Abraham and his half-sister-wife Sarah journeyed in Garar. In his mind, the safest way to explain their relationship to the King of Gerar, Abimelech, was to say Sarah was his sister, which was indeed truth. But it was only half the truth. When this was revealed to Abimelech by God in a dream he returned Sarah to Abraham unharmed. When he asked Abraham why he did such a thing, Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place, they will kill me because of my wife. Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife (21:11-12).

Why did Abraham offer only half the truth? Fear. In this case he feared for his safety, his life.

Why do we tell half-truths? Typically out of fear.

I remember many years ago when I was working as a systems engineer, my boss asked me about a particular project I was working on and I emphasized all the positive things I had accomplished, not really addressing his question because truth be told I had not completed the part he was asking about. I was afraid of his criticism or correction so it was easier to place myself in the most favorable light. Interesting that I specifically remember that 25 years later.

Even as I sit here writing this, the Lord is challenging me regarding those ever-so-subtle forms of lying. In addition to half-truths, how about when we exaggerate? Or when we say something to make someone feel good but it isn’t necessarily true? When we say something because it’s what we are expected to say? And I am sure there are many more.

To not make ourselves crazy about every word that comes out of our mouths we should probably yield to two things:
1. What mom said – think before you speak and
2. What God’s Word says- “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” Psalm 141:3

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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

If we were to pause for a second and consider the grace that saved us, that fact alone is enough to bring us to our knees in worship of the One True God. Taken a step further: considering our own individual life situations and circumstances, pause and reflect on the present-tense evidence of God’s grace.

Psalm 139:1-3 says, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.”

Powerful words from Scripture to remind us in the simplicity of our humanness that God is ever-present, all the time, and intimately acquainted with us in the inward details of our thinking, feeling and being.

To me, that fact alone is evidence of His grace, and I don’t ever want to lose sight of it!

Today, I invite you to get still and quiet with me. Consider the God you love and serve and allow more of Him to invade your thinking and feeling. Let Him show you the error in your ways, the stink in your thinking. After all, that too is grace. He loved us with Calvary’s Cross! He is therefore committed to molding and shaping us into the image and likeness of Himself in and through the Son, which is all the more evidence of His grace in our lives.

He sees, He hears and He knows us. He is with us always, which means, we are never ever alone. In or out of distress He is near.

Be intentional today to see new evidence of God’s loving care and faithfulness on display in the details of your life.

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “intrument 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
Matthey 5
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people´s feet.

This is a very strong and interesting word. Somehow I have overlooked the impact of it before, but this past weekend at a women’s conference, it sort of hit me right between the eyes. Have you ever been “compelled” to do something? Have you ever known someone who was “compelled” to do or say something?

The online dictionary definition for compel:i
1. To force, drive, or constrain.
2. To necessitate or pressure by force; exact.
3. To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway.

From the definition, it seems evident, that if someone is compelled, it is beyond their control to constrain themselves. In 1 Corinthians 9:16 the Apostle Paul says, “…for I am compelled to preach.”

Also in Acts 20:22 Paul says this:
“And now I am compelled by the Spirit. I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”

Paul could not help himself or constrain himself. He had to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and eventually he had to, was compelled to, go to Jerusalem no matter what happened to him. It was the Holy Spirit that placed this passion, this compulsion, to preach the Gospel.

I had a chance to speak one on one with the speaker in regard to this verse. I realized that the Lord has “compelled” me do what I do at the Colony of Mercy. I have a great passion to bring hope to those who feel hopeless. And especially those who have been deeply impacted by addiction, whether it is the addict himself or those that love him. The past several months have not been easy with disappointments and sorrows. The Intake Office has been very busy. I have gone home exhausted both mentally and spiritually. But each morning when I open my eyes, I have joy in my heart for the day ahead. I walk through the Colony doorway with a smile on my face. I must admit there are times when joy and strength are gone by 4:00 p.m. Then I have to seek the Lord and ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit so that I can do what is on God’s “to do” list for the day.

The speaker shared with me that she is also compelled to teach truths from the Word of God that are sometimes hard for others to accept. She gets great opposition yet she is compelled to put any fears aside and teach the Truth. There were those that were not happy with her this past weekend, but her challenge was for us to search the Scriptures ourselves and not take her word for it.

When the Holy Spirit compels you to do what God has called you to do there is nothing else to do but be obedient and follow the Spirit’s leading. God promises that His grace is sufficient to accomplish the task because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
This is true for the speaker of the women’s weekend. This is true for me.

This is also true for you.

MaryAnn

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.

i http://www.thefreedictionary.com/compel, retrieved 10/20/10

DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5:
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness´ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

We are quickly approaching year end and if you have joined us on our journey this year, I trust your heart has been blessed by the Word. I have been. This week we are meditating on the latter part of the Beatitude passage in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:10-16
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness´ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people´s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Commentary:
“Those who are persecuted are those who have been wrongly treated because of their faith. God is pleased when his people show that they value him above everything in the world, and this happens when they courageously remain faithful amid opposition for righteousness sake.”…Just as Jesus experiences opposition and persecution, his disciples can expect the same. Their reward may not come on earth, but it surely will be theirs in heaven…Throughout history, beginning with Cain’s murder of Abel…, there have been those who oppose God’s people…As salt is beneficial in a number of ways…so are disciples of Jesus who influence the world for good…Jesus’ disciples have the kingdom life within them as a living testimony to those in the world who do not yet have the light. The typical lamp in a Jewish home was fairly small and was placed on a stand to give maximum illumination. The world will see the light of the kingdom through the good works done by Jesus’ disciples (and believers today), with the result that the Father who is in heaven will be glorified. [ESV Study Notes ~ pg. 1828.

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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Points to ponder:
I have memorized portions of the beatitudes over the years, but I have enjoyed reviewing them and re-committing them to memory. What has impressed my heart as I have done so is the delight, beauty and faithfulness of our God. There is no question that as Christ-followers we are all blessed simply because of our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ. But as I reviewed these “Blessed are..” statements I am reminded that God meets us at EVERY point of need. Thank you, Lord.

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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

We have all heard stories of people who seemed to have been delivered in an instant from their bondage, the idols and desires of their hearts. We all wish that was us. But it isn’t. Can God deliver in an instant? Absolutely! Does God deliver in an instant? Absolutely! Does God ALWAYS deliver in an instant? No.

Sometimes God leads us the long way out of bondage for our own good. What? How can that be? That doesn’t sound right.

Exodus 13:17-18 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea…”

The advancing chariots blocked their way back to Egypt but that did not stop them from wanting to go back. Exodus 14:10-12 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. After crossing the Red Sea – it blocked their way back to Egypt.

Whichever way God chooses to lead you out of bondage is the most excellent way for you. It may be, and is likely to be, different than the way He delivered your sister, mother, brother, friend or the person that gave testimony in church Sunday. God knows those things that will cause you to “change your mind and return to Egypt.”

Will you trust Him today? Will you trust that His path of deliverance for you is perfect, even if it is the long way out of bondage?

Stop waiting for instant deliverance (disobeying in the process) and start walking the daily path the Lord has given you out of His wisdom, His foreknowledge and His steadfast love for you.

Love,
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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5:
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Recently, the Lord has allowed me to be put in some situations for which I have felt woefully inadequate. Have you ever felt that way?

The Lord brought me to 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV), “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

What a reassuring promise! His grace isn’t given sparingly, it abounds to us. Not in some things, but in all things. Not sometimes, but all the time. Not some of what we need, but all that we need. We will abound, not in some good works, but in every good work. If God gives us a divine appointment, He will enable us to do what He asks. And the weaker I am for the task, the more I need to rely on Him! And doing something in His strength is always better than trying to do it in mine. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake I delight in weaknesses……For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV).

So when we feel we are inadequate to help someone, when we don’t know what to say, when we don’t have the answers, remember, we know the One who does have all the answers. We can seek Him for wisdom and guidance, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NIV). And we can point others to Him.

“(We) can do everything through Him who gives (us) strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5:
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

I sat mesmerized as I watched that gorgeous old historic school building crumble in the jaws of the demolition excavator. That machine opened its jaws and took a huge bite out of the building. I could almost see it gulp, chew and then spew the remains onto the ground. Then it was ready for the next huge bite. I was in shock. How could it not be a mistake to demolish that wonderful old building? Then that building-eating monster headed toward the landmark tower. NOT THE TOWER!!! I gasped in horror as that monster of a machine tugged at the tower. The tower groaned some, then tumbled to the ground. The monster machine was not content just to pull the tower off its moorings, but once the tower was on the ground, that awful machine pounded on the tower until it succumbed to the pounding and broke into many smaller pieces. THE TOWER WAS GONE! Oh, oh, oh, I was devastated. How could that happen to such a beautiful old building that looked so steady and firm? The building needed to be made “earthquake safe,” and it was actually cheaper to tear the structure down and start over. The city felt that building’s structure would not withstand a strong earthquake. But it looked so good on the outside!

Have you ever felt that way, personally? I have. First, I have felt that way about others. They looked so solid, firm and predictable, but they fell, and they fell hard.

I have felt that way about me. I thought I was so strong, steady, and predictable, but I stumbled, and then I fell…flat on my face. What happened?

Well, I don’t have the answer for anyone but myself, but I can tell you that I thought I had my reputation and my success all wrapped up. I was a tower of predictability, of success. I had great faith in me! But the Bible says I need to place my faith in Jesus. My facade may look really strong, but when the earthquakes of life came, I rattled, I shook, and I fell. We must make sure that our faith is placed in Jesus, not in us!

How do we do that? First, we make sure that we know Christ personally. Do you know for sure that He is your personal Savior? If not, stop right now and invite Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior forever.

Second, we get to know what God’s Word says. We read His Word faithfully. By studying His Word, we get to know God better, too. We pray to Him and talk with Him.

Thirdly, we follow His directions. We become followers of Him. We show we are Christ followers by our daily behavior.

Then we become strong. Our life isn’t a facade; we are solid through and through. We are ready for the “earthquakes of life.”

Mat 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Marilyn Heavilin
author of Roses In December, December’s Song, Becoming A Woman of Honor, When Your Dreams Die, Grief Is A Family Affair, I’m Listening, Lord

DIGGING DEEPER
Matthew 5:
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Again this week we are in a very familiar portion of Scripture. I hope you have been following along with our year-long journey of digging deeper into the Word of God. I was reminded this week of John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Every moment we spend in the Word is enriching our lives in ways we might not see immediately but will reap fruit in years to come. Our verses this week are from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:1-9

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Commentary:
In his Beatitudes, Jesus makes pronouncements to the crowds and religious leaders and gives instructions to his disciples concerning the nature of life in the kingdom (vv.3-12). He follows this with two piercing metaphors on salt and light to illustrate the impact that the disciples will have on the world around them (vv. 13-16). [ESV Study Bible notes – pg. 1827]

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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

I trust you have been blessed this week as you have paused and lingered with the Savior.

Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
The Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
And to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
And young men shall fall exhausted;
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles;
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Points to Ponder
Are you tired and weary today? Wait for the Lord.
Are you faint today? Wait for the Lord.
Do you lack might today? Wait for the Lord.
Are you exhausted today? Wait for the Lord.
Do you want to soar today? Wait for the Lord.
Do you want to run without weariness today? Wait for the Lord.
Do you want to walk without fainting today? Wait for the Lord.

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 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.