Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Points to Ponder:
There is such richness in this week's meditation, that it seemed appropriate to spend all week thinking about different segments. I trust that your heart has been touched and that already your heart is being prepared for the season in which we rejoice over the birth of our Savior.
Everyone loves a birthday. Let us not forget that what makes THIS birthday so very unique and special is that THIS baby was born to die. To die for you and for me that we might have life eternal. What a glorious gift.
2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
And His name shall be called...Prince of Peace
All this week, we have been meditating on these two verses. I hope you have joined together with me and other Victory Call readers as we think deeply within our hearts about these truths. Even though we are not Bible scholars, it is the Spirit of God Who illumines His Word to our hearts. Come. Come to the brook and drink deeply of the Living Water. He will meet you. Expect His arrival and then tarry with Him a while.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called...Prince of Peace
When asked a few years ago which character or attribute of God is most precious to me, this was my answer: His peace. Because of a 30-year history with anxiety (starting at age 7), I longed for peace and in Christ I have found peace. In my mind, we can deal with anything as long as we have the peace of Christ in our hearts. The Scripture says He Himself is our peace (Eph 2:14) Therefore it is through the personal relationship with Him that we have the peace. For He is the Prince of Peace.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called...Prince of Peace
When asked a few years ago which character or attribute of God is most precious to me, this was my answer: His peace. Because of a 30-year history with anxiety (starting at age 7), I longed for peace and in Christ I have found peace. In my mind, we can deal with anything as long as we have the peace of Christ in our hearts. The Scripture says He Himself is our peace (Eph 2:14) Therefore it is through the personal relationship with Him that we have the peace. For He is the Prince of Peace.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
And His name shall be called...Mighty God, Everlasting Father
Even as I am sitting here typing these Victory Calls for this week, I am being washed over by praise and joy in my Savior. Today, would you meditate on these truths? He is our Mighty God. He is our Everlasting Father. Please take a few minutes to meditate on our Scripture selection this week. Perhaps you might even want to journal the precious truths God is giving you.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called...Mighty God, Everlasting Father
Mighty God. He is all powerful. There is nothing, absolutely nothing beyond His power or control. He is mighty. We cannot even begin to comprehend the power our Creator has or is. I don't think of it as power He possesses, but it is Who He is. When we see events occurring in nature like Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, a beautiful sunset, and the whisper of a breeze, we just begin to glimpse His power.
He is also Everlasting Father. There has never been a time when He was not. He is the Great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the Everlasting One, Eternal and Infinite, without measure or bounds. He IS, perpetually in the present. He will neither cease nor wane. And He is all those things in relationship as our Father. He is Everlasting Father. He is My Everlasting Father. He is YOUR Everlasting Father, if you know Him personally.
Can you sense the delight of those truths? I hope they are touching your heart like they are mine.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called...Mighty God, Everlasting Father
Mighty God. He is all powerful. There is nothing, absolutely nothing beyond His power or control. He is mighty. We cannot even begin to comprehend the power our Creator has or is. I don't think of it as power He possesses, but it is Who He is. When we see events occurring in nature like Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, a beautiful sunset, and the whisper of a breeze, we just begin to glimpse His power.
He is also Everlasting Father. There has never been a time when He was not. He is the Great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the Everlasting One, Eternal and Infinite, without measure or bounds. He IS, perpetually in the present. He will neither cease nor wane. And He is all those things in relationship as our Father. He is Everlasting Father. He is My Everlasting Father. He is YOUR Everlasting Father, if you know Him personally.
Can you sense the delight of those truths? I hope they are touching your heart like they are mine.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
And His name shall be called...Wonderful Counselor
This week, I am inviting you to do a little daily exercise with me. Would you join me in meditating on our week's Scripture for even just 5 minutes each day? I believe we often rush past our Bible reading onto the next thing, checking it off our to-do list but in so doing fail to savor the Savior. Join me.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor... As I was mediating and memorizing this verse, I paused and considered what it would really be like if I embraced Jesus as my own personal Wonderful Counselor. Being a counselor myself, I realize that many people come expecting me to enlighten their situation and help them think through the Biblical course of action. Of course, it is never about step one do this, step two do that. It is much more likely to have everything to do with that personal aspect of their relationship with Jesus.
I don't have all the answers. Jesus does. I don't know the heart. Jesus does. I don't know all the surrounding circumstances. Jesus does. I can't make a decision without at least part of my flesh pushing its way through, Jesus can. We can't, Jesus can.
Are you willing to ask Him to be your Wonderful Counselor? And then heed His counsel? Embrace Him. He will be your guide. Learn to walk with Him daily, moment by moment, hand in hand.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor... As I was mediating and memorizing this verse, I paused and considered what it would really be like if I embraced Jesus as my own personal Wonderful Counselor. Being a counselor myself, I realize that many people come expecting me to enlighten their situation and help them think through the Biblical course of action. Of course, it is never about step one do this, step two do that. It is much more likely to have everything to do with that personal aspect of their relationship with Jesus.
I don't have all the answers. Jesus does. I don't know the heart. Jesus does. I don't know all the surrounding circumstances. Jesus does. I can't make a decision without at least part of my flesh pushing its way through, Jesus can. We can't, Jesus can.
Are you willing to ask Him to be your Wonderful Counselor? And then heed His counsel? Embrace Him. He will be your guide. Learn to walk with Him daily, moment by moment, hand in hand.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Digging Deeper Isaiah 9:6-7
We tend to read this Scripture around Christmas and for me it's a little like the smell of pine - it brings back fond memories and an overwhelming sense of peace to my heart. It is a very familiar Scripture that speaks of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. We could spend an entire week meditating on the delightful morsels within this passage. In fact, let's do that. Would you join me this week, and commit to read every day this passage and spend just a few minutes meditating on the promises and proclamations?
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Commentary:
"Child...Son. These terms elaborate further on Immanuel, the child to be born to the virgin...The virgin's child will also be the royal Son of David, with rights to the Davidic throne...government. In fulfillment of this verse and Psalm 2:9, the Son will rule the nations of the World...Wonderful, Counselor. The remaining three titles each consist of two words, so the intention was probably that each pair of words indicate one title. Here, the title would be "Wonderful Counselor."...Mighty God. As a powerful warrior, the Messiah will accomplish the military exploits mentioned in 9:3-5.... Everlasting Father. The Messiah will be a Father to His people eternally. As Davidic King He will compassionately care for and discipline them... Prince of Peace. The government of Immanuel will procure and perpetuate peace among the nations of the world....throne of David. The virgin's Son will be the rightful heir to David's throne and will inherit the promises of the Davidic covenant..." [The MacArthur Bible Commentary pg. 770].
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Commentary:
"Child...Son. These terms elaborate further on Immanuel, the child to be born to the virgin...The virgin's child will also be the royal Son of David, with rights to the Davidic throne...government. In fulfillment of this verse and Psalm 2:9, the Son will rule the nations of the World...Wonderful, Counselor. The remaining three titles each consist of two words, so the intention was probably that each pair of words indicate one title. Here, the title would be "Wonderful Counselor."...Mighty God. As a powerful warrior, the Messiah will accomplish the military exploits mentioned in 9:3-5.... Everlasting Father. The Messiah will be a Father to His people eternally. As Davidic King He will compassionately care for and discipline them... Prince of Peace. The government of Immanuel will procure and perpetuate peace among the nations of the world....throne of David. The virgin's Son will be the rightful heir to David's throne and will inherit the promises of the Davidic covenant..." [The MacArthur Bible Commentary pg. 770].
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Digging Deeper Proverbs 4:20-27 Points to Ponder
Proverbs 4:20-27
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Points to Ponder
This portion of Scripture not only gives a challenge but also the process to accomplish the challenge. There are great promises in this Scripture. Wisdom guards our life and brings health to our bones. How much do we treasure wisdom? Do we keep God's Word within our hearts? Does it influence our choices and decisions? It isn't really wisdom if it is only head knowledge without any practical application in our life. To be women of wisdom, we must know God, know His Word and live in light of it.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Points to Ponder
This portion of Scripture not only gives a challenge but also the process to accomplish the challenge. There are great promises in this Scripture. Wisdom guards our life and brings health to our bones. How much do we treasure wisdom? Do we keep God's Word within our hearts? Does it influence our choices and decisions? It isn't really wisdom if it is only head knowledge without any practical application in our life. To be women of wisdom, we must know God, know His Word and live in light of it.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Making A Difference One Life at a Time
A little boy walked carefully along a crowded beach,
Where starfish by the hundreds lay there within his reach.
They washed up with each wave, far as the eye could see,
And each would surely die if they were not set free.
So one by one he rescued them, then heard a stranger call,
"It won't make a difference... you cannot save them all."
But as he tossed another back toward the ocean's setting sun,
He said with deep compassion, "I made a difference to that one!"
Did you ever read that poem? I have no idea who the author is. But I so appreciate the heart of this little boy.
I don't know about you but there are days when the challenges before me are so many and/or so big, I just can't seem to focus on what I can do.......one at a time. I work in a public Middle School/High School. There are so many needy children. Often I forget to remember what the Word says in Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT) Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary reveals that the word "yoke" in this reference comes from the word "zugos" meaning that this references a yoke that serves to couple two things together. The word is used metaphorically as a picture of submission to authority, of Christ's "yoke," a yoke that is not simply imparted by Him but shared with Him.
What a beautiful picture!! No matter what challenges we face in our day when we remember to first seek the Lord and ask Him what "we" are going to accomplish in the day and submit to His guidance, we can be not unlike the little boy in the poem. We can positively and joyfully give life to one situation at a time. When naysayers or our own stinkin' thinkin' invades our mind, we can easily dismiss it just like the little boy was able to do. We may not solve all the problems we face in a day but, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we can make a difference with some as we submit to His authority and share the load. We will look back upon our day and find it is well with our souls.
Ladies, let us enjoy facing our challenges today as we, first of all, seek direction from the Lord. Allow Him to share the burdens, knowing we were never meant to carry them alone, for all burdens were meant to be shared with Him. It is for our good and His glory. For His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
Patricia L. Wenzel
Women of Character Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 4:
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Where starfish by the hundreds lay there within his reach.
They washed up with each wave, far as the eye could see,
And each would surely die if they were not set free.
So one by one he rescued them, then heard a stranger call,
"It won't make a difference... you cannot save them all."
But as he tossed another back toward the ocean's setting sun,
He said with deep compassion, "I made a difference to that one!"
Did you ever read that poem? I have no idea who the author is. But I so appreciate the heart of this little boy.
I don't know about you but there are days when the challenges before me are so many and/or so big, I just can't seem to focus on what I can do.......one at a time. I work in a public Middle School/High School. There are so many needy children. Often I forget to remember what the Word says in Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT) Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary reveals that the word "yoke" in this reference comes from the word "zugos" meaning that this references a yoke that serves to couple two things together. The word is used metaphorically as a picture of submission to authority, of Christ's "yoke," a yoke that is not simply imparted by Him but shared with Him.
What a beautiful picture!! No matter what challenges we face in our day when we remember to first seek the Lord and ask Him what "we" are going to accomplish in the day and submit to His guidance, we can be not unlike the little boy in the poem. We can positively and joyfully give life to one situation at a time. When naysayers or our own stinkin' thinkin' invades our mind, we can easily dismiss it just like the little boy was able to do. We may not solve all the problems we face in a day but, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we can make a difference with some as we submit to His authority and share the load. We will look back upon our day and find it is well with our souls.
Ladies, let us enjoy facing our challenges today as we, first of all, seek direction from the Lord. Allow Him to share the burdens, knowing we were never meant to carry them alone, for all burdens were meant to be shared with Him. It is for our good and His glory. For His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
Patricia L. Wenzel
Women of Character Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 4:
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Oh, the Power of WORDS!
"May the words we speak to others offer hope and healing. May the words we whisper to ourselves be just as comforting. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14" 1
I copied the above from Liz Curtis Higg's status post on Facebook this morning. I have struggled with words my whole life. I was, unfortunately, "blessed" with the gift of sarcasm. And I've battled with it for a long time. Some days I'm victorious, some days I fail. James wasn't kidding when he said, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:5b-6) So, while there is small comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this struggle, I know that I need constant vigilance to battle it.
Psalm 39:1 (NIV) I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth ..." Boy, do I need a muzzle some days! Psalm 141:3 (NIV) "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." I think I should make this my life verse.
Again, James says, If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man [woman!], able to keep his whole body in check (James 3:2b NIV). How much easier is it to avoid other temptations - push away from the table when I'm full, walk past that shop where those shoes [or dress, purse, necklace, whatever] that I don't need try to lure me in, turn off the TV, etc. - than it is to shut my mouth! I need to learn to put on my heavenly muzzle every morning when I'm putting on my makeup, instead of waiting till I'm tempted to say what I shouldn't say.
How about you? Will your words today bring hope and healing to others, or even to yourself? Or will you wish you'd put on the muzzle?
"...Lord, Fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and shut it when I've said enough. Amen"2
Ruth
Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America's Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.
1 - copied from Facebook post, Liz Curtis Higgs
2 - copied from Facebook post, Karen G.
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 4:
23Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
I copied the above from Liz Curtis Higg's status post on Facebook this morning. I have struggled with words my whole life. I was, unfortunately, "blessed" with the gift of sarcasm. And I've battled with it for a long time. Some days I'm victorious, some days I fail. James wasn't kidding when he said, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:5b-6) So, while there is small comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this struggle, I know that I need constant vigilance to battle it.
Psalm 39:1 (NIV) I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth ..." Boy, do I need a muzzle some days! Psalm 141:3 (NIV) "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." I think I should make this my life verse.
Again, James says, If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man [woman!], able to keep his whole body in check (James 3:2b NIV). How much easier is it to avoid other temptations - push away from the table when I'm full, walk past that shop where those shoes [or dress, purse, necklace, whatever] that I don't need try to lure me in, turn off the TV, etc. - than it is to shut my mouth! I need to learn to put on my heavenly muzzle every morning when I'm putting on my makeup, instead of waiting till I'm tempted to say what I shouldn't say.
How about you? Will your words today bring hope and healing to others, or even to yourself? Or will you wish you'd put on the muzzle?
"...Lord, Fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and shut it when I've said enough. Amen"2
Ruth
Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America's Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.
1 - copied from Facebook post, Liz Curtis Higgs
2 - copied from Facebook post, Karen G.
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 4:
23Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
HOW DO I PRAY?
I was just reading in the first verses of Matthew 6 as Jesus taught the disciples how to pray. Verse 7 says, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." And I got to thinking about what it means to use "vain repetition."
I must admit that when I pray at prayer meeting or in another "public" setting, I often find myself beginning the same way, praying for the same sorts of things in a fairly formulaic way, thinking to myself, "have I covered everything?" and if the answer is "yes," ending my prayer usually in the same way. I don't know if this is what Jesus had in mind when he warned the disciples against "vain repetition," but that's what it seems like to my mind. Maybe this is why Jesus also instructs his disciples to "enter into thy closet, and . . .pray to thy Father which is in secret. . . ."
So,why do I find myself praying this way? Is it because I want to sound good, or pious or religious? Maybe I don't want to embarrass myself because I don't use the proper language (whatever that might be). I find myself thinking, as I listen to someone else pray, "boy, do I wish I could pray like that." I find I am impressed by the words, perhaps even more than by the thoughts being expressed.
When I pray at home, or with someone else or by myself, I have no one there but God. I don't need to - and can't - impress Him. He knows my heart and how I feel. I can have a conversation with Him just like I might talk on the phone to a friend -- laugh, cry, ask questions - openly and honestly. There is no reason for me to try and sound like someone I am not. He knows my innermost thoughts and feelings, and what He wants from me is to just open my mouth and heart and share my joys and sorrows, my hurts and disappointments, my thanksgiving and praises. No need to sound good - just say it.
I am not there - yet. I still find myself being too much concerned about how I sound when I pray instead of what I pray. But I am trying to get over my prideful self so God can use my prayers for my good and His glory. As Jesus says at the end of this passage, ". . .and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (v. 7)
Lynn Randall
Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America's KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer. She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.
DIGGING DEEPER -
Proverbs 4:
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
I must admit that when I pray at prayer meeting or in another "public" setting, I often find myself beginning the same way, praying for the same sorts of things in a fairly formulaic way, thinking to myself, "have I covered everything?" and if the answer is "yes," ending my prayer usually in the same way. I don't know if this is what Jesus had in mind when he warned the disciples against "vain repetition," but that's what it seems like to my mind. Maybe this is why Jesus also instructs his disciples to "enter into thy closet, and . . .pray to thy Father which is in secret. . . ."
So,why do I find myself praying this way? Is it because I want to sound good, or pious or religious? Maybe I don't want to embarrass myself because I don't use the proper language (whatever that might be). I find myself thinking, as I listen to someone else pray, "boy, do I wish I could pray like that." I find I am impressed by the words, perhaps even more than by the thoughts being expressed.
When I pray at home, or with someone else or by myself, I have no one there but God. I don't need to - and can't - impress Him. He knows my heart and how I feel. I can have a conversation with Him just like I might talk on the phone to a friend -- laugh, cry, ask questions - openly and honestly. There is no reason for me to try and sound like someone I am not. He knows my innermost thoughts and feelings, and what He wants from me is to just open my mouth and heart and share my joys and sorrows, my hurts and disappointments, my thanksgiving and praises. No need to sound good - just say it.
I am not there - yet. I still find myself being too much concerned about how I sound when I pray instead of what I pray. But I am trying to get over my prideful self so God can use my prayers for my good and His glory. As Jesus says at the end of this passage, ". . .and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (v. 7)
Lynn Randall
Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America's KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer. She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.
DIGGING DEEPER -
Proverbs 4:
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Digging Deeper Proverbs 4:20-27
It is hard to believe that we have been meditating on Scripture each week for nearly 10 months. I trust you are being blessed not by my words but by His words. There is great value in wisdom, knowing and living it out. May I encourage you to select one or two verses from this week's meditation and commit them to memory? I believe you will be blessed.
Proverbs 4:20-27
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Commentary:
This appeal consists primarily of imperatives that encourage the son to attend to wise instruction and guard wisdom's presence in his heart (vv. 20-21, 23a) by turning from evil in speech and actions (vv. 24-26a, 27). That is because wisdom brings health (v. 22) and continues to sustain (v. 23b) and secure (v. 26b) the path of the one who does this. [ ESV study notes pg. 1142]
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Proverbs 4:20-27
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Commentary:
This appeal consists primarily of imperatives that encourage the son to attend to wise instruction and guard wisdom's presence in his heart (vv. 20-21, 23a) by turning from evil in speech and actions (vv. 24-26a, 27). That is because wisdom brings health (v. 22) and continues to sustain (v. 23b) and secure (v. 26b) the path of the one who does this. [ ESV study notes pg. 1142]
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Digging Deeper Proverbs 3:5-8 Points to Ponder
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
It sounds so simple, doesn't it? Trust God and not self. But I have found it is anything but simple. And we are to trust Him with ALL OUR HEART; that doesn't leave room to do it our way sometimes and His way sometimes. Our flesh wants to lean on itself all the time. Trusting the Lord can be difficult because it often doesn't make sense by the world's standards or even our own minds. We know our understanding is marred by our humanness but it still whispers to us - "this makes sense, this is right..."
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
In all our ways .. This goes beyond just what we think, trusting God must influence our actions, and it looks like something. The only way this is possible is by dying to self and yielding to His Spirit living in us and through us.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
This is the section of our meditation this week that is not as familiar as the first portion. To fear the Lord requires we not be wise in our own eyes, because if we are wise in our own eyes we think too highly of ourselves and edge Christ off the throne in our hearts. Fearing God will be healing and refreshing to our flesh and bones. Like a breath of fresh air to fill our lungs. Inhale deeply.
Diane
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
It sounds so simple, doesn't it? Trust God and not self. But I have found it is anything but simple. And we are to trust Him with ALL OUR HEART; that doesn't leave room to do it our way sometimes and His way sometimes. Our flesh wants to lean on itself all the time. Trusting the Lord can be difficult because it often doesn't make sense by the world's standards or even our own minds. We know our understanding is marred by our humanness but it still whispers to us - "this makes sense, this is right..."
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
In all our ways .. This goes beyond just what we think, trusting God must influence our actions, and it looks like something. The only way this is possible is by dying to self and yielding to His Spirit living in us and through us.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
This is the section of our meditation this week that is not as familiar as the first portion. To fear the Lord requires we not be wise in our own eyes, because if we are wise in our own eyes we think too highly of ourselves and edge Christ off the throne in our hearts. Fearing God will be healing and refreshing to our flesh and bones. Like a breath of fresh air to fill our lungs. Inhale deeply.
Diane
Thursday, October 14, 2010
RIGHTEOUS!!
Today I read Proverbs 10. WOW!! How wonderful and pure and effective is the Word of God for us to read and keep close to us throughout the day, everyday!
The word RIGHTEOUS is the Word for today and my prayer is that the LORD will not allow our souls to famish; that He give us the desire to live according to wisdom and knowledge and understanding and to walk with integrity all the days of our lives.
The words from this chapter that speak of righteousness and the fruit, the blessing, the reward therein are as follows:
Notice all that are blessed by the righteous. Praise Him and be blessed!!
The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous.
The memory of the righteous is blessed.
He who walks with integrity walks securely.
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver.
The lips of the righteous feed many.
the desire of the righteous will be granted.
the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
The hope of the righteous will be gladness.
The righteous will never be removed.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.
The righteous know, the righteous feed, the righteous bring forth and the righteous are never removed. Halleluiah, for the LORD our God the Almighty reigns!!
May we all receive the comfort, hope and security eternally bound up in the Word. May we all receive the fresh and everyday manna from the hand of Abba, for our nourishment today! May He be glorified in all that we do-even the things that we may consider mundane and insignificant minutia. In all of it, give God the glory and the praise and watch how you are changed. Taste and see and know the goodness of our God!!
Today let's remember that we are the redeemed of the LORD and then let us, the redeemed of the LORD, say SO to whatever the enemy of our soul seeks to thwart us with.
Stephanie
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "intrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 3
7 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
The word RIGHTEOUS is the Word for today and my prayer is that the LORD will not allow our souls to famish; that He give us the desire to live according to wisdom and knowledge and understanding and to walk with integrity all the days of our lives.
The words from this chapter that speak of righteousness and the fruit, the blessing, the reward therein are as follows:
Notice all that are blessed by the righteous. Praise Him and be blessed!!
The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous.
The memory of the righteous is blessed.
He who walks with integrity walks securely.
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver.
The lips of the righteous feed many.
the desire of the righteous will be granted.
the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
The hope of the righteous will be gladness.
The righteous will never be removed.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.
The righteous know, the righteous feed, the righteous bring forth and the righteous are never removed. Halleluiah, for the LORD our God the Almighty reigns!!
May we all receive the comfort, hope and security eternally bound up in the Word. May we all receive the fresh and everyday manna from the hand of Abba, for our nourishment today! May He be glorified in all that we do-even the things that we may consider mundane and insignificant minutia. In all of it, give God the glory and the praise and watch how you are changed. Taste and see and know the goodness of our God!!
Today let's remember that we are the redeemed of the LORD and then let us, the redeemed of the LORD, say SO to whatever the enemy of our soul seeks to thwart us with.
Stephanie
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "intrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 3
7 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
PRODUCING THE FRUIT
In this final devotional on the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, let me just discuss briefly some of the things we can do to help with crop production. First and foremost, we must plant the Word (Luke 8:11, Psalm 1:2). Nothing can grow without coming from seed. The Word is the seed which produces the fruit.
Now, if you are like me, the next step is actually harder than the first, both in my life and my garden. We need to be plucking weeds. That is, the weeds that grow up in our hearts (Matt. 13:18-23). We need to be careful of what wealth or the desire for wealth can do in our lives (1 Tim. 6:9). "So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin" (James 4:17). Sin comes into our lives and literally chokes away all good that is trying to grow.
After planting and in the process of weeding, we need to continually water our garden. How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds. We need to make room for the Spirit through the putting off process. For everything we put off in our lives - we make room for the Holy Spirit to put things into our lives (Col. 3). We especially have to put off bitterness, rage and malice because they choke out love and can eat away at even the good in our lives. With those things out of our lives we can be blessed with kindness and forgiveness, which acts like fertilizer in our lives to help our fruit produce in abundance and quality.
Once our fruit is produced, God can harvest it to feed others, to bless others, to glorify Him and bring praise to His name. Remember we reap what we sow!
"The growing of fruit does not happen in a day - the process is a slow but steady unfolding of the blossom, the formation of the fruit and at last it's ripening. Luscious grapes are not produced in one week nor does a gracious mind mature in a moment." (W. Phillip Keller)
Take a look at your garden
1. What is it producing?
2. What kind of crop?
3. Is the Master satisfied?
4. Is He getting what He hoped?
5. Is the fruit marketable?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 3
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Now, if you are like me, the next step is actually harder than the first, both in my life and my garden. We need to be plucking weeds. That is, the weeds that grow up in our hearts (Matt. 13:18-23). We need to be careful of what wealth or the desire for wealth can do in our lives (1 Tim. 6:9). "So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin" (James 4:17). Sin comes into our lives and literally chokes away all good that is trying to grow.
After planting and in the process of weeding, we need to continually water our garden. How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds. We need to make room for the Spirit through the putting off process. For everything we put off in our lives - we make room for the Holy Spirit to put things into our lives (Col. 3). We especially have to put off bitterness, rage and malice because they choke out love and can eat away at even the good in our lives. With those things out of our lives we can be blessed with kindness and forgiveness, which acts like fertilizer in our lives to help our fruit produce in abundance and quality.
Once our fruit is produced, God can harvest it to feed others, to bless others, to glorify Him and bring praise to His name. Remember we reap what we sow!
"The growing of fruit does not happen in a day - the process is a slow but steady unfolding of the blossom, the formation of the fruit and at last it's ripening. Luscious grapes are not produced in one week nor does a gracious mind mature in a moment." (W. Phillip Keller)
Take a look at your garden
1. What is it producing?
2. What kind of crop?
3. Is the Master satisfied?
4. Is He getting what He hoped?
5. Is the fruit marketable?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverbs 3
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control
This group of fruit pertains to our relationship to our inner selves, which speaks volumes about our character and inner life.
Faithfulness is loyalty or trustworthiness - Heb. 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author of faithfulness. Not only is the Lord our best example (Lam 3:22-23, Isaiah 25:1), but His name means Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11). I like this quote regarding faithfulness from Phillip Keller: "I actively, energetically give of my best to another outside of and apart from myself."
Why be faithful? Because the Bible commands faithfulness (Prov. 3:3), and because it brings to us the blessings of God and Man (Prov. 3:4). There are many ways to demonstrate the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. We need to be truthful in our words and promises (Prov. 12:22). Our work needs to be exemplary - without question (Col. 3:22-24). Showing faithfulness and stewardship in our finances is another way we display this fruit in our lives (Luke 16:11, Psalms 37:21). Most of all we want to be known for our faithfulness to the Lord. It will be grand to someday hear "well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).
GENTLENESS is "power under control." A gentle person is not weak, but very strong and able to control their emotions and actions - this is also referred to as spiritual tenderness. Think of it this way: MEEK MEN are not WEAK MEN. If we are not gentle then fruit flies or weeds begin to spring up in our lives: pride, self-assertion, arrogance, self-indulgence, aggressive and abrasive behaviors - which overwhelm the other fruit.
To be Gentle we need to: Tame our tongues (Prov. 15:1 and Psalms 141:3), some of the ways we do this is by:
o Blessing Others - Luke 6:28
o Refusing to retaliate with words - I Peter 2:23
o Avoiding Gossip - Prov. 16:28B
o Being strong enough to forgive and not hold grudges - Matt. 18:22, Gal 6:1 (restore in Love)
We must deny ourselves, take up the Cross...
SELF-CONTROL is also known as "Temperance" in scripture (Gal. 5:16, 2 Peter 1:5-7).
Prov. 25:28 tells us that self-control is that wall that protects from temptations of the evil one like the ancient walls that kept the enemy out. When I have self-control over my emotions, passions and appetites (1 Cor. 13: 1-7) then my whole self comes under the control and surrender of Christ. I become governed by God.
If you have "wild vines" you are not self-controlled. Areas in our lives that especially need to be tamed:
* Our Tempers: Prov. 29:22
* Our Words: Prov. 12:18a
* Our Responses: Eph. 4:26
* Our Appetites and Rights when we refuse to concentrate on temptation: Eph 4:27
* Our Finances: Ecc 5:10 and 1 Tim. 6:10a
The Good Gardener wants to come into your garden gates. He wants to be given the ground of your entire being to do with as He wishes to do, to produce what His will is, the way that He wills. He wants to be the controller of crop production in our lives, not us. Who are you allowing to cultivate your inner self?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverb 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Faithfulness is loyalty or trustworthiness - Heb. 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author of faithfulness. Not only is the Lord our best example (Lam 3:22-23, Isaiah 25:1), but His name means Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11). I like this quote regarding faithfulness from Phillip Keller: "I actively, energetically give of my best to another outside of and apart from myself."
Why be faithful? Because the Bible commands faithfulness (Prov. 3:3), and because it brings to us the blessings of God and Man (Prov. 3:4). There are many ways to demonstrate the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. We need to be truthful in our words and promises (Prov. 12:22). Our work needs to be exemplary - without question (Col. 3:22-24). Showing faithfulness and stewardship in our finances is another way we display this fruit in our lives (Luke 16:11, Psalms 37:21). Most of all we want to be known for our faithfulness to the Lord. It will be grand to someday hear "well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).
GENTLENESS is "power under control." A gentle person is not weak, but very strong and able to control their emotions and actions - this is also referred to as spiritual tenderness. Think of it this way: MEEK MEN are not WEAK MEN. If we are not gentle then fruit flies or weeds begin to spring up in our lives: pride, self-assertion, arrogance, self-indulgence, aggressive and abrasive behaviors - which overwhelm the other fruit.
To be Gentle we need to: Tame our tongues (Prov. 15:1 and Psalms 141:3), some of the ways we do this is by:
o Blessing Others - Luke 6:28
o Refusing to retaliate with words - I Peter 2:23
o Avoiding Gossip - Prov. 16:28B
o Being strong enough to forgive and not hold grudges - Matt. 18:22, Gal 6:1 (restore in Love)
We must deny ourselves, take up the Cross...
SELF-CONTROL is also known as "Temperance" in scripture (Gal. 5:16, 2 Peter 1:5-7).
Prov. 25:28 tells us that self-control is that wall that protects from temptations of the evil one like the ancient walls that kept the enemy out. When I have self-control over my emotions, passions and appetites (1 Cor. 13: 1-7) then my whole self comes under the control and surrender of Christ. I become governed by God.
If you have "wild vines" you are not self-controlled. Areas in our lives that especially need to be tamed:
* Our Tempers: Prov. 29:22
* Our Words: Prov. 12:18a
* Our Responses: Eph. 4:26
* Our Appetites and Rights when we refuse to concentrate on temptation: Eph 4:27
* Our Finances: Ecc 5:10 and 1 Tim. 6:10a
The Good Gardener wants to come into your garden gates. He wants to be given the ground of your entire being to do with as He wishes to do, to produce what His will is, the way that He wills. He wants to be the controller of crop production in our lives, not us. Who are you allowing to cultivate your inner self?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Proverb 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Digging Deeper Proverbs 3:5-8
This week's verse, much like last week's, is an oft-quoted verse. The problem with oft-quoted verses is that sometimes they are recited without much thought to their meaning or promise. Let's slow down this week just long enough to really consider the truths within.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Commentary:
"Trust in the Lord is necessary for fulfilling any of the wise ways of life taught in Proverbs: trusting the Lord is closely connected to 'fearing' him....With all your heart indicated that trust goes beyond intellectual assent to a deep reliance on the Lord, a settled confidence in his cared and his faithfulness to his Word. Do not lean on your own understanding further explains trusting the Lord. One's understanding in Proverbs is his perception of the right course of action. The wise will govern themselves by what the Lord himself declares, and will not set their own finite and often-mistaken understanding against his. ... To make straight a person's paths means to make the course of the person's life one that continually progresses toward a goal. In Proverbs, the emphasis is on the moral quality in one's life path (here, its moral 'straightness'). " ESV Study Bible Notes Pg. 1138
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Commentary:
"Trust in the Lord is necessary for fulfilling any of the wise ways of life taught in Proverbs: trusting the Lord is closely connected to 'fearing' him....With all your heart indicated that trust goes beyond intellectual assent to a deep reliance on the Lord, a settled confidence in his cared and his faithfulness to his Word. Do not lean on your own understanding further explains trusting the Lord. One's understanding in Proverbs is his perception of the right course of action. The wise will govern themselves by what the Lord himself declares, and will not set their own finite and often-mistaken understanding against his. ... To make straight a person's paths means to make the course of the person's life one that continually progresses toward a goal. In Proverbs, the emphasis is on the moral quality in one's life path (here, its moral 'straightness'). " ESV Study Bible Notes Pg. 1138
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, October 08, 2010
DIGGING DEEPER PSALM 139:23-24
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Points to Ponder:
I don't know about you but the last person to see and recognize my sin is me. From my experience, it is much easier to see other people's sins than it is to see our own. There are those that thrive on pointing out other's sin, but for the most part, we tend to avoid those kinds of people because they are more interested in other's faults than taking a good, hard, healthy, godly look at themselves.
We will never go wrong if we ask God to do the searching and revealing of our hearts for He knows the hidden things, the deep things of our hearts. If our soul desire is to be righteous and to be like Christ, we will welcome the searching of God's eye even in the deepest parts of our heart, even when it hurts because we know He already has a way out. I really appreciate it when the LORD enlightens me to the sin of my heart. I don't always like it, but I appreciate how intimately involved He is in my life.
Lord, search the hidden things of my heart and lead me in the everlasting way.
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Points to Ponder:
I don't know about you but the last person to see and recognize my sin is me. From my experience, it is much easier to see other people's sins than it is to see our own. There are those that thrive on pointing out other's sin, but for the most part, we tend to avoid those kinds of people because they are more interested in other's faults than taking a good, hard, healthy, godly look at themselves.
We will never go wrong if we ask God to do the searching and revealing of our hearts for He knows the hidden things, the deep things of our hearts. If our soul desire is to be righteous and to be like Christ, we will welcome the searching of God's eye even in the deepest parts of our heart, even when it hurts because we know He already has a way out. I really appreciate it when the LORD enlightens me to the sin of my heart. I don't always like it, but I appreciate how intimately involved He is in my life.
Lord, search the hidden things of my heart and lead me in the everlasting way.
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Sowing and Reaping Fruit
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 (King James Version)
In this devotional look at the Fruit of the Spirit, we will examine the three fruits that are designed to enhance our relationships with others.
PATIENCE: There are two words in the New Testament for patience, one which means to "abide under" or "endure" trials. The other word is long-suffering or our more modern translation that talks of a person that has a "long fuse". I think having a long fuse also pertains to enduring under trials, since having a long fuse would mean that we have a longer ability to wait before we explore or respond inappropriately to our situations and problems. Does it seem strange to you that patience under trials is put with the fruit that deals with other people? Not to me; seems most of my trials or problems in life involve other people. If we are patient with people (Eph. 4:2), we are willing to understand awkward people or disturbing events which involve others. Paul in his first letter to Timothy (1:16) tells us that God gives us the ability to be patient so that Jesus' example can be seen in us.
What is reaped from sowing patience? First, others gain a perspective of Christ that is often not displayed in others. We gain strength and endurance from God and discover His faithfulness to us through our times of patiently waiting. Last, we learn that troubles are the fruit press of God; life compresses on us so that there will flow from us refreshment for the weary, thirsty world. (1 Thess. 5:14; Rom. 12:12; James 1:2-4)
KINDNESS: Sowing and Reaping... Proverbs 11:17 says it all, "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Compassion and Mercy are two additional words that mean the same as kindness. Kindness is a compassionate response to people in need. Our best example in scripture is the Good Samaritan story. At the end of the story, Jesus tells those listening to him to go and do likewise (Luke 10:37). We are to be kind to others, because Christ demonstrated that kind of mercy and kindness to us when He chose to come and save us and forgive us our sins (Eph. 4:32). Kindness is love in action (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor. 13:4).
KINDNESS is not a tolerance of wrong; that is a disservice (cleaning a wound is necessary for healing). Kindness entails courage, integrity and selflessness. When the seeds of kindness are sown in our garden - there will be a bountiful harvest of blessings for both us and others. Life can be exceedingly rich.
GOODNESS: We are created for good and that which is beneficial in effect (2 Thess. 1:11; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 13:16). God's goodness demonstrated to us is our salvation (2 Cor. 5:23), our return to God for our salvation is demonstrating goodness to others. This is not a feeling we experience, it is doing good whether we feel like it or not in order to overcome evil.
How do we know what doing good is? First, we live in obedience to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and second, we keep eternity and the rewards of eternity in mind (Matt 25:21; John 17:4). We are to do good all the time, but especially when we are wronged (Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:21). If we respond with good to the wrong done to us or the wrong we see in the world, we are acting as God's agents because God is good all the time and is good to us even when we wrong Him.
Goodness is like a juicy piece of fresh fruit on a summer's day. It refreshes in the midst of trouble, heartache and the daily chores of life. You become to others a fresh bowl of fruit on the table verses that plastic fake stuff we try to pass off as fruit. So, is your fruit juicy or stale, old or maybe even fake? If it is the latter, then weed out the sin in your garden and pass on to others the gifts you have been given from God.
Being Patient, Kind and Good to others means that we believe in them and we believe that God can make them great. It means that we will see and treat others as God sees them, not as we see them. Finally, it means that we believe with God all things are possible. The impact of producing this fruit in our lives is that they will want what you have. They will want to have your Gardener in charge of their fruit (get it - they will want God). Think of the Harvest for God if we only sowed these fruit on a regular basis in our lives. Happy Planting!
Lynn Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
In this devotional look at the Fruit of the Spirit, we will examine the three fruits that are designed to enhance our relationships with others.
PATIENCE: There are two words in the New Testament for patience, one which means to "abide under" or "endure" trials. The other word is long-suffering or our more modern translation that talks of a person that has a "long fuse". I think having a long fuse also pertains to enduring under trials, since having a long fuse would mean that we have a longer ability to wait before we explore or respond inappropriately to our situations and problems. Does it seem strange to you that patience under trials is put with the fruit that deals with other people? Not to me; seems most of my trials or problems in life involve other people. If we are patient with people (Eph. 4:2), we are willing to understand awkward people or disturbing events which involve others. Paul in his first letter to Timothy (1:16) tells us that God gives us the ability to be patient so that Jesus' example can be seen in us.
What is reaped from sowing patience? First, others gain a perspective of Christ that is often not displayed in others. We gain strength and endurance from God and discover His faithfulness to us through our times of patiently waiting. Last, we learn that troubles are the fruit press of God; life compresses on us so that there will flow from us refreshment for the weary, thirsty world. (1 Thess. 5:14; Rom. 12:12; James 1:2-4)
KINDNESS: Sowing and Reaping... Proverbs 11:17 says it all, "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Compassion and Mercy are two additional words that mean the same as kindness. Kindness is a compassionate response to people in need. Our best example in scripture is the Good Samaritan story. At the end of the story, Jesus tells those listening to him to go and do likewise (Luke 10:37). We are to be kind to others, because Christ demonstrated that kind of mercy and kindness to us when He chose to come and save us and forgive us our sins (Eph. 4:32). Kindness is love in action (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor. 13:4).
KINDNESS is not a tolerance of wrong; that is a disservice (cleaning a wound is necessary for healing). Kindness entails courage, integrity and selflessness. When the seeds of kindness are sown in our garden - there will be a bountiful harvest of blessings for both us and others. Life can be exceedingly rich.
GOODNESS: We are created for good and that which is beneficial in effect (2 Thess. 1:11; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 13:16). God's goodness demonstrated to us is our salvation (2 Cor. 5:23), our return to God for our salvation is demonstrating goodness to others. This is not a feeling we experience, it is doing good whether we feel like it or not in order to overcome evil.
How do we know what doing good is? First, we live in obedience to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and second, we keep eternity and the rewards of eternity in mind (Matt 25:21; John 17:4). We are to do good all the time, but especially when we are wronged (Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:21). If we respond with good to the wrong done to us or the wrong we see in the world, we are acting as God's agents because God is good all the time and is good to us even when we wrong Him.
Goodness is like a juicy piece of fresh fruit on a summer's day. It refreshes in the midst of trouble, heartache and the daily chores of life. You become to others a fresh bowl of fruit on the table verses that plastic fake stuff we try to pass off as fruit. So, is your fruit juicy or stale, old or maybe even fake? If it is the latter, then weed out the sin in your garden and pass on to others the gifts you have been given from God.
Being Patient, Kind and Good to others means that we believe in them and we believe that God can make them great. It means that we will see and treat others as God sees them, not as we see them. Finally, it means that we believe with God all things are possible. The impact of producing this fruit in our lives is that they will want what you have. They will want to have your Gardener in charge of their fruit (get it - they will want God). Think of the Harvest for God if we only sowed these fruit on a regular basis in our lives. Happy Planting!
Lynn Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
The Gardener's Touch
The main ingredients in our fruit are based on our relationship to God.
Love: is like good seed introduced into good soil, it must come from a source outside the garden. It does not, nor can it ever, spring from the soil of our own souls. Agape Love is God's love bestowed on us through His Son. I can only have this kind of love as far as I am connected to and have God in my life. Love is the fruit that is found in all the other fruit (1 Cor. 13:1-7). Without Love, the other fruit cannot be fully functional and productive - it will lack that "sweetening" agent. If we have love, it never fails to produce (1 Cor. 13:8).
Beth Moore explains Agape love in her study on the fruit in the following ways.
* Agape is divine capacity to love. Only God is capable of agape.
* Agape is more a response than a feeling (1 John 3:20 - God is greater than our hearts).
* Agape is fueled by the needs rather than the desires of self or others.
* Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.
Joy: Is "delight - gladness" that is not based on circumstances - Heb. 12:2
The word happiness is found 6 times in the New Testament, and 16 times in the Old Testament. Joy shows up 8 times more than Happiness in Scripture (176 times). Joy is the grand attributes of God Himself, "God of all Joy". Too often we are looking for Joy when we should just be looking towards Jesus Christ - our Joy is in Him... not in anything else we can find.
Check out the types of Joy that God provides: We are never lacking for Joy when we look for it in the right places.
* Joy of salvation - Psalm 51:12a
* Joy of problems - James 1:12
* Joy of worship - Psalm 12 2:1
* Joy of today - Psalm 118:24
* Joy of restoration - Psalm 71:20; Psalm 23:3
* Joy of prayer - John 16:24; Psalm 16:11b
* Joy of God's Word - Psalm 119:111
Peace: is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Jesus in the midst of problems.
The fruit of Peace is love standing strong and stable in spite of every insult, antagonism and every hate. We are at Peace with God (Romans 5:1), we are given the Peace of God (Phil. 4:7), which equips us to live at Peace with everyone (Romans 12:18), or at least do our part to be a peace with everyone (Romans 14:19). I love this statement: He who throws dirt only loses ground. Let us keep our soil in our Godly Garden!
Do you need to cultivate the fruit of Love, Joy and Peace? First we need to take a long hard look at ourselves, then cry out to God to change and do what He needs to do to sweeten our fruit, and finally we need to get out of the way (kill the flesh) and give God control. We need to let Him in our fields and hand over the keys to the plow. Being plowed by God will transform your life, your relationships and your attitudes. Allow God to come in and establish His fruit in your life.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 139: 24
And see if there be any grievous way in me.
And lead me in the way everlasting!
Love: is like good seed introduced into good soil, it must come from a source outside the garden. It does not, nor can it ever, spring from the soil of our own souls. Agape Love is God's love bestowed on us through His Son. I can only have this kind of love as far as I am connected to and have God in my life. Love is the fruit that is found in all the other fruit (1 Cor. 13:1-7). Without Love, the other fruit cannot be fully functional and productive - it will lack that "sweetening" agent. If we have love, it never fails to produce (1 Cor. 13:8).
Beth Moore explains Agape love in her study on the fruit in the following ways.
* Agape is divine capacity to love. Only God is capable of agape.
* Agape is more a response than a feeling (1 John 3:20 - God is greater than our hearts).
* Agape is fueled by the needs rather than the desires of self or others.
* Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.
Joy: Is "delight - gladness" that is not based on circumstances - Heb. 12:2
The word happiness is found 6 times in the New Testament, and 16 times in the Old Testament. Joy shows up 8 times more than Happiness in Scripture (176 times). Joy is the grand attributes of God Himself, "God of all Joy". Too often we are looking for Joy when we should just be looking towards Jesus Christ - our Joy is in Him... not in anything else we can find.
Check out the types of Joy that God provides: We are never lacking for Joy when we look for it in the right places.
* Joy of salvation - Psalm 51:12a
* Joy of problems - James 1:12
* Joy of worship - Psalm 12 2:1
* Joy of today - Psalm 118:24
* Joy of restoration - Psalm 71:20; Psalm 23:3
* Joy of prayer - John 16:24; Psalm 16:11b
* Joy of God's Word - Psalm 119:111
Peace: is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Jesus in the midst of problems.
The fruit of Peace is love standing strong and stable in spite of every insult, antagonism and every hate. We are at Peace with God (Romans 5:1), we are given the Peace of God (Phil. 4:7), which equips us to live at Peace with everyone (Romans 12:18), or at least do our part to be a peace with everyone (Romans 14:19). I love this statement: He who throws dirt only loses ground. Let us keep our soil in our Godly Garden!
Do you need to cultivate the fruit of Love, Joy and Peace? First we need to take a long hard look at ourselves, then cry out to God to change and do what He needs to do to sweeten our fruit, and finally we need to get out of the way (kill the flesh) and give God control. We need to let Him in our fields and hand over the keys to the plow. Being plowed by God will transform your life, your relationships and your attitudes. Allow God to come in and establish His fruit in your life.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 139: 24
And see if there be any grievous way in me.
And lead me in the way everlasting!
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Spiritual Fruit
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:8
I am going to attempt to do several Victory Calls on the Fruit of the Spirit. This summer I did a seminar on this topic and we decided to call it "Juicy Fruit". That is what God desires from us - fruit that is juicy and pleasant, not dry and wilted.
Let us start out with pronunciation; it is FRUIT, not FRUITS. A tree bears one fruit, it may bear many apples, but it is the fruit of the tree. The Holy Spirit in the same way is the source of our fruit. The apple has several parts, such as core, seeds, flesh, peel - but it is all one piece of the fruit. So it is with the fruit of the spirit - it is all one fruit, with many parts. All of the components must be present if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us. For example, if you examine a cluster of grapes, each grape is the same fruit yet each may differ slightly in size, shape and taste. One fully ripened, full of sweet taste - others less ripe, green, sour, shrunken and shriveled - still they are the same grape growing on a single stem.
As a way of introduction, it is important to know why we bear fruit. The verse above is clear in that our spiritual fruit first, gives glory to God and second, demonstrates that we are His disciples. We shall be known by our fruit. When people see, taste or experience the fruit in our lives they are seeing, tasting and experiencing God at work.
Next, what purpose does my fruit play in God's grand scheme of things? First, it is designed so that we can be God's instruments and meet the needs of others. Fruit trees do not eat their own fruit; they bear fruit for our benefit. Our fruit is not for our benefit, but for the benefit of others. Galatians 6:10 tells us to do good to others. In Philippians 4:19 we are told that God supplies our needs - and one of the ways He does that is through our fruit.
Finally, let's look at the predators of our spiritual fruit. All fruit has predators: cold, bugs, heat, drought, fire, wind, etc... Our spiritual fruit also has predators. Galatians 5:16-17 and Romans 8:5 tell us that the flesh and our sinful desires can destroy our fruit. The next one is no surprise... Satan is looking to destroy us (1 Peter 5:18) and if he can't destroy us totally, he can render our fruit ineffective for God.
Each succeeding Victory Call on this topic will look at the different parts of the Fruit.
The first 3 relate to our relationship to God: Love, Joy, and Peace.
The next 3 relate to our relationship to others: Patience, Kindness and Goodness.
The last 3 relate to our relationship to ourselves, or what kind of people we are: Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
I want to end with a poem, maybe it can be your prayer for this study. Source is unknown.
We who were once wilderness can become the garden of God.
My life is a garden.
Your life is a garden.
Is it a waste, untilled and wild?
Like an untaught, untrained child?
Or is it good soil under the Master's hand?
Is my soul His own cherished land?
Is it thick with thistles and weed?
Or has it been sown with His good seed?
What is the harvest that comes from this life?
Goodness and love, or hatred and strife?
O Lord, take this stony ground of mine.
Make it all, completely Thine!
Only then can it ever yield,
The pleasant fruit of a godly field.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Try me and know my thougths!
I am going to attempt to do several Victory Calls on the Fruit of the Spirit. This summer I did a seminar on this topic and we decided to call it "Juicy Fruit". That is what God desires from us - fruit that is juicy and pleasant, not dry and wilted.
Let us start out with pronunciation; it is FRUIT, not FRUITS. A tree bears one fruit, it may bear many apples, but it is the fruit of the tree. The Holy Spirit in the same way is the source of our fruit. The apple has several parts, such as core, seeds, flesh, peel - but it is all one piece of the fruit. So it is with the fruit of the spirit - it is all one fruit, with many parts. All of the components must be present if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us. For example, if you examine a cluster of grapes, each grape is the same fruit yet each may differ slightly in size, shape and taste. One fully ripened, full of sweet taste - others less ripe, green, sour, shrunken and shriveled - still they are the same grape growing on a single stem.
As a way of introduction, it is important to know why we bear fruit. The verse above is clear in that our spiritual fruit first, gives glory to God and second, demonstrates that we are His disciples. We shall be known by our fruit. When people see, taste or experience the fruit in our lives they are seeing, tasting and experiencing God at work.
Next, what purpose does my fruit play in God's grand scheme of things? First, it is designed so that we can be God's instruments and meet the needs of others. Fruit trees do not eat their own fruit; they bear fruit for our benefit. Our fruit is not for our benefit, but for the benefit of others. Galatians 6:10 tells us to do good to others. In Philippians 4:19 we are told that God supplies our needs - and one of the ways He does that is through our fruit.
Finally, let's look at the predators of our spiritual fruit. All fruit has predators: cold, bugs, heat, drought, fire, wind, etc... Our spiritual fruit also has predators. Galatians 5:16-17 and Romans 8:5 tell us that the flesh and our sinful desires can destroy our fruit. The next one is no surprise... Satan is looking to destroy us (1 Peter 5:18) and if he can't destroy us totally, he can render our fruit ineffective for God.
Each succeeding Victory Call on this topic will look at the different parts of the Fruit.
The first 3 relate to our relationship to God: Love, Joy, and Peace.
The next 3 relate to our relationship to others: Patience, Kindness and Goodness.
The last 3 relate to our relationship to ourselves, or what kind of people we are: Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
I want to end with a poem, maybe it can be your prayer for this study. Source is unknown.
We who were once wilderness can become the garden of God.
My life is a garden.
Your life is a garden.
Is it a waste, untilled and wild?
Like an untaught, untrained child?
Or is it good soil under the Master's hand?
Is my soul His own cherished land?
Is it thick with thistles and weed?
Or has it been sown with His good seed?
What is the harvest that comes from this life?
Goodness and love, or hatred and strife?
O Lord, take this stony ground of mine.
Make it all, completely Thine!
Only then can it ever yield,
The pleasant fruit of a godly field.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Try me and know my thougths!
Monday, October 04, 2010
DIGGING DEEPER PSALM 139:23-24
I love this week's portion of Scripture. I have prayed it many times, and my guess is if you have been a believer any length of time so have you. We are well past half way through the year with our Digging Deeper focus. Each week we are featuring a passage of scripture that several of the Keswick staff are memorizing and we have invited you to join us on this challenging but rewarding journey. If you have not taken up the challenge yet, this would be a great week to jump on board. The passage is brief AND familiar. Won't you join us?
Psalm 139:23-24
23S earch me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
COMMENTARY
"He (David) appeals to God concerning his sincerity, v. 23, 24. 'Lord, I hope I am not in a wicked way, but see if there be any wicked way in me, any corrupt inclination remaining; let me see it; and root it out of me, for I do not allow it.' Lead me in the way everlasting."
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Psalm 139:23-24
23S earch me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
COMMENTARY
"He (David) appeals to God concerning his sincerity, v. 23, 24. 'Lord, I hope I am not in a wicked way, but see if there be any wicked way in me, any corrupt inclination remaining; let me see it; and root it out of me, for I do not allow it.' Lead me in the way everlasting."
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Digging Deeper Points to Ponder
Psalm 139:17-22
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Points to ponder: How amazing is God - beyond our comprehension. He is vast beyond measure yet intimately involved with His children.
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Points to ponder: How amazing is God - beyond our comprehension. He is vast beyond measure yet intimately involved with His children.
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 25 years. She has 2 children, 2+ grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
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