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opening Numerous sources have told the story of Florence Chadwick, who on one foggy morning in July of 1952 waded into the waters off Catalina Island, intent on swimming across the channel to the Southern California mainland. This challenge was not too difficult for Chadwick as she had been the first woman ever to swim the English Channel in both directions.

However, on this day, having lost sight of the land because of the fog, Chadwick decided to give up. As it turned out, she had only been one-half mile from reaching her goal. She was not exhausted or cold. Rather the fog, having obscured her vision from the goal, was the reason she quit. Still, some two months later, on a clear day, Florence Chadwick attempted the same challenge – and this time succeeded, setting a new speed record, because she was able to keep her eye upon the goal.

As Christians, we have a goal: to follow Jesus, to become like Him, to love and serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. But, we often encounter the world’s fog, which can obscure our vision and keep us from seeing the goal clearly. I’m afraid too many of us have chosen to give up pursuing the goal because we become distracted by fog – the fog of busyness, of career, of material pursuits, of self-interest. We will all experience foggy days, spiritually speaking. Don’t quit. Persevere. Do your best to keep your eyes focused on Jesus who awaits with reward in hand, at the finish line.

In Philippians 3:14, the apostle Paul says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I love the words of that old hymn written by H.H. Lemmel –

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Today, let the fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life blow away the world’s fog. Fix your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.46. Live for God, on purpose, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

filled Filled And Overflowing

Here in Delaware, it has been raining. A lot. For a good while. In fact, I can’t remember a year when we have had more rain than this year. According to information compiled by NOAA, the six-month period from April through September of this year is the 7th wettest in history! And, I can tell you first-hand that it has been very rainy in the six weeks following that recorded period!

I really didn’t have to look up the records to know that it has rained a lot. All I needed to do was look in my back yard. It has rained so much that the extensive re-seeding I did in the spring has literally drowned and nearly washed away. The ground is water-logged, and is so muddy that you can’t really walk there at all.

The rain that has come down, over such a long period of time, has affected all of the ground around me.

And my question to you is this – has it been raining in your life?

I speak not of liquid rain, but rather of the latter rain! Has there been an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life? As the “old-timers” used to say, have you been standing under the spout where the glory comes out?!

In Ephesians 5:18, the Bible says “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” While our English Bibles all say “be filled,” in the original language it is more accurately understood as “be being filled” with the Spirit. In other words, it is not a command that we be filled once-for-all or even occasionally, but that we be filled continually.

When a person asks Christ to be their Savior, the Holy Spirit then dwells within them. When a believer receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, that same spirit that dwells within them, baptizes them and fills them. But, a true Spirit-filled Christian needs more than that one-time experience – they need to be BEING filled. They need to be filled and overflowing with the Spirit of God.

When a cup is filled too full and overflows, all the area around it will become wet. Much like that cup, the truly Spirit-filled believer will affect the area all around them as they overflow with the Spirit of God.

Each of us should seek to not only be saved, and baptized in the Spirit. But, we need to go beyond that! Join us this Sunday morning here at WFA as we look at what it means to be “Filled and Overflowing!” Don’t miss it!

bean The Lesson of the Coffee Bean

A daughter complained to her father about how hard things were for her." As soon as I solve one problem," she said, "another one comes up. I'm tired of struggling."

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen where he filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second, eggs, and in the last, ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After a while, he went over and turned off the burners. He fished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. He poured the coffee into a bowl. Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled, as she tasted its rich flavor.

She asked, "What does it mean, Father?" He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity – boiling water – but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg was fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. By being in the boiling water, they changed the water.

He asked his daughter, "When adversity knocks on your door, which are you?"

thanks A Heart Filled with Thanks for His Love

by Marji "Mike" Kruger

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34

Perhaps the thing that we should be most thankful for is His Love! The ultimate expression of God's love is seen in the Incarnation and Crucifixion. The Cross assures us of God's endless love. His Word affirms His love for us...

• The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)