I recently saw a plaque that read, “Jesus died for you! Are you living for Him?”

Christ died because he loves you and me. John 13:34 – 35: “A new command I give you. Love one another as I have loved you. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I just turned 73. I’ve been thinking how I need to feel needed. I need to feel loved, but God reminds me I need to also love. Love as He loved. What a command!
I spent a lot of time going over my birthday cards. The verses were so special, but the added thoughts from the sender were the words I enjoyed most. They were personal, just to me. I put a homemade card on my refrigerator. “I love you Mommles!!” (with happy face stickers). This is from my grandchild. A child’s love is special and true!
I picked up my Bible and realized how many times God wrote to me, “I love you; I loved you and always will.” He loved me enough to die for me!
We use the word “love” so freely. We say, “I love pizza”, or maybe, “I love your new dress.” 1 John 3:18 reads, “Let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and truth.” Love because you have Christ in your heart, and you can love because God is love.
While visiting a nursing home, I was left alone with a lady who had no visitors, no one to talk to. She pointed outside and said, “Are you going up?” I thought she meant to heaven. “No”, she said, “up to the second floor where I live.” (She could see her room from the window where we were) “But I’d like to go to heaven”, she said. Then I had the opportunity to tell her she could go to heaven one day if she loved Jesus and had Him in her heart. She took my hands and said, “I love you, will you stay with me?” Of course I couldn’t, but God used her in my life and me in hers.
We needed each other! God loves us both and I pray I see her again soon.
Dottie

2 Samuel 12:14, “…because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme…”

As God’s children we are His ambassadors. “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. Our attitudes and actions effect the reputation of Jesus Christ. People are watching even if you are not aware of it. We are simply a vessel God uses to reveal His truth to others. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7.
May it never be that our actions in the privacy of our home (with our family) or in public ever give fodder for the enemies of God. May we never bring mockery upon God because we have given lip-service but not life-service.
I had been thinking about writing this VC before but when I saw Dottie’s yesterday, I had to smile because the verse I wanted to end with was Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” This is the verse Dottie started with yesterday.

Diane

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
I read this today and remembered it was my mom’s life verse. May 31 is also her birthday. This was not just a life verse, but she lived her life doing good to glorify God, not herself.
As a child, if I were asked, “Dottie, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I’d always reply, “A mother.” What I meant was like my mother!”
If Mom were living she would be 107. God took her home to heaven at age 59. She never got to see her five grandchildren. My sister and I wish she could have been there for them. She would have been the greatest grandmother. We know, as she was the greatest mother and wife. God must have welcomed her home!
Mom was a Sunday school teacher, even for me, when I was about six or seven. We found a Sunday School attendance book from the ’40’s, and as we read all the children she taught, we realized some are serving the Lord with missions or in their church. Many have gone on to heaven.
It was difficult for Mom to memorize verses, perhaps it is for you, but this verse, Matthew 5:16 hung on our kitchen wall over the sink. She went over it often. One day in our church at testimony time, she repeated it out loud! All who heard, especially her family, knew that this verse fit her life. Do others see God’s example in you?
Why do I write this? Besides missing her and loving her, she still sets the example and testimony I’d like to follow. She followed Christ! That’s my desire, too.
I still have her small red Bible from which she read and taught. Her life verse is underlined; I’ve underlined mine!
Now at 73 I realize I’ll see her soon. I pray I can be an example to my children, grandchildren, family and friends. However, my life has been different. God has given me Romans 8:38 – 39. I have learned through years of illness that God’s love is always there. I, too, have memorized my life verse, and God brings it to mind often.
Learn and memorize God’s Word – and then live it for Him!

Dottie

A man of integrity fouled the plans of a King.
“And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 2 Samuel 11:11

Hidden in the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11, is a illustration of a man of conviction – Uriah. Imagine a man, with such conviction that he would rather sleep on the king’s stoop than to sleep with his wife, even after the King commanded him to. David was trying to finagle things so that it would appear as if the child Bathsheba was carrying was her husband Uriah’s. But God was not about to let it be that easy. If Uriah was a man of less conviction and obeyed King David this story would have turned out quite differently. But Uriah did not want special privileges. Even in the midst of what would have been a natural desire to sleep with his wife, he stood by his convictions and slept on the stoop-even a second night – “Now David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk.” (11:13)Uriah “went out to lie on his bed with the servants…”(11:13)

How does your conviction measure up? Have you ever considered that your unwavering obedience and conviction can thwart the plans of the wicked?

Stand firm sister,and don’t be tempted to waiver in your convictions.

Diane

The Battle is the Lord’s but We Still Need to Suit-up.

“Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s.” 1 Samuel 17:47

“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14

It is rather a difficult thing to understand the balance between our effort and God’s power. I have often heard the statement, “Let go and let God.” It sounds great but if taken to the extreme it seems to absolve us from any responsibility. I remember a comment a woman made to me once when I asked her about forgiving the person she was angry at. Her response was, “Well, God isn’t doing it, so I’m not either.” Her theology was in grave error.
Although the battle is the LORD’s and He fights for us, we need to show up in full armor ready for battle. We need to take a proactive approach to warding off sin. Why else would we be told; “…be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

I know I have used this illustration before but it fits here again. Recall the story in Joshua 10:7-11, “So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.”
God told Joshua that He had delivered Gibeon into Joshua’s hands, but Joshua still had to show up and do battle.
The victory God has already won is experienced by us, one victorious choice at a time.
Diane

Reclaiming Surrendered Ground

I have surrendered a lot of ground in my life as a result of poor choices that I have made. As soon as we make choices based on our current state mind or emotions and not on God’s truth we are surrendering ground to the enemy. The next time we are tempted in that area we will be more prone to fall to the temptation because there has already been a precedent set previously. Each time, we become weaker and weaker against the temptation but never without help or hope.
At some point in our lives that ground that we have surrendered needs to be reclaimed. Believe me, it is much easier to keep what is rightfully ours in Jesus Christ than to try to reclaim that which we have surrendered.
Let me illustrate this with an example from my own life. When I was 19 or 20 my younger sister and I flew to Atlanta to visit Aunt Jerry and Uncle Prunes (don’t ask). We were having a great flight when a sense of anxiety and fear started to creep in around the perimeter of my mind. It didn’t take long before it wasn’t creeping in it was stomping all over my space. To calm myself down, I convinced myself that if necessary, the pilot would land the plane and let me off (hey, it worked). That experience practically ruined my vacation. Multiple times during that week, the return flight came to mind and anxiety with it. Right then and there I surrendered ground to the enemy. From that point forward, for many years, I made choices when possible to work around having to fly. I allowed my anxiety to dictate my choices. About 10 years ago, preparing for a family vacation to the west coast, my fear of flying (I am not afraid of flying – I just don’t like having to be in an airplane to do it)-started to consume my life for two weeks before having to go and several after. Over the years I had surrendered bits and pieces of ground to the point that it added up to something akin to the size of Texas.
In the past few years I decided to reclaim the ground I surrendered. It has not been easy, but I am making progress by choosing faith over fear. God brings the victory already won at the cross. I wish I had known then what I know now!
Perhaps your struggle is not with flying, maybe it is some other area that you are tempted to make choices based on your emotional state rather than faith in the Word of God. Just remember, whatever ground you surrender now will be exponentially more difficult to reclaim later. I know that from personal experience.

Diane

Diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
What if God replayed for you (for me) all the prayers we have brought to Him? Would there be many, or would there be few? Would they be “I want” or “I want Your will”?
Would some be as prayed by Jonah – “In my distress I called to the Lord”? Read the second chapter of Jonah, even better, read all four. Find out how God answered his plea.
Maybe your prayers would be like those of Silas and Paul. In the inner cell of prison with feet in stocks they were praying and singing hymns! Acts 16 tells of a jailer and his family who came to believe in God because of their (Paul and Silas) Christian witness. How do you face troubles? Sometimes we take our trials to everyone else but God!
I must add a thought here that I love. When you look up at the stars, the darker the sky, the brighter the stars. Look to God.
Ephesians was written by Paul, and in 6:18 he tells us to always keep on praying for all the saints. In verse 19 he continues, “Pray for me that I can speak the gospel fearlessly”. Other Christians need your prayers – I know I do.
If God played back all my prayers, I’d be amazed at the answers. I’d be thankful He did not give me what I asked for many times! He knew when to say, “No”; what was best for me; and knew His plan for my life.
Did I thank Him as I should and praise His name? Psalms 100:4 I’m sure I failed many times.
Matthew 5:44 tells us to pray for those who persecute you! Luke 6:28 even reads, “Pray for those who mistreat you”. That’s hard! God knows the heart and mind of the one praying. Don’t pray to get glory; that belongs to God! Pray to experience closeness to Him. Jesus prayed; we need to pray, too!
The references on prayers in God’s Word are many. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 sums it up: “Be joyful always, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Dottie

America’s Keswick IDOL

Fear not, no one is worshiping idols here at America’s Keswick. We have the real deal! However I was briefly entertaining the idea of appearing on American Idol and then I woke up!
I was at a wedding recently and had just sat down and opened the itinerary they had printed out for the ceremony. Immediately I gasped and quickly closed it again. The first song to be performed was one I had a dream about the night before! The song that was performed was called “You’re the Best Thing”; by Gladys Knight and the Pips. It’s an oldie but a goodie, maybe you remember it? It’s a song about a woman praising the man she loved for all that he was to her. A very nice choice for a wedding ceremony I thought. The two people being married certainly seem to love each other and the Lord as well. In my dream it was a little different, I was the one singing it but I was singing it to the Lord! Now of course in my dream it was a fabulous performance far surpassing any American Idol contenders! In real life…let’s just say I think I will stick to writing. In all seriousness if you know the song at all, think about the lyrics for a minute with me. It goes something like:
“There have been times when times were hard but always somehow I made it, I made it through, cause for every moment that I spent hurting there was a moment that I spent just loving you, If anyone should ever write my life story, You’d be there between each line of pain and glory, cause you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Truly the Lord Jesus Christ is the best thing that ever happened to me! He’s the best thing that ever happened to you too! Maybe you’re fully aware of that blessed truth. Maybe you don’t think He’s ever done a thing for you and wonder if there is a God where He’s been all your life? Let me share some “Good News”, He’s been there between each line of pain and glory and He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you and wants you to know it! Jesus made a public profession of His love for the world as He “the bridegroom” hung in place of “the bride” on a cross. He calls you dear child, sister and friend.

John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Let me encourage you to read the entire book of John. (Often referred to as the book of love) God does love you and He doesn’t want it to be a secret!

Dina

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

I am currently taking a course in Hermeneutics – which is the interpretation of Scripture. One of my homework assignments last week was to read an article by Roy B. Zuck, “Application in Biblical Hermeneutics and Exposition.” I was so encouraged and challenged at the same time.
What does the average believer do regularly regarding the Word of God? What do you do regularly regarding the Word of God? Are you daily or nearly daily reading Scripture? Are you meditating on what you have read? Are you studying the Word? Are you applying the truth you are learning?
What got me thinking about this were some of the statements by Zuck; “Neglecting to apply the Scriptures to their lives makes their study of God’s Word incomplete and deficient.”1 The study of the Scriptures and knowledge “does not in itself automatically guarantee spiritual development.”2 “As Sterrett has well stated, “The Bible has spiritual dimensions that can be grasped only when the will responds to what God says, not simply when the mind analyzes the language.”3 “They know more than they live and that borders on hypocrisy.”4 “When believers posses the truth without letting the truth possess them, non-Christians question the authenticity and value of Christianity.”5 “Without such a personal appropriation of the truth, the Christian life remains sterile and fruitless.”6
It isn’t simply the reading of the Word that changes us it is the application of the truth that fuels growth and maturation of the believer.
I have noticed that the times when I don’t seem to be growing spiritually, I am also lacking in the application of truth in that area of my life.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25

It is not just getting into the Word, but also letting the Word get into you.

Diane
1 Zuck, Roy B. “Application in Biblical Hermeneutics and Exposition”
2 Zuck
3 Sterrett, T. N. How to Understand Your Bible,cited in Zuck
4 Zuck
5 Zuck
6 Zuck

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God” 2 Corinthians 5:11

The above verse, caused me; led me, to think about something I wrote yesterday regarding not taking God seriously regarding sin. What does it mean to know the fear of the Lord?

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.” – Pslams19:9

I like the way that The Message paraphrases it because you see the heart of God even clearer and in seeing His heart we know that fearing Him is a freeing thing and by no means suppressive.

“The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate to the nth degree.” – Psalms 19:7-9

So what do we gather from fearing God? We see clearly that fearing God is clean, and we all know that being clean is a good thing. The precepts of God, allow us to be ever mindful of dirt in our lives and hopefully lead us again and again and again to the only place we can get clean. And that place is at His feet.

So dear friend, in sharing as I did yesterday, I hope you see that my intent was to encourage you to be washed clean of anything that you carry within that God intended you to be free of.

Let’s follow His signposts and directions. Let’s use the life-maps that He has so graciously given us in His Word to lead us safely Home.

Stephanie