firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

A young woman at a textile mill in a rural area was new on the job. A flaming red warning sign on her sewing machine read: “If Your Thread Becomes Tangled, Call the Foreman Immediately.”

After working diligently for an hour or two, suddenly the young worker’s thread became tangled. Fearing the foreman’s reaction at such an early mistake, she thought, “I’ll just quickly straighten this out myself.” Though she tried desperately to untangle the thread, the situation only worsened. Finally she had no choice but to call the foreman.

As soon as he arrived, the foreman could tell that the young worker had tried to do some of her own maneuvering before calling him.

“I did the best I could,” she said.

“No you didn’t,” the foreman replied. “To do the best, you should have called me. Now this sewing machine will need to be repaired. If this happens again, you will be fired.”

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have tried to do something on my own strength. I exhaust myself trying before becomes clear that I just can’t do it without my Great Foreman. Thankfully, He hasn’t fired me!

It may sound radical to say, but when we rely on our own strength, it’s really a form of idol worship. We exalt our own strength above the Lord’s. This is unacceptable to a Holy and All-Powerful God. Even our greatest efforts cannot compare with how much more effectively a job can get done if we would only call upon His Name!

We are weaklings in need of a great God. We cannot do anything without Him.

Let’s begin putting our trust fully in the Lord today. And see great things get accomplished!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.29. Live for God, on purpose, relying completely on Him in all we do.

As Christians, one of the battles that we continually face is struggle between flesh and faith. Our natural selves tend to want to do things “our way” and be a “self-made man.” Children quickly develop a pride of accomplishment when they become capable of doing things on their own, without anyone’s help. Teen’s struggle as they approach adulthood, as they resist parental assistance, wanting to become more and more self-sufficient. Young adults take joy when they are able to launch out on their own, capable of finally establishing themselves in this world. The businessman feels he has accomplished his goal when as he “does it his way” and his company is a success.

We have learned to lean on our flesh so continuously that it’s no wonder that it becomes a difficulty to stop leaning on the arm of flesh, and begin to totally walk by faith and not by sight.

However, if we are to be and do all we can in the Lord, we must not lean on our abilities and strengths. We must be a people of faith. In fact, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

How do we learn to develop a faith that will increasingly please our God and move the mountains in our life? The Old Testament prophet Elijah provides for us some key characteristics of the kind of faith we must cultivate in our lives if we are to truly be conquerors for Him! This Sunday morning, we will look at 1 Kings 18:41-46, and examine that faith-actions employed by Elijah, as he declares rain upon a barren land! Don’t miss this life changing message!

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God himself has spoken the great secret. It is one word, ‘FAITH’ — faith in Jesus for pardon, faith in the Father for providential provision, faith in the Holy Spirit for all grace. In ordinary pathways, men walk by sight; but in the way of life, if we would prosper, we must walk by faith. God is unseen, but He is ever near to those who trust Him. His promises are sure, and He is ever ready to fulfill them. He hears and answers the prayers of believing souls. There is reality in His presence, and true support in His comforts. – Charles Spurgeon

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by Rubel Shelly, Ph.D.

People who dream big dreams and proceed to put legs under them are always open to criticism. Some people don’t grasp the dream. Others are jealous because they didn’t have it first. And, I have come to suspect, there are some people who think their task in the world is to tear down the dreams of others.

You have a dream, don’t you? It is a given, then, that you will face your share of criticism. What should you do about it?

If it is a legitimate criticism, learn from it. The people and corporations that fail are the ones so thin-skinned they cannot hear valid complaints. A true friend will take the risk of speaking the truth because he cares about you. A legitimate complaint about some product or service can be an insight for improving it.

It the criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it. Maintain the high ground under fire. There is no victory worth winning that comes from picking up the mud thrown at you and slinging it back. If you must respond, just use facts. Try never to give in to the temptation to get even or to respond in kind. Jesus is the perfect example of turning the other cheek and returning good for evil.

When you are criticized, hold fast to your dream and continue pursuing it. Critics win if you forsake the quest for it to fight them. Your best answer will always be to see your task through to completion. Theodore Roosevelt had a credo about the criticism leaders take for their daring and boldness.

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is not effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Today presents the chance to do something significant. Don’t let critics turn you aside from doing your duty, finishing an open task, and pursuing your dream.

Rubel Shelly is a Preaching Minister at the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ. This article is from the July 16, 2007 issue of “The FAX of Life,” his weekly message, found at http://www.rubelshelly.com.

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by David Jeremiah

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” – 1 Corinthians 12:11

When Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), there were implications that stretched far beyond His immediate setting. For instance, in this world human beings make choices on the basis of personal preference as long as those choices break no laws. But in the kingdom of God, man doesn’t make ultimate choices – He submits to the choices of God the king.

Take spiritual gifts, for example. Based on our desires, pre-Christian involvements, or talents and abilities, we might like to choose our own spiritual gifts, and thereby our role in the body of Christ. But God does not pass out a “Spiritual Gifts Request Form” when we become followers of Christ. He makes the choice and assignment of spiritual gifts for us, the Holy Spirit “distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Acceptance of our gift(s) is another of many opportunities to be submissive and obedient to God, trusting that He knows what is best for us and for His church.

Are you enjoying a ministry in the church based on your spiritual gift? If not, you may be missing out on a blessing God designed for you.

from Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Today’s Turning Point” daily devotional of July 18, 2007. www.TurningPointOnline.org

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A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this:

Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups...

Enjoy your coffee! “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”

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“Naaman... was a great man... but he was a leper.” – 2 Kings 5:1 (NAS)

Naaman the leper made three common mistakes.

1. He tried to buy his healing (see 2 Kings 5:5).

Even though God says, “Come... you who have no money... buy... without cost” (Isaiah 55:1 NAS), most of us would rather buy our way than believe our way into heaven. But it doesn’t work! “By grace are you saved through faith” (see Ephesians 2:8).

2. He turned to a non-believer for answers (see 2 Kings 5:6 NAS).

The Bible says, “Seek the Lord... call upon Him” (Isaiah 55:6 NAS). Christ is the answer; through Him alone we have access to God’s saving grace.

3. He had preconceived expectations.

Naaman, “was a great man” used to commanding armies. So when he got to the prophet’s house, instead of Elisha observing protocol and coming out personally, he sent a servant to say, “Go... wash in Jordan seven times, and... you will be clean” (2 Kings 5-10 NAS). That’s when Naaman exploded and “stalked away” (2 Kings 5:11 TLB).

Here’s what we can learn:

• Until you’re willing to acknowledge your need, God can’t meet it.

• God used a servant girl in his own house to tell Naaman the truth. So be open to whomever God sends you. (see John 8:31-32 NIV).

• You’ve got to exhaust your own resources before you’re ready to tap into God’s.

• God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8 NAS), which means doing what He (and nobody else) says if you want the answer. Only when Naaman was willing to do it God’s way, was he healed of his leprosy.

So, are you willing to do it God’s way?

from The Word for Today, July 16, 2007; www.thewordfortoday.com.au

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1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!

Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

For safety’s sake, attend church and read your Bible! It could save your life eternally!

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On a sunny morning, William’s mother came into her son’s room and said, “William, it’s Sunday. Time to get up! Time to get up and go to church! Get up!”

From under the covers came mumbles, “I don’t want to go!”

“What do you mean?” she said. “That’s silly! Now get up and get dressed and go to church!”

“No!” he shot back. “I’ll give you two reasons. I don’t like them and they don’t like me!”

“Nonsense,” she told him. “I’ll give YOU two reasons to go. First, you are 42 years old, and second, you are the PASTOR!”

It’s going to be a great Sunday here at WFA! I am expecting God to move in a dynamic way, as we worship and praise Him, and the Word of God is proclaimed. Come anticipating great things, and the Lord will surely touch you in a special way!