Songs in the Night

SONGS IN THE NIGHT

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night.’” (Job 35:10)

There are many people who dread the night. For them, the night amplifies the silence of loneliness, separation and despair. Fear seems to rear its ugly head at night. Problems that appeared to be little blips on the radar screen of life during the day seem to increase in magnitude and appear out of control.

Sleep seems to evade us and the silence of night actually becomes deafening. It is often during these dark times of the night that our great God invades our spirits with “songs in the night.”
David the shepherd played on his harp during the night watch while tending his sheep. Maybe his “songs in the night were the ones that he played for King Saul when his soul was troubled and tormented. When we hear the songs that the Father gives during the night they may not be discernible by our human ears, but we know deep down in our souls He is giving us His special songs.

It is interesting that we us singing to worship and praise Him. The God of the universe who longs for our worship, praise and adoration receives our sacrifices of praise with joy. But it is an amazing thought that when those dreadful, lonely, dark nights, that are filled with despair, fear and anxiousness, He will draw near to you and me to “give us songs in the night.”

God, the Father, the Creator of music, sings His love song to you. Before we know it, we are overwhelmed with His presence and once again filled with awe and wonder. As the dawn approached, you discover that sometime during the night God replaced fear with His peace. Your loneliness is replaced with the awareness that He has been there right beside you. Your anxious spirit has been calmed and quieted with His love. And amazingly, the problems that seemed to be insurmountable have not only been reduced and put into perspective, but you find that He has provided the solutions and answers with clarity.

Open your ears to Him – listen for your special SONG IN THE NIGHT. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 31; Psalm 132-134; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Dig This Quote: If I could hear Christ praying for me ... I would not fear a million enemies. -- Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Jeremiah 33:3; Level 2 -- Psalm 128:1-5

Determined Praying: Jesus calls us to exercise our faith. We HAVE faith by HAVING faith. Our faith grows as it is stretched. The bigger our understanding of God, the bigger our faith. -- Michael Catt

The Purpose of Prayer

The Purpose of Prayer

. . one of His disciples said to Him, ’Lord, teach us to pray . . .’ —Luke 11:1

Here is a great teaching on the purpose of prayer from the pen of devotional writer, Oswald Chambers.

Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer.

When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.

“Ask, and you will receive . . .” ( John 16:24 ). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” ( Matthew 18:3 ). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work.

The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits’ end. When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the very things that have brought you to your wits’ end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature. . . one of His disciples said to Him, ’Lord, teach us to pray . . .’ —Luke 11:1

So are you at your wit's end today about something in your life? Then do this: PRAY! In fact, PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 30; Psalm 129-131; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Dig This Quote: In every action we take, we are doing one of two things: we are either helping to create a hell on earth or helping to bring down a foretaste of heaven. We are either contributing to the broken condition of the world or participating with God in transforming the world to reflect his righteousness. We are either advancing the rule of Satan or establishing the reign of God. Charles (Chuck) Colson

Determined Digging: Level 1 - Jeremiah 33:3; Level 2 Psalm 128:1-5

Determined Praying: I consider the problem, but I don't take the problem into consideration. The problem is not our priority; having faith in God is our priority. The mountain is not the issues; God is the issue. Pastor Ron Dunn

WORSHIP

WORSHIP

Here is a very powerful reading on the subject of worship written by commentator, William Barclay:

It would make a tremendous difference if this congregation would do certain things:

1. When we come to church, we ought to be prepared. There are so few people who make any preparation for worship at all. They have to hurry to get ready; they have to worry down the road; they take their places almost at the last moment; and there is no preparation at all. If every person who comes to church would, before he comes, or even on the road there, think of God for just a moment or two, and say a prayer for himself and for the preacher and the people who will meet in worship, it would make a world of difference.

2. We should come seeking. To come to the services of the church should never be simply a matter of habit, a burden of duty, a hallmark of respectability, the satisfying of a convention. It should be a deliberate attempt to come out of the world and to find contact with God.

One of the great secrets of success in any of the business of life is to know what we want, when we are doing a thing; and when we come to church we should want God.

3. We should come determined to give ALL of ourselves. He who comes to church only to get will, in the end, get nothing. We should come determined to give our interest, our prayer, our devotion, our sympathy. The success of any gathering, the happiness of any party, is always dependent on the people who are prepared to give themselves to the fellowship of the occasion. (Adapted from Responsive Reading from Hymns for the Family of God)

So brothers, will you come prepared to worship today? Come seeking? Come determined to give your all? I think that just might make a difference in your worship today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 29; Psalm 126-128; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

Dig This Quote: " The Lord doesn't work in our lives to reveal what great people He is making us into, but He works in our lives to reveal more of His Son in us!"

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Jeremiah 33:3; Level 2 -- Psalm 128:1-5

Determined Praying: Faith does not grow by being pulled up by the roots time and again to see how it is getting on. Faith grows when we look steadily towards God for the supply of all our needs and concentrate on Him. There is little point in becoming engrossed with our faith as if that were the thing we believed in." J.C. P. Cockerton

I Don't Believe in Atheisits

I DON’T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS

(Rom 1:18-23) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Scripture tells us that “Although they knew God”. The knowledge that there is a God is universal. God did not leave Himself without a witness. He placed “Eternity in their hearts”. One can choose to forget God, but one cannot truthfully say that there is no God. We will never know the many reasons people use to forget God, possibly a tragic event in their past, i.e. loss of a loved one or beloved pet, or not receiving a prayed for gift. Whatever the event, they usually are mad at God and so seek vengeance by denying His existence.

Another reason for not believing in Atheists is that their premise is unsupportable. One of my favorite gags is to tell people that I can answer any question any could give me. The person would then ask a question, i.e. what is the name of my dog when I was little? I would reply, “Fluffy”! Wrong, they would reply. I would then state, “I didn’t say I would give a right answer, I just said I could answer any question!”
I would never state that I know everything. It would not take long to prove the short comings in my omniscience. An atheists, to be a true atheist would have to be “All Knowing” to know there is no God. Realize God could have a palatial estate on Venus and we could not prove or disprove the statement. Years ago it was believed the moon was made of green cheese. Not until 1969 could we say with absolute authority that it was not. How then could a rational, honest individual say that he knows absolutely there is no God.

An atheist therefore is actually a deceived individual. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and without Him there is no knowledge, nor wisdom for that matter. Again the Bible is true, the fool has said in their heart there is no God (Psalm 14.1). Although they say it in their heart, convincing themselves it is true, it comes back to the fact that they wish to forget He is God. Freedom Fighters, we need to “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” NLT 2 Corinthians 10.5. Try this argument on for size. -- Paul Ort is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 28; Psalm 123-125; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18

Dig This Quote: The Christian communities in which we live play a vital role in the business of forgiveness. No matter what the Bible says, and no matter what the bishop pronounces, it is the community that forgives the sinner and receives him or her back into fellowship or 'retains the sin' and closes the door on the sinner. The gospel story of the raising of Lazarus has some application here (John11:1-44). Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, but it was the community that was given the job of unbinding him. You may want to reflect on the life of the community in which you live. Is it a forgiving, reconciling community which will receive back the individual who has missed the mark? How could your community be more forgiving? More loving? More an instrument of reconciliation? Bob Libby

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: It is the office of faith to believe what we do not see, and it shall be the reward of faith to see what we do believe. -- Thomas Adams

Sing, Smile and Pray

SING, SMILE AND PRAY

“I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, to You, O Lord, I will sing praises.” (Psalm 102:1NASV)

MUSIC had always been part of my life and lifts my spirit. When struggling to get me dressed or when I am “droopy” from the effects of my medicine, Mom and I SING. An oldie she taught me years ago ends this way: “If you sing and smile and pray you'll drive the clouds away.” It works! Memorizing the words (Spanish and English) of meaningful hymns is one of my favorite things. Snuggled in bed at night, I love to sing, “Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all” and “Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here.” What beautiful songs with which to end the day with thoughts of my Lord, His blessings and singing praises to Him. So SING and chase the clouds away.

A SMILE works too. Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Is a smile an answer? It is for me. I used to get very angry when children (adults, too) would stare at me in my wheelchair and some would even imitate my expressions. A smile is really effective in most cases. Some will return the smile, others will turn away. This reminds me that a “soft answer” to something negative can change a difficult situation into something positive. A smile rather than a growl does reflect joy that the Lord gives which honors Him and makes me feel better too. So SMILE!

And PRAY. Praying for someone else (and for myself) chases away those clouds. Sometimes we need reminders. Have you ever opened one of those tiny plastic containers of cream for coffee and it spurted out all over? This happened at KESWICK to our friend the late Don MacCullough. How we all laughed! For years every time we opened one of those things, we prayed for Don. Interesting prayer reminder, a little plastic cup. Associating an object or occasion is a good mind jogger to pray for someone. When you see a wheel chair, you could pray for me! So SING with me, “Sing, smile and pray, that’s the only way. If you sing, smile and pray you'll drive the clouds away,” be blessed and bless others. Brendy Platt

Brendy Platt has struggled with cerebral palsy all her life. She recently lost her Mom to cancer, and is now battling cancer herself. Yet through all the challenges of life, "the joy of the Lord is her strength!" Sometimes we need to gain perspective. What are you battling in your life today? SING! SMILE! PRAY! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK and happy to have Brendy as my friend!

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 27; Psalm 120-122; 1 Corinthians 9

Dig This Quote: “The grace of God is love freely shown towards guilty sinners, contrary to their merit and indeed in defiance of their demerit. It is God showing goodness to persons who deserve only severity, and had no reason to expect anything but severity. We have seen why the thought of grace means so little to some church people—namely, because they do not share the beliefs about God and man which it presupposes. Now we have to ask: why should this thought mean so much to others? The answer is not far to seek; indeed, it is evident from what has already been said. It is surely clear that, once a man is convinced that his state and need are as described, the New Testament gospel of grace cannot but sweep him off his feet with wonder and joy. For it tells how our Judge has become our Saviour.” J.I. Packer “Knowing God”

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: What is faith, unless it is to believe what you do not see? -- Augustine


Scripture Reading: Psalms 120-122; 1 Corinthians 9

Money = Super Glue for the Church

Money = super glue for the Church

We have been talking about how God uses money in the Christian's life. He uses it to demonstrate His faithfulness, show us how much we need Him and to bring us to Himself. But yet there is a very unique way that I believe God uses money in the local church.

Last week I was at Keswick and I was talking to an individual who was unemployed for a few months. I asked him how he survived financially and he said his wife worked, he had some savings and his church also helped. I thought that was nice for his church to help him.

I then remembered a single mom in our church that I recently talked to about the daunting task of raising two children in a society that desperately needs two parents. She mentioned how the church helped her financially.

I recalled a testimony from a family that lost everything in a fire and the mother was praising God for believers that had responded to their tragedy with clothing, meals and even a place to stay until their lives could be rebuilt. And then it hit me that God uses money to unite the local body of Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Paul challenged the church at Corinth to share their excess with fellow believers that were in need. Many churches today have benevolence offerings or deacon's funds for this express purpose. We need to be willing to help each other in a time of need.

Remember the early church? Do you remember the unity of the early church? If not, read the first few chapters in Acts and especially Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:34-35. A key ingredient to that early church unity was sharing resources with each other.

I personally believe that we as the church today have lost the vision cast by the early church for the need and responsibility of helping one another. As a result of the church not fulfilling this responsibility, the government has had to step in with welfare and other godless redistribution programs.
The result of the church not fulfilling this responsibility is a society becoming more dependent on the government and less dependent on the church. We also see a lack of unity in our churches today that was described in Acts. This unity came from sharing with each other. The next time we get upset with the government for the excessive and mismanaged welfare programs, remember whose responsibility this was under God's original plan.

In looking at our responsibility to help our fellow believer we see some pretty strong language in scriptures:

In 1 John 3:17 John asks a very direct question "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has not pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (NIV)

1 Timothy 5:8 says "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Although I believe this indicates a first responsibility to our blood family, I believe this also includes a responsibility to help our church family as well. If we neglect that responsibility, we are no better than the lost world.

Even though we (Body of Christ) have not helped each other the way the early church modeled, we still have a huge responsibility to help one another financially. God may be blessing us today to meet a brother or sisters need. What a responsibility we have, when God bestows that blessing upon us. And how often do we misuse that blessing in a way that was not what God intended?

Yes, I believe that money is a vital tool used by God to unify the Body of Christ. This is one more way that God uses money in the Christian's life. -- George Hutchison is a member of the Keswick Board and an instructor with Crown Financial. You can follow his blog, Stewardship Insights.

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 26; Psalm 119:89-176; 1 Corinthians 8

Dig This Quote: In memory of John Geddie, D.D., born in Scotland, 1815, minister in Prince Edward Island seven years, Missionary sent from Nova Scotia to Aneiteum for twenty-four years. When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen. John Geddie

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: Because God is a loving God, he can hear; because He is a loving God, He will hear; because he is our covenant God, He has bound Himself to hear. -- C. H. Spurgeon

Victory One Step at A Time

VICTORY One Step at a Time

And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Deuteronomy 7:22

Next week is our last week of our 2010 summer season. We will conclude the summer with our EXPERIENCING GOD week which begins Sunday evening. A number of our staff and local pastors will be doing the teaching, and we will be going through Dr. Henry Blackaby's EXPERIENCING GOD. We have a limited number of rooms left, so why not call and make your reservation today -- 800-453-7942.

Today's victory devotional was written by Dr. Blackaby in his book EXPERIENCING GOD -- THE DEVOTIONAL (Broadman/Holman):

When God led His people into the Promised Land, He did so step by step. If He had allowed them to annihilate their enemies at once, the land would have been too difficult to manage. So He allowed some of the enemies to remain for a long time in order to maintain the land and suppress the wildlife. In doing so, God taught His people to trust Him step by step. He gave them as much responsibility as they could handle at one time.

As God leads you and me in our Christian growth, He will allows challenges that match your character and relationship to Him. God will not change your character at once when you become a Christian. Rather, He will lead you through a process to become more like His Son.He will keep working in an area of your life until it is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

You may eagerly desire maturity in every area of your character, but steady, gradual growth is more lasting. God will not take shortcuts in His process of making you like Christ. He sees your life from eternity and will take as long as necessary to produce lasting spiritual growth in you.

Do not become impatient while God is producing Christ-likeness in you. Do not seek more responsibilities than those He has give you. Obey all that you know He has asked, and He will lead you at a pace that fits your present character and His purpose for you.

Brothers, I am thankful that God is leading and guiding you and me. What He is offering is victory one step at a time. Praise Him for the way you are experiencing HIM today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 25; Psalm 119:1-88; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Dig This Quote: One of the most wonderful things about knowing God is that there's always so much more to know, so much more to discover. Just when we least expect it, He intrudes into our neat and tidy notions about who He is and how He works. Joni Eareckson Tada

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: Faith is the foundation of prayer, and prayer should be nothing else but faith exercised. -- Thomas Manton

Seeing the Unseen Face of God

SEEING THE UNSEEN FACE OF GOD

This morning's devotional is written by my good friend, Dr. Woodrow Kroll. Dr. Kroll will be with us Labor Day weekend. We still have some rooms available, so why not join us for this final weekend of our 2010 summer season.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

In an article in the Evangelical Beacon, Robert Bakke wrote, “God’s presence must abide so heavily in our churches that they are distinctive from every other competitor in the religious supermarket. God’s presence must dwell so powerfully in our churches that even people who don’t believe in words any more are overcome by the living Word. God’s presence must rest so tangibly on our churches that the refugees from the postmodern battlefield will sense Him even when they don’t have a category to understand Him.”

When you attend church today, do you feel the swell of God’s presence? Or is it just another hymnsing, just another performance, entertainment like the world but with a spiritual twist? How do we see the face of God when we attend church?

No one could ever see the face of God directly and live. When Moses asked God for a glimpse of His face, Jehovah replied, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). To protect mere humanity God always clouded His face with smoke, the cloud, the pillar of fire, etc. When Israel refused to enter the Promised Land, God wanted to disinherit them, but Moses reminded God that other nations “have already heard that you, O Lord, are with these people and that you, O Lord, have been seen face and face, that your cloud stays over them” (Numbers 14:14).

Still, God has made it possible for us to see Him personally, to know Him intimately. “. . . the Word was God . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. And we have seen his glory . . .” (John 1:1, 14).

So how do we see the unseen face of God? We look into the face of God the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). If you look by faith into the face of Jesus, you see by faith the face of God. You can know God more intimately, love Him more personally, and serve Him more faithfully if everyday you look at Him more closely. Find the face of Jesus in the pages of the Bible and you see the unseen face of God.
Dr. Woodrow Kroll is the President of Back to the Bible

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 24; Psalm 116-118; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

Dig This Quote: When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in? This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. C. S. Lewis

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: To pray effectively we must want what God wants -- that and that only is to pray in the will of God. A. W. Tozer

Coffee Without Kevin

Coffee Without Kevin

“My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.” Prov 3:21-23 (ESV)

I have been listening to a sermon series by Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills compliments of a 10 CD set I purchased at Bridgefest recently. It is called “Staying Fit for the Master’s Use” and I have gone back to review the first disc that deals with Samson’s parent’s reaction after they learn that they will be having a son who will be the last judge of Israel. I believe that God has spoken to me about studying the life of Samson and at a later time I will be sharing what I have gotten out of my study. Thus far I can tell you all that there may be a little Samson in all of us but I’ll leave that for another Freedom Fighter. But today my thoughts are elsewhere.

And as I was listening to Pastor Hibbs preach about the son of Manoah, I got to thinking about my own son. At the time of this writing my son, Kevin, has been serving on summer staff in the dining room at Keswick. And to be upfront with all of you…I miss my son. Now it’s not that he made this rebellious decision to up and leave the nest like his father did at age 17, on the contrary. He made a thoughtful life choice that has left quite an impression on my wife and I. My decision to leave home started with an enlistment into the N.J.A.N.G and a half a year later I was gone. I made a much hastened decision to get away from my parents authority. But not Kevin…he positively thought things all the way through.

Since he has gone things at home are different. I miss my Saturday morning drive around town with him. We make it a point to get a Starbucks coffee and then go do some man shopping. We both like The Home Depot and Best Buy. Sometimes we buy absolutely nothing and we can be gone for hours. He is also my assistant when our church sound system and computer network needs servicing. With him not being around a part of my heart is not into taking care of some of these responsibilities and I am blaming the summertime blues on it. But I ain’t fooling anyone into thinking this is the real reason.

I also got to thinking about our good friends in Terre Hill, Pa. Matt and Sue will be watching as their son goes into the Marines (OORAH!!) after high school next year. Their son, from what I can see, made his decision sometime ago and is following through on what he thinks will be a positive move. And as these thoughts of sons went through my head I turned off the CD I was listening to and began to wonder what the Father was thinking when He sent the Son to be crucified on the cross. An act of surrender, a process thought all the way through, that not one of us as parents could ever fathom.

I have been reading through the beginning part of Proverbs these days because it is this father’s desire that his son understand that the key to growing strong starts with his relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son. I can only give the kind of wisdom that a drop-out of the school of “I don’t need you, I can do this myself” can give. But since Jesus Christ picked me and set my feet on the Rock, it is quite evident to me the importance of my own son understanding now what took me over 40 years to realize… That his trust needs to be in the Lord, not to lean on his understanding, acknowledge Him and to let Him direct his paths. And for you fathers reading this morning let’s not forget this applies just as easy for our daughters. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 23; Psalm 113-115; 1 Corinthians 6

Dig This Quote: “This mission of introducing one’s children to the Christian faith can be likened to a three-man relay race. First, your father runs his lap around the track, carrying a baton, which represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the appropriate moment, he hands the baton to you, and you begin your journey around the track. Then finally the time will come when you must get the baton safely into the hands of your child. But as any track coach will testify, relay races are won or lost in the transfer of the baton. There is a critical moment when all can be lost by a fumble or miscalculation. The baton is rarely dropped on the back side of the track when the runner has it firmly in his grasp. If failure is to occur, it will likely happen in the exchange between generations!” Dr. James C. Dobson

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: The test of our willingness to pray "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" is found in the level of our obedience to His Word. It should be our desire in prayer to see the King and His kingdom, praying toward that day when He comes as King of kings and Lord of lords. -- Michael Catt

A Sunday Worship Prayer

A Sunday Worship Prayer

Here is a great prayer for Sunday worship from the collection of Puritan Prayers -- THE VALLEY OF VISION (Banner and Truth). I trust it will start your Sunday on the right track:

Our Great God

O Fountain of All Good,

Destroy in me every lofty thought,

Break pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds,

Annihilate each clinging shred of self-righteousness,

Implant in my true lowliness of spirit,

Abase me in self-loathing and self-abhorrence,

Open in me a fount of penitential tears,

Break me and bind me up;

Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God;

Then can my Father take up His abode in me,

Then can the blessed Jesus come with healing in His touch,

Then can the Holy Spirit descend in sanctifying grace;

O Holy Trinity, three persons and one God,

inhabit me, a temple consecrated to Your glory.

When You are present, evil cannot abide;

In Your fellowship is fullness of joy,

Beneath Your smile is peace of conscience,

By Your side no fears disturb,

no apprehensions banish rest of mind,

With You my heart shall bloom with fragrance;

Make me meet, through repentance, for Your indwelling.

NOTHING exceeds YOUR power,

NOTHING is too great for YOU to do,

NOTHING is too good for YOU to give,

Infinite is YOUR might, boundless YOUR love, limitless YOUR grace, glorious YOUR saving name.

Let angels sing for:

Sinners repenting,

Prodigals restored,

Backsliders reclaimed,

Satan's captives released,

Blind eyes opened,

Broken hearts bound up,

The despondent cheered,

The self-righteous stripped,

The formalist driven from a refuge of lies,

The ignorant enlightened,

And saints built up in their holy faith.

I ask great things of a great God!
Amen! God bless you, my brothers. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 22; Psalms 110-112; 1 Corinthians 5

Dig This Quote: We have made a terrible mistake! For most of this century we have wrongly defined soul wounds as psychological disorders and delegated their treatment to trained specialists. Damaged psyches aren't the problem. The problem is disconnected souls. What we need is connection. What we need is ahealing community. Larry Crabb

Determined Digging: Level One: Jeremiah 29:11; Level Two: Psalm 127

Determined Praying: Without prayer we start trusting in our own ability and resourcefulness, and as we begin to trust in human skills and organising expertise, we lose the glory of God. -- Terry Virgo

Let God's WORD Live in You

Let God's WORD Live in You

This summer our theme as been DIGGING DEEPER into GOD'S WORD. I trust that if you made a commitment to read through God's WORD this year, you are still on the journey. If you stopped, pick it back up. If you read the Digging Deeper passages listed in this blog, you will get back on track.

I have been reading through Stormie Omartian's newest book on prayer (The Power of a Praying Life -- Finding the Freedom, Wholeness and True Success God has for You -- published by Harvest House). It is a great read.

In the chapter I read today, Stormie reminded me off reasons why I need to let God's Word live in me:

To have my prayers heard: "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." Proverbs 28:9

To have my prayers answered: "If you abide in Me, and My word abides in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

To stay away from trouble: "When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation." Proverbs 10:25

To be healed and delivered: "He sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction's." Psalm 107:20

To be on a path that leads away from death: "In the way of righteousness is life, and it is pathway there is no death." Proverbs 12:28

To receive all God has for me: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give you grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

To have peace: "Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble." Psalm 119:165

To prosper and be successful: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

To have food for my soul: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

To experience God's Presence: "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart." Psalm 15:1-2

Good reminders, brothers, as to why we should be immersing ourselves in the Word of God on a DAILY basis. If you have gotten off track, get back on today. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 21; Psalm 107-109; 1 Corinthians 4

Dig This Quote: Mould us, great God, into forms of beauty and usefulness by the wheel of Providence and by the touch of Thy hand. Fulfil Thine ideal, and conform us to the image of Thy Son. In Thy great house may we stand as vessels meet for Thy use. We are little better than common earthenware, but may we be cleansed, and purified, and filled with Thy heavenly treasure. Dip us deep into the River of Life, and give refreshment by us to many parched and weary hearts. Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: Most churches don't know that God rules the world by the prayers of His saints. -- Andrew Murray

Clothed With Power

CLOTHED WITH POWER – John Piper

I came across this article in the latest edition of the PRAY magazine, a ministry of Life Action. It is a very powerful article and one that I know will speak to your heart today ...

God gives special, extraordinary power of the extraordinary challenges of an expanding witness to Christ. This power fell on the Christians at Pentecost and then repeatedly throughout the book of Acts. And not only the book of Acts; the letters of Paul talk of this same power available to Christians (Eph. 3:16). It is the very fullness of God, as unimaginable as that sounds.

When God sovereingly pours that kind of power out on a church, we call it revival. And God’s purpose in revival is that our witness to Christ will have more conviction, more courage, more wisdom, and more effect, so that God is greatly glorified and people are reached.

Four ways to see this power:

1. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. It is almost certain that you will not be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit if you are not filled with the Word of God (1 John 2:14: Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29). If you want the power of the Holy Spirit in your life – if you are tired of being a weak replica of ordinary non-Christians – then change your routine and immerse yourself in the Bible. Read it, think about it, memorize it, use it.

2. Believe the Word of God. Trust that God intends to do wonderful things for his glory through you, because that is what the Bible teaches. Be expectant that the Holy Spirit within you will give you power according to God’s Word. In Romans 15:13, Paul says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (emphasis added). In other words, the power of the Spirit is the result of the believing, and it begets joy and peace.

3. Pray earnestly for power, and fast. We should ask God for the power of his Spirit. And sometimes we should do this with fasting. Luke 4:14 says that Jesus came from his 40-day fast full of the Holy Spirit. It may be that God reserves his extraordinary power for those who long for it in extraordinary ways – and show that longing by extended fasting and prayer.

4. Obey the Holy Spirit. Obey the Holy Spirit even before you feel his power. Many of us have resisted the Holy Spirit so often that we are unfit for the flow of his power. The channels have become so clogged with fear and self-consciousness and doubt and rationalization and worldly preoccupation that what we allow through is a barely discernible trickle of God’s love.

As we begin to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, battle the unbelief in our hearts, pray and fast for power, and do what we know what we ought to do, little by little the old, clogged channels are cleared, and we begin to feel the power flow again.
(Adapted from “How to Be Clothed with Power” by John Piper. Find it at DesireGod.org.)

I don't know about you, but I am thankful today that I am clothed in HIS power. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 20; Psalm 105-106; 1 Corinthians 3

Dig This Quote: In Proverbs we read: "He that winneth souls is wise." If any man, women, or child by a godly life and example can win one soul to God, his life will not have been a failure. He will have outshone all the mighty men of his day, because he will have set a stream in motion that will flow on and on forever and ever. Dwight L Moody

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers." Sidlow Baxter

ANGUISH

ANGUISH

One of my staff members gave me the recent issue of Life Action Ministries PRAY magazine. Dr. David Wilkerson wrote a powerful word on the subject of ANGUISH

Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God? Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry? It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age.

Anguish means “extreme pain and distress; the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful; acute, deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you.” Anguish. Deep pain. Deep sorrow. Agony of God’s heart.

All true passion is born out of anguish. Search the Scriptures, and you’ll find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation, He would share His own anguish for what He saw happening to His church and to His people. He would find a praying man, and He would literally baptize that man in anguish.

All the devil wants to do is to get the fight out of you and kill it, so you won’t labor in prayer anymore.

You won’t weep before God anymore. You see, a true prayer life begins at the place of anguish.

If you set your heart to pray, God is going to come and start sharing His heart with you. Your heart begins to cry out, “Oh God, Your name is being blasphemed. The Holy Spirit is being mocked. The enemy is trying to destroy the testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness, and something has to be done!”

There will be no renewal, no revival, no awakening until we are willing to let Him once again break us.

Folks, it’s getting late, and it’s getting serious. There are some who need to confess: “I am not what I was. I am not where I am supposed to be. God, I don’t have Your heart or Your burden. I’ve wanted it easy. I just wanted to be happy. But, Lord, true joy comes out of anguish.”

There is nothing of the flesh that will give you joy. I don’t care how much money, I don’t care what kind of new house … there is absolutely nothing physical that can give you joy. True joy comes only through what is accomplished by the Holy Spirit when you obey Him and take on His heart.

(Adapted from “Anguish” by David Wilkerson – printed in Revive magazine, a quarterly publication of Life Action Ministries)

Take some time to prayerfully think through this power word from the WORD. -- Bill Welte at America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 19; Psalm 103-104; 1 Corinthians 2

Dig This Quote: “God’s blessings at times came to us through our labors and at times without our labors, but never because of our labors.” Martin Luther on Deut 8: 17-18

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer. Martin Luther

Graced by Jospeh's Presence

Graced by Joseph’s Presence

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:12-18 (NKJV)

I just got done spending eight plus days at America’s Keswick. My family and I took part in “Victory Week Three”. The last time I stayed for an extended time there it was during the summer/fall of 2003 when I was at the Colony. I was blessed with some messages from Glenn Blossom and Charles Zimmerman. The bald headed guy behind the keyboards wasn’t there but there were quite a few singing surprises. The Tuesday night talent show is still etched in my mind. That night I remember there was this guy with a guitar telling some bad jokes about penguins going to the zoo and then to the beach. By the way, they had sunglasses and apparently disturbed the police…any who….!!

I was asked by my good friend, Bill Jahns, if I would take the Friday morning devotions with Housekeeping. I found out that I was also giving his father-in-law the day off which Mr. Sparks made sure I was aware of. Bob I really do hope you enjoyed the time off. On this morning I thought it would be a great idea if I told the guys where God has taken me since I left the Colony. My writing Freedom Fighters was mentioned and I did get to answer some questions. I also hope I encouraged someone there that morning.

But there was this disciple named Joseph that stuck out. He had asked some poignant questions and I kinda remember seeing him around. He also must kinda pop in and out of view because the comment of him gracing people with his presence was mentioned. He took it in stride and the morning went quite well…well I think so. I also had to prepare for the “Families For Christ” Ministry over the weekend so it was a long stay at Keswick to say the least but the part that sticks out the most was my conversations with a graduate named Nabil on Friday night as quiet time was approaching and then with Joseph Saturday night as the Activity Center was closing.

Nabil shared what it is like for him to be a Christian in Jordan. This brother helped my wife and I take a different a view of what we get told in the press about the Middle East. He also told us about the difficulties with the handling of addictions in his homeland. I praise God that He used Nabil that night to straighten out my prejudice with the Middle East. And then there was Joseph on Saturday night. This young man was a refreshing challenge for me. I think of what it must have been like for the Apostle Paul to share the Gospel with Timothy and then raise him up to pastor a church dead smack in enemy territory.

I could hear a zeal in Joseph that I do not hear often enough in my community. That zeal is to die to self. I sometimes find it funny that I travel great distances to and attend conferences to hear preaching on the subject of dying to self. All I did to hear a young man’s quest for death to self was to walk outside an ice cream stand…sorta speak. I did travel to Keswick however and I have been blessed. Thanks to a young disciple named Joseph my view of dying to self has been refreshed. I sincerely thank you Joseph for gracing me with your presence. As for you, my brothers, take some time outside the Dairy Queen and see if there be any Joseph in you. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; Psalms 100-102; 1 Corinthians 1

Dig This Quote: “A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family. He must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death, for this is written into the fabric of his being. Listen carefully now: You do. That is why God created you---to be His intimate ally, to join Him in the Great Battle. You have a specific place in the line, a mission God made you for. That is why it is so essential to hear from God about your true name, because in that name is the mission of your life.”Wild at Heart
John Eldredge

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: We are not wringing gifts from an unwilling God, but going to one who knows are needs better that we know them ourselves and whose heart towards us is the heart of generous love. If we do not receive what we pray for, it not because God grudgingly refuses to give it, but because he has some better thing for us. -- William Barclay

Knowing What Your True Needs Are -- Part 2

Knowing What Your True Needs Are -- Part 2

"Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing ..." -- Ephesians 1:3

Yesterday I shared with you 12 insights from Stormie Omartian's new book, The Power of a Praying Life (Harvest House) to help us assess what our REAL needs are in life.

Here is the next set of principles. If you missed yesterday's, go back and work through the list:

13. I need to know God as my Healer and grow in faith that He can bring healing to me and to those for whom I pray.

14. I need to find breakthrough in my life through the godly discipline of prayer and fasting.

15. I need the ability to take control of my mind and not be tossed to and fro by the lies of the enemy, who always tries to make me believe that his lies are truth and God's truth is a lie.

16. I need to resist negative thoughts and emotions, and stop believing lies about myself.

17. I need to speak words that bring life, and be able to seek the truth in ALL situations.

18. I need to move in the power of God and not live an overwhelmingly life of powerlessness in the face of difficulties.

19. I need to be rid of destructive relationships that not don't add to my life but tear it down.

20. I need to recognize who my enemy is so that I can resist him and not assist him.

21. I need to be strong enough to turn away from all temptation to do ANYTHING that is not glorifying to God.

22. I need to learn to pray without ceasing so that I can enjoy emotional peace and contentment.

23. I need to surrender my life to God and live in a manner deemed holy by Him.

24. I need to grow in faith and not be tormented or restricted by doubt and instability.

25. I need to be able to unfailingly stand strong in all I know of God, no matter what is happening.

26. I need to be the kind of person who never gives up hop, regardless of how hopeless things seem, because my hope is in the Lord.

As I encouraged you yesterday, why not take this list and pray through it. Allow God to fill you with more of Him and less of you. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 17; Psalm 97-99; Romans 16

Dig This Quote: He has right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him, the right to help Himself to your life anytime He wants. Henry Blackaby

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

Determined Praying: "Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking." The atmosphere and aroma of our lives is to be that of prayer. -- Michael Catt

Knowing What Your True Needs Are

Knowing What Your True Needs Are

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing ... Ephesians 1:3

We just finished our third week of Victory Conferences. It was a blessed week, but we had some real challenges. Saturday I was running on an empty tank spiritually and physically, and as always, God knew that.

I was recently sent a copy of Stormie Omartian's new book on prayer, The Power of a Praying Life -- Finding the Freedom, Wholeness, and True Success God Has for You. It is published by our good friends at Harvest House.

Just several pages into the book, God spoke to my heart with truth that I needed to hear after such an intense week of ministry. Stormie shares 26 principles that define my true needs. I will share half of the list today, and the other half tomorrow:

1. I need to be frequently reminded of who God is and who I am and can be in Him.

2. I need to take charge of my thoughts and emotions, and seek to be delivered from anything that imprisons or restricts me so I can live in the freedom and wholeness God has for me.

3. I need to be deeply impressed with the knowledge of all Jesus accomplished on the cross so I am not continually wearing myself out struggling to make something happen in my life that has already been accomplished.

4. I need to always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit so I can know God's will and be were I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to do.

5. I need to understand, recognize, and receive the gifts God has for me so I am not always striving for what He has already provided.

6. I need to know God's rules for my life and be able to secure HIS help in fully obeying them.

7. I need to be free of guilt and able to maintain a heart of humility and repentance.

8. I need to receive GOD'S forgiveness whenever I miss the mark HE has for me and be able to extend forgiveness to others when they, too, miss the mark.

9. I need to have the fear of the Lord in my heart every day so I am in right relationship with Him, and then He will take away all tormenting fear from my life.

10. I need to be able to see and appreciate my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit so I can learn to care for it properly.

11. I need to experience God's love every day and be able to share it with the people He puts in my life.

12. I need to be free to wholeheartedly give to God and to other in the way He would have me to do!

Wow, brothers. Is this not powerful! Take a moment and run back over the list. Turn it into a prayer today and watch God work! Do you know what your TRUE needs are? I will share the rest of the list with you tomorrow. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

Dig This Quote: The prayer life does not consist of perpetual repetition of petitions. The prayer life consists of life that is always upward and onward and Godward.
G. Campbell Morgan

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: Prayer is not about changing God's mind; it's about changing OUR mind in light of how God wants things to happen. It's not about getting my will done on earth; it's about seeing HIS will done on earth as it is in heaven. -- Michael Catt

The Trinity

Tonight begins our fourth week of conference ministry. Join us as Pastor Bob Alderman and Pastor Harold Vaughn share God's Word. There are still some rooms open this week and next. Take advantage of the 25% special.

The Trinity

Today we worship HIM -- God, three in One! Here is a wonderful prayer from the book, Valley of Vision -- Prayers of the Puritans

Three in One, One in Three, God of my Salvation,
Heavenly Father, blessed Son, eternal Spirit,
I adore Thee as one Being, one Essence, one God in three distinct Persons,
for bringing sinners to thy knowledge and to thy kingdom,

O Father, thou hast loved me and sent Jesus to redeem me;

O Jesus, thou hast loved me and assumed my nature,
shed thine own blood to wash away my sins, wrought righteousness to cover my unworthiness;

O Holy Spirit, thou hast loved me and entered my heart, implanted there eternal life,
revealed to me the glories of Jesus.

Three Persons and one God, I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable,
so wondrous, so mighty to save the lost and raise them to glory.

O Father, I thank thee that in the fullness of grace thou hast given me to Jesus, to be His sheep, jewel, portion;
O Jesus, I thank Thee that in fullness of grace thou has accepted, espoused, bound me;
O Holy Spirit, I thank Thee that in fullness of grace thou hast
exhibited Jesus as my salvation,
implanted faith within me,
subdued my stubborn heart,
made me one with him forever.

O Father, thou art enthroned to hear my prayers,
O Jesus, thy hand is outstretched to take my petitions,
O Holy Spirit, thou art willing to help my infirmities, to show me thy MY need,
to supply words, to pray within me,
to strengthen me that I faint not in supplication.

O Triune God, who commandeth the universe, thou hast commanded me to ask for those
things that concern thy kingdom and my soul.
Let me live and pray as one baptized into the threefold Name. Amen

Worship Him today -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; Psalms 91-93; Romans 15:1-13

Dig This Quote: When you slight this or that person, though gracious; that is, look over them, and shun them for their poverty in this world, and choose rather to have converse with others, that possibly are less gracious, because of their greatness in this world, you deal with the sin of pride. John Bunyan

Determined Digging: Level 1: Isaiah 55:8-9; Level 2: Psalm 103: 20-22

Determined Praying: God is more willing to work than many of us are to pray!

Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11

I came across this prayer written by an unknown confederate soldier. You might have seen it before, but I think it is powerful:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made week, that I might learn humbly to obey ...

I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things ...

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise ...

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God ...

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things ...

I got nothing that I asked for ---
but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself,
My UNSPOKEN prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.

Now go back to the top of today's Freedom Fighter and read the verse! Are you thankful that He answers prayer HIS way? I sure am. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; Psalms 89-90; Romans 14

Dig This Quote: There is no joy when sin is present!

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: Prayer has been called the 'native language' of the soul -- the universal expression of the innate human desire to make contact with the divine.

The Theology of Resting in God

Brothers: We are halfway through our summer season. We have several rooms open the next three weeks, so please, take time to come to America's KESWICK and allow God to refresh and nourish your soul. Take advantage of our 25% Freedom Fighter discount: 732-350-1187

THE THEOLOGY OF RESTING IN GOD

Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26

God has so often spoken to my heart through the devotional writings of Oswald Chambers. This devotional couldn't have come at a more precise time in my life -- but then isn't that just like Him!

When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God.

We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.

There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.

I've been hit this summer with a number of storms. I needed to be reminded of this truth today. The hymn writer said: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are truly blessed -- Finding as HE promised: perfect peace and rest! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; Psalms 87-88; Romans 13

Dig This Quote: It is grace at the beginning, and grace at the end. So that when you and I come to lie upon our death beds, the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us in the beginning. Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the Grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace wondrous grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. Yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: If we are going to leave a legacy of faith, we must teach our children to pray. If we are going to see power in our churches, we must have men of prayer in the pulpits. If we are going to reach the next generation for Christ, fulfill the Great Commission, and change our culture in the process, we must be people who have learned to lay hold of God. -- Michael Catt

MACO 103 Reprised, Surprised?

MACO 103 Reprised, Surprised!?

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”
Ephesians 5:22-27 (NKJV)

Hey you men that read Freedom Fighters, I have a question for the vast majority of you. How could you miss what I will cover today? That’s right you don’t even know what I am talking about yet but you guys missed it. A few weeks back I wrote about how Jesus had to rebuke those guys called “The Pharisees” on the issue of adultery because they wanted to trick Him into saying something that they could use against Him so that they could kill Him. And there was a point that I left out and you, my Brethren, missed it too, apparently, because I didn’t hear this point from a man’s point of view but a woman’s.

I have a dear sister in Christ who prayed for my salvation many years ago and in return for that I send her the Freedom Fighters that I write. As much as I value the opinion of my Brothers in Christ is as much as I value the circle of the Sisterhood that is part of the Church. So without further a-do I will share with you what my dear sister shared with me. And for her protection from you guys I’ll just call her….um…Judy.

I am going to not edit what Judy sent me but I will say that this is something that I missed and I am grateful that she spoke up about it. And now…Here’s Judy…

“There was one thing that I was curious as to why you didn't mention. That is the one reason, adultery, where Jesus talks about divorce. It seems to me that I studied somewhere that "adultery" is equated in terms of our relationship with Jesus. In other words, those who commit "adultery" are in a relationship with the devil and not in a relationship with Christ. God wants all our affection and attention; He doesn't want it "shared" with any other "god", or anything else. Those who do that are in an 'adulterous' relationship with Christ. We are the 'bride of Christ'...any other 'relationship' than the relationship with Him is adulterous.

Also, I recently attended a women's brunch at my new church. The speaker was superb. One of the things she was speaking about was being the "bride of Christ". Bingo! After all these years a 'light went on'! I have been told that I was a "kid of the King", "a Princess", etc., but for the first time, being the 'bride of Christ' smacked me right in the heart! I said to her, "it's been very difficult for me relate to being a child of royalty because my folk were just simple people...however, being a 'bride' I can relate to! I was a bride and can relate to all the things that pertain to being a bride...and even more so now, knowing that I am Christ's Bride! It was a very special moment, even though I had heard those words for years.”

I think Judy is right. We are not just a kid of the King, we all are the Bride of Christ. If you are in the Body of Christ you get to be in the wedding. The Pharisees of the time of Christ went around putting burdens on God’s people for no good reason but to elevate themselves at a wedding they didn’t deserve to be part of. And guess what…neither do we, but because we come into right relationship with Jesus we get to be in the wedding and Jesus wanted us to hear that right from His very lips. I would like to thank my dear sister for her insight on this issue and the Apostle Paul’s use of marriage to illustrate just what Jesus meant for us to understand. I encourage you, my Brothers, to take a closer look at marriage. Or at least find yourself a Judy who will be able to show how she feels about the Bride of Christ!! -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 12; Psalms 84-86; Romans 12

Dig This Quote: We know it is the weight of our sin that accelerates us into the seasons at the bottom. But here’s the amazing, unbelievable thing---a profound mystery, as Paul says: “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’…and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:31-32). Marriage refers to Christ and the church---every marriage, no matter how pendulum-like because of our sin; every marriage, even if the couple doesn’t care one bit about Jesus. To change metaphors, God designed marriage to be a picture. That makes me ask myself, how clear and well-focused is the portrait of Jesus that our marriage is displaying?” Forward: Pendulums and Pictures
This Momentary Marriage Noel Piper

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: The act of praying is the very highest energy of which the human mind is capable; praying, that is, with the total concentration of the faculties. -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Prayer, Money and Chuck E. Cheese

Prayer, Money and Chuck E. Cheese

This past week our two grandchildren from NC have been staying with us. So of course that meant a visit to Chuck E Cheese with all four grandchildren. In case you don't know what Chuck E. Cheese is all about, it is one of the most exciting places in the entire world. That is if you are under 10 (…or a 60 year old grandfather).

After you get past the mediocre food, you get to do some really fun things. These fun things include kiddie rides and a bunch of games designed for children (ages 2 – 10). Each game and ride takes one token to play. We had 70 tokens.

Every time you play a game, you win tickets. Then you take your tickets to the "Ticket Muncher" and redeem them for really cool stuff. After an awesome night of accumulating 534 tickets, we left with three nerf rockets and a sheet of stickers.

Since I was the oldest in our group, I was assumed to be the most responsible, and became the "token bank". At first I gave four tokens to each grandchild and received a huge smile, a well mannered "thank you PaPa" and a hug. I thought to myself; no wonder I love this place!

After about five minutes those four tokens were gone and I got a little excited. I was pretty sure I was about to receive another hug, cute little smile and gracious "thank you PaPa" from four of the most precious people in my life. I soon started giving out tokens one at a time instead of four at a time. I got the same cherished response; just four times as often.

And then it hit me. Doesn't this sound familiar? My Heavenly Father, who loves me even more than I love my grandchildren, owns all the money in the world. (Haggai 2:8, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12) And He wants me to come to Him and ask Him for what I need. (Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 7:7-8)

I must admit that I started to use those little tokens in Chuck E. Cheese for three things that night. I used them to play the silly games. I used them to satisfy a craving for my grandchildren's love and affection. But they also reminded me of one more way that God uses money in our lives.

Last week I was talking to a friend who is currently unemployed. In the conversation he mentioned that he was praying for employment. I assured him, that I too was praying for him.
I have talked to a number of Christian couples that are struggling financially. Most of them will tell me how they have taken their financial problems to God in prayer. Some have even gotten so desperate, they began fasting and praying over their financial situations. We all pray about our personal financial issues. This is what God wants.

God wants us to pray to Him (Psalm 50:15, Isaiah 65:24) and let Him know that we love Him and tell Him our needs. Isn't it incredible that the God of the universe wants me to come to Him and fellowship with Him through prayer? Just like I used those tokens to drive my grandchildren to me at Chuck E. Cheese, God will use money (and possibly even withhold it) to drive us to Himself through prayer.

Yes, God definitely uses money in the Christians life. We have seen that in the last few posts. He will use money to show His faithfulness. He will use money in our lives to show us how much we need Him. And yes, He will use money in our lives to stimulate our prayer lives. -- George Hutchison is a Board member at America's KESWICK and an instructor with Crown Financial

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 11; Psalm 81-83; Romans 11:19-36

Dig This Quote: If in fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (i.e., to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.Amy Carmichael

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

One Day At A Time

One Day At A Time

This has been a great summer, and it has been a challenging summer. There have been moment of intense battles and moments of glorious victory.

God knows JUST what we need and when. Today I came across this poem written by the song writer, Annie Johnson Flint who wrote the beloved gospel song, HE GIVETH MORE GRACE ...

One day at a time with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong;
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time -- but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong;
O Thou pitying Christ, be thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I will never leave thee."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor tomorrow's uncertain and shadowy care,
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is HIS day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient, we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

Aren't you thankful that He asks us to live ONE DAY AT A TIM! I am! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 10; Psalm 79-80; Romans 11:1-18

Dig This Quote: We count on God's mercy for our past mistakes, God's love for our present needs on God's sovereignty for our future. -- Augustine

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: You can never be a worshipper until you are a confessor. There has to be a humbling before there is a hallelujah. There has to be a cleansing before there can be shouting. -- Michael Catt

Parent's Prayer

Parent's Prayer

One of our greatest privileges as parents and grandparents is to pray for for our kids. I learned this early on remembering how my parents prayed for me and my brother.

We are on our third week of PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) and each day there are parents who are PUSHing for God to do something in the hearts of their kids. Some pray for prodigals; others are praying that God will deepen the faith of their kids.

Amy Carmichael, a missionary who served in India for 45 years without a furlough, had a love for kids. She founded an orphanage there, and had a burden for her "children." This is a bold prayer to pray for your kids:

Make them good soldiers of Jesus Christ; let them never turn themselves back in the day of battle. Let them be winners and helpers of souls. Let them not be ministered unto, but to minister. Make them loyal; let them set loyalty high above all things. Make them doers, not mere talkers; make them sound.

Let them enjoy hard work and choose hard things rather than easy. Forbid that they be slackers. Make them trustworthy. Give them grit. Make them wise, for it is written, He hath no pleasure in fools.

Let them pass from dependence on us to dependence on Thee. Let them never come under the dominion of earthly things; keep them free. Let them grow up healthy, happy, friendly, and keen to make others happy.

Give them eyes to see the beauty of the world and hearts to worship its Creator. Cause them to be quick to recognize the figures of the true. Let them be gentle to beast and bird (see Garrett -- that does include parrots!); let cruelty be hateful to them.

May they walk, O Lord in the light of Thy countenance. Let this be the inheritance of these children -- the upper springs and the nether springs of life. And for ourselves we ask that we might learn how to brace and never weaken. "God is my strong salvation ..." We ask that we might train them to say that word and live life, and pour themselves out for others unhindered by self.

What a powerful way to pray for our kids. Don't neglect this awesome privilege guys. PUSH for your kids today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 9; Psalms 77-78; Romans 10

Dig This Quote: If God is everywhere, that means that we are at all times in the situation, the setting, that makes prayer possible. For we are at all times in the presence of the One whom we desire to touch, to reach, in prayer. We don't have to go looking for God, as if God were somehow missing from our lives. William H. Shannon

Determined Digging: Level 1:Isaiah 54:17; Level 2: Psalm 103:15-19

Determined Praying: Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.

Join us this week as Drs. Glenn Blossom and Charles Zimmerman share God's Word from the pulpit of America's KESWICK. Glenn will be speaking at 9:30 AM (Monday-Thursday) and Charles 7:00 (Monday-Thursday). Can't come in person? Watch Live: www.americaskeswick.org