I found the following in my potential Victory Call file. God is always speaking to us and sometimes I take the nuggets I hear and store them away to ruminate over at a later time. Well, true to His nature and perfect time, one of my “laters” came today. I share it with you for you to ponder.

“God allows all the pain and the trials that we go through in order to force us to cry out. Victory always begins with the cry for help. ‘Lord, my plan is not working.’  God wants us to know the reason we continue to be oppressed [I am doing exactly what He told me not to do.]

Why? So the next time we will make different choices.  Satan can presume no authority over us! Am I hiding from an enemy that God would gladly defeat?  Am I sick of defeat and ready to live like a might warrior?”(1)

Judges 6:19-25

Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 

The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” 

But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 

So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 

That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.  Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

Dear sisters, we ALL need to daily choose TODAY whom we will obey and serve. May it be God and God alone NO MATTER WHAT!(2)

Stephanie

1 Source unknown

2 http://www.biblegateway.com

The Lord is Jehovah-Shammah He is the Lord who is present. He is always here for me, for you to lean on.

“A Chinese zoo has given an orphan monkey its own guard dog to stop it from being bullied by bigger primates. Keepers at Jiaozuo City Zoo said the monkey was always being bullied and they had intervened to save his life several times. So we put a dog in the monkey cage, hoping he can protect the orphan,” a zoo spokesman told the China News Network. The zoo said the dog, Sai Hu, does his job very well. “Whenever the baby monkey gets bullied, he dashes up and drives the others away. And the baby monkey is also very smart. Each time he smells danger he runs to jump on the dog’s back and holds on tight. The alpha male monkey has been really unhappy since we sent in Sai Hu. He tried to organize several ambushes on the little monkey, but they all failed because of the dog,” added the spokesman.”(1)

When I first read this story and saw the accompanying photo, I cracked up. It was so funny! This little baby monkey up on the back of its protector, who obviously took his job as guardian very seriously.

A few moments later I was deep in thought pondering the spiritual relevance.  I thought, “Wow! Imagine if every one of us had that response to danger.” Meaning, every time we sensed the enemy lurking or prowling about, we would choose to run to “Abba Father” for protection and know beyond any doubting, that He is our Banner and Shield, our Strong Tower, Healer and Deliverer. 

He’s always there, you know? Are you doubting that today? Have you forgotten that He is present and near?

Dear sisters, may today’s VC be a simple reminder that we have a God who is not asleep. He sees, He hears, He knows. Run to Him and allow Him to keep you safe and secure from the evil one. There is safety and security found under the shadow of His wing.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Stephanie

1 http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3050333.html

2 http://www.biblegateway.com

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard… 1 John 1:1

Jesus.  

Was from the from the beginning.

Which we have heard.

His newborn baby cries. Luke 2:1-7

Teaching in the temple at the age of 12. Luke 2:41-50

Refuting Satan when tempted in the desert.  Matthew 4:1-11

Calling His disciples. John 1:35-49

Instructing the stewards to fill the water jars. John 2:1-11

Teaching on the mount. Matthew 5-7

Speaking in parables. Luke 12-19

Explaining the parables. Matthew 15:15-20

Calming the storm. Mark 4:37-41

Rebuking demons. Mark 5:1-20

Foretelling His own death. Matthew 17:22-23

Blessing young children. Matthew 19:13-15

Healing the sick.  John 9:1-41

Praying in the Garden. Matthew 26:36-46

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard… 1 John 1:1

Jesus spoke.  The people around Him heard his voice.  In His 33 years, He squealed as a child, taught, rebuked, comforted, pleaded, corrected, encouraged, prayed, blessed, predicted, challenged, healed, and explained.

Then..

At the most critical point in history, He became silent.  

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

“And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”  But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Matthew 26:62-63

 “Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, “I am the Son of God.”‘  And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.” Matthew 27:38-44

Though He was condemned, mocked, whipped, beaten and nailed to the cross He remained silent. Not accusing, not defending, not arguing, not condemning, not angry. No rather, He remained silent in submission to the will of the Father in perfect obedience.  

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

The silence that was deafening. 

Quiet your spirit today, and listen to that silence.

Diane

Why do we so tenaciously guard our reputations?  In one sense it is almost humorous that we act as if others donít know we that we sin.  There are 6 billion people in the world and it should be no surprise to any of us that all 6 billion people sin every day, multiple times a day, whether in attitude, unexpressed thought, action or inaction. 

Why is it when we sin, so often we try to explain it away with some excuse that waters down our responsibility?  I was tired. I was confused.  I was hurt.  I didnít know.  All of those things may wear down our resistance to sin, but none of them cause us to sin.  

Why do we have such a difficult time saying, I was wrong?  Please forgive me.

Recently, I made a too quick comment that I knew was overheard by someone that would be hurt by it.  It was not my intention for them to hear but I was aware of it as it happened. That evening I knew I needed to go back to that person and ask forgiveness but how would I explain why I made the comment?  Nothing sounded as forthright and honest as what I finally said to her the next morning, ìIím sorry for what I said; my best explanation is that I have a sinful heart. In reality that was the bottom line.  At that moment I chose to love and serve myself rather than God or the other person.  At that moment I failed to keep the two greatest commandments.(1) 

A few days ago as I was reading in what has become one of my favorite books, A Gospel Primer(2), I was reminded of the foolishness of trying to cover up, hide, dress up my sinful heart, the foolishness of trying to protect my reputation because I am not a little sinner, I am a big sinner.  My sin is so grievous that it required a blood sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of a Holy, Righteous and Pure God.  

Here are some excerpts from the Primer:

The Cross also exposes me before the eyes of other people, informing them of the depth of my depravity. If I wanted others to think highly of me, I would conceal the fact that a shameful slaughter of the perfect Son of God was required that I might be saved.the more exposed I see that I am by the Cross, the more I find myself opening up to others about the ongoing issues of sin in my life. (Why would anyone be shocked to hear of my struggles with past and present sin when the Cross already told them I am a desperately sinful person?) And the more open I am in confessing my sins to fellow-Christians, the more I enjoy the healing of the Lord in response to their grace-filled counsel and prayers(3)  I give thanks for the gospelís role in forcing my hand toward self-disclosure and the freedom that follows.(4) 

This explains a work of Godís grace that I have been experiencing in my life over the past several months.  Because of the gospel, I am less inclined to hide what everyone already knows about me.  I sin. 

Diane

1 Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

2 By Milton Vincent

3 James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

4 Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10,12 Two are better than one, For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!… 12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand himóa threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Matthew 25:35-36 “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Jesus tells us that when we reach out with the love of Christ and minister into the lives of others, it is as if we are doing it for Him. In this parable, Jesus talks about feeding the hungry, inviting a stranger in, clothing the naked, showing kindness to the sick and even visiting prisoners in jail. 

This is very important to our Lord and Savior… that we “be” His hands, His feet and His heart here on earth. I think we would all scramble to do anything at all if we knew we were doing it directly for Jesus. But Jesus tells us that the ones who know Him and love Him will do all these things and more for anyone in need and it is the same as doing it for Jesus.

      Once we know the love of God and have been a recipient of His free gift of grace, we are not to greedily hold on to it, but are to pass it on.  Once you come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior there is an inner transformation that takes place. If you truly understand the depth of the love that God has for you and the magnitude of His sacrifice so that you could spend eternity with Him in heaven, then the natural outpouring should be to reach out to others with the love of Jesus. That outpouring of love to others is manifested in many ways. 

      Most often we think we can’t do all that the Lord wants us to do, that we don’t have the talent or ability or time. But all it takes is just to be aware of your surroundings, asking the Lord to open your eyes to see “Jesus” in those who cross your path. Perhaps go and serve at the local soup kitchen once in a while: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” Be kind to a stranger. Invite the new family at your church to your home: “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” If the Lord has blessed you with four winter coats, pass one on to the one who has none: “I needed clothes and you clothed me.” Maybe you can bring a pot of soup to a sick friend and instead of doing a drop and run, stay and keep them company for a while: “I was sick and you looked after me.” You could even really stretch the envelope by being a part of a prison ministry and visiting prisoners in jail! “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Or you could simply offer a cup of cool water to the parched lips of another: “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”

      Each one of us is capable of being “Jesus” to another in a hundred ways and most of those ways wouldn’t take us to serve in China! Go ahead…..Reach out and touch someone in Jesus’ name.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 35 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of two 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.

God has seen fit, of late, to give me some serious hands-on opportunities to learn biblical conflict resolution.  We teach the men in the Colony of Mercy that conflict is not as much a problem as it is an opportunity.  “An opportunity?” You ask.  Yes, an opportunity to experience God’s grace for God’s glory.  “Oh, that!” You say.  “Yes, that!” I say. 

 

Conflicts are all around us, almost all the time.  It is easy, in one sense, to turn a blind eye if we are not directly involved.  But when it comes knocking on our door it’s time to step up and consider how God would have us glorify Him in this situation.  

In the past several months, there have been marital conflicts, familial conflicts, church conflicts, ministry conflicts, co-worker conflicts, parental conflicts, sibling conflicts, and the list can go on and on.  Lest you think I’m some kind of ogre, most of these conflicts have not been with me, but around me; but to be honest, some have been with me.  

How do we deal with conflict when it taps at our door? Or perhaps it is kicking in your door.  

1. Remember God is in the midst of it.  It doesn’t matter if it is little or huge, you can be absolutely certain God is in the midst of it working for your good and His glory.

2. Conflict is an opportunity to glorify God by relying on His strength in your weakness.  What better evidence of God’s grace in your life than for you to walk according to His Spirit rather than according to your flesh?

3. The conflict is an opportunity to examine your own heart.  Typically, conflict arises when the idols of one person’s heart clash with the idols of the other person’s heart.(1) You’ll notice I said it is an opportunity to examine YOUR OWN HEART.(2) Our typical response in conflict is to try to examine the other person’s heart because after all they are the one in error, right? You can always assume you bear at least some portion of responsibility for the conflict. What percentage doesn’t really matter, because whatever it is, you are responsible for it.   

4. Conflict is an opportunity to learn humility, the real kind, not the false humility we put on to win supporters.  Don’t just be content to put on humility, allow God to make you humble. If anything has great occasion to humble us it is conflict. 

First, submit yourself to the hand of God in the situation.  Know for sure, God has a much bigger purpose in the conflict than you can see.  Trust that He will work in hearts not you.  Second, humble yourself to go to the person or persons with whom you are in conflict.  Don’t sit around expecting them to seek you out.  GO!(3)  

That’s enough for today.  Next week we’ll continue to consider some practical thoughts to resolving conflict.  

Diane 

1 James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

2 Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

3 Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Years ago, as a homeschooler, one of my favorite things to do with my children was to read and to tell them stories. Using different voices, I’d often give the character(s) personality just to get them laughing and add character to the story. Stories have a way of bringing a thought or an idea to life and giving it meaning and sometimes a greater degree of understanding.

One of our favorite storytellers (authors) during that time was Gary Richmond. He used stories about animals in the zoo to teach us about ourselves and deepen our understanding of God. The book from which I read to them had been lost until I stumbled across it a few months ago in the Thrift Store here at Keswick. I was so excited I couldn’t wait to open it and scan the once familiar pages.

The first story I came across was a perfect fit for a seminar I was to do on the topic of “Enabling.” I meant to share the story during that seminar session, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to, due to time constraints.

Today, I’m going to share the heart of a particular story depicting one facet of love, and hopefully give you a picture of LOVE, which is the most compelling facet of enabling. 

L.O.V.E! Love is what moves us; stirs us; compels us; to do the hard thing(s) that we must at times, in order to save the life of a loved one.

The gist of the story is a mother giraffe that is about to give birth while she is standing up! The distance from where the baby will fall to the ground is a whopping ten feet. Yep – ten feet from the womb to the solid, hard earth below! Once this newborn plummets to earth, within seconds he is on his shaky, wobbly feet. Mama takes a brief look and then does the unthinkable; she kicks her baby and sends him “sprawling head over heels.”  Baby giraffe struggles to his feet, likely wondering, “What’s up with Mom?  Why, in the world did she do that?!”  With barely any time to stand up, baby giraffe is kicked again and falls back to the ground.  The process was repeated again and again!

Now in our finite thinking it doesn’t make a lick of sense. What possible reason could there be for Mama to appear to do harm to her struggling calf while he was down? While the reason is really quite simple, it is nonetheless difficult to imagine…especially as it relates to us as human mothers; mothers made in the image of God; mothers whose every thought will be to guard and protect our babies -young or old- from harm.

When we consider enabling in the context of the giraffe story, we have to see a bigger picture. Just like the giraffe calf, our children, our loved ones, have a very real enemy who has one goal in mind and only one. His goal is to seek, devour, and destroy; to render those who are God’s useless and ineffective for Kingdom work. He doesn’t care how he does it. 

In the context of ministry here at America’s KESWICK, he (the enemy) has used drugs, alcohol, and every conceivable form of chemical and behavioral dependence to accomplish his goal. As mothers, sisters, etc., we have to choose to be willing to do whatever it takes to help our loved ones stand on their feet…even if it means doing the hard thing.

So, to answer the question why the mama giraffe knocks her baby down is this: she knocks him down so he remembers how to get up. “In the wild (in the world) baby would need to get up as soon as possible to follow the herd. The mother needs the herd, too. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and hunting dogs would all enjoy young giraffe flesh. They’d get it, too, if the mother didn’t teach her baby to quickly get up and get with it.”

No time for babying and making excuses, or “enabling” him to stay down because it’s oh, so hard to get up and stand on his own two feet. It was and is – do or die.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1: 2-3

Stephanie

“A View From the Zoo” – Gary Richmond

An invitation arrives in the mail and it invites you to “come.” Most of the time when one arrives there is anticipation and excitement…who is it from? What is it for? We tear open the envelope and it invites you to come to…a wedding, a baby shower, a party, a fellowship night at the church or a hundred other events. I’ve noticed the Lord just loves sending out invitations to “come” as well. You know, He just loves us so much that He just keeps sending out those invitations to “come” even though too often the invitation is turned down.

In Isaiah 1:8 God gives an invitation for personal cleansing…come.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

What an invitation this is! All we have to do is “come” and the Lord promises to bleach our “dirty laundry” (sins) whiter than snow, just as if they never were!

In Isaiah 55:1, 3 God promises to supply and satisfy…come.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money…Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

Now this is some invitation! God says, “Come” and leave your wallets and credit cards at home because the price has been paid by God. These are top of the line, premium goods! There isn’t even a price tag that could be placed on it….it’s priceless, a picture of His grace!

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus promises rest for the weary soul…come.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Many of us tend to overload ourselves with worries, anxieties, things that we don’t have to carry but do…and there is Jesus, the perfect gentleman, offering to carry all that baggage and all we have to do is answer the call to “come.”

In Revelation 22:17 the Bible even ends with one final invitation…come.

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

God doesn’t wish for any to perish and through the apostle John makes this final appeal to “come.” God continually calls to the lost “come” and He does so over and over in His Word.

The Lord’s door is always open and the invitation stands…come.

He is ready to receive any…come.

The Lord accepts all who respond to His invitation…come.

You hold His invitation in your hand…come. What will you do?

Come.

Mary Ann

Suddenly it’s dark. The doctor calls with bad news, a child goes astray, a husband comes home drunk again. That darkness closes in and you feel like you are stumbling around. Knowing landmarks for your journey will guide you until light dawns again. What is true in the light is still true in the dark. Do not lose your grasp of those immovable pillars that well define life. Look up and see the banner truths that continue to tower overhead, unchanged, undaunted, and sufficiently powerful to pierce the remotest depth of darkness.

STOP.

Remember Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Yesterday, today and forever – God is Sovereign – today, this moment – God is in control-there is never a second in which He ceases to be orchestrating all of life and death. Exodus 15:18

Yesterday, today and forever – God is good – He never ceases to be good. Because He is sovereign and good, He forces all of life’s circumstances to ultimately work good in our lives to His glory. Psalm 27:13

Yesterday, today and forever – God is all-knowing – He knows all things and never misses those few little details that would have changed everything. He does not overlook or lose sight of you for even a single moment. Though life may not make sense to us at times because we can’t see the bigger picture, it always makes sense in Heaven because God not only sees but created and sustains the biggest picture.

Yesterday, today and forever – God is all powerful. There is nothing beyond His power to control. Not even, and especially not, Satan.

Yesterday, today and forever – God is everywhere-present – He is equally present, everywhere, all the time. You are never alone.

Yesterday, today and forever – God is your God. If you know Christ as your personal Savior, if the Holy Spirit has done the work of regeneration in your heart and life, then God was, is and will always be your God. No matter what happens, He will never, ever cease to be God and He will never, ever cease to be your God.

When life closes in, we need to settle our spirits long enough to go to that place in our hearts where we know, that we know, that we know……… GOD IS… When everything feels like it is sinking or lost, cling to what you know is true…….GOD IS FOREVER AND ALWAYS THE SAME.

Diane

Today is the day of freedom!

Today is the day of your salvation!

Today is the day that the Lord has made!

Today is the day to rejoice and be glad in Him!

Do you know that you are free…today?

Do you, by faith, believe that you are saved, redeemed, born again?

Are you rejoicing and glad in the Lord?

For the believer, the disciple of Christ, the one who is redeemed and set free from the bondage, deception, and deserved cost of sin (that would be you and me), being glad in the Lord is a joy and a privilege.

Has life got you down today? Do you feel out of sorts and insignificant? My challenge to you today and to myself is to REMEMBER!

Remember to look up to the hills where our help comes from. Remember that God is for you and not ever against you.

KNOW that He has a plan for you and no matter how hopeless you may feel, His plan involves a future and a hope designed for good, YOUR GOOD and not for evil.

God is with you and God is for you TODAY. Today is the day that He is not leaving you or forsaking you.

Dear ones, will you remember that today, and choose joy, choose to be glad in who He is…TODAY.

So, if the Son sets you free you are free indeed. ~John 8:36

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~Galatians 5:1

TODAY IS THE DAY OF YOUR SALVATION.

Stephanie