name has been written down in the Lamb's Book of Life and she was one of God's choice servants.
Peg and Kale were our Youth Leaders when I was 13. Doing the math today was a little scary as we thought they were "old" then --but the reality that Peg was 57 and Kale was in his sixties. (Yikes they were really YOUNG! :) But they had already been our parent's youth directors when they were teens! They served in ministry well into their 70's, and accomplished much for the Kingdom.
Those were the days -- when Peg and Kale piled kids into their car to take them skiing, skating, fishing, camping. Took a boat load of kids in their car when there were no vans. I can't tell you how many people they crammed in their cars- but they would have been fined today!
Peg and Kale never had any biological children. But they literally have thousands of spiritual kids, grand and great-great and beyond whose lives were impacted by their lives. They served without pay in their youth ministry at Fellowship Church in Philadelphia, PA. They were the overseers of the Old York Road Branch of Christian Endeavor for what seemed like forever. Under their leadership of OYRCE, they introduced kids to some of America's Great Preachers: Dr. John Cawood, Dr. John Guest, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, Dr. Dale Linebaugh, Dr. Ross Rhoads -- and the whose who of great preachers goes on and on.
Peg worked tirelessly planning youth programs, publishing a weekly newspaper called Teen Times, writing notes of encouragement to her "kids." She was an amazing prayer warrior, and even up until several weeks ago, would ask about all your kids even though her physical tent was wearing out quickly.
Only eternity will reveal the impact of her life. It will be a grand surprise for her to see how many lives she impacted for Jesus Christ. I guess her one regret is that she didn't get to 100. Her husband, Kale, almost made 100. If you knew them, they were competitive! So I can hear Peg saying to Kale, "I almost beat you!" Thanks, Peg, for your faithfulness. You have fought a good fight! You have finished the course! You have kept the faith! And you have seen Jesus! Hallelujah! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's Word for You: Proverbs 20; Isaiah 59-61; 2 Thessalonians 2
Great Quote: "Ignorance of our own faults is the only cause that renders us unwilling to forgive our brethren." -- John Calvin "Being one of God's saints does not put us above loving the unlovable; rather it must compel us to fulfill the debt of love we owe to others." -- R.C. Sproul
Monday, October 19, 2009
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith ..." Ephesians 2:8
We sing about. We teach about it. We read about it over and over again in the Bible. But do we FULLY grasp what GRACE really means?
Well listen to the description Dr. Paul David Tripp gives concerning grace in his newest book:
So grace is a … gift. It is God’s character and it is your hope. Grace is a transforming tool and a state of relationship. Grace is a theology and an invitation. Grace is an experience and a calling. Grace will turn your life upside down while giving you the rest you have never known. Grace will convince you of your unworthiness without making you feel unloved.
Grace will make you acknowledge that you cannot earn God’s favor, and it will remove your fear of not measuring up to His standards. Grace will confront you with the fact that you are much less than you thought you were, even as it assures you that you can be far more than you had ever imagined. Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down.
Grace will enable you to face truths about yourself that you have hesitated to consider, while freeing you from being self-consciously introspective. Grace will confront you with profound weaknesses, and at the same time introduce you to new-found strength. Grace will tell you what you aren’t while welcoming you to what you can now be.
Grace will make you as uncomfortable as you have ever been, while offering you more comfort than you have ever known. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself, while it invites you to fresh starts and new beginnings. Grace will dash your hopes, but never leave you hopeless. Grace will decimate YOUR kingdom as it introduces you to a better King.
Grace will expose your blindness as it gives you eyes to see. Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been, while it gives you greater cause for celebration than you have ever known.
Grace enters your life in a moment and will occupy you for eternity. You simply cannot live a productive life in this broken-down world unless you have a practical grasp of the grace you have been given. Paul David Tripp, Broken Down House –Living Productively In A World Gone Bad (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press 2009)
Brothers: If that doesn't light your fire ... then your wood is really wet! Grace! Maybe that is why John Newton said -- Amazing grace! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 19; Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Great Quote: God buries His workman and continues His work. -- John Bunyan
"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith ..." Ephesians 2:8
We sing about. We teach about it. We read about it over and over again in the Bible. But do we FULLY grasp what GRACE really means?
Well listen to the description Dr. Paul David Tripp gives concerning grace in his newest book:
So grace is a … gift. It is God’s character and it is your hope. Grace is a transforming tool and a state of relationship. Grace is a theology and an invitation. Grace is an experience and a calling. Grace will turn your life upside down while giving you the rest you have never known. Grace will convince you of your unworthiness without making you feel unloved.
Grace will make you acknowledge that you cannot earn God’s favor, and it will remove your fear of not measuring up to His standards. Grace will confront you with the fact that you are much less than you thought you were, even as it assures you that you can be far more than you had ever imagined. Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down.
Grace will enable you to face truths about yourself that you have hesitated to consider, while freeing you from being self-consciously introspective. Grace will confront you with profound weaknesses, and at the same time introduce you to new-found strength. Grace will tell you what you aren’t while welcoming you to what you can now be.
Grace will make you as uncomfortable as you have ever been, while offering you more comfort than you have ever known. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself, while it invites you to fresh starts and new beginnings. Grace will dash your hopes, but never leave you hopeless. Grace will decimate YOUR kingdom as it introduces you to a better King.
Grace will expose your blindness as it gives you eyes to see. Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been, while it gives you greater cause for celebration than you have ever known.
Grace enters your life in a moment and will occupy you for eternity. You simply cannot live a productive life in this broken-down world unless you have a practical grasp of the grace you have been given. Paul David Tripp, Broken Down House –Living Productively In A World Gone Bad (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press 2009)
Brothers: If that doesn't light your fire ... then your wood is really wet! Grace! Maybe that is why John Newton said -- Amazing grace! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 19; Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Great Quote: God buries His workman and continues His work. -- John Bunyan
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Perfect Courtesy
Perfect Courtesy
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle. and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
You've been around them. They are the people that appear not only to be rude, but loud when they are being rude. The more people around them, the more they seem to enjoy humiliating the waitress, or someone the person who is providing a service to them.
Or they may be the one in the line at the grocery store, the bank, the post office that is loudly barking out their dissatisfaction about the slow service. Everyone knows they are frustrated.
They are the ones who see all the signs at the airport that clearly state that no water bottles can be in your possession when going through the security check. They ignore the sign, and when confronted go ballistic on the person that is trying to do their job.
We were visiting friends one evening at a retirement center, and they invited us for dinner. The servers were high school kids from the local community and they were really serving with excellence. For most of the meal, the man we were visiting complained, criticized, and was rude to the young man serving our table. This kid was really hustling and trying to do his best -- but NOTHING pleased our friend.
Shortly after he had blasted this kid, he made a statement, "We are having a very hard time keeping young people working at our facility." It was almost to comical to hear him say this, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to gently say, "Well, __________ if the folks here treat the servers like you treat them, I can see why you can't keep the help."
We live in a world where gentleness and courtesy seem to have been thrown out the window. We have become so ME oriented, that even we Christians have developed a mentality of entitlement.
Show a little bit of courtesy to people and you will be amazed at the impact it can have. Dr. John C. Maxwell and Zig Ziglar, two of my leadership mentors, suggest that we become salt and light by expressing to people our appreciation for the unnoticed tasks.
I was at a ballgame in Baltimore and had to use the rest room. I have never been to a stadium where the rest rooms are so immaculate. There was a young man cleaning the restroom who was really doing his job with excellence. I went over to him and thanked him for serving us by keeping the rest room so clean and neat. For a moment, he looked at me like I had four heads. Then he broke into a huge smile and said, "Thank you. No one has ever said that to me!"
One more suggestion for courtesy -- Christians should be known for being the greatest tippers rather than be the biggest cheap skates. One of my pet peeves is Christians who expect and demand good service in restaurants, and then leave, sometimes just leaving a gospel tract or a tip that isn't even 10%.
We attended our national CCCA (Christian Camps and Conference Association) convention. Hundreds of our camp personnel from across the country attend this event. We were in two restaurants, and being served with excellence by the Waite staff. We were blown away at how many of our camping friends got up from the table and didn't have the courtesy to even leave a tip. These are the same folks who serve people every weekend and get upset when their guests don't leave tips for the employees.
You can really make an impact on a life -- in fact, you can open up doors for sharing the gospel by simply doing what Paul commands -- Be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people. Note that Paul doesn't say mediocre or minimal courtesy. He nails it be saying "perfect."
This little verse has given me much to think about. How about you? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18; Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1
Great Quote: I claim no right to myself - no right to this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither do I have any right to this body or its members - no right to this tongue, to these hands, feet, ears, or eyes. I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own. I have been to God this morning and told Him I have given myself wholly to Him. I have given every power, so that for the future I claim no right to myself in any respect. I have expressly promised Him, for by His grace I will not fail. I take Him as my whole portion and felicity, looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness. Jonathan Edwards
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle. and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
You've been around them. They are the people that appear not only to be rude, but loud when they are being rude. The more people around them, the more they seem to enjoy humiliating the waitress, or someone the person who is providing a service to them.
Or they may be the one in the line at the grocery store, the bank, the post office that is loudly barking out their dissatisfaction about the slow service. Everyone knows they are frustrated.
They are the ones who see all the signs at the airport that clearly state that no water bottles can be in your possession when going through the security check. They ignore the sign, and when confronted go ballistic on the person that is trying to do their job.
We were visiting friends one evening at a retirement center, and they invited us for dinner. The servers were high school kids from the local community and they were really serving with excellence. For most of the meal, the man we were visiting complained, criticized, and was rude to the young man serving our table. This kid was really hustling and trying to do his best -- but NOTHING pleased our friend.
Shortly after he had blasted this kid, he made a statement, "We are having a very hard time keeping young people working at our facility." It was almost to comical to hear him say this, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to gently say, "Well, __________ if the folks here treat the servers like you treat them, I can see why you can't keep the help."
We live in a world where gentleness and courtesy seem to have been thrown out the window. We have become so ME oriented, that even we Christians have developed a mentality of entitlement.
Show a little bit of courtesy to people and you will be amazed at the impact it can have. Dr. John C. Maxwell and Zig Ziglar, two of my leadership mentors, suggest that we become salt and light by expressing to people our appreciation for the unnoticed tasks.
I was at a ballgame in Baltimore and had to use the rest room. I have never been to a stadium where the rest rooms are so immaculate. There was a young man cleaning the restroom who was really doing his job with excellence. I went over to him and thanked him for serving us by keeping the rest room so clean and neat. For a moment, he looked at me like I had four heads. Then he broke into a huge smile and said, "Thank you. No one has ever said that to me!"
One more suggestion for courtesy -- Christians should be known for being the greatest tippers rather than be the biggest cheap skates. One of my pet peeves is Christians who expect and demand good service in restaurants, and then leave, sometimes just leaving a gospel tract or a tip that isn't even 10%.
We attended our national CCCA (Christian Camps and Conference Association) convention. Hundreds of our camp personnel from across the country attend this event. We were in two restaurants, and being served with excellence by the Waite staff. We were blown away at how many of our camping friends got up from the table and didn't have the courtesy to even leave a tip. These are the same folks who serve people every weekend and get upset when their guests don't leave tips for the employees.
You can really make an impact on a life -- in fact, you can open up doors for sharing the gospel by simply doing what Paul commands -- Be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people. Note that Paul doesn't say mediocre or minimal courtesy. He nails it be saying "perfect."
This little verse has given me much to think about. How about you? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 18; Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1
Great Quote: I claim no right to myself - no right to this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither do I have any right to this body or its members - no right to this tongue, to these hands, feet, ears, or eyes. I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own. I have been to God this morning and told Him I have given myself wholly to Him. I have given every power, so that for the future I claim no right to myself in any respect. I have expressly promised Him, for by His grace I will not fail. I take Him as my whole portion and felicity, looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness. Jonathan Edwards
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Avoid Quarreling
Don't Quarrel
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Someone has said that you can really find out what people are made of when it comes to church business meetings and when someone dies and you are a part of their estate!
Whenever I hear the world quarreling I think about the church business meetings growing up in my home church. I loved the church were we grew up, but as a teen, we dreaded our church business meetings. Some of the most wonderful people that we loved and respected often turned into really ugly people at church business meetings. Even though it has been 40 years since we were a part of the ministry, I can bring up not only names, but remember some of the "hot" times in living color.
I knew a family that was bonded together like the Walton's. Loving, caring -- just a great family to be around. All that went down the tubes when the father and mother died. There was a significant piece of real estate in a prime area -- and the one who got the house was not he sibling that expected to get it. And for many years this family that once was so loving and kind have been quarrelling and fighting ever since.
Some people are like that. They love to quarrel. If everyone else says its black, you can count on them to say its white. Its not that their opinion doesn't matter. Its not that they can't express their opinion, but no matter what the subject, you can count on them to make a issue out of something if not everything.
Webster defines the word "quarrel" this way: to disagree angrily; squabble; wrangle; to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement; to make a complaint; find fault.
Someone who likes to quarrel brings division and strife to the table. A quarrelsome person repels people rather than drawing others to them. You find yourself tiptoeing around certain subjects when you are around them because you know if you hit a hot button there is going to be a battle.
For the believer, we need to heed Paul's admonition, not just from this verse, but from others in the New Testament. We who claim to be children of God should not have a quarrelsome manner about us.
When I first came to America's KESWICK one of the teams in the ministry was fractured an divided. They were so divided that they couldn't even look at each other to discuss issues that needed to be addressed. Most of the team were gifted quarrelers. One of the things I begged them to do over the years was to meet to pray each morning with each other.
It took them a long time to finally do it -- but once they did -- look out! God took a team of people who had the same heart for the ministry yet couldn't get along, and He has turned that team into a united front that is out there fighting for the right things, and they are one the same page. Their unity is obvious to all!
We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can have an opinion, yet be Christ-like in how we talk and interact with each other. We can speak the truth -- in love. Paul says, "avoid quarreling ..." For some of us that is easy. If you struggle with a quarrelsome spirit, take a step back. Talk to the Lord about it. And purpose in your heart that you will yield this area of weakness to the Spirit of God and allow Him to control you in this area of your life. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Isaiah 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 5
Great Quote: No one has received so small a measure that he may not be justly accounted rich; for the smallest drop of the Spirit ... resembles an over-flowing fountain, which never dries up. -- John Calvin
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Someone has said that you can really find out what people are made of when it comes to church business meetings and when someone dies and you are a part of their estate!
Whenever I hear the world quarreling I think about the church business meetings growing up in my home church. I loved the church were we grew up, but as a teen, we dreaded our church business meetings. Some of the most wonderful people that we loved and respected often turned into really ugly people at church business meetings. Even though it has been 40 years since we were a part of the ministry, I can bring up not only names, but remember some of the "hot" times in living color.
I knew a family that was bonded together like the Walton's. Loving, caring -- just a great family to be around. All that went down the tubes when the father and mother died. There was a significant piece of real estate in a prime area -- and the one who got the house was not he sibling that expected to get it. And for many years this family that once was so loving and kind have been quarrelling and fighting ever since.
Some people are like that. They love to quarrel. If everyone else says its black, you can count on them to say its white. Its not that their opinion doesn't matter. Its not that they can't express their opinion, but no matter what the subject, you can count on them to make a issue out of something if not everything.
Webster defines the word "quarrel" this way: to disagree angrily; squabble; wrangle; to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement; to make a complaint; find fault.
Someone who likes to quarrel brings division and strife to the table. A quarrelsome person repels people rather than drawing others to them. You find yourself tiptoeing around certain subjects when you are around them because you know if you hit a hot button there is going to be a battle.
For the believer, we need to heed Paul's admonition, not just from this verse, but from others in the New Testament. We who claim to be children of God should not have a quarrelsome manner about us.
When I first came to America's KESWICK one of the teams in the ministry was fractured an divided. They were so divided that they couldn't even look at each other to discuss issues that needed to be addressed. Most of the team were gifted quarrelers. One of the things I begged them to do over the years was to meet to pray each morning with each other.
It took them a long time to finally do it -- but once they did -- look out! God took a team of people who had the same heart for the ministry yet couldn't get along, and He has turned that team into a united front that is out there fighting for the right things, and they are one the same page. Their unity is obvious to all!
We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can have an opinion, yet be Christ-like in how we talk and interact with each other. We can speak the truth -- in love. Paul says, "avoid quarreling ..." For some of us that is easy. If you struggle with a quarrelsome spirit, take a step back. Talk to the Lord about it. And purpose in your heart that you will yield this area of weakness to the Spirit of God and allow Him to control you in this area of your life. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Isaiah 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 5
Great Quote: No one has received so small a measure that he may not be justly accounted rich; for the smallest drop of the Spirit ... resembles an over-flowing fountain, which never dries up. -- John Calvin
Friday, October 16, 2009
A Zinger From Paul (Part 3)
A Zinger from Paul (Part 3)
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Some of you are familiar with the Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards. Edwards had a list of 70 resolutions that he wrote that he read daily. Twenty of the resolutions had to do with the use of the tongue and his speech.
Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson contributed to a chapter in THE POWER OF THE WORD and THE WONDER OF GOD (Crossway) and assigned Scripture to each one. I want to encourage you to ponder these resolutions, and look up the appropriate Scripture. I believe it will help to give us a godly perspective as to way Paul wrote: "speak evil of no one."
1. Resolved: To ask God for wisdom to speak and to do so with a single mind. -- James 1:5-8
2. Resolved: To boast only in my exultation in Christ or my humiliation in the world. -- James 1:9-10)
3. Resolved: To set a watch over my mouth. -- James 1:3
4. Resolved: To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak. -- James 1:19
5. Resolved: To learn the gospel way of speaking to the poor and the rich. -- James 2:1-4
6. Resolved: To speak in the consciousness of the final judgment. -- James 2:12
7. Resolved: To never stand on anyone's face with words that demean, despise, or cause despair. -- James 2:15-16
8. Resolved: To never claim a reality I do not experience. -- James 3:14
9. Resolved: To resist quarrelsome words as marks of a bad heart. -- James 4:1
10. Resolved: To never speak evil of another. -- James 4:11
11. Resolved: To never boast in what I will accomplish. -- James 4:13
12. Resolved: To always speak as one who is subject to the providence's of God. -- James 4:15
13. Resolved: To never grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door. -- James 5:9
14. Resolved: To never allow anything but total integrity in my speech. -- James 5:12
15. Resolved: To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer. -- James 5:13
16. Resolved: To sing loud praises to God whenever I am cheerful. -- James 5:13
17. Resolved: To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick. -- James 5:14
18. Resolved: To confess whenever I have failed. -- James 5:16
19. Resolved: To pray for one another when I am together with others in need. -- James 5:16
20. Resolved: To speak words of restoration when I see another wander. -- James 5:19-20
Twenty out of 70 resolutions that this man disciplined himself to renounce on a daily basis. No wonder he had such an impact for the Kingdom. Would that I could apply 5 of these ... and work my way through the twenty for the rest of my life. What a difference it would make in how I speak. May God help us as brothers in Christ today to "speak evil of no one." -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4
Great Quote: Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is. If there are rats in a cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way, the suddenness of the provocation does not make me ill-tempered; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. C. S. Lewis
Check out this week's Stewardship Insight from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Some of you are familiar with the Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards. Edwards had a list of 70 resolutions that he wrote that he read daily. Twenty of the resolutions had to do with the use of the tongue and his speech.
Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson contributed to a chapter in THE POWER OF THE WORD and THE WONDER OF GOD (Crossway) and assigned Scripture to each one. I want to encourage you to ponder these resolutions, and look up the appropriate Scripture. I believe it will help to give us a godly perspective as to way Paul wrote: "speak evil of no one."
1. Resolved: To ask God for wisdom to speak and to do so with a single mind. -- James 1:5-8
2. Resolved: To boast only in my exultation in Christ or my humiliation in the world. -- James 1:9-10)
3. Resolved: To set a watch over my mouth. -- James 1:3
4. Resolved: To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak. -- James 1:19
5. Resolved: To learn the gospel way of speaking to the poor and the rich. -- James 2:1-4
6. Resolved: To speak in the consciousness of the final judgment. -- James 2:12
7. Resolved: To never stand on anyone's face with words that demean, despise, or cause despair. -- James 2:15-16
8. Resolved: To never claim a reality I do not experience. -- James 3:14
9. Resolved: To resist quarrelsome words as marks of a bad heart. -- James 4:1
10. Resolved: To never speak evil of another. -- James 4:11
11. Resolved: To never boast in what I will accomplish. -- James 4:13
12. Resolved: To always speak as one who is subject to the providence's of God. -- James 4:15
13. Resolved: To never grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door. -- James 5:9
14. Resolved: To never allow anything but total integrity in my speech. -- James 5:12
15. Resolved: To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer. -- James 5:13
16. Resolved: To sing loud praises to God whenever I am cheerful. -- James 5:13
17. Resolved: To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick. -- James 5:14
18. Resolved: To confess whenever I have failed. -- James 5:16
19. Resolved: To pray for one another when I am together with others in need. -- James 5:16
20. Resolved: To speak words of restoration when I see another wander. -- James 5:19-20
Twenty out of 70 resolutions that this man disciplined himself to renounce on a daily basis. No wonder he had such an impact for the Kingdom. Would that I could apply 5 of these ... and work my way through the twenty for the rest of my life. What a difference it would make in how I speak. May God help us as brothers in Christ today to "speak evil of no one." -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4
Great Quote: Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is. If there are rats in a cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way, the suddenness of the provocation does not make me ill-tempered; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. C. S. Lewis
Check out this week's Stewardship Insight from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A Zinger From Paul (Part 2)
A Zinger from Paul (Part 2)
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Several years ago I read a great book on leadership. One of the exercises that was recommended for the leadership team was to establish a code of conduct that would be signed off by each member of the team.
There were a number of statements in this code, but one in particular jumped off the page. It basically said this: You will be safe with us even when you are absent. This statement was a "no-matter-what" principle -- when you aren't in the room, not on the property, on vacation -- we aren't going to talk about you behind your back -- you will be safe with us even when you are absent.
Maybe it just something that leaders go through, but I always find it comical how staff react when I am walking down the hallway or enter a room where two or three of them are gathered. It amazes me how often the conversation quickly changes or how quiet people get. I wonder if the thought ever crosses their minds: I wonder if he knows what we are talking about?
Now I hope I am not that hung up on myself that I think that they are always talking about me or something I said or did. But there are times when I wonder -- am I really safe? What do they say when they are out of my presence? If I am not careful, paranoia can set in.
The problem with speaking evil about someone is that often what you say doesn't stay with the person(s) you are talking with. Some of you may have had the experience of saying something evil about someone only to have your words delivered to the person to whom you were speaking about. You remember how horrible you felt when you were confronted with the words that seemed to flow so freely from your lips. Having them played back sure isn't fun.
I remember a situation where people we speaking evil of an individual not realizing that a relative of the man they were discussing was in the room with them. After the fiery arrows had been wielded, a member of the group said, "By the way, let me introduce you to ____ -- he's _____ brother!
This phrase from Titus 3, like most passages of Scripture, doesn't leave much wiggle room. It doesn't appear to give loop holes for when we can speak evil of someone. It appears to be pretty clear. Tomorrow I want to share with you how the famous Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards viewed this verse. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
Great Quote: Let us, as followers of the Lord who was slandered unjustly, refuse to participate in speaking evil of other people. May we be the first to object when rumors and innuendo are spread, and may we also not air the dirty laundry of other people. In this way we protect others from harm. -- Table Talk Magazine (October 8, 2009)
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Several years ago I read a great book on leadership. One of the exercises that was recommended for the leadership team was to establish a code of conduct that would be signed off by each member of the team.
There were a number of statements in this code, but one in particular jumped off the page. It basically said this: You will be safe with us even when you are absent. This statement was a "no-matter-what" principle -- when you aren't in the room, not on the property, on vacation -- we aren't going to talk about you behind your back -- you will be safe with us even when you are absent.
Maybe it just something that leaders go through, but I always find it comical how staff react when I am walking down the hallway or enter a room where two or three of them are gathered. It amazes me how often the conversation quickly changes or how quiet people get. I wonder if the thought ever crosses their minds: I wonder if he knows what we are talking about?
Now I hope I am not that hung up on myself that I think that they are always talking about me or something I said or did. But there are times when I wonder -- am I really safe? What do they say when they are out of my presence? If I am not careful, paranoia can set in.
The problem with speaking evil about someone is that often what you say doesn't stay with the person(s) you are talking with. Some of you may have had the experience of saying something evil about someone only to have your words delivered to the person to whom you were speaking about. You remember how horrible you felt when you were confronted with the words that seemed to flow so freely from your lips. Having them played back sure isn't fun.
I remember a situation where people we speaking evil of an individual not realizing that a relative of the man they were discussing was in the room with them. After the fiery arrows had been wielded, a member of the group said, "By the way, let me introduce you to ____ -- he's _____ brother!
This phrase from Titus 3, like most passages of Scripture, doesn't leave much wiggle room. It doesn't appear to give loop holes for when we can speak evil of someone. It appears to be pretty clear. Tomorrow I want to share with you how the famous Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards viewed this verse. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
Great Quote: Let us, as followers of the Lord who was slandered unjustly, refuse to participate in speaking evil of other people. May we be the first to object when rumors and innuendo are spread, and may we also not air the dirty laundry of other people. In this way we protect others from harm. -- Table Talk Magazine (October 8, 2009)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Praying for Your Shepherd (Part 2)
Praying for Your Shepherd (Part 2)
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
We have been unpacking this little but powerful verse from Titus 3. Yesterday I shared with you three ways to pray for your shepherd (Pastor). These are not mine, but come from Pastor Mark Driscoll in a new book by John Piper -- The Power of Words and The Wonder of God (Crossway).
Here are three additional ways to pray for your shepherd, rather than criticize him:
4. Pray that your shepherd would have a tender heart. One of the primary duties of a shepherd is to see and deal with sin, folly, and horror in the lives of people they love. It is brutal. If you are not a shepherd, imagine spending much of every week visiting the sick and dying in the hospital, preaching funerals, mending the broken marriages, serving addicts of various ills, and weeping with victims of molestation and rape. The needs are overwhelming, the shepherd feels woefully unfit for the work, and there is no end in sight. Pray that his heart would remain tender toward God and his flock, because that requires a miracle of grace.
5. Pray that your shepherd would have a humble disposition. Simply put, pride is the root that nourished the fruit of all sin and is akin to picking a fight with God. But God promises to give grace to the humble. Nothing breaks a church like pride, and nothing builds it like humility. Jesus the Chief Shepherd is the most perfectly humble person who has or will ever live ...
Without this humility, a proud shepherd contributes to a church culture of rivalry, conceit, competition, and selfish ambition, and a lack of teachability, submission to godly authority, and repentance.
Pray that as a result of humility he would follow the truth wherever it leads, invite and pursue correction from fellow shepherds, have the courage to lead boldly despite the personal cost, learn from everyone, repent quickly and thoroughly, seek and celebrate God's grace at work in the lives of other Christians and churches, have a spirit of thankfulness, listen to Scripture more than himself, and sleep like a Calvinist, even if he is Armenian!!!
6. Pray that your shepherd would have a supportive family. Between the accusations of Satan, stings of critics, and discouraging awareness of his personal shortcomings and inadequacies, a shepherd is greatly served by an encouraging wife and a home in which the Holy Spirit's work is evident. Pray for the shepherd's wife, because she is often put under great demands to be friends with women in the church she does not enjoy, reveal details from her personal life with people she does not trust, attend parties with people she does not know, share her marriage and family with people she does not feel appreciated by, endure gossip from people she has not met, and lovingly serve people who are not thankful.
Pray for the shepherds children. If they are struggling with sin and faith, there is great pressure to hide it so that their father retains the respect of the sheep and so that the swine do not have an opportunity to gloat and call their father a hypocrite, the wolves do not have an opportunity to attack their father, and the dogs do not have an opportunity to bark at their father.
7. Pray that your shepherd would have an evangelistic devotion. People are dying and going to hell without Jesus. It is easy in light of the needs of the sheep, folly of the swine, dangers of the wolves, and threats of the dogs for the shepherd to become so consumed with his flock that he does not seek the conversion of lost people.
Pray for your shepherd that he would have a heart for lost people and make time in his schedule to labor for their salvation.
Over the years people have come to me to seek advice about their church and Pastor. I was thinking yesterday and today -- the best way to see change in your church is " to speak evil of no one." The only way to facilitate REAL change is to pray. But be careful -- in the process, HE might want to change YOU! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
Your feedback is a great encouragement. If Freedom Fighter is ministering to you, take some time to write us.
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14; Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2
Great Quote: The remaining presence of sin in our lives means that we sometimes find it difficult to receive the teaching of God's WORD. We would do well, then, to do everything we can to prepare for the authoritative teaching and preaching of Scripture. We can pray that the Lord would make our hearts receptive to HIS message. We can study the Bible in order that we might recognize aberrant teaching. (Table Talk Magazine --October 2009)
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
We have been unpacking this little but powerful verse from Titus 3. Yesterday I shared with you three ways to pray for your shepherd (Pastor). These are not mine, but come from Pastor Mark Driscoll in a new book by John Piper -- The Power of Words and The Wonder of God (Crossway).
Here are three additional ways to pray for your shepherd, rather than criticize him:
4. Pray that your shepherd would have a tender heart. One of the primary duties of a shepherd is to see and deal with sin, folly, and horror in the lives of people they love. It is brutal. If you are not a shepherd, imagine spending much of every week visiting the sick and dying in the hospital, preaching funerals, mending the broken marriages, serving addicts of various ills, and weeping with victims of molestation and rape. The needs are overwhelming, the shepherd feels woefully unfit for the work, and there is no end in sight. Pray that his heart would remain tender toward God and his flock, because that requires a miracle of grace.
5. Pray that your shepherd would have a humble disposition. Simply put, pride is the root that nourished the fruit of all sin and is akin to picking a fight with God. But God promises to give grace to the humble. Nothing breaks a church like pride, and nothing builds it like humility. Jesus the Chief Shepherd is the most perfectly humble person who has or will ever live ...
Without this humility, a proud shepherd contributes to a church culture of rivalry, conceit, competition, and selfish ambition, and a lack of teachability, submission to godly authority, and repentance.
Pray that as a result of humility he would follow the truth wherever it leads, invite and pursue correction from fellow shepherds, have the courage to lead boldly despite the personal cost, learn from everyone, repent quickly and thoroughly, seek and celebrate God's grace at work in the lives of other Christians and churches, have a spirit of thankfulness, listen to Scripture more than himself, and sleep like a Calvinist, even if he is Armenian!!!
6. Pray that your shepherd would have a supportive family. Between the accusations of Satan, stings of critics, and discouraging awareness of his personal shortcomings and inadequacies, a shepherd is greatly served by an encouraging wife and a home in which the Holy Spirit's work is evident. Pray for the shepherd's wife, because she is often put under great demands to be friends with women in the church she does not enjoy, reveal details from her personal life with people she does not trust, attend parties with people she does not know, share her marriage and family with people she does not feel appreciated by, endure gossip from people she has not met, and lovingly serve people who are not thankful.
Pray for the shepherds children. If they are struggling with sin and faith, there is great pressure to hide it so that their father retains the respect of the sheep and so that the swine do not have an opportunity to gloat and call their father a hypocrite, the wolves do not have an opportunity to attack their father, and the dogs do not have an opportunity to bark at their father.
7. Pray that your shepherd would have an evangelistic devotion. People are dying and going to hell without Jesus. It is easy in light of the needs of the sheep, folly of the swine, dangers of the wolves, and threats of the dogs for the shepherd to become so consumed with his flock that he does not seek the conversion of lost people.
Pray for your shepherd that he would have a heart for lost people and make time in his schedule to labor for their salvation.
Over the years people have come to me to seek advice about their church and Pastor. I was thinking yesterday and today -- the best way to see change in your church is " to speak evil of no one." The only way to facilitate REAL change is to pray. But be careful -- in the process, HE might want to change YOU! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
Your feedback is a great encouragement. If Freedom Fighter is ministering to you, take some time to write us.
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 14; Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2
Great Quote: The remaining presence of sin in our lives means that we sometimes find it difficult to receive the teaching of God's WORD. We would do well, then, to do everything we can to prepare for the authoritative teaching and preaching of Scripture. We can pray that the Lord would make our hearts receptive to HIS message. We can study the Bible in order that we might recognize aberrant teaching. (Table Talk Magazine --October 2009)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Praying for Your Shepherd
Praying for Your Shepherd
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Yesterday we started to unpack this little zinger from the Apostle Paul. I made a comment about encouraging your Pastor, and I am sure it wasn't a coincidence, I am reading a new book compiled by Dr. John Piper -- The Power of Words and the Wonder of God. It is published by Crossway, and I will be sure to get it on the Keswick Bookstore site.
In a chapter written by Pastor Mark Driscoll, he exhorts us to pray for our shepherds. Here is what Mark shares:
Sheep need to be fed, swine need to be rebuked, wolves need to be shot and dogs need to be beaten. Most of this work is to be done by the shepherds. So the shepherds need prayer.
If you are a shepherd, you know that you need prayer. If you are a sheep, please do pray for your shepherd so that your heart would be tender toward him, and his heart would be tender toward God and God's sheep. It would be most helpful to your shepherd if, before you rush to criticize him, you would spend time in prayer for him. In fact, you should pray for your shepherd more than you criticize him.
Seven Ways to Pray for Your Shepherd
1. Pray that God would give your shepherd a discerning mind. Your shepherd need to discern who the sheep, swine, wolves and dogs are so that he know how he and the church should respond.
2. Pray that God would give your shepherd thick skin. Critics can be merciless, and Judas-like friends can be even crueler. Your shepherd receives mean-spirited emails from the people he cares for, suffers from constant gossip and rumors about him and his family, and spends hours every day simply turning the other cheek. When he fails, he is criticized for being a poor leader. And when he succeeds, he is criticized by those who are jealous. When he is young,m he is criticized for being inexperienced and arrogant. And when he is old, he is criticized for not being as energetic, passionate, and innovative as when he was young. Pray that your shepherd would have thick skin and selective hearing to ignore people and comments he should -- and yet to receive the people and comment he should.
3. Pray that your shepherd would have a good sense of humor. With a good sense of humor, shepherds will be overcome with anxiety and stress and will miss wonderful opportunities to laugh deeply from the gut as an act of faith. Shepherds are imperfect as are their individual sheep (sorry, but it's true!) and their collective flock.
Ministry is pressure, and humors is a good release valve that helps to relieve the pressure. Without the release valve of humor, the pressure on a shepherd increases until he simply breaks. This break will be spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical depending upon the weakest cracks in his life. Too many shepherd break. Some leave ministry altogether, while others limp along as their outlook grows bleaker, darker and more somber.
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Yesterday we started to unpack this little zinger from the Apostle Paul. I made a comment about encouraging your Pastor, and I am sure it wasn't a coincidence, I am reading a new book compiled by Dr. John Piper -- The Power of Words and the Wonder of God. It is published by Crossway, and I will be sure to get it on the Keswick Bookstore site.
In a chapter written by Pastor Mark Driscoll, he exhorts us to pray for our shepherds. Here is what Mark shares:
Sheep need to be fed, swine need to be rebuked, wolves need to be shot and dogs need to be beaten. Most of this work is to be done by the shepherds. So the shepherds need prayer.
If you are a shepherd, you know that you need prayer. If you are a sheep, please do pray for your shepherd so that your heart would be tender toward him, and his heart would be tender toward God and God's sheep. It would be most helpful to your shepherd if, before you rush to criticize him, you would spend time in prayer for him. In fact, you should pray for your shepherd more than you criticize him.
Seven Ways to Pray for Your Shepherd
1. Pray that God would give your shepherd a discerning mind. Your shepherd need to discern who the sheep, swine, wolves and dogs are so that he know how he and the church should respond.
2. Pray that God would give your shepherd thick skin. Critics can be merciless, and Judas-like friends can be even crueler. Your shepherd receives mean-spirited emails from the people he cares for, suffers from constant gossip and rumors about him and his family, and spends hours every day simply turning the other cheek. When he fails, he is criticized for being a poor leader. And when he succeeds, he is criticized by those who are jealous. When he is young,m he is criticized for being inexperienced and arrogant. And when he is old, he is criticized for not being as energetic, passionate, and innovative as when he was young. Pray that your shepherd would have thick skin and selective hearing to ignore people and comments he should -- and yet to receive the people and comment he should.
3. Pray that your shepherd would have a good sense of humor. With a good sense of humor, shepherds will be overcome with anxiety and stress and will miss wonderful opportunities to laugh deeply from the gut as an act of faith. Shepherds are imperfect as are their individual sheep (sorry, but it's true!) and their collective flock.
Ministry is pressure, and humors is a good release valve that helps to relieve the pressure. Without the release valve of humor, the pressure on a shepherd increases until he simply breaks. This break will be spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical depending upon the weakest cracks in his life. Too many shepherd break. Some leave ministry altogether, while others limp along as their outlook grows bleaker, darker and more somber.
I will share the four additional ways you should pray for your shepherd tomorrow. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; Isaiah 41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1
Great Quote: What's in it for me?" man says about obeying God. In this context how selfish and sinful that question is. The living God has spoken, and that is enough. The Saviour who shed his blood to save us from hell has told us how we should live, and that is enough. The loving Holy Spirit who made us alive has moved holy men to speak a word to us, and that is enough. We obey God because that glorifies God and there is nothing more than that. Geoff Thomas
Join us Thursday night for Men's Fellowship Night. Call today for your reservation: 732-350-1187
Monday, October 12, 2009
Another Zinger from Paul
Another Zinger from Paul
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Don't you just love it when the Holy Spirit throws something your way. He is always the perfect gentleman -- never forcing His way on you. He just lays it out there in a way that there can be no confusion or waffling around trying to figure out what He is really trying to say.
That is how I felt this morning reading this verse from Titus. Ouch! Putting this one into practice really shouldn't be that difficult. But it can make a huge difference in our lives if we begin to do so if we allow Christ to live His life through me, and to put this into practice.
Let's take a couple of days and tear this one apart ...
To speak evil of no one. Wow. Paul makes it pretty clear, and leaves no room for misinterpretation: this means NO ONE? Did you ever stop and think how easy it is to gossip? How easy it is to get engaged in conversation with someone about someone else -- and before we know it, we are ripping someone to shreds. How easy it is to share information that can be harmful, and we sometimes couch it in "spiritual terms" -- "Can I share a prayer request about so and so!"
Yesterday was the Lord's day, and my guess is that someone out there is not happy with their pastor or someone else in ministry. My heart breaks for the way people are taking pot shots of their spiritual leaders, and how they are tearing them to shreds when they should be praying for and building them up. These guys need encouragement!
Facebook is an interesting tool. I have found myself getting more and more frustrated how we are using this tool to vent our frustrations, speak ill about friends and family, and even more sadly for Christians, how we are tearing down our President. While I certainly don't agree with most of what our President is doing, should we be speaking evil of him, or participating in discussions that are malicious in such a public forum?
Years ago, my mentor and friend, Pastor Newton Conant, shared four questions to ask about sharing information: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it kind? 3. Is it necessary? 4. Does it bring glory to God? Those four questions may very well be ones to plaster on the forefront of our minds. Tape 'em to your laptop or post them them on your screen saver. These four questions might very well help us to trust and yield in this area of our lives. Think about it! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4
Great Quote: You, too, are called to be an open letter, as Paul puts it, written by Christ's own hand, showing those round about you what things Christ can do. We are to go into the world and so to live our ordinary lives that, all unconsciously to us, those among whom we move will look at us again, and will begin to say, You know I used to doubt if there was much in Christianity save talk. But I have revised my opinion. There's So-and-so (that's you, you understand), that is a man in whom the thing is obviously working out. He used to be so touchy, so opinionative, so mean and shabby in his views, so dully ordinary. Yet now, undoubtedly, the man has won to self-control and a large generous mind, and - yea, I know it's a queer thing to say - but he has won to something more, something that somehow (though he never speaks about those things) makes you remember Jesus Christ! Arthur John (A. J.) Gossip
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP NIGHT begins this Thursday. Come join us as we begin this new season of great food, practical teaching from God's WORD, and great fun and fellowship at the Activity Center. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM. Call today and make your reservation. Why not bring a friend? -- 732-350-1187
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:2
Don't you just love it when the Holy Spirit throws something your way. He is always the perfect gentleman -- never forcing His way on you. He just lays it out there in a way that there can be no confusion or waffling around trying to figure out what He is really trying to say.
That is how I felt this morning reading this verse from Titus. Ouch! Putting this one into practice really shouldn't be that difficult. But it can make a huge difference in our lives if we begin to do so if we allow Christ to live His life through me, and to put this into practice.
Let's take a couple of days and tear this one apart ...
To speak evil of no one. Wow. Paul makes it pretty clear, and leaves no room for misinterpretation: this means NO ONE? Did you ever stop and think how easy it is to gossip? How easy it is to get engaged in conversation with someone about someone else -- and before we know it, we are ripping someone to shreds. How easy it is to share information that can be harmful, and we sometimes couch it in "spiritual terms" -- "Can I share a prayer request about so and so!"
Yesterday was the Lord's day, and my guess is that someone out there is not happy with their pastor or someone else in ministry. My heart breaks for the way people are taking pot shots of their spiritual leaders, and how they are tearing them to shreds when they should be praying for and building them up. These guys need encouragement!
Facebook is an interesting tool. I have found myself getting more and more frustrated how we are using this tool to vent our frustrations, speak ill about friends and family, and even more sadly for Christians, how we are tearing down our President. While I certainly don't agree with most of what our President is doing, should we be speaking evil of him, or participating in discussions that are malicious in such a public forum?
Years ago, my mentor and friend, Pastor Newton Conant, shared four questions to ask about sharing information: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it kind? 3. Is it necessary? 4. Does it bring glory to God? Those four questions may very well be ones to plaster on the forefront of our minds. Tape 'em to your laptop or post them them on your screen saver. These four questions might very well help us to trust and yield in this area of our lives. Think about it! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4
Great Quote: You, too, are called to be an open letter, as Paul puts it, written by Christ's own hand, showing those round about you what things Christ can do. We are to go into the world and so to live our ordinary lives that, all unconsciously to us, those among whom we move will look at us again, and will begin to say, You know I used to doubt if there was much in Christianity save talk. But I have revised my opinion. There's So-and-so (that's you, you understand), that is a man in whom the thing is obviously working out. He used to be so touchy, so opinionative, so mean and shabby in his views, so dully ordinary. Yet now, undoubtedly, the man has won to self-control and a large generous mind, and - yea, I know it's a queer thing to say - but he has won to something more, something that somehow (though he never speaks about those things) makes you remember Jesus Christ! Arthur John (A. J.) Gossip
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP NIGHT begins this Thursday. Come join us as we begin this new season of great food, practical teaching from God's WORD, and great fun and fellowship at the Activity Center. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM. Call today and make your reservation. Why not bring a friend? -- 732-350-1187
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Truth = Trust and Yield
Truth -- Trust -- Yield
"Jesus answered and said, ' I thank You, Father ... that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.'" Matthew 11:25
One of my favorite Victorious Christian living speakers is my friend, Dr. Robertson McQuilken. His father, Robert C. was one of the early founders of the Victorious Life Testimony that eventually because America's KESWICK.
One of Robertson's messages that is so powerful is the message where he teaches about the two parts of victorious Christian living = Trust and Yield. It is a powerful teaching and I would be more than happy to make it available to you on CD if you will respond to today's blog with your snail mail address.
Today you will most likely join me and my family, and you will sit under the teaching of God's Word. Your Pastor will share TRUTH from the WORD that will transform your life if you will obey/apply it to your life.
I love what Oswald Chambers writes about the TRUTH:
All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosophy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately.
Let God’s truth work into you by immersing yourself in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know the truth of God is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. 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 things as clear as sunlight. Don’t say, "I suppose I will understand these things someday!" You can understand them now. And it is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience.
Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming one of the "wise and prudent." "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . ." (John 7:17 ).
Is there a truth that the Holy Spirit has be gently nudging to take a look at? Has he been speaking to your heart and you have ignored His prompting? Don't just read the truth -- TRUST and YIELD and allow Him to work that truth into your heart and life TODAY! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3
Great Quote: What's in it for me?" man says about obeying God. In this context how selfish and sinful that question is. The living God has spoken, and that is enough. The Saviour who shed his blood to save us from hell has told us how we should live, and that is enough. The loving Holy Spirit who made us alive has moved holy men to speak a word to us, and that is enough. We obey God because that glorifies God and there is nothing more than that.
Geoff Thomas
"Jesus answered and said, ' I thank You, Father ... that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.'" Matthew 11:25
One of my favorite Victorious Christian living speakers is my friend, Dr. Robertson McQuilken. His father, Robert C. was one of the early founders of the Victorious Life Testimony that eventually because America's KESWICK.
One of Robertson's messages that is so powerful is the message where he teaches about the two parts of victorious Christian living = Trust and Yield. It is a powerful teaching and I would be more than happy to make it available to you on CD if you will respond to today's blog with your snail mail address.
Today you will most likely join me and my family, and you will sit under the teaching of God's Word. Your Pastor will share TRUTH from the WORD that will transform your life if you will obey/apply it to your life.
I love what Oswald Chambers writes about the TRUTH:
All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosophy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately.
Let God’s truth work into you by immersing yourself in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know the truth of God is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. 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 things as clear as sunlight. Don’t say, "I suppose I will understand these things someday!" You can understand them now. And it is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience.
Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming one of the "wise and prudent." "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . ." (John 7:17 ).
Is there a truth that the Holy Spirit has be gently nudging to take a look at? Has he been speaking to your heart and you have ignored His prompting? Don't just read the truth -- TRUST and YIELD and allow Him to work that truth into your heart and life TODAY! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3
Great Quote: What's in it for me?" man says about obeying God. In this context how selfish and sinful that question is. The living God has spoken, and that is enough. The Saviour who shed his blood to save us from hell has told us how we should live, and that is enough. The loving Holy Spirit who made us alive has moved holy men to speak a word to us, and that is enough. We obey God because that glorifies God and there is nothing more than that.
Geoff Thomas
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Brother Demas, Where Art Thou?
Brother Demas, Where Art Thou?
“Be diligent to come to me quickly, for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” 2 Timothy 4:10
“Having loved the present world.” It doesn’t really sound that bad. You could take a walk with this statement and say that they are a great many things in the present world that are worthy of love. I can give a list of earthly things, right off the top of my head, that are worthy of my love. My wife, my children, a steak done just right and a good cup of Starbucks coffee are just a few. But when Paul penned this statement down he did not have these worldly things in mind. Demas just up and bolted out of Rome and headed for Thessalonica while Paul was preparing for a date with an executioners axe.
Now to be fair, Demas wasn’t the only one who left. Crescens had gone to Galatia, Titus went to Dalmatia but Paul does not write that these men had forsaken him, only Demas gets that denoted to him for the rest of Biblical history. I tried real hard to find something else written about Demas in all the resources I have at my disposal. I even paged through the “Complete Works of Flavius Josephus” to see if there was something more historical to the man than what Paul described of him. But like Yukon Cornelius, I toss my pick ax in the air and pull it from the snow….”Nothin’!!”
I feel bad for Demas. He couldn’t take the heat and he got out of the kitchen. Paul was being poured out as a drink offering for keeping the faith and Demas must have not wanted to go the distance that should call all of us heavenward in Christ Jesus. But I feel bad for myself in the role of being like Demas. I, too, am guilty of being weary of going that kind of distance. We are told there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for their brother or sister (I know the ladies are reading this as well) but aren’t we selective on who we are willing to do this for?
There were other moments when Demas got an honorable mention. He is acknowledged, ahead of Luke, as a fellow laborer in Philemon, gives a greeting in Colossians but nothing compares to, “for Demas has forsaken me”. Forsaken is a strong word to describe the action that Demas took against Paul. I guess the other two at least told Paul they were leaving. But it sounds like Demas turned his back on Paul. This had to hurt “The Way” during a time when the Roman Empire could have used a better way. History tells the ugly tale of “The Roman Empire” doesn’t it?
So do we want to be part of the ugly tale? Do we want to clothe ourselves in “Demas” when the going gets tough? I guess it might be ok if the thought just crosses our minds but Jesus gives us strength to overcome the moment, if we diligently seek Him when we know, outright, that we are having a weak moment. I pray that this day we see it to the end. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2
Great Quote: “In addition to hurting himself, Demas did great damage to the cause of Christ. In abandoning it, he deprived it of a devoted worker and robbed it of all the good he might have accomplished had he remained faithful. We can only wonder how many lives he could have helped if he had stayed loyal to the Lord.” A Costly Love Affair -- Gene Taylor
“Be diligent to come to me quickly, for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” 2 Timothy 4:10
“Having loved the present world.” It doesn’t really sound that bad. You could take a walk with this statement and say that they are a great many things in the present world that are worthy of love. I can give a list of earthly things, right off the top of my head, that are worthy of my love. My wife, my children, a steak done just right and a good cup of Starbucks coffee are just a few. But when Paul penned this statement down he did not have these worldly things in mind. Demas just up and bolted out of Rome and headed for Thessalonica while Paul was preparing for a date with an executioners axe.
Now to be fair, Demas wasn’t the only one who left. Crescens had gone to Galatia, Titus went to Dalmatia but Paul does not write that these men had forsaken him, only Demas gets that denoted to him for the rest of Biblical history. I tried real hard to find something else written about Demas in all the resources I have at my disposal. I even paged through the “Complete Works of Flavius Josephus” to see if there was something more historical to the man than what Paul described of him. But like Yukon Cornelius, I toss my pick ax in the air and pull it from the snow….”Nothin’!!”
I feel bad for Demas. He couldn’t take the heat and he got out of the kitchen. Paul was being poured out as a drink offering for keeping the faith and Demas must have not wanted to go the distance that should call all of us heavenward in Christ Jesus. But I feel bad for myself in the role of being like Demas. I, too, am guilty of being weary of going that kind of distance. We are told there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for their brother or sister (I know the ladies are reading this as well) but aren’t we selective on who we are willing to do this for?
There were other moments when Demas got an honorable mention. He is acknowledged, ahead of Luke, as a fellow laborer in Philemon, gives a greeting in Colossians but nothing compares to, “for Demas has forsaken me”. Forsaken is a strong word to describe the action that Demas took against Paul. I guess the other two at least told Paul they were leaving. But it sounds like Demas turned his back on Paul. This had to hurt “The Way” during a time when the Roman Empire could have used a better way. History tells the ugly tale of “The Roman Empire” doesn’t it?
So do we want to be part of the ugly tale? Do we want to clothe ourselves in “Demas” when the going gets tough? I guess it might be ok if the thought just crosses our minds but Jesus gives us strength to overcome the moment, if we diligently seek Him when we know, outright, that we are having a weak moment. I pray that this day we see it to the end. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2
Great Quote: “In addition to hurting himself, Demas did great damage to the cause of Christ. In abandoning it, he deprived it of a devoted worker and robbed it of all the good he might have accomplished had he remained faithful. We can only wonder how many lives he could have helped if he had stayed loyal to the Lord.” A Costly Love Affair -- Gene Taylor
Friday, October 09, 2009
Sin is a Relationship
Sin is a Relationship
"Against you, you only have I sinned." Psalm 51:4
This week I read a verse from Psalm 78 that really stuck in my heart: "In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe." Psalm 78:32
This passage is telling the story of the children Israel and traces their rebelliousness despite the goodness and faithfulness of God in their lives. David pens this powerfully inditing phrase: IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THEY STILL SINNED!
We don't hear much today from the pulpit about sin. In our Christian culture we have changed the names of the the "sin" words from Scripture to make them more culturally correct and more palatable to our ears. Like we have done with other words in our English language to make them more politically correct, we have beautified the tough words of Scripture so that they are not as harsh.
We are so much like the children of Israel. I am so much like them. Even in the times of blessing and seeing God at work, I still find myself sinning. How can I be so stupid?
Paul Tripp addresses this issue in his book WHITER THAN SNOW -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy (Crossway):
The desire to be like God rather than serve God lies at the bottom of every sin that anyone has ever committed. Sin isn't first rooted in a philosophical debate of the appropriateness or healthiness of a certain ethic. No, sin is rooted in my unwillingness to find joy in living my life under the authority of, and for the glory of Another! Sin is rooted in my desire to live for ME. It's driven by my propensity to indulge my every feeling, satisfy my every desire, and meet my every need ...
What David understands from his confession (see today's verse) is that sin is an act of relationship, or better stated, a violation of the one relationship that's to be the shaping factor of everything I do or say. EVERY sin is vertical, no matter how thunderous the horizontal implications of sin are. It's God, for whom and through whom we were created to live, whose boundaries we step over, because we don't love him the way that we should.
Because sine is about breaking the relationship, restoration of relationship is the only hope for us in our struggle with sin. It's only because God is willing to love us in a way we refuse to love him that he have any hope of defeating sin.
Sin is a relationship, and it takes relationship to deliver us from sin. Christ was willing to experience the rejection that our rebellion deserves so that we could have the relationship with God that's our only hope as we grapple with the selfishness of sin.
Has God been pouring out His blessing on you and your family, ministry, job? Despite His goodness and blessing, do you find yourself in the cycle of sin? Let today's devotional penetrate your heart. Be reminded today that sin IS a relationship! Think about it. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1
Great Quote: Nothing else ought to render us more active or cheerful in doing good than the hope of the future resurrection ... believers ought always to have their eyes fixed on it, that they may not grow weary in the right course. -- John Calvin
"Against you, you only have I sinned." Psalm 51:4
This week I read a verse from Psalm 78 that really stuck in my heart: "In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe." Psalm 78:32
This passage is telling the story of the children Israel and traces their rebelliousness despite the goodness and faithfulness of God in their lives. David pens this powerfully inditing phrase: IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THEY STILL SINNED!
We don't hear much today from the pulpit about sin. In our Christian culture we have changed the names of the the "sin" words from Scripture to make them more culturally correct and more palatable to our ears. Like we have done with other words in our English language to make them more politically correct, we have beautified the tough words of Scripture so that they are not as harsh.
We are so much like the children of Israel. I am so much like them. Even in the times of blessing and seeing God at work, I still find myself sinning. How can I be so stupid?
Paul Tripp addresses this issue in his book WHITER THAN SNOW -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy (Crossway):
The desire to be like God rather than serve God lies at the bottom of every sin that anyone has ever committed. Sin isn't first rooted in a philosophical debate of the appropriateness or healthiness of a certain ethic. No, sin is rooted in my unwillingness to find joy in living my life under the authority of, and for the glory of Another! Sin is rooted in my desire to live for ME. It's driven by my propensity to indulge my every feeling, satisfy my every desire, and meet my every need ...
What David understands from his confession (see today's verse) is that sin is an act of relationship, or better stated, a violation of the one relationship that's to be the shaping factor of everything I do or say. EVERY sin is vertical, no matter how thunderous the horizontal implications of sin are. It's God, for whom and through whom we were created to live, whose boundaries we step over, because we don't love him the way that we should.
Because sine is about breaking the relationship, restoration of relationship is the only hope for us in our struggle with sin. It's only because God is willing to love us in a way we refuse to love him that he have any hope of defeating sin.
Sin is a relationship, and it takes relationship to deliver us from sin. Christ was willing to experience the rejection that our rebellion deserves so that we could have the relationship with God that's our only hope as we grapple with the selfishness of sin.
Has God been pouring out His blessing on you and your family, ministry, job? Despite His goodness and blessing, do you find yourself in the cycle of sin? Let today's devotional penetrate your heart. Be reminded today that sin IS a relationship! Think about it. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1
Great Quote: Nothing else ought to render us more active or cheerful in doing good than the hope of the future resurrection ... believers ought always to have their eyes fixed on it, that they may not grow weary in the right course. -- John Calvin
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Trust God in the Dark
Trust God in the Dark
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. -- Isaiah 50:10
When I was a kid there was a ride on the Boardwalk in Wildwood that was half fun-house, half roller coaster. There were times that you had to walk through several mazes completely in the dark. You couldn't see your hand in front of you. As a kid, it was scary. The good news was that my Dad was walking in front of us leading the way.
While we couldn't see anything, we trusted our Dad enough that he would get us through to the end and get us back outside safely. All of a sudden we began to see the light, and when we stepped into the light -- wow -- how cool was that!
There are times when we go through life when all seems dark. These are the times we need to trust God in the dark. The writer of Streams in the Desert so wonderfully describes this for us today:
What is a believer to do in times of darkness -- a darkness of perplexities and confusion -- a darkness not of the heart but of the mind? These times of darkness come to a faithful and believing disciple who is walking obediently in the will of God. They come as seasons when he does not know what to do or which way to turn. His sky becomes overcast with clouds, and the clear light of heaven does not shine on his path, so that he feels as if he were groping his way through complete darkness.
Dear believer, does this describe you? What should you do in times of darkness? LISTEN TO THE WORD: "Let him ... trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Actually the FIRST thing is to do NOTHING. This is a difficult thing for our lowly human nature to do. There is a saying, "When you are rattled, don't rush." In other words, when you are confused and do not know what to do, DO NOTHING. When you find yourself in a spiritual fog, do not run ahead, but slow the pace of your life. And if necessary, KEEP YOUR LIFE'S SHIP ANCHORED OR TIED TO THE DOCK!!!
The right thing is simply to TRUST GOD, for while we trust, He can work. Worrying, however, prevents Him from doing anything for us. If the darkness covering us strikes terror in our hearts and we run back and forth, seeking in vain to find a way of escape from the dark trial where God's providence has placed us, then the Lord cannot work on our behalf.
Only the peace of God will quiet our minds and put our hearts at rest. We must place our hand in His as a little child and allow Him to lead us into the bright sunshine of His love. He knows the way out of the dense, dark forest, so may we climb into HIS arms, trusting Him to rescue us by showing us the shortest and most reliable road.
Remember: We are NEVER without a pilot -- even when we do not know which way to steer!
My brother, are you in one of those dark times? Then heed these words: TRUST GOD IN THE DARK! -- Bill Welte is President of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4
Great Quote: Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light!
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. -- Isaiah 50:10
When I was a kid there was a ride on the Boardwalk in Wildwood that was half fun-house, half roller coaster. There were times that you had to walk through several mazes completely in the dark. You couldn't see your hand in front of you. As a kid, it was scary. The good news was that my Dad was walking in front of us leading the way.
While we couldn't see anything, we trusted our Dad enough that he would get us through to the end and get us back outside safely. All of a sudden we began to see the light, and when we stepped into the light -- wow -- how cool was that!
There are times when we go through life when all seems dark. These are the times we need to trust God in the dark. The writer of Streams in the Desert so wonderfully describes this for us today:
What is a believer to do in times of darkness -- a darkness of perplexities and confusion -- a darkness not of the heart but of the mind? These times of darkness come to a faithful and believing disciple who is walking obediently in the will of God. They come as seasons when he does not know what to do or which way to turn. His sky becomes overcast with clouds, and the clear light of heaven does not shine on his path, so that he feels as if he were groping his way through complete darkness.
Dear believer, does this describe you? What should you do in times of darkness? LISTEN TO THE WORD: "Let him ... trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Actually the FIRST thing is to do NOTHING. This is a difficult thing for our lowly human nature to do. There is a saying, "When you are rattled, don't rush." In other words, when you are confused and do not know what to do, DO NOTHING. When you find yourself in a spiritual fog, do not run ahead, but slow the pace of your life. And if necessary, KEEP YOUR LIFE'S SHIP ANCHORED OR TIED TO THE DOCK!!!
The right thing is simply to TRUST GOD, for while we trust, He can work. Worrying, however, prevents Him from doing anything for us. If the darkness covering us strikes terror in our hearts and we run back and forth, seeking in vain to find a way of escape from the dark trial where God's providence has placed us, then the Lord cannot work on our behalf.
Only the peace of God will quiet our minds and put our hearts at rest. We must place our hand in His as a little child and allow Him to lead us into the bright sunshine of His love. He knows the way out of the dense, dark forest, so may we climb into HIS arms, trusting Him to rescue us by showing us the shortest and most reliable road.
Remember: We are NEVER without a pilot -- even when we do not know which way to steer!
My brother, are you in one of those dark times? Then heed these words: TRUST GOD IN THE DARK! -- Bill Welte is President of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4
Great Quote: Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Don't Fear Nathan
Don't Fear Nathan
" ... when Nathan the prophet went to him." (Title of Psalm 51)
We have all had them at one time or another in our lives. God sends these special servants into our lives who are willing to speak truth into our lives.
Remember the story of King David and his sin of adultery with Bathsheba? God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with the truth. David could ignored him, run from him, or even had him put to death. But God used Nathan in David's life to help expose his heart and begin the process of repentance and restoration.
In his book WHITER THAN SNOW -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy, Dr. Paul David Tripp describes the legacy of Nathan:
No shouts
No pointed fingers
No flashing eyes
No red-faced accusations
No inflammatory vocabulary
No bulging veins
No derogatory names
No scary threats
No arrows of guilt
No cornering logic
No "how dare you?"
No, "I can't believe you would!"
No, "What were you thinking?"
No public confrontation
No published rebuke
No arrest warrant
No handcuffs
No leading away to be charged
No list of crimes
No human tricks
No trying to do God's work
No hope of forcing a turning
No confidence in the power of man
No human manipulation
No political posturing
No, none of these.
Just a humble prophet
Telling a simple story
A sinner with a sinner
Not standing above
Alongside, together
Wanting to be an instrument
Helping to assist a blind man to see
But no trust in self
Speaking calmly
Speaking simply
And letting God
Do through a familiar example
Painted with plain words
What only God can do
Crack the hard-shelled heart
Of a wayward man
And make it feel again
See again
Cry again
Pray again
Plead again
Hope again
Love again
Commit again
To a new and better way.
Not a legacy of
self-righteousness
impatient
condemning
"I'm better than you"
Anger
But the harvest
of a man of GRACE
to a man
Who doesn't deserve grace
But won't live again
Without it.
I am thankful for the men that God has brought into my life -- those Nathan's that have come at the right time. Often he uses my wife, Jan, as my Nathan. It takes courage to be a Nathan. A Nathan is someone who REALLY loves and cares enough to confront in love.
When God sends them in your life -- don't run! Don't panic! Embrace them and allow God to use him in your life. Painful? Yes, but oh so necessary. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7; Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3
Great Quote: When it seems like nothing is happening in our lives, we should consider it a time of preparation. We're like musicians in an orchestra between movements of a symphony. We stop playing but we just don't wait. We re-tune our instruments. We turn the page of the music. We're ready because we know at any moment the conductor may raise his baton, signaling us to play. -- Mary Morrison Suggs
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
" ... when Nathan the prophet went to him." (Title of Psalm 51)
We have all had them at one time or another in our lives. God sends these special servants into our lives who are willing to speak truth into our lives.
Remember the story of King David and his sin of adultery with Bathsheba? God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with the truth. David could ignored him, run from him, or even had him put to death. But God used Nathan in David's life to help expose his heart and begin the process of repentance and restoration.
In his book WHITER THAN SNOW -- Meditations on Sin and Mercy, Dr. Paul David Tripp describes the legacy of Nathan:
No shouts
No pointed fingers
No flashing eyes
No red-faced accusations
No inflammatory vocabulary
No bulging veins
No derogatory names
No scary threats
No arrows of guilt
No cornering logic
No "how dare you?"
No, "I can't believe you would!"
No, "What were you thinking?"
No public confrontation
No published rebuke
No arrest warrant
No handcuffs
No leading away to be charged
No list of crimes
No human tricks
No trying to do God's work
No hope of forcing a turning
No confidence in the power of man
No human manipulation
No political posturing
No, none of these.
Just a humble prophet
Telling a simple story
A sinner with a sinner
Not standing above
Alongside, together
Wanting to be an instrument
Helping to assist a blind man to see
But no trust in self
Speaking calmly
Speaking simply
And letting God
Do through a familiar example
Painted with plain words
What only God can do
Crack the hard-shelled heart
Of a wayward man
And make it feel again
See again
Cry again
Pray again
Plead again
Hope again
Love again
Commit again
To a new and better way.
Not a legacy of
self-righteousness
impatient
condemning
"I'm better than you"
Anger
But the harvest
of a man of GRACE
to a man
Who doesn't deserve grace
But won't live again
Without it.
I am thankful for the men that God has brought into my life -- those Nathan's that have come at the right time. Often he uses my wife, Jan, as my Nathan. It takes courage to be a Nathan. A Nathan is someone who REALLY loves and cares enough to confront in love.
When God sends them in your life -- don't run! Don't panic! Embrace them and allow God to use him in your life. Painful? Yes, but oh so necessary. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7; Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3
Great Quote: When it seems like nothing is happening in our lives, we should consider it a time of preparation. We're like musicians in an orchestra between movements of a symphony. We stop playing but we just don't wait. We re-tune our instruments. We turn the page of the music. We're ready because we know at any moment the conductor may raise his baton, signaling us to play. -- Mary Morrison Suggs
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Notify Your Face
Notify Your Face
1 Peter 3:15 (The New International Version) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ...
I have been saying for years that we could reach more people for Christ is the radiance of the Christ within us was noticeable on our faces.
Cut me a break -- you know it to be true. We stand to sing about the fact that we have joy in our hearts while our faces look like we sucked up pickle juice through our noses with a straw.
We go to the bank, to the post office, to get gas, and some of us never even crack a smile or have an encouraging word to say to those who wait on us.
Now don't stone me -- you know it's true. You've been around those joyless, lifeless Christians. We of all people, the redeemed -- should be bursting with joy and that joy ought to be bubbling over to our faces.
I just read a thought provoking quote this weekend from the atheist philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. He said this to a group of Christians: Yuck, you make me sick! When their spokesperson asked why, he answered, "Because you redeemed don't look like you're redeemed. You're as fearful, guilt-ridden, anxious, confused, and adrift in an alien environment as I am. I am allowed. I don't believe. I have nothing to hope for. But you people claim you have a Savior. Why don't you look like you're saved!"
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! So what about it? That ought to scare the gloomies right out of us and put a smile on your face. Do you have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in your heart? Then maybe a good way to let the world know that we are REDEEMED by the blood of the Lamb, is to first notify our face. Maybe then they will ask the question: What's different about YOU?
Something to think about ... Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 6; Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2
Great Quote: Our soul-thirst is powerful, and it makes all of us idolaters. To be sure, not many of my contemporaries bow before actual pagan altars. Nevertheless, the Bible sees idolatry as a universal problem. To be alive is to be an idolater. One of the most basic questions in spiritual formation must be 'What am i doing about my idols?' not 'Do I have any idols?' James Wihoit, Spiritual Formation As If The Church Mattered.
1 Peter 3:15 (The New International Version) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ...
I have been saying for years that we could reach more people for Christ is the radiance of the Christ within us was noticeable on our faces.
Cut me a break -- you know it to be true. We stand to sing about the fact that we have joy in our hearts while our faces look like we sucked up pickle juice through our noses with a straw.
We go to the bank, to the post office, to get gas, and some of us never even crack a smile or have an encouraging word to say to those who wait on us.
Now don't stone me -- you know it's true. You've been around those joyless, lifeless Christians. We of all people, the redeemed -- should be bursting with joy and that joy ought to be bubbling over to our faces.
I just read a thought provoking quote this weekend from the atheist philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. He said this to a group of Christians: Yuck, you make me sick! When their spokesperson asked why, he answered, "Because you redeemed don't look like you're redeemed. You're as fearful, guilt-ridden, anxious, confused, and adrift in an alien environment as I am. I am allowed. I don't believe. I have nothing to hope for. But you people claim you have a Savior. Why don't you look like you're saved!"
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! So what about it? That ought to scare the gloomies right out of us and put a smile on your face. Do you have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in your heart? Then maybe a good way to let the world know that we are REDEEMED by the blood of the Lamb, is to first notify our face. Maybe then they will ask the question: What's different about YOU?
Something to think about ... Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 6; Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2
Great Quote: Our soul-thirst is powerful, and it makes all of us idolaters. To be sure, not many of my contemporaries bow before actual pagan altars. Nevertheless, the Bible sees idolatry as a universal problem. To be alive is to be an idolater. One of the most basic questions in spiritual formation must be 'What am i doing about my idols?' not 'Do I have any idols?' James Wihoit, Spiritual Formation As If The Church Mattered.
Monday, October 05, 2009
God's Loves You
God Loves You ...
"See what an incredible quality of love the Father has given (show, bestowed on) us, that we should (be permitted to) be named and called and counted the children of God!" -- 1 John 3:1 (The Amplified Bible
God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal -- is the second principle from the Experiencing God Bible study written by Dr. Henry Blackaby. For some reason this keeps coming up again and again in my reading and study.
My guess is that there is someone reading Freedom Fighters that needs to hear this plain and simple message: God loves you! One of America's leading theologians was asked what the greatest truth was that he ever heard. His reply was simply this: JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!
There could be someone reading today's blog and you are saying, but Bill -- you just don't understand. I've done this _______________ or I have don't that _____________ and there is no way that God could ever love me.
Romans 5:8 declares: BUT GOD COMMENDED HIS LOVE FOR US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Note that He loved us while we were still in our sinful condition.
I just read this prayer written by author, Brennan Manning:
Father, because I am loved
and I love
I don't have to
explain myself to you.
I don't have to
abase myself before you.
You know all about me,
and you call me friend.
You call me your delight,
You call me your beloved.
Because I am loved
and I am love
I need not lie prostrate
on my face before you.
I am free to run
into the circle of your waiting arms,
to enter the fullness of your embrace,
to be held
safely
strongly
securely
against your heart,
Because I am loved
and I love
I don't have to worry
about my response or lack of it.
I don't have to struggle
with my desire to understand.
I don't have to wrestle
with my feelings of unworthiness.
All I have to do is
be still,
stay close,
and let you love me
into wholeness.
Father, sometimes
it's the hardest thing
in the world
just to be still,
stay close,
and let you love me.
But because I am loved
and I love,
I try.
Here I am, Father,
Still, for once.
Closer than I've ever been.
Waiting.
Accepting.
Wanting.
Love me, Father.
Wow. I trust that resonates with your heart today. My brother -- God loves you and is pursuing a love relationship with you! Allow that to fill your soul today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 5; Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1
Great Quote: One hour of prayer will often yield greater results than many days spent in the company of others. – Andrew Bonar
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
"See what an incredible quality of love the Father has given (show, bestowed on) us, that we should (be permitted to) be named and called and counted the children of God!" -- 1 John 3:1 (The Amplified Bible
God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal -- is the second principle from the Experiencing God Bible study written by Dr. Henry Blackaby. For some reason this keeps coming up again and again in my reading and study.
My guess is that there is someone reading Freedom Fighters that needs to hear this plain and simple message: God loves you! One of America's leading theologians was asked what the greatest truth was that he ever heard. His reply was simply this: JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!
There could be someone reading today's blog and you are saying, but Bill -- you just don't understand. I've done this _______________ or I have don't that _____________ and there is no way that God could ever love me.
Romans 5:8 declares: BUT GOD COMMENDED HIS LOVE FOR US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Note that He loved us while we were still in our sinful condition.
I just read this prayer written by author, Brennan Manning:
Father, because I am loved
and I love
I don't have to
explain myself to you.
I don't have to
abase myself before you.
You know all about me,
and you call me friend.
You call me your delight,
You call me your beloved.
Because I am loved
and I am love
I need not lie prostrate
on my face before you.
I am free to run
into the circle of your waiting arms,
to enter the fullness of your embrace,
to be held
safely
strongly
securely
against your heart,
Because I am loved
and I love
I don't have to worry
about my response or lack of it.
I don't have to struggle
with my desire to understand.
I don't have to wrestle
with my feelings of unworthiness.
All I have to do is
be still,
stay close,
and let you love me
into wholeness.
Father, sometimes
it's the hardest thing
in the world
just to be still,
stay close,
and let you love me.
But because I am loved
and I love,
I try.
Here I am, Father,
Still, for once.
Closer than I've ever been.
Waiting.
Accepting.
Wanting.
Love me, Father.
Wow. I trust that resonates with your heart today. My brother -- God loves you and is pursuing a love relationship with you! Allow that to fill your soul today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 5; Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1
Great Quote: One hour of prayer will often yield greater results than many days spent in the company of others. – Andrew Bonar
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
The God Who is Enough
THE GOD WHO IS ENOUGH
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appear to Abram and said to Him, ‘I am Almighty God walk before Me and be blameless.’’ (Genesis 17:1)
God revealed Himself to Abram in a significant way at a strategic time. The promise of a son had been given him many years before. Now when all reasonable hope had vanished, He renewed the promise, using a fresh identifying title for Himself – Almighty God. In previous instances, He was spoken of as God, a translation of the Hebrew word Elohim. That term contained the idea of His power and a possible reference to His triune personality. Now, however, this name is coupled with another description of His character – Almighty.
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appear to Abram and said to Him, ‘I am Almighty God walk before Me and be blameless.’’ (Genesis 17:1)
God revealed Himself to Abram in a significant way at a strategic time. The promise of a son had been given him many years before. Now when all reasonable hope had vanished, He renewed the promise, using a fresh identifying title for Himself – Almighty God. In previous instances, He was spoken of as God, a translation of the Hebrew word Elohim. That term contained the idea of His power and a possible reference to His triune personality. Now, however, this name is coupled with another description of His character – Almighty.This word is based on the Hebrew word for breast. It was used to express two ideas. First, it communicated the idea of the breast of a warrior, the key to strength for using a spear or sword. God identifies Himself to Abram as the powerful warrior who could overcome the obstacles and fulfill His promise.
The root word was also used to refer to the breast of a woman and symbolized the source of sustenance for the dependent child. Thus in the one title two precious provisions are combined. God is the overcome and the sustainer for His trusting child. He is the all-sufficient One – the God who is enough. Abram needed that assurance.
This introduction of the Lord was followed by the instruction by the Lord. He said to Abram “walk before Me and be blameless.” Such a command would be fruitless if God had not first presented Himself as the God who is enough. His character became the resource for his fulfilling of the command. The action required is literally, walk face to face with Me. Here is a lesson for our day. We must base our behavior on His sufficiency and not on our ability. The New Testament commentary on this verse is 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God." Pastor Bill A. Raws was the grandson of the founder of America's KESWICK and served for 50+ years until his homegoing in July 2008.
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 4; Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6
Great Quote: To be forged upon the anvil of God's purpose, to be at once His hammer,His tongs, and His molten iron; to hear words that rend the heart, seevisions that pierce the chest; to be emptied like an urn, again andagain and again until one desires only rest, only an end to therefilling -- and to know one cannot live without the refilling. To begiven words that one dare not speak, and to feel those words churningand boiling in the belly until one must speak them aloud, or die. To bedespised, soon or late, by everyone except Adonai -- and to desire itso, while hating it. This is to be a prophet. Thom Lemmons
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Pressure (Part 2)
Pressure (Part 2)
"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19
After I blogged yesterday about pressure, I flipped the page of the Keswick devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE and laughed. I couldn't believe the poem that followed the reading for October 2nd. Believe it or not, it was called: PRESSURE ...
Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond all stregnth;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured. -- Author Unknown
Dr. Jay Kessler, who served as President of Taylor University wrote about pressure in Campus Life magazine:
There are two ways of handling pressure. One is illustrated by a bathysphere, the miniature submarine used to explore the ocean in places so deep that the water pressure would crush a conventional submarine like an aluminum can. Bathyspheres compensate with plate steel several inches thick, which keeps the water out but also makes them heavy and hard to maneuver. Inside they're cramped.
When these craft descend to the ocean floor, however, they find they're not alone. When thier lights are turned on and you look through the tiny, thick plate-glass windows, what do you see? Fish!
These fish cope with extreme pressure in an entirely different way. They don't build thick skins: they remain supple and free. They compensate for the outside pressure through equal and opposite pressure inside themselves.
Christians, likewise, don't have to be hard and thick-skinned -- as long as they appropriate God's power within to equal the pressure without.
Brother, how are you handling the pressures of life? Press into Him and allow Him to flood your heart and mind with HIS peace. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 3; Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33
Great Quote: Until the storms and difficulties allowed by God’s providence beat upon a believer again and again, his character appears flawed and blurred. Yet the trials actually clear away the clouds and shadows, perfect the form of his character, and bestow brightness and blessing to his life. – Streams in the Desert 10/1
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19
After I blogged yesterday about pressure, I flipped the page of the Keswick devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE and laughed. I couldn't believe the poem that followed the reading for October 2nd. Believe it or not, it was called: PRESSURE ...
Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond all stregnth;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured. -- Author Unknown
Dr. Jay Kessler, who served as President of Taylor University wrote about pressure in Campus Life magazine:
There are two ways of handling pressure. One is illustrated by a bathysphere, the miniature submarine used to explore the ocean in places so deep that the water pressure would crush a conventional submarine like an aluminum can. Bathyspheres compensate with plate steel several inches thick, which keeps the water out but also makes them heavy and hard to maneuver. Inside they're cramped.
When these craft descend to the ocean floor, however, they find they're not alone. When thier lights are turned on and you look through the tiny, thick plate-glass windows, what do you see? Fish!
These fish cope with extreme pressure in an entirely different way. They don't build thick skins: they remain supple and free. They compensate for the outside pressure through equal and opposite pressure inside themselves.
Christians, likewise, don't have to be hard and thick-skinned -- as long as they appropriate God's power within to equal the pressure without.
Brother, how are you handling the pressures of life? Press into Him and allow Him to flood your heart and mind with HIS peace. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK
God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 3; Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33
Great Quote: Until the storms and difficulties allowed by God’s providence beat upon a believer again and again, his character appears flawed and blurred. Yet the trials actually clear away the clouds and shadows, perfect the form of his character, and bestow brightness and blessing to his life. – Streams in the Desert 10/1
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
