In the midst of conversation with ourselves and with others as we speak of being blessed through our time with God, or through going on a missions trip or enjoying His creation on a fall hike, in the back of our minds let’s always remember we are blessed even if we didn’t have a special time with God or go on a missions trip or on a beautiful hike through the colorful leaves.
As redeemed children of God we are already blessed because God has already kept His promise from the Garden.  He sent His Son – seed of the woman to crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15).  In so doing, He has provided redemption for His chosen ones.  Therefore we ALREADY are and ALWAYS will be blessed.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal 4:4-7

I think if we remind ourselves of this truth daily it will nurture in us a heart of gratefulness.
I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb and forever and always blessed.

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice.

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 headline in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago caught my eye – I didn’t read the article but it started me thinking.

If my next friend was a robot what options would I request?
It would always encourage me.
It would never disagree with me.
It would laugh at all my jokes.
It would go anywhere with me.
It would remind me of the things I may forget.

Sound good?  Problem is a robot could not do what we need true friends for.
I want my friends to encourage me – with the gospel.
I want my friends to be willing to speak truth to me.
I want my friends to have a good grasp on joy and to encourage joy in my life. (I wouldn’t mind if they laughed at all my jokes)
I want my friends to challenge me to walk in godliness.
I want my friends to confront sin in my life.
I want my friendships to be mutually uplifting, challenging, transparent, loving, supportive, Christ-centered and God glorifying.

Who needs a robot-friend when real friends are made in the image of our Creator?

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.

Before you click out of this Victory Call because of the topic, please let me encourage you to read on just a little bit longer… yes, its undertone is about our political climate. I have to be candid here – I’m pretty disappointed by how many people belonging to the body of Christ have been presenting themselves through this season. I’m shocked by the hate, anger, and unkindness I see from everyone – believers and nonbelievers alike. People have this mentality of “if you don’t agree with me, you’re an enemy.” I have seen my dear brothers and sisters in Christ treating others like garbage because of this election… insulting people’s personality, character, education, political beliefs, even looks. I think I speak for most people here when I say… can we just hit the pause button please?

I get it. It’s a discouraging season in our nation. But here’s the thing – God is sovereign over all. We have to remember He is truly the One in power. Recently, I went to see an AMAZING live broadcast in theaters called “Revive Us” hosted by Kirk Cameron. It was basically about where we are as a country and how we, as Christians, can do our part to lead others to Christ and follow Him in this dark time. Tens of thousands of strangers across the nation were gathered together to learn and pray. It was so encouraging, especially seeing people stand together in worship as if we knew each other for years.

The broadcast brought up 2 Chronicles 7:14. This is a verse that believers love to quote in this season… so why do we not really see change in our nation? I want to challenge myself over the next few Victory Calls to dig deep into this verse and dissect it.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Today’s focus is on the first part: “If MY people, who are called by MY name…” I hear a lot of believers say, “God is not healing our land because we took prayer out of schools, we had Supreme Court rulings that are ungodly, etc.” I think these things are awful, and I agree that a lack of faith is severely hurting our country. But when I read this verse, what I gather from it is this: God knows the world will try to push Him away and His Word tells us that people will become more wicked across the globe as time goes on. However, the Lord is concerned with how HIS people – the body of Christ – respond and live. In this particular verse, WE are the ones who God is calling to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.

While we should continuously try to lead others to Christ, we can’t expect that nonbelievers will live righteously if they don’t have a right relationship with Him. We, as the light of the world, should definitely agree with God’s law and tell people when they’re living in sin. But we have to remember that while the Lord is concerned with how sinners are living – so concerned He died for them – He is also concerned with how we are living. Our relationship with Him should be a healthy one. So while we can point at others and tell them how unrighteous they are, we have to remember that we aren’t perfect and we also have a constant battle of the flesh – the only good in us is Christ living in us. We have to be sure that our relationship with Christ is a strong one with humility, prayer, daily reading, and repentance.

Those are my thoughts for part 1… “If MY people who are called by MY name.”  We can point fingers at nonbelievers and say they are the reason our country is in such a dark season, and I do agree it’s because many people have a lack of faith. But this verse is saying that if HIS people do right and are living a life that is pleasing to Him, He will heal our land… I think that’s pretty encouraging.

Erin

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!

Suffering is such a personal thing.  What I consider suffering you may not consider suffering.  An individual’s perception of their circumstances will impact their experience of suffering.  An individual’s attitude in their circumstances will impact their experience of suffering.

Suffering is an expected part of life…

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you… 1 Peter 4:12

Suffering has purpose…

…knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Suffering is part of God’s sanctifying grace in our lives. God is in the process of making us like Jesus.  Suffering often makes us more sensitive to the Spirit and more eager to cling to Christ. At least that has been my experience.  Suffering gives us a greater vision of our weakness and neediness.  Those things are always true but we are not always as aware of it.  Desperation can draw us intimately close to our Savior.

Hope the midst of suffering…

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lam 3:19-24

Even in the midst of suffering we have hope.  God’s promises are true whether we can see them, feel them or sense them.  We trust Him. We trust in His Word.

Seeing beyond the suffering…

Suffering can give us tunnel vision. All we can see is NOW. All we can feel is the PAIN.  Suffering can make life all about ME.  Everything filters through my suffering.  By faith we can look beyond ourselves, beyond now, and beyond the pain.  Maybe only for moments at a time but as we endure to focus beyond our suffering those moments can become minutes and hours and days. Can there really be joy again?

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Ps 30:5

…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Christ’s focus during His suffering was the joy of His obedience and the joy of being restored to His Father. His focus was not on the suffering but on the joy beyond the suffering.

How do we model that?

How do we see beyond our suffering?
1.    It will take faith to believe God’s promises even when they don’t FEEL true. Fight for faith, sister.
2.    Know that God is up to something good in our lives.  He is making us like Christ through the suffering.
3.    It will end.  It will not last forever even if it feels like it will.
4.    God is with us in the midst of it. He is a every present help in times of trouble(Ps 46:1).
5.    There is joy in obedience even in the midst of suffering.
6.    One day…Ladies…. One day. Heaven.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

I hope you do not find yourself in the midst of suffering right now, but if you do I pray these words will encourage your heart.

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.

Recently I have been reminded that God commands us to bear with one another.  Bearing is “something that is difficult to do or deal with…”  Bearing takes effort. Think about it. Do you bear eating cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae?  No.

We bear with difficult people or people who are different than us or people whoirritate or annoy us. We have to bear with people who have hurt us or have sinned against us.  Say what? You say. What does God’s Word say?

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  Romans 15:1-2

…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13

I couldn’t help but notice that each of these 3 verses state or allude to the necessity of humility to bear with one another.  In Romans 15 it says “not to please ourselves,” in other words putting me aside so I can build up another.  Humility by any other name is still humility.  Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 also both refer to humility.  We can understand that, right? To bear with another will require humility in my heart to serve them rather than serving myself.

#1: Bearing requires humility.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

[Ephesians 4:2 also refers to bearing with one another in love…]

#2: Bearing requires love.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:1-2

Bearing one another’s burdens takes an investment of time and energy. It requires that we listen and are sensitive to the needs of those around us. It often requires stepping out of our comfort zones and into messy relationships.  Galatians indicates that by bearing one another’s burdens we are fulfilling the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ?  I believe in this situation Paul is referring to love.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

#3: Bearing requires intention, listening, time and energy.
So here’s my question for you and for myself: How are you bearing?

Blessings and you bear.
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.

i http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear

Several years ago I made the statement to my dear friend and sister in Christ, Stephanie, “we need to love them with the Gospel.” She replied, “What does that mean anyway?” Her question stumped me because I thought I knew what it meant but could I explain it to her?

About a month ago I was in another conversation about caring for others with the Gospel, basically the same conversation as I had with Stephanie.  The idea was running around in my brain for days when I was walking one day and it was clarified in my mind.

When we are loving/caring for someone with the Gospel it may take 3 basic forms.
1.    If the person does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior, we love them best by sharing the Gospel and their need for a Savior, Jesus, encouraging them to repent and believe. Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15; Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Mark 3:3; …if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

2.    If the person knows Christ as Savior but is not walking in faith and obedience (they are walking in sin), we love them with the Gospel by speaking the truth in love admonishing and exhorting them to encourage confession and repentance.  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2; Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;  but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13

3.    If the person knows Christ as Savior, is not walking in sin but is in a season of suffering, we love them with the Gospel by encouraging them with the hope of the Gospel. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4; Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

As we talk to people throughout the day, let’s HUMBLY listen with sensitive ears to know who and how the Lord would have us love with the Gospel. It takes careful attention to best minister truth to their hearts.  We want to HUMBLY love them with the Gospel in the most meaningful way to their personal situation.  God is not a cookie-cutter God. We should not be a cookie-cutter Gospel-sharer.

I want to love others with the Gospel in a way that, first, glorifies God and second, is genuinely helpful to that person, realizing that the first person to hear the truth and to be helped is ME.

The Gospel is so deep and rich and yet so simple and personal.  It offers hope and truth in absolutely every situation.  Let us love well with the Gospel.

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.

I had this picture come to mind a few days ago and perhaps it will help you as it has helped me.
In the picture I am in very deep water with an inflatable life ring around me. I also have a pin with which I repeatedly poke holes in the lifesaving device.

WHAT?!  You say, “How dumb is that?” That was my reaction.

I believe this is a picture of the way I make choices that work against my greater goals, priorities and purposes.  Little things that seem inconsequential at the time. What’s a little hole?  But the reality is a little hole over time, and surely multiple little holes, will sabotage reaching the goals I am pursuing or the priorities I claim to have.

Here’s an example that I hope brings clarity.

Let’s say I have a problem with overspending and I come under conviction about it. I confess and repent and decide I am going to live on a closely-watched budget.  I put in time and effort to record everything and plan out my month’s spending.  But then Sunday morning comes along and there are all those ad flyers in the newspaper – I love to look at the sales so what’s the big deal?  I’m just looking, I’m not actually spending any money.  (It’s just a little hole) so I look through the ads and guess what? I see a beautiful scarf that I just love.  It would go really well with an outfit I have and it’s only $15.  I reason it’s a great deal since it is 50% off. So I head off to the mall to make this purchase because it’s only $15 – (it’s just a little hole).  While I’m at the store I notice my favorite store is having a huge sale.  I reason that if I don’t buy clothes now while they are on sale, I’m going to end up paying full price later. That doesn’t make sense. So I buy a few key items. But only a few (it’s just a little hole). By the time the 31st of the month arrives I realize I didn’t actually stay on my budget, not because I went out and bought a new car (a big hole) but I made several little purchases that were not budgeted for.  Each decision in and of itself is not necessarily wrong but we often fail to ask ourselves whether this choice will help us achieve our goals or whether this choice works against our goals.

Let’s consider our life priorities.  We may say that our highest priority is our relationship with God but do we make choices on a daily basis that support that priority? Are we spending time in the Word and in prayer? Do we spend time meditating and memorizing God’s Word?  Do we listen to good Bible teaching and study the Scriptures?  Are we preaching the Gospel to ourselves daily and striving to obey?  Or are we watching TV, reading romance novels and keeping super busy instead?  (little holes)

So what is that pin in your life?  What choices do you make that work against your priorities and goals?  In what ways are you sabotaging your own goals and purposes?

Food for thought today.

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.

It’s a cold, rainy Saturday… a perfect “lazy day.” I love lazy days – the days with thunder and lightning, big bowls of soup, tea, candles, and Netflix marathons… in my pajamas, of course! Those days are just awesome, especially if I’m in the company of a good friend!

As much as I love the occasional “lazy day,” I would not like it if every day looked like that. I don’t like the feeling of long-term non-productivity. I love going to work, checking things off of my To-Do list, working hard on the tasks at hand, and having a great finished product. It’s important to me that productivity and hard work outweigh laziness.

Now, I think most people can agree with that statement whether they are believers or not. But when we look at it from a biblical standpoint, we will see that our reasons for productivity contrast greatly with the reasons that the world may have. When we work hard, we shouldn’t do it just for the sake of pride or acknowledgement. When we work hard, it should be out of a love for God and a desire to glorify Him.

Biblically, there are a lot of passages advising believers not to spend their lives in a continuous state of laziness. One passage that came to my mind immediately when I chose to write on this topic was Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,   since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The Bible instructs us to commit our work to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3), to glorify God in all we do (1 Cor. 10:31 is just one example), and to remember that we are servants of the Lord (Colossians 3:24). There are also a ton of verses in the book of Psalms that talk about being a hard worker.

I’ve said this before and will never stop saying it: Christians are always under a microscope. As believers, our lives should be a testimony for Jesus. What we say, how we act, and what we do can either point people to Jesus, or cause others to believe that Christians aren’t really all that different at all. We should desire to put 110% effort in all that we do, and lean on the Lord for strength. We should not do this for acknowledgement, pride, or just to get work done, but to point others to Christ and glorify God. After all, we are servants of the most High God! Our hard work should be a reflection of that and an act of praise – because He’s worthy, amen?

Erin
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!

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Sometimes what needs to be said only takes a few words (though I could stretch anything into a full page).  Today I will be brief (or briefer).

Peace – we all want it.  We all long for it.  We all need it.

The opposite of peace is called by many names: anxiety, stress, pressure, fear, worry, discontent, anger, etc.

The first thing I notice in Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians is that the Lord Himself is the Peace-giver.  God is the only One that can give us genuine peace. [Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6]

The second thing I notice is that this peace of God is available to you and me: “May the Lord…give you peace…”

The third thing I notice is Paul prays that they would have peace at ALL TIMES.  That seems like an impossible request but nothing is impossible with God.  Based on the biblical truth of sanctification* the more we grow in our knowledge and love of God and in our obedience to God the more our times of peace will grow, too.

The last thing I notice in Paul’s prayer is that he prays for the Thessalonian believers to have peace “in every way.” Isn’t that what we want? Peace that invades and rules every area of our hearts.

Not only is a heart of peace more pleasant for us but a person with a genuine heart of peace is a beacon of Gospel hope to the stressed out, anxious culture we live in.

Let’s be that! Beacons of Gospel hope.

Blessings, Diane
*Sanctification is the work of God in a believer’s life making her more and more like Jesus. (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18)

Diane Hunt
After serving 16 years full-time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane 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.

Lush, vibrant flora of the equatorial latitudes stands in stark contrast to the rough, hardy plants found in more frigid, arctic zones, but each is suited to its climate and displays unique splendor. As Christians, we are similar to plants in that God sows us in the environments that He has chosen for us (Acts 17:26); yet, unlike the aforementioned vegetation, He often transplants us in alternating “habitats” analogous to these contrasting settings. Whereas the exotic vegetation of the tropical persuasion would quickly and understandably die in extreme cold and vice versa, God expects and provides for our eventual thriving regardless of our surroundings. This is both encouraging and sobering at the same time!

God has planted me, uprooted me, and replanted me more times than I would have chosen for myself. Often times it was when I was comfortable or had eventually eased into my surroundings after a season of adjustment and necessary transition. My first major transition occurred at the tender age of seven when I had watched my mom fight and acquiesce to her lengthy battle with cancer. Then there was getting married, adjusting to being a police officer, and then stepping down from that career at age thirty  in obedience to the Lord to raise four children whom I met on that job and subsequently adopted. More recently it has been transitioning from homemaking, child-rearing, and part-time Christian service here to full-time Christian service at this vital ministry. In each setting and with each transition, God has had a good and abiding work that He has wanted to do both in and through me.

God wants His children to be figurative “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3) wherever we’re planted because “by His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3, NLT). So what is your setting and climate, dear sister? Is it fiery hot, barren and dry; balmy, warm, and lulling; frigid, biting, and unfeeling; or moderately balanced and invigorating? Is it obscure or conspicuous? Wherever you do find yourself, know that the divine Gardener has a good purpose in mind not just for you in your current setting, but for those around you; so sprout, don’t pout for the Gardener’s glory!

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.