"The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was crazy. They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn't, he would have sold the horse and lived off the money. But instead, he was a poor woodcutter, and old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out of the forest and selling it. He lived hand to mouth in the misery of poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.
After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again, the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us."
The man responded:
"Once again, you go too far. Say only that the horse is back.
State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't judge.
How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment.
Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge?
You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book?
You read only one word of one phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase?"
"Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word. All you have is one fragment! Don't say that this is a blessing. No one knows. I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what I don't."
"Maybe the old man is right," they said to one another. So they said little. But down deep, they knew he was wrong. They knew it was a blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned. With a little work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money.
The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments.
"You were right," they said. "You proved you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. Your only son has broken both his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever."
The old man spoke again:
"You people are obsessed with judging. Don't go so far.
Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse?
No one knows. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments."
It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured. Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying and screaming because their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle. They would never see their sons again.
"You were right, old man," They wept. "God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever."
The old man spoke again:
"It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions. No one knows.
Say only this. Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not.
No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse.
No one is wise enough to know.
Only God knows."1
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." ~ Galatians 5:22-25
Stephanie
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "instrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 Max Lucado (In the Eye of the Storm) The Old Man and the White Horse http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/woodcutters.wisdom.pdf
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Judging - Part One
By necessity and due to the sheer nature of the flesh, it's a given that the topic I address in this Victory Call is one which must be kept before our eyes and must be diligently annihilated in any and all ways it will show up in our lives.
That topic is judging. You know, that thing we love to hate to do, and yet, can't seem to cease from? No matter what is going on we are drawing conclusions, making assumptions, presumptions, making broad statements about situations and circumstances based on bits of information. In other words, we are judging.
Lest you misunderstand, let me make this one clarifying statement. We, all, ought always to be discerning, watching and careful to assess and evaluate all that life brings to us. However, when it comes to judging it would serve most, if not all, of us well if the deeds, motives and heart we first judged, was in fact our own.
Let me share a story with you:
"Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before - such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.
People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?"
The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in his stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone and you've been cursed with misfortune."
The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?"
The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse."
The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say.
All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?"1
I will finish the story tomorrow. For now, let me leave you with this question/thought: What situation or circumstance in your life or the life of another are you judging right now with only partial knowledge?
"Judge not, that you be not judged." ~ Matthew 7:12
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." ~ John 7:24
"And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear," ~ Isaiah 11:3
Stephanie
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "instrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 Max Lucado (In the Eye of the Storm) The Old Man and the White Horse http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/woodcutters.wisdom.pdf
That topic is judging. You know, that thing we love to hate to do, and yet, can't seem to cease from? No matter what is going on we are drawing conclusions, making assumptions, presumptions, making broad statements about situations and circumstances based on bits of information. In other words, we are judging.
Lest you misunderstand, let me make this one clarifying statement. We, all, ought always to be discerning, watching and careful to assess and evaluate all that life brings to us. However, when it comes to judging it would serve most, if not all, of us well if the deeds, motives and heart we first judged, was in fact our own.
Let me share a story with you:
"Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before - such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.
People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?"
The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in his stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone and you've been cursed with misfortune."
The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?"
The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse."
The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say.
All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?"1
I will finish the story tomorrow. For now, let me leave you with this question/thought: What situation or circumstance in your life or the life of another are you judging right now with only partial knowledge?
"Judge not, that you be not judged." ~ Matthew 7:12
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." ~ John 7:24
"And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear," ~ Isaiah 11:3
Stephanie
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "instrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 Max Lucado (In the Eye of the Storm) The Old Man and the White Horse http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/woodcutters.wisdom.pdf
Monday, July 11, 2011
Digging Deeper 3:13-18 with Commentary
I know I have said it before but I love the book of James. There are such practical truths that matter in everyday living. They make a difference in how we relate to others, to our children, to our parents, to our spouses, to our co-workers, to our employees, to our friends, to our not-so-friends. This week's section from James is packed with practical wisdom. It would be a great section to memorize so it can be in your arsenal of weapons for ready use.
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Commentary
"...3:13 wise and understanding. Wise is the common Greek word for speculative knowledge and philosophy, but the Hebrews infused it with the much richer meaning of skillfully applying knowledge to the matter of practical living...meekness. Also rendered "gentleness," it is the opposite of arrogance and self-promotion...
3:14 bitter envy. The Greek term for bitter was used of undrinkable water. When combined with envy, it defines a harsh, resentful attitude toward others...
3:15...earthly, sensual, demonic. A description of man's wisdom as: (1) limited to earth; (2) characterized by humanness, frailty, as unsanctified heart, and an unredeemed spirit; and (3) generated by Satan's forces...
3:16 ...every evil thing. Lit. "every worthless (or vile) work." This denotes things that are not so much intrinsically evil as they are simply good for nothing.
3:17...gentle. This word is difficult to translate, but most nearly means a character trait of sweet reasonableness. Such a person will submit to all kinds of mistreatment and difficulty with an attitude of kind, courteous, patient humility, without any thought of hatred or revenge..." The John MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg. 1890-1891.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Commentary
"...3:13 wise and understanding. Wise is the common Greek word for speculative knowledge and philosophy, but the Hebrews infused it with the much richer meaning of skillfully applying knowledge to the matter of practical living...meekness. Also rendered "gentleness," it is the opposite of arrogance and self-promotion...
3:14 bitter envy. The Greek term for bitter was used of undrinkable water. When combined with envy, it defines a harsh, resentful attitude toward others...
3:15...earthly, sensual, demonic. A description of man's wisdom as: (1) limited to earth; (2) characterized by humanness, frailty, as unsanctified heart, and an unredeemed spirit; and (3) generated by Satan's forces...
3:16 ...every evil thing. Lit. "every worthless (or vile) work." This denotes things that are not so much intrinsically evil as they are simply good for nothing.
3:17...gentle. This word is difficult to translate, but most nearly means a character trait of sweet reasonableness. Such a person will submit to all kinds of mistreatment and difficulty with an attitude of kind, courteous, patient humility, without any thought of hatred or revenge..." The John MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg. 1890-1891.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:10-12 with Points to Ponder
"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Points to ponder
I grew up in a home where cursing was not tolerated. I can remember once in the 18 years I lived at home that I heard my father use "damn" because I was putzing around and putting off doing the evening dishes. (Chores tended to take me longer than they should have because I was so easily distracted.)
As I entered the work force it was not uncommon to hear cursing and the Lord's name taken in vain. I worked my way through college as a supervisor in a local restaurant. One day the manager encouraged me to swear at the staff working on my shift, "so they would know I really meant what I said."
Though I was not inclined to swear, neither was I offended by others that were. That is, until I became a follower of Jesus Christ. Now I find that I inwardly cringe when I hear swearing and cursing.
Oh, sister, please don't think that just because I don't curse or swear that I don't misuse my words for my own agenda. I do. I am not proud of that but it is the truth. My problem is not a problem with my tongue as much as a problem in my heart. My tongue simply reveals my heart attitudes. For one thing I arrogantly think that my opinion matters - because of that error I interrupt others, I correct others' opinions, I keep talking until the other person either agrees with me or simply acquiesces out of sheer exhaustion.
How about you? What ways do you see that your words contradict who you are in Jesus Christ? Gossip? Anger? Self-righteousness? Discouragement? Negativity? Having to make your point or having the last word?
Would you join me today in praying that God would show us ways we use our tongues that dishonor Him and His plans and purposes? Imagine the impact you, as one individual, would have if you choose to guard your mouth and commit it to God for His use to His honor and glory.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Points to ponder
I grew up in a home where cursing was not tolerated. I can remember once in the 18 years I lived at home that I heard my father use "damn" because I was putzing around and putting off doing the evening dishes. (Chores tended to take me longer than they should have because I was so easily distracted.)
As I entered the work force it was not uncommon to hear cursing and the Lord's name taken in vain. I worked my way through college as a supervisor in a local restaurant. One day the manager encouraged me to swear at the staff working on my shift, "so they would know I really meant what I said."
Though I was not inclined to swear, neither was I offended by others that were. That is, until I became a follower of Jesus Christ. Now I find that I inwardly cringe when I hear swearing and cursing.
Oh, sister, please don't think that just because I don't curse or swear that I don't misuse my words for my own agenda. I do. I am not proud of that but it is the truth. My problem is not a problem with my tongue as much as a problem in my heart. My tongue simply reveals my heart attitudes. For one thing I arrogantly think that my opinion matters - because of that error I interrupt others, I correct others' opinions, I keep talking until the other person either agrees with me or simply acquiesces out of sheer exhaustion.
How about you? What ways do you see that your words contradict who you are in Jesus Christ? Gossip? Anger? Self-righteousness? Discouragement? Negativity? Having to make your point or having the last word?
Would you join me today in praying that God would show us ways we use our tongues that dishonor Him and His plans and purposes? Imagine the impact you, as one individual, would have if you choose to guard your mouth and commit it to God for His use to His honor and glory.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Yet they were not afraid...
"Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened when Jehudi had read three or four columns that the king cut it with the scribe's knife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words." Jeremiah 36:22-24
God had some things to say against Israel, Judah and all the nations. He had Jeremiah write it down on a scroll in hopes that "...everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive there iniquity and their sin" Jeremiah 36:3.
But the king decided as each column was read, to cut it out and burn it until there was nothing left of the scroll. Unafraid of any consequences, he simply didn't care what God had to say. It's interesting to me that he burned it in the hearth before him, maybe because his heart wasn't burning for God, or from the hearing of His word, like the two men on the road to Emmaus...
"And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'" Luke 24:32 (my favorite verse in the Bible)
Don't be afraid of anything, be strong, be brave, be courageous: all good advice and all biblical. BUT...there is one thing and one thing only we should fear, and that is God. By fear, I mean to give Him all the reverence due Him. Even He has said fear the one who hold the keys to Hades and to hell.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matt 10:28.
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death" Rev. 1:18.
This is no joke. God is love and He is all about forgiveness but that doesn't negate the fact that He is also holy and just. They should have been afraid, very afraid, because God is not a liar and all He said He would do, He did. Mercifully, He warned them, not once but twice, having His warning they burned rewritten with additions none-the less, yet they did not heed the warnings and turn from their sin.
Are you being warned about something? Are you willing to turn or do you want to toss what God is saying to you in the fire and take your chances? Hey, you'll be the only one to bear the consequences right? More often than not, wrong.
I confess that I've done just that at times and have always regretted it. I thank God for His tender mercy as well as His disciplines and don't want to forget in the light what He's taught me in the dark.
Don't run from Him in fear. Run to Him!
Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
God had some things to say against Israel, Judah and all the nations. He had Jeremiah write it down on a scroll in hopes that "...everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive there iniquity and their sin" Jeremiah 36:3.
But the king decided as each column was read, to cut it out and burn it until there was nothing left of the scroll. Unafraid of any consequences, he simply didn't care what God had to say. It's interesting to me that he burned it in the hearth before him, maybe because his heart wasn't burning for God, or from the hearing of His word, like the two men on the road to Emmaus...
"And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'" Luke 24:32 (my favorite verse in the Bible)
Don't be afraid of anything, be strong, be brave, be courageous: all good advice and all biblical. BUT...there is one thing and one thing only we should fear, and that is God. By fear, I mean to give Him all the reverence due Him. Even He has said fear the one who hold the keys to Hades and to hell.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matt 10:28.
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death" Rev. 1:18.
This is no joke. God is love and He is all about forgiveness but that doesn't negate the fact that He is also holy and just. They should have been afraid, very afraid, because God is not a liar and all He said He would do, He did. Mercifully, He warned them, not once but twice, having His warning they burned rewritten with additions none-the less, yet they did not heed the warnings and turn from their sin.
Are you being warned about something? Are you willing to turn or do you want to toss what God is saying to you in the fire and take your chances? Hey, you'll be the only one to bear the consequences right? More often than not, wrong.
I confess that I've done just that at times and have always regretted it. I thank God for His tender mercy as well as His disciplines and don't want to forget in the light what He's taught me in the dark.
Don't run from Him in fear. Run to Him!
Dina Seaton
Marketing Assistant, Staff Writer
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Heat That Refines
As DeEtta has said, "When the heat is on, it pulls back the curtain to reveal what's in our hearts." I have found that to be very true, and unfortunately, there have been many times that I don't like what the "heat" has revealed.
Recently, I found myself in a situation that brought out some not so attractive qualities that were in my heart: anger, fear, hurtful words, a bad temper... I thought that the Lord had helped me to deal with these sins, and He had. But, given the right circumstances, there was yet more sin in my heart, as there unfortunately always will be this side of heaven. But praise the Lord, not only for His precious saving grace, but also for His sanctifying grace.
In talking about the situation with my accountability partner, she gave me a verse. I Chronicles 28:20 says, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished." Here, David was encouraging Solomon in the building of the Lord's temple. Yet the Lord impressed upon me that now, we as believers are the Lord's temple. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?" (I Cor. 16:19). I felt the Lord encouraging me that I need not fear or be discouraged - He will not fail me nor forsake me but will continue the work He began in me (Phil. 1:6). I just need to cooperate with Him!
As I was referring to the verse in 1 Chronicles later, I came across another passage and related comment I had underlined in my Bible. 2 Chronicles 32:31 says, "...God left him (Hezekiah) to test him and to know everything that was in his heart." In my Bible, the commentary on that verse says: "A test can bring out a person's true character. God tested Hezekiah to see what he was really like and to show him his own shortcomings and the attitude of his heart. God did not totally abandon Hezekiah, nor did he tempt him to sin or trick him. The test was meant to strengthen Hezekiah, develop his character, and prepare him for the tasks ahead. In times of success, most of us can live good lives. But pressure, trouble, or pain will quickly remove our thin veneer of goodness unless our strength comes from God. What are you like under pressure or when everything is going wrong? Do you give in or turn to God? Those who are consistently in touch with God don't have to worry about what pressure may reveal about them." 1
Sisters, while we will never be perfect until we reach heaven, let us allow the Lord to continue His work in us here on earth - making us more and more like Jesus, so when the "heat" comes, it will reveal a Christ-like character.
Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate
1 Life Application Bible - NIV by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (c)1991
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Recently, I found myself in a situation that brought out some not so attractive qualities that were in my heart: anger, fear, hurtful words, a bad temper... I thought that the Lord had helped me to deal with these sins, and He had. But, given the right circumstances, there was yet more sin in my heart, as there unfortunately always will be this side of heaven. But praise the Lord, not only for His precious saving grace, but also for His sanctifying grace.
In talking about the situation with my accountability partner, she gave me a verse. I Chronicles 28:20 says, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished." Here, David was encouraging Solomon in the building of the Lord's temple. Yet the Lord impressed upon me that now, we as believers are the Lord's temple. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?" (I Cor. 16:19). I felt the Lord encouraging me that I need not fear or be discouraged - He will not fail me nor forsake me but will continue the work He began in me (Phil. 1:6). I just need to cooperate with Him!
As I was referring to the verse in 1 Chronicles later, I came across another passage and related comment I had underlined in my Bible. 2 Chronicles 32:31 says, "...God left him (Hezekiah) to test him and to know everything that was in his heart." In my Bible, the commentary on that verse says: "A test can bring out a person's true character. God tested Hezekiah to see what he was really like and to show him his own shortcomings and the attitude of his heart. God did not totally abandon Hezekiah, nor did he tempt him to sin or trick him. The test was meant to strengthen Hezekiah, develop his character, and prepare him for the tasks ahead. In times of success, most of us can live good lives. But pressure, trouble, or pain will quickly remove our thin veneer of goodness unless our strength comes from God. What are you like under pressure or when everything is going wrong? Do you give in or turn to God? Those who are consistently in touch with God don't have to worry about what pressure may reveal about them." 1
Sisters, while we will never be perfect until we reach heaven, let us allow the Lord to continue His work in us here on earth - making us more and more like Jesus, so when the "heat" comes, it will reveal a Christ-like character.
Stacey Poplawski
WOC Graduate
1 Life Application Bible - NIV by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (c)1991
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Fifty Years of God's Faithfulness
Jeremiah 9:24 says, "But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things." HCSB
Today I would like to "boast in the LORD", for His faithfulness in our lives as Stan and I celebrated our 50th Wedding anniversary on July 1st. He has shown us His "faithful love" in so many countless ways over these years. His provision, His grace and blessing, His protection, His guidance as we have walked this journey one day at a time. The week before we were married, I asked my mother, "What if we change after we are married?", having heard people say that they had changed and their marriage dissolved. Her answer to me was that you "just do one day at a time, and trust in the Lord to keep the commitment you've made." So here we are, fifty years later, still looking to the Lord, one day at a time. We've changed; God has changed us and grown us, stretched us and continues teaching us many new things about His "steadfast love", enabling us to serve in various ministries over these years, being blessed. "And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8
We are blessed by God's gift of our wonderful family. Each of our children and their spouses are so special to us, and our grandchildren continue to grow in the Lord as they mature physically. It's a delight to see them as they move through their teen years, making decisions that are the fruit of what their parents are building into their lives day by day. We are so blessed!!!! We see the faithfulness of God's "abiding love".
While our married life has been generally uneventful, there have been a few times when God's mercy brought us through and in His "everlasting love" we were spared. A health issue when our younger son was an infant caused me to say, "If there is someone better to raise my children, Lord, so be it." Praise God, after five years of tracking there was no progression of the situation. Another time of God's amazing protection on us was in 1984, when our Suburban and trailer rolled and were totaled while driving in Florida on vacation. In the midst of the wreckage, as we were spared any broken bones and stitches, I could say, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us" (1 Thess. 5:18). God was not finished with us yet!!!!
These past sixteen years here at America's Keswick have continued to be proof of God's blessing and faithfulness in our lives, as He has allowed us to be a part of the ministry. We continue to see His "faithful love", His "steadfast love", His "abiding love", His "everlasting love" at work in our lives on a daily basis and are privileged and blessed.
To the "praise of His glory", I am so grateful for the evidence God's faithfulness continually in our lives these 50 years. We find it so hard to believe!!! It's been a great and wonderful journey!!! Thank You, Lord!
"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." 1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV
DeEtta Marsh
DeEtta Marsh is presently serving as Women's Ministry Assistant P/T, and with her husband, Stan, as Coordinators for Families For Christ ministry to Colony of Mercy residents and wives, and Colony Graduate Couples. Serving the Lord on Staff at America's KESWICK since summer, 1995. Wife, mother, teacher, grandmother of 8.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Today I would like to "boast in the LORD", for His faithfulness in our lives as Stan and I celebrated our 50th Wedding anniversary on July 1st. He has shown us His "faithful love" in so many countless ways over these years. His provision, His grace and blessing, His protection, His guidance as we have walked this journey one day at a time. The week before we were married, I asked my mother, "What if we change after we are married?", having heard people say that they had changed and their marriage dissolved. Her answer to me was that you "just do one day at a time, and trust in the Lord to keep the commitment you've made." So here we are, fifty years later, still looking to the Lord, one day at a time. We've changed; God has changed us and grown us, stretched us and continues teaching us many new things about His "steadfast love", enabling us to serve in various ministries over these years, being blessed. "And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8
We are blessed by God's gift of our wonderful family. Each of our children and their spouses are so special to us, and our grandchildren continue to grow in the Lord as they mature physically. It's a delight to see them as they move through their teen years, making decisions that are the fruit of what their parents are building into their lives day by day. We are so blessed!!!! We see the faithfulness of God's "abiding love".
While our married life has been generally uneventful, there have been a few times when God's mercy brought us through and in His "everlasting love" we were spared. A health issue when our younger son was an infant caused me to say, "If there is someone better to raise my children, Lord, so be it." Praise God, after five years of tracking there was no progression of the situation. Another time of God's amazing protection on us was in 1984, when our Suburban and trailer rolled and were totaled while driving in Florida on vacation. In the midst of the wreckage, as we were spared any broken bones and stitches, I could say, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us" (1 Thess. 5:18). God was not finished with us yet!!!!
These past sixteen years here at America's Keswick have continued to be proof of God's blessing and faithfulness in our lives, as He has allowed us to be a part of the ministry. We continue to see His "faithful love", His "steadfast love", His "abiding love", His "everlasting love" at work in our lives on a daily basis and are privileged and blessed.
To the "praise of His glory", I am so grateful for the evidence God's faithfulness continually in our lives these 50 years. We find it so hard to believe!!! It's been a great and wonderful journey!!! Thank You, Lord!
"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." 1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV
DeEtta Marsh
DeEtta Marsh is presently serving as Women's Ministry Assistant P/T, and with her husband, Stan, as Coordinators for Families For Christ ministry to Colony of Mercy residents and wives, and Colony Graduate Couples. Serving the Lord on Staff at America's KESWICK since summer, 1995. Wife, mother, teacher, grandmother of 8.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Monday, July 04, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:10-12 with Commentary
The last few weeks we have been camping out in James 3 and giving thought to our words. The tongue wields a great deal of power not just on those around us but on us ourselves. It works like the rudder on a sailboat steering the course and direction of our attitudes and actions. The words that come from our mouths are a reflection of what resides in our hearts (For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks) Matthew 12:34.
"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Commentary
"We are taught to think of the use we make of our tongues in religion and in the service of God, v. 9, 10. How absurd it is that those who use their tongues in prayer and praise should ever use them in cursing, slandering, and the like! That tongue which addresses with reverence the divine Being cannot, without the greatest inconsistency, turn upon fellow-creatures with reviling brawling language. These things ought not so to be; and, if such considerations were always at hand, surely they would not be." [Matthew Henry's Commentary in One Volume by Matthew Henry, pg. 1934-1935]
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." James 3:10-12
Commentary
"We are taught to think of the use we make of our tongues in religion and in the service of God, v. 9, 10. How absurd it is that those who use their tongues in prayer and praise should ever use them in cursing, slandering, and the like! That tongue which addresses with reverence the divine Being cannot, without the greatest inconsistency, turn upon fellow-creatures with reviling brawling language. These things ought not so to be; and, if such considerations were always at hand, surely they would not be." [Matthew Henry's Commentary in One Volume by Matthew Henry, pg. 1934-1935]
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:7-9 Points to Ponder
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Points to Ponder:
Here are a few helpful strategies to make progress in the pursuit of a godly tongue.
1. Repent - begin with a heart confession of using your tongue for your own agenda rather than God's.
2. Pray - ask God for wisdom to discern when to speak and what to say. Sometimes we should keep our thoughts to ourselves.
3. Commit your mouth to God for His plan and His purposes. Ps. 141:3, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!"
4. Hit the pause button. It took time for me to learn that every last thing that popped into my head didn't need to come out my mouth. Sometimes after pausing and praying I realized it wasn't necessary for me to say. Think through what you want to say and why. Choose your words carefully.
5. The issues of the tongue are actually issues of the heart. "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45 If you continue to really struggle with your tongue, ask God to reveal the issues of your heart that are being exposed by your mouth.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Points to Ponder:
Here are a few helpful strategies to make progress in the pursuit of a godly tongue.
1. Repent - begin with a heart confession of using your tongue for your own agenda rather than God's.
2. Pray - ask God for wisdom to discern when to speak and what to say. Sometimes we should keep our thoughts to ourselves.
3. Commit your mouth to God for His plan and His purposes. Ps. 141:3, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!"
4. Hit the pause button. It took time for me to learn that every last thing that popped into my head didn't need to come out my mouth. Sometimes after pausing and praying I realized it wasn't necessary for me to say. Think through what you want to say and why. Choose your words carefully.
5. The issues of the tongue are actually issues of the heart. "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45 If you continue to really struggle with your tongue, ask God to reveal the issues of your heart that are being exposed by your mouth.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
"IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS..."
These are the words that our Lord Jesus speaks to the disciples at their last Passover dinner together before He is crucified. They are words that have comforted many of us over the years, not so much the "mansions" part, but where He says He is going to prepare a place for us and then return for us (John 14:1-3).
But I was speaking with a Keswick staff member a few days ago, and she shared that someone had said to her that we couldn't take the word "mansion" literally. That the men who translated the Bible might not have translated the word accurately and we might not be living in heavenly "mansions" at all. However, she did go on to say that IF we were going to have a mansion to dwell in when we get to heaven, she would love hers to be beachfront because she loves the ocean and boats and being at the shore. I told her that maybe her mansion would be beside the crystal sea (Rev. 4:6). I guess a little spiritual dreaming is OK.
But as we talked a little more, we all agreed that whether our dwelling place in heaven is or isn't a "mansion," or whether our dwelling is or isn't "beachfront property," it doesn't matter. The only thing that will matter is that we are IN heaven and that we will be rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and basking in His reflected glory for all eternity.
So read the words of Christ in John 14 and be encouraged, not because you may be living in a mansion, but remember that He has gone ahead and prepared the place for us where He wants us to be and where we can praise His name for ever and ever.
Lynn Randall
Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America's KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer. She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
But I was speaking with a Keswick staff member a few days ago, and she shared that someone had said to her that we couldn't take the word "mansion" literally. That the men who translated the Bible might not have translated the word accurately and we might not be living in heavenly "mansions" at all. However, she did go on to say that IF we were going to have a mansion to dwell in when we get to heaven, she would love hers to be beachfront because she loves the ocean and boats and being at the shore. I told her that maybe her mansion would be beside the crystal sea (Rev. 4:6). I guess a little spiritual dreaming is OK.
But as we talked a little more, we all agreed that whether our dwelling place in heaven is or isn't a "mansion," or whether our dwelling is or isn't "beachfront property," it doesn't matter. The only thing that will matter is that we are IN heaven and that we will be rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and basking in His reflected glory for all eternity.
So read the words of Christ in John 14 and be encouraged, not because you may be living in a mansion, but remember that He has gone ahead and prepared the place for us where He wants us to be and where we can praise His name for ever and ever.
Lynn Randall
Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America's KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer. She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What Remains?
Where have we compromised? What has God left in our lives to test us, to see if we will obey or not?
The Israelites compromised, failing to drive out the enemy in the land they were taking possession of. Instead they chose to live among them.
Judges 1:28 "When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. Judges 1:29, "And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them."
Judges 1:33 "Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitant of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land." Where have we failed to obey God's instructions, commands?
Judges 3:1, 4 "Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them... They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."
Deuteronomy 8:2 "And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."
What has God left in our lives to test us, to see if we will obey or not? We may have dealt with some of the "bigger" stuff but what have we chosen to live with rather than drive out? Are we willing to take up the cause and face those areas left in our lives that we have tucked away and ignored long enough that they have become comfortable with?
Can we rouse ourselves from sleep to do battle, with God's grace and strength to drive out the enemy we have allowed to live in our midst?
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
The Israelites compromised, failing to drive out the enemy in the land they were taking possession of. Instead they chose to live among them.
Judges 1:28 "When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. Judges 1:29, "And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them."
Judges 1:33 "Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitant of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land." Where have we failed to obey God's instructions, commands?
Judges 3:1, 4 "Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them... They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."
Deuteronomy 8:2 "And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."
What has God left in our lives to test us, to see if we will obey or not? We may have dealt with some of the "bigger" stuff but what have we chosen to live with rather than drive out? Are we willing to take up the cause and face those areas left in our lives that we have tucked away and ignored long enough that they have become comfortable with?
Can we rouse ourselves from sleep to do battle, with God's grace and strength to drive out the enemy we have allowed to live in our midst?
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Hearing Test
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger..." James 1:19
Have you ever had a hearing test? I remember them from elementary school, but I also had one about 10 years ago when there was a question about whether I could hear certain tones. As it turns out my physical hearing is fine - I can hear... if I choose to! Get it, most of us have the capabilities of hearing, but often we fail at hearing. OK, ladies, not to throw my husband under the bus here, but he has been known to not "hear". You know the "you never told me" response, when you know darn well that you did. Not to make him seem like the bad guy - I know that at times I am also guilty of not hearing what he has said to me. As a counselor, I am in some ways being paid to listen and yet I am sure there are times when my listening skills need help and need to be more focused on my client rather than wherever else my brain wants to go.
Why do we not listen? When do we fail to hear? I'm going to guess that the following may be playing a part: we are too busy or in a hurry, our thoughts are focused on defending ourself or getting our point across, we don't believe the person or issue is worth our time, we are lazy, we are preoccupied with our stuff, or maybe we do not want to hear what the person has to say. As I might suspect, the Bible has a few things to say about our listening skills. Take some time to check out these verses, or you can just take my word for it that they communicate the following principles of listening.
1. Listen to the counsel of others.
* Prov. 15:31-32
* Prov. 19:20, 27
* Prov. 22: 17-18
* Prov. 25: 12
* Prov. 24:6
* Prov. 13:1
2. Listen before you respond.
* Prov. 18:13
* Prov. 29:20
* James 1:19
3. Hold your tongue.
* Prov. 10:19
* Prov. 17:27
* Prov. 18:2
* Prov. 17:28
* Prov. 11:12
So, how did you do? Did you fail your hearing test? I hope not, but if you did - it is reversible - you can pass the next time you take the test. Godly communication comes when we learn to listen and minimize our speech. The next time we chat we'll talk about the biblical principles of speech. Happy Listening!
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Have you ever had a hearing test? I remember them from elementary school, but I also had one about 10 years ago when there was a question about whether I could hear certain tones. As it turns out my physical hearing is fine - I can hear... if I choose to! Get it, most of us have the capabilities of hearing, but often we fail at hearing. OK, ladies, not to throw my husband under the bus here, but he has been known to not "hear". You know the "you never told me" response, when you know darn well that you did. Not to make him seem like the bad guy - I know that at times I am also guilty of not hearing what he has said to me. As a counselor, I am in some ways being paid to listen and yet I am sure there are times when my listening skills need help and need to be more focused on my client rather than wherever else my brain wants to go.
Why do we not listen? When do we fail to hear? I'm going to guess that the following may be playing a part: we are too busy or in a hurry, our thoughts are focused on defending ourself or getting our point across, we don't believe the person or issue is worth our time, we are lazy, we are preoccupied with our stuff, or maybe we do not want to hear what the person has to say. As I might suspect, the Bible has a few things to say about our listening skills. Take some time to check out these verses, or you can just take my word for it that they communicate the following principles of listening.
1. Listen to the counsel of others.
* Prov. 15:31-32
* Prov. 19:20, 27
* Prov. 22: 17-18
* Prov. 25: 12
* Prov. 24:6
* Prov. 13:1
2. Listen before you respond.
* Prov. 18:13
* Prov. 29:20
* James 1:19
3. Hold your tongue.
* Prov. 10:19
* Prov. 17:27
* Prov. 18:2
* Prov. 17:28
* Prov. 11:12
So, how did you do? Did you fail your hearing test? I hope not, but if you did - it is reversible - you can pass the next time you take the test. Godly communication comes when we learn to listen and minimize our speech. The next time we chat we'll talk about the biblical principles of speech. Happy Listening!
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:7-9 with Commentary
Our tongues can be so difficult to contain. You've heard the saying "talking out of both sides of the mouth" which means the person says opposite things. One day it's yes and the next it's no. This week's verse refers to the inconsistency of our tongue.
James 3:7-9 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Commentary:
"no man can tame the tongue. Only God by His power can do this. Bless...curse. It was traditional for Jews to add "blessed be He" to a mention of God's name...However, the tongue also wishes evil on people made in God's image. This points out the hypocritical inconsistency of the tongue's activities. made in the similitude of God. Man was made in God's image..." [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur, pg. 1889-1890]
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
James 3:7-9 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Commentary:
"no man can tame the tongue. Only God by His power can do this. Bless...curse. It was traditional for Jews to add "blessed be He" to a mention of God's name...However, the tongue also wishes evil on people made in God's image. This points out the hypocritical inconsistency of the tongue's activities. made in the similitude of God. Man was made in God's image..." [The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur, pg. 1889-1890]
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:6
I ended last week with this statement:
Have you ever noticed the entire mood of your home can be turned around by some kind words? Or the opposite? A pleasant day suddenly goes sour because of some careless or hurtful words? Our words are very powerful, not just on those around us but on us as well. You can make or break your mood by the words you say to yourself. This is a very important principle. The verse said it can stain the whole body. The NKJV says "defiles the whole body." Ladies, as we complain or whine or rehearse hurts, we are heaping those very things back on our own heads, reinforcing them in our minds over and over. We inadvertently strengthen the very things we are trying to be free of.
The opposite is also true. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Speak truth to your heart and it will breathe life into your soul.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Points to ponder
So many things come to mind relative to our tongues. We can cause much hurt with our tongues or we can bless and encourage with our tongues. Do we use our words to bring life or death?
Here are some ways we can bring death:
Sarcasm, gossip, nagging, deception, idle words or coarse jesting, insisting on making our point, telling it "like it is"- speaking truth without love, inappropriate humor, grumbling and complaining, and criticism just to name a few.
Here are some ways we can bring life:
Speaking the truth in love, encouragement, edification, blessing, instruction, exhortation, admonishment, rebuke, comfort, and appropriate humor are a few examples.
So today, how will you use your words, to build up and bless or tear down and discourage? You chose.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Have you ever noticed the entire mood of your home can be turned around by some kind words? Or the opposite? A pleasant day suddenly goes sour because of some careless or hurtful words? Our words are very powerful, not just on those around us but on us as well. You can make or break your mood by the words you say to yourself. This is a very important principle. The verse said it can stain the whole body. The NKJV says "defiles the whole body." Ladies, as we complain or whine or rehearse hurts, we are heaping those very things back on our own heads, reinforcing them in our minds over and over. We inadvertently strengthen the very things we are trying to be free of.
The opposite is also true. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Speak truth to your heart and it will breathe life into your soul.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Points to ponder
So many things come to mind relative to our tongues. We can cause much hurt with our tongues or we can bless and encourage with our tongues. Do we use our words to bring life or death?
Here are some ways we can bring death:
Sarcasm, gossip, nagging, deception, idle words or coarse jesting, insisting on making our point, telling it "like it is"- speaking truth without love, inappropriate humor, grumbling and complaining, and criticism just to name a few.
Here are some ways we can bring life:
Speaking the truth in love, encouragement, edification, blessing, instruction, exhortation, admonishment, rebuke, comfort, and appropriate humor are a few examples.
So today, how will you use your words, to build up and bless or tear down and discourage? You chose.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Winning the Battle to Gain the Victory
After reading 1 Kings 20-21 I turned to my favorite Warren Wiersbe Commentary. There are many things we could glean from these chapters but Mr. Wiersbe's comments on 1 Kings 20:31-33 made me pause.
"When God sent King Saul to fight the Amalekites, He made it clear that He wanted the Israelites to completely destroy them (1 Sam.15). Saul disobeyed the Lord and as a result lost his kingdom. The Lord must have given a similar command to King Ahab (v.42), but he, too, disobeyed. Ahab won the battle but lost the victory. What the enemy couldn't accomplish with their weapons, they accomplished with their deception. If Satan can't succeed as the lion that devours (1 Peter 5:8), he will come as a serpent who deceives (2 Cor. 11:3). Even Joshua fell into a similar trap (Josh. 9).
Ben-hadad's officers were clever men who knew it was worth the risk to appeal to Ahab's pride. God had given the victory, but Ahab would take credit and claim the spoils. In their dress and their attitude, the officers pretended to show humble submission to Ahab as he waited in his chariot (v 33). Ahab certainly enjoyed the "honor" he was receiving after the great victory, but not once did he give the glory to the Lord."
Some things never change! Have you and I ever been commanded to completely destroy a besetting sin? Sure, some days we seem to win the battle but others ...we fall back and seem to never gain the victory. Perhaps we, too, think that just holding on to a little bit is okay. That is our prideful unwillingness to obey. Have you ever thought "Sure, God gives others victory but not me"? Maybe we really prefer to cling to our sin, not believing that God has a victory for us too?
Over the last week I have also been reading a book called "Never Quit" by Edwin Cole. Just last night I read that we can not rest after the victory. Before the victory we are focused, determined, strong and rested. But the day after the victory we become lazy, tired and an easy prey for the enemy. Could it be that we have had a number of victories and we have gotten comfortable and prideful?
We also may need to consider if we are thankful to the Lord. It is easy to say "I did ..." and take the credit that is rightfully reserved for God because it was ALL Him and NOTHING of ourselves!
Today let's pause and consider:
Am I in disobedient in an area that God has asked me to destroy?
Have I gotten lazy, prideful and self-reliant?
Am I truly giving credit to the Lord knowing that the battles and the victories are HIS?
Blessings!
Kathy
Kathy's on staff at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God's Word.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
"When God sent King Saul to fight the Amalekites, He made it clear that He wanted the Israelites to completely destroy them (1 Sam.15). Saul disobeyed the Lord and as a result lost his kingdom. The Lord must have given a similar command to King Ahab (v.42), but he, too, disobeyed. Ahab won the battle but lost the victory. What the enemy couldn't accomplish with their weapons, they accomplished with their deception. If Satan can't succeed as the lion that devours (1 Peter 5:8), he will come as a serpent who deceives (2 Cor. 11:3). Even Joshua fell into a similar trap (Josh. 9).
Ben-hadad's officers were clever men who knew it was worth the risk to appeal to Ahab's pride. God had given the victory, but Ahab would take credit and claim the spoils. In their dress and their attitude, the officers pretended to show humble submission to Ahab as he waited in his chariot (v 33). Ahab certainly enjoyed the "honor" he was receiving after the great victory, but not once did he give the glory to the Lord."
Some things never change! Have you and I ever been commanded to completely destroy a besetting sin? Sure, some days we seem to win the battle but others ...we fall back and seem to never gain the victory. Perhaps we, too, think that just holding on to a little bit is okay. That is our prideful unwillingness to obey. Have you ever thought "Sure, God gives others victory but not me"? Maybe we really prefer to cling to our sin, not believing that God has a victory for us too?
Over the last week I have also been reading a book called "Never Quit" by Edwin Cole. Just last night I read that we can not rest after the victory. Before the victory we are focused, determined, strong and rested. But the day after the victory we become lazy, tired and an easy prey for the enemy. Could it be that we have had a number of victories and we have gotten comfortable and prideful?
We also may need to consider if we are thankful to the Lord. It is easy to say "I did ..." and take the credit that is rightfully reserved for God because it was ALL Him and NOTHING of ourselves!
Today let's pause and consider:
Am I in disobedient in an area that God has asked me to destroy?
Have I gotten lazy, prideful and self-reliant?
Am I truly giving credit to the Lord knowing that the battles and the victories are HIS?
Blessings!
Kathy
Kathy's on staff at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God's Word.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Life or Death?
"The tongue has the power of life and death." (Proverbs 18:21)
So, which is it for you? Do the words that come out of your mouth lift up and build or do they destroy and tear down? I would love to tell you that my words only uplift and build, but that would be a lie. If we were all honest with ourselves, our speech needs correction and improvement. As a counselor, so much of what I hear when dealing with relationships is that what we say to one another can be the biggest culprit in the destruction of that relationship. If only (and I hate "If only's") we thought more carefully about our words and we had chosen our communication more wisely, then so many of our relationships would have never fallen away and we would be basking in the sunshine of strong healthy friendships and marriages. In Proverbs 12:18 we read "reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Think about these words found in Ephesians 4:29 "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It reminds me of the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say - don't say anything at all."
Whenever I heard a message on the tongue, more often than not we ended up reading from James 3. With verses such as "how great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Just a few verses down we read that "with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing."
Did you know that in the book of Proverbs how we communicate is a persistent theme? I have not personally counted myself, but according to Ray Pritchard the book refers to the mouth/tongue over 150 times. I encourage you to read Proverbs and underline references to our speech. Each verse you come upon you can ask yourself two questions... How am I failing in my speech? And what specific kinds of words and speech do I need to add to my vocabulary or do more of? I'll get you started by suggesting you check out Proverbs chapter 10.
It is easy for us to point out those with a filthy or dirty mouth, and to feel righteous because we don't use foul language. But what about insults, anger or harsh words, name calling, gossip, spreading rumors, criticism, cutting remarks, sarcasm, exaggeration, and the list goes on. Clearly, scriptures teach that they, too, are inappropriate and destructive. God calls us to a "healing" tongue (James 3:5-6). What kind of tongue do you have?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
So, which is it for you? Do the words that come out of your mouth lift up and build or do they destroy and tear down? I would love to tell you that my words only uplift and build, but that would be a lie. If we were all honest with ourselves, our speech needs correction and improvement. As a counselor, so much of what I hear when dealing with relationships is that what we say to one another can be the biggest culprit in the destruction of that relationship. If only (and I hate "If only's") we thought more carefully about our words and we had chosen our communication more wisely, then so many of our relationships would have never fallen away and we would be basking in the sunshine of strong healthy friendships and marriages. In Proverbs 12:18 we read "reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Think about these words found in Ephesians 4:29 "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It reminds me of the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say - don't say anything at all."
Whenever I heard a message on the tongue, more often than not we ended up reading from James 3. With verses such as "how great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Just a few verses down we read that "with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing."
Did you know that in the book of Proverbs how we communicate is a persistent theme? I have not personally counted myself, but according to Ray Pritchard the book refers to the mouth/tongue over 150 times. I encourage you to read Proverbs and underline references to our speech. Each verse you come upon you can ask yourself two questions... How am I failing in my speech? And what specific kinds of words and speech do I need to add to my vocabulary or do more of? I'll get you started by suggesting you check out Proverbs chapter 10.
It is easy for us to point out those with a filthy or dirty mouth, and to feel righteous because we don't use foul language. But what about insults, anger or harsh words, name calling, gossip, spreading rumors, criticism, cutting remarks, sarcasm, exaggeration, and the list goes on. Clearly, scriptures teach that they, too, are inappropriate and destructive. God calls us to a "healing" tongue (James 3:5-6). What kind of tongue do you have?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Light Sensitivity Syndrome
Years ago I was introduced to a problem that many children who find reading uncomfortable struggle with, light sensitivity. Today it is called Irlen Syndrome. For children with this problem words on a page are unclear, may move, jiggle, dance or even shake. As they attempt to read it is very uncomfortable and children may suffer headaches, stomach-aches and overall weariness. It is almost impossible to comprehend what they are reading as so much energy is taken to physically read the page. Sadly, many parents assume their child is lazy. For the child with this problem it can be exasperating. As far as they know, everyone must see as they do so why can't they read. They may even go to an eye doctor who will not find a problem, which only adds to the struggle for all concerned. However if that child's problem is identified and given the right tool on the page, reading can become clear, sharp and far more comfortable.
Many people in our world today have been going to church, trying to be a good person and may even want desperately to honor God but they have no clue what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is as if they have a "light" sensitivity blockage. It may be hard to identify these folks because they look, sound and do live their lives as a fellow believer. And yet they don't know Jesus as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, faithful Lord who will never leave or forsake those who invite Him to be Lord of their lives (Isaiah 9:6; Deut. 31:6). They have not received Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth who Jesus promised would remain with His people forever (John 14:16-17).
A friend of mine recently went to a graduation at a Christian College. The speaker gave an altar call and invited graduates to come forward and invite Jesus to be Lord of their lives. Apparently this had never been done before at the school graduation. I am sure the leadership assumed all of their students had made a profession of faith. Yet, young men and women who appeared fully ready to step out into a big world came forward to receive the most important thing they would ever need to survive in whatever the future would hold for them...Jesus.
When I give a student a color overlay and it is placed on a page with words that finally stop moving, reading becomes clear, sharp, comfortable and the child can now comprehend what they are reading. It is a wonderful thing to see. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and begins a personal relationship, the light of truth is open wide. Suddenly words on a page in the Bible come alive and relevant. Holy Spirit is with them revealing Truth (John 14:26). For the child who has Irlen Syndrome, reading simply isn't so impossible anymore. For the person who has been working so hard to be good, life will never be the same. They have made a commitment to make Jesus their Lord. They will live life meeting the various challenges of life by casting anxiety on the Lord (Phil 4:6), seeking counsel from His Word, the Holy Spirit and mature believers (Ps. 1:1-3). They are never alone . They now have a Savior who they have invited to be their ever faithful, loving Lord. Amazing GRACE!!
Do you have a "light sensitivity disorder"? Do you read the Word but just don't understand it? Have you invited Jesus to be your Savior and your Lord? Does the Holy Spirit abide with you? If you have never accepted Jesus Christ, the Son of God, today can be the day of salvation for you.
1. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Confess that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
2. Praise God for even though He knows you are a sinner, He prepared for you the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ long before you were born (Romans 6:23 b).
3. Confess now with your mouth Jesus as your Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13).
4. Present your body to Him and ask that He begin the work of transformation in you, that you may live fully in the perfect will of God (Rom. 12: 1-2).
5. Invite the Helper, Holy Spirit to be with you forever, revealing truth, bringing conviction and guidance into all truth (John 16:7-13).
6. Finally give thanks and praise to the Lord your God. Bless His Holy Name(Ps. 100:4).
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
NOTE: For those looking for more information on Irlen Syndrome feel free to learn more at: www.irlen.org
Many people in our world today have been going to church, trying to be a good person and may even want desperately to honor God but they have no clue what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is as if they have a "light" sensitivity blockage. It may be hard to identify these folks because they look, sound and do live their lives as a fellow believer. And yet they don't know Jesus as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, faithful Lord who will never leave or forsake those who invite Him to be Lord of their lives (Isaiah 9:6; Deut. 31:6). They have not received Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth who Jesus promised would remain with His people forever (John 14:16-17).
A friend of mine recently went to a graduation at a Christian College. The speaker gave an altar call and invited graduates to come forward and invite Jesus to be Lord of their lives. Apparently this had never been done before at the school graduation. I am sure the leadership assumed all of their students had made a profession of faith. Yet, young men and women who appeared fully ready to step out into a big world came forward to receive the most important thing they would ever need to survive in whatever the future would hold for them...Jesus.
When I give a student a color overlay and it is placed on a page with words that finally stop moving, reading becomes clear, sharp, comfortable and the child can now comprehend what they are reading. It is a wonderful thing to see. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and begins a personal relationship, the light of truth is open wide. Suddenly words on a page in the Bible come alive and relevant. Holy Spirit is with them revealing Truth (John 14:26). For the child who has Irlen Syndrome, reading simply isn't so impossible anymore. For the person who has been working so hard to be good, life will never be the same. They have made a commitment to make Jesus their Lord. They will live life meeting the various challenges of life by casting anxiety on the Lord (Phil 4:6), seeking counsel from His Word, the Holy Spirit and mature believers (Ps. 1:1-3). They are never alone . They now have a Savior who they have invited to be their ever faithful, loving Lord. Amazing GRACE!!
Do you have a "light sensitivity disorder"? Do you read the Word but just don't understand it? Have you invited Jesus to be your Savior and your Lord? Does the Holy Spirit abide with you? If you have never accepted Jesus Christ, the Son of God, today can be the day of salvation for you.
1. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Confess that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
2. Praise God for even though He knows you are a sinner, He prepared for you the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ long before you were born (Romans 6:23 b).
3. Confess now with your mouth Jesus as your Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13).
4. Present your body to Him and ask that He begin the work of transformation in you, that you may live fully in the perfect will of God (Rom. 12: 1-2).
5. Invite the Helper, Holy Spirit to be with you forever, revealing truth, bringing conviction and guidance into all truth (John 16:7-13).
6. Finally give thanks and praise to the Lord your God. Bless His Holy Name(Ps. 100:4).
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:7-9
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
NOTE: For those looking for more information on Irlen Syndrome feel free to learn more at: www.irlen.org
Monday, June 20, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:6
I got a little ahead of myself last week including vs. 6 in the Friday devotional. I would go ahead and skip to the next verses but I think it's important enough to feature verse 6 by itself this week. Please bear with me. I trust this repetition will be an encouragement not a burden.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Commentary
"tongue is a fire." Like fire, the tongue's sinful words can spread destruction rapidly, or as its accompanying smoke, those words can permeate and ruin everything around it. "defiles." This means "to pollute or contaminate"... the course of nature. Better translated "the circle of life," that underscored that the tongue's evil can extend beyond the individual to affect everything in his sphere of influence. "hell." ...A translation of the Greek word gehenna (or valley of Hinnom). In Christ's time, this valley that lay southwest of Jerusalem's walls served as the city dump and was known for its constantly burning fire. Jesus used the place to symbolize the eternal place of punishment and torment... To James, hell conjures up not just the place but the satanic host that will some day inherit it. They use the tongue as a tool for evil. The Mac Arthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur, Pg. 1889
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Commentary
"tongue is a fire." Like fire, the tongue's sinful words can spread destruction rapidly, or as its accompanying smoke, those words can permeate and ruin everything around it. "defiles." This means "to pollute or contaminate"... the course of nature. Better translated "the circle of life," that underscored that the tongue's evil can extend beyond the individual to affect everything in his sphere of influence. "hell." ...A translation of the Greek word gehenna (or valley of Hinnom). In Christ's time, this valley that lay southwest of Jerusalem's walls served as the city dump and was known for its constantly burning fire. Jesus used the place to symbolize the eternal place of punishment and torment... To James, hell conjures up not just the place but the satanic host that will some day inherit it. They use the tongue as a tool for evil. The Mac Arthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur, Pg. 1889
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:2-6
Points to Ponder
James 3:2-6
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Points to Ponder:
Have you ever noticed the entire mood of your home can be turned around by some kind words? Or the opposite? A pleasant day suddenly goes sour because of some careless or hurtful words? Our words are very powerful not just on those around us but on us as well. You can make or break your mood by the words you say to yourself. This is a very important principle. The verse said it can stain the whole body. The NKJV says "defiles the whole body". Ladies, as we complain or whine or rehearse hurts we are heaping those very things back on our own heads reinforcing them in our minds over and over. We inadvertently strengthen the very things we are trying to be free of.
The opposite is also true. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 Speak truth to your heart and it will breathe life into your soul.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
James 3:2-6
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Points to Ponder:
Have you ever noticed the entire mood of your home can be turned around by some kind words? Or the opposite? A pleasant day suddenly goes sour because of some careless or hurtful words? Our words are very powerful not just on those around us but on us as well. You can make or break your mood by the words you say to yourself. This is a very important principle. The verse said it can stain the whole body. The NKJV says "defiles the whole body". Ladies, as we complain or whine or rehearse hurts we are heaping those very things back on our own heads reinforcing them in our minds over and over. We inadvertently strengthen the very things we are trying to be free of.
The opposite is also true. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 Speak truth to your heart and it will breathe life into your soul.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Leaving Your Legacy
While reading Proverbs 31 I took notice of verse one. "The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him." On May 9th my mother in-law went home to be with Jesus. I am privileged to have known Mom for over 25 years and to have learned much from her in that time. I imagine that King Lemuel also learned much from his mother, more than just what we read in this Proverb. However, the advice given encourages this son to be ethical, discerning, sober and compassionate. There seems to be no way to know if the King's mother was alive as he shared these words. It probably is not important. If she were living, he recited what he knew from his mother's teachings. If she were dead; he remembered well what she had taught. This made me think about the legacy we will each leave behind. What will our children, grandchildren and friends remember about us? I have some random ideas floating around in my head so I will just share them with you. I hope that today you will consider the legacy you leave behind. And some unique ways you can leave that legacy for your family to remember you by.
1) The Christmas after my husband's grandfather passed away, each family member received a copy of Pop's journal. Nothing too personal was in the journal. Just a daily inventory of what he had done. Sometimes it simply read "went to store." Still, it is a precious gift.
2) Three years ago we celebrated Dad's 80th birthday and Mom and Dad's 60th Anniversary. My niece is incredibly good with technology. She produced a beautiful DVD of my in-law's life together. Full of great pictures and great songs, this is a treasure to Dave and me. I have not watched since Mom's homegoing but I know it is there when I need to remember.
3) My niece is also researching her roots on an ancestry website. I know that a few years back she sat with my mother and father in-law and video taped them answering her questions about family and their memories. Unfortunately, she is also working on restoring that after her computer crashed! OH, NO!
4) While working at a local Christian bookstore a customer came in every year to purchase a new Bible. She had eight grandchildren. Her project was to use a new Bible each year with one grandchild in mind. As she read through the Bible in a year, had her devotions, and took notes from church she prayerfully would highlight verses she wanted that child to know. She would write notes in the margins to that grandchild and write prayers on the inside covers. On that grandchild's 18th birthday they would receive their Bible from Grandma.
5) There are books available that ask pointed questions so that you can write your personal history. From "What is your favorite color?" to "How did you come to know Jesus?" questions are asked with a space for you to provide your story.
6) Although only a thought, I have been thinking about writing letters to my children. They are not walking with the Lord. What if I don't live to see them come to Jesus? What would I want to tell them?
7) Marilyn Heavilin, author, speaker and friend of America's Keswick, loves to write her prayers in a journal. BUT, I heard her say that at year's end she destroys her prayer journals so nothing too personal gets published! Share only what you would want them to know! Not every detail needs to be shared. Use your discernment.
These are just some ideas on how you might leave your teachings, beliefs and history as a gift to your loved ones. What legacy do you desire to leave? What legacy have you been given? While discussing this with Stephanie Paul, she noted how important it is for us to remember what we have been taught. Even if your parents were not Christians what did they teach you that was good? All too often we hear about how our parents did us wrong. Maybe we need to recall what they did right.
"How important it is to share with our children our own personal scrapbook of the faithfulness of God - the different ways He has led us, provided for us, and sheltered us. Our children need to hear again and again our gratitude to God for His gifts of friends and family and the awesome privilege of freedom. Then they, too, will come to depend upon Him personally, knowing He will also be ever faithful to them. Remember ...and tell it to your children and your children's children." Footprints of a Pilgrim by Ruth Bell Graham
Blessings,
Kathy
Kathy's on staff at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God's Word.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
1) The Christmas after my husband's grandfather passed away, each family member received a copy of Pop's journal. Nothing too personal was in the journal. Just a daily inventory of what he had done. Sometimes it simply read "went to store." Still, it is a precious gift.
2) Three years ago we celebrated Dad's 80th birthday and Mom and Dad's 60th Anniversary. My niece is incredibly good with technology. She produced a beautiful DVD of my in-law's life together. Full of great pictures and great songs, this is a treasure to Dave and me. I have not watched since Mom's homegoing but I know it is there when I need to remember.
3) My niece is also researching her roots on an ancestry website. I know that a few years back she sat with my mother and father in-law and video taped them answering her questions about family and their memories. Unfortunately, she is also working on restoring that after her computer crashed! OH, NO!
4) While working at a local Christian bookstore a customer came in every year to purchase a new Bible. She had eight grandchildren. Her project was to use a new Bible each year with one grandchild in mind. As she read through the Bible in a year, had her devotions, and took notes from church she prayerfully would highlight verses she wanted that child to know. She would write notes in the margins to that grandchild and write prayers on the inside covers. On that grandchild's 18th birthday they would receive their Bible from Grandma.
5) There are books available that ask pointed questions so that you can write your personal history. From "What is your favorite color?" to "How did you come to know Jesus?" questions are asked with a space for you to provide your story.
6) Although only a thought, I have been thinking about writing letters to my children. They are not walking with the Lord. What if I don't live to see them come to Jesus? What would I want to tell them?
7) Marilyn Heavilin, author, speaker and friend of America's Keswick, loves to write her prayers in a journal. BUT, I heard her say that at year's end she destroys her prayer journals so nothing too personal gets published! Share only what you would want them to know! Not every detail needs to be shared. Use your discernment.
These are just some ideas on how you might leave your teachings, beliefs and history as a gift to your loved ones. What legacy do you desire to leave? What legacy have you been given? While discussing this with Stephanie Paul, she noted how important it is for us to remember what we have been taught. Even if your parents were not Christians what did they teach you that was good? All too often we hear about how our parents did us wrong. Maybe we need to recall what they did right.
"How important it is to share with our children our own personal scrapbook of the faithfulness of God - the different ways He has led us, provided for us, and sheltered us. Our children need to hear again and again our gratitude to God for His gifts of friends and family and the awesome privilege of freedom. Then they, too, will come to depend upon Him personally, knowing He will also be ever faithful to them. Remember ...and tell it to your children and your children's children." Footprints of a Pilgrim by Ruth Bell Graham
Blessings,
Kathy
Kathy's on staff at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God's Word.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Fruit of God's Spirit and Proverbs 31
Today I'd like to share some thoughts on the "Fruit of the Spirit", Galatians 5:22, 23, and the "Proverbs 31 Woman", Proverbs 31:10-31. Hang in there with me, I believe that God gave me these thoughts almost a year ago, but I've not been able to put them down in writing before, but now I am attempting to pass them along to you with God's guidance.
Read through these Scripture portions as we consider them together.
These verses from Proverbs 31 can be an encouragement and also a challenge to us. As I look at the Proverbs 31 wife (woman) from time to time, I am encouraged to see that God is working some of these qualities into my life. Also, over the years I have been challenged by these verses to continue walking in faithfulness to the Lord and to my husband, family, and friends. But the question is, "How?" The answer seems to have a correlation to the Fruit of God's Spirit being produced in my, in our, beings ~~ our countenance, our manner, our words, our attitude, our motives, our life...
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (HCSB)
10 Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servants.
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
17 She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 "Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor
and let her works praise her at the city gates.1 (HCSB)
Verses 11 - 12, reveal how the fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" can produce trust and bring "goodness" to the husband; good and not evil to the lives that we touch, and particularly those we love.
Looking at verses 13 - 22, we find that generally we might not be required to do most of these things anymore as wives, women, and mothers, but we do have chores that would be the equivalent. Such as shopping wisely for clothing and food, preparing meals for our family, considering prayerfully household needs, and/or large household purchases. The fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" also are needed in these everyday tasks that we face.
Verse 23 says, "Her husband is known at the city gates" and "he sits among the elders of the land." Sounds like he doesn't do much, right? But this really indicates that he is a prominent business man. The city gates were where the city business was conducted. Revisit the story from the book of Ruth concerning Boaz seeking to become Ruth's redeemer/husband.
Verse 24 indicates that she was also involved in the business of making and selling items of clothing to the merchants. It seems there was "goodness" in the relationships they both have with others in the workplace and community. What opportunities does God give each of us to demonstrate "goodness" in our relationships and in our community with others?
The fruit of "faith" is described in verse 25, that she is clothed with "strength and honor" and is not afraid of what might come in the future, "can laugh at the time to come." Verses 20 and 21 also indicate that she reaches out to the needy and the poor as well as taking care of the needs of her own family, not fearing for the time of winter, or hardship, but has been faithfully trusting God to meet these needs as they come.
"Kindness, gentleness and goodness" are demonstrated in verse 26, "she opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue." She gives good counsel to those with whom she speaks. "Self-control, joy and peace" are the fruit that blossoms through her supervision of "the activities of her household" and the productiveness of her life "which is never idle" (verse 27). In the busyness of our lives, do we stop to take time to focus on the joy and peace that God wants us to experience through the opportunities to minister to and bless others in various ways?
The final verses (28 - 31) reveal the reward, the blessings, and, yes, the fruit, resulting from the overflow of the "Fruit of the Spirit" from the life of "a woman who fears the Lord" as she is known and praised by her works, her children, and her husband.
The "fruit" produced from within, the "Fruit of God's Spirit" within us, is the fruit that will remain and be a blessing in the lives of others. And as with the fruit of an apple tree, the Fruit of the Spirit takes time to develop and mature in each of our lives; this is the "patience" part. But that fruit also is able to nourish others with the encouragement of "kindness, goodness, and gentleness", and to reproduce fruit after its own kind through discipleship ministry of "faith, joy, and love" to a new believer. Also, as with the apple tree there are times in our lives when the "fruit" is not so visible, and evident, but God is still at work teaching us and growing the fruit of "peace" and "self-control", as we learn to wait on His timing, and His Sovereignty, even in this area of our lives. Thinking of this, I'm reminded of the Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." The work and the "fruit" is His, not ours.
For this I am grateful and blessed......
DeEtta Marsh
DeEtta Marsh is presently serving as Women's Ministry Assistant P/T, and with her husband, Stan, as Coordinators for Families For Christ ministry to Colony of Mercy residents and wives, and Colony Graduate Couples. Serving the Lord on staff at America's KESWICK since summer 1995. Wife, mother, teacher, grandmother of 8, and great grandmother of 1.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
1 Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2003; Bible Gateway.com
Read through these Scripture portions as we consider them together.
These verses from Proverbs 31 can be an encouragement and also a challenge to us. As I look at the Proverbs 31 wife (woman) from time to time, I am encouraged to see that God is working some of these qualities into my life. Also, over the years I have been challenged by these verses to continue walking in faithfulness to the Lord and to my husband, family, and friends. But the question is, "How?" The answer seems to have a correlation to the Fruit of God's Spirit being produced in my, in our, beings ~~ our countenance, our manner, our words, our attitude, our motives, our life...
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (HCSB)
10 Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servants.
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
17 She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 "Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor
and let her works praise her at the city gates.1 (HCSB)
Verses 11 - 12, reveal how the fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" can produce trust and bring "goodness" to the husband; good and not evil to the lives that we touch, and particularly those we love.
Looking at verses 13 - 22, we find that generally we might not be required to do most of these things anymore as wives, women, and mothers, but we do have chores that would be the equivalent. Such as shopping wisely for clothing and food, preparing meals for our family, considering prayerfully household needs, and/or large household purchases. The fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" also are needed in these everyday tasks that we face.
Verse 23 says, "Her husband is known at the city gates" and "he sits among the elders of the land." Sounds like he doesn't do much, right? But this really indicates that he is a prominent business man. The city gates were where the city business was conducted. Revisit the story from the book of Ruth concerning Boaz seeking to become Ruth's redeemer/husband.
Verse 24 indicates that she was also involved in the business of making and selling items of clothing to the merchants. It seems there was "goodness" in the relationships they both have with others in the workplace and community. What opportunities does God give each of us to demonstrate "goodness" in our relationships and in our community with others?
The fruit of "faith" is described in verse 25, that she is clothed with "strength and honor" and is not afraid of what might come in the future, "can laugh at the time to come." Verses 20 and 21 also indicate that she reaches out to the needy and the poor as well as taking care of the needs of her own family, not fearing for the time of winter, or hardship, but has been faithfully trusting God to meet these needs as they come.
"Kindness, gentleness and goodness" are demonstrated in verse 26, "she opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue." She gives good counsel to those with whom she speaks. "Self-control, joy and peace" are the fruit that blossoms through her supervision of "the activities of her household" and the productiveness of her life "which is never idle" (verse 27). In the busyness of our lives, do we stop to take time to focus on the joy and peace that God wants us to experience through the opportunities to minister to and bless others in various ways?
The final verses (28 - 31) reveal the reward, the blessings, and, yes, the fruit, resulting from the overflow of the "Fruit of the Spirit" from the life of "a woman who fears the Lord" as she is known and praised by her works, her children, and her husband.
The "fruit" produced from within, the "Fruit of God's Spirit" within us, is the fruit that will remain and be a blessing in the lives of others. And as with the fruit of an apple tree, the Fruit of the Spirit takes time to develop and mature in each of our lives; this is the "patience" part. But that fruit also is able to nourish others with the encouragement of "kindness, goodness, and gentleness", and to reproduce fruit after its own kind through discipleship ministry of "faith, joy, and love" to a new believer. Also, as with the apple tree there are times in our lives when the "fruit" is not so visible, and evident, but God is still at work teaching us and growing the fruit of "peace" and "self-control", as we learn to wait on His timing, and His Sovereignty, even in this area of our lives. Thinking of this, I'm reminded of the Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." The work and the "fruit" is His, not ours.
For this I am grateful and blessed......
DeEtta Marsh
DeEtta Marsh is presently serving as Women's Ministry Assistant P/T, and with her husband, Stan, as Coordinators for Families For Christ ministry to Colony of Mercy residents and wives, and Colony Graduate Couples. Serving the Lord on staff at America's KESWICK since summer 1995. Wife, mother, teacher, grandmother of 8, and great grandmother of 1.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
1 Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2003; Bible Gateway.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
God is at Work
Recently my husband and I were at the Colony Reunion at America's Keswick. What a wonderful weekend!! We enjoyed great teaching from Dr. Tuttle of Walk Through the Bible Ministries, we had fun renewing friendships and we had beautiful weather. However, a few days before we went I was notified that I was fired from my job. I was not told that there was a reduction in staff or that the services I provided were being privatized. I was told that I was not getting along with administration and staff and had to be let go. They felt they could do better. I was shocked and dumb founded. When I asked who had a problem with me, as I had not a clue, my evaluator told me that he was not at liberty to tell me. Of course I could request "a hearing" and all would be revealed. A hearing.......yikes........who could I have possibly offended and what on earth did I do? I honestly had no idea.
Needless to say, I needed to go to America's Keswick. I don't think I shared those details with anyone over the weekend but I did ask for prayer as I had lost my job. God was at work.
Exactly one day before I was fired I had begun to fill out an application for an opening I saw that is closer to home. I prayed and asked God to make it clear if He would release me from my present place of employment to pursue another place. WOW, did I get my answer. Although I kept telling myself God knows all, He has a plan, I put my trust in Him.......a battle was raging in my mind. I could not sleep. Who did I offend? What did I do? There was that time I could have spoken with more compassion to...........and then there was that time.............you can surely fill in the blanks. Francis Frangipane says, "Negative experiences can drain faith from your heart. You lose the anticipation and power of faith and a spiritual paralysis immobilizes your soul." That is what was happening in me. But God was at work.
During the weekend we had about 5 minutes of rain. After the rain a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Not one rainbow but two. God knows I love rainbows. Did He do that for me?? Well, I am sure it wasn't just for me, but I am also sure it was for me. I smiled to myself and said, "Your promises are yes and amen. You have a future and hope for me." Proverb 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Hope deferred can cripple our walk with God. No, I will not lose hope. I will walk in FAITH. Yes, God was at work.
Our speaker spent some time speaking about our Goliath. We have a choice to respond as David did with FAITH or as Saul did with FEAR. He advised us to find a stone, carry it and remember to defeat our Goliath. I thought I had rid myself of fear and hope deferred. We have been through addiction, cancer, job losses etc., etc. I know God is faithful. God was still at work.
I came home and while reading I learned that Goliath had a brother and sons. YIKES!! "Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. The Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant....intended to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him." 2 Sam. 21:15-17 Ok, I did kill Goliath and now I have the opportunity to kill his descendants. I shall respond by FAITH, not by sight, not with fear, not without hope. My whole countenance changed. I went to work ready to do the best work ever until my last day. I went with a smile on my face. I slept that night. God is at work.
As the week unfolded, every day more and more people were fired. With every one it was the same story. They had never had a bad evaluation, until this last one. The accusation could not be confirmed except for one........a girl was given a negative evaluation for having taken too many sick days. She did and she too was fired. The district knew she would be out and using her sick days as she donated her kidney to her bother. How could they do such a thing? They even fired a young man who just lost everything he owned in a fire. The list and the stories go on and on. Every one was up for tenure. For every one, tenure was denied. And so.....every day someone came to me with their story, their tears and fears. Every day I was blessed to minister life. I am giving out Bibles, prayer and words of encouragement. I am even planning a party for our first day unemployed..........July 1. God is at work.
Once again God has shown me, no matter what the circumstances, I can trust in Him. By His grace I can rise above the circumstances and be a blessing in the midst while waiting for Him to show me the way. Praise God who continues a good work in you and me until the day of Christ Jesus.
Perhaps you are finding yourself under the circumstances of your life and would like to join me in the following prayer, part of which was written by Francis Frangipane:
"Father, I come to you as Your servant. Like David, I have become weary fighting an enemy I thought I defeated. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, and in the mighty name of Jesus, I rebuke the enemies of doubt, fear and unbelief. I ask You, Lord, to cause faith to arise and the enemies of my soul to be shattered, for you are the Lord of Hosts. By your grace, show me the way to glorify you and rise above the circumstances of my life. By your grace, may I have eyes to see and a heart to receive the fullness of the future and the hope filled plan you have for my life. In the name of Jesus who is the lover of my soul I pray, Amen."
Pat Wenzel
WOC Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Needless to say, I needed to go to America's Keswick. I don't think I shared those details with anyone over the weekend but I did ask for prayer as I had lost my job. God was at work.
Exactly one day before I was fired I had begun to fill out an application for an opening I saw that is closer to home. I prayed and asked God to make it clear if He would release me from my present place of employment to pursue another place. WOW, did I get my answer. Although I kept telling myself God knows all, He has a plan, I put my trust in Him.......a battle was raging in my mind. I could not sleep. Who did I offend? What did I do? There was that time I could have spoken with more compassion to...........and then there was that time.............you can surely fill in the blanks. Francis Frangipane says, "Negative experiences can drain faith from your heart. You lose the anticipation and power of faith and a spiritual paralysis immobilizes your soul." That is what was happening in me. But God was at work.
During the weekend we had about 5 minutes of rain. After the rain a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Not one rainbow but two. God knows I love rainbows. Did He do that for me?? Well, I am sure it wasn't just for me, but I am also sure it was for me. I smiled to myself and said, "Your promises are yes and amen. You have a future and hope for me." Proverb 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Hope deferred can cripple our walk with God. No, I will not lose hope. I will walk in FAITH. Yes, God was at work.
Our speaker spent some time speaking about our Goliath. We have a choice to respond as David did with FAITH or as Saul did with FEAR. He advised us to find a stone, carry it and remember to defeat our Goliath. I thought I had rid myself of fear and hope deferred. We have been through addiction, cancer, job losses etc., etc. I know God is faithful. God was still at work.
I came home and while reading I learned that Goliath had a brother and sons. YIKES!! "Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. The Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant....intended to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him." 2 Sam. 21:15-17 Ok, I did kill Goliath and now I have the opportunity to kill his descendants. I shall respond by FAITH, not by sight, not with fear, not without hope. My whole countenance changed. I went to work ready to do the best work ever until my last day. I went with a smile on my face. I slept that night. God is at work.
As the week unfolded, every day more and more people were fired. With every one it was the same story. They had never had a bad evaluation, until this last one. The accusation could not be confirmed except for one........a girl was given a negative evaluation for having taken too many sick days. She did and she too was fired. The district knew she would be out and using her sick days as she donated her kidney to her bother. How could they do such a thing? They even fired a young man who just lost everything he owned in a fire. The list and the stories go on and on. Every one was up for tenure. For every one, tenure was denied. And so.....every day someone came to me with their story, their tears and fears. Every day I was blessed to minister life. I am giving out Bibles, prayer and words of encouragement. I am even planning a party for our first day unemployed..........July 1. God is at work.
Once again God has shown me, no matter what the circumstances, I can trust in Him. By His grace I can rise above the circumstances and be a blessing in the midst while waiting for Him to show me the way. Praise God who continues a good work in you and me until the day of Christ Jesus.
Perhaps you are finding yourself under the circumstances of your life and would like to join me in the following prayer, part of which was written by Francis Frangipane:
"Father, I come to you as Your servant. Like David, I have become weary fighting an enemy I thought I defeated. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, and in the mighty name of Jesus, I rebuke the enemies of doubt, fear and unbelief. I ask You, Lord, to cause faith to arise and the enemies of my soul to be shattered, for you are the Lord of Hosts. By your grace, show me the way to glorify you and rise above the circumstances of my life. By your grace, may I have eyes to see and a heart to receive the fullness of the future and the hope filled plan you have for my life. In the name of Jesus who is the lover of my soul I pray, Amen."
Pat Wenzel
WOC Graduate
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:2-5 with commentary
The tongue. Being silent isn't always the solution. I discovered that I could keep my mouth shut but my heart was whining and complaining. Our tongues are powerful within and without. Our words not only affect others that hear, but they affect us as well. I have used this week's verse many times in counseling and to remind myself the tongue can make or break a day. The tongue betrays our heart, and the tongue affects our heart.
James 3:2-5
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
Commentary:
...bits in a horse's mouth and the small rudder on a ship are examples of very small things that control large objects. The tongue, one of the smaller organs of the body, has a similar control over everything a person is and does.
...boasts of great things. Pride... is a major cause of the misuse of the tongue. In a progressive series framed by the imagery of fire, the tongue is presented in all its terrible potential. The small fire is the proud "boast" or other careless use of the tongue, and the great forest fire is the resulting conflagration. (I had to look conflagration up in the dictionary. It means: "fire, especially: a large disastrous fire"1) [ESV Study Bible, study notes pg. 2395]
In other words, our tongues may seem small and insignificant but can have a deleterious impact.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
1 www.merriam-webster.com
James 3:2-5
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
Commentary:
...bits in a horse's mouth and the small rudder on a ship are examples of very small things that control large objects. The tongue, one of the smaller organs of the body, has a similar control over everything a person is and does.
...boasts of great things. Pride... is a major cause of the misuse of the tongue. In a progressive series framed by the imagery of fire, the tongue is presented in all its terrible potential. The small fire is the proud "boast" or other careless use of the tongue, and the great forest fire is the resulting conflagration. (I had to look conflagration up in the dictionary. It means: "fire, especially: a large disastrous fire"1) [ESV Study Bible, study notes pg. 2395]
In other words, our tongues may seem small and insignificant but can have a deleterious impact.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
1 www.merriam-webster.com
Friday, June 10, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:2 with points to ponder
"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." James 3:2
Points to Ponder:
Oh, how often I find myself not with just one foot in my mouth but two. I am often reminded of the Scripture that says, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Proverbs 10:19 NIV). I have spoken to many, many people who have shared that they will walk away from a conversation and mull it over in their minds over and over rehearsing what they said and how it might have been taken. Our words have power for good or ill.
Have you noticed how a few words of encouragement can bring a smile to someone's heart? Or a harsh word deflates their spirit? Sometimes our words are intentional and precise with the intent to hurt. Shocking? Not if your experience is anything like mine. I have been counseling 20 years, and I have witnessed it hundreds of times and if I were to be honest, I'm guilty of it myself.
James confirms that our tongue is an unruly member of our body, difficult if not impossible to perfectly control. It is such a powerful member that as it goes, so does the body. Pretty powerful member.
What hope do we have? "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3
To be continued...
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Points to Ponder:
Oh, how often I find myself not with just one foot in my mouth but two. I am often reminded of the Scripture that says, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Proverbs 10:19 NIV). I have spoken to many, many people who have shared that they will walk away from a conversation and mull it over in their minds over and over rehearsing what they said and how it might have been taken. Our words have power for good or ill.
Have you noticed how a few words of encouragement can bring a smile to someone's heart? Or a harsh word deflates their spirit? Sometimes our words are intentional and precise with the intent to hurt. Shocking? Not if your experience is anything like mine. I have been counseling 20 years, and I have witnessed it hundreds of times and if I were to be honest, I'm guilty of it myself.
James confirms that our tongue is an unruly member of our body, difficult if not impossible to perfectly control. It is such a powerful member that as it goes, so does the body. Pretty powerful member.
What hope do we have? "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3
To be continued...
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
"He will supply all you need - just in time..."
During my first reading of Corrie ten Boom's amazing book "The Hiding Place", I was struck by the following story that she shared:
"Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered. The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, "Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?" The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches.
I told them a story out of my childhood."When I was a little girl," I said, "I went to my father and said, 'Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.''Tell me,' said Father, 'When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?' 'No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.' 'That is right,' my father said, 'and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need - just in time....'"
My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing, "In the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore." Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago. But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life."
Although in 21st century America, we are blessed to not live in constant fear of becoming a martyr for Jesus Christ, we still do a whole lot of worrying. How many hours of our lives are consumed by anxiety? Why do we keep worrying about ourselves, our families, our friends, and all the what-ifs that life can bring our way when Scripture promises us that "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Those of us with Type A personalities (yes, I admit I am one of them) don't always accept this promise as enough. We want to know when and how God will supply all our needs. In contrast, God's word commands us to "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).
Corrie ten Boom's story clearly illustrates that God wants us to not only trust that He will provide for us, but also trust that He knows when to provide for us, and that He may not provide for us until the very moment when we need it. When we are tempted to worry and fret, we can find encouragement in the words of the psalmist, "In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:4). We will go through difficult trials in this world, but if God is our rock and our salvation, we can look forward to an eternity spent with Him.
Andrea Poeth
Guest Services
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
"Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered. The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, "Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?" The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches.
I told them a story out of my childhood."When I was a little girl," I said, "I went to my father and said, 'Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.''Tell me,' said Father, 'When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?' 'No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.' 'That is right,' my father said, 'and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need - just in time....'"
My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing, "In the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore." Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago. But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life."
Although in 21st century America, we are blessed to not live in constant fear of becoming a martyr for Jesus Christ, we still do a whole lot of worrying. How many hours of our lives are consumed by anxiety? Why do we keep worrying about ourselves, our families, our friends, and all the what-ifs that life can bring our way when Scripture promises us that "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Those of us with Type A personalities (yes, I admit I am one of them) don't always accept this promise as enough. We want to know when and how God will supply all our needs. In contrast, God's word commands us to "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).
Corrie ten Boom's story clearly illustrates that God wants us to not only trust that He will provide for us, but also trust that He knows when to provide for us, and that He may not provide for us until the very moment when we need it. When we are tempted to worry and fret, we can find encouragement in the words of the psalmist, "In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:4). We will go through difficult trials in this world, but if God is our rock and our salvation, we can look forward to an eternity spent with Him.
Andrea Poeth
Guest Services
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
PRODUCING THE FRUIT
In this final devotional on the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, let me just discuss briefly some of the things we can do to help with crop production. First and foremost we must plant the Word (Luke 8:11, Psalm 1:2). Nothing can grow without coming from seed. The Word is the seed which produces the fruit.
Now if you are like me, the next step is actually harder than the first, both in my life and my garden. We need to be plucking weeds. That is the weeds that grow up in our hearts (Matt. 13:18-23). We need to be careful of what wealth or the desire for wealth can do in our lives (1 Tim. 6:9). "So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin" (James 4:17). Sin comes into our lives and literally chokes away all good that is trying to grow.
After planting and in the process of weeding, we need to continually water our garden. How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds. We need to make room for the Spirit through the putting off process. For everything we put off in our lives - we make room for the Holy Spirit to put things into our lives (Col. 3). We especially have to put off bitterness, rage and malice because they choke out love and can eat away at even the good in our lives. With those things out of our lives we can be blessed with kindness and forgiveness, which acts like fertilizer in our lives to help our fruit produce in abundance and quality.
Once our fruit is produced, God can harvest it to feed others, to bless others, to glorify Him and bring praise to His name. Remember we reap what we sow!
"The growing of fruit does not happen in a day - the process is a slow but steady unfolding of the blossom, the formation of the fruit and at last its ripening. Luscious grapes are not produced in one week nor does a gracious mind mature in a moment." (W. Phillip Keller)
Take a look at your garden
1. What is it producing?
2. What kind of crop?
3. Is the Master satisfied?
4. Is He getting what He hoped?
5. Is the fruit marketable?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
Now if you are like me, the next step is actually harder than the first, both in my life and my garden. We need to be plucking weeds. That is the weeds that grow up in our hearts (Matt. 13:18-23). We need to be careful of what wealth or the desire for wealth can do in our lives (1 Tim. 6:9). "So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin" (James 4:17). Sin comes into our lives and literally chokes away all good that is trying to grow.
After planting and in the process of weeding, we need to continually water our garden. How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds. We need to make room for the Spirit through the putting off process. For everything we put off in our lives - we make room for the Holy Spirit to put things into our lives (Col. 3). We especially have to put off bitterness, rage and malice because they choke out love and can eat away at even the good in our lives. With those things out of our lives we can be blessed with kindness and forgiveness, which acts like fertilizer in our lives to help our fruit produce in abundance and quality.
Once our fruit is produced, God can harvest it to feed others, to bless others, to glorify Him and bring praise to His name. Remember we reap what we sow!
"The growing of fruit does not happen in a day - the process is a slow but steady unfolding of the blossom, the formation of the fruit and at last its ripening. Luscious grapes are not produced in one week nor does a gracious mind mature in a moment." (W. Phillip Keller)
Take a look at your garden
1. What is it producing?
2. What kind of crop?
3. Is the Master satisfied?
4. Is He getting what He hoped?
5. Is the fruit marketable?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control
This group of fruit pertains to our relationship to our inner selves, which speaks volumes about our character and inner life.
FAITHFULNESS is loyalty or trustworthiness - Heb. 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author of faithfulness. Not only is the Lord our best example (Lam 3:22-23, Isaiah 25:1), but His name means Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11). I like this quote regarding faithfulness from Phillip Keller: "I actively, energetically give of my best to another outside of and apart from myself".
Why be faithful? Because the Bible commands faithfulness (Prov. 3:3), and because it brings to us the blessings of God and man (Prov. 3:4). There are many ways to demonstrate the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. We need to be truthful in our words and promises (Prov. 12:22). Our work needs to be exemplary - without question (Col. 3:22-24). Showing faithfulness and stewardship in our finances is another way we display this fruit in our lives (Luke 16:11, Psalms 37:21). Most of all we want to be known for our faithfulness to the Lord. It will be grand to someday hear well done thou good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:21).
GENTLENESS is "power under control." A gentle person is not weak, but very strong and able to control their emotions and actions - this is also referred to as spiritual tenderness. Think of it this way: MEEK MEN are not WEAK MEN. If we are not gentle then fruit flies or weeds begin to spring up in our lives: pride, self-assertion, arrogance, self-indulgence, aggressive and abrasive behaviors - which overwhelm the other fruit.
To be Gentle we need to: Tame our tongues (Prov. 15:1 and Psalms 141:3), some of the ways we do this is by:
o Blessing Others - Luke 6:28
o Refusing to retaliate with words - I Peter 2:23
o Avoiding gossip - Prov. 16:28B
o Being strong enough to forgive and not hold grudges - Matt. 18:22, Gal 6:1 (restore in Love)
We must deny ourselves, take up the Cross...
SELF-CONTROL is also known as "Temperance" in scripture (Gal. 5:16, 2 Peter 1:5-7).
Prov. 25:28 tells us that self-control is that wall that protects from temptations of the evil one like the ancient walls that kept the enemy out. When I have self-control over my emotions, passions and appetites (1 Cor. 13: 1-7) then my whole self comes under the control and surrender of Christ. I become governed by God.
If you have "wild vines" you are not self-controlled. Areas in our lives that especially need to be tamed:
* Our tempers: Prov. 29:22
* Our words: Prov. 12:18a
* Our responses: Eph. 4:26
* Our appetites and rights when we refuse to concentrate on temptation: Eph 4:27
* Our finances: Ecc 5:10 and 1 Tim. 6:10a
The Good Gardener wants to come into your garden gates. He wants to be given the ground of your entire being to do with as He wishes to do, to produce what His will is, the way that He wills. He wants to be the controller of crop production in our lives, not us. Who are you allowing to cultivate your inner self?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
FAITHFULNESS is loyalty or trustworthiness - Heb. 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author of faithfulness. Not only is the Lord our best example (Lam 3:22-23, Isaiah 25:1), but His name means Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11). I like this quote regarding faithfulness from Phillip Keller: "I actively, energetically give of my best to another outside of and apart from myself".
Why be faithful? Because the Bible commands faithfulness (Prov. 3:3), and because it brings to us the blessings of God and man (Prov. 3:4). There are many ways to demonstrate the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. We need to be truthful in our words and promises (Prov. 12:22). Our work needs to be exemplary - without question (Col. 3:22-24). Showing faithfulness and stewardship in our finances is another way we display this fruit in our lives (Luke 16:11, Psalms 37:21). Most of all we want to be known for our faithfulness to the Lord. It will be grand to someday hear well done thou good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:21).
GENTLENESS is "power under control." A gentle person is not weak, but very strong and able to control their emotions and actions - this is also referred to as spiritual tenderness. Think of it this way: MEEK MEN are not WEAK MEN. If we are not gentle then fruit flies or weeds begin to spring up in our lives: pride, self-assertion, arrogance, self-indulgence, aggressive and abrasive behaviors - which overwhelm the other fruit.
To be Gentle we need to: Tame our tongues (Prov. 15:1 and Psalms 141:3), some of the ways we do this is by:
o Blessing Others - Luke 6:28
o Refusing to retaliate with words - I Peter 2:23
o Avoiding gossip - Prov. 16:28B
o Being strong enough to forgive and not hold grudges - Matt. 18:22, Gal 6:1 (restore in Love)
We must deny ourselves, take up the Cross...
SELF-CONTROL is also known as "Temperance" in scripture (Gal. 5:16, 2 Peter 1:5-7).
Prov. 25:28 tells us that self-control is that wall that protects from temptations of the evil one like the ancient walls that kept the enemy out. When I have self-control over my emotions, passions and appetites (1 Cor. 13: 1-7) then my whole self comes under the control and surrender of Christ. I become governed by God.
If you have "wild vines" you are not self-controlled. Areas in our lives that especially need to be tamed:
* Our tempers: Prov. 29:22
* Our words: Prov. 12:18a
* Our responses: Eph. 4:26
* Our appetites and rights when we refuse to concentrate on temptation: Eph 4:27
* Our finances: Ecc 5:10 and 1 Tim. 6:10a
The Good Gardener wants to come into your garden gates. He wants to be given the ground of your entire being to do with as He wishes to do, to produce what His will is, the way that He wills. He wants to be the controller of crop production in our lives, not us. Who are you allowing to cultivate your inner self?
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:2 with Commentary
As we launch this week into the section in James regarding the tongue, I am excited because I love this section of scripture - I use it often in counseling; but I am also wary because I know that God still has much to teach me about my own.
"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." James 3:2
Commentary:
in what he says. A person's words reflect his character and thus are a key to his whole being. James emphasizes the importance of good works but also acknowledges that all Christians stumble (a metaphor for sinning; ...) in many ways. James's call for good works, therefore, must not be seen as expecting perfection. When James says that a person who can control his mouth is a perfect man, he probably has absolute perfection in view. It is a perfection, however, that will be attainable only in heaven. Still, believers should always seek to grow in holiness." [ESV Study Bible study notes pg. 2395]
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." James 3:2
Commentary:
in what he says. A person's words reflect his character and thus are a key to his whole being. James emphasizes the importance of good works but also acknowledges that all Christians stumble (a metaphor for sinning; ...) in many ways. James's call for good works, therefore, must not be seen as expecting perfection. When James says that a person who can control his mouth is a perfect man, he probably has absolute perfection in view. It is a perfection, however, that will be attainable only in heaven. Still, believers should always seek to grow in holiness." [ESV Study Bible study notes pg. 2395]
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Digging Deeper James 3:1 with Points to Ponder
James 3:1
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
Points to ponder:
For many years I had the privilege to teach women's Bible study. I loved the interaction and opportunity to share God's Word. I have many fond memories of past groups I had the honor to study with. It has been about 18 months since I had to stop teaching due to other demands on my time. Several years ago, a few women joined me to write a Bible study to be used with the wives of the men in the Colony of Mercy. It was an intense and lengthy process of writing. After 5 years we completed the 14-chapter topical study and started using it as the foundation for the Women of Character program for the wives. We have been amazed and humbled by how God has seen fit to use it far beyond the walls of America's Keswick.
Recently, we were offered the opportunity to publish the book and I am currently in the process of working with the publishing house editors. Honestly, it is overwhelming, not just the process but because of the truth of this week's Scripture. The Bible study is a form of teaching and once published we do not have control over who reads it or how they interpret the words or intents. As I review each chapter, I am prayerfully asking God to guide my thoughts and to keep me from error. One day I will stand before God and answer for the words on those pages. I covet your prayers along with me that every word, every thought, every concept be rooted in truth - God's truth - and not my human opinion. God knows who will read it and what life struggles they will be dealing with. Please pray He will guide my pen.
Blessings, Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
Points to ponder:
For many years I had the privilege to teach women's Bible study. I loved the interaction and opportunity to share God's Word. I have many fond memories of past groups I had the honor to study with. It has been about 18 months since I had to stop teaching due to other demands on my time. Several years ago, a few women joined me to write a Bible study to be used with the wives of the men in the Colony of Mercy. It was an intense and lengthy process of writing. After 5 years we completed the 14-chapter topical study and started using it as the foundation for the Women of Character program for the wives. We have been amazed and humbled by how God has seen fit to use it far beyond the walls of America's Keswick.
Recently, we were offered the opportunity to publish the book and I am currently in the process of working with the publishing house editors. Honestly, it is overwhelming, not just the process but because of the truth of this week's Scripture. The Bible study is a form of teaching and once published we do not have control over who reads it or how they interpret the words or intents. As I review each chapter, I am prayerfully asking God to guide my thoughts and to keep me from error. One day I will stand before God and answer for the words on those pages. I covet your prayers along with me that every word, every thought, every concept be rooted in truth - God's truth - and not my human opinion. God knows who will read it and what life struggles they will be dealing with. Please pray He will guide my pen.
Blessings, Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Sowing and Reaping Fruit
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 (King James Version)
In this devotional look at the Fruit of the Spirit, we will examine the three fruits that are designed to enhance our relationships with others.
PATIENCE: There are two words in the New Testament for patience, one which means to "abide under" or "endure" trials. The other word is longsuffering or our more modern translation that talks of a person that has a "long fuse". I think having a long fuse also pertains to enduring under trials, since having a long fuse would mean that we have a longer ability to wait before we explore or respond inappropriately to our situations and problems. Does it seem strange to you that patience under trials is put with the fruit that deals with other people? Not to me, seems most of my trials or problems in life involve other people. If we are patient with people (Eph. 4:2), we are willing to understand awkward people or disturbing events which involve others. Paul in his first letter to Timothy (1:16) tells us that God gives us the ability to be patient so that Jesus' example can be seen in us.
What is reaped from sowing patience? First, others gain a perspective of Christ that is often not displayed in others. We gain strength and endurance from God and discover His faithfulness to us through our times of patiently waiting. Last, we learn that troubles are the fruit press of God, life compresses on us so that there will flow from us refreshment for the weary, thirsty world (1 Thess. 5:14; Rom. 12:12; James 1:2-4).
KINDNESS: Sowing and Reaping... Proverbs 11:17 says it all "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Compassion and mercy are two additional words that mean the same as kindness. Kindness is a compassionate response to people in need. Our best example in Scripture is the Good Samaritan story. At the end of the story, Jesus tells those listening to him to go and do likewise (Luke 10:37). We are to be kind to others, because Christ demonstrated that kind of mercy and kindness to us when He chose to come and save us and forgive us our sins (Eph. 4:32). Kindness is love in action (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor. 13:4).
KINDNESS is not a tolerance of wrong, that is a disservice (cleaning a wound is necessary for healing). Kindness entails courage, integrity and selflessness. When the seeds of kindness are sown in our garden - there will be a bountiful harvest of blessings for both us and others. Life can be exceedingly rich.
GOODNESS: We are created for good and that which is beneficial in effect (2 Thess. 1:11; Eph. 2:10; Heb13:16). God's goodness demonstrated to us is our salvation (2 Cor. 5:23), our return to God for our salvation is demonstrating goodness to others. This is not a feeling we experience; it is doing good whether we feel like it or not in order to overcome evil.
How do we know what doing good is? First, we live in obedience to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and, second, we keep eternity and the rewards of eternity in mind (Matt 25:21; John 17:4). We are to do good all the time, but especially when we are wronged (Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:21). If we respond with good to the wrong done to us or the wrong we see in the world, we are acting as God's agents because God is good all the time and is good to us even when we wrong Him.
Goodness is like a juicy piece of fresh fruit on a summer's day. It refreshes in the midst of trouble, heartache and the daily chores of life. You become to others a fresh bowl of fruit on the table verses that plastic fake stuff we try to pass off as fruit. So, is your fruit juicy or stale, old or maybe even fake? If it is the latter, then weed out the sin in your garden and pass on to others the gifts you have been given from God.
Being Patient, Kind and Good to others means that we believe in them and we believe that God can make them great. It means that we will see and treat others as God sees them, not as we see them. Finally, it means that we believe with God all things are possible. The impact of producing this fruit in our lives is that they will want what you have. They will want to have your Gardener in charge of their fruit (get it - they will want God). Think of the harvest for God if we only sowed these fruit on a regular basis in our lives. Happy Planting!
Lynn Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
In this devotional look at the Fruit of the Spirit, we will examine the three fruits that are designed to enhance our relationships with others.
PATIENCE: There are two words in the New Testament for patience, one which means to "abide under" or "endure" trials. The other word is longsuffering or our more modern translation that talks of a person that has a "long fuse". I think having a long fuse also pertains to enduring under trials, since having a long fuse would mean that we have a longer ability to wait before we explore or respond inappropriately to our situations and problems. Does it seem strange to you that patience under trials is put with the fruit that deals with other people? Not to me, seems most of my trials or problems in life involve other people. If we are patient with people (Eph. 4:2), we are willing to understand awkward people or disturbing events which involve others. Paul in his first letter to Timothy (1:16) tells us that God gives us the ability to be patient so that Jesus' example can be seen in us.
What is reaped from sowing patience? First, others gain a perspective of Christ that is often not displayed in others. We gain strength and endurance from God and discover His faithfulness to us through our times of patiently waiting. Last, we learn that troubles are the fruit press of God, life compresses on us so that there will flow from us refreshment for the weary, thirsty world (1 Thess. 5:14; Rom. 12:12; James 1:2-4).
KINDNESS: Sowing and Reaping... Proverbs 11:17 says it all "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Compassion and mercy are two additional words that mean the same as kindness. Kindness is a compassionate response to people in need. Our best example in Scripture is the Good Samaritan story. At the end of the story, Jesus tells those listening to him to go and do likewise (Luke 10:37). We are to be kind to others, because Christ demonstrated that kind of mercy and kindness to us when He chose to come and save us and forgive us our sins (Eph. 4:32). Kindness is love in action (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor. 13:4).
KINDNESS is not a tolerance of wrong, that is a disservice (cleaning a wound is necessary for healing). Kindness entails courage, integrity and selflessness. When the seeds of kindness are sown in our garden - there will be a bountiful harvest of blessings for both us and others. Life can be exceedingly rich.
GOODNESS: We are created for good and that which is beneficial in effect (2 Thess. 1:11; Eph. 2:10; Heb13:16). God's goodness demonstrated to us is our salvation (2 Cor. 5:23), our return to God for our salvation is demonstrating goodness to others. This is not a feeling we experience; it is doing good whether we feel like it or not in order to overcome evil.
How do we know what doing good is? First, we live in obedience to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and, second, we keep eternity and the rewards of eternity in mind (Matt 25:21; John 17:4). We are to do good all the time, but especially when we are wronged (Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:21). If we respond with good to the wrong done to us or the wrong we see in the world, we are acting as God's agents because God is good all the time and is good to us even when we wrong Him.
Goodness is like a juicy piece of fresh fruit on a summer's day. It refreshes in the midst of trouble, heartache and the daily chores of life. You become to others a fresh bowl of fruit on the table verses that plastic fake stuff we try to pass off as fruit. So, is your fruit juicy or stale, old or maybe even fake? If it is the latter, then weed out the sin in your garden and pass on to others the gifts you have been given from God.
Being Patient, Kind and Good to others means that we believe in them and we believe that God can make them great. It means that we will see and treat others as God sees them, not as we see them. Finally, it means that we believe with God all things are possible. The impact of producing this fruit in our lives is that they will want what you have. They will want to have your Gardener in charge of their fruit (get it - they will want God). Think of the harvest for God if we only sowed these fruit on a regular basis in our lives. Happy Planting!
Lynn Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
The Gardener's Touch
The main ingredients in our fruit are based on our relationship to God.
Love: is like good seed introduced into good soil, it must come from a source outside the garden. It does not, nor can it ever, spring from the soil of our own souls. Agape Love is God's love bestowed on us through His Son. I can only have this kind of love as far as I am connected to and have God in my life. Love is the fruit that is found in all the other fruit (1 Cor. 13:1-7). Without Love, the other fruit cannot be fully functional and productive - it will lack that "sweetening" agent. If we have love, it never fails to produce (1 Cor. 13:8).
Beth Moore explains Agape love in her study on the fruit in the following ways:
* Agape is divine capacity to love. Only God is capable of agape.
* Agape is more a response than a feeling (1 John 3:20 - God is greater than our hearts)
* Agape is fueled by the needs rather than the desires of self or others
* Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.
Joy: Is "delight - gladness" that is not based on circumstances - Heb. 12:2
The word happiness is found 6 times in NT, and 16 times in OT. Joy shows up 8 x more than happiness in Scripture (176 times). Joy is the grand attributes of God Himself - "God of all Joy". Too often we are looking for joy when we should just be looking towards Jesus Christ - our joy is in Him... not in anything else we can find.
Check out the types of joy that God provides: We are never lacking for joy when we look for it in the right places.
* Joy of salvation - Psalm 51:12a
* Joy of problems - James 1:12
* Joy of worship - Psalm 12 2:1
* Joy of today - Psalm 118:24
* Joy of restoration - Psalm 71:20/Psalm 23:3
* Joy of prayer - John 16:24/Psalm 16:11b
* Joy of God's Word - Psalm 119:111
Peace: is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Jesus in the midst of problems. The fruit of peace is love standing strong and stable in spite of every insult, antagonism and every hate. We are at peace with God (Romans 5:1), we are given the peace of God (Phil. 4:7), which equips us to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18), or at least do our part to be a peace with everyone (Romans 14:19). I love this statement: He who throws dirt only loses ground. Let us keep our soil in our godly garden!
Do you need to cultivate the fruit of Love, Joy and Peace? First we need to take a long hard look at ourselves, then cry out to God to change and do what He needs to do to sweeten our fruit, and finally we need to get out of the way (kill the flesh) and give God control. We need to let Him in our fields and hand over the keys to the plow. Being plowed by God will transform your life, your relationships and your attitudes. Allow God to come in and establish His fruit in your life.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
Love: is like good seed introduced into good soil, it must come from a source outside the garden. It does not, nor can it ever, spring from the soil of our own souls. Agape Love is God's love bestowed on us through His Son. I can only have this kind of love as far as I am connected to and have God in my life. Love is the fruit that is found in all the other fruit (1 Cor. 13:1-7). Without Love, the other fruit cannot be fully functional and productive - it will lack that "sweetening" agent. If we have love, it never fails to produce (1 Cor. 13:8).
Beth Moore explains Agape love in her study on the fruit in the following ways:
* Agape is divine capacity to love. Only God is capable of agape.
* Agape is more a response than a feeling (1 John 3:20 - God is greater than our hearts)
* Agape is fueled by the needs rather than the desires of self or others
* Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.
Joy: Is "delight - gladness" that is not based on circumstances - Heb. 12:2
The word happiness is found 6 times in NT, and 16 times in OT. Joy shows up 8 x more than happiness in Scripture (176 times). Joy is the grand attributes of God Himself - "God of all Joy". Too often we are looking for joy when we should just be looking towards Jesus Christ - our joy is in Him... not in anything else we can find.
Check out the types of joy that God provides: We are never lacking for joy when we look for it in the right places.
* Joy of salvation - Psalm 51:12a
* Joy of problems - James 1:12
* Joy of worship - Psalm 12 2:1
* Joy of today - Psalm 118:24
* Joy of restoration - Psalm 71:20/Psalm 23:3
* Joy of prayer - John 16:24/Psalm 16:11b
* Joy of God's Word - Psalm 119:111
Peace: is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Jesus in the midst of problems. The fruit of peace is love standing strong and stable in spite of every insult, antagonism and every hate. We are at peace with God (Romans 5:1), we are given the peace of God (Phil. 4:7), which equips us to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18), or at least do our part to be a peace with everyone (Romans 14:19). I love this statement: He who throws dirt only loses ground. Let us keep our soil in our godly garden!
Do you need to cultivate the fruit of Love, Joy and Peace? First we need to take a long hard look at ourselves, then cry out to God to change and do what He needs to do to sweeten our fruit, and finally we need to get out of the way (kill the flesh) and give God control. We need to let Him in our fields and hand over the keys to the plow. Being plowed by God will transform your life, your relationships and your attitudes. Allow God to come in and establish His fruit in your life.
Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies
DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
