Freedom Fighters

Come Aprart

2009-07-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

COME APART

“And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.”
(Mark 6:31)

A wise old country preacher, Vance Havner, used to say, "If you fail to come apart, you will most certainly come apart." Those words spoken many years ago when life was much simpler than it is today, couldn't be more true in this age of information and technology overload.

Most men cannot stand quiet. It is in the quiet that we really begin to wrestle with the issues of life and of the heart. Think about it, where can you go today without some kind of noise?

The Psalmist David exhorts us to "Be still and know that I am God ..." How do we do that when we are so connected to life? And we are connected -- cell phones, PDA's, pagers, computers. How does one get still?

Have you considered a "Personal Retreat?" This is not necessarily a commercial for America's KESWICK, but this is a wonderful spot for you to get away for a day or two just to get alone with God and enjoy peace and quiet.

I am not suggesting that you have to come to America's KESWICK to do this (but it is a wise choice!). But I want to encourage you to take a day or two and get away and get alone with God. Unplug the laptop. Disconnect the cell phone and pager. Walk around the lakes and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Listen to the birds singing. And you will be amazed -- God will speak to your heart.

Writer John Eldridge, in his thought-provoking book, WILD AT HEART, says that "To recover our heart's desire a man needs to get away from the noise and distraction of his daily life for time with his soul. He needs to head into the wilderness, to silence and solitude. Alone with himself, he allows whatever is there to come to the surface. Sometimes it is grief for so much lost time. Sometimes it even starts with temptation, when a man thinks that what will really make him come alive is something unholy."

If you would like help in planning a personal retreat, please respond to this email. We would be happy to give you some suggestions.

Now think about this -- Jesus Christ, the Son of God -- took time to get away to reconnect with the Father! What makes us think we can ignore doing this? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 2; Job 22-24; Acts 11

Great Quote: How many Christians are there who pray every Sunday in church, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!" without ever realizing the spiritual implications of such intercession! What are we praying for? Should we edit that prayer so that it becomes a confrontation: "My kingdom go, Lord; let Thy kingdom come!" Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my life. A. W. Tozer

Let's See Now, What Shall We Do Today?

2009-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

LET’S SEE NOW, WHAT SHALL I DO TODAY?

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
(Psalm 90:12)

Years ago, at a men’s prayer breakfast, a good friend asked us all a question. He said, “What if today was going to be your last? And what if somehow God let you know that? So you were sitting here today in the knowledge that this day is your last day. What do you think you would do today?”

Good question, huh? Well, here’s my own answer anyway. Because my trust is in Jesus, I know that I will be welcomed into heaven. At this point it’s a little too late to think about what kind of treasure I can lay up there. So I think I would do all I could for what’s still down here. I would try to recall the different people through life that I have offended. Harsh words. Hurt feelings. Relationships that went sour. I would do all I could to put it right. At the very least, they would know that I was sorry.

Now for the fun part. I would think of those people who have meant the most to me. People who believed in me when no one else did. People who brought me closer to God. People who showed me what love is. I would let them know how much it all meant. I would tell them in words that they were the greatest people in my life, and I would thank them. I would ask them to never change. With these things done I would now spend the rest of the day with my family. Talking with my wife. Laughing with my daughter. Wrestling with my son. I would want their last day with me to be one that they would never forget. I would tell them over and over of my love. I would speak into their future. Releasing them to a joy-filled life, and ensuring them each of the glories that await us. I would make them promise me that they will always follow Jesus.

I don’t know what you have planned for today. I know that most of us have more to do than we have time. We need a heart of wisdom though. Remember that today is numbered. Remember what it’s all about. -- Chris Thompson is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves with his wife, Pam, as a church planter in England

God's WORD for TODAY: Proverbs 1; Job 20-21; Acts 10:24-28

Great Quote: Prodigal sons, forgiven and reconciled with their heavenly Father, could they do other than forgive one another? A fellowship of prodigal sons came into being -- the church of Christ. Love begets love. A new power...was let loose upon our suffering world, the power to love those who have not deserved love, the unworthy, the unlovely and unlovable, a man's enemies, and even his torturers. Christians, in imitation of the Saviour, became, as it were, Christs to one another and to the world. Theodore O. Wedel

Getting UP When You're Down

2009-06-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

"GETTING UP WHEN YOU'RE DOWN"

Are you down today? Feeling a little blue? Or maybe even depressed? Most of us become unhappy and depressed at times in our care less workaday world. In the depth of our depression we complain, are restless and irritable, tired and can't sleep. Happiness (joy) is not something we are born with, although we are born with the capacity to be happy. Our problem is we believe that only other folks can achieve happiness. We're different, we have been given different, if not strange, DNA.

Happiness is a practiced thing, an attitude more than specifics of a situation. In addition, it is more of a spiritual problem than a psychological one (Romans 9:20-21).

There are four essential steps to bring relief from being unhappy or
depressed or "How to Get Up When Your Down."

ESSENTIAL NO. 1 - Accept God's Pardon. To begin the journey out of the darkness of depression or unhappiness, we must ask and receive God's pardon for our sin, including the not accepting God's plan and purpose your life.

ESSENTIAL NO. 2 - Acknowledge God's Providence. When God created you he had a purpose for your life and He has your eternal good in mind. Yet, many times, we are still dissatisfied with appearance, temperament, abilities and circumstances. This complaining is really rebellion against God!

ESSENTIAL NO. 3 - Admit God's Prerogative. God has an absolute and perfect right to do with you as He pleases (Romans 9:21). Rather than bemoan our lot in life we need to rejoice in God's wisdom and power.

ESSENTIAL NO. 4 - Appropriate God's Provision. Salvation, The Holy
Spirit, Righteousness, Church Bible and Prayer for Contentment.

THOT: WHEN DOWN, LOOK UP! -- Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired pastor and a new contributor to Freedom Fighter

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Job 17-19; Acts 10:1-23

Great Quote: The only right a Christian has is the right to give up his rights.Oswald Chambers

Seventh Inning Stretch

2009-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Seventh Inning Stretch

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”(this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6: 1-4 (ESV)

Sometimes there are just too many days that are dedicated to the honoring or acknowledging of an event or a person and at times I think it is just a scam in order to sell cards, candy and flowers. Now Mothers Day is a given and should not even be questioned but Father’s Day is a bit different. It is looked at as a great excuse for Dad to eat BBQ or receive a new tool (sorry guy’s if you are getting ties) but for me this year it will be the first one I have without my father.

Dad was an easy buy. If you went to Phillies game, get him a hat. If you went near a Home Depot, get him a tool. If you had gone fishing…well you get the idea. My Dad was real cool about Fathers Day. Even if you just called him, he was fine with it. I don’t know how I’ll feel this Father’s Day without him but I’m sure I’ll manage. I’m a Dad now and my children have done with their short lives abundantly more than I could have ever hoped for. Just in that is Father’s Day gift enough. But there is a bit more.

My son just graduated from 8th grade with honors. My daughter played in the band during the ceremony. What a blessing!! And because of an unforeseen health problem, the dugout coach with my son’s baseball has had to take some time to recover and I have been asked to join the team. Now I have been sitting on the other side of the chain link for a part of the season but since that moment the team was won themselves a place in the playoffs. The head coach say’s I must be good luck but I know better. I think it is because Jesus is in the dugout and prayer is happening when these young men step up to the plate.

You see, to me Mother’s and Father’s Day is something to be viewed Biblically. We are told to honor our parent’s straight from the tablets God forged for Moses to take the nation of Israel. I tell my children that all they have to do is do it for God first and I’ll be honored for it, that I am taking care of God’s provision in my life. Then it is up to me to keep the encouragement up. I have to do that by living out the words of encouragement that I say to them. If I tell them to PRAY FIRST before you do first…they better see me do it. If I tell them not to be ashamed of the Gospel I better pray for the meal when we go out to eat, even if it is McDonalds. And if necessary wear my Americas Keswick T-shirt’s in public and not just on the grounds when I am spending time there.

Our children need to see us, as men, honoring our Heavenly Father. They need to hear us cry out “ABBA” when we are at our weakest so they know what to do when they are at their weakest. And if you can say it like you mean it, raise your voice and shout “SANTO” when you have been blessed. In all things show your children that “Our Father who art in Heaven” matters in your everyday coming and going.

Just as a side note….my daughter helped select the verse I have used for this Freedom Fighter as well as edited me for grammar and punctuation. She is not only Daddy’s only little girl she’s a chip off the ole’ block. We both send our regards to all the Freedom Fighter Brethren. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and regular contributor to Freedom Fighter

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 29: Job 14-16; Acts 9:22-43

A Great Quote: “Communication not only disciplines, it also disciples. It shepherds your children your children in the ways of God. Like the teaching of Deuteronomy 6, this full-orbed communications occurs while lying down, walking, rising, walking, sitting. Parents are often too busy to talk unless something is wrong. A regular habit of talking together prepares the way for talking in strained situations. You will never have the hearts of your children if you talk with them only when something has gone wrong.”
Shepherding a Child’s Heart
Tedd Tripp

Learning from our Failures

2009-06-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

June 28

LEARNING FROM OUR FAILURES

“I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34)

History is replete with illustrations of failure that led to success. Take notable figures like Thomas Edison or Abraham Lincoln. These great men experienced failure after failure before success came their way. For them failure was not a waste. It became their most valuable teacher.
A reporter once asked Thomas Edison about one of his inventions. Edison informed him that he had performed over one thousand experiments before he finally found what worked. The reporter was amazed that anyone would have the patience to keep on trying after one thousand failures. However, Edison reminded the reporter that nothing was wasted. He said, “I discovered one thousand things that did not work.”

What have you learned from your failures? Or should I ask, are you learning from your failures? Failure should never be final. We should learn from our failures and move forward.

What do you think Simon Peter learned from his failures? Let me suggest some things he may have learned.

I think Simon Peter may have learned humility. He had a tendency to overly confident. He would brag about his abilities and his commitment. It was failure that taught him that his confidence had to be in God and not in himself.

I once heard of a young preacher who went to the pulpit with an air of arrogance. In the pulpit he flopped and floundered. He left the pulpit broken and embarrassed. His pastor said to him, “If you had gone in as you came out, you would have come out as you went in.”

Failure can introduce us to ourselves. And this can be a good thing.

Simon Peter was probably more sympathetic with others after he had experienced failure. Failure can make us less judgmental of others and more sympathetic.

One of the greatest discoveries we can make in time of failure is that God’s grace is sufficient to pick us up and clean us up and put us on the path again. Did you know that you are never beyond the reach of God’s grace. He specializes in turning failure into success.

What have you learned from your mistakes? -- Dr. Roger D. Willmore is Senior Pastor at Deerfoot Baptist Church and will be a speaker this summer at America's KESWICK. Check our website for details: www.americaskeswick.org

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 28; Job 11-13; Acts 9:1-21

Great Quote: A want of assurance is not unbelief. Drooping spirits may be believers. There is a manifest distinction made between faith in Christ and the comfort of that faith, between believing to eternal life and knowing we have eternal life. There is a difference between a child's having a right to an estate and his full knowledge of the title. Stephen Charnock

What A Mighty God We Serve

2009-06-27T02:00:00.002-04:00

What a Mighty God We Serve

We've been blogging about the first reality of experiencing God: GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK AROUND US, and it is fitting that I share these verses with you:

Come, let us shout JOYFULLY to the Lord,
Shout triumphantly to the ROCK of our salvation!
Let us enter HIS gates with thanksgiving;
Let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.
For the Lord is a great God,
a great King ABOVE all gods.
The depths of the earth are in HIS hands,
and the mountain peaks are HIS.
The sea is HIS; He made it.
His hands formed the dry land!

Come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the sheep of His pasture,
the sheep under His care. (Psalm 95:1-7)

I am writing to you from Seward, Alaska. 16 of our Keswick friends have joined us on a 12-day tour of Alaska. We have witnessed some of the most amazing views of God's creative hand! I have seen mountains that just take our breath away.

We have seen two grizzly bears (from a distance), doll sheep, a snow-hare rabbit, several moose, and most of all, we were eye-witnesses to Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.

What has been amazing is that God literally peeled back the clouds for us to see Mt. McKinley for several hours. Only 30% of Alaska's visitors have seen the mountain because of cloud covering.

On Tuesday we were in Denali National Park and had a 365 degree panoramic view of some amazing mountains. I said to a couple traveling with us, "I would love to just stand here and sing, HOW GREAT THOU ART! Guess what? We did.

Our great God is the God of creation. He is still creating! He is creating all of this for HIS glory and our enjoyment. I wish I could share all my pictures with you. If you have FACEBOOK, invite me to be your friend so you can enjoy them.

Thank You, Lord, for giving us this amazing glimpse of your glory! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Job 8-10; Acts 8:26-40

Great Quote: You can only learn what obedience is by obeying. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Knowing God

2009-06-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

Sorry that there was no Freedom Fighter yesterday. We were in Denali, Alaska and there was no internet connection! :(

KNOWING GOD

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

Have you ever thought about how we know God? We can’t see Him. Most of us have never heard Him speak in an audible voice, and we’ve not touched Him. So, how do we know Him?

Surely we can know God through the Scriptures. Is that kind of knowledge sufficient to satisfy us or God. Should not our knowing be more intimate than just words on paper–even when God Himself inspires the words? We can also know God through His creation. The majesty of that creation tells us of His power and majesty. Still, I wonder if that’s enough.

Perhaps another question will help. How did God tell us to know Him? One verse of Scripture has captured my attention. It has pushed me to rethink how I know God. Psalm 46:10 says to us “Be still, and know that I am God. . . .” The next verse reminds us that “The Lord of Hosts is with us” (emphasis added). Busyness won’t help us know God. Taking on more responsibility won’t help us know God. All of the busyness and clutter of our lives may keep us from knowing God. God didn’t tell us to know Him by filling our lives with activity.

The Scriptures remind us that Jesus regularly got away from people. He chose to be alone with His Father. Almost immediately after becoming a Christian, Paul went to the Arabian Desert. For three years he was alone and still with God. (Galatians 1:13, 15-17) God reminded the prophet that he would not hear God’s voice in loud and noticeable ways. His voice most often comes in still and small ways.

Most of us want to know God. Most of us won’t because we’re too busy. We have too much noise and clutter around us. All of us have aspirations . . . dreams . . . goals. To know Him as He is knowable will require ruthless effort on our part. We must make room for quiet solitude that will allow us to “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me, your High God. . . .” (Psalm 46:10 in The Message) -- Rev. John D. Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River and a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 26; Job 5-7; Acts 8:1-25

Great Quote: How many Christians are there who pray every Sunday in church, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!" without ever realizing the spiritual implications of such intercession! What are we praying for? Should we edit that prayer so that it becomes a confrontation: "My kingdom go, Lord; let Thy kingdom come!" Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my life. A. W. Tozer

Experiencing God in Worship -- Kissing the Face of God

2009-06-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

KISSING THE FACE OF GOD

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.”
(Jn. 4:23)

There is much of what we call worship in the church today. Hymns and choruses either traditional or contemporary are what many people equate with the concept of worship. Some even equate an emotional experience in church as “worship.” Jesus, in conversing with the Samaritan woman, clues her into what God is looking for and defining as worship. Music, singing, and experience do not constitute worship. The Father looks for those who worship in spirit and truth.

In studying the word Jesus uses that translates into English as worship (proskuneo), it literally means “toward someone to kiss” (pros = to, toward; kuneo = to kiss). It is interesting to see how God the Father and Son view true worship. In other words, God seeks out those who truly seek to kiss Him. Like a child who would climb upon the lap of their father and kiss his cheek out of a pure heart and desire to be with him. It doesn’t matter to that father where it takes place; just the joy of it taking place brings delight to him. The idea of worship to God relates closely to that of intimate time with an intimate, personal God.

When my wife and I celebrate our anniversary, we go out to a romantic, candlelight dinner with the sound of romantic music in the background to set an atmosphere where we can intimately reminisce over our first date, our first kiss. The music is not what makes our time intimate, or the candles. It’s the communion of our hearts that makes our time special. So it is when we worship God -- the music only creates an atmosphere where we can enjoy intimate fellowship. If I were ever unfaithful to my wife, she would know it intuitively, because the level of intimacy shared on my part would only be superficial. God also knows when we superficially worship Him. He describes to Isaiah of Israel, “these people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13) Man has the propensity to go through the motions of worship with no heart to it. After all, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

Our worship must be directed toward God, He must be the object of our worship. If we enter into worship only for what we can get from it, the direction is not toward God, but toward self, hence, unprofitable or unfulfilling. Wholehearted devotion toward God, attributing the worth He rightly deserves as God and growing deeper in knowledge of who He is as He has revealed Himself in Scripture is the kind of spirit and truth worshipper God seeks after. Kiss the face of God as you worship Him today. -- Rev. Michael P. Woods, M.Div. served for over ten years as Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries at America's KESWICK. He is now on the pastoral staff at Faith Baptist Church in Hamilton, NJ

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 24 Job 1-2; Acts 7:22-43

Great Quote: We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace; we are sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace; we are called to serve and, finally, we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace. Jerry Bridges

God is Always at Work Around You (Part 4)

2009-06-23T02:00:00.001-04:00

God is Always At Work Around You (Part 4)

I love this story from Marilyn Heavilin that illustrates how God is always at work around us ...

I stepped into the passenger section of the plane, and whispered a prayer to God. “Lord, You know it’s really early. I haven’t even had my coffee yet, so it sure would be nice if my seat mate wanted to sleep, too, and wasn’t very talkative.” I don’t think that prayer went past the ceiling of the plane. Before I sat down, the man in the seat next to mine started chatting. By the time the plane left the ground, I knew he was a Christian, lived in Riverside, California and attended Victoria Community Church. I commented, “I’m speaking at that church soon.”

“What group are you speaking to?” he asked
“The Grief group,” I answered.
“And what do you know about grief?” he asked.
I stated, “Three of my five children have died.”

As I said that, I noticed the tears rolling down his cheeks. So then I commented, “And you have lost a child.”

The man nodded “yes.” He told me that his son had died in a car crash many years before. He also shared that prior to his son’s death the man had been a minister, but had felt he must resign when his wife had an affair and his marriage ended. He returned to the town reluctantly when his son died, and a woman from the community approached him at the cemetery and said, “This is God’s punishment to you!” The man left the town vowing he wanted nothing to do with Christianity or Christians ever again.

He later married again and became financially successful until an employee betrayed the company and my seat mate faced the possibility of losing everything. One night as he lay in bed, he was concerned over the stress all of his problems were putting on his wife. He found himself praying for the first time in many years.

“Lord, how can I help my wife?”
The Lord made it clear, “What she needs is to know Jesus as her Savior.”
The man continued by saying, “That night I led my wife to Jesus. Then she wanted to go to church! She found a church she thought I would like. After much coercion, I went to church with her. The people were really nice. They helped us find good financial advice. We are not wealthy any longer, but we’re doing OK.”
Then he shared, “We’ve been doing OK, but recently I have felt out of touch with God. This morning I prayed, ‘Lord, would you please put some one in my way this week who could encourage me?’” He looked at me and exclaimed, “I think you’re it!”

I tried to protest, but he said, “When I got here today, because I fly so much, the ticket agent moved me up to First Class from 9A. See God moved me up so that I could talk with you!”

Then I said, “Do you want to know the rest of the story? Before I moved up to First Class, I was sitting in 9B!” -- Marilyn Heavilin is a speaker, author, and serves with her husband, Glen, as a summer volunteer at America's KESWICK

Pretty cool, huh?

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23;

Great Quote: What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new
organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit
can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not
flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery,
but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer.Edward McKendree (E. M.) Bounds

Know ... Reckon ... Present

2009-06-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

KNOW . . . RECKON . . . PRESENT

“knowing this, that 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)

Many of us know that it’s one thing to celebrate Easter each year, and entirely another thing to live in the power of that resurrection.

No single passage of scripture better defines living in the power of Jesus’ resurrection than Romans 6:1-23. The Apostle Paul defines the basics of this new life we have in Jesus. We can discover the power to live in "newness of life" by staying in this portion of scripture until God’s Spirit makes it real in our lives.

Paul first tells us that we need to know something. In Romans 6:6 he tells us that we need to know that we have been crucified with Christ. The truth of that death to sin does us no good unless we know it, and most of us still don’t know it as well as we should. I suggest staying right here in Romans 6 until you know this truth in your own experience.

Then we’re told that we should reckon what we know to be true in our lives. Romans 6:11 teaches us that we need to reckon death to the power of sin and new life in Christ to be true in our lives. That word, reckon, means to "act as if it’s true" or "consider it done." Reckoning moves us from knowledge to application. Knowing isn’t enough; reckoning moves us closer to living in resurrection power.

Finally, Paul tells us in Romans 6:13 that we are to present ourselves to God. That word, present, means to yield ourselves to God. He wants us to understand that we choose to live in a new way because we have died to the old way.

Do you see the progression? We start with what we know. Then we reckon what we know to be true in our own lives. Then, we take what we know and have reckoned to be true in our own lives and present ourselves to God. We do so expecting Him to continue His work in us for the rest of our lives.

Know . . . Reckon . . . Present . . . that’s how we live out Easter every day of our lives. Those three words will make Easter come alive for you. -- Rev. John D. Strain is the senior pastor of First Baptist Toms River, and has been a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Job 3-4; Acts 7:44-60

Great Quote: We must remember that our experience of union with God, our feeling of His presence, is altogether accidental and secondary. It is only a side effect of His actual presence in our souls, and gives no sure indication of that presence in any case. For God Himself is above all apprehensions and ideas and sensations, however spiritual, that can ever be experienced by the spirit of man in this life.

God Is Always at Work Around You (Part 3)

2009-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

God is Always at Work Around You (Part 3)

"Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it." (Isaiah 46:11 b)

For some of us, looking for go at work around us comes easier. For others, it may take some time for you to open your spiritual eyes to look for His work. I want to encourage you to be waiting, watching and expectant. He wants to reveal Himself to you in ways that you can't even begin to imagine.

We heard an amazing testimony of God at work during Lindsay's illness and homegoing. One of Laura's friends from her MOPS group recently told Laura that they were new attenders at their church in New Hampshire. Because of the testimony of Lindsay's life, and watching Laura, Jon and Tanner go through this trial, their friend Jodi, came to Christ. She told Laura that she wanted to make sure that she was going to heaven too!

Over the course of the year Jodie's family came to Christ and several weeks ago, Jodi and her family were baptized.

Several weeks prior to that we had attended their church, and Jon's Aunt asked to purchase my piano CD for a lady she had been witnessing to who was attending the church, and who was "searching." Aunt Shirley was diligently praying for her salvation.

The day of Jodi's baptism, Pastor Ken felt led to give an invitation. As he was praying, he asked for anyone who wanted to receive Christ to raise their hand. He scanned the congregation and didn't see any hands, bowed his head to pray when all of a sudden, this friend of Aunt Shirley yelled out, "Hey, wait for me. I want to get saved!"

Now I don't know about you -- but that story gives me goose bumps! That sounded to me like an experience right out of the book of Acts!

God was at work in Jodie's life and look at the transformation of an entire family! Aunt Shirley was asking God to work in her friend's life -- and she came to Christ. Lindsay had a small part in the whole process.

God is ALWAYS at work around you, brother (and sister!). Look for Him. Expectantly! He wants to demonstrate His power and glory. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 22; Esther 6-8; Acts 6

Great Quote: "With freedom from danger, we can leave a crowded meeting of believers, an inspiring mountaintop experience, or a helpful fellowship with "righteous men made perfect" (Hebrews 12:23), in order to return to our modest and simple Emmaus, to the dreaded home of the Colossians, or even to the mission field of distant Macedonia. We can do so with the calm assurance that wherever God has placed us, and in every detail of our daily lives, He has ordained the land we are to possess to its very borders and has ordained the victory to be won!" -- Northcote Deck (Streams in the Desert)

God is Always at Work Around You

2009-06-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

God is Always at Work Around You

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" (Isaiah 30:21)

It is so easy to have tunnel vision and get our heads buried in the sand. We can choose to live like an ostrich, or soar like and eagle when it comes to seeing God at work all around us.

Today was one of those moments that every speaker, teacher and writer dreads -- living what you preach! I hate when that happens.

I alluded yesterday to a very difficult situation I am going through, I had to be stretched out of my comfort zone. Quite honestly, I felt like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane -- "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me!"

I had to be a part of a phone call that was going to be hard and difficult. This morning, God spoke to my heart from his Word and through Streams in the Desert. The verse at the top of today's blog was my prayer. This was the words He gave me from "Streams" ---

When you have doubts or are facing difficulties, when others suggest courses of action that are conflicting, when caution dictates one approach but faith another, we should be still. We should quiet each intruding person, calm ourselves in the stillness of God's presence, study His Word for guidance, and with true devotion focus our attention on Him. We should life our nature in the pure light radiating from His face, having an eagerness to know only what God will determine for us. Soon He will reveal by His secret counsel a distinct and unmistakable sense of His direction.

You must also have the courage to wait in silent expectation, even when everyone around you is insisting on an immediate decision or action. If you will do these things, the will of God will become clear to you. And you will have a deeper concept of who HE is, having more insight into HIS nature and HIS heart of love.

Part of the poem for that day was this:

"STAND STILL," my soul, for so your Lord commands:
E'en when your way seems blocked, leave it in HIS hands;
HIS arm is mighty to divide the wave.
"STAND STILL," my soul, "stand still" and you will see
How God can work the "impossible" for thee,
For with a great deliverance He does save.

I obviously cannot go into the details, but let me tell you this -- GOD WAS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD. It was an "exceedingly-abundantly-above and beyond-all you could ask or think" moment! You see -- God was at work ALL around me.

What are you facing? My friend, HE wants you to experience HIM! Stand still! Get into His Word! Pray! Seek His face! And allow Him to reveal to you how HE is at work ALL around you! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 21; Esther 3-5; Acts 5:22-42

Great Quote: "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Think of that when you are tempted to question the gentleness of His leading. He is remembering all the time; and not one step will He make you take beyond what your foot is able to endure. Never mind if you think it will not be able for the step that seems to come next; either He will so strengthen it that it shall be able, or He will call a sudden halt, and you shall not have to take it at all. Frances Ridley Havergal

Experiencing God -- God is always at work around you

2009-06-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Experiencing God -- God is always at work around you ...

"Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing some things in your days -- you would not believe it if you were told!" Habakkuk 1:5

The first of the seven realities of experiencing God is the fact that God is always at work around you! Sometimes we get bogged down in our circumstances, and as the old saying goes, "we can't see the forest from the trees."

I love the story in 2 Kings 6 when Elisha was confronted concerning the army of Syria that was about to attack Israel. The Israelite army was fearful and convinced that they could not defeat this "great army" that had surrounded the city.

Elisha told the kings attendant not to be afraid, "for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16). Elisha then prays and petitions the God of Israel to open the attendant's eyes. I love this: "The the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!" (2 Kings 6: 17

This fearful attendant of the king had the awesome privilege of seeing the curtain of the spiritual world pulled back so that he could gaze upon the army of the Lord that was all around them behind the scenes.

So often we are focused on the problem: finances, sickness, disappointment, hurt -- we fail to see with our human eyes that our Sovereign Lord is at work in ways we cannot see.

Like you, I am facing one of those battles were there is a situation out of my control. From a HUMAN perspective, it would be easy to run to the hills. I see the IMMEDIATE and the enemy that is looming around me. BUT GOD is at work all around me, and if I am willing to trust HIM, He will see me THROUGH it in ways that can turn my life upside down.

What are you experiencing right now? My friend, remind yourself of a FACT not a feeling: GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK AROUND YOU. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 20; Esther 1-2; Acts 5:1-21

Great Quote: No one switches on a flashlight in an area flooded by direct sunlight. We put on the light in order to dispel darkness. It is the darkness that makes the light necessary. God from eternity knew that men would choose darkness rather than light, and therefore He had to bring His light in Jesus Christ to shine in the midst of darkness. Anonymous

Experiencing God -- The Seven Realities

2009-06-19T00:00:00.006-04:00

Experiencing God -- The Seven Realities

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:3 (The Amplified Bible)

God longs for you and I to experience Him. The Old and New Testament biblical characters did not have a corner of experiencing God. You and I have the same privilege. The question is do we long to have him enter into our world.

In his classic Bible study, Dr. Henry Blackaby suggests that there are SEVEN REALITIES to Experiencing God:

1. God is always at work around you.

2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.

3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.

4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.

5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.

6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join what God is doing.

7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.

Throughout the next several weeks, I'd like to invite you to travel on this journey with me as we take our time exploring these seven principles. I want to suggest that you grab your journal and begin to open your eyes and heart, and experience HIM in a way that could literally turn your world upside down.

Will you join me on the journey? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 19 Nehemiah 12-13; Acts 4:23-37

Great Quote: What you need to do, is to put your will over completely into the hands of your Lord, surrendering to Him the entire control of it. Say, "Yes, Lord, YES!" to everything, and trust Him so to work in you to will, as to bring your whole wishes and affections into conformity with His own sweet, and lovable, and most lovely will. It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him. He turns hard things into easy, and bitter things into sweet. It is not that He puts easy things in the place of the hard, but He actually changes the hard thing into an easy one. Hannah Whitall Smith

Experiencing God

2009-06-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Experiencing God

Yesterday I did not configure this Freedom Fighter correctly. It was only posted on the blog. I felt it was important for you to have this one since we were going to talk about this subject for the next couple of days.

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astonished. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if old." Habakkuk 1:8

A number of years ago, a dear friend, the late Dr. Ruth Ann Breuninger, President of Invest in a Life, handed be a copy of a workbook written by Drs. Henry Blackaby and Claude King. The book study? EXPERIENCING GOD.

I have worked through the book several times now and would highly encourage my Freedom Fighter brothers to purchase the workbook and do the study. WARNING: IT COULD TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

I have been reading through the Old Testament again this year and have been amazed at the record of the godly men that have had an encounter with the living God. Their lives were turned upside down, inside out -- and they were never the same.Moses was one of those characters that jumped off the page this year. Here was a guy that had the privilege of getting to know God on a really intimate basis. While he never saw the face of God, he was able to experience a side of God that we can only dream about.

What was it like for him to go on top of the mountain and have a one-on-one encounter with God? It was so intense that when he came out from the presence of the Lord, he had to put a veil over his face because his face shone with the glory of the Lord.

Paul reminds us that unlike Moses, we have the amazing of beholding the glory of God without a veil: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory glory of the Lord, are being transformed (a continuous process) in the same image from one degree of glory to another." 2 Corinthians 3:18

When Moses walked out from the Tent of Meeting, the people knew because of the veil that he had had an encounter with the living God. Today, because the veil of the temple has been torn down, we, by faith, through the Lord Jesus, have access into His very presence. Whenever we are in the presence of God, we are undone (Isaiah 6) and a transformation work takes place in our hearts.

I asked myself this question: If I am in the presence of the Lord, am I experiencing Him in such a way that when I come away from that precious time, does my very life radiate the glory of God to those around me? What would happen this Sunday if you and I experienced His glory in such a way, that upon leaving our church service, we'd be glowing and radiating that just walking into our favorite restaurant, they'd be whispering all around the room, "What's up with him? He's glowing! There's something really different about him!"God wants you to experience Him, my friend.

For the next several days, I want to share with you the SEVEN REALITIES of EXPERIENCING GOD that Dr. Blackaby shares in his book. My prayer for you is that you will experience God in such a way, that your life will be turned upside down and inside out for His glory. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Nehemiah 7-9; Acts 3

Great Quote: Don’t slack off seeking, striving, and praying for the very same things that we exhort unconverted people to strive for, and a degree of which you have had in conversion. Thus pray that your eyes may be opened, that you may receive sight, that you may know your self and be brought to God’s feet, and that you may see the glory of God and Christ, may be raised from the dead, and have the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those that have most of these things still need to pray for them; for there so much blindness and hardness and pride and death remaining that they still need to have that work of God upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them. This will be a further bringing out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, and a kind of new conversion…” Jonathan Edwards, Advice to Young Converts.

Experiencing God

2009-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Experiencing God

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astonished. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if old." Habakkuk 1:8

A number of years ago, a dear friend, the late Dr. Ruth Ann Breuninger, President of Invest in a Life, handed be a copy of a workbook written by Drs. Henry Blackaby and Claude King. The book study? EXPERIENCING GOD.

I have worked through the book several times now and would highly encourage my Freedom Fighter brothers to purchase the workbook and do the study. WARNING: IT COULD TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

I have been reading through the Old Testament again this year and have been amazed at the record of the godly men that have had an encounter with the living God. Their lives were turned upside down, inside out -- and they were never the same.

Moses was one of those characters that jumped off the page this year. Here was a guy that had the privilege of getting to know God on a really intimate basis. While he never saw the face of God, he was able to experience a side of God that we can only dream about.

What was it like for him to go on top of the mountain and have a one-on-one encounter with God? It was so intense that when he came out from the presence of the Lord, he had to put a veil over his face because his face shone with the glory of the Lord.

Paul reminds us that unlike Moses, we have the amazing of beholding the glory of God without a veil: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory glory of the Lord, are being transformed (a continuous process) in the same image from one degree of glory to another." 2 Corinthians 3:18

When Moses walked out from the Tent of Meeting, the people knew because of the veil that he had had an encounter with the living God. Today, because the veil of the temple has been torn down, we, by faith, through the Lord Jesus, have access into His very presence. Whenever we are in the presence of God, we are undone (Isaiah 6) and a transformation work takes place in our hearts.

I asked myself this question: If I am in the presence of the Lord, am I experiencing Him in such a way that when I come away from that precious time, does my very life radiate the glory of God to those around me? What would happen this Sunday if you and I experienced His glory in such a way, that upon leaving our church service, we'd be glowing and radiating that just walking into our favorite restaurant, they'd be whispering all around the room, "What's up with him? He's glowing! There's something really different about him!"

God wants you to experience Him, my friend. For the next several days, I want to share with you the SEVEN REALITIES of EXPERIENCING GOD that Dr. Blackaby shares in his book. My prayer for you is that you will experience God in such a way, that your life will be turned upside down and inside out for His glory. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 17; Nehemiah 7-9; Acts 3

Great Quote: Don’t slack off seeking, striving, and praying for the very same things that we exhort unconverted people to strive for, and a degree of which you have had in conversion. Thus pray that your eyes may be opened, that you may receive sight, that you may know your self and be brought to God’s feet, and that you may see the glory of God and Christ, may be raised from the dead, and have the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those that have most of these things still need to pray for them; for there so much blindness and hardness and pride and death remaining that they still need to have that work of God upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them. This will be a further bringing out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, and a kind of new conversion…” Jonathan Edwards, Advice to Young Converts.

Another Senior Friend in Heaven

2009-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Another Senior Friend in Heaven

We lost a very dear senior friend today. She has been a friend of our family for the past 15 years. We first met when we were living in Maryland. She had a rough life, and in fact, she even ended up having her name changed because her original name was a reflection on her real family.

We sort of adopted her into our family. She was there before Zach was born and became a special friend to our kids, Laura, Josh and Julie. She was there for us in the good times and bad times. She demonstrated to all of us unconditional love.

It didn't matter when we would see her. She would always greet us with joyfully. We could have not seen her for twenty four hours, and she'd treat us like we were gone for weeks.

She was one of those special ladies that comes into your life just when you needed the encouragement, the camaraderie, and a listening ear. You could tell her stuff in confidence, and she would not judge you or ignore you for something you might have said that could have been offensive.

It has been hard for us to watch her declining health during the past year. She's had several close calls where we thought she was not going to make it. But for some reason, her fiestyness kept her going. We knew that one day we were going to face the inevitable. We've all dreaded it.
But during these past several weeks, many of her 73 year old body parts just started wearing out. Watching her move around was not just painful for her -- it was for all of us.

Today was the day her life ended. It was a very sad moment for me. It was just as well that the kids weren't around, especially Zach. With all we've been through, I knew that this was going to be a hard moment for all of us.

The amazing thing was that I had the privilege of being there for her final moments. While it was very difficult to let her go, I know she lived a long, fruitful life. Knowing that she would be free from pain and suffering made the outcome just a tad easier to deal with. Thankfully she closed her eyes and just went to sleep.

The sad part for me is that unless my theology is wrong, we'll never see her again. Our precious black lab was a good friend to all of our family, and so many others that she touched. The vet told us today that she outlived the average lab's lifespan. It's just sad that we won't get to see her in heaven -- unless the movie was right, and "ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?"

Probably not quite the Freedom Fighter you expected. We've learned many lessons from this special family friend -- lessons that I can learn as I think about my friendships. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 16; Nehemiah 4-6; Acts 2:22-44

Great Quote: Heart-work is hard work indeed. To shuffle over religious duties with a loose and careless spirit, will cost no great difficulties; but to set yourself before the Lord, and to tie up your loose and vain thoughts to a constant and serious attendance upon him: this will cost you something. To attain ease and dexterity of language in prayer and to be able to put your meaning into appropriate and fitting expressions is easy; but to get your heart broken for sin while you are actually confessing it; melted with free grace even while you are blessing God for it; to be really ashamed and humbled through the awareness of God's infinite holiness, and to keep your heart in this state not only in, but after these duties, will surely cost you some groans and travailing pain of soul. John Flavel

God is Faithful

2009-06-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

God is Faithful

Well you did not receive a Freedom Fighter on Sunday. No, I didn't really forget -- but our Saturday was quite the event.

I shared with you on Friday that we were heading to New Hampshire to await the arrival of our grandbaby. On Saturday morning, our daughter Laura, started with labor and headed into the hospital with her husband, Jon.

At 11:17 AM, our beautiful grandson, Case Will Groen, was born weighing in at 10lbs 2 ozs. He is a fine little lad ... well not really little, and his arrival was special in many ways. Many of you have followed along with our journey with our granddaughter, Lindsay Alice Groen. On May 16th, Lindsay went home to be with Jesus, and yesterday would have been her 3rd birthday.

Case is not a replacement baby -- nobody can replace little Lindsay. However, he is a gift from God to our kids. I believe that God sent him for such a time as this, and I know that our kids see him as an amazing "big" gift from God to them after such a very difficult year.

Yesterday, a number of walked 2 miles for the Children's Hospital of Boston, walk-a-thon, in honor of Lindsay as well as a tribute to the amazing care that she received during her time in the hospital.

I am thankful today for God's faithfulness. We can never thank Him enough for His love, care, comfort, and goodness to our family. Thank You, Lord. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 15; Nehemiah 1-3; Acts 2:1-21

Great Quote: In return for the love which brought the Son of Man down from heaven, in return for the love which led Him to die for us on the cross, we cannot give Him holy lives, for we are not holy; we cannot give Him pure souls, for our souls are not pure; but this one thing we can give, and this is what He asks, hearts that shall never cease from this day forward, till we reach the grave, to strive to be more like Him; to come nearer to Him; to root out from within us the sin that keeps us from Him. To such a battle I call you in His name. Frederick Temple

Case's arrival a day before didn't necessarily take away the hurt and painful memories, but he was a huge reminder that God is faithful. He's n

How To Be Content

2009-06-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

"HOW TO BE CONTENT"

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, or forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
It is difficult to recognize that our character (conversation) or manner of life is an area of ethics that deals with our responsibility to ourselves. Our society wrongly insists that success is determined by the amount we can accumulate. The love of money is a common form of
covetousness (1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith . .). The love of money is a common form of covetousness because it can be used to secure many other things that we want which displeases God. Jesus emphatically warns Man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15).

Contentment cannot come from material things, for they can never satisfy the heart. The desire to have more, and more and still more (GREED) interferes with contentment and like oil and water they are just not compatible. A source of great peace comes to those who love the Lord with all their heart and have trusted in His Word enough to know that He will never forsake or leave the true believer (v. 5). Wow! What contentment this produces and what confidence it gives in order that we need not fear any man.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). -- Dr. Henry Lutz is a retired Pastor and a new contributor to Freedom Fighter.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 13; Ezra 6-8; John 21

Great Quote: And let no man lose heart, and abandon a good scheme because he meets chopping seas and cross winds at the outset, since God may be thereby driving him on a better course, and toward greater ends than he ever dreamt of. Thomas Guthrie

God Meant It For God (Part 2)

2009-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

God Meant It For God (Part 2)

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

If you didn't read yesterday's post, you need to go back so that today's makes sense. We experienced the reality of the what I wrote in an amazing way.

We were planning to leave for New Hampshire on Wednesday evening around 7:00 PM. For some reason the Lord led me to have my wife call my daughter to see if she wanted us to come Wednesday night or wait until Thursday. She was concerned about us leaving at 7:30 and driving six hours, so she told us to wait until Thursday morning. Our original plan was to leave at 4:30 AM.

We started out at 3:30 AM and have a pretty uneventful trip until all of a sudden the check engine light came on in our car, and within minutes we were losing power. It was pouring rain and we were in the middle lane with rush hour traffic. We were able to pull over to the right hand shoulder and put on our flashers. Within ten minutes the car was completely dead.

Miracle Number #1 -- Just think ... if we had not been able to pull over, we would have been stuck in the middle lane in rush hour traffic with no hazard lights!

Miracle Number #2 -- Every time we see a Connecticut State Trooper -- he looks big and mean! While we were sitting there waiting for the AAA tow truck, an unmarked car pulled up, and an officer in a "White" shirt came over to the car with the biggest smile and said, "You folks ok? Anything I can do?" He then told us that we were in a safe place to break down and would check back on us later.

Miracle Number #3 -- We had no clue what was wrong with our car or where we were. When the tow truck arrived, the driver said that there was a Chrysler/Dodge dealership ten minutes from where we were pulled over. Our car is a PT Cruiser!!!

Miracle Number #4 -- The dealership was amazing!!! This place had a barbershop, diner, car museum, and incredible customer service men. Bottom line was that the timing belt was the problem. A month ago during a routine check-up on our car, the mechanic told us that we need to think about replacing the timing belt sometime later this summer. He prepared us for the cost of $1500.

Miracle Number #5 -- We could have broken down and been no where near a dealer and had some fly-by-night garage rip us off. The dealer told us he needed to check our warranty and that normally the warranty did not cover this job. We had purchased an extended warranty on the car, and low and behold, apart from our $200 deductible, everything, including a rental car, was fully covered!!!

Needless to say -- we experienced the reality of God's "all things working together for good." As the rep was doing the paperwork, he noticed that there was also a recall on our power steering. He said, "You're here anyway -- we'll take care of it for you!"

We are so thankful for God's protective care and provision. Thank You, Lord. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 12; Ezra 3-5; John 20

Great Quote: Why doesn't our contagious joy, enthusiasm, and gratitude infect others with a longing for Christ? Why are the fire and spirit of Peter and Paul so conspicuously absent from our pallid existence? Perhaps because so few of us have taken the journey of faith across the chasm between knowledge and experience. We prefer to read the map rather than visit the place. The specter of our actual unbelief persuades us that it is not the experience that is real but our explanation of the experience. Our beliefs - which William Blake called "The mind-forged manacle" - distance us from the grip of personal experience. Brennan Manning

God Meant It Unto Good

2009-06-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

God Meant It Unto Good (Genesis 5:20)

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I have shared with you that over the years I have made notations in my Bible and various devotional books that are reminders of difficulties, blessings, trials, and God's provision. They are those benchmarks of God's faithfulness that help us through difficult times.

On 6/10/03 there is a name of a dear friend listed in the margin of Streams in the Desert. I remember why his name is there. He was struggling in his personal life and had to be asked to step down from serving the Lord at America's KESWICK. Is has been a rough six years for him and his family. Praise God that he came back to the Colony of Mercy this week.

There was a poem that was attached to the reading for that day ... I know many people right now who are in that "why" mode. May this minister to you as it did to me in 2003:

"God meant it unto good" -- O blest assurance,
Falling like sunshine all across life's way,
Touching with Heaven's gold, earth's darkest storm clouds,
Bringing fresh peace and comfort day by day.

'Twas not by chance the hands of faithless brothers
Sold Joseph captive to a foreign land;
Nor was it chance that, after years of suffering,
Brought him before the Pharaoh's throne to stand.

One Eye-all-seeing saw the need of thousands,
And planned to meet it through that one lone soul;
And through the weary days of prison bondage
Was working toward the great and glorious goal.

As yet the end was hidden from the captive,
The iron entered even to his soul;
His eye could scan the present path of sorrow,
Not yet his gaze might rest up in the whole.

Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting,
His trust in God was reimbursed at last,
The moments came when God led forth His servant,
To comfort many, all his sufferings past.

"It was not you but God, that led me to here,"
Witnessed triumphant faith in later days;
"God meant it unto good," no other reason
Mingled their discord with his song of praise.

"God means it unto good" for you, beloved,
The God of Joseph is the same today;
His love permits afflictions, strange and bitter,
His hand is guiding through the unknown way.

Your Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,
Has purposes for you of love untold,
Then place your hand in His and follow fearless,
Till you the riches of His grace behold.

Then, when you stand firm in the Home of glory,
And all life's paths lie open to your gaze,
Your eyes will SEE the hand that you're now trusting,
And magnify His love through endless days. -- Freda Hanbury Allen

I trust that this will minister to those of you who are in the midst of circumstances that make no sense -- God meant it unto good! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 11; Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42

Great Quote: A saying I heard years ago: 'It doesn't matter what you do. Just do something, even if it's wrong!' That's the most stupid counsel I've ever heard. Never do what's wrong! Do nothing until it's right. Then do it with all your might. That's wise counsel. Charles (Chuck) Swindoll

Cultivating a Thankful Spirit

2009-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Cultivating a Thankful Spirit

"For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to him." Romans 1:21

I don't want to be a spoiled brat. I want to be a thankful "King's Kid!" Ever stop to think how quickly we run into the presence of the Lord immediately with our list of wants, cares, problems ... and how little time we actually stop to THANK HIM.

Here is a neat little exercise. Get out a timer and start off your prayer time just thanking God for who He is without thanking Him for what He has done. I've tried it in numerous settings ... I lasts for just a couple of minutes and before you know it, we are thanking Him for all He does for us and then we quickly segue into our requests (couched with thanksgiving).

The Apostle Paul is a great role model in teaching us how to cultivate a thankful spirit. Paul Miller in his new book, A PRAYING LIFE (NavPress) says that "almost every time Paul describes HOW he prayed for people, he mentions thanksgiving ..."

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you. (Romans 1:8)
I give thanks to my God always for you. (1 Corinthians 1:4)
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:16)
I thank my God in all my remembrances of you, always in every prayer of mine. Philippians 1:3-4)
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. (Colossians 1:3)
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers. (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
We also thank God constantly. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you? (1 Thessalonians 3:9)
We ought always to give thanks to God for you. (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
Be we ought always to give thanks to God for you. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
I thank my God ... as I remember you constantly in my prayers. (2 Timothy 1:3)
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers. (Philemon 4)

That's the spirit that I want to develop THROUGH Christ ... the spirit of thanksgiving. I am thankful today for my Freedom Fighter brothers! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 10; 2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22

Great Quote: The present is what slips by us when we are pondering the past and worrying about the future.

Have you registered for Thursday evening's Father Son Night? Call today for reservations: 732-350-1187

Ten Commandments Cowboy Style

2009-06-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Ten Commandments Cowboy Style

Most of our Freedom Fighters are very serious in nature. I couldn't resist sending this one to you today. It isn't really making fun of the Ten Commandments, but I love the forthrightness of this guys perspective as he paraphrased them into "cowboy" lingo. I can almost hear Roy Rogers saying these:

1. Just one God! Period!

2. Honor yer Ma and Pa!

3. No tellin' tales or gossipin!

4. Git yerself to Sabbath meetin'!

5. Put nothin' before God!

6. No foolin' around with another feller's gal!

7. No killin'!

8. Watch yer mouth!

9. Don't take what ain't yers!

10. Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff!

I can hear my Nan saying, "Somethin' about this you don't get? Maybe our country needs to have this posted everywhere! Pretty hard to miss it? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; 2 Chronicles 32-33; John 18:19-40

Great Quote: “The most oft repeated command in the Bible is ‘fear not’…’do not be afraid’. Probably because for most us we lack courage. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. In fact, fear might be a constant companion for the rest of your life. But courage is an essential ingredient for those following Jesus. It is a moral value—an operating quality of someone with a radically changed heart. How do we get courage in the midst of all that frightens us—when the Dr. says there isn’t anymore that can be done? When you get a pink slip at work? When your spouse says ‘I found someone new’? When you spend one more night in the lonely dark? You won’t get it by your own will power. But, by faith in the One, Jesus, Who when faced with the most frightening of all experiences, death for our sin, abandonment from the Father, did not run. He stayed and offered up His life for you. When you see his courage and believe his promise, “I will never leave you or abandon you”…you will face your fear with courage. Tom Wood

Spending Time With Poppa in the Morning

2009-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Spending Time with Poppa in the Morning

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3

In his brand new book on prayer, Paul Miller suggests seven simple suggestions for how you can spend time with your Poppa in the morning:

1. Go to bed. What you do in the evening will shape your morning. The Hebrew notion of a day as evening and morning (see Genesis 1) helps you plan for prayer. If you want to pray in the morning, then plan your evening so you don't stay up too late. The evening and the morning are connected.

2. Get up. Praying in bed is wonderful. In fact, the more you pray OUT OF BED, the more you'll pray IN bed. But you'll never develop a morning prayer time IN bed.

3. Get awake. Maybe you need to make a pot of coffee first or take a shower.

4. Get a quiet place. Maybe a room, a chair, or a place with a view. Or maybe you do better going for a walk. Make sure that no one can interrupt you.

5. Get comfortable. Don't feel like you have to pray on your knees.

6. Get going. Start with five minutes. Start with a small goal that you can attain rather than something heroic. You'll quickly find that the time will fly.

7. Keep going. Consistency is more important than length. If you pray five minutes every day, then the length of time will slowly grow. You'll look up and discover that twenty minutes have gone by. You'll enjoy being with God.

Practical suggestions for spending time with your Poppa each morning. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; 2 Chronicles 30-31; John 18:1-18

Great Quote: Apart from God, nothing matters. We think that health matters, or knowledge, or art or civilization. And but for one insistent word, they would matter indeed. That word is eternity. A W Tozer

Join us this Thursday evening for our annual Father Son Night. This year's speaker is Bevan Greiner. Come enjoy a great evening with your Dad or Son. Call for reservations and information. 732-350-1187

First Day Morning Worship

2009-06-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

First Day Morning Worship

Here is a prayer from one of the Puritans in the book VALLEY OF VISION. Great prayer as we celebrate this Lord's Day:

O Lord,
We commune with thee every day,
but week days are worldly days,
and secular concerns reduce heavenly impressions.
We bless thee therefore for the day sacred to our souls
when we can wait upon thee and be refreshed.

We thank they for the institutions of religion
by use of which we draw near to thee and thou to us;
We rejoice in another Lord's Day
when we call off our minds from the cares of the world
and attend upon thee without distraction;

Let our retirement be devout,
our conversation edifying,
our reading pious,
our hearing profitable,
that our souls may be quickened and elevated.

We are going to the house of prayer,
pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication;
We are going to the house of praise,
awaken in us every grateful and cheerful emotion;
We are going to the house of instruction,
give testimony to the Word preached,
and glorify it in the hearts of all who hear;
may it enlighten the ignorant,
awaken the careless, reclaim the wandering,
establish the weak, comfort the feeble-minded,
make ready a people for their Lord.

Be a sanctuary to all who cannot come,
Forget not those who never come,
And do thou bestow upon us
benevolence towards our dependants,
forgiveness towards our enemies,
peaceableness towards our neighbors,
openness toward our fellow-Christians, Amen

Good prayer for this June 7, 2009 Lord's Day -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7; 2 Chronicles 28-29; John 17

Great Quote: How many Christians are there who pray every Sunday in church, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!" without ever realizing the spiritual implications of such intercession! What are we praying for? Should we edit that prayer so that it becomes a confrontation: "My kingdom go, Lord; let Thy kingdom come!" Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my life. A. W. Tozer