WFA.org

Some years ago when the USA was on the Gold Standard there were silver dollars in circulation. At the time counterfeit silver dollars were circulated that had an imitation metal coating and not true silver.

Proprietors learned that if they showed up at the bank with a counterfeit silver dollar they were rejected and they were out a dollar. They soon learned to test the silver dollars. They would throw the silver dollar on a sidewalk. The true silver dollar would give off a special, joyful ring that only silver could make. An imitation that was silver-plated made a dull thud sound.

The counterfeit silver dollar may have had the appearance of a real silver dollar. But it was worthless. It had a silver coating over an inner core of metal that was next to worthless, a fake.

It stands to reason that as a Christian I must pass the true test just as an authentic silver dollar. Do I have a layer of truth on the outside, while inside I'm a fake? When I am thrown to the ground with day-to-day adversity, do I make a joyful ring or a thud? Do I have a silver core that rings for everyone to hear while in church, and then while at work or in the world everyone hears a thud?

My true test is what God hears when I'm alone and in adversity. Do I praise my Creator for my situation? Or, do I chew God out because of my circumstances?

James 1:2 (The Message) tells us to “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.03. Live for God, on purpose, in good times and in hard times.

Victory Over Worry!

Are you a “worrier?” Many of us are worriers, and we spend many needless hours worrying. There is an old story that goes something like this – There are only two things to worry about, either you will remain healthy or you will get sick. If you remain healthy, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you get sick, there are only two things to worry about – either you will get well or you will die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you die there are only two things to worry about, either you will go to heaven or to hell. If you go to heaven, there isn’t anything to worry about! And if you end up in hell, worrying won’t do any good at all!

The truth, in fact, is that worrying never does any good at all. Worrying wastes your time and your energy. Worrying isn’t good for you. Proverbs 12:25 says that “worry weighs a person down.” Worrying really implies a lack of trust in God. Philippians 4:6-7 says “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

So, why do we worry? And, what can we do to overcome this bad habit of worrying? This Sunday, we will continue our series on “Victory is Mine in 2009!” with the third part of this series, “Victory Over Worry!” Don’t miss this important message to help you achieve your victory in the new year!

One-Armed Boy

A 10-year-old boy felt as though he had lost his identity when he lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. After six months of adjusting to his handicap, he decided to study judo despite the fact that he had but one arm.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn't I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match.

Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every move in each and every match.

Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind: “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength! Your greatest weakness is an opportunity for God to come in and give you the greatest strength you ever could imagine.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Testing

Whenever you find yourself going through times of testing, there is always a reason – a very good reason. In fact, there are several reasons. Testing times are to:

Uncover something: When God allows pressures and trials, it is so that you might uncover something in your life He wants to deal with. Hardships reveal areas of weakness and vulnerability. God wants to strengthen us in those very areas, and better equip us not only to stand strong in the storms ourselves, but also to be a shelter for others.

Recover something: God allows us to be tested so that we might recover something we've lost over the months and years. Perhaps it is our delight in the Word of God, a habit of daily prayer, or the delight of regular fellowship with those of like-precious faith. Trials may force us back to that “first love” walk with the Lord that has slipped away from us.

Discover something: Even though it's a test you may not like or enjoy, you discover that He's your God, you're His child, and that He loves you. He'll care for you and see you through.

I hear people talk about this trial and that trial, this test and that test. People will say, “Pray for me, I'm going through a trial in my marriage (or in my job or in my finances or in my relationships at home).” But in reality, those aren't the things being tested at all. What's being tested is our faith, whether we will really trust Him to work in and through our circumstances.

That's what's really at stake. When the heat's on, when the shadows fall, when disappointment rips through my heart — am I going to trust Him? Am I going to wait on Him, worship Him, and give my anxieties to Him? Or am I going to turn away from Him in my doubt and discouragement?

Because We Are Human

Because we are human we cannot understand the things that happen in life. We do not understand why young people die. We cannot understand why good people suffer. We cannot understand why hurricanes destroy neighborhoods, why tornados blow away homes, and floods wash away dreams. We cannot understand why diseases shorten lives. Because we are human we struggle to make sense of the twists and turns, the ups and downs, and the ins and outs of life.

Because we are human we cannot see the future. We do not know what lies ahead. We do not always understand or learn from the past. We see only a part of the picture. We often only hear what we want to hear. We forget that God has plans for us.

Because we are human we cannot see God's wisdom for taking us down a path filled with struggle, pain, and disappointment. We cannot imagine the blessings that God has in store for us when we trust Him to lead us. Because we are human we try to explain why God does what He does when He does how He does it. We try, but we cannot explain it.

Because we are human we complicate things that were intended to be simple. We complicate life, we complicate worship, and we complicate relationships. We complicate forgiveness, we complicate faith, and we complicate grace.

Because we are human we cannot make ourselves holy. We cannot remove the sin in our life. We cannot get life right no matter how we try. We cannot do everything exactly right all the time. When we mess up we cannot make it right.

Because we are human we cannot see God clearly. We are blinded by our sin. We are blinded by our lack of imagination. We are blinded by our determination to make God look like us.

Because we are human we cannot fathom God's love. We cannot imagine why God would want to rescue us from our sin. We cannot understand how God could love us. We cannot grasp a God who would love us so much that He would sacrifice His Son for our sins.

Because we are human God sent His Son to dwell among us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Because we are human God gave His one and only Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Because we are human God is preparing a place for us. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

Because we are human God understands our need for a Savior. Because we are human... Jesus.

The Lord’s Prayer in Perspective

I cannot pray “Our”, if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray “Father”, if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray “who art in heaven”, if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray “hallowed be Thy name”, if I am not striving for God’s help to be holy.

I cannot pray “Thy kingdom come”, if I am unwilling to accept God’s rule in my life.

I cannot pray “Thy will be done”, if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray “in earth as it is in heaven”, unless I am truly ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.

I cannot pray “give us this day our daily bread”, without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.

I cannot pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”, if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray “lead us not into temptation”, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray “deliver us from evil”, if I am not prepared to fight for the quality of my life and that of others through watchful prayer.

I cannot pray “Thine is the kingdom”, if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray “Thine is the power and the glory”, if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

I cannot pray “forever and ever”, if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.

I cannot pray “Amen”, unless I honestly say “Not MY will, but Thy will be done, so let it be.”

Amen!

More Random Thoughts...

1. Dyslexics have more nuf.

2. “Veni, Vidi, Velcro” – I came, I saw, I stuck around.

3. If you are what you eat, I'm dead meat.

4. What do you say to a hitchhiker with one leg? Hop in!

5. Why are builders afraid to have a 13th floor, but publishers aren't afraid to have a Chapter 11?

6. Did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall to make up for a lousy summer?

7. Did you hear about the Amish couple who got divorced? Apparently he was driving her buggy.

8. Does satisfaction come from a satisfactory?

9. Birth control pills are tax-deductible. But only if they don't work.

10. Right now there are 15 million Americans who have things that are old, funny-looking, don't work anymore and are only kept around for sentimental value. Some of these are called antiques. The rest are called husbands.

11. Due to a slight mix-up with our pills at the kitchen counter, my wife will be heartworm-free for the next 30 days.

12. So I tried one of those fad diets. All I got was fadder and fadder.

The Last Impression

The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it.

She went to the pastor's study and asked for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial.

After the first two numbers, he paused and stared blankly for a moment. Finally he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently.

Then he looked back at the lock, quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock.

The teacher was amazed. “I'm in awe at your faith, pastor,” she said.

“It's really nothing,” he answered. “The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling.”

It’s going to be a great day this Sunday here at WFA! Great worship! Great fellowship! Great time in God’s Word! Oh – and it’s my birthday, too! Then, later on – Go Eagles! Go Steelers! Victory is Mine in 2009!