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Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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About Caroline

A wife, mother, avid reader, homeschooling momma, and writer, Caroline is imperfect at all of those but thankful for every bit. Eager to grow with believers in deeper, more grace-focused faith, Caroline loves to study His Word, share it with others, and learn more and more how to fully lean on Him to live it out. You can also find Caroline at Under God’s Mighty Hand and on Twitter.

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Every Day is a Gift of New

July 27, 2017 by Caroline Leave a Comment

Every Day is a New Beginning - DoNotDepart.com

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about change. Big changes and small changes and how, regardless, any change can make an impact — negatively or positively.

I think change is largely a gift. Even if change is something small.

A gift to try something new and learn more.

A gift to see a situation with new eyes.

A gift to start new each day.

Noticing change and newness, even seeing the small changes, can boost our gratitude, too. Gratitude in the opportunity for a fresh day each day, and gratitude in see every blessing.

So, I think God gifts us change in each new day so we can change and renew our minds and hearts to His love and loving others.

That’s why I’m loving rereading this post from Patti from 2014, and I hope you’ll love it and the gift of change and newness in each day, too.

Each Day is a New Beginning

by Patti Brown

Do you ever feel like a hamster in a running wheel? Round and round you go with the same old habits, the same stinkin’ thinkin’. You wonder how you will ever get off.

You wonder if you will ever shake a sense of defeat.

I have my own entrenched habits that I often vow to overcome. I will never eat sugar again! No complaint shall ever pass these lips! Some days I’ll do well. Most days? Not so much.

I love to make big plans… do you? I sit with my pencil and paper and scratch out lists and schedules and create a world of perfection. A world where I never do wrong and everything goes according to plan.

Then I put the paper down and life seems to go along as it always has.

Yet as I look back over the past few decades, I barely recognize the woman I was twenty years ago. How is this possible?

Every Day is a New Beginning - DoNotDepart.com

 

Real change has always come for me in the small. It has come in the moments of one choice – do I speak my frustration or keep my mouth closed right now? Do I hit snooze or drag myself out of bed and read my bible? Do I believe what God’s Word says about me in this moment or do I believe the enemy’s accusations?

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Each day is a new opportunity to make decisions that honor God. His love for you is so great – He lavishes it on you with His continual mercy and forgiveness.

It is not always easy to make those small decisions that lead to godly change, but you have an advocate! Jesus Christ, who knew all the temptations of man…

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Do you feel defeated in some area of your life? Take heart. God is not looking for perfection… He knows you can’t deliver on that.

But progress, yes indeed, that is possible. You can head in the right direction. Every little choice you make that honors God makes a difference. Every time you speak lovingly to your kids when you feel like yelling, every time you stay silent instead of complaining, every time you choose God’s way instead of your own – it is a new beginning.

Today is a new beginning! Be refreshed in His love and mercy!

Share how you’re loving God’s gift of change and newness in the comments. 

Every little choice you make that honors God makes a difference.

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Change is largely a gift. See part of why here:

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What Listening Has to Do With Loving

April 20, 2017 by Caroline Leave a Comment

James 1:19 free verse printable - DoNotDepart.com

This month, we’re looking at ways to be better friends — whether in making new friends or upping our initiative to sustain our longtime ones. (See all the posts from this month here.)

Something I admire in friends (and in mentors, in coworkers, in neighbors, in doctors, in leaders, etc.) is someone who genuinely listens.

A listening ear is powerful. When we find someone who listens with an honest, we typically find someone who is:

  • trustworthy
  • others-focused
  • serving

What the Bible Says About Listening

  • James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”
  • Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
  • Proverbs 1:5 – “…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…”
  • Proverbs 18:13 – “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.”
  • Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”
  • Proverbs 25:12 – “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.”
  • John 3:29-30 – “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
  • Proverbs 21:28 – “A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.”
  • Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
  • Mark 4:24 – “‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.'”

(Click here or on the image below to save this free printable of James 1:19. Image for personal, family, or church use. Thank you for not selling, copying, or otherwise changing this image.)

James 1:19 free verse printable - DoNotDepart.com

How Can We Listen Better?

Be slow to speak – This one is sometimes tough for me. I’m a solid introvert, so in groups, this is no problem. But when I’m talking one-on-one with someone that I’ve found I am able to talk with and find commonalities with and find intriguing differences, I get excited. I also sometimes talk too much in one-on-one situations because I’m nervous (another introvert thing, oddly enough). But the more I wait to speak, the more I can truly listen. And that more often than not turns out to be a big blessing.

Ask questions – Learn more by truly learning more. Asking appropriate questions requires listening first.

Pray about an honest heart and open eyes to see how to serve – I have a Mother Teresa quote on an index card on my bookshelf for me to see every morning (because I need the reminder every morning, too): “Would you like to do something beautiful for God?” I want to think of that more often and how to be a blessing and do an act of service and love (not just say it or think it) when I’m talking with someone. The more we listen, often the better we can then see truly helpful ways to serve.

Pay attention to the person rather than thinking of what I’ll say next – This is another one that can be tricky for me. As a writer, I love watching people’s reactions and body language, so that helps me focus on them. But, sometimes I think of what I’ll say next rather than really focus on what that person is saying. When those moments arise, I’m trying to remind myself to wait and listen.

Listen to your own trustworthy, listening friends – When you have a friend who listens, you are more likely to listen to them when they do talk, offer advice, come to you with a concern, etc. Consider their words and how they may be trying to help you (rather than only listen to your own head … good friends get you out of your head when needed!).

Kairos, a prison ministry, has a lovely, strong motto:

“Listen, listen, love, love”

Listen is listed first. We have to listen to learn. 

Then, and only then, we love. Speak love, think love, and do love.

Both are repeated because we always need the reminders, don’t we?

 

What helps you remember to listen to be a better friend? Please share your ideas, favorite quotes, etc. in the comments!

Today’s #BeABetterFriend post talks about what listening has to do with loving:

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What helps you remember to listen to #BeABetterFriend? Share here at @DoNotDepart:

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Growing in Our Walk of Truth and Love {Series Wrap-Up}

March 30, 2017 by Caroline Leave a Comment

Walking in Truth and Love {A Study on 1, 2, and 3 John at DoNotDepart.com}

What a month.

This month we’ve read through 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John together and studied different aspects of these parts of the Bible.

Truth and love go together. And both help us grow in our walk of faith.

This month:

  • Ali compiled amazing verses about truth and love from 1 John 2.
  • Lindsey’s study on 1 John 3 showed how God’s love is our example of walking in truth and love.
  • Lisa pinpointed how we can know our love is truthful and from God by studying 1 John 4.
  • Kelli looked at 1 John 5 and how living a life of love includes loving God’s children.
  • I studied 2 John and noted at how John discusses God’s love is truth and God’s truth is love.
  • Patti wrapped up the month for us with a post on 3 John how walking in truth means love in action (and that means actively living with love).

Thank you, as always, for joining us.

Walking in Truth and Love {A Study on 1, 2, and 3 John at DoNotDepart.com}

What about you? What truths about truth and love did you find this month? Please share in the comments below!

What truths about #TruthandLove did you find this month? Share in the comments here:

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Miss any posts of the #TruthandLove series on 1, 2, and 3 John this month? Find a wrap-up with links to all the posts here:

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In Truth and Love {2 John}

March 24, 2017 by Caroline Leave a Comment

"As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." - 2 John 1:6

Second John gets right to it, right away in verse 1.

“…whom I love in the truth…”

Love and Truth go together from the start.

2 John was written to encourage those in the faith to continue seeking and sharing truth (and to be weary of those sharing falsities). What strikes me every time I read it is how much truth and love are both found and needed when walking with God.

God’s Love is Truth

The apostle John used the word “truth” at least thirty-seven times in his letters (source). In 2 John alone, we see the word “truth” five times (in just thirteen verses).

Guess what else? In 2 John alone, we see the word “love” five times.

Love and Truth. Truth and Love.

Another interesting aspect is that love is always accompanied by obedience.

When we love, we follow God’s commands.

When we love, we obey His laws (and see and give joy; Psalm 1:2, 2 John 1:4).

When we love, we see and follow and walk in truth.

"As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." - 2 John 1:6
Original photo source

God’s Truth is Love

2 John 1:6 says:

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.”

We already know that God’s commands are truth (Psalm 119:151). So if we walk in those commands? We walk in truth. 

But then 2 John 1:6 goes on to say more about that walking in truth:

“As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

What is His command? To walk in love.

Then John even tells us why he writes this: there are false teachers out there. There are people who are not seeking truth and love, yet try to sway others to their views anyway.

So we have to be cautious. We have to have wisdom. We have to seek truth and love.

Thankfully, we have help in our fellow believers, our fellow truth-seekers, our fellow love-walkers, and in God’s Word and love.

Extra Bible Study This Week

  1. Read through 1 John 4, and then read 2 John again. What strikes you most about truth and love?
  2. Read through a commentary on 2 John. (There are many great physical book commentaries out there, and here’s an online version.) What historical cultural information helps you understand John’s writing?
  3. Pray for truth and love in abundance. How can you spread joy through truth and love this week?
What do love and truth have to do with obedience? #TruthAndLove

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See part of what 2 John has to say about #TruthAndLove:

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Walking in Truth and Love {a study on 1, 2, and 3 John}

March 7, 2017 by Caroline 1 Comment

Walking in Truth and Love {A Study on 1, 2, and 3 John at DoNotDepart.com}

Back in 2015, we did a month-long study on 1 John 4, a chapter all about how the why and how of God’s love affects our sharing love with others. (If you want to reread any of those posts, click here to see all the posts from that series.)

This month, we’re going to look at 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John and focus on John’s discussion of truth and love and how those two things both come from God and go together. God is truth. God is love.

What does this mean for us as believers?

How do we handle truth with love?

How do we love regardless yet keep truth evident and foremost?

These are all aspects John writes about in his letters. And all of it stems 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.

It’s both of these things because God’s love is truth and God’s truth is love.

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” – 1 John 1:5

As we will see as we read through 1, 2, and 3 John together, following God’s truth and love includes:

  • obeying God’s commands,
  • loving others, including fellow believers,
  • faith,
  • and seeking truth.

And you know what? We all mess up at this at times (many times). But part of God’s truth and love also offers forgiveness. That beautiful, grace-given forgiveness when we turn back and seek Him and His truth and love.

It’s a walk, and one we might stumble on sometimes because we are imperfect. But, because of His love, we can get up and walk with Him again.

Join us this month as we go through 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John and walk together in God’s truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love {A Study on 1, 2, and 3 John at DoNotDepart.com}
Original photo credit (photo has been modified)

Extra Bible Study This Week:

  1. Read through 1 John 1. (And read more, if you have time to!)
  2. If you have access to a study bible, read through the introduction notes at the beginning of 1 John to gain understanding of the cultural situation at the time John wrote this letter. He was encouraging believers to be on the look out for false teachers, and part of doing that involved strengthening their walks with God.
  3. What are ways you can actively walk with God in His truth and love this week? Read through 1 John 1 again and pray about an action that you can implement this week.

What about God’s truth and love astounds you every time you consider it?

We’re reading 1, 2, and 3 John this month and walking in God’s truth and love together at @DoNotDepart. Join us?

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Holding on to Hope

January 21, 2017 by Caroline 1 Comment

Holding on to Hope - DoNotDepart.com

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NIV)

So far this month, we’ve look at renewing our minds to optimism, gratitude, trusting through uncertainty, and dealing with fear.

Something that remains constant through all of this with renewed minds? Hope.

Hope always makes me think of growth.

Hope makes me think of a seed planted, and even though it hasn’t broken ground yet, it waits and hopes and is ready to grow when God says it’s time.

Hope reminds me that God may not be physically visible, but we can see Him any time we look for His people sharing His love, and anytime we read His words that love and truth will always lead the way (2 John 3).

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

Holding on to Hope - DoNotDepart.com

Hope as a Gift

Ali mentioned in her post earlier this month that “optimism is an expression of the joy borne of faith, and repels doubting.” Optimism is an expression of joy, which comes from faith. Joy is a gift.

And you know what? Hope is a gift too. It comes from trust and faith and His love for us.

One of our writers, Lisa, recently tweeted a quote from author Caroline Myss that reads: “Always, beyond the darkness, God’s greater plan is in motion. That is the truth you need to trust.”

God tells us we can always hope in Him (Jeremiah 29:11).

We can take joy from this hope, too (Romans 12:12).

And what is it we hope for, even in the darkness? Hope of His redemption and full adoption (Romans 8:22-25, 1 Peter 1:3-5) and full deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:7,10, 1 Timothy 4:10).

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” – Romans 8:23-25

Hope as a Mindset

As Patti said in the introduction this month, our habits and choices start in our heads. And even there, they start as thoughts and internal dialogue.

What we say out loud matters.

What we say to ourselves in our heads matters.

We can focus on the worries and conflicts around us, or we can actively look for hope.

And, as human nature is, it’s much easier to focus on the bad stuff around us. (Like Lindsay said earlier this month, we can choose what we allow to fill our minds.) So it really is an active intention to open our eyes to hope.

Hope leads to more hope which leads to more and more hope.

A Few Glimmers to Help You Hold On

With all that’s going on in our country and our world right now, I’ve been on the lookout for hope. Like Mister Rogers originally said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” We can associate that to hope, too. Let’s look for hopers together.

Here are just a few of the many glimmers by God’s creation that are helping me open my eyes to hope:

  • Check out pretty much anything from Brad Montague and his #joyfulrebellion, like the Kid President videos and this hope video. In my experience, God created kids to know hope and spread it joyfully.
  • Bob Goff, author and believer, spreads hope everywhere he goes. Check out his work on Instagram, Twitter, his book, and his work with Love Does.
  • Read about the amazing work Be the Bridge is doing to spread hope and unity for all of God’s people. You’ll leave their Christ-centered site inspired.

And a few more verses on hope:

-Psalm 9:18 – “But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”

-Psalm 62:5-8 – “Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.”

-Romans 5:1-2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God…”

-1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

What glimmers of hope have you seen lately?

Let’s look for the *hopers* together this week:

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Part of #RenewedMinds means actively looking for hope. A few glimmers of hope here:

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As We Come to Christmas Morning – {A look at It Came Upon the Midnight Clear}

December 23, 2016 by Caroline Leave a Comment

Welcoming Christmas with It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - DoNotDepart.com

Welcoming Christmas with It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - DoNotDepart.com

With all the hustle and bustle and marketing and pounding messages that lead up to Christmas in our current day, we so often hear people around us (and sometimes even ourselves) say, “Only __ more days, and then Christmas will be done!”

Christmas can quickly become a “thing to get through,” rather than a time to cherish, love, and grow in hope.

This is one of the reasons I love the carol, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.” Take a look at the lyrics:

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years,
Comes round the age of gold.

When peace shall over all the earth, 
Its ancient splendors fling;
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Written in 1849 by Edmund H. Sears (and music by Richard Storrs Willis), the lyrics focus on the angels’ call for peace on earth that we read about in Luke 2:8-14:

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

It’s interesting to note that this song was written shortly prior to the United States entering a civil war, and the country weighed heavily with strife and dispute. They needed peace, and we need it now, as well. (See this article for lyrics to a lesser-known original stanza speaking directly to the issues of that time.)

But how can we welcome Christmas when the world hurts or is too busy to see it?

3 Ways to Welcome Christmas

–Be still to hear those angels. “The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.”
Stillness is hard to come by in our society, isn’t it? When “busy” is treated as a stamp of success, to actually protect time and space for stillness can be regarded poorly. But, besides the many health benefits of stillness and rest, we need stillness to listen, really listen and observe and see and hear what God is speaking to us through His creation.

–Look for the Good News. “And still their heavenly music floats / O’er all the weary world.”
We see hurt everywhere we turn right now–children torn from families, refugees unable to obtain the basic needs of life of safety and food and home, selfish action instead of cooperation. But, if we seek the light, we will find it. Listen for the wing beats of goodness. Watch our brothers and sisters acting as hands and feet in sharing love. We can choose to put good into the world in His name. We can see the joy. (Luke 2:10-11)

–React with praise and hope. “And the whole world give back the song / Which now the angels sing.”
Choosing to react with hope and gratitude can be tough, and it’s something that takes daily renewal and a strength greater than our own. But, let’s keep praising, thanking, and hoping. One day, at the second Advent, the whole world can sing the angels’ song back.

Ann Voskamp recently posted on her Instagram account: “Because if we don’t always fiercely stand for Hope, regardless of the risk, cost, or ending — we steal all future Hope. … Now is the season to believe: Stories may not have gone as we hoped — but Hope is not gone. Hope comes down and Hope never stops coming. We can’t afford to lose Hope – or we lose our future, our faith, our fight, our fortitude.”

So let’s hope. Let’s sing it. Let’s hear those angels and share the good news that Jesus Christ is born.

Sara Groves’s version is one of my favorites of this song. While there isn’t a video of it that I can find, you can listen to it on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, etc.

MercyMe also has a lovely version here:

[If you can’t view the video, please click here.]

Resources:

[amazon_link id=”078523182X” target=”_blank” ]Then Sings My Soul: Special Edition[/amazon_link] by Robert J. Morgan

[amazon_link id=”087486917X” target=”_blank” ]Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas[/amazon_link]

Hawn, C. Michael. “History of Hymns: ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.'”

What other carols are you using for praising and singing Good News to welcome Christmas this year?

3 Ways to Welcome Christmas, even amidst the busy and bustle:

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Welcoming Christmas morning with It Came Upon the Midnight Clear #ChristIntheCarols:

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God the Creator {Series Wrap-Up}

November 29, 2016 by Caroline Leave a Comment

God the Creator - a new series on Genesis 1 and 2:1-3 at DoNotDepart.com

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” – Genesis 2:1-3 (NIV)

Advent began two days ago, and though advent means “coming” and involves a waiting, a preparation, an anticipation, I associate it with a period of rest, too.

We need to prepare our hearts and our minds to renew to Him, focus on Christ’s birth, but there’s also only so much we can do. God has taken care of the rest. He has done the work of bringing Jesus to our earth and guiding His plan in motion.

Maybe rest is a part of preparing and part of the cycle God intends. He worked creating this world, and then He rested, too.

This month, as we’ve looked at being creative as our God is the Creator:

  • Ali linked how we can see God’s character through His creation (and so with our own creativeness),
  • Kelli brought up that God’s creation is everlasting and still alive today,
  • Lisa illuminated the truth that every act we take can be an act of creation and a way to share God’s light,
  • Lindsey shared how our differences as His creations (and therefore what and how we create) help bring beauty to God’s creation uniquely,
  • I looked at truths about God as a Creator and how He gifted us with opportunities to be His hands and feet in creating love and goodness and truth,
  • Patti studied our calling to care for God’s creation responsibly and use our own creative talents wisely.

We’ve read on God’s creation and now, as we enter the season of Advent, we can guide our focus to rest our weary hearts (and hopefully our minds) while we wait for and celebrate the coming of more of His creation.

Thank you for joining us this month.

How will you celebrate God’s creation this Christmas season, as well as partake in his rest?

God the Creator - a new series on Genesis 1 and 2:1-3 at DoNotDepart.com

A wrap-up of @DoNotDepart’s series on #GodTheCreator:

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Advent involves a preparing, a waiting, and perhaps rest too. A wrap-up of #GodTheCreator series:

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Created Like Him to Create

November 17, 2016 by Caroline 1 Comment

Created Like Him to Create {DoNotDepart.com}

“And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:24-27 (NIV)

God created the heavens and earth, the light out of dark, sky and sea and land, plants and trees, sun and stars, and creatures of all kinds.

Including animals on land, fish in the sea, birds in the sky. (Check out Lindsey’s great post about how all these differences in creatures are part of what makes the world so beautiful.) He also created us to reign over those creatures, which means we care, use, and shepherd with love.

But let’s backtrack a little again to this truth: He created us.

Us.

At the beginning of the month, we hinted at how God created us to trust, to praise, to love.

Genesis 1:27 tells us God created us in His image. To have likeness with Him.

Does that make your jaw drop?

He created us to be like Him, and He is a Creator.

Created Like Him to Create {DoNotDepart.com}
Modified from original photo with permissions

God as Creator

Let’s look at a few verses to get an idea of what that means.

  • First, God is love (1 John 4:8,16). God is truth (Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 25:5). Since God is perfect and He is love and truth, every act He does always has both love and truth in it.
  • Psalm 95:3-5 reminds us that God created the world, and that act of creation inspires praise and joy from His creation (Psalm 95:1-2,6-7).
  • Psalm 19:7-10 shows us even God creation of His rules, decrees, and commands are life-giving and filled with love and joy.
  • Psalm 33 (especially Psalm 33:4-5) points out that everything God does is for truth, for what’s right, and for and with unfailing love.

Like Lisa said earlier this week, every action we take is an act of creation, and we can create all things in love with God’s help.

His Hands and Feet, Not His Replacement

We are called to be His ambassadors and His hands and feet to spread love on this earth, but that doesn’t mean we should ever think of ourselves as ultimate creators. When we fall into that way of thinking, we seek power instead of service, we ostracize instead of welcome, we hurt instead of help.

Instead, we are created by His love (1 John 4:19) to spread grace-given His love (Ephesians 2:8-10).
     We fill up on His love, and then pour that love to others.
          We soak up His light and reflect it out into the world.

He created us to create, and this call to create sprouts from love and from gratitude because of love.

How can what you create today share His love?

Extra study until the next post:

  1. Reread all of Genesis 1 again. Look at all the creating God did first before He created in us. Be in awe of it. Marvel at it. Praise Him for it through prayer, song, and your own creation today.
  2. Look around you about people you know who are living for God. How do their acts — small and large — create love in the world? We can be examples for each other, too.
  3. I highly recommend reading [amazon_link id=”1400203759″ target=”_blank” ]Love Does[/amazon_link] by Bob Goff. His book looks at how each of our actions can create love in the world.
  4. I also recommend any of Emily P. Freeman’s writings, including her blog and her books, especially [amazon_link id=”0800722442″ target=”_blank” ]A Million of Ways[/amazon_link] for more about creating as a believer.
We are created to create like Him, so what does that look like? #GodTheCreator

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What can you create today to share His love? #GodTheCreator

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God the Creator {A New Series}

November 1, 2016 by Caroline 1 Comment

God the Creator - a new series on Genesis 1 and 2:1-3 at DoNotDepart.com
God the Creator - a new series on Genesis 1 and 2:1-3 at DoNotDepart.com
Modified from original with permission. Original photo credit.

“In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1)

Aren’t those words just beautiful? God created. He literally created something from nothing, and from that nothing (that He turned into something) came our big (yet small), beautiful world.

He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-2),

light out of dark (Genesis 1:3-5),

sky and sea and land (Genesis 1:6-10),

plants and trees (Genesis 1:11-13),

sun and stars (and with it, day and night) (Genesis 1:14-19),

creatures in the sky, sea, and on land (Genesis 1:20-25),

and then …

What did He do then?

He created humans, in His likeness, in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27).

God the Creator created us. He created us to trust, to praise, to love. He created us to create, in His likeness, in that praise and love.

That’s what we’ll focus on this November, in this season of gratitude. We are created to live creative lives. And, just like all of our other skills and personalities, our creative talents don’t always look the same as our neighbor’s.

Some of us create with words, some with pictures, some with food, some with service, some with leadership, and more.

But we all have this need to create in common, and this call to create in love and in gratitude because of love.

Join us this month as we read Genesis 1 and Genesis 2:1-3 together and learn more about God the Creator and what that means for our own creative lives as we follow Him.

How do you find yourself often creating?

Extra study until the next post:

  1. Read through Genesis 1 and Genesis 2:1-3 once, or even twice, this week.
  2. What ways do you find yourself creating in love throughout the week?
  3. Write or say (or draw or sing, etc!) a short prayer of thanks to God for creating us and gifting us with creativity.
  4. Read through posts from our archive on the Marvelous Creator that looked at other verses and instances where we see God as creative.
A new series at @DoNotDepart all about living the creative life with #GodTheCreator:

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‘In the beginning, God created…’ and #GodTheCreator created us to be creative, too. Read along with @DoNotDepart this month:

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Theology and Trust

October 20, 2016 by Caroline 3 Comments

Proverbs 2:6 - Theology and Trust

Proverbs 2:6 - Theology and Trust

When I think of theology, I often think of logic. Of proof, of study, and of learning.

Merriam-Webster defines theology as:

“the study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God’s relation to the world”

It’s the study of our God, the study of our faith, and the study of practice of that faith.

Determining and studying one’s own theology is important for so many reasons, as we’ve been discussing all month.

I’m a fact-finder and a lifelong learner, so I love and get excited over the opportunity to learn more and study deeper.

But, as I grow older (and re-realize how little I know), I’m slowly grasping that deepening our theology doesn’t mean only expanding our knowledge. And knowledge and understanding aren’t the same thing.

Sometimes understanding doesn’t mean knowledge.

Sometimes faith doesn’t mean seeing.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

And sometimes trust doesn’t mean knowing the answers first.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

Receiving Wisdom

I’ve always liked Proverbs 2 because it talks of the value of wisdom. Wisdom is good, wisdom is needed. But something important to remember about our theology is that wisdom is from God. And if wisdom comes not from ourselves, that means we must first receive it.

Picture this: Someone comes up to you and says they would like to give you something. A gift, perhaps. All you have to do is hold out your hand.

If you keep your hand closed or even find somewhere else to go, perhaps you don’t trust this person or this situation (and perhaps with good reason). Without that trust, there’s no way you’d open your hand to receive it.

But if you do trust, then you hold out your open hand, ready to receive.

Proverbs 2 begins:

“My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding…
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” – Proverbs 2:1-2, 5-6

First, we receive, then comes the understanding.

Isn’t this the way of faith sometimes? We believe even when we don’t understand (Hebrews 11:1). We ask for faith even when we can’t see beyond a clouding doubt (Mark 9:24). We seek Him first, even when we aren’t sure how to fill our needs (Matthew 6:33).

Theology and Trust Together

None of this means we sit idly by, not trying to deepen our knowledge of God and His nature. But it does mean that 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.

“Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you…” – Proverbs 2:9-11

How do you trust even when you may not understand?

Sometimes understanding doesn’t mean knowledge. Sometimes faith doesn’t mean seeing. #TheologyForWomen

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Today’s #TheologyforWomen post from @DoNotDepart considers Theology and Trust together:

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Additional resources:

  • Author Sarah Bessey wrote this article on everyday theology and how what we truly believe and trust about God impacts our daily lives.
  • Rachel Wojnarowski shares 14 verses for when we can’t understand God’s plan.
  • This Bible.org article offers an interesting explanation on the definition of theology.
  • “The Theology of Resting in God” from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

3 Ways to Act and Pray about Modern Day Slavery

August 18, 2016 by Caroline 1 Comment

NASA world image public domain

So many of us in the US grew up only reading in our school history books about slavery that happened in our country in the 1700s to 1800s. But, as we grew older, we learned that slavery or its effects didn’t ‘go away’ then and hasn’t gone away now.

The International Labour Organization says that “Almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour – 11.4 million women and girls and 9.5 million men and boys.” That’s in our world now.

This kind of ‘forced labor’ can be forced work with little or no pay or horrid working conditions, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child labor, and more.

To read more facts about modern day slavery, read this from The US Department of State, this from the International Justice Mission, and this from End Slavery Now.

NASA world image public domain
Photo source: NASA. Used with permission.

In a hurting world where various modes of slavery still exists, how can we help?

 

3 Ways to Pray about Modern Day Slavery

Pray for the victims. Pray for healing, for comfort, for protection, for security, for help (Psalm 146:6-9). Christ came to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18) and that still stands.

“The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.” – Psalm 103:6 (NIV)

Pray for the predators. Praying for enemies is beyond hard (understatement, anyone?), but we can pray for change in their hearts and justice to be served (Psalm 7:9).

“Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“ – Isaiah 55:7 (NIV)

Pray for justice. Pray for light to shine in these dark places so we can unite against human trafficking.

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” – Ephesians 5:11-13 (NIV)

Visit this page at the A21 Campaign to find a free printable of many more ways to pray about modern day slavery.

3 Actions to Take Today

1. Your money acts as a vote. Where you spend your money votes for the kind of world you want. Look for fair trade options. Refuse to buy from companies that employ slave labor or terrible working conditions. Support nonprofits that work directly with families to stay out of slavery and grow.

Resources:

  • Tsh at The Art of Simple compiled an Ethical Shopping Guide that I refer to often. (Be sure to check out the articles she’s written about the coffee and chocolate industries linked there, too.)
  • Support and learn from reputable nonprofits and organizations battling modern day slavery, like these:
    • Mercy House Global,
    • Love146,
    • International Justice Mission,
    • Love Does,
    • Not for Sale,
    • Freeset,
    • End It Movement,
    • One Day’s Wages,
    • Help One Now
  • When selecting gifts, buy what you can straight from organizations that help protect families from human trafficking, like Mercy House Global’s shop or Freeset. You’ll be supporting real families and advocating to gift receivers about these causes.

2. Raise awareness. The first step to helping is become aware that there’s a problem. Then, once we know, we know we can’t ignore it and we have to act.

  • Learn more yourself (and as a family) so you can broaden your perspective and increase empathy that expands to action.
  • Read books and articles about modern day slavery and share about it them online or in person.
  • Run races to raise awareness (like Miles for Mercy or Tread on Trafficking).
  • Share with your church community or neighborhood about how we can help in small ways and big ways. Ask your local schools and centers where children regularly attend if they help children be aware of the signs of trafficking so they can get to safety (and even help prevent it). (An example: Love146 created their Not A Number curriculum to raise awareness.)

3. Start NOW and make small changes in your lifestyle to combat modern day slavery.

  • See the Ethical Shopping Guide.
  • Check out this huge ‘action library’ from End Slavery Now.
  • Pick one product a month (ie: coffee, chocolate, clothing) to research and switch to brands that support fair trade and workers’ rights. If we all take small steps, they lead up to big changes.
  • DoSomething.org is geared towards teens and young adults, but has a TON of ideas for people of all ages to do to help make a difference against modern day slavery as well as other causes. (Caution for families with young kid: some language in certain parts on the site)

More resources:

–5 myths about child trafficking via Love146

–4 ways to aid the fight again human trafficking via Relevant

–11 facts about human trafficking via DoSomething.org

–FAQs about modern day slavery via End Slavery Now

–Facts about child labor around the world via Compassion International

-Recognize the signs of human trafficking and report it (via the Polaris Project)

–21 ways to act via the A21 Campaign

Please join us today in praying about modern day slavery and acting for justice for our hurting world.

3 ways to pray about modern day slavery and act today:

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Resources on praying about modern day slavery for #PrayersforaHurtingWorld:

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Jesus as High Priest {Wrap-Up}

July 28, 2016 by Caroline Leave a Comment

Jesus as High Priests - new series on Hebrews 4:14-5:14

This month, we’ve read through Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 5 as we’ve looked at Jesus as our forever High Priest.

During the posts this month,

  • we looked at Hebrews 4:14-16 and how Jesus as High Priest affects all believers,
  • Ali pointed out how Jesus’s ultimate compassion fills all His people (Hebrews 5:1-2),
  • Lisa shared how we’re all called to shine our lights (Hebrews 5:3-4),
  • Patti created a mini-study for kids on Melchizedek, one of the Old Testament High Priests referred to in Hebrews 5,
  • Kelli looked at when Jesus took the role as our forever High Priest (Hebrews 5:5-6),
  • I highlighted the spiritual resources available because we have a compassionate, approachable High Priest in Christ (Hebrews 5:7-10),
  • Patti shared three major points to maturing in faith (Hebrews 5:11-14).

We’ve all learned more about our empathetic, encouraging High Priest as we’ve studied this month, and we hope this study encouraged you, as well.

What about you? What stuck in your heart this month as you read through Hebrews 4:14-5:14? Please share in the comments.

Jesus as High Priests - new series on Hebrews 4:14-5:14

A wrap-up of all of the #JesusAsHighPriest posts in one place:

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Come share what you learned in @DoNotDepart’s Hebrews 5 study this month:

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A High Priest and Son of Encouragement

July 21, 2016 by Caroline 3 Comments

A High Priest and Son of Encouragement - a look at Hebrews 5:7-10 - DoNotDepart.com

A High Priest and Son of Encouragement - a look at Hebrews 5:7-10 - DoNotDepart.com

We’ve established that Jesus is our Forever High Priest, and we see in Hebrews 5:7-10 how Jesus fulfilled that role of High Priest while here on this earth:

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” – Hebrews 5:7-10 (NIV)

Like Lisa shared, Christ shined brightly and offered prayers of thanks and petitions of the people during His life on earth.

As parents listen to their child, teach their child obedience, and call them to the right path, God modeled the same with Jesus. These verses show how much of a Son Jesus was.

He was heard. He prayed, and God listened. Just as God hears our prayers now (1 John 5:14, Luke 18:1).

He learned obedience through suffering He endured (Hebrews 4:14-15).

He was designated by God.

Why Does This Matter?

Besides having the perfect example in Jesus, we also have confidence in a High Priest who truly understands all we go through and, like Hebrews 5:2 says, can “deal gently” with us in this process of becoming like Christ we undergo during life.

The [amazon_link id=”0830814426″ target=”_blank” ]New Bible Commentary[/amazon_link] says this of the writer of Hebrews: “…the writer’s teaching on Jesus’s high-priesthood is fundamentally designed to encourage endurance in the struggle against sin and unbelief. We are urged by these passages to take hold of all the spiritual resources available to us in Christ” (p. 1332).

What’s Available

What are those spiritual resources available?

We have available in Christ, our High Priest:

  • a place to trust (verse 8),
  • somewhere lean on during suffering (verse 8),
  • an empathetic and compassionate forever High Priest (verse 8),
  • a perfect example (verse 9),
  • our source of eternal salvation (verse 9),
  • a forever leader (verse 10).

With all of this available, we can shine our lights like His, offer thanks, and invite others along the path with us.

How are you thankful for an empathetic, compassionate High Priest today? 

Further Reflection This Week:

  1. Find two verses in the Bible in which Christ offered prayers on behalf of the people. Read through the stories around those verses?
  2. Consider at least two instances in which you’ve learned obedience through suffering. (This is an ongoing part of life, isn’t it?)
  3. Find three other verses in the Bible where we see spiritual resources available to us because of Christ’s position as forever High Priest.
  4. Write or say a prayer of thanks to God for this encouragement.

Jesus as High Priests - new series on Hebrews 4:14-5:14

Why does it matter that Jesus learned obedience through suffering? #JesusAsHighPriest

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Today’s #JesusAsHighPriest verses show us what’s available because we have a forever High Priest:

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Jesus as High Priest – New Series

July 5, 2016 by Caroline Leave a Comment

Jesus as High Priests - new series on Hebrews 4:14-5:14

We just wrapped up a series on how we can receive God’s grace in spite of our sins. In that series, we talked about worry and we talked about unbelief.

What happens with worry and doubt? We feel alone. We feel broken. We feel abandoned.

Yet we aren’t. And Hebrews is full of longstanding evidence of God’s presence and the gift He gave us in giving Jesus as the new covenant’s High Priest.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

Join us this month as we look how, though Christ did not sin as we did and do, He did endure temptations and trials and tribulations. He is empathetic, loving, and full of mercy in guiding us on the right path.

Starting with these verses above, we’ll then read through Hebrews 5 together this month. We’ll look at the high priest’s purpose, cultural history, and how Jesus fills that all. And we’ll look at it’s so important and amazing that we now have the Highest of priests to hold our faith in.

Jesus as High Priests - new series on Hebrews 4:14-5:14
Original photo credit (modification from original allowed)

Join us in reading through Hebrews 5 and praying to our God in confidence that He shares grace and mercy for us all.

For more study:

  1. Between now and the end of the week, read through Hebrews 4:14-5:14. Read it twice, if you can.
  2. Note each of the instances where Christ is referred to as the High Priest. How do these verses show how He fulfills this role?
  3. What does having this High Priest always available mean to your walk in faith?

What other verses outside of Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 5 come to mind when we talk about Christ as High Priest? Share in the comments below.

A new series this month at @DoNotDepart: #JesusAsHighPriest –

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Join us this month as we read through Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 5 in #JesusAsHighPriest:

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Believing Through the Muck of Unbelief

June 24, 2016 by Caroline 2 Comments

Believing Through the Muck of Unbelief - DoNotDepart.com
Believing Through the Muck of Unbelief - DoNotDepart.com
Original photo credit

As much as I want to fight it and deny it, I’m a worrier.

I’ve tried to reason through the source of worries to send them away. They come from confusion (what’s the best answer/path?), they come from perfectionism (what if I make a mistake?), and they come from fear (what will happen?)

But the one that I have to consistently remind myself of? They come from lack of faith and trust.

When Left to My Own

When we think of ‘do not worry’ verses, many of us may think of Matthew 6:25-34.

And every single one of those verses is great.

But look at the beginning of Matthew 6:25:

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is  not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

Look at that first word: therefore. Several people over the years have said whenever you see ‘therefore,’ you need to look at what’s before.

And what’s before this section, in Matthew 6:19-24? It’s all about what we store in our hearts.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

Worry and lack of faith and lack of trust fill up our hearts and our minds with division and doubt.

By nature, we’re created to hold on to something. When we don’t hold on to faith, we hold on to a mess of other things: worry, theology in a box, expectations, addictions, anger, self-sufficiency. But none of these things fill those holes.

But God

Strengthening faith doesn’t negate our physical needs or otherwise. We still need strength, we still need healing, we still need provision.

But all this points to needing wholeness. You need wholeness; I need wholeness; my amazing kids and husband need wholeness. And the only place we can receive that is through connection (or reconnection, really) with Who made us.

Christ follows the previously mentioned section with our famous verses on worry (Matthew 6:25-34):

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? …

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, an your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

I often liken worrying to forgetting and to lacking. Lacking faith in His presence, His ability, and, really, His desire to show me grace-filled love. I’ve plain forgotten the hundreds of times God has spelled it out in the Bible that He provides, He loves, He sustains. What does forgetting do except add more worry and lack of faith?

So here’s what I’ve begun doing recently: I don’t know if it really ‘works’ yet, but I think it’s a start. When I feel that spiral of lacking faith in some capacity or another (because it always feels like a sinking, downward spiral), I pray out Mark 9:24:

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Want another resource on growing in faith?

Check out our “By Faith” series on Hebrews 11 here.

How do you renew your strength and faith through doubt and worry?

By nature, we’re created to hold on to something. When we don’t hold on to faith, we hold on to a mess of other things:

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All of our faults point to needing wholeness, and wholeness takes reconnection through grace:

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