John 15 12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

How do we love others the way Jesus loved us? It seems impossible to do. How do we risk our hearts day after day? I can think of only one way to even begin to do so and that is by being on our faces every morning. We need to be crying out to Him for the courage, strength and grace to love beyond our abilities. It is impossible to obey Jesus’ command to love the way He loved…in our own ability or strength. The ability to love like that only comes from the Holy Spirit who lives in us and will love through us. We are asked in Scripture to die to self and consider others better than ourselves. The TRUTH is: It’s not about me, it’s all about Jesus. Philippians 2:2-4 Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Just as we do not love in our own ability but through the Holy Spirit in us, we also do not have the capacity to handle the possibility of a broken heart. Praise the Lord that He is there for us in the pain as well. His grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs, even a broken heart. Love may be a risky business but the blessing of loving the way Jesus loves far out shines the pain. We must love one another and just give the rest to Him for His glory!

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. 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.

PSALM 86
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.

Have you ever found yourself having a very difficult time loving someone? Or continuing to love someone after they have hurt you deeply or repeatedly? I’m sure each of us has found ourselves in that position at one time or another. Each time we love someone we take a risk that our hearts may wind up broken.

From the time we are born, even before we can say the word “love,” or know its meaning, we begin to risk our hearts on loving someone. Usually the “someone” is our mom and dad. Not all parents love and care for their children the way they should and the hearts of the children may be broken. We risk our hearts with siblings, extended families, friends, spouses…the list goes on. Each time we put our hearts out there we are taking a risk that we may be wounded.

When our hearts are broken we naturally want to draw back, protect and nurse our wounded hearts. There are some people who totally draw back and build a hard shell around their heart and never love again because they don’t want or think they can’t endure more pain.

The world can withdraw their hearts, protect them from more hurt, and refuse to risk loving again. But as Christians we are called to a higher standard than that of the world. John 15 12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus commands us to love… just the way He loved us. So we can’t harden our hearts or play it safe. Jesus is our greatest example of love. Jesus risked His heart and His love on us. Love is a risky business and Jesus was in the business of risky love. He loved His family and they thought He had lost His mind. He loved those no one else would love and His own people scorned Him for it. He loved and had compassion on the sick and He healed them; very few ever even thanked him. Jesus came as Messiah to His Chosen People and they rejected Him and hung Him on a cross. His closest friends turned their backs on Him, one denied Him, and yet another gave Him over into the hands of those who would kill Him. For years I ignored Jesus, rebelled against Him…I wallowed in a sinful lifestyle and He still loved me.

Jesus knows what it’s like to risk love unabashedly and have His heart broken in pieces. And still…He laid down His life for us all. “Greater love has one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” And Jesus calls us His “friends.”

Love is a risky business.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. 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.

PSALM 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.

Why are we pursuing a weekly Scripture focus? There is power in the Word. Here are some thoughts to consider as we start a new week.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Ephesians 5:25-26 as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.

That’s why Victory Call is all about the WORD.

DIGGING DEEPER PSALM 86:11-13
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Commentary:”This Psalm is an individual lament (cf. Ps. 56) in which David expresses his distress and overcomes that distress through praise and worship. There is a sense of urgency demonstrated by some fourteen prayer requests. Undergirding the requests is the covenant relationship (vv. 2, 5, 13).” The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg.653.

The tally is in …… It was a close competition – but WE WON!!! Thanks, ladies, for your contribution to the 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk last Saturday, May 8.

Points to Ponder –

Psalm 66:16-20
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Are you sharing with other believers what God has done in your life? Are you pondering such things in your own heart?

17I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.

Are you regularly and intentionally crying out to God with praise and prayer?

18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

God is listening. He hears the cry of your heart. He knows the deepest longings of your soul. Before you have formed your thoughts into words He knows it full well. When you talk to God, you have His undivided attention. He is not distracted or bored. He delights that you have come to Him and He enjoys His time with you.

20Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

Friend, God delights in you. There is nothing you can say, do or not do that will tarnish God’s perfect love for you. His love is steadfast and immovable, yea everlasting. Pause and consider such things and be renewed in your spirit.

Diane

A woman and her family spent some time visiting a nursing home on a regular basis. They did it with their daughters as a ministry to those there that might not have someone to visit them. For a time they visited an elderly woman who had Alzheimer’s disease. They witnessed to her many times about Jesus Christ and their love for Him and His love for her. It became discouraging at times when she would only respond with religious comments that were not Biblical. She seemed not to know Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. One day as they were leaving from a visit with her, they “happened” to run into visitors coming to see her. She, in fact, did have family that visited on other days. After speaking with them, they came to realize that they, too, were believers in Jesus. “We are so happy to hear that! We’ve been visiting your mom for some time and sharing Christ with her but she doesn’t seem to know Him.” “Oh, no, they exclaimed, our mother has known the Lord for years, she just doesn’t remember. This disease often brings back memories of her life before Christ and that’s what you hear her referring to at times.” What an encouragement to this family, not only did the Lord honor their attempts to share Christ, but He took their discouragement away by confirming to them that He had this one and they could move on to the next one! Even if she didn’t remember Him, He would never forget about Her!

Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted. But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;Your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:13-16

Dina Seaton

PSALM 66:20
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Today has been hectic. We’re planning to leave the area in the morning. We have had many medical events in the last year and trying to get all of the prescriptions and doctors’ orders all lined up has been a real challenge. I kept hearing the words Wait on Me. I went to my on-line Bible, put in the words Wait on the Lord and watched to see what would come up. Well, this is the first verse that caught my attention: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). Ok, so the command is quite clear, but how do I do that?

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.” So does the instruction simply mean I should be brave? Actually, I believe it means that I should be encouraged. I made a decision that I would remind myself of the other times that God had been faithful and I would wait for the Lord to come through this time as well.

Matthew Henry commented, “wait, I say, on the Lord; whatever you do, grow not remiss in your attendance upon God. (2.) Keep up your spirits in the midst of the greatest dangers and difficulties: Be of good courage; let your hearts be fixed, trusting in God, and your minds stayed upon him, and then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage.”1

And come through, He did. Part of the hecticness of this day has been dissipated, and I know He will resolve the rest as He sees fit. How about you? Are you waiting on the Lord? Be encouraged. Let Him know you are waiting for Him to come through. Let Him strengthen your heart. Remind yourself of how He has always come through in His time. “Wait, I say, on the Lord.”

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.

PSALM 66
18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

1 Matthew Henry, E-Sword, on-line resource

There is a saying- “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” Right now I don’t know where my son is. What I don’t know is killing me. I don’t pray easy prayers for my children. I have shared how I pray that if my children will not bend their knee that God will break their leg. What I have learned is that prayer won’t just break their legs, but as God answers, it will break my heart. I have had to decide these last few months that God knows where my son is and that that is enough. Many plans of action have gone through my mind, but I do not believe he is in harms way. Rather he is choosing not to be found at this time. I realize that I lost my last ounce of control, my last bit of being able to keep my hands in my son’s life.

For all the letting go I have done, I find that I have had to let go of even more. God knew this time would come and I feel Him tugging at my heart to trust Him even more. Am I okay with the knowledge that my son can run but he can’t hide from God? Am I content with the knowledge that God does see him even when I can’t? Do I trust that this is the next step to drive my son to Christ? Do I trust that God is more than able?

Just when I thought I could not trust God anymore a bookmark was placed in my mailbox outside my office. It reads:

Father, During this coming week there may be times when I shall not be able to sense Your presence or to be aware of Your nearness.

When I am lonely and by myself I TRUST YOU TO BE MY COMPANION.

When I am tempted to sin I TRUST YOU TO KEEP ME FROM IT.

When I am depressed and anxious I TRUST YOU TO LIFT MY SPIRITS.

When I am crushed by my responsibility and overwhelmed by the demands of people on my time, I TRUST YOU TO GIVE ME POISE AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

When I am rushed and running I TRUST YOU TO MAKE ME STILL INSIDE.

When I forget You I TRUST THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET ME.

When I forget others I TRUST YOU TO PROMPT ME TO THINK OF THEM.

When you take something or someone from me that I want to keep; when You remove the props I lean on for comfort in place of You; when You refuse to respond to my questions and to answer my selfish prayers, I WILL TRUST YOU EVEN THEN. Amen

Will you trust Him with your “even then”?

Kathy Withers

PSALM 66
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.

I have been enjoying our focused attention on specific Scriptures and this week’s is no different. I hope you are making progress on your journey along with us. I know there are those of you who skim over our Monday and Friday Victory Calls because they are JUST about the Scripture and memorization. Ho, hum. Right? READER BEWARE! There is nothing “ho, hum” about the meditation and memorization of God’s Word. Imagine, God’s Words from His lips to your ears, your heart. Are you listening?

Psalm 66:16-20
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

Commentary:”The OT insists that each member of the people must own the covenant for himself; thus each one would have some report of what God has done for his soul (and not just for the people as a whole.) …The one requirement is that the worshiper has not cherished (lit., “looked forward to,” “aimed for”) iniquity in his heart (v.18). The term “iniquity” here… refers to what is vile and abhorrent to God. To “cherish iniquity” is to aim at it; in context it refers to praying for God’s help in order to be able to commit some form of sin – a practice the truly pious reject. Therefore it would be a misinterpretation to read this as implying that absolute sinlessness is a condition for answered prayer; rather, it reminds the faithful to pray for God’s help in order to give him thanks and to serve him better…” ESV Study Bible notes pg 1016.

The Family Freedom Walk is TOMORROW – It’s not too late to donate.

A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

In the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy and natural to be distracted from what really matters. We seek satisfaction and good feelings from things other than God: marriages, family, jobs, position, friends, things, etc., but you and I both know they ALL fall short of fulfilling our deepest longings. They may satisfy for a season but eventually every one of those things fade leaving us longing for more of something. If we sought God with as earnestly as we sought other things, we would find our soul satisfied and our mouths could not hold back the praise.

Diane

If you’d like to donate toward the Family Freedom Walk, 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 call Ruth Schmidt at 1-80-453-7942, ext. 21 and make a gift with your credit card.

Matthew 14:15-21 “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

There are times – days, weeks and even months – when life just seems overwhelming. You don’t have to be full-time employed outside your home to experience such times. These are times when you just feel that there is way more that needs done that there is time or energy to do.

Retreat season is prime-time for me to feel overwhelmed. I am keenly aware of my lack of ability and knowledge every time I am preparing for a women’s retreat. I love doing the actual retreat; I love being with the women, I love the speaking but the preparation overwhelms me and I can get very stressed.

What is it in your life that can overwhelm you? Times when you feel there is more on your plate than is humanly possible to get done? That’s how the disciples felt when Jesus told them to feed the crowd of over 5000 people with a measly 5 loaves and 2 fish. It was humanly impossible. But, and here’s my point today, but when we surrender the little we have and trust God to accomplish through us what we can never do ourselves, much is accomplished in His power, in His strength, to His glory. So when you are faced with your crowd of hungry people, whatever that looks like in your life, offer to Jesus all you have, meager though it may be, pray for a “loaves and fishes day” and see how He multiplies many-fold what you bring.

I know I have written about this before, but allow me to repeat myself, because if nothing else I NEEDED THIS REMINDER TODAY.

Diane

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. 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 for the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter’s team. 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 WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!