June 2021

GIVE GOD YOUR HEART

06/29/21

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would give Him a lamb.

If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

Yet what can I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart.—Christina Rossetti

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:21

When we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds (Luke 10:27), our treasure will be to develop and enjoy His presence, to reach as many unsaved people as possible with the Gospel, and to help build up fellow believers in their relationship with the Lord, to glorify the Lord in our work, finances, relationships, etc. He truly will be our first love.

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

PASSING THE TEST

06/26/21

Cha Sa-soon became famous for her perseverance. The 68-year-old woman from South Korea passed the written exam for a driver’s license on the 950th try. Sa-soon, took her first test in April of 2005 and failed 949 times before making the minimum score necessary to pass of 60 percent in November of 2009. She spent over $4,200 in application fees. Hopefully she won’t need as much perseverance to pass the driving portion of her test.

Source: In Other Words

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:9

Cha Sa-soon manifested tremendous perseverance and every born-again child of God ought to manifest unending perseverance in serving the Lord. We should not be discouraged and quit doing what our Lord wants us to do, just because we do no see immediate success. The timing of success is His business; ours is to be faithful in loving and exalting Him in every way possible. Great rewards will be received to the praise of His glory when we stand before Him. So whatever your responsibilities are, commit them to the Lord Jesus and let Him give you His strength to persevere no matter what happens.

If you are not one of His, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

AIM FOR THE RIGHT GOAL

06/24/21

Matt Emmons had the gold medal in sight. He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 2004 Olympic 50-meter three-position rifle event. He didn’t even need a bull’s-eye to win. His final shot merely needed to be close to the center of the target. Normally, the shot he made would have received a score of 8.1, more than enough for a gold medal. But in what was described as “an extremely rare mistake in elite competition,” Emmons fired at the wrong target. Standing in lane two, he fired at the target in lane three. His score for a good shot at the wrong target? Zero. Instead of a medal, Emmons ended up in eighth place. It doesn’t matter how accurate you are if you are aiming at the wrong goal.

Many people invest their entire life aiming at the wrong goal.

Source: The Washinton Post, August 23, 2004

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:14

Every born-again Christian’s goal should be to hear their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, say. Well done” when they stand before Him for the evaluation of their service at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Is your goal to be more like Him each day, reaching as many people as possible with the Gospel and the discipleship of fellow believers?

If He is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

JOHN WESLEY'S LETTER

06/22/21

John Wesley wrote the following letter from his deathbed to William Wilberforce to encourage him in his prolonged fight against slavery in England:

“Unless the divine power has raised you up.... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [abominable practice of slavery], which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.”

If God has given you a task, be not weary in well doing.

Source: William Wilberforce, James Snyder

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31

Every person who belongs to the Lord Jesus is called to faithfully serve Him in every task He calls them to do. We are not serving people; we are serving Him. If we are opposed in doing His will, we must always remember that our opposers will not be able to stop what the Lord wants to accomplish through us; that he mightier than all of them, He is our omnipotent Lord and Savior. So don’t become discouraged and quit. The Lord will accomplish His purposes through us in the time and ways He knows is best.

If you are not one of His, come to Him NOW!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

DON'T LET A STORM STOP YOU

06/20/21

One stormy night, Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak in Birmingham, England, at the Severn Street schoolroom. His hostess attempted to dissuade him from going in the torrential downpour by telling him that everyone would assume it was canceled. “But was it not announced for tonight,” Hudson Taylor asked. He then said, “I must go, even if there is no one but the doorkeeper.”

The meeting was attended by less than a dozen people, but there was an unusual outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power, and half of those present either became missionaries or gave their children as missionaries while the other half became regular supporters of Mr. Hudson’s mission.

Source: Hudson Taylor—The Growth of a Work of God, Volume 2, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

1 Corinthians 4:2

Do you easily quit when faced with difficult challenges in serving the Lord? Our Lord requires faithfulness and will give us His strength (Philippians 4:13) in difficult times to do so. He richly blesses and rewards those who faithfully serve Him.

We cannot reach people for Christ as we should nor help fellow believers to grow up in Him, if we are not faithful. Believe His promises and be steadfast in serving Him.

If you are nor one of His, come to the Lord Jesus NOW!

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

CHIEF MEANS

06/18/21

The Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is the chief means by which men are built up and established in the faith, after their conversion.

J. C. Ryle

“I delight in Your commands, which I love.” - Psalm 119:47

Your attitudes and actions reveal exactly how much you love the Word of God, how much time you spend letting the Holy Spirit teach you the Word and apply its truths to all areas of your life: marriage, family, work, finances, use of material possessions, relationships, and all your service for the Lord.

Do you delight in the Lord Jesus himself and His Word more than anything else or does He and His Word take 2nd place or even lower on your list of priorities?

Are you satisfied where you stand spiritually and with your relationship with the Lord and His Word? If so, you are an anemic Christian and will never experience His richest blessings and His power to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit to the praise of His glory.

Surrender completely yourself, all that you are and have to His Lordship! Develop a close, passionate relationship with Him so that you can experience the fullness of His blessings.

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW! He is One who can forgive you all your sins and give you the gift of eternal life!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

BE WILLING TO MAKE A ROAD

06/16/21

David Livingstone, pioneer missionary to Africa, received a letter saying, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you.”

Livingstone replied, “If you have men who will come only if there is a good road, I do not want them. I want those who will come if there is no road at all.”

Source: The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck

“And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” - Luke 5:10-11

If you belong to the Lord Jesus, are you willing to forsake all to serve Him, because you passionately love Him? Are you looking for easy ways to serve Him or are you willing to do so no matter how hard the circumstances are?

If you are not one of His, come to the Lord Jesus NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

TALENT IS CHEAP

06/14/21

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time.

Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted. Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure his young prodigy to work seriously at his art. One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities.

Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, shouting this unforgettable message, “Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly!”

Source: A Call to Excellence, Gary Inrig

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15, ESV

If you are going to be effective in serving the Lord, you must dedicate yourself to the study of His Word, and that dedication will be costly.

If you are not one of His, come to Him NOW!

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” - 1 John 5:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD

06/12/21

A young man was eager to grow in His Christian life. He got a piece of paper and made a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down the things he would give up, the places he would go to minister and the areas of ministry he would enter. He was excited. He took that list to the church and put it on the altar.

He thought he would feel joy, but instead he felt empty. So he went home and started adding to his list. He wrote down more things he would do and wouldn’t do. He took the longer list and put it on the altar, but still he felt nothing.

He went to a wise, old pastor, told him the situation and asked for help. The pastor said, “Take a blank sheet of paper. Sign your name at the bottom. Put that on the altar.” The young man did, and then peace came to his heart.

Source: The Pulling Down of Strongholds, R.B. Ouellette

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

“And he (Paul) trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?...” - Acts 9:6a

Like Paul, we will only experience the Lord’s richest blessings and be greatly used by Him for His glory, if we unconditionally surrender all that we are and have to Him and His control.

If the Lord Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

THE CANTEEN AT NORTH PLATTE

06/10/21

Ten days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, residents of North Platte, Nebraska heard a rumor that soldiers from their town, part of the Nebraska National Guard Company D, would be coming through on a troop train on their way to the West Coast. About five hundred people showed up at the train depot with food, gifts, letters, and love to give the boys.

When the train showed up, it was not the Nebraska National Guard Company D boys on board; it was the soldiers from the Kansas National Guard Company D. The North Platte residents decided to give out their gifts to these soldiers they did not know. It was a spontaneous act of genuine devotion that touched both the soldiers and the people who came to the depot that day.

A few days later, a 26-year-old woman named Rae Wilson wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper recounting the profound experience they’d shared that night. She then suggested the town organize a canteen, so they could do something similar for every troop train that came through. She offered to lead the effort as a volunteer.

For the next four and a half years, the people of North Platte and the surrounding communities met every troop train that came through their town. Every day, they prepared sandwiches, cookies, cold drinks, and hot coffee. They had baskets of magazines and books to give away to the soldiers, and snacks for the train. There were even birthday cakes for anyone having a special day. And they did this, some days, for as many as eight thousand soldiers and sailors.

The statistics are staggering. By the time the last train arrived on April 1, 1946, six million soldiers had been blessed by the North Platte Canteen. Forty-five thousand volunteers had served faithfully until the war was over and most of the troops had been transported home.

If the residents of North Platte were that dedicated to doing whatever they could to help win World War II and serve the soldiers, Christians should be even more committed to serve the Lord any way they can.

Source: Once Upon a Town, Bob Greene

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Colossians 3:23

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

GOD CAN USE ONE!

06/08/21

Isaiah 6:8: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

D. L. Moody wrote the following words next to Isaiah 6:8 in his Bible: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.”

Source: One Thousand and One Thoughts from My Library, Dwight Lyman Moody

No born-again child of God is unimportant or insignificant! Every one of us have been given natural talents and spiritual gifts which the Lord wants to use for His honor and glory. Whatever work He gives us to do is vitally important and we should do it out of love for Him and all He has done for us. He will energize us and richly bless us as we surrender all to Him, making Him preeminent in every area of our lives.

If you do not belong to the Lord Jesus, come to Him NOW!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

THIS IS MY CHURCH

06/06/21

This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service. If I who make it what it is, am filled with these, Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.

Source: Unknown

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30

Our church will be all that our Lord wants it to be and will accomplish the work that He wants accomplished, the more we become like Him! We cannot be successful any other way. We must major daily on being completely surrendered to His Lordship, developing a passionate relationship with Him, letting Him live out His will through us.

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

YOUR SIGNATURE

06/04/21

Often when we ask for a person’s signature, we will call it their “John Hancock.” This is because of the fifty-six signatures on the Declaration of Independence, one stands out above the rest. That signature belongs to John Hancock. He was the first to sign the declaration and he signed it in a large and legible script so that the King of England could read his name without using glasses.

Mr. Hancock wanted it to be very clear where his allegiance lay. His commitment to his country was so clear that when King George III offered amnesty to all who would cease fighting, John Hancock was among the select few who were left out of the offer.

Has your signature let your King know of your dedication and commitment to Him?

Source: Houston Chronicle, June 27 1998

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood (river), or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

Does your signature let everyone you come in contact with know that you are committed to serve the Lord regardless of the cost, because you love Him with your entire being (Matthew 22:37)?

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW, before it is too late!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!

WE DIED BEFORE WE CAME HERE

06/02/21

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

Source: The Mission-Minded Family, Ann Dunagan

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

“…I die daily.” - 1 Corinthians 15:31

Unless we die daily to our own will and desires, and yield completely to our Lord’s, we will never enjoy His richest blessings and produce super-abundant fruit to His praise and glory!

If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, come to Him NOW!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Pastor Fred Johnson, Editor of Daily Insights

Fbj1966@gmail.com / 518.538.0917

LOVE & LIVE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST!