June 2011

Jeremiah 30:17,  ‘But I will restore you to health & heal your wounds,’  declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast,  Zion for whom no one cares.’

Keeping on Keeping On…

by Lynne Farrow

The Scripture tells us, “Blessed is he who perseveres,” James 1:12. I’m sure I am not the only one that at times has felt like giving up, just throwing my hands up in the air and quitting…am I, probably not.

Simply because trouble comes to all of we believers, trouble knows we would not learn any other way, or something along that line. I’ve been a believer for 36 years and in full time ministry for 29, believe me when I tell you I have learned some hard lessons…all at God’s hand, and looking back, I would not have missed even one, I said, “looking back.”

At the time the emotion was not always positive. I’ve noticed in myself, every time God wants to make a major change/shift in my ministering, I initially fight Him…not always consciously, but a battle goes on in my heart and mind. Possibly, it would be better said the battle is in my mind.

I’ve learned over the years, my mind is not reliable and neither are my emotions. My spirit is because it is controlled by the Lord. Very early on He begins to teach us discernment, some people have the spiritual gift of discernment, don’t always recognize it and frequently don’t trust it until someone much older in the Lord teaches them how and why.

They are truly blessed because that gift is badly needed today within the body of Christ. There are many, many false teachers and con men coming into our churches and taking advantage of the flock.

People with the gift of discernment can “sense” they are not really what they say they are. God knows this kind of thing would come about which is why He provides the church with such gifted people. They need to trust their relationship with the Lord and exercise the gift and not “feel” as if they are judging.

I used those quotation marks on purpose because many times that happens…we make judgments all the time, all of us.

But spiritual discernment is another whole thing…when the Spirit of God speaks in that still small voice, that’s discernment and we need to listen.

Discernment needs to be exercised…trained. To do that and discern correctly, you must meditate on the Word, memorizing passages that speak to you and your gift, always compare what God is saying to your spirit with what He says in His Word. We know He will never contradict Himself so knowledge Scripture is important. Be willing to observe and obey the conditions that go with His promises.

Hebrews 5:14 tells us that there are those:

...who by constant use have trained themselves and their senses to discern.”

Practice means you may make mistakes, so be willing to learn from them, and grow in this area. When your head doesn’t know which way to go, trust your spirit, your Spirit trained spirit will guide you correctly. It takes faith to operate in the spiritual area, not reason, and if you are going to go for reasonable answers and guidance, you will not develop discernment and will make many wrong choices and decisions.

These times are usually when we most want to give up…we feel like a failure and are ready to quit. Don’t!  Just cling to God and remember this:

“...Reasoning is product of your head, discernment is a product of your spirit. Your head doesn’t comprehend/understand spiritual things, you cannot count on it leading you correctly. But…God in His mercy will, and He will never let you down or leave you all alone. He will be there, especially when you want to give up because for many of us that is a “bottoming out”

Experience and our Lord meet alot of people at the bottom, and then make great saints out of them because they have learned they can’t do it…but He can…and will!

Lynne Farrow

I Believe

Sent in by Bob Feldhaus,
Union Correction, Raiford, Fla.

I believe...that true friendship continues to grow, 
if we understand that friends change.

I believe...that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt
        you every once in a while, and you must forgive them for that.

I believe...that true friendship continues to grow, even over the
              longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe...that you can do something in an instant that will give you
heartache for life.

I believe...that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I
want to be.

I believe...that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I believe...that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I believe...that we are responsible for what we do, regardless of how
we feel.

I believe...that either you control your attitude, or it controls you.

I believe...that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at 
1st, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe...that heroes are the people who do what has to be done,
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe...that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe...that my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and
have the best time.

I believe...that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when
you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe...that sometimes when I’m angry, I have the right to be
angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I believe...that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you
want them to, doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I believe...that maturity has more to do with what types of
                    experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them 
and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I believe...that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe...that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world
doesn’t stop for your grief.

I believe...that our background and circumstances may have influenced
who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe...that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they
  don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do. 

I believe...that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It
could change your life forever.

I believe...that 2 people can look at the exact same thing and see
 something totally different.

I believe...that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by
people who don’t even know you.

I believe...that even when you think you have no more to give, when a
friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I believe...that credentials on the wall doesn’t make someone a decent
human being.

I believe...that the people you care about most in life are taken from
you too soon.

The Battle of Your Soul, (Saved or Lost)

Shared by Freddie Lee Williams,
Union Corrections, Raiford, Fla.

In the large city of Paris, France, stands a monument erected to the memory of Gen. Napoleon. In the closing years of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century he became a feared man in Europe. His famous victories in battle and impressive conquests reached to such an extent that practically all of Europe, with the exception of England, was under his control. The ambitious general was entertaining the thought of controlling the whole world.      

In Paris on the monument of the Arch of Triumph can be read a list of battles ever, one very important battle missing….Ah, yes!  The historic battle of Waterloo. It was lost. The tide had turned. His ambitions were shattered for he had lost this all important battle. Upon this he was sent into exile, and he died a hated man.      

What would it have availed Napoleon to have gained the whole world only to lose at  Waterloo? His glory, fame and fortune were suddenly gone. All the victories of the past did not profit him at the time of this crushing defeat. By losing this battle he lost everything.     

Every responsible soul encounters great spiritual battles in life. The consequences of these battles are of tremendous weight and importance. The defeat at Waterloo brought disgrace for Napoleon during his life. The loss of the battle of your soul brings anguish for eternity. Have you thought of the inevitable consequences of a self-centered Christ less life?     

Are you going to lose the battle of life? The battle between life and death? The battle between heaven and hell? The battle between self-denial and self-love, your soul and the devil? Jesus says:

“What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).      

Whether we have much or little of this natural world in our possession, if we lose our own soul, what a tragedy! Our eternal destiny will be sealed. Many people don’t realize that there is a great spiritual battle to be fought. Their understanding has been blinded by Satan and the world, and they are asleep to the realities of the battle against sin. The Bible says:

“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14).

Shake off the chains of sin and Satan. Make it a fight to the finish! You cannot escape natural death but you can escape eternal death.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14).

“Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44).

If you lose the battle for your soul’s salvation, it will be an eternal doom in hell and torment.      

Did you ever stop to consider there is but one step between you and death? Are you ready to pass over the threshold of time into eternity? To gain the victory that will lead you to your heavenly home, you must come to Jesus who

“...came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

“God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

NOW! Not tomorrow or some other convenient season.

“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

If you are yet without Christ in your heart, if your past condemns you, if you have not experienced the new birth (John 3:3), do not rest at ease. Repent! Come to Jesus just as you are while He stands knocking at the door of y our heart. He said:

“If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).

You may ask, “Can a sinner really be saved?” Yes! Come to Christ in faith with your whole heart and accept Him as your personal Savior, repenting of  your sins and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Then you will win the battle of your soul. You will not only enjoy peace and joy in this life, but also bliss and glory with your Savior in eternity. Thousands of years ago the prophet Ezekiel said:

“I the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed….and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live”(Ezekiel 18:21).     

If you intend to enjoy the pleasures of a sinful world, you will find yourself losing out in the end as Napoleon did in the battle of Waterloo. You will be as a drowning man without a savior, and will perish. What a fate to spend eternity in hell! Grasp hold of Jesus Christ, the great Life Preserver without delay. He will save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). Eternity in Heaven! Then, concerning the last battle, you will say with the apostle Paul:

“Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 15:57).     

Dear soul, you have the choice of victory or defeat, Heaven or Hell, the living God or the devil, a joyous, glorious eternity or endless woe and torment.

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Choose Jesus Today!

REST IN THE LORD

Sent in by Julius Alls,
Federal Corrections, Jesup, Georgia

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.     

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever.

From Psalm 37