The Benefits of Physical and Spiritual Exercise

1 Timothy 4:8 – “For physical exercise is of some value but godliness has value for all things.”
I have always read that verse and imagined the meaning to be – Don’t bother with physical exercise. It is not worth much. But after taking better care of my physical body, I now understand the many benefits of physical exercise.
Here are but a few:
Reduce the risk of premature death.
Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease.
Reduce the risk of developing or lower high blood pressure.
Reduce high cholesterol.
Reduce risks of colon cancer, breast cancer, or developing diabetes.
Reduce or maintain body weight or body fat.
Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones and joints.
Reduce depression, anxiety and improve overall psychological well-being.
I now see physical exercise as a very huge value in ones life BUT scripture tells us that even more so we need to train ourselves in the spiritual as that has even greater benefits!
What are the benefits of spiritual exercise? 1 Timothy 4 speaks of these:
Vs 7-8: Become a woman of Godliness. Becoming more like Christ
benefits not only this present life but the life to come.
Vs 12: Become a woman who is an example. Oh how we need godly women
to follow! Those who are godly in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in
purity.
Vs 14: Become a woman used of God. God has gifted you for a specific
purpose! We don’t want to neglect what God has given us.
Vs 15: Become a woman of diligence; one who is wholly given to these
matters. Keep going! Keep on keeping on! Why? So others will see our
progress. We benefit the harder we exercise our spirit so that we can be a
witness of God in us and glorify Him in the process of living our lives.
Vs 16: Become a woman who perseveres. As we continue to watch our lives and
follow closely the doctrine God has given us we are saving ourselves
and those who hear us. We need not say a word; others watch us too and
“hear” our actions. Would they be saved by watching how we exercise
our spirits?
We want to care for our bodies that we have been given but for many striving to be physically fit has become an obsession. We want to grow spiritually and I think it is right for us to strive after godliness and holiness until it becomes our sacred obsession!
Kathy

Through the Eyes of Grace or the Eyes of the Law A little while ago, after completing an errand, I exited the main building on the Keswick property and my eyes were confronted by a dark image. Walking in, as I was walking out was a very young couple who were walking so close together, they were moving in complete unison with one another. On top of that they were dressed head to toe in black; they were pierced in too many places for me to count without staring and appearing rude. It was obvious the sun was no their friend as they were both very pale in complexion.

Now hear me on this okay? I saw them! Everything I just described was observed in a matter of seconds and in that moment I had a decision to make. I know me very, very, very well and that means I know before anyone ever needs to tell me that I can be a critical judgmental person. I praise my God and Father for His patient, teaching, counseling, affirming grace. I thank Him for the freedom that I have (we have) in Christ every moment of every day to see others through His eyes.

As I walked past that young couple the Spirit of Christ in me rose up and something happened -or should I say, didn’t happen- that was simply sweet. I found myself NOT judging them.
They were two people made in the image of God, JUST LIKE ME, whom He loves, JUST LIKE ME, and cares for JUST LIKE ME, and loves, JUST LIKE ME and forgives, JUST LIKE ME and YOU!

In that moment I chose to see them through the eyes of grace rather than the eyes of whatever law I think they are breaking. As I write this Victory Call I am praying for me, for all of us to see everyone we come in contact with through new eyes; eyes that have been set free from the yoke of slavery to old stinky thinking that has nothing to do with grace; nothing to do with love and therefore, nothing to do with Christ in us and through us, the hope of glory.

“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 (NIV) “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” ~~ 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 Selah Stephanie

A Woman’s Place
William Raws, the founder of America’s KESWICK, considered it essential in determining God’s leading regarding the founding of such a ministry that he have the wholehearted agreement of his wife, Dora. At the time the property became available, Dora was in California attending a Christian Endeavor Convention and visiting relatives. William desperately needed to know her mind on the matter before proceeding. He sent a wire to her asking whether she was willing to leave the city (Philadelphia), and the relative security of an established mission (The Whosoever Mission), to pioneer a ministry in New Jersey. Her reply was prompt and brief, citing the Bible reference Ruth 1:16 which reads, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
(the above excerpt was taken from Monitoring the Movement of God/A History of America’s KESWICK, by William Addison Raws.)
After marrying William Raws, Dora and he established a home and began a family in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. They were increasingly involved in missions work in Center City. They began to take one or two of these men into their home until they could get on their feet. Having seen the same needs in so many on the streets of Germantown they had an increasing desire to see a work started there. They began to pray about the need and heard that an old building was for sale. It was a familiar building since it housed the saloon where he had done most of his drinking before he was delivered b y God’s grace. They founded the Whosoever Gospel Mission. They had three children, Eva, Dora Mae (Dottie), and Addison. They also sent to England for the two boys, now teens, in the care of the grandparents. Dora would often play the piano during the services at mission.
When the property Raws considered for the Colony of Mercy came up, Dora was willing to leave a measure of security she had in their already established home in Philadelphia without hesitation. What a joy is must have been to be part of a team as husband and wife that shared such a passion and commitment not only to each other but to the Lord. So with five children and herself they all moved onto the grounds of America’s Keswick. Which was at that time primitive, to say the least. She even had to endure the death of her precious daughter Dottie who at the young age of 12 died in her very arms. Dottie seemed to have been a close likeness in spirit to her mother Dora. At young age she ministered to the hearts of many a colony man, in fact bringing them to tears. Here grave site Is located just outside of our Women’s Ministry Building and to this day is well tended to by the men of the colony.
I have a unique privilege in that William Addison Raws, Dora’s grandson is here to give us a peak into this amazing woman’s life. He shares some of his recollections of her: she was a minister’s daughter and from “good stock” so to speak, she came from a family of good, moral people that lived quite comfortably. Pastor Raws remembers Dora as a strong woman, and by her very presence could seem intimidating at times and was a very take charge person. She worked very closely with her husband, in the Colony of Mercy. She was a member of the Christian Endeavor Society and the Anti-Saloon League. She was a crusader for Christ. Often after her husband would assign the men their work for the day he’d head out to Philadelphia to preach or meet with other Christian leaders and Dora would see to the day to day needs of the ministry. For two years after her husband’s death while her son Addison attended Rutgers, she actually ran the Colony of Mercy. Eventually her daughter Eva became secretary to Addison. Pastor recalls many a colony man giving loving testimony of Dora or as she became known to them, “mother Raws”. In later years as she grew older and Addison became fully in charge, she still sat in on the leadership meetings and gave her input and advice.
A woman’s place…just where is that? Wherever God places her, is her place.
Where is your place?
Dina

Developing “Spiritual Receptivity”

Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident…Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”…Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living…Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 27:3, 7, 8, 13, 14 (selected verses, please take the time to read the entire Psalm)

To develop spiritual receptivity we must begin with putting our trust wholly in God. Trusting that God is Who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do in our lives (Beth Moore). To trust Him, we need to be in His Holy Word to know just who our God is and what His promises are. It’s in the Word that we are called to seek God with all of our hearts. When we are pursuing God we are saying we aren’t satisfied with a second rate relationship with Him. In pursuing Him we are willing to seek Him with all our hearts, with all our minds, and will all our souls.
1 Chronicles 28:9 …If you seek Him, He will be found by you…”
There isn’t a magic formula to developing spiritual receptivity…all we need is a hungry heart that will not settle for second rate faith. Here are some ways we can pursue God’s voice. We begin with a change of heart as we go to church on Sunday morning. We enter the sanctuary with a heart attitude of worship. Remember we are going to be in the presence of God! That alone should excite us!
Approach God with a desire to know Him in a deeper and more personal way. If you haven’t done so in the past, repent of your poor attitude and get ready to worship…be excited about meeting with God! Go with a heart and mind that expects to meet with God.
If you expect to meet with Him…YOU WILL!

MaryAnn

A.W. Tozer, A 31 Day Experience, The Pursuit of God

What if I don’t exercise my “Spiritual Receptivity?”

There are always consequences to all our behaviors and our choices whether they are good or bad. There are consequences to not cultivating our gift of “spiritual receptivity” and it will show itself in a variety of ways. Here are just a few, according to A.W. Tozer;
a.) Our lives tend to become shallow. We never go below the surface to see what God wants to reveal to us. Our lives are only brain deep and not heart deep.
b.) We live with hollow beliefs. Our words say we believe and we say we trust but when the trials come (and they will come) we are lost.
c.) We attend church to have our eyes and our ears “tickled”. We want to leave church and have warm and fuzzy feelings instead of being challenged by the Word of God.
d.) We may elevate some Bible teachers to “god” status and begin to rely solely on what they are preaching. We take the pastors’ words and turn it into the “Word.”
e.) If our faith isn’t heart deep we will never look past the faith façade of others. So we are satisfied with surface relationships with others in the church.
f.) We become satisfied with a diet of Sunday morning service Scripture reading and think it is sufficient to carry us through the coming week.

We become satisfied with second rate and second best. We put our hopes in and we base our wisdom and knowledge about God on what someone else says and does, rather than looking into Gods Word and listening for God’s voice. God wants so much more…no He passionately desires so much more for us…yet we settle for less.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)

“God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”

Amen and Amen! Don’t you want all that God has for you?

MaryAnn

Instant…Spiritual Receptivity

Psalm 27:7-8 (The Message) “Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: ‘Be good to me! Answer me!’ When my heart whispered, ‘Seek God,’ my whole being replied, ‘I’m seeking Him!’ Don’t hide from me now!”
We live in a fast paced, instant world. We have instant breakfast, instant messaging, fast food, we can learn a new language in 30 day, get rich in 5 easy lessons and the list goes on and on. We want and expect our spiritual growth to be on the fast tract too, but that isn’t the way it works.
If we were to study the great saints of the faith we would not only see that they were spiritually responsive we would see they didn’t start out as spiritual giants. Each one continued to cultivate their spiritual receptivity until it was the “biggest thing in their lives.” (A.W. Tozer) When they felt that longing to know God more and more…when they felt God pulling on their heart strings, they didn’t put those feelings to rest, they responded and made it their lifelong habit to seek God.
Spiritual receptivity is a gift from God. God has given it to each and every one of us and there is nothing that we can do as individuals to manufacture it. However, even though it is a gift, that doesn’t give us the leisure of resting on it, thinking we will instantly become “spiritual giants of the faith.” First, each of us must recognize Gods gift of “spiritual receptivity,” and then cultivate it, otherwise the gift will be destroyed. When we neglect exercising our bodies, our muscles will grow weaker and eventually atrophy. This is no different in the case of spiritual receptivity.
Have you been waiting for instant deep faith only to be disappointed and think that, well…you just don’t have what it takes; you don’t have the kind of faith that can move mountains and so you give up or become “satisfied” with where you are. Maybe you wonder why your faith seems shallow or hard to hold onto when trials come into your life.
My dear sisters in faith, don’t be satisfied with a ho-hum faith, God has created you for so much more!
A.W. Tozer “Let any [woman] turn to God in earnest, let [her] begin to exercise [herself] unto godliness, let [her] seek to develop [her] powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything [she] may have hoped in [her] leaner years.”1

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” What a wonderful promise from our God! Are you ready to get up off your spiritual couch and exercise your “spiritual receptivity?”

MaryAnn

Mom always liked you best….

I loved the comedy routine of Tom & Dick Smothers who were very popular when I was a kid. Poor Tom would always lament that “Mom always liked you [brother Dick] best.” Tom would always expound the many ways their Mom would show her favoritism to Dick and it was always good for some great belly laughs!
Well, does our Heavenly Father play favorites do you think? I’m thinking if He does Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael or Joseph from the Old Testament must be among His favorites. Did God give them an extra measure of faith? Did God give them something He hasn’t given to you or me? Did He love them more than He loves us?
These and other great men and women of faith accomplished so much and brought so many to the cross of Jesus. Many have given their all in service to the King. Why is it that some Christians experience God in a way that others like you and me don’t? Why do so many of us struggle in our faith? Where does the difference come from? Is it that God likes them best?
A.W. Tozer says the number one quality of all the giants of the faith is “spiritual receptivity.” Each one of those men and women were spiritually receptive to God’s voice. This isn’t some “extra faith quality” that God gives to a select few because He likes them best.
According to Tozer, spiritual receptivity blends several elements with the soul of the individual. Those elements are:
1. The knowledge of doctrine – principles and position of the Christian faith 2. Theology – the study of God, faith and His relationship with the world, including practice and experience 3. God’s precepts – His commands and principals learned through His Word 4. All of the above mixed with our personal experience of God in our lives.

All of these elements are available to you and to me. I must stress that this doesn’t mean we know all the answers or for that matter can know all the answers to the questions of the universe! To be spiritually receptive means we are open to what God is showing, teaching and leading us to…and then RESPOND to it. There is a second step that is required…to respond. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Could you be the next Beth Moore? James says God gives generously to all who ask…but once God gives to you….you must respond. God has given you and I all we need….
Will you respond?

MaryAnn

A 31 Day Experience, The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer

Trophies of God’s Grace

Day 5
For the past week we’ve been privileged to share with you one very real, very personal account of how through the power of Jesus Christ at work in someone’s life they can have VICTORY rather than defeat.
On September 18, 1910, at the age of only 52, the life of William Raws (the founder) literally burned out for God and for lost men. The Keswick Colony of Mercy is truly a faith work which had its humble beginning in 1897 with $1.87 in capital. The ministry has been God’s instrument in reaching multitudes of men from all walks of life and all parts of the country, showing them that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect answer to the need of the addicted individual. Although the Colony has been expanded and improved through the years, there has been no change from the original vision and the faith principle upon which it operates. Men are charged a nominal fee of $150 for their four month stay and the Colony ministry is supported by voluntary contributions.

YOU ARE INVITED!
To join us as we celebrate
The Colony of Mercy…
For 110 years, America’s KESWICK has been sharing with men, women, and children the path to Victory through Jesus Christ!
America’s KESWICK isn’t just about offering hope and victory to those trapped by drugs and alcohol, gambling, or sexual sins; it is for everyone. Freedom and Victorious Christian Living are for all of us.

Special Speaker: Chaplain Jim Freed, Counselor and Operations Manager at the Colony of Mercy.
Special Music: Robert & Joyce Hayes, and men from the Colony of Mercy President’s Update: from Bill Welte, President & CEO of America’s KESWICK.

*South Jersey Area
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Masso’s Crystal Manor
210 South Delsea Drive,
Glassboro, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM

*Philadelphia Area
Tuesday, September 13, 2007
Dock Woods Community
275 Dock Drive
Lansdale, PA
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM

*Lancaster Area
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Lancaster Bible College
901 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM Banquet at 6PM- Doors open at 5:30PM

*Whiting Area
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
America’s KESWICK, Activity Center
601 Route 530
Whiting, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM

*Philadelphia Area
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ann’s Choice
20000 Ann’s Choice Way
Warminster, PA
Afternoon Tea & Dessert at 2PM-Doors open at 1:30PM

Although there is no charge for the meal, reservations are necessary.
Please Call: 1.800.453.7942 to reserve

WANTED Dead or Alive Part 4

After all of the Lord’s gentle leading Bill knew in his heart God’s word was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! “I knew what HE wanted but I couldn’t say it, I didn’t want to be gay but I knew I couldn’t stop on my own. I was looking out the window at the big wooden cross in front of the Colony building and the Lord spoke to my heart saying; “You need to give it to Me and say it out loud.” “Ok Lord, I can’t do this so You will need to do it.” “HE said; I know Bill just give it all to Me.”

Finally…a surrender! There had to be one. One way or another. Our God is an awesome God and He loves and wants us. But there is also another whom we are wanted by. He doesn’t love us nor, despite his attempts to deceive us, is he god. He is Satan and would have taken Bill dead or alive, emphasis on dead. Interestingly enough, God wanted Bill dead as well. Dead to himself that is, and raised to walk in the newness of a life in Christ for all eternity. This cowboy can claim a true Victory in Jesus! While Bill is a new creation, he says it is a daily walk with and commitment to the Lord for him. There are still struggles he faces only this time with the Lord. Having continued Victory over his past demands a daily, whole hearted desire and obedience to be transformed and not conformed. He reflects on Ephesians 2: 1-10, (being made alive in Christ.)

Bill graduated the Colony of Mercy, stayed for its discipleship program and was encouraged by Chaplain Jim to work with Harvest Ministries. At the Lord’s direction he accepted an internship at our conference center. I’ve watched him serve our guests with such kindness and sincerity. His southern drawl doesn’t hurt either! He enjoys working at Keswick and desires to stay as long as the Lord would have him. His dreams for the future include the hope of studying biblical counseling. He looks forward to what godly relationships will grow out of his new life. Bill is thriving under the Lord’s hand and says he never in his life had a peace like he has now. As Jesus said in John 14:27; “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It is our prayer that the following resources would be a tool for someone who may be seeking help: Know this: there is hope and help waiting for you!

America’s KESWICK Colony of Mercy
Addiction Recovery for Men
www.americaskeswick.org
1.800.453.7942 x46

Harvest USA
www.harvestusa.org
215.482.0111

Exodus International
www.exodusinternatonal.org
800.264.0877

Pure Life Ministries
www.purelifeministries.org
800.635.1866

Setting Captives Free
www.settingcaptivesfree.com
330.620.8448

This week’s series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day’s Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week’s devotionals.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE Part 3

In February of 2005, he made an impulsive decision to leave his career, sell his home, cash in his retirement and move to Cozumel, Mexico to start a business. He said; “I knew if things didn’t get better there I wasn’t coming back, I’d just die there.” He went to Mexico alone, or so he thought. God protected him through hallucinations and hurricanes. He was in a drug induced state of paranoia and schizophrenia. After the destruction of his home and nearly his life, two men named Gabriel and Michael brought Bill through the jungles of Mexico and back to the U.S. border. He made it back and began again trying to control his addictions on his own. He also began attending another church oriented to the gay lifestyle.
Matthew 7, 21-28; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
After yet another suicide attempt his mother’s church helped him find his way to the Colony of Mercy. Once here, he did not want to discuss his homosexuality, only to be freed from drugs. But God was about to begin a “special education” in Bill’s life. He was assigned to Chaplain Jim. And the first order of business that Bill had in mind was to make sure Jim understood that he was here to get clean…of drugs. As far as his homosexuality, that topic was off limits, he told Chaplain Jim that there was NO WAY! that God hadn’t created him a gay man. And he wasn’t going to listen to anyone who said differently. While he was laying down the law or should I say the lawlessness, Chaplain Jim was silently praying for God to help him minister the truth to Bill. He gave Bill a bible and simply asked him to begin studying it. God directed Chaplain Jim to let the Spirit do His work in Bill, as 2nd Timothy 2:24-26 so instructs; “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to a ll, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Bill said that had his counselor fought with him or been in his face so to speak, he would have left. Instead he says: “Keswick created an environment where I could study the scriptures myself and my heart could hear the truth of God. It wasn’t quarrelsome but gentle and kind instruction that allowed God to lead me to repentance. It was safe, calm, quiet and away from the distractions of the world. I’ve learned how to have godly friendships with other men of God. There have been some intense conversations and I admire the leadership of the men here. I want people who are hurting like I was, to know there is hope.
to be continued…

This week’s series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day’s Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week’s devotionals.