“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3

          Dale Davis says this about Psalm 3; “You first go through the double doors of the Psalms – Psalm 1 tells you to settle your commitment and Psalm 2 gives you a clear view of the Kingdom.  Then what? You walk into trouble in Psalm 3.”

          When I read Psalm 3:3, I think of the picture of a parent coming alongside a child that has had a hard disappointing day.  The child is walking around with its head down and just feeling awful.  The parent comes along and gently puts its hand under the chin of the child and lifts the head to get eye contact.  Gently the parent says, “I know this has been a hard, rough and disappointing day but I promise we will get through this together. I am here for you.” The child puts on a small smile of belief and knows what the parent says is true; what a beautiful picture. That is what we are offered in Psalm 3, we are given a model of how we can pray and reach out to God for comfort and help during some of our darkest moments in life.

          First, we need to be honest regarding our emotions and situation (vs. 1-2). It really doesn’t help us to “fake it”.  We can take that honesty to him in prayer and conversation (vs. 4).

          “The Psalms teach us how to express what we often try to repress. They do not rationalize anger away or give abstract advice about pain; rather, they express emotions vividly and loudly, directing their feelings primarily about God. The psalms present a mosaic of spiritual therapy in the process.  Doubt, paranoia, giddiness, meanness, delight, hatred, joy, praise, vengefulness, betrayal – you find it all in the psalms.  Such stewing of emotions, which I once saw as hopeless disarray, I now see as a sign of health.  From psalms I have learned that I can rightfully bring to God whatever I feel about Him.  I need not paper over my own failures and try to clean up my own rottenness; far better to bring those weaknesses to God, who alone has the power to heal.”  (Phillip Yancey in “The Bible Jesus Read”)

          Second, we need to see that God will not abandon us even when it feels like all is lost and everyone else has left us.  There are things we can know about God in the midst of our struggles.

* God protects: vs. 3 tells us that He is a shield about me, therefore I need not be afraid (vs. 6).

* God sustains: vs. 5 is a great reminder of the peace that God gives so that we can make it through the storm.

* God is enough: vs. 3 also tells us that even though it feels like everything is lost, God has not lost His Glory, so I have all I need.

* God restores: He lifts my head to see again more clearly.

* God is accessible: vs. 4 tells us that He answers from His holy hill. God hears our prayers no matter where we are and how far we feel from Him.

          Lastly, we need to keep a God perspective.  In the middle of our struggles and dark times, we can remember that God will set things right (vs. 7-8).  David sees past the immediate and hopes in what God will do, He will bring justice and evil will be stopped. It is also important to know that that means we do not need to take anything into our own hands; He’s got this!  God will bring blessings on His people.  If we jump ahead to Psalm 4, note that He will give relief (Psalm 4:4) and that in Him I can rest and find peace (Psalm 4:8).  In Him, you can find rest, peace, comfort, hope and restoration! Hang in there – God’s got this!

Dr. Lynne Jahns

Christian Counselor

          I find it interesting to consider the journey of the Israelites. After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, ready to take possession of the land God promised them, a land flowing with mild and honey, some of them were ready to settle on the near-side of the Jordan because it was “good enough” for them.  [See Numbers 32]
It wasn’t the Promised Land God intended for their possession but they were content to settle for a possession of their own making.  I am really curious about all the implications that had for them throughout their history.
The point again is made in Joshua 1 when Joshua addresses the officers of the people to “take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving” (Joshua 1:11) them to possess.
Then when addressing the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this lane, your wives, and your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and hall help them, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.” Joshua 1:12-15
I share that long Scriptural excerpt to make this point.  God intended for the two and a half tribes to cross the Jordan and to take possession with the other nine and a half tribes but allowed them to settle for less than His best for them.
In this passage the distinction is made that God gave the Israelites possession of the Promised Land but Moses gave the two and a half tribes their possession on the nearside of the Jordan – just outside the Promised Land.
What do we miss out on because we are willing to settle for less than God’s best for us?  In what ways are we content with “good enough”? Are there ways we accept man’s best rather than God’s best?
Is there a Jordan River standing between where I am and where God wants me to be?  Lord, may I not settle for “good enough” but only to seek hard after You until I possess all that You intend for me.

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.

          Daily we face temptation. Do we wrestle with it or do we give in and go our own way?  How much of a fight do we put up to overcome temptation? I believe our inclination when tempted is to focus on that thing we cannot do, or cannot have.  For example, chocolate chip cookies.  I remember in years past, literally sitting, white-knuckled, clenching the arms of my chair because I REALLY wanted a chocolate chip cookie (well, truth be told, probably several chocolate chip cookies).  My focus was those cookies I could not have.  Silly example?  How about gossiping about a co-worker? Or a woman from church? IF we even put up a fight to overcome, our focus is on the morsel we know about them that others do not or about the injustice of what they have done or… well you get the picture. Our focus is on the tempting thing.

          Imagine Jesus facing the cross.  If His focus was on the pain and the suffering He was about to endure, how could He have stood?  More likely His focus could have been on the sin He was to become for us.  The sin He would take upon His sinless, perfect, pure Self.  If that was His focus, how could He have stood?  But neither of these things were His focus.  No. Rather His eyes were set on something far beyond the cross.  His eyes were set on the prize, on the result, on the reward.  His eyes were set on the joy that would result from His obedience.  “… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus had a long-sighted view of the cross.

          I think we fail and fall in temptation because we have a short-sighted view of temptation.  We are not looking beyond the temptation, the thing our flesh wants, to the glory that lies beyond the temptation.  Our obedience will bring joy to us and glory to the Father. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

          Today, will you practice a long-sighted view of temptation?  Look beyond the temptation to the glory that lies beyond.

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 was recently reading “A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity have a Funeral or a Future” by Mark Driscoll, at Bill Welte’s suggestion.  A challenging, thought-provoking read.  One night I was stopped dead in my tracks by this sentence – “The Bible is not a book of principles to live by but rather a person to live for.” It occurred to me that in some ways I have lost sight of that. I mean, I know it but do I live as if that is true?  I realized that often the Victory Calls that I write are exactly that – principles to live by – Scripture that challenge our attitudes and actions.  For sure I have too frequently failed to point you and me to the Person of Jesus Christ, the One that not only gives life purpose but His Spirit gives us the power to live for Him.

          Stop a moment and consider that thought.  Do you live FOR HIM?  You can only live FOR Him BY His Spirit.  Why not ask Jesus to make that truth a reality to you 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.

 

          “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

          How nice it is to read that verse and think about such joy, such pleasures. But then, don’t we also go – but God, I don’t feel joy, I don’t see my life as pleasurable – in fact, sometimes it is just the opposite.

          If I look at Psalm 16 where that verse is found, I can see that leading up to David’s writing of it he answers our dilemma.  Where does fullness of joy come from in the midst of life?

          * Joy comes from God and the salvation He offers and the cleansing He gives us (vs. 1-2).

          * Joy comes from the relationships we are in with Him and His people (vs. 3).

          * Joy comes from the fact that I know that God is taking care of it all – life is not a game of dice – He holds the conditions of our life (vs. 5)

          * Joy comes from the fact that God has good things in store for those who believe and a beautiful inheritance awaits us all (vs. 6)

          * Joy comes because we are never without Godly counsel and instruction (vs. 7).

          * Joy comes because God is always going before us and around me keeping me protected and safe (vs. 8).

          * Joy comes because God does not abandon His own, both on earth and in heaven (vs. 10).

          * Joy comes because no matter where I am His presence is with me (vs. 11).

          What precious promises, all wrapped up in one small psalm.  Do you cling to God’s promises when life gets tough? Do you have a list of all He has promised you?  As you read Scripture take note of His promises so you have then ready and available when you are feeling isolated, alone and lost.

Dr. Lynne Jahns

Christian Counselor

          Biblical meditation is such a lost practice. IF, come evening, we can remember at all what we read that morning in the Bible, have we thought of it a single time during the day, let alone think deeply about it? God told Joshua (1:8) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according all that is written in it.” This calls to mind Psalm 1:1-1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” What does it look like FOR YOU to meditate on God’s Word? Scripture memorization. Reading small portions of Scripture. Journaling about your reading. Sharing portions of Scripture with a friend. Mulling over a Biblical truth. Whatever that looks like FOR YOU, may I challenge you to join me in 2014 in pursuing more of God through the practice and discipline of meditation?

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.

 

          Today I would like to ask you to consider five concerns you have in your life.  Now write them down.  Good.  Next please read the following verses from the book of Matthew 6:25-34:

          “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food; and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

          Now take your list and write across it – Turning over to God!!  Ask the Lord to send His Holy Spirit to be your helper so that you might live your life seeking His kingdom and His righteousness.  Ask God to remove your anxiety.  Thank God that He knows all of your needs and desires to meet each and every concern you have.  Now read the Scripture again and be encouraged.  We serve a God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly far more than we could think, ask or get anxious about!! (Eph. 3:20-21) Glory to His name!!

Patricia Wenzel

WOC Graduate

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. NKJV

          These promises are addressed to Joshua individually, as the successor to Moses. The section begins and ends with God’s promise to be with him. Second and second-to-last in order is the exhortation to be strong and courageous. In the middle is the commandment to keep the law together with the promise of success if he does. In ch. 23 Joshua applies these ideas to the whole people of Israel in the light of the faithfulness of God that the whole book proclaims (Reformation Study Bible). The promise that God gave Joshua that day is no less true for us now. There is no need for fear when we lean on the powerful presence of the Lord.

Pat Spies

America’s Keswick Volunteer

 

 

          The fast-paced speed at which we race through our days and weeks and years rarely allows for deep meaningful thought. We do everything on the clock. It is a rarity to have a leisurely time with the Lord. Quiet time is anything but quiet. Our minds race about things that need to be done today, guilt over the things we didn’t get done yesterday, children that want our attention, phones ringing, chimes announcing the arrival of texts, lawn mowers and trash truck rumbling along, clocks ticking,… stomachs growling. Many things warring for our attention… or maybe that’s just me. It takes discipline and practice to quiet our spirits and settle our hearts. It requires intentional switching off those things demanding our attention and looking full in His face.  After a few moments – peace, rest, assurance, joy, communion. At first it may be in fleeting moments but with practice and time, those fleeting moments become minutes, and then stringing together minutes – time  -quiet time, tarrying with our Creator and the Lover of our souls.  Yes, Lord, yes. I want more of that. I want more of You.

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.

For all the times you kept your word

      and helped someone without reward

For all the money you’ve loaned

   and never gotten back

For every encouraging word and

      every story you’ve heard from a wounded soul

For every time you were there

      without fame or payment

CHORUS

God sees everything…every deed, every kindness

      And while your work may go unmentioned

      and your faithfulness taken for granted

      God is watching…taking notice…       smiling…

even beaming with pride

Just waiting for the day you make it home

And you’re standing right before His great big throne

Then you’ll finally hear those precious words

      for you and you alone:   “My good & faithful servant, Well Done”

For everything you helped to fix

 and all the meals made for the sick

For all the children you have loved

 and all the diapers you have changed

For everyone you’ve helped to move,

all the lawns you’ve mowed  and weeds you’ve pulled

For showing tangible love to another by serving your brother

CHORUS Sometimes it’s fun…Sometimes it’s hard

 Sometimes people criticize without the slightest regard

Sometimes gracious souls respond,

 Appreciating what we’ve done

But that’s not why we do it.

 It’s so people will see Jesus through it

Written by (c) Dee Lynk August 2013

          I am blessed to know Dee Lynk who wrote and sang this song at Harvey Cedars “Grace Book” a few months ago.  I was very touched by the words of this song.  Read the words and just think of all the times you’ve done some of these things, and some of these things people may have blessed you with; and yet some to be done.

          God has and still is showing me the value of serving others.  Throughout the years of knowing Jesus He has put godly role models in my life and for that I am grateful. I love God’s Word, and His people and those who need to know Jesus.

A Love That Will Grow

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Philippians 1:3-6 Msg)

Blessings, Pat Spies

America’s Keswick Volunteer