Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Ephesiand6:11-13

This is a very familiar Scripture. I believe it bears reminding that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood though it often FEELS like that is where the battle lies. It FEELS like our conflict is with our neighbor over their pet or our co-worker over their laziness or our spouse over their failure to help with chores or… well the list goes on and on. We need to remind ourselves that our enemy lies in principalities, power, rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. We have a very real enemy that “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10.

We need be sure we come dressed to the battle:

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; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:14-17

“That God would tell me to ‘take up’ and ‘put on’ this gospel armor alerts me to the fact that I do not automatically come into each day protected by the gospel. In fact, these commands imply that I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and arm myself from head to toe.”* It’s not automatic. It’s easy to think as believers that we are automatically protected, but the Bible clearly says to PUT ON the whole armor of God.

Be ready. Be armed. Be dressed. Take action.

Blessings, Diane

*The Gospel Primer – Milton Vincent

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.

Recently I watched “Finding Nemo” again with my grandchildren. I think it gets funnier every time I see it.

At one point Dory, an absent-minded, forgetful fish says, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

There are times in life when we get weary and tired, tempted to give up. The enemy would like nothing more than to render us useless. It can be overwhelming to think too far into the future, it just seems impossible to continue. The battle can get intense and our flesh may want to flee, hide and give up.

But-
Jesus NEVER fled.
Jesus NEVER hid.
Jesus NEVER gave up.

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Sometimes the best we can do today is to do the next thing we know to do. Just keep swimming. When life gets overwhelming – narrow your focus to one thing: the next step to take and take it. Just keep swimming. (Can’t you just hear Dory’s voice?)

Don’t know what the next step is? Ask God for wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Just do the next thing. Just keep swimming.

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.

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1 Thes 4:9-12, ESV)

A friend reminded me this week the context of this verse. The Thessalonians were sort of hanging out waiting for the Lord to return and that’s about it. I expect all the hanging around left them with lots of time to waste. “Killing Time.” I don’t even like saying it out loud but I must admit I’m guilty of it. Typically, when I have thought it or said it, what I mean is that the time between right now and the next thing I’m waiting for is pretty much a nuisance. I realize it’s during the times when I’m “killing time” that instead, it’s “killing me” or at least my spirit and it’s definitely grieving Him. Time is precious and a gift from God. I am purposing to be more intentional about how I use the time He’s given me. He is so good- amen?

Dina
Dina Seaton serves in Marketing at America’s Keswick, was saved by grace in 2000, and has been on staff since 2002. Dina loves Jesus because He first loved her. She is thankful to be a “Mom” for the last 20 years by her one and only son whom she adores more than words can say.

We have the victory; but keep fighting.
We have the victory but we still have to fight.

We have the victory:

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4 for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith.

We have to fight:

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Joshua was told by God, “do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand…”(10:8) They marched all night and arrived upon them suddenly (10:9) …the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as afar as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. (10:11)

Although the victory is won, we still need to suit up and show up for the battle to enjoy the fruits of victory.

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.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

There are so many ways to go with this one very familiar verse, but today I want to focus on the humility of prayer.

Prayerlessness is characterized by:
• Being more focused on self rather than God
• Arrogance
• An attitude that “I can do it myself”
• The belief that “I don’t need God”
• Unbelief
• Laziness
• Control
• A belief that my plan is best

Prayerfulness is characterized by:
• Humility
• Sacrifice – praying takes time and may require giving up other things
• An attitude that “I need God”
• Faith – believing God is able
• Action – prayerfulness takes intentionality / it is a discipline
• Acknowledging that God is in control
• A belief that God’s plan is far superior to my plan

Genuine, heartfelt prayer foundationally requires humility that expresses, at its very root – I need help from One greater than myself. I am not able. He is able. I know little. He knows everything. I want what I want. He wants what is best for me.

Lord, may my life reflect belief, humility, and earnest prayer.

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.

“We need to make sure we seize the opportunities we already have.”

These were the wise words spoken to me the other day by my husband, as I vented about my feelings of inadequacy and underachievement. That I am not yet where I’d like to be in life and that at times I wonder on whom I am having an impact.

I was feeling quite cozy in my perceived insignificance until he crashed my solo pity party with the following reminder.

He said, “Think about Paul and Ananias. The Apostle Paul is a huge part of church history and responsible for the Gentiles coming to know Christ. He ministered to so many generations through his daily life and writings. However, He came to Christ because of a lesser mentioned man named Ananias. The story of his greatest contribution is told in one chapter of the Book of Acts, for just a few verses. But the impact his obedience had on the world was exponentially greater than could be summed up in even an entire book.”

As I wrote this, I began to tear up with conviction because not everyone is called to be an Apostle Paul, neither should we all aspire to be such. There are, however, many of us who are called to be the Ananias in someone else’s life. Too often we miss those opportunities because we fail to obey the tugging of the Holy Spirit.

Being a prolific preacher like TD Jakes or an excellent evangelist like Billy Graham is noble and very special. But being the Sunday School teacher that taught TD, or the school friend to Billy who shared her faith during lunch period, is just as amazing, special, and vitally important to God’s plan. We do not know whose lives we may touch, or the long-term impact we may have simply by being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

More often than not we are presented with opportunities that we don’t follow through on because of fear, distraction, insecurity, or a number of other excuses. Because we delay or avoid the opportunity altogether, we never quite know what could have been.

This is not a license to live with regret of past decisions and mistakes. But it is an OPPORTUNITY to re-evaluate what God has already presented you with and change direction accordingly.

Be well my sisters!
Diera

Diera Shaw-Mendez is a minister and youth leader at New Beginnings Worship Center, Pennsauken, NJ, and works full-time for an educational nonprofit in Philadelphia. She is wife to Chaplain Juan Mendez and mama to Olivia Joy. She spends her “spare time” running an online invitation design shop on Etsy and write occasionally for her personal blog, With Style, By Grace. Diera is a God-fearing, Starbucks loving, tech junkie (…in that order!) who simply wants to inspire women to invest in THE beauty that never fades!

And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, “My own hand has saved me.” Judges 7:2

I wonder if sometimes we have things so well in hand that God doesn’t need to show up. Gideon had TOO MANY people to fight the Midianites for God to win the battle. Not too many people to win, but too many people for God to win the battle.

Do we ever rob God’s glory by relying too much on our own resources? Where is that fine line between doing our best and relying on our own strength? Where is the fine line between taking action and waiting on God? Where is the fine line between doing and trusting?

Are we in danger of being a “glory thief” – as Paul Tripp calls it?

What resource does God want you to lay down so He can be made famous and His name be glorified?

May God give you wisdom to walk the fine lines.

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.

I finished my study of Ruth and my questions for the first lesson in Esther. In preparation for Bible Study class, I began to read some commentaries. I always reach for the wisdom of Warren Wiersbe. I appreciate his depth while maintaining simplicity as he shares his thoughts on scripture.

Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary began with a comparison of Ruth and Esther. He noted that Ruth was the poor woman in the fields and that Esther was the beautiful woman who had the advantage of becoming Queen. He also noted that it was a possibility that before Esther was chosen to be Queen, Mordecai and Esther were not practicing Jews. Esther 2:20 says that Mordecai and Esther did not make it known that they were Jewish. The commentary continues that they may not have followed certain laws found in Leviticus. Had they done so people would have known their background. Perhaps they simply weren’t asked so they didn’t divulge any information on their own.

We usually think we have to have our “act” all together before God would consider using us. Regardless of where these women were economically or spiritually, God used them to accomplish great things. So, what is it I want you to remember today? I want you to remember that regardless of where you are God wants to use you. Regardless of your position God wants to use you. Regardless of where you think you are in your walk with Christ (because we ALL think we should be more spiritual, more bold, more mature, more….whatever!) God wants to use you right now, right where you are!

Ruth came to a decision to follow Naomi’s God. Esther came to a point where she needed to follow her God. Today may be the day we decide that wherever we are, whatever we have or have not done, you and I are where God has placed us and we are where He can use us for His glory. Decide to follow Jesus today and to be available to Him. As for your weaknesses… yeah…. He uses those, too. He can always use you!

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.

Matthew recorded the scene at a place called Gethsemane. Jesus, approaching the time of his death, took his disciples to this garden to pray. He said to them, “Sit here, while I go other there and pray.” (Mt. 26:36). Jesus left the majority of his disciples there and took Peter, James, and John and moved further into the garden. Matthew says Jesus “began to be sorrowful and troubled.” (Mt. 26:37).

Think about that.

Jesus.

God in the flesh.

Eternal deity.

Creator.

Jesus was sorrowful and troubled.

“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.'” (Mt. 26:38).

Jesus was very sorrowful.

Why?

Was he fearful? I would think any man would be if he knew what awaited him.

Matthew did not say Jesus was fearful and troubled.

No, he said Jesus was sorrowful and troubled.

What would it be?

What weighed so heavily on our Savior’s heart that night in the garden?

Could it have been that, within hours, the sin of men, the blackest, darkest, vilest sin, would be laid upon Him who had never known sin from eternity past?

In fact, Paul clearly states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:21).

The Father “made him to be sin”… that sounds much more invasive than “our sin was laid upon him.”

I shudder to think of the reality of the cross. Not just the mechanics of crucifixion – what Jesus physically endured on my behalf but that Jesus – pure, perfect, undefiled, God — became my sin.

I don’t know for certain, but I can’t help but think that is why Jesus was sorrowful and troubled.
This scene at Gethsemane shows we that gaze upon it the blending of the deity, humanity, and humility of Christ.

Thank You, Jesus, sounds so trite in light of that.

Take time to gaze.
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.

Scanning through a magazine recently I read this statement from Hayley Crawford:
“There’s a difference between tragedy and burnt toast. I remind myself of this many times a day. From food spilled on a brand new sofa to pancake batter tainted with garlic salt to sand in the carpet, these occurrences are just burnt toast. Life with kids is messy, but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it can be really wonderful.”

One any given day, dear sisters, we can find ourselves digressing into complaints and negative speech about any number of minor moments we could encounter — from someone cutting you off in traffic to the doctor being late for your appointment: blah, blah, blah — we can find ourselves acting like it’s all a really big deal.

Like Hayley stated above, “It’s not the end of the world.”

It really isn’t. As daughters of the King, this ought not to be the way we function. In Christ we have been given new hearts and our minds are moment-by-moment being transformed from strength to strength, glory to glory.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

All around us there is real suffering going on; people are struggling with and through sickness, disease, death, the ramifications of poor choices, joblessness, etc… The way we are to impact the world is to be salt and light. It should look and smell differently because of Christ in us.

If you see yourself in this Victory Call, talk to God and ask Him to help you to not sweat the small stuff. Burnt toast is just that — burnt toast. Let’s not waste energy acting like those moments are tragedies and get on with our day.

And, when it is a deeper issue or a trial that we are confronted with, remember:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”James 1:2—8

Stephanie Dale
Stephanie 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.