Read past issues of Steve’s “Encouraging Word” newsletter. If you would like to sign up to receive the newsletter use the sign up box on the right.

• Volume 13, “Our Father’s Business”
• Volume 12, “Building Godly Character”
• Volume 11, “Hearts and Home”
• Volume 10, “An Incredible Promise with Far Reaching Implications”
• Volume 9, “Choose Life”
• Volume 8, “Fitting, or being Fitted”
• Volume 7, “Rise Up O Men Of God”
• Volume 6, “En-hakkore”
• Volume 5, “God the Father”
• Volume 4, “No Lone Rangers”
• Volume 3, “Appropriating Grace”
• Volume 2, “Blessing Mom and Mate”
• Volume 1, “The Christian World”

Volume 13

Our Father’s Business

Many of you reading this newsletter probably learned about it as a result of attending a homeschool convention. Most of my speaking is at state conventions. While Sandi and I did teach and train our sons at home, that is not the main reason I travel and frequent these conferences.

Have you wondered what God is doing in our world today? Jesus observed what the father was doing in John 5

John 5:19 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.

I have a growing conviction that home education is a part of a greater movement of God to restore the family. God designed marriage and family. “In the image of god he created them, male and female. He made the two, one.”

This sacred institution was ordained by the triune God before Israel, before governments, or the church.

This unique and sacred union is under attack from this present world, our own carnal nature, and our ancient foe. We know this.

But God is not discouraged nor is He defeated. He is marshaling his forces and is restoring marriage and the family. The family dynamic is the basic building block of our churches, our communities,and our culture.

Isaiah 42:4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law. ASV

He has said that he would turn the hearts of fathers to children and the hearts of children to fathers. That is happening in our day in homes across the globe.

I have the wonderful opportunity to meet with many many committed men who are taking off time from work to learn how to be better husbands and fathers.

I am witnessing mothers making tremendous personal sacrifices to teach and train the next generation in their homes. Women who are not sacrificing their responsibilities to family on the altar of career

I have address rooms full of teens who want to learn how to honor their parents, love their siblings, and find a godly mate.

God’s ability to restore families to his original design, one man and one woman, has not diminished.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ESV

He may not receive any air time on the major media outlets, but his is relentless in his agenda and will not be turned aside form his plan.

There is a divine timeline articulated in scripture, with three key points concerning the family.

Creation Restoration Consummation

God created marriage, Genesis 1 & 2.
God restores the family relationship, Malachi 4.
God witnesses the fruit of his labor, the marriage supper of Jesus and His bride, Revelation 19.

I began this letter with the observation and conviction of what I see the father doing. Someone has said, let us not ask God to bless what we are doing, but to do what God is blessing. May we each continue to be about our Father’s business.

Steve

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Volume 12

Building Godly Character

It is a mark of Moses’ meekness that he was able to receive advice from his wife’s father.  But that is not the point of this missive.

Jethro had spent only one day with Moses, and he quickly discerned that his son-in-law needed to delegate his responsibilities to others or he and the people he was leading would suffer. (See Exodus 18:17-19.)

Jethro not only correctly diagnosed the problem, he offered a solution. He outlined his plan for able men to have jurisdiction “over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” He then proceeded to outline the qualifications for these “able men.”

“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe” (Exodus 18:21).  The primary characteristic of these men was their character.  They were to be trustworthy, fear God, and hate bribes.  I can’t help but dream of the day when these will be the traits and qualifications for our judges, lawyers, and legislators!

Notice that Jethro didn’t recommend they have a two-year degree in law or a diploma from the University of Cairo. He didn’t recommend scholars who had done advanced work on the Decalogue, or specify they must take a written exam on the Pentateuch. It wasn’t what they knew that defined these men, it was what they were. The inner man was most important.

Character is built and taught at home, not in an academic institution. You can’t take courses on Honesty 101.  Values are passed on from parents to children. More attitudes are caught than taught.

Sandi and I always felt that character training was our number-one goal. Reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic had their place but were a distant second to integrity, honesty, and truthfulness. We hoped for sons who not only knew what honesty meant but lived it out.

If we want trustworthy men of integrity who fear God and hate bribes to find their places in our churches, communities, businesses, and governments, we must model and teach God’s word diligently to our children, and talk of them when  we sit in our house, and when we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise.

For Godly Character,

Steve

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Volume 11

Hearts and Home

The new year is upon us and once again I find myself reading God’s word. A few chapters from Genesis is my old testament portion and one chapter from Matthew rounds out my daily diet. I get just as much “nutrition” from Genesis as I do from Matthew. 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that the old testament was written for our instruction, in these days. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but thy were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

One account in the life of David has been particularly meaningful to me. It is recorded in two places, 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 and 15. I will summarize the event for you but it is worth noting that without the Chronicles record the description in 2 Samuel is incomplete.

David has it on his heart to bring the ark to jerusalem. He consults with his leaders, calls for all Israel to join him, places the ark of the covenant on a new cart, and heads for Jerusalem. On the way the oxen stumble, Uzzah touches the ark to steady it and dies. Three months later the ark is carried up to the city with success.

But what happened during those three months? David had been shaken when Uzzah died, as well he should have been. His heart was right. He had received counsel from the other leaders. The ark needed to get to Jerusalem. He was doing the right thing, with the right motives, yet Uzzah had died. The key is in the 2nd and 13th verses of chapter 15.

1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath Jehovah chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
1 Chronicles 15:13 For because ye bare it not at the first, Jehovah our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not according to the ordinance. 1

David sought God according to the ordinances. He searched the scriptures to see where he had erred. He had done the right thing but with the wrong method. It was the appointed task of the Levites to carry the ark, not a new cart.

The ark carries the truth. In it were the two tablets of the commandments engraved by the finger of God(Deut. 10:1). You can picture this ark, winding it’s way upon the new cart headed to Jerusalem and the streets lined with people watching the procession. Among the onlookers are the Levites.

This is all clear as you read these three chapters of scripture. But what is the admonition for us, today? What does God want us to learn from this account which he had recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

As a parent I want my children to hear and receive the truth. That is the right thing to desire and the right thing to do. In our present Christian culture, the way children learn the truth is predominantly through Sunday school and youth ministry. But young people are leaving the church in record numbers. Between 64% and 94% *of students walk away from their faith within two years of high school graduation.

The biblical account played out today has new characters, but Uzzah still dies. The truth is represented in the ark. The new cart is epitomized by the new methods of reaching youth, Sunday schools and youth ministries. Uzzah’s demise is the spiritual death of our young people. And David exemplifies those of us in our day who are shaken when they see this trend and search the scriptures to see where we have strayed.

David said that the reason for the death of Uzzah was “Because you did not carry it(the ark) at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” because “1Chr. 15:13. When you “seek him according to the ordinance”, and look up the word teach, and all of its synonyms in scripture, it is evident that the Levites of old, the ones divinely called to carry the truth, are today’s parents. We have been called to carry the ark. Instead we have stood along the road and let the modern methods and the new carts carry the truth to our children. The new carts of today don’t work any better now than they did then. The fruit is still death. We don’t need better carts, or more training for our cart drivers, or smoother roads. Children don’t need more programs, they need their parents.

How many more Uzzahs have to die before we as parents step up to the ark and fulfill our God ordained role to teach and disciple the next generation?

In these last days, God is restoring the hearts of parents to children and vice versa. As parents turn and embrace their God ordained responsibility we will see life instead of death. On a positive note, parents that have emerged from the roadside the percentages mentioned below have been turned completely around.

In faith for more hearts turned in the home,
Steve Demme

*Barna Group: 64 percent loss after college graduation.
Assemblies of God: 75 percent loss of their students within one year of high school graduation (10-year study).
Southern Baptists: 88 percent loss.
Josh McDowell Ministries: 94 percent fallout within two years of high school graduation.

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Volume 10

An Incredible Promise with Far Reaching Implications

I think that if you were to quiz parents from any culture, or from
any world view, what motivates the decisions that they make for the
upbringing and training of their offspring, the universal response
would be that their children would have a good life.

What defines a good life would vary significantly from one group of
parents to another. And the methods and means to achieve these
goals would also differ.

God also wants our children to have a good life. He wants them to
live long and do well. To that end, He gives very specific
instructions accompanied by a divine promise to insure that our
kids will have a good life.

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD
your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may
go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Paul reiterates this eternal verity in Ephesians 6:1-3 Children,
obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your
father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the
land.”

I hope you will pause and ponder the scope and implications of this
promise of God. It is the one specific command directed to
children. He personally guarantees that if children will fulfill
this scripture, it will go well with them.

How do children learn to honor their parents? Two ways. By what
is taught and by what is caught.

1. Taught
Children need intentional teaching about honoring their mom and
dad. Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your
children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and
when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Teach what the word honor means and how it can be applied. Webster
defines this verb as: to revere, to respect, to treat with
deference and submission. Talk about how this might look when
applied in the day to day routine of the home.

Honor is not a popular concept or teaching in the world today. We
need to be intentional as we teach and model this idea. Honor is
more of an attitude than a practice. It will have external
applications, but it begins in the heart.

2. Caught
Favorable modeling between parents is the most effective means of
demonstrating honoring an individual. Attitudes are caught by
observant and sensitive children.

In Ephesians 5:22 and 33, women are encouraged to submit to
(external act) and respect (internal attitude) their husbands.

In 1 Peter 3:7 and Ephesians 5:25, husbands are encouraged to honor
(internal) and lay their life down for their wife.

It is so much easier for a child to honor his parents, if he sees
his parents honor and respect one another.

Summary
As parents purpose with God’s help to honor one another, two
positive outcomes will occur. It will go well with the children
(the promise). And children will become more like their savior who
honored his parents. Parents themselves will also benefit by
becoming more like Jesus as they submit to one another and lay down
their lives for each other in the Lord. It is a win win situation.

If you ask me, I would rather my sons possess the proper attitude
and respect for their parents, than receive a fully funded four
year education at any university in the land. I would rather have
my sons obtain God’s promise, than have them inherit Bill Gates’
fortune.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall
not pass away.

May God bless you and your family as you are helped to honor one
another in the Lord,

Steve,

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Volume 9

Choose Life

This month the scripture will be our primary focus with minimal
commentary at the end.

Deuteronomy 30:11 “For this commandment that I command you today
is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in
heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and
bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it
beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for
us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the
word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so
that you can do it.

Deuteronomy 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and
good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD
your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by
walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his
statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the
LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to
take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you
will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve
them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You
shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan
to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness
against you today, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your
offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice
and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days,
that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

The sobriety of our call as parents has been resonating in my
heart. In verse 19, I underlined the words, “choose life, that you
and your offspring may live”. Teaching and discipling our children
is of eternal importance. It is not a preferred method of child
raising, it is a life and death choice based upon deep convictions.
We have chosen to be faithful and obedient to God and his word,
that we and our children may live … forever … with God.

Amen.

Steve

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Volume 8

Fitting, or being Fitted

In traveling around the world, speaking to, and meeting with,
devoted parents, a common theme repeatedly emerges.  As parents
seek to teach their children God’s ways and train them for eternity
“talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you
are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise
up,” they find themselves not fitting into the culture of their
community.

This is not surprising since Jesus predicted this behavior.  John
15:18 If the world hates you, you know that it hath hated me before
it hated you.  19 If you were of the world, the world would love
its own: but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out
of the world, therefore the world hates you.  20 Remember the word
that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If
they persecuted me, they will also persecute you;

But what is disconcerting, is when we don’t fit into the culture of
our local church either.  It is bewildering that we find ostracism
even from our Christian brothers and sisters, especially with the
current emphasis to be “pro-family”.  When believers question our
convictions and motives it hurts, plain and simple.  Part of the
reason for the extra grief we experience is that our guard is down
and we don’t expect this kind of reaction from those who share our
faith.

I don’t believe it  is profitable to spend time and energy figuring
out why this is the way it is.  It is not our job to judge, but is
it our calling to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him and His word.

I take courage in a word found in the King James Version of
scripture.  See if you can identify this particular word in the
thread of the following verses.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me
above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Deuteronomy 26:18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be
his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou
shouldest keep all his commandments;

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light:

The word is peculiar. Isn’t that a descriptive word?  I am not
saying it is one I would have chosen, but it is comforting to know
that being a peculiar people is a good thing and a God thing.

I think one of the primary reasons we do not fit into this world is
that we are being transformed.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind,

And the fruit of being transformed, is that we are also not being
conformed.  It is no wonder that we don’t fit into this world which
is passing away.  God is refitting us for eternity.

And we are in good company.  There are a whole host of believers
who have preceded us .

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and
having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

And these peculiar people were strangers and pilgrims in their day.
The good news is that they are now cheering us on.  They are a
great cloud of witnesses.

Hebrews 12:1   Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin
which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us,  2 looking to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right
hand of the throne of God.

God Bless each of you peculiar people and may He gives us all fresh
grace to keep on running the good race and fighting the good fight,

Steve

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Volume 7

Rise Up O Men Of God

I have written in a previous newsletter of my ongoing battle with
condemnation.  The fruit of condemnation in my life was
discouragement and depression.  I knew what I should be doing but
didn’t have the energy or strength to do it.  I was like the man
described by Paul in Romans 7:18 for to will is present with me,
but to do that which is good is not.

In the area of family worship, I would do well and then for some
reason or another I stopped leading these times.  hen I would try
again and fail once more.  Maybe I would go to a conference and get
inspired or listen to a message, but I couldn’t sustain our times
together as a family.  And yet, I kept on trying.  And during these
times of renewal I was much encouraged by the scripture in Proverbs
24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again.
And so I kept getting up when I fell.

I did not recognize God’s hand in getting back on my feet.  It
wasn’t a natural impulse on my part, it was supernatural power on
His part.  It was God’s Spirit.  But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up
Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal
bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.  Romans 8:11

This scripture is so encouraging to me.  It is not up to me to
generate will power, since I do nt have this ability.  But I can
tap into His life giving power and grace.  He is the one who has
the power to make me rise and stand.  Jesus was dead, lifeless in
the tomb.  But the Spirit of God gave life to him.  Even when we
are discouraged to the point of despair, when we have no gas left
in our tank, when our reserves have been depleted, His Spirit gives
life to our mortal bodies.

And jesus himself not only experienced this resurrection power, He
was the resurrection.  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection,
and the life:  John 11:25   As we get back up on our feet and try
again, we are experiencing a mini-resurrection.  And as we keep
getting up we are winning against the word, the flesh and the
devil.  We are are proclaiming the power of the resurrection of
Christ.

Hebrews 4:14 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.  15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  16 Let us
therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we
may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.

I would like to close with this inspiring call to Rise Up!  The
words to this hymn were penned by William P. Merrill, and first
appeared in 1911.

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

God bless you each in connecting with the Spirit of God enables us
to Rise Up and Stand.
Steve

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Volume 6

En-hakkore

Dear Friends,

After many unsuccessful attempts to have family worship on a
regular basis, God helped us to make this a regular part of our
home life.  One of the concerns I harbored, as the initiator of our
devotion time, was that it would be a drain on my personal energy
reserve.  With all of the responsibilities I already carried I was
afraid I wouldn’t have the energy to carry through on another item
to add to my daily calendar.

I was in for a wonderful surprise.

When we began to meet regularly I found an unexpected and unlooked
for spring of living water.  I did not prepare anything special for
our morning times, I simply called the family together, we prayed,
and then read a chapter of scripture aloud.  We would go around the
room (when they were able to read) and each would read 3 verses
aloud.  This took on average about 8-10 minutes per chapter.  If we
had time, we would then each share what we noticed in the reading
that day, which took another few minutes.  Then if we were real
ambitious ,we sang a hymn for 4-5 minutes, and closed in prayer.

Each day I learned something new and received new insights into
God’s word.  Instead of a drain it became a spring of living water.
Perhaps this is what Samson experienced in Judges 15.  After
fighting the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, 18 … he was
sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given
this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall
I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?  19
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came
water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and
he revived: wherefore he called the name there of En-hakkore, which
is in Lehi unto this day.

I would like to suggest two reasons for the refreshment I felt in
my spirit whenever we met in our home.  The primary reason is that
God was there, by His Spirit.  And he is a wonderful teacher.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them.

And the second is that we were “we”.  Reading the word in private,
which I wholeheartedly endorse, is not the same as reading it with
other believers.  We comprehend or apprehend with “all the saints”.
Ephesians 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  19 And to know the
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled
with all the fulness of God.

My final exhortation has been popularized by Nike - Just Do It!
Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the
land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Draw near to God and He WILL draw near to you.

God bless you each in seeking Him, for you will find Him,
Steve

If you would like to hear an hour talk on this subject click here.

Blessings,

Steve

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Volume 5

God the Father

Dear Friends,

My attention of late has been drawn to the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.  I did a study and am sharing selected scriptures with you.   I chose to search the scriptures for the phrase, the Father .  These are highlighted in red.  I found a gold mine and I hope they feed your soul as they fed mine.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father , he hath declared him.
John 3:35 the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 5:19 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.
John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.
John 5:22-23 For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father . He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:
John 5:36-37 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
John 6:27 Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father , even God, hath sealed.
John 6:37 All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:44-46 No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father , and hath learned, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father , save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father.
John 6:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.
John 8:18 I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
John 8:28 Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.
John 10:15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father ; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
John 10:38 But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father .
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
John 12:49-50 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.
John 14:6-13 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father , but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father , and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father ? Believest thou not that I am in the Father , and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father , and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father . And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father , and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,
John 14:26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
John 14:28 Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father : for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:31 but that the world may know that I love the Father , and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father , even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:
John 16:25-28 These things have I spoken unto you in dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father . In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father . I came out from the Father , and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 18:11 Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
John 20:21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

As I meditated on this sacred and intimate relationship between God the Father and God the Son, the love that they have for one another was revealed.  Then Jesus goes on to say in John 15:9 Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you:  The same way that God the Father loves the Son is how Jesus loves us.  It is difficult to comprehend.  And while I was endeavoring to take in this truth, He goes on to say we are to love one another the same way as He has loved us.  John 15:12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

God bless you each in taking in God’s love for you and sharing it with others.  If you need help taking in God’s love appeal to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Blessings,

Steve

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Volume 4

No Lone Rangers

When I first heard and believed the good news, I was at a ranch in
Colorado surrounded by other earnest believers.  When I returned
home and tried to continue my newfound Christian walk, I was alone
and faltered.  Over the next five years I responded again to two
invitations to follow Jesus.  The first time was at a high school
retreat and the second after a Christian movie in college.  But in
both instances my resolve was short lived as I sought to follow
Jesus by myself.

After my junior year in college I read The Cross and the
Switchblade by David Wilkerson and recommitted my life to Jesus and
sought to seek first his kingdom.  This time my faith stuck, and
the difference was the presence of other believers.  Four of them
to be exact.  When I returned to campus I found four earnest
believers in my fraternity.  And we are still good friends and true
brothers, to this day.  By God’s grace and with the encouragement
of other believers, I have been following Jesus for over a third of
a century.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their
toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to
him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep
warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is
alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly
broken.   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

One of the main reasons Christian fellowship is such a source of
life and grace is that Jesus is with gatherings of believers in a
special way.  He was with the three in the furnace in Babylon and
he promises to be with two or three wherever they are gathered in
his name.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I
in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 KJV

I am currently reading and studying Leadership Coaching by Tony
Stoltzfus. The following paragraph speaks to this concept so well I
wanted to share it with you.

I believe the biggest reason Christians in general experience so
little transformation in their lives is that they ignore the
Bible’s relational mandate for how to effect change.  We were never
meant to live the Christian life alone.  Christianity is an
interdependent, community-oriented faith.  And yet when we set out
to improve our prayer life, or deal with our anger problem, or
increase our income, or become a better father; most of the time we
work on it completely alone.  You cannot live the life you were
born to live without relationships.

May God grant that you have people of like precious faith in your
life.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

Have a Blessed Week,

Steve

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Volume 3

Appropriating Grace Part 1

At the beginning of a new year we have high hopes and new plans.
But where do we find the grace or the power to fuel our lofty
ambitions?  How do we receive from the God the divine strength to
accomplish what is on our heart?  We know God is almighty and all
powerful, but how do we appropriate his power into our daily life?
This is where the rubber meets the road.  I have several
suggestions that have worked for me and this is the first of four.
It is not a new one but a tried and true one.

Read scripture daily.  This has been my primary source of life,
faith, and hope for many many years.  Man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  Jesus
quoted this scripture from Deuteronomy when confronted by the devil
in Matthew 4:4.  The original text in Deuteronomy 8:3 reads, “And
he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you
did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you
know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every
word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”  Life comes from the
word.  Man lives by every word.

It is not only our favorite verses and chapters that provide life
but every word.  I just finished Malachi and Revelation two days
ago and am already into Genesis and Matthew this new year.  With
God’s help I will read the Bible through again in 2008.  2 Timothy
3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable … Amplified
Version

Hope also comes from reading God’s word.  For whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4  When it says “aforetime” it is referring to the Old
Testament.  As I read through the accounts of Abraham, Joseph,
Samuel, Esther, David, and others I receive fresh hope.

God’s word revives my faith.  So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

The final passage which encourages me to daily study God’s word,
is in Deuteronomy 17.  When you read this sentence see if you can
identify the promises “when he shall read in it all the days of his
life”.  This is a portion of the instructions given to the kings of
Israel.

And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of
his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all
the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,  that his
heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not
turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the
left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his
children, in Israel.   Deuteronomy 17:19-20

I see five promises.

1. learn to fear God
2. be obedient and a doer of the word
3. be humble
4. don’t get sidetracked to the right or the left, be balanced
5. live long in the kingdom with your children

May this New Year be one where you and I learn new ways to
appropriate God’s power and grace in our lives beginning with
reading His word regularly.

If you would like a copy of a Bible Reading chart for you, your
family, or your children click here to download the pdf.

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Volume 2

Blessing Mom and Mate

It seems that men derive much of their sense of personal worth from
their job.  When a man is successful at work, in a sport or at a
hobby, it builds his self esteem.  Men derive satisfaction in
knowing they are good at their job and in providing for their
family.

But what about our wives? Where do they receive the encouragement
necessary to keep her going?  As a stay-at-home mom she has no
“career” or chance to be successful in the world’s eyes.  She won’t
appear in the local newspaper or receive plaudits from the local
media.  In the hidden world of her home, she is pouring out her
life to make her husband and children a success.  Who comes along
side of her and tells her “well done” or “good job.”

Volume 1

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that through steadfastness and through
the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
Sincerely,

Steve Demme

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