Month: July 2023

by John O’Malley

In my recent studies on developing a high view of God, I began my study with John the Baptist. I started with John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

You cannot have a high view of God without realizing:

• • Your life must be about Christ and His cross.
  • You must make room for God on the throne of your life.
  • Submission to God is your goal.
  • You can measure your high view of God by the depth and breadth of respect for God.

A high view of God means:

• • I respect His name and nature.
  • I revere who He is in creation and salvation.
  • I submit to His holiness and His character.
  • I live by His righteousness and judgments.
  • I know and do His will and live by His Word.

It is easy for leaders, parents, and spouses to default to their training in Theology. We could say, yes, of course, He is God overall. But do we live with a high view of God?

This concept of having a high view of God is not isolated to John the Baptist.

• • Isaiah held a high view of God.
  • The Psalmist held a high view of God.
  • John the Revelator held a high view of God.
  • Job held a high view of God.
  • Nehemiah held a high view of God.
  • Paul held a high view of God.

A high view of God manifests in how I see God, myself through God’s eyes, and others in light of how I see God and myself.

Look around your heart. How much room have you made for God? Does your verbal profession of a high view of God match your walk with God? When you lead your family, is it with a high view of God? When you lead your ministry, is it from a place of reverence for God? Do people see your high view of God when you walk about your community? Does God see your high view of Him? Do you live by all his judgments, statutes, and commands?

May our high view of God set an example to all within our circle of influence.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

by Cody Carden

Have you ever wished you could be in two places at once? Or able to multitask on a massive scale? Sometimes, I wish I could be at the ice cream shop and the gym at the same time; however, I can’t.

God’s whereabouts are often questioned by many.

“Where is God?” This is the question of the seeker, the skeptic, the guilty, and the hurt.

Some want the truth; others want closure. Some want comfort; others want the release of shame. There is a never-ending cycle in the so-called “search for God” in modern culture and throughout years past. Some are genuine, and others just want what they can gain from God.

As a child of God, occasionally, I even wonder where God is. I go through my day in what feels like constant prayer, but sometimes it seems as if the phone line has been cut. It can cause streams of doubt in my mind, wondering what I’ve done wrong. God, why do you seem so far away?

There are a couple of verses in Hebrews that always assure me of God’s presence:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” – Hebrews 13:5-6

God’s promise should be enough to stop my worrying! He’s already told me that He will never forsake me and that He will be my strength. Even when I feel like God is far away or out of reach, I have to remember that His timing is always perfect.

We live in such a “microwave culture” that says, “I want it, and I want it now!” This leaves us questioning where God is all the time, forgetting His timing. I like to think of life with God like the game of tetherball. He is the pole in the center that never moves, life is the game itself, and we are the ball that gets tossed around in all different directions. At least, emotionally, that’s what it feels like. Sometimes we are close to the pole, and other times we are not. This doesn’t change the fact that the pole is always there. If the pole wasn’t there, you couldn’t even play the game!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalm 37:3-4

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

He cares for you. His timing is perfect. He’s always there. Never forget that.

Cody Carden is completing a missions internship with John O’Malley this summer. If this was an encouragement to you, please click here to let him know.

The Lord allowed Bro. John O’Malley and intern Bro. Cody Carden to lead a team of 20 to Scotland for our annual See the Harvest Missions trips.

See the Harvest is a partnership with World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions and Ambassador Baptist College. The goal for these trips is to allow young and old alike to See, Learn, and Do missions. Over the past three years, a total of 41 people gave their time and efforts to See the Harvest. Some of these people have attended multiple trips.

The Scotland trip was the fourth See the Harvest trip. It was our first international trip and with the largest attendance by far. Our past trips have included Utah in 2020 with Missionary Nathan Kirkman and Boston in 2021 and 2022 with WWNTBM Missionary Nick Stelzig.

The See the Harvest trip to Scotland was originally planned for 2021, but it was delayed due to Covid. Our team joined missionaries, Jody and Ginger Hodnett, in letterboxing towns in Scotland. Mrs. Ginger is the daughter of our missionaries to India, Ron and Loretta Jones.

Our team left for Scotland on Monday, June 12th, from multiple states. Most of the team arrived in Scotland on Tuesday, June 13th. Three of our members were delayed due to canceled or delayed flights. On Wednesday, June 14th, the whole team was safely together in Scotland.  They lodged in the town of Sanquhar, which was a central location to the other towns. A good testimony was left with the people of Sanquhar. One of the vendors who provided lunch commented how our arrival had aided the economy of their little town.

The team hit the ground running, and over the ten days they were in Scotland, they letterboxed the homes in ten towns. The ten towns include: Sanquhar, Kirkconnel, Kilmarnock, Thornhill, Dumfries, Kilmaurs, Stewawrton, Gretna Green, Annan, and Locharbriggs. Over the ten-day trip, the team passed out over 38,000 tracts, and each member walked an estimated fifty miles. The Hodnetts believe this effort advanced their ministry work by twenty years.

Though the team was met with adversity from some of the people, hot weather conditions, physical hindrances, and jet lag, they persevered and finished the task. The Lord blessed in many ways. Several people reached out to Bro. Jody Hodnett with interest in starting a Bible study.  Bro. Jody continues to see fruit from their labors in Scotland.

Time was also given to site seeing and fun activities. They saw some beautiful Scottish scenery, including rolling hills and castle ruins. They visited the grave of John Knox and the museum of David Livingston. They picnicked and hiked and enjoyed the fellowship. The team bonded through the victories and the challenges of the trip. Many now have a greater burden for missions and have made friendships that will last a lifetime.

We praise the Lord for His direction and provision for this trip. We look forward to many more, should the Lord allow. Please visit SeeTheHarvest.com and sign up on our mailing list to be informed of future trips. Please also share this opportunity with others who may be interested.

If you would like to read testimonies from team members, please visit SeeTheHarvest.com/testimonials.

Bro. O’Malley and Bro. Cody at the David Livingston Memorial

Our hosts, missionaries Jody and Ginger Hodnett

Missionary to England, Amanda Baker, joined our team.

Beautiful Scottish scenery.

The team in Sanquhar, Scotland.