I get several e-devotionals and one I just read made me stop and think, and I just had to pass it on. The writer was talking about Peter walking on the water to Jesus and after he starts to sink and Jesus saves him, Jesus asks him, “Why did you doubt?” (See Matthew 14:22-32) So the question is, who did Peter doubt, Jesus or himself? And the answer…. Same thing. If God lives in us (Galatians 2:20), then when we say we can’t do something, we’re really saying we don’t believe God can.

And yet, just a few short chapters later, Jesus said “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). That doesn’t necessarily mean that everything we plan or attempt will work out. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” So if it is the Lord’s will, and He lives in us and empowers us, why are we doubting that we (He!) can do what He’s directed us to do?

So here we are at the beginning of a new year. What is God calling you to do this year? It’s doubtful He’s asking you to actually walk on water, or slay a giant with one stone, or lead an entire nation through the desert, but even if He was, couldn’t He give you all you need to do it? Oh yeah, He’s already done all those things!

“This seems impossible for me. But nothing is impossible for the God who lives in me. That means all things really are possible for me too. I can do this with Him.”
Now that’s good news for a new year!

Can I get an “amen” and a “woo-hoo” too?1

Ruth

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

1 copied from Heart to Heart with Holley

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

“I’m praying about that.” Prayer is good and vital, so don’t misunderstand what I am about to say. We should pray, and pray without ceasing. However, I think sometimes we are delaying what we know we should do or stalling obedience to God’s instruction.

We sound so spiritual because we are praying about something or perhaps even praying about everything but if we don’t act when God instructs us, we are most likely disobeying or sinning in our unbelief.

There is a time for prayer and there is a time for action – let us not confuse the two. Far too often I act when I should be praying (following my own agenda) or praying when I should take action (disobeying and stalling).

As God led Moses and the people of Israel up out of Egypt thy found themselves trapped between the advancing Egyptian chariots and the very wet Red Sea.

Exodus 14:10, “The people of Israel…feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.” This seems appropriate to me. They immediately complained and blamed Moses who then called them to stand firm and watch the hand of God deliver them. “And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (vs. 13-14).

Then… “The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.”

God called them to action. There is a time to pray being still and a time to get moving while we pray.

If I am stomping on your toes, I cannot apologize because I have stomped all over my own in the process.

Ladies, pray and when God says move, move.

Love you,
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.

James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Twice in the past week I have heard the question posed on TV “And what caused the turning point in your life?” The question was asked of a woman dealing with anorexia and of a man conquering an addiction to drugs. They both answered the question with basically the same answer: “When someone finally spoke the truth to me.”

“I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:18, NIV).

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment” (Zechariah 8:16, NIV).

Now the secret is that as Christians we are to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15, NIV). But how do we do that?

The Bible is quite clear. We are to give the truth to a person without a lot of personal opinion. Our back up should always be scripture.

I recall many years ago when a Christian friend spoke the truth to me. My friend and I were both on the PTA (Parent/Teacher Association) board and attended an integration meeting for our children’s school together. I was convinced I was not racist, but I was actively working against integration and felt very justified in my position. As we were driving home after the meeting, my friend said to me, “Marilyn, I know you are very sincere in your position, but I believe you have a racist attitude and your position is not honoring to God.”

Now I can’t say I was thrilled to hear her statement, but I knew my friend was trying to speak the truth to me. My responsibility was to receive her words and try to decide just exactly what I was going to do with her words. I took her words to the Lord and prayed for God to show me what He wanted me to do and how I could represent Him best.

God began to speak to my heart and I began to see that I was afraid of those who were obviously different from me. I asked God to change my heart and help me welcome change in my life and in our home.

I could spend hours telling you how God expanded my views and subsequently my life. One of the greatest things that happened was when an African-American young man said to me, “You know the thing I like about the way you raised your kids? You raised them to be color-blind!”

How grateful I am that my friend spoke the truth to me in love. I can’t imagine what I would be like if she hadn’t spoken the truth to me that day. My friend did not preach or condemn, but she spoke the truth lovingly. I’m sure she had no idea how God would expand my life’s experiences and break down the walls of prejudice that I was convinced were justified and acceptable for a Christian to have.

Perhaps you need to speak the truth to someone and perhaps that someone is you!

Dear Jesus,
Open my eyes to truth and break down the walls of untruth with which I have surrounded myself. Help me to speak truth in love. Amen

Marilyn 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 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I hope you have joined us in our journey through James this year. We are taking it in small morsels so it should not be overwhelming. May I encourage you to meditate on the Scripture selection each week and by years end you will have meditated your way through the book of James.

James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Commentary:
“There is one thing necessary to be observed in our asking, v. 6. There must be no wavering, no staggering at the promise of God through unbelief….Sincerity of intention, and steadiness of mind, constitute another duty required under affliction…To be sometimes lifted up by faith, and then thrown down again by distrust – this is very fitly compared to a wave of the sea, that rises and falls, swells and sinks, just as the wind tosses it higher or lower, that way or this. The success of prayer is spoiled hereby, b. 7. Such a distrustful shifting, unsettled person is not likely to value a favour from God as he should do, and therefore cannot expect to receive it. A wavering faith and spirit has a bad influence upon our conversations, v. 8. There will be great unsteadiness in all our conversations and actions. He that is unstable as water shall not excel.” [Matthew Henry’s Commentary in One Volume pg. 1930-1931]

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.

I hope you are joining us on our journey through James this year. Sometimes we race through our Bible reading so we can check it off our “to-do” list and on to the next thing. My selection of a book with only 5 chapters was intentional so that we could nibble small morsels and really savor them. You will notice each week, we will only be considering 1, 2 or 3 verses. I trust you will allow that verse or two to really sink in and ruminate in your heart every day of the week. As God to show you ways to apply His truth and to grow your faith in His Word.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Points to Ponder:
I don’t know about you but sometimes this verse is difficult to believe because it doesn’t always FEEL like God is giving us wisdom generously, does it? Faith, however, requires that we CHOOSE to believe even when we don’t FEEL it.
We lack wisdom every day. Daily, hourly we should be asking God for His wisdom, His insight, His guidance. As we walk obediently in His presence, He will guide, and give us wisdom. It isn’t likely to show up on a black board or in your mailbox. God is relational; His wisdom will become evident as we walk with Him.
This is a great promise. God’s promises are true and He has never failed to keep His Word. Ask, believe and receive His wisdom.

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.

Yesterday I shared a story… Here’s a recap… (for the full story see yesterday’s Victory Call)

(I was) awakened from my slumber… I recognized the person at the door but the look on his face was alarming…”Quick, The enemy is on the prowl. Where is your battle armor? Your weapons? You must stay alert.” …I remember sitting down for just a moment… I was so tired…. I was too tired to pick them up, too tired to remember, we are at war… How did I forget all that?

This is a fabricated story to express how I felt on a recent Sunday morning when Pastor Tim Shorey started what will be an 18-month sermon series through the book of Revelation. He said, “We are in a war zone.” “We must stand ready to fight…not a fighting with guns, weapons and bombs …but with words, with grace and with truth… fighting for the soul… it is a war…” “Fight against sin…fight for holiness” “Two great kingdoms are in conflict and we are in the middle of war…there is an enemy raging against us… we are at war everyday. Your entertainment center is a war zone. The mall is a war zone…your diet is a war zone…your tastes are a war zone…your work place is a war zone…your bank book, your devotions are war zones…. There is no safe place on planet earth.”

I realized I had drifted off to sleep in my spiritual walk and let my weapons fall to the ground. If obedience was “easy” I obeyed; but if it was too hard, I made excuses. Fight against sin? Fight for holiness? How did I forget?

Dear fellow believers: AWAKE. ARISE. We are at war. BE ALERT. FIGHT. PERSEVERE.

Fight the good fight of the faith. 1 Timothy 6:12

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all… Isaiah 7:9b

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, Revelation 2:26

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:5

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Revelation 3:12

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:21

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.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

I was sleeping fitfully, drifting in and out of awareness of my surroundings. My dreams were pleasant but interrupted periodically with shouts and noises. I was relatively unconcerned and rolled over and drifted back to sleep.

It was early morning when in my dream my husband and I were enjoying a very relaxing canoe trip on a warm sunny day when I heard banging. My first thought was that my husband was somehow banging his paddle on the side of the canoe for some reason, but that thought quickly passed as I became aware that the banging was not in my dream but at my door.

Somewhat groggy and irritated that I was being awakened from my slumber, I put on my robe and made my way to the door hoping I didn’t look like I had just gotten out of bed.

I peered out the window to see who was so bold to be waking me this early in the morning. I recognized the person at the door but the look on his face was alarming. My heart went into double-time as I quickly opened the door.

He was frantic. “You are in danger. Quick, The enemy is on the prowl. Where is your battle armor? Your weapons? You must stay alert.” Suddenly, every one of my senses was at the ready. My presence of mind returned as my groggy mind cleared. “We are at war,” he said. As we stood at the door, I could hear explosions and gunfire in the background. Fear was palatable.

I shook my head. What could I have been thinking? I knew we were in a war. How could I have drifted off to such blissful sleep? I remember sitting down for just a moment, with my battle armor in hand. I was so tired; I just wanted to rest for a moment. I would keep my weapons ready. I wanted to rest just for a moment. Just for a moment… just for a moment.

It’s coming back to me, sometime during the night, my armor was getting heavy and my weapons slipped from my hands. The sound as they hit the floor roused me from sleep but only momentarily. I was too tired to pick them up, too tired to remember, we are at war.

Fully awake now, I wanted to kick myself. How could I forget? There was a time that I fought tirelessly, following my orders from the Commander – I didn’t hesitate to carry them out. I knew being in His army was the best choice and in the end I was assured of His victory. I was excited that He wanted me in His army. I was a novice and knew nothing of war, but He assured me He would not only teach me everything I needed to know, but He would also provide the power to accomplish all He asked and that He would never abandon me. How did I forget all that?

Ephesians 6:11-18 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…”

Tune in tomorrow for Part II…
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.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

My younger daughter and I were riding in our car one day. It was rather warm especially in the sun. We drove past an eighteen wheeler truck and I heard my daughter mumble something. So I asked her what she said and she replied, “I said thank you to the truck.” I said, “Why would you do that?” She said the truck gave her some shade and it felt good. It made me think about shade…how it feels to get some relief from the hot sun.

There was a time when I had been at the beach and had gotten very bad sunburn and every time the sun would come across my legs it would just burn! So that evening walking the boardwalk I would run from awning to awning to get to the SHADE so that my legs would not burn.

Have you ever run to the shade? Have you ever been at a baseball game wishing you had worn some kind of hat with a brim on it?! I’ve taken umbrellas to some of my kid’s baseball games! There’s something about getting out of the bright sunlight that just makes you take a sigh of relief!

It also made me think of a verse that had been discussed in the past few months. Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the SHADOW of the Almighty.”

When I think about that I think, “What a great God we have!! He provides SHADE for us – RELIEF from the heat of battle!!” We can run to His shade and rest. May we continue to dwell in His shelter so that we will get relief from the daily battle. Next time you put your hand up to shade your eyes, thank Him for the SHADE!

Sue Mercer
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Already I am hearing back from you how the truths of the book of James are impacting your lives in very practical ways. What an encouragment to hear how God is using His word in everyday situations. Share your stories.

Take God at His Word. Believe Him, not just IN Him. Fight the fight of faith. Without faith, His Word will just be words on a page to us. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:2 NKJV).

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Commentary
“1:5 wisdom. James’s Jewish audience recognized this as the understanding and practical skill that was necessary to live life to God’s glory. It was not a wisdom of philosophical speculation, but the wisdom contained in the pure and peacable absolutes of God’s will revealed in His Word (cf. 3:13,17) and lived out. Only such divine wisdom enables believers to be joyous and submissive in the trials of life. Ask of God. This command is a necessary part of the believer’s prayer life… God intends that trials will drive believers to greater dependency on Him, by showing them their own inadequacy. As with all His riches (Eph. 1:7, 2:7; 3:8; Phil. 4:19) God has wisdom in abundance (Rom. 11:33) available for those who seek it.” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary pg. 1882]

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.

Having counseled now almost 20 years, I have had more than a few questions about these verses. How do we count trials joy?

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Points to Ponder:
I think the answer lies in these verses. For you know… what do we know? We know that testing, trials and difficulty are producing something in our lives. It can be profitable or destructive. What is a faith that is untested? Unknown. It is easy to believe when your beliefs are not challenged. Right? A bridge may look good and sturdy but until a car or truck drives over it, it remains untested.

God uses our sufferings, our trials and testing to strengthen us. How can we count it all joy? Not because we are in trials but because God is in our trials. Faith. Count is all joy by faith even when your feelings fail you. He is up to something for our good and His glory, EVEN IF WE CAN’T SEE IT OR FEEL IT.

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.

If you did not receive yesterday’s Victory Call, you can access it on our website, http://www.americaskeswick.org