It was late and it was dark. While looking for the way home we trusted that the driver ahead of us knew where to enter the road we needed to get to. However, the car slowed and stopped and we realized we entered what had looked like our entrance ramp but it quickly led to a dead end.

This past week I began a study called “Voices” by Pam Gillespie. It is a study that digs into the Old and New Testaments to understand how God spoke in the past and how He speaks today. Currently, I am doing the Old Testament study. In the first week of this study I have been reminded that, in Genesis, when God spoke things happened. He spoke all things into being. He also spoke to Adam and Eve. In the study I was to reflect on what instructions God really gave to Adam and Eve. Then I was to reflect on how Satan twisted what God had actually said. I noted that when God speaks He is clear. When God speaks He doesn’t give half the story. He says what is good but also made sure the boundaries were clearly marked out as well. Lastly, I reflected that when God speaks He is faithful to follow through on His word.

In our day, there are many voices competing for a listening ear. Some voices twist God’s truth by giving only half the story, or change the story completely. There are voices that promise that you will be blessed by sending in your financial gift. Voices that offer promises that are not promised in the Word of God. Especially in these days we need to be careful that we are hearing and obeying only one voice. It is so easy to listen to all the other voices but you and I must be discerning. Know God’s Word. Know His voice. Know the One whom you follow.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27, 28

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy’s on staff at America’s Keswick in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 28 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has taught Sunday school and Bible studies 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.

Three pianos were delivered last week to Keswick. Soon five pianos will be on the stage for the piano concert tomorrow and Wednesday. The piano tuner is already scheduled to spend hours making sure that each piano is in tune. I asked the piano tuner once how hard it would be to make them all in tune with each other. He said to me it’s not really that hard because they are each tuned to the same tuning fork (an instrument that looks like a fork but is struck, and that pitch is what they use to tune the first string of the piano.) The tuning fork is a standard that each one matches and when that is done, they all play in tune with each other. If the tuner tuned one piano to the tuning fork and then tuned the next one to the piano instead of the fork, and on and on, eventually the last piano tuned would be far off from the original tuning fork pitch.
We are like those pianos. We are all different ages, colors, and sizes, just like those five pianos. When we are all “tuned” to the one standard, Christ Jesus, then we will be able to “play” well together.

Problems arise when we compare ourselves to each other and try to measure up to each other instead of aiming to be like Christ.

“Let everyone be sure to do his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work done well and won’t need to compare himself with someone else.” (Galatians 6:4)

When you strive to be the person God made you to be, you’ll find real meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction. You can’t focus on your purpose while looking at other people (Rick Warren).

I can’t wait to hear the concerts at Keswick this week. How great it will be to hear all five pianos playing together in harmony. It will be a wonderful example of Psalm 133:1 – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.

Joyce Hayes
Artist in residence/
Hostess women’s events

Blessed are those whose way is blameless
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
Oh, that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then shall I not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules,
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
(Psalm 119:1-8)

Now if you have read through the Scripture above rather than skim or skip it, you will have noticed the commitment of the God-follower.
• She is blameless.
• She walks in the law of the LORD.
• She keeps God’s testimonies.
• She seeks with her whole heart.
• She keeps God’s precepts diligently.
• Her ways are steadfast.
• Her eyes are fixed on God’s commandments.

There is choice, decision, intention, diligence, perseverance, determination. There is effort. The Christian walk is not played out from the sofa.

Yes, salvation is paid for by the blood of Christ, free to each one the Spirit regenerates, but the living out of the salvation of a believer takes choice by God’s grace, in His strength, by His power.

This is a call to live victoriously by pursuing Him wholeheartedly,

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.

When we say a person is aging gracefully, we tend to mean they have kept their weight reasonable, they have nice skin and beautiful hair and generally don’t look their age.

We may have control over the weight but not the skin and the hair. We have no control over whether we look our age, or older or younger.

I think the greatest thing we can do to prepare for aging is to focus on what is on the inside rather than what is on the outside. When all is said and done it is more important that we are kind, gentle, encouraging, positive, joyful, at peace and good-hearted than it is that we look good.

I believe the Fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23 would be a wonderful character to evidence in our later years – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” I am not suggesting we don’t need to evidence them in our younger years; in fact, it is only as we practice them and grow in them as we age that we will evidence them consistently in our later years.

As we age, there are plenty of things to complain about and many older men and women do just that. May we not be among them!
It is such a refreshing thing to spend time in the presence of an older saint that is aging gracefully who models love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Unfortunately it is a rarity – and this should not be so among the saints.

We never get to stop dying to self and living out Jesus until we are called home to glory. Let’s not try to take any shortcuts.

Will you join me in making it your goal to age gracefully?

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.

Our God is a covenant God and Kingdom people are covenant people. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are now in covenant with the King of kings and Lord of lords.

In our culture we rarely hear of someone cutting or establishing a covenant. Wikipedia has plenty to say about a “covenant”. There are several pages. Briefly it says, “Covenants in biblical times were often sealed by severing an animal, with the implication that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate. In Hebrew, the verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as ‘to cut’, a binding set of laws…..”

God gave us a beautiful picture of covenant in the relationship between David and King Saul’s son, Jonathan. After David killed Goliath, Jonathan invited David to establish a covenant with him. Both parties counted the cost then they exchanged their robes, belts and weapons. These were symbolic, establishing a shared identity, strength and enemies (1 Sam. 18:1-3). When an enemy came against David, they also went against Jonathan and visa versa. Their covenant was so complete that David searched for any living children of Jonathan’s so that he might bless them. He was overjoyed to give Mephibosheth the inheritance that would have been Jonathan’s (2 Samuel 9:1-13).

When we make Jesus the Lord of our life we enter into a covenant relationship with Him. He will never break the established covenant. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b; Joshua 1:5b). Jesus counted the cost and chose to be in covenant with you and me. Jesus took our identity, our sin, our weakness, and our enemies. When we accept Him as Lord we put on His identity, His righteousness, His strength and will face attacks from His enemies. But He is ever with us, making the way of escape. Our covenant with Jesus is complete. He has committed to us His lovingkindness, which means “loyal love”. It is a strong word of commitment; it is agape love not just emotional love (2 Chron. 20:21 “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”),

He calls you friend, which means covenant partner. (John 15:15 “I call you friend.”)

When we are in covenant with Jesus even our unsaved family members are blessed! (1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”)

Lastly, Jonathan and David would have put a symbol on their hand or wrist to show others that they were in covenant. Enemies would see evidence of their covenant and know that when they came against Jonathan they also had to contend with David.

Jesus bears the sign of the covenant He has with us on His hands (Is. 49:16). Our sign is to walk in holiness and lift holy hands in praise to Him (Psalm 134:2).

Bless His Holy Name!

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

What do I glean from the beginning of Ezra this morning other than names I can’t pronounce? It’s easy to skip over these chapters and wonder why they are there. Thankfully Warren Wiersbe’s Old Testament Commentary shed some light on what to look for as I began to read Ezra.

“Thank God He gives us difficult things to do!” said Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His highest.

The first time I read that statement, I shook my head in disagreement, but I was young and inexperienced then, and it seemed smarter to do the easy things that made me look successful. However, I’ve lived long enough to understand the wisdom of Chambers’ statement. I’ve learned that when God tells us to do difficult things, it’s because He wants us to grow.

In God’s Hall of Heroes are the names of nearly 50,000 Jews who, in 538 BC, left captivity in Babylon for responsibility in Jerusalem. God had called them back home to do a difficult job: to rebuild the temple and the city and restore the Jewish community in their own land. This noble venture involved a four months’ journey plus a great deal of faith, courage, and sacrifice; and even after they arrived in the Holy City, life didn’t get any easier. But as you read the inspired record, you can see the providential leading of the Lord from start to finish; and “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

You see God’s providence at work in three key events: the release of the captives (Ezra 1:1-4), the return of the remnant (1:5-2:70), and the rebuilding of the temple (2:68-3:13).

Today you and I can choose to see God’s providence in our own lives. He is at work if we would look for Him. It is easy, as Mr. Wiersbe mentioned, to think that at some point life should get easier. In the midst of it all – whatever that may be for you – carry on with faith, courage and sacrifice. He will meet us at the finish!

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy’s on staff at America’s Keswick in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 28 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has taught Sunday school and Bible studies 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.

“Your tongue is your heart. If you let it loose it will betray you.”

A few weeks ago I was watching a new series on TV wherein one of the characters is having an inner struggle. So far, in every episode his character had displayed behavior that would lead one to easily surmise that he is void of any moral fiber or decency. Though he was a king and ruler, it was clear that he used his position of privilege to deprive others of their human dignity, their lives if he willed it, just because he could.

In a rare moment he is wrestling with his conscience — his inner demons if you will — and it seems that he is having a genuine moment of contrition followed by words that appeared to express sorrow and remorse over how he’d thus far lived his life.

But his face and his body language are screaming another message. His face was twisted with agitation and anger as he pondered the people’s response to what would be his seemingly sincere apology for his severe actions against them. His body grew more and more restless as he drew near the place where he’d make his very public apology to the people he (and his father before him) had wronged for decades.

As this entire scene plays out, his loyal, yet hard-hearted, wife sits at his side watching the war within. Then she says, “Be careful, your tongue is your heart. If you let it loose it will betray you.”

God’s Word clearly speaks regarding the heart and the tongue, both positive and negative: Here are a few:

Heart
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ~Jeremiah 17:9

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. ~Romans 2:5

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person…Matthew 15:18-20a

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ~Psalm 51:10

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” ~Jeremiah 17:10

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. ~Proverbs 4:23
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12

Tongue
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. ~Matthew 12:36-37

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ~James3:6-10

In the above scene the wife knows that the struggle isn’t genuine. She sees that the flesh of her husband wants what it wants for its own pleasure and satisfaction. She knows that he won’t be able to fake what’s truly in his heart.

So, the question today is: how is your heart? And does your tongue follow your sinful human heart or does it follow hard after the God of your salvation? Is it more and more becoming a thing of beauty, speaking the truth in love to the glory of the One who sits on the Throne, reigning over heaven and earth?

Stephanie

Stephanie 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 adult children, a son James, and a daughter, Joyia (with the Lord). 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.

What’s so good about it? You tell me. Please use this opportunity to comment on “What’s so good about it?” for you today. Yep, this one’s all about you. But first read on…

I saw a sign recently that read; “Every day is not a good day but there is something good in every day.” One could argue that that’s just not true and win the argument. So…I’m revising it a bit; “Every day is not a good day but God is the Good in my every day.”

I’m waiting…

Dina Seaton

 

On August 23rd – much too soon — Joyia Evangeline Paul (Stephanie’s daughter) passed into glory. After a long illness – the Lord healed her body and He made her whole in ways we cannot imagine.

Last week we walked through the memorial service which was a beautiful tribute to a young woman who touched many lives. With humor and gratefulness person after person got up and shared memories of how Joyia touched their lives. There were hundreds of people at the funeral home streaming in to say good-bye.

The moment I may remember most of this week’s services was at the cemetery as we were dismissed – each of us was given a flower to place on her casket. I received a sunflower. There were dozens and dozens of flowers already placed before it was my turn. As I placed that sunflower on Joyia’s casket, I had a last minute thought – “make sure the face of the flower faces up”- as I adjusted my flower to make sure it faced directly heaven-ward, I thought. “this is what Joyia is now doing – she is looking into the face of Jesus”- and that is how I want to remember my dear friend’s daughter.

Joyia Evangeline Paul
December 5, 1984 – August 23rd, 2014

Diane
Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.

 

Is 40:9 “…behold your God.”

Rushing, racing, thinking, running, turning, working, reading, cooking, shopping, complaining, visiting, buying, meeting, appointments, disappointments, relief, expectation, joy, closing, stopping, fixing, worrying, crying, grieving, pushing, pulling, opening, wondering, looking, seeing, parking, missing, catching, writing, speaking, studying, teaching, correcting, listening

Many distractions – some good
some not
yet still distracting.

When was the last time you stopped,
paused,
focused,
rested,
waited,
embraced
and delighted in God?

Sister – today – make time
refuse to be distracted
and
Behold you God.

1. Make a list of God’s attributes. How many can you think of?
2. Make a list of how God has blessed you this week.
3. Read and reread the description of creation. Meditate and pray.
4. Read the Gospels and make a list of words that describe Jesus.
5. Make a list of great things He has done.

Take time today – your heart will be blessed.
Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.