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How to Shine Like a Star {Join Us for a Month-Long Study!}

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One of my favorite biblical “word pictures” is “shining like stars” from Philippians 2:15:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” – Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)

This image was one of the first to strongly impact me as a new believer years ago, and it has an even stronger effect on me now as I’ve grown, walked through types of darkness, and seen just how special and essential light is.

It’s also one of the first analogies that we teach our children. Even young kids can understand that a small light — a single flashlight beam, a candle flame, or a night light — can cause darkness to vanish, and fears to ease along with it. 

Light is powerful; God’s light even more so. Paul calls us to shine like stars in the community of believers to reflect Christ’s original light through us. Through doing so, we imitate His humility, His welcoming love, and His unending grace.

So this month, we are studying Philippians 2 (verses 1-18) together so we can remember how and why to shine like stars. Join us and shine with us!

 Shine Like Stars (a month-long series on Philippians 2:1-18 at DoNotDepart.com}

What verse in Philippians 2 affects you strongly? Share in the comments!

How do you #ShineLikeStars? Study Philippians 2 with @DoNotDepart this month:

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Philippians 2 shows us how we can #ShineLikeStars. Join us for a month-long study on its impact:

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Love Sees Opportunities

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Love Sees Opportunities {DoNotDepart.com}

I keep saying that my children are teaching me more about life and love than I think I’ll ever be able to teach them.

They notice things.

They notice to wonder at birds in the trees,

or flowers peeking through the snow,

or even that the same word appears three times on one page, and how amazing is that.

They notice when someone feels happy, and they get happy too.

They notice when someone worked hard, and they celebrate too.

They notice when someone feels sad, and they work to ease, comfort, and feel it too.

I think they notice all these things because they love.

Because they’ve been taught to love by their father (my husband) and their mother (me), yes. But more because God put hearts inside them that feel love, know love, and want to give love.

So because they love, they see.

And that’s what love does. It sees opportunities to love more.

That’s what I want to do. I want to always see opportunities to show more love.

“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other…Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more…“ – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NIV, emphasis added)

But, I don’t always see those opportunities.

What happens when I don’t see?

I forget to see. That’s what it is. My too-busy brain and human heart forgets love and therefore forgets to see.

But… (don’t I say this in almost every post here?)… that’s where grace comes in.

Love and grace are good partners. Grace reminds me and renews me to remember love. Love is what offered us grace in the first place.

A day before I even sat down to write this post, I wrote down a prayer I want to pray every morning:

God, help me see opportunities to show love and grace today. Help me choose Your purposes over my own every minute and renew quickly when I forget. Help me to see and love in your name.

Jason Gray (a superb musician and songwriter) wrote a song called With Every Act of Love. This song touches on how love sees opportunities to show more love and what those acts of love do. (We are His kingdom!) Please listen and read his lyrics.

“As heaven touches earth

We bring the kingdom come

with every act of love

Jesus help us carry you

Alive in us, your light shines through

With every act of love

We bring the kingdom come”

– With Every Act of Love by Jason Gray

(If you can’t see the video above, click here to view the video. Also, click here to watch a video about the background of the song.)

Ever think what you see doesn’t make a difference?

One of my favorite parts in this song are these lyrics:

“God put a million million doors 

in the world for His love to walk through

one of those doors is you“

– With Every Act of Love by Jason Gray (emphasis added)

We are His hands. His love works through us. What we do matters.

“Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.”

-St. Teresa of Avila

 So, tell me: What can you see today? What opportunities is love showing you? Please share in the comments!

Love Songs

Ever think what you see or do doesn’t make a difference? Read here:

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Love sees opportunities to show more love. #RealLoveSongs

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Corrie ten Boom: A Story of Forgiveness, Grace, and Hope

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Some stories just can’t be understood.

Not in our time with our minds at least.

Take Corrie ten Boom’s story, for example.

When You Can’t Make Sense of a Story

Corrie ten Boom: A Story of hope, forgiveness, and grace
Photo Source

Growing up as Christians in Holland, Corrie’s family decided to help their Jewish neighbors when World War II started and discrimination against Jews grew stronger and stronger. They hid people in a secret room in their house until they could obtain safe passage out of the range of danger.

But, this decision wasn’t without cost. Corrie and her family were captured and sent to concentration camps for those who weren’t Jews, but aided Jews.

Separated from the rest of her family, Corrie managed to stay with her older sister, Betsie, for much of their imprisonment. The atrocities they witnessed and experienced cannot be explained.

Who would take prisoners of a group of innocent people merely because of their affiliation?

Who would beat someone senseless because they looked the wrong direction?

Why would thousands of thousands of people be mercilessly killed?

Why did Corrie finally be set free on account of a clerical “error” when, a week later, all women her age in the camp were murdered?

Corrie couldn’t understand the prisonsers’ stories, the concentration camp soldiers’ stories, or her own story.

How? Who? Why?

But that’s also the way it is with grace.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” – Corrie ten Boom

Amazing and Incomprehensible Grace

Corrie ten Boom tells her story in [amazon_link id=”0553256696″ target=”_blank” ]The Hiding Place[/amazon_link], a book I highly recommend anyone reading. She doesn’t hide her own shortcomings and doubts, but instead reveals all the emotions they all felt throughout this journey. The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom

But, with her sister’s faithful help, Corrie kept capturing glimpses of grace and kept returning to hope.

Through solitary confinement.

Through losing her father.

Through beatings, illnesses, and witnessing even worse.

Corrie and her sister maintained that God remained. His grace still existed, and His hand was still present.

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” – Corrie ten Boom

But they couldn’t really understand that. How does God’s grace remain in such a wretched place? We know it’s love, but who can really understand love, either?

But that’s part of the beauty of grace. We cannot understand it. We do not deserve it. And yet it is a gift.

“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” – Corrie ten Boom

Accepting Grace and Holding Hope

Every time I read a quote from Corrie ten Boom or hear a bit of her story again, I’m reminded to receive and give grace and to hold on to hope.

Those two gifts are more powerful, more filling, and more available than any other.

“Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.” – Corrie ten Boom

What is one of your own stories of hope, forgiveness, and grace? Share in the comments below.

There’s much more to Corrie ten Boom’s story, before, during, and after the war. Read [amazon_link id=”0553256696″ target=”_blank” ]The Hiding Place[/amazon_link], research online (including here and here), and read her other books and devotionals.

Some stories just can’t be understood. Read more about Corrie ten Boom’s story and how she learned:

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A story of accepting grace, learning to forgive, and holding on to hope. #GodlyWomen

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God’s Sweet Grace

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Read about God's Sweet Grace and get your printable bookmark at www.donotdepart.com

Does anyone remember this children’s song?

 “He’s still working on me,
To make me who I need to be,
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and planets and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be,
‘Cause He’s still working on me.”

That’s a simple, honest song about God’s sweet grace, isn’t it?

In its simplest definition, grace is defined as the undeserved favor of God.

Grace is that God is never finished working on us. It’s only by grace that He doesn’t wring His hands in despair and say in exasperation, “I just give up on this one! There’s way too much work involved here!” Grace is given when we stumble, fall, and fail. Grace is what we see when we look around us at all the rich beauty and deep love that God has given us, when we know we don’t deserve one single lick of it. And it’s by God’s grace that He sent His own Son to take the ultimate punishment for our sin, and to rise again to conquer it, assuring us forgiveness and a spot in Heaven if we believe in Him.

It’s very humbling to know that God loves us so much He’d want to bless us in our most undeserving state. And it’s freeing to know that even when we mess up, God loves us, forgives us, strengthens us, and blesses us.

God’s grace does numerous things for His children. First, when we see how sweet the grace of God is, and how marvelous He is as the giver, grace results in praise (Psa 40:5). Because we are favored and loved even when we don’t deserve it, grace encourages us to dust ourselves off and keep going when we fall or when life gets hard (Phil 3:14). That same grace draws us closer to God as we learn more about our sinfulness contrasted against His holy sovereignty, and prompts us to grow to look a little more like Him (2 Cor 3:18). And also, God’s grace frees us from the power of condemnation (including self-condemnation). (See Psa 19:12,13, and 1 John 3:19-24)

So, if you’re feeling especially blessed by God’s grace today, or feeling burdened and need to be reminded of God’s gentle graces, I have a little something for you. As Patti said in the introductory post this month,”We want to encourage you to abide in God’s Word every day, especially on your busy days. Especially on the days when you are struggling.” So, I’ve made a printable bookmark for you with a collection of verses about God’s grace. You can tuck it into your Bible. Each printable has two bookmarks, so share one with a friend, as you share the sweetness of God’s grace in your own life. Click here to download your bookmark about God’s Sweet Grace.

Grace Bookmark Printable at www.donotdepart.com

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:2)

May we all be filled with the sweet knowledge of His grace as our loving Father patiently continues working on us.

Grace is undeserved favor. Grace is that God is never finished working on us.  #EncouragingWord

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Are you needing a reminder of God’s grace? We have something for you! #EncouragingWord

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You are God’s good china

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You’re encouraged often to be pure. To abstain from this. To avoid that. You know what not to do. And rightly so.

But why? What’s the point of maintaining purity? Is it only about what you don’t do? What about what you should do? And what happens when you’re already impure?

PURITY’S PURPOSE: TO LOVE

Purity’s purpose, like all else Jesus taught, is so you can love others more and reflect the glory of God (1 Timothy 1:5).

We’ve been reading over and over in John 15 (and memorizing) where Jesus clearly states His intentions for all: Love one another (John 15:12).

  • He’s declared you clean for that reason (John 15:3).
  • He abides in you for that reason (John 15:5).
  • He laid down His very life for that reason (John 15:13).

So you can love. Out of a pure heart can come pure love. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Once you’ve seen Him, you can show Him to others.

He wants to use you around His table to love another.

You are God’s good china.

BUT IF YOU’RE DIRTY

If you, like each of us, have dirt on your plate (Proverbs 20:9), know this: You’re still a valuable dish!

No one is pure by his own doing; you are only pure because God says so.

Don’t stay hidden on a shelf behind cabinet doors because you think you’re too stained. Maybe you think you lack energy or beauty or skills to love others the way God wants you to. You’ve got a damaged past that brings consequences. And hidden temptations even now that are hard to beat. Welcome to humanity. Everybody lacks. Too tired tonight, too mad tomorrow, too insecure right now to send out a party invitation.

Does that mean you give up altogether on purity? Certainly not. Don’t sin more so grace can abound more (Romans 6:1). Keep doing the dishes and wiping off the table.

But rest in knowing that even though God sees the inside of your cup as well as the outside, He still chooses you anyway (John 15:16). He loves you anyway. He will love through you anyway.

SERVE UP GRACE

Jesus—grace personified—did maintain a completely pure life so that through His purity, you are clean. Abide in His love to more purely love others (1 Peter 1:22).

You keep throwing the party; trust God to multiply the fish and loaves. As He loves you as you are, learn to love others as they are.

So set the table and invite another to gather around. Let go of any shame over your broken pieces and let God use you to nourish another. A nicked plate can still serve great food. Something greater, higher, bigger.

It’s not about the dishes anyway. It’s about the fellowship around the table. Jesus is the host, the bread, and the wine.

It’s a serving of grace; is there anything sweeter or purer?
Grace, dished out even on chipped china, is an irresistible meal.

You are God’s good china. Set the table and throw a party.

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Grace, dished out even on chipped china, is an irresistible meal.

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Do you allow your past to prevent you from loving in the present?
Who needs you today to serve a meal of grace?
Please share in the comments.

Purity for Today's Christian Woman

Songs Revealing Beauty and Grace Out of Brokenness

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I sometimes get lost in my brokenness.

I focus too deeply on my problems. Sit too long on my mistakes. Refuse grace-given love too frequently.

I’m broken and don’t deserve love, but that’s the point of grace.

Songs that Reveal Beauty and Grace in Brokenness {DoNotDepart.com}

Depths of Music

As much as I love words (and, like Ali, I really do), music (and dance) can express depths where words sometimes cannot breach.

When you think of brokenness and grace, you might think of the song “Amazing Grace”:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost,

But now am found.

Was blind but now I see.

John Newton, the author of this song, saw numerous trial and tribulations, many at his own doing. Even after a breakthrough moment for him during a literal storm, his faith grew gradually into a healed and powerful force.

The song “I Saw the Light” brings more, well, light to brokenness:

Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

This song, originally by Hank Williams in 1948, has been covered numerous times. I love this version from David Crowder Band. As soon as I sing or hear this song, I remember that I’m not stuck in my past mistakes.

I sang those two to my children as babies when they cried and I was weary. Soothing balms to our souls.

I also replay “I Am New,” a contemporary song from Jason Gray, when I need yet another reminder:

Now I won’t deny
The worst you could say about me
But I’m not defined
By mistakes that I’ve made
Because God says of me

I am not who I was
I am being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy
And I’m dearly loved
I am new

Do you need to hear that again like I do?

We are not defined by our mistakes. We are chosen and holy and dearly loved. We are new.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12

How These Songs Heal

These songs are just a few of those that both wreck my heart and fill it to overflowing with joy at the same time.

Sometimes a song draws my attention back to renewal when just a thought won’t. Sometimes a song (music and words together) reaches farther into our hearts than words alone. Music combines multiple modes of expression together. Mutliple ways to explore, learn, turn, remember, and praise.

As this article on the significance of the Psalms (and song) from Bible.org states: “The greatest calling of the church and of individual Christians is not to be evangelists or teachers or exhorters or comforters, but worshippers.” Song helps us do just that.

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.” – Psalm 108:1-3

Other Songs for Beauty in Brokenness

  • My husband and I are big fans of Switchfoot. Intelligent lyrics with a sincere faith foundation. Take a look at “The Shadow Proves the Sunshine” off the [amazon_link id=”B000CDG5AY” target=”_blank” ]Nothing is Sound album[/amazon_link].
  • Our family loves basically anything from [amazon_link id=”B001MIFVIK” target=”_blank” ]Seeds Family Worship[/amazon_link]. Every song verses as lyrics, accompanied by varied and interesting music (not at all hokey). I love the song using John 16:33 as lyrics.
  • If you need a song to bounce and sing to, try “Happy Day” from Tim Hughes.
  • If you like learning the history and affects of songs and hymns, take a look at the [amazon_link id=”078523182X” target=”_blank” ]Then Sings My Soul book series[/amazon_link] from Robert Morgan.

Sing praise with me. What are some of your favorite songs to remind you of His grace that covers brokenness?

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Gifts from a personal God

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She may have thought the worst had already happened. Her husband had died. In the male-dominated Jewish culture, women were economically dependent upon male relatives.

At least she still had her son.

Then the unthinkable occurred: her only son also died. Would this double loss be her end?

WHO WAS SHE?

Who was this woman from Nain, Israel? We don’t know her name; Luke didn’t record it (Luke 7:11-17). While he told more stories about women than the other three gospel writers, he only relayed names of ten women in stories where they had parts to play. Ten others with roles remain unnamed.

Did these unnamed women not matter as much?

Do you not matter as much when you’re not acknowledged by name?

No and no. They mattered. You matter.

GRACE IN HER STORY

The widow in Luke 7 was on the road to her son’s funeral. Her final gift was to follow his dead body to its burial outside the city gates. Many were with her, helping her grieve and carry her son.

But unbeknownst to her, her crowd was about to intersect the path of another crowd, being led by Jesus.

She was about to discover resurrection. And it would be personal.

Jesus saw her. He talked to her. He told her not to cry. Even though she didn’t ask for His help (Jesus had yet to raise the dead—Jairus’s daughter and Lazarus were yet to come), He was about to give her a magnificent gift of grace anyway. 

He touched the coffin. Everyone froze. Then talking directly to the dead son, Jesus said, “Wake up!”

And the dead man sat up and talked.

The crowd was awed. They’d personally witnessed a visit from God. They spread the news everywhere of their experience.

GRACE IN YOUR STORY

Even today, Jesus still sees. Even when you don’t know what to ask for, He knows exactly what you need.

It might not be a physical resurrection. That’s not always the best gift anyway.

On the day my mother died of Alzheimer’s, I wouldn’t have wanted her to return to that body. God blessed me instead with other gifts of grace—personalized for my family—to help us heal.

He graces you with resurrection in still other ways. Maybe with a restoration of hope. A friend to share your pain. An open door to something new.

While His salvation gift may look the same for all, His other gifts of grace are unique, personalized just for you.

  • To fit your personality
  • To favor your circumstances
  • To fill your holes

GOD IS PERSONAL

So maybe it’s on purpose that the widow wasn’t named. Maybe you’re supposed to fill your own name in the blank. And watch for how God will intersect your path, showing up with monogrammed gifts just for you.

There’s nothing impersonal about God. If you think there is, you have the wrong view of Him.

He is good, He is generous, and He is personal.

He knows everyone by name and by need. Including you.

That’s a gift of grace worth celebrating.  

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20

* * *

What gifts of grace have you received after a loss?

How has God blessed you in a unique way, perfect just for you? Please share in the comments.

Applying Wisdom With Love {Rather than Legalistic Law}

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“The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” – Proverbs 17:14

“It is not good to be partial to the wicked
    or to deprive the righteous of justice.” – Proverbs 18:5

“Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in the future.” – Proverbs 19:20

“Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
    wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” – Proverbs 20:22

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips.” – Proverbs 27:2

If you’re a recovering perfectionist or a “rule-follower” like me, you might easily look at these verses above and file these away as “more rules to follow.”

It’s even easier to take those rules and apply them so strictly, someone observing you might not see love, but instead only pressure.

We have rules because we need discipline. But, sometimes I need to remember getting stuck on rules without loving application restricts rather than builds. Pharisaical legalism is graceless.

Applying Wisdom with Love {donotdepart.com}

Looking to the Source of Wisdom

So, how do we apply all this wisdom with grace and with love and without building barriers?

By looking back to the Source of wisdom.

  • The very beginning of Proverbs says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” (Proverbs 1:7). Reverent trust of Him. As Lisa said last week, “to be truly wise, we’ll seek Him.”
  • I’m a rather stubborn person at times, so I need to pray for open ears and heart to wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2:2).
  • Grab hold of steadfast love and faithfulness and don’t let go (Proverbs 3:3).
  • In the Proverbs that issue discipline, look for love. Notice how God offers love through this guidance (Proverbs 3:11-12). How can I offer it in a similar way?
  • Give freely (Proverbs 3:27-28). Often when I’m not sure how to react, if I stop and think, “how can I love?” I’m pointed in a better direction. There are still those situations where how to love while still protecting, directing, or helping seem very difficult to blend. In those situations, I try to seek wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15).

Do those still sound like more “rules” to follow?

I once heard that the motto of a prison ministry was to “listen, listen, love, love.” Those verbs are repeated on purpose. Wisdom Literature asks us to listen first, then love. When we listen first, we are usually better able to discern what’s needed for that person or situation, be it discipline, forgiveness, grace, protection, teaching, comfort, or encouragement. And then we can proceed with abundant love.

It takes discipline to live this way, and, really, we need discipline and training to grow (Proverbs 6:23, Proverbs 9:9).

“Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.” – Proverbs 8:33

I’m praying for us to listen, listen, love, love today with God’s heart through us.

How do you apply wisdom without getting stuck on “following the rules?” I’m still growing here myself, so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

I Am Adopted: Welcome at the Table

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I stood in a room filled to the brim with people.  The beautiful kind of people.  All of them in groups—some were laughing together, others huddled close for intimate conversation.  I looked around at these women with their perfect hair and cute shoes and everything in me wanted to run.  I didn’t belong there.  I wasn’t pretty enough, talented enough, smart enough, good enough.

Tears welled up in my eyes and I turned to leave the room as my heart pounded and the voices in my head screamed, “You don’t belong.”  With my head down, I moved toward the door when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Teri Lynne, where have you been?  I’ve been waiting for you!”

As I turned around I saw the smiling face of someone way more important than me.  She’s a “big blogger” … everyone knows her name.  She wrapped her arms around me, ignoring the shock on my face and tears in my eyes, and said, “C’mon, there are some people here who need to know you.”

We sat at a table and she introduced me to some incredible women who are beautiful and talented and wise and hilarious and genuine.  I knew I didn’t really deserve to sit at that table. But I was welcome there.

Maybe you can relate?

Welcome at the King's Table by Teri Lynne Underwood www.donotdepart.com

There’s this amazing story captured in 2 Samuel 9 … brings me to tears every time I read it. The story of David and Mephibosheth.  Do you know it?

Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son.  Jonathan, you remember, was Saul’s son and David’s very best friend.  Jonathan knew David was God’s choice for king of Israel and he asked only one thing from David—that David would treat his family with “faithful love” (from 1 Samuel 20:15 NLT).

Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle and David was crowned king of Israel.  He remembered his promise to Jonathan.  In 2 Samuel 9, we find this amazing story of David’s great kindness.  He invites Mephibosheth to move into the palace and sit at the king’s table, right there with Absolam, Amnon, Solomon, and all of David’s sons.

David extended extravagant kindess to Mephibosheth—not because of anything Mephibosheth had done but simply because of his love for Jonathan.  David offered Mephibosheth a place at the table, treated him as equal with his own sons.

This, y’all, this is what God has done for us!  He has extended extravagant kindness … not for our sakes but simply out of His perfect love.  We are welcomed at the King’s table and treated as equal with His own Son.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  Romans 8:16-17

You are welcome at the table … How will you live in that promise today?

Share with us how you have experienced being welcomed at the King’s table. I am Adopted

 

Fenced In? Theology of Forgiveness

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Some parts of Scripture leave me feeling fenced in, unable to maneuver, incapable of escape.  Passages concerning forgiveness are among these “cause me to hyperventilate” Scriptures.  Forgiveness is hard stuff.  The idea that receiving forgiveness from God is connected to extending forgiveness to others, well, that fence seems too high to scale most of the time.

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For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew 6:14-15 

Why did Jesus say our forgiveness by God is predicated on our willingness to forgive others?  Did He really mean that God will not forgive us if we don’t forgive those who wrong us?     Or maybe He was pointing to a deeper, heart truth:  We fail to grasp the depth of forgiveness received until we extend great forgiveness to others.

Jackie Kendall speaks to the reality of our identity as both forgiven and forgiver:

(W)e have the grace-given capacity to forgive.  It is imperative to recall this as well: not only are we offended, but we all offend.

Free Yourself to Love: the Liberating Power of Forgiveness, p. 21, emphasis in original

Jesus offered the well-known “seventy times seven” call to forgiveness after a parable about a servant forgiven a great debt and yet unwilling to then forgive the much-lesser debt of another.   We are called to identify ourselves with this greatly-forgiven and realize the debt we owe our King is infinitely beyond our ability to repay … and thus we have no just cause to withhold forgiveness from another.

That all sounds good in theory, right?  But sometimes people deeply wound us, so deeply there is no restoration possible or restitution to make amends.   How do we forgive then?  WHY do we forgive then?

How?  We make a choice.  We determine to be obedient and walk in the grace we have been given.

How?  We make the choice over and over.  This is where the seventy times seven comes in.  We continue to choose forgiveness even when we don’t want to and don’t feel like it.   We make the decision to extend mercy even when we’d rather, as my husband says, hoard grace.

The “How?” we generally understand.  It’s the “Why?” that leaves us baffled.

Why offer forgiveness?  Why does it matter?

Why?   Because we need to forgive in order to experience healing.

From another of my favorite books, Kitchen Table Counseling, by Muriel L. Cook and Shelly Cook Volkhardt:

I’ve learned that a lack of forgiveness is the root of most problems.  In almost every problem situation, after peeling off the layers of grief or distress, I find a wounded spirit or unresolved resentment.  (40).

Forgiving is what heals us.  We get that mixed up, don’t we?  We convince ourselves that it’s the apology that leads to our healing.  But it’s not.   It’s forgiving – even without the apology – that changes and restores our hearts.   Yes, we like the apology but we must learn that it is not vital to our wholeness.  But forgiveness is.

It is in forgiving, with or without the other party’s apology or desire for healing, that we experience the freedom of living in God’s plan for His children.  Again from Kitchen Table Counseling:

What appears to be a condition on His forgiveness is actually a demonstration of His love … God’s commandment to us to forgive was not given out of the meanness of His heart, nor was it meant to make life hard for us.  Its purpose is to set us free.  (40-45)

Forgiveness isn’t a fence holding us in … it’s a gate opening to the abundant life God has for us.   Through forgiving we imitate Christ.  Through forgiving, we find healing.  Through forgiving, we find freedom.

Have you ever felt fenced in by the command to forgive?  How have you learned to extend forgiveness?

Another Day of Grace

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{I adore Sandra!  She is one of my very best friends and I’ve been fortunate to spend time in her home and get to know her family.   This post is one of her more recent ones but it captures her heart and her desire to live in and give out grace.  Written about the pending “end of the world” on May 21st, Sandra points us all back to the truth of grace.  Thank you, Sandra, for your friendship and your faithfulness to know God more.  Your life is an encouragement and inspiration to me!  ~ Teri Lynne}

Today is (probably) not the day Christ will return. But it is a day of grace. For that, we should be thankful, and convicted.

They are laughing at us. On Twitter and in interviews. At family functions and friendly get-togethers. What a joke to think the world would end today! Those Christians are so crazy.

Most don’t know the difference in what Harold Camping believes and what John Piper believes (or Francis Chan or Beth Moore). Just like they don’t know the difference in Westboro Baptist Church and Stewartstown Baptist Church (my church). Christian is Christian is Christian when you aren’t one.

Why should today be any different for those of us who don’t believe Christ is returning at 6:00pm? There are lawns to mow, basketball games to watch, dirty diapers to change. Evangelism isn’t always on our to-do lists.

But this day reminds us that there is a lost and dying world in need of grace and the Grace Giver. We should be thankful we have another day to tell our friends and family members about the grace we ourselves have been freely given. 

Be an evangelist today. And tomorrow too.

Side note: We should also be giving grace to Harold Camping and his followers. Have you read his interviews? He says he has no idea if he will go to heaven. He doesn’t know if he’s saved. Imagine waking up, believing with all your heart, soul, and bank account that this is the end for the entire world, and not knowing your eternal destiny. Pray for him and those who bought into the lies spoken through him. Remember our battle is not against flesh and blood….

Grace in the past-tense

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There are some things I’d prefer to not have in past-tense…

such as, “when I didn’t have gray hair and stretch marks.”

But in Jesus Christ, past-tense is a profound treasure. Past-tense is our hope.

And you weredead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, followingthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work inthe sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, andwere by naturechildren of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

ButGod, beingrich in mercy,because of the great love with which he loved us,evenwhen we were dead in our trespasses,made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved…

Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)

On our own, we were absolutely without hope.

We were dead in our sin – because of that fateful day in the Garden, we were born dead in our sins. And we chose to continue walking in our sin, day by day living in blind rebellion against God. We aligned ourselves with His enemy, we lived to gratify our desires. We were children of wrath, deserving His judgment and facing God’s certain wrath against each and every one of our many sins.

But God.

But God chose to extend His mercy to us. We could not earn it – He offered it to us when we were dead and rebellious.

But God loved us with a great and inexplicable love. We could not earn it – He lavished it upon us when we were far from loving Him.

But God took us out of our chosen darkness and brought us into His glorious light. We could not earn it – we were actively following the evil one.

But God took us when we were dead and brought us to life. We could not earn it – we were spiritually dead and could do nothing good in and of ourselves.

But God turned us from children of wrath to His own chosen heirs. We could not earn it – He simply chose to us as His own.

When we accept what is offered to us in Christ, our dark, ugly, painful, rebellious past is… past-tense.

This is grace, dear friends. We bring nothing to the table. Nothing that would make us acceptable, lovable, worthy of His affection. He chose to lavish us with His mercy and grace and love – and puts our past in the past-tense.

Praise Him for turning your life upside down! [If you’re reading via email or a reader and the video below does not appear, please click through! It’s two minutes well spent!]

How to Study a Narrative Passage

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George Guthrie writes, “Large portions of the Old Testament come to us in the form of stories. They call us into a world both foreign and familiar, challenging us to find our place in a big story different from the small, boxed-in set of our personal, time-bound, culturally conditioned tales. They call us to enter God’s grand story, which tells what He is up to in the world” (Read the Bible for Life, pg 77).

Like portions of the Old Testament, the book of Ruth is a story.

It has all the elements of a story I used to have my 8th grade English students find in their reading assignments: characters, setting, plot, climax, and resolution.

It has all the qualities of a good story:  a stark setting, betrayal, disappointment, death, suffering. It has tension- racial tension, financial tension, and sexual tension. The “bad guy” at the beginning of the story turns out to be the “good guy” at the end. It is ultimately a love story.

So how do we “study” a book like Ruth? How could the simple telling of a story that happened thousands of years ago make an impact on our lives today?

First, we understand that the main character in every story in the Bible is God. When we read a passage (whether narrative, poetry, law, or epistle) we ask the question, “What does this teach me about God?”

Second, we remember that narrative passages are descriptive, not necessarily prescriptive. Meaning they describe what happened, not what should always happen. We don’t read the book of Ruth as a how-to manual for what to do if there is a drought. Or what to do if your husband dies. Or even step-by-step instructions on how to woo a man. We read it like a story, as it was intended to be read. It is a true, inspired, sanctifying story, but a story none the less.

After we find God and understand the story is not prescriptive, we are able to better see ourselves. After answering what the passage teaches us about God, we ask what God wants us to do based on what we read. We see God’s love for widows and take a minute to write a note to a widow in the church. We see His providential plan for Naomi and Ruth and trust that no matter what situation we are in, God has a plan for our lives. Ultimately, we see Christ, who is in the family linage of this poor, young Moabite widow.

God’s Word is living and active. That includes the stories written thousands of years ago. We are praying that this month’s study of the book of Ruth will teach us all more about God and His love for us!

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Grace in the Sky Box

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The Scripture Dig team appreciates your prayers as we prepare to serve the Lord together at a retreat, April 8&9 in Pigeon Forge, TN. We will be teaching about our adoption by our Heavenly Father and what it means to be “in the Family.” If you would like information, just leave a comment, and we’ll be glad to email you details.

In my long braid days we were given tickets to the Sky Box for the Ice Capades. I remember wide chairs high above the crowds, enjoying the view. It was a view we couldn’t afforded for ourselves. We sampled sodas with round cubes in wide glasses, served with triangle roast beef sandwiches with enough meat on them to make mom frown.  The riches were unlike any we enjoyed in the “cheap seats.” Though they had no obligation, the company invited us to enjoy benefits we hadn’t earned and didn’t deserve. Our only distinction was being declared “welcome” by the owner who freely provided the riches of life in the Sky Box.


God is known for His joy in showering grace on His loved ones. He is known as “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Unlike privileges earned from hard work, the blessings bestowed out of grace are purely out of the loving desire of the Giver.

Salvation is that out of reach blessing we could never earn. It is only bestowed on us by the gracious Giver’s “unmerited favor.” Sin stands in the way of our access to the Sky Box of life, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  but “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24).  By God’s undeserved kindness to us we’re accepted where we could not go alone, given access and blessing only possible with a Redeemer.


The Redeemer’s payment on our behalf was not deserved, yet “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). None of us can say we enjoy the distinction of salvation because of anything we have done. God knows we could not resist the urge to boast, so we know it’s all because of grace.

A simple acronym reminds us grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Too simple?

We enjoy the blessings of Heaven only because of the sacrifice of Heaven’s Son.

I was nervous when we were invited up to the Sky Box, expecting that no one like me would be there.  Somehow I expected they would all “belong” there, look different than I did, and act like “Sky Box People.”  But in reality it was filled with other people like me. People who had done nothing to deserve the privileges and gifts, people who had just received unmerited favor.  That’s the beauty of grace. Where sin is great, grace is greater (Rom. 5:20).  It’s when we’re sure we don’t deserve the riches that we’re ready for the grace.


Have you ever been to a Sky Box? There are thick triangle sandwiches with ruffled toothpicks, sodas with round cubes, wide seats with a great view, and servers to make sure you enjoy the benefits. And how about grace?  Have you enjoyed God’s grace?  You’ve been invited!!!!  And it’s better than the Sky Box.

Give Grace

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Grace … receiving what we do not deserve.

We cling to this verse:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.   Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

Not from ourselves.  Not of ourselves.  Not through ourselves.

We can’t earn grace.  We don’t deserve grace.  It is the gift of God.

But somehow, though we have been given such great grace so freely, we are stingy with it. We demand grace be given according to our need and yet we resist offering that same grace to others.

It happens in churches.  A lot.

The pastor’s sermon isn’t as well delivered as I’d like.

The worship leader doesn’t sing the same words as are on the screen.

The Sunday School teacher is distracted and the lesson isn’t very good.

The nursery worker failed to change the baby’s diaper before I picked her up  so she was wet.  Very wet.

No one spoke to me during the welcome time.

But what if you knew that the pastor had been at the hospital all night comforting parents whose child had been in a car accident and was in a coma.

Or what if you knew the worship leader had received a call early Sunday morning that his best friend’s wife had left him.

What if the Sunday School teacher hadn’t studied because he was laid off last week and was just having a hard time figuring out how to trust God in the midst of his fears about providing for his family.

And what if that nursery worker hadn’t changed your sweet baby’s diaper because she had spent time comforting the child of a visitor who had never been to church before.

What if the people who normally speak to you didn’t because they were checking on a young widow who was back at church for the first time since her husband’s tragic death.

Does that make a difference?

Should it?

Truthfully, not a bit.

Our extension of grace should never be based on our feelings or understanding of a situation.  Instead, we are called to give grace because we have received grace.

And, this is never more true than in our local faith families.  Jesus spoke to this truth plainly:

“A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35, NIV

Love gives grace … willingly.

We must give grace in our words.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6 NIV

We must give grace to prevent conflict.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:15 NIV

We must give grace as we serve.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.   1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Am I saying this will be easy?  Nope!  It won’t.  In fact, giving grace is hard.  Giving grace requires laying down self and giving priority to others.  Giving grace necessitates that we let go of our expectations and focus instead on encouraging others.

But time and again, I have seen this truth:  Grace multiplies!

And so my challenge to you is to give grace in your church.  To the pastors, the leaders, the teachers, the nursery workers, the technical crew, and to the people in the pews.

Time and again, give grace!   Not because “they” deserve it but because you didn’t deserve it either.

Have you seen grace multiplied in your church?  How can you give grace this week?

{I’ve also written on this idea of giving grace relating to online relationships for Gather Inspirit.}

 

History repeats itself

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I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like me, and I know I wouldn’t like myself. “How can I know this?” Well, I’m a history buff, and my love of things ancient stirred my curiosity to explore my own history… “pre-me.”  I hoped to find noble, compassionate, wise, and gentile habits. After all, I’m a “Virginian,” the state that produced 4 of our first 5 presidents and was settled by Europeans in 1607. Since my family arrived in the first quarter of the 17th century, shouldn’t I find something worthy of a page in history? I did. Perhaps that’s why famous Virginian Thomas Jefferson said, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”


As I explored my heritage, I discovered some shining moments, but mostly sin. Instead of a story destined for greatness, I confirmed what the Bible said all along, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6.  Translation:  Instead of enduring heirlooms, my inheritance as a human being was just filthy rags. The generations before me walked a sinful path, with few turning to God. Since history repeats itself, I was clearly destined to follow in their footsteps. The further back I went, the more certain I was I’m cut out of sinful cloth.

My own story took a turn when my parents’ marriage skidded dangerously close to the edge and my mom went to church as a last resort. A woman in a stairway noticed she “needed a friend” and said so.  Doing more than smile, though, she took my mom to where she could hear the truth, to where God’s Word could change us one at a time. Until then, we repeated patterns of generations of empty people who defaulted to anger, abuse and addictions. I was on track to fit into THAT family album, and as a history lover, I KNOW I would’ve become just like my lost ancestors. But God changed our story (MY story) as we heard the gospel.  Our home was transformed by His truth. I’m so glad that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” Romans 5:20.


His grace changed generations of ugliness and rerouted my future. At five, I knew I wanted Jesus’ gift of life for me. Before I even understood my future was guaranteed to be bleak, God set me on a new course and spared me much of the pain I read in my history.  My heavenly Father offered me a future as His daughter, with a heavenly inheritance, so Thomas Jefferson was right! I really do like the way the future looks “post-grace” rather than the past history without God.

If you accepted Christ as a child and ever wonder “how bad it could’ve been,” just check out your family history.

I’m still a history buff. It’s evidence of who I’d be without Christ Jesus, and it’s evidence His sacrifice can change lives. The more I learn about the past, the more I know sin has always increased, but God’s grace increases all the more! What’s your history?

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