Power. Wealth. Prestige. Good looks. Education. Possessions. These are all ways in which the world defines success. However, success from God’s perspective is diametrically opposed to this world’s definition of it. Those who are successful in God’s eyes may be blessed with some of the aforementioned, but success God’s way is based on how submitted to and dependent one is on the Lord.

And more than that, God does not even call His children to be successful as that is relegated to God’s domain of responsibility (1 Corinthians 3:6; Proverbs 16:3). He calls us to be faithful to Him, His Word, and His leading in our lives and to leave the subsequent results up to Him. The concept is simple; yet, personal application is not always so….at least that is often my experience.

Isaiah was a faithful prophet who consistently proclaimed God’s messages of confrontation to God’s people with very little success humanly speaking. Jeremiah was as well, yet experienced not only his message being rejected, but himself as well as he was spurned by family, rulers, acquaintances and so on. Yet God honored His faithful prophets and just as importantly – they honored Him! Faithful, yet seemingly unsuccessful, efforts have also been the experience of many faithful Christians throughout the annals of time into our current day.

So let’s focus on your little corner of the world. If you currently find yourself struggling in your desire to help others because success often seems evasive or transitory, let me encourage you! If you are surrendered to the Lord and allowing Him to live in and through you, then you ARE being “successful” in God’s eyes. Timing and results belong to Him; glorifying and honoring him through surrender, trust, and faithfulness belongs to us. Armed with and set free by the truth (John 8:32), let us be faithful to do our part as He will most assuredly do His!!

Melissa

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.

I shared yesterday about the difference between resisting and replacing wrong thinking.  It is another way of expressing the pattern we see borne out in Scripture, to put off the old nature and put on the new. The reminder is that this walk of faith is active not passive.

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth… Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him … Col 3:8-10 (i)

Perhaps we could compare “putting off” with resisting however the biblical pattern is always paired with a corresponding “put on.”  Resistance would not be sufficient for us to have consistent victory in our thought life. Just as putting off is only part of the picture, without the corresponding “put on” there would be no genuine change.

…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (ii)

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:12-17 (iii)

When we are tempted to wrong thinking, whatever form it takes, rather than just try to not think those thoughts (resistance) we need to replace those thought with truth. In other words, put off wrong thinking and put on truth.  Practice this consistently and you will see your mind renewed by the power of His Word.

What best describes your walk of faith today?  Passive or active?

I pray we can all answer ACTIVE.

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.

i Underlining mine
ii Underlining mine
iii Underlining mine

Recently a new friend shared this statement her father used to say to her:  “Don’t resist, replace.”
When we find ourselves on the runaway train of negative thinking, rather than trying to stop the freight train through white-knuckle resistance, replacing those thoughts with God’s truth would be most effective.  Don’t resist, replace.

When we find ourselves battling thoughts of anger, fear, anxiety, worry, bitterness, unkindness, etc., rather than resisting those thoughts, replacing those thoughts with God’s freeing truth would most effectively eradicate our negative and sinful thoughts.

This brings to mind a humorous vignette with Bob Newhart as a therapist and his client tells him of her fears to which he replies, “Stop it!”  Everything she shared would elicit the same response from Newhart, “Stop it!” It is a funny clip and we laugh because we know it’s not that simple. If it was that simple who would need a therapist?

Trying to reign in our thoughts by telling ourselves to “stop it!” is just about as effective.  It’s laughable.  Resistance alone doesn’t work long term. Not only is replacement more effective, it honors God and brings Him glory.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

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

When we replace our negative and sinful thoughts with what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous and praiseworthy – at least two things will happen.

1.    We will stop thinking the negative/sinful thoughts (we can’t think two things simultaneously).
2.    We will engage in the process of renewing our minds. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

So today when temptation comes to think wrong thoughts instead of resistance, replace them with truth. This will challenge us to insure we have a well-stocked arsenal of truth.

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.

As a Biblical Christian we were saved, redeemed, regenerated solely by the mercy, grace and kindness of God.  We are not saved because we prayed a prayer. We are not saved because we have been a good person. We are not saved because we go to church. We are not saved because of anything we do or have done.

Rebirth is solely a work of God through His Spirit in which He regenerates our dead spirit (which we are all born with) giving us new life.  Salvation is a work of God – 100% of Him.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We believe this by faith.  It is God’s saving work and God’s gift of faith to believe.  None of it is of us.  Even the faith to believe is given to us by God.  It’s a free gift.

So we understand we are saved by faith.  How then do we walk by faith?

I was once told that we need God’s grace just as much today to walk in obedience as we did the day we were saved.

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

Why can we trust God to save us by faith but not trust Him to live His life through us?
We walk out obedience by faith believing and trusting that Jesus lives His life through us.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Walking by faith today.
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.

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. Psalm 3:1-4

We live in a world that is full of hurting people, and the enemy would love to destroy our joy by bringing more and more hurt into this world.  Each day, I serve God by ministering to those that have deep hurt and wounds that have come to them at the hands of others and then ultimately from their own choices.  I am certainly not immune to hurt:  people disappoint, plans are thwarted, our lives are interacting with people that are just so mad and frustrated that their pains overflow onto each of us daily.

So, what are we to do?  Surely, there is a better answer besides just grinning and bearing it.  I mean really – that is not living the abundant life. Thankfully, the Bible gives us clear direction on how God wants us to respond to hurt, and the book of The Psalms is a great place to go for sound wisdom.   Many of the psalms were written during times of great hurt, fear and pain.  The enemy wants us to spend our lives focused on and defined by our hurts, BUT GOD… He wants us to FOCUS ON HIM in the midst of our hurts.

Psalm 54:1–7 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah  Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.  With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Psalm 56 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God! You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God I will praise His word, In the LORD I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Today, if you are hurting or facing a foe that seeks to overtake you – turn to God, put your focus on Him and not your enemy.  He will give you the strength you need to fight and stand against that which the enemy want to use to destroy you.

May Psalm 57:1 be your prayer today, Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Lynne Jahns

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.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.”

God is Spirit – simply meaning, God is without a physical body.  We are spirit but with a body.

God is Infinite, also refers to His greatness:
There is no limitation to God’s essence, His nature or His attributes.  God’s absolute perfection refers to His freedom from all limitation or defect in His characteristics.

The definition of INFINITE:  “extending indefinitely… immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive…subject to no limitation or external determination.”

There are no boundaries to God’s existence or any of His attributes.  God is infinite in all His attributes.

In other words,
God is infinite in His being. His being has no limits.
God is infinite in His wisdom. His wisdom has no limits.
God is infinite in His power. His power has no limit.
God is infinite in His holiness. His holiness has no limit.
God is infinite in His justice. His justice has no limit.
God is infinite in His goodness. His goodness has no limit.
God is infinite in His truth. His truth has no limit.

Psalm 145: 3, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.

Pause for a few moments and let your heart be filled with the beauty and awesomeness of our God.  He is greatly to be praised.

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.

1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infinite

God is unchanging, often referred to as the immutability of God.  According to William Shedd, “The immutability of God is the unchangeableness of His essence, attributes, purposes, and consciousness.”

God’s essence is unchanging.
God’s attributes are unchanging.
God’s purposes are unchanging.
God’s consciousness is unchanging.

J. I. Packer makes 6 points about God’s unchangeableness.
1.    God’s life does not change.
a.    Psalm 102:26-27, They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed.  But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.
2.    God’s Character does not change.
a.    James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
3.    God’s truth does not change.
a.    Psalm 119:89, Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
4.    God’s ways do not change.
5.    God’s purposes do not change.
a.    Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
6.    God’s Son does not change.
a.    Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Look at the chaos in the world.  Mass killings. Politics and politicians. Natural disasters. The economy. Legalization of immorality. Anti-God, anti-Christian sentiments. And the list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming, confusing and depressing BUT GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.

God is the One Consistent, Stabilizing Component in the chaos.  No matter how bad it gets, He does not and will not change.  His Word is true and will always be true.  His purposes will come to fruition, nothing and no one can thwart them.

In a time when the world scene changes on a daily basis, there is comfort in knowing that GOD NEVER CHANGES. Though the world can feel like shifting sand, we can rest on our solid Rock, OUR UNCHANGING FOUNDATION.

Thank You God for being YOU.
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.

I spend way too much time invested in pop culture.  Like… Way. Too. Much. Time. Taylor Swift did what? Adele is dating who? Jennifer Lawrence said that in her interview?! I could spend an hour watching Paparazzi videos on YouTube or going through my favorite celebrity’s Instagram. I know, I know… call me the cliché millennial.

Problem is, I also find myself getting really judgmental. I’ll say things like “These people are crazy” or “I can’t believe how immoral they are!” I think society does that a lot. If it’s not a musician or an actor, maybe it’s a politician? It’s so easy to discuss other people’s choices with a “how dare they” attitude, but is that our only response? When we see a headline of a celebrity getting arrested or releasing a raunchy music video, yet another anti-Trump or anti-Hillary ad, or headlines on the news of people across the country doing things we don’t necessarily agree with, is our first response criticism or prayer?

If we’re being honest, I think a lot of us respond first with criticism. We discuss the awful choices others make and express how disgusted we are. Now hear me out, it is absolutely okay to disagree with other people’s decisions, and it is a good thing to agree with God’s judgment. We can’t be tolerant of sin and we can’t brush it off to the side and pretend we didn’t see it. That’s not what God wants.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Psalm 94:16

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:11

Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

Yes, as God’s children it is our responsibility to speak out against sin. However, if our responses to people we disagree with are only coming from a place of “Thank God I’m not like that sinner” (like the Pharisee found in Luke 18:11), then we’re severely missing the mark. Unbelievers won’t respond to people who have a “how horrible are they” attitude towards them. They won’t respond to people who are so critical of their choices that they are lacking the characteristic of love. It is possible to disagree with someone and still maintain a loving attitude – “you don’t need to compromise convictions to be compassionate” – Rick Warren

Our most powerful tool is prayer, and we should utilize it. When we see sin – whether it be a celebrity or our neighbor – we should make it known that we do not approve. But don’t forget to pray for them.

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  Romans 10:1

As it says in Luke 19:10, the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. If we want to be effective witnesses to the lost for Christ, we need to demonstrate prayer for the lost as a priority.

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!

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting You are God. Psalm 90:1-2

Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers
and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23

We finally made it to the beach this summer! Dave loves the heat and the ocean water. I love to sit with my ankles in the water while reading a good book. I made good use of my beach time to begin a book written by Anne Graham Lotz called The Daniel Prayer. Before long I was over 100 pages in. But I had to stop and reflect on her words:

“What experiences have you had of God’s faithfulness? Have you been so focused on the tragedies or the troubles, the struggles or the setbacks, the poor health or the broken home, the divorce or the disease, that you have lost sight of God’s faithfulness to be right there with you, then bring you through? “

I had to admit and confess that I have been forgetting God’s faithfulness as of late. As I sat on the beach it brought to my remembrance the many times God has been faithful to me. Like the sand on the beach, the times I could recount God’s faithfulness were too many to count.

How quickly we forget. Has God been faithful to you? Remember and try to count. You will be blessed because God has been faithful!

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.

Join me, as we look into the face of God and allow the Holy Spirit to sweep our hearts further into love and devotion for God, our Redeemer

J.I. Packer says, “Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God.  It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.”

The attributes of God are those constant characteristics, qualities or perfections of God’s nature, being, or essence, which are revealed in the Scriptures and (to some extent and degree) in the created universe.

“God is self-existent – God exists from Himself, not from anything outside of Himself.  He has the ground of existence in Himself.  God alone is existence, all created things derive their existence from Him and depend for their existence on Him.  God must exist.  God’s self-existence is grounded in His nature.  The necessity of His existence is not a necessity imposed upon Him from above Him, or a necessity demanded of Him from something beneath Him, but a necessity grounded in the very perfection of His natures.  In view of God’s self-existence, He may be seen to be the ground, the source, the point of reference, and the only correct interpreter of being, of life, of truth, of values, of justice, of power and of love.” [Most likely also from J.I. Packer]

Rev 4:11, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.

Sisters, let’s take seriously our pursuit of the One True God, that we may know the God of the Bible.

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.