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Notable Hebrew Words of the Old Testament

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Not only am I a Word lover, I’m a word lover. (Ha! See what I did there?)

On a serious note, I really enjoyed the series we did last year on Key Greek Words of the New Testament. If you missed that series, make sure you click the link to read what words we covered. I learned so much!

This month, we’re going to dive into the Old Testament for a look at some notable Hebrew words— we’ll discover their rich meanings, learn where to find them, and we’ll even share with you why we find them worth knowing.

Notable Hebrew Words of the Old Testament - a month long series at DoNotDepart.com

But we won’t be pulling words from certain portions of Ezra or Daniel.

Do you know why? Several passages in those books were written in Aramaic (the language used by the Assyrians during that time period and introduced to the Jews).

But with the exception of a few other verses and a word in Genesis, the remainder of the Old Testament was written in the expressive language of the Jews, Ancient Hebrew.

I don’t want to spoil any surprises, but we may look into words such as “shalom,” “chesed,” “amen,” “shama,” “hallelujah,” and others.

So, are you ready to dive in and learn with us? Let’s go!

Do you know any Hebrew words? If so, which ones mean the most to you and why?

Ali

Notable Hebrew Words of the Old Testament this month on the blog #OTHebrewWords

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How to Study the Bible Like a Theologian

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{I’m excited to have Alyssa J. Howard on the blog today! I met Alyssa when she joined the HelloMornings Bible study writing team. Her insight, knowledge, and heart for serving the Lord truly bless me. It’s been a joy to co-write with her and I’m thrilled that she’s sharing something with us at DoNotDepart!  -Ali}

I have studied the Bible my whole life. I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian school for most of my childhood. So when God put it on my heart to attend seminary, I assumed I knew what to expect. Obviously, I would study the Bible more thoroughly than ever before, but nothing could have prepared me for how I would be challenged both mentally and spiritually.

During my two years in graduate school, I studied the Bible in a whole new way. Up until that point, my study times consisted of prayer, Bible reading, journaling, and occasionally browsing commentaries for further insight. And there is nothing wrong with this type of study. In fact, it is my primary way of studying today. But here are some of the things I learned along the way that challenged me to dive deeper.

 

  • Translation matters. Before seminary, I was aware that some translations were more literal than others. But I had no idea how important translation was to Bible study.  Did you know that there are actually hundreds of English translations of the Bible? While I firmly believe that the Bible is the perfect Word of God, I do know that our translations aren’t perfect. We do the best we can, but in the end, we have to understand how translation affects what we’re reading. In my personal study, I try to look at several translations when diving into a particular passage – some more literal and others that are thought-for-thought.

 

  • Context is more than simply reading the verses around a particular passage. We speak a lot about “reading in context” when it comes to Scripture. Otherwise, we run the risk of misinterpreting a verse. But it’s not enough to read the entire chapter. We need to understand the author’s original intention as well as how the original reader would have interpreted their words. 

A professor once told me that a text cannot mean something it would have never meant to the original audience. In other words, we need to put ourselves in the mindset of the first-century believers to fully understand what the New Testament is saying. Yes, God’s Word is alive and active. It is still relevant and speaks to us today. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that most of the New Testament is made up of letters written to first-century churches addressing specific issues within their churches. The Bible was relevant and alive for them too. If we know nothing about first-century culture, how can we expect to fully understand everything Paul and the other New Testament writers were trying to convey?

With that in mind, we also need to remember that the Bible wasn’t written with chapter and verse numbers. Paul’s letter to the Romans wasn’t divided up into nice and neat divisions with headings like we find in our modern Bibles. It was a letter, meant to be read in its entirety from start to finish. So when we strive to read the Bible in context, we need to keep this in mind. The whole book matters.

 

  • Theology isn’t just for theologians. Some would argue that Paul was the first Christian theologian. His letters are full of extraordinarily deep theology! Yet he wasn’t speaking to world-renowned scholars or writing a thesis paper. He was writing personal letters to everyday church folk like you and me. He expected his readers to have the desire to grow… to learn more about God and who He is each and every day.

 

I’ve met many theologians in my life, and the majority had one important thing in common – a passion and love for God’s Word. They longed to move beyond the surface and dive deeper into the Bible.

You want to go deeper, ask more questions, and rely on the Holy Spirit more to guide you. You study His Word with passion and strive to know everything you can about your heavenly Father because in the end… He is your everything.

 

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity… – Hebrews 6:1a (ESV)

 

 

How to Study the Bible Like a Theologian. Tips and how-to’s from @alyssajhoward

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Theology isn’t just for theologians. It’s for us, too! Read more @DoNotDepart @alyssajhoward

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Alyssa J Howard is a wife and stay-at-home mom to two young girls. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest where she loves to bake, run, drink coffee, and play with her two young daughters. Alyssa first fell in love with writing while earning her Master of Arts degree in theological studies through Liberty Theological Seminary, and she has been writing about Jesus and the Christian life for the past three years at alyssajhoward.com.

Connect with Alyssa on  Facebook,    Twitter,   or   Pinterest.

You can also check out Alyssa’s work in New Beginnings: Lessons on New Mercies and God’s Goodness and At My Savior’s Feet: Life-changing Lessons from the Master Storyteller, both available in print and Kindle formats on Amazon.

Why Keep Reading Your Bible?

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This month we’re doing something fun at DoNotDepart!

Each author will share a favorite post written by one of our teammates. Honestly, there’s so much good material written by such gifted women– it was hard for me to pick just one post to re-share!

That said, one of my favorite series that we’ve done was back in May of 2015, called Why Abide? It focused on the importance of staying rooted in the Word of God and the benefits of doing so. (You can view the entire series by clicking here.)

Encouraging women to dig deeply into God’s Word for Christian growth and fostering a relationship with God is where my heart is. That’s why I really loved this post from Lisa:

why-keep-reading-bible-DoNotDepart

Why You Should Keep Reading Your Bible
by Lisa Burgess

Once I finish a book, I don’t usually reread it. The surprises are blown, and I’m ready for something new.

But even with the occasional books I do reread, the second (or third) reading is never the same as the first time. I may catch a few details I missed the first pass, and I may be reminded of truths I need to live more, but subsequent readings are quicker and often just skimmed.

So do we need to reread the Bible over and over?

  • We already know the major stories.
  • The essential themes are familiar by now.
  • It’s not quick (it takes me three years to get through my two-year plan; I long ago gave up one year).
  • And it’s not necessarily easier each time (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes the more we read, the less we understand.

Yet we can’t stay away from this book. We memorize it; we pray it; we preach it to ourselves.

Here’s why:

The more we read the Bible, the more we see God. And the more we see God, the more we love God.

We can never get too much of Love…

To read more of this encouraging post by Lisa Burgess, click here.

Water in the Word – Series Wrap Up

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This month I was blessed with the opportunity to experience the waters of a different part of the world. When looking at the same waters that connect with my corner of this Earth, I saw new beauty that I’d never imagined I’d see.

God is like that. If we are patient, He will show us new, fresh beauty about Himself as we draw near to Him — even some beauty we might not have imagined.

I hope this month was like that for you. Perhaps as we studied Water in the Word, you experienced a new beauty as you drew near Him?

Like we discussed in the introduction to this month’s series, over and over again throughout the Bible water is mentioned. We can be sure that the topic of water is significant in Scripture.

 

 “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

 

 

Water in the Word - A look at what the Bible has to say about water at DoNotDepart.com
In this month’s series, we’ve examined the waters God mentions in the Bible, and our goal was to draw out lessons that can touch our hearts today.

  • I wrote about how Jesus Offers us Living Water and explain how it’s through the water drawing ceremony of the Feast of the Tabernacles that we understand the beautiful connection between salvation and Jesus offering the Holy Spirit’s living water.
  • Lisa explained that just as water is essential for our physical bodies, so fellowship among like-minded believers is essential for our souls to grow healthy and endure storms and run our race til the end. She offers 4 Ways to Quench our Spiritual Thirst.
  • Kelli reminds us that though water isn’t fancy, it’s necessary for life. She says, “Do you know what else is necessary? Humble service. The next time you fill a glass for drinking, or a pot for cooking, or a tub for bathing let it remind you of the Lord’s willingness to serve humbly.
  • Patti offers insight into five reasons why we need the still waters that God offers. “Allow Him to lead you beside still waters today. He will not force you. You have the freedom to choose to drink deep of His Spirit, to rest in stillness with Him, to be refreshed.”

If our series blessed you, let us know in the comments or on social media. What did God show you about Water in the Word this month?
Ali

Water in the Word: month-long Series Wrap Up on the blog

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Jesus Offers Us Living Water

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It’s already hot here where I live in Central Texas. The hotter it gets the more I seek reprieve from the scorching air in the cool waters of a swimming pool or spring. And the physical waters I crave make me think of the spiritual waters that Jesus offers us in the Word.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.  …whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” — John 4:4 and John 4:14

 

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37–39, emphasis added).

 

Aren’t these words of Jesus so beautiful? Our life-giving Savior knew exactly what the woman at the well and the Israelites on the last day of the feast needed to hear– regardless of how open or not they were to hearing it they were. The woman at the well received His words with joy. The crowd at the festival was divided.

So the “living water” Jesus spoke of was the Holy Spirit. But what was going on during this feast where Jesus was speaking? Was there deeper significance in His statement than we Gentiles might initially realize?

Jesus Offers us Living Water... Read more at DoNotDepart.com

The second passage above occurred during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Shelters or Booths). This particular feast had two ceremonies that Jesus applied to Himself.

One ceremony was that temple was light brightly, denoting God’s shekinah glory. Jesus declared that He was the light of the world (see John, thus stating that God’s shekinah glory dwelled in His bodily form. (See Colossians 2:9 and John 14:9. You can read more the Feast of the Tabernacles and the ceremony of the lighting of the temple here. )

The second ceremony of this feast that Christ fulfilled was the “water-drawing festival” (also called the “water libation”). During this ceremony, water was drawn from the pool of Siloam and poured into a basin which then flowed over the altar. This significance was that water from Siloam’s pool flowed from the spring of Gihon into the interior, protected part of Jerusalem and offered physical salvation during enemy attacks. The Jews also heavily associated Siloam’s pool with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is specifically what Jesus was referring to when He claimed that we could come to Him to drink. He was offering His Holy Spirit.

The Jewish ceremony refers to Isaiah 12:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2-3)

 

“One of the names for this day is ‘Hoshana Raba’, which means Great Salvation. And you may know that this is the exact word of Yeshua’s name – Salvation. The Hebrew word literally says, with joy you will draw water from the wells of Yeshua!” (From OneforIsrael, an evangelistic ministry to Israelis.)

 

Jesus’ very name (which comes from a verb meaning “to deliver”) points to the fact that He saves and offers us life giving water.  In Matthew 1:21 Gabriel tells Mary that her child will so be named because Jesus will “save the people from their sins.” It’s through the water drawing ceremony that we understand the beautiful connection between salvation and Jesus offering the Holy Spirit’s living water.

 

“When Jesus cries out at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles on this particular day, the worshipers meet God in his sanctuary–in the person of his Son. The longing for God is met with God’s invitation to come and be satisfied. In Jesus, God’s own desire for man is expressed and the desire of man for God is met. All that the temple represented is now found in Jesus.”  (IVP New Testament Commentary)

 

So, God extends the offer for any who thirst to come to Him (Isa 55:1).  And we do that through Jesus –for He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We further understand that our thirst for God is quenched by coming to Jesus and having the gift of the Spirit imparted to us. There is no way to receive this living water, this life eternal, without a saving faith in Jesus.

What a beautiful, simple, peaceful process!

The life-giving water of the Holy Spirit that Jesus pours into us accompanies salvation, gives growth and increase of fruit, helps us mature spiritually, and (as the Rock in a desert place) quenches our thirst for God (see 1 Cor 10:4). (For more about the Holy Spirit, see the series we did in March here at DoNotDepart.)

Let us pray that our roots grow closer and deeper into God — the very source of life and salvation!

Ali

Our thirst for God is quenched by the Living Water. #WaterInTheWord

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How did Jesus apply the water drawing ceremony to Himself? Read more here. #WaterInTheWord

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Water in the Word

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One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 23. I love the image of God shepherding us, and leading us beside still waters.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters…” – Psalm 23:1-2

Isn’t the image of peace almost tangible here? The still waters sound inviting because He is a trustworthy Shedperd who protects and cares for our needs. When I read the words in David’s song, I feel contentment and trust. I know beyond a doubt that He loves me!

Like in Psalm 23, God often uses beautiful imagery to express meaning. But His word also contains symbolism, and straight, literal descriptives and narratives in His Word.

And some things, He repeats.

Water in the Word - A look at what the Bible has to say about water at DoNotDepart.com
Over and over again throughout the Bible water is mentioned. Whether water is used to describe judgement, cleansing, identification, thirst quenching, life, or even service, we can know that the topic of water is one of significance in Scripture.

 “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

This month, we plan to dive deep into the Word and discuss water. We’ll look at various aspects of the waters God mentions, and draw out lessons that can touch our hearts today.

We hope you’ll join us!

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or passage about water? Share with us in the comments or on social media!

Blessings,

Ali

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Paul: A Life that Glorified the Son

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I remember hearing the story of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s prison salvation shortly before his death. I was so confused that someone who seemed so unworthy by all earthly standards (someone so cruel and deeply evil) could possibly experience a true conversion.

But the life of Paul the Apostle is the perfect reminder that the blood of Jesus is capable of washing away the dirtiest of sin-stains. Salvation is not limited to the bounds of our human understanding and those we deem worthy.

Many Christians know Paul through the 13 epistles he wrote to the Church and to Timothy and Titus. These letters comprise much of the New Testament, and through them we learn about Paul’s life, his conversion from Christian persecutor to persecuted Christian, and his ministry to the early Church.

And of course we learn much about the life of faith that we are called by God to live.

Paul: A Life that Glorified the Son. Read more about the writers of the New Testament at DoNotDepart.com

 


How much do you know about Paul?

Here’s a Biblical fact list about Paul. See how many you already know:

  • Prior to his conversion, we know Paul by his Jewish name, Saul.
  • He was from Tarsus, Cilicia – modern day Turkey. (Acts 22:3)
  • He was a pharisee and was zealous for God. (Acts 22:3)
  • He was born a Roman Citizen.  (Acts 22:28)
  • Paul hated Christians and wanted to stop their movement. (Acts 7:54- 8:1-3, Acts 22:4-5)
  • Jesus appeared to Saul and that’s how he became a Believer. (Acts 9:1-22)
  • God called Paul to be a missionary. Paul went on three journeys to carry the gospel through the Roman Empire. (Recorded in the Book of Acts.)
  • Thirteen New Testament books are attributed to him.
  • Paul was a bold preacher and teacher. Though beaten, stoned, and persecuted for his faith, he did not stop.
  • Though he walked faithfully with God for many, many years, Paul considered himself the “chief of sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
  • He lived a humble life, serving others, and glorifying the Son, not himself. (Philippians 1:21-26)
  • Paul was imprisoned in Rome and wrote several New Testament books in chains. (Colossians 4:18)
  • After several years in prison, Paul was executed about 67 A.D. by Emperor Nero, likely at a similar time as Peter. (While Peter was crucified upside down, Paul likely died by sword because it was illegal to execute Roman citizens.)

Audience

Though not one of the 12 Disciples, Paul was called by God to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. He traveled throughout the Roman Empire, teaching the Gospel message boldly and unashamedly. Most of his letters were written to Gentile converts to Christianity who were in established local churches, and three were written to pastors of churches. His letters encouraged the Believers there, and instructed them in deeper matters of faith.

His personal transparency and unabashed desire to follow God both touch and inspire me. I’m sure you agree that reading Paul’s letters weren’t meant to only encourage his original audience; they’re meant to encourage and instruct us, too! Without his ministry to the Gentiles, letting them know that Jesus came to save everyone (not just Jews), you and I might not be here sharing faith and worshipping our loving God together.  

 

Writing Style

I once heard that Paul was one of the greatest writers ever of logical reasoning. His words are always direct and well thought out. His intellect was magnificent and is definitely evident in His writing, but yet, we don’t have to be mensa members to understand what he’s saying. He writes in a way that’s deeply intelligent, but simple, clear, and understandable. (I can see why God inspired him to pen His words!)

And not only did Paul write with logic and intellect, he wrote with emotion and passion. The epistles to the Church aren’t dry bits of academia; they are filled with God’s love and Spirit. They are the written words of God, penned by man. Paul’s passion for the Lord, love for the Church, and heart for lost sinners all shine through his works.

 

Main Themes

One of Paul’s main themes is that man is saved by grace through faith. This makes total sense when considering these two things:  the grace God poured out in sending His Son to save the world, and Paul’s audience of Gentiles.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

In Old Testament times, justification with God happened through the keeping of the law — or by behavior. But Paul explained that because of Jesus’ sacrifice,  justification now came by faith in the death and resurrection of our Savior. 

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

But justification by faith wasn’t all Paul wrote about. He also wrote about living a transparent life of sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1), wrote to teach that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), shared the Gospel message, taught about grace (Ephesians 2), sanctification (1 Corinthians), liberation (Galatians), and encouraged Christians to think. (1 Corinthians 14:20 and 2 Tim 2:7)

 

Though Paul called himself the “chief of sinners” he is often now referred to as “the Apostle of Grace.”  And considering the grace which God showed in saving this murderous persecutor, and the great grace of God which Paul wanted to share with the world, I’d say it’s a very appropriate title.

Oh, what marvelous grace is shown through the blood and forgiveness of Jesus!

How have Paul’s epistles touched your heart? Do you have a favorite book or verse penned by him?

Paul: A Life that Gloried the Son. Read about this #NewTestamentWriters

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Paul’s life is the perfect reminder that Jesus’ blood can save the worst of sinners. #NewTestamentWriters

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Friendship Matters: Series Recap

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This month, we’ve looked deeply into the topic of friendship.

I believe we’re all in the same boat — we want to be Christlike friends.

Like me, did you find some areas where you have room to grow?

 

Friendship Matters: Being a Better Friend. Here's the month-long series recap from DoNotDepart

Specifically, this month we looked at:

Taking the initiative — I shared how being a busy woman doesn’t mean we need to shelve our friendships. It only means we need to approach things differently and get a bit creative.

5 Reasons We Need Friends — There are a variety of reasons we might fail to invest in friendships. Regardless of our reasoning, though, the truth is that we need friends. Lindsey gave us 5 reasons why.

How to Pray WITH Your Friend, Not Just FOR Your Friend — When our friends are struggling, we pray for them. And they pray for us. But how often do we pray with each other, not just for each other?  Lisa’s post looks into how praying with our friends is a way to be a better friend and included a printable prayer template.

Good Friends Don’t Fake It — Kelli says, “When we choose to be honest with our friends about our struggles and our sinful hearts, even though it is risking, frightening, and downright intimidating, it opens the door for true and intimate friendship.”

What Listening Has to Do With Loving — A listening ear is powerful. When we find someone who listens with an honest, we typically find someone who is trustworthy, focused on others, and servant hearted. Caroline shared a printable Bible verse image of James 1:19 and a list of verses about listening.

How to Be an Encouraging Friend in Times of Pain — The encouragement of a loving friend can make all the difference in how we face the struggles that come in life. Patti gives suggestions for how to be the encourager your friend needs, and includes a list of things an encouraging friend does and does not do.

And just to help us review all the things we’ve learned this month, we made this printable journal-and-plan sheet for you:

Friendship Matters Journal and Plan PDF

Thanks for following along this month! We pray our series blessed you. If it did, please let us know how it did in the comments below or on social media.

Blessings,
Ali

Taking the Initiative to be a Better Friend

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I remember thinking that as my kids got older I’d have more spare time on my hands. But instead of life slowing down, it seems as if it’s gotten busier. Are you in that boat with me?

And the busier life gets, I find myself with less time for nurturing my friendships.

I now have two adult-aged children, one of whom is married, and instead of my schedule freeing up, I give my daughters extra hours and attention — which is a wonderful experience for us both. My growing family is the priority now (rightly so), but I’ve also felt convicted by God to be a better friend.

Taking the Initiative to Be a Better Friend. 5 Tips from DoNotDepart.com

Making Sure Friendships Don’t Collect Dust

Like I mentioned in the introduction to this series, I’m an introvert. It’s so much easier for me to stay at home in my comfort zone, devoting myself to family — the people I see everyday— which is a blessing in so many ways! But I also know that God has called me to reach out and be a friend.

Friendships are a good, God-given gift. The Bible gives many examples of friendships to encourage and inspire us:  David and Jonathan; Ruth and Naomi; Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and even Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

God created us to be grown and sharpened by our companions (Proverbs 27:17) and to show His love and care to our friends in need (Galatians 6:2, and John 13:35). After all, we were designed to be part of a community— the very Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:24-27).

Even the most independent of us needs companions we can count on and who can count on us.

Several years ago I had a serious foot injury. It was too painful to even hobble on crutches at first. I spent days on the couch, frustrated by all that needed to be done and my inability to do it.

A few days later, I was blessed immensely when a friend called and asked, “Can I come visit and pray for you?”

She reminded me that it’s important to take the initiative to be a better friend.

So how is this supposed to work? How can we be a good friend when our schedules are so full? How can we begin the process of reaching outside our comfort zones?

5 Tips for Taking the Initiative to Nurturing Friendships

  1. Phone calls – A quick call to say, “I’m thinking of you” can really brighten someone’s day and foster connection.
  2. Texts and social media – Simply tagging a friend on social media, commenting on their posts, or reaching out to them over direct messaging can showing love and concern.
  3. Cards in the snail mail – A “thinking of you” card or note is a nice way to reach out. Include a quick update of what’s going on in your life, as well.
  4. Invitations/visits/dates – Nothing fosters friendship better than time. So, when time allows, ask your friend to have a coffee date, invite them over for a chat, or visit them if they’d like.
  5. Prayer, but let them know – Praying for our friends is an enormous gift. But don’t stop there, send them a message or give them a call to let them know they’re on your heart.

Being a busy woman doesn’t mean we need to shelve our friendships. It only means we need to approach things differently and get a bit creative.

What creative ways have you found to take initiative to be a better friend? Share in the comments, on our Facebook page, or in our new Facebook community group.

5 Tips for Taking Initiative to be a Better Friend. #BeingaBetterFriend

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Busy? It doesn’t mean we need to shelf friendships. 5 Tips to Take Initiative #BeingaBetterFriend

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Friendship Matters: Being a Better Friend

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I want to be a good friend.

But sometimes I have a struggle; I’m naturally introverted and a bit of a homebody. I’m most in my comfort zone hanging out with my family, or on the couch with a good book in my hand– or even typing away behind a keyboard.

It stretches me to reach out to friends sometimes. I truly love people, so I’m usually quite happy once I do it.  But my homebody-self can feel uncomfortable in the going and in the doing.

Yet, I’m also reminded of the importance of investing into deep, lasting connections with people that are dear to me.

 

I recently read an excellent article written by a past contributor to DoNotDepart titled 11 Biblical Principles for Becoming a Better Friend. Kathy Howard’s words challenged me to really examine my heart for areas where I need work. She encouraged me to better develop my role as friend and reminded me that being a good friend is made up of lots of components, and that God cares about what kind of friend I am. 

I want to be a good friend. Better yet, I want to be a Christlike friend. And I know that means stretching out of some comfort zones.

For me, that means reaching out. It may look different for you.

What does being a good friend really look like? What does the Bible have to say about it and how can we apply that to our friendships?

 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)

It’s spring here in the USA, and a great time to focus on new life and growth. Plus, we celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection in April. (Yay!) So, this month at DoNotDepart, we’ll be looking into the topic of friendship and challenging ourselves to be honest and willing to grow. Let’s let God breathe new life into friendships that need it. Along the way, we’ll share tools and resources that we’ve found help us be better friends.

And we hope that you’ll share with us, too. Feel free to comment on any of our posts here, or on our Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter accounts. Let’s grow together, encourage one another, and show the world what true friendship looks like.

What are your comfort zones? How does reaching past them make a difference in your friendships? Share in the comments.

Ali

What does the Bible have to say about being a good friend? How can we apply that? #BeingABetterFriend

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13 Facts about Truth and Love from 1 John 2

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This month we’re diving into the Letters of John.  In the intro post for this series, Caroline reminded us that truth and love both stem from God. And that’s precisely because He is truth and love!

Like Caroline said, when we show both of those Christlike attributes, it’s because it overflows…

“from fellowship with God (1 John 1:6-7).

Fellowship with God means we seek, follow, and share truth.

Fellowship with God means we see, hear, and share love.”


But what are truth and love? I found 13 facts that explain truth and love tucked away in 1 John 2.

13 Facts about Truth and Love from 1 John 2. Read more at DoNotDepart.com #TruthAndLove

Truth

What exactly is truth? The world tells us it’s relative. So, in a world where truth has become distorted and muddied, it’s hard to know true truth anymore. But God’s word is a lamp that guides us to the very Truth Himself. (Psalm 119:105, John 14:6)

1 John 2 tells us the following unshakeable, indestructible truths:

  1. Verse 1:  Jesus is our advocate. (He acts like a lawyer who pleads our righteousness before God. Our righteousness is found in Him.)
  2. Verse 2:  Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. (…The atoning sacrifice that pleases God.)
  3. Verses 3-6:  Our obedience demonstrates our relationship with the Savior. (Works don’t save us, but our obedience is an outward sign of what’s in our hearts.)
  4. Verse 12:  A Christian’s sins are forgiven. (Our sins are no match for the power of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross. See 1 John 1:7-9.)
  5. Verse 13:  We are overcomers. (Jesus gives us the ultimate, eternal victory against Satan and strength to continually combat both the Devil and the flesh.
  6. Verse 21: No lie is of truth. (This is an easy to understand truth that sets the bar high. John tells us that anyone who denies the Son has the spirit of Antichrist.)
  7. Verse 23: Truth acknowledges the Son. (We cannot know God without knowing Jesus.)
  8. Verse 25: Jesus promised us eternal life. (See John 3:16.)

Love

We’ve looked to see how John defines and clarifies truth. What does he tell us about love? Like truth, love has been misshapen and redefined by the world. What was the love that John speaks of and that Christ modeled?

  1. Verse 9-11:  Love is the opposite of hate. (John says those who hate aren’t walking in the light.)
  2. Verse 15:  Love chooses God over the world. (We must never compromise on our love and faithfulness to Him.)
  3. Verse  27: Love abides in Jesus. (He has love, He is love, our love for Him is from Him, and He gives us His love to share with others. See 1 John 4:19)
  4. Verse 28: Love gives confidence. (The love that enables us to abide also grants confidence. Love supersedes fear and emboldens us.)
  5. Verse 28: Love has no shame. (Instead of feeling ashamed, we can come to Him knowing He approves of us because of Jesus in our hearts. See Psalm 34:5 and Hebrews 10:19-22.)

Since we know what truth and love are, how can we show them in our relationships with others and our encounters with the world? Well, we can start by standing strong in truth and reflecting Christlike love and compassion. We can model truth that acknowledges Christ for the Savior He is and doesn’t waver. We can show uncompromising love that chooses to put God first. We can share both His message of salvation and His method of grace.

We can point others to Truth and Love Himself.

What do you see in 1 John 2 that defines truth and love? Share in the comments.

For extra study this week:

  1. Read 1 John 2. What stands out most to you about truth and love?
  2. How does John 15:1-17 expound on 1 John 2:3-6?
  3. Look for the comparison of light and dark in verses 7-11. What do you notice?
  4. Reread verses 15-17. Ask God to reveal any areas where you may be struggling with love for the world. Surrender them to God.
  5. Verses 18-27 tell us about the spirit of the antichrist. How can we recognize this spirit? (v. 22) What is it that this spirit tries to do to Believers? (v. 26) Thank the Lord that you abide in Him and that the truth abides in you!
13 Facts about Truth and Love from 1 John 2. #TruthAndLove @DoNotDepart.com

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Who Is the Holy Spirit – Series Wrap Up

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We are so glad that you’ve joined us this month as we’ve taken a good look into the person and works of the Holy Spirit. We fully understand that our posts have not been an exhaustive look into the topic, but we hope they’ve whet your appetite for the feast of attributes and functions that the Holy Spirit fulfills. God is truly amazing, and this person of the trinity is such a wonderful gift to us!

  • First, I looked into the Deity of the Holy Spirit , to better lay the foundation of the fact that the Spirit is one person of our triune God. I also discussed the basic attributes of the Holy Spirit and touched briefly on His miraculous feat of forming a baby in Mary’s virgin womb.
  • Lindsey taught us 2 Roles of the Holy Spirit from Romans 8.  We are reminded that we have not only a powerful helper, but also a loving intercessor. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the Holy Spirit as helper and intercessor, we can rest assured that everything we pray is being filtered through the Holy Spirit before the Father.”
  • Lisa showed us that one function of the Holy Spirit is to act as witness. We can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God loves us exactly as we are, no matter what. The Spirit confirms that we are God’s children. That is a truth that sets us free!
  • Kelli gave us 5 Ways that the Holy Spirit Empowers Us. We can proclaim the gospel boldly, pray when we don’t know how, appreciate the gospel’s mystery, deny our flesh, and abound in hope all because we have been empowered by the Spirit of the Living God. What amazing news!
  • Patti looked into the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the Word of God. Not only was the Spirit involved in bringing us the Bible, but He also helps us to understand it and brings it to mind when we need it. I’m so thankful for a loving God that helps us understand and remember His perfect Word, aren’t you?

Who is the Holy Spirit? Series wrap up at DoNotDepart.com

So thank you for joining us as we looked intently and worshipfully at our Comforter. He is marvelous, isn’t He?

What is your favorite attribute of the Holy Spirit? Tell us in the comments!

Ali

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The Deity of the Holy Spirit

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The trinity of God is a beautiful yet difficult concept. Actually, it may be better to say that the concept is beautifully simple, though difficult to wrap our heads around.

It’s easy to say that God exists in three, distinct persons equal in attributes.

It’s a bit harder to comprehend the miracle of all of that.

The Spirit as One Person of Our Triune God

The study of the Holy Spirit is sometimes neglected in modern Christianity. Perhaps because His work often happens hidden within hearts or maybe because He didn’t walk the earth in human form, the Spirit sometimes takes a backseat to God the Father and Jesus Christ (God the Son).

I love how the lyrics to Martin Luther’s hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy remind us that God exists in a triune manner:

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee
Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity…

The Deity of the Holy Spirit - Who is He? Read about His Deity, attributes, and actions at DoNotDepart.com

God in three persons. Yes – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

And while the word “trinity” is not found in Scripture, the principles and concepts of the trinity are.

In Acts 16:7, the Holy Spirit is told to be the Spirit of Jesus:

And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:7)

And in the latter part of 1 Cor 6:11, the Holy Spirit is said to be the Spirit of God:

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11)

John 14:16-17 tells us that Jesus would ask the Father to send another Helper (the Holy Spirit) to live in us. While this passage points more toward the concept of the indwelling of the Spirit, it also points to the deity of the Spirit. The word another used in verse 16 is the Greek word allos which means “another of the same kind; another of a similar type.” (HELPS word studies.)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

Another set of passages that clearly show that the Holy Spirit of the New Testament is the very same God of the Old Testament is Isa 6:8-9 and Acts 28:25-26. These passages are almost identical. In Acts, Paul is referencing the passage in Isaiah but specifically attributes the voice that inspired Isaiah as the voice of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah simply refers to this voice as the “voice of the Lord.”

…they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet…” (Acts 28:25)

The same voice, the same God.

Attributes and Actions

Since all three persons are God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit contain the same attributes.

“While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities.” Matt Perman, What is the Doctrine of the Trinity.

So we’ve established that the Holy Spirit has the same attributes of the Father and the Son. But what are those attributes?

We’ll delve further into some of the those attributes and actions later this month. I don’t want to spoil anything, but no discussion of of the Deity of the Holy Spirit would be complete without at least touching on these topics.

A basic study of theology would reveal the “three omni’s” of God.

God is:

  • Omnipotent – all-powerful
  • Omniscient – all-knowing
  • Omnipresent – everywhere at the same time

And because the Holy Spirit is God, He also has each of those attributes. The Spirit is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere at the same time.

Of the Spirit, Charles Ryrie says, “…He also possesses attributes which only God has which shows, therefore, that He is Deity.” (Basic Theology, emphasis mine.)

Later this month we’ll discuss several of the works of the Spirit. Again, I don’t want to cover topics here that my teammates will write about, but I’ll touch on one miraculous work of God that personally floors me and is specifically attributed to the Holy Spirit.

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18

Let those verses sink in deep. It’s absolutely amazing, isn’t it? The Holy Spirit (God) came to the young virgin, Mary, and impregnated her with the Son (God), whose Father was God.

Awe and wonder bubble up in my heart to think that this could even be possible. And not only was it possible for our omnipotent God, He did it all because He loves us enough to pursue us at the greatest cost! It is truly incredible.

Again, the concept of the trinity is simple, but difficult to wrap our minds around.

One thing that’s not so difficult though, is to understand the Deity of the Holy Spirit.

Ali

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Who Is the Holy Spirit?

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The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit using many descriptive terms. He came to the apostles with the sound of a mighty windstorm in Acts 2:2. Jesus taught us in John 7:37-39 that the Holy Spirit is like water – and that Believers will have His rivers of living water flowing in us. Occasionally He’s compared to fire, like in Matthew 3:11 and Luke 24:32. And when the Spirit descended on Jesus, Luke 3:22 says He was in a form like a dove.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… (Acts 2:1-4 a)

 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)

So the Spirit was promised and given. But, exactly who is this Holy Spirit?

The easy answer is that the Holy Spirit is one person of our triune God. As we see from the verses above, He was sent to all Christians on the day of Pentecost to dwell within the hearts of any who believe in Jesus as their Savior. (See also Acts 2:38-39 and Romans 8:9.)

But this month, we’ll look further into the person of the Holy Spirit and even examine some of His works. Though this series won’t be exhaustive, we want you to walk away knowing more about who the Bible says the Holy Spirit is and understanding what He’s done throughout the Word of God.

We are so blessed to serve a God that comes to make His abode in the hearts of His children!

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Be Optimistic: The Benefits, Challenges, and How-To’s of Positive (Christian) Thinking

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I can’t exactly remember how, but when my middle daughter was about five or six years old she discovered Shirley Temple. Later, I found a sing-along VHS tape at Walmart for a few dollars that featured the little superstar singing songs like, “Be Optimistic”, “Animal Crackers”, and “Good Morning.”

It’s often been the “Be Optimistic” song that gets stuck in my head. Sweet little Shirley assures us that we can chase away grumpiness with a simple smile.

I tend to be an optimistic person. But because I’m a definite realist, I know that taking Shirley Temple’s advice of putting on a smile won’t solve the bumpy road of life. Yet, I still look on the bright side. Why? and How?

Be Optimistic: The Benefits, Challenges, and How-To's of Positive (Christian) Thinking read more at DoNotDepart.com

Why be Optimistic?

Jesus tells us to imitate Him. Though Christ was very realistic and gave stern warnings about sin, Satan, and Hell, admonitions against pharisaical hypocrisy, and firm guidance for His disciples and followers, He was also very optimistic. He knew the potential of His message. He knew and understood the power of Father God and the saving power of His own blood. He looked forward with eager expectation to future hope and tells us to do the same.

“No Christian should be a pessimist. We should be realists—focused on the actuality that we serve a sovereign and gracious God. Because of the reality of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and His promises, biblical realism is, ultimately, optimism.” -Randy Alcorn, see more here.

We too should have great faith in God’s power, ability, and goodness. Made as a choice over pessimism, optimism is an expression of the joy borne of faith, and repels doubting.

When our minds are focused on God’s nature and the hope-filled truths of His word, we have no reason to wallow in pessimism.

The only proper foundation for optimism is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. If we build our lives on this solid foundation, we should all be optimists. – Randy Alcorn

And being optimistic gives us a good witness. After all, nothing pushes away others like grumpiness and grouchiness can. Looking forward with positivity and hope and placing our faith in the God who can move mountains is appealing to the hopeless.

Physical and Spiritual Benefits

When we’re optimistic those around us are put at ease. If you’ve ever been around a constant worrier you probably just yelled, “Amen!”. A prayer warrior and dear friend of mine who recently went to be with the Lord often added after her prayers, “Now, I love to sit back and watch Him work.” She called out, and she knew He would answer. (Rom 8:28)

It’s refreshing to be with people like that!

Not only does positive thinking bless others, it blesses us. Life can be so stressful at times, and though keeping hope-filled eyes on the One who calms storms can be incredibly difficult, it is life changing. Our bodies become freed from the ailments that result from stress and downheartedness. We free ourselves from the shackles of limiting God’s power and ability. (“Quench not the Spirit.” – I Thessalonians 5:19)

Where He is, He is able.

Challenges to Optimism

“But you’re naturally an optimistic person! I’m not!”  If you’re feeling like you can’t change your mindset, say Phil 4:13 right now. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

The biggest challenge to a positive attitude is obviously pessimism.  Don’t confuse this with realism. Like I said before, I’m a realist, too. But though the glass may truly be half empty it also means it’s half full. We have a choice in how we see things.

Looking at life through His light can truly change the way we see the stresses of life. Whether it’s financial woes (He’s our Provider!), illness (He’s our Great Physician!), or whatever else (He’s the Alpha Omega, the beginning and the end!), He can handle it (or remove it!) and equip us to handle it, too. (If you’re struggling to find God in physical illness, this may help you. I you’re wondering where God is when (fill in the blank) look at this.)

How Can We Change Our Mindset?

  • Pause (stop the stinking thinkin’) – When we catch ourselves sliding down the slippery slope into pessimistic thinking, we have to put on the brakes!
  • Pray – once we realize and stop, we need to pray. We should ask God to fill our thoughts with truth and the knowledge of His powerful ability and goodness.
  • Praise – If the glass is half full (or less) we still must praise Him for what He’s given (and who He is) with gratitude! We can praise Him for His goodness, His Sovereignty, His love and grace, and for His provision and protection.
  • Peace – We need to choose and pursue peace. Rather than let our minds wander to the wind and waves, we need to focus on the calm sea.
  • Ponder (and memorize) Scripture – It’s easy to sit and worry. It’s harder (but much more worthwhile) to fill ourselves up with His Word. We can memorize verses (or learn where to find them) that will help battle pessimism. He’ll bring it to mind when we need it.

Though Shirley Temple’s “smile” (as cute as it was) won’t truly fix pessimism, I’ll leave you with a few other resources that may be helpful if optimistic thinking is something you plan to work on this year:

Here’s Randy Alcorn’s article “Biblical Optimism: The Glass That’s Half Full Now Will Forever Overflow.” 

Here’s a guest post from Ayoka Billions right here on DND about “Finding Joy. Every. Single. Day.”

And here’s a touching word from Charles Spurgeon on Mark 4:39. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Not only was the wind quieted, and the sea hushed to slumber, but a deep, dead, mysterious calm transformed the lake into a molten looking glass. When Christ stills winds and waves, it is “a great calm.” Did you ever feel “a great calm”? It is much more than ordinary peace of mind; it is to your heart as if there were no further possibilities of fear. Your troubles have so completely gone that you can scarcely recollect them. There is no one but the Lord himself who can speak so to produce “a great calm.” Master, we entreat thee to speak such a calm so that for those of us who need it.

//Please note, the pessimism discussed in this article is addressing typical pessimistic thinking, not clinical depression. If you suffer from depression, please seek help if you haven’t. If you’re looking for encouragement you may want to check out the series we did on depression here. //

May God fill your hearts and minds with joy, hope, and optimism this year and always!
Ali

How has focusing on God’s nature and the truths in His Word changed your life? Tell us in the comments!

Be Optimistic: Benefits, Challenges, and How-To’s of Christian Thinking #RenewedMinds

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Optimism is an expression of the joy borne of faith, and repels doubting. We have a choice! #RenewedMinds

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Cherishing Christ in the Carols: Series Wrap Up

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This month at DoNotDepart we’ve looked closely at traditional Christmas carols to see what they say about Jesus. We even shared some YouTube links so you can watch and hear some of our favorite versions of these carols. We hope our series brought you joy as you slowly took in what they lyrics really had to say.

We hope you cherished Christ right along with us.

What do traditional Christmas Carols tell us about Christ? Read more at DoNotDepart.com
If you missed a post or would like to share the series, here’s the link to each post in our series:

I looked at “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and the hope and promise Christ offers us. Isn’t it a blessing to walk in the promises He’s fulfilled?

“He cheers our spirits and puts the shadow of death to flight with His marvelous light, and leads us to Him on a safe, though narrow, path.” – Ali

 

Kelli shared her heart and insight into four encouraging aspects of who Christ is and concentrated on the lyrics to “What Child is This?”

“Who is this child? He is our peace. Our joy. Our hope. He is our everything.” – Kelli

 

Lisa urges us to share what God has done. Like the shepherds, we too have seen good news and we need to share it! Discover three ways in which we, too, can “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

 “Sharing Jesus is sharing Love. That is good news. Go tell it yourself. On the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere.” – Lisa

 

Lindsey reminds us that our weary world rejoices in great hope because of Christ’s birth. She looks at  “O Holy Night” and tells us,

“Though Christmas can be difficult, there is still hope. There’s hope because of that one night long ago…that holy night when Christ was born.” – Lindsey

 

Caroline tells us how the angels shared the “glorious song of old” mentioned in “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” She shared with us three ways that we, too, can welcome Christmas –

“even when the world hurts and is too busy to see it.” – Caroline

 

Patti wrote about the Magi and the famous carol “We Three Kings” and teaches us about Epiphany and who these Kings were. Though the carol may not be the most Biblically accurate,  it celebrates the seeking and discovery of the Savior of the world!

“Oh that all would be as wise as those Magi so long ago, who when they saw Jesus, fell down and worshipped!” – Patti

 

Thank you for joining us this month! We pray that you have a happy and blessed New Year! We’ll see you again in 2017.

Ali

 

 

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