Patti Brown, Author at Do Not Depart

Abiding in Crisis

September 29, 2011 by Patti Brown 22 Comments

Sunday afternoon. We had kissed my husband goodbye after church as he headed off on a trip. Feeling in need of a lift, I told the kids we’d swing by the store for pizza and ice cream, and watch a movie that night.

Our van loaded down with frozen groceries, we headed up piney Highway 21, the road that made me fall in love with our area when we were looking to move from the city. At a stop light, we noticed a large column of smoke.

“Mama, is that near our house?”

“Oh no, no, that is west of us. We live that way,” and I pointed ahead to the right.

We drove on and the road began to curve to the left. How could I have forgotten this part of the road?

We continued to curve, until straight ahead of us, right between the pines towering on left and right, a ferocious column of smoke billowed high in the air. The road was taking us straight toward the fire.

Within a few minutes, we were passing the fire just off the highway to our left. Not much longer and my phone was ringing, “Did you hear about the fire? Dee and Tim just barely got out, they can’t find their way out of the neighborhood. Patti, you need to pack some things right now.”

By the time the children and I left our house, the highway had been closed at our road and there were at least three more fires that had started. You may have heard the outcome of all those fires. Started by sparks and fueled with drought-weary trees and underbrush, those fires, and more, merged to become the tragically large Bastrop Complex wildfire that eventually took two lives, destroyed 1554 homes and scarred 34,000 acres east of Austin, Texas.

My husband turned around as soon as he heard about the fire. Our family was evacuated for four days. There was a time there I was quite sure we would not have a home when we returned. The fire came a mile and a half from our homestead.

I spent day and night on the phone, on the computer, searching for news, searching for people. You don’t know how a crisis will affect you, how you will respond.

For some this would have been a time when routine kept normalcy, but for me, there was no routine. Physically uprooted, with no idea what would come next, with spotty sleep and my phone ringing constantly, I found myself unable to even gauge the time of day.

My early morning quiet time routine was completely disrupted. What might have been a harbor in the storm was not there and I seemed unable to make it so.

But God in His mercy knows us each intimately. And though I would have prescribed a regular, uninterrupted quiet time as just the thing to soothe, He understood His daughter and provided in other ways.

In those difficult days, a steady of whisper of His Word wound through my thoughts. Scriptures that I had memorized came unbidden…

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you’…” Jeremiah 29:11

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” Psalm 23:4

“… all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16

And on the second afternoon, when so many homes were lost, and the maps showed fire right over our homestead, I stood miles away and watched the massive roiling firecloud. I was overcome with awe by the power I was witnessing. “You are holy, holy,” sprung loud from my lips as I stood on a knoll in the trees and sung praises to our Creator.

Snatches of prayer conversation with my heavenly Father wove through the days, and prayers with dear ones flooded me with His peace.

There really is no way to fully prepare for a crisis. You can think you are ready, but there is no way to know how you will respond emotionally.

But a relationship with the Lord, anchored by habits that feed the growth of that relationship, offers shelter from the storm.

For me, orderly bible study, journaling and time-bound prayer were not the safe harbor in these days, though I would have thought they would be. Yet the fruits of scripture memorization, both in word and song, as well as the habit of conversational prayer throughout my day, met my needs in a stormy time. He knew that they would.

And how lovely indeed to be able to snuggle in my spot on the couch and have my quiet time routine, when we returned to our spared homestead!

None of us knows exactly how we will respond when crisis hits. But the habits we develop in our daily lives as children of the King lay a framework on the foundation of our relationship with Him. He will meet all your needs, all the time.

photo by Patti Brown

Abiding in His Word :: Finding the Time

August 25, 2011 by Patti Brown 8 Comments

My nine year old daughter recently asked me, worriedly, “Mama, how can I remember to read my bible every day?”

My daughter is a girl who loves God. She wants to read her bible every day. But sometimes she doesn’t do it. Life distracts her, just as it distracts many of us.

Perhaps you also face this dilemma. After years of struggling to read my bible daily, I realized the simple answer to my daughter’s question. I needed to make it a habit that fit naturally into the routine of my day.

Now you may be thinking “Ah, the early morning quiet time.” And yes, I do mean that, but not exclusively.

Getting up early to pray and read God’s Word is a great joy and blessing. But sometimes an early morning quiet time just isn’t realistic.

Take, for example, the early years of parenting. The sleepless nights. The busy, exhausting days. The nursing babes who wake from a deep sleep within five minutes of mother getting up, no matter the time.

Early morning quiet time may not be viable if you are in this precious season of life with small children.

Or perhaps you have to leave early for work, but the only time you have to spend with your husband is late at night, so your morning time is a blur of getting up and out the door.

You can still read your bible every day.

The key is to have a routine. Think about your day. Is there a consistent time when you can pick up the Word and read? Maybe you do need to get up 15 minutes earlier. But maybe you could read during the kids’ nap time? When you get into bed at night? During lunch?

I read through the entire bible during afternoon nursings one year. No early quiet time for me back then. But I still read the bible!

Think out of the box. You don’t actually have to read the bible yourself, you could listen to it. What about an Audio Bible while you drive or do dishes?

And toss out the I’m-only-a-good-Christian-if-I-read-this-many-pages-a-day guilt trip. I’m going to go out on a limb here… there are no rules! You don’t have to spend an hour reading and an hour praying and an hour studying to be loved by God.

Because the point here is not to fulfill an obligation or check something off your to-do list. Believe the truth… God wants you. YOU! He knows you, knows your life, and He just really wants you to hang out with Him and hear His truth.

How is God going to speak truth into your life if you don’t know what He is saying? God’s Word is for you, personally.

So think about it, pray about it, get creative, and find something that works for you right now. Then stick with it! Make it a habit, like brushing your teeth or hanging up your jacket… something you just always do. Sure, life will change, you’ll have to be flexible, but then you can just get creative again.

It is for freedom that you have been set free… and you are free to enjoy meeting with God in His Word at any time of the day!

Are you struggling to spend time in the Word today?

What creative ways have you found to work the habit of reading God’s Word into your life?

Resisting Temptation :: The Sword of the Spirit

July 28, 2011 by Patti Brown 12 Comments

Photo Credit :: Sherry White

You get up early. You pray, you study, you are inspired.

You know that today, this day, you will do it, you will walk that narrow path.

And then the sun comes up, and the kitchen gets messy with breakfast, the clock keeps ticking, the bills still need to be paid, the people you love are still sinners… and it turns out that so are you.

Perhaps you are more self-controlled or spiritually mature than I am, but I can tell you that my faith is much easier to live in my quiet time than it is to walk out in the messiness of real life.

Daily I find myself tempted to be impatient, to complain, even sometimes to despair.

Temptation was no stranger to Jesus. Early in His earthly ministry He experienced far greater temptation than any of us will ever face.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread along, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning you’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Matthew 4:1-11 nasb

Did you notice how Jesus responded every single time? With the Word of God! Each of Jesus’ answers is a passage from Deuteronomy.

Jesus set the example for us. He knew that the scriptures held all that He needed to respond to temptation.

And note that He didn’t grab a temple scroll and say, “Wait, um, hang on where was that verse, uh…” Jesus knew the scriptures. We too will be better equipped to handle temptation if we have hidden God’s Word in our hearts. It is hard for scriptures to come to mind that aren’t there in our minds to access! And I don’t know about you, but many of my most challenging moments occur when I am nowhere near a bible.

Is there an area in which you find yourself consistently tempted? Focus on memorizing scriptures that address your temptation. If you are in need of ideas for specific scriptures, leave a comment and I will search some out for you. Odds are good I face the same temptation and have already had to find them for myself!

Did you know that God has also provided us with spiritual armor against temptation? Ephesians 6:10-17 outlines the pieces of our God-given armor:

belt of truth
breastplate of righteousness
boots of peace
shield of faith
helmet of salvation
sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

Of all six pieces, the only piece which is offensive (as opposed to defensive) is the sword of the Spirit… God’s Word. We abide in Christ’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation, but we are called to actively use His Word, His sword.

I find it helpful to speak scripture aloud when I am in a difficult moment, even if it is a whisper. There is nothing wrong with extemporaneous prayer, but praying scripture is an especially effective way to pray when you are in crisis.

God’s Word has a power that is inexplicable. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that…

…the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Miraculously, God has granted us free access to this powerful gift!

Phillippians :: Week 10:: Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

July 22, 2011 by Patti Brown 9 Comments

Ever since I was a child I have wondered what it would be like to be a bird, soaring high above the earth. I’ve dreamed of the remarkable view of God’s world I would have, of the freedom to fly at will and unhindered.

But not long ago, I remembered my fear of heights. I was sitting on a mountain top watching a bird flying over a canyon, periodically diving for bugs, and as I imagined myself looking down from the bird’s vantage point, I had that sudden lurch of fear that I get when I peer over railings. For the first time in my life the idea of soaring like a bird sounded unpleasant.

Worry. Fear. Anxiety.

Most of us have struggled with these peace-crushing emotions at one time or another. For some, anxiety is an ongoing, life-sucking burden.

I have grappled with anxiety and fear throughout my life. Even now I find it lurking around the corners at times, waiting to trap me emotionally.

As I have spent time in Philippians 4:1-9 this week, I have been overwhelmed by the richness of the passage. Philippians 4:8 alone is worthy of its own book… a veritable treatise on the thought life.

But my eye and heart keep being drawn back to Philippians 4:6-7…

… do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God’s word is clear. There is nothing, nothing, about which I need be anxious. Do not be anxious about anything.

Instead, in everything (no exceptions!) I am to turn to God in prayer. With a thankful heart, I must offer all my requests and worries to Him. The remarkable promised result is Gods’ peace… the very opposite of anxiety. When I offer every bit of worry and fear to God, I am living the truth that I can trust Him to always have my best interests at heart.

God’s peace is not just a gift for my heart, it is also for my mind. His peace guards my heart and mind. God desires to protect and soothe not only my emotions, but also my thoughts. This is a supernatural peace, found only in Christ Jesus, and not dependent on circumstance.

God created each of us for a unique purpose in His world. Just as He created that soaring, diving bird I watched over the canyon. The bird had no fear, because it was equipped for the very thing it was doing. It was not afraid to fall, because God had given it wings and the knowledge to use them to preserve its life.

Like the bird, I have been equipped, and so have you. The bird was given wings that not only helped it soar to higher heights, but also brought it safely to the ground. You and I have been gifted prayer not only to lift us up, but also to guard and guide us to a safe landing, in peace, through Jesus Christ.

How about you? What truth from this week’s passage grabbed your attention?

photos by Carol Carpenter

When the Prayers Just Won’t Come

June 23, 2011 by Patti Brown 10 Comments

Photo Credit

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

We all have seasons in life… times of peace and calm, and times when the wind blows hard. Sometimes life becomes so stormy it is hard to find the words to pray.

These are times when we turn to other believers to ask for help, for sustenance through prayers lifted up on our behalf. God has also graciously equipped us directly through His Word.

Come to Him… come to His Word… and rest.

Years ago, a wise woman taught me to pray scripture word-for-word. One morning, in a bible study with other young mothers, she asked us to open our bibles to a particular scripture. She told us to pray it aloud together, personalizing it as we went.

Like this ….

For this reason I bow my knees before You Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of Your glory You may grant me to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith—that I, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fullness of You, God.
Ephesians 3:14-19, personalization noted in italics

I was deeply moved by the power of praying scripture. I began to pray longer passages more often in my prayer time. I found it especially helpful in those seasons when life was so heavy that I struggled to pray.

You can personalize most passages of scripture, but if you are at a loss for where to start, open the Psalms. Psalm 42 is a direct prayer to God…

Psalm 42

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.

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

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

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

You need not only pray the Word in troubled times. Any mother of a newborn will attest to the fact that sleep deprivation can sometimes make it challenging to think clearly to pray. Psalm 113 is a joyful prayer of praise…

Psalm 113

Praise you LORD! I a servant of the LORD,
I praise your name LORD!

Blessed be your name LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
your name LORD is to be praised!

LORD (you are) high above all nations,
and your glory above the heavens!
Who is like you LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
You raise the poor from the dust
and lift the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
You give the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise you LORD!

(personalizations italicized)

Praying the scriptures can be beautiful and moving. It is a powerful way to keep us connected to our Heavenly Father when we feel weak. And even when the storms are stilled, praying God’s Word is a blessed spiritual discipline.

Philippians :: Week 2 :: God’s Purpose in Paul’s Imprisonment

May 27, 2011 by Patti Brown 12 Comments

I am thrilled that Katie and Lara chose Philippians for this summer’s Maximize Your Mornings bible study, and I am privileged to be able to share a few thoughts with you here.

It seems to be my year for Philippians. I started meditating and journaling on Philippians in May of 2010. In August, my children and I decided to memorize Philippians. In September our church began a study of Philippians. And now, a year later, I am still reading this little book, and still discovering new gems!

How true it is that…

…the Word of God is living and active…
Hebrews 4:12

God’s Word meets us where we are and reveals fresh truths to us every time!

If you followed along with the study plan, you have read Philippians 1:12-18 many times this week. You have looked for truths about God, Paul and your identity in Christ. You have discovered promises and commands. And you have sought God for how to apply to your own life what you have gleaned from your study of this passage.

In Chains for Christ

We learned last week that Paul was imprisoned while he was writing his letter to the Philippians. This fact is a central point of Philippians 1:12-18.

Paul has been imprisoned because He is preaching the good news about Jesus Christ …

…my imprisonment is for Christ.
Philippians 1:13b

But against all human inclination, Paul speaks of his imprisonment in nothing but positive terms…

…what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
Philippians 1:12b

According to Paul, his imprisonment advanced the gospel not only because it received a lot of publicity (v. 13), but also by causing his brothers in Christ to trust in the Lord more fully, thereby strengthening them to speak the Word of God fearlessly (v. 14).

Sadly, some people used the situation to preach Christ for the wrong reasons (v.17) but Paul was able to see that despite their impure motives, he could still be thankful that the good news was being preached (v. 18).

Paul understood that the gospel was progressing not despite his difficult circumstances, but because of his difficult circumstances. He was not dismayed by how things appeared. Instead, Paul used his spiritual eyes to see God’s good work through his trials.

Did you notice that Paul ends this passage about his imprisonment and others’ selfish behavior by rejoicing? It will come as no surprise that when he was imprisoned in Philippi Paul spent his time singing praise songs!

Friend, are you feeling imprisoned right now? Can you, like Paul, look at your situation with spiritual eyes? Does God want you to allow Him to use your sufferings for His glory to advance the gospel?

God’s Word in Your Life

You have spent time each day studying God’s Word this week. Because His Word is living and active, what has stood out to you will be uniquely applicable to your own life. And just as Paul’s boldness in sharing his faith encouraged his fellow believers, your gleanings will bless us!

I hope you will share with us how God has spoken to your heart through Philippians 1:12-18. What new truths have you discovered? What action is God prompting you to through these verses?

Please leave us your thoughts in the comments… we look forward to hearing from you!

When Scripture Doesn’t Stick :: 10 Tips to Boost Your Memory

May 13, 2011 by Patti Brown 15 Comments

When I was a child I had a crystal-clear memory. My mother tells me she didn’t look forward to playing the memory game Concentration with me because she always lost! But scripture memorization wasn’t part of our family’s or church’s culture in my early years.

I memorized my first scripture when I was twenty-six. My memory was still fairly strong, and only beginning to get a little fuzzy. Then came children, homeschooling, homesteading… many distractions. As the years pass, my mind seems to be filling up, and I am finding it more and more challenging to commit scripture to memory.

Perhaps you are a whiz at scripture memorization. But you may be like me and find that sometimes it just doesn’t stick. Here are ten things to consider if you are struggling with remembering bible verses:

1. Take care of your body!

Sleep deprivation is a sure memory stealer. Are you getting an adequate night’s sleep? If you are in a season of life when sleep is challenging, consider taking a ten minute nap during the day.

Dehydration also impairs brain function and memory. If you notice yourself losing focus easily or having that “in one ear and out the other” feeling, try setting a timer and drinking 8 ounces of water every hour. You might be surprised by how much more clear-headed you feel.

2. Consider the real goal

What is your goal? Is it to be able to say “I memorized the entire book of Numbers”? Or is it to hide God’s Word in your heart?

It is worth taking the time to reflect on this in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you your heart in the matter. This will require humility! He will be sure to help you see if your goal is self-glorification or His glorification.

3. Be sure your plan reflects God’s goal and the circumstances of your life

Once you understand God’s goal for you in hiding His Word in your heart, your motivation will be more clear. Does your scripture memorization plan match God’s goal for you?

You also need to take into account your life and your schedule. What is a realistic plan to implement in view of the other demands of your life?

There certainly might come a time when God calls you to clear something out of your schedule to make time for memorizing scripture. But being in a busy season of life does not prevent you from memorizing. It just impacts your pace.

4. Pray for your mind

Pray that the Lord will help you take captive all distracting thoughts unto the obedience of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Pray that you will have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Pray that He will transform you by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

5. Meditate on the message

Before you start memorizing a new scripture, spend time meditating on its meaning. It is much easier to remember a verse that means something to you than to memorize a string of words.

6. Start a new verse at your best time of day

Are you most alert first thing in the morning, or do you need a while to wake up? There are no rules about when to memorize scripture. Think over your day… at what time of day do you feel most productive? When is your mind at its most focused? This is the ideal time to work on scripture memorization.

7. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Say every new verse out loud at least ten times. You may need to say it more than ten times. Just say it a lot! Like lifting weights, you need to exercise your memory muscle with repetition.

It’s also okay to take more than one day to learn a verse. Just keep repeating it until it you feel comfortable with it.

8. Take into account your learning style

Are you a visual learner? Use a first letter memorization tool. Or print out the scripture and tape it up anywhere you might linger for a moment… in front of the kitchen sink, on your bedroom mirror, etc.

If you are an auditory learner you will probably benefit from listening to the audio version of your scripture repeatedly. Bible Gateway offers many versions of scripture in audio format for free (just click on the little sound button below the name of the verse you have searched for). If you can’t find the version you want, record yourself reading it out loud on your computer or smart phone. Auditory learners will also be receptive to verses set to music. If you can’t find scripture songs for your verses, make up your own tune and sing away!

Kinesthetic learners will enjoy making up hand motions to go along with the verses. While I am not a kinesthetic learner, I have still found it very helpful to use my hands to mime active phrases like “press on” and “lay hold.”

Both visual and kinesthetic learners will benefit from writing the scripture by hand.

9. Review throughout the day

Get in the habit of reviewing scripture throughout the day. You might tie it to another activity, like washing the dishes, folding laundry, or sitting at a stop light.

10. Don’t give up!

Whatever you do, persevere. Run with endurance the race that is set before you! (Hebrews 12:1). If it takes you a whole month to learn one verse, that is one verse more than you knew before you started. With God’s help you can do it!