Grace Notes

Last weekend our family went to Dubuque, IA to Emmaus Bible College for a conference called “Iron Sharpens Iron.” This year’s topic was “Quest for Holiness.” The speakers were great, and it was a really profitable time. I was encouraged and challenged!

The fellowship time in the dining hall was one of the highlights. Seeing old friends again and meeting new…here Sarah is talking with some new friends from the Dominican Republic.

We enjoyed meeting Alex Strauch and appreciated his great messages on Rom 6-8. We carry many of his books in our bookstore, including Biblical Eldership, a well-known book on church leadership which we feel is important. We are so grateful for the many ways he has strengthened the body of Christ.

Here are some tidbits from a session by Mark Stevenson on the sin of idolatry:

-The human heart is an idol-making factory, and anything we love more than God is an idol.

-Even good things, such as a clean house, can be an idol if we are placing it above the Lord in our affections.

-Your affections can be determined by what you do in your solitude — where your mind goes in your spare thoughts, what you delight to think about as you fall asleep.

-Just as in Romans 1 they “exchanged the truth of God for a lie,” so sin is exchanging the glory of God for lesser things.

-False gods lose their hold on our hearts only when we are captivated with Christ.

-It’s by beholding Jesus that we are changed. (2 Cor 3:18) We become like what we worship.

-When we fall at Jesus’ feet in surrender and worship, we gradually begin to understand what Paul meant when he spoke of how much he valued Christ: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…” (1 Cor 3:7-8)

-May we see how much we have been forgiven and how desperate we are for His mercy. And may we relish in Christ’s love, which is greater, stronger, deeper, and infinitely more satisfying than any earthly pursuit. May we give Him the worship He deserves!

Photo: Stephen Mally

“These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” -Thomas Paine

Many in our area are praying and fasting tomorrow (Saturday) for the urgent crisis we are facing in Congress. Please consider joining us!

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him…”
Joel 2:12-14

Last week I went to an Emmaus Bible College extension class that’s held on Monday nights at a nearby church. The topic was Daniel. I’ve just been reading Hebrews, and the comments made at the class pulled together some thoughts for me…

Imagine the pleasant surprise that awaited Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Instead of feeling the flames, they found themselves in the presence of the Son of God! What incredible joy they must have felt. When King Nebuchadnezzar called them out, I wonder if they thought, “Aww…do we have too??!”

How often do we fear suffering for Jesus–when actually God richest blessings and joy fall on those who are “counted worthy to suffer for His Name”. (Acts 5:41) Paul expressed how he wanted to suffer with Christ so he could experience a closer fellowship with Jesus through it. (Phil 3:10)

This life is too short to live “comfortably” here on earth. Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (Heb 11:1 – 12:1) who have gone before us and found God faithful (even in great trial), let’s embrace their same faith–knowing that we have the same God. And may any wound or scar we receive along the way be counted as an eternal treasure. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

“Hast Thou No Scar?”

Amy Carmichael,
Gold Cord: The Story of a Fellowship

Photo: Abby Kramer

Photo: Abby Kramer

Timing makes a difference when you are passing out tracts! –Especially with cashiers. I really like this purse because I can quickly reach in the front flap, grab a tract, and say, “…and here’s something for you!” when the cashier gives me my receipt.

I also like this purse because I can fit so much stuff in it (as I was explaining to my dad and brother this morning, who didn’t seem to quite relate…).

Anyway, a friend from Living Waters recommended this to me, and I wanted to pass along the recommendation. Sometimes I’ve missed a good opportunity just because I couldn’t dig out a gospel tract fast enough. –But not with this purse!

So let me recommend to you that next time you buy a purse, you think “fishing” more than you think “fashion.”

“Grace—I want to read you something!” my mom called to me yesterday afternoon.
“Okay” I said, not knowing that this was going to be an answer to my prayer.

My mom began reading me a newsletter letter from Roy Robertson, founder of TEL (Training Evangelistic Leadership, a missions organization). Here is what he had to share about his wife, who recently went to be with the Lord:

“…above all she gave top priority to her time in fellowship with the Lord. Her life verse was Philippians 3:10: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

At this my ears perked up. I had just been memorizing in Philippians yesterday morning and that passage really popped out at me. I specifially prayed that the Lord would give me a deeper understanding of what it means and how to apply it in my life. I realized that this must be an answer to my prayer! Now I was really interested in what the rest of the letter said…

My mom continued reading, “…She rose regularly at 4:00AM in order to get three hours in the Word and prayer. She kept extensive prayer lists and prayed through them both day and night. She carried about her Scripture memory packs and reflected over the verses even while traveling, waiting in line or doing chores. She read through the whole Bible each year taking daily selections from the Old Testament, New Testament and poetic books. Shortly before her homegoing, I asked her how many times she had read through the whole Bible. After reflection she answered, “67 times—twice the year I was saved, and once every year thereafter.”

Wow—her goal really was to know Christ, wasn’t it?! It was obviously the passion of her life!

My mom went on to tell me some more things about what Phyllis was like. My mom had been able to get to know her while our family was in Hong Kong in 1990 helping with TEL and a Billy Graham Crusade. She said that Phyllis was always telling people about Jesus. She was always witnessing to the people sitting next to her on the Subways and buses. Wow, what a life worth living. I wonder what her entrance to Heaven was like.

She is an example of how when someone is walking with Jesus, it simply spills over into their life and their interaction with others. That’s why we should all make spending time with the Lord the #1 priority in our lives! Notice Jesus didn’t say to his disciples, “Go and become fishers of men”. Rather, He said, “Follow me, and I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

May you be encouraged, as I was yesterday, to consider everything else as “rubbish” and give the Lord your full attention!

Stephen took this picture a few years ago when we went camping in the mountains. The water was so clear in this Colorado lake, I could see my feet. It made me imagine what Heaven would be like… when we will truly be with Jesus and see Him face to face.