The Devotional
with Bro. John Spade On Whitedove Radio

We pray the inspiration of the Word brings you knowledge, peace and joy.
Romans 13:12..."The night is far spent; the day is at hand; let us, therefore, cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light".
Whitedove Radio thanks Bro. John Spade for his thoughts and sharing
"God's Light...The Word" with us.
Sit with the Word, our Heavenly Father and Study awhile!

A Brief Bio of Bro. John W. Spade Greetings all,   I just wanted to take a moment of your time to let you know who I am and what I am about. My birthplace is upper New York. I grew up there and  went to school in the inner city. After graduation I married my childhood sweetheart. We had four children three boys and one girl.   My daughter was four years old when we found out she had leukemia and at the same time my wife had just given birth to our youngest son. When he was examined we found out that he had spinal meningitis. Here we are, two young parents (24 and 27)not knowing if two of our children are going to live or not. If my son does live will there be any permanent damage resulting from the meningitis? So what do we do? My wife and I did not know the Lord at the time. We were both lost. But God is so good. My son recovered without any problems from the meningitis. All our thoughts, love and heart is still with our daughter.      I was working at General Motors at the time. A friend of mine I went to high school with was working there and heard my daughter was very sick. He handed me a Chick Tract titled "Holy Joe." As a result of his concern for my soul I was born-again at the age of 27. Isn't God wonderful! I immediately began witnessing, passing out gospel tracts, and learning all that I could. It was soon after the Lord saw fit to take my daughter home to be with Him (Isaiah 57:1,2.)  It was about two years later we settled into a church and became active there. I attended Bible School through our local church and have remained active for the Lord.   In 1981 we moved to Florida where we still reside today. We have been in the same church since 1989 serving the Lord. We intend to stay as long as the Lord wants us here. I am grateful for the opportunity to share Daily Devotions with you and pray they assist you in your walk with our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Bro. John W. Spade

FROM SHAME TO GLORY   Psalms 4:2 (KJV) O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. I wonder, do we ever think of how the Lord looked at us before we were born again. How often in our ignorance did we turn His glory (the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 3:23; 1Cor.2:8) into shame. How often did we ridicule, make fun of, or outright deny the Lord Jesus Christ. We may have done this by making fun of, or ridiculing believers. By rejecting the sacrifice that God provided for us or just by total rebellion against God and His word. Does He seen us as loving vanity (anything devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable, worthless, empty, self-conceited)? That's what our love is outside of the Lord. Outside of God there is no love for God is love (1 Jn. 4:16). But now being born-again, we are His children, 1Thess. 5:5; Ephesians 5:8; Galatians 3:26  and we should live like children of God. We should walk as children of light, there should be a family resemblance. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   LEST WE FORGET We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. You and I know that means after we get saved, we are different, we have a new nature, we have a blessed hope, we have eternal life. We read the end of the Bible and we find out that we are the winners, we are the victors, we are the over comers and it is all because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. All that the Lord wants from us as his children is found in Colossians 1:10 (KJV) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; and Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Is it too much to ask of us as believers that we be obedient to what the Word of God teaches.  Is it so hard for us to show our love for the Lord Jesus Christ by being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). After all, the power of sin in our lives was broken and we are no longer under the bondage of sin. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit that empowers us, leads us, guides us and directs us. As a  reminder, all that the Lord Jesus Christ did, was to take our sins and pay the penalty so that we didn't have to spend an eternity separated from God in a devils hell. He shed His blood (Gods blood Acts 20:28) to wash our sins away. We tend to forget and often take for granted what He has done for us. I believe that we need to be reminded every so often, Lest we forget. Praise the Lord, the victory has already been won. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   He hears My Prayers   Psalms 4:1 (KJV) Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Isn't it good to know that we have a God that listens to our prayers. He may not always answer our prayers the way that we want Him to, and in many cases that is a good thing. So as time goes on and our hindsight becomes much more clearer, we see what the results would have been if God had answered our prayers the way we wanted Him to, and the disastrous results that would have taken place. We become thankful that in His wisdom, and love for us that He didn't give us what we asked for. But we do have the confidence and assurance that the Father is listening, and that He cares. With us as with David, the Lord has many times enlarged us. He has built us up, encouraged us, strengthened us in time of need. He has shown us mercy, when we deserved judgment.  Thank God, praise the Lord for such a one who cares for his children in such a tender loving way. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   GOD'S REFINING FIRE   Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'   This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.    One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.        As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.    The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'   She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.    The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'   He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'    If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.   "This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them."   And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end. 'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish," but you can only spend it once."   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   LEAVE IT THERE   How many times do we take our problems to the Lord and think that they we are free of the worries, and then we begin to again think on the problems. We begin to worry, plan and scheme in order to figure how we are going to solve the problem. We begin to leave the Lord out of the equation, we think that we can do it ourselves in our own strength. Unfortunately, although we don't realize it, this is a pride issue. We are afraid to completely trust the Lord for the results. We want to be in control, and that's the problem. Every time we take control, the Lord steps back and allows us come to handle things until we come to the end of ourselves and turn things over to Him and leave it there. The following hymn sums it up. Words & Music: Charles A. Tindley, 1916.  A fellow who was a constant worrier visited Tindley one day. After listening a while, Tindley replied:   My advice to you is put all your troubles in a sack, take’em to the Lord, and leave’em there.   If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold, And you have to get along with meager fare, Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird; Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Refrain Leave it there, leave it there, Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain, And your soul is almost sinking in despair, Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal; Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Refrain When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail, Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer; He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Refrain When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on, And your body bends beneath the weight of care; He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   MERCY Psalms 106:1 (KJV) Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. We have all heard the definition or definitions for mercy, such as "the disposition to forgive or show compassion" The most common one used in a Scriptural sense is "not receiving what we deserve", and we all know that if it wasn't for the mercy shown by God in providing the sacrifice of his only son the Lord Jesus Christ to pay for our sins, we would all end up in a devils hell. Thank you Lord for showing you love and mercy toward me, now in return I know that I should show that same kind of love and mercy toward others. I can do that by (1) presenting the Gospel message to the lost world; this can be done by passing out tracts, one on one witnessing, and living a life that is in accord with Scripture, (2) teach the saved people the word of God. We will never know what an influence we have been on others until we get to glory, but while we are here, why not be a light that shines in a dark world. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Gonna let my little light shine. On Monday, He gave me the gift of love; On Tuesday, peace came from above. On Wednesday told me to have more faith; On Thursday, gave me a little more grace. On Friday, told me to watch and pray On Saturday, told me just what to say, On Sunday, gave power divine Just to let my little light shine. (oh) This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Gonna let my little light shine. Now some say you got to run and hide. But we say there's no place to hide. And some say let others decide, But we say let the people decide. Some say the time's not right, But we say the time's just right. If there's a dark corner in our land, You got to let your little light shine. (oh) This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Ev'ry day, ev'ry day, Gonna let my little light shine.   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   Our Hiding Place Psalms 32:7 (KJV) 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalms 119:114 (KJV) 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. How many of us when we were children we had a special hiding place. Whenever we needed a place to feel safe and secure, to keep us from danger or sometimes just be alone, we would go to our secret private hiding place. It could have been under the porch, or in a closet, maybe a tree house in the woods. Wherever it was we always felt that were safe and secure there. There while we were in our hiding place the cares of the world, the danger that we perceived, the fear that we experience no longer existed as long as were in our special hiding place. How much more can we as Christians know that we are safe and secure being part of the body of Christ. We still have trials and troubles in this world, but we can look past all the same as the Lord Jesus Christ looked past the cross to the future glory. We also can look past this life into the future glory that awaits us.   HYMN: I HAVE FOUND A HIDING PLACE Jesus, Rock of Ages let me hid in Thee, Jesus, Rose of Sharon, sweet Thou art to me; Lily of the Valley, Bright and Morning Star, Fairest of ten thousand to my soul. ======================================== I have found a hiding place when sore distress, Jesus, Rock of Ages, strong and true; In a weary land I in His shadow rest, He is my strength in all that I do. ======================================== I have found the sweetest flower that ever grew, Jesus, Rose of Sharon fair and pure; He's my joy and comfort blessed Friend so true, He blooms within my heart evermore. ======================================== I have found a lovely star that shines on high, Jesus, Bright and Morning Star to me; In the night of sorrow He is ever nigh He drives the darkest shadows away.   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   PEACE, PERFECT PEACE Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. How many times do we go through trials in our lives that cause us to loose the peace that we have with the Lord Jesus Christ. When things are going good, we don't have even think about the peace that we have, but when the burdens and trials come we tend to take our eyes and focus off the Lord Jesus Christ. When we do that the weight becomes heavier and it seems that there is no end to it all. But when we refocus and get our eyes back on the Lord Jesus Christ we regain that peace once again. A friend of mine (Joanne Lowe) who also writes devotionals sent out an email and I want to quote part of it (she happened to write on the same subject)  Quote: "I received an email last night from someone who threatened to kill me.  I was sure that it was spam because it was not addressed to me personally.  It was addressed to “Undisclosed Recipients”.  However, I thought that I needed to exercise good judgment and caution so I sent out an urgent prayer request to my mailing list telling them what had happened and asking them to pray.    When I called the sheriff’s office, the lady who answered the telephone, she was not an officer, felt that it was serious enough to send an officer to my home.  The officer took one look at the email and said “I have seen these kinds of emails before and it is spam.  Just block the sender and delete it.”  I have to admit that for a few minutes I was a little concerned that it might be a real threat but after I sent the prayer request to my mailing list, I was no longer concerned. When we fail our dear loving and precious Saviour and hurt Him, He still loves us unconditionally.  He forgives us over and over from His heart of amazing love, grace and mercy.  We may not be beating Jesus physically in person,  but when we curse Him and constantly make cruel, criticizing and sarcastic remarks to people, people who He loves and was crucified on that old rugged cross of horror and agony for, we are beating our precious Saviour emotionally. The following hymn comes to mind whenever I start taking my eyes off of Jesus and feeling uneasy, nervous, or worried. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade    PEACE PERFECT PEACE   Words: Edward H. Bickersteth, Jr., 1875. Bickersteth was vacationing in Harrogate, England, where he heard a sermon on Isaiah 26:3 by Canon Gibbon. The minister related that the Hebrew text used the word peace twice to indicate absolute perfection. The idea was still on Bickersteth’s mind when he visited a dying relative that afternoon. To soothe the man’s emotional turmoil, Bickersteth opened his Bible to read from Isaiah 26:3. He wrote down these lyrics, just as they appear today, and read them to the man: perhaps the last thing he heard before Jesus called him “to Heaven’s perfect peace.” Music: Pax Tecum, George T. Caldbeck & Charles J. Vincent, Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers. It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus call us to Heaven’s perfect peace. After one of Bickersteth’s sisters point­ed out that there is nothing specific in the hymn about physical suffering. “That is soon remedied,” he re­plied. He took up an envelope and wrote the follow­ing verse (apparently never published) on the the back… Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes? The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose.   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade     OUR CONFESSION   "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue confess to God." Romans 14:11 King James Version At God's appointed time (Philippians 2:11 (KJV) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is going to be rewarded for all He suffered for us. The world could care less about Jesus, much less make time for Him. The world is so busy with schedules, television, and sports that most of them don't know anything about Jesus at all. When I was young, at least the world had a healthy respect for the Lord even though they were lost.  There is nothing wrong with watching television provided you would watch the same programs if Jesus was sitting next to you. There is nothing wrong with going to basketball, football, games and other activities if you include Jesus. Remember that he lives within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. I used to be just as guilty. I would sit by the hour and watch movies on television without once opening my Bible or praying. Prayer is talking to God about our lives, the needs of others, for salvation of the lost. I used to hear messages that we should be up at four o'clock in the morning and pray for a couple of hours before we start our business for the day. Others used to preach that if we didn't preach for at least an hour a day we were sinning against God. But, in one message I heard the Preacher said that "God is not impressed with a long, eloquent prayer. He is concerned with the condition of our hearts." Are you presenting the gospel message to the lost world. Are you telling them of Jesus' love for them? Are you kneeling in prayer? If so, are you kneeling in your heart? If you are only kneeling physically and not in your heart, then it is in vain. Is Jesus the topic of your conversation? Are you bragging on Jesus and what he has done for you and what he can do for them? There is Joy in serving Jesus. Start telling others of the Love of Jesus and then prove Jesus Loves them by your actions. It will not only bring joy to you it will also be pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ.   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   I GAVE MY LIFE for THEE Every time we sing this hymn, I can't help but pay close attention to the words. As I think on the words I can't help but wonder how much the Lord loved us in order for Him to do what He has done for us. He left the Glory that he had with His Father, came to earth to suffer, shed His blood, and to die just for me. I really don't understand how a man could take the punishment and die for someone he didn't even know, or how a father could allow his son to suffer and die for someone else it is beyond my compression. No matter how spiritual I try to be, I'm sure that I wouldn't let my son die in order to save someone else. But, He seen beyond the pain, the agony, and death, He saw that one day we would have the opportunity to have eternal life and spend eternity with Him. He was willing to pay the price that we could never pay. Thank God for that love, if only we would allow the Lord to show that love in and through us. In the hymn four questions are asked: 1.what hast thou given for Me?    What could we give to Him? a life that honors and glorifies Him. 2.hast thou left aught for Me?       Have we left behind our old life,the life of sin and shame? 3.what hast thou borne for Me?    Are we willing to bear the ridicule from others for taking a stand for the Lord? 4.what hast thou brought to Me?  Have we brought Him ourselves, to live in and through us? Words: Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, 1858. Music: Phil­ip P. Bliss, I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me? I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me? My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone; I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me? I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me? I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell, Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell. I've borne, I've borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me? I've borne, I've borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me? And I have brought to thee, down from My home above, Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love; I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me? I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?   2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade     OUR FIRST LOVE   One of my grandsons is a senior in high school at one of the local Christian Schools, he plays on the basketball team and  He is a starter and is a good player. I try to go to as many games as possible. Anyone who has children or grandchildren involved in athletics knows how exciting it is to watch them play and cheer them on (not that they can hear us) while they are playing.  I sit there and look at the crowd in all their excitement, knowing that many of them are born again. As I see them cheering and hollering to encourage the team and their friends and family members, I wonder do we as believers get half that excited for what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Do we get that involved in presenting the Gospel message to the lost as we do cheering for our team and our loved ones involved in athletics. Are we willing to take the time the same amount of time to go door to door in order to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ or pass out Gospel tracts or hold Scripture signs on a busy street? I often wonder, as believers, where are our priorities, where is our love what is most important in our life. A few Scriptures come to mind as I think on these things.. Mark 12:30-31 (KJV)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 1 John 4:19 (KJV)  We love him, because he first loved us. Revelation 2:4 (KJV)  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade   HIS AMAZING GRACE Revelation 21: 6 King James Version And he said unto me, It is done.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give unto him that is athirst of the water of life freely.   Have you ever heard the song with these words "I'm getting nothing for Christmas?  Mommy and Daddy are mad.  I'm getting nothing for Christmas cause I ain't been nothing but bad?  Christmas has nothing to do with us being good or bad because we could never be good enough to deserve the gift of the Christ Child.   Christmas is about the amazing grace of Jesus.  What an insult to our Saviour and His amazing grace and His unconditional love to say that we aren't getting anything because we have been bad.  There is nothing that we can do to deserve His mercy, His grace and His unconditional love.  It is because Jesus loves us so much that we have the privilege to drink from His well of living water.    In the first place, our parents can't go the store and buy what our hearts need even if they had all the money in the world.  The gift of the Christ Child was given to us freely from our loving Heavenly Father.  The unconditional love, mercy and grace from the hearts of God and Jesus can't be bought.  They are freely given to us from their compassionate hearts.   If you're thirsty for love, acceptance and peace, run into the waiting arms of Jesus.  He is waiting with His arms outstretched and a heart full of forgiveness and compassion.  You don't have to go through this life by yourself.  Jesus will walk with you every step of the way.  Thank God for the gift of the Christ Child and for the water of life that is given to us so freely.   This was written by my friend, Joanne Lowe   Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.     T'was Grace that taught... my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear... the hour I first believed.     Through many dangers, toils and snares... we have already come. T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far... and Grace will lead us home.     The Lord has promised good to me... His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be... as long as life endures.     When we've been here ten thousand years... bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise... then when we've first begun.     "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,    That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... Bro. John W. Spade

 

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