Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. Genesis 1:14-16

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm19:1

I haven’t read much or listened to in-depth reports, but I did hear scientists have found 7 new planets. While they are excited about their new discovery, I am excited about our God! As we read the creation story in Genesis, let’s not read an old story; let’s be excited about what took place. Just think and ponder about creating something from nothing: placing the sun, moon and stars in place and turning dirt into flesh. Doesn’t that leave us in awe of God? Seven new planets are astonishing scientists, but God already placed them there in the vastness of His creation. He knew that they were there! I am amazed at the discovery but even more amazed at the Creator.

If we are looking at a single cell, the intricate parts of an eye, the day or night sky, are we not in awe?  Shouldn’t we be?

As I mentioned earlier, Dave and I are studying the Torah from a Jewish perspective. In our study there is this note regarding how scripture was read:

“For each Torah portion (Parashah), the ancient Hebrew scribes defined a corresponding reading from the prophets, called the Haftarah (conclusion).” You can see above how scripture speaks of scripture. That, too, should cause us to be in awe!

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.

 

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Romans 11:34

The Bible is a miracle of literature.  Think about it: it is packed with numerous characters, abundant accounts of events, a vast timeline, the list goes on. Typically, when we pick up a book to read, it’s on a singular topic. Our Bibles are full of so many topics, books within a Book, really. Let’s take a look at just some of these books God has included in His Word.

The Bible is a:

Field manual

Medical manual

Law review

History textbook

Military manual

Archeological textbook

Dietetary manual

Astronomy guidebook

Civics textbook

Business manual

Ethics manual

Employee handbook

Poetry book

Hymnal

Counseling manual

Science textbook

Cultural textbook

Spiritual Exercise manual

And…a Treasure Map!

The NLT translates John 1:1 like this: In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. This short list is just a glimpse into the awesome, breathtaking, endless, eternal, infinite God who tells us that our names are written on the palm of His Hand. Who can know the mind of this marvelous Creator, Savior, King…Jehovah God?

Carol Tirondola

Carol Tirondola is on staff with the Partner Care team at America’s Keswick. She and her best friend, Mario, have been married for 35 years. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law that they call their “BFFs”. They also have 7 precious gems called grandchildren. Her family has savored many memories of the heart made at Keswick over the last 35+ years and she is thrilled to now be serving on staff!

 

As we read through Scripture, over and over again we read that God (or Jesus) spoke and whatever or whomever He spoke to obeyed.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Gen 1:3

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. Gen 1:9

And God said… and it was so. Gen 1:11, 14-15, 24, 29-31

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah…And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Jonah 1:17, 2:10

 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. Matthew 8:14-15

Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:26-27

And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. Matthew 8:31-32

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth… Luke 1:26

Did you just skip over the Scriptures?  Caught ya!  I know the temptation because I often catch myself doing it too.  If you skipped them please go back and read them.

All of His creation obeys Him – well, almost.

Creation happened as God spoke.  Creation was a combination of matter obeying Him and God speaking matter into existence out of nothing!!!! Mind blown.

Fish obey Him.

Disease obeys Him.

Nature obeys Him.

Demons obey Him.

Angels obey Him.

If you stop and think about it, it would be funny to think of the giant fish arguing with God when he was told to go swallow Jonah or the wind refusing to blow or the sun deciding to check out another galaxy.  We chuckle but it’s absurd.  We know that each of these things are under the sovereign control and divine hand of God.

Yet when God calls us to obedience or to resist temptation we take a moment or more to make a decision – shall I or shall I not?

How is it that we – the ones for whom Jesus died—think we have the freedom to choose whether to obey or not?

I am speaking to myself here this morning; thanks for listening in.

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.

 

 

For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4: 11b-13, ESV).

Secrets. These automatically elicit raised brows, piqued interest, and focused attention. They are most definitely attention–getters!

Now, it’s one thing if one whose life’s circumstances have been placidly serene claims to know the key to contentedness or the ability to help another toward that end. Credibility, or at the least genuine self-awareness, would surely be an issue there as untested contentment really isn’t contentment at all. The construct itself inherently contains at least an element of adversity, hardship, misery, or affliction. But it’s quite another thing when the claimant has recently or is currently and contentedly traversing the valley or riding out the storm. When the latter speaks of the aforementioned, attention is granted. (We also know of those who struggle being satisfied when things are going well due to fear regarding potential problems: hence, the need for knowing how to properly “abound.”)

With all this in mind, the ESV translation of the above Philippians passage states that the Apostle Paul knew “the secret” of being content, and his experiential repertoire was quite comprehensive as far as hardship, stress, and persecution goes. He was imprisoned, flogged, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, snake-bitten, homeless, sleep-deprived, famished, parched, mocked, rejected, troubled, perplexed, worn-out, burned up, and cast-down. But Paul knew God’s character, promises, and sufficiency in empowering him to do whatever He called him to do (Philippians 4:13), and his aim was to not only know Christ, but to be progressively more like him (Philippians 3:8 & 10). Paul’s storm-spawned testimony as a believer could be succinctly summed up in one word: Surrender.

So herein lies both the clincher and the secret from one with the authority and the credibility to teach us. Not only are his words, but his life is instructive. Know surrender; know contentment. No surrender; no contentment. Suffering and storms will come either way, but suffering for the noblest purpose of becoming more like Christ sounds much more attractive and even practical to me. What do you think??

Melissa Smith is the Women of Character Coordinator 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.

 

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

The grapevine is an amazing study. It is an enormous plant, whose root system can go down as far as 70 feet in search of a water supply. As it searches for life-sustaining water, the roots become more steadfast in their ability to uphold the vine, which contributes to the longevity of the entire plant.

Thriving in harsh conditions, it can produce beautiful fruit as it absorbs all the nutrients it can. These harsh conditions are actually the reason the fruit becomes bountiful (there’s ANOTHER message!). However, not all the fruit on the vine is the same. Some branches yield small bunches of fruit, some large, but as long as the branches are connected to the vine, there’s fruit.

Jesus said He is the vine. But the vine is the whole plant…the roots, the trunk, the vine, the branches, and the fruit! It’s all connected. Just like when He walked the earth, His sustenance came from the Father. He drew His strength from the roots of His relationship with Him. His nutrition came from the supply of Living Water that was always readily available to Him. So when He says He’s the vine, we can rest assured that He is a mighty, ingrained, far-reaching, unbreakable, complete Vine. When He says we are the branches of this Vine, we know that as long as we are connected to Him, we WILL produce fruit. Much of it! It’s not an “if”; it’s a “will.”

To our eyes, we may see our fruit as small. We may think we’re not as fruitful as our pastor, his wife, our friends, our women’s ministry leader, all those weighty Christians that have paved our way, or anyone else that we think is “better” at producing fruit than us. But Jesus never said how BIG the fruit would be, He just said we would produce much of it, as long as we abide in Him. And when the Vinedresser comes to harvest this fruit He doesn’t put it in separate containers, but gathers it all and puts it in one vessel. The cornucopia of all this fruit is what makes it a treasure to the Vinedresser.

Comparing ourselves to others in our journey with Jesus, looking at what others accomplish in His name, keeps us apart from Him. If we keep our eyes on Him, we will grow into sturdy, long-lasting branches. Each “branch” on this Vine has a unique purpose and relationship with Him. Each branch will produce the fruit that He deems it will.  Remaining attached to Him, we then draw all our nutrients, sustenance, and provision from the everlasting, deep rooted love of our heavenly Father, producing fruit that is beautiful to HIM!

Carol Tirondola

Carol Tirondola is on staff with the Partner Care team at America’s Keswick. She and her best friend, Mario, have been married for 35 years. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law that they call their “BFFs”. They also have 7 precious gems called grandchildren. Her family has savored many memories of the heart made at Keswick over the last 35+ years and she is thrilled to now be serving on staff!

 

I just finished a slow read/investigation through Exodus. Interestingly, at the same time I am preparing for a 24-hour class that requires reading a book by Mike Wilkerson, “Redemption”[i], in which the author uses the Israelite people’s Exodus and wilderness wanderings as his primary theme and illustration.  This was totally unplanned by me but certainly planned by God.

Perhaps you recall the manna that God provided for the Israelites on their journey.  He gave very clear instructions that they were to gather just enough for their family for five days a week and enough for two days on the day before Sabbath, and none on Sabbath.  Yet some did not heed God’s command and gathered more than they needed and tried to store it overnight.  But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank, Exodus 16:20.

Wilkerson writes: “If we could interview one of those Israelites trying to gather a little too much manna, what do you suppose he’d say? I think he would say something like this: ‘What’s so wrong with providing for my family, with protecting them against starvation?’ … But here’s the problem. The Israelites didn’t have just a natural desire for food; they wanted food, and they wanted it on their terms, and they disbelieved God would provide. So they tried to take matters into their own hands…As subtle as their grumbling and hoarding may seem, God’s test revealed their truly significant sinfulness. He was concerned not only to fill their stomachs but also to expose their hearts.” (pg. 107).

What’s so wrong with… natural desires?  Nothing.  There is nothing wrong with natural desires. But, as Wilkerson reminds us “We live moment by moment—thought, word, and deed—coram Deo, before the face of God.”(pg. 110). Are we seeking to fulfill our natural desires our own way or do we trust God to fulfill them in a way that glorifies Him?

Sometimes we can reason our way to an answer to get what we want, when we want it, the way we want it and it seems perfectly normal and natural. What’s wrong with that?

Maybe nothing or maybe we are just seeking to fulfill our desires on our terms with little or no thought to Almighty God.  If we live coram Deo, and we do, believer and unbeliever alike, then every choice, every thought, every decision, every action, every attitude – expressed or not – is seen by God.  But it’s not just seen by God, everything we do, think, and say is an expression of our hearts before God.  It speaks of what we believe to be true about God.

Blessings,

Diane

[i] Mike Wilkerson. Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the idols we worship and the wounds we carry. Published by Crossway. 2011.

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.

Dave and I just began a Bible study on the Torah – the first five books of the Bible. What is new and different to us is that we will be studying the books from a Jewish perspective. We just went to the introductory class and we are really excited to see how this perspective will open up the Word of God.  Our leaders explained some of the connections that will be made to the New Testament when you have studied the Torah in this way.

I am reminded that the Old Testament can be a hard read, let alone to study it deeply. It is a challenge. However, don’t ever neglect the study of these Books of the Law or any portion of the Old Testament. It is deep and rich with treasure well worth digging for.

While there may be plenty of times you can declare, “Out with the old and in with the new”, when it comes to Bible study – PLEASE don’t throw out the Old Testament and only concentrate on the New Testament! Both the Old and New are worth studying and will deepen your faith and relationship with Jesus.

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.

 

The Old Testament regales the formation and the journey of the nation of Israel.  The Israelites were up and down. Committed, not committed.  Worshipping God, worshipping idols.  Patient, impatient.  Sounds about like us, doesn’t it?

After the LORD admonished Israel for worshipping a golden calf graven by Aaron, He called them a stiff-necked people and told Moses He would not go up with them on their journey because He would consume them along the way (Ex 33).

Moses pleads with God, interceding for the people.

God reiterates His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and renews His covenant with His people.  He instructs them to redeem all the first-born males from cows and sheep to first-born sons with a lamb (Ex 34: 18-20).

Then God told Moses in His instructions for the people, “none shall appear before me empty-handed.” Ex. 34:20

That simple phrase really struck me because that is the opposite of what we tell people now, “to come to the LORD you must come empty-handed.” What we mean by that is that NOTHING we bring can gain us favor, forgiveness or salvation.  Not our generous church support, not our ministry service, not our missions trips, not all our hard works, not a goat, not a lamb, not a pigeon.  NOTHING we bring gains us an audience.  When the Spirit of God tugs on your heart, come with empty hands, outstretched ready to embrace Him on the merits of Christ not on our own.

Too often people want to “clean up their act” before coming to God as if they could possibly clean it up enough to deserve approaching Him.  We can never clean up our act enough to pay for our sins and appease His wrath.

Let me go back to a previous statement I made: “Nothing we bring can gain us favor, forgiveness or salvation…not a lamb….” That is not entirely true.  Our only hope for salvation actually rests on Jesus Christ, THE Lamb of God Who was sacrificed to redeem His children.  Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!…And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth…“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (John 1:29; Rev 5:6; Rev 5:12)

So we come empty-handed and trust in HIS merit alone.

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.

Recently, I tried a new weight training workout – all lower body.  When I got up the next morning I was SORE. I could barely move my legs and when I did, there was much pain.

I knew that my legs still worked just fine… but the pain made me NOT want to move them.  The pain was the limiting factor, not my legs.  If I could tolerate the pain, my legs would still have taken me on a mountain hike.  BUT the pain was screaming, “No, no, no. Don’t move.”

This reminded me of something I have told many counselees.  We want to be healed. We want to change and we will move along the journey right up to the door that says PAIN in big bold letters and then typically we stop.  Emotional pain, much like physical pain, causes us to shrink back, freeze, or run the other way.  We are far too often content to do all the changing we can right up to the door, but not go through the door.

It is not natural, humanly speaking, to move toward pain. Our natural inclination is to move away from pain.

I could have sat on the couch for a few days till the muscle pain in my legs passed, but what value would the workout have been if I allowed the pain to make me a couch potato?  Instead I continued to get out walking and hiking and then back to my weight training work out.  I’m not saying that to impress you – believe me – I look anything BUT impressive when I work out.

I tell you this to demonstrate that when facing that door that says PAIN – Keep moving forward. Trust God to walk that journey with you.  Turn the door knob and keep moving forward. Trust God to give you whatever portion He deems appropriate AND that with the pain He also pours out HIS GRACE, POWER, COMFORT, and STRENGTH.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 2:9

For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 2 Corinthians 1:5

Just keep moving forward even if you look like I did the day after my work out.  KEEP MOVING. It may help to solicit godly counsel from your pastor or a godly woman that you know.

Over time, you will find that the pain begins to ease and peace begins to grow.

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.

 

Identity is a major topic that a lot of people struggle with. If I were to ask you who you are, how might you respond?

You might say something along the lines of, “I am a retired mother of 2 who has 7 beautiful grandkids.” Or “I am a senior business major in college.” Or “I am a single, working mom of three.”

A lot of people define themselves by their mistakes, their past, their family, their job, or their friends. But what is your real name? What does it mean to have your identity be in Christ?

In my office, I have a big poster up on my wall that is titled “I AM.” As  someone who struggles with anxiety and concern a lot, I often find myself feeling discouraged or disheartened (that’s not how I define myself, but it’s something I struggle with.) So I have this poster hanging on my wall for those moments of anxiety, worry, or just feeling down. It is a reminder of who I am in Christ and what my name TRULY is. It brightens my mood every time I see it.  I think it’s something a lot of people would benefit from reading. I want to use this Victory Call to share it:

I AM

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14).

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16).

I am God’s child, for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).

I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).

I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4).

I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22, 25).

I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37).

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11)

I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3,4).

I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).

I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33, Colossians 3:12).

I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7).

I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13).

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).

I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).

I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; Thessalonians 1:4).  

I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).

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!