Christians have a bit of a stereotype – well, I’m sure there are a bunch of stereotypes linked to Christianity – but within the Christian community we have placed a stereotype upon our own selves. The stereotype is this: When someone is newly saved, they go through a “honeymoon phase.” They are excited and want to shout it from the rooftops. They come up with these big ideas like, “I’m going to give up everything I have and go overseas and become a full time missionary!” They’re so excited about serving. However, as the Christian walk becomes more and more familiar to them, they often become less and less enthusiastic. Walking with God becomes more of a “normal” thing and they lose the ambitious nature they once had.

I think it’s time we as God’s people change that stereotype. As women of God, we are heiresses of God and co-heiresses with Christ (Romans 8:17). Now, hear me out – I’m not saying we should drop everything we have and move overseas and become a missionary in a poverty-stricken town. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are called to that type of ministry, and that’s great. Maybe you’re reading this and you yourself are called to that type of ministry – that’s wonderful! However, many of us are called to minister elsewhere – in our homes, in our workplaces, or in our church.

We’ve all been given a gift (1 Peter 4:10) and we’re all called to serve the Lord. Whether that’s serving Him as a wife and mother or serving Him as a world-wide known speaker, our service to Him is important and it can be exciting! We all make up the body of Christ. As we grow more and more in love with Him and as we go deeper in our relationship, we should be experiencing more joy in our walk. Some days we will feel more encouraged than others, but the joy in knowing we are called to serve the Lord in a special way, that we are God’s children, and our identity in Christ should outweigh that.

As children of God, we are…
Free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
Holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:16)
A new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
A doer of the Word and blessed in our actions (James 1:22, 25)
More than a conqueror through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37)
An overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)
The righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
Forgiven of all our sins and washed in the blood (Ephesians 1:7)
Called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8, Timothy 1:9)

That’s so exciting! So I want to encourage everyone who is reading not to lose the excitement we have for the Lord; our ability to serve Him is so amazing and we’re so blessed to be in a relationship with Him. It’s such a joy.

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.

“Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” Joshua 9:12-13

Perhaps you have read the story in the book of Joshua about how the people from Gibeon deceived Joshua and the leaders of Israel to make a covenant with them by carrying worn-out sacks and wineskins, worn-out clothes and patched sandals on their feet to support their claim that they were from a distant country.

Joshua and the other leaders “took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.” Joshua 9:14-15

Because Joshua did not ask counsel from the LORD, Israel made a covenant with them. You can read the entire account in Joshua 9.

When you consider any given day or week in your life, how often do you pursue your plans without asking counsel from the Lord? If we believe God has a plan and purpose for our lives it would make sense to consult Him on our plans.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

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!

“Make me know your way, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truths and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.” Psalm 25:4-5

Do you have decisions to make? Are you wrestling through a situation? Are you unsure of how to move forward? The Lord is a faithful teacher and the Holy Spirit indwells believers and will lead you in the way you should go. Too often we seek the advice of a counselor or friend before asking God His advice. No one knows you better or can lead you with greater confidence that Jesus. So, why do we not seek Him first?

•    If you and I will be honest, there are times we just don’t want to know. We like our answers and solutions much better then how God might direct us. Do we REALLY want to know God’s way?
•    There are many paths before us and the easier path is the one we may often choose. We like easy.  However, to take the time to be taught the best way, well, that takes time. It takes an open heart, open ears, and a willingness to be teachable.
•    Follow through can be challenging. We know God’s ways but are we willing to then be obedient?
•    Are you concerned about the outcome? Things might not go our way. What if we don’t “win”?

God is the God of our salvation. He is in control of all the outcomes. He will continue to lead us through.

Tim Keller, in his book, The Songs of Jesus, ends with this prayer:
“Lord, I want to live according to your Word- your ways and your truth- rather than by what will make me popular and powerful. Give me the desire and integrity to live like this. And because this will make me vulnerable, protect me from those who would take the opportunity to harm me. Amen”

May knowing, choosing and following His path be the desire of our hearts 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.

“When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea…” Hosea 1:2

Precious sister – God is a work IN you and God is at work THROUGH you.

Your walk with Jesus is not just for your sake. You are not intended to just take in, take in, take in. But if you do not take in then what will you have to give out?

It is not ours to discern how God is working in us, or through us. He is.

My eye caught the words Hosea used in 1:2, “When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea…”

Am I available to the Lord that He may speak to me? Am I too busy to hear?  Is there so much life-noise that I fail to hear the voice of God in my life? Am I so distracted that I rush past my Lord with barely a sideways glance? All of these have been true in my life at different times.

Are you available to the Lord? Are you too busy to hear His voice? Is there so much life-noise that you fail to hear the voice of God in your life?  Are you so distracted that you rush past the Lord with barely a sideways glance.

The available ear, the receptive heart, the willing spirit, do not just happen – they require intention and grace.

Before the Lord spoke THROUGH Hosea the Lord spoke TO Hosea. Do you desire to be used of God?  Do you want God to speak THROUGH you to a hurting world around you?  Listen.  Listen to what God is first speaking TO you so He may speak THROUGH you.

Lord, may I heed my own counsel.

Blessings, Diane

We live in a fallen world amongst believers and non-believers, God-lovers and God-haters, and how we live as believers impacts the world around us and the reputation of Jesus Christ.

What is our responsibility? “’Therefore you are My witnesses,’ Says the LORD, ‘that I am God.’” Isaiah 42:12; “For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.  I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other…” Isaiah 45:4-7 (underlining mine)

We are His witnesses for what purpose?  That others will know that He alone is God, there is no other.

To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none
other besides Him… Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6

I can’t help but wonder about those who feel their role, their responsibility, is to make Jesus look “cool” so they seek to blend in and often look like the rest of the world because they don’t want to offend the non-believer.  Blending in to make Jesus look cool or more attractive to others is misguided, in my opinion.  Blending in to open doors of opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel has an entirely different motive.  But caution is warranted… what are the long-term consequences of any choices made to blend in?

We must never compromise the truth that God has set us apart as His witnesses that others may know that He alone is God.  Don’t be less set apart to draw people in. Isn’t that what Paul rebuked Peter for?

“But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?’” Galatians 2:14

We are all witnesses. We may be a witness to the One True God or we may be a witness to our own version of God – the cooler, hipper, more socially acceptable God.  Who are you witnessing to today?

You are blessed, Diane

Are there places in your life that you find you are battling a lack of hope?  You are not alone, however, not one of us can live without hope and there is honestly no excuse for those of us who know Jesus to live without hope.

Today I would like to ask you to read, listen and meditate upon the words to a song God put on my heart this morning, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”.   According to an article I read by Richard Neil Donovan, this song was written by a young man named Edward Mote.  Edward was a trained carpenter who loved to worship Jesus.  I believe as you take the time to embrace these words and worship the Lord our God, you fill be filled with hope – hope built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

Blessings,
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God;  And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

I very rarely see the beautiful sunsets over the Keswick lake. Mostly, I see them when my co-workers post their glimpses of sunsets on Facebook or Instagram.  The sunrises and sunsets that are captured are breathtaking and it is apparent that God’s handiwork is glorious. Too often I miss the works of God’s hands because I am otherwise occupied.  We know we should stop and smell the roses but we really don’t take the time to do so on a regular basis. There are wonders to be seen if we take the time to look.

As I write this, I am reminded of something I learned from my High School art teacher. When he was critiquing some of my work he would turn my work upside down. He would look at it from every angle. He would step back and close one eye and extend his arm with pencil in hand and measure the dimensions of the object that I had created. He was taught to look at things differently and I learned much from him.

I wonder if you and I can look at things differently. What if we took a look at God’s great creation from different angles, to study, to really see not just to take a quick glance and walk away? Timothy Keller asks this in his devotion The Songs of Jesus, “Why do mountains and oceans, the sun and stars move us as deeply as great art? The answer is because they ARE great art.”

There’s a difference between hearing and listening and there is a difference between looking and seeing.  I hope you might glimpse His glory in a sunrise or sunset, or, dare I say in a snow-covered tree or the design of the frost on your window. Open your eyes and marvel 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.

A couple of days ago, somebody started talking about a theological topic and I wasn’t exactly sure what my thoughts on the subject were. So I went home that night, bowed my head, and said, “Lord, I’m confused about this topic. Please make it clear for me.” Then, you know what I did? I opened my eyes… and began to make dinner for myself.

As I began to make my nutritious, healthy meal (okay… as I began to reheat the take-out I had ordered the night before), I stopped and really started to think about what just happened. I looked at my Bible and realized – I was just talking to the Maker of the Universe, and I treated it as if it was “no big deal.” The Lord gave me His Word, and made it so easily accessible, because He wanted me to study it. I asked Him to make something clear to me, but with no effort on my part. He can answer my questions, but He wants me to study and learn the answers. If He just gave me the answer, that wouldn’t be as fulfilling and I wouldn’t learn as much. It’s when I really sit down with my Bible, open it, and instead of asking God to tell me an answer, I ask Him to teach me the answer, that I get so much out of my devotions.

The book of Acts talks about Paul, Silas and Jason, and how they were persecuted by the Jews in Thessalonica. Soon, Paul and Silas were sent to Berea, where they continued to preach the Gospel. Now, since the name of Jesus will always spark reaction, the Jews in Berea really reacted to what Paul and Silas had to say. They weren’t sure if the two men were speaking truth, so they studied the scriptures to find truth and many of them came to belief in Jesus Christ.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” – Acts 17:11

As I began praying and trying to find every verse I could which related to the topic, I felt such joy. I was learning and understanding, and I was able to come up with a conclusion. His Word is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We just can’t take that lightly. Prayer is so important, and studying the Word along with prayer is necessary and powerful. If we really want to know His ways – we need to study His Word.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

Erin Culleny is a new member of America’s Keswick’s full-time staff. Erin 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 am getting ready for our new reading plan. I have read the introduction to Timothy Keller’s book The Songs of Jesus 3 times! I can’t believe how full and rich an introduction can be! I now know why we need to read the Psalms throughout the year as Bill Welte has encouraged us to do. Here are just some of the reasons why I want to encourage you to start reading along with us:

* The Psalms were the divinely inspired hymnbook for the public worship of God in ancient Israel. Psalms were not simply read, but sung; they penetrated the minds and imaginations of the people as only music can do.
*Throughout medieval times the psalms served as the most familiar part of the Bible for most Christians. The Psalter was the only part of the Bible a lay Christian was likely to own.
* Martin Luther directed that “the whole Psalter, psalm by psalm, should remain in use”.
*All theologians and leaders of the church have believed the Psalms should be used and reused in every Christian’s daily private approach to God and in public worship. We are not to simply read the psalms; we are to be immersed in them so that they profoundly shape how we relate to God. The psalms are the divinely ordained way to learn devotion to God.
*Luther referred to the psalms as a “mini Bible”.
*Every situation in life is represented in the book of psalms. Psalms anticipate and train you for every possible spiritual, social, and emotional condition – they show you what the dangers are, what you should keep in mind, what your attitude should be, how to talk to God about it, and how to get from God the help you need. Psalms are a medicine chest for the heart and the best possible guide for practical living.
* Psalms are written to be prayed, recited, and sung – to be DONE, not merely to be read. Psalms lead us to do what the psalmists do – to commit ourselves to God through pledges and promises, to depend on God through petition and expressions of acceptance, to seek comfort in God through lament and complaint, to find mercy from God through confession and repentance, to gain new wisdom and perspective from God through meditation, remembrance and reflection.
* The psalms, read in light of the entire Bible, bring us to Jesus. The psalms were Jesus’ songbook. The hymn that Jesus sang at the Passover meal (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26) would have been the Great Hallel, Psalms 113-118. Indeed, there is every reason to assume that Jesus would have sung all the psalms, constantly, throughout his life, so that He knew them by heart. It is the book of the Bible that He quotes more than any other.

I hope you are seeing the benefit to reading this book of Psalms multiple times. You can join me on Facebook at America’s Keswick Daily Bible Reading for more encouragement.  You can also download a copy of this year’s reading plan from our website. We will read through Psalms 2 ½ times and Proverbs 12 times. I hope you will join me.

Blessings,
Kathy

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

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 am so excited to finally begin my journey to becoming a Christian counselor! In a week I will be starting online classes through Liberty University. I am eager to learn how to apply the gospel in every difficult situation that one might be facing. I can’t wait to be pursuing a career that will help others be successful in this life through a godly perspective. On Christmas Eve I was given a book to help me begin this journey before classes start. It’s called “Gospel Conversations” by Robert W.Kellemen. One of the questions that Kellemen poses is that of truth and love and which is more important when counseling. The answer may come as a shock to some – he says that they are equally important. He bases this conclusion on 1 Thessalonians 2. In this passage Paul describe the many different ways in which he balances truth and love when dealing with those that God has entrusted him with. Kellemen breaks it down into 5 different portraits for a biblical counselor:

#1 The Love of a Defending Brother
–    “For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our coming to you was not in vain.  But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.” -1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

#2 The Love of a Cherishing Mother
–    ”But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” -1 Thessalonians 2:7

#3 The Love of a Shepherding Father
–    “For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” -1 Thessalonians 2:11

#4 The Love of a Longing Child/Orphan
–    “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,” -1 Thessalonians 2:17

#5 The Loving Respect of a Proud Mentor
–     “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” -1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

It occurred to me after reading this that we are all counselors. God uses us in the lives of other people all the time to provide counsel through the difficult seasons of life. Whether it is a friend, a family member, a stranger, a believer or unbeliever, God can put people in our path for the purpose of receiving guidance and direction from Him through us. How do we react with those people? Do we show love and patience while speaking truth into the life of an unbelieving family member? Do we show affection while pouring scripture into the life of a friend struggling with addiction? Are we caring while sharing the gospel with a stranger? How we present the message is just as important as the truth of the message. I pray that as we go about our week that God would use us to shower all those we come in contact with with love and truth!
Ally Lang has served part-time and volunteers at America’s Keswick.  She is married to Jim Lang, Director of Guest Services.