Category: Faith

Patterns through Generations

The large trunks sat untouched in the attic for years, gathering dust in a dark corner. Sometimes one of my boys or their cousins would ask if they could rummage inside them on a rainy day. And although my mom was usually a pushover for her grandkids’ requests, the answer about opening the trunks was always the same: No. She didn’t have an interest in being reminded of her painful childhood. 

Recently my brothers opened those trunks and found a treasure trove of old photos and other mementos dating back over 100 years. Among our favorite finds were dozens of pictures of our mom’s mother—the grandmother we never had. She contracted tuberculosis when my mom was six and eventually moved to a sanitarium in hopes of recovering there. Because TB is airborne, my grandmother couldn’t hug my mom or even hold her on her lap. They had to remain on opposites sides of the room during her brief, infrequent visits home. Three years later, my grandmother died in the sanitarium at age 32, leaving behind a grieving, young husband and a nine-year-old daughter. For my mom, the trunks were filled with reminders of what could have been.

With the newly discovered photos, we pieced together parts of our grandmother’s life we’d never known. There were pictures of her on high school sports teams, clowning around with friends, on a trip to see relatives in Europe, and on dates with my grandpa at the Jersey shore. This woman who had always been such a mystery came to life for us. She seemed funny, energetic, fashionable, and just a bit mischievous. We were surprised and delighted to discover the many interests we shared with her—sports, travel, friends, and the beach, to name a few.

The generations that go before us pass down their genetic code, but they also lay foundations and patterns in our lives, both good and bad. We often follow in the footsteps of those who have preceded us, whether we mean to or not. We see this regularly in the Bible, where God’s people follow familiar paths from one generation to the next.

Take, Abraham, for example. Before becoming the father of the Israelites, the Lord called him to leave his home and travel to a different land. He was 75 when he obeyed God by taking his wife, nephew, servants, and belongings to make a new start in the land of Canaan (described in Genesis 12).

In the opening session of Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph, author and teacher Kelly Minter paints a picture of Abraham’s life. She describes his faithfulness to the Lord that laid the foundation for his great grandson, Joseph, who is the topic of her study. Minter highlights five key aspects of Abraham’s life that proved to be true in Joseph’s life as well. Abraham’s and Joseph’s obedience led to an outpouring of blessing for their descendants and for the entire world, including us. 

Here are the key points from Kelly Minter’s first video teaching:

1) When God sets you apart it’s an invitation to relationship with Him.

The call of Abram in Genesis 12:3 showed that God intended to use Him to bless the entire world: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This is the beginning of the good news stated in Galatians 3:8-9: “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

2) Being set apart will always be in keeping with God’s grand plan of redemption. Joseph was set apart for the blessing of others. Blessing moves through us to bless others.

3) When God sets you apart for a task, He shoulders the responsibility for its outcome. When we respond with obedience, there’s no limit to what He can do.

4) Being set apart is initiated by God but carried out through our obedience.

5) Neither your history nor heritage has to be unblemished for God to set you apart.

Joseph’s story is one of redemption filled with practical wisdom. Through the lens of his life we’ll examine how to deal with difficult family issues and mend broken relationships. We’ll learn how to choose forgiveness and respond with wisdom amidst unexpected challenges and disappointments. Joseph will show us how to give mercy and kindness to the undeserving. And he’ll reveal how a good God and suffering can co-exist. 

I’m excited to learn how these truths played out in Joseph’s life and to see how I can apply them in mine as well. Join me on this journey and let God’s faithfulness breathe new hope into whatever you’re facing.

Abraham established a foundation of faith that we’re still benefiting from today. Let Pat Barrett’s song “Build My Life” remind you of the importance of building your life on the solid ground of Jesus’ love.

Kelly Minter, Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph, Lifeway Press, 2019.

What Would You Say?

My college roommates and I have an annual tradition of meeting for a weekend away together. Over time, we’ve embraced certain rituals like enjoying leisurely meals and staying up late talking. Another tradition we love is choosing a favorite item to bring and share as a gift to the others. Last year I couldn’t wait to give them a book that impacted me significantly. As they scanned the table of contents, I was giddy sharing about all the ways I’d benefited from what I learned.

Maybe you’ve experienced a similar dynamic. When you find something beneficial to you, you’re enthusiastic about passing it along to others. Why is it, though, that we don’t always have the same exuberance when it comes to telling people about the good news of Jesus? There are many explanations, but I think one is that we just don’t know what to say.

In her Bible study 20/20. Seen. Chosen. Sent., Christine Caine highlights this by asking, “Could you walk someone through the truth of the gospel?” (page 151) She goes on to explain, “If the sole purpose of salvation is to go to heaven when we die, then wouldn’t it be more merciful of Jesus if, after He saved us, He took us home immediately? But we have a purpose to fulfill here on earth. We are the sent ones commissioned to go into all the world and proclaim His good news.” (page 152)

Her words echo Jesus’ teaching known as the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 18:19-20, NIV)

This reminds me of a young businessman named Bill Bright who heard the message of the gospel and began a personal relationship with Jesus. As his faith grew, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. Jesus’ words in the Great Commission compelled Bright to tell the good news to anyone who would listen. Eventually, he dedicated his life to sharing the gospel and to training others to do the same by founding Campus Crusade for Christ International in 1951. Now known simply as “Cru,” the ministry focuses on sharing the good news about Jesus on college campuses around the world.

Soon after founding Cru, Bill Bright realized that many believers were unable to communicate the gospel succinctly. So, using skills he’d acquired in the business world, he set out to write a clear and simple explanation of the good news that others could learn to share. As a lover of science, Bright decided to make a comparison between physical laws that govern the universe (such as the law of gravity), and spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God. He created a simple document called The Four Spiritual Laws that helped to communicate the gospel to non-believers. It also gave Christians a roadmap for sharing the good news of Jesus with others. If you’ve ever struggled to find the right words for sharing the hope of Jesus, Bright’s tool might be helpful for you to learn. Here’s an overview of it:

Law 1: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. 

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

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b

Law 2: People are sinful and separated from God. Therefore, we can’t experience God’s love and plan for our lives.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Law 3: Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.

-He died in our place, paying the penalty for our sin: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

-He rose from death: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

-He is the only way to God: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Law 4: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” John 1:12

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

“For 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

Every person can receive Christ by faith by saying a simple prayer like this:

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You and my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

Bill Bright’s passion led him to share the gospel, disciple, and train thousands of people. Today, Cru has ministries in 5300 locations on college campuses in addition to ministries reaching a variety of other people groups worldwide.

Will you follow Bill Bright’s example and learn to share the gospel so you can participate in fulfilling the Great Commission? Ask the Holy Spirit to empower and lead you to others who are hungry for the hope found in Jesus.

For a deeper dive into understanding the Four Spiritual Laws, check out these four posts in my “Faith Foundations” series:  

God Loves You

The Problem of Sin

Jesus is the Only Way

Accept Jesus Personally

For more information on Cru visit their website.

For more inspiration, check out Bill Bright’s biography Amazing Faith

Christine Caine, 20/20. Seen. Chosen. Sent., Lifeway Press, 2019.

Be Inspired Again this Week

Sitting on the roof of a houseboat, I settled in for the evening program. The sun dipped low in the sky, glinting on the water. In the distance, a boat sped past causing a patch of reeds to sway in the ripples of its wake. Teenagers lounged in contentment on either side of me, listening as their youth pastor taught. Although I was serving on staff at camp, I was only a few years older than most of the students. I wanted to believe that I was more mature than them, but the pastor’s words pierced me with fresh conviction.

I’d arrived just a few days earlier, showing up 24 hours after my high school graduation. Since I’d attended the camp with my church in prior summers, I felt confident in my ability to be a leader. Working at Houseboats had been my goal since my first time as a camper. Fun with friends, water skiing, sunbathing, and dynamic leaders had drawn me back every year. I liked the way I felt at camp—there was a sense of Christian community that was authentic and meaningful.

In spite of all this, I was nursing serious self-doubt as a leader once I got there. I felt like a fraud. Even though I’d accepted Jesus as a child and had gotten confirmed as a teenager, an ingredient in my spiritual life seemed to be missing when I compared it to others on staff. I’d straddled the fence between my Christian faith and a worldly lifestyle for the majority of my teen years. There had been moments of deep connection with God at camps, but I hadn’t pursued Him consistently in daily life. Now, I felt like I’d missed out on so much because I’d drifted through my teen years with a lukewarm faith.

When my first group of campers had arrived, I’d enjoyed participating in their nightly programs, singing worship songs, and hearing their youth pastor teach. He had kicked off each evening by reading one chapter from Robert Boyd Munger’s My Heart Christ’s Home. The booklet is an allegory depicting a new believer inviting Jesus to live in his home. Together, they tour all the rooms which represent different aspects of our lives. For example, the dining room represents our appetites and desires and the rec room encompasses our fun times and friendships. 

Listening along with my campers, the Holy Spirit began showing me areas of my life that I’d been holding back from the Lord. Perhaps the most impactful for me was hearing about the living room, where Jesus and the new believer planned to meet every morning to talk and study together.  At first, they met daily, but after a while, busyness interfered with their regular time together.  Here’s the portion of the chapter that struck me most:

“As I passed the living room, the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, ‘He was my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting Him.’

I turned and went in. With downcast glance, I said, ‘Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?’

‘Yes,’ He said, ‘I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you.’ Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me, as He does when we are truly repentant. 

‘The trouble with you is this: you have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Now,’ He said, ‘do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!’”

Until that moment, I’d never considered how Jesus felt about the relationship we shared. I understood the sacrifice He made for all people on the cross, but I’d never grasped how much He loved me personally. Once I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior, I hadn’t nurtured our relationship. It was like I’d invited Him into my home, but had left Him standing in the entryway. I thought He’d mess up my plans and expect me to do things His way if I let Him in any further.

Hearing that booklet read aloud was a powerful turning point in my faith journey. On one of the final days at Houseboats, I sat on a small beach during solo time and told Jesus things were going to be different between the two of us. Digging my toes into the sand, I wrote a prayer telling Him I wasn’t holding back anymore. I was fully committing to Him, even though it meant making some big changes and hard choices when I got home. I was ready to surrender and have Him not only be my Savior, but my Lord as well. Since then, He’s continued to expand His presence in every room of my life.

My turning point happened over three weeks on a houseboat at the Sacramento Delta. But each follower of Jesus has a unique story about when and how this occurred for them. Recently, I’ve been privileged to dialogue with others about their experiences with Jesus through my involvement with IF:Danville. I’m excited for you to hear them this Thursday during Week 2 of IF:Danville at Home. You’ll have the opportunity to watch interviews with several women who have discovered the joy of knowing Jesus personally and intimately. Each of their experiences is surprising and unique, but also relatable. I hope the variety in their stories will help you to see that God pursues us intentionally and individually to draw us to Himself. 

For more information about IF:Danville at Home, click here.

To read My Heart, Christ’s Home, click here.  

Sonshine Ministries is the camp where I surrendered to Jesus. This summer is the first time since 1975 boats will not being going out due to COVID-19. If you’re looking for a worthy cause to support, consider making a donation to help this ministry stay afloat. Click here to visit their website. You’ll find giving options under the “support” tab.

Be Inspired This Week

Hearing the lock click in the door, I sat up in bed and squinted as light from the hallway streamed into the hotel room. Two women stepped inside, rolling their suitcases behind them. “Hi, I’m Marybeth,” I said as their silhouettes tiptoed past my bed. Surprised to find me still awake, they introduced themselves. It was an awkward albeit memorable way to meet someone for the first time. The whole day had been filled with making new friends as I’d traveled from California to Texas with a group of women from church. We had arrived in stages to attend IF:Lead in Dallas– a conference for women. Some in our group knew each other, but many were meeting for the first time. The common link between us was a shared love for Jesus.

Although the conference lasted only two days, it was loaded with inspiring worship, solid teaching, and impactful testimonies. Our group had a ball together and formed fast friendships. All of us had the same desire to share the incredible experience we’d had with others.

We returned to the Bay Area inspired and ready to begin planning IF:Danville, which would be modeled after IF:Gathering – a larger scale event happening in Dallas in the spring. In case you aren’t familiar with it, IF:Gathering was founded by author and speaker Jennie Allen. It is not only an event, but a ministry impacting people world-wide. Their goal is to put resources in the hands of women in the church to empower them to change lives. 

The group that had attended IF:Lead got busy planning a local gathering. Over time, other friends jumped into the mix to help with organizing different aspects of IF:Danville. Each time we met to plan and pray, enthusiasm for the event gained momentum.

In February, we watched a simulcast of IF:Gathering in Texas and prayerfully chose the talks that would most resonate with our local women. Soon, the programming details fell into place. To make the video teachings more relevant, we asked women in our community to share their personal experiences with Jesus. We thought interviewing them would help others see how personal faith impacts daily life in relatable and practical ways.

The number of hours lovingly poured into preparations for this event was staggering.  All of us couldn’t wait to see how God would inspire those who attended the event in mid-March. Although we were aware there was an unusual virus spreading rapidly around the world, we never dreamed it would impact our plans. It wasn’t until the final days leading up to IF:Danville that the threat of COVID-19 became personal.

I’ll never forget walking into the chapel the morning of March 11 for our final prayer time. The giddy excitement of the previous meetings had been replaced by a somber tone. With a heavy heart, our Women’s Ministries pastor shared the news that our event needed to be postponed indefinitely. County health officials had just announced gatherings over 50 people had to be suspended. Church services, Bible studies, youth groups, and mission trips were all being put on hold.

After hearing the news and shedding a few tears, we prayed together on our knees in the chapel. Despite our deep disappointment, we told God we trusted Him. We believed He’d show us what to do. At a time when people needed hope, we had it ready to share– it was just a matter of figuring out how to do it.

Over time, the Lord revealed a plan. With a bit of creativity and the blessing of technology, we were able to re-format the event to be shown online. So, I’m thrilled to announce this Thursday evening, May 14, will kick off the first of a three week series we’re calling IF:Danville at Home. Now we have the capacity to reach far more than the 400 women we’d planned to welcome to our church on March 13 & 14. 

This week you’ll have the opportunity to hear inspiring stories about how Jesus walked with a teenage girl and a seasoned grandmother through some heartbreaking medical issues. We’ll discover how God used those hard situations to grow their faith deeper. Both will inspire you with their vision for loving others and being intentional about the legacy they’re leaving behind. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear a powerful teaching from Jada Edwards of IF:Gathering. 

The IF:Danville team has spurred on my faith over the past few months and I’m thrilled that they can do the same for you. I hope you’ll join me virtually to be inspired through the interviews and teaching this Thursday at 8pm and on May 21 & 28. And I pray they’ll point you toward the hope found only in Jesus. Be sure to invite a friend who could use some encouragement right now too. For more information, click on the link below. 

http://www.cpcdanville.org/ifdanville/

I choose joy.

I’ve been writing blog posts consistently since fall of 2012. In all that time, I’ve never had a guest writer on my site. But today that changes. With his permission, I’m sharing an article written by my son, who is a junior in college. He has been sheltering in place in his dorm room 1500 miles from home. As a Community Leader (RA) in his residence hall, he chose to stay at school, continue his job, and do classes online. There are twelve other students in the building who didn’t return home. In his role as a CL, he was asked to write an article for a weekly newsletter sent out to the 550 students who usually live in the community. When he shared what he’d written with me, I felt compelled to give it a broader audience. It’s a thought provoking perspective– especially coming from someone so young. I hope his words inspire and challenge you like they did me.

“I choose joy.” by Garrett McCullum
Originally published in “Updates from the HRC” Special Edition, Issue 6, April 19, 2020. (Baylor University)

It seems like every day we hear more bad news. Coronavirus is still spreading. Shelter in place has been extended again. We haven’t seen our friends in weeks. Someone we know is sick. We are stuck at home with families we may or may not like but are definitely tired of seeing every waking moment. Our professor still hasn’t figured out how to unmute his microphone on Zoom. 

Often times when I talk to friends and family over Zoom or Facetime or text the conversation centers on coronavirus and sheltering in place. We talk a lot about how hard it is to be stuck at home, unable to see friends or even family in some cases. We talk about how long this might drag on and how much different online classes are. It’s not uncommon for me to feel more discouraged after these calls than before. When we talk only about the things that are difficult and only focus on what we have lost, it is hard to find any encouragement.

Things may not be easy and fun right now, but there is more to life than coronavirus. I think that too often we choose to let all the bad things in the world color our attitude and outlook on life. We choose to dwell in our sadness, frustration, and loneliness. The problem with this is that there will always be hardships, and even when we aren’t sheltering in place life won’t be perfect. So instead of sitting in loneliness and self-pity, I am going to choose joy. No matter the circumstance I am going to make a conscious choice to be joyful. 

Our happiness does not need to depend on the world around us, in fact if it does, we will be disappointed time and time again. The apostle Paul went through countless hardships in his life and ministry. He was imprisoned frequently, beaten repeatedly by both Jews and Gentiles, shipwrecked three times, and almost constantly in danger. Paul had every reason to be miserable and give up. But through all of it he did not lose hope and through all of it he remained joyful. As he sat in prison, Paul wrote to the Philippians, “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” 

Paul’s hope and joy did not come from this world, they came from God and his work in the world. Paul knew something that we would do well to remind ourselves of: we serve a God who is greater than imprisonment, greater than coronavirus, even greater than death. Just last Sunday we celebrated the resurrection, when Jesus rose triumphant over all of our sin. In the resurrection we have hope beyond this world, an assurance that no matter how dark the world may seem, God is greater. 

So, because of this we have a choice. We can choose to place our hope in the world and its uncertainty. There will be good times and bad times, and our outlook and attitude will change as often as the weather. Or we can choose to place our hope in God. There will still be good times and bad times, but we can choose to look beyond these to the God who made it all and has a plan for everything. I’m going to choose God. When I feel overwhelmed and when I feel completely alone, I am going to look to him. I am going to do my best to not let my circumstances determine how I feel, I am going to lean on God for hope and assurance. The world is only as dark as we allow it to be, all we have to do is ask and God will shine his light into the darkness. I’ll leave you with this verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Photo by Emma Nelson

My Cup Overflows

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5b, NIV)

Anointing people with oil isn’t a common practice in our culture today, which means the beauty of this verse can be overlooked. I’m grateful to have had rare opportunities to experience it on two occasions. The first was alongside church elders praying for a man in the hospital with traumatic injuries. The second was when ministry leaders prayed for me as I was beginning a new leadership role at church. 

Both of my experiences were powerful and in keeping with what Scripture shows: anointing is meant for consecrating or setting someone apart for special service, honoring or blessing a guest, or praying for a person who needs healing.  Jennifer Rothschild explains that it is “a poetic picture of the sweet presence and action of the Holy Spirit in our lives.” (p. 157)

Although you may not have experienced being anointed physically, you’ve been anointed spiritually if you follow Jesus. “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13b-14, NIV)

To get a more complete understanding, we need to unpack the second part of the verse: “My cup overflows.” Rothschild explains, “The Hebrew word for overflow in Psalm 23:5 means saturated. And it denotes wealth or satisfaction. So, when we are saturated with the good things of God, we will be rich with His Spirit and truth and fully, deeply satisfied.” (p. 165) I think the best example of God’s richness and abundance overflowing is in Jesus’ sacrificial love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

Jesus elaborated on this the night before His crucifixion using the elements of the Passover table as an illustration: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28, NIV) 

Overflowing with love for us, Jesus poured out His life to restore us to right relationship with the Father. When we personally accept Him as our Savior, He anoints us with His Holy Spirit. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand… God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1,2 & 4b, NIV)

With the Holy Spirit living in us, we have access to all the spiritual riches of God. “The more we stay in the presence of the Lord, sitting at the table He prepares for us, the more we are aware of the presence and power of His Holy Spirit in our lives.” (p. 159) We begin to display qualities we don’t possess naturally: “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22 & 23a, NLT)

It is only through the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit that any of these qualities show in my life. While we’ve been sheltering at home as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, I’ve been reminded that maintaining an awareness of the Lord’s presence and power makes a significant difference. On days when I spend too much time poring over news stories and tracking the spread of the virus, my whole demeanor changes. I’m anxious, irritable, and short tempered. When I don’t make the time to refresh myself with the overflowing abundance of God’s love and grace, I let our current circumstances color my outlook with fear and negativity. 

On a recent rainy Sunday, I got out of bed late and didn’t have a chance to spend time alone with the Lord. Since we were tuning into an online church service, I figured that would be a good alternative. Although I heard teaching from Scripture and passively participated in corporate prayer, I didn’t connect with any of it personally. Instead, I grew increasingly negative, grumpy, and critical. I was tired of sheltering at home and frustrated that the rain was taking away my chance to find respite outdoors. On top of that, I was stewing on a few frustrating interactions I’d had via text and e-mail the day before.

After the service, I realized I needed to give myself a time-out to be alone with the Lord. Curled up on my bed while rain continued to drum on the roof, I opened my prayer journal and poured out my frustrations to God. Soon, I felt Him leading me to different passages of Scripture that spoke directly to me. I realized my attitude had made me a prime target for enemy attack. I confessed specific situations where I’d been harboring negative thoughts or thinking critically. The Lord showed me some incorrect assumptions and conclusions I was drawing from limited knowledge. Sharing my raw feelings and angst gave Him an opening to speak to me through His Word and to renew my mind. He enabled me to see the same situations and people with a fresh perspective. The rain continued to fall, but my dark mood lightened considerably.

My experience was an unflattering example of Jennifer Rothschild’s words, “When your plans get turned upside down, when you get knocked down, when you start to shake, what brims over from your cup? Only what is inside will flow out.” (p. 164) What spilled out of my cup wasn’t pretty that morning. The Lord was ready and waiting to give me what I needed, but I had to draw near to Him to receive it. Rothschild sums it up, “It’s like He’s saying, What I want to give you is bigger than you can contain. What I want to lavish over your life is more than you have capacity to hold. I want to fill you with grace and peace and joy and My Word so you will overflow with hope and love and rejoicing. When I saturate your life with My goodness, you will be satisfied.” (p. 165)

There’s no better time to see God’s goodness then at Easter. Holy Week looks a little different this year as we celebrate it without the usual fanfare. But maybe having all of the exterior aspects of Easter stripped away will narrow our focus so we can celebrate what it’s really about: The Father’s overflowing love, the Son’s sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection, and the Spirit’s anointing that fills us with His presence and power.

Don’t miss the opportunity to reflect on these truths so beautifully captured in “King of Kings” by Hillsong United. 

Jennifer Rothschild, Psalm 23: The Shepherd with Me, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Image by Scott Warburton, courtesy of pixabay.com

Tying a Bow on Genesis

The book of Hebrews tells us that God’s Word is alive and active. Having just finished studying Genesis for the third time, I can attest to the truth of this statement. I’ve delved into the stories of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Joseph, Judah, and Tamar at different seasons in my life; although the tales remain the same, the truth I glean from them continues to expand.

Here are a few of the things that stood out to me in my most recent journey through Genesis:

  1. God is sovereign.  He possesses supreme and ultimate power. He gives us free will and doesn’t force us to follow His ways, but He is still the One who is ultimately in control. Because of this, I’m better off trusting Him than trying to do things my own way.
  2. God keeps His promises. It may take a long time, but He does come through in the end. (Think of Sarah, who waited 25 years to get pregnant with the child promised by God.) This means He’s trustworthy and I can rest in that knowledge even when I don’t see how He’s working in the moment.
  3. God is faithful. He remains true to us even when we doubt Him, make poor choices, or disobey. Seeing the Lord’s faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants despite their many blunders encourages me. Even when we fail, God’s plans prevail. We are fickle, but He is faithful.
  4. God is worthy. He deserves our honor, praise, and obedience. Seeing how He accomplishes His plans despite the ways people try thwart them (intentionally or unintentionally) inspires me to yield to Him as Lord of my life.

Knowing these truths, I’d be wiser to exert my energy trusting God than trying to control things using my own strength and wisdom. I’m striving to be less anxious when I don’t see or understand what the Lord is doing. My goal is to trust Him as I wait for answers, clarity, or direction. Rather than concerning myself with how events unfold, I want to focus more on what God is teaching me and how He wants to use me with the people and circumstances I encounter. I want to be less focused on why He’s allowed certain things in my life and more attuned to how He can use them to deepen my faith and impact others.

Reading the stories of Sarah and Rebekah has convicted me of my tendency to take matters into my own hands instead of trusting God. I overthink many things and try to play out scenarios multiple steps ahead of where I am. Rather than trusting God with how a situation will unfold, I try to anticipate each option and make contingency plans for it. My knack for being capable and productive doesn’t always leave room for God to work in His way and His timing. Realizing this is humbling and convicting.

The story of Joseph provides powerful examples for training me in righteousness. Seeing his faithfulness to God in difficult times while surrounded by unbelievers inspires me to be true to God and His ways. Like Joseph, I want to be honest and authentic about the Lord’s presence in my life instead of downplaying it in certain company. I’m also inspired to follow Joseph’s example by using my gifts to bless others in every setting, not just ones where people already love and honor God. I don’t want to be timid about pointing others to the solid foundation He provides.

Studying Genesis also bolsters my faith in the consistency of God’s Word from Old Testament to New. It always delights me to recognize the many elements that point us toward Christ. The lives of Joseph and Judah include many examples that I’ve discussed in other posts. During this season of studying Genesis, I was also struck by Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’” (Genesis 28:12-15, NIV)

Until Jen Wilkin’s teaching in God of Covenant, I’d never understood that the stairway between heaven and earth is Christ Himself. When we reach toward Jesus to intercede for us, we stand at the gate of heaven. He is the mediator between God and humans—the One who makes it possible for us to access the Almighty.

The ten weeks of studying the book of beginnings have come to an end. The “seed plot of the Bible” has provided rich soil for digging into relevant topics for our lives today. The stories and people in Genesis are messy and complicated, but God used them for His redemptive purposes, just as He does with us. Some situations make us scratch our heads in confusion or blush at sordid details; we wonder how a sacred book could be filled with such broken and sinful people. And yet, it’s these unsanitized stories and flawed characters that show Scripture’s authenticity. They give us hope that no one is disqualified from being accepted by God or used to advance His kingdom.

Understanding these truths prompts me to pause for a moment of worship. “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship beautifully shares the story of the gospel. Listen now and be in awe of our sovereign, faithful God who keeps His promises and is worthy of our praise.

Jen Wilkin, God of Covenant: A Study of Genesis 12-50, Lifeway Press 2018.

The phrase “seed plot of the Bible” was originally coined by Arthur W. Pink in Gleanings in Genesis.

Assuming God is Good

Giggling from the backseat, my son read the completed Mad Lib aloud to his brother and friends. At the time, the boys were in elementary school—a prime age for reveling in the silliness of this classic fill-in-the-blanks activity. You probably remember doing Mad Libs of your own in younger days: one person acts as the scribe and asks the group for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech to write into blanks in a pre-written story the participants haven’t read. The results are usually funny—especially with boys who strive to choose the most ridiculous words they can.

As we get older, we continue filling in the blanks mentally, but the results are usually less fun. We get in the habit of making assumptions about gaps of information with our best guesses. For many of us, these are more negative than positive. We do it all the time with other people. We also do it with God.

That’s why I find the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, Isaac, so astounding. As a test, God asked him to do the unthinkable and place his cherished child as a burnt offering on the altar. Abraham had waited 25 years for the Lord to give him an heir with Sarah. So why did He make such a brutal request after fulfilling His promise? Perhaps Abraham had gotten his priorities out of order and had been prizing his son above all else. Maybe he needed to be reminded God still deserved first place in his heart. Whatever it was, Abraham didn’t ask for the reason, he just obeyed.

Scripture gives us a few clues about how he saw the situation. The first is when he prepared to take Isaac up the mountain as a sacrifice: “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” (Genesis 22:5, NIV)

Despite the plan to use his son as an offering, he told the servants both he and Isaac would return. Why would he say that? I used to think he was just trying to cover up what he was about to do so his servants wouldn’t try to stop him. But, maybe it was an example of his faith in God. As we read on, it seems possible he really did believe both of them would come back.

After leaving the servants behind, Isaac asked his father where they would find an animal to sacrifice and Abraham replied: “`God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.” (Genesis 22:8, NIV)

Again, I previously assumed Abraham was stalling and giving an excuse to Isaac, but now I see that he really believed what he said. At the moment Abraham raised his hand to kill his son, an angel called out to him, showing that God was, indeed, trustworthy: “`Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” (Genesis 22:12-14, NIV)

In the New Testament’s “Hall of Faith,” we discover more insight about the sacrifice of Isaac: “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11:17-19, NIV)

This story is hard to grasp on many levels, but what strikes me most is Abraham’s unwavering trust in God. Not once did he accuse the Lord of being cruel or unfair. He believed God was good and trusted Him to provide. God tested Abraham and he passed with flying colors.

So, what’s the personal application for us in this? I’m learning that when we lay down what we cherish before God, it enables us to reprioritize and give Him the place of honor in our lives He deserves. Only after realigning our will with His can we receive back what we freely offered Him. Or, as A.W. Tozer says, “As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once.”

I’m humbled by Abraham’s faith as I recall the many times I’ve filled in the blanks with negative assumptions about God. How often have I fretted over a difficult or uncertain situation instead of simply laying it before Him? When have I demanded to know why the Lord allowed pain in my life instead of trusting that He would use it for my good and His glory? What about times I’ve struggled to believe promises in Scripture, like this one:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Instead of trusting God is at work in ways He hasn’t yet revealed, I tend to worry and make contingency plans. Many of us in the midst of the unknown assume God is either not paying attention or not going to act in time. We want the Lord to work for our good according to our purposes instead of His. So, we seek comfort, security, and control in other things instead of trusting Him and waiting patiently. We act using our own wisdom when God doesn’t do what we want, when we want, how we want. All the while, we’re forgetting what Abraham remembered, even in his darkest hour. God is good. God is for us. God loves us. He has plans for us and provides for us. He knows us and what we need. He keeps His promises. His timing is perfect. He’s worthy of trust even when we don’t have all the answers and the path ahead is unclear.

For me, the best way to remember this is to fill my mind with truth about the Lord. Listening to music with sound theology is a great method for doing this. The lyrics redirect me and stop me from filling in the blanks with negative thoughts. And I’m always drawn back to the One who never fails me. If you need a dose of truth about God, listen to “King of my Heart” by Kutless.

Staying Open to the Movement of God

Staying open to the movement of God means we must be attentive to the Lord and open to change. Being flexible and ready to deviate from our comfortable patterns and predictable routines becomes our “new normal.”

The opportunity was amazing, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Saying “no” seemed like the only logical answer. I’d been a member of a writers group for a while when the leader invited me to write a blog for a local news website. Saying “yes” would mean writing regular posts for six weeks as our church studied a book called The Hole in Our Gospel by World Vision’s President, Rich Stearns. My assignment would involve reading the book, listening to the sermons, participating in weekly small group discussions and then writing my thoughts and reactions consistently. 
 
I saw a few roadblocks that would have made it easy to say “no.” First off, I’d never written a blog and didn’t have any idea what was involved. On top of that, I already had a plate full of responsibilities and couldn’t imagine how I’d have time to complete the weekly reading, let alone post my thoughts about it. Beyond those obvious reasons, my family was struggling through a disastrous home remodel. I was already feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin emotionally since we’d been living in our house during construction.
 
Despite all that, when I told my husband about the invitation to write the blog, he said, “How can you pass on that chance? Haven’t we been praying that you’d have more opportunities like this? Now you’re being invited to write about a Christian book for a secular news site that thousands of people read? Sounds like God is dropping the opportunity right in your lap.” 
 
Clearly, my husband was more open to the movement of God than I was at that moment. After listening to his wise words, I said “yes” and embarked on the adventure of writing my first series of blog posts. Little did I know that would usher in a new season in my life that would lead to writing many more blogs, a Bible study, and an unpublished book manuscript. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought when I said “yes” that I would later have the courage to launch my own website and to have God inspire me to write over 260 posts.
 
Author Nicki Koziarz explains, “Most of us believe God wants to do great things in and through us but moving toward these things is often difficult.” (p. 107) Staying open to the movement of God means we must be attentive to the Lord and open to change. Being flexible and ready to deviate from our comfortable patterns and predictable routines becomes our “new normal.” Following God’s prompting may involve being thrust into situations that are beyond us, forcing us to rely on His strength, wisdom and power. Although it seems scary, this is where exponential growth happens.
 
Ruth and Naomi’s story provides a perfect example of staying open to the movement of God. Ruth just so happened to find herself gleaning in the fields of Boaz, who showed her great kindness: “As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, ‘Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’” (Ruth 2:15-16, NIV)
 
When she returned home to Naomi that night with an abundance of food, Naomi realized the hand of God at work through the kindness of Boaz: “’The Lord bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ She added, ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.’” (Ruth 2:20, NIV)
 
Naomi saw that Ruth’s gleaning in Boaz’ field was no coincidence. She recognized the providence of God: His care and guidance even in the smallest details. Naomi hadn’t sought out the help of her relative, but God had led Ruth to his field. This was only the beginning of seeing God’s hand move in their lives in mighty ways. Once He had their attention, they were ready to follow His lead.
 
What does it take to imitate their example and be open to the movement of God in our lives?
 
Be Teachable
For starters, we need to pay attention and ask God to show us where He’s moving.  We need to trust the Lord and invite Him to reveal what we need to learn, especially when plans aren’t unfolding according to our preferences. God often places opportunities before us that we miss because they don’t look the way we expect. If you find yourself in a situation that isn’t going the way you want, stop and ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from it. Tell Him you’re open to how He wants to move in your life through the situation.
 
Maintain Margin
Another way to be open to God’s movement is to maintain margin in your life. When your schedule is packed and your to do list is a mile long, it’s hard to be flexible and available to the Spirit’s prompting. Prayerfully consider where you invest your time. Don’t rush to fill every second with a scheduled activity. Instead, try starting your day with a simple prayer, “God show me who You want to bless through me today. Show me where You’re already at work and inviting me to join You.” 
 
Remember You’ve Been Equipped
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God prepares good works in advance for us to do. The Lord equips those He calls and gives us gifts to use to bless others and to further His kingdom. Ask Him to show you where He wants to use the gifts He’s given you. Invite Him to lead you to the good works He’s prepared in advance for you.
 
Be Flexible
Nicki Koziarz says, “I think one of the worst things we can do for ourselves in the process of becoming women who complete our God assignments is to stay stuck in the patterns that paralyze us. Change often seems to be a far off concept we can’t always wrap our actions around.” (p. 95). Being open to the movement of God means being flexible and agreeable to change. God rarely does things the same way twice. He often calls us to be stretched beyond our comfort zones so that we can discover new things He wants to do in and through us. If we’re not flexible and open to change, we’re closing ourselves off to the movement of God.
 
If you want to see God work in your life, just ask. Remain expectant, teachable and flexible so that you’re ready to respond when He reveals Himself to you.
 
Listen to Plumb’s song “Lord, I’m Ready Now” and make it your prayer today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBUQqLp6N24

Interested in reading the blogs I wrote for the The Hole in Our Gospel?Check out the links below.

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-2

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-3

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-4

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-5

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-6

Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Accepting the Assignment of Refinement

Vibrating beneath my hands, the power sander spewed a cloud of fine dust as I ran it over the wood. The dresser had an ugly, opaque finish and I was curious to see the quality of the wood hidden beneath it. To my delight, the sanding revealed pure, unblemished maple with a beautiful grain that far exceeded my expectations.

I was reminded of that recently as I turned the page of my Bible study book and read author Nicki Koziarz’ first habit of a woman who doesn’t quit: “She Accepts the Assignment of Refinement.” Refinement is defined as the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance; the improvement or clarification of something by the making of small changes. I believe this definition doesn’t just describe the process for inanimate objects, it also explains the way we can be refined spiritually.

This makes me think of one of the first Bible passages that ever jumped off the page at me. It was during my freshman year in college, which was a season of tremendous loneliness for me. I had surrendered my life to Jesus, and really wanted to honor Him in the choices I made, but was finding it challenging in my secular surroundings. One morning, I read this passage and found renewed strength to persevere:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)

I took heart because the passage assured me the trials and challenges I was facing were refining my faith and proving it was genuine in the same way gold is purified by being refined by fire.

Like using a sander on wood, trials refine our faith. They remove the ugly layers of protection we often put on ourselves over time. Pride. Self-sufficiency. Impatience. Selfishness. Faith that was obscured by those layers is revealed and clarified when trials draw it to the forefront of our lives. Persevering by keeping our eyes on Jesus enables us grow deeper in our relationship with Him. This opens a conduit for us to experience His love and comfort in ways we never would in times of ease and comfort

Oftentimes when we study a passage like this one, we envision major “life event” sort of trials. A cancer diagnosis. The death of a family member.  The loss of a job. An ugly divorce. A traumatic event that derails plans and dreams.

While those life-altering trials often refine our faith, smaller difficulties can produce the same results, if we let them. A challenging person or situation becomes spiritual sandpaper in the hands of God. Any trial we face is ripe to become an assignment of refinement, if we’re open to it.

The Bible makes many references to the Lord as a refiner. Psalm 66:10 states it clearly. “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” God uses people and situations to magnify our impurities so that we can be cleansed of them. When we submit to Him, this process changes our perspectives and makes us look more like Jesus in our actions and attitudes. 

In the book of Zechariah God speaks again about refinement. “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9b)

A few years ago, my family experienced a relentless chain of hard circumstances that led us to deeper intimacy with Jesus and profound spiritual growth. Ironically, at the center of many uncontrollable difficulties was a situation that we’d brought on ourselves: a home remodel.

With every annoyance we experienced, from doing laundry on our back patio to living without a kitchen for seven months, to working with an unreliable contractor, we learned we had a choice. We could wallow in self-pity and bitterness or we could let God refine us through the process. 

We started praying a one line question each time we faced a setback: “God, what are you trying to teach us right now?” Then, we braced ourselves for the answer. God revealed many ugly impurities in us that needed to be surrendered to Him throughout our remodel. And, as painful as it was, we chose to let Him do His refining work in us. He uncovered a lack of patience and a craving for control. He taught us to wait and watch for His answers in His timing. Submitting to that process transformed us in ways we never would have expected.

The struggles and challenges we face, both large and small, are an amazing opportunity to uncover the faith planted deep within us. As I learned with refinishing my dresser, true beauty shows only after the refining process removes the ugly outer layers. “When we start to see the hard, messy places as assignments of refinement, something shifts in our souls…It’s about letting the hard things make us strong.”*

Rather than lamenting the difficult things we must endure, we can rejoice knowing that they are revealing a genuine and lasting faith that is more valuable than anything this world could offer.

Are you in a season of waiting and wondering how in the world God could use your hard situation for good? Let the lyrics of “Take Courage” by Bethel Music bring you hope today.

*Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit by , Lifeway 2016, page 55.

Adapted from my post entitled “Genuine Faith: 1 Peter 1:1-12″ originally posted 2-21-17