Author: Sarah Young

Worship VIII Day 8 Who Is Like Our God?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 71:19-21
Psalm 113:4-9
Romans 16:25-27
Jude 24-25
Ephesians 3:20-21

Worship VIII, Day 8

2020 . . . the year of the unexpected and unknown.
In Kansas City, we began the year celebrating a Chiefs Super Bowl victory.
We high-fived strangers wearing red, calling out, “How ‘bout them CHIEEEEEEEFS?!”
We stood UNITED as “MaHOMIES.”

The weather was perfect for the championship parade.
Little did we imagine the storms heading our way.
2020 was the embodiment of “when it rains, it pours.”
Our celebrations turned to confusion as we learned about coronavirus.
High-fives became a thing of the past, as did many of our other daily activities.

Vacations were cancelled.
Schools were closed.
Businesses shut down.

And all too soon, red wasn’t uniting us.
With a presidential election looming, teams were declared and apparently, picking sides was required.
Red or Blue?

Social distancing wasn’t the only thing keeping us 6 feet apart.
Social media became a place to attack each other’s opinions, judge choices, and condemn those with different thoughts.

We seem so divided.

2020 was a year of hard questions and few answers.
So far, 2021 has been more of the same.

Today, though, as I listened to Who Is Like Our God, I found questions with OBVIOUS answers.

I’d never heard this song before, but wow, it’s absolutely perfect for the challenges we’re facing.

Like us, the song is FULL of questions.

“Who was in the beginning before time began?
Who holds all of creation in the palm of His hand?”

The answer is certain, and therefore invaluable in a time of countless unknowns.

“My Father, He is the one who sustains all things
He is the source, the Creator of everything”

As Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:
“For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”  

And while an understanding of God as Creator and Sustainer is foundational, it might not feel PERSONAL.
The stars and planets seem far away; the universe, big and overwhelming.

Especially when we’re dealing with job cuts, dwindling bank accounts, and constantly changing plans.
As we try to navigate the nitty gritty of our daily lives, we can find comfort in Psalm 139.

I, too, search for assurance God sees and cares about the details of my life. We are in the process of adopting 2 boys from Haiti. As I write, we have been waiting for 23 months. We are registered and approved for adoption, but we have to wait for a match. It’s excruciating to feel we are so close, and nowhere at all.  We continue to pray, wrestling with the when and why of our loooong wait.

I may not know how God will fulfill His promise for our family.  BUT I know GOD sees and holds our future: my boys here with us, playing in the backyard, reading bedtime stories, eating popcorn during movie night. He sees them wrapped in my arms.

When the ache for my boys is overwhelming, I find encouragement in Isaiah 40:31:
“Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength;
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not become weary;
They will walk and not faint.”
And because I can trust GOD sees and cares, I can wait and trust with HOPE.

Similarly, David explains God’s involvement in our lives,
and today’s song reiterates,
“Whose thoughts toward me outnumber the sand?”

God thinks about YOU.
He SEES you.
He KNOWS you . . . the number of hairs on your head, your strengths and weaknesses, the promises on which you’re waiting.

He created you, fearfully and wonderfully, declaring YOU a masterpiece.
He made you ON PURPOSE, for a purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)

So we can REST in believing God knows us and will sustain us.
NO ONE else can do this.

“Who has given Him wisdom?
Who has made Him understand? [. . .]
Who is like our God in all the earth?”

The answer is obvious.
No one possesses His wisdom or understanding.
No one can compare.

He alone sees all and knows all (Job 28:24).
He alone has been since before time began (John 1:1-2),
and He alone knows how all eternity will play out, beginning to end (Isaiah 46:10).
Thus, He alone is ABLE to sustain the world He has created, including YOU! (Psalm 54:4)

“Fill me with knowledge of You, God
(Let me behold more of You, God)
Open my heart to your truth, God
(I have to have more of You)”

So, let’s do as the song invites and behold the Lord.
Let’s intentionally spend time in the Word, grounding ourselves in Jesus and on His promises.

Let’s ask Him to fill us with His knowledge,
and open our hearts to Him so we can KNOW the Truth.
As we do, we will find JESUS is the answer to all our questions.

Even in the hardest, most challenging scenarios 2020/1 could possibly throw our way.

Take a moment to revisit Read His Words Before Mine. As our spirits soak in the majesty and promise and hope of our God, we might just catch some air.

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Worship VII Day 11 Held Fast

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Timothy 1:8-14
Psalm 91
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Hebrews 6:17-20
Jude 1:24-25

Worship VII, Day 11

When asked in 2015, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I’m certain no one answered correctly! In Kansas City, we started with a Super Bowl Championship parade; joy was in the air and life was GOOD.

A few weeks later, Covid-19 entered the US; life turned upside-down.
Stay-at-home orders were issued.
#InThisTogether began trending.

Despite the hashtag’s slogan, however, stress and uncertainty quickly gave way to anger and division on our streets over racial inequality. The deaths of Ahmaud, Breonna, and George sparked protests against racial injustice and emotions raced even higher.

Adding to the tumult, investigations continue uncovering horrific atrocities against children.

Not to mention, it’s an election year in the United States.

Yep, pretty sure NO ONE could have predicted 2020’s events.
NO ONE except God.

As unsettling as 2020 has been so far, NOTHING has surprised God.  Our family word is KAIROS, referring to how God’s timing is SO different from ours.  As finite humans with limited knowledge, we are unable to “fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

To illustrate this mystery, consider a beautiful tapestry.  Merely surveying the BACK of the tapestry reveals only a tangle of thread and knots. Amidst the mess, the weaver continues the work, knowing the end result will be stunning.

GOD is a master weaver.

2020 is part of His plan.
In fact, all of history is His Story unfolding.
None of it is beyond His weaver’s fingers.
We can trust Him!

In the midst of chaos and confusion, HE remains steadfast, faithful, and GOOD.
We must cling to this truth!

Sitting in the middle of the unknown, it’s tempting to feel overwhelmed or defeated. Instead, let’s focus on truth: God is still at work.

In researching the hymn, He Will Hold Me Fast, I was blown away by God’s Almighty ability to weave the threads together.

In the early 1900s, the traveling evangelist, R.A. Torrey, was sharing the gospel. In 1902, in Australia, Robert Harkness joined his team as a pianist. Ironically, he agreed to be an accompanist at revival meetings BEFORE trusting Jesus as his personal Savior. He actually tried to mess up the music but failed. Due to the grace shown him by Torrey, he accepted Christ into his life.

The team traveled Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, India, and the British Isles while sharing Jesus. In London, they connected with the then-famous song writer, Ada Habershon, who joined their team. Ada would pen hymns lyrics while Robert expertly put them to music.

In 1906, a Canadian man spoke with Robert, expressing his fear of being unable to “hold out” in the midst of difficulty. Harkness wrote to Ada in England and requested lyrics speaking to this man’s struggle.

While Torrey preached to a crowd of 4,000 in Philadelphia, Harkness took out the slips of paper with Ada’s newly penned words for “He Will Hold Me Fast”, putting them to a melody then and there.

The music was captivating, and the song’s message stuck.
Over a hundred years later, we still sing Ada’s lyrics set to Robert’s melodies.
Incredibly, these words from 1906 intertwine perfectly with the experiences of 2020!

This is God at work, weaving a beautiful tapestry!

I got goosebumps reading testimonies of the impact Ada’s words have had over the years, even some from Kansas City.  Consider studying this history for yourself and pray God reminds you He is the same today just as He was then. (Hebrews 13:8)

Do you fear you also cannot “hold out”?

Maybe you need to be reminded we don’t need to depend on OUR strength, but in Jesus!  We can REST in Him, depending FULLY on HIS wisdom, power, joy, hope, peace, courage, and love.

Do you feel weak or weary?
Can you sense fear creeping in?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do you question where your path will take you?
Do you question God’s love and goodness?
Do you doubt His sovereignty?
Do you wonder if He TRULY cares about you and the details of YOUR life?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do doubt, cynicism, and anger seem to be crowding out grace and compassion?
Does showing love to others feel exhausting?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do you feel control slipping away?
Are you longing for Jesus to come back, wondering why He hasn’t yet?
Are you worried you might lose hope before He does?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Recently, the song, Another In The Fire, reminded me again that even in the FIRE, we are not alone.  Jesus stands with us just as He did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

God parted the Red Sea.
He provided manna in the wilderness.
He shot water from a rock.
He closed lions’ mouths.
He defeated a giant through one boy’s faith.
Time and time again throughout history, He made His presence and power known as He wove His tapestry.

Then, He came to actually DWELL among us.
Jesus left heaven and was born humbly in Bethlehem.
His presence and power were felt in fresh BIG ways.

Jesus made the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see, and brought the dead back to life.
Then, one day, He Himself died, paying the penalty for our sin.
Three days later, He rose again, forever conquering Death and offering eternal life and forgiveness to all who trust Him!
He can indeed hold us fast!

No thread of history can unravel God’s plan, including 2020 and the struggles in your life! We can trust JESUS remains constant, knowing He will forever hold us fast!

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Sketched VIII Day 1 Hagar And Ishmael

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 16
Exodus 33:12-23
Genesis 32:24-30

Sketched VII, Day 1

Salty tears streaked my face.
I longed to rest from my desert trek.
But I couldn’t.

I wasn’t safe.
I’d fled under the cover of night, but dawn was breaking.
Would Sarai send Abram’s men to force my return?

Returning wasn’t an option.
Not now.

Sarai’s rage was at an all-time high.
I feared for my life,
and for the little one growing inside me.

I rubbed my belly and couldn’t help but smile.
I already loved this precious child, even though he wouldn’t really be mine.
Like me, he belonged to Sarai, to Abram.

I choked back more tears and wished somehow I could drink them.
My parched throat longed for water.
I was ill-prepared for my escape.

While I was familiar with Sarai’s cruelty, something snapped in her yesterday.
Perhaps the reality I was carrying Abram’s child while she remained barren broke her already hardened heart.

I silenced the nagging voice inside, “. . . and you missed no opportunity to remind her of that, did you?”

Decades after God promised my master a son, Sarai’s womb remained empty.
Desperate, she dreamed up a plan, and I was her pawn.

As a slave, obedience was my only choice.
So I entered Abram’s tent.
When I left, my sorrow came with me.

Weeks later, when I realized I was pregnant, emotions flooded in.

Joy.
Pride.
Hope.
I would be a mother!

But my baby wasn’t mine.
Sarai and Abram would get their promised child.
I would lose mine.
Bitterness.
Rage.
Hopelessness.

But when I dared speak of my pregnancy,
I watched Sarai’s face blanch in pain . . .
And suddenly, for the first time in my life, I felt power.

Through its lens, I looked with pride at my body,
fresh and glowing, softly swelling with life.

And then I looked at Sarai,
thinning white hair crowning a wrinkled husk of a body.
Her pathetic hope to bear a child, to fulfill God’s promise, was beyond ridiculous.

I was filled with contempt for Sarai.
And as Abram’s gaze began to swerve my way more frequently,
I saw an opportunity to change my future.

I stirred up enmity between Abram and Sarai,
Encouraged comparisons between her and myself,
Knowing I carried the promise Abram wanted more than anything.
I was the one feeling the baby kick, not her. 

Sarai’s growing depression only spurred me on.
Had she forgotten this was HER idea to push me into her husband’s tent?

Finally, Sarai confronted Abram.
My haughtiness turned to panic as he flicked a dismissive glance in my direction, giving Sarai free reign to do with me as she pleased.

So Sarai loosed years of bitterness, disappointment, and anger . . . on me.
She exchanged words for a whip, or rod, or clay pot.

After yesterday’s beating, I had to leave.
To protect myself.
And my baby, who I imagined was a boy.

I ran all night.
I had no destination; I was running away.
Away from Abram and Sarai.
Away from abuse and death.

Now lost, the barren wilderness stretched endlessly before me.
Overwhelmed with despair, I sank to my knees.
I pounded the cracked earth and cried out for help,
help I knew wouldn’t come.

Death stalked me.
With the last of my energy, I lowered myself to the ground.
This would be my grave.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Certain Abram’s men found me, I cowered,
bracing for death’s blow.

But then, I heard my name.
Spoken with kindness.
Concern.

LOVE.

Peace washed over me.

“Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?”

I replied honestly, explaining my desperation to escape Sarai, hoping the stranger would mercifully lead me to safety.

The stranger knelt, handing me bread and a new skin of water.
I bit off a huge chunk of bread and gulped down water.

Once I finished eating, the stranger helped me up.
At his touch, new energy surged within me.

He looked into my eyes.
For the first time in my life, I felt SEEN.
Just as I began to hope, the stranger’s words rocked me to the core.

“Go back to Sarai and submit to her.”

Go back?!

The stranger kept talking.
This time, his words were full of promise.

“You baby is indeed a boy. When he is born, name him Ishmael.”
I whispered it out loud, daring to add, “I love you, Ishmael.”

When I spoke his name, I understood.
ISHMAEL.
God will hear.

The Lord HEARD me.
He SAW me.
Here in the desert, as I waited to die.
He sent this stranger to save us.

I felt Ishmael kick, as if in celebration.
A solid kick, the strongest yet.

The stranger’s words rang in my ears, “He will be a wild donkey of a man.”

I laughed and turned to share my joy with the stranger . . .
But he’d vanished.

I was alone.
Yet, the peace accompanying the stranger lingered.

In the place he’d stood, there was now a well.
Bewildered, I ran to it, drawing water and drinking my fill.
I splashed water on my face, washing away the sweat and tears.
Then, I scrubbed my feet, wiping away the blood and dirt.

Like a carefree child, I threw a handful of water into the sky.
I watched in awe as the sunlit droplets danced.
Tiny rainbows landed on my hair as I lifted my hands in praise.

I shouted, “El-Roi, El-Roi!!!  You are the God who sees!”

I began the trek back home.
Unsure of what awaited me,
I only knew I was returning a changed woman.

No matter what happened, God would be with me.

If He was with me in the wilderness, when I was alone and on the cusp of death, I trusted Him to remain with me now.
If He heard my cries in the desert, I knew He could hear me anywhere.
If He saw me at my worst, and loved me even then, I believed His love would be steadfast the rest of my days.

The following months were NOT easy.

But when my son was born, and Abram announced, “The boy’s name is Ishmael,”
I knew God was with me, and He saw me and loved me,
me and my son.

***

Maybe you relate to Hagar and feel alone in a wilderness, overwhelmed, defeated, and full of despair. Call out to Jesus. He HEARS you. He SEES you. He is with you, ready to fill you with His peace, power, strength, hope, joy, wisdom, and love. May you experience Him as Hagar did, as El-Roi, the God who sees.

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched VIII Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched VIII!

Redeemed Day 15 The Face Of Redemption

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 4:13-22
Matthew 1:1-17
Luke 2:1-7

Redeemed, Day 15

Just as faces easily get lost in a large crowd, so too do unfamiliar, hard-to-pronounce names in a long list of “So and so begat so and so….”

Genealogies can be pretty boring, fairly easy to gloss over, or skip entirely.
BUT when we take time to read them, we discover amazing stories AND see how God has been at work since Genesis to bring about OUR salvation today.

In Matthew 1, we find 5 women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. Mention of a woman in a lineage in this time period was shocking, so we really should take notice.

Looking beyond names, we uncover remarkable tales of romance, revenge, regret, renewal, and best of all, redemption.

These women were hand-picked by God to play integral roles in the greatest story of all time.

Tamar, cast aside and forgotten.
Until God gave her a DOUBLE blessing.

Rahab, prostitute-turned-protector.
Then, as the city walls tumbled down, she was rescued.
God was laying the foundation for His eternal kingdom in the tale of a harlot.

Ruth, widow and foreigner with nothing to offer.
Except her loyalty and love.
God saw her sacrifice and used it to create a Gift for all mankind.

Bathsheba, lost her husband to murder and her baby to sickness.
Even then, in the midst of tears and tragedy, God was weaving a story of triumph.

Mary, unwed pregnant teenager.
She didn’t understand God’s plan, but accepted her role in it.

Oh, what we can learn from these ladies!

Ruth is one of my all-time favorite Bible characters. I’ve always been drawn to her faithfulness to Naomi. Following the death of their husbands, Ruth’s mother-in-law begged her to stay in Moab.

Ruth, having none of it, adamantly declares,
“Where you go, I will go […] your God will be my God.”

I would have loved to witness Ruth’s fierce determination that day.
Tearing running down her cheeks.
Her nose dripping snot.
Her tangled hair matted with dust and dirt.

Through all the mess, God saw the face of redemption.

As we’ve studied the story of Naomi and Ruth, we witnessed God bringing HOPE even in the midst of loss.  Boaz, their kinsmen redeemer, was a beacon of light breaking through their darkness as he stepped up and said YES to his responsibility.  He looked past the debt he would inherit and focused on the RELATIONSHIP he would enjoy with Ruth.

Back again to the long lists of genealogies, we read in Jesus’, “Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).” (Matthew 1:5, emphasis mine)

Look back at the first half of the verse … see the connection to Rahab? She was Boaz’s mom! I just love that! Who would have thought when 2 spies walked through her door, she would step into the lineage of JESUS?!

The men saw an easy opportunity to assess the city undetected.
God saw the face of redemption.

She welcomed the spies and hid them on her roof.
She had only heard about the Red Sea, yet put her faith in God.
God not only saved her life, but used HER to save OURS.

What a story He writes.
Rahab marries Salmon.  They have baby Boaz.
Boaz meets Ruth, a widow and foreigner with nothing to offer but debt.
Yet, he welcomes her to become part of his FAMILY.

Soon, they become parents to Obed.
As they hand Naomi her grandson, joy abounds.
She returned to Bethlehem empty.
Yet, in an incredible turn of God-ordained events, God restores what was lost.
As she looks down at Obed, she sees the face of redemption.

We don’t have time to expand on the tragedy of David and Bathsheba. We DO need to highlight that just as God was faithful to Naomi, so too did He eventually turn Bathsheba’s ashes to beauty. As she held her redemption baby, Solomon, in her arms, she too stared into the face of redemption.

Many generations pass before we see another woman in Jesus’ genealogy. We may not know the names of all the mothers whose sons are listed, but rest assured as they held their baby boys, they too looked into the face of redemption.

And with each birth, God brought US closer to OUR redemption.

Finally, we see MARY.
I often wish I could have followed her from the day the angel appeared to her
to the night she gave birth to Jesus and laid Him in the manger.

I just witnessed a mama give birth and hold her newborn for the first time. What joy and elation! As a doula, I see lots of births. Still, my mind can’t fathom all Mary experienced as she held Jesus, GOD HIMSELF, in her arms.

Completely dependent on her for life, yet HE was HER source of Life . . . her Savior.
Our Savior.

There, surrounded by stinky farm animals, Mary held baby Jesus and stared down with awe and wonder at THE face of Redemption.

From Tamar to Rahab to Ruth to Bathsheba to Mary, God used these women to weave a story of restoration and redemption.

Just as each of these women were broken, so too are we.
They needed redeeming and still, God used them to bring about redemption.

As you look in the mirror today, realize you too can see the face of redemption.
You can recognize your need for a Savior.
He will welcome you with open arms.

You can also accept your role in God’s on-going redemption story.
You can extend His love and grace to those around you.
As you do, He will use YOU to restore what has been lost in ways you may never even know.

My dear sisters, may we each say YES to Jesus today.
May we BE faces of redemption today.

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Hallel Day 10 Eden’s Promise

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 116:12-19
Matthew 26:17-56
Titus 3:4-7
1 Corinthians 1:20-22
Revelation 19:4-9

Hallel, Day 10

Have you watched a movie using flashbacks to help the audience understand how the past is connected to the current scene?

Or if, like me, you’re a fan of the popular TV show, This Is Us, you get it.

As I prepared for this Journey Study, the idea of a movie struck me. Since we are approaching Easter, the opening scene features Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We see the disciples asleep under a tree, and the camera pans to a lone figure in the distance.

Jesus.

He falls to the ground, exhausted. Emotionally spent, He weeps, and with sweat so thick it trickles down His brow as drops of blood, He cries out in anguish,
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

As the heaviness of His words hangs in the air, the scene flashes back to another garden.

Here, in the middle of Eden are a man and woman, naked and cowering in fear as they crouch behind a bush, doing their best to hide. We expect lightning to strike, judgment crashing down on them as a result of their blatant disobedience to God.

But in a surprising twist, God curses the serpent.
While Adam and Eve’s sinful choice brings weighty consequences, God surrounds them with gracious compassion. He tenderly clothes Adam and Eve, promising one day their broken relationship with Him will be fully restored.

We realize that as Jesus kneels in Gethsemane, HE is the fulfillment of the promise made long ago in Eden.

The plot is perfect.
It’s Passover week.
The heartbreak of Gethsemane is still to come.
We find Jesus and His disciples eating supper together.

The evening must have been so confusing for the men who’d spent the past three years with Jesus. They heard Him teach, watched Him heal, and witnessed miracle after miracle. Yet, it seemed they still had NO understanding of the events unfolding before them.

The camera zooms in as the men sit around a table, eating the traditional Passover meal.

Sighing, Jesus looks around the room, soaking in the moment with His closest friends.

“How do I tell them, Abba?”, Jesus prayed. “They will be so confused and scared. Even after all this time with Me, they still don’t understand what we are doing.”

Heart heavy, He announces His impending betrayal.

Thaddeus spits his wine in shock. Philip drops the matzah he was passing to Judas.

“BETRAY You?”, Matthew utters in bewilderment.

“Which of us would do THAT?!”, James quickly adds, his eyes darting around the room suspiciously.

“It’s not me, is it?” Andrew whispers in Jesus’ ear, his face pale with worry.

Jesus moves the meal on to the last cup of wine, for with it comes the promise of a new covenant. His very blood would soon be poured out as a sacrifice bringing forgiveness of all mankind’s sins, past, present, and future.
He, Himself, would be the final Passover Lamb. 

After supper, we watch Jesus and the disciples making their way to the Mount of Olives. As they walk, despite the tension amongst them, out of ritual, the men continue singing the traditional Hallel. (Matthew 26:30)

On this night, however, their minds wandered as they sang the verses from memory.

“Pssst, Thomas, what do you think Jesus meant by BETRAY? Surely, it’s just another of His parables, right?”

“I don’t know. And what did He mean by ‘drinking His blood?’ Hey, John, you’re close with Jesus, do you understand what He’s saying?”

“I wish. I don’t understand, either. I want to know when He will overthrow the Romans and set up His kingdom!”

Jesus is singing along, yet His own heart and mind are in extreme turmoil.
“I am here to deliver them.
I came to fulfill promises.
I must die, so they can live.
I must do this.
Father, help Me! Help Me finish what We started so long ago.”

With heaviness, Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane followed by His confused disciples.

And we’re back to our opening scene of Jesus crying out in despair.
He knew exactly what the next few hours would bring.

This night was the culmination of thousands of years of promise, a single perfect life, and a propitiatory death.

His coming had a purpose:
to reconcile man to God,
redeeming all who were lost.
He left heaven so we could enter.

As the story continues, He hangs on a cross, paying the penalty for OUR sin.
Just as God extended grace to Adam and Eve in Eden, He now offers salvation freely to us. (Ephesians 2:8-9). NO ONE deserves such grace, yet ANYONE can accept His incredible gift!

When we accept the gift of salvation, we abandon our roles as spectators and become part of the cast! We look forward to being in the final scene, a wedding supper foreshadowed by Jesus’ final Passover with His disciples.

One day, all who have trusted Jesus as their Savior will celebrate with Him at the Feast of all Feasts, the finale of all finales!

Until then, we wait.
Like the disciples on Passover night, we may not understand everything happening in our lives. We may be confused, afraid, overwhelmed, or overcome with grief.

Just as the hymns of Hallel proclaimed what God had ALREADY done, while also anticipating what He WOULD do, we can choose to trust God to keep all of His promises.

We live with both the reminder of Easter and the anticipation of Jesus’ return.

In the middle, we choose worship.
Not because of our circumstances, but because of CHRIST.

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Shielded Day 10 Shields Together

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-16
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Psalm 18
2 Chronicles 20:13-23
Exodus 14:13-14

Shielded, Day 10

Huddled in an arena, a group of prisoners wait. Sand and dirt under their feet, sun beating down, hearts pounding in their chests as they anxiously await the gates to open.  They will fight valiantly, but most will not leave the colosseum alive.  The crowds have come expecting entertainment from watching prisoners fight a battle they simply cannot win.

Unless…

One man, Maximus, changes the game.
He calls out, “No matter what comes out of these gates, if we stand together, we will survive.”  As the iron bars rise, and chariots race towards them, instead of scattering in fear, the men come together, lock shields, and accomplish the unthinkable…
gain the upper hand.

As arrows fly, metal spikes catch on shields, and swords clash, the men continue to fight with and FOR each other. TOGETHER, they stay alive.

This scene from Gladiator is one of my absolute favorites.  Nearly 20 years since its release and Maxiumus’ words ring in my ears.

We may not be standing in ancient Roman colosseum today, but I assure you, the moment your feet hit the floor this morning, you stepped onto a battlefield.

We are ALL involved in a war of epic proportions.
The reality of the fight is NOT up for debate; however, how we each CHOOSE to engage in the battle IS ours to decide

In studying the armor of God, we’ve noted the importance of the belt of TRUTH, the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and the power of shoes fitted with the GOSPEL OF PEACE.

Today, we give attention to the SHIELD OF FAITH. It’s here I firmly believe we NEED to heed Maximus’ instructions, get our shields UP and keep them TOGETHER if we will survive Satan’s attacks and come out VICTORIOUS.

We cannot SEE our enemy,
or the flaming arrows he shoots, but I assure you,
we HEAR his lies.

“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re not as pretty as HER.”

 We are AFRAID.
“Will the kids adjust to the new school in the middle of the year?”
“How will we pay for the broken windshield?!”

 We FEEL pain.
“Why didn’t God heal my mom?  Why did He let cancer get first place?”
“How could my husband’s boss lay him off without warning?  How will we pay bills this month?”

No matter how the enemy attacks, we must, “In ALL circumstances,
take up the shield of FAITH.” (Ephesians 6:16)

But what is faith?

Hebrews 11, often referred to as the Hall of Faith, begins with a definition,
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.”

The author also writes, “without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists…”

Faith is…
taking God at His Word,
believing Him no matter what,
holding onto His promises even if we can’t see how He will work out the details,
obeying Him even if it doesn’t make sense,
and trusting that He WILL remain faithful.

Easy, right?!
Um, NO.

To show us this kind of faith IS actually possible, the author of Hebrews provides example after example of real life people who truly “lived by faith.”

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, and of course, Abraham.
Can’t forget him.
After all, he is the “father” of faith and the reason Paul wrote,
“the righteous will live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

WAAAAAAAY back in Genesis 15, God make a HUGE promise to Abram (his name before God changed it).  Though Abram had NO children and was OLD, God assured him his descendants would outnumber the stars of the night sky.

Abraham believed God at His word, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) This is FAITH.

Paul assures us in Galatians 3:7 that ANYONE who has faith in God is a “son of Abraham”. (verse 9) Hence the song, Father Abraham had many sons and many sons had Father Abraham. (Go ahead, do the motions!)

BEFORE God makes any promises to Abram, He STARTS His conversation with,
“Fear not, Abram, I AM YOUR SHIELD; your reward shall be very great.”

WHO GOD IS sets the stage for Abram’s faith.
GOD is his shield as provider and protector.
He’s the same for us.

David sings in Psalm 3:3, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
You are my glory, the one who holds my head high.”

Not only does God lift us up, but He SURROUNDS us.
No way could we face Satan alone.
And we NEVER have to.

We don’t need Maximus’ words in our ears reminding us to lock shields.
We have a WARRIOR KING in the arena who IS OUR SHIELD.

The outcome of the battle does NOT depend on anything WE can do, but on our GOD,
for whom NOTHING is impossible.

If He can part the Red Sea,
cause the sun to stand still,
bring down a giant with a little stone,
close the mouths of lions,
turn water to wine,
feed a crowd with a boy’s meager lunch,
make the blind see,
the deaf hear,
and the lame walk,
God can shield you from Satan’s deluge of arrows through faith.

Abram believed God, and so can we.
EVERY single promise God makes, He keeps.
OUR job is to have FAITH that He will.

May we join with the Psalmist and DECLARE, “Our soul waits for the Lord; HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.   Our heart is glad in Him, because we TRUST in His holy name.”

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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 VI Day 5 Raise A Hallelujah

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:4-8
Colossians 3:15-17
Deuteronomy 20:1-4
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 138:1-8

Worship VI, Day 5

Hallelujah!  Praise!  Thank You, Jesus!

Shouts come from one pew, then another and another as the passionate preacher enthusiastically declares the goodness of the Lord.  You can feel the JOY, excitement, and anticipation in the room.

However, HALLELUJAHS are NOT limited to revival worship services or bound by location or circumstance.

Truth be told, sometimes a HALLELUJAH sounds more like HELP! than HOORAY!
HALLELUJAH may end with a question mark rather than an exclamation point.

HALLELUJAHs come in all shapes and sizes: a whisper, shout, sob, song, plea, or praise.
Whether written, spoken, or only thought in our hearts, God recognizes all of them.

I first heard the song “Raise a Hallelujah” at a Refresh Conference for foster and adoptive parents.  If you know anything about the REALITY of fostering or adopting, you understand the hardship and heartbreak.

As we gathered together, all broken and hurting, we CHOSE to praise.
Collectively, we lifted our voices to declare VICTORY even though we were ALL still in the midst of battle.

The apostle Peter knew what heavy suffering felt like, and he wrote a letter to encourage believers who were in the midst of hardship.
He told them their difficult circumstances should NOT determine how they lived.
(1 Peter 1:1-9)

Our praise is based on God’s character proven over and over by what He has already done.  With His faithfulness in mind, we can look ahead, fully anticipating what He will do.  This perspective allows us to RAISE A HALLELUJAH from the valley, the mountaintop, or anywhere in between.

Line after line, this song reminds us that praise is a CHOICE.

in the presence of my enemies

I think of David who often shared honestly about the adversity he experienced.  Yet, in the midst, David realized God was not only WITH him, but actually “preparing a feast for him in the presence of his enemies.” (Psalm 23:5)

louder than the unbelief

I think of the father who brought his son to Jesus, desperate for healing. The dad had watched for years as an evil spirit seized his little boy, throwing him into fire or water.  Helpless, he begged Jesus to do something, if He could.  Jesus assured him, “Anything is possible if a person believes.”  In raw honesty, the father cries out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Can you relate?  I know I can!

Sometimes we have to CHOOSE to declare God’s goodness that we KNOW to be true BEFORE we actually experience it in the NOW.

We can praise WHILE WE WAIT and trust God to act.
The song itself was actually written beside a hospital bed as people begged God to miraculously save a little boy.

I’m gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm

 I think of Paul and Silas in prison, worshipping their hearts out while bound with chains.  They could have been complaining, but instead they were praising.

We CANNOT wait for things to be perfect.
We MUST LEARN to praise God in the valley, the desert, the wilderness, and the storm.

in the middle of the mystery

We trust Him in the waiting.
We follow Him in the unknown.

As we do, hardship is EXPECTED.
Jesus actually GUARANTEED it.

So, when we find ourselves in tough times, don’t look at the storm,
fix your eyes on your Savior.
Don’t be afraid of the wind or the waves.
Silence them with worship.

my weapon is a melody

 Who knew you could fight Satan with a song instead of a sword?!
Best part though?

Heaven comes to fight for me

We are not alone in the battle!
GOD is on our side, fighting FOR us and WITH us.

I think of the Israelites at the Red Sea, trapped with nowhere to go, and Pharaoh’s chariots racing towards them.  Moses assures them,
“The Lord Himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm.”
Then, he stretches out his staff, and the waters part by God’s mighty hand!

I may not know exactly what you are going through, but I do know
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive

Your present situation is NOT the end of the story.
God has already won the war.

We are in the middle of a fierce battle, yes.
BUT we are fighting FROM victory not for victory.

You may feel like your HALLELUJAH is a white flag of surrender rather than victory’s banner.    I STILL urge you to lift it up.
with everything inside of {you}

You may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but, raise your hallelujah and
watch the darkness flee

You may feel wrapped in anxiety, but proclaim,
fear you lost your hold on me 

As we praise, lives begin to change.
First our own, and then countless others.

Someone hurting is watching as YOU trust God.
THEN, she utters her own tiny hallelujah.
Sing a little louder

Someone grieving sees YOU process your loss with hope.
She catches on and whispers hallelujah too.
Sing a little louder

Someone overwhelmed is listening as YOU cry out for God’s help.
She joins in, sharing your confidence.
Sing a little louder

Someone feeling defeated hears YOU declare Jesus’ victory.
She believes His victory is hers too.
Sing a little louder

All around the world, our voices unite to form a hallelujah chorus.
Louder and louder, you’re gonna’ hear {our} praises roar

Whatever you’re walking through in this moment, are you willing to raise your hallelujah? Even a shaky one?
The choir needs YOUR voice!!!


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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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Esther Day 13 A Story For The Ages

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 8:3-9:22   
Psalm 30:1-12
Romans 5:6-11
Revelation 7:9-17
Matthew 28:19-20

Esther, Day 13

If you were writing a story and handpicking your hero, you might choose someone strong, smart, handsome, and brave.  I am guessing you probably wouldn’t go with a teenage orphan girl living with her uncle as refugees in a foreign land.
Only God, the master Story writer, would do that!

And only God would ordain to use a massive plot twist where the girl is unwillingly entered into a beauty contest, wins, and is then crowned Queen for His glory.  Adding to the suspense, an evil palace official plots to annihilate the girl’s entire race, and successfully wins the king’s approval of his plan.

In this action-packed thriller, we anxiously turn the pages, eager to know if the girl will risk her life and go before the king. Will he extend his golden scepter, giving her the chance to expose the villain and save her nation?
Or will he order her instant execution?
The fate of millions lies in the balance.

If you have been following our Journey Study through Esther, you’ve watched this young teenager overcome fear and step up to daunting challenges.  She has wisely listened to Uncle Mordecai and humbly accepted God’s sovereign rule in her life. We sigh with relief as King Xerxes welcomes Esther into his throne room and celebrate as wicked Haman was removed from power, permanently.

But there’s no “happily ever after” here…
An irreversible royal edict had been issued, thanks to Haman, declaring the destruction of Jews everywhere.

In Esther 8, our heroine risks her life again, going before the king to beg a new decree be issued to counteract Haman’s orders. Xerxes graciously extends his scepter, allowing Esther to compose a new decree hereby giving Jews the freedom to defend their lives.

Just as Haman’s original edict was written in the “scripts and languages” in every province, so too was Esther’s NEW decree.

Just as Haman’s letter had been sealed with the king’s signet ring and swiftly dispatched to the entire empire, so too was the NEW decree.

Just as the king’s highest officers from India to Ethiopia all received word of Haman’s law, so now they were handed the NEW decree.

What Haman intended for evil, God would use for grand redemption!

When Haman’s decree was issued, “the city of Susa fell into confusion.”  (Esther 3:15)
Redemptively, Esther’s decree was celebrated, “And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree.  The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere.”  (Esther 8:15-16)

Now, rather than deliberate genocide, the Jews are permitted self-defense!!!
In place of death, life!  Despair is replaced with hope!

 “I will exalt you, Lord, for You rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me…
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.”
(Psalm 30:1, 11)

The day of attack arrives, and both decrees are put into effect, “the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened.
It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies.” (Esther 9:1)

 VICTORY!
The Jews “celebrated their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.”

I’ve known about Esther since girlhood.
Our fourth daughter even has the middle name Esther.
While I thought I understood her story, it wasn’t until I prepared to write this Journey Study I began realizing the scope of God’s ETERNAL plan.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is at work, masterfully arranging every piece, telling His ULTIMATE story.

As I studied, I discovered how pieces of Esther’s story connect to Jesus’ birth, the Great Commission, and our own final VICTORIOUS REDEMPTION!

Esther’s decree was written in EVERY language for ALL people.
In the same way, the angels’ triumphant tidings to the shepherds the night Jesus was born proclaimed, “I bring you good news of great joy to ALL people!”
Their message, and the Messiah, were for EVERYONE and ALL.

So too, Jesus’ final words encompass ALL people as He sends His disciples to EVERYONE, “go and make disciples of ALL nations.”

Finally, in Revelation, John describes the scene of our very great redemption, our final victory, “After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY nation, from ALL tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” 

Salvation is for EVERYONE.
Regardless of age, race, gender, social-economic status, or academic degree,
YOU are loved by God and invited into His salvation.

Haman’s decree was one of death.
Likewise, we have an enemy plotting our destruction. Because of our sin, we’ve already earned death.
BUT hope is NOT lost!

While Esther risked her life for her people and issued an edict countering Haman’s wickedness, Jesus surrendered His life for ours, taking our death for us.
With His resurrection on Easter morning, death was forever defeated.
Now, we ALL have access to LIFE!

The KING has extended His scepter, eagerly waiting for your response!
What will you choose?

If you’ve already chosen life, another challenge awaits.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul shares a profound truth about believers, “you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God..”

Esther acted with urgency to save her people, so WE must have an urgency about us.
EVERYone EVERYwhere needs to hear about Life offered in place of Death.
We are those message carriers to ALL!

If He can use a refugee orphan girl, make her Queen, and use her to save an entire people group, I am POSITIVE He can use YOU to share the gospel with your neighbor, co-worker, estranged aunt, child’s teacher, or the barista at your favorite coffee shop.

“And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?!”

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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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Open Day 10 Gaius Who?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

3 John 1:1-15
Isaiah 58:6-12
Matthew 25:31-40
Luke 14:12-14
1 Peter 4:7-11

Open, Day 10

As I type, the Men’s Final Four has been set.  I am an avid sports fan, and especially love watching college basketball.  Even so, I have absolutely NO idea who won the NCAA Championship last year. Or the year before that.

As I thought about how easily we forget (or didn’t even know) the winners of major sporting events, I wondered how many would know even ONE thing about the man highlighted in today’s Journey Study.

Confession: I attended private Christian school from kindergarten to 12th grade, then graduated from a private Christian university.  I have been going to church since before I was born, and still I had to look up who Gaius was.

I hoped I wasn’t the only one drawing a blank, so I did an official Facebook poll to see who would know him.  Of my friends who responded, most suggested he was a character on a TV show or a historical Roman figure.  Those few who made a Biblical reference only VAGUELY knew about some guy Paul wrote about in one of his letters.

At first, I felt bad for poor Gaius.
He lived his life boldly for Jesus, made sacrifices, faced persecution, and endured hardships of many kinds.  He traveled with Paul (Acts 19:29; 20:4), hosted home gatherings (Romans 16:23), and welcomed traveling teachers into his home (3 John 1:1-8). He was a dear friend of the apostle John and was actually the recipient of John’s 3rd letter. In it, we discover Gaius was well respected, regarded as a faithful follower of God, and known for his deep love and genuine kindness.  Yet, here we are today, barely knowing he even existed, let alone recognize his major contributions to the early church.

In a society where we tend to live for recognition, the idea of not being known, or remembered, seems frightening. We spend our days doing all we can to make a name for ourselves, to leave a lasting legacy, ensuring that generations to come will know us.  Heaven forbid we end up forgotten like Gaius.

Recently, I heard a Casting Crowns song called ONLY JESUS. Rather than striving to win trophies and leave a mark the world remembers, the band sings of embracing a much different approach.  They suggest a more selfless mindset, “I don’t care if they remember me…Only Jesus.”

I think Gaius must have had this perspective, thousands of years before Casting Crowns wrote a song about it.

You might have heard the verse, “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”  I actually have this Scripture hung in our house and pray for my girls to live for Jesus as I pass by the sign, but I had no idea John was writing these words in reference to our man Gaius!!!

In his letter to Gaius, John commends his friend for faithfully serving those who are spreading the gospel message.  Gaius doesn’t personally know these people, but because they are fellow believers and administers of the gospel, he opens his home to them.  These men have reported back to John about Gaius’ hospitality, and John is delighted to hear how ‘one of his children is walking in the truth’.

Perhaps Gaius understood firsthand how incredible a homemade meal and warm bed felt after a long day of preaching in an unfamiliar city.  In Acts 19:29, we read how Gaius was one of Paul’s traveling companions.  In the following chapters, we see how Paul and his crew had quite the trip traveling from one city to the next and sometimes back again sharing the Good News.  As they traveled, Gaius heard Paul compel other believers to support those who were making sacrifices to spread the gospel.

Gaius took those words to heart.
Having been welcomed into strangers’ homes as he traveled with Paul, Gaius later opened his door to strangers as they worked to make Jesus known.

Gaius didn’t just know the truth.
He walked in it.

What about us?

We have heard the verses about loving your neighbor, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, caring for the orphans and widows.

We KNOW the importance of hospitality, but are we living hospitably?!

When new neighbors move in, do we take them cookies?

When a family at church has a baby, do we bring them diapers?

When we get an email about hosting an international student for Thanksgiving,
do we set an extra plate at the table?

When we see a post on Facebook about the need for foster families, do we go to the informational meeting?

When we are handed a flyer about a women’s clinic and the opportunity to host a teen mom, do we put fresh sheets on the bed in the guest room?

When a co-worker has surgery, do we drop by with flowers?

When our kids are playing at the park, do we set our phone down and chat with moms?

Big or small, our hospitality probably won’t win us any medals or make us famous.
Books won’t be written and movies won’t be made featuring our willingness to be open. Like Gaius, people will most likely forget (or never even know) the sacrifices we make, the gifts we give, or the time and money we spend loving others.

And that’s okay.
Recognition is NOT the goal of living hospitably.

May we sing along with Casting Crowns, “I don’t care if they remember me…Only Jesus.”

May we live like Gaius, knowing that as we open our doors,
God’s love will spread and His kingdom will grow.

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