On The Go Daily with Keith Cook

Friday, September 17, 2021

Different Kinds of Birds

Different Kinds of Birds by Keith Cook

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Lately I have been bird watching. I have a pair of binoculars that I can scan the sky and scour the trees looking for new winged creatures. I have loaded all the bird calls and songs of all the birds in Tennessee onto my iPad and listen to them so I can pick out which birds are calling out in my yard.

In my yard I have seen many different kinds of birds. They have different head shapes, wing designs, colors and sizes. They each have distinct and beautiful songs and calls that they use. I could sit for hours listening to them sing in the trees. Just to see a bird soar sends my spirit to the heavens.

Birds have always fascinated me. The glide on the air with little or no perceived effort. They sing wonderful songs all day long and they sport coats of elaborate colors. They are awesome creatures.

As I think about each bird I have in my yard so God thinks on us. He sees each of us and knows our every need and nature. We each look different to the angels and to each other yet to God we are all the same - His Creation! We were made in the image of God.

We may come from different backgrounds, races, and cultures. But to God, while we are all the same, we are each one also individually special. God has a special plan and purpose for each of us. If we come to Him by faith and repent of our sins we can then experience all that God has for us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to ransom us from our sin. We are special and important to God.

It makes me quite mad to hear people putting down other races and cultures. It really shows a cultural ignorance and a spiritual shallowness to do so. If God has made us and is directing our lives then who are we to say that His creation, though different from us, is less of an importance or worth than us!

God makes us special and different. That is a good thing. It adds flavor to life. Just as the many birds add variety and color to my back yard so do we add variety and color to God's world. Let's all fly together and sing a song of gladness.

This is the day that the Lord has made and we can soar!

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray that God will enable you to have His eyes and His heart for those around you. Ask God to show you how you might pray for those in need.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's USA Outreach Effort. God has placed a United States effort on the heart and mind of the On The Go Team. Three key objectives are sharing, praying, and training in every county in the USA using On The Go Advance Teams, Training Teams, Planning Teams, Prayer Teams, GoTeams, and Outreach Efforts.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotional for September 17, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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Thursday, September 16, 2021

Sold Out

Sold Out by Joan Cook

"...neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing..." 2 Samuel 24:24

As I was driving through a neighborhood close to my home recently, I could not help but notice the many homes with for sale signs in the front yard. As I thought about the families that were going to be in transition, it made me think of the many Christians that are in the same situation.

As Christians, we should not have a for sale sign across our chest! We should already be "sold out" to Christ! Unfortunately, many of us keep the for sale sign out in our lives waiting for something bigger and better to come along. We think that there has to be something more to life than what we already have. I am afraid many Christians feel unfulfilled, alone and unhappy. They are not letting the Lord take total control and give them the peace and fulfillment that they so desire.

If we are to be sold out to Christ, we must daily yield our will to His, taking the time to study His word and spend time with Him in prayer. Also, we must be willing to go where He sends us and to do what He would have us do.

Are you "sold out" to Christ? You can be! Take the for sale sign down in your life. Do not look to the world for fulfillment, look to Jesus!

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray that you will be sold out in every area of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

On The Go Daily Devotional for September 16, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Gideon Bible

Gideon Bible by Keith Cook

"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 8:10, 11

When I first became a Christian I knew nothing about the things of God. I had not been taught about the Bible or Jesus Christ. That is not to say I did not have respect for the church or the Bible, I just did not know very much about spiritual matters.

After being a Christian for only a few weeks I knew I had to get to know Jesus in a more powerful way. I noticed that all the people at church carried Bibles, so I decided to get a Bible and see what was in it.

I can still vividly remember riding my ten speed bike out into the country and sitting down with my little red Gideon New Testament and reading the Bible for the first time. It was such fun and exciting. As often as I could I would take my trek out into the country and sit on a beautiful hillside under a shade tree and read the Word.

The more I read about God the more I was sure I had made the right decision to surrender my life to Him and become a Christian. It was during one of my times alone with God that I began to see how sin robs us of our witness for Christ and hurts our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit used these early times in the Word to get me on track for Christ.

What about you? Have you a steady and sincere desire to get into God's Word and hear from Him? You can. His desire to meet with you and share with you His will is well documented in the Bible. You can get to know God without going to Bible School or Seminary. You can even understand the Bible without being very studious. You can start small and work your way up to more scholarly status. You can read the Bible through in one year if you simply read the Bible each day for only 15 minutes! Is getting to know God worth all the effort? Yes it is! Take it from me, I've had much more joy and excitement and peace because of my time with Jesus.

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray for time to be with God and see Him fresh and new in His Word.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's Performing Arts Team. Pray for our team as we minister through drama, puppets, interpretive dance, and music. Our Performing Arts Teams are made up of volunteers and On The Go staffers who travel around the USA to local churches and events sharing the Good News.

On The Go Daily Devotion for September 15, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Monday, September 13, 2021

God's Refinery

God's Refinery by Keith Cook

"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" Malachi 3:3

"If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you. God's experiments always succeed." Oswald Chambers

Our staff has been refined after reflecting on this story several months ago.

AS A REFINER OF SILVER

Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable truth that God is our Silversmith and works to purify and refine our lives.

One lady decided to visit a silversmith and then she prepared a report to share with the others what he said about the subject. Without telling him the reason for her visit, she begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver.

After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes ma'am," replied the silversmith, "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly; because, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it necessary to put His children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is complete?" "That's quite simple", replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished. "

Meditate on these scriptures and see what God says to your heart. Read each scripture. Seek God's insight for you today. He will refine you as you meditate on His Word.

These are some powerful and timely words for today: Acts 20:24, 2 Corinthians 12:15, John 21:7, John 17:4

Daily prayer focus: Pray for God to refine you and let others see Jesus in you.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go Publications & Media Team. We are striving to saturate and minister to a contemporary culture and society through modern media. This division includes our audio, video, internet, and written materials. Through these various ministries we reach out, train, and inspire Christians to action.

On The Go Daily Devotion for September 13, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Sunday, September 12, 2021

God Answers Prayers

God Answers Prayers by Joan Cook

"So God heard their groaning...and took notice of them" Exodus 2:24, 25

Recently, I made a telephone call to Jamaica to speak with a pastor friend of ours. They are both fairly small in number, but big in spirit. We have had the privilege to work with this pastor for a several years and we have seen first hand his love, dedication, and commitment to the Lord and His work on the island.

While speaking with me recently, he told me that things were very tight financially and he was trusting God to supply enough money week by week for things like electricity and water at both churches and money for gasoline as he traveled back and forth.

Several days past and our office received a check in the mail for $266.00 from a church who had been on our mission trip with On The Go to Jamaica. The youth had gotten this money together and wanted us to send it for Jamaica and the church's needs. I immediately called the pastor and told him I would be federal expressing him a check for $266.00 and he should receive it the next day. Pastor then told me that the Lord had led him to fast and pray for three days for this need. He said, "Sister Joan, I did not know how God was going to supply this need for my churches, but I was confident that He would do it and I felt like God was telling me to fast and pray for this need to be met." Wow, my heart rejoices as we see God's hand specifically at work as we pray for specific needs!

It never surprises me that God comes through when we need Him to, but sometimes it does surprise me at just how He does it. Like all of us, we can approach His throne boldly and confidently knowing that He hears our prayers and has our best interest at heart. Sometimes it may mean that we need to fast and earnestly seek His face. Other times it may mean that we need to let our need be known. Every time and every situation is different, but God is always the same. He will remain faithful and true and He will continue working on our behalf!

I am so very glad that I serve a God that is alive and hears me when I call on Him!

Daily Prayer Focus: Thank Him today for hearing us, caring for us, and working on your behalf!

On The Go Prayer Focus: The physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial needs of people hurting all over the United States and Worldwide. As God gives us opportunity in times of crisis we need to rapidly move to help.

On The Go Daily Devotion for September 12, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Saturday, September 11, 2021

9-11-01

9-11-01 by Keith Cook

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." Psalm 9:9,10

The date says it all. The act is beyond description. The pain is unspeakable. The memory non-eraseable.

What can we do to honor the memory of those who died? What lesson can we learn that will give us hope and courage for the future?

Honor

There are so many vivid pictures in most of our minds of those who gave their lives for total strangers.

Pictures of those who risked their lives and helped rescue the troubled.

I will never forget President Bush comforting the families of those who lost lives and boldly stating we were at war with terrorism. It touched my heart when he stood up at Ground Zero and comforted the firemen who were digging up the remains of friends and co-workers.

Nor will I soon forget the Chaplain who rushed into the horrible Twin Towers area to help. He did not know he was rushing into eternity.

It has been said that in this tragedy America was actually in it's finest hour.

The brave young father and husband who said, "let's roll" did not know he would bring tears of pride and commitment to millions who heard of his heroic efforts at saving hundreds of lives in Washington.

The firefighters who knew they were rushing into almost certain death had no way of knowing that overnight they would be heroes to millions of boys and girls all over America.

Billy Graham had no idea that he would be presenting Christ to the whole world and reaching the largest audience of his entire life as he comforted our nation the day after the terrorist attack. He was the world's pastor at that moment in time.

To the thousands of people who rushed in to help with more financial support than has ever been raised in the history of philanthropy they did so not knowing that their small donations would really help as much as it did.

To the millions of people who stayed up to pray and who often wept without knowing why.

To all these you are my heroes!

Lessons

1. God cares for every person. We may feel His love and care more when there is great stress and tremendous need, but He has always been there. We just did not notice.

2. God will use anyone who listens to Him as an instrument of His love and care.

3. The Devil and those who are led by evil will try to destroy anything good and godly.

4. By working together we can accomplish so much more than by ourselves.

5. We all really do need each other.

6. While it is great to be tolerant, it is also quite obvious who speaks with love and who really speaks for peace and equality. Christians!

7. We must be bold and take a stand for what is right, moral, just, and holy.

If we do not take our stand as Christians we will be destroyed by humanism, secularism, greed, radical religions, and selfishness. We cannot sit idly by and let the press, the media, liberal politicians, or other cultures dictate our lives. God has a standard and a plan for each of us. We must follow it daily.

When and if terror again strikes near to home, or even in any of our lives, we will have the courage and faith to continue. Hope is in Christ. Faith is in God's plan for us. This life, while fantastic, is only temporary. God will see us through.

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray for America, Pray for our individual and personal fight against terror. Pray for all those who lost loved ones around the world because of evil men and evil plans. Pray for justice and an end to terrorism.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's Neighborhood Outreach Program. In reality, very little is being done to reach people in many communities across the USA. On The Go is striving to train local Christians and help them develop programs that can systematically and permanently reach real needs in their neighborhoods.

On The Go Daily Devotion for September 11, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

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After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Friday, September 10, 2021

Has Our Nation Sinned?

Has Our Nation Sinned? by Keith Cook

"Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honor her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness..." Lamentations 1:8

In Lamentations chapter one, verse eight it states that Jerusalem sinned greatly. Jerusalem had sinned greatly, just like our nation has sinned greatly. There are a lot of things in our country that I'm proud of, and there's a lot of things I just know the Lord looks down on and cries over.

Let us look at some good:

Praise God for the compassion of most people.

Praise God for the strong military.

Praise God for the numerous athletic and social outlets we have in America.

Praise God for the hundreds of volunteers that help the needy all over the world.

Praise God for the churches in America.

Now some of the shames:

God forgive us for the pornography that is rampant not just in shady little movie houses, but that has moved into our homes through the internet.

God forgive us for the entertainment industry's focus on sex, violence and greed.

God forgive us for drugs, alcohol, gambling and prostitution in America.

God forgive us for the abuse and neglect of children.

God forgive us for the battered wives and divorce epidemic in our land.

God forgive us for our cultural and social morals that have helped confuse young boys and men into homosexual lifestyles and our girls and women into lesbian relationships.

God forgive us for teachers and scholars who promote godless and humanistic theories of living and indoctrinate our youth.

God forgive us for the hundreds of years of cultural prejudice against the Chinese, Hispanic, African and European immigrants.

The Bible not only says that Jerusalem sinned greatly, but in verse nine, it says that "Her uncleanliness was in her skirts, she did not consider her future. Therefore, she has fallen astonishingly. She has no Comforter. See O Lord my affliction, for the enemy has magnified itself. Precious things have been overthrown. The nations have entered her sanctuary."

The Bible says, "Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain." Lamentations 1:12 In looking at the future I don't think the Lord wants us to look at the future with pain, I think that He wants us to look at the future with gain. He wants us to look and see what He has for us in the Word of God.

God wants us to repent of past sins and look to our future with Him. America, God wants you to repent, return to God, and share His love to those around the world. We have a future because we stand for what is right. Now let us not just stand for right but actually do right.

Daily prayer focus: Ask God to give you the courage to be a godly citizen of your country and to be an ambassador for Heaven this week.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's GoKids Clubs. The focus of GoKids Clubs is to present a clear Gospel message to young children in our festivals, missions, and local neighborhoods. Pray for On The Go as we minister to boys and girls and share with them the love of Jesus Christ.

On The Go Daily Devotional for September 10, 2021

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.