Author: Paula Romang

Wilderness Day 3 Job’s Wilderness & My Own

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Job 19:25-27
Job 23:10-17
Job 42:5-17
Psalm 18:25-36
1 Peter 1:3-9

Wilderness, Day 3

Life is like embroidery work.

A piece of embroidery has two sides, two stories stitched simultaneously. The back is often a tangle of knots and strings, giving only a faint suggestion of the front image. Our life on earth is like the back of that piece, while God is creating a magnificent work of art on the other side; a stunning, eternal masterpiece.

Tucked away in the Old Testament lies a remarkable story that mirrors this sort of heavenly embroidery: the story of our brother Job and his staggering loss. His struggles challenge his understanding of God and leave him with more questions than answers.

Before we reach the end of chapter one, we find him stunned and grief-stricken. (Job 1) Job had recently placed the lifeless bodies of all 10 of his children in their graves. In the space of a few hours, he became a dweller of the surreal Land of Loss all grievers know well. In this land, nothing matters but the gaping wound and the ever-present pain.

The dust settles and Job’s questions arise.

“Why was I not stillborn;
Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? [. . .]
Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
And life to those whose existence is bitter,
Who waits for death, but it does not come [. . .]
I have no rest, for turmoil has come.” (Job 3:11, 20-21, 26)

Wealth can be rebuilt, illness treated. Children cannot be replaced. Yet these priceless treasures were unceremoniously ripped away in a freak accident.

Job had no explanation. He was not privy to the conversations between God and Satan relayed in the text. (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-7) His confusion is warranted; His understanding of God and His ways were just body-slammed.

Like Job, our finite minds conclude our all-powerful, compassionate God can and should stop all suffering; yet, He doesn’t. We all have scars to prove it. Any notion suggesting God miraculously delivers His own from painful trials is patently false. (John 16:33)

So, in the quiet back channels of our soul, the unending “why” rises like a mist. Our suffering doesn’t make sense; He doesn’t make sense.

We’re reminded of the back of the embroidery work, where life is mostly a confusion of outlines, knots, and strings. Truthfully, Job never received answers to the questions haunting his sleepless nights, and we may not, either. Still, truth remains; God acts for His holy and eternal purposes. (Isaiah 40:12-14, 21-26)

I have spent ample time in the ash-heap of grief. Our brother Job buried ten children; I buried one. During my sojourn into loss, several stabilizing mindsets emerged, anchoring my soul with solid hope. Solid hope, I found, resides in solid truth—the truth of Scripture. As I began the practice of marinating my soul in Scripture, I came to know God as my Companion and Friend. The more deeply I knew Him, the more I trusted Him, which empowered tenacious devotion, gritty faith, and audacious obedience. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Frankly, were it not for my solid foundation of truth, I would not have survived Matthew’s long-term illness and death with my faith intact.

Though my anchor held fast, I too, wrestled through puzzling contradictions and unanswered questions. However, through the pain and confusion, this truth rose in an ever-present whisper: life on earth is not our only. Eternity awaits just beyond, through the veil of time and space.

As I await eternity, I find encouragement in Apostle Paul’s words:

“Therefore, we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

This truth gave perspective and purpose for the pain, while infusing a deeply-abiding, grounded hope and true joy for the reality of eternity.

This solid relationship with God empowered me to face life with unanswered questions, much like our brother Job. In the dark night of my soul, He whispered, “I see you; I am with you. I’m doing something deep and beautiful. Trust Me.” His words were mostly about trust and relationship; very little was said about changing circumstances in my favor.

Through the loneliness and desperation rose quiet, peaceful intimacy. He became my treasure and joy. I became fruitful, even in the place of pain. Knowing my Jesus was in control, holding my boys and I in His arms, became enough for me. I could maneuver through the knots and strings, knowing Who was creating a masterpiece on the flip-side.

Though we live on the backside now, when we see Him, He will flip the embroidery piece. We will be stunned at the masterpiece He created from what we only knew as tangled knots and strings. How could we imagine He’s been working all along, refining gold through our painful trials, weaving glistening threads through our darkest days, and crafting delicate, priceless jewels from our deepest sorrows.

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

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Wilderness!

Worship IX Day 15 The God Who Is

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3
Exodus 34:4-9
Isaiah 57:15-20
Colossians 1:3-23
Revelation 5

Worship IX, Day 15

It was a quid pro quo arrangement with God.
My part was excellence on all points in Christian living;
His was to deliver my version of the blessed and beautiful Christian life.

Despite my quest for perfect performance, my only consistent accomplishment was failure. I was caught in a self-defeating, self-inflicted trap. My expectations and reality were worlds apart, resulting in a brutal head-on collision. I slumped in the wreckage of disappointment, a casualty of my own deception. Had I misunderstood Him; did I even truly know Him?

My disillusionment led me to Scripture, where I encountered the tender, yet terrifying God Who Is. 

I found God reveals Himself in seemingly-opposing ways.
He honors humans with intimate friendship, yet acts independently,
delineating His realm of existence; we are creatures, He is Creator.
In divine wisdom, He takes action, reinstating order where humans create chaos,
all the while working out His redemptive plan for humanity.

The Creator “walk[ed] in the garden at the time of the evening breeze” with Adam and Eve in Eden. (Genesis 3:8)
He also banished them from Eden following their rebellion. (Genesis 3:22-24)

In Noah, He confided His regret in creating mankind, and His plan to decimate creation with a deluge, restarting with Noah and his family. He dictated instructions for their ark of rescue, then proceeded with the deluge. (Genesis 6, 7, 8, 9)

He chose a pagan named Abram, renamed him Abraham, and honored him with covenants and promises. God called Abraham His friend, yet clearly illustrated to Abraham that his Friend was the Divine Power. God made shocking demands of Abraham, yet in the process, sketched His overarching plan for humanity’s redemption. (Learn more about Abraham in Genesis 11-25)

He shepherded Abraham’s descendants through multiple generations, revealing Himself by the name “I AM” to Moses, and honoring Moses with the first character description of Himself. (Exodus 3) Once again, when the evil of mankind had reached His limits, “I AM” stepped in, restoring order, wielding judgement, and delivering Israel by His bared, holy arm. (Learn more about God’s rescue of Israel in Exodus 1-14)

“I AM” guided Israel by a pillar of cloud and fire, protected them, and established them as a nation. He called men and women who followed Him for bold missions, feats of valor, and fearless preaching. Prophets foretold “I AM” would come in human form. His mission would be to redeem fallen humanity. (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Weathered sages scratched truth-filled messages and prophetic visions onto sacred scrolls. Once again, they told of “I AM,” Who seeks tender friendship with mankind, yet, remains “in a high and holy place.” (Isaiah 57:15)

He speaks comfort, extends lovingkindness, and powerfully protects. (Isaiah 41:8-11)
In the same breath, He holds mankind accountable for their choices. Once again, “I AM” emblazons the distinction between mankind and Himself. (Isaiah 40–41)

All the while, “I AM” is weaving together our redemption, revealing with uncanny clarity His jaw-dropping plan to redeem mankind by coming in human form as their Passover Lamb. (Isaiah 53)

Prophetic words came true; “I AM” arrived as “God with us.”
The Holy Spirit divinely fathered Jesus in Mary’s womb. (Matthew 1:18-23)
He lived a common, yet wholly uncommon life; fully human, fully God. Jesus championed authentic religion marked by ongoing compassion for the helpless and hopeless while offending the elite with truth. He revealed His divine power and identity simply to undergird the tenderly flowering faith of His followers and underscore His bold assertions, He was eternity’s “I AM” in human form.

He was “I AM” submitting to the slashing whip and criminal’s crucifixion.
God, slaughtered as the unblemished Passover Lamb. (Matthew 26-27)

“I AM,” “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth” (Exodus 34:6), so accessible and relatable— so killable. He was born to die, all while remaining God and conquering death. Resurrection Day both seals and celebrates His resounding victory! (Matthew 28)

Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, His disciples were freshly empowered by the truth and His indwelling Holy Spirit. (Acts 2) So, they turned the world upside-down with the gospel. In a stunning vision, the aging Apostle John received a glimpse into Heaven’s throne-room where his Friend awaits. It was Him! Israel’s Passover Lamb; Judah’s warring Lion; his Friend, Jesus of Nazareth, the Great “I AM”! (Learn more about John’s vision in the book of Revelation)

Dwelling in holy friendship with such other-worldly majesty—how can it be?  What does He want with us?

Simply, He wants us.
The stunning truth is that dwelling amidst His holy thunder, communing with “I AM” as Friend with friend, is a reality available to all who are unafraid to press in and follow Him in trusting obedience. (Isaiah 57:15-21, Micah 4:1-8, James 4:4-10)

We will never understand Him; He is incomprehensible.

We will never grasp the magnificent condescension of His redemptive work on our behalf.  However, like the heavenly throng, the unnerving eye-covered creatures and the Apostle himself, we too can gaze transfixed upon the Victorious Lamb, joining the unending chorus, crying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power [. . . ] be to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5: 9-14)

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship IX Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Sketched IX Day 15 On This Rock

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:12-15
1 Peter 3:14-18
Luke 22:54-62

Sketched IX, Day 15

In the pale half-light of early morning, softly growing light glows in the east. The speckled rooster slumbers still. I know he’ll rise to remind me of my failure. Crowing roosters and early mornings like these could forever taunt me, but they now proclaim His holy calling upon me, a fallen man. Because of His calling, I shepherd His flock of those who believe.

The menacing specter of evil looms, yet we remain His glowing lampstand in this idolatrous place. In recent days, dear brothers have fallen beneath the brutal blade of martyrdom. Our Lord Christ has made plain the path before me; I too will soon lay aside this earthly tent. The brothers can no longer depend upon me for nourishment and guidance. My focus now must be transferring the baton of faith to the brothers, so they will remain steadfast in my absence.

False teachers prowl among the flock, confusing and deceiving the sheep with their insidious half-truths. These babes in faith need the pure milk of truth taught by reliable brothers, so they can grow strong, able to teach and lead others. Remaining in the Scriptures, craving and continuously feeding upon the truth, is the only way to remain steadfast and not be led astray.

My earnest desire is that they will not simply know the truth, but be seized with wonder by this precious faith. We’ve been given the riches of the Law and Prophets, all anticipating and announcing beforehand the coming of our Messiah. I’ve not only seen Him, but I’ve known Him as my Friend and Brother.

However, even while He was among us as Friend and Brother, He was clearly not of us, but from a high and holy place, discharged here on a sacred mission. The same dove-like Spirit present at creation was Him. All the truth of the Law and Prophets came to fruition in Him. I was privileged to see His eternal glory on the sacred mountain. This Friend and Brother among us is Elohim—I AM before creation. My Brother visited Father Abraham in his tent. Our Friend called Moses from the burning bush, decimated Egypt, and delivered our fathers through the Red Sea.

He is the true Lamb to which the Law and Prophets pointed. Our redemption was purchased by His human-yet-holy blood. Direct access was torn open by His blood; now within reach are all the divine resources we will ever need for this life of godliness.

The Holy Spirit is the key to this door of access. The Holy Spirit enables us to live such holy lives among the pagans that they will have no plausible grounds for accusation. Our faith must be expressed through virtuous lives in every facet, from our work to our citizenship, and especially in our relationships.

In these evil days, we can still live with steadfast and stalwart spirits. Trusting His sovereign plan is paramount, I believe. His plan spanned the epochs, has been in motion since before Eden, and plays out even now. His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension were all key points of this sweeping drama of mankind’s redemption. Our Lord and Master—my Friend, is seated in ethereal glory now, as completely in control now as the day the stars spilled from His nail-pierced hands.

Because our Friend is also “I AM,” we have no cause for fear. While this brutal persecution will likely grow increasingly worse, our suffering is not in vain. It purifies and strengthens us, provided we are trained by it; as our dross is burned away, we emerge as pure gold, reflecting the character of our Lord Christ! Even though it is painful now, it is only temporary. Our sufferings here are “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared with the glory to come.

Christ is our model in this. Though He existed in ethereal glory before His incarnation, He stepped into this narrow slice of time and space for a season and endured the brutality of a Roman crucifixion on our behalf.

However, now He’s seated in Heaven at God’s right hand!
Our salvation has been secured and death and hell, forever defeated!

Like Him, we shall endure suffering for a little while and then receive the glories of heaven. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, Death, our final enemy, is now simply a doorway into eternal glory where Jesus awaits just across the threshold! I must soon cross that threshold; the path stretches plainly before me. He has lit the way well by His example. For the joy set before Him, He endured the brutality of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
As He calls me, I shall follow. 

When the brothers come today, I will dictate a letter. Time is short; truth must be imparted.

Ah, the rooster crows now! He mocks me! However, the truth remains that my Lord Christ has redeemed me as His called and chosen child, and placed upon me this mantle of shepherd. Therefore, I shall faithfully discharge my duties until I cross that threshold into eternal glory.

“Mock on, rooster, your crows no longer taunt me, for I am His called and chosen, the shepherd of His flock, and will soon run into His embrace as I cross that blessed threshold!”

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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!

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 IX Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Sketched IX Day 11 I Have Seen Him

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 35:5-7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 78:2-4
Luke 5:1-11
Acts 1:12-26

Sketched IX, Day 11

Golden-rosy light glows in the east, dispelling the darkness. The breaking dawn mirrors the dawn of truth upon my soul. Truth casts its glow into the dark soul, ever brightening, ever rising, finally flooding the soul with radiant light. Like the rising sun, the truth of Jesus’ incarnation and His sojourn on earth has become increasingly clear. The light has broken upon my darkened understanding.

It all began on an early morning like this one. The crew and I had just finished a frustrating, fruitless night on the water. Usually we caught something, but that night there was nothing; it was odd. 

A rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Andrew knew, often came to the lake in the early mornings, teaching from the boats. Many viewed him as the Messiah. He told parables; His teaching was interesting and relatable. He taught as One having first-hand knowledge of ancient truth. His wisdom was primordial, yet fresh and alive. He was not just another rabbi, but Who He was remained a mystery to me. Andrew hung upon His words, convinced He was “the prophet” of which Moses prophesied.

That morning, He taught from our boats longer than usual. Water slapped against the side of the gently rocking boat and I dozed, half-listening. He roused me and matter-of-factly instructed, “Go out into the deep water; let down the nets for a catch.”

This Nazarene was serious. Andrew was already in his boat, shoving off; I followed. Andrew flung out his net; it slapped onto the water and slowly sank. Nothing, silence . . . then in an instantaneous rush, there were schools of fish!

Andrew gasped, then whooped as he began drawing in the net. Immediately his boat listed violently, nearly keeling over. We rowed fiercely, reaching them in time to fling out our net to reinforce theirs. Immediately, ours were full, nearly breaking under the weight. We were in danger of losing all the fish, both boats, and our lives as well.

We dug in with the oars, straining in unison for the shallows. I bailed into the lake and with rhythmic heave-hos, the crew and I made for the shore, dragging the straining nets. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the beach. My chest heaved as I lay on the sand and simply breathed.

He came to me. I stared up at the Creator against His blue dome of sky. He extended His hand and helped me stand. We all gaped in silence– at the haul of fish, at one another, but mostly at Him. He smiled and simply said, “From now on, you will be fishers of men!”  The light of truth was breaking upon me.

As I watched and listened, evidence began to mount. He just might be “the prophet” as Andrew insisted. He certainly held power over the movement of fish in the lake; no ordinary man does that! Every day He healed someone, often anyone who asked. Isaiah prophesied when “the prophet” came, healing those born blind would be one of His miracles. With my own eyes, I witnessed Jesus restore sight to people blind from birth. Elijah healed on a few occasions, but Jesus healed all the time.

The evidence continued increasing, but we understood Messiah’s coming as restoring Israel’s political and national glory. While Jesus spoke often of “the kingdom of Heaven,” He showed no interest in initiating an insurrection. On the other hand, His fulfillment of prophecies couldn’t be coincidental, or denied.

He multiplied food and wine as needed and had power to heal all diseases.

Nature obeyed His commands as though He were its Master. Storms stopped at His command; trees withered at His rebuke.

With evil spirits came immediate recognition, “Son of the Most High God,” they called Him. It wasn’t their first encounter with Him; they groveled in His presence. He held their fate in His hands, it seemed. Only Elohim could do this.

Then, in a brilliant, unforgettable moment of divine splendor, He showed James, John and I His glory on the sacred mountain. He stood as Friend with friend beside Moses and Elijah, emanating an ethereal, other-worldly light.

Then there was Lazarus’ return from death, and the people shouting “Hosanna” as He entered Jerusalem, riding a donkey’s colt. Within hours, the tide turned. His arrest, the flogging, and the cross. It was brutally sudden, unnerving, and terrifying, yet all of it followed straight from Isaiah’s prophecies.

Then Resurrection Day; He was back! It was stunning, yet confusing. Now He’s ascended to His former glory. He’s gone, and He left me in charge! This is both terrifying and humbling.

Every crowing rooster reminds of my failure. However, it was another early morning like this one, days ago, when His grace breathed life into my deflated soul. As long as I live, in the soft gray stillness of each breaking dawn, I will remember the fire of coals and the breakfast of fish. His questions were like well-aimed arrows piercing my soul. The same knowing gaze rested upon me, as it had in the courtyard the night of His trial. There was eternal knowing, yet eternal kindness in His eyes.

“Shepherd my sheep,” He said softly, His eyes of grace locked with my own shame-filled eyes. He placed before me the enormous calling of shepherding this fledgling flock.

The brothers and I remain in steadfast prayer since He returned to Glory.  It seems job one is to appoint Judas’ replacement, as Scripture says. We shall proceed in prayerful obedience, as we await His affirmation upon the chosen man.

In the courtyard below, the rooster fluffs his bronze-green feathers in the first rays of dawn and readies himself for a morning crow. Though he attempts to remind me of my failure, I choose to remind myself of my Lord’s grace and His holy calling.

“His grace covers me! Crow away, rooster, crow away!”

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IX 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 IX!

Worship VIII Day 13 My Victory

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 2:1-10
Colossians 1:15-23
Romans 7:21-8:3
Romans 8:18-39
2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Worship VIII, Day 13

We’ve all heard evangelists preach truth to the lost,
but have you ever preached truth to yourself?

It may sound odd, but it’s a beneficial practice. Reminding ourselves of the truth of Scripture impacts our real, everyday lives.

For example, His great faithfulness is equally true both in times of devoted worship and as we fold laundry. His plans for our hope and future remain, even as we potty-train our toddlers or wait in the car-rider line.

We’re often encouraged in church, yet promptly deflated as we smack headlong into life. Preaching truth to ourselves helps us remain in the confidence of worship and move forward in strength, rather than living in perpetual frustration. Hymns and worship songs provide excellent material for preaching truth to ourselves, and My Victory by Jimmy Needham is no exception.

“Never turning back to the way things were
I’m stronger now than I was before
I hear the sound that freedom brings
It’s ringing loud
Now I am free to lift my eyes
For grace is alive”

The first stanza prompts a glance over our shoulders, recalling life when Christ found us. As I remember from what He’s saved me, I rejoice! My empty life was suddenly infused with the breath of God. What was dead, is now alive!

“You are the hope that broke the dark in me
You are the light that shines when I can’t see
You are, You are, my victory”

Because Jesus is God in human form,
our divine Redeemer,
our death-conquering,
resurrected and ascended King,
He is the only one truly qualified to be our living hope.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus purchased an all-access pass to the resources we need for a fruitful life in Christ. As believers, we have access to an arsenal of truth, a “truth trifecta,” we can use to fight lies in Jesus’ name. This truth trifecta is Scripture, prayer, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Scripture is our “light when we can’t see,” our battle-sword, and our bedrock of truth. Therefore, Scripture’s words about God’s character, our sinfulness, His grace, and our victory in Christ are absolutely true, regardless of our feelings. Standing upon Scripture is standing upon truth. It is bedrock, especially in the heat of battle.

The Holy Spirit serves as our internal compass and intercessor. Because the Holy Spirit connects us to the same power-source that resurrected Christ, we’re empowered to live fruitful, flourishing lives in enemy territory.

Through the phenomenon of prayer, redeemed humans can enjoy free-flowing communication with God. For example, the psalms illustrate raw, unfiltered conversations with God; the writer is often an open book. Because the astounding privilege of being known and loved by The Ancient of Days is our reality, our deepest heart-cries and most treasured dreams are His immediate concern.

“My weakness Yours, Your mercy mine
My God, You’re not the leaving kind
I sing the song that freedom brings
It’s ringing loud
Now I am free to lift my eyes
My God is alive”

Here, we’re reminded of the paradoxes within Christianity. In our weakness, we are strong. Because we surrender our weakness to Him and in turn, are suffused with His strength. Instead of abandoning us to our sin, He redeems us, bestows riches upon us, and fights for us.

I know this is true, because for years He fought for me, empowering me in my weakness. Preaching Scriptural truth to myself, praying like an open book, and drawing strength from His Spirit sustained me as weighty circumstances threatened to crush me.

My preemie twins needed a skilled, compassionate mother; it was a rewarding yet exhausting and thankless task.

Matthew’s special needs intensified my load and isolation. His medical needs steadily increased, along with his seizures.

My solid (but previously untested) faith was called into action. Throughout our struggles, truth was my ever-present companion, and preaching it to myself, through tears of desperation, became my means of survival. Prayer became my lifeline, often resembling a signal flare launched into the darkness. Truth was my bedrock, prayer sustained me, and the Holy Spirit empowered me to care for my boys well in Jesus’ name.

“In times of trouble
When I’m not able
You are, my God, You are
My chains are broken
Your gates are open
Hallelujah”

How easily we can identify with Needham’s words! A quick scroll on social media screams of a world is in chaos. Covid19, political vitriol, and the “Cancel Culture” exasperate and disorient us.

Yet, He remains our foundation. When Matthew died, I stared numbly into his casket and was engulfed in a swirling fog of grief; yet He shared my burden, lifting my tear-stained face toward eternity and the temporary nature of my affliction.

The truth of Scripture stabilized me throughout my care-giving years and in my grief. For truth remains, no matter the circumstances; what is true in the sunlight is equally true in the pouring rain.

His Spirit gave me steely fortitude in heartbreaking circumstances; His Word and His Spirit spoke of eternity and our blessed hope.  Though we now dwell in enemy territory, building outposts of truth in occupied land, we know how this story ends. Jesus wins! Therefore, “we sing it out, we sing it loud! He is our victory!”

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship 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 Worship VIII!

He Day 11 Yahweh Sabaoth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 7:14-14:31
Matthew 14:22-32
John 6:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-2
2 Corinthians 4:7-9

He, Day 11

Hovering over the expanse of waters was the Spirit of Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, creator of everything out of nothing. When man’s sin stained His beautiful creation, He promised a divine deliverer to pay the price for man’s rebellion. Throughout the ages of the patriarchs, Yahweh Sabaoth sustained, protected and pursued His people.

When Egyptians enslaved them, Yahweh Sabaoth waged war on their behalf, unleashing His fury upon the nation and Egyptian gods. Each plague landed a direct hit upon their god’s identity and supposed jurisdiction of power. The wizards mimicked some plagues, but quickly realized they were dealing with Someone stronger than they’d ever encountered.

Someone fierce.
Someone dangerous to their reign of deception.
Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts.

Yahweh Sabaoth delivered the Hebrews and brought them to the Red Sea.
As the dust clouds rose from the desert signaling Pharoah’s advancing army, the Hebrews trembled. The people who just witnessed plagues, the decimation of one nation and the exodus of another by the Lord of armies . . . panicked.

Yahweh’s response?

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) 

He called toward quiet trust;
they rushed headlong into despair.

Despite their faith-failures, the miraculous doorway of deliverance for the Hebrews became the doorway of death for the Egyptians. Placing His visible presence as a barrier between the Egyptians and His people, Yahweh Sabaoth thwarted the Egyptians while illuminating the Hebrews’ route through the sea.

Millenia passed, still God delivered valiantly. The One who created everything from nothing wrapped Himself in flesh and descended to redeem mankind.

Both Matthew’s and John’s gospels record a day in Jesus’ life depicting the Lord of Hosts at work with power and majesty.

Bringing their diseased and distressed, masses followed Him. Some sought a spectacle, while others sought physical healing and hope for their lost and hungry souls. He multiplied loaves and fishes to satisfy their bodies and offered the Bread of Life to feed their souls.

Following a long day of ministry, the disciples stepped into a boat, ready to unwind with a quiet nighttime row across the lake. However, they were met with fierce winds and crashing waves.

Through the splashing spray, an eerie sight arose, a human form walking toward them on the waves.

“It’s a ghost!” they shouted. Suddenly, they recognized His face. Jesus!

The One whose Spirit hovered over the waters of creation now walked upon the waves.
The disciples had known Jesus as Rabbi and friend;
now, they beheld Him as Yahweh Sabaoth.

Without hesitation, Peter issued his challenge, “If it’s truly You, call me out to You on the water!”

Yahweh Sabaoth answered, “Come!”
With stunning confidence and audacious trust, Peter stepped out, joining Jesus on the waves.

When they returned to the boat, two amazing things happened.
The storm stopped instantaneously and their boat immediately arrived at its destination on the opposite shore.

Stunned silence must have followed as the boat bobbed near the quiet beach. The disciples, slack-jawed, stared at Yahweh Sabaoth. Shaken, they gasped, “Who are you?”

Jesus, Lord of hosts, Lord of angel armies, Yahweh Sabaoth.  

Like the Hebrews at the Red Sea and the disciples on the lake, I, too, have encountered Yahweh Sabaoth. In the fall of 2012, my son, Matthew, lay in the PICU. A friend sent me the worship song “God of Angel Armies”. Initially, the lyrics sounded nice, but felt like a lie, or worse yet, a sick joke.

Matthew was in a coma. My conversations with God were wordless groanings of the soul.  My conversations with doctors were hushed, grim, and heavy. I felt like I was being slowly crushed in an invisible vice.

But eternal truth rose from the lyrics and I struggled to believe the words were true, despite what I felt. I was faced with the old dilemma: circumstances and emotions versus Scripture and Holy Spirit.

The answer was simple, not easy.
Truth always trumps emotion and circumstance.
It meant following His voice, through the fear.

Throughout Matthew’s journey, God never spoke audibly, and I saw no pillars of fire. However, the “yes and amen” within my spirit was my pillar of cloud, and Scripture, my pillar of fire.

Yahweh Sabaoth was present in each hymn I sang softly in the darkness, inhabiting worship rising from my battle-weary soul. There in Matthew’s PICU unit, He remained Yahweh Sabaoth, God of angel armies, friend of mine.

My emotions continued to whirl and our circumstances remained tumultuous. But as I clung to the truth, I found myself walking in confident trust and audacious faith, following Jesus through the fear.

For as He promised,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Yahweh Sabaoth, who hovered over the waters of creation,
hovered near us in the PICU.
Yahweh Sabaoth, who walked upon the sea,
sustained us “through the waters.”
Yahweh Sabaoth, who delivered the Hebrews,
delivered Matthew from illness and special needs, welcoming him Home.

The same Yahweh Sabaoth calls to each of us, reaching through the waves. Our spirits will gasp in wonder when we recognize Yahweh Sabaoth in the face of Jesus. And like Peter, our only option will be confident trust and audacious faith in the Lord of hosts, Yahweh Sabaoth.  

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Worship VI Day 6 Isn’t He?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Worship VI, Day 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linger in this holy moment.
Worship.

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Ignite Day 15 Father Of Light

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 16:13-20
2 Timothy 1:5-7
Romans 1:16-17
Ephesians 4:1-6

Ignite, Day 15

God always preserves His lights.
He always calls faithful men and women to brandish the torch of truth and address relevant issues. He calls them to keep the gospel central while advancing His kingdom with grace and truth. As the Father of light (James 1:17, 1 John 1:5), He has protected, preserved, and guarded the light of the gospel, deposited in every believer (Matthew 5:14-16) from generation to generation.

Following World War II, the rapid advances in technology spawned a new pop culture that caught many church leaders off guard. Rather than address the burning questions of that era, many denominations diluted core doctrines like the deity of Christ and the supremacy of Scripture, attempting to be more relevant. On the other extreme, fundamental denominations railed against the evils of the day while also failing to answer questions with truth and grace.
So, the questions remained unanswered while various denominations bickered and pop culture dragged society toward godlessness and secular humanism.
Culture called out for answers.
It cried out in confusion as pop culture shifted the ground beneath them at breakneck speed.

Into such an era emerged God’s glowing embers.
John Stott was an Anglican priest in London. His faithful exegeses of Scripture and his keen ability as a communicator were gifts the Lord used to help shape Christianity in the 20th century. He possessed a unique ability to disseminate complex theological issues in a relevant and understandable manner, and spoke clearly on issues like same-sex relations with truth and grace. By clearly teaching truth, he stirred the embers of faith within a generation to reach their world for Christ.

With Billy Graham and others, John Stott formed the Lausanne Covenant in 1974, which brought together Christians from 125 countries and various denominations to present a God-sized, yet workable plan for reaching the entire world with the gospel. Members confirmed the fifteen-point covenant, affirmed the confessions of the Nicene Creed, and committed themselves to the task before them. John Stott’s ability to lead and inspire others led him, Billy Graham, and others to unite Christians around the cross while spreading the gospel worldwide.

Another brilliant light was John Stott’s colleague and fellow Anglican priest, J.I. Packer, who was educated under the tutelage of giants like C.S. Lewis. Now 93, Packer is considered to be among the most important theologians of the late 20th century. He is a prolific writer, most noted for his book Knowing God. He also served as a frequent contributor and General Editor of Christianity Today and was General Editor for the ESV Bible translation.

Dr. Packer possesses a servant’s heart, and notes that he became impactful by simply doing the task before him and leaving the results up to God. In this humble manner, he faithfully wrote copious volumes eloquently articulating and ever advancing the cross-centered and grace-centered gospel. He is also noted for his respect for the Puritans. By casting light upon the Puritans, he challenges our current generation to pursue the same spiritual depth and maturity.

Though he never sought controversy, it often found him as he stood firmly for the truth. One such controversy emerged when the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster affirmed blessing same-sex unions in 2002. Packer walked out of that meeting, later writing, that like Martin Luther, his “…conscience was captive to the word of God.”

Billy Graham is widely considered the most impactful Christian leader of the 20th century. Though many were skeptical of the lanky, young American, they were drawn by his infectious zeal.

A Billy Graham crusade is synonymous with singing “Just As I Am” during the altar call and his iconic line: “and the Bible says…”, spoken in his elegant North Carolinian accent. He was the first to make successful use of technology to reach millions during a single meeting, preach in 185 countries, behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, and in South Korea. The genius of his ministry lies in his remarkable ability to stand upon the foundation of the Gospel, while leaning forward to find new ways to reach the world. Dr. Graham also addressed real-world problems wherever he preached, calling out racial segregation in America when it was an unpopular stance, apartheid in South Africa, and communism wherever it arose.

Although he is most widely known for his evangelistic crusades, his leadership was a catalyst for another phenomenon, the parachurch organization. Before WW2, mainline denominations with a bent toward liberalism, abandoned the pillars of orthodox Christianity like the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the supremacy of Scripture and the resurrection. The hierarchy of these mainline denominations held sway over a confused and disgruntled people until Billy Graham introduced the parachurch organization. A parachurch organization is built on the doctrinal pillars of orthodox Christianity, and designed to “come alongside” a local church to provide support and encourage evangelism. This concept appealed to churches across denominational lines and paved the way for faith organizations like Youth for Christ, Intervarsity, Billy Graham Association, and Samaritan’s Purse.

Dr. Graham’s amazing gifts of visionary leadership and preaching ignited his generation for Christ. It is estimated he preached to 215 billion live and that 2.2 million became Christians as a result. Dr. Graham’s impact on post-war Christianity is monumental, and the influence of his ministry is credited with shaping world events like the fall of communism in the former Soviet Union, advances in the civil rights movement in America, the groundswell of the global church, and increasing attention to worldwide missions.

More recently, John Piper, has also ignited a generation with the philosophy called Christian hedonism articulated in his book Desiring God. Christian hedonism is an intentionally provocative term centered around one core idea: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”  

Like J.I. Packer, John Piper is strongly influenced by C.S. Lewis, Daniel Fuller and the Puritans. He cites Christian hedonism as a mindset articulated by Jonathan Edwards.

In our post-modern age, we’re often disheartened by the shallow sensationalism of contemporary Christianity. However, just as God has preserved His glowing embers of faith and spiritual integrity throughout the centuries, so He will until His return.

As we are faithful, fearlessly standing for truth, while keeping the cross central,
He will work through us.
As we address the burning questions with grace and truth,
He will use us to ignite His Church.

For His promises stand firm,
His truth marches on,
and the church will remain His catalyst for salvation
until He comes again!

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Ignite Day 8 Torches Of Truth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 16:13-18
Romans 1:16-17
2 Timothy 1:5-7
2 Timothy 4:1-5

Ignite, Day 8

Throughout Christendom, God has always held forth His torches of truth. He called out faithful men to pull drifting doctrine back to the cross-centered gospel while addressing the questions of their time with truth, grace and clarity. He ignited them through the Holy Spirit to use their giftings to reach their world for Christ. Buried in the ashes of decadence, power grasping, and apostasy that marked the church of the Middle Ages, lay those glowing embers of pure, authentic faith.

One of those glowing coals of Christendom is Augustine of Hippo. Though he lived in the Age of Antiquities, Augustine was clearly a man ahead of his time. Considered by many as the first medieval man, his life and ministry form the bridge between the Age of Antiquities and the Early Middle Ages.

His astounding intellect was put to use with stylus and parchment as a prolific author on subjects ranging from deep doctrinal issues to human sexuality. His ability to clearly articulate doctrinal issues like original sin, the atonement, grace, predestination and the freewill of man are unmatched. His countless writings also form the foundation for many theologians and philosophers including Anselm of Canterbury, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and even theologians of modern times. Because Augustine wrote abundantly throughout his life, his writings show an evolution of thought. This explains why theologians ranging from Catholics to Evangelical Protestants quote widely from the anthology of his works. For example, his writings on the Eucharist and Sacraments still form much of the doctrinal stance in Catholicism, while his writings upon grace, the atoning sacrifice of Christ and original sin are popular among even modern-day Protestants.

As a young man, searching for something to fill his restless spirit, he took a deep-dive into religion and scholarly pursuits. In the course of time, he crossed paths with Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, whose kindness and clear teaching led Augustine to Christ. Confessions is the story of his conversion to Christianity. Following his conversion, Augustine returned to North Africa and took up the monastic life where he continued to write abundantly.

In the age of Augustine, Rome was in decline as a superpower and was overrun by the Visgoths. Many saw the downfall of Rome as the end of civilization and were certain the Apocalypse was imminent. Barbarian tribes marauded their way across Europe leaving bloodshed, famine and disease in their wake.  Augustine’s work, City of God, assured Christians that, despite the upheaval around them, God’s kingdom could never be destroyed.

The Middle Ages was a time marked by the Catholic Church rising in prominence as the unifying force in the West. As power coalesced in the crown and the church hierarchy, so did the pull of spiritual apathy and moral decadence.  Just as Christ sends His church into any era to answer the resounding questions and right its wrongs, so He sent the church into the Middle Ages. The questions burned in the hearts of the devout and whispered in the stone-walled monasteries:
“Is this truly the gospel-centered life?”
“How does what I see and hear around me match with Scripture?”
“What does Christ and His cross call us to—really?”

Anselm of Canterbury was also a man of astounding intellect and is most noted for his philosophical treatises and so-called ontological argument.  In Proslogion, he articulates through logic, the existence of God.  With human reason held in high regard, Anselm answered the call of his age with both human reasoning, philosophical prowess and theological integrity.

Unlike bishops before him, Anselm refused to acquiesce to the pressure of the crown. Although the King of England continuously sought Anselm’s sanctions for his corruption, his attempts failed. William II expected the church to serve under his authority and as an extension of his administration.  Anselm’s refusal caused sharp division, and the on-going demands grieved him deeply. As a result, Anselm twice appealed to the Pope to be relieved of his post. The Pope refused and William II banished Anselm from England. During his exile, he wrote one of the most important treatises in church history— Cur Deus Homo (Why the God-Man?) In this work, Anselm articulates the need for the incarnation, once again making his appeal through logic.

Francis of Assisi is best known as the founder of the Franciscan Order and for his love of nature, celebrated in his work Canticle of the Sun.  However, the incongruity between the Church and the teachings of Scripture grieved him. Wealth and apathy filled the church at large, yet the apostles called for simplicity and obedience to the teachings of Christ. His grievances sparked action that became radical obedience to the teachings of Christ. Though never ordained as a priest, he often preached five times daily.  He taught commoners of a personal relationship with Christ. He also taught his followers to pray in their native tongue rather than in Latin, both foreign ideas in that era. Many of the Franciscan Brothers traveled widely, preaching this gospel of personal relationship with Christ, prayer, simplicity and service, fanning the flames of revival across Europe. In a culture gone stone-cold through religion, where personal relationship with Christ and personal prayer were radical concepts, God sent this humble servant. By preaching truth and simple obedience Assisi challenged his world, pointing many to Christ, and making an impact even today!

In every age, whether following the fall of a super-power or in an era riddled with moral corruption where spiritual indifference and cold religion run rampant, God preserves His flickering flames of genuine believers. These true followers always burst back flame as they obediently choose Christ over their comfort zones.

The word of God is still alive, active and powerful!
As often as the Holy Spirit comes like a rushing wind,
igniting the glowing embers of the faithful,
the flames of revival can burn through us once again.
God is still on His throne and the gates of hell cannot prevail against His Church.

Will you carry His torch of truth into your everyday?

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