Dedicated to daily difference making: Susanna Wesley

January 20, 2015 by Julie Leave a Comment

How can a woman be sure her life will impact people for good? No one starts out planning to be Elizabeth Elliot, Harriet Tubman, or Monica of Hippo. What path does a women choose if she wants to be among those who make a difference?

By the time she married at 20 years of age, Susanna Wesley had already been schooled in the principles of maximizing life. The youngest of 25 children, she was the daughter of a pastor who planted an appreciation for learning in her heart, and her future course was clearly aimed. She’s known for declaring, “I am content to fill a little space if God be glorified.” This attitude served Susanna well, for she was destined to face a life of hardships, providing a laboratory of faith for her own family. A life aimed at glorifying God will succeed at impacting people.

Susanna Wesley’s Daily Dedication

Apathy and Antagonism

When Susanna married a pastor, the couple began their gospel partnership in a time of religious apathy in England. Not only had worship become dull and faith disconnected, but parishioners lashed out in personal attacks on the Wesley family whenever sermons or opinions weren’t to their liking.

Pain and Poverty

Susanna bore 19 children, grieving the loss of 9 of them. Rather than providing support and encouragement we should expect in the church, antagonistic members once harassed the family throughout the night. Taking advantage of husband Samuel’s absence and Susanna’s recent delivery of their 16th child, trouble makers assaulted and antagonized the family all night long. One church member demanded immediate payment of a debt, putting Samuel into debtors prison, leaving Susanna to bear the load alone. Twice the family suffered burning of their home, once losing nearly everything and scattering to be housed.

Humility and Home

No doubt Susanna learned the essentials of discipline, routine, and hard work in her well populated family of origin. Because of their poverty, the family lived a plain life, but Susanna led her children in times of worship and teaching. She authored 3 religious texts in order to provide education for her brewd. Her household school produced learned children, and her home based worship drew crowds that ultimately drew criticism from jealous clergy.

Discipline and Dedication

How did Susanna respond to life’s hardships so her faith rose to the surface and her children followed? The disciplines of her life served her well; she spent two hours in prayer daily. This was possible because she managed her large home with regularity, routine, and discipline. Her example set the pace. Instead of creating a regimented atmosphere, she was dedicated to nurturing relationships with each child, making it a priority to spend time with each individual.

She was impoverished, grieved, antagonized, misunderstood, threatened, stretched, and undermined, but she did not let temporal things keep her from the eternal. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Many women today would be overcome by such a host of obstacles, but in Susanna we see an example of doing the right thing, the godly thing, the faithful thing. Are we content to fill the space God gives us, if only He is glorified?

We can be overcome or we can overcome.

Susanna’s investment into the people in her life bore great fruit. Her son John, along with his brother Charles, led in a great spiritual awakening and establishment of the Methodist Church. Charles penned thousands of hymns, giving voice to generations of followers of Christ. Perhaps the habits and tunes of faith were first taught, stirred, and fanned into flame by the prayerful mother who managed her home so well that her sons went on to impact lives around the world.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own
.

A life aimed at glorifying God will succeed at impacting people.

The Call to Holiness

June 5, 2014 by Ali Shaw 5 Comments

Two of my children had an argument yesterday. I could see it building for weeks and I’d been trying to quell it while equipping them to handle their feelings. But, when it comes down to it, only they can make themselves do what they know is right. And doing the right thing is sometimes so hard. Yet, I want my children to desire doing the right thing because I know of the fruit it brings.

This is something like our call to holiness.

“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:15,16 (ESV)

www.donotdepart.com — Jenny Downey, Photo Credit, CC

In God’s Word, holiness refers to being blameless, without sin, and set apart for God’s service. Holiness begins in Believers when we accept Christ’s blood shed for forgiveness. As we grow in the Lord, our holiness can mature as well.

How can I be “set apart” when I consistently fail and mess up? Like my own children, even though I’ve learned right from wrong, practicing it can be hard. Swallowing the ugly tone before it pops out, being calm when patience wears threadbare, making the right choice even though it requires much more effort… Some days holy living can feel as impossible as flying.

When right is so hard, why does God call us to holiness? Because of His great love for us! The wise Father sets boundaries for us out of the deepest, most personal love imaginable. Like Kathy mentioned He seeks our very best (and His glory) and uses the Bible and the Spirit to teach us for our physical, emotional, and spiritual protection. A commitment to holy living can save us from many woes. The enemy would like us to believe that holiness is impossible, or at least an unnecessary dullness with no benefit. How very wrong!

Peter reminds us of God’s words “be holy as I am holy” (Lev 11:45). In the Greek, “be” means “become, transition, or emerge”. What do these words tell us? That we will become holy as we model ourselves after Jesus. All of this is not solely by our own efforts, but with the help of the Spirit. Like an ugly caterpillar that emerges transformed into a butterfly, the metamorphosis is attainable.

The Pulpit Commentary says this: “So be ye holy in all manner of conversation. In the whole course of your daily life, in all its details, as you move hither and thither among men, take the holiness of God for your pattern.”

Our wise and loving God wishes for His children to imitate Him. The term “Christian” means, after all, “little Christ.” We are told not to conform ourselves to the world, but rather to “be holy, for I am holy.” “For” is a very important little word here. We are not expected to be in equality with God’s holiness (because we could never measure up!) but rather we are to imitate, model, and pattern ourselves after God’s loving, holy nature. (1 John 2:6) When we walk like Jesus, we share Him with the world.

“Let the acts of the offspring indicate similarity to the Father.” (Augustine)

“How little people know who think holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing… it is irresistible.” (CS Lewis)

While we will never achieve perfection this side of heaven, God calls us to holiness so we may enjoy the fruits of a Christ-exalting, God-honoring, close relationship with Him.

{If you’re looking for more information on pursuing holiness, make sure you check out and enter to win (here on DoNotDepart) Kathy’s new Bible study. Another great resource is a [amazon_link id=”1563094320″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Woman’s Guide to Personal Holiness[/amazon_link].}

How has God’s call to holiness touched your life? How does knowing that holiness is for your good and for His glory encourage you?

Click to Tweet these:

“God calls us to be holy because He loves us!”

“We will become holy as we model ourselves after Jesus.”

“God calls us to holiness so we may enjoy the fruits of a close relationship with Him.”

Reminding myself of the dangers of “busy”

July 11, 2013 by Julie Leave a Comment

“Half way through” has a way of making me stop and think. July 4th has a way of making me stop and consider how I’m using my summer, since it’s “half way through.” Our daughter is off to college in one month; we’ll have one son at home. As far as launching kids go, you might say we are “half way through.” It’s healthy to stop in the middle to look back on where we’ve been, how we’re doing, and where we’re going from here. This month at Do Not Depart, we’re considering the fruit our lives bear, but we’re also sharing some of our favorite posts from the first half of the year. When I started looking back at my posts, I landed all the way back in January. God used my own words to remind me of the danger of being too busy to do the most important things.

“There’s one more thing,” the plumber said, “Do you know where your main water cut off is?” Indicted by his simple question, I wondered how I could have ignored something so basic, especially when we’ve had a major “water episode.”

“What would you do if you needed to turn off your water?” He asked.

“Call you? Call my husband? Call my neighbor?” I smiled. He wasn’t charmed.

“I’m going to show you where your water source is. You don’t want to wait until you need it to find out where it is.”

If you haven’t cultivated prayer’s knee-worn path before a flood rushes in, now is a good time to begin. We don’t want to wait until we need it to find out where it is. Theologian Armin Gesswein said, “God’s throne is the busiest place in all the universe because everything centers there. Yet, the lack of prayer on earth keeps it from operating at full capacity.” Most of us say we’re too busy to pray. I was once too busy to find the water source in our house, and I paid a high price. Read the rest …

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:1-2).

We’re just half way through the year. It’s a great time to take a step on the knee-worn prayer path. Check out our tools like Prayer Calendars or A Prayer Album for Women on the Go.

Family Vacation Faith Journal

June 18, 2013 by Julie 8 Comments

You have such good intentions, but then you get swamped by the list of things to do to get ready to go: stop the mail, give the neighbor the key, set your vacation email response, take out the trash, turn off the water, pack the Epi-pen, get sunscreen, print off the reservation … And so by the time you get in the car, you’re just so glad to be driving away from it all. You can’t wait to get out of cell phone range so you can really relax.

You wanted to memorize together, do a devotion together, and simply pray together, but maybe you need to invite a member of the Do Not Depart team to go with you on vacation for that! (We would LOVE to! We pack light and don’t take up much room! Just contact us through our FB page :) ) What you need is a journal to guide you on the journey.

This month we’ve given you some golden practical printable tools to use when you travel. If you use them, you will be BLESSED to make the truth a sweet part of your vacation experience. That, we can guarantee, even if you don’t invite us to go with you!

But today I want to give you a 10-page journal to guide your journey. Here are some ways to use it.

5 Way to Use the Family Vacation Faith Journal

Take a look at the pages together before you even start to pack.
Take it into a restaurant with you to use, instead of those coloring pages.
Take a clipboard and let the “back seat dwellers” use it as you travel.
Take a few minutes over breakfast each day of your trip to do a page.
Take it “on location” for when you need 5 sitting down min. at the beach/park/camp.

You can print out your copy right now, or print out a copy for each family member, but make the Family Vacation Faith Journal a part of your next family journey. Single or without kids? No matter … we can all use a Faith Journal in our travel bag. You will be blessed, even if the journal helps you focus on a solo trek. Use your other printable tools to go with your journaling times.

Remember, “Vacations are not only times for adventure, rest, and relationship. Vacations are also opportunities for a fresh infusion of truth into our tired lives.”

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?

Bible study tools for vacation & travel season

June 4, 2013 by Julie 3 Comments

When temperatures rise, class schedules end, and daylight hours linger, most of us take time off from routines and work. Vacations call us to places of rest or adventure. The open road invites us to sigh deeply and hit our inner reset button.

If we’re honest, it can take a lot of work to get to those places of rest, but it’s worth it. Just one day of digging our feet in the sand, smelling crisp mountain air, or hearing unfettered laughter from those we love is enough to motivate us to do what it takes to go on vacation. After searching for the best deal for our budget, reserving our lodging, buying tickets or checking tires, making arrangements for the cat, stopping the mail, buying sunscreen, and more, we still hope and pray we haven’t forgotten anything. We might leave out what matters most.

If weighing luggage is part of your preparations, you carefully decide what goes and what stays. If children are part of your plans, you pack every crevice of a mini-van with tricks for every potential over the miles, and then you drive all night. With so much to think about to make a vacation all we dream it can be, all we pray it will be … it’s not hard to see why we might forget something that’s part of our routine lives, but still needs to be part of our time away. How can we keep up holy habits when we’re on the road and away from home?

Vacations are not only times for adventure, rest, and relationship. Vacations are also opportunities for a fresh infusion of truth into our tired lives.

While we probably don’t have room to take our study Bibles, prayer notebooks, concordances, and prayer partners, there’s an alternative to just leaving truth out of our time away. This month we invite you to open up your beach bag or backpack and pack some tools designed to help you make the truth a fresh and functional part of your travel plans. We’ll share some ideas for individuals and even for family. After all, Jesus beckons us to get away from our burdens and find rest … in Him.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28

The Do Not Depart team looks forward to taking a deep breath, closing our eyes, and enjoying a rest from work and routines. It’s not only a great chance to catch up on sleep, read good books, eat seafood, try a paddle board, sleep on the beach (Can you tell we really want to go on vacation?), or play games late into the night. It’s also a sweet time to quench our thirst with the Living Water and enjoy Him apart from the usual things of our days.

Will you join us? It’s time to get away for a little vacation together!

Click to tweet this post and share about the June theme at Do Not Depart.

Faithful in community

February 7, 2013 by Julie 5 Comments

The believers were scattered and facing persecution when James wrote to them to encourage them in their trials. They struggled to have joy, well aware of their need for wisdom in the difficult things of life. Have you ever been alone in the midst of trying times? Trials are hard enough, but facing them without community is harder.

Accept His community challenge

The message of the book of Hebrew resonates with the echo of encouragement to be full off faith in trials. Tucked inside the tenth chapter of the book, God reveals a key choice that may determine how steadfast we are as individuals. Choose to regularly assemble in one place with others who follow Him. He challenges us to practice this habit in order to be faithful in hard times.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Accept the community urgency

As followers of God recognize the Day of His return coming closer, they will face hardships that tempt them to move from hope to hopeless. Just identifying themselves as a member of His Body may come with a price tag, and they may give us coming together. Some Christ followers will drift away from a culture of love and doing kingdom things. More than ever, God wants the community of faith to gather together to encourage each other to be firm in their faith. By gathering together as His people, we remember who we are in Christ, who God is, why we have power instead of fear, and how light overcomes darkness.

Accept no community substitute

In this day, a scattered community of believers has more ways than ever to overcome isolation. It’s never been easier to network globally, but it’s never been easier to give up “meeting together,” which has the idea of assembling together in one physical place. Technology complements and creates community networks, but it doesn’t take the place of “meeting together.” There’s power in physical presence. We can not experience in reality what we only envision virtually.

Just as God became “God with us,” He urges us to be with each other. He set the precedent of relationship in community. Let’s keep on:

gathering together regularly
in local communities of believers
to spur each other on
to living out our faith
right up until the Day is here!

We will be faithful to the faithful One when we meet together faithfully.

Staying in the Word

January 24, 2013 by Caroline 10 Comments

My children pick up books throughout our days together and bring them to me to read or “read” themselves. Yesterday morning, I even found my older child “reading” to my younger one on the floor for the first time! Melts my momma heart.

It’s pretty easy to motivate them to cuddle and read together. (I pray, pray, pray this easy motivation remains and grows for a long time.) We enjoy quality time when we do so, they learn (hey, I still learn from their books, too), and we’re spending time wisely.

Experts say kids learn to love reading when families read together and when they see their parents reading for fun on their own. Just witnessing me reading encourages my kids to continue reading.

I want them to observe me captivated and changed from reading God’s Word and eager to pick up the Bible like (or more than) I am any other of my favorite reads.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8 – NIV)

Do Not Depart is founded upon the above verse. We need to stay in His Word, for doing so brings drastic results on our hearts and perspectives. Why, specifically?

Why We Read the Bible

Like Ann Voskamp said, “We read the Bible to really live…” God’s Word is living, and I only continue to see that truth more and more as years progress.
He formed us by His words (Genesis 1:26). It seems His words hold mighty power and importance.
His Word encourages community (Hebrews 10:24-25), discussion, and growth.
Reading the Word spurs action (James 1:22). His Words and the words of those who followed Him inspire us and draw us closer to the heart of God through revealing His active love.
His Word offers wisdom (James 3:17-18).
God’s Word is trustworthy, alive, and powerful.
Christ is the Word become flesh (John 1:14). A pretty good reason to linger in His Word, eh?

How to Stay in His Word

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is one of my go-to verses on the “how” part of staying in His Word. Talk about the verses, see the verses, read the verses, act on the verses.

As any discipline does, it takes training to making reading the Bible a habit.

Read and think every day. If it’s one book, one chapter, or one verse—just read. And pray for an open heart to His Word for you that day. Whenever I approach Bible reading time with a prayer and willingness, I see so much more of what He wants me to see.

A Few More Resources to Help You Stay in the Word

Use an app like Bible Gateway or YouVersion to follow a Bible reading plan. Each of these apps has a variety of topics to choose from and read.
Go back and read some our archived studies, like Love Like Him, Run to Him (a study on the Psalms), or Abiding Fruit. These studies focus on spending time in His Word to learn, grow, and deepen faith.
Kathy wrote a post several months ago with a free printable meditation worksheet to help you discover more depth in study of His Word.
Join a community focusing on reading and discussing the Word. I like She Reads Truth and HelloMornings.
For reflective bible study, read Savoring Living Water, filled with useful, in-depth bible study tips, and our series on creating a Bible notebook.

So, go ahead. Cuddle up with your bible. And see what amazing love you find from lingering in His Word.

Why do you read God’s Word? What are your favorite tips for staying in His Word? We love hearing from you.

Following the knee-worn path

January 22, 2013 by Julie 11 Comments

“There’s one more thing,” the plumber said, “Do you know where your main water cut off is?” Indicted by his simple question, I wondered how I could have ignored something so basic, especially when we’ve had a major “water episode.”

“What would you do if you needed to turn off your water?” He asked.

“Call you? Call my husband? Call my neighbor?” I smiled. He wasn’t charmed.

“I’m going to show you where your water source is. You don’t want to wait until you need it to find out where it is.”

Jesus Prayed

Jesus himself was a man of prayer, expressing dependence on his Father and determination to do His will. Even now, “he always lives to make intercession for them,” (Hebrews 7:25b) pleading our case. The Father Himself is the source of prayer, a gift to mankind as an invitation for two-way communication. With all of our technology, it’s better than any man-made version. Scripture teaches us the language of prayer, teaching our independent mouths to speak heart words of dependence. Though seated beside His Father, Jesus prays on.

Followers Prayed

Simple men who followed Jesus up close and personal, and knew the work of prayer, still asked to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus’ prayer pattern hinged on desiring His Father’s will. Since God’s word reveals His will, prayer needs the fodder of truth to drive the faith behind it. The Bible is our book of prayer.

The Church Prayed

When believers first gathered as the Church, they began as a praying Church. Vulnerable in a contra-God world, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.” (Acts 1:14a). They were sure of their need to cry out in dependence on God. If the people of God are to experience faith, intimacy, and power in an anti-God world, they must be people of prayer. To claim we are too busy to pray is to turn away from our waiting Lord. Prayer is not a piece of Body life; prayer is the foundation of Body life.

When I pray

Prayer strengthens faith. We call on God to fulfill promises He has already made.
Prayer nurtures intimacy. We expose ourselves to God and He makes Himself personally known.
Prayer inspires power. We gain boldness by focusing on the person of God instead of ourselves.

Two-way communication with God isn’t only for moments of helplessness, though Abba Father welcomes us near then. He invites us to call on Him as long as we live, to live in sweet, close communion with Him. To cultivate the discipline of prayer is to work at knowing His will, listening to Him, and opening our lives to Him.

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:1-2).

If you want to take a step on the knee-worn prayer path, check out our tools like Prayer Calendars or A Prayer Album for Women on the Go.

Is there a tool or habit you’ve found to help you keep prayer as part of your daily life?

Giving God His Due

January 15, 2013 by Kathy Howard 5 Comments

I know what’s happening in God’s throne room right now.

Space — Forming galaxy captured by NASA’s Hubble Telescope

And no, I haven’t had been granted a vision of heaven, but the Apostle John got a glimpse and he told us all about it.

God is being worshiped. Continually. Day and night. The citizens of heaven never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:8, 11, NIV

God created us to glorify – or worship – Him (Isaiah 43:7). Worship is our earthly purpose and our eternal destiny. Because we were wired to worship God, we can only find true joy, peace, and contentment when we worship Him. People who “serve and worship created things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25) will never be fully content.

“Worship” is considered a spiritual discipline we can practice to pursue a godly life. Do you purposefully practice worship?

What is worship?

“Worship” is recognizing the greatness and majesty of the one, true God and responding to Him in a way He deserves. It begins with an inward attitude of repentance, submission, reverence, and honor and can be seen in an outward response of obedience and service. Worship can also be physically expressed with actions such as kneeling, laying prostrate, or raising your hands to heaven.

Worship is the proper response to our holy God. Worship focuses all of who we are on all of who God is.

In his book [amazon_link id=”1576830276″ target=”_blank” ]Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life[/amazon_link], Donald Whitney makes this connection between worship and spiritual discipline:

“But is we would be Godly, we must focus on God. Godliness requires disciplined worship.”

How can we foster worship?

If worship is the proper response to who God is – to His holiness, then one of the best ways to foster worship in our own heart and lives to is study the nature of God. Although we can never fully comprehend our unfathomable God, we can grow in our understanding. And as our understanding grows, so will our worship.

If you are serious about growing your understanding of God, I have some reading recommendations for you:

Of course, His own Word, the Bible
[amazon_link id=”0060684127″ target=”_blank” ]The Knowledge of the Holy,[/amazon_link] A.W.Tozer
[amazon_link id=”084992085X” target=”_blank” ]Holiness,[/amazon_link] Henry Blackaby
[amazon_link id=”0842339655″ target=”_blank” ]The Holiness of God,[/amazon_link] R.C. Sproul

How do we practice worship?

God gives us a picture of worship in Isaiah 6. Like John, Isaiah had a vision of God seated on His throne. When Isaiah saw God in all His holiness, he was impacted with the reality of his own sin. Here’s what Isaiah did to respond to God in appropriate worship:

Confession and repentance
Submission to God’s will and ways
Obedient service

Worship is unique among the spiritual disciplines. To properly practice any of the others we should also be engaging in worship. If worship is “focusing on who God is and responding appropriately,” then we should be worshipping when we’re praying, when we’re serving, when we’re reading our Bible, and so forth.

Let’s focus on God and respond to Him with everything He deserves!

What do your outward expressions of worship look like?

Why Bother?

January 8, 2013 by Kathy Howard 6 Comments

Our culture has trained us to expect instant gratification and overwhelming results for minimal effort. Fast food. High speed internet. Movies on demand. “The Easy Button.” We can even “Jump-start” our weight loss. We aren’t used to waiting. We aren’t conditioned for hard work and long-term investment.

So why bother practicing the spiritual disciplines? The disciplines require long-term commitment and hard work – things unfamiliar to us. What in the world would be worth the time, discipline, and self-denial?

Why bother with spiritual disciplines?

Throughout January, here at Do Not Depart, we will be exploring the why of spiritual disciplines. We’ve been told we should, but discussing the why will encourage us to follow Christ in obedience. Today, we’ll look at the disciplines in general. As the month progresses, watch for the why of specific disciplines like prayer, Bible intake, service, and more!

Fulfilling our God-ordained purpose is the overarching reason for practicing the spiritual disciplines. Before God even saved us, He determined that we should be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:28-30). That is God’s ultimate goal for us – to be like Jesus. He wants to refine us, shape our character, mold us like clay in His divine hands.

Only God can cause this spiritual growth and transformation, but He chooses to work through our obedient cooperation. Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7) and commanded the Romans to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). The author of Hebrews warns us to “make every effort… to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

Personal Benefits of Discipline

In addition to Christ-likeness, genuine pursuit of the spiritual disciplines yields other personal and exciting benefits:

Spiritual depth – Our culture today teaches us to be superficial. Even Christians today lean toward shallowness. The spiritual disciplines take us beyond ourselves and the selfishness of our lives and plunge us into spiritual depths previously unknown.
Freedom – Scripture tells us that when we die to self, we also die to the sin that enslaves. Obeying God through commitment to the Disciplines liberates us from the weight of “self” and frees us to serve Him.
Intimacy with God – Through the disciplines we can experience and know God in ways and at levels not otherwise possible. They are the means of relating to God. Like Moses on the Mountain, we will be positioned to meet with God face-to-face.
Joy – We will sense God’s pleasure with our obedience. We will live in the glow of His presence. We will find fulfillment in God’s purpose for us.

Are you ready? The beginning of a new year is a great time to make a new commitment to fulfilling God’s purpose for you!

Has your attitude about spiritual disciplines changed? Share your experience with us today.

Solitude: Letting Bible study soak in

June 19, 2012 by Julie 4 Comments

Is your Bible study just accumulating knowledge or changing your life? Do you feel like you keep learning without absorbing?

Past the dunes, I saw no one and expected my family to emerge and ask what was for dinner. It was strange to be so utterly alone. I reveled in the chance to pray aloud, sing with abandon, laugh at God’s creatures, and marvel at truths He unveiled from His Word. It was not loneliness. It was solitude.

Finding a deserted beach and hours to drink in the Lord is not common. Without some quiet, Bible study risks being just the accumulation of knowledge, unrooted in our souls.

Solitude releases our FEARS

~ Most of us resist being alone; it forces us to go beyond book knowledge to trusting God. To be alone with Him is to rest in His sufficiency, as life’s challenges come to mind and His truth answers. Silence is the response of a heart filled with trust, strengthened on the beach of Solitude (Psalm 46:10). God wants us to “Be still and know” He is sufficient, powerful, and in control. He wants us to let His truth soak in and overshadow our fears. Bible study is the fodder God uses to work out confidence in the circumstances of life.

Solitude replaces our DISTRACTIONS

~ Solitude requires self-control to create space. Instead of being swept away by life’s noise, we decide to remove distractions and restructure our priorities, to have the opportunity to meditate on God’s truth. We give Him access to our thoughts, so He can show us how His truth applies to our life. As our motion and words slow, we hear His authority over our own voice and that of the world.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

Solitude redeems our TIME

~ When our minds settle on God’s truth, we experience His replenishing peace through the opportunity to hear and be refreshed by Him. In times of solitude, we can “Be still” and absorb the reality of His truth. We make a greater difference in our world when His truth has saturated our thoughts and taken root in our lives.

Finding your beach

Where is that beach, so you can go there? Fill your heart and mind with some Biblical fodder, and then carve out an opportunity for solitude, so God can speak to you above life’s noise. He will strengthen your faith and refresh your spirit there. Solitude may be captured when you least expect it:

Instead of filling a 10 minute wait with a phone call, enjoy the solitude.
Instead of using that corner chair for laundry, make it a special place for solitude.
Instead of only filling your planner with work, block out space for solitude.

It’s possible for Bible study to become simply motion adding knowledge. Bible study soaks in when we practice solitude.

Have you found a creative way to carve out some solitude in your life?

Intentional Bible Study in Fifteen Minutes a Day

March 22, 2012 by Katie Orr Leave a Comment

The Bible is so much more than just another book. It is living. Active. Life-changing.

That’s why you are here, at Do Not Depart. You love the Word. You know it’s value. You crave time with your Savior.

Announcing a New Study Series

I’ve created a new Bible study series to help you in your time with God in His Word.

Many of you have been enjoying the Run to Him study.

I am thrilled!

Lara and I appreciate the positive feedback about the study, and we JUST LOVE hearing about how God is using the selected Psalms to speak truth to your soul.

Focused 15: Intentional Bible Study in Fifteen Minutes a Day uses a method of study similar to the studies of the past, but I’ve taken it up a notch.

Through the use of different “lenses,” Focused15 will teach you how to dig even deeper.

Day 1 – Portrait Lens – Seeing the big-picture through cross-referencing.
Day 2 – Immersion Lens – Discovering the original language.
Day 3 – Zoom Lens – Finding truths, promises, and commands.
Day 4 – Wide-angle Lens – Looking at the sentence structure.
Day 5 – Personal Lens – Looking for God’s plan for us in these verses.

The first study—a four week study of 1 Corinthians 13—has “officially” launched today, and I would love to know what you think!

You can read all about it at the Focused15 site.

This Focused15 Bible study is available for immediate PDF download for only $3.99!

It is also available for Kindle and Nook, and every Kindle and Nook ebook contains a free download link to the PDF, for easy printing!

My prayer for this book is to equip you to study the Bible on your own—to take one more step toward becoming a self-feeder—so you can enjoy Him more and more every day!

Keys to understanding

March 19, 2012 by Julie 4 Comments

It’s time to plan a summer vacation, but I dread the question of “What to do with the dog?” When we camp, he comes, but when we travel far, he stays. And when he stays, I worry that his in-bred habit will be his fatal flaw. Given the opportunity, he’ll bolt. Finding someone to watch Trace is a delicate business.

When his caretaker reads the following directions, they CAN NOT miss the vital meaning.

Our dog runs away. If you leave the door open, then he’ll run out. His breed has the urge to hunt, so they bolt. The front door has to stay closed so he doesn’t escape. So, above all, don’t leave the door open. He’ll slip through and run away!

To be a faithful steward of our house and dog, a house sitter must catch the key words of our message: “run” (bolt/escape) and “door.”

When words are vital, they’re repeated for emphasis. In a Biblical book or passage, key words point to the text’s important meaning. To miss out on the repetition would be to let the most significant message escape. Dependable caretakers notice the “If … then” words in our directions that spell out a potential cause and effect. “So” introduces an application we want to underscore, in light of the facts. Take a look at these examples of how God repeated key words in the text of scripture for our understanding:

The Gospel of John helps us understand who Jesus is by repeating “I am” throughout the book.
Revelation 1-3 includes the repeated phrases: “And to the angel of the church in ____ write … I know your …” Repeatedly, John wrote the Lords words: “I know your works…” Each letter to the 7 churches ends with, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” and he specifies promises “To the one who conquers.” These are personal letters, from the heart of an all-knowing God, longing for His followers to be “conquerors” in the face of their challenges.

Look at how the meaning of a passage stands out when we focus our attention on the repeated language, the KEY WORDS. Key words are the keys to understanding.

⁷So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:7-16)

John 10:1-16 uses key words like sheep, sheepfold, flock, and shepherd to explain how Jesus is the good shepherd. The key words paint a picture of the relationship the shepherd has with the sheep.

It really helps me to “see” the key words in a passage when I highlight them in the same color OR draw a simple symbol over them. The most significant ideas jump off the page at me. When I see “shepherd,” I draw a simple shepherd’s staff. “Sheep” gets a fluffy shape around it. Choose what symbol resonates in your mind to mark a key word. If you’ve been in Precept studies, you’ve done a lot of this, but you can keep it simple and make it work for you. By marking those important, repeated key words, the meaning jumps off the page and into our heart and mind.

The treasures of God’s word are too important to let them slip past us and escape our understanding. Key words are the keys to understanding. Ask God to help you discover the key words, and be a faithful steward of what He’s left in your care.

Practice looking for a key words in John 10:7-16 and uncovering the exciting truths they hold:

Go back to verse 9 and discover the “If/then” statement.
There are 4 verbs that “anyone” can do. What is the first verb that produces the other 3? List them.
Look for every mention of the Shepherd. What is said about the Shepherd?
Go back and circle the pronouns that refer to the sheep; what do they reveal about the sheep?

The Most Powerful List You Can Make :: Run to Him :: Psalm 77

March 9, 2012 by Do Not Depart 8 Comments

We make lists. To do lists. To read lists. To buy lists.

We live in a fast paced society that is all about getting things done. Go. Go. Go. Our culture sees the power in movement. But in all that getting ahead, we miss the power of remembering.

Sometimes? At the end of a day, I make a list of the things I accomplished simply so I can check them off. Yes, I’m one of those people. But there is a certain power and momentum in remembering what we’ve done.

Photo credit

Apparently, the Psalmist was a list maker too. But he didn’t make a list of all the things he has or hasn’t done. Instead, he made a list of all the things God has done. And wow what a difference it made!

In Psalm 77, the writer was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

…I would not be comforted… (v. 2)

I was too troubled to speak. (v. 4)

Ever had one of those days? Ever wonder how to change the course of one of those days? Here’s how he did it:

Starting in verse 13, he began to simply list the wonders God has done.

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. (v. 13)

The change in tone, attitude and hopefulness of the passage is simply remarkable from verse 13 onward.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph…You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (vv. 15, 20)

He may not have immediately felt different, but he immediately spoke different and that changed everything.

He took his eyes off of himself and what he could or couldn’t do. Instead put his eyes on God and what He has already done and will do again.

You see, God doesn’t change. He has been faithful to do wonders and He will be faithful to do wonders. Our greatest times of struggle are simply when we forget to remember.

Make a list

Keep a journal of the things God has done in your life. When troubles come your way, fight them with remembrance of the wonders He’s done.

What is one thing He’s done that you can remember today?

What did you learn from your study of the Psalms this week?

________________________________

Kat blogs at Inspired To Action, a site dedicated to helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat and her husband live in the great state of Texas and have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 2.

Top Ten Android Apps for Spiritual Growth

February 29, 2012 by Do Not Depart 33 Comments

Heather’s “Top 10 iPhone Apps for Spiritual Growth” post was great, but I am an Android user. (I did send it to all my iPhone-owning family members and friends who found the post useful though.)

So, below you will find some Droid apps that I have found to be helpful for my spiritual growth. (Some are the same as on iPhone, but links are to Android apps.)

Best Bible Study Apps

Christian Droid Apps 1. YouVersion Bible (FREE)
*Read/listen to the Bible with over 150 Bible versions and almost 200 Bible reading plans to help you read the Bible and track your progress.
*Easily search the Bible for either a reference or a keyword.
*Connect Twitter and Facebook accounts to easily share Bible verses.
*Bookmark your favorite Bible verses and sync them with YouVersion.com.
*Make public or private notes on your bible reading.

Christian Droid Apps 2. Daily Bible (FREE)
*Daily Bible Verse with daily notification
*Daily Bible Reading Plan
*Easy & Fast Search any Bible verse or topic: Easily search any verse of any topic.
*Daily Bible devotionals: Choose from a huge list of podcasts. Read or listen from devotions. Save a podcast and listen to it offline.
*Save or share Bible verse or plan or devotions easily on Facebook, Twitter, email, text etc.

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 3. Logos Bible Software (FREE)
*Thousands of books and tools for Bible study
*Easy to read, verse preview, footnotes, and easy navigation.
*Includes powerful study tools: Passage Guide, Text Comparison, and Bible Word Study.
*When you download the app you get access to all features and more than 30 resources. When you sign up for a free Logos account, you get access to an additional 30 resources as well as access to over 16,000 resources for sale from the Logos and Vyrso libraries.

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 4. MySword Bible (FREE)
*Multiple off-line Bibles, Commentaries and Dictionaries
*Bible version verse comparison
*Highlighting
*Bookmarks
*Type your personal notes and insights
*Search (concordance) for Bible, Commentaries and Personal notes
*Dictionary, Commentary and Journal/Book picture support
*Paragraph or Verse mode for the Bible view

Scripture Memory Apps

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 5. RememberMe Bible Verses Memory (FREE)
*Listen to verses
*Study flashcards and play word puzzles
*Obfuscate a passage and fills in the gaps
*First letter and placeholder methods
*Line by line practice
*Daily reminders
*Flashcard widget for your home screen
*Numerous Bible translations
*More than 100 verses preloaded

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 6. Fighter Verses ($2.99)
*Over 520 verses included
*Add ANY VERSE using “My Verses” and optionally define topics for topical memory.
*SIX Bible translations – ESV, NIV, NASB, HCSB, KJV, LBLA
*Fill in the blank QUIZ
*SONGS to help you learn verses (ESV only)
*TOPICAL index for topical memory
*Configurable SCHEDULE for weekly memorization
*REMINDERS to memorize daily or weekly

Best Prayer Apps

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 7. Prayer Journal ($0.99)
*Keep a running list of topics that you are praying about
*Share entries or the entire journal with friends (email/text messaging)
*Set notifications to remind you to pray for the topic.
*Upload journal to Google Docs.
*When you feel you have reached an answer to your prayer topic(s), mark them as answered and keep them available for later viewing, to remind yourself of God’s goodness to you in those requests.

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 8. Prayers to Share (FREE)
*Share your prayers with people around the world
*Pray along with others
*Write out your prayers
*Keep track of those you pray for
*Share your prayers anonymously with others who can pray along on our Social Prayer Network
*…or just keep them private
*Receive inspiration from reading everyone’s prayers

Best Worship Apps

9. Pandora (FREE)
*Personalized radio streams music to your phone.
*Type in the name of a favorite artist, song, or composer and a station will be created to play their music and music like it.
*Here are some of the stations on my Pandora app:
Casting Crowns, Addison Road, Nichole Nordeman,
Chris Tomlin, Hillsong, and Brooke Fraser.
If you use Pandora, what stations do you have for your worship times?

Christian Droid Apps Christian Android Apps 10. 1000 Gifts (FREE)
*Quotes on awaking to the joy-filled power of grace and gratitude at your fingertips … to get you started
*Photo and video stream, texts, and voice recordings of your gifts … to keep you going
*A one-tap option to instantly share captured gifts to Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr … to keep friends and family inspired on their way to their one thousand gifts

Thanks Heather, for reminding me about this one!

11. And I have to sneak one more in here: KLOVE Positive & Encouraging (FREE). Commercial-free contemporary Christian music.

Which apps for spiritual growth would you add to the list?

_______________________________________________

Joyce is a business major turned PreK teacher turned stay-at-home mommy to 2 little girls (ages 5 and 2.5.) She likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, from writing newsletters (for our family and for MOPS) to crafting to trying out new recipes…basically just trying new things.

She loves God, family and friends, date nights, board games, books, and blogging. You can visit her over at Keeping Up with the Moys.