FIREPROOF

When Sherwood Baptist Church decided to reach their Georgia community by making a movie, they never dreamed the direction that God would end up taking them! They made a movie, entitled FLYWHEEL for less than $20,000 and it so impacted their community and others who saw it, that they decided to invest a little more and do a little higher quality movie. Hence the production of FACING THE GIANTS, which was an immediate hit at the box office. Finally, a Christian movie that depicted real people, in real life situations, handling things according to the Word of God! How refreshing!

Now their latest production is being released with quite a bit of fanfare tomorrow night....FIREPROOF, the latest in Sherwood's productions features former Growing Pains actor, Kirk Cameron and is sure to be not only a hit, but a means that God will use to transform the lives of many families across this country! It is one you do NOT want to miss.

I hope you will take the time to read the information below on this movie. You will find it an added blessing as you watch the movie and be sure to tell a friend or co-worker about it today. Urge them to see it, or....better yet....take them with you! May God bless you as you go to see it and may God bless Sherwood Baptist Church and all who were involved in bringing us this Christ-honoring movie!!!!!!!!!!!


Behind the scenes of 'Fireproof'
OneNewsNow - 9/25/2008 9:00:00 AM

Interested in knowing some of the "behind the scenes" stories surrounding the making of Fireproof, the latest movie from Sherwood Pictures? Interviews with Alex and Stephen Kendrick, actors Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea, even the head makeup artist -- and stories about how God showed up numerous times in the making of the film, which opens in theaters on Friday, September 26.

Behind the scenes of Fireproof, Take 1

Behind the scenes of Fireproof, Take 2

Look for our review of Fireproof on Friday, Sept. 26

TRUSTING JESUS

"Fear not for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I AM THY GOD! I will strengthen you; yea I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10


GOD SAID: "Do you believe that, my Child?"

I SAID: "I believe you CAN, Lord. I'm just not sure you will."

GOD REPLIED: "I did not say 'I CAN strengthen you, I CAN help you, I CAN hold up your hand'.....I said 'I WILL' ".

Not only CAN God do these things.....strengthen, help and hold us up.....HE WILL! He WILL if we trust Him. He is more than able to do abundantly above all that we ask of think.


As I meditated on this verse, God brought this old sweet song to mind:

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Just to take Him at His word

Just to rest upon His promise

Just to know

"Thus saith the Lord"

Jesus, Jesus

How I trust Him

How I've proved Him

O'er and O'er

Jesus, Jesus

Precious Jesus!!

Oh for grace

to trust Him more.

---Louisa M. R. Stead

FEAR

FEAR

Fear does not come from the Lord, but from the enemy.

Fear paralyzes…..Faith energizes.

Fear robs us of today…..Faith gives HOPE for tomorrow.

Fear makes us think there is no way out…JESUS says “I am the WAY, the truth and the life…”

Fear screams “You’re finished”….JESUS whispers “You’re mine”.

Fear keeps our eyes glued to the circumstances… Faith causes us to look UP.

Fear imprisons us….Faith sets us free.

Fear says “I can’t”….Faith says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Fear grips our heart with icy fingers….Faith warms the heart as we draw nearer to the Son.

Fear is: False Expectations Appearing Real

Faith is : Forsaking All [including fear] I Take Him

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” II Tim. 1:7

“Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am THY God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee. I will uphold thee with my right hand” Isaiah 41: 10

I WILL RISE

FACING YOUR GIANT

Your Very Best

Quote for the Day

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9




♥ The Underdog

If you're like me, you love watching a competition when the underdog gives someone a run for their money. There's just something about seeing the "little guy" compete strongly against an opponent who is expected to win. Even if the underdog doesn't triumph in the end, there is still a sense of victory because most people can relate to the weaker player.

From playing sports to leading a family, the true test of skill, strength, and endurance occurs when the odds do not appear to be in your favor. Self-defeating thoughts (such as I'll never pull this off...It's just too hard...or I'm not going to make it) are easy to say--especially when facing a favored opponent.



♥ The Competition

In Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter,

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat."

In other words...look out, Peter, because Satan desires to knock you out of the game. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you will encounter tough competition. And let's face it, Satan doesn't care about playing fair. In the midst of your struggle, it's easy to lose sight of God's love and purpose. You may know that God is quite capable of coming through for you but not sure if He actually will--or perhaps it seems as if He did not.

Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave Peter to face Satan alone and the same holds true for you today.

"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:32)

Jesus knows that the purpose in "sifting" is a careful development of Peter's potential. He also knows that on the other side of Peter's trial, he will gain experience which God uses to influence others.

God's desire isn't necessarily to see you win the game but it is rather to have you give Him your very best--a total commitment. As the coach of His team, God trains, tests, and keeps His players pressing toward the goal. Although God allows you to face tough opponents, He never has you facing them alone. Once you endure the hard times, God can use you to lead and influence others for Jesus Christ. Through developing your staying power, He helps you to realize your full potential.


♥ The Victory

I was reminded recently of God's faithfulness after renting a movie that hit the big screen in 2006 called "Facing the Giants". Although the story focuses on a small-town highschool football team, the film itself is a come-from-behind success story. Two brothers in ministry working on a shoestring budget with actors from their own congregation decided to take on Hollywood. The film grossed $10 million dollars within one year and has influenced people worldwide in their spiritual commitment to Christ.

The movie's take-home message can be summed up by a statement the head coach makes to his players, "We need to give God our best in every area. And if we win, we praise Him; and if we lose we praise Him. Either way...we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes. "

Please take a moment to watch the clip below from the movie. A good reminder that God is always there encouraging you to keep driving when it hurts. To give Him your very best when you are out of strength. To move through the pain so that you can influence people around you.

Satan may seem stronger, faster, and can deal some heavy blows, but God loves to use the underdog when it comes to His glory. If you find yourself with a difficult burden right now, don't give up. God knows He already has the victory.

Click Here for video: https://webmail2.centurytel.net/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fe2ma.net%2Fgo%2F1329054444%2F1207932%2F44211536%2Fgoto%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D-vB59PkB0eQ%26feature%3Drelated

from Blessings of Comfort, www.blessingsofcomfort.com - Marcy Pate

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

The Promise of Heaven Calms My Fears

"Do not let your hearts be troubled" is a command the disciples and you and I are to obey! Deliberately calming ourselves is a choice we are to make in the face of

* shocking setbacks
* catastrophic circumstances
* abrupt accidents
* irritating interruptions
* devastating dissension
* agonizing addiction
* frequent failures

all of which cause us to be terrified of the consequences and repercussions. In the midst of the swirling, cloying fog of fear, Jesus commands, "STOP IT!!!"

Stop letting your imagination run wild!

Stop analyzing every detail over and over again!!

Stop flogging yourself with the "if onlys" and "what ifs"!!

Stop being afraid!!!!!!!

How in the world is it possible to obey a command that involves so much of our emotional feelings? Our obedience begins with a CHOICE to stop being afraid followed by a decision to start trusting God.

It has been stated that "peace is not the absence of danger but the presence of God". Jesus commanded His disciples who were on the brink of emotional disintegration, if not at that moment, then surely within a few hours, to "trust in God, trust also in Me" (14:1)

The antidote to fear is faith.

When I toss and turn in the middle of the night, worried and fearful over something that is impending in my life or the life of someone I love, I am comforted and calmed as I meditate on WHO GOD IS. It helps me place my faith in Someone Who is bigger than my fears because He is.......

Able

Benevolent

Compassionate

Dependable

Eternal

Faithful

Good

Holy

Immortal

Just

Kind

Loving

Merciful

Near

Omniscient

Powerful

Quick

Right

Sufficient

Truthful

Unique

Victorious

Wise

XYZalted

copied from MY HEART'S CRY by Anne Graham Lotz, 2002

WAITING

"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord." Psalm 27: 14

I don't know about you, but I'm not good at waiting. I don't like waiting in lines, in traffic or in doctor's offices. I don't like waiting for something to arrive in the mail or waiting for an expected email. I just don't like waiting!

Yet waiting is a big part of God's classroom. He repeatedly tells us throughout scripture to WAIT on Him.

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." Psalm 37: 7

"Wait on the Lord and keep His way..." Psalm 37: 33

"My soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62: 5

Waiting requires us to yield ourselves completely to God. It really takes us out of the equation. When we are waiting, we are motionless. Time stops. And God likes that. He says to us , "Be still and know that I am God." We must stop striving, stop pushing ahead, stop making OUR plans, stop trying to take control of the situation. We must be STILL and WAIT. That is SO not what we want to do!!!!!!!!!!

We want to manipulate, orchestrate, contrive, plan, and work out evey minute detail of every sitatuation. We want to be IN CONTROL. We want to do things OUR WAY.

But, God has a way of snatching that control out of our hands, and putting us into a place where all we can do is wait on Him. We have no more control. We have no idea what to do. We cannot see where this is going. All we can do is wait on Him to move and TRUST.

But....in the waiting, he also reminds us that HE is our hope!


"Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." Psalm 31: 24


"Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we HOPE in you!" Psalm 33:18-22


So in the midst of our waiting, He gives us HOPE. He does not leave us to wait alone. He does not abandon us. He waits with us, gives us courage to persevere and lifts our faces to look into His eyes and KNOW that we are His and He will see us through. We must WAIT on Him to act, realizing that we can of ourselves do NOTHING. It's not about US, it's all about HIM!

So if you find yourself waiting today, take a deep breath....surrender your will, your ways, your agenda, your all to the One who holds your very life in His hands. Surrender....trust....and HOPE in Him. And He will give you His peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

MY BEST PRAYER PARTNER

I have been blessed over the years to have some wonderful prayer partners, those who would pray with me and for me. Nothing is quite so comforting and reassuring than to hear someone lift your name to the throne of grace, especially when you are in the midst of a trial or a season n the "pit". It just helps so much to know that someone cares and that someone is praying for you.

But as wonderful as they all are, there is One who is our BEST PRAYER PARTNER. His name is JESUS. Please read the following and be blessed! I hope you will point someone to this today who needs to be reminded.

He Prays For Me!

By Lisa Jones, She Speaks! Graduate

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

Devotion:

One time while I was going through a serious trial in my life, I felt as if I were all alone. I felt discouraged and powerless. I would spend hours every day in prayer for everyone else and their situations, asking God to intervene on their behalf, and yet I wondered who was praying for me. Was there anyone out there who cared enough about me and my suffering to bring it before God and beg Him to touch my life? Was there anyone who shared with the Lord that I was hurting? Shortly after that God encouraged me through His Word, and through today’s verse, that His Son Jesus does care for me and prays for me faithfully.

I wonder what would have happened to Peter after he denied Christ if Jesus had not previously prayed for him? Would he have turned to the world, denying Jesus for eternity? Only God knows the answer. But the good news is God would not have it happen. Instead, God heard the prayers of Jesus for Peter. Therefore, after denying the Lord three times, Peter wept, repented, and drew near to God.

Jesus prays for me as well. He intercedes on my behalf. He knows what is set before me and desires that my faith in Him will not fail. He prays that I will have the strength to keep my eyes on Him, never straying too far behind, and that I will stay close to His side.

Jesus is my prayer partner. I am indebted to the Lord for He is at all times working on my behalf. He is my High Priest, mediating between me and God. Because of Jesus, I am made strong when I am weak. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness to me, I have experienced what joy feels like!

Jesus prays for you as well. He understands that Satan wishes to sift you like wheat. Do not despair, Jesus has prayed for you! He desires to wipe the tears from your cheek and replace it with the joy that faithfulness brings. When you feel all alone and like the world has forgotten you, when you feel as if you can continue no longer, do not fret—the Savior is there praying for you! His Father always hears his prayers. They will strengthen you, and then in turn you can help strengthen others.

Dear Lord, sometimes I feel all alone and weary, as if I have no strength left within me. Yet, I will seek You in prayer. I will make my request before You, for I know You are there for me and interceding on my behalf. You know what is before me and what I need. Give me strength when it feels as if Satan is trying to sift me like wheat. Create within my heart faithfulness and steadfastness. Thank You for praying for me, taking my request to the Father so, through You, I may gain strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

31 Days of Prayer by Ruth Myers

Dear Jesus by Sarah Young

Listen to Today’s P31 Radio Show

GOD'S COMMANDS

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3




DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Submission is a term that has been grievously distorted because there are men who have used the word as a weapon to club their wives rather than as a hammer to build their homes. When God tells the wife to submit to her husband, He also tells the husband to love his wife (Ephesians 5:22-25). When God tells children to obey their parents, He also instructs the fathers to “provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). When God tells you to submit to Him, it is for your good (James 4:7). Jesus is the head of the church, and He leads by love. The same should be true in the home. LOVE WORTH FINDING DEVOTIONAL by ADRIAN ROGERS



There is within each of us a spirit of independence that grapples with the idea of submission to anyone or anything. This is the very thing that caused Satan to leave the glories of Heaven and of being God's annointed cherub....his independence and desire to be #1!! Let's face it. We want OUR own way. We do not want to do it YOUR way or anyone else's way. We think that we know what is best. Notice I said "think" we know. Yet God tells us that the exact opposite is true. Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way that seems rght to a man, but the end thereof is death."

God gives us commands to live by. Commands that are for our good, to protect us, to nurture us, to guide us. Yet the old sin nature that is alive and well in us rears its head just like the serpent in the garden and says "Oh, but YOUR way is better." We rebel and suffer the consequences.

I was so struck by the verse above because it says "God's commands are NOT grievous." If we could ever get it through our heads that no matter how difficult it is, doing things God's way will ALWAYS result in the best for us, our walk with Him would be so much sweeter and so much more productive. Just as parents must make rules for our children that they don't like but are for their good, God has rules and commands for us that we may not like, but are also for our ultimate good.

I hope you will mark and highlight I John 5:3 in your Bible and allow it to be a reminder to you that when God asks you to do something, it is not meant to be grievous to you and WILL bring about the best for you in the end.

BIBLE NOTES

I am one of those hold-outs who is still using the King James Version of the Bible. There are a number of reasons....(1) I can find everything in it because I have so many notes and notations (2) I've had it for most of my life (since 1964!) and (3) because most of the scripture I've memorized is from KJV. Not that I oppose other versions, I like most of them. I even have a couple and often use those or some that I refer to online. But MY Bible is special to me. I've had it rebound several times but always have kept the notes written on the inside covers and other pages within.

Inside are written the names of my childhood friends on the "FRIENDS" page. There is also a list of the births, spiritual birthdays, marriages and deaths of my closest friends and family. There are a couple of "mysterious" scribbles from when my children were little:) and even a couple of notes left by one of them just for me:)

I've written a number of quotes and significant notes from Bible teachers through the years. I thought I'd share those with you today. Credits are given where known.

• "It took the life of God in the life of man to produce the likeness of God in the character of man". Tom Murray

• "It is better to be divided by truth than it is to be united in error. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie. I had rather ultimately succeed with the truth than to succeed with a lie. It is better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with the multitude." Adrian Rogers, Bellevue Baptist Church

• No matter how good we are, God loves us no more. No matter how bad we are, God loves us no less. God's love is not based on our performance. HE JUST LOVES!" Tom Murray

• "We are in the land of the dying on the way home to the land of the living." Miller Cunningham

• "When you are at your lowest, go to the deepest thing you know about God and hang on." Dr. Frank Thomas, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church

• "The answers God gives in our TOMORROWS often flow from our faithful TODAYS." Beth Moore

• "At the Great White Throne Judgment someone must pay the price for sin. WHO will pay for YOURS? You or Jesus? " Sam Shaw, Germantown Baptist Church

• "Never be afraid to trust a future that you do NOT know to a God that you DO know." Corrie Ten Boom

• "The man who can kneel before God can stand before anyone." Adrian Rogers

• "The purpose of prayer is for us to get a hold of God----not an answer." Oswald Chambers

• A dusty Bible leads to a dirty life.

• God will not send you where He cannot sustain you.

• There is only one being who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is JESUS.

• "A person who has all the answers has no need of God. Faith is trusting God even when the questions go unanswered." Tom Murray

• "Tears are liquid prayers that carry a lot of weight at the throne of grace." Charles Spurgeon

• "Though I hear but do not understand, I will not let go of the unseen hand that holds the reasons why." Old hymn

• "Sow a thought--reap an action; Sow an action--reap a habit; Sow a habit--reap a character; Sow a character--reap a destiny." Ken Surrette

• "When all we do is sit and soak, we soon begin to sour and then to stink." Adrian Rogers

• "Christians are like tea bags. They're only good when put in hot water. God does not put us in hot water to scald us, but to release all that is within us." Tom Murray

• Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the world's rough hand can't erase.

• "Fear is to Satan what Faith is to God. Satan operates on the basis of fear and fear immobilizes you. While fear immobilizes, faith energizes (IITim. 1:7) Fear is held in check by power, love and a sound mind".

• "To lose my salvation I'd have to commit a sin that was strong enough to cancel crucified love." Tom Murray

• "When sharing with a non-believer, listen to their story, share your story which will open the way for you to then share HIS story." Ellen Olford

SPEAKING THE WORD

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23

Hospital rooms can be breeding places for fear and anxiety. Last week, I found myself there with my Mother as she underwent tests for some troubling health issues. She had never been in the hospital before so this was a very frightening experience for her. Add to that the possibilities of what "could be" and you have a recipe for deep distress.

One morning as Mother was being transported to another part of the hospital for a test, God sent His special messenger to uplift and encourage us both. Her name was Keneshia. We had met Keneshia the day before as she once again transported Mother for a procedure. Her smile was bright and her attitude was so cheerful. She lit up the room!

On this particular day, our second day to have the pleasure of Keneshia's company, God used her in a marvelous way. As she was transferring Mother from her hospital bed to the gurney, she smiled and said,

"Ohhhhh what a beautiful day it is today!!" (Yet the sun had hardly poked its way through the clouds ).

Mother replied rather dismally, "Yeah...it's terrible to be stuck inside and be sick."

Keneshia flashed her beautiful smile and looked directly at Mother as she made a gesture with her fingers of a teeny little bit and said "Oh but it's only for a little while. 'Weeping endureth for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning!' "

Oh how my heart sang!! That is one of my favorite verses from Psalms. Mother smiled.

We proceeded a little further down the hall. Mother lamented "I hope I don't get sick today". She had gotten terribly nauseated from the transport the day before.

Keneshia again smiled her sweet smile and said "That was yesterday. You are not going to be sick today."

Mother was not convinced. She said "Well, I was really sick yesterday."

Keneshia would have none of that. She again looked Mother squarely in the eye and said,

"But...THIS is the day the Lord has made, and we are going to rejoice and be glad in it and you are NOT going to be sick!!"

She had won Mother over. Mother teared up as she heard the Word spoken by this sweet angel of mercy. As we proceeded to the elevator and down the hall, Keneshia talked of how she would like to go on a picnic because it was such a beautiful day. She had been wanting to go on a picnic for some time. "But" she said with a positive note in her voice "to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven and this is just not my season to do that". It was obvious she was content in the Father's control and she was not going to complain if things did not go her way.

By this time, I was almost in tears at the goodness of God. I knew in my heart that SO many people were praying for us and I also knew that God had personally sent Keneshia to speak HIS Word over us that day...to reassure us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. It was no accident or coincidence. She was there by divine appointment!

He sent us many angels in our stay. I cannot tell you how many people....total strangers...said to us "Have a blessed day" or "God bless you, Darling!" The kindness of the hospital staff was astounding, each one doing their normal, everyday job but with a kindness and compassion the likes of which I've never seen in a hospital before. God's hand was all over us and we were so grateful!

It reminded me once again that we can be His "people angels" no matter where we are. We can lavish grace, we can speak the Word over someone, we can be His hands with a gentle touch. Who does He want you to minister to today?