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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless

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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless

Christine Wood

March 28, 2025

Adoring,Anchored,Constant,Daughter,Faith,Identity,Praise,Prayer

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3
Psalm 9
Psalm 34
John 11:25–26

His Words Before Mine
Psalm 9
I will thank the Lord with all my heart; 
I will declare all Your wondrous works. 
I will rejoice and boast about You; 
I will sing about Your name, Most High. […]

You are seated on your throne as a righteous judge. 

You have rebuked the nations: 
You have destroyed the wicked; 
You have erased their name forever and ever. […]

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; 
He has established His throne for judgment. 
And He judges the world with righteousness; 
He executes judgment on the nations with fairness. 

The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, 
a refuge in times of trouble. 

Those who know Your name trust in You 
because You have not abandoned 
those who seek You, Lord. 

Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; 
proclaim His deeds among the nations. […]

Be gracious to me, Lord; 
consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. 

Lift me up from the gates of death, 
so that I may declare all Your praises. 
I will rejoice in Your salvation
within the gates of Daughter Zion. […]

Higgaion. Selah

The wicked will return to Sheol— 
all the nations that forget God. 
For the needy will not always be forgotten; 
the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever. 

Selah

My Words Back To Him
Loving God,
What a joy to wake up and begin a new day wrapped in Your goodness!
Sunshine and hot coffee usher in my day, full of blessings from Your hand.

It wasn’t always this way.
I remember when anxiety and stress threatened to overpower joy,
when the busyness of my demanding life squeezed Your kind voice out of my consciousness. I remember when my to-do list and calendar ruled my time and heart, and the relationships most precious to me became merely an obligation, collecting the dregs of my exhausted self.

It is only by Your grace we made it.
When our table is surrounded by laughter and love, I know it is because of Your kindness.

I am so grateful.

In some places in the world right now the enemy is obvious; his minions use weapons and drop bombs, intimidate and imprison.
I see the images on my newsfeed, I hear the cries, and my heart breaks.

Save Your people, Lord. Raise Your mighty hand against the wicked, 
those who kill and destroy with pride and revenge, 
those who rule with fear, exploiting the weak and ignoring the cries of the powerless.
Hear the cry of the oppressed and bring justice in Your mighty name.

While some enemies are obvious, some enemies are subtle.
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, disguised as friends. (Matthew 7:15)
Attractive, engaging, popular and prolific, constantly calling me to veer off Your narrow path.

They are constantly asking, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1), gently cajoling me to conform.

Thorns grow high: the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth,
sucking the nutrients, stealing the sun, overcrowding the space in my mind and heart. (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

Oh, my soul, calm your heart and take captive your thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Lord, I invite You to be the gardener of my heart.
Pull out the weeds, fertilise the soil, pour out the nourishing rain of Your Spirit,
and grow in me a faith strong and true.
A faith that is resilient, fruitful, and sweet, with roots growing deep into the bedrock of Your holiness. (Jeremiah 17:8)

I won’t remain silent. I won’t hoard Your goodness to myself.
Oh my soul, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)
A bruised reed he will not break (Isaiah 42:3)
His faithfulness flows from generation to generation. (Psalm 119:90)
It won’t stop with me!

My God, still my anxious heart.
Engulf me with Your rest.
I declare You are my source, my Selah.

Confess, Lament, and Praise
My God, I confess there have been so many times when I ignored Your call to rest and have struggled on, feeling alone and frustrated, weighed down by worry, burdened by inadequacy, and overwhelmed by the gap between my capacity and the needs around me.

I sooth my weary soul with another glass of wine, another piece of chocolate, a bubble bath, a Netflix binge, and then I whine and complain about how tired I am, how hard I am trying, and how far away You feel.

When all the while, you are right here.

Emmanuel, God with us, (Matthew 1:23) longing for me to draw near. (James 4:8)
Near to my source of rest, of wisdom, and of peace, near to the still small voice, whispering words of love, near to immeasurable power.

Power to do more than I could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), power to heal and restore, power to bring light into darkness and life to the dead. (John 11:25–26)

The One who hears the cry of the oppressed (Psalm 9:18), the One who will judge the world with righteousness (Psalm 9:8), the One who fills the gap between my capacity and the needs around me.
The Lord, on His throne. (Psalm 9:7)

Jesus, forgive me, I pray.
I surrender my life to Your Lordship.
I offer my body, a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)

I invite You to search and cleanse my heart. (Psalm 139:23)
I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wondrous works.
I will rejoice and boast about You;
I will sing about Your name, Most High. (Psalm 9:1–2)

My Selah.

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Worship XIII, Day 5
Digging Deeper

Read a Psalm every day.

Music and gratitude lists are excellent tools for finding joy; however, The Psalms are on the top of my list.

A pastor once told me to read a psalm every day. That is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received and followed.
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Come Day 14 Come To Fellowship: Digging Deeper

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Come Day 14 Come To Fellowship: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

February 27, 2025

Adoption,Adoring,Daughter,Fullness,Need,Worship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Come To Fellowship"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

James 4:8-10

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How can we draw near to God and He draw near to us? (verse 8)

James urges his readers to “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (verse 8) Before Jesus brought salvation to the world (Romans 5:8), people didn’t have free, open access to God in this way. Priests and prophets brought the Word of God to the people and told them how to live a holy life (Exodus 33:7-11) Their nearness to God wasn’t dictated by whether they drew near to hear from Him; God spoke when He was ready to give instruction or warning.

But God designed us for full-access fellowship with Him and has been calling us into deeper relationship since the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:8-9) Joyce Meyer explains that “Jesus didn’t die so He could give us religion; He gave His life so we can have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God. We need to get comfortable with God . . . we should be confident that He loves us and that He wants to spend time with us.”

We were made to worship God, bring Him glory (1 Peter 2:9), and be conformed to His image through the work of His Spirit (Romans 8:29). All of these are accomplished when we draw near to God. When we read His Word and pray, we are actively drawing near to Him! When we still ourselves to listen to His voice, we are drawing near to God.

J. Alec Motyer suggests that nearness to God involves “regularity and discipline in Bible reading, prayer, private and public worship, feasting at the Lord’s Table, devoting ourselves to Christian fellowship, [and] cultivating every appointed avenue whereby we can draw near to him.” God draws near to us when He comforts us, instructs us, protects us, and empowers us.

Author Thomas Manton asserts that God is “Near to bless, to comfort, to give life, to guide, to support them. Let this encourage us to come to God—indeed, to run to him.” May we avail ourselves of the blessed privilege of unrestricted access to God for those who have entrusted their souls to Him through faith in Jesus!

The Everyday Application

1) How can we draw near to God and He draw near to us? (verse 8)

My father, a preacher, became a Christian when I was very young. He held various secular jobs back then, but he spent his free time in his study, reading and praying. I had a front row seat to his version of seminary. His Bible overflowed with notes and bookmarks and contained more hi-lights and underlined passages than not. If he wasn’t praying, he was reading books about prayer and the Christian life by E.M. Bounds, Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee, and J.I. Packer.

I cannot think of my dad in those days without remembering him bent over a book, scribbling on his legal pads, blasting Christian music or pacing the floor in prayer. I realize now that he was obeying the exhortation of James to “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) It was like, “When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us.” (Adam Clarke)

By saturating his heart and mind with the Word of God and prayer, my dad was drawing near to the Lord, and the Lord was drawing near to him. I witnessed God’s nearness to him through the fruit of the spirt (Galatians 5:22-23) in my Dad’s life and in the prayers I heard him utter, and saw answered, before my eyes.

It was foundational to my own faith to see my parents’ relationship with God lived out in such a simple yet profound way. Despite the trials we faced, I had daily evidence that a life lived near to God brought contentment and joy! (Psalm 16:11)

The Original Intent

2) Why are readers exhorted to be miserable, mourn, weep, and turn joy to gloom? (verse 9)

James gave his readers the odd instruction, “Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom”. (James 4:9) James was describing ways of humbling ourselves before God in repentance for our sins. “It was a recognized tenet in Jewish theology that self-inflicted punishment of any kind was a means of reconciliation.” (Precept Austin)

James suggested these actions demonstrate our dependence on God as our source of everything (Philippians 4:19) and exemplify repentance for our sins of pride and rebellion against God (Romans 8:7). These descriptions aren’t instructing us to be sad, weepy, and depressive, rather, our hearts are to stop celebrating our sin and start being broken over it. Unless we can recognize and grieve over our own sins against the Lord, we are not in a position where we can welcome the nearness of God; we are too full of pride, having no need for a Savior.

David Guzik explains, “As we draw near to God, we will be convicted of our sin. So, we lament and mourn and weep as appropriate under the conviction of sin, and we are compelled to find cleansing at the cross.” James wanted believers to be grieved by their sin against God. He wanted them to recognize the gravity of their transgressions, so he recommended taking drastic steps to demonstrate being sorrowful over sin.

Charles Spurgeon suggests that James wrote to “the man that feels his sin and hates it, that mourns that he should have rebelled against God, and desires to find mercy. Now, God will come to such, because there is purity in that heart.”

We can allow James’ exhortation to make us mindful of our own unrighteousness and our open accessibility to ask God for forgiveness and accept His mercy and grace because of Jesus’ payment for our sin at the cross. (Ephesians 2:8)

The Everyday Application

2) Why are readers exhorted to be miserable, mourn, weep, and turn joy to gloom? (verse 9)

At 18 years old, I drove with a friend to an out of town wedding. We stayed late talking to friends, and when we headed home, my friend took a different route, assuring me this way was better. Her shortcut actually took longer, and we eventually needed to stop for gas. I wanted to find a pay phone (no cell phones back then!) to call my parents, who were already expecting me home. She convinced me there was no need to call since we would be home soon.

When I finally arrived, my parents were frantic with worry. My joy from the evening with friends turned to sorrow and distress for the anxiety I caused my parents. I think of that incident when I read James’ admonishment to “Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom”. (James 4:9) When I realized that I had caused my parents anguish, my joy turned to gloom as I contemplated the mistakes I made.

James wanted those who sinned against God, which is all of us, to mourn over how displeasing their sinful actions were to God. Dr. Edmond Hiebert asserts that James made “an urgent demand for open and thorough repentance. The intensity of the demand is startling, intended to shake these double-minded believers.”

We live in a sinful world, and it is easy for Christians to become inured to cultural norms that are not pleasing to the Lord. We must be vigilant to remember that, as Christ-followers, we are not of the world (John 15:19) and we must be watchful not to let sin creep into our lifestyles (1 Corinthians 16:13). Thankfully, we have a God who knows what we are going through and provides grace to help us. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

The Original Intent

3) Why does God exalt the humble? (verse 10)

James exhorted his readers to “humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you”. (James 4:10) James understood that the Lord loves a humble and contrite heart. (Isaiah 66:2) After all, it was pride that brought down Lucifer (Satan) (Isaiah 14:12-15), and pride that caused Adam and Eve to sin. (Genesis 3:6)

In trying to exalt themselves to God’s level or above, they brought about their own downfall, which is a tragic story repeated all throughout Scripture. James taught that the way up to God is actually down through humility.

Andrew Murray declares, “Here is the path to the higher life: down, lower down! Just as water always seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds men abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless.”

Jesus demonstrated this humility by coming to earth as a humble servant, God in the flesh, to take all our guilt and shame upon Himself, though He had never sinned. (Philippians 2:7-8) Jesus humbled Himself by taking on our sins so he could present us blameless to His Father. (Colossians 1:22)

When we humble ourselves, we become more like Jesus, and He raises us up to bring others to Himself. (Matthew 5:16) When we humble ourselves before God, He exalts us by filling us with more of Him. (Ephesians 3:19)

The Everyday Application

3) Why does God exalt the humble? (verse 10)

I enjoy teaching the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to kids in Sunday school. Not only is it entertaining (it has money, pigs, sibling rivalry and a big party!), but kids can easily relate to its story.

All kids have arrogantly chosen their own way and later repented of their pride, longing for the forgiveness and reconciliation the father gives his wayward son. Every kid recognizes that the son didn’t deserve the kindness shown to him by his father when he humbled himself, asking for a servant’s position in his father’s household.

The actions of the father in the parable prove the words of Jesus’ disciple, James, who said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you”. (James 4:10) When the Prodigal Son humbled himself before his father, hoping to live as a servant in his home, his father instead rejoiced in his return with a giant party.

God exalts all who humble themselves in a similar way. According to author Andrew Murray, “Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is the first duty and the highest virtue of the creature, and the root of every virtue.”

God wants us to acknowledge our need for Him and stop trying to satisfy ourselves from our own resources. He promises that with Him as our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1) This includes our mental, physical, and spiritual needs. R.C.H. Lenski asserts, “Only an empty vessel can God fill with His gifts. And the emptier we are of anything that is due to ourselves, the more can God pour into these vessels His eternal riches, honors, and glories.”

When we decrease, God increases (John 3:30), and He exalts us by making us more like Him. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

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God’s rescue plan made Jesus our Savior for He, as God the Son, was the only One who could pay our ransom on the cross. After bearing all sin for all time through one death, Jesus’ resurrection broke the eternal power of sin and death. (Romans 6:10)

Thus, Jesus is our intermediary. 1 Corinthians 1:9 confirms God, Himself, calls us back to fellowship with Himself through His Son.
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Pause VIII, Day 8 A Collect On The Wildness Of God’s Grace

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Pause VIII ~ Day Eight

New To The Journey? Start Here!

His Words Before Ours

Ephesians 2:8-10
Numbers 6:22-27
John 1:14-18
Titus 2:11-13

The wildness of God’s grace.

Let the phrase sit with you for a moment.
Form its words with your mouth, and listen to their sound as you say them aloud.
Invite your imagination to the conversation; what does your mind’s eye see as you contemplate these words?

Earlier this year, my pastor coined this phrase in a sermon. The language arrested my attention in the moment; then, in the end-of-service bustle, it faded into the background.

But it didn’t stay there, and when I next sat down to write, it quickly beckoned my attention once more.

The wildness of God’s grace.

In faith communities, grace is often thought of as God’s unmerited favor. Scripture teaches us it’s an integral part of God’s character (Psalm 145:8), and foundational to our salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Yet, to be honest, I think I’ve made God’s grace pretty small and pretty safe.

Can you relate?

Sometimes, we believe God’s grace is only for people who look like us. Think like us. Sin like us.

And sometimes, we shrink His grace even more, believing He extends to us (or others) a dollop of grace buried under a truckload of disapproval.

A little grace, and a whole lot of disappointment.
A little grace, and a whole lot of qualifications and stipulations.
A little grace, and a whole lot of “only if you ________.”

Well, that’s not really grace at all, is it?

If we must fulfill a checklist to receive grace, it’s no longer unmerited.
Sisters in Christ, the way of the Creator of the universe is not small and safe.
The way of Jesus, the way of the cross, the way of an empty tomb is not small and safe.

Will you link arms with me, leaving behind small and safe, following Jesus into the wildness of God’s grace?

A Collect for the Wildness of God’s Grace
Gracious God,
whose boundless love for all people births a grace incomprehensible:
gentle our death-grips on the boundary markers we’ve staked around Your grace,
that we might abandon the safety of our judgements–against others and ourselves– and step into the wilds of an upside-down Gospel 
overflowing with grace for the soul-sick, the weary, the desperate,
through Jesus Christ, grace personified, amen.

Today’s Collect Components
Address: Gracious God,
Doctrine: whose boundless love for all people births a grace incomprehensible:
Petition: gentle our death-grips on the boundary markers we’ve staked around Your grace,
Aspiration: that we might abandon the safety of our judgements–against others and ourselves– and step into the wilds of an upside-down Gospel 
overflowing with grace for the soul-sick, the weary, the desperate,
Mediation: through Jesus Christ, grace personified, amen.

Meditate & Reflect

1) Today, we’re going to be very, very honest with ourselves. Begin by re-reading Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 2:11-13.

2) Grab your journal and write out your thoughts on the following questions:
• What role does God’s grace play in your salvation?
• What areas of your life have been redeemed by His grace?
• What areas are you keeping outside the reach of His wild grace?

3) Now check out Numbers 6:22-27, and journal your reflections on these questions:
• Why is it important for us to embrace and bless others with God’s grace?
• To whom is it easy for you to show His grace?
• To whom is it hard for you to show His grace?

4) Next, fill in the blank, as many times as necessary: I receive/show a little bit of grace and a truckload of __________________.

5) Finally, let’s spend some time in prayer. Bring your responses to the above prompts to God, thanking Him for the wild grace He’s shown you. Let’s ask Him to guide us courageously into wildness as we both receive and share His grace!

Worship

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Pause VIII Journey Theme

Sketched XII, Day 11 Foreigner To Native

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Sketched XII, Day 11 Foreigner To Native

Rebekah Hargraves

April 29, 2024

Accepted,Daughter,Gospel,Grace,Loss,Love,Salvation

Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 8:26-39
1 Peter 1:1-4
Philippians 3:18-21
Isaiah 53

I know what it feels like to not belong. 
I know what it feels like to be an exile away from home. 
I know what it is to be used. 
I know what it is to have nobody even know my name.

You see, I had always been known by my ethnicity, my condition, and my work description. 
I was never known by my own name, by my own identity, individually, apart from the crowd. No one knew that – not even me, it seemed. 

I was merely known as the Ethiopian eunuch, a court official for Queen Candace of Ethiopia. She had a name. But I sure didn’t. 

And yet, that is not my story any longer. I do have a name now: “Beloved Child of the Most High God.” For, you see, He sought me and found me.

I’ll never forget the day when everything changed. I had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to my place in Candace’s court. Taking a brief break from my travels, I was sitting in my chariot reading from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. Suddenly, I heard a voice say, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” (Acts 8:30)

I was so startled, wondering if I was hearing the voice of God Himself, for I had just been praying for help in understanding. I was reading these words from Isaiah but not understanding a single one; after all, I had no one to guide me.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when this unknown man suddenly appeared and seemed to read my mind! He was a messenger from heaven, I was sure of it.

I invited this heaven-sent man to come and sit with me. As I explained to him what I had been reading in Isaiah, I asked this man, who told me his name was Philip, about the suffering servant of whom I’d read. (Isaiah 53)

Instantly, my life changed forever, for Philip began telling me the good news of the God-Man named Jesus, our Savior. (John 3:16-17) I placed my faith and trust in this Messiah then and there. 

During our conversation, we had been journeying down the road a bit. Suddenly, we came upon some water and I asked Philip if anything would prevent me from now being baptized. He instantly commanded the chariot to stop. Next thing I knew, we were going down into the water and Philip was baptizing me. 

As if the day’s events weren’t astounding enough, suddenly Philip disappeared from sight! I wish I could have thanked him before he was transported away, but you can bet I praised the One Who ultimately met with me. I am still rejoicing over the best day of my life.

Since then, I have read the words of Peter, a follower and missionary of Jesus, who wrote of “chosen exiles” to whom the Lord has “[given] new birth into a living hope.” (1 Peter 1:1-4) How Peter’s words resonate with me! I was an exile, and I was certainly pursued and elected for salvation by my Lord and God. 

I was once a largely unknown eunuch serving a queen. 
Now I am a personally-known and loved child of God. 

I am still an exile today, for my true home is secured for me in Heaven, but I no longer ache with despair or loneliness over my exile. Nothing surpasses my new identity of being born again to a living hope, with my citizenship transferred to heaven. (Philippians 3:20) 

I will forever be grateful to my Savior for rescuing me, and to a man named Philip for showing me the way to Him.

Foreigner to Native
A cardboard testimony from the author…

I loved entering into the mind and heart of the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8:26-39. His story takes up but a portion of only one chapter of the whole Bible and we are never given his name, but his story resonated with me. 

I, too, know the painful feeling of not belonging. 

From the time I was 12 until I was 19, I experienced one cross-country move and countless church changes. For a roots person such as myself, and someone who hates to be the unknown “new girl,” this period was torture. I’ve been the unknown girl more times than I care to count, but as I have grown in my walk with the Lord, I have come to understand something: no matter how known or unknown I am on this earth, the God of the universe deeply and intimately knows me and loves me still! 

I have sat at the table of Hope and been forever changed. I have felt what it is like to sit with the Savior and bask in His love and care, personalized just for me.

If I were to hold up a cardboard testimony of the first decades of my life, it would say: “From unknown to seen and deeply cared for.”

The same can be true for you if you turn to the One Who made, knows, and loves you deeply.

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Sketched XII Day 12
Digging Deeper

My righteous servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.

Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive
the mighty as spoil,
because He willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels.

Yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
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The GT Weekend! ~ Melody, Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Melody, Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

December 30, 2023

Adoration,Daughter,Faith,Fear,Giving,God,Joy

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
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and worshiping the Creator who
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Pray His Words Back To Him!

John 15:18-20, 25

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.

However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

[…] But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: “They hated me for no reason.””
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, build in me a faith like Mary’s; like Elizabeth’s; like Miriam’s; like Anna’s. Pour Your strength and love into me until I am overflowing, so I may give it to those around me. Lord, my words fall short today. All I can do is give Your words back to You and wrap myself in the warmth of their love and promise.

“Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26) Lord, let the words that flow from my lips be of praise to You and for the good of those around me.

“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth” (1 John 3:18) God, please teach me how to reflect Your love through my daily living and not let my faith die within my words.   

“One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wondrous works.” (Psalm 145:4-5) Yahweh, write within me a praise song that sings of Your greatness to the generation after me, a melody of my own redemption story that glorifies Your love for each of us.

As always, Your words suffice where mine fall short. Hear my heart’s prayer, Lord, and let me become a stronger reflection of You just as the great women of the Bible exemplified.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE


As humans, we are inherently sinful (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10-18) Though we may desire to choose righteousness, we still find ourselves falling into pesky traps of sin as we are tempted by the way of sinful desires. (Romans 7:14-15)

One such trap is the lie we can be trusted to run our lives better than God. Control is a lucrative lie! It’s much easier to believe in something we can see with our own eyes rather than the unseen power of the Almighty, so we conjure a convincing illusion that we have control. The reality is, God created everything we can see and everything we cannot see. (Colossians 1:16) He IS life. (Colossians 3:4)

When we focus on the truth of His attributes, we more readily relinquish our façade of control with open hands of total surrender to His goodness. As we head into a new year, maybe you’d like to study the character of God with GT! “Character”, “He”, and “Kaleidoscope” are great options!

When we surrender our false sense of control to the God who calls us by name, we can expend our energy on praise while resting in the joyful life Christ offers.

When facing difficult seasons, we can find encouragement in the narratives of women who practiced regular praise. Consider Sarah, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Miriam to name a few!

Find solace with the Savior through His Word as you replace your sorrows with singing. Christ, who knew suffering would be our reality (John 15:18-25), promised us peace through His victory (John 16:33)!

JOURNAL TWO

On Wednesday, Carol highlighted several important lessons from Mary’s praise-song. (Luke 1:46-55) First, she provides a glimpse of the power of memorizing Scripture. In Mary’s song, she quoted God’s words back to Him, highlighting His sovereignty and never-ending love for His people.

Though Mary was young, the lyrics of her song indicated a childhood immersed in the teachings of God. Regardless of whether we grew up rooted in Scripture, we are presented with the opportunity to read a verse, a chapter, or even a book in the Bible every day. We are given the opportunity to join Mary’s song and pray God’s Word back to Him! (Matthew 4:1-11)

Second, Mary rejoices over her role in bringing about the fulfillment of God’s promises. We each have a role to play, even if it doesn’t look like Mary’s. Will we steward our opportunities with worship?

Third, in death we also find life and Jesus’ death and resurrection ensured that eternal life would be available to each of us if we choose to place our faith on Jesus as the Son of God. Fourth, our heart posture can either bring us closer to God as it did for Mary when she humbly submitted to His will, or it can blind us to who God really is as it did for the Pharisees. (John 8:1-11)

In the end, our heart posture is what God cares about most, so we must be vigilant in centering our hearts on Jesus every single day. (Proverbs 23:26)

JOURNAL THREE

When we consider Mary’s story, it can be easy to overlook the practicalities of her daily life in the beginning. In Mary’s culture, virginity at the time of marriage was the expectation, so Mary and her husband would have endured much ridicule and contempt from a society who likely struggled to believe her story of an immaculate conception.

This illustrates the importance of having a faith community when we face difficult seasons.

We read of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth in the first months of her own pregnancy and last months of Elizabeth’s, a visit that strengthened both women and filled them with encouragement for the battles ahead. Additionally, as we see throughout the Bible, God chooses to raise the lowly and meek so none may boast apart from Him (1 Corinthians 1:26-30), but how loving He must be to have chosen two faithful cousins who could walk their difficult paths together!

We also witness how our own obedience brings blessings to others. In this case, Mary’s obedience offered Elizabeth and her unborn child the opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit, a rare blessing prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection!

Mary showed us the power in humbling ourselves to the point of surrendered obedience just as her Son would do even unto his death upon the cross. (Mark 14:32-42) In her faith, she found the words to her song of praise, leaving behind an example of humble worship for generations to come who would write their own songs of praise.
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Melody Day 15 Mary’s Praise; Our Song

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Melody Day 15 Mary’s Praise; Our Song

Brenda Earley

December 29, 2023

Birth,Courage,Daughter,Faith,Faithfulness,Lord,Together,Waiting,Women,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:50-56
Psalm 28:6-9
Psalm 107:21-22
Micah 7:14-20

When we encounter the presence of God, we are filled with newness of joy, peace, and strength. 

Can you imagine being a young, ordinary girl who is visited by an angel, and told, “You will be the mother of the Messiah?” Wait, what?!?  Let’s take a small step into the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the long-awaited Son of God. 

Mary felt confused, overwhelmed, and utterly shocked, don’t you think? 

“Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?’”
(Luke 1:34) 

But in the midst of her ordinary, everyday life, she was humbled to obey, sacrificing public perception of her character and integrity to bear the Savior of the World. (Luke 1:31-38)

God often chooses the seemingly insignificant “unknowns” of this world through which to make Himself known. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) 

Soon after her startling angelic visit, Mary left her hometown of Nazareth, and journeyed to her cousin Elizabeth’s safe dwelling. This visit would soon change their hearts, and renew their minds for the coming days and months. (Luke 1:39)

Upon Mary’s arrival, the baby inside Elizabeth’s womb “leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:41) Elizabeth was overcome by the Holy Spirit’s presence. Joy filled her womb and her heart!

Exuberantly, Elizabeth greeted Mary, offered a holy affirmation, and blessed her young cousin! This was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promises to their ancestors long ago. 

Mary’s heartfelt response begins with her “praise song” and magnifies her Lord. Have you ever been so overcome by joy, lifting a “praise song” to Abba Father? Me! Me! I have!

He provided food when I did not have the means to support my children. He safely sheltered me and my littles under His wings when egg shells were all I heard under my feet. He wrapped me and my children in His love when we experienced no love. You see, sister friends, I was in an abusive situation, but God miraculously sustained me and offered peace to my body, soul, and spirit. He filled my heart with a song of thankfulness, my song of praise! 

Mary’s song was a melody of what God had done or finalized for her and her people. She was singing His praises and applauding Him for His wondrous works. Let’s take a closer look at God’s “actions” as described in her melody. 

  • Has scattered/Has toppled (Luke 1:51-52; Psalm 107:39-42) There is no place for self-righteous pride in God’s children; instead, God works through the humble. He caused a lowly, ordinary girl to be the mother of His Son. She, in turn, humbled herself to her Lord, “May it happen to me as You have said.” (Luke 1:38)
  • Has satisfied (Luke 1:53; Psalms 107:9) God helps those in need physically and He satisfies those who hunger for their Savior, filling them with good things. As Jesus explained to the woman at the well, He will be living water to those who are thirsty, refreshing souls and reviving spirits. (John 4:1-26) Check out this song, “Honey in the Rock.” Maybe it will bring praise to your lips or at least some “swing in your step”!
  • Has helped/promised (Luke 1:54-55) (Truthfully, this action is the best, in my opinion) God remembered and confirmed His covenant to Abraham through Mary’s unborn child. (Genesis 15) What God has spoken in covenant, He will fulfill in covenant! (Isaiah 63:11-13; Deuteronomy 7:9) Go ahead, praise… dance! 

So how can we create our own melodies of praise?

  1. We should know We do this by becoming saturated with His Word. Read, read, and then, read! We need to fill our minds and hearts so full of His promises, we know and obey Him readily! (Psalm 119:7-8; Hebrews 11:6)
  2. We should believe Like Mary’s ancestors of old, we should trust and believe God will keep His promises. God will do what He says! (Psalms 44:1-3; Proverbs 3:5-6)
  3. We should surrender to Him. Humility begins with surrender. Surrender brings obedience. When Mary embraced humility, surrender, and obedience, the fruit of her sacrifice was made evident by the fulfillment of Messiah’s birth. (James 4:7)

Mary knew her Lord and trusted in her God to fulfill His word. She understood Jehovah Jireh would provide for now, for tomorrow, and forever. This melodious legacy had been passed down from her family, and now would be fulfilled in her. Just like King David, her ancestor, she would offer a praise of thanksgiving and honor her Father God for all He had done for her and would do for generations to come. (Psalm 25:1-10)

But wait, the story does not end there. Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. Perhaps she pondered all that was happening to her or maybe she basked in the Son to continue her praise. Pause, and calmly think on that!?

Then she returned home. She turned her attention back to the now, to fulfill her tomorrow and the next generation’s future. Mary was full of joy and praise and continued her journey with a renewed, changed direction, and so should we. Will you join me? 

So, friends, why not lift His Name high, remind Him of all His wondrous works, exalt Him for Who He is, and sing:

“This is my story, This is my song. 
Praising my Savior all the day long.”
(“Blessed Assurance”, Fanny Crosby)

For this is our song of praise; it’s our melody! 

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Melody, Day 15
Digging Deeper

The depth of this shared relationship as the crown jewel of God Almighty’s desire is astounding!

He wants us so we can know and enjoy Him! Such beauty!

“They will be My people, and I will be their God.” (Jeremiah 32:38)

“You will be My own possession […]”. (Exodus 19:5)

“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9)
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Melody Day 5 Anna’s Life Song: Digging Deeper

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Melody Day 5 Anna’s Life Song: Digging Deeper

Rebecca Adams

December 15, 2023

Adoration,Daughter,Faith,Holy Spirit,Hope,Identity,Lord,Peace,Testify,Worship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Anna's Life Song"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 52:1-12

“Wake up, wake up; put on your strength, Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean will no longer enter you. 2 Stand up, shake the dust off yourself! Take your seat, Jerusalem. Remove the bonds from your neck, captive Daughter Zion.” 3 For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and you will be redeemed without silver.” 4 For this is what the Lord God says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to reside there, then Assyria oppressed them without cause. 5 So now what have I here”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “that my people are taken away for nothing? Its rulers wail”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “and my name is continually blasphemed all day long. 6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore they will know on that day that I am he who says, ‘Here I am.’”

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 The voices of your watchmen— they lift up their voices, shouting for joy together; for every eye will see when the Lord returns to Zion. 9 Be joyful, rejoice together, you ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has displayed his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

11 Leave, leave, go out from there! Do not touch anything unclean; go out from her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord. 12 For you will not leave in a hurry, and you will not have to take flight; because the Lord is going before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How would this prophecy have been received by the first audience? (verses 1-6)

The first hearers of Isaiah’s prophetic words were in love with their rebellion and sinful ways. The Lord was in the midst of a several hundred year warning call to His people, which He gave through His chosen prophets like Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Nahum who prophesied around the same time.

At the close of Isaiah’s life, it would still be roughly another 100 years before Israel would fall. Then, Israel would be carried off into exile to Babylon for their many rebellious sins against the Lord, specifically all the ways they had lived out worship for anything and everyone except the One True God.

The destruction of Jerusalem would be unlike anything the Israelites had seen or imagined since becoming a nation. It would be so horrific that death would line the streets and every aspect of their way of life and religion would be destroyed. (Ezekiel 33:27-29) The idea of a return as a nation would seem utterly impossible.

But God is a redeeming God, and even a hundred years before their captivity would begin, God was giving His people not only the opportunity to repent and change their ways, but also telling them of His rich mercy despite their just punishment.

That was the scene, but how were Isaiah’s words received? Not Well.

Israel loved her sin far more than she loved her God, and Isaiah’s prophecy of doom and exile were hated. False prophets rose up to contradict Isaiah, claiming God wasn’t coming in judgement. (Jeremiah 23:16, Ezekiel 13:4-8) Eventually, King Manasseh sought to put an end to the distasteful words of the prophet; tradition says he gave orders to saw Isaiah in half. (gotquestions.org, Hebrews 11:37)

The Everyday Application

1) How would this prophecy have been received by the first audience? (verses 1-6)

Ancient Israel’s doom and gloom are hundreds of years removed from us in the 21st century. Why do we care about an exile that will never affect us? Because we are living in our own exile right now.

Believer’s live in a world not made for us; we were remade to live with Him in glory. Peter, Jesus’ disciple and one of His closest friends, wrote to believers after the resurrected Jesus had returned to Heaven, “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.” (1 Peter 1:1-2, 1 Peter 2:11-12)

The Lord’s urgent message to repent of sin and turn back to Him hasn’t changed, regardless of our timeline in history, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15)

We love our sin and rebellion just as much as ancient Israel, and the Lord warns us that judgement comes for us as well. The prophecy in Isaiah 52:1-6 was meant to give great reassurance to Israel for, despite the punishment coming, restoration would also come. Isaiah urged them to “Wake up!” and “Put on your beautiful garments” in preparation of returning to Jerusalem after exile. (verse 1)

God knew He would bring Israel home even though it looked hopeless. (verse 2) He knew He would send His Son to be the Savior of the world to a small, forgotten town in the hill country of Judea. (verse 6, Micah 5:2) He knew He would again send the Son to judge the world and bring all who trust in Him for rescue from sin to their eternal Home to live with God forever. (John 5:25-29, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Anna, the prophetess in Luke 2:36-38, knew God’s Word and trusted Him to follow through on it in His time and in His way. She was ready for it, she expected it, and when it came, she did her part to proclaim what she knew was true. Will we do the same?

The Original Intent

2) How does Anna’s role at the temple fulfill part of this prophecy? (verses 7-10)

Isaiah’s prophetic words spoke of a day when Israel’s freedom from exile would be declared and how wonderful that day would be; Israel would be forgiven and provided with a new opportunity to live as God’s set apart nation. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (verse 7)

This display of God restoring Israel would not be a quiet thing done in a corner, “for every eye will see when the Lord returns to Zion.” (verse 8) Restoration was a story meant to be told.

Isaiah’s first audience wouldn’t have caught the nuances in God’s carefully worded prophecy, but we can dig deeper and see beyond Israel’s homecoming to our own. Yes, it was absolutely amazing that God would restore Israel, but even grander was His authoritative victory over sin and death in humanity. With Christ’s death on our behalf to pay the insurmountable debt we owed because of our sin, and then His subsequent resurrection from the dead, He redeemed us from death and provided us with access to dwell with God Himself. “Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Isaiah’s words “every eye will see” point forward to lyrics Pastor Paul picks up in his letter to the Philippian church as he describes the Lordship and victory of redemption Christ’s death and resurrection won for all who trust Him as their personal Savior, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

Christ’s death and resurrection declared Him eternal victor over sin and death, and one day, He will return with trumpet blasts, the voice of the archangel, and His own shout of victory to call His beloved ones Home to a dwelling place where sin has no say ever again. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The Everyday Application

2) How does Anna’s role at the temple fulfill part of this prophecy? (verses 7-10)

Eighty-four year old widow, Anna the prophetess, had made worship the anthem of her life. In her culture, widowhood was absolutely devastating. In a patriarchal society, few women could earn a living doing respectable work.

Wouldn’t you like to read Anna’s autobiography?! I would love to hear her own words describe her lowest of lows only to find that, somewhere along the way, God became her everything despite her great loss. While we don’t know much of Anna’s story, we know she used her life for praise and declaration of God’s good work. Scripture records that at the “very moment” she witnessed Simeon prophesying over eight-day-old Jesus (Luke 2:25-35), “she came up” up to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and immediately “began to thank God and to speak about Him…”. (Luke 2:38)

It would appear to any onlooker, and even close friend or family member, that Anna’s life was in ruins. No husband, no means of income, and seemingly no intention to remarry, but Anna’s life sang of a truth Isaiah had proclaimed hundreds of years prior, “Be joyful, rejoice together, you ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.” (verse 9)

The Lord brought Israel home. The Lord comforted Anna in her loss and gave her new purpose through worship and ministry. And despite the ruins of sin in our lives, God sends us a Redeemer, His own Son.

How our voice should join the prophet’s and Anna’s! The Son has truly set us free (John 8:36), let’s make it known on mountains, in grocery stores, when we send a text, and as we talk with our children.

The Lord is our comfort! The Lord is our redeemer! The Lord has brought us salvation, rescuing us from the destruction of sin and the eternal death we deserve!

The Original Intent

3) Verses 11-12 seem random; how are they meant to be understood? (verses 11-12)

Have you ever wished for a direct roadmap for life from God? What to do at which juncture, what to say, and when? The book of Isaiah was like that for the people of Israel.

Remember, at the time they first heard this prophecy, coming judgment sounded ridiculous to them. They were getting along “just fine” in their sin without much consequence on the largescale as a nation, if you didn’t count the pesky, annoying voice of a prophet always speaking “gloom and doom”. Still, Isaiah obediently continued giving God’s roadmap of not only what to expect, but also how to respond when it happened.

Destruction for Israel would come as punishment for their arrogance and insistence on worshiping what was not God. Israel would be carried off to Babylon for roughly 70 years, but God, in His vast mercy and kind love, would free them. There would come a day when punishment would end, and freedom was announced. (Isaiah 40: 1-2)

On that day, the Lord, through Isaiah, instructed, “Leave, leave, go out from there!” (verse 11) Leave the old behind. Get out and go Home! (Isaiah 48:20, Jeremiah 50:8) Don’t become enamored with the false idol worship of Babylon; leave all those practices behind. (verse 11) Purify yourselves as a nation and return to the Lord your God with cleanness ready to enjoy the rich “second chance” to honor God as King and Lord of all.

The Everyday Application

3) Verses 11-12 seem random; how are they meant to be understood? (verses 11-12)

Verse 12 was meant to be a familiar “call back” to Israel’s family history, reminding them of the Great Exodus from slavery when the Hebrew people weren’t even an established nation yet. At the time God freed them from slavery in Egypt, there was a sense of extreme “hurry and flee!”. The Egyptians were pressing the Hebrews to leave because their land and their people were in ruins from the Ten Plagues. (Exodus 12:33)

In Babylon, however, no one was pressing them to leave. The allure of staying in the very city they had been taken exile would be enticing, and God wanted His people to be aware of its enticement and choose to leave. As additional encouragement to leave, the prophet says, “The Lord is going before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.” (verse 12)

During the first Exodus, God had gone before the Hebrews (Deuteronomy 31:8) and guarded them from behind by burying the oncoming Egyptians in the Sea. (see Miriam’s Refrain!) The Lord promised to be faithful to His people in the future just as He had been in the past, guarding them and leading them in the same way.

Isaiah’s prophecy applies so closely to our own narrative today in the 21st century, it’s absolutely astonishing. All who have trusted Christ Jesus for His total forgiveness and entered a relationship with Him, are now living in exile, much like Babylon. Our world, with its cultural pressure to conform to its standards and chase after its allures, is strong and powerful.

We are called to keep our eyes focused on the eternal glory of going Home to Glory. We are to reject the magnetic pull of sin and remember the Lord is our Faithful Guide. He goes before us to lead us, stands behind us to guard us, and will faithfully bring us out of exile just as He has faithfully led His people all through history.

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Melody, Day 5
Journey Study

When we meet Anna, she is eighty-four years old. The Bible tells us that Anna was married for seven years before her husband died. <br.
It was normal for women to be married young in that culture, so it is likely Anna had been widowed in her twenties.

Yet, rather than finding a new husband to support and care for her, Anna dedicated her life to worship in the temple of God, allowing God to be her Shelter. (Psalm 3:3-6)
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Melody Day 1 Song In The Silence

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Melody Day 1 Song In The Silence

Lesley Crawford

December 11, 2023

Beauty,Blessed,Daughter,Future,Glory,God,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 29:10-13
Luke 10:38-42
John 4:1-42
John 20:11-18

“Why are all the stories about men?”

The question came from a ten-year-old girl. I often have the opportunity to go into schools and teach children the story of the Bible as part of the religious education curriculum here in Scotland. For many, this is their first opportunity to explore the Bible.

So far, we had only covered the book of Genesis, and I could see her point. Of course we’d talked about Eve, but her part in the story wasn’t exactly heroic. Much of the narrative had seen men take the leading roles, such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

I assured the girl that as we continued journeying through the Bible there would be plenty of stories about women, but I think her perception is one many share. It’s the idea that men are the focus of the Bible while women’s roles are less significant.

It was certainly the prevailing view in culture at the time when Jesus lived on earth. Men were called to work, to lead, and to influence, whereas women’s primary role was in the home, bearing and raising children.

In his article, “Jesus and the Role of Women”, William Varner outlines some of the social norms at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Another excellent resource on correctly understanding women’s importance from Jesus’ perspective, is “Women Through The Eyes of Jesus” by Rebecca McLaughlin. It’s important to note that many cultural norms were based on rabbinical writings such as the Mishna and the Talmud rather than Scripture itself. For example, women were not publicly taught the Torah in Jesus’ day, despite the fact that in the Torah itself, Moses deliberately gathered all the people, including women and children, as he renewed the Israelites’ covenant with God on entry to the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 29:10-13)

In first century Jewish culture, many women were illiterate, were not allowed to testify in court, and were only permitted to enter the Temple as far as the women’s court. Their power was limited, their access to education was minimal, and even their ability to draw close to God was restricted. For the most part, women didn’t have a voice.

Yet, Jesus chose to enter this culture, to challenge it and turn it on its head. 

There are many examples of Jesus honouring women, valuing them, giving them a voice, and using them to play a significant part in spreading the Gospel.

In a culture where women were uneducated, Jesus allowed Mary to sit at His feet and to listen to His teaching, a privilege which, at that time, was normally only granted to the men. And He praised her for making “the right choice” insisting it would “not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) He also engaged in deep theological conversation with a Samaritan woman He met by a well, much to the surprise of His disciples. (John 4:1-30)

In a culture where women were not valued, Jesus consistently treated them with respect and honour. He allowed a woman, considered unclean through years of bleeding, to touch him. He healed her, and He honoured her for her faith, identifying her as “Daughter.” (Mark 5:25-34)

When a woman anointed Him with perfume, He defended her against her critics. He praised her for her act of love and assured her that her deed would not be forgotten, “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9)

In a culture where women were not normally allowed to testify and their words were discounted, the testimony of the Samaritan woman by the well led many others to follow Jesus. (John 4:39-42)

He even selected a woman to be the first witness of one of the most momentous events in history, His resurrection. Mary Magdalene had the amazing privilege of being the first to meet the risen Jesus and the first to share the incredible truth of His resurrection with others. (John 20:11-18)

I could go on and on with this list, but I think I’ve made the point. Jesus consistently elevated women and gave them significance.

In this Journey Theme we will be studying the songs of four women whose identity and purpose were grounded in worship, and who used their voices to point ahead to the coming of Jesus and what He would accomplish.

As we study the songs of Miriam, Anna, Elizabeth, and Mary, may it encourage each of us to consider how God wants to use us. Each of us is also valued by God and has a significant part to play.

How can we use our voices to point to the Christ who was born in a manger, who is born today in each of us who trust and follow Him, and who will one day come again as the conquering King?

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Melody, Day 2
Digging Deeper

While men and women may have different roles in God’s Kingdom, that doesn’t indicate that one is more or less important than another.

God’s love and plans for men and women are equal, even if they don’t always look the same.
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She Day 15 A She For The Kingdom

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She Day 15 A She For The Kingdom

Marietta Taylor

November 17, 2023

Courage,Daughter,Encourage,Equipped,Faith,Humility,Identity,Kingdom,Legacy

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 1:15-21
Luke 8:1-3
Acts 16:11-15
Jeremiah 31

“Why have you done this and let the boys live?”
(Exodus 1:18)

How dare the midwives, Puah and Shiphrah, defy Pharaoh’s command and not kill the Hebrew babies when they delivered them! Didn’t they realize he was king and therefore must operate in complete obedience to him? Had they no fear of the repercussions of their disobedience?

While they acknowledged Pharaoh as ruler, they submitted to one higher than him. God was their ultimate king. It was Him they honored, refusing to allow these babies’ blood to cry out to the Lord from the ground as Abel’s had done centuries earlier. (Genesis 4:1-16) They operated with the wisdom found in Job 28:28 “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom.”  Instead of bowing to tyranny, they embraced courage and strength to show God as The One and Only God.

Had they been in modern times, Matthew 10:28 might have guided them, “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Did Pharaoh punish them? Amazingly, he did not. Instead, their loving Father in heaven rewarded them. Not only did He prevent punishment, “Since the midwives feared God, He gave them families.” (Exodus 1:21)

God also blessed His beloved people by making them multiply and become numerous, (Exodus 1:20) in direct opposition to Pharaoh’s desire.
God loved His people and used the obedience of Shiphrah and Puah to put it on display.

Why is Jesus consorting with these women, who were once filled with evil spirits and sicknesses? (Luke 8:1-3)

Having women with “tainted” pasts in His close circle broke all social norms and Jewish tradition.

Can you imagine the looks and whispers?

Despite social norms, traditions, and opinions of others, these women provided tangible support for Jesus’ ministry. (Luke 8:3)

Joanna’s husband, Chuza, managed Herod’s estate; the same Herod who beheaded John the Baptist. (Mark 6:14) Joanna’s allegiance lay not with the Romans who ruled Israel on earth, but with the God who claimed Israel as His people and served as their True King. (Jeremiah 31:1) As she worshiped Yahweh, so she now worshiped Jesus, God in the flesh.

Despite Joanna’s connection with those who hated Jesus, her worship didn’t go unnoticed by the God who loved her first. (1 John 4:19) He gave her co-workers in ministry so she was not alone. And He rewarded her with the sweetest of privileges…

On Resurrection morning, the women went to Jesus’ tomb to prepare His body, but “…found
the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:2-3)

And then…

 “…suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes”, proclaiming, “He is not here, but He has risen!”

“Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest.  Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.”

 It makes my heart leap to think, these women, whom society had shunned and discarded, saw angels and were the first witnesses to the empty tomb, the evidence of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Bless the Lord!

He sees the broken and unwanted and calls them His own, using them for His glory and the good of His kingdom while lavishly demonstrating His love and care for them. What a God we serve!

“If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.”
(Acts 16:15)  

Lydia’s resume would read like this: God-fearing woman from Thyatira working in a male dominated industry selling luxury (purple) cloth. First female convert to Christianity. Baptized by Paul. (Acts 16:11-15) Home is a church and work base for Paul’s ministry in Asia. (Acts 16:40)

Lydia had no official leadership titles.
But she didn’t need them.
She was a God-fearing believer. Her capacity and willingness to lead and serve was born not from desire for accolades but from her love for and willingness to follow and obey God.

We’re never told specific “rewards” for Lydia. However, based on watching her in Scripture, I believe the Lord may have rewarded her with success in a mostly male industry alongside the abundantly satisfying joy of simply serving the God she had come to know and love by serving the Church.

Sister in the faith, Co-laborer for Christ, Ministry Partner and most importantly, Friend and Encourager

This description fits, none other than the President of Gracefully Truthful (GT), Rebecca Adams. She’s a homeschooling mom raising seven kids and awaiting the day to reunite with her eighth Treasure who preceded her to Heaven. She’s been married for over 20 years. She’s on staff at her local church. She founded GT and currently serves as the President of our board of directors.

But the role I hold most dear to my heart is as friend and encourager. We share some of the same life struggles. And we pray fervently for, and with, each other over those challenges, right alongside those of this ministry and the lives it touches.

Not only does she encourage me, she does the same for countless other women, serving as a mentor for many. She loves the Lord and His Word and she openly and lavishly shares that with others.

I wish each of you could know her personally, but you can “know her” through her writings at GT. You can see the depth of her faith and her joy in serving the Lord and His people.

You.

Culture would tell you to serve your own wants and purposes, but…
Looking at these “Shes”, it’s evident serving God should be our purpose.

It will look different for each of us, but as we submit to His plans for our lives,
He will guide and reward us for our obedience. And He’ll faithfully bring others alongside us for the journey to encourage us. As She, let’s commit to living His way!

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Brave,follow,kingdom,mission,purpose,she,Woman
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Oct 30 - Nov 17, 2023 - Journey Theme #124

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Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

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