Warren Wiersbe has a great summary and review at the end of his commentary on Numbers. He titled this summary The Wilderness School. So, what can we learn from the Israelites? I wish I could share the entire summary but here are the highlights that stood out to me:

          We learn about life: Life is like a battle, sometimes a race, but always it’s a school where we need to be awake and alert to what God is trying to teach us.  To Moses and the people of Israel life was a journey, but a very special journey; from bondage to freedom. From childishness to maturity; selfishness to service; glorifying the past to anticipating the future; Above all else, in the journey of life, we must be sure to follow the Lord as He goes before us.

          We learn about God: We learn about God from His Word, both in private meditation and public worship. We learn from personal experience, our own as well as that of others who share what God has done for them. We learn God loves His people, He cares for them, He is longsuffering and the God of new beginnings.

          We learn about ourselves: We all have a fallen nature that’s prone to resist God. We don’t enjoy changes in life and the discomfort they bring. Complaining and criticizing are sins. It’s possible to grow old but not grow up.

          We learn about faith: Everyone lives by faith…the difference is who or what is the object of that faith.  Faith is obeying God in spite of what we see or hear, how we feel, or what might happen. Every trial is an opportunity to claim God’s promises and trust Him for the solution.

           We learn the importance of one believer: Numbers is a book of counting.  God wants all of His children to be the kind He can count on. We can go with the unbelieving majority and miss God’s very best, complaining our way through life, or we can stand in the minority and dare to believe God and follow His commands.

          May this be our prayer today… That I may set my hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may I not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Based on Psalm 78:7-8)

          Blessings, Kathy Withers

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.

 

 

           Today I am taking my car in for repair of my windshield wipers for the second time.  They don’t work in sync with each other.  One swings too far over the edge of the windshield and gets caught on the frame of the car.  Then when I reach out my window and physically release it, it swings back and catches the other wiper blade that is working perfectly.  My “runaway” wiper gets caught in the other wiper and tangles and then they are both broken.

          There are days when nothing goes my way, and my attitude becomes argumentative and quarrelsome.  I get out of sync with my relationship with God.  The steady pace of living to please God and walk with Him gets upset and I begin to respond in the flesh.   The person who gets the brunt of this rotten attitude is my husband.   So my attitude doesn’t affect just me.  Sometimes his response to my attitude gets him out of sync too and we collide and tangle until we are both broken.

          The good news is that we can be fixed.  Just like my car will be fixed today after I sit and wait for the repairs to be done at the shop and I pay the fee for new wipers.  The fact is, there is a price to pay, and time to put into repairing the damage my words have done.  Thankfully, God is in the repair business.  Let’s hope the problem with my windshield wipers is fixed today.  On the next rainy or snowy day, I will appreciate that the wipers are once again working together.  They will remind me that it is God’s plan that we work together in sync to accomplish the goal of bringing Him glory. Proverbs 25:24 “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Titus: 3:1-2 “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”  ESV

Joyce Hayes

Artist-in-Residence

 

 

 

          Are you looking forward to March 17th when many celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?

          There is good reason to celebrate the TRUTH of what we know about Saint Patrick.   Legend and historical facts have become intertwined over the years, yet from information I can gather, he was surely used mightily to turn the nation of Ireland from idolatry to TRUTH.  Let me share a few pieces of that information.

          Patrick was the son of a nobleman who was captured by a band of pirates from his homeland in Britain and was taken to Ireland.  Not unlike the story of Joseph in the scripture, he was sold into slavery. As with Joseph and true to His Word, the Lord never left or forsook Patrick (Hebrews 13:5).  Patrick had a cruel master who was a pagan warlord.  Yet, even at the young age of 16, TRUTH had been planted in his heart.   Jesus was his Lord and Savior.  Later in life he wrote of this time, “The love and the fear of God and faith increased so much, and the spirit of prayer so grew within me, that I often prayed a hundred times in the day….The Spirit was burning within me.”  Patrick so developed his personal relationship with God that he heard what the Spirit of the Lord was saying to him.  One day he heard a voice in his dreams telling him, “Behold, the ship is ready for you.”  Patrick escaped and made a miraculous journey home.

          After Patrick found his way home, he felt a strong calling to return to Ireland.  Although his family begged him to never leave them again, he could not forsake the call on his life.  Patrick returned to Ireland.  Ireland was a pagan nation and Patrick used a pagan feast to demonstrate the power of the one true God.  “All over Ireland fires were to be extinguished until a signal blaze was lit by Druidic priests at Tara, the seat of the kings where the chieftains of Ireland had gathered.  On the hill opposite the valley from Tara, Patrick lit a fire to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  The Druids warned King Laoghaire that the fire would blaze forever in this land unless it that very night was extinguished.  Repeated efforts were made to put out the fire and to kill the one who had ignited it (Patrick).  The Druids and magicians used all of their black magic and occult powers, but they had no effect on the one who represented the all-powerful God.  As a result, Laoghaire, supreme monarch of Ireland, gave Patrick permission to preach his faith throughout the land.  The sacred fire of evangelism burned brightly, dispelling the darkness of paganism.”   It seems the Prophesy of the Druids came true; the fire of TRUTH that was lit never was extinguished.  In fact it spread from the nation of Ireland as they sent missionaries to Scotland, England, France, Belgium and Germany, preaching the TRUTH of Jesus Christ.

          Dear one, this St. Patrick’s Day let us celebrate TRUTH.  Know the TRUTH, share the TRUTH, live the TRUTH.  You may even want to pray the following prayer recorded as one St. Patrick prayed as he fought the powers of darkness to bring Christ’s light to the Emerald Isle: “Christ, as a light, Illumine and guide! Christ, as a shield, o’er shadow and cover me! Christ, be under me! Christ, be over me! Christ, be beside me, On left hand and right! Christ, be before me, behind me, about me! Christ, this day be within and without me!

Patricia L. Wenzel WOC

Material taken from The Power of One Christ-Like Life by Francis Frangipane

 

          “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my Soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”  Psalm 146: 1-2 Don’t you just love that verse?  When I read it I hear me giving myself a lecture.  Often, we must remind ourselves daily that we need to choose to give Praise.  It is so easy to fall into complaint and questioning and harder to stay in the moments of praise.  But, we are reminded here that Praise is to be continual and throughout our lives, not just when we feel like it.

          What keeps us from praise?  The writer speaks to that question in verse 3 and 4, when he tells us that when our focus and trust turn too much towards man and not God our praise is thwarted.  Where is your focus?  Who are you looking towards to solve your problems? Which is more important, what man thinks or what God thinks about you?  When my hope and help come from God and God alone – I can live a life of Praise (vs. 5).  God gives us reasons to praise Him.  He is faithful (vs. 6), He is creator (vs. 6), He is just and fair (vs. 7), He provides (vs. 7), He frees (vs. 7), He heals (vs. 8), He restores and encourages (vs. 8), He loves (vs. 8), He watches over and guards us (vs. 9), He cares for those who are alone (vs. 9), He judges (vs. 9), He reigns forever (vs. 10).  Do you need any more reasons but those to give praise continually?  Think about it, when we grumble it usually has to do with what man is doing around us or to us. Therefore, if we fix our eyes on God and who he is – we can change our tune to a song of praise.  Where are your eyes fixed?  Listen to your voice; is it a voice of praise or complaint? If complaint, then it is time to turn your eyes and choose to praise.  Look away from the daily grind of your life and start worshipping the God that lives above it all.

Dr. Lynne Jahns

Christian Counselor

          For two months each year, I have the privilege of living in my 38-foot motor home in Morro Bay, California. Each day I have the privilege of sitting at my computer and viewing the Morro rock. The rock protrudes 580 feet at the water’s edge. However some days the rock is covered by fog so that it is as though the rock doesn’t exist. But I know it is there.

          This experience reminds me of when we first moved to California in 1966. We had a wonderful view of the mountains from our patio door until the smog hid the mountains. One morning after our daughter had just turned five she took one look out the patio door and exclaimed, “Mama, the mountains aren’t out today!” I had a very hard time explaining to our daughter that the mountains were actually there, but you just couldn’t see them because smog was covering them. As I look at the rock, I know it is there. I know I would hit it if I drove in that direction; I just know that I can’t see it, but I have seen it before, and I know it is there

          Do you ever have days when you wonder if God is there? Perhaps those are the days when God seems to be silent, or you can’t “feel” Him, or you can’t see Him in action. You may wonder, what in the world is He doing? I have no idea, but I do know one thing, He has promised He will always be right next to you. Hebrews 13:5 states, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Perhaps you can’t see Him, but His Word promises He is always there, right next to you.

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Is a wife and mother; author & International conference speaker  Author of Roses In December, December’s Song Becoming A Woman of Honor, Profound Common Sense When Your Dreams Die, Grief Is A Family Affair, I’m Listening, Lord

 

           “Frozen” is the first movie that our five-year-old sat through and enjoyed.  In fact, he enjoyed it so much that we took him back to see it again.  The overall theme of the movie hints at the biblical truth that salvation comes through self-sacrifice.   However, the most moving and popular song of the movie is “Let it Go.”  In fac,t it is so well done and moving that we must be careful to remind ourselves that the message of the song is, “follow your heart, there is no right and wrong, no rules, don’t worry about the consequences, what is good for me is what matters.”  This is a destructive message.  Actually, in the movie, her actions do cause harm to relationships and wreak havoc on the world.  Take a look at the lyrics: “Let it Go”

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.

Couldn’t keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see.

Be the good girl you always have to be.

Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.

Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go! Can’t hold it back any more.

Let it go, let it go! Turn away and slam the door.

I don’t care what they’re going to say.

Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway.

It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small.

And the fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all

It’s time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through.

No right, no wrong, no rules for me. I’m free!

          In our culture, we are told to be true to ourselves.   “Let It Go” is an anthem to the beauty of spontaneity and freedom.   During my first years in ministry as a young pastor’s wife, a young girl said to me “Doesn’t God want me to be happy?”  She wanted approval for living with her boyfriend.  I was dumbfounded.  I had never really thought of it before.   I knew that God is more concerned about us being holy than us being happy.  Answering, “No,” seemed very harsh.   Her question was not a “yes” or “no” answer.  God wants us to be happy, He wants us to want the things His heart desires for us.  He knows that our desires are self-destructive.   “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”   Jeremiah 17:9

          Can you think of a time when following your heart caused pain to people around you, and even yourself?  If you can, you know that we are only really free when we follow God’s heart and not our own desires.  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

          Enjoy the movie; just don’t miss the real message of it.

Joyce Hayes

Artist-in-residence at America’s Keswick

 

          Exodus 34:14 “(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” He alone is God and He is a jealous God.

          God? A jealous God? Doesn’t that contradict our understanding of jealous? Well, it would if we were thinking the more traditional definition of jealous: “hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy and advantage.”i

          But another less used definition of jealous is far more fitting in this context: “vigilant in guarding a possession.”ii  Ah, now THAT sounds like our God. He is jealous for you – vigilant in guarding that which is precious to Him. YOU! Consider your Jealous God today.

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 and 3 grandchildren and 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.

i Merriam-webster.com accessed 12/28/13

ii ibid

          And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Deuteronomy 4:1

          I wonder how much we miss because we fail to take possession of what God desires to give us.  Reading through the Old Testament again, over and over I am reminded God provides and delivers but the Israelites had to take possession of that which God gave them and show up to overcome that which He delivered into their hands.  “For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.  One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.”  Joshua 23:9-10.  What does God desire to give you that you have failed to take possession of? What does God desire to deliver into your hands that you have not showed up to experience the victory? Keep your eyes, ears and heart open to all that God wants to give you for your possession.  All His promises are a great place to start.

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 and 3 grandchildren and 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.

 

          Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. Jude 24, 25

          Stop.  Please go back and re-read Jude 24, 25.

          You have probably read these verses numerous times and perhaps, like me, you missed this key encouragement.

          Jesus is able to keep YOU from stumbling… AND Jesus is able to present YOU faultless Present you where? – Before the presence of HIS GLORY – THE FATHER And get this… with exceeding JOY.

          Can you picture that?  Jesus your Savior presenting you to the Father with EXCEEDING JOY.  How precious a thought.

          Jesus has great JOY in keeping you from stumbling. Jesus has great JOY, exceeding JOY in presenting you faultless before the throne.  OH! What a sight that will be!

          That thought blesses my heart. I hope it blesses your heart today too.

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 and 3 grandchildren and 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.

          The last months since my father-in-law’s stroke, and more recently, his home going, I have so much to be grateful for! Mostly, I am grateful for how the Lord’s hand was in so many of the details. He was evident as Dave and his sister were led to make each decision. When it came time to decide on Hospice care we had decided to go with the hospital’s choice of provider. The next day my sister-in-law did not feel comfortable with the provider and I understood her concerns. I awoke the following day and the Lord impressed on my heart to call my neighbor, a social worker with another provider. She came over and I shared the concerns we had. She was able to intervene and this new provider, that we were more comfortable with, was able to take over. Dave and I were able to make some accommodations for Dad to live with us and the same day Dad was coming home on Hospice our handyman was going to complete as much as he could in Dad’s room. By 3:30 pm John finished the flooring. Between then and 4:30 my daughter and I decorated the room and made it ready for Dad’s arrival.  By 5pm the hospital bed arrived along with other supplies. At 7pm Dad arrived and shortly after his wonderful nurse came too. It was like clock work! God’s hand is often in the details and we don’t see it. Other times we can’t miss it!  Perhaps we aren’t always looking.  Yet there are times His hand is so evident that we know we couldn’t have done a thing the way He did it! I know you have a lot on your plate. I know we can be so busy about our business. Today I pray that you will see the unmistakable hand of God in your circumstances! Look for it! He is there.

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.