Dare To Be Generous

It's hard these days to consider being generous. Everyone's wallets are tight and times are hard. I am challenged myself as I ponder Malachi 3:8-12. God declares that His people have been robbing Him yet they do not know how they have done it. God tells them they have robbed Him of their tithes and offerings. They had withheld what was rightfully God's.

I will not go in depth about tithing but I will challenge you in this: Are you still giving? There is a promise here that we must remember in these difficult days. We are not told to stop giving but that God will bless our giving! He is our Provider. He has a way of taking very little and doing miracles with it. Are we living like we believe this to be true? Think loaves and fish (John 6), the widow's mite (John 21) and the widow's oil jar (1 Kings 17) to name a few. Would we rather have that cup of coffee a day, get our nails done, or go out to dinner so we don't have to cook, or would we choose to be generous and see God provide for us? Maybe your "tenth" has changed over these last months.

That's okay. Just don't stop giving! Don't believe that God could not do much with your little.

Dare to be generous!

Kathy Withers

This year's BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won't want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America's KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.

Return to Me

Return to Me And I Will Return To You

"If you lose fear of God, there is nothing to restrain you. Many do not believe God sees them and do not believe He is aware of the condition of their hearts. They think that if He sees them and does not stop them, that it is okay. But He does see you and may not stop you, and it is not okay." Henry Blackaby, Holiness

God knows that you and I are prone to wander off in disobedience and compromise. Losing our fear of Him means we lose our fear of sin. Do we really think that we can get something by Him? Do we really think that He winks at our "little" sins and lets them slide by? Losing our fear of Him means we lose our fear of sin. Has it become easier for you to go places you should not go? Do you watch what you shouldn't watch? Do you do what you know you should not do? Has it become easier to sin? Then you have lost your fear of the Lord. Yet, this is God's heart: "Return to Me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7 NKJV).

Earlier in verse 7 God acknowledges that His people have gone away from His ordinances and have not kept them. He knows where we have wandered off, too. He knows where we have been. He knows how far we have gone. But still He calls us to return. He promises that He will be there when we do. It is most likely, at times like this, that we realize we have the wrong view of the fear of the Lord. Could it be we have bought into the lie that God will always be angry, God will not take me back, and God will turn from me? He is unchanging. He cannot lie. He desires for you to return. His Son paid the price so you could return. He has given you the direction to go and He has made a promise. What's holding you back from returning to Him?

Kathy Withers

This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.

Unchanging

A few months ago we, as a staff, were asked on a scale of 1-10 how well we handle change (with 1 being not at all and 10 loving change). I think I am pretty good with change so I rated myself about an 8-9. How about you? Now ask yourself on a scale of 1-10 how often have you changed your mind, changed your ideas, changed friendships, or in my case...changed hairstyles! Regardless of where you find yourself on those scales Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I do not change." Even if you are fine with change and can roll with the punches, isn't it good to know that God does not change one bit? If you struggle with too many changes and are easily overwhelmed by them, aren't you glad that God does not change...EVER!

Things in our lives will always be changing for the better or worse but we can count on God's consistency. We will never wake up one morning and find that He has left. We will never one day find out that He is no longer patient, loving, gracious or faithful.. When this world offers little for us to count on I hope you are comforted to know that Jesus can still be counted on. The same God who rescued the Israelites, who parted the Red Sea, who provided for every need, is the same today. The same God who was intimately involved in the lives of His people then is still involved and interested in you and your life. He knows all the changes that have come your way. Some have been easy and may have been for the better but others were hard and hurtful and have been very difficult to deal with. Yet God is unchanging. He is completely dependable.
Because God is unchanging He also has the same expectations of you as in the time of Malachi. He still expects us to fear Him, submit to Him and obey Him. He still expects us to live according to His standards in our work, marriages, relationships and all areas of life.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV). Henry Blackaby notes, " The way Jesus led His twelve disciples is the same way He will lead you. The love He expressed on the cross is the same love He extends to you. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power available to you today. Count on the certainty that Christ is perfect. He will not change." AMEN!

Kathy Withers

This year’s BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won’t want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America’s KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.

Mere (wo)men

For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 1 Cor 3:3 ESV

For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? NKJV

For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? NIV

Mere men...Paul does not mean men as in males but men as in humans. What is he saying? When there was fighting, conflict and strife he says they were living in the flesh rather than the spirit. In other words, people living in the flesh are living as mere humans. Mere humans. We live in the flesh with no outside help. We are good at it all by ourselves. We are behaving as mere humans. However, to live in the Spirit requires the Spirit of the Living, Eternal God dwelling within us to manifest Himself in and through us.

I trust that you, like me, would much rather live by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God than like a mere (wo)man.

Diane

The Deep Things of God

FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHES EVERYTHING, EVEN THE DEPTHS OF GOD. 1 COR 2:10
Stop there. Think about that...the depths of God. Can you imagine? It sounds like peering into a deep body of water where you can see deep but not to the bottom. The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God.

FOR WHO KNOWS A PERSON'S THOUGHTS EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF THAT PERSON, WHICH IS IN HIM? SO ALSO NO ONE COMPREHENDS THE THOUGHTS OF GOD EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. 1 COR 2:11

The Spirit of God comprehends the thoughts of God because He is God. Imagine comprehending the thoughts of God, the depths of God.

NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE THINGS FREELY GIVEN US BY GOD. 1 COR 2:12

The Spirit of God dwells within the breast of every believer. He reveals the things of God to our hearts and to our minds, not everything, mind you, but THE THINGS FREELY GIVEN US BY GOD. God is knowable, but by no means comprehendible and we can praise God for that because if we could comprehend God, He would have to be a small God that could fit within our finite minds.

Rejoice together with me today that we have the Spirit of God Who searches the depths of God, comprehends the thoughts of God and enables us to understand the things of God freely given to us by God. HALLELUJAH.

Diane

Serving others

We live in a culture today that knows little of serving others. I don't mean during disasters like Hurricane Katrina or 9/11. People rush to serve in disaster. I'm referring to serving others in our homes and in our churches, in our schools and neighborhoods. Isn't it so much easier to serve people outside our homes than inside? We are more inclined to serve the family across town that lost everything in a house fire than we are to serve our own family members day by day. Do you find you have to remind yourself to "go-the-extra-mile" in serving your family or co-worker or that hard-to-love person at church? I do.

"...through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Perhaps today you could pray that God would give you sensitivity to see ways to serve your family and friends in the ordinariness of life. That is my prayer.

Diane

Victory Call

Four and a half years ago, Victory Call was launched after months of prompting and prodding by my boss, Bill Welte. At that time I gathered a handful of women to join me in this endeavor to write brief devotionals to encourage the hearts of women to walk in victory. In the written guidelines I gave each of them I shared our purpose: "VICTORY Call is a 5-day a week, email devotional, to encourage and challenge women to live in visible victory in their daily lives, through their walk with Jesus Christ ...Our goal is to encourage, teach, inform and challenge women in such a way as to promote spiritual growth and personal devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ."

As is typical, when we agree to do such a thing, God sets to work to provide us life lessons to communicate to our readers. At this point, I think we have 800+ subscribers plus our friends on Facebook and other distribution sources.

Over the years you may have noticed that some of the original writers have stopped writing. Often their reasoning is that they don't know what to write or they don't write like the other VC writers. I continue to encourage them to write because we need the variety to reach our broad scope of readers.

Recently in my reading through First and Second Corinthians I nestled into 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. God has used these verses to challenge and encourage me in my writing (especially when I can't think of anything to write about) and in my speaking ministry.

"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

All that to say - Victory Call is not about us "wowing" you with our wit and wisdom, wordsmithing or elegant phraseology, yet sometimes we can get caught up in that. Rather it is our desire that it be a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith, your encouragement, might not rest in our wisdom but in the power of God.

Amen!!

Diane

Thank You....

Thank you ...two simple words that we often forget to say. Have you ever given a gift to someone, done something special, helped someone out and never heard the words THANK YOU expressed?

There is a song that says, "Give thanks with a grateful heart." How is our heart today? I hear the phrase, "it is a heart thing." What does this really mean? When you don't take the time to notice the things being done for you....your heart might need a tune up.

I spoke at several ladies meetings over the holiday season and I gave them a challenge. You know how on TV they talk about celebrating the 25 days of Christmas....well, I asked them to number a piece of paper from 1-25. On this list they were to write down 25 things they could do to encourage someone and once the list was written to ask the Lord to give them a name next to each good deed.

It was so great to have ladies come to me and say they did their homework for this assignment and how blessed they were after they had done a good deed for someone. They ended up having so much fun finding things to do for people that some of them wanted to keep a list monthly.

Let us look at another list together....OK, get your paper ready and write down 1-25. Now make list of 25 things that you are grateful for....I mean really grateful for. Now next to each of these items write the person's name next to each item that was responsible for making this happen in your life. For example, your salvation - when was the last time you thanked for Lord for this? Another might be how you were brought up - have you ever thanked your parents for all they have done for you? The list can go on and on......but you know when you start to write it down, at least for me, the tears begin to flow and I am overwhelmed at how good I have it.

In dictionary.com it says the following:
Thank you - ..."an expression of thanks, as by saying "thank you":
Grateful - ..."warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received;"

Are you thankful for something today? Can you truly say you are grateful for something? Another song that comes to mind is "Count your blessings...name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

Many times when a person does not say THANK YOU...it could be a heart thing. Maybe life has hardened their heart so much they can't see past this. Maybe they just forget to say THANK YOU, because they are too busy. Don't get caught up in this stuff....say THANK YOU!!

What ever the case is," THANK YOU" can go a long way. Start today and say "THANK YOU" to the Lord for all He has done for you. Ask Him to remind you of people that have made a difference in your life and write them a note of thanks or better yet, tell them in person. There is a song you might want to listen to one day from Ray Boltz called "Thank you." The song refers to those people who are in heaven that had a part in your life that we would say thank you to. They gave to the Lord in a special way to help change your life.

Let this challenge your heart. Never assume that the words "Thank You" don't mean anything. Get working your list.

Lynn W

This year's BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet. You won't want to miss it. October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America's KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations. Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar. Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.

In Christ

When I send greeting cards or emails, most of the time I like to sign them with:
In Christ,
Mary Ann

For me, this simple salutation shares a little bit of my heart to the one I'm sending my note to. It says my heart belongs to the One who forgave my sin and exchanged my filthy robes for the righteous white robes of my Savior Jesus. I want everyone to know just where I stand because of the joy I have.  I am "in Christ."

This salutation also tells the recipient just who I, "MaryAnn Kiernan," belong to, to whom my allegiance stands. I was bought at a very high price, it cost Jesus, my Savior:  shame, humiliation, betrayal, abandonment, pain, suffering, death on a cross and the ultimate price...separation from the Father because the Father can't look upon sin and there was my sin running down from the wounds of His beaten and abused body. My Jesus did this for me and now, I am His. I bear His name "Christian."

On his radio program "Testify" this morning, Pastor Bob Botsford pointed out the greeting that Paul gave to the saints in Phillipi and Collosse.1 What was this greeting? Let's look at 2 passages:

Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons."

Colossians 1:2 "To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father."

In both of these letters that were addressed to the "saints" and the "faithful brothers," Paul chose to place the emphasis on their identity "in Christ" rather than identify them by their geographical locations in Phillipi or Colosse. It was more important whose they were, rather than where they were from.

There are many ways a person might describe me: Wilhelm and Anna Brese's daughter, John Kiernan's wife, John and Daniel's mom and many others as well. But the only identification with eternal significance is MaryAnn "in Christ."

In what or who is your identity? If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life and you want your identity to be in Him, it's time to confess your sinfulness, repent of your sin and ask Jesus to enter your heart and be the Lord of your life. Then you, too, will bear the identification of being "(your name) in Christ."

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me"

I will leave you with this final greeting from 1 Peter 5:14: "... Peace to all of you who are in Christ."

In Christ,
MaryAnn

This year's BINDING UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED: FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADDICTION SEMINAR is shaping up to be our best yet.  You won't want to miss it.  October 8, 2009 8:30 AM -3:30 PM at America's KESWICK. The $25.00 registration fee covers the sessions, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks.  Pastors attend free with 5 paid reservations.  Every pastor, youth ministry worker, parent of a teen and loved ones of addicted family and friends should attend this seminar.  Call today for your reservation 800.453.7942 or 732.350.1187.

1 WRDR 89.7 FM Testify with Pastor Bob Botsford, 9/10/2009.

Distracted From Fearing God

I love to read and often I will read more than one book at a time. After awhile I realize that I am not finishing anything at all. Another topic or title has distracted me from the previous one. Later I usually look at the first book I began reading and I am convinced that I need to finish what I started. My intent is usually good but I get distracted easily!

Malachi 2: 1-9 speaks about the Levites who started off well but then got distracted. It seems that the priests had learned the fear of the Lord but eventually the next generation of priests got distracted. They were no longer listening to God, taking anything God had to say to heart and they were not giving glory to God's name. The priests were already offering sloppy sacrifices because they had become weary of God's instructions (Malachi 1:6-14).  They had lost the fear of God. Verse 8 says, "'But you have departed from the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,' Says the Lord of hosts."  Previous generations had started off well, fearing the Lord their God but now all of that seems to have faded away. The new generation had become fearless towards God, not keeping His ways. Their attitude shifted from one of fear to one of fearlessness. Their eyes turned form God and slowly they found themselves far away from where they should be.

How about you and me? Has our fear (reverence and awe) of God become a duty? Are we weary of all God has asked us to do? If so, Malachi 2:5-6 encourages us to be mindful of the fact that God offers us life and peace so that we may fear Him. Note especially verse 6 that says - "He walked with me in peace and equity and turned many away from iniquity." If we are losing our fear of the Lord we are giving up the life and peace that He offers us. Should you find yourself fearless turn back to see the Lord, high and lifted up in His rightful place, and walk with Him. Like Enoch and Noah, who walked with God, may it be said that you and I did not depart from the way but walked with the Lord in fear without distraction.

Kathy Withers

Kathy serves in Guest Services at America's KESWICK. She is married to Dave and has two adult children.

IT'S HARD TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE...

When I was working in the Library, I had a little plaque on my desk that said, "It's hard to soar like an eagle when you work with turkeys."  I don't know about you, but I know exactly what that means for me.  I come to work in the morning:  it's a gorgeous sunny day, my hair isn't in need of Static Guard to hold down that one annoying little hair that inevitably sticks straight up, I only have 4 or 5 phone calls to return and my email from the night before isn't 25 items (mostly forwarded jokes or sappy poems) to go through.  I sit at my desk and pause to say again, "Thanks, Lord, for a wonderful day.  Use me in someone's life today."

And then - it starts innocently enough.  I walk through the hallways, or someone stops at my office door and makes a comment. It's not necessarily made in anger - in fact more often, it's a little snide or off-handed remark about another staff member or perhaps someone from a group visiting with us.  Maybe it's not meant to be critical or cruel, but all of a sudden it's like the sun stopped shining and my Static Guard has ceased to do its work.  Whether consciously or not, the insidious critical attitude has reared its head, and I find myself pulled down to the turkey level, willing - VERY willing -- and able to jump right in with criticism of my own.

I have been challenged so many times in recent weeks about criticism and judgment.  And, very often, while I can so easily identify harmful criticism in someone else, I seem able to overlook it (or call it something else) when I am guilty of it.   In my Sunday School class, we are taking a look at how we should be building up one another, using Gene Getz's book as a jumping off point.   Unfortunately, as we work through the chapters, I find that I am able to see examples of critical or judgmental thoughts on my part, instead of generous, loving thoughts toward a sister in Christ.  As if to say, what gives me the right to look at my Christian sister and criticize her speech, manner of dress, spending habits, use of her time or any one of a host of other things I can think of.

When I look at the ease with which criticism - mine or anyone else's - comes, I am reminded that it all boils down to one thing - PRIDE.  When I am critical or judgmental, it is because I think I have the corner on the truth, whatever I perceive that truth may be.   My pride puffs me up and says, "You are better than she is at [fill in your own blank]."  How am I exhibiting love for my sister in the Lord when I tear her down to build up myself?  The answer is - I'm not.

So every time I am tempted to be drawn into or pulled down by criticism, I have to challenge myself to remember that as I am seeking the "mind of Christ" in my life, I must be willing to be made humble as Jesus was in order to serve (Philippians 2:5-8).  The only "turkey" in this picture is me!

Lynn R.

Spiritual Heritage

Reading through Psalm 100 recently, I was overwhelmed with the goodness of the Lord in our lives as I meditated on the final words, "His faithfulness endures to all generations." It brought to mind Stan's Grandmother, Mom Mom, and the time when she taught this Psalm to our daughter (who was probably between 2 and 3 years old) while she was visiting Mom Mom for a few days. Michele came home reciting the whole Psalm. As I recalled this, it stirred my memory about the rich spiritual heritage both Stan and I have through our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. How grateful we are for the examples of godly living and the prayers of those who have gone before us for not only ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren. Mom Mom was a woman of prayer and impacted many lives, including our family, through her times of doing "God's work," as she called it, before the Lord in prayer.

Perhaps you are thinking that you have not had this kind of heritage in the families you come from, but I would like to encourage you to believe that today can be the beginning of a new heritage in your home and family. As you put your faith and trust in Christ and choose to follow the Scriptures claiming, "...As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). "Unless the LORD builds a house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1). God will be faithful to do what only He can do in your family for generations to come. "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made" (Psalm 145:13 NIV).

As I sat thanking the Lord for His sovereignty and grace in the lives of the generations of our families, I also contemplated the ongoing impact of our lives on the future generations as we trust Him and live out His faithfulness in our daily lives. Each of us has the opportunity to have a part in the far-reaching effect of the gospel in the lives of those God has placed in our family - our children, their spouses, our grandchildren and eventually their spouses and then great-grandchildren, and on and on until the Lord returns. It's been said that the only things we can take to heaven with us is our children.

Thinking on these blessings and promises of the past, for the present, and even the future, causes me to pray that all those whose lives we impact will know God's abundant faithfulness day by day. And that we will be found faithful and obedient, living by His grace.

What a privilege, opportunity, and responsibility is ours!!

Be encouraged and take heart, we do not have to attempt this great task by ourselves in our own strength, for "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Trust in Him!

DeEtta

Renewed Day by Day

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16

The outer self wasting away - we can identify with that, right? Slowing down with age wasn't noticeable to me until I went rollerblading with a teen daughter. I thought I was skating flat out fast and she skated past me with very little effort. Ugh!! It happens to all of us.

Our inner man is being renewed day by day. How does that happen?

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." 2 Corinthians 3:17 As we behold, gaze upon, the Lord Jesus Christ, we are changed.

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

"But that is not the way you learned Christ!-assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:20-24

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." Colossians 3:10

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, but the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..." Titus 3: 4-6

How are we renewed day by day?

1. As we wait upon the Lord ~ are you sitting at Jesus feet and tarrying with Him each day?

2. As our minds are transformed ~ are you ingesting God's Word?

3. In the spirit of our minds ~ are you thinking God's thoughts after Him and meditating upon Gospel truths?

4. In knowledge after the image of our creator ~ are you seeking hard after God to truly know Him?

5. By the Holy Sprit ~ are you trusting that the Spirit of the Living God resides within you and empowers you today to live to the glory of Jesus Christ?

Diane

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Left Behind

"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go." (1)

These are words from a song I love called "Three Wooden Crosses," sung by Randy Travis. As I recently listened to the words of this song I began to think of my own life and what it is that I will leave behind when the Lord calls me home.

I don't have much in the way of jewelry; my most precious piece is my wedding ring and it has more sentimental value to me than monetary value. Antiques? Well, I don't have much to pass on in that respect either. The two "antiques" I inherited from my Momma will mean nothing to anyone. One is an old wooden rolling pin and the other is an old roasting pan that was brought to the U.S. in 1952 and I'm sure she had it for a while before that. Most of what my husband and I have accumulated, while some things may have some value, our treasures really would be junk to most others.

To tell you the truth, I really don't want to be remembered for the "stuff" I leave behind. I've been saved a relatively short time, eleven years. I can't imagine any other way I would want to live my life today and be remembered for than....saved by grace, and dearly loved by my Lord.

We didn't raise our sons in a Christian home and certainly didn't pass on a spiritual foundation. My prayer is that I will be remembered for the last part of my life and not much for the first 44 years.

So what will I pass on to my grandchildren? I pray that as they grow they might see an old woman in love with Jesus...Someone who loves the Word and was always ready to share it with someone who didn't know Jesus. Oh how I pray that when (not if) trials and tribulation come, they might see a Baba who stands in the midst of it all with peace in her heart and trusting alone in her Savior. I want to be a grey-haired old lady who had a heart of compassion and a heart of no compromise of the truth of Scripture.

And I hope they see a woman dedicated to prayer.

My sons will not have these memories of me from when they were children. I pray I'll be a better example to their children as they grow. This is all I really want to leave behind in the hearts of my children and grandchildren and any other generation God might let me live to enjoy...the love I have for my Savior Jesus and the love I have for them. Perhaps someday someone might look at my grandchildren and say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 2:5 " I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

What a wonderful legacy to leave behind! It's never too late to begin a legacy as Eunice did.

What will you leave behind you when you leave this world behind?

Mary Ann

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

1 Song "Three Wooden Crosses" written & recorded by Randy Travis on Rise and Shine album, 2002

Examples To Us

John 13:12-15 "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.'"

Jesus' example of humility and service

1 Corinthians 10: 6-11 "Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.' We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come."

Israelite examples of what NOT to do. We should NOT desire evil, NOT be idolaters, NOT indulge in sexual immorality, NOT put Christ to the test, and NOT grumble.

1 Timothy 1:16 "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."

Christ's example of patience.

James 5:10 "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord."

The prophet's example of suffering and patience.

1 Peter 2:21 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

Christ's example of suffering.

Diane

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

The Time is Now!!!

There is a saying about change that goes like this: "Change isn't change until change has taken place." I'll bet each and every single one who is reading this Victory Call has at least, at least, one area of your heart and life that is in need of change. Not only is your own heart crying out for change, for something different, for death to the same old, same old, but you have been hearing the voice of God - spoken through the Person of His Holy Spirit - challenging and convicting you over and over and over again.

Well, today is as good a time as any to say "Yes, Lord! I will hear! I will listen! I will obey! I will change!"

Let today be the day - the day that we wake up and pay attention! To what? To the Word, the Word! The Word! Let's remember that we were bought with a price! We were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The Bible is very clear, we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free (John 8:32) - free to change.

I don't want anything more than to be radically transformed into the image and likeness of the Savior. I have no idea at all how it will all look as the months and the years progress, but I will, one-day-at-a-time, choose to meet with God so change on a deeper level can/will take place.

Dear sisters, here I am, here you are. Each of us has been given a brand new day to live and glorify God. Maybe we'll wake up and pay attention, maybe we won't. But let's at least take a step forward and give our best to God today.

Let's begin by kicking the enemy of our souls to the curb. In whatever ways he has gained entrance into our heart and lives, HE HAS TO GO!!

The time for change to happen is now!

Stephanie

Merit Raises

There are no merit raises in heaven.

There are no merit raises in heaven because it's ALL GRACE.

There are no merit raises in heaven because it's ALL GRACE and NOT OF US.

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

Grace by definition is unmerited favor: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification: a virtue coming from God: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace.(1)

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

There are no merit raises in heaven because there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to add to the completed work of Jesus Christ. We merit NOTHING; not a tiny bit, not a little bit, not something. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

The song "Completely Done" on the CD "Sons and Daughters" says it well:

The Chorus

The old is gone, the new has come

What you complete is completely done

We're heirs with Christ, the victory won

What You complete is completely done (2)

There are no merit raises in heaven because we merit NOTHING.

Won't you praise God for that today?

Diane

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 8, 10, 14, 15, 16? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC

1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace accessed 9/1/09

2 By Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Rich Gunderlock available for download at http://sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/sons_daughters

Testing or tempting

When suffering seems more than we can bear, we often are directed to 1 Corinthians 10:13. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." That can bring comfort or perhaps you find yourself doubting this Scripture because so often our suffering seems more than we can bear, that perhaps this time, in our case, God overloaded us.

But let's look more closely to this verse. It doesn't say anything about suffering or trials, it is talking about temptation.

God will not allow us to be TEMPTED beyond what we can bear and will always provide us a way of escape.

A few chapters later Paul seems to contradict the idea that God will not try us beyond our own ability. "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9 Paul indicates that God does indeed test us beyond our own ability to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we will rely on God.

These two verses deal with two different circumstances. The first deals with temptation, the second with trial and suffering.

God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to take the escape route. We will never be put in a situation where we do not have the choice to obey.

God will allow us to experience trials and suffering beyond what we can bear so that we will rely on Him rather than ourselves.

A great deal of complication comes when we confuse the two.

Diane

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 8, 10, 14, 15, 16? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Waiting in expectation

Psalm 5:1-3 "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Prayer has become such an important part of my life. I have my prayer time in the morning...alone...just God and me. I feel that I can't face the challenges of the day if I haven't given it all up to Him. Then, I'm privileged to pray at the Colony, Monday through Friday, with the chaplains. I have come to love this time of raising our voices to our Lord with our praises of thanksgiving and our petitions for the coming day. Then there is that on-going dialog with God all day long...

I love this simple little prayer in Psalm 5. It's a good example for us to follow. The psalmist in these passages is no stranger to prayer with God. He is pouring his heart out to him, petitioning for God to hear his troubles. The word "consider" implies thinking about something very carefully with the idea of taking some kind of an action and to treat the issue in an attentive or kindly way.(1) Isn't this our cry, as well, when we lift our prayers? Don't we want an attentive and kindly ear?

The psalmist doesn't wait till noon or evening or when the situation is out of control. This isn't a "fox hole" prayer but one that is raised up in the morning, laying it all out to the Lord. This psalmist knows he is in deep trouble and that his only peace, solace or rescue will come from the only One who can give it...the Lord.

My favorite line is the last, "I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." He's just giving it to God, laying all his troubles at the feet of the Lord. It's far too much for him to carry! Then he says...and this is the best part...I "wait in expectation!" How many of us can truly pray these words to the Lord, that I'm giving it all to you and however long it takes I KNOW you will answer my prayer!!!

I would love to be at this place with every prayer I pray and I have to say I'm not there yet...but I hope I can be.

Maybe we could all practice this little prayer in our prayer times. I imagine we would all experience a peace we have never experienced and answers to prayer we could never have dreamed of.

Psalm 5:1-3 "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

MaryAnn

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 8, 10, 14, 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consider retrieved 8/13/09

God's Refining Of Those Who Fear Him

Today I have decided to quote Kathy Howard from her study Before The Throne:

"God says He will purify His children by refining them like silver. I didn't know anything about silver refining, so I did a little research on smelting, the process that extracts metal from its ore. I found that the steps for this original refining process are relevant to our study today. (Malachi 3:2-4, page 108)

The Process begins with a quantity of silver ore, which is basically rock with a little silver in it. The ore is first crushed to a powder, then it is washed to dissolve many unwelcome contaminants. This cycle is repeated until the water is clear.

Next, the ore is placed in a furnace with lead or charcoal. The furnace is heated to an extremely high temperature (between 1450C-2000C) to melt everything- additional contaminants, the lead, and the silver within the ore. The lead acting as a scavenger, adheres to the silver. Then the metals, which are heavier than the contaminants, sink to the bottom of the furnace. The contaminants, or slag, can then be drained off the top.

After most of the slag is removed, the metals in the bottom of the furnace are tapped and poured into a mold. This mixture of lead and silver must be heated again to separate the metals. This time the furnace is heated to a temperature that is sufficient to melt the lead, but not the silver (about 900C). Even though this is an extremely simplified version of the smelting process, it helped me to appreciate how much time and work goes into the refining of even one ounce of silver.

God refines His people like silver, and His refining process in the life of a believer is not easy: beginning with just an ordinary lump of hard rock, crush, and wash and wash again, fire and heat, melt and separate, drain and mold, heat again, and shape. The result is a pure product that the Master Smelter can use in any way He chooses. Are you willing? Then ask God to turn up the heat!"

Next time you sing about being refined and asking God to bring His refining fire, be sure you know just what it is you are asking Him to do.

Kathy Withers

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 8, 10, 14, 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Fast Food or Gourmet?

Isaiah 40:31 "They who wait for the Lord..."

Recently I wrote about waiting on the Lord. Today I want to share two possible examples of waiting. They are certainly not exhaustive. One I'll call "fast food" and the other "gourmet." I choose this illustration because it quickly brings a picture to mind that makes a clear distinction between these two specific types of eating.

As a person who enjoys eating, I can tell you without hesitation that I get pleasure from both. However you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that one is definitely better than the other.

Fast food is just that, fast. We rush in. inhale it quickly to fill the void and we just as quickly get back to the busyness of our day. Our tummies are full, thus our appetites have been momentarily satiated and our desire for food is no longer pressing in on us.

Gourmet, on the other hand, requires time, lots of time. The ingredients must be gathered and prepped. Each and every course has its own steps and details that make for an experience your palate won't soon forget. There is no rushing. Focused attention on each course is essential to the end result and the final presentation. Whether it is a five or seven course meal, you sit for the full length of time required and savor each delectable bite, allowing the senses to be aroused. And you rarely, if ever, rush away from gourmet. First off, you are usually so totally satisfied that all you want to do is sit still and marvel over how good the meal was. Then, when you do get up, it isn't to rush away and get busy, but rather to sit in a comfortable chair and bask in the fullness.

Now take a leap with me, and imagine the difference it would make in our daily lives if our time with God was more often than not gourmet. Sisters, believe me, I all fully aware of the argument that can be made for time. Gourmet requires time. Fast food is still food and it does keep you from getting hungry. In other words, fast food meets the need. My question for you is simple; does it really meet the need your soul and your spirit have for the Father, the One who is the Lover of your soul?

I, for one, know from first-hand experience that in the natural and in the spiritual, fast food is not enough to keep you healthy and strong.

Your challenge for the day is to plan, prepare and enjoy a gourmet meal with Him who was and is and is to come.

Stephanie

Have you made your reservation for one of our Anniversary Banquets Sept 8, 10, 14, 15, 16.? Please join us in celebrating God's faithfulness and goodness to America's KESWICK for 112 years. Call today 732.350.1187.

We would love for you to rejoice in God's goodness together with us. This year we also celebrate the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the WOMEN OF CHARACTER program.

If you can't join us, may I invite you to send a contribution in honor of our Anniversary celebration? America's KESWICK 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759- please mark your check ANNIVERSARY BANQUET - FROM VC SUBSCRIBER or you may go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and make your donation online. Thank you in advance for your generosity.