I love this quote in Mark Driscoll’s book, “A Call to Resurgence “-  I know people in both camps and I’m sure you do too. “The two great enemies of the gospel are always sin and religion.  Sinners want the Bible to say less than it does. Religious people want it to say more than it does. Sinners want to make the Bible thinner by taking out parts that condemn them. Religious people want to make the Bible thicker by adding extra rules about their pet peeves to condemn others.”

          Let me stick my neck out here – just some musings –

Hair

Tattoos

Piercings

Movies

Cards

Clothes

Music

Services

Bible versions (oops)

          I don’t necessarily agree with another believer’s choice – but I also should not judge them if it is not clearly expressed in Scripture. Deuteronomy 12:32 Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

          May we not be guilty of making the Bible thinner than it is; nor thicker than it is.

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 don’t know about you, but I think you’re probably a lot like me.  You really believe that old phrase, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”   We all think that somehow what we do can make a difference, that God needs our help to accomplish His work, that we owe it to God to work hard for Him.  And honestly, there are grains of truth in those thoughts.  But it’s when I start to try to do “it” in my strength instead of in God’s that I get myself all messed up.  And you would think that since I tend to fall into this trap so often I would know better.  But no – as I just said — I fall into this trap way too often. It certainly isn’t because I do not believe in the power of prayer or of God’s powerful presence in my life, but when some sort of crisis arises, what is my first inclination?  I say, “Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll take care of it.”  But I don’t direct that statement to God – it’s usually directed to my boss, or co-worker, or friend.   Sometimes He doesn’t want me to do anything – just wait on His leading and let Him work in whatever the circumstance might be.

          Several months ago, many of us here at Keswick put signs on our desks or near our computers which read:  “Pray first, than work.”  Way too often, I jump headlong into doing before I jump headlong into praying.  “Praying always with all prayer and supplication… “ (Eph. 6:18).  And Paul reminds us again in Phil. 4:6 to “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”   Now how simple is that?  Bring EVERYTHING to Him – not just the big things, not just the hard things, not just the painful things – but EVERYTHING.   And God, who cannot lie, God who is infinitely faithful to His Word, will take care of it.  Period!

Lynn Randall

Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America’s KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer.  She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.

 

          Verse 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Verse 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (NKJV)

          Matthew Henry Commentary:  That God will direct and dispose of our actions and affairs so as may be most for his glory (Ps. 37:23): The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. By his grace and Holy Spirit he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. He has all hearts in his hand, but theirs by their own consent. By his providence he overrules the events that concern them, so as to make their way plain before them, both what they should do and what they may expect. Observe, God orders the steps of a good man; not only his way in general, by his written word, but his particular steps, by the whispers of conscience, saying, This is the way, walk in it. He does not always show him his way at a distance, but leads him step by step, as children are led, and so keeps him in a continual dependence upon his guidance; and this, (1.) Because he delights in his way, and is well pleased with the paths of righteousness wherein he walks. The Lord knows the way of the righteous (Ps. 1:6), knows it with favour, and therefore directs it. (2.) That he may delight in his way. Because God orders his way according to his own will, therefore he delights in it; for, as he loves his own image upon us, so he is well pleased with what we do under his guidance. 3. That God will keep us from being ruined by our falls either into sin or into trouble (Ps. 37:24): Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. (1.) A good man may be overtaken in a fault, but the grace of God shall recover him to repentance, so that he shall not be utterly cast down. Though he may, for a time, lose the joys of God’s salvation, yet they shall be restored to him; for God shall uphold him with his hand, uphold him with his free Spirit. The root shall be kept alive, though the leaf wither; and there will come a spring after the winter. (2.) A good man may be in distress, his affairs embarrassed, his spirits sunk, but he shall not be utterly cast down; God will be the strength of his heart when his flesh and heart fail, and will uphold him with his comforts, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail before him.

 Blessings, Pat Spies

America’s Keswick Volunteer

           I have found that Satan loves to use guilt in a believer’s life to keep them trapped in a prison of condemnation. In Revelation 12:10 the Bible tells us that Satan is our “accuser.” He loves it when a believer takes the bait and feels guilty and condemned. His work is done. It’s very hard to live in the freedom Christ gives a believer if you go into another prison of condemnation. Jesus paid the price for that in full! Jesus has set us free so why do we want to go right back into prison? Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” What beautiful words! If we feel guilty because of sin there’s an answer for it. First, ask God for forgiveness then accept His cleansing love. Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the cross set us free! If the great “I Am,” sovereign and holy God of the universe is not condemning us, why are we? Are we saying that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t sufficient? In all we do there are consequences, some consequences are life changing while others may not even be noticeable. Instead of listening to the voice of Satan condemning us, we need to listen to the Holy Spirit of God living in us. Listening to Him will result in conviction of sin (if there is un-repented sin), forgiveness, restoration and freedom. If we listen to the Holy Spirit instead of Satan, we will deal with godly sorrow…but that’s a good thing. God can and will take all our junk and use it for His glory if we allow Him to. If those consequences include the hurt of others, we can ask their forgiveness and then give it to God and be free. We can’t go back and change things in the past, but we do have today…the day that God has given us. We need to allow Christ to live through us, and use it all for His glory.

          Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance if faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Don’t continue to fall for the lies of the accuser! In faith believe God, you have been washed with pure water…no longer condemned…the prison door isn’t locked…all you have to do is believe and walk through the door and live in freedom. Guilt has no place in a believer’s life because Christ has already paid the penalty for your sin and there is no reason for Him to pay it again! If your feeling regret or godly sorrow it’s a perfect opportunity to take the time and remember that Jesus has already forgiven you…then thank Him and praise Him for His glorious gift to you!

Mary Ann

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 38 years, have 2 married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and three granddaughters! She serves at America’s Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also the Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

 

          Psalm 37:3-11 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.  In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Trust! Delight! Commit! BE STILL!

          Now what do you say about those four small but powerful commands? Is our God big enough to act on our behalf against the enemies in our life? More so, do we truly believe that He even wants to? Sisters, if we say we believe that God is sovereign, righteous and just, then at the very least we can choose today to humble ourselves before Him and wait patiently for Him to give us the desires of our heart. We can stop our senseless and futile striving to have our way, OUR OWN WAY!! Selah!!

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women’s Addiction Ministry. She has been married for almost 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. Stephanie serves alongside him as Care Group leaders in their church. 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.

 

          Psalm 34:1-10 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

          Bless the Lord at all times or, in other words, bless Him NO MATTER WHAT! To, bless, boast, magnify, exalt, taste and let us not forget fear the LORD! To seek, humble, hear, cry out and be saved from WHATEVER is ailing or dogging you is possible because those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

          Sisters, my challenge to you today is to choose to cry out!! If you are brokenhearted, crushed in spirit or faced with many troubles, take some time right now to bless His name! He is the Holy One!

          Just in case you are wondering, the God who saves us and keeps us cares, hears and is listening even if all you can manage is a whisper.

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women’s Addiction Ministry. She has been married for almost 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. Stephanie serves alongside him as Care Group leaders in their church. 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.

           Bill Welte, President and CEO of America’s Keswick, recently posted on Facebook that he had seen the movie “Frozen.” He asked a question that I really wasn’t looking to answer…”In all the Disney movies, why are the parents of the main character dead or they die early into the story?” Because of something I was reading a few days later I thought about this question again. From a worldly/secular view it makes me think that the family is so often attacked. Are parents purposely left out? Many sitcoms portray parents as losers and fathers as dumb. Why are parents non-existent in so many stories? It could simply be that the plot of a good story starts with a deep wound, such as the loss of a parent or parents that eventually concludes with a happy ending.

          In The Wall Around Your Heart by Mary DeMuth, the author shares about some deep wounds from loss and even the wounds received from other people.  Mary was sharing with a friend her own lament in feeling deeply the loss of family and the lack of support from parents and grandparents. Mary’s friend responded with these words: “Isn’t God big enough to fill the void? Doesn’t He declare Himself a father to the fatherless (and a mother to the motherless)?  Think of those children of Israel whose parents were so unfaithful God had to kill them off. Then He took their children into the Promised Land to fight the enemies with no parental support and a bad parental history. They only had the Lord, and He wanted them to trust that that was enough. Just because a grandmother prays doesn’t mean it will all be hunky-dory. Just because there isn’t a grandmother who prays doesn’t mean it won’t be. Don’t believe the lies! God is enough. He has always been and always will be enough.”

          I had never thought of the children of Israel as parentless, without support and guidance as I read it in scripture. But God was there to fill in the void! I’m not sure of the writers of stories or Hollywood film maker’s exact motives to remove parents from the story line. I am, however, confident that for you and I who are feeling the losses of parents, who have been wounded by those in our stories…..God is enough to fill the void!  Regardless of death, lack of relationship and involvement in our lives, Jesus always desires a relationship with us. He is enough to fill the void.

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.

  Nahum 1:7 – The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him (New King James Version)

Nahum 1:7 7-10 GOD is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble.  But cozy islands of escape He wipes right off the map. No one gets away from God. Why waste time conniving against GOD?  He’s putting an end to all such scheming. For troublemakers, no second chances. Like a pile of dry brush, Soaked in oil, they’ll go up in flames. (The Message)

          When we hear someone say “God is good” the next person will state “All the Time”.  What does that mean and why do we say this?  Well, we could come up with many reasons why God is good. Today’s verse speaks of God being good; He is our stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows if we truly trust Him. On a personal note, write down where you see God being a Stronghold in your life as you face challenging times. Personally, I could write a book on God’s goodness and how He delivered me and is molding me to be the woman He created me to be.

Pat Spies

America’s Keswick Volunteer

          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’s 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

Stephanie Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women’s Addiction Ministry. She has been married for almost 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. Stephanie serves alongside him as Care Group leaders in their church. 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.

 

          Reading through the book of Deuteronomy, I kept noticing the phrase, “you shall purge the evil from your midst.” As God’s chosen people, the Israelites were far from perfect themselves but over and over God warned them about not becoming entangled with those around them. He warned them that disobedience to Him or obedience to the ways of the Gentiles around them would lead them eventually away from Him and into idolatry. God seemingly took a hard line on things we either simply wring our hands over or even accept.  I’m not suggesting we stone rebellious children or adulterous couples but I am suggesting we have very much become like the unbelieving people amongst whom we live. How different are we than others in our neighborhood other than maybe we go to church on Sunday? Our great-grandparents would shudder to see how far our society has slidden towards evil and the reduced contrast between believer and non-believer.  Over generations. with mini-compromises and baby steps than seem almost imperceptible, we have allowed evil in our midst.  I am not just talking of our culture – but even our own hearts – I mean we don’t like to think of it as evil but every time we choose our own way – we rebel against a Holy God. I can’t answer this for you, but you can. Will you take 5 minutes sometime today to ask God in what ways you have allowed evil in your midst?  Thanks be to God we have a Savior.

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.