Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Becoming What We Behold: Transformative Theology

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We talked last month about transformation, the power of Christ working in the lives of men and women in the New Testament to give them new hearts, new attitudes, and new life. (If you missed it, check it out here!) On our own we might be able to make surface changes, but true transformation come from spending time with Jesus.

This month we’re digging a little deeper into how that happens by practicing our theology.

The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. – Jen Wilken, Women of the Word

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and while I enjoy a general romantic gesture as much as the next gal – flowers, candy, etc. – my heart skips a beat when my husband shows how well he knows me. Little things like getting me a book by my favorite author, bringing me a tea or a coffee when we swap the kids, or planning a date night in with Chinese food and a movie.

Theology is about knowing God. Not just facts about him but knowing his heart and his mind.

 “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, – 1 John 2:3-4

We get to know him by spending time with Jesus (John 14:6-7). We spend time with Jesus by studying – reading, analyzing, and applying – the Bible (John 1:14).

Be In The Word: Read

Like training for a marathon, reading and studying are skills that can be learned and practiced. The more we do it, the easier it becomes.

Francis Schaeffer, a 20th century theologian and pastor (and great mentor of my faith!) grew up in a household that did not know or worship God. His wife, Edith, writes in their autobiography, The Tapestry, about how he first encountered the Bible:

“How did he read it? Who helped him to understand? No one gave him any suggestions. He wouldn’t have known who to ask and in any case, he had no idea there was any way to read it, other than to read it in the same way as any other book. He started at the beginning of Genesis and read to the end. If you want to know why Fran has such a high regard for the Bible and feels it is adequate in answering the questions of life, the answer is right here. As a seventeen-year-old boy with a thirst for the answers to life’s questions, he began to discover for himself the existence of adequate and complete answers right in the Bible.”

The more time we spend in the word, the more we become like the Word. Click To Tweet

Think About the Word: Analyze

Jesus said the most important commandment, of all the laws God gave us, is to love him with our whole being, including our thoughts! (Mark 12:30) Paul encourages believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

To test is to measure the quality or reliability of something. To discern means to perceive or recognize. He wants us to think about him!

Paul put it another way in his letter to the Philippians when he said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (4:8)

He gives them (and us!) this list, not as a restriction, but to serve as a standard by which we can judge what we study. We can read the stories of David and Bathsheba or David and Abigail and discern how their behavior measures up in the eyes of the Spirit.  

Do the Word: Apply

He goes on in verse 9 to say, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the introduction to this series, Ali reminded us that the point of all this – of thinking about theology and how it relates to our life – is to make us doers of the word!

Jesus said when we follow his commands and apply what we’ve learned, we are like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24), prepared for and safeguarded against the storms of life.  

Poet William Blake wrote, “We become what we behold”. Continuously reading the Bible changes our hearts because it changes our minds.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

What tips do you have for reading the Bible? #PracticalTheologyClick To Tweet
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Hope for a New Outlook

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Sometimes I just want things to be different. I have struggled with my health and self image for so many years that I finally stopped making New Year’s Resolutions about it. After all, what’s the point? I think, maybe, if we lived in a different house…had a better kitchen, a neighborhood with a sidewalk, more time, (fill in the blank with whatever excuses fit the moment)…then change could happen. But deep down I know the problem is not with my home. It’s with my heart.

Change is hard. It’s not a thirty second movie montage set to upbeat music. It’s difficult and painful and it takes so much time!

But there is hope in daily time with Jesus. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

Martha, Martha, Martha

Are you familiar with the story of Mary and Martha? Maybe you recall something about having a Mary heart? Growing up I always heard that it was better to be like Mary (which suited me fine – I’m not much of a housekeeper!)

The story goes like this (you can read it in Luke 10:38-42): Jesus and his disciples come to town and stay at Martha’s house. Mary, Martha’s sister, sits at the Lord’s feet (like a disciple – scandal alert!) and listens to his teaching. But Martha is busy making preparations for the thirteen men and who knows how many others, and she calls her sister out.

and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

That’s it. End scene.

But then I found out there’s more to the story!

Who is Martha?

Four simple verses give us a taste of who these women are. Martha, the hostess, represents us in the busyness of our lives. She is doing good things, serving, showing hospitality, and so on, but she is distracted by them. Her heart is not in the right place.

Thankfully the story does not end there. The sisters show up again in John’s gospel (John 11:1-46). They send word to Jesus, asking him to come and intervene in their brother’s illness. But he delays and Lazarus dies.

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (v.4)

So many beautiful things we could unpack in this rich story, but let’s focus on Martha. She’s not the distracted housekeeper in this scene, but a grieving sister who shows tremendous faith in face of tragedy. 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

As the scene unfolds, Jesus weeps with his friends and then brings Lazarus back to life!

I love Martha’s response when Jesus tells them to open the tomb. She’s already declared that he is the Son of God who can do anything, but she protests saying, “Lord, there will be a smell!!”

A Martha Heart

The last time we see Martha in Scripture is the next chapter of John.

So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. John 12:2

I can’t help but notice the difference between this verse and Luke 10:40, “but Martha was distracted with much serving”.

She is still the hostess, serving a massive amount of people, and by the way, Mary still isn’t helping. But I wonder if she sees things differently, now that she has seen the glory of God (John 11:40).

In both cases, the horrible pain of her brother’s death and the mundane frustration with her sister’s choices, Martha took her feelings to Jesus. She may not have found what she was expecting, but she encountered the Truth of who Jesus is, and it changed her heart.

Martha took her pain to Jesus. What do you need to give him today? #NewCreationsClick To Tweet

Jesus is there, going through the stuff – whatever it may be – making things new (Revelation 21:5). I’ll leave you with this prayer from Ephesians.

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:16-20

What do you need to take to Jesus today?

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Seeking Heavenly Peace

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Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright…

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Unfortunately the lyrics of this beloved carol do not describe my house at Christmas. The weeks between Thanksgiving and December 25th are packed with so many things to make and do and think and feel. Sugar plumbs might dance through my children’s dreams, but all I want is a little peace and quiet! Simple, meaningful traditions carried out with family and friends. A cup of cocoa, a roaring fire, and the glow of twinkling lights on a festively decorated tree. Is that so much to ask?

Why is this season, the one meant for slowing down, celebrating with family, and savoring the presence of our savior, so chaotic and busy?

Christmas Peace

Peace is what it’s all about, isn’t it? It’s what we’re all looking for. Rest. Harmony. A calm order to our days. When the multitude of angels announced the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds, they praised God saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

Hundreds of years before that, Isaiah told the people what to expect from that Messiah:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

But where is this promised peace? What does it look like amidst all the extra shopping, wrapping, decorating, caroling, visiting, baking, not to mention regular stuff of life?

A Sign For You

Though Christmas has always been one of my favorite seasons, a holly jolly spirit does not always come naturally to me. I fall very easily into “Grinch-mode”, getting frustrated with all the noise, noise, noise, Noise! The commercialism, the cultural pressure to live up to the perfect holiday – whether that comes from Pinterest or my own  expectations and traditions seem so contradictory to peace!  Yet over the years I have come to find it really is the most wonderful time of the year because, when I take the time to look, everything, from the carols to the twinkling lights, can be a reminder of who and why we are celebrating.

The angels gave the shepherds a sign to help them find the newborn savior.

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

Likewise, I think all the “stuff” of Christmas can be a sign for us, pointing us back to the Prince of Peace. We can look at the candy canes, Christmas trees, and endless to do lists and get lost, overwhelmed, and kerbabbled. Or we can look at them and see the representation of a promise kept in Christ Jesus. Love made tangible. God with Us. Peace on earth. Peace doesn’t come from the decorations, the gatherings, or the gifts, even when all those things go exactly as planned. Peace comes when we recognize that Christ is the center of the celebration.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15

When Christ is at the center of the celebration, the noise can't help but fall away. #SimplifyingChristmasClick To Tweet
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What Christmas signs point you towards peace? Share with us in the comments!

Psalm 34: Good to Know

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“Hey friend! How’s it going?”

“Good! Things are good.”

Sound familiar? I know I have this conversation on a regular basis.

Good. What does it really mean?

Charles Spurgeon describes the first half of Psalm 34 as a hymn and the second part a sermon. Remember the backstory In 1 Samuel 21? David escapes the Philistines by pretending to be a madman. The story continues in 1 Samuel 22:1-2.

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Picture the scene with me. David, fresh from danger, delivered but humbled and in hiding. His heart is overflowing with gratitude which he channels into this beautiful psalm. He looks out at the camp. Four hundred men, not even counting the women and children, seeking leadership. Not a crowd of warriors ready to overthrow the sitting king, but broken down, depressed people.

Have you ever been in distress? Burdened by debt? Bitter in your soul? In desperate need of something good?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

I can almost hear David’s urging in the exclamation, Oh!

Taste. See. Engage personally and know for yourself. The Lord is good. Not the superficial good based on circumstance or perspective, but good in the wider sense. As in, when God finished creating the heavens and the earth, looked at it all and called it good (Genesis 1:31).

The people have come to the cave seeking shelter, safety, and reprieve. David reminds them and us that true refuge is found in the Lord who is good.

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack.

We’ve talked before on the blog about what it means to “fear” the Lord. (Check it out here) To fear Him is to acknowledge that He is in control and over all things. He can be trusted because He is capable of delivering on all His promises. He called David to the cave at Adullam (which, fun fact, means “justice of the people”) and he called each man and woman there as well. We are called to be set apart (1 Peter 2:9) and He will provide for us (Phil 4:19).

The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

What image does the phrase “young lion” call to mind? A lion has both positive and negative connotations throughout Scripture (Psalm 7:2, Proverbs 28:1).  Personally I like Matthew Henry’s take on the subject.

“Those that live by faith in God’s all-sufficiency want nothing; for in him they have enough. The young lions. often lack and suffer hunger-those that live upon common providence, as the lions do, shall want that satisfaction which those have that live by faith in the promise; those that trust to themselves, and think their own hands sufficient for them, shall want (for bread is not always to the wise)-but verily those shall be fed that trust in God and desire to be at his finding. Those that are ravenous, and prey upon all about them, shall want; but the meek shall inherit the earth. Those shall not want who with quietness work and mind their own business; plain-hearted Jacob has pottage enough, when Esau, the cunning hunter, is ready to perish for hunger.”

Taste and See! Experience the Goodness of the Lord! #Psalm34TasteAndSeeClick To Tweet

Dig Deeper

  1. What is your go-to when you are in distress or bitter in soul? How can you take refuge in the Lord?
  2. What does it mean that the Lord is good? How can you taste and see this for yourself?
  3. Do a word study on some of the key words in these verses (good, fear the Lord, lion). How do these words enhance your understanding of the text?
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My Identity in Christ is Fruitful

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I love to listen to a good podcast. It’s a great way to occupy my mind when my hands are busy cleaning the kitchen or folding laundry. My favorites are the conversations with women like me who are raising families and doing amazing things for the kingdom, whether it’s writing, speaking, building up a new business. I’m usually inspired and encouraged by these women and their stories of getting the work done!

Usually.

If I’m totally honest, sometimes I listen to these interviews and just feel tired. How in the world do they have time to do this AND that?! Even more, why am I not accomplishing as much?

Stop Comparing

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Jesus has returned from death and is preparing his disciples to continue ministry without him. He takes Peter aside for some one on one time.

“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” (John 21:20-22)

In other words, Peter (Jaime!) mind your own business!

When I start playing the comparison game, it’s helpful to remember who I am in Christ and what he’s called me to do.

A branch in the Vine…a promise of Fruit

Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

I love knowing that I was made with a purpose in mind! God has prepared things for me to do! But how do I know I’m living that purpose?

Jesus told his disciples,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

Another passage that helps me with this visual is Psalm 1:1-3:

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”

Fruit takes a full year to go from seed to harvest, but every season is a part of the process. So even when it’s quiet in my world and it doesn’t seem like I’m doing anything, I can rest in knowing that I am a branch, connected to Christ, and fruit will come.

The Lord has prepared things for me to do - Ephesians 2:10. #WhoAmI...Click To Tweet
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Thomas: A Heart of Faith

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Poor Thomas.  The man spent three years walking the earth with Jesus and he is most remembered for a moment of doubt. In John 20:1-24, Jesus comes back to life and appears to Mary Magdalene, then a group of disciples that did not include Thomas. In verse 25 the disciples relay what they’ve seen to their absent brother. Thomas famously replies that he won’t believe unless he sees it for himself, forever earning him the nickname, Doubting Thomas.

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25

A Challenger

I never fully understood the character of Thomas until God gave me my own little challenger  to raise.

Grayson is a bundle of insatiable energy who earned his nickname, Tenacious G, as an infant because of his fiercely persistent spirit. There are many moments in our day that I catch myself saying things like, “Because I said so” and “Can you please just trust me?”. It’s not quite accurate to say he doubts me. He is simply a challenger. His emotions and reactions go from zero to sixty at the snap of a finger. He likes to see it, to get confirmation. He’s all about proof. It’s how he processes.

I don’t know exactly how this quality will play out in my son’s faith. He’s only seven – he has a long journey ahead of him to figure it out. But I do know this challenger spirit is part of a deeply tender heart, the kind that hears of someone’s pain and wants to move mountains to make it better. Like Thomas in John 11 responding to the news that their friend Lazarus is dead.

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  John 11:14-16

Thomas is an all or nothing kind of guy too. His disbelief is a full throttled refusal. I will not believe. There is no compromise. But this is equally true of the change of heart he experiences eight days later, when Jesus appears again and shows Thomas his wounds. Jesus invites Thomas to see the truth for himself. Thomas believes saying, “My Lord my God” (v. 28) boldly declaring the deity of Christ.

Do you believe with all your heart? Thomas did: John 20:28Click To Tweet

Not an Easy Road

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  “Blessed” here is the same Greek word used in the Beatitudes, also translated as “happy” and “happier”.  I think Grayson’s life would be a lot easier, happier, if he could just accept the things he is told. If only he could take it at face value. But like Thomas, the faith that may be forged in his times of doubts can be transformed into a powerful rock of certainty, a firm foundation.

Therefore the Lord GOD said:

“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

the one who believes will be unshakable.

Isaiah 28:16, CSB

Thanks to Thomas’ story I have a better idea of how to guide and pray for my son’s growing faith.

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Choosing Your Next Study

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There are two reasons I continue to participate in group Bible studies. One: connecting with other women. Two: the study itself. I’m an education buff. I love learning history, culture, word studies, and how God speaks to people in so many different ways. I love the structure and accountability of homework, even if I am frequently guilty of falling behind. Whether it is a group of friends I’ve known forever or a collection of strangers, the study we go through together becomes a bridge, a common ground to base our discussions upon and facilitate our growth.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching…”  The same cannot always be said of Bible studies. I have sat through my share of study duds, poorly written, overly complicated, even some that didn’t actually connect the lesson to the Bible! With so many (mostly) wonderful choices out there, how do you figure out which material will be the right one for your group? Here are three questions to help you make that decision.  

1. Does this study fit my group?

Think through the logistics of who you’re meeting with. What is the spiritual maturity? How often does your group meet? How long are your meetings? Do you have time to watch a video and enjoy discussion? Is this a Sunday school setting where the number of participants may vary from week to week or an intimate gathering of friends who have committed to come? Will the group do the homework and be prepared for discussion or will you go through the lessons together? Keep these details in mind as you peruse and look for the format that best meets your needs.    

2. Do I, or someone I trust, trust the author?

Leadership never works in isolation and planning for your next study is no exception. Reach out to other leaders for recommendations. Read reviews and peruse the study yourself. Cultivate your own list of authors you have enjoyed in the past. Talk to your group members and get their thoughts as well. Find out what they’ve liked about past studies and what they would like to see or try in the future.

3. Will this study cultivate discipleship?

It’s like the old adage, Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for his lifetime. Your ultimate goal as a leader is for the women of your group to engage with God on a personal level. They won’t always be in your group, so when they leave they must be able to study on their own.  Find a study that encourages women to dig into the Bible. Teach them to ask good questions and find the answers. Grow them into leaders who will one day form and lead their own study group.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

– Hebrews 13:20-21

  

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Is Church Still Worth the Effort?

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“Our reasons for staying, leaving, and returning to church are as complex and layered as we are.”

Have you ever heard that old saying “I was born on a Friday and in church the next Sunday!”? Okay, it might not be exactly how my life started, but the sentiment, that I grew up in the culture of church, rings true. I am blessed to have parents who are true believers. The taught and led by example that church is not just a building or an institution, or even a denomination, but the body of Christ, imperfectly enacting His will on earth.

Despite that solid foundation of faith, I have struggled in my relationship with the church. I’ve been caught up in politics, disgusted by hypocrisy, frustrated by traditions, confused by doctrines, and bored to tears by routines that had turned into ruts. To this day my relationship with the church, both local and global, is complicated, though I think my heart has softened a great deal as I have grown in my walk with Christ.

Not Alone In My Doubt

Perhaps because of my complex background with the church, Rachel Held Evan’s book Searching for Sunday resonated thoroughly.

I completely identified with her experience as a youth in the church.

“At a time when most of my peers were struggling to find an identity, I knew exactly who I was: the church girl, the girl who always had a place in her youth group family, the girl on fire for God. I’m not sure I can ever calculate the vale of that community, that sense of belonging and of being loved. It never occurred to me that such a fire could be washed out.”

Over the years I have tried many, many churches. While I’ve never completely turned my back on God’s people, I have spent many a Sunday morning in bed using personal preference as an excuse for my absence. I’ve spent hours wrestling with the idea of what the “right” Sunday morning/community/church programs should look like. Woe to the church that failed to greet me sincerely or played their music to loud/slow/soft! They received a scathing diatribe of venom on our drive home, simply because they didn’t meet my expectations for that day. Of course the root of the issue had little to do with the actual church and more to do with my heart.

“Cynicism may seem a mild transgression, but it is a patient predator that suffocates hope, slowly, over many years…”

It has been a struggle to recognize this in myself, but also encouraging to learn that I am not alone in my frustration.

Faith Through Frustration

What I enjoyed most about this book was that it didn’t offer absolute answers. She never comes to the conclusion that one church is wrong and another is right, but rather explores the vastly different angles each church uses to approach and understand the Gospel. She compares it to different branches from the same tree, facets of a diamond, each reflecting a different color. No denomination or institution gets it all right, but neither do they get it all wrong. When it comes down to it, church is not a one size fits all kind of thing. But there is an underlying foundation that can be found at the heart of every community of believers and that is why we keep searching.

There is an underlying foundation of faith that can be found at the heart of every community of believers. Click To Tweet

“When my faith had become little more than an abstraction, a set of propositions to be affirmed or denied, the tangible, tactile nature of the sacraments invited me to touch, smell, taste, hear, and see God in the stuff of everyday life again…Christianity isn’t meant to be simply believed, it’s meant to be lived, shared, eaten, spoken, and enacted in the presence of other people.”

Evans’ story is honest and unfinished, evidence of an active and growing faith that asks questions and seeks the kingdom of God. The church is not perfect, but it is what Jesus gave us and therefore worth wrestling with.

-Quotes from Searching for Sunday:  Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans, Nelson Books, 2015

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When I Feel I’m Not Good Enough, God Gives Me Worth

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I simply adore Max Lucado’s book You Are Special. In this delightful story the hand-crafted, wooden people called Weemicks run around giving each other dots and stars based on how good, talented, and beautiful – or not –  they think they are. Poor Punchinello doesn’t quite measure up so he earns a lot of gray dots.

Image result for you are special max lucado

I so identify with Punchinello. Some days it feels like every rejection, every failure, every lost job, every bad judgement is stuck on me like a Weemick’s gray dot. No matter how many gold stars I may have collected along the way, it’s those gray dots that stick out, reminding everyone that I’m just not good enough.

What is Good Enough?

Where do these feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness come from? It’s a tale as old as time itself, popping up in all our lives in one form or another. 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

There is no hard and fast rule about what makes a person good enough. Success and worth are measured differently based on culture, background, family values, place in history, and so much more! At the end of the day it all comes down to whose opinion you trust the most.

“The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.” Genesis 3:6a

Back in the beginning, the world was more than good enough. It was perfect. Imagine Eve in that beautiful garden paradise, considering the forbidden fruit. The serpent’s words ring in her ears. You can be like God! Did she convince herself that God would be proud of her for taking initiative. Did she think eating the fruit and gaining wisdom would make her a more worthy partner for Adam? An equal to God, rather than a dependent?

Unfortunately, Eve needed to remember that dependency and trust are exactly what God wants from us. We are not worthy because of anything we bring to the table. We are worthy because He brought us to the feast.

Chosen, Loved, and Worthy

Punchinello learns that Eli, the one who made him, doesn’t care about the gray dots and yellow stars given by the other Weemicks. He loves Punchinello just the way he is. 

When feelings of inadequacy ring in my ears, I can replace them with the truth about God’s unconditional love, remembering that there is nothing I can say or do to make him love me more or less. His love has nothing to do with our accomplishments or our failures. He loves us because we are His.

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'” Isaiah 43:1

By spending time with his maker, the gray dots marking Punchinello lose their power. When we spend time with our Maker, we are reminded of how great his love for us is. Not because we are good enough, but because we are His.

I am not worthy because of anything I bring to the table. I ame worthy because He brought me to the feast. #FeelingsVersusTruthClick To Tweet

Remember God’s Love

Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.

Psalm 6:4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.

Psalm 17:7 Display the wonders of your faithful love, Savior of all who seek refuge from those who rebel against your right hand

Psalm 33:18 But look, the LORD keeps his eye on those who fear him — those who depend on his faithful love

Psalm 33:22 May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you.

Deuteronomy 33:12 The LORD’s beloved rests securely on him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on his shoulders.

What verses help you remember to find your worth in Christ?

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And the Lord Heard It: A Story for Parents from Numbers 12

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One of my (many!) favorite genres to read is classic folk or fairy tales that have been updated with a modern twist. There are hundreds upon thousands of tellings of all my favorite stories from Cinderella and Snow White to The Wizard of Oz. I especially love when I find an updated version of an equally old, equally classic but not as well-known story, like The Goose Girl or The Tinder Box. I enjoy this in Bible Study too. Growing up in a Christian home, I have, at times, been arrogant enough to think I know all the Bible stories, so it is always fun (and humbling) when I find one I am not familiar with.

Such was the case when I read Numbers 12. I’ll summarize it for you.

The Story

The Israelites are travelling between Mt. Sinai and the Promised Land. Miriam and Aaron, the older brother and sister of Moses, decide they have a problem with Moses’ wife because she is a Cushite (some translations might say Ethiopian – either way, she wasn’t from Israel!) They start grumbling against Moses, arguing that the Lord has spoken through them too, and, at the end of verse 2, the Lord heard them.

I laughed out loud when I read this because the scene feels so familiar to me. With three young children at home, I spend a lot of my time refereeing. Much of the inane bickering, I tune out, but once in awhile I hear something that absolutely must be addressed.

The Lord calls the three of them out and appears before them in a pillar of smoke. My kids know it’s a big deal when mom has to stop what she’s doing to deal with them! He emphatically reminds Aaron and Miriam that Moses is not an ordinary, run of the mill prophet. Moses actually speaks with God, face to face and that is a big deal. He deserves their respect, not their grumblings.

The Lord leaves and Miriam, the instigator, is found to be leprous. Aaron and Moses pray for her, a nice, brotherly gesture of repentance. God agrees that she may return to camp and be healed in seven days. In other words, someone needs a time out!

My Take Away

I am sure there is a lot to unpack in this story, but what strikes me is how identifiable God is as a parent. I can picture his tone so clearly because I have used almost these exact phrases – Come out you three! Hear my words!

The fact is, so many times in my journey as a parent, I have responded to my children and been caught in a moment of conviction. Like when I tell my son to obey first or to accept my answer, or to just, please trust me! Isn’t that exactly what God asks of me?

Even in his anger, God shows mercy and patience to his wayward children. I am far from a perfect parent but I rejoice in having a perfect example to follow.

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Beautiful Beatitudes: Blessed are the Peacemakers

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A quiet house. A rainy afternoon with a good book. A moonlit sky full of stars. A sleeping baby. Watching a bird flutter outside my window while I sip a still warm cup of coffee and my children play together quietly. These images make my heart smile and sigh contentedly. Pictures of peace.

Ah, peace. I long for it, and very often strive to bring it to my life.

The Jewish people listening to Jesus teach on the mountainside in Galilee wanted peace too. They were waiting expectantly for a Messiah, a warrior-king like David, who would lead them on a military campaign out from under the oppression of Rome. I imagine the people listening to all these world-rocking statements – blessed are the poor? The hungry? Those who mourn? Material blessings are supposed to be a mark of God’s favor, but Jesus is teaching outright neediness! How is a peacemaker going to save us from Rome?

An Upside-down Understanding

I love Oswald Chamber’s perspective in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. He says,

“The first time we read the Beatitudes they appear to be simple and beautiful and unstartling statements, … sweet and pious and wonderfully simple, but they are in reality like spiritual torpedoes that burst and explode in the subconscious mind…”

That is certainly what happens in my mind when I think about peace! What I want in my little corner of the world is only a feeling, as fleeting as the moments themselves. The peace the Jews wanted was the security of a self-governed, national identity. Physical, temporal, and easy to lose. The peace Jesus speaks about is Matthew 5:9 is so much more. More than a single moment void of conflict or the autonomy of a kingdom. More than harmony based on tolerance, diplomacy, or compromise. It is a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), flowing from the character of God (Hebrews 13:20, 1 Corinthians 14:33), that defines both his kingdom and his children (Romans 10:15, 14:17).

That’s the peace I really want. More than a clean, quiet house or life without conflict, I want the peace that comes from belonging to God as only a beloved child can belong to a parent.

A Call to Arms…in a manner of speaking

“Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1

The peace brought to the world by the sons of God (first the nation of Israel, now those who trust in Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:23-29) is reconciliation. To reconcile is to a) restore to friendship or harmony; b) to settle or resolve differences; c) to make consistent; d) to cause to submit or accept something unpleasant; e) to check against another for accuracy; to account for.

In other words, to bring peace.

2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

As sons and daughters of God we are to be peacemakers, actively bringing healing and restoration to the world. How do we do this? By sharing the Gospel, reuniting people with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

How might you bring peace to the world today?

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P.S. Don’t forget to check out our current memorization challenge, Teach Us Jesus!

Jesus: Preparing Us for Change – Mark 14:1-42, John 13 & 14

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Today we’re considering days 28-30 of our Lenten reading plan. Mark 14 opens with the plot to kill Jesus and the anointing of Jesus at Bethany, then goes on to describe the preparations for Passover, a brief glimpse of that final supper with the twelve including the prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial, and the prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. John 13 and 14 delve deeper into that last supper with Jesus washing the disciple’s feet and sharing with them those final things they need to know before it all goes down.

Mark 14:1-42

Sometimes change comes suddenly without any warning. Other times you can feel it on the horizon. Anticipation of something not quite known hovering just beyond your reach. I imagine it was this general sort of unease blanketing the atmosphere at an otherwise normal dinner, two days before Passover, when an unnamed woman casually anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume. The indignation of the dinner guests prompts him to declare,

“You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want,                but you do not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial.” (Mark 14:7-8)

Talk about setting the mood! But then again, this time is all about preparation. Change is coming. Soon Jesus will not be with them.

Mark gives lets us in on the climate at the beginning of the week by sharing the murderous desires of the chief priests and scribes (v.1-2). After the anointing, Judas sets up the plan to betray Jesus (v.10). Two of the disciples are sent to prepare the Passover meal in a home of someone in the city (v. 12-16). During dinner, Jesus prepares his disciples for the new covenant and warns them of their upcoming betrayals.

“All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” (v. 27)”

Finally, in the garden, Jesus prepares himself for the great agony he will face on our behalf.

John 13

John was there. He reclined at the table with Jesus and the other disciples. He watched his Lord wash his feet, the ultimate example of all that Jesus has taught them.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (v. 3-5)

He wondered along with the others, who could possibly betray them? He soaked in the words of his teacher and friend, not understanding, but like so many times before, trusting that understanding would come.

John 14

With Judas, the betrayer, gone from the table, Jesus pours out promises to comfort and instruct them about the dark days ahead.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (vv. 6-7)

 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (v.14)

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

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (v. 26)

And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (v. 29)

Jesus prepared his disciples so they would believe. #40DaysWithJesusClick To Tweet
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Jesus: Astonishing, Bread of Life – Mark 7 & John 6

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Our reading plan for Lent continues this week with Mark 7 and John 6. The stories in these chapters are chock full of more truth and wonder than we have time to unpack here. But keep in mind, we are reading through the lens of who Jesus is and what he did.

Mark 7 – Jesus is Astonishing

In Mark 7 Jesus continues to turn the world on its head. His disciples are observed eating with unwashed hands. Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter. He rebukes the Pharisees for their empty words. Their complaint had nothing to do with worshiping God. This was about honoring themselves.

“And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” Mark 7:9

Jesus came to earth and lived among us to teach us that life isn’t about following rules. It’s about following Him. Click To Tweet

Privately Jesus explains to his disciples that it’s not what is outside that defiles a man, but what comes out of his heart. As a Gentile myself, I love knowing that Jesus always intended to include all people in his plan for salvation!

I think Mark includes the next two stories, both taking place in Greek cities, to help emphasize this point to his Gentile readers. Jesus came for everyone. A Gentile woman seeks him out and begs him for help with her demon-possessed daughter. He could have dismissed her outright but instead he engages with her. He gently challenges her faith. It isn’t time for the Gentiles yet. Then he responds with compassion and healing when she rises to that challenge.

Finally, in the region of the Decapolis Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. Unlike so many of his other healings, he takes the man aside and touches his ears and tongue. What a beautiful picture of Jesus meeting this man where he needed him!

The people are astonished. The Greek word ekplesso is a verb meaning “to strike out, expel by blow, to be struck with amazement”. It gives me the impression of a kind of breathless wonder. Almost speechless, except in this case they just can’t stop talking about how amazing he is!

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:37Click To Tweet

John 6:1-40 Bread for Believers

In John 6 Jesus continues showing the people who he is through miraculous signs (the same miracles we read about in Mark 6!). John gives us an idea of how the people are responding to these miracles.

Jesus feeds a crowd of five thousand (and that’s just the men!). The people, eating a miraculous meal out in the open, are reminded of Moses and manna from heaven.  They want him to be king (v. 15) so much that they are willing to force him into the role. But Jesus knows what we need better than we know ourselves.

He walks on water through a storm, proving to his disciples again that he has total authority over this physical world.

Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. John 6:21

The storms in life are inconsequential when compared to the presence of Jesus.Click To Tweet

The people don’t understand. They chase him across the sea, wondering how he managed to get there, and again pressure him to take his place as their ruler. Moses 2.0. But Jesus tells them the most mind-bending parable of all. They want the things of this world, the temporary. He is there to give them so much more.

 

John 6:41-71 Life in the Spirit

The crowd, previously so enthusiastic, begins to grumble against Jesus. They twist his words and take offense. But Jesus knows who his words are for.

  • He calls us.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (v 44)

  • He teaches us.

It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— (v45)

  • He gives his life for us.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (v. 51)

  • He knows out hearts.

But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) (v. 64)

I love this quote about bread by David Guzick. Jesus must be internalized!


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Lent is About Love

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Ahh, Valentine’s Day. A celebration of love. Romantic love, yes, but also friendship, family, community, really anything that might hold one’s affection. It’s light hearted. Pink and pretty and sweet. Maybe even a little indulgent.  

Lent, by contrast, has more somber connotations. Ashes and dust, a humble reminder of our mortality and sin. Modeled after Jesus’ forty days fasting in the wilderness, it is a season of preparation meant to cleanse the soul, humble the heart and discipline the body. It is a time to make less of ourselves

These two very different holidays might not appear to have much in common and wouldn’t normally be considered together. In fact, the last time Ash Wednesday (which marks the beginning of Lent) fell on February 14th was back in 1945! But at their core, they celebrate the same thing: love. Affectionate, passionate, sacrificial love, personified in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus.

The love of St. Valentine is affectionate, based on feelings and desire. The love of Lent is sacrificial, putting the needs of others above your own. The witness left to us in the Gospels of Mark and John show Jesus living out both of these loves. A man of action, undeterred from his mission to redeem mankind, moved by compassion.  

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Lent is about the love of Jesus, shown in his life, death, and resurrection.Click To Tweet

John 1:1-18

Picture the scene behind the first passage of our reading plan (which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday!).

John, who defines himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”, is getting older. He’s maybe thirty years past his time with Jesus on earth. Thirty years or so of ministry, spreading the Gospel, discipling the young church. He’s seen persecution and the deaths of most of his closest friends. He lives in Ephesus, a Roman colony in what we know today as Turkey. The city is the center of worship for Artemis (known to the Romans as Diana), the Greek goddess of fertility, childbirth, chastity, and the hunt. Day after day John watches millions pour into the city to worship at the Artemesium – a magnificent marble temple that will someday be named as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. He sees the hunger in their eyes, the longing for healing, hope, help, and watches them seek that help from the cold, stone pillars of an empty temple.

Once upon a time his life was turned upside down and inside out by a most remarkable man – God who became man. His quill flies across the page with passion as he expresses the inexpressible. Remembering the love that changed his life, he describes the indescribable.

He begins with the Word – lofty, intangible, the very essence of all thought and wisdom. Like a spiral, the unknowable God who created everything and holds all things together, the Light of life, becomes more tangible, becomes like us, living here with us! The Law was given in stone on a mountaintop, but the Truth comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ. The only One who has ever seen God the Father has revealed him to us!

Are You Ready to Feel the Love?

Dwell on his nearness today. He is alive and wants to connect with you. He doesn’t just watch our sacrifices knowing there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, but delights in us, pouring himself out for us, grace upon grace. Because he loves us.

'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.' John 1:14 #40DaysWithJesusClick To Tweet

Lent begins tomorrow, February 14th, 2018. Be sure to grab your copy of the reading plan and join our discussion group on Facebook!

40 Days with Jesus - A Christian Reading Plan for Lent. FREE Printable Bookmark and Bible verse image from the Women's Ministry DoNotDepart.com
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Wisdom for Relationships – Proverbs 17-19

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Earlier this month, as we were beginning our journey through Proverbs, my father-in-law’s health deteriorated rapidly until at last he passed away. We knew this day was coming yet somehow it took us completely by surprise. The kids and I quickly hopped a plane to Texas where my husband was already busy helping his mother and siblings make all the necessary arrangements. For the next week we gathered with family and friends to celebrate the life of our father/grandfather. Meals were delivered. The church rallied to provide whatever we needed, including things no one was thinking about like extra toilet paper and paper towels!

Grief, joy, reunion, and close quarters had everyone on edge. Battles were fought or swept under the rug, depending on the moment. Every conceivable relationship came into play as we prayed, cried, and asked for or accepted help. Perhaps this experience, still fresh in my heart as I write this, caused me to pay special attention to all the wisdom available to us as we navigate the sometimes tumultuous road of relationships that make up our lives.  

Relating to Society

When it comes to the community, whether it’s your neighbor, the grocer, or a stranger on the street, Solomon recommends integrity.

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both like an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 17:15

It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.

Proverbs 18:5

When it comes to friends, we are cautioned to see beyond the superficial motives,

Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. Proverbs 19:4

encouraged to seek out that true friendship,

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

and of course, there’s that call to integrity again!

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9

Relating to Family

Solomon has plenty to say to parents about relating to their children and for spouses relating to one another.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. Proverbs 19:18

Relating to the Lord

Most importantly, the Proverbs give us insight into the heart of God. We see in these verses that the integrity, justice, and blessings of family and community are valuable to us because they are at the core of who God is.

 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 17:5

 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 18:10

 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied; 19:23

What insight or advice about relationships do you glean from these wise words?

Friends? Family? Proverbs can help you relate! #31DaysInProverbs

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Who Is Wisdom? Proverbs Three – Five

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Picture this scene with me: A quaint cottage in the small, sunlit clearing of an ancient wood. Tucked in the simple bed, a frail father, weak with illness, passes his legacy – all his collected wisdom and advice – down to his heir. His son, a fresh-faced, eager to be tested youth, soaks in the words before setting out on this great quest called life. He will venture forth, working and fighting his way through the woods, seeking his fortune while braving the dangers. Along the way, he encounters two women. Both are attractive, offering the very riches he seeks, but one shows the way to true wealth and peace. The other, death. Will he heed his father’s warnings to stay on the straight path?

Not simply a list of rules, the book of Proverbs wraps its insight in the beautiful imagery of poetry. C. S. Lewis says, “For poetry too is a little incarnation giving body to what had been before invisible and inaudible.” It’s like when my children were younger and we would make up sing-song rhymes to help them remember important information. Something about the rhythm, the imagery, the story of poetry helps the lesson sink in deeper.

Another chief characteristic of Hebrew poetry is parallelism. Rather than rhyme or meter, the lines present balance and symmetry through restating or contrasting the phrase. I love reading through the personification of wisdom in chapter 3:13-20 and found the parallels to Jesus to be so abundant!

“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

If wisdom is light and life and rest and riches, then Jesus is wisdom, personified!

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Proverbs 3:17 – her ways are pleasant and all her paths peaceful.

Matthew 11:30 – For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

 

Proverbs 3:18 – She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.

Genesis 2:9 – The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

Proverbs 3:19 – The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

Colossians 1:15-16a – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible.

 

What wonderful joy it is to know that we do not have to keep track of all these rules and tips for a good life because Jesus IS Wisdom!

Who is Wisdom? #31DaysInProverbs

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What other parallels to Jesus do you find in chapters four and five?

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