Bringing it in to focus….

June 6, 2017June 2, 2017Leave a comment

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Ever notice how your mind wanders when you settle in for some talk time with the Lord?

It can be a challenge to focus on, and in, prayer. Sometimes it seems that the moment we decide to spend some quiet time with our King, the mind begins to wander. Silly things pop in. Random thoughts float by.

I heard a preacher say, “If you want to remember the things you forgot, commit to a prayer time.” That’s just about the time the enemy will bring to mind those things you forgot to do, people you forgot to call, food you forgot to buy, birthdays you forgot to remember. He will use any distraction he can to dissuade us from prayer.

Makes sense, when you think of it. If Satan can interrupt our time and conversation with our Father then he can interrupt our life. Distraction, distraction, distraction. What a formidable tool he uses.

Enter that fruit of the Spirit that we sometimes forget we bear: self-control. We can take control of those indiscriminate disruptions and purpose to set our minds on the Lord just as Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 10:5, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…

We should see those thoughts as an affront to our time with our Savior and take up our shield and press forward in prayer. When Satan realizes that he can’t agitate us further, he’ll back off…till next time. But next time we’ll remember the last time and be prepared for our enemy’s tactics.

Wake. Pray. Slay, sisters!

Onward!

Carol

Carol Tirondola is on staff with the Partner Care team at America’s Keswick. She and her best friend, Mario, have been married for 35 years. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law that they call their “BFFs”. They also have 7 precious gems called grandchildren. Her family has savored many memories of the heart made at Keswick over the last 35+ years and she is thrilled to now be serving on staff!

Neighbor or Enemy

June 5, 2017June 2, 2017Leave a comment

Jesus was often being questioned, and many tried to trick and test Him. One such was the lawyer who asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”(Luke 10:25)… And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27…But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

Jesus responded by sharing the parable of the Good Samaritan. (See Luke 10) The Lawyer sought to narrow the scope of the definition of neighbor – Jesus broadened the scope of the definition of neighbor. Jesus did not define neighbor as someone we live near or even someone we know but rather anyone with whom we cross paths.

God commands that we love our neighbor.

AND

God commands that we love our enemy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…Matthew 5:43-44

I was thinking about this verse recently. I wonder why someone in the crowd or one of the disciples didn’t ask, “And who is my enemy?” Our enemy could be someone that we see embodies evil. But couldn’t my enemy also be simply someone I am odds with? Someone that I tend to avoid? Someone I don’t see eye to eye with? Whoever it is, Jesus calls me to love them.

When we really think about it – neighbor or enemy – we are commanded to love everyone. There are no passes, no loop-holes.

The only way we can possible love like that is by the power of the Spirit of God living and loving through us.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7-11

The world needs this kind of love. The world needs to see Jesus-kind of love in us so that they may see Jesus through us.

Blessings,

Diane

Diane Hunt serves part-time on the staff of America’s Keswick providing ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

Delete My Reminders

June 2, 2017May 31, 2017Leave a comment

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

I use Outlook to remind me of the meetings I need to attend. The morning of one particular meeting, I send out a reminder to everyone who should be in attendance. Recently this meeting was changed to a new time. I came in to work a week later and a reminder from Outlook popped up reminding me to send out my email, which I did. I had forgotten that the meeting was now at a different time. Reminded of the new time I had to go into Outlook and delete the series of reminders for this meeting.

Don’t we all use Outlook with reminders? In a way we do. Our minds are a lot like Outlook. We can often be reminded of things that have changed since they were first added into our way of thinking. Sometimes those reminders are from long ago. We never have deleted them. Of course I am thinking about when we come to Christ and receive a new outlook. Things that were washed away at the foot of the Cross sometimes pop into our minds and remind us of who we were. Dates pop up to remind us of when particular hurtful things happened to us. We are in the midst of a situation and a reminder pops up that brings us back to an identity we no longer should identify with.

I know, for myself, I am forgetful to hit the delete button. Before long we are not in a good place because we have dwelled on things that no longer apply to us. The places we can go to in our minds have not been deleted and replaced with a new way of thinking.

What is your outlook today? Perhaps your fear, worry, anger, mistrust or hardened heart has to be replaced with a new reminder. Our new reminders must come from the Word of God so we understand the outlook our Father has for us. Spend time in Scripture and allow Jesus to delete, replace and renew your outlook today.

May this be our prayer today:

“Father God, help us see the difference between our frail, sometimes faulty opinions and Your rock solid Truth.” Lysa TerKeurst

Blessings,

Kathy Withers

No Place Like Home

June 1, 2017May 29, 2017Leave a comment

…for then we will be at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8b (NLT)

There is no place like home….how many times have we heard this phrase or even shared this thought with someone? As children we watched a show where it was stated over and over again … “there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” The older I get, the tenderer those words have become for me.

It was a rainy, dark, cold night…and we needed to head out right after a long day of work… many errands were scheduled for that night. The rain and the darkness added to the mood of the night. I leaned over to my husband and said, “Tonight is a night that I really feel like just going home.” It was one of those intense nights when you just needed to be “home.”

What is “home” to you? Is it a feeling, a place or a building, or maybe something that is so indescribable but so wonderful to you? Home should be what makes you feel good, safe, secure, and warm…as they say “a place to hang your hat.” Home is what most of us long for.

Home for me is my safe haven, a warm cozy place, a place where I feel like I belong, and a place like no other. It is a place where I can feel welcomed every time I walk in the front door. I can be greeted by a family who loves and accepts me for who I am. It is a place that feels familiar, and the sights, sounds and even smells are something that I enjoy and long to be around.

How many times have we been at the bedside of a sick friend or relative or at their funeral and heard it said that they are in a better place….that they are “home” now? Or even a person who is not well has referred to the fact that they just want to go “home”. Where is this “home” that they are referring to? That feeling or longing to go home to a safe, secure place, a place with a sense of freedom, a place so indescribable, but you know that you want to be there.

Take a minute and imagine with me a new home…will you be there with me? I am in the process of having a mansion built for me. I know it will be just the right size, shape and color. The builder knows my every need and He will have prepared a place for me that is so perfect that I could not want anything else. The minute I walk through the gate I will know that I am “Home.” I will be surrounded by my brothers and sisters. I will love the sights, sounds, and smells to the point that I will want to stay there for eternity. Someday I will walk streets made of gold and call it my home. Are you ready to go to this home if the Lord were to call you? Have you done your housework so to speak? Have you made things right with Him so that when it is time to go “Home,” you will be ready? As the verse above states…….for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Lynn Wilson has served on staff at America’s Keswick for the past 20 years. She has been involved in her local church in women’s ministries as well as speaking for other churches and retreats. Her mission statement would be to touch one life so in turn they can touch a life for eternity. Her greatest joy is to go home at the end of her work day and spend time with her family and enjoy her first ministry which is being a wife and mother. She has one teenage son at home, and one married son and daughter-in-law.

The Principal Thing

May 31, 2017May 26, 2017Leave a comment

Today’s Victory Call topic is actually brought to you by one of my bosses! I was sitting in my office struggling because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to write about this week… and that’s when he walked down to my office to use my printers. I said “Help! I can’t come up with a topic to write about!” He thought about it for a minute and said “Why is wisdom the principal thing? Proverbs 4:7. Write about that… maybe you’ll learn a bit yourself!” He was right… this topic took a lot of studying and biblical research on my part.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. – Proverbs 4:7

When something is “Principal” it means it is the first in order of importance… so why is wisdom the first in order of importance?

It’s important to know that wisdom isn’t synonymous with knowledge. Thanks to the technology we enjoy today, we have access to all of the knowledge we could ever want or need right at our fingertips. But wisdom is much different.

When Solomon was writing Proverbs 4, he realized that as one continues to gain godly wisdom, he will experience a continuously growing relationship with God. He also knew that with godly wisdom comes godly discernment, which would keep people of faith from stumbling.

Thanks to God’s Word, today’s believers know that, too. We learn a lot about wisdom from not only the book of Proverbs, but many other books in scripture as well. For example, when we look at James 3:17, we learn that the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and god fruit, impartial and sincere. … That’s a lot of good qualities, and as we continue to grow in wisdom, we will consequently grow in these areas. We will become more spiritually mature and have better judgment when trials come our way.

It makes so much sense that wisdom is “The Principal Thing” when we consider the effects of gaining wisdom and when we think about James 3:17. The good news is that wisdom is not something that is withheld from us… All we have to do is ask for it and He will give generously without finding fault (James 1:5).

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

It’s All About the Journey

May 30, 2017May 25, 2017Leave a comment

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9, NLT)

“Are we there yet?!” How often did you ask that as an expectant child while en route to some anticipated destination or answer that as a tired transporter of one? Reigning excitement at a trip’s outset quickly gives way to restlessness as hours and miles drone on. And so it can be, and often it is, in our walk with the Lord. One can easily forget to smell the roses spiritually speaking!

Whether it’s in our desire to serve Him in some particular fashion, in our yearning to be more mature in a given area, in our longing to be delivered from a particular situation, or in our intercessory requests for loved ones, we often fixate on our desired end while the Father wants us to enjoy Him, to experience His sufficiency in that season and situation, and to embrace the unique coordinates that He has for us. Examples from my own journey are legion as the Father has dealt with me regarding this, and continues to faithfully do so.

One that stands out to me was the years I was waiting (often agonizingly!) on the Father for my children’s adoptions to go through. I wanted it done in 4 months, but over the 4 years that the adoptions took the Father taught me experientially and progressively how to relish need-spawned intimacy with Him as I increasingly fell into rhythm with Him, His timing, His pace, and His direction. (And once we do contentedly settle in, He soon moves us, and the process starts all over again, but that’s for another day…) Am I the only one who has experienced this or can you relate?

Our walk with the Lord could be likened to an excursion with a caring Father Who is wanting to take His child on a cross-country adventure so that the entire jaunt, along with its stops, can be intimately experienced and savored together: the hills and valleys, the winding and the straight, the sunshine and the rain. So what is your story? What are you weathering, waiting on, and/or hoping for? More importantly, what will your response be: “Are we there yet?!” or “Who cares how long it takes as long as we’re together!”?

Melissa Smith is the Women’s Enrich Counselor at America’s Keswick. She has the privilege and honor of ministering to the Colony men’s wives and girlfriends, the Barbara’s Place women, and some women from the community who God brings to America’s Keswick for help or care. She and Bill, her husband of 18 years, have four adopted children ages 17 to 24. Her fervent desire is to point women to Christ and His sufficiency, provision, and promises.

Battle-Rest

May 29, 2017May 25, 2017Leave a comment

“Sometimes we are told, ‘We are in a spiritual battle. As soldiers of the cross we must be disciplined; we must put effort and sacrifice into the Christian life.’ Then perhaps a week later, another Christian appears to say the opposite. ‘I was working too hard at being a Christian; God showed me that I had to just relax—rest in the Lord.’[i]”– Erwin Lutzer

Nailed it.

Lutzer expresses well the wrestling confusion many of us experience as we bounce back and forth between donning our battle armor and preparing for the fight of our lives and resting in the knowledge that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.[ii]” Personally, I have waffled back and forth many times.

So which is it?

Is it discipline or trust? Is it a battle or rest? Yes.

It’s both.

“Though these viewpoints appear contradictory, they really are not. Only a Christian who is disciplined in the Word of God can rest in the Lord.[iii]”

In my opinion, the Christian that is disciplined and fighting without rest and trust is leaning towards legalism. The Christian that rests and trusts in the Lord but lacks discipline and obedience is leaning towards laziness.

I’m sure there are those of you who do not wrestle with the balance of discipline and rest – but to be honest, in my waffling I begin to feel that when I exercise discipline it is evidence of self-righteousness and legalism. When by faith I claim Galatians 2:20, believing that I am crucified with Christ and He lives in me – I often lay down my battle weapons and find all kinds of excuses to NOT fight because after all, Christ has already claimed the victory for me.

So which is it?

It’s both.

Genuine biblical faith is a marriage of the two— battle … rest.

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

Blessings, Diane

[i] Erwin W. Lutzer. Getting to NO: How to Break a Stubborn Habit, Billy Graham Library Selection with permission from David C. Cook, 2007, pg. 93.

[ii] Galatians 2:20

[iii] Lutzer, pg. 93

Are We Good Listeners?

May 26, 2017May 25, 20171 Comment

Thoughts flitting through our mind while we smile and listen to Mary:

What should I make for dinner?

Did I turn off the stove?

What should we do about Tommy’s “D” in science?

Should we paint the living room honey gold or aspen white?

And then it happens. Mary asks “What do you think I should do?”

Umm. What was she saying? Something about her mother’s failing health.

Are we good listeners?

Do we listen well? Do you pay attention to what the person is saying? Are we engaged in what they are sharing?

Robert Cheong says, “Listening is a form of love. You love others when you listen to others.”[i]

Ouch.

It makes sense doesn’t it? Listening is caring about what the other person is saying and feeling. Listening well communicates, “I care about you.”

Have you ever been with someone who makes you feel like the house could fall down around you and they wouldn’t notice because they are so intent on what you are saying? They make you feel like you are the only person in the world at that moment.

Then there are the times when you are pouring out your heart to someone and suddenly something or someone catches their eye and you realize they are not listening to you at all.

Which of the two makes you feel more loved and cared for? The first person.

When I only half-heartedly listen (guilty as charged) I believe that what I am thinking about or what I have to say is more important than what you are thinking about or have to say. I am loving in that moment but I am loving me rather than you.

Listening well requires I die to what I want so that I can give my undivided attention to the other person so that I may fully engage in what they are saying.

Listening well is one way to fulfill the second great commandment. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. And it models our Father When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. Matthew 22:39; Jeremiah 29:12 (The MSG)

Ask yourself: Do I listen well? Do I love others enough to listen to them?

It takes practice. So go ahead and start listening with a whole new perspective.

Blessings, Diane

[i] Robert Cheong. Gospel Cares, coming 2017.

What Plan B?

May 25, 2017May 17, 2017Leave a comment

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

“Read His Word. Listen for His voice. Do what He says. Enjoy the journey. He’ll get you where you need to go.” Susie Larson, Blessings for Women

I am writing this a few hours before our Family Freedom Walk. It is raining. Not gray and drizzling… BUT RAINING! We went into “Plan B” mode to make arrangements for the event given the forecast. I have to be reminded it is “we” who go into Plan B mode. God already had His perfect plan for this day. This Nor’easter didn’t take Him by surprise! As usual, it’s another opportunity to trust in His good, perfect plan and will.

How about your day today? Is your “to do” list ready to go? Is your date book full? Are your appointments set? Good! Now, what happens when God’s will upset your plans? How easy it is to try to fix things. How easy it is to get our feathers ruffled because things didn’t work out according to our own plan. How easy is it for frustration to overcome you because you are inconvenienced?

We don’t usually see the very opportunity we have before us. These are the times when we learn to trust. This is when our wills bend to His. These are the moments we cry out because we simply need His help.

I pray your day goes well. I pray that your Plan B is set in place just in case something changes. But, what I really want to pray for you most is that your plan will always be His plan!

Blessings,

Kathy

Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves as Director of Partner Care. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 30 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and teaches a Bible Study for women. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

The Inner Circle

May 24, 2017May 17, 2017Leave a comment

Do you ever get the feeling you are not quite in the “inner circle?” Maybe you feel like I often do – that I’m close, but not actually on the inside. Or perhaps you feel more distant, feeling that if you stand on your tippy toes and crane your neck, you could see the inner circle off there in the distance. Do any of those describe how you feel?

I meet with a small group of women twice a month whose primary reason is to savor the graciousness and goodness of God, thus the name “Sip and Savor.” “Sip” is for the tea.

Recently, we were discussing what it means to see God with the eyes of our hearts.

…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you… Ephesians 1:17-18

In the course of our conversation, one of the women mentioned that she had heard a preacher share that most believers live as if they are outside the inner circle, but in reality, when the Spirit regenerated our spirit giving us new life, we were invited into the inner circle of the Trinity.

Perhaps your immediate reaction was similar to mine. Is that true? It sounded blasphemous or at the very least heretical. Me? On the inner circle with the Trinity?

But quickly the Lord brought to mind His word.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Father (1 John 1:3), Son (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3) and Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Please don’t misunderstand. I am NOT saying we are part of the Trinity, nor am I saying we become gods. I am simply meditating on the thought that at salvation we were invited into the inner circle.

Let that set and rest upon your heart.

Blessings,

Diane

Victory Call

A Daily Email Encouragement for Women!

Category: Uncategorized

Bringing it in to focus….

Neighbor or Enemy

Delete My Reminders

No Place Like Home

The Principal Thing

It’s All About the Journey

Battle-Rest

Are We Good Listeners?

What Plan B?

The Inner Circle

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