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The Gospel for my life 2

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“…the gospel…of first importance…” 1 Corinthians 5:1, 3
Oh, for the glorious gospel, I DO NOT GET WHAT I DESERVE!!
I deserve to be an illegal alien, but You give me citizenship in heaven. Phil 3:20
I deserve to be forgotten, but You have written my name on the palm of You hand. Isaiah 49:16
I deserve to be left wanting, but You supply all my need. Philippians 4:19
I deserve condemnation, but You redeemed me. John 3:18
I deserve Your wrath, but You exhausted Your wrath on Jesus in my place. Romans 5:9
I deserve to be deceived, but You give me Truth. John 17:17
I deserve blindness, but You give me sight. Luke 4:18
I deserve loneliness, but You give me Your Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I deserve fear, but You give me perfect love. 1 John 4:18
I deserve sadness, but You give me joy. John 15; 11
I deserve my sin, but You give me Christ’s righteousness. Romans 3:21-22
I deserve confusion, but You give me clarity. 1 Corinthians 14:33; James 3:13-18
I deserve cursing, but You give me blessing. Galatians 3:13
I deserve to be shunned, but You embrace me. John 6:37
I deserve to be abandoned, but You call me your own. Hebrews 8:10
I deserve separation, but You give me unity. Ephesians 4:3
I deserve nothing, but You give me Yourself. John 14:20-21
As I consider and meditate upon the rich and glorious truths of the gospel, I am reminded, over and over and over, of His grace to me and in me. This empowers me by His grace to extend grace to others because all these truths are also true for every one of my brothers and sisters in Christ. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. As we meditate on the gospel daily, let us allow it to make a difference in our daily lives and these truths to radically change us.
Diane

The gospel for my life 1

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“…the gospel…of first importance…” 1 Corinthians 5:1, 3
“If there’s anything in life that we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.” C.J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life, 20-21.
These two quotes comprise one of the opening pages in Milton Vincent’s book: The Gospel Primer for Christians. This skillfully composed treatise of gospel truths has become a very good friend. The truths penned on its pages have guided my thinking, changed my mind and adjusted my heart over and over again. Is it new? Not at all. Though the book was only published in 2008, the principle goes all the way back to the Bible as 1 Corinthians 5 records. The gospel is of first importance. “…the gospel…of first importance…” 1 Corinthians 5:1, 3
If you are like me, you understand the role the gospel plays in your personal conversion story. No one will be saved apart from embracing the truths of the gospel. A beautiful, wonderful, glorious truth. However, the gospel cannot be relegated to a purpose solely for salvation. It has great value and purpose as the gospel is applied in practical ways to daily life. That is the purpose of Vincent’s book. A good read and I recommend it highly.
Allow me to share with you my meager offerings of how I think about the gospel daily:
I am reminded that:
I deserve death, but You give me life. Romans 5:20-21
I deserve hell, but You give me heaven. John 14:1-3
I deserve bondage, but You give me freedom. John 8:36
I deserve anxiety, but You give me peace. Philippians 4:6-7
I deserve crucifixion, but You provided a substitute. 1 John 2:2
I deserve punishment, but You punished another in my place. Psalm 89:30-32; Galatians 3:13
I deserve isolation, but You give me fellowship. 1 Corinthians 1:9
I deserve the law, but You give me grace. Romans 6:14
I deserve darkness, but You give me light. 1 Peter 2:9
I deserve despair, but You give me hope. Romans 15:13
I deserve to be orphaned, but You adopted me. John 14:18
I deserve to wander, but You guide me. Luke 1:79
As I consider and meditate upon the rich and glorious truths of the gospel, I am reminded, over and over and over, of His grace to me and in me. This empowers me by His grace to extend grace to others because all these truths are also true for every one of my brothers and sisters in Christ. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. Let us allow the gospel to make a difference in our daily lives and these truths to radically change us.
Tomorrow, we’ll pick up where we left off….
Diane

People of our word

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Numbers 30:2 If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
VOW: a solemn promise or assertion ; specifically: one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition(1)
PROMISE: a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified b: a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act(2)
I wonder what the difference is between a promise and a solemn promise. If I make a promise to someone is that less binding than if I make a solemn promise? I think the very nature of the word promise implies a guarantee of execution or refrain.
Let’s go one step farther. If I say I am going to do something but don’t actually use the word promise in my statement, is that statement any less trustworthy? It shouldn’t be. As Christ-followers, we need to be men and women of our word. I have failed miserably many times. I tell someone I am going to do something which, in the moment, I genuinely mean but as time passes it becomes less important to me and it gets bumped down my to-do list. Meanwhile, the other person either is waiting with expectation for me to do what I said, or writes it off because it’s to be expected that people will not keep their word.
What happened to integrity? If we were more intentional in our speech, committing to fewer things and following through on those things, we would make great progress in being people of our word, people of integrity.
Matthew 5:37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Diane
2 IBID

God Changes Lives

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I’m in the business of ministry here at Americas KESWICK doing what God alone has equipped me to do (no matter how ill-equipped I feel or think I am). The work here is not about me. It is ALL ABOUT HIM!! It is in Him that I live and breathe and move and have my being. It is by His strength; His power; His might; His wisdom…His everything that there is an iota of ability, etc., and so, everything here is ALL ABOUT HIM, His glory and His kingdom. [Zechariah 4:6, Acts 17:28]
Never, no never, will it on any level be about me! It is God alone who changes willing, submissive hearts and lives. He alone is the burden bearer, the restorer of sight to the blind. He is the One who, in Christ, abides in us as hope and love and joy and kindness. It is He, in His extreme grace, that has gifted us to be and do His will in the earth. He has enabled us to be “Jesus with skin” to the hurting, afflicted, wounded, lost and dying. He is the balm of Gilead and we are the tube through which the salve is applied so that through Him hope will come and then healing change begin to take place in the lives of those to whom we minister grace and truth. [1 Peter 5:7, Luke 4:18]
It is this knowledge, this true thing, that God alone is the One who does the work in the heart using us to touch the soul, which enables me to go home at night and sleep in peace. He is God, the everlasting God, and I am not. He is the One who lifts up the hurting (that includes me) on eagles wings so that we might soar high and higher still, safe and secure in the knowledge that He is everywhere present all the time, never asleep and always loving us as He seeks to perfect in us His plan and purpose that the world may know Him and glorify His name. [Isaiah 40:31-32]
What business, work, field of service, etc., has Father God called you to? Are you imaging the Son in that place?
Our encouragement for today is to remember that God is God and we are not. He alone knows the beginning from the ending, the start from the finish and everything in between. If you are walking around today feeling down and blue, or feeling like a failure because someone you have been and are praying for, just isn’t getting it, may I remind you that it is God and God alone who changes hearts and transforms lives.
Stephanie

"I Love you…….God."

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1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
As you read this I know that Valentine’s Day has come and gone. I hope you remembered all those you love dearly with a note or a card. I hope you received at least one note or card from someone who loves you, too. It certainly is nice to remember someone you hold dear but we don’t have to save it all up for only one day out of 365! I must say that I’m so grateful that my Abba Father doesn’t save up His “I love you’s” for one day of the year, but in His mercy and grace continually sends me love notes through His Word, through His creation and through ordinary people just like you and me. The question is, will we keep our eyes open in anticipation?
Those love notes are there. Our Heavenly Father, of course, showed His love for us with the ultimate gift of grace through Jesus; but He doesn’t stop there. The verse in 1 John tells us about His love for us and that He lavishes us with His love! I can’t comprehend this but I’m a recipient of it without a doubt!
Have you ever felt downcast, then received a “thinking of you” card, or a phone call from a friend you haven’t heard from in a while, or a thoughtful little gift…or even better yet…an unexpected hug? Maybe there has been a time that the Lord brought someone to your mind and you reached out to that person in any number of ways and they told you how much that little gesture meant to them. I call these “love notes” from God.
I recently received one of those love notes at a time when my heart was heavy. In the midst of it my daughter-in-law Liza called to tell me my grandson was in his room packing his suitcase. When she asked why he was packing and where he was going, he answered with a definitive “I’m going to Baba’s house!” Right then and there my heavy heart was lightened and you bet I went straight over to pick him up, work night or not! That was the Lord lavishing His love on me through Elijah! You bet I heard an “I love you…love God” in that precious gift.
In turn we are meant to listen when God places someone on our hearts so He can use us as His messengers of love. I had an opportunity to do just that today. A friend came to mind that I had not spoken to in a while so I sent a short email. Do you know, a reply came back saying that they had been praying for someone to reach out to them and my note was just what they had prayed for!
Those lavish “love notes” from God are all around not only for us to receive (so keep your eyes open) but also to be given away (so keep your ears open to God’s leading).
Aren’t you glad God doesn’t save His “I love you’s” for just one day?
Mary Ann
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.

Rejoicing with exceedingly great joy

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“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” Matthew 2:10
A small portion of a familiar passage of the wise men’s reaction when they saw the star which they sought. They did not simply rejoice. They were not just joyful. They did not just have great joy. They did not just have exceedingly great joy. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. I suspect that even with all those descriptive words, Matthew could not adequately describe the wise men’s reaction with mere human words.
You may wonder why I bring up this Scripture now? Christmas is past, Easter is not yet. It struck me, as I read Matthew recently, that typically I am not inclined to get THAT excited about the things of the Lord. I wondered if anywhere in Scripture there was similar wording relative to us.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.” 2 Corinthians 7:4
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
How can we rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are reviled and persecuted, when we are experience trials and suffering? “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4
As we keep a God-ward perspective with eternity in view, we will be glad with exceeding joy because ~ one day… heaven. Sisters, one day home, where our gladness and rejoicing will never end or wane.
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7
Diane

Grief is a tunnel not a cave

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“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” Psalm 119:2 NKJV
“Once the Holy Spirit instills within our hearts the hunger for God’s very best, all must and will become secondary to this supreme goal: ” . . .the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Our puny, worthless all exchanged for the One who is All in all! “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
The above Scripture and quote is from “The Hungry Heart Devotioanl Series” by Miles J. Stanford. I read it after returning from the funeral service of a young man whose life came to an abrupt end. Surrounded by loved ones the family is grieving a loss. There is a hole in their hearts and lives now that only God Himself can fill…and over time, I’m sure He will, meeting each of them exactly where they are.
It was during the funeral service that their senior pastor and friend encouraged them with three things critical to the care of their grieving souls.
1. Christ: Christ alone, in all, through all, above all is the hope that we cling to in the midst of overwhelming sorrow and suffering.
2. “Grieving is not a cave, it’s a tunnel”: we don’t go into a grief cave, roll a stone over the opening and never, ever come out. Instead, we realize that grief is a tunnel which we have entered and as dark, as solitary, as brutally painful and unbearable as it may seem, there is another side that we will arrive at. Yes, we will go in, and in moments it will feel and be deep and profoundly dark…and yet, as we keep walking, remembering the God of hope who is in and through it all with us, we will all come through.
3. Hold hands: reach out to one another, cling to one another, allow those around you to hold you up and be arms of support when you are weak. Never let go of the strength found in the body of Christ. Hold hands. 1
My hope, my prayer, for all of us is to remember the supreme goal. No matter what, seek with our whole hearts God’s very best, and in the midst of our worst suffering remember that He is with us, will never, ever leave us or forsake us, and we will be blessed!
Stephanie
1 Pastor Tim Shorey, Trinity Fellowship Church, Toms River, NJ 

Have you been on a date lately?

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The dating process….do you remember the fun you had when you got to the age of dating? Oh, the excitement that filled your heart at the thought of who might ask you. The questions that came to mind…who will it be, where we will go, how should I dress, what should I say. The butterflies you would feel at the very thought of being asked and then to say yes and have to go out with them.
When we date we tend to think of created places to go and spend time together; maybe things that don’t need a lot of money, too. Places where we would feel comfortable going to. Places where we feel that we can just be ourselves.
I have three men in my life that I still date. Dating is good….it opens up communication, you get to know each other better, your love for one another grows and you build trust in each other. I find that dating my husband and 2 sons leaves us with a richer and better understanding for each other.
Years ago I had a friend who would grab her Bible and tell me she was headed for the beach for her date. After a few weeks, I asked her who she was dating, since I had not seen any man in her life. She chuckled and told me it was not just any man….but her date was time alone with the Lord.
You know, the same principles apply to this situation as they do in our human way of dating… If we take the time to get alone with the Lord (and I don’t mean just five minutes here or there) our lives can be so enriched.
We as women tend to be moms, career women, and wives, women involved in ministry and always on the go. Our time spent with the Lord might be over a short devotion or a quick prayer here or there over our cup of coffee.
Oh, the joy of…”having a date”…with the Lord, going to the beach, taking a long walk or drive and spending time just with Him. Your communication with Him, your trust in Him, your respect towards Him, your love for Him and a better understanding of who He is and what He means to you will be more evident each time you go on your date.
You don’t need to worry about your dress, you don’t have to spend any money and you never have to worry about Him saying He is too busy or not available. You know He waits for us to spend time with Him. He created each and every one of us because He loves us. Just like we date people in our lives because we love them and want to be with them, the Lord feels the same way about us.
Check your calendar this week and make a special date with Him. Maybe even pack a cup of coffee, your Bible and a list of things you want to thank Him for. Prepare your heart and ask Him to help you two to get better acquainted.
Enjoy the blessings that you get from your date.
Lynn W.

Are you a cloud?

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Today while I was working the skies grew dark and gray and the rain came pouring down.  Of course, that is all everyone could chat about as the guests ran in and out of the rain drops.  
One of the men from a church group came to settle his invoice.  While he was standing with me a women kept going on and on about the rain and how it was going to ruin the day.  As I tried to encourage her to enjoy the day and the facilities that we offered indoors…it did not seem to help her….she seemed intent on complaining about how her day was ruined due to the rain.
As she walked away, the man replied to me….”Oh What a Cloud she is.”  He said to me that one of his students one day told him the sun is always shining but the clouds can get in the way.   Of course I knew there was a Victory Call to tell in all of this.   
How many times my father has told me that some people bring sunshine when they come, and some when they go.  How has your life been going lately?  I know for myself these are trying days.  The bills keep coming, the economy keeps changing, and the winter is still here, and so on.
Do I bring joy and sunshine when I enter a room or when I leave?  Or better yet do I bring SON shine when I enter a room.  You know our smiles might not always be big and beautiful, sometimes small and simple, but it can still be there.  We can still show Christ or SON shine even when rain and clouds come in our life.  We just need to make sure that the clouds don’t cover our SON shine.
Is the Son shining in your life or have you let the clouds of fear, worry, frustration, doubt, and complaining come in the way?  I know my son tells me sometimes that I am his rock and when I am down in spirit it affects him.  You know we do affect each other with our attitude.  If you are having a bad day and keep reacting to it…either people will start to feel the same way as you or if they are smart they will walk away and stay away from you.
We need to bring “SON” shine into lives and remember what we do does matter to others.  Have a SON filled day and share a smile with someone.  Even if it is just a small and simple one.
Lynn W.

Don’t Miss It!

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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things” (Isaiah 40:26, KJ).

             My husband and I have the privilege of spending  two months each year surrounded by absolute beauty. As I look out my front window, I can see the Pacific Ocean. The surf today is more like a spray, way out. I can see the waves creating almost a vapor as they burst on the shore, but many days I am oblivious to the beauty because I am preoccupied by the activities of my day.

             Yesterday we were driving along Highway One. I looked up just in time to notice that the mountains were covered with snow! We marveled at the beauty that we got to see as we traveled from one town to the other.  As we arrived at our destination, I mentioned the snow on the mountains to some of the people there. To my amazement, they had driven to the event and hadn’t even noticed the snow on the mountains!

             Then, today in my devotions, I read this verse.  “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things.”  Suddenly the truth hit me! GOD created this beauty for US. I can only imagine His disappointment when He paints this beautiful picture for us…the snow capped mountains and the ocean all in one view, but often we hardly even notice, let alone say Thank You.

             We are surrounded daily with God’s beauty and His miraculous creation. Each summer as I walk through the campus at America’s KESWICK, I am surrounded by His handiwork…the flowers, the landscape, each person that I pass.  We are God’s creation. Let’s lift up our eyes on high and behold!  Then let’s take a moment to say “Thank You, Lord.”

             My motto is “Don’t miss it!” Let’s not miss what God has created for us and what He has done for us.  “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things.”

Marilyn Heavilin