Revitalize Your Church

    As children bring their broken toys   With tears for us to mend,   I brought my broken dreams to God   Because He was my friend.   But then instead of leaving Him   In peace to work alone,   I hung around and tried to help   With ways that were my own.    At last I snatched them back and cried,   "How could you be so slow"   "My child," He said, "What could I do?   You never did let go."   - Author Unknown

I referred to the following experience in my book, Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose.  It holds deep meaning for me.  One day, after making a hospital visit in Duluth, Minnesota, I was drawn by the spire of the old First Presbyterian Church. A kind secretary opened up the sanctuary for me to sit and pray for a while.  Gazing around, my eyes fell upon a beautiful stained glass window. It was the picture of a gravestone with dark purple and black hues overshadowing it. But at the top of the window, squarely in the center of a black night, shone a bright golden star -- which seemed to exude hope and light. The star was the focal point of the window.  At the bottom, the following words were inscribed: In memory of Sarah Agnes Graff  1853-1889  Build a little fence of trust around today.  Fill the space with loving work and therein stay.  Look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow...

  “ That I may know Him," -- Father grant the longing that burns within me as a quenchless fire: For in these words what wondrous depths lie hidden, embracing all I need or can desire.   “That I may know Him " -- this is life eternal, not to possess a gift apart from One who is the fount from which all true life springs, and whom to know is heaven on earth begun.   “That I may know  Him" -- not in name or theory, This brings no         power to stand amid earth’s strife. No; I will know Him as my living Savior,  the very strength and center of my life.  -- Freda Hanbury Allen, from  That I May Know Him, a beautiful collection of spiritual poems published in 1904.

"Satan is not necessarily opposed to all Christian work. He cares little how zealously we busy ourselves at good things so long as we do not work in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is often pleased if we work so hard and so long that we begin to fret and worry. He is happy if we undertake more work than we can saturate with prayer. He would not seriously oppose if every Christian were a tireless worker -- so long as he worked only in his human energy and was not empowered and anointed by the Spirit of God."  -- Wesley L. Duewel

The following is taped in the inside cover of my Bible, and I have found it to be quite helpful throughout my life.    Particularly in times of stress, trouble, and hardship, the following daily verses are like inspiration pills for the soul.   Monday -- Peace, I give unto you. . . let not your heart be troubled. (John 14:27)   Tuesday -- You will keep me in perfect peace, when my mind is fixed on you. (Isaiah 26:3)   Wednesday --  Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for him, and do not fret.   (Psalm 37:7)   Thursday --  My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.  (Exodus 33:14)   Friday --  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  (Matthew 11:28)   Saturday --  Let the peace of God rule in your heart, since you were called to peace. . . and be thankful.  (Colossians 3:15)   Sunday -- He makes me lie down in green pastures....

  This morning, I was inspired by something beautiful. The basic idea is from an old evangelist from 100 years ago named S. A. Keen. When we our lack becomes evident -- and we realize we need more than we can possibly offer in order to make it through (rest, assurance, cleansing or power) our natural tendency is to ask for "it."  "God, please give me strength. . . God, please give peace. . ." But, often, those prayers only bring little trickles of help. Instead of asking for "it", try asking for HIM. "Lord, I don't need 'it' nearly as much as I need You. Please come, and fill my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength, my memories, my moments -- with YOU!   If we ask for "it", we may or may not get it. But if we ask for HIM, He will come and bring it with Him!  He, alone, is our secret source of soul refreshment.  The next time you pray, just say, "Lord, give me your Holy Spirit that I may know I am you...

1.  Repentance equals sorrow.  (No -- repentance means more than feeling sorry.  It means turning from sin to Jesus.)  2.  Repentance and self-defense can exist together.  (If I am justifying, excusing, and defending myself, I'm not repenting.)  3.  Repentance can be selective; one can pick and choose.  (It's not a' la carte) 4.  Repentance is purely personal -- to feel better.  (All sin is against God, and hurts others, even if you can't see it right away.)  5.  Repentance is about a deed I've done.  (It's deep matter of the heart.)  6.  Repentance is about self-preservation.  7.  Repentance is a single act.  (There is a huge difference between having repented, and being repentant.)  --   Richard Owen Roberts