firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

We have been having some beautiful, but windy, spring weather here in Delaware. It reminds me of the story of a young boy flying a kite in the park one windy afternoon. The kite was so small and so high that an elderly man sitting on a bench watching him could not see the kite high in the heavens. After watching him a few minutes, he walked over asking the young boy what he was doing.

“Flying my kite.” he replied.

“Are you sure. I don’t see anything in the sky? Perhaps, the string broke and the kite is gone.”

“Nope.” the boy said. “I still feel a tug.”

That is the way it is with me. Those mornings when I wake up questioning my salvation, I feel a Heavenly tug in my heart assuring me God’s Spirit has removed all condemnation and made me to sit in Heavenly places.

As long as I feel that Heavenly tug, He assures me I am His and He is mine.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.17. Live for God, on purpose, knowing that you are in His loving care!

Last week we began our four part series through fourth chapter of Acts on Effective Evangelism, examining the actions demonstrated by the early church as they reached their world for Christ. This week we continue our series, looking at Acts 4:13-16, and seeing just how the world around the apostles reacted to their tenacious sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

There are four very specific characteristics that people noticed in Peter and John that were essential to their success in reaching others for Christ. And those same four qualities are just as important for each of us to demonstrate today as they were some two-thousand years ago!

There is nothing more important for any of us to do than to be an effective witness for our Lord. You don’t want to miss this week’s message from this life-changing series on Effective Evangelism!

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An interesting number of antique leather-bound books are being purchased for their covers and not their content.

Interior designers buy them by the linear yard and use them to create a warm, old-world atmosphere in the homes of affluent clients. Of prime importance is whether they match a room’s decor. One wealthy businessman purchased 13,000 antique books he will never read just to create a library look in his renovated home. Those books are just for show.

Focusing on outward appearances can be a pleasing way to decorate a house, but it’s a dangerous way to live. Jesus reprimanded many religious leaders of His day because they did not practice what they preached. They were addicted to receiving praise and feeling self-important.

We are to be people of inner substance, not just outward appearance. Our content is far more important than our cover. We are here for more than show.

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by Andrew W Roebert

It may sound very simple but at the same time it can be life-changing. So many people spend so much of their lives living in their own strength and wisdom. They are convinced that they know what they should do and when. They live their lives relying almost completely on their own wisdom. The truth is that you and I were not meant to do it on our own. Our lives here on earth were meant to be a spiritual partnership with God.

James 4:2 tells us that “You have not because you ask not.” The issue is that we need to have the courage and the freedom to ask God and approach Him on any issue. The very issue that you are thinking about right now, is an issue you can ask God about! You may ask the question, “What can I ask God for?”

You Can Ask God for Direction
One thing that we all need advice on, from time to time, is this aspect of direction. There have been times in my life when I have not known which way to turn. In each situation I would often call on God for His leading and direction.

Psalm 23 tells us that “He leads me besides the still waters.” There are so many scriptures that tell us to “call on the Lord.” Perhaps the reason for this is that ASKING GOD is often a last resort and it should be our first port of call. No matter what you are going through, you can call on God and ask Him to lead, guide and direct. God wants to be our guide through all of life. You can ask God for direction.

You Can Ask God For Provision
This is another aspect that we can have the liberty of asking God for – PROVISION. Psalm 23:1 says “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need.” (Living Bible) God is the one who wants to be our source and supply. I once heard about someone who was speaking to a group of people about finances. He asked the group an opening question. The question was: “Who of you are breadwinners?” The majority of people put up their hands. His response was immediate. “You are trying to be what you were not designed to be!” The Bible tells us in the “Lord’s prayer” that we should pray “Give us this day our daily bread.” The truth is that God is the provider of the bread and we simply need to ask Him for it. God is your “breadwinner.” God is the source, God is the supply and the supplier and we need to have the liberty of asking Him for the provision we need. When it comes to God’s provision, God may not always provide in the way we expected, but He always provides. “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory!”

You Can Ask God for Protection
Protection is another aspect we can ask God for. Psalm 23:4 says “Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.” (Living Bible)

This concept of protection has many different facets. The definition of the word “protect” is to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction. The Bible tells us that the devil goes around like a roaring lion looking for those he can devour. God, on the other hand wants to protect, provide and undertake for each of us. God knows our needs and He wants to be our guard and defender. When trouble comes, we should run to Him. He is our mighty fortress.

Psalm 46:1 says “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble.” Martin Luther wrote the great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress.” The opening line says “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark (a strong support or protection) never failing.”

We Can Ask God for Vision
Each one of us needs to have vision in our lives. When we have dreams and vision it gives us hope and purpose. There is another great hymn that celebrates this “Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.” The Bible also tells that without vision we die. We all need to have a reason to live. We all need to discover our “redemptive purpose” (the purpose for which God created us). Only God can make this a reality. If you need vision in your life, ask God to fill you with vision. Ask God to give you dreams and believe that He has a blueprint for your life.

We Can Ask God for Wisdom
Wisdom is another aspect we can ask God for. James 1:5 says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally.” Wisdom includes being wise and having the sense to know what the right thing is to do. We all get into situations where we just need to know what the right thing is. We need wisdom. God is the giver of wisdom and He wants to give you wisdom in the situations, challenges and difficulties you are facing! Ask God for wisdom!

Believe God When You Ask Him
It is one thing to ask God for something, but then we need to believe Him. What is the good of asking God for something if we do not believe He can or will intervene in our lives. We must begin to allow expectation and anticipation to rise up from within us because of the confidence we have in God and His ability to come through for us. This is true even if it does not happen exactly as we had hoped or when we had hoped. We must always remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Because God is all-seeing, all-knowing, He sees things from a different perspective and therefore knows what is best.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ’they are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” Doubt robs us of our confidence in God. Don’t give doubt a foothold in your life, but rather let your confidence in God grow and become mature.

This article is from Andrew W Roebert’s “Daily Thoughts and Notes.” Visit his website at http://www:alivetogod.com. You can contact him at andrew@alivetogod.com, or by writing to Box 32190 Glenstantia, Pretoria, South Africa, 0010. To receive free Daily Thoughts and Notes, send an email to subscribe@mail.a2gadmin.alivetogod.com

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10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks
1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive
but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven’s Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee
but one got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done
differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can’t do much ’tis true;
but brought his friend to Bible study – then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we’d have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong, either to the building-, or to the wrecking-crew!

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by Alan Smith

According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated

Wash. Biol. Surv.

until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:

“Dear Sirs: While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible.”

The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.

It’s frustrating to be misunderstood. We go to great lengths to keep from being misunderstood. And we want to be understood, not only when we speak or try to communicate with others, but also as a person.

A common complaint is, “Nobody understands me!” which may simply be another way of saying, “Nobody cares enough about me to get to know me!” But there is someone who understands us.

David said, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:1-3)

Father, we take such comfort in knowing that you understand us, even better than we understand ourselves. There is no chance of putting up a front to hide from you because you are not only our Creator, but also our constant companion. Thank you for understanding us when no else does. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This article by Alan Smith, Senior Pastor of the Helen Street Church of Christ in Fayetteville, North Carolina. You can visit his site at http://www.TFTD-online.com

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Funny how a $100 bill “looks” so big when you take it to church, but so small when you take it to the mall.

Funny how long it takes to serve God for an hour, but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball.

Funny how long a couple of hours spent at church seems, but how short they are when watching a movie.

Funny how we can’t think of anything to say when we pray, but don’t have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.

Funny how we get thrilled when a baseball game goes into extra innings, but we complain when a sermon is longer than the regular time.

Funny how hard it is to read a chapter in the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a best selling novel.

Funny how people want to get a front seat at any game or concert, but scramble to get a back seat at church services.

Funny how we need 2 or 3 weeks advance notice to fit a church event into our schedule, but can adjust our schedule for other events at the last moment.

Funny how hard it is for people to learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip.

Funny how we believe what the newspaper says, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, or to think, or to say, or do anything.

Funny how you can send a thousand ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny, Isn’t It?

Are you laughing?

Are you thinking?

Actually, it isn’t funny at all!

Spread the Word and give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

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If you took the excuses people use for not going to church and applied them to other important areas of life, you’d realize how inconsistent we can be in our logic. For example:

10 Reasons Not to Wash

1. I was forced to as a child.

2. People who make soap are only after your money.

3. I wash on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.

4. People who wash are hypocrites-they think they are cleaner than everyone else.

5. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can’t decide which one is best.

6. I used to wash. It got boring, though, so I stopped.

7. None of my friends wash.

8. The bathroom is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer.

9. I’ll start washing when I get older and dirtier.

10. I can’t spare the time.

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My pastor friend put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the restrooms at his church and after two weeks took them out.

I asked him why, and he confessed that they worked fine, but when he went into the men’s restroom, he saw a sign that

read:

“For a sample of this week’s sermon, push the button.”

No hot air this Sunday here at WFA, but we are looking forward to the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing in among us as we gather together to worship our Lord Jesus Christ! Don’t miss this great opportunity to draw closer to your fellow believers and to your Savior!