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

Good morning,

The Holy Spirit lives within us. Today’s devotional reminds us what the Holy Spirit does.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:33)

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

Let us always think of the Holy Spirit with holy awe and reverence!

(Charles Spurgeon)

Let us always think of the Holy Spirit with holy awe and reverence, remembering that . . .
it is the Spirit who quickens us,
it is the Spirit who instructs us,
it is the Spirit who sanctifies us,
it is the Spirit who preserves us,
it is the Spirit who makes us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light!
So unto the ever-blessed Spirit be glory and honor and praise, forever and ever!
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Consider the greatness of God. God is in control of all things. Small things, large things, or things that have no significance to us, God controls and cares about.

He also knows and cares about us as individuals. Our struggles, joys, adversities, accomplishments, God knows them all.  It is comforting to know the God who created us, also cares about us and our wellbeing.

The smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence!

(Charles Spurgeon)

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:11

It is most important for us to learn that the smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence–as the most momentous events!

He who counts the stars–has also numbered the hairs of our heads!

Our lives and deaths are predestined–but so, also, are our sitting down and our rising up.

I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam, does not move an atom more or less than God wishes.

I believe that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its ordained orbit, as well as the sun in the heavens.

I believe that the chaff from the hand of the winnower–is as much steered by God, as the stars in their course.

The creeping of an aphid over the rosebush–is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence.

The fall of a leaf from a poplar tree–is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche!

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we conclude our study of the book of Romans. Chapter 16 lists the names of many Christians from Rome who have ministered with or influenced Paul’s life. Paul warns his readers of the people who try to cause divisions in the Church. He ends by praising God.

Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with greetings from those in Corinth and praise to God.

Greetings from those in Corinth (16:21-24)

²¹ Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.²² I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.²³ Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Conclusion to the letter: praise to God (16:25-27)

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,²⁶ But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:²⁷ To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

The Epistle to the Romans began by defining and describing sin. Sin’s consequence was judgement. The result of which was death. Our sin debt could only be paid for by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He shed His perfect blood on our behalf as payment for our sin debt. Then we are told how to live as a Christian. Satan no more has dominion over us. We belong to Jesus who bought us with His own blood. Next, we learn how to relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally, we see the men and women who influenced Paul’s life in Rome. It reminds us that ministry takes a team of committed believers, each doing their part, to see men and women come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.

If you are reading this and have never trusted Christ to save you from your sin, please read Romans 3-5. If you have questions, please call me.

If you are reading this and you are trusting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please tell someone else how they might get saved. Time is running out. The Rapture could come at any time.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we conclude our study of the book of Romans. Chapter 16 lists the names of many Christians from Rome who have ministered with or influenced Paul’s life. Paul warns his readers of the people who try to cause divisions in the Church. He ends by praising God.

It is sad that we must continue to deal with this issue 2000 years after Paul admonished the Church in Rome. We must be vigilant. Deceivers, those who cause division, and those who pervert the Word of God lurk unawares in our churches. They challenge the leadership, God’s word, and the character of other believers. As Paul states, “Mark them…” Then apply the principles of Matthew 18:15-17. Church discipline is the only way to remove them from corrupting God’s people.

Warnings about those who cause divisions (16:17-20)

¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.¹⁸ For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.¹⁹ For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.²⁰ And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Paul makes it clear that the Roman Christians obedience to God’s word was “…come abroad unto all men.”

Is the obedience of you individually, your church, and your church leaders, known among this community?

It should be!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001