Take The Time To Be Thankful

 

 

 

It is true that we are a very mobile and busy world.  We rush to and fro sometimes in a state of subtle hypnosis and when we get to where we are going, forget why we are there!?  I hope I’m not the only one who does that.  Anyway, there is great value in taking the time to stop and think about what our life consists of.  Is it money, material possessions or status or is the real meat of our existence found in our relationships?  I hope the latter is the case.  We just finished Thanksgiving here at our house and to tell you the truth we had a really great day of just being together and around each other.  There was no pressure to get it over with and get on to something more important.  Before we knew it hours had passed by and it seemed like we had just gotten started.  I hope your holiday was blessed as well.  I thought I would pass along some quotes about being thankful to you that I found along the way.  Take the time to be thankful and you’ll be glad you did.  Here goes!

 

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus

 

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.”  — Cicero

 

“It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.”  — Author Unknown

 

“People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have.” — Richard Carlson

 

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
— Willie Nelson

 

The worst moment for an atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank.” —  Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)

 

God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.” — Izaak Walton (1593-1683)

 

I have written a study that may help in your effort to be thankful, titled “A Parable of Humility”.  Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family!

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes. 5:18 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

Did you hear about the Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot ‘s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, ‘My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving,’ he announced triumphantly, ‘and she turned into a telephone pole!’

 

ARE YOU FINANCIALLY FREE?

 

 

Words such as panic, global economic crisis and others have been on the lips and have resonated in the ears of us all in recent weeks.  This global economic situation is the result of bad decisions on the part of those who should have (maybe they did) known better.  As we look to the future many have questions that simply cannot be answered.  What will become of may savings?  Will a global currency develop from this crisis that  will swallow up everything I have worked for? And still yet, “I am so far into debt that I may not make it out financially.”

 

The Bible does have some things to say on this very subject.  In fact Jesus spoke more of money than he did of heaven or of hell.  The reason being that the way we look at money and what it can buy is many times the same way we look at spiritual things.  I have written three studies on the subject of money and our attitude toward it that I would like for you to consider.  They are titled “Financial Freedom”, “Borrowing Money”, and “A Parable on the Vanity of Riches.”  If you are among the millions who are heavily into debt it is worth your time to look into.  God designed us to be free!  We cannot be free when we are slaves (in a very real sense) to the worldly banking system and it’s lies.

 

Consider with me for a moment a huge deception that is often quoted.  “You need a good credit score to function in this society”.  My translation is this, “A good credit score is another way of saying that you have the power to become indebted and in bondage”  Don’t misunderstand me, I think we do need to be faithful and have a good credit rating, meaning the bills have been paid on time but how much of our future our we willing to commit to a bank in the form of debt?  Many have done this very thing and today are bankrupt or worse.  There is a better way!

 

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 (KJV) 

 

The giving and loving Lord desires each of us to be blessed.  He wants us to be free.  He knows that real freedom comes when we are not beholden to anyone but him.  Can we be the servant of God when we are the servant to First National?  We can, but not to the fullest extent that he desires for us.  He spoke to his people in the Old Testament and defined their blessings by saying this among other things, “The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.”  Deut. 28:12 (KJV)   You can be financially free with his help and if you are in trouble financially don’t despair, there is a way out.  Why not start today by asking God for wisdom how to be financially free in your life?

 

Don’t forget the free giveaway in the month of  November.  Sign up for the free weekly newsletter and receive the book “Bible Wines” or the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free.”  If a friend of yours signs up just let me know and I will send one to you also!  Simply sign up here or on the side bar of the main site and when you do so send me a note mailto:freedomconnect@sbcglobal.net with an address and it will be sent out ASAP.  All addresses are deleted from our files after shipment.

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

HE IS HAPPY TO CARRY OUR SORROWS

 

 

 

One thing is for sure, when we enlisted in the ranks of humanity we were headed for trouble at some time. 

 

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1 (KJV) 

 

That pretty well includes all of us doesn’t it? 

Job was in the middle of a very great and troubling time of trouble in his life.  He had just lost his family to natural disaster and was pretty low.  His plight is a lot like ours sometimes when things happen which are out of our control.  Much sorrow flooded his souls and spirit and he felt like a broken man.  He no doubt asked the question, “Does anyone understand?”  The truth was in his case that someone did understand and in fact was there all the time to help him.  It was the Lord who cares for us more than we can understand and know.  To prove this he (God) came to Job and talked with him and eventually blessed him with a double portion in the end.  Later in time this same Lord came to the earth to help all of us through our personal time of trouble.  To do this he himself went through trouble just like us, only worse.

 

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3,4 (KJV) 

 

It is very encouraging to know that he came to bear our grief (anxiety) and to carry our sorrow (pain).  Now that is a huge burden when you consider that he came for every person on the face of the earth.  Yet he can do it because he is God.  What needs to be done by each of us is to give our sorrows and grief to him and let him carry it as much as possible.  When we unload the cares of this life on him, he is happy that we trust his love and care for us.  The need to take our troubles to God has been be said through part of old song that goes this way.  “Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

 

If you are experiencing sorrow and grief, go to the Lord in prayer and he will meet you there.  You can also go to a study titled “Dealing With Sorrow” which will go into more depth on the subject.  Jesus came to give us peace and all he asks is that we give him our trouble.  What a trade!  Sound Good?

 

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (KJV) 

 

Don’t forget the free giveaway in the month of  November.  Sign up for the free weekly newsletter and receive the book “Bible Wines” or the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free.”  If a friend of yours signs up just let me know and I will send one to you also!  Simply sign up here or on the side bar of the main site and when you do so send me a note (freedomconnect@sbcglobal.net) with an address and it will be sent out ASAP.  All addresses are deleted from our files after shipment.

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philip. 4:6-7 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

Does God Really Care?

 

 

 

Chronic sickness affects millions of people worldwide.  Does God care about it?  If he is the great healer then why are so many people chronically sick?  Is there a reason for this?  Is sickness because of mine or someone else’s sin? 

 

Questions like these above sometimes come along when we find ourselves sick and we want to reckon it with the Word of God.  It is true that there is a lot of suffering in the world today.  Our newsletter now reaches out to five different countries weekly and in many places within America.  I can only imagine the suffering which exists in just these few places alone.  Does God really care?  If he is a loving God why does he allow these things to happen to innocent people?  One answer comes to us from the very first chapter of the Bible through the story of Adam and Eve.  God gave them the commandment and they disobeyed it.

 

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17 (KJV) 

 

There is an indication that before they ate of this tree they were not destined to die.  Of course we know that he meant a spiritual death but it seems that he was speaking of a physical death also.  What he was speaking to them about was sickness which prematurely ends life itself.  In the end, Adam lived to be 930 years old.  “Great”, you may say, but think about it for a moment…what did he die of and why didn’t God keep him from dying? 

 

There is another Biblical story of sickness in the life of the great Apostle Paul that may shed some light on this.  Let’s look at him for a brief moment.

 

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2 Cor. 12:7 (KJV) 

 

By his own admission Paul was given a thorn in the flesh which came from Satan himself.  After reading this we might all chime up in one billowing chorus and say, “That’s not fair!”  Here is a man who is trying to do the best he can to serve God and do what is right and along comes this!  Paul maybe felt this way in the beginning too.  However, he changed his mind after a talk with God about it.  Let’s look at it!

 

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:8-9 (KJV) 

 

God does love us and wants to help us in our infirmities, in fact he is spoken of many times as the great healer.  I have seen the miraculous healing hand of God many times from the healing of glaucoma to brain cancer and yet as I write this newsletter I am personally battling with chronic sickness myself as well as other good people I know.  Mt faith however is not diminished because I haven’t received what I desire, for I know that my redeemer lives and I shall see him one day!  If we can understand more clearly God’s purposes through us as individuals we might see that through our sickness God may be able to shine even more in us.

 

I have written a study on this very subject titled “Chronic Sickness”.  It goes deeper into this subject and I would love for you to go through it.  As you do, maybe someone will come to mind that you could send it to or give them the address so they can be helped in their time of need also.

 

Don’t forget the free giveaway in the month of  November.  Sign up for the free weekly newsletter and receive the book “Bible Wines” or the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free.”  If a friend of yours signs up just let me know and I will send one to you also!  Simply sign up here or on the side bar of the main site and when you do so send me a note (mailto:freedomconnect@sbcglobal.net with an address and it will be sent out ASAP.  All addresses are deleted from our files after shipment.

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

OUTWARD FRUIT

 

 

 

Because of the success of the October drive for new subscriptions we have decided to extend this offer to the month of November too!  Sign up for the free weekly newsletter in the month of November and you will receive a free copy, postage paid, of your choice of books, “Bible Wines; Laws of Fermentation and Wines of the Ancients” by Rev. William Patton written over a hundred years ago on the subject of Bible wines.  (Did you know that there are two wines spoken of in the Bible?  One was good and the other…well you need to read it for yourself) or “The Truth Shall Make You Free” written by yours truly.  This seventy four page book goes through the person, life and teaching of Jesus Christ.  Each chapter has questions for your personal study.  After you have verified your e-mail just send me a note at freedomconnect@sbcglobal.net and tell me where to send it.  Your address will be erased from our records after it is sent out.

 

Outward Fruit

 

Much has been said in the last few months about associations when it comes to political candidates.  Some say it doesn’t matter who we chum around with and others say it matters greatly.  Consider this, (even though I am not a political junkie or commentator)  in light of the words of Jesus Christ. 

 

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV) 

 

 

These words of the master teacher speak volumes about the things we do and the people we associate with and the importance of what they say to others.  On the other hand we are often told by the media that we should not judge someone by outward things.   Words like profiling, judging and so on are used to intimidate and stop us from thinking the obvious.  Jesus said that outward lifestyle is a sign of an inward spiritual condition.  How can a good tree produce bad fruit or a bad tree good fruit, was his question.  In reality we can know what is on the inside by what is manifested on the outside.  Using this as a measuring stick, we can then look at ourselves to see if we are going in the right direction or not.  This measuring stick of our inside parts is given to us in the book of Galatians.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) 

 

I would like to ask a few questions to help us do the math so to speak.  Are you angry most of the time?  Can you truly say that you have forgiven those who have done you wrong?  Is your life one of self control?  Are you harsh and cold or gentle and kind?  These should be important questions for all  who are concerned about the condition of the spiritual man.  You might ask, “What difference does it make?”  It makes a difference because what we are on the inside is what comes out on the outside.  What we need on the inside is the only source of good things!  True happiness, joy, peace and the other spiritual fruit can only come when we receive his Spirit and are born again.  If you know someone who is unhappy, angry or depressed, there is an answer and the answer has a name, Jesus!

 

I have written a study titled “Jesus Teaches Outward Fruit” which will go into much more detail on this subject.  It is a true saying that HE wants us to be happy and contented and these things can only come through the power of his Spirit.

 

Thanks for being a part of the newsletter family!  I trust that it is a blessing to you.  Here is the weekly inspirational scripture.

 

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17 (KJV) 

 

May God Bless You!

 

Sincerely,

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom