firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

Dr. Victor Frankl, author of “Man’s Search for Meaning,” was imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the Holocaust. The Gestapo stripped him of his clothes. He stood totally naked before them.

As they cut off his wedding band, Viktor said to himself, “You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me – and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!”

Even under the most difficult of circumstances – joy is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph!

Let’s face it, not everything goes our way. Things don’t always work out as we planned. Some days are disasters. Other days are worse than them!

Happiness comes easily when things go our way. Joy is different. It’s deeper. It is a delight in the Lord! Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Happiness is external and subject to what happens. Joy is an inside glory in which we opt to rejoice regardless of the circumstances.

Don’t confuse happiness with joy. Happiness is a buoyant emotion that results from the momentary plateaus of well-being.

Joy is bedrock peace! Joy is a confidence that operates irrespective of our moods. Joy is the certainty that all is well, however we feel. Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances simply because we have chosen to respond in a positive manner.

Paul is saying in Philippians 4:4 that joy is not something that happens to me; but rather something I deliberately and consciously choose.

Circumstances seldom generate lasting smiles and laughter. But – joy comes to those who determine to choose it in the Lord in spite of their circumstances.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.11. Live for God, on purpose, not allowing your circumstances to determine your outlook on the day!

Rev. David Crosby Rev. Mike and Debbie Hampton

2007 World Missions Convention Begins Sunday WFA’s annual World Missions Convention begins this Sunday morning, March 18th, with guest speaker Rev. David Crosby, missions director for the Pennsylvania-Delaware District of the Assemblies of God. Brother Crosby has a great heart for missions, and in his capacity as the Penn-Del District Missions Secretary, oversees and assists all of our missionaries. He has travelled extensively, visiting and assisting many of our missionaries. He will give us great insight into the work of the missionaries around the world. The convention continues on Wednesday evening, March 21st, at 7:00pm, when Rev. Mike and Debbie Hampton, Missionaries to the Caribbean, join us. After having been in the ministry for 27 years, Mike and Debbie have been appointed to serve as Assemblies of God missionaries in the Netherlands Antilles, a group of islands in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. These islands include Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. The will be working with the local church in the areas of new church planting and leadership training and development. Also on Wednesday evening, the SuperKIDS Network is sponsoring our first-ever Kid’s Missions Conference with our own “missionaries-in-residence,” Gene and Norma Kummerer. The Kummerers, now a part of WFA, have just recently retired following some 36 years of ministry to French-speaking people in both West Africa and Europe, serving as missionaries to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Togo, and Belgium. They will join Pastor Trish on Wednesday evening to lead our children into an experience from West Africa! One of the highlights of every WFA Missions Convention is our Missions Banquet! Since WFA is a multi-ethnic church, our Missions Banquet truly becomes a world feast! This year’s banquet will be held on Saturday, March 24th, at 5:00pm. We are blessed to have as our featured speakers for the banquet, as well as on Sunday, March 25th, Rev. David and Beth Grant, Eurasia Area Director of Evangelism, Development and Project Rescue. David Grant communicates world missions with a contagious passion and vision, which has inspired this generation to intercession, investment and involvement. For 37 years the one billion people of India have been the heart and focus of David’s ministry. Thousands of churches have been planted and scores of Bible colleges established. David serves as the Eurasia Area Director for Evangelism, Development and Project Rescue. The priority development project is partnering with Pastor Mohan in Madras, India to build a 55,000 seat Celebration Center, which will be the largest Assemblies of God evangelistic center in the world. Eurasia’s 44 countries include India, Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Russia – the political and religious epicenters of our world. David and Beth serve as directors of Project Rescue, a ministry to the millions of young women enslaved in forced prostitution. Their daughter Rebecca is serving as a Missionary Associate with Project Rescue, while Jennifer is a senior nursing student at Evangel University. Don’t miss this great Missions Convention! You will be blessed as you hear first-hand what the Lord is doing around the world, and how we can have a direct influence on winning souls in all the nations! You will be touched as you see our famous children’s missions parade! You will be challenged as you discover your personal role in missions through the WFA missions ministry! It will be a Missions Convention you will never forget!

Gene and Norma Kummerer David and Beth Grant

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by Jim Liebelt

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.-John 15:5 (NLT)

Imagine that you have been invited to a special meal at a friend’s home. This friend has prepared a feast and you are the guest of honor. All of your favorite foods are sitting around the table. All of the food looks great. Everything smells delicious. Everyone sits down at the table.

“Help yourself,” says the host. People begin to pick up bowls and platters and pass them your way. You hold a bowl and say, “Uhhmmmmm, it smells so wonderful.” Then you pass the plate without taking any food. A platter is passed to you. Again, you comment as you pass the plate on to someone else, “This looks terrific!” You keep passing the plates never taking any of the food.

Imagine the host’s response. “What are you doing? Why won’t you take anything? I’ve worked so hard! Don’t you care for it? I thought these foods were your favorite!” Finally, you reply, “Well yes, they are my favorite foods, but no, I don’t actually eat the food. I just look and breathe in the aromas.”

Clearly, unless someone was on a very special diet, no one would do this! Yet, as Christ-followers, I’m afraid many of us do this very thing, spiritually speaking. We gather around a feast of good things that God prepares for us to strengthen and build our lives, such as the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship with other believers, worship and serving others in ministry. Too often our response is similar to the imaginary story described above. “Mmmm... Boy that mission project sure looks good, but no thanks,’ or “Wow, I know that small Group Bible study is so wonderful, but it’s not for me.” And so, we sit at the table of a spiritual feast – talk a good game – and then pass the plates without taking anything.

God wants us to move beyond a safe, mediocre diet of Christianity – to experience all of what God offers in order to build our lives – so that we truly become all that He has created us to be. We need an ongoing connection to Jesus in order to remain healthy and effective as His servants! Today, whatever spiritual growth opportunities present themselves, be sure to dig in!

as seen in “Today’s HomeWord,” a daily devotional with Jim Burns. Visit them online at www.homeword.com

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by Steve Troxel

After Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, they were guided by God to the edge of Canaan – the land promised to Abraham. God instructed Moses to send twelve men to explore the land; “See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many” (Numbers 13:18).

The twelve “spies” traveled through the entire length of Canaan and brought back their report. All twelve traveled the same path, but Joshua and Caleb saw the land and its inhabitants through the promises of God: “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land” (Numbers 14:7-8). The other ten saw great danger and an enemy who was too big to be defeated.

Numbers 13:31-33 says “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are. The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

The promised land was truly a land flowing with milk and honey, but it was also a land with many enemies. Joshua and Caleb saw the same enemy as the other ten, but they had a much clearer view and understanding of God. They knew if God was on their side, the size and strength of the enemy didn’t matter – God would provide the victory.

We often face the same fear as the other ten. God wants us to enter into His promised land, take possession, and reside there for the rest of our days; but there are often enemies which fill us with fear and make us feel small and insignificant. Enemies may come in the form of addictions, choices of entertainment, finances, or worldly priorities. We may even face more tangible enemies who threaten to cause us physical or emotional pain. All these enemies keep us out of the promised land, all appear to be undefeatable giants. But with God on our side, ALL can be overcome!

Without a clear understanding of who we are in Christ, every enemy appears to tower over us; “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). But when we place our trust in God and allow Him to work through us, our posture before the enemy is greatly strengthened; “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

God’s land of promise – the contentment of His presence – is waiting for us to enter in and take possession. God did not create us to be fearful insects, but an image of the Most High! Let’s know the One who gives us strength and victory in battle. Let’s better understand that when God leads, we are much more than grasshoppers!

as seen in Steve Troxel’s “God’s Daily Word Ministries” at www.gdwm.org

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One day, one friend asked another, “How is it that you are always so happy? You have so much energy, and you never seem to get down.”

With her eyes smiling, she said, “I know the Secret!”

“What secret is that?”

To which she replied, “I’ll tell you all about it, but you have to promise to share the Secret with others.” “The Secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on God to make me happy and to meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust God to supply according to HIS riches. I have learned most of the time I don’t need half of what I think I do. He has never let me down. Since I learned that ’secret', I am happy.”

The questioner’s first thought was, “That’s too simple!” But upon reflecting over his own life he recalled how he thought a bigger house would make him happy, but it didn’t! He thought a better paying job would make him happy, but it hadn’t.

When did he realize his greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with his grandchildren, playing games, eating pizza or reading a story, a simple gift from God.

Now you know it too! We can’t depend on people to make us happy. Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that. Trust HIM!

YOU should tell someone the Secret, too! That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!

But it’s not really a secret... We just have to believe it and do it... Really trust God!

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by Russ Lawson

Trust; that’s a difficult thing to achieve isn’t it? Not only is it difficult to give complete trust to someone or something, it difficult to receive it also. In what or whom do you trust?

Last week I needed to do some work on the third story roof of our house. It takes two ladders plus a climb over the roof to get there. My youngest son came over to give me a hand and we held the ladder steady for each other as we climbed to the different levels. We literally put our lives in the hands of one another.

The problem with life is that far too often folks trust in the wrong things and in the wrong people. They literally “bet their lives” that they can trust in those things or persons. Have you ever bet on a sure thing, one that couldn’t possibly fail or let you down?

I heard an amusing story that illustrates what can happen. “It seems that an archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a sarcophagus containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural history museum.

“I’ve just discovered the 3,000 year old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!” the excited scientist exclaimed. The curator replied, “Bring him in. We’ll check it out.” A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. “You were right about the mummy’s age and cause of death.

How in the world did you know?” “Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said, ‘10,000 Shekels on Goliath’.”

King David, (the one who defeated Goliath) wrote these words, “It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalms 118:8-9, NLT) He also wrote, “Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever,” (Psalms 125:1, NLT).

In Hebrews 13:5 we read, “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.” Who do you choose to “bet your life on” on whom will you trust? If you choose some man you will be disappointed some day, some way. Let me encourage you to choose to trust in God, he will never fail or forsake you no matter what!

There is an old hymn that says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”. Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself, “in what do I trust?”

as seen in Russ Lawson’s “Messages from the Heart.” Russ Lawson is the pastor of Greenville Church of Christ, Greenville, OH.

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by Kimberley Dubard

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

Have you been struggling and planning, worrying and sweating, crying and running at a furious pace, trying to move that mountain by yourself again? God asks that you “cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Think about what your worrying says to God when you refuse to give things over to Him.

When you worry about money, you’re telling Him that He is unable to provide for His children, that although He has riches beyond belief in heaven, He is too stingy to share them with you.

When you worry that no one understands you, you’re telling Him that although He has been with you since before you were formed in the womb and has carved you into the palm of His hand, He doesn’t know you.

When you worry that you will not have enough food, you’re telling Him that although He rained down bread from heaven in the desert to feed His children, you are the one He’s forgotten.

When you worry that your enemies will have victory over you, you’re telling God that, although He has given you spiritual battle gear to defend yourself, that despite His track record of being a giant slayer, a Red Sea divider, a lion mouth closer, and a furnace cooler, He can’t handle your co-worker, your neighbor, your former friend.

When you worry that your children have decided to follow the world instead of your example, you’re telling God that He doesn’t keep His promises, that, despite the fact that you have raised them up in the way they should go, they’ll stray because, basically, He lied.

When you worry because the doctors told you that children are impossible, that a cure is impossible, that healing is impossible, you’re telling Him that this world controls your fate. You’re saying that prayer time with Him is merely something to pass the time. You’re saying that although He can raise the dead, make a virgin conceive, open the womb of a woman well past eighty, heal a 12 year issue of blood, make the blind see, and the lame walk, He can’t help you.

When you worry that you won’t be able to do enough to earn forgiveness, you’re telling Him, “That’s okay, Lord; no need for Your Son to die, I can earn my own forgiveness.” You’re acting like Jesus never died, or like there was no need for Him to go to the cross.

When you worry that no one will love you, that you’ll be lonely for the rest of your life, you’re telling Him that His love is insufficient. You’re also saying that, although He has promised life more abundantly, He was lying, that despite the fact that He started off saying that it is not good that we be alone, He’s changed His mind.

When you worry and refuse to give the problem over to Him, you’re telling Him that although He could create the world, He can’t handle what’s going on in your world, so you will. You are saying that He won’t work things out, that obstacles cannot be overcome, that mountains can’t be climbed, that healing cannot occur, that what is lost will not be found, that joy does not come in the morning, that He is not the God of a second chance, that the promised land has been swallowed up by the desert, and that you have explored the height, depth and width of His love and found it to fall short of your needs.

Think about all that you’re saying to the one who loves you the most and who has all power. Really think about it. Then open your hands and release what you’ve been holding onto. Bow down on your knees and ask Him to forgive you for doubting Him. Walk away with a peaceful heart and note the footprints that go before you to straighten the crooked places, prepare a way in the wilderness and make water spring forth in the desert.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive my nearsighted nature and pride. That is You around the bend, Lord; how could I not see You? How could I not trust You? Let me tell you, Jesus, all that is on my mind. I’m tired of standing in the rain. Allow me to find shelter under Your wings. My list of worries is long but so is Your patience. Allow me to begin...

As seen in Eric McGrath’s daily email devotional, “Pulpit Supply”. To subscribe, go to http://lively.ca/mailman/listinfo/pulpitsupply_lively.ca Article written by Kimberley Dubard of Arlington, Virginia.

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Three ministers sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby.

“Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed one minister.

“No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.”

“You’re both wrong,” the third insisted. “The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor.”

The repairman could contain himself no longer. “Hey, fellas,” he interrupted, “the best prayin’ I ever did was hangin’ upside down from a telephone pole.”

My wife and I want to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone for your prayers, kind words and thoughts, cards, and many expressions of sympathy to our family during the time of the loss of Carolyn’s father. We have been strengthened because of your support. Thank you so very much.

We are very excited about our Missions Convention! WFA is a strong missions church, and our annual missions conventions are always a time of celebration and challenge, as we together consider the work of the Lord around the world! Come this Sunday with an expectant heart! Plan now to attend each and every service during this convention!