“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” Psalm 68:19

“To bear someone else’s burdens is to sympathize, identify with, and become involved in the person’s life so they do not have to face it alone. In Christ, God literally identified with us, becoming human, bearing not only sufferings of mortality but also the judgement we deserve for sin, a weight that literally crushed him.” Timothy Keller, the Songs of Jesus, pg. 149

This morning as I read and pray I am identifying and sympathizing with a family who just suffered an unexpected loss. On one hand, I can identify and sympathize because I have known grief and the painful loss of a loved one. On the other, the pain of a loss can vary. Grief is slightly different given the relationship to the one you lost. Because I was not close with some extended family members, there was sadness. The ones who have gone on before me with whom I had deep, intimate relationships, well, that broke my heart into many pieces.  I have not experienced the loss that this family has.  While I can identify and sympathize, I find that I can’t really. Psalm 68:19 and the words of Timothy Keller this morning bring gratitude for our Lord who, right now, is the only One who can meet the needs of this dear family.  I am grateful that He is bearing their burden, walking with them in a way only He can. He walks along this unexpected path they now find themselves on and He can minister His love and grace in ways no one else will be able to do.
In no way does this dismiss the need for the body of Christ to come alongside this family. While we minister imperfectly, He will do so perfectly.

Who do you know today that needs your sympathy? What has the Lord brought you through? Is now the time for you to reach back and help someone else through? No one should face it alone. Because of Christ you and I can come alongside the hurting and bear their burdens.

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.

No two people will ever agree on everything, and that goes for the people belonging to the family of believers… that’s why we have so many different denominations. Whether it be theological issues, different interpretations of verses in the Bible, or different worldviews, it’s unavoidable that and your brother and sister in Christ will eventually have a disagreement.

It’s tempting to push aside all of our disagreements to maintain peace. However, I believe that it is important to focus on these differences. We can learn from each other. We can understand different points of view, even if we don’t agree with them. We might discover something about God that we never knew before. Maybe we can recognize and correct false teaching.

“Avoidance of conflict, with no effort to resolve it, postpones a proper response and exacerbates the problem because conflicts that are allowed to fester unaddressed will always increase and have negative effects on relationships within the body. The goal of conflict resolution is unity, and unity in the church poses a threat to the devil who will use every opportunity to take advantage of unresolved issues, especially those involving anger, bitterness, self-pity, and envy. These emotions are the basis for most church conflicts”(www.gotquestions.org/conflict-resolution.html).

Disagreements can be an overall good thing if handled correctly. However, we cannot allow our disagreements to divide us as God’s children. My belief is that Satan often uses disagreements to do just that. In John 17:20-24, Jesus is praying for the believers. He prays for unity. His desire is that we may be one in the Lord. Scripture tells us many times to live harmoniously and in peace with others and to show a genuine love to one another (John 13:34, Romans 15:5, 2 Corinthians 13:11, and Romans 12:10 are some examples given by another article I was reading about this topic.)

The Devil would like nothing more than for our differences to divide the church completely. He would love to see a lack of unity, because then the world would see us as dysfunctional, hypocritical, and wrong. I know many people already believe that, but our God is stronger than their perceptions. We need to be united in believing that.

We have so many people against us already – the world is against us. We shouldn’t be against each other. If our strongest desire is to live like Jesus, we must do as He advises and commands – we must love each other and live in unity. Differences can either make our relationships stronger or they can tear us apart – we need to pray about it and make the choice of which path we will take.

Erin

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and this past summer 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.

“Therefore behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths.” Hosea 2:6

Is there a child, family member, friend in your life that seems bent on running hard and fast away from God?

Have you prayed and prayed and prayed for this loved one with seemingly no results?

Do you feel like nothing will ever change in her life?

Are you afraid of what lies ahead for him?

Are you losing hope?

May I draw your attention to this verse in Hosea?  Always remember that God has intervening grace, a phrase to describe God’s grace that prevents, intervenes with a person’s own personal intentions.

Do you believe that God can intervene in your loved one’s life to prevent them from going or doing what they intend?  God told Hosea that He would wall her in so that she could not find her paths.

She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.’ Hosea 2:7

I have heard stories and witnessed intervening grace myself.  May I encourage you today?  That loved one that seems bent on rebellion, death, and destruction – pray for God’s intervening grace. That He would literally wall them in so that they cannot find their way to their destination.  That their plans would come to naught.  God has all the resources He needs to confuse their plans.

I am so grateful that God has the power to thwart any plan, any intention, and any path.  God is bigger than the problem.  God is bigger than the enemy.  God is more powerful that anyone or anything that is drawing your loved one away.  Pray God’s intervening grace in their life.

Blessed today,
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s Word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

God has been working on me. It is discouraging to me to have the Lord reveal to me another area in which I need to grow. Then I remember that I am His child and His discipline is good for me. I need to be thankful and submit to His authority over me.  While feeling rather low about where I need to grow, I have been working through Experiencing God. This paragraph jumped out to me:

“If you are not willing to be faithful in a little, God will not give you larger assignments. God uses the smaller assignments to develop character. God always builds character to match His assignment. If God has a great task for you, He will expand your character to match that assignment.”*

God has given me a bigger assignment and I am growing in it. Knowing that He is at work to match my character to the assignment He has given me is a comfort. I still have a lot to learn! My part in His work is to adjust myself so I am centered on Him and not myself.

Is God working on you today? You and I have a lot to learn. We can trust that the needed adjustments in our character are good because they come from our Heavenly Father. We can also trust that these adjustments mold us into His image for His glory.

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.

Experiencing God, Blackaby and King, page 47

In some recent Victory Calls I shared about a quote from Paul Tripp’s book, “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands”  The quote was jarring and I have been thinking about it for days now.  He wrote: ““There is no neutral ground between love and hatred.”(Pg. 205)

I was having a cup of tea with a woman from our new church and I shared the impact of that quote in Tripp’s book as she had read it as well. She made a statement which I knew was true but I also knew I had not addressed it in my previous Victory Calls so I guess you could call this an addendum.

Her statement was: “Hatred is usually a result of loving ourselves more.”

I think this is an important point that I did not clearly state previously and it can bring clarity to our thinking about love and hate.  Most of us wiggle under the thought that we are hating.  I know I do.  Hate is a very strong word.

Consider the second greatest command: “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39).

Let’s take a practical look:
1.    Gossip – when I gossip about someone, I am sharing information that is not loving about them.  I am not loving them, I am loving myself wanting to bear knowledge I have that others may not.
2.    Anger – when I become angry, I am deeming the other person is wrong and I am right – I am not loving my neighbor, I am loving myself.
3.    Bitterness – when I am bitter – I believe I have been sinned against and I don’t deserve such treatment. I have judged the person and am bearing a grudge. I am not loving my neighbor, I am loving myself.
4.    Pride – when I am proud – I am thinking more highly of myself than I ought. I am loving myself.
5.    Superiority – this is an attitude that I am better than another person. Smarter, wiser, better educated, more knowledgeable, more righteous, more holy… you get the idea.  I am not loving my neighbor, I am loving myself.
6.    Coveting – when I covet anything – I am believing I can’t be happy without that thing—I want and I do not have.  I am loving myself.
7.    Having to have the last word – I believe that my opinion is more important that the other person’s. I am loving self, not my neighbor.
8.    The silent treatment – ignoring the other person – refusing to speak to the other person.  I have determined I will pretend they do not exist.  I am NOT loving my neighbor, I am loving myself.
9.    When I fail to care for another’s practical needs when it is within my ability to do so, because it is inconvenient.  I am not loving my neighbor. I am loving myself because I value my comfort above their need.

If we took just 10 minutes to think of ways we love ourselves more than others, I think we would each come up with our own list.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil 2:3-4; NIV) Value others above yourselves.  That can be a tall order.

Paul continues, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil 2:5-8; NIV)

Bottom line:  In the flesh our inclination is to love ourselves, not others. If we are to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, it will lead us to having an attitude of humility, service and even death to ourselves, our flesh, and our wants. BUT this, sister, is our redeeming hope: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable us to love others above ourselves, if we listen and heed.

Oh, Lord may it be so.

Blessed today!
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

i Paul David Tripp.  (2002) Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change. P&R Publishing.

Reading 1 John recently, I read this verse (and not for the first time): “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

OK. Time for true confessions.

My instantaneous response was: “That’s not true.”  I barely got the statement out before my spirit was immediately quickened.  Seriously, I responded in my flesh telling God His word was not true.  It came out without any thought.  I felt foolish. Indeed, I was foolish. I know and believe God’s Word is true – from beginning to end. Every word, every paragraph, every chapter.

Why was that my response? Truth be told, I responded like that because I know me.  I know my continued wrestling with sin and flesh. I allowed my personal experience to supersede what I know to be true. This I do know with no shadow of doubt, if ever my personal experience contradicts what God says, it is I that is wrong, not God.  I may not understand it, but I know it is true.

The part of the verse that pierced me was, “he cannot sin.”  I know at regeneration the power of sin is defeated in the life of every child of God; however, we are not removed from the presence of sin until we reach glory.  Therefore, although sin is all around me, I am no longer controlled by it. “…knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”(Romans 6:6) I have a choice given to me by the work of Christ on the cross and remains in me by the power of the Holy Spirit. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

Then we must ask…

Do I live out the reality of those truths in my life?  Do I live daily in light of my option to choose to NOT sin?  Do I rely on the Living Holy Spirit to overcome temptation when it comes into my day?  Am I growing and making progress?  Do I overcome temptation more today than a year ago?  Am I experiencing the victory paid for at the cross?

We are not alone.  Read Romans 7:15-20.  Paul’s battle with sin sounds all too familiar.  In light of all that… we can chose obedience today.  By the power of the Holy Spirit Who resides in us and every other Christ-follower, by His power we can overcome.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Chose this day.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.” Psalm 62:1

I read a devotion that was titled “Standing Firm is not the same as Standing Still”. The point of the devotional was that standing firm requires action, not being immobilized and doing nothing. As I read Psalm 62:1, I thought about how waiting in silence is not the same as doing nothing or just remaining quiet. What actions took place throughout the remaining Psalm to show us that in our waiting there are things to do? I will point to just a few actions that I saw. Clinging (v2), hoping (v5), resting (vs7), trusting (v8), pleading (vs8), searching your heart (vs10), and knowing who your God is (vs11, 12).

There is much to be doing while you are silent and waiting. And while you are waiting in silence and taking these actions listed above, you will stand firm!

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.

I watched a TV show the other day where one of the main characters “fell in love” with a woman who had returned his “love.” The problem is – this woman was married and had a newborn, but the main character of this TV show was being encouraged to pursue the woman. He was being told things like “If she makes you happy, chase after her – nothing is worse than having an opportunity and realizing you missed it.” The woman said that her husband was a ‘good guy’ but she wasn’t happy in the relationship. The worst part is – this TV show made this situation out to be normal. It was written in a way where the audience is supposed to want a relationship to form between the man and the married mother. I’m sure some viewers probably hoped the two would end up together.

The world’s perception of love is truly distorted. To the world, love is self-serving and designed to make the one on the receiving end happy. It’s something that the world tells us to go after no matter the cost, no matter if it is at someone else’s expense, no matter if we sin in the process. As long as we ourselves are ‘happy.’

No, when we think of love – we have to look to God. He is the one who created love and whose very nature is love. He says:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:16-18

Love – whether romantic or not – is not about you yourself being happy. Happiness is a side effect of love, and that is great! But love does not equate with happiness. Jesus showed us the fullness of His love when He was willingly beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross. Scripture says: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ That is to say, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’” Matthew 27:46

That was the greatest act of love in all of history. Being nailed to a cross certainly didn’t make Jesus happy, but His love wasn’t focused on self. His love was focused on us – He took the punishment we deserve. Love is sacrificing for others. Jesus endured the worst kind of pain for us as an act of love. If we look at Jesus as the source of love, we will clearly see that it is anything but self-serving or self-motivated.

Erin

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and this past summer 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 know this sounds like a rather obvious thing to say but I hate funerals probably for a reason other than you think.

It seems that over the past few years, funerals and memorial services often prompt Victory Calls. Even while I am still sitting in the pew my thoughts are framing the next Victory Call.  They all have the same theme but it bears reminding.

I once heard, years ago, a pastor say that death is a gift to the living because it provides each of us the reminder that life is not forever and that we better be confident of our own ‘after-death’ destination. Humanly speaking, that is a difficult perspective especially when you are the one that lost a loved one.

Recently I attended a memorial service for Pastor John Hibbard.  It was the longest service I think I have ever attended but it was a blessing from start to finish.

It started as I greeted the long line of family members.  I hugged John’s widow, Carolyn and said, “I loved John” and she responded, “He was easy to love.”  First sting: Am I easy to love?

As each of the speakers graced the platform – the story of John’s life unfolded — all of it was a blessing and a challenge to hear.  One of the men shared about a book his friend wrote called, “Are you fun to live with?” Second sting:  Am I fun to live with?

As I sat and heard retold the beauty, love and faith of “the Rev” I couldn’t help but find myself saying, “They couldn’t say that about me.” That is the crux of why I say, “I hate funerals.” As I attend memorial services for ordinary people that walked with God in extraordinary ways I am reminded I have a LOT of growth left.  Third sting: I am not as mature a believer as I like to think.

What that pastor said about death being a gift hits home because I would venture a guess that I was not the only one sitting in that sanctuary thinking about our own life and where we have room to grow.

Then to top it off, the Pastor that gave the message near the end of the service shared this verse: “Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart” Ecclesiastes 7:2 NKJV. Nailed it.

This is probably the third or fourth Victory Call I have written after a memorial service or funeral and NOW I have biblical support for what I have been saying.  Funerals give us perspective. Memorial services cause the wise to take heart, to consider their own lives, to reflect.  That is a good thing because far too often the house of feasting distracts us from such pursuits.

You are blessed today.

Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

It is easy in these days to allow our hearts and minds to be filled with fear. To live confidently you and I must know who God is. As I first read Psalm 53 I read it wrong. As we often can do, I read it with others in mind rather than myself. I read this Psalm again in Timothy Keller’s devotional and I had to look at it differently.  Here is his commentary on Psalm 53.

“Psalms 14 and 53 are virtually identical until verses 5 and 6. Psalm 14 is a warning to unbelievers to fear because God really exists. But Psalm 53 is a call to believers. God has defeated their enemies (verse 5), so why are they overwhelmed with dread where there is nothing to dread (verse 5)? There are seasons when we feel almost smothered by fears for our health, our families, our jobs, even for the overall state of the world. Dread is less specific than fear. It is an attitude that something is sure to go wrong, if it hasn’t already. Besides often being untrue, as the psalm says, it is an insult to our loving Savior, who will walk with us even if the worst does happen.” What a greater reminder of who our God is! He is faithful. He is sovereign. He walks with us.

Are you dreading the future today? Remember and believe what God has said.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6, 7

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

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.