forgiveness

Sketched VIII Day 11 Giver Of Sight

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Mark 8:22-26
Psalm 27:13-14
Lamentations 3:25-26

Sketched VIII, Day 11

The sound of familiar voices woke me, but opening my eyes revealed nothing but more darkness. Even after all this time, each morning brought a renewed longing to see the faces of loved ones. I feared forgetting them.

Estimating the time by the temperature in the room, I sat up and felt my surroundings, getting my bearings. My sandals sat by the bed, and I slid into them, one foot at a time.

Excited energy crackled in the air. Outside my window, I heard people walking, but I didn’t know what was happening. Everyone seemed to be heading east, chasing after someone or something.

What was going on?

My friends’ voices grew louder.
They were inside now.

“Berel, hurry! You must come with us now. Jesus is coming! He is here in town.”

I’d heard of Jesus. Stories of Him were spreading throughout Bethsaida and many claimed He was the Promised One. But I wasn’t so sure. A carpenter from Nazareth was not the Messiah I envisioned from the prophets’ description.

Besides, I wasn’t sure healing was part of my story. How many times had I prayed from the psalms, asking God’s forgiveness and for my affliction to be removed? How many times had my friends fasted on my behalf on the Day of Atonement, with no resulting change? Hope was buried somewhere deep within me, and seemed too dangerous to reach for again.

But my friends were hopeful and relentless. They pushed me toward the door as my inner monologue of doubt and questions shouted in my ears. Regardless of what I thought, my friends believed this man could heal me, and they were not going to miss this opportunity. Even if it meant dragging me down the road to the carpenter.

Resigned to their efforts, I allowed them to lead me. The day was already hot as we made our way down the dirt road and I felt beads of sweat forming on my forehead. After we’d walked about half a mile, I heard my friend Alon cry out, “There He is! It’s Him!”

His hands left mine for a moment and I sensed he was using them to plead with Jesus.

“Please, Rabbi. If You could just touch him. Please. He has been blind many years, but we know You can heal him.”

Time seemed suspended as we stood in the street. I had a feeling Jesus was looking at me assessing my need, and perhaps even my faith. Then, before I had the chance to speak or plead my case, my eyes were wet with a slimy residue. What was happening?!

I began protesting, but strong fingers pressed against my eyelids. Warmth permeated from them and when He removed His hands, I noticed something. The darkness that had been my world for years was no longer pitch black; light began filtering in. I could see shapes where before, I saw nothing.

Something I barely recognized pulled at my heart. It had been so long since I felt it, I almost pushed it back down.

It was hope.

Was this man capable of healing me? Was this the beginning? A juxtaposition of fear and possibility overtook me; I knew a crossroads of choice had come.

“Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:23)

Jesus’ question interrupted my warring thoughts. His voice was calm and centered, and I felt He already knew the answer. Although I didn’t fully understand it, I knew the question went beyond my physical sight: He was asking me to make a decision. I also knew honesty was the only way to answer Him.

“I see people; they look like trees walking around,” I said. (Mark 8:24)

I wanted to see. I tasted it and now I longed for it with everything in my being. Hope and firm belief sprang to life in my spirit, silencing doubt and fear. This Messiah could indeed heal me, fully and completely. The soft light and blurred shapes were only a fragment of what He could do. I knew it.

My body trembled as He reached out again. I could make out the shape of His hands this time. His fingers caressed my eyes again, but this time I had no doubts about His ability. As soon as He removed His hands, my belief was confirmed. Tree shapes became people. Masses devoid of detail became faces and I saw hope in everyone’s eyes.

Suddenly, my body felt lighter, as though a weight was lifted. This Jesus saved me! He was the One.

My friends jumped with excitement as they realized I was healed. I looked at the face of the man who changed my life forever. I will never forget how His eyes spoke of kindness and compassion, but there was something else. A sadness. As if He knew something I didn’t. I hoped I wasn’t a part of it.

A posture of worship overtook me, and I wanted to shout my story from the center of town. After all, if this Messiah restored my sight, what could He not do? Everyone needed to know about Him.

Jesus had other plans. He sent me home with instructions not to tell anyone about what happened. Why? I didn’t understand it, but somehow I knew I needed to listen to Him. So even when my neighbors questioned me about my healing, I remained quiet.

But my quietness could not hide the transformation inside of me. Every morning when I woke up, my renewed sight brought fresh cause for worship.

People around me witnessed the change, too. They saw hope, once buried, now resurrected.

And they went looking for this man called Jesus.

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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!

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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 Sketched VIII Week Three! 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 VIII!

The GT Weekend ~Ten 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) Feelings of disappointment and ‘never enough’ can easily seep into our relationship with our earthly parents. Maybe they are, or were, difficult to please. Maybe you never really felt understood, or perhaps there were so many layers of conflict and communication barriers it was difficult to deeply connect. Maybe your parent has passed and you are left with loss, or perhaps even regret. Relationships are messy and complicated, even healthy ones! Even if you enjoy a rich, close connection with your parent, expectations and feelings of being “boxed in” to a previous role, can feel stifling and awkward. While it can seem natural to place these human failings and struggles onto our relationship with God, He is altogether other. Performance demands have no place. Shame is bound up. Love is unleashed in brilliant colors never before experienced! Where have you placed God in the same category as your parents? Take that to Him and ask Him to reveal His Father heart of love to you in new, vibrant ways!

2) Rebekah shared transparently on Wednesday on how easy it is to fall into the trap of working hard to earn God’s favor. We want Him to smile on us. We want His protection, His blessing, and His favor, so we will work to do things to please Him. There is simply nothing we can do to make ourselves more winsome to God! He hand-crafted us to mirror His own image. He already delights over us, and He cannot possible love us deeper than He already does. Because He is infinitely good, kind, faithful, and true, He adamantly will not love us less. Here’s the kicker, this extravagant love of God is not limited to you or me, unbeliever or church-goer. The Lord views each and every life with the same lavish love, utterly regardless of who we are or what we have done. Who is in your life that you have been hard-hearted towards or stingy with your love? Ask the Lord to shift your perspective, instead seeing them as highly valued and adored as a fellow bearer of God’s own image. How can you begin loving them more like Jesus this week?

3) Cheated. Even saying the word riles our hearts and we begin feeling the need to take up arms against someone who wronged our right or privilege. Take cheating within the context of marriage and the hurt sinks deep very quickly. Maybe you’ve experienced what it is to walk through being cheated on, or maybe you’ve been the cheater. Circumstances are complicated, reasons and justifications abound as quickly as the hurt does, and the trail back to where the distrust began is long and usually involves more than one party in the relationship. God didn’t design us for heartbreak. His perfect intention was for us to find delight in another and sink deep into trust as both people love the other unconditionally. Maybe you find your eyeballs rolling into your head at this point because this description feels so unlikely. Remember the heart of this specific commandment is to point towards a God who will absolutely never be unfaithful and will also always love us unconditionally. Focus on investing in the only relationship that will not leave you hungry for more. What can you do to develop your relationship with God more deeply?

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 2 Peter 1:3-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

Prayer Journal
Father God, I love this passage of Your Word and the truths You speak of here. You have given everything I need for life and godliness simply by leaning deeper and deeper into knowing You! You are unfathomable accessible. Lord, I truly could sit and ponder this extravagant love for the rest of my days and never have plumbed its depths. Your glory and goodness have been made known to me in every moment; You are waiting to be embraced and known more fully by me. Every breath I take is an invitation to know You better! Oh Lord, how distracted I become by focusing on the fleeting things and passions I can see with my eyes or feel in my heart! I will quickly shift my gaze off of You for lesser loves. Yet, Your truth revealed here speaks wonderfully that I do not need to fall prey to these desires to chase the lesser. In You alone is my fullness found. Keep my heart here next to Yours, remind me how sweet Your truth and love are to my soul!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sola Day 14 But If I Don’t: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out But If I Don’t!

The Questions

1) What does it mean that whatever is “born of the flesh is flesh, but whatever is born of the spirit is spirit?” (verse 6)

2) How can Jesus be lifted up like Moses’s snake in the wilderness? (verse 14) 

3) How does anyone who lives by the truth come to the light? (verse 21)

John 3:1-21

There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man. 14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Original Intent

1) What does it mean that whatever is “born of the flesh is flesh, but whatever is born of the spirit is spirit?” (verse 6)
In John 3:6, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader who studied the law, and had come under the cover of nightfall to ask Jesus questions about eternity and salvation. Jesus tells him, “Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The Greek term for flesh is sárks, meaning “of human origin or empowerment”. The term is “generally negative, referring to making decisions (actions) according to self.” (Biblehub.com) The flesh here does not only refer to physical humanity, but also references the unclean nature of humanity.  As author John Gill explains, flesh refers to, ”the nature of man; not merely as weak and frail, but as unclean and corrupt, through sin.”  So, to be born of the flesh means to be born sinful. The Greek word for spirit is pneúma, which means “spirit, wind, or breath.  The Hebrew (Old Testament) counterpart rûach has the same range of meaning. To be born of the spirit is to be saved from sin.  According to author William McDonald, “A spiritual birth takes place when a person trusts in the Lord Jesus. When a person is born again through the Spirit, he receives a new nature, and is made fit for the kingdom of God.”  Jesus describes to Nicodemus a person’s need to be born again, saved out of sin and into God’s kingdom by God’s great grace and amazing love.

2) How can Jesus be lifted up like Moses’s snake in the wilderness? (verse 14)
In John 3:14-15, Jesus tells Nicodemus that “just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  Jesus is referencing an incident in the Old Testament when the Israelites sinned by complaining against and criticizing God and He sent poisonous snakes among them.  They cried out for help, and Moses, under God’s direction, made a bronze snake that he lifted up and told the people to look upon to be saved from the snake bites.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake to save the people, Jesus declares that He must be lifted up to give people eternal life.  Author David Guzik points out how the bronze serpent represents “sin judged. In the same way Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us on the cross, and our sin was judged in Him.  A bronze serpent was a picture of sin judged and dealt with.”  Jesus was pointing to His coming crucifixion, where His body would be lifted up on the cross as He died to forgive the sins of the world. Though the term “lifted up” surely means the crucifixion of Christ, R.C. Sproul notes “the same Greek verb can refer to the exaltation of a person, and in John’s gospel, the crucifixion is tied closely to our Savior’s exaltation. For Jesus to be lifted up is for Him to die for sin, but that death cannot be separated from the resurrection . . .”  Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent to save the people of God in the Old Testament, God lifted up His Son, Jesus, on the cross to save us all from sin and shame.  He also raised Him from the dead, declaring His victory over death, Hell and the grave forever!

3) How does anyone who lives by the truth come to the light? (verse 21)
In John 3:20-21, Jesus declares, “everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.  But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”  The Greek word for truth, alétheia, means “truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straight-forwardness” The idea of truth here is the Truth of Christ.  Jesus has been telling Nicodemus in the preceding verses that people must be born again through the gift of God’s Son. If people accept the truth of God’s grace and forgiveness, they will be saved. Jesus explains that living by the truth of the Savior brings one into the light, where one’s works can be seen as being done for God with the help of God.  John Piper explains that “whoever goes on doing what is true (acting in accord with the light) will always come to the light and not run away from it. And the reason he will come, is so it will be clear that this ongoing behavior—his doing what is true—has been the work of God, not himself.”  When we live for Jesus and accept the grace and help of God, we will do works that are good and true because He is working and moving in us.  We will be glad to be in the light because we have nothing to shame or condemn us.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean that whatever is “born of the flesh is flesh, but whatever is born of the spirit is spirit?” (verse 6)
The phrase “haters gonna’ hate” has been in our vocabulary for years now.  It is in songs, memes, speeches, tv shows…anywhere pop culture makes an appearance. It reminds me of something I heard once in a sermon.  The pastor asked why we would be surprised when sinners act like sinners?  In other words, “sinners gonna’ sin.”  That is the message Jesus is sharing with Nicodemus in John 3:6, when He says, “whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Humans are born into sin.  They are born to sinful parents and inherit a sinful nature. Because we are sinful, we sin daily. It is only God who has the power to make us clean. When we trust in Him and accept His forgiveness of sin through His sacrifice for us on the cross, we are born again of the Spirit. Author Don Stewart explains that “the new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit, who places the believer in a right relationship with God. It is a work of God, not of man.”  There is nothing we can do to save ourselves or cleanse ourselves, it is only the grace of God that can save us from sin.  When we trust in Him and let Him be in control of our lives, we are no longer slaves to sin.  We become children of God!

2) How can Jesus be lifted up like Moses’s snake in the wilderness? (verse 14)
Sometimes I wonder if my neighbors know me by the same kind of kooky names I use to refer to them; monikers that describe what I know about them since I don’t know their names. Before I met the woman up the street, my kids referred to her as the “crazy dog lady” because of the doting way she would care for her little schnauzer.  Or there is a woman on my block we call the American Ninja Warrior because of her intense exercise routine.  My name around the neighborhood is probably “Bed Head” since I just roll out of bed to walk the dogs!  But I want my neighbors to know me for more than my untamed hair.  I want them to know me by my love and kindness.  I want them to see Jesus when they see me.  In John 3:14-15, Jesus declares that “just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  Moses lifted up a bronze snake so that those poisoned by snakes could be healed, and in the same way Jesus was lifted up on the cross to save people from the poison of sin in their lives.  I want to share that truth about Jesus’ sacrifice with my family and my neighbors.  Charles Spurgeon recommends, “We should imitate Moses, whose business it was to set the brazen serpent upon a pole.  It is your business and mine to lift up the gospel of Christ Jesus, so that all may see it.”  I purpose to lift Jesus high in my neighborhood and to all those I have connection with.  I may become the “crazy church lady” to some, but I hope all will see the love of God when they see me.

3) How does anyone who lives by the truth come to the light? (verse 21)
How cute are the videos of little kids caught in the act of some misdeed, like stealing cookies, where they lie to their parents with the sweetest, most innocent faces covered in chocolate evidence?  Or they have written their names in permanent ink on the wall, marker still in hand, but they have no idea whose graffiti that is over their bed.  It is so stinkin’ cute, but it reminds me of what is going on in John 3:20-21, when Jesus says, “everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.  But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”  When we do wrong, we want to hide it from the light, much like those kiddos in the videos I mentioned. We don’t want our cheating, lying, betraying, or other sin to be exposed.  When we know Jesus, though, we come to live by the truth, and then we do not need to fear the light of exposure because the Holy Spirit is working in us, making us more like Jesus. Since God is working in us and through us, we come to the light willingly and humbly, knowing that anything good we have or do is because of Him.  In fact, we want to share our story of God’s grace and mercy in our lives with others so they can know freedom in God and the joy of living in the light.

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Catch up with But If I Don’t!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sola Week Three!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Sola Day 11 Soli Deo Gloria

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 115:1-3
1 Corinthians 10:31-32
Ephesians 3:1-21
1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Sola, Day 11

I can only imagine the atmosphere in the room as George Frideric Handel finished his masterpiece, “Messiah.” Did the last note resonate in the room, slowly reverberating into silence? Was there a hushed reverence filling the space?

Whatever the moment was like, something caused Handel to pick up his writing utensil and inscribe S.D.G. on the page in front of him.

Soli Deo Gloria.

These three Latin words translated into English mean “to God alone the glory.” Handel wrote the music for “Messiah” in 1741. Literal centuries later, people still flock to venues to hear his work played in person.

Not only has his work endured through the years, but it was also written with remarkable speed. Handel wrote the music in 24 days. My last month has been quite busy, but I don’t anticipate any of my activities will be recognized by the masses hundreds of years later.

What astounds and humbles me about Handel and the details of writing the “Messiah” masterpiece is that Handel intentionally chose to give the Lord the glory. While odds were incredibly high Handel had no idea how his artistry would impact the world, in the completion of his work, he focused his eyes upward rather than inward.

To God alone the glory. Soli Deo Gloria.

I may never accomplish anything even remotely rivaling the work of Handel, but I would be amiss in thinking my own renown is ever the purpose for my actions. My glory, or the perceived impact of my actions, is not to be my focus.

Martin Luther also sought to challenge the mindset of striving for personal glory by arguing the cross of Christ is of the utmost importance.

1 Corinthians 2:2 sums up the mindset we are called to in Christ.
“For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.” (Amplified Bible)

Luther argued embracing the cross of Christ, rather than attempting to appropriate some of Christ’s glory for ourselves, is key to living a life truly pointing to Jesus. When we lose sight of the cross and the crucifixion of Christ, we lose sight of the reality of our Christian walk.

Christ crucified is the forgiveness of our sins,
the demonstration of His sacrificial love,
the invitation to surrender to His Lordship,
and the challenge to become more like Him.

To Him be all the glory.

If I live with the mindset of riding on the coattails of His glory in my life, I miss out on truly knowing Him, and we, as a church, lose that which makes us salt and light in today’s world.

So what does this look like in our day-to-day life?

I encourage you to consider how your own endeavors, be they monumental or mundane, can communicate the forgiveness, the sacrificial love, and the surrender and transformation made possible through the cross of Christ.

How can your own endeavors, be they monumental or mundane, be carried out to the glory of God alone?

And what does it look like in my life?

As I sit here with my laptop nestled on my lap, my coffee cup sitting on the table nearby, and raindrops tapping on the window behind me, I think it looks like thanking Him for His goodness and faithfulness in allowing me the opportunity to write.

It is praying before my fingers touch the keyboard, asking for His wisdom and direction in crafting the message. It is in writing the words and releasing them to Him for His use, however He desires.

It looks like delighting in the little ways the Lord has shown His presence in my day-to-day life: a hot cup of coffee and a refreshing spring rain. It is serving my family with a sacrificial love and modeling a life of looking to Him. It is finding my value and identity in who the Lord says I am and being obedient to His leading in my life.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what Handel felt as those last notes filled the air. An awareness He was made for such a time as this, and regardless of who would hear his music in the future, the One for whom it was truly written had already heard the melody dance through the vaults of heaven.

To God alone the glory. 

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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 Sola Week Three! 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 Sola!

The GT Weekend! ~ Neighbor 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) Oh wounded. We hear the word and we feel the ache of our own wounds. We likely don’t need to reach too far back to feel a wound we’ve endured from another. Or, maybe, we call to mind the shame of knowing how we’ve wounded another. This life is fraught with wounds. Kendra brings on our attention to the main character of our Journey Theme, the Samaritan who was a good neighbor to the one who lay wounded and dying on the road. The physical wounded man was overlooked by the religious ones, but there was another wounded man in this story, the Samaritan neighbor. Samaritans lived with mockery and racial slurs constantly attacking them. Yet, he chose love over bitterness. Does that hit you, Sister? It does me. We are not called to only love those who love us back, but those who have wounded us. Who is that for you? How will you love them this week? Maybe it starts with simply a prayer over them. Will you begin?

2) Forgiveness. An easy word for our lips to form, a difficult task for our hearts to live out with authenticity. Whether the offense is a mountain formed over years, or a sharp word spoken just a few hours ago. May I speak from my own life experience for a moment? I’ve realized I just don’t have the ability to forgive. I love myself too much. I like revenge. I like payback that is equal to or greater than what I was served. One pastor helped my heart along significantly by giving me freedom to admit I couldn’t forgive offenses, but Christ in me, He can. When I humble myself before the Lord, when I remember how big of a sinner I am and how much I have been forgiven, Christ fills me with His power to forgive. Who is Lord calling you to forgive through His power?

3) I don’t know about you, but I’m guessing that, like me, you know what it feels like to have unmet expectations by those you love. Frustration springs up quickly for me when I find myself breathing in the air of unmet expectations. I love them, they love me, so why would they not do X or Y or P, L, Q for that matter?! Choosing to pick up love instead of offense is always a choice we have in our relationships. Love is what the Samaritan chose, when he had every reason to keep walking past the man on the road. Though our reasons may be fully justified as to why we should be offended, let’s decide together to pick up the gift of love instead! Oh Lord, help us to love well this week!

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 Luke 7:41-43 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Prayer Journal
Remind me, oh Lord, of my sin. Not with waves of guilt or condemnation, but to keep before me how rich Your immeasurable mercies of forgiveness are that have been given to me. Clear my eyesight so I can see Your holiness more plainly. Sweep my heart clean of any thoughts of what is owed me because of my own righteousness and flood me with Your love. Cast out fear of judgement and greedy stinginess of pride, and give me anew, every single moment, a greater awareness of Your vast love and deep forgiveness. Let me pour that over those around me with as much gentleness, care, and love that You extend to me. Teach me to love like You, Lord Jesus!

Worship Through Community

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Neighbor Day 13 Wounded One

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 7:36-50
Luke 10:25-37
Romans 5:6-11

Neighbor, Day 13

“Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity”

These words from Hillsong’s “Hosanna” echoed from the walls of a small school cafeteria full of people seeking Jesus one bright, Palm Sunday morning.

God was already working in my heart before those words even left my mouth as I sang along.

The morning before, I’d run through my normal Saturday routine and headed to a nearby coffee shop to join some of the best women I know as we dove into God’s Word.

I happened to arrive a little early, so I ordered my breakfast and had a seat to kill some time.

Opening Facebook for what I thought would be a mindless scroll, I ran across an article about a 5-year-old boy who was thrown from the 3rd floor of the Mall of America by a random man. There wasn’t much information available, because authorities still were unclear on many details. Normally, I would read the article, think something like, “Oh that’s so sad” and move on, but for some reason, I was prompted to delve further.

I looked up several different articles and then unwittingly dove into the comments section on Facebook. People were commenting with prayers for the young boy and his family, for healing and peace and comfort. I was heartened to see the support pouring out for this family in their time of crisis.

Yet, what really struck me were the comments about the young man who’d allegedly thrown the boy. Comments abounded regarding what an evil person he was, and vengefully suggesting people violently take matters into their own hands. As I read, I felt convicted to pray for the accused man. So, throughout the rest of the day, I prayed.

The next morning, as our setup team for our little plant church gathered for prayer, I continued to feel burdened to pray for everyone involved in the tragedy. As I shared about how this man was God’s creation and needed healing and Jesus just as much as any of us, tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes. The depth of my reaction surprised me, but I knew it was a sign of the Holy Spirit working within me.

The rest of the morning I was a mess, crying during prayer and as I spoke with others, all outward signs of God breaking my heart for what breaks His. Opening up my eyes to the things unseen. Showing me how to love like He has loved me.

Jesus spoke often on forgiveness and its power to completely change a person’s life; the parable of the man who was forgiven much in Luke 7 is an amazing example. If you’ve ever been subject to debt, imagine how grateful you would feel if it was completely paid at no expense to you. 

What if extravagant forgiveness was shown to the young man from the Mall Of America incident? What if, instead of all of those hateful, vengeful remarks, the comments were filled with words of compassion and forgiveness for this man? Imagine how his life might have changed.

None of us deserves forgiveness. Regardless of the ranking system we humans have erroneously developed for sin, all sin deserves God’s wrath. And yet through the death and resurrection of Jesus, forgiveness is ours. All of our debts, past present, and future are paid.

That man at the Mall of America could be any of us, one snap or mental health breakdown from wreaking havoc on another life, community, or ourselves.

So, before we are quick to condemn today, let’s ask ourselves if that person could use forgiveness.
If they could use love and an encouraging word instead of ridicule and condemnation.
If they need Jesus.
Because don’t we all?

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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 Neighbor Week Three! 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 Neighbor!

Neighbor Day 11 The Neighbor Who Wounds

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 10:25-37
Luke 9:51-53
Luke 4:14-30

Neighbor, Day 11

“The one who showed mercy…” 

I read “wounded” and my heart reels.

I know wounded.
I know slowly retreating to care for the deep cuts and sharp blows I’ve endured.
I know sprinting away from the lashes against me.
I know wounds so deep they begin to look healed on the outside, but still throb and gape.
I know wounded, friend.

I bet you do, too.
But no one knows wounded quite like our Jesus. 

In Luke 10, Jesus tells a fictional story about a Jewish traveler attacked by robbers and left for dead.

Wounded. 

Two men passed by the nearly lifeless body, a priest and a Levite, both religious and both the same race as the wounded man, but they didn’t stop.
They saw him, and they chose to look away.

Wounded. 

Then a Samaritan man enters the scene.
The original audience of the story possessed the context to understand this Samaritan man was wounded, too. But, like so many of us, his wounds weren’t visible.

At the time Jesus told this parable, Samaritans and Jews had a long-standing rivalry, spanning hundreds of years. Due to the mixed Assyrian and Jewish genealogy of Samaritans, Jews resented Samaritans’ “impure blood line” and often treated them like trash.

We know from a true story in Scripture that Jews and Samaritans never interacted with one another (John 4:9), and even Jesus wasn’t received by Samaritans when He was heading into Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51-53)

We don’t know the kind of ridicule this Samaritan endured from Jews, but undoubtedly, the hatred seething from the Jewish community cut him deeply.

Wounded.

Yet, we see the Samaritan man, wounded by the Jews, breaking barriers of racism by caring for the physically wounded Jewish man.

We’ve all been wounded.
Maybe, like the Jewish man, we’ve been physically and emotionally wounded from abuse.
Maybe, like the Jewish man, we’ve been spiritually wounded by “religion” and people in leadership positions who’ve told us we’re too dirty and too damaged to be worth helping.
Maybe, like the Samaritan, we’ve been wounded by society, or racial and economic barriers.
Or maybe we’ve been wounded by something else….
friends, family, business deals, jobs, the government. 

But Jesus?
He was wounded by it all. 

He took on the sins of the world when He suffered on the cross,
eventually dying from the extreme torture He endured.
He was wounded physically and emotionally.

He was wounded by the religion bearing the same name as His nationality,
and He – who IS God – was killed by the religious people who claimed to worship God.

Jesus knows wounded, friend.

He knows the sharp pains piercing our hearts by betrayal. (Luke 22:3-6)
He knows the hurt embedded in us when grief becomes part of our story. (John 11:32-36)
He knows the rejection of people who have loved us and known us for our entire lives. (Luke 4:14-30)

Jesus knows wounded.

Because Jesus knew wounded so well, because He allowed Himself to be wounded beyond recognition, so badly He eventually died …

We don’t have to live a wounded life.
We have hope.

So, what do we do about the people who hurt us?
What do we do with this story about a wounded man loving another wounded man?
How do we love those who have wounded us?

Mercy.
Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. 

The Samaritan had every excuse to ignore the beaten man on the side of the road. This Jewish man had spent his entire life scoffing and scorning Samaritans, believing they were a lesser people, unwanted by God. And even if he didn’t believe it, his people did.

No one would’ve been surprised if the Samaritan kept walking.

But mercy.

Mercy isn’t just the Samaritan’s compassion, but the forgiveness he displayed toward a man he could’ve left for dead.

Mercy is the forgiveness God offers to us, even though we deserve death.

Mercy is hard, isn’t it?
I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about loving the people who inflicted my deepest wounds.

Friends, I cannot go on without emphasizing that forgiveness and even love are completely possible while still maintaining strong boundaries.

Sometimes, you can love someone best by enforcing boundaries, and forgiveness does not mean boundaries must be removed or even lowered. Abusive and toxic relationships can cause some of our deepest wounds, and we can forgive abusers while still protecting ourselves.

I want to be “the one who showed mercy”. (Luke 10:37)
I want to live ready to show compassion and offer forgiveness to people who have wounded me. I want to love my neighbors, even the ones who have wounded me.

Merciful love is going to take all of me, and all of you.
It’s going to take all of our strength.
But it’s worth the struggle because of
Jesus, the One who showed us mercy.
If He can be merciful to us, surely, with His strength, we can extend mercy to others.

We, too, can be . . . the ones who show mercy. 

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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 Neighbor Week Three! 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 Neighbor!

Treasure Day 9 The Gift Of Laboring: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Gift Of Laboring!

The Questions

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Original Intent

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)
When you study the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you’ll learn that verses 28-30 are distinct to Matthew’s gospel alone. Though a simple reading of Chapter 11 may cause an observer to feel it is disjointed, there is a connection we find when we dig into Jesus’ repeated call to the weary. In these three verses, Jesus invites burdened people to come to Him for relief from what loads them down. In the context of all of Jesus’ teaching, it is quite evident He isn’t speaking of physical burdens like a backpack or an illness. Jesus wanted those who followed Him to understand He was inviting them to surrender in a much different way than the religious leaders of the day required (which was purely physical). (Matthew 23:1-7) Jesus called them to reject their own sufficiency. The burdens of heartless law-keeping were placed on them by men, not God. Matthew reveals Jesus’ heart through His words of rebuke to the cities. Jesus and John had preached repentance, had worked miracles, and had given them ample opportunities to be released from the bondage of sin, but they continued to ignore the message of hope, Instead, by rejecting Him and His freedom from the bondage of sin, they brought upon themselves judgment instead of comfort. (Matthew 11:16-20)

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?
Verse 28 reveals the offer Jesus made to those listening, “Come to Me.” In verse 29, He presents to them Himself as their example of what finding rest will mean for them. Jesus had come to release them from the heavy burdens the religious leaders placed on the people. The entire ministry and message of Jesus centers around this exchange and drastic mind shift. Jesus knew the oppression they experienced was never what God intended the Law to produce. Instead, the Law was intended to be a reminder that repentance and faith was all that was essential, since no one would ever be able to keep the full law perfectly. The obedience that followed the surrender would not be burdensome because Jesus’ righteousness provided all that was necessary to release the weary soul from sin and death. (1 John 5:1-4) The good news of Jesus was His promise that no would need to earn their way into heaven! Instead, all one must do is come toward Jesus and exchange the burden of impossible perfection for His true goodness. (1 Peter 2:24)

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?
Earlier in chapter 11 we read John the Baptist (Luke 3) was in prison. Considering the inquiry, it appears John’s faith in Jesus had been met with doubt. Though we don’t know for sure his motivation, the message from John’s disciples required Jesus to assure John that He was indeed the Messiah of whom John had preached. (John 3:28-30) Jesus instructed John’s friends to tell him of what they had observed. Was it possible John’s weariness of waiting had caused him to doubt? Maybe. Even so, Jesus affirmed John (Matthew 11:11) and Himself, rebuking the crowds for their unrepentant hearts. (Matthew 11:19-20,  25-27) Under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, Matthew records John’s inquiry and Jesus’ response. Even John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Jesus, (or his disciples), needed to be reminded why Jesus came and assured He was exactly who He claimed to be. It wasn’t to overthrow an earthly kingdom built by human hands. He came to replace the burdensome system by surrendering His own life so ours would be death-penalty free. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Everyday Application

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)
The burden that afflicted the people in Jesus’ day is the same one that we must shake off from ourselves today in our own time. It’s the burden of our own efforts in our salvation and spiritual growth. We cannot be “good enough” to gain favor from God or make Him smile on us. Jesus has provided the answer, the only answer, for us when He said, “abide in Me” (John 15:9). The only effort we must make is to move toward His extended hand and heart, openly, willingly, humbly receiving His lavish offer of grace and forgiveness. Once we have come to Jesus, then we rest. The burden of perfection is too heavy, too demanding, and will never be lifted by our efforts. That’s why faith is essential. We must trust Christ at His work on our behalf, believing His word as true. Faith is resting in what Jesus has told us about Himself, then believing and abiding in that truth. The yoke of Jesus is a hopeful assurance of life abundant and everlasting as we learn to live in the pattern of love and surrender He has modeled for us. Only here will we finally find rest for our souls!

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?
The author of Hebrews tells us to “run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eye on Jesus, the Source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) This is the light yoke Jesus calls us to take up. There is not another yoke in existence that gives us rest for our souls. “Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus) Where are you working hard to be good enough for God and earn His favor? Where are you relying on your own strength to be a better Christian, wife, friend, mother, or daughter? Only Jesus is your strength and sustenance. Only by His Spirit can be made like Him! Surrender to Him!

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?
The yoke of Jesus is easy because He carried the burden that was meant for us to carry; and He was the only one who could carry it all the way to the end perfectly without a single flaw. We are the recipients of His gracious and perfect obedience to the Father’s plan for our redemption because of His unfathomable love for us. You could say our obedience to Jesus is “easy like Sunday morning.” It’s resurrection power & peace. Those of us who have put our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross find ourselves being made into His likeness by the Spirit’s work daily in our lives. What sweet rest we have in Jesus, through the gift of grace from the Father and the help and comfort of the Spirit. We aren’t to bear the burdens of a life of law-keeping, checkboxes to mark off, and “being good enough” in order to make ourselves right with God. We are instead worshippers, resting in the obedience of Christ and His finished work on the cross, which He did on our behalf that we may, finally, be truly free! (Hebrews 10:8-14)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Treasure Week Two!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Esther Day 6 The Price Of Obedience

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 11:18-28
Esther 3:1-6
Luke 14:25-34
Romans 6:15-23
James 4:4-17

Esther, Day 6

I sat at the small table with my journal open as I closed my eyes and breathed in the unusually quiet moment. Gently, He pressed into my spirit.

Ask her for forgiveness.

The name He whispered rang between my ears, and my mind stuttered. Umm…WHAT? Did I hear You correctly? That can’t be right…I haven’t done anything wrong! For what, Lord? 

Does it matter? The question resonated in His still, quiet way.

I took a breath and squared my shoulders. No, it doesn’t. I will do it. I will obey. But Lord…it might help the conversation go a little more smoothly if I know what caused the rift I’m restoring. What am I supposed to say when she asks what I am asking her to forgive…and I come up empty? What will she think then? Am I supposed to tell her I don’t know? I hate to break it to You, but that might not go so well. 

Restore the relationship. His voice was a little firmer this time.

Okay. 

Now.

Have you ever found yourself in that place, Love? On the receiving end of a divine directive leaving you knee deep in questions…and neck deep in confusion? The longer I walk with the Lord, the more convinced I become that the God Who loves to converse with us chooses to speak to us in a way that sparks all those questions.

He could give us a vision to shake our perception of reality and inspire immediate obedience without a single question. He could speak audibly, shaking Heaven and earth. He could speak through a burning bush, or write on the wall of our living room, or send an angel to deliver a message.

But, it fills His Father-heart to draw us into deeper intimacy through dialogue with Him. As we seek to understand His work and His voice, we find ourselves pressing fervently into a more intimate relationship, eager to hear Him and know Him.

Obedience is a theme the Lord has been speaking to me about for most of my adult life, but over the past few months He has been putting an even finer point on the difference between obedience and submission.

As a strong-willed child, obedience never came naturally. I remember questioning practically every thing my parents directed. I remember wishing I were more agreeable like some of my siblings. I even remember being disgusted with myself for the way I often responded. The internal battle I wrestled on a daily basis was great.
I wanted to simply obey and be agreeable, but something in me needed to know the why, and the how, and if I could possibly do it differently.
To my parents’ ever-loving-chagrin, I tested every boundary.

My strong-willed child-self didn’t fully understand what the Lord has been teaching me about obedience and submission: Obedience is the choice to intentionally bend our will in response to our Father’s directive. Submission is the heart posture He cultivates within us when we choose to make Him our highest priority.

Love, did you know it is possible to obey without submitting? We can obey with trudging feet and a disgruntled countenance. We can obey with pride. We can obey with anger. We can obey with comparison, and envy, and a spirit of competition.

But when we obey out of our flesh, we are forsaking the relationship.
We are missing revelation and grasping religion instead. 

I don’t know what went through Mordecai’s mind when King Ahaseurus decreed all should bow to Haman, but he did know just what meant to disobey the king’s order.
Mordecai knew who he was, and Whose he was.

He was one of God’s chosen people; he knew he’d been set apart. Because his identity was wholly found in God, this intimate, experiential knowledge bolstered his bravery in the face of what should have been certain death. Others in the king’s court reported Mordecai’s bold refusal, reporting him to Haman. It stands to reason that Mordecai was most likely ostracized as soon as other officials at the King’s Gate realized he would not compromise his faith to please the king.

Mordecai could have joined the ranks of all those who face persecution and death for their faith. He didn’t know what the future would hold. Still, Mordecai chose to obey his God. He chose to forsake his pride, his status, his social acceptance, his name, even his very life.

Do you know what I don’t picture when I read the account of Mordecai refusing to bow to Haman? I don’t picture a man choosing to obey reluctantly. I don’t picture a man hiding behind curtains, or disguising his face. He wasn’t grumbling or complaining that he was being forced to do something he didn’t really feel comfortable doing.

Mordecai submitted. 

His heart posture was willing. He was in right relationship with the Lord, unencumbered by pride, or self-interest, or self-preservation. It wasn’t about him, at all. Not really.

And because Mordecai’s heart posture was one of submission, the Lord’s plan to preserve His chosen people was fulfilled through Esther.

Sister, what is our good Father highlighting to you today? Where is He stirring your heart? Have you been going through the motions of obedience, but your heart posture has not been right before the Lord? Where are you holding on to your own designs, rather than leaning in to what Your Creator has planned?

We all have areas where we need the Lord to reveal direction.
Spend some time with Him today, and ask Him to speak to you.
He longs to share His heart with you!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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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 Esther 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 Esther!