Author: Amy Krigbaum

Worship XI Day 5 He, Vav, Zayin

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Worship XI Day 5 He, Vav, Zayin

Amy Krigbaum

June 2, 2023

Adoring,Forgiven,Freedom,Identity,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:33-56
John 8:30-38
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 37:23-34

When I read today’s portion of Psalm 119, I saw much of my life mirrored in these few verses: joy and pain, loss and rescue. 

“Remember your word to your servant; You have given me hope through it.
This is my comfort in my affliction:
Your promise has given me life.”
(Psalm 119:49-50)

As Psalm 119 proclaims, through the ups and downs of my life, God has surrounded me with His faithful love and salvation. (verse 41) Like many of you, I have wrestled with obedience to God’s words, wrestled with my sin, wrestled with the truth of God’s love and the completeness of His rescue. Today, as I share some of my story, I hope God uses my experiences to encourage you in your own journey.

Growing up in a Christian home with a loving family and attending a Christian school, I heard the message of salvation through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection early in life. I joyously received Jesus as my Savior at age 6 and began the complicated journey of following Jesus in a broken world. Soon, I found myself entangled in a faith consisting of deep truth laced with lies . . .

I was told God loved me, but only when I perfectly obeyed Him.
I was told God’s Word contained guidance and instruction for my life, but one mistake could ruin my life and relationship with God.
I was told God longed for relationship with me, but only as long as I dressed the “right” way, acted the “right” way, spoke the “right” way . . . and I quickly learned shame and condemnation were the punishment for stumbling into the “wrong” way.

So, I tried my hardest to be perfect.

I tried to behave perfectly at school and church, then let my humanity loose in the safety of my home (parents, is this familiar?). I even claimed, “I did not sin,” anxious to shift from feeling tolerated by God to embraced by Him. 

For MANY years, I walked a very lonely road in my relationship with God. Truth was hard to find…because I didn’t know what truth was. (John 8:30-38) I lived with depression and anxiety, but adamantly denied both, since I believed they were sinful. 

Instead of working through these struggles, I tried harder.  
Harder to be happy.  
Harder to make the right decisions in hopes I wasn’t ruining my life.  

But all my striving just made things worse.  
I believed I was saved, but my relationship with God was full of hurt and despair.  
I see now, Satan was using sticky, stifling lies masquerading as truth to strangle my heart. I attributed Satan’s accusations and condemnations to God, and thus, God’s Word became twisted in my heart. 

Instead of finding pleasure in the path of His commands (Psalm 119:35), I found the crushing weight of shame too heavy to neither carry nor shed.
Instead of unfurling into new life in His ways (Psalm 119:37), my spirit withered under the disapproval I imagined God radiated to me.
Eventually, exhausted and battered by years of constantly falling short and feeling alone in my struggles to master holy living, I sought biblical counseling. For the first few months, I continued to cling to the lies I’d labeled as truth, because letting go was too painful. 

Until.
One day, I encountered an image of Jesus tenderly holding one of His children. 

In that moment, I saw myself in Jesus’ arms.  
I didn’t need to earn His love;
I didn’t need to work out my sanctification on my own.  
All I needed was Jesus to open His arms and let me cry.  

Even though I was a 35 year-old adult, I was also a little child who needed her Father’s tender love and I was receiving it!

For the first time in a very long time, Scriptures that had been twisted and weaponized against my spirit broke loose from the lies, and the truth of God’s Word began to saturate my heart.  

“‘Comfort, comfort, my people,’
says your God [. . .]
He protects his flock like a shepherd;
He gathers his lambs in his arms 
and carries them in the folds of his garment.”
(Isaiah 40:1, 11)

When I read through this passage in Psalm 119, I go back to that day when God reached down and I took His hand. I can see He wanted to give me His truth and set me free! 

He (verses 33-40) and Vav (verses 41-48) speak of being in His law and His commands.  Today, rather than feeling cold hardness behind His commands, I delight in His presence and walk in freedom because His law is LOVE.  

“A person’s steps are established by the LORD,
And he takes pleasure in his way.
Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, 
Because the LORD supports him with his hand.”
(Psalm 37:23-24)

Zayin (verses. 49-56) speaks of the hope we have in God. Though I had lost my hope for many years, today, my hope in Christ rings with the joy of His salvation!    

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forgiven,freedom,Happy,perfect,Sin,worship
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Surrender Day 13 The One We Seek

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Surrender Day 13 The One We Seek

Amy Krigbaum

February 8, 2023

Covenant,Groom,Lonely,Longing,Marriage,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 1
Hosea 3
Luke 5:17-28
Lamentation 3:22-23

The struggles and joys of relationships are real.   

Some people love living close to their extended family and thrive on gathering with friends and family in their homes.  

Similarly, for some people, relationships seem to come easily. Whether through their church, friends, or marriage and children, they are surrounded by those who truly love and care about them. They thrive in the world of relationships.  

But for many others, relationships aren’t so simple. Some have deep hurt within their family, or within work or church relationships. Others find constant pain in their covenant relationship of marriage, due to cheating, harsh words, or addiction.  

Any relationship can thrive; any relationship can fall.  

All relationships require sacrifice and surrender. 

All of us were created with a desire for deep relationships. As women, we like “ladies’ night” and coffee time, and chatting about home and work with our friends. We long for security in our relationships, and the assurance we are wanted, are desirable, and needed. These desires aren’t new; they’ve been woven into us by our Creator since the beginning.

Hosea was a prophet of the Old Testament. He was chosen by God to speak to the northern kingdom of Israel regarding their iniquity during the reign of several kings. (Hosea 1:1-2) When we meet Hosea, God chooses a wife for him…but not the kind we would expect.  

God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute.
Impure, unclean, likely to be unfaithful, yet this is who God ordains Hoesa to marry?!  

Why would God want him to marry someone HE knew did not love and would not remain faithful to Hosea? In Hosea 3, God commanded Hosea to rescue Gomer, for she had returned to prostitution. Hosea didn’t just offer her a lift home, but rather, bought her freedom and restored their covenant relationship. 

In this marriage, Hosea represents God.  

Gomer represents Israel.  

To be blunt, she also pictures us!  

We are sinners who have not remained faithful to God, yet His love for us remains steadfast. While Gomer’s freedom cost Hosea a monetary sacrifice, Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice to restore our spiritual freedom and restore our relationship with God. (Romans 8:1-4)

Even though this story took place thousands of years ago, I’m sure Gomer shared our desire to love and be loved in a satisfying relationship. Perhaps she just couldn’t believe in Hosea’s love, so she sought it elsewhere. Do we find ourselves reflected in her choice? It’s hard to believe the perfect God of the universe, the Creator of all things, would love us unconditionally, so we search for love elsewhere.

I imagine Hosea also had his own dreams. Did he desire a pure relationship with his wife? Did he desire a faithful wife? One who followed the Lord? But, God had other plans . . . plans inviting Hosea’s surrender.

Sometimes, God has other plans when it comes to our relationships, too. We may wonder why God is directing our paths through difficult relationships.  

I have wrestled with many relationships over the course of my life. Starting in about 5th grade, I became stuck in a pattern of one-year-long friendships. Every fall, it seemed like EVERYONE else continued building their friendships while I started over. I was shy, and it was hard.

I made some friends early in college, but by the end of my sophomore year, a “friend” betrayed me, lied about me, and turned others against me. Thankfully, I had a few friends who saw right through the mess and helped me along the way. How hard it was for me to trust and start over again!

I always desired a relationship that would bring marriage and family. Burdened by the hurt I carried and the loss of trust from past experiences, I longed for a relationship that did not materialize. 

“Maybe God has called you to be single,” a friend would suggest.

Or after a breakup, “It’s better to be single than married to the wrong person.”  

While usually well-intentioned, such comments still landed harshly.

What was I doing wrong? What was wrong with me? Why did so many people in my life come and go? Why was I constantly walking the lonely road? 

Eventually, I felt God inviting me to surrender, just as He had Hosea. 

He invited me to surrender my plans, my life, my relationships, anything that took priority over Him. Over and over, I had to choose God’s perfect way over my own. In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus explains how we are meant to love Him more than ANY relationship we may have. He is the One we seek. 

I can’t say I understand all brokenness, or why certain relationships fall apart, but I can say, God is faithful. In the midst of multiple chapters immersed in pain and suffering and grief, Lamentations 3:22-23 states,

“Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish,
For His mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!” 

I look back after getting married at 42 and see how God was working all along. As hard as it was to surrender and live with the loneliness, it was worth the wait.  

Relationships are hard. But our relationship with the Lord is constant, persistently unending. We can hold on to Him in the ups and downs of our human relationships for He alone is faithful and steady. 

“Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

There I will give her vineyards back to her and make the Valley of Achor [Trouble] into a gateway of hope [. . .]
I will take you to be [mine] forever.
I will take you to be [mine] in righteousness, 
justice, love, and compassion.”
(Hosea 2:14-15, 19)

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Worship X Day 13 Let Them Praise!

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 148
Psalm 149
Psalm 150
Ephesians 5:18-21
Hebrews 13:15-19

Worship X, Day 13

Have you thought about all the noise around us?

All the dogs in the neighborhood won’t stop barking.
The ocean waves are so peaceful.
The whispering wind sounds so calming.

Sometimes we create the noise, with TV or fans running. When the electricity goes out, the sound of silence is deafening and eerie. Without the TV, appliances, or heat/air conditioning running, we hear the natural sounds of creation, sounds of wind or rain or animals creeping. Live on or near a farm? Cows, chickens, horses, sheep…it’s a pretty noisy place.

Is it really just noise? Or is it praises to the Lord?

The book of Psalms has many chapters on praising the Lord. Today, we’ll begin our study with Psalm 148, which makes a transition from hearing and seeing God’s mighty works to the response of His creation to His works.

As we read this chapter, we see and hear all creation praising the Lord.
“Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise Him from the heights.
Praise Him, all his angels;
praiseHim, all his heavenly armies.
Praise Him, sun and moon;
praise Him, all you shining stars.”
(Psalm 148:1-3)

Weather (verse 8), plants (verse 9), animals (verse 10), and people (verse 11) all giving God praise. Everything on this planet and in the universe was created to praise God.

In Psalm 149, the psalmist shifts to more personal praise of the Lord as our Redeemer, the One who brings justice and victory for His people.

“Let Israel celebrate its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to Him with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He adorns the humble with salvation.”
(Psalm 149:2-4)

Finally, Psalm 150 calls humans to praise the Lord with zeal through instruments and song.
“Praise Him with the blast of a ram’s horn;
praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with tambourine and dance;
praise Him with strings and flute.
Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals.”
(Psalm 150:3-5)

Have you ever heard a band or orchestra warming up, playing random notes?
Or listened to someone who is learning to play a musical instrument?

It isn’t exactly music to our ears, but after much practice and working with the conductor, it can create a beautiful song. Reassuringly (for those of us who can’t carry a tune in a bucket), the sound itself isn’t important to God; rather, He sees and hears a masterpiece when our hearts overflow in praise to Him!

If we take all of these psalms and put them together, we get more than just a choir or an orchestra. The entire universe is working together to praise the Lord, our God of creation, of glory, and of redemption.

My husband is the music minister at our church. Each week, he, along with other worship leaders throughout the whole earth, faithfully prepare to lead God’s people in His praise.  Some have big groups, some have smaller teams, but they work together to create a chorus of praise that echoes around the world.

Take that one step further. Add the living things outside church. We don’t bring our pets and plants into a worship service, but they praise the Lord each and every day. Each one has their part to play in a symphony God creates. Each one alone may not sound like much, but imagine putting it all together. I’ll give you a moment to try and do that . . .

Can you imagine? Do you hear the ocean roar and the stars sing?
Do you hear the dog barking and the orchestra playing praise to the Creator?
Do you hear singing and all creation declaring the wonder of our God?!

In our ears, it may sound more like a mess…but to God, it’s a beautiful symphony of praise!

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Wilderness Day 11 Lost, Alone, Forgotten

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 37:1-11
Genesis 39:21-23
Genesis 50:21-23
Psalm 94:17-19
Matthew 28:16-20

Wilderness, Day 11

Lost, alone, and forgotten.
Discouraged, hurt, and betrayed.
We all experience these along our journeys.

These feelings were all too familiar to another wilderness wanderer, Joseph. Great-grandson of the Hebrew patriarch, Abraham, Joseph was one of 12 sons. More specifically, Joseph was his father’s favorite son, a fact which did little to endear him to his brothers.

Joseph was further divided against his brothers by his special gift of dreams.
Dreams centering on his older brothers, and even parents, serving him. (Genesis 37:1-11) Dreams he enthusiastically shared with his family, without forethought, wisdom, or humility. You see, Joseph wasn’t perfect. Today, we would call him immature or even a brat. Finally, the family dysfunction reached a point where, embittered with hatred against Joseph, his brothers sold him as a slave. (Genesis 37:12-36)

Purchased by a rich Egyptian, Joseph was betrayed, alone, and forgotten. I’m sure Joseph wondered, “Why?” Why the dreams? Why the hatred? Why the pain? Similarly, when we are in our own wilderness, we may ask God, “Why?”

Sometimes, there may be an obvious answer, and we can use that understanding to help us learn, or navigate our way through the trial.

Other times, however, our “why”s are met with silence.
Wrestling with the unknown becomes a part of our wilderness story.

For Joseph, no clear answer was forthcoming.
Yet he continued to cling to God.

In Egypt, “The Lord was with Joseph [. . . and] Joseph found favor with his master.” (Genesis 39:2-4) Unfortunately, this same master would ultimately imprison Joseph for a crime he didn’t commit. (Genesis 39:3-20)

Even in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden” (Genesis 39:21), and soon, all prisoners were under Joseph’s authority. Still, this wasn’t enough to earn his release; he was trapped, with no way out.

Ironically, the same supernatural gift that first thrust Joseph into the wilderness would be the means of his freedom. While in prison, a series of God-empowered dream interpretations took Joseph from the lowest position in Egypt to second-in-command. (Genesis 40, 41) In his new role, Joseph was tasked with storing enough crops to feed the entire country during a subsequent famine. (Genesis 41:46-57)

The famine was the final step in the fulfillment of Joseph’s boyhood dreams, as his brothers found themselves bowing before him with requests for food to sustain their families. (Genesis 42:5-6)

In this moment, possessing all the power to exact revenge and presented with the perfect opportunity to wield it, we see the work of wilderness time in Joseph’s heart.

He extended forgiveness to his family.

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result–the salvation of many people. Therefore, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19-21)

At last, Joseph understood the answer to all the “why”s.

Why the dreams?
Why the slavery?
Why the prison?
So Joseph would be in the right place, at the appointed time. God crafted every step to position Joseph in Egypt, at the palace, before the famine, to save many lives.

The nice thing about Joseph’s story is we already know the ending. But, when Joseph was bound to other slaves, stumbling through desert sands on the way to Egypt, he didn’t understand what was happening, or why. He was deep in the wilderness of the unknown.

Our future is unknown to us. We will have wilderness seasons like Joseph. We may not be sold into slavery or tossed in prison, but we will feel lost, alone, and forgotten.
Yet Joseph’s story reminds us God has not forgotten us.

Psalm 94:17-19 declares God’s love is unfailing and He brings us joy. Our circumstances do not define us. We are God’s, and He has not left us alone.

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus concludes the Great Commission by promising, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We may feel left alone in this world by those around us, but the Lord is always with us.

We are not lost; He is leading us.
We are not alone; He is with us.
We are not forgotten; He is working in us and through us.

Wilderness Wanderer, though we may not understand all the “why”s right now, we can hear Joseph’s heart echo across the generations . . . cling to faith . . . find joy . . . embrace hope . . . for God is with us, and He is working out His plan. Even in the wilderness.

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Worship VIII Day 10 Christ Be Magnified

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 148
Matthew 16:24-28
Daniel 3
Daniel 6

Worship VIII, Day 10

I love music. It is one way I truly connect with God. Often, I’ll find myself mindlessly singing a song and, once I tune in, realize God placed it in my heart. Whether the song is from church, the radio, or simply my memory, it lifts my spirit as I sing His praises.

“Christ be Magnified” is a song I love to hold in my heart.

“Were creation suddenly articulate
With a thousand tongues to lift one cry
Then from north to south and east to west
We’d hear ‘Christ be magnified!’

Were the whole earth echoing His eminence
His name would burst from sea and sky
From rivers to the mountain tops
We’d hear ‘Christ be magnified!’”

Have you ever stood on a mountain top, or on a beach with pounding waves, and been moved to praise to the Lord? Undeniably, immersion in God’s wondrous creation stirs up praise within us!

Imagine all of creation longing to shout and sing in praise of its Creator!
In fact, Luke 19:40 declares if man is silent, the very rocks will cry out.
And Psalm 148 details every part of creation glorifying God.

“When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
O then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We’ll sing ‘Christ be magnified!’”

We are God’s finest creation.
We are not the mountain top or the sandy beaches; no, we are made in God’s own image.
We possess the ability to lift His name above all other names.

“O! Christ be magnified!
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
O! Christ be magnified!
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me”

Let’s consider that last line, is Christ magnified from the “altar” of our lives?
Do we magnify Him by sacrificing our wants and desires?
By leaving behind our sin and our own ways?
By pursuing true surrender?

That one hits hard. It’s easy to say the words “Christ be magnified.”
But, when we slow down and take honest inventory, do we really embrace surrender?
Or just sing pretty words?
True surrender requires us to lay down our leadership of our own lives;
only then can Christ be magnified in us. (Matthew 16:24-25)

“I won’t bow to idols, I’ll stand strong and worship You
And if it puts me in the fire, I’ll rejoice because You’re there, too”

This stanza reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Like these faithful men, how can we magnify God in the unexpected, hard times?
When we face hurt or loss or rejection?
When we encounter financial hardship, or physical illness?
When the future is unclear, and the way forward asks us to risk everything?

When we surrender to God’s leadership in the hard things, choosing the way of grace, the way of endurance and faith and sacrifice, we learn He is Emmanuel, God with us . . . even in the fire.

“I won’t be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true
If the cross brings transformation then I’ll be crucified with You
‘Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection life
And if I join You in Your suffering then I’ll join You when You rise
And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints
My heart will still be singing and my song will be the same”

In our world, death seems final and fearsome. It’s an unknown. But for believers, death carries a different meaning. 2 Corinthians 5:8 reassures us “we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” As the song says, death is a doorway from one life to another. Are we willing to walk with the Lord and suffer with Him, even in death?

Whether we face literal death as penalty for faith, or the daily choice to embrace the death of our own wills and sin-filled natures, may our earthly lives testify to the transforming power of our God.

May we look forward, with hope and anticipation,
to the day we stand before Him in the fullness of His glory,
still declaring, “O! Christ be magnified!”


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Reveal Day 8 Sudden Peace

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:26-38
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:8-14

Reveal, Day 8

Quiet. Tranquil. Calm.

Pandemic.
Riots.
Murder Hornets.
Politics.

When I think of the word “peace,” I think of its absence in the past year.

For the first time in my life, I can actually say that pretty much the whole world understands what the person next door is going through.
Chaos has been the shared experience of 2020.

But chaos is not new;
the world has been in chaos since man’s first sin.
(Genesis 3:1-24)

Fear follows closely on the heels of chaos as we struggle to navigate this broken world in which we live. Fear of the unknown. Fear of disease. Fear of man.

Yet, the Bible urges us to live unafraid:

“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; He will not leave you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We do not need to fear the unknown, disease, or man.
God has already gone before us.
No amount of chaos surprises Him.

I know. It sounds impossible. During this chaos of Covid-19, I personally allowed the news and the opinions or dire predictions of others to spiral me into panic.

Is it safe to leave the house?
Should I start doing grocery pickup?
Should I order everything online and just have it brought to the house?
What about staying home?
Should I go to church?
Is it ok to see family?
What if I want to go to the park? Is that ok?
Will I die?
What if . . . ? What if . . . ? What if . . . ?

But God.

Peace. 

Uttering simple words, “but God,” brought sudden peace to my heart, just as He promised in John 16:33.

“I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace.
You will have suffering in this world.
Be courageous! I have overcome the world.”

The world wants peace.
The world wants no disease, no hate, no chaos, but true peace will never happen here.
Yet, in our hearts, we long for a kind of peace the world cannot give; it’s only found in God.

As we step into the Christmas season, we hear stories of Mary and Joseph and the night Jesus was born.

Was the world at peace?
No.  

God was silent for hundreds of years. Israel was under Roman rule. The corrupt religious leaders oppressed the people. Israel awaited the promised Messiah, the One whom God said would bring peace. They were expecting a peace in the world, a peace of circumstance. No more chaos, disease, or corrupt leaders. They could not foresee or understand Jesus would bring peace with God, a peace transcending circumstance.

When Mary was approached by Gabriel, the world around her was full of chaos. The angel’s announcement certainly brought confusion, possibly threatening her one source of earthly stability, her engagement to Joseph and the secure future it promised.

But the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”

And in the midst of chaos, sudden peace.

Like Mary, Joseph lived in a world of chaos but was secure in their relationship. Until Mary told him the news she was expecting a baby. (Matthew 1:18-25)
Confusion. Hurt. Questions.
The law said, “Divorce her,”

but the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”

And in the midst of chaos, sudden peace.

The shepherds took refuge in a quiet, hillside night from the chaos of the city during census. Shepherds were lowly in society, the people no one cared about, yet they were the first to learn of Jesus’ birth! The angel’s proclamation sparks immediate fear (Luke 2:8-14),

but then he says, “Do not be afraid.”

And in the midst of chaos, sudden peace.

Each person in the Christmas story experienced fear.
Fear on the outside, fear on the inside.
They each felt the ache for peace.
Peace in the world and peace in their hearts.
“Do not be afraid.”

Peace.

When Jesus was born, the chaos of the world did not end. Yet each person in the story found peace. It was a peace inside, a peace in their hearts.

Desperation for peace in the world’s circumstances is an outward need, reflecting our desperate need for spiritual peace. In the midst of the chaos, we can still have peace inside if we search for the One who IS peace and GIVES peace. The same Jesus who calmed the storm on the waves by simply speaking, “Peace! Be still.” (Matthew 4:35-41) When we seek Him in chaos, He speaks, “Peace! Be still!” to the storm raging within us.

We may not see a physical change.
The diagnosis doesn’t change.
The people around us may not have a new attitude.

We change.
His peace, which passes all understanding, is inside us, calming our hearts.
(Philippians 4:6-7)

We hear God speak simple words, “Do not be afraid.”

And in the midst of chaos, sudden peace.

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He Day 13 El Olam

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 90:1-4
Exodus 3:1-15
John 8:48-59
Revelation 4:1-11
Isaiah 40:28-31

He, Day 13

Have you ever studied the names of God? Learning about His names gives added meaning to our relationship with God in profound, breathtaking ways.

But honestly, friends, it took me a hot second to come to this understanding. In fact, I have struggled with this particular study.  Perhaps it was because I was trying to define “everlasting” in terms that make sense to our time-bound minds, or maybe I wasn’t grasping the whole meaning of the name El Olam, “Everlasting God.”

I turned in one version of the study that I honestly didn’t like, crying because I couldn’t put into words what I knew needed to be said. I knew if the study wasn’t making sense to me, it wouldn’t make sense to those who would read it.

But this week in chapel, God put me right where He needed me to embrace a whole new meaning to His name.

El Olam, “Everlasting God.”
Everlasting calls to mind words like:
For a long time
Always
Forever
Never-ending

Hebrews 13:8 declares, “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Additionally, Revelation 1:8 reminds us He is the “Alpha and Omega [. . .] the One who is, who was, and who is to come.”

In Psalm 90:2, everlasting is described as “from eternity to eternity, You are God.”

In first grade, my teacher wanted us to consider how God is without beginning and He will always be. For a first grader, existence beyond the bounds of time is pretty tough to comprehend. Well, for an adult, it’s hard to comprehend!

We all have our beginning, a moment in time where we became who we are (Psalm 139:13-16). But God is without a beginning; He has simply always been.

For me, the never-ending is significantly easier to understand than never beginning. While everything on earth ends, all will live eternally somewhere. If we believe in God, we’ll spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

Eternity is a long time. Even thinking about it, you can see how I put the constraints of time in the thoughts. But to God, eternity is all the same, a great oneness (2 Peter 3:8-9). He has always existed and He will never cease to exist.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites called God Yahweh, which means “I am.” Yahweh is the most important name of God, in that it encompasses all of who God is. When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, God gave Moses a new insight into who He is.

“I Am who I Am […] the Lord, the God of your fathers.” (Exodus 3:14-15)

“I Am who I Am” could also be translated “I will be who I will be and I will continue to be.”
I am the LORD, Yahweh, forever, changeless God.

What does this mean for us in our lifetime?

The same as it did for Moses. The God whom we turned against in our sin, sent Jesus to cover the debt of our sinfulness. In John 8:58, Jesus says, “before Abraham was, I Am.”
I am the LORD, Yahweh, forever God.
Our Savior is the same eternal God we read about in Exodus, Psalms, and Revelation.
Our everlasting Savior is the same “I Am” today.

Our forever God is forever:
Dependable
Trustworthy
Consistent
Faithful
Good
Love

With time, comes change in our physical, linear world. The seasons change. We see physical change throughout our life. Finances change. Circumstances change.

But God does not, nor will He ever, change.

His character does not change.

His Word does not change.

Isaiah 40:28-31 reminds us of our everlasting God. God doesn’t change; therefore we find strength in Him. When we are left feeling bereft, frightened, or confused by the shifting, time-locked world around us, we can look to our everlasting God.

We can share in His hope, always.

We can share in His peace and His joy, always.

We can share in the unending assurance of His presence, His care, and His provision.
Always.

He holds all from before time began and will hold all when time ceases.
He was, and is, and is to come.
He is everlasting.

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Shielded Day 1 Shielded By The Unstoppable

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-11
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Isaiah 40:30-31
2 Timothy 2:3-4

Shielded, Day 1

The last few weeks have been up and down in waves.
I’ve been grumpy and my patience has been tested.
Why? 

I could say the students in my class are getting on my nerves because they’re excited about upcoming activities. I could say it’s because friends and family are irritating me.  I could say it’s because some family members’ health has me concerned.

These triggers are part of the human experience, but they aren’t why I’ve been in a slump. It didn’t take long for me to review the last few weeks and realize, I have not been putting on my God-given armor. 

I’ve slacked off.
I haven’t been in the Word.
I haven’t been taking time to grow in my walk with the Lord.

I don’t share this because I want your sympathy. I share this because surely, at some point, we’ve all experienced missing armor, manifesting in attitudes and actions. Therefore, I share this because I want to encourage you.

Ephesians 6:10-11 speaks to believers about putting on the special armor God gives us to use in our fight against the enemy.  The situations I described above are external. What was really happening?  I let my guard down and the enemy attacked.  He attacked my heart and my thoughts, and without my armor to defend me, he buried me in a big mess of trouble.

We are at war every day in this world.

We tend to focus on the outside, what we see around us. We get angry with family and friends. We get disproportionately upset at minor frustrations, like an unexpected schedule change.

But this isn’t a war of the physical world.
There is a different war raging.
This war is invisible, in the spiritual realm.

While unseen, our enemy is real and ruthless. 1 Peter 5:8 calls him a “lion seeking who he can devour.” God not only warns us about him, but gives us the necessary weapons to fight him. When we believe and accept God’s gift of salvation, we receive both eternal life and an impenetrable suit of armor. We become soldiers of Jesus Christ, called and equipped by God to enter the fight against sin and Satan.

However, our armor isn’t given to us so God can leave us alone on the battlefield. He knows we cannot win this war in our own strength.

Therefore, our armor is covered in God’s power and strength.

God is with us at all times
and, clothed in His armor,
we can access His power to fight the evil forces in the unseen realm.

2 Corinthians 6:7 declares we have the power of God in us.

This truth is reflected in Jeremy Camp’s song, Same Power:
“The same power that rose Jesus from the grave, lives IN us!”

Satan cannot take this power from us,
but he will try to keep us from using it.  

Leaving our armor behind gives him the opportunity to strike us.
He wants us to be apathetic and complacent.
He wants us to get lost in “what ifs” and doubt God.

He wants us to forget we have the power of God living inside us and can be victorious, even in our weakest moments. Our enemy is a crafty adversary, tailoring his attacks to take advantage of our deepest vulnerabilities.

Peering into our darkest insecurities, he draws arrow to bow.

Zing. The arrow flies.  “You’re not good enough.”

Zing. “You’re comfortable, no reason to do anything new.”

Again. “You’ll be crushed if something bad happens because of this decision.”

And again. “God will never forgive you for _______.”

And again. “You can’t.”

If our armor is laying in a heap, rusted and dusty, we are defenseless against the onslaught. Satan’s accusations demolish us.

But if our armor is in place, well-fitted and consistently maintained, we are shielded by the unstoppable power of God. His power is able to deflect Satan’s lies, to topple his strongholds.

Not good enough?
God says our adequacy and worth are bound up in and defined by Him alone. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Tempted to stay safe and comfortable?
God urges us to walk with courage and strength into new callings. (Joshua 1:1-9)

Paralyzed by fear of unforeseen consequences?
God assures us He will be with us, no matter what the future holds. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Strangled by shame?
God heaves condemnation from our shoulders and nails it to the cross. (Romans 8:1-2)

Just. Can’t?
God declares in Him, we can. (Philippians 4:13)

Every thrust of our swords and clang of our shields moves us away from the devil and toward God Himself.

I haven’t been responsible and active about my armor lately.
I’ve become comfortable and lazy.
Exactly what Satan wants.

What about you?  
Are the external happenings in your life a result of setting down your armor and walking away from the fight?

It’s easy to get comfortable in our daily routines and forget our time with God.
Join me today.
Let’s steep ourselves in His Word, His presence, and His power.

Sleeping warrior, awake.
Settle your armor into place.
The battle cry has sounded.

It’s time to fight.

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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 Shielded Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Esther Day 3 Trash Or Treasure

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 2
Isaiah 49:15-16       
Isaiah 61:1-4
Matthew 10:29-31
1 Peter 3:1-6

Esther, Day 3

Ugh, another red dot…at my age?

I spent an hour doing my hair today and no one noticed.

My clothes won’t fit; I need to go to the gym.

We’ve all had those times of looking in the mirror and not liking what we see.
It doesn’t take much looking around to discover the world has dragged us into a place where beauty is necessary to survive. 

Television commercials, magazines, billboards, and even friends and family sell us on the necessity of beauty. Buy this product, eat this food, go to the gym, wear this outfit; the taglines scream from everywhere.

We must have that make-up, that membership, and those clothes. We buy new clothes and use a new beauty treatment only to watch the trend fade.

The world has tossed women to a pack of wolves by defining what is beautiful by what is fleeting.  It feels as if we’re always on the stage of the beauty pageant, waiting to hear where we stand.  First, runner up, less than perfect, or worse…last.
Undesirable, unwanted, and unworthy.

Beth Moore, a fellow champion for women to be esteemed with the value God ordains, shares transparently on how tough it is to be a woman. It is tough living in a world where beauty is valued by status.  It is tough living in a world where beauty is treated as something you are entitled to or something you earn.   It is tough to fight against the need to be beautiful instead of being the woman God wants us to be.

This fight to be beautiful isn’t new.
The need to stand above the rest, be noticed, and valued are battles women have waged for centuries. In this chapter of Esther, we find a king looking to replace his banished queen.

He didn’t walk the city and randomly select a pretty face or a hardworking handmaiden. Neither did he scour the synagogues to find a woman of noble character.  This decision was intentional and calculated, hinging on one criteria, his enjoyment of her appearance.
And he wanted the very best.
The king ordered all eligible maidens to the palace to begin eliminating “lesser beauties”. He designed his own beauty pageant where he would win first prize of the prettiest body, while she lost, being valued on gorgeousness alone.

One year of beauty treatments and special dietary regimes were implemented to smooth rough skin, clear imperfections, and fatten scrawny bodies. These ladies’ appearances were the result of real, regular everyday living, just like us.  The arid climate and sun exposure led to dry skin and tan lines instead of the preferred pale complexion and supple flesh. Arms strengthened from everyday workloads and thin figures resulting from low food supply weren’t signs of beauty in this culture, but of poverty.

Where real life was evident, ‘beauty’ was applied.

After all these treatments, they chose clothing and jewelry to impress the king.  Each woman visited the king for a single night. After their one-night-stand, they were sent away, not just from the king, but from the other women….and men.

Sexually soiled, they were now unclean. Whatever life and family they had known and loved before this night was now forever lost. Most ladies would never return home after this disgrace because they had no chance of marriage.  The fate of these women was worse than being last in a beauty pageant.
Their dignity had been stolen as they were tossed out, discarded like trash.

Doesn’t this ancient dichotomy feel well-fitted to today’s message?
Either apply the beauty and win the comparison pageant, or be tossed aside as trash.

For Esther, the Lord used her beauty and her heart to win not only the favor of the King, but of the people around her as well. Esther’s outward beauty was enhanced by her kind and gentle heart; a ‘treatment’ no Persian aesthetician could touch.

Though Esther was chosen as queen, she wasn’t treated much better than the other woman.  She had no rights other than the title, “Queen of Persia”.  She was also Jewish, a people who had largely forgotten about their God as they blended with culture around them, and who probably also felt cast off from Him in the years since they’d been exiled in Persia.

Maybe you’re in a place of forgotten and unwanted too.
Transparently, I’m single and have never married; I’m tired of counting how many times I’ve been rejected and labeled “not worth it”.  Someone here knows the sting of feeling undesirable when a husband walks out to find a younger version of beautiful.  Or maybe you’ve worked hard for a promotion, only to be overlooked by someone “better qualified.”

The appearance of ‘beauty’ comes in many shades, and often, if we aren’t cultivating the beauty of our hearts first, we become a casualty of ‘cast off’.

God does not treat us this way! 
We are not pushed onto a stage while God inspects every inch of us, exasperated by our imperfection. He will not toss us aside like trash, because we aren’t.

When God looks for beauty, He’s looking on the inside. (I Samuel 16:7)
He takes our brokenness and makes it beautiful. (Isaiah 61:3)
God doesn’t forget those the world has forgotten. (Isaiah 49:15-16)
We hear “not good enough” or “not valuable”, but God says we are more important than sparrows.  (Matthew 10:29-31)
He sent His Son to save us from our sin because He made us for being treasured.

“The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession…” 
(Deuteronomy 7:6)

When the world judges us for what we are, remember WHOSE we are!
Remember you are a beautiful treasure!

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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 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 Esther!