As Christ-followers, we value the Word of God as Truth – at least intellectually.  Why do I say that? Because our actions speak louder than our words.  We say we believe the Bible is God’s Word but does our life give evidence of that?  Are we spending consistent time reading it? Meditating on it? Memorizing it? Obeying it?

God’s Word is truth. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

Jesus is the Living Word.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… John 1:14

Jesus is Truth. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

Biblical truth is the foundation of our walk with Christ, our decisions, our obedience, our faith, our victory, our very life.

We can rest in the Truth, stand on Truth, walk in Truth, speak Truth to our hearts and proclaim Truth. Today I want to whet your appetite for thinking more deeply about each of these facets of Truth.

REST IN THE TRUTH
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…(Ps 37:7); In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19); This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. (Psalm 119:50); 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)

STAND ON TRUTH
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (Ephesians 6:11); 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:13-15)

WALK IN TRUTH
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15); The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160); For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. (3 John 1:3);

SPEAK TRUTH TO OUR HEARTS
LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart (Psalm 15:1-2); And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32); …let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1-4)

PROCLAIM TRUTH
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth (Proverbs 8:6-7); Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul. (Psalm 66:16); O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. (Ps 71:17); “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD… Isaiah 43:10

There are many facets to Truth.  Take a few minutes to meditate on the impact it can have on our lives.  It will change us.

Blessings, Diane

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.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:19-20

It can be difficult at times to stay focused when reading the Word.  But we need to remember the Word has a healing effect.  When you think about it, you can’t think simultaneous thoughts (although it can feel like it).  The more you bathe your brain, your mind, with truth the more it will push out error and the whispers of the enemy and your flesh.

God’s Word has POWER.  It has POWER TO HEAL.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Gen 1:3
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:6-7
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:9
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:11
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:14
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:24
Then God said, …and it was so. Gen 1:29-30

…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV; NIV says All Scripture is God-breathed…

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

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

God’s Word has POWER.  It has POWER TO HEAL.  Run to it as the very best, most effective and powerful medication.  Take it in daily by heart.

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.

Kohl’s Cash, City Cash, Macy’s Money, Starbuck’s Stars. These are a few of the reward programs I know of. The idea of getting something for free and having to spend more to get these rewards works! Have you ever spent $9 to get the $10 reward?

In Good or God by John Bevere he notes that, “Jesus never used the blessings, perks, rewards, or benefits of the kingdom to entice people to follow Him. When he called Peter, James, John, and others, it was simply, ‘Follow Me.’”

I don’t want to go in depth on what motivates us to seek rewards that await us in heaven or what we will do with them. I simply want to speak to the fact that we seek after earthly rewards easily but don’t consider the benefit of rewards that we will have to wait for. We will go the extra mile to get “extra cash” but do we seek an eternal prize with the same gusto? The rewards we seek after here on earth — are we willing to do the same for an eternal reward? I know the thoughts on heavenly rewards are plentiful but my guess is we give little thought to them.

So, what’s in your wallet of rewards? Will they be collected and redeemed here or will you and I be able to look forward to heavenly rewards? Just follow Him in obedience and you will see your reward.

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.

What is it about darkness?

Have you ever been in a place where it is so dark you literally can see nothing? You could not see your hand in front of your face. All of your visual cues are gone.  It can be unsettling.

If you had no idea where walls, drop offs, crevasses and low hanging rocks were – you would have a difficult time navigating through the darkness without mishap. You may even become immobilized.

For some the darkness is not a cavern but emotional and/or spiritual depression. The experience is very similar to the physical darkness in that it seems all visual cues are gone. Focus is gone. Concentration seems impossible. Nothing seems to bring enjoyment.  The technicolor world has become gray.  Everything is experienced through the lens of sadness and feelings of hopelessness.

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains…Psalm 107:10; O my God, my soul is cast down within me… Psalm 42:6; Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Psalm 42:5; Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall.  My soul still remembers And sinks within me. Lamentations 3:19-20

If you find yourself in a dark place today I want to offer some encouragement.  I know the way into depression is typically a slow, gradual decline and the way out of depression is a slow, gradual incline, so please do not mistake my intentions. I am not implying that with this brief Victory Call you will be or should be “fixed.” I am in no way trying to simplify this painful and difficult time of suffering in your life.

With that disclaimer let me say, there is hope for a brighter future.  “There is not a single darkness in your life that God cannot bring His light upon.”(Beth Moore) Our hope, no matter where we are today, our hope is Jesus.

I have come as a light into the world… John 12:46; “I am the light of the world…” John 8:12; In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24; Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:22; Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:11; For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28; He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. Psalm 107:14; For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6; 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

My purpose in sharing these verses is NOT to say – just get over it.  It’s to say: THERE IS HOPE.  There is light for your darkness. His name is JESUS.

Blessings,
Diane

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.

When the Israelites left Egypt, they left laden with Egyptian plunder; eager, anxious and excited.
Soon – the Egyptian army was hot in pursuit and the frightening circumstances turned their joy to…

Worry and fear.

As they looked ahead they saw their way blocked by the Red sea.

As they looked behind they saw the dust of the Egyptian chariots fast approaching.

No way out. Trapped.  No good choice.

Ever been there? Ever felt like that?  Trapped with no good choices?

Worry and fear can claw at our faith, our peace and our resolve.

We stand between two difficult places and all we can see is a raging army and a stormy sea.

Fear can immobilize us. We don’t retreat and we don’t move ahead.  We freeze.

Notice that God did not open the Red Sea until Israel arrived. They moved forward unsure of where they would go. As Moses exercised faith and obeyed, it was then that God opened the sea before them.

Worry is focused on the future. We cast our vision to some point of time in the future and imagine what will happen.  I wasn’t there, but I can guess that as the Israelites thought about the Red Sea looming before them, it didn’t enter their mind that God would part the sea for them to walk through on dry ground.  They could not cross that sea until they came to it.  God’s power, God’s solution and God’s grace were there in the moment they needed it.

Likewise, whatever you face today or think you will face tomorrow or next week or next month, you cannot begin to imagine what God will do on your behalf when you actually get there.  BUT you can KNOW for certain HE WILL BE THERE and His power, His solution, and His grace will be there in the moment you need it.

Next time you find yourself worrying about the future, remind yourself that God is in your future, too. His purposes will be accomplished in your future. His grace will sustain you in your future. Have you not experienced that over and over and over again?

Don’t picture your future without God in that picture.

Blessings, Diane

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.

Be confident of this:  “… He has heard the voice of my supplication.” Psalm 28:6

I might be old school here but when I call and leave a message; I expect a call in return. When I text someone; I expect to hear back. I like getting an email in response to a request. Nothing long or fancy, I just like getting a reply. It tells me that my message was received in the first place. Technology has a special place where lost messages go and I am sure that the socks we are missing can be found there, too. When I get a reply I know my message has gotten to where it was intended to go.

In Psalm 28:6 it is clearly said that God hears our prayers. No message has gone missing. Because the answer doesn’t show up quickly doesn’t mean He has lost your request. He has not decided to get to your request in the order in which they have been received. He hears. He knows. He has the answer. It’s always when He gets quieter and slower than we like that we begin to doubt we’ve been heard in the first place. In times like these we have to get to the basics. By faith we know our prayers are heard because the Bible tells us so.

Today you and I need assurance, peace and confidence to know our voices lifted up in prayer have been heard. You and I need to trust that His answer is on the way.

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.

As I am sure you are aware, if you go near America’s Keswick this summer you will be challenged to Face the Future with Confidence.  As I considered why I can face the future with confidence an old hymn came to mind and I found a recording on good old You-tube.

Please read and prayerfully consider the lyrics to this great hymn, “Because He Lives:

“God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He bled and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because He lives

How sweet to hold
A newborn baby
And feel the pride
And joy he gives
But better still
The calm assurance
That child can face uncertain days because He lives

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because He lives

And then one day
I’ll cross the river
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because he lives.”

Can you and I face the future with confidence?  We sure can…….with unspeakable joy because HE LIVES!!

Blessings,
Patricia Wenzel
Woman of Character Graduate

Copyright 1971 by William J. Gaither. All rights reserved. CCLI#1301252

God has such a sense of humor.  A few weeks ago, I wrote a Victory Call called “Mid-course correction” which ran 6/27/16.

In it I used the following fabricated example: “As you are rushing out of Kohl’s where you picked up a present, there on the bench outside is a woman sobbing.  She’s alone and obviously terribly upset.  You glance at your watch – you have to get to the grocery store before picking up the kids from school.  You glance around and see no one taking notice of this poor woman. What do you do?  What would you say?  You know God is prompting you to extend His care for this woman.

The point of the Victory Call was this: “It’s good to have a plan but when God intervenes in your plan – it’s time for a mid-course correction because God has a different plan. God has a better plan. God has a plan to make His name famous today as you care and show His love for this woman. Caring for others always trumps our plans.”

Fast-forward a few weeks.  My husband and I were at the store while I looked for a suit for job interviews (a step a faith). I had $5 in my wallet to buy chicken on the way home for chicken pot pie.  I had calculated in my head that I could afford 2 pounds of chicken with my $5.

As we leave the store, there sitting on the curb off to one side of the store sat a woman that I didn’t even notice until she called out, “Excuse me ma’am, do you have $1 for a bus ticket?”

After working almost 17 years in addiction recovery, I make it a practice not to give people cash.  So my reply was, “No, I’m sorry I don’t.” After all I didn’t have $1 for the bus, I had $5 for chicken.  [Just keeping it real.]

As we got into the car my own illustration in the Victory Call came to mind so I asked my husband if he thought we should give her $1. It was 101 degrees and she was sitting on the curb.  I figured we could give the woman bus fare and still get 1 ½ pounds of chicken for my pot pie. If she was scamming us it would be on her and we would only be out $1.  So I walked over and gave it to her.  She thanked me got up and walked away.

Whether she actually took the bus, I don’t know but this I know, God brought to mind my very own words and said, “So, what are you going to do now?”  You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? Romans 2:21

I just love God’s sense of humor.

Blessings, Diane

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.

One of our most powerful emotions is anger. While anger itself is not a sin, it’s one of the emotions that can so easily cause us to sin. The way we respond to anger can either turn people to Christ or cause them to build up bigger walls.

What I mean by that is… when we’re angry, do we yell? Do we sulk? Do we sin and say some not-nice things or seek revenge? That’s what the world expects… but not what Jesus expects. As believers, we are representing what it means to be a Christ-follower. And if a Christ-follower sins in their anger, people will definitely notice. They will build walls of “These ‘Christians’ say they’re loving, but they’re not” or “These ‘Christians’ are such hypocrites.”

One of my favorite Bible verses of all time is Genesis 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

It is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must rule over it… The Lord is warning us that when we’re angry, it’s a slippery slope to sin that we must avoid. That isn’t the only place in scripture where the Lord warns us about anger.

Ephesians 4:26-27 states: “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

James 1:19-20 states: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

We want to produce righteousness and avoid giving the devil any opportunity to carry out his schemes. Like I said, how we respond to anger can either turn people to Christ or cause them to build up their walls. Instead of responding to anger through swearing or hurting others, what if we responded in love and turned to scripture and prayer? How different our lives look when we choose that route, and people take notice when followers of Christ respond positively in bad situations.

Erin

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and in 2015 had the unique opportunity of co-directing Children’s Ministry with one of her best friends. She is very excited to continue to build relationships with the guests and be very involved in the ministry.

I have been reading a book by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler titled, A Time to Prosper, Finding and Entering God’s Realm of Blessing.  I want to share a foundational truth presented in this book that has both humbled and blessed me and, I hope, you today.

If you want to dig deep you may want to read and consider the following scripture:
Genesis 15; Deut. 7:12-14; 11:26-28; 28:1-48; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:9

We serve a covenant making, covenant keeping God.  As you consider the scripture listed you will clearly note God’s plan for releasing a blessing and the curse.  It is really very simple, those who perfectly keep the law are blessed and those who do not are cursed.  And as Chuck Pierce notes in his book, “That leaves us with a problem.  By this standard, no one can be blessed!”

Who among us can or will ever perfectly keep the Law?  As we read the scripture we are not alone.  Abraham sinned, Samuel sinned, David sinned, and on and on it goes.  BUT GOD in His goodness gave us another plan as we read in Galatians 3:13: (NKJV): ”Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)”.

Dear ones, Jesus Christ redeemed us. He bought us; He paid our price to bring us out from under the curse.  He did this by taking the curse on Himself so that the blessing of Abraham might come to you and me.  We can now receive the promise of blessing by faith.  Jesus was completely sinless, completely obedient even to death on the cross.  He made an exchange – our sin for His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). He took our infirmities to give us His health (Is.53: 4-5). He took our poverty to us His riches (2 Cor. 8:9) and He took our curse to give us His blessing (Gal.3: 13-14).  This is the incredible truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This, dear sister, is how we access the blessing instead of the curse we deserve.  There is no other way.  My prayer is that God would bless us with the gift of faith that He saw in Abraham and counted as righteousness:

Galatians 3:9 (NKJV) “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”

By faith in the finished work of the cross we can receive what our Lord and Savior Jesus has paid.  Like you, I have read these scriptures before, I have known this truth before but today may something happened in our hearts as we ask Holy Spirit to release into us the fullness of what this all means.  Let us receive a new way of thinking, a new way of living in the blessing Jesus paid so dear a price for.  Let us hear and receive His plan for every day of our lives because He paid a dear price to give us a life of blessing.  Let us speak as a child of the living God who has a future and a hope.  Let us live a life of respect and faith in the finished work of the cross.

Blessings,
Patricia Wenzel
Woman of Character Graduate
You may want to learn more from the book used in the above devotional:
A Time to Prosper, Finding and Entering God’s Realm of Blessing by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler, Chosen Books, 2013