WAIT ON THE LORD

“The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him” (1 Samuel 24:6).

Have you ever gone ahead of the Lord, instead of waiting for the Lord to work His plan? Well, you most certainly are not alone if that is any comfort.

Sarah got tired of waiting on the LORD to give her a child, so she decided to help God out to speed up the promise and get with the program.

King Saul got tired of waiting for the prophet Samuel to come to offer a sacrifice to God, so Saul decided to speed up the process and prepare the sacrifice without Samuel.

Jacob knew of the statement from God that he would receive Esau’s birthright, but he thought a little conniving would speed up the process and give God a little shove.

I know there are many other examples in Scripture of others trying to ‘hurry’ God’s plan. To steal a line from Dr. Phil, I would ask the above mentioned people, “So how’s that workin’ for you?” We all know the results,  It didn’t work for the Bible characters, and it doesn’t work for us either.

In reading the book of 1 Samuel, David knew God planned to make him king. After all, Samuel had already anointed him, and Saul was unjustly searching for him so that King Saul could kill David. David had plenty of opportunity to kill Saul, but David knew God’s word and His plan. David was careful to wait on God.

How about you? Has God let you in on His plan? Or have you come up with a great idea of your own? Do you want to help God out a little?

Ps. 37:34  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off.

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Marilyn 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

 

God and Our Hearts

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart.  (Psalm 119:2)

           The word “heart” occurs many times in the Bible.  It is used physically and symbolically with spiritual applications.  In its symbolic usage, the word “heart” refers to the innermost character of the individual, what he is really like on the inside, the deepest feeling, the seat of the emotions and the will, the center of the personality.  It is the real person.  And God has a great deal to say about Himself and our hearts.  God speaks about the wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9), the wandering heart (Hebrews 3:7-19) and the whole heart (Psalm119:2).  Let’s look at the whole heart.

          When we place our trust in Jesus Christ personally for salvation, God gives us a “new heart.”  Salvation produces a sense of “wholeness” – the whole heart.  God does not remove the old heart; nor does God take away the old nature. But God gives to the believer a new heart with a new nature, a nature that is whole, at peace with God and possessing amazing spiritual potential. 

          “Wholeness” is produced by the divine act when saving faith in Jesus Christ is experienced by the believing person. 

          Jesus, then, becomes the center of our lives around Whom our decisions and choices are made.  If He is not in His right place, then our choices may not be what they ought to be.

          I recall when our children were small, we were visiting my husband’s parents.  Their grandfather had an old tent supported by a center pole.  The children loved to play in it.  But one day, as they were playing inside the tent, one of them hit the center pole, knocking it down and the tent collapsed on them amid many shouts.  I have often reflected what a parable that was.  When Jesus is not the center of our lives to give wholeness to our hearts, our lives can collapse.  It is He Who gives life meaning and purpose.  

           As we make Jesus the center of our hearts in all of our choices and actions, He will guide and direct our steps.  As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and He shall direct your paths.

Joy Hubbard

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. 

Now available in Kindle!

http://www.amazon.com/Real-Victory-Life-Volume-ebook/dp/B00BMJ9LRG/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1362515015&sr=8-1

 

 

Fell into a Pit of Depression

          “Last night I fell into a dark hole, a pit of depression. I didn’t see it coming. This bad mood came out of nowhere and pulled me down into a dark discouragement. Have you ever felt this way?

          Yesterday was actually a good day. For instance, I began the day with an hour in solitude on my morning run, enjoying the bright morning sun, the beauty of the lake, praying for my family, and memorizing a chapter of Scripture. In counseling appointments and a prayer meeting with ministry leaders I was honored to join in Christ’s work and sensed him using me to minister his care, wisdom, and encouragement. I was blessed to share in a wonderful dinner…Where did this pit of depression come from? Maybe it started at the end of my run when I had pain in my knee and I became afraid that three months of training for my upcoming marathon would be wasted. Maybe I was weighed down more than I realized by absorbing the pain of others or engaging in spiritual warfare on behalf of a ministry that’s under attack…I know that I felt disrespected…but I thought I had worked that through. I know I’ve been reflecting a lot on turning 50 years, but mostly this has been positive.

          It wasn’t until later in the evening that I fell into the foul mood. I was trying to catch up on paperwork, scheduling a number of ministry events, and dealing with some administrative issues for our ministry and family that involved getting organized and making decisions…As I was working at my desk I started muttering complaints. I can’t catch up. I’ll never catch up! I just can’t handle this stuff and I’m not good at this stuff. Kristi expressed her concern for me…offering to listen to me, but I distanced myself. Why would I say no to love? Why would I chose to wallow in my dark pit alone?

 

That’s the pit of depression.
I was tired.

 

          The Psalmist prays, ‘On my bed I think of you Lord through the watches of the night… Answer me quickly before my spirit fails – rescue me from this pit!… Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want anything else.’  (Psalm 63:6, 143:7, 23:1, paraphrased and blended).

          Thank God for Psalm prayers! Sometimes the only way I can pray effectively is to grab ahold of some words like these from the Psalms and hold on for dear life! This is what I did…as I lingered in bed, drifting in and out of sleep.

          Then I woke up, not just physically, but spiritually. I sat up on the edge of my bed with clear vision. I hadn’t just fallen into the pit, I’d been pushed in there!…With courage and determination I engaged in spiritual warfare and prayed:
…Christ before me. Christ behind me. Christ beside me. Christ above me. Christ is my foundation. Christ is all around me. Christ is my shield. The name of Christ is in my heart and on my lips. I go forward in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

           Jesus Christ is my all and all! He is my reason for living, my love, my joy, my peace, my power. He is my victory. He is the victory for each person I meet. Amen.

          …My friend, I pray that you would find refuge in Christ today and that his joy would permeate your body and soul. I pray that you would go forward to face your challenges today in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May you be blessed by God to be a blessing to others today.”1

          Dear sisters, the above is only part of a Soul Shepherding devotional. If you want to read it in it’s entirety click the link below.

          Sometimes the Lord-Adonai chooses someone else’s words to speak truth to our hearts. When He does it’s important for us to pay attention. Is He speaking to you today? Do you hear His voice? What is He saying?

          NO Matter what else you do, pay attention!

 

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.

1 http://www.soulshepherding.org/2013/01/i-fell-into-a-pit-of-depression/   

 

Liar, Liar, pants on fire

          “So are you calling me a liar?” No one likes to be challenged on their integrity or honesty so John’s words in 1 John come across direct and hard hitting, leaving little wiggle room.

 

           If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:6
          If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
          Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 1 John 2:4
          Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:24
          If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; 1 John 4:20

 

Based on these 5 verses from 1 John here are some questions we should be asking ourselves.
1. Do I walk in darkness or light?
2. Do I practice truth?
3. Do I think, say or function as if I have no sin? 
4. Do I keep His commandments?
5. Do I deny Jesus is the Christ in word, attitude or action?
6. Do I love my brother?  Do I act in ways that speak love in word and action?
7. In what ways am I intentionally showing love to others? The lovely and the unlovely?

          I know these are challenging questions. Believe me, I know. Even typing them out I was challenged.  Do I fail? Yes, regularly. 

          Perhaps you, too, find that in one, more than one, or all of these areas you fail.  I am so grateful for the cross.  I need it, daily.  I need a Savior. 

          After considering these questions, run, sister, run to the Savior.  I’ll see you there!!!

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.

Pain & Suffering

          I am always amazed at how God leads me in what I read.  This weekend I began to read Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian  not knowing that the book was based on Job! So here is my highlighted portion from my weekend reading. I hope it will reinforce what you are reading in Scripture.

          “Nothing is as it should be: disease, tsunamis, hurricanes, perverts, greed, earthquakes and yes, the day when nothing seems to go your way. There is an intense realism in the biblical portrait of life. Pain and suffering do not surprise God; we do not need to deny them.

          The appropriate response to life in this world IS grief and pain. In fact, nowhere in the Bible do we find God sanctioning a “suck it up and deal with it” posture towards pain. Consider the life of Job again. He had everything going for him. He had land, wealth, a successful business, a women at his side, and ten great kids. Job lived the good life. Then the nightmare struck. After being told that all of his ten children had died, Job’s response was not a temperate one (see Job 1:20-22).

          Note that God did not condemn Job’s emotional outburst! It’s not as if God saw Job’s anquish and said, “Come on, Job! Get ahold of yourself and toughen up, man, seriously? Don’t you know that I’m God and all of this has been done for a reason? And it’s a darn good reason too, so just quit with the whining!”

          Instead, what does the Bible say?
“In all this, Job did not sin.”

          Job’s unraveling wasn’t wrong or sinful; rather, it was emotionally realistic.”
Glorious Ruin, Page 55

         Today are you just trying to hold it all together? Are you wearing your “All is well” mask? No one is exempt from pain and troubles. 

          Well, my mask just fell off. I had stopped writing as I was needing to get to a meeting.  Just before I left my office I got a phone call with some news which added to my already down mood because of some news received over the weekend. I kept my mask on for the meeting but shortly after I had a meltdown.  As I re-read what I previously wrote, I am praying about and being reminded not to sin in the midst of this and to know that my emotional reality is understood by my Heavenly Father. A good cry has helped; if nothing else it is out of my system for now. Mostly, I need to know  that God’s grace is here for me, right now, just where I am.

 

Blessings,
Kathy Withers

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 27 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.

 

Pass Over into Blessing

          Sundown March 25, 2013 marks the beginning of Passover.   Friday, March 29, 2013 marks Good Friday.  I am grateful when the celebration of Passover and Good Friday are close.  They are significant and so very related to each other.

          In the early church, Passover was the most important celebration of the year.  Passover is a celebration of God’s love and power in delivering His people out of the hand of their enemy.  It is a time to praise God for His work of deliverance, to seek him for a fresh release of deliverance and to gain faith to see His working in our future.  If you have never celebrated the feast of Passover I would encourage you to do so.  As told in the book of Exodus, the Jewish people were told to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts and lintels so that the angel of death would pass over their household.  They did so in obedience and just as God told them, the Egyptians finally let them go.  The Hebrews left slavery in Egypt and headed toward the Promise Land.  Life in the wilderness was not easy, but God was always faithful to be with them, provide for them and guide them.  (Read book of Exodus and Deuteronomy.)  So much about the Passover celebration points to the One who would become the once for all time Deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

          Did you know that at the VERY same time the Hebrew rabbi was killing an unblemished lamb without spot or wrinkle in celebration of Passover, Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave up His Spirit willingly on the cross for you and I?  His blood was poured out for our transgressions that we might be redeemed!!  In fact 1 Cor. 5:7 says Jesus is our Passover Lamb.  God could have chosen Jesus to die at any time of the year but He chose to have Him die at Passover.  Perhaps God chose Passover because Passover was given to teach us about Jesus.  Through Passover, we come to understand what His death accomplished.  Passover is all about Jesus!!

     1.  Jesus came as the Lamb of God. 1 Cor. 5:7
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (NKJ)

     2.  The blood of Jesus redeems us. Eph. 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (NKJ)

     3.  By His death, judgment was turned away and the power of the enemy was broken. (Ex. 15:6)
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. (NASB)

     4. We were released from bondage and oppression. Rom. (8:1-2) With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. (The Message)

     5.  We were set free to enter into God’s promise of eternal life. (1 Cor. 1:20; John 3:16)

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge-a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. (The Message)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJ)

          As you consider celebrating Passover and Good Friday this year, I invite you to consider the following prayer:

          Dear Heavenly Father,
I submit to you a desire to be blessed with a deeper revelation of the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ.  I ask for the ears to hear and the heart to receive that revelation as I celebrate the gift of Passover and Good Friday.  Come, Lord Jesus, fill me up to the glory of Your name.  Amen.

 

Blessings,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Some information above taken from The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert D. Heidler, Glory of Zion International Ministries

To find a copy of A Passover Sedar by Dr. Robert Heidler for your Passover and Jesus celebration go to: http://www.nlcf.org/library/documents/PassoverSeder.pdf

 

God Never Gives You More Than You Can Bear…

 Years ago I believed this came from Scripture…or at least that it was a biblical truth.  I said it many times, and tried to find comfort in that statement for myself.  And yet, it seemed as if what I observed all around me was the exact opposite.  So what is the truth?
           My eyes were opened during a Bible study called The Grace Walk Experience by Dr. Steve McVey.  We were asked to examine 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NIV), We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead (emphasis mine).
           It’s all in there…the truth about the trials and suffering that comes into our lives.  I would never compare the hardships or trials in my life to that which the Apostle Paul endured but I’ve had some hard times that have taken me into the pit.  In these verses, Paul tells us the hardships that he and his companions went through were just too much for them to handle…it went far beyond what they could physically, mentally and emotionally endure.  They couldn’t bear the strain and the pain.  It was so bad that they really just wanted to die so that they would escape the unbearable circumstances.  But why would God allow them to get to this unbearable state?
           Paul came to realize it was all in the hands of God.  Their very lives had to be surrendered into God’s hands.  There wasn’t a thing they could do to save themselves or ease their suffering.  And that was where God wanted them to be…the place where they would give up their self-sufficiency and rest in His sufficiency.
           God tries to get our attention.  As I look back on my trials, I see He was trying to get my attention but I kept trying to control and handle everything on my own.  It was only when I came to the end of my self-sufficiency that I was able to see that it was all about God’s sufficiency and not about mine.
           No, I don’t believe the statement “God never gives you more than you can bear” any more. It’s a bit scary, I have to admit. But I have seen in my own life that…I can’t…but He can. Instead of relying on my self-sufficiency (really non-existent) I need to rely totally on His sufficiency.
 
MaryAnn Kiernan
America’s Keswick Intake Office Coordinator

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. 

Now available in Kindle!

http://www.amazon.com/Real-Victory-Life-Volume-ebook/dp/B00BMJ9LRG/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1362515015&sr=8-1

BE A GOOD SHEEP

     I am reading a fiction novel in which one of the main characters is an 1800s sheep farmer.  While dealing with the sheep, the farmer and his ranch hands are careful to be quiet and calm, maintaining a normal routine.  Any sudden loud noises or movements could cause the sheep to become startled and thus scatter.  Once scattered, they would have to quickly re-herd all the sheep, as a lone sheep was a primary target for danger.

     As the Bible talks a lot about sheep, I got to thinking how this illustration can relate to our human behavior.  We can be quite content in the safety of the sheep herd, when suddenly something happens to shake up our world.  When trials come, some will wisely stay with the other “sheep” and continue to listen to and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  These people draw strength from the body of believers, and continue to walk in obedience to the Lord, and that in itself brings safety, comfort, and peace, even in the midst of trouble.

     Then there are those who, when their world is shaken, jump and run.  They separate themselves from the safety and support of being in fellowship with other believers and from the One who will lead, guide, and protect them.  Why?  I suppose every case is different.  Perhaps the enemy brings feelings of guilt and shame; or maybe there are feelings of bitterness and blame is placed on God; or the feeling that no one else could possibly understand what they are going through.  Whatever the reason, we know the enemy loves to use the tool of isolation.  When we are off on our own, we are especially susceptible to danger and harm.  “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).  And a predator knows the easiest prey is the one that has wandered from the herd and is alone.

     Which category do you fall into?  Maybe you, like me, have reacted in both ways at different times.  Either way, I think there are lessons to be learned.  If you fall into the first category, staying safely with the sheep herd and following the Shepherd, be on the look-out for those who have “run.”  While Jesus is the Shepherd and we are the sheep, He may want to use us to go after that “lost sheep.” Seek that one out and show them the love of Jesus.  By His grace, bring them back to the fold.  If you are in the second category, if you jumped and ran when troubles came, it’s not too late to go back!  Go back to the safety of the herd.  Allow the body of Christ to minister to you in your hurt.  Receive the forgiveness, love, and healing of the Good Shepherd!  Don’t allow the enemy to isolate you so that he can devour you!

     Remember, Jesus is “the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep……My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:11, 27-28).  Follow the One who laid down His very life for you, to give you eternal life.  He will NEVER lead you wrong.

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

Grace and Peace

2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

     “The essence of what the gospel brings to us can be summed up in the words grace and peace – the very words Paul uses together in the opening of every single one of his letters, because Paul was a gospel-intoxicated man.
     Grace is the root of the gospel; peace is the fruit of the gospel. As he did throughout his letters, Paul chose these words carefully and intentionally. Though the phrase “grace and peace to you” might look at first glance like nothing more than an opening salutation, Paul was communicating something very specific and intentional.
     At the root of the gospel, the measurelessness of God’s grace for us in Christ is clearly stressed in Scripture, along with its incredible power.” Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, page 142
     “The operation of God’s grace on our behalf doesn’t imply any lessening of his demands. God has always and will always demand perfect obedience. But his grace is experienced when we realize that those demands for perfection for each of us have already been met by our Savior, Jesus. Jesus fulfilled all of God’s conditions on our behalf so that our relationship with God could be unconditional. Christianity is the only faith system where God both makes the demands and meets them.” Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, page 143

Blessings, Kathy

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 27 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.

Eyes For Jesus or Circumstance

Today I received an email from a friend which included the following devotional. I share it with you today for your encouragement and edification. My hope is that wherever you are on the road – no matter how bumpy or rocky it feels; no matter what storm has broken out from the East or the West – NO MATTER WHAT,  be encouraged in your  inmost parts to see Jesus and Him only! You are not alone! He is with you! He is in ALL things! ALL things come from HIM! We are experiencing nothing that hasn’t first come through His hand of grace and which is not first and foremost, designed for our good and His glory. Selah. 

Stephanie

     “Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” – John 6:21
The disciples were traveling across the lake to Capernaum when a strong wind arose and the waters grew rough. Suddenly they saw a figure on the water, and they were terrified until Jesus called out to them and identified Himself.

     Isn’t that the first thing we do when unexpected calamities or even something that we have never experienced before comes into our life? We panic until we can see that God is behind these events in our lives. In Romans, Paul tells us that, “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 11:36).

     God has an eternal filter in which nothing can touch us unless He permits it. Even Satan must have permission to touch us. And God may even use Satan for His own ends, as in the case of Job.

     God shows us a second principle in this story. The Scriptures say when the disciples were willing to take Jesus into the boat they reached the shore where they were heading.

     I was faced with some very difficult circumstances in my business. I had no income for some time, and I saw no immediate remedy to the situation. The circumstances created fear in my heart. The anxiety began to grow until, one day after my evening prayer walk, the Lord said, “How long do you want to keep your eyes on the circumstances instead of Me? Do you think I have brought you this far to throw you into the water?” The truth was that I was halfway in already because my eyes were looking at the “big waves” surrounding my boat.

     One night, in a support group for divorced men, the leader asked each of us to keep our eyes on two men who were going to walk from the room. One man represented Jesus, the other, our circumstances. “Now, I want you to keep your eyes on both people,” he said. The men stood up and began walking across the room in opposite directions. It was impossible to keep looking at each of them at the same time. So we had to choose which we would focus on.

     The lesson was clear. We could not keep our eyes on Jesus and our circumstance at the same time. 1

Stephanie Paul

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.

1 http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/tgif/Having Eyes for One, TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman,02-14-2013