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Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Where is your peace?

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Don’t we all just want a few minutes of peace?

No bickering between the kids. No stress with the husband. No to-do list left undone in a clutter-free house.

So if peace is a fruit of the Spirit, why do I often feel I lose mine? And where did mine go last week when my computer died—the very week I was studying peace?

Shalom

The Jews in the Old Testament called it shalom. They used it as a common greeting (Judges 19:20) and still do today. Deeper than our typical “How are you?” shalom was more a blessing of “May you be prosperous in all things.”

But in the New Testament, peace (eirene) took on even greater depth. (Did you know peace is mentioned in every New Testament book except 1 John?) The apostle Paul coupled it with grace in his greetings—“Grace and peace to you.” And rightly so.

Through grace, we receive the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) from the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). Christ not only left His peace with us (John 14:27), but He is Himself our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

More than a feeling

So when our circumstances turn chaotic and our sons are sent to war and hearts are troubled from broken laptops, don’t look for your peace there. Our peace was never meant to rest in those things anyway.

Because our peace—peace the world can’t give—is more than a feeling.
It’s a person.

And in the person of Jesus Christ, our deepest peace can’t be disturbed (John 16:33). It’s secure. If we’ve come into relationship with Him, we have a wellness in our soul beyond our understanding, even when our outside is stressed.

Peace in the presence

God’s peace is above our intellect—don’t try to figure it out (Philippians 4:7). You won’t succeed.

But you can trust that it’s there. That He is there.

Because peace isn’t the absence of trouble.
Peace is the presence of God.

Even when the dog is barking and the car is overheating and the laptop is dying, God’s peace runs deeper still.

Trust Him to guard it for you. So you can worry less; worship more. Think on good things, not on figuring things out.

God’s got you covered.
He’ll keep giving you grace.
And He’ll always be your peace.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2

What did you glean from studying peace last week?
Please share any insights from Philippians 4:4-9.
How do you see the fruit of peace in your life?

Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts

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Have you ever wished you could just call on someone who would not only fight your battles but calm your fearful and frazzled heart too? Have you ever wanted to just throw your hands up in the air, give up and let someone else take care of things?

Well, you can! His name is Jehovah Sabaoth.

Today, we have the privilege of shedding some light on a name many are not very familiar with. His name is Jehovah Sabaoth and as we peel back the layers of that magnificent name, we will once again be reminded that the God we serve is so much greater than our finite minds can comprehend!

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) is mentioned over 270 times making it the most frequently used compound name of God in Scripture. This profound name means the Almighty, Sovereign, Self-Existent God over all the multitudes (whether an army, the sun, moon and stars, or creation itself).

First mentioned in 1 Samuel 1:3, we find Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, making annual trips to the temple to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts. Just a few short verses later we find a barren and heartbroken Hannah making a covenant with the LORD of Hosts as she cried out for Him to hear her prayer and give her a child. (1 Samuel 1:11)

Hannah may have longed for her womb as well as her arms to be filled with a sweet little bundle of joy, but the previous verses (1 Samuel 1:6-7) give us a better idea of why she prayed such a desperate prayer. She not only wanted to experience the joy of being a mother but she also wanted to be able to silence the persistent mocking of Peninnah. So she called on the LORD of Hosts to win a war she could not win on her own.

In 1 Samuel 17:45, we find just prior to pegging Goliath with a pebble, David boldly proclaimed, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

And in 2 Samuel 5:10, we find – “And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.”

  • In Psalm 24:10, The LORD of Hosts is the King of glory and in Psalm 46:7 He is our Fortress.
  • In Psalm 59:5, He is called upon to vindicate His people.
  • In Isaiah 51:15 we see He controls the sea and the waves.
  • In Isaiah 54:5 He is our husband and in Zechariah 4:6, He declares that He alone wins our battles when He tells Zerubbabel, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”
  • And in Isaiah’s life-altering, mouth-shutting vision of the Lord, he heard the Seraphim speaking to one another, crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

Throughout Scripture we find this LORD of Hosts as our ever present defender, the Sovereign and Holy God over all the universe who sees us, loves us and moves mountains on our behalf. He fights our battles, wins our wars and is the refuge we can run to in time of need. He is Jehovah-Sabaoth!

There is nothing He cannot do, nothing He does not know, nothing He cannot control, no enemy He cannot defeat, no heart He can not heal, no mouth He can not shut, no miracle He cannot perform. And how beautiful to know He longs to work in our lives and on our behalf as the LORD of Hosts!

What battle have you been trying to fight on your own? Like Hannah, will you call upon the LORD of Hosts to do what only He can do and vindicate you in the process? How does knowing that God is the LORD of Hosts help you in your circumstances?

 

 

 

Empathy and Compassion {Guest Post}

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Water Droplets on Lily

What feelings or connotations do the words “empathy” and “compassion” evoke for you?

Empathy and compassion are both good and used with intentions of goodness and aid. Some people may even use these words interchangeably.

But, are they the same?

Empathy is identification with a feeling someone else is experiencing. When a friend experiences grief, we can understand perhaps because of our own experiences with loss. We hear of a child suffering from poverty, and we empathize with him or her, the family, and others impacted because we can imagine our own children hurting or have a strong desire to see all children cared for.

Compassion involves sympathy and empathy. Compassion and empathy both create feelings of identification and evoke a desire to treat another well.

The biggest difference? Compassion acts.

Empathy may lead to compassion (so empathy is no less important). Compassion takes empathy further by acting on those deep feelings of sorrow for another, for compassion is “accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate [that person’s] suffering” (paraphrased from Dictionary.com).

That desire to ease another person’s suffering causes action. Action out of love, action with the purpose of helping another, rather than self-satisfying purposes of boosted ego for “doing good.”

Is it any wonder God calls us to act with compassion?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” – 1 Peter 3:8

Compassionate feeling and action do not just fall into place, though. Where can we obtain compassion to abundantly spread it to others? How does it look as a follower of Christ?

Compassion comes from God (of course):

God commands acting compassionately towards others only after first loving Him:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’” – Mark 12:30-31

It is through God that we can fully love with compassion. We can ask for compassion from Him (Psalm 51:1 and Psalm 90:13).

Christ, always our Ultimate Example, models compassion:

How can we compassionately serve others? We can bake, cook, clean, comfort, encourage, care for, teach. We all have different God-given strengths to shower love on friends and strangers alike!

This others-focused action leads to unity among believers and God’s beloved people (Philippians 2:1-4). Loved people who clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness because we – you and me – are so loved.

Is there ever a situation when we cannot act? Sometimes we aren’t able to cook a meal, help with childcare, or halt a disease. But, we can always pray. We can lift each other up, focusing on God’s heart and His will, while requesting and praising for His help, His mercy, and His goodness.

 

How do you act with the compassion God gifts to us?


Caroline is a wife, mother of a beautiful and charming toddler son, avid reader, and writer. She writes about family, books, and living this grace-given faith authentically at her personal blog (Under God’s Mighty Hand) and can be found on Twitter.

 

 

Photo Credit

Adonai – The Lord of lords

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This time last week I was walking the streets of Paris. I had the wonderful opportunity for a two-day layover on my way home from teaching for two weeks in Moldova. My traveling companion and I visited many of the well-known sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre.

Statue of Napoleon inside the Hotel de Invalides in Paris

The long, rich history of this beautiful city probably struck me more than anything else. For more than 4,000 years earthly leaders have fought over this geographic area. Powerful rulers like Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon Bonaparte have laid claim to the city on the Seine. Because they had power and authority over Paris, they could be considered “lord” over the city.

Many people in the Bible were also called “lord.” This title of respect was used by Sarah to refer to her husband Abraham and by David to refer to King Saul. The Hebrew word translated as “lord” in the Old Testament is the singular noun “adon.” Adon is used hundreds of times to refer to a human in a position of leadership. It means “lord, master, owner, ruler, commander, or one with a position of authority.” It signifies the relationship between the authority and those under the lord’s authority.

But no matter how great these earthly lords, there is One greater. Our God is Lord of lords and King of kings. The Hebrew word translated as “Lord” (with a capital “L” rather than a lower case “l”) in the Old Testament is “adonay” or “Adonai.” It is a plural noun with a first person singular suffix. Adonai, the plural form of adon, denotes intensity. God is not simply a lord. He is the Lord of lords. Napoleon may have been lord of Paris, but God is the Lord of everything.

Psalm 136:3 shows this distinction:

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.

When you read the Bible, watch for “Lord” with the capital “L” as opposed to “lord” with the lowercase “l.” That is Adonai. Very early in the history of Israel, devout Jews began to use Adonai as a substitute for God’s covenant name Yahweh. Since “Yahweh” was too holy to be spoken, they would say Adonai instead. (For more information on Yahweh, see an earlier post.) In Scripture, these two names are sometimes used together. In the verse below “LORD” in all caps is Yahweh in the Hebrews. “Lord” is Adonai.

For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Psalm 135:5

How should the truth that God is “Lord” impact us today? Remember that “Lord” describes the nature of a relationship. If God is Lord then I we are His vassals. If God is Master, then we are His servants. The Psalms tell us our Lord acts with everlasting kindness (136:3) and that is understanding is infinite (147:5). Our God is not a lord that merely subdues. He is the Lord that rules in all power, authority, and love.

Let’s express our devotion today to the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Share your words of praise!

 

Abiding Fruit :: Psalm 16 :: Experiencing the Fullness of Joy

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photo by John Taylor

Of all the authors in the bible, David is my go-to guy when I am feeling down.  David had a remarkable way of pouring out his sorrow to the Lord eloquently.  He wasn’t afraid to be real.

What appeals to me about David’s writings is that no matter how miserable he was, no matter how hopeless and desperate it all seemed, he always ended up praising God. David knew where he stood with the Lord.

While certainly not one of his darker psalms, in Psalm 16 David still implies that not everything is ideal. He is in need of protection (v. 1, 8, 9), surrounded by idol worshipers (v. 4), and perhaps even has insomnia (v. 7)! But his focus is not on these things.

David affirms that all the good he has is in the Lord (v. 2), that he delights in fellow believers (v. 3), that God is his refuge (v. 1) and his counselor (v. 7), the giver of knowledge (v. 11), and much more.  The Lord is David’s inheritance (v. 5-6). He even foreshadows the coming Savior (v. 8-10).

In the final verse of Psalm 16, David proclaims to God:

… in your presence there is fullness of joy …

As we continue to explore the fruits of the spirit together, this week we have turned our attention to joy. If asked to define joy, I think most people would equate joy with happiness. But I believe that there is a profound distinction between human happiness, and joy that is a fruit of abiding in Christ.

Unlike happiness, joy is not dependent upon circumstance. David was able to find joy in the Lord even in the midst of his many trials. So was Paul:

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  – Philippians 4:12-13

A few weeks ago we studied John 15:1-11 as we explored the benefits of abiding.   Jesus taught the disciples that the way to abide in Him is to keep His commandments. The result?

... that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. – John 15:11b

As I looked at John 15:11 alongside these verses…

… in your presence there is fullness of joy … – Psalm 116:11

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13

… I began to contemplate what it means to have fullness of joy. A little word study helped me flesh out the meaning of this phrase.

The Hebrew word used in Psalm 16:11 is soba.  Soba means to be filled, to be satisfied, often with abundance. Along with the word it is derived from (saba), it is mostly used elsewhere in the Old Testament to refer to a full stomach.

The Greek word used both in John 15:11 and Romans 15:13 is pleroo. Pleroo taken literally means to fill up. It is used in Matthew 13:48 to talk about filling a net full of fish, and in Luke 3:5 when quoting Isaiah saying “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low…”

The images of an empty stomach, an empty net, an empty valley… all made me think of that emptiness we each have within.

Blaise Pascal, mathematician and philosopher (1623-1662), wrote this in his Pensées:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.

When I choose to abide in Christ by keeping His commandments through living a life of loving, He fills that empty place with His joy. Fills it until I am satisfied. Fills it abundantly!

Can you relate to the idea of a God-sized hole within?
Have you experienced being filled with the joy of the Lord even in difficult circumstances?
What did you learn in your study of joy this week?

Climb out of the wine press! ~ Jehovah-shalom

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He was the least important child in the least important family of his tribe, in a nation oppressed for seven long years. Watched by the angel of the Lord from beneath a tree, Gideon threshed wheat in hiding, where the Midianites wouldn’t find him or his precious grain. He believed God had forsaken them, despite their unfaithfulness to Him. When the Angel approached Gideon to declare God was with him, Gideon spoke the honest, desperate words of a man whose daily life had worn deep ruts in suffering’s path. “Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us …?” (Judges 6:13a).

 

Tired of being beaten down from his start on the lowest of places, Gideon asked what the honest among us will admit to wondering, “If God is with us, why is life so hard?”

 

VisualBibleAlive.com

 

Last week I created a spiritual life map of my journey with God. Some of my greatest discoveries about who God is came in my darkest places. I noticed that “valleys” were often followed by strength and advance. Gideon was in a low place when the angel of the Lord came and patiently answered his honest question. It wasn’t until the weary Israelite realized, “I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face” (v.22) that his desperation turned to fear. As if things weren’t bad enough, Gideon went from fragile to freaked out. Can you relate?

The Lord answered him where he was:      “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.”    (v.23)

The only thing worse than being insignificant and insecure in the face of a marauding enemy is understanding how insignificant you are in the face of a holy God. Realizing he was part of a divine encounter with the God who had NOT forsaken him, Gideon built an altar of worship and named it for the discovery of his darkest moment: Jehovah-shalom.  The Lord is peace. (Judges 6:11-24)

 

When we’re under attack, uncertain, in need, and painfully aware of our weakness, the world only offers illusions of temporary feelings suggesting peace. Jehovah-shalom IS peace, so He can promise, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

 

Gideon couldn’t conceive of what happened in the wine press that day, stunned as he served meat and unleavened bread to the angel of the Lord. The peace he found “passed understanding;” he encountered true peace in the midst of hardship. He discovered what God offers each one of us reading now:  real peace.

“… 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”   (Phil. 4:6-7).

 Yes, it surpasses understanding, but it can guard our hearts and our discouraged thoughts when we find ourselves in the wine press, hiding from our hardships and fighting fear. We can know the peace of Jehovah-shalom. We are meant to know the peace of Jehovah-shalom.

Let’s climb out of the wine press and get down on our knees, so He can cover us in peace that’s out of this world!

Hiding His Word :: We Need Your Help!

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We’re excited to announce the next Hiding His Word challenge! Are you ready for it?!

Drum roll, please……

I am excited for this scripture memory challenge. There are many essential truths found in these 39 verses. Truths that I need engrained into my mind.

There are more details to come, but we have some fun ways YOU can be involved in the behind the scenes work of this challenge.

Audio Recordings

We want to offer recordings of the verses, but instead of them all being in my boring voice, I would love to hear your beautiful voices instead!

Would any of you be willing to record yourself reading a section of Romans 8? It doesn’t need to be anything special or dramatic, just you reading scripture! I will compile the recordings and make them available here at Do Not Depart for anyone who wants to take up the challenge.

UPDATE: We have the recordings set!  Thank you!!

Computer Wallpaper

Having the verses available around the house is a great help in your memorization efforts. Many of you are super creative with things like this. Would anyone be interested in making up some pretty screen savers for us to use? It can be a photograph you have taken, with the verses added to it, or just the words creatively displayed.

Verse and “First Letter” Cards

Being able to review throughout the day is essential, and the first letter memory tool is extremely effective. I thought it would be fun to have some cute cards made up. Something simple and small that can be hung up in key places around the house.

Anything Else?

Do you have any ideas for other ways we can resource you in scripture memory? Leave us a comment, and let us know!

You can email us, or leave a comment if you are interested in helping out with this challenge.

We are looking forward to all you are going to come up with!

Jehovah-Shammah “The Lord Is There”

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We love the names of God because they are the promises of God. As we’ve seen this week, He is Jehovah Rophe, He heals–it is His name! He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, He is our righteousness–it is His name! His names equal His promises. One of the promises of God I cling to most often is represented by His name Jehovah-Shammah, “The Lord Is There.”

  • In the hospital room, He is there.
  • Lifting up your voice in praise, He is there.
  • When your heart is breaking, He is there.
  • Opening your Bible and reading the Word, He is there.
  • At the funeral, He is there.
  • Laughing with friends, He is there.
  • Waiting for the test results, He is there.
  • When your daughter walks away, He is there.
  • Holding your husband’s hand, He is there.

“The Lord Is There” brings me comfort as I pray for the son we are adopting all the way in Ethiopia. Even though I can’t be there, The Lord Is There. What more could I want? The Father to the fatherless is with my son. He is there!

Psalm 46 describes The Lord Who Is There. He is our refuge and strength (v. 1). The Lord of Hosts is with us (vv. 7 and 11). And a verse most of us are familiar with, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The promise is also spoken by Jesus in the New Testament, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Where ever you are today, know that God is there. Where your husband is, God is there. Where your children are, God is there. God is there, across miles and even across years. Praise Him for being Jehovah-Shammah.

Jehovah Rophe: The LORD Heals

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When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.  And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there He tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”

Exodus 15:23-26

Bitter water.  Doesn’t sound appealing at all, does it?

The Israelites had been freed from the bondage of slavery and now they were faced with bitter water.   Does your life ever feel that way?  One huge situation is finally resolved and then comes another … it can leave us overwhelmed and broken.

Elizabeth George writes:

What an object lesson this encounter with Jehovah-Rophe, the Lord who heals, must have been for the Israelites (and for us)!  God’s people were dying of thirst with only bitter, poisonous water on hand.  And God took their physical need and turned it into a spiritual issue.  Out of a bitter experience God revealed Himself in yet another sweet, comforting way, as “Jehovah heals.”

Jehovah Rophe, the LORD heals.   What a precious truth … and promise.

God’s healing is not just physical.   He also reaches down offers total healing … in all areas of our lives.

Consider these three ways God heals and examples of women in Scripture who were the recipients of His total healing.

1.  Physical Healing.    Remember the woman with the issue of blood?  Her story is told in Matthew 9.   She had been sick for years and used every bit of money she had to seek healing.   When Jesus passed by, she reached out and touched the hem of His garment.   I love this story!   She was healed immediately and completely!   Why?   Jesus said, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.”  (Matthew 9:22)     I am so thankful for a God who heals us physically.

2.  Emotional Healing.   Hannah.  The broken woman longing for a child, praying so fervently that the priest thought she was drunk.   Can you imagine her brokenness?    God heard the heart-felt prayers of a wounded woman.    And He answered them.  I think though the most beautiful part of this story is the change we see in Hannah … from a woman desperate to have a child to a woman willing to give her son back to the God who gave him to her.   That, my friends, is the power of God to heal us emotionally.   {You can read Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1 – 2.}

3.  Spiritual Healing.   The most profound healing God ever does in any of our lives is spiritual.  That moment when He moves us from death into life, when we become new creations, the old gone and the new in its place (2 Corinthians 5:17).   Mary Magdalene’s story is such a beautiful example of that total renewal, total healing.   From a woman possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2) to the woman who first saw Christ after His resurrection (John 20:15) … Mary Magdalene offers us a poignant and powerful image of the full spiritual healing offered to each of us by Jehovah Rophe.

Are you in need of healing?   Are there some bitter waters in your life?  Will you call upon the God who heals and trust Him to mend the brokenness?

Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.   Psalm 147:1,3

Today, right now, Jehovah Rophe is offering you the gift of healing.   Will you embrace it?  And praise Him for this amazing gift?

~~~~~~~~~
The quote above is from this book by Elizabeth George. I highly recommend it for either personal study or for a group.

Three Necessary Actions to Knowing God

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Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3



To know Him — truly know Him — means He affects my moments. It means my view changes and my response softens when dinner is late, stuff spills, and kids need me. When I can’t touch peace as easy or my feelings flare, to know Him means I press into Him — the Source of peace. And then I change.




Three basic things have to happen in order for me to know Him. These aren’t the only things, but they are necessary for me to say I actively know God:


  1. I observe Him — I pause and glean from His Word. I watch Him through the pages of Scripture. I note how He moves and learn what He expects from me as His child. I observe Him.


  2. I reflect upon Him — I think about what I’ve observed. I meditate upon His ways and His words. I hold myself up to His Word and honestly evaluate my own heart. I linger, reflecting upon Him.


  3. I experience Him — It’s His day — His plan. So I commune with Him. I submit to Him. I believe Him to fill me full of His Spirit. Then I listen to His promptings and ask Him to strengthen me towards obedience.


I often get distracted. I stand in the middle of my kitchen with water boiling in the background, the table covered in craft project leftovers, and I react. I overreact. Yet He graciously whispers, “Know Me. Know Me.” So I stop, close my eyes, and think upon the God I observed that morning. I commune with Him. I know Him. And He changes me.



How do you personally know God? What do you do to know Him?


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