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Philemon Day 5 For Glory

February 17, 2023 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 5 For Glory

Sara Cissell

February 17, 2023

Broken,Faith,Fullness,Holy Spirit,Journey

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 6-7
Psalm 92:1-4
1 Kings 17:1-16

In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah is sent to a widow’s home during a multi-year drought. He asks her for bread. Her reply captures her desperation: 

“As the Lord your God lives, I don’t have anything baked–only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.” (1 Kings 17:12)

Elijah urged the woman to bring him bread, declaring the flour and oil wouldn’t run out until it rained again. 

Day after day, her jars never remained empty.
The Lord persistently filled the vessels.
Neither the flour jar nor oil jug wrought their own provision;
the Lord was their miraculous provider.

Why bring this Old Testament story into the midst of a Journey Study about an early church pastor? Philemon’s New Testament challenge, and perhaps your own circumstances, share similar threads with this long-ago widow, her lack, and her faith. 

Daily, the widow who fed Elijah removed “that last bit” of oil and flour from their containers and experienced afresh the Lord’s provision. Philemon, as a believer who carried the Holy Spirit inside him, had the opportunity to do the same, look at his lack and experience the Lord’s Presence. 

Paul prayed over Philemon, “I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.” (Philemon 6)

Paul’s prayer summons Philemon to become an active participant in walking out His surrender to the Lord while reminding him that effective faith is possible only through Christ. 

As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:10, his work on behalf of the kingdom was effective only through “the grace of God that was with me.” The widow’s vessels were lacking, and as we look inside, or around us, we may come to much the same conclusion: lack. Philemon was already demonstrating faith, but the becoming effective of faith required a deeper knowing, a real-life, ongoing experiencing, of every good thing already set out for him through Christ.

Did God know, since the beginning of time, He would continuously satisfy the widow’s lack with His infinite supply? Abundantly, yes.

He knew the same for Philemon when He sent Christ to satisfy the debt Philemon owed for his sin. Just as surely as the Lord God knew He would give enough to the widow, He knew He would one day deposit His own Spirit of Holiness inside Philemon to lead and guide him into knowing Himself deeply.

Sister, take a breath with me, He offers the same for us.

How do we know more of the Almighty?
By reading His Word, empowered by the breathing of the Spirit of God in us.

Psalm 92 focuses on praising the Lord for what He has done and who He is.
The psalmist testifies of an experiential walking with and knowing of the Lord God.

“
For You have made me rejoice, Lord,
by what You have done;
I will shout for joy
because of the works of Your hands.”
Psalm 92:4

“You have lifted up my horn […] I have been anointed with the finest oil.”
Psalm 92:10

“The Lord is just;
He is my rock…”
Psalm 92:15

In keeping our eyes focused on “the glory of Christ” (verse 6), our growth will be cultivated by Him and defined by His character, enabling us to fulfill the Lord’s purposes, effectively living out our faith in the everyday. 

As we practice tuning the ears of our hearts to know His voice through His Word, we will be drawn deeper into worship, which naturally leads to a life fully surrendered to the Love of Christ. Working like an ever-deepening spiral, the more we know Him, the more we will worshipfully surrender, the more our faith grows, and by the Spirit’s work, our effectiveness for the Lord increases exponentially.

This surrendered life resulting in effective faith, deeply refreshes the hearts of our “fellow ones”, brothers and sisters in Jesus. Joy floods and encouragement abounds from this rich well of surrendered following of the Lord Jesus.

“
For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”
Philemon 1:7

Paul observed the impact of Philemon’s life on those around him, and documented it in the pages of Scripture. May we live worthy of similar description by those in our spheres of influence! 

The widow in 1 Kings 17 obeyed the Word of the Lord, offering up her lack to the God of infinite Supply.

Her act of faith-filled worship brought refreshment physically and spiritually while ensuring her survival and increasing her faith.

Paul prodded Philemon and, by extension, us, to do the same.

Suppose we chose to lift our lack to the Supplier in faith, listening attentively to learn His voice in ever more intimate ways through His Word, and allow Him to make our offering effective to not only His kingdom, but usher in refreshment to the Church?! 

Dear sisters, I pray our hearts are captivated by the glorious Gospel:
Having conquered sin through His death and resurrection,
Christ has sent His Spirit to live within us.

May we recognize that on our own, we are ordinary earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7), as incapable of sustaining life as the widow’s hollow jars. Like Philemon, may our faith become effective as we embrace the Spirit’s leadership, surrendering every part of us to be used for His glory.

Tags :
faith,God's Word,prayer,worship
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Philemon refreshed the saints through his acts of kindness, which should encourage all who claim to love Jesus to follow Philemon’s example. We never know when a simple act of kindness will refresh those who were directly impacted as well as those who have witnessed the kindness.
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Posted in: Broken, Faith, Fullness, Holy Spirit, Journey Tagged: faith, God's Word, prayer, worship

Surrender Day 1 Come & See

January 23, 2023 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Surrender Day 1 Come & See

Carol Graft

January 23, 2023

Discipleship,Faith,Follow,Journey,Obedience

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:29-30
John 1:35-50
John 4:28-30
Isaiah 55:1-5

If someone issued an invitation by simply saying, “Come and see,” would you be excited? Anxious? Not budging until you have all the details? Or a mix of reactions?

In John 1:35-50, several men are called to come and see Jesus.
Andrew and his brother Peter, Philip, and Nathanael are all invited.

When we meet Andrew, he is a follower of John the Baptist. We don’t know if Andrew was intentionally looking for the Messiah of whom John prophesied, but when Andrew encounters Jesus, he realizes He is Messiah. Upon his encounter, Andrew quickly found his brother, Simon (later called Peter) and encouraged him to come and see the Messiah. 

Philip and Nathanael are called next, and their different personalities are displayed in their responses. Upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me,” Philip seems to join without hesitation. (John 1:43) Nathanael, upon hearing Jesus came from Nazareth, is skeptical. “Come and see,” Philip insists, and Nathanael complies. (John 1:46) When he meets Jesus face-to-face, Jesus shows Nathanael he is truly seen and known, and Nathanael declares, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” (John 1:44-50)

Each man had his own reason to follow Christ. None of them knew what would be in store for them. They simply followed, not knowing what lay ahead.

Come and see, Jesus invited them.

So they came with Jesus, surrendering their lives, families, and livelihoods. 

And they began to see miracles, such as the multiplying of the loaves and fishes. (Matthew 14:13-21,  Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:1-14) 

Everyone present was astounded at the miracle. Truly, from three fish and two loaves of bread (in those days a “loaf” was probably not much larger circumferentially than a tortilla), Christ multiplied baskets upon baskets of leftover food. Definitely a miracle!

But were those present just as astounded by Jesus?

Jesus wanted His followers to see past the miracle of the food. He wanted them to understand that abundant life wasn’t found in a barley loaf and dried fish. Rather, abundant life was found in Him, the Bread of Life, the Living Water. (John 6:35-40; John 4:7-26)

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.’
‘What can we do to perform the works of God?’ they asked.
Jesus replied, ‘This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.’”
(John 6:26-29)

Jesus’ words to His followers echo the prophet Isaiah’s call, who prophesied about Jesus generations earlier, “Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver, come, buy, and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1)

Jesus’ followers needed to hunger for more than paltry fish and crumbs. 

He wanted them to hunger and thirst for Him.

This invitation to abundance is for you as well, dear sister.

As when He called Andrew and Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael, Jesus’ invitation to us includes an underlying caveat: total surrender.  

The call to come and see
doesn’t explain every detail,
doesn’t assure safety,
doesn’t put us in control of plans or the future.

To follow Jesus means completely surrendering ourselves to Him and His plans for our lives. 

Surrender and spiritual thirst are also found in John 4:28-30 where Jesus intentionally engages in conversation with a Samaritan woman. This time it isn’t Jesus who extends a come and see invitation, but the Samaritan woman. After encountering the Messiah, who knows everything about her as an outcast and loves her anyway, she ran back to her village saying, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29)  

She risked everything to tell her people. She knew surrendering to Jesus was worth risking public ridicule to communicate truth. Speaking to Jesus, she discovered her worth again. She surrendered her past, her guilt and shame because of Jesus.
Her invitation started the first recorded revival in Scripture.

Those whom Jesus called then, with their faults, dark pasts, and sinful ways, weren’t very different from those He calls today. Yet, they surrendered everything to follow Christ.

What have you already surrendered for Jesus?
What is He calling you to surrender more deeply today?

What has Jesus shown you with His invitation to come and see? 

Tags :
disciple,follow,offering,real life,surrender
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The God who foreknew us before we were born also perfectly knows every aspect of our current and future circumstances. In the verse prior, Paul described believers as people who are called according to God’s purpose. Our calling goes way back to “before”; God foreknew all those who are now, and will be, brothers and sisters in Christ. “He chose us in Him (Christ), before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before Him.” (Ephesians 1:4)
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Posted in: Discipleship, Faith, Follow, Journey, Obedience Tagged: disciple, follow, offering, real life, surrender

Pause VI Day 15 Greet With Grace

January 20, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 15 Greet With Grace

Melodye Reeves

January 20, 2023

Accepted,Gospel,Grace,Journey,Joy

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:21-23

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Read More Of His Words

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus … all the saints send you greetings! (Philippians 4:21-22)

Paul’s gospel is all-inclusive! Don’t you love that, sister? I just cannot ignore the intentionality of his mentions.

Emily Post was famous for writing about etiquette. She influenced the nation for years regarding what is proper, especially in writing. The apostle Paul was teaching us long before anyone knew of Emily Post. His letters included all the things that “the best letters” should. Under the influence of the Spirit: 1) Paul mixed the good with bad news, 2) he responded to questions asked or news shared in a previous letter, and 3) he always considered the recipients. (emilypost.com)

Post reminded her audience that good letter-writing included a positive salutation (greeting) and an encouraging closing (goodbye) in which the reader could relate. Paul did just that.

I heard someone say the gospel is not exclusive, but it is specific. And Paul was a master at making sure the reader understood this truth. I don’t know anyone who can preach a more concise gospel sermon in a simple greeting or goodbye. Paul is the GOAT for sure, and writing a good letter wasn’t even his goal!

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-2)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Philippians 4:23)

When I read the letter to the Philippians it brings me such comfort. Even now, thousands of years after he wrote it and his original audience read it, Paul’s writing is relevant to us. Why? Because the grace of God is timeless, and it’s inclusive.

Sister, as believers, we are included in this marvelous grace of the Lord Jesus.

Grace and peace were offered to the Philippians. Grace and peace are offered to me. Grace and peace are offered to you.

Pause.
Receive this greeting into your souls this very day.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Philippians 4:21-23 out loud twice. Explore deeper by studying some cross-references of the authenticity of Scripture. (Here are some references regarding the reliability of the letters of the apostles: 1 Corinthians 14:35, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 16:25-26, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:15-16)

2) Here is our last hand-crafted Spotify playlist for Pause VI!
Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause VI! Rehearse the goodness and grace of God. Let your worship be an act of joy and thankfulness before your God!

3)
Memorize Philippians 4:4-5

Tags :
gospel,grace,inclusive,Truth,welcome
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Day 14

Do you ever wonder why so many people suffer from lack of food, clothing, or money? In light of this passage, it’s especially difficult to believe God always provides when it appears to us that believers may not have everything they need.

“And my God will supply all your needs …”

Sweet friend, ponder this: perhaps it is because our greatest needs are not material.
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Explore This Journey Theme!
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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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Posted in: Accepted, Gospel, Grace, Journey, Joy Tagged: gospel, grace, inclusive, Truth, welcome

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched X Week 3

July 30, 2022 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Many of us know the hard edges of pain, injustice, and sorrow we felt would surely swallow us whole, or worse, bit by bit. Joseph’s story, the longest recorded single narrative in Genesis, is fraught with many opportunities to sink into the waves of sorrow, bitterness, and injustice. But God’s love was, and always will be, the greatest game changer of every story. In His lavish love, He strengthened Joseph’s faith in the midst of suffering and, rather than allow him to be swallowed by grief and despair, slowly taught Joseph to trust the Almighty Sovereign God. We each have this same choice. Every day. Every moment. Inside of each second of mundane or pain, God has provided the opportunity to lean into Him with authentic honesty or pull back. When we lean in, He increases our faith, strengthens our souls, sustains us, and gives His courage and peace. When we pull back, we soon find ourselves running blind through a minefield of bitterness, anger, depression, and despair. In the end, we lose everything. Take time to identity the opportunities the Lord is giving you recently. Where do you find your heart turning?

2) Joseph wasn’t really looking for redemption. He certainly wasn’t expecting to see the familiar faces of his brothers amidst the sea of faces that day as they came to Egypt, bowing to him, to purchase grain. Redemption and restoration within his family relationships may have surprised Joseph, but it didn’t surprise the Lord. He had seen this day from long before Joseph’s brothers had plotted to murder him. The Lord knew redemption was coming when Joseph unjustly sat in prison. More so, the Lord knew all the internal wrestling, heart ache, and grieving hot tears Joseph would cry in the years between being sold into slavery and the day he would embrace his brothers with glad tears. God never once abandoned Joseph; not one of His promises was broken. The Lord proved faithful at every single point, and eventually, Joseph saw with his physical eyes what the Lord had taught him to see with his spiritual eyes: redemption. The Lord loves us far too much to simply give us what we think we want in the physical realm without first teaching us what we really need in the spiritual realm: God Himself. Wherever you are in your own journey, high hope or struggling to lift your head, be encouraged that the God of redemption sees you, and He knows your redemption story inside and out. Trust Him!

3) Every injustice. Every broken place. Every wound that has relentlessly damaged bodies and relationships. Every single tear that has stained our cheeks. Healed, made whole, and redeemed one day. Joseph experienced only a small sliver of the full redemption the Lord had planned for His people during his life. Joseph’s family experienced partial redemption and the nation of Israel was blessed temporarily with safe harbor and sustaining food for a season. Eventually, though, Israel became enslaved for 400 years and suffered significantly in many ways even into modern times. Still, their homecoming is sure and certain, and so is ours. Whatever good we experience and whatever redemption we receive in this life is merely a hint of the good restoration still to come for those who have trusted Christ completely for their salvation. When we choose to adjust our lens to see our struggles with the perspective of Home on the horizon, even hardship becomes more bearable. Practice turning over your perspective to the Lord this weekend. Ask Him to fix your gaze on the eternity to come! To help you anchor in this truth, marinate your soul in truths of Scripture like Revelation 21 and 22 and Psalm 27.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from John 13:7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, like Peter at the Last Supper, like Joseph in prison, like Israel wandering the desert, like Abraham leaving his homeland to follow Your lead, Your words speak truth to our reality, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7) When You sat with Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3), when You commissioned Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9), when You came to Isaiah in a vision (Isaiah 6), they had no way of knowing what You were doing in their timeline or how it would echo through the ages. But You did; You knew all along. You never cease to be faithful, steadfast, and true.

Teach us to trust You with our stories. Teach us to honestly bring You every piece of our painful suffering, surrendering it fully to You, and waiting with great, expectant Hope for Your sure and certain coming redemption. What You are doing now in our lives, we cannot comprehend the wide spectrum You have planned, but teach us to live by faith and not by sight. May our hearts choose praise, worship, and adoration now, whatever our circumstances look like. Here is my life, Lord God, make Your redemption known in its storyline!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Anxious, Believe, Broken, Excuses, Faith, God, Good, Gospel, Grace, Journey, Joy Tagged: faith, follow, GT Weekend, hope, redemption, story, suffering, worship

Whole Day 6 Oppression’s Source

June 27, 2022 by Guest Writer 2 Comments

Whole Day 6 Oppression’s Source

Guest Writer

June 27, 2022

Faith,Follow,God,Grace,Holy Spirit,Hope,Journey,Prayer,Strength,Struggle,Suffering,Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 10:10-13
Ephesians 6:10-20
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Psalm 44:3-4

In our family, we regularly discuss politics, local news, and current events. However, when a conversation surrounding values took an emotional turn, we knew something deeper was stirring up; our children were seeking a biblical understanding about a belief we strongly held. Feelings of guilt and failure, on my part as mother, overcame me. 

My children couldn’t possibly be the ones struggling with biblical foundations and truths. How could this happen?

After much careful consideration, prayer, and wise counsel, we decided we would not run from hard truths or leave our kids alone to interpret their questions. Instead, we would study and engage with them. In months to follow, when the Holy Spirit led, we attempted to address a multitude of questions about Biblical concepts. 

As we peeled away the layers, I soon realized my children, like many others, needed abundantly more spiritual guidance to help navigate the topics significantly impacting and shaping their faith journeys.

In an article by Christianity Today, a study found that out of 500 youth group graduates, over 70 percent reported having serious doubts about faith. These students’ opportunities to express and explore their doubts were correlated with greater faith maturity. In other words, it’s not doubt that’s toxic to faith, it’s silence.  

I realized God was working on our family’s behalf, bringing attention to areas within our life that were out of alignment with Him. My family messiness was no different than others, which highlighted a message of its own: as believers, we’re not given immunity from assaults of the enemy. 

In fact, Jesus promised we “will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33) and described our enemy as “a thief [who] comes to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) 

In my family’s journey, I understood the enemy is a liar, and I was not going to feel pinned down by doubt, blame, insecurity, comparisons, fear, or relational discord. My family prayed, and God revealed we needed to make some adjustments. Our initial steps were refocusing our priorities (putting God first), being intentional with our time, having patience with our children in learning the word of God, and seeking community.

Furthermore, the Spirit revealed a deeper truth to me during this tumultuous time.
The struggles we were facing needed to happen.
God didn’t want me to spend all my time trying to fix every problem of my children or of this world; He wanted to show me how to fully lean on Him and demonstrate this dependence in every area of my life. 

Through this adversity, God wanted to fill me with His strength. In 2 Corinthians, preacher Paul uses the language of siege warfare to talk about engaging in spiritual battle.

“For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.” 
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

As believers, we are not left defenseless. Satan wants to disrupt God’s place in our lives b y displacing God’s authority with deceptive, manipulative evil schemes. This truth should remind us we cannot defeat Satan in our own strength and neither can we fight spiritual battles without God’s protection and weapons. (Psalm 44:3-4)

In Ephesians, Paul talks about the spiritual weaponry available to Christians, often called “the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-20) Paul emphasized the reality that our warfare is against more than the natural temptations of flesh. There are powers in the unseen world against which we are powerless, except through the aid of Christ.

Spiritual armor prepares us to face any and all spiritual battles we encounter. These battles are not fought against “flesh and blood” enemies, but against the “cosmic powers of this darkness[.]” (Ephesians 6:12) Satan’s strategy is clever; he uses technology, popular culture, consumerism, misinformation, and distorted views about biblical truths to wage war against us constantly. 

But we’re not falling for it. The real enemy, the real source of oppression in our world, is the devil, not people, places, or things. The spotlight of God’s truth will effectively expose every single scheme of the enemy.

By God, we have all been given weapons to fight the unseen. For me, I needed to take this truth seriously in my parenting. 

We’re called to follow God, Who is “the way, the truth, and life.” (John 14:6) 

Follow God, Who has come so we “may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10)

Follow God, Who brings true peace and freedom from oppression as His death and resurrection “conquered [the powers of] the world.” (John 16:33)

As we follow Him, His grace is sufficient, and we can have hope and victory in any spiritual battle that comes our way.  

Lord, following You is hard. Sometimes it feels our brokenness is cliché, but I’m so grateful we serve a God who cares. A God who knows our battles, and equips and sustains us through them.

Help us to push away from culture, familiarity, and likeness, instead embracing Your Word and Your love. May we find strength in Your infinite and absolute goodness, and when the battle is fierce, remind us the true source of oppression is the devil himself.  May we not be afraid to stand firm, as parents and leaders of faith, by putting on the full armor of God. Amen.

*Written by Keshia Jackson

Tags :
guilt,Oppression,patience,protection,Refocus,The Enemy,victory,whole
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True Christ-followers have recognized the oppression in our own souls by Sin and sought freedom from the Only One powerful enough to provide our forgiveness. Full of grace and truth, this merciful God delivers His own Spirit inside the heart of all who have truly surrendered to Him. By this power of God Himself inside us, He actively empowers, leads, and equips us to accomplish God’s mission of building His kingdom and pressing back against evil in everyday life.
Dig Deeper!

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Explore This Journey Theme!
June 20 - July 8, 2022 - Journey Theme #109

Join a GT POD!

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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Posted in: Faith, Follow, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Journey, Prayer, Strength, Struggle, Suffering, Truth Tagged: guilt, Oppression, patience, protection, Refocus, The Enemy, victory, whole

Sacrifice Day 15 Demo Day

April 15, 2022 by Lori Meeks Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Galatians 2:15-21
Romans 6:6-11
Ephesians 4:20-24
Colossians 3:1-11
Isaiah 43:18-19

Sacrifice, Day 15

“God, break my heart for what breaks yours.”

I knew I needed to pray those words but was hesitant to say them out loud to God. I had been thinking about it for some time, but always hesitated. I didn’t want to say the words without fully meaning them, and to me, they were scary words, ones I associated with doing something hard for Jesus like moving to a different country or becoming heavily involved in some ministry that would drastically change my life.

What caught me off guard was how much surrendering would be involved, how much tearing down would be needed.

“If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” (Galatians 2:18-21)

In order for something to be rebuilt, the old must first be torn down.
For me, this meant in order for God to answer my prayer, many of my old thoughts, habits, and patterns for living had to be torn down and surrendered to Jesus. I had to be willing to give up control and allow Him to work in ways that didn’t make sense to me.

Think for a minute about what it is to tear something down. My mind goes to the typical “Demo Day” we see on home refurb shows. Swinging sledgehammers, ripping cabinets off walls, cutting through wires and pipes. In a word, destruction. But the home builders know the old must go to make way for the new and improved.

The same is true for us.
God must tear down the old to make way for the new. Often, the tearing down can be painful and seem like nothing but destruction. But our Savior is not content with “good enough.” He wants all of us, all the time. Imagine our Father God rolling up His sleeves and getting to work in our spirits, pulling out sin-twisted desires, behaviors, and idols to make way for the light and space and freshness of His holiness.

Romans 6:6-7 reiterates, “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin.”

When I did ask God to break my heart for what breaks His, He began to strip away much that filled me with pride and status. Jobs were lost, relationships were broken, and health issues requiring rest seemed to come in wave after wave.

In the midst of the hardest times, I could not understand what was happening or why, but God, in His faithful goodness, slowly but surely allowed me to understand He was clearing the way to rebuild something I would never have imagined.

Stop living the old way, chasing sin and its desires. Instead, let God do His work and show you a new, better way. Allow God to build within you a life in which you are like Him.
(Ephesians 4:22-24, my paraphrase)

I’m not gonna lie, complete surrender is hard.
Waiting is hard.
At times, I said, “God, what is happening? I already learned this lesson!” God would graciously show me how I was still holding onto my ways where He wanted complete surrender.

I can also honestly say I cannot imagine what my life would be like today if I had not uttered that prayer.

My life with God in charge is oh-so-much better than the one I was building for myself. The broken friendships have been replaced with much deeper and richer friendships. There are new jobs, new ministries, new routines, and much more; God’s ways are indeed the better way!

So go ahead, friends! Whisper that big, scary prayer.
Ask Jesus to pry your fingers loose from their death-grip on control and the parts of your heart made dull, dusty, and lifeless by sin. In full surrender, turn to embrace the new life He is building in you, believing that even when the work is hard and the journey is long, “He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

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Posted in: Faithfulness, God, Jesus, Journey, Prayer, Sacrifice, Waiting Tagged: Break Heart, goodness, Graciously, pride, Rebuilt, surrendering

Wilderness Day 11 Lost, Alone, Forgotten

March 21, 2022 by Amy Krigbaum Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 37:1-11
Genesis 39:21-23
Genesis 50:21-23
Psalm 94:17-19
Matthew 28:16-20

Wilderness, Day 11

Lost, alone, and forgotten.
Discouraged, hurt, and betrayed.
We all experience these along our journeys.

These feelings were all too familiar to another wilderness wanderer, Joseph. Great-grandson of the Hebrew patriarch, Abraham, Joseph was one of 12 sons. More specifically, Joseph was his father’s favorite son, a fact which did little to endear him to his brothers.

Joseph was further divided against his brothers by his special gift of dreams.
Dreams centering on his older brothers, and even parents, serving him. (Genesis 37:1-11) Dreams he enthusiastically shared with his family, without forethought, wisdom, or humility. You see, Joseph wasn’t perfect. Today, we would call him immature or even a brat. Finally, the family dysfunction reached a point where, embittered with hatred against Joseph, his brothers sold him as a slave. (Genesis 37:12-36)

Purchased by a rich Egyptian, Joseph was betrayed, alone, and forgotten. I’m sure Joseph wondered, “Why?” Why the dreams? Why the hatred? Why the pain? Similarly, when we are in our own wilderness, we may ask God, “Why?”

Sometimes, there may be an obvious answer, and we can use that understanding to help us learn, or navigate our way through the trial.

Other times, however, our “why”s are met with silence.
Wrestling with the unknown becomes a part of our wilderness story.

For Joseph, no clear answer was forthcoming.
Yet he continued to cling to God.

In Egypt, “The Lord was with Joseph [. . . and] Joseph found favor with his master.” (Genesis 39:2-4) Unfortunately, this same master would ultimately imprison Joseph for a crime he didn’t commit. (Genesis 39:3-20)

Even in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden” (Genesis 39:21), and soon, all prisoners were under Joseph’s authority. Still, this wasn’t enough to earn his release; he was trapped, with no way out.

Ironically, the same supernatural gift that first thrust Joseph into the wilderness would be the means of his freedom. While in prison, a series of God-empowered dream interpretations took Joseph from the lowest position in Egypt to second-in-command. (Genesis 40, 41) In his new role, Joseph was tasked with storing enough crops to feed the entire country during a subsequent famine. (Genesis 41:46-57)

The famine was the final step in the fulfillment of Joseph’s boyhood dreams, as his brothers found themselves bowing before him with requests for food to sustain their families. (Genesis 42:5-6)

In this moment, possessing all the power to exact revenge and presented with the perfect opportunity to wield it, we see the work of wilderness time in Joseph’s heart.

He extended forgiveness to his family.

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result–the salvation of many people. Therefore, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19-21)

At last, Joseph understood the answer to all the “why”s.

Why the dreams?
Why the slavery?
Why the prison?
So Joseph would be in the right place, at the appointed time. God crafted every step to position Joseph in Egypt, at the palace, before the famine, to save many lives.

The nice thing about Joseph’s story is we already know the ending. But, when Joseph was bound to other slaves, stumbling through desert sands on the way to Egypt, he didn’t understand what was happening, or why. He was deep in the wilderness of the unknown.

Our future is unknown to us. We will have wilderness seasons like Joseph. We may not be sold into slavery or tossed in prison, but we will feel lost, alone, and forgotten.
Yet Joseph’s story reminds us God has not forgotten us.

Psalm 94:17-19 declares God’s love is unfailing and He brings us joy. Our circumstances do not define us. We are God’s, and He has not left us alone.

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus concludes the Great Commission by promising, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We may feel left alone in this world by those around us, but the Lord is always with us.

We are not lost; He is leading us.
We are not alone; He is with us.
We are not forgotten; He is working in us and through us.

Wilderness Wanderer, though we may not understand all the “why”s right now, we can hear Joseph’s heart echo across the generations . . . cling to faith . . . find joy . . . embrace hope . . . for God is with us, and He is working out His plan. Even in the wilderness.

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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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Posted in: Dream, God, Hope, Journey, Joy Tagged: alone, Cling, discouraged, forgotten, heart, hurt, kindness, lost, Why, wilderness

Wilderness Day 7 For The Long Haul: Digging Deeper

March 15, 2022 by Dr. Leslie Umstattd Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) In the beginning of this passage, what truths do we learn that God has affirmed to Moses through his journey?

2) What is Moses asking of God in this passage?

3) What is God’s response to Moses’ questioning?

Exodus 33:12-23

12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’ 13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.” 14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.” 17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.” 19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

Original Intent

1) In the beginning of this passage, what truths do we learn that God has affirmed to Moses through his journey?
Throughout the book of Exodus, God’s provision for His people and confirmation of the covenant God has made with His people is clearly evidenced. (Exodus 24) In this passage, Moses recounts what God has confirmed to him. Moses has been called as the leader of the Israelites. God affirmed that He has a plan and purpose for Moses; God knew him and Moses found favor with the Lord. To read of Moses’ first encounter with God, and gain a more full understanding of the truths God spoke to Moses at the beginning of his journey, read Exodus 3!

2) What is Moses asking of God in this passage? Coming off the heels of the Golden Calf experience in Exodus 32, where Israel chose to worship an idol their own hands had crafted rather than continue waiting for the Lord, God told Moses to leave Mt. Sinai and go to the Promised Land. (Exodus 33:1-2) Moses and the Lord had been meeting regularly in the Tent of Meeting. (Exodus 33:7-11) Here, in the sacred space of meeting, Moses cried out for affirmation from the Lord. Moses knew what he had been called to do, and where he had been called to go, yet he sought the Lord’s affirmation again. He had just witnessed the awful rebellion of the people as they dared worship a golden calf idol. (Exodus 32:19-21) Moses understood the gravity of their sin, and likely felt the weighty responsibility of leading such a quickly-erring people to know and experience the One True God. (Exodus 32:32-35) In the literal wilderness where he found himself, Moses needed the reminder of God’s presence and promise, so he pleaded to see God’s glory and hear from the Lord.

3) What is God’s response to Moses’ questioning?
In verse 17, the Lord told Moses He would do as Moses asked because “you have found favor with Me and I know you by name.” The Lord also knows no human can stand to be in His full presence; His righteous glory is so overwhelming anyone experiencing its fullness would be destroyed. (Got Questions) Graciously, He offered a way for Moses’ need to be satisfied while not being consumed. “The Lord said, “Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.”” (verses 21-23) God provided for Moses’ need and preserved His life. The Lord evidenced tender mercies in the next chapter by replacing the shattered set of Ten Commandments Moses had broken in his anger. (Exodus 34:1-9) Truly, His mercies are boundless, which Moses began singing of after receiving the second set of Commandments and experiencing the glory of the Lord. (Exodus 34:5-8)

Everyday Application

1) In the beginning of this passage, what truths do we learn that God has affirmed to Moses through his journey?
In our wilderness journeys God has a way of affirming what He has already told us. Moses recounted what he already knew to be true, but he still needed the Lord to reveal Himself and affirm those truths again. The recollection of His truth, His grace, His mercy, and the salvation He offers are all necessary, especially in moments of wilderness and desolation. (Psalm 71:14-24) The Father God, the Creator of the Universe, knows your name (Isaiah 43:1) and He created you with a plan and purpose (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:9). In our wilderness, whether of our own making or purely due to circumstance, the calling back to God’s Truth and affirmation of His faithfulness is our resting place. (Psalm 25:1-11)

2) What is Moses asking God for in this passage?
For Moses, he needed God’s voice and a visual on the Almighty in the midst of his wilderness. The grumbling of “these people” in his charge was daunting (verse 12); Moses’ heart needed the Lord and His reassurances. The powerful truth of our all-knowing, all-powerful God is He is also a deeply personal and intimate God who seeks out individual relationships with each of His children; nothing can separate us from Him. (Romans 8:31-38) He knows what we need before we ask and yet He desires us to come to Him. (Matthew 6:32-33) Moses asked because He knew he could; he had direct access to God. In the same way, a personal relationship with the Lord opens communication allowing us to kneel in His presence and ask. (Matthew 7:7-8) Ask for deliverance, ask for joy in the midst of sorrow, ask for guidance in the wilderness, and even ask for teachable moments in the midst as Moses did, “please teach me Your ways.” (verse 13) God didn’t remove Moses’ circumstances, but He did answer him and honor his request.

3) What is God’s response to Moses’ questioning?
In this exchange with Moses, God was immediate in His answer and His reply matched Moses’ expectation. This isn’t always the case whether in Scripture itself, or in our everyday lives. God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8) and in our wilderness seasons, our own grumbling and stubbornness can impede what God is trying to teach us about Himself and following Him. It may seem He is silent at the moment of our pleading, but His truth is ever prevailing. His presence is always constant. (Deuteronomy 31:8) Like Moses, our wilderness may not end at the point of our pleading prayer, but our focus should remain on God, what He is doing, and the Truths we know of His character and faithfulness.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Posted in: Digging Deeper, God, Grace, Journey, Mercy, Purpose, Salvation, Truth Tagged: favor, glory, Long Haul, Moses, plan, questions, understanding, wilderness

Wilderness Day 6 For The Long Haul

March 14, 2022 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 33:12-23
Deuteronomy 29:1-15
Matthew 26:36-44

Wilderness, Day 6

When we journey to a new place, we don’t plan on traveling for 40 years, encountering hardship after hardship.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened to the people of Israel.
God delivered them from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 13:17-22), and they began their journey to the land He’d promised.
Then they spent 40 years in the wilderness.

Their wilderness wanderings were marked with struggle and pain and sin . . . and by miracle after miracle, if only the people could recognize them.

Their first wilderness encounter with the God Who Saves is at the edge of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:5-14) Barely out of Egypt, camped between equally insurmountable obstacles of desert and sea, Israel hears the sound of distant thunder. Turning their eyes from the pillar of cloud embodying God’s presence to the horizon, they see Pharaoh’s army swarming toward them. Panic and horror sweep through the camp, and the people swiftly turn against Moses, the man appointed by God to lead Israel.

But God.
Miracle #1- God parts the sea and holds back the waves so Israel could walk to the other side. (Exodus 14:15-22)
Miracle #1.5- As the Egyptian army attempts to cross, the sea crashes back to its original position and their pursuers drown. (Exodus 14:23-28)

Exhilarated by God’s rescue, Israel turns her face to the Promised Land. According to today’s maps, their journey should have only taken 7-10 days.

Even on this relatively short journey, resources and rations were finite and began to dwindle. When we walk in the wilderness, it’s easy to focus on what is lacking (can you relate?), and so the people turned to grumbling.

But God.
Miracle #2 – Even in the wilderness, there are oases, places of rest and refreshment. God led Israel to Marah, a place of water. Though the water was bitter, God miraculously caused it to become sweet. (Exodus 15:22-25)

Miracle #3 – After a brief stop in Marah, Israel set up camp in Elim, which held 12 springs, with the implication that one had been prepared for each of Israel’s tribes. (Exodus 15:27)

How would you have reacted to this bounty of clean, cool, fresh water after being in the wilderness for about six weeks? Sadly, the Israelites don’t see God’s leading. Instead, they focus on what they lack, even in the midst of God’s miraculous provision. They think their former life of bondage would have been better. (Exodus 16:2-3)

Before we judge too harshly, let’s realize we often do the same. When struggling through a wilderness season, it’s easy to imagine the past season as immensely better than the present . . . even if it was a season of bondage.

But God.
Miracle #4 – Though Israel quickly forgot His faithfulness, rescue, and provision, God still saw them and heard their complaints. Daily, He fed them, giving quail in the evening and manna (a wafer-like bread) in the day. (Exodus 16:4-23) Some people wanted more, deciding they didn’t trust God to provide again tomorrow, so they tried to stock up. However, manna was meant for just one day, and the extra spoiled. How often have we missed God’s perfectly timed provisions because we focus on future worry?
For God does indeed still show up, Sisters, even in our barren and desolate seasons.

Israel continues to grumble and complain, leaning on their own understanding and erecting idols (Exodus 32), yet God holds them.
God faithfully led His ungrateful, rebellious children right up to the Promised Land (Canaan), but, overwhelmed with fear of its inhabitants, they refused to enter. (Numbers 14) They chose disobedience over God’s ideas, and it cost them an entire generation.

Thus began the 40-year road trip.
And the story repeats, over and over.
God miraculously provides, protects, and empowers Israel as He leads them through the wilderness, from victory in battle to shoes and clothes that don’t wear out. (Deuteronomy 29:5) Yet, time and again, His faithfulness and provision are quickly forgotten as His people choose sin and self.

Sometimes, we may realize our own wilderness is due, at least in part, to our sin and our choice to follow our way instead of God’s. This realization is always painful. Yet God, in His faithful love, remains with us just as He was with Israel.

While we may not wander in an actual desert, wilderness seasons remain part of our lives. My prayer is to not miss God in the midst of them. And not be so stubborn (yes, even when I am feeling desolate and empty) that my attitude causes me to stay in the wilderness for what seems like a generation.

How should we respond when finding ourselves in the wilderness?

Look for God-moments in the midst of what feels like aimless wandering. He’s active, don’t miss Him!
Focus on intentionally looking for His hand, for He will keep us from falling into despair.
Lean into Scripture, for even Jesus, God Himself made manifest, relied on Scripture in His wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 26:36-44)
Cling to the certain knowledge that Emmanuel, our God-with-us, is present every step of our wilderness, providing for us, rescuing us, and leading us home.

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

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

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

Posted in: Faithfulness, Focus, God, Journey, Love, Promises, Rescue, Scripture Tagged: Encounter, Faithfully, God Who Saves, hardship, Lacking, long, rest, wilderness
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