O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. Psalm 71:17

In this Psalm, the author shares with us the basic life principles that guided him through the ups and downs of life.

In this Psalm, the author recounts all the wonderful things that God had done for him over the years and he asks God to intervene on his behalf. He is an old man with many trials and problems, but he is obviously a joyful man who is able to put his focus on the Lord in the midst of these trials.

In Psalm 71, King David has come to this last stage of his life. In this Psalm, he’s affirming his life and his accomplishments. He’s saying to us: “This is who I am. This is what I believe. And this is what really matters to me.”

David tells us, to put it simply, that God’s way to grow old is to develop a walk with Him now. The reason that the psalmist could handle his problems so well as an old man was that he had developed a walk with God in the years leading up to this time. He had a proven resource in the Lord which enabled him to be strong inside, even though his body was growing weaker and his enemies were powerful.

Let’s look at three aspects of David’s walk with God – which we need to develop in our lives.

1. We need to develop a deep knowledge of God.

The psalm is permeated with a deep personal understanding and practical knowledge of the Lord God.

He had been taught of God even from his youth (71:17). David says that God brought him forth from the womb. In other words, God was with him from the first day of his life. And God would continue to be with him always. The man knew God as his refuge (71:1; “strong refuge,” 71:7) and his righteous Savior (71:2). John Calvin (Commentary, pp. 632, 633) argues that God’s righteousness, frequently mentioned here (71:2, 15, 16, 19, 24), refers to His faithfulness to His own people in keeping His promises. He calls God his rock of habitation, his rock and fortress (71:3); his hope and confidence (71:5). He talks of God’s mighty deeds (71:16), His strength and power (71:18), and the great things He has done (71:19). He realized that it was God who brought him into trouble and God who delivered and restored him (71:20). God was his source of comfort in this trial (71:21). God had redeemed his soul (71:23). As he exclaims, “O God, who is like You?” (71:19). He could testify that his mouth was filled with God’s praise and glory and righteousness all day long (71:8, 22, 23, 24). (Steven Cole, 1993)

According to David, God is consistent and unchanging. His people can always depend on Him. They know they can approach Him with their prayers. David says that God is the One “to whom I can always go…” God is faithful. He keeps His promises. By means of His Word, He teaches His people what they need to know.

May I ask: Do you know God like that? Are you growing in the process of developing such knowledge through His Word and through applying His Word to your experience?

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor

Resources
“Growing Old God’s Way” Steven J. Cole, 1993.
“A Life Well Lived” Terry DeFoe, 2010.
“The Old Man’s Sermon” C.H. Spurgeon, 1875.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:1-6)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:33-37)

After reading and re-reading the above verses, the following words and phrases stand out to me: “Be imitators of God…walk in love…fragrant aroma…silly talk…coarse jesting…corrupt communication…edifying…careless words…”

By virtue of the fact that we are “Christian” most, if not all, of us would never be inclined toward using profanity or perverse speaking in our interactions with one another. We tend to want to guard our speech and thereby, guard each one’s dignity. Not to do so is, at the very least, unacceptable and unprofessional. More than anything else, it is unbecoming of the called, the chosen of God. Can I get a witness?

None of us would disagree that we live in a fallen, depraved culture bent toward idolatry and iniquity. How then do we/will we choose to live as light in the midst of such darkness? How do we live set apart/sanctified/holy, being IN and yet not OF the world we live in?

Our challenge today:
Be intentional to watch your words. Why? Because your words matter! If you’re inclined to tell jokes ask yourself these questions: “Are these words I’m saying edifying?” “Are they at someone else’s expense?”

I cringe inwardly when I hear jokes that poke fun at someone because of their hair color (blond jokes) or size (tall or short) or any part of their person that is deemed different or socially acceptable to insult. How shall the Christian – you and I – choose to use our words?

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.

I have recently been challenged with this question.  Now, if I was honest I would tell you that I crave coffee every morning.  But, that’s not exactly what I am asking myself with this question. 

Scripture tells us that as the deer pants for water, so we should pant for God.    “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1).  After I take my dog for a walk she immediately comes in seeking water, and often if we find a puddle or walk by the lake she will drink from it.  Based on that observation and the above Scripture, I have to ask myself – do I seek out God like my dog seeks out water after a walk?  In the summer, if I am working outside or in the heat – I understand the craving for water or liquid refreshment. 

At Keswcik, we deal with men who are struggling to overcome different addictions in their lives.  It is probably appropriate to say that they once craved a substance or something in a powerful way.  My husband craved heroin in his past to a point that all he thought about was when and how he could get it. 

Do, I crave God like that?  I hate to say it, but probably not.  There are definitely times I am drawn to God and I am looking forward to spending  time with Him, but certainly not in the way that people crave  drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling, or food.  It is even safe to say that I do not crave God to the point that I crave food.  

1 Peter 2:2 states that: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…  Have you been around a hungry baby? Do you desire God or a spiritual connection with God like a baby desires her bottle? 

Based on this question I am attempting to spend time with God before each meal and before I go to bed at night.  Not a lot of time, just some reading or prayer.  Maybe for you it might be that you need to spend time with God before a certain TV show that you just can’t miss, or before you read a book – or going shopping.  Whichever it is… Do you seek to spend time with God as much as you feel the need to do other things in your life?

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor

Last night at worship team practice we sang a wonderful song called “O Great God” which was written by Bob Kauflin and based on The Valley of Vision prayer “Regeneration.”  It is a powerful song, a powerful prayer really, and I wanted to share the words with you.

VERSE 1
O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

VERSE 2
I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

VERSE 3
Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through mei

As worshipers, our desire should be not to just sing a song to the Lord, but to actually mean the words that we sing.  A few phrases really jump out at me:  “Own it all and reign supreme,” “Let no vice or sin remain,” “Help me now to live a life that’s dependent on your grace.”  Powerful words.  My prayer is that as I sing this song, I would mean it.  I am thankful that while my God knows where I am lacking, He loves me anyway, and is ready, willing, and able, by His Spirit, to mold me into who He wants me to be.  Praise be to God!

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

i (c) 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Part two

Yesterday’s email did not go out – you can read Part one of this Victory Call on www.americaskeswick.org/VictoryCall

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (NKJV)

Loving your neighbor as yourself is easy when you have a really nice neighbor.  The going gets hard when you have a neighbor that is distant, strange or absolutely unkind.  The hardest in my mind is when a neighbor, who is a brother or sister in Christ, is not there for you in your time of need. 

That is exactly what happened when Jesus disappointed Mary and Martha (see John 11:17-45).  They had called for Him to come.  Their brother was VERY ill yet Jesus did not come right away.  Lazarus, their brother, died and was buried.  These dear friends of Jesus must have been upset yet when He arrived Martha went out to meet Him.  When Mary came to Jesus she fell at his feet reflecting the intense grief that she and her sister Martha shared.  They did not sound bitter or angry.  They were likely confused but they still put their trust in Him.  Jesus said, “Where have you laid Him?”  You know the story; Jesus called Lazarus from the grave.  He glorified His Father in heaven; He was obedient to the guiding of Holy Spirit.

It may just be that the brother or sister who was not there for you was just being obedient to something you were not aware of.  Perhaps they did not recognize your need.  Regardless, loving a neighbor also means to love them even when they hurt your feelings or disappoint you.  Guard your heart, dear one.  Do not let bitterness take root. 
It is interesting that God tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Who among us can’t come up with a good excuse when we do something wrong, yet we can’t seem to find any reason for someone to hurt us.  Guess when you really love someone you simply don’t look for flaws, perhaps you have eyes to see only the good.

It seems to me that when Jesus gave us the two great commandments He did so from a heart filled with love for you and me.  He simply knew that if we would follow these two greatest of all the commandments His heavenly Father would bless us and the generations that follow us. 

So girls…….Let’s choose this day to love……to love our Wonderful, Creator, Counselor, Prince of Peace, our God.  Let’s love Him with our whole heart, soul and mind.  Let’s love our neighbors at least as much as we love ourselves.

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Part one

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (NKJV)

Throughout the Old and New Testament, Scripture reveals the importance of loving God with all of our heart, our soul and our mind. 
I believe when God speaks of the heart, He means He longs for you to love Him freely from your spirit…that thing in you that makes you you.

Loving Him with your soul is loving Him in the deepest part of your human flesh.  Loving Him so much that we long for our flesh to become a new creation, to become Christ-like, to be pure and holy.  Loving Him with your mind, well for me that means loving Him with my thought life.  This is a huge challenge but He would not ask it of us if it were not possible.  In fact He tells us exactly that in Deut. 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. (NKJV)

In Exodus 20:1-10 God gave Moses the commandments about loving and respecting God.

In Deuteronomy read His call to love Him our God in the following verses: 4:29; 6:4-5; 10:12; 11:13; 13:3; and one of my favorites: 30:6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (NKJV)  WOW!!  We can even invite God to circumcise our hearts and the hearts of our descendants to love Him.  If you read further you will see that once we get to the place of loving God we enter a cycle of blessing. 

In Joshua (22:5) we read: But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (NKJV)

The Word tells us that God has “et before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice and holding fast to Him (Deut. 30:19b-20a NASB).

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Psalm 17:6 (New International Version) “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Have you ever wondered how someone is doing and a day or two later you got a postcard in the mail saying…”Hello, Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know we are in Florida having a wonderful time.”?  Or maybe you just get a postcard out of the blue saying “Just wanted to drop you a line to say hey and see how you were doing.”

Isn’t it a real treat to get a postcard?  Some people love them so much that they collect them.  What is it about postcards?  A little piece of cardstock with a picture or saying on it and a very short note about something – oh how this makes us so happy!

Many times in my life I have prayed for something and wondered what was happening regarding that particular something.  One day while I was praying I was getting frustrated in waiting for my answer (now we are not to get frustrated with the Lord and yes, there are times He will make us wait) but, I asked Him to send me a postcard because at that time in my life I needed a little hope, light, encouragement or direction – I needed a postcard.

Ever since that day when I am in need of a little encouragement, some direction or some light at the end of the tunnel, I ask the Lord to send me a postcard.

I have shared this with many women and they have been encouraged by this.  I think we all know the feeling of needing just a few words to help us keep going.

How is your prayer life?  Do you talk to the Lord often?  Does He know the desires of your heart (of course He already knows) but have you verbally shared them with Him?

When I pray and then ask for a postcard I just can’t wait to get one from the heavenly mail system now….it is really awesome to see the little notes that He sends my way.

Ask for a post card today.

2 Samuel 7:27 (New International Version)
“O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer.”

Psalm 17:6 (New International Version)
 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;  give ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Ezra 8:23 (New International Version)
“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”

Lynn Wilson

Lynn Wilson a wife and a mother of two boys is currently on Staff at America’s Keswick. For several years she has been involved in her local church and hosts her own women’s ministry in her home, called Thumb Print Ministries.
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 cook up soups from scratch and other homemade goodies for her family.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

As a little girl growing up in upstate New York, I still have vivid memories of playing in my backyard mulling over this verse at the ripe old of age 7 or 8.  I had just heard a pastor speaking about this verse on the radio.  At that time, I took it to mean that if I didn’t want to die, I was going to die.  It stirred in me a fear of death and an unhealthy fear of things related to God.  After all, who wants to die at 7? 

I was recently reading through Matthew during my study time and came across these verses once again and I had to smile. What God is calling me to do is far greater than just to die for Him, He is calling me to live for Him.

To follow Jesus, we must die to ourselves, our agendas, our plans, our desires.  Basically, we must die to us.  We die to ourselves every time to choose God’s will over our own.

      My will is to indulge myself…God’s will is to deny myself.
      My will is to make myself look good…God’s will is that I reflect Him.
      My will is to be proud….God’s will is for me to be humble.
      My will is to defend myself…God’s will is for me to seek forgiveness.
      My will is to bear offenses…God’s will is for me to grant forgiveness.
      My will is to give back what I get…God’s will is for me to return good for evil.
      My will is to be heard…God’s will is that I am sometimes silent.
      My will is to speak my version of truth…God’s will is that I speak the truth in love.
      My will is to hurry up…God’s will is that I learn patience.
      My will is to think I am “all that”…God’s will is that I think more highly of others.
      My will is to think it’s all about me…God’s will is that it is all about Him.
      My will is to stay out of others’ business…God’s will is that I bear others’ burdens.
      My will is to seek supporters…God’s will is that I seek unity.
      My will is to love self…God’s will is that I love others.

I could go on and on.  Bottom line – I must die to my will and choose God’s will.  When I lay down my life, my will in exchange for God’s life, God’s will, I will be more alive than ever. 

Diane

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.

“God is an amazing and delightful God of Holy reversals.” ~ Beth Moore

I am just finishing a Beth Moore study on the book of Esther.
Chapter 9, when the enemies of the Jews attacked with the intent to destroy them – to gain mastery over them, Vs 1 says “…the reverse occurred. The Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.”  (Esther 9:1)

This thought sent my mind on a quick journey through the Scriptures that speak of other reversals.

The Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 61:1 Or afflicted
b. Isaiah 61:1 Or the opening [of the eyes] to those who are blind; Septuagint and recovery of sight to the blind
c. Isaiah 61:3 Or that he may display his beauty

Cross references:
A. Isaiah 61:1 : ch. 11:2; 42:1; 48:16; Cited Luke 4:18, 19
B. Isaiah 61:1 : Ps. 45:7
C. Isaiah 61:1 : ch. 45:13; Ps. 146:7
D. Isaiah 61:2 : [Lev. 25:10]
E. Isaiah 61:2 : ch. 34:8
F. Isaiah 61:3 : ver. 10; [ch. 28:5]
G. Isaiah 61:3 : Ps. 45:7; Heb. 1:9
H. Isaiah 61:3 : [ch. 60:21]
I. Isaiah 61:3 : John 15:8

Broken hearted … are bound up
The captive … are given liberty
The bound in prison are set free
The mourning … are comforted
Ashes … turned to a beautiful headdress
The mourning… are given an oil of gladness
The faint hearted… are given a garment of praise
We have transitioned from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light
From unrighteousness to righteousness
From slaves to sin to slaves of righteousness
From sinner to saint
From enemy to sister/daughter
From orphan to adopted
From lost to found
From hell bound to heaven bound
From overcome to conqueror
From blind to seeing
From ignoble purposes to noble purposes
From far to near
From isolated to fellowship
From condemned to accepted
From dead to alive…
Amen and Amen,

Ponder a moment or two about the holy reversals in your life and thank God for His work of grace in your life.

Blessings, Diane

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.

Glen and I have been getting ready to leave Keswick for several weeks. We plan on this being our last trip. Driving from California each year has become a challenge, so we decided we would not drive this far again. And besides all of the logical reasons, I’m just plain tired! I am continuously reminded that I am 10 years older than I was when we first came to volunteer and my health is not as good as it was then.
While preparing for my workshop on “What Trips You Up?” I kept shuffling past a little slip of paper with a Bible verse handwritten on it. I have no idea how long the paper has been in my folder or who gave the verse to me or what translation of the Bible it is. The paper could have been in my folder for as long as twenty years and the translation sounds much like the New Living Translation although it is not an exact, word-for-word quote. However, I do know the verse came to my attention right on time.  It reads, “So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong” (Heb 12:12-13).  As those of you who saw me this summer know, my feet are an issue for me as I am forced to use a scooter instead of walking, and sit on a stool instead of standing. God mentions my feet in those verses! And He promises that those who follow won’t fall, but they will become strong.

The New King James Version reads:
“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13 NKJV).

God is reminding me to slow down. He is also reminding me that He will take care of me.

That little slip of paper had to live in my folder for nearly 20 years just so that the message could be given to me right on time!

God has a special message for you, too.  Do you know what it is?

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