Bless the Lord O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.  Psalm 103:3

A couple of weeks ago, my wife, Cynthia, and I went on a FamilyLife, Love Like You Mean it Cruise.  Identifying some valuable benefits (blessings) during our time aboard is what we’d like to focus on today.  In so doing, may we acknowledge some obvious ones first. We thank God for our health to go, for time away from our regular routines, for finances to afford such an excursion, and for the pleasant sunshine we enjoyed aboard the deck of a ship cruising Caribbean waters.

A heart-felt thank you is due to Dennis and Barbara Rainey and their awesome FamilyLife Ministry team for their enduring and effective efforts in helping marriages and families grow in Christ.

Overall, there were five special areas of blessings we received while on our cruise; ones we continue to regard as life nourishing.  Here goes…

1.  We got to relax!  The coordination of our hosts on our behalf was extraordinary.  All we had to do was follow simple directions, and to be royally waited on the entire time.  In a way, there were invisible signs everywhere that spelled No Worries – Just Be Happy!

2.  We got to renew!  Those of us aboard were literally showered in what Dr. Gary Chapman (one of the guest speakers) so aptly describes in his book, The Five Love Languages.  Words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, and loving touches came at us from many directions. Marriage and family-enhancing messages, relevant dramatic skits, recreational activities, wholesome entertainment, (including dance lessons with a live orchestra) fine cabin quarters, quality food, first-class service, and opportunities to socialize with other like-minded passengers helps to describe the uplifting atmosphere.

3.  We got to romance!  To experience and appreciate uninterrupted moments with my wife, Cynthia, the finest woman on the planet that God particularly brought into my life, was romantic indeed!

4.  We got to remember!  So often we get side tracked by the issues of life and all the circumstances that pull us off track.  It was priceless to be reminded that our Creator, Redeemer, Master, Living God and Father is in the details of real family’s lives, and for us to clearly acknowledge the power we have to succeed as a result.

5.  We got to repent!  Our opportunity to rethink, to choose to change and to move in a new and more dedicated direction in Christ is perhaps our most valuable blessing of all.  Cynthia and I got a chance to look up to the One who loves us.  It was a time of worship to ask for His forgiving mercy and powerful grace in guiding, guarding and governing us within our marriage and families. Sweet doesn’t even begin to describe this eternal investment.

Family and friends, we’re sure this “blessing account” falls short of all that took place.  Nonetheless, this cruise experience helped us to see farther than our physical eyes could look.  By faith, we thank the Lord, the One we need and trust for coordinating such a grand FamilyLife Cruise, for cheerleading  us grow as an individual married couple, and from Whom all blessings flow!

Eph 1:3; Ps 84:11; Ps 92:12-14; Heb 6:7

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phil 4:13

As surely as dawn marked this morning’s sky, bad news will move to bombard us before all is said and done on this day. War stories, political scandals, crime waves, economic slumps, terrorist plots, devastating weather, fire storms, and threats of spreading diseases provide a hearty sample. Add to those general “world” struggles our personal battles with health, family and friends, safety, finances, etc. and we’re faced with a real, ongoing fight. What can we hold to that not only protects and comforts us but also gives us courage to fight and prevail?

It’s not a matter of “what” we hold to, but “in whom” we choose to ultimately trust.  Our awesome Father God has provided us with an all day, all night, everlasting love that never fails.  When we arise each morning, our best choice is to attend to the good news of His presence.  That personal sacred relationship and priority equips us with a measure of hope that causes us to wake up, grow up, stand up, and step up as overcomers.

Let’s not cower to the doom and gloom of world news, but let us rather hear and do the uplifting counsel of God. It is simply this, “Love the Lord with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself.” It is our relating to the person of Jesus Christ (God) and His Holy Spirit of truth first that will activate our dose of personal courage and encouragement for others.

Family and friends, isn’t it wonderful to know that when we wake up this week, we’ll be able to transcend the downward pull of the world to fight the good fight for life? This is only because He’s promised us an abundant life and… in Him, we wake up, grow up, stand up, and step up as overcomers!

Have a victorious week!

 Matthew 22:37-39; John 10:10

Will You not revive us again: that Your people may rejoice in You.  Psalm 85:6

Have you ever wondered if anyone has made more mistakes or done as many dumb things in their life as you?  When that nasty thought comes to my mind, I transfer the focus to good old Apostle Paul.  Remember, he was the one who claimed to be the heavyweight champion of wrongdoing.  He was the worst sinner of sinners, the open terrorist of Christians.  Yet God, in His mercy and grace, chose him to do more than a mighty work.  It was Paul, after all, who wrote most of the New Testament epistles. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became one of, if not the most influential writer ever.

In addition to Paul’s personal example of transforming hope, the scripture he wrote in 2 Cor 5:21 makes me want to stand up and shout for joy.  It says, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God.”  I suppose shouting has its place but real action is necessary for true appreciation to be expressed.  In light of God’s spiritually intense, perfectly supernatural, and thoroughly practical plan to solve our iniquity, may our quest this week and beyond be to purpose as best we can to behave in personal revival.

Please note that revival only comes to those who openly carry the Spirit of Jesus in their heart. These stand ready to receive a renewed spark or impetus to move them forward in a higher and more anointed fashion. I know I’m thirsty for such a thing. If you care to join me in this divine course, we must operate in His essential power.  The following list is by no means exhaustive, but it carries enough weight for us to seriously consider:

1. We must rededicate ourselves to reading the Bible.

2. We need to review and recognize the meaning of the Holy Book.

3. We must restore the scriptural truths of God’s graceful function as our inner guard, guide, and governor.

4. We must rekindle our first love; the One who loved us first!

5. We need to rediscover the strengthening power of God’s joy when we obey Him.

6. We must review our baptismal records to make sure we’ve been baptized in water as God commanded.

7. By faith, we must be baptized by Father God Himself or in the repowering of His Holy Spirit — just like Jesus and His ardent followers received who went on to operate in signs, wonders, and in miraculous fashion.  

Godly revival is more than a concept when it becomes personal, focused, energized, biblically referenced, and fully hopeful in Christ.  It leaves no place of welcome in our mind for lasting condemnation or “doom and gloom” self-assessments. For those of us who believe, we must never forget that God is for us and not against us. He is our Heavenly Father who loves us, is jealous for us, and is already dedicated to reviving our lives back into His Holy Kingdom.

Family and friends, in His name, a personal revival for you and me is my prayerful intention and reasonable service for this week and beyond.  For God’s sake and ours, let’s be the work in progress He has promised. From His heart, there is nothing better, and in the baptismal power from on high (His Holy Spirit), revival for us as His children, is guaranteed.

Acts 1:8; Rom 14:9; Gal 2:20; Rom 12:1-2; Phil 1:6; Neh 8:10

** A note of credit to Pastor David Legge of Belfast Ireland.  His sermon transcripts on the Book of Nehemiah were inspiring to this article.

A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Prov 18:24

Have you ever thought about what real friendship is?  I’m sure most of us have used the term friend to describe a variety of people; even some we barely know.  Let me qualify.  I’m referring here to an honest-to-goodness friend; someone you can count on–when everyone else high-tails it in the opposite direction.

I came across a simple definition of a friend that inspired me with a contagious joy. How’s this?  A friend is a well spring in the wilderness.  Please think about it for a second.  A well spring in the wilderness…

Do you have any well springs in your life?  Is there someone in your life who can come along during your dark, dry, lonely, and fearful times to serve as a cool and never-ending refreshment?  Are you a well spring for someone else?

There are friends, and then… there are friends!  At this point in our lives, my wife Cynthia and I desire to have and be ”well spring” friends.  In countless ways, our desire is being fulfilled.  We’re fortunate to include some of you reading this in the category of “well spring” friends.  In addition, we celebrate each other as closest “well spring” friends (even in spite of our being married).  Most amazing is our deep trust that, as important as you may be to us and us to each other, there’s one well spring of refreshment in our life that stands alone.

We thank Jesus Christ (Almighty God), our highest “well spring” friend of all.  Why?  Because He created us, forgave and redeemed us, rooted us in His living water of life, brought us together as husband and wife, and has provided an opportunity for us to converge with you as “well spring” friends.

As you may have already noted, the Spiritual friend the scripture refers to who sticks closer than a brother is Jesus Christ, Himself.  He is also the One who has called those who obediently follow Him more than His servants—Yes, His friends! (John 15:14-15)

Perhaps our greatest opportunity this moment is to graduate from simply believing in Jesus to actually believing Him and receiving His friendship accordingly. In faith, a week with well spring friends is promised those of us who do!!

  Matthew 22:35-40.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Attending Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International luncheons in the Providence, Rhode Island area for the past several months has been beyond satisfying. Each time, I’ve experienced far more than a welcoming atmosphere, healthy socializing, and a well prepared meal.  At an appropriate point of each meeting, there is a testimony from an individual whose life has been dramatically affected by the changing power of God’s Holy Spirit.  In the most uniquely appetizing and flavorful way, a type of eternal nutrition is presented as well.

May I share one example of what I mean regarding the eternal nutrition reference.  As part of last month’s program, a humble gentleman named David Berg rose to the podium to speak and to read to us from his freshly written daily journal.  After hearing his heartfelt words, written directly to God, I asked David to share them with me via an e-mail.  As we read carefully what David sent, may his desire for you and me to be blessed by it—be wholesomely fulfilled!     

Dear Steve,

I hope this blesses you and the others with whom you wish to share it:

Only in You, Lord, can one find the pathway to eternal life.

Only in You, Lord, can one find that peace and contentment that will fully satisfy the human heart.

Only through the persuasive power and work of the Holy Spirit, can one grow in Christ-like character and conduct and have his heart completely changed.

Only through Your indwelling presence, Lord, can one’s will and purpose for living be conformed to Your own.

Only in You, Lord, can man become the person You created him to be.

Only in You, Lord, can one experience victory over the hardships, sorrows, and sufferings of his life.

Only in You, Lord, does one become willing to love even the unlovable.

Only in You, Lord, can one feel the wonder of a joy that truly does pass all understanding.

Only in You, Lord, does life become fully complete.

God bless! Dave

Prov 3:5-6; Matt 6:33; Phil 1:6; Phil 4:13

It is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure.  Phil 2:13

Today’s message is in honor of one of the giants of our faith, Oswald Chambers.  The topic is dear to this ministry and copied from his best known book, a Christian classic in print since 1935, My Utmost for His Highest, (Dec 5).

 “The Temple of the Holy Spirit”

“…only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40).

I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority.  Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God” — make it ineffective (Gal 2:21).  The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever.  I am not being saved–I am saved.  Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me.  To “work out [my] own salvation” (Phil 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me.  It also means I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…” (1 Cor 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God.  God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Cor 6:19).  We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones.  But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves.  We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.

Paul said, “I beseech you … that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Rom 12:1).  What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple.  Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth–my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

————————-

According to God’s Word, the living temple of God is not some fancy building, but the loving hearts, the renewed minds, and the obedient actions of His people gathering within it. The inner presence of the Holy Spirit is His ministry and He is available to each of us who believe.

Family and friends, the truth that God is who He says He is, and prepares us as His workmanship, is His idea and trusted expectation for us — not some disappointing or exaggerated dream of yours or mine.  May we be further awakened to joyfully welcome His Holy Spirit to work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure.   It’s in that best and humble act alone that we will shake and retake the world on His behalf and for His glory!

 John 14:15-23; Luke 17:20-21; Eph 2:10; Eph 4:4-6

And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least of these My bretheren, you did it for Me.  (Matt 25:40)

It is my privilege to be a volunteer with the Salvation Army Ministry in New Bedford, MA.  The work that is done there speaks for itself, especially with those who struggle in our community during this pressure-packed holiday season.  The faithful effectiveness of Majors Gilbert, BethEllen Parkhurst, and their year round staff is most admirable and truly remarkable.

All of this wonderful work has its roots in a man who lived in another country a century and a half ago. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, has grown to become one of the great heroes in the Christian faith and one of mine in particular.  It was in the midst of the fog of human despair that he relentlessly set out to share the greatest, most encouraging, and most profound message known to man.  He didn’t do it from a cushy pulpit, slick television studio, or pastor’s study.  He started by walking through the streets of London, England in the sweaty, bloody, and foul smelling neighborhoods of those most hurting.  William Booth is a marvelous example of a man with the right heart, acting like Jesus with his sleeves rolled up.

A seriousness of purpose takes shape when a legitimate opportunity arises to share a hopeful message with despairing folks.  When the audience is least, last, lost, and lowest among us as far as social, monetary, and educational standards are concerned, the opportunity becomes more of a direct challenge.  What could or would you say to someone in the midst of being battered in their personal, social, spiritual, and/or financial life?  Could you honestly look them in the eye and walk away believing you offered something that could make a difference?

If uneasiness has arisen in you, please listen and be guided by what William Booth didn’t just say but did in action. He went to the script of God that said go into all the world and make disciples.  He relied on what God said about seeking Him and His Kingdom first and all the other things would be taken care of.  He believed that if he served the least of God’s children, he would be serving God directly.

Family and friends, the question remains: what could you possibly say to someone in the midst of human despair?  Real love is God alone because that is His nature.  Any other human variation of love doesn’t qualify as divine.  “It’s not by might or power, but by my Spirit,” saith the Lord.  Real hope is the anchor of our soul and the vision God is willing to give us to see beyond this life into His Heaven with the eyes of our understanding heart.

When we focus on the essence of William Booth’s message, we see Jesus Himself telling people He loved them and He alone was their eternal Hope.  The only way a true message of hope gets through to anyone is when it is transmitted from God’s heart—the source and place of real love and lively hope.

 1 Jn 4:8; Heb 6:19; Mat 6:33; Mat 25:31-46; Mark 16: 15-18; Zec 4:6