Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? These are the three questions the Holy Spirit is teaching me to ask lately relative to my tongue and emails or any other form of communication I may be inclined to speak by.

It is so easy to speak without thinking isn’t it?

To speak without regard for how one’s words may impact the hearer is a problem that is common to all and one that is not easily remedied apart from a constant awareness of grace.

Moment-by-moment, day-by-day, we have to choose to care how our words will affect others. We have to want to consider others more highly than ourselves and then choose to speak only what is edifying to the one who hears.

I wish I could say I succeed at this all the time but if I did I’d certainly be lying. So instead I’ll be honest and give glory to God for His Word. His faithful Word which is always right, true, good, and ready to teach me how to “go and sin no more” against those whom He loves and whom I want to love.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. ~~ Ephesians 4:25-32

Enough said.

Stephanie Dale

Stephanie D. Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women of Character. She has been married for over 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. They have two grown children.
Her single focus in ministry at Keswick is to image Christ in grace and truth to wounded and hurting women, encouraging them to make Jesus the truest Lover of their soul and the One in whom all hope lies.

I did a short Bible study over the summer called “Setting Captives Free: by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. This 4-week study was a reminder of how to pray for the unsaved. (I recommend the full study on prayer called “Living a Praying Life”.) In the midst of this short study one of our summer conference speakers encouraged us to get beyond praying, “Bless the missionaries.” I felt challenged to really pray in a new way for the unsaved.

Here are some ways in which we can begin to pray differently.

1. Understand the need. If someone is unsaved what exactly is keeping them from a relationship with Christ? We don’t need to pray for someone to be saved – God already wants that so how can we go beyond what we know God already wants? Understanding that the unsaved are blind and deaf allows us to pray that the veil between that person and God would be lifted and their ears would hear. Understand that the unsaved are spiritually dead and slaves to the world. These word pictures of truth give new insight in how to pray for the unsaved based on their condition.
2. Understand that Satan has a firm grip on individuals. He is hard at work keeping the unsaved in a world of darkness and lies. You and I need to be hard at work by praying with the understanding that we are entering into spiritual warfare on behalf of others. Eph. 6:10-20 in short tells us, “Be strong in the Lord”, be warned of the devils schemes, and understand our enemies are in the spiritual realm. And that we will need the armor of God in order to withstand.
3. Use scripture in our prayers. The easiest way I know of praying scripture is to start with a Psalm. By personalizing a verse it is easy to pray with power and to pray for specific things that go beyond “Save them, Lord!”
4. Begin a strategic plan to pray. To be a powerful intercessor we will need to abide in Christ and know what He desires and agree with it. Be mindful to be searching your own heart so that you are not harboring sin, or praying from the wrong motive. Always remember prayer is hard work. Prayer will require your availability and your commitment to make it a priority.

I pray that you and I will pray prayers that are effective and that produce fruit and glorify our Lord and Savior. Let us move away from praying big words and fearing how we sound in front of others. Let’s begin to pray differently!

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves in 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.

Today is Saturday August 22, 2015, a day I don’t usually write Victory Calls. However, today is a different day. It’s THE day that my one and only daughter’s spirit and soul left earth and entered Heaven. How amazing is that? How Love Himself pursues us is a mystery we shall never solve—at least, not today.

Today, I’m sitting here at my desk keenly, deeply and more painfully than I can express, aware of the deep hole left in my heart because “she” is no longer here. And while I miss the presence of “her” my heart is glad and somehow rejoices in knowing “she” is with the Father! How cool, how awesome, how amazing is that?

Quite a few weeks ago, sometime toward the end of Spring, a precious young friend came to my place of work and ministry and planted some sunflower plants outside the window of my tiny office building. She did this as a surprise for me in memory of my beloved daughter because she knew that sunflowers were her favorite.

So, you can imagine my anticipation as week after week I’d arrive to work, walk up the path to the office and peer at the plants to see if they were showing evidence of growth. Yep! Week after week, they grew taller and taller. Now the wait began for the actually flower to begin its budding. I waited…and waited…and waited. Except for the plant itself getting taller and taller there was no sign at all that a flower was about to emerge.

In various places all around town as I drove here and there I saw the flowers of others popping up and out, stretching out in all their glory, reaching upward toward the heat of the sun. And still…I waited and began to wonder if perhaps there would be a no-show of blossom for me. But I didn’t lose heart or hope. Even though the end of August was approaching I continued to look for it…and wait for it.

And then it happened. I arrived at work a few days ago and there it was—a tight green little ball of goodness smack dab in the middle top of each plant stalk. By now the actual plant stem was as tall as me—and I’m five feet ten inches tall! So, to see that wonderful green goodness renewed my anticipation of what was surely coming. That brings us to today.

Today is exactly one year from the day that my daughter died. Today is that day. Every fiber of my being is hyper-charged with awareness of that and I feel so much! I awoke today, thinking…wondering, “Lord, how will I enter this day? How will You show up in this day?” In the days leading up to today I even wondered, “Will it even matter? Will it even feel like something to wake up and be in THAT day?”

And…here I am, IN THAT day, and it definitely feels like something. The air is fresh. The sun shines bright. It FEELS like something. It FEELS like THAT day and it is beautiful.

Then to add full glory to the day, one of the flowers—yep, just one of them, is in full bloom! How cool is that?!

All that’s left to say is God IS good! His amazing love does, in fact, care for us in the micro details of our lives. And TODAY I am sure of this one thing: He who began a good work, IS faithful, faithful, faithful to complete it. He leaves nothing to chance and He leaves nothing unfinished.

Selah

Stephanie Dale Paul
Stephanie D. Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women of Character. She has been married for over 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. They have two grown children.
Her single focus in ministry at Keswick is to image Christ in grace and truth to wounded and hurting women, encouraging them to make Jesus the truest Lover of their soul and the One in whom all hope lies.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10 NKJV
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6 NASB

I am hooked on HGTV. I admit I could watch many hours of Property Brothers, Fixer Upper and more. At the very heart of these shows is the understanding that underneath the mess of the house it is possible to have the home of your dreams.

Why does this show tug at me? I love to see the before and after. I am amazed at how a rundown house can be rebuilt into a thing of beauty. I also love to get ideas on things I would like to see in my own home. Some projects are really inexpensive and small. Others are total “gut jobs”. The real tug though is in the fact that old things can be made new. This is a basic truth for you and me as believers in Jesus Christ. He has taken the broken and shabby things and with some work (or a lot of work) He has brought new life. When Jesus came to you He brought new clothes of righteousness, He gave you a new heart, and He changed your entire way of thinking and living. The transformation has been amazing and complete!

Today you and I continue to be under renovation. A tweak here and a tweak there. Maybe something needs to be replaced. Maybe due to severe neglect there needs to be some demolition.
May we be willing to allow the Master Craftsman to work on us today in the places in which we are in need of fixing. No job is too small. No job is too big.

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves in 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.

“On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.” Matthew 13:1-2

I wonder, Lord, what was going through Your mind as You sat beside the sea?

Did You take in the beauty of the water and of the sky?

Did You look up and enjoy the clouds and the sun?

Did a gentle breeze cool Your face?

Did You relax for a few moments taking in the beauty of Your creation?

Perhaps a fish or two playfully jumped through the waves just like You told them to.

Did You dangle Your feet in the refreshing water?

Did You have a moment to sit alone with Your Father?

O, Lord, I can only imagine how You may have enjoyed Your few moments of rest – just before the crowds gathered and pressed in around You.

What do you do with your moments of rest?

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, Women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have two married children and four grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.

It is not uncommon to hear women of God referred to as princesses. Perhaps you have heard it said, “You are His princess.” There is no specific reference in the Scriptures, however we are daughters of the King – so in a sense we are princes and princesses. This all came to mind one day when I was reading and my eye was captured by the promised crowns. Princess – crowns… get it?

As Christ-followers, the Bible refers to different crowns God will bestow on us:
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Cor 9:25

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Cor 4:8

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

…when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:4

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev 2:10

Our crown is imperishable.
A crown of righteousness awaits us.
God promises a crown of life.
We will also receive a crown of glory.
Are these separate crowns? I don’t know. I’m not sure it really matters whether it is one crown or many crowns. Imagine for a moment being crowned by the creator, sustainer of the entire universe. It is an exciting thought and something we can look forward to.

But you know our Brother – First born among many – our perfect, sinless, sacrificial lamb. Our Brother Jesus Christ, He too got a crown, but not a crown to be sought after. A crown of pain and suffering. A crown of shame. A crown He bore so we did not have to. A crown of thorns. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. John 19:2

A crown not worn by a princess but by our Savior and King. Because of the crown of thorns, we will get an imperishable crown of righteousness, of glory and of life.
I think that reality calls for a moment to pause and to meditate on that truth.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, Women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have two married children and four grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.

You may have thought it strange in yesterday’s Victory Call that I started with a Scripture but never referred to it. I assure you it was intentional. You see as I read 1 Peter 1:13, the story of Florence Chadwick popped into my mind. I believe her story of perseverance illustrates the verse. Let me begin today with the same verse: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

The point of sharing that story yesterday and the verses I share today is to get us thinking beyond the immediate.

My question for you today is this: Is your focus on something so grand, so motivating, and so exciting that obstacles and hurdles along the way will not cause you to stumble or lose sight of your goal? Are you keeping that goal firmly fixed in your mind’s-eye? Are you envisioning your destination with regularity?

In Peter’s letter to the “pilgrims” he encourages them, and likewise us, to “set y(our) hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:2

Our ability to overcome hurdles will be strengthened by fixing our eyes on the horizon. To keep in our mind’s-eye the glory to come, the reward and the inheritance that awaits the redeemed.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Revelations 22:12-13

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1:11-12

Sisters, stand on your tippy toes, stretch out your neck, and strain your eyes. Can you see it? Can you see the horizon? There awaits our Redeemer, our Rescuer, our Savior, our Conquering King, the Lover of our souls- riding on a white horse.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11

Don’t let the fog deter you. Though you can’t physically see it YET, never lose sight of the glory that awaits us at the finish line.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, Women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have two married children and four grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

I recently heard a story about Florence Chadwick, a truly inspiring story of perseverance and tenacity. She was an American open-water long-distance swimmer. She was the first woman to swim the English Channel – in both directions.

On July 4, 1952, at the age of 34, she set her goal of being the first woman to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California Coast. As she swam, she was flanked by small boats for her safety. Sharks had to be warded off as they zeroed in on the woman swimming in the open water. Partway into her swim, a heavy, dense fog settled around her. Hour after hour she swam on, not being able to see anything around her at times, even the aide boats were obscured.

With each stroke she longed to catch a glimpse of the shoreline – but the fog prevented her from seeing her goal. Finally, she decided to stop – the first time she ever quit a swim. Once pulled from the cold water, only then did she realize she was about a half mile from the California shore.

Florence explained that she quit because she couldn’t see the shoreline due to the fog. She could not see herself reaching her goal.

A few months later, she made another attempt to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. Again the heavy, dense fog enveloped her – but she continued to swim until she reached her goal. What made the difference? Even though the fog obscured her vision she kept a visual image of the California coastline constantly in her mind. Though she could not physically see her destination, she never lost sight of it.

Oh, by the way, when she completed the 26 mile swim, she broke the previous record time by 2 hours! [That record was set by a man- just saying]

None of the obstacles she faced, the frigid water, the sharks, the fatigue, none of them prevented her from reaching her goal. Keeping her mind firmly fixed on her goal motivated her to finish and to finish well.

What goal do you have fixed in your mind’s-eye that is so motivating that you are able to overcome the obstacles in your life?

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, Women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have two married children and four grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.

After reading Acts 23:16-35 as part of my daily reading plan I read Warren Wiersbe’s commentary and ponder on his thoughts regarding Paul.

“As you review the events recorded in this chapter, you cannot help but be impressed with the commitment of the apostle Paul to his calling; ‘None of these things move me.’ (Acts 20-24) If ever a man dared to follow Christ, come what may, he was that man. Paul did not look for the easy way out but for the way that would most honor the Lord and win the lost. He was even willing to become a prisoner if that would further the work of the gospel.

“You are also impressed with the amazing providence of God in caring for His servant. ‘Let us trust in God, and be very courageous for the gospel,’ wrote Charles Spurgeon, ‘and the Lord Himself will screen us from all harm.’

“God’s people can afford to be daring, in the will of God, because they know their Savior will be dependable and work out His perfect will. Paul was alone—but not alone! His Lord was with him and he had nothing to fear.” Warren Wiersbe

Paul faced many hardships, he faced many crowds that were unfavorable to his message and he faced many powerful rulers of his day. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in his shoes. But God has placed me in this time and in this place on Earth to be about His business. I can’t honestly say I have the boldness of Paul, which leads me to ask questions of myself, and I challenge you with these today:

• Will I stand regardless of the circumstances?
• Do I trust that God will keep me in the midst of those circumstances?
• Do I believe God Himself is with me no matter the circumstances?
• Will I choose courage over fear?

You may not be imprisoned, you may not be shipwrecked, you may not need to defend yourself publicly or privately. My guess is that your hardship, your challenge, is a bit different. A bit more like mine…the daily struggles of life, the prayers that are repeated, and the children that do not walk with the Lord.

From the “big” things of life to the smaller…air conditioning that doesn’t work right, dogs that are getting old and leaving “gifts” for me to clean when I get home, laundry, cleaning……and the mundane things of an average day. You and I need the courage to do the next thing to the glory of God. Paul’s courage was not his own but a work done through him. If you don’t have courage today- ASK for it! If you need courage – KNOW your God!

Oh, that you and I would live courageously today!

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy Withers is on staff at America’s Keswick and serves in 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.

God orchestrates life circumstances to force the issue of faith in our hearts. Some would call this a crisis of faith which is a good description. A beautiful picture of this is the process of forcing spring bulbs. Basically, the bulbs are planted around October and put in a dark cool place for 3 or more months. Once removed from the chill they blossom indoors in about a month. They are kept in a cold, dark place to facilitate growth.

God orchestrates life circumstances to force the issue of faith in our hearts. He is intimately and personally involved with each of His children. Psalm 33:15, He fashions their hearts individually.

To grow, build and nurture our faith, God orchestrates the events and circumstances in our life that challenge our faith no matter how meager. At that moment (crisis of faith) we have a choice (every time): will I believe and trust God or will I not believe and trust self?

Every time we chose faith, it grows.

Often times we think this is just too hard for us and we’d be right. Even the choosing must be done by the Spirit of Christ Who dwells within us.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

God orchestrates life circumstances to force the issue of faith in our hearts.

Let’s consider Abraham for a Biblical example:

Abraham: Genesis 12:1-2 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 22:1-2 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

What does God say about Abraham?

Romans 4:3, 9 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness…We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”

When God orchestrated the circumstances in Abraham’s life, Abraham responded in faith.

What circumstances are you facing right now? What choices are you facing right now that God wants to use to force the issue of faith in your heart? Are you ready to grow and blossom?

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, Women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have two married children and four grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.