Are you aware that January 6th is known as “Little Christmas”?  In some countries presents are exchanged on January 6th, in remembrance of the gift giving of the three kings who came to worship the baby Jesus.  Since January 6th is my birthday I have always enjoyed the story of the three kings although I must admit I didn’t always like having my birthday so close to Christmas.  It was not until I was a student of the Bible that I came to know the real story and appreciate the day God chose to give me life.  Here let’s read the first part together…

Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
*************************
What an amazing story told in the book of Matthew of wise men who came from the east to worship Jesus.  Notice the Word does not say there were three wise men.  The Word does not reveal how many were in their party.  We do know they carried three gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh.  We also know they followed a star.  As best I can tell from other resources, the wise men were likely from what we know today as Iran or Iraq.  The Word does not tell us exactly where they were from, only that they were traveling “from the east” (v.1).  They must have been very familiar with astronomy and were students of the Word for they identified the unusual star as “His Star in the east” (v. 2). They seemed to be familiar with the words of the prophet Micah (5:2) who foretold the birth of a King in Bethlehem who would shepherd the people of Israel (v.6).

When they entered Jerusalem they must have expected the people to know where the Christ was born.  I wonder if at this point they moved by the flesh and not the Spirit.  It almost seems like they got off track.  Of course they may have needed to stop in Jerusalem for some supplies or a break from their road trip.  It must have felt good to get off the camels, their likely mode of travel. Anyway, in the Word it sounds like they were the talk of the town.  Herod secretly called for them after he got some counsel from his chief priests and scribes.  He sent them to Bethlehem and told them to come back to him with a full report since he too wanted to worship the King. The truth was he feared the loss of his position (v.3-8). Herod had no interest in worshiping the King of the Jews.

The wise men were carrying with them expensive gifts for the King they expected to find.  How interesting that they chose gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Could it be that they sought God’s wisdom when choosing the gifts to bring?  The gifts each seem to hold significant symbolism as well as practical application.  The gold was surely a fitting gift for a King.  On the practical side, it is of great value and could provide financial support for the King Jesus.  The frankincense was fitting for one so holy.  Frankincense was used in sacrifices and burned in the temple, as a sweet aroma to God.  It, too, had a practical benefit for given its medicinal qualities it may have served the physical health of King Jesus.  It, too, was of great value.  Finally the myrrh was a gift fitting for one who would sacrifice His all for our salvation: you see myrrh was used for embalming the dead. 

We shall review more of this story tomorrow.

Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

I love music and I simply love listening to hymns of old and the golden oldies too.

When I’m all alone in my car I usually have my radio on and most times I press the scan button and wait for something that I like.  And when I find what I enjoy I engage in singing along.  Now I may not know all the words but that’s okay, I just make up my own.  I was raised in a home with lots of music.  My dad was a professional drummer.  In fact he played with Jimmy Dorsey, The Big Band, back in the 30’s & 40’s in New York.  Whenever there were gatherings in our home my dad would bring out his drum and just play even if no one engaged in singing; he just simply enjoyed playing.  And, I remember how great he was.  Even though he would have loved me or my brother to learn music neither of us had an interest.  However, I could bang some beats on the drum; if I must say so it was pretty good, so I thought.  But, the issue was I didn’t know how to read music.  Looking back I wish I learned to read music.  I was so thankful that both of our children loved music and they learned how to read it. too. As a parent I was blessed whenever I watched them in their concerts.  Our daughter was in the high school marching band and attended many competitions: Her band won many competitions which awarded them a trip to march in Disney. Also, she had a great honor to march in the NY ticker-tape parade that welcomed home the hostages from Iran.   Our son played guitar in school and was awarded “Who’s Who” in music. We attended his church a while back and were so blessed to see and hear him playing guitar with the church praise team, along with our granddaughter singing. 

Can you imagine when we are with the Lord how beautiful the music will sound?  We will sing praises to our King and I bet we will swing to the music too, and raise our hands to show how much we love, honor and adore Him.  We are going to be so engaged in the awesome sound of the music and the glory that we will bring to our King with our voices.  I love the song “I Can Only Imagine”.  So true: we can only imagine.  Lets practice singing praises right here on earth as we gather together on Sundays and other times when we come together.  We can show our love, honor and adoration to Him whenever we sign praises to His name.

Coming Thursday, January 31st from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at America’s Keswick Raws Auditorium will be the “Keyboard Mania”.  Dr. Bill Welte, President and CEO and Robert Hayes, Director of Program Ministries, will be playing favorite hymns, choruses, and gospel classics non-stop, WITHOUT MUSIC on the piano.  These men are truly talented and play so beautifully that you can close your eyes and imagine you are in heaven.  I so appreciate these men using their talents to bless others.  Check out the website for more information: www.americaskeswick.org

Today, we attend a church where there is a group of musicians along with a great drummer. Yes, the drummer keeps my memory of my dad alive who played so beautifully many years ago. We also attend concert dinners at America’s Keswick and there too I simply enjoy all the singers who sing so beautifully and play their instruments with such delight.  A special thanks to those who learned how to read music and use their talents and gifts for the Lord. 

Thanks Dr. Bill Welte and Robert and Joyce Hayes for sharing your talents and giving to the Lord. 
 
Happy New Year!

Blessings,
Pat Spies

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. (Psalm 33:1-3)

Psalm 33 is a special Psalm. It is one of only four Psalms that lacks a title. The others are Psalm 1, 2, and 10. All the other Psalms have some sort of title. Many commentators believe that this Psalm is linked to Psalm 32. In that Psalm, David praises the Lord for forgiving his sins. Psalm 32 closes with a command to rejoice, v. 11. Psalm 33 opens with the same command.

While these two Psalms are very different in their content, they are both centered on the theme of praise. In Psalm 32 God is to be praised because He forgives sin. In Psalm 33, God is to be praised because He is in control. Both of those themes make God worthy to be praised. In verses 1-3 of Psalm 33 we are given the commands to Praise, Give Thanks and Sing a New Song.  We are told to do such things because God has been faithful and upright.  We are also reminded in vs. 4-5 that God fills the earth with His goodness.  The Psalmist then turns our attention to the power and control of God.  God’s power and sovereignty is a key factor in our ability to withstand anything that life has to bring. The next portion of the Psalm reminds us of God’s Word and why we need to praise and give thanks for His Word. 
       
His Word Is Precious v. 4a -This word reminds us that God’s Word sets the standard for righteousness and morality. The Word of God is like a compass that guides the people of God through the desert of this world.  All around us we see the results of abandoning the Word of God. Our society has been cast adrift upon the sea of time without a rudder. Our nation, and the world as a whole, has abandoned the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment, and every other precept of God. The obvious result of sinful man’s foolish decision to abandon the Word of God is rampant immorality, wickedness and evil in the world. Those who read the Word, honor the Word and live by the Word, know how precious the Word of God is. They can say with the Psalmist, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” Ps. 119:105. They also know the truth of Prov. 6:23, which says, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”
     
His Word Is Personal v. 4b-5 – In His Word we learn about the Lord Himself. His Word is His revelation of Himself to the world. We learn that He does everything He does in “truth,” v. 4. That word carries the idea of “steadfastness.” We learn in verse 5 that He “loveth righteousness” and judgment.” This reminds us that He will bless those who honor His Word and He will judge those who abandon His Word. Verse 5 also teaches us that God’s goodness can be seen in all the word around us.

All these truths teach us that the Word of God is a revelation of the Person of God. How else could a holy, eternal God reveal Himself to man? It would be like us trying to communicate with the ants in an anthill. We are so removed from their experience that we could not possibly communicate with them on our level. God so longed to reveal Himself to humanity that He choose to reveal Himself in the pages of a Book. Not just any book! God has chosen to reveal Himself in the pages of the Word of God. We should praise Him for His Word because it reveals the nature of God to us!

His Word Is Powerful v. 6-9 – In these verses the Psalmist reminds us that everything we see around us was spoken into existence by the Word of God. Everything that is visible, everything that is invisible, everything that is large, everything that is small, everything that is near, and everything that is far came into existence through the Word of God.

 In Gen. 1:3 God spoke for the first time. When He spoke light appeared out of the darkness. All through Genesis 1 God kept speaking and great things kept appearing. His Word had power then, and His Word still has power today. Every promise will be fulfilled. Our actions will be judged based on His commands. The Word of God is filled with power, glory and hope.

* “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,”  Heb. 4:12.
* “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven,” Ps.a 119:89.
* “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
* We should praise Him for His Word because it is infused with divine power! It will stand though the entire world stand against it, Isa. 55:11.

As we begin the New Year, are you prepared to rejoice, give thanks and Sing the Song of Hope?  Are you ready to explore and read the Word of God in a new way, with new eyes and heart?  Coming soon we will continue with this Psalm and explore the foundation for our Hope in these hard and difficult days we are living in. 

You may also like to join us at our Ladies Who Lunch, Wednesday, January 9th, when we will celebrate the greatest book even written – The Word of God. 

Dr. Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor

Another year gone by; as I think back to 2012 there were the good and the not-so-good times. I learned more from the not-so-good times.  You may ask: what could I possibly learn more from the not-so-good times? Well, the not-so-good times send me to my knees faster than any good time could ever do.  The moment I ask God for help, that is the moment I begin to experience His peace and contentment, and thank Him for His love and grace that is sufficient for all my needs.  I know the benefits of trusting God in all areas of my life, and especially so when life tosses a few curves in my path.  As we read and keep God’s Word in our hearts it will always bring a verse or two, or a complete chapter, to our remembrance at the appropriate time.

One that came to my mine recently is the story of David’s wives who were captured.  I Samuel 30, verse 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.  “No more strength to weep” is a good place to be for me as that is the time I surrender all.  I am a strong person and that’s not for my benefit because most times I think I can handle things.  Has anyone ever told you “God will never give you more than you can handle”? But God will give you more than you can handle.  The verse often misinterpreted is I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  The subject here is “temptation,” not circumstances of life. 

In I Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed…….but, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

I thank God for the people he put in my life this past year.  I have experienced how much the Lord gives me on a daily basis.  Every day there is something I can find that God is working in me.

My encouragement to you for 2013 is to read, study, meditate and hide His Word in your heart.

Many years ago I made the best decision of my life: I trusted Jesus as my Savior.  I knew without doubt that I was (am) a sinner and needed a Savior.  Jesus paid the penalty for my sins on the cross.  Jesus is alive today and He is preparing a place for me in the Kingdom because I trusted His finished work on the cross.  Today, I have the assurance of being a child of God and no one can snatch me out of His hand.  Revelation 21:27 But, nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Are you written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?  Only Jesus can give us eternal life. 

Happy 2013!

Pat Spies

“How could you keep that to yourself?”

I had just come to Christ and that was the question I found myself asking a friend who’d known Jesus or at least been raised in the church all their life. I was shocked and pretty angry at the time to realize that someone I’d known for years never once mentioned Jesus. I had no idea they’d ever even been to church let alone been raised in it. When I shared what had happened to me, my testimony, they seemed more shocked than I was. I had to ask some questions.

“Why? You’ve seen what’s been happening with me all this time and not once did you ever share your faith with me. Why not?!”

The answer: “You just don’t talk about stuff like that here.”

“What? Are you kidding me? Well, we do now!”

That began months of intense discussions about the Lord, the Bible, the Church, salvation, heaven and hell.  I bet it felt like they were being hounded. I guess they were.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:37-40 (NIV)

So are you going to let the stones cry out?

Dina Seaton
dseaton@americaskeswick.org

Dina has served on staff since the summer of 2002 in Marketing and Guest Services. Her first book will be in publication this spring – “Do It Again Lord, Do It Again!”

As is my habit toward the end of every year, I recently starting cleaning out my office. Before I am finished I will have touched virtually every nook and cranny of my small office. It’s also likely that I’ll change it around for a different look going into the New Year.

In the process of purging and cleaning I came across a blog written by my former pastor titled, “On the New Year.”  It was written on December 31, 2009.

As I read it through again I thought on Victory Call and how appropriate it would be to share it with you at the close of 2012. We’ll never pass this way again, dear ones. So as we consider the days and weeks to come may the following blog be food for thought. After you’ve finished reading, pause, pray, ask God for clear, focused intentional direction for the year 2013 and then follow wherever He leads.

On the New Year
“I have just a few thoughts as we embark on another new year. I have come to value this holiday increasingly as the years have passed. As a child it meant no more than I got to stay up past midnight on New Year’s Eve. Today it means that I have a chance to pause, to think, to evaluate, to set goals, to take stock of life.

Gayline (his wife) asked me last evening if I’d be willing to take some time this evening to talk over our personal and family goals for 2010. It was a great idea (she’s got lots of them!), so that’s part of what we’re going to do.

I suspect that this is going to lead us toward a few goals like these:
1. Make sure that we’re both going hard and happy after God in 2010.
2. Make sure that we’re going hard and happy after personal character and faith in 2010 by mortifying specific sins of which we’re aware and bringing to life the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Make sure that we’re going hard and happy after Truth in 2010, through daily reading of the Word and extensive reading of the Truth-gold that others have written.
4. Make sure that we’re both going hard and happy after each other in 2010.
5. Make sure we’re both going hard and happy after our children and grandchildren in 2010.
6. Make sure that we’re both going hard and happy after our spiritual family in the church in 2010.
7. Make sure that we’re going hard and happy after good nutrition and exercise in 2010 that we might seize whatever years we have left with as much energy and good health as it’s in our power to develop.
8. Make sure that we’re going hard and happy after joy–in all God is, and all God does–in 2010.

Now if we are enabled to apply specifics to all of this, all in the strength which God supplies, it will prove to be a God-filled year.”1

Dear sisters, I hope at least one of these goals prompted you to consider some specific area of your life to go hard after God, seeking Him for the change your soul longs for. Let’s go for it together in 2013, and allow the God of our salvation, the truest Lover of our souls to be in us Peace, Joy and Love. After all, as His redeemed daughters, it’s all about Him or it’s about nothing at all.

Stephanie Paul

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.

 1 http://tfcfreetruth.blogspot.com/2009/12/on-new-year.html

As the year comes to an end I look at all my books that are started or half completed. I seem to begin every New Year by looking at the unfinished things that need to get completed and the loose ends that need to be wrapped up. At first glance I am overwhelmed. I make unrealistic promises to myself that I will not buy another book until I finish the ones on my pile……HAHA! (A guest recently told me about a book she purchased from the Keswick book table….yep..I made a beeline for the book table to check it out!) This is only one small area of my life. Add to my accumulating books that need reading all the other stuff and my head just might spin!

The work goal sheet sits on my desk. I just need to make five goals and plan how to reach them in 2013. Yet it scares me to fill it out and make a commitment. Then I look at my house, currently under repair, and there is cleaning, painting and organizing. Ok, I am feeling my head beginning to go round and round.

Let me ask you a question, “How do you eat an elephant”? Answer: “One bite at a time”. I say to you and to myself: make priorities that are do-able. Don’t finish five books, complete one. Pick one closet to clean out and forget the basement and garage for now.  Lose 2 pounds not 10. Part of our frustration and fear comes from trying to do it all and doing nothing well.

Jesus is the perfect example. He knew what He needed to do. He healed and He didn’t heal. He fed thousands but not every day. He traveled but He went to the garden too. At the end Hhe could declare, “It is finished”! Rather than working on ALL we have to do, why don’t we do what Jesus did? Start each day hearing from the Lord. Get HIS orders and do them. Take time to “do” but take time to “be.” 

Learn to be okay with interruptions – that’s life.  Understand that we won’t finish it all so it is important to know what needs to come first.  Remain flexible enough to have our list rearranged as needed. If you are confident in the One who is arranging your list then be comfortable, confident and content with what you achieve.

If you agree that you need to put first things first according to what God is asking of you, then I invite you to take on a worthwhile challenge. Join me as I read through the Bible in 2013. Keswick’s Joy in the Journey Bible Reading Plan is available on our website. Join me on Facebook and share what you are learning. (Search for America’s Keswick on Facebook and look for our Bible Reading Plan group. Click on “ask to join” and become part of the conversation. You will also be able to share what you are learning as you read each day.) I truly believe that if you and I get this first thing accomplished each day we will see the rest of the elephant follow. 
So, let’s get ready, get set and go into this New Year!

Blessings,
Kathy Withers

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 26 years.  They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

Every week I receive a devotional titled Wednesday’s Word from Paul Tripp. The following paragraph was part of a recent devotional titled “Never Stop Being a Student”:

“Do you think that you’ve arrived? Do you tend to think that you’ve learned what you need to learn and now know what you need to know? Or do you want to understand more deeply and more fully? Do you have a humble, open, and seeking heart?

There was once a time in the early years of our faith when we couldn’t get enough. We had a voracious hunger for truth. We lived with the humbling realization that there was so much we didn’t know. We loved to study the Word of God. We loved listening to peers and mentors who were further along. We were students.

But something happened along the way. Perhaps we got distracted by the world and began to live more like tourists than students. Perhaps we got discouraged and felt our study wasn’t helping. Or perhaps our hunger was blunted by a feeling of arrival.”1

That got me to thinking about all the different conversations I have about relationship with the Almighty – two in particular rise to the top.
One relates to the sense that some have of being thirsty/hungry and the awareness of serious lack in time spent with their Savior. The other relates to the belief of some that they really do have it all together. In other words, “I got this.”

In either case, I’m thinking, “Oh that WE would see the urgency OUR souls have for making time in His presence, a priority over all OUR other doings. For the one who is thirsty this would be pure delight as they become tangibly aware of the thirst-quenching, satiating food of THE WORD. And for the one who “has it,” time in His Presence would remind them that there is never an arrival point for them to feel any sense of pride. Rather, a renewed sense of humility in realizing that apart from His grace I am nothing, absolutely nothing.

Paul Tripp’s Wednesday’s Word continues:
“Whatever your story, I say to you – never stop being a student. There are two reasons. First – the depth of God’s wisdom. It has no boundary. It has no bottom. It has no ceiling. If for ten million years you sat for 24 hours a day at His feet to listen, you would scratch only the surface of His wisdom.

Here’s the second reason – the danger of the world. Falsehood echoes more loudly and repeatedly than the sounds of wisdom. Every day a thousand voices speak into your life, and the majority of those voices have not gotten the flowers of their insight from the wisdom garden of the Lord…Morning after morning, bow your head and humbly pray ‘Lord teach me Your way.'” (To read in full click on the link at the bottom)2

Today’s take-away: never, ever stop hungering and thirsting. Never stop being a student of the Word!

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.

1 Wednesday’s Word is a resource of Paul Tripp Ministries, visit www.paultripp.com
2 ibid

Guess what? I am a literal person. I guess it’s true to say that I was born this way and, therefore, I’ve always been this way. As true as that is I don’t have any recall of that detail ever being mentioned to me as a child. Nope! No memory at all of my mother or father every saying, “You are so literal!” “Stop being so literal!”

I was well into my adult years before I became aware of the word and its application to me. The sad thing is, most of the time I’m left feeling stupid for simply thinking the way that I think. It’s like telling a leopard he’s spotted and then looking at him like he’s stupid for being that way. Like, “Come on! You know better!”

Too often, I allow stinking thinking to rob moments of life from me because I’ll get lost in my head trying to figure out how to not be how I intrinsically am.

Recently, after once again hearing about how literal I was being, I decided to look up the word. As much as I like/love to look up words it had never occurred to me to look this particular word up and so, being the literal person that I am, I loved the definition!

“Literal: in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text.”

Yeah!! That’s what I’m talking about. The way our Maker wired this brain of mine, that definition absolutely makes sense!

So, why, why, why am I wasting your time with how “I” am? The answer is simple. We are all some kind of way for one reason: our God and Maker designed us as such to accomplish His will and purpose in the world that would be our sphere of interaction and influence. For His own good pleasure and for His glory we are to be all that we can be, in spirit and in truth, to reflect the image our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the world.

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:101

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ~2 Timothy 2:14-15

My take away from this is simple: while I’m encouraged by the literal definition of the word, I’m even more encouraged by the Word of God that words matter! And lest you think I’m way too full of myself, know that I also receive a measure of exhortation from the above Scripture. It’s one thing to be literal, and another thing altogether to be so literal as to be argumentative.

So, while my parents never spoke to me about being literal or too literal, it was often heard that I was being argumentative – so much so that I was often told that I should be a lawyer when I grow up.
So, dear one, what is your take away from this devo today?

Stephanie D. Paul
 
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.

1 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=ESV
2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Timothy+2&version=ESV

May the Christ of CHRIST-mas be the honored guest at your table today whether you are eating alone or with 25 others. 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14

From all the VICTORY CALL writers, Keswick Board, staff and staff families, Merry CHRIST-mas to you and yours. 

Diane Hunt

Diane Hunt is part of the ministry team at America’s Keswick.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study.  Diane has been married to her husband John over 27 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.