Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wanted to share an old and very sincere Irish Blessing with you on this St. Patrick's Day!

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Have an Excellent day!

Your Bro,

rlk

Free Download of John's Gospel - An Easter Gift for You From The Listener's Bible

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Message from Randolph Koch Thought you might enjoy taking advantage of this free audio download. All the best, rlk This Easter be prepared to answer the most important question ever asked: "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:28-29. For many Christians, John’s Gospel is the most precious book in the Bible. Its beautiful language and penetrating descriptions of Jesus have the capacity to bring us closer to God than any book ever written. Max McLean’s own testimony is this: “The event that brought me over the line to fully accept the reality of Jesus came when I read all of John’s Gospel in one sitting. I thought Jesus was going to come right out of the pages of the Bible and take me with him. When I got to the cross I was in tears. I saw the sacrificial love and I responded to Jesus, immediately.” Now Max McLean and The Listener's Bible is offering this compelling and moving narration of John’s Gospel as a free download for you and your loved ones. Use it for your own edification or as an evangelism tool to forward to friends, family. Learn more about Max McLean.

Hear the entire Bible: Now on Sale Plus Free shipping! • English Standard Version » • New International Version » • King James Version » Give God's Word, always the perfect gift. View all our products. The Listener’s Bible® a ministry of Fellowship for the Performing Arts One High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 http://www.listenersbible.com/?utm_source=EM0803FJ&utm_medium=email&utm_content=EM0803FJ&utm_campaign=EM0803FJ 888.876.5661

You Are Not Forgotten

The Word:
Read: Luke 12:6-7

"You Are Not Forgotten" by Randolph Koch

Standing alone, or in a crowd of people, in a time of struggle or easy going, you may feel at time that you are alone. This happens to many, because at times we have a wrong view of God. We tend to believe sometimes that God is a distant God that is only around or available when we speak the "magic words" in our prayers. We think that when mankind forgets us or treats us bad that God must be the same way. This is so far from the truth! God loves us so much that He gave us His one and only Son. We know this to be true as believers so why should we feel alone?
You're more important to God than anything in the universe. Be encouraged today knowing that God will never forget you or forsake you. He knows each hair on your head and I can't think of anyone else that knows us that well. So remember, you are never alone and you'll definitely never be forgotten in regard to our great and mighty God.

Questions To Get Started:
-Are you prone to feeling alone?
-How much time do you spend with the Lord on a daily basis?
-Do you notice a difference in how you feel when you do or don't spend
time actively seeking Him?
-Do you relate your self worth with how God views you; or with man's opinions?


(Original Publish Date; Thursday, July 09, 1998 – Revised 02/27/08)

 

Our Refuge

The Word:
Read: Psalm 46:1-11

"Our Refuge" by Randolph Koch

Here they come again. The pressures, trials, and struggles of life. It seems that we have daily events that give opportunity to refine us; reminding us who we should be seeking as our shelter. Personally I've been bombarded with one event after another, making me almost feel like I'm going to break down or make me question what is going on. "Why are things going so rough I've asked myself?"

There have been so many times where there has been so much to do at work with literally not enough time to get everything done. It's pretty overwhelming at times. Then I'm reminded of the scriptures that tell me to cling to God and not operate under my own understanding. Seek refuge. Seek the only cover that will protect and sustain us because the storms will continue to come.

Recently, I turned on the news to see coverage of the aftermath of a cyclone that led to a major flood in South Africa. The people were running as fast as they could through very deep water, scrambling to save their lives. Some were only able to escape with the clothes they had on their backs. It was heart wrenching to see them. It was obvious that they had tremendous fear. It was visible on their faces as they climbed onto a small platform where a helicopter was waiting to try to rescue as many people as they could. There was a lack of helicopters so when one would come, you'd see them sprint by the dozens toward their rescue; many being turned away because there was no room for them. There were pictures of those that had been waited for hours and in some cases days in the chilling waters, to be rescued.

In other parts of the world during this same time, volcanoes were erupting. People in these locations were fleeing also for a safe refuge. All of these things remind me of the truth that every one of us no matter in flood, famine, or any situation good or bad we need our own refuge. We need to run to Jesus and cling to Him with everything we have. We cannot rely on ourselves completely because we cannot make it without Him. He is our refuge. The question is will we seek Him today?

Maybe it's been a long while since you've made Him a part of your life? Give Him control and He can take care of you completely. Enter back in to His presence and know that He'll strengthen, encourage, and hold you up by His power, glory and strength.

Maybe you're a Christian that is walking faithfully with Him? May you seek Him all the more because you know the value of seeking and clinging to Him in your life.

You could be a non-Christian reading this today- I'd like to encourage you to seek His refuge for the first time. Come to know salvation through Jesus Christ. He is waiting with open arms for all of us to run to Him.

For all of us may His refuge be our daily homecoming as we come and go - wherever we go. We can trust Him for He will never fail us. No matter what happens in this world He'll be your refuge.

I pray for all of us that in times of trouble or not, we'll seek Him as our refuge. You'll never go wrong by seeking Him.

Questions to Get Started With:
-Do you cling to Him as your refuge?
-Do you seek Him daily?
-Are you striving in the midst of your struggles?
-Or have you ceased to strive and know that He is God?



(Originally published Feb 28, 2000)

Free 2008 Calendar

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Wanted to let you know about a new free four page 2008 Calendar download that I've created and made available for you on the RLK Ministries Download page. Three of the four photos feature Oregon locations.

• You'll find the calendar files at the following link: http://www.rlkministries.org/Downloads.htm

You can download a full year calendar in one file or four individual files that have three months per file/page. The files require the free Adobe Acrobat reader in order to view and or print them.

Feel free to share the calendar with anyone you believe would enjoy having a copy.

In Christ,

Randolph Koch

Effective Planning In the Light of God’s Will

The Word:
Read: Proverbs 19:21

"Effective Planning In the Light of God’s Will" by Randolph Koch

No this isn’t some introduction to becoming a highly effective person seminar. Rather this is an attempt to have us look at our lives in the light of God’s will and Holy Word. We live in a day-timer, gotta check my calendar, I’ll pencil you in society. I must admit that I rely (sometimes heavily) on my planner to keep a balance between my family, ministry, work tasks, and priorities. If I didn’t, I would most likely let someone down because I double booked myself and forgot about a prior commitment. By no means am I trying to insinuate that planners or day timers are bad. I do however want us all to think about how we do plan or set goals, tasks and priorities- with or without a planner in hand. I firmly believe that managing our time is part of being a good steward with the limited time God has given us. No matter if you are a Church Elder, individual, corporation, small business owner etc., this still applies to you. When we sit down to plan our time, our lives, or whatever, I often wonder if we do it in conjunction with spending time in God’s Word and in prayer. We plan, but do we understand that our plans hinge on God’s will and timing before or if our plans are to succeed? Stop for a moment and think. Isn’t this a pretty basic idea, but also very counter-culture!? This is just another part of our Christian lives that we tend to forget as we live in this humanistic world that tells us that we are in charge of our destiny. Granted, we do have free will; but isn’t it God that holds everything and puts everything inevitably in place- according to His will and good purpose? Planning can be and is a healthy thing as we follow God’s will. Have you ever asked yourself how does this plan, idea, activity, etc. affect eternity? This is a healthy question for us to keep in mind. I’m not referring to small plans like: what color car you need to purchase, or what flavor of ice-cream to buy the next time you buy groceries. (Although I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to consult God if you really felt that you needed to.) Let us never forget to place Him completely in the center of our lives where He belongs. The next time you make plans for your life, try seeking His perfect council first. Reject the temptation to do it all on your own because you won’t be truly successful without Him.

Questions to Get Started With:
-When you have an idea or make plans do you seek the council of God, His Holy Spirit and His Word first?
-Do you ever ask yourself how important your plans are in view of eternity?
-Are your plans in the will of God?
-Is God’s will for your life important to you?

The Great Commission and Linebacker Evangelism

We're all called to share our faith and specifically in Matthew 28:16-20, (The Great Commission) Jesus Himself commissions us to go into the entire world and make disciples.

According to the Bible there are many methods and styles of evangelism and each of us according to our gifts will find that one style works best for us as we seek to share our faith.

Let us also never forget that how we live our lives is one of the biggest evangelism "tools" we have because our lives will either show forth a transformed life because of what Christ has done for us or in contrast, our lives will not show this transformation.

The following link is a humorous illustration of one person using his linebacker skills to remind believers that we are again, called to share our faith.

I pray that it gets you and I thinking more about our calling to serve and share Christ to a world in need. I hope it doesn't take a linebacker to get us to do what God has called us to do. :-)

Click on one of the Play Arrows/Icons in the following window:

Our Greatest Need

Merry Christmas!

It’s been a little bit since I’ve written but I wanted to share this wonderful poem by Roy Lessin that provides profound insight into our greatest need that God met through His Son Jesus Christ.

OUR GREATEST NEED - by Roy Lessin

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Savior.

Click on the following link to see a great
online presentation of this:
http://www.dayspring.com/movies/view.asp?moviename=ourneed.swf

We need Jesus more than any present we may receive!

I pray that your Christmas is centered on the matchless Gift, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for stopping by!

In Christ,

Randolph Koch

Spiritual Gifts and Dodgeball?

I ran across this humorous video on a site named God Tube, (it’s like YouTube but for Christian videos.) and it’s simply meant to get you thinking about and using your spiritual gifts. The guy in the video thinks his gift is dodgeball! No, dodgeball isn’t a Biblical Spiritual gift but I wonder what would happen if we exercised the gifts God has given us as diligently and tenaciously as the guy in the video?

Check the video out then go out and discover and use the Spiritual gifts God has given you! :-)

God Bless, rlk

Excuses

The following post is what I'd call humor with truth that I received years ago and decided to post it for your benefit.

It will make you laugh if you think about each item for a moment and I'm sure you've experienced somebody who makes excuses for not attending church on a regular basis or those who choose only to make a holiday visit to Church. Maybe that person used to be you? Hope you see the humor and the truth and that you earnestly seek to spend time with other believers and learn about and worship God each week through your local Bible centered, Christ Centered Church.

Here’s part of what God’s Word has to say about the importance of His Church and your part in it:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

~Hebrews 23-25 (NASB) (Bold Emphasis mine)

People even in the early church had become casual or had outright forsaken coming together as The Church and God tells them and us simply - don't be like those people rather, you be an active part of the Body! You come together in Jesus name and quit making it optional because it's for your good and God wants you there!

There's more I could say but let me close by asking you to encourage yourself and others to make God and His Church a priority and allow yourself to be accountable to others in this vital area of your life and walk in Him.

Now, read the below. :=)

God Bless,
rlk

*************************************************************
Excuses
by Unknown

Everybody has a good excuse for not attending church. If you take those excuses and apply them to other things we do (or don't do), like eating, they might look like this list:

1. I was forced to eat as a child.
2. People who eat all the time are hypocrites; they aren't really hungry.
3. There are so many different kinds of food, I can't decide what to eat.
4. I used to eat, but I got bored and stopped.
5. I only eat on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter.
6. None of my friends will eat with me.
7. I'll start eating when I get older.
8. I don't really have time to eat.
9. I don't believe that eating does anybody any good. It's just a crutch.
10. Restaurants and grocery stores are only after your money.

Be Still and Wait

Be Still and Wait

Being still before God is a hard thing to do for most Christians, especially in the fast paced high expectation world and environment we live and work in each day.

Then, couple this with the trials we go through from time to time or, as I like to affectionately refer to them as the “Here we Grow again times!” (Although it doesn’t feel like it’s for our good when we're going through it sometimes does it?)

Take time to read the below scripture, pray, and ponder how you can apply the principles of this scripture in your life. Then encourage others that God has placed around you to do the same.

Have a blessed day as you seek Him!

rlk

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock

and my salvation, my fortress

where I will not be shaken."

Psalm 62:5-6 (NLT)

Discouragement – Peace – Hope

Have you ever been discouraged before? Have you received news that was very disappointing and you felt just broken before the Lord?

I’ve been there and tonight was such a night for me – a night of disappointment, discouragement, brokenness.

Then I turn to the Word and the following verses come to mind to minister to me.

If you’ve been there, or maybe you're there now, I pray that these same verses will be of encouragement to you as well.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God."
~Psalm 43:5 (NIV)

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
~Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
~Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
~Romans 5:2b-5 (NIV)

God Bless you – keep pressing on, keep clinging to Him and I’ll do the same.

Your Bro, rlk