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Tomorrow is a unique day, at least around the parts where I grew up in western Pennsylvania. It’s “Groundhog Day.” Lately, this day has become more famous due to a movie released a few years ago, depicting a news reporter who continually experienced the same day – Groundhog Day – over and over. This mildly amusing film drew attention to the sleepy little town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where February 2nd is its claim to fame.

According to legend, folks gather to see if a groundhog (a woodchuck, for all you westerners) coming out of his hole in the ground will see his shadow or not. If he sees his shadow, then there will be six weeks more of winter. If he does not see his shadow, spring should soon be on the way. Never mind that this superstitious tradition is contrived from legends and folklore, but today, it is a totally concocted decision made by the president of the Groundhog Club as “Punxsutawney Phil,” the 187-year-old groundhog, whispers his prediction to this man in “groundhogese,” a language supposedly only understood by the president of the inner circle of this club, as well as spoken by the old woodchuck.

This is almost as interesting as the way that some Christians go about determining God’s will.

In an attempt to be somewhat Biblical, they will “lay a fleece out” before the Lord, to allow Him to demonstrate His will to them in a specific situation. This practice comes from one passage of scripture, in Judges 6:36-40, where Gideon lays a piece of wool on the floor, not once but twice, asking the Lord on one night to make the wool wet with dew, and on the second night to keep it dry.

Although this is within the Bible, it most certainly does NOT depict the proper technique of determining God’s will for anyone! Note that Gideon already knew what the Lord’s will was. He wasn’t trying to find the will of God, but rather, like many people today, trying to find a way out of doing God’s will! Laying a fleece out was not an act of faith, but rather an act of doubt. And, even after two nights of looking at a sheepskin, Gideon was still not convinced of what he was clearly called to do.

Do you wish to know God’s will in your life? I suggest taking a look at Romans 12:2, which says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Stop acting like the world. Allow God to renew your mind through His Holy Spirit. Then, as you walk in Him, you will prove in your life God’s will, which is good, pleasing and perfect.

My father in the Lord used to always say “You can’t know any more of the will of God than you know of the Word of God.” That’s good advice. Much better than watching groundhogs and sheepskins!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.05. Live for God, on purpose, walking day by day in the center of His perfect will!

2008 World Missions Banquet and Convention

What an incredible World Missions Convention we have been experiencing here at WFA! The Missions Convention kicked off with Joe Lear, missionary to Croatia, followed by Jim Wellborn, AIM Liaison, and Kent Linneweh, missionary to the Netherlands.

This weekend will be a phenomenal conclusion as Gary and Dee Sapp, of Mission of Mercy, join us for our famous World Missions Banquet on Saturday evening and our “grand finale” convention service on Sunday morning, February 3rd.

Rev. Gary Sapp serves as a missions representative for Mission of Mercy based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Gary travels the nation speaking in behalf of the 35,000 children that Mission of Mercy feeds, clothes, educates, and medically takes care of each day. Mission of Mercy presently operates in 21 countries around the world. He believes Mission of Mercy is a tool of the Great Commission of Jesus to love and reach the lost.

Don’t miss this exciting conclusion to the 2008 WFA World Missions Convention!

Do You Carry Your Umbrella?

We all have something to learn from this young girl.

As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the townspeople’s way of life.

As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.

Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.

His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl’s beauty and innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer.

Be Humble

by Jim Patterson

There is a story of a certain corporal and a general over two centuries ago. The general, as he rode along, saw a group of men trying to move some timber. They were shorthanded, and the work was not going well. Their corporal stood by and repeatedly yelled orders at his men. The general passed by and said, “Why don’t you lend them a hand and put your shoulder into it?”

“Why sir,” said the lofty corporal, “How can you think of such a thing? Do you know who I am? I am a corporal!”

The general got off his horse, pulled off his coat, and helped the men move the timber, and by his efforts the soldiers achieved their task. Then the general turned to the high and mighty corporal and said, “Mr. Corporal, next time you need a man to do such work as this, you can send for me, I am General George Washington.”

Humility is not thinking too highly of oneself. This was the attitude of Christ, and we should strive for the qualities of Christ, including humility. John wrote that “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:3-5 (NIV).

Jesus showed humility by performing a task that no one else wanted to do. He washed the disciples’ feet, which was a dirty job, usually performed by the lowest ranking person in the room.

So why is humility so important? Humility exalts God and others above ourselves, defuses anger, allows us to see the dignity and worth of all God’s people, and distinguishes the wise leader from the arrogant power-seeker.

We live in a world that promotes pride by measuring success by the things we accumulate and our social status. However, it is very clear that God expects us to be humble, regardless of our personal achievements. Christ was the perfect model of humility. If we choose to exalt ourselves above others, at some point God will humble us.

as seen in the January 31, 2008 issue of Daily Wisdom at http://www.dailywisdom.com

The Trip Home

A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your SeatBelts.

Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.”

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.

Later, the voice on the intercom said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.”

And then the storm broke... The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, “As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

“Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly.

“Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.

When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening Severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.” The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.

Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, “Cause my Daddy’s the pilot, and he’s taking me home.”

There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. Don’t worry!

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport.

As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies. She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace. Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.

When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated, but said nothing. She just thought: “What a nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!”

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn’t want to cause a scene. When only one cookie remained, she thought: “ah...What will this abusive man do now?”

Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it in half, giving one half to her. Ah! That was too much! She was much too angry now! In a huff, she took her book, her things, and stormed to the boarding place.

When she took her seat inside the plane, she looked in her purse for her eyeglasses, and, to her surprise, her packet of cookies was there...untouched, unopened! She felt so ashamed! She realized that she was wrong....She had forgotten that her cookies were kept in her purse.

The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter....while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself... nor to apologize.

There are four things you can never recover...
The stone... after the throw,
The word... after it’s said,
The occasion... after the loss, and
The time... after it’s gone.

The Enemy is Already Defeated!

You have not been called to defeat Satan; Jesus already did that 2000 years ago. You have been called to enforce his defeat! Paul tells us in Colossians 2:15 that Jesus disarmed Satan and made a public spectacle of him at the cross.

When General MacArthur met the Supreme Commander of the Japanese forces at the end of World War II, he stripped the glittering medals from his chest, took the sword out of his hand, and as the world watched, he declared total victory for the allies and enforced the terms of surrender.

And that’s what Jesus did for you at the cross. When He died and rose again, He stripped the devil of his power, took the sword out of his hand and declared, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore” (Matthew 28:18-19). Go in His power! Go in His name!

“What’s in a name?” you ask. “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Any claim to authority is only as good as the power that backs it up. And for us, the power we need is in the name of Jesus. Whether in Heaven, earth or hell, “Every knee should bow” and “every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.” And He has transferred that power to you today. So go out and use it!

The Last Impression

Mrs. Jones had been a faithful member of her local congregation for many years and that is why her absence was noticed lately. The pastor decided to drop by her house to check up on her after the Sunday service. He knocked on her door and being that she’s nearly 85 it took her a bit to get to the door.

“Hello, who is it?” she asked.

“It’s Pastor Smith", he answered.

“Oh, hello. Come in, Come in! How’s the ministry doing?” She said.

“Very well, I just wanted to make sure your prayer needs are being met.”

“Oh honey, I haven’t felt well lately but I’m getting better”

Just then the phone rang and she excused herself to get it. The pastor sat near a table with an old Reader’s Digest and a bowl of peanuts. After 15 minutes, then 20, he heard his stomach growl and began to get restless. He started in on the bowl of peanuts and began reading. After 45 minutes, he suddenly realized that he had eaten all of the peanuts.

Right then Mrs. Jones returned and said, “Oh I sure am sorry, that was my sister from Pittsburgh. She only calls once per month, so when she does we have to catch up on everything.” The pastor feeling a little embarrassed said “I must also apologize, for while you were gone I got hungry and ate all the peanuts in your little bowl there. Please, forgive me” he said.

Mrs. Jones replied, “Oh that’s ok, all I can do anymore is just suck the chocolate off of them!” she says.

We are anticipating a fantastic weekend here at WFA! Our famous World Missions Banquet is literally sold out, with standing room only! But, everyone will be able to be a part of our “grand finale” Missions Convention service on Sunday morning. My friend, Rev. Gary Sapp, from Mission of Mercy, is a tremendous preacher, and I know that you will be both encouraged and challenged in the Lord. Whatever you do, don’t miss this weekend’s great services!