I can’t make up my mind; I don’t know what to do. I will have to think about this. I need more time. There are too many choices. There aren’t enough choices. What if I choose the wrong one? What if?… just reading this paragraph could make somebody nervous!
Every day life is full of decisions, we’ve got them ranging in importance from what do I make for breakfast to what kind of car should I buy to which course of medical treatment should I use, to is this person “the One”.
Some of us are quick to make some decisions, some slow. Some of us like to stay on the fence and act like we’ve made a decision but in fact we’re ready to go either way with the wind. (The bible calls that being a double-minded person, unstable in their ways, doubters. James 1:8)
I, at one moment or another, could fall into any of the above descriptions. I do have a bent toward being one to decide quickly, especially the small stuff. It’s funny though, sometimes deciding how I want my hair cut can be well, a hair-raising experience for me (pardon the pun)!
When it comes to the big stuff, I will tend to take more time even though I already have some thoughts on which way I “want” to go. I will pray, ask a close friend, maybe seek advice from my pastor, maybe even professional counsel. But the first thing I always find myself doing is searching the scriptures for a word and praying for Him to speak to my heart. That is crucial to me, I feel totally lost if I have no direction which way He wants me to go. I feel empowered when I KNOW what He wants, because I KNOW it’s right. He makes no mistakes and I can trust Him. Now I admit I don’t always “want” to do it, and I struggle, but I am always doing the right thing when I yield and do it. It’s amazing the power the Lord gives us to do His will, I sometimes look back at a situation and say “well Lord it was all you”, because I know it’s not something I alone could have accomplished.
Now it’s the stuff in the middle that can be a little confusing, it’s not a big decision, it’s not a minor one either, it’s sort of somewhere in the so called gray area. (I don’t believe in gray areas by the way.) So how do we make these middle of the line decisions? I believe God’s word is full of discernment and wisdom, when we study it the Lord hides it in our hearts so that, by faith, at just the moment we need it,He will bring His direction and wisdom to mind, and we will know what to do. He will teach us His ways, line upon line precept upon precept. (Isaiah 28:13)
In Exodus 28 there is a description of the garments worn by the high priest, one of the items was called the breastplate for making decisions and on it were symbols of light and integrity (called Urim and Thummim), it is believed to signify that the high priest, having on him this breast-plate, and asking counsel of God in any emergency relating to the public, should be directed to take those measures, and give that advice, which God would own. But now through Jesus Christ we have direct access to His light and integrity and advice which He will own.

Dina Seaton

James 1:19-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring the righteous life that God desires.”

I don’t know about you, but I do get angry and sometimes I do the right thing and other times I let it get the best of me. Many of us only struggle occasionally with anger issues, but for others it is continuous problem. We know from Christ that anger itself is not bad; in fact, it can be very healthy as it can move us to action. As a counselor I know is that often the underlying issue for many is anger, either suppressed or expressed.

Here are a few steps that can help you Diffuse Your Fuse.

1. Resolve to manage it. (Proverbs 29:11)
A fool gives vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
2. Remember the Cost.
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot tempered man commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)
The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left. (Proverbs 11:29)
3. Reflect before you React (Quick to Listen)
4. Restrain your Remarks (Slow to Speak)
If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say. Proverbs 21:23
A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up. Prov. 15:1
5. Release your anger appropriately (Slow to Anger)
Gal 5:22 ~ The fruit of the spirit is… patience
6. Rely on Christ help daily.

Jesus wants to heal your hurt with His love, He wants to replace your frustrations with His peace and He wants to calm your fear with His power.

LDJ

1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Plain and simple, sometimes it is difficult to make time to spend time with the Lord. Sometimes when we make the time, we read the Bible and pray but don’t feel like we got anything out of it. I find when I am reading Scripture, a dozen things are vying for my attention, nothing that can’t wait but none-the-less my mind wanders. This morning I decided that every time I found my mind wandering I would restart the section I was reading. I must have restarted 8-12 times!!!
I think we often approach our quiet times as a necessary discipline for our personal spiritual growth. Is it vital to our relationship with Jesus Christ? Absolutely! But there is another aspect we rarely consider. In the little booklet, “My Heart Christ’s Home” Robert Boyd Munger writes as if Jesus is speaking,
“He (Jesus) said, ‘The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible Study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour mean something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at a great cost. I desire your fellowship. Now,’ he said, ‘do no neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship.'”
Stop and consider that a moment. God wants fellowship with you. The Creator of the universe, the All-sufficient, Almighty, and Sustainer of that universe desires fellowship with you. Savor that thought. I mean it, close your eyes and drink in the love of Jesus that causes Him to desire fellowship with you.

Are you going to leave Him waiting?

Diane

That’s what a guest here once told me, she came up to the front desk and asked me for fifty pennies in exchange for two quarters for the children’s ministry meeting. She said I need one cent for each child, because that’s what a missionary is; it is “One Sent”.
She also showed me a very worn Italian Bible, and on the cover it read; La Sacra Bibbia, The Holy Bible. She and her husband were here that week sharing about their work as you guessed it, missionaries in Italy. I thought it was interesting how the Lord just “happened” to send this lady here, and I just “happened” to be the one to help her and she just “happened” to live in Italy. When she said those words; “one sent” it made me want to hear her say more. I never did have the opportunity to do that while she was here.
For me it was a reminder of something the Lord told me to do that I put on the back burner for a while. (Can you imagine, He speaks to my heart and I put it on the back burner. Sometimes I make myself so mad!) He simply said this: “I want you to learn how to speak Italian”. My first response was Why? And to who? I have always wanted to go to Italy, actually to Sicily, which is where my family is originally from.
My parents did speak Italian to each other once in a while and some other relatives as well. They played a lot of Italian opera in our house, and as I remember it was really a beautiful sound. I started researching the area and talking to my mom about what she might remember (which was a lot), and I began to have a burden for them and a passion to learn this language so I started to pray about it. Once while in prayer I asked the Lord; “Lord I know you want me to learn this, but if I do I would soon loose it because I have no one to speak it to.” And to that He said, “I wouldn’t have you learn it and then give you no one to speak it to.” It was like a light went on, of course how silly of me, His patience with us never ceases to amaze me!
Since then I have found what I hope to be a really good language program and hope to be well on the way to learning Italian. My first goal would be to learn how to give my testimony in Italian. I still don’t know why, where or when He intends to use that but I want to be ready when He does. How thankful we can be that
God’s truth is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow in any language!

Giovanni 3:16
Poiche` Dio ha tanto amato il mondo, che ha dato il suo unigenito Figlio, affinche` chiunque crede in lui non perisca, ma abbia vita eterna.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Dina

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another.”

I have been going through boxes of memories! I am a saver, today I’m glad I was (still am). What I did save was what I needed today – words of encouragement.
1 Thessalonians was recorded in God’s Word for a reason.

God knew we would need to be reminded to ‘encourage one another”. Whom have you encouraged lately? It is a gift to someone who needs to hear from you; and it’s free! It might cost a stamp or a phone call, but its value can’t be priced. What about a family member, your pastor, a friend, or perhaps a stranger who has influenced your life in some way?

Recently we had visitors in our home that we haven’t seen for over 25 years. They were teen-agers in 1990, and now are moms and serving the Lord. They were part of our former ministry to youth. Their encouragement to my husband, and me was better than medicine for our lives. God is good! I just purchased another “Real Victory for Real Life” at our Keswick bookstore. It is a daily meditation for Victorious Living. I know I’m a little late in my purchases, since we only have the months of November and December left for the year. However, this is my tenth copy. It seems after each purchase, I find someone to whom I pass it on, who loves it. If I can keep this one, I can continue to use it in 2006 (must tell you – it’s gone too!).

A devotional does not take the place of your Bible; it’s added daily help. I opened to the words written by a friend, Rev. Gary Dickenson. It read, “Everybody in your life today: family, friends, co-workers, even total strangers, need encouragement!” Wow, just what God had revealed to me! God had that planned.

I have written to three people and have called two. I trust God has used you today as He had reminded me in His Word and the Keswick devotional, “Encourage one another”. Guess what! It will encourage you too, I know it just did!

Dottie

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Today there are so many doctrines and beliefs out there that may appear to come from God, but they are distorted and actually draw us away from the true God. A family member is involved in a cult church that does not accept all of scripture and has bought into a false prophet and view of God and Christ. My husband and I know that it is very important to follow the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” See, we know how much Satan would really like to draw us away from the truth, so we need to know the Word. Unless we are students of the Word and Truth we will in no way be able to communicate the true gospel to our family member. There are no verses in scripture that tells us that there will be additional revelations by Jesus himself. The best way to test any alleged teaching is to compare what it says about the person and work of Jesus against what Jesus reveals about himself in the Bible. Staying grounded in Scripture and looking only to scripture keeps Satan at bay and we become untouchable.

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

Matt 24:24 “For these shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

2 Tim 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Al scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”

Are you grounded or are you vulnerable to the deceptions of Satan?

Lynn

“Submission”. Now girls, don’t stop reading here! Diane and I were joking back and forth with emails one day and the above statement she made had me thinking. It really is so true, as a woman I want to be all that God wants me to be, but… I don’t always want to submit to Him. In thinking about that it’s not a very wise choice for me to make, I mean why wouldn’t I want to submit myself to the Lord in all things? I’ve submitted my very soul to His eternal care, so what’s the problem with my time, my money, my work, my relationships, my thoughts, my words, my dreams, my plans…wait a minute this is starting to sound like He wants my whole life! And He does.
The problem is that sometimes I stumble. It’s interesting to read the definition of the word:
stum-ble: to miss one’s step in walking or running; trip and almost fall, to proceed unsteadily, flounder, to act or speak falteringly or clumsily, to make a mistake, blunder, to fall into evil ways. Ok, none of that sounds appealing.

Now for the other definition:
Submission: the act of submitting to the power of another.

The biblical perspective of course is the act of submitting all things to the power of the Almighty God who loves me, who died for me, who rose for me, who sings over me, who delights in me, who chastens me, who goes before me, who prepares a place for me in His house, who listens for my cry, who hears me, who answers me, who knitted me together in my mother’s womb, who knew my name before He laid the foundations of the earth, who numbers the hairs of my head, who knows I am but a breath, who separated my sins from me as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more, whose thoughts toward me number more than all the grains of sand, thoughts of good and not of evil with plans for a future and a hope, who I can trust.
Now does “Submission” sound good? I think so too. And I think I will remind myself of His love for me every time I have to choose between the “S” words.

James 4:6-7,
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Dina

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In the evening, before going to sleep, I periodically read, Streams in the Dessert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. The devotional for November 15th concludes with the following paragraph:
Difficulties and obstacles are God’s challenges to faith.
When hindrances confront us in the path of duty, we
are to recognize them as vessels for faith to fill with
the fullness and all-sufficiency of Jesus; and as we go
forward, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be
tested, we may have to wait and let patience have her
perfect work; but we shall surely find at last the stone
rolled away, and the Lord waiting to render unto us
double for our time of testing” (A.B. Simpson, pg. 335).

When I read this that evening, my mind immediately went to the Victory Calls I wrote for November (7-11) “When God Shows Up”. What Simpson is saying here, in a much more powerful way, is that when we press through the trials, press through the testings, when we wait patiently for God, He shows up. He rolls away the stone and renders us double blessings for the time of testing. Amen and Amen.
When we wait upon God, however long it takes, we are doubly blessed for having done so. Don’t rush ahead of God and try to roll the stone away on your own, all it will get you is exhausted. The stone is there for a reason. Ask God to help you embrace it as His will for your life, today. By tomorrow it may be gone, with glorious rays of Son warming your face once again.

Diane

“Sanctify the Lord God in you hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

Let me begin with the premise that I support our president. If you do not, please read on anyway because my point is much more significant (I hope) that who is in the Whitehouse.

I have a confession to make….. In the past two weeks as I have been out and about doing errands, I have been appalled at the boldness of the anti-Bush proponents. Just yesterday, I was the post office. A man was entering at the same time as I was and he made a comment about the beautiful weather to which I responded in kind mentioning that it was supposed to be cold by tomorrow. Without skipping a beat, this man said, “When are they going to get us out of the mess in Iraq? The country is broke, 500 billion in debt. Bush sure has made a mess of things.” I wish I could say I responded by saying, “Well, actually sir, I am thankful we have a man in the Whitehouse with integrity, honesty, humility and morality.” Or even a simple, “You’re talking to the wrong person. I support Bush.” But instead, I said, …………………………….nothing. Nothing! I clammed right up. I know there are a few Bush supporters out there that would speak up and perhaps you are one of them but most of us act like we are mute. At least I do.
My confession … I’m a wimp.
As I am writing this Victory Call, I am reminded of a Sunday school class I was in about 8 or 10 years ago. We were discussing whether we would deny Christ if we were persecuted or if our family would come to harm if we did not. I was shocked that most of the men and women said they would deny Christ because He knew their hearts and would forgive them.
Sitting here at my keyboard, I realize I am no different than they. I didn’t even stand up for our president and neither my family nor I was in any danger. If I clam up when someone disagrees with my politics what will I do when someone challenges my faith?

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10-32-33.

Diane

It’s not who you know, it’s whose you are.
I immediately recognized the voice on the other end of the phone as “Fergie”. I had called Weight Watchers and the recorded voice prompt said; “Hello, this is Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York” etc… I thought well, ” la de da, this is Dina Seaton, a daughter of the King!” Now I in no way take that lightly.
In all seriousness, it later made me think just how wonderfully regal a position we hold as children of the King of the Jews. We were as with all royalty, born into it. That is, “born again”. Now for some it may be different but for me, I don’t live in a mansion, although one is under construction for me in my Father’s Kingdom at this time. I don’t have any great wealth accumulated, except of course the treasures I am storing up in my Father’s house. I’m not famous, the paparazzi doesn’t chase me down to get my name in the headlines. But I do have my name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I don’t dress in designer labels: Versace, Tyler, or Wang. But I am clothed in His righteousness. I don’t have lots of perks of the royalty of this world. Or do I? It started me thinking about God’s goodness in this world, even the so called “little things” we can be grateful for. Psalm 27:13 reads; “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living”.
I recall the time we went to New York and needed to park before taking the ferry over and there was nary a parking spot to be found, so I prayed for one. Before I completed my prayer the very first spot in the row opened up! That has happened often. It seems I find myself praying for parking spots often!
Then there was the time when money was tight and a friend “found” money and just gave it to me without knowing I needed it.
There are also the “big things” like the time I felt the Lord calling me to work in a Christian ministry and the laundry list of things that needed to be accomplished for this to happen was a mile long. I sat back and watched as obstacle after obstacle got crossed off the list by the finger of the Almighty God, who makes a way when I think there is none.
What advantages we have as royality right here, right now! God loves us and He loves to do good things for us. It makes me smile to think of it! What things can you think of that He’s done or that He could do that would cause you to smile? Think on those things…

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

Dina