Author: Sara Cissell

Beloved Day 1 Unveiled Faces

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 3:1-18
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Song of Solomon 2:1-17

Beloved, Day 1

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

Unveiled faces. Does that resonate differently now for anyone else in light of Covid-19? Walking in the front door of my house, I immediately remove my mask. Oh the freedom!

Now I admit, on days when an unwanted blemish visits and my mask covers it, I appreciate the ability to hide that flaw as I complete errands. However, I still remove my mask as soon as I possibly can. No amount of embarrassment will keep me wearing my mask, especially while at home.

As I sat down to write this study, which focuses on marriage and our relationship with the Lord, my mind turned to Moses and the mask, or veil, he used. Moses wore his face covering because his face shone so brightly after spending time with the Lord, the Israelites were afraid to approach him. (Exodus 34:29-35) However, the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face, and their level of intimacy left Moses radiant . . . literally.

Today, when I loop my mask behind my ears, unfortunately, it is NOT because my face shines after encountering the Lord. Regardless of the why behind our masks, the outcome is still the same: covered faces. It’s amazing to see how wearing masks impacts social connections. We easily hide imperfections, but struggle to bridge the isolation the mask creates.

The same is true both in marriage and our relationships with the Lord. My husband and I cannonballed into marriage as we said our vows three days before the shelter-in-place order went into effect. Over the past few months, I have learned so much about him and myself. One of the greatest surprises and blessings has been the refreshing experience of knowing and being known on a deep level.

Neither my husband nor I are perfect; nor has our marriage been tested the way only time and a variety of challenging circumstances can. However, God is empowering us to extend grace to one another and, in that safe space of unveiling, to be courageous enough to be our true selves: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

As a result, the last four months have been filled with serious amounts of love and growth. My love for him increases as he continues to embrace me, even after my flaws have been revealed and my quirks uncovered. I’ve grown as I’ve been challenged to die to myself and pour out grace to him as well, to embrace his quirks and flaws, and to love how I see Jesus in him.

In math only credited to the Lord, I am more drawn to my husband and our time together in the midst of unveiling, both painful and sweet. As hard as it may be, I delight in being known and challenged to continue to grow. In turn, tears come to my eyes in the moments I see how graciously loving him has blessed him and enabled him to grow, too.

Only the Lord could breathe passion into a relationship and so cause an increasing cycle of multiplication in which both parties benefit. Is marriage incredibly hard work, requiring intentionality, time, and a whole lot of Jesus? Most definitely, but it is deeply beautiful work. 

For readers who are unmarried, I urge you to cultivate this same passion for, and with, the Lord (my exhortation for married readers is the same!). I met my husband later in life and in my single years, I learned how to have hot dates with Jesus.

Because of those times with the Lord, I entered marriage without expecting my husband to complete me. I’d reached a place where I was content for it to be me and Him for the rest of my earthly days. Through my encounters with the Lord, and learning how to be unveiled before Him and with Him, I have grown the confidence to be vulnerable with my husband and to pour out grace as I see my husband unmasked, as well.

I still spend time with the Lord and am learning how to seek Him together with my husband. I recognize the health of all of my interactions is directly impacted by my walk with the Lord. 

The Lord created marriage as a reflection of the relationship we can have with Him. Imperfect humans will never build perfect marriages, although we can strive for strong, faithful relationships! However, the Lord, in His perfection, carries the weight of our covenant relationships with Him and invites us to know and be known by Him.

Regardless of our marital statuses, let’s each draw close to the Lord and risk being unmasked before Him. The love, passion, and connection experienced within His boundless love is well worth being seen.

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Calling Day 15 Undying Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-24
Psalm 138:1-8
Colossians 1:1-29

Calling, Day 15

For my birthday, my sister gave me an Amazon gift card. With that e-card, she placed a vast array of options at my fingertips and whatever I chose could be on my doorstep in two days. Any guesses as to what I selected?

A charging station for all my electronics. 

All #adulting jokes aside, I have happily used the charging station daily since it arrived. Gone are the days of plugging items in to charge all around the room since no outlet had enough space for all my chargers. No longer am I searching for various cords and adaptors and successfully pair them accurately with devices, which were often threatening to die at any moment. Now a small bamboo box, containing a charging hub, hosts all my charging electronics.

So now that I’ve given you far more insight into my life than you ever wanted, let me share how the Lord used this ordinary charger to provide a new perspective on a portion of His Word.

Our study on Ephesians is drawing to a close, but the rich depth of its application continues on if we embrace the challenge presented to us in the final verses of this letter from Paul. This challenge produces fruit and the abundant life Christ died to bring us. (John 10:10) In verse 10, Paul begins to walk through the armor of God.

If you grew up in the church, you may remember learning this concept in Sunday school; I distinctly remember something akin to an “armor of God” paper doll. (For those in a younger generation, they were like paper doll apps but–gasp–made of real paper!)

If you’re not familiar with the concept, the armor of God describes how believers can prepare for, and successfully fight, in the spiritual battles we face on our journeys of faith.

Unfortunately, I sometimes equate putting on the armor of God with the dressing up of a paper doll. I can “dress” myself with the correct words, thoughts, and outlooks from head to toe, but am I truly drawing my strength from the Lord . . . or just putting on a good show?

So as I read through Ephesians 6, I asked myself if I am truly “plugging in” to the Lord as my source as I seek to live out the life described in verses 10-18? As I pondered that question, the Lord brought to mind my charging station. I would not set my phone on the wooden base and assume it would charge without plugging in the base.

Similarly, putting on the armor of God is about drawing close to Christ and His Word, and listening to the Holy Spirit as we pray. It is not about looking the part; it is about living the part.

For example, when verse 14 challenges us to stand with truth like a belt around our waists, it is not exhorting us to assume a certain physical posture, or pull ourselves up by our bootstraps emotionally.

Instead, Paul encourages us to embrace truth, both through immersion in Scripture and prayerful pursuit of discernment and wisdom in the Holy Spirit. Then, just as a literal belt was the foundational piece of armor to which all else was attached, God’s truth will be the launchpad from which the rest of our spiritual armor springs.

What passage of Scripture or words of the Spirit speak to your heart in this moment and remind you the God who has overcome the world is for you? Stand on His words of truth, dear sister; stand with the authority Christ died to give you.

As we read through the armor of God, let’s envision each piece as a charger for an electronic device.
What would it look like to “plug ourselves into Christ” for each piece of armor?
Let’s invest the time to intentionally seek interaction with the Lord and discover His strength.

The key component in my charging station is electricity, and the key component of the armor of God is God. Long before electricity ever made its mark on planet earth, Paul understood the reality of being plugged into Christ, and the significance of this vital connection is still felt today as we read his letters.

Paul wrote about the armor of God as a tested and tried warrior, not as a child playing with paper dolls. He put on the armor of God in order to fulfill the purpose the Lord had for him. Paul sought to declare the gospel and he worked with the Lord to spread the good news about Christ. He has modeled what it looks like to live fully alive in Christ and fully alive for Christ. 

Paul ended his letter to the church in Ephesus (and to all of us eavesdropping on the conversation) with a prayer for grace to all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear sister, may we plug in to the Lord and be counted among those with an undying love.

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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!

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Calling Day 6 For This Reason

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 3:1-21
Ephesians 2:1-22
1 Peter 3:13-22

Calling, Day 6

For this reason.
These are the first three words in Ephesians 3.

Lean in, sisters. Paul is about to explain the motivation driving his life of incredibly challenging, incredibly impactful kingdom work.

What propelled him to get up after each beating?
What kept him going after shipwrecks?
What urged him to declare the Gospel with the same vigor he once used to attack the church?

For this reason.

Paul knew his why. And that made all the difference.

We discover Paul’s why by reading Ephesians 2. Read it aloud as if you were having a conversation with Paul, keeping in mind the passion saturating his words; this would not be a dull, emotionless speech!

Dear sisters, we share in Paul’s why:

We, too, were dead in our sins until God made us alive with Christ through grace, by faith.

We, too, were once far away from God, but have been lovingly brought near through Christ, who is our peace. (Ephesians 2:13-14) Upon His foundation, we too, together with all believers, are being built into God’s holy temple. (Ephesians 2:19-21)

For this reason, we, like Paul, can experience a similar desire to bow before the Lord, to humble ourselves at the awareness of all Christ has done for us. In this moment, overwhelmed with revelation of the mysterious love of our Father (Ephesians 3:1-7), the busyness and strife of the world around us fade away. The incessant cries for “Now and Must Do!” are wonderfully replaced with an eternal, holy urgency. This life shall pass away and we are assured we will spend eternity with Christ.
For this reason, we live with holy abandon!

But what about our co-workers, our neighbors, or the barista at our favorite coffee shop?

How can we share the good news,
the call from death to life,
and the Father’s heart longing to draw them near?

Are we willing to sacrifice our own comfort, or finances, or status
to invite the lost of our dying world into peace with God?

Paul told the church in Ephesus to not be discouraged over his afflictions on their behalf; he understood how his suffering would further God’s mission of sharing Jesus with the Gentiles.

Sharing the gospel will not be without sacrifice. It may be in the form of intense persecution, as Christians in some countries are currently experiencing. It may look like someone’s laughter after hearing the gospel. It could be a harsh “no” when asked to talk about Jesus. It might even just be the inconvenience of obedience when the Lord nudges us to hold the door for someone several steps behind us.

Regardless of what each day may bring, I desire to live with Paul’s boldness in pursuit of Christ and sharing Him with those around me. I want to trust so deeply in the Lord that even my levels of joy and peace in Him declare His goodness.

For this reason, I echo Paul’s prayer in verses 14-21, with an intense expectancy for the Lord to respond.
Will you join me, sisters?

Oh Lord, teach us to share the gift of the gospel with those around us. Strengthen us with power in our hearts through Your Spirit. Dwell within us and teach us how to love those around us. Help us comprehend Your love, which surpasses simple knowledge. 

Lord, You truly are able to do beyond what we can ask or imagine. May we live our lives for You and Your glory. Solidify our “why” within us and help us invite others to meet you wherever we go. 

Amen. 

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Blessed Day 11 Blessed Are The Peacemakers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 5:3-10
Galatians 5:22-23
Romans 5:1-21
Philippians 4:4-9

Blessed, Day 11

Have you noticed an entrustment from the Lord typically comes with a weight, making it a gift challenging us to grow and change? Almost like the process through which a diamond is made, through heat and pressure.

Diamonds sparkle with a beauty captivating to the eye and paint rainbows on walls when captured by the light. The outcome of intense heat and pressure is admired and valued, but rarely is the formation process considered. Rather, our attention focuses on the finished product before us.

So what weighty entrustment am I referring to with such a comparison?

Peace.

Yup, peace. And before we get too far away from the diamond analogy, think back to the last time you were in the midst of a chaotic scenario and a peaceful person was present. Did she “sparkle”? Could you sense her peace and see its effect on those around her?

I’ve watched a person of peace step into a room and bring harmony into discord.

The peace came with an authority,
a confidence in Christ Who is our Peace,
a patience,
and an ultimately effective perseverance.

In Matthew 5, we are challenged to be peacemakers. The Greek word used is Eirēnopoiós, which carries the idea of “one who restores peace, favors good understanding, settles quarrels and stops conflicts.” Have you ever found yourself being a peacemaker?

At times, I’ve prayed for the Lord to exude His peace through me. I can guarantee those prayers and heart posture are the exact reason peace rolled off me onto the surrounding situations. I recall a time when a woman thanked me for being in a scenario, because I brought calm with me. To God be the glory!

God alone is the source of our peace. Though I became a Christian when I was a young child, I was already aware of my sin, standing insurmountable, between me and my Heavenly Father. When I entered into a relationship with Him, I also experienced my first encounter with His peace.

In my moment of humble belief, Christ removed my sin and brought peace to our friendship. His profound sacrifice in taking on my sin at the cross met my deep repentance and humility, and He became my peacemaker.

Since then, our walk together has been much like that diamond forming, a repetition of the above process so many times I have gratefully lost count and He has graciously not kept one. As I have grown in my journey with the Lord, He has grown my ability to be a peacemaker to better reflect His other-worldly peace.

Eirēnopoiós
A peace that restores what once was lost. 

So how can each one of us become peacemakers in a world crying out for true peace? I believe we must look to the Holy Spirit for direction and as our sole source of ever greater peace.

In fact, in Galatians, we learn peace is a fruit of the Spirit; peace is not a quality we naturally find within ourselves. It is, however, a foundational characteristic of our God, one He shares with us through an outpouring of His Spirit.

Remember the second half of this Beatitude?
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
(Matthew 5:9, emphasis mine)

When we radiate and restore peace,
when we seek good and deep understanding of those who are different from us,
when we stop conflicts and settle quarrels,
we are Christ’s peacemakers.

And when we are peacemakers in a time and space when politics have deteriorated to a bitter, blame-shifting disaster, when the economy is in shattered fragments, when people are suffering and dying by the hundreds of thousands, and when fierce battles of social injustice continue to rage in our communities and MURDER HORNETS ARE A THING . . .

 . . . then we will be called the daughters of God, for who but God could bring peace in such pain-filled, dark chaos? The Holy Spirit working peacemaking through us becomes a testimony of our Father’s heart and a beacon of hope to the lost and hurting.

In order to have peace to pour out, we must be cultivating our relationships with the Triune Lord. We must also surrender our understanding of life to Him and seek His face. Philippians 4:6-7 explains how:

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Yes, this is much easier said than done! But be assured, the Lord is faithful to answer our prayers, and our worship, with His all-surpassing peace!

Sometimes, His peace points us towards engaging in tough conversations to bring resolution to a conflict.
Sometimes, His peace cautions us to quietly wait for the Lord to work behind the scenes.
Always, we need the discernment of the Spirit to guide us.
Always, the Lord and His peace are at the center of our peacemaking efforts.

And as we grow in our walks with Him and peace increases within us (praise God for the fruit He bears), we may just begin to sparkle in new ways.

Shine on, sister, shine on.

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Blessed Day 8 Blessed Are The Merciful

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 30:18-19
Matthew 9:18-22
Matthew 5:3-10
1 John 1:5-10

Blessed, Day 8

She could feel the atmosphere of the group change. The crowd drew closer to the street and the volume began to swell. He was coming closer.

Jesus, the one who had brought healing to so many, was coming. She joined the crush of people as they drew closer to where He would be crossing in front of them. Maybe, just maybe, I can reach out as He passes by. Maybe just touching the hem of His garment will bring healing.             

Desperation spurred her on. Twelve years of questions as the blood refused to stop. Years of being called unclean and hope dwindling with each attempt to find healing. She surged forward, ducking under arms and dodging feet, defying all social norms. She reached the edge of the crowd just as Jesus crossed before her.

The force of the crowd pushed her closer and enabled her fingers to graze His garment. He immediately stopped and turned to look behind Him. His eyes caught hers and held her attention. She sensed He knew her thoughts, yet no fear washed over her.

“Have courage, daughter. Your faith has saved you.” (Matthew 9:22)

The compassion in His eyes, and the loving tone of His words, felt like a compilation of all the love and inclusion she had missed out on for the last twelve years. She felt her chin rising as her confidence grew. Everything had changed. Time would prove all the changes, but she knew this encounter with Christ would forever be with her.

This is all Scripture shares of her story. Back then, there were no reality shows to visit the woman a year later to learn all about her new life. However, the lack of information challenges and encourages me more than knowing every detail of her transformation. Instead of focusing on the outcome, we set our eyes and hearts on her encounter with Christ.

In Matthew 5, Jesus declared the merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. In verse 7, the Greek word for “mercy” is eleos, which emphasizes a deep, gut-level response to someone’s suffering, even beyond compassion. On the flip side, a person with a cry for this level of mercy is one who recognizes her complete incapability to help herself.

The story in the Word of the woman with the blood issue is a perfect example of giving and receiving eleos, mercy.

The suffering woman’s desperation for healing must have been incredible. The combination of hope for healing through Jesus mixed with the panic of what might happen if the opportunity was lost created a desperation cocktail that would have left others frozen in fear.

Yet, she moved forward with courageous faith and complete awareness of her need. Jesus was her last and only hope. In the end, she received mercy and healing.

In healing this woman, Jesus demonstrated how to pour out mercy. True eleos mercy is sourced from heart depths, not just head strength. It is empathy, not sympathy.

When Jesus healed the woman, it was not because she had anything to offer Him in return. Therefore, this was not a business transaction.

The woman did not formally ask for healing or present any logical arguments as to why she should receive healing and mercy, so this was not an intellectual interaction.

No, this was the Lord responding with intense compassion for this woman. This short encounter carried with it a depth of heart, which is the foundation of the mercy referenced in the Beatitudes. The original Greek word for “mercy” describes this deep level of heart response.

Does anyone else yearn for this level of mercy from the Lord, while also feeling overwhelmed by our complete incapability to pour out this mercy on others without His help? The source of this spirit-deep, gut-wrenching mercy, whether for ourselves or extended to others, is God alone.

Lord, today I humble myself before You. I cannot earn Your mercy. I cannot manipulate a response from You. Forgive me for the times I have approached You with wrong mindsets, Lord. 

Only You can bring my healing. Regardless of my current need, only You can make me whole. Abba, I cry out to You today with surrender, leaving the outcome of this prayer and Your method and timing of response in Your hands. You know what saving me looks like in this moment, and a year from now. 

Lord, teach me how to receive Your mercy in my desperation and create in me a heart longing to share the same mercy I have received. May I become a vessel through which You answer others’ cries for mercy. Attune my heart to sense Your compassion for those around me. 

Thank You for knowing the beginning from the end and for loving me from the depths of Your heart. May You be glorified, Lord.
Amen.

So let it be.

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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!

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Sola Day 11 Soli Deo Gloria

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Sola, Day 11

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

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

Soli Deo Gloria.

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

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

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

To God alone the glory. Soli Deo Gloria.

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

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

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

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

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

To Him be all the glory.

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

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

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

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

And what does it look like in my life?

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

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

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

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

To God alone the glory. 

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

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Neighbor Day 6 Seeing Beyond The Service

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 7:36-50
Colossians 3:23-24
Isaiah 43:1-4

Neighbor, Day 6

I currently spend my working hours at the front desk of a doctor’s office. I am the voice answering the phone and seeking to assist the person on the other end. I am the one who schedules the next appointment and wishes individuals a good day as they leave. I am the face welcoming them to the office as they arrive for appointments.

For the most part, I love my job, because I am able to serve patients and my fellow staff members from my role at the front desk. The position enables me to be a blessing in a scenario where anxiety may be high and tensions may be mounting. My ability to multitask, function in a fast-paced environment, and think quickly on my feet increases the effectiveness of my service.

I prayed a great deal during the interview process for this job. Was this the job for me? It was not a logical choice in light of my degrees or the jobs I had previously held, but I knew I wanted a place where I could serve the Lord and those around me while also healing from the previous toxic work environment I had left.

Repeatedly, I sensed the Lord confirming this job choice. Several years later, I have discovered multiple reasons for my presence in the office, including the chance to write this Journey Study on loving the neighbor who provides a service!

For clarification, everyone, regardless of job title, provides a service: the stay-at-home mom, the CEO, the custodian. We all have the invitation to serve wherever we are with a mindset of working unto the Lord.

In the last several months, I have heard Beth Moore and Christine Caine reference the story in Luke 7 of Jesus asking Simon if he sees the woman before Him. Both highlighted the reality of Simon not truly seeing the woman, in contrast to the Lord seeing her, knowing her, and loving her.

The Lord demonstrated an intentionality Simon sorely lacked. Simon was blinded by the woman’s reputation and (in his eyes) inappropriate display of wastefulness. Yet, the Lord saw her as His precious child, looking past her sordid history and culturally unacceptable display of worship to the heart behind them.

We are invited to do the same.
To pursue intention.
To truly see the people before us and invite Christ’s love to guide our interactions.

Now, if you are like me, you could use some examples of what intentionality might look like. Below are a few suggestions of ways to truly see those providing a service.

Names are significant.

More often than not, people in the service industry wear name tags. While this is a useful tool in getting their attention, it is also an excellent reminder they are unique individuals. Throughout Scripture, the Lord highlights the importance of names. (Genesis 17:3-16) Therefore, when possible, use the name of the person with whom you are interacting.

We can honor individuals with our awareness of their dignity as human beings, rather than simply valuing them for the service they are providing. I am always surprised when people use my name when interacting with me, and I feel the interchange took place between two people, rather than simply patient to staff.

Express gratitude.

Regardless of the service being rendered, express gratitude to the individual providing it. This creates value for that role and honors the person at the same time.

Let’s remember in order to complete their jobs, even people performing what might be considered the most menial of tasks still carry a level of authority and access higher than our own. For example, a server at a restaurant has access to the kitchen. Let’s recognize and acknowledge, with gratitude, workers are walking in the authority granted to them in order to meet our needs.

Learn from examples of excellence.

For a season of life, the Lord consistently drew my attention to examples of excellence. More often than not, these demonstrations were observed in the service industry. I observed people doing their jobs with high levels of integrity, attention to detail, and positive, uplifting attitudes. Each person challenged me to do the same. I remember truly seeing those individuals in a deeper way as they taught me to live my life better.

The Lord created us to fellowship with others. While it may be easy to do this with those with whom we have a deep connection, we also may fellowship with those who provide a service when we truly see them.

The Lord is a good author, and our neighbors in the service industry are living His beautiful stories.
Let’s celebrate them and love them well! 

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Neighbor Day 5 Love lived Out

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Titus 2:1-15
Matthew 28:18-20
Jude 1:1-3
Jude 1:20-25

Neighbor, Day 5

She set her coffee mug down on the table and rested her chin in her hand. The last few weeks of her life had been challenging and throughout the time we’d been sitting in the corner of the coffee shop, she had poured out the highs, lows, and everything in between of those days. I sipped my coffee and listened, occasionally asking clarifying questions to help her process all she desired to share.

I was not her counselor, but I did fill a role in her life. For this season, she had honored me with her willingness and desire to be discipled. Discipleship is defined as one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. While the word can be applied to a range of scenarios, we were focused on growing in our relationships with the Lord and becoming more like Him.

Our meetings typically did not last more than an hour or two, but they were still integral in making progress in our spiritual growth. This specific evening was critical in her journey. Decisions she had made and circumstances beyond her control had challenged her belief in God’s goodness and grace. The temptation to give up on His presence in her life lingered in her words.

She stared out the nearby window for a few moments, seemingly captivated by the breeze moving through the tree limbs outside. As I watched her process, I maintained a peaceful countenance; inwardly, I prayed fervently for the Lord’s words and wisdom.

Oh Lord, you have provided this connection for Your glory. You know the plans and purposes You have for her. You have not left her or forsaken her. Regardless of the choices she has made recently, You have promised not to despise a broken and contrite heart. 

Lord, help me point her to You. Give me the words to honor You and bless my dear sister in Christ. My choices may be different, but my sin is no less profound in Your eyes. Grant me the humility to lead with honor and grace. 

Dwell in the midst of us, Lord Jesus. Move as only You can. I surrender myself to You. Lead me and use me for Your glory. 

No immediate Bible verses sprang to mind. No sudden ray of light shined through the window, directed toward my friend’s hurting heart. Peace filled the space, however, and I found myself breaking the silence.

“I’m proud of you.”
As the unexpected words tumbled from my lips, her expression echoed my own surprise. She dropped her hand from her chin and grasped her mug once again. Her knuckles went white with the tightness of her grip.

“You’re proud of me? After I just shared everything I’ve done wrong in the last few weeks and my struggle to believe He would still want me?” Tears filled her eyes with those last words.

“Yes. I am proud of you because you are still running to Jesus. You may be struggling to believe He wants You and has plans for You and desires to walk through this life with you, but there’s fight left in you. You have not given up.

“You’re acknowledging your choices and how they disregard God’s will for your life. You’re bringing your sin into the light, so it cannot be used against you. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and is capable of washing you clean in this moment? Do you believe you can leave this coffee shop wholly forgiven?”

She continued to stare at her mug for several moments. She slowly raised her head. Tears still glistened in her eyes, but a fierceness now joined them. “Yes.” Her words were shakier than the resolve in her tone, but she had made a decision regardless.

“Make 1 John 1:9 a reality for your life. Acknowledge the ways you’ve fallen short and trust Him to forgive you. Do you have any ideas on how to avoid being in the same scenarios this coming week?”

With that, our conversation turned to the Word and digging for ways to hold on to and apply the truths the Lord poured out in its pages. We brainstormed practical ways for her to honor Him in her walk and I encouraged her with examples where I had found victory, too. Our time in the coffee shop ended with a quick prayer and the next meeting confirmed on the calendar.

As I walked to my car and pressed the button to unlock the door, I prayed for continued wisdom in my role in her life and for her to cling to Jesus in deeper ways this coming week.

The Lord placed this neighbor in my world to help spur her along in her journey with Him. In order to hear His voice lead me as I guide and encourage her, I knew my own journey must be one of steadfast pursuit as I anchored in truth that would hold me fast to Jesus.

Oh Lord, lead us on. 

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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!

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Hallel Day 8 Finding Him Faithful

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 116:1-11
Matthew 26:1-29
Isaiah 53:1-12
Psalm 127:1-14

Hallel, Day 8

“Go into the city to a certain man,” He said, “and tell him,
‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover
at your place with my disciples.’”
(Matthew 26:18)

The disciples took this message and sought out the man.
As they walked, they pondered Jesus’ statement.

“What do you think He meant by ‘My time is near?’”

“Peter, He confirmed to you He is the Son of God.
What does He mean?”

“Guys, a few days ago He said the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified after the Passover. Can that really happen to Jesus?”

The men fell into a contemplative silence as they walked and only the sounds of their sandals on the path filled the air. The questions recently voiced still echoed in their minds and they sorted through what they knew of God to try to answer them.

How could Jesus, the Son of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be crucified?
The Lord had already proven His faithfulness to His people over and over again.
How could He abandon His very son?

The Lord heard Abraham’s cry for an heir in his old age. (Genesis 15:1-6)
He heard Sarah’s laughter and filled her womb. (Genesis 18:9-15)
He changed Israel’s name and made him a mighty nation. (Genesis 32:28)
He brought that nation out of captivity and fed them in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:1-16)

How could the God who demonstrated such compassion to an obstinate group of people allow His own son to be killed? 

Their questions unanswered, the disciples gained access to the upper room and prepared the Passover meal. Jesus soon reclined among them and confirmed their fears when He announced one of them would betray Him.
Death now rose to the forefront of their minds.
Jesus continued, saying what was written about Him would soon come to pass.

Tonight was Passover, every detail rooted in reminding its participants of the faithfulness of God. Every traditional food item had carefully been chosen, filled with symbolism of slavery and freedom found only because of Yahweh, the faithful God who had rescued them long ago.

The bread, the cup, the lamb, the hymns.
Every part was sacred.

“The ropes of death were wrapped around me,
and the torments of Sheol overcame me;
I encountered trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
‘Lord, save me!’”
(Hallel Psalm 116:3-4)

How could the Israelites cry out to God to be rescued from the cords of Sheol while Jesus would face those very bindings Himself?

The Son of God, destined to be bound by the cords of death? Unto what purpose?
Could the words of Isaiah 53 be true? By His bloody stripes, would His people be set free?

Could death truly be defeated?

As Jesus broke the bread and gave His disciples the wine, He said,
“For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-27)

A new covenant?
“Behold, I am making all things new”…
Isaiah 43:19

Each disciple held the cup in his hands for a moment and stared into the red depths.
“Poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,” Jesus said (Matthew 26:28).
For their sins.
Each and every one of their sins,
for the Lord knows the thoughts and intentions of each heart.
A few hands became unsteady as they passed the cup to the next man.

“The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is compassionate.”
Hallel Psalm 116:5

Blood poured out for them.
The Lord’s rescue from death for them.
Their humanity and helplessness washed over them.
Struck with the sudden awareness Jesus knew all of their sins, they grappled with the perfect Son of God’s promise to pour out His blood to cover those sins.

“I was helpless, and he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, rescued me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.”
Hallel Psalm 116:6-8

Men may say truly living is to experience everything they possibly can under the sun, but in the solemnness of that moment with Christ, the disciples understood so much more existed. No physical entertainment could make them feel as known or valued.

They were staring into the eyes of the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Because of this man, human flesh enveloping the full deity of God, the faithfulness of the divine Yahweh would be seen
and known
and experienced
by everyone willing to welcome Him.

“I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.”
Hallel Psalm 116:9

A low hum began as one of the disciples began singing the traditional Hallel hymns. Eventually all the men were singing, and a sweet, yet heavy presence, filled the space. They were encountering the Faithful One in a way they never had before as He prepared to give them the fullness of life through His own death.

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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!

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