Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

ITWGC41: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character "The Gardener" TOLL FREE Comment Line 1(877)433-9091

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:09:49 -0700

A gardener devotes time, attention, and care to his garden. He tills, he sows, he waters, he feeds, he weeds, he watches for and eradicates insects or other creatures that might threaten the garden. It's a never ending responsibility, and one that the Father has taken on willingly. Listen to the words of Jesus: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Here Jesus says that God the Father, as a gardener, had to prune away unfruitful branches. Jesus has unfruitful branches? How could that be? Listen further...“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."So God, as a loving Father and diligent Gardener, wants to prune away those things in our lives which are unfruitful. All we must do is remain in Jesus, and God will help us to be fruitful.

ITWGC40: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character "On The Level"

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:17:43 -0700

I love baseball. I can remember sitting on my grandfather's lap, watching the new team in town on the black and white television set, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and listening to to the great Vin Scully as he masterfully called every play.

Back then hall of famer Walter Alston was the manager of the Dodgers. Alston won seven National League pennants and four World Series Championships in his 23 years as Dodgers manager.

Today, Joe Torre is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe has managed the Mets, Braves, and Cardinals, but his greatest success was with the New York Yankees, where from 1996 to 2007, the Yankees went to the post-season each year and won ten American League East Division titles, six American League pennants, and four World Series titles, in addition to compiling a .605 winning percentage with them.

Before moving to the Yankees, Torre had been a broadcast announcer for another of my favorite teams, the Angels, seeing the games from the broadcasting booth, high above the field of play.

Not long after he was named manager for the Yankees, the Yankee's announcer Phil Rizzuto suggested that managing could be done better from that vantage point, where he could easily take in the entire ballpark.

Torre replied, "Upstairs, you can't look in their eyes."

My friend, in Jesus, God also chose to come down on the field and look into our eyes.

Listen to these verses from the NT book of Romans, chapter 15:

"5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

The God who gives endurance and encouragement. Just as a baseball manager trains and encourages his players most effectively from the same level as his players, our God came to us as the God/man Jesus, to look us in the eyes, help us, encourage, and yes, even to save us. Jesus knows you. He understands you. He loves you.

He is the God who gives endurance and encouragement.

ITWGC39: Lifespring's In Touch With God's Character "Hope"

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:36:29 -0800

When we hear the word "hope" spoken in the Bible, it is not a wishful hope. It is an assured waiting for that which will be, and already is, in God's economy. We can be absolutely certain that what God has promised, will be.

Is your hope in Jesus? Do you look forward to the day when you see him face to face? If you know Him now, your hope is well placed. As surely as you are hearing my voice now, you will see Him. That fact alone should, as the apostle Paul said, fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit.

ITWGC38: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character "Pipes"

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:04:12 -0800

What do copper pipes have to do with the character of God?

Jehovah M'Kaddesh is the name of God that I want to draw your attention to today.

Listen in!

ITWGC37: Lifespring!s InTouch With God's Character "Lean Away From The Mountain"

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:55:36 -0700

Just as it is counterintuitive to lean away from the mountain when standing on a steep, slippery slope, God's direction for us sometimes feels like the opposite of what seems safe. But He is our refuge, our shelter, our shade, and our strength in distress.

ITWGC35: Lifespring!s InTouch With God's Character "By Faith God Is..."

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:44:07 -0800

Today's show brings some new perspectives on God's character!

ITWGC35: Lifespring!s InTouch With God's Character "Sawdust"

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:31:53 -0800

You know, God is a mighty God. He created the universe with the power of his word. Think about it. The book of genesis tells us that He said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. Let there be fish and other animals in the seas, and there they were. He controls the storms, right? On that stormy night when the disciples thought their boat could not stand the wind and waves, the Bible says that Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly, all was calm.

ITWGC34: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character "Behind

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:58:17 -0800

"I can remember it like it was yesterday. I awoke to find myself in decidedly unfamiliar surroundings. “Where am I?” I asked myself. I tried to focus, but I felt groggy, and the room was dark, with the only light coming in from the open door that led to a lit hallway. But there was something between me and that light…bars!"

Thus begins this episode of In Touch With God's Character. It is a true story from my past. Listen to the show for "the rest of the story!"

ITWGC33: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:06:17 -0800

We should remember the God “who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” as He is called in the New Testament book of John in the sixth chapter. You and I have reason to give thanks today. We have life.

ITWGC32: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:05:47 -0700

In the book “Deliver Us From Evil”, Ravi Zachariahs writes:

Joseph Damien was a nineteenth-century missionary who ministered to people with leprosy on the island of Moloka’i, Hawai’i. Those suffering grew to love him and revered the sacrificial life he lived out before them.

One morning before Damien was to lead daily worship, he was pouring some hot water inot a cup when the water swirled out and fell onto his bare foot. It took him a moment to realize that he had not felt any sensatoion. Gripped by the sudden fear of what this could mean, he poured more hot water on the same spot. No feeling whatsoever.

Damien immediately knew what had happened. As he walked tearfully to deliver his sermon, no one at first noticed the diffence in his opening line. He normally began every sermon with, “My fellow believers.” But this morning he began with, “My fellow lepers.”

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I most certainly do not know for sure, but it would not surprise me if Damien thought of Jeremiah 16:19’s description of God on this day. In that scripture, the prophet called upon God as, “…my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction…”

Yes, even as dedicated and sacrificial believers, affliction is bound to come our way. It is in those times where we must not lean on our own strength, because sooner or later, it will fail us. We must turn to God as our strength, our stronghold and our refuge.

God says in Joshua 1:5 (NIV) "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

So, in the day of your affliction, be strengthened. Be encouraged. Know that you are not alone. You have His promise. He is with you.

Paul said in Romans, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Indeed. Affliction may come, but it cannot defeat us.

God is “…my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction…”

ITWGC31: Lifespring!s In Touch With God's Character

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:31:15 -0700

When you fall, pick up something.

ITWGC30: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:14:26 -0700

We cannot know God? He works in mysterious ways? Can we really know God? Does He want us to know Him?

ITWGC29: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:06:49 -0700

U2's Bono and his statement of faith is the jumping-off point of this look at one of God's attributes.

ITWGC28: LIfespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 01:09:26 -0700

Skiing, shells, for you.

ITWGC27: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:14:59 -0700

Let the expert do it!

ITWGC 26: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:33:39 -0700

ITWGC 25: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:43:14 -0700

Here in the , one of the largest insurance companies is Allstate Insurance. I remember when I was a boy, the TV spokesman was a very distinguished looking gray haired fellow. At the end of every commercial, after telling about how strong and reliable and friendly the Allstate company was, he would turn the palms of his hands upward and put his hands together, forming a kind of cup. You know what I mean. Then the camera would zoom in on his cupped hands, and he would say, “You're in good hands with Allstate.”

Of course the idea they wanted to convey is that Allstate would keep you safe, that they would protect you.

To this day, the logo for Allstate bears the words “You’re In Good Hands”.

Now, as good as Allstate may or may not be, and this is not an endorsement for Allstate insurance, there is One whose hands I would rather be in.

In Psalms chapter 121, we read,

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

God, the creator, God the sustainer, God the almighty, is also the God who watches over you.

Actually,the Bible even says that God holds us in his hand. How about this from Ps. 63:8“Your strong right hand holds me securely.”

How very cool is that? Do you think that any force or any power or any circumstance could take you from God’s strong right hand? Of course not. There is incredible security in the hand of he who watches over you. Rest there. He who watches over you never sleeps, never takes a vacation, is never caught looking in the other direction.

He cares for you, he loves you, and will always be there for you.

You are truly in good hands with Him.

ITWGC 24: Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:56:14 -0700

Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness

In the New Testament book of Revelation, Jesus is called the faithful witness. Now, that means many things, but the meaning that I’d like to focus on is revealed to us in the following three verses of scripture…

Rom 8:34 (NIV) ...Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Matt 10:32 (NIV) Jesus said: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Prov 14:5 (KJV) A faithful witness will not lie...

Did you get that? Right now, Jesus is standing with us, identifying with us, representing us to God the Father. If you have taken on Jesus' name, if you represent Him unashamedly to the people around you, if you give Him your time and energy and most of all your heart, He will do the same for you when He represents you to the Father.

He is our faithful witness in the courts of heaven! There will come a day of reckoning for each of us. A day when we be required to give a final statement, an accounting for our life. This is a time when you do not want to be your own attorney, because just one infraction is enough to cause the gavel to fall with the announcement of a “Guilty” verdict.

There is one way, and one way only, to receive a “not guilty” verdict on that day, and that is if you are identified with Jesus; if He is there to testify on your behalf. He must be a witness to the fact that, yes, you are one of His beloved. Yes, your sins have already been paid for with His own sacrifice, on the day of his crucifixion.

If you aren’t sure if Jesus will be able to be your faithful witness when it is your turn to stand and give an account, let me assure you that you can change that. You can be sure, if you will only ask Him now to become your faithful witness. Ask Him to forgive you for the times you have, well, sinned. Sin is not a popular word today, but that doesn’t change the reality of its existence, nor its effects.

Sin has to be dealt with, and the only safe way to deal with it is with the ultimate hazmat team…it’s a one-man team, and that man is Jesus. Only He can dispose of the sin that threatens your eternal existence. Ask Him to do that. Accept his gift, begin a new life with Him today, and you will gain Him as your faithful witness.

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Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character 23

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 01:20:19 -0700

The God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-6 says: 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us inall our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfortwe ourselves have received from God. 5For just as thesufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ ourcomfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patientendurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Sometimes the pressures and difficulties of life become almost too much to bear. How wonderful it is to know that God cares enough to comfort us.

Have you felt the hurt that makes you forget what it feels like to have no pain? Do you know the heartache of being abandoned? Have you felt the loss of a beloved friend or relative? Do you know the despair that comes when all of your resources seem to be exhausted? Jesus felt all of those, and he knows how to comfort you. Don’t isolate yourself when these times come. Run to him, and feel the comfort of his love as he fills you with his spirit.

As our scripture tells us, he often comforts us through other believers…who have themselves suffered, and then received comfort from God. Let them into your life as they pass on to you the comfort they received. So often, our tendency is to try to appear strong, even when inside, we feel as if all it would take is one more thing to cause our façade to collapse like a house of cards. Let God comfort you through other believers. And then, when the dark time passes, as God allows it, be prepared for God to use you to comfort another. Be willing to be a blessing to the next hurting heart.

And then, give "praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles."

I’m Steve Webb, one who has needed and received the comfort of God countless times. May God bless you richly.

Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character 22

Fri, 12 May 2006 01:05:11 -0700

In the world of construction, nothing happens until an architect conceives of a building and draws detailed plans of how the building is to be built.In the literary world, a book does not get written without an author. The author brings to life the characters, the settings, the story. Without an author, there is no story.

Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character 21

Wed, 03 May 2006 22:35:35 -0700

If I were to make a list of attributes that a God worthy of my devotion should have, this characteristic of God would be at the top of the qualifications.

Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character 20

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 04:42:50 -0700

God is love, but He is also holy and just.Scripture1 John 4: 8-10Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Lifespring!'s In Touch With God's Character 19

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 02:51:47 -0700

Jehovah-jireh...the Lord will provide

In Touch With God's Character 18

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 23:39:04 -0800

This series looks at God

In Touch With God's Character 13

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 11:15:36 -0800

Hosted by Steve Webb. Host Steve Webb looks at God's character through Scripture's names for Him. In this episode, we look at the subject of prayer, and whether God hears us.

In Touch With God's Character 17

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:30:30 -0800

This series looks at God’s character through Scripture’s names for Him.

In this episode: Construction

In Touch With God's Character 16

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:41:28 -0800

This series looks at God’s character through Scripture’s names for Him.

In this episode: Backpacking.

In Touch With God's Character 16

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:27:41 -0800

In Touch With God's Character 15

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:14:51 -0800

In Touch With God's Character 15

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:12:28 -0800

In Touch With God's Character 14

Fri, 10 Feb 2006 10:11:54 -0800

This series looks at God’s character through Scripture’s names for Him.

Today we look at the passing of the telegram into communications history.

Western Union's website.