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Back in February while walking from the church to my house on a single-digit day, I determined that when the heat of August came – I would not complain! I have kept my word. There have been a few days when I was tempted to growl a bit, but my mind went back to my vow in February!

So, I’m trying to enjoy this warm weather, realizing that before too long, it’ll be February again! L

The scriptures tell us to “set” our minds! The Apostle Paul said, “I am persuaded…” In another place he said, “I am convinced…” At a point late in His ministry Jesus is said to have “set His face as flint toward Jerusalem.” There’s an old gospel chorus: “I am determined, I’ve made up my mind: I’ll serve the Lord!”

God has given us a wonderful capacity: we can make up our minds! We can exercise the power of our will! We’ve all done it at one time or another!

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And werejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but wealso rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

When reading Paul’s letter to the Romans I often blow right through these verses as though they were merely a simple greeting. However, when I read them today, verse 3 caused me to stop and ponder a bit. I can understand how suffering can produce perseverance, and I can see character being improved by persevering. However, I had to think a little more about hope coming from character.

I did a little digging and I found that, in the Greek, “character” could mean “testedness”. Also, James clarifies it a little in his letter:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I can now see how hope can grow out of perseverance. When I overcome trials, with God’s help, my trust in Him grows stronger, and my expectation (hope) of Him being there for the next trial is increased.

So, it seems to me that if I want to increase my faith and my hope, then I should seek to overcome trials, with God’s help, instead of avoiding them.

My son Jeremy is going to YSU to become a dietician. He loves the whole idea of learning to become a good dietician. Not only educating himself, but also by being an example to others of what he believes to be healthy eating and exercise. If you knew him, you would soon learn how disciplined he really is in those areas. It’s amazing to me. I wish I was more like him.

I have gained some excess pounds and one morning Jeremy said to me. As I was complaining, Jeremy says, mom we need to go shopping and I’ll show you what to buy and what not to buy. We can become a healthy family together. I teased him and asked if he was going to be Jillian Michaels and throw away all our bad foods.

It got me thinking about our spiritual lives. How over time we allow all the bad stuff to enter our minds which at the time didn’t seem too bad. We don’t even give a second thought to how it might affect our lives in the long run. Before we know it we are filled with the excess baggage of sin in our lives.

The word of God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit are our resources for healthy living. If we keep filling ourselves with healthy spiritual food and keep exercising our faith, we will win the battle of the bulge. It needs to become a way of life, so sin doesn’t have the opportunity to enter in. Becoming everything God has planned for us to become should be our goal, which brings us eternal life.

I Chronicles 29:19 a. “Give my son Solomon the whole hearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees.” Wholehearted devotion means to be entirely dedicated to God. Is this where you’re at, or are you battling the bulge?

One day last week, I was heading off to do some shopping. As all of us have done, I made a terrible and common mistake while driving. The mailman was stopped on the road, by a double line. I debated whether to wait, or pass the truck. Well, I passed the truck, looked in the rear view mirror to see the mailman yelling at me and waving his arms. Luckily, there were no cars coming and there was no accident. Naturally, I said a prayer thanking God and asking forgiveness for being so careless.

This is probably a very common mistake we all have made. Should we pass the garbage truck, UPS truck, tractor, mailman, road crews, and even a policeman who has pulled someone over on the side of the road (sometimes in a bad place)? I just want to refresh everyone’s memory that it only takes seconds for an accident to happen. Let’s all be more cautious out there on the road.

Dear Father in Heaven, please give us wisdom, guidance, and patience when we are driving. Please protect these people who put their lives in jeopardy everyday, by working on our highways. Some of us grumble at a slight delay in our fast-paced lives; forgive us dear Lord for being so impatient. The garbage men, mail men, paper delivery person, highway workers all need your protection every day. Thank you, dear Father that I didn’t cause an accident and please forgive me for my carelessness. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

These men are “The New Middletown Free Methodist Community Church Baseball Team ". We congratulate them being third in their division.

Matt K., Matt M., Matt S., Andy C., Dennis M., Aaron N., Brandon S., Dave S., Justin S., Jeremy S., and Chuck S.

Before and after each game both teams join hands, forming a big circle for prayer. It brings a lump in your throat to see them and warms your heart.

Our team members were a testimony at each game. I Corinthians 3:16 "Know that you are the temple of God, and His spirit dwells in you". This was put to the test in front of young fellows that helped out when they were short of players. Our team members won “the test" hands down!

After working hard all day, they often played in ninety, and ninety five degree weather. The only water available was what they remembered to bring with them, Two of the team members were reminded as they ran the bases “oh, that's right I'm a Grandpa.” Even dealing with these things, they still smiled, always encouraged one another, and never quit when the going got tough.

Many of these players are already active in our fellowship at church. It is my prayer the rest will become involved as well.

Jehoshaphat faced similar odds. A huge force was on its way to annihilate the Israelites – what to do, what to do… ”There’s no time to waste… Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help and ordered a nationwide fast” (II Chronicles 20:2-4). Here is God’s word to them:

“Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war not yours. Tomorrow you’ll go after them…You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm and watch God’s saving work for you to take shape.”

Interested? Read the rest in II Chronicles 20 (The Message). I’m facing my own Red Sea moment. Cancer wants to swallow me up. When I look at the “findings,” my water is deep and the banks are swollen. Yet, like Jehoshaphat I choose to turn to God. My job is to “stand firm and watch God’s saving work for me to take shape.” I believe my God is moving mountains on my behalf. There are things for which I have asked God that I’ve said, “whatever it takes.” So yes, as I step into the raging waters to part that sea, I will confidently walk to the other side on dry ground.

Self-esteem is a phrase we hear a lot now days. We parents worry that our children may have low self-esteem. Psychologists talk about it all the time. It seems today that self-esteem is the all important thing that everyone needs to have in order to live a successful life. Self is the key word here. As long as we are seeking our esteem or worth from our selves and those around us, we will always be lacking it. Psalm 139 is a beautiful picture of what God thinks of us and He is where we should be seeking our esteem, and worth.

Verse 2-4, says He knows every thought and word before we say it or think it. He also knows

Verse 4-5, tells us that God goes before us and behind us. He lays His hand of blessing on our

Verse 6-11, says we are in His presence at all times, His hand guides us, and His strength

Verse 13-16, explains that God created us and put every cell and every molecule together to form

us wonderfully, just to suite Himself. Then He recorded every day of our lives from birth

Verse 17-18, tells us how precious we are to Him and His thoughts about us outnumber the

Verse 23-24, He will search our hearts and root out any thoughts we have about our selves that

If you suffer from low self-esteem, read Psalm 139 everyday if you have to until your realize your esteem comes from our Father in Heaven and not from ourselves. He thinks you are wonderfully made, and He should know He made you.

My daughter Jessica just turned 11 years old. I would like to share some of her “musings”; I hope you enjoy the innocence and insight about her relationship with God.

I was driving in the darkness on a March night. The sudden snow storm came upon me and the flakes were coming toward the windshield with a fury. I tried to see the road lines, but I could only see a few feet ahead. I thought if I turned on the bright lights I could see further down the road. However, when the bright's came on, I was blinded. I switched back to the regular lights and the road was again visible enough to continue a safe drive. This made me think of the times when I want to see the future of a situation or relationship. I want the solution to a problem to happen when I think it should happen! I’m impatient with the timing of events as I want to have everything fall into my schedule on cue. Then God reminded me that night that He wants me to concentrate on the present, trusting Him that the future will be evident to me in His timing. Does this all sound familiar? He gave me these verses to ponder as I finished the ride home, without the bright lights…

“Take care of the things dear to God and He will take care of the things dear to you.” Matthew 6:33

(The above is the paraphrase given by Alice Taylor, FM missionary in the 1940’s)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11-13

A dear one had gone through a lot of disappointment, hurt, and discouragement. She said, I can't pray! Knowing her for some time, I knew prayer time was very important to her. She was quite upset and fearful.

I could share with her at a time in my life after going through serious surgery, and being “in a fog" from medication, I tried to form a prayer and nothing seemed to make sense. I put my bible in bed beside me, laid my hand on it and just said, Jesus, Jesus over and over again. That was a "turning point" there was peace- His peace, God knew my heart, the Holy Spirit was comforting me, I was praying.

In time my dear one told me she could pray again. Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel. He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for them IICorinthians 1:3-4

Some neighbors needed rides to church, and there was sickness involved, she stepped in to help. Reaching out to others, she had a " turning point", His peace that this is what she needed to do, help in getting back connected to God, she was praying..

Many are familiar with Psalm 139. You may desire to read it to refresh your memory. David, in this Psalm which really is his prayer, contemplates God’s perfect knowledge of man.

While reading some questions posed to a Professor at Moody Bible Institute recently, a part of the answer just “jumped out at me”. The question asked was “I have felt kind of down and depressed lately; has the Lord forgotten me?” Dr. Neely’s answer, in part, was “I want you to know that God has not forgotten you! Christian, remember that your name is as eternal as God, because as long as He has been in existence, your name has been in His heart for salvation.” This thought astounded me. Read Eph 1:4

Thess. 2:13; and I Peter 1:1-2. You can check it out for yourself in these verses!!

Lord, thank you that your Holy Spirit illuminates your Holy Word as we read and meditate upon it. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen

I feel as if I am to be relaying something insightful. The truth is I am dry at this time. Since the beginning of August and the decision of Free Methodist World Missions to have us stay home for another 10 months, we have been forced to change our focus from GOING to Thailand to STAYING here. Staying means gearing up for school. My teaching and the children’s preparing to go absorbs an immense amount of time. In all of this, we have to overcome the sorrow in not GOING. We are depending on God for insight and direction as we move forward into the school year. We are depending on Him for strength to overcome the negatives encountered in STAYING. The bottom line is that we are still depending on God for our needs, our happiness, and our attitudes. We are praying that He meets our daily needs, the needs that we can and can’t foresee, and the unmet needs of our Thailand trip, (prayer partners and financial partners). We are still moving forward toward going and serving in Thailand. In His time, God will provide all that is needed for us to get there. We are trusting and depending on Him for that. Please pray with us that God will meet the needs of our Thailand trip.

As believers Christ sets us free and we are indeed free. But the question is: Are we living in freedom? Numerous things will keep us from experiencing freedom: debt, guilt, etc, however, one biggie is unforgiveness. Forgiveness is not free—for the one doing the forgiving. True forgiveness will always cost the giver something but to the ones being forgiven, it’s free. Once we realize just how much it cost Christ to forgive us then we need to extend this forgiveness to others. If we don’t, we throw ourselves into prison. Peter’s question on forgiveness and the following parable in Matt. 18:21-35 illustrates this.

The king settling accounts had a slave brought before him who owed a huge debt—10,000 talents (50 to 60 million dollars). Jesus emphasized a debt that can not be paid; a laborer working 6 days a week for 20 years would earn one talent. It cost the slave nothing but forgiveness cost the king an enormous price, like the enormous price forgiveness cost Jesus. This slave should have been filled with compassion, mercy, and grace but wasn’t. He went out to settle account with one who owed him 100 denarii (about 6 months’ wages) and had him thrown into prison. People saw this and told the king who had the slave thrown into prison and his possessions sold. The slave’s unforgiveness caused him ruin and put him in a cell. While Christ may have set us free, when we have unforgiveness and vengeance in our heart we’ll never experience that freedom because we choose to live in a cell. Sometimes unforgiveness is buried so deep that we need to ask God to search our heart for it in order for us to experience freedom. Remember, forgiveness costs—not the recipient but the giver.

How many times during the day do we complain about something insignificant?   I don’t have anything to wear; my car is too old; my kids are too loud; my mother-in-law is coming. You get the drift.

How often are we really grateful for all the blessings we do have?

In I Thessalonians: 18, Paul tells us to”give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.

We do have clothes, the car still runs, my kids are healthy, (let’s leave the mother-in-law out of it).

I know this is difficult when we’re in the middle of some upset, or what we perceive to be a crisis, but a truly grateful heart will give inner peace, faith and contentment and a positive attitude.

We have a choice.  We can choose to be grateful.  Re-read the verse above and start to recite it every day.  Watch the positive change in your life.

How do you pray a prayer so filled with faith that it can move a mountain? By shifting the focus from the size of your mountain to the sufficiency of the mountain mover, and by stepping forward in obedience...

While the children of Israel are perched on the edge of the Promised Land, twelve spies go out to survey it. Ten come back saying, "You wouldn't believe the size of the cities, the armies, the giants. We'd better look somewhere else." Two came back saying, "The God who is faithful promised He would give us the land, so let's go in His strength." Ten looked at the size of the mountain and fell back; only two looked at the sufficiency of the mountain mover and wanted to move forward...

I challenge you to shift the focus of your prayer. Don't spend a lot of time describing your mountain to Lord. He knows what it is. Instead focus your attention on the mountain mover- His glory, power, and faithfulness. Then start walking in faith, following His leading, and watch the mountain step aside. -Bill Hybels

I love THAT!...It's such a simple truth but its one of those basics I easily forget to do! God is soooo sufficient and yet I think my problems are sooo big - to Him they are tiny and yet He probably won’t answer until I believe that His is big enough to! I am convicted and in awe at the same time - honored that I get to be in relationship with this AMAZING GOD!

In the book of Mark chapter 10:24-27, Jesus is talking with his disciples and makes this statement "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved" they asked? Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but with God, everything is possible."

As you continue to pray for that friend or family member to know Christ, don't give into discouragement. Remember how the Holy Spirit worked in your own life and brought you to a time and place where you said yes to Him. God knows exactly what makes it so hard for your loved one to trust in Him. In the mean time, do what my mother did - keep praying and showing love.

I’ve just returned from a planning retreat in north central Pennsylvania. Three days of quiet and solitude to listen to God and plan my fall/holiday preaching.

Plus, if we mingle some time listening to God into our planning, then we really have something to look forward to!

If you take the time to listen to Him, will He guide you regarding your future? Absolutely!

On 9/11, many people either didn’t show up for work, or were running late. Others had missed flights that they were to be on. Even though these observations raise many questions about why some survived while others didn’t, it raises interesting issues…Is it possible that a God who knows the future was guiding some of these folks?

Before the financial earthquake a year ago, I’ve heard several people say that they felt compelled to withdraw their invested funds. In each case, they were saved from great financial losses. Yet, I wasn’t!

God knows the future! God is already in the future! Planning ahead can save you frustration and aggravation. Debbie and I have missed out on some great opportunities – simply because we didn’t think and plan far enough in advance. Your planning will be all-the-more-effective if you mix in some ‘listening-to-God’ with it! Why not talk with someone who’s already there – before you make your plans?

On our way to church a few weeks ago we came upon a couple in their running attire, waiting to cross the highway. I seriously doubt they were jogging to church, but they were obviously serious about being physically fit. I commented to Carol how so many are committed to being physically fit yet are not the least bit concerned about their spiritual fitness. Many Americas today are part of two growing populations. One group spending many hours and much money to stay in tip top shape and the other group spending large amounts of money on unhealthy lifestyles with little or no physical activity and eating themselves to obesity. One major factor in both groups is their diets and specifically what goes into their stomach. The result is one group is very healthy and the other is seriously unhealthy. A parallel certainly exists in the unhealthy one... What we let enter our minds has a definite effect on our spiritual fitness Read God's word to see how to maintain a healthy spiritual diet:

Proverbs 3:6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is noble, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.

I appear in a place. I’m scared at first, but then I see it is heaven. In front of me is a palace. A beautiful sight, a white and gold palace! Surrounding it was trees and bushes and small fountains.

Inside the palace was a man, a beautiful light, sitting on a throne. Surrounding Him is creatures and angels singing. Then God gets up and says, “Walk with me.” So we were walking through the flower garden. We walk to the center and He says “Jesse that is your rose.” Pointing to a pink rose with no thorns and three leaves. Then God looks at me and says, “I love you and I always will.”

“…respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

One Sunday, I was extremely busy, attending church, a baby shower, and then met a cousin and her husband for dinner. My little dog, Max, was kept in the house most of the day. He is a spoiled dog, not cage trained; but is very good about not destroying my home.

After being gone most of the day, I went next door to deliver the kids’ birthday gifts. I tied Max outside to get some fresh air, left the house open and did my visiting. I am just too careless.

While I was visiting next door, unaware to any of us, Max was yipping constantly. This usually doesn’t happen, when he starts yipping, he has to come in the house.

Since I am a widow, some of my neighbors were quite concerned and came to the house to see if I was okay. One couple decided to come into the house to be sure I didn’t fall or have a stroke. When she told me what happened, she was shaking, and very concerned about me. Let me mention that this lady is a nurse in intensive care unit of St. Elizabeth’s downtown, so she is used to trauma. I am very touched by my all neighbors’ loving concern for me.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me for sometimes letting my dog yip a little too much, bothering my neighbors. But thank you for the joy this creature brings to my life. Thank you so much for my friends and family who are here to support me. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and guide me to be this kind of caring and loving friend to everyone I am in contact with. May God bless these dear friends and let them know they are so appreciated and loved. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen

I’ve always been drawn to Paul’s letters to his young partner in ministry, Timothy. They’re full of straightforward, manly counsel!

I’ve been intrigued by Paul’s words (I Tim.2:8) “I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

Now for you women, he continues: (I Tim. 2:9) and I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God… J

Men are warriors! We’re testosterone-filled, bold, aggressive, proud, and willing to take risks! We’re ready to defend what’s ours! We’re strong! Men were wired by God to take a dare, to advance against uneven odds, to overcome obstacles.

We work primarily out of one side of our brain. Because of that, we are bullish and difficult to distract. We stick to something till it’s done! We’re determined. We’re willing to make a great sacrifice.

I agree with Paul: I want men in New Middletown to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension!

I’m looking for some men who will join me once-a-week, early in the morning, to pray together for our families and community! I don’t want you to come because of food. I want to pray with men who believe that God wants to use us to change the world! Anybody there? Let me hear from you!