For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I came to work recently and my husband asked me if I had noticed the lake when I came in. After some heavy rain the lake was dark brown. I always come in the main entrance and pass the lake but I had not noticed it at all. I get so used to seeing things that I really don’t see them at all.
So it is when I read the Word. I have seen these verses so many times that it is easy to not see them at all. I noticed recently that, as I was reading a book, I was skimming over the scripture references. I knew these verses and opted to not even look at them for fresh insight. I hate admitting that but it’s true. There are many times it is easier to trust what we have always seen and not bother to look again. It is easy to forget how alive the Word really is. I need to be reminded that there is always something new to learn, there is always a greater understanding to discover, a deeper insight that will grow my faith.

Today take a fresh look at what is right in front of you. It could be the Word of God, His creation or benefits. Perhaps it is the darkness of sin we often see in our hearts that we get so used to that we just don’t see it anymore.  What do you need to really see today?

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.

Psalm 25:2 O my God, in you I trust…

Can I say that statement with confidence and without reserve or hesitation?  O my God, in You I trust.

Are there times I trust more in my bank balance?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my family?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my own abilities?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my job, position, status?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my own understanding and knowledge?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my full pantry and refrigerator?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my friends?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my plans?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my doctor?  O my God, in You I trust.
Are there times I trust more in my feelings?  O my God, in You I trust.

A simple thought. Seven simple yet powerful words.

Let’s pursue living in the absolute truth of this statement: O my God, in You I trust.

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.

Over the past 3 months, it seems like all I can think about is the future. Besides marriage, one of the primary topics about the future I’ve been thinking about is my future children. I told God that I made a decision – I decided that I was going to have the perfect kids. They will read their Bibles every day, and get excited about going to church on Sunday mornings, and there won’t be a hassle to get ready. Their Sunday School teachers will fawn over how cute and polite they are, they will never forget to say please or thank you, and they will never ever throw a tantrum or argue with each other. They will not center their lives around their smartphones, and when they get older, they will be excited about volunteering at church and helping out around the house… of course, not much help will be necessary, because they will keep my house spotless.

Of course I’m joking… but in all seriousness, I think a lot about the kind of mother I will be to my future children. I think about how I will react when one of my kids hits their brother or sister, or when they color on the walls, or when they’re 13 and they think I’m super embarrassing (not that that would ever happen, right?) What if my best friend Rachel comes to visit and they’d rather hang out with their aunt instead of me?!

Of course these things will happen; it’s a part of life. But I think about how I will react. I want to be a great example of Christ-likeness. Children learn by observing – I want my kids to see me praying when they hurt me, and then I want to pray with them, so they learn that God is a God of comfort and restoration. I want them to see that despite every day commotion, I prioritize my time with God, so they learn that nothing comes before Him. Christ is such an abstract concept to kids – they can’t hear Him audibly or see Him. As a member of the body of Christ, when I teach my kids about Him, I also have to demonstrate what it means to live for Him and like Him. I look forward to doing that.

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

Isn’t it so funny how the way we teach children is in direct relation to how we share Jesus with non-believers? The idea of God is also such an abstract concept to those who don’t believe. Like we want to train up children in the way of Christ, we also want to disciple others in the way of the Lord. Prioritization of servanthood, prayer, and daily reading is essential for our own personal walk, and is also crucial to being an example to unbelievers. Kids will either grow up viewing their parents as genuine followers of Christ, or people who go to church on Sundays out of obligation. Likewise, believers can either appear to be genuine Christians or hypocrites. As believers, we want to exude Christ so that everybody wants what we have. We want our children to crave Christ, and we do so by living for Him. It is the same way with unbelievers. A new church plant in Toms River has the mission statement “Wellspring Church exists to ignite a craving for Christ by relentlessly loving our community.” As parents relentlessly love their children, Christians also want to relentlessly love others.

Actions speak louder than words – Children won’t always remember what we say, they will remember what we do. The same is true with unbelievers. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-20). While we’re not perfect, God is, and if we strive every day to be like Him, people will notice.

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!

My sister’s church is small in size but packed with people so although the pastor or worship leader is not far from the congregation there are 3 large screens projecting their images.

One Sunday when I was there visiting, I was only in the 4th or 5th row so I wasn’t far from the front and I could easily see the pastor on the platform, but over and over again I found myself drawn to the larger-than-life image on the screen. I was struck by this simple analogy:

I thought to myself…that is how Satan works.  He presents a lookalike.  Sometimes it is difficult to discern the real from the lookalike.  It can seem larger than life so our attention can be drawn away from what is real, what is genuine—that is…God.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

We need to be ever so diligent to keep redirecting our attention back to the One True God. We don’t want to settle for anything other than He who is Genuine.

So often God’s love notes come in simple situations when He whispers an analogy to our hearts. Are you ready to receive it?

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.

This morning I was reading in the book of Ephesians as I glean thoughts about our inheritance.  I remembered a quote from Beth Moore’s book, “Praying God’s Word”  on page 4 she said, “Nothing is bigger or more powerful than God! Nothing.”

As I read in Ephesians this morning I was encouraged to be reminded that the power of God that He uses in our situations is resurrection power!  The power God applies in your life today, to help you get out of bed, to go to work, to pay bills, to deal with the kids, to prepare meals, drive the kids all over, orchestrate, coordinate and manage your family and home, is the same power that He used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead.  Resurrection power.  Don’t wonder how He will do it, just take Him at His word that He will do it.

“..his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead…” Eph. 1:10

This is a faith-building experience.  It’s a little like weight lifting: straining against the weight, painful at the time but well worth the effort with stronger muscles.  Faith grows through vulnerable situations where we cannot see where we are going and we choose to trust God in the midst of it. The more we do it, the stronger our faith grows.

Resurrection power.  You don’t need more than that to get through your day.

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.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. … 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Eph. 6:10-18

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

My FaceBook page was hacked and I had this weird feeling. I felt somewhat violated. I have never been robbed. I can’t imagine the feeling I would have if I came home and found someone had gone through my drawers and closets and helped themselves to my belongings. It must be so much worse to be “hacked” in this way.

Every day you and I are getting hacked. The enemy is constantly hacking into our thoughts, often without us even realizing an intruder has entered in. We are being robbed and we don’t realize that things are no longer there that had been there before.  All of a sudden we find peace, contentment, discipline, forgiveness and so many other valuables are gone.  Someone has come in and taken those precious belongings from you.

After being hacked I was advised to report the hack to FaceBook, change my password, scan my computer, and add trusted contacts as added security. I would like to advise you, if you have been hacked, report it to the Lord, change your security settings, search for other weak areas and fortify them with the Word, and if needed, enlist some trusted friends to help you prevent further attacks.

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.

Having a tough day?  Facing a difficult decision?  Uncertain of your next move? Just get bad news?

Friends will often say, “I’m praying for you.” It is always comforting to know others are taking our need before the Throne of Grace.  Over and over in Scripture God instructs us to pray.

Today as I was encouraging a loved one…. I, too, was reminded:

Jesus is praying for you today.

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

The Holy Spirit intercedes for you.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Not only are your family and friends praying for your need; Jesus is praying for you today.  How awesome is that?

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 now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you (Job 12:7-8, NJKV).

Has God ever used an animal to convict you? This has been my experience far more often than I would care to admit. We know that He did that with Balaam and his donkey, and that’s pretty ironic considering that God used a notoriously stubborn animal to effectively and poignantly deliver his message to an even more stubborn sorcerer.

Recently while reposing in my sun-drenched leather chair while communing with my Lord, my kitty nestled contentedly in my lap to enjoy my presence. Once settled, she began basking in it. Her body increasingly relaxed as her rhythmic purring grew louder. She started to twitch as she drifted into sleep: There was no place she would rather be! Enjoying the companionship and God’s gift to me, my thoughts drifted to……myself.

I sat prayerfully contemplating whether or not I actively and intentionally savor my Lord’s presence to the same frequency and degree that my kitty basks in mine. After an honest probing I realized there are indeed many mornings and times throughout the day in which I do; yet, there are most definitely occasions in which I allow the beckoning tasks or daunting pressures of the day to impede, interrupt, or shorten my devotional time. I always regret it when I do.

This leads me to wonder about you. Are you open to the Lord’s lessons for you via His wondrous creation? Maybe it will be or has been delivered by an industrious ant, a praying mantis (that was my lesson last week!), a joyful song-bird, a faithful canine, a persistent spider, a content kitty, or an ingenious squirrel. Or maybe your instructor will be something more inanimate like a mighty oak that weathers storms, a celestial object that dutifully stays its ordained course, or a responsive sea that is sensitive to its environment cues. If you haven’t been experiencing God’s nature lessons, I encourage you to be on the lookout for these instructive critters and enlightening objects. And if you profit from these faithful “prophets”- I’d love to hear about it!

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.

By the grace of God I have been involved in the ministry of prayer for a long time.  I have come a long way from where I began and yet I know I still have much to learn.  When I first started earnestly seeking to pray effective prayers of a righteous man that would accomplish much, (James 5:16c) Holy Spirit, the Word of God and some very special mentors became my teachers.
Notice that the verse did not indicate that eloquent or long prayers would accomplish much.  It said, effective prayers of a righteous man would accomplish much.

Well, to become righteous is something that seemed impossible, after all doesn’t the Word says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?  (Romans 3:23) Yet His Word clearly indicates for prayers to be effective I have to be “righteous”.   I learned that my righteousness comes only by Christ in me.  My righteousness would come because of the blood of the Lamb of God.  He is my righteousness.   So when we pray let us put on the righteousness of Christ.  (See Is. 61:10; Philippians 3:8-9)

Then God gave me an interesting picture.  I pictured a well, with a bucket resting on the side waiting for me to let it down for filling.  As I let it down up came what looked like liquid gold.  I could take it all in, but alas, once that was consumed there was more waiting for me.  I just had to once again let down the bucket and allow the Lord to fill me up.  To walk into the fullness of this verse in James means drinking from a well that will never run dry.  It has been an amazing journey drinking from the well of His Word and a very special and personal relationship with our God.

We are living in challenging times.  But, dear ones, I assure you, when God does great things He uses His people and He responds to their prayers.  We can partner where God is longing to do a work.  When we humble ourselves and submit to the Lordship of Jesus a doorway of opportunity opens to us.  Then with the help of the one Jesus sent to be our helper, Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, we can pray powerful prayers that will accomplish much.  We are a covenant people.  We are in a covenant relationship with our God who is our Creator, our Savior, our Comforter, our Provider, our Healer, our Friend, and our Lord.  Staked to Him we will accomplish much.  With God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

May our prayer lives go to a new level and by His grace may we see our prayers accomplish much for His glory and the good of those we love.  May His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth, right where we live, as it is in heaven.

Be richly blessed in Jesus precious name,

Patricia L. Wenzel
Women of Character Graduate

I have had many opportunities to speak at women’s events and I have some favorite topics. One of my top subjects is forgiveness. I often work in a session on forgiveness somehow during the course of a retreat weekend.  Why?  Because in my speaking, teaching and counseling experience I have met a lot of people whose basic problem is unforgiveness.  It may not be the issue they come to speak to me about but after peeling off numerous layers it often comes down to unforgiveness.

Unforgiveness is a form of bondage in itself.

There are different aspects to forgiveness that can hinder a person from forgiving another.  I know many people have been horribly sinned against. I am in no way minimizing that.  I want to offer a nugget today that may help you along your way to forgiveness and freedom.

In a recent on-line counseling class the teacher – Pastor Tim Pasma—shared about the false idea that forgiveness is forgetting.  Many believe that true forgiveness requires forgetting the offense and since in many cases that seems impossible they believe they cannot forgive. When you forgive the offender from your heart it is you that will be set free.

The Lord is our model of forgiveness. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

How has God in Christ forgiven us?

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 He remembers our sins no more.

Pastor Pasma asked, “Is not remembering and forgetting the same thing?”

Can God forget anything?  NO.  So God does not forget our sin, He promises not to remember our sin.

I found this distinction helpful.

Forgetting is passive.  It happens. You don’t have to do anything to forget. Forgiveness does not require forgetting. The cliché forgive and forget is not Biblical.

However, “not remembering” is active, intentional, and requires choice.

Forgiveness includes a promise not to bring the offense up again with the offender; with others (gossip), or with myself (rehearsing, brooding). This requires intentionally refusing to dwell on the offense.

In closing, let me just add this thought.  Forgiveness is a faith-building experience.  We don’t wait until we feel like forgiving. No, God commands we forgive so often we don’t “feel” forgiving when we chose to forgive.  Forgiveness typically requires us to trust God and to step out in faith.

“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”  And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Luke 17:4-5

Freedom is waiting.  Chose today to forgive and to not remember the offense.

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.