1 John 4 – Scripture Image

November 10, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

As our faithful readers know, the purpose of Do Not Depart is to offer you “Tools and Encouragement to Abide in the Word.” And because we’re studying 1 John 4 this month in our new series, Since God So Loved Us, we’re giving you a free Scripture image of the entire passage.

Feel free to download the image and save it to your computer or cell phone.

What can you do with it?

Read over the Scripture once a day
Pray that God would help you “test the spirits” and know that He “is love.”
Share it with a friend who could use these reminders
Challenge yourself to memorize a verse or section of this chapter

We pray that you’ll enjoy the image and continue learning with us this month as we dive further into the “why” and the “what” of living in God’s love.

Here’s a free Scripture image of 1 John 4, just for you! #SinceGodLovedUs

Click To Tweet

Testing Spirits: How to Recognize a Fake

November 5, 2015 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

For today’s segment of our Bible study, please read 1 John 4:1-6

There are lots of fakes and counterfeits in the world.

I read something today that I’d never heard before. My cousin posted on social media just this morning that the Secret Service can recognize counterfeit money because they’re so familiar with real bills that a fake stands out immediately. (Turns out, they do actually train with fake money, too, but always in light of the real deal.)

Here’s a seemingly unconnected thought… growing up, my family often drank Tang with breakfast. (Does anybody else remember that stuff?) Even though as kids we really liked it, I also remember loving the taste of real orange juice. But Tang was cheaper, so we often got that instead.

What’s my point? A fake might look similar (or even like Tang, taste somewhat similar) but it’s not the real thing. Fake money has no value- it buys nothing. Fake OJ might taste yummy to a 5 year old, but it’s still just a cheap copy.

A fake is a fake.

And being familiar with what’s real will help you identify a cheap copy.

Since God Loved Us {1 John 4 study} — Original photo credit

And that brings me to 1 John 4:1-6.

Remember that I said there are lots of fakes in the world? Well, John said the same thing in verse one.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

I love this from the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Bible Commentary:

“There is but one Spirit of truth, and one spirit of Antichrist.” …which “speak by men’s spirits as their organ.”

Yep. There’s only one Spirit of truth. And the more familiar we are with God the more we’ll recognize that truth. The more we read and know His word, the better we’ll be able to test other spirits (or teachings, religions, world viewpoints, cultural acceptances and practices) to see where they measure up or fall short.

And in verse two, John gives us a really easy test to be able to tell a lie from the truth. (1 John 4:2) If the spirit teaches that Jesus came in the flesh… if it has what we’d call a gospel message… then it’s truth.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)

And if the spirit is false? What does that mean? Verse three tells us: If the teaching goes against God, the Bible, and the life, works, and words of Jesus… then it is a lie and is of the spirit of the Antichrist!

Since God so loved us, He gives us the “why” so we can live out the “what.” He had John pen a formula for overcoming false, lying spirits. It goes like this: Having Jesus = Overcoming. The reason why this formula works? Because: Truth > Lies

Pretty easy, huh? It reminds me of the song, Victory in Jesus. …A victory that any of us can have by simply believing in the truth (Jesus as our resurrected savior).

And Jesus in our hearts will help us identify all the fakes in the world that can never measure up to His truth… His sacrificial love for us, His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace, His faithfulness. No lie of another religion, no worldview of “loving”-acceptance-of-everything-under-the-sun, no false spirit teaching us otherwise could even hold a candle to the light of the truth of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us!

Because He’s not a fake. He, my friend, is the real deal.

Action Steps:

Read 1 John 4:1-6. What “false prophets” exist in the world today? What false spirits are present now and who do they tend to mislead? When did John say the spirit of the Antichrist came? When was 1 John most likely written?
Read 1 John 4:1-6. Read John 10:5 and 8. How has the Shepherd’s voice kept you from going astray? What practical things can you do to help yourself hear God’s voice better?
Read 1 John 4:1-6. Focus on verse 6. John says “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us.” The word John uses for” listen” is akou’o. The figurative definition is: to hear God’s voice, which prompts him to birth faith within. A variation of this word is used in Rom 10:17. How could this form of listening help us test for false spirits?

John tells us to test the spirits and recognize a fake. Part of 1 John 4 Bible Study @DoNotDepart #SinceGodLovedUs

Click To Tweet

Jesus in our hearts helps us identify false spirits in the world. #SinceGodLovedUs

Click To Tweet

Depression – Truths to Hang On To, Recap

October 30, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month, we’ve taken a good look at the realities of depression.

We hope that we’ve encouraged you to hang on to God’s truths. We pray that whether you’re hurting or comforting a loved one, our words brought you hope and pointed you to our loving and present God.

This month we’ve asked if you:

Can’t feel God’s presence? I wrote about remembering the truth of God’s presence, even when you feel alone in your depression.

Tend to be a worrier? Lisa shared with us the great reminder that God provides daily grace to give us the power to stay in the moment and overcome anxiety.

Are you grieving this holiday season? If you are, we pray that you’d find great comfort through Lindsey’s helpful tips.

Trying to find your role in all of this? Caroline pointed out that none of us are exempt from dealing with depression because we are to emulate Christ’s call and love for community and help the hurting among us.

Overwhelmed by your emotions? Fight the lies about your identity that depression brings by steeping in what the Word says about who you are in Christ. Print the list of scriptures that Patti shared.

So, again, thank you for joining us this month. Depression is a hard topic and a, well, depressing subject. But the truth of the matter is that its reach affects all of us.

But as big as it is, our God is bigger!

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psa 34:18,19)

Depression – Remembering God’s Presence

October 13, 2015 by Ali Shaw 11 Comments

I’ll never forget the strange orange sky that night.

It was late and we were driving to the hospital. I was pregnant and near term with our third daughter, but our baby wasn’t moving. My husband and I drove mostly in silence.

Things were probably ok, right? But we were afraid to reassure each other.

That night, and the next day, ushered in a whole new world for us. This new world had the reality of a sweet baby girl who’d passed on to Jesus while still in the womb, open grief in the hospital bed, secret tears and sobs in hospital hallways, and funeral plans in place of plans to bring home baby.

And weeks and months after there was an aloneness.

Time moved on and I was supposed to, too. Everyone was patient and I was so blessed in that. But, it took time.

And at this deepest low, it took great faith. Thankfully, God was with me in the pit.

There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. – Corrie Ten Boom

But the bad thing about being in the pit is that you can’t see well. It’s dark and vision is distorted, so you feel your way along. And when life hurts so much, there’s not much feeling there.

I remember, several months after our daughter was born, telling my husband, “I can’t feel God’s presence anymore. I feel so alone.”

He held me and let me cry.

And it was around that time that I started to look for God. Really, really look. And I found that although I couldn’t feel Him (because all I could feel was unbearable grief) it didn’t change the fact that He was there. God is ever with us. I started to read my Bible and Christian books about grief and spend more time in prayer. And slowly, God revealed Himself to me in new, unexpected ways.

He reminded me that it’s important to rely on Biblical truths and not only on what you feel.
He reminded me that when I was too weak to hang on, He would hang on to me.
He reminded me that I was never, ever alone.
And He reminded me how much He loved me.

As a result, a beautiful thing happened. My faith matured. It was a very painful journey, but I thank God for the lessons He allowed me to learn from that experience.

{Please understand, I’m not insinuating in any way that feeling depressed, or struggling with depression or deep grief is an indication of weak faith. I’m only expressing that God can be glorified even in the worst of situations.}

What the Bible says about God’s Presence

If you need some Truths to Hang On To, please be encouraged by these verses about God’s presence. (Any emphasis added is mine.)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isa 41:10

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” – Isa 43:2

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” — Psa 139:7-12

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. — Isa 46:3,4

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6, NIV

And finally, these beautiful words from Isaiah are such an encouragement to me:

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” (Isa 63:9, ESV)

See, our God hurts when we hurt and loves us so passionately that He never lets go—He carries us in His hands and stays with us, carrying us forward to hope, healing, and joy in His presence.

And that, dear friend, is truth you can hang on to!

How has remembering the fact of God’s presence helped you make it through difficult times?

Even when we feel alone, we must remember God is with us. #DepressionTruths

Click To Tweet

Need to be reminded of God’s presence? Here are some verses to encourage you. #DepressionTruths

Click To Tweet

Depression and Biblical Truths to Hang On To

October 6, 2015 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

One of the godliest women I’ve ever met came up to me after the church service was over and asked for prayer. With tears in her eyes and a quaver in her voice she said, “Will you please pray for me? I’m suffering terribly from depression.” She started to cry and my heart broke for her.

I was shocked.

From the outside there was little difference. Only her countenance appeared changed… heavy and despondent. Inside, something powerful had washed over her and life appeared bleak and hopeless. She knew better than to believe it, but the pain was still there and still overwhelmed her.

Eventually, the fog lifted and life returned to normal, but it wasn’t an easy journey.

Depression. An ugly condition that affects both women and men (but almost twice as many women as men), and reaches across the board to affect all ages and races. As Christians, we should know that depression is not a result of lacking faith. Need examples? Elijah, King David, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, David Brainerd (missionary), Ruth Graham (Billy Graham’s daughter), and author Randy Alcorn.

It can affect any of us. Whether we’re the ones trying to make it through to the next moment or the ones praying, consoling, and watching a hurting family member or friend there’s really not much escaping the reaches of this beast.

“The iron bolt . . . mysteriously fastens the door of hope and holds our spirits in gloomy prison.” (Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students, p24)

This month at DND we’re going to take a look at depression. But rather than coming at this topic from a medical or psychological perspective, we’ll be approaching depression (and its counterpart, anxiety) from a theological standpoint.

We’ll look at things like:

What is true about God even when I’m depressed or anxious?
What are some truths I can hang on to when gloom hits?
From what verses can I draw hope and be reassured?
What truths and encouragement can I offer my loved one when they’re hurting?

We hope you’ll join us as we seek comfort and strength from our Great and Awesome God and His precious words of hope.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psa 34:18,19)

{If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are looking for a Christian ministry devoted to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide, check out TWLOHA (ToWriteLoveOnHerArms).}

Join us this month as we look at Depression and Biblical Truths to Hang On To. #DepressionTruths

Click To Tweet

Persecution: 4 Things to Remember

September 4, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

My teenage daughter and I recently discussed how blessed we are to have God’s Word.

Are you like me? We have several Bibles in our home, have access by computer and smartphone, and encounter Scripture graphics pinned on Pinterest and shared on Social Media.

After counting our blessings, my daughter said “…You know… it won’t always be that way.”

She knows that persecution will increase as end times draw near. We’ve studied Christian persecution of the Ancient Church and she’s seen recent news stories of horrific Christian persecution happening around the globe. She understands that following God doesn’t always mean the guarantee of an easy path.

I can’t say for sure if my daughter’s words will be fulfilled in the way she meant or even in her lifetime. But what I can say is that Patti’s words from the introductory post are spot on:

“God’s word is clear that we must expect persecution:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)

Paul didn’t say we might be persecuted. He said we will be persecuted.”

I’ve got to tell ya, I don’t feel qualified to write about persecution– I am no expert on the topic and know that in many ways, I live a “spoiled” Western life. But, what I want my children to understand, and what I must remind myself, is that no matter what happens to us in life, God is good and He does all things for our eternal good.

We Must Stand Firm

Persecution exists because evil (and the evil one) exists. Though the world is dark, we are called to be a light that glorifies God. (1 Thes 5:5) Our light shouldn’t bend, dim, or bow to the beliefs and practices of the society around us. We must stand firm (Eph 6:13), honoring Christ with our body, mind, and spirit. We must live lives of obedience to His guiding, holy Word. And we are weak, we must lean into Jesus who can make us strong.

We Must Remember His Faithfulness

Focusing on God’s attributes bring encouragement. We must never forget that we serve a sovereign, faithful God. (Lam 3:21-23) Images of Christians awaiting beheadings, news stories of American Christian business owners being sued for intolerance, and the like range from heartbreaking to disturbing. They can leave us with heavy hearts, wondering if God has forgotten His children. But, we are assured over and over again that God is faithful. He is not a “hands-off” Father. He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121), He keeps His promises, and can always be trusted. What He says is true, and He works all thing for our eternal good.

We Must Remember We are Never Left Alone

Going hand in hand with God’s faithfulness is the promise that He will never leave us. (Deut 31:6) No matter how bad things get, Believers will never face one moment of persecution alone. Remember the story of Stephen? While being stoned to death, he looked into the heavens and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father (Acts 7). It’s reassuring to know that Jesus loved Stephen and revealed Himself to him in his dying moments. We must remember that we too have God’s presence with us. The Holy Spirit is present in the heart of every Believer, every moment of every day. He will comfort, help (John 14:26), and strengthen us (Acts 1:8) when we need Him. We are safe in His hands.

We Must Remember to Have Hope

I don’t mean here the type of hope that is a just a “wish” that everything will turn out ok. I mean the true, deep, confident hope of who God isand of Heaven and eternal riches in the physical presence of Christ. We must remember that this life on earth is not the only life, and that God works all things for our eternal good. Christians are promised an everlasting life in Heaven spent with God. And the proof of this future is offered in the down payment of the Holy Spirit. (Eph 1:13-14) We can also have hope in the fact that He works things for our good (Rom 8:28), is pleased when we glorify Him, and that in the grand scheme of things, our side wins the final battle.

Though persecution will come, we must remember to press deep into the One who promises His faithful, loving presence and extends to us eternal life.

God will never fail us.

Persecution will come, but don’t lose heart! Here are four things to remember. #BlessedPersecuted

Click To Tweet

Green Pastures and a Good Shepherd – Prayer Card Printables

August 11, 2015 by Ali Shaw 5 Comments

Years ago, I had a friend that kept sheep. Having never spent time with sheep, I had always imagined that they were only darling, innocent balls of sweet white fluff… until I made their acquaintance. I learned that, to a degree, they are indeed those things, but they’re also stupid, smelly, clamorous creatures that can be both stubborn and helpless. They even mindlessly follow their leader (even if the leader were to guide them into danger).

After spending just a few minutes with my friend as she called her flock and corralled them into their pen for the night, I was done. The odor and their noisy bleating was enough for me. (I’m not shepherdess material!)

But back to the sheep… Ah, what a picture of us! We are God’s flock. Yep… you and I are sheep, sister. Smelly in our sin, stubborn in our ways, and helpless without Jesus, our Good Shepherd and faithful leader.

As unattractive as we can be, aren’t we so blessed to be His sheep? He faithfully cares for us and protects us.

And He gives us rest.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psa 23:1-3

And that rest… Oh, how we need it! We need to slow down, stop the mindless following and pursuing of non-satisfying things, and instead sit at His feet. We need to do that “one necessary thing” and learn from our Savior, who is both Lamb (and so understands us well) and Shepherd.

I recently did a Bible study with a ladies group that was written by Doreen Moore, author of [amazon_link id=”1857924509″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Good Christians, Good Husbands?[/amazon_link] Doreen taught us much about sheep and the Shepherd in her Psalm 23 study. One of the things that really strikes me as I’m coming out of the lazy, care-free days of summer and getting back into the swing of fall and all it’s responsibilities and demands is this: God “makes me lie down in green pastures.”

Even if I don’t feel I could or should rest, spiritually (and even physically) He wants me to. God desires for me to be well rested with a peaceful soul. Although I can sometimes be like Martha, anxious and troubled about many things, He whispers to me… “Come, lie down and rest.”

Sheep are nervous, anxious creatures, though! How can we lie down to rest? According to [amazon_link id=”0310274419″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Phillip Keller of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23[/amazon_link], we sheep can only rest when we’re:

Free of fear
Free of friction
Free of pests
Free from hunger

But the good news? We are spiritually free from all of those things because our Good Shepherd is always on duty. As Psalm 121 says that God “never slumbers nor sleeps” and He protects and satisfies us night and day. And we also know He’ll never leave us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has secured our eternity with the sacrifice of His life. (John 10:14-15)

So we can safely lie down in the green pastures to rest in His care. It’s ok (and good, and necessary!) to slow our pace, sit at His feet, and even lie down in that peaceful lushness.

…Stinky though we may be. (Insert smile here.)

Prayer is a wonderful way to draw close to God and be restored in His green pastures. Just like parents long to hear the voice of their child, so does He. Here are some printable prayer cards to encourage you to pray and seek renewal in Him. On the flip side of each card (not pictured) are the verses that relate to each prayer. (Click under the image to download.)

(Click here to download. When printing, choose to print front and back.)

How does knowing that God has prepared a green pasture and the promise of peaceful rest encourage you to slow down today? How is your heart renewed drawing near and resting?

We sheep can safely lie down and rest in our Good Shepherd’s care. Read more here… #ReviveAndRenew

Click To Tweet

Free Printable Prayer Cards to help you #ReviveAndRenew with the Good Shepherd

Click To Tweet

One Thing is Necessary – Printable Luke 10:41-42

August 6, 2015 by Ali Shaw 4 Comments

This month in our Revive and Renew series we’ve promised you printables to help you set your focus on slowing down and sitting at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha, it’s easy to narrow our focus to the many things that need to be done. But, like Mary, we must remember what is most needful… pausing and seeking the guidance of Christ!

To kick things off, I’ve made this printable scripture page for you. Click here to download, then print.

“…You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” ~ Luke 10:41-42

What can you do with this page? Here are some ideas:

Print it on card stock or glossy paper and frame it
Tape it to your bathroom mirror
Hole-punch it and put it in your Bible study notebook
Put it in your daily planner
Tape it over the image on your wall calendar
Put it on your bedside table so you see it when you turn off your morning alarm
Share it with a friend

Of course, these are just a few ideas! What do you plan to do with yours?

How is this verse reminding you to focus less on the “many things” and focus more on the “one thing?”

{Stay tuned for more thoughts, devotional articles, and printables in this month’s series: Revive and Renew!}

A printable Scripture image of Luke 10:41,42. One thing is necessary! #ReviveAndRenew

Click To Tweet

Revive and Renew – Refreshment for the Busy Woman

August 4, 2015 by Ali Shaw 4 Comments

Summer is almost over. There. I said it. I haven’t really wanted to admit that, but now it’s done. I did it.

I’m not sure whether to laugh at myself for feeling unprepared or to cry because it’s flown by so fast.

Some of you may be in the same boat. Is it hard for you to see summer end? Does it feel like a bittersweet parting?

This time of year, a lot of women are very busy making back-to-school plans. Whether we’re buying new school shoes, getting our homeschool lesson plans written, or revamping our Sunday-school rooms for kids who’ve returned after summer vacation we can’t escape the“back-to-school” feel. And “back to school” means the promise of fall.

And it’s also about this point in the year we realize that once summer is over the rest of the year flies by in a whirlwind of preparation for the holidays. (My aunt just reminded me that Thanksgiving is a little over 3 ½ months away.) It won’t be long until I begin thinking about Christmas gifts. And I bet some of you have already started .

And to top that, when I zero my sights in on the close of the year I remember that I still have New Year’s goals unmet. I feel like I need to hurry up and accomplish some things on my list!

A lot happens fast. And it’s easy to get overburdened with to-do lists, plans, and the hustle and bustle of daily life.

I need some renewal! Do you?

Instead of focusing on the crazy speed of life, let’s be like Mary and draw near the feet of Jesus. Let’s listen to His teaching and be revived and renewed. (Luke 10:38-42)

“38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

So, this month here at DND we’re going to slow down. We’ll even offer you some printable resources to encourage your focus. Together, let’s choose that good portion and listen to the Living Word speak life and renewal into our hearts.

And we’d absolutely love to have you to join us.

What can you do today to help you slow down and sit at Jesus’ feet?

Let’s slow down together and be renewed at the feet of Jesus. #ReviveAndRenew

Click To Tweet

A new topic this month at DND with printable resources for you! #ReviveAndRenew

Click To Tweet

Psalm 19 – Wrap Up

July 31, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month here at DND we’ve been studying Psalm 19. As Caroline stated at the beginning of the series, “Psalm 19 is an ode to God’s beautiful world and His perfect Word. And we want to read about it, revel in it, and praise Him for it together this month.”

Spending time in His creation and His written Word are both excellent ways to be renewed and drawn closer to God.

Didn’t we have some thought provoking posts this month? I was so encouraged by them!

I shared that both God’s heavens and his people are meant to declare His glory.
We offered you a free, beautiful computer background image of Psalm 19.
Lisa reminded us to look at the Son to make our spiritual vision clearer and stronger.
God’s law is so beneficial to us! Lindsey points out four of these benefits based on God’s love.
Rules don’t always seem sweet, but Caroline sheds light on the fact that God’s life-giving rules are sweeter than honey.
Patti shared wisdom on how God’s Word both convicts us of sin and empowers us to fight it.

Have you enjoyed lingering in this beautiful Psalm as much as we have? What did God show you through His word this month?

We’d love to hear what He’s doing in your heart! And if DND is blessing you, please take a moment to share the blessing with others by liking our social media posts, forwarding our articles, and sharing our images. Our desire is to bless and share Christ with our readers.

In Him,

Ali

A Bible study on Psalm 19 and God’s #BeautifulWorldPerfectWord

Click To Tweet

Psalm 19 – Background Image for You!

July 14, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month we’re studying Psalm 19 here at DND. We’re so glad you’re joining us!

We pray that you’d be blessed by our time together spent in God’s Word and drawing closer to Him. After all,

9b …”the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb…” (Psalm 19:9-10, ESV)

And as a way to help keep us focusing on this sweet treasure, I’ve put together a computer background image for us to use as we study Psalm 19 this month…

(To download: click on the image or click here…)

The truth is that despite our crazy-busy lives and whether or not we slow down enough to look up to the heavens, there they are… declaring God’s glory. Shouldn’t we stop and join in? The beauty of His creation reminds us that only God and His perfect Word can revive our souls, warn us, reward us, and cleanse us. His words are sweet and life giving.

Will you slow down with me today, look to His heavens as they glorify the Creator, and spend time with Him over the pages of His written word?

Thank you, Lord, for your Beautiful World and Perfect Word. Both point our hearts to you for your glorification. Help me today to live my life in a way that honors you! Amen

A free computer background image for you! Psalm 19 from @DoNotDepart #BeautifulWorldPerfectWord

Click To Tweet

Declaring the Glory of God

July 9, 2015 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

People sometimes argue that it was by chance. That this whole beautiful creation all around us was the result of some cosmic boom.

The Bible tells us otherwise.

Creation was no accident, no chance chemical reaction, and definitely no mistake!

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

1The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4Their voice^b goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun… (Psalm 19:1-4)

In various ways, God’s creation is meant to glorify Him. Last month, we focused on The Marvelous Creator and the fact that His handiwork is meant to inspire our worship. And this month, in Psalm 19, we are reminded that in God’s beautiful world, the heavens cry out, glorifying God!

I love a starlit sky. Gazing up at bright white constellations like the Big Dipper, Libra, and Cygnus against a black-night backdrop remind me of just how profound and intellectual God is! Both the light He created and the Light He is bring Him glory by revealing His unlimited ability. (And the science behind physical light alone is remarkable… our world could never exist without light– just as spiritually, we are dead without the Light of the World.)

Recently, Jupiter and Venus were less than one-third of a degree apart. Did you get a chance to see that? The result was a breathtaking, bright “double star” and a beautiful reminder that our powerful God is creative, magnificent, and intelligent. He truly does have the whole world (and universe!) in His hands.

We Can Declare His Glory, Too

As the heavens declare His glory, so can we. We can even shine like stars! We can live our lives for His glorification. We can proclaim His handiwork by our actions, and the heart behind our actions, and follow it up with our words. We may feel like our words can’t reach the “end of the world”, but our influence may extend farther than we think.

Will you follow me down a quick rabbit trail? In my ladies’ Bible study group just yesterday a friend mentioned the hymn “In Times Like These.” Do you know that old hymn? Well, it turns out that it was written by a housewife, Ruth Caye Jones, who was overwhelmed with stress and worry during WWII. I’m sure she couldn’t imagine how far her words would reach and how many people’s hearts she would touch and encourage when she sat at her table to pen those precious words. Her words glorify God, right along with the heavenly bodies of the day and night.

Our voice can join in, too, with the voice of the heavens, declaring God’s beauty, His love, His faithfulness, and His unchanging and merciful nature.

So, as the heavens declare God’s glory, how can you? Here are a few pratical ideas:

Give thanks, both publicly and privately
Speak words of praise
Write a social media post that glorifies God
Share with a friend what God has done in your life
Pray for strength to be obedient to God’s will, then follow through
Read the Bible with your children and share God’s goodness
Sing with a joyful heart

Of course, these are only a few ideas… Please share in the comments how you’ve recently joined in with the heavens to let your “voice go out through all the earth.”

Blessings in Christ,

Ali

Until the next post in this series, here’s a little “homework” for you…

Make a list of the things you love about the skies and the way those things show God’s glory. Thank Him for each thing on your list.
Read Psalm 24 aloud.
Read 1 Cor 6:19-20 and 1 Cor 10:31. What is God showing you in these verses?

As the heavens declare God’s glory, so can we! #BeautifulWorldPerfectWord

Click To Tweet

Need practical ideas of how you can declare God’s glory? Read more here. #BeautifulWorldPerfectWord

Click To Tweet

Freedom in Christ

July 2, 2015 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

Here in the USA, we’ll soon be celebrating how our nation declared, then won its independence long ago. We gather together with friends and family to celebrate our freedoms.

I love all the July 4th festivities… and it reminds me that the very best kind of freedom is the freedom God offers us through His son, Jesus Christ! Now, that freedom is definitely worth celebrating, right?

Thank you, Jesus, for setting us free from the curse of death and the yoke of slavery to sin!

Here are some verses from God’s word that highlight the freedom we have in Christ Jesus:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,” Gal 3:13a

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

And this entire passage is about freedom and new life through Christ:

5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:5-11)

We hope that as you celebrate and thank God for our nation’s freedom, you’ll also praise Him for the very best freedom ever—that found in Jesus!

If you’d like to read more about this type of freedom, DND team writer, Lisa Burgess, has written much about it on her blog. Here are a few links to her posts:

Read here about how Christ erases the old charges and opens the prison cells to let us go home.

Lisa reminds us that being pardoned when we deserved to “go to jail” inspires us to pursue holy lives.

In this poetic piece, Lisa captures the feeling of reveling in the freedom from sin-slavery.

Read how God takes our condemnation and replaces it with grace.

What makes you especially thankful for the freedom Christ has given you? How has this freedom changed your life?

Thankful for all freedom, especially the freedom found in Christ!

Click To Tweet

Marvelous Creator – Wrap Up

June 30, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Have you had the opportunity to spend some quality time outside this summer?

We hope you’ve been awed and amazed by God’s Marvelous Creation just as we have.

We’ve spent all this month focusing on the fact that God’s handiwork is designed to point our heart toward Him. The Master Artist desires our worship and praise in response to His love, power, and majesty.

I wrote about how a storm and a swallow reminded me that God loves and protects us. Then later, I also posted a shareable Bible verse image of Psa 86:10.
Lisa shared with us how the wind serves as a reminder to pause, breathe in grace, and breathe out praise for our God.
Caroline’s post revealed how the mountains can make us aware of God’s presence and remind us of faith and love.
Lindsey opened our eyes to 3 Things Nature can Teach Us and gave us a list of daily activities to help us draw near to God.
Patti pointed out what a gift water is to us and our need for the Living Water of Jesus.

Isn’t God so creative to have given us these many reminders of His love?!

So, what part of God’s Marvelous Creation reminds you of just how amazing our Creator and Savior is? Please share with us in the comments and let’s praise Him together!

The #MarvelousCreator gave us a beautiful world to inspire our hearts to worship Him!

Click To Tweet

How Marvelous!

June 9, 2015 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month here at Do Not Depart, we’re focusing on the Marvelous Creator. We hope you’re not only enjoying these posts on our Creator God, but that you’re also getting in some time outdoors, focusing on His creative masterpiece!

Join us again on Thursday for another segment in our topic. Until then, we pray you’ll look with fresh eyes at God’s beautiful world and see just how marvelous our loving Father is.

You are free to download and share the image above. Also, here are two wonderful quotes I’d like to share with you that remind us that God’s creation is a revelation of who He is and is meant to inspire our worship.

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime ~ Martin Luther

Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be? ~ Charles Spurgeon

What have you seen of God’s creation today that made your heart leap in appreciation of our loving Creator?

God’s masterpiece of creation inspires our worhip. #MarvelousCreator

Click To Tweet

A Storm and a Swallow

June 4, 2015 by Ali Shaw 6 Comments

Here in Central Texas, we recently experienced a ferocious storm. Bad weather turned serious under a flash flood and tornado warning, and we had to take shelter for about 45 minutes.

The wind howled, the sky absolutely gushed water, and lightning struck so often that at times there was scarcely a break between one clash and another boom. It was a dangerous storm and the threat was real. {Patti wrote a little about that same storm here.}

But later that evening things calmed down. The rain stopped, the wind calmed, the lightning passed, and the clouds became beautiful instead of menacing. And as I looked out into my backyard something in the top corner of my porch roof caught my eye. A little swallow flapped her wings, readjusted herself, and snuggled back down in her nest on top of the corner support pillar.

I was so excited and pure joy bubbled up in my throat… I couldn’t believe that this sweet little bird made it through the storm safely! She’d been sitting on her eggs in that nest for several weeks before this storm hit and I have no idea if she weathered the storm right there or if she found a safer haven and then later returned. But instantly, even though she was a swallow, the song His Eye is on the Sparrow came to my mind, and I was reminded of some truths about my precious Father.

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6,7 ESV)

The Creator Knows

Nothing escapes our Creator God’s knowledge. He knew about this storm and He knew the danger. He also knew my family had huddled together, and He even knew all about the little swallow mother and the eggs in her nest. After all, he knows the number of hairs on my head! His masterful, omniscient eye watches over His beloved creation. Nothing I face or experience surprises Him! He knows the storms and He knows the outcome. He knows, and He will never forget me.

The Creator Sees and Protects

God watches me. Even though I may feel alone or endangered at times, weathering the storms of life, my Father is always with me and watching over me protectively. Just like the mama bird that snuggled down on her babies after the storm, God draws me close under the protection of His wing. He shelters me and keeps me truly safe. (Psa 91:4) And like the bird, He gives me the sheltering strength I need to stretch my wings and soar on wings like eagles. (Isa 41:30)

The Creator Cares

Oh, how loved we are! Our Marvelous Creator not only knows, sees, and protects us, but He loves us. He cares deeply for our every need. (1 Pet 5:7) We are so valuable to God. And this is exactly why Jesus came to give His life. His precious blood was shed to reconcile us to God. (2 Cor 5:18-19) If God remembers every sparrow, yet died for the cleansing of my sins, I can certainly trust in His powerful, sacrificial love.

Today, just over a week after the storm, I noticed a precious, tiny beak reaching wobbily over the top edge of the nest. What a beautiful sight! God faithfully and patiently reminds me of His protective, tender-loving care. Isn’t He truly marvelous?

Bible Study Homework:

Day 1: Read Luke 12:6,7 and Matt 10:29,31. Notice the price of the sparrows. Two birds could be bought for a farthing (or penny), or 5 birds for two. What is God reminding you in these verses? How does your heart respond to knowing your value and God’s attentive love? What will you remember about your value when you see birds today?

Day 2: Read Psa 84:1-4. This Psalm is expressing passion for God’s house. How might the notion of sparrows and swallows making a home and laying their young on God’s altar indicate the concepts of safety, love, protection, and rest? How has God been your place of safety recently? As you go outside today, what will the sound or sight of birds help you remember about God’s character?

Day 3: Read Isa 40: 27-31. In what verses is God’s omniscience revealed, and how is it described? How does God’s strengthening power bring you hope and reassure you of His love? In what area of your life do you need to be reminded today of God’s loving omniscience and strengthening power? The next time you see a bird in flight, what can you remember about waiting on the Lord?

What a storm and a mama swallow reminded me about God. #MarvelousCreator

Click To Tweet

We are never left to handle the storms of life alone. Our #MarvelousCreator watches and protects!

Click To Tweet