SING TO THE LORD

SING TO THE LORD

"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise His holy name." Psalm 30:4

I am in the process of preparing our February hymnsing. This month we are singing the hymns of Charles and John Wesley. They have given us some of our greatest hymns. Charles actually wrote more hymns than John, but both have made significant contributions to our hymnals.

Today is the Lord's day, and a significant part of worship is singing praises to our great and mighty God. As a song leader, I find myself baffled when I look out across and see the "looks" on the faces of the people. Now I realize that God is the only one that can judge the heart, but so many times the "look" is see is off people singing on "auto-pilot" -- not really thinking or contemplating the words. So seem to be off in another world rather than focusing in on the One we are singing about.

John Wesley wrote some interesting directions to his congregation about singing. I think that they should be plastered in every hymnbook (and some of you have no idea what a hymnbook is !!!):

I. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.

II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.

III. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a single degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.

V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

VI. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing to slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

John Wesley was right on the mark! I would encourage you to put those principles of singing into practice starting today. You are worshipping the God of the universe!!! He is indeed our AUDIENCE OF ONE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Today you have ended the first month of the "Digging Deeper" Challenge. I would love to hear from you. What has God been teaching you? If you have slacked off on the challenge, get back on track. Let's keep at it as we dig together into God's WORD!

Proverbs 31; Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34

DIG THIS QUOTE: There are no new sins – we just keep returning to the old ones. -- Dr. Jerry Bridges

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Psalm 16:8; Level 2 -- Psalm 23

Cross-Centered Love (Part 5)

CROSS-CENTERED LOVE (Part 5)

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11

Well here is the last installment of insights from Dr. Paul David Tripp on what "cross-centerd" love will look like in our lives. I trust it has been a helpful study:

33. It means being open to correction, loving criticism, and godly rebuke

34. It means believing in the body of Christ and recognizing that you are but one of the tools in God's big toolbox of redemption

35. It means being open to counsel and receptive to advice

36. It means being willing to go to bed tired and to awake to another day of calling

37. It means hiding God's Word in [my] heart and keeping His kingdom always before [my] eyes

38. If means refusing to become anyone's substitute messiah, but instead to point people to the presence and grace of Jesus

39. It really does mean looking out not only for [my] own interests, but also for the interests of others

40. It means building relationships, not just for the purpose of being relationally comfortable, but so that those relationships would be a workroom for redemption

41. It means loving people in such a way that they never feel like that are in debt to [me]

42. It means remembering that you are more like than unlike the people you are called to love

43. It means understanding that the call to love is a call to both word and deed

44. It means daily remembering Jesus, being in awe of the gift of his love, and living thankfully

Truth is often painful, isn't it? But the good news is that I can love with cross-centered love as I allow Christ to live HIS life in and through me. Just think what life will be like when love like this. It could be the beginning of revival ... and it still starts with YOU and ME. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 30; Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16

DIG THIS QUOTE: Let no extreme difficulty discourage you, and make you think, Oh! it is impossible relief can now come; What? Are not all things possible to him that hath all things in his hand? Yea, "All things are possible to him that believeth;" and it is possible for you to do all things through Christ strengthening you, even to overleap the highest walls, to break bows of steel in pieces, and wade through the deepest fords in your way. Ralph Erskine

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Level 2 -- Psalm 19

Cross-Centered Love (Part 4)

Cross-Centered Love (Part 4)

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11

Some of you teach and know that one of the downsides of teaching is that God often works the stuff you are teaching into your own heart before you teach it or as you are teaching it. When I say "downside" -- it really is the "upside." Know that when I am sharing with you each day, this is the stuff that God is hammering out in my life -- you just get to be part of the journey.

Here are more insights on "cross-centered" love that Dr. Paul David Tripp shares in his book,
BROKEN DOWN HOUSE -- Living Productively in a World Gone Bad (Shepherd's Press):

Cross-centered love ....

21. It means being willing to have [my] schedule and plans interrupted and altered

22. It means being willing to grant and ask forgiveness

23. It means paying attention to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people God puts in [my] path, and looking for ways to help them bear these burdens

24. It means believing that God will not call [me] to a task without giving [me] what [I] need to accomplish it

25. It means being willing to get up earlier and staying awake longer

26. It means learning the details about someone's struggle so that [I] can love wisely, while at the same time guarding the reputation of the person you are loving

27. It means weeping with the one who weeps and rejoicing with the one who rejoices

28. It means being willing to endure tense and uncomfortable situations lovingly

29. It means allowing [myself] plausible excuses that seeming free [me] from love's call

30. It means making a commitment to being a faithful friend

31. It means being willing to take on big things, even as [I] humbly admit [my] limits

32. It means keeping [my] promises and being faithful to [my] word

The bottom line is that apart from Christ loving THROUGH me, I will fail miserably in what I just shared. That is the beauty of the message of victorious Christian living -- HE LOVES THROUGH ME! Wow! Let Him work these insights into your heart and life today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 29; Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19

DIG THIS QUOTE: Have we as a people been so dumbed down we can't see it? Well, this is what happens, I'm afraid, in a postmodern culture where all values are equivalent and all truth is relative. One moment the President browbeats Congress to pass a trade bill with China. Forget Christians being persecuted. The same day the same President moments later angrily demands sanctions against Japan for hunting whales. There are no principles, just momentary preferences, and everything depends on what's to be gained by those in positions of power....What's good enough for whales ought to be good enough for persecuted Christians. Charles (Chuck) Colson

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 19

Cross-Centered Love (Part 3)

Cross-Centered Love (Part 3)




"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11


This is powerful stuff ... learning to love with cross-centered love. Here are ten more definitions on cross-centered love from Dr. Paul David Tripp's book, BROKEN DOWN HOUSE (Shepherd Press):

11. I means being lovingly and humbly honest in moments of misunderstanding; more committed to reconciliation than to being right.

12. It means admitting that you are still learning to love as you have been loved

13. It means being willing to own up to your sin and admit your faults

14. It means not judging the success of your life by the size of your house or bank account, or by the quality of your car, but by the quality of your love for God and others

15. It means regularly examining the motivations, desires, and thoughts of your heart in the mirror of God's Word

16. It means moving beyond simply surrounding yourself with people whom you find comfortable and likable

17. It means being a student of God's WORD, a joyful participant in the means of grace, and a committed participant in the fellowship of the body of Christ, so that the love you offer others may be increasingly pure and mature

18. It means being willing to be misunderstood, mistreated, and misrepresented for the sake of incarnating Christ's love

19. It means overcoming evil with good

20. It means not letting race, social class, gender, age, or ethnicity get in the way of a biblical call to Christ-like love

Brothers, has the Holy Spirit touched your heart today with one of these principles? If so, don't just move on, stop and allow Him to work it into your heart and mind. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK


DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 28; Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35

DIG THIS QUOTE: When our lives are focused on God, awe and wonder lead us to worship God, filling our inner being with a fullness we would never have thought possible. Awe prepares the way in us for the power of God to transform us and this transformation of our inner attitudes can only take place when awe leads us in turn to wonder, admiration, reverence, surrender, and obedience toward God. James Houston

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 19

A Cross-Centered Love (Part 2)

A Cross-Centered Love (Part 2)

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11

Yesterday I introduced the teaching of cross-centered love: a love that is "a willing self -sacrifice for the redemptive good on another." Dr. Paul David Tripp illustrates what this love looks like in his book A BROKEN-DOWN HOUSE [-- Living Productively in a World Gone Bad (Shepherd Press)

These are practical, but POWERFUL, and down-right convicting, brothers:

1. It means not keeping yourself so busy with YOU and YOURS that you have no practical time to love others.

2. It means being committed to knowing people, because you can minister only in a very limited ways to those whom you do not know.

3. It means being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others.

4. It means being willing to share your physical resources with others.

5. It means being willing to live with an open home.

6. It means being perseverant and patient even when the love you give is not returned.

7. It means actively looking for places where you can function as one of God's tools of love.

8. It means resisting the temptation to be judgmental, self-righteous, and critical.

9. It means overlooking minor offenses and fighting the temptation to become bitter or cynical.

10. It means making life decisions out of a recognition of this inescapable call to love.

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 27; Exodus 16-18; Matthew 18:1-20

DIG THIS QUOTE: The one who falls into sin is a human; the one who grieves at sin is a saint; the one who boasts of sin is a fool.

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Level 2 -- Psalm 19

A Cross-Centered Love

A Cross-Centered Love

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11

I want to share a powerful teach from Dr. Paul David Tripp's book, A BROKEN DOWN HOUSE -- Living Productively in a World Gone Bad (Shepherd Press) on loving the way that God would have us love others. It is one of those very convicting studies that I needed to hear.

I will share this teaching the next couple of days. Listen in on what God is teaching ME:

God's love is not like my love. He gives us the biblical model: God's love rescues me from SELF-LOVE so that I will be able to love others ...

"God knows that we are sinners, our first inclination in not to love others, but to love ourselves. Sin turns us in on ourselves. Sin causes us to be selfish, self-absorbed, and self-focused. Sin causes us to be obsessed with what WE want, what WE feel, and what WE think WE need.

Sin causes us to want to exist at the center of our own universe, having OUR feelings addressed, OUR wants satisfied, and OUR needs met. Sin makes us demanding and expectant, rather than serving and giving. So God has to rescue us from US. He has to free us from bondage to ourselves so that we can live for Him and for others.

And as He does this, God is not taking our humanity from us. You see, we were designed to love HIM and to love others. In progressively freeing us from sin, he is increasingly enabling us to live as we were created to live. And this is itself the happiest and satisfying way to live.

We are called to love in a "Cross-centered" way ... willing self-sacrifice for the redemptive good of another.

We will unpack how this look over the next couple of days. Wow. I needed to hear this today. This exposes my heart and my need to love as Christ would have me love. That is only possible as Christ lives out HIS life through me. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 26; Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17

DIG THIS QUOTE: The death of Jesus was a complete and full satisfaction of divine justice for all who trust in Him. At the cross there is no tension between justice and mercy; instead, they meet in full harmony. While mercy has full expression, justice has been honored and magnified. It has exacted its penalty and been completely satisfied. Therefore, as believers we can rejoice in the abundant mercy of God through Christ, while also fully honoring the inviolate nature of His holy justice. -- Dr. Jerry Bridges

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles; Level 2 -- Psalm 19

Ready, Willing, and Waiting

Ready, Willing, and Waiting

" ... and uphold me with a willing spirit." Psalm 51:12

Yesterday we talked about revival and the fact that revival often starts in our own hearts. Over the past several months I have shared with you some insights gleaned from Dr. Paul Tripp's book, WHITER THAN SNOW -- Meditations on Psalm 51.

Today's insight is a good follow-up to the topic of revival. Before we pray for the revival of our churches, or far greater, for America, I need to pray that God would revive MY heart ... Dr. Tripps comments are powerful, convicting, but also daring:



Lord,
I think I can honestly say I am ready, willing, and waiting.
Ready, willing, and waiting to see MY sin as YOU see it.
Ready, willing, and waiting to acknowledge that I am my biggest problem.
Ready, willing, and waiting to run from wrong.
Ready, willing, and waiting to seek YOUR help.
Ready, willing, and waiting for my mind to be clear.
Ready, willing, and waiting for my heart to be clean.
Ready, willing, and waiting to acknowledge what YOU see.
Ready, willing, and waiting to rest in YOUR compassion.
Ready, willing, and waiting to hide in YOUR unfailing love.



I am ready, willing, and waiting to be washed by YOU.
Ready, willing, and waiting to admit that I acted against YOU.
Ready, willing, and waiting to prove that YOU are right and just.
Ready, willing, and waiting to confess MY problem is from birth.
Ready, willing, and waiting to examine within.


I am ready, willing, and waiting to be whiter than snow.
Ready, willing, and waiting to hear joy and gladness.
Ready, willing, and waiting for brokenness to give your way to joy.
Ready, willing, and waiting to have a steadfast heart.
Ready, willing, and waiting to celebrate Your life once more.

I am ready, willing, and waiting to teach others YOUR ways.
Ready, willing, and waiting to help them turn back to YOU.
Ready, willing, and waiting to have YOU save me from me.
Ready, willing, and waiting to sing songs of YOUR righteousness.

I am ready, willing, and waiting to declare YOUR praise.
Ready, willing, and waiting to bring the sacrifice of a broken heart.
Ready, willing, and waiting to see YOUR people prosper.
Ready, willing, and waiting to see YOU worshipped as is YOUR due.

But I am so ready, willing, and waiting to be protected by YOUR love.
Ready, willing, and waiting to be held by YOUR grace.
Ready, willing, and waiting to be hidden in YOUR mercy.
Ready, willing, and waiting to be defended by YOUR power.
Because I know that I won't always be ready, willing, and waiting.

I ask myself the question, and you too ... am I READY? WILLING? WAITING? to answer God's call and to do His will? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 25; Exodus 12-13; Matthew 15:21-39

DIG THIS QUOTE: Grace is God’s active favor bestowing the greatest gift upon those who have deserved the greatest punishment. – William Hendricksen

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 19

Revival Starts With You

Revival Starts with You




"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit." Acts 2:17

Today is the Lord's Day. My guess is that most of you will be gathering together to worship Him at your local church. So often we hear people pray that God will send forth revival. But what would we do if He did?

I love this old hymn that I learned as a kid at Second Mennonite Church in Philadelphia:

Lord, as of old at Pentecost you did Your power display,
With cleansing, purifying flame, Descend on us today!

Refrain
Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
Your floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide!
Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power,
That sinners be converted and Your name be glorified.



For mighty works for You, prepare and strengthen every heart.
Come, take possession of Your own, and nevermore depart.


All self consume, all sin destroy! With earnest zeal endue
Each waiting heart to work for You. O Lord, our faith renew!


Speak, Lord; before Your throne we wait.
Your promise we believe,
And will not let You go until the blessing we receive!!!



Do we believe that God CAN answer the cry of our hearts for revival in our day? Do we have the expectancy each Lord's day that HE could break into our services in HIS way and in HIS power to move in our hearts?

Well guess what -- remember this -- revival may start with YOUR heart and mine! Are you and I ready for HIM to revive OUR HEARTS? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 24; Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39

DIG THIS QUOTE: If on the 1st Sunday of the month, sin was preached, on the 2nd Sunday, the holiness of God and on the 3rd Sunday repentence, you would see a revival on the 4th Sunday. -- David Wilkerson

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- 2 Chronicles 7:14; Level 2 -- Psalm 19

Do You Need a Media Fast?

Do You Need A Media Fast?




"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. - Philippians 4:8

Have you ever stopped to think how many electronic toys we now have in our collections? Have you ever stopped to think how dependent we have become on technology to survive in this world we live in? We have bigger and faster computers. We have cell phones that keep us connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's email, Facebook, Twitter.

We are so connected that sometimes we find ourselves just plain overwhelmed with our connectedness. And heaven forbid that the Internet goes down. We all freak out!!!

How many times a day do you check your email? Facebook? Twitter? Do you find yourself text messaging people even during Sunday morning worship? At Keswick we laugh (not really) about how many cell phones go off during a worship service -- even at a Pastor's conference. My goodness, one Pastor's phone didn't just go off in the service ... he actually answered it!



Have you ever considered a "media fast?" Some of you might be starting to get the shakes just thinking about it, but seriously, Chuck D. Pierce, in his book, The Rewards of Simplicity (Revell) suggests six things to consider when doing a media fast:

1. If you are feeling motivated, try eliminating everything for a week. Of course, when I say everything, I do not mean you cannot check your email or use the Internet for work and essential research. But is the TV necessary? Just try life without it. You might like it.

2. If you are not ready to tackle a full week, just try one day without electronic media of any kind.



3. Choose one form of electronic media at a time and eliminate it for a day, two days, or even a week.

4. Once you choose an option, use the time normally spent on electronic media doing something completely different. For example, if you normally spend two hours watching TV in the evening, use that two hours to take a walk, prayer-walk your neighborhood or pick up a long-abandoned hobby.



5. Keep track of the time you reclaim from electronic media during your fast. I am always amazed at my options when I choose not to watch TV for an hour. Sometimes it is refreshing just to bask in the quiet for a little while!

6. Even if you return to your old habits, choose one day a week to fast from one or all types of electronic media. Many people do the same thing with a food fast for their intestinal health. It could not hurt you to give our overloaded senses a rest from all that information once a week!

Tomorrow is the Sabbath, so it might be a good day to start your fast! Even the Lord's Day has become a day of work and connectedness instead of a day of rest. Use HIS day as a day to connect with Him and your family. Try it -- you might like it! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 23; Exodus 7-8; Matthew 15:1-20

DIG THIS QUOTE: Give us faith that will not worry, whine, or wrangle; but watches, works, waits, and warbles. Kenneth Moyer

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 15

Recall What God Remembers

Recall What God Remembers



"Thus says the Lord, 'I remember ... the kindness of your youth.' -- Jeremiah 2:2

Good morning. Wow -- Have I been beat up this morning (spiritually)! This was one of those amazing times when all of my devotional readings all ended up saying the same thing. When that happens, one can either ignore it, or say, "Obviously I need to hear this!"

Have you ever noticed that we tend to remember what we should forget, and forget what we should remember? Well here are some questions and thoughts from the pen of Oswald Chambers (MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST) that are worth our consideration today:

1. Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me?



2.Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— "Give Me a drink" (John 4:7).


3.How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week?


4. Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?

God is saying to His people, "You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were." He says, "I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . ." (Jeremiah 2:2).


5.Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him?

6.Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him?


7.Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him?

8.Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me?

9.Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and "godly sorrow produces repentance . . ." (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Take some time to work through these questions today. Recall today what GOD remembers. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 22; Exodus 4-6; Matthew 14:22-36

DIG THIS QUOTE: It would be easier, I sometimes think, if God had given us a set of ideas to mull over and kick around and decide whether to accept or reject. He did not. His gave us Himself in the form of a Person. Philip Yancey

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Joshua 1:8; Level 2: Psalm 15

God By Your Bed

God By Your Bed

"Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind ... See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 26:2; 139:24)

When you read a verse like this and turn it into the prayer of your heart, do you expect that God will take you at your word? Do you believe that God is this intimately acquainted with YOU and EVERYTHING you think, say or do?

Here's a good reminder from the pen of the famed preacher, John Wesley. It is powerful:

If you believe that God is by your bed as well as by your work place and that He observes all your actions, then take care not to do the least thing, not to speak the least word, not to indulge the least thought, that you think would offend Him.

Suppose an angel were now standing right next to you. Wouldn't you take care to abstain from every word or action that you knew would offend him? Or suppose that a very godly man were to be watching you. Wouldn't you be extremely cautious how you conducted yourself, both in word and action?

How much more cautious ought you to be when you know that not a godly man, not an angel of God, but GOD HIMSELF, the Holy One "who inhabits eternity," is every moment inspecting your heart, your tongue, your hands! He Himself will surely bring you into judgment for all you think and speak and act.

Since there is not a word on your tongue nor a syllable you speak but HE "knows it COMPLETELY," how careful you should be in setting a guard over your mouth and in keeping watch over the door of your lips! (Psalm 141:3) You should be cautious in all your conversations, for you have forwarned by your judge that "by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37)

If God always sees our hearts as well as our hands; if He understands our thoughts long before they are clothed with words -- then how earnestly we should echo the petition: "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind; ... see if there is ANY offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 26:2; 139:24) -- from HOW GREAT THOU ART -- Steve Halliday and William Travis (Multnomah)

Good reminder, brothers. He is the God who knows it all! That should impact the way we live our lives today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 21; Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21

DIG THIS QUOTE: We ought to so live our lives that we would not be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip! -- Chuck Swindoll

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Joshua 1:8; Level 2 -- Psalm 15

Straight Outta Camden

Straight Outta Camden!

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

STOP!!! Before you read this any further stop and say a pray for the “Addictions Victorious” ministry… Go ahead…I’ll wait……………..Amen!!

This past Saturday morning a good brother in Christ and myself went to a seminar hosted by “The Calvary Assembly of God” in Pennsauken, NJ. I had been looking forward to going to the “Addictions Victorious” seminar titled “Helping Others Change” but after getting lost in Camden (as it was waking up) and having to call my wife and ask her to use our Google Map program on the home computer to get me out of where I was (please don’t ask) all I wanted was a safe haven. This church was most definitely all that and then some. Pastor Glenn Marshall of the Park Avenue Community Church in Somerdale, NJ was the main speaker and Pastor Dan Astuto of the hosting church had closing remarks. I would like to borrow some of what they spoke on and give you my take on it.

“We are eager to wear an Eagles/Phillies jersey, so why is it hard to wear the character of Christ” OUCH!! I’m a fan of both teams but I proclaim Christ. And in that it is easy to indentify as an Eagle/Phillies fan but do I declare my identity in Christ? Here’s something I ponder…when these teams do not win the big games I am an irate fan. Am I this way when I ask Christ to show up for what I think is the big game and He has other plans? Here’s the bottom line: If you are going to serve Christ you must serve in His character, you must know the Way!! We should have suffering in common with Christ? Remember The Cross? OUCH!!!

Masterpiece in the Greek means “A product or creation with a designated purpose.” and in the NLT version of Ephesians this word is used in chapter 2:10. So if you have been made anew in Christ Jesus you can do the good things He planned for you long ago. If you’re one of the insecure, God can use you. When Moses doubted Moses (Exod. 4:10) God said “I’ll give you the words to say.” If you’re one of the unlikely, God can use you. When the obvious was in doubt (1 Sam. 16:6-7) God anointed a shepherd boy. If you are thinking you are a failure, God can use you.

Peter will always be known for two things. The first is taking his eyes off of the Savior when Jesus said “Come.” (Matt 14:28-29)And the second will be his denial of knowing Jesus after it was predicted (Luke 22:34, 60-62). This failure was used and turned around by God. Peter was restored by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:17) “Feed my sheep.” And Peter went on after that to preach on the Day of Pentecost. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know”(Acts 2:22)

I got lost in Camden and wasn’t too comfortable with it but had I not stepped out of the boat I would have never been blessed by these two Pastor’s. So Pastor Dan if you’re reading these, your right, “You have to step out to find out!!” SANTO!! -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a contributor to Freedom Fighter. Addiction Victorious is a ministry that America's KESWICK loves and respects. Their Executive Director, Dan Gavin, is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.



Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 20; Genesis 49-50; Matthew 13:31-58

DIG THIS QUOTE: “Consider for a moment what we know about the early, apostolic model for the church. Take a look at the disciples Jesus chose. What a motley crew they were! Dirty, smelly fishermen. A tax collector. Not the kind of people we’d put in charge of the church. They had no formal education, no degrees, no credentials. They had only one claim for their authority—they’d been with Jesus. Their relationship with Jesus changed their lives. It gave them character. On this foundation, the church began. These weren’t perfect men. The women who surrounded Jesus weren’t perfect either. Far from it! But being with Him changed then forever. Oh, that we’d pray for and realize the same for our own lives.” “Reclaiming God’s Original Intent for the Church”
Wes Roberts and Glenn Marshall

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Joshua 1:8 Level 2 -- Psalm 15

http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

Hoping for a Broken Heart

Hoping for a Broken Heart

"A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

Dr. Paul David Tripp has written a book based on Psalm 51 that I am working through. I shared some other insights from it back in December, but this one gripped my heart this morning. It is one of those writing that grips your heart as we think about the brokenness we need to have concerning our sin:

I am too satisfied with the things I say the things I do the attitudes of the heart that shape my reactions day after day.

I too easily accept quick assessments of my own righteousness in situations where I have been anything but righteous.

I am too skilled at mounting plausible arguments structured to make me feel okay about what I think, what I desire, what I say, what I do.

I am defensive when a loved one makes an attempt to call me out and suggest for a moment that what I have decided, said, or done, is less than godly.

I am too comfortable with the state of things between You and me. Too relaxed with the nature of my love for You. Too able to minimize my need for Your grace.



In the recesses of my private world there is so much wrong that I am able to convince myself is right.



There are attitudes there that should not be. There are words that should not be spoken. There are thoughts that do not agree with Your view of me and mine. There are desires that take me in a different direction than what You have planned for me.

I make decisions based more on what I want than on Your will. So I am hoping for wise eyes that are able to see through the cloud of self-righteousness and see myself as I actually am.

I am praying for wise ears that are able to hear through the background noise of well-used platitudes and hear myself with clarity. And I am longing for a humble spirit that is willing to accept and confess what You reveal as You break through my defenses and show me to me.

I am hoping for a broken heart.

Pretty powerful thoughts this morning. Dr. Tripp concludes this writing with these two questions: Where specifically is God calling you to spiritual unrest and dissatisfaction? How would this dissatisfaction change the way you live? Good questions to ponder today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 19; Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30

DIG THIS QUOTE: We’re brought into God’s kingdom by grace; we’re sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we’re motivated to obedience by grace; we’re called to serve and enabled to serve by grace; we receive strength to encounter trials by grace; and we’re glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God’s grace. – Jerry Bridges

DETERMINED DIGGING: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 15

We Serve a Living God

We Serve a Living God

"Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, who you serve continually, been able to rescue you?" Daniel 6:20

We sing it mostly at Easter: He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me, and talks with me along life's narrow way! He lives! He lives ... salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives -- He lives within my heart!

The question is: Do I really believe HE LIVES? Today's reading from Streams in the Desert was one I needed to be reminded of:

We find the expression "the living God" many times in the Scriptures, and yet it is the very thing we are so prone to forget. We know it is written "the living God," but in our daily life there is almost nothing we lose sight of as often as the fact that God is "the living God."

We forget that He is now exactly what He was three or four thousand years ago, that He has the same sovereign power, and that He extends the same gracious love toward those who love and serve Him. We overlook the fact that He will do for us now what He did thousands of years ago for others, simply because He IS the unchanging, LIVING GOD! What a reason to confide in Him, and in our darkest moments to never lose sight of the fact that He IS still, and ever will be THE LIVING GOD!

Be assured, if you walk with Him, look to Him, and expect help from Him -- He will never fail you ... Martin Luther, deep in thought and needing to grasp hidden strength during a time of danger and fear in his life, was seen tracing on a table with his fingers the words, "He lives! He lives!" This is our hop for ourselves, His truth, and humankind.

People come and go. Leaders, teachers, and philosophers speak and work for a season and then fall silent and powerless. HE ABIDES. They die, but HE LIVES! They are lights that glow yet are ultimately distinguished. BUT HE IS THE TRUE LIGHT from which they draw their brightness, and HE SHINES FOREVERMORE!

Today you may be questioning what is happening in your life. You may be wondering what in the world is going on. But you need to be reminded this morning, my dear brothers: HE LIVES! We serve a LIVING GOD. Rejoice in that truth today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 18; Genesis 43-45; Matthew 12:24-50

DIG THIS QUOTE: To the extent that you’re clinging to any vestiges of self-righteousness or putting confidence in your own spiritual attainments, to that degree you are not living by the grace of God in your life. – Jerry Bridges

DETERMINED DIGGING: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 15

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

"Ascribe the glory due His name." Psalm 29:2

This has been one of those incredible weeks of miracles at America's KESWICK. We have been having issues with the boiler at our Activity Center and the motor for the boiler burned out resulting in having no heat or hot water in the building for several days.

We serve the local seniors by offering a fitness program that is available Monday through Friday mornings. Many of them are just great people, but some of them can be down right nasty. ANYTHING that disrupts their little world becomes reason to complain and yell.

We were concerned that this motor was obsolete. So obsolete, that it meant building one to fit which could have take over a week plus! Not a good thing. But God in His miraculous way, provided an alternative and within several hours, it was up and running. Later on that day, a dear friend of the ministry sent the money to cover the cost.

That same day, we received a check for $60,000, which is a HUGE gift for us -- this will go towards the boiler replacement project. God IS so good.

Today is the Lord's day, and we could easily praise Him for all the "things" He has done for us -- boilers, payroll needs, etc. But today, I want to encourage us to praise Him for the REAL things HE HAS DONE. You catch a glimpse of that in Fanny Crosby's hymn, TO GOD BE THE GLORY ...

To GOD be the glory, great things HE has done.

SO LOVED HE THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE US HIS SON,

Who yielded HIS life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life-gate that ALL may go in.

O perfect REDEMPTION, the purchase of blood,

To EVERY BELIEVER the promise of God.

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from JESUS a pardon receives.

Great things HE has taught us!

Great things HE has done!

And great our rejoicing through JESUS THE SON!

But purer and higher and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when JESUS we see.

Refrain
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the earth hear HIS voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son!

And give HIM the glory; great things HE has done!!!

Rejoice, my brothers! Praise HIM today -- our audience of ONE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 17; Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23

DIG THIS QUOTE: Well, let's go on disagreeing but don't let us judge. What doesn't suit us may suit possible converts of a different type. My model here is the behaviour of the congregation at a 'Russian Orthodox' service, where some sit, some stand, some kneel, some walk about, and no one takes the slightest notice of what anyone else is doing. That is good sense, good manners, and good Christianity. 'Mind one's own business' is a good rule in religion as in other things. C. S. Lewis

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Joshua 1:8; Level 2 -- Psalm 15

God and God Alone

God and God Alone

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31

I had a text message from a friend this week and I was commending him on the growth I have seen in his life. He made an interesting statement -- "It's all about focus, focus, focus." I quickly reminded him that he had it all wrong -- it isn't about focus -- it's about God and God alone. When He is the center of our lives -- then we are able to focus on all the right things.

Listen to what Dr. Glynn Evans says about this in his devotional book, DAILY WITH THE KING (Moody Press):

I will make YOU the basis of my trust, Lord. I will accept Your demolition of my security, even thought it is painful. When I was a young Christian I thought everything was God -- and. It was God -- and blessing; God -- and power; God -- and fruitfulness. Now I see everything is just God -- and nothing.

Now I fully understand why God tested Abraham's faith by telling him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). God gives, but He also takes away. He must take away. God will not have me trusting ANYTHING other than HIMSELF, not even a good, lovely thing like Isaac. God gives me vibrant health, then He takes it away and leaves me weak and clinging. Why? To show me where my ultimate trust should be. No sooner do I find something in which I can boast than God takes away the object of my boasting. Not bad things, but good things.

Sermons, books, and articles tell me constantly that the Christian life is the greatest, the most exciting, the most rewarding life available. But they miss the point! They tell me God ADDS so much to me. As a result, my Christian life can become shambles through false expectancy. What really happens is that God TAKES AWAY so much. He continually removes from my life everything that would make me earthbound, self-dependent, or experience-centered.

Why were so many of the Corinthian Christians "weak ... sickly ... and dead (1 Corinthians 11:30)? Because a THING had come between them and God. God will tolerate no "thing" between Himself and me -- even so dear a thing as my "Isaac." But He will take nothing away without adding the larger dimension of HIMSELF to take its place. Once I have given my dearest to Him, I will hear Him say, "Now I will REALLY bless you." (See Genesis 22:17)

What in your life, brother, is more dear to you than God and God alone? Are you willing to surrender that to HIM today? Think about it. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 16; Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11

DIG THIS QUOTE: You have trusted Him in a few things, and He has not failed you. Trust Him now for everything, and see if He does not do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you could ever have asked or thought, not according to your power or capacity, but according to His own mighty power, that will work in you all the good pleasure of His most blessed will. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it? Hannah Whitall Smith

DETERMINED DIGGING -- Level 1: Deut. 31:8 Level 2 -- Psalm 1

The Penetrating Word of God

The Penetrating Word of God

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Many of you have joined several hundreds of our partners in DIGGING DEEPER into God's WORD. If you haven't started the journey, I would love to send you the link for our Daily Bible Reading Plan.

And my guess is, that many of you have discovered that as you meet each day to dig, God's is speaking to your heart in ways that you can't even begin to imagine.

Dr, Henry Blackaby writes about the WORD OF GOD in his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD -- The Devotional:

Does God's WORD ever cause you discomfort? When your read the Bible, does it make you uneasy? Do you find, when you listen to sermons, that the Scripture seems aimed directly at you? You are experiencing the reality that the Word of God is ALIVE and can read your THOUGHTS and judge your INTENTIONS.

When God's Word speaks to you it is always for a purpose. God knows YOUR heart, and knows what YOU need to do to bring your life into conformity to Christ. If you have a problem with sinful talk, the word that comes to you will address the tongue. If you are struggling to forgive, God's WORD will confront you with His standard of forgiveness. If pride is a stronghold in your life, God's WORD will speak to you about humility. Whatever sin needs addressing, you will find you are confronted by God's WORD on the matter.

One way you can escape the discomfort of conviction is to avoid hearing God speak to you. You may neglect your reading your Bible and stay away from places where it is taught. You may avoid those whom you know will uphold the truths of Scripture. The best response, however, is to pray as the psalmist did: "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23). Regularly allow the Word of God to wash over you and find any sin and impurity (Ephesians 5:26).

Always make the connection between your life and what God is saying to you through HIS WORD. Make a habit of taking every word from God seriously, knowing that it is able to judge your heart and mind.

Brothers -- I encourage you ... stick with it. DIGGING DEEPER IS WORTH IT! Allow God's WORD to speak to YOUR heart today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 15; Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42

DIG THIS QUOTE: None of us wants to admit that we hate someone... When we deny our hate we detour around the crisis of forgiveness. We suppress our spite, make adjustments, and make believe we are too good to be hateful. But the truth is that we do not dare to risk admitting the hate we feel because we do not dare to risk forgiving the person we hate. Lewis B. Smedes

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Deut. 31:8 Level 2 -- Psalm 1

When God is Irrelevant

When God is Irrelevant




"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Yesterday I shared a devotional from Henry Blackaby on sowing seeds of righteousness. On the same day, I read this devotional from the pen of Dr. Jerry Bridges, and it was a powerful follow-up that I believe will cause you to think this morning about the issues that we might be dealing with that have become known as "acceptable" sins:

When I talk about specific areas of our subtle "acceptable" sins, one comment I often hear is that pride is their root cause. While I agree that pride plays a major role, I believe there is another sin even more basic, more widespread, and more apt to be the root cause of other sins. It's the sin of ungodliness, of which we're all guilty to some degree.

We don't think of ourselves as ungodly. After all, we're Christians, not atheists or wicked people. How can I say that we believers are all, to some extent, ungodly?

UNGODLINESS may be defined as living one's every day life with little or no thought of God, God's will, God's glory, or our dependence on God. You can readily see that someone can lead a respectable life and still be ungodly in the sense that God is essentially irrelevant in his or her life.



The sad fact is that many of us believers tend to live our daily lives with little or no thought of God. We may read our Bibles and pray at the beginning of each day, but then go out into the day's activities and basically live as though God doesn't exist. We seldom think of our dependence on God or our responsibility to Him. We might go for hours with no thought of God at all. I believe that all our other acceptable sins can ultimately be traced to this root sin of ungodliness. Ungodliness ultimately give life to our more visible sins.

Pray that God will make you more conscious of the face that you live every moment of every day under His all-seeing eye, knowing that He sees your every deed, hears your every word, and knows your every thought. (Dr. Jerry Bridges from Respectable Sins -- NavPress)

Good message to ponder this morning, brothers. Allow this to work its way into your heart and mind. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 14; Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20

DIG THIS QUOTE: Let the reader … carefully remember, that grace is either absolutely free, or it is not at all; and, that he who professes to look for salvation either by grace, either believes in his heart to be saved entirely by it, or he acts inconsistently in affairs of the greatest importance. – Abraham Booth (1734-1806)

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Deut. 31:8 Level 2 -- Psalm 1

Sowing Seeds of Righteousness

Sowing Seeds of Righteousness

"But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward." Proverbs 11:18b

I am really looking forward to spring ... this has been such a warm winter because of global warming!!! Be that as it may ... I love the spring and look forward to beginning my garden. It is great therapy for me. I love to plant seeds and see the results.

Today's devotional written by Dr. Henry Blackaby was a good one for me, and I encourage you to digest it today for your life as well ...

There are many ways to invest our lives, but none offers greater reward than devoting ourselves to the pursuit of righteousness. Every area of our lives should reflect the holiness of God that is ours by salvation:

-- our thoughts, so that nothing we think about would be inappropriate for a child of God

-- our actions, so that our lives demonstrate that we serve a holy God

-- our integrity, so that we are above reproach in all our relationships.

Are you taking God's righteousness in your life for granted? Righteousness is something you must allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Instead of sowing holy thoughts, are you allowing evil and sinful thoughts to grow in your mind? Are you allowing lust to grow unchecked within you? Does enmity, bitterness, jealousy or unforgiveness remain in your life? Jesus said if we seek first God and HIS righteousness, everything else will follow (Matthew 6:33).

There is great reward in sowing righteousness. What are you presently doing to plant holiness in your life? (1 Peter 1:15) How are you putting righteousness in your mind so that your thoughts are holy? How are you cultivating righteousness in your relationships so that you maintain your integrity? Are you instilling righteousness in your activities so that your life is above reproach?

If you want to harvest righteousness in your life tomorrow, you must plant seeds of righteousness today. (from Experiencing God -- The Devotional -- Broadman and Holman)

Take some time to review the questions above. It will be a worthwhile exercise for you and me today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Join is for Men's Fellowship tomorrow evening with Chaplain Jack Noel. Dinner at 6:15 PM followed by a great evening of praise and worship, and fun at the Activity Center. Call today for your reservations (732-350-1187)



DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 13; Genesis 31-31; Matthew 9:18-38

DIG THIS QUOTE: Perils as well as privileges attend the higher Christian life. The nearer we come to God, the thicker the hosts of darkness in heavenly places. The safe place lies in obedience to God's Word, singleness of heart and holy vigilance. When Christians speak of standing in a place where they do not need to watch, they are in great danger. Let us walk in intimate and holy confidence, yet with holy, humble watchfulness. A. B. Simpson

DETERMINED DIGGING: Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 1

When God Speaks ... It Is So

When God Speaks ... It Is So

"So shall My word be that goes from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Today is a good day for me to ask the question ... are you DIGGING DEEPER with me? How is it going? I would love to hear from you and to hear what God has been doing in your life since joining me on our journey into the study of God's WORD.

His WORD is amazing. It always speaks to our hearts and is so relevant for the need of the day. When God speaks -- it is so!

Listen to what Dr. Henry Blackaby reminds us about when God speaks ...

When God speaks, NOTHING remains the same. At the beginning of time, God spoke, and a universe was created out of nothing. God followed a pattern when He created the earth; He spoke; it was so; it was good (Genesis 1:3-4). This pattern continued throughout the Bible.

Whenever God revealed His plans, things happened just as He said, and God considered the result "good" (Phil. 2:13). God doesn't make suggestions. He speaks with the full determination to see that what He has said will come to fruition.

Whenever Jesus spoke, what He said came to pass:

* Lepers found that a word from Jesus meant healing (Luke 5:13; 17:14).

* The blind man discovered that a word from Jesus meant sight (Luke 18:42).

*Through a barren fig tree the disciples saw that a curse from Jesus meant destruction (Mark 11:20).

*The sinner experienced forgiveness through a word from Jesus (John 8:11).

*How many attempts did it take Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead? Only one (John 11:43).

There was NEVER a time that what Jesus said did not happen! What happens when Jesus speaks to you [and me]? Have you been reading the words of Jesus in your Bible without experiencing His word that transforms everything around you?

Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they assumed that knowledge of the written Scriptures would give them life. They were satisfied having the words instead of experiencing the person who spoke the words (John 5:39). How powerful a word from God is to your life! As you read your Bible and pray, listen to what God has to say to YOU and HIS will for YOUR life! (from EXPERIENCING GOD -- THE DEVOTIONAL -- Broadman and Holman)

Good reminder, today, brothers. Is God speaking to YOU today? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Join us this Thursday night for our January Men's Fellowship Night. Chaplain Jack Noel will be sharing God's Word. Jack will be retiring this month after 18 years of service at America's KESWICK. Come encourage Jack, and allow God to speak to YOUR heart. Dinner is at 6:15 PM followed by the program. Call today and make your reservation ... and bring a friend! -- 732-350-1187

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 12; Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17

DIG THIS QUOTE: Whenever people do not base their lives on God’s revelation, they “cast off restraints.” That is, they do what is right in their own eyes. They set their goals, arrange their agendas, and then pray for God’s blessings. Some Christians are living far outside of the will of God, yet they have the audacity to pray and ask God to bless their efforts. – Henry Blackaby

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 1

God Looks for Clay

God Looks for Clay

"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" Jeremiah 18:6

One of our favorite spots to visit when we see our kids in New Hampshire is a pottery factory. We have stood and watched as the craftsman picks up a hunk of clay, placing in on the wheel, and then forming with his bare hands a beautiful piece of pottery.

Sometimes it isn't obvious what he is making. We think it is one thing, and it turns out to be something completely different. Quite the same with us. God sees us clay and He wants to mold and shape us into His image.

I love what Dr. Henry Blackaby says about clay in his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD -- THE DEVOTIONAL (Broadman):

God knows how to bring salvation to your family, your friends, your community, and your world. Accordingly, He looks for those who will allow HIM to shape them into instruments He requires to do His divine work. Clay has no plans of its own, no aspirations for service, nor reluctance to perform its given task. It is just clay. Moldable, pliable, totally submissive to the will of its master.

At times we are excited to announce to God: "I've discovered my strengths and gifts, and now I know how I can best serve You!" At other times we inform Him, "I am aware of what my weaknesses are, so I know which task I'm not capable of doing for You."

Yet this is not characteristic of clay. God is not limited to working with our strengths (2 Cor. 12:9-10). He can mold us into whatever kind of instrument HE requires. When God's assignment demands humility, He finds a servant willing to be humbled. When His work requires zeal, He looks for someone He can fill with His Spirit. God uses holy vessels, so He finds those who will allow Him to remove their impurities.

It is not a noble task being, clay. There is not glamour to it, nothing boast-worthy, except that it is exactly what almighty God is looking for. Compliant, moldable, yielded clay.

If your tendency is to TELL the Father what YOU can and cannot do for HIM, submit to HIS agenda, and allow HIM to shape YOU into the person HE wants YOU to be. Like clay!

So brothers, are we willing today to be "clay in the Potter's hand" -- compliant, moldable, yielded clay? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 11; Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8:18-34

DIG THIS QUOTE: To the extent that you’re clinging to any vestiges of self-righteousness or putting confidence in your own spiritual attainments, to that degree you are not living by the grace of God in your life. – Jerry Bridges

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 Deuteronomy 31:8; Level 2 -- Psalm 1

Praise Him. Praise Him.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

" ... according to His excellent greatness!" Psalm 150:2

This past Thursday we had our monthly hymnsing and the focus was on the hymns written by the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. This amazing lady who faced dozens of challenges in her life from physical afflictions to the loss of a spouse and child, wrote over 8000 hymns and gospel songs.

This morning as we think about the Lord's Day -- we have much to praise Him for as we think about HIM -- our Audience of One!

May you be reminded of these powerful words, chocked full of doctrine and spiritual truth. Many of you have it memorized, and may be now singing it on "auto-pilot." Take a few moments now to read through it, or yes, sing it ... and think and meditate on the truths contained in this powerful hymn of praise ...

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth; His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to HIS holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children;
In His arms He carries them all day long.

Refrain

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.
Praise Him! Praise Him, ever in joyful song!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
For OUR sins HE suffered and bled and died!
He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation.
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified!
Sound HIS praises -- Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring.
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious.
Power and glory until the Lord belong.

Lift up your hearts in praise, my brothers! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 10; Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17

DIG THIS QUOTE: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Christians is a God of love and comfort, a God who fills the soul and heart of those whom he possesses, a God who makes them conscious of their inward wretchedness, and his infinite mercy; who unites himself to their inmost soul, who fills it with humility and joy, with confidence and love, who renders them incapable of any other end than himself. Blaise Pascal

DETERMINED DIGGING: Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 1

A Strong But Necessary Word

A Strong But Necessary Word

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil." Proverbs 8:13

Today's word is really important for us, brothers. In the world that we live, and sadly, in the Christian world, we find that sin isn't addressed in the same way that God addresses and views sin. Please listen to the words of Dr. Jerry Bridges:

Hate is such a strong word we dislike using it. We reprove our children for saying that they hate someone. Yet when it comes to God's attitude toward sin, only a strong word such as HATE conveys an adequate depth of meaning. Speaking of various sins of Israel, God says, "I hate all this" (Zechariah 8:17). Hatred is a legitimate emotion when it comes to sin. Because God is holy, HE HATES SIN!

We often say, "God hates sin but loves the sinner." This is blessedly true, but too often we quickly rush over the first half of this statement to get to the second. We cannot escape the fact that God hates sin. We may trifle with our sins or excuse them, but God hates them.

Therefore every time we sin, we are doing something God hates. He hates our lustful thoughts, our pride and jealousy, our outbursts of temper, and our rationalization that the end justifies the means. We need to be gripped with the fact that God hates all these things. We become so accustomed to our sins we sometimes lapse into a state of peaceful coexistence with them, but God never ceases to hate them. God, being infinitely holy, has an infinite hatred of sin.

We need to cultivate in our own hearts the same hatred of sin God has. The more we ourselves grow in holiness, the more we too hate sin. David said, "I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path" (Psalm 119:104). As we grow in holiness, we grow in hatred of sin. Hatred of sin as sin, not just something disquieting or defeating to our selves, but displeasing to God, lies at the root of all true holiness. -- Dr. Jerry Bridges -- from How Great Thou Art (Multnomah)

Brothers, we need to be reminded of this truth DAILY. Do you hate your sin more today than yesterday? Think about it! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK


DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 9; Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7

DIG THIS QUOTE: "The origin of our trouble is that we love ourselves with a blind passion that amounts to worshiping an idol. If we love anything beyond, it is only for our own sakes." Fenelon

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Deuteronomy 7:9 Level 2 -- Joshua 1:6-9

2 Verse's ... 1 Carol ... Old Testament Lesson's Part 4

2 Verse’s…1 Carol…Old Testament Lesson’s -- Part Four

“No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love.” “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts

“A few years ago I had taken the “Old Testament Survey” course at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies (KIBS). For my final exam I had to write an essay based on the last two verse’s of “Joy to the World”. They are not sung very often but they are very significant to the hymn. For the next few Freedom Fighters I am going to share with you what I wrote in that essay. If you have any thoughts or disagreements I would like to hear them.” Here is the last of my essay….

The Assyrian threat brought us Isaiah and offers the clearest need for the Messiah. Jeremiah wept while a nation was carried off and warned a nation about the need to repent and return to God. Ezekiel brings a dual message of condemnation and consolation. Daniel convinces us that despite mans rebellion, Gods plans and purposes are sovereign. Even when it looks like the affairs of men and nations are, at times, outside of Gods divine control. Daniel also prophesied the demise of four empires, the Babylonian, the Syrian, the Greek and the Roman Empires.

These four prophets not only offered a view into their own people but we can find the ways of a modern world mentality resonating in their writings. As nations come and go, Gods will prevails. His people come back to Him. But it will be over and over again. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Gen 3:15)

Job had pleaded for an intercessor. The Prophets tell of His coming. A man from the lineage of David comes to fulfill a promise. The King of Kings… The Lord of Lords… A man of God’s own Heart. Jesus Christ comes. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let the earth receive its King!!! But wait we have problem. The nation of Israel thought Elijah on a white horse to slay Caesar and crush the Roman Empire. Born in a Manger? WHAT?! Not the King they were looking for. Israel wanted freedom from the Romans then peace with God. Nope!! Not in the right order.

So Jesus still goes forward with Gods plan. The true new “Adam”, the example of true obedience that still must occur. Where it failed in the garden it found success on the Cross. Throughout the Old Testament God’s people could have had life better with simple obedience. They either just didn’t see it or want it. The idea of “death to self” to bring God glory got drowned out by all those shouts of “I WILL.” But praise be to God that through the shed blood of Christ we can be reunited with the Creator. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter


DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 8; Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34

DIG THIS QUOTE:“You ask for comfort, but you do not see that you have been led to the edge of the fountain and refuse to drink. Peace and comfort are to be found only in simple obedience. Be obedient without a lot of talk about how obedient you are. You will soon find rivers of living water flowing within you. If you believe much, you will receive much. If you believe nothing, you will receive nothing, and continue to listen only to the stories your empty imagination tells you.” The Seeking Heart Fenelon

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Deuteronomy 7:9 Level 2: Joshua 1:6-9

2 Verse's ... 1 Carol ... Old Testament Lessons -- Part 3

2 Verse’s…1 Carol…Old Testament Lessons --Part Three

“No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love.” “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts

“A few years ago I had taken the “Old Testament Survey” course at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies (KIBS ). For my final exam I had to write an essay based on the last two verse’s of “Joy to the World”. They are not sung very often but they are very significant to the hymn. For the next few Freedom Fighters I am going to share with you what I wrote in that essay. If you have any thoughts or disagreements I would like to hear them.” Here is part three starting with Moses….

Seven plagues, a parted waterway and Ten Commandments later we have ourselves a nation that wanders the wilderness. Moses has got to be one of the greatest leaders that God could have provided. Because he has hands full with a nation that just doesn’t get it. Israel constantly complains that all is unfair. This faith in an unseen deity is unbelievable let alone burdensome in its call for obedience and constant sacrifice. We might as well be back in Egypt. Oh boo hoo!!

But somehow out of all of this, God’s people begin to grasp His sovereignty. And there seems to be a submission to God’s rule. For those who understand any of what Moses has to say they had a choice when they got to the “Deuteronomistic” fork in the road. And Joshua was able to maintain God’s way. But remember this is a fork in the road so here is the other prong of it.

1. Do evil in the eyes of the Lord.
2. Get God angry and be subjected to oppression of foreign nations.
3. Cry out to God because oppression is unfair.
4. God hears the cries and sends a deliverer for the moment.
5. Let the peace die with said deliverer.
6. Return to step one.

In these modern times we seem to fall into the same rut. Godly principles have been dismissed in place of “Judges” and the peace of the people is short lived. God is on duty 24/7 and yet we question Him when an ugly event occurs. How does God rule the nations? He gave us an outline long ago.. Man has a problem with it. The outline puts God on the throne. Man has to be second to the Creator. What?! What of the screams of “I WILL!” No, we can’t go back Egypt and we can’t put the apple back on the tree.

I will wrap this up in my next Freedom Fighter. Thanks for hanging in there. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a contributor to Freedom Fighter

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 7; Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18

DIG THIS QUOTE: “Chains of gold can become like chains of iron. And while people envy you while you wear fine jewelry, you can become the prisoner of such finery. Your bondage is no better than the person who is unjustly kept in prison. The only comfort you have is that God, in his wisdom, has allowed this and this is the same comfort that an innocent prisoner has.” “The Seeking Heart” Fenelon

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Deuteronomy 7:9 Level 2 -- Joshua 1:6-9

Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

2 Verse's ... 1 Carol ... Old Testament Lesson Part 2

2 Verse’s…1 Carol…Old Testament Lesson’s Part two

“No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love.” “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts

A few years ago I had taken the “Old Testament Survey” course at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies (KIBS ). For my final exam I had to write an essay based on the last two verse’s of “Joy to the World”. They are not sung very often but they are very significant to the hymn. For the next few Freedom Fighters I am going to share with you what I wrote in that essay. If you have any thoughts or disagreements I would like to hear them.”Here is part two, starting with Cain’s lineage….

Cain builds a city and names it after his son Enoch. No glory to God. I guess we no longer need the Creator to provide shelter. Jabal, Cain’s grandson became the father of those who may have been the first traders or entrepreneurs as they raise live stock. Don’t pray for provisions just buy it, huh?! Jubal’s brother was the father of all who played the flute and harp. If God has been dismissed thus far, who made a joyful noise unto to the Lord? Tubal-Cain forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. If I think hard enough there were a great many empires that used tools made from the same metals. Expect those tools weren’t used for farming. And what of the justification of Lamech? He decides that if God avenges seven times for Cain then Lamech decides he gets seventy seven.

But what of Abel? God was pleased with him. His offering was the best he could give. After what his parents have done to a perfect world, God might have been able to redeem His creation with Abel. But it isn’t until Seth that we find a remnant of God’s creation. It isn’t until Enosh that “men began to call on the name of the Lord.” But time goes by and the seeds of wickedness that were scattered after the fall begin to produce the thorns that infest the ground. Out of this avalanche of sin comes, from man, a heart that knows no good.

The creation no longer acknowledges it’s Creator and the world has become perverse and violent. The sons of God mingle with the daughters of men and the whole of creation is a “Devils Playground.” So the Lord said “I will destroy whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Gen 6:7) But out of the lineage of Seth comes a man who pleases God. His name is Noah. God tells Noah to build an ark because He is going to flood the earth. God tells Noah to take a remnant of the creation and bring it on the ark. It rains and the world is nothing but water. The waters recede and the sons of Noah go off and repopulate the world. His son, Shem, fathers the lineage that produces Abram.

God sees Abram as a turning point for a new humanity. A new, dare I say, Adam. And with Abram we have this command that is obeyed, “Now the Lord said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation.”(Gen 12:1) Doesn’t that sound something like this, “Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4: 19-20)

Despite Sodom and Gomorrah, Gods plan with His new “Adam” goes forward. With the binding of Isaac we have a ratified covenant. Isaac brings us Jacob and out of the tribe of Jacob we have Joseph. Joseph saves the nation of Egypt and unknowingly preserves a remnant of Gods people by bringing all of his family into a land of leeks, garlic and cucumbers. Four hundred years go by and a people groan. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a contributor to Freedom Fighter

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 6; Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48

DIG THIS QUOTE: “You cannot give place to the world, to your passions or your laziness. Words are not enough to claim the kingdom of God. It takes strength and courage and violence. You must violently resist the tides of the world. Violently give up all that holds you back from God. Violently turn will over to God to do His will alone.”
“The Seeking Heart” Fenelon

DETERMINED DIGGING (Memorize): Week #1 -- Level 1: Deuteronomy 7:9
Level 2: Joshua 1:6-9

2 Verse's ... 1 Carol ... Old Testament Lesson's Part 1

2 Verse’s…1 Carol…Old Testament Lesson’s Part one

“No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love.” “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts

“A few years ago I had taken the “Old Testament Survey” course at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies (KIBS). For my final exam I had to write an essay based on the last two verse’s of “Joy to the World”. They are not sung very often but they are very significant to the hymn. For the next few Freedom Fighters I am going to share with you what I wrote in that essay. If you have any thoughts or disagreements I would like to hear them.”

I have often wondered about the fall of man. I have always attributed it to his being niaïve and Lucifer out to prove that to God. But as I have grown into this faith that Christ Jesus has accepted me into I have formed an idea that just may be plausible. This idea has its root in the Book of Isaiah 14:12-15:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”
How you are cut down to the ground, you who have weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”

Scofield points this out as the moment when sin began. I agree. What I see is the very first act of rebellion from the creation. I see a jealous angel out to destroy the throne right in front of the Creator. THEN along come Adam and Eve. The Creator loves this marriage and a fallen angle’s jealousy increases. “I WILL” screams Lucifer and the plot ensues.

God was very matter of fact with Adam, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Adam had to have passed this on to Eve. But maybe because she is not created with the same dirt that Adam was, or Adam may not have been clear with God’s command something got lost in translation. Enter the fallen angel…..

The peace has been comprised in heaven and now it is comprised on the earth. Lucifer has taken a world of love and turned it into a ball of hate. “I WILL!!” I guess Lucifer is proud of himself. Some of the events that occur as results of this turn are basic. We have an account of the first act of murder. The creation now kills its creatures. The motive? Jealousy!! Fear then rears its ugly head as Cain’s punishment leads him to believe that vengeance shall be taken on him.

I will be continuing this with my next Freedom Fighter. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 5; Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26

Dig This Quote: “I rejoice that God has reduced you to weakness. You will not be convinced of or delivered from your self-love by any other means. Self-love finds hidden strength and secret hiding places because of your natural strength and ingenuity for survival. You cannot see your selfishness. Selfishness feeds on the subtle poison of an apparent

generosity in always sacrificing for others. God will force out your old nature to cry out loud and come out in the open. See how jealous you really are?” The Seeking Heart Fenelon

Determined Digging -- Level 1 -- Deuteronomy 7:9 Level 2 -- Joshua 1:6-9