“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it; and everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:24-27

Over the past few months my husband and I have begun to get back into a good exercise routine. Whenever I am making a greater effort to take better care of myself I am able to quickly identify the relationship between the physical and the spiritual. Reading 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 has caused me to ponder those similarities anew.  I am just into the second phase of my training program to run for the sake of my physical body so these verses give me perspective. My attitude lately has been that I just want to finish the race my husband and I have signed up for. I am not looking for a first place win nor am I looking to make great time. But, with that attitude, I will only accomplish just that much. Would I be further along in my training if I were out to win? Would I accomplish greater things by keeping my eyes on the prize? I would think there would be a big difference if I focused on winning rather than just making it to the finish line. Paul says to run in such a way that you may obtain the prize, to strive for the things that are imperishable, to be disciplined and not disqualified in the end.

So, why do we do what we are doing for our spiritual good? Why are we reading God’s Word each day? Is it to check something off today’s list? To be able to say we read through the Bible in a year? Let’s change our mindset from participation just to finish and begin to discipline ourselves so as to gain the greater prize of knowing God through Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to flex some spiritual muscles as we read and meditate. If we are willing to do some hard work we will certainly obtain the prize!

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.

 Part 3 of 3 – Draw Close to God

Having gone through the New Year (Rosh Hashanah), the Days of Awe and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), we are now ready to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).  The celebration of Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration lasting eight days that will begin this year at sundown on Sept. 30th.

You may want to review Leviticus 23:34-43 about this feast.  The Jewish people are told to build a special temporary structure called a sukkah and live in it for seven days.  It is a time to remember that the Israelites had to live in tabernacles when God brought them out of Egypt.  It is a celebration of God’s glory living among His people as they dwelt in tabernacles.  It is a celebration of harvest.  In many ways it is the Jewish Thanksgiving.

There is so much that you can do as a family to embrace this season.  Have fun with your children and build a “tent” in your living room with a sheet and furniture, or set up a tent in the yard.   Learn what the sukkah looks like and decorate your temporary structure. Picnic in it, celebrate Jesus in it, worship the Lord in it, study His Word in it.  Google the word “Sukkot” and you will learn much about this special time of year.

But most of all learn from it, as Dr. Hiedler says, “that God Tabernacles with His people.  ENJOY the FUN of celebrating with God.  Ask God to tabernacle with you and EXPECT His presence to visit you and your family.”

Know that Jesus gave us a very important promise on the last day of Tabernacles.  “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.’ “ (John 7:37).  He is our personal Savior!!

Come to Jesus during this fall season and enter into the time of the high holy days.  Jesus did not come to end the Jewish feasts but rather to fulfill the Scripture.  We can grow much in our walk with Jesus as we enter into the purpose of each of the three major holy days: Praise our God, Confess our sin, and Draw Close to God – allowing Him to transform us and renew us.

Blessings and Happy New Year,

Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Material used in developing this devotional:
God’s Appointed Times by Barkney Kasdan
The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert Heidler

Part 2 of 3 – Confession is Good for the Soul

Yesterday we began a discussion of Rosh Hashannah, The Feast of Trumpets and the Days of Awe. Those are days to draw near to the Lord and praise His holy name.  Today we will address a most holy day on the Hebrew calendar, Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement.

This year the Day of Atonement begins at sundown on Sept. 25 until sundown Sept. 26th.  This is not a day of feasting but rather a day to humble oneself before God and to enter a day of fasting and confession.  Originally this was the day the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies.  Dear one, you and I may enter into this blessing as well.  We do not need a high priest.  As Dr. Heidler explains, “we were created to dwell with God.  The desire for His presence is built into us.  Without it, there is something missing.  Apart from God’s presence, there’s an emptiness inside that nothing else can satisfy.  Sin separated us from His presence.”  Sin still separates us from communion with our Lord.   I would encourage each one of us to prayerfully consider entering into the Day of Atonement, for God designated it as a lasting ordinance for all generations!!  It is good. 

Confessing sin is most certainly not fun but it is so freeing.  Those of us who have received Jesus as Lord are blessed by the gift of having the debt of our sin paid in full. It was a debt we could not pay.  Jesus took it upon Himself to pay our debt.  Have you made the choice to confess that you are a sinner and are in need of a savior?  You and I can be fully restored once we confess our sin, receive the gift of that atonement and make Jesus the Lord of our life.  As Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)  invites, we can “….. throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked for us.”  John 1:9 (NKJV) says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Enter into the blessing of the Day of Atonement.  Don’t miss this rich blessing. 

Dr. Robert Heidler suggests the following:  “Set a day and time when you can be alone with God for at least one hour.  Bring along your Bible, a pen and paper.  Praise the Lord, give Him thanks for the quiet time and invite Him to speak with you.  Read Psalm 32 and Psalm 51.  Ask God to bring to mind any sin you need to confess.  Pray as David did ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me.’ (Ps. 139:23-24a NIV).  As God brings your sins to mind write them down.  When God stops bringing sins to mind ask Him, ‘Is there anything else?’  Write every sin, don’t be in a hurry, and don’t make excuses.  It’s just you and He, and He loves you just the way you are.  Once that is done, confess each and every sin.  Be mindful of 1 John 1:9 which promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We are forgiven and cleansed.  Now write over your paper 1 John 1:9 then tear it up, destroy it.  Don’t show it to anyone.  It is finished.”

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Material used in developing this devotional:
God’s Appointed Times by Barkney Kasdan
The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert Heidler

Part one of three – Praise God!!

I know that on our Roman calendar we celebrate the New Year on January 1st.  However, in my life and perhaps yours, September has always felt more like the New Year.  Summer is over, and a new school year begins.  It is as if the cycle of life starts afresh not in January but in September.  Even the earth begins to shift into the new.  The green gives way to beautiful fall colors as the temperatures begin to cool.  It time to go apple picking and enjoy the latter harvest.  Animals get warmer coats, eat hardy and prepare for the coming winter.  As likely most of you know, September marks the New Year, Rosh Hashanah or Feast of Trumpets, on the Hebrew calendar.

This season begins with Rosh Hashanah, or the “Head of the Year” which is marked by the Jewish people as the birthday of the world, the anniversary of creation.  It is also the beginning of harvest season.  This year at sundown on Sept. 16th the Jewish people will celebrate Rosh Hashanah at the sound of the trumpet or shofar. It is a day God designed for the trumpet to be sounded, a sound that would pierce our souls and awaken His people, to get their attention.  This year may He get the attention of each and every one of us who serves the God of creation.  The God who loved the world so much He sent His only Son (John 3:16).

Ten days after Trumpets are called the Days of Awe.  They are also called Days of Teshuvah.  Teshuvah is a Hebrew word that means “to turn” and “to return”.  During this period Jewish people are encouraged to spend time in worship and the study of His Word.  It is time to seek God and allow Him to reveal old cycles in our lives that result in hurt or destruction.  It might be that God will bring conviction of certain harmful behaviors, attitudes, debt, or unconfessed sin.   It is therefore a time to turn and draw close to God and worship Him.  It is a time to ask God to speak into your life.  It is time to return to your first love, the Lord Jesus Christ.  In a sense it is a time to get clean and start over.  All things can be made new. 

I invite you to join me.  Listen for the sound the trumpet.  Worship our Lord and Savior.  Draw near to the one who loves you so much He laid down His life for you.

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Material used in developing this devotional:
God’s Appointed Times by Barkney Kasdan
The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert Heidler

You may have heard it said that we are living in the age of entitlement.  Young people today seem be believe they are entitled to whatever they want.  They are entitled to a comfortable life.  They are entitled to go where they want, do what they want.  They are entitled to do as little as possible and have things handed to them.  They are entitled to live in a home without participating in the family.  They are entitled to get things as soon as the whim strikes them without saving to earn it. 

“There is a very high sense of entitlement within modern society.  Older people feel entitled to certain benefits from the government.  Middle-aged people feel entitled to generous health and retirement benefits from their employers.  Younger adults feel entitled to immediately enjoy the same standard of living their parents took years to achieve.  And young people feel entitled to whatever material luxuries they desire.” (Jerry Bridges, “Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love”)

Is it possible that this sense of entitlement carries with it a belief that they (we) are entitled to salvation, that we somehow deserve it? 

Although we believe we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, and that it is totally based on the grace of God afforded to us through Jesus Christ, I believe that deep down, if most of us were honest, we would have to admit that at least a small part of us believes we deserve heaven, deserve salvation, that we are entitled to salvation.  . 
Perhaps this sense of entitlement is not exclusive to young people; perhaps it started first with us. 

If we truly understood grace, we would quickly lose our sense of entitlement as we would be overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude. 

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.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29

I just finished reading “War of Words” by Paul David Tripp, a good read with much insight. I would like to share with you a few biblical discernments on communicating with the character of Christ. The verse Ephesians 4:29 spoke profoundly to my heart, knowing very well I can’t accomplish this on my own. I am praying to God for guidance and anticipating the change the Holy Spirit will do in my life daily or moment by moment.

As I meditated on this verse, desiring this for myself; my words are to encourage moral and spiritual progress, to speak with having the character of Christ. I must converse in a manner to delight Christ and bring Him glory with the assurance of His redeeming grace. I am praying the Lord will help to develop this process of godly communication in my life.

“…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

I have to obey God’s commandment, “And He said to him, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.” Matthew 22:37.  My heart must love God above all else to accomplish His work in my life. I have requested of the Lord to, “Search me and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” Psalm 139: 23-24.  I have asked the Lord to forgive my indwelling sin, idol words and selfishness, remove them from me so that I can allow Him to change me. I don’t want to have any spiritual blindness and self deception to cause me to fall away from God. That my heart be totally submitted to God’s perspective and purpose in my life.

My heart must be pliable to learn from Christ what I must put on. “And so as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;” Colossians 3:12 

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:16-17

Dear Lord, thank you for your Holiness and example of obedience to God.

Glory to God
Sandra Valdes
Staff Member – WOC Graduate

…but the Lord directed his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

It was Sunday after church and the house was buzzing as always. In some ways we have our routine down, run to church, run home and grab some KFC on the way home.  Everyone eats while changing for work.  Our oldest son starts at 1pm and Dad goes in at 3pm, while mom is just coming home from work and just trying to keep everything spinning in the right direction. As I get up to do the dishes that have been left over from the adventures of the day before, a gentle reminder is given to me.  As I am loading the dishwasher I look up at a plaque I have above the counter that says…

In 100 years from now…it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be a different place because I was important in the life of a CHILD.

Oh boy, did I stop in my tracks.  My little one is at my feet snuggling against my leg with his beautiful smile almost as if he wanted to remind me to look at the poem and remember him.  I stopped what I was doing, grabbed his favorite ball and sat down to play with him. 

You see we prayed for this child for 13 years and had gotten in such a routine with our family of 3 that sometimes it is hard to remember we are now 4.

Have you been praying that God would use you in someone’s life?  Have you taken the time to stop and realize that maybe they are right at your feet? Do you need to have a look at your routine of things?

What a true blessing it is when you know that you have made a difference in a life. It might be a young child like ours or another child or God’s of any age that He needs us to spend time with.

What work does God have for us today…that would help make a difference in the life of a child?  How will this child’s ministry change and affect things for HIM in a 100 years to come?

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.

“We study the word of God so that we might better know the God of the Word. The better acquainted we are with God, the more we become like Him and acquire the skills we need for life and service. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding’ (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV). You can make a living without knowing many things, but you can’t make a life without knowing God.

“It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate,” wrote A.W. Tozer. “If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is.”- Warren Wiersbe, OT Commentary, Proverbs 13

Do you have God in a box? Recently God answered a prayer in a way that was so unlike my feeble request. Once again I realize that my prayer request was more of a prayer “telling”. My idea was obvious and logical. BUT God is not! Being in the Word is not just for us to gain head knowledge or to know and understand doctrine. Perhaps for awhile we should end our Bible readings with a quiet moment, and ask ourselves “How did I just see Jesus more clearly? How have I come to know HIM in a deeper way? In my devotions this morning I was asked “What good is my faith?” As I think about that question, we can also ask ourselves “What good is our reading if we miss HIM?” Oh that we would know Him more!

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.

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.  1 John 3:16 The Message (MSG)

It’s true that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. But God often sends us the help we sometimes need in the doing. Recently, one of our female staff members lost her dog to cancer. It wasn’t more than a few minutes later that one of “the brother’s,” (men on staff), heard of it and was on his way to help take care of what needed to be taken care of (without being asked, I might add).  Could she have taken care of it herself? Probably, but not without much effort and much pain. God is good.

I can’t tell you how many times over the last ten years I’ve seen something like that happen. Either to me, or someone else; it says a lot about the character and caliber of the men of God.

To them, it’s probably no big deal; “all in a day’s work” you might say. But to those who’ve been blessed by their efforts it’s a very big deal.

There was once a dad who asked his little girl what she thought daddies were good for, she replied; “Well, they’re good for lifting heavy boxes.”
 
Daddy’s are good for many things of course, but from the mouth of babes comes words of wisdom. Sometimes someone lifting a heavy box, or burden, for you means much more than you might think, especially when you can’t do it on your own.

Thank you brothers!
Let brotherly and sisterly love abound…

Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer

Fast food.  Drive-thrus.  Express lanes.  Instant coffee, oatmeal, information, etc., etc.  We live in a fast-paced society where we know what we want and we want it now.  I wonder if we sometimes approach prayer that way.  We ask the Lord for what we want, and we want the answer now.  Maybe we wouldn’t admit that’s the way we feel, and we may not even be conscious of those feelings.  But what happens when the Lord doesn’t answer right away?  Do we become frustrated?  Impatient?  Angry?  Anxious?  Upset?  Does our faith falter? Do we try and take matters into our own hands?   Unfortunately there have been times that I have responded in all of those ways.  And our actions reveal our heart.

Sometimes the Lord does answer our prayers right away.  But what do we do when He doesn’t?  When He seems to be silent?  He calls us to persistence in prayer.

Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’  Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me.  The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed.  I can’t get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness (or persistence) he will get up and give him as much as he needs.  So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  (Luke 11:5-10)

But I call to God, and the Lord saves me.  Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.  (Psalm 55:16-17, emphasis mine)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  (Colossians 4:2, emphasis mine)

“Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone?  Paul says we should ‘devote’ ourselves to prayer and be ‘watchful’ in prayer.  Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers.  Faith shouldn’t die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God’s way of working His will in our lives.  When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering-maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that He knows are best.”1

Don’t give up; keep praying!  He hears, He cares, and He will answer……in His perfect time and His perfect way.

Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate

1 The Life Application Bible, New International Version Edition, Tyndale, Wheaton, IL 1991, p.2167.