Do Not Depart

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It’s our pleasure to serve & follow Jesus

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SurrenderWhere I live, the temperature crept up into the flip flop zone today, and the sky was the color blue that makes you want to stand on top of a hill and spin around. You know what I mean, don’t you? Apparently, this clear, sunny, warm day also made everyone crave Chick-fil-a. Our double drive-thru lines stretched out to the street as cars full of people dangled their hands out of their windows. The employees were not rattled by the masses or the lunchtime challenge. No, if you’re going to work at Chick-fil-a, you have to be ready to answer every customer with a genuine “My pleasure.”  Becoming an employee comes with certain expectations.

If anyone serves Jesus, you have to follow him. Becoming a disciple comes with certain expectations.

The Ultimate Servant

Just after announcing that the time had finally come for the Son of Man to be glorified, Jesus explained that when “a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,” it is able to bear a harvest. Knowing that he was about to sacrifice his life on the cross in order to offer the gift of eternal life, Jesus directed his words to those who would serve him and follow him. Instead of recruiting disciples with promises of an easy journey with guaranteed low pain and high prosperity, Jesus told the truth. He was going to be the ultimate servant by surrendering his life for others, and those who want to serve him will be called to do the same.

The Following Servant

To serve Christ the Lord is to be ready to answer every lost person with a genuine desire to sacrifice self as a follower of Christ. It may mean you forego a pleasure in order to make room for someone else. It may mean you give up your own recognition to defer to another person. It may mean you risk your reputation by claiming to know Christ Jesus. It may mean you surrender your life to a government that demands you renounce your faith. It may mean you run into a smoke filled Boston sidewalk just moments after a bombing to carry a victim to safety, because that’s what Jesus did for us in the conflict of eternity.

The Servant’s Truth

It’s unthinkable that we would serve Jesus and not follow him in a daily life of surrender. To be his servant is to be his follower. Modern church culture often sells a watered down version to entice would-be recruits to an easy grace, but Jesus tells it like it really is.  Grace came with a high price, and to follow in the steps of the One who paid it, we must also live a life of surrender. For the genuine servant of Christ, it is possible to do the hard work, even the sacrificial work, of following because, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Servant’s Promise

The Chick-fil-a job application promises a positive work environment, competitive pay, training, flexible hours, and even fun employee outings. They’re looking for “friendly, enthusiastic people who enjoy serving customers.”  That’s awesome if you’re Chick-fil-a, but Jesus asks for more and promises more.

  • If you serve him, you have to follow him daily, everywhere, even to the hard places.
  • You have to surrender everything, but you gain everything.
  • He promised, “If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him,” (John 12:26b).

Jesus glorified his Father by surrendering his life, and he invites us to do the same. “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).

To serve Jesus is to surrender your own agenda and follow him, and as you do, it will be his divine pleasure to welcome you to a present peace with him now and a perfect future with him for eternity.

  •  Has God ever asked you to make a sacrifice as His servant/follower?
  • What scripture gives you confidence that God will enable you to do the hard things?

A Bible study recap: The Resurrection

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This month we’ve enjoyed Bible study about the Resurrection. Resurrection Series on www.donotdepart.com

Bible study tools for the Resurrection:

We’ve looked at the records of people who came back to life.

Psalms provided opportunity for reflection.

We looked at spiritual resurrection.

During Passion Week we used a printable reading list of scripture.

Patti shared Passover’s Path to the resurrection.

Easter Printables: 

Count Down to Easter – 3 week Bible study plan

Bookmarks of resurrection scripture & prayer

A timeline of the crucifixion and resurection events Thursday through Sunday

We pray that this season has given you fresh reminders of why the Resurrection gives us cause to celebrate new life in Christ.

He is Risen!  He is risen, indeed.

 

Preparing your heart for Easter bookmarks

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The inspired, God-breathed words of scripture pack so much power for us to tap into as we prepare our hearts for Easter. As we provide Bible Study tools this month centered around the Resurrection, new life themed verses provide rich truths for us to use in our prayer life.

Resurrection Series on www.donotdepart.com Praying new life scripture

Today we want to share a collection of 6 printable bookmarks. Each one provides a visual focus, along with a new life truth and a prayer of response. Just print off the 2 page PDF and cut the 6 bookmarks to separate them. You might print and use these in a variety of ways:

 

10 ways to use printable Easter bookmarks

  1. tuck into your Bible as you prepare to celebrate the resurrection
  2. attach one to a loaf of bread or bag of hot cross buns
  3. laminate and share with a Sunday School teacher
  4. include in your child’s lunch box
  5. leave on the dashboard of your husband’s car
  6. pin on the bulletin board at your coffee shop
  7. attach to a bill payment you’re sending in
  8. put under your neighbor’s windshield wiper
  9. lay on your child’s pillow
  10. tape to the bathroom mirror

May the great truths of new life flow easily from our lips, settle into our hearts, fill our thoughts, and soak into our prayers as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!

New life is in Christ Jesus

Father in heaven, there is nothing I could have done on my own to make my old life pass away.  It’s all because of you that the new has come. Thank you for that you have moved me out of death and into Christ, making me a completely new creation in your eyes. I don’t fully understand it, but I’m so grateful.

 By the name of the Christ who brings the new, Amen

Photos provided by free resources from visualbiblealive.org, turnbacktogod.com & Julie Sanders.

Resurrection: Preparing our hearts to celebrate Easter

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We’re born wanting something we can’t have. Have you ever lost a loved one? Have you ever battled for your own life? Since death was announced in Genesis 3:19, people have searched for ways to prolong life, live forever, and outwit death. After all, Adam’s judgment echoes through the ages to all of us: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”   (Romans 5:12)

From tombs full of riches for the afterlife to quests for the fountain of youth to modern medical technology, the hope of life and fear of death spurs men on to find the key to eternal life. Losses, disappointments, and decay tasted in earthly life point to our shared ultimate end: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Only One has power over death. There have always been skeptics; even the Sadducees of Jesus’ day scoffed at the thought of immortality. Scripture records the stories of a few who were powerless over death, but they saw God intervene and do the unimaginable: restore life.

Brought to Life In the Old Testament

  • The Widow of Zeraphath’s Son (1 Kings 17:17-24)
  • The Shunnamite Woman’s Son (11 Kings 4:20-37)
  • The Man thrown into Elisha’s Tomb (II Kings 13:21)

Brought to Life In the New Testament

  • The Widow of Nain’s Son (Luke 7:11-16)
  • Jairus’ 12 year old daughter (Mark 5:35-43)
  • Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
  • Tabitha (Acts 9:36-41)
  • Eutychus (Acts 20:7-12)
  • Saints buried near Jerusalem (Matt. 27:51-53)

These people did not raise themselves, but they were raised by God. His power worked independently, and occasionally through His servants, to defeat death itself. As foretold in Genesis 3:15, the Enemy’s plan suffered a fatal blow when the gospel triumphed in the risen Savior. The resurrected life of Jesus makes our abundant life possible. What man could never do, God did.

Resurrection is the conquering of death, the overcoming of the Enemy’s plan to thwart God’s gift of life. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.“ (John 10:10)

This month we celebrate the Resurrection victory over loss and pain and death. With “Easter” at the end of this month, we want to prepare our hearts with fresh appreciation for the Resurrection. All month long, we will share Bible Study tools to help you focus on this greatest of all mysteries that makes abundant life possible.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed … the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality…“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Excerpts from 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

Join us this month on Do Not Depart as we share Bible Study Tools to prepare our hearts for a celebration of the Resurrection.

Singles in community

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Is there a place in the faith community for singles? More than half of homes with children in my city are headed by a single parent. The number of adults who are unmarried, divorced, or widowed continues to rise in the United States, but much of church community life focuses on married people. Recently, a godly single friend of mine admitted that she often feels “invisible.” If God sees the life of each individual, married or single, why doesn’t the Church?

With industrialization came assembly line concepts that grouped like pieces for the purpose of efficiency. God didn’t intend for the community life of believers to be so segregated. Instead, His word describes a Body life where a variety of ages and marital statuses blend for greater strength, understanding, and impact. Singles want and need to be in community with married friends, and the whole Church is better when our single friends are part of it.

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many… But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose… If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body… If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (from 1 Corinthians 12:4-27).

A “single” member here doesn’t refer to marital status, but to one individual. As each one experiences God’s grace individually, we each have reason to look around us and help every other member be seen, included, valued, and loved. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Many unmarried community members are suffering today, because they long to be in a mixed status, loving community, but they feel invisible. The Body needs the value they bring, and we miss out when they’re absent … or just invisible. If one suffers, the whole Body suffers.

A godly single friend of mine is a treasure in our community, and I asked her to share: What can a married woman do to be a good friend to a single woman?

How to love single women in your community

  1. Respect the single woman and treat her as an equal.
  2. Be interested in your single friend’s life.
  3. Be sensitive to her desire for marriage and accept her for who she is.
  4. Encourage her to serve the Lord with her whole heart in the situation God has placed her in.
  5. Be sensitive to the single woman’s comfort level around children.
  6. Offer to help (don’t wait to be asked). Let her have the joy of helping you.
  7. Pray for and with the single woman.

Created for Community
A “single” (marital status) person doesn’t want or need to be a “single” (only one/alone) person in the community of believers. Let’s see those who are unmarried and help them feel like part of the “one body” of God’s bigger family.

 

Read more about Married Friends for Singles and Why some married people make good single friends.

Faithful in community

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The believers were scattered and facing persecution when James wrote to them to encourage them in their trials. They struggled to have joy, well aware of their need for wisdom in the difficult things of life. Have you ever been alone in the midst of trying times? Trials are hard enough, but facing them without community is harder.

Accept His community challenge

Created for Community
The message of the book of Hebrew resonates with the echo of encouragement to be full off faith in trials. Tucked inside the tenth chapter of the book, God reveals a key choice that may determine how steadfast we are as individuals. Choose to regularly assemble in one place with others who follow Him.  He challenges us to practice this habit in order to be faithful in hard times.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Accept the community urgency

As followers of God recognize the Day of His return coming closer, they will face hardships that tempt them to move from hope to hopeless. Just identifying themselves as a member of His Body may come with a price tag, and they may give us coming together. Some Christ followers will drift away from a culture of love and doing kingdom things. More than ever, God wants the community of faith to gather together to encourage each other to be firm in their faith.  By gathering together as His people, we remember who we are in Christ, who God is, why we have power instead of fear, and how light overcomes darkness.

Accept no community substitute

In this day, a scattered community of believers has more ways than ever to overcome isolation. It’s never been easier to network globally, but it’s never been easier to give up “meeting together,” which has the idea of assembling together in one physical place. Technology complements and creates community networks, but it doesn’t take the place of “meeting together.” There’s power in physical presence. We can not experience in reality what we only envision virtually.

Just as God became “God with us,” He urges us to be with each other. He set the precedent of relationship in community. Let’s keep on:

  • gathering together regularly
  • in local communities of believers
  • to spur each other on
  • to living out our faith
  • right up until the Day is here!

We will be faithful to the faithful One when we meet together faithfully.

Following the knee-worn path

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“There’s one more thing,” the plumber said, “Do you know where your main water cut off is?” Indicted by his simple question, I wondered how I could have ignored something so basic, especially when we’ve had a major “water episode.”

“What would you do if you needed to turn off your water?” He asked.

“Call you? Call my husband? Call my neighbor?” I smiled. He wasn’t charmed.

“I’m going to show you where your water source is. You don’t want to wait until you need it to find out where it is.”


If you haven’t cultivated prayer’s knee-worn path before a flood rushes in, now is a good time to begin. We don’t want to wait until we need it to find out where it is. Theologian Armin Gesswein said, “God’s throne is the busiest place in all the universe because everything centers there. Yet, the lack of prayer on earth keeps it from operating at full capacity.” Most of us say we’re too busy to pray. I was once too busy to find the water source in our house, and I paid a high price.

Jesus Prayed

Jesus himself was a man of prayer, expressing dependence on his Father and determination to do His will. Even now, “he always lives to make intercession for them,” (Hebrews 7:25b) pleading our case. The Father Himself is the source of prayer, a gift to mankind as an invitation for two-way communication. With all of our technology, it’s better than any man-made version. Scripture teaches us the language of prayer, teaching our independent mouths to speak heart words of dependence. Though seated beside His Father, Jesus prays on.

Followers Prayed

Simple men who followed Jesus up close and personal, and knew the work of prayer, still asked to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus’ prayer pattern hinged on desiring His Father’s will. Since God’s word reveals His will, prayer needs the fodder of truth to drive the faith behind it. The Bible is our book of prayer.

The Church Prayed

When believers first gathered as the Church, they began as a praying Church. Vulnerable in a contra-God world, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.” (Acts 1:14a). They were sure of their need to cry out in dependence on God. If the people of God are to experience faith, intimacy, and power in an anti-God world, they must be people of prayer. To claim we are too busy to pray is to turn away from our waiting Lord. Prayer is not a piece of Body life; prayer is the foundation of Body life.

When I pray

  • Prayer strengthens faith. We call on God to fulfill promises He has already made.
  • Prayer nurtures intimacy. We expose ourselves to God and He makes Himself personally known.
  • Prayer inspires power. We gain boldness by focusing on the person of God instead of ourselves.

Two-way communication with God isn’t only for moments of helplessness, though Abba Father welcomes us near then. He invites us to call on Him as long as we live, to live in sweet, close communion with Him. To cultivate the discipline of prayer is to work at knowing His will, listening to Him, and opening our lives to Him.

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:1-2).

If you want to take a step on the knee-worn prayer path, check out our tools like Prayer Calendars or  A Prayer Album for Women on the Go.

Is there a tool or habit you’ve found to help you keep prayer as part of your daily life?

Time to wrap up

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This December we celebrated the beauty of the season with the word of God and the Word himself spread throughout our days.

With just days left before Christmas, we want to offer you this platter full of inspiration one more time.  As you plan your Christmas Eve and day, perhaps one of these posts will add to your joy. We hope this has helped you savor God Himself during this season of peace on earth and good will to men. It’s not too late to find one way to add the word to your merry making.

We pray that the word will be found in all of your Christmas season!

Christmas Gifts of Compassion

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If you’re like me, you aren’t done with your Christmas shopping either. In light of the tragic events of this last week, though, my spirit groans against the thought of bustling through a mall or settling for items with little meaning.

Weeks ago, our Do Not Depart team planned that we would share ideas for “last minute” Gifts of Compassion today, but it seems divinely timed. Maybe you are at a loss for a gift to give to someone you love or to someone you appreciate, like a teacher or a local first responder. This month, we’ve been talking about how to include the Word in Christmas.

John 1:14 tells us that the Word is Jesus. His coming is the greatest expression of love, and His coming makes life and hope possible.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:7-9

One of the best ways to answer evil is with the sending of love; God himself set that precedent for us. Today we want to share ideas for Christmas gifts you may still easily send, gifts that express God’s love, ways to “love one another” with love from God.

In tender times only God-sized love seems enough and gifts of the Word seem fitting.

Gifts for the Persecuted ~

Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Calendar ~ This beautiful calendar serves as a prayer tool on behalf of the many people who are persecuted around the worlBe Intertwined handcraftsd because they know God and call themselves by the name of His Son:  Christian. ($4)

Be Intertwined ~ This sewing cooperative of refugee women works together to sew with primarily donated material. Many of these women have known lives of fear and violence, yet they begin to find community, safety, and faith as they create colorful crafts to help support their families. Visit their etsy shop for one of a kind, handmade items.

Globally Generous Gifts ~ Give a gift in someone’s honor:

You don’t have to fight crowds, pray for a parking spot, or run out and buy a box of truffles for someone who doesn’t need them anyway. This is the perfect time to give a globally generous gift to express peace on earth, while speaking the very love of Jesus, the Word, to those close to you.

Here are some of our favorite Globally Generous Gift Sources:

Many of these sources provide similar opportunities and offer many more ideas than we can list here.

Do you have a favorite compassionate gift to add to our list or resources? Please share in the comments if you do.

The Word in Christmas Weekend Tools

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Though we’re usually quiet here at Do Not Depart over the weekends, we know that during the Christmas season, our readers might find weekends the perfect time to use two free printables we have for you.  These tools will help you to celebrate with the Word. We hope you’ll enjoy using them with your family, local church, or neighborhood.

Free printable #1 ~ The Word gift tag stickers

The Word in Christmas gift tag sticker

This file is designed to print on a 2×4 inch sticker. Avery 18163 will work or these from Target; they come in a package of 100 for $4.44. As you being to prepare gifts to give, keep these stickers on hand to include the Word as a reminder with each gift you give!

 

Click here to download a sheet of 10 stickers:  The Word in CHRISTMAS Sticker

 

Free printable #2 ~ The Candy Cane Christmas bookmark

We used these for an ESL Christmas party to share how a candy cane reminds us of what our Christmas celebration is all about. There are 3 on each sheet, and they work well printed on cardstock. Use them as a gift insert, for a Sunday School lesson, or for a party!

 

Click here for your copy of The Candy Cane bookmark PDF

 

“God rest you merry” readers as you enjoy celebrating the Word in Christmas!

 

Other helps this week included:

3 Simple Ideas for incorporating scripture into holiday decorating

Throw a birthday party for Jesus!

 

 

Finding the Word in Christmas

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Finding the word in ChristmasThis weekend we welcomed December, and already there’s competition for what to include in our celebrations.Will the Word of God be found in your Christmas displays and decorations, your gifts and your gatherings?

 

Many of us find a heap of holiday events, tasks, traditions and pressures piled on the manger, making it hard to find Jesus there at all! Some of what covers up the Savior may be good, making it all the more difficult to give Jesus the place He deserves.  As the birth of Jesus takes center stage, we rejoice in knowing that’ “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The story of Christmas is that of the Word with us, so what better way to honor His coming than to weave that story throughout this season of joy?

The ultimate Word of God, His Son, speaks volumes to us of His great love and of the lengths He would go so we can walk with Him. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2). We’re so thankful for you, our readers, walking with us in the Word so as not to depart from it.

Join us this December as we share tools with you to wrap God’s Word throughout your Christmas season. Like a garland on a tree, we’ll share tips and ideas for how to naturally incorporate God’s Word in your activities and accessories. The Do Not Depart team wants to help you find the Word in Christmas!

Do you have a favorite way of weaving the story of the Word into your celebration?

Thankfulness in a hard marriage

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If being in a hard marriage gives a wife a “pass” on having a grateful attitude, Abigail qualified.

When it’s hard to be thankful

God’s word doesn’t tell the circumstances of their courtship, what the groom was like when they wed, or if they’d met before they were joined. By the time the ugly story unravels in 1 Samuel 25, the wealthy husband is called “Nabal,” meaning full of folly and worthless. “The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved” (1 Sam. 25:25), and her name was Abigail. Her presence in the narrative of scripture testifies that God sees  and knows that sometimes it’s hard for wives to have a grateful spirit, but it’s not impossible.

God designed marriage to reflect the oneness He Himself displays, to be the tender blending of mutual protection and singular intimacy that produces a grateful spirit. But sometimes it falls far short. How can we be grateful in marriages marred by the folly of our flesh?

One woman’s example

David and AbigailAbigail’s grateful display took place on the stage of sheep shearing season, a major event for a businessman with 3,000 sheep and 1,00 goats.  As David fled from King Saul, the would-be king sent a  request for culturally-expected hospitality; the “worthless” one lived up to his name,  inviting David’s vengeance. To have attacked Nabal and his people would’ve tarnished David with “bloodguilt” and spoiled his preparation as future king. Abigail knew David was God’s chosen, anointed king, and she acted boldly out of regard for God’s plans, as well as  the honor of her home. Despite her imperfect circumstances and intolerable marriage, she displayed a godly spirit and presented herself in humility. Despite disappointment, she had  nurtured a strong heart turned straight after God’s plans. Abigail was satisfied in God and determined to honor Him. The soil of her marriage was hard, but she cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

A God-filled wife is a grateful wife

Abigail found satisfaction, help, and purpose in her Husband-God, and she directed her gratitude to Him. As a God filled wife, Abigail was able to forgive her husband, act for his best, consider his reputation, and give unconditional love aside from his folly.  Unable to trust him, she turned her eyes from her human husband and looked to the God she could trust.  Sometimes it’s really hard to be grateful in marriage, but it’s possible.

She acted boldly, because she knew, “my lord<David> is fighting the battles of the Lord” (1 Sam. 25:28). Abigail’s story didn’t end with marriage counseling or reconciliation, but with judgment on her husband and a new beginning for her.  Declared “Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you” (v. 33) by David, she answered, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord” (v.41). Humility revealed her grateful heart.  In the harshest of marriages, she cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

Proverbs 31 gives a composite picture of the qualities of an excellent wife. Written by King Lemuel, this man was probably a contemporary of Solomon, a son of David.  I have to think King Lemuel would’ve known of the woman Abigail and the story of her beautiful, grateful spirit that endured the folly of a drunkard husband and captured the heart of the shepherd-warrior David. Perhaps Abigail inspired the kind of woman described in King Lemuel’s proverb about a wife who does her husband good, “and not harm, all the days of her life” (Prov. 31:12).

To cultivate thanksgiving in a hard marriage

  1. First cultivate trust in God and His plans
  2. Grow your individual faith-roots deep
  3. Pray for your husband and act for his good
  4. Focus on God’s grace to you and give it in return to your mate

If your marriage resembles that of Abigail to Nabal, focus on gratitude in your relationship to God. If you are blessed with a husband who loves you well, don’t take it for granted; express thanks to God and to your man. Every wife can have an attitude of gratitude.

If Abigail was your friend, what would you tell her about God to encourage her?

Unshakeable Faith Lesson 7 ~ Faithful in Persecution

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Jesus said that if the world hates Him, the world will hate those who follow Him. Those called by His name should expect persecution. There are some parts of the world where Christians suffer today, but there are other countries where followers of Christ don’t know persecution first hand. Lesson 7 of Unshakeable Faith showed us how those who call themselves by the name of Christ should be ready to share about their hope, fighting back fear of those who oppress them. Today we want to share about women who faced persecution with a strong faith.

If you were unable to see the video click here.

What does the possibility of persecution make you feel? How are you strengthening your faith today so that you are prepared to stand firm in the days ahead?

Adoption: It’s a joint effort

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that approximately 120,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. To be adopted is to be accepted, claimed, and raised as a child of promise. Last week Lisa helped us understand the difference between a Roman slave child and a family child and how adoption points back to the Father. Millions of children around the globe long for a father to accept them, claim them, and raise them as a beloved son.

I am AdoptedSonship happens for all those “in Christ Jesus,” who become “sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26). The action of all three members of the Trinity has the power to move us from the position of the father-less to that of a secure son. As all three take part as One adoptive parent in a joint effort, something new and wonderful is born.

The Father Initiates

Slave children and adopted children of Roman culture lived side by side for their childhood years, but when the time was right, the adopted child realized the benefits of his adoption. The timing was not random or haphazard, but carefully planned. In the same way, “when the fullness of time had come,” (Galatians 4:4a) the Father initiated our adoption. Like many parents save and sacrifice today in order to bring home a child from places like Ethiopia, China, and Guatemala, the Heavenly Father paid a high price for the redemption of His cherished ones who long to be accepted into His forever family.

The Son Provides

The Son acted in our adoption by becoming the payment for our transfer from slave child to adopted child. “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:5). Jesus did once and for all what we could never do on our own; He bought our permanent place in God’s family as sons of promise.

The Spirit Guarantees

The Father initiated our adoption, and the Son provided for it, but the Spirit was sent as our guarantee of a coming inheritance. “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father’” (Galatians 4:6) At just the right time, all members of the Trinity acted in union to make us children of God. We’re so loved.Paraguayan child

New Benefits with Adoption

With our adoption comes a new relationship, expressed when we cry out the familiar and intimate words of a child to their daddy: “Abba!” In today’s world, this change merits a new status update: “I’m a son now, not a slave!” (Galatians 4:7) If we become a son, then we become an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

God the Father, Son, and Spirit act in a joint effort to make us their own, to give us a new relationship, to declare our new status, and to guarantee our new future. We leave scraps of bread to sit at a banquet table. We escape our dirty stone bed to nestle in the lap of our Abba. We erase the fear of tonight with the expectation of eternity. We “are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

In many countries, children “age out” of the foster care and adoption system at the age of 16 or 18. Time runs out to find a family. But there’s no aging out of God’s divine plan for adoption and no limit on His love for those who want to come home.

How old were you when God brought you into a new relationship with Him?

How does it make you feel to know the Father, Son, and Spirit made a joint effort to make you their own?

Unshakeable Faith Week 2 ~ Living with confidence

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How would you describe your daily life right now? Do you have confidence to face the hard things and trials, or do you feel like the trouble could sweep you away?

In our study this week we asked, “Does the identity of Jesus truly matter in the midst of this, our daily lives?”

However we describe our days, let’s be confident in our all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign God!

What do you know about Jesus that makes a difference in your life today?

Unshakeable Faith

Bible Notebook: Prayer Album for Women on the Go

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Prayer Album for Women on the GoI’m pretty sure I frequently look like a refugee. Women have a lot of “stuff” to take with us. Maybe it’s because we want to be prepared for any possible scenarios. Maybe it’s because we want to justify having large floral bags. Maybe it’s because people get used to us with a diaper bag appendage, and that matures into carrying extra snacks, random trash, and assorted fast food coupons. Or maybe it’s that we want to be ready to use our spare moments well.

When life is busy, we need to think ahead about how to make the most of time to turn our hearts to the Lord. There are many ways to organize simple devotional, study, and prayer resources we can take with us.

 

As a woman often on the go, there are times when I just can’t take my Bible Study materials with me.  I want a handy, easy-to-carry, mobile tool for unexpected times I can turn my attention to the Lord. Imagine yourself sitting in a school pick up line … because you didn’t have time to go home. Think about waiting at the doctor’s office … because she was called away to an emergency.  Or envision the 30 minutes wait during a music lesson, because it’s not long enough to leave and come back. Women have little time to waste, yet we have to learn to wait. In the waiting, it’s good to have a Prayer Album for Women on the Go. Pull it out of your purse, glove compartment, lunch bag, desk, diaper bag, or other case and use your time to do a little “praying without ceasing.”

Prayer Album CardWe created these Prayer Albums as an activity at a women’s shelter. We talked about, “How do you really pray without ceasing?” It was a fun way to spend an evening with other women, putting together a tool we can all use to make the most of our time and help us abide in the Vine (John 15:1-11) in our busy lives, talking to God throughout our days.

 

Five sections for prayer include:  Praises (giving thanks), Pits (temptations/sin), People (specific needs/hopes), Pleas (burdens/requests), Promises (scripture to guide/encourage).

Girls Night Out Prayer Albums

Download The Prayer Album for Women on the Go here.

10 Steps to Make Your Prayer Album for Women on the Go

  1. Purchase a 4×6 slide in photo book (Ex. $2 option & $4 option at Target) & index cards
  2. Print out the 6 pages on to card stock
  3. Carefully cut out the divider cards
  4. Prepare 2 tabbed cards for each section:  Praises/Pits/People/Pleas/Promises
  5. Trim away extra words, preparing 2 cards per section
  6. The final card can be used as a cover card
  7. Put two cards, back to back, into a pocket, so that they show on each side
  8. Fill 3-4 pages with index cards in between each section
  9. Repeat for each section
  10. Use index cards to write down requests, answers to prayer, and scripture, and update regularly. You can even add pictures or notes unique to the content.

4x6 Prayer AlbumClick here to download your free printable Prayer Album cards.

 

And when you carve out sweet time to open up your Bible Notebook, use the Bible Notebook tabs, the Meditation Worksheet, pages for Seminar and Sermon Notes, and Prayer Calendars to dig deep in God’s Word.

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