Christ The Inside Savior

Christ the Inside Savior

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." Romans 8:11

Today's devotional is from Dr. Glyn Evans book, Daily with the King. Dr. Evans was a classmate with Pastor Bill Raws at Wheaton College. His devotional writings have been a blessing to me for many years.

If I am to be a worthy disciple of Jesus Christ, I must come to terms with my inside. Jesus Christ is not out there; He is in me, as far as my discipleship is concerned. This means that no matter how I love books (ouch!), revere people, and admire nature, that in the last analysis I must confront the Christ who resides in within. Too often I have lined up my life according to the outer lights instead of with Christ, the inner light, and this has only led to confusion.

Since Christ is within me, I must adopt two stances. First, I must listen to Him, and that involves a degree of turning inward, which my friends may often misunderstand. Second, I must allow His expression, which is more than "following Jesus" or "walking in His steps."

As the Spirit "clothed" Himself with Gideon, so I must let Jesus Christ clothe Himself in me. That is what Paul meant in 2 Corinthians 4:10, "that the life of Jesus may also be may be manifested in our body."

It is IN me, not out there, that a need and supply meet. Despite the beauty of the figure, Jesus does not walk BESIDE me, for an OUTSIDE Savior cannot meet the needs generated in my inmost being. That is why Paul says he did not know Christ "according to the flesh" anymore (2 Corinthians 5:16). The only Christ Paul knew was one INSIDE him, a supreme Lord and Master, and not an outside figure whom he was trying to follow. JESUS CHRIST MEETS MY NEED OF GUIDANCE BY PROPELLING ME FROM WITHIN.

With and inside Christ, I can rest; I will NEVER lose my Guide. His presence is no father than my heartbeat, His power no farther than my thought. "How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! ... When I awake, I am still with Thee," for You will "lead me in the everlasting way" (Psalm 139:17-18, 24).

Rejoice, today, my brothers -- we have a Savior who lives within is! Christ in you -- the hope of glory! Knowing that truth today should impact how we walk today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 30; 1 Kings 8-9; Luke 21:1-19

Dig This Quote: I don't have to be sensitive to God, because God knows me. It's a wonderful thing to be totally loved, so that you can say anything. In that totally unconditional atmosphere, I don't have to protect myself. I can pray with the psalmist, 'search me oh God', and whatever He reveals is okay. Steve Brown

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

We are coming down to the home stretch approaching our Family Freedom Walk on May 8th. Have you made your pledge today? Are we going to let the VICTORY CALL ladies beat the FREEDOM FIGHTER guys? Call today and make your pledge. It can mean the difference of life and death for a man who needs the Colony of Mercy: 732-350-1187 ext. 22. Please let Ruth Schmidt know you are a Freedom Fighter! I appreciate you!

A Tribute to Another Hero

A Tribute to Another Hero

Today we say goodbye to another of our Keswick heroes. Mr. Harold Burwa went home to be with the Lord on Sunday morning. Harold was one of those amazing men who loved God, his family and the ministry of America's KESWICK.

When I came to KESWICK I quickly found out that Harold had a HUGE heart for the ministry of the Colony of Mercy. He and his dear wife June faithfully volunteered at ANY opportunity -- printing and mailings being their specialty. It didn't matter how much work needed to be done -- you could count on Harold to get the job done.

He loved to encourage the men by praying with them, asking them to share their stories so that he could pray for them more specifically. He loved to give his testimony at the Colony of Mercy, and would follow up his story by playing his musical instrument of choice -- a Craftsman saw! Harold could literally make that saw sing!

Harold was also a military men. He loved his country and was proud to be an American. Memorial Days were always special because Harold would be at our Monday morning flag raising ceremony. He was a patriot par excellence!

We will miss Harold, but we praise the Lord that he is home with His Savior. Thank you, Harold Burwa, for loving God, your family and the ministry of America's KESWICK. I am sure you heard these words from the lips of your Savior -- "Well done, good and faithful servant!" -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 29; 1 Kings 6-7; Luke 20:27-47

Dig This Quote: Joy is not gush: joy is not jolliness. Joy is simply perfect acquiescence in God's will, because the soul delights itself in God himself...rejoice in the will of God, and in nothing else. Bow down your heads and your hearts before God, and let the will, the blessed will of God, be done. -- Amy Carmichael

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

We Share and Sacrificial Giving

We Share and Sacrificial Giving

What is sacrificial giving and weShare? And how does all this come together?

First let's briefly talk about sacrificial giving. If you have been following this blog, we worked our way rather quickly through Level 1 and 2 in "God's school of giving". Now we are ready to move on to Level 3 which we call Sacrificial Giving.

As we mentioned in the last post God uses giving as a way to draw us closer to Him and sacrificial giving is where we really start to see results. Generous Giving defines Sacrificial Giving as "the kind (of giving) that is done at great personal cost to the giver." Randy Alcorn defines Sacrificial Giving in his book Money Possessions and Eternity as "parting with what we would rather keep". I tell people that sacrificial giving is doing without a need or want in our lives. It is basically giving something that costs us something to give it.

All through the Bible there are examples of sacrificial giving. I invite you over the next month to look for and post examples (either from the Bible or from your personal life) of sacrificial giving. Here are two to get us started. Remember Luke 21:1-4 when the poor widow gave her two mites and what did Jesus say? Luke 21:4 "But she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." This is sacrificial giving.

And from my personal life, last week I met with a man that I have been working with as a Crown Money Map coach. As we were reviewing his March finances, I noticed that he spent nothing for entertainment and recreation or for clothing. It was evident why when I saw his March giving included a generous gift to his church mission in Haiti. This is sacrificial giving.

Yes, sacrificial giving is giving that costs us something, but more importantly it is evidence that we understand God owns everything and our total dependence is upon Him. I look forward to hearing your examples of sacrificial giving either from your daily walk or from the Bible. There is one example in the Bible of sacrificial giving that is the perfect example for us all to follow. I look forward to your thoughts on what that example is.

So what is weShare? By checking the weShare link or this Flyer you can see the details of the campaign. But on a broader basis it is a call to move our giving to level 3 in "God's School of Giving" and watch Him work in our lives as we grow closer to Him through our giving. I encourage you to join me on this journey during the month of May by giving up something in order to help fulfill the Great Commission. At the end of May we can take the money saved from our sacrifice and give it to be used in the fulfilling the Great Commission either through a donation to GBIM or if you are not associated with a FGBC church to your local church or a Bible believing ministry like Americas Keswick.

So here is the challenge. What will you give up that will equal about $3.00 a day for the month of May? Here are some ideas to get you started. I am looking forward to hearing from you; not only with sacrifice ideas, but also examples of sacrificial giving you have seen either in your life or in God's Word. By next week, I will post what I will attempt to sacrifice during the weShare2010 campaign. -- George Hutchison serves on the Board of America's KESWICK and writes a blog that is posted on the Keswick Website called STEWARDSHIP INSIGHTS He is also an instructor with Crown Financial

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 28; 1 Kings 3-5; Luke 20:1-26

Dig This Quote: God is over all things; outside all; within but not enclosed; without but not excluded; above but not raised up; below but not depressed; wholly above, presiding; wholly beneath, sustaining; wholly within, filling. – Hilbert of Laradin

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

The Miracle of Breath

THE MIRACLE OF BREATH

"I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

Have you ever stopped to think just how truly amazing YOU are? I am not talking about your personality or your good looks -- I am talking about the way God designed YOUR physical body -- the one that HE fashioned and molded while you were inside your Momma's womb.

Are you breathing? I mean really -- do you take for granted that He has given you breath? Dr. James Robinson wrote about breathing in his book, THE MIRACLE OF BREATH:

Consider the journey of an oxygen atom. The same atom, which at this moment hovers around your nostrils, was once in the lungs of a dinosaur.

The journey begins when air passes through your nose where unwanted dust and debris is filtered out. For what it's worth, the average person moves about 440 cubic feet of air every day! You ought to have a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day.

The oxygen atom travels trough the trachea into the lungs. The surface area of your lungs is forty times greater than the surface of your entire body -- all compressed within the tiny confines between your ribs. The oxygen atom then hitchhikes with hemoglobin and travels throughout the entire human body via blood vessels. If those blood vessels were laid end to end they would be approximately 100,000 miles long.

The blood vessels in your body could wrap around the equator four times! At the end of the journey, oxygen enters individual cells, bonds with the food we eat and releases energy. Biologists call it cellular respiration. I'd call it a miracle ...

Webster defines a miracle as 'an extraordinary, unusual wonder or marvel. Isn't a bloodstream 100,000 miles long, in a small body an unusual wonder? Isn't the journey of an oxygen atom a true marvel? We don't need supernatural events to experience a miracle! All we need is breath. The human breath is Sacred. Cherish your breathing: it is a miraculous gift of life.

And by the way -- David also wrote: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" The average person takes approximately 23,000 per day. Preacher/teacher Mark Batterson says we owe God approximately 23,000 thank you's and praises every day.

Brothers: we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Are you using your breath to praise the Lord? Have you ever stopped to thank Him for the miracle of breath? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 27; 1 Kings 1-2; Luke 19:28-48

Dig This Quote: All of us have wondered at times why God doesn't do more to fix our problems. But our human eyes often fail to see that God isn't rushing to change our circumstances because he is concerned with a much more serious problem - our character. While you struggle with the woes of this world, God's main occupation is preparing you for the world to come. The focus of what God is doing in your life takes place in you, not around you. Andy Stanley

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

Finding Victory in Dirt

Finding Victory in the Dirt

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:5-8 (ESV)

On a Saturday afternoon I took my daughter to our local Home Depot to help her get the tools she needed to refurbish a make-up table that really needs a good makeover itself. While we there she decided that I also was going to buy her flower seeds. That is where I was of no help to her at all. Flower Seeds!! I confess that I have a hard time remembering to buy my wife flowers at times but I am clueless on how to give my daughter any advice on what to do to grow them. So I bought her a kit to grow flowers and a packet of corn seed. Burpee seeds no less, after all aren’t they the most popular brand. They must have been for they were the only brand of seed I could find.

Now don’t get me too wrong here. I have done gardening in the past, but that past was a different kind of past. I knew nothing of Jesus in that past and whatever I did to make a garden happen I have forgotten. So anyway I picked out an area to cultivate and got to work. I also think for some strange reason that I can toil the soil with a shovel and a hoe like they did back in Cain’s time. I am half way through and wish I had a roto-tiller. Right now all I have are hand tools and Advil. The Advil is for the sore muscles I am getting from the hand tilling. This may be funny to all and I am even having a good chuckle over it but I thought about Jesus and the parable of the sower while doing my digging and hoeing. Here’s what went through my head.

“This is hard work because the ground is cursed.” I reckon to myself. I am quite sure the Garden of Eden did not need to be tilled, plowed or sowed. But there is this eating of an apple that kind of ruins things so I till by hand. Cain must have been a very unhappy camper knowing this as well and there is nothing in the Bible that tells me anything different, so I’ll have to go on what I experience with tilling by hand. And this ground is just as cursed in the time of Cain as it is in my time and as it was the time Jesus walked on it. And as He walked on this cursed ground He sowed seed didn’t He?

So much is taken out of this simple parable but here’s my view. If we have the heart of Christ in us as we walk on this cursed ground we are, like He did, to sow seed. Not the seed that the INSP channel sows but the seeds that plants God’s Word in the hearts of all who have chosen to hear it. The various places where the seed lands, tells us about the condition of the hearts that have heard. Now get this part…God calls us all. So what of the heart of all? It is not all in the same unity as some is it? So God’s Word only grows in the kind of soil or heart that is prepared for Him. So I continue to till my soil…without the roto-tiller.

Matthew Henry says; “There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the Word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it.” I will agree with in its entirety but it is the next thing in this concise where he makes this statement, “Happy are we, and forever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed.”

So simply put those parables that Jesus spoke in are plain truths that with the right tool to listen, we will be privileged to understand God’s Word. I am glad to back to gardening…hope there will be a harvest. What will you sow and what will it harvest for you this morning Brothers… and Sisters? -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the ministry team of Families for Christ. Chris is a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 26; 2 Samuel 23-24; Luke 19:1-27

Dig This Quote:The Cross is God’s truth to us, and therefore it is the only power which can make us truthful. When we know the Cross, we are no longer afraid of the truth. We need no more oaths to confirm the truth of our utterance, for we live the perfect of God. There is no truth toward Jesus without truth toward man. Untruthfulness destroys fellowship, but truth cuts false fellowship to pieces and establishes genuine brotherhood. We cannot fellow Christ unless we live revealed truth before God and man. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Hung for resisting the Nazis
Berlin, Germany 1945

Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

A Contemporary Hymn of Praise

A Contemporary Hymn of Praise

"Come, bless God, all you servants of God! You priests of God, posted to the night watch in God's shrine! Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place, and bless God. In turn, may God of Zion bless you -- God who made heaven and earth!" Psalm 134

I ran across this modern TE DEUM in a hymnal that I use with my devotional readings. It is a creed of praise to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit -- the One we gather together to worship today in spirit and in truth! Rejoice and worship with me as you read these powerful words:

Your are God: We praise YOU;

You are the LORD: We acclaim YOU;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships YOU!

To You all angels, all powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise YOU.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise YOU.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise YOU.

Throughout the world the church proclaims YOU.

Father, of majesty unbounded,

Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

And the holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

eternal Son of the Father.

When You became man to set us free

You did not disdain the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death.

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory.

We believe that You will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, sustain Your people,

bought with the price of YOUR own blood,

and bring us with Your saints to everlasting glory.

Don't just stand there today as you worship and miss the One you are worshipping. FOCUS on who HE is and praise His Holy name. And just maybe, you might lift up those hands in worship. It is biblical! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 25; 2 Samuel 21-22; Luke 18:24-43

Dig This Quote: Be careful that you bring neither irreverence, nor deadness, nor cold, heartless worldly service before a holy God. Beware of hypocritical, carnal worship! The holy God will not be mocked with compliments and shows. – Richard Baxter

Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 3:5-6; Level 2: Psalm 62:5-8

Good morning, brothers. I need your help. I have been putting a tag on Freedom Fighters concerning our Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th to raise money for the Colony of Mercy. Right now the women who read VICTORY CALL are miles ahead in their support of the walk. Only one Freedom Fighter brother has given a gift.

Can I count on you today to help us? If the Lord brings in $60,000, they plan to shave my head! Yikes. But it would be worth it to help my brothers in the Colony of Mercy. You can contact my Administrative Assistant, Ruth Schmidt (732-350-1187, ext. 22) to give over the phone, or you can use this link to give on line: Donate for Family Freedom Walk. Thanks for you consideration

Toxic People

Toxic People

"Don't envy bad people; don't even want to be around them. All they think about is causing a disturbance; all they think about is making trouble." Proverbs 24:1

Have you ever been around toxic people? Listen to a description of toxic people from former head coach of the Boston Celtics, Rick Pitino in his book, SUCCESS IS A CHOICE:

We all know the person that comes to work everyday and is always griping about something. The conference room is either too hot or too drafty. The coffee's cold. My boss doesn't listen to me. Nothing is ever right. You know the type.

You are always going to be surrounded by negative people. They're in your workplace. They are in your family. They're among your circle of friends. [They are in the church!] There is no way we can get rid of them.

They're the ones who tell you that you can't do this, can't do that, the ones who tell you that your dreams are just childhood fantasies that you'll never be able to accomplish. They may not mean to be harmful. They may be well intentioned and might not even know they're doing it.

But their negativity is a poison to everyone around them, polluting the atmosphere, coloring everything. They are the "Fellowship of the Miserable, and they are the killers of the dream ... they look for reasons why things won't work. They look for things to blame. They are the first to complain when things aren't going right.

In his book, The Prayer Experiment, Pastor/author Jay Dennis says this about toxic people:

-- Toxic people leave a trail of toxic waster where ever they go.

-- They are difficult and discouraging rather than positive and uplifting.

-- They pour cold water on God-given ideas rather than enthusiastically support them.

-- They love to blame rather than take personal responsibility.

-- They delineate all the problems rather than attempt to offer viable solutions.

-- They make others want to quit or spit rather than explore and soar.

-- They stifle creativity and pro activity rather than enjoy what God might do.

Bottom line, brothers, we know who they are and we tend to not want to be around them. In fact, if you are like me, I want to run for the hills when I see 'em coming.

The question is this: Am you a toxic person? Or are you the wind beneath some one's wing? Take a minute and read back over the characteristics from Coach Pitino and Pastor Dennis. If any of these characteristics fit you, then it is time to start clean up the toxic waste in your life! In fact, confess it and take it to the cross -- that's where the toxic mess of our lives was taken care of over 2000 years ago! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 24; 2 Samuel 19-20; Luke 18:1-23

Dig This Quote: It is a great blessing from God that some parts of the Scriptures are clear while others are not. By means of the first we acquire faith and ardour and do not fall into disbelief and laziness because of our utter inability to grasp what is said. By means of the second we are roused to enquiry and effort, has both strengthening our understanding and learning humility from the fact that everything is not intelligible to us. Peter of Damaskos

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

Good morning, brothers. I need your help. I have been putting a tag on Freedom Fighters concerning our Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th to raise money for the Colony of Mercy. Right now the women who read VICTORY CALL are miles ahead in their support of the walk. Only one Freedom Fighter brother has given a gift.

Can I count on you today to help us? If the Lord brings in $60,000, they plan to shave my head! Yikes. But it would be worth it to help my brothers in the Colony of Mercy. You can contact my Administrative Assistant, Ruth Schmidt (732-350-1187, ext. 22) to give over the phone, or you can use this link to give on line: Donate for Family Freedom Walk. Thanks for you consideration.

Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb Us, Lord

"The fundamental fact of existence is that of trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd." Hebrews 11:1-2 (The Message)

Let's be honest, brothers -- we all have our comfort zones. We like our neat little boxes and have our ideas of what life should be like. We don't really like change -- and the older we get, the harder it is to adapt to changes in life. We like the comfortable, the familiar, and our "don't-rock-the-boat" world.

But I have discovered something interesting in Scripture and in my experience. God doesn't allow us to remain in our comfort zones. Well let me rephrase that -- if a man wants to fully experience God, He will take us out of our comfort zone so that we will experience Him in ways we could never have imagined.

Think about it. Every man (or woman) in Scripture that God used, was pulled from their comfort zone in order for them to experience God's power and glory: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Paul, Peter.

We get into the "play it safe" mode in life. I believe that God wants to step out of our comfort zone and take a risk -- do we really believe He wants to do great things in and through us? He has done it before: George Mueller. Amy Carmichael. Jim Elliot. Billy Graham. D.L. Moody. William Raws.

But just maybe He wants to add our names to that list. Sir Francis Drake wrote these words:

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our visions of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show you mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

That's a bold prayer. Am I willing to pray that prayer? How about you? Are we willing to let God disturb us and take us out of our comfort zone so that He can demonstrate to us His power? Well, be careful what you pray for -- He will take you and me at our word! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 23; 2 Samuel 14-15; Luke 17:20-37

Dig This Quote: Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee, can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free. Horatius Bonar

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

Utterly Abandoned

Good morning, brothers. I need your help. I have been putting a tag on Freedom Fighters concerning our Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th to raise money for the Colony of Mercy. Right now the women who read VICTORY CALL are miles ahead in their support of the walk. Only one Freedom Fighter brother has given a gift.

Can I count on you today to help us? If the Lord brings in $60,000, they plan to shave my head! Yikes. But it would be worth it to help my brothers in the Colony of Mercy. You can contact my Administrative Assistant, Ruth Schmidt (732-350-1187, ext. 22) to give over the phone, or you can use this link to give on line: Donate for Family Freedom Walk. Thanks for you consideration

Utterly Abandoned

"Not by might not by my power, but by my spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

I read these words this morning: utterly abandoned. In a moment I will share the poem from Streams in the Desert that pictures a life of being utterly abandoned to God.

One of the definitions of the word abandoned is to yield, resign, surrender, waive, abdicate. Most of the illustrations listed in the dictionary give negative uses of the word -- abandoned to negative things: drugs, sex, principles, and goodness. It is a picture of throwing it all away for a different way of life, not necessarily in a positive way.

The author of this poem redeems the word picture by suggesting that one can use abandoned in a positive way: yielding, resigning, surrendering, waiving ones rights to the Holy Spirit. Relinquishing our control and allowing Him to be the One to control us.

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Seeking all His fullness, whatever the cost!
Cutting all moorings, launching in the deep
Of His mighty power -- strong to save and keep.

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Oh! The sinking, sinking, until all is lost!
Until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet;
Waiting till His filling shall make the work complete.

Utterly abandoned to the will of God;
Seeking for no other path than my Master trod;
Leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice,
Waiting for His guidance, listening for HIS voice.

Utterly abandoned! No will of my own;
From time and for eternity, His, and His alone;
All my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will,
Having nothing, yet in Hill all things still possessing.

Utterly abandoned! It's so sweet to be
Captive in His bonds of love, yet wondrously free;
Free from sin's entanglements, free from doubt and fear,
Free from every worry, burden, grief, or care.

Utterly abandoned! Oh, the rest is sweet,
As I tarry, waiting, at His blessed feet;
Waiting for the coming of the Guest divine,
Who my inmost being will perfectly refine.

Lo! He comes and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet!
I, in Him, am satisfied! I, in Him, complete!
And the light within my soul will never more grow dim.
While I keep my covenant -- abandoned unto Him!

Wow! The question for me and you today is this: Are we willing to be UTTERLY ABANDONED to Him? In every area of our lives? Or are we holding back and area that HE wants to control in our lives? We know the answer deep within our spirit. The question is, will we surrender it to HIM?

Could it be written on our tombstone: HE WAS UTTERLY ABANDONED TO GOD? Think about it! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 22; 2 Samuel 14-15; Luke 17:1-19

Dig This Quote: If I have not the patience of my Saviour with the souls who grow slowly; if I know little of travail (a sharp and painful thing) till Christ be fully formed in them, then I know nothing of Calvary love. Amy Carmichael

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

Beward of the Least Likely Temptation

Beware of the Least Likely Temptation

Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom —1 Kings 2:28

As men, we need to be on full alert at all times. Temptation can rear its head at any moment. And we can be deceived by thinking that we know when and where the temptation will come from. We think that we will be tempted most will be in are areas of weakness. Yet the enemy will often go after us in our area of strenght!

Chamber's timely words are worth your consideration this morning:

Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 ).

You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger.

It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent.

Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones. “. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. ( 1 Peter 1:5 ). (from My Utmost for His Highest)

I needed to be reminded of this principle today. How about you? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 20; 2 Samuel 9-11; Luke 15:11-32

Dig This Quote: If we look carefully within ourselves, we shall find that there are certain limits beyond which we refuse to go in offering ourselves to God. We hover around these reservations, making believe not to see them, for fear of self reproach. The more we shrink from giving up any such reserved point, the more certain it is that it needs to be given up. If we were not fast bound by it, we should not make so many efforts to persuade ourselves that we are free. Francois Fenelon

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

So It All Changed

So It All Changed

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
1John 2:15-17 (NKJV)

“And the world is passing away”, none truer a statement made in the Bible. I had to go to a friend’s business recently to acquire parts for our lawn mowers. And as I was driving by a part of a town that my wife and I use to live in I took notice on how much it had changed…but it did not look good. It looked as if it too was passing away. It once had held all three of those things that John has stated the world held, the lust of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life. It was the Babylon of its time and now it is just a wasteland in an old American town. It’s sad… but for me it is true.

It was a fine example that what the “world” around us actually promises when you submit to those three vices that John was telling the people around him to avoid. One of the buildings had burned to the ground never to be rebuilt or have a “For Sale” sign placed upon the property. It’s not even fit for a parking lot. One old business establishment that has been closed for years still hasn’t found a buyer. And a home that once was the place to be has been left deserted to decay into a sheriff’s tax sale.

It would seem as if these places were not built on Gods eternal foundation and that would be true but the home once housed a family that needs to hear the Gospel message of the Cross. I met my wife in the one that is not being sold but we now have been given the chance to rebuild on the solid Rock of Christ. The other place was the Gomorrah of its time. So it was only a matter of time before God would intervene and turn that place into the dead corner that it is now. For those of us who saw the movie “Beetlejuice” would remember the scene with “Dante’s Inferno”…it was that kind of place.

You know there is nothing reconcilable between the love of the world and the love of God. John states that quite clearly. And he is reinforced in the book of James just as bluntly. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?” (James 4:3-5)

I believe that John, the Disciple whom Jesus loved, was chosen to be the Watchman of God’s people post-Crucifixion. He warns his readers of “antichrist”. He has explained that there has been made a propitiation for our sin and there being an advocate for us by being in Christ Jesus. That whatever this world tells us we are lacking pales in comparison to the truth found in the shed blood of Christ. That what this world offers is antichrist and can still be put on display in our local cities, towns and neighborhoods. What are you seeing in the area that surrounds you and your families this morning? Be mindful the spirit of antichrist just maybe hiding in the decay. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 19; 2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10

Dig This Quote: “The Christian who is too Christian doesn’t love the world enough to enter fully into it, and the Christian who is too pagan doesn’t love Jesus enough to make a difference while there. Yet as disciples we are supposed to live out our calling in the world because Jesus commanded us to go into the world as a loving and transforming presence. Those who are too Christian often argue that they avoid the world because God tells us not to love the world or the things of the world.” “Too Christian Too Pagan” Dick Staub

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

My Goal Is God Himself

My Goal is God Himself

" ... so that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15:28

Today is the Lord's day. We gather together to worship Him. The goal today should not be for you and me to "get" something from HIM, though that is certainly a by-product of worship. Our goal should be to worship and adore HIM! That goal is easy to reach when we are doing that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

F. Brooks wrote these hymn words that express so clearly what our goal should be today and every day:

My goal is God Himself -- not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.
'Tis His to lead me there,
not mine, but His;
"At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!"

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there.
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard,
Till God has full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be often great,
Well does He know the path to reach the mark;
The way that leads me to Him must be straight.

One thing I know, I cannot turn away.
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord.
My God my glory here from day to day,
And in the glory there, my great reward.

Is your goal today God Himself? Maybe today is a good day to stop and rethink your goals. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; 2 Samuel 3-5; Luke 14:25-35

Dig This Quote: "There are two ways to get enough; one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less." How does this translate into our worship life as Christians? If thoughts of material things command the greater part of our attention and energy, can we really be serving and worshipping the Master as we should? I find that as I ascribe worth and honour to our loving and sovereign God, he allows me to desire less of the distractions, less of the other gods. But the struggle for the throne continues. C. K. Chesterton

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19

How's Your Faith Today

How's Your Faith Today?

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

I find myself doing battle so often with this faith walk. Right now we are in one of those weeks were finances are very tight and the bills are piling up, and we are waiting on God for HIS supply. I would like to think that after 13 years of seeing God provide, that I would have learned the lesson of trust ... I am obviously a very slow learner.

I am thankful that I came across this reading today:

Faith looks to God as the Source - sights trusts in possessions, power, and people.
Faith focuses on "Who" -- sight is limited to "how."
Faith measures the SIZE of God -- sight is controlled by the size of the problem.
Faith seeks God FIRST -- sight takes matters into its own hands.
Faith waits on God -- sight rushes ahead with self-solutions.
Faith is based on what GOD said --sight is based on how we feel.
Faith's seeing-eye guide is the Bible -- sight's guide is only what is visible.
Faith looks beyond the circumstances to the possibilities -- sight looks at how bad things are at the moment.
Faith believes God even when it seems NOTHING is happening -- sight is controlled by senses and feelings.
Faith doesn't require that it works out on paper -- sight demands facts and figures first.
Faith leaves it in God's hands -- sight picks it back up and worries and frets about it.

Wow! I needed that this morning. How is your faith today? Are you walking by sight? Or are you walking by faith. Lord, help me to be a faith-walker. -- Bill Welte is President of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 17; 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 14:1-24

Dig This Quote: Let us give up our work, our thoughts, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into HIS hands, and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be NOTHING left for us to be troubled about or to make trouble about. Hudson Taylor

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

The Disciple Jesus Loved

THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVED
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"

Walking along the boardwalk in Ocean City, my family and I went by a Christian Book Store that was there. Hanging in the window was a T-shirt with the following statement, “Jesus loves you” and a little smaller directly beneath that it said, “but I’m His favorite.” At first I thought what an arrogant statement but then, on second thought ...

John was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. What?, did Jesus not love the other disciples? Of course our answer would be “No, Jesus loved all the disciples, even Judas”. This is true, and Jesus loves me and you as well. Who would then be brazen enough to make this statement? I admit I am a little slow sometimes but I came to realize that John made this statement about himself. He knew that Jesus loved him. A preacher by the name of Joseph Prince pointed this out in one of his sermons saying, “Peter said he loved Jesus, but John knew that Jesus loved him.”

When we compare Peter and John we find some interesting tidbits. Peter told the Lord that he loved Him and was willing to die for Him. John just knew that Jesus loved him. Peter boasted that he would never deny the Lord, John just knew that Jesus loved him. Peter cursed and spat and denied he had ever known the Lord, John watched the trial from the inside, and stayed with Jesus as well as he could throughout the night, and was there at the crucifixion. He also received the Lord’s mother into his care.Here then is the difference, Peter relied on his love for God to see him through.

Although Jesus commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves if we seek to do this in our own power, we will fail. But if we rest, like John in the power of God’s unchanging love for us then God will see us through. I can never generate enough love for my Lord or my neighbor to ever equal God’s love for us. Perhaps it is just like salvation. We cannot save ourselves, God awaits us to realize that and turn to Him.

Brothers, maybe we need to stop trying to generate love for God and others, but rest in God’s love for us. It is hard to hate another person when you know that God loves them also! The children’s song is so very true, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” But I think we need to get beyond that into the realm of experiencing God’s love for us. You are His beloved, look around you and you will see Him daily lavishing that love upon you. Jesus loves YOU! (But I still think I am His favoriteJ) So how about you? Are you the disciple whom Jesus loves? -- Pastor Paul Ort is a new contributor to Freedom Fighter. He is a dear friend and is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Little Egg Harbor

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; 1 Samuel 30-31 ; Luke 13:23-35

Dig This Quote: Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God's removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him. The happy sequence culminating in fellowship with God is penitence, pardon, and peace - the first we offer, the second we accept, and the third we inherit. Charles H. Brent

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

What To Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

Join us tonight for our April Men's Fellowship Night. Pastor Glen Blossom is our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM followed by a time of worship, testimony and fun. Call today for reservations: 732-350-1187. Come and bring a friend!

What to Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

"Cast your burden on the Lord ..." Psalm 55:22

Good morning, brothers. For some of you the biggest burden of your life is today -- filing your income tax! Seriously, we all have those days when our burdens seem beyond what we could ever bear.

There is a family at Keswick that have been through the mill this past year. Challenges with their kids, their health, the health of their grandchild. It seems that every day is a new adventure and an even greater trial. For this family, the burdens have been OVERWHELMING.

What can we do when the burdens overwhelm us? The Bible says we need to unload them on the BURDEN-BEARER -- Cast your burden on the LORD!

Oswald Chambers in his devotional book, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, shares his insight on the principle of casting our cares on Him:

We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .”

If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.

Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”

“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” ( Isaiah 9:6 ). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.

The interesting thing is that Isaiah 9:6 appeared in three different devotionals this morning. I guess the Lord is trying to remind me that He is in charge and that HE wants to be my burden bearer. How about you? Are you ready to cast YOUR burden on Him? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; 1 Samuel 27-29; Luke 13:1-22

Dig This Quote: Abraham's steps of faith - He left all for God, left all with God, found all in God and yielded all to God. Anonymous

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT FROM GEORGE: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

Destestable Pride

Join us this Thursday evening for our April Men's Fellowship Night with Pastor Glen Blossom. Dinner is at 6:15 PM followed by an evening of worship, testimonies, a challenge from God's Word, and a fun time in our Activity Center. Call for reservations: 732-350-1187.

Detestable Pride

The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished. -- Proverbs 16:5

It isn't one of those words that we want or like to think of -- Pride! But the fact is, we need to reminded what God thinks of it -- He detests it! He hates it! He wants us to be free from bondage to it.

Think about some of the areas of pride that we struggle with:

** We are looked over for that promotion or new job -- we are much more qualified than the person chosen

** I didn't get the "Staff Member of the Year Award" -- can you believe that they picked ...

** I forgive you, but you better believe I am not going to forget what you did!

** I would never be stupid to do something like that!

** My agenda is more important that yours!

Those are just a few -- right now you could add to the list from your own life. Walk Thru the Bible instructor, Chris Tiegreen says this about pride: Pride is repulsive. It directs the glory INWARD instead of UPWARD. It seeks the honor of the gifted rather than the honor of the GIVER. It is far too impressed with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of human abilities. In its very essence, it ignores God. If we want to avoid it, we must always honor Him.

That's hard to do. Pride is the foundation of self-will which is the ultimate foundation behind every sin. It is deeply ingrained in us. We hate it in others, but we wallow in it when we're allowed too. Whenever a little glory comes our way, we drink it in as though it's the sweetest thirst-quencher.

But like other sweets, it has little substance. Eventually, no amount of honor will cover the fact that we're needy inside. Something deep within us craves glory, but something deeper reminds us that we aren't worthy of it. The depth of our soul knows that God is the ONLY worthy recipient of praise.

Let every hint of pride be repulsive to you. Let God deal with those who seek their own glory; it is not our job to humble anyone. But the Bible repeatedly tells us to humble ourselves. Hate the pride that you are prone to love. Agree with God that it is a detestable thing. Send it away and seek HIS glory. His honor comes to those who do. -- from OUR DAILY WALK (Zondervan)

Is the Holy Spirit tapping on your heart today, my brother? What area of pride is He wanting to expose? Do business with Him today on this issue and allow Him to set you free! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; 1 Samuel 25-26; Luke 12:32-59

Dig This Quote: In radio or TV terms we are receivers. If we do occasionally transmit signals, we transmit only what we have first received. Everything has been given to us from life in the womb to life in the Spirit. We are beneficiaries, totally blessed because totally loved by God. Sanctity after all is only letting the love of God loose, letting him rampage through our lives. Cyril Brooks

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13


http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

I Wonder What is Worthy

I Wonder What Is Worthy

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV)

I spent at least nine years coaching in some aspect of youth baseball. This is the first season that I am not. My son has started high school and tried out for the baseball team. They have their own coaching staff and really do not need any help. But this year will not happen for my son either. He got cut. He is handling this well too. He is looking forward to the possibility of working this summer with the summer staff at Keswick. One day Bill Welte told him it was going to happen anyway so he took him seriously. I guess we’ll see what happens there.

I remember the night I graduated the Colony. Wasn’t too sure what was going to happen but I had faith that somehow God would see me through. I got a job working for ten dollars an hour. At least I had a job. Then I got laid-off. At least I was able to collect unemployment. Then went back to work a month later and I haven’t looked back since. And God has brought me through those times where I would wonder if I was even this worthy to be blessed the way I was being blessed.

Paul wrote to the Colossians while he was in prison. He was so encouraged to hear about what they had begun in their hearts. Their faith in Christ, the love they had for the saints and the hope they were laying up in heaven. His prayer for them is that the Colossians “may walk worthy of the Lord.” It was important to Paul they live in a manner that could reflect what God had been doing for them and in them. Funny thing to note here is that the pagans who worshipped rocks and logs knew that they had to walk worthy in accordance with their false gods.

I often wonder if I walk worthy of the Lord. You never can tell if you are walking worthy until someone else notices. You never know if you are not unless someone else notices for that matter. My wife and I had recently been approached about an opportunity to serve in ministry. The folks that asked us if we consider serving are people that we both look at as people who are at a level of walking we would like to get be in step with. And at times I know I’ve personally made them both scratch their heads and wonder.

So like I said you can never tell who is watching you walk or even hearing about it. Paul heard about the Colossians walking worthy of the Lord while in prison. I drive to work every morning listening to the latest downloaded sermon (lately it has been John MacArthur) and hear things that bring conviction to my heart. And yet I still walk. You know, I feel there does come a point in mans walk where he can say in his heart that he doesn’t care about what other people think, say or offer. There is nothing like looking down and seeing only one set of footprints in the sand and you know that they are not yours. Santo!! -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the leadership team of Families for Christ. He is a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; 1 Samuel 22-24; Luke 12:1-31

Dig This Quote: “Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power.” —Matthew Henry Concise

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

Complete and Effective Decision About Sin

COMPLETE AND EFFECTIVE DECISION ABOUT SIN

" ... our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin"" —Romans 6:6

This is a devotional I shared in 2006! It comes from the pen of Oswald Chambers, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. It is one that I believe we should go back to often:

Co-Crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin— that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you-not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified— just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to do in this passage.

Pull yourself up, take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.

This was not some divine future expectation on the part of Paul, but was a very radical and definite experience in his life. Are you prepared to let the Spirit of God search you until you know what the level and nature of sin is in your life— to see the very things that struggle against God’s Spirit in you? If so, will you then agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin— that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? You cannot “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” ( Romans 6:11 ) unless you have radically dealt with the issue of your will before God.

Have you entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, until all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” ( Galatians 2:20 ).

What areas of sin in your life that you are holding onto? Christ died for that area of sin, and wants us to put it to death in our lives. Talk to Him about it today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 12; 1 Samuel 19-21; Luke 11:29-54

Dig This Quote: Get acquainted with your heart. If it is deep, search it out. If it is dark, inquire into it. If your heart seeks to deceive you or to throw you off by mislabeling its sinful tendencies, do not believe it. Some seek to justify, conceal, or excuse the evils of their own hearts instead of seeking to destroy them. -- John Owen

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

Our God Reigns

OUR GOD REIGNS

Yesterday I reminded us of the fact that despite everything go on around us, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL of ALL THINGS.

What a difference a week can make! Two weeks ago, we remembered the events of the Triumphant Entry. Last week we focused in on the Cross, the burial and the glorious Resurrection of our Savior.

During the days and weeks after the resurrection, Jesus was seen alive and well to many before He ascended into heaven. It wasn't just a rumor that He was alive -- Peter say Him! The Twelve saw Him, and over 500 at one time saw Him!

He is alive, my brothers. Our God reigns. Be reminded of these words today as you gather together to worship HIM!

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
Who bring good news, good news:
Announcing peace, Proclaiming news of happiness.
Our God reigns, our God reigns!

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!

(Verse 2)He had no stately form, He had no majesty
That we should be drawn to Him.
He was despised and we took no account of Him,
Yet now He reigns with the Most High.

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!

(Verse 3)It was our sin and guilt That bruised and wounded Him.
It was our sin that brought Him down.
When we like sheep had gone astray
Our Shepherd came And on His shoulders bore our shame.

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!

(Verse 4)Meek as a lamb that's led out to the slaughterhouse,
Dumb as a sheep before its shearer,
His life ran down upon the ground like pouring rain
That we might be born again.

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!

(Verse 5)Out of the tomb He came with grace and majesty;
He is alive, He is alive.
God loves us so, see here His hands, His feet, His side.
Yes, we know He is alive.

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns!

Worship Him today. Rejoice! He reigns. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 11; 1 Samuel 17-18; Luke 11:1-28

Dig This Quote: Men who are not secure in Christ cast about for spiritual life preservers with which to support their confidence, and in their frantic search they not only cling to the shreds of ability and righteousness they find in themselves, but they fix upon their race, their membership in a part, their familiar social and ecclesiastical patterns and the culture as a means of self-recommendation. The culture is put on as though it were armor against self-doubt, but it becomes a mental straitjacket which cleaves to the flesh and can never be removed except through comprehensive faith in the saving work of Christ.” Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 127:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:10-13

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call).

Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website: Donate for Family Freedom Walk fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!

Without A Claw Mark

WITHOUT A CLAW MARK

"When Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he trusted in his God." Daniel 6:23

Yesterday morning we heard on the news that we are in the process of signing a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Iran is on the verge of sending us into what many call World War III, destined to wipe Israel off the map.

The unemployment numbers rose sharply this week. More earthquakes. Just when we think the economy is turning around, it bottoms out again.

If we are not grounded in the fact that God is still on the throne, that He is totally aware of what is happening around us, we could be a people who have great fear and anxiety.

Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter, a wonderful conference speaker now with the Lord, wrote these words many years ago, but they are so timely for today:

The biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty should both challenge and solidly comfort us. Let me mention four ways in which we should respond to it:

1. Let us thoroughly believe it and speak it. Perhaps more than we suspect in these days when things seem to have gone badly askew, people want to be reminded that the reins are in higher hands than those of human government.

Others who may not WANT to hear it are all the more in NEED of hearing somebody say it. It is the missing note which we must keep sounding.

2. Let us not be swept off our feet by the lengths to which anti-God powers may be permitted to go during this closing stretch of the present age. The Bible has forewarned us. We will enjoy more inward stability and composure if we continually keep in mind our heavenly Keeper's all-control.

3. There is still the possibility of a large-scale spiritual revival. So long as God remains sovereign, and promises like 2 Chronicles 7:14, John 14:13, and others in the Bible, mighty visitations may come from our prayer-answering God. So long as the throne in heaven is a "throne of grace," big answers may be expected by way of great spiritual awakenings.

4. More than ever, let us rest in the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign even when His presence seems least real and the agents of Satan seem unrestrained. If we have to go through the lion's den, our God will bring us without a claw mark on us! If we must go through the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, we shall meet the risen Lord there, and He will bring us without even the smell of fire upon us. -- J. Sidlow Baxter from the daily devotional, HOW GREAT THOU ART (Multnomah)

Brothers: are you churned up inside about what is going on around you? Is the news causing you to fear? Look to Him! HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE! He is our Sovereign, reigning, risen King!
Rejoice! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 10; 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 10:25-52

Dig This Quote: No joy on earth is equal to the bliss of being all taken up with love to Christ. If I had my choice of all the lives that I could live, I certainly would not choose to be an emperor, nor to be a millionaire, nor to be a philosopher, for power and wealth and knowledge bring with them sorrow. But I would choose to have nothing to do but to love my Lord Jesus - nothing, I mean, but to do all things for his sake, and out of love to him. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 119:11; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:5-9

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call).

Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website: Donate for Family Freedom Walk fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!

Do Battle with Temptation with Prayer

DO BATTLE WITH TEMPTATION WITH PRAYER

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

Everyone of us faces temptations. There are times when the battle seems to rage out of control. One of the major ways we can do battle with temptation is by praying. Today's insight on this topic comes from VOICES FROM THE PAST (Banner of Truth):

[Jesus instructed His disciples] to 'pray that you do not enter temptation.' Prayer is a means to preserve us from it. All men that know nothing of prayer, know what glorious things it can do, yet half is not told of its excellence, power and effectiveness to avoid temptation.

Prayer casts our souls into a military posture of opposition to temptation (Ephesians 6:18). Without prayer, the armor of God will be of no value to stand against Satan's strategies. Consider what weight Paul lays on prayer when he says, "praying always!" He means at all times and in all seasons.

We should always be ready and prepared for the discharge of this important duty (Luke 18:1). Paul also exhorts, 'with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.' We are to pray with desires for God, that are suited to our condition, and according to His will, in which we are assisted by the Holy Spirit. We are to be watchful in it, so we are not diverted by ANYTHING whatsoever, and we are to pray with all perseverance to the very end, that we might stand firm.

The soul thus engaged is in a healthy posture. Without prayer, this important work will not be accomplished. If we do not abide in prayer, we shall abide in cursed temptations. With this in mind -- abide in prayer with this express purpose: that we do not enter into temptation.

Let this be one part of our daily wrestling with God: that He might preserve our souls, and keep our hearts and our ways. Pray that His good and wise providence will order our ways and affairs, that no pressing temptation might befall us. Pray that He would give us diligence, carefulness, and watchfulness over all our ways, that we should be delivered when others are held fast with cords of their own folly. -- Puritan Preacher -- John Owen

I needed to be reminded of this truth this morning. Are you do battle with temptation today? Don't try to do it in YOUR strength. Pray! Pray! Pray! And allow HIM to come to your aid. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 9; 1 Samuel 13-14; Luke 1o:1-24

Dig This Quote: Let us never forget that the Husbandman is never so near the land as when he is plowing it, the very time when we are tempted to think He hath forsaken us. His plowing is a proof that He thinks you of value, and worth chastening: for He does not waste His plowing on the barren sand. He will not plow continually, but only for a time, and for a definite purpose. Soon, aye soon, we shall, through these painful processes and by His gentle showers of grace, become His fruitful land. Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 119:11; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:5-9

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call).

Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website: Donate for Family Freedom Walk fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!

Sit Still

Sit Still

"Their strength is to sit still." Isaiah 30:7

Yesterday marked the second year anniversary of an amazing six week journey for our family. Some of you will remember that our precious granddaughter, Lindsay, had her first open heart surgery two years ago, beginning a six week journey that we have called the worst/best six weeks of our lives.

As men, we are fixers. I am sure you have heard your wife say as mine has had on numerous occasions, "I don't want you to fix this situation, just listen!" I wanted to fix Lindsay. I wanted to step in and take away the pain and hurt for my kids. But on the day of her surgery, God spoke to my heart and said "SIT STILL!"

He used the words from Streams in the Desert to quiet my heart when it was stirred with fear and anxiety. Listen to these words:

Inner stillness is an absolute necessity to truly knowing God. I remember learning this during a time of great crisis in my life. My entire being seemed to throb with anxiety, and the sense of need for immediate and powerful action was overwhelming. Yet the circumstances were such that I could do NOTHING, and the person who could have helped would not move.

For a time it seemed as if I would fall to pieces due to my inner turmoil. Then suddenly "a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12) whispered in the depths of my soul, "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. The words were spoken with power and I obeyed. I composed myself, bringing my body to complete stillness, and forced my trouble spirit into quietness. Only then, while looking up and waiting, did I know that it was God who had spoken. He was in the midst of my crisis and my helplessness, and I rested in Him.

This was an experience I would not have missed for anything. I would also say it was from the stillness that the power seemed to arise to deal with the crisis, and that very quickly brought it to a successful resolution. It was during this crisis I effectively learned that my "strength is to sit still."

There is a perfect passivity that is not laziness. It is a living stillness born of trust. Quiet tension is not trust but simply compressed anxiety. -- Hannah Whitall Smith

Looking back today to two years ago -- we could have written those words. We give testimony to the fact that this was true! There was NOTHING we could do but to SIT STILL and wait on Him. What are YOU facing today in YOUR life? Is it something YOU can't fix? Then take His words into YOUR heart today -- SIT STILL! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 8; 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 9:37-62

Dig This Quote: Christ did not teach and suffer that we might become, even in the natural loves, more careful of our own happiness. If a man is not uncalculating towards the earthly beloveds whom he has seen, he is none the more likely to be so towards God whom he has not. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it. C. S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 119:11; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:5-9 TAKE THE CHALLENGE: May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website: Donate for Family Freedom Walk fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!