Hey! Listen up!

I never get tired of hearing the Christmas story. One of the exciting elements of the story is the involvement of angels. The appearances and messages of these heavenly envoys remind me of God’s great love for us.

GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS!
That was the first word of the angel’s message to Zacharias. “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard,” is what the angel said. *
What is your prayer today? God hears it. Reject your doubt. Endure your delays. Keep believing. Keep expecting. And keep praising. The answer is on its way.

GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU LIVE!
That was the first word of the angel’s message to Mary. “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you,” is what the angel said. **
You do not face your opposition or losses alone. Nor do you deal with your frustrations or failures alone. The Lord has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

GOD IS WORKING HIS PLAN!
That was the first word of the angel’s message to Joseph. “What is conceived in her [Mary] is of the Holy Spirit,” is what the angel said. ***
In plain English, the angel was saying, “What is going on in Mary is part of God’s plan”.
God has an exciting destiny for me and for you. Sometimes it seems impossible to figure out how He is going to get there from here. But God has highways in places we cannot even see pathways!

Thank you, Holy Spirit for keeping a record of the angels’ messages. I am strengthened and encouraged by them.

* Luke 1:13
** Luke 1:28
*** Matthew 1:20

Praising Out Loud!

“Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips …” (Heb 13:15)

True praise begins as an attitude of the heart and blossoms into an activity of the lips. It is not enough to have thoughts of praise. We, who are called to be a “royal priesthood”, are expected to offer words and songs of praise.

When we speak or sing our praise it –

• places the tongue under submission to Christ. Remember that the tongue is called the unruly member of our body.
• releases the Holy Spirit to flow out of our spirit. The Holy Spirit in us is a spirit of praise and awaits the opportunity we give Him to flow out of us.
• gives clear witness to the power of God. We are called to give a comprehensible and bold witness of God’s might and faithfulness.
• inspires others to participate. We are called to be examples to other believers.
• provides a focus for unity. Our verbal praise helps to bring fellow believers to a common point of agreement and purpose.
• changes the spiritual climate. Our words promote and strengthen an awareness of the presence of God wherever we are.
• causes demonic spirits to be confused, scattered, and defeated. Like rats and cockroaches fleeing from light, so Satan and his forces must depart when God’s people lift their voices to the Lord in true praise.

A Word from the Lord

Early this morning, while preparing to minister, the Holy Spirit directed me to Psalm 16:5. This verse is a wonderful encouragement during these days of economic distress.

"O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot."

The Lord is my Source - He is the measure of my inheritance.
The Lord is my Satisfaction - He is the cup that I reach for every day.
The Lord is my Security - He will protect and keep what has been prepared for me.

The Lord Himself is the reward of the righteous! Therefore, I will not fear for He is all I need!

Travel update from Pennsylvania

We have been in Pennsylvania for about 2 weeks. It has been cold and we have seen snow on several days! Quite a change from Florida. But then again, we have heard that it has been unusually chilly back home.

We have enjoyed wonderful times of blessing as we sang and preached in Stroudsburg and Waynesboro. We are looking forward to being in Altoona next Sunday.

The church and congregation in Altoona hold a special place in our hearts. It was at Pleasant Valley Assembly in Altoona that Jan and I began our ministry in the fall of 1973.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Faith in a Promise

The Gospel writer, Matthew, tells us of a woman who found healing as she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. (Matthew 9) Could it be this woman based her faith and determination on a word found in the Prophecy of Malachi?

About 400 years had passed since the Prophet gave God’s people a unique promise concerning the coming Messiah. Malachi 4:2 reads, “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings”. Bible scholars have been puzzled over the meaning of “wings”. Most commentators have supposed the term to be a metaphor for rays of the sun. This would certainly fit with a title of the Messiah being “The Sun of Righteousness.”

The Hebrew word that is translated “wings” is kanaph. Included in the meanings of this word is – edge, extremity, or corner of a garment. So the prophecy of Malachi could just as easily have been translated, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in the hem of his garment”.

My heart resonates with this translation and perhaps this is how the woman read the verse too! In her desperate determination and success in touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, she acknowledged Jesus as the promised Messiah as well as her healer. Her act of faith produced an immediate commendation from the Lord Jesus.

She did much more than touch a hem of a garment; she grasped a promise of God. And she was healed!

By the way, she started something! Read Matthew 14:36

Daily Confessions for November 21

Speak these words over your life today.

I am the captain over my eyes!
Evil images will not enter into my spirit for I am training my eyes to follow righteousness.

I am living in the time of favor!
God has established blessings for me, for my children, and for my children’s children.

I am blessed beyond measure!
My sins are forgiven; my diseases are healed; and my youth is restored.
I am rescued from destruction, crowned with kindness and mercy, and filled with good things.

I am a minister of the Lord!
The fire of God’s Spirit has ignited my heart with a fervent desire to serve Him.
Every day gives me a new song of praise to my God.

I am chosen by the Lord!
We are in a covenant relationship and He will never forget His promises to me.

Master Principle for November 19

THE WORLD SEES WHO I AM, BUT JESUS SEES WHO I WILL BE.

Near the beginning of John’s gospel, we read that Jesus was introduced to a man called Simon. The Scripture tells us that, “Jesus looked at him”. That “look” went beyond the immediate and reached into the future. Jesus saw who Simon was and beyond that, Jesus saw who Simon would be. Not just who he could be, but who he would be.
“You are Simon [a pebble]”, Jesus said. This was how the man was known both as a person and a personality. Jesus then prophesied that in the coming years this man would change. And the change would be so distinct and dramatic that people would see Simon as a completely different person.
“You shall be called Cephas”, Jesus said. The great expositor of the Bible, the Holy Spirit Himself, then includes His comment, “which is translated, A Stone”.
A pebble – a follower, insignificant, easily moved, easily overlooked
A stone – solid, established, foundational, immovable
The change did not happen in an instant, but it did happen.
Our full potential will never be realized if we allow the world to define us. Our true destiny can be attained only when we discover and step into the Lord Jesus’ definition of who we will be.

The Master's Principle for November 9

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP ATTRACTS THE PRESENCE OF GOD

In His conversation with a woman that He encountered in Samaria, Jesus declared a clear principle when He prophesied, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” John 4:23
The true worshiper does not withhold his worship until the time is right and the atmosphere is conducive. Instead, he offers his exaltation because always and everywhere our God is worthy of our worship!
The Father responds to the holy mention of His name -
- dark moments brighten when we worship!
- closed doors open when we worship!
- immovable hindrances are swept aside when we worship!
- strong temptations are overcome when we worship!
- negative thoughts are banished when we worship!
- our environment becomes alive and filled with glory when we worship!

News!

As of yesterday, Gary and Jan are both citizens of the USA!

"The land of the free and the home of the brave"

God bless this wonderful country!

Daily Confessions for November 7

Speak these words over your life today.

I am not ashamed!
The Lord has delivered me from the enemy’s snare.
Good things are waiting for me in the presence of the Lord.

I am secure in the time of trouble!
I am surrounded with songs of deliverance and guided by His eye.

I am the Lord’s work!
I am created and prepared uniquely and individually by God.

I am the object of His attention!
The Lord has instructed His angel to watch over me and I will not lack for anything.

I am prospering according to His pleasure!
The Angel of the Lord is chasing away those who would steal my blessings.

Daily Confessions for November 6

Speak these words over your life today.

I am vindicated!
My feet are secure in my integrity and established in truth.
I not will slip or fall.

I am not worried!
The Lord will hide me and keep me where the enemy cannot find me.

I am being lifted up!
The Great Shepherd is carrying me into a place of safe refuge.

I am strong in the Lord!
I am blessed with the peace of the Lord!

I am healed!
My weeping has ended and joy has come like the morning sun.
My sadness has passed and my feet are wanting to dance.

Daily Confessions for November 5

Speak these words over your life today!

I am crowned with majesty!
He has given me a scepter of strength, goodness, and honor.
I am surrounded by the presence of my Lord.

I am a resting place for the Spirit of God!
The Lord is seated on my praises.
Even in the middle of a great assembly, the King will hear and know my voice.

I am under the special care of my Shepherd!
I am cared for and led by Him. I am protected, even in the valley of the shadow of death.
I am invited to eat at His table.
I am anointed with oil and filled to overflowing.

I am a seeker of the face of my God!
I will ascend into the high and holy places of His dwelling and receive the blessings that await me.

I am a student of the way of the Lord!
I dwell in prosperity; my children are blest; and the Lord is showing me the hidden things.

Daily Confessions for November 4

Speak these words over your life today!

I am the Lord’s delight!
I have a good inheritance and I will not be moved.

I am tested and found pure!
I am determined to avoid the path of the destroyer.

I am established on a Rock!
I am surrounded by walls, and armed with strength.
I am strong enough to run through a troop, agile enough to leap over a wall, and prepared
to be victorious over those who oppose me.

I am a student of the Word of the Lord!
My soul is converted; my thoughts are wise; my heart rejoices; and my eyes have clear vision.

I am anointed by the Lord!
The King hears my call and answers me.

Daily Confessions for November 3

Speak these words over your life today!

I am captured by His attention!
The Lord’s throne is in heaven, but His eyes are on me!

I am safe!
The Lord hears my sighing and rises to my defense.

I am excited!
My heart and my lips sing of His generosity.

I am no longer in bondage!
The Lord has delivered me from the captivity of sin and self.

I am righteous!
The Lord honors me and welcomes me into the tabernacle of His presence.

Daily Confessions for November 2

Speak these words over your life today!

I am heard in Heaven!
My prayers and my tears do not miss His attention!

I am a flaming and sharpened arrow sent by God!
He is preparing me for battle.

I am crowned with glory and honor!
I am unique among all that God has created.

I am protected in the day of battle!
Death cannot hold me.

I am patient!
I wait confidently for my King to remove
the oppressor and establish the humble.

Daily Confessions for November 1

Speak these words over your life today.

I am like a tree that produces abundant fruit!
I will succeed in whatever I do.

I am a child of the King of heaven and earth!
No enemy can stand against me.

I am shielded, protected, sustained by the Lord!
The blessings of the Lord are upon me.

I am set apart for the Lord Himself!
I will sleep in peace and dwell in safety.

I am looking upward!
The Lord surrounds me with His favor and makes His way straight before me.

Daily Confessions for October 30

Speak these words over your life today.

I am alive!
My heart sings of Him and will trust in no other.
The Lord is my help, my hope, and my happiness.

I am prosperous!
The Lord knows my need and daily provides me with abundance.

I am empowered by the Lord!
As I praise Him, He draws me nearer and I am strengthened.

I am full of joy!
With my hands, my lips, and my feet, I will celebrate my King.

I am an instrument of praise!
I will praise the Lord every place I go and in every way I can.

Daily Confessions for October 29

Speak these words over your life today.

I am a fountain of pure water!
My lips will speak no evil.

I am encouraged!
The righteous ones who surround me are a gift from God when my spirit is overwhelmed within me.

I am a servant of the Lord!
The Lord is teaching me His ways and reviving my spirit.

I am overflowing with happiness!
My children are strong; my needs are supplied; and my possessions are secure.

I am saint of the most high God!
I will declare His mighty acts to a new generation.
I will speak of the depth of His greatness, the fullness of His compassion, the tenderness of His mercy, and the glory of His everlasting kingdom.

Daily Confessions for October 28

Speak these words over your life today.

I am remembered in the courts of Heaven!
The Lord’s mercy is forever extended to me .

I am singing the songs of Zion!
The new Jerusalem will be my eternal home.

I am bold to declare the wonders of my God!
My songs inspire others to sing His praises.

I am in His thoughts day and night!
He knows everything about me and loves me.
No person or circumstance can stop His Spirit from reaching me.

I am covered in the day of battle!
The desires of my enemies will fail and those who have risen up against me will defeat themselves.

Daily Confessions for October 27

Speak these words over your life today.

I am at peace!
My soul is calm and quieted before the Lord.
He knows and understands all that concerns me.

I am clothed with righteousness!
I am supplied with abundant provision and I want to shout aloud for joy.

I am a member of God’s family!
The unity we share is beautiful to see.

I am a worshipper!
The sanctuary is familiar with my hands lifted up and my voice offering sacrifices of praise.

I am the Lord’s special treasure!
I have been chosen to bring pleasure to Him with my songs of praise.

Daily Confessions for October 26

Speak these words over your life today.

I am a sower of precious seed!
What I sow in faith will bring a harvest.

I am at rest!
Nothing will disturb my sleep.
My home is built and protected by the Lord.

I am overflowing with blessings!
My family is at my side.
They are happy, healthy and growing every day.
And I will see my children’s children.

I am steadfast in the day of persecution!
Those who hate me will not prevail against me.

I am waiting on the Lord!
He has heard my cry and my hope is in Him.

Daily Confessions for October 25

Speak these words over your life today.

I am kept in the place of safety!
My God promises to protect me from every attack of my enemy.

I am invited into the presence of the Lord!
Peace and prosperity surround me.

I am focused on the face of my Master!
His look is my direction and his word is my command.

I am rescued from the trap of my enemy!
The Lord has provided for my escape.

I am surrounded!
The Lord protects me on every side. My safety is guaranteed.

Daily Confessions for October 24

Speak these words over your life today.

I am defended from destruction!
Death and the grave cannot hold me.
I will walk among the living forever.

I am a promoter of praise!
I will encourage others to remember His unfailing kindness and truth.

I am not afraid!
My trust and confidence are in the Lord.
Sickness will not claim me, for the Lord is my strength and my salvation.

I am storing God’s Word in my heart!
His testimonies are my counselors; His statutes are my songs; His law is my meditation; His Word is my lamp; and His commandments are my treasure.

I am moving forward!
The Lord has heard my cryand I have left the company of the rebellious.

Daily Confessions for October 23

Speak these words over your life today.

I am receiving the wisdom of God!
My understanding is growing as I obey His Word.

I am firmly established and will not be shaken!
Wealth and riches will be in my house and my children will be mighty in the land.

I am welcoming the morning with praise!
The Lord bends low to see the work of my hands. My praise fills the day and welcomes the evening.

I am His Sanctuary!
The earth will tremble at the sight of His glory and will release resources to supply my needs.

I am constantly on His mind!
The Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, will give increase and abundance to meand to my children.

Daily Confessions for October 22

Speak these words over your life today.

I am a living testimony to the goodness of God!
I am led to victory as I sing His praises.

I am delivered from the grip of my enemy!
The Lord has rescued me from the gates of death.
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.

I am walking in victory!
My heart is determined in my desire to sing praises to my God.
God hears my song and strengthens me with His right arm.

I am in the company of greatness!
Because the Lord is at my right hand, the lies of my accusers will be brought to nothing.

I am on the Lord’s side!
This is the day He will show His power through me.

Daily Confessions for October 20

Speak these words over your life today.

I am making news in Heaven!
The heavens rejoice and the earth is glad to see what the Lord is doing in me.

I am loosed from the hand of the wicked!
Gladness fills my heart and rejoicing fills my mouth.

I am unable to contain my joy!
I break forth in song and joyous praises at the mention of His name.
All of creation echoes my praises.

I am overwhelmed with awe!
I worship Him because of the greatness of His glory and the perfection of His holiness.

I am one of a kind!
He has created me to sing in His presence.
I will sing songs of thanksgiving for His generous mercy to me.

Daily Confessions for October 19

Speak these words over your life today.

I am in the secret place of the Most High!
I am not afraid of the attack by day or the terror by night.
Angels surround me and no danger can come near me.

I am triumphant!
I am receiving a fresh anointing.
Many years will not diminish my strength.

I am covered by His holiness!
The house of the Lord is my dwelling place forever.

I am growing in my understanding and wisdom!
I will see and avoid the traps of the enemy.

I am surrounded with praise!
My heart and my mouth are filled with songs.
I will shout joyfully to the Lord.

Daily Confessions for October 18

Speak these words over your life today.

I am holy and set apart for my God!
I am learning the ways of the Lord and walking in His truth.

I am provided with springs of joy!
From them, I can draw a never-ending supply.

I am wholly committed to the Lord!
Even when I do not understand, I will trust in Him.

I am radiant with heavenly glory!
I am walking in righteousness and in the light of His countenance.

I am living in the presence of the Lord!
His beauty is on me and He will establish the work of my hands.

Daily Confessions for October 17

Speak these words over your life today.

I am fully satisfied!
The Lord is feeding me with the finest of His provisions.

I am the Lord’s inheritance!
He will guarantee that I will receive justice.

I am destined to win!
My enemy is being driven away like chaff before the wind.

I am standing in the presence of the Lord!
I am surrounded and strengthened by the brightness of His grace and glory.

I am restored!
Truth has agreed with mercy, and righteousness has embraced peace so that I may be blessed.

Daily Confessions for October 16

Speak these words over your life today.

I am His dwelling place!
He rejoices in the gifts I bring to Him.

I am led by the Great Shepherd!
His footsteps lead me into the secret places.

I am a teacher!
I am called to make known the Word of God, the works of God, and the ways of God.

I am a sheep of His pasture!
The generations that follow me will hear my song of praise to God for His goodness.

I am mighty in the Lord!
The hand of the Lord is with me and His face is shining on me.

Daily Confessions for October 15

Speak these words over your life today.

I am a wonder to my enemies!
I keep on going in the strength of the Lord.

I am filled with His glory!
The Lord surrounds me with abundance and blessings.

I am held by God’s mighty hand!
He is continually with me and guides me with His counsel.

I am confident in the Lord!
The eternal God has called me into a covenant relationship with Him.

I am exalted above my enemy!
The Lord is lifting me up.

Daily Confessions for October 14

Speak these words over your life today!

I am God’s special creation!
He is doing awesome things in me.
I have been tested and refined and I am of infinite value.

I am blessed!
God’s face is shining on me and my fields will yield an abundant harvest.

I am part of a wealthy family!
My Father daily loads me with benefits and has shown me how to escape the traps of the enemy.

I am a resident of Zion, the city of God!
My heart is full of love for the name of the Lord
I will inherit the place that is being prepared for me.

I am rejoicing!
The Lord has arrived at the very moment I needed Him.
My enemies are confused.

Daily Confessions for October 13

Speak these words over your life today!

I am sheltered from danger!
I am safe in a strong tower built on a high rock.

I am quietly waiting on my God!
I am confidently expecting help from the powerful God of my salvation.

I am embraced by God’s loving arms!
The longing of my soul is satisfied by the power and glory I experience in His presence.

I am filled with gladness!
Because of the wisdom of my God, my enemy will not prevail over me.

I am released from my sins!
Atonement has been made.
I have been chosen, called, welcomed, and satisfied in the house of my God.

October 3

I am back in North America after an awesome trip to Uganda.

The Watoto Conference was extraordinary in every way. We are so blessed to be partnered with this exciting ministry.

A wonderful part of my trip was to visit again with GRACE NALABWAMA. Grace is our Watoto sponsor child. She is now 16 yrs old. Jan and I have supported her since she was 4 yrs old! She is a bright, happy, and godly young lady. She is a fine singer and is a worship team leader at the Subi Watoto village. She is also a scholar and has her sights on being a Doctor!

Jan and I are now preparing to return to our home in Orlando. Our fall schedule is filling up and we are looking forward to each ministry opportunity.

I will be singing at The Master's Touch International (Bishop Mark Chironna) in Orlando on Sunday October 19 in both the 9am and 11am services.

September 23

Hi Everyone! I am sitting at an Internet terminal at London Heathrow Airport. In a couple of hours I will board a flight to continue my journey to Kampala, Uganda to attend the Watoto Conference. You can check out the Conference details at watoto.com
At the conclusion of the conference I will be participating in the meetings of the Board of Directors for the ministry. These will be full and exciting days. I covet your prayers for me and for Watoto. I will return to Canada on October 4th. Jan and I will then pack, close the cottage, and return to Orlando.
Enjoy the blessings of the Lord!

Sept 9th

September has arrived!
Yesterday we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. Hurray!
Jan and I spent some time visiting my mom at a hospital in Toronto. She is recovering from a broken hip - the result of a fall a few weeks ago. Please keep her in your prayers.
We were so excited to hear that our new CD was shipped from Nashville today. Several hundred units are headed here to Canada and the rest are headed toward Orlando.
Anyone can listen to samples of the songs online and then order a copy.
Our new website went online today as well! Check it out at www.thebeesleys.org
What an exciting day this has been. (In spite of having to go out and do the laundry. Ha!)
Let me know what YOU think of our website.
Blessings!
Gary

Walls, Trowels, and Swords

Words well-fashioned fascinate me.
I have no idea who wrote the following statement, but it is one of my favorites – “We are called to be heirs of the past, architects of the future, and guardians of the present.”
The 17th & 18th verses of the 4th chapter of Nehemiah provide a clear illustration of people fulfilling the challenge to be heirs, architects, and guardians. These scriptures describe a group of men who accepted the task of completing the re-construction of Jerusalem’s city walls. Each man took his place on the wall working with a trowel in one hand and holding a sword in the other. The wall was their inheritance from their past. With a trowel they formed their future and with a sword they guarded their present.
Like it or not, we all inherit things from the past. Many are privileged to be heirs of walls that stand strong and secure … to have been born surrounded by the strength and security of true Christian faith and a loving family. But many more have inherited walls that are incomplete, broken, or unstable. Christ is just a swear-word and their family is characterized by conflict, neglect, abuse, and division.
Nehemiah’s compatriots refused to allow their inheritance to become their legacy. They made it their personal responsibility to change the worthless condition of their wall. These men used the trowel to produce strength and beauty. Great things don’t just appear on their own. They are the product of purpose and planning, leadership and labor, diligence and determination. There are no shortcuts to excellence.
Every gain must be guarded. There is no shortage of those who are inspired to tear down what others have built up. The sword of defense must be a constant companion. The enemy of our soul despises all that is righteous and holy; defiles all that is pure and innocent; dishonors all that is true and trustworthy; denigrates all that is obedient and faithful; and discourages all that is fair and good. Satan is a destroyer. An unguarded wall is his dream and an unarmed worker is his dinner.
Trowels and swords turn the enemy’s dinner into the enemy’s defeat! God promises me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! My well-used trowel is changing my world, fashioning my future and my establishing my legacy. My faithful sword is protecting all that He is doing in me, for me, and through me.And my sons are on the wall … with their trowels and swords.

Wipe Your Feet at the Door

Muddy shoes are a pain-in-the-neck! Especially when they are on the feet of people who show up at the door of our home. Our off-white carpets don’t accept footsteps from dirty shoes without letting everyone know about it. We “encourage” our guests not to track in to our house the dirt they have collected somewhere else.
The Bible tells us that Jesus sent His disciples to visit the communities of Israel. Jesus equipped each disciple with authority to defeat the works of Satan. The Apostles were instructed to declare a message of hope. Jesus also offered the following advice; “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (Matthew 10:14).
Shaking off village dust was symbolic of shaking off the attitudes and responses of those who rejected the message. The dirt that had to go also represented the hurt feelings and frustrations that the disciples would likely experience. Jesus apparently saw the danger of allowing these kinds of feelings to remain attached.
Unmet expectations and offense can cling to your spirit like mud to your shoes. It is natural to feel stood up when expectations don’t show up. It is easy to equate rejection of the message with rejection of the messenger. When your words are ignored and your attempts to help are despised, the pain is intense. Feelings become reality; sunshine becomes rain; and you are left standing in mud.
The Lord does not want you to remain in the place of rejection. There are other places and opportunities that God has prepared you for. Move on. New faces and places will, however, demand leaving behind the dirt and dust of old unwelcome experiences.
There are new doors that await your knock; however, before you arrive, you may need to ask the Holy Spirit to shake you, especially your feet! The impact of the disrespect, accusations, and insults that were hurled at you must be left behind. Getting rid of the mud of hurt may take several sessions of vigorous shaking. Like a sole’s treads, so a soul’s wounds provide an ideal place for the mud of offense to stick and stay. It will take determination and it may take time.
There is a new door just ahead. So check your shoes!

It's all about Perspective

I’m near sighted.
It’s called “Myopia”. People with myopia see objects more clearly when they are close to the eye, while distant objects appear blurred or fuzzy. I wear glasses to correct the problem, but lately I have been thinking that I may need a new prescription. Distant objects seem to have lost their focus.
We all tend to be psychologically myopic. This is especially true during our youth. As a kid, I found it difficult to focus on events, responsibilities, or consequences that were somewhere in the distant future, like tomorrow or next week! The older I get, however, the better I am able to focus on the future. Perhaps that is because I am a lot closer to what once seemed so far away! So while my natural eyes still can’t focus on what is distant, my mental perspective has changed causing my vision of the future to become much clearer.
Even with the perspective provided by maturity, trouble can cause us to become discouraged and, as the Bible says, “lose heart”. Our eyes focus naturally on the “outward man,” observing, and at times being overwhelmed by the pain of loss, failure, defeat, and sickness. We conclude that our “present affliction” weighs too much and lasts too long.
If we are to survive, we must gain a perspective that sees beyond the focus gained just by age. A personal relationship with Christ and the truths of the Bible offer the opportunity to gain Divine perspective. This perspective is the prescription needed to bring our “inner man” into focus. We are then able to see the likeness of Christ being formed in us. The visibility of the resplendent emerging “glory” of the inner man radically changes how we see the “affliction” of the outer man. The trouble that appeared too heavy and too long now appears “light” and “but for a moment”.
It’s all about perspective.

It's Raining!

“Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in the early spring.” - Hosea 6:3

It’s raining!
Here in Florida, during spring, it usually rains a lot. This spring, however, has been different. The daily rains ceased several weeks ago and it has been bone dry. And that dryness has provided the ideal environment for the many destructive fires that have sprung up in communities around us. At the very least, all of us have had to reduce water consumption and watch as our lawns have turned brown.
Right now, it’s raining. The sound of the rain on my roof is like music. Let it rain!
The ancient Prophet Hosea experienced what we’ve been feeling. The dryness in which he lived was way past unpleasant and annoying; it had become life-threatening. The weeks had begun to run together in a monotonous succession of hot, cloudless days and nights. But like us, Hosea awaited the joy and the refreshing that eventually comes with a change of season and much needed rain.
We don’t know the appointed days that God has instructed the clouds to gather together and release their bounty. But we do know that the rains will come. Just as surely as dawn follows the dark, so the rains are sure to arrive. And so we wait. What other choice do we have?
Our spiritual lives have their seasons as well. Rich spring-like showers of spiritual blessings are often separated by seasons of spiritual dryness. And like the natural seasons, we have no say in their beginning or duration. The Prophet reveals a plan to find personal refreshing while we wait for the season to change. His call is to “press on” in our quest toward a fuller head and heart knowledge of the Lord Jesus. In other words, we have a choice.
Press on! Refuse to just “wait it out”.
Press on! Refuse to be deterred by the dryness that makes you feel like you are running on sand.
Keep on giving the Lord His place of priority in your thoughts, your time, your activities, and your finances. Hosea tells us that “He [the Lord] will respond to us”. With the same certainty that one season will follow another, so the Lord’s response will follow our pressing on. It may not be raining around you, but the Lord will rain on you!
It’s raining!

And my lawn is starting to look green again.

The Cup

While looking through some old papers I found a story written by my Dad over 50 years ago! He relates a personal incident that happened while he and his brother Harold were attending a Pastor’s conference in Boston. It is my joy to share it with you -

My brother and I were seated at the counter in a lovely restaurant enjoying our lunch. There came in and sat beside us two of the most unsightly creatures you would want to see. After looking at them it seemed that my appetite vanished. The woman was horribly filthy, and the man who was with her was equally dirty. As he was drinking his coffee, I observed that the rim of the cup was stained with grime and dirt, and what else, I don’t know. However, I do know that I couldn’t enjoy the rest of my lunch.
Harold and I both agreed that they were perhaps the most unlovable, unrespectable derelicts of society that we had ever seen. I was amazed that they were given admittance into the restaurant.
I have thought since about those two depraved creatures. I have thought of the cup that they drank from with its sagging rim of grime, dirt, and germ-laden saliva. I have wondered how I would have felt if I had been asked to drink from that same unsightly cup? Could I have put my mouth to a cup so defiled? Everything in me rebels at the very thought of such a scenario.
And then there comes to my mind the portion of Scripture that tells me of the spotless, sinless, blameless Son of God who was required to drink from a cup a billion-fold more defiled than the one I saw. A cup containing all the unsightly, unholy, vile sins of the entire world. See Him now, friend. His garments gory in the sweat of His soul-agony and the slumbering disciples aroused to hear his only plea, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” See Him with his brow and face red with the crimson blood that forced its way through the pores of his flesh. He has prayed through. He has come to the place where it is all settled. He speaks. The disciples hear the words, “The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?” That cup, filled to the brim, so polluted and putrid, He was now willing to drain its dregs. The God-man has pressed the cup to his lips and its bitter contents slip away. He who knew no sin has become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
And now He leaves the garden in full victory. The light of triumph is on His face. There is no terror now. The soldiers do not intimidate Him; Caiaphas’ court presents no fear; Pilate’s judgment hall can hold no alarm. The whip, the fists, the thorns, the cross, the nails, the spear, they were all in that bitter cup. Calvary was in the cup and He drank it.
Friend, let it touch your heart. Let it provoke you to tears and repentance, to thanksgiving and praise. To think that He drank of the cup for you, for me.

Kenneth H. Beesley, my beloved Dad, went to be with His Lord on February 7, 1990.

Rules versus Relationship

We sure have messed things up! We have managed to convince skeptics and critics of the Christian faith that it’s all about rules. Just ask unbelievers to describe a Christian and you will see what I mean. The most common responses will focus on the apparent rules and regulations that believers endeavor to follow.
Why do so many Christians continue to project a religion of rules? I suppose it is because many of them make rules their focus. Don’t they get it? Jesus did not surrender his life to the tortuous death of a criminal slave to establish a religion of rules!
Rules are lifeless, cold, and insensitive and so is a religion that is based on them. When dominated by rules, some Christians simply learn how to bend and twist those rules, to get around them and, if necessary, to break them. Conversely, others develop religious pride that’s rooted in their ability to keep the rules.
While it is true that my Christian faith governs my thoughts, words, and actions, I left rules behind a long time ago. Rules have glaring limitations. How many times have we heard of a distraught mom pleading for a judge’s mercy with words like, “He’s a good boy. He was just hanging out with the wrong crowd; he just got involved with some bad people.” Rules had failed. Relationships clearly have a greater impact on one’s actions. Relationships trump rules.
It is my daily relationship with Jesus that rules my life. This best explains why there are some things I will not do and some places I refuse to go. To do those things or go to those places would mean choosing to keep company with someone other than Jesus. If He won’t go there, neither will I!
The Christian life begins when a bad person meets a good Person whose name is Jesus. And true Christian living happens when we “hang out” with Jesus. That’s why the Bible calls us followers of Christ, not followers of rules!

Getting It Right

Prayer can be useless. It can achieve no real good except to prove the frustration of doing the right thing the wrong way.
One of the assurances that are associated with prayer is that prayer can accomplish great things. The Scriptures illustrate that there is no activity that offers us access to greater power than prayer. And yet the Word of God gives the following blunt disclaimer,”When you ask Him … be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waiver … Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:5-8 NLT) Prayer is powerful and effective only when it is bound together with faith.
Worship can be useless as well. When worship is divorced from obedience it is just words. Present day Church culture is quite fascinated with worship. This fascination has led to worship having a place of prominence in most Christian gatherings. Worship is now a genre of music and dance and become an accepted contemporary art form. But without the company of obedience to the Lordship of Christ, worship cannot find its way into the Presence of God. Worship of the Lord must come from one who is obedient to the Lord of the worship.
King Saul’s worship was betrayed by the sounds of disobedience and it cost him his crown. Sacrifice that is offered on the strange altar of disobedience is just smoke that blinds the eyes of God. Is it any wonder Jesus prophesied that God will not be able to recognize some who have called Him Lord? The challenge that I am setting before us is to be careful to maintain an unbroken relationship between our words of prayer and our confidence of faith, and between our words of worship and our commitment to obedience.

Be Prepared

The Gospels are full of interesting side-notes concerning the activities of the Lord Jesus. The address of one of those side-notes is Mark 3:9 (“So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.” NKJV)
Jesus has just accomplished the dazzling miracle of restoring an emaciated and shrunken hand. The audience response, however, is mixed. Many are overjoyed to think that a genuine healer has come to town. But some, mostly religious hypocrites, are angry because Jesus has the audacity to perform the miracle in a synagogue on the Sabbath.
Rather than aggravate this dichotomy, Jesus moves on. But the miracle seekers follow Him. Jesus assesses the situation and gives direction to His disciples. Seeing that His back is against the Lake of Galilee, He asks that a boat be provided to guarantee his freedom from the crush of the oncoming crowd.
Jesus is obviously aware of the importance of preparation and provides a clear lesson for his twelve protégés. He knows that His actions will attract a parade of expectations and opportunities. His preparation now will help guarantee His continued effectiveness.
The gospel writer records that Jesus instructs His disciples that the boat should be “kept ready”. We must diligently maintain what we carefully prepare. It is a fact that most of our world is in a continuous state of decline. If not maintained, most things, including our preparations, will eventually become defective and ineffective.
Preparation demands that we anticipate what can be as well as what will be. Because our minds respond best to the things they can see we must raise our line of sight above the immediate and evident. See beyond the present moment and activity. Like Jesus, we must visualize the details of the variety of pictures that are yet to develop. So, look ahead and keep a boat ready!

Overcoming Doubts

I have yet to figure out how doubt can find its way into some places. You know what I mean … into places where there is irrefutable and overwhelming evidence that something is real.
For example, in the closing verses of the Gospel of Matthew (28:17) we learn that some of Jesus’ disciples still doubted Him. At this point, the events of Calvary were several weeks behind them and Jesus had repeatedly been fully visible and accessible. He had spent time, walking, talking, and eating with His disciples. And yet the Scripture says, “but some doubted”. What was their problem! Did they doubt that He was a real person? Did they doubt that it was the same Jesus they had known? Did they doubt that He was the Son of God and the Messiah?
And the timing could not have been worse. Jesus is ready to give His disciples their mandate. On His lips are the words of “the Great Commission”, to go and make disciples of all the nations. And in the very moment of this historic event, doubt shows up. How incredibly frustrating it must have been for Jesus to have to deal with such immaturity and foolishness!
Apparently, some of Jesus’ followers simply could not get past the circumstances and certainty of His death. They chose to doubt in spite of clear evidence of the Lord’s authority over death. They had, after all, seen Jesus restore life to Jairus’ daughter, the Nain widow’s son, and Lazarus. And Lazarus had been dead for 4 days!
It’s easy for me to get frustrated with the disciples until I remind myself that I was not there. I must remember that doubt has eyes, ears, and even a nose. What I mean is that doubt is awakened and strengthened by the senses. The fact is, my senses did not witness the horrific details of the death of Jesus. I did not personally experience the first-hand reports of those who braved the events of Golgotha. But the disciples did. And now these same disciples are experiencing the tangible presence of the risen Christ. Their senses are telling them that He is real and true. But the images, sounds, and reports surrounding His death still seem to be overwhelming. And this “sense knowledge” gives life to their doubts.
My point is that as long as we give superiority to what our senses tell us, we will be bombarded and overtaken by a constant parade of doubts. Only those who, by faith, embrace the present Truth overcome the challenge of doubt. Senses will tell you that a situation may be difficult, near-impossible, or even hopeless. True faith does not ignore the message of the senses; it simply believes the Word of Truth anyway!

Ministering to the Lord

I would love to have been part of the church at Antioch (Acts 11 and 13).
It was an out-of-the-box type of church that was started by a group of displaced believers who were away from the immediate oversight and influence of the leadership in Jerusalem. These Antioch believers made Jesus the focus of their message, and Jesus, in turn, made them the beneficiaries of His presence. The Bible says that “Jesus was with them”. The immediate result of their strategy and the Lord’s presence was that a “great number believed and turned to the Lord”.
Bad news travels fast, but good news does get around. And the good news of what was happening in Antioch made its way to Jerusalem. The headquarters gang dispatched Barnabas to check it out. Barnabas went to Antioch and was excited by what he saw. Not since the days immediately following the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost had any church experienced such explosive growth. The only advice Barnabas could offer was simply that they keep on doing whatever it was that that they were doing.
During his visit to Antioch, Barnabas also realized something of great importance. He just knew that his discouraged friend Saul (Paul) needed to be involved in this church. So, Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch and together they became a part of the church’s ministry-team.
Of the ministries in the church at Antioch, one in particular has caught my attention. The Bible says that they “they ministered to the Lord”. Jesus was not only the focus of their message; He was the focus of their ministry! When they taught, they taught about Him. When they sang, they sang to Him! And as the church received what they were taught and spent time in praise and worship, the face of the church changed. They increasingly resembled the One who was the Center of their focus. And even unbelievers recognized the growing resemblance so much that they called the members of the church CHRISTians.
One of my daily goals is to minister to the Lord. To somehow do or say something that brings joy, honor, and blessing to the heart of my Savior. Every day I count on His ministry to me. Should He expect anything less from me?

Facing the Furnace

Quick answers. That’s what we want. And easy answers with no contingencies. The kind of answers that require no thinking or personal evaluation. Unfortunately, life seldom delivers this luxury. Events tend to tip and topple our sorted, categorized, and boxed collection of answers and conclusions. And this is especially true in the realm of faith, healing, and miracles.
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3) seems to assault the established platforms of both the sides of the faith, healing, and miracles issue. These young men spoke words that confidently affirmed their faith that God was not only able, but in fact, would deliver them from the furnace. But they then continued on to declare the possibility that their deliverance just might not happen. According to modern thought, these two statements should cancel one another out! You can’t have it both ways. When these young men stated their lack-of-faith revealing words, “But if not”, they surely cancelled the power of their prior statement of faith.
Examine, with me, the normal use of the words “But if not” – “But” is used to form the bridge between two opposing certainties; “if” is used to recognize the potential of an alternative; “not” is used to acknowledge the acceptance of a denial.
According to the requirements of present-day easy answers, true faith is founded on absolute confidence that God is not only able and willing, but that He is going to come through with exactly what we want. True faith refuses to accept any uncertainty, alternates, or denials.
Our quick answer world has divided Pentecostal/Charismatic believers into two opposing camps. There is the “God will” Camp and the “But if not” Camp. The “God will” Camp believes that the “But if not” Camp is without faith, while the “But if not” Camp believes that the “God will” Camp is hyper-faith. Well, whatever kind of faith the 3 Hebrew young men had, it was the kind that moved the Hand of God!
Somehow, they saw no conflict between their two statements. Unknowingly, they put one foot in one Camp while putting their other foot in the other Camp. Yet God never saw one foot in a place of presumption and the other foot in a place of doubt. He just saw 3 young men standing together with both feet firmly established in a place of absolute trust in Him.
For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, “But if not” was not a sad admission of doubt, but instead it was a strong declaration of trust. Trust in the faithfulness, the wisdom, and the plan of God.

Dealing With Change

Most people see change as pain rather than gain.
Once we have found a life view and lifestyle with which we are comfortable, we begin to resist change. And the older we get, the more we feel threatened by the demands or even the thoughts of change. We try and make our personal world like a painted picture. We carefully add the elements and colors that we like. We attempt to exclude the things and people with which we disagree. We attempt to surround our painting with a protective frame and look for a safe place to put it on display. We then hope and pray that we will never have to deal with the pain of change.
I have discovered a far more realistic picture of life. I see life as being on one of those moving walkways like you see at many airports. I always look forward to the opportunity to use them. It is fun to move along quickly without exerting the effort necessary to maintain the speed. However, the picture of life that I see involves being on a moving walkway that is, in fact, going the opposite direction that I want to travel. You see, time, like that walkway, is constantly moving from the future (that is in front of us), toward the past (that is behind us).
This picture profoundly affects how I view change. It challenges me to embrace change as a gift from God with the potential to produce gain rather than pain.
If we simply stand still, stuck in a place of comfort or control, this moving walkway of life will inevitably move us backward. Perhaps this is why so many feel out-of-touch or irrelevant. If we are to move forward or even just maintain our place of relevance in our world we must be willing to change.
Change that is gain calls for learning even when you think that you know everything Change that is gain requires listening to the thoughts, ideas, and insights of others (especially those who are younger than you)
Change that is gain demands looking forward rather than just inward
Change that is gain includes limiting negative thoughts and words
Change that is gain involves letting go of things held simply because at one point in time they were effective
Most importantly, change that is gain happens when our minds grasp the truth that God has a personal plan for each of us. Continual change is a fundamental element that prepares us for, and propels us forward into fulfillment of His glorious plan and our intended destiny.