Here in Delaware, all the talk at the moment is about the coming snowstorm. As I write this, it hasn’t yet arrived. But, according to all the forecasts, it will most surely be here by the weekend, and promises to be one of the largest, if not the largest snowstorm in Delaware history. If you live here in Delaware, be sure to check our web site for the status of our church services this weekend.

No one likes to travel in a blizzard, but there is no question that looking at the snow is beautiful. As we wait for this blizzard to arrive in the northeast, I am reminded of the work of a local artist, Andrew Wyeth, who certainly captured the feel of the snow covered Brandywine Valley in his paintings.

Wyeth said, “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.”

As our area once again becomes blanketed by snow, there is surely something waiting underneath. I know that springtime is coming soon, and that just beyond the stark contrast of the white snow against the dark bare trees, there is new life about to burst forth. The ground will burst forth with the color of the spring flowers. The trees will bud, many with huge brilliant blossoms, followed by the green of the leaves and growing grass. Things look cold and lonely in the winter, but the life and energy of the spring is ready to take control.

Perhaps things in your world now seem to be stark and cold. It looks as though things are lifeless and without hope. You may be going through a “wintertime” in your soul. But, take confidence that just as the Lord has directed the winter to give way to spring, He has declared that he will make all things work together for the good of them that love Him and are called according to His purpose. Wyeth said that in winter, “the whole story doesn’t show.” My friend, you haven’t seen the whole story of your life! Know that God is in control, and that you have a bright future in Him!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.06. Live for God, on purpose, for He holds your tomorrow in His hands!

It’s About Time

From the day we are born, we have a working concept of “time.” Babies know when it’s “time” to eat and it’s “time” to sleep. Our life progresses to where we know how many things we have to do, and how little “time” we have in which to do them. As we get older, it seems that “time” moves faster and faster.

Yet, every day has the same amount of “time,” twenty-four hours, and every one of us has exactly that same amount of “time” every single day. We talk about “not having enough time” or “running out of time.” Some folks seem to ignore time, and regularly run late. Some are experts at “time management,” and others always watch the clock.

The interesting thing is that while we are so very aware of “time,” God exists outside of it! He is certainly well aware of our walk through “time,” for He created it. It’s just that He lives beyond its measure. But, more importantly – He controls time.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Verse 11 continues the thought, saying God “has made everything beautiful in its time.”

God controls time, and as Christians, we can rest in the truth of Galatians 6:9, which advises us to “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Since God has created time, and controls time, and encourages us toward the proper time – we should desire to have a proper understanding about time. So, this Sunday at WFA, our message will be all about time! “It’s About Time!” Don’t miss it!

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Become a Soul Winner!

French scientist, Louis Pasteur, lived at a time when thousands died of rabies each year, so he worked day and night on a vaccine that could save them. Just as he was about to begin experimenting on himself, a nine-year-old boy called Joseph Meister was bitten by a rabid dog. The boy’s mother begged Pasteur to experiment on her son. Pasteur injected him for ten days and the boy lived. Decades later, of all the things Pasteur could have had etched on his headstone, he asked only for three words: Joseph Meister Lived!

The Bible says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30) Imagine having a cure for cancer, but refusing to share it, or saying, “I’m too busy.” The Gospel is only good news if we are willing to share it, and get it to those who need it in time.

Too many of us have become preoccupied with our material well-being. Instead of believing God for the salvation of our loved ones, we’re believing Him for houses, cars, holidays and so on. We may quote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1), but the “things” we have in mind are material and temporal, rather than the eternal things of that “...better country...” (Hebrews 11:16)

We’re supposed to seek the Kingdom of God first and foremost, and all these other “things” will be added to us. In fact, we don’t even have to ask for them, they’re automatically given to us when we put God’s Kingdom ahead of our own (Matthew 6:33). So be wise-become a soul winner!

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Hearing God

The young man had lost his job and didn’t know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.

Pacing about the preacher’s study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, “I’ve begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn’t God answer?”

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply — something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. “What did you say?” he asked.

The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher’s chair. “Sorry,” he said. “I still didn’t hear you.”

With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. “God sometimes whispers,” he said, “so we will move closer to hear Him.”

This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God’s voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God’s is the still, small voice... the gentle whisper.

Perhaps there’s a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God’s whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

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19 Horses

One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and testament he had written that upon his death, half the horses he owned should go to his only son; one fourth to the village temple and one fifth to the faithful servant. The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than two weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighboring village.

The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man’s last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son, one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The wise man said he will immediately solve their problem without any delay whatsoever. He had the 19 horses placed in a row standing next to one another. Then he added his own horse as the 20th horse. Now he went about giving half of the 20 horses that is ten horses to the son. One fourth of 20-that is 5 horses were given to the temple committee. One fifth of twenty-that is 4 horses were given to the faithful servant. Ten plus five plus four made 19 horses. The remaining 20th horse was his own which he promptly mounted, spoke a few inspiring words, and rode back home.

The villagers were simply dumfounded, full of disbelief and filled with admiration. And the parting words of the wise man were inscribed in their hearts and minds which they greatly cherished and passed on to their succeeding generations till today.

The wise man said: In our daily lives, in our daily affairs, simply add God’s name and then go about facing the day’s happenings. Ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? (Like the villagers, do we feel that such problems cannot be solved?).

The wise man continued: Add the God Principle in our daily lives and the problems will become lighter and eventually will disappear. In the manner of the ice, which, with the addition of the heat principle, will turn into water, and that will eventually evaporate as steam and disappear. And how do we add God’s name in our daily lives? Through prayers, filled with true love and devotion with sincerity of purpose and dedication that only total faith can bring about. Meditation is a powerful means of directing the mind Godward.

But without true love and devotion entering into it, it remains like a boat without water. It is not difficult to push a boat that is floating in water, but extremely hard to drag the same boat on dry land.

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The Carpenter’s Tools

Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, “If I have to leave this carpenter’s shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He’s insignificant and makes a very small impression.” (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes).

Little brother Gimlet arose and said, “All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him.”

Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, “If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there’s no depth to what he does.”

To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, “Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep.”

Brother Saw complained, saying, “Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he’s always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right.”

Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, “Brother Sandpaper doesn’t belong here either. He’s rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way.”

In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day’s work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day’s work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He uses, no other tool could have done the work better.

You and I are God’s “tools”. While we have our flaws, each of us has a purpose, ability, and a task to perform. Won’t you let God use you today?

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Frogs

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit.

When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they would never get out.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs asked him, “Why did you continue jumping? Didn’t you hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. May your words be a blessing to someone today.

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The Last Impression

After a church service on Sunday Morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided to become a minister when I grow up.”

“That’s okay with us, but what made you decide that?”

“Well,” said the little boy, “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit down and listen.”

I’m not sure what this weekend will hold. Not a single flake of snow has arrived here as I write this. But, forecasters have all but assured that we will be looking at blizzard conditions and a two foot snow accumulation by Saturday evening. That places serious concerns for our Sunday morning worship service. So what do I do? I prepare. We are prepared for the snowstorm – we have all the food we need in the house, and we have the equipment we need to deal with the snow. But, we are also prepared to preach His Word this Sunday.

And so it should be in our daily life. We are never quite certain as to what any given day will hold. So, we ought always to be prepared for whatever comes our way. We are to be “instant in season and out.” We should be ready at all times to give an account of the hope that lies within us.

I’m ready for Sunday! Hot chocolate in one hand... and His Word in the other! Check out our web site – www.wfa.org – for up-to-date service information!