My three year old grandson Joshua is such a sweetheart! He has a killer smile and the cutest dimples! He has also become quite the chatterbox. My grandkids call me Baba, an old Ukrainian thing. I’m sure just like every other grandmother out there… I’m always telling my grandkids how much I love them. One day I went over to my son’s to babysit and when I walked through the door Joshua came running over and asked, with that cute little voice, “you love me Baba?” You can imagine how that melted my heart!

I shared that story with those I work with at the Colony of Mercy. Colony Intern Joe came to me a few days later and shared with me how my little story impacted his heart. He pondered that we are God’s children and He loves us with an unfailing, all-encompassing, boundless love. With such a sacrificial love that He even gave His only Son to die for even such a one like me. And He tells us freely in His Word how much He loves us. Yet we doubt.

Jeremiah 31:3
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying¨ I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 John 3:1
“How great is the love the Father lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”

Joe shared that he began think to about and say “you love me Abba?” Isn’t it amazing how we have Scripture after Scripture that tells of our Abba Father’s love for us, yet we still doubt… we still question. Yes He loves us when we live for Him, when we serve Him, and when we praise Him. But He still loves us when we walk away from Him and do our “own thing” for a time. Yes, even when we break His heart, He still loves us. He loves us even though He knows every skeleton we have in our closet. And as redeemed children of the King, He chooses to remember them no more….and continues to love us.

Psalm 102:11-12
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who hear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Jeremiah 31:34
“…For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

This agape love is more than my brain can comprehend. So we come to God and say “you love me Abba?”

And Father God answers “Yes, Yes, YES! I love you my precious child.”

Mary Ann

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 37 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and one granddaughter! She serves at America’s Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

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.

Have you ever been awed by the thought of how many DIFFERENT people there are in the world? I mean in our appearances: we ALL look different! Eyes, noses, hair color, body size, shoe size, etc., etc. I think about that from time to time and am amazed at what a CREATIVE God we have!

Well, another thought popped into my head along that line the other day – our VOICES! They are all unique! And we acquaint them with the people they are attached to.

How many times do you answer the phone with, “Hello?” wondering who is on the other end? Of course this is BEFORE caller ID! HaHaHaHa! But even with caller ID we wait in anticipation to HEAR the familiar voice of a friend or family member, co-worker, etc.

I guess it hit me when I overheard a conversation my husband was having with his dad. He was holding the phone a little away from his ear and I heard the voice coming from the other end and recognized my father-in-laws voice. His voice identified who he was, I didn’t have to see a picture of him.

If I stop to think about it long enough I just have to stop and shake my head! Our voices are unique to us. Sometimes people identify us by our voices. The mind of God is SO VAST to create each of us with a unique voice!!

And then I ask myself, do I know God well enough to recognize His voice when He speaks to me? Do I wait with anticipation when I sit with Him in prayer or bible reading? Or even in the busy-ness of my day? Can I hear Him? Do I hear Him? Do I recognize HIS unique voice?

Just a thought…..

John 10:2-5, 25-29
“But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by NAME and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes AHEAD of them, and the sheep follow him BECAUSE they KNOW his VOICE. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they DO NOT know the VOICE of strangers. vs. 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep HEAR My VOICE, and I KNOW them, and they FOLLOW Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; an no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Sue Mercer
Women of Character Graduate

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

Let me begin with an apology for the delinquency of this Victory Call. No excuses, but It is my fault it was delayed.

I am looking forward to this week’s meditation. I believe it will bless our hearts. Meditation is hard isn’t it? Yesterday in Church we sang, “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it” I can certainly identify with that statement. Can you? So many things are clamoring for our attention. Sister, when we get to heaven, there will be NO DISTRACTIONS. That will be glory.

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

Commentary:
“Put away all filthiness pictures the stripping off of dirty clothes … based on desire to have noting to do with the dirt (here, moral evil) ever again. In place of filthy behavior, the implanted word must take root in God’s people. This idea of God planting his revealed truth reflects Deut. 30:14 (“the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart”) and especially the new covenant of Jer. 31:33 (“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts”) Save your souls refers here to progressive sanctification and ultimately the completion of God’s saving work on the last day.” [ESV Study Bible Notes page 2392]

Let me begin with an apology for the delinquency of this Victory Call. No excuses, but It is my fault it was delayed.

I am looking forward to this week’s meditation. I believe it will bless our hearts. Meditation is hard isn’t it? Yesterday in Church we sang, “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it” I can certainly identify with that statement. Can you? So many things are clamoring for our attention. Sister, when we get to heaven, there will be NO DISTRACTIONS. That will be glory.

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

Commentary:
“Put away all filthiness pictures the stripping off of dirty clothes … based on desire to have noting to do with the dirt (here, moral evil) ever again. In place of filthy behavior, the implanted word must take root in God’s people. This idea of God planting his revealed truth reflects Deut. 30:14 (“the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart”) and especially the new covenant of Jer. 31:33 (“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts”) Save your souls refers here to progressive sanctification and ultimately the completion of God’s saving work on the last day.” [ESV Study Bible Notes page 2392]

Points to Ponder

James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Points to Ponder:
To be quick to hear and slow to speak. This is the opposite of how we tend to be, certainly how I tend to be. Being quick to speak is typically all about us. Being quick to hear is typically all about the other person. To be slow to speak. Just think on that a few moments. How would your relationships change if you observed that one priority? To be slow to speak. We would think twice about offending words. We would think twice about criticizing. We would think twice about gossip. We would think twice about arguing. We would think twice about what is going to come out of our mouths when we do speak.

Do we listen more than we talk?

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. When I really thought about that verse, I realized that my anger is about me, not God. I am not accomplishing what He wants with my anger; I am accomplishing what I want. I am not glorifying God when I am quick to anger.

Lord, thank you for the reminder today of these truths and may I be more interested in applying them in my own life than in others.

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.

Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? These are the three questions the Holy Spirit is teaching me to ask lately relative to my tongue and emails or any other form of communication I may be inclined to speak by.

It is so easy to speak without thinking, isn’t it? To speak without regard for how one’s words may impact the hearer is a problem that is common to all and one that is not easily remedied apart from a constant awareness of grace.

Moment-by-moment, day-by-day, we have to choose to care how our words will affect others. We have to want to consider others more highly than ourselves and then choose to speak only what is edifying to the one who hears.

I wish I could say I succeed at this all the time but if I did I’d certainly be lying. So instead I’ll be honest and give glory to God for His Word, His faithful Word which is always right, true, good, and ready to teach me how to “go and sin no more” against those whom He loves and whom I want to love.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. ~~ Ephesians 4:25-32

Enough said.

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 1:19,20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

I don’t know about you, but praying for other people doesn’t really come naturally to me. I don’t know how many times I’ve told someone I’d pray for them, and then forget. I guess that’s my selfish, “old man” nature. Most of the time it’s just forgetfulness, but sometimes I’m not really sure what to pray. You know, “bless so-and-so and give them a nice day, and make them feel better, and, um, help them with whatever they need today, and, um…..” Ever do that?

I was at a ladies day at a friend’s church recently, and before a brief prayer time, one of the women shared 2 acronyms to help us as we pray. The first one, ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), I had heard many times. The second one was newer to me, and applies more to our prayers for others, especially when we’re not sure specifically how to pray.

B – body – physical needs, material needs
L – labor – their work, whether at home or outside employment
E – emotional – what are the stressors in their life?
S – social – relationships with others
S – spiritual – relationship with God

This is a great tool to cover all possible areas of need in someone’s life. A co-worker frequently comes and prays for me, and always asks God to meet my needs, whether they be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial – I think he’s on to something! (And thanks, Jacqui, for this great tool!)

So today, as you tackle your prayer list, remember to BLESS others.

Ruth

Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America’s Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:19,20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Have you ever been awed by the thought of how many DIFFERENT people there are in the world? I mean in our appearances: we ALL look different! Eyes, nose, hair color, body size, shoe size, etc., etc. I think about that from time to time and am amazed at what a CREATIVE God we have!

Well, another thought popped into my head along that line the other day – our VOICES! They are all unique! And we acquaint them with the people they are attached to.

How many times do you answer the phone with, “Hello?” wondering who is on the other end? Of course this is BEFORE caller ID! HaHaHaHa! But even with caller ID we wait in anticipation to HEAR the familiar voice of a friend or family member, co-worker, etc.

I guess it hit me when I overheard a conversation my husband was having with his dad. He was holding the phone a little away from his ear and I heard the voice coming from the other end and recognized my father-in-law’s voice. His voice identified who he was; I didn’t have to see a picture of him.

If I stop to think about it long enough, I just have to stop and shake my head! Our voices are unique to us. Sometimes people identify us by our voices. The mind of God is SO VAST to create each of us with a unique voice!!

And then I ask myself, do I know God well enough to recognize His voice when He speaks to me? Do I wait with anticipation when I sit with Him in prayer or Bible reading? Or even in the busyness of my day? Can I hear Him? Do I hear Him? Do I recognize HIS unique voice?

Just a thought…..

John 10:2-5, 25-29
But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by NAME and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes AHEAD of them, and the sheep follow him BECAUSE they KNOW his VOICE. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they DO NOT know the VOICE of strangers. vs. 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep HEAR My VOICE, and I KNOW them, and they FOLLOW Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; an no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Sue Mercer
Women Of Character Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:19,20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

I was listening to a sermon on-line this past week and was challenged AGAIN by the idea of reading the Scriptures ALOUD. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Romans 10:17. So for the last few days, I have been reading my Bible out loud in my own hearing. What I find interesting is how much effort it takes to do that. I don’t mean I break a sweat, but that it is just easier to read silently to myself. Why is it such an effort? I have to force myself to read out loud. As you are meditating your way through James this year, may I be so bold as to challenge you to read out loud the verses, chapters or books that you are reading. I am so ready for change. Are you?

James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Commentary:
Swift to hear, slow to speak. Believers are to respond positively to Scripture, and eagerly pursue every opportunity to know God’s Word and will better…But at the same time, they should be cautious about becoming preachers or teachers too quickly…wrath(anger)…This is from the Greek word that describes a deep, internal resentment and rejection, in this context, of God’s Word…” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur, pg. 1884] (parenthesis added)

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.

As we take small portions of Scripture each week to meditate on, may I encourage you to also be reading through the Book of James a few times each week? We don’t want to lose sight of the forest for the trees. We need to keep our reading in the context of the book and of the Bible as a whole.

Our Care Groups at the church I go to are following the RMMR (Read, Meditate, Memorize, Repeat) reading method and right now we are focused on reading Genesis through 1 Samuel a few chapters at a time. Each month we also have a small portion of Scripture to focus on more intentionally and a verse or two to memorize. I realized recently that I have no problem with the reading, but I get lazy when it comes to the meditating and memorizing. I want to go deeper, and as our title suggests Dig Deeper. That is not going to happen if I simply read a few chapters a day. I need to be intentional to slow down and pray and meditate through portions. All are necessary for balance. If we meditate without the broader picture we can easily be led astray into error because we lose the context. If we read but don’t meditate we skim across the surface and never dig deep. I really want to do both. Will you join me?

James 1:16-18 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

I suspect most of us don’t struggle with the idea that every good gift comes down from the Father of lights. But what is a perfect gift? By whose standards is it a perfect gift? Don’t we struggle with the “other stuff” that happens, believing and trusting it too comes down from the Father of lights.

As we read through the Scripture, over and over again, there is evidence that God sends tests as well as the “good gifts”. But I believe, from God’s perspective, it is all good and perfect because He is about His plan and purpose in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son.

Of His own will. Oh, my friend can we rest in that simple truth today? God is accomplishing everything according to His perfect will individually and corporately. God is sovereign and His will is perfect for you and for me.

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.