It is only a House…..

Joshua 24:15 b
..as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Recently, I had an Aunt and Uncle move close to where I live. Most of my life they lived far enough away that we would see each other on holidays, weddings and all that other fun family stuff.

I knew of my aunt in a much different way than I am getting to know her now. There was one thing that always stood out in my mind, and now I see it even more clearly. This was the aunt that at Christmas time would give us Bible story books, Bible games and pretty much every gift was Bible related. My father always spoke of her with such respect and referred to her and her husband as two people that walked with God.

As a child this just stuck with me. She always held a special spot in my heart, even though I rarely got to see her. I remember her enthusiasm and spunk that she always had for the Lord. It was not a Sunday only thing; my Aunt and Uncle lived life daily, as full time Christian workers, but had ordinary jobs. Their daily life reflected their love for the Lord and His work.

Now that they are down here and closer to me, I have been able to spend time with them. Their love for the Lord, His people and their service to Him is still evident in their lives. They are older now and can not get around as much as they used to but WOW, how they still serve Him!

In spending one night at their new apartment they told me a little story….

When selling their house they decided to pray about it. The house was built many years ago by my Uncle’s parents, who built it for the purpose of using it for the Lord and His people. When my Uncle got married he took over the house for his family and that original purpose remained; this house must be used for the Lord. There has been close to four generations from this family in the house and it is still standing firm; it was built to serve the Lord. Their desire and prayer was to sell the house to a Christian family who would maintain the original purpose and use it to serve the Lord.

They had several offers and the one chosen was not the highest bidder but the family that were Christians and said they needed a house where they could serve God’s people.

My aunt and uncle needed to think through whether or not to sell high or low; they still had their needs to consider financially once they moved. But the Lord was leading them to sell to the lower bidder and know that this house would still be a place where the Lord would be served. They just knew God would honor this decision and their needs would be met by Him not the sale of the house.

Even in the apartment they are in now….the verse, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” still lives on.

I can truly say I have seen this verse exemplified in the lives of my Aunt and Uncle and I praise the Lord for such Godly examples.

May I always remember that for me and my house we will serve the Lord, too.

Lynn W

FINDING A QUIET PLACE

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isa. 30:15)

Be still and know that I am God (Psa. 46:10)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul… (Psa. 23:1-3)

These verses speak – shall I say it – LOUDLY to us about quieting ourselves before the Lord. Yes, He created us with the ability to sing (well at least some of us) and shout for joy and worship Him in that way. And He delights when we call out His name in joyful praise and thanksgiving for who He is and for all He has done for us.

But there is a time and place for quietness and solitude where we draw close to Him and hear Him whisper His instructions, His love, and His concern for our concerns.

I don’t know about you, but I am a people person. I love being around people and I get energized from their energy. But – sometimes – I have a day when I have had too much of people, of listening and talking to others. It is then that I feel the need most keenly to listen and let my God talk to me. I truly appreciate the solitude of being by myself with my Lord and instead of me doing the talking, allowing Him to speak to me in quiet words, or even no spoken words at all. It is then that I open my Bible and find strength and comfort in just reading the words and letting the Holy Spirit calm me and minister to me in quietness and confidence. It is then that I find my strength renewed for the coming activities of the next day.

We live in an age when we are surrounded by all kinds of noise – traffic and honking horns, too loud radios and TVs, but also loud cries of despair and hopelessness as we hear about war, and crime and devastating tragedies all around us. And it is the quiet solitude and peace that only comes from knowing Jesus and the assurance that He is in control that keeps us going.

I pray that as we experience that blessed quiet and solitude in our lives that it will be obvious to those we encounter who are suffering from too much noise in their lives, too many loud distractions placed there by Satan that they will truly be drawn to the only One who can calm the din and bring peace to their lives.

May our family, friends, and others we meet during our day, come face to face with the quiet confidence we not only share with them, but SHOW them, that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and His power to bring rest to our souls.

Lynn Randall

I Have Set My Face Like Flint

Have you ever heard someone use a phrase and wonder what does that really mean?
Recently this phrase- I have set my face like flint- had me wondering not only what it meant but how does one set their face like flint? I must begin with the word flint. Flint literally means rock. Well, that is helpful for me. It means I have to understand that I must set my face like rock towards the difficult tasks in front of me. For Jesus it was the Cross. He was determined to fulfill ALL that the Father had told him to do. For me right now I need to set my face like flint as I struggle to exercise, as I pray for our prodigal and as I constantly see the deceit in my own heart that I need to deal with. Setting our face like flint will mean that we are determined to be unmovable. We will remain strong. We will finish ALL that God has told us to do even when it seems impossible! But how did Jesus and how will you and I be able to remain strong like flint? Isaiah 50:7 says ” For the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like a flint , and I know that I will not be ashamed.” We have a strong, powerful God who is ready, willing and able to keep us strong regardless of what difficulties seem to be in our way. 1 Corinthians 15:58 also says “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.” What is before you today? What tasks are heavy on your heart? Set your face like flint! Be a rock of Gods strength knowing for certain that He is for you in all you do! And remember- The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us!
Kathy

Lessons from Esau — Part 2

Genesis 25:34, “And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Despise: to look down on with contempt or aversion; to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful1

At that moment, Esau despised his birthright, or regarded it as negligible or worthless. He regarded the stew as more important than his birthright. We may scratch our heads and wonder what kind of fool is this? The question that immediately came to mind was, “In what ways have I despised my birthright?”

I am not George and Martha’s first-born, I’m actually fifth-born, so I’m not referring to a human birthright. However, I am born of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 As a child of God, we have a birthright.

Birthright: a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth2

We have privileges and possessions which become ours by the virtue of being born from above.
* We are adopted into the family of God – John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5
* We are friends of God. John 15:14-15
* We are His delight. Psalm 18:19
* We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17
* We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37
* We have been given garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
* We are the bride of Christ. Isaiah 54:5
* We have been set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:14
* We have been forgiven. Colossians 2:13
* We bear His name. Acts 11:26
* We have been set free. John 8:36
* He is our provider. Genesis 22:14
* He is our healer. Exodus 15:26
* He is our peace. John 14:27

This is just a very small sampling of the truths in Scripture about our spiritual birthright. As we consider Esau, what lesson can we learn from him? Are there ways in which we despise our birthright, exchanging the rights and privileges as His child, for anything that is more important to us at that moment?

Diane

Have you hugged your Mom today?

Although I didn’t know it at the time I believe I began my “Hug Ministry” in my early twenties. As a child of immigrant parents from the Ukraine, I wasn’t accustomed to many displays of affection through “I love you’s” and hugs….especially from my Poppa. That just wasn’t the way he or Momma was raised. However, I must have observed affection displayed to children through television because I craved it.
After I married at nineteen, I began to tell my parents that I loved them and began to give hugs on a regular basis. Poppa took to the idea and began to hug back (big bear hugs) and say “I love you too.” I really enjoyed those hugs until his death in 1990.
Momma learned to hug too but the “I love you’s” were a little tough so she would always answer with “I know you love me.” And that was okay.
When my sons were born, I made a conscience decision to give them lots of hugs and “I love you’s.”
Perhaps you remember a television commercial from many years ago that stated “Its 10:00 do you know where your children are?” Because I believed showing affection was so important, I changed the words and would always ask my boys, “Have you hugged your Mom today?” We would hug and laugh…what sweet memories.
When, as teens they spiraled out of control in drug addiction and there was so much anger, pain and hurt, the hugs and “I love you’s” dwindled down to almost non-existent. My pain blinded me to the fact that they needed my hugs and “I love you’s” more than ever. After a time I began to attend Families Anonymous. At that time I didn’t know Jesus as my Savior. One thing of great importance I learned in those meetings is the importance of sharing my love for my sons in the midst of the craziness and finding one thing each day to affirm each of my sons. Let me tell you, there were times that I was really reaching with things like “That’s a great hair cut.” I began to force myself, through my pain, to say “I love you”. I desperately needed to reconnect and love my sons through it all.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Colossians 3:13-14 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

So have you hugged your spouse, child, mom, dad, friend today??

Mary Ann

The Ministry of a Hug

During the 2006 summer conference season an elderly women came into my office and asked for counseling. After meeting with her and praying with her, my heart was deeply impacted by the pain this women carried. When our session ended I felt the Lord prompting me to ask her if I could give her a hug. She said yes, and I gave her a hug that indicated to her that I cared about her and what she was going through. To my amazement she said this was the first time in 10 years that she had received a hug! I just had to give her a second hug. I couldn’t imagine not having that personal touch in such a long time.

Have you ever thought that a hug could be a ministry? I’ve been thinking seriously about this very idea. Sometimes a listening ear is enough and sometimes it isn’t and although a hug is not appropriate in all circumstances, there is times when a hug is very much what the person needs. It conveys so much to the woman receiving a hug. It expresses our sisterly love for one another and our compassion. It can convey to a hurting sister more than words ever could.

Have you ever been so deep in a pit that you couldn’t imagine anyone caring about you? Or have you ever been so full of despair and pain that you felt unworthy of a hug? Maybe it’s been a long time since someone gave you a hug or even a gentle touch of a hand. Perhaps there’s a woman you know who is going through a very difficult time, illness or is in grief over the loss of a loved one. Maybe you’ve sat with a friend or a stranger, and have listened to her share her heart with you. You prayed with her and felt God prompting you to give her a hug. Ask permission and then give them their hug from God. I haven’t met a woman yet who has turned a hug down or told me she didn’t need the hug.

Matthew 22:37-39 “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
“Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting, Help me to know what to do and say; Speak to my heart and give me compassion; Let your great love flow through me today.” Kurt De Haan

Mary Ann

Helping God Out

Do you ever find yourself helping God along? Perhaps He doesn’t seem to be moving according to your time table as with Abraham and Sarah. God made a promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations but he had no offspring of his own.

“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great” Genesis 12:1 “Look, You have give me no offspring; indeed on born in my house is my heir? And behold the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from you own body shall be your heir. Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Genesis 15:3-5

Although Abraham and Sarah believed God, no pregnancy resulted. So Sarah took things into her own hands and gave her handmaiden Hagar to Abraham as his wife. A child was conceived from their union, however he was a child born of the flesh he was not God’s promised child.

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.” Galatians 4:22-24

Abraham and Sarah helped God out and it resulted in two peoples that have been warring factions through the generations.

Abraham’s son and daughter-in-law, Isaac and Rebekah conceived twins after twenty years of marriage.
“But the children struggled together within her; and she said,
“If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from you body; One people shall be stronger than the other,
and the older shall serve the younger.” Genesis 25:22-23

When time came for Isaac to bless his firstborn, Esau, Rebekah convinced Jacob to deceive Isaac and receive the blessing of the firstborn. She was helping God keep His promise. Sound silly? Don’t we do the same thing?

I do the same thing. I clearly have this promise from God’s word:

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…
Psalm 37: 5-7

Oh, I do okay for a while trusting, dwelling, feeding, delighting, committing, and resting. But when I decide that God is taking too long bringing it to pass, I make efforts to try to help Him along. I have yet to push Him into responding to my timetable. It is another life lesson being fleshed out in the reality of my experience.

So, are you helping God along? Are you trying to get God to operate on your timetable or do you trust God to keep His promises in His perfect timing?

Diane

Food For Thought

My Doctor looked at me over her eyeglasses and said “You need to watch your weight”.
I knew I had been buying clothes in bigger sizes. But was food really a problem?

As I began to understand what my body needs versus what my body wants I found out how much I was eating. I realized that over the last year I had been eating more for various reasons. Food was a comfort when I was stressed, angry or needed a little consolation. Food was a friend when I was lonely or bored. Food was what I was using to fill voids in my life. Food was not only filling my stomach but filling areas of my life that Jesus wanted to fill. He desires to be my comfort. He desires to be my friend. He desires to fill all the empty spaces in my heart. Food had taken places that are rightfully His. In those times of stress, anger, boredom and loneliness I turned to something other then Jesus Christ.

Okay, let’s be real! Turning to anything but Christ to fill our needs would be? Yes, an idol! I admit it! How did this little monster begin to grow? Easy. Whenever we focus on ourselves rather then Chris t we lose sight of our Helper, our Comforter, our Friend and we begin to take care of things our own way.

Now, I needed to slay the little monster by re-focusing. I needed to focus again on God’s Word and as I did I began to have verses about food jump from the pages. Things like God providing manna for the Israelites spoke to me of God’s provision for my sustenance not my gluttony. Just as the Israelites had struggled for all the goodies back in Egypt, I struggled with the desire for a bag of Lays Leek and Garlic potato chips and had to fight off my own desire to be in bondage once again (Numbers 11). Then I read about Adam and Eve and realized in a new way that the fall of mankind took place over a piece of fruit! (Gen. 3) I found good company with the disciples who seemed to always be worrying about food and where to find it. (John 6:7) Then there is the crowd that knew Jesus fed thousands and so they came to Him to fill their stomachs but really didn’t want anything else He had to offer. (John 6:22-26)

But what stopped me in my tracks is found in Job 23:12b – “I have treasured the words of His mouth more then my necessary food.” Wow! That got to the heart of the matter in a hurry! I began to ponder how important food can be to me. Think for a moment about all that encompasses food. How much time we spend food shopping, planning and preparing food, cooking food, eating food, waiting for a table to get into our favorite restaurant and watching the Food Network.

Now think about the amount of time you and I treasure God’s Word more then our necessary food? Ouch! I have skipped meals for many reasons but I don’t recall ever missing a meal because the Word tasted so good that I could not bear leaving it. When was the last time you got so caught up in reading and pondering God’s Word you forgot to eat? God’s Word is an awesome feast and often we grab some crumbs on the go and run. Maybe Jesus is looking at you and me saying “You need to spend more time with me.” Or “You need to allow me to fill you with Living Water and provide you with your daily bread.” Or “I wo uld like you to add some “meat” to your diet.”

A healthy way of eating is to have small meals through out the day. Why not keep a Bible in your desk or purse and have a little more necessary food before you eat! “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter then honey to my mouth!” Psalm119:103

Kathy Withers serves at the Keswick Bookstore and is a speaker available to speak at your next ladies function. For information, contact Ruth Schmidt at 732-350-1187 ext. 21

Road noise/Life noise
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

Hovering around the speed limit of 65, a warm and sunny day, the radio keeping me company, windows open, singing at the top of my lungs, all was well with my world. One of my favorite Christian songs came on and I sang along.

The traffic on Route 287 can get heavy at times especially when the trucks go whizzing by. With my car windows open the road noise periodically drowned out my voice so I couldn’t even hear myself. Undeterred, I kept singing. Soon the traffic subsided and once again I could hear my voice. The traffic ebbed and flowed through the duration of the song, I just kept singing. Sometimes I could hear the song, other times I could not. I kept singing.

I couldn’t help but ponder how much like life road noise is. Sometimes life-noise around us is so intense we can barely hear ourselves think yet at other times it quiets and we regain awareness of our voice.

What is important is not whether we can hear our voice or not, but rather that our heart continually sings and that it sings truth.

Are you singing truth to yourself, steadfast and immovable, whether you can hear your voice or not? Are you singing God’s song as life-noise ebbs and flows drowning out your voice yet knowing that even when you can’t hear it, it is still there strong and vibrant? Stand firm, sister, and sing your heart out whether you can hear it through the noise or not.
Diane

Sensitive to God’s Leading….
Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Are you there with me….are you sensitive to God’s hand leading you to comfort someone, pray for them, share a moment with them etc…
One day I came to work and found a pretty little card left on my desk with a poem and a teddy bear pin on it. The card read….
“Hang – In – There Bear”
When you’re bearly getting by,
And you have a beastly day,
When life is hard to bear
And it rubs you the wrong way….
Here’s a little friend –
Who comes with love and prayers
That God will lift you up and help you HANG IN THERE!
I thought this was just so cute. Little did I know we would have a tense moment at work that day and later when I read this card again, it was just what I needed to hear.
How did she know to give this to me that day? She was off from work that day and had come in before I did just to leave this on my desk.
Her sensitivity to the Lord and his leading was such an encouragement to me that day. It reminded me that I need to do the same and allow the Lord to lead me and encourage His people.
We don’t always know why God places someone on our hearts but we do know that it is for a reason and should act upon it. Ask God to direct your paths.
Lynn W