Blog - Do Not Depart

Deeper Still— With Jesus

February 19, 2019 by Cheli Sigler 2 Comments

The shallows of the Sea of Galilee made for unsuccessful fishing, so Jesus instructed His disciples, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4, NIV). In the same way, Jesus always leads me to deeper knowledge, deeper commitment, deeper faith— deeper water.

Know the Son; Know the Father

In the first chapter of the Book of John, the Gospel writer proclaims:

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:18, NIV)

In order to know God well I need Jesus to guide me. He discloses God’s heart to me. Each attribute of God presents a deep theological truth with radical and practical implications. As my faith matures, I want this practical theology to envelop my life.

Follow the Son; Experience the Father

Jesus asks me to follow Him into deep places, so I can experience God’s active engagement and presence. God wants to go deep and rid me of my sin. The closer I follow Jesus, the more sin I see. My frailty and brokenness in the light of God’s holiness and forgiveness compels me to repent and hastens my maturity in Christ (1 John 1:9).

Also necessary for spiritual maturity is practice. As an athlete must undergo conditioning to get to the next level in a sport, practicing spiritual disciplines (prayer, worship, Bible reading/study, fasting, etc.) gets me ready to plumb the depths of my faith. I follow Jesus’ model of these disciplines, and discover more about God.

Even as spiritual disciplines help me follow Jesus, I see greater growth when I am faced with difficult circumstances. Trials and hardships force me to trust God and yield control to Him. As I mature in Christ, I start to uncover the meaning of these verses:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Because I know Jesus, I trust God will meet me, support me, and work His will in me no matter the trials that come. I know this deep place isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s for those who believe.

Bear Witness to the Son; Make Known the Father

As Jesus takes me out to deep water, I am asked to bear witness to His light and love as I encounter and engage the world. Jesus said, “. . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. . .” (John 14:9, NIV) In order for others to see God, they first have to see Jesus in me. As I mature in Christ, living like Him takes on new challenges. I am working to love the unlovely (the people who get “under my skin” or goad me), give sacrificially, forgive when it’s difficult, and obey when the cost is high.

Furthermore, when I have the attitude and posture of a servant, people see the God who serves:

. . . he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:7)

As I mature in Christ, I look to serve by creating more critical conversations— listening more and talking less, so the world knows God listens. So, the world knows God does not have tribes, I am developing friendships outside my Christian circles. I seek to love people the way Jesus would, so the world knows God is compassionate.

It is my prayer that you will “put out into deep water” as you seek to know God, experience God and make Him known. I leave you with this prayer from Ephesians 3:17-19:

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. (MSG)

Community Conversation

What does “going deep” with Jesus look like to you? In what ways does it deepen your understanding of God and life application?

Who Is Your Grace Friend? {Memorize Philippians 1:7}

February 18, 2019 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

None of us have to walk alone. God’s good news passes around from you to me, and from me to you.

Imprisoned

One of my lifelong friends is in ICU. He’s been there for weeks. Complications from a heart surgery has him tethered to a hospital bed by tubes and lines and machines.

His body is imprisoned there. His wife’s heart is captive there, too. None of us knows the outcome yet.

How does the good news help them now? Where’s the grace?

Memorize This Week

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
Philippians 1:7

[click to download the verse image]

Grace Friends

Hardships can blackmail our joy. Impediments—whether physical, emotional, or mental—can try to freeze our blessings. Pains can threaten to isolate us from fellow believers when we need them most.

Except . . .

God doesn’t leave us alone. While He is always with us Himself, He also created human companionship for us. It’s one of the Father’s gifts to His kids—each other.

Whether in good times or bad, we don’t walk alone. The apostle Paul experienced that firsthand. Even while he was physically in prison, he wrote to his companions in Philippi of joy and peace and grace. Not only had they physically helped him in times past, but even the memories about them were helping him in the present.

When times get rough, we dig up the good news for each other again and again. We find grace. We share the grace we discover. And we accept the grace that others give to us.

We need other people in our lives, and other people need us in theirs.

When we partake of grace together, we hold each other in our hearts. You are in mine; I am in yours. We all are in God’s.

We get fresh glimpses of God’s goodness when we can see Him through the eyes of each other.

My friend’s physical outcome remains shaky. Every morning we’re encouraged to discover he’s still with us.

But drawing on last week’s memory verse (Philippians 1:6), I am sure of this: whether here on earth or there in heaven, God will complete the good work He’s begun in my friend. And in his many friends as they hold him in their hearts. We’re in it together. We are grace friends.

It is right for us to feel this way.

Who is your grace friend? Let grace go around and around. #Philippians1 #HideHisWord

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The Theology of One – When You Can’t Help All, Help One

February 14, 2019 by Lisa Burgess 29 Comments

“The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.”
Psalm 145:9

He uses the name Brian because he says his Vietnamese name is too hard to pronounce.

He was allowed into the U.S. a few months ago, after years of paperwork, interviews, and waiting. As an only child, Brian is here to take care of his aging mother.

I met Brian two months ago. He speaks some English. But he says he needs to speak it much better if he is going to succeed here.

Brian is assigned to me, one of the volunteer teachers for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. I’m tasked to help him learn the language I speak, but does that mean I can adequately teach it?

The Big Things

One of the big issues we’re all confronted with is immigration. Wherever we live, it affects us in varying ways. Americans will be watching on Friday to see how the government responds to the next budget deadline over immigration.

But whether we’re the native or the immigrant, national concerns like these can feel overwhelming.

If you’re like me, you may think like this about large issues:

The problem is too big. And I am too small. If I can’t make a big difference—and I can’t—why make an effort at all?

But is that godly thinking?

Practical Theology

This month at Do Not Depart, we are taking a closer look at our theology. What we think about God matters. It affects what we think about ourselves, what we think about others, and what we think about our mission here.

And what we think affects what we do.

If we have faulty thinking at any juncture, things can get sticky.

Often our faulty thinking about “big” things goes like this: If we can’t do the big things for God, He can’t use us at all. Go big or go home.

But the truth is this: God is indeed God of the many, but He also is God of the one.

God won’t snuff out even a smoldering candle.
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”
Isaiah 42:3
He cares about every tiny sparrow that falls to the ground.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”
Matthew 10:29
He numbers every hair on every head.
“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Matthew 10:30
Jesus healed people individually, one by one, or in very small groups like the ten lepers.
Matthew 8:13; Mark 1:42; Luke 7:15; + more

When we forget these fundamental truths about God’s love for the small things, we are more likely to shortchange our own “small” acts of service.

Do Your Small Thing

But when we remember that each individual human is uniquely designed to bear the image of God, we’re more likely to do our small thing, knowing that it can make a difference for three reasons.

1. It helps that one person.
It may seem small to us, but it may be life-saving to them.

2. It changes us.
When we serve others, we see another angle of God that may be missing in our own lives.

3. It honors God.
When we His children love each other, the Father is pleased.

How we think God views people will change how we view people. If He values each one, so should we. One at a time.

When we hold hope for one person at a time, we reflect the image of our Creator.

Theology of One

Teaching English to Brian has been both easier and more challenging than I expected.

Between our ESL textbook and our weekly conversations, Brian is picking up vocabulary and subtle idiosyncrasies of the English language (like, “side by side” and “you’re breaking my heart” and “he is a heel”). He says our talks are helping him improve his speaking skills so he can find satisfying employment in the months ahead.

And while Brian is learning the language, I’m learning a lot about Vietnam. When he asks me questions about the U.S., I ask him questions about his home country. Our exchange of experiences is enlightening to both of us.

But I’m also learning about God through Brian, even though we don’t speak directly about religion. I’m learning that even though I can’t imagine or legislate the perfect immigration laws, I can follow God’s lead in loving the foreigner. Specifically, this foreigner. One week at a time. Even one word at a time.

It’s a theology of one.

When we can’t serve everyone, we can serve one.

“Sometimes we get so hung up on doing something great, we forget the best thing is often the smallest. Making the world better for one person makes the world better.”
Shannan Martin, The Ministry of Ordinary Places

I still want to learn how to pronounce Brian’s real name. But in the meantime, I’m pleased to call him friend.

When you can’t help everybody, can you help one? It’s a theology of one, God’s way. #PracticalTheology

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Do big issues overwhelm you, too? How do you break them down into one person at a time? Who will be your one person today? Please share in the comments.

Becoming What We Behold: Transformative Theology

February 12, 2019 by Jaime Hilton 1 Comment

We talked last month about transformation, the power of Christ working in the lives of men and women in the New Testament to give them new hearts, new attitudes, and new life. (If you missed it, check it out here!) On our own we might be able to make surface changes, but true transformation come from spending time with Jesus.

This month we’re digging a little deeper into how that happens by practicing our theology.

The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. – Jen Wilken, Women of the Word

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and while I enjoy a general romantic gesture as much as the next gal – flowers, candy, etc. – my heart skips a beat when my husband shows how well he knows me. Little things like getting me a book by my favorite author, bringing me a tea or a coffee when we swap the kids, or planning a date night in with Chinese food and a movie.

Theology is about knowing God. Not just facts about him but knowing his heart and his mind.

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, – 1 John 2:3-4

We get to know him by spending time with Jesus (John 14:6-7). We spend time with Jesus by studying – reading, analyzing, and applying – the Bible (John 1:14).

Be In The Word: Read

Like training for a marathon, reading and studying are skills that can be learned and practiced. The more we do it, the easier it becomes.

Francis Schaeffer, a 20^th century theologian and pastor (and great mentor of my faith!) grew up in a household that did not know or worship God. His wife, Edith, writes in their autobiography, The Tapestry, about how he first encountered the Bible:

“How did he read it? Who helped him to understand? No one gave him any suggestions. He wouldn’t have known who to ask and in any case, he had no idea there was any way to read it, other than to read it in the same way as any other book. He started at the beginning of Genesis and read to the end. If you want to know why Fran has such a high regard for the Bible and feels it is adequate in answering the questions of life, the answer is right here. As a seventeen-year-old boy with a thirst for the answers to life’s questions, he began to discover for himself the existence of adequate and complete answers right in the Bible.”

The more time we spend in the word, the more we become like the Word. Click To Tweet

Think About the Word: Analyze

Jesus said the most important commandment, of all the laws God gave us, is to love him with our whole being, including our thoughts! (Mark 12:30) Paul encourages believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

To test is to measure the quality or reliability of something. To discern means to perceive or recognize. He wants us to think about him!

Paul put it another way in his letter to the Philippians when he said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (4:8)

He gives them (and us!) this list, not as a restriction, but to serve as a standard by which we can judge what we study. We can read the stories of David and Bathsheba or David and Abigail and discern how their behavior measures up in the eyes of the Spirit.

Do the Word: Apply

He goes on in verse 9 to say, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the introduction to this series, Ali reminded us that the point of all this – of thinking about theology and how it relates to our life – is to make us doers of the word!

Jesus said when we follow his commands and apply what we’ve learned, we are like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24), prepared for and safeguarded against the storms of life.

Poet William Blake wrote, “We become what we behold”. Continuously reading the Bible changes our hearts because it changes our minds.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

What tips do you have for reading the Bible? #PracticalTheologyClick To Tweet

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God Finishes What He Starts {Memorize Philippians 1:5-6}

February 11, 2019 by Lisa Burgess 1 Comment

It’s the dead of winter where many of us live. Trees are bare. Flowers are gone. Growth has gone underground.

Sometimes it feels like winter in our spiritual lives as well.

Memorize This Week

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:5-6

[click here to download the verse image]

Spiritual Winter

In winters, we don’t see the fruit. Our work never feels finished. Growth seems underground.

We lack confidence that our purpose is being fulfilled. And we can’t imagine anyone else believing it about us either.

But in one of our memory verses this week, we hear otherwise.

In Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi, he writes a striking statement, meant for them, but also applicable to us:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6

While we may debate exactly what he means by “the day of Jesus Christ,” we can likely agree on this: When God begins a work, He finishes it.

God Finishes What He Starts

In each of our lives, God has begun a work. A good work.

And the work involves more than we know. We see our unfinished projects, goals, and assignments. But the underlying work also includes our transformation, our love for others, and our love for God.

Even when we don’t see progress above ground, God is busy underground. He not only has the will to make it happen, He has the power to do it.

Don’t discount the process just because you can’t yet see the results.

That should leave us with confidence. With hope. With faith.

Not haughty about our own ability to finish, but secure in the One who WILL bring it to completion.

We can count on it. Because we can count on Him.

You can count on God to finish the good work He’s begun…in YOU. #Philippians1 #HideHisWord

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Worship and Practical Theology – How do they Relate?

February 7, 2019 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

In today’s post, we’ll look at the connection between our worship and our theology. How does our view of God’s character affect the way we worship? Let’s examine this question together!

Last year, my eyeglasses broke and I hurried off to the eye doctor. When my new lenses came in, I realized that my prescription just wasn’t strong enough. Because of extenuating circumstances, I was stuck with them.

Recently, I misplaced them but needed to drive. Hurriedly, I dug around and found a very old, almost forgotten pair. Low and behold, the old glasses cleared my vision right up! How differently things looked!

With a clearer view, I “operated” better. I could see further and the things with blurred edges became crisp again.

Similarly, when we have a clearer view of who God is, we operate better, too. When we know His character, our worship becomes confident and well placed. (Hebrews 4:16)

What is Worship

Do you know what worship really is? Some Christians are surprised to learn that worship comprises more than just singing songs to God.

Worship is expressed any time God is revered by the worshiper.

Worship can be done through prayer, song, playing an instrument, walking in obedience, reading God’s word, declaring His lordship, and so on. Hands can be lifted or heads bowed and hands folded. Revering our God can take various forms.

There are two Greek main words for worship. The primary is proskuneo, which means “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand” and the other is latreuo, which means “to serve, and in the New Testament, to render religious service or homage.”

Of proskuneo, Charles Ryrie (in his Basic Theology) says:

“This primary word for worship [proskuneo] is connected with the idea of kissing (as kissing the earth to honor the deities of the earth); then came to connote prostrating oneself in reverence. This showed that the worshiper considered the object worthy of whatever he was offering. Even the English word “worship” (a shortened form of “worthship”) means to attribute worth to the object worshiped.”

How Our Theology Affects Our Worship

Knowing God accurately affects our worship. Like I stated above, when we know His character, our worship becomes confident and well placed.

How do the following challenge you to worship God accurately? Do you need to grow or develop in any of these truths? Have conversations with God and ask Him to reveal any areas where He is calling you to believe better and practice confidently.

God is Always Available

I love this passage that reminds me that God is always watching over us:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4)

We can come to God anytime! He is never too busy for His beloved children. We don’t have to feel like we’re a bother to God. He can keep the universe in balance all while caring for our most detailed needs. Night or day, we can come to Him.

God is Near

In John 4, Jesus meets with the woman at the well. In the longest recorded dialogue in the Gospels, Jesus tells her that though her people (the Samaritans) used to worship on Mount Gerazim, while the Jews worshipped in Jerusalem, the day was coming where God’s worshipers could worship anywhere as long as they offered it in spirit and truth!

He is always near His worshipers! When we reach out to Him, He is there for us, no matter our mode of reverence.

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18

God never runs away from us. He isn’t unreachable; He is always, always near. Whether we feel guilty, lonely, hurt, ashamed, or desperate, God is present!

He Loves Us

As His children, we are adopted by a loving Father. (God is love. 1 John 4:8) He loves us so much, He sent Jesus to us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“In love he predestined usb for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6

Because God loves us so much, we do not have to be afraid. After all, “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). We can approach Him in worship knowing that He loves us immensely and will never reject us. There is nothing we can do to push ourselves beyond His love!

God is Good

Look at this beautiful passage (and read all of Psalm 145 if you have time):

“The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The LORD is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9

God is loving and He is also good. Because of God’s goodness, we don’t have to fear condemnation or think He is withholding good from us. He is merciful, even when we deserve the opposite. We can approach Him confidently, hands lifted or folded in reverence, knowing that He will give us His very best!

He is Sovereign

Sovereignty is defined as having supreme power and authority. Our God is most definitely sovereign!

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

“My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” Isaiah 46:10 b

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zepheniah 3:17

As we offer our worship to the Lord, we can remember to place our trust in His position and power. We serve a mighty God! He is above all and has complete authority over heaven and earth. God has complete control over all our circumstances, no matter the earthly outlook. He is totally trustworthy, all the time.

He is Truth

Because God is truth, we can always trust Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Truth is always true. In other words, it is consistent.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

“For I the LORD do not change…” Malachi 3:6 a

Part of God’s truth is that He is always, consistently faithful.

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5

I’m so thankful to worship a God that doesn’t change. We live in an unstable world. Landmarks change, culture changes, technology moves at the speed of light, it seems. But God is a constant truth. He does not vary, waver, or deviate. He is the solid rock we can count on when the sand beneath us shifts (Matthew 7:24-27).

We worship God, our Rock and Redeemer, trusting that He will be a sure foundation in times of trouble. We can be certain that our Sympathizer (Hebrews 4:15) understands our hearts and minds and wants us to be secure in His refuge!

When we know God well, we can’t help but elevate Him in our hearts! We see Him for who He is. Then, we see ourselves in the shadow of His greatness.

We learn: “More of Him, less of me.”

And our worship is all the richer!

What Else?

What other attributes of God do you appreciate? Think about them in terms of worship. How do they affect how you worship and approach God? How do they affect your confidence in coming to Him in reverence?

Let us know your thoughts by sharing here in the comments or in our Facebook group.

Blessings,

Ali

Want a richer worship experience? Know God well. #PracticalTheology

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What is worship, really? Learn how the attributes of God help us approach Him with confidence! #PracticalTheology

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Theology in Practice – New Series Introduction

February 5, 2019 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This month, we’ll be doing a new series on Theology in Practice. Our writers will lead you through examining why it’s important to put our theology into practice and practical ways we can do just that!

I’ve been a homeschool mom for a long time. As I began teaching my oldest daughter, I learned that the way to know if she’d really gotten what I demonstrated or explained was to let her try things on her own. Seeing her transform from a hearer to a doer was a mark of her maturing brain development and assured me that she truly “got” what I was teaching.

That’s similar to spiritual growth, isn’t it? We may not even realize it, but as we learn about God from studying the Bible and through our walk with Him, we’re gaining a working knowledge of theology (in short, the study of God). But it’s when we make decisions with what we’ve learned and then transform from a hearer to a doer that we put our theology into practice. We reveal to God that we’re “getting it.”

God blesses our doing because He wants us to walk in love and obedience.

Look what Jesus says:

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:27-28

And James had much to write about the matter, too:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)

First, we need sound theology, then we can have a sound practice. The aim of the Christian walk is to become like Jesus. Without knowing God well, this can’t be achieved. I love these words from Lindsey Bell:

“sound theology matters is because it is through sound theology that we become more like Jesus. It is through the study of Him that we become like Him. …Open your Bible and get to know Him. But don’t do it just to know facts. Instead, do it to know Him.”

All this month we’ll be looking at why it’s important to put our theology into practice. In addition to that, we’ll ask ourselves how we can. We’ll examine how a Biblical, doctrinally accurate theology can be applied in relation to God, self, and others. We hope to challenge you with ideas that will spark conversations between you and God through which I’m confident He’ll show you areas He’s calling you to develop and practice (because we are all works in progress).

Please join us this month as we explore together.

Note: I highly recommend reading through our posts in this series from our archives (called Why Sound Theology Matters) to help prepare you for this month’s topic. I know it will bless you!

In Him,

Ali

Want to become more like Jesus? How can you put your theology into practice? Join us this month as we explore! #TheologyInPractice

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Thank God for Good Memories {Memorize Philippians 1:3-4}

February 4, 2019 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

Think back to a hard time in your life. What do you remember? Who do you remember?

Can you thank God for the people who stood by you?

Memorize This Week

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.
Philippians 1:3-4

[click here to download the verse image]

What Do You Remember?

Sometimes we forget the good stuff when it’s surrounded by bad. What we remember is the pain, the betrayal, the heartache.

Paul could have done the same. When Paul and Silas had been in Philippi, this happened to them:

They were dragged through the streets by slave owners (Acts 16:19).
They were brought before rulers and judges.
They were attacked by the crowd, had their clothes torn off, and publicly beaten (Acts 16:22-24).

And after all that, they were thrown into prison with their feet fastened in stocks.

Who would want to remember that? And who could forget?

Yet when Paul was reflecting back to his time in Philippi, he says in this week’s memory verses, he was remembering the Philippian saints there with joy.

Thank God for the Memory

We sometimes only remember the bad parts of past situations. We don’t see anything to be thankful for.

But if we follow the example of Paul this week, we can do this:

Set an intention to remember the good things, the people who were kind to us, and thank not only them, but also thank GOD for them.

Even if we’re in hard circumstances again. (Remember Paul was again a prisoner as he was writing Philippians).

And what happens when we do thank God for those memories?

It will bring us joy. Just like Paul.

Remember to thank your friends. But also thank God for your friends. Memorize #Philippians1. #HideHisWord

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New Creations {Wrap-Up}

January 31, 2019 by Patti Brown 1 Comment

This month, in our series “New Creations”, we peeked into the lives of a few of the men and women in the Bible who were transformed when they accepted Jesus.

Beyond the well-known stories of Peter changing from a prideful, impulsive man to a humble, eloquent speaker, and Paul making a 180° life turn from violent anti-Christian crusader to Christian missionary, we find smaller, yet just as significant, caterpillar-to-butterfly stories that inspire.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Stories like that of Jairus’ daughter, who was literally brought back from the dead to a new life. “When there seems no way possible, Jesus steps in and creates newness. He reaches out to us, His beloved children, and says to us, ‘Child, arise!'”

We can follow the example of Lois and Eunice, whom God used to nurture faith, disciple believers, and spur others on as they followed God’s call.

Nicodemus was humble enough to learn new lessons and accept fresh revelations, even though he was an established Pharisee leader, and most of his peers opposed Jesus.

Just like in Lydia, the transforming work of Jesus Christ in our lives grows in us open hearts, open ears, and open hands.

And Martha, who when she took her feelings about her birther and sister to Jesus, encountered the Truth of who Jesus is, and it changed her heart.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

As a follower of Christ, you don’t have to rely on your own strength to make changes in your life. God is faithful and loves you, and He will see His work to completion! You, beloved child of God, are a new creation!

God is faithful and will see His work to completion in you! #NewCreations

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Hope for a New Outlook

January 29, 2019 by Jaime Hilton 2 Comments

Sometimes I just want things to be different. I have struggled with my health and self image for so many years that I finally stopped making New Year’s Resolutions about it. After all, what’s the point? I think, maybe, if we lived in a different house…had a better kitchen, a neighborhood with a sidewalk, more time, (fill in the blank with whatever excuses fit the moment)…then change could happen. But deep down I know the problem is not with my home. It’s with my heart.

Change is hard. It’s not a thirty second movie montage set to upbeat music. It’s difficult and painful and it takes so much time!

But there is hope in daily time with Jesus. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

Martha, Martha, Martha

Are you familiar with the story of Mary and Martha? Maybe you recall something about having a Mary heart? Growing up I always heard that it was better to be like Mary (which suited me fine – I’m not much of a housekeeper!)

The story goes like this (you can read it in Luke 10:38-42): Jesus and his disciples come to town and stay at Martha’s house. Mary, Martha’s sister, sits at the Lord’s feet (like a disciple – scandal alert!) and listens to his teaching. But Martha is busy making preparations for the thirteen men and who knows how many others, and she calls her sister out.

and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

That’s it. End scene.

But then I found out there’s more to the story!

Who is Martha?

Four simple verses give us a taste of who these women are. Martha, the hostess, represents us in the busyness of our lives. She is doing good things, serving, showing hospitality, and so on, but she is distracted by them. Her heart is not in the right place.

Thankfully the story does not end there. The sisters show up again in John’s gospel (John 11:1-46). They send word to Jesus, asking him to come and intervene in their brother’s illness. But he delays and Lazarus dies.

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (v.4)

So many beautiful things we could unpack in this rich story, but let’s focus on Martha. She’s not the distracted housekeeper in this scene, but a grieving sister who shows tremendous faith in face of tragedy.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

As the scene unfolds, Jesus weeps with his friends and then brings Lazarus back to life!

I love Martha’s response when Jesus tells them to open the tomb. She’s already declared that he is the Son of God who can do anything, but she protests saying, “Lord, there will be a smell!!”

A Martha Heart

The last time we see Martha in Scripture is the next chapter of John.

So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. John 12:2

I can’t help but notice the difference between this verse and Luke 10:40, “but Martha was distracted with much serving”.

She is still the hostess, serving a massive amount of people, and by the way, Mary still isn’t helping. But I wonder if she sees things differently, now that she has seen the glory of God (John 11:40).

In both cases, the horrible pain of her brother’s death and the mundane frustration with her sister’s choices, Martha took her feelings to Jesus. She may not have found what she was expecting, but she encountered the Truth of who Jesus is, and it changed her heart.

Martha took her pain to Jesus. What do you need to give him today? #NewCreationsClick To Tweet

Jesus is there, going through the stuff – whatever it may be – making things new (Revelation 21:5). I’ll leave you with this prayer from Ephesians.

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:16-20

What do you need to take to Jesus today?

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