It is a high honor to be a part of the ministry of America’s Keswick. I confess to you that there are days when it is tiring. I don’t mean the actual tasks so much; we’re not pounding stones here. What I mean is the battle. Lately, I’ve found myself battle weary. I’m tired. I’m tired of addiction and the fall-out it brings to the one addicted and the ones who love them. I have had a taste of what they experience first-hand. It doesn’t taste very good. On the other side of that, I’ve also tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

I’ve even found myself overwhelmed at times by the never-ending streams of prayer requests that just keep coming. Well, of course they keep coming. They’ll be coming until He comes back. Some of them are mine! “Lord, don’t you see all this, I can’t keep up. Who do I pray for, what do I pray?”

“Oh, Dina, Dina, you are troubled and worried about many things but one this is needed, sit at My feet.”

And that is where He reminds me of the truth, many truths. The truth is, it’s not my battle, it’s His. He’s already defeated the enemy and He is NOT overwhelmed by anything. In fact, He has overcome everything!

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

Dear sister, may the peace of our Lord fill your heart…

Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer

In a few weeks I will be attending a wedding. While waiting to meet my sisters for lunch I went into a nearby store. I found a really nice dress on sale. I scanned the tag and found it to be on sale lower than the price tag had reflected. I went to try the dress on only to find that the zipper was damaged. Since then I have been looking for another dress but my mind keeps going back to the “perfect” dress with the broken zipper.

Colossians 3:12-17 reminds me about the things I am to put on every day, not just for special occasions. We are told to “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven you, above all these things put on love, let the peace of God rule in your hearts, be thankful, let the word of God dwell in you richly, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father.”

Am I more disappointed in not having the perfect dress when my outer self does not reflect that I have put on what glorifies Jesus Christ? Like the dress that looked so right but had the broken zipper, I can be careful to look just right but end up in need of some repairs from the inside out.

PSALM 91:2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

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.

As I was working my way through last week’s series of Victory Calls on Modesty, this thought kept skipping through my mind: Modesty is not just a female issue. When we think of modesty we typically think of female attire but there are modesty issues for men as well, different perhaps but no less an issue.

Sure there are the obvious – overly tight pants, spandex bikini swim suits, pants that sit so low they are barely worth the effort, etc., but I think there are other issues that can be perfectly innocent.

Even men dressing modestly would be surprised to find out that the way they sit matters. I have sat across from men in knee length loose fitting shorts that were modest standing up but when they sat down and crossed their ankle on their knee, I had to look almost anywhere but at them. Baggy shorts for both women and men – do just that, they bag. So in a seated position, they can fall away from their leg revealing three quarters of the thigh.

We, and certainly I personally, at America’s Keswick, DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME OBSESSED OR FANATICAL about modesty. That would be legalistic. I just think as followers of Jesus Christ we need to be aware of those around us, men and women alike, and that we need to love and serve them to the best of our ability by not being a stumbling block.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 John 2:10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Matthew 22:39 … You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We are looking forward to a great summer – hope yours is blessed.

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.

I found this Modesty Heart Check brochure very insightful and helpful. I pass it along in two parts for your consideration and edification:

Modesty Heart Check

By Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw

“…Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness-with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Start with a heart check…

“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to lure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.” John MacArthur [Emphasis added]

* What statement do my clothes make about my heart?

* In choosing what clothes to wear today, whose attention do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking to please God or impress others?

* Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control and respectable apparel, or does my dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination with sinful cultural values?

* Who am I trying to identify with through my dress? Is the Word of God my standard or is it the latest fashion?

* Have I asked other godly individuals to evaluate my wardrobe?

* Does my clothing reveal an allegiance to the gospel or is there any contradiction between my profession of faith and my practice of godliness?

This is part one of a two part series from the Modesty Check (c) Sovereign Grace Ministries

Republished in Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood by Carolyn Mahaney, and Nicole Whitacre (Crossway Books)~~ used with permission.

If you are interested the Modest Heart Check brochure can be found in PDF form, as a free download, at: http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1170-06-59.

Blessings,
Diane

Steph once made the statement that “people get dressed intentionally”.

I believe that people get dressed intentionally though maybe not consciously. Many girls/women dress intending to turn a head, to draw the eye of a particular man, or men in general. A woman can feel a sense of excitement from getting a positive reaction from a member of the opposite sex. My theory is that this sense of excitement is the female form of lust. Lust is defined as personal inclination or intense desire (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

For men, lust is an issue of the heart but is typically enticed through the eyes. For women, I would say the same is true with a significant variation. For women, lust is an issue of the heart but is typically enticed through the eyes LOOKING AT HER. For men, lust is receptive in that it is fanned into flame through what he takes in from outside of himself, what he sees or looks at and then mulls over in his mind.

For women, lust is transmissive in the sense that it is fanned into flame through what she sends out from inside herself, how she dresses, sits, or moves her body which results in a reaction from a man. The power to entice and the intense longing for attention can cause women to dress in a sensual way.

The styles today can create a problem simply because of clingy and lightweight fabrics. I think a lot of women do not wear slips and inadvertently reveal more than perhaps they intend. Once in church I saw a woman wearing a cute modest dress but she wasn’t wearing a slip and that dress clung in all the wrong places, and I doubt she was even aware of it.

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

I only see two options: either we will present ourselves to God as an instrument of righteousness and dress to glorify Him, or we will present ourselves as an instrument of unrighteousness and dress to glorify self. Not choosing to dress intentionally to glorify God will, by default, result in dressing to glorify self. Which do you choose today?

Diane

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS AMAZING BLESSING FOR THE 2012 FAMILY FREEDOM WALK. THUS FAR HE HAS BROUGHT IN $58,776!!!!

Yesterday Blogger posted what should be Friday’s Victory Call.  What can I say?  The Internet is a tempermental beast.  Here is what should have posted yesterday, as well as today’s:
This week our Victory Calls will focus on “Modesty” – “How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ?

An Attitude of the Heart

This is the week, for the past 5 years, that I have shared a series on modesty and purity. Memorial Day typically kicks off the summer with warmer temperatures and sticky humidity and people wear lighter and less clothing, although this year it was not uncommon to see it all winter with such mild temperatures. Modesty is not only a summer issue: it is God’s desire for us all 365 days of the year. However, I doubt anyone would argue that it becomes a more evident issue with the warmer weather. The beaches and pools are packed to overflowing, and the amusement parks and ice cream stands have long lines. People are out and about.

It is sad to see young women (and some not-so-young) wearing attire that would have been considered pornographic just 30 or 40 years ago. If it is catching my attention, you can be sure it is turning almost every male’s head. Sure there are men out there intentionally looking, ogling anything female, but I would venture to guess that they are not the majority. I think the majority are men with wives and families and daughters who are accosted with sensually and scantly dressed girls and women everywhere they go. I wish I could say they could just flee to the church but, sadly, it is not safe even in the churches.

Women of God, it is time to stand up and battle the enemy as he is gaining ground in the hearts and lives of the men of our churches, our husbands, our sons, our brothers, our pastors. We need a new attitude of compassion and support rather than condemnation and irritation.

Please hear my heart. I am not blaming scantly dressed women for any man’s sinful attitudes or actions! Each man is 100% responsible for where he allows his eyes and heart to linger. I would also say each woman is 100% responsible for her own attire and her attitude. It is a cop-out to chalk it up to being “his problem”. More than that, it is short-sighted, superficial and flat-out sinful.

Which one of us would sit in the foxhole painting our nails when our fellow soldier was waging war against our enemy who appeared to be gaining the upper hand? NOT A ONE! I believe every one of us would jump to the aid of another in our company doing battle alongside them rather than against them. Let’s carry this word picture into the modesty, lust and purity battle. Can you see how God calls us alongside rather than against our brothers in Christ?

How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ? How does your attire reflect love for your brothers in Christ? How does the way you dress reflect your heart?

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor…

Luke 10:27 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

And today’s…..
Yesterday I shared about the attitude of our hearts regarding the battle the enemy has mounted in the area of lust and sexual immorality. I believe he is gaining ground. Consider these pornography statistics

The United States ranks 4th in the world in revenue made on pornography ($2.84 billion) (1,2)

Every 39 minutes a new pornographic video is being created (1)

Each day there are 68,000,000 pornographic search engine requests (1,2)

Each day there are 2.5 billion pornographic emails (2)

35% of all internet downloads are pornographic (2)

40 million Americans are regular visitors to pornography sites (2)

The average age of internet pornography exposure 11 years old (2)

70% of men 18-24 visit porn sites in a typical month (2)

1 in 3 Pornography viewers are female (33%) (2)

Here are two Hunt statistics: We are 100% responsible for where our eyes go and hearts linger. We are 100% responsible for our choice to be women of modesty, purity and dignity.

Women, will you step up and join the battle against evil by dressing intentionally to the Glory of God?

Diane

1 http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#anchor4 (accessed 5.16.12)
2 http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/14-shocking-pornography-statistics/ (accessed 5.16.12)

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS AMAZING BLESSING FOR THE 2012 FAMILY FREEDOM WALK. THUS FAR HE HAS BROUGHT IN $58,776!!!!

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Blogger posted what should be Friday’s Victory Call. What can I say? The Internet is a tempermental beast. Here is what should have posted Monday and Tuesday:

This week our Victory Calls will focus on “Modesty” – “How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ?

An Attitude of the Heart

This is the week, for the past 5 years, that I have shared a series on modesty and purity. Memorial Day typically kicks off the summer with warmer temperatures and sticky humidity and people wear lighter and less clothing, although this year it was not uncommon to see it all winter with such mild temperatures. Modesty is not only a summer issue: it is God’s desire for us all 365 days of the year. However, I doubt anyone would argue that it becomes a more evident issue with the warmer weather. The beaches and pools are packed to overflowing, and the amusement parks and ice cream stands have long lines. People are out and about.

It is sad to see young women (and some not-so-young) wearing attire that would have been considered pornographic just 30 or 40 years ago. If it is catching my attention, you can be sure it is turning almost every male’s head. Sure there are men out there intentionally looking, ogling anything female, but I would venture to guess that they are not the majority. I think the majority are men with wives and families and daughters who are accosted with sensually and scantly dressed girls and women everywhere they go. I wish I could say they could just flee to the church but, sadly, it is not safe even in the churches.

Women of God, it is time to stand up and battle the enemy as he is gaining ground in the hearts and lives of the men of our churches, our husbands, our sons, our brothers, our pastors. We need a new attitude of compassion and support rather than condemnation and irritation.

Please hear my heart. I am not blaming scantly dressed women for any man’s sinful attitudes or actions! Each man is 100% responsible for where he allows his eyes and heart to linger. I would also say each woman is 100% responsible for her own attire and her attitude. It is a cop-out to chalk it up to being “his problem”. More than that, it is short-sighted, superficial and flat-out sinful.

Which one of us would sit in the foxhole painting our nails when our fellow soldier was waging war against our enemy who appeared to be gaining the upper hand? NOT A ONE! I believe every one of us would jump to the aid of another in our company doing battle alongside them rather than against them. Let’s carry this word picture into the modesty, lust and purity battle. Can you see how God calls us alongside rather than against our brothers in Christ?

How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ? How does your attire reflect love for your brothers in Christ? How does the way you dress reflect your heart?

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor…

Luke 10:27 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

And today’s…..

Yesterday I shared about the attitude of our hearts regarding the battle the enemy has mounted in the area of lust and sexual immorality. I believe he is gaining ground. Consider these pornography statistics

The United States ranks 4th in the world in revenue made on pornography ($2.84 billion) (1,2)

Every 39 minutes a new pornographic video is being created (1)

Each day there are 68,000,000 pornographic search engine requests (1,2)

Each day there are 2.5 billion pornographic emails (2)

35% of all internet downloads are pornographic (2)

40 million Americans are regular visitors to pornography sites (2)

The average age of internet pornography exposure 11 years old (2)

70% of men 18-24 visit porn sites in a typical month (2)

1 in 3 Pornography viewers are female (33%) (2)

Here are two Hunt statistics: We are 100% responsible for where our eyes go and hearts linger. We are 100% responsible for our choice to be women of modesty, purity and dignity.

Women, will you step up and join the battle against evil by dressing intentionally to the Glory of God?

Diane

1 http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#anchor4 (accessed 5.16.12)
2 http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/14-shocking-pornography-statistics/ (accessed 5.16.12)

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS AMAZING BLESSING FOR THE 2012 FAMILY FREEDOM WALK. THUS FAR HE HAS BROUGHT IN $58,776!!!!

This week our Victory Calls will focus on “Modesty” – “How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ?

An Attitude of the Heart

This is the week, for the past 5 years, that I have shared a series on modesty and purity. Memorial Day typically kicks off the summer with warmer temperatures and sticky humidity and people wear lighter and less clothing, although this year it was not uncommon to see it all winter with such mild temperatures. Modesty is not only a summer issue: it is God’s desire for us all 365 days of the year. However, I doubt anyone would argue that it becomes a more evident issue with the warmer weather. The beaches and pools are packed to overflowing, and the amusement parks and ice cream stands have long lines. People are out and about.

It is sad to see young women (and some not-so-young) wearing attire that would have been considered pornographic just 30 or 40 years ago. If it is catching my attention, you can be sure it is turning almost every male’s head. Sure there are men out there intentionally looking, ogling anything female, but I would venture to guess that they are not the majority. I think the majority are men with wives and families and daughters who are accosted with sensually and scantly dressed girls and women everywhere they go. I wish I could say they could just flee to the church but, sadly, it is not safe even in the churches.

Women of God, it is time to stand up and battle the enemy as he is gaining ground in the hearts and lives of the men of our churches, our husbands, our sons, our brothers, our pastors. We need a new attitude of compassion and support rather than condemnation and irritation.

Please hear my heart. I am not blaming scantly dressed women for any man’s sinful attitudes or actions! Each man is 100% responsible for where he allows his eyes and heart to linger. I would also say each woman is 100% responsible for her own attire and her attitude. It is a cop-out to chalk it up to being “his problem”. More than that, it is short-sighted, superficial and flat-out sinful.

Which one of us would sit in the foxhole painting our nails when our fellow soldier was waging war against our enemy who appeared to be gaining the upper hand? NOT A ONE! I believe every one of us would jump to the aid of another in our company doing battle alongside them rather than against them. Let’s carry this word picture into the modesty, lust and purity battle. Can you see how God calls us alongside rather than against our brothers in Christ?

How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ? How does your attire reflect love for your brothers in Christ? How does the way you dress reflect your heart?

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor…

Luke 10:27 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Blessings,
Diane

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

I was interested in finding out the accurate meaning of a trial; according to the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Edition, the definition is: “A test of patience or endurance.” The definition takes me right back to the Bible in the book of James, to produce patience and to endure. Trials come unexpectedly. The situations are uncertain, my perception is vague and I feel isolated; the outcome is unknown and at that very moment I wish it never happened. I know God is with me during the most difficult times, watching to know will my faith in Him increase or will I turn away from Him. The gift of faith comes from the Lord, the perfect example, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”  Hebrews 12:2.

I must abide in the Lord, learning from His examples, seeking of His joy for His strength that I may endure to show the evidence of Christ and the truth of His Word. The trials will allow me to be acquainted with waiting on the Lord producing patience, resulting in endurance with God’s joy.

Honestly, my way of thinking has been to pass up on trials. My feelings will dictate it’s better to be comfortable and at ease with things that concern me. I find complacency sneaks in as a result of being comfortable. I don’t want to be satisfied with these feelings, for they are deceptive. My feelings will stifle my spiritual maturity and cause no growth in my faith to trust God.

Paul speaks of the way he lived; “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews” Acts 20:19.

God gave His children His son as a great example: “To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” Acts 1:3.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” 1 Peter 4 12-13.

Dear Lord, You are greatly to be praised for all things. I thank You for Your admonition towards Your children, Your courage, and the strength that Yyou graciously give us to undertake the trials. You have provided for all of my needs. Praise You Lord, I am learning more of You every day.

Lord, I love You!

Glory to God,
Sandra Valdes
Staff Member – WOC Graduate

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Like 15:20

The parable of the prodigal is one of my favorite passages of scripture for many reasons. Today I want to share how this parable applies to each of us by using this simple comparison made by Warren Wiersbe.

“It is interesting to consider the father’s description of his son’s experience: he was dead, and was now alive; he was lost, and now was found. This is the spiritual experience of every lost sinner who comes to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ (John 5:24; Eph. 2:1-10). Note the parallels between the prodigal’s coming to the father and our coming to the Father through Christ (John 14:6):

The Prodigal Jesus Christ

He was lost (v.24) “I am the way”

He was ignorant (v.17) “I am the truth”

He was dead (v.24) “I am the life”

There is only one way to come to the Father, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. “Have you come home?”

The truth is we ALL are prodigals and still tend to wander from the God we love. Today you may find yourself far from home or just contemplating taking a step across a boundary line. Won’t you turn around and run to your Father who welcomes you with open arms?

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.