VICTORY Call

In God We Trust - II

2009-11-12T00:24:00.001-05:00

Just in case...just in case, I was misunderstood in yesterday's Victory Call, I want to make plain and clear today what I am NOT saying.

I am not saying that we ever be silent in the face of injustice and wrongdoing. Nor should we ever stand by and allow evil to prevail when there is something we can do about it. There are plenty of voices, strong Christian and secular voices standing up, speaking up and out so that their voices might be heard in all possible places and times that there are ears to hear.

With a loud AMEN I thank God for these men and women. I am grateful to them for giving me insight, knowledge and understand about the issues of our times which are having a gross impact, at all levels, upon the culture we live in.

Neither am I saying that we should not talk about the issues of our present time once we are informed about them.

What I am encouraging us to do as clearly as possible is to never, ever forget who we represent. We are never to be less than Christ Himself would be in the face of opposition. Let's look at it biblically shall we?

In Colossians 4:5-6 we read: Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:25-27

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32

One image which so clearly comes to mind is that of some in the fight for the lives of the unborn, who are shown in full vent of their emotions, spewing hateful and ugly words at those who are going in and out of an abortion clinics...all in the name of Christ.

I praise God that the opposite is true as well. There are many of us in the fight for life who stand firm against the evil of abortion without doing harm to the testimony of Christ in their lives and without malice or slander or any such thing.

May it be said of us that we were known by our love and our passion for Christ; that we fought the good fight, ruled by peace to the glory and honor of Christ, our risen Redeemer and Lord.

Stephanie

In God We Trust - I

2009-11-11T00:19:00.001-05:00

In God we trust. Do we really? How do you know? In other words, what is the evidence at this moment in your life, that you are trusting in God?

We live in sad times. We live in evil times. We live in a time where there appears to be no moral compass beyond what an individual - any individual - thinks or feels is right at a given moment. In general, people appear to be floundering and groping around (as if in the dark) for something, anything, to attach relevance and significance to, as they grapple with all the issues life is hurling at them with force and speed.

On a good day, I can't keep up with all of the "stuff" that is going on in the world, in our country, "the land of the free and the home of the brave." However, in spite on any lack I may have politically or culturally, one thing I know for sure, there is a God and it ain't me!

What is my point? Too many of us are giving ourselves the freedom to speak against the current administration and I am seriously and deeply concerned. I can't help but honestly wonder whether the Lord is okay with this. Do we behave wisely and for Christ's sake when we slander or speak against people whom God has placed in authority over us? If I imitate the world in speaking against our current president as so many in the world did regarding the former, am I guilty of wrongdoing?

In God we trust. In God I trust!

Consider David. He was fully committed to Saul and sought to serve him in every way. He knew that it was unwise to undercut Saul's position of authority. Even after Saul became jealous and began to pursue David to take his life, David didn't speak against Saul or do harm to him, even though he could have.

Like Saul, we have a leader who is not seeking the counsel of God and it would therefore be ever so easy to speak against him at every turn. However, I sincerely believe that for disciples and followers of Christ, it ought not to be so.

Stephanie

Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.1

1 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013&version=ESV

Unclean!

2009-11-10T00:18:00.003-05:00

Leviticus 13:45 Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, "Unclean! Unclean!"
According to levitical law, a person with leprosy was condemned to be an outcast not only by the world but by all his or her friends and family, never to be touched or included in any family or social activity. They were outcasts from the temple as well...never able to go and worship their God as was commanded. Wherever they went they were under the levitical law and had to cry out "Unclean!" as a warning to all. There was no way to hide it or disguise it. People would look upon them with fear, disgust and loathing. How heartbreaking.....

Jesus never shied away from anyone. He loved spending time with those others thought of as outcasts, sinners or those who were labeled "unclean." Jesus loved them, spent time with them, touched them and taught them. But He never turned His back on them.

Luke 5:12-13 And it happened when He [Jesus] was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.

As a matter of fact, these people where his favorite people to hang out with and He received a lot of condemnation for it from the Pharisees, Sadducees and religious leaders.

Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Jesus saw beyond the illness, the sin and the ugliness. He loved them and offered Himself to them through His love, His touch, His healing and His forgiveness. He was never too busy, too freaked out by what He saw, too disgusted by the sins that held them captive to give of Himself.

Who are the "Unclean" in our society today? The addict? The sex offender? The thief? The adulterer? The murderer? They are no longer under the obligation to cry out "Unclean!" yet don't we still treat them in the same manner as those in biblical times? If the "unclean" walk into our church, do we go to the opposite side of the church? Do we ignore them, shun them, or turn up our noses at them?

What if we put on biblical glasses and saw them through the eyes of our Savior Jesus? How different would they look? How would we minister to them? Would we love them with the love of Jesus? Would we embrace them and introduce them to Jesus?

What a different world this would be....want to try on a new pair of glasses?

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 35 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of two 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

Forgetting...

2009-11-09T00:14:00.004-05:00

After a few days of stomach problems, wondering if I might have a bug of some sort, the light gradually dawned that it was more likely what used to be called "nervous stomach." I think it basically is a result of forgetting the One who rules and reigns over ALL. OVER ALL the various circumstances that are part of my life right now.

Anxiety is not fun. It may be as simple as "nervous stomach" or a flat-out panic attack or anywhere in between.

Anxiety starts to wrap its tentacles around our heart ever so gradually through wrong thinking, worrisome thinking and fearful thinking ~ in other words, not God's thoughts. The "What-ifs" and "If-onlys" become more common than rehearsing the truths of God.

We forget.....I forgot....

My God reigns.

My God SOVEREIGNLY reigns.

My God is good.

My God is for me.

My God is in the process of conforming me to the image of Jesus Christ.

My God is working redemptively in my situation.

As I stood under the stars one chilly fall evening, I was reminded that He holds each star in place and calls it by name.

Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.

Jeremiah 31:35 Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar- the LORD of hosts is his name...

If He created, named and sustains every star in the universe - He can handle my problems.

How about yours?

Diane

Come

2009-11-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Jesus said, "The one who comes to Me, I will certainly not cast out." John 6:37

The comfort in those words of Christ is huge! Come to Me, He says, and you will not be cast out, and to emphasize it, He uses the word "certainly." He communicated it to us in such a way that there would be no doubt whatsoever that we shall/we will NOT BE CAST OUT!!

Dear sisters, I don't have a clue where you are today in your faith walk, nor do I know where you are situationally or circumstantially, but this one thing I can assure you of, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

God is with you. In the midst of whatever failure you are feeling the weight of, whatever pit you feel yourself in, whatever war you are waging with sin or self, He is there and He is saying "come to Me." After you finish reading this Victory Call, pause and pray, talk to your Father; tell Him your troubles and give Him your burden. Don't carry it or them for another second!

In the words of Betsy Ten Boom, (from the movie, "The Hiding Place"), "there is no pit so deep than God's love is not greater still."

And in the words of our Savior Christ, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"Do you not know?Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary,They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Stephanie

HE WILL ALWAYS USE ME

2009-11-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt completely sidelined and totally useless for the Lord or for anyone else? This past summer, I spent a better part of the summer in our rig, not feeling well enough to participate in the conference activities. A little variety was added to this confinement by four visits to the ER in Toms River. I counted up, and during that time of illness, I saw ten (count 'em, 10) different doctors. My experience culminated with a four-day stay in the hospital. I remember sitting there thinking, "How in the world did I get here?" Talk about feeling alone and isolated!

Surely God needed me at Keswick. Surely the Colony of Mercy needed me. But there I was, stuck in a body that was extremely pain-filled and confined to a hospital where few people understood my frustration.

But as I look back, I realize that God used me, even in the hospital. He promised that He would. "Your work in the Lord is never wasted" (1 Cor. 15:58 NCV).

God brought to my mind the doctors, nurses, and patients who learned of my faith in God and our work at Keswick as well as the Keswick people with whom I was able to share what God was doing in my life during my set-aside time.

Have you ever felt your life or your talents were being wasted? Trust in God. He has a plan for you. "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you...-that is the way to keep going in our personal lives. Where we are placed is a matter of indifference; God engineers the goings."1

Marilyn Heavilin

1 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, (Westwood, NJ, Barbour and Company, Inc., 1963) 214-215.

Getting the Word Into You

2009-11-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

"The advantages of a deep knowledge of the Bible are more than can be numbered here. It is the storehouse of God's promises. It is the sword of the Spirit, before which temptation flees. It is the all-sufficient equipment for Christian usefulness. It is the believer's guidebook and directory in all possible circumstances." F. B. Meyer

Here are F.B. Meyer's simple rules for studying God's Word for yourself:

Make time for Bible study. "...we should aim at securing at least a half an hour each day for the leisurely and loving study of the Bible. ..it is seldom difficult to find time for business or pleasure appointments. If we mean to, we can."
Ask for understanding." No one can so well explain the meaning of his words as he who wrote them."
Develop a plan. "It is sometimes helpful to read an entire book of the Bible at one sitting, devoting two or three hours to the sacred task. At other times it is more profitable to an epoch, an episode, or a life, and compare all that is written of it in various parts of the Scriptures. At other times it is good to follow one topic, as faith or love, by help of a concordance, from end to end of the inspired volume."
Read with pen in hand. "None, in my judgment, have learned the secret of enjoying the Bible until they have begun to mark it."
Seek your personal profit. "Do not read for others but for yourself. What does the Holy Spirit want to teach me?"
Turn reading into prayer. "If an example of holiness gleams before you, ask God to do as much for you. If a truth is revealed in all its intrinsic splendor, entreat that its brilliance may ever illuminate your life. If a promise lies on the page as a blank check, cash it. If a prayer is recorded, appropriate it and launch it as a feathered arrow from the bow of your desire."
Practice what you learn. "We are taught not for pleasure only, but that we may do."

"The whole of Christian living, in my opinion, hinges on the way Christians read the Bible for themselves. We may measure our growth in grace by the growth of our love for private Bible study; and we may be sure that there is something seriously wrong when we lose our appetite for God's Word." F. B. Meyer

Kathy Withers

Life Action/Revive magazine, Volume 40, Issue 3, page 8-9

Getting Into the Word

2009-11-03T00:01:00.003-05:00

In a recent magazine I read an article about getting into the Word of God. The article was written by Dr. Howard Hendricks, a man I have long known to be one who encourages people to study the Bible for themselves. He opens with this, "The greatest problem in the church today is that we have an increasing number of Christians who are under the Word of God but not in it for themselves."

I have sat under the teaching of good and godly men. Often I would hear them give a challenge to read the Word for themselves. We were encouraged to take what they preach and examine it to see if what they say is true. I have also sat under good and godly teachers that encourage others to know that what a preacher/teacher does to prepare they can do, too. This advice has given me a deep desire for study. Joining many Bible Studies over the years has given me helpful tools and ways in which to study.

Dr. Hendricks gives 3 reasons why we should study the Word of God.

Growth
Maturity
Guidance

You and I shouldn't study for the sake of knowledge alone. We must come to rely on the truths that are revealed to us. They must change us and transform us from the inside out. It doesn't matter the books on your shelf, the degrees on your wall or the hours spent at weekly Bible Studies if you do not see the above results in your life. The Word of God should cause you to see growth and maturity develop in your life. The Word should be the place you go for guidance, as well as peace, comfort and your marching orders for the day.

I write this because it is easy for me to be a Bible study junkie. It is easy to learn facts and find answers to questions and fill in the blanks. But is transformation taking place? Do you know Jesus more intimately? When you finish a Bible study are you different than when you began?

Dr. Hendricks believes that the study of God's Word is so important because "it is the process of seeing the Lord come into your life."

Today as you study I pray that the Lord will meet you there and reveal Himself to you and that you will be changed for having spent time with Him.

Kathy Withers

Life Action/Revive magazine, Volume 40, Issue 3, page 8-9

As we pass by...

2009-11-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth." John 9:1

Jesus, escaping for His life, stops to help a blind man. How do we know? The verse immediately preceding says, "So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out to the temples. As he passed by..." John 8:59 - 9:1

Ministry is not necessarily something we GO do. Going to the mission field is great. Going to help at the church breakfast for the homeless is great. Making a meal for a sick family is great. But there are many, many ministry opportunities "as we pass by."

I cringe to think of the many opportunities that I failed to capitalize on because I was so focused on self. I didn't even see the opening to speak a simple word of truth or hope except in hindsight.

Look around you today for opportunities to minister His grace, His love, and His truth ... as you pass by.

Diane

All Things are Possible

2009-10-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~ Matthew 19:26

Whenever I hear or read that statement of Scripture my spirit and my soul are encouraged. My spirit is quickened by the simple and pure communion of Spirit speaking to spirit, and as my soul is nourished or replenished I am once again reminded that my help, hope and strength do not come from myself and my paltry human resources. My help comes from the Lord, and therefore, all things are possible! It's not a matter of whether or not it is possible or whether or not He can. I know He can, thus it is possible.

"...'If you can'?" Said Jesus. "Everything is possible for Him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief. ~ Mark 9:23-24

The question, dear ones, is this: do you believe? Do you believe that God is sovereign in all and overall? Do you believe He wills to do and is able to do according to His good pleasure and whatever is for our good?

I don't for a second doubt that most of us know what the truth is about God. Yet we find it difficult in the midst of it, to really and truly believe the words of Christ when He says, "everything is possible."

So, dear sisters, if you find yourself in a hard and difficult place, my encouragement for you today is simple - believe! Yet, if the truth for you today is, "believing is too hard," go to Father God and ask Him to help you overcome. He is always faithful to those whom He loves and who love Him. He will help you!!

Stephanie

Shine as Lights

2009-10-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

As I was doing my exercises, I began to see sparkling lights on the wall and ceiling. Trying to discern what was causing them, I realized that as I moved my arms and hands my rings were catching the sunlight coming through the window. As I watched the colorful display, I thought about the fact that without the sun hitting them they did not transmit the beauty that I was seeing.

This made my think of my life ~ does it transmit the beauty of the Son within, shining forth to attract others to want to know what the cause is? The reflection of the sun on my rings got my attention ~ I pondered, does His reflection in my day to day activities draw attention to Him?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14,16, "You are the light of the world...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." And also Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:14-16, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life..." We do not have to do this in our own strength though, "... for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (vs. 13). Another place Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). As He lives within us and His "light of life" is reflected by us in and through our lives, we will bring glory to God the Father and the Son.

Consider the following Scriptures and be challenged and encouraged to keep on "shining" and "reflecting" Him ~ for Him, by Him, through Him:

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Lord, Let it be so ~ Amen.

DeEtta

So... You know Christ

2009-10-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:32-36

What difference does Christ make? As a believer/follower of Jesus Christ, what difference does it make that you are indwelt by the Living Spirit of God?

"If you love these who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (6:33) Do you love the unlovely? Do you love that person that gives you a hard time at work or the one that has hurt you with gossip? Do you love any differently than the unregenerate sinner?

"And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." (6:33) Are you serving and helping those that don't appreciate it or have a sense of entitlement? Are you doing good to those that are not easy to do good for? Do you do good any differently than those that don't know Jesus Christ?"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount." (6:34)

Do you lend or give away things only to those whom you trust will repay or return it or the favor? Are you as generous with the stingy-hearted and ungrateful person? Do you lend or give any differently than the unsaved sinner?

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (6:35-36)

Diane

When God says "NO"

2009-10-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

I recently had hernia surgery. I waited so long that it had become very large. I thought it would be a great opportunity for a little nip/tuck in the tummy area. Let's face it, three C-sections and a few other procedures had left, well, let's say a bit more of a pooch than I'd like. As I was considering my hernia surgery I began to research plastic surgeons. Before I made an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon, I thought I'd better consult with "The Great Physician." I prayed, asking God to show me His will where my plans were concerned. As soon as I prayed, I heard God speak to my spirit; "Others may, but you may not, Kim." I began to question what I KNEW I had just heard God say. "Was that really the Lord speaking to me? Maybe I hadn't heard right?" So...with a heart full of doubts and a mind set on a flat tummy, I went to see a plastic surgeon anyway! I really had it all figured out. I could have both procedures done at the same time and might even get a portion of the plastic surgery covered under our insurance. If only God would give me His blessing! Can you believe it? It turned out that none of it was covered under my insurance and it would cost much more that I could afford to pay.

Why God? Why do I have to have a scar on my stomach? Everyone else does this sort of thing. Then I thought about my vanity - Mirror, mirror on the wall...

It says in 1 Peter 3:3, "your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner-self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's eyes." I began to realize that in this area of my life -- my appearance -- God wanted to use a scalpel on my heart and not my tummy!! God showed me where I truly had to trust Him enough to obey Him. When God says "No," I need to say, "Yes, Lord."

Kim Peterson
Women of Character Graduate

Stay Awake

2009-10-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

Mark 13: 32- 37 "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

In the hecticness of life, it is natural and easy to lose sight of our destination. We forget most days, weeks, months that Jesus is coming back.

THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO LIFE.

The aroma of life, of busy mornings, quick lunches, soccer games, laundry, shopping, class projects, Sunday sermons, vacations, bills, lawns, shoveling snow, tragedy, weddings, stubbed toes, etc., lull us all into a trance - a cocoon of sorts - that this is our home - We are snuggled up inside our cocoon we call life. We are warm and comfortable and rarely look beyond our shell AS IF THIS WERE OUR HOME.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN ~ THIS IS NOT OUR HOME.

Jesus is coming back.

Don't allow the aroma of life to lull you to sleep. Stay awake. Flee the tentacles of life that can drag you into complacency or apathy. Heed Christ's warning. STAY AWAKE.

Diane

One Thing is for Certain...

2009-10-23T00:09:00.001-04:00

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Mark 13:31

In a world when so much seems unstable, uncertain, chaotic, and ever-changing - the reminder that there are stable factors that do not change cannot be thwarted, and that give perspective - and stability to life and circumstance. They remain forever.

God never changes.

"But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does." Job 23:13

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

God's Word never changes.

" ...since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1:23-25

"Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens." Psalm 119:89

When life seems to be getting out of control and chaos seems the norm rather than the exception, stop and rest in the truth that God and His word NEVER change.

Diane

What's In It For Me? Part 2

2009-10-22T00:07:00.000-04:00

Recently, I heard my nephew speak publicly about his gratitude and love for his mom. It was a touching moment well deserved. My sister has been a single mom for many years. She has worked hard and loved, cared for and provided for her children. This speech was a toast at her recent wedding.

My mind, unfortunately, went from this touching toast to stinking thinking. My sister does not yet walk with Jesus and I am sure her children do not either. I began to lick my wounds. After all, I do follow Christ so why not my children? One I don't think ever accepted Christ as his Savior and the other has walked away from her faith. I began to feel exactly like the people in Malachi 3:14-15. "You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free.'"

Have you ever been there? Why do the unsaved seem to have it all and here I am waiting and wanting? I love the Lord, walk with Him and serve Him so don't I deserve to see my children walking with the Lord? It is easy to think that there is no point. Why remain faithful? At times it seems easier to just give up.

The grass may seem greener but I am reminded that without Christ, what is their future? My sister heard those words of love and gratitude that all mothers long to hear. But what will Jesus say to her one day? Her children? My children?

I can only remember that this world is not all there is. So, what's in it for me while I wait to hear good news? In Christ I have a hope and a future. One day there will be no more sorrow or tears. I look forward to an eternity with Jesus. What's in it for me is not just what I get in this world. This is not my home.

For right now I have a trust that a mother's prayers will one day be answered and that God loves my children more than I do. You and I do not have the short end of the stick. God is at work. Malachi 3:16-18 says that in the end He knows those who fear Him and those who don't. He calls those who fear Him "His own" and "jewels." He discerns between the righteous and the wicked. He knows who serves Him and who does not. As ones who fear God and seek to obey Him we will be tempted to give up because we do not see the results we want.

Do not envy those who face a Christ-less eternity and seem to have it all here and now. Next time, as we wrap up our walk through Malachi, we will see that there is a day coming and there is much ahead for those of us who fear the Lord.

Kathy withers

What's In It For Me? Part 1

2009-10-21T00:06:00.000-04:00

About 8 years ago I found myself believing that God owed me some blessings. I went to church, taught Sunday School, did my devotions. Then my world crashed and I had a very hard reality check. I believe that God allowed a number of personal heartaches into my life so that, out of His love and mercy, He could build a new foundation built on Christ and His truth. A lot of what I was "doing" was for my own edification and because I wanted to have a "blessed" life. When God took a sledge hammer to that foundation I was confused and challenged. I was confused about things I had been taught and beliefs I believed. This was a time that I needed to understand who God really was and what the Christian life was really about.

Don't ask me what Bible I had been reading but I thought verses like, "I promise you a rose garden," "Thou shall not suffer trials," and "No tribulation shall come near you or those you love" were really in there! Somewhere along the way I picked up faulty thinking and lies. In Malachi 3:13 the people in that day had picked up similar faulty thinking. They, too, wanted to know what profit there was in serving God. They thought their service was useless and that they did not benefit enough from their hard work. In other words, they asked "What's in this for me?" They became focused on themselves rather than dying to themselves. They watched how those who were prideful and wicked seemed to gain more than they did. They lost sight of God, they lost their fear of God and they began to complain. Where had all the blessings gone?

As you consider your circumstances, what is your attitude? Are you thinking you don't deserve to be in the position you are? Do you think that you deserve more or better? Do you stand in the middle of your living room, shaking a fist at God and ask why He allowed ______? I did. Then God asked me to choose to trust Him and know Him for who He really is. I had to give up on my faulty thinking and dig for truth and begin to trust in the Jesus of the Bible, not the one I had made up or distorted in my head.

There is a huge difference between knowing Jesus Christ and making Him up as you go along. Is He Lord and Savior or in the same realm as Santa Claus and the tooth fairy? Are the words "give me" and "I want" staples in your vocabulary? Do you serve Him, love Him, and follow Him only for the blessings or regardless of the blessings?

Kathy Withers

Kathy Serves in Guest Services and is married to her husband, Dave. They have two adult children, Michael and Kerri.

Take Hold by Letting Go...

2009-10-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

I would like to carry over from yesterday's Victory Call regarding the heart of generosity.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:9

Reflect upon the gospel in this verse: that Jesus left heaven and all the glories of eternity past and was born in a stall and His newborn body laid in a manger full of straw. Through His sinless, perfect life and sacrifice we are offered the free gift of eternal life. We become rich through His poverty. What a picture of generosity!

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

God is the provider of everything you and I enjoy. It seems rather foolish to be stingy with that which isn't ours to begin with.

You know when I find it easy to be generous? Silly as it sounds it's when I somehow profit from that generosity. It is easy to be generous, for example, with my children and grandchildren because I get to enjoy their surprise and delight. I find it more difficult to send a check to a foreign missions project because I don't see the direct impact of my giving. So, bottom line, I'm self-serving in my generosity (or seeming generosity).

Timothy speaks not primarily of financial generosity, but "rich in good works" and "to be generous and ready to share." In one sense, it can be easier to be generous with our finances than generous with ourselves. Are we generous only when it serves us somehow? Are we generous in our service? Are we generous in sharing?

I can't close today's Victory Call without commenting on vs. 19 of 1 Timothy 6, "that they may take hold of that which is truly life." We are far too easily duped into thinking (aloud or silently) that "she who has the most toys ($$ or things) in the end wins." We might not be so foolish as to actually admit that, but are we living as if we believe that? Holding fast to what is "ours"?

I think Timothy's point is that it is not in holding onto our money, time, and gifts that gives us true life but rather in the generous giving of all those things that we will take hold of that which is truly life.

Diane

Generosity

2009-10-19T00:03:00.000-04:00

"We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you- see that you excel in this act of grace also." 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Look at the words of generosity or abundance in these verses:

Vs. 1 ABUNDANCE of joy
Vs. 2 OVERFLOWED in a WEALTH of GENEROSITY
Vs. 3 BEYOND their means
Vs. 4 BEGGING us EARNESTLY
Vs. 7 EXCEL in everything
Vs. 8 EXCEL in this act of grace

The principle of generosity is not having a stingy heart that only wants to, or perhaps is willing to, do just enough to get by.

Paul's words, inspired by God, chosen to communicate the heart of the Macedonian church, express not just a willingness to give but an eagerness to give, so much so, that they begged earnestly for the FAVOR to give, to take part in the relief of the saints.

Generosity goes beyond just finances- at the root it is an attitude of the heart that is evidenced in every area of life.

Do I have a generous heart? Am I eager to give? Do I look for ways to give and do beyond my means?

Diane

A Whale of a Tail...

2009-10-16T00:02:00.001-04:00

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small."
Psalm 104:24-35

Recently I was in Cape Cod on vacation and was able to go out on a Whale Watch. It wasn't my first trip out, and probably won't be my last time to go whale watching. I was again not disappointed as the whales played and waved their tails at us like they were showing off. This time as we were coming up on different whales the guide would begin to name it or them. I looked at the lady next to me and almost in unison we said... "How do they know their names?" As if the guide heard us he then preceded to tell us that whales are most commonly identified by their tails (the coloration of the ventral surface of their flukes). You see, whales have different tail patterns ranging from all white to all black. A whale's tail patterns are like human fingerprints - no whale has the exact same pattern, just like no human has the exact same fingerprint as another human. Each one is unique to the individual. All I could think of as I listened and observed each whale I was taking pictures of was - that's just like our God that created them! How can you not believe in a God when we learn that even non-humans were each created different and unique? In Genesis we learn the animals were named... I figure that meant - that's a whale, that's a raccoon, that's a deer, etc... but now, I'm thinking they were actually named. Creation screams there is a GOD!

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20

If God took so much effort to make whales different and know them by name... How exciting it is to know that that same God tells me that He knows me by name. There is nothing that escapes God's knowledge and ability to pick me out from the rest. God doesn't miss what is going on in my life... I am clearly identified by Him, my Creator. That is the kind of God I have looking out for me. My Creator has given me an identity from all others. Not just whales, but Humans... we are each fearfully and wonderfully made. That is the same God who is looking out and watching over you.

Scientists can follow whales as they migrate and swim the vast seas. God watches over us no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives. Because He made us, designed us, and marked us... there is no place where we are hidden from Him. I don't know about you, but to me that is fantastic news and news that allows me to rest in Him. I am never alone...

"If I take the wings of the dawn, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall guide me."
Psalm 139:9-10.

Lynne Jahns

I Can't Even Do That...

2009-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here I am, sitting in the hospital - waiting to be called to the OR for a heart catheterization. Nervous? Sure, some.

This morning when I awoke around 4 am I was praying and recalling Scripture. One of my favorites in times like this is Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

It occurred to me as I prayed, before drifting back to sleep, that perfect peace sounded pretty good (and even more so as I sit here waiting) - but as Scripture says, my mind needs to be stayed on the Lord - but I realized, in my own strength, I can't even do that.

So the Lord showed me again, apart from Christ I can do NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

So in my prayer I began thanking God for His peace and asking Christ to live His life through me today to keep my mind stayed on God - by faith I believe Jesus is doing that.

Diane

Just a Little Bit More...

2009-10-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

I recently received some unexpected news that I had what appeared to be a partial blockage in one of my main arteries - a week later I was being scheduled for a heart catheterization, which I think any one of us would rather pass on.

I received a phone call from a friend who had recently undergone hernia surgery. She anticipated anxiety which she had struggled with historically, but had none. She made a statement that I was already agreeing with even as she said it - "It's like God takes us through these things and each time says, 'Just give Me a little more...'."

That was exactly what I was feeling and thinking. Each time we go through a trial we have a little more faith, a little more trust.

Life experience with Jesus grows us, sanctifies us. Each time we give Him (or rather He gives us) just a little bit more.

Diane

Suffer Rather Than Sin

2009-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

In a culture of instant gratification, we are not apt to willingly accept suffering. In fact, in many ways we would do "just about anything" (legal and moral) to avoid or get out of suffering.

But can suffering be good?

Yes -

Recently, reading through "The Complete Green Letters" by Miles Stanford, I read this statement:"Christ suffered in the flesh - for us, was crucified for our sin. Therefore arm yourselves with the same purpose (suffer rather than to sin)..."

Every time we are faced with temptation we have a choice - choose sin (get what I want - with the appearance that I avoid suffering) OR choose obedience (yield what I want and suffer the loss of my own way).

In a sense, obedience, denying self, refusing the flesh - requires suffering - more or less depending on what I am surrendering.

Are we THAT committed to obedience? Are we willing to suffer the loss of our own desires rather than to sin to get what we want?

Are we willing to suffer rather than sin?

Diane

Moment by Moment

2009-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6: 34

Are you a worrier? Do you find your mind meandering (or racing) ahead to the "what if's" that may or may not lie ahead?

Various organizations purport to have coined the phrase, "one day at a time" but it really comes from the Bible. We would avoid a great deal of anxiety and worry if we refused to anticipate what the future might hold (most often we are wrong).

God told Paul that His grace was sufficient. "...My grace is sufficient for you, for My strenght is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Why does it so often seem that it is not sufficient? Let me encourage you to memorize this statement: God's grace is sufficient for my reality not my imagination!!!

If we are worrying about tomorrow, we're on our own. Tomorrow is in our imagination until it becomes today. God's grace is not in our imagination. As we walk through tomorrow when it becomes today, God's grace floods our soul moment-by-moment, so it is vital in order to experience God's grace that we stay in those moments one by one.

Practice staying present and be amazed at God's abundant grace IN THE MOMENT.

Diane

Get Your Mind Out of the...World

2009-10-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

"But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.'" Matthew 16:23

Whew! How would you like to have been Peter at this point, rebuked by "the Christ, the Son of the living God" whom you just confessed moments earlier (Mt. 16:16), the one Christ just finished encouraging because God revealed Christ's identity to him (Mt. 16:17)?

Can you see it? One minute Peter was feeling pretty good because he got it right and Jesus Himself pointed it out to everyone. Peter's chest probably got just a little puffed up. The next minute - Peter probably deflated like a runaway balloon propelled by expelled air. This time he got it wrong because he was focused on the things of man, not of God.

Oh, how easy and natural it is for us to be focused on the things of (wo)man, losing sight of the things of God. Invariably, when we focus on God and seek His perspective in every situation we have more faith and peace. When we focus on the world, on things of (wo)man we will get bogged down with worry, anxiety, fear, confusion and, let's face it...self.

Take a deep breath and ask God to give you the grace to see His perspective and rest there.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (NIV) Hebrews 12:2.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2

Diane