Well dear ones, if you’re reading this for the second day then, I’m oh so glad. There is a nugget here that is worth pondering for each and every one of us. And, as we are in the first quarter of a new year, this provides an opportunity to risk being, this year, God’s instrument of love in a way that is unnatural, uncommon and maybe even a bit uncomfortable.

Let’s continue with this true story directly from the writer herself: “I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I’d just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered, he was dead. So this man in the airport was an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere?”

“There I sat trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let’s admit it – curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.”

“I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I’ve learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind.”

“Oh no, God, please no.”

I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, “Don’t make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I’ll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don’t make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!”

There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, “Please don’t make me witness to this man. Not now. I’ll do it on the plane.” Then I heard it…”I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.” The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No brainer.

I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, “God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I’m on this Lord. I’m you’re girl! You’ve never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am on him. I am going to witness to this man.”

Again as clearly as I’ve ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. “That is not what I said, Beth. I don’t want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.”

Okay dear ones, once again we shall pause in this story and ask the question, “what is the thing that the Holy Spirit Himself is gently or not so gently prompting you to do?”

In no way, shape, form or fashion, am I talking about the grand things; nor am I referring to those big things that bring you that warm fuzzy producing pat on the back. I’m talking about that other thing that’s deep inside of you that just won’t go away no matter how many ways from Sunday that you twist it. Or maybe it’s not a deep thing. Maybe it’s a gnat that keeps showing up in front of your face and no matter how you swing and flail your arms and hands it won’t stop pestering you. Worse yet, perhaps it has the dogged tenacity of a sand flea, landing on you, sinking it’s teeth in and biting you over, over, over and over again until you do something about it.

Dear sisters in the faith, whatever it is, it’s likely between you and God alone. Whatever it is, let’s do it without further delay. Someone may just need their hair brushed. The story continues tomorrow…

Stephanie

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!!!

Today has been a busy and yet very productive day for me and I have to admit it feels downright good. I made my list, checked it twice and proceeded to get done with each task on it, one at a time. It’s amazing to me how God can multiply my time when I don’t think I have enough to “do my list”.

One of the things on my list that I was sure I wouldn’t get to today was writing the Victory Calls that were up to me to write for the month. As I sat at my desk I decided to take a break and check my email. A good friend had sent me something with an attachment that was quite lengthy. My usual practice with such things is to delete because I just don’t have the time to read them. Another reason I tend to delete is when I actually do take the time to read such an email, it’s an untrue story that ends with some statement or two designed to provoke guilt in you if you dare break the cycle, chain or the proverbial circle. Please spare me the drama. There are enough true things in life to be genuinely encouraged by.

Anyway, I took a chance and read the email I received and I can only say I was blessed! More importantly I was reminded that it is the smallest of gestures that can be a healing, soothing, compassionate salve to a heart that needs the touch of human hands. After I read the email I instantly wanted to share it with all my friends, but I don’t really have that many so I just emailed it to a bunch of people in my mailbox and asked them to risk the time it would take to read it.

So what does this have to do with my “to do list” and getting to the writing of Victory Calls for the month? Well, dear ones, I have decided to share it with all of you. And as it is a bit lengthy, I have cut it into parts that will cover the entire week. I know I’m asking a lot and I know some of you may pass on it. That’s okay. If just one or two of you are encouraged to be the hands of God as Beth was in this story then it’s all good. Even better, if we decide together to BE His Hands extended -again and again- in whatever way He will lead, then it will be a moment or moments worth rejoicing over. We will know that for the glory of the One who came to save and for no other reason, a hand has been extended and a hand has been received.

Here is part one of “Beth in the Airport”. “For those of you who don’t know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and a married mother of 2 grown daughters. She is a member of First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. The following took place on April 20th, 2005 at the airport in Knoxville.”

“Waiting to board the plane: I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I’d had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say that because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long. Clean, but strangely out of place on an old man.”

We’re going to have to pause here and continue tomorrow. I hope you come back to read the rest of the story. The question for the week: What little thing has the Holy Spirit been prompting you to do that is yet undone? Hmm?

Stephanie

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 26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Religion 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!!!

One of the hard-hitting topics we will be covering in our journey through the book of James is the tongue. It is a difficult topic because it applies to every one of us. This week’s verse makes the connection between our tongue and our faith/religion. James 1:26-27 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. Commentary: If anyone thinks he is religious [This refers to ceremonial public worship…James chose this term, instead of one referring to internal godliness, to emphasize the external trappings, rituals, routines, and forms that were not followed sincerely.] and does not bridle his tongue [Bridle means ‘control,’ or as another translation renders it, ‘keep a tight rein.’ Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech...] but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled [James picks two synonymous adjectives to define the most spotless kind of religious faith – that which is measured by compassionate love…] before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows [Those without parents or husbands were and are an especially needy segment of the church… Since they are usually unable to reciprocate in any way, caring for them clearly demonstrates true, sacrificial, Christian love.] in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world [The evil world system…]. The italicized words in [ ] are quoted from The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg. 1885. 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!!!

Points to ponder

James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

Points to Ponder:
These verses really hit home for me. Surely, I am guilty of doing exactly what these verses warn us NOT to do. Oh, sure I read my Bible most days, but I probably fall into the category of deceiving myself that that is somehow enough. If there is no application of the words, the truths that I’ve read, of what value are they to me?

How about you? Are you a listener? A reader? Or a doer?

The last verse says, “whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom.” It doesn’t just say looking into the word but looking INTENTLY into the word. Recently I was memorizing Proverbs 2. I got stuck in verses 4-5 “if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” Seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure – now that sounds like intently. Can I honestly say I search the Scriptures with that much intent?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom: We all want freedom, don’t we? It is not just addicts that are in bondage. Most of us are in bondage in some form. Freedom comes from the LIVING WORD through the WRITTEN WORD.

It’s not just the reading of the Word that brings freedom but the doing of it. And not just for the day or the week but CONTINUING in it. James says “they will be blessed in what they do.”

Today can be your declaration of freedom day. You, we can choose today that from this point on we will be doers of the word, not just hearers, and not just doers, but doers of the WORD.

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.

A few years ago an end came to the life of one of our country’s enemies, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. He was justly executed by hanging, for crimes against humanity.

Not long after that the news reported that a 10-year-old boy in Houston, Texas apparently mimicked the execution and hung himself from a bunk bed, ending his precious young life.

This child imitated something he saw on television that in my simple way of thinking should never have been videoedtaped or recorded – not for any reason. But in our “right to know, just gotta have it, I-demand-to-see-and-know-all culture”, someone recorded it and made sure it was made available to the masses.

This sad, sad news brings home once again the reality that our children, the world’s children, are watching! They are listening to all of us and they are saying what we say and doing what we do.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of a silly little song my kids learned in Sunday school:

“Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.”

The song repeats itself in four more verses with a few changes:

“Be careful little ears what you hear…
Be careful little mouths what you say…
Be careful little hands what you touch…
Be careful little feet where you go…”

I am sure that in the days to come much will be said in hindsight to speculate why this child took his life. Many questions will be asked that have no answers. The one thing that screams out to me and again reminds me of a word God has already spoken and confirmed in His Word – is we must guard our hearts. We must do everything that’s up to us to do to guard and protect the hearts and minds of our children.

Three things I leave you with to pause and ponder if you will:

1. Be watchful. There is a very real enemy among us and he is working tirelessly and without sleep to steal kill and destroy…not just us, but our seed (our children). (What is God prompting you to be watchful of and for?)

* I Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.”

2. Above all other guardings, more than you guard anything else in this life, guard your heart. (In what ways have you left your heart and soul unguarded and therefore vulnerable to your own type of mimicking?)

* Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

3. Whatever is up to you to do, be diligent and faithful to do it, EVEN IF YOUR KIDS DON’T LIKE YOU FOR DOING IT! Even if your sisters and brothers think you are doing the wrong thing, do what you know God is telling you to do and receive the tangible peace that comes from doing the right thing at the right time.

Stephanie

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 1:22-25 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

When my children were toddlers, one of their favorite toys (and mine, too) was a plastic sphere-shaped toy designed to teach them how to sort things by their shape. Together we had great moments of fun with it by trying to fit each of the different shaped objects into its corresponding opening.

Every once in a while one of the kids would attempt to fit a shape into the wrong opening. For example, my son might try to fit a trapezoid shape into a hole designed for a rectangle. Try as he might he couldn’t get the rectangle to take in the trapezoid. He’d turn it over and around, again and again to no avail. You can imagine his level of frustration as his sincere efforts failed.

My daughter would occasionally jump in and offer him a different piece – sometimes it fit and sometimes it didn’t. (They eventually got quite good at it!) Gently I’d encourage them to examine the shapes a bit more carefully. Within a moment or two the shapes would find their proper home.

Once in a while they would resist my help, ignore the game’s specific design, and attempt to force a shape where it obviously did not fit. As hard as it was, I’d leave them alone to figure out on their own. Sometimes they’d ask for my help but other times they’d stick it out and eventually get them all in. Each time was like the first time for them and with great enthusiasm they’d clap their hands with delight. Then they’d pop it open, dump all the shapes out on the floor, and start all over again.

Isn’t that just like us? God created, gifted and shaped us all to be uniquely different.

There is no other human being on the planet whose inward parts are shaped, formed and molded to be expressly like yours or mine.

So tell me, why do we spend so much time trying to be like someone else? Why do we so harshly judge those who are different, who don’t fit our specific mold of what a “proper church lady” looks like? God has given all of us something – talents, gifts and abilities – that He, Himself intended to enjoy in relationship with us for His good pleasure and for the purpose of edifying His Body, the Church.

That means I can be a goofy, crazy, serious, sometimes pensive, loud, outspoken, creative, dancer, writer me to the glory of God, fitting ever so rightly the shape He alone designed for me. I can home school…or not, dance…or not, wear pants…or not, wear my hair long…or not, wear jewelry…or not, dress up for church on Sunday…or not, wear a tie…or not,…and so on and so forth. I can do all that or be all that and not offend God as much as I might irk another brother or a sister.

Yes! Yes! Yes! There is a time and a place for everything under the sun. Period.

My challenge is this: Will I dare today to focus more on my own heart before a Holy and Righteous God than I will on any other thing? Will I bravely endeavor to go where I have not gone before in relationship with the Savior of my soul? Will I run, laugh, leap, dance and pray with the abandon of One who is in love and loving it every step of the way?

Hey, I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we go there together? Take that first step with me. Allow God to give you new legs, new arms and new feet to praise Him! If you decide to go there with me, meet me at the merry-go-round with your dancing shoes on!

“And He took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”–Acts 3:7-8

Stephanie

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 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

I was about twelve years old, sitting in junior church, listening to a missionary speak. I do not remember the missionary’s name nor the mission field where she served. Through the more than 60 years since, I have only remembered a portion of her story. The missionary told of a train wreck in which she was thrown out of the train with her train seat still attached to her. She related that she received no serious injuries, but the Bible verse that came immediately to her mind was Psalm 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. I have often found it amusing that I remembered that little snippet from a complete talk.

Recently, I experienced a fall that could have been very serious, even life-threatening, when I fell from a car and found myself flat on my back on the parking lot asphalt. I sustained a huge goose egg on the back of my head and many bruises on my back side. For several days I was immersed in the ‘might have beens’ and fear. As I tried to write in my prayer journal, I asked the Lord to give me a verse to help rid me of my fear. Of course, I’m sure you know the verse that popped into my mind: Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising!

Just think, even more than sixty years ago, God knew I would need that verse and a good chuckle at this very moment.

I remember hearing Elisabeth Elliott state “God is already in the future.” He is waiting for you and He has helped you store up the verses that you will need to remind you that He is already in the future just waiting for you. He has also promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee“(Hebrews 13:5, KJV). You may not find yourself sitting in an unexpected place or in a precarious position, but you may certainly find yourself in a situation you did not expect, facing a problem that was not predicted. You can rest assured He will always be there for you..

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Marilyn is a wife and mother, author, and international conference and retreat speaker. She and her husband Glen serve as Counselors-in-Residence at America’s KESWICK during the summer months.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:22-25 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible although I have several. When I first studied this verse I was using the NIV version of the Bible so today, I’m going to use it for our Victory Call. Are you seeing how practical the Book of James is? I love it. Fellow sojourner-I believe as we meditate on these verses this week we will be challenged and greatly impacted by their truth.

James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

Commentary:
“be doers. The fact that James calls professing believers to be ‘doers,’ rather than simply to do, emphasizes that their entire personality should be characterized in that way…deceiving. Lit. ‘reasoning beside or alongside’ (as in ‘beside oneself’). This word was used in mathematics to refer to miscalculation. Professing Christians who are content with only hearing the Word have made a serious spiritual miscalculation.”

“observing (looks). A forceful Greek word meaning to look carefully and cautiously, as opposed to taking a causal glance. Mirror. First-century mirrors were not glass but metallic, made of bronze, silver – or for the wealthy – gold. The metals were beaten flat and polished to a high gloss, and the image they reflected was adequate, but not perfect…”

“forgets what kind of man he was. Unless professing Christians act promptly after they hear the Word, they will forget the changes and improvements that their reflection showed them they need to make.”

“perfect law. In both the OT and the NT, God’s revealed, inerrant, sufficient, and comprehensive Word is called ‘law’…The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit to keep it …liberty (freedom). Genuine freedom from sin. As the Holy Spirit applies the principles of Scripture to believers’ hears they are freed from sin’s bondage and enabled to obey God…” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pgs. 1884-1885]

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.

Points to Ponder

James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Points to ponder:
Over and over again in Scripture when we are told to put off something, we are also told what to put on in its place.

Ephesians 4: 22-24 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:25 put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor

Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands,

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.

Colossians 3:8-10 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

In our meditation verse this week, we are called to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and instead to receive with meekness the implanted word.

Implanted word. I have been thinking about that phrase. Implanted word.

Colossians 3: 16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How does the Word change us? Does it dwell in us richly? Richly? How do we receive the Word? I believe next week’s meditation verses will expound on that.

Blessings my friend,
Diane

Today, in the process of cleaning out my computer files, I came across an email someone sent to me on May 18th, 2006 titled, “The Whale”. It was sent 14 days prior to my husband and I receiving a phone call informing us that our one and only daughter’s life was hanging by a very weak thread. Overnight my husband, our son, and I went from doing life in Toms River, New Jersey to watching her struggle for life in San Francisco, California.

As I reread the story of “The Whale” I couldn’t help but think about…”our story”.

“A female humpback whale had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, and a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate)and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her …a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.” -source unknown

While my daughter was in intensive care she needed serious rescuing as well. It took teams of doctors, a new liver, and an assortment of different life-sustaining machines to untangle the very precarious position she was in. Like the whale she was wrapped in hundreds of yards of lines, wires, tubes and hoses. The only difference is hers were keeping her alive! Machines were working hard to breathe, feed and physically function for her until the body – with it’s new liver – could do what it was designed to do, on its own.

In the whale story, a fisherman radioed for help and a rescue team arrived. In “our story” I told one person and rescue teams showed up, not only in California with us (in the form of all the doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.), but all over the place, from New Jersey to England. Our rescue team was everywhere! Hundreds of brothers and sisters in Christ…even the unconverted to Christ, were praying for her, for us, to be delivered.

They endured until, one line after the other she was freed from all those machines and once again breathing, walking, eating, thinking, speaking without any mechanical assistance. Her physical healing came!

Our rescuers prayed until something happened!

Just like the whale much is not known concerning the “why” of my dear one’s entanglement. In fact, whenever I watch TV news stories like the one mentioned above, I am always stunned by the seeming senselessness of the whale, to get itself into so much trouble.

Have you ever thought about it? We’re, all of us, one decision away from victory or defeat; entanglement or freedom; sinking or swimming…the list could go on and on, but you get my point.

We need each other! We need rescuing!

Consider those you know who, like the whale, are weighted down by life traps and may need you to come to their rescue. Are we willing to wear out the carpet beside our beds, travailing in prayer? Are we willing to intercede for them with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! May it be said of us that we were not afraid to pray, that we were available at a moment’s notice to come to the rescue.

I could probably write a book detailing how prayer preceded incident after marvelous incident in the saving of my daughter’s life. But the story is not yet mine to tell.

Our faithful Lord continues to write her story, just as He patiently and painstakingly writes each of ours – day in and day out. His story is written on our hearts and read by all those we are visible to. He does this as we seek to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

“Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Stephanie

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 1:21
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.