2/20/2022 0 Comments Listening for Obedience
We don’t want to be held accountable for something we didn’t know about, but we tend to hold our loved ones accountable all the time. We get the steps backward. We expect obedience before giving instruction, and listening before trust.
God doesn’t function that way. He gives us clear instructions, but the ball is in our court whether we listen to and obey those instructions. It’s mind-boggling to me how much grace and patience God has with us, and has had with His people throughout history. During the time of the Kings in ancient Israel, we read about king after king after king who did evil in the sight of the Lord. Not only did the kings do evil, but they led God’s people to do evil as well. Yet God continued to love and instruct them along the way. In 2 Kings 17, God exiled Israel to Assyria. Make no mistake - this was no spontaneous temper tantrum of a response from God (the way mine was over the dirty stove). 2 Kings 17: 7, 14 explain, "All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God...they would not listen...They did not trust in the Lord their God." The Israelites didn't trust in God; therefore, they would not listen to Him which resulted in disobedience and ultimately their exile. Do you find yourself frustrated by a repeated sin in your life? Try applying the principles from 2 Kings. First, trust in God. What does that look like practically? For me, trusting in God means refusing to fall into the trap of making plans and creating solutions for every “maybe” that pops up in my life. It means leaning into the vision that He has given me for my life and our family, and repeating the promises He has made when my faith falls short. Trusting in God even means that when life doesn’t look the way I expected it to look, I still thank God for His sovereignty. Second, listen to His Word. In order to listen to His Word, you have to be exposing yourself to it. Maybe that means joining a Rooted Moms small group and reading through the Bible with them. Maybe it means listening to the Bible in audio format while folding the laundry or loading the dishwasher. It might mean listening to a podcast or sermon in the car on the way to work, or doing a Bible study with your church family. When you’ve trusted and listened, obedience will follow. Do you trust God? Are you fully trusting that His plan for your life is better than your plans? Have you been listening to who God says you are in Him? Do you listen to the fact that you have the power to obey God? I’m grateful that God doesn’t expect us to obey Him without first trusting Him and then listening to His Word. Take some time this week to truly listen to what God is saying about you and to you, and let that deepen your trust in Him to a level you’ve never experienced.
Memory Verse: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
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2/13/2022 0 Comments Behold Your God
Suddenly, in chapter 40, the tone changes drastically from chastisement to comfort. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins,” God tells Isaiah (vs. 2). While these prophecies had not been fulfilled just yet, God was letting them know even their great wickedness could not deter His greater compassion— a Savior was coming for them. After His declaration of hope, God tells the prophet, “Say unto the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” (Is 40:9 NKJV) It’s such a short and simple declaration, it’s easy to miss all together. God is telling His people to shift their focus from themselves, back onto Him. The Israelites were a mess, no doubt about it; you and I are too. But beholding our own messes never leads to anything good. As a veteran Christian, I’ve spent a lot of time mulling over my many flaws and trying to fix them, but all my beholding and all my effort never led to any permanent change. Do you ever find yourself thinking What is wrong with me? Why can’t I get myself together? Are you frustrated that you keep walking the same messy circles? I think that there’s a big lesson in this mini three-word directive: Behold your God. It’s time we stop looking at everything wrong with ourselves, and start looking at everything right with Jesus. A funny thing happens when we turn our focus from our frailty to His perfections: without guilt, and without striving, we find ourselves changing... We behold His compassion, and we find ourselves becoming more patient with others. We behold His holiness, and we begin to desire to walk more like Him. We behold His goodness, and we become more joy-filled and less negative. How? Because as we spend time with Jesus and learn from Him, He is able to do what only He can do— change us from the inside out. I love what the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth— “And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) “This comes from the Lord...” Unlike the earthly messes we behold and then fix, we are utterly helpless to change our own hearts. Only Jesus can do that, so let’s allow Him. Make it a point to spend time with Jesus this week. Talk with Him, and get to know Him through His Word. There’s always more to see. Of all the people, projects, and problems vying for our attention, may we take time to behold the one who transforms us. Memory verse: “And we all, who 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.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
2/6/2022 0 Comments God Always Sends a Fish
The chorus says: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love. And the Lord is good to all, He has compassion on all that He has made.” Never in a million years did I ever expect the book of Jonah to remind me of this song. In my mind, they just did not correspond with each other.
Truth is, the story of Jonah is all about God’s compassion, not His punishment! Yes, Jonah ran away. We all do at times; we are human after all. But, God sent a fish. He always sends a fish! We can never run too far from His compassion. My counselor was my fish helping me see God’s compassion and helping me extend that same compassion to myself. Jonah Chapter 2 is Jonah’s cry of repentance. He called out to the Lord and the Lord answered. God had compassion on Jonah; He commanded the fish to spit him out back onto the dry land. God hears our cries and our prayers! He doesn’t look down on us in anger, He looks down with compassion. If you’re a parent, you likely know this feeling! Your child can be behaving horribly; talking back to you, not listening, throwing tantrums. You’re angry and frustrated and close to losing it, but then they look up at you and say, “I’m sorry, I love you, mamma…” Doesn’t your heart just break? You can’t help but experience great compassion for your child. God is the same way towards us. Jonah then goes to Nineveh as the Lord originally asked him. To his dismay, despite all the Ninevites’ evilness, God offered compassion to them as well. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.” (Jonah 3:10). Jonah just experienced God’s great compassion in the belly of the fish, yet he could not accept that God would have the same compassion on the Ninevites. He could not grant the compassion that God so graciously bestowed on him. How often do we experience the Lord’s compassion? Every single day. How can we then extend that same compassion to others and ourselves for that matter? We might think they are undeserving, but guess what? So are we! That’s the beauty of God’s grace and compassion. We are so undeserving and yet He still gives it freely. So let’s all freely accept His compassion and therefore, freely give compassion to those around us, too. Let’s show compassion to the mother and child who seem to be taking forever at the checkout; let’s extend compassion to the driver that just cut you off or the server that just spilled your coffee. Let us be people full of compassion.
Memory Verse: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9 NIV
1/30/2022 0 Comments Listen
He didn’t listen and took it upon himself to try to buckle himself into the booster seat. Just a few seconds later I heard what sounded like metal hitting glass. Sure enough he had let the seat belt buckle go and it slammed into the window, chipping it. In my anger, I told him, “If you would just listen, things wouldn’t get broken!”
As soon as those words came out of my mouth, I was reminded of all the times I have broken something because I didn’t listen. I specifically remember breaking my parents' trust when I was a teenager by going somewhere they had asked me not to go. As an adult I’ve lost friendships because we didn’t hear each other out. I hurt my husband when I don’t listen to him as we discuss important topics. I don’t think it's ever our intention to hurt others or break relationships. I think we just aren't listening. The book of Proverbs is well known for talking about wisdom but it seems that listening is the key to gaining that wisdom. In Proverbs 1:5, we see Solomon saying, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning.” Just a few verses down in verse 8, we see a father telling his son to listen to his instructions. In the very last chapter, Proverbs 31:2, we see King Lemuel tell his son “listen” three different times just in that one verse! For this word to be said so much in the book of Proverbs, it has to be important. God is like these men we see above asking their family and friends to listen. The difference is God is asking us to listen. Jesus even tells us in Matthew 7:24 that when we listen to his Word, we will be like a man who built his house on a rock. We will not be easily shaken. We could avoid a lot of brokenness if we just turn to God and listen to him. Friend, maybe you are going through something and are tempted to get advice from your friends, family members or even the internet. Instead, I urge you to turn to God, talk to him and listen. What does that look like? Maybe writing down your cares to Him or listening to worship music in a quiet room by yourself. For me, I sit down and pray that He will speak to me then I open my Bible in a quiet space and dive into His word. Our lives will reflect what we listen to. Leaning in and listening to God will make our relationship with Him stronger. When our relationship with Him is strong, that strength flows into the rest of our lives— even out to our other relationships, that can be restored by hearing God’s wisdom.
Memory Verse: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 NIV
1/23/2022 0 Comments The Gift of Generosity
But his mind was made up. God prompted his young heart with generosity, and I knew he was ready to give fully and freely with no holding back.
In 1 Kings 17, God instructed Elijah to go to a widow whom He had commanded to provide for him during the time of famine. The widow was very poor and had nothing to give. She was preparing her last meal for herself and her son, and then she was prepared to die. When she explained her situation to Elijah, he responded to her, “Do not fear” (1 King 17:13). Her situation was scary. Fear was the natural response. If she gave what she had, which was nearly nothing, she would surely die. When Elijah asked her for water and bread, we understand from her response that God had already prepared her heart for this interaction. We see from her obedience that God had worked in her heart as “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family” (1 Kings 17:15). God prepared her to be generous, just like he did with my son. The poor widow on the brink of death gave generously out of her faithfulness to God and His prompting of her heart, and the Lord multiplied her flour and oil. Do you ever feel a nudge to give generously but wonder if what you have to offer is not enough to make a difference or it would deplete your supply? Maybe it’s your time, or money, a gift, or talent. Sometimes we can look at the little we have and feel we must hold onto it in case we need it. What if we volunteer our time and run out of time for our family? What if we offer to sponsor a child in need and lose our job? Fear-based questions are natural. However, we don’t need to fear because God is the generosity generator. If God inspires our heart to give, we can trust Him to provide just like he did with the widow. The year after God nudged my son to give generously to the children in Haiti, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti. It was the direct result of my son’s moved heart that took us so far from home. We were able to see first-hand how small offerings, such as the one my son gave, impacted the lives in the community we visited in enormous ways. We offer what we have, and God does the rest. When our hearts are prompted, we can give fully and freely without holding back in fear. Friend, we can trust God will provide when He prompts our hearts because He is a generous Provider. Next time God prompts your heart, and you hear His still, small voice, listen and obey. Your faith will grow as you see God in action through your obedient generosity.
Memory Verse: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NIV
1/16/2022 0 Comments Baby Whisperer No More
My son was a good sleeper for the first three months, but that did not last long. He would only sleep while being held or in his car seat. I sought out all the experts: Instagram, Google, Amazon, and other mom friends. I was so focused on listening to the “specialists” that I was not listening to the Expert, God.
When Solomon asked God for wisdom and discernment, he believed God would grant him exactly what he needed to be a wise king. He could have asked for anything in the world, but instead he asked for knowledge and insight so that he could judge the people fairly and wisely. His trust in God led to some incredible revelations and rulings. Have you ever heard of a leader who suggested cutting a baby in half just so he could figure out who the real mother was? Solomon suggested that because he knew that God had given him the knowledge to be able to figure out which mother was lying. Without Solomon’s complete trust in God, he would have never been able to make the judgements that he did. Instead of asking God for wisdom, like Solomon, I was stressing over Oliver’s nap schedule. I realized that I needed to trust in God more than I was originally. I prayed and spoke with God; I apologized for not coming to him first. I opened up my heart, and determined to listen more. Then I remembered a verse we talked about in my Bible study, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). As soon as that verse popped into my head, I knew God was speaking to me. I had just told my husband that I thought God was never going to speak to me about Oliver’s nap time issues and then I heard that verse loud and clear. I was not holding onto that hope and faith that God would help me. I was not being like Solomon; I was turning to others to help me and not turning to the One who is with me and for me. After turning back to Him, I was able to focus on learning Oliver’s needs instead of what all the “specialists” were saying. God gave wisdom and instruction; I simply focused on obeying. With access to “specialists” at our fingertips, it can be hard to not hold what they say as gospel. There is only One who can give us true wisdom and discernment— God. Next time you are struggling with parenting or any life milestone, I implore you to go to Him first before any person or book. You will learn more by listening to the True Expert.
Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
1/9/2022 0 Comments The Good Shepherd
The more I ponder what David penned in this special psalm, the more I see a picture of salvation in it by a God who is fully engaged with us. Each verse leads you further into God’s plans and purposes. Each verse exposes His heart to save His people and to dwell with us.
We read the elements of Psalm 23 throughout the Old Testament. The Lord pursued Adam and Eve after they sinned. It was The Lord that led His people out of captivity and into the promised land. He was the cloud by day and fire by night. It was The Lord that repeatedly saved them from their numerous enemies, and taught them how to live obediently to remain in that blessed state of salvation. In the New Testament, we see the ultimate way God revealed Himself as a Shepherd ushering His sheep to salvation. Jesus (God wrapped in flesh) is The Good Shepherd in John 10, laying down His life for His sheep. He held fast to His Father’s words, ways and plans. He conquered the enemy and rose victoriously from the grave so that we could dwell in the safety of His care. Great is His faithfulness, for He is still shepherding us! “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21). God is still supplying everything we need to be saved, healed and delivered. He has always been the provider and always will be. Salvation is His gift to His people because He values us. He created us for a relationship with Him. He wants us to live life in His presence, fully becoming what He designed us to be. We were made to reflect Him in this world and He takes perfect care to make sure we are successful in that endeavor. Every word in Psalm 23 reveals who He wants to be for us through all of life. David saw it from the time he was a shepherd and all through his kingship, leaning into the fullness of relationship with Him. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through these beautiful verses of Psalm 23. No matter what life has thrown at you, He is enough to save, heal and deliver you. To Him, you are completely worth it, so much so that He gave up His life for you. That, my friends, is love. And isn’t it what we all truly long for? To be known fully and loved fully? The Good Shepherd is the only One who can fulfill us and usher us into a place where we lack nothing. He is enough.
Memory Verse: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1 NIV
1/2/2022 0 Comments A Peace of Mind
Pride causes resentful feelings to flood into our hearts. Jealousy, insecurity, anger, and bitterness will eat away at us until we are empty. We don’t have to let it though. David shows us there is another option.
David was continuously in prayer. He prioritized what God thought and knew Saul was God’s anointed one. Faithfully trusting the battle was the Lord’s, he turned down the opportunity to kill Saul. He loved Saul. David wrote a song in honor of him after his passing. David was considered a man after God’s own heart. We see why, because Jesus called us to treat our enemies, the way David treated Saul: “‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:43-45). Debbie Burns, a woman dear to my heart, always has something profound to share with our Rooted Mom’s group. One Monday night she gave us a little piece of wisdom I will keep with me forever. It is so good, it almost felt like a secret. “Pray for God to let you see your enemies how he sees them.” WOW. What a David mentality. Why give a piece of your mind when God can give you peace of mind? There is power in praying for our enemies. One of Satan's greatest lies is that hate is more powerful than love. When we give into our worldly feelings (revenge, hateful words, spiteful actions), we give our energy to the enemy; the one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (Jn 10:10). Satan wants to instill fear and hate in your heart to kill your faith. He will steal any joy you have and replace it with insecurity. He will destroy you by leading you astray from God, the one who sustains you. God will give you the strength to overcome the temptation of seeking revenge and wisdom to know the battle is His. He will provide you with the strength to love ones who hurt you and wisdom in knowing who the real enemy is. Prayer is our greatest defense against any troubles the world brings because it connects us with the Prince of Peace. Today be assured your Father in Heaven sees and hears you! Give your energy to Him and you will be showered with His peace.
Memory Verse: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
This happened several years ago, when our family faced a financial crisis and each new bill caused an immediate rise in my blood pressure. We owned a rental property on the other side of the country, and our renters abandoned the home with no warning. As regular bills accumulated, so did debt for damage they left behind.
I wanted to cut our losses and sell the property, but as it sat on the market, it became obvious that it wasn’t God’s timing. Despite my pleas asking Him to release this burden, we eventually had to rent again. If we look at the life of David, we see someone who waited for God’s timing too. Although anointed king as a boy, years passed before he took the throne. These years weren’t tranquil either, but a time where David was pursued by a king who wanted to kill him. I imagine David questioned God’s timing too. As a matter of fact, a look at the Psalms shows us he did, on more than one occasion. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) Psalm 13 is just one example of a theme we see throughout these songs David wrote, often during times of distress. However, David doesn’t stay in this mindset. After pouring out his heart, we see a shift. We see an intentional decision to trust God, and recognize He is sovereign even in the wait. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5 NIV) Seasons of waiting give you the opportunity to shift your focus from deliverance to the Deliverer. David’s life was a reflection of this recognition as well. When pursued by King Saul, he had more than one opportunity to kill him. But instead of taking matters into his own hands, he waited. His actions acknowledged that vindication belonged to the Lord, and he knew God would give the throne to him in his timing. As for our situation with the rental house, God released that burden in his timing also. Eventually, the market soared and we were able to sell the property for much more than we would have if I’d had my way. I realized the waiting wasn’t wasted time, but a season God used to draw us into a deeper trust in Him. If you’re in a season of waiting right now, remember God hasn’t abandoned you. He is still working in the midst of the unknown. But instead of trusting in the answer, He wants us to trust Him. Shift your focus from the answer you can’t yet see to the One who sees your story from beginning to end. He will transform your heart in the wait. Bring your worry to him today, and allow the seasons of waiting to move your attention from the rescue to the Rescuer.
Memory Verse: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” Psalm 13:5 NIV
12/19/2021 0 Comments God Hears
My three year-old daughter was a blessing and pure joy as she cheerfully filled our house with singing, good-natured preschool mischief, lots of warm hugs and sloppy kisses. She was growing into a bright and precocious child who filled my days with activity and my heart with love. Amidst the fulfillment I experienced nurturing her, a void was present deep in my mother’s heart. I knew someone was missing in our family. I had prayed fervently for a new baby for the past couple years.
After church the following Sunday, I parked in the garage while my husband and daughter went into the house to prepare lunch. I had no appetite. I opened my Bible to 1 Samuel and I started to pray and weep as I read Hannah’s story. My tears mixed with Hannah’s as she struggled with the overt slights from Peninnah and I struggled with the blessings of my more fertile friends. In 1 Samuel 1, we read that God blessed Peninnah and Elkanah with children long before Hannah’s womb opened to conceive Samuel. Samuel’s arrival was no accident. He was the child of ardent prayer as Hannah cried out to God in such a way that Eli, the priest, thought she had been drinking too much wine. Her anguish and bitter tears reached the ears of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies with a promise to return the child to God’s service for his entire lifetime if she could conceive and carry him under her heart for a short time. God heard Hannah’s cry, then gave Eli a message for Hannah that her request for a baby would be granted. Strengthened by Hannah’s example to plead with the Lord openly, the very next Sunday I followed suit. During the service I went to the altar and prayed for another child. Our worship pastor prayed with my husband and me. After a few minutes our pastor looked at me and assured me that the Lord had heard my cry and I could expect God to answer my prayers. With this affirmation, I imagined how Hannah must have felt when Eli said something similar to her. Have you ever felt certain that your bold act of vulnerability was heard and kept safe by God? I have. About a year later, we gathered to dedicate our infant son’s tiny new life to the Lord. Have you ever longed desperately for someone to be part of your life? Perhaps you feel the desire for a child, a close friend, or a spouse to be in your life. Hannah’s story shows us that making ourselves vulnerable before God is the safest place to share our most desperate cries. Cry out! Share your desire with the One who already knows your deepest hopes and dreams. Trust Him with your longings and know that He is listening!
Memory verse: “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” 2 Samuel 22:7 NIV
12/12/2021 0 Comments Exceedingly More
And, of course, this particular book addressed the root of the ick. I read and studied and prayed, devouring His Word and this anointed teaching, all the while feeling myself being drawn back into that secret place. The place where Jesus meets us so often, reigniting the doused flame and reaffirming our path to victory over our battle at hand.
I regained my joy, my peace, and my general sense of self, but I gained it in GREATER abundance. My laugh was genuine, my smile was a constant, my peace was wonderfully infectious, and my desire to be a living, breathing example of our Deliverer burned hotter than ever before. I cried out for deliverance and He gave me more - He gave me the best version of myself, the version of myself that exists only in Him. So, regardless of the current placement, timing, or general circumstances, He always answers, and does so with grandeur - doing, being, and giving the petitions of our hearts, but doing so exceedingly and abundantly above any perceivable possibilities. Always doing it in a way that only He can, for HIS glory. In Judges 6 and 7, the Israelites had once more done evil in the sight of the Lord and were given into the hands of the Midianites, living impoverished and ransacked, to the point where they could only cry out to the Lord for help. While Gideon was threshing wheat, his daily work, the Angel of the Lord approached him with an answer to the Israelites’ cries - an answer that I’m certain was exceedingly above what Gideon, or any of the Israelites, had envisioned. The Angel, anointing him with the power and might of God, relayed to him the charge from the Lord to lead the Israelites in battle to defeat their oppressors. But, he could only do it with 300 men. 300 men against the vast Midianite army. Almost laughable odds. But friends, how many times has the Lord defied all the odds, answered your cries, or delivered to you the very desires of your heart in a way that only He could, with and by the means that only He can provide? How many times has He done MORE than what we ask? With only 300 men, the Midianites were defeated. With old age, new life was created (Genesis 15). In the wake of a mighty sea, waters were parted (Ex. 14:21). With faith the size of a mustard seed, mountains move (Luke 17:6). And with a single desperate plea, in an ordinary moment, He delivered me. So, friends, do not grow weary in presenting your hearts before the Lord. Do not grow weary in listening for and heeding the answers He gives. Persevere in faith, with wholly expectation, because when He does answer, He’ll do it in the way that only He can— giving, doing, and being exceedingly more than we can begin to imagine.
Memory Verse: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
12/5/2021 0 Comments When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense
I wanted it so badly; my heart ached. I would often cry out in despair and pray for a spouse. I’d read stories about how women prayed for their husbands and the exact right guy magically came into their lives. I’d even tried online dating at different times. I went on a couple of dates but didn’t meet anyone I wanted to be with long term.
One Sunday at church, I was fed up with dating. I was coming to terms with being on my own, but I was struggling because marriage was something I desperately wanted and felt like God wanted for me too. A friend of mine was preaching that morning; we discussed his sermon the day before actually. I honestly can’t tell you exactly what his message was about anymore, but near the end he called forward anyone who wanted prayer for something specific. I am not usually one to go up for altar calls. I don’t like attention being drawn to me or people trying to figure out why I’m going up, but I was compelled to respond that day. I prayed and sensed God nudging me to try online dating one more time. I was jaded, but I listened… two weeks later I met my husband. If God makes a promise, He will make it happen. All we need to do is walk step by step in obedience. We see this in the story of Jericho this week. The Israelites were told to walk around Jericho for seven days. Then on the seventh day, they were to blow their trumpets. What kind of a plan is that? They probably felt confused and maybe even a little bit upset by what God was asking them to do. I would be embarrassed even just walking around the city every day. What was God doing? But Joshua and Israel were obedient and God gave the city into their hands. Once I let go of the plans I had for my own life and obeyed Him, He brought my husband into my life. He has always been faithful (just take a look back at your own life and see). He does not change just as Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Sometimes the steps of obedience God asks of us don’t make any sense to us at the time. He may be asking you to quit your job and take a lower-paying one. Maybe He’s prompting you to move to a new city where you don’t know anyone. Or maybe He’s just asking you to invite that lady you met on the bus over for coffee. God’s plans won’t always make sense, but we can trust and obey knowing God always keeps His promises. That step you are taking right now might be your first step of obedience to God’s plan.
Memory Verse: “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
11/28/2021 0 Comments Craving Eden, Choosing Egypt
Kiawah is what I’m reminded of when I read God’s description of the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 11. Through Moses, God tells the people of Israel that the land they’re about to enter into isn’t anything like the land they just came out of (Egypt). Instead of laboring to produce everything themselves, He would provide for their every need. Their job was simply to trust God and put Him first.
It didn’t take long for the people to fail on their end of the bargain. Time and time again we see the Israelites trust in their ability, their “truths,” and their ways. The penalty for their self-reliance was a curse on their land. The reality of the Israelite’s “freedom” ended up being far from the abundant life God intended for them. If God’s plan for the Promised Land seems eerily familiar, it’s because it was modeled after Eden. Eden was where Adam and Eve had an unbroken relationship with God, and He provided for them. Distrust led Adam and Eve to sin, and a curse was placed on all mankind. Now man would have to strive to produce what once was freely given... and that included righteousness. This is the curse we are all born into, whether we like it or not.. However, Eden has always been God’s intention. Jesus made a way for us, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...” (Gal. 3:13). However, Jesus didn’t just pay the price for our righteousness— He paid the price to restore us to the Promised Land of abundant life. In Him, our souls can prosper with joy, peace, and fulfillment. From birth, our souls crave Eden. That’s why we revel in carefree days like I experienced at Kiawah. However, we live in the constant tension between the desires of our flesh and spirit, but the problem is we keep wandering back to Egypt... Instead of trusting Him for our righteousness, we try to earn it with perfection. Instead of trusting His wisdom, we rely on our own understanding. Instead of trusting Him for provision, we wear ourselves out working. Are you tired of striving? Do you long for the lightness and simplicity of the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10? Me too, friend. The good news is we don’t have to wait until “one day” in heaven— abundant life is here and now. Culture tells us “nothing comes for free,” but the Kingdom of God is upside-down. Eden can’t be earned. We experience abundant life not by trying harder, but by turning from our self-reliance and simply trusting our all-sufficient God. Trust is simple, but it isn’t easy. It’s like a muscle that we have to develop day by day. We strengthen that muscle by repeating the cycle of spending time with Him, listening, and obeying. Talk to God and take inventory of your life— identify any areas where you’re striving instead of surrendering. The Israelites got it wrong. We will too sometimes. But through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to live life in the Promised Land simply by trusting in Him.
Memory verse: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 NIV
11/21/2021 0 Comments Merry-Go-Round
I wonder if this is how Moses felt as the leader of Israel. Every step he took forward was met with grumbling and resistance. Having only their own understanding to draw on, whenever a challenge was presented and God’s provision was not what they thought it should be, they responded out of a pattern of fear and complaint. In the end, this way of thinking led to 40 years of merry-go-round-like roaming, without destination, in the desert.
Even Moses had his moment of acting rashly. Drawing from his own experience, he disobeyed God when he struck the rock for water instead of speaking to it. Momentarily, his heart returned to his earlier days in Egypt when he murdered the Egyptian for beating an Israelite. In his rage, Moses put his trust in his own actions, not God’s instructions. The pull to remain on the merry-go-round of self-reliance is strong, but stronger still is the power of the One who frees us. Although self-sufficient thinking is praised in our society, God wants us to be dependent on Him. It seems that from the dawn of creation the one thing He desires most is our hearts in close relationship with Him; trusting His methods, committed to obedience, and receiving His blessings. Isn’t that just like a parent? He knows what we do not, and if we live our life based on our own understanding, I believe, like Israel, we often end up forfeiting the abundant life God promised to us, dooming us to a life of wandering and feeling trapped, spinning on the merry-go-round of habit with “if only”’s swirling through our minds. How do we exit? What will stop the spinning? Can we get off the merry-go-round and break these cyclical patterns? What was powerful for Israel and in my life as well? A decision followed by action. Stepping off my current path and onto God’s, every time life begins to spin. Choosing not to hold to the ways we set in our hearts is an intense fight. And when we lose, when we choose our own ways over God’s, we may find ourselves feeling defeated. But three things are encouraging even still:
So, here is the hard question. Are you able to trust what God says enough to take the leap from your own merry-go-round? It will be uncomfortable, come with a bit of uncertainty and might have kind of a rough landing, but freedom from spinning is worth it. Every. Single. Time. So friend, let’s leap from our own merry-go-rounds into the steady arms of God our Father and trust His plans for our lives.
Memory Verse: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV
11/14/2021 0 Comments Obedience That Doesn’t Make Sense
I tend to want to serve God in ways that would bless me if I were Him, maybe you do, too. But we are not Him. Our thoughts aren’t His thoughts, and our ways are definitely not His ways.
In reading Exodus 40 and the detailed account of what God desired in the tabernacle’s construction, I’m sure it didn’t all make sense to Moses. Building and setting up the lampstand, altar, courtyard, and other utensils required huge amounts of time, resources and attention to detail. Moses carried out all of these commands, including hanging the massive, ornate curtain that would shield God’s presence from the people. Through faithful obedience, he unknowingly constructed an earthly picture of the throne room of heaven. Hanging a curtain that would one day be torn in two was not a waste of Moses’ time or material, it was preparation for heaven’s grand declaration of love to humanity through the cross. Moses obediently hung a curtain that Jesus would obediently tear in two. Keeping the commands of God with this kind of trust and surrender is how we declare to God our love for Him. It’s a physical representation of our faith in His sovereignty, goodness, and promises. Following instructions we understand requires logic, but following instructions we don’t understand requires faith. God isn’t pleased when we carry out our own ideas of what His plan for us should be. He simply asks us to do what He says. When we trust Him over our own understanding, it blesses Him and deepens our relationship with Him. Turns out, it wasn’t a photo backdrop God was after, it was His daughter’s heart. He desired her willingness to construct it just because He asked her to. And Him revealing more of who He is to me made the experience more than worth it. If you’re facing a task today that has you scratching your head, be encouraged. We may not understand the assignment, but obediently doing the work needed to finish it will surely result in a deeper understanding of our loving Instructor. He isn’t after what we can do for Him, He is after our hearts.
Memory Verse: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21 NIV
11/7/2021 0 Comments Equipped to Serve
I wonder how many times the Israelites asked themselves that very type of question. How in the world did we end up here? This desert wasteland is a far cry from the Egyptian cities our families have lived in for generations. Building this tabernacle for our God is a far cry from being forced to make bricks in the hot sun for our Egyptian oppressors.
But wait. Are the location pins on the map of my life really all that disconnected? Or am I right where God intended for me to be, fully equipped for what He is asking of me at this moment? When we read through Exodus chapters 26-36, we watch as God’s vision for the Tabernacle and the roles of His people emerge. Yards and yards of beautiful curtains are woven by skilled workers. Tons of wood are cut, crafted, chiseled, and honed into support frameworks and exquisite altars. Dozens of tools and pieces are hammered from bronze and gold. Have you ever wondered where all of that talent came from? God. He used the Israelites’ time under oppression to build the skills they would need in the future. God equips His people with exactly the gifts needed to bring glory and honor to Himself. In chapters 35 and 36, we watch as the whole Israelite community is invited to bring an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting. In just nine short verses, the phrase those “who were willing” is repeated four times. Why does that matter? I think scripture is reminding us that God has gifted and equipped us all, but that we must be willing to use those gifts and resources. He doesn’t force us, but He gives us the choice of keeping the gifts for ourselves or giving them back to Him. On really hard days, I wonder what my life would look like if my family had not said “yes” when God asked us to move to another country. I wouldn’t wake up each morning to breathtaking sunrises over the water. I probably would have fewer bug bites than I do right now. Most importantly, I wouldn’t have made the relationships I have here - relationships that give me the opportunity to share Jesus with people who may have never heard His name outside of the context of a swear word. Could God still have used me even if we had said, “no”? Yes, I believe so. However, He can use me so much more when I have a willing heart. God has equipped you with gifts, skills, and talents that can be used to bring glory to Himself. Do you know what they are? If not, take some time to learn your spiritual gifts. Take a spiritual gifts assessment or talk with a mentor about it. If you are aware of how He has equipped you, are you currently using them for Him? Or only for yourself? Spend some time in prayer this week asking God to show you where He is calling you to serve Him.
Memory Verse: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
After decades of wandering the wilderness with grumbling Israelites, I’m sure Moses was tired, angry, and just maybe losing hope of the promised land. I sympathize with Moses; I, too, have grumbling people in my life that ask for endless snacks and drinks all day! But I also relate to the Israelites. I bring my grumbling to God often. “Are we there yet, God?” I question. But I’m so thankful for his mercy towards me. And I am also thankful for His correction, even when it interrupts my pity party, for the Lord corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:12).
Moses was close to entering the Promised Land after years of wandering in the wilderness. Yet we read his disobedience prohibits Him from the land of milk and honey. However, at the end of his life, he tells the Israelites to keep their hearts pure and stop being stubborn towards God. Moses and the rock illustrates that I can’t give up and go my own way, even when it feels good at the moment. Obedience and surrender are required of me all the time, not just when I feel like it. Yep, I have to surrender even when I feel stubborn! And, yes, some weeks it’s very hard to surrender my heart. But the Father helps us work out that frustration by providing His Holy Spirit to help. A surrendered heart produces a sanctified life. Sanctification is the process of becoming set apart - to be refined and purified. And we can’t go deeper with God or mature as believers until we surrender our hearts to Him. We can rest assured that every time we choose to surrender our hearts and minds, we not only go deeper in our faith, but receive the fullness of joy from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Do you find yourself being stubborn to the Lord’s loving correction in your life? Maybe you’re just plain tired and need some encouragement to surrender your heart to God. Here's the thing we must remember as believers: even in the midst of very valid anger, exhaustion, we must surrender our hearts. We don't want anger to lead to sin (Ephesians 4:26). The only way to keep our hearts open to God is to surrender over and over again, even when we are tired of wandering in the wilderness. Moses' example shows us that we have to keep following God's commands, even when we are weary from the journey of life. Next time you are feeling a little stubborn about the process of sanctification, I invite you to open your heart to God the Father. Perhaps our prayer of surrender might sound something like this: "God, I am feeling very stubborn right now. I need your Holy Spirit to help me surrender. You are good, and your ways are always good. Amen!”
Memory Verse: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV
10/24/2021 0 Comments A Pliable Heart
As I was reading about the plagues this time (I have read and heard this story so many times), God showed me something new. Don’t you just love how He can continually show us new things about a passage we may have read so many times?! I started thinking How often do I do the same thing as Pharaoh? Do I live in that same repetitive cycle? Do I find myself refusing to change?
I started thinking about how I’ve often found myself in a hard place and have prayed to God and said if you will just ___________, I will ______________. God would follow through with His end of the bargain, but often I would just continue on living just like I was before. I might change for a short minute, but would often revert back to my old ways. Maybe I didn’t have that hardened heart like Pharaoh, but I certainly didn’t have a very pliable heart. However, Pharaoh never prayed to God himself; he asked Moses to do it instead. Pharaoh didn’t know God personally. He knew of Him, but didn’t believe in Him and His powers. But the real difference for us as believers is that unlike Pharaoh and the Israelites, we have the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. Before Jesus went back to heaven He told the disciples He would send the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit helps us keep our hearts pliable. The Holy Spirit whispers in our hearts the things we have been taught before and encourages us to get back on the path we have been called. Sometimes it’s easy to look at people in the Bible and think why did it take you so long to figure it out when in reality, if I just look in the mirror, I would see someone else that often takes too long to figure things out. I often have to learn the same lesson over and over. Thank goodness God doesn’t give up on me!
Memory Verse: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 NIV
10/17/2021 0 Comments Never Enough
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
10/10/2021 0 Comments God’s Timeline, Not Mine
As for me, I fought God hard for a while. I was in a serious relationship that I thought was amazing but from the outside everyone could see how toxic it was. I was adamant about my dreams to the point of blindness. I was not trusting God; I was trying to forge my own, “better” path. Looking back now, I see what everyone else saw. The fighting, the jealousy, the control— that was not love. That was not the person God had for me.
My 22nd birthday came and went, and I was no closer to being a mom; I saw my dreams moving farther and farther away from me and I was upset with God. Like Joseph, in this week’s reading, I waited. Unlike Joseph, I struggled to trust God’s plan. Joseph was locked in a dungeon for two years, yet he did not lose faith in God’s plan for him. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Easier said than done, right? It’s hard to trust in a plan you cannot see, until you realize it’s in the hands of a perfect, loving God. Thankfully, even when we struggle to trust, God is still working out His perfect plan for us. I waited two more years for the man God had for me. My road to motherhood was not easy, either. It was met with hardship and sadness, but God knew exactly when we would need our son. He knew that 2020 would be a tough year, and he provided us with a bright spot— our son was born in the middle of a pandemic. We may not have gotten the pregnancy or birth we imagined, but we did get our beautiful son and we thank God for him every day. Like Joseph, we trusted in God; we leaned into God and learned that His timing is perfect, and His ways are good. Joseph’s undying trust in God’s plan saved an entire nation. Imagine if he had chosen to give up on God’s plan and make his own way. It is hard to keep that faith when the enemy is trying to pull us down, but learning scripture and speaking it over our situations is one way we can fight doubt. When I am struggling to trust, I think about Proverbs 3:5, and remember that God is completely trustworthy. Think of a Bible verse that reminds you to trust in God and put it up on your bathroom mirror, your phone, or on the fridge. Seeing that verse when you face trials, will help you remember how perfect God’s timing actually is. More perfect than our own timing.
Memory Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
The life I had been living did not reflect God. I made lots of mistakes, and there were many consequences. Don't get it twisted though, Kori (my daughter), was neither of those things. God made Kori. God does not make mistakes.
One of my waitressing friends invited me to a Bible study. The people who were in my Bible study came from all different backgrounds. One, in particular, was a former alcoholic. He was the one who led me to Jesus. I was baptized in the river behind his house. He lived just five minutes down the street from my mom's house. God used my sin and blessed me with Kori. He moved me right where he wanted me. He used this man, despite his former sin, to be a messenger. All because God wanted a relationship with me. I can't type that sentence without being in a state of awe. God's will is perfect, even when He uses imperfect people. Isaac's family, just like me, was full of sin, but do you remember God changed Jacob’s name to Israel? His family would be God’s children: The Israelites. God already knew the drama that was going to unfold in Isaac's family before Jacob and Esau were even born: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). Rebekah and Jacob still went to great lengths to make sure Jacob received Isaac's blessing over Esau. Why? God had already promised this! Why did they come up with their own plan when God already had one? They lacked faith. Then we have Isaac, who also tried to make his own plan, but when it failed, why couldn't he just give Esau a blessing too? I think Isaac may have realized at this point that when God has a will, it will be done. Isaac could have blessed Esau repeatedly, but if something isn't blessed by God, it's not going to happen. Every family member in this story had their own agenda, and none of it was focused on God's kingdom. Each of them, fearful things would not turn out the way they had planned, sinned against God. Have you, like me, made this same mistake of ignoring God's guidance to follow the desires of your flesh? When you are scared, stressed, angry, depressed, anxious, grieving, whatever it may be, do not make plans based on selfish worldly desires. God may not give everything your fleshly heart desires and He did not come to fix everything in your life. He came to fix your heart, so you would live life with and for Him. That is His plan. Seek and ask Him to reveal His plan for you and trust that it is better than your own.
Memory verse: "’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
9/26/2021 0 Comments The God Who Sees You
When I read the story of Hagar and Ishmael, I think of the times I wanted to hide from God because of my own sin and shame. In Genesis 16, we read about how Sarai was impatient with God’s timing and took matters into her own hands. Sarai hatched a plan to speed up the process of having a child by way of her Egyptian maid-servant, and Abram agreed. But when Hagar became pregnant, Sarai mistreated her. Hagar ran away from Sarai, stopping at a spring in the desert. Here is where we see God’s great compassion displayed for a woman who was mistreated, “in misery” (v. 11), and on the run.
After the angel of the Lord meets the woman by the spring, he tells her to go back to her mistress and submit to her. He then gives her a promise for the future of her descendants (v. 10). Hagar responds to the Lord by saying, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Gen. 16:13). And the spring or well in the desert was called Beer Lahai Roi, which means "the well of him that liveth and seeth me.” In God’s great mercy towards Hagar, he stopped her at the well. If she would have kept on running away, she may have faced danger on the run, or remained stuck in a cycle of shame. But God saw her, stopped her, and spoke to her. God had a plan even in the middle of the mess and misery. Maybe you can relate to my examples of condemnation at the kitchen sink. Perhaps you’ve even felt the sting of shame today. Let me encourage you that those accusations coming against us are not from God. Out of the blue accusations are from the adversary - the “accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:9-10). We must remember that condemnation is from the enemy; loving correction comes from God. And the more we read God’s word and learn about His compassion, the easier it is to identify these attacks and combat them. Hagar’s encounter with the angel of the Lord gives us an example for how God deals with us. Firstly, He meets us in the wilderness- in the wandering of our own hearts. Yes, the “God who sees us” meets directly with us in the middle of our sin and shame. Secondly, he speaks to our situation, and through his Word, he offers hope and life. Lastly, he sees our hearts and calls us by name. He knows everything about us because he created us and knows our future. So, the next time the enemy tries to shame you, remember that your God knows you, speaks to you, and calls you by name. Your God forgives you and does not accuse you. Yes, Your God is the one who sees and loves you! Rest in his abounding love for you today.
Memory Verse: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever.” Psalm 103:8-9 NIV
9/19/2021 0 Comments Never Forsaken
In two short chapters we watch Job’s life fall apart— his family, his wealth, and his health. Job wrestled to reconcile God’s justice with his own personal suffering, because it’s clear he had done nothing wrong. We read in Job 1:8 that Job was “a man of perfect integrity, who [feared] God.” Job’s story challenges Western ideas that are basically “Christian karma”— that if we’re good, God will be good to us, and if we’re experiencing suffering it’s because of something wrong we did.
The mental anguish revealed in the subsequent dialogue is not grief over loss of Job’s possessions, rather grief over his perceived abandonment by God. The ironic thing is, in his wrestling, Job was closer to Yahweh than He had ever been before. The hard truth is God allows suffering for His purposes. We see no better example of this than in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus— the Suffering Servant. Jesus told his disciples about the necessary suffering He would endure for our ultimate good yet, in their finite minds, they could not grasp the big picture. However, Jesus willingly took the cup of the Father’s wrath to satisfy the merited penalty for our sins. There on the cross, He experienced the unimaginable grief of actual abandonment, as His holy Father turned His back on Him. Jesus was forsaken by God so you and I wouldn’t have to be. Even on our darkest days, we have this hope: nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:39). Friend, what suffering are you enduring right now? A heath diagnosis? A financial crisis? The death of a loved one or loss of a relationship? Like Job, are you sitting in the dust of despair? In our finite minds, we cannot grasp the big picture of what God is doing. Regardless, we can choose to rest in the truth that He is unchanging and unfailing. God is still good. God is still present. God is still working for your good and His glory in every situation. Looking back I can see that God was with me, even in the ashes of my parents’ divorce. He has been with me through many more suffering since, and He will be with me in the sufferings to come. The same is true for you— He never leaves us nor forsakes us. And, unlike Job’s condemning friends, He comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3). God does not despise our wrestling, but in the end He desires our trust. We won’t always understand God’s ways, but we can willingly submit like Jesus did— saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
Memory verse: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV
9/12/2021 0 Comments Out With the Old
Consider what God may have been feeling just prior to the flood. How crushing man’s sinful ways would have been to Him.
In the first few chapters of Genesis, God goes from creating the world and saying it was good, very good, to regretting and changing His actions from creation to destruction. OUCH. I wonder if Noah ever questioned God’s decision, perhaps thinking, “Is it really necessary to start over?” Noah knew God was going to spare his family but even so, it must have been pretty scary for him as the waters burst forth from the deep and rain fell from the heavens causing the ark to tilt and groan until it was lifted from the ground. The sound alone would have been terrifying, yet they made it safely through the storm to dry ground where the ark passengers began the task of repopulating the earth. It is hard for me to comprehend how a creator would choose to destroy his own creation. Why would God destroy what He had previously blessed? We don’t have the capacity to understand the mind of God, and friend, it is important not to get stuck here insisting on answers, lest we become guilty of pride, demanding God be accountable to our desires and solutions. God is all-knowing. He is all-powerful. And, what makes this beautiful is our loving Father always has been and always will be a promise keeper. He promised, in the form of warning, that eating fruit from the tree of Knowledge would bring death. He promised Noah He would spare His family and the animals on the ark while destroying everything else that drew breath; He promised that He would never again flood the entire earth. And, He has held true to His word. God’s ways of accomplishing His purpose are out of our comprehension. But, we can trust that when we obey and are surrendered to Him, there is always something new, something next, something good. For God is our loving creator and, just as my daughter cared for her drawings, He put detailed thought into every stroke of His creation, including you. After she saw I threw out her pictures, my daughter got more paper, a marker and went to work. Having learned from her previous hours spent at the drawing board, her new round of drawings were even better than the last. The new beginnings God has for us are not always smooth and often come in the wake of loss. Still, we can have faith that God always makes a way forward. Through death, depression, joblessness, anxiety, and fear while lost in the wilderness of life, God is with you, directing your steps. Is there an area in your life where you don’t understand how God is at work? Ask Him to show you your next step forward as you continue to trust in His promises.
Memory Verse: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
9/5/2021 0 Comments The Final Chapter
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.
Memory Verse: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
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Devotionals by AuthorAll Abby McDonald Alexa Gearhart Angi Morrison Anna Bearden Anne Say Audra Powers Breanna Faith Spearman Brenna Kurz Brittany Marlow Caroline Hultgren Courtney Filippin Dana Schaefer Danielle Biddy Debbie Burns Heather Kenny Jannetta Cox Jessica Parker Jess Ridgeway Joan Lavori Katelyn Wilson Katie Gibson Kelly Orlowski Kerri Barfield Keryn Stokes Kristen Williamson Laura Pendley Lindsay McNeely Lonette Baity Martha Rudolph Nancy Ehlinger Renee Robinson Saretta Wells Tara McGill Taylor Watkins Tierney Nashleanas Wendy Gerdes |