VICTORY Call

Who Are You?

2009-12-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Few Christians answer that question any differently then an unbeliever would. Yes, I am married to Dave. Yes, I have two children. Yes, I work at America's KESWICK. Yes, I have lived in New Jersey all my life. That is not who I am. At the core of who I am must be an identity that is given to me because of Jesus Christ. At the core we are either sinners and enemies of God, or we are sinners who recognized our need for Jesus to save us from our sin and sure death. If you have been saved then there is a tendency to struggle with the "before" Christ and "after" Christ identity. How little you and I probably ponder on who we are in Christ.

Maybe this is not the right illustration to use but I think it will lead to my point. Since I have been back to KESWICK this past January guests have commented that I "have the look" for my job. Now, I admit I like to have a nice appearance but I hope there is more to me than that. So it is with who we believe we are. It is nice to be someone's wife, mother, have a career, be good at what we do but that is not who we are in Christ. I am sure for most of us ladies we have been taught not to brag or be conceited. Certainly Scripture does not teach us to be so. Maybe that causes us discomfort when we think of who Colossians 1:21-22 and Colossians 2:10, 13 says we are.

I am reconciled, holy, blameless, above reproach, complete, made alive together with Him, and forgiven.

Are you comfortable with that description of yourself? I would not want to be just a description of my outward appearance. I want to know and believe that who I am in Christ is truth and to be comfortable, not in my own skin, but in who I am in Christ. Who I believe I am is not about vanity or love of self. Who I am depends on who Christ is and who He says that I am. Who He says I am is not vain conceit but truth.

Kathy Withers

Kathy serves at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. She is reconciled, holy, blameless, above reproach, complete, made alive together with Him and forgiven!!

The Greater Good

2009-12-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud-even your own brothers!

Now you may read today's Scripture selection and assume it does not apply to you since you have never taken anyone to court or been taken to court but I want to focus on the latter part of the verses because I believe there is a principle that applies to all of us, as difficult as it may be to swallow.

"Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?"

Does this even occur to us when we are in the midst of a conflict? Doesn't the conflict exist because we think differently than another and we believe we are right and they are wrong? Our inward thoughts and outward discussions about the conflict typically try to get them to see their error. In the flesh, there is a self-protection mode that endeavors to guard us from hurt, pain and suffering so the idea to choose to suffer wrong or be defrauded is somewhat foreign to us.

What is the bottom line? Isn't self-protection a form a self-love? What is more important to us; our reputation or Christ's reputation? Who do we love more: ourselves or the person with whom we are in conflict? What is our greater desire: being right or the unity of the body of believers?

Perhaps as you meditate on these truths, you will be as challenged as I have been.

Oh, Father, that we would get outside ourselves to love and serve You and others unabashedly.

Diane

He Is Safe

2009-12-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

I am always deeply touched by the timelessness of God and the way He can and does use all of life to teach us, maybe even chastise us, yet, always to draw us closer and deeper into relationship with Himself. I thank Him and I praise Him for seeing, hearing and knowing our deepest inmost heart and for seeing the vision of all that we are and all that we have not yet been.

I know that in spite of the deadness that we/I may sometimes feel, my mouth is open wide to feed from the bounty of His table. How well He does know that I often...too often... settle for the crumbs that fall to the floor...and yet He continually calls and says, "Come."

Today...contrary to how I feel, I purpose to rejoice in His ineffable Name. Today, I take the time I am given to draw near and be fed, nourished, taught, loved and cared for by the One who is our Comforter.

One of the things I plan to do today is a brain dump or a data dump. However, as much as I'd like to do that before anything else, I find I must do something greater and that is devote some time to sit with the Savior. The thing I love about devotions or time with Him is I get to sing, shout, talk, listen, cry and when I'm feeling better, I even get to dance.

Without holding back, I get to give God my everything, and in the midst of it know beyond any doubt that I won't be rejected, laughed at or scorned by my Father because I am accepted in the Beloved.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. ~ Ephesians 1:3-61

Dear sisters, Father's arms are open wide and His lap is as deep as the oceans and we are 100% safe. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." ~ Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV

Sisters, time with the Lord ~ with Father ~ is time when we can all take our masks off and get real, knowing He is a refuge, a safe place.

Stephanie

Laziness and Procrastination

2009-12-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

"In laziness and procrastination there is an assumption and a presumption of time that is not promised." ~source unknown

Matthew 25:1-13 is "The Parable of the Ten Virgins" and it's one of those Scriptures that I could only dimly understand every time I heard it preached on, or read for myself.

I got the basic message of the importance and seriousness of being watchful. That part was pretty clear. One of the questions that came to me was, "Why couldn't the ones who were prepared share their oil?" Perhaps a silly question to some, but nonetheless, it was one that sprang to my mind often.

That might be because I am a procrastinator - which really means, I am lazy. I hate to think of myself as such, but if I have a habit of procrastinating, the truth is I am capable of laziness, by virtue of the fact that I am willing to delay a future responsibility for the present pleasure of comfort and ease.

The message clearly imbedded in the parable is "the unprepared cannot participate in the joy of the Second Coming," simply because it is too late, (personalized to mean, I would be too late.)

A very sobering thought to say the least. One thing I know for sure, I want to be ready when Jesus comes. So in addition to being watchful there is a need for me, for you, for all of us to be faithful in the discharge of our responsibilities.

We need to always keep the bigger picture in view; Jesus, the Bridegroom is coming again to receive His bride.

And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and but for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in to him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. ~ Matthew 25:6-13

Like I said before, I WANT TO BE READY!

Will you be ready?

Lord, help us to have a deeper sense of our calling and responsibility.

Stephanie

The Subtle Slip

2009-12-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Lord, how have I allowed myself to ever-so-subtly slip into a negative mind set? A place I don't desire to be, nor that honors You?

I've allowed myself to practice more my version of the truth rather than Truth itself. I have rehearsed more self-pity than the Gospel. The predictable result is that I am teary lately and bothered by things I would not ordinarily be bothered by. I need to, want to, shift my eyes and my heart from me to Thee.

Right after writing the above meditation in my journal, I opened "The Seeking Heart" by Fenelon. The pen was dropped where I left off weeks or even months ago in the pages titled: "Help for Discouragement and Depression." I smiled to myself. Then I read these words: "Love God and stay still before Him. You would rather punish yourself, and stir up commotion, than forget yourself and look to God. Mourning your weakness will not make you better. It will only contribute to a good case of self-pity. The slightest glance toward God will calm you far more."

Once again, I smiled to myself. How gracious is God to lead me to a book I haven't picked up in weeks to speak words that my heart needed to hear this very day.

Have you experienced the subtle slip lately? Perhaps you like me, need to take that slightest glance toward God...and then another....and another until we are not glancing but gazing at our Savior.

Diane

Responding Biblically Today

2009-12-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Everywhere we look today there are people, “Christian people,” struggling with the problems of living life. Maybe you’re one of those people whose life is greatly impacted by someone who is or has been caught in the strangling grip of some life-dominating behavior.

So, the question is, “What does responding biblically mean?" How are we, as Christians, to think about these things? With all my heart, I believe that God’s Word alone is sufficient to meet any and every challenge we face. His Word – spoken or written - has the power to change lives today!

My hope today is to encourage you with the fact that there is a "how." God has a way for all of us to do this!

Of all the things, the tools we have been given, I believe there are three which are of utmost importance: faith, God’s Word, and prayer.

Without faith we know it is impossible to please God and therefore impossible to do anything He may call us to do in dealing with our sin, or anyone else’s. Faith will lead us to prayer. In prayer we will dialog with God. We will talk to Him. And then we'll listen for Him to talk to us. When He speaks, we then have His Word as the measuring tool for all that we think we hear.

The Holy Spirit will provide every ounce of strength, power, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and creativity necessary for us to know how to respond biblically in all of life’s situations and conflicts.

In 2 Corinthians 1, the Apostle Paul pens the following words to encourage the church at Corinth and to encourage us today. I share them so you may know that every Victory Call we write to you we write in faith. Each one of us goes through our own battles and it is through Christ in us that we are all enabled to demonstrate grace above and beyond our own doing.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Dear sisters, as much as we’d like to think that Christmas is a happy time for all, a time where there is no conflict or strife, the simple truth is that for many of us this time of year is sad, depressing and filled with pain.

So, let’s purpose to do two things this season:
1. Remember to keep the main thing the main thing and choose to respond to all situations in a manner pleasing to the Lord, no matter how tempted you maybe to do otherwise.
2. Be aware of the people around you who may be suffering, alone and silent. Reach out to them and give them Jesus, the Christ in Christmas.

Stephanie

The Imperfect

2009-12-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."1

I have been thinking about this quote for 2 days. To me it stands alone as a Victory Call, but I'm sure I'd get comments about its brevity.

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."2

Really. Stop and think about it. Why do the idiosyncrasies and foibles of other people irritate me so? Because I, too, am imperfect. It is the imperfection in me that is so bothered by the imperfection of others.

Think about the last conflict you had with a friend or family member or perhaps a disagreement with a co-worker. Don't we often get irritated because we think we are right and they are wrong? We act like we are perfect and they are imperfect. Now, we don't SAY that, but we ACT like it is true. Consider those thoughts racing around inside your head that others may never hear. In our minds don't we often build our case against their imperfection? We build ourselves up as the blameless one or at least the most blameless one, more blameless than the other person.

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."3

The fact that we are bothered by the imperfections of others is just further evidence that we ourselves are imperfect.

Won't you ponder this quote: "Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."4 Perhaps we will see conflict in a whole new light.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Diane

1 The Seeking Heart by Fenelon, pg. 149
2 IBID
3 IBID
4 IBID

Forgiveness

2009-12-11T00:04:00.002-05:00

"I know God has forgiven me, but I simply can't forgive myself." Have you heard statements similar to that? Have you made statements similar to that? I imagine we have all committed an act that requires God's forgiveness....and ours. Have you ever said to yourself, "I can't believe I did that"? I have dealt with many people who have committed a sin they simply can't let go of. They know God has forgiven them, but they are still carrying around the burden of what they did. So what do we do to free ourselves? I had a conversation with God a few years ago, and I will share it with you.

Forgive me, Lord.
I have sinned.
I've confessed this before,
But here I am again.
You are forgiven, dear one.
I heard your confession years ago.But Lord, it was such a terrible sin,
I just can't seem to let go.
Stand here at the cross with Me.
Here your deeds were paid for.
Forgive yourself and see.
I will remember your sin no more.
Walk away from the cross with Me.
Your sins are forgiven.
You are free!

For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jeremiah 31:34).

MWH

THE FLOWERS OF THE SEASON

2009-12-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

OK - quick. What flowers do you associate with Easter? If you're like me, the answer is lilies. How about Christmas? If your answer is like mine, it's poinsettias.

I recently took a bus trip to Longwood Gardens to enjoy the Christmas flowers and lighting displays. I have been to the Gardens a number of times in all seasons, but the Christmas colors and lights always give me real pleasure and joy. On this particular day I was remarking to a friend of mine that the arrangements were unusual in that the gardeners had placed various types of flowers, not usually associated with Christmas, in with all of the evergreens and poinsettias. We saw daisies and narcissus, for instance, and beautiful white lilies.

And then it struck me. The message of Christmas and the resurrection were presented right there together for all of us to behold. The flowers we most associate with the Christmas season are those beautiful scarlet poinsettias. They become the precursor of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross for us, the shedding of his red blood on our behalf. And in the same flower bed with the red poinsettias, there were planted snow white lilies - that flower we most associate with the season of Easter as we focus on the resurrection. Those pure white lilies which symbolize our sinless and spotless state before God because of Jesus' death and His victorious resurrection.

Come now, and reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

Now I don't have any idea how the decision was reached to plant the lilies and poinsettias together. Maybe the gardener or designer of the plantings was a Christian and was thinking of Jesus' birth, death and resurrection when he made his choice. Maybe he just liked the color and arrangement together. I'll probably never know that. But what I DO know is that our Master Designer knew exactly what He was doing when He set out the plan for our salvation. The incarnation and the atonement have an inescapable relationship to each other. So each Christmas season from now on, I will remember those flowers together and thank God once again that He provides these demonstrations to remind us of His great love for us.

Lynn Randall

Wrinkles

2009-12-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

Oh, I know - immediately you were thinking of those wrinkles on our faces as we age. What I am referring to is the wrinkles in our clothes, the ones we iron out or in (as the case may be). I am amazed at the number of people I know that don't even own an iron. I'm envious.

It has occurred to me numerous times as I iron that the wrinkles I accidently iron in are a lot more difficult to iron out. A single mis-swipe of the iron creates a wrinkle that is very difficult to get rid of. It takes significant steam and attention to make the surface smooth again.

It's not unlike sin.

Did you ever notice how easy it is to start a bad habit or sinful pattern? It doesn't take much effort at all. But try to break that habit or sin pattern and it will take significant "effort" to overcome it.

Perhaps, like me, you have been aware at times in your life when you stood at the edge of a cliff, tempted to do something that may seem the least painful choice at the moment but once that last step is taken, the free fall into that pattern of choice ensues.

Let me give you a few examples from my own life 15-20 years ago.

I distinctly remember the evening I could have slid into the devastation of bulimic purging had I given in to the tempation to rid myself of the calories I had injested.

I remember the weekend I could have started down the road to agoraphobic isolation and ended up unwilling to leave my home had I not chosen to purpose to go out even when I didn't want to.

Perhaps you can identify with these or similar examples or maybe something more subtle like getting immersed in a soap opera or televsion program that you know is not filling your mind with good and godly things, or maybe the time you gave yourself permission to give full vent to your anger and now your anger is gaining ground in your life.

What wrinkles have you accidently ironed into your life that now you are working to smooth out?

Daily we make choices. We need to make the godly choice, the holy choice, the obedient choice rather than the least painful choice. It often takes just once to begin the insidious decline.

Praise God that daily, by His Spirit, He empowers us to walk, to run away from the lure to destruction and to walk in victory.

Diane

Using our Five Senses

2009-12-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

You know what they are: Taste, Smell, Hear, See, and Touch. We learn all about them as kids in school, but how much do you think about them on a regular basis as you interact with the world? God gave us our senses as our Creator and I have to believe that there is a reason for each one. Recently, I have been challenged by my brother to interact with the world I'm in using all 5 of my senses. He would write me about an event and tell me about it through the five senses. I have started a Bible study on each of them to see how they were used in Scripture. I'll begin this devotional with the sense of TOUCH.

Touch: This is the way we physically interact with the world. It is in touch that we fully experience our lives. Christ did not have to heal through touch, but everyone believed that it was necessary to touch or fully interact with Christ to receive healing (Matt 14:36). David in the Psalms asks God to come down and touch the earth (Psalms 144:5). After His death and prior to his ascension, Christ told them not to touch him because he was not physical at that point in time (John 20:17).

How are you interacting with your world? Are you really experiencing it? How about your relationship with God - are you truly letting Him "touch" your life? Or are you experiencing life from a distance?

Do you know the song, "The Touch of the Master's Hand"? The story goes that an old violin was worthless until the creator/maker came up and began to play it most magnificently. It was then that the violin had value and worth beyond measure.

Are you letting Him touch you? Are you touching the world recognizing it as His handiwork? Or, are you running through life missing what is really there?

ONE Warning... God clearly tells us in Scripture that in the process of our lives touching the world, that we are to "not touch" evil (Isaiah 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:17). God wants us to fully experience all good things that He bestows, but avoid those things that Satan lures us with that appear to be good. Remember the garden? God gives us so much... and warns us against some things...

Question... Can you walk daily experiencing the world, but not touching those things God warns us against? I think sometimes my struggle is that I take for granted many experiences that God wants me to enjoy so I miss out on the greater experience. On the other hand - I'm too easily tempted to want to experience that which God calls me not to.

Challenge... Daily walk truly letting the good things of God and His creation fully touch you. For instance, the feel of the leaves in the fall, the softness of the breeze on your cheek, the coolness of the air as the seasons change, the smoothness of your blankets as you sleep, and maybe the hardness of the ground as it begins to freeze for the winter. There is also the touch of a hand, the warmth or squeeze of a hug and the coolness or warmth of lips with a kiss.

Lynne Jahns

Rest

2009-12-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Genesis 2:2 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

For six days God created the heavens, the earth, plants, animals and finally He created man and from the man...woman. All this in six days! No wonder God rested on the seventh day....but wait ...was God tired? How could that be? If He was tired wouldn't that mean there was something lacking in God?

It wasn't that God was "exhausted" because He worked too much...God's rest didn't mean He was inactive. God ceased "creating." He had created everything that He had intended to create. And when He observed all that He had created, He called it "very good" (Genesis 1:31). God's "rest" was only that His work of creation was complete. God then began the work of sustaining all that He had created. At the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God's work of redemption began (John 3:16).

In these days in which we live, there is only one new thing that is created and only one way to create it. That new creation is any man, woman or child who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

God has provided the way for you and me to become a totally new creation when we accept His Son Jesus as the Lord of our lives. Who I was no longer exists; today I am a child of the King. My eternal life began the day I asked Jesus into my heart. I am a new creation!

God no longer "creates" new creations...He has provided the Gift...Jesus...the means...and all we have to do is accept it and our lives are forever transformed for eternity!

What an awesome Gift given to us over 2000 years ago. That Gift came wrapped in a bundle, and has never gone out of date or expired. Every year at Christmas time we are reminded of the Gift and the promise of new life it holds. It is a gift we can share with others any time of year, not just December 25th. But do we? This year let's take the Gift of Jesus out from under the tree and share it 365 days a year.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 35 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

Unblocked Arteries

2009-12-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

Paul's opening verse to the Christians in Colosse are words of prayer. Often I hear of, and I also experience, the difficulties of developing and maintaining a consistent prayer life. There are many methods that are taught but to keep it simple we should remember that we are not about religion, but about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Relationships are maintained by communication. We have all kinds of ways to communicate - phone, email, face book, etc. - but if we are not actually using the tools and communicating, relationships suffer. The same would be true of our relationship with Christ. In Colossians 1:1-12 Paul gives us a great lesson on prayer. We learn from these verses how to pray for ourselves and for others as well. Take a moment to read these verses and see what instructions are given on how and what to pray for.

We can pray for grace and peace (Colossians 1:2). Pray always with thanks (1:3). Do not cease to pray (1:19). Walk worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit and increasing in knowledge (1:10). Strengthened with all might, for all patience and longsuffering with joy (1:11). Giving thanks to the Father (1:12). What wonderful instructions for prayer! As we pray, these are wonderful portions of Scripture to follow.

"Most Christians receive great joy as they talk to the Father. But have you ever thought that prayer pleases God? The Lord wants to hear from His children. Though He already knows our thoughts and desire, God loves for us to voice our hearts to Him. One prescription for spiritual wellness is prayer. Believers cannot grow in their faith without communicating with God. Prayer is an essential ingredient for spiritual growth. Jesus Himself commanded us to pray, but He didn't ask us to pray without teaching us how." *

If you have begun to care for your spiritual wellness, communication with Jesus is essential. Beware of blocked arteries that squeeze out communication. Prayer is what will keep the arteries of your communication with Jesus open and healthy.

Kathy Withers

*Rhonda H. Kelley- A Women's Guide to Spiritual Wellness, pg 16

Kathy Withers serves in the Development Department at America's Keswick. She is married to Dave and has two adult children, Michael and Kerri.

** If you received "Sheer Grace" as yesterday's email, duplicating Tuesday's, please check the website for the intended Victory Call.

THE PERFECT GIFT

2009-12-03T00:58:00.000-05:00

OK - we all go through it. There comes that period during the first couple of weeks in December (or even later for the "last minute" folks - and you all know who you are) when we are in search of the "perfect gift" - you know the one that when you see it you go "that is just perfect for____________."

I started thinking about this over the weekend while flipping through a ladies' magazine (Good Housekeeping - although apparently reading it faithfully for many years has certainly not fulfilled its title in MY house - but that is another story). There was an article about a mother who was "frantic" to find the perfect gift for her daughter - a three-story, condo dollhouse. And as happens at this time of year, it was sold out - everywhere. The e-Bay price was twice the store price, etc., etc. Her upset was that her daughter wasn't going to get her perfect gift.

And I found myself saying right out loud, "The perfect gift has already been given, and it doesn't cost you retail or double on e-Bay." You see, Jesus Christ is that perfect gift. He fills EVERY longing, EVERY need, EVERY desire - even the ones we don't even know we have. NO gift was, is or ever will be more perfect than His greatest gift to us - His life for our sins. And if that weren't enough, He continues to bless, cheer, encourage, heal, bring joy and peace and the list goes on and on. All of the things that the world thinks is important, holds dear and searches for year after year - it is already part of the same package.

So, as you begin to stress out or become anxious about disappointing someone this Christmas because you can't find the perfect gift, remind yourself that you do have the perfect gift to give - share the story of that blessed night over 2000 years ago when Christ came to earth as the perfect gift to each of us who will say "Thank you for your gift to me. I receive it with all my heart."

Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God...

Lynn Randall

Sheer Grace

2009-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Over and over again I've heard that we have nothing to do with our salvation. If we did it would not be grace. Ephesians 2 clearly says, "it is not your own doing." But don't I play a part? After all, I prayed a prayer of commitment or "the sinner's prayer." Is regeneration a result of our prayer or is our prayer a result of regeneration? Please hear me, there are wonderful, godly men and women that fall into both camps. I never considered this before. That is before I read the following in John Piper's book: FINALLY ALIVE.

"...teaching about the new birth is unsettling because it refers to something that is done to us, not something we do...God causes the new birth; we don't...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3).

We do not cause the new birth. God causes the new birth. Any spiritually good thing that we do is a result of the new birth, not the cause of new birth. This means that the new birth is taken out of our hands. It is not in our control...

...Therefore if we are going to be born again, it will rely decisively and ultimately on God. His decision to make us alive will not be a response to what we as spiritual corpses do, but what we do will be a response to his making us alive." (John Piper, Finally Alive, pgs. 26-27).

WOW!!!! This made so much sense to me. After being a believer 25 years, I finally understand how my salvation as a "good, religious" girl is just as underserved, unearned and amazing as another who was running hard and fast away from God and was saved in the midst of a drug-induced high. Neither of us did one single thing to warrant salvation.

I believe that God did not respond to my cry of faith, but that I responded to God's regeneration of my spirit with a cry of faith. For the first time, I understand how salvation is on the basis of sheer grace.

I know there are some out there that will disagree with Piper's words, but for me, they have given me a whole new appreciation for my own salvation and a new perspective on sharing the gospel.

Diane

Thank you Therapy

2009-12-01T01:06:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is a GREAT time to give thanks, and it is the time we tend to really get into the mood and it almost seems natural. BUT, thanksgiving is to be done all the time ... not just because the government has assigned a date...

We are to be Thankful:

All the time: I Thess. 5:16-18, Eph. 5:4, 18-20, Phil 4:6, Col. 2:6-7, 3:15,

In the Morning and Evening: Psalms 92:1-2

There are two types of thanks...

Natural Gratitude: It is giving thanks for blessings received...
Life, health, home, family, freedom, a warm bed, cool drinks on hot days - it is the mindset of appreciation for all good gifts of any size or shape.

What things have you been given that you can be thankful for?

Problem is... this type of thanksgiving does not come naturally when things are tough...

Gracious Gratitude: It is giving thanks for WHO God is. It is giving thanks for His Character - His goodness, love, power, and His excellencies. It is evidence of the Holy Spirit in one's life. It can grow in the midst of pain, trouble and distress.

Gratitude Motivators:
The Lord is Sovereign
God loves unconditionally
God forgives
The Lord abides
We have been sealed with the Holy spirit
God hears and answers prayers
God has a purpose for our lives

Gracious Gratitude for who God is stems from our heart and who we are in CHRIST. It is relational rather than conditional. We need nothing in life but to have gracious gratitude.

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. (2 Cor. 4:15)

Gratitude is a response of the believer to the work of the Spirit in their lives (Eph. 5:18-21 ESV).

LET'S SPEAK OUT

2009-11-30T00:45:00.000-05:00

My husband and I walked into a large department store recently and the traditional bell-ringer was at his post. "Happy Holidays" he said to us as he continued ringing the bell. I commented to my husband Glen, "Happy Holidays? What happened to Merry Christmas?"

As I walked out of the store, I said "Merry Christmas" to the bell-ringer. He quickly responded with a "Merry Christmas to you, too." I realized if I let him know it was best to say "Merry Christmas" he would do so. I have a friend who has had buttons made which read "You can wish me Merry Christmas."

I came home and opened my e-mail to find I had received this poem.

'Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a 'Holiday.'
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda...
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzer
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matters.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holidays!*

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet during the holidays a MERRY CHRISTMAS. Christ is The Reason for the Christmas Season!

I realize that some of the specifics of the poem may be out of date, but the message is very accurate and will always be. The point is that we must speak up. This Christmas Season, let's be ready with a joyful MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Marilyn Heavilin

Do we have any Abrahams and Sarahs today?

2009-11-27T00:40:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite magazines is called "Keepers at Home." I love the simplicity of it and the great articles and devotions for wives and mothers.

Recently I lost a good friend, mentor and a godly example of a woman. She was my first Sunday School teacher. I can remember her kindness even to this day after 40 some years. Janet was to me a woman of character, a woman of faith, a woman to be remembered.

Looking into the Scriptures there are many women we can reflect upon and learn from and be encouraged by....but what about someone today that we can look up to? Are you someone that a young lady can admire for being faithful, strong in the Lord and always showing God's love?

The article/devotion I read today asked the question....Do we have any Abraham and Sarahs today? Well, do we...?

As I was remembering my friend Janet today, and the challenge she left me with, I decided to pick up this very issue and here was another challenge for me. You see, Janet always told me over the years....even if you are washing the dishes, do it unto the Lord. She said you never know when He will take you home and you want to be serving Him at that very moment. The older I get the more I can understand and appreciate what she was saying and how much of an example this can be to others.

Have I been a Sarah to others looking at me and peering into my life? Can I honestly say that daily I show the light of Christ to all around me? For me it is easy at work. It is what I do. I work and minister at a Christian conference center. But at home.....well, isn't this where I can relax and be myself? Then the question I need to ask myself is...who am I in Christ. Am I only a godly woman at work? Do I only need to show Christ at my ministry/work? No....and I was strongly reminded of that by the devotion I ready today.

Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it...

Live for the good of others, helpless, oppressed, and wrong;
Lift them from depths of sorrow, In His strength, be strong.
(Written by Grandmother Lois - Keepers at Home Summer 1999 issue)

We need some pillars in our society for our young women to have to hold onto for an example.

Revelation 14:13
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.

When you doubt what you do is worth something....remember doing an ordinary thing in an ordinary way....you will never lack for work. This includes tending our homes, our children, our husbands and even doing the dishes.

Let me attach an article that touched my heart today that should summarize what I am trying to say. May the Lord show us today what we are called to do for Him.

Lynn Wilson

The HIDDEN WOMAN....by Roy Lessin (Keepers at Home Magazine Summer 1999)

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life. She feared she was wasting her potential being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference. At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.

"Is it worth it?" she often wondered. "Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?" It was during one of these moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her Heavenly Father speak to her heart. "You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye, but I notice. Most of what you give is done without remuneration. But I am your reward."

"Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be with out your support. Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love. Your children are precious to Me...even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me."

"You may never be in the public spotlight. But your obedience shines as bright light for Me. Continue on.

Remember you are My servant, Do all to please Me".

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T00:34:00.000-05:00

The giving of thanks. All over the United States today, people are gathering with family and friends, or perhaps spending it alone, in honor of the holiday we call Thanksgiving. Sadly enough, few of them know to whom they are giving thanks, or even care for that matter.

Doesn't the very concept of giving thanks require that there is a recipient of that thanks? We are thankful for...but we are also thankful to... Doesn't receiving blessing imply the blessings have been given?

Let us be bold today, willing to say, "I thank God and my Lord Jesus Christ for the blessings He has bestowed upon me this year, this month, this day, this moment."

Be encouraged and let your heart smile with these words:

Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Happy Thanks - giving,

Diane

Orignially posted 11.22.07

Spiritual Wellness

2009-11-25T00:33:00.000-05:00

Yet again I have had to focus on my physical health. As is often the case, I had done well for a period of time, watching my weight and exercising, then came stress and with it some old habits. I finally got disgusted with how I felt and I began to discipline my eating and exercise habits. My motto has become "An hour of exercise is better then four months of getting it back off." The cooler seasons have come and I find myself facing temptations. The fresh fruits and veggies I like are harder to find and salads don't taste as good in the cold weather. It is the same for my spiritual wellness, too. I can do so well but then lose focus and soon I am feeling rotten because my devotions and disciplines have fallen by the wayside.

When I saw a study on Colossians, "A Women's Guide to Spiritual Wellness" by Rhonda H. Kelley, I was reminded again of how important it is that I take care of all aspects of my health. At the utmost is that my walk with Jesus be healthy and vital. Rhonda Kelley begins her study with this thought, "Physicians today are focusing medical interventions more on prevention than on treatment. Most prefer physical wellness for the body over treatment of illness."

How are you doing spiritually? Would an ounce of prevention be better than the cure? Would an hour with Jesus be better then trying to catch up or start over?

I look forward to sharing some things I glean from this study on Colossians. The first thing I learned is found in Colossians 1:1. "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..." Sam Storms comments "..all things in all of our lives at every moment in the twenty-first century must be attributed to the will of God. Have you paused to ponder the fact that who you are is 'by the will of God,' as well as what you do, where you live, how much you own, whatever you accomplish? Needless to say this excludes your sinful deeds and rebellious attitude and failure to obey the Scriptures." The first step to healthy eating is usually purging all the junk from the cabinets and fridge. The first day of exercise always causes a good deal of pain. Deciding to be spiritually well is similar. It takes purging the junk and beginning anew which sometimes can be painful. The first step to prevention and treatment for our spiritual wellness is to be sure we are walking "by the will of God" in all areas of our lives.

Kathy Withers

Kathy has recently joined the Development Team at America's KESWICK. She has been married to her husband, Dave, for 24 years and they have 2 adult children, Michael and Kerri.

Heavenly Mother

2009-11-20T00:56:00.001-05:00

Ah, ha. I suspect you responded to my title the same way I did the first time it came to mind. God is our Heavenly Father yes, but our Heavenly Mother? Hear me out.

As difficult as it is for some people to grasp or accept that God is their Heavenly Father, there is at least some recognition that it is true.

For those with less than stellar, absent or flat out abusive earthly fathers they often struggle with embracing God as Father. They may transfer their experience and feelings of their earthly father to God.

But what about those with less than stellar, absent or flat out abusive earthly mothers? Isn't it true in one sense that God desires to be our Heavenly Mother?

Here's why I say that:
1. God desires to meet the deepest longing of our hearts and if it's for a mother, then that is where He will meet us.
2. "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;" Is 66:13 God comforts like a mother.
3. "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in." Psalm 27:10. Even if our parents forsake us, God never will.
4. John 1:12-13 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."5. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 God is neither male nor female and though He has chosen to communicate Himself as Father, He does not negate His heart to comfort as a mother.

Diane

KEEP A WATCH OVER MY MOUTH

2009-11-19T00:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever heard words come out of your mouth and you have gasped? My thought is frequently, "Oh, Lord, I shouldn't have said that. How could I have said such a thing?" Then my thought has quickly turned to, "How can I talk my way out of that one?"

As I read the verse in Proverbs: "If you have been trapped by what you said....Go and humble yourself" (Proverbs 6:2 and 3 NIV).

Oh, I have been trapped by what I said. So what should I do? Verse 3 tells me: "Go and humble yourself." You mean I have to admit I was wrong? Yes, that's what the Bible says. To whom should I go? The first person we must go to is the Lord. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Once we talk to the Lord and admit our sin, we are better prepared to go to the person, humble ourselves, and say, "I was wrong." So is that it? No. We are expected to change. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil. He must turn from evil and do good" (1 Peter 3:10-11 NIV).

* Be Contrite

* Be willing to Confess

* Trust God to help you Change

Marilyn Heavilin

One-Two Punch

2009-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

Romans 3:10-18 "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Honestly, these verses have always troubled me. I understand them intellectually but in the back of my mind, I just didn't get it. As a child, I was fairly religious. I participated in youth group and even tried to read the Bible for a season (I usually fell asleep before long). I did good things like helping my mother or refrained from drinking at the high school parties. I prayed pretty regularly. In my mind, I was seeking after God. I was a "good girl."

One morning, I was reading and praying through Romans 3:9-30. All the care group participants from church are meditating on this Scripture for the month of November. As I was praying through it, I found myself saying, "Lord, I don't see how these verses really apply to me. I know they are true, but I don't get it. Forgive me, Lord, for thinking that I did seek you, that I did do good, that I did anything whatsoever that could be deemed righteous. But, Lord, it feels like I did; show me Your truth."

Later that afternoon, I was again reading Paul Tripp's book: Whiter than Snow*, when I came across this quote. "Why is Genesis 6:5 so hard to accept? [The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.-my insertion] Why do we spontaneously rise to our own defense? Why are you and I devastated when our weakness, sin, and failure are pointed out? ...Why do we erect self-justifying arguments for what we have said or done? ...We find this all so hard to accept because we studiously hold onto the possibility that we're more righteous than the Bible describes us to be. When we look into the mirror of self-appraisal, the person we tend to see is a person who is more righteous that any of us actually is...Each one of us needs grace that's not only big enough to forgive our sin, but also powerful enough to free us from the self-atoning prison of our own righteousness. We're not only held captive by our sin, but also by the delusion of our righteousness."

The Lord answered my prayer. He showed me His truth. I am held captive by the delusion of my own righteousness. The only way out of my captivity is the blood of Jesus Christ, the only True Righteous One.

Diane

* I highly recommend Dr. Tripp's book, which is available through the KESWICK on-line bookstore.
http://www.americaskeswick.org/233853.ihtml

HE WILL BE TRUE TO HIS WORD

2009-11-17T00:30:00.000-05:00

I have experienced more illness in the past few months than I have in the past ten years. With the illness came feelings of loneliness, frustration, weakness, and futility. I felt my prayers were not reaching the ceiling, let alone God. After a night of pacing the floor and crying out in pain, I prayed, "Dear Jesus, Please let me hear Your voice today. As I see it, first I need to call my pastors to prayer. Help me know how to do that. Second, I need a good doctor as my champion. Please lead Glen and me. Please show me what to do and how to do it. Please bring people to me."

Within an hour of that prayer, God brought a pastor and his wife to my door. I burst into tears and said, "I just told God I needed someone to pray for me, and I need a good doctor contact." The pastor prayed for me, and the wife called her clinic and had an appointment for me that afternoon! (It was a Friday, and the normal wait time for an appointment was over a month!)

Later that day I heard God's directions very clearly as He guided me to look over my e-newsletter mailing list. I was able to identify 16 ordained ministers. I wrote them all immediately and asked them to pray for me. The Lord had answered my prayer and had shown me how to call my pastors (all 16 of them) to prayer.

God reminded me of this verse, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NCV).

Are you feeling weak, lonely and frustrated? Turn to Jesus. Tell Him how you are feeling. He promises to hear us and to take action. "Call to me and I will answer you...." (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV).

MWH

Confess your righteousness...

2009-11-16T00:28:00.000-05:00

Philippians 3:8-9: Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, NOT HAVING A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (emphasis mine).

Isaiah 64:6: ...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (NIV).

Galatians 2:21: I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

"Before you can ever make a clean and unamended confession of your sin, you have to first begin by confessing your righteousness. It's not just your sin that separates you from God; your righteousness does as well. Because, when you are convinced you are righteous, you don't seek the forgiving, rescuing, and restoring mercy that can be found only in Jesus Christ." [Paul David Tripp ~ Whiter than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy]

I couldn't say it any better than that.

Diane