The book 'Promises Kept' is now available. It can be purchased for $14.95. You will find it online at http://www.haislipcreative.com/GreatCollections/current.php and can pay for it and have it shipped through Paypal with my email address kevin@haisliphotography.com . I hope to get an excerpt of the book up online today.
The book is entirely about what the Lord has done in our lives as He led us to adopt so many children and chronicles many of the miracles and lessons. I wrote once that our testimonies are for ourselves, that as the Lord told Israel to remember His delivering them from Israel, so He reminds us to remember. The book took several years of researching and writing, and even as I have been pouring through the pages to prep it for printing, I have been greatly blessed to remember all that He led us in and brought us through. I trust you too will be blessed to read of His great works and how He leads people.
PROSPERITY vs. DENYING YOURSELF
On another note, I would appreciate any comments and thoughts about an issue I have struggled with a fair amount these past few years and seems to rear it's ugly head often here in Texas. Please respond via email at kevin@haislipcreative.com and I will post these comments in a Daily Chew.
The issue revolves around the issue of prosperity in the Christian life. Many churches and pastors here in Texas proclaim the Christian life as revealing God's love for us through great prosperity, and of course the opposite of that is if one isn't particularly prosperous or not prosperous at all, it shows either that sin is present in a person's life, or great spiritual immaturity.
I of course do not believe this at all. While God did bless His people in the Old Testament with prosperity, I see the teachings of the New Testament to be entirely different in this matter. As I read scripture, I see Christ teaching His disciples to follow Him, and that a disciple tends after living as Christ lived and doing what He did. Often throughout the New Testament, the call is to deny ourselves, take up our Cross and follow Jesus as the call to the Christian. Perhaps the best way I can say it is that the disciple of Christ is not at all concerned with what he must eat or what he must wear, what kind of house he must live in or what kind of success he must have, but rather to be entirely about the work of God, taking the gospel into the world and making disciples. His relationship to God creates a desire and a drive to this expediency.
Does that mean that we cannot be prosperous, or conversely that if we are not prosperous, we are sinful or immature? There can be little absolute said except to say that God knows the hearts of saint and sinner alike. The man/woman who is prosperous stands naked before God just as the poor. It is their heart and deeds that God will judge, rich or poor. I have personally met very wealthy 'Christians' who in all their efforts and conversations appeared to be entirely carnal minded. But I have met poor 'Christians' with the same attitude. And I have met wealthy 'Christians' who really had a heart for reaching to lost with the Good News that saved them; and the same for poor as well. The person God blesses with great prosperity and uses it to advance Christ's kingdom to others is a blessing to Christ and His church. He does not seek attention to himself for this deed, for he knows that Christ alone has blessed him that he can be a blessing to others.
The issue I believe is denying yourself and taking up your cross and following Jesus. Like John said before his execution, "He must increase and I must decrease."
What has the Lord shown you?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Our testimonies are for ourselves!
A few years back, I felt led of the Lord to begin writing down the miracles and testimonies that have happened in my life as a gift to my children. In June of this year, I finally completed it and sent it off to my editor for proofing and further refining. The books title is 'Promises Kept' and tells of many of the great things God has done in my life as well as many of the failures and pain. But through it all, God is seen and glorified
As I wrote it, I tried to be as honest and transparent as possible, even to the point at times of being downright critical of my shortcomings and failings. Indeed, all of us, when we stop to look at our lives through an objective lens, will find fault and ill conceived choices we've made.
The editor I chose for this book is a woman who is an accomplished doctor of education and has been a dear friend of ours for as long as we have adopted. She personally knows many of the stories I write of because she helped us work through them. So it was that I asked her to write the Foreward to the book. It was short and to the point. And I have learned a great lesson from it.
As she relates, there are many stories in these pages that tell of 'rubble' in our lives. Adopting as many children as we did is not easy, nor is it advisable for most families because it often brings turmoil. But the lesson she reminded me of is as good a lesson for me as it is for any of our detractors and critics.
Don't judge before it's time. This is a scriptural lesson found in 1st Corinthians 4. God always has the last word on everything. He takes what looks bad or out of control and turns it around for His glory.
There have been many victories and many defeats and failures through the years, but in all of them, God has shown Himself faithful to us at the time and in the years that follow.
It's not about me. It's about Him!
It was good to be reminded of that.
Kevin Haislip
The editor I chose for this book is a woman who is an accomplished doctor of education and has been a dear friend of ours for as long as we have adopted. She personally knows many of the stories I write of because she helped us work through them. So it was that I asked her to write the Foreward to the book. It was short and to the point. And I have learned a great lesson from it.
As she relates, there are many stories in these pages that tell of 'rubble' in our lives. Adopting as many children as we did is not easy, nor is it advisable for most families because it often brings turmoil. But the lesson she reminded me of is as good a lesson for me as it is for any of our detractors and critics.
Don't judge before it's time. This is a scriptural lesson found in 1st Corinthians 4. God always has the last word on everything. He takes what looks bad or out of control and turns it around for His glory.
There have been many victories and many defeats and failures through the years, but in all of them, God has shown Himself faithful to us at the time and in the years that follow.
It's not about me. It's about Him!
It was good to be reminded of that.
Kevin Haislip
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Giving when there is nothing left to give...
I have been less than consistently timely in the last year or more with sending out the Daily Chews. I could point to several things that have contributed to my malaise, but two stand out to me. First is that I am tired. Like all to many of us, we find ourselves struggling, trying to make ends meet, trying to make a difference, trying and getting mocked and ridiculed by others for our sacrifices.
Second is that there are two pastors I know who have left the pulpits and write blogs and books mocking and ridiculing those who follow Christ. And I know of other leaders in the Christian community who are very corrupt, mean spirited and preaching false gospels. All of which doesn't cause me to disbelieve, but rather causes me to grieve, which only adds to my malaise all the more.
William Carrol at Times Square Church recently spoke on the power of giving when we are too weak and exhausted to give anymore. It is not something we can do without the power of Christ and His Holy Spirit. Even as Christ hung on the cross that day exhausted, wracked with pain and struggling for each breath, He continued to bless those around Him.
Probably all of us have considered the depth of love He had to continue loving the very ones who condemned Him to die such a horrific death.
It is a love born entirely of the love of the Father for mankind. It is so supernatural that we cannot comprehend it and can only live it when the Holy Spirit moves through us.
There is great evil in this world. Christ overcame evil on the cross. Though Satan fights ferociously and mens hearts are drawn to his evil, our Father still bids us to walk as Jesus walked: dependant on Him, walking in His love, directed by His Holy Spirit.
In the last few weeks, I have received many emails from brothers and sisters in the Lord that were jokes, misinformed clips, and ridiculous items that I have to trust were sent with sarcastic intent. Our patriotic and political musings help us keep abreast of our nation and world. But the Word of God builds us up and sends us out to do His eternal workings. The Lord has been speaking to me again to pick the Daily Chews up and send them out. So I will try to be more diligent.
His Word is the only thing that is eternal and His salvation is the only thing that keeps us from Hell itself.
Let us all be about encouraging one another in Word and in deed in Christ Jesus.
Second is that there are two pastors I know who have left the pulpits and write blogs and books mocking and ridiculing those who follow Christ. And I know of other leaders in the Christian community who are very corrupt, mean spirited and preaching false gospels. All of which doesn't cause me to disbelieve, but rather causes me to grieve, which only adds to my malaise all the more.
William Carrol at Times Square Church recently spoke on the power of giving when we are too weak and exhausted to give anymore. It is not something we can do without the power of Christ and His Holy Spirit. Even as Christ hung on the cross that day exhausted, wracked with pain and struggling for each breath, He continued to bless those around Him.
Probably all of us have considered the depth of love He had to continue loving the very ones who condemned Him to die such a horrific death.
It is a love born entirely of the love of the Father for mankind. It is so supernatural that we cannot comprehend it and can only live it when the Holy Spirit moves through us.
There is great evil in this world. Christ overcame evil on the cross. Though Satan fights ferociously and mens hearts are drawn to his evil, our Father still bids us to walk as Jesus walked: dependant on Him, walking in His love, directed by His Holy Spirit.
In the last few weeks, I have received many emails from brothers and sisters in the Lord that were jokes, misinformed clips, and ridiculous items that I have to trust were sent with sarcastic intent. Our patriotic and political musings help us keep abreast of our nation and world. But the Word of God builds us up and sends us out to do His eternal workings. The Lord has been speaking to me again to pick the Daily Chews up and send them out. So I will try to be more diligent.
His Word is the only thing that is eternal and His salvation is the only thing that keeps us from Hell itself.
Let us all be about encouraging one another in Word and in deed in Christ Jesus.
Friday, April 29, 2011
David Wilkerson tribute - April 27, 2011
Saturday, March 13, 2010
For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Job 3: 25, 26 New King James Version
Whether President Franklin Roosevelt spoke from an intimate relationship with God or not, his first inaugural speech sums up what God Himself keeps trying to get through to us: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." And in an remarkable similarity, Job uttered the words in the above passage at a time when like our country, all about had collapsed into economic ruin and left people desperate, penniless and without hope.
From his own mouth comes a confession of Job's lack of faith in God. He lived a good life, with many servants and cattle, and wealth. God twice calls Job "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” But the very core of Job is about to be tested and found lacking. What he has feared most has happened. All about him lay in ruin, and he is no longer at peace.
Our minds consider things that we should not, and fear takes hold. What if...? How can I be confident when all about me is crumbling? Does God not care that I am suffering and hurting?
We can be assured that He does care? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10, verse 4 & 5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." What this means is that when we find ourselves fearful and despairing, we need to take these thoughts and recognize them for what they are: thoughts that are based on a lie that needs to be quickly arrested and dispatched, destroyed, cast down.
President Roosevelt tells us we should not fear anything but fear itself. But Paul tells us to take these thoughts and completely dispel them as we look to the truth of Christ, and our obedience to Him.
As Job was to find out, God had everything under control, if he will wait and look to Him. He says the same thing to us today. He has everything under control, for He made and formed us and all that is about us. He does care.
Our confidence in Him may be tested, but if we look to Him, we will not be found wanting.
We can trust Him completely.
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Job 3: 25, 26 New King James Version
Whether President Franklin Roosevelt spoke from an intimate relationship with God or not, his first inaugural speech sums up what God Himself keeps trying to get through to us: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." And in an remarkable similarity, Job uttered the words in the above passage at a time when like our country, all about had collapsed into economic ruin and left people desperate, penniless and without hope.
From his own mouth comes a confession of Job's lack of faith in God. He lived a good life, with many servants and cattle, and wealth. God twice calls Job "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” But the very core of Job is about to be tested and found lacking. What he has feared most has happened. All about him lay in ruin, and he is no longer at peace.
Our minds consider things that we should not, and fear takes hold. What if...? How can I be confident when all about me is crumbling? Does God not care that I am suffering and hurting?
We can be assured that He does care? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10, verse 4 & 5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." What this means is that when we find ourselves fearful and despairing, we need to take these thoughts and recognize them for what they are: thoughts that are based on a lie that needs to be quickly arrested and dispatched, destroyed, cast down.
President Roosevelt tells us we should not fear anything but fear itself. But Paul tells us to take these thoughts and completely dispel them as we look to the truth of Christ, and our obedience to Him.
As Job was to find out, God had everything under control, if he will wait and look to Him. He says the same thing to us today. He has everything under control, for He made and formed us and all that is about us. He does care.
Our confidence in Him may be tested, but if we look to Him, we will not be found wanting.
We can trust Him completely.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
— Hebrews 3:13, New Kings James Version
We used to wake to a Mt Hood sunrise nearly every morning off our front deck as we would look out across the Columbia River in Oregon. The sky was a deep deep purple with a few splashes of clouds on the horizon, and as the sun rose and cast its rays onto the clouds, there was a sense of what it almost could be like when the Lord returns in all His glory. I found this photograph this past week.
This was just one of the thousands of days we witnessed, but it caused me to contemplate the message given by the writer of Hebrews about the importance of "today". Poets write of yesterdays lost, and tomorrow’s hopes and expectations, but here we are faced with today, and the choices we will make. Like the sunrise behind Mt. Hood, will our lives reflect the beauty and love of Jesus to those around us, or will we be drawn to sin in our own lives?
Every day is new to us to do and to will. If there is any lesson that we can take from this passage, it is that today, we can have a determined will to do that which is good and loving and of God's leading.
Can we do no less "today"?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The VIP is the other guy!
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
— Philippians 2:3-4, New American Standard
The VIP is the other guy!
"...if there is any encouragement in Christ..." Paul says so that we can be clear that this is how we are to live. As a Christian, the other person is the 'Very Important Person.'
Paul often goes to great lengths as the Lord directs him in his writings to the issue of compassion and love. If we are in Christ, we are a people fully dedicated, fully given to love and compassion. THAT IS THE MIND OF CHRIST. And the only reason any of us would not act this way is because we are not actively engaged in our Lord's written word, the Bible. We may read it and carefully study it, but if we are not living it out, we are not becoming practically what we are to be in Christ Jesus. Shouldn't we be living the way Jesus has shown us???? Shouldn't we be laying our lives down for one another? Shouldn't we be seeing tremendous fruit in the church and in our lives as we see Christ lived out in us as we go about doing the 'good works' he commands of us?
Too many of us in the Christian Church have an attitude of 'me first.' It is an attitude seen in the lack of compassion for people in desperate need; in the judgments and condemnations toward those struggling and those found in sin; and in the unwillingness to touch those who are outcast or diseased. Instead, our calling is to be walking humbly of mind before the Lord, walking as our Lord walked.
If these words produce guilt and accusation, then let it lead to repentance and a deeper love for Christ by following in His footsteps. One thing we Christians can always count on is our Lord's mercies. They are new for us every morning. Let guilt be for the one who knows what good he should do and doesn't do it.
In Matthew 21, Jesus tells the story of a father who had 2 sons. And he called them to himself and asked them to go work in the vineyard. And one son said, "No, I will not go." But he felt regret and then went and did as his father asked. The second son said, "Yes, I will go." But then he did not do as his father asked of him. And Jesus asked the Chief Priests and elders, "Which of the 2 sons did the will of his father?" And they answered Jesus, "The first."
Today, you and I have a choice to make with our lives. Either we can go on as we see fit, doing the things we want to do; or we can do as our Father has asked of us:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
The mind of Christ is for others first and always. His love reaches out to all and His people are to go and do likelwise.
— Philippians 2:3-4, New American Standard
The VIP is the other guy!
"...if there is any encouragement in Christ..." Paul says so that we can be clear that this is how we are to live. As a Christian, the other person is the 'Very Important Person.'
Paul often goes to great lengths as the Lord directs him in his writings to the issue of compassion and love. If we are in Christ, we are a people fully dedicated, fully given to love and compassion. THAT IS THE MIND OF CHRIST. And the only reason any of us would not act this way is because we are not actively engaged in our Lord's written word, the Bible. We may read it and carefully study it, but if we are not living it out, we are not becoming practically what we are to be in Christ Jesus. Shouldn't we be living the way Jesus has shown us???? Shouldn't we be laying our lives down for one another? Shouldn't we be seeing tremendous fruit in the church and in our lives as we see Christ lived out in us as we go about doing the 'good works' he commands of us?
Too many of us in the Christian Church have an attitude of 'me first.' It is an attitude seen in the lack of compassion for people in desperate need; in the judgments and condemnations toward those struggling and those found in sin; and in the unwillingness to touch those who are outcast or diseased. Instead, our calling is to be walking humbly of mind before the Lord, walking as our Lord walked.
If these words produce guilt and accusation, then let it lead to repentance and a deeper love for Christ by following in His footsteps. One thing we Christians can always count on is our Lord's mercies. They are new for us every morning. Let guilt be for the one who knows what good he should do and doesn't do it.
In Matthew 21, Jesus tells the story of a father who had 2 sons. And he called them to himself and asked them to go work in the vineyard. And one son said, "No, I will not go." But he felt regret and then went and did as his father asked. The second son said, "Yes, I will go." But then he did not do as his father asked of him. And Jesus asked the Chief Priests and elders, "Which of the 2 sons did the will of his father?" And they answered Jesus, "The first."
Today, you and I have a choice to make with our lives. Either we can go on as we see fit, doing the things we want to do; or we can do as our Father has asked of us:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
The mind of Christ is for others first and always. His love reaches out to all and His people are to go and do likelwise.
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