Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Time Line of Crucifixion Events

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The events leading up to the crucifixion and then resurrection of Christ are fascinating. Recorded in each of the Gospels, these events show the humanness and divinity of our Lord Christ. Read through just some of what happened:

  • And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciplines and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” -Matthew 26:26
  • Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” -Mark 14:32-34
  • Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” -Luke 22:52-53
  • Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here.” -John 18:36
  • Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted God;  let Him deliver Him now if He will Have him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” – Matthew 27:41-43
  • And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. – Mark 15:37
  • Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. -Luke 24:1-3
  • Then, the same day at evening  being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. -John 20:19-20

To help you focus your heart over the next few days, we’ve created an Easter time line, listed the events that changed the world so many years ago. It is simple and plain, so you are able to focus on what’s really important and read the accounts listed in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Click here to print: Easter time line

Don’t miss the opportunity to slow down and let the depth of despair on Friday make the surprise and joy of Sunday even sweeter!  

When Your Faith Community Fails You

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Months after our son was diagnosed with autism, I sat at lunch with two friends and cried about all we were going through. They listened, they prayed for me, and they asked loving questions like, “How is this affecting your marriage? Are you and Lee pulling together or being pushed apart?” My friends were exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it. But, this was only the second time we had been together face-to-face. One lived in Tennessee and one lived in Ohio, far away from our house in Pennsylvania. They had never even met my husband Lee or our sons. Most of the time, they were just avatars on Facebook and Twitter. As thankful as I was for them, I wondered why no one else was praying over me, asking me questions, or just spending time with me as I adjusted to my new life as a special needs mom. These two friends ministered more to me in the hour before I caught my plane to fly back home than I felt our church family was doing. The more I thought about it, the more bitter I became, finally feeling like our church failed us.

A couple years have passed since that day. Now, I can look back with objectivity. But that doesn’t diminish the pain I felt at that time. Nancy Guthrie writes,

“We all know what it’s like to have a burn or a physical injury and discover for the first time how much we use that part of our body. The affected area might have been bumped or brushed up against countless times before it became inflamed, but we never really noticed. Now we’re much more sensitive. We notice every time someone carelessly makes contact with us. We have a heightened sensitivity, and it doesn’t take much to hurt us.

That’s how it is when our hearts have been broken, when our insides have been rubbed raw by difficulty or disappointment or the death of someone we love. We’re far more sensitive to the thoughtless comments and dismissive slights of others. We expect more from everyone around us, and we’re easily annoyed and offended when we don’t get it.”

I was raw. Everything hurt—words people said, words people didn’t say, their reactions, and their inactions. How should we act when we feel like our faith communities have failed us? Here are a few lessons I learned during that time I’m still trying to apply today:

  • Give your faith community grace. No one in our church was intentionally hurting us. Most didn’t know what to say. They didn’t know what might set off my tears. Our church family learned about autism with us. Now, we couldn’t ask for more supportive and encouraging friends. They not only love us, but they have started a special needs ministry to reach out to other families like ours. But it took time. For us and for them.
  • Give yourself grace. Realize how raw you are. Understand you may be hyper-sensitive and will process events differently when you get to a new normal. Find books and blogs by people who have been through what you are experiencing so you know you aren’t alone, even if you feel alone.
  • Give grace to others. Reach out so you don’t fail them. Before our experience, I never knew what to say to a woman who had experienced a miscarriage, so I said nothing. But now, I say something. I say I’m sorry. Then I follow-up a week later and again say I’m sorry and I’m praying. I work hard to get over myself and join with someone else in whatever they are going through. It isn’t comfortable for me, but it’s worth it, so no one else feels like I have failed them.

Life in community isn’t always easy. But grace makes it easier. Give grace to your family community, yourself, and to others who may need it today.

Mentoring: Are You Ready?

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Women investing in younger women—it’s not just a program, it’s a command in Scripture. But why isn’t it happening in so many churches today?

  • First, we are primarily around people our own age and life stage. What Sunday school class or small group do you attend? I would guess most of you are in an age/stage specific class, like a young married class (or a variation like married with children or newlyweds).
  • Second, the “older” women lack confidence. When talking to the “older” women of our church I hear over and over again, “I don’t know enough to mentor!”
  • Third, most women don’t have time for something new added to their to-do lists.

Titus 2:3-5 gives instructions to women in the church. The older women are to “be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” They are to teach the younger women, “what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands.”

As we’ve talked this month about spiritual disciplines, I would like to make the case for mentoring as a spiritual discipline. It’s clearly commanded in Scripture, and we’re even given the curriculum! If you aren’t currently investing in younger women, let’s look at how you can get started.

In [amazon_link id=”1433503131″ target=”_blank” ]Spiritual Mothering[/amazon_link], Susan Hunt writes, “If you are a Christian woman who is seeking to grow in the faith and to live obediently, then you are qualified for spiritual motherhood.”

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing.

Mentoring isn’t another thing on your to-do list. It is very natural. In fact, the primary objective is to be natural. You become friends. The “younger” woman begins to ask questions. The “older” woman finds more and more to share. Naturally, they find themselves covering all the topics Paul lists in Titus 2:3-5.

For example, one Sunday after church, I was talking to a couple who are getting married this summer. I mentioned I had started shopping once every two weeks for groceries instead of every week in an effort to save money. She said, “Oh, I hope I can do that too! I want to plan menus and cook ahead and try new recipes!” From that very natural conversation, I now have the opportunity to mentor her. Next time I’m menu planning, coupon cutting, and grocery shopping, I’ll see if she wants to come over and see what works for me!

Mentoring is just that easy. So, how do you start? Seek out younger women. Pray about opportunities to meet and connect with younger women and God will provide. He wants you to obey the command to “teach younger women …” Is there a newlywed who teaches your son’s Sunday School class and you always have fun talking when you pick him up? Do you know a girl in the college ministry who has the same major you had? Talk to her! Chances are, she wants to get to know you too. Let the relationship develop naturally!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Mentoring is an important part of life as a Christian, and it is how God designed women’s ministry! Are you ready to be a mentor?

If you are interested in the topics covered in Titus 2:3-5, I recommend the following resources:
[amazon_link id=”1885904177″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Becoming a Titus Two Woman[/amazon_link] by Martha Peace
[amazon_link id=”1433503131″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Spiritual Mothering[/amazon_link] by Susan Hunt
[amazon_link id=”1433534142″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Feminine Appeal [/amazon_link]by Carolyn Mahaney
[amazon_link id=”0736918833″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]A Woman after God’s Own Heart[/amazon_link] by Elizabeth George

To strengthen yourself in specific areas, I recommend these resources:
Counseling-
[amazon_link id=”1565076176″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Women Helping Women[/amazon_link] by Fitzpatrick and Cornish
[amazon_link id=”0801064856″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Peacemaker[/amazon_link] books by Ken Sande
[amazon_link id=”0875526004″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]When People Are Big and God Is Small[/amazon_link] by Edward Welch

Spiritual Disciplines and Growth-
[amazon_link id=”0736926828″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]How to Study Your Bible[/amazon_link] by Kay Arthur
[amazon_link id=”1433537915″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Disciplines of a Godly Woman[/amazon_link] by Barbara Hughes
[amazon_link id=”0802495389″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Living by the Book[/amazon_link] by Howard Hendricks

Marriage and Family-
[amazon_link id=”1885904088″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Excellent Wife [/amazon_link]by Martha Peace
[amazon_link id=”0310242827″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Sacred Marriage[/amazon_link] by Gary Thomas
[amazon_link id=”1433520095″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Give Them Grace[/amazon_link] by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

Gifts to Keep Your Kids in the Word

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And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. – Deuteronomy 6:6-7

As parents, sometimes we need a little help teaching our children Scripture. Thankfully, there are resources now that are biblically based and fun! Here are a few of our favorite resources to add to your Christmas shopping list:

  • The Jesus Storybook Bible from Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago is our favorite story Bible. The stories are rich and the illustrations are beautiful. We love this Bible so much, we bought copies for family members and for the preschool classes at our church. (Available at bookstores like LifeWay, and on Amazon.)
  • Seeds Family Worship music sets Scripture to song. We have fun singing, dancing, and memorizing God’s promises all at the same time. More good news? When your order a Seeds CD, you actually get two! They want you to give away one copy to continue to spread the Word. (Available on their website and Amazon.)
  • What’s in the Bible DVDs are a new favorite around here. Phil Vischer (of Veggie Tales fame) has created this new line of DVDs that explore each book of the Bible. So far there’s nine DVDs, Genesis through the prophets, plus a couple extra Christmas-focused videos. They are funny and educational. (Available on their website, at bookstores like LifeWay, and Amazon.)

I’m so thankful for companies who help us follow the instructions in Deuteronomy to teach our children His truths. What are your favorite biblically-based products for kids?

 

*affiliate links present*

Bible Notebook: Sermon Note Sheet for Children

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I sit on the front row of chairs every Sunday listening to my husband/preacher with our son by my side. Most weeks our almost-seven year old is wiggly and just can’t help but loudly whisper, “Is Daddy almost finished?” about five minutes after Daddy has started.

I thought it would be a perfect time to introduce him to the practice of taking notes during sermons. He’s still a little young to outline Daddy’s three points and the application, but he isn’t too young to listen well enough for the Holy Spirit to impress something on his heart from the pages of Scripture.

This listening sheet has room for notes and for a picture so your kids can illustrate what the sermon is about or what they will do to apply what they learned. You could even add their notes to your notebook!

Click here for your free printable: My Sermon Notes.  (perfect to go along with Caroline’s printable for your sermon notes!)

 

Unshakeable Faith: Secure in the God Who Chooses

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Over two years ago, my family decided we were ready to begin the adoption process. We filled out the application with the agency we chose and waited to hear if we were accepted. After a couple weeks, they called with good news and bad news. The good news was we were accepted into the program. The bad news was we had 90 days to raise $15,000. Social services looked at our information and wasn’t sure a pastor and a stay-at-home mom would have enough money to see the adoption process through to the end (over $30,000 total). So they set the bar high, asking us to prove ourselves.

Some might have seen this as God “closing a door.” But we knew God calls all Christians to care for orphans. We knew He put the desire in our hearts to adopt. What would we do with this challenge?

Peter was also in a challenging situation in Luke 5:1-11. Christ seemed to expect the impossible. And Simon Peter didn’t know what to do. “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets'” (vv. 4-5).

In our book, Unshakeable Faith, Kathy writes, “Think of a time when God guided you in a direction that did not seem logical to you. Did you obey? How did God work in this situation?”

As we learned in this lesson, God calls each one of us. God Himself chose you. He brought you first into a relationship with Him, then called you to specific ministries and opportunities. Acts 17:26 says He even determined when and where you would live. He chose the life you are living. The school you attend. The job you have. The husband you love. The children you raise. In all of this choosing, He asks you to trust Him, just as He asked Peter.

Well, we didn’t raise $15,000 in 90 days. Halfway through our 90 day deadline, they called again and said we only had to have $7,000. Because we had been working so hard to raise $15,000 we already had the $7,000 we needed. Like Peter, we were overwhelmed with God’s goodness and faithfulness to our family. We praise Him for choosing us first for salvation, and also for each opportunity He has for us.

What can you praise Him for today? Has He asked you to continue to step out in faith, as He asked Peter to do in Luke 5? Is He asking you to rest in the assurance of His love? Tell us in the comments what you learned from this lesson in our Unshakeable Faith study.

Encouragement from God’s Word for Your Plan B Situation

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Last month, my husband Lee and I celebrated the ten year anniversary of the first day we met. I had driven from Dallas, Texas to Wake Forest, NC to start seminary and teach English at a Christian school. The administrator of the school had given Lee my new address and asked told him to show up and help the new teacher unload her U-Haul. He showed up, and the rest, as they say, is history.

But I would not say everything in our lives from that day ten years ago until now has been perfect. It hasn’t all been easy. We’ve had many “plan B” situations—times when our plan and God’s plan didn’t match. We have a child with autism. We have been in the long process of adoption for over two years now. Our house only has one bathroom. (Just keeping it real. Wouldn’t everyone’s “Plan A” include a house with more than one bathroom?) And even though I wouldn’t have chosen each delay, diagnosis, or drawback, I can honestly say God’s plan for our lives is perfect.

When God’s plan interrupts my life and my plans, I have to turn to Scripture to remember who is really in charge. I need encouragement to face Plan B. Thankfully, His Word is full of Plan B situations, and reassurance for those of us going down different roads than we had planned.

  • One of the first (and one of my favorite) Plan B situations in Scripture is in Genesis, describing the long road Joseph was forced down so he could ultimately save his family and the Hebrew people. In 50:20, Joseph told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
  • The Book of Psalms includes every emotion humans experience. One verse I cling to when the Plan B road looks long and lonely is 126:5, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.”
  • The prophet Isaiah spoke truth to a “deaf and blind” generation who had forgotten God. He spoke words of conviction, but he also spoke words of hope, including 55:8-9, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'”
  • Although Christ Himself was Plan A for our salvation, He knew we would experience times of struggle. He told us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:28-29).
  • And in the letter from James, writing encouragement to the early church and first generation Christians, he tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above . . .” (1:17). If it is from God, we can trust is it good and perfect. Even if it is our Plan B.
Author and pastor Pete Wilson writes, “Your dreams may not be happening, and things aren’t turning out the way you expected, but that doesn’t mean your life is spinning out of control. It just means you’re not in control. It’s in those moments you can learn to trust the only one who has ever had control in the first place,” (Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?).
Whatever Plan B situation you find yourself in today (or tomorrow), know that it’s still God’s Plan A for your life. Trust in that and praise Him for the encouragement you find in His Word.

 

El Roi–The God Who Sees Me

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Have you ever felt like your problems weren’t actually your fault?

  • Someone else made a mistake at work, but you have to fix it.
  • Your husband wanted the new TV, but now you both have more credit card debt.
  • Your son told his teacher a lie, but you have to make it right with her.

Hagar had problems that weren’t her fault. She had obeyed her mistress Sarai and did what she was supposed to do. Now that Hagar was carrying Abram’s child, Sarai turned on her. She fled to the wilderness. The angel of the Lord met there. He told her she would bear a son and name him Ishmael, which means “God hears.”

Hagar responded, “So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me’” (Genesis 16:13).

She called Him El Roi, the God who sees me. She named her son Ishmael, God hears.

Friends, we don’t have a god who is distant, or busy, or hands-off. He sees. He hears. He knows. When you feel you are in the wilderness, when your problems aren’t even your fault, He sees.

I’m the middle child, and as you may know, we are often ignored (I’m sure if you’re the oldest or youngest, you disagree, but all the other middle children know it’s true). In my teenage-angst I often thought, “No one notices me. They don’t even care.” Even as an adult there are times I think, “No one really gets it. They don’t even care.”

Then I remember God sees. He sees everything—the struggles, the triumphs, the lows, the highs. God hears. He hears everything—the cries, the laughter, the whispers.

If you feel invisible, know that you aren’t. Like Hagar, praise God for seeing and hearing you today.

What Bible Study Is Best for My Small Group?

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Every few months the ladies of my Sunday school class have to pick what we’re going to study next. Sometimes it’s hard to choose! Walking into a book store or browsing online can be overwhelming.

How do we choose books and Bible study tools that will encourage our women to grow in godliness? We must evaluate the curriculum based not on the popularity of the author or attractiveness of the cover, but we must evaluate it in light of Scripture.

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When you are looking for Bible or book studies, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is the book biblically based?

There are many books out there that may be helpful to our lives, marriages, families, and ministries. But only Scripture has the power to change lives and encourage growth in godliness. If you are using this book to bring about spiritual growth and true change, it must be biblically based. Scripture must be more important than experience, emotion, and opinion.

2. Is the book consistent with the theology and practices of our church?

It is important that the books you choose reflect and teach the same ideas your church believes.

3. Who is the author and what are his/her sources?

What is his/her education and experience in ministry? Why is he/she qualified to write on this topic? Who endorses the book? What sources are cited? Are they reliable?

4. Will the format of this book work for us?

What tools come with the book? (workbook, leader guides, videos) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the facilitator? Will the tools help or hinder her teaching ability?

5. What are the needs of our group?

Who is the target audience of the book? What are the personalities and dynamics of the group that will be studying the book? While it’s often a good idea to have women in different stages of life to be in a small group together, you want to choose a book that will teach all of them. If the book you have chosen is biblically based, it will help women in all stages.

What have been some of your small group’s favorite Bible studies?

Love Like Him: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

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Have you ever said, or heard someone say, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask God _____”? Or, “I’m going to get in line to ask Mary _____”? I have thought those many times! As clear and direct as Scripture is, it is also mysterious. It requires faith to believe when you can’t have the answers to every question you ask.

Today we are looking at 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. It is about what we can know and what we can’t know. It’s about what’s truly important in our quest for knowledge.

Paul says in this passage,  “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”

We are currently living in a world of “in part knowledge.” We know what Scripture reveals, but Scripture doesn’t reveal everything. God’s inspired, infallible, inerrant Word includes exactly what He wanted us to know, but it doesn’t include everything we want to know.

Have you been around a four-year-old recently? How many questions did you have to answer during your conversation with him/her? It’s a constant stream of who, when, where, why, and how! Like four-year-olds, we have lots of questions.

I think Paul was there at one point in his life. He writes, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” I believe he’s saying something like this, “When I was young in my faith, I tried to figure everything out. I questioned everything. I wanted answers. But now that I’m a man, I rely on my faith instead of my knowledge. I rest in hope instead of strive to figure it all out. And above all, I love.” 

I’m not suggesting you stop asking questions. God gave us His Word so we could study, learn, and grow in knowledge of Him. But don’t focus so much on your questions that you forget what is truly important. Paul says what we know in part, we will eventually know in full. Until that time, he reminds us,  “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

What did you learn from your study of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13? How are you finding that balance between asking questions and resting in faith, hope, and love?

Here I Raise My Ebenezer: Autism Is a Good and Perfect Gift

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“James, do your best worst!” Lee said to our three-year-old son on the morning of November 16, 2010.

We were met in the office and taken to a room where three women who worked for the school system waited—a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, and a psychologist. The therapists immediately got James busy doing puzzles, shooting a ball through a hoop, identifying colors and shapes, and bouncing on a big ball. He received lots of verbal praise and encouragement and seemed to enjoy the attention and activities.

The psychologist sat with Lee and me, asking questions and taking notes. We talked about James’s development (When did he take his first step? When did he say his first word?). We talked about the skills he seemed to have lost (not knowing colors anymore and not greeting Lee when he got home from work). We told her what we had read and what we had learned from Nicole, James’s occupational therapist.

After an hour of testing James and talking to us, the team left the room to discuss their observations. They seemed to be gone a long time. When they returned, the occupational therapist went back to playing with James so we could talk to the psychologist and speech therapist without distractions.

The psychologist talked first about James’s strengths: how cute he was, how much fun they had with him, how easy going and independent he seemed to be. He was able to shoot a ball in the little basketball goal and was easy to motivate with tickling or food treats. He could also name all the letters he saw on a bulletin board. Then she talked about his weakness. He couldn’t use a spoon correctly. He couldn’t name the basic colors or match basic shapes. He did do better when he was stimulated (like after bouncing on a big yoga ball), but even then he was far behind the abilities of typical kids his age.

The psychologist looked nervously at the speech therapist to her left and then back at us. “This is the hard part,” she said. “Based on his testing today and our observations, we believe James has autism.” I immediately relaxed, feeling like a weight had been lifted. We had a diagnosis, now we could make a plan. I assured them we were fine with the “bad news.” I told them I had read enough to expect what we were dealing with.

I asked, “What do we do now?” and they handed me a binder from the local autism support group. They said, “It will take up to six weeks for us to finalize the paper work for this evaluation, then another six weeks before he’s placed in a developmental preschool class.”

We made more small talk and even laughed; I think they were relieved we didn’t break down in tears or lash out in anger like most parents they see. (I didn’t realize at the time that Lee did want to break down in tears and lash out.) As they continued to watch James, they said he would be a lot of fun to work with and they were sure he would make progress in his class.

We said good-bye and drove away. When it was just us, we were able to let the news sink-in. Lee said, “They only saw him for an hour. Are they sure? Can we get another opinion?” But for me, they had been our fourth opinion. Our first opinion was our intuition that something was wrong. The second opinion was from Nicole, his occupational therapist. The third opinion came from the books on autism I read that described James perfectly. The evaluation that day was the final confirmation of what I already knew.

The book of James says, “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (1:17).

It’s easy to see what we would consider as good and perfect gifts coming from God: good health, happy and obedient kids, pretty weather, and extra quality time with our husbands. These are all good gifts. But everything we have or encounter comes from God, so we must also consider the hard things good and perfect gifts.

Because I accept that James’s autism is a good and perfect gift, I can pray, “God, thank you for trusting me with this responsibility. I want to glorify You in everything, including this challenge. I need Your help to not grow resentful, but to see this from Your perspective, as a good and perfect gift.”

All One in Christ Jesus through Our Adoption

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Yesterday we had a speaker from Gospel for Asia at our church, sharing stories of tragedy and triumph from their ministry in India. He repeatedly called us, “brother and sisters.” Here was a man who has spent half his life in India, calling us “brothers and sisters.” And it’s true! As different as our backgrounds and lives are, we are brothers and sisters.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Galatians 3:28,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The family of God exploded at Pentecost. Suddenly, it wasn’t just Jewish free men who were God’s chosen people, it was every person who confessed Jesus as Savoir, no matter their heritage, pedigree, or gender.

Paul goes on in Galatians, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir though God” (4:4-7).

It was Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross that opened the door wide for those of us born two thousand years later to be called sons of God. Not because of anything we have done, but because He loves us. I now have all the rights and privileges of a son. We are heirs of the promises God made to His people throughout Scripture—promises of His love, protection, guidance, and sanctification.

My family is in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. There’s a little boy right now halfway across the world who doesn’t even know that America exists. He doesn’t know there’s a daddy, mommy, and two big brothers waiting for him. But we have been working to get him home for almost two years. One day (pray it’s soon!), we’ll fly over the ocean, sign some papers, fly back, sign some more papers, and he will be ours. He will be my son. He will have two brothers. Our family will be a visible sign of the beautiful truth of Scripture. No matter who we are or where we come from, we are united as brothers and sisters, “for in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith” (Gal. 3:26).

Praise God today that through Christ, we can become part of His family!

Commentaries: Building Your Own Bible Study Library

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Ten years ago when I started seminary, if I wanted to research a Bible passage, I went to the library. There was an entire section on the first floor with row after row of commentaries. I would grab as many as I could carry, find a quiet corner, and get to work on a passage.

But now I live a few hundred miles away from my beloved seminary library. So I’ve started building my own Bible study library. An important part of my personal library is commentaries, which are detailed books about a specific book or section of Scripture. They help you understand the context of the passage, look at the historical events at that time, understand the genre of literature the passage represents, and cross-reference parallel and/or complementary passages.

If you want to start a collection of commentaries, I would start with larger commentaries, like the Women’s Evangelical Commentary for NT and OT. Then, buy specific volumes on books of the Bible you like, often teach from, or want more help understanding. The first two commentaries I bought were Hebrews (from the MacArthur commentary series) and Leviticus (from the New American Commentary set).

There are also free commentary resources:

Do you find Bible commentaries useful? Which books of the Bible would you start with, if building your own Bible study library? 

Top 10 Women in the Bible You May Not Know

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Did you know there are 187 women named in the Bible, and hundreds more mentioned? I am thankful God included so many women’s stories as example to us, both good and bad. Most of us know Eve, Sarah, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the sisters Mary and Martha. Today I want us to look at the lives of women who may not get much attention, but they all served a purpose in God’s plan of redemption.

  1. Lot’s Wife (Gen. 19 & Luke 17:32)-  Lot’s wife had a choice—she could obey the messenger of the Lord and follow her husband to safety out of Sodom and Gomorrah, or she could hang onto her old life of sin and worldly pleasures. Unfortunately, she couldn’t completely turn her back on her old life and was turned into a pillar of salt.
  2. Miriam (Ex. 2:4-10; 15:20-21; Num. 12:1-15; 20:1; Micah 6:4)-  We first meet Miriam when she’s following her baby brother Moses down the river, where their mother had sent him to save his life. Later, Moses and his brother Aaron led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. After crossing the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in singing and dancing to praise the Lord for His deliverance.
  3. Samson’s Mom (Jug. 13)- In the days when Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (Judges 13:1),  a messenger from God visited the wife of Manoah. He told her that she would give birth to a son who would be a Nazarite, he would be set apart for the Lord’s service. She followed the messenger’s instructions and named her son Samson. Even though Samson didn’t always obey God, he is listed as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11. He clearly learned lessons of faith from his obedient mother.
  4. Abigail (1 Sam. 25)-  Abigail was a beautiful, intelligent woman married to Nabal, whose name literally meant “fool.” Nabal insulted David, who wanted retaliation on Nabal and his household. Abigail wisely interceded and saved their lives. David saw Abigail’s beauty and intelligence, and when Nabal died, David married Abigail.
  5. Naaman’s Maidservant(2 Kings 5)- Although she had been captured in Israel and brought to Syria as a house servant, this teenager told her mistress about a prophet in Samaria who she said could heal her master Naaman’s leprosy. She could have withheld this information out of anger, but she did not and showed God’s mercy in this pagan land.

    painting by Paul Rubens- "The Meeting of David and Abigail"
  6. Gomer (Hosea)- Gomer was the unfaithful wife of the prophet Hosea. God used their relationship as a picture of His love for Israel. Hosea’s relentless love redeemed her from a life of harlotry.
  7. Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25, 57-66)- God sent a messenger to Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias, telling him they would give birth to a son, John, who would be great in the sight of the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit even when in Elizabeth’s womb. While still pregnant, Elizabeth’s cousin Mary came to visit, revealing she was also pregnant. Elizabeth immediately knew Mary was the mother of the coming Savior.  Elizabeth was a friend and mentor to Mary during her pregnancy.
  8. Anna (Luke 2:36-38)- Anna had been a widow for decades, and was serving at the temple. She saw the baby Jesus when He was presented at the temple. She praised God and told all those she met about Him. I would consider Anna the first evangelist!
  9. James & John’s Mom (Matt. 20:20-28; 27:56; Mark 10:35-45; 15:40; 16:1)- Also known as Zebedee’s wife, James and John’s mom was proud of her sons for being in Jesus’ inner circle. So proud, she asked Jesus if James and John could sit at His right and left hands in His Kingdom. Jesus used her question to teach His disciples about true greatness. This mom to the Sons of Thunder learned an important lesson from the Son of Man.
  10. Dorcas (Acts 9:36-43)-  Dorcas was a beloved disciple in the town of Joppa, so beloved that when she died, her friends called Peter and showed him the tunics and garments she had made for the widows. Peter prayed for her to raise from the dead, and she did. Dorcas had a servant’s heart, and her legacy was one of love and care for others.
Praise God for the many women He included in the pages of His Word! Who are your favorite women in Scripture?

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