Rev. Fred Winters was killed on Sunday, March 8, 2009 by a gunman at his church, the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois. These devotions are by Rev. Winters who allowed them to be printed in the ILLINOIS GOOD NEWS DAILY DEVOTION GUIDE. These seven devotions are in his memory!
Winters – Day 1
What Do You Value
By Fred Winters
Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Proverbs 8:10-11 NKJV
One day I was enjoying lunch at a Chinese establishment with a group of friends. Part of our conversation was complaining about rental property that I inherited from my father. These rental homes were six hours from where I reside and were run down and worth just a few thousand dollars a piece. Over the last few years, I sunk thousands of dollars into retaining them and seeing very little income. As I whined about my circumstances, the Chinese waiter came with our bill and the fortune cookies.
As we opened up the fortune cookies he proclaimed may they be your winning lottery numbers. My friends laughed and exclaimed he is our pastor he doesn’t play the lottery. The Chinese waiter was very embarrassed and responded he was “a pious Christian” and did not play the lottery either. He was very humiliated that he had said such a thing to me and remarked “I bring you new fortune cookie.” So he came back with new fortune cookies and stated “may you inherit property from a far away relative.” Of course he did not understand the laughter that followed.
We all have hopes and dreams of things that we hope come to past whether it’s getting lucky and winning big or inheriting a small fortune. Yet we often find that even if our dreams do come true they are very unfulfilling. True peace and joy comes from discovering and living God’s will for our lives. God’s best for us is always better than our own dreams and imagination.
Prayer: Thank God for all the good things in your life today. Take time to name at least three ways in which He has enriched your life.
Fred Winters
Winters – Day 2
The Right Words
By Fred Winters
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. Proverbs 10:20-21 NKJV
Daddies of little girls are not always the best at knowing the right thing to say. When my youngest daughter was about four she was watching a show about ballerinas. She said “Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a ballerina.” Of course I didn’t see that as being practical on any level, so I stated “Cassidy it is a lot of work to be a ballerina.” Well those words broke her spirit and she was very quiet the rest of the evening.
How many children have had hopes or dreams crushed by an unthinking father or mother? Finding the right words at the right time is a reflection of our maturity in Christ. Making our words right when we have wronged another is a sign of the forgiveness we have found in Christ.
Prayer: Ask God to give you the right words as you speak with others. Share at least three positive affirmations to those you encounter today.
Fred Winters
Winters – Day 3
Empty Ambition
By Fred Winters
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. Proverbs 13:4 NKJV
As a grade schooler there was a young man my age that lived down the street from my family. He often bragged about how brilliant he was, and of course all the children in the neighborhood believed him. Along with his genius this young man was particularly ambitious. He would often share how he was going to be a millionaire and live in a large mansion, and not in a little home like his family resided in. Each day he would bring various nick knacks to sell at school after buying them through mail order catalogs. Though he wasn’t getting rich he was making a fair amount for a ten year old.
In seventh grade my neighbor’s angle changed. He found that he could make much more money selling drugs. At first he assured his friends that he was not interested in partaking only in the profits. But it wasn’t long until his life became of no account. His grades steadily declined, and he used much of his product for his own pleasure. I often wondered if as an adult what happened to this neighbor.
About twenty years after graduation I was driving down the street where my neighbor had lived. As I drove pass his house I noticed a door hanging open in the middle of winter. It was a run down house with a shabby looking yard, and sure enough there was the image of my friend standing just beyond the doorway. I called out from my vehicle and asked how he was doing. He shared with me how he had the best deal going on right now. He said that his wife had left him and the two kids, and she was now paying him child support. On top of that he had recently been fired from his job as a cashier in a local store, and was now getting unemployment. He said between the two he had more than enough money for him and his children.
It is sad to see someone lose their ambition and drive in life. God has naturally given us a desire to achieve and do well. Yet through laziness, abuse and sin we can lose the passion that Christ has given us and replace it with an empty life.
Prayer: Father help me to remain passionate about the things that You have called me to be passionate about. Allow me not to grow lazy or indifferent but allow me to be motivated to be part of Your great kingdom work through Your glory. Amen Fred Winters
Winters – Day 4
A Good Fall
By Fred Winters
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 NKJV
Almost all of us desire to be recognized in a positive affirming fashion. In fact, from the time we are children we seek to be recognized by family, by parents, and friends. However recognition isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.
In eighth grade I was the fifth string defensive end on a team with over 80 players. At less than ninety pounds I was not likely to see a lot of playing time. In the fourth quarter of a B-string game I finally got my opportunity. The other team was up by a few points with less than three minutes left and the coach decided to empty the bench.
For some reason the other team decided to run a quarterback option my direction. I, by fate and with a little bit of luck, managed to get myself posed between the quarterback and the running back that he was attempting to lateral the ball to. Knocking down the quarterback and knocking the ball loose, I managed to facilitate our team’s recovery of the ball with two minutes left. We didn’t win, but I still ended up somewhat of a hero of the game. The next day I listened for my name to be announced on the PA system along with the score of the game, but it didn’t happen. The next day I waited and again but no announcement. Finally late in the week the announcement of the game occurred over the school’s PA system. The announcement went something like this. “The eighth game boy’s B squad team lost 23-20, but Fred Winters came off the bench and sparkled on the field.”
While I was so proud to be recognized, carrying the nickname sparkles the rest of the year and the jokes associated with the name was not worth it. While the desire for recognition is natural, let us seek to simply do what is right and honoring to our Lord.
Prayer: Father, help me to serve You humbly and give You the glory in all that I do to the praise of Jesus. Amen Fred Winters
Winters - Day 5
I’m not that Good
By Fred Winters
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? Proverbs 20:6 NKJV
A few years ago, one of the grandmothers in our church was watching her grandson while his mom was away for the day. Wanting to be a godly influence on the young preschooler she sang Amazing Grace as she went about her housework. A little later she was overjoyed to hear him in the next room singing the words to this precious hymn, but noticed he didn’t get it quite right. He sang, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like … grandma.”
Many think of themselves as good. However, their concept of goodness is based on the standards of man, not God. From God’s word we know that none of us are good apart from the shed blood of Christ.
Prayer: Ask God to reveal the sins of your heart today and take time to repent of them. Fred Winters
Winters - Day 6
Sound Advice
By Fred Winters
Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22 NKJV
My father was not a Christian, and as such was not a very kind or gentle man. As children we very afraid of my fathers temper and careful not to set him off. On one occasion my father sent me to the store to buy goods for the small business he owned. He warned me not to lose the money he had sent me with.
As an eight year old I had already grown used to taking on adult responsibility, so I was determined not to lose the five dollars he had sent me to the store with. The neighborhood was rough, but I assumed that once I made it into the store I would be safe. However, a young man approached me and said something about making change for me. I turned over my money and he ran.
It took me about an hour to walk the two blocks back to my father’s shop. I knew that once I got there, there would be severe consequences. However, I was surprised when after explaining to my father what had occurred, he simply responded, “That will be one of the cheapest lessons you ever learn.”
Prayer: What have you learned from your father and mother? Thank God for them and their advice. Fred Winters
Winters - Day 7
Whose Throne Are You Sitting On?
By Fred Winters
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of the great. Proverbs 25:6 NKJV
As boys my brothers and I along with our family had the opportunity to tour a real castle in New England. It was an exciting experience for young boys. However, we were very mischievous kids. The three of us were always getting into some kind of trouble, especially my youngest brother. As we toured the castle there seemed to come a point where my youngest brother ceased creating a disturbance. No one had realized that he had slipped off from the group. As we came to the final room in the castle, the tour guide began to describe a grand throne in the room behind a curtain. This throne had apparently belonged to a person of great stature. After a lengthy introduction the curtain was opened to reveal my five-year old brother sitting on the throne.
This is a compelling picture of how we often live our lives. Removing Christ from the throne of our life we decide that we can manage our own affairs better then He. Yet it is Christ who has become as our king and ruler and He is the only one who knows what is truly best for us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus be ruler of the throne of my life. I yield myself to you completely and fully that You might be praised. Amen
Fred Winters