I know it’s hard to believe, any of you that know me, but on occasion I have been accused of being stubborn. Shocking right? What one person (my husband) sees as stubborn another (me) sees as determination and decisiveness.

According to www.merriam-webster.com the definition of Stubborn is 1) unreasonably or perversely unyielding; 2) performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner; 3) difficult to handle, manage, or treat.[1]

I’d be lying if I denied that sometimes Merriam-Webster describes me to a T.

But more seriously, as I searched the Scriptures for what God had to say about stubbornness, hard-heartedness, rebellion, and being stiff necked – I saw myself here as well.  It is so easy to look at Israel and shake our heads with a tsk-tsk, but I am more like Israel than I care to admit, and unfortunately it’s neither determination nor decisiveness – it’s just plain sin.

There are many examples of stubborn individuals (i.e. King Nebuchadnezzar– Daniel 5:20) and stubborn peoples (i.e. Israel).

In the Bible, stubbornness is associated with pride (Daniel 5:4), disobedience (Deuteronomy 9:23), rebellion (Deuteronomy 31:27), unbelief (Acts 19:9), idolatry (2 Kings 17:14-15), deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), unfaithfulness and a wavering heart (Psalm 78:8), following one’s own counsel (Psalm 81:12), being far from righteousness (Isaiah 46:12), unwillingness to listen (Ex 3:7), being stiff-necked (Ex 32:9), and having a hardened heart (2 Chronicles 36:13).

Biblically, stubbornness screams of self and denies there is an authority or power greater than self.

So now the question is not, “Does Merriam-Webster describe me to a T?” but “Does God’s definition describe me to a T?”  I dare say, at times? Yes.

To put off a stubborn spirit we begin with confession and repentance:

And then…

Put on fear of the Lord– Proverbs 28:14

Put on obedience– Ex 23:21

Put on faith and belief—Psalm 31:23

Put on submission—James 4:7

Put on a yielded spirit– 2 Chronicles 30:8

Put on a listening ear– Proverbs 1:24-25, 33

Put on Spirit and truth filled worship – John 4:24

Put on a steadfast spirit– Psalm 57:7

Put on faithfulness– Psalm 37:3

Let’s do some soul searching.  Do I have a hardened heart?  Am I stiff necked?  Am I rebellious?  Am I stubborn?

Lord, in the many ways I resist Your way, forgive me.  For all the ways I fail to submit to You, forgive me.  For the stubbornness in my heart, forgive me.  For when I have failed to listen to You, please forgive me. Lord may there be evidence to others and to me that I have a yielded, submitted spirit. 

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.

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stubborn

Last week, I was in Missouri and went to Sight & Sound Theater to see their newest show, Moses… and all I can say is “WOW.” They did such a good job with the special effects, the acting, the music… everything! I’m still trying to process all of it.

I also left the show with a lot of questions answered. I’ve always wondered, “After all the plagues that God sent to Egypt… the death of the livestock, the water being turned to blood, the boils… all of it… why wouldn’t Pharaoh listen? Did he still not believe God’s power? After his son died, why would he still pursue Moses and the Israelites? Didn’t he realize more destruction would come?”

Of course, we know that it was all pride… but I couldn’t grasp THAT kind of pride (hats off to Sight and Sound for making it so clear!) As the King of Egypt, Pharaoh decided who lived and who died, who was a free man and who was a slave, who would be fed and who would go hungry. The fact that he was not in control of the plagues was too much for him to handle… and he would do EVERYTHING in his power to make sure that the Hebrews stayed put… but God’s power is so much bigger.

Pharaoh considered himself to be “The God of Egypt,” and the Israelite God to be “just a God of Slaves.” When Pharaoh realized that the Israelite God, who he didn’t even believe in, was sending all of these plagues and was, in fact, more powerful than himself… he couldn’t handle it. His pride was too big, and even when he asked Moses to bless him, it was only a momentary request before he decided to try and pursue Moses and his people once again.

Pride is ugly. Isaiah 2:12 says The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled.) James 4:6 says … God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Philippians 2:3 states Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.

God often uses the most unlikely and humble people to carry out His greatest tasks to bring Himself glory. Consider Moses – he was once a mighty and powerful ruler, but once he decided to pursue the one TRUE God, he was banished from and despised by Egypt. Or, if you’d rather, consider David – a lowly shepherd who believed that God’s power was bigger than any 10-foot-tall giant, and through God’s power  defeated a GIANT with ONE SMALL SMOOTH STONE.

We can see by the story of Pharaoh and Moses that Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) but with humility comes life, honor, and riches (Luke 14:11, Proverbs 22:4)

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. – Luke 14:11

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 dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

 

A while ago, I was on Facebook and saw an argument on a comment thread which really sparked my interest. Now, let me be clear when I say that I think Facebook arguments in general are ridiculous. When you’re angry about something and choose to express that anger through Facebook, especially if aimed at an individual or specific group, it’s almost guaranteed to make everyone leave feeling more upset. However, the topic they were arguing about was a thought-provoking one. They were arguing about whether or not you should “Fear God.” One arguer was saying that you should obey God out of a fear of Him, while the other one was saying that if you use the term ‘fear God’ you are automatically wrong because one should obey because they love God and want to please Him.

I think there is truth to both sides. Let me start by saying, yes, biblical texts instruct us to “Fear God.” You can read that in a plethora of Bible verses, including Psalm 31:19 which talks about the goodness that God has stored up for those who fear Him, Psalm 112:1 and Psalm 115:13 which says that those who fear the Lord will be blessed, and many verses in Proverbs which talk about a fear of the Lord leading to life. Fearing God is a biblical command, and everything we do should be out of a fear of Him.

It’s important to realize, however, that GODLY fear and WORLDLY fear are NOT the same thing. Does “fearing God” mean worrying about being struck down every time you sin, having sweaty palms and a racing heart every time you go to Him in prayer, and trembling every time you open His Word? No. God loves us so much and we never have to fear losing our salvation or losing His acceptance. If you’re a believer, “fearing God” means having the deepest respect for Him – a kind of reverence that is incomparable to anything else. As Gotquestions.org states, it is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), it means understanding how much God hates sin and understanding His judgment on and discipline of sin, so that we can seek to please Him in our actions. And why do we obey and revere Him? Because we love Him and want to please Him. Because He first loved us.

Both arguments had truth to them. The greatness of God is so beyond our comprehension, so everything we do should be out of a deep respect, reverence, and love for Him… and that, my friends, is known as godly fear.

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 dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

 

All of us know someone who has gone through some difficult times but does not have a relationship with Jesus. We wonder how they go through life without Jesus. I was recently thinking this and I was reminded about how often I try to do life without Jesus. If I were to really look at one day of my life and answer the following questions, would it look like I lived for and with Jesus?

How many times did I ignore His voice?

How often did I stop to pray?

Did I take control or let Jesus have free reign?

How much time did I spend thinking about Him?

Did I give Him praise?

Did I recognize anything that He provided just for me?

Did I say thank you?

I fear we would admit to ourselves that we go through good days, calm days, and bad days, ignoring the very One who desires to be part of our lives. Today what can you and I do to live with Jesus? How can our faith be more active regardless of what our day may bring? Let us walk with Jesus and pay attention! Don’t do life on your own. Invite Him in!

Let’s remember-

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20

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.

 

 

 

And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. (Genesis 8:10-12)

We often hear and speak of the patience of Job, and he certainly is the personification of patience, but today the Lord drew my attention to the patience of Noah. And he waited…and he waited… Noah waited for a confirmation that it was safe to go out of the Ark. I’m guessing that wasn’t easy. After a recent visit to The ARK Experience in Kentucky (which I highly recommend), I realize it would have been a challenge, as well as tempting to move ahead, but instead, he waited. The safest place for Noah and his family to be was right where they were. Until God said; Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.  Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth. (Genesis 8:16-17)

And then, and only then, Noah went out. So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him (Genesis 8:18).  Was Noah comfortable with waiting? I don’t know. What I do know is that he waited anyway and I’m certain he was happy that he did.

Dina

Dina Seaton has served on staff for 15 years, currently in Partner Care. She is a proud Air Force mom and loves spending time with her son wherever he is, near or far. He is truly her greatest joy.  Dina came to Christ in 2000. She loves God and wants to love Him more!

 

 

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

The Tortoise and the Hare, we all know the story. It’s pretty much a classic. We have two animals in a race – on one side, there’s the Tortoise. He’s much slower than the Hare, but he’s also determined and diligent. On the other side, we have the Hare. He’s much faster, but he’s also lazy, conceited, and distracted. He believes that there is no way the Tortoise could beat him, so he takes a nap halfway throughout the race, and when he runs to the finish line afterward – spoiler alert – he finds the tortoise had beaten him in the race.

When we look at our Christian walk, who do we resemble more – the Tortoise or the Hare? Really think about it!

If we’re the Tortoise, we try to run the race with diligence and determination. The Tortoise had his eyes on the prize, he had a clear end goal in mind. Our goal, according to Philippians 3:14, is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about running the race with endurance and perseverance, with our eyes fixed on Him, and 1 Corinthians 9:24 states Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

If we’re the Hare, on the other hand, we can be lazy and we can be distracted. If you’re a Hare, maybe you don’t read the Word nearly as often as you should or you’re not consistent in sharing the gospel. Maybe your devotions aren’t really in-depth and you’re just reading a quick Bible verse in the beginning of the day. Maybe sometimes you might take “naps” by hitting the snooze button on your spiritual disciplines, or maybe sometimes you’re easily distracted by other things (like your phone) and forget to keep your eyes on the prize. And maybe your distractions are even genuinely good things, like serving in church, but you get so distracted by the work that you forget to focus on Jesus.

Of course, as Christians, we all resemble the Tortoise in many areas of our lives and we resemble the Hare in others. That’s why it’s so great that as long as we’re seeking His face, He is constantly molding us to the image of His Son… I sure do love Him!

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 dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

 

Who hasn’t heard the idiom regarding keeping up with the Joneses? One would be hard-pressed to find that person, right? Why is that? Making comparisons, an insidious byproduct of our flesh, is fueled by the world system, our nefarious enemy, and his malevolent cohorts to their advantage and to our detriment. Remember, there’s nothing new under the sun. From pre-school through retirement, we all struggle with and fall prey to the “comparison trap” at various times.

Now it’s one thing to be encouraged, blessed, and spurred on to greater and higher heights by someone’s gifting, skills, talents, and testimony or to strive by God’s grace for His glory to meet some necessary objective or goal, but ungodly comparisons spawn two polarized, yet equally destructive and self-focused outcomes: haughtiness or self-deprecation. These are two sides of the same coin as both objectify others, focus on self, preclude intimacy, dishonor God, and take our eyes off of where they should be: on Christ.

I don’t know about you, but I am usually most blessed by those who don’t do things flawlessly and effortlessly, but by those who sincerely, yet imperfectly, desire to humbly bless God and others in His Name. As containers of His life, we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV). So whatever God has for you, His clay, to do today, let Him have full sway in you as you manifest Christ through your life as no one else can or will. Whether clumsily or impeccably, your Audience of One will be well pleased, whether or not the peanut gallery agrees!

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.

 

Whether it is addiction, homosexuality, or gender-identity confusion – culture seems to want to chalk up blame to a person’s natural bend that has been present since birth.

Truth is: We are all born that way! We all have inclinations of the flesh which are evident in our own sin pattern. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Gal 5:19-21 Sin is no respecter of persons. Every single one of us is a born sinner.

For some it may be gluttony, for others it may be lying or alcohol addiction or homosexuality. Has it been there since birth? Were they born that way?  I’m sure I don’t know. But what God calls sin is sin. If we have inclinations of the flesh that we are commanded to flee like drunkenness, homosexuality or sexual immorality[i], then God has made a way for us to have victory over those temptations.  The only answer for every single one of us is that we need a Savior and the power of His indwelling Spirit.

So whether we have to fight gender confusion or the desire to eat a whole cake or the temptation to give someone a piece of our mind in sinful anger – it is a battle.  We must FIGHT the temptation. The temptation in and of itself is not sin, but allowing temptation to have its own way, that is sin.

To say, “I was born this way” is an excuse to surrender to fleshly inclinations; for not fighting.

Our culture has slowly turned the tide of public opinion so the idea of fighting the flesh inclinations of same-sex attraction, gender-confusion, or sex outside of marriage is absolutely ludicrous.  In our culture, these things are not wrong; they are right and natural and therefore do not require fighting. In fact we are encouraged to embrace them to fulfill our true self.  Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

Our true self is not found by embracing the inclinations of our flesh. Our true self is found in who our Creator designed us to be.  If we think He has made a mistake in how or who He made us then we don’t know God as He has revealed Himself through His written word (the Bible)[ii] and the Living Word (Jesus Christ)[iii].  Our truest, highest and purest identity is found in Jesus Christ.

Let us fight to embrace that truth and, then and only then, will we be who we were truly meant to be.

Blessings, Diane

[i] Romans 13:13;

[ii] 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16

[iii] John 1:14

Diane Hunt Diane 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.

 

“Is what you’re doing unethical?”

Well…No.

“Is it unbiblical?”

Not at all.

“Is it immoral?”

No way.

“Is it illegal?”

Absolutely not!

“Then why are you feeling guilty?”

I know a story of a woman who is always struggling with guilt – guilt for things she really doesn’t need to feel guilty about. If she decided to stay at home instead of going out with friends, she would feel guilt. If she did not accept that friend request on Facebook, she would feel guilt. If she had other plans and couldn’t go visit her family, she would feel guilt. If she stood up for herself, she would feel guilt.

When her friend asked her these four questions – whether what she was doing was unethical, immoral, unbiblical, or illegal, her answer to each one was no. It really rocked her world. She didn’t need to feel guilty? What?! She had spent her entire adult life feeling conscience-stricken! But what friend told her was true “If you didn’t sin, you don’t need to feel guilty.”

When the Bible talks about guilt, it talks about how the Lord will forgive you when you sin. There is a direct relationship between guilt and sin (1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1, Acts 2:38). But if there is no sin involved, why feel guilty?

We are called to live in peace.  The enemy is a prowling lion, but if we ground ourselves in God’s truth, he will flee. Let’s take up our shields of faith and extinguish any fiery darts of guilt that the enemy might try to throw our way.

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 dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick… Proverbs 13:12

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Psalm 42:11

I am an optimist at heart.  I see the glass half full, not half empty.  I try to see the bright side of things as life goes along, but sometimes, admittedly, there is disappointment.

Dealing with disappointment as a believer isn’t a matter of denying it or tagging on a Christian cliché or even a Bible verse in an effort to gloss over the letdown.

We know in the end the answer is God. We know the bottom line is Jesus.  But how we get to the bottom line will make the difference between genuine acceptance and just a Christian façade.

It doesn’t help when well-meaning friends with the best intentions give “the Christian answer” without pausing long enough to hear and empathize with the disappointed heart.  (I’m sorry to say, I have been one of those well-meaning friends with the best intentions at times.)

So where do we start?

It may seem strange to say, but I think we best start BEFORE we know whether it will turn out in our favor or not.  We start even as we begin to hope. How we frame it in our own hearts and minds will make a big difference as to how we will react if things do not go in our favor.

As we begin to hope for and ask God for something good – or perhaps to avoid something bad – our feet must be firmly grounded in His goodness and sovereignty.  I don’t mean a glancing thought or perfunctory head nod, I mean a genuine acknowledgment and appreciation for His goodness and His sovereignty. This is His world and we are His children and He does all things well and for our ultimate good.

Also, holding our hopes and dreams with open hands in a gesture of submission to His will makes a denial a bit less painful.  But, if I hold a death grip on my desire – and God denies my request – I think anger would be inevitable.

We have to ask ourselves the questions: Do I want this even if it is not God’s best for me? Do I want what God wants more that I want what I want?

So then what? What do we do if the outcome is unfavorable?

Well, God already knows our heart.  He knew before it happened or didn’t happen that we would be disappointed. So we start by simply being honest with ourselves and with Him. Acknowledge to God we are disappointed.  We hoped for something to happen or not happen and it didn’t turn out the way we had hoped.

There is nothing ungodly about being disappointed.  However cloaked in the disappointment could be the temptation to become angry, even bitter.  We don’t want to go there.

We need to reaffirm that we trust God’s goodness and His sovereignty.

We need to choose to look beyond our immediate disappointment with faith to believe what God has promised.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

With a backdrop of faith and belief grounded in the character and attributes of a loving, good and sovereign God – these Scripture no longer feel cliché but hope-filled truth to help us with our disappointment.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt Diane 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.