Kathy Howard, Author at Do Not Depart

“Fruit of the Spirit” Summer Study – You’re Invited!

July 2, 2013 by Kathy Howard 8 Comments

Last year, I planted two fruit trees – one lemon and one lime. I carefully placed them in large pots on the patio using the soil recommended by the nursery for citrus trees. Both received the same amount of sun and water. Both bloomed. Both had numerous visits from bees and butterflies.

The two trees have had the same care and nurturing, but the fruit production has been drastically different. The lemons seem to be growing overnight. The flexible young tree branches curve down under their weight. My husband and I anticipate large slices of the tangy fruit for our iced tea later in the summer.

In contrast, the limes look pitiful. When the blooms faded, tiny little fruit balls emerged, but only two or three have grown much. Many have turned brown and dropped off. God intended for both trees to grow fruit, but only one is fulfilling its purpose.

God also intends for us, His children, to bear fruit. According to Jesus, when we follow Him closely our lives will produce “much” fruit (John 15:5). Is your life producing an abundant harvest or are you in serious need of some spiritual fertilizer?

You Are invited!

This month here at Do Not Depart, we will be studying the fruit of the Spirit. You are invited to join us each Tuesday as we explore Galatians 5:16-26 and related passages. Whether we need some major pruning or just a little shaping up, all of us could benefit from studying and applying what God’s Word says about the fruit of the Spirit.

Here are a few things we’ll learn in Fruit of the Spirit: Plant, Cultivate, & Grow

What are the characteristics of a “fruitless” life?
What does it mean to “live by the Spirit?”
Just what is “fruit” anyway?
Am I “fruity?”
What should the fruit of the Spirit look like in my life?
How can I improve my harvest?

Each week as we study together we will Plant God’s truth in our hearts, Cultivate our own lives to receive that truth, and take action to help it Grow! The study will be in blog format and also available as a PDF download. Today, we combine the intro post and an optional study on the context of the book of Galatians.

Where do we begin? Context of Galatians

The way God chooses to apply the truths found in His Word can vary with the individual and their circumstance. However the meaning of a biblical passage never changes. It will always mean what God originally intended for it to mean. Before we can make application to our lives we must have a good grasp of the original meaning by considering the larger context. (For more information on biblical context read “Context is King.”)

Galatians is a letter written to a specific people at a specific point in history for a specific purpose. Therefore, we need to know who, when, and why to understand the meaning. (Download the PDF of today’s lesson on the context of Galatians.)

As you work through today’s lesson, you’ll discover that some of Paul’s original audience struggled with legalism and some were abusing their freedom in Christ by indulging sinful desires.

Let’s discuss this today. So far in your Christian life do you feel you have been influenced more by the “law,” your own nature, or by the Spirit? (We may not have the influence of the Mosaic Law, but the “do’s” and “don’ts” or religion are still prominent.)

7 Days of Devotions for Your Family Vacation

June 11, 2013 by Kathy Howard 11 Comments

When our kids were young we did a lot of cross-country driving. Combine little money for airfare with living far away from grandparents and you’ve got at least two long days in the car – one way.

It’s not easy to keep 3 kids under 10 restrained in the back seat for hours on end. I did everything I could think of to keep the kiddos occupied. Lots of snacks – healthy and not so healthy. Games like I Spy and 20 Questions. Books and toys.

Travel time, whether it’s by plane, train, or automobile, does provide a great opportunity to teach our kids about God. But we must be purposeful. Don’t skip the Word, when you skip town!

When Julie introduced our June theme she said:

Vacations are not only times for adventure, rest, and relationship. Vacations are also opportunities for a fresh infusion of truth into our tired lives.

The Do Not Depart team wants to help you do just that by providing tools you can use. Today, the tool is a 7-day devotional guide you can use during your family vacation. Do it in the car, on the beach, or around the campfire, but take the opportunity to get in God’s Word together.

Each Scripture reading is about a biblical journey. Questions are provided each day to get your family talking together about the truth presented in each story. Download the guide. Print it off and pack it. It won’t take up much space!

What are some things you’ve done in the past to keep yourself and your family in the Word when you travel?

4 Ways to be Like Nana Lois

May 14, 2013 by Kathy Howard 8 Comments

Call me Nana.

The first question my daughter asked when she and her husband announced the pending arrival of our first grandchild was “What do you want the baby to call you?”

They loved my husband’s tongue-in-cheek suggestion for his grandfather name. “Boss” stuck immediately. But every equally cool grandmother name suggestion from me got shot down.

Oh well, any name will be music to my ears when it comes from Micah’s mouth.

Being “Nana” is both a great joy and a weighty responsibility. My God-given job of teaching a new generation about Him did not end when my own children left home. Instead it’s a generational partnership of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and beyond.

Sincere Faith

Timothy is a great example of this generational faith partnership in action. In his second letter to the young pastor, the apostle Paul describes Timothy’s faith this way:

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2 Timothy 1:5, NIV

Timothy’s faith was not cultural or casual. No hint of hypocrisy or pretense. His faith in Christ defined him. And this “sincere faith” began in his grandmother and continued in his mother. That’s what this Nana wants for her grandchildren.

Lois’ faith wasn’t just talk. Her character and behavior matched what she said she believed. Consistently. Every day. Even when she was stressed. Even when another car cut her off with Timothy in the back seat.

Lois’ life proved to Timothy the truth of what she taught him.

Purposeful Teaching

Timothy learned the Scripture from both his mother and grandmother from his beginning. The word Paul uses in 2 Timothy 3:15 to describe Timothy’s age can refer to an unborn child, a newborn child, or an infant. These two faithful women did not waste any time teaching Timothy about God.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15, NIV

Lois and Eunice intentionally taught Timothy in the ways of God. They helped him form a habit of faith through constant use and practice. Their teaching encouraged Timothy’s salvation, spiritual growth, and equipping for ministry (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

4 Characteristics of Nana Lois’ Passed-Down Faith

Lois, the New Testament Nana, is a great example for us. If we want to pass a vibrant legacy of faith to our children and grandchildren, here are a few things we can do:

Insure our own faith is “sincere.”
Accept and embrace this God-given responsibility.
Start at day one. It’s never too early.
Have a plan. Be purposeful and intentional in teaching them the things of God.

Micah hasn’t quite got the hang of “Nana.” Maybe I should change my name to “Lois.”

What else do you see from Lois’ example we can implement in our own lives?

Surrendering My Calendar

April 25, 2013 by Kathy Howard 8 Comments

On my way to check out at Hobby Lobby I glanced down an aisle to my right. A cart stood in the middle of the floor, but it was the young woman that caught my attention. She sat slumped on the edge of the bottom shelf with her head in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Her body posture, her tears, and the Holy Spirit revealed her distress.

I had a decision to make. My body and my mind were already headed for the door and the rest of my day. But the Spirit of God within me had ordained different plans.

A year ago I might not have stopped. I may have simply thrown up a prayer as I passed by. After all – I would have told myself – what could I really offer? This woman wouldn’t want help from a stranger.

But God has been consistently pressing a truth into my heart and mind over the last several months. My whole life belongs to Him – including my time. He has shown me that I need to hold my calendar more loosely than I do. I can make plans, but I need to remember God has every right to intercept them for His purposes (Proverbs 19:21).

The Holy Spirit gently reminded me of this truth that day in Hobby Lobby. The to-do list could wait. Dinner could be a little late. Those things were insignificant compared to a divine appointment.

I approached the woman and slowly squatted beside her. “Is everything okay? You look like you’ve just gotten some bad news.” She glanced up at me and choked back a sob.

“Can I do something to help you?” She only shook her head.

Lord, I’m not sure what to do here. She won’t – or can’t talk with me.

Ask if you can pray for her now.

“Would it be okay if I prayed for you?”

She looked surprised, but nodded. I laid my hand on her arm and prayed for her out loud right there on the candle aisle.

After the “amen” she mumbled a thank you and assured me once again there wasn’t anything else I could do. I paid for my purchases and headed home. I may have checked one less thing off my to-do list that day, but I surrendered the time to God and got to participate in His plans. It doesn’t really matter that I don’t know the outcome.

Lest you think me super-spiritual, I must confess that I don’t always give Him my calendar so freely. In fact, I tend to hold it tightly in my hot little fist. My type A personality likes to plan my day, week, and month and then follow my plan to get everything accomplished. I cringe to think about the many opportunities I’ve missed to participate in what God is doing because I wouldn’t allow Him to interrupt my day.

That’s exactly why God keeps reinforcing the lesson that everything I have is His. I have been bought and paid for with the precious blood of Christ (1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). My soul, my body, my mind – and yes, my time – all belong to God. He has plans and purposes for my life far more important than mine.

I long to be increasingly more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. I want to completely surrender my life – and my calendar – to Him. Lord, keep teaching me…

Throughout the month of April, we’ve been sharing about surrender here at Do Not Depart. Each of us has shared about areas particularly difficult to give up to God’s control. If you are a believer, your life is not your own. It belongs to God. Every part of it. I pray we can all give in to sweet surrender.

What is that one thing you have the most trouble surrendering to God? Why do you think that is?

A Surrendered Life

April 5, 2013 by Kathy Howard 1 Comment

Surrender.

What image does the word conjure up for you? Perhaps you imagine a white flag waving or hands raised high in the air.

We sing about surrender in church, but do we really practice it? What does it even mean to “surrender all?”

The verb “surrender” means “to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.”

I don’t know about you, but I like to be my own boss, make my own decisions, and choose my own way. Giving up control is just plain hard.

Seems silly though doesn’t it? Our God knows everything, has all power, and in reality is in control of everything. “Surrendering” is simply acknowledging and yielding to the authority He already possesses. Besides, He loves me and wants what’s best for me. Oh, so simple. Yet hard to do because of my stubborn, selfish nature.

Through the month of April, we will be exploring what surrender looks like in the day-to-day life of a believer. We want to look at the biblical truth and apply it practically to our lives. Our theme Scripture is Galatians 2:20, a verse God has been pressing into my heart and mind for the last decade.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Surrender. We usually view surrender as something negative. But surrender to Christ is sweet release. Surrender means no more striving or fighting. Just simple submission to God’s best for your life. In surrender you find the satisfaction, fulfillment, and abundance Christ promises.

Will you come out with your hands up in surrender? What is holding you back?

Count Down to Easter with this 21-Day Bible Reading Plan

March 12, 2013 by Kathy Howard 8 Comments

Easter was always God’s Plan A. Jesus coming to earth, dying, and climbing out of the tomb was not the back-up plan after God’s other efforts to save the world fell through.

For you know that is was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you by your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:18-20, NIV

Just imagine the conversation the Trinity had before God created the world:

We know mankind will reject us and choose their way.

Yes, and death will be the result.

But we will provide a way of forgiveness, salvation, and restoration.

We will Ourself provide a perfect sacrifice.

Everything in God’s Word points us to Christ and His provision for us. From Genesis to Revelation we read God’s story of redemption. Everywhere we look we see shadows and pictures of our Redeemer. From God’s covenant with Abraham and Passover to the Tabernacle and the Sacrificial system everything is a picture of Christ’s work.

I invite you to spend the next 21 days immersing yourself in the biblical story of redemption. Download and print the Bible reading plan. The selected readings start in Genesis and continue through Jesus’ ascension. The one-page plan also includes questions for reflection and application. (If you start today, you will read about the resurrection on Easter Sunday, then you will have a couple more days of reading.)

Let’s not wait to Good Friday to start thinking about God’s provision for us through Christ.

What is your favorite picture or shadow of Christ in the Old Testament?

The Picture of Health

February 12, 2013 by Kathy Howard 4 Comments

My first grandchild is almost 11 months old. Watching him grow and change and learn has been amazing and fun.

When Micah and his parents (our daughter and son-in-law) were here for Christmas, he was pulling up on everything and walking around by holding on to the furniture. But that won’t be the end of the growing. Soon, Micah will be standing without assistance and then walking on his own.

Micah’s success with standing and walking would be severely diminished if he was missing a limb. While, the human body is miraculous and can rise to all kinds of physical challenges, we need every single part to optimally function like God intended.

The same is true for the body of Christ. The church needs every part, every member of the body, to function as God intends.

When God saved you, He saved you into His family, into the body of Christ. You are one member joined together with all the other members. God designed us for community. His plan for His children is for us to live out our faith in community and to grow together in unity (Eph 2:19-22).

The church cannot be all God purposes without you and you cannot be all God purposes without the local church. Here are a few quick truths from Scripture:

Every Christian is a member of God’s family.
A believer cannot choose to separate herself from the body. She is a part (1 Cor 12 15).
Each member of the body “belongs” to the other members. Christians have a mutual responsibility to and for each other (Romans 5:4-6).
God gives every Christian spiritual gifts intended to be used for the good of the family (1 Cor 12:7).
Every Christian has a specific place of service in the body (1 Cor 12:27).
It takes every member serving where God placed her for the body to grow properly and become mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).

In Ephesians 4, Paul beautifully describes God’s intent for the church – locally and globally:

¹¹So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV

As individual members each carry out their “God assignment” in the local church, the body grows together in health and unity. As we all continue to serve together, love each other, and encourage and challenge each other, the church will become spiritually mature. Then the church will be steady and strong, resistant to false teaching and battle-ready to defeat Satan’s scheming. And the best part is that the church will reflect Christ to a lost world.

This is God’s design for a healthy, mature church body. Are you doing your part? Have you obeyed God’s call?

What body “part” are you? Where has God placed you in His body?

Giving God His Due

January 15, 2013 by Kathy Howard 5 Comments

I know what’s happening in God’s throne room right now.

Space — Forming galaxy captured by NASA’s Hubble Telescope

And no, I haven’t had been granted a vision of heaven, but the Apostle John got a glimpse and he told us all about it.

God is being worshiped. Continually. Day and night. The citizens of heaven never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:8, 11, NIV

God created us to glorify – or worship – Him (Isaiah 43:7). Worship is our earthly purpose and our eternal destiny. Because we were wired to worship God, we can only find true joy, peace, and contentment when we worship Him. People who “serve and worship created things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25) will never be fully content.

“Worship” is considered a spiritual discipline we can practice to pursue a godly life. Do you purposefully practice worship?

What is worship?

“Worship” is recognizing the greatness and majesty of the one, true God and responding to Him in a way He deserves. It begins with an inward attitude of repentance, submission, reverence, and honor and can be seen in an outward response of obedience and service. Worship can also be physically expressed with actions such as kneeling, laying prostrate, or raising your hands to heaven.

Worship is the proper response to our holy God. Worship focuses all of who we are on all of who God is.

In his book [amazon_link id=”1576830276″ target=”_blank” ]Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life[/amazon_link], Donald Whitney makes this connection between worship and spiritual discipline:

“But is we would be Godly, we must focus on God. Godliness requires disciplined worship.”

How can we foster worship?

If worship is the proper response to who God is – to His holiness, then one of the best ways to foster worship in our own heart and lives to is study the nature of God. Although we can never fully comprehend our unfathomable God, we can grow in our understanding. And as our understanding grows, so will our worship.

If you are serious about growing your understanding of God, I have some reading recommendations for you:

Of course, His own Word, the Bible
[amazon_link id=”0060684127″ target=”_blank” ]The Knowledge of the Holy,[/amazon_link] A.W.Tozer
[amazon_link id=”084992085X” target=”_blank” ]Holiness,[/amazon_link] Henry Blackaby
[amazon_link id=”0842339655″ target=”_blank” ]The Holiness of God,[/amazon_link] R.C. Sproul

How do we practice worship?

God gives us a picture of worship in Isaiah 6. Like John, Isaiah had a vision of God seated on His throne. When Isaiah saw God in all His holiness, he was impacted with the reality of his own sin. Here’s what Isaiah did to respond to God in appropriate worship:

Confession and repentance
Submission to God’s will and ways
Obedient service

Worship is unique among the spiritual disciplines. To properly practice any of the others we should also be engaging in worship. If worship is “focusing on who God is and responding appropriately,” then we should be worshipping when we’re praying, when we’re serving, when we’re reading our Bible, and so forth.

Let’s focus on God and respond to Him with everything He deserves!

What do your outward expressions of worship look like?

Why Bother?

January 8, 2013 by Kathy Howard 6 Comments

Our culture has trained us to expect instant gratification and overwhelming results for minimal effort. Fast food. High speed internet. Movies on demand. “The Easy Button.” We can even “Jump-start” our weight loss. We aren’t used to waiting. We aren’t conditioned for hard work and long-term investment.

So why bother practicing the spiritual disciplines? The disciplines require long-term commitment and hard work – things unfamiliar to us. What in the world would be worth the time, discipline, and self-denial?

Why bother with spiritual disciplines?

Throughout January, here at Do Not Depart, we will be exploring the why of spiritual disciplines. We’ve been told we should, but discussing the why will encourage us to follow Christ in obedience. Today, we’ll look at the disciplines in general. As the month progresses, watch for the why of specific disciplines like prayer, Bible intake, service, and more!

Fulfilling our God-ordained purpose is the overarching reason for practicing the spiritual disciplines. Before God even saved us, He determined that we should be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:28-30). That is God’s ultimate goal for us – to be like Jesus. He wants to refine us, shape our character, mold us like clay in His divine hands.

Only God can cause this spiritual growth and transformation, but He chooses to work through our obedient cooperation. Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7) and commanded the Romans to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). The author of Hebrews warns us to “make every effort… to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

Personal Benefits of Discipline

In addition to Christ-likeness, genuine pursuit of the spiritual disciplines yields other personal and exciting benefits:

Spiritual depth – Our culture today teaches us to be superficial. Even Christians today lean toward shallowness. The spiritual disciplines take us beyond ourselves and the selfishness of our lives and plunge us into spiritual depths previously unknown.
Freedom – Scripture tells us that when we die to self, we also die to the sin that enslaves. Obeying God through commitment to the Disciplines liberates us from the weight of “self” and frees us to serve Him.
Intimacy with God – Through the disciplines we can experience and know God in ways and at levels not otherwise possible. They are the means of relating to God. Like Moses on the Mountain, we will be positioned to meet with God face-to-face.
Joy – We will sense God’s pleasure with our obedience. We will live in the glow of His presence. We will find fulfillment in God’s purpose for us.

Are you ready? The beginning of a new year is a great time to make a new commitment to fulfilling God’s purpose for you!

Has your attitude about spiritual disciplines changed? Share your experience with us today.

10 Meaningful Family Activities for Christmas

December 11, 2012 by Kathy Howard 9 Comments

The real meaning of Christmas can get lost in the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and decorating. These 10 suggestions will help you and your family focus on Christ and also help you share His message with people who need to hear. You’ll have a lot of fun in the process too!

Christmas card prayers – At the dinner table or at bedtime each night, pray for the families you received cards from that day. Use a basket or some other kind of container to hold the cards and keep it on the dinner table or nightstand.
Play the Christmas story – Use a toy nativity set to act out the story of Christmas with your children or grandchildren. I bought a cloth version for my grandson at a craft show. Fisher Price has a really cute one too. Available at Family Christian Store.

Cloth nativity is kid friendly!
Gifts for needy children – Help your children experience the joy of helping others. Connect with a faith-based charity through which you can help provide for children in need at Christmas. Efforts like Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan’s purse and Angel Tree by Prison Fellowship are two good choices!
Hang The Christmas Nail – Years ago someone gave our family “The Christmas Nail.” It’s a six-inch sturdy spike with a red ribbon through a hole in the top. Here’s the short poem that accompanies the nail:

This is the Christmas Nail. It is to be hung on a sturdy branch, a branch near the trunk, a branch that will hold such a spike without being noticed by well-wishers dropping by to admire one’s tinseled tree. The nail is known only to the home that hangs it. Understood only by the heart that knows its significance. It is hung with the thought The Christmas tree but foreshadows the Christ-tree which only He could decorate for us, ornamented with nails as this.

You can purchase your own nail here. I have also made nails – using spikes I purchased at a hardware store and red ribbon – to give to friends and neighbors for their own trees. Make hanging the nail a meaningful event. Gather the family around the tree and decide how the “hanger” will be chosen. For example, it could be the youngest or oldest. Pray and contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

5. Bread of Life for the neighbors – A yummy Christmas gift can double as a message of life. Gather the family in the kitchen and make an event out of baking small loaves of sweet bread. If the family doesn’t enjoy cooking, you can do the baking and then the family can help wrap the loaves and go together to make the deliveries to the neighbors. Wrap the bread in pretty cellophane and add a tag with John 6:35. “Jesus is the bread of life.” I have a recipe for Pumpkin-Cranberry bread that everyone loves. It’s festive and can be doubled or even tripled!

6. Musically spread the Good News – We have at least one caroling group stop by our house every year. However, I’ve noticed the groups sing mostly secular Christmas songs. You and your family can share the real reason for the season with your neighbors. Make caroling a festive party by asking a few Christian friends to join you. Gather at your house first for a quick practice session. Make sure your carols spread the Good News by including songs like “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.” After caroling in your neighborhood, serve hot cocoa and goodies back at your house for the carolers.

7. Birthday party for Jesus – last week, Patti shared about hosting a children’s birthday party for Jesus. Read more about this outreach event.

8. Read the Christmas story – We read the entire Christmas story on Christmas Eve. However, if your children are young, break the story up over several nights. I found two great downloadable resources at FamilyReadingBible.com you should check out. One is a Christmas story reading plan that lists readings from December 13 through Christmas Day. The other is a Bible story reading booklet to print!

9. Watch “The Nativity Story” – The biblical Christmas story comes to life right in your living room when you watch this beautiful movie with the family. Rent it at your neighborhood video store, Netflix, or iTunes, or buy it at Amazon to watch every year!

10. Celebrate the advent – Anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ arrival by adapting traditional advent activities for home. Focus on the Family has some great resources.

I’d love to know how these work for you. Also, feel free to share your suggestions for meaningful activities with us!

Thankful for Fellow Believers

November 13, 2012 by Kathy Howard Leave a Comment

In our 29 years of marriage, we’ve moved seven times with my husband’s job. Probably the hardest thing about each move has been leaving our local church family. However, the greatest thing about each new place is knowing that God already has a church family waiting for us there.

Thankful for God’s Church

This month we are focusing on thanking God for His tremendous blessings in our lives. His church should be near the top of our long list. The apostle Paul constantly thanked God for his fellow believers and left us a good example to follow:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3, NLT
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. Ephesians 1:15-16, NLT
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:3, NLT

Specific Things to Thank God For

God works through local believers to love us in concrete ways. They are His hands ministering to us. Here’s a sampling:

To teach us God’s Word (Romans 15:14)
To comfort us (2 Corinthians 13:11)
To serve us (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10)
To restore us (Galatians 6:1)
To bear our burdens (Galatians 6:2)
To build us up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
To do us good (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
To exhort us (Hebrews 3:13)
To encourage us to do good deeds (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Hebrews 10:24)
To meet our physical needs (James 2:15-17, 1 John 3:17)
To pray for our healing (James 5:16)

I encourage you to use this list as a prayer guide today. As you read through this non-exhaustive list of the way God loves us through His local church, thank God for a specific people and particular ways He has loved you through His church.

I’d love for us to share some specific ways God has blessed you through His people. We can write them as a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

Share the Love – Unshakeable Faith 8

November 5, 2012 by Kathy Howard 6 Comments

This is the last lesson in the Unshakeable Faith Bible study. It has been a privilege to share it with you! The devotional is below. Access the 2-page Quick Study here.

Every Christian belongs to God’s family. When God saves us, He saves us into His family. We can never experience all God has for us apart from a local body of believers. Jesus made it clear to His disciples that God designed the Christian life to be lived in the context of community.

Unshakeable Faith trait eight: Connected to a local church body with love and service

Peter spent roughly three years learning from Jesus how to live in a community of believers. This group traveled together, ate together, and did life together. But Jesus didn’t merely teach about love and service. He set the example.

Read John 15:12-13. What command did Jesus give His disciples – then and now – on the night He was arrested?

How did Jesus ultimately show His love for us?

Our friend Peter learned what love looks like from Jesus. In his first letter, Peter encouraged his readers to also love like Jesus loved.

Read 1 Peter 3:8-9 and 1 Peter 4:8-10. List all the characteristics and behaviors that describe how we Christians should love one another.

Peter used the Greek word agape to describe the kind of love Christians should have for each other. According to the The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “agape love is capable of being commanded because it is not primarily an emotion but a decision of the will leading to action.” Agape loves deeply, unselfishly, with the other’s best interests at heart.

God loves His children through His children. He cares for us, comforts us, provides for us, and encourages us through our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do you know of a need right now in your church family that needs your love in action? List some concrete ways you can show your love.

God’s purpose for your life includes a vital connection to a local church body. He has designed this interdependent relationship to benefit each of us. When trials hit, God will use His body to hold you up and He will use you to encourage someone else. If you are not fully connected to a local church, don’t wait any longer!

Let’s talk! Let’s share today some of the ways God has loved you through the local church.

I’d also love to hear how this study has encouraged you in your faith!

Let ‘er Rip! Unshakeable Faith lesson Seven

October 29, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of Lesson Seven. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Christians around the world are imprisoned, beaten, and even killed because of their faith in Christ. Although the same kind of persecution isn’t prevalent in America, times are changing. Christians have lost favor with popular culture, and the only thing that is not tolerated in our tolerant society is Christianity. How will you respond when persecution hits here at home?

Unshakeable Faith Trait Seven: Prepared to Endure Persecution for the Sake of Christ

Jesus clearly taught Peter and the other apostles they would suffer because they followed Him. Although He warned them to be on guard, He also promised they wouldn’t have to worry about what to say. The Holy Spirit would give them the right words. (See Matthew 10:17-20, Mark 13:9-11.)

Read John 15:18-21. List all the reasons Jesus gives in this passage that explains why the world will persecute His followers.

It is generally accepted that Peter died a martyr’s death under Nero’s persecutions in Rome. But Peter did not let persecution deter him from following Christ. He joyfully endured beatings and imprisonments and continued to spread the Gospel message.

While trials are common to all humans, only Christians will experience persecution because of their faith in Christ. This kind of suffering is a direct result of obedience to God.

Read 1 Peter 3:13-17. List all the instructions Peter gives about how a Christian should prepare for and respond to persecution.

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. Write a summary of the attitudes and actions we should have regarding Christian persecution.

Times are changing quickly. Christians in the United States may well begin to suffer persecution for the name of Christ. Ask God to prepare your heart and mind for the possibility. The Bible promises that when we do suffer we will know Christ more fully and more intimately. Do you desire to know Christ more fully?

Let’s Talk. How do you feel about the possibility of facing persecution? Are you prepared? Are you prepared for persecution?

Spring Cleaning – Unshakeable Faith Lesson Six

October 22, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of Lesson Six. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

When my children misbehaved, they often avoided me to try to keep me from discovering they had disobeyed. There have been seasons when I avoided God for the same reason. I failed to spend time with Him because I didn’t want to “hear about” the attitude or behavior that displeased Him. The result was a lack of fellowship with God and no sense of His presence. Intimacy with God and rebellion can’t coexist.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Six: Pursues Holiness with Eyes Focused on the Father

Peter wrote clearly and passionately about a Christian’s need for holiness. He knew that holiness is necessary for intimacy with God. He heard this truth many times from Jesus Himself.

Read Matthew 5:8 from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. What is a blessing given to the “pure in heart?”

From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus taught the importance of a “clean” life, one free from corrupt desire and sin. Peter used the adjective “holy” to call believers to this kind of life.

Read 1 Peter 1:13-16. Peter’s call to holy living begins with a “therefore” in verse 13. Look back at 1 Peter 1:3-4. What is the wonderful truth that deserves our response of a holy life?

How does Peter describe a holy life in verses 13-14?

I don’t want to be far from God when tough times hit. I want to be close enough to God to feel His strong arms around me. What about you? If there is something in your life that’s gotten between you and your Savior, don’t wait another day without going to Him in repentance.

As we strive to live a holy life that is pleasing to God, our intimacy with Him will deepen. We will understand Him better and more fully sense His presence. We will continue to face trials as long as we live in this earthly body. But if we pursue holiness, we will not fall when adversity strikes. We will be unshakeable!

In what ways can a deeper experience with God and a more intimate understanding of Him bless our life and help us in times of trials?

A Mom’s Testimony to Life by the Spirit

October 19, 2012 by Kathy Howard Leave a Comment

This real-life story is an excerpt from “Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living.” It demonstrates this week’s faith trait: Lives by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. You can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

How does a mom keep going when she knows she could lose her son any moment? Wende’s answer comes without hesitation. “I couldn’t have done this for five minutes without God.”

Ethan was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition when he was just ten years old. Arterio-venous Malformation (AVM), an abnormal formation of blood vessels in the brain, can cause seizures, hemorrhages, and strokes. Larger AVMs, like Ethan’s, results in progressive neurological deterioration. And a ruptured aneurysm is a daily possibility.

Wende smiles when she describes Ethan’s early childhood years. He was in the gifted program at school, could beat his dad at Chess, and loved to write and garden. Ethan was a beautiful and happy child with a contagious grin.

There was no hint of a problem until ten-year old Ethan’s hands started shaking. It took eight months and several doctors before they received the AVM diagnosis. Shortly after that Ethan suffered a stroke.

The stroke left Ethan with some physical challenges but it did not weaken his spirit or his faith in God. He never asked “Why me?” Instead Ethan firmly believed that God wanted to use his illness for a specific purpose.

Wende agrees completely. “I’ve seen God use Ethan to change people’s lives. They’ve caught his joy. He loved people just the way they are. The way he lived taught people not to get caught up in things that don’t really matter.”

But how did Ethan’s mom cope? Wende remembers a specific moment just days after the diagnosis. “I was washed by an overwhelming sense of God’s peace and I felt God whisper, ‘I’ve got this.’ And I believed Him.”

The Holy Spirit continued to pour peace into Wende’s life. “Those moments were a rest from all the things I had to deal with, so I could keep going.”

Wende experienced the Holy Spirit working in other ways as well. Joy when she was grieving. Strength when she felt weak. The constant awareness of God’s presence and love. And the physical support of God’s people.

After nine years of battling AVM, Ethan went home to heaven. Today, the day after Ethan’s memorial service – Wende is choosing to cling to the peace God continues to provide.

A Mighty Wind – Unshakeable Faith Five

October 15, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Like the wind, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can feel His power and see the effects. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells inside you. His powerful presence is a gift from the Father. The Spirit equips and enables us to live the life God has purposed for us. And that includes standing firm through the storms of life.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Five: Living by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit

On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter fell to temptation. He couldn’t stand firm in his own strength. He needed the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come. Ten days after Jesus’ ascension the promise was fulfilled!

Read Acts 2:1-8. How is the Holy Spirit’s arrival described in verses 2-3? How did He demonstrate His power in the believers?

Read Acts 2:14, 36-41. What difference do you see in Peter compared to the night Jesus was arrested?

Before the Holy Spirit came, Peter was willing in spirit, but weak in his flesh. He deserted and denied Jesus. Fifty days later Peter stood in front of a crowd of thousands and boldly proclaimed Jesus. He called the people to repentance. The Holy Spirit had transformed Simon the fisherman into Peter the rock!

Weak Peter learned that the Spirit of Jesus within him was strong. And he did not fail to teach others what he had learned.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. According to verse 3, what has “His divine power” (the Holy Spirit) given us?

When God asks us to serve Him, the Holy Spirit equips us for the task. When God allows trials in our lives, the Spirit gives us the strength to endure. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence and power within us!

Peter recognized that God, through His Spirit, gives believers everything we need to live the life God wants us to live. Whatever our circumstances, physical weaknesses, limited material resources, or emotional needs, God will supply. The Holy Spirit even gives us everything we need to escape our selfish, evil desires and act like Jesus.

In what current life situations do you need a fresh encounter with the Spirit of God? It might be a trial, temptation, or a call to an overwhelming task.