Simple Summer

June 6, 2013 by Teri Lynne Underwood 7 Comments

Maybe we’re the only ones with a calendar that looks absolutely crazy this summer. But I sort of doubt it. In fact, I’d imagine that even if you are staying close to home, you’ve still got plenty of notes and “hope to dos” on your summer agenda. Let’s face it, that’s the best part of summer: easing up on the must do list and embracing the summer fun list. As I write, my girl is outside with her friend playing in the water hose. I have photos of my friends and me doing the same thing when we were their age. {a very long time ago!}

The truth is, we need this relaxing season.

Autumn will come soon enough with its school schedules and football games, dance classes and homework. For now, during this ever shortening summer break, we need to take a break from the demands of the rest of the year and embrace simple things: freshly squeezed lemonade, hand-cranked ice cream, sun-kissed days at the lake, and beach towels hanging on the fence to dry.

The downside of all this grilling, swimming, and traveling can be maintaining a consistent time of personal devotions. I know, I struggle with it every single summer. Understanding this, I thought I’d share six tips for keeping on track spiritually during the fun of summer. We’ll use the acronym SIMPLE to help remember these six suggestions.

S — Stay the course.

Yes, it’s harder during the summer to keep our daily devotions consistent. In fact, I did a survey of my friends whose kids are no longer in the home and they concurred that even after our children are grown we tend to struggle more with spiritual consistency during the summer months. Stay the course, friend! Don’t beat yourself up and don’t feel like you’re the only one who has a hard time. If you miss a day (or five), just start where you are. Trust me, there is no perfect quiet time, summer or not.

I — Involve the family.

Maybe this is a great time for you to start having family devotions or reading the Bible together before or after meals. Summer can be an opportunity to focusing a little more on helping your children mature in their spiritual habits. Sometimes the freedom from school work opens doors for wider conversations and a willingness to try new things. Embrace that! And be sure to keep reading along with this series for more suggestions about how you can involve your family in summertime spiritual growth.

M — Memorize Scripture.

Maybe summer isn’t the best season for you to do an in-depth Bible study. It isn’t for me either. But it is a great time to work on Scripture memorization. We’re hiding classics in our hearts this summer here at Do Not Depart. Join us each Monday to find out what verse we’re learning (or refreshing) each week. This week’s verse is John 3:16.

P — Press into wisdom.

Let’s face it, we all need more wisdom. And we all know the Bible is the best place to grow in true wisdom. So, what if you spent the summer pressing into wisdom. My Bible study group spent May reading Proverbs. We read a chapter each day and when we met each week we shared what we had learned. Another great book of wisdom is James. Read a chapter of one of these books each day and purpose to grow in wisdom this summer.

L — Lean on others.

I mentioned my Bible study group. They are a fabulous group of women who have become dear friends and encouragement in my life. One of the best things I gain from this group is accountability. We ask each other what we’ve read and what we’re learning. Everyone needs people like that in their lives. Invite accountability into your life this summer. I promise it will help you stay on track!

E — Expect reasonably!

This one is so important. Be generous and gracious with yourself. God isn’t displeased with you if you don’t do a major Bible study during the summer months. These months of trips to the beach and catching fireflies are opportunities to experience the freedom of lowering our self-imposed expectations. Maybe you’ll only manage to read a verse or two a day this summer . . . but if you trust God to change you through those verses, He will. And isn’t that really all any of us want? To be changed by Him? {For more on this idea, you might want to read 10 Tips for a Great Quiet Time.}

Summer is here . . . let’s purpose to enjoy it! And let’s agree that simple isn’t bad or less, in fact, simple is often just right!

Do you struggle to stay on track during the summer months? How might simplifying help you?

5 Guidelines for Helping Your Teenager Abide in the Word

May 9, 2013 by Teri Lynne Underwood 16 Comments

For the record, this is the hardest post I’ve ever written. Seriously. I’ve been blogging for about six years and I’ve probably around 1000 posts. But this one has found me wanting to know more, offer more, be more … keenly aware of my extraordinary lack.

We’re writing this month on training our children to abide in the Word. It’s a desperately important topic and one I am passionate about. The thing is, we’ve reached this point in our parenting journey with our daughter where the responsibility in this area is becoming less mine and more hers. And, if I can be brutally honest: I am terrified!

Most days guilt and fear and insecurities roll around my head. All I can see is where I have failed, where I haven’t done enough. A few weeks ago, I was on the phone with a dear friend and wise mentor. I shared how disconnected my girl seemed when we were having our family devotions. I shared all my fears about not doing enough when she was little, not expecting enough from her, not focusing enough, not teaching enough.

Kate listened and then she spoke some simple truths into my heart. Here’s the gist of her gracious wisdom,

“Your daughter is a world changer. She has seen you love the Lord and serve Him. She has watched you faithfully read the Word and pray. You have taught her well. And you have to let her find her way. Continue to guide her, continue to teach her. But trust the Lord to work in her. His plan for her life is way better than yours.”

Can I just say how much Kate ministered to me that day on the phone? How much she poured grace over me and encouraged my frightened heart?

I’m not an expert in raising a child who will never stray from abiding in the Word. But I would like to share a few words of encouragement for all you moms out there of tweens and teens, all you Word-lovers who are praying your children find that same passion.

Keep the priority on your personal relationship with the Lord. It’s so easy to get distracted by trying to do the “right” things with and for our kids in this area. But the best way we teach them to abide in the Word is by faithfully doing it ourselves. Every morning my daughter sees both me and my husband reading our Bibles. That example is the most powerful gift we give our kids.
Provide your child with the right tools. Make sure your child has a Bible he can understand. Find devotional or Bible study resources that fit with his personality. Just because you like an in-depth study of a book of the Bible, doesn’t mean he will. Help him find the resources and tools he will use.
Don’t expect your child to be you. During this season of life, our children are (rightly!) beginning to explore their own ideas and ways of doing things. This natural exploration and growth of independence during adolescence will also affect their personal devotion time. Your child may decide to have her devotions at night even though you’ve always trained her to do them in the morning. She may find another trusted adult to answer her questions. She may build her own accountability group. It’s okay!
Keep asking questions and being available. Don’t push yourself onto your child. But don’t be afraid to ask if he has read his Bible that day. Ask what he’s learning and where he’s struggling. Tell him you are praying for him and ask if there is anything specific he would like you to remember.
Pray for your child. Never, ever stop praying and claiming Scripture on behalf of your child. My friend Brooke writes out prayers for her boys every year using Scripture as a guide. I love this idea and have done it myself several years.

These years are not always easy. It’s hard to let go of the control we’ve had in our children’s lives. But the teenage years can be a wonderful experience and I have to admit, I LOVE it when my daughter comes to me to share what she’s read or learned all on her own.

Do you have a teenager? How do you encourage your teen to abide in the Word?

{image source: canstockphoto.com}

Some Days I Just Want to Give Up
3 Ways to Surrender in Your Home

April 9, 2013 by Teri Lynne Underwood 9 Comments

There are these people in my life. The demanding sort of people. The kind who always seem to be there at the most inopportune moments. The kind who don’t always think about what they say and how they say it. The kind who always, always want something from me. Sometimes, these people make me really tired. Often they frustrate me in ways I can’t even put into words. One, in particular, has the unique ability to find my last remaning nerve and jump on it. Another knows every one of my buttons and sometimes it seems finds inexplicable joy in pushing them, all at the same time.

These are the people who ask me questions like, “Where is my binder?” or “Do you know what time I have to be at the doctor?” They want to know what’s for supper and why there are no clean towels. They demand things like toilet paper in the bathrooms and snacks after school.

Some days, I look at all these people want from me and I really just want to give up.

Who are these tyrants in my life? My family. And, I’d guess if you are a wife and mom, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re often expected to be everything, know everything, and do everything—all at once.

A few weeks ago, the Lord laid a verse on my heart. Well, laid is a nice way to say it: Actually He beat me with it.

These lessons on humility are playing out in all sorts of ways … from understanding how hard repentance is to realizing how much I like to be right. But what I’m finding is this learning to “count others more significant” is hardest in my home.

As we spend this month at Do Not Depart considering a life surrendered, contemplating what it means to submit ourselves to the Lord and to one another, I’d guess that for many of us, the hardest place to surrender is in our homes.

I’d like to offer three ways I’m practicing surrender, humility, in my home. Maybe they’ll be helpful to you as well.

Focused Prayer. Each morning I am purposefully praying the Lord will give me a desire to serve the members of my family. In fact, I’ve asked Him to make me miserable if I don’t.
Fresh Perspective. I’ve been making a list of the ways my family members serve others. It helps me see how we are cultivating a heart of serving in our home. I tend to focus on the negative sometimes and this practice is helping me have a clearer view of the reality of our family’s focus and lifestyle.
First Priority. Every day I’m making it my first priority to serve the members of my family. Before I get my coffee, I am trying to make sure my husband has his. When I wake my girl, I’m working hard to use a positive tone and not nag her even when she’s running late.

A surrendered life has to happen at home first. We need to begin by serving first in our homes, learning to count ourselves less significant than the other members of our families. It’s the hardest place … but I firmly believe it’s the one place that carries the most weight.

How do you pursue a surrendered life in your home?

SLOW: Preparing Your Heart for Easter

March 7, 2013 by Teri Lynne Underwood 6 Comments

We live in a frantic and chaotic world. Our “to do” lists never end and the demands on our time never cease. We fight an inner battle between our need for stillness and our desire to accomplish. We know, in our hearts, how much we need to slow down, need sabbath. But the voices inside and out remind us of our obligations, our commitments, the tasks at hand.

Maybe, though, you find yourself this Lenten season in that awkward place of recognizing the need to slow but uncertain how to do it. Slowing is hard. Sabbath isn’t easy in a 24/7 world. It’s hard to be the girl in the Bible study who loses the “I’m busiest!” race. I know, I’ve been there. Over the past few weeks, I find myself learning a very important lesson: He slows me because He wants to show me. When the Lord beckons my heart to be still, to rest in His presence, to slow the pace of my life, it is because He always has something He longs to show me—something I need to know about His nature, His character, His plan for me, His love. Slowing allows us to be intentional and to learn.

I’d venture to guess that if you are reading a post with “preparing your heart for Easter,” you have an interest in doing just that. May I offer you a series of Scripture readings to be used for just that purpose?

Let’s SLOW together: Sacrifice, Linger, Own, and Wonder. Each of these four readings is designed for a time of personal meditation and prayer. I’ll be using them on Sunday mornings as I prepare for church and then reading the passages again throughout the week, keeping the words and ideas fresh on my heart.

S—SACRIFICE

As we consider the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we must also consider the sacrifice He’s called us to make in our own lives. The laying down of all we care about and trusting He cares more. My friend Kris speaks of Lent this way, “It occurred to me that perhaps what God calls us to give up, really, is ourselves” ([amazon_link id=”1481909681″ target=”_blank” ]Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement[/amazon_link]). I’ve found that Lent presses in on me in ways I’d never expected.

Meditate on these passages about sacrifice: Psalm 116 (especially verse 17) and John 12:1-8.

L—LINGER

When was the last time you lingered in the Lord’s presence? Just stayed to enjoy being wrapped up in Him? Jesus called us to “abide in Him” and even said without doing so we could accomplish nothing (John 15:5). In the Psalms we find the simple but challenging truth that we best know God when we are still in His presence (Psalm 46:10). Carve out time to linger in the Lord’s presence.

Meditate on these passages about lingering: Psalm 46 and John 15:1-9

O—OWN

Do you realize your own need for the Lord, your own part in His death? Sometimes we fail to accept ownership of the reality of our sin. We like those words like “mistake” and “messed up” over the harsher “sin” and “sinner.” But the reality is: We have to reach the point of owning our sin in order to fully recognize the price Christ paid for it. Spend time contemplating the reality of your own sin and the depth of Christ’s sacrifice paid for it.

Meditate on these passages as you consider your own sin: Psalm 22 and John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19

W—WONDER

I often think about Mary Magdalene’s experience that first resurrection morning. She probably wondered about how the stone would be moved from the tomb, then wondered how she would tell the disciples what she had seen. As she returned to the garden, I bet she wondered about all she’d learned from Jesus and then, when He spoke her name, I just can’t imagine the wonder at hearing His voice once again. May I invite you into the wonder of WHO Jesus is and how much He loves you? Take time to embrace the wonder of God-made-flesh, sent to die, now sitting at God’s right hand, someday to return, and eternally to reign.

Meditate on these passages as you wonder: Psalm 89 and John 20:11-18

{Please feel free to print the SLOW pdf and use it as you prepare your heart for Easter.}

How has slowing helped you see the Lord more clearly?

Finding Quiet in an Incredibly Loud World: 5 tips for practicing stillness

January 10, 2013 by Teri Lynne Underwood 13 Comments

Usually, when the distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we eliminate is the thing we need the most: quiet, reflective time.

[amazon_link id=”0446563595″ target=”_blank” ]Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy[/amazon_link]

Is your world noisy? Between the people, the gadgets, and the never-ending cacophony of social media and 24-hour news, the quest for quiet in the modern mom’s life can seem more difficult than solving the national debt crisis. And while we may recognize our need for other disciplines, like study or fellowship, we often find it difficult to acknowledge our need for silence or solitude. We feel selfish or believe time for that will come in other seasons of life, but not now.

But maybe, it’s those times when quiet is hardest to find when we really need it the most.

The Psalmist tells us,

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

How do we accomplish this discipline of stillness, of solitude and silence? And especially how do we make it happen in the midst of our loud and busy lives?

What are solitude and silence in the life of a believer?

In her book, [amazon_link id=”0446679151″ target=”_blank” ]Intimate Faith: A Woman’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines[/amazon_link], Jan Winebrenner writes, “[S]olitude, as a spiritual discipline, calls us to keep company with God.” (116)

Isaiah, the prophet, wrote, “In quietness and trust is your strength” (30:15).

These disciplines, this call to stillness, is one of drawing close to God … of eliminating the distractions of daily life and listening, even resting, in His presence. Winebrenner says, “The discipline of stillness, when exercised in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, will always yield fruit” (128)

How can we incorporate these disciplines into our real, incredibly loud lives?

There is no perfect way to practice silence and solitude … nor is there a perfect amount of time to devote to them. There are countless ways we can build this practice of stillness into our routines. Here are few suggestions.

Establish a daily quiet hour (or 10 minutes!) in your home. While many moms have this time scheduled for their children, they often fail to use this time for their own stillness.
Turn off the devices. All of them. You don’t have to be accessible at all times, honest. Make it a practice to spend meaningful time each day unplugged.
Learn to listen. Listening is becoming a lost art. Make a decision to listen more than you speak … both in your relationships with others and with the Lord.
Grab minutes and trust the Lord to multiply them. We all have days when the only quiet is the two minutes in between crises … but when we give God those short minutes, He—in His incredible economy—is faithful to multiply the fruit in our lives.
Set the alarm 10 minutes earlier. I know, I hear the groans through the screen. (Oh wait, that was actually me groaning as I typed.) It’s no fun to think about setting that alarm even earlier. During those 10 minutes, even if you just lie there in the warmth of your bed, pray, offering those first dark moments of the day ahead to the Lord. Meet Him in the stillness before the day begins. It’s worth it, I promise!

It is in the solitary moments, hemmed with silence, that we discover the heart of God … When we make time to be alone with God, we discover that his presence fills us with contentment like no other’s can. (129) [amazon_link id=”0446679151″ target=”_blank” ]Intimate Faith[/amazon_link]

How do you practice stillness, the disciplines of silence and solitude, in your life? Please share your ideas and tips for stillness with us.

affiliate links included in this post.

image sources: (c) Can Stock Photo, Teri Lynne Underwood

Finding the Word in Christmas: 3 Simple Ideas for Incorporating Scripture into Holiday Decorating

December 6, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 9 Comments

I’m a word-lover. All my life I’ve been captivated by words. One of my favorite verses in Scripture is John 1:1,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And then in John 1:14,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …

The Creator of all things using words is THE Word … and He, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. The Message says it this way, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”

And, that, my friends, is Christmas! God Incarnate became Word-Made-Flesh and entered the world. And He used words, as He had from the beginning, to speak truth and hope and promise into the darkness of this world.

It’s probably no surprise then, that words form a large part of my Christmas decorating plan. Words like hope and joy are repeated in many places throughout my home. In some places there are entire verses on display and in others, a simple word that points to the Word.

Here are three simple ways to add the Word to your Christmas decorating:

1. Pick a key word and repeat it. For us, that word would be hope. I have is spread throughout my house in all sorts of ways. There’s even a tree in my kitchen filled with ornaments that say, “Hope.” Each time I see that word, I am reminded that He is our hope!

2. Use an Advent calendar with Scripture. Dayspring has two beautiful tabletop advent devotionals this year. I have both of them on display in my home. As I change the calendar each day, I’m reminded of the beauty of God’s Word.

3. Choose a theme verse for your holiday season and prominently display it. This year has been filled with some major disappointments and very difficult family situations. And we’ve entered the holiday season with a little trepidation about how it will all play out. I chose a verse to display on the chalkboard in our family room that would remind us of God’s sovereignty in all things.

I’m sure there are countless other ways you have added Scripture and words to keep your holiday decor focused on Christ. We’d love for you to share some of your ideas with us in the comments!

{I’ve partnered with Dayspring this holiday season on my personal blog … and I have a great 50% code for this doormat. This is a great way to remind yourself and all who enter or leave your home of the good news and great joy of this season! The code is good through Saturday, December 8.}

Giving Thanks for the Small

November 29, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 14 Comments

Two years ago I read [amazon_link id=”0310321913″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]a book that echoed deep within the God-seeking, list-making recesses of my heart[/amazon_link]. I’d been listing gifts for several years at that point, though I didn’t number them. Sunday mornings were spent journal in one hand, calendar in the other recalling the little blessings and moments of the week just passed.

I’d learned this lesson about worship: my heart is better prepared to focus on Him when I’ve already spent time focusing on Who He is and all He’s done for me. I enter the sanctuary of our church ready to encounter Him more deeply when I’d intentionally given thanks beforehand. And so my journals are filled with Sunday lists of lunches with friends, moments with my husband, unexpected accomplishments, and opportunities to give. When I started blogging I added a “Fab Five” each Friday numbering five of the joys from the week.

For almost 17 years I’ve been counting in one form or another.

I was looking through some old journals and found lists written by a newlywed … with gratitude for a husband who surprised me with dinner out and the celebration of Christmas in our first home. I found scribbled notes of gratitude scratched out by a very tired nursing mom who wanted to remember the peaceful moments of 2 am feedings and singing softly over her little girl, “Lord, prepare her to be a sanctuary …”

But sometimes habits get old and lists get forgotten. I’ve never made the listing into a discipline or attached a spiritual requirement to it … but I’ve also lost sight sometimes of how numbering changes me. It reminds me to slow and still and notice.

This year, I’ve spent November intentionally counting.

It’s 10:31 am on November 28th as I write this post and I just stopped to list gift #524, a verse I saw on Facebook yesterday and read again today:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed in him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

Did you catch that last sentence?

Let your living—our living, our love and lives spilled out for Christ—let that living spill over into thanksgiving. Sometimes we neglect to let our living spill over into thanksgiving.

As we close out this month of turkeys and thankfulness listed out on Facebook and rush head-first into the chaotic Christmas season it’s going to get harder.

I love this thought from [amazon_link id=”0310321913″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Ann’s book[/amazon_link]:

Do not disdain the small. The whole of life—even the hard—is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole.

Of course we must be thankful for those “big” gifts of salvation, our families and friends, our churches and opportunities to serve … but maybe we also need to be intentional about gratitude for those small things too—quiet moments with a good book and coffee or an unexpected email with a kind word of encouragement. My list for November includes names and places, food and movies, Scriptures and quotes from books, sermon notes and songs. These years of listing have taught me to notice … both big and small. And to remember the Giver of every gift (James 1:17)!

Will you do me the honor of sharing just one thing, something small perhaps, that you are thankful for this day? Just a leave a comment with your note of gratitude.

Spring Cleaning in October Unshakeable Faith

October 26, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 3 Comments

I’ve been looking around my house lately and noticing some areas that are in desperate need of some spring cleaning. Of course, since it’s October spring cleaning is a bit far away.

Sometimes, though, I get a glimpse of my heart and notice there’s some cleaning needed there as well. I’m sharing today a lesson I learned about my heart while cleaning my bathroom. {It’s a good one!}

{Click here if you cannot see the video above.}

What about it? Do you have some moldy places in your heart?

How can you invite God to clean up the hidden places in your life?

I Am Adopted: Welcome at the Table

October 25, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 2 Comments

I stood in a room filled to the brim with people. The beautiful kind of people. All of them in groups—some were laughing together, others huddled close for intimate conversation. I looked around at these women with their perfect hair and cute shoes and everything in me wanted to run. I didn’t belong there. I wasn’t pretty enough, talented enough, smart enough, good enough.

Tears welled up in my eyes and I turned to leave the room as my heart pounded and the voices in my head screamed, “You don’t belong.” With my head down, I moved toward the door when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Teri Lynne, where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you!”

As I turned around I saw the smiling face of someone way more important than me. She’s a “big blogger” … everyone knows her name. She wrapped her arms around me, ignoring the shock on my face and tears in my eyes, and said, “C’mon, there are some people here who need to know you.”

We sat at a table and she introduced me to some incredible women who are beautiful and talented and wise and hilarious and genuine. I knew I didn’t really deserve to sit at that table. But I was welcome there.

Maybe you can relate?

There’s this amazing story captured in 2 Samuel 9 … brings me to tears every time I read it. The story of David and Mephibosheth. Do you know it?

Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son. Jonathan, you remember, was Saul’s son and David’s very best friend. Jonathan knew David was God’s choice for king of Israel and he asked only one thing from David—that David would treat his family with “faithful love” (from 1 Samuel 20:15 NLT).

Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle and David was crowned king of Israel. He remembered his promise to Jonathan. In 2 Samuel 9, we find this amazing story of David’s great kindness. He invites Mephibosheth to move into the palace and sit at the king’s table, right there with Absolam, Amnon, Solomon, and all of David’s sons.

David extended extravagant kindess to Mephibosheth—not because of anything Mephibosheth had done but simply because of his love for Jonathan. David offered Mephibosheth a place at the table, treated him as equal with his own sons.

This, y’all, this is what God has done for us! He has extended extravagant kindness … not for our sakes but simply out of His perfect love. We are welcomed at the King’s table and treated as equal with His own Son.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16-17

You are welcome at the table … How will you live in that promise today?

Share with us how you have experienced being welcomed at the King’s table.

Bible Notebook: Prayer Calendars

September 5, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 10 Comments

I used to be an organizational ninja! In fact, just a couple of years ago I wrote a post called The Type A Person Prays. As I was praying and contemplating what to share this month as we highlight tools you can use for Bible study, I came across that post. And, to be honest, I was very convicted … it’s been far too long since I have been focused and intentional in my prayers.

In that post, I shared about using Prayer Calendars to organize your prayer times. Perhaps you are like me and often find yourself lost in the daily demands of mothering, wife-ing, housekeeping, working, and laundering. Prayer calendaring is a great way to maintain focus in your prayers.

I have used both weekly and monthly prayer calendars. First, the weekly:

I assign a specific prayer need to each day of the week.

For example:

Sunday – church services, both my church as well as other churches in my community and those pastored by family and friends

Monday – our church staff and the ministries of our church

Tuesday – my daughter’s school system and the teachers

Wednesday – my family

Thursday – Scott’s family

Friday – my community, the ministries that happen here, our local government, etc.

Saturday – the week ahead. I like to use my calendar and pray over any activities, etc., we have coming up.

Using a weekly prayer calendar helps me spend quality time praying for the needs of those close to me as well as in my church and community. I am adding a new component to my prayer calendar – focus Scriptures. As I find passages or verses that pertain to the specific areas about which I am praying, I will be making note of them on my prayer calendars.

The other type of prayer calendar I use (at the recommendation of my daddy) is a monthly prayer calendar. I assign a specific prayer theme to each month. Then with the monthly calendar I fill in a person, situation, etc., to pray for during each day.

Here are some of the prayer themes I have used for my monthly prayer calendar:

myself
my husband
my daughter
national, state, and local governmental leaders
foreign mission fields and ministries like One Verse and the Gideons who provide the Bible in many languages
North American mission fields, church plants, etc.
summer months – how we should use them, etc. (I typically do this in May.)
focus and direction for the year ahead (typically in January)
adopting families and ministries like Compassion and World Vision
my friends
gratitude (November is a great time for this!)
friends we have in ministry
crisis pregnancy ministry
La Clinica Cristiana (the local health care ministry where I volunteer)
back to school (teachers, home school families, etc.)

The options are endless … but I have found that by devoting an entire month to praying for such specific topics helps me keep those things on my mind throughout the whole year.

You can download both of these calendars and use them for your personal prayer time. (To download the weekly prayer calendar, click here, right-click on the image, then choose “Save As…” to save the file on your computer. To download the monthly prayer calendar, click here, right-click on the image, then choose “Save As…” to save the file on your computer.)

How do you organize your prayer time? Have you ever used a prayer calendar or similar tool?

Encouragement When You Feel Small

August 2, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 4 Comments

Sometimes we all feel small, insignificant, even unseen. Our days are filled with tasks that will be necessary again tomorrow and the rewards for our faithfulness can appear few and far between. Ever feel that way?

I have a few verses I consistently turn to when I begin to feel unnoticed or unimportant. Reminders of El Roi, the God who sees me, even when I feel unseen.

I will call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:6, 8
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:16
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:4
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 emphasis added
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8a
Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

What Scriptures has God used to encourage you during the days you have felt small?

Names of God: Jehovah Rohi

July 5, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 8 Comments

When fear regarding the cares of this world sets in, we must remember God’s promise to care for us. ~ Elizabeth George

Do you get afraid? Or lonely? Or intimidated? Or uncertain? Yeah, me too. I find myself wandering through life wondering if I’ll ever be enough, have enough, do enough. Some days I look at all the things I’ve done – from dishes to laundry to car pool to blog posts – and I think, “I’ll have to do every single one of those things again tomorrow.” And I wonder, “Does it matter?” But really, deep inside, I’m really asking God, “Do I matter?”

Maybe you can relate. I imagine at some level we all have known that feeling. We may know in our heads that we have a God who sees us (El Roi) but we feel in our hearts that we remain unseen. We know in our heads that our God provides (Jehovah Jireh) but we look around and feel so very needy. We know in our heads that God is there (Jehovah Shammah) but we still feel so very alone.

The Lord is my shepherd.

Psalm 23:1

These words have brought comfort to mourning families for centuries … but they offer us hope and truth as well. These five words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” come from two Hebrew words: Jehovah Rohi.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and I am known by My own” (John 10:14).

Jesus, our shepherd, is Jehovah Rohi, our Lord.

He feeds us … literally and spiritually.
He leads us … through still waters and through dark valleys … but He is with us each step.
He warns us … by His rod and staff we are guided and disciplined … because we are loved.

Today, will you slow down and read Psalm 23? Cherish the promises of care and protection, provision and love, so freely offered to us. What a great gift we have been given … to know Jehovah Rohi, the Lord is my shepherd.

How have you experienced the feeding, leading, and warning of the Lord in your life?

5 Ways to Dig into God’s Word

June 7, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 3 Comments

{This is one of my “go to” posts for encouraging others about spending time in Scripture. I love sharing the many ways we can interact with God’s Word. As we consider tools for Bible study this month on Do Not Depart, I wanted to offer you a post I wrote in June 2010 for Scripture Dig about encountering God through His Word.}

The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it, observing its motions, and admiring its splendor, without being led to Christ by it, the use of it will be lost on us. Thomas Adams (1583–1652), English clergyman and religious writer

We are called to use our Bibles … our time spent in Scripture must alter us if it has truly been an encounter with God. Just as Moses’ countenance glowed upon his interaction with The I AM, so to must our light shine brighter upon our meeting with the Living God revealed through the Word.

The good news is … we are all wired differently! In our unique personality and makeup, God has created us to interact and respond to His Word in multiple ways. Each is valuable and we should all endeavor to engage in every way; but, rest assured, it is absolutely normal and appropriate that one or two of these will be more comfortable and natural to you!!

STUDY

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. ~ Ezra 7:10, NASB

When we study God’s Word we are investing focused time in a passage, word, character or theme. Study is analytical. Study requires concentration and focus. Richard Foster explains, “In the study of Scripture a high priority is placed upon interpretation: what it means” (Celebration of Discipline, 69). This reflects back to the important truth Kristi explained, “The Bible is not about us. The Bible is about God.” Spending time studying God’s Word is our intentional determination to grow in our understanding of Him. Simply put, the primary goal of study is UNDERSTANDING.

DEVOTIONAL

The second method we use to engage in the Bible is devotional. This is perhaps the most common method. Foster contrasts devotional reading from study in this manner, “In the devotional reading of Scripture a high priority is placed upon application: what it means to me” (69). In no way is there an implication that devotional reading is not important, but we must make certain this is not the ONLY way we interact with Scripture; for in doing so, we risk losing the truth that ALL Scripture is useful (2 Timothy 3:16). The goal of devotional reading is APPLICATION.

MEDITATION

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. ~ Psalm 1:2, NASB

Again from Foster, “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His Word” (17). We have a tendency to make meditation a complex thing or something only the “super spiritual” can accomplish. Or on the flip side, we shy away from this discipline because of it’s association with eastern religions. I have heard it said that eastern meditation is the goal of emptying the mind while Christian meditation’s purpose is to fill the mind with Christ. Honestly, I believe the goal of mediation is simple: REFLECTION.

MEMORIZATION

Thy Word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11, NASB

Familiar verse to most of us … but a powerful, powerful promise! It is important to understand that Scripture clearly teaches and Christ clearly models the value and necessity of embedding Scripture into our hearts and minds. Memorizing Scripture helps us achieve the goal of DISCIPLINE. Within this goal, we find that we are more self-controlled in our actions and protected from temptation to sin.

ACTION

But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22, NASB

Clearly, we must be focused on DOING what Scripture teaches. For if we spend hours in study, delight in meditation, engage in devotional reading, and memorize countless passages but never DO anything in response, we have not truly encountered the Living Word of God. We must be changed and compelled into action – whether in our thoughts and motives or our actions and mannerisms – spending time in the Word must lead us to OBEDIENCE!

Which of these five comes most easily to you? Which is most difficult?

Sources for Further Reading or Reference:

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas (a great resource for understanding how you are wired to interact with God)
Seeking the Face of God by Gary Thomas
Intimate Faith: A Woman’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines by Jan Winebrenner

You might also find 7 Ways to Interact with Scripture and 10 Tips for a Great Quiet Time useful.

Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding THE Rock

May 3, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 7 Comments

As the wife of a worship pastor, I’ve heard the explanation of “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” more than a few times. But there are moments when all we’ve heard transforms into all we know.

In 2007, my husband spent ten days in ICU. Seven of those days he was on life support. I needed a stone of help like never before in my life. You see, for me, my husband has always been the rock, the steady one, the person who helps me. In those moments when the only sounds were the rhythm of the ventilator and the melody of beeping from the symphony of machines keeping him alive, I hit the bottom, rock bottom, so to speak.

I was drained. Empty. Helpless.

These are the words God spoke to me through His living Word:

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:5-8, emphasis added

He reminded me, gently and tenderly, as He is wont to do that He ONLY is my rock, my mighty rock.

I sat there, alone, yet not alone. Surrounded by the heavy presence of the Most High God who beckoned me softly to trust Him. Even now, even with this.

Tears streaming down my face, blurring the words on the pages of my Bible, I cried out like the man who longed for healing for his child, “I believe, help my unbelief.” And this God, this Rock, this Refuge, He met me where I was. He accepted my fears, my doubts, even my anger and my hurt.

There in an ICU room in a hospital in south Georgia, I laid down me and I raised my Ebenezer. I chose to walk in faith that the road ahead would not leave me alone, for He would be with me. I chose to trust in Him. And He has been my refuge.

My husband has on his desk at the church a set of prayer rocks with various words for prompting prayers. A few years ago my daughter made sets of prayer rocks for her great-grandmother and her great-aunt. I have a little rock myself. A piece of gravel from the driveway of our home in south Georgia. I picked it up one morning after Scott was home from the hospital and doing much better. Because I wanted something to remind me … not a prompt to pray for my husband but an Ebenezer, a rock of help, to remind me of the God who is my Rock.

How has Scripture been an Ebenezer in your life? Are there passages that refocus you, remind you of the faithfulness of God in your life? Would you share them with us in the comments today?

Fenced In? Theology of Forgiveness

April 4, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 1 Comment

Some parts of Scripture leave me feeling fenced in, unable to maneuver, incapable of escape. Passages concerning forgiveness are among these “cause me to hyperventilate” Scriptures. Forgiveness is hard stuff. The idea that receiving forgiveness from God is connected to extending forgiveness to others, well, that fence seems too high to scale most of the time.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

Why did Jesus say our forgiveness by God is predicated on our willingness to forgive others? Did He really mean that God will not forgive us if we don’t forgive those who wrong us? Or maybe He was pointing to a deeper, heart truth: We fail to grasp the depth of forgiveness received until we extend great forgiveness to others.

Jackie Kendall speaks to the reality of our identity as both forgiven and forgiver:

(W)e have the grace-given capacity to forgive. It is imperative to recall this as well: not only are we offended, but we all offend.

Free Yourself to Love: the Liberating Power of Forgiveness, p. 21, emphasis in original

Jesus offered the well-known “seventy times seven” call to forgiveness after a parable about a servant forgiven a great debt and yet unwilling to then forgive the much-lesser debt of another. We are called to identify ourselves with this greatly-forgiven and realize the debt we owe our King is infinitely beyond our ability to repay … and thus we have no just cause to withhold forgiveness from another.

That all sounds good in theory, right? But sometimes people deeply wound us, so deeply there is no restoration possible or restitution to make amends. How do we forgive then? WHY do we forgive then?

How? We make a choice. We determine to be obedient and walk in the grace we have been given.

How? We make the choice over and over. This is where the seventy times seven comes in. We continue to choose forgiveness even when we don’t want to and don’t feel like it. We make the decision to extend mercy even when we’d rather, as my husband says, hoard grace.

The “How?” we generally understand. It’s the “Why?” that leaves us baffled.

Why offer forgiveness? Why does it matter?

Why? Because we need to forgive in order to experience healing.

From another of my favorite books, Kitchen Table Counseling, by Muriel L. Cook and Shelly Cook Volkhardt:

I’ve learned that a lack of forgiveness is the root of most problems. In almost every problem situation, after peeling off the layers of grief or distress, I find a wounded spirit or unresolved resentment. (40).

Forgiving is what heals us. We get that mixed up, don’t we? We convince ourselves that it’s the apology that leads to our healing. But it’s not. It’s forgiving – even without the apology – that changes and restores our hearts. Yes, we like the apology but we must learn that it is not vital to our wholeness. But forgiveness is.

It is in forgiving, with or without the other party’s apology or desire for healing, that we experience the freedom of living in God’s plan for His children. Again from Kitchen Table Counseling:

What appears to be a condition on His forgiveness is actually a demonstration of His love … God’s commandment to us to forgive was not given out of the meanness of His heart, nor was it meant to make life hard for us. Its purpose is to set us free. (40-45)

Forgiveness isn’t a fence holding us in … it’s a gate opening to the abundant life God has for us. Through forgiving we imitate Christ. Through forgiving, we find healing. Through forgiving, we find freedom.

Have you ever felt fenced in by the command to forgive? How have you learned to extend forgiveness?

My Favorite Bible Study Tools

March 7, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 2 Comments

Today you get a glimpse into my mind. Be prepared: It can be a little bit scary there!

I love that this month we are sharing how to use Bible study tools and explaining a bit more about how we study. {I also need to confess that I’m a tad intimidated by several – okay, all – members of the Do Not Depart team. These are some brilliant Bible teachers, y’all!}

So today, I’m admitting that I’m totally a pen and paper girl. I process everything on paper … blog posts, Bible studies, sermon applications, everything! As I read my Bible – and any other books I’m reading as well – I take notes.

One of my favorite ways to study is to explore repeated phrases in Scripture. Right now, I’ve been spending time looking at the idea of “pleasing aromas” in Scripture. Here is one page of my notes:

: the first page of my notes on “pleasing aromas”

I love tracking the ways words are used and seeing the different places in Scripture ideas are developed. While I use my lexicon to discover the original languages and Bible encyclopedias to learn the contextual applications of specific passages, I always start my studying with paper and pen.

Perhaps you feel inadequate sometimes to study deep into God’s Word. I do too! I don’t always understand what commentaries are trying to tell me and sometimes reading lexical aids or trying to use the concordance leaves me frustrated. {That’s one of the many reasons I am glad my fellow DND writers are going to be covering some of these topics this month!} But, this one truth reassures me:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

ALL of Scripture is useful in my life and when I devote myself to studying it, God promises that it will not return void {Isaiah 55:11}. When I ask for wisdom to understand what I am reading and studying, God will grant it to me – generously even {James 1:5}.

So take notes, find commonalities, search for repeated words and phrases … your pen and paper are among the best Bible study tools you can use!

How has the simple process of taking notes and adding to them helped you gain deeper insight into Scripture?