Ali Shaw, Author at Do Not Depart

Merry Christmas from the DND Team

December 24, 2016 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

It’s almost here! I hope you’re as excited about Christmas as we all are.

Personally, I’m praying that God will help me focus on the birth of the Savior and to have a worshipful heart despite the distractions and things left on my to-do list. I’m asking the Shepherd to lead me closer to His presence and to look at Christmas in His light.

I’m praying the same thing for you.

May you and your loved ones have a truly joyous Christmas, celebrating the fact that God loves us enough to have sent Jesus to redeem us… to be God with us.

Merry Christmas to you and yours from all of us here at DoNotDepart.

In Him,

Ali, Caroline, Kelli, Lindsey, Lisa, and Patti.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel… Walking in the Fulfilled Promise

December 8, 2016 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

When I was about 10 years old, my parents bought a Christmas carol book with a sweet Victorian-era image on the front. I loved opening the soft covered book and finding carol after traditional carol.

As a ten year old, I spent time trying to memorize all the words to the more common songs like “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World,” and even “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.” But I discovered treasure in that book and still have very fond memories today of learning “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “I Saw Three Ships,” and “We Three Kings.”

One song that I loved but usually overlooked was “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” I loved the sweet, mournful tune, but for some reason the lyrics didn’t catch my attention. I learned the first line and went on.

As an adult, this carol is one of my favorites! The words to the song drip rich with meaning… and the older and busier I get at Christmastime the more I long for Jesus. I long for Him to come, ushering in His presence and peace.

Walking in the Fulfilled Promise

There is so much promise and hope in these lyrics. The promise of a Savior has been fulfilled and this song reminds me of just how hungry our souls are for more and more of Jesus. Oh, how desperately much we need Him! Not only for our soul’s salvation, but also for help, freedom, guidance, wisdom, and peace on this Christian journey we traverse.

Here are the full lyrics. I urge you to read these words, penned so long ago (in the 12th century), and dwell on how much they mean even today:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Oh, what great joy we have as Believers in Christ Jesus! We can rejoice (and rejoice again!) because our Savior, the rod of Jesse, has come! Like the lyrics to this carol state, 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. We can rest in those truths, dear friend.

Pray with me? Precious Lord Jesus, I thank you that you have come! You’ve come to set the captives free and ransom my soul from lonely exile apart from your presence. I ask that in the busy days between now and the celebration of your birth on Christmas day, you fill my heart with peace, hope, and great rejoicing. May your light be reflected in me and spill out onto a dark world who needs knowledge of your arrival! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” (Luke 4:18, ESV)

If you love the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” here’s a version that you may enjoy:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Because Christ has come we walk in promise fulfilled! #ChristInTheCarols

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What great joy we have as Believers! O Come, Emmanuel, and cheer our spirits. #ChristInTheCarols

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Cherishing Christ in the Carols

December 6, 2016 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

Winter can be a hard season. For me, it’s tough because my body doesn’t handle the cold very well, my mind doesn’t like the dark, long days, and our family celebrates mourns the short life and loss of our tiny, sweet daughter. Tough.

Though I don’t particularly care for winter, I still find great joy in December because I love Christmas!

Whether or not our Savior was actually born in December, Christmas is the bright, shining star in a dark, dreary season. It’s the promise of growth and life eternal in the atmosphere of death and stillness and waiting. It’s the sweetness in the bitter bite of cold and the joyful signing of angelic voices into black, silent night.

Christmas is those things, because Christ is the light of the world! And the Everlasting Son promises life and joy to all who confess Him as risen Lord.

The celebration of our Savior’s birth floods our hearts with that light, life, and sweet joy!

Though the world around us so often forgets Him, we can enter shops at Christmastime and hear songs that proclaim His coming, His love, and other Biblical truths. Praise God! (Let’s pray that it will always be so.)

There’s still Christ in the Carols.

What Do Traditional Christmas Carols Tell Us About Christ?

This month at DoNotDepart, we have a precious series planned for you. We’ll be taking a close look at some traditional Christmas carols and focusing on what they say about Jesus. We will linger over lyrics and cherish Christ together. We hope our posts leave you with a song of praise on your lips and joy bubbling in your heart.

Together, let’s celebrate His coming and praise His name! Let’s cherish Christ- in the carols, during Christmas, and always!

What’s your favorite Christmas Carol? Share with us in the comments, on Facebook, or Twitter. Use hashtag #ChristInTheCarols

Cherising Christ in the Carols: A new monthlong series at DoNotDepart #ChristInTheCarols

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What do traditional Christmas Carols tell us about Christ? Come find out! #ChristInTheCarols

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Creation: From Nothing to Something

November 3, 2016 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Genesis 1:1-5 tells us about the very beginning of the beginning:

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

Like I wrote about last month, my oldest daughter often asked me very deep questions about the creation of the world when she was very little. When she asked me what was in the beginning before God created the world, I answered, “Nothing was made before it was made.” But honestly, that concept is very difficult to imagine.

Our world is full of “something-ness” so it is impossibly difficult to wrap our minds around “nothingness.”

But that’s how it was in the beginning. There was nothing. Then there was something.

I think that simple (yet mind boggling) concept tells us much about God’s character. He is the Creator that needs no materials to start His design with. He is the Builder that crafts His projects from nothingness.

The First Day

It’s God’s business to go about creating something from nothing, isn’t it? And I love the fact that the initial few verses of Genesis explain that He first created the heavens and the earth, and then light. It was only when He pulled the good light away from the darkness that the dawning of a new day could begin.

The whole concept of creation is a little like what happens inside of us when we become believers in Jesus, isn’t it?

Prior to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, we are a bit like a dark, formless world. Without the Son (the Light of the World, see John 1:5-13), there can be no life or growth. So, we exist in a state of spiritual darkness— spiritual nothingness. (See 1 Peter 2:9, John 8:12)

But when the Light dawns in our hearts, something happens. A new day comes and a new creation is born. (2 Cor 5:17) The light is separated from the darkness. And our creator God molds us into the image of His son and we learn to walk in the eternal light of His glorious being. (1 John 2:6)

We pass from nothing to something… from death into life.

He created the world to show His glory. And He offers us the free gift of spiritual birth to glorify His son, Jesus.

Oh, thank you, Father Creator-God, for crafting this beautiful world around me, and thank you for creating newness in my heart through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus!

How do you see God’s character revealed in creating something from nothing? Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Ali

Additional Study Steps:

Read Genesis 1:1-5. Note every action God did and every word He spoke.
Copy Genesis 1:4. Journal through your thoughts on this verse and how it relates to spiritual birth.
Read John 1:5-13 and John 8:12. Think about the sun. As light, how does Jesus give life and growth, similar to how the sun gives life and growth to the world?
Who do you know that needs to know the Creator God? Pray that they would receive Jesus as their light and salvation. Pray about how you could witness to this person.

Creation: From Nothing to Something. How is the first day like spiritual birth? #GodTheCreator

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It’s God’s business to go about creating something from nothing. Spiritual rebirth! #GotTheCreator

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Why Sound Theology Matters – Series Wrap Up

October 31, 2016 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

Has our series this month encouraged you to check and further develop your theology? It has definitely encouraged me! As we discussed in the introduction to this month’s topic, our theology affects the way we think, the decisions we make, the words we say, and more. That’s why sound theology is so important! Establishing our theology soundly results in fruitful growth and great joy!

Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman... Read the entire series at DoNotDepart.com

If you missed any of the posts this month, here’s a quick recap of why Sound Theology Matters:

To Help us Know God Well:

“When our theology isn’t right, we can’t know God well. And we don’t know God well, we can’t understand Him or what our role and position in relation to Him should be.” -Ali

To Help us Identify False Teachers and False Doctrine:

“Being in God’s word for ourselves and relying on the Holy Spirit for enlightenment will allow us to discern what is right from what is wrong, truth from lies, and the genuine Gospel from the many, many false gospels that are being proclaimed today.” -Kelli

To Believe God’s Worthy of Sharing:

“The more we know love, the more it spills out of us and onto others. …Knowing God matters. Not just for our own souls. But also in how we interact with others. Let’s know God as accurately as we can. Let’s worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Then we’ll believe He’s worthy of sharing.” -Lisa

To Learn the Formula for Becoming Like Jesus:

“…sound theology matters is because it is through sound theology that we become more like Jesus. It is through the study of Him that we become like Him. …Open your Bible and get to know Him. But don’t do it just to know facts. Instead, do it to know Him.” -Lindsey

To Understand the Theology/Trust Partnership:

“…theology and trust are partners. We need both to thrive and grow in His example. The more we trust, the more we learn, the more we lean into His wisdom, the more our eyes open to His peace (Philippians 4:7) and His love.” -Caroline

To Stand Firm… In Daily Life, When Culture Shifts, and In Spiritual Battles:

“Theology mattered in my life because I needed to be able to discern what was true from what was not true, and make life decisions accordingly. …Sound theology helps us navigate the smallest moments of our lives because it gives us a framework in which to process every detail.” -Patti

There are many more reasons why sound theology matters than the ones we covered this month: to understand what God has done, to understand what He won’t do, to know how God wants us to function as Believers, and the list goes on. (Can you think of more reasons? Add them in the comments!)

Theology matters. And it isn’t a dry, difficult subject fit only for scholars, but it’s for all of us… women, wives, moms, grandmothers, Sunday school teachers, mentors, and friends. Studying and knowing God is a lifelong, life-giving pursuit that yields sweet fruit as we abide in Him and grow to be like Jesus! We are all placed exactly where God wants us; let’s shine our light for Him strongly, and accompanied by a sound theology.

Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman. Month-long series recap #TheologyForWomen

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Sound Theology Helps us Know God Well

October 6, 2016 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

“What was in the beginning before God created the heaven and earth?” My oldest daughter often asked me big questions when she was a very little girl. “Nothing was made before anything was made,” I answered. “Mmmm. . . you’re not understanding my question,” she responded, with a look of frustration on her face.

My daughter, then about four years old, was a budding theologian with big questions about God’s nature and capabilites. She couldn’t always word the questions well enough to explain just exactly what she was asking, but the point most clear was this: she wanted to know God well.

People wonder about God. And that’s a great thing when it puts us on the right path to getting our questions answered. When reflecting on God is met with Biblical study, sound theology is born.   It’s only a sound theology that helps to answer our questions accurately. It’s our basic theology that confirms in us who God is, what He’s capable of, what His character is, and who we are in Him. This information and these beliefs shade our whole life a different color than life outside of knowledge of Him.

“Theology is for everyone. Indeed, everyone needs to be a theologian. In reality, everyone is a theologian— of one sort or another.  And therein lies the problem. There is nothing wrong with being an amateur theologian or a professional theologian, but there is everything wrong about being an ignorant or sloppy theologian. Therefore, everyone should read theology. Theology simply means thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way.” (Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology)

When our theology isn’t right, we can’t know God well. And we don’t know God well, we can’t understand Him or what our role and position in relation to Him should be.

Sound Theology Matters to Know God Well. When our theology isn’t right, we can’t know God well. And we don’t know God well, we can’t understand Him or what our role and position in relation to Him should be. Read more at DoNotDepart.com

What does it mean to know God well?

When we know God well we:
1. Understand that all He does is based out of love… because He is love. (1 John 4:8)
2. Know that He is slow to anger and full of compassion. (Psalm 145:8)
3. Know that His promises are true and He is ultimately truth. (Psalm 18:30 and John 14:6)
4. Realize that He has come to give us life. (Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy.) (John 10:10)
5. Tust in His righteous judgements, knowing He cannot make mistakes or do any evil. (Numbers 23:19, 1 John 1:5)

How can we know him well?

Since our theology shapes who we are and what we do in all facets of life, we need to know how it’s possible to know God well. Will we ever know God completely? No, His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3) But, just like with any relationship, there are things we can do to get to know Him better. It takes discipline and effort.

We can know God well through:
1. The reading and study of His Word. (Psalm 119:105, Rom 10:17, 2 Tim 2:15)
2. His Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin and keeps us on right path. (John 14:16-17, John 16:8, John 16:13)
3. The Body of Christ, whom God’s Spirit works through to edify and build up His church. (1 Cor 12:5-7)
4. Prayer, which builds faith and draw us near to God— who in turn, draws near to us. (Romans 8:26, James 4:8)
5. Obedience, worship and praise, all of which exalt and magnify God and help us meditate on His truths. (John 14:15, Psalm 34:3, Joshua 1:8)

Charles Ryrie states that “Everyone is a theologian” and that there is “everything wrong about being an ignorant or sloppy theologian.” Sound theology is the way to know God well and to better understand His character and the depth of his love and sacrifice. The truth of His nature can touch our hearts to the core. And it is then that we can offer Him a proper response and share His truths with others.

How has knowing God well shaded your theology? How does that affect your life, decisions, and relationships? Are there areas where you need to know Him better? What can you do about that?

What does it mean to know God well? And how can we do this? Sound theology matters! #TheologyForWomen

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Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman

October 4, 2016 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

Do you consider yourself a theologian?

Most of us would answer that question with a resounding no. But the truth is this: in a way, we all are.

The word theology is comprised of two Greek word parts… theo (meaning God) and ology (meaning knowledge or study of…). So, we could say that a theologian is someone with knowledge of God or someone who studies God.

Is that you?

With this definition and thought process, we can easily see that if we are theologians on any level, we must make sure that our theology is sound.

Why Theology Matters

Whether we’re aware of it or not, our basic theology affects every part of our life. From how we view God to how we interact with our family and friends, no part of our life is truly left untouched by our beliefs. The decisions we make, the things we teach our children, the words that come from our mouths, and even the votes we cast all reflect our response to the basic truths we hold dear.

This month, we’ll be examining in detail Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman and discovering ways to make sure our theology is spot on.

And while some people may view theology as a boring, dry, and scholarly subject fit only for the most intellectual of Christians, the truth is theology is for everyone. It’s an exciting, sweet look at the God who loves us immensely. Establishing our theology soundly results in fruitful growth and great joy!

We hope you’ll join us!

Ali

Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman. New series this month! #TheologyForWomen

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God is Our Hope

September 8, 2016 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

If someone asked you to explain what Biblical hope is, would you have a ready answer? After all, what does hope mean?

In English, the current definition of the noun hope is, “the feeling of desire for a certain thing to happen.” For its use as a verb, hope means “wanting a certain thing to happen.”

For some reason, to explain what hope is not, I’ve often imagined a farmer, looking at his dry, dusty fields, shaking his head in despair and saying, “I sure hope it’ll rain.” And what he means is, “I sure want it to rain, but I know it isn’t likely.”

In the Bible, we never read of hope with that definition. It’s not wishy-washy, or desirous of the unlikely. Instead, hope is a confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God. Hope always has a positive connotation.

(In the past, I’ve looked into the etymology of the word hope and found that some believe that there is a connection to the word “hop.” I love the thought of my heart hopping toward God, my refuge, in eager expectation and joyful trust!)

God is Our Hope. Why can we say this? And what does this mean to us as Believers? Read at DoNotDepart.com

With that understanding of Biblical hope, the Bible has much to say about God Himself being our hope.

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Psalm 71:5

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 43:5

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:24

And why specifically is God our hope? And what does this mean to us as Believers?

He is our hope because of His power.
- His power means He can perform what He says.
- Our hope is founded on His ability.
He is our hope because of His provision.
- His provision means He will provide for us with His best for our eternal good.
- Our hope founded on His loving care.
He is our hope because of His promise.
- His promise means that His word is good.
- Our hope is founded on His trustworthiness.
He is our hope because of His person.
- His person is such that He is merciful, forgiving, faithful, good, and righteous.
- Our hope is founded on His character.

He can overcome with His power. He can heal.

He can provide when there is no earthly way. He will make a way!

He can fulfill the promise that seems to good to be true. Grace? Strength? Wisdom? The hope of Heaven? Given!

He can do all that He has said in His word and more. Need forgiveness? or Reassurance? or To better understand His loving, sacrificial character? It’s in His word.

As women armed with this knowledge, we can be like Samuel’s mother, Hannah, who after pouring her heart out to the Lord in petition,

“went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18 b)

Like her, we also can hope confidently in God’s power and ability to provide His best for us. We can rest in His trustworthiness and His good nature. We can leave all our concerns with the God of our hope, and with His Son Jesus who, logically (since He is the second person of the trinity), is also our hope. We can stand in hope– firmly planted in our God and Savior!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1 Timothy 1:1

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:9-10

Yes, our hope (our confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God) is safe and has a firm foundation because God is who He says He is and all of His promises are true. That’s something we can count on!

What does it mean to you that God is your hope? Tell us in the comments!

Ali

God is Our Hope. Why can we say this? What does this mean to Believers? Read more…

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Prayers for a Hurting World: Series Wrap Up

August 30, 2016 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

All this month, we’ve focused on our hurting world. We’ve looked intently at some disheartening events and situations that show the magnitude of brokenness and pain we live amongst.

We thank you for taking the time to pray with us this month.

Prayers for a Hurting World month-long series at DoNotDepart.com includes printable prayer cards

Though we live in a messy world, we can’t lose heart! God is sovereign and His love is deeper that the deepest pit. (A paraphrase of Corrie Ten Boom’s famous words.)

This month, we looked at how we can pray for:

Murder: Though incredibly painful and difficult to understand, we can pray for God to bring beauty from the dirt and ashes.
Politics: No matter what happens politically, we can bring our concerns to God and trust in His help, here and now.
Terrorism: Even when we’re reluctant to face the terror in terrorism, we can boldly come before God and stand against this evil by kneeling in prayer.
Slavery: In this day and age it may be hard to imagine that many people are still trapped in slavery and human trafficking. We can pray that God would bring protection and freedom for the enslaved.
Persecution: Many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are suffering persecution, but we can come before our Father’s throne on there behalf in powerful ways.
We also were blessed with a very wise and helpful guest post this month on racism and its remedy. (Thank you, Ayoka Billions!)

And at the beginning of the month, we promised you a printable prayer prompt that will serve to encourage and guide you as you lift your heart and voices to God. As Believers, we know what dire need humanity has for Christ and the wholeness only He can give.

Click on the images above or here to download our Prayers for a Hurting World Printable.

We consider ourselves blessed by our DoNotDepart reader-community– again, we thank you for praying with us!

Ali

Prayers for a Hurting World series wrap up and printable prayer prompt.

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Murder in God’s World: How to Pray for the Hurting and Lost

August 4, 2016 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

Murder in God's World: How to Pray ... series: Prayers for a Hurting World at DoNotDepart.com

I was in Orlando, vacationing with my family when I saw posts on Facebook telling about the horrors that happened in a nightclub. I followed a few links and read the news story with heavy-heartedness. (I’m sure you know about that event that happened earlier this summer.)

Just a few weeks ago, I read about the ruthless murder (deemed “honor killing”) of a Muslim social-media “star” who was attempting to take a stand against her Muslim upbringing. (Oh, if she’d only known Jesus!)

And recently in my quiet, small town, the cruelty of murder touched our community when a man took the life of his girlfriend, her friend, his small child, and then turned the gun on himself.

We can’t understand the level of hatred, pain, or insanity that would compel a person to commit such atrocious acts. Yet, stories like this happen across the globe.

The fact is that our world is broken because the people in it are broken. We are all in need of wholeness in Christ and of His salvation — and the heart changes that come with it. (Note: This post is not addressing the physical healing that is needed in murderers with mental illness. Mental illness of that magnitude is in need of both prayer and professional help.)

One aspect of murder that makes my heart especially heavy is when a life is taken before the victim has a chance to repent and come to know Christ. Another is when the grieving loved ones left behind don’t know the comfort of our Savior who can help them navigate the journey through pain into healing.

How to Pray

When Jesus found out about the murder of His dear friend and cousin, John the Baptist, He went away, alone, to a desolate place . . . presumably to pray.

When King Jehoshaphat was faced with adversity (yes, of an entirely different type), he also prayed. And I love his story because it reminds us that even when we don’t understand, or know what to do, God does.

“We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 c)

And God was faithful to Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah, just like He is to us. We can always trust His power to turn any adversity (spiritual, physical, emotional) into victory.

So, what can we pray when we’re faced with such horrific stories? The news can blast the facts, but we’re left feeling heavyhearted and perhaps even helpless.

We can pray for spiritual victory (salvation, growth, even good future fruit)… for the murderer (if still living) and for the victims’ families.
We can ask that God would bring the offender and the offended to a place of seeking forgiveness and being forgiving.
We can pray, asking God to comfort the mourning.
We can pray for spiritual peace, healing, and direction for the community.
We can pray for God to act… in whatever way He knows is best.
We can pray for God to release any who are held captive to fear.
We can pray for God to show us how we can shine Christ’s light and make a physical difference in our dark world.

A simple prayer we can pray together:

Lord, we don’t understand murder, but we do understand that you can give victory in the most difficult situations. We ask for you to bring salvation to those who are lost, bring comfort to the mourning, and bring fruit for your kingdom out of the dirt and ashes of pain. Show us how to shine your light, love, and forgiveness in a dark world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Will you join us in praying about murder in God’s world?
Ali

Beauty from dirt and ashes. Murder in God’s World: Praying for the Hurting and Lost. #PrayersForAHurtingWorld

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How can we pray about murder in God’s World? Talking about this in today’s post. #PrayersForAHurtingWorld

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Prayers for a Hurting World

August 2, 2016 by Ali Shaw 4 Comments

It often seems that when I turn on the television, open my Facebook, or read the news there’s another painful event happening somewhere in the world.

Our world is hurting and broken.

And I know that it all began when Adam and Eve first bit into that juicy, tempting fruit. Sin entered the world and is still lurking. Wickedness is rampant and Satan is smiling.

But lest we be disheartened, we must remember: God is still on the throne!

So, as Christians, what can we do? Where is our part on this world-stage of events? Terrorism, murder, hatred, racial tension, poverty, and bigotry abound and we seem so small.

There are a lot of great ways to be involved locally, donate monetarily, and travel and serve missionally.

But there’s another thing we can do and need to do to help our hurting world.

We can pray.

God has called us to bear one another’s burdens. He’s called us to pray without ceasing.

And this seemingly small thing can move mountains.

Why Pray for our World?

Scripture urges us to prayer and models powerful prayers to us. (Matthew 6:6, 9-13)
Scripture shows us that prayers move God’s heart (Matthew 7:7-11)
Scripture shows us that prayer is a powerful weapon (Eph 6:12, 18)
Time spent communicating with God changes our hearts and minds to align with His (Luke 22:42)
Time spent in quiet prayer tunes our hearts to hear God’s voice more clearly (John 10:27)
Praying for others is an honor that generates Christlike compassion (Galatians 6:2)

This month at DoNotDepart we’ll focus on some specific issues and events that our pained world is facing. We’ll even give you some printable prayer prompts later this month that will encourage you in your prayer time with God. We’ll show you ways that you can pray and arm you with Scriptures that you can use as you lift your hearts and voices to God, crying out on behalf of humanity and it’s need for wholeness in Christ.

Please join us.

Ali

Month long series at DoNotDepart: #PrayersForAHurtingWorld

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An Understanding High Priest

July 7, 2016 by Ali Shaw 4 Comments

In 2002, I was about 32 weeks pregnant with my sweet daughter Alainah and went to the hospital because she’d stopped moving.

She’d passed away in the womb sometime earlier that day… before I ever got to meet her and gaze into her eyes. I never got to witness the recognition on her face upon hearing my voice. I never got to feel her sweet infant hand grasp my finger, or feel the wiggle of her precious, tiny body as she lay in my arms.

The days and months (even years) after were hard.

Shortly before Alainah was born, we had moved and started a new church. A friend I’d recently met called shortly after I got back home from the hospital and shared her story with me. She’d been through something very similar. She lost her precious son shortly after his much too early birth.

She could empathize with me like few others could. She’d walked that difficult road of grief and loss and was still maneuvering through the rough path. She knew how to pray for me. She knew what I needed and what I didn’t need. She understood when my words failed. She shared my heartache.

She’d also already wrestled with the deep theological questions that lie behind this sort of loss. It was as if she held a small candle, a glimmer of light, and let me follow silently behind her in the paths she’d already beaten down. She was such a help and encouragement to me!

I remember telling her often that I was so sorry that she’d been through such loss, but I was also so thankful that her pain could be used to help me through mine.

“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.” – Hebrews 5:1-2

The Jewish High Priests were a bit like my friend. Bear with me while I explain my imperfect analogy.

Jesus As High Priest... An Understanding High Priest... Read more and study Hebrews 5 at DoNotDepart.com

Who was a High Priest?
God chose the descendants of Aaron (Moses’ brother) to be the priests of Israel. (See Exodus 28:1) A successor to Aaron was always chosen to be the High (or chief) Priest.

Here’s some information on the High Priest for you from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:

“There were certain duties which were peculiar to the high priest. He alone could wear the “garments for glory and for beauty.” To him alone it pertained to enter the Most Holy Place and to sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the mercy-seat. To him alone it pertained to represent the congregation before the Lord as mediator, and to receive the divine communications. He was to be ceremonially pure and holy. He must be physically perfect… …Nor was he to come in contact with death. He must not rend his clothes, nor defile himself, even for his father or his mother (Leviticus 21:10, 11). His sons might defile themselves for their kin, but the high priest must not. For he was the representative of life. Death did not exist for him, in so far as he was a priest. God is the Ever-Living, the Life-Giving; and His priest, who had “the crown of the anointing oil of his God upon him,” had to do with life alone.”

I bet you’re beginning to see how Jesus was our great High Priest.

But how was a High Priest anything like my friend? Well, look again to Hebrews 5:2.

The weakness of the High Priest
The High Priest was weak, because he was still a man. He’d been down the road of temptation, hardship, grief, struggle… you name it! He was a real person with real struggles, even real sin. But because of His weaknesses, he could deal gently with the wayward and ignorant. He could have compassion when he might otherwise not. He could be empathetic because he understood.

Because my friend had walked through what I had, she could identify with the struggles of grief and lend me her wisdom and strength. (I know it’s not a perfect analogy, but I’m sure you get my meaning…) Similarity breeds understanding.

The Strength of Jesus
We’ll touch more on this later this month, but because Jesus walked through this life as fully human He understands. Yet because He also walked this earth fully God, He isn’t weak, but rather, He’s stong! He deals with us gently because of His love and empathy, and yet, lends us His wisdom and strength. His compassionate grace is empowering.

When I’m dealing with sin, frustration, or heartache, it does my heart good to know that the God I serve understands. And not only does He understand, He dealt with temptations and came out victorious… and He lets me share in His victory. And you, too. Wow! We are more than conquerors!

Doesn’t that make all the difference?

Praise His holy name for His great compassion and everlasting love!

Action Steps:

1. In what areas are you most thankful for Jesus’ compassionate, empathetic gentleness?

2. Get a notebook and by the end of the month aim to write out Hebrews Chapter 5. Underline any words or phrases that stand out to you. Perhaps try memorizing a few key verses.

3. Study more about the Priesthood and the High Priest. You can use any Bible encyclopedia or dictionary. Here’s a great place to get started: http://biblehub.com/topical/p/priest.htm

Jesus was fully human, so He understands our walk and lends us wisdom and strength. #JesusAsHighPriest

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Why is Jesus called the High Priest? How can that truth strengthen and comfort you? #JesusAsHighPriest

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Our Sins, God’s Grace – Series Wrap Up

June 30, 2016 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Our Sins, God's Grace... read more about sins Believers can struggle with and the grace of God at DoNotDepart.com

This whole month here at DND we’ve looked at sin and we hope you aren’t walking away feeling down.

We focused on some disheartening things like:

Anger. Do you give vent to your anger? I did. But God convicted me and revealed a solution: Him! He forgives, helps, and strengthens us to do better.
Adultery. Kelli shares her story with us about how it feels to be “that” Christian– the one who’s been divorced and remarried. She reminds us that when Jesus forgives, our sin is forgiven completely.
Worry. How can we silence it? Lisa gave us 3 words to help quiet our worry and reminds us of the benefits of intentional prayer.
Unbelief. Caroline showed us how unbelief comes from lack of faith and trust. But when we reconnect with God, He graciously fill us with wholeness that strengthens our faith.
Pride. Patti reminded us that pride puffs us up like inflatable beach toys… filled with nothing. But God’s grace pricks our balloon hearts.

We hope that you walk away marveling at the sweet grace of God that convicts us, leads us to repentance, and covers that sin completely.

We started the series off with a verse from Proverbs. Let’s finish with it, too. Read it slowly and let it sink in deep. Let it remind you of how blessed you are because of Christ’s gift of blood that washes away all your sin.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2

Rest in His grace, friends. …His grace to convict, help us avoid sin, His Word that arms us to fight, and the precious Sacrifice of His Son. All grace…

#OurSinsGod’sGrace… series re-cap at DoNotDepart. Anger, Adultery, Worry, Unbelief, and Pride.

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Giving Vent to Anger? Don’t be a Fool!

June 9, 2016 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

“A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11

When I was a little girl, my parents would jokingly say that my temper was due to my red hair.

Now that I’m an adult, people are usually surprised to find that I occasionally have a temper. Friends often say that they can’t imagine me being angry.

Little do they know the journey I’ve trekked to get from the fiery little girl to the (usually) calm woman.

It wasn’t until I was married with children that I really started to realize that even infrequent angry outbursts could cause big problems.

Giving Vent to Anger? Don't be a Fool! Read more about the sin of anger and the sweet remedy of God's grace at DoNotDepart.com

Here’s an embarrassing confession: I remember a day when my husband and I were newlyweds and we got into an argument. I became so angry that I backhanded my full glass of grape juice and knocked it flying off the coffee table. It sent the spray of dark sweetness splashing across the spines of our brand new encyclopedia set. One that we could little afford at the time, I might add.

I can’t even remember what that argument was about, but I still have the stains on the book spines to remember my fully vented anger. Not proud.

I wish I could say that was my only angry outburst over the years. Sadly, I can’t. But what I can say is that particular situation was a stepping stone to understanding just how detrimental anger could be. God used that ugly moment to confront my sin.

Yes, angry outbursts are sin. (Actually, any anger other than anger directed at wickedness is a sin.) And we Believers aren’t immune. Do I still get angry at times? Sure. But I’m learning to take my frustrations, hurt, impatience, and other feelings to Him before they develop into full-blown anger. I’m learning to hold back.

I’ve heard testimonies of people who were instantly healed of anger when they became a Christian. I love those stories and to see God’s power displayed like that. But for me (and maybe you?), it’s been different. It’s been a gradual process… a slow metamorphosis… and I’m not quite finished yet. I still feel an adrenaline surge when I get frustrated. I still have to bite my tongue (sometimes literally) when I want to use snapping, curt words. I still have to stop and pray and breathe out. Slowly.

It was more than 20 years ago that the Lord used the grape juice incident to open my eyes to see that flares of heated anger are destructive to yourself, others, and are even your physical surroundings. And isn’t that what Satan wants? He comes to kill, steal, and destroy.

But God wants better for us.

The Lord also helped me to see that being angry like that was pure foolishness. I had witnessed the second part of Proverbs 14:1 in action. It was time to choose to find a remedy or continue plucking away at my home and all that my husband and I were working to build.

“The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

I’m thankful that He’s taught me that He’s the remedy. God forgives me when I repent. He helps me to do better. And He even strengthens me when I feel too weak to do better. He brings scripture to mind, responds when I call out to Him, and allows His peace to flood my heart in place of indignation.

And the sweetest thing? Jesus washes away all my sins. Oh, what grace!

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Yes, my encyclopedias are still stained and serve as a physical reminder not to let my anger get the best of me. But you know what? My soul is not stained… Jesus’ blood serves as a spiritual reminder that through His work, I’m white like wool!

He does all of this for me, and He’ll do it for you… because He’s that kind of God– the kind that wants all of His children to look more like His only begotten Son. So, He picks us up when we fail, cleans us up, and helps us to know better, to do better, and He gives us a wise heart so we don’t have to be foolish any longer.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

How has God helped you deal with anger?

Giving Vent to Anger? Don’t be a Fool! #OurSinsGodsGrace

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Do you struggle with the sin of anger? God is the remedy. #OurSinsGodsGrace

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Our Sins, God’s Grace

June 7, 2016 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Oh, sin.

It’s a debbie-downer to the Christian life, isn’t it? We’d rather talk about grace, love, and joyful things.

Rightly so. Grace and love are what Christianity are founded upon.

But we also need to remember sin. It’s why Jesus came to us in the first place. It’s by His death and the shedding of His blood that the ugly stain of sin is washed away.

The Bible mentions sins more times that I can find a record for. If you do some searching, you may find (like I did) estimates that “sin” is mentioned from 700 to 1000 in God’s word.

But these estimates are off and here’s why:

In the Old Testament alone, the top two Hebrew words used for sin exist 966 times. And there are eight different Hebrew words that depict sin.

In the New Testament, about 12 different words for sin exist and are used many hundreds of times.

So the estimates are off because not every word that means sin is translated specifically as “sin.” Sometimes the Hebrew and Greek words used are put into English as “transgress”, “err”, “go astray”, “wicked”, and so on. That’s why is’t hard to get an accurate count.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2

But why is looking at sin so important? I mean, after all, don’t we want to focus on grace?

Indubitably! But since sin is obviously an important issue to God, we’ll be addressing it here at DoNotDepart. It’s important for children of God to be aware of what the Bible has to say about sin because when we know, we can:

avoid it
repent when we do it
seek forgiveness
better realize all our precious Savior has done… and how great His love for us is!

Please join us this month as we look at sin from a Biblical perspective. We’ll talk about some common sins many Believers struggle with or have encountered, the remedy for sin, the sweet grace that covers it, and the encouragement and hope the Bible offers us in regards to it.

Ali

What does the Bible tell us about sin and grace? A new series at DoNotDepart. #OurSinsGodsGrace

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Physical Pain and a Present God

May 5, 2016 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

Sometimes, life hurts… physically.

Some of us deal with intermittent and mild pain… others, the chronic and debilitating kind.

And when we’re experiencing those dark moments of despair and ache, it can leave us wondering, “Where is God?”

Physical Pain and a Present God... read more at DoNotDepart.com

God is near.
The answer is simple, though we make it complicated because sometimes we don’t feel Him.

Do you struggle with being sensitive to His presence when your attention is held captive by the physical? I certainly have!

Even David had this struggle… in several of the Psalms, David asks the question, “Where are you, God?” (My paraphrase.)

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1

But after some prayer, David answers his own questions.. He knows truly that God is with him— that God hasn’t forgotten him. David places his hope in the victory God gives.

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13:5,6)

Like David, we can be reminded of God’s nearness with some focused prayer and praise… And though it’s difficult, we can do this even in our anguish.

God reveals His presence in our pain when:

1. He teaches us and speaks to us, reminding us to seek Him…

“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” -Charles Spurgeon

Every ache is a great reminder to “kiss the waves.” Each wave brings a choice… be knocked down and yanked away from the Rock by the tide of pain OR reach out and cling to God.

His presence reminds us to focus on seeking Him.

2. He reminds us that we are His…

A few years ago, I wrote a (free) online Bible study on the book of Job and interviewed two dear online friends with chronic pain. God has used their pain to spiritually refine and mature them.

In the interview, Susie said, “He was using Pain to focus my attention on who I truly was; created BeautyFull. Oh, He Knows me. I am gratefully in awe of the Love it takes to show me just how well.” LINK

And Jen said, “God has taught me that alone I am weak and shattered; however, He has also taught me that with Him I am pieced back together and He fills in all my gaps. Through my brokenness, I am able to shine His light.”

Ultimately, the pain these ladies endure have forced them to give full attention to God and their identity. God has reached out to show them how loved they are, and who they are. What a great inspiration these ladies are to others who are hurting!

His presence reminds us, we’re overcomers.

3. He reminds us of who He is.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Pain and adversity often breed stronger Christians.

Through we may not like growing this way, it is an excellent opportunity to pursue God intimately. And when He is pursued He will be found. When we are weak, His strength can shine more fully through us… teaching us and others more about His:

love
power
comfort
strengthening aid
grace
trustworthiness
victory (physical, spiritual, eternal…)

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:10

Yes, our weakness shines His strength. He is the Strong One.