dickbraswell

Word for Today:  July 14

The Hardest Thing.

The most difficult thing to do in your Christian Walk is to stand.  It is always hard to stand.  We are in warfare and are constantly being buffeted by the enemy.  The challenge is for us to stand.  Anybody can quit, change or compromise when the pressure is on.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…  Eph. 4:13

God wants to encourage you today.  He wants to build you up today.  He wants to strengthen you today.  He want to help you in your fiery trial and in your Spiritual Warfare.  He wants to reassure you that He is able to deliver you and that He, at this very moment, has everything under control and if He does, then so do you.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper… Isa 54:7

When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard (the Word) against him…  Isa 59:19

Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not discouraged; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness…  Isa 41:10

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength…  Isa 40:29

Many are struggling with apparent impossible situations.  Some are hoping against hope and wishing for the night to end and the day to begin.

Many are tempted to doubt and move into unbelief because the manifestation of their faith has been delayed.

Others are fearful and anxious because of the intensity of their trials.

God wants you to know today that He is Able to Deliver you out of your fire.

And He will

Word for Today:  July 13

Choices are important.

Your life and the lives of your family depend on what you choose and what you refuse.  Your future will be determined by what you choose and what you refuse today.

Your greatest responsibility is making right choices.  There are only two kinds of CHOICES before you: (1) Right ones (based on the Word) and (2) wrong ones (based on the world).

Right choices are choices that are made on the basis of God’s Word.  They are choices and commitments that are made in agreement with the Word of God.  These right choices are guarantees that God will work with you in accomplishing your dreams and goals in life.

When you make a right choice… one that is based on the Word, you make a connection with Deity and you are assured that no powers in hell or in earth will defeat you or stop you.  You are locked into success and blessing because you have made a choice that agrees with the will of God for you.

You have chosen life and refused death.  You have chosen blessing and you have refused cursing.

Wrong choices are choices that are made on the basis of the kosmos (world system) and on human reasoning apart from God.  The World System is the domain of the devil.  he is called the god of this world.  his kingdom is destined to failure and anything and everything connected with it will fail also.

Human reasoning, natural facts, sense knowledge, and an unrenewed mind are the elements that give birth to wrong choices.  Wood, hay and stubble are the results of wrong choices and gold, silver and precious stones are the results of making right choices. (1Cor 3:12-13)

Those who make right choices will succeed and live and those who make wrong choices will fail and self-destruct.

Every success is the result of making right choices.

Every failure is the result of making wrong choices.

Word for Today:  July 12

Where do we begin in our quest to develop aggressive faith?

First, we need to know that we have FAITH.  We have it because God says we have it.  God has given to every man “the measure of faith…”

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  Rom. 12:3

The Word declares:

for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it (faith) is the gift of God…  Eph 2:8.

Faith is a Gift.  Faith is a Gift from God given to you.  Faith is the ability to really believe God.  It is revelation.  It is in the heart.  It is in the innermost part of our being.  It is resolve.  It is dependence.  It is confidence.  It is relying on.  It is trusting.  It is seeing the invisible.  It is holding the intangible.  It is reaching out into nothing and holding on until nothing becomes something.  It is as­sur­ance.  It is a certainty.  It is REAL.

Second, we determine to develop it. We make a definite decision to develop and increase our faith.  Faith is developed by hearing the Word.

Faith cometh (groweth) by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…  Rom 10:17.

Faith is devel­oped by being around faith.  Like begets like.  Praise, worship, rejoicing, singing, dancing, shouting, clapping, running, leaping… all these, when done in the Name of Jesus, will develop faith.

Faith is developed by the preaching of the uncompromised Word of God.  As you read these words, your faith is being built up.  You will be stronger after you read this than you were before you read it.

• Faith is developed by doing the Word.
• Faith is developed by saying the Word.
• Faith is developed by and through Love.
• Faith is developed by making right decisions.
• Faith is developed by remembering past victories.
• Faith is developed by “keeping the flesh under.” 1Co 9:27
• Faith is developed through intimacy with God.

Aggressive faith moves mountains

Word for Today:  July 10

There will be times in your Christian Experience when it seems like nothing is happening even though you are praying and believing.

However, waiting is not bad.  Not if you understand what is taking place in the realm of the Spirit.  When you PRAY and BELIEVE, powerful spiritual forces are released.  These forces are invisible but they are REAL.  They work and they produce.  While you wait, you can reinforce your faith.  You do not have to get discouraged, or depressed or frustrated.

Waiting can cause you to discover facets of God’s Grace and Tender Mercies that you never knew existed if  you wait with confidence and faith.

You will reap in due season (there is an APPOINTED TIME set BY GOD for your answer!), if you faint not… Gal 6:9

While you wait, there are some things you can do to strengthen your Faith Position.  Waiting does not mean “doing nothing.”  “Resting” in God does not mean idleness or inactivity.  Read the Word.  Meditate the Word.  Pray the Word.  Say the Word.

While you wait you can be assured that:

• God is working
• satan is resisting
• Patience is developing
• The answer is on the way

And God is with you

Word for Today: July 9

Be Encouraged

Psalm 46

God is our Refuge.  Our Shelter.  Our Hope.

And because He is, I will not be afraid.  No matter what.  Even if the earth “shall be moved” and the “mountains fall into the sea” and the waters “roar and are troubled” and “the mountains shake and quake.”

There is a River.  Glory to God!  And its streams will make glad the place where God dwells… (He dwells in us!)  He is in our midst.  And we shall not be moved.  He is going to help us “right early” (that means now, and without any delay).

The heathen raged (and they are doing it right now!).  The Kingdoms (Nations) will be moved.  God uttered His Voice and everything in the earth melted.  Puddled at His Feet.

God is with us!  The Lord of Hosts (our Captain and Commanding General) is with us and the God of Jacob is our shelter and refuge.

He will make wars stop, break every destructive weapon, cut down every war machine, and burn every destroying threat.

Therefore, I will be still and Know.  (Hallelujah!) I will have confidence.  And Trust.  I will Refuse to worry.

Because:

God will be exalted among the heathen

God will be exalted in all the earth

He is our Strength and our Refuge

He is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6)

Hallelujah

Word for Today: July 8

Be Encouraged

Psalm 46

God is our Refuge.  Our Shelter.  Our Hope.

And because He is, I will not be afraid.  No matter what.  Even if the earth “shall be moved” and the “mountains fall into the sea” and the waters “roar and are troubled” and “the mountains shake and quake.”

There is a River.  Glory to God!  And its streams will make glad the place where God dwells… (He dwells in us!)  He is in our midst.  And we shall not be moved.  He is going to help us “right early” (that means now, and without any delay).

The heathen raged (and they are doing it right now!).  The Kingdoms (Nations) will be moved.  God uttered His Voice and everything in the earth melted.  Puddled at His Feet.

God is with us!  The Lord of Hosts (our Captain and Commanding General) is with us and the God of Jacob is our shelter and refuge.

He will make wars stop, break every destructive weapon, cut down every war machine, and burn every destroying threat.

Therefore, I will be still and Know.  (Hallelujah!) I will have confidence.  And Trust.  I will Refuse to worry.

Because:

God will be exalted among the heathen

God will be exalted in all the earth

He is our Strength and our Refuge

He is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6)

Hallelujah

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During the early years of my flying experience, it became obvious that God had some special expert angels assigned to keep this amateur pilot alive and safe from what could have been fatal accidents.

On one of our flying trips in the Piper Cherokee 180, returning from the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, I was having to plan and navigate through some weather systems that were active along my returning route.  Since I was a VFR only (visual flight rules) pilot I was restricted from flying into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) and required to rely on visual references and checkpoints.  There were minimums beyond which I was not allowed to fly because it was usually fatal for pilots without an Instrument rating.  Those accidents were usually due to disorientation caused by restricted visibility when flying into clouds.

On this particular return trip there was a cold front lying adjacent to the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.  It was visible from more than ten miles out and I was headed east toward Jackson.  There was a solid wall of cloud cover down to just a few hundred feet above ground level.   My passengers were fellow ministers who assisted in our Navajo Indian ministry in Arizona.  As we approached this “wall of clouds” I informed the guys with me to pray for an opening so we could continue out trip home without having to land and wait for the weather to improve. 

As I continued flying toward the “wall” it became very obvious that something must happen soon, or I would be forced to reverse my course and head back to better weather conditions.   About two or three miles out with no improvement in the situation, suddenly it was as if Some One pulled a Curtain Rope behind the “stage” and the wall of clouds parted. A small opening was revealed…. Just barely wide enough for me to navigate safely through.  And we (like the children of Israel at the Red Sea) passed right through to safe weather and flying on the “other side.”  And were soon home again. 

Another mini-miracle.

In the early years of my flying experiences, I purchased 1947 Stinson 108-3 “flying station wagon.”  It was seemingly in fair condition due to engine time and age, so this became the first four-place aircraft we owned.  It was located and tied down on the east side ramp, at the Mobile Regional Airport. 

Since we are in Hurricane Alley, one was headed our way surging north from the Gulf of Mexico.  Without the Stinson being safely hangered, it was in grave danger of being destroyed if left on the East Side Ramp at Mobile airport.  In order to safeguard it I ferried it to the Hattiesburg airport for safekeeping. 

When the storm passed, I picked up the Stinson from Hattiesburg and began a relatively short flight back to Mobile.  Since the weather was really great, I decided to fly directly south from Hattiesburg, intersect the Gulf Coast and then head east to Mobile.  The flight was wonderful… at 3000 feet and CAVU weather with bright sunshine. 

As I turned back east from Gulfport and flew NE to Mobile and was approximately 12-15 miles SE of the Mobile airport, there was an abrupt jolt as the 165 hp engine threw a rod and exploded out the side of the crankcase. Engine oil immediately spread over the windshield and the only good visibility was to look out the door window.  Total engine failure.  Now it was dead-stick flying and engine-out procedure to land and land very shortly.

Trying desperately to remember my emergency landing check list and procedure, my first priority, besides flying an engine-out airplane, was to locate an appropriate and safe landing location.  It just so happened I was about 3000 feet directly over a grass landing strip, often used for military training, at Saint Elmo, Alabama.  I had more than enough altitude to execute an approach and safe dead-stick landing.  When the old Stinson came to a stop, I opened the door, got out, laid down on my face and kissed the ground. A farmer nearby was plowing his field and witnessed the whole scenario.

Another mini-miracle

Word for Today:  July 4

From the hearts of fifty-two framers of the Constitution, flowed the documents and structures which formed the foundations for this great nation: The United States of America.

“Of all the writings of the founders of our country, 94 percent either directly or indirectly cited the Bible.

In September 1774, the First Continental Congress opened its initial session with prayer.  Psalm 35 was read aloud:  “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation… awake and rise to my defense!  Contend for me my God and Lord…”

George Washington often spent hours in prayer without interruption.  In his prayer book, he wrote:  “Direct my thoughts, words, and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit…  Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ…”

In his dying words, Alexander Hamilton, signer of the Constitution, spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ.  “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am a sinner.  I look to Him for mercy.”

Samuel Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, declared:  “First of all, I resign my soul to the Almighty Being who gave it… relying on the merits of Jesus Christ for the pardon of my sins…”

81 year-old Benjamin Franklin speaking at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 said:  “I have lived long, Sir, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable than an empire can rise without His aid?  We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’  I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without this concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

Where did these Men Come From?  What gave rise to such character and such confidence and such faith in God?  How did these men and women develop into such Champions of Liberty and Democracy?  I tell you, they came from Christian, Bible-believing, God-honoring, morally pure families.

God… give us such leaders once again

Word for Today:  July 3

Have you ever been in a place where you honestly confessed that you did not know what to do?

The first temptation is the temptation to try to fix it ourselves.  Plans.  Procedures.  Steps to take.  People to see.  We want to “fix things.”  We want to “fix” people.

Instead of throwing our cares and worries and tribulations on Jesus, we think we can fix it ourselves.  We try.  And it does not work.  We try something else, and it does not work either.  We reason.  We consider the problem.  We analyze it, examine it, look at it from every angle and try again.  Another failure.

Finally, we remember God.  And seek God.  And ask God.  Turn to God and confess that without His intervention, all our human and natural efforts will not produce any answers or solve any problems.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chron 20:12

The King’s army was outnumbered (2 Chron 20). He was defenseless against such overwhelming odds.  He had no escape route…. Nowhere to run.  Nowhere to hide.  Nowhere to seek refuge.  He was in line for defeat.  Humiliation.  And death.

He had exhausted all his resources.  Nothing he had and nothing he could do would be able to deliver him and his nation from total disaster and defeat.  He finally confessed: “I don’t know what to do.  But my eyes are on You, Lord….”

There are some attempts at victory that you need to “give up.”  Because they are your plans, your ideas, your efforts and they are done in your strength.

I remember praying one time:  “Lord, I don’t know what to do.  I’ve tried everything I know to try.  I don’t have any resources left.  I give up.”   In my fit of self-pity and false humility, God responded to my heart:  “Good!  Now that you are through with it, I can do something about it!”

And He did.

Giving up on your efforts does not mean giving in to the devil.  It simply means changing your “trying” into “trusting” and then leaving it all to God.