In Spiritual

I attended the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta last week and it was a great event.  One of the speakers this year was Pricilla Shrier who in her closing comments recited this poem that I found on her website.  It had the crowd cheering and I thought I would share it with you this week.

He is the First and Last,
The Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was,
He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him,
and The leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,
and The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him,
and Oprah can't explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging,
and His mind is on me.

He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!

I serve Him because
His bond is love,
His burden is light,
and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because
He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful,
the ancient of days,
the ruler of rulers,
the leader of leaders,
the overseer of the overcomer's,
and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you,
try this on for size.

His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
never forsake me,
never mislead me,
never forget me,
never overlook me,
and never cancel my appointment in His
appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I! fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.
God is in control,
I am on His side,
and that means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

If you haven't heard Pricilla Shrier speak you should, it will be a blessing for you, it sure was for me.  Look for an event near you at http://www.lifeway.com/women.

 

 

I recently read an article about the 10 things we should pray for our children.  I thought it was a good reminder as I caught myself chuckling about some of the prayers I have prayed recently for mine:  "Lord, keep him out of trouble" , "Protect his heart" and "Father, keep me sane"  I'll admit have topped my list in the past few weeks.  Here is the list from the article.

1.  For Godly wisdom

2.  For character

3.  For an excellent spirit

4.  For humility

5.  For the desire to know God

6.  For direction

7.  For favor

8.  For discernment

9.  For the right friends and the right spouse

10.  For respect toward authority

 A good list to remember for our children.  And as for our sanity, well I guess that will have to wait for another list.

I want to share with you what I believe to be the single greatest challenge ever given to mankind, by the greatest person who has ever lived.  

No matter how:  Wealthy, Famous, Brilliant or Powerful anyone may become or think they are, no one will ever give themselves to a greater cause, to a more important cause, to an eternal cause greater than the this life-changing, even world-changing call from God.  The Great Commission. 

No matter how many:  Honors, Awards or Achievements are placed in people’s hands, nothing can begin to compare with this great command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to help take His message of love and forgiveness to every creature, in every community, in every part of the world and make disciples of every nation.

Pause for a few moments and just think about our world.  Think about what’s going on right now.
  People are filled with frustration
  People are filled with fear
  People are filled with despair

Mankind hasn’t figured out the answers to our problems of:
  Stress
  The economy
  War
  Nuclear Proliferation
  Pollution
  Crime
  Violence
  Sexual rebellion and exploitation
  Alcoholism
  Drug addiction
  Abortion
  Pornography
  Wide spread political and social decay
  Moral decline

For such a time as this, God has given the church her marching orders.  The Greatest Commandment, from the Greatest Person, to the Greatest Institution ever, The Church.  So, here we are as Followers of Christ, as Disciples.  What are we going to do about the Great Commission.   The Great Commission is not going to change in the years ahead.  We will still have our marching orders.  We will still have an opportunity, through relationships, to seek to disciple and equip people to accept the love and grace of God the Father through Jesus Christ and to share the love of God and forgiveness of God with peoples and nations everywhere.

Several years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Dale Price at a CCCA national convention. Dale is a good friend of Hal Hill's and has been the executive director at Canyonview Camp in Oregon for many years. Anyway, Hal asked if I minded if Dale joined our group for dinner. I said, "of course not, tell him come on". So Dale joined us that night and a new friendship was launched. Over the next couple of years it became a tradition for Dale to join the LifeWay group for dinner on our free night at the CCCA annual conference.

Less than a year ago Dale was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer and given very low odds for survival. He immediately began a very aggressive treatment  of both radiation and chemo. Shortly after his diagnosis Dale launched a diary (link to Dale's page) on CaringBridge.org and I can't begin to tell you how inspiring it is to read. Dale and his lovely wife Ruby, are now living their lives in HiDef and he's doing a great job of chronicling that journey. God has not cured Dale, yet, but the faith that Dale and Ruby exhibit in this battle is certainly an encouragement to me.

Please take a moment to read a little of Dale's walk with our Lord. I promise you won't regret the time spent.

Dale, we're praying for you buddy. Hope to see you guys this year in Colorado Springs. Dinner's on me!

The B-I-B-L-E yes that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E……That’s what it’s all about"  It may seem strange to hear it this way, but it is great theology.

People who develop computer systems know that the project isn’t finished until it’s documented, because other people need to know how to use what you develop. It stands to reason, then, that if the universe has a Creator, then He would leave a document explaining what it’s all for. In a sense, the Bible is God’s documentation of the most important project in history, which is His creation and redemption of the human race.

Technicians tend to be frustrated with people who won’t read and follow documentation, even though we admit human documentation is imperfect. Imagine a car owner who says, "I don’t believe all this stuff in the owner’s manual about changing my oil! I won’t let the car company tell me what to do!" A person like that will get what he deserves, which is a blown engine. All the more reason, then, to follow the infallible documentation that God has given. People, families, institutions, and societies that ignore what the Creator of the universe says about His creation are setting themselves up for a fall.

Of course, the Bible is much more than a manual. The more we read it, study it, meditate on it, and memorize it, the more we find it is like the spring of living water that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman.

The Bible may not tell you how to fix your computer, but it says a lot about what really matters – such as that system between the chair and the keyboard.  I’ve seen many computer systems come and go. But as the Bible says in 1^st Peter, "the word of the Lord endures forever."

Volunteers are key to Ridgecrest being able to effectively serve our guests. For much of Ridgecrest’s history, men and women of God have brought an incredible heart and passion to our volunteer ministry. Bringing a cheerful smile and helping hands to the various hospitality needs on campus, these volunteers have left a lasting impression on literally millions of guests.  I hope you enjoy this story from just one of them.

Fresh Peaches was written by Ridgecrest Volunteer - Ann Maniscalco

 
Edith weighed in at about 85 pounds, and her age probably wasn’t too far below that. She was one of the first energetic seniors I met when I began a two-week volunteer stint at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center*. Upon learning that I had arrived by plane, she eagerly volunteered to take me along whenever she drove into town for needed items. Somehow, she learned my name wrong, and occasionally from behind me, I’d hear her calling, “Hey, Betty”, as she scurried to catch up, checking on me and telling me of excursions she had planned.

As schedules for our volunteer responsibilities varied, I wasn’t always able to take advantage of Edith’s transportation offers, but she didn't forget about me. One afternoon as I walked down the hall to my room, I could see something on the floor by the door. As I approached, I found a huge, luscious fresh peach lying on a napkin. Later that evening, Edith sidled in next to me at dinner. “Betty, did you find the peach I left for you?” she asked, giving my arm a quick squeeze. She and some other volunteers had taken a trip to a nearby farmer’s market, and since the peaches looked so good, she decided to pick up some for her friends. Later that evening, as the copious sweet juice dripped down my chin, I savored the delicious fruit as well as thoughts of my tenderhearted new friend!

“Then the Lord said to him [Moses], ‘What is that in your hand?’” (Exodus 4:2)

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was
always doing good and helping the poor.” (Acts 9:36)

A peach - just one peach - but that simple act showed tender love and a desire to share, to brighten another’s day. Acts of kindness, so easy to do; they don’t have to cost much, nor need they be time-consuming to be valued. Even now, when I bite into a succulent, juicy peach, I recall Edith’s act of Christian caring, and pause to pray that I might have that same desire and willingness to serve others. Perhaps the “seeds” of the gospel can be spread through the seeds of some fresh fruit. “What is that in your hand?”

Related scriptures for further study: Galatians 5:22-25, Romans 12:9-13, Matthew 6:1-4, 2 Peter 1:3-8, Galatians 6:9-10

(*The facility is now known as LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. It is nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, not far from Asheville, NC. I wrote these devotional thoughts years ago when I first had the opportunity to experience the divine blessing of volunteering at the Center.)

As many of you who have stayed at Ridgecrest or Glorieta before already know, we send out an electronic guest survey to all of our guests for whom we have an email address. This survey asks for feedback on the entire guest experience and we are constantly utilizing this constructive feedback to improve our service. 

Of all the questions the survey asks, this is my favorite:

"Beyond the facilities and service, it encourages us to hear how the Lord worked in your life during your stay at our conference center. Do you have a comment, testimony or experience you would like to share with us?"

Every month, when I'm reviewing our service scores, I love to take a few minutes and read how God worked in the lives of our guests. Below is a sampling of the responses we received for the month of May. I found these to be a blessing. Hopefully you will as well.

• I went to the prayer garden for the first time and really felt the presence of God there. I was able to open my heart, then to really "be still and know" He is God and was there.
• Whenever I come to Ridgecrest I find God's peace there. The surrounding mountains, the calm and the opportunity to hear from God without a whole lot of local traffic and people who have other priorities than Christ makes it a place I'll come to again and again.
• Being among friends with whom I worked in Africa was a highlight of this year. It refreshed my soul hear how God is working in difficult places around the world.
• It is very spiritual there. You can see and feel the Holy Spirit working in the staff. The Rally 2 Ridgecrest event was a life-changing event for me.
• My wife and I were extremely blessed by our stay. The atmosphere is conducive to prayer and meditation. The campus offers an environment that makes one feel that God is all around them. We simply loved our time spent there.
• Personally, it was good to have a facility that took care of my needs and allowed time to reflect on my relationship with God and appreciate the beauty around us and the friendly inviting atmosphere. I have not experienced that anywhere else and I have been to lots of retreats over the years.

What about you? Do you have a Ridgecrest or Glorieta story you'd like to share with us? If so, click here!

 Even though I work for LifeWay I feel compelled to share with you why I believe Ridgecrest and Glorieta to be the perfect places for Spiritual Retreats.  I get the pleasure of seeing the weekly testimonies shared with us about how these retreats have changed peoples lives.  Here are just a few quotes.

"Being at Glorieta has inspired me every time I have stayed there.  God's beauty in creation and in the friendly faces of the staff send me off a changed person!"

"Without the intrusion of television my family and I were able to really spend quality time together as a family with the lord.  Our family grew closer together during our stay."

"The Lord is definitely in this place!  I am still on a spiritual high and have been home for a week."

If you choose to visit Ridgecrest or Glorieta.  I hope you will take full advantage of the many recreation opportunities and area attractions available.  But more importantly, I hope that you include in your plans to visit, time for God to work in your life.  I have always enjoyed getting up early and walking to the lake, campus is so peaceful in the mornings.  Whatever you choose to do, I know you will come away blessed.

Getting away on a spiritual retreat will transform your life, if you let it. In Matthew 6:33-34 we are told "But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself."

 

Over Memorial Day weekend, Ridgecrest hosted the 4th annual Rally to Ridgecrest. This event is for Christian motorcycle enthusiasts and, as you can imagine, tends to draw a pretty unique audience. Personally, just the thought of riding a motorcycle scares me to death. So to me, anyone attending this event is unique...or crazy. Not sure which, maybe both!

Anyway, for this year's event, our keynote speaker was Oliver North and he did a phenomenal job. The following is part of a first person account of the event sent to us by Dick Peterson, who was attending the rally from South Carolina. Regardless of whether or not you ride a motorcycle, I think you'll enjoy reading about how Col. North interacted with this unique group of Christian men and women.

   For Lt. Col. Oliver North, speaking to a “motorcycle gang” was a first, but judging from the welcome he received, it probably won’t be his last.

   North spoke during the Sunday morning worship service at Rally To Ridgecrest, LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center’s annual Memorial Day weekend invitation to bikers from around the country to gather in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. North talked about his faith in Jesus Christ, the senior officer God used to introduce him to Jesus, and how important it is to “know where you’re going and why you’re going there.”

    The theme of commitment to purpose as followers of Jesus Christ permeated the talk, which resonated with the more than 600 motorcyclists who at times interrupted the speaker with applause, cheers and a scattering of “hoo-rah” for the retired Marine officer.

     The bikers were there to encourage each other as they use their passion for motorcycles to tell other bikers about Jesus. North called them an “affinity group” that God could use to build relationships and ultimately win souls to Christ.

      North’s keynote speech followed an early morning parade of motorcycles to the veterans’ cemetery in Black Mountain where he recognized the supreme sacrifice of men and women in service to their country. However, North's speech was hardly the only highlight of the four-day weekend. Perhaps the most rewarding opportunity of the rally was meeting bikers from as far away as Texas, Maine and Florida, who love to ride and love the Lord. They rode on virtually every kind of bike and shared the joys and heartaches of ministry on the road with other believers.

Our thanks go out to Dick for taking the time to send this to us!