Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
As Debbie and I do events around America to expose people to Jesus’ love, we find that the Lord moves most powerfully where his people fervently pray. God has chosen prayer as the means for us to move His heart.
Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray. It’s not recorded in scripture where they asked him to evangelize, build churches, learn to interpret scripture; but rather, to pray. Matthew 6:9 records this: “Jesus said, “After this manner, therefore pray: ‘Our father in Heaven, hallowed be your name.’” What he meant was, “Pray like this.”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Planning for the future is important. Being concerned with how things will work for our old age, having the resources to pay bills, having a savings, leaving an inheritance, are all concerns that are valid and a part of life. But how does that square with what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:34?
“Take therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Could it be we are so caught up planning for the future, we often fail to enjoy the beauty of the day? Stop and smell the roses, people.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
We were on the on the Freedom Jubilee Tour 2016, traveling down I-40 in Oklahoma. Debbie was driving, and I was napping in the back. Suddenly, I woke to, “Oh no!” A tow truck pulled over to the side while a tire from the jeep they were towing continued rolling down the road ahead of us. Debbie said, “God told me not to follow too closely, so I backed off– and a tire broke off! And a fender and stuff landed right in the middle of the land.”
In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Thank you, Lord, for speaking to us. Jesus wants to speak to you too, my friend. Are you listening?
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Fear can be very debilitating, and it comes in many forms. It can actually shape our behavior and influence our decisions. I think one of the worst kinds of fear is the fear of other people. There are actually vicious people that use fear to control folks.
There’s a good perspective on fear, recorded in Matthew 10:28. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” A proper fear and respect of God is healthy, my friend; so fear God, and you won’t fear man.
It was a sunny afternoon when Howie and I were pulled off the highway fixing lunch at a lake. A man (who I will call “John,” to protect his privacy) heard Howie playing music. He came up and asked what kind of guitar Howie was playing. After some conversation, Howie asked him to join us for lunch. He replied, “No, thanks” and started to leave. Howie shook his hand and said, “Man, it was great to meet you, John.” John’s response is vividly engraved in my mind as he said with amazement in his voice, “Wow, nobody ever says that to me. Usually people just tell me to get away.” You see, John was homeless, wearing a jacket and carrying his pack in hand. He didn’t look neat and kempt like the tourists in this area.
Howie began to share with him the value John had in the eyes of God. This is a priceless message to those who feel like the offscouring of the Earth. It is really heartbreaking to think there are so many around us who feel worthless, ashamed, and alone because hard times hit.
We ended up praying with him, hugging him as tears streamed down his cheeks. Howie gave him a Living Water: The Gospel of John that is small enough to fit in his pack – some encouragement for the dark, lonely days and a copy of his CD “Wayfarin Strangers Amped”. As John left Howie told him he loved him that Jesus loves him, hugging him again. Tears softened his eyes, and John went his way, deeply touched, apologizing for crying.
Many of us pass the homeless regularly. What is our response? Are we inconvenienced by their presence? Do we wish they would just go away, take a bath and somehow not disrupt our view? Or, do we see them as dearly loved by our Heavenly Father and therefore, by us. My heart is challenged to respond to the “lowly” in our communities with kindness and mercy.
Heavenly Father, make us vessels of your love. Show us how to personally care for those we see that are in the greatest need a touch from you today.
“…Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Matthew 24:34-36
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Waiting for something to happen seems to make time slow down to a crawl. Like on a really cold night, waiting for the sun to come up. It can be very nerve-wracking. You want morning to come so badly, but it just takes forever. There’s nothing you can do to speed time up so it gets there quicker, either. You just sit there and long for it painfully, freezing away. Listen to the heart of this psalmist: “My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning, I say more than they that watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:6.
The desire was so great, he said it twice! My friend, do you desire the Lord like that? Is He the longing of your heart? Lord Jesus, I wait for you more than they that watch the morning.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Did you know that Jesus has overcome the world? That’s right, he has already defeated the enemy of our souls, and overcome all the evils of the world. We’re simply waiting for him to play the final hand. So why all the trouble in life? Why all the sickness and disease, financial struggles, even persecution, torture, and death?
Jesus said to his disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” Dear friends, the key to peace, even in the midst of suffering, is to be in Jesus.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Personal tragedy strikes everyone at some time or another. It can take many forms. For some it may be financial, like bankruptcy, loss due to fire, or theft. For others, the loss of a loved one, severe illness, or long-term pain. Still others may be experiencing the ravages of war, starvation, disease, or homelessness.
No matter the tragedy, we may find ourselves unable to cope with it or even find a solution. Even help from others can evade us. So what to do? Here’s what I suggest. The Bible tells us “Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7. That’s all your cares, friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19.
Jesus said that as he began his earthly ministry. He did all that when he walked the earth, and he still cares for us today. Are you in need of healing, free? Are you bruised and needing liberty for your weary soul? Jesus can deliver you. He can set you free if you call on him in faith, believing he is able. Call on him while he is near, dear friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
In the poetic world of music lyrics, there are many metaphors to present the idea of “things going well for me.” ‘Got my mojo working,’ ‘on the sunny side of the street,’ ‘sunshine on my shoulders,’ are just a few examples. You can probably think of your favorites.
I like the way the Bible puts it in Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.” Do you love Jesus? Are you living for Him and experiencing his blessing? Then you’re on the sunny side of the street. Romans 8:31 asks the rhetorical question “If God before us, who can be against us?” The answer, my friend, is no one!
