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The following were meditations for the opening of the daily program of one of the radio stations in Bradenton, Florida. Different ministers were asked to do these over a week, or even a month's time. Troy did these for the whole month of October one year, but neither of us can remember the year. His notes show that he was there for these early morning meditations at other times. (E.T.B.)

Are you afraid in these days? Someone has said, "Our greatest enemy is fear. If Russia moves in it will not be by power but by panic. Fear, not force, is Communism's greatest weapon." However this may be true in the international world, it proves right every day in our personal lives. Our enemy is not the fear of a momentary alarm--what a boy once called, "just plain old scared." That is not our problem! It is rather that nameless, nagging inner panic that is constantly with us. It is like a cancer on our minds; a knife blade in our nerves! Fear is an emotion. To rid ourselves of it we must use another emotion, either anger or love. God wants us to use love. He tells us that "perfect love casts out fear." (I John 4:18)

Father in heaven, help us to love you beyond the power of any force to make us afraid. Amen.

Are you afraid of losing your possessions? It is a common problem today. It is caused either by depending too much on things for your security, or by a sadly misplaced love for possessions. This last can be a form of idol-worship. All of us desire a freedom from want. Security is a wonderful help to happiness. But we Americans are over doing it! Things have become the very center of our lives. We would panic more quickly at losing them than for any other reason. Our homes, our jobs, our daily bread, our bank accounts and especially our comfort! To paraphrase what Jesus said in Luke 12:15, "A man's real life has nothing to do with how much he possesses."

Help us, Lord, to know the worthlessness of just "things" alone. Amen.

How can we lose the fear of having our possessions taken from us? One way that really helps is to give them back to the one who really owns them-To God. Make yourself just the "manager in the "partnership of God and L" Face the truth that you are not sole owner and proprietor of what you possess. Take God as your partner and be will help you to depend on the owner, not on the size of the inventory. Jesus said, 'Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (luke 14:33)

Save us, Lord, from worshiping what we possess. May we not bow down to deeds and notes, to coin-idols and the images of our paper money. Let us worship thee and thee alone. Amen.

Love is the powerful force which alone can drive out fear from our hearts. Love for God is learned through love for his son, our Lord. To know him is to always love him. To know him better meet him often in the Bible, the word of God. Talk to him in prayer. Walk with him in helping others. See him in the lives of other people of God. More knowledge of him means more love for him. The more we love him the more we will trust him. He that fearest not is made perfect in love. (I John 4:18)

Dear Father, thou whom we often call Divine Providence, teach us confidence in thee alone. Help us to become fully acquainted with thee, that we may also love thee.

In Matt. 16:18 we find these words, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." A recent magazine article infers that the church has failed. Many people today have the same idea. It is based upon a misunderstanding of what the church is intended to do in this age. Jesus commanded us to, "Preach the gospel to every creature," but he did not indicate that all would accept it. Indeed, in the parable of the sower he taught that only one in four hearers would become a true and faithful follower. The work of the church is to bear witness to God's love and grace. The results are altogether another matter. Let us make this our prayer:

Help us, oh God, to be faithful to our work of giving a good testimony concerning thee. By our words and our deeds may-men about us know that we have been with Jesus and have learned of him. Amen.

From John 17:6 we read these words, "I have manifested thy name to the men thou hast given me out of the world." God has not indicated that the church is to, "convert the world," but that we are instead to convert people from the world into Christ. The New Testament word for world is "kosmos." This does not mean the earth, or globe, on which we live. It means the great mass of unbelieving lost people, who prefer the evil, godless way of life. That is why we speak of them as "worldly." Many of them may even join the church for false or mistaken reasons. Thus we prey:

Our Father, God of truth, grant that our witness to thy saving grace may be heard and believed by those who are in the world May they hear thy call and come forth out of the world and into thy family of believers, for Christ's sake we pray. Amen.

In the third verse of the third chapter of John we read these words, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Just as we must enter this life by being born into it, so we also enter the new life in God's family by a "new birth." This is an experience of faith which makes us alive to God--a spiritual rebirth. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." Man was created a threefold person; body, mind and spirit. Sin killed our spiritual natures and the only way we can become full and complete personalities is through the experience of being born of the Spirit. Will you pray with me?

Almighty God, if I am only two-thirds alive help me to know it and to come alive to thee,
at whatever cost to myself, I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

"They went out from us but were not of us." We find these words in the 19th verse of the first epistle of John. Let us think about this question, "Has the church failed?" No, the 141 church has not failed, but individuals identified with the church have failed. Some fail because they are "in the church," but not "of the church." They are members in name only; not knowing God, or his will for their lives, they do not live or act as Christians should. So they bring reproach upon the church. Many of them are ignorant of their spiritual blindness. Let us pray for them.

Our Lord, thou who has opened the eyes of the blind, grant that we may find ways to open the eyes of those who are nominally a part of the church but are living in spiritual darkness. Amen.

In II Peter 3:18 we find these words, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Sometimes the church seems to fail because of individuals who are truly a part of the church. These people are Christians, but their problem is one of growth. For some reason they have failed to develop properly, and so they remain spiritual babies. Their conduct and their reactions are not those of mature followers of Christ. They are spiritually retarded. They are not really hypocrites, but are hindered someway in their growth in grace. We need to pray for them.

Our Father we pray for all those who are 'babes in Christ.' Especially do we pray for those who have been infants too long. Help us to find a way to bring them into spiritual maturity. For our Savior's sake. Amen.

Are you afraid of your enemies? Perhaps you do not have enemies. An old man was heard to say, "I do not have a living enemy. All the dirty so-and-sos are dead. I outlived them all!" Hate is a poisonous thing! A famous doctor once said in a New Year's address, "Many people will die this year because of last year's grudges." Hatred, malice, envy, jealousy--these can be very real causes of disease. Arthritis, allergies, skin trouble, heart attacks, stomach ulcers, nervous disorders, insanity, etc. etc. all have been a possible cause of hate. When forgiveness comes the disorder disappears. Christian people--true Christians-- are generally more healthy than those who are not. Not "an apple a day," but "the Christian way," really "keeps the doctor away."

Dear Lord, bring so much love into our hearts that there will be no room for the poison of hate. Amen.

What causes us to hate people? Psychologists tell us there is a basic law of the emotions here. We hate only those we fear. If you hate someone whom you think is your enemy you are afraid of that person. John says, "Perfect love casts out fear." No wonder love is the opposite of hate! For "fear is torture," is another rule of the law of love. Fear is love's opposite. "There is no fear in love." (I John 4:18)

Lord Jesus, you were able to pray for those who nailed you to the cross, and to say, "Father, forgive them." Teach us how to pray for our enemies. Amen.

How can we overcome the fear of our enemies? Here are three ways: Love your enemies! But you say, "I cannot" That is true, but God in you can love them through you. Let self die and let God live in you, for "God is love." Second: Destroy your enemies! How! By the surest way--make friends of them. If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst give him drink. Every unhappy and dissatisfied person in the world is hungry and thirsty for something, most of them for bread. Christ said, "I am the bread of life." If we can find a way to feed that hunger and satisfy that thirst he will no longer be our enemy! Third: Pray for your enemy, then he will no longer be your enemy. Christ said, 'bless them that persecute you and pray for them that despitefully use you." It is impossible for us to pray for an enemy very long! He will become our friend.

God of love, come into our lives and possess us, that we may have nothing within our hearts, but love! Amen.

It is now more than fifteen years since man invented a flame hotter than anything we have ever known on earth. That searing light burned a new kind of fear in every heart. Are you not afraid of a nuclear war? Atomic energy is not new. It is simply the energy used in creation. It is God's finger-tips! Nuclear fission and fusion are God's tools to make the stars. There are atomic explosions far out in space that makes our bombs like pikers! But they are out there in the safe distances of light years. God is with holding them for his own judgment time. This is an old power put to a new use. Man put his sinstained hands upon it and made it a KILLER! The champion killer of all! Man has dared to take the tools of Almighty God and make them his playthings; the playthings of war! A college girl said, "If they say atomic bomb one more time I will scream." But we must say it! There hangs a flaming "Sward of Damocles" suspended on the horse-hair of international diplomacy! We are afraid and "fear hath torment. I John 4:18.

Almighty God, help all of us find what many others have found, the loss of the fear of death. Amen.

The fear of atomic destruction is almost universal. It is more than a normal fear. Added to the dread of pain, suffering and destruction and death, there is another fear. This is a dread of the unknown. That mushroom-shaped cloud over the western Pacific Ocean has spread a shadow of terror over every home and heart that can comprehend it! Every one? Yes, all except those people who have nothing to fear. Our Lord has given us our cue, "Fear not them who can destroy the body only." (Matt. 10:28)

God of the atom, the galaxy, the universe--help us again to hear thy son say, "Not a sparrow falls to the earth, but your Father makes note of it!" Give us grace and courage to know that we are of more worth to you than a sparrow. Amen.

How can I overcome my fear of a nuclear war? Here are three ways. First: Place more value on eternal life, and less on the few short years lived in this one. All this gabbing and hoarding, fighting and weeping would all stop if we mortals could just remember our mortality! Second: Place your life in God's hands. He will keep you safely through all things; even through '"The valley of the shadow of death." Third: Remember--death is only a gate! Atomic destruction of the old can only be the beginning of the new for all true Christians. "A new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Our Father, who art in heaven help us to comprehend a little of how much longer we will live in our mansions there with thee, than we will in these poor houses upon the earth. Amen.

Are you afraid of death? Perhaps this is the most common fear of all. Not many of us are like the minister at a church picnic who became ill from overeating. He said, "Brethren, I think I am going to die!" Someone said, "Pastor, you wouldn't be afraid to die, would you?" He replied, "No, but I would be awfully ashamed to right now." What is this fear? Sometimes it helps to analyze our fears. It is partly the fear of the agonies of death. Most of us fear severe pain. Much of it is the fear of approaching the unknown. This is one of the bits of garbage left over from our paganism. We feel we know what is beyond death, for Jesus told us, "I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:3) Our fear is mostly of what will follow death; ghostly echoes of our own guiltiness and ignorance of the forgiving grace of God.

Lord of life and of death, help us to know that the hand that raised Jesus from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies. Amen.

How can we overcome the fear of death? First, let's make the unknown known. We do not know much about death. We have a book written under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Death is an open book to those who prayerfully read the New Testament. The worst suffering is bearable if God is with us. Only those who go alone are lost in suffering. Then remember the gate! Death opens on a better life. But you may say, "That gate is locked against me!" Jesus said, "Fear not, for I have the keys of death." Finally --let love be your lamp. When you pass through the "Valley of the Shadow of Death" that love will light your way with heavenly brilliance! Death will open your soul's eyes so that you can see Jesus, who said, "Perfect love casts out fear." (John 4:18)

Lord Jesus, conqueror of the grave and of death, help us conquer our fears of such enemies as this. We want to live. Lead each one who hears into a knowledge that death is the gate to real living! Amen.

Are you afraid of judgment? I once knew a mother who would not take her children to church because she was afraid they might hear something there that would disturb them. She was just confessing her own fear of judgment! Fear of judgment is the most justifiable of all our fears. It springs from right concepts. We know the pure holiness of God, the stem justice of God and our own guiltiness of sin. We are sure there must be a time of evening the score, when we all get what we deserve. We feel there is a punishment for all sin. To ignore this belief is to destroy all others. From Moscow to Manatee County, form Bradenton to Baghdad those who do not believe in judgment ignore all the laws of decency. Crooked business, lies, scandal, drunkenness, greed, gambling and unfaithfulness to vows should bring men to a fear of judgment! A fear of judgment turn men to God!

Thou art just, O Lord May we not defy thee. Thou art merciful. May we seek and find that mercy in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

How can I be free from my fear of judgment? Judgment suggests legal terms. We will use them here, They may seem a bit irreverent, but I assure you that they are not! First: You can have a free pardon for your past! Jesus said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." In I John 1:17 we read, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." You can have a heavenly attorney. The Scriptures tell us, "We have an advocate with the Father, even the son, Jesus Christ, the righteous." Who could better plead our case? He is the son of the judge, his Father! Lastly: The judge will adopt you into his family. "Ye have not received the spirit of bandage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba Father!" When we accept Christ we are the children of God! (Read Romans 8)

Heavenly Father, help us to put all our trust in thy son, Jesus Christ, our savior, for we can never defend ourselves. We are guilty, but we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. He became the Iamb of sacrifice for our sins. "The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all." Amen.

The following five meditations were given in one week's time. Troy did not note the date and I wondered why he did not close with prayer, as he usually did.

Good morning. Do you need anything this morning? Most of you will say, "I surely do," and you might start naming your needs. It is a fair chance that your list will begin with money. But money is not our basic need. What all of us want most is happiness. We imagine that money would supply that happiness. All about us today are worried people- -fearful people. Many of us act as though we were being followed by something. There is a nameless fear. There is but one cure for our fear - one answer to our need for happiness! It is a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. The only people you know who are truly at peace within themselves are the ones who are sure in this relationship! Could this be your way out?

Where do you go when you need help? If true happiness only comes with a right relationship with God, then it is only sensible to go to God for the help we need All of us are invited to come. Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." If you have any doubt that you will be heard, or that you are too unworthy to be received, then remember that Jesus also said, "He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."

What are you going to do about your past? Without exception every one of us has a past. We bear no shame for the good and the beautiful in our past, but again, every one of us have some things in our past that are ugly and evil. There is but one thing any man can do about his past. Confess it to God. If we do this, and are truly sorry for the wrong, God can, and will cancel out all our past. "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Who lives in your house today? A foolish question? No, not really. for I mean the house within you, which is the real you. This is the house of your heart. An empty house is a sorry, forlorn thing, even if it is clean and in good repair. Your inner life could be clean and orderly, but what if it is empty? It need not be, for there is one who says to you, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." The friend who wants into the house of your heart is Jesus. Will you open the door and invite him in?

Whose side are you on? In any controversy, struggle or war of any kind, men insist that we identify ourselves. There is a great struggle stirring the whole earth today. It is the struggle between good and evil. Jesus Christ leads the forces for right and good. Are you on his side? Yes, but do others know that? "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Jesus said, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father, who is in heaven."

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:16)

The church is often spoken of as "two in one." The world sees the church as an "organization." This is the visible church. The true church however, is not a visible organization but rather a living organism. The visible church has often failed. It will fail again, and in the end fail completely. The true church, however, is the living body of Christ and it cannot possibly fail. Therefore let us pray:

O Lord, thou who art the great head of the church, help us to know beyond doubt that we are part of thy living body, the true church. Amen.

"If the salt have lost its savor it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of man." {Matt. 5:13)

We speak of the "Church Universal," which includes all true believers. Again we may mean by "The Church," the local congregation. The local church can fail, just as well as some day the whole organization man call "The Church" will fail. One reason for failure can be the loss of the sense of being "a called out people." The best translation of the word translated "Church" is out of evil. We are "called" out of the "world." We are called to be a peculiar people! This world is not our home. That is why we pray:

Savior, may we hear thy call; give our hearts to thy obedience; serve and love thee best of all. Amen.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, saith the Lord." II Cor. 6:17

A church fails when its members no longer feel that they are a separate and holy people. Many church members are not--but the true church is! The world hates the idea of godliness. It seeks a common level for all. However the church must stay above that level, far above it! Let us pray:

Help thy church, O Lord, to be aware of its separation from the world. Help us to see that her purity is the source of her strength. In Jesus name. Amen.

"Holy Father, keep through thy own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one." John 17:11

The local church can fail when it loses its sense of unity. God intended the church to be a loving family, spiritually one with each other. In the old-fashioned church they spoke of 'brothers' and "sisters." This is a very real thing in the true church. The Holy Spirit makes it real. Let is plead with God in prayer.

Heavenly Father, make us to love you so much that we will all be on common ground. Make us truly one family in thy holy church. Amen.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." Matt. 6:33.

The local church can fail when it loses its sense of the primacy of the kingdom of God. If any other cause is more important to us than the church; if Christ is anything but first, we will fail! God does not play "second fiddle." We need then to pray after this manner:

Dearest Lord Jesus, help us to see that thou will be Lord of all, or thou will not be Lord at all. Teach us to put thy kingdom first. Amen.

"What man of you having a hundred sheep if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it." Luke 15:4

Whenever the church loses its personal concern for lost men, that church will fail! It is not popular today to bother too much about our neighbors. In the old time church men spoke of a burden for souls. Jesus wept over a lost Jerusalem. Paul wished that he might be accursed from Christ if that would save his brothers! If we were more like Jesus, we too would care more. Men are lost without Christ. Let us pray:

Lord, help me to live from day to day in such a self-forgetful way, that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others. Amen.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Phil. 1:21

Some people have wrong ideas about Christianity. They are well meaning, but they are not wise! Some make the church to be a kind of glorified "don't" society. Others think of it as being cold and dead, conforming to a written creed. Others make it out as being the acting out of certain postures of body and mind. It is true these things are part of the church, but they are the dead part. They are the shell. True Christianity is a living adventure. The most glorious adventure possible in this life! This is why we pray:

O Lord, make us alive! Wonderfully, thrillingly awake to the glory of living with Jesus! In his name we pray. Amen.

"I have sinned." Luke 15:21

Here are three of the rarest words in the Bible. This phrase is used only seven times in the entire book. In some case men had to be forced to say them! In spite of God's word which says, "All have sinned only seven men in the whole Bible admitted it. The world has one problem today. It is the inability to admit the word "sin." That is why we pray:

Heavenly Father, help us and all who listen, to know that we are sinners and that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the sin problem. In his name we pray. Amen.

"So that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20

It is a common trait, this business of trying to excuse ourselves. Of the seven men in the Bible who confessed, "I have sinned," two hardened their hearts; two blamed others; one pleaded ignorance; two confessed too late. They only confessed after they were caught! We may seek to excuse ourselves, but in the end, either here or hereafter, we must confess, "I have sinned." Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, I see my sins; help me to see my Savior. Amen.

"For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:3.

The phrase, "under conviction for sin" is almost forgotten in these days. Conviction is defined as a "strong feeling of personal sin, an anxiety over one's fate because of this belief." It can come in several ways. We may be accused to our faces, as was David, or see the fearful result of our sin; as did Pharaoh and Judas. However, under grace it usually comes through the words of God, or by the prayers of God's people. So we pray:

Oh Lord, our God help men to know their guilt of sin and help them also to turn to Christ as their only hope. Amen.

"Have merry upon me 0 Lord according to thy loving kindness." Psalm 51:1

Friend, how do you plead? Do you say, "I am not guilty of sin?" If so, you claim perfect innocence and innocent perfection, too! However if you plead "guilty" you ask for God's grace. Grace is merry extended to those who deserve no mercy. How do you plead? Won't you pray with me?

Merciful Father, against thee and thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. In Jesus precious blood. Amen.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Repentance is not a popular word. However, it is absolutely necessary if we are to find forgiveness. It means many things. It means hatred of sin; it means forsaking sin; it means a determination not to repeat sin. A person does not caress the rattlesnake that bit him. If you still love sin you have not repented! Your sorrow is not "Godly sorrow." Anyone is sorry when he is caught. Repentance is sorrow for the act. Let us pray.

Holy Spirit of God lead us into true repentance. Destroy the serpent of sin from within us. In the name of our Savior. Amen.

"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." Matt. 3:8

Repentance, then, is a kind of tree which bears fruit. This fruit is threefold: It is a rejection of evil; it is being reconciled to our enemies. This second element may take some genuine work on our part, but if we are sincere we can accomplish it. Finally, it means to repair any wrong we have done to others. Zacchaeus truly repented! He promised to restore four-fold all that he had taken wrongfully. Jesus replied to him, 'This day is salvation come to this house," Our prayer is simple:

Dear Father, help us truly to repent--so that we bear the fruits of repentance, for Jesus sake. Amen.

"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

There is a divine order in this matter of salvation from sin. First: The Holy Spirit convicts us and we repent and believe; then Jesus the Son cleanses us by his blood. God the Father judges us clean and adopts us into his family. Again the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and gives us joyous assurance! Our prayer is one of joy.

We thank thee, Father, for cleansing us from our sins and for assuring us of our salvation! For Jesus sake. Amen.

"Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures." I Cor. 15:3.

There are two sights that will save anyone. First, we must look within, at our own sinstained life. Secondly, we must look to Jesus and his death on the cross. The first is the cause, the second is the effect. There were four people who were once alive who knew perfectly how this works. Four chaplains on a sinking ship during World War II, who gave up their life preservers and went down with the ship. Four men died that four others might live! Our prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are our eternal life preserver. We thank you. Amen.

"Beloved, let us love one another." I John 4:7.

The Bible has many names for the local church. It is called "The Body of Christ; the Bride of Christ; the Household of Faith; the People of the Way. The most meaningful designation for the church is probably the Family of God. It is called this last name in Ephesians 2:19. When we are forgiven of sin and experience the new birth, we come into the family of God. Let us pray for one another as members of one family.

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus our elder Brother, make us to be one in thee and with all those who are truly part of your family, for the sake of thy body, the church we pray. Amen.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." I John 3:2-3.

The church is sometimes called the bride of Christ. Let us think for a moment of a new bride. She may not look very presentable much of the day, but as the afternoon progresses she begins to think of the return home of the groom from work. She want to look her best and she makes the necessary preparations. That is exactly what the Bible says in I John 3:3. We have the hope of seeing Jesus. That is why we make ourselves clean. Shall we pray together?

Heavenly Father, it may be about time for Jesus to return again to earth. Help us that we might be ready for his coming, "as a bride adorned for her husband." Amen. 

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The Brady Trilogy  I  Reclaimed Memories - (1991)  I  Pop Troy's Anthology - ( 1992)  I  Kinfolk - (1994)