Reflections with Mrs. Judy Lewis, Inspiring Thoughts That You Will Enjoy

How is it that some Christians seem to be able to live above their circumstances? These are the Christians who are able to live as good soldiers of Jesus Christ even though there is evil all around them. How was the apostle Paul able to experience peace and joy in the midst of turmoil and trials?

Oftentimes when a Christian experiences a trial, he is ready to change the direction of his life and give up sound Bible principles. He becomes so fretful and so full of anxiety that he loses sight of eternity. He hungers to know God more fully, yet he allows himself to become so distracted by the conditions and people around him that he forgets to recognize that God is working in his life.

If a person wants to know God and know Him in His full revelation, he must remember that God is a person, and in His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, and desires as any other person. God's Word says in Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." God did not make men to be robots who would just move around on this earth with no direction or purpose. He wants man to bring glory to Him and have close fellowship with Him as a Father.

There is a great difference between "knowing" God and "knowing about" God. Knowing Him is an experience that flows from a personal, intimate relationship; it's having first hand information. To know about God, on the other hand, is quite different. A person may get facts from books, sermons, and the Bible, and all of this information may be completely accurate and true, but this knowledge, which is purely intellectual, must become a possession of the heart as well as of the head. God must be trusted. Faith must be exercised in Him.

Many expressions such as, “I've truly found God,” ”I have accepted the Lord,” “He's my Lord and Savior," prove that people have very little information about Christ and God, but all have had an experience with Him. The first thing about knowing God is to know Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

Why is it important for man to get to know Christ better? For one thing, salvation is a living relationship, and Christians can not grow spiritually without personal fellowship with the Savior. Every book a person reads, every meeting he attends, every spiritual contact he makes must in some way add to his knowledge of Jesus Christ. The better one gets to know Jesus, the more he learns to know God in His fullness and to love Him. When a person begins to truly understand the glory of Christ's person and the wonder of His work, he will worship and adore Him. It is like a chain reaction---As one begins to love and to obey Christ, the more Christ will become preeminent in his life. Take time this week to get to know God in His fullness by learning more about His Son Christ Jesus.

The parents of a young man who was killed in World War I gave their church a check for $200 as a memorial to their loved one. When the presentation was made, another war mother whispered to her husband, “Let us give the same for our boy.” The father said, “Why, what are you talking about? Our boy didn’t lose his life.” The mother said, “That’s just the point. Let us give it because he didn’t.”

Often people will leave money to their church or some charity at their death. These people do not leave money, because they are thankful for God’s blessings. Instead, they leave their money because they do not have a choice about taking it with them.

Why not give to the Lord’s work today because of His goodness to you!!! Don’t wait until you have no choice about the matter!

Twenty-four years ago we drove into this town with our small children and all our earthly possessions. Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was very different from Tulsa, Oklahoma. As we began a new chapter of our lives, we found the community to be cold and unfriendly. Our new community knew nothing about us (Baptists), and we knew nothing about them (98% French Canadian Catholics). We had moved from an area where Baptists’ preachers were well-respected and honored to an area where their actions were viewed as suspicious and questionable. I remember thinking, “We truly are on the mission field. How could a community be so different, yet still be in the United States?” The first winter was very difficult. We needed to pay rent on a church building and purchase oil for the building (something very foreign to us). We needed to pay rent on our apartment and purchase oil for that apartment. Also, during that first year, we traveled three hours a day for our children to attend a Christian School.

The devil had been in control of the area for so long that he was not ready to give it up without a fight. He obviously did not want us to remain. One day in the cold of winter, we got on our knees and begged the Lord for $1000. We told Him that we did not want to leave, but we were not able to pay all these bills. The next day Pastor went to the Post Office, and he returned home with an envelope containing ten $100 bills in it. “Yes, the Lord did want us to remain.”

During these twenty-four years, God has miraculously provided many benefits repeatedly again. He has sent us so many blessings. I am very thankful for YOU, our loving friends, our faithful staff, and our wonderful family who serve here with us. I pray that the Lord will continually lead us as we serve Him together.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

The Christian gospel is thrilling to contemplate. It is so simple that even a small child can understand and respond to its basic message - the necessity of placing one’s implicit faith in Christ. But, on the other hand, it is so profound that a lifetime is far too brief to fully comprehend it, since its message is really a person - a growing knowledge and relationship to the eternal Son of God.

The author if this hymn text, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt, was an invalid for an extended period of her life. Out of this experience she developed an intimate relationship with God and the Scriptures and a desire to share her feelings with others through writing. She became a prolific author of children’s poetry and Sunday School literature. Various gospel musicians soon became aware of her many fine poems and set them to suitable music. In later years, Eliza’s physical condition improved and she was able to be even more active in her Christina ministries. She was a close friend of Fanny Crosby and often met with her for fellowship and discussion of new hymns they had written. “More About Jesus” was first published in 1887. Miss Hewitt’s prayer, “spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me,” was beautifully answered in her many hymns with heart-felt words such as these:

More about Jesus would I know, more if His grace to others show, more of His saving fullness see, more of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn, more of His holy will discern; Spirit of God my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus - in His Word holding communion with my Lord, hearing His voice in ev’ry line, making each faithful saying mine.

Refrain: More, more about Jesus, more, more about Jesus; more of His saving fullness see, more of His love who died for me.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for rescue, and every day scanned the horizon for help. When ne help seemed forthcoming, he managed to build a small hut from driftwood to protect him from the elements. In the hut he also stored his few salvaged possessions and the pitifully small supply of food he had managed to gather.

One day he returned from scavenging for food to find his little hut in flames. The worst had happened. All his resources were gone. Stunned with grief and anger, the man cried out to God, “How could you do this to me?”

At last, exhausted, he slept, and awoke the next morning to see a ship anchored offshore and a skiff approaching. His first words to his rescuers were, “How did you know I was here?”

It is easy to become discouraged when things are going wrong. We forget that God is at work to make things right for us in spite of pain and suffering.

Remember: The next time your hut is burning to the ground, taking with it all your resources - it just might be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God to rescue you!

As we approach Mother’s Day, our hearts go back to the days of our childhood. Some of our fondest memories are memories of our mother’s nurturing and love.

What are your children’s memories of you, Mom? Do they remember you taking time to kneel by their beds with them to pray with them? Do they remember the times that you took them on long walks and talked to them about God’s wonderful creation and His love for them? Do they remember seeing you read your Bible, or you talking about God’s wonderful provision and sovereignty? Do they remember your Saturday night preparations for Sunday school and church? Do they remember your excitement about special missionaries coming to the church? Do they remember you sitting and playing games with them? Do they remember you reading them stories aloud?

It is so sad that today many children have memories of Mom and Dad sitting in front of the (boob-toob) TV. They remember bickering and fighting. They remember mom yelling and telling them how stupid they are. They remember Mom being so busy with her own pleasures that she did not have time to love and nurture them.

Oh, Mom! You are creating memories. Are these the memories that you want your children to hold in their hearts for life?

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” ~Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Greg Laurie in his book On Fire, says that there are three principles which are a must for any Christian who wants to experience revival in his own soul:

First, he must revive the fire in his own life by daily Bible study, prayer, and faithful service to his church. Second, he must open his life to others so that God’s fire within him can touch and ignite them. Third, he must be prepared to maintain that fire in his life even when problems come.

It is easy to lose the fire in your hearts when trials come Take courage! Persecutions and afflictions will come. The Bible tells us in II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Many times when problems arise, you want to give up on soulwinning, on discipling, on fervent prayer, or on just LOVING people. Don’t take Satan’s bait — he doesn’t want you to have that holy fire in your soul. If he can keep you from walking the Spirit-filled life, he has you right where he wants you – INEFFECTIVE –

Where are you today? Are you living your life on purpose, or are you just living from day to day with no spiritual fire in your soul?

Many times a Christian will ask himself the question, “Why do I have to pray? I have so many difficulties, and everything around me looks hopeless.” With these thoughts, he begins to reason in his mind, “Things just can’t get any worse! My prayers seem to go no higher than the ceiling; God must not really love me or care about me.”

If you have had these thoughts, let me reassure you---GOD DOES CARE!!! He knows about all your struggles, and He will not leave you in the midst of them..

Even though you get tired and weary, and you just don’t feel like praying, don’t let your emotions make you feel hopeless.

When you begin to experience the thoughts “Why do I have to pray?” Think about these reasons why you should pray:

1. Prayer shows that you have great faith in the Lord. You realize He is your only hope. David says in, Psalm 42:5 “...hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”

2. Prayer refocuses your heart and mind on the Lord and His ability to change situations and people.

3. Prayer is the greatest route to hope that you have. Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God; He heard my voice ...and my cry came...even unto His ears.”

Let me reassure you --- He knows about your struggles, and He does care! He is your only hope and source of strength.

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." George Mueller

Out of one of the darkest hours of her life - the tragic frowning of her husband - a young mother proclaimed through her tears, “‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus... and I know that thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end.” As Louisa Stead, her husband and their little daughter were enjoying an ocean side picnic one day, a drowning boy cried for help. Mr Stead rushed to save him but was pulled under by the terrified boy. Both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched helplessly. During the sorrowful days that followed, the words of this hymn came from the grief stricken wife’s heart.

Soon after this Mrs. Stead and her daughter left for missionary work in South Africa. After more than 25 years of fruitful service, Louisa was forces to retire because of ill health. She died a few years ;ater in South Rhodesia. Her fellow missionaries had always loved “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” and wrote this tribute after her death:

We miss her very much, but her influence goes on as our five thousand native Christians continually sing this hymn in their native language.

Out of a deep human tragedy early in her life, Louisa Stead learned simply ro trust in her Lord. She was used to “the praise of His glory” for the remainder of her life. Still today, her ministry continues each time we sing and apply the truth of these words:

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, just to rest upon His promise, just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood, just in simple faith to plunge ne ‘neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease, just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; and I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end!

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!

Most of us really want our lives to count for God. We all want to live our lives on the basis of what is really important in this life. The Bible urges us to “redeem our time” in Ephesians 5:16. The psalmist prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” Think back on yesterday. How did you spend your day? Did you waste the precious minutes that the Lord gave you?

Og Mandino said, “Live this day as if it were your last. Today will never happen again; make the best of it.”

Will Rogers once said, “It’s not so much what you do each day; it’s what you get done that counts.” Wow, what a true statement! We can fill our days with so much activity that nothing gets done. We must have a plan each day to get things done. Do you ever feel that you are in a vicious circle with so many things to do that you will never get caught up? With God’s help and some strategic planning and organizing, you do not have to feel that way.

We waste valuable time on trivial matters and leave the most important things in life undone. In the book A Better Way to Live Mr. Mandino states, “Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. He says, ‘You are not here to fritter away your precious hours. When you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine, you should do it.’”

We use our time for what we consider important. If a person’s job is important, he will do it with all his heart. If a person feels that his church is important, he will give his whole heart to it-he will give to it; he will attend it; he will minister through it. I have discovered that most people do exactly what they want to do.

One thing that we must face if we are to redeem our time is that we must be aware of time robbers in our lives. Some time robbers to consider are: 1. Not setting goals or daily plans 2. Leaving important tasks undone and procrastination 3. Not setting deadlines for yourself 4. Personal disorganization 5. Telephone interruptions and too much socializing 6. Trying to please others 7. Perfectionism 8. Watching too much TV 9. Reading 10. Wasting time shopping.

If we are going to redeem our time, we must have goals in our lives. What is a goal? A goal is the end to which a person aims to accomplish something in his life. This word sometimes scares people because of past failures. Think about it. If you don’t have a mark to aim at, you will never reach it. You say, “How can I even set a goal?” First of all, you have to make your goal measurable. Have a set goal and a time frame to reach it for the coming year. Here are some sample goals:

2. Family goals: Help my husband by loving and praying for him. Give careful attention to my home responsibilities. I will daily pray for my family, and I will make sure my home is neat and clean for them.

3. Financial goals: I will start a savings account. I will increase my tithe and missions offering.

4. Mental goals: I will memorize Bible verses and favorite songs. I will complete the writing that I have begun.

5. Ministry goal: I will encourage those whom God puts in my path through writing, hospitality, counseling, soulwinning, visiting, and discipling.

6. Spiritual goals: I will read four chapters in my Bible each day and be consistent in my prayer time.

This week get some index cards and write out your goals for the coming year. You might have several goals under each category. Ask God to show you how you might serve Him in a greater way this year.

The Gift of Friendship

During my devotions this morning I was reading Colossians 1:9-12. As I was thinking about my friends, I began praying those verses. “Father, help these friends to be full of Your spiritual wisdom and understanding that they might know Your will. Help them to walk worthy of You in every way. Help them to bear fruit in all good works. Lord, help them to increase in Your knowledge. Strengthen them with Your power today. Oh Father, thank You for giving me such wonderful friends who are such beautiful gifts to me on this earth.

Friends

I think that God will never send a gift so precious as a friend,

A friend who always understands and fills each need as it demands,

Whose loyalty will stand the test, When skies are bright or overcast.

Who sees the faults that merit blame, But keeps on loving just the same.

Who does far more than creeds could do to make us good, to make us true.

Earth's gifts a sweet enjoyment lend, But only God can give a friend.

Give Me a Friend

Give me a friend, and I'll shuffle along

My vision my vanish-my dream go wrong

My wealth I may lose-or my money may spend

But I'll walk right along-if you give me a friend

And my youth may depart-but still I'll be young

In the house of my heart

Yes, I'll go on laughing-right on to the end

If you give me a friend

Friends can help us when we are discouraged and lift are spirits when we feel the lowest. If you have some good friends, thank God for them today and let them know you are praying for them.

Philemon 4-7 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers. Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints. That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

God tells us in Jeremiah 17:10, “I the Lord searches the heart.” If God searched your heart today, what would He find? Before a person comes to know Christ as His personal Savior, the Bible says that a person has a natural heart. This means he cannot understand the Bible or spiritual things. On February 26, 1966, I gave my heart to Jesus. Although I was only seventeen years old, I shall never forget that Sunday morning. With sorrowful repentance, I wept at the altar and asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. What a change! My desires began to change and my whole life began to take on new meaning. Many people think they can work their way to heaven. Oh, Satan has them fooled. God’s word says, “For by grace are ye saved, and that not of yourself.”

Salvation is a gift of God. Friend, if you have not accepted Christ as your Savior, time is running out. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this is the judgment, and that your life if like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” Don’t put off getting your heart right!

“How sad when flames of love burn low In hearts that once their warmth did know! But Christ will freely grace bestow And cause that love again to glow.” D.J. DeHaan

Can you believe it’s the year 2004? I have spoken to several elderly people and asked them if they thought they would live to see this year? Everyone of them told me no!

What are you going to do with this year? Will you do the same old things this year as you did last year? Vere Loper said, “More important than the passing of the years is what we have done with those years.”

Assuming that one’s life could be represented by the 16 waking hours of the day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the time clock would look like this:

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

A mother is the Bible's most honored woman, and much is said about the influence of mothers. The word mother or mothers appears 300 times in the Bible.

Often when the Bible refers to a mother, who was a queen in Kings and Chronicles, there is usually a phrase which summarizes the spiritual and moral condition of the king's reign. It is interesting that the phrase reads, "And he (the king) did that which was evil or he (the king) did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," his mother's name is mentioned. This shows the importance of a wicked or Godly mother's influence.

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother." John Quincy Adams stated," My mother was a minister of blessing to all human beings within her sphere of action. Her heart was the abode of heavenly purity. She had no feeling but of kindness and beneficence. Yet her mind was as firm as her temper was mild and gentle.” Susannah Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her seventeen children. She also took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters.

The Baptist Vision this month had an article which spoke of a manual that has been written for girls as young as ten years old. This manual tells girls how to become a feminist, a lesbian, and a pro-abortion activist. It is advertised as written in a frank and nonjudgmental tone. Another article in the same periodical stated: “A kindergarten class in California was forced to sing a New Age song during a forestry field trip. Students sat on the ground and sang, ‘Where I sit is holy. Holy is the ground. Forest, mountain, river—listen to the sound. Great spirits circle all around me...Ancient mother, I heart you calling..Ancient mother, I hear your laughter. Ancient mother, I taste your tears.’” Parents of one of the students filed suit against the Pajaro Valley School District after they were denied a public hearing on the incident by the school board.

Oh, Mothers, what are you doing to be an influence on your children? Satan is doing everything he can to deceive them into doing and believing the wrong things. You have it in your power to train your children to be great spiritual leaders. Don't underestimate your influence. You are guiding lights in your homes.

Counseling Tip for Depression

Depression can be a serious debilitating problem. If you have ruled out a physical depression, let us look at God’s Word and see if it can be a spiritual problem. David viewed his depression in Psalm 32:4 as a warning sign from God that showed him his sinful ways and encouraged him to change his attitude and behavior. Often depression comes when we fail to handle everyday problems God’s way. Everyone has different setbacks such as financial, sickness, personality conflicts, various disappointments, or even guilt over unconfessed sin. When we don’t handle these problems God’s way, we have a tendency to follow our feelings rather than God’s Word. When people get depressed, they usually get behind on their responsibilities. When one falls behind on responsibilities this produces greater depression and makes the person feel hopeless. Next time you get depressed do this simple procedure.

1. Make a list of things you have been neglecting or you didn’t feel like doing.

3. Keep at it, no matter how you feel. As Christians, we must learn to live our life

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...”

Events of Terrorism

Although we are all still trying to make sense from the events of September 11, no one really knows “why” these horrible acts occurred. We do know one thing for sure. Our Lord’s return is imminent. Although we don’t know the exact time of His return, we do know that we are beginning to feel the birth pangs before His coming.

Read Revelation 18:16-19. It is uncanny the similarities between Babylon and the United States. Isn’t it ironic that our nation was established as “one nation under God?” Yet today, where are our Christian values? 1. Ten million people daily drink themselves into insensibility 2. Ten million people use drugs 3. Ten billion dollars each year is spent on tobacco products which pollute people’s bodies 4. Sixty-billion dollars is thrown away gambling 5. Sexual promiscuity is condoned and even promoted 6. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar business 7. Abortion has taken the lives of twenty-five million unborn children since 1973 8. Cybersex on the internet and on-line pornography bring XXX-rated material into millions of homes in the USA.

Read John 16:1-3 and compare these verses to the horrible atrocities on September 11. These extremists killed innocent people thinking they were doing it for God.

Read II Thessalonians 2:9 and compare with all the citings of UFOs. The Bible says that in the last days Satan will send signs and lying wonders.

Read Psalm 83:4 and compare with the Islamic-fundamentalist hatred of Jews and their desire to destroy Israel.

Read Daniel 2 and 7; Revelation 12:3, Revelation 13:1 and compare with the rise of a united Europe.

Read Luke 21:26 and compare with the fear that has taken hold of not only our contry but the whole world. Everyone is thinking, “What will happen next?”

Even though it is so easy for all of us to get fearful as we see these things begin to happen - READ - Luke 21:28 Praise the Lord - when we begin to see these things begin to happen we can rejoice because we know His coming is near!!!.