Archives for January 2017

Good morning,

The Book of Esther shows us how God keeps His promises, how God saves the Jews from annihilation, and the sovereignty of God. Did I mention the name of God is not mentioned in the whole book? God is in every circumstance that happens to save God’s people.

Things to remember as you read Esther. The Jews were captives and living in Babylon. The story takes place in Shushan. Woman, whether Jew or Gentile, did not have any rights. They were required to submit to men. The Babylonians did not worship Jehovah God. To understand why Mordecai and Haman (Chapter 3) were at odds, read Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 36:12, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, 1 Samuel 15:2,3,7-9,11,26,32-33 28:18.

Chapter 3 introduces us to Haman. He is the sworn enemy of the Jews. (Reference passages above) The King promotes Haman above all the other princes. All the King’s servants bow in reverence to him. Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to bow down and reverence Haman. Haman then devises a plan to destroy all the Jews. He presents his plan to the King and he agrees. The destruction of the Jews is set.

Chapter 4 is Mordecai’s response. Mordecai and Queen Esther have a back and forth discussion about Haman’s decree. The chapter ends with Queen Esther agreeing to go before the King and make him aware of the what is happening.

Please read and discover how God orchestrated each event and why. Write down events where God kept a promise, the hand of God was at work, or how God, completely behind the scenes, orchestrated events to protect His Jewish people.

Like any good book, I must leave you hanging for next week’s installment. Next week we look forward to two banquets, a gallows, and a parade. Next week we will look at Chapter 5 and 6. Wednesdays I am preaching through the Book of Esther. Come and join us at WASI Meeting room at 10 am.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Book of Esther shows us how God keeps His promises, how God saves the Jews from annihilation, and the sovereignty of God. Did I mention the name of God is not mentioned in the whole book? God is in every circumstance that happens to save God’s people.

Chapter 1 tells us of an insubordinate Queen. Vashti refuses the King’s request to appear before him. Her refusal results in her removal as Queen and banishment.

Chapter 2 is the search of a new Queen. All the young virgins in Shushan were set before the King. He chose Esther, a Jew. Esther was an orphan, her parents being dead. Her guardian, Mordecai her uncle, saved the King’s life.

Things to remember as you read Esther. The Jews were captives and living  in Babylon. The story takes place in Shushan. Woman, whether Jew or Gentile, did not have any rights. They were required to submit to men. The Babylonians did not worship Jehovah God. To understand why Mordecai and Haman (Chapter 3) were at odds, read Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 36:12, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, 1 Samuel 15:2,3,7-9,11,26,32-33 28:18.

Please read and discover how God orchestrated each event and why. Write down events where God kept  a promise, the hand of God was at work, or how God, completely behind the scenes, orchestrated events to protect His Jewish people.

Tomorrow we will look at Chapter 3 and 4.

Wednesdays I am preaching through the Book of Esther. Come and join us at WASI Meeting room at 10 am.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Thanksgiving is a command of God. Dana Clark, Missionary to Bangladesh, wrote her Thanksgiving letter on this topic. There is quite a bit of wisdom in her post. (Bold highlights mine)

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  I Thess. 5:7

 Dear “Rope Holders,”

Many Americans attribute the idea of thanksgiving to the Pilgrims or Abraham Lincoln, but the Scriptures teach us that thanksgiving is God’s idea. In fact, it is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything.

So as I reflect on “everything” in my life right now, I am reminded that giving thanks is a choice that I make; it is a perspective, a thought pattern, that takes a conscious effort.  In many areas of my life this is easy:  I am thankful for my family, friends (both here and around the world) and supporters.  I am thankful for my church family, my Savior, and God’s Word.  I am thankful for God’s provisions and the fact that He is at work in my life.  In other areas of my life, it isn’t so easy:  I am thankful for the prayers that God hasn’t answered my way, because it has caused me to trust Him in new ways.  I am thankful for the things that God has taken away, because it helps me to realize that He is enough to meet my every need.  I am thankful for the trials of life, because in them I can experience His strength, peace and comfort.

I am reminded of a favorite hymn (and I can still hear my UBCS students singing) while writing this letter:

Thanks to God!

1. Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
   Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
   Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,
   Thanks for Jesus by my side!
   Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
   Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
   Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
   Thanks for peace within my soul!
2. Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
   Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
   Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
   Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
   Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
   Thanks for comfort in despair!
   Thanks for grace that none can measure,
   Thanks for love beyond compare!
3. Thanks for roses by the wayside,
   Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
   Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
   Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
   Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
   Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
   Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
   Thanks through all eternity!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  

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Remember to always be thankful.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Is the Church supposed to be conformed to this world or to God? It seems like an easy answer, but observation reveals something else. Unfortunately, the Church is being conformed to this world. Many Churches have chosen to bring the things of the world into the Church, thinking they will win to Christ those who are unsaved. However, the opposite happens. Church members are influenced by the world, lose their testimonies, and occasionally drop out of Church.

The Church is to SEPARATE themselves from the world.

Spurgeon challenges us to think about the role of the Church.  Spurgeon lived from 1834-1892. The problems have not changed. Sin still reigns.

Nothing worse can happen to a Church!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world–but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Someone was asking, the other day, how it was that the church, nowadays, was not so separate from the world as it used to be. One who heard the question suggested that, possibly, the world had grown better; but another more truly said that, probably, the church had grown worse.

There are some, in these apostate days, who think that the church cannot do better than to come down to the world to learn her ways, follow her maxims, and acquire her “culture.” In fact, the notion is that the world is to be conquered by our conformity to it. This is as contrary to Scripture as the light is to the darkness!

Brethren, beloved in the Lord, you may depend upon it that nothing worse can happen to a Church, than to be conformed unto this world! Write “Ichabod!” upon her walls, then–for the sentence of destruction has gone out against her.

It will be an ill day for the church and the world when the proposed amalgamation shall be complete, and the sons of God and the daughters of men shall be as one–then shall another deluge of wrath be ushered in!

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
~  ~  ~  ~

We must encourage our Churches to separate themselves from the things of this world.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last September we had a guest speaker, Dana Clark, a missionary to Bangladesh. She has the opportunity to teach at the William Carey Academy. This unique school is made up of 95% Muslim students. The curriculum is Christian based in English. The parents and the government are aware of what is being taught and encourage it.

Two things have impressed we with Dana’s ministry. First, her love for the Lord. Second, she sends out a WEEKLY newsletter. Each one has a mini devotional. Today I would like to share one of hers on TIME. (Highlights mine)

“Have you chosen your word for 2017?” is a common Facebook question these days. I am not a yearly word chooser, although I can see benefits of focusing on a single theme for a year.  If I were choosing, I might choose the word “eternal.”  This week I have spent some time thinking about the word time.  I never seem to have enough of it to do everything I want or need to do.  Do you?  There are days I lay my head on the pillow and wonder where the time has gone and where I can get more. Matthew and Luke both ask the rhetorical question, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Solomon wisely tells us that there is a time for everything.  Paul reminds us to “redeem the time, because the days are evil.”  Esther was called to serve in the palace “for such a time as this.” At this time of year, I am reminded that Jesus was born in the “fullness of time.”  Time is an interesting concept, but eternity is mind blowing . . .  Have you thought about the magnitude of the word ETERNAL? . . . forever; time without end . . .

Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians was a much-needed reminder for me this week, These truths are what keep me going when the going “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment (short time), worketh for us a far more exceeding and ETERNAL (time without end) weight of glory; . . .  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL.” (II Cor. 4:17,18) gets tough:  1.  The trials of life are light and temporary, but God is working them together for His and my eternal glory.  2. There is much more going on than what I can see, and I must take God at His word and trust Him for the big picture that I cannot yet see.

My dad and I loved to discuss what we were learning in life. One day we had a discussion that started with “Dana, name 3 things that will last forever?”  We talked about God’s eternality, God’s Word which would never pass away, and the souls of men that would live forever in either heaven or hell.  Our conclusion was that these three things should be the focus of our lives. My dad has now heard, “Well done, my good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of thy Lord,” but I still have time.”                                                                     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So, in light of eternity, how do we spend our time? Dana challenges us to think about what we do in light of eternity. As we read God’s word this week, we need to allow God to speak to us about how we use our time.

Please pray for Dana. She and the other teachers have had many opportunities to discuss what the Bible says about many topics including Jesus.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Each morning I try to bring you devotionals that will make you think. Think about God, our relationship with Jesus, our service, our actions, our obedience.

Today we are challenged to look at how we pray. Ultimately, prayer is talking with God. Today we are challenged how we speak to God. Is it from the depths of our heart or flippant, meaningless prayers? Are we praying from a heart of conviction or rote memorized prayers?

As we will see, it does matter.

Eloquent prayers

(Charles Spurgeon)

If the eloquence of our prayers mattered to God, then eloquence would be more valuable than grace–but it is not so.

Some of us may be able to express ourselves very fluently from the force of natural abilities–but it should always be an anxious question to us, whether our prayer is a prayer which God will receive.

We often pray best when we stammer and stutter–and we often pray worst when words flow articulately one after another! God is not moved by eloquent prayers–they are but empty noise to Him. He is only moved by sincere emotions which dwell in the innermost heart.

For a man to bend his knees and utter the hypocritical language of affection to God which he never feels in his heart–is little short of blaspheming God! We must have very light thoughts of God, when we try to deceive Him with such prayers as these!

I often say my prayers
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?

I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.

For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
John Burton, 1803-1877

~  ~  ~  ~

Meditate on this devotional. Focus in on who God is, who we are, and what right do we have to come before the throne of Grace. Then thank God for the blood Jesus shed on the cross for man’s sin. His death, burial, and resurrection allow us to come before His throne. Jesus paid our sin debt.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Susanna Wesley was a Godly mother. She taught her family the Bible and lived it in their midst. We know her as the mother of John and Charles, the founders of the Methodists.

It is what you do not know that might surprise you. She had nineteen children, of which half died in childbirth. Her husband Samuel, was a minister. He was not good with money and the family was very poor. Samuel spent time in debtors prison.

The raising of the children fell to Susanna. Through it all her children grew to love the Lord. So this devotional is quite inciteful.

How would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of any pleasure?

(Susanna Wesley)

“All things are lawful for me–but not all things are profitable.
All things are lawful for me–but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

How would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of any pleasure?

Use this rule: Whatever . . .
weakens your reason,
impairs the tenderness of your conscience,
obscures your sense of God,
takes off your relish for spiritual things–
that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself.

By this test you may detect evil, no matter how subtly or how plausibly temptation may be presented to you.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do–do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Please take a moment to Google, Susanna Wesley, to read more about her. Through God’s help, she was able to accomplish a tremendous amount. This should encourage each of us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Over my life time I have been privileged to live in cold, warm, and temperate locations. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Right now, snow shoveling is getting to be a drag.

However, God made a promise to us in Genesis 8:22. “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

God keeps His promises. I am glad He does. The fact that each day the sun comes up indicates that God does not lie. It is winter in Alaska, but somewhere on our globe it is summer. Did it ever occur to you that the food we eat is a direct fulfillment of this promise? And yes, it is cold here and warm somewhere else.

What a great God, who can in one verse, promise harvests, seasons, food, and different types of weather. Each is fulfilled daily.

Today, think about some others promises God has made to us. Did He keep His promise? This should encourage us to trust Him even more. He has never broken His word and never will.

Time to shovel more snow.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today is inauguration day. It is a day of new beginnings.

Some are in great fear today. They have no hope for the future. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the hope of every believer and anyone willing to trust Christ as Savior and Lord.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. (Psalm 39:7)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Psalm 42:5)

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: (Psalm 146:5)

When Joshua was getting ready to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, He gave the people this challenge.

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. ⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:6-9)

God gives us hope and that hope is found in the Bible. As we go through this new beginning we must be “…strong and of a good courage:” Joshua challenged the people to meditate on God’s word. He told them not to be afraid or dismayed. Why? “The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” He is with us today.

Proverbs 15:3 states,” The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

To alleviate all fears, do this. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God wants us to grow closer to Him. He uses trial, tribulations, and adversity. When this happens, we have a choice to make. Trust the Lord and grow or reject the Lord and regress. Trials, tribulations, and adversity, are God’s way of bringing us closer to Him and strengthening our faith.

He loves us too well to promise that!

(J.C. Ryle)

“Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Job 5:7

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” John 16:33

If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to Heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end–all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no affliction. He loves us too well to promise that!

By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons which without it we would never learn. By affliction He . . .
shows us our emptiness and weakness,
draws us to the throne of grace,
purifies our affections,
weans us from the world,
and makes us long for Heaven.

In the resurrection morning, we shall all say, “It is good for me that I was afflicted.“ We shall thank God for every storm.

“You do not understand now what I am doing–but you will understand later on!” John 13:7

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001