Today I share my Evangelist brother Larry E. Wolfe’s devotional sent to his band of Big Rig Truckers to whom he ministers on Rt I-85 in South Carolina. This devo is similar to my  Feed the White Dog! devotional posted some months ago with a few interesting twists.

FROM BROTHER LARRY:

While reading an article on ‘Mental Illness’ I was surprised to learn that it was considered an asset?? The article gave an examination of world leaders in history including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill, stating that each of these men suffered from bouts of depression to their advantage during times of conflict/war or other taxing experiences. The study also showed that in peace time their success waned.

Churchill called his depression ‘My Black Dog” which is part of the reason for the title of today’s message for I too had a number of extended fierce attacks of the Devil bringing on severe times of his D’s to the point of mental collapse/breakdown. Notice, it was the Devil and his horde of demons that were responsible. Now, that doesn’t make me a world leader but it does prove to show that the Devil has been busy attacking men regardless of their position.

Before I left the Truckstop this morning the Lord told me to write about “The Black Dog vs. The White Dog”  from an illustration a Preacher used not too many years after the Lord saved me. And, when I arrived at home, I read the above article and decided to write ‘While the iron was hot’ and the Lord gave me directions, for, ‘The Black Dog” of Churchill’s experience can also represent “The Black Dog” of the Preacher’s illustration, but in a somewhat different form.

Now, “The Black Dog” represents the Devil or dark side and ‘The White Dog” the Lord and the right or light side. So, Drivers, it all depends on which dog we feed as to who wins and controls our mind, will and emotions. Churchill’s Black Dog, while he didn’t say it was the Devil’s doing, attempting to bring him down with the Devil’s D’s: Darkness, Discouragement, Distress, Despondency, Destruction or Death it surely was the Devil’s doing. Churchill responded to  his Depression with self-will, fortitude and physical strength, battling his way out with success being the clear result.

A similar experience was repeated in kind for these other men. But for me, it took not only counseling and drug therapy, but electro-shock treatments to literally change my mind from the obsessive compulsive thought patterns in order to bring me out of the depths of the Devil’s D’s. But, this gave no real solution. How did I get into this condition? By feeding the wrong ‘dog’.The Devil’s Black Dog literally consumed my mind, will and emotions. That describes what the world calls ‘Mental Illness’, but, in reality, it is the result of a full frontal assault by man’s Adversary, the Devil himself!

So, Drivers, which ‘dog’ are you feeding? “The flesh lust against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to another so that ye cannot do the things that you would” (Galatians 5:17). It is evident which ‘dog’ is winning by your walk with the Lord. Are you living a life of rejoicing regardless? (Hebrews 13:15) Are you on the hunt for souls? (Proverb 11:30) Are the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart acceptable in God’s sight? (Psalm 27:14). It all depends on which ‘dog’ rules your mind, which ‘dog’ is winning the battle for your mind.  We have a choice as to where our minds spend time. So, Let us be wise and redeem the time because the days are evil!

Chaplain L.E.Wolfe www.btmi.org I-85 Exit 35 SC ‘McPilot’ Stop in, and please pray for REVIVAL!

More faith building messages here: New Blog Index

I’m writing to update you on my brother Pooch’s progress in his battle with melanoma cancer. As the title of this blog and the above pictures indicate the miracles continue! Pooch’s recovery is just miraculous! My cousin who is an RN who treats melanoma patients in another major Pennsylvania hospital told me it was amazing that his doctors put Pooch in the immunotherapy program in the first place, as they normally don’t treat patients of his advanced age with this new treatment. But the Lord had other plans and through the prayers of thousands of God’s people he began this arduous treatment regimen just four months ago, which included FOUR infusions of two different drugs and it wasn’t likely that he would be able to withstand the serious side effects and make it all the way to treatment number four. But Pooch plugged away through all four treatments.

He had some deep and dark valleys to cross but with superhuman effort, a showering of God’s grace, plus continued prayers he made it all the way through. What you see in the above picture is his set of Pet-Scans. On the left is the scan from April showing all of the black dots and blotches indicating all of the tumors he had in his body at that time. The right side picture, which was taken in July shows NO tumors! Praise God! He called me last night and said his doctor told him he couldn’t find any tumors!

His treatment continues which will be just one drug at a time and he still has some side effects to deal with from time to time and so he needs our continued support and prayers but he is back to being active, driving his backhoe pulling logs out of the mountain and working again on his 37 Ford Truck restoration project!

On his and Thelma’s behalf, thank you So much for your hundreds of cards and notes, phone calls and prayers during this faith stretching time. Please keep it up!

O God who hears our prayers to You all flesh will come. (Psalm 65:2)

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. (Psalm 57:1,2)

O God, we praise and thank you for your great love for us. We know we dwell in a sin cursed world and even the saints are not exempt from the ravages of disease which beset all of mankind. And yet O Lord You tell us to pray, You tell us to ask, You tell us to seek and to knock so that You may show Yourself strong on our behalf and reward us with answered prayers. That we have done on behalf of our beloved brother Pooch, and Your grace and the prayers of the Saints have availed much on his behalf! Please accept a chorus of praises and thanksgiving for Your work of healing in our brother’s body and life. We know he wants to continue to serve you, to witness for our Lord Jesus to those he meets and so accept our continued prayers that Your work and will be done. We give YOU all the glory. In Jesus Name, Amen!

For previous updates on Pooch click here: Pray! & I Believe I Got a Miracle!

For other faith building blogs go here: New Blog Index

My grandmother Margaret Anspach was an amazing person. To grandma, Sunday was a very special day. It was a day to worship her Savior, to deepen her faith through the faithful teaching of the Bible, and to serve her family and friends. Early in her marriage she was not allowed by her husband Clarence to attend church nor to even purchase a Bible! But over the years her deep faith began to wear Clarence down and eventually she began sending her children to attend the church of God which was just up the street from where she lived. But grandma’s heart was in the Emmanuel Methodist church about a mile down the road beside Memorial Lake because that was where her grandparents took her to church as a little girl, and where she likely put her faith in Jesus for the very first time.

So in answer to her prayers, she and her children eventually began attending the Methodist church, and even Pop (her husband) would go along from time to time! That was a miracle! It was all because of her consistent faith filled life, her unconditional love and her Godly example of service to others that transformed her family. Here are some excerpts from her diarys in the years 1970-1971 describing the events of a typical Sunday.

1970 Jan 4, Sunday, Cold, Sunny, 8 degrees

I arose early at 6. I filled the turkey and put it in the oven. I went to church with John and kids. Laura didn’t go she felt sick all week.  We had election of SS officers. Rev Zim preached a good sermon. John taught the (Sunday School) lesson. John, Laura & kids and Snack Marion & Cindy & Minnie were here for dinner. The turkey was delicious. Snack & Jeanne took a plate of food up to Pop. Snack took Pop to the hospital to see Mom. Minnie, Jeanne & Cindy & Joey played a game called Scribbage. John & Eddie slept awhile. Later on Laura & Minnie & I played Scribbage. Irene was here awhile. Fred & Stevie were at a movie with Brian & Joanne. It was a good day. Guests stayed until 8:30.

LOBO Comment: It was a frigid day at 8 degrees! But nothing would hinder grandma and her family to attend church! It wasn’t Thanksgiving but nevertheless a turkey was prepared for all the “guests” to enjoy. Food was taken up to Great Grandpa Anspach (his wife being in the hospital), games were played, naps were taken and much family fellowship was enjoyed by all!

Here’s another interesting Sunday Diary entry from the year 1971.

1971 Jan 17, Sunday cold 12 degrees

I went to Sunday School with John and family. Rev Epler preached very well. We had an altar call. John taught the (Sunday School) lesson. Minnie came over for Sunday School also had dinner with me then we went to Totty and Jack’s place. Totty fixed a pair of slacks for Minnie. We went up to Pop for the wash then up to Laura and John. We saw a little poodle near the air strip so we picked it up. Later a lady Mrs. Cunningham came for it.

LOBO Comment: Grandma attended church faithfully and the fact she mentioned her pastor gave an “altar call” is significant as she knew that was where and when people often make decisions for the Lord after the powerful preaching of the Word of God. She even rescued a lost poodle and returned it to it’s owner!

Here’s another 1971 entry:

Jan 24, Sunday, Snow clearing and sunny 30 degrees

Stevie and I went to Sunday School with Minnie. Rev Epler’s sermon was on the church that may come. I didn’t understand it too much. I made Minnie’s turkey today. Snack, Marion, Cindy, Minnie, Bruce, Jack & Tottie & kids, Stevie & Fred were here. It was a happy dinner. Irene had to work. Jack, Fred & Johnny went sledding. Carol & Iris came over and Tottie showed Carol how to finish her scarf and showed her how to knit a tam. Carol was really delighted. Butch Feaser was here. John came about 6 for pie and tea. It was a very nice Sunday.

LOBO Comment: From morning until night this was a typical Sunday at Grandma’s house with no less than SIXTEEN visitors and complete with a turkey dinner and a craft lesson. Her comment was not, “I’m totally beat from serving all day” but was instead “It was a very nice Sunday!” A sign of her eternal unconditional love and a mirror of the love of Jesus in her heart.

Finally a fairly balmy Sunday entry in February:

Feb 28 Sunday, Fair 40 degrees

Stevie was very sleepy. Minnie & Fred came. We went to church together. Boy Scouts were in church. Rev Epler had a good sermon, Verna taught the lesson. Irene, Minnie, Stevie & Fred were here for dinner. Minnie was sewing on a crewel picture. Annie Swisher came to get her chair at Pops. Irene, Stevie & I went to Campbelltown to see Brian & Joanne’s new home. Eric is very cute!

LOBO Comment: Grandma’s house was a hub of family activity. If you were in the area you just stopped in. It would have been an offense not to! Another activity on Sundays was to go visiting relatives and friends as in this entry when my mother Irene and youngest brother Steven came with grandma to visit my wife and me in our new appartment along with our 4 month old son Eric!

What a life! What an example! What a love! You know, that’s exactly what grandma would say about her Savior with whom she is now spending her eternity since she went to be with Him on August 12, 1989. Do you know Jesus? Grandma would love for you to take that step of faith to know Him in a personal way. Really she would.

See here to make a Guaranteed Reservation in Heaven!

I came across the phrase “Awake my glory” while reading the book of Psalms this morning. Like many other times when I read and meditate on the Word of God, the Spirit of God made the words jump right off the page and I noticed them as never before! So I wondered, what would the Psalmist be referring to when he said “My Glory”? In my heart I  knew that our Triune Godhead deserves all the glory, so I was struck that the Psalmist would imply that he had glory as well!

Here are the passages to which I refer: Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.” Then we read in Psalm 57:8 “Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.” Lastly in Psalm 108:1 “O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.”

Combine these verses and you could say, “MY GLORY rejoices and it must be awakened so I can sing and give praise!” The Bible is its own best interpreter so to understand “my glory” all we need to do is look at other Scriptures and compare what we find. In doing so we find the answer in Psalm 3:3 which is, the LORD is our glory! There is no good thing within man other than when the Lord Himself indwells him at the point of salvation when he is “born again” by the Spirit of God. So in Psalm 3:3 we read, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.”

So essentially the Psalmist, when he said “Awake my glory” was saying “Awake O Lord In me”! He wanted the Lord to show Himself strong on His behalf in order to express worship and praise in his songs to the Lord. Our sins place a wedge between us and our Lord and the Lord is awakened in us as we repent of any known sin on a daily basis and then stay close to Him through living in His Word, communicating with Him in prayer and worshiping Him daily with songs and hymns and spiritual songs.

It is the child of God’s responsibility to walk closely with their Lord and daily look to Him like the Psalmist did and cry out at the start of each new day, “Awake my glory, I will awaken the dawn. Shine Jesus shine and fill me with YOU today.”

Find a daily worship and devotional plan here: The “Plus 30” Plan

Also find other faith building messages here: New Blog Index

I have been teaching the Bible lesson to the kids in Vacation Bible School this week and one of my assistants, along with my wife JoJo, is a young Preacher Boy named Chris Smith. Chris is only 16 and has a burden for sharing the Gospel with those who need to hear it. He recently preached a salvation message in our churches youth talent competition. He asked if I would consider publishing one of his messages on my blog so he could start to use “social media” to preach the Gospel! Of course I agreed and below is Chris’s picture I took tonight along with his message. We all need to have the passion for getting out the Gospel that Chris does!

See life is so short and a lot of people don’t seem to realize that! How I see it, Life is short. But you see there is something we don’t know. Meaning all of us, All of us don’t know when we will die. See we can die at this very moment. Or maybe we can die the next hour, minute, day and month. See we dont know when we will die and thats the scary thing! But if you were to die tonight where would you go? You might be confused on what I mean by that! Well what I mean by that is where are you going after you die? Cause if you think about it for a while. We are just in a body, We have a soul. Every human has a soul. But when you die right, where is your soul going?

Some people believe that they go in another animal, some people believe in the darkness and some people believe that a soul goes no where! But let me tell you something, A soul goes somewhere for an eternity. Meaning forever. You see There is two places that a soul can go to. They can go to 1 or 2 places. Heaven or Hell. So let me ask you the question again. “When you die where are you going?” Are you going to Heaven or Hell? Maybe you dont know where you are going. Or maybe you want to know. Maybe your thinking you dont know where your going but you want to go to heaven! “But how Chris, How can you be certain that your going to heaven or know that your going to heaven?” Well let me tell you the gospel. This is it, please it’s not religion just listen to this relationship thats offered to you!

Listen we all were once born as any other baby. We grew up in our lives and eventually we did something wrong, or did something bad. That something is called Sin. See the bible states this very clearly “That we are all born sinners.” See we were born and we are going to sin. Or in other words we are going to do wrong everyday. And since we are born sinners we are separated from a holy God. See if we were not sinners then we would be perfect and not make one mistake on this world and we would not be separated from God we would be with him! But God saw you, he created you. And when he created you he knew that you were going to sin. He made everyone in fact and he knows that everyone will sin.

So I’m about to tell you some news some bad and some good news! The bad news is, that same sin in us will bring us to hell. That sin thats inside you will bring you to hell. And in hell there is torment, suffering, fear and etc. But there is some amazing news that i got to tell you. There was this baby named Jesus. And Jesus lived perfectly a non sinless Jesus. And that sin thats inside of us Jesus paid for it. See he took your place on the cross so that you can go to heaven with him. He took your place and paid the penalty for sin so that you dont need to go to hell. So that you can go to heaven! That is the good news that Jesus came on this earth and died on the cross for our sin to make a way for us to get to heaven! And that was the only way! You might be thinking “Chris I want to go to heaven and meet Jesus but how?” Well all you got to do is give him your life and he promises he will save you. Because I gave my life to him and he has saved me and he can save you too. But all you got to do is believe in Jesus and give him your life and he will allow you to go to heaven with him!

For more information on making a reservation to Heaven see: Guaranteed Reservation in Heaven!

In the coming days you can check out Chris’s new blog evangelist862.wordpress.com on which he is just now starting to publish his messages.

 

 

Words, words, words! They fill the days of our lives. We hear them spewing from the television, the radio, the telephone and from the human beings around us. We read them in the newspaper, in books and magazines and on internet postings. Most importantly, we find them in THE WORD the Bible as we seek wisdom, guidance and inspiration while we sojourn upon this earth.

What is amazing to me is how many words of THE WORD the Bible have crept into the mouths of mortal man without him ever realizing he was speaking them! No matter if the person is a Christian, an athiest or agnostic you will hear them speaking the Words of God on a daily basis! You find this hard to believe? Not possible? Just take a look at a few examples to prove my point. Actually, just this morning in my quiet time with the Lord, one of these sayings popped off the page! Here it is.

How many time have you said, “His day is coming”? Surely, we see evil around us in the office, in school, in politics (where it abounds), and we think, “They will get their’s”! The Psalmist knew this as well when in Psalm 37:12-13 he said, “The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.“!

How about this related one. Have you ever said, “They are going to reap what they sow?” It’s just human nature. We see the bad decisions that people make and intuitively we know their future will show the results. The Apostle Paul in Galatians said, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Without any commentary here is a list I have compiled along with the location in the Bible. I’m sure you can add a few more as well!

“Eye to Eye”  Isaiah 52:8

“Drop in a bucket”  Isaiah 40:15

“Doubting Thomas”  John 20:24

The “Writing on the wall”  Daniel 5:5

“Don’t wear out your welcome” Proverbs 25:17

That’s “My cross to bear”  Matthew 27:32

There’s “No room in the inn”  Luke 2:7

The “Apple of His Eye”  Deuteronomy 32:10

The “Patience of Job”  James 5:11

“Head on a platter”  Matthew 14:8

Ever been “At your wits end?”  Psalm 107:27

Have you ever been saved by “The skin of your teeth?”  Job 19:20

Ever called someone a “Good Samaritan”?  Luke 10:33

So let’s “cut to the quick”. What does all this mean? I think it means that God’s Words are innate to our culture and exist as part of the basic nature of society. Why? Because God is everywhere and in all things that are good around us, and God is calling out to us even in the very words we speak from our own mouths!

The athiest or agnostic who reads these words will say, “No way”! I don’t believe that! Well then, who do you rail against in your so-called unbelief? Whose Name do use when frustrated or at your “wits end”? God’s? Have you ever asked God to damn something? Have you ever dragged the name of Jesus Christ into the pit of your vernacular? Many have. Which only shows that what King Solomon said is very true “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters” (Prov 18:24). The words of a man’s mouth reveal who the man really is.

God would say, “Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (Prov 1:23) He would say as well, “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding. Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1,2,5)

What words are in your mouth?

See more faith building blogs here: New Blog Index

We are truly thankful for the Declaration of Independence when our forefathers declared independence giving birth to the greatest nation on Earth. As Christians this is a great day to be reminded that the majority of the men responsible for the Declaration of Independence were truly depending upon God who miraculously brought our nation into existence.
So let us recognize our great need to be truly dependent on our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ for as the theme verse of the Psalms states: “I will cry unto God Most High, unto God that performs all things for me” (Psalm 57:2) we must in like manner turn our eyes upon Jesus recognizing that He wants His children to be fully dependent upon Him!
Making a fresh Declaration of Dependence upon the Lord, trusting in Him for all that we need, is a great way to celebrate our salvation. And, praying our key verses for this year is an effective way to give Him control: “Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverb 3:5, 6).
These two verses have proven to be effective over the centuries in guiding the lives of many of God’s people. Notice, first of all “Trust in the LORD with all thy heart” which is the same as saying “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), “For without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Next, “Lean not unto thine own understanding”. When God is at work in our lives we may not always understand what He is doing or which way He is going but we must continue to “Trust Him with all our heart”.
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him” simply means being surrendered. He has promised to direct our steps if we are surrendered to Him which is just another way of saying “In all thy ways acknowledge Him”. The last phrase “And He shall direct thy paths” is a powerful promise to cling to when the way seems dark or distorted. If we are surrendered, count on it, He is directing…REGARDLESS! Therefore, let us, declare our complete dependence upon the Lord which is a life of joy and liberty as the Holy Spirit leads us according to the Word of God! Trust Him, Brethren, He will do exactly what He promised!

Chaplain L.E.Wolfe http://www.btmi.org I-85 Exit 35 SC ‘McPilot’ Stop in, and please pray for REVIVAL!

Can you predict with certainty who will win the World Series or Superbowl this year? God knows. Do you know who will be our next president? God knows. Do you know what the stock market will do today tomorrow or next year? God knows. Do you know when earth will complete it’s last day? God knows.

Do you know when will be YOUR last day on this earth? Yes, God knows that too! God knows our beginning and our end. He knows we are frail human beings whose life can last but moments or even seven decades or longer! God knows everything about us and that is why He put a plan in place that would just knock our socks off when we stop to consider it! We are His highest and most loved creation, for He created us alone in His image. No other living thing was created in His image so when our first parents marred that image with sin, God was already ready with His remedy. He loved us that much!

So rather than writing it across the sky He planted His love message into the hearts of prophets, who were fallen men that would be moved by God’s Spirit to write down His message to His own special people the nation of Israel. These prophets began writing in the Bible hundreds of years ahead of time, and His message was revealed in the fullness of time. Then the time clock of earth came to a stop and started all over again on the day of Jesus birth and there is NO one else on earth for which that happened! Jesus the Christ came to earth and fulfilled hundreds of prophecies written hundreds of years in advance! How could that happen? Only God could pull it off.

And guess what? It was all done for YOU! For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Sure, I could try and guess who will win the World Series or Superbowl or even who might be our next president. But I don’t want to guess about my eternity. God knows I’m His because I turned from my sins and surrendered my life to Him. I was saved, born again, and all the guess work is gone. I am His and He is mine! God knows. Do you know?

For more on this topic see: Second Birthday!

Other faith building blogs here: New Blog Index