Thank you …two simple words that we often forget to say.  Have you ever given a gift to someone, done something special, helped someone out and never heard the words THANK YOU expressed?
          There is a song that says, “Give thanks with a grateful heart.”  How is our heart today?  I hear the phrase, “it is a heart thing”.”  What does this really mean?  When you don’t take the time to notice the things being done for you….your heart might need a tune up.
          I spoke at several ladies meetings, over the holiday season, and I gave them a challenge.  You know how on TV they talk about celebrating the 25 days of Christmas….well I asked them to make a list from 1-25.  On this list they were to write down 25 things they could do to encourage someone and once the list was written to ask the Lord to give them a name next to each good deed.
          It was so great to have ladies come to me and say they did their homework for this assignment and how blessed they were after they had done a good deed for someone.  They ended up having so much fun finding things to do for people that some of them wanted to keep a list monthly now.
          Let us look at another list together….ok get your paper ready and write down 1-25.  Now make list of 25 things that you are grateful for….I mean really grateful for.  Now next to each of these items write the person’s name next to each item that was responsible for making this happen in your life.  For example, your salvation – when was the last time you thanked for Lord for this?  Another might be how you were brought up – have you ever thanked your parents for all they have done for you?  The list can go on and on……but you know when you start to write it down, at least for me, the tears begin to flow and I am overwhelmed on how good I have it.
          In dictionary.com it says the following:
Thank you – …”an expression of thanks, as by saying “thank you”:
Grateful – …”warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received;
          Are you thankful for something today? Can you truly say you are grateful for something?  Another song that comes to mind is “Count your blessings…name them one by one…and see what the Lord has done.”
          Many times when a person does not say THANK YOU…it could be a heart thing.  Maybe life has hardened their heart so much they can’t see past this.  Maybe they just forget to say THANK YOU because they are too busy.  Don’t get caught up in this stuff….say THANK YOU!!
          What ever the case is,” THANK YOU” can go a long way.  Start today and say “THANK YOU” to the Lord for all He has done for you.  Ask Him to remind you of people that have made a difference in your life and write them a note of thanks or, better yet, tell them in person.  There is a song you might want to listen tofrom Ray Boltz called “Thank You.”  The song refers to those people who are in heaven that had a part in your life that we would say thank you to.  They gave to the Lord in a special way to help change your life.
          Let this challenge your heart. Never assume that the words “Thank You” don’t mean anything.  Get working your list. 

Lynn Wilson

Lynn Wilson a wife and a mother of two boys, currently on Staff at America’s Keswick for the past 20 years. She has been involved in her local church in women’s ministries as well as speaking for other churches and retreats. Her mission statement would be …to touch one life so in turn they can touch a life for eternity. Her greatest joy is to go home at the end of her work day and spend time with her family and enjoy her first ministry which is being  a wife and mother.
 

          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, then 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 every thing 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.

         But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…  (James 1:22)

          Some years ago at a meeting at Keswick, I heard a message on Romans 12:1 (ESV), I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Developing that verse, the speaker went on to say, “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar.”
          “How clever!” I said to myself.  And then the embarrassing truth of that statement hit me!  Years before, I had embraced the challenge of offering myself as a living sacrifice to God, and I was quite comfortable with my good Christian intention.  Now, however, I had to do some serious rethinking.  Had I crawled off the altar?
          I realized I frequently lived in “the land of good intentions.”  Sometimes that is my comfort zone.  I satisfy my pricking conscience by saying, “Yes, I must do so and so, but not just now!”  So there I go again, crawling in the wrong direction!  What does that cavalier attitude do to my relationship with the Lord?
           It does not please Him, I’m sure.  Will I go too far someday?  Will I crawl off the altar one time too many?  Will my propensity to intend to do something good, and then not do it, cause me to experience no longer His continued lovingkindness and blessings?
         As I pondered those questions that pertain to my well-being as a Christian, to my dedication to keep my promise to give my life as a sacrifice to Him, I suddenly remembered reading “My Spirit will not always strive with man.”  That’s the Truth!  Therefore, I need to forsake “the land of good intentions.” I need to get back on the altar, and I need to be careful to give the Lord preeminence in my life so once again I can bring Him pleasure and joy.  And once again, I can receive the benefits of His lovingkindness, His grace, and His amazing love!

Dear Father God, accept me back on your altar. 
And farewell to the land of good intentions.

Midge Ruth

Writer for “Real Victory for Real Life” 
365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick
VOLUME 2
 To order a copy of “REAL VICTORY For REAL LIFE” 365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick, forwarded by Dr. Joseph Stowell visit  www.americaskeswick.org  and click on store. 

          Have you ever heard words come out of your mouth and you have gasped? My thought is frequently, “Oh, Lord, I shouldn’t have said that. How could I have said such a thing?” Then my thought has quickly turned to, “How can I talk my way out of that one?”
          As I read the verse in Proverbs: “If you have been trapped by what you said….Go and humble yourself” (Proverbs 6:2 and 3, NIV).
          Oh, I have been trapped by what I said. So what should I do? Verse 3 tells me: “Go and humble yourself.” You mean I have to admit I was wrong? Yes, that’s what the Bible says. To whom should I go? The first person we must go to is the Lord. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).
          Once we talk to the Lord and admit our sin, we are better prepared to go to the person, humble ourselves, and say, “I was wrong.” So is that it? No. We are expected to change. “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil. He must turn from evil and do good” (1Peter 3:10-11, NIV).

Be Contrite

Be willing to Confess

Trust God to help you Change

Marilyn HeavilinIs 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

          Did you cringe at that title?  Being corrected or called to accountability has got to be one of the most difficult things we as humans face.  I will be first (well maybe) to admit that I do not like to be corrected, called on the carpet for my behavior or confronted about my attitudes.  Yes, I give you all permission to tell my husband I admitted this to be true. 

          As humans we are naturally self-protecting and our pride really gets in the way of our being able to honestly look at the errors of our ways.  It’s one thing to have God tap me on the shoulder, but to have another human do it – UGH!!  

          What I do know is that scripture tells us to confront one another, hold each other accountable and to accept correction as from God.  It is then that we can grow and become the persons or women God really desires for us to be.   Not only that but it may keep others from growing if they continually watch our wrong behaviors and attitudes.  Proverbs 10:17 states that “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”  Have you ever thought of it that way – you are not just keeping yourself from fully experiencing God, but others, too.   Let’s keep that thought going…Proverbs 13:18 “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.”   Proverbs 15: 31-32 “He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.  He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”

          Do you see that heeding correction brings life, understanding, wisdom and honor?  On the other hand ignoring correction brings self-loathing, poverty, and shame.   So which of those attributes do you desire in your life?  Me… I’ll take the first set that gives life.  There is still another side to look at ~ not just will you accept rebuke, but do you care enough about others to gently rebuke them?  Yes, the word is gently and with lots of love.  This means to those you love and know – don’t try this out on strangers.   Well, that’s the subject for a totally different devotion.

Dr. Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
 

          Yesterday, we considered Psalm 32:8 and that God instructs and teach each of His children simultaneously yet individually and that He counsels all of us with His eye upon us. 
          We closed with this question: Are you heeding His instruction, His teaching, and His counsel? Are you listening for it?  Are you obeying it? 
          Is your first response to an instruction from God hesitation?  Do you, like me, have numerous reasons why it doesn’t make sense to do that? 
          If Noah considered the reasonableness of God’s request rather thant immediate obedience, he and his family would have drowned.
          If Abraham stopped to consider the reasonableness of God’s instruction to kill his only son – it would have not made any sense at all since Isaac was his only heir. 
          If Joshua had hesitated to consider the reasonableness of God’s instruction to circle Jericho with trumpets and shouting – those walls would never have fallen. 
          God told Joshua He delivered Jericho into his hands and then prescribed HOW it would be accomplished.
          God wants to do so much more in and through us and He prescribes HOW it will be accomplished.  But so often we (I) resist or hesitate because it doesn’t make sense to us. 
The verse that follows Psalm 32:8 warns us: “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.”
 Ps 32:9
          I know for me; I need to practice saying “yes, Lord” followed with immediate action. I don’t want to be a stubborn saint.  As soon as I hesitate – I am putting myself in a place above God – place of pride and haughtiness – because I am thinking about what I think, about what I want to do, about what I feel as if it matters one iota when God instructs, teaches and counsels 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.  

          “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Ps 32:8  

            God’s promise to His child – He will guide and direct us, teaching us in the way we should go. He will keep His eye upon us.

              Stop and step back a moment. That promise is made TO and kept FOR every one of the saints.   If you give that some consideration, your heart will soar with praise – that God simultaneously yet individually guides each of us, simultaneously yet individually teaches each of us, and simultaneously keeps His eye on every one of us individually.

              Only God… It goes beyond our imagination and comprehension that He keeps His eye on us. He doesn’t get distracted from you while He is helping, guiding, and teaching me. 

          Now that begs the question – are you heeding His instruction, His teaching, and His counsel? Are you listening for it?  Are you obeying it? 

           “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Ps 32:8

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 cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. (Psalm 142:1-2)

           Do you struggle with praying out loud?  For years I did.  I was always afraid I wouldn’t say the right words, or sound “spiritual enough.”  What that really boils down to is fear of people – and the only One who should command our fear is God.  After all, He is the one to Whom we’re speaking anyway.  When we pray out loud, we’re inviting others to join in with us as we pray, but we aren’t really talking to them.
           A few years ago I read a little book by Bill Gothard titled The Power of Crying Out.  While I’ve somewhat conquered my fears of praying out loud in groups of people, I had never thought about praying out loud when I’m by myself.  After all, God knows my thoughts, right?  Psalm 139:2b says, You understand my thought afar off.  So when I’m praying in my heart and my mind and my spirit, God hears me.  But the Scripture is full of verses indicating we are to cry out to God with our voice. 
           So, I’ve started praying out loud.  It was really weird at first.  Kind of makes me feel like I’m talking to myself.  My dad says only little old ladies with money talk to themselves – and I’m neither!  But the truth is, I’m not talking to myself – I’m talking to my Father, and I know He hears me.  I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD!  I will keep Your statutes (Psalm 119:145). 
           I was sharing with a friend about this “new” concept and she reminded me that, while God can hear my prayers whether silent or spoken out loud, Satan can only hear what I speak with my voice.  So when I pray out loud, I’m also letting him know what I’m asking God to do – and he knows I have the power of God on my side.
           Is there a burden on your heart that you’ve been praying about?  Cry out loud to God – He will hear!

Ruth Schmidt

Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America’s Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.
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           Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.  Do I consciously acknowledge that Christ owns my life? 

          Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
          Am I living each day to grow more like Jesus; and am I looking forward to Eternity with Him? 

          As I grow to be more like Jesus I am becoming more in tune with the “Eternal Perspective.”  My latest slogan “we do life here on earth; and then Heaven.”  Some years ago, a godly woman from Sandy Cove recommended I read Heaven by Randy Alcorn.  I too recommend his book on Hheaven because Randy’s research is from God’s Word.  Randy is very humble in that he will say “I don’t know” rather than prove himself to be right. If you want to get excited about your permanent home, read his book and read the Scriptures pertaining to his writings.   www.epm.org

          Sometimes it seems we become complacent living in this fallen world. I too am guilty of this. This is not our permanent home ladies, we are just passing through. I don’t hear many conversations about Heaven except for the purpose of comfort when we lose a loved one. I’m not saying that isn’t good, but I am saying we would be blessed while we walk this journey on earth to focus on our permanent home, Heaven.  The Bible has many passages that pertain to Heaven.  One that stands out:
          John 14:1-4 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If It were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also”.  
          Q& A about Heaven – Randy Alcorn & Anne Graham Lotz have answered some of these questions on the web.  Google – what do adults ask about heaven
          The best question and the most vital answer is below:
How do I get to Heaven?
          Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6, NKJV).        

          Some people protest this for promoting exclusivity. Lotz says God has invited everyone to live with Him in His heavenly home: “So it’s a very inclusive invitation,” she says, “but you have to RSVP-and the RSVP is at the cross.”

Blessings,
Pat Spies
Volunteer Development/Church Liaison

Footnotes:
a. John 14:1 Or You believe in God
b. John 14:2 Or In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
c. John 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know
The term ‘Heaven’ appears more than 600 times in the Bible. But the exact number depends on the version of the Bible used. The word appears more in the KJV …

          Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Hebrew New Year 5774, will begin on our Roman calendar at sundown September 4th.  Don’t be confused when the Scripture tells us this day falls on the first day of the seventh month.  I won’t take the time to explain it here.  Let me just say there are two different cycles in God’s calendar.  The seventh month in the calendar called the “cycle of redemption” is Rosh Hashanah. 

          There are in fact three very special feasts in our month of September:  Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets or New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

          Let’s read Leviticus 23:24, 27-28, 34: 24 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’
27 ‘Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.’
34 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.’

          Rosh Hashanah, which starts at sundown Sept. 4th, is the anniversary of the birthday of the world.  It is a day to awaken at the blast of the trumpet.  Why not ask the Lord to awaken all of us in His church as our alarms go off in the morning of September 5th.  Let us pray for revival to fall on us individually, our churches corporately and the nations of the world.

          Yom Kippur, which starts at sundown Sept. 13th, is a day set aside to repent.  I invite you to join in this day of repentance.  Invite Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life.  As He reveals sin areas, confess those sins, then read Jeremiah 29:12-13 and James 4:8.  Seek the Lord with all your heart, draw near to Him. Allow Him to cleanse your heart and renew and upright spirit in you. (Ps. 51:10)

          Sukkot or The Feast of Tabernacles begins at sundown Sept. 18th.  It is a season of rejoicing as God releases His life in us.  Dear ones, the Word became flesh and tabernacled (or dwelt) among us, and we beheld His glory!! (John 1:14)  God instructed the Jewish people to live in tabernacles for seven days to remind them of the time the Israelites lived in tabernacles when God took them out of Egypt.  (See Leviticus 23:34-43)  He took them from slavery to the promised land.  I invite you to review the promise Jesus Himself gave us at Tabernacles when He walked on the earth.  Let’s read John 7:37-38: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
          Dear one, God wants to bring you and me to the place where He can release His LIFE into us!!
          I am fully persuaded that God gave the Hebrew feasts for all time.  They are for us as well as the Jewish people.  I believe God would have us enter into this season of blessing and awaken to the reality of who He is, repent and be set free from our sin, and finally rejoice as He releases His life into us!!

Happy New Year,
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Some material taken from the following book which is also recommended for more information on the Hebrew Feasts:  The Messianic Church Arising, Restoring the Church to Our Covenant Roots by Dr. Robert Heidler, Glory of Zion International Ministries, 2006.