Archives for April 2016

Good morning,

Today’s devotion is from Ingrid. Although this is an update written by Ingrid, it is inspirational, challenging, and heartfelt. Please continue to pray for her as she “Enjoys the journey”.

INGRID’S UPDATE

Count it all joy.

I have had perhaps the most trying yet incredibly wonderful couple weeks of my life.

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that presents in the bones in the form of lesions. It sometimes presents as soft tissue tumors as well.

After a short time getting used to the idea that I had cancer and making plans to treat my multiple myeloma which, although it has no cure, treatment options are improving. Giving patients great hopes for long term (up to 11 years) remission -I had my first oncologist visit at which I learned that the oncologist was no longer certain that I had multiple myeloma (mm). Instead he gave me a 20% chance of having mm and an 80% chance of having a different kind of cancer. He listed off five other cancers that are the likely culprit….which, again, I have an 80% chance of having. All of which have a life expectancy of less than one year.

I felt like I had the rug pulled out from under me. Like I had the wind knocked out of me. I admit joy and contentment we’re not the first attitudes that I chose to embrace.

I was scared (oh so very scared), confused and I thought that I had every right to embrace whatever attitude I to chose.

God had different plans. And I am so very thankful.

Over a rather short period of time God replaced my tears of grief and fear with tears
of thankfulness, humility, silliness and pure joy.

God has placed just the right people in my life to help me along the way. One individual who’s been through cancer herself said.,” enjoy the journey- regardless of what the doctors say, you don’t know how much time you have left. Only the Lord knows.”

Enjoy. the. journey. What a beautiful way to sum up this adventure. Not all journeys are easy. Some have bumpy roads along the way; flat tires; transmissions that go out; cracked windshields. Some journeys take you into the dark recesses of valleys. While others take you soaring high on the mountain top where you feel as though you can touch the sun…views so beautiful they put tears in your eyes; oh the smooth sailing.

But, I thank God for cracked windshields, bumpy roads and faulty transmissions, for without them, I would have never known the love and generosity of my family and friends.

My sweet family and friends have given of themselves in ways that I would have never dreamed. They’ve given money, resources, time, sweat, tears, and prayers.

I spend each day in a hospital room filled with family and friends. Smiling, giggling and joking. I sport polka-dot toenails lovingly applied by my best friend who flew from Virginia to be by my side.

And at night, my room is cram packed full of as many people as we can fit. My sweet girl, Emily or my sweet husband, Shane Ling, unusually sleeps with me in the hospital bed.

I may not know the type of cancer I am facing. I may not know how long I have on earth. But I know that God is with me on this journey. And He gives me the strength daily, to smile, to laugh and to enjoy this journey. A journey of joy and contentment that only God can help find the beauty in.

Thank you all for joining me on this beautiful journey.

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My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3
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Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 37 contrasts the righteous and the wicked. It is broken down into 3 sections. The righteous (1-9), the wicked (10-21), and God blesses and protects the righteous (22-40).

We can often be discouraged when we see the wicked prospering and getting ahead. Psalm 37 will change our perspective. God is still in charge and dealing with both the wicked and righteous. That should comfort us as believers in Jesus Christ.

Today we will see what God says about the wicked in verses 10-21.

The Wicked (10-21)

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ¹² The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. ¹³ The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. ¹⁵ Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. ¹⁶ A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. ¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. ¹⁸ The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. ¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. ²⁰ But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. ²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

The wicked are cast as the enemies of God’s righteous. They plot against the just, cast down the poor and needy, slay those of upright lifestyle, and borrow and do not pay back. God laugh’s at them.

What happens to the wicked? They are no more, have no peace, the sword shall enter into their own hearts, theirs bows and arms are broken, they perish, and are consumed.  They will spend eternity separated from God in a place called hell.

It should be the desire of every believer in Christ to snatch these wicked souls from Satan’s grasp with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to shed His precious, holy, unstained blood, to pay the sin debt of all the wicked so that the wicked could be saved. He died and after 3 days rose from the grave. The wicked need to repent of their sins and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. They need to learn of God’s love and mercy for them.

We need to go and tell the gospel message to those who are perishing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 37 contrasts the righteous and the wicked. It is broken down into 3 sections. The righteous (1-9), the wicked (10-21), and God blesses and protects the righteous (22-40).

We can often be discouraged when we see the wicked prospering and getting ahead. Psalm 37 will change our perspective. God is still in charge and dealing with both the wicked and righteous. That should comfort us as believers in Jesus Christ.

Today we will see what God says about the righteous in verses 1-9.

The Righteous (1-9)

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. ⁷ 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. ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

It is God’s desire that we do not fret or worry over evil doers, the wicked who prosper, or ourselves to do evil. God tells us to trust, delight, commit, rest, and wait in the Lord.  The result is that the righteous inherit the earth.

If we choose to obey God, He will take care of us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We live in a world of turmoil, stress, and wickedness. God sent the Holy Spirit to reside in us to be our Comforter. This devotional will be an encouragement to all of us.

 A Bag, a Book, and a Bottle!

(Don Fortner)

God takes great care to comfort His people in their many trials and sorrows in this world. One of the goals which He commands His preachers to have is the comfort of His people. He says, “Comfort, comfort My people.” Here are three things described in the Word of God that should be of great comfort to every believer.

1. God has made A BAG FOR OUR SINS. Job said, “My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sew up my iniquity.”  In ancient times when men died at sea, their bodies were placed in a weighted bag which was sewn together and sealed. Then they were cast into the depths of the sea.

That is what God has done with our sins. They are cast “into the depths of the sea.” When Christ died for our sins which were imputed to Him, He put them all away. They were buried in the sea of God’s infinite forgiveness, put away never to be brought up again. God almighty will never charge us with sin, impute sin to us, remember our sins against us, or treat us any less graciously because of our sin. That is the forgiveness of God! “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

2. The Lord has written A BOOK FOR OUR NAMES. Take heart child of God. Your name is written in the book of God! Before the worlds were made, the Lord God inscribed the names of His elect in the Lamb’s book of life. In that book God has recorded, not only the names of the chosen heirs of Heaven, but also all things pertaining to them. The Lamb’s book of life is the book of God’s eternal purpose of grace, predestination, and election. The fact that our names are written in that book means that our salvation is a matter of absolute certainty, and that all things work together for our good by God’s arrangement to secure our predestined end, which is perfect conformity to Christ. When our Lord says, “Rejoice because your names are written in Heaven,” He is telling us that we have nothing to fear. All is well with those whose names are written in Heaven.

3. Moreover, the Lord God keeps A BOTTLE FOR OUR TEARS. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” It was customary at ancient Egyptian funerals for mourners to have a small cloth or sponge to wipe away their tears. Then they were squeezed into a small vial, a tear bottle, and placed in the tomb with the dead, symbolizing the care the mourners had for the one who had died. Even so, the Lord our God, our heavenly Father, our almighty Savior, and our holy Comforter tenderly cares for us. We are the very apple of His eye.

The Lord our God has . . .
put our sins in a bag and buried them,
written our names in a book to remember them, and
placed our tears in a bottle to show His tender care for us.

Could anything be more comforting in this world of sin, sorrow, and death?

 Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

The Bible says that “We are his workmanship…” Today we will see what that means.

These are not suggestions about what God’s people ought to be

(Don Fortner)

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Since God has ordained that His people walk in good works, we are assured that God will graciously cause them to do so by the sweet constraint of His grace.

Grace experienced, makes Christians gracious.

Mercy tasted, makes Christians merciful.

Faith bestowed, makes Christians faithful.

Kindness known, makes Christians kind.

Forgiveness enjoyed, makes Christians forgiving.

Love felt, makes Christians loving.

These are not suggestions about what God’s people ought to be, but statements of fact about what all true believers are.

Believers are a people who, being saved by grace, ruled by love, and motivated by gratitude–seek the will and glory of God in all things.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” Titus 2:11-12

As we assess our lives, are we exhibiting these character qualities? We should be.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51. Verses 10, 12, and 13 make up this week’s Scripture song.

Today we will look at David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19).

The result of David’s repentance is action. He desires to help people by teaching God’s word, helping them to understand salvation, telling of God’s righteousness, and praise to God. He teaches them that God desires the sacrifice of  a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart.

When we have sinned and repented, is this how we show our love for our Savior?

Results of getting right with God (13-19)

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. ¹⁴ Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. ¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

CONCLUSION

Be at your appointed place

Be careful what you look at

Do not allow temptation to become sin

Cover ups are always exposed by God

The punishment of sin is always greater than the enjoyment of the sin

Repent

Seek God’s mercy

Continue to minister for God

This has been a practical set of lessons that impacts us each day. Please meditate on these four devotionals and ask God what He wants you to do.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51. Verses 10, 12, and 13 make up this week’s Scripture song.

Today we will look at David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12), and Friday, David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19).

David’s heart is broken. He comes with a humble and repentant heart before God.  He seeks reconciliation, mercy, and cleansing. He requests that God would restore to him a clean heart, gladness, and the joy of his salvation.

As you read these verses feel the heartache David is expressing.

David’s Repentance  

Psalm 51:1-12

Repentance and request for mercy (1-4)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Shapen in iniquity (5-6)

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Request for cleansing, joy, gladness, clean heart, God’s presence, the Holy Spirit, joy of salvation (7-12)

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

CHALLENGE

Unconfessed sin will cause you to wither away. We must deal with unconfessed sin in the same way David did. REPENT and sincerely, humbly, come to the foot of the cross and allow Jesus to deal with our sin. First John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

David’s prayer in Psalm 51 helps us to see what it means to repent and humble ourselves before God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51. Verses 10, 12, and 13 make up this week’s Scripture song.

Today we will look at David’s Sin Revealed (2 Samuel 12:1-13), Thursday, David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12), and Friday, David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19).

David thought he got away with his cover-up. Uriah is dead, Bathsheba is now David’s wife, and they have a child on the way. All is well.

God knew what David had done and now his sin was to be revealed. God sends Nathan to tell David a story. The story helps David realize his sin. Sin has consequences.  Verses 8-13 tell what happens to David and his family.

DAVID’S SIN REVEALED AND PUNISHED

2 Samuel 12:1-13

Story of the rich man and the lamb (1-6)

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. ² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: ³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. ⁴ And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. ⁵And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: ⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

Nathan declares, “…Thou art the man…” (7)

⁷And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Punishment (8-13)

⁸ And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. ⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Amnon. ¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. ¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. ¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. ¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

If you believe that there are no consequences to sin, let’s look at what happened to David. First, the illegitimate child dies (12:18). Second, his daughter Tamar was raped (13:11-14). Third, his son Amnon would be murdered (13:28). Fourth, his son Absalom would rebel and lie with his father’s wives in public (16:22) and would be killed in the rebellion.

The penalty for the actions of David was DEATH. God shows forth His mercy by not requiring David’s life. Then God allows David to continue to reign as King.

That means that if we are willing to confess our sins, repent, God is NOT through using us. He still has a mission for us. Our service for God is never finished till we are dead. God uses all yielded vessels for His glory.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51. Verses 10, 12, and 13 make up this week’s Scripture song.

Today we will look at David’s Sin (2 Samuel 11:1-27), Wednesday, David’s Sin Revealed (2 Samuel 12:1-13), Thursday, David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12), and Friday, David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19).

What happened to David can happen to any of us. We must be aware and vigilant to resist the Devil’s attacks.

DAVID’S SIN (2 Samuel 11:1-27)

Lust of the eyes (1-2)

“…from the roof he saw a woman washing herself;…”

Lust of the flesh (3-5)

“And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.”

The cover-up Uriah the righteous man (6-13)

“And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.” (11)

The death of Uriah (14-17)

“And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.” (17)

Report to David (18-25)

Bathsheba mourns (26)

David takes Bathsheba as his wife (27) Displeased the Lord

David’s problem began when he failed to be where God wanted him. He was the King and should have been with his men at the battle. If he was there, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

What happens next began in the Garden of Eden and we are susceptible to Satan’s temptation today. We see something, covet it, and take it. Then we must cover our tracks. However, God sees everything. Proverbs 15:3 states, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” So we will be found out. And as we will see later in the week, sin has consequences.

CAUTION:

If you are supposed to be at a particular place, for the service of God, be there. Satan wants to distract you from anything to do with God. When he does then he can tempt you to do evil.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Murmuring, complaining, and whining come easily when we are frustrated and tired. The man in this devotional determined that God had a plan and had to admit that he was wrong. Each of us have been in similar situations.

All-wise Providence!

(Moral and Religious Anecdotes)

A merchant was one day returning from market. He was on horseback, and his saddlebag was filled with money. The rain fell with violence, and the good old man was wet to his skin. At this he was vexed, and murmured because God had given him such bad weather for his journey.

He soon reached the borders of a thick forest. What was his terror on beholding on one side of the road a robber, with leveled gun, aiming at him, and attempting to shoot him! But the gunpowder being wet by the rain, the gun did not go off–and the merchant, giving spurs to his horse, fortunately had time to escape.

As soon as he found himself safe, he said to himself: “How wrong was I, not to endure the rain patiently, as sent by Divine Providence! If the weather had been dry and fair, I probably would not have been alive at this hour, and my little children would have expected my return in vain. The rain, which caused me to murmur, came at a fortunate moment to save my life and preserve my money!”

And thus it is with a multitude of our afflictions. By causing us slight and short sufferings–they preserve us from others far greater and of longer duration.

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28

God is watching over us continually. He knows where we are, the situation we find ourselves in, and what the outcome will be. God is in control of every situation. Rest in that thought.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001