Lindsey, Author at Do Not Depart

About Lindsey

Lindsey Bell is the author of Unbeaten and Searching for Sanity. She’s also a stay-at-home mother of two, minister’s wife, avid reader, and lover of all things chocolate. Connect with her online at www.lindseymbell.com.

Lessons We Can Learn from New Testament Writers – Matthew

May 9, 2017 by Lindsey Leave a Comment

Have you ever felt completely humbled by something God called you to do? Have you ever felt like you were undeserving or unworthy of a task He gave you?

My guess is, Matthew probably felt like that a time or two.

Matthew is the writer of the biblical book that goes by his name. But, before he became the writer of the first book in our New Testament, he was a despised tax collector.

In that time period, the Romans appointed people to collect taxes from citizens. Matthew was a Jewish man appointed to collect taxes from his fellow Jews.

Tax collectors were expected to take a commission from the taxes, but many of them collected more money than necessary. Tax collectors like Matthew were therefore hated by the Jewish people. They were not only supporting Rome, but were also likely stealing from their fellow Jews.

Nonetheless, this man – this Jewish tax collector who was hated by his neighbors – was chosen by Jesus to become one of His 12 disciples.

In Matthew 9:9-12, Matthew records how it happened:

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’

Matthew gave up a lot that day when he followed Jesus. He gave up a lucrative career that he could probably never return to. Many of the other disciples could have returned to their professions later on if they chose to. Matthew didn’t have that luxury.

Even still, he gave up his career and followed Jesus.

The transformation in Matthew is astounding.

Once a hated tax collector – Then a disciple of Jesus
Once a sinner – Then forgiven
Once a man with a reputation for cheating and stealing – Then a man used by God to write the first book in our New Testament

God can do amazing things with people who have shady pasts, can’t He?

God used Matthew’s attention to detail (that he likely learned as a tax collector) to help him record the details of Jesus’ life in the first book of our New Testament.

Here are some important facts about the book and person of Matthew.

Facts About Matthew, the Book and the Person:

Matthew was once a despised tax-collector, but then became one of Jesus’ 12 disciples and the writer of the first book of the New Testament.
Matthew was also known as Levi.
Matthew wrote his book especially for the Jewish people.
The book of Matthew connected the Old and New Testaments by proving how Jesus fulfilled prophecies.
The book of Matthew is full of Old Testament references (53 quotes and 76 other references, according to the NIV Life Application Study Bible).

Lessons from Matthew’s Life:

God will use anyone – no matter his or her past – if they’re willing to be used by Him.
Our gifts and talents (like Matthew’s attention to detail) can be used for the good of the Kingdom if we’re willing to give them to God.
Radical transformation is possible!
Jesus is worth the cost. Matthew gave up a lot when he chose to follow Jesus, but I think he would tell us today it was absolutely worth it. Following Jesus is always worth the cost!

What other lessons have you learned from Matthew (the man or the book)?

God can do amazing things with people who have shady pasts…And other lessons from #NewTestamentWriters

Click To Tweet

We can learn a lot from#NewTestamentWriters Here are some lessons from Matthew via @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

5 Reasons We Need Friends

April 11, 2017 by Lindsey 3 Comments

As an introvert, it’s easy for me at times to neglect my friends.

Don’t get me wrong. I love them. I love spending time with them and chatting a morning away.

But I don’t initiate well. Because I’m okay (and actually need) to spend time by myself, I sometimes fail to plan time with friends.

Can you relate?

Maybe you too are an introvert and struggle to initiate with your friends. (If this is you, check out Ali’s post from last week! It has some great tips!)

Or, maybe you don’t spend time with your friends because your schedule is packed full and the thought of adding another thing to your already full plate overwhelms you.

Or, maybe you battle insecurity and don’t really think anyone would want to spend time with you anyway.

There are a variety of reasons we might fail to invest in friendships. Regardless of our reasoning, though, the truth is that we need friends.

Here are a few reasons why.

5 Reasons We Need Friends:

1. Friends can help us become better people.

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) says it well: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” When we surround ourselves with godly friends, they can “sharpen” us and help us draw nearer to the Father.

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) says it this way:”Walk with the wise and become wise…”

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. If we surround ourselves with friends who aren’t godly, we will often be misled ourselves. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) says, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

2. Women understand other women, and men understand other men.

My husband is a great listener. But at times, he doesn’t (and can’t) understand exactly how I feel.

I married a man, so I shouldn’t expect him to think like a woman. If I need to get some advice, I talk with my husband. But I also talk with a few of my female friends because they are able to understand my feelings in a different way than he can.

3. We were created for relationship.

Even God didn’t live alone. He (in the trinity) had relationship with himself. If God longed for relationship, we certainly shouldn’t think we don’t need it too.

He also created woman because he said that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). When God created us, he created us for relationship: relationship with Him, but also relationship with one another.

4. We need each other for accountability.

Men and women are both tempted, but our temptations aren’t always the same.

Just as I want my husband to have guy friends who can hold him accountable to “guy temptations,” I need friends to hold me accountable to my temptations. I need women who will challenge me if I’ve messed up, who will love me regardless, and who will refuse to stand by and let me throw my life away because of some sin.

5. We can’t depend on their spouses to fill our every need.

My husband is a wonderful man, but he can never be everything I need. He wasn’t designed to be.

Some of my needs can only be filled with God, and some of them are meant to be filled with friends.

Let’s stop asking our spouses to fill every need in our hearts and start looking to God instead.

“Okay,” you might be thinking. “I get it. I need friends. But how do I go about getting them?”

Here are a few tips to help you take some first steps:

Look in your current circles for those who you think could be a good friend. Proverbs 12:26 in the NIV says this: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” So look for those who are living godly lives and who you think would lead you closer to the Father, rather than pull you away from Him.
Start taking the initiative with those you’d like to develop stronger relationships with. (See Ali’s post for some simple ideas!)
Pray for God to bring people into your life who could become good friends.

Let’s talk: What are some other reasons we need friends? What tips would you add to this list on how to begin developing stronger friendships?

5 Reasons Friendships are Important for Christians via @LindseyMBell #BeingABetterFriend

Click To Tweet

Even God needed relationship. Here are 5 reasons we need friends too. via @LindseyMBell #BeingABetterFriend

Click To Tweet

When God created us, he created us for relationship: relationship with Him, but also relationship with one another. #BeingABetterFriend

Click To Tweet

What Love Is And What Love Isn’t – A Comparison from 1 John 3

March 14, 2017 by Lindsey 2 Comments

Parenting, more than anything else, has enabled me to see my weaknesses.

A few weeks ago, my youngest son was pestering his big brother. My oldest child asked him to quit and then, when his request went ignored, said in a voice that sounded A LOT like me, “What did I just say?” The moment the words left his mouth, I saw myself asking the same question to my son earlier that morning.

Have you ever seen this in your family? Have you ever witnessed your children doing something you know they learned from you?

Our kids become like us, for better or for worse.

Just as our kids often become like us, we can become like our Abba Father.

1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV)

We are children of the Living God! That’s an amazing thing to think about. The God who made the heavens and the earth calls us his children. The God who keeps our world in orbit loves us just as much – more, in fact – than we love our earthly children.

And what a privilege it is to try to be like Him!

So what does that look like? How should a child of God behave if he or she wants to be like Him?

More than anything else, it looks like love.

1 John 3 paints a clear picture of what our love should look like. It does this by providing two examples: one positive example of what TO DO and one negative example of what NOT TO DO.

What Love Is:

Verse 1 (quoted above) says that God has lavished His love on us by calling us His children.

The positive example of love that we are to follow is God’s love for us.

Look at verses 16-18 in the NIV:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Love is action. It’s laying aside our desires for the needs and desires of another person. It’s noticing the needs of those around us and then helping to meet those needs.

What Love Isn’t:

Along with providing a positive example of what love is, this chapter also provides a negative example of what love isn’t.

Verse 12 reads, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”

Then, to make sure we don’t assume this could never be referring to us because we have never murdered anyone, John adds in verse 15, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer.” (NIV)

Loving like our Father means NOT hating another person. It means forgiving them when they hurt us. It means letting go of bitterness and anger.

If we want to love like our Father, we can’t also hate a brother or sister.

The two cannot coincide. “Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister” (1 John 3:10).

The best way to know if you are being like your Abba Father is by looking at your love.

Do you love like He did, sacrificially giving of your time and resources to others? Do you slow down enough to notice the needs of those around you and then seek to meet those needs?

Or, are you so busy you don’t even notice…so strapped for money you can’t give…and so bitter over past hurts you can’t move forward?

Do you want to know if you look like your Father in Heaven? Then look at your love.

For Extra Study This Week:

Read the entire chapter of 1 John 3. As you read, underline the word “love” every time you see it.
Read James 2:14-17. How are these verses similar to 1 John 3 (specifically verse 18)?
What are some specific ways you can love like your Father this week? Write down at least five ideas.

What Love Is and What Love Isn’t: A Comparison from 1 Jn 3 #TruthAndLove

Click To Tweet

The best way to know if you are being like your Abba Father is by looking at your love. #TruthAndLove

Click To Tweet

Want to know if you look like your Father in Heaven? Then look at your love. #TruthAndLove

Click To Tweet

2 Roles of the Holy Spirit from Romans 8

February 14, 2017 by Lindsey 1 Comment

Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does the Holy Spirit do?

For some reason, we struggle to understand Him. God the Father makes sense to us. So does God the Son. At least somewhat.

Maybe we understand them better because the entire Old Testament focuses on God the Father, and the entire New Testament focuses on God the Son. Or maybe it’s because the idea of father and son fit within our realm of understanding. We each have an earthly father, so it’s not hard to imagine a heavenly one (though, for certain, many earthly fathers don’t create accurate pictures of our heavenly Father). We are also all sons or daughters so it’s not difficult to picture God the Son.

But God the Holy Spirit….He seems somewhat elusive and confusing.

The truth is, even though the Holy Spirit might not fit as neatly into our realm of understanding, there is still much we can learn about Him from the Word of God.

All this month here at Do Not Depart, we’re exploring the Holy Spirit: who He is and what He does.

Today, I want to dig into Romans 8 and let Paul explain two of His important roles.

Romans 8:26-27: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (NIV).

In this text, Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit fills two important roles.

2 Roles of the Holy Spirit from Romans 8:

Helper

He helps us in our weakness.

That means we are not alone in our struggles. He, our Helper, is with us all the time.

Intercessor

He intercedes for us in accordance with the will of God.

Have you ever been completely unsure what to pray for? Maybe you knew what you wanted, but had no idea if that was the best option or within God’s will for you. Or maybe you were so broken by the circumstances of your life you weren’t even able to utter a prayer.

It is in these moments-when we don’t know how to pray-that God the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

I like to picture Him standing beside me, putting His arm around me as I attempt to put words together in prayer. He sees my feeble attempts and fills in the gaps before the Father.

The text is also clear that He intercedes in accordance with the will of God.

Many times I have prayed for something I wanted but then wondered, “Is this really what God wants for me or just what I want in my selfish flesh?”

After all, there are still many instances when my flesh rules the day.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the Holy Spirit as helper and intercessor, we can rest assured that everything we pray is being filtered through the Holy Spirit before the Father.

This list is definitely not exhaustive and Romans 8 is only one of many texts that talk about the Holy Spirit.

What is your favorite characteristic of the Holy Spirit? Share in the comments.

What does the Holy Spirit Do? Some thoughts from @DoNotDepart #WhoIsTheHolySpirit

Click To Tweet

2 Roles of the Holy Spirit from Romans 8 via @DoNotDepart #WhoIsTheHolySpirit

Click To Tweet

How to Be Unafraid In a Scary World

January 17, 2017 by Lindsey 1 Comment

I’ve never been a particularly brave individual. I can count on one hand the number of somewhat reckless things I have done in my lifetime. (And I really do mean somewhat reckless. One of the things that makes the list is riding a roller coaster, if that tells you anything about me).

Being afraid comes much more naturally to me than being brave. Worry comes much more naturally than peace.

Maybe you can relate.

A friend of mine told me a story once about how she used to be terrified as a child that she would be home by herself and choke on something. She was so afraid, in fact, that she recorded herself saying her name and address along with this message. “This is pre-recorded message. I’m choking and need medical assistance.”

I laughed at my friend when she told me the story, but the truth is, I actually have this same fear. What if I choke while by myself? What if something happens to me and I’m unable to call 911 for assistance?

Fear is something with which a lot of us struggle.

Even though we claim to trust Jesus with our lives, we don’t always live like it.

This is especially the case for those of us who have been disappointed in the past. Maybe you’ve witnessed a loved one pass away. Maybe you’ve prayed and prayed for God to heal someone and instead watched that person slip away from you.

When you realize that being a Christian doesn’t give you a “get out of jail free” card, it’s easy to grow fearful. When you understand firsthand that God doesn’t always fix things for his people, it’s easy to wonder, “What is going to happen next? If God didn’t prevent X, what makes me think he will prevent Y?”

Fear might be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to ignore it and allow it to grow.

In fact, the Bible is abundantly clear that we aren’t meant to live in fear. Here are just a few of the many verses about fear and worry.

What the Bible Says About Fear and Worry:

Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV)

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)

1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (NIV)

Romans 8:15: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (NIV)

Luke 12:22-24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (NIV)

Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV)

Psalm 56:3-4: “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (NLT)

Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (NIV)

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT)

1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)

So how can we do it? How can we live unafraid in a scary world?

All this month, we’ve been talking about renewing our minds, allowing Jesus to take control of your thoughts instead of allowing your thoughts to control you.

The truth is, it’s hard to be unafraid!

Here are a few suggestions to help:

How to Be Unafraid in a Scary World:

Meditate on Scriptures about being brave. Choose a few from the list above and commit them to memory. Whenever you feel fear creeping in, repeat one of these verses.
Pray often! Ask God to help you be unafraid.
Maintain your perspective. Yes, there are scary things in this world, and God didn’t promise us we would never encounter them. BUT, He did promise us an eternal home and that He would be with us in whatever we encounter.
Beware of what you allow to fill your mind. If you are afraid because of shows you have watched recently or news reports you have allowed into your home, shut off the tv. You don’t HAVE to watch the news if it upsets you.
Surround yourself with hopeful people. You will become like who you are around most.

I want to hear from you. What is your favorite Bible verse about fear or worry? Are there any tips you would add to this list?

5 ways to be unafraid in a scary world #RenewedMinds @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

What the Bible Says About Fear and Worry #RenewedMinds @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Even though we claim to trust Jesus with our lives, we don’t always live like it. #RenewedMinds @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

O Holy Night – Reminders from this Beautiful Christmas Carol

December 20, 2016 by Lindsey 4 Comments

My absolute favorite Christmas song is “O Holy Night.”

I love it because it reminds me of just how amazing that night was when Christ was born. It was amazing for a number of reasons.

Of course it was amazing because of the way in which Jesus was conceived-through the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin. And it was amazing because it was the night in which God came down to earth in human form.

But there were even more reasons than these.

O Holy Night - Find Christ in the Carols This Christmas at Do Not Depart

The prophecies said that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, Mary wasn’t living in Bethlehem when she was due to give birth.

So, God worked through a pagan leader to ask for a census so that He could get Mary to Bethlehem at just the time when Jesus would be born.

The prophesies also said that people of all nations would come to worship this newborn king. But, how would people of other nations know where to find him if not for the star God created?

God used a pagan, evil man to make sure His Son got where He needed to be, and He used a star to lead people to the Christ-child.

That night was indeed special, wasn’t it?

Here are some of the lyrics from “O Holy Night.”

O Holy night

The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born

I love the line above: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.”

It was true back then…the world was weary.

There had been years without any new prophecies…years without any Word from the Lord. The Israelites were likely wondering if and when God was going to fulfill all the things He had promised.

The world is also weary now.

The holiday season can be a wonderful time, but it can also be a very sad time. Christmas reminds us of those who are missing from the celebrations.

The weary world first rejoiced when Jesus was born two thousand years ago, and it rejoices again today. Though Christmas can be difficult, there is still hope.

There’s hope because of that one night long ago…that holy night when Christ was born.

This version of “O Holy Night” sung by Josh Groban is beautiful. If you have a moment, it’s definitely worth the watch. (If you can’t view the video below in your feed, click on this link.)

What are some of your favorite lines from “O Holy Night”? Chime in with your thoughts.

Cherishing Christ in the Carols - Read more at Do Not Depart

O Holy Night – Reminders from one of the most beloved Christmas Carols #ChristintheCarols @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

O Holy Night and What It Can Teach Us Today #ChristintheCarols @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

And God Saw That It Was Good – The Beauty in Differences

November 15, 2016 by Lindsey 3 Comments

My seven-year-old son loves to draw. And he’s really good at it too!

(I know I’m a tad biased, but I honestly believe he has talent. Of course, it’s possible I think that because of how much I completely lack artistic ability when it comes to drawing!)

Lately, though, I’ve noticed that he gets frustrated easily when drawing new things. If it’s not what he considers “perfect,” he writes a giant X on the paper and throws it in the garbage.

A couple of days ago, I walked into the kitchen while my husband was trying to explain to him that things in nature aren’t supposed to look “perfect.” Each tree isn’t supposed to be exactly the same as the last. Each bird isn’t supposed to be identical to another bird of its kind.

In nature, the differences are what make it so beautiful.

I think that’s part of the reason God seemed to have so much fun in creation. He knew that the differences in nature would make it beautiful, so he had fun creating silly-looking birds, fish, and animals.

(Seriously, some of the animals God created are hilarious. Check out this post to view pictures of some of the weirdest looking animals you’ll ever see!)

God didn’t make all the creatures look similar to one another. He could have created much less variety, but He didn’t!

All this month here at Do Not Depart, we’re studying the Creation account. Here’s a little review in case you’ve forgotten or missed a post or two.

7 Days of Creation:

Day 1: Light
Day 2: Sky
Day 3: Land and Seas/Vegetation
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Day 5: Fish and Birds (what we’re focusing on today)
Day 6: Animals and People
Day 7: Rest

Let’s look at Genesis 1:20-23: “And God said, ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.’So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.” (ESV)

I love the ESV translation of that first part: “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures.”

God didn’t create just one fish and call it good. He created TONS of fish!

“And God saw that it was good.”

The differences God made in nature are good. So are the differences God made in us.

God didn’t intend for us to all possess the same creative ability.

How boring would our world be if everyone was able to draw in exactly the same way…or write in the same way…or make music in the same way…or take photographs in the same way?

The differences among us are what make this world beautiful.

So instead of wishing you had the gift of someone else or feeling bad about yourself because you can’t do what a friend is able to do, thank the Lord for the variety.

1 Corinthians 12:15-20 says this: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

The fact that we are all different isn’t a bad thing at all. Instead, it is what makes the body of Christ function well.

Let’s celebrate our differences today! What is one way God has gifted you?

Additional Study Steps:

Google “bird images” and “fish images” and look at some of the neat creatures God created. Also click on the link I shared above about funny-looking animals. Which one is your favorite?
What are some of the ways God has gifted you? How has He gifted some of the people you know? Why is it good that we are not all gifted in the same way?
Read Psalm 96:11-12 and Romans 1:20. In what ways do God’s creation worship Him? How can you join in their song this week?
Read Psalm 104:24-25. List as many things as you can think of that God created. (Grab a large piece of paper for this!) Then, thank God for creating so much variety.

What the creation account teaches us about our differences #GodTheCreator @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

The differences among us are what make us beautiful. #GodTheCreator @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

The Formula for Becoming Like Jesus

October 18, 2016 by Lindsey 1 Comment

Many of us want to become more like Jesus. But sometimes, I think we make it more complicated than it actually needs to be. We’re looking for an extensive formula, when really, it’s much more simple than that.

I love this picture of my son wearing his daddy’s shoes.

It’s such a great reminder that our kids will likely become (for better or for worse) like us. They will – quite literally – follow in our footsteps.

Just as it’s true that our children will likely become like us, it’s also true that we will become like those we spend the most time with.

I’ve heard it said that you will become like the 5 people you are around the most.

It’s interesting to me how many of us say we want to be like Jesus but don’t spend very much time with Him.

(And believe me, I’m just as guilty as anyone else!)

The reality is, if we’re not spending time with Jesus and learning about Him – how He lived, how he spoke, how He loved – then we’re going to have a really hard time becoming like Him.

How can we become like someone we’re never around?

How can we mimic the actions of someone we don’t see?

I love that the opposite is also true, though.

The more we are around someone, the more like them we become.

So the more we dig into the Word of God and the more we study the person of Jesus, the more we will become like Him.

Luke 6:40, in the New Life Version, says this, “But everyone who learns well will be like his teacher.”

All this month here at Do Not Depart, we’ve been talking about why sound theology matters. In the introductory post, Ali explained that theology is the study or knowledge of God.

In the past few weeks, we have shared several reasons why sound theology matters: because it helps us identify false teachers and false doctrines, because it helps us know God better, and because it helps us know how to interact with others.

Another reason sound theology matters is because it is through sound theology that we become more like Jesus.

It is through the study of Him that we become like Him.

The formula for becoming like Jesus isn’t as hard as we often make it.

We often think we have to follow a whole bunch of rules: don’t have sex outside of marriage, don’t get drunk, do go to church every Sunday, don’t steal or kill or lust, don’t do this, do this, etc.

But the truth is, the formula for becoming like Jesus is simply this:

Be with Jesus = Become like Jesus

We become like those we around, so when we’re around Jesus, His amazing qualities begin to rub off on us. And before we know it, when people look at us, they start to see more Jesus.

Sound theology matters because the study of Jesus helps us grow more like Him.

There is one thing I want to warn you about, though.

Just having knowledge of God is not enough.

We can know a lot about God without actually knowing Him.

I think that’s what happened to many of the religious leaders while Jesus walked on this earth.

They had a lot of head knowledge about the Scriptures, but they failed to let their knowledge reach their hearts.

In John 5:39-40, Jesus challenged the Jewish leaders about their knowledge of the Scriptures: “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life” (NLT).

So this week, spend some time with Jesus. Open your Bible and get to know Him. But don’t do it just to know facts.

Instead, do it to know Him.

Let’s chat: Have you made the “formula for becoming like Jesus” more complicated than necessary? How?

We can know a lot about God without actually knowing Him. @LindseyMBell #TheologyforWomen

Click To Tweet

It is through the study of Him that we become like Him. #TheologyforWomen @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Is it possible to become like Jesus if you’re never around Him? #TheologyforWomen @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

The Difference Between Hoping FOR Something and Hoping IN Someone

September 20, 2016 by Lindsey 1 Comment

Hoping FOR SOMETHING is drastically different than hoping IN SOMEONE.

I know, because for a long time, I hoped for something.

I didn’t do it intentionally. In fact, I didn’t even realize I was doing it at the time. I thought I was simply living in faith. I thought I was maintaining hope through a painful situation.

Looking back now, though, I know I wasn’t really.

I was hoping that God would fix my problem.

My husband and I couldn’t carry a pregnancy to term. We miscarried one-then two-then three-then four babies we couldn’t wait to hold.

With each pregnancy, people told me, “I know this one is going to be different. Don’t give up hope.”

And so I kept hoping. Every time I saw a positive pregnancy test, I became hopeful. Finally, God was going to come through for us, I thought each time.

I was hopeful, yes, but not placing my hope where it needed to go.

I was placing my hope in God doing something, instead of simply placing my hope in Him.

Have you ever done something similar?

Have you ever misplaced your hope and placed it on SOMETHING instead of on SOMEONE?

God has been teaching me lately that misplaced hope in the midst of pain and suffering isn’t really hope at all. Or, at least, it’s not the kind of hope God longs for us to have.

In the midst of pain and suffering, the hope God desires we cling to isn’t a hope that God will fix our problems, take away our pain, or remove all obstacles from our lives. Instead, the hope God desires we cling to is the hope that He will be with us through our hardships and the hope that He will use whatever we are going through for our good and His glory.

Romans 5:3-5, in the NLT, says that we can rejoice in our trials because we know God uses them to develop endurance, character, and hope.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

I love what this text says about how our hope in God will not lead to disappointment!

When we hope FOR something, that thing might or might not happen. If you’re hoping for God to heal you or stop your pain or fix your problem, He might do it. I hope and pray He does. But, reality is, He might not. We might be disappointed if we are hoping FOR something to happen.

But when we hope IN God, we will not be disappointed!

There’s a huge difference between hoping FOR something and hoping IN SOMEONE, and I’d much rather take the route where I’m guaranteed not to disappointed. Wouldn’t you?

Have you ever struggled with placing your hope in something happening instead of placing your hope in God alone? Why do you think it’s so hard sometimes?

The Difference Between Hoping FOR Something and Hoping IN Someone #Hope @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Hoping FOR SOMETHING is drastically different than hoping IN SOMEONE. #Hope @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Where is God In A Miscarriage?

May 17, 2016 by Lindsey Leave a Comment

Where is God in a miscarriage?

Where is God when you’re staring at an ultrasound screen with tears streaming down your face because the doctor has just told you that your baby’s heart is no longer beating?

Where is He when you’re begging Him for this pregnancy to be different…for this one to make it full term?

For years, I have asked these same questions…over and over again. In fact, it was these questions that led me to write my newest book, Unbeaten.

While I was working on that book, I ran across one biblical story that shed some light on this question for me.

It was the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

If you’re not familiar with their story, here’s a brief summary.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Israelite men who are written about in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the citizens of his kingdom to bow down to a golden image he had created. Anyone who refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Most of the people living in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom obeyed, but three men refused to bow their faces to the ground in front of an idol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God could save them from the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and from the fire.

These men told Nebuchadnezzar they would not bow down to his idol because they believed God could save them. But even if He did not save them, they added, they would not serve Nebuchadnezzar’s gods (Daniel 3:18).

This infuriated the king, and he ordered the fire heated seven times hotter than usual (so hot, in fact, that it killed some of his soldiers who were working near the fire). Then he had the three men bound and thrown in.

I LOVE what happens next in this story.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren’t killed as they should have been. Instead, they just walked around in there, like it was no big deal that they were surrounded by flames and smoke.

When Nebuchadnezzar saw the men walking around in the fire that killed his soldiers, he jumped to his feet and said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25)

God didn’t prevent Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from being thrown into the fire. What He did instead was join them in it.

Isn’t that a cool thought?

God didn’t prevent the fire. He joined them in it!

I think that’s what He does for us sometimes too.

For some reason (that I’m sure we’ll understand better someday on the other side of heaven), He doesn’t always prevent us from going through heartbreaking things.

I don’t know why he didn’t prevent my four miscarriages. And if you’re reading this and have had one or more miscarriages, I don’t know why he didn’t prevent yours either.

But I do know this: even though God doesn’t always fix our problems, He never leaves us.

Isaiah 43:2 says…

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Where is God in a miscarriage? He’s right there with you…right where He was before your miscarriage and right where He’ll be after it…walking through the fire with you.

This post contains a modified excerpt from Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too) by Lindsey Bell (CrossRiver Media). Used by permission.

About Unbeaten:

Why does life have to be so hard?

Difficult times often leave Christians searching the Bible for answers to the most difficult questions — Does God hear me when I pray? Why isn’t He doing anything? Does He even care?

In Unbeaten, author Lindsey Bell shares the stories of biblical figures who went through tough times. Through this 10-week Bible study and devotional, she reminds readers that while life brings trials, faith brings victory. And when we rely on God for the strength to get us through, we can emerge Unbeaten.

7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged – Plus a New Resource!

April 22, 2016 by Lindsey 14 Comments

Goodness, this life is hard sometimes. It’s easy to get discouraged and to wonder why God isn’t fixing your situation.

I’ve wondered it more than a time or two in the past few years. My husband and I lost four babies over a span of three years.

During that time, there were many instances when I wondered what to pray…how to pray. I didn’t want to pray for a healthy baby and then be disappointed yet again if God chose not to grant that desire.

What I learned in that time was that even though life is hard, God is still here with us.

He’s with us in the hard.

Here are 7 prayers I prayed often during that time.

7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged:

That God will make His presence known to you.

What we need most when we’re feeling discouraged by life is not an answer to what the future holds (though that would be nice) but to know we’re not alone.

That’s why this prayer is so important.

That you will stand firm in the faith.

It’s tempting in the midst of a struggle to question God. There’s nothing wrong with questioning Him (David and Job questioned God a lot, after all), but pray God will help you stand firm even in the midst of your questions.

That God will bring people into your life who will encourage you.

God often uses the body of believers to encourage His children. He uses them to be His hands and feet. Ask for God to bring these people into your life.

That you will shine your light well, even when times are tough.

There’s a quote I’ve seen on Pinterest lately that says this: “Broken crayons still color.” It’s absolutely true. A broken crayon can still color the same as an unbroken one.

You and I, likewise, can still color the lives of those around us…even when we’re hurting. Pray you would do this well.

That God would use this hard situation for your good and for His glory.

Rick Warren once said that “your greatest ministry will likely come from your greatest pain.”

It’s true, isn’t it? God often redeems our pain by using it to minister to others. Pray for God to use your hard situation to bring about something good in you (Romans 8:28) and in the Kingdom.

That God Himself would encourage your Spirit through His Word.

Ask God to point you to Scriptures that will encourage your Spirit.

That you would be unbeaten by this trial.

After one of our miscarriages, I remember telling God I would not allow Satan to win this battle. I would not let him beat me.

Pray for the same kind of determination.

What other prayers would you add to this list?

This post is part of Lindsey’s blog tour to celebrate her new Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too).

To celebrate her book, she’s giving away a HUGE bundle of books! Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. You can get more entries by commenting on other blogs in the tour as well. Get a full list of participating blogs here.

About Unbeaten:

Why does life have to be so hard? If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone. Difficult times often leave Christians searching the Bible for answers to some of life’s most difficult questions.

Questions like:

Does God hear me when I pray?

Why isn’t He doing anything?

Does He even care?

In Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too), Lindsey Bell walks with readers through the stories of men and women in the Bible who went through difficult situations. In this 10-week Bible study and devotional, she addresses many of these questions and helps readers learn how they too can be unbeaten.

About Lindsey Bell:

Lindsey Bell is the author of the Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten, and of the parenting devotional, Searching for Sanity. She’s a stay-at-home mother of two silly boys, a minister’s wife, an avid reader, and a lover of all things chocolate. Lindsey writes weekly at www.lindseymbell.com about faith, family, and learning to love the life she’s been given.

7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

A New Resource for When You Feel Discouraged @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Why The Gospel Really Is Good News

April 19, 2016 by Lindsey 3 Comments

We call the message of Jesus “Good News” (and rightfully so!), but sometimes, I’m afraid many of us don’t act like the news is good.

We say we believe in the Good News, but the frowns on our faces, the lack of joy in our hearts, and the complaints on our lips say otherwise.

I’m afraid that when people look at us, they don’t see the joy of the Lord but instead the life of someone who wants to feel joyful…but has somehow allowed Satan to steal his or her joy.

To be completely honest, my life hasn’t displayed God’s Good News very much over the past few years.

Instead, I’ve allowed the difficulties in this life to suffocate the goodness of God. I’ve allowed Satan to steal my joy.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you have proclaimed with your mouth on Sunday that God is good but have shown through your actions and attitude during the week that you don’t really believe it.

Because the truth is…it’s hard to share God’s Good News when the world seems so bad.

It’s hard to maintain joy over God’s Good News when it feels like your life is falling apart.

But in reality…I have learned lately that these hard times are when God’s News shows itself to be really good.

Why the Gospel Really Is Good News:

God’s news is good because it promises a better tomorrow.
God’s news is good because it reminds us that no matter what happens today, we have a heavenly home where there will be no more pain and no more suffering.
God’s news is good because it reminds us that no matter how we have failed, Jesus’ death on the cross has paid the penalty for our sins.
God’s news is good because through it, everyone has the opportunity to be saved.
God’s news is good because it shows us just how much God adores us.

As I was thinking about which Greek word to write about here at Do Not Depart this month, one word kept coming back to me: “euaggelion,” or Good News/Gospel (Strong’s Concordance #2098).

This word literally means “good or joyful news.” It is God’s Good News to the world He loves.

The word “euaggelion” (or Good News/Gospel) shows up 76 times in the New Testament books. 76 times!

That’s 76 reminders of God’s love for us…76 reminders that we have a reason for joy (no matter what is happening in our lives)…and 76 reminders of what Jesus did for us on that cross.

The word isn’t limited to Jesus’ death on the cross, though. It is the summation of the entire biblical text. It’s the entire story of how God has sought after His beloved people ever since the very first day they were led astray.

Euaggelion is the love story of God and His children.

In Mark 16:15, one of the 76 times when Gospel/Good News is used, the text says,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Our lives will never be perfect, but we nonetheless have a job to do. Our job is to share God’s good news with others.

Because the truth is…

This life is hard, but our God and His Gospel message are still very, very good.

Later this month we’ll be offering you a beautiful set of Key Greek Words of the New Testament flashcards that you can print to help you remember all we’ve studied together. Be on the lookout for this printable!

What would you add to the list above? What about God’s Good News makes you the most excited?

This life is hard, but our God and His Gospel message are still very good. #NTGreekWords @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Why the Gospel Really is Good News (even when life is hard) #NTGreekWords @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

By His Wounds, We are Healed: 4 Truths from Isaiah 53

March 15, 2016 by Lindsey 1 Comment

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the stories too….stories of people who gave up their lives or sacrificed their bodies for another.

Last fall, a car barreled through an OSU homecoming parade in Stillwater, Oklahoma, injuring and killing many innocent bystanders.

One of those who was injured was 6-year-old Hadley Wyatt. Her family believes the reason she is alive today is because of a man named Leo Schmitz who put himself in harm’s way and blocked a motorcycle that was flying toward them.

Stories like this one always make me think, would I do that for someone I didn’t know?

The thing is, I don’t know if I would. I’d like to believe I would. But if I’m being completely honest, I don’t know.

One thing that always amazes me about Jesus is that he did that for me.

He gave up his life for me…even though he knew I would continue to sin against him…even though he knew it was MY SINS that put him up on that cross.

This month, here at Do Not Depart, we’ve been studying Easter in the Old Testament, and specifically Isaiah 53. Today, I want to look closely at Isaiah 53:4-6:

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

As I read through this text to prepare for this post, God opened my eyes to some things I had never noticed before.

4 Key Truths from Isaiah 53:4-6:

Jesus didn’t ONLY bear my sins on the cross that day. He also bore my pain and my suffering (verse 4).

I first read about this concept in Matt Bays’ new book, Finding God in the Ruins.

Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus bore our suffering…that he took up our pain.

Often, when we’re hurting, we cry out to God and ask, “Where are you, God?” Where is God when we’re crying in the middle of the night because of a health crisis or infertility or the death of someone we love?

What this text tells us is that he’s quite literally hurting with us.

He bore our sins on the cross that day, BUT he also bore our pain and our suffering. The weight we think we are carrying alone…He carried with Him onto the cross.

He really does get how you’re feeling, because he felt it too.

We don’t really deserve anything good in this life (verse 5).

We don’t deserve a good home, steady income, family of 2.5 kids, healthy marriage, good health, etc. We like to think we do. We like to tell ourselves we are good people, and how could God NOT grant us these things? But the truth is, what we deserve, based on verse 5, is to be pierced and crushed.

Jesus took the punishment we deserved and gave us the grace we didn’t deserve.

Healing really is possible (verse 5).

“By His wounds, we are healed.”

I love that this is written in present tense. It doesn’t say, “By his wounds, we WILL BE healed.” No, it says, “We are healed.”

Now.

Healing might not be complete until we reach heaven’s gates, but that doesn’t mean it’s not at all available right now. We can be healed now.

By his wounds, we are healed.

We’re all guilty (verse 6).

Our sins might not “look” as bad as another’s in our eyes, but – as far as the cross is concerned – they all put Jesus there.

Our “little” sin put Him there just as much as someone else’s “big” sin.

Because of that, there’s not really any room for judgment on our part. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray.”

But thanks be to God we have a good shepherd who is willing to come searching for us!

Questions for Further Reflection/Study:

What are some of the ways you have gone astray? Pray about each of these things and ask God for forgiveness.
Read Luke 15:1-7. What did the shepherd do in this text? How has God searched for you in your lifetime?
In what ways has God provided healing to you recently? (Has he healed something in your heart? Has he offered freedom from a sin? Has he healed a broken relationship? etc.)

What other insights did God bring to mind as you read this passage of Scripture?

4 Things Isaiah 53 Can Teach Us via @LindseyMBell ‪#‎EasterintheOT‬

Click To Tweet

By His Wounds, We Are Healed – and other reminders from Isaiah 53 via @LindseyMBell ‪#‎EasterintheOT‬

Click To Tweet

Jesus took the punishment we deserved and gave us the grace we didn’t deserve. #EasterintheOT

Click To Tweet

Love Your Spouse Like Jesus Would – With a Forgiving Love

February 16, 2016 by Lindsey 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day was last weekend. Though it’s supposed to be a day when we celebrate love, for many of us, it becomes a day of disappointment instead.

For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about how to love one another as Christ loves us. Today, I wanted to share some thoughts on how we can love our spouse like Christ loves us, especially when he might not deserve it.

How to Love Like Jesus with a Forgiving Love:

Jesus loves us with a forgiving love.

There were many times he taught on the importance of forgiveness.

For instance, in Matthew 6:14-15, he said this: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

In Matthew 18:21-22, “Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”

Passages like these make it clear that Jesus thought forgiveness was incredibly important. But there are two other passages that I think make an even greater impact. These two passages don’t just tell us what Jesus thought about forgiveness; they show us.

Jesus’ Extravagant Forgiveness:

In John 8:3-11, the religious leaders of the day brought before Jesus a woman caught in adultery. Picture this scene with me. She was caught in the act. That means that she might not have had time to put any of her clothes back on before they dragged her out of the house. Maybe they let her grab a sheet to cover herself up…maybe.

I’m sure she was humiliated and ashamed. She might have held her eyes on the ground, unwilling to make eye contact with Jesus.

Jesus’ response to this woman wasn’t what anyone expected.

He didn’t condemn her, judge her, or shame her. Instead, he loved her.

Here’s what he said in verses 10 and 11: “‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.'”

Jesus loved this woman with a forgiving love. He forgave her when she deserved judgment. He loved her with she didn’t deserve it.

In Luke 23:33-34, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he showed another example of forgiving love.

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'”

Jesus forgave the very people who put him to death-as he was dying!

That’s the kind of forgiving love He wants us to show our spouses.

Our spouses are going to let us down. They are going to disappoint us. They are going to do things that make us think they don’t deserve forgiveness. And sometimes, maybe they don’t.

But the truth is, we don’t deserve forgiveness from Jesus either and he gives it anyway.

Jesus doesn’t forgive us because we deserve it; He forgives us because He loves us.

We forgive our spouses for the same reason…because we love them.

So if your Valentine’s Day left you feeling let down and discouraged, choose to forgive today. Not because your spouse necessarily deserves your forgiveness, but because you want to love like Jesus did.

Love your spouse like Jesus would-with a forgiving love #LoveOneAnother via @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Jesus doesn’t forgive us because we deserve it; He forgives us because He loves us. #LoveOneAnother

Click To Tweet

6 Scripture Memorization Tips to Help You Abide In God’s Word

January 26, 2016 by Lindsey Leave a Comment

Many of us begin the New Year with high hopes and big plans. Often, one of those plans is to draw nearer to God throughout the year through Bible reading, Scripture memorization, or a variety of other ways.

All this month at Do Not Depart, we have given you suggestions and resources to help. Today, I want to share some tips that might help you with Bible memorization.

6 Scripture Memorization Tips to Help You Abide in God’s Word:

Start slow.

I love how Beth Moore puts it: “Think marathon. Not sprint.”

The goal is not to have a ton of verses memorized, just so you can say you have a ton of verses memorized. The goal is to get God’s Word inside of you.

Begin slow, and consistently add more verses as the ones you have already learned sink in further.

Write it down.

Once you have found a verse you would like to memorize, write it down. Consider using post-it notes or index cards and then displaying the verse somewhere you are sure to see it often.

Some people I know use spiral-bound index cards so they can quickly flip through the verses they have recently memorized.

Say it aloud.

Along with writing down the verse, try saying it aloud each day. This also helps the verse sink deeper into your mind.

Act it out.

When I’m trying to teach my kids a new Bible verse, I often add hand motions or actions. It helps SO much! When we put actions to the verses, we are better able to recall what comes next in the verse.

Use an app.

Some popular ones include Scripture Typer (free), Verses (free), Fighter Verses (2.99), Bible Memory – To God Be The Glory (free), Bible Memory: Remember Me (2.99), Bible Memory Verses (free), and others.

Simply google “Bible Memory” or “Scripture Memorization” or something similar in your app store on your iPhone or similar device and then choose one that best meets your needs.

Repeat.

Scripture memorization is a lot like exercise. The more we do it, the easier it becomes. It’s also a lot like exercise in that if we stop practicing, we are likely to lose what we have worked so hard to gain.

Once you have a verse memorized well, don’t just forget about it and move on to the next verse. Continue practicing it on a regular basis even while you begin memorizing another verse.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some suggestions.

Note any verses that speak powerfully to you as you are reading. Choose one of these to memorize. (If you haven’t chosen a Bible reading plan yet, Ali posted some great suggestions earlier this month).
Check out this list of 25 key Bible verses for your family to memorize.
Sheila Wray Gregoire has 50 great verses listed here. You can even purchase cards to help with memorization. Ashley Pichea has a similar list here.
Courtney Joseph, over at Women Living Well, has her own list of the Top 10 Bible Verses to Memorize. She has even included a free printable for download.
Use a Scripture Memory System like this one.
Check out these Bible Memory Resources that Lisa shared a few years back.

What other tips help you memorize Scripture?

6 Scripture Memorization Tips to Help You Abide in God’s Word This Year #PlanToAbide

Click To Tweet

Bible Memorization Plans and Tips for the New Year via @LindseyMBell #PlanToAbide

Click To Tweet

God With Us – It Makes All The Difference

December 15, 2015 by Lindsey 2 Comments

Tragedy doesn’t care about the time of year, does it?

Just last night, as I was thinking about how I wanted to approach this post, I heard news of a young woman who was life-flighted to the hospital because of a brain bleed. She’s four and a half months pregnant and in her twenties.

You don’t have to search very long on the Internet to read plenty of stories about heartbreak, crime, terrorism, murder, or a variety of other terrible situations.

Tragedy doesn’t care that Christmas is right around the corner. It doesn’t care that this time of year is supposed to be about celebrating, not worrying or grieving.

Tragedy can strike anytime, day or night. And many times, it leaves us feeling helpless.

The truth is, though, we aren’t helpless. There is always something we can do when tragedy strikes those we love.

We can BE THERE.

When my husband and I were grieving each of our miscarriages, I had various friends and family show up at our home to be with us. They didn’t offer pat Christian answers to the questions of suffering. Sometimes they said very little at all.

But what they did was huge. Just by showing up, they made an impact on us.

That’s one of the reasons I love the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14.

Here’s what it says:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

The word Immanuel, as Matthew 1:23 tells us, means “God with us,” so what Isaiah prophecied in Isaiah 7 was that when Jesus came, he would be “God with us.”

As Christmas nears, let us remember this very special gift.

God didn’t have to do it the way He did. I’m certain He could have easily come up with another plan to bring the world to salvation.

He didn’t have to come down to this earth and be with us.

But He did.

He chose to be “God with us” because He knew that was what we would need most.

In a world that sometimes seems as if it’s spinning out of control, we can know we’re not alone. God is with us.

In a season of busyness where people often fail to slow down long enough to say hello, we can know we’re not alone. God is with us.

In a technology-saturated country where people sometimes fail to look up from their cell phones when we’re trying to talk to them, we can know we’re not alone. God is with us.

“Immanuel” – God with us – changes everything.

This holiday season, don’t rush around so much that you fail to spend time with the God who gave it all just to be with you.

And this holiday season, don’t be so busy that you fail to BE WITH the people who matter most to you.

Just as God was with us…may your holiday season be a time of being with those you love.

As a reminder of the special gift of “God with us,” we’ve created some printable art for you. Please print off this artwork to display wherever and however you’d like.