There’s a veteran staff member whose default response to almost any difficult situation is “No problem.” I told her it should be her epitaph, and since I know where she’s headed, it would be appropriate because there will truly be no problems. However, we are still here, and here, there are lots of problems.

I’ve had a bugger of one this week, yet once I began seeking the Lord for answers it became clear that for Him it was “No Problem.” Since I have His Spirit and power available within me, He would give me the grace for this problem. He’s not necessarily taking it away anytime soon, but He’ll give me the grace and strength I need when I need it. He reminded me in my heart of the first verse I’d ever learned – not once, not twice, but three times.

Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Yes, and amen, there is no other way I can.

Love our Lord!

Dina Seaton

Dina Seaton has served on staff for 15 years, currently in Partner Care. She is a proud Air Force mom and loves spending time with her son wherever he is, near or far. He is truly her greatest joy.  Dina came to Christ in 2000. She loves God and wants to love Him more!

 

 

 

 

 

When I was younger, I always wanted to challenge myself to see if I could run all the way up a “down” escalator. I saw it done in TV shows, so I always wanted to try. I never did, though (I was never allowed to), so I still don’t know if I could beat the challenge… but I’ll admit it, I still want to try.

I used to think living the Christian life was somewhat like going up a “down” escalator. I would try really hard to be “good enough” or “strong enough” to climb my way to God, but I would always come up short and eventually I would find myself slipping back down. I would try to rise above all the “bad” in my life or in the world –  sins, sickness, hardships, etc, but it would always be a struggle. I would always find myself feeling guilty or feeling like I wasn’t good enough.

The truth is… believers shouldn’t feel like that. If we rely on our own strength, we will always find ourselves trying to crawl to the top and stay there, but we will fail every time (much like going up a down escalator.) We need to rely on the Lord’s strength in all situations, because His divine strength is so much greater than our human strength.

 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:19

 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Isaiah 40:29

 Find yourself struggling with sickness? Rely on the Lord! Wrestling with sin? You can’t overcome it by your own strength. Struggling with anxiety? The Lord wants to free you from that. Worried about finances? Trust the Lord’s provision! Worried about persecution? Jesus Himself understands that and has gone through it, He will strengthen you.  

 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  Jeremiah 17:5-9

 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble  Psalm 9:9

Here’s the good news. When we try to overcome things ourselves and come up short, the Lord is always right there. We can always fall at His feet and give it to Him, and He takes pleasure in that… even if we took a little longer than we needed to.

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!

 

…and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Exodus 2:23-25

Back story:

In Genesis, when the famine was great, Jacob moved his family (70+) from Canaan to Egypt where his favored son, Joseph, was a prominent leader and had resources to provide food and land to keep their flocks.

Fast forward: Jacob was dead (Genesis 49:33). Joseph and his brothers were dead (Ex. 1:6). The Pharaoh that had so trusted and shown favor to Joseph was gone.  A new pharaoh came to power (how long after is not clear) who did not know Joseph (Ex. 1:8). The people of Israel multiplied greatly and were exceedingly strong (Ex 1:7).  The new king feared them and put them into slavery (Ex. 1:9-14)

Four hundred plus years later…

…and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

The people cried out for help to be rescued from slavery.

God heard their groaning (God hears the cries of His people).

God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (God knows and keeps His promises. This does not mean he forgot and then remembered but rather “…that he is about to take action for that person’s welfare”[i]).

God saw the people of Israel (God always has His eyes on His people).

God knew.

God knew.  When I read this, “God knew,” I stopped in my tracks.  God knew.  I believe this two word phrase speaks of His constant awareness of Israel.  Their bondage and suffering. Their trials and cries.  God knew. There was not a single instant that He forgot His people or that He was distracted from their plight. God knew. God heard. God remembered[ii]. God saw. God knew.

It would be puzzling if we stop reading there but the very next line is Ex 3:1 which brings Moses to the forefront. God knew and was about to take action on behalf of Israel; Moses was His chosen man to deliver His people out of Egypt (Ex 3:10).

Do you find yourself in the midst of a trial that seems to have no end, no escape, and no answers?

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is your God.

He hears your cries and pleas for help and rescue. You are crying out to Him in earnest, right?

God remembers His promises to you.  Do you?  Rehearse His promises and thank Him for keeping every one of them.

He sees you. God always has His eyes on you. You are always on His Mind and Heart (speaking in human terms).

God knows.   God knows your trial.  God knows your suffering. God knows your grief. God knows your fears.  God knows YOU.

May the very next line in YOUR story be the one of deliverance from or through your trial.

Blessings,

Diane

[i] ESV Study Bible. Note Gen 8:1 Pg. 64

[ii] ibid

After serving 16 years full-time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane Hunt and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part-time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant.  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.

 

The other night I had a dream about a young man, perhaps late teens to early twenties, who was insistent on having his one question answered.

“Why do I have to obey God?”

In my dream, no one adequately answered his question. As I was in that dreamy stupor of almost awake and still half asleep, I began to ask the Lord the very same question.

At first, I couldn’t understand why suddenly this was important to me. But certain scriptures kept coming to mind.

But sanctify the Lord God in your 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

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

As I finally came to myself that morning, the question kept lingering in the back of my mind. Why, Lord, must I obey you?

And in that small, still voice, He says, without skipping a beat, “You don’t.”

Say what!?!

Now before you have a panic attack that I’m about to give every person in the universe the license to sin, hear me out.

As bantered with God about this matter, it became very evident it’s true. I am not required or forced to obey God. Eve didn’t. Adam didn’t. Moses didn’t. Neither did Jonah, or David, or Solomon… or a host of other notables in biblical history and since.

The fact remains, I obey God because I love Him. And I love Him because I have come to understand the grave and real sacrifice He made for me through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us if we love him then we will keep God’s commands. And that it is the love of God that constrains us.

But the story doesn’t stop there!

In my devotional time that morning, God ushered me to the following verse:

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,  1 Peter 2:22

And that’s when it became clear! When I choose to obey Him, I become purified… sanctified… blessed… joyous… strengthened… courageous… protected. In other words, obedience is the key to unlocking the wealth of promises and guarantees that comes with walking uprightly before God. I’m not more saved when I obey, and am certainly no less saved when I disobey.

Rather, obedience allows the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit to take fuller hold of me. My character is enhanced. My testimony is strengthened. And my intimacy with the one true God is deepened.

So sisters, the truth is, you are not obligated obey God. But if you love Him, you will. And when you do, there is a glorious reward awaiting you.

Is there something you need to obey God in today? Do that one thing, no matter how difficult it may feel, and watch God open the windows of heaven just for you!

With grace, Diera

Diera Shaw-Mendez is thrilled to be part of the team at Barbara’s Place, and also serves as worship leader and youth leader at New Beginnings Worship Center in Pennsauken, NJ. She is wife to Chaplain Juan Mendez and mama to Olivia Joy. She enjoys graphic design, event planning, and cooking. Diera is a God-fearing, Starbucks-loving, tech junkie (…in that order!) who simply wants to remind women of God’s unchanging, healing love.

 

 

 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. James 3:8-10

Oh my, do you see yourself here as I see myself here? How often have I disappointed the Lord with the use of my words.  And the repercussions I have reaped when I do! Brother James describes the tongue as having the capacity of a forest fire that starts with but a spark. How often have I said one “small” thing that erupted into a raging fire, only to then find myself sweating in regret. My stomach aches. My head hurts. I can’t sleep. I pace. I fret over the presumed, or actual, ramifications. It’s a sad and sickly sight.

With our tongues we have the power to bless each other. I think of the verse in Isaiah 52:7, How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. What a blessing encouragement is. We all know the feeling when someone draws near to us and bolsters our spirit. We all want to hear good news. We all want to be understood and spoken to with care.

Conversely, how conscious are we of using our tongues for cursing? James says we use it not only to bless our God but to curse those who are made in His image. Yikes! My mind says, “How can that be?” but my heart knows the truth.  What does Luke 6:45 say?

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

I know that if my heart is not where it should be…nestled in the embrace of Jesus…then I am apt to say almost any hurtful thing; to my husband – my children, my girlfriend, my co-laborer… anyone.

So together, sisters, let’s remember the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as He shared these words through James.  And let’s be encouraged that even when words spill out that we can’t take back, there’s a God who we can take them to and ask forgiveness. What a God! What a Savior!

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!

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. Malachi 3:16

This Victory Call is a bit heavy, but I think it’s important to write about. The other day I was in church, and the pastor said these words: “The moment you decide to take the word ‘hell’ from your pulpits, you remove the wind from the sails of grace.” That quote really hit me.

I feel like there is this idea today in many churches and among many Christians that we shouldn’t talk about the hard things to nonbelievers… I guess that’s because people believe that by speaking about hell, we aren’t being effective in our relationship building. Many people speak about the positives of accepting Christ – eternal life in heaven, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, the blessing of prayer and growing closer to Him – but they fail to talk about the negatives of not being a follower of Christ.

I get it – it’s hard. When we share the gospel, we want to talk about God’s mercy and the joys of following Him (and there are many.) But the idea of telling someone that if they don’t accept Christ they are not going to make it into heaven, but instead are headed for destruction… that’s not an easy thing to do. But just as God warned us multiple times in scripture about hell, we should do the same for others (some examples are 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9, John 3:16 & 36, Revelation 20:11-15 & 21:8, and Daniel 12:2). The plain truth is that Christ came from Heaven to Earth to save us from Hell… and that’s good news. The pastor of the church I used to attend said this: “If my friend was planning a beach party, and was bringing a ton of friends and had all of these great plans, but I knew that a hurricane was coming – what would be the loving thing to do? Allow them to have their beach party and experience destruction, or warn them of the danger to come so they can avoid it?”

The truth is that God is merciful and forgiving, but He is also just and will bring wrath. There is an equal balance of both. God would not be a just God if He did not judge and punish sin, and that is a truth we need to clearly communicate to people with whom we are sharing Christ.

I’m not saying it’s easy to do that – Christians have and will continue to meet resistance when speaking about the hard things. However, think about this – aren’t we so glad that our friends and family warned us about the “hard things”?

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. She is so excited that after 5 years on Summer Staff, she now has the opportunity to serve at Keswick year ’round. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

 

“Oh, that, you and I might get into the very heart of the Word of God, and get that Word into ourselves! As I have seen the silkworm eat into the leaf, and consume it, so ought we to do with the Word of the Lord; not crawl over its surface, but eat right into it till we have taken it into our inmost parts. It is idle merely to let the eye glance over the words, or to recollect the poetical expressions, or the historic facts; but it is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your very style is fashioned upon Scripture models, and, what is better still, your spirit is flavoured with the words of the Lord.”

“If the Spirit of God be in you, he will make you love the Word of God; and, if any of you imagine that the Spirit of God will lead you to dispense with the Bible, you are under the influence of another spirit which is not the Spirit of God at all. I trust that the Holy Spirit will endear to you every page of this Divine Record, so that you will feed upon it yourselves, and afterwards speak it out to others.” –Charles Spurgeon

Another great quote from Charles Spurgeon.

Are you feasting on the Word or simply crawling over the surface?  Is your soul being nourished as you sit at the Lord’s feet and tarry with Him in His Word or are you merely checking off an item on your to-do list? When you come to the Word do you consider that you are meeting with the Creator of the universe?  That you have His undivided attention?  Is the bounty and fruit of your pursuit of Bible saturation overflowing in your conversations and interactions with others?

May God bless your feasting!

Blessings, Diane

After serving 16 years full-time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane Hunt and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part-time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant.  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.

 

How do you look at this New Year?

With resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, save more money, buy less, finish some undone projects or read through the Bible in a year?  These are all good things but are they the BEST things?

As December 31^st, 2017 rolls around, how do you want to have changed?  Who do you want to be twelve months from now?

In a recent message at my church, pastor spoke using an old word I had never even heard but I have heard of the concept as I’m sure you have as well.  The word is bibline.  It isn’t even in the dictionary anymore.

Pastor Mickey Connolly shared his summary statement about what it means to be bibline: “To be a people that love, treasure, read, and live by the Holy Scriptures.” It means to be Bible saturated.

That begs the question – do I love, treasure, read and live by the Holy Scriptures?  It’s not just that I love and treasure the Word of God. It’s not just that I read the Bible. But do I live by the Holy Scriptures?

I believe that genuinely loving and treasuring the Word of God will lead us to read the Bible.  However, we can read the Bible without actually living by the Bible. How does Scripture inform our choices, decisions, attitudes and actions?

If I INTENTIONALLY bring my attitudes, thoughts, beliefs and responses into agreement with the Holy Scriptures, I actually change. If I am a person that loves, treasures, reads, and lives by the Holy Scriptures I can’t help but to be changed.

For me, that is a great pursuit for 2017 – not a resolution, but an active, fervent, delightful pursuit.

Blessings, Diane

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV)

Why did Paul label the Gospel as of first importance?  What relevance does that have for 21^st century believers?  Once a person is regenerated, born-again, saved, redeemed what relevance does the Gospel have in everyday life?

In a culture in which entitlement is more the norm than the exception, it is a valuable reminder that we did not get what we deserve (hell), and we did get what we don’t deserve (heaven).  To keep life in proper perspective, we need daily reminders of what Christ accomplished on the cross on our behalf:

I deserve death, but You gave me life. John 5:24

I deserve hell, but You gave me heaven.  John 14:1-3

I deserve bondage, but You gave me freedom. Galatians 5:1

I deserve anxiety, but You gave me peace. Philippians 4:6-7

I deserve judgment, but You gave me justification. Romans 3:24

I deserve punishment, but You punished Another in my place. 1 John 2:2

I deserve separation, but You gave me unity. John 17:23

I deserve isolation, but You gave me fellowship. 1 Corinthians 1:9

I deserve the law, but You gave me grace. Romans 6:14

I deserve darkness, but You gave me light. Ephesians 5:8

I deserve despair, but You gave me hope. Romans 12:12

I deserve to be an orphan, but You adopted me. John 14:18, Romans 8:15

I deserve to wander, but You guide me. Psalm 31:3

I deserve to be lost, but You direct my path. Proverbs 3:5-6

I deserve condemnation, but You redeemed me. Romans 8:1, Titus 2:13-14

I deserve blindness, but You gave me sight. Luke 7:22

I deserve poverty, but You gave me riches. 2 Corinthians 6:10

I deserve sadness, but You gave me joy. Romans 14:17

I deserve fear, but You gave me perfect love. 1 John 4:18

I deserve filthy rags, but You gave me robes of righteousness. Revelation 7:14

I deserve hunger, but You gave me the Bread of Life.  John 6:35

I deserve to be overlooked, but You chose me. Ephesians 1:4

I deserve to labor and to be heavy laden, but You gave me rest.  Matthew 11:28

I deserve to be alone, but You gave me family. Matthew 12:50

And the list goes on and on.  Daily we need to be reminded that because of the Gospel, we did not get what we deserve.

Blessings, Diane

After serving 16 years full-time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane Hunt and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part-time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant.  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.

This Victory Call originally appeared in Real Victory for Real Life, Volume 2. To purchase your copy, call 1-800-453-7942.

…whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 19: 2b

Have you heard the saying, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get?” My Dad used to remind us of that as kids. Quick is not always best.

I hesitate to write this Victory Call because I don’t want to foster misunderstanding. I am not promoting laziness or dragging one’s feet.  When GOD calls us to obedience it is time to take action not time for debate, to mull over, procrastinate or delay.

It seems the devil, however, wants to get us to race after his empty offerings before we have time to prayerfully think it through. Have you ever noticed how compelling temptation can be, demanding immediate action?  Like somehow if we don’t take immediate action we will lose out?

So are you scratching your head?  How am I to know when it is God calling me to obedience or Satan tempting me to sin?  Good question.

Discernment. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you Psalm 32:8. God will never call you to do anything that is contrary to His Word. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word Psalm 119:9.

I think one good way to discern between immediate obedience and ill-advised haste is to consider our motive and the benefactor.  Is my desire to obey and to please God or is there something I am hoping to gain by acting quickly on an opportunity? Am I walking by faith or by sight? For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin Romans 14:23.

I know this is a difficult distinction but it does come back to an issue of our heart.  Who am I seeking to please?

Lord, please guide and direct me in the way I should go, in the path of righteous obedience and faith. Let me not be distracted or enticed by things that may catch my eye and cause me to seek with haste that which is ultimately not for Your glory or my good.

Blessings,
Diane

After serving 16 years full-time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane Hunt and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part-time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant.  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.