DIGGING DEEPER

How are you doing? We have received replies back from some of you committing to join us in this journey. Perhaps you are journeying with us. We'd love to hear from you. May God bless your time in His Word. If you are just joining us, go to our website www.americaskeswick.org and check the Victory Call blog for Monday, February 1st, 2010 for more information.

PSALM 27:1-6
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
5For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Commentary:
"In singing Psalm 27, God's people have a way of not simply expressing confidence in him but of cultivating that confidence for the widest range of challenging life situations. The psalm uses several synonyms for "enemies" (vv. 2, 6, 11, 12), giving it the concrete setting of a faithful person beset by those who would destroy him with bloodthirsty and deceitful means; one who can trust God in those circumstances can trust him in other situations as well."1


1 ESV study Bible ~ study notes, pg. 970.

Deeper Into Psalm 23

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Points to Ponder:
Has the LORD your God been your Shepherd today? Are you tangibly aware of His mercy and His goodness leading you through the good and the bad moments of your day? Do you know that whether you walk in the valley or on the path He, your Abba, is leading you for His name's sake?

Application:
Take time right now to pause and give audible praise to God for the specific ways you see His hand of goodness and mercy in your life this week, as you have been intentional to read and meditate on this beautiful Psalm.

Stephanie

Built Up in Truth

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. Colossians 2:8-10

This year at America's KESWICK we have been encouraged to read through the Bible in a year. My pastor also has been encouraging us to read the Bible prayerfully without reading from others' point of view. His desire is for us to prayerfully learn what God has said through His Word. For a book and Bible study junkie such as myself, I know this will be hard. Not because I have never read the Bible in a year but because of all the other reading I enjoy. I enjoy studying but I need this challenge to trust and depend that the Holy Spirit really is my teacher. No man, regardless of his knowledge or understanding, is greater than having the Holy Spirit teach and lead me into all truth. We must always be on guard so that we will not be taken captive by the philosophies and deceptions of men. They abound today through books, radio and TV. Just scan a bookshelf at your local bookstore and see what is mingled in with solid teaching. The best way to safeguard against these deceptions, traditions and principles is to truly know what it is that God says.

So, I am combining these two challenges and reading the Bible through out the year and reading less* of others' thoughts and ideas. Colossians 2:3 says ...in whom (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Let's look to Him and dig for treasure.

"We must be diligent, constantly, on guard, and ever alert to those deceitful and ultimately destructive philosophies and theologies that to the slightest degree draw us away from reliance on Christ and his all-sufficient grace. Any idea or system of thought that would suggest he is not supreme and sovereign or that he is not infinitely and exclusively worthy of our absolute devotion and admiration is demonic at its core. Beware, says the apostle, of any such philosophy. Identify it. Denounce it. Deliver others from its destructive clutches." **

*Please know that there are plenty of good materials to read from well learned men. In no way am I throwing out the books I enjoy. But I know that I can spend more time in the Word if I cut back on other pleasure reading. A good question to ask is "How much time do I devote to each?"


Kathy Withers

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.


**The Hope of Glory, Sam Storms, chapter 47.

How Hungry Are You?

I think about the way we Americans eat. Are we EVER hungry? Or do we keep our stomachs full enough all the time where we don't even feel hunger pangs?

Recently I've become aware that I don't usually feel those "pangs." And it has led to me being overweight. So now I'm trying to let my body get hungry and am happy when I feel them. It's OK to feel that stomach growling!!

But I wonder if I could apply the same thoughts to how much I hunger for the Word of God?

We'd probably be doing okay in our walk with the LORD if we are "fat" by indulging in the Word. So it's GREAT to be a "fat" Christian!! Ha! No - but I think you get what I mean.

Lately I've had this thought that if my Bible, the Word of God, was taken from me, never to be returned, would I miss it? How much do I know by memory that would help get me through difficult times? I started getting "pretty thin" very quickly!

So I guess what I'm saying is this, "how hungry are you?" Are you on a good indulgence of the Word or does your heart hunger? You know, my heart hungers even if I am in the Word! He keeps drawing me in. He keeps us wanting more...

May we all become "fat" Christians!!

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be SATISFIED.

Sue Mercer
Women of Character Gradate


DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Student or Apprentice?

I was reading an excerpt of a new book through an online book club and was struck by this:

"Becoming the apprentice of a rabbi in the first century was, therefore, quite different from the experience of a typical twenty-first-century student.

Today, students want to know what their teacher knows so they can achieve a grade, complete a course or pass an exam. In contrast to this, a first-century apprentice wanted to be like their teacher-to become what the teacher was."1

It should not really have been such a revelation to me, but it really hit me as a point of self-examination. Most of my life, I think I've been more of a student of Jesus than an apprentice. I may say that I am a Christian, a Christ-one, a Christ follower... but am I just learning what Jesus taught so I can spout it back to someone, or am I striving to become like Him?

The book went on to say, "A talmid (apprentice) followed the rabbi everywhere, every day and every hour of the day-often without knowing or asking where he was going-with one simple goal: to imitate him."2

Wow! Do I follow Jesus that faithfully, that trustingly? And is my one simple goal to imitate Him?

If I'm going to say "yes," I need to do it now, every day, every moment of every day. It has to be a continual, conscious choice, or I will easily fall back into "student" mode and forget to be an "apprentice."

What about you? Are you a student or an apprentice?

Ruth Schmidt

DIGGING DEEPER:
Psalm 23: 4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

1 Apprentice: Walking the Way of Christ, By Steve Chalke, Published by Zondervan, Copyright (c) 2009
2 ibid

Join us on the Journey - DIGGING DEEPER into God's Word

This January, our President and CEO of America's Keswick, Bill Welte challenged our staff to memorize Scripture each week as part of the DIGGING DEEPER focus this year. Here is an excerpt from Bill's on-line challenge/encouragement: "Our theme verse is: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV).

Rather than just focus on this theme for the summer weeks, I am making this the theme for the entire year. Getting people into God's Word on a daily basis is a passion that we will continue to develop throughout 2010.

Just think what might happen if all of us partner together to DIG DEEPER INTO GOD'S WORD and EXPLORE THE PROMISES OF GOD! Will you join me in the adventure to "DIG DEEPER?"1

We are going to join together with hundreds of others in DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD'S WORD by following the Scripture memorization schedule we as a staff are following. Here's our plan: Starting today, February 1st -- each Monday you will receive the Scripture for the week with a brief commentary, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be a typical Victory Call Devotional . At the bottom of each there will be a portion of the week's Scripture to memorize (should you be willing to take up the challenge and join us on the journey). Rounding out the week, on Friday along with the week's Scripture will be some points to ponder and application questions. What do you say? Are you up for a challenge that WILL dramatically change your life?

Join me... on a Journey into the very Heart of God.

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Brief Commentary:
Psalm 23 was written by David. A very familiar passage of Scripture, quoted by believers and non-believers alike. David, a shepherd himself as a young man, understands the tender care of a shepherd for his sheep. He knows that God cares for him with even greater tenderness and protection than he himself provided. "Psalm 23 is a song about the Living Great Shepherd who currently oversees His sheep."2 The same Shepherd, of whom David speaks, is the same Shepherd of your steps and soul if you are one of His sheep (regenerated by His Spirit). He is present in your present, you have no need or want and in its place, He pours out His goodness and mercy upon your head.

1 For Bill's challenge and a Bible reading plan go to this link: http://www.americaskeswick.org/475372.ihtml

2 The Psalms: Expositional Devotional Studies by Don Kelso

Ya Ya, a Soul Survivor...

Ya Ya, what a nickname! My nephew coined my sister that when he was little. He couldn't say her name, Rosel; it sort of came out Ya Ya. Ya Ya, it is! All the kids and most of the family started calling her that, too. She loved kids and they loved her! Maybe it was the child in her, maybe it was because she didn't have children of her own, maybe it was just her gift. I've asked for this Victory Call to be posted on this date in hopes it might be a WAKE UP CALL.

My sister had a lot of love in her heart, but she also had a lot of fear. So much so, it held her captive for a year, one year too long. She'd felt a lump in her breast and was afraid that it might be cancer. For one year she lived with this fear, and this lump. It didn't seem to go away, as I'm sure she'd hoped it would. Finally, she did go for an exam and x-ray and was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The doctors offered a plan of treatment, which she did, that included a lumpectomy as well as chemotherapy and radiation. However, the doctors also explained that while there was treatment, the possibility of reoccurrence was very high. The cancer was treated and for a short time went into remission only to return fairly quickly and with a vengeance.

Perfect love casts out fear... that's the verse that came to my mind one day while visiting her in the hospital. She was pretty well medicated, but that seemed to grab her attention. "All fear"?, she asked. "Yes...all fear."

"Where'd you get that from?" "The Bible." "Where in the Bible? What version is that?" Oh, my goodness this woman was enough to drive anybody crazy! And she did sometimes! "I'm not sure what book the scripture is from but I'll find out and tell you. It's definitely in your Bible, too, it doesn't matter what version, NIV, NKJV, whatever, it's in there." "Let me write that down." She couldn't really write at that point so I wrote it on the back of a bank receipt I had in my purse. (There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment., 1 John 4:18a) Come to think of it, that was really a very appropriate place for something she/we could bank our souls on, God's Word! Amen?

I'm thrilled to say she did do just that. While Rosel was a very religious woman, she had yet to fully place all her trust in Jesus Christ ALONE. But praise God, just a short time afterward, the Lord used my sister Lisa to lead Rosel to Himself.

Ladies, sisters, I don't enjoy my yearly visits to the doctor. But I go. I don't want to hear any bad news. But I go. I don't want cancer. But I go. I'm asking you today to please remember to go! God holds my life and my soul in His hands...and someday I will die, unless He returns first. But while I'm here, He's given me the gift of life and I believe He wants me to take care of me.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, AND PLEASE GO!

Ya Ya went home to be with the Lord one year ago today, January 29th 2009. She was 48 years old.

I wish I could say she was a breast cancer survivor; I can't. But I can say she is a Soul Survivor!

Dina Seaton

More of God

I think most of us could say and do say, "Lord I want more of you." This has been part of my prayer life for some time. I want to know God more intimately. I love God but I don't think I love Him near enough. I want to always be in His will and I would love to hear clearly from Him when I'm confused about which way to go. I don't think I'm alone in having these desires.

I believe we do hear from God in various ways and through various means. The problem is even if we did hear the very voice of God we would still question. Reading in the book of Exodus I would say we are in pretty good company.

Exodus 33:12-14, 17-18 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

Moses actually spoke with God!!! God gave him the awesome task of leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses knew he had this task to do, God had told Him but he still wondered who God was going to send to be his right hand man...just hearing God's instruction was not enough to give him confidence. Moses believed he found favor with God but he still wanted to know God more intimately. He was not satisfied and hungered for an even deeper relationship with God. This is hard to understand! Moses actually was able to speak to God and hear His voice. YET, it wasn't enough... he wanted more. It is true that the closer you get to God, you just hunger to be even closer.

In response God promises that His Presence will be right there beside Moses every step of the journey so he will never be alone. God also promises to give rest to Moses. What a deal!

Moses wasn't satisfied. He wanted still more of God! And in verse 17 Moses boldly asks, "Show me your glory!"

If Moses can boldly ask for more of God there isn't any reason why you and I can't boldly ask for a deeper relationship with Him, or to hear from Him. But no matter how much deeper and richer our relationship will grow, I don't think we can ever truly be satisfied this side of heaven. I can only imagine that when we see Him face to face in glory, it will only be then that our longing for a deeper relationship will be satisfied.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

I look forward to the day when hunger for Him will be filled to the max!

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

Trouble-maker

3 John 9-10 "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church."

Diotrephes likes to put himself first...isn't that the root of a lot of our conflict - we want our own way. "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel." James 4:1-2

Diotrephes stirred up trouble by thinking more highly of himself than he ought. He failed to heed these warnings: "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" Matthew 19:30 and "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment," Romans 12:3 and "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

Diotrephes stirred up trouble because he was putting himself first. In so doing:
1. He failed to acknowledge the God-ordained authority in his life
2. He was talking against John and the others that were with him
3. He was spreading discontent
4. He refused to welcome brothers in Christ
5. He interfered with others welcoming the brothers in Christ

Bottom line - he was a trouble-maker and caused division among the brethren.

How can we apply this Scripture to ourselves? Would you pray and ask God in what ways you may stir up trouble? Do you speak behind people's backs? Do you pass along information "so others will pray"? Do you criticize the pastor or leaders of your church? Do you pressure others to yield to your preferences? Do you show up late week after week to service? Do you intentionally wait until worship is over before arriving for service? I don't know what it might be in your life, but will you ask God? He knows.

Diane

Be Prepared

2 Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

"Preach the Word!" We live in such a time of history that this charge could not be more important to each and every believer. This command is not just for pastors but I believe is the responsibility of every believer in Jesus Christ. Each of us needs to be prepared to "preach" the Word of God...to boldly share the Gospel whenever an opportunity arrives whether it is good timing or not or perhaps not even the "right" setting.

Recently, Brit Hume of Fox news boldly shared on "Fox News Sunday" that Tiger Woods needed the forgiveness and redemption that only Christianity offers. A firestorm has erupted. Yet, he has not backed down from his comments and has even expanded on his comments on "The O'Reilly Factor." Brit Hume is standing on the Truth of what the Bible teaches. Forgiveness...redemption...salvation through Jesus Christ. Mr. Hume was most definitely "prepared" to speak the Truth in and out of season and at a great personal cost.

These are the days that the world wants nothing to do with hearing the Truth about Jesus, but wants only a "pretty" lie. I'm afraid each one of us will sooner or later be in a situation where we will need to be "prepared" to preach the Word. I pray we will all take an example from Mr. Hume and speak the Truth at all times and in all places.

Be prepared.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

The High Calling of Love!

Now that you have had the weekend to consider 1 Corinthians 13, let's consider what John has to say in 1 John. He writes some pretty strong words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

"The second great commandment is: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 1 God's will is that we love others. "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."2 "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us."3 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."4

Now it's easy to love the lovable. It's easy to love those who love us. It's easy to love those that make us feel good. If that is all God meant He would not have commanded it because we are already inclined to love those easy

people in our lives. No, I don't believe it stops there. God wants us to love those we are NOT inclined to love.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,'" 5 Ouch, that kind of love just isn't natural.

Most of us have people in our lives that are not our favorite people. They may be people in our church, our neighborhood, our school, our job, even in our families. What about loving those "hard to love" people. Surely God didn't mean them!!

"Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."6 "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."7

"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death."8

"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." 9

These are very strong words and there is no doubt that love is important to God. Why do we struggle with it so?

How do we love others we are not inclined to love? It's not natural, it's supernatural. We need to lay down OUR life, and yield to HIS.

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."10

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."11

Love is indeed a very high calling.

Diane

1 Mark 12:31
2 1 John 3:11
3 1 John 3:23
4 1 John 4:11-12
5 Matthew 5:43-44
6 1 John 2:10-11
7 1 John 3:10
8 1 John 3:14
9 1 John 4:20-21
10 1 John 3:16
11 Galatians 2:20

Love...

Do you want to see how you are doing in the area of loving? Well, you could go to the "love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. Within this chapter you would see some very practical truths:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Are you patient?
Are you kind?
Do you envy or boast?
Are you arrogant or rude?
Do you insist on your own way?
Are you irritable or resentful?
Do you rejoice in wrongdoing?
Do you rejoice in truth?
Do you bear all things?
Do you believe all things?
Do you hope all things?
Do you endure all things?

When I hold the mirror of God's Word up, I don't care for my reflection. In many of these ways, and far too often, I do not love. How about you? How well do you love?

Monday, we'll take a look at some hard hitting verses in 1 John. This is a cakewalk compared to that.

Diane

Establish

es·tab·lish, to establish, an established heart....

My friends have a sign at their front door with their family name stating, "Established in 1985". This was the year that they joined as one and established their family name.

What have you established in life? Have you established a family, a home, a business, a type of life for yourself, a life for someone else?

Say the word ESTABLISH....it has a unique sound to it. I have used this word many times in my life... I am sure but never really gave it much thought until.....I was doing my devotions today and Read the following:

James 5:8 ......Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

I had to read this verse a few times for it to sink in. Then it made me read the verses before and after and I found myself reading the entire book of James. Of course I enjoyed this book again that I have read before, but this time finding hidden treasures that I never realized before.

Now getting back to my new word I like to recite....Established. I had to reflect on this word and the meaning of it for a while. I looked it up in the dictionary and it says:

(dictionary.com) es·tab·lish
1.to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis: to establish a university; to establish a medical practice. 2.to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.: to establish one's child in business. 3.to show to be valid or true; prove: to establish the facts of the matter. 4.to cause to be accepted or recognized: to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon. 5.to bring about permanently: to establish order.

In Reviewing the definition I see words like...to found, to institute, to settle in a position, to show to be true, and to bring about permanency. Now bringing this back to the book of James, it says to establish our hearts.

This made me think...have I established my heart in a "position"? Have I established my heart to be true? Have I established my heart in a permanent way?

Continuing in the verse.......for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

When we refer to something being at hand.....it usually means it is close, coming soon, nearby.

Again think on the verse with me.....Establish my heart for the coming of my Lord is at hand.

In the world we live in, it is easy to give our heart away to things of this world. It is easy to have the desires of our heart turn away from things of the Lord. It is easy to work on establishing the things we "think" are important like ...establishing careers, a bank account, a status in the community and even in our church. But our heart is what needs to be established. If our heart is established in the position of loving and serving our Lord, our heart is established on the truth of His Word, and our heart is established on the permanency of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity....well, then, the rest of our establishments will fall into place.

Enjoy today and take some time to read the entire book of James. It is short but so powerful. Make sure that your heart is established correctly today and that you are ready and waiting for the coming of our Lord and Savior today.

Lynn W.

When God takes our hand....

As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.' But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters BY THE HAND(1), the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. Genesis 19:15-16

I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you BY THE HAND and keep you. Isaiah 42:6

...the day when I took them BY THE HAND to bring them out of the land of Egypt... Jeremiah 31:32 and Hebrews 8:9

I love the picture painted in the above Scriptures of God taking people BY THE HAND. He's not behind them putting His shoulder into their back to push them. He's not in front of them tugging on their arms to pull them. Rather, He has taken them BY THE HAND to lead them out of danger (as in Lot's case) or out of the bondage of Egypt.

I have found comfort in this picture of the gentle, compassionate heart of God.

Do you ever feel like you are wandering without direction or purpose? Perhaps you are uncertain as to what your next step should be; or you know what your next step should be but you really don't want to take it.

Let me encourage you to pray that God would take you BY THE HAND and lead you where He desires for you to go.

Do you have a loved one trapped in a life-vice either through their own choices or through circumstances beyond their own control?

Let me encourage you to pray that God would take them BY THE HAND and lead them safely to freedom.

Diane

1 CAPS mine

Judge Not!!

Judge not, that you be not judged. ~ Matthew 7:1

"Once a couple was being visited by some old high school classmates. As often happens, the couple pulled out some of their old annuals and began reminiscing about their high school days. They'd point out all the jocks, all the nerds, and all the preppies. After awhile, the couple's little boy brought out his kindergarten class picture and immediately began describing each classmate. 'This is Robert; he hits everyone. This is Stephen. He never listens to the teacher. This is Mark. He's always loud.' He proceeded to say something negative about every one of them until he got to his own picture. He pointed at it and said, 'And this is me. I'm just sitting here being a good boy.'"1

Ouch! How often is this true of us? It's so easy to sit or stand in judgment of others and call it something else while at the same time being more than generous in our opinions of ourselves, and not see it as prideful and arrogant.

On a daily basis we are confronted with people, places and situations just begging for our critique...or not. The way we behave sometimes, one would think we are the police of everything. The language police, the clothes police, the devotion and prayer police, the mercy and grace police...I could go on but I think you get the point. We're always judging something or someone. If I was allowed to stick with one topic for Victory Calls this entire year it would be judging others. Why? Because we need the constant reminder to keep the main thing the main thing and it ain't us!!

Sisters, let's purpose today, tomorrow and everyday this year...okay, let's purpose one day at a time, to put away a critical and judgmental spirit. Let's purpose to require more of ourselves than we do of others. Let's choose to stomp the spirit in us that wants to find fault, that seeks to elevate ourselves above others by comparing our walk of faith with theirs - our prayer life, our devotional life. Let's be marked by a spirit of humility and compassion and defiantly refuse to give way to the flesh.

Stephanie

"Let it be said of us: We were marked by forgiveness,
We were known by our love and delighted in meekness,
We were ruled by His peace, heeding unity's call,
Joined as one body that Christ would be seen by all."2
~~ Words and music by Steve Fry

1 www.sonoraville.org/sermons/archives/aug05_07_am.pdf
2 http://www.southgatechurchoftoledo.org/songs/Files/Lyrics/Let_It_Be_Said_of_Us.aspx

Keeping Your Guard Up

On a daily basis I receive a newsletter from a popular TV fitness trainer. This morning I needed to hear what she said. Referring to diet and exercise she wrote, "Just because you are rehabilitated doesn't mean you don't have to be vigilant to guard against a relapse." A few weeks ago I reached my goal weight (AGAIN!). Since then it has been a battle - laziness, poor eating blamed on holidays and lack of time to prepare healthy meals and vacation. All of these excuses have quickly and easily gotten me off track. But the truth is that I made it to my goal weight and I began to relax. That is a dangerous place to be. Feelings of compromise, cheating, I can skip a day; all came flooding in. Pride can easily make one believe that since I have arrived nothing can touch me. What a lie!

The same is true in our walk with Jesus. We can get pretty prideful in thinking we have arrived. We have had a wonderful transformation take place in our hearts and lives because of Christ. Then we get to thinking we have arrived safely or "made it." Before we know it our guard is down. We are not diligent in our study and prayers. We skip prayer meeting and church...just this once... then twice. Read the quote again.

"Just because you are rehabilitated doesn't mean you don't have to be vigilant to guard against a relapse."

No matter what your struggle may have been - alcohol, drugs, food, exercise, devotions - remember that you have been rehabilitated through Jesus Christ. BUT we must always be on guard so that we do not relapse into old ways of thinking and living. Keep your guard up! If you, like me, have let your guard down for a bit, get back to where you need to be! Repent of your prideful thinking that you can go it alone or that you no longer need good disciplines because you have come so far. Remember, the battle never ends. Our guard must always be up!

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NASB

Watch over (guard) your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 NASB

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally ,brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:7-8 NASB

Kathy Withers

Hear a Word from God...

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him form heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are you, LORD?" the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "LORD, what do you want me to do?" Then the LORD said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Acts 9 3-6

Wouldn't it be great if we heard from God like Saul did, in audible words leaving no doubt as to whether we heard from God? Have you ever had God speak to you either audibly or in your spirit? I know there are people who do not believe that God still speaks to His children this way, but from my experience, personally and professionally, my own belief is that He still does speak to His own.

There have been times when I knew, that I knew, that I knew God had spoken to me and no one would have been able to convince me otherwise. But God doesn't always speak to me this way; in fact for me it is the exception rather than the rule. That is not to say that God doesn't communicate to me in other ways.

Most of the time, God speaks to me directly through His Word as the text that I've read dozens of times suddenly seems to jump off the page at me or I see something in the text I never saw the other 35 times I read it.

Sometimes we miss "hearing" God's voice because we are looking for the dramatic Damascus Road experience when God has chosen to subtly whisper to our heart. Are your heart and spirit poised to hear from God today in whatever way He sees fit to "speak"? Listen intentionally. Listen intently.

Diane

Kind. True. Necessary

Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? These are the three questions the Holy Spirit is teaching me to ask lately relative to my tongue and emails or any other form of communication I may be inclined to speak by.

It is so easy to speak without thinking, isn't it? To speak without regard for how one's words may impact the hearer is a problem that is common to all and one that is not easily remedied apart from a constant awareness of grace.

Moment-by-moment, day-by-day we have to choose to care how our words will affect others. We have to want to consider others more highly than ourselves and then choose to speak only what is edifying to the one who hears.
I wish I could say I succeed at this all the time but if I did I'd certainly be lying. So instead I'll be honest and give glory to God for His Word - His faithful Word which is always right, true, good, and ready to teach me how to "go and sin no more" against those whom He loves and whom I want to love.

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:25-32

Enough said.

Stephanie

Built Up In Christ Through Prayer

Colossians chapter 2 has much to say about how to be built up in Christ. As I go through this chapter we will look at what will and what will not build us up. The first thing that Paul makes reference to in verses 1-3 is prayer. I am thankful for his honesty in saying that he prays for those he knows and does not know and he admits it is a great struggle for him. Although I can relate to the struggles of keeping a strong prayer life in place, this is not a pass for us. Paul is not saying prayer is hard so just let it slide. No, he is saying prayer is a struggle I have on your behalf. He knows there is a benefit to praying and to keep on praying. This is a call to continue to struggle in prayer.

Paul also shares what it is he is praying for. He is not mindlessly going through a list but praying that which is most important for those he prays for. Although it would be nice to pray that those at Laodicea have a blessed day and that God would bless them, he goes deeper then that. He prays for their encouragement, that they would be knit together in love. And here is a mouthful,"that they will attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"(vs. 2-3).

WHEW! Now, we do not want to be wordy for words sake while praying. But look at those verses and see the depth of what Paul wanted to pray for others.

Have you and I ever struggled in such a positive way in prayer as Paul did? This should encourage us to be in the Word and to use Scripture to help us pray according to God's will for others. Here we have a wonderful example of how to be specific for those we pray for. "God bless the missionaries" was ok, I guess, when you were a babe but I hope you are praying differently today! If not, this is a great guideline. This will not only build up others but you yourself will be built up in Christ through your labor of prayer.

Kathy Withers

A Sweet Smell

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Did you know that God could smell? Genesis 8:21 tells us that He has the sense of smell. God specifically designed us to be able to smell for a reason... "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" 1 Corinthians 12:17.

Most of us can immediately sit back and think of both smells we have experienced that have been pleasant and those that we'd prefer to never smell again. Let me just name a few...

Comforting/Pleasant Smells
* Dinner in the oven
* Chocolate Chip Cookies in the oven
* Freshly cut grass (unless you have allergies)
* Spring flowers in bloom
* The fresh scent of the ocean
* Your loved one's perfume
* A clean baby out of the tub
* The morning dew or air after a peaceful rain

Could do without Smells

* Trash on a hot summer's day
* Body odor
* Dead animal
* Rotten food
* Refinery/factory burn off/Pollution

I have always found it interesting that God calls us a sweet fragrance. Just like the different smells we can experience, our lives can be both sweet fragrances to God, as well as foul odors. Ecclesiastes 10:1 compares bad smells to folly. Our sins are compared with foul smells in Job 15, "He sees the flaws in the very heavens themselves, so how much less we humans, smelly and foul, who lap up evil like water?"

God wants us to be pleasing smells, which represent Him before the World. In 2 Corinthians we are told that our fragrance as victorious Christians points others directly to Him. Our fragrance when we are walking in Christ is pleasing to God, it reminds Him of Christ. When He smells us - He smells His son. You know what that is like. Perfumes often remind us of others and bring either pleasant experiences or not so pleasant depending on who we are reminded of. That's the same way we are to God... our lives can be both pleasing to God or can be as foul odors. I don't know about you... but I would like to be a pleasing fragrance.

When God gets a whiff at your perfume... what does He smell? Are you wearing Christ? Can others smell Christ through you? Paul himself knew what it was like to receive the sweet smell from others. "I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." Philippians 4:18

Let us each daily give to God and others that sweet smell of Christ.


LDJ

Called to Freedom

Galatians 5:13, "For you were called to freedom, brothers..."

If we are called to freedom, why do so many live in bondage?

John 8:32, "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
If truth sets us free, yet we are living in bondage, then we must not believe truth because the Scripture says, if they know truth they will be free.

The missing factor is not knowledge but belief. It's often not that we don't know the truth but that we don't genuinely believe it.

I know God is trustworthy, but if I don't believe it, I will live in fear.
I know God is good, but if I don't believe it, I will live in doubt.
I know God is sovereign, but if I don't believe it, I will live seeking control.
I know God is mighty, but if I don't believe it, I will live pridefully.

The greatest determiner of what we genuinely believe is not what we say we believe but what we do. Vikki Arudda, "We act upon what we believe not upon what we know."1

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you were called to freedom. Are you living and enjoying that freedom?

Diane

1 Vicki Arudda, quoted in "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore

Women of a Broken Bridge ~ Part Two

(continued from yesterday...)

As I continued to walk the rest of the way to my office I was all set to mentally judge them. True to His nature and character the Holy Spirit saw this as a teachable moment for me and for the next few moments He reminded me of similar such instances in my own life wherein I deliberately chose contrary to some stated rule or regulation. The obvious question was and is, "how am I/we so different than these two young adults? Better yet, how am I/we the same?"

In addition to this gracious rebuke, the Holy Spirit also reminded me of what the Lord says to us in Matthew. Plain and clear we are instructed not to judge.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye"; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ~ Matthew 7:1-5

Apart from the saving grace of God, apart from His transforming grace we are all in the same boat, lost and sinking deep, deep, deeper into sin.

Dear sisters, here we are at the beginning of another year full of resolutions and promises to do better, to change the old to the new. Together let's choose change. Let's choose to allow the Holy Spirit to focus our attention on any and all areas of our life where we are cutting corners, taking short cuts, giving less, wasting more, etc.

Let's choose to dive into the water of the Word of God and be all that we can be for the glory of God.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~ Colossians 3:12-17

Stephanie

Women of a Broken Bridge ~ Part One

I arrived at work today just in time to see a young adult woman walking across our broken and boarded up bridge. She was half-way across when she saw me seeing her, at which time she paused as if she was deciding what to do. You want to know what she did? She kept on going. Even after I got out of my car and looked directly at her she continued, determined to finish what she started.

On the other side of the bridge was another young woman, most likely a friend who also saw me and was a bit more reluctant to ignore the signs forbidding her to cross the bridge. I even heard her say she was going to walk back around the way she had come. However, with a bit of prodding from the one who'd already accomplished the forbidden feat, she too, made her way tentatively across, arriving with obvious relief and perhaps a bit of embarrassment because by now she is aware that I am staff and she has been seen doing something wrong.

I waited patiently by my car for them to come closer so I could tell them to avoid the area on any potential future jaunts around the lower lake. But before I got the chance I heard the one who had crossed first, say something like this, "You have to know the rules so that you can know which rules are to be broken and if you don't know the rules you won't ever really know the ones that are okay to break..." all this was said without taking a breath along with some other such nonsense and all without once looking in my direction.

By now, I'm basically walking along beside them as I make my way to my office and I ask her this question, "Do you really believe all that you are saying?"

To which she replied, "Absolutely", and then proceeded to restate the previous gibberish.

Her friend was in total disagreement and I asked another question, "How is that working for you so far in life?"

Her answer was, "Fine."

All the while her partner in crime is making comments to the contrary and it's obvious she isn't okay with what just happened.

Anyway, my mind is searching for something profound to say to her and all that came out was, "I'd love to know how that works when you have kids."

Her final response, "I do have kids."

By now we have reached the sidewalk to my office. (The whole conversation took place while we were sort of strolling along together in that direction.) We parted, and they went on to the auditorium with their Bibles tucked safely and securely under their arms.

...to be continued

Rejoice In Suffering

Wow! I have just read and studied about who I am in Christ and who Christ is! Colossians has started off really well! But then there's Colossians 1:24-29. Paul begins to speak of his sufferings. Each of us could write volumes on our own personal sufferings. Yet, I would not be honest if I were to write that I rejoiced in my sufferings like Paul did. I could tell you that my heart was hard at times. I could say that my fists were tightly clenched and even shaking towards heaven at other times. I even recall times when the darkness of my sorrow seemed to swallow me up and I didn't care one way or the other. It has only been recently that I can say I am learning to rejoice in my suffering.

If you and I are to rejoice in our sufferings then we must choose to look for things other than our personal comfort and well-being and the answer to the question "Why?" Sam Storms in his book "Hope of Glory" gives this challenge: "If we do not look beyond suffering to the greater spiritual goal that it achieves, it will breed bitterness and resentment rather then joy. If we regard suffering as an end in itself, that is to say, if we fail to take "the long view"- to see it in the light of its eternal consequences (2 Cor. 4:14-16), God will appear cruel and life meaningless." So what should our focus be in our sufferings?

Suffering draws us closer to God. (Phil 3:10)*
Suffering assures us that we belong to Christ. (John 15:18-19)*
Suffering brings a future reward. (Romans 8:18-25)*
Suffering is inevitable, but it is temporary. (1 Peter 1:6)*
Suffering for the sake of the gospel should be counted a privilege. (2 Thess. 1:4-8) *

How are you handling suffering today? What might God be teaching you?

*A Women's Guide to Spiritual Wellness by Rhonda H. Kelley

Kathy Withers

SHY ABOUT PRAYING?

Have you ever heard someone say, "Oh no, I don't pray out loud. I don't pray well enough to let others hear?"

Years ago, I heard a young mom say, "Sometimes I am so hungry to have an adult conversation, that I call my husband, and when he answers I say, 'Da da goo goo!'"

That set me to thinking that when my children were little, I delighted in hearing them say, "Da da, goo goo."

I would imagine the Lord is the same way. Even if we just say, "Da da, goo goo," I believe the Lord would be thrilled to hear our simple utterings. We are talking to Him! It doesn't matter what we say or how we say it. We are talking to Him and He is listening. I'm sure He is saying, "That's my child! Just listen. She's talking to Me!"

Jeremiah 33:3 states, "Call to me, and I will answer thee." Note that the verse does not say, "Call to me in a proper and correct way, and I will answer thee." Any of us can call, but it may well be a different way, yet God has promised to acknowledge our request.

So I encourage you to take a chance; talk out loud to Him.

"The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer" (Psalm 6:9 NIV).

MWH

TASTE TEST

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalms 34:8

I don't know about you, but I love to taste food. Food can look really good, but the litmus test is how does it taste? After you taste it then you will really know if it is truly good. In the very same way God wants us to "taste" Him.

What does that mean? Well, I think of it this way... many people say they know God and are Christians, but they have not 'tasted' Him. What I mean is... they have not taken what He has to offer and applied it in their lives. We can hear all about Him, read all about Him, but we need to take Him in - put what he has to offer us into use - then we will know how good He really is - not how good we hear He is.

We are told in Proverbs that honey is sweet to the taste (24:13), in Psalm 119:103 we are told that His word is sweeter than honey to the mouth. God gave us our sense of taste so that we can fully appreciate food and enjoy the bounty food has to offer us. When we are struggling and down or even rejoicing - we often use food to comfort and celebrate. God wants us to taste him, to use Him when we struggling or when we are celebrating the blessings of life - just like we taste food for satisfaction.

As I write this my staff has just made some Kettle corn. I can tell you it smells good - but until I get up and go get some and taste it... I will not know for myself what it is like. We cannot experience God's fullness just by hearing it or smelling it or listening to others opinions - we need to try Him for ourselves and it is when we do that - that we will know that He is good.

Maybe right now instead of making some sweet treat or some comfort food you need to get alone with God and 'taste' what He has to offer you at this time. What He has is far greater than the temporary experience of food. In Song of Solomon 2:4b we read "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." Have you sat down under His tree and savored His flavor?

Once you have tasted Him and put your trust in Him it will become evident in your life that His fruit is sweeter than anything you have tasted from a human perspective. I don't know about you, but I have tasted some pretty fine foods, and they don't compare to the pleasure we can find in Him.

Next time you are enjoying a fine meal or treat and you are thinking... my how good this tastes... remember that God tells us that He is even better. Savor HIM!! Join me at His banquet table.

LDJ

These Tents

Death is not a popular topic even among Christians. As a young girl I was afraid of death -- afraid of one of my parents or siblings dying, or dying myself. Why, at 7 or 8 years old, did that concern me? I can only attribute it to my Papa's early death and watching my Nana's and Mother's tears. I could see death caused pain. It wasn't like the game we played when you were killed, you counted to 30 and then got back up and played again, Papa didn't get back up.

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

As a believer 25+ years, God has grown me, matured me in many ways, and certainly this is one of them. I've heard many Christians say they don't fear death, but the process of dying is another story.

As believers we know God's promises are true, every single one. Although we do not fully understand, we know He has promised "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" - an eternal dwelling place.

Look around you. Look at the church or Keswick prayer list -- strokes, heart attacks, cancer, accidents, tests, surgeries, miscarriages, tumors, falls, etc., and the list goes on and on.

Does this tent billow and creak in the wind? YES, BUT THIS TENT IS NOT OUR HOME!!!

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

I chuckle at the truth For in this tent we groan longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. I can really identify with that, especially when I'm being worked over by my physical therapist after my recent knee surgery. I do groan, or maybe it's more like a whimper. But I know: THIS TENT IS NOT OUR HOME!!!

Our temporary dwelling, our tent, our mortal, finite flesh will one day be swallowed up by life! Swallowed up by our eternal dwelling in the heavens, by eternal, unending LIFE!

And I love this next statement: He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

God has prepared us for our transition from tent to glorious eternal dwelling. He guarantees it by the presence of His very own Spirit dwelling in and with us.

Diane

Exceptions?

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31,32 (NLT)

When is it ever okay to allow an exception to the above Scripture? Surely, there must be times when a harsh word or a slanderous statement is permissible? Surely, the Lord must know that there are people who will come into our lives and hurt us, cause us such pain that we will feel a huge need to express ourselves in not-so-nice ways? When He inspired those words of Scripture He had to have taken into consideration the number of people we would have love/hate relationships with, and toward whom we would find the not-so-odd occasion to be less than tenderhearted or forgiving. He simply had to know that loving a father who would reject and push you away, over and over and over again would provoke a rage, and an anger, bigger than one could imagine. God had to know the longing, the thirst, the hole that would wait years to be filled and yet remain unfilled, unquenched. Didn't He? Didn't He?

Of course we know the answer is, "YES, HE DID!" He knew before we were formed how we would hurt and be hurt. He knew every tear we would shed. He knew the rejection we would experience and He knew how we'd struggle with rage, and bitterness. He knew that in our anger and pain we'd be tempted and give in to the sin of harsh words, slander and evil behavior. He also knew how we'd attempt to justify it all simply because we hurt and ache and long for acceptance and love. HE KNEW.

He knew that being in relationship with other people who are sinners, (just like us) would make or break us, would threaten to hinder our growth and our fellowship with other believers and most importantly with Him.

He knew it all and still He came to earth as a man to offer us redemption, to offer us a way to know love, to know forgiveness and to be known by Perfect Love Personified in the character and person of Jesus.

So, it's safe, no, it's right to say then, that no part of anything that the Lord has asked us to do is impossible, none of it is by accident or a mistake. Therefore, none of us will ever have a legitimate reason to hold on to anger, bitterness and resentment as long as we are called after His name. As long as we are His followers, disciples, children, daughters, we will always know the amazing truth of Calvary's Cross.

The Cross was the answer that saved, redeemed, set us free, no longer to be bound by the yoke of any kind of slavery.

Stephanie

The Greater Good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diane

MERCY

This week I have been thinking of all the things I am thankful for. Of course, I could readily list my family, my friends, my health, my precious spouse, my faith, our traveling lifestyle. However, as I recently sat with my son Matt, his wife Deb, and their kids, Kate, Nate, and Caleb, I couldn't help but think of October 24, 1987.

It was a quiet Saturday morning. I was just finishing my Bible reading and slowly sipping a cup of tea when the phone rang and abruptly ended my reverie.

"The baby's coming!" announced the voice on the other end of the telephone line. I hurried upstairs to tell my husband Glen. "You're going to be a grandpa today!"

Glen and I hurried to get dressed. We gathered up a few personal items in case we had to stay overnight, and we were soon on our way.

During the two-hour drive to our son's town, we silently prayed for our daughter-in-law Debbie and for Matt. Occasionally we talked about the changes that were coming. We were going to be grandparents. What fun!

As we walked into the hospital, Glen proudly asked directions to the maternity waiting room and we were directed to the fourth floor. As we stepped off the elevator, we paused for a moment trying to figure which way to turn, and a young man from our son's church walked up to us.

"Mr. and Mrs. Heavilin, I'm here to take you to Matt. The baby has been born but there were some complications in delivery. Matt is in ICU watching the doctors. They're working with the baby because they're not sure she'll live."

I learned that there was a prolapsed cord which caused our precious little Kate (Katherine Nate') to suffer a great deal. Later that evening as I stood outside the NICU, peering through the glass window, watching Matt stroke that tiny little girl, bits of statements swirled through my head, severe brain damage; may not live through the night; seizures. Mostly I was thinking, How in the world did I get here, and where in the world is God? A woman standing next to me, asked quietly "Do you have a baby in there?"

I answered, "Yes, my granddaughter." Then I asked, "How about you? Do you have a baby in there?"

She answered, "Yes, a little boy. He's going home tomorrow!"

I silently thought, Well, at least some of them get better and they get to go home.

Then the lady asked a surprising question. "You're a Christian, aren't you?"

My answer of "Yeah, I guess so" contained so many hidden thoughts and feelings such as "A lot of good it has done me to be a Christian. I have buried three sons, and now I'm probably going to face another funeral. Does God even care?"

The lady continued the conversation by asking, "Have you prayed for Kate?"

You have got to be kidding! Of course, I have prayed, but a lot of good it has done! I'm outside of an NICU hoping my grandchild will live through the night, but what condition will she be in if she does live?

I answered, "I'm not sure how to pray right now. How did you pray?"

She said, "Oh honey, I just prayed for Mercy. Whatever is merciful; that's what I want for my child. Pray for Mercy for Kate.

As we were driving back to Redlands in the middle of the night, I stumbled on to the verse in Psalm 103 which says something like this, The Lord will show MERCY to the righteous and to their children's children! That verse was MINE. All I could pray was MERCY, Lord, MERCY!

The next morning as we arrived back at the hospital, the report was that Kate seemed to be a little better. MERCY! I asked the nurses to help me find the lady whose little boy was being released that morning. They looked perplexed and stated, "We don't have any little boys, let alone one that is being released today!"

OK, you figure it out. My personal belief is that God saw my broken and confused heart. He reached out to me and allowed an angel to minister to me in my deepest need.

Kate continued to progress. She went home in ten days and it didn't take me long to realize that God had blessed us with a wonderful and brilliant child.

Last night I listened to her talk with her dad about working on her Master's degree in counseling. Kate will graduate from Kansas State University in December, majoring in Psychology with a 3.94 GPA and she will finish her work at Manhattan Christian College in January with a major in Bible and a 4.0 GPA.

The Lord has certainly been merciful to my children's children and I am thankful.

Marilyn Heavilin

Merry CHRIST - mas

A mother's view ~

A called woman:
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1:30-33

An obedient woman:
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1: 38

A pondering mother:
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2: 18- 19

A rejoicing/suffering mother:
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:34-35

A concerned mother:
And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:48-52

An eager mother:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." John 2:1-5

A grieving mother:
"...but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25

A prayerful mother:
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 1: 14

Merry CHRIST - mas from a mother's view.

What Do You Want?

It's the time of year when almost everyone in the country is focused on gifts, both giving and receiving. 'Tis the season to be thinking about all the stuff you want, all the goodies to be made, all the treats to buy, etc., etc., etc. We all know how it goes and it seems to go that way whether we want it to or not. Try as we might to keep the main thing the main thing, it can often be very difficult to maintain a steady and focused gaze on the Christ of Christmas.

So, what do you want this year? What about your Christmas will communicate to all that Christ is Christmas?

One of the things I've decided to do is read our church blog which will be posted daily to focus our hearts and minds on the Advent, the season of anticipation and hope. The word itself means "coming" or "arrival."

We know that in the church this refers to the coming, the arrival of the Savior. With great anticipation we prepare and look forward to celebrating His birth and the ways we prepare are as varied and different as our personalities, traditions and culture.

How will you prepare this year? What is the main thing that you want this year as it relates to the one true and only meaning of Christmas? How will we avoid the lure of all the packaging, trappings and dare I say the "sales" of Christmas?

What do you want? What do I want? On the surface, I can't really think of anything right now, but on a deeper level, what instantly comes to mind is 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 where Paul says:

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.

In a nutshell then, what I want is wisdom, boldness of speech and more love, by which I may more fully love those whom God loves.

Stephanie

A Heart of Praise

My husband graduated the Colony of Mercy(1) approximately 8 years ago and came home a changed man, one who no longer relied upon alcohol to get him through the day, but rather the Lord Jesus Christ. He also came home with a servant's heart. He wanted to help those less fortunate and began to buy things to give away. The only problem was that he didn't stop buying and soon our home was filled to the brim with "things" that might be used to help others. I found myself depressed, angry and helpless as I watched rooms being filled with no space to move. I began to bargain and plead with my husband to get rid of things; however this was done in vain and nothing was accomplished.

About six months ago, I finally gave up and guess where I turned? That's right, to the Scriptures. You cannot go wrong when praying with a right heart. I asked God to forgive my anger and went to the Scripture for answers. "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." ~ Proverbs 2:62 NIV

In Isaiah 32:18, it says, My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. (NIV) I went from room to room giving everything in the room to the Lord for His bidding and started praising God for each and every item to be used for God's glory.

Recently a contractor came to our home to assess some work we needed to have done and told my husband that we needed to remove all the "things" which had accumulated for him to do the work.

After having a season of prayer with the Lord setting my heart right, I found myself thanking my husband for things he accomplished within the home. I began to notice all the little things he was doing and thanking him. "God blesses over and beyond what our expectations are when we become involved in the need to show God cares for us because He wants our heart." That is what God did in our home. God worked in my heart and in my husband's heart. Today, our home is being transformed to a home where God takes precedence, both in our actions, words and deeds.

"We never walk away unsatisfied when we delight in the things of God."(2)

Patsy Foley, Women of Character Graduate

1 The Colony of Mercy is a 120-day men's residential Addiction Recovery program at America's KESWICK. For more information go to www.americaskeswick.org or call 732.350.1187 ext. 46.
2 Pastor Randy Smith of Grace Tabernacle, Lake Como, NJ

This Christmas

In addition to the rumblings of my own soul and spirit a song I learned as a child is the inspiration for today's Victory Call. The song is as follows:

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace, eternally.
Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."1
~~Words and Music by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller, Circa 1955~~

Peace, however, is not what occupies my thinking today. It is truth. What if the song read, let there be TRUTH on earth? Would we be able to say that truth resides in us?

What is truth? From John chapter 14 we know that Jesus Himself is truth. In verse 6 Jesus responds to Thomas's question by telling him, "I am the way, the truth and the life..."

We are fast approaching a Christmas and I, for one, have no idea where the time went. In spite of that we are here and for many of us the hustle and bustle is about to begin. Today is a brand new day, sisters. My deepest, truest longing for us all, this season, is that we remember what is true about this and keep it always in focus.

So to paraphrase the song: Let there be truth on earth and let it begin with me. Let there be truth on earth, the truth that was meant to me. With God as our Father, sisters all are we.

Let us walk with each other in truth and let the moment we decide to do so be NOW and not later. With every step we take let us vow to BE ABOUT truth this holiday season the world is in, taking and living each moment with eternity in view.

Let's begin with remembering to keep the main thing the main thing this Christmas. There is no tradition, or custom or practice that comes close to depicting the truth of Christmas, so may we be ever so intentional to remember the Christ in Christmas!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

Stephanie

1 http://synergy_2.tripod.com/lyrics/ponearth.html

Who Are You?

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

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

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

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

Kathy Withers

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

The Greater Good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diane

He Is Safe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephanie

Laziness and Procrastination

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Like I said before, I WANT TO BE READY!

Will you be ready?

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

Stephanie

The Subtle Slip

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

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

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

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

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

Diane

Responding Biblically Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephanie

The Imperfect

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."1

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

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."2

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

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

"Only imperfection is bothered by the imperfect."3

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

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

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

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

Forgiveness

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

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

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

MWH

THE FLOWERS OF THE SEASON

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

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

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

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

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

Lynn Randall