Regenerated, born-again, saved, redeemed — no matter what we call ourselves as Christians God did a work in our hearts, wooing us to Himself. By His Spirit He gave life to our dead spirits, HIS life.

…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever… 1 Peter 1:23

We are born again of incorruptible seed not corruptible.

Incorruptible: incapable of corruption: not subject to decay or dissolution:  incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted

We have been given new life, eternal life, His life – and it is incorruptible – incapable of corruption, decay or dissolution.

Is our salvation secure in Christ?  That’s a resounding YES!

If our salvation depended on us, then we would never have been saved.  One sin would have negated that – For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10  We are ALL sinners for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23). We didn’t earn it.  It was a gift. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

We didn’t earn it and we can’t keep it.  Only God, through His mercy and grace, secures our salvation incorruptible sealed by His Spirit. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… Ephesians 1:13

Secure IN HIM.  That’s what we are if we are His child, adopted, chosen, redeemed and loved.

Yes, loved. Amen.

Blessings, Diane

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.

     But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8

en I was a new believer 33 years ago, I remember the excitement and enthusiasm I had to study the Bible and learn and grow.  I joined a women’s Bible study in the book Hebreof ws.  I could not get enough of it.  I went through the study book in a few months when the class was working through it over eight months. The Bible study teacher mentioned to me that the other women were complaining it was too hard of a book to study.  What did I know? I was new at this.

We have all seen people long in the faith that appear to have shifted into neutral and seem to be coasting in their walk with Christ. And now I have been a Christian more than a few years.  The easy thing to do is to coast along.  The very thing Peter warns us against.

For if these things are yours and abound…  Not just if these things are yours… But “and abound” — ESV says: For if these qualities are yours and are increasing…

So here’s a quiz that will give us a quick status check:
Is my faith abounding?
Is my virtue increasing?
Am I growing in knowledge?
Am I increasing in self-control?
Is my perseverance increasing?
Am I’m growing in godliness?
Is my brotherly kindness abounding?
How did you do?
Are you feeling barren and unfruitful?

Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions.  Are you bold enough to ask someone close to you if they see you abounding in these qualities?

Let’s not limp across the finish line; let’s be so laden with fruit that we collapse fully spent, every last speck of energy used up to the glory of His name.

Blessings Diane

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.

Friends are great. I happen to believe that I have the very best ones in the entire world. I often find myself just thanking God for those He has placed in my life. I just love the people I’m surrounded by!

It wasn’t always that way though. When I was in High School, I knew that most of the people I was hanging out with were not the best influences… and I personally wasn’t doing much to try and influence them. I would surround myself with people who weren’t helping me grow in my Christian walk, but instead were encouraging me to sin.  While I didn’t take part in what I was thought was wrong; I did begin to have a “what’s the big deal?” mentality. Instead of being a light in the darkness, I was allowing myself to be more shaped BY the world.

How do you feel about the people you spend time with? Are you surrounding yourselves with people who will build you up in the faith, or people who are tearing you down? Our closest friends will either bring wisdom and encouragement, or they will lead you to sin.

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. – Proverbs 12:26

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. – Proverbs 13:20

A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. Proverbs 16:29

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. – Psalm 1:1

Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead, or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself. Proverbs 22:24-25

A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. Proverbs 16:29

Now here’s what I’m not saying: I’m not saying to completely block non-Christians out of our lives. I’m a strong believer that forming relationships with unbelievers is incredibly important. Sharing the gospel with anyone – stranger or friend – is powerful and will spark reaction. However, I think, in a majority of cases, it means more to an unbeliever to hear the gospel from someone who has been intentionally loving on them, rather than hearing the gospel from a complete stranger. While we need to exude Christ’s love to everyone, we also need to be sure that our closest friends – the friends we are influenced by – are, in fact, godly influences.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. – Proverbs 27:17

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24

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!

We know God is at work all around us. He is working in us and He is working through us.  And He is working despite us.  AMEN?

As a young mom, one of my regular prayers was that my children would grow up to follow Jesus despite me. I made a lot of mistakes and sometimes they were not mistakes they were just plain sin.

I have heard from two different moms, just this week – I feel like such a failure as a mom. I had those thoughts more than once.  I remember thinking that I was a horrible mom as I watched another mother “discipline” (not spank) her son and I saw myself in her actions.  It broke my heart and my kids were already adults! I was compelled to ask their forgiveness for my flesh-guided parenting. Yet, God saw fit to adopt them into His family despite me.

Maybe an evangelistic example hits closer to home.  Do you ever feel like you blow it when you are trying to share the Gospel with someone? Not knowing the right thing to say?  Missing an opportunity?  And yet, God still has mercy on their soul and saves them despite your foibles.

God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect plan.

God is at work IN us, THROUGH us and DESPITE us.

I am so thankful for that.

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.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgement; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials… 2 Peter 2:4-9

Sometimes I think Peter and Paul didn’t take grammar or composition in school. Their sentences can run on for an entire paragraph and because of that I can get lost easily and lose track of the point they are trying to make.  That was the case recently when I was reading 2 Peter 2.  When I slowed down (see it’s not all their writing) and started to take apart this sentence I realized it is a very lengthy compound IF…THEN statement. You remember those right?

Please take a moment and reread 2 Peter 2:4-9 and look specifically for the IF’s (there are 4 of them in the ESV).

IF God did not spare angels when they sinned…
IF He did not spare the ancient world…when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly…
IF by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes He condemned them to extinction…
IF He rescued Lot…
THEN the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials…

Are you in the midst of a trial that has led you to have tunnel vision?  Have you lost your God-perspective because all you can see is your pain? Has your trial tested your faith and seems to be winning? Remember God’s work through history in the lives of His people.

Be encouraged. God knows how to rescue you from your trial.  If God did A and B and C and D – then He can deliver you too. It takes faith to believe it is possible.

Herein lies the HOPE of the Gospel.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

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.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 NKJV

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

At a recent event I heard a testimony of a young woman who came out of her addiction. Many times throughout her testimony she gave reference to the “god of her understanding”. Doesn’t that make your heart sink? On the other hand, doesn’t that make you grateful that you can know and understand our Lord Jesus Christ?

Although we will not know Him fully here nor will we understand His ways totally, through His Word we can know Him personally! Why create a god of your own understanding when God is accessible to us? Yet, the world continues to reject God and the simple Gospel truth. Nothing is new. Gods are still created out of wood and the imaginations of people.  Darkness is preferred over the light.

Hope does not come from something we conjure up in our minds. Hope comes from the only living God. We cannot overcome by our will but through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hope is the One who loves us and knows us and desires to be known.

By continuing in the reading and study of God’s Word you and I will know Him. Knowing Him will keep us from creating Him into our own image.  Keep digging deeper into His Word!

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves as Director of Partner Care. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 30 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and teaches a Bible Study for women. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

Out for your morning run? Sweat dripping from your brow? Good heart-pounding aerobic exercise? Isn’t that why we exercise?  To strengthen our bodies and keep them healthy. Why? So they last us a good long time.

When was the last time you did a good military-style push up? It had been more than a few years since I attempted one.  So recently I thought I’d give it a try.  Plank. Down and P….U….S……H……! NOPE. Zero. Nada. Not even ONE!  There was a time I could do 30! But lack of practice diminished my strength and therefore I was no longer able to do what I used to be able to do.

Spiritual training is similar.  What we practice grows stronger and what we neglect grows weaker. One of the definitions of “train” is “to form by instruction, discipline, or drill.” (Merriam Webster online) It is not passive.

Paul tells Timothy to train himself for godliness (1 Tim 4:7); The Psalmist says The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those that practice it have a good understanding (Ps. 111:10).  In 1 John we read… ...whoever practices righteousness, is righteous as he is righteous… (1 John 3:7). The author of Hebrews writes, But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). Paul points out that All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for …training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

To practice or to train ourselves is active and intentional. It is something we do, not something that is done to us. Just like with weight training, to practice godliness, righteousness, and obedience may meet with resistance.  It is overcoming that resistance that strengthens us in godly living.

So are you up for the challenge?

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.

Have you ever been at a point in your life where you just feel like you’ve just failed God? Maybe you’re at that point now. Maybe you think your sin is just too great and you’re unworthy of forgiveness because this time you’ve really messed up.

There are so many people who have believed the lie that they’ve sinned so badly that they cannot possibly experience God’s mercy. Truth is, none of us – not one – is worthy or deserving of forgiveness. But God is in the business of redemption.

If you look at some of the most well-known biblical figures, you will see that many of them have fallen deeply into sin, but then were redeemed by God. Look at David, for example: A man after God’s own heart that fell so deeply into sin that he resorted to actions like adultery and murder.  However, he realized his wrongdoing was not in line withGod’s law and he repented and asked for forgiveness.

When we sin, we’re just one step away from grace. God knows that we will fail because of our constant battle with the flesh… but His will is not for you to live in bondage to your sin, but to experience the freedom that is found in Christ Jesus. If you feel like you’ve let God down, remember that we’re not holding Him up. The LORD knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen… He knows our shortcomings, and loves us regardless. The book of Romans has a lot to say about this very topic.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:1-2

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? – Romans 6:3

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. – Romans 6:14

Do you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:11

If we believe that our sin is too great for forgiveness, then we are ultimately saying that His death on the cross was not sufficient. That’s not true. The LORD is faithful and just to forgive us.

Check out this great song by Matthew West called “Mended.” It’s about how when we see ourselves as failures, broken, or wounded, God sees us as His children who He loves and can heal and make something beautiful of.

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!

“If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18

For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.” Isaiah 66:12

This week I was thinking about a great hymn of the church, one that was born out of deep tragedy and pain.  I’m sure many of you will instantly know it by its title: “It is Well With My Soul”.

It is the first verse is that got me thinking.

When peace like a river attended my way….When sorrow like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say… It is well with my Soul.

Peace like a river? Peace is not the typical word I would use for a river. Think about: it rivers rage, roar, run, and overflow. Most rivers I have canoed were challenging and rarely allowed me to rest. So, peace is not a word that I would typically use to describe a river.  But, it is exactly the type of peace that we need to have and to allow to carry us on our journey through life.

So, how is God’s Peace like a River?

First and foremost: Every river has a source – a beginning point– God is the source of all peace.  The word peace is found about 430 times in the Bible.  Shalom (Peace) is Hebrew and speaks of safety, well-being, happiness, and favor.  The Greek word for peace means to be at rest, quietness and prosperity.  God is the source of that kind of PEACE.

A river is also in constant movement.  Its level may rise and fall but is always flowing.  Like a river God’s peace is constant, continuous and flowing – it never ceases to flow – no matter the circumstances.

At the same time, every river continues to receive a fresh supply of water from feeder streams to sustain it.   God’s peace is delivered to us through the Holy Spirit on a continual and daily basis.
A river typically grows in size as it moves from its headwaters.  As we mature in our relationship with the Lord, it will take greater and greater things/circumstances to disturb our peace.    “God will keep him in perfect peace (Shalom Shalom) , all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him.”   Isaiah 26:3

Philippians 4:6 promises us that the God of Perfect Peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ.

Psalm 46 describes a scene filled with chaos, which we know life can often be, but in verse 4 we are told of a river that makes glad the city of God.  A river of peace flowing from God is available to us as we walk through the hardships and struggles of life.

Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.  Job 22:2

John 14:27 tells us that Christ left us a gift. A gift of peace of mind and heart, and the peace He gives is a gift the world cannot give. So we do not have to live troubled or afraid.

That is our challenge – to continue to seek God, to look only to Him as our source of peace, not the world or the things of the world.  What a great picture of God’s peace – A peace that flows through us like a mighty river.

Shalom
Lynne

Lynne Jahns is a Christian counselor and holds the honor of being the first Director of Barbara’s Place at America’s Keswick, a residential addiction recovery ministry for women. Lynne is married to Bill Jahns, who also serves on staff at America’s Keswick as the Director of Housekeeping.  When not working and studying, Lynne loves to be outdoors and to travel.  Family is very important to both Lynne and Bill and a lot of free time is spent with relatives and close family friends. Lynne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences from Cedarville University in Ohio, a Master of Arts degree from The College of New Jersey in Community Counseling, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Louisiana Baptist University.

Let us first consider the following scripture:
Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:10-15 (NKJV)  And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day. Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

Genesis 1:17-22 (NKJV)   God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.  Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

Psalm 24:1-2 (NKJV) The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

This summer I have had the blessing of spending most of the month of August down at the Jersey shore.  On cool mornings I enjoy taking a long walk along the bay, stopping for an ice coffee and often ending up sitting on the beach at the ocean.  The beauty of creation is everywhere.  The breeze, the flowers, the sky, the birds and the water all point to an amazingly creative Creator.  In the evening I love to sit by the bay and watch the sunset.  No artist could capture the color and the splendor of His palette or the resulting picture in the sky.

In the busyness of “regular” life let us take time to see the beauty of His creation and praise the Lord of all creation.  Blessed be His name.

Want to start your day from a great place??  Listen to “God of Wonders” by Third Day and Praise Him with all of your heart.  Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly8LmcQq2Gw.

Blessings,
Patricia L. Wenzel
Graduate, Women of Character