The Lord Controls Everything

The following devotional was written by my son who is in the 8th grade and preparing for his school’s retreat right here at KESWICK. He has given me permission to share it. I was blessed, encouraged and most of all thankful! Take heart, you moms out there; the Lord truly does control everything, including the salvation and spiritual growth of the children He’s given us.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

When Mrs. Huber (my Bible teacher) said we had to do devotions I was dreading it, but within five minutes of finding out, the Lord put into my heart a devotion that came to me when I saw a poster up on the wall that says: “The Lord Controls Everything.” The Lord definitely controls everything, but He also gave us the freedom of choice. Psalm 37:5 says “Commit your way to the Lord.” Now, what does that mean? It doesn’t mean that you just say the prayer to become a believer and whenever asked say, “Yes, I believe in Jesus, I go to church and I read my Bible” and then go on with your life like nothing happened. I once saw something that said “Going to church makes you a Christian just as much as standing in a garage makes you a car.” Ask yourself this, would you rather use your choice to live your life the way you want, have fun on earth, do whatever you want and then realize when you die that you’ll be in hell or would you rather live your life for the Lord well on earth and commit your way to the Lord and go to Heaven and have more fun and happiness then even imaginable on earth? While you’re on the Keswick retreat think about whether or not you are really a Christian. Next time you pick up your Bible read Psalm 37.
Let’s pray: Lord I just ask that you would lay it on everyone’s heart to ask themselves, am I living for You or for me. As we go on the Keswick retreat tomorrow, Lord, keep us safe and help everyone in the middle school grow spiritually in you, Lord. In your Holy name I pray, amen.
by John Seaton
September 6, 2008

Dina Seaton serves on staff in marketing and also as a staff writer and speaker. She is the mother of one son, John, who is 13 years old. Dina is currently working on completing her first book, “Do It Again, LORD…Do It Again!” A collection of interviews that will excite your faith… email the author at dseaton@americaskeswick.org

Honestly

Are you honest with God about your struggles, about the feelings and thoughts you have in the midst of those struggles? Do you express joy and gladness for Who God is in the midst of your trials AND in the midst of your blessings?

Do you have an Esther attitude, a NO MATTER WHAT heart toward God as it relates to all of life? Is there anything in your soul, in your spirit, that you can possible hide from God? Is there any thought or feeling which you could have that would surprise or shock God?

One of the most calming things in my heart and life is the knowledge that God’s Word gives me related to how I can and am permitted to communicate with Him. In a word: honestly.

Reading the Old Testament has given me numerous glimpses of God: Father God, Abba interacting with His people, His sometimes silly, often confused, wayward, disobedient, evil children.

Over and over we see Him responding to their honest cries, pleas, demands, whining, complaining as a Father to His children. He answers them right where they are and then, in grace, truth and love, He does what is best for them…even if it’s painful and hard.

Job is an excellent example of this relationship with FATHER GOD. Just read chapter 10. In verse one, Job freely complains and tells God he is disgusted with his life. He speaks in the bitterness of His soul to the God he worshipped, reverenced and adored. And guess what – God heard him! Wow!! And just think, the same ear that was tuned into Job is tuned to you and me.

Also consider reading Psalm 13. In this Psalm David is honestly communicating with God, earnestly seeking God to hear and see him.
Dear sister, if your soul and/or spirit is troubled today, go to God with it. Pour your heart out to Him, sit still and listen to what He will faithfully speak to your spirit.

Stephanie Paul is Director of Women’s Addiction Recovery Ministries at America’s KESWICK

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
~~1 John 1:5-71

1 http://www.biblegateway.com

Given to Hospitality

Do you consider yourself to be a hospitable person? Webster states hospitable means: “offering a pleasant or sustaining environment.” How do we do that? When we answer the phone, we can offer the caller a pleasant or sustaining environment. When I call my friend Lauren, I expect to hear her cheery voice say, “Greetings!” Now that is a welcome sound. My husband recently made a call to another time zone and woke someone up. A very sleepy “h-e-l-l-o,” did not convey the promise of a pleasant or sustaining environment.

Recently Glen and I were walking through an Amish quilt shop. The store clerk heard me talking about my own quilting in comparison to the beautiful work I was looking at. The clerk started a very generic conversation with me about quilting. I told her about the quilts I have seen made by those who have lost a child; quilts with picture quilt blocks. Unknowingly I had created a promise of a pleasant or sustaining environment where the clerk could ask, “Have you lost a child?” I answered, “Yes, three sons.” As I heard her gasp and utter an “Oh, I’m so sorry,” I felt free to ask, “Have you lost a child?” She answered, “Yes, two.”

Here we were. Two women living totally opposite lifestyles, yet we could hug each other as we parted. I left her with a copy of “Roses In December” and my business card. She gave me her address as she told me about the Circle Letter (chain letter) she had started several years ago. The letter travels within a circle of twelve bereaved mothers. Along with instant acceptance, we had offered a pleasant or sustaining environment to each other.

“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2 TLB)

Marilyn Heavilin is a speaker, author and grief counselor. She and her husband, Glen, volunteer at America’s KESWICK each year, and will be returning in March 2009

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Kathy Withers and I were talking this week and our conversation turned to the “little” words we find in the Bible – “yet,” “but,” and my favorites, “if…then.” My pastor has preached many times that, just because these words are little, doesn’t mean we should skip over them. They are flashing lights that should make us stop and pay special attention not only to what comes next, but what was said immediately before.

For example, take a look at Habakkuk 3:17-18. The prophet says that even when all of the things we expect to happen in the natural course of life do not …”YET will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (vs. 18) Even when everything around us seems to fail, YET we should rejoice in the God who knows all of those things already and has made a plan for us.

Or look at Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” My sin has already earned me death, BUT God’s great gift of His Son has provided me with eternal and abundant life.

II Chronicles 7:14 is another familiar passage where we are told that “IF my people which are called by my name. shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (emphasis mine) The forgiveness and healing only comes IF we do what we need to do to get ourselves right before the Lord. And only THEN will He do as He has promised.

So the next time you are reading in your Bible, take a reminder from the song phrase, “little things mean a lot.” Don’t be tempted to rush past the little words. Stop for a moment and remember that those little words lead to something much grander in God’s scheme for our lives.

Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America’s KESWICK

A Late Night at Faith Cottage…

So, you’d think after a busy summer things would quiet down here at KESWICK. Perhaps the staff will settle in for a long winter’s nap? No chance of that!

September 11th, 2006 I was awakened in the middle of the night. It was the Welte family; “Time to go” was what I heard on the other end. I had offered to watch two of their grandchildren, Tanner and Lindsay, while the family went to the hospital to await the birth of Emma Grace Houston. Tanner was tucked in tight but Lindsay was up for a late night feeding. “Now Lindsay has never been bottle fed before; I’m hoping she will take it from the bottle for you, but if there’s any trouble, I’ll come right back.” Whew… That was a relief!

Off to the hospital they went and there I was left with one toddler (asleep), one new born (asleep), three resident dogs, one guest dog, two large, noisy parrots and a coop full of chickens. And no, this is not a farm, it’s the Welte home: aka Faith Cottage.

Little Emma decided she’d take her time to make an entrance into the world. A few hours had gone by and it was time for Lindsay to get her first bottle. I sat down on the sofa and spoke softly to her about how much she was going to like this bottle. I remember thinking how sweet she smelled and how soft her skin felt. Her hair barely there but a true platinum blond was blossoming. Lindsay quickly opened her mouth and drank down the whole thing…no fuss-no muss! Well, it was back to bed for Lindsay. Yippee, we did it! Mom can relax and wait for her niece to be born.

I had a wonderful morning with those two precious ones. Emma finally made her entrance around 9:00 that morning and by early afternoon my watch was over. Granny and Mommy returned home thrilled, exhausted and grateful that the little ones had done so well.

Little did I know just how precious that memory would be. Lindsay Alice Groen went home to be with Jesus on May 16, 2008. Her ministry and testimony of her family are responsible for many entries in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21:26-27) NKJV

If you would like to know more about her visit the blog at: lindsaykeswick.blogspot.com

Laura, Thank you for trusting me with your precious children.

Dina Seaton serves on the Marketing team at America’s KESWICK

From A-Z

One of the projects I got to help my Sunday School kids work on was a dot-to-dot puzzle. I loved doing these as a child! The point of the puzzle is to draw a line from dot A to dot Z and at the end, an outline of an object is formed.

This summer I was able to listen to one of our Summer Conference speakers, Dr. Roger Willmore. He had shared a point that reminded me of a dot-to-dot puzzle. He had asked (and I paraphrase) have you ever seen someone who lived in victory? Have you ever envied them or wished your walk with Christ could have such depth? He went on to say that the only way we could have the victory they have is to have gone through whatever they went through to gain that victory.

In God’s wisdom He has a perfect plan for you. I don’t know where you are on your dot-to-dot puzzle but, like me, I am sure you are tempted to go around a few dots. We think we would be just fine if we could just jump from A-Z, but shortcuts don’t work. I know because my dot-to-dot has so many eraser marks on it! I have had to go back to a dot I thought I could skip. Sometimes I have had to go back to dot A because I made such a mess! Not until I have done what needed to be done and gone through what I needed to go through could I move on to the next dot. Not until I have had small victories could I see bigger victories in my life. Not until I saw victories in one area could I trust and wait for the victory in another.

The next dot you reach may be another hard trial, or it may be the very victory for which you are longing. Each of our “dot-to-dots” is different but each one offers to bring us to victory as we follow His plan for us. As we go from A to Z we will see that Jesus has brought us from trial to victory and victory to trial and, in doing so our outline forms the image of Christ.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Cor.3:18 NASB

Kathy Withers serves at the Keswick Book and Gift Shop. She is married to her husband, Dave, and has two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church. Her passion is the Word of God and encouraging women to dig deeper into the truths of the Bible.

Many Hurting People

In recent weeks, I have been reminded once again that there are many hurting people. Being in a counseling ministry and often working with those in hurting relationships, I interact regularly with people dealing with much pain in their lives. If it were not for the truth of God, the grace of God and the love of God, it could easily overwhelm me. In 17 years of counseling, I have not yet met a helpless case, a person that could not be changed or healed by the hand of God.
One of my goals for every person I meet with is to express to them the hope they have in Jesus Christ. I refuse to believe anyone is without hope, whether they see it or feel it or not, because with Jesus Christ there is always hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

The Keswick’s Family and Friends Seminar tomorrow is one avenue to minister hope and healing to hurting people. Most of the sessions are applicable to every Christian, not just those with an addicted family or friend. Perhaps you or someone you know would benefit from joining us. Call today for reservations: 1-732-350-1187 ex. 10.

Not all help is helpful. In working with families impacted by addiction for several years, there are a multitude of illustrations of hurting family members desperate to do the right thing to help a loved one overcome their addiction only to find out that instead they are not only NOT helping they are actually hurting the recovery of that loved one.

For example, here are some things that are not helpful:
1. Rescuing the person from the consequences of their choices over and over again
2. Treating a person as if she knows she needs help when she doesn’t
3. Any action that allows their poor choices to continue
4. Continually moving the acceptable limits of behavior just one more time
5. Failing to be true to your word

Here are some things that are helpful:
1. Mean what you say and follow through with what you said
2. Remember the person is not only hurting you but they are also hurting themself
3. Love without strings attached; if there are strings attached that is manipulation
4. Pray rather than nag
5. Encourage the person to take responsibility for their actions by not assuming responsibility for their actions.

6. UPCOMING EVENT
Stephanie is one of the featured speakers at our 3rd Annual Family and Friends Addiction Seminar: Binding Up the Broken-Hearted. To learn more about empowering rather than enabling please join us for a day designed to provide practical help for individuals in relationship with an addicted person. It is our desire to give hope to the hopeless and to encourage the discouraged. Saturday, October 11th, 2008. 8:00 am-3:30 pm Sponsored by America’s Keswick – Addiction Recovery Ministries. It will be held at an off-campus location: Whiting Bible Church, 95 Lacey Rd., Whiting, NJ 08759. $25.00 per person includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Call today for reservations and directions 732.350.1187 x. 10.

Jesus understands your grief and sorrow

Jesus truly does understand what it’s like to experience shattered dreams and what it is like to go through deep grief. Jesus was familiar with the death of dreams and grieved deeply.

In Luke 13:43, Jesus looks over Jerusalem and is in very deep pain and grief over His chosen people who have rejected Him and the salvation He offered, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Jesus understands and feels your sorrow over dreams that have been broken because Jesus has walked that journey ahead of you.
But Jesus faced His deepest sorrow, pain, loss and grief in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there that Jesus clung to His heavenly Father. He had to trust the Father because it was the only way he could face the agony of the cross.

We, too, will have a Gethsemane experience. Have you felt as if your life has ended because your dream is shattered? Have you felt as if you just couldn’t go on? Have you experienced grief so deep and so painful that it even hurt to breathe, walk or even eat? This is a Gethsemane experience. Jesus said in Matthew 26:38 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Have you begged God to change things – to turn back the hands of time – to remove your suffering?

Jesus understands your pain. Jesus accepted the pain that was ahead of Him but not until He went through terrible agony in the garden. Even when you cry out to God…begging…there will come a time when you realize that you, too, have to drink from your cup of suffering, pain and loss.

Yes, Jesus has walked that road ahead of you, but He is also there beside you in your grief. Jesus never leaves us alone. All you have to do is call on Him. Put your hope and trust in Him as you go through the grief process. He will give you more strength and courage to face life minute by minute. Even though we suffer in the loss of shattered dreams God is still good….His promises never fail.

Cling to Jesus.

Mary Ann Kiernan is Intake Manager at the Colony of Mercy

UPCOMING EVENT
Mary Ann is one of the featured speakers at our 3rd Annual Family and Friends Addiction Seminar: Binding Up the Broken-Hearted. To learn more about grief please join us for a day designed to provide practical help for individuals in relationship with an addicted person. It is our desire to give hope to the hopeless and to encourage the discouraged. Saturday, October 11th, 2008. 8:00 am-3:30 pm Sponsored by America’s Keswick – Addiction Recovery Ministries. It will be held at an off-campus location: Whiting Bible Church, 95 Lacey Rd., Whiting, NJ 08759. $25.00 per person includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Call today for reservations and directions 732.350.1187 x. 10.

Grief

No one is exempt from pain, suffering and loss. In John 16:33 Jesus tells us, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Sorrow and grief are a part of life. In Marilyn Willit Heavilin’s book “When your Dreams Die” she defines grief as “…the process of facing the death of a dream.” This is the best definition of grief I have found, because the death of a dream encompasses so many different kinds of losses.

What is the death of a dream? Well, of course, at the top of the list is the physical death of a loved one. This is the deepest of all grief but we grieve over many other “deaths” as well. In life we have expectations of how our lives and futures are supposed to be. We have expectations for our marriages, our families, our jobs and careers. There are deaths of the loss of health, the loss of an innocent childhood, the loss of dreams for children, the loss of finances, the loss of freedom. Today so many in Galveston, Texas are grieving the loss of all their possessions. The death of a dream comes in many forms.

We all grieve because a dream has died. Whether the dream has been shattered through a physical death or the death of a dream…in any loss, it is okay to grieve and you must grieve if healing is to take place in time. Most importantly you need to know that our God knows of your deep pain and feels your pain. But He doesn’t stop there. God offers, hope, healing, strength and comfort.

Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 3434:18 (NLT) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Our God knows your pain; He has a special place in His heart for those who grieve, those in deep sorrow….who have shattered dreams…those who feel defeated. Trust God, put your confidence in Him, this is where the journey of healing begins.

Psalm 147:3 (NIV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Mary Ann Kiernan is our Intake Manager at the Colony of Mercy

UPCOMING EVENT
Mary Ann is one of the featured speakers at our 3rd Annual Family and Friends Addiction Seminar: Binding Up the Broken-Hearted. To learn more about grief please join us for a day designed to provide practical help for individuals in relationship with an addicted person. It is our desire to give hope to the hopeless and to encourage the discouraged. Saturday, October 11th, 2008. 8:00 am-3:30 pm Sponsored by America’s Keswick – Addiction Recovery Ministries. It will be held at an off-campus location: Whiting Bible Church, 95 Lacey Rd., Whiting, NJ 08759. $25.00 per person includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Call today for reservations and directions 732.350.1187 x. 10.