Blog - Do Not Depart

Make a Bible Timeline

November 10, 2011 by Lisa Burgess 11 Comments

“If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folks from digging into the Bible.”
~ James I. Packer

Which comes first?

a. George Washington becomes president
b. Christopher Columbus sets sail from Spain
c. Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation

Put these in order:

a. Moses parts the Red Sea
b. Esther takes a stand for her people
c. Solomon builds the temple

If we can get the first sequence correct with ease (b,a,c), why not the second (a,c,b)?

Know more to love more

And does it matter? Would better knowing the sequence of biblical events help us love God more?

It depends.
Do motives matter?

If you have your child in training to win a Bible Bowl trophy or you want to impress your Sunday School teacher or you’re trying to get an A in a seminary class, bone up on your Bible timeline. It will help you reach those goals, for better or worse.

But if you’re simply (simply?) trying to follow the greatest command (Matthew 22:36-40), then perhaps you also should consider a timeline.

Not to be smarter (1 Corinthians 8:1). But to love more.

Put it in order

Just as knowing the order of U.S. Presidents won’t necessarily make us a better American citizen, so knowing the order of Israel and Judah’s kings may not make us a better citizen in God’s kingdom.

But if the history of God’s people was recorded in the sacred Scriptures to build up our faith in Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15-16), every word God-breathed and valuable, then wouldn’t we benefit by putting it in order?

I admit, when I read through the Old Testament especially, I can lose track of where I am in the big story unless I look at a timeline of events and rulers. So I made a copy of a simple timeline (out of a Bible or reference book), and tucked it in my Bible. Now I pencil in my own cheat notes as I read and can quickly reorient myself from whatever Bible book I’m reading.

I can better see the finger of God writing his story, bringing his people to just the right place in time and space for Jesus to walk among us.

Our church participated in a Walk Thru the Old Testament workshop three years ago. It’s a memorable approach using hand motions (for kids AND adults) to sequence 77 events in the Old Testament. It gives you a great framework to piece together Bible facts. I highly recommend you attending one near you.

Just as the Israelites were told to rehearse their history often, we should too. I made a timeline of biblical dates for my children with important events. They then practiced each day putting the events in order until they (and I!) had them memorized.

Packaged products are readily available as well—as cards, strips, posters, etc. Many not only include biblical history, but incorporate concurrent world history as well.

And why not add in your own family’s spiritual heritage, too?

Then, Now, Later

When we see God’s faithfulness throughout history, we can trust him more in the present, and be more hopeful about our future with him.

While God is not confined by time, he has chosen to work through it.

I want to appreciate that more. Be more wowed by his wisdom. Be more awed by his sovereignty. And if that means following his story more closely, then so be it.

Because the more we know his story, the more we’ll know him.
And the more we know him, the more we’ll love him.
And the more we love him, the more we’ll love others.

His legacy of love marches forward.

Do you have a favorite Bible resource for timelines? Please share!
How has knowing God’s history helped strengthen your faith?

“Son of Man” for “Children of God”

November 9, 2011 by Julie 3 Comments

A name reveals much about who we are; the names of Christ are no different. The Christmas story begins in Genesis 3:15 when God told Satan the offspring of the woman would one day overcome him. At that point, He was nameless to us, except for the “need for seed,” the seed of man.

In giving a unique promise to Abram, Adam’s descendant, God assured him of blessing. By initiating a covenant relationship with Abram, God said that in him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12: 3). It foreshadowed the One seed who would descend from Abram to save the world: Jesus. In chapter 15 God assured childless Abram that his descendants would multiply like stars. The flesh of an animal was cut, providing a wall of blood to pass through as the covenant was sealed. In chapter 17 God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, showing he would be the “father” of many nations. A new name often accompanies a covenant relationship of oneness and reveals a new identity. No longer was Abram simply the father of his own family; he was divinely chosen as father of many nations and ancestor of the One who would fulfill God’s Gen. 3:15 promise. Everyone would be impacted by Father Abraham’s descendant.

baby-jesus-pictures — Son of God became Son of Man

Like Abraham’s name changed when he entered a covenant relationship, so did that of Jesus Son of God. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When Jesus was born, He humbled himself in a way I can not comprehend, but He provided us the benefit of sharing in His glory. He came as the Son of God, the holy One from heaven, the Prince of Peace. Reaching out for a relationship with man meant complete humility for Him, even down to changing His name.

I’m able to take on the name “child of God,” because Jesus took on the name “Son of Man.”

“Son of Man.” Such a human name to bear, if you’re the Son of God. Such an earthly name, when you’re heavenly. Such a low name, when you’re God Most High. Yet when He entered into a covenant love with us, He took on a new name to identify with us in our flesh: Son of Man.

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29).

“But when thefullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of 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 through God” (Gal. 4:4-7).

In the Old Testament, Abrahamreceived a new name, and God promised all of Abraham’s descendants would share in his blessing. The name change revealed identity change! If we are Christ’s, then we’re offspring of Abraham, his heirs.

When Jesus took on the form of a man, His new name revealed a change! As flesh and blood, Jesus put on mankind and became the sacrificial Lamb, so we could put Him on. Our covenant exchange of names provided blessing for us. He took on more than our name; the Lamb of God took on our sins. He also took on the understanding of what it means to be tempted and tried like those who are “but dust.” How comforting to know the Son of Man understands. We can be “children of God,” because Jesus became the “Son of Man.”

Because He is the Son of Man, I am a child of God, heir of righteousness, daughter of the King, son not slave, pure not dirty, forgiven not condemned, and redeemed not guilty. No doubt, the covenant exchange of names works in our favor, but I’m so thankful to the Son of Man through whom all the nations of the world are blessed.

How would you finish this sentence: Because He became the Son of Man, I am ____________ instead of _____________?

Romans 8 on Facebook

November 8, 2011 by Lisa Burgess 3 Comments

If you’re memorizing Romans 8 with us—and you’re on Facebook—here’s one more way to stay connected:

Join our Hiding Romans 8 in My Heart FB group.

You can watch for updates there when new resources are added here at the blog. You can also comment there as much or as little as you’d like. Post pictures; leave tips; share insights (and struggles).

Thanks for your great enthusiasm. May the Lord draw us all closer to Him as we journey through this Spirit-filled chapter.

Jesus in the Old Testament

November 7, 2011 by Stephanie Shott 2 Comments

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:56-58

open torah scroll — Image from Microsoft

As Christmas approaches all too quickly, it’s easy to picture Jesus as that babe in a manger in a little town called Bethlehem. Yet His birth did not define His beginning. He is God. He always has been and He always will be.

Because Jesus is the central interwoven theme throughout the Word of God, it is not surprising to find His presence very vividly presented in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. For the next two weeks we are going to pull back the curtains of the Old Testament accounts of Christ and bask in the glorious ways in which He has chosen to make Himself known to us!

We truly serve a wonderful God who makes Himself known in ways we have yet to discover!

What Old Testament accounts of Christ are you familiar with?

Abiding Fruit :: Patience :: Two Things I’ve Learned About Patience

November 7, 2011 by Do Not Depart 21 Comments

Today’s Abiding Fruit post is by the ever-inspiring Kat of Inspired to Action. I am honored to have her post here at Do Not Depart. Kat literally inspired me (Katie) to action, in that her blog was part of the reason why I started blogging! The Lord is using her in tremendous ways, for His glory!

I know you will enjoy this post!

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Patience. It dangles like a carrot in front of us, always eluding. Isn’t it ironic that we so desperately want to grab at it and make it our own?

I’ve never been the most patience person on the planet, but God has been working on that so much in the last few years. Here are two things I’ve learned about patience.

Patience cannot be grasped, it must be given.

There is a reason it’s called one of the “Fruits of the Spirit.”

Have you ever tried to make a plant grow faster? My kids have. They’ll plant the seeds that fall out of the apples and melons they eat. Then, every. single. day. they “check on it” to see if it’s grown. Sometimes, they just sit there to see if anything changes.

Don’t we do the same with patience? We want to be a more patient mom or wife and when something frustrating happens, we just…try…harder?

But just as plants need time with the sun to grow, so do we. Patience doesn’t come by trying to be more patient. Patience comes by being with Him. It is a fruit and it only grows if well planted and faithfully tended.

Patience is not self control. Patience is confidence that we are not in control.

The story of Hannah (1 Sam. 1:1-18) is such an incredible example of this.

When Penninah constantly provoked her, she didn’t retaliate.

When her husband asked, “Why are you crying?” (Um…Hello..?!) She didn’t berate him.

When Eli accused her of being drunk, she didn’t defend herself.

The only action that Hannah took was to pray. And keep on praying. She didn’t try to control the situation or those around her who didn’t understand. She simply brought her grief before God, offered *everything* she had and entrusted Him for the outcome.

My favorite part of the story is in 1:18 where it says, “…and her face was no longer downcast.”

She didn’t have her son yet.

She laid her pain before the Lord…and left it there. Her circumstances hadn’t changed, but her heart had. She was confident that He is in control and that brought her patience and joy in the midst of waiting.

She went before the Lord to ask for something her heart desperately wanted and she walked away knowing He is everything she needed.

May we do the same…

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Kat blogs at Inspired To Action, a site dedicated to helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat and her husband live in the great state of Texas and have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 2.

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What did you learn from this week’s Abiding Fruit study?

Do you struggle with waiting on the Lord’s timing?

Romans 8 Memory Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

November 5, 2011 by Katie Orr 23 Comments

Wow! What an incredible response to the Hiding Romans 8 in My Heart challenge!

There are over 50 people—and counting—taking up the call to memorize the book of Romans 8 over the next 5 months.

We start on Sunday, and we would LOVE for you to join us! Just leave a comment over here to let us know.

Be sure to check out the new resources page! You’ll want to bookmark this page and check it often, as it is where we will be adding audio, wallpaper for your computer, memory cards, and other memory helps.

If you are still teetering, thinking about join the challenge, please join in! I know that it seems like such a huge task—I feel the fear of failure with you.

Our only hope in accomplishing this huge goal is through His grace as we walk in obedience, as He leads. Let’s cling to the truth that He will enable us to do what He calls us to!

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
(Psalm 119:9-16 ESV)

El Roi–The God Who Sees Me

November 2, 2011 by Sandra Peoples 2 Comments

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.

Hiding His Word {monthly linky}

November 1, 2011 by Katie Orr 3 Comments

Many of us, who have been Hiding His Word together, got to meet this past weekend at The Relevant Conference.

Heather, Christine, Lara, Me, Kristi, Stefanie, Kris, and Heather

What a treasure!

Photo courtesy of Kris

It’s link-up time.

Have you written a post this past month about Scripture memory?

Have an instagram to share?

And, of course you know I LOVE VLOGS! Seeing you all reciting what you have learned…a joy!

So, grab a button, link-up, and do some blog-hopping.

I know you’ll be encouraged!

Jehovah Rohi :: The Lord Is My Shepherd

October 31, 2011 by Teri Lynne Underwood 3 Comments

{First, a sincere apology for posting this a day later than expected. I spent last weekend at a conference and Monday was spent trying to catch up on sleep and laundry and life with the family I missed terribly during my five days away. Thank you for grace!}

When fear regarding the cares of this world sets in, we must remember God’s promise to care for us. ~ Elizabeth George

Do you get afraid? Or lonely? Or intimidated? Or uncertain? Yeah, me too. I find myself wandering through life wondering if I’ll ever be enough, have enough, do enough. Some days I look at all the things I’ve done – from dishes to laundry to car pool to blog posts – and I think, “I’ll have to do every single one of those things again tomorrow.” And I wonder, “Does it matter?” But really, deep inside, I’m really asking God, “Do I matter?”

Maybe you can relate. I imagine at some level we all have known that feeling. We may know in our heads that we have a God who sees us (El Roi) but we feel in our hearts that we remain unseen. We know in our heads that our God provides (Jehovah Jireh) but we look around and feel so very needy. We know in our heads that God is there (Jehovah Shammah) but we still feel so very alone.

The Lord is my shepherd.

Psalm 23:1

These words have brought comfort to mourning families for centuries … but they offer us hope and truth as well. These five words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” come from two Hebrew words: Jehovah Rohi.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and I am known by My own” (John 10:14).

Jesus, our shepherd, is Jehovah Rohi, our Lord.

He feeds us … literally and spiritually.
He leads us … through still waters and through dark valleys … but He is with us each step.
He warns us … by His rod and staff we are guided and disciplined … because we are loved.

Today, will you slow down and read Psalm 23? Cherish the promises of care and protection, provision and love, so freely offered to us. What a great gift we have been given … to know Jehovah Rohi, the Lord is my shepherd.

How have you experienced the feeding, leading, and warning of the Lord in your life?

Hiding Romans 8 in My Heart

October 31, 2011 by Do Not Depart 180 Comments

Do you want to memorize scripture, but just don’t think you can do it?

Do you lack a community which brings encouragement to keep going?

Do you need help with knowing how to get started?

We have just the thing for you!

Hiding Romans 8 in My Heart

This is part of Hiding His Word, a challenge to make scripture a life-long habit. We want to give you tips, tools and encouragement to get you started, and keep you going!

Here Are the Details

Start date: Sunday, November 6th
Finish date: March 31
Pace of 2-3 verses a week, with a 2-week “life happens” buffer.

Week 1 November 6th-12th Romans 8:1-2
Week 2 November 13th-19th Romans 8:3-4
Week 3 November 20th-26th Romans 8:5-6
Week 4 November 27th-December 3rd Romans 8:7-9
Week 5 December 4th-10th Romans 8:10 -11
Week 6 December 11th-17th Romans 8:12-13
Week 7 December 18th-24th Romans 8:14-15
Week 8 December 25th-31st Romans 8:16-17
Week 9 January 1st-7th Romans 8:18-19
Week 10 January 8th-14th Romans 8:20-21
Week 11 January 15th-21st Romans 8:22-23
Week 12 January 22nd-28th Romans 8:24-25
Week 13 January 29th-February 4th Romans 8:26-27
Week 14 February 5th-11th Romans 8:28-29
Week 15 February 12th-18th Romans 8:30-31
Week 16 February 19th-25th Romans 8:32-33
Week 17 February 26th-March 3rd Romans 8:34-35
Week 18 March 4th-10th Romans 8:36-37
Week 19 March 11th-17th Romans 8:38-39

This is only a suggested pace. You can go whatever pace works for you. We will be using the ESV and we will be providing LOADS of resources for you (which are coming soon!)

Anyone can join, just leave a comment to let us know you’re in! If you are on Twitter or Facebook, you can help spread the word about the challenge through a tweet or update like this: