How can we even know where our HEART really is? Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (NIV).

   C. S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters exposes the diabolical plan of the enemy (through the character, Wormwood) to divert men from the thrill, and freshness of the Gospel by getting their attention away from the truth of the Gospel to asking themselves irrelevant questions. The method hasn’t changed; today the "hidden treasure" is still elusive. To help in our treasure hunt I’ve chosen the acronym of HEART.

   The theme of our celebration, "going for the gold" is Scripture based:"…Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…" Hebrews 12:1-2

   Calvary Temple Church 50th Anniversary Celebration coinci-dentally begins on the same date that the 2008 Olympic races be-gin in Beijing, China. On August 8, 2008 the Olympic Torch Re-lay ends, and the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games begins in Beijing’s new stadium, The Bird Nest. 

How the Worst of Times can Become the Best of Times.

   It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolish-ness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the season of hope, it was the spring of hope. it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us we had nothing before us...in short, the period was so far like the present period…—Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities, English novelist (1812 - 1870)

   Our story today could be called The Tale of Three Women, subti-tled How the Worst of Times Be-came the Best of Times. The first account is found in the book of Ruth, Chapters 1-4:17. The first verse begins, "In the days when the judges ruled…" This was not only one of the worst times in Naomi’s life it was a time of na-tional disunity, decadence, and moral apostasy. Those same words could easily describe the times or season in which we live--we can easily identify with Naomi’s desperate season of life.

Miracles come by faith in God’s present power, not ritual or formula of human works or willpower.  We must employ God’s authority by putting faith into action through the spoken word.          

   Faith needs to be in two places:  In our heart; In our mouth.

   1 Corinthians 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. KJV)  Note the importance God has Placed on Healings in the Church. 

   It’s so easy to complain, to strike out at others, or perhaps resign our self to our situation when in need of a healing.  According to God’s Word all of these responses are wrong.  We must ask God to help us and believe that he will.  He can heal our health, take away our pain (bodily or emotional), touch our marriages, forgive our sin, and heal our unbelief or whatever our problem.  He can either remove it or give us a new perspective on the trouble – or give us the strength to endure it.   Put Spiritual Laws into Motion, Employ God’s authority; God is no respecter of persons, if he healed others he can heal you; Ask and Believe that you were healed, Don’t pray “If it is Gods will”, It is God’s will; Our mouth can be our own worst enemy, there is power in positive thinking and speaking; Allow God to use you, be a channel of God’s healing power.