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4/3/2022 0 Comments

Identity War (Week 30)

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Fingering my ruby necklace, I sighed silently. My outfit was a bit strange that day. Sweats, an old t-shirt, dirty hair and a ruby necklace symbolized the fight going on within my heart.
 
The morning began with me overwhelmed, angry and being anything but the kind of mom I wanted to be. In the middle of the downward spiral of tears, anger and ugly words, suddenly I remembered.
 
A few short months earlier, my husband had carefully picked out a beautiful ruby. He had taken great pains to find the perfect one and had given it to me along with a lengthy note. In that note, he wrote about the kind of wife and mother he saw me to be. It reminds me of who I am in Christ.
​I ran to get the ruby necklace and put it on. The little necklace helped me get my bearings and remember not only who I am but who I am created to be. It gave me the courage to go to God and ask for forgiveness. Simply remembering changed the course of the entire day. Knowing who we are changes how we live.
 
Even Jesus’ ministry started with God declaring Jesus’ identity.
In Matthew 3:16, immediately before beginning His ministry, Jesus approached John to be baptized. When Jesus came up out of the water, God the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
 
Immediately after God’s declaration, Matthew 4 tells us Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted. After forty days of fasting, the devil came to him and questioned Jesus’ identity saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3). That statement was an attempt to get Jesus to question His identity and then feel the need to prove who He was. Jesus was so firmly established in who He was, He felt no need to prove Himself. Instead Jesus replied in verse 4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Bringing Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, Satan once again tempted him to prove Himself in verse 6 saying, “If you are the Son of God... throw yourself down.” Jesus answered, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Mt 4:7). He again did not succumb to the temptation to prove Himself because His identity was firmly established. The Father’s truth was stronger than the fleshly need.
 
That little necklace reminded me of who I am and helped me resist the temptation to act like who I am not. Whenever I get a bit testy, I have found I am often trying to protect a piece of my threatened identity, but when I remember who I am to God, that need dissipates.
 
You may not have a little necklace to remind you of what is true, but remembering who we are has the power to change us. We will act like who we believe we are. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, through Him we are:
 
  • More than conquerors (Romans 8:37)
  • Dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1-2; I John 3:1; John 1:12; Romans 8:14-15
  • A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • God’s masterpiece created by Him (Ephesians 2:10)
  • Friends of God (John 15:15)
  • Chosen and holy (I Peter 2:9)
  • Beloved (Colossians 3:12)
  • Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
 
We do not need to prove who we are because God has already declared it. As His children, we get to live in the identity HE has given us.
Memory Verse: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9 NIV
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About the Author

Hi! My name is Wendy Gerdes and I currently live in Omaha, NE. I was born and raised in here. Except for seven years living in Florida, I have lived in Omaha my entire life. My husband John and I have been married for 21 years and have three boys and one girl ranging in age from 13 to 20. I am passionate about motherhood and love the creative work of partnering with God to help our kids develop into who He designed them to be! In my free time, I love to write, read and see friends. Dates with my husband and time with family are other favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us because when we see His heart for us, it truly changes everything! Connect with Wendy at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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10/17/2021 0 Comments

Never Enough (Week 6)

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​Sitting curled up in my chair one morning, Bible open and tears streaming, I felt an overwhelming sense that I did not have what it took to parent our three teens. I felt trapped in a place where my task felt immense and the importance of it overwhelmed me. Band-aids, popsicles and quick hugs didn’t solve teen sized problems. As I sat in my favorite space, I quietly whispered “I’m not enough.” He gently answered, “You are not enough and were never meant to be.”
 
In Exodus 3 and 4, Moses encountered a different problem but the same fear. Minding his own business in the desert, doing what he had done for years, Moses was stunned to suddenly see a bush burning.
When he approached, God spoke to Moses and told him He had chosen him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was not exactly excited about the idea. He immediately was aware of his lack of qualifications and asked “Who am I?” in Exodus 3:11. He knew he did not have what it would take to lead thousands of people out of the grip of an evil Pharaoh and into freedom. He was not enough and he knew it, but God was not asking him to do it alone.
 
God did not answer Moses’ fear with assurances that he did indeed have what it would take to do the impossible task. He did not even tell Moses how amazing he was or that he was made for the moment. God’s plan did not rest on Moses’ ability to lead the mass exodus. His response in Exodus 3:12 was, “I will certainly be with you…” That’s enough, but Moses still was not convinced. In Exodus 4:10, Moses reminds God that speaking was not something he was good at. That didn’t deter God either. God reminded Moses in 4:11 that He was the One who had created Moses’ mouth, would give him the words to say and would teach him along the way. God is not concerned with our ability, but with our obedience. The question is not, ‘Who am I?’ but rather ‘Who is He?’
 
The loud voices in our culture bombard us with messages that we are enough, but the problem is, we know deep down we actually are not. We try hard and succeed in one thing only to fail at another. When I sat in my chair that early morning, relief flooded my mind as I realized ‘enough’ is an unattainable and an always moving goal.
 
Thankfully, God has never asked us to be enough. He has asked us to do life with Him instead. He IS enough and always will be. He has all we need in any situation we face. He readily gives wisdom to all who ask and loves to respond when we call. The truth is, we are not left to do life on our own but are invited into a life WITH Him. When we are at a loss, He never is. He is an endless supply of wisdom, grace and all we could ever need. He is the only one who truly knows every part of every situation. He knows the past, present and future. He has invited us to ask Him for wisdom when we don’t have it. We are not enough, and that is okay because He is.
Memory Verse: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV
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About the Author

Hi! My name is Wendy Gerdes and I currently live in Omaha, NE. I was born and raised in here. Except for seven years living in Florida, I have lived in Omaha my entire life. My husband John and I have been married for 21 years and have three boys and one girl ranging in age from 13 to 20. I am passionate about motherhood and love the creative work of partnering with God to help our kids develop into who He designed them to be! In my free time, I love to write, read and see friends. Dates with my husband and time with family are other favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us because when we see His heart for us, it truly changes everything! Connect with Wendy at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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9/5/2021 0 Comments

The Final Chapter (Week 52)

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​As a child I loved to be read to. My mind was captivated by heroes and villains, rescues and trials, and the downtrodden turned strong. I loved the hope that assuredly always came in the last few pages where everything made sense and had a happy ending. Knowing the ending would be “happily ever after” made the story worth reading. It anchored my little heart through all the twists and turns it took to get to those final pages.
 
I have to admit, Revelation is not one of my favorite books to read. It is coarse, not easy to understand, and full of imagery that is not for the faint of heart. Not even theologians agree on much of it, but as we take a closer look there is something very beautiful unfolding in it all.
​The story of mankind laid out in God’s Word is much like the stories I loved to read. There is a Hero, a villain, and a people who need rescue. The story starts out beautifully, only to have something dark and sinister captivate the beloved. There is One who is stronger than the villain, ready to do what it takes to rescue. In this story, the weak become strong, the broken become whole, the sinful become righteous, and the shamed are healed. Sadness turns to joy, and despair turns to hope. Chaos is turned to order, and what is wrong is made right again.
 
Revelation is the final chapter when all things are complete and all is made new. The villain is conquered, the pain is relieved, the relationship is restored— there is happily ever after.
 
In Revelation 21:3-5a, the Apostle John shares his God-given vision. He says, “Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: ‘Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.’ Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new.’”
 
Though we don’t live in Happily Ever After yet, this message is hope for us today. Because of Jesus, we are invited to know Him and live a life of intimacy with Him now, but in the future there is so much more promised for those who put their hope in Him. Knowing how the story ends anchors our hearts through the twists and turns of life. We can know whatever trial we are going through will not last forever.
 
Stories with tragic endings like untimely death and loss are not the final chapter. We may not like the chapter we’re in, but we can be sure of the ending because the last hope-filled chapter is promised. We will once again be with God and see Him as he truly is. We will be unhindered by sin and its effects and every ounce of grief, sadness and pain will no longer be ours.
 
Knowing the final chapter of God’s story, and the story of mankind makes life worth living. Today, let us lift our eyes above our present trouble, and fix our eyes on our promised Hope.
 
With our eyes on the future and the One Who holds it all, we can be courageous to face our day. The end of the story is not our small story, our pain or even our joys, but the end of our story and the story of us all is being with the One who created us all and loves with an intensity we cannot comprehend.
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About the Author

Hi! I'm Wendy Gerdes and I live in Omaha, Nebraska with my family. John and I have been married for twenty years and we have three teens plus a twelve year old who keep us busy. I always say every stage is my favorite, but this stage really IS my favorite! On a quiet day, I can usually be found reading or writing. Hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are also favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us. When we begin to see his heart for us and towards us, it changes everything! Connect with Wendy at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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7/4/2021 0 Comments

What Am I Beholding? (Week 43)

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​It’s human nature to be heavily influenced by what we pay attention to. Growing up in the 90s era, I understand this all too well. One early morning, my dad took me to breakfast for a very important talk. With worried eyes he cautiously voiced that he was afraid I was going to lose my long hair because of my daily ritual of aerosol hairspray and furious ratting.
 
He clearly did not understand this was necessary in order to achieve the much envied tall bangs that could be seen from behind. He was coming up against a force to be reckoned with because I had intently studied the upperclassmen, and the only conclusion I had come to was that I needed to figure out how to get my big bangs even bigger. As the story goes, he had to gut the bathroom after I left home because of the hairspray buildup. (That’s what half a can of Aquanet sprayed daily in a small bathroom does to a place.) My style was definitely more influenced by what I saw than common sense.
​As it turns out, God created us to be reflections of who we spend time with and what we turn our attention to. We were designed for intimacy with Him, and intended to reflect His goodness and grace.
 
I Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
 
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, to contemplate something means “to think carefully or deeply about something.”
 
The surest way to any transformation is the way we think. We can be transformed for the better or for the worse depending on who or what we contemplate.
 
How often do we contemplate...
The “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios and become filled with anxiety?
How we’ve been wronged and find ourselves bitter and filled with unforgiveness?
Everything our marriage is not and find our marriage degrading into further turmoil?
How we’ve messed up with our kids and fallen into further burdensome shame?
On what others have (or have not) in comparison to us and become envious or prideful?
 
The truth is, we become like who or what we behold. The surest way to become who God originally created us to be is to spend our time looking in the right direction. When we look to Him, our perspective begins to change to what is true. When we look at the wrong things, we begin to believe lies rather than truth (much like what happened with my hair situation.)
 
What if, instead of the negative, we began to contemplate…
God who is with us no matter what life holds for us?
God who loves us, defines who we are, and is the defender of our hearts?
God who fights with us for the good and restoration of relationships?
God who is our Forgiver and the Lifter of our heads?
God who is the One who loves to satisfy us with Himself and teaches us to walk in humility?
 
As Christ-followers, we should be becoming a little more like Jesus each day. Today, take special notice of what your mind is focusing on. Are they thoughts of comparison, shame, or pride? Or are they thoughts towards Jesus, His truth, His perfection, and His glory?
 
If we begin to find ourselves wandering towards old ways of thinking, let’s turn our focus back and contemplate the God Who is with us, fighting for us and bigger than any situation we could ever face.
 
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About the Author

Hi! I'm Wendy Gerdes and I live in Omaha, Nebraska with my family. John and I have been married for twenty years and we have three teens plus a twelve year old who keep us busy. I always say every stage is my favorite, but this stage really IS my favorite! On a quiet day, I can usually be found reading or writing. Hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are also favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us. When we begin to see his heart for us and towards us, it changes everything! Connect with Wendy at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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4/18/2021 0 Comments

Your Kingdom Come (Week 32)

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Stepping into their home was like stepping into an oasis. I could feel my soul exhale as I was welcomed by our mentor friends. We were young and just starting out; they had two young girls ready to enter the teen years.
 
They greeted each arriving guest with the enthusiasm usually reserved for those of great importance. I remember thinking this place must be a bit of heaven on earth. That night, we experienced something rare: a safe space where God’s heart was revealed. God’s Kingdom in action.
 
I later found out their environment was no accident. The couple was intentional. Their goal: that others might experience Him. That night we not only found heroes of the faith— we also left with a life mission.
​I didn’t realize it then, but this mission can be summed up in one of the most familiar prayers of all time; a prayer that Jesus Himself invited us to pray. The “Lord’s Prayer” is spoken far and wide, but when we really dig in, we find there is enough power to change our lives in the first two verses alone.
 
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...’” 
 
This prayer is a beautiful invitation into a different kind of life than the common self-reliant life most of us live. ‘Hallowed’ is a bit of an ancient word, but a synonym for the word is the word ‘honored.’ When we honor His name, we honor all of who He is. He is Provider, Healer, Friend, Banner (Victory), Shepherd, Peace, Refuge, Present, Righteousness, Holy, Love, and so much more.
 
Can you imagine if we rehearsed who He is every single day in this prayer? I imagine our fears would be calmed, our trust would deepen, we would be inwardly at rest and our identity would become fixed in Him. Focusing on God shifts perspective, gives courage and promotes love. It changes who we are and in turn changes how we live. Looking at Him paves the way for the next verse.
 
“‘...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’”
 
When we pray these words, we are asking for His Kingdom ways to infiltrate the earth. It can feel overwhelming to pray this until we realize His ‘Kingdom come’ is simply the result of individuals living differently. When we live with a “Your Kingdom come, your will be done” mentality, we begin to live our days on mission. We want HIS will to be done, not our own. This kind of heart changes our actions. We don’t get to choose other’s choices, but we always get to choose ours.
 
His ‘Kingdom come’ in our lives may look like…
 
Handling a temper tantrum with grace
Responding well when offended
Staying up late speaking life to a hurting friend
Welcoming others into our home with open arms
 
How many of the most important moments of Jesus’ ministry were, at the time, seemingly small and inconsequential? What if ‘His Kingdom come’ isn’t always a splashy moment in time, but a display of His grace, love and kindness in our hard world? What if like our friend’s home, our homes become a refuge, a sanctuary of sorts where His Kingdom ways are operating more and more?
 
What if we lived like that wherever we find ourselves? Never perfect, but always growing.
 
Father, who is above and over all, honored be your name. May YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done, in our lives and in our homes as it is in Heaven today.
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About the Author

Hi! I'm Wendy Gerdes and I live in Omaha, Nebraska with my family. John and I have been married for twenty years and we have three teens plus a twelve year old who keep us busy. I always say every stage is my favorite, but this stage really IS my favorite! On a quiet day, I can usually be found reading or writing. Hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are also favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us. When we begin to see his heart for us and towards us, it changes everything!

Connect with Wendy at her blog at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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