Author: Sara Cissell

Sketched X Day 11 What Are You Waiting For?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 42:1-43:14
Acts 22:12-16
Mark 4:35-40

Sketched X, Day 11

The courtyard stones beneath my feet still held the coolness of night. Dawn had broken though, and by midday, the stones would be radiating the sun’s heat. It would be a miserable, sweaty day for all waiting in line for grain.

Still, very few complained about standing in the scorching sun, not when I held their sustenance in my control. The Lord had given Pharaoh dreams foretelling seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. Since the Lord worked through me to interpret those dreams, Pharaoh made me second in command and ruler over the land. (Genesis 41)

I stockpiled during those seven years of abundance, believing the Lord’s word that the years of famine would come.

And come they did. 

Now all those in Egypt and surrounding areas come to us, willing to pay for grain to survive. Years of famine still loom before us, but our storehouses are full.

I motion for the gates to be opened. Those who’ve already lined the stone streets stream in, and I watch the expressions on their faces. The famine years have not been kind; weathered faces and heavy countenances greet me as far as I can see.

A face just beyond the gate catches my eye. Something about him made me think of my brothers. Strange that they would come to mind. I glanced again toward the gate, but the face had disappeared.

Focus, Joseph. You’re in charge here. No time to dwell on the past.
I settle my mind on the business before me as the day’s grain sales begin.

A little while later, a laugh catches my attention. I’m not surprised; often, the swell of laughter increases as people draw closer to their chance to purchase grain and discover abundant supply. Hope seems to bubble up within them and escape as joy.

But this laugh draws my focus because it was the same I’d heard in my youth.
I look down the line and catch sight of the face I’d seen before.

Rueben.

My brother. He is here. And he is not alone.

I quickly count nine others with him. All my brothers but Benjamin. Within moments they would be standing before me. Would they recognize me?

I draw my royal cloak around me and whisper for those fanning me to stand so my face is obscured.

“Where do you come from?” I ask, with far more venom in my voice than I intended. Years of betrayal and bitterness surge within me, even though I’d worked to surrender those emotions. The Lord knew I’d had plenty of time to do so in the many years since I’d seen my brothers’ faces.

When my brothers reply they’ve come from Canaan to buy food, my dreams from years ago play in my mind’s eye. My brothers bowing before me. Could this be the moment foretold all those years ago?

“You are spies. You have come to seek the weakness of the land.”

This accusation gives me the upper hand and before they know it, I orchestrate a scenario to have Benjamin brought to me. My brothers begin to talk amongst themselves, not realizing I can understand their native tongue. I stand, stepping aside to where I am completely hidden by servants, and weep.

Turning back, I direct one of them to stay in Egypt in my custody until the rest return with their youngest brother. With their families on the brink of starvation, they can’t refuse. Simeon is bound and their sacks of grain are prepared. I give orders for their money to be returned in their bags as well.

I send them off and await their return. My dreams promised I would see all of my brothers and I trust the Lord would fulfill His word.

Until I see my baby brother standing before me, I wait, pray, and portion out the grain entrusted to me. It had taken the lure of grain, deep in the midst of the famine, to bring my brothers to Egypt. Hopefully their return would not be delayed.

Ananias: While Joseph’s first-person perspective does not highlight the words of his father, Israel, telling his brothers not to wait for their rescue, Genesis 42:2 captures Israel’s admonition to his sons, “‘Why do you keep looking at each other? Listen,’ he went on, ‘I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so we will live and not die.’”

First-century Christian Ananias had a similar encouragement for newly-converted apostle Saul,
“And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on [Christ’s] name.” (Acts 22:16)

Ananias’ exhortation is for us, as well! Are we delaying asking the Lord for His forgiveness, our rescue from the eternal consequences of our sin? (Colossians 1:13-14) Ananias challenged Saul to embrace God’s rescue, a courageous recommendation, as Saul was a former persecutor of Christians.

Disciples: Tossed amid furious waves in a raft, Jesus’ disciples experienced significant fear in seeking rescue. (Mark 4:35-40) Mark relates how the Lord calmed the storm and asked the disciples why they were afraid when Jesus was physically in their midst. Similarly, Israel called out fear in his sons as they kept looking at each other, each hoping another would volunteer to leave the comfort of their current dwelling to acquire desperately-needed food.

If God is with us, whom or what shall we fear?

Friends, what are we waiting for?
Our Rescuer is here!

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

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

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Worship X Day 11 From Eternity To Eternity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103
Deuteronomy 6:10-12
Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Psalm 25:8-11
Isaiah 40:28-31

Worship X, Day 11

Day 1
As I sit to write today’s Journey Study, physical and emotional tiredness are my companions. Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day and His mercies are new every morning.

“[Your mercies] are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:23)
His promise allows me to let the events of the day drain away while focusing on the truth found in His Word.

The truth in Psalm 103 is a solid reminder while my body is ready for rest and a new day, His mercies for today are still active.

“My soul, bless the LORD,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
My soul, bless the LORD,
and do not forget all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1-2)
Tiredness begins to melt away as my focus shifts from myself to the truth of the Lord. The tension in my shoulders eases as I ponder His benefits.

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” (Psalm 103:8)
Thank You, Lord, for Your compassion, grace, and slowness to anger. I am so undeserving of those, especially today when I failed to extend the same to my husband. Please forgive me.

“He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)
Thank You for Your forgiveness, for not repaying me according to what I deserve.

“He satisfies you with good things;
Your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:5)
Thank You for renewing my youth and my strength, so I can “run and not become weary [. . .] walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31) when I wait on You. This, too, is one of Your mercies for today. Help me wait on You and experience Your energizing presence.

Lord, You have poured out so many benefits, yet how often do we fail to thank You for all the ways You demonstrate Your love towards us?

I’m not sure I actually want to answer that question.
But I can choose to make tomorrow and each subsequent day different.

Day 2
I set alarms today on my phone. Four of them.
When they sounded throughout my day, I intended to pause and focus on the Lord and the truth of Psalm 103.

When the first alarm rang, I remembered my conviction, paused to say a quick thank You for my current blessings, and continued on with my day.

A short while later I snapped at my husband in conversation and the words of Psalm 103:2 wafted through my mind, “do not forget all His benefits.”

Ugh. My fleshly heart rebelled at the gentle conviction of the Lord through His Word.

My study of this verse revealed connections to Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 6:12 reminded the Israelites, in the midst of their materiel bounty,
“[B]e careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”

Two chapters later, Deuteronomy 8:11 reiterates,
“Be careful that you don’t forget the LORD your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today.”

Understanding began to dawn. I’d said thank you to the Lord for His benefits to me with the first alarm, but quickly forgot Him by failing to follow His commands to show His mercies to others.

With the next alarm, my heart posture stretched a bit deeper.

Thank You, God, for forgiving me. Please help me to demonstrate my love for my husband and respect him with my words and tone.

This encounter with the Lord didn’t fade into the background of my day. Much like the eased tension of the previous night, my emotional and physical reactions softened. I sensed the Holy Spirit within me, helping me as I surrendered more fully to Him.

The third alarm was set for late afternoon. Reflecting on the impactful second alarm, I felt anticipation growing. What would You speak to me during this moment of encounter, Lord?

As I waited for late afternoon to arrive, the words of Psalm 103:17 lovingly wrapped themselves around my heart.
“But from eternity to eternity
The LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him[.]”

Psalm 25:10 echoes,
“All the LORD’s ways show faithful love and truth
To those who keep his covenant and decrees.”
He is faithful to us now, and promises His faithfulness will extend to eternity.

This brought such hope to my heart; no matter the circumstances awaiting us in this lifetime,
if we seek the Lord, He will faithfully walk with us.

We can thank Him for the hard times with confidence.
We can rejoice in today.
We can praise Him for all of His benefits.

In the Lord’s divine multiplication, when we praise Him
from the depths of who we are
for who He is, He is honored and we are helped.
He is worthy of worship now and for eternity!

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Eden Day 10 Invitation To Conversation

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3
1 John 1:5-10
John 8:1-11

Eden, Day 10

There is power in a question.
It’s an invitation to connect.
It’s a humble initiation of a conversation.

All of these make perfect sense to me as I reflect on my use of questions in recent interactions. Asking clarifying questions helped me better understand the work project my husband had begun. Asking the daughter of a friend her thoughts drew her into the conversation and helped bridge the gap between generations. Asking for the motivation behind a friend’s decision enabled me to infuse the conversation with grace in the midst of a challenging discussion.

Questions have power and can yield powerful results.
In Genesis 3:9-13, the Lord graciously asked Adam and Eve the first questions in Scripture.
Where are you?
Who told you that you were naked?
Did you eat from that tree that I commanded you not to eat from?
What have you done?

Consider the significance of the Lord asking questions.
God, the Creator of everything, asks questions which invite and allow us to engage with Him. He initiates conversation with us through questions. Is that mind boggling to anyone else? The infinitely powerful Lord, Who was, is, and is to come, chooses to interact with us. (Revelation 1:8)

Not only does He choose to interact with us, He does so with grace and mercy.

He did not ask Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” because He did not actually know where they were. The Lord knows all things (Psalm 139:1-4), but by His ask, He provided space for them to come to Him with their defenses down.

Have you ever experienced a similar interaction? Has someone asked you a question to which you both knew the answer, but you were given an opportunity to speak non-defensively?

Tone and timing have an incredible impact in this communication. When I visualize the Lord’s interaction with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, I picture the patient calm of a parent seeking to draw her child’s attention to a glaringly obvious mistake. As in, the mom asking her toddler where the cookie went while the visible crumbs still line the child’s lips.

By asking the question instead of declaring the failure, the ownership of the decisions made rested solely on Adam and Eve. A defensive response did not arise because the Lord’s approach revealed the sin, instead of attacking it.

The Lord asked a series of questions that fleshed out the first sin on earth. He lovingly removed the shame by addressing the failure while still treating Adam and Eve with dignity. He asked them to explain their decisions, He addressed their sin, and He conveyed the consequences of those decisions.

Because of the way the Lord engaged Adam and Eve, an open door for communication remained and a framework for dealing with sin was created.

These truths apply to us as well. When we sin, we must process through it with the Lord just as Adam and Eve did in Eden. The Lord invites our conversation and lovingly prompts us with His questions.

Why?

Because He desires us to engage with Him, and be transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18) as our sin is washed clean through confession and asking for His forgiveness.

“If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Thousands of years after the first sin in Eden, when the Lord walked the earth as Jesus, His gracious invitation to conversation remained unchanged. To a woman caught in adultery and literally surrounded by predatory, self-righteous accusers, He responded with mercy, dismissing those who sought her death. (John 8:1-9)

Then, He invited her into conversation with two gentle questions.
“When Jesus stood up, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’
‘No one, Lord,’ she answered.
‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus. ‘Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.’
(John 8:10-11, emphasis mine)

Like Adam and Eve, like this woman, I know the Lord is after my heart when I sense the Holy Spirit ask me sweetly-convicting questions about my behavior, thoughts, or anything else. The sooner I confess my sin to Him, the sooner I experience restoration in our relationship. The process goes much quicker and more smoothly when I approach the Lord with lowered defenses.

Many times I have felt the Lord lift my head and invite me to talk with Him. Never once have I raised my eyes to look upon His gaze only to be turned away with condemnation. (Romans 8:1)

When you hear the Lord ask about your heart, know He is inviting you into deeper relationship with Him.

How will you answer His invitation to conversation?

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Eden Day 5 Crafted For Community

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31
1 John 4:7-21
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 22:37-40

Eden, Day 5

I think the Garden of Eden must have been paradise for those who are averse to crowds. Since Adam and Eve were the only humans on the planet, I cannot quite picture one of them mumbling, “I hate crowds.” Unless, by chance, a cacophony caused by all the animals Adam had recently named counted for crowd noise.

No large groups of people rushed to and fro on their way to the market or gathered close to hear someone speak as Adam and Even walked with the Lord in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8) But, in those evening times of sharing, five distinct persons were present, three of whom are found within the single triune Being of the three-in-one God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 clearly states there is only One God.
“The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

This truth is reiterated across Scripture, but we also discover this One God is revealed in three distinct persons as God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. All three persons dwell in unity as the Lord God; all three were present in Eden.

I can only imagine the community Adam and Eve shared with God in the Garden.
Abundant peace! Flooding Love! All shared so beautifully!
How glorious it surely was to interact with the Lord before sin marred everything!

There are four Greek words for love: eros, storge, philos, and agape.
Eros is sexual and romantic.
Storge is felt for family.
Philos is shared between friends.
Agape is Divine love poured out through self-sacrifice.

The Triune God is Lord of love, it is His DNA, and He created us to both give and receive it, mirroring how He shares self-sacrificial love even within His own Being.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

“God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him [. . .] We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:16, 19)

Adam and Eve were the first humans to experience love and, to borrow the wording of Genesis, they saw that love was good.

Adam and Eve were the first husband and wife.
Eros

Scripture lists their children as Cain, Abel, Seth, and other sons and daughters.
Storge

The Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden and talked with them directly.
Philos

Finally, Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden due to their sin. (Genesis 3)
They lost their direct access to the Lord.

However, out of His love, the Lord did not destroy them, even at the expense of His connection with them and the eventual sacrifice Jesus would make to restore our access.
Agape

Regardless of the type of love demonstrated, one common denominator is present: more than one person. This means that when the Lord decided to make man in His image, humanity was crafted for community.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.’” (Genesis 1:26, emphasis mine)
The Trinity is on display within the first chapter of Genesis!

God as Father, Son, and Spirit dwell in perfect community, and we are invited and challenged to foster healthy community as well with divine agape love as our foundation.

A common cultural mantra is “Love Wins.”
Yes, yes it does.
But not according to the world’s definition of “winning”.
It’s not the selfish love of one having her every whim satisfied, but a love reflecting Matthew 22: 37-40.

“He said to [the Pharisee], ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets depend on these two commands.’”

Every interaction we have with another person is a chance to grow in agape love as it undergirds every other type of love and reflects the beautiful, sacrificial love of the Triune God.

Before finding ourselves incredibly overwhelmed at trying to muster up this kind of love on our own strength, remember this love is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) We are to love with and through the help of the Holy Spirit.

In order to effectively love others in community,
we must first be in community with the Lord.

Lord, we need more of You. We need Your ability to love those around us.
Holy Spirit, please cultivate agape love in us. Empower us to love like You
when it hurts,
when it’s scary,
when we’re tired,
when we’ve been wounded,
and when differences threaten to divide us by prejudice.

**Please note we do not advocate remaining in unsafe, abusive relationships. Setting healthy boundaries is also a demonstration of love.

Lord, we will continually fail without Your help; we need Your help when we inevitably fall short. Help us to love enough to ask for forgiveness, pour out grace, listen to understand, extend forgiveness, and to seek Your face for wisdom in our relationships. 

You crafted us for community.
Helps us to experience this by drawing close to You and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

For Your Glory.
Amen. 

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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 Eden Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Build Day 8 Building Perseverance

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Romans 5:1-5

Build, Day 8

Ice cream cone in hand, the woman walked to the nearest park bench. As she sat, her dog planted himself in front of her with a laser-sharp focus on the sweet treat.

The woman ate her ice cream at a contented pace and appeared to enjoy watching the activity around her: young families caravanning by with their bikes and strollers, other dog-walkers out for a leisurely stroll, and rambunctious squirrels playing tag amidst the trees.

Her dog, however, paid little attention to his surroundings. The occasional shifting of his ears indicated his awareness, but his focus never strayed more than a moment from the yummy goodness in his owner’s hand. She rewarded his calm patience with the last bite of the cone.

Just like that, the spell was broken. All evidence of the cone licked clean, the dog looked around him, taking in the activity and sniffing his surroundings.

The entire interaction was quite mesmerizing to observe, and served as a prime example of Nehemiah’s focus on building the wall.

Nehemiah possessed a similar focus and determination. He, too, could have become distracted by the efforts of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and those others opposing the rebuilding of the wall. However, he kept his focus on the Lord and His glory. (Nehemiah 6:1-4)

Such focus required intentionality and a great deal of faith. His enemies sought to cause Nehemiah to give up on completing the wall. They constructed false narratives about Nehemiah planning to declare himself as king. (Nehemiah 6:5-9) If he’d attempted to clear himself of these accusations, Nehemiah’s energy and time invested in the wall would have been derailed.

When he persisted in building, the tactic changed.
False prophets began to warn Nehemiah of those coming to kill him. (Nehemiah 6:10-14) Nehemiah could have hidden in fear and declined his leadership role in order to save himself. However, much like the dog focused on the ice cream cone, Nehemiah kept his eyes and ears trained on the Lord. He listened for the Lord, did not hear the Lord confirming the warnings as true, and proceeded to lead the Israelites in rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah showed great perseverance throughout his leadership of the rebuilding project. Successful perseverance is predicated on knowing the what and the why of a goal. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a large-scale what, and the why rested solely on the promises and character of the Lord. Nehemiah’s responses reflected his understanding of these concepts, and displayed a conscious choice to trust the Lord’s faithfulness.

Additionally, Nehemiah did not build the walls alone, and others followed his demonstration of the same faith-filled perseverance. Without all Israelites working together, the rebuilding would have taken longer or may never have even been completed. As the wall took shape, the team then needed to continue persisting in their faith by guarding it effectively.

The Lord’s focus and perseverance are also interwoven deeply throughout the story. He provided Nehemiah with favor, supplies, leadership grace, humility, wisdom, and courage. All of these, in turn, blessed the people whom Nehemiah led and displayed surrender to the Lord’s plan to rebuild the wall.

Evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness didn’t stop there! He prompted Nehemiah to gather the people according to genealogies. These names and numbers, listed in chapter 7, show the ongoing fulfillment of promises the Lord made to Abraham regarding his descendants being more numerous than the sand of the sea. (Genesis 22:17-18) Talk about a long-term example of perseverance!

The Lord’s perseverance and faithfulness continue to endure long past the close of Nehemiah’s story. His faithfulness is displayed today as He is near to each of us, waiting for us to lean into Him and His building plans for our lives. We are invited to persevere with Him as He builds His kingdom in and through us. While the context of our individual needs for His presence to pursue us varies, the foundation for our perseverance is the same: Jesus.

How has the Lord spoken to you in your current scenario? Are there specific verses, promises, or elements of His character you can focus on to empower your obedience?

The Lord has great rewards for our perseverance, rewards which may not be experienced for some time, or even in this lifetime. However, they are coming! (James 1:2-4) We may experience ridicule, misunderstanding, exhaustion, and many other challenges in our journeys, much like Nehemiah. For those who surrender to the Master Builder, Jesus, every trial will be accompanied with the joy of knowing obedience honors the Lord and His work carries an eternal impact.

Dear sisters, the effort and probable pain of perseverance is always worth it when Christ is the laser-focus of our life’s purpose. May we keep our gaze unswervingly on Him.
He sees it all and will reward our faith and trust in Him.

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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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Training Day 15 The Generosity Muscles

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 3:16-18
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Matthew 6:1-4
2 Corinthians 9:7-11
Malachi 3:10-12

Training, Day 15

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Over the last few weeks we have been diving into the Word and focusing on spiritual disciplines. How have you been impacted through this journey? What specific discipline(s) has the Lord highlighted for you to focus on moving forward?

Has silence taken on a new meaning in your life? Or has your perspective of fasting morphed? Maybe you have not sensed any dramatic shifts, but you now have more nuanced understandings of several of the spiritual disciplines.

Before we transition to the next study theme, we have one more training topic to discuss: generosity.

To start, pull out paper and pen or the notes app on your phone. For the next minute, please list ways you can show generosity in your current sphere of influence. Your goal is to think of as many as possible in these 60 seconds. Don’t second guess. Don’t analyze. Simply picture generosity in your world and go.

60 seconds. Set an alarm if it helps.
List away.
Finished?
What was your experience like? What categories and actions made it to your list?

How I wish this conversation were taking place in person.
Since it is not, I will share a few elements I discovered about my list, some of which surprised me.

The first category on my list was money. Scripture does not shy away from addressing money and its impact on our hearts, minds, and walks with the Lord. Tithing, the practice of returning the first 10% of our income to the Lord, is a key component for keeping our hearts focused on the Lord and what He is doing. The Lord knew how significantly money could ensnare our hearts and even encourages us to test Him to show His faithfulness when we tithe. (Malachi 3:10-12)

Financial generosity, however, is not formulaic and moves beyond tithing. Rather than being defined by a certain number, recipient, or cause, financial generosity is characterized by our willingness to give joyfully as the Lord leads. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

In fact, a key component to any and all generosity is obedience to the Lord.

“Because of the proof provided by this ministry, [fellow believers] will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.” (2 Corinithians 9:13)

Our goal is to become more Christlike. (2 Corinthians 3:18) True generosity, the kind that makes us more like Him and demonstrates our spiritual growth, is an outpouring of hearing and obeying. It’s a heart-level response.

Is the Lord asking you to give to a missionary? Is He asking you to help support a single parent? Is He the author of the totally random and unexpected “passing thought” to bring your co-worker a coffee one morning?

The Lord knows each one of us so very intimately and, simultaneously, sees the big picture in all things. Therefore, He knows what each of us needs and how our paths cross. Maybe that random cup of coffee is the warm hug from the Lord your co-worker needs; we may never know how we might be an answer to prayer.

Generosity, then, is about giving open-handedly, no strings attached, zero expectation for accolades; instead, we expect God’s promises outlined in His Word to be fulfilled; His grace will overflow to us, equipping us to do the good work to which He’s called us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
He will give us what we need that we might live with righteous generosity, bringing glory and thanksgiving to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 9:10-13)
He will build “deep affection” among believers, as those blessed by generosity lift up the givers in prayer. (2 Corinthians 9:14)

And finally, as I made my list, I found that while a few situations were financial, many were not, reminding me generosity includes, but also extends beyond, our finances.

One person is in a challenging season and needs solid, consistent prayer covering. While money may help at some point, the Lord highlighted her name when brainstorming how I could be generous with my time and intercession.

Another idea is to send a handwritten note to a friend who unexpectedly lost her husband this summer. This idea prompts me to be generous with my talents and my time. How could your talents be used generously for the glory of the Lord?

Regardless of what made your list, as we grow and practice our generosity, may we keep our eyes focused on the Lord. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith and it is through Him we become more like Him in every spiritual discipline.

My sister, thank you for growing in the Lord by leaning into training more intensely in these spiritual disciplines. May the Lord define and strengthen your “spiritual muscles” and bless your training!

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Kneel Day 5 Faithful God Who Fills

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 1:4-11
Nehemiah 4:11-14
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Psalm 145

Kneel, Day 5

What is the difference between faithful and faith-filled? Prior to pondering Nehemiah and the confidence with which he prayed, I may have described them as two sides of the same coin: faithful and full of faith.

However, as I continued to think about those two concepts, I began to see parallels with the scientific terms potential and kinetic energy.

Yes, I am taking us back to science class for a moment.
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion.
Whereas, potential energy’s origin is found in the location of said object or the nature of its construction, not in movement.

For instance, think about pushing a snowball off a mountain top (can you tell I grew up in Wyoming?). The snowball itself has great potential energy when it sits, motionless, at the top of the mountain, although it’s not actually demonstrating any of that energy. However, once the snowball begins migrating down the mountain, rapidly picking up speed and growing in size, anyone living in the valley below may discover the power of its kinetic energy.

This analogy demonstrates the difference between faithful and faith-filled, which we will see applies to Nehemiah and his prayer life. Approximately 100 years before we meet Nehemiah, Israel’s time of exile in Babylon had ceased and they had been given freedom to return home. However, not all exiles chose to return. A new generation had been born and raised in exile, and Babylon had become home. Hence, why Nehemiah was still hanging out in Babylon when we read his biography. The previous troupe who had returned home were tasked with rebuilding a ransacked Jerusalem, but a century later, Nehemiah learned that the Israelites continued to walk a razor-thin line of survival:

“The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.” (Nehemiah 1:3)

As he led Israel to rebuild Jerusalem, Nehemiah prayed intensely faith-filled prayers. He cried out to the Lord and entrusted the outcome to the faithfulness of God. He understood the “potential energy” of a heart beseeching the Lord. Nehemiah was positioned to experience the miracle of the Lord working through him, but the ability to accomplish the tasks before him did not reside within Nehemiah himself.

The Lord, however, carried the capability to see Nehemiah’s mission come to pass, and Nehemiah prayed with expectation the Lord would remain true to the promises He’d given the people of Israel. (Deuteronomy 30:1-5) Nehemiah understood the concept of faithfulness and recognized it as a demonstration of God’s character. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Faithful is defined as:

  1. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty,
  2. given with strong assurance, and
  3. true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original.

All three of these definitions apply to the character of God.
Consider generations earlier, when God cut a covenant with His servant, Abram (later renamed to Abraham), regarding the establishment of an entire nation through Abraham’s lineage. God alone assumed the weight of the promises’ fulfillment. (Genesis 15)
The covenant would be upheld by God’s faithfulness.

The Lord demonstrated His faithfulness to Abraham and His people throughout the Old Testament. In pondering His faithfulness to those in the New Testament, the apostle Paul comes to mind. After his profound conversion experience (Acts 9:1-25), Paul sought to spread the Gospel with the same energy he once used to persecute Christians, which cost him dearly. Shipwrecks, beatings, and imprisonments filled Paul’s missionary journeys. In 2 Thessalonians 3, he encourages believers to remember the Lord is faithful, a truth I believe helped guide Paul into the incredible obedience he displayed throughout his life.

The truth of the Lord’s faithfulness is for us, as well. In fact, today I am choosing to believe in His faithfulness as I navigate some unexpected scenarios in my current season.

Maybe, like me, you wonder, “What is the practical application?”.
For me, it looked like the following three steps today, ones I will probably need to repeat often.

  1. Pray like Nehemiah. He laid out the elements troubling his heart and directed his prayer to the Lord. This was an active conversation with Him, not simply thinking through details. I am often guilty of equating thinking about something with praying about it.
  2. Believe the Lord will respond in His faithfulness. The Lord’s character is consistent. Once I spent time praying through the details of life, I thanked the Lord for Who He is and the promises He has given in Scripture. I reminded myself of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
  3. Surrender the outcome to the Lord. This step is crucial and is sometimes the most difficult. The Lord will faithfully listen to my prayers and respond to them, but His answers may not be what I hope or expect. He may not remove the circumstances, provide insights immediately, or even seem to acknowledge my prayers. However, my role is to pray in faith, trust the Lord will reply in His faithfulness and timing, and obey as He leads me. The rest is up to Him.

Nehemiah and the Israelites rebuilt the great wall surrounding Jerusalem–an undertaking the Hebrew remnant previously believed impossible!– in 52 days. Paul brought the Gospel to innumerable people throughout his life. Regardless of the mission the Lord has appointed for each of us, the same faithful One Who led Nehemiah and Paul leads us as well, and His activity makes all the difference.

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Advent Day 13 The Carol of Abraham & Isaac

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 22:1-18
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 19:1-42

Advent, Day 13

Genesis 22 begins with the Lord directing His devoted follower, Abraham, to travel to Mount Moriah and offer Isaac as an offering of worship.
Isaac, the long-awaited son of Abraham’s old age.
Isaac, the miracle child through whom God promised to fulfill His covenant with Abraham.
Isaac, to be the first of Abraham’s descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky.

Isaac, to be bound and laid on an altar, his blood spilled by his father’s hand, his body consumed by flames.

Wait . . . what?

At first glance, this story seems to be nonsensical at best, contradictory to everything we believe about God’s character at worst. But dig in, sisters, because today we’re going to see how our good and loving God used Abraham and Isaac’s story to foreshadow the promise of Jesus’ sacrifice and the redemption it would bring.

Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh . . .

While I don’t know the climate of the region through which Abraham and Isaac traveled to reach the site of their offering, I imagine snow probably did not dot the landscape, certainly not the drifts that come to mind when singing this classic Christmas carol. Singing carols of generations past and new lyrics to celebrate the season is a favorite tradition. Suppose we were to consider the threads of ancient biblical biographies as lines to a Christmas carol that all creation has longed to sing in preparation for the coming King?

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old…

Upon hearing the Lord’s voice, Abraham responded with immediate obedience.
He ensured that when he arrived at the correct location, he would have everything he needed to do exactly what the Lord had commanded. He had the wood, the fire, the knife, and Isaac. (Genesis 22:3)

When they reached the point of leaving the donkey and servants behind, Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s back and they finished the last distance to the burnt offering site, just the two of them. (Genesis 22:4-6)

Is anyone else catching the foreshadowing to Jesus’ sacrifice for us?
No, they weren’t singing songs of celebration, but a chorus of rescue was being woven by the Lord God just the same.

Abraham knew the burnt offering must be accomplished because the Lord had commanded it. God the Father knew Jesus’ sacrifice must be completed in order for us to have eternal communion with Him.

Isaac carried the wood. (Genesis 22:6)
Jesus carried the cross. (John 19:17)

Joy to the world, the Lord has come…

What went through Abraham’s mind as he bound Isaac? Did he wonder if the Lord would provide a substitutionary sacrifice? Did he start to process how the Lord might resurrect Isaac if no physical ram arrived? Did he believe he was truly saying goodbye to his promised heir and beloved son, Isaac?

No matter the answers to those questions, Abraham still raised the knife in preparation to spill Isaac’s blood as required for a true offering. Abraham trusted the outcome of his obedience to the Lord.

God the Father still allowed Jesus to be crucified. At any moment, He could have called down all the force of heaven to stop Jesus’ crucifixion, in His becoming the offering for our sins, but the Father knew the outcome of Jesus’ obedience and saw that it was for our eternal good. God saw the joy on the other side of the sacrifice: eternity with us.

The manger scene wasn’t the beginning of the Christmas carol. Its chords echo all the way back through the prophets, the kings, and one man’s obedience to worship the Lord by offering his only son.

Do you hear what I hear? 

What must Isaac have been thinking when he asked Abraham where the lamb would come from? Did his trust in his father begin to waver at all as his dad bound him and laid him on the altar?

What sense of relief and exaltation must Abraham have felt when he heard the Lord tell him to stop his raised hand from killing Isaac? Did the bleating of the ram evermore become the sound reminding him of God’s faithfulness?

In the Genesis 22 account, we witness how Isaac trusted his father,
and in turn trusted the Lord.

Jesus trusted God the Father as He willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross.

Isaac was spared by the ram in the bush the Lord provided.
We were spared from the cost of our sins by Jesus, the Lamb crucified.

Indeed,
O come let us adore Him . . .
The One who gave Himself that we might be forever rescued from the weight of our sin.
This is a carol, whose vibrancy has been building since time began.

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born…

Oh Lord, thank You for loving us with such intentionality and intensity! You knew of the sacrifice Jesus would make centuries after Abraham and Isaac lived. You commanded and documented a parallel story to help us see just how long You have been preparing our salvation.

Jesus, thank You for walking out the story to a completion Isaac never could have. Thank You for becoming the sacrifice that became the payment for our sins.

This Christmas, as the air is filled with Christmas songs new and old, may we embrace the Christmas gift the Lord anticipated giving us from the very beginning: Jesus and eternity with Him.

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Waiting Day 8 The Anticipated Gift

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 2:21-38
Isaiah 55:8-11
Psalm 62:1-12
Psalm 25:1-22

Waiting, Day 8

Oh, the very goodness and faithfulness of the Lord!
Check in on how your heart responds to that phrase.

Celebratory? Enthused? Encouraged?
Or, perhaps, this Journey Study comes to you in a season where that sentence feels so very far from the truth. A season of waiting…maybe more accurately, painful waiting.

A season where more questions fall from your lips than victory cheers.
Where are You, Lord?
Why did You give this to me?
Why did You take this away?

Regardless of heart motives, I’m so thankful our “why” questions are embraced by God; He faithfully draws us close in our questioning. Still, nowhere in Scripture does He promise to reply in the manner we might hope.

Yet, even in this space of unknowns, we can praise the God who carries us through our uncertain seasons of waiting as He actively works to soothe our fears and cultivate our faith. His strength is endless, His power limitless, and His pen authors the best stories every single time.

Waiting is a vital part of any story.
How we choose to wait often determines the level of joy contained throughout our journey and, in many cases, it impacts the story’s end. Such was the case for Anna and Simeon, two faithful saints of the Lord who demonstrated faith-filled waiting. Though the waiting period yawned before them, they fixed their gaze on the unchanging Yahweh, Lord of All. They daily sought His presence, choosing to dwell with Him instead of the land of fear and doubt.

Anna and Simeon waited for the long-ago-promised Messiah. Finally, on a seemingly ordinary day, as they sat again in the Lord’s presence at the temple, their faith was turned into sight as they beheld the infant face of Christ Jesus. They beheld the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord God wrapped in wrinkly days-old skin.

Precisely because they had spent their waiting in worship,
they were familiar with the Spirit’s pressing.
Finally, here was the goal of their faithful waiting.

Though the whole nation of Israel had waited centuries, they missed the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. They neither welcomed the wee Christ, nor did they worship as He performed miracles and declared Himself to be the Messiah. Israel waited, just as Simeon and Anna had, but the difference was their “how”.

Israel sought a king they could control; one who would fulfill their expectations.
The humble in heart welcomed the King they already worshipping while they waited.

Like Israel, like Simeon and Anna, we each can choose how we wait in our seasons of mystery, pain, and seeming endlessness. Will we focus our hearts more on receiving the promise or on worshipping the Promise Keeper?

Though I have much to still learn about waiting well, over many seasons of waiting, the Lord has faithfully taught my heart to worship in the waiting; He has shown me the joy to be discovered if we wait on Him.

I had been single for several years and sensed the Lord leading me to a specific man as my future husband. In a story that would take far longer than I could recount here, the Lord walked me through years of listening and obeying; these became my praise to Him. I continued praying for this man, and many fellow Christians prayed alongside me, until finally I asked the Lord for a clear answer the next time the two of us interacted. When I saw him again, I mentioned an interest in getting coffee, but he didn’t set up a date. As we turned to go, he exited through one door, and I turned towards a glass one, but realized too late that it was a pull exit instead of a push door. I walked full force into the see-through glass, but instead of feeling humiliation at my clumsiness and grief over losing this man, laughter bubbled out. After years of waiting and praying, I found myself filled with joy and laughter.

I had waited well, and the evidence was the Lord’s joy showing up against all odds. The outcome wasn’t what I had envisioned, but the Lord had given me the same gift He had given to Anna and Simeon and all who waited for the Messiah with humility, Himself.

In that specific season I had learned to know His voice better and lay my plans at His feet. I wonder how often Anna or Simeon doubted the Lord would show Himself to them as they waited, yet still, they came to Him each day at the temple, expectantly waiting with open hands to receive whatever He had for them.
These were sacrifices of praise.

I’m now married, with a little one on the way, to a man the Lord had been preparing for me all along. As I feel tiny kicks inside, I am reminded again that the Lord writes the best stories. His storyline taught my heart to trust and worship Him regardless of plot twists. He was faithful to Simeon, Anna, and even to Israel, though they rejected Him, and He continues to be faithful to all who humbly seek Him.

Delight yourself in the Promise Keeper, Sister.
Learn the rhythm of worshipping while you wait and joyfully discover His faithful goodness that will never fail!

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