When you hear the words ‘eternal life’ what comes to mind? Do you think about fluffy clouds with angels and harps? Do you think about seeing the face of Jesus? Do you think about what will happen after you die? Do you think about what you will have someday?

It was a few years ago when I realized that eternal life is not future for genuine believers, it is present. We tend to think of eternal life as some future happening, and in some sense it is. We do not yet know the fullness of the presence of the Lord like we will when we see Him face-to-face. But in another sense, eternal life is already ours and ready to be enjoyed in our present circumstances and life. Eternal life began the moment we passed from death to life, the moment of conversion. John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from
death into life.”

Just what is eternal life? According to Jesus, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3. We enjoy eternal life through our intimate and relational knowledge of God. Jesus said that He came that “they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Are you enjoying abundant life today? You don’t have to wait until heaven, live it now in close fellowship with Jesus.

Diane

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

I was reading through Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman the other day when I read this quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Remember that we have no more faith at any time than we have in the hour of trial. All that will not bear to be tested is mere carnal confidence. Fair-weather faith is no faith at all.”

There are seasons in our lives in which things are running pretty smoothly. There are no impending disasters, the kids are cooperating, our marriages are amicable, our bills are paid and we can still afford gas each week. It seems that during those times we tend to coast. We are also likely to “feel” like we’re walking by faith, because frankly, nothing is challenging our faith.

Then there are seasons in which our faith may be strongly tested. It may be a time of illness, financial set back, rebellious children, disappointing relationships, or another person that won’t cooperate with our agenda. It is in these seasons that we see our faith for what it really is.

I remember a woman from our Women of Character program whose husband was in the Colony of Mercy a few years back. She was so excited about what God was doing. She was confident that she was trusting in God and that her faith was solid. Then her husband came home. I remember her calling and sharing with me that she realized her faith was not in God
all that time, but rather in America’s Keswick and her knowledge of where he was.

I think sometimes what we think is faith, is not faith in Christ at all but rather faith in our current circumstances or faith in our own ability to make life work.

How are you doing? Do you have fair-weather faith or does your faith hold up through the storms of life? It is the storms of life that test and strengthen our faith in the first place.

Diane

Ladies love to shop for clothes and accessories. They are especially concerned how these enhance their appearance. As a young person I was taught the importance of proper attire for every occasion.

God is concerned as well with our clothing and accessories. He has made His wishes in these areas very clear. His choices for attire will enable us to be the person both inwardly, as well as,
outwardly that will bring honor and glory to Him.

In Proverbs 3:3 we are told of two accessories. He tells us “do not let kindness and truth leave you…bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart.”

The Apostle Paul tells the Colossians in Chapter 3:12…”put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The final piece of clothing He tells them to put on is that which pulls all the attire together. It is found in Colossians 3:14, “and beyond all these things put on love.”

Ladies check your appearance today and see what you are wearing. Are there any items that God desires for you to have worn that are missing? Ask Him to help you wear a wardrobe that honors Him.

HES

John 5:1-14 This is one of my favorite miracles recorded in God’s Word. It’s the story of the invalid of 38 years, lying by the pool, called Bethesda. He was with many who were lame, blind and paralyzed. He was hoping to be helped into the stirred waters to be healed. Someone
always got into the water before him. He had no one to help him and he could not do it himself. Thirty eight years is a long time to have to depend on someone else. I wonder if he could recall when he could do things for himself!

Jesus appeared and asked him something that is almost strange to hear: “Do you want to get well?” It has caused me to really look at the passage.

This May of 2005 I have had a muscle disease, Myasthenia Gravis for 38 years. I know what my answer would be; but do I understand what Jesus was asking? My prayerful study gave me new thoughts to ask myself.

1. Healing? It could be a life-altering event! The cripple’s answer was, “But, Lord, I have no one to help me…” We are ready with excuses! We fear the unknown, fear changes. Sometimes we find it frightening to move on.

2. Maybe your healing would send you back to work, or you might be required to return to more responsibility with home and family.

3. Maybe healing would bring a life-altering change or event such as moving on to new surroundings or meeting new people.

My husband and I were married ten years with children just 1, 3 and 5 years old when I was diagnosed with MG. We remained in our home church, in our home town serving in Christian Education. We were surrounded by family and friends, all helping. I stayed close to home depending on others. One day I was asked to come, in my wheelchair, to fill in for the director of the Christian child-care at our church. I had all kinds of excuses, but I thank God I said, “Yes”! I was to stay three weeks, but stayed three years. God knew I would love this ministry and learn
from obedience to Him. You see, it removed the fear of going on years later to a new ministry with my husband at America’s KESWICK.

Obedience was the answer for the man at the pool. In verse 13 he didn’t even know who Jesus was, but in verse 15 he is telling others about what Jesus did in his life.

What changes does God need to make in your life? He wants obedience first!

I’m asking God to continue to search my heart and let me be satisfied with his choices and changes. Proverbs 3:5&6 – His word to us!

Dottie

I enjoyed the book “Words that Hurt – Words that Heal” by Carole Mayhill It was my first book that I have read by Carole, and I enjoyed it! I chose this book to do a report, and I pass its message on to you. It was easy to understand and practical for my life. Carole begins by quoting James 3:3, “The tongue is like a bit in a horse’s mouth.” She states if we control the bit, we control the horse! God has much to say in His Word concerning this member of our body, the
tongue, some things positive and some negative. The purpose of our lives should be to know God. Philippians 3:10 is Paul’s desire for this – even deeper at the end of his life! As I read, I had to question myself, “Do I have all the areas of my life under the control of the Holy Spirit?…even my mouth? I’ve learned in sinning with my tongue, it grieves the Holy Spirit. Slander, gossip, and careless, idle speech are sinning in God’s rules. On the other hand, Proverbs 12:25 reads, “Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of encouragement does wonders!” I’ve found this true. Carole’s prayer for herself is, “Lord, teach me what it means to have the outh of the righteous.” I would love this, too, but fail so often. In reading the book of Psalms there is great help: 35: 28, “I will praise you all day long”; and 10:11, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” I began to think back just to the past few days and thought, “What words could describe my speech, my conversations?” I need a lot of changes with God’s help.

There is a chapter in the book called “Aren’t I Terrific?” It caused me to search my heart. Do I really seek God’s glory, or my own? Proverbs 25:27 and 27:1&2 are good verses. Have I learned to be content in whatever circumstances? –Philippians 4:11-12, or do I sound off “woe is me”, too often?

Lord, help me to think before I speak. Proverbs 12:18, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Concerning gossip or the love of finding fault was covered by an example given by Carole. “Criticizing is like climbing up on the Judgment Seat on
which god alone has the right to sit and to publish judgment upon others which He alone has the right to pronounce!” I ask myself if I am guilty? – are you?

In closing, Carole’s prayer is, “If I dwell deep with you, God, the overflow is going to consistently seep into my conversation. Soon I will be speaking more words that heal –and less that hurt!” We all need to learn His words and speak them.

Study and pray!

Dottie

“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 3:17-18 (NIV)

One Sunday I was called to the church lobby to help a woman who had fled from service and was out in the parking lot crying. When I approached her and asked what the problem was she said, “I don’t fit here. I have so many problems. These people don’t have problems, how can they ever understand.” Problems? These people had problems coming out of their ears, but their Church masks covered them nicely. How deceived this woman was! I have heard Bill Welte mention more than once, the uniqueness of the Colony of Mercy. Unlike most churches, the Colony is a safe place to be real. The Colony men stand up and share how they are struggling and are embraced by their fellow residents. Why is it the exception rather than the norm for
people to share with their church that they are struggling? Why is it rare for people to feel safe in the one environment where they should be able to experience total acceptance and the support of the brethren?

Let me share with you an excerpt from The Teacher’s Commentary (pg. 877-878) regarding our passage today: “What Paul was referring to was the Old Testament description of Moses,
entering the tabernacle of God and returning to speak with the Israelites, transfused with a radiance and splendor…But then Moses noticed that the splendor faded. The glow went away! And ‘Moses…put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at tit while the radiance was fading away’ (v. 13). A process of deterioration was taking place, and Moses could not bear to have others see it.

But ah, the contrast! Paul said, ‘We are not like Moses’; instead, ‘We are very bold.’ And Paul explained: ‘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 form the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

What did Paul mean? Simply this: I unveil and reveal myself in order that you might see Jesus in me. Jesus is not revealed in some supposed human ‘perfection,’ but rather in our progressive transformation. It is not, ‘See how good I am,’ that witnesses to the reality of Jesus, but, ‘See
what God is doing in such a sinner.’”It’s time. It’s time to remove our masks and get real, to the glory of God.

Your challenge today is to ask God where you are prone to wear a mask and rob Him of His glory.

Diane

1 Richards, Lawrence O. The Teacher’s Commentary, Scripture Press Publications, 1987

“A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.”

Have you ever met someone or seen them in the supermarket, and their face is so set with sternness that it took you aback? This week we have been sharing about a quiet and gentle spirit and its roots that run heart-deep. Yet, what is in our hearts is often betrayed on our faces.
You know with a look we can stop our children mid-sentence, we can set our spouse off or get ourselves in trouble with our boss.

When I first heard this verse referred to in a Bible study, my spirit quickened. There is hope of change. “The sternness of his face is changed…through the wisdom that makes his face shine.” What kind of wisdom makes a face shine?

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.” Exodus 34:29

Moses’ face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. One key to having the heart change necessary to have the sternness of our face changed is spending time with Jesus. The wisdom of the gospel, God’s truth and relationship with Jesus Christ softens a heart. It may not
happen in a moment, or after one day with Jesus, or one week, or one year, but just like with any relationship as it grows deep in your soul, there is a settledness that begins to surround you like when you slip into a hot bath and every muscle in your body relaxes. When you become
so at peace with Jesus, it shows all over your face and your face will be radiant. No need for that expensive face cream.

Your challenge today is to look in the mirror and ask the Lord, if there are lines of sternness or if He is reflected there.

Diane

1 Peter 3:3, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

There are times when the hidden person of the heart is not so hidden. As I have been learning to be quiet, sometimes silent, sometimes not, I realized that my face betrays my heart. That which I think I’m hiding, by being silent, is all over my face. Perhaps you have the same problem.

About 3 years ago, before I was going on vacation, I asked Stephanie to pray for me that I would not blow our trip. I shared with her that I tended to have wonderful expectations of family bonding time, and when it didn’t turn out the way I expected or wanted, I would get an attitude, sometimes with my words, but often with my face. You’ll never guess what her godly counsel was. She suggested that when I was able to keep my mouth shut but unable to control my face, I put a paper bag over my head until I could have a better attitude. As silly as it sounds, I got myself a paper bag and drew a smiley face on it and tucked it in our RV, just in case.

My problem was not a face problem; my problem was a heart problem. What is in our hearts can be read all over our faces. Having a gentle and quiet spirit is a heart issue not a face issue.

So if you have a face problem, it’s time to do business in your heart. Your challenge today is to ask God to change your heart and let your face show it.

Diane

1 Peter 3:3, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

What exactly does it mean to have a gentle and quiet spirit? As the Lord began working in this area of my life, I learned it doesn’t mean just being quiet. I realized I could have a quiet and very ungentle spirit. I think you know what I’m talking about, when our silence is screaming at the top of our lungs? For me it is the set of my jaw, and the ‘hairy eyeball’ (as we call it in my family).

I remember a number of year’s back we had Zach over to visit. He and my son were spending the afternoon together. That following weekend, Zach had to draw a family picture in Sunday school. His mother told me he had added me to his drawing. I was so touched. I leaned over to Zach and said how special it was that he did that. He looked and me and said, “YUP, I drew you with the angry eyes”. I was so startled. I didn’t quite know what to say. We can speak volumes without ever opening our mouths. Are you gentle in spirit?

‘Gentle’, according to the on-line Merriam-Webster dictionary, is: “free from harshness, sternness, or violence”You’ll notice this is not just about our behavior. It is about a deep residing spirit of quietness and gentleness. You see it is what is in our heart that shows up on our face, in our attitude and our behavior. Peter says it is the “incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” Incorruptible: not subject to decay or dissolution (on-line dictionary).

Ladies, the beauty that is precious in the sight of God is the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit… very Precious. Your challenge for today is to ask God to show you ways in which you are not gentle and seek his power to change.

Diane

1 Peter 3:3, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

A quiet and gentle spirit? Ouch. For years, I didn’t particularly care for this verse of Scripture. Those of you, who know me, know I am anything but quiet. I talk loud. I laugh loud. I sing loud (much to the embarrassment of my children). I clap loud. I even walk loud. I’m just loud. Sometimes I try to be quiet, but as soon as I forget, I’m back being loud. This verse, which encourages women to have a quiet and gentle spirit seemed very illusive to me. Can’t I be loud and godly? My loud sisters know exactly what I’m talking about. I think the key here is “the hidden person of the heart”. There is not much hidden about a loud woman. Everyone knows what’s up with her – even those that don’t want to know or don’t care. Think about what hidden means. When you played hide-and-seek as a kid, did you make noise and draw attention to yourself? NO. You did everything to be as quiet as possible. You didn’t want to draw any attention in your direction.

Loud women draw attention to themselves and not in the positive way they think. It takes the Holy Spirit and practice to have a quiet spirit. Quiet does not necessarily mean silent. Sometimes silence is warranted. Sometimes speaking up is warranted. I am not talking here about speaking with the squeaks of a mouse so no one can hear you either. This has more to do with the heart than the volume of your voice. A quiet spirit is borne out of a quiet, settled heart.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a discussion of the gentle spirit.

Your challenge for today is to observe your interactions with others. Are you exhibiting a quiet spirit?

Diane