Just sharing.

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Gospel for Asia: A Singular Focus for 40 Years



Reflections on the 40-year Ministry of Gospel for Asia


The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I want to be that man.D.L. Moody
No doubt that statement by the great American evangelist D.L. Moody is still true, although the Lord used him mightily.
We have surely seen “what God can do with and for and through and in” by the likes of Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Tim LaHaye, Jerry Falwell, Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie and many others. But we still don’t know if we have seen the fulfillment of the desire of Moody’s heart that each of these men shared.
The amazing thing about the people God uses most effectively is that they seek no glory for themselves, they spend hours in prayer, and they yield all that they are and all they possess to serve the Lord in whatever way He directs their paths.

Rarely, when these men were young, did they anticipate a day 40 or more years into the future when they would look back in amazement at what the Lord had empowered and enabled them to do.
They did not set out to make a name for themselves or to establish an empire. They simply made themselves available as vessels separated and set aside for the Lord’s use. They, and others like them, can look back and stand in awe of how an Almighty God has blessed their ministries abundantly and beyond imagination.

I know a man exactly like that. His name is Dr. K.P. Yohannan. He is one of the humblest and most dedicated men I have ever known. Forty years ago, he responded to God’s call to minister to the millions of people in Asia. Little did he know that in 2019 he would be able to look back at the remarkable things the Lord did over the past 40 years.

Make no mistake, this is not a story about Dr. K.P. Yohannan. This is a story of what the Lord has done with and for and through and in him. The greatest ability we can give to the Lord is “availability.” All that young man had to offer the Lord in 1979 was a willing and obedient heart.
The Lord used that available vessel to begin Gospel for Asia and to lead the ministry with a singular focus: to take the love of Christ to people who have never heard His name before.
In a newly released video, Dr. Yohannan invites us to join GFA in celebrating “the 40 years of this incredible journey with our Lord.” In the video, he reminisces with effervescence because of the numerous healthy congregations the Lord has established through GFA-supported workers serving in more than 16 countries.

He shares an overview of the numbers of children that have been able rescued from lives of abandonment on the streets and in the slums, many of whom have had to beg on the streets or dig through garbage dumps simply to live another day of desperation.
“The amazing thing about the people God uses most effectively is that they seek no glory for themselves, they spend hours in prayer, and they yield all that they are and all they possess to serve the Lord in whatever way He directs their paths.”

Gospel for Asia helps provide education, meals, school supplies and health care for more than 70,000 of these children through its Bridge of Hope program—all because of a willing heart and the prayers and financial gifts of godly men and women and churches around the world.
Dr. K.P.’s vision is for the Lord to open the doors to be able to minister to half-a-million children who are trapped in the same circumstances in the developing countries of Asia.
He speaks in the video about the multitudes of women who have been rescued from poverty, prostitution and physical abuse. GFA-supported workers share the love of Christ with them and help them to find a way out of their plight, offering them literacy education and vocational training.

Who would have dreamed 40 years ago that the Lord would use the generosity of GFA supporters to establish a radio broadcasting system that millions of people listen to in 110 different languages and dialects across the entire subcontinent?
As Dr. K.P. says in the video, “God can do anything,” but He almost always uses us to accomplish His purposes. Alone, we are nothing. Even together, we cannot do the Lord’s work without His leading and empowerment.

I want to share this video with you so that you, personally, can hear Dr. K.P. share his thanks for your prayers and support of Gospel for Asia over the years. It is your trust in the Lord and in the mission of GFA that has made the amazing ministry possible.
Check out the video and join us in celebrating 40 years of God’s amazing and abundant blessings.
To learn more about what the Lord has done throughout these 40 years, follow this link to our webpage “Gospel for Asia Celebrates Its 40th Year of God’s Faithfulness!”
Gospel for Asia has been serving the “least of these” in Asia since its beginning in 1979, often in places where no one else is serving. GFA supports national workers who are serving as the hands and feet of Christ by ministering to people’s needs so they can understand the love of God for them for the first time. GFA is engaged in dozens of projects, such as caring for poor children, slum dwellers and widows and orphans; providing clean water by funding wells; supporting medical missions; and meeting the needs of those in leprosy colonies. Through GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program, tens of thousands of children are being rescued from the generational curses of poverty and hopelessness.

 

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Redeemed by A Savior! She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 NIV __________________ Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38,39 KJV __________________ And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:27,28 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Thou art my portion, O Lord.”

Psalm 119:57

Look at thy possessions, O believer, and compare thy portion with the lot of thy fellowmen. Some of them have their portion in the field; they are rich, and their harvests yield them a golden increase; but what are harvests compared with thy God, who is the God of harvests? What are bursting granaries compared with him, who is the Husbandman, and feeds thee with the bread of heaven? Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant, and flows to them in constant streams, until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with thy God? Thou couldst not live on it; thy spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Put it on a troubled conscience, and could it allay its pangs? Apply it to a desponding heart, and see if it could stay a solitary groan, or give one grief the less? But thou hast God, and in him thou hast more than gold or riches ever could buy.

Some have their portion in that which most men love—applause and fame; but ask thyself, is not thy God more to thee than that? What if a myriad clarions should be loud in thine applause, would this prepare thee to pass the Jordan, or cheer thee in prospect of judgment? No, there are griefs in life which wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour, for which no riches can provide. But when thou hast God for thy portion, thou hast more than all else put together.

In him every want is met, whether in life or in death. With God for thy portion thou art rich indeed, for he will supply thy need, comfort thy heart, assuage thy grief, guide thy steps, be with thee in the dark valley, and then take thee home, to enjoy him as thy portion for ever. “I have enough,” said Esau; this is the best thing a worldly man can say, but Jacob replies, “I have all things,” which is a note too high for carnal minds.

 

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Why Is The Gate So Narrow And So Few Find It?



Jesus said we are to enter by the narrow gate, so why it is so narrow and why are so few are finding it?
I AM the Door
Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and the door by which all the sheep must go in and come out (John 10:9). He says, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7b), so it is only “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Notice that His “sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name,” so He knows them by name…but the sheep know Him by His voice or His word, and so “he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:4). The critical thing is not that you know Him, but does He know you (Matt 7:21-23). Jesus also says, “I am the door.

If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). The thieves and robbers try to enter by other means (John 10:8), but they have not understood that the only way to receive eternal life is through Jesus Christ, and Him alone. The Apostle Peter narrows it down by saying that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That only name given under heaven by which we can be saved is Jesus Christ. He is the door…the only means by which the sheep may enter. There is no other way.

The Narrow Gate
In what some call the “Golden Rule,” Jesus said that “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 7:12). This is loving your neighbor as yourself, but then Jesus warns them (and all who would read), “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matt 7:13). The only way we can enter is through the narrow gate, but why is it so narrow? Perhaps its single file since God has no grandchildren. Each person individually must be brought to repentance and faith in Christ. No one gets in on someone’s coattails or, “I was baptized when I was nine,” or “I was raised in a Christian home.”

Perhaps the road is narrow because so few find it. Jesus said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt 7:14). People are not willing to deal with their sins and so they simply head down the easy path of destruction. The broad gate is broad because so many are going that way. It’s like an 8-lane expressway, but it’s going in the wrong direction. They, like I, needed to turn and go the other way (repent) and head down the narrow path, difficult as it is. Even though the narrow gate is difficult to take, at least there is “a” way. It’s better than no way at all. We should be thankful that God made a way through Christ. He had no reason for this, other than His love (Rom 5:6-10).

Many, Not Few
In this same chapter, and in the same context of God’s judgment, Jesus again places the many verses the few, saying, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21) . Some of those things that are the will of the Father are things we do (Matt 25:35-36) as unto Christ Himself (Matt 25:40), but to many He will say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me’” (Matt 25:41-43).

By saying that many will say to Him, and not a few, He means most. Jesus says, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name’” (Matt 7:22)? This is the point when Jesus separates the wheat from the weeds, and He will “declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matt 7:23). It’s not that He doesn’t know about them, since He is God and God is omniscient, but in the sense of having a personal, saving relationship which came through repentance and faith. Remember the sheep hear His voice, but He knows His sheep by name (John 10:3)! It is not enough to say, “I know Jesus,” but the most important question is, “Does He know you!”

Conclusion
If God has brought you to repentance (Acts 5:31, 11:18, 16:14; 1 Tim 2:24-26) and faith in Jesus Christ, then you are on the right path. You have chosen to trust in the Door, or the Good Shepherd Who gave His life as a ransom for His sheep (Mark 10:45). Jesus made it clear that “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18). In fact, He says “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again” (John 10:17).

Jesus says to those who don’t believe in Him, it is “because you are not among my sheep” (John 10:26), but to those who know Him, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). Only the Spirit of God and the Word of God can reveal the Son of God. I hope He has revealed Himself to you. If not, today is the best of days to trust in Christ, because there are no guarantees that tomorrow will even come (Prov 27:1; Luke 12:19-20; James 4:13-14).

 

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Reflecting His Love We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 KJV __________________ Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21 NIV __________________ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”

Isaiah 40:11

Who is he of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is the Good Shepherd . Why doth he carry the lambs in his bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts his heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of his flock draw forth his compassion. It is his office, as a faithful High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, he purchased them with blood, they are his property: he must and will care forthat which cost him so dear. Then he is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of his glory and reward.

But how may we understand the expression, “He will carry them”? Sometimes he carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are “carried” by being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently he “carries” them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.

“He carries the lambs in his bosom.” Here is boundless affection. Would he put them in his bosom if he did not love them much? Here is tender nearness: so near are they, that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages between Christ and his weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in his bosom who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!

 

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You’ve Been Betrayed. Now What?



Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend or family member? Many of us have, but you’re not alone. Here are several examples about betrayal.
Jesus’ Betrayal

When David wrote some of the Messianic Psalms, he include in Psalm 41 a prophecy about Jesus Christ’s betrayal, writing, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9), and exactly as prophesied, the Bible says that Judas “sought an opportunity to betray him” (Matt 26:16)…”him” meaning Christ. When Jesus saw His betrayer, “Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss” (Luke 22:48)? It was only after Judas saw that Jesus was going to be crucified that “he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders” (Matt 27:3b), but by then, it was too late.

This explains why “Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me’” (John 13:21), even though Jesus knew from the beginning who it was. Not only would Judas betray Jesus, but Jesus told the disciples that in their lifetime, “many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another” (Matt 24:10). Even though the Jewish leaders “were glad, and agreed to give him money so [Judas] consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd” (Luke 22:5-6), but this too was part of the sovereign will of God (Mark 10:45; John 3:16-17).

Our Betrayal
Have you ever had a close friend or family member betray you? It seems that the closer the person is to you, the more it hurts, and sad as it is, we often hurt the ones we love the most, but these are the ones that hurt us the most too. When we trust someone, but then find out we’ve been gossiped about, or “thrown under the bus” by someone close to us, it hurts worse because we loved them and trusted them. David knew a lot about betrayal by close friends and acquaintances when he was running for his life from King Saul. He wrote, “For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend” (Psalm 55:12-13).

It hurts worse when it’s those we least expect to betray us because we trusted them. This has led to the ruin of many relationships. Job had enough suffering that the last thing he needed was his “friends” chastising him. He finally had enough and wrote, “All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me” (John 19:9). Even “his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Not exactly the loving support you expect from your spouse. Delilah betrayed Samson for thousands of pieces of silver (Judges 16:5). In her scheming, she “said to him, How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies” (Judge 16:15). Of course it wasn’t love but a cunning scheme to have Samson destroyed, and it worked.

Forgiveness
Forgiveness is hard when you’ve been betrayed, but maybe we should ask ourselves, have we betrayed someone else? Maybe not betray them in the strictest sense, but by gossiping about them, not standing up for them when someone says something bad about them, or maybe we still hold a grudge about something they did. Jesus said that “if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt 6:14-15). If you’ve not forgiven someone, but have received and are expecting forgiveness from God, it seems hypocritical to not forgiven others.

This doesn’t mean you’ve lost your salvation, but a person who’s been redeemed by God for infinitely more sin that we’ve sinned ever against others, should not withhold forgiveness from others. God doesn’t withhold forgiveness from us. As for gossip, it’s really slandering someone’s reputation or name, and God promises that “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape” (Prov 19:5). The truth that Jesus spoke, that “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 7:12), goes both ways. You would not want someone gossiping or betraying or not forgiving you, would you, so must never gossip, betray, or be unforgiving of one another.

Gossip
I consider gossip a form of slander in the sense that you are passing along or listening to something that may or may not be true, and if it’s true, then it’s not helpful to pass it along anyway. If it’s not true, it’s even worse to pass it along. There’ve been a lot of civil lawsuits that found in favor of those who were slandered, so it’s a serious issue in society today, but more so to God. Solomon wrote that “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends” (Prov 16:28). If you know you’re being gossiped about, how does it make you feel? Most people feel angry, betrayed, embarrassed, and hurt. Now imagine what others feel like when we not only listen to gossip, but when we pass it on to others…whether it’s true or not.

Sometimes the word slander and gossip are used interchangeably in Scripture, but the Bible never says anything good about gossip (Ezk 36:3; Rom 1:29; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 5:13). Throughout the Old Testament, Israel was taught, “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord” (Lev 19:16). God says, “Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure” (Psalm 101:5). Jesus equated gossip with some of the most evil sins found in the human heart, saying it is “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matt 15:19).

Conclusion
Almost everyone’s been betrayed by a friend at one time or another, so take heart; you’re not alone. Maybe these Bible events and Scriptures will help you put it all into context. Just about everyone I know has been betrayed to some degree or another, but one thing we know; we cannot change people, we can only change how we react to them. My wife’s wisdom in this area is spot on. God alone can change the human heart (Prov 21:1). All we can do is forgive and be forgiving, and be a trustworthy friend or family member, never betraying one another…especially those we love the most. That’s because those hurt the most.

 

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Love One Another! Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 1 John 2:9,10 NIV __________________ But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 KJV __________________ So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:12,13 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and your beasts.”

2 Kings 3:16,17

The armies of the three kings were famishing for want of water: God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing. Here was a case of human helplessness: not a drop of water could all the valiant men procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth. Thus often the people of the Lord are at their wits’ end; they see the vanity of the creature, and learn experimentally where their help is to be found. Still the people were to make a believing preparation for the divine blessing; they were to dig the trenches in which the precious liquid would be held.

The church must by her varied agencies, efforts, and prayers, make herself ready to be blessed; she must make the pools, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in faith, in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend. By-and-by there was a singular bestowal of the needed boon. Not as in Elijah's case did the shower pour from the clouds, but in a silent and mysterious manner the pools were filled. The Lord has his own sovereign modes of action: he is not tied to manner and time as we are, but doeth as he pleases among the sons of men. It is ours thankfully to receive from him, and not to dictate to him. We must also notice the remarkable abundance of the supply — there was enough for the need of all. And so it is in the gospel blessing; all the wants of the congregation and of the entire church shall be met by the divine power in answer to prayer; and above all this, victory shall be speedily given to the armies of the Lord.

What am I doing for Jesus? What trenches am I digging? O Lord, make me ready to receive the blessing which thou art so willing to bestow.

 

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Psalm 103 And The Compassion of God



Psalm 103 perfectly captures the essence of God’s fatherly nature.
Forgiveness
King David must have been feeling blessed, because twice in two verses he says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103:1-2), and blessed he was, and so are those who have trusted in Christ. The psalmist reminds us to “forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2c-3). Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David writes that it is God “who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Psalm 103:3). God withholds what we deserve (His wrath) because of Christ, so that’s mercy. Our iniquities are forgotten but not His benefits…that’s grace. The ultimate healing is spiritual, when we receive Jesus’ own righteousness imputed on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21). If you are forgiven, then your soul is blessed!

Judgment
The Apostle Paul tells us to “never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). In that light, David reassures us that “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed” (Psalm 103:6), so it is God Who will make all things right, not us, but it will be in His own time and way. We’re simply told to “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Rom 12:17), so we leave justice up to God. Remember that at one time, we ourselves were ungodly, wicked enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10), but “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8), for all who have trusted in Christ.

Mercy
The psalmist includes the fact that not only does God forgive and forget our sins, but “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). Of course, we’ll still receive the consequences of our actions, but the sin in doing them is absolved. It is because of God’s great mercy that David can say, that just “as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him” (Psalm 103:11). To use a physical analogy, David says that “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Since east and west don’t meet as do north and south (at the equator), this means our sins are sent out to a point where they’re never seen again or heard about again. It is only when we try to resurrect our old, dead, and forgiven sins that they’re brought back up, but God does not dig up the past of what’s been buried. He is not like we are.

Compassion
The psalmist describes God as having a fatherly nature when he writes about God’s tender compassion toward His children. For example, David writes, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13). He is compassionate toward us because “he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14), or remembers how we’re built. Mankind’s “days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field” (Psalm 103:15), so our lives, when compared to the eternal God, are just like “the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more” (Psalm 103:16), however there is hope beyond the grave since “the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children” (Psalm 103:17). He is the God of the Living and not the dead (Mark 12:27; Luke 20:38).

Bless the Lord
The psalmist concludes the psalm in the same way that he started it. He writes, “Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word” (Psalm 103:20), and again, “Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will” (Psalm 103:21). And for the third and fourth time, David writes, “Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103:22). You get the idea. Bless the name of the Lord for all His wonderful blessings, and there are many. This praise psalm is just what we need when things get hard.

Conclusion
The phrase, “Bless the Lord” is mentioned more than anything else in this psalm, and we can see why after reading psalm 103. God is good to His children. He does not give them what they deserve, and we call that mercy. Then He gives them what they don’t deserve, and that’s called grace (Eph 2:8-9). God as a Father is a fitting image for this since He remembers that our frame is fragile, being but dust…He knows our sins and is quick to forgive us when we confess them (1 John 1:9). To confess means to agree with God about our sins. Then God blesses us with everlasting life through Jesus Christ. The Lord testified, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 10:25-26)? I hope you do believe this. Only those who God brings to repentance and faith in Christ will be saved, and there is no other way (Acts 4:12), so come to Christ today and be saved….and do it while it is still called “today” (2 Cor 6:2).

 

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Growing in Grace We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV __________________ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Philippians 3:14-16 KJV __________________ Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger. Job 17:9 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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''Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee.”

Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God's servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be his name, we are his servants, wearing his livery, feeding at his table, and obeying his commands. We were once the servants of sin, but he who made us free has now taken us into his family and taught us obedience to his will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we could. As we hear God's voice saying unto us, “Thou art my servant,” we can answer with David, “I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds.”

But the Lord calls us not only his servants, but his chosen ones — “I have chosen thee.” We have not chosen him first, but he hath chosen us. If we be God's servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging grace declared, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Long ere time began or space was created God had written upon his heart the names of his elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of his Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fulness of his love, his grace, and his glory. What comfort is here!

Has the Lord loved us so long, and will he yet cast us away? He knew how stiffnecked we should be, he understood that our hearts were evil, and yet he made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle lover. He doth not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty from his church's eye, and then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. Nay, he married her in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, “He hateth putting away.” The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and upon his faithfulness which neither can disown.

 

[beensetfree]

Change Your Patterns



Today I went to wash my hands in the restroom and discovered they moved the hand towel dispenser to the other side of the sink. I reached up to dry my hands and there was a sign hanging to the right of the sink, where the dispenser used to be. After a few seconds of confusion, I noticed it is now on the left side.
“Has that always been there?” I thought. It wasn’t until I repeated this entire pattern a second time that I realized it had been moved.

Our patterns are so ingrained in us that we do things without even thinking about it. Our System One is so finely developed that we tie our shoes and wash our hands subconsciously.

To a large degree, these patterns are the heart of who we are. It isn’t all paper towel dispensers and shoelaces. It is also things like defensiveness, anger, and entitlement. These patterns develop after years of repetition, miles of worn track, and the constant drumming of reinforcement.

The Challenge of Change
When we set out to change, it feels impossible. There is the great tide of our System One that propels us continuously in one direction. A direction we are familiar with. A pattern that has developed and, in some ways, has come to define us.
Change seems simple in our minds. Just do something different. But it is a monumental task. We have to transform our patterns in order to truly change.

If they hadn’t moved the dispenser in the bathroom, I likely would have never considered how patterned my behavior was. Our patterns are so ingrained they fade away, so prevalent they seem to disappear even as they determine our course.

Strain
Part of our System One is a life of little inconsistencies. We want to change but we don’t want to face the factors that bring change about. The only way to change is for our patterns to become strained.

We love the idea that we can blink and have everything happen anew. We love the idea of a clean slate, a restart. But our patterns are changed by hard work and consistent choices, not by a snap of the fingers.
We cannot suddenly adopt new patterns without the learning and evaluation that comes from straining our old ones.
Strain is the only way to change our patterns. We have to do something different and feel the tension trying to pull us back into the original patterns. One new action or idea is working against years of developed and reinforced patterns. Even the one new thing causes strain. The familiar and the comfortable patterns fight for their way. But for change to truly occur, more strain needs to be induced. One idea against the tide of established patterns is not enough. Two ideas is better. Three different choices better still. There is a tipping point somewhere along the way where our patterns break down and begin anew. But we will never get there until we live in the tension, the strain, and the difficulty of change.


New Patterns
Strain happens when we start to notice evidence that the patterns are not working for us. This invites us to consider different options. The more we consider different ways of living, the more likely we are to change. The more we make different decisions, the more we develop new patterns. We cannot get rid of patterns altogether; it is the way we were made. But we can, over time, replace unhealthy patterns with better ones.

It will take some time – maybe a week, a month, or a year – but, eventually, the dispenser on the left side of the sink will be a new pattern for me. One day soon I will go in there and not reach to the right; I’ll go automatically to the left and not even remember this blog or that I’m doing anything different than I used to.
Often, the same thing happens in our lives. Change is generally slow. It seeps into us. It transforms us through the monotony of consistency. New patterns are changed patterns. And change begins with strain.
Our world is trying so hard to avoid strain, at least when it comes to personal character. And, consequently, we’ve stunted growth. We don’t change. We don’t develop. We only reinforce what we have always been. Changing our patterns means leaning into strain as an opportunity for different choices.

 

[beensetfree]

Patience Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:7,8 KJV __________________ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9 NIV __________________ And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. Romans 5:3,4 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Afterward.”

Hebrews 12:11

How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious banquets are for well-exercised soldiers. After killing the lion we eat the honey; after climbing the Hill Difficulty, we sit down in the arbour to rest; after traversing the Valley of Humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the shining one appears, with the healing branch from the tree of life.

Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them “afterwards.” It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are “afterward” good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, and becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage of joy “afterwards” in heaven?

If his dark nights are as bright as the world's days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how will he extol him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed “afterward!” Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not for to-day, nor the triumph for the present, but “afterward.” Wait, O soul, and let patience have her perfect work.

 

[beensetfree]

Men: Want to make your wife insanely happy? Try this one phrase.




Men: Want to make your wife insanely happy? Try this one phrase.
The man sidled up to me at one of our recent marriage conferences, and was clearly trying to ask a question before his wife noticed. “So I say ‘I love you’ a lot,” he explained in a low voice, “But it seems to sort of bounce off. It’s like she discounts whether that is really true because it is such a common phrase. Is there one thing I can say to her that won’t be background noise, so she’ll really hear how much I love her?”

“Why are we talking so quietly?” I whispered.
“Because,” he whispered back, “I want to be able to say whatever it is, without her thinking, ‘You’re only saying that because she told you to.’”
Ah. I get it.
And yes, I told him, there is such a phrase: “I’m so glad I’m married to you.”
In case you’re puzzled by that, I’ll tell you what I then told him. Most men don’t realize that women privately have a very specific vulnerability inside: Am I lovable? That question may be subconscious, but it’s there. In the same way that you as a guy privately wonder whether you’re doing a good job as a husband, father or salesman, she truly wonders whether she is special and someone who is worthy of your love.
Especially, your love.
Deep down, we women look at the wonderful guy we are married to, and think: How on earth did I ever get so lucky? So blessed? Why would he love me? As one woman summarized, “I think in the heart of even the most confident woman, there’s a secret worry: that there may come a point when he realizes we aren’t as special as he thinks we are!”

You may think that is a ridiculous doubt –and it certainly isn’t politically correct to talk about! — but if your wife is like most of the women on our For Men Only surveys (82%), that question is there.
In the book, we quote another woman who put it this way: “The fact that I get to live with him over the course of my lifetime is one of the biggest scams I’ve pulled off. I keep waiting for him to wake up, jump over the mound of unwashed clothes, and bolt out the door!”

So men, yes, your strong and confident wife needs to hear that magical phrase: “I’m so glad I’m married to you.”
That one phrase reassures and inspires her all at the same time. It fills her with a sense of security in your love.
Then tell her why you’re glad you’re married to her. She’s got such a sweet spirit… she’s so beautiful, inside and out… she’s a caring mom… you love spending time with her…
If you’re like most men, you’ve got many, many reasons. And your wife needs to hear those too.

If you tell her that phrase regularly, and share all the reasons why, you will be bringing delight to your wife’s heart. And I think you will find yourself delighted by her response, in return!

 

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Confidence in The Faithful One __________________ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, Hebrews 10:23,24 NASB __________________ God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:9 KJV __________________ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:28-31 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“And he requested for himself that he might die.”

1 Kings 19:4

It was a remarkable thing that the man who was never to die, for whom God had ordained an infinitely better lot, the man who should be carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and be translated, that he should not see death — should thus pray, “Let me die, I am no better than my fathers.” We have here a memorable proof that God does not always answer prayer in kind, though he always does in effect.

He gave Elias something better than that which he asked for, and thus really heard and answered him. Strange was it that the lion-hearted Elijah should be so depressed by Jezebel's threat as to ask to die, and blessedly kind was it on the part of our heavenly Father that he did not take his desponding servant at his word. There is a limit to the doctrine of the prayer of faith. We are not to expect that God will give us everything we choose to ask for. We know that we sometimes ask, and do not receive, because we ask amiss.

If we ask for that which is not promised — if we run counter to the spirit which the Lord would have us cultivate — if we ask contrary to his will, or to the decrees of his providence — if we ask merely for the gratification of our own ease, and without an eye to his glory, we must not expect that we shall receive. Yet, when we ask in faith, nothing doubting, if we receive not the precise thing asked for, we shall receive an equivalent, and more than an equivalent, for it. As one remarks, “If the Lord does not pay in silver, he will in gold; and if he does not pay in gold, he will in diamonds.”

If he does not give you precisely what you ask for, he will give you that which is tantamount to it, and that which you will greatly rejoice to receive in lieu thereof. Be then, dear reader, much in prayer, and make this evening a season of earnest intercession, but take heed what you ask.

 

[beensetfree]

The Tyranny of “Meaningful” Worship




We’ve got a problem, everybody.
Maybe you haven’t noticed it yet. I didn’t for a long time, either.
There’s a term that people like to throw around at church in regard to worship. Especially as a church music director, I get this one a lot.

“That was so meaningful.”
“I got a lot out of that sermon. It was meaningful.”
“That anthem was so touching; it was meaningful to me.”
“That church’s services are so meaningful.”
For the longest time, I thought it was a big compliment. In my weaker moments, I’m sure I even let it go to my head. “Wow, I must be pretty good at this job!”
But I think differently about this now. When most people say an element of liturgy is meaningful, I don’t think they’re really talking about the actual meaning: the biblical foundation of the liturgy, the dignity of the melodies, the theological symbolism in the rituals, or the powerful presence in the sacraments.

What I think they often mean, and what the church has trained them to think, is that liturgical meaning is directly correlated by how emotionally moving they find it. And more often then not, we’re talking about how the music makes them feel.
I wrote a while back about “masturbatory” worship. As usual, a lot of people got upset with my using that comparison, but it’s unavoidable. The church, with its smorgasbord of worship “styles” to choose, the sappiness and sentimentality it has borrowed and called “worship,” has taught people that the meaning in worship is personal; wherever their emotions happen to find it, that’s true worship. It’s become the weekly act of getting off spiritually.

This is a lie. It’s damn near heretical.
At this point, I know what my detractors are thinking, and I want to cut them off at the pass. Emotions aren’t bad, of course. They aren’t bad in general, and they aren’t bad in worship, either. But following unchecked, unbridled emotion is a horrible idea in any case. It will always lead to serious mistakes, and possibly devastating consequences.

No, emotions aren’t bad, but they always need to be ruled by clear, contextual thinking. When it comes to worship, this requires disciplined participation in beautiful, rigorous, biblical liturgy. That’s where we’re taught how to give, how to be the body, how to serve.
Obviously, the commercial Christian worship movement has destroyed this concept, with its jesusy rock concerts. But the false dichotomy pop worship has put into place – the preferentially-based worship formats – has made it a problem on the so-called “traditional worship” side, too. Far too often, when people opt for “traditional,” they don’t opt to submit themselves to historical liturgy, but a “get-all-your-blue-haired-friends-together-and-sing-the-good-old-songs” all-request hour.

It sucks. It’s a complete farce. But, really, we don’t need to wonder why it’s happened, church. We gave it to them. We told them they could have worship their way. So, assuming they ever felt differently, we’ve given them the notion about worship being a discipline, the central act, the Eucharistic feast.
Christ offers us everything in worship, for he offers us himself.
But as usual, we think we can do better.
\
We’d rather sing some vapid sap that sounds like carnival music circa 1900, or take in an awesome rock concert every week.
All because it feels meaningful.
Sinking deep is right.
What fools we are.
How do we get out of this mess?
Or is it too late?

 

[beensetfree]

What is on your mind? __________________ Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4 NASB __________________ I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:20,21 __________________ Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1,2 __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.