Broken

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched VII Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Adam, a youth pastor who had been heavily influenced by his own youth pastor, sat across from another impressionable youth at a local coffee shop. Adam didn’t expect this moment, but is willing to sit in the uncomfortable while the boy across from him wrestles with the big questions about God raging in his heart. Here is discipleship lived out. Here is missional living, right in the heart of everyday life! Adam was willing to engage in another’s life, get messy, and face the uncomfortable right alongside him. Are you? Who has God already strategically placed in your life, waiting for you to get messy and live missionally alongside? Are you willing to sit still and allow the Holy Spirit to enter into another’s wrestling to bring about life change? Start praying for God-sized engagement in the life of someone around you!

2) When you think of “missionary” or “evangelism” or “sharing the gospel”, what happens inside your heart? What images come to mind? Do you find yourself pulling back with fear or breathlessly leaning in with anticipation? The missionary who shared her story on Wednesday admitted that her story likely met none of your expectations for what a missionary looked like. What if this statement was more of the “norm” for missional living? Just suppose our fears for sharing Jesus and being a missionary are unfounded? What if we are anchoring our visual concepts and heart fears of missions on a base of deception planted by the enemy to deter us from living out what God has richly called us into as He builds His eternal kingdom through us? What if?!

3)  Nikki began her story by stating she didn’t know what God was calling her into in the long run, but it all began with one step of obedience because she saw a desperate need. Often, this simple beginning is how the Lord motivates our feet to run towards Him and into His mission for us. He begins by stirring our hearts with a need we can visibly see and increasingly long to meet. This passion is not a mediocre passing thought, but a need that persists and chases. Where do you see this in your life? Or maybe that need was once a fiery burn in your chest, but you chased it away with other things. Just suppose the Lord God Almighty was calling you into something bigger than you can imagine, and all He asks right now is one step of obedience as you see a need?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Isaiah 6:8-9 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Prayer Journal
Whom will You send, Abba? Will You send me? What of my fears? Do I know you well enough? Is there even an “enough” requirement to be sent? Where will I go? To the lost, Lord, You always send to the Lost, to the Broken, to those stuck in their sin. Oh Lord, remind me moment by moment, that “those” are “me” without You. We are the same! Lord, You are sending me out to people just like me. You are sending me to my people. Whoever “my” people are in different seasons whether months from now or decades, break my heart for them. Stir my heart with passion for them to know you deeply and intimately as You stir their hearts to reject their sin and love You most and best. Here I am, Lord, send me!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched VII Day 3 Following

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 14:25-33
Matthew 9:9-13
Matthew 7:24-27

Sketched VII, Day 3

These are the stories of the women behind Gracefully Truthful. How God led them here, and how He has grown their hearts to know Him deeper and love others more fully, as a result of stepping out in obedience.

—-

Kendra
The message came across my screen: “Kendra, I read some of your blogs and I was wondering if you’d be interested in writing for an online women’s Bible study?”

I bounced one of my twin daughters on my hip while I set my coffee down and responded without much thought: “YES!”

I was excited for an opportunity to be creative and pour myself into something different than hanging cloth diapers and cooking dinner. Little did I know how the Lord would use this to grow me.

As Gracefully Truthful continued to form, and I began writing Journey Studies,
a shift occurred in me.
God’s Word became more precious than ever because I was studying it through a new lens of learning so I could hold out truth to others.
The more I studied, the more I knew my Jesus.

That initial text came almost four years ago, and more life and death has happened in those four years than I would’ve ever imagined. Gracefully Truthful became my community, it became the consistent “thing” keeping me rooted in God’s word when my life crumbled around me. Looking back on Journeys I’ve written, I can see the journey of my heart as I learned what it means to write with vulnerability and transparency while trusting my Savior. This story isn’t about me, and every word if it points the God who sustains me despite my brokenness.

I haven’t arrived.
I’m not preaching from a mountain that others have yet to climb.
I am standing in the middle of the valley, my hand outstretched towards other sisters, while clinging to the truth of Scripture and the life God offers there.

Wherever you are, whatever your mess, God wants the same for you as He’s shown me….to use it for His glory!

Michelle
One of the biggest reasons I have grown deeper in my relationship with the Lord is attributed to women.

Women in high school who hosted Bible Studies.
Women in college who discipled me and showed me how Scripture study was tied to knowing Jesus more intimately.

Women in small groups sharpening me, pushing me, challenging me and reproaching me.
Women who have anchored their lives in God’s Word and have been activated as Kingdom Builders as a result.

Because of other women pointing me to Scripture, and watching my own heart grow deep from study, I am convinced of the high value of every woman studying God’s Word and applying it to their everyday lives.

I have seasons where I struggle to stay connected to God closely through His Word. I desire it, but life gets busy and I give way to excuses. Being connected in ministry with Gracefully Truthful provides personal accountability for me to be in the Word, actively applying it, and intentionally reaching out to encourage other women.

Writing assignments push me to research a passage for deeper understanding or clarity on a Scripture. I love studying His Word; it becomes more precious every time I read!

Often, something I’ve read from my personal time with the Lord is exactly the passage a person I run into that day resonates with, or it fits within the context of something I’m writing about. The beauty of following Jesus is that as we step out, He already knows where He is taking us.

We are guaranteed immense peace, joy and life to the full when following Jesus.
We are also promised persecution, and often suffering comes along for the ride. I struggle in being vulnerable in this suffering while writing. Worse yet is fear running rampant in my brain. I fear I will get labeled in someone’s mind as a goody-two-shoes for writing about the Bible. It’s a regular choice to proclaim truth rather than be concerned about another’s judgement. I pray regularly that He may be made great through my tiny contributions to GT as I follow one small step after another.

Sara
Have you ever been in a season with the Lord where you have a greater desire to obey the nudges you are receiving from Him, but aren’t sure what that looks like?
A few years ago, that quite accurately described me.

I knew the Lord was telling me to use my writing ability for His glory; however, I had no idea of the outlet. A random (ha! More like the direct orchestration of the Lord) moment in my church lobby with one of the current Gracefully Truthful writers opened a sudden and unexpected door; it was a perfect invitation to obey the Lord and I became a writer for Gracefully Truthful.

As I write my Journey Studies, I find the Lord so faithfully grows me through the process. Before the words formulate in my mind, I’ve had to learn how to listen for His voice through the Word and in prayer. I have experienced the joy of the Lord changing me in order to bless other women through words crafted on the page.

I’ve also discovered the beauty of being a vessel through which the Lord can move. Two things motivate me when writing a journey study: glorifying the Lord and encouraging the reader to draw closer to Him. Becoming a writer for Gracefully Truthful was one my steps of obedience as I followed Jesus, but those steps are all over the place for me and for you! He’s calling each of us; will you follow?!

Audra
Ministry has always been a part of my life and I had long waited in anticipation of becoming a missionary and moving abroad to share the gospel with those who are different than me. As I studied Scripture, I grew to understand that living missionally takes on many different forms. I began asking God to show me what my mission would be.

I carry many roles as wife, mom, small group leader, speaker, and author. As I’ve walked more closely with God He reveals how each of these are my mission field.  Living on mission doesn’t necessarily mean being called to a specific place, job, or people. Rather, it’s about being ready and able to testify of who God is wherever you go and whoever you’re with.

It was a few months before my wedding in Kansas City. Being from the Bahamas, I was doing most of my wedding planning online, which is how I was introduced to the ministry of Gracefully Truthful. Merry happened to be on our list for potential wedding photographers and she, obediently following the Lord’s whisper, “randomly” asked if I was a writer because she felt God put me on her heart to be the newest GT Partner.

I said yes!

But she didn’t realize I had been stalking GT and thinking how amazing it would be to write for them, but felt I wasn’t good enough.

I had never applied, but God had been working in my heart, going before me and preparing the way for me to follow.

GT’s mission lined up perfectly with my own passion to encourage and equip women to study Scripture and live out their own mission in following God. I couldn’t imagine what mission-living looked like for me, but God did. He stirred my heart with His passions then lovingly provided a place where I could communicate His heart for His daughters.

You don’t need to know all the answers and end-goals either; just follow!

Merry
I was several months pregnant with my youngest, caring for two toddlers, working part time and running a business, while also preparing to take college classes again when Rebecca reached out to me about writing for Gracefully Truthful. To be honest, absolutely nothing about writing for this ministry seemed to make sense in the natural, but unbeknownst to Rebecca, God had called me to write several years prior to that day.

When He first spoke to me about writing, I shrugged it off as crazy. But when I saw Becca’s message, the Lord brought me back to that moment in an instant.

So, I said yes.

You know, a kind of crazy thing happens when you start to say “yes” to God: He begins to give you more opportunities to say “yes”… and to keep saying it. Gracefully Truthful was one of those first “yesses” for me.

Being part of this writing team has been a stretching, challenging obedience which has forced me to examine what I believe, why I believe it, and whether or not I choose to submit every part of my mind, heart and life to God and actually live it.

Because here’s the thing: it’s all well and good to write for a women’s ministry or blog, or fill-in-your-blank, but the truth is that you can’t write the things the Lord calls you to write without actually also doing those things. You can’t sit behind a computer screen and let Holy Spirit flow through you to encourage and challenge other women to experience the fullness of God in everyday life without also actually experiencing the fullness of God in your everyday life. 

This Gracefully Truthful journey has required sacrifices of time, energy, sleep, and so much more, but it has also reaped a harvest of growth, transformation, commitment to reading and applying Scripture rightly and a passion to help women understand who they are in Christ and how to cooperate with the story He’s writing.

And in the end, if I really believe what Scripture and Holy Spirit show me to be true, how can I keep any part of myself from Him? I don’t know about you, but I want to walk out every measure of what He has for me to do here in His Kingdom. Whatever that looks like. Wherever that takes me. Whatever He requires. It’s all His and for His glory, anyway.
I’m just along for the ride.

How will you follow?
What’s your next YES of obedience?!

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched VII Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched VII!

Worship VI Day 6 Isn’t He?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 4:19-26
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 103:6-14
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Worship VI, Day 6

On Sundays, we read Scripture, sing of grace, and quietly pray.
Some simply observe, while others experience something powerful.
Why the disparity between worshipper’s experience?

Is “worship” the songs preceding the sermon?
Is it a reverent attitude with which we approach God?
Could it be both, and more?

In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus outlines the sort of worshipers He seeks. “. . . true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth…. God is spirit and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Genuine worship engages both the truth of Scripture and our spirit.  
Our being connects with the Spirit of God as we study and adore Him.
Worship can happen in a church service, in our car, in a pristine wilderness, or over a sink of dirty dishes. The melodic lyrics are intended to remind us of our great salvation and Scriptural truths, prompting us to worship.

Truth fuels our worship.
As wood is to fire, so truth is to our worship.
As we encounter the truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit rushes in, providing oxygen.
As oxygen is to fire, so is the Holy Spirit to our worship.

So, again, “Why the disparity between worshippers and their experience?”
Deep worship happens when we interact with truth on an experiential level.
This isn’t about knowing more, it’s about experiencing the reality of God and His character in our lives and through His Word.

When we sing, we find the threads of our stories in the lyrics.
His “Amazing grace. . . saved a wretch like me. . .”
Me. My sin. My hopelessness apart from Christ. My brokenness.

When we belt out “. . . my chains are gone. . .”,
we name our former chains while rejoicing over our release.

As we soulfully cry out to Him in our present “deep water” circumstance, pressing tear-stained faces into His chest, we clutch this Scripture truth,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Genuine worship sings truth, reads truth, and speaks truth.
In so-doing, we verbalize it for our own and others’ edification. The Spirit rises within us to confirm the truths our lips declare, igniting our hearts to draw close to His presence;
we are ablaze with worship.

In Natalie Grant’s song, “Isn’t He”, we celebrate two key truths leading us to ponder an earthshaking question.
“Captivator of the searching heart. . .” explores this first truth:
Jesus searches us out when we are not searching for Him.

In fact, He pursues us as we run in the opposite direction. When He catches us, to our amazement, there is no condemnation. Expecting shameful judgement, we find stunning kindness and lavish grace.

If such grace was not enough, this Captivator becomes our Healer, the second incredible truth of the song.
Christ finds us, slumped in the wreckage of failure, languishing in painful losses or enslaved in strongholds of our own making. This Jesus picks up our shattered pieces, frees us from our stonewalled strongholds, and bathes our gaping wounds with the healing balm of kindness.

Graciously giving more, He proclaims blessings over us, giving us hope and a future. He pieces together our shattered fragments, fashioning them into a magnificent masterpiece of grace.

Deeper still, this Healer takes the punishment our wrong-doing demands.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“. . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)

Our most shameful thoughts are no longer held against us once we lay down our hearts in surrender to Christ. The vile things we’ve seen, dark deeds we’ve committed, or those done against us, no longer define us.

The wrestling question begs an answer,
“Who would lavish such grace upon me?
Who is this Captivator?

Once again, Scripture reveals truth…
He is the same Whose Spirit hovered over the waters before creation (Genesis 1:1-2)

He is I AM Who revealed Himself to Moses on Sinai, and spoke through fire and cloud. (Exodus 33:7-23)

He is the One “. . . who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. . .” (Psalm 103:1-5)

He is the Suffering Servant Who “. . .  was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“He is the image of the invisible God; He is the firstborn over all Creation. . . He is before all things and in Him all things hold together…” (Colossian 1:15-23)

He is the Lamb receiving worship from saints and angels and the rider on the white horse returning as King of King and Lord of Lords! (Revelation 5 & Revelation 19:11-16)

Let these truths soak into your soul and shape you.
Dare to believe this magnificent grace, this lavish kindness is truly for you, and sink into wonder. “This Jesus” has drawn you to Himself with the cords of lovingkindness and you are loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Linger in this holy moment.
Worship.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship VI Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship VI!

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VI Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Where have you “felt the brokenness of the world with your own two hands”? Do you feel yourself shy away inside as your mind brings those unbidden thoughts and feelings to the surface? Are you skimming forward past these words, quickly hiding the painful scenarios or cutting words back in the corner from where they came? Brokenness. Shame. Gaping wounds. Grief so deep. Loneliness. Loss. Weariness. Fear. This brokenness is everywhere, isn’t it? But Oh praise God we have a Redeeming Rescuer! One who heals, One who brings life, One who binds up, One who brings justice, One who brings to light what was done in secret, One who l o v e s. Will you do something brave this weekend with me? Will you bring up one, just one, of those aching broken places and hold it in your hands while you talk with the Savior about its painful edges? I will pray for you as you do; pray for me!

2)  What have been some of your “seasons of wilderness”? What has been the prevailing factor in that desert time that has most discouraged you or caused you pain? Maybe it’s loneliness, loss, fear, or even anger. In looking back at other dry, weary seasons, what good have you seen coming from that time of stretching? What impact would a shift in your perspective have? What if we began viewing our seasons as opportunities for God to draw us close and make us more like Himself instead of begging Him to release us from the suffering? It is wisdom and maturity in Christ to choose surrendered submission in our wilderness prayers!

3)  What was the reason you last decided to intentionally praise God? Whether it was vocally or in your heart, think back to the last time you remember praising Him for something in particular. Now, think back to the last time you praised Him for the good work He was doing in the midst of your life’s storm. If you’re in a storm right now, take time to physically hold out your hands as you pray, choosing praise for His character in the face of your circumstances. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you, showing you His glory. If you aren’t in a season of struggle right now, intentionally take this time to walk closer with the Lord. Be consistent in your quiet time Bible study, journal your prayers and study notes, connect with an accountability partner to grow together, take a vow of silence to listen more intently to the Father, and choose praise. Practicing praise in easy times, will prepare us for worship in trial.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Exodus 33:18 back to the Lord and let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, let me see Your glory!”

Prayer Journal
Please, Lord God, remove from my heart the incessant desire to keep focusing on the temporary, the fleeting circumstances around me that frustrate me, or the people who make me forget I’m human too. Lord, I want to be ensconced by Your presence. Permeate my heart with Your glory; just let me sit here and dwell with you, drinking in Your beauty, that I may be forever transformed as a result. May my heart bring You true worship that honors and delights You. May my eyes be for You and Your magnificence so that nothing else matters because Your mighty love will flow through me to a hurting world. Hear my heart worship, Lord!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship VI Day 5 Raise A Hallelujah

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:4-8
Colossians 3:15-17
Deuteronomy 20:1-4
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 138:1-8

Worship VI, Day 5

Hallelujah!  Praise!  Thank You, Jesus!

Shouts come from one pew, then another and another as the passionate preacher enthusiastically declares the goodness of the Lord.  You can feel the JOY, excitement, and anticipation in the room.

However, HALLELUJAHS are NOT limited to revival worship services or bound by location or circumstance.

Truth be told, sometimes a HALLELUJAH sounds more like HELP! than HOORAY!
HALLELUJAH may end with a question mark rather than an exclamation point.

HALLELUJAHs come in all shapes and sizes: a whisper, shout, sob, song, plea, or praise.
Whether written, spoken, or only thought in our hearts, God recognizes all of them.

I first heard the song “Raise a Hallelujah” at a Refresh Conference for foster and adoptive parents.  If you know anything about the REALITY of fostering or adopting, you understand the hardship and heartbreak.

As we gathered together, all broken and hurting, we CHOSE to praise.
Collectively, we lifted our voices to declare VICTORY even though we were ALL still in the midst of battle.

The apostle Peter knew what heavy suffering felt like, and he wrote a letter to encourage believers who were in the midst of hardship.
He told them their difficult circumstances should NOT determine how they lived.
(1 Peter 1:1-9)

Our praise is based on God’s character proven over and over by what He has already done.  With His faithfulness in mind, we can look ahead, fully anticipating what He will do.  This perspective allows us to RAISE A HALLELUJAH from the valley, the mountaintop, or anywhere in between.

Line after line, this song reminds us that praise is a CHOICE.

in the presence of my enemies

I think of David who often shared honestly about the adversity he experienced.  Yet, in the midst, David realized God was not only WITH him, but actually “preparing a feast for him in the presence of his enemies.” (Psalm 23:5)

louder than the unbelief

I think of the father who brought his son to Jesus, desperate for healing. The dad had watched for years as an evil spirit seized his little boy, throwing him into fire or water.  Helpless, he begged Jesus to do something, if He could.  Jesus assured him, “Anything is possible if a person believes.”  In raw honesty, the father cries out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Can you relate?  I know I can!

Sometimes we have to CHOOSE to declare God’s goodness that we KNOW to be true BEFORE we actually experience it in the NOW.

We can praise WHILE WE WAIT and trust God to act.
The song itself was actually written beside a hospital bed as people begged God to miraculously save a little boy.

I’m gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm

 I think of Paul and Silas in prison, worshipping their hearts out while bound with chains.  They could have been complaining, but instead they were praising.

We CANNOT wait for things to be perfect.
We MUST LEARN to praise God in the valley, the desert, the wilderness, and the storm.

in the middle of the mystery

We trust Him in the waiting.
We follow Him in the unknown.

As we do, hardship is EXPECTED.
Jesus actually GUARANTEED it.

So, when we find ourselves in tough times, don’t look at the storm,
fix your eyes on your Savior.
Don’t be afraid of the wind or the waves.
Silence them with worship.

my weapon is a melody

 Who knew you could fight Satan with a song instead of a sword?!
Best part though?

Heaven comes to fight for me

We are not alone in the battle!
GOD is on our side, fighting FOR us and WITH us.

I think of the Israelites at the Red Sea, trapped with nowhere to go, and Pharaoh’s chariots racing towards them.  Moses assures them,
“The Lord Himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm.”
Then, he stretches out his staff, and the waters part by God’s mighty hand!

I may not know exactly what you are going through, but I do know
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive

Your present situation is NOT the end of the story.
God has already won the war.

We are in the middle of a fierce battle, yes.
BUT we are fighting FROM victory not for victory.

You may feel like your HALLELUJAH is a white flag of surrender rather than victory’s banner.    I STILL urge you to lift it up.
with everything inside of {you}

You may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but, raise your hallelujah and
watch the darkness flee

You may feel wrapped in anxiety, but proclaim,
fear you lost your hold on me 

As we praise, lives begin to change.
First our own, and then countless others.

Someone hurting is watching as YOU trust God.
THEN, she utters her own tiny hallelujah.
Sing a little louder

Someone grieving sees YOU process your loss with hope.
She catches on and whispers hallelujah too.
Sing a little louder

Someone overwhelmed is listening as YOU cry out for God’s help.
She joins in, sharing your confidence.
Sing a little louder

Someone feeling defeated hears YOU declare Jesus’ victory.
She believes His victory is hers too.
Sing a little louder

All around the world, our voices unite to form a hallelujah chorus.
Louder and louder, you’re gonna’ hear {our} praises roar

Whatever you’re walking through in this moment, are you willing to raise your hallelujah? Even a shaky one?
The choir needs YOUR voice!!!


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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship VI Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship VI!

Worship VI Day 1 Is He Worthy

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 53:1-12
Revelation 5:1-14
Revelation 7:9-17

Worship VI, Day 1

I have felt the brokenness of the world with my own two hands. I have grasped at broken pieces as they crumble and fall in little heaps on the floor.

I have seen darkness closing in on me as shadows become darker until, it seems, I can’t even see my own hands before my eyes.

I have heard the groans of creation come forth in the sounds of broken-hearted mothers weeping and sirens moaning while babies wail for compassion and children scream for love.

You have, too, haven’t you? You’ve felt the brokenness, seen the darkness, and heard the groans. You’ve ached so deeply in your soul that you’ve felt it physically manifest inside your body. You’ve longed so earnestly in your will for redemption that your beating heart has felt a pull and made your breath catch.

I see you.

It feels hopeless, sometimes, doesn’t it?

Take heart, dear one. The darkness doesn’t stop the light from shining through. No matter how small the light, the darkness will never fully encompass it.
Light always perseveres.

A friend introduced my mom and I to the modern-day-hymn, “Is He Worthy?” about nine months ago, when the brokenness, darkness, and groaning was pouring its way into our lives at every corner. Seven months later, more brokenness, more darkness, and more groans as we prayed my sister into Jesus’ arms and released her earthly body into the same earth we were created from.

Over the last three years, I’ve written many Journey Studies for Gracefully Truthful. The more I write, the more I learn about the Almighty, which overflows into deeper, more intimate worship to Him because I more fully comprehend the words I’m singing.

I’ve learned that Jesus coming from the “line of Judah” means that way back in the Old Testament, when Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, had twelve sons, the twelve tribes of Israel came from each son, and Jesus’ genealogy goes all the way back to Judah. In that line is Rahab, the prostitute who God saved because she feared Him, and King David, the shepherd who eventually became King of Israel and was a man after God’s own heart. I know Him better, so I can worship Him deeper.

The chorus of “Is He Worthy?” is taken from Revelation 5.

Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son

Jesus is the Lion of Judah.
Jesus conquered the grave when He rose from the dead three days after dying.
Jesus is the unsuspecting King, just as David was. 
Jesus died to ransom you and I, who were slaves to our sin and thereby sentenced to eternal death.

Jesus is the great rescue, the Redeemer, and our answer.
Jesus has made a way for every people, every tribe, every nation, every tongue.
When we choose to let Him cover our sins, we join the Heavenly Kingdom, we are made priests to God, and we are heirs with Christ Himself.

Jesus is our living hope!

When the brokenness, darkness, and groans feel like they’re just too much,
when our world seems utterly hopeless…

Take heart!

We are never without hope!
That hope is Jesus.

Our hope exists because the Light of Christ will always overcome darkness!
Our hope is that the world will be made new!
Our hope is that, though the enemy wins battles…
Our God has won the war! 

The Father loves us.
The Spirit moves in and among us.
Jesus is alive and we will dwell with Him one day.

This song has moved and rolled and tumbled inside of me as I’ve listened to it again and again… and again. So. Much. Hope.

I had the privilege of writing about Living Hope – who is Jesus – and the inner shift that happens when we start focusing more on Him. Maybe the darkness doesn’t seem so dark, maybe the closing in isn’t quite so tight.

Because of incorruptible Living Hope.

Because He is King,
Because He is God Himself,
Because He is,
Jesus is worthy. 

He is perfect and holy.
Flawlessly without sin.
And He gave His life so you and I might have life!

He is worthy! He is whole!
He is breaking the seal and opening the scroll that will begin the transformation from old world to new…

We have hope because He is worthy.

Sing (and probably cry) along with me, sisters, as we listen to this song with new understanding and enter into a time of worship that is so much richer, because we know Him more deeply!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship VI Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship VI!

Relentless Day 10 The Lord’s Victory

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 7:3-23
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Ephesians 6:10-12

Relentless, Day 10

“I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the one who gave the horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. I was the lion who you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that I came to shore where a man sat wakeful at midnight, to receive you.” 

My eyes began to water as I read (and by read, I mean listened to, because I absolutely listened to this in audio-book form) this paragraph Aslan spoke to Shasta, the hero of this story.

That realization that rushes over each new reader of “The Horse and His Boy”, is the same realization that rushed over me just a few months ago, when God gave me a revelation that altered my perspective on the last ten months of my life.

As I’ve been in my own kind of battle for months, I’ve been amazed every time I’ve seen God’s fingerprint show up in an unexpected way, just like the lion for Shasta. I imagined myself climbing this exhausting mountain with God occasionally choosing to reach out and touch me to give me a push along the way. But one day, God showed me the reason I kept seeing His fingerprints around my life isn’t because He was choosing to reach for me here and help me there…

It was because He was holding me.
And when things are held, fingerprints naturally end up everywhere.

I wasn’t being lightly touched.
I was being tightly held.
Ah-Ha Moment! 

Shasta, the presumed-to-be orphan boy, who was journeying from the land of slavery to the land of freedom on the back of a talking-horse, could see, at last, that he wasn’t the most unfortunate boy, with his continual run-ins with lions and life as the son of a cruel fisherman. Shasta’s life was held by Aslan; the great Lion of Love.

There was love amidst every battle. 

Oh, how I’ve seen God’s love amidst my own battles!

Not-so-coincidentally (thanks to God, who always seems to make things like this happen), the writing of this journey coincided with my reading of C. S. Lewis’ third book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. So, it is easy to compare this book and battles fought and won with Gideon, the prophet of old who defeated a 120,000 army with only 300 men.

In Judges chapter six, we read about God calling Gideon, and Gideon testing God… several times. Our ever-patient Father responded to Gideon’s tests each time, displaying how God would indeed deliver Israel by Gideon’s hand.

Gideon felt small.
Inadequate.
The odds were stacked against him.
He could hardly believe that God would use little ol’ him to bring victory to the Israelites.

I’ve felt that way, too.
Small.
Inadequate.
Stupid and weak.
I’ve felt like the odds were completely stacked against me.
I’ve believed that there was no way God could use me to bring glory to His name.

And yet.

God chose to use Gideon…
God chooses to use me.
And you.

So there Gideon was…
Feeling like he was already a lost cause.

The troupes gathered together, 32,000 in number, significantly smaller than the 120,000-member opposing army. Still, God told Gideon he had too many.
If God handed Midian over to Israel, Israel would only praise themselves and their own strength. Victory must obviously belong to the Lord God.

22,000 men left for home when Gideon commanded only the fearless to remain, and his small army dwindled even smaller to 10,000.

Still not small enough for God.
He needed to be sure that it all pointed back to Him. There could be no way anyone could ever assume victory was won by human strength. 10,000 turned to 300.

300 men.

Against 120,000.
Ridiculous odds.

Remember, God had already promised Gideon Israel would win this battle…
But oh how Gideon must have quaked inside. He’d already doubted God calling him into the battle, and now he entered with a 1 to 400 soldier ratio.

Gideon and all 300 of his men were upheld by God.
He used the weakness of their numbers to showcase God’s magnificent strength.

Sisters, God uses us when we are at our weakest.
He will use that season of feeling small and weak to demonstrate how He is our strength, which ultimately brings Him glory because our story….it really points to HIM!

We’ll never be “strong enough”, if we were, we wouldn’t need Jesus to save us,
and that’s the whole point of the Gospel right there!

Jesus + nothing = salvation.
God + a measly army = victory.

He is the lion pushing us towards our calling,
bringing comfort when we are trembling,
strengthening and upholding us to be all He has called us to be.
His mighty strength surrounds us, holds us, and chooses to use our woeful weakness to make His name known!

He is the God who doesn’t look at odds being in our favor,
– because there are no “odds” with Him –
He just always wins.

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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Relentless Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Relentless!

Relentless Day 5 A Blessing Removed

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 6:1-7
Psalm 46
Matthew 5:1-12
Genesis 2
Genesis 3

Relentless, Day 5

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,
and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.
And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel… (Judges 6:1-2)

Israel had been brought into the Promised Land. The place of refuge and bounty promised for centuries to Israel as their inheritance from the Lord.
Yet, here they were, oppressed by their enemies and starving for food.
Enemies they had been told would be given into their hand.

Once they had enjoyed abundance, now they lived in fear, and turned over whatever meager food they managed to grow to their oppressors.
But wasn’t this the Promised Land?
Where was the Promise?

What they, (and if we’re honest…we…) missed was the blessing.
Abundance. Wealth. Plenty of food. Fine houses. Peace from their enemies.
These were not the blessing.
But Israel had her eyes set on the gift rather than the giver.

Adam & Eve had it all.
A luxurious garden, perfect happiness, meaningful work, and satisfying relationships.
All without……
stress or conflict or hurt feelings or anger or brokenness.

But their exit scene consisted of flaming swords waving back and forth by two militant angels, preventing any future return and signaling a permanent, irreparable rift between Adam and Eve and……happiness.

Ever since the Garden drama, we (as in, all of humanity) have been busily attempting to recover this deeply tragic loss of happiness.

Peace.
Health.
Plenty of money.
Deep, meaningful friendships.
Lasting marriages.
Satisfying relationships.
Laughter.
Significance in work.
Being valued.
Having purpose.
Happiness

Why don’t we experience it in ongoing, continuous fashion?
Why is happiness so elusive?
Why does emptiness set in so quickly?
Where’s the Promised Land?
Why the flaming swords barring our return?
Doesn’t God want us to be happy?

Instead of fullness and rich satisfaction, we experience sibling rivalry, an unfaithful spouse, news of tragic death, depression, mental illness, destructive weather patterns, and deadly disease.

If we were made to deeply enjoy as Adam and Eve once did,
why would God remove the blessing?

Because the blessing is found only in one root: the triune God Almighty.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed the pleasures around them
because they were already enjoying the greatest Pleasure: God Himself.

Flaming swords blocked the re-entry to happiness because God was honoring our choice to look beyond Himself for total delight.

He knew we wouldn’t find it.
He knew we would be replacing sheer pleasure with utter brokenness.
But because He loves us well, He allowed us to choose.
And we chose us.

BUT HE CHOSE US

So He pursued, right beside us, never forsaking, with hand outstretched as we walked through loneliness, painful wounds, tragic loss, endless sadness, weariness, and massive burdens we were never intended to bear. He stayed. He pursued.
While we kept looking for happiness.

As one blessing was removed after another for Israel, the Lord kept whittling down the pleasures they could see with their eyes and experience with their flesh, in order for them to finally see what they had been missing all along: God Almighty.

The Lord ached handing over Israel to their enemies.
The Lord grieved in sending Adam and Eve from the Garden.
The Lord mourned as He watched His beloved ones choose lesser loves again and again and yet again.

And His heart breaks when we do the same….
A baby to help fix our marriage.
An abortion to help fix my life.
Extra hours to help my bank account.
Another job to give my kids more gifts.
More food to fill my cravings.

Another cut in my flesh to make me feel something, anything.
More time at the gym as I obsess over my body.
More of this, more of that, and the chase for happiness continues
without ever quite grasping it.

All the while, True Delight is waiting for our eyes to adjust and finally see Him as He is:
The Blessing

There exists nothing beyond God Himself that will satisfy.
No riches.
No house.
No well-manicured lawn.
No perfectly shaped body.
No precious child.
No loving spouse.
No thing.
No one.
None is better or fuller or richer or deeper than God Almighty Himself.

We read Judges and we see Israel’s punishment.
We see a blessing removed.
We see a promise withheld.
But what we miss is the God who wanted Israel to see that HE was the blessed gift.

Look around, lovely friend.
See those blessings removed?
See that emptiness lying there?
See the frustration that grates against your soul?
See the wounds which tear your heart?
Yes, yes, we see those.
But do you see the truest Gift who waits for your return?

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Relentless Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Relentless!

The GT Weekend! ~ Open Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1)  How willing are we to up-end our home, our plans, and our comfortable places for the sake of loving others? It’s easy to say, “of course” to that, isn’t it? We want to love well. But when we are holding onto our last thread, when the dishes are high in the sink, and we feel run down, we aren’t very likely to hold open the door are we? And most of the time, the opportunity to ‘open the door’ doesn’t coincide with our times of “being spent”, but suppose the next time we are challenged like this, we say yes instead of later? Jesus’ yes, despite His weariness and just wanting to be home, brought opportunity for souls to be rescued for eternity. What might God do with your “yes”, even in spite of your exhaustion?!

2)  Every person who has said yes to Jesus, yes to breaking free from sin and shame, has been freed to love with a generosity like Christ has shown us. Jesus brings healing, hope, and freedom to our dark, broken places, transforming hurt and loss into a platform to speak of His glorious goodness to others. So, here’s the challenge, who have you shared your story with? Take time this weekend to one, write your story with pen to paper or fingers to keys and two, pray for God to bring you someone who needs to hear your story. Then follow through in obedience, and share what God has done for you!

3)  Unknown, unremarkable, forgotten. Sounds horrible and cringe-worthy doesn’t it? But this is the reality for countless believers through the ages who have surrendered all for Christ and given their everything for the sake of loving others and sharing the gospel. Jesus didn’t promise our name in lights or sprawled across the cover of a book, He promised suffering and persecution for following Him. But He also promised it would be worth it. What specific ways do you shy away from serving others with love because it just doesn’t seem important enough or make a big enough impact? Sisters, that’s not how God counts value! What matters is our obedience to His call to love others well just like Gaius. (Gaius Who?!) Stop everything right now and spend time talking with the Savior about how He wants you to love others specifically this weekend!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 3 John 1:3-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Prayer Journal
This walking in truth You have called us to stretches me more than I realize. Far from being a checkmark of boxes to accomplish day to day, You call me to sink my feet deeply into Your truth, continually calling me to take in more of You. And then live it out with the same fullness of love You show me. I confess that I often feel ruled by my schedule and list of ‘must-dos’ more than I do a law of love. Spirit, remind me of the truth of Who you are and what You have called me into. Remind me how You are not bound by my endless lists. Remind me that the greatest work You want to accomplish in and through me is open handed, open hearted, generous, genuine love. Keep making me new in this area, Father, and begin changing the world around me, beginning with my own heart!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music