I just finished reading through the book of Isaiah. For those of you that have also read it, you know that some of it is tough reading. The first half of the book generally deals with God’s judgment against Israel, Judah, and the surrounding pagan nations because of their sin.

One of the sins God condemned was His chosen peoples’ decision not to trust in Him, but rather to seek their help elsewhere.

“Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?” Isaiah 50:2

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you will receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.” Isaiah 50:10-11

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!” Isaiah 30:15-16

How many times I have prayed about something and committed it to Him, then when He is not answering in the way I think He should or as quickly as I think He should, I begin to panic and search for my answer elsewhere. Or better yet, I try to “fix” the problem myself. Oh, the messes I have made and the heartache I have caused because I was too impatient to wait on the Lord!

Oh, but there is blessing waiting for us as we wait for and hope in Him! After admonishing the people in chapter 30, verses 15 & 16, it goes on to say:
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” (emphasis mine)

God knows us perfectly – so He understands that it can be difficult to wait on Him, it can be exhausting.

“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

He understands! And He promises us blessing and renewed strength as we trust in and wait upon Him.

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:4

When we patiently wait for Him, laying aside our endless striving and our worry, He acts on our behalf! Sisters, let us take Him at His Word, and ask Him to give us the patience and the faith to wait upon Him, for He has promised, “those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Is. 49:23)

Stacey Poplawski
Women of Character Graduate
(All Scripture taken from the NIV)

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:8-9 (ESV)
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. We’re in the lead, ladies! Let’s keep up the good work!!

I had a dream (no, this is not Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech) the other night and was surprised with the ending!

As you know dreams can be really weird and not make any sense. Well, this one was sort of that way but in the end it made a lot of sense!

So if you will bear with me I will try to explain the lesson I found in it.

I remember trying to get to a counseling appointment and it just seemed like one thing after the other was preventing me from getting there. I will spare you the “weirdness” part, but I remember being worn out from exhausting ALL my energy to get to this counselor that I finally sat down, put my face into my hands and began to cry, for at that point I felt beaten down, helpLESS, and hopeLESS. Take a minute and just picture yourself like that…. Have you ever felt like that? Ok, so now back to the dream: Through my tears I just cried out, “Lord, I just can’t do this! I can’t make it!” And then I woke up! And I thought, “How TRUE!!! I can’t make it. I can’t do this! That is where I need to go, not necessarily to a counselor but to THE Counselor!!” I need to cry out to Jesus!! Instead of pouring my heart out to a counselor here on earth, I need to pour my heart out to my Savior!! Verses started coming to mind,

“Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known TO God. And the PEACE of God, which SURPASSES all comprehension, will GUARD your hearts and your MINDS in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6,7

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; POUR OUT your heart before Him; God IS a REFUGE for us. Selah.” Psalm 62:8

So if you are burdened down today with something that just seems hopeless or never-ending, cry out to Jesus, pour your heart out to Him, for He wants us to come TO Him. We can’t do it on our own. He wants all of who we are, not just part of us. Be willing to give Him ALL of you. And HE will be your REFUGE and STRENGTH…

Sue Mercer
Women of Character Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:8-9
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. We’re in the lead, ladies! Let’s keep up the good work!!

It is always amazing to me how God uses seemingly unrelated things going on in my life to lead me to the one thing He is teaching me.

As with many of our Victory Call readers I have been studying the book of James. The simple yet profound statement “Be Doers of the Word” has been very much on my heart. I also just finished the book of Joshua. In the meantime our son and his wife are expecting their first child. Our son is in a place of feeling the pressure to seek new employment that will pay for medical benefits and offer an increase in salary. He graduated from college with a degree to teach Physical Education and Health. He is amazingly talented in working with youth but could not find employment in his chosen field. He took a job in sales while he continued his search. Well, I found myself in a place of sleepless nights in my concern for him. I cried out, “Lord lead him to the destiny you have prepared for him.” For I know the plans God has for him, his wife and their baby……….they are good plans with a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11) So why couldn’t I sleep? I became annoyed at myself. I know I am lacking trust in the Lord who can and will make a way. So why am I not a “Doer of the Word”, trusting in the Lord with all my heart and leaning not on my own understanding? (Prov. 3:5-6)

Then the root of the issue confronted me.

Over and over when the Israelites were in a rough place they worshipped idols. In the wilderness when Moses left the people they began to think Moses would not come back. They built a golden calf and worshipped it. (Exodus 32) I think worry and fear led them to building that calf.

Before Joshua died he warned the people, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you” (Joshua 24:20). But despite the promise from the people to serve the Lord, by the very next book, Judges, chapter 2 verse 11 it says, “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.” Idol worship!!

OK, I was worried but I wasn’t building a golden calf or worshiping Baal. What was the Lord teaching me?

Jesus said there are two great commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39). If I am a “doer of the Word”…If I love the Lord my God with my whole heart, soul and mind…I will trust in the Lord and not give in to worry. In essence when I give in to worry, the result of which is a sleepless night and more worry, it is no different than building a golden calf. I am forsaking my trust in my God.

I used to have a brown bag on my refrigerator I labeled “God Bag”. I used to write down my concerns and place them in the “God bag”. I think I have to get that bag back on my refrigerator. It’s time to turn the worries over to my Lord and worship Him and Him alone.

Thank you Lord for yet another lesson. Forgive me for not keeping you on the throne of my heart, soul and mind. You are my Lord, You are my Savior, You are the Alpha and the Omega. I trust in You with all of my loved ones. You are God.

Submitted by:

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Translation used: New American Standard

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:8-9
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. We’re in the lead, ladies! Let’s keep up the good work!!

As we are working through James in small sections, I hope you are taking time to meditate throughout the week on our verse(s) of the week, perhaps even memorizing it. In addition to that, I want to encourage you to be reading the 5 chapters of James a few times each week because it is important to keep the focus verses in context. I want you to keep both the forest and the trees in mind.

James 2:8-9
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Commentary:
“The Royal law of love. Favoritism and discrimination are violations of the kingdom law of love. Royal law…i.e.”law belonging to the king,” with reference here to God’s law in Lev. 19:18 (“love our neighbor,”…) as the apex of kingdom rules for ethical conduct…Partiality is the antithesis of the love command…Favoritism toward the rich breaks the OT commands to treat the poor equitably and is a serious transgression of God’s law…” [ESV Study Bible study notes pg. 2393]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. We’re in the lead, ladies! Let’s keep up the good work!!

Points to Ponder

James 2:1-7 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Points to ponder:
Show no partiality. As I think about the 21st century version of this it might not be a poor man/rich man. It might be a youth vs. older person. Imagine into your church on Sunday morning walks a young couple with two small children. Each is dressed very nicely with clean cut haircuts, and modest attire. They are pleasant and their children are well behaved. Shortly after them comes in a couple of young people dressed in jeans (complete with holes), tee shirts with skull and crossbones, flip flops, long hair or shaved heads, gauges in their ears, and tattoos on their arms. What is your immediate inward response?

Don’t we have a natural inclination toward the people “more like us”? When I go to the mall on Friday evenings, there are dozens of kids dressed in all kinds of ‘different’ attire – A person can’t help but notice.

Do we treat people differently because of where they come from, what family they belong to, how much money they have, how they dress, what church they are affiliated with, what kind of music they like… etc? How do we make distinctions between people and become judges of others? We need to be ever so mindful that God doesn’t make those distinctions. We tend to judge by what we see on the outside and maybe because of that never get to know the person on the inside.

My son went through the black hair stage when he was in high school several years ago. That may not be that big of a deal to some people but my son was a redhead with freckles and fair skin. Black hair was just such a stark contrast. Every morning when he came downstairs before school, I had to brace myself to hold my tongue. He would say as he pointed to his chest, “It’s still me in here, Mom” Going through that taught me a lot about judging people by their outward appearance as I’m sure others were doing to my own son. I haven’t arrived, by any means, but I’m growing in that direction.

1 Samuel 16:7 For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

In reality, isn’t judging others for their financial status, dress, ideas, etc., arrogance on our parts? We think we know what is best. Our way is the best way. That arrogance is a stench in the nostrils of God. I have heard and probably been guilty myself of criticism in the name of “what’s right” but in reality it is just self righteousness; righteousness that is based on anything other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

O Lord, show me it in myself.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!

My friends, I sat this morning reading in the Book of Leviticus, my mind wandering hither and yon. My husband asked me a question and I asked if we could discuss it later because I was struggling to stay focused as I read about the left lobe of the liver…If you have read Leviticus lately you know what I mean. I admit there are sections of Scripture that I don’t understand, sections that have way more detail than I think I need to know. But there are also many more Scriptures that speak right to my heart and are clear as clear can be. I do know that ALL of God’s Word is inspired and profitable for reproof (2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness). This week’s Scripture is convicting. Would you pray and ask God to show you ways you might have made “distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts”?

James 2:1-7 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Commentary:
“We all have a natural tendency to play up to social superiors and despise those below us on the social scale. But Christians must not make these distinctions. We are to treat everyone with equal respect – regardless of status, intellectual ability, race or colour. When we fail to do so we are breaking one of God’s greatest commandments (8: Mark 12:28-31).” [EERDMAN’S Concise Bible Handbook pg. 370).

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!

We’ve been having some difficulty with emailing out Victory Call recently, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Yesterday was a repeat, but the one that should actually have been sent is on the website – you can read it by clicking http://www.americaskeswick.org/364473.ihtml#h_2859.

Good question. The answer: most of the time but not always, and not as much as I should be. I’d like to be a person who cares enough to stay connected and can be trusted. I have a few good examples to follow, praise the Lord! They are people that fear God, love God and love me. Last, but most important, THEY PRAY! I know I can go to them and open up about my struggles, joys, fears, all of it – and they will respond with truth and love. I trust them and I want them and others to feel safe trusting me and know that I respect their privacy. I tend to be a very private person, and it is a struggle not to become prideful and isolated. Maybe you can relate, or maybe you are just the opposite, constantly networking in one form or another, priding yourself on always being “in the know?” I’m learning to balance and grow in this area and I’m certain that’s what the Lord has in mind. Do we care enough to know and do we know enough to care?

The following is an excerpt from the next edition of Keswick Today and I use it with the author’s permission:

“The world appears to be infatuated with the concept of networking. Everyone seems to be texting this, tweeting that, Facebooking something else and going to chat rooms for “real” relationships with other people. With all this noise, the concept of being “trusted and informed” seems almost old-fashioned compared to a loudly shouted opinion. What we have learned is that these networks can too easily become a means to betray confidences, spread rumors and destroy reputations. Rather than maximizing the quality, relevance and ease of communication, these networks must be carefully managed and controlled to avoid harm.”

NETWORKING IS ALL ABOUT TRUST

by Bill Janson, Director- The Pines at Whiting

Lord, help me, us, to be trusted, caring members of Your Network! “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)

Dina Seaton

Dina Seaton Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer America’s KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: James 2:1-7
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!

It is always amazing to me how God uses seemingly unrelated things going on in my life to lead me to the one thing He is teaching me.

As with many of our Victory Call readers I have been studying the book of James. The simple yet profound statement “Be Doers of the Word” has been very much on my heart. I also just finished the book of Joshua. In the meantime our son and his wife are expecting their first child. Our son is in a place of feeling the pressure to seek new employment that will pay for medical benefits and offer an increase in salary. He graduated from college with a degree to teach Physical Education and Health. He is amazingly talented in working with youth but could not find employment in his chosen field. He took a job in sales while he continued his search. Well, I found myself in a place of sleepless nights in my concern for him. I cried out, “Lord lead him to the destiny you have prepared for him.” For I know the plans God has for him, his wife and their baby……….they are good plans with a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). So why couldn’t I sleep? I became annoyed at myself. I know I am lacking trust in the Lord who can and will make a way.

So why am I not a “Doer of the Word”, trusting in the Lord with all my heart and leaning not on my own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6)? Then the root of the issue confronted me.

Over and over when the Israelites were in a rough place they worshipped idols. In the wilderness when Moses left the people they began to think Moses would not come back. They built a golden calf and worshipped it (Exodus 32). I think worry and fear led them to building that calf.

Before Joshua died he warned the people, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you” (Joshua 24:20). But despite the promise from the people to serve the Lord, by the very next book, Judges chapter 2 verse 11, it says, “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.” Idol worship!!

OK, I was worried but I wasn’t building a golden calf or worshiping Baal. What was the Lord teaching me? Jesus said there were two great commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself”(Matt. 22:37-39). If I am a “doer of the Word”…If I love the Lord my God with my whole heart, soul and mind…I will trust in the Lord and not give in to worry. In essence when I give in to worry, the result of which is a sleepless night and more worry, it is no different than building a golden calf. I am forsaking my trust in my God.

I used to have a brown bag on my refrigerator I labeled “God Bag”. I used to write down my concerns and place them in the “God bag”. I think I have to get that bag back on my refrigerator. It’s time to turn the worries over to my Lord and worship Him and Him alone. Thank you, Lord, for yet another lesson. Forgive me for not keeping You on the throne of my heart, soul and mind. You are my Lord, You are my Savior, You are the Alpha and the Omega. I trust in You with all of my loved ones. You are God.

Submitted by:
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Translation used: New American Standard

DIGGING DEEPER
James 2:1-4
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

UPCOMING EVENT

May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON!

In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65. If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!

Points to Ponder If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Points to ponder: The saying goes “the proof is in the pudding.” James says the evidence of the genuiness of our faith is in our speech. If we think we are mature Christians but fail to guard our tongues, we are just kidding ourselves. We can use our tongues for good: to build people up, encourage, praise, exhort, speak truth in love, edify, etc. or we can use our tongues for evil: to tear down, criticize, argue, lie, discourage, gossip, spread negativity, etc. Are we using our tongues for God’s glory or our agenda? Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

Years ago I wrote a Transformation Resource called “The Tongue” available on-line at http://americaskeswick.org/files/Documents/Tranformation%20Resources/Tongue.pdf .

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

UPCOMING EVENT May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!

Hopefully you’re still in this with me and more than anything I hope you have been finding the time to sit still before the Lord to listen and hear. With so much noise clamoring for our attention these days, I know how difficult this can be.

As I read the story again I was encouraged by Beth’s complete transparency. There was no time for pride -false or otherwise- just plain old real and honest Beth. Another thing that blessed me tremendously was the obvious intimacy of her friendship with God. They are, after all, having a conversation; one that seems to flow as easily as it would between a Father speaking to a child He loves. Isn’t God good? Let’s continue with more of “Beth at the Airport”.

I looked up at God and quipped, “I don’t have a hairbrush. It’s in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?” God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God’s word: “I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3:17)

I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man, and asked as demurely as possible, “Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?”

He looked back at me and said, “What did you say?” “May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair? To which he responded in volume ten, “Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you’re going to have to talk louder than that. At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, “SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?”

At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, “If you really want to.”

Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t want to! But God didn’t seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, “Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don’t have a hairbrush.” “I have one in my bag,” he responded.

I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger’s old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man’s hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don’t do many things well, but I must admit I’ve had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls.”

Like I’d done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man’s hair -everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair.”

Alright all you Victory Call readers, are you feeling it yet? Something about this glimpse into a life is oh so encouraging. That God, our Sovereign, cares so much about this old man and about our sister Beth that He insisted upon her brushing his hair. I have no idea what I’d have done had it been me. The Lord obviously knew that His precious Beth had an ear to hear and a heart to obey…even if she fussed a little along the way.

What about you? Would you have whipped out your hair brush and done as the Father asked? Who knows, but I’m glad for this opportunity to see the Spirit of God at work in such a small, yet tangible way.

Stephanie
The story continues Tuesday…

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:26,27
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

*(Beth Moore in the Airport was used by permission of Living Proof Ministries in Houston Texas)

UPCOMING EVENT May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 3rd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 7th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds by the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. Last year Victory Call subscribers raised $760.00 and Freedom Fighter’s subscribers raised $725.00. Victory Call WON! In reality, the Addiction Recovery ministries won because together we raised $48,968.65.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 7th at 2 PM in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!