In this New Year, each Christian faces at least two powerful adversaries: Pride and The Devil. How should we confront these enemies?

Peter — the failure who wasn’t finished — explained how to be victorious over both of them. He explains this in 1 Peter 5:5-10.

The good news is that the God of all Grace is the believer’s Ally, and He gives us His Promises of victory. Let’s learn how to make this New Year a year of spiritual victory. You can listen to the audio message by clicking here.

With this goal in mind, I would encourage you to read through this sermon by C.H. Spurgeon.

We all think that we understand what it means to “read the Bible,” but I especially appreciated Spurgeon’s remarks about the way we read:

“But, now, beloved, our point is that much apparent Bible reading is not Bible reading at all. The verses pass under the eye, and the sentences glide over the mind, but there is no true reading. An old preacher used to say, the Word has mighty free course among many nowadays, for it goes in at one of their ears and out at the other; so it seems to be with some readers—they can read a very great deal, because they do not read anything. The eye glances but the mind never rests. The soul does not light upon the truth and stay there. It flits over the landscape as a bird might do, but it builds no nest there, and finds no rest for the sole of its foot. Such reading is not reading. Understanding the metering is the essence of true reading. Reading has a kernel to it, and the mere shed is little worth. In prayer there is such a thing as praying in prayer—a praying that is in the bowels of the prayer. So in praise there is a praising in song, an inward fire of intense devotion which is the life of the hallelujah. It is so in fasting: there is a fasting which is not fasting, and there is an inward fasting, a fasting of the soul, which is the soul of fasting. It is even so with the reading of the Scriptures. There is an interior reading, a kernel reading—a true and living reading of the Word. This is the soul of reading; and, if it be not there, the reading is a mechanical exercise, and profits nothing. “

You can read Spurgeon’s entire sermon by clicking here.

They probably thought of these Psalms with the same fondness that many people would savor Christmas carols.

With this in mind, I composed a piece of poetry, based on Psalm 123, for the service last evening. Together, we sang these words to the tune of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” to try to capture the “holiday flavor” of the text. But this is not, by any means, a “candy-coated” approach to life.

Here is a real conflict as the travelers remembered the proud scorners who held them in such contempt. How should we crowd such contempt out of our minds for the upcoming holidays? Psalm 123 holds some blessed answers as we learn to lift up our eyes to the Lord and cry for His Mercy on us. As we study this psalm today, we learn what it means to be a Christian among the contemptuous crowds.

Finding Mercy among The Masses

A poem based on Psalm 123

To You, O Lord, To You we lift our eyes,

To Him, Who sits enthroned upon the skies

Behold! my eyes attend to your Hand,

To cry for Grace and Mercy in this land.

Give Grace! Give Grace! Oh Heavenly Lord,

we wait upon your mercy in this place!

Oh Lord, we find such hatred in this land

And all around, contempt on every hand

To You, O Lord, to You we lift our eyes

Oh hear us, Heavenly Lord, oh hear our cries

Give Grace! Give Grace! Oh Heavenly Lord,

we wait upon your mercy in this place!

Until we see Your mercy from above

We serve and wait upon our God of love,

We wait among the hateful scorners here,

Until your work of mercy shall appear

Give Grace! Give Grace! Oh Heavenly Lord,

we wait upon your mercy in this place!

- Pastor Gordon Dickson

We all think we are right. But check your thoughts by God’s Word for real wisdom. Helpful hint: Ask “what’s right about this?” before you post it.

2     Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the LORD ponders the hearts.

Want to get rich online? If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Should you assume that strangers who contact you are “probably o.k.”? Think again. Or should you give everyone the ability to post things on your personal pages?

8  The way of man is forward [crooked] and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

What is really happening with people who constantly criticize others?

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

Social networking is often used to seduce the simple: “Hey, look at this link! ” Where are you “surfing?” What happens when you wander from God’s way?

16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

If I put these Proverbs into effect, I might lose all my “friends” online!

19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

What are you really searching for online?

21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.

Do you post whatever comes to your mind? Stop to think before you press “send!” Don’t post it unless you want to see it on a billboard with your name.

23  Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Maybe one of your “friends” is using another name. Is his real name here?

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.

Are you really being productive online? Or are you just entertaining yourself?

25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.

Some people put on a really bold front. But are they really seeking wisdom for the way?

29 A wicked man hardens [emboldens] his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Spiritual warfare is a reality. Do you go online with a “military mindset?” Unrestricted access to the internet could destroy you. Get a filter in place and be accountable. Ask the Lord for safety.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

– Pastor Gordon Dickson

9/11. March 2011 earthquakes in Japan.Tsunamis. Myanmar. Virginia Tech shootings. Samson, Alabama. Binghamton, NY. Air France flight 447. Ft. Hood, Texas. And earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and China.

When these kinds of tragedies strike, what are we supposed to understand? Is there a timeless message in a terrible massacre?

These horrible, earthly miseries carry a message for all humanity — even for those who were not victimized by the recent disaster.

These earthly miseries warn us about  eternal miseries, and the Gospel message shows us how to escape from the everlasting tragedy.

The answer came from Jesus Christ and can be found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13.

Click the player below to listen to a message on this text.

Sufficient Sweetness

That’s right. This is a sermon about “sufficient sweetness.” What do you do when your body sends you the “full” signal? Keep right on eating or call a halt? Part of the problem is that we have come to think of eating as a way to be entertained. Now it is clear in Scripture that good food is a wonderful way to have great fellowship with others. The problem is that we allow ourselves to think of eating primarily as entertainment rather than nourishment. When you view it this way, munching becomes a way to change your moods; cooking becomes your source of comfort.

Those Basic Assumptions

When our most basic assumptions about eating are out of whack, we can’t really expect to draw the right conclusions.

For instance, one summer evening several years ago, my family was enjoying a wonderful campout near Cincinnati. The children were asleep and my wife and I were reading under the dining canopy we had set up. In a short while, I read 50 pages of 1776 by David McCullough, and almost the entire time, I was munching away on pistachios. Those wonderful, salty nuts added real zest to the occasion and I thoughtlessly downed them while I was reading. Suddenly, in a start, I sat up and looked wide-eyed at my wife.

She asked, “what is wrong?”

I replied, “the Lord just spoke to me!”

She responded, “Well, what did He say?”

I answered by quoting Proverbs 25:16!

“Have you found honey? Eat only so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith and vomit it up.”

You see, I was just reading a terrific book about the American Revolution, and suddenly the Lord spoke to me through the Scriptures. That kind of thing has happened to me frequently. On this occasion, it brought me up short and I pushed away the bag of pistachios.

What stopped my snacking?

So what was it about Proverbs 25:16 that stopped my snacking?

I was crunching away for contentment. I felt as if pistachios were giving me peace! And in a moment’s time, the Word of God helped me to arrest my impulses. My faith interrupted my feelings. Proverbs 25:16 emphasizes “sufficiency” instead of saturation. When I reach “full,” there is no need to go farther. Now if you begin to think in these terms, you will begin to re-interpret the signals your body sends you. You can begin to discern the difference between “hunger pings” and “hunger pangs.” But, as the verse warns, if you snack right on past sufficiency, be prepared to feel sick. I recommend that you memorize this proverb to see if the Lord doesn’t bring it to your mind as well. God’s Word has a marvelous ability to reign in our feelings and impulses.

In this proverb, honey can represent any and all food. (Have you found pizza??) We were created by God to live for His Glory and enjoy His Creation. We were not created to sicken ourselves with a saturation of sweetness.

So ends this sermon on “sufficient sweetness.” Hope you enjoyed this “Honey Homily.”

–Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio

www.cbcfindlay.org

www.glimpsesofcalvary.com

In this glorious doxology (an expression of consummate praise to God), the Apostle Paul expressed the simple, yet profound premise that “God is Able!”

As I tried to demonstrate in this message, every true believer must begin with this simple, powerful concept. Click here to listen to this message.

Here is the message outline with some passages for additional study:

Praise and Exalt the God . . . Who is able.

This is the potential aspect – God’s capacity.

-         to do infinitely more

o       than we ask

o       than we think

Who is at work in us.

This is the practical aspect – God’s conducting

of His Work through us.

-         According to God’s Power

-         Presently working in us

Additional Study: Note the appeals for extravagant blessings: Philippians 1:9; 4:19, Colossians 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

God is Able!

Matthew 10:28, Acts 20:32, Romans 4:20-22, 2 Cor. 9:8, Philippians 3:21, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 2:18; 7:25

22 radio broadcasts (about 15 minutes each) describing the Life of Peter. This interesting series reminds us that “failures aren’t finished.” Click the program (podcast) player to begin.

Twenty-two Radio Broadcasts

That is what the LOVE of Jesus Christ means for every one of us. In the audio message recorded here we will examine Ephesians 3:19. This is part of the magnificent prayer of Paul which he prayed for all of the believers at Ephesus. It can apply to every believer in every walk of life today.

The message begins with the puzzling phrase, “and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. . .” How can you know something which passes knowledge? In order to understand this phrase, it will be necessary to understand what else this letter to Ephesus tells us about love. Then, the revealed expressions of God’s love (especially in Ephesians chapters 1 through 3) call us to respond in order that we may experience this love which passes knowledge.

Click the icon at left for the message to begin or click the player below.

Enjoying conflict? Fools meddle to keep strife alive.

3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Purity in posting. What are you known for?

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Who is reading your posts? The One who made eyes and ears.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,  the Lord hath made even both of them.

Do you know how to spot real treasure?

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Who are you fooling? Deceit seems sweet, but the taste won’t last.

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Can’t wait to share the latest secret? Talebearer alert! Beware of flatterers.

19 He that goes about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.

Blasting your parents online? Find your future here.

20 Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Someone has hurt you and you want to pay them back? Trust the Lord to deal with them and save you – from yourself.

22 Don’t say, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save you.

It’s time to take a new look at the way you use social networking.

– Pastor Gordon Dickson

And here are a few thought from Proverbs 21 as well.

I hope that this message will mean as much to you as it has meant to me. When I think of messages  such as this one, I think about the “20/20 vision” articulated by Moses in Exodus 20:20. When the people of Israel expressed the wish that God would not speak to them because they were afraid they would die (Exodus 20:19), Moses responded, “Fear not, for God is come to prove you that His fear may be before your faces.”

This may seem confusing to some, but Moses was appealing for them to embrace the Fear of God. This is not a fear that alienates, but the fear that attracts. One who has the Fear of God has admiration and respect for God that attracts him to the Lord. Those without the Fear of the Lord will be driven away by their own fears. It honors the Lord for us to dwell “in the Fear of the Lord” with the result that His Fear is “before our faces.”

Sincerely,

Gordon Dickson, Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio

Before you stand a big Hittite and a little Hittite. The little Hittite is the big Hittite’s son, but the big Hittite is not the little Hittite’s father. Who is the big Hittite?

Re-read the puzzle to be sure that you understood it and while you are thinking about it, I would like to help you with your problem-solving skills.

The Problem with Assumptions

So many of life’s puzzles are difficulties that we impose upon ourselves. Seriously. For instance, the puzzle above is a puzzle only because we make certain assumptions. It’s one thing to wrestle with the puzzle like the one above; it is quite another to wrestle with
life’s puzzles and problems.

Changing Your Assumptions

When you understand this, you understand why the Bible puts such an emphasis on the renewal of the mind. “Renewing the mind” helps you to challenge the assumptions that you have made or that have been forced upon you. Part of the problem of evil is that our lusts are “deceitful lusts.” That means that our hearts are perfectly capable of fooling us and frequently do so. As you know, the enigma of evil harbors horrible consequences for you and for all humanity. And the reason that we seem to bumble and fumble our way back into the same problem is that our assumptions lead us to do so.
So how do you learn to “think outside the box?” The whole world system is trying to force you into its mold – including its assumptions. Isn’t it time to break out? Isn’t it time to go back to “square one” and take a new look at some old assumptions?

Three Steps to Permanent Change

I’ve answered the “Hittite puzzle” for you in an audio file (click on the link at left). In this audio file, I will teach you Three Important Steps to Personal Change. Ephesians 4:21-24 has changed my life and I’m confident that it can do the same for you. Be prepared to challenge some of your most basic assumptions.

A Gospel Primer

which is available in the church bookstore.

In that book, the author expressed his profound relief at truly understanding the teaching of Romans 5.

In his message from Romans 5 during our recent special meetings, Dr. David Shumate helped us to understand why Romans chapter 5 is so important to us and how it helps us to take a stand. You can listen to that message here:

The Unsurpassed Blessing of the Gospel (5:1-21)

(Ephesians 6:10)

What if our weakness is actually a terrific encouragement to us? Since we are weak, we must depend upon the strength of another. To the glory of God, that is the way it has always been.

In this message, we learn more about the ancient, not-so-secret weapon to aid us in spiritual combat.

Schedule: Sunday, March 21, 9:30 am, 11 am, 6 pm

Monday through Friday, 7 pm

Saturday, March 27 morning sessions 8:30, 9:30, 10:30

Sunday, March 28, 9:30 am, 11 am

Here is the general conference outline for The Gospel of God in the Book of Romans

PLAN FOR THE EXPOSITION OF ROMANS IN FOURTEEN LESSONS

1.    The Gospel and the purpose of Paul: Paul’s calling and desire to minister the Gospel to the Roman Christians (1:1-16)

2.    The Gospel reveals God’s righteous judgment against sin (1:16-3:20)

3.    The Gospel reveals God’s righteous justification of sinners (3:20-4:25)

4.    The Gospel reconciles us to God (5:1-21)

5.    The Gospel frees us from the dominion of sin (6:1-23)

6.    The Gospel frees us from the dominion of the Law (7:1-25)

7.    The Gospel frees us from the condemnation of sin and death (8:1-39)

8.    The Gospel triumphs even when people reject it: Introduction to chapters 9-11 (9:1-5)

9.    The Gospel reflects divine sovereignty (9:6-31)

10.    The Gospel reflects human responsibility (9:30-10:21)

11.    The Gospel results in the fulfillment of God’s wise, benevolent purpose (11:1-36)

12.    The Gospel leads us to God-honoring service and testimony (12:1-13:14)

13.    The Gospel leads to a God-honoring harmony between believers of vastly different backgrounds and perspectives (14:1-15:13)

14.    The Gospel and the partnership in the ministry: Conclusion and commendations (15:14-16:27)

This entire series will be available soon as a free download at GlimpsesofCalvary.com

In Ephesians 5:25-30, we have just such a plan presented to us.  Just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, so each husband can use the “washing of the Word” to present his bride in a glorious manner.

Sir, do you think in terms of how little you could do for your wife, or how much you could do for her? Don’t miss the illustration of the son of the tribal chief who knew how to seek a wife. The message concludes with practical “he-man choices” for you to make.

To listen to this message, please click here.

Spirit-Filled Marriage, Part 6, Ephesians 5:25-30

Love your wife, in the same way that Christ loved the church.

• By making the choice to love her

• By giving yourself to meeting her needs.  It’s an act of the will.

-    In order that he may set her apart from the  world

-    In order that he may set her apart with the Word

-    In order that he may present her in a glorious manner

To listen to this message, click here.

Kayla, their oldest was diagnosed with cancer: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (explained here).

Nathan delivered this testimony during the evening service at Calvary Baptist Church in Findlay, Ohio.

Click the player here to listen to this presentation.

If you would like to learn more about this story, Kayla’s Caring Bridge site is here.

Ephesians 5:22-27

Making a Majestic Marriage, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Which one would you want your marriage to be? Full of deep affection or destructive accusation? Genesis 2 or Genesis 3? Shepherd or serpent?

In a Spirit-filled Marriage, the wife honors God by giving respect to her husband. 22-24

She honors Christ’s authority by “arranging herself under” her husband. 22-23

She represents the church in its submission to Christ. 24

How bad can it get? Adam & Eve; Isaac & Rebekah Genesis 2:21-25; 3:12; 25:27-28

In a Spirit-filled Marriage, the husband honors God by loving his wife and giving himself for her. 25-27

He honors Christ, with a self-sacrificial desire for his wife– giving himself for her. 25

He represents Christ by using the Word to

purify problem areas and perfect holiness. 26-27

• Practical Steps

• Put God’s Word back into your garden at home & church

• Take the change challenge: put off, renew, put on

• Wife: Trust God enough to submit to your husband

• Husband: Love the Lord enough to love your wife

• Ask the Lord to turn you from misery to majesty

Additional Study: Ephesians 3:14-2; 5:18-19, 1 Peter 3:6-7, Genesis 2:21-25; 3:12; 25:27-28; 27:1-6, 41-46

Click here to listen to this message.

Do you want to have a really great marriage?

You’re probably thinking, “I’m trying!”

But what if that is part of the problem? Instead of “trying,” the Lord speaks of “trusting” Him and letting Him live His life through you.

Why is a “Spirit-filled Marriage” so important? It’s because self-sufficiency makes lousy spouses. If you are trying to be a God-honoring spouse in your own strength, you will be miserable, and you will fail.

In order to be “Spirit-filled,” it is helpful to understand the prayer of Ephesians 3 ( to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man).  In this message, we will also look at Peter’s pen strokes (1 Peter 2 and 3), to draw a picture of Jesus Christ and His church.

If you are really struggling today, may we encourage you to “breathe in what God has breathed out” and know the strength that only the Lord can give.

To listen to this message please click here.

A certain man had two sons…

Here we find a remarkable puzzle.

What did these sons really want?

Were they really all that different?

Down the long hall of human history, human beings have been reacting to each other — and calling this reaction “righteousness.” Is this really the case? In this fascinating parable, Jesus Christ pulls away the mask from humanity, to reveal what we really are.

Click the player here to listen to part two

For part one of this message, click here.

A certain man had two sons…

Here we find a remarkable puzzle.

What did these sons really want?

Were they really all that different?

Down the long hall of human history, human beings have been reacting to each other — and calling this reaction “righteousness.” Is this really the case? In this fascinating parable, Jesus Christ pulls away the mask from humanity, to reveal what we really are.

The highway to heaven is hidden in humility, but the path to punishment is paved with pride.

Click the player here to listen to part one

For part two of this message, click here.

Have you had it? Are you tired of your spouse?

In this audio message, Pastor Dickson explains Ephesians 5 and the connection of 1 Peter 2 and 3. Jesus Christ gave us the Example to follow (1 Peter 2) that guides us around the pitfalls in marriage.

Using the Lord’s instruction about how to escape from blind, self-deception (Matthew 7), this message guides Christians toward a Spirit-filled Marriage.

To listen to this message, please click here.

For the entire series on marriage, click here.

In this audio message, delivered on Sunday, January 24, Pastor Dickson examines Ephesians 5:16-24 to find the answer to that question.

In Scripture, we learn what to do, why to do it and Who gets the praise for what we do (Matthew 5:16).  It’s important that we connect what we do (practice) to why we do it (principles); it’s even more important that we determine Who is really getting the praise for our lives: Who is the person behind it all?

By looking at this text in this way, we can learn a lot about marriage. There are a lot of good reasons for marriage, but what is God’s highest and greatest purpose?

Click here to listen to this message.

To listen to Spirit-Filled Marriage, Part 1, click here.

Why? And how can this change?

In this new series entitled, “Spirit-filled Marriage,” Pastor Gordon Dickson  will examine marriage from Ephesians chapter 5.

As this first message demonstrates, God is able to work in your marriage in a way that is infinitely beyond what you could ask or think.

Believers are given the privilege of being filled with all the fulness of God. With this kind of power, Spirit-filled believers can fulfill

the Biblical purpose for marriage and find great joy in their marriages.

To listen to this message, click here.

To listen to Spirit-Filled Marriage, Part 2, click here.

Without God on our Side

Psalm 124

to the tune of “Now Thank We All Our God”

Without God on our side, (say all the people with us)

Without God on our side, the floods would have engulfed us.

For angry men rose up and like a swelling tide

They would have swallowed us, but God was on our side.

. . . . .

We praise and bless the Lord, our Wonderful Defender

Who kept us from the snare from being torn asunder

For they would tear our flesh and swallow us alive

But God protected us in Him we live and thrive.

. . . . .

Now thank we all our God, the Lord Christ, our Creator

Who made the heav’n and earth and came as our Redeemer

He still defends today, our blessed Lord and Guide

Now let the people say, “The Lord is on our side.”

Adapted from Psalm 124 by Gordon Dickson

When we get to Ephesians 6, we will see that when the spiritual battle is great, the Body “fights.”

In the message below, we will summarize what the Scripture says about our “walk.” The Christian is called to walk in a way that is very different from the world, because we know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please click on the picture at left, or click here.

Moses wrote in Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Here’s an idea – plan your life like you plan your year.

All of us prepare for the seasons of the year.  (If you don’t believe me, check the mall parking lots at certain times of the year.) All of us know how to plan for New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We understand the “rhythms of the seasons.” Now let’s see if we can look at our passing years the way we look at the passing seasons. If my math is right, every five days would represent one year (using Moses’ average life span in Psalm 90:10).

So, what if your lifetime were like one year?

The day you were born – Happy New Year! It’s the start of a brand new life and a brand new year. What a wonderful season! Your whole life and your whole year are before you!

At nine years of age, you would find yourself at Valentine’s Day. It’s still too early for spring, but things are beginning to change. Valentine’s Day introduces you to love – and not just the mom and dad kind. When you discover this kind of love, everything begins to change!

You would be “sweet 16″ on St. Patrick’s Day … and not a moment too soon either! This “green” day reminds you of the greening of spring. In this season of “spring cleaning,” you must sort out the treasure from the trash. At 16, you are choosing between good and garbage – constantly. Your choices in “spring cleaning” stay with you all year long, and that’s just like life.

You need the Lord’s help to know trash from treasure.

At 18, you’re late in March and ready to march. Congratulations! High school is behind you; the world lies at your feet. Spring is in full swing! It’s a time to plan your planting. So much of the rest of your “life year” will be formed by the choices you make here. It’s time to ask the Lord for wisdom.

Age 22? You’re in the Easter season and already making some very adult decisions. As the flowers bloom and the weather warms, you see bright new horizons ahead of you. Already you have seen the results of some of those trash/treasure decisions and those “sowing and reaping” choices. As you plan out vacations and holidays, you begin to realize that the course of your “life year” is pretty well set. How you “applied your heart to wisdom” has made all the difference.

When you’re 27, you would be celebrating Mother’s Day, and, by Memorial Day, you would be “over the hill” at 30! The weather is warm and the plans are many. Now you are making decisions, not only for yourself, but for others. You have more responsibilities and more opportunities. Sometimes wisdom comes knocking – with some very hard knocks! It becomes more and more obvious what kind of life and what kind of year you’ve made for yourself.

If you are in your mid-thirties, it’s time to celebrate July 4th. Isn’t independence great? But how did time pass so quickly? Valentine’s Day was just yesterday, right? These are warm days, sweltering “years,” hot with the activity of many well laid plans. The real fruit of your choices is starting to show and grow.

It’s time to “number your days” and “apply your heart to wisdom!”

By the time you’re fifty, it’s Labor Day, and the summer is over. It’s harvest time! So many choices you made earlier in the year, and earlier in life, are now ready for harvest. You begin to understand the phrase “too soon old; too late smart.” Fall is on the way. Is that snow on the roof already?

It seems a stretch, but if you’re 65 you would be at Thanksgiving. (Whew! let’s stop and catch our breath!) In this season of the year, you want to gather all your loved ones together. The word “family” is very important during this part of your “life year.” It’s time to gather together to enjoy the fruit of your labors. It’s time to bless and be blessed.

At 70, it’s Christmas … who would have believed it? Reminiscing in this season brings back the memories of a lifetime. The treasure of those beautiful memories must push aside the trash of the bad memories. It’s time to bless others with the fruit of your year and the fruit of your life.

In which season of the “life year” are you now living?

Wisdom teaches us to use each season of life the right way. It’s never too late for “course adjustments.” As most of this new year lies before us, I hope you will treasure every moment that you have, and remember “time waits for no man.” None of us is guaranteed three score and ten years.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

. . . . . .

Failures aren’t finished!

The Peter Series: Biographical messages

This series of 22 radio broadcasts reminds us that  failures aren’t finished. Let’s study the life of the Apostle Peter to discover how the Lord can still work through us today.

How should you respond when you become acquainted with an angry man? Should you make friends with this furious man? The danger of this relationship and so many other relationships is explained in verse 25. The fact is, we tend to adopt the values of the people that we associate with. Stay around this man for long, and you will begin to think the way he thinks. The result: you too will find your soul in a trap, just like he does! If you really want to get frustrated, then learn to think like this furious man.

Renewing the Mind

These verses highlight the importance of renewing the mind. We would all like to believe that our thinking doesn’t change, but the fact is that it changes constantly. We are constantly listening to others and evaluating their ideas. We tacitly accept the ideas that we tolerate, while rejecting the others. Scripture passages such as Romans 12:1-2 make it plain that we are in danger of “being conformed” or pressed into the mold of the views of those around us. This is why the Christian must renew his mind with the Scripture; your thinking doesn’t remain static; it changes constantly. As a Christian, you have a golden opportunity each day — you can renew your mind with the Glory of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When I was a youth pastor, parents used to express the wish for “positive peer pressure” for their own teens. They thought that if other teens would pressure their teens to do right, then they would do right. When someone expressed this opinion to me, I usually responded that if someone could be pressured to do right then they could also be pressured to do wrong. My appeal has been the same for years: teach your teen how to renew his mind with the Scripture. Do this in your family devotions and even in your own casual conversation. In so doing, you are placing values that will not be easily dislodged. Teach your children how to find friends and what to avoid in acquaintances. Teach them the danger of adopting the wrong values of others.

Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio