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Made New

Esther Day 8 Tears That Move God’s Heart

November 13, 2019 by Rebecca 5 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:1-11
Psalm 56
Psalm 66:8-15
James 1:2-3
Romans 5:1-5

Esther, Day 8

Bless our God, you peoples,
let the sound of His praise be heard!
(Psalm 66:8)

Reason for rejoicing must be clear here, right?
Such jubilant praise!
Such rich, ardent voices lifted up in adoration!

But the Psalmist continues….
For you, God, tested us;
you refined us as silver is refined.
You lured us into a trap;
you placed burdens on our backs.
You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water….

Wait, what?
Those are crushing words.
Words, I could have written myself, and have, at various points along my own journey.
Burdened, trapped, pressed in upon, barely breathing, trampled over, scorched by flames, drowning in swirling waters.

Praise?
What kind of people would praise while drowning?
Or maybe better, what kind of deity would want to hear praise in dire trials?

Death had been decreed for Queen Esther and her people.
The date had been set for mass extinction of an entire people group.
There were no backdoors of escape, no democracy to provide checks and balances, only one option, prayer.

Prayer for Old Testament Jews meant a few things, especially in hopeless situations, but among the most prominent were gut-wrenching honesty, humility, petition, and praise.
The prayer book of the Jews was the book of Psalms, it also conveniently doubled as their hymnal. Yes, their prayers were their songs. The lyrics of their worship were the authentic pleadings and praises of their hearts.

Though prayer and the name of God are never explicitly noted in the book of Esther, where there was fasting, sackcloth, lamenting, and mournful weeping for Jews, there was prayer.
And where there was prayer, there was praise.

One only needs a cursory glance through Psalms to find this to be true. Go ahead, try it! Pick up your Bible, open to Psalms, and read a few random songs, skip pages, and read again.

Praise is everywhere, but so is brokenness.

Later in the New Testament, the great Pastor Paul says it like this:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed.
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

As Mordecai wept, ripped his clothing, and dipped trembling, fearful fingers into the dust from which he’d been made and streaked his face with it, he prayed in faith to the God of the Universe.

He knew his weakness.
He recognized his complete and utter inability to change the decree of his own death or the massacre of his people.
Yet, he prayed.

He prayed because he also knew something else.
He knew God’s character could not, would not, be faithless. (2 Timothy 2:13)
He knew God does not abandon the work of His hands. (Psalm 138:8)
And for these reasons, Mordecai, a man on death row, could praise.

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)

No doubt, Mordecai was afraid. He agonized. He mourned. He wailed.
But he knew where to take his fear.

Mordecai did not know how God would answer, nor even if his own life would be spared, but He did trust that God would bring redemption.

Sisters, with tears in my eyes as I write, I too have felt Mordecai’s helpless fear.
My face has been planted into the floor, my clothing as rumpled as my spirit.
My cheeks have been stained with tears (and a whole lot of snot), my hands have trembled with the unknown and the glaring reality of my own endless weakness and inability to change my circumstances.

With upturned hands and downcast, flooded eyes, I’ve begged for mercy, for release, for redemption. I’ve admitted out loud in all gut-wrenching honesty that I did not know if God would bring redemption in my life or, if He did, that it would look as I wanted.

But through praise, lament, and petition, He uncurled my fists and I anchored again in the safe harbor of His sure and certain character.
He would not abandon the work of His hands.

Mordecai couldn’t see the end, but He trusted all the same.
To Esther, he spoke with unshakeable conviction, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place…”

I don’t know your fears, your hurt, or your great need for God to redeem and act, but the Lord does know.

You yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Not a tear falls without the Lord seeing, knowing, holding it, and waiting to redeem it in His time and in His way, which is precisely why we can praise in the midst of floods and fires and ruin and heartache.

Like Mordecai, I do not know how the Lord will work His redemption over my brokenness, but I will shout in triumph in the face of this fear and trembling,
“My enemies will retreat on the day when I call.
This I know: God is for me.” (Psalm 56:8-9)

The rest of that psalm of praise we began this journey with?
The one about being refined as fire, burdened down, and walking through fire and flood?
Here is the worshipper’s refrain on the prayer of his song,
“but You brought us out to abundance.”
(Psalm 66:10-12)

Trust His heart, Lovely One.
Cry the tears.
Rend the garments.
Mourn with authenticity.
Then surrender to the One who holds your tears in a bottle, records your pain in His own journal, and is waiting to bring you into His redemptive abundance!

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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 Esther 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 Esther!

Posted in: Attention, Daughter, Deliver, Desperate, Dignity, Esther, Freedom, Grace, Help, Know, Love, Made New, Mercy, Praise, Prayer, Relationship, Strength, Struggle, Suffering Tagged: hurt, known, loved, pain, struggle, tears

The GT Weekend! ~ Open Week 1

August 3, 2019 by Rebecca 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) Sit still, Bible open, pen ready. This could be harder, and more convicting, than we’d like to admit. Open to Luke 19:6-7. Read these two verses over and over, slowly, quickly, again. Pray over them as you read, asking the Spirit to stir your heart. The rejected, hated, outcast man was downright giddy to be welcomed in. The ‘righteous’ crowds? The despised Jesus’ actions. Disgusted. Angry. Who sits at your table? Who is on your ‘to invite over’ list? Who do you spend time, talent, and treasure loving on? Write down those names, they are important and Jesus loves them and how you invest! But is anyone offended by your willingness to love the ugly, outcast, hated, rejected? Beg the Holy Spirit to bring to mind those faces, because maybe you don’t know their names, who you could invite in, but very intentionally haven’t. Write down those names, they are important and Jesus loves them; He’s calling you to invest!

2) Radical, generous hospitality finds its roots in obedience. But not blind obedience to a cosmic being dictating morally good acts. Rather, truly loving hospitality stems from obedience grown from the bedrock of deep, abiding faith. The knowing who God is and trusting His heart. Is your openness towards generosity feeling a little rusty or maybe even stingy? How’s your faith? Who do you say God is? Is He faithful and trustworthy enough to provide for you? How stingy do you view Him?

3)  Yesterday, Parker challenged us to ask the Lord a question when we begin to interact with someone we find challenging to love, let alone like. “Jesus, show me what you love about them.” Challenge yourself to take this question to the next level this weekend by journaling out the names of the people in your closest circle. Maybe your closest friends, your spouse and children, or parents and siblings. One by one, pray over these names and ask the Lord this question, writing down what the Spirit brings to mind. Remember these aren’t qualities you admire, rather you’re asking the Lord for His vantage point. Then, take the opportunity when presented to share these small treasures with each person you named!

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 Matthew 25:40 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Prayer Journal
Lord, in brokenness I come to You. My total inability to love like You is so evident as I live out this precious life You’ve given me. I mis-prioritize, I choose my comfort over going beyond myself, I choose my schedule over loving intentionally because it’s costly, it’s difficult, and mostly because I am selfish. Lord, make me new. Not once, but over and over and over. Remind me that You are always on the horizon, arms spread wide celebrating when I return and ask You to fill me again. I want to love like you, Abba. Remind me that only when I sit here with You, like father and child, can I love others well and, in so doing, show You love. May my life declare Your love, Lord!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Life, Love, Made New, Mercy, Obedience, Prayer, Remade, Selfishness, Truth Tagged: grace, GT Weekend, hope, little things, love, neighbor, obedience, open

The GT Weekend! ~ Kaleidoscope Week 1

June 22, 2019 by Rebecca 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) Not only is the Lord’s love individually set upon us, uniquely drawing us towards His good, Father heart, God’s love is also patient, waiting for us to come to Him. As you consider the Lord’s patience towards you in your faith journey, where would you place yourself? Are you exploring the faith as He waits for you to accept His invitation into real life? Is He waiting for you to trust Him in deeper ways? Perhaps you waiver between leaning on your understanding while knowing you should trust His ways. His love allows Him to patiently keep on waiting for you, wherever you are. Think through areas in your life the Lord has waited or is waiting for you. Praise Him for never being exasperated, but lovingly extending patience!

2) Kindness is one definition of love that we rather lose in the shuffle of seemingly brighter and bolder definitions, but when we search Scripture, we see God’s loving kindness over and over, never playing second fiddle. How often do you consider the Lord as genuinely kind towards you? Angry at you? That isn’t kind. Annoyed with you? That isn’t kind. Seeking your good? Loving you intentionally? Giving you good gifts? This is the kindness of the Lord! Reflect on even just the last few days and write down the ways the Lord has shown His loving kindness to you and praise Him for that! Want to go a little deeper? Look up a few of the verses describing God as kindhearted in the book of Psalms and let truth wash over you. (follow this link and click “Psalms” under “NAS”)

3) Jealousy tends to sneak up on us in small ways, but before long, it snowballs and consumes us in ways we never considered. In David’s story, he had several opportunities to step away from the pull of jealousy, but he tragically didn’t. The end result was death of relationships, and even people. How much better it would have been for David to walk away from the sin of jealousy and choose to love generously and confidently instead. David’s story is recorded for all of us. Take a hard look at when and why jealousy surges in your life. Take these to the Lord and ask Him to renew your heart, giving you love in place of blinding jealousy.

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 Romans 12:21 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Prayer Journal
How grateful I am for your conquering love, Lord! By Your gift of righteousness to me, You broke my chains to sin and freed me to walk safe and free in love. Though I’m free to love because of You, I don’t always choose it, still I grab for those ugly weapons of anger, impatience, discontentment, pride, and jealousy. Clearly show me, Spirit, when I am tempted to choose these over love. Remind me how You have freed and equipped me to walk in love with every choice. Take off the blinders I have over my own sin, and fill my hands with Your love!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Amazed, Anger, Broken, Character, GT Weekend, Hope, Kaleidoscope, Love, Made New, Power, Praise, Prayer, Scripture, Transformation, Worship Tagged: anger, everyday real life, giving glory, Jealousy, Jesus, love, praise, true love

The GT Weekend! – Screenshot Week 2

September 1, 2018 by Michelle Promise 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) Jesus loves you dearly, my sister. He has a plan to use your precious life. How does it make you feel knowing He loves you so much? How are you being obedient in letting Him transform your life? Who can you share truth with this week? 

2) Grab a card and write out Ephesians 2:8-9. Post it somewhere you can see it and be reminded of this truth all week long.
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; 
it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9) 

3) Radical love is costly and can take many different forms. When have you chosen to do something uncomfortable to reach across obvious social, racial or religious lines? How did it feel? If you haven’t taken that risk yet, what is holding you back? As the Holy Spirit to embolden you to love radically this week! Share your experience with us at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com . 

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 Luke 6:27-30  back to the Lord and let His Spirit speak to you through it!

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.  

Prayer Journal
Lord, we are provided with example after example of You calling us to love in ways that don’t make sense in our earthly culture. Loving our enemies doesn’t come naturally; it requires a close walk with You so we can learn to trust You calling us into these deeper waters. As we teeter on the edge of the boat, waiting to jump in, let us trust you as we take a step onto the water. Keep our eyes fixed on You Jesus, so we might not waver.  

 

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Enemies, Faith, Fellowship, Follow, God, Gospel, Grace, GT Weekend, Jesus, Life, Love, Made New, Relationship, Scripture, Transformation, Truth, Unity Tagged: example, faith, follow, grace, Jesus, life, love, plans, relationship, saved, sister, transform, Truth

The GT Weekend! Tabernacle Week 2

June 30, 2018 by Michelle Promise 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) In studying the specifics of the tabernacle of the Old Testament, and how clearly it points to Jesus fulfilling the requirements once and for all, we see that God is all about the details. Nothing He does is careless or without intention. We can rest in His character being unchanging, and know He is working in our lives; in the big things and in the small. Where have you seen Him at work today?

2) What lies are you hearing from the Devil about your lack of gifts to bring to the Body? How can you get plugged in locally to use your God given gifts to bring Him glory? Not sure what your gifting is? Find a friend and read through 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.  What do you feel strongest in? Pray for the Holy Spirit to use you in every situation, whether it matches your gifting or not, to further the Kingdom of God!

3) When you’ve read through the Bible, which parts were easiest to read? Which places felt boring or longwinded? How has the study of Old Testimony prophesies, and the fulfillment Jesus brought, strengthened your commitment to studying the Word more deeply? Share with us in a comment below or email us at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com .

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 Psalm 139:13-18 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

13For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
17 God, how precious your thoughts are
to me;
how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with you.

Prayer Journal
Lord, as I look at the chaos that surrounds me in our world, even in my life, I struggle to see Your order. I see families torn apart, children exploited, and the wealth gap increasing. All of that lacks Your perfect order, and I’m quick to question where You are in all this mess. Remind me Lord that this wasn’t Your design. Man chose this back in the Garden of Eden and has been choosing “self” over You ever since. Show me how and where You are working in the details of our world, Lord God. Rain down Your Presence over us as we look for Your actions in our lives. Let us recognize You quickly and put feet to whatever it is You’re asking us to do!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Adoring, Faith, Fullness, Future, GT Weekend, Hope, Inheritance, Love, Made New, Meaning, Prophecy, Purpose, Redemption, Relationship, Rescue, Sacrifice, Scripture, Truth, Worship Tagged: Old Testament, prayer, promise, prophecy, relationship, scripture, study, trustworthy

Worship III Day 13 Made New

June 13, 2018 by Rebecca Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 21:9-27
Philippians 4:1-9

Worship III, Day 13

I was eight years old, enthralled with having become a believer. 
Of course, as anyone who has married knows, I had no idea at the beginning, the depth of sacrifice this decision would require, but neither did I know how rich the treasure was that awaited me.

I chose Christ following a series of dreams the Lord used to point clearly to Himself as being the Only One who could eternally be my Rescuer. Jesus sealed me as His own, forever rescuing me from the wages of death because of my sin, and I was ready to follow Him in believer’s baptism.

It was a small, country church, quintessential with its white clapboard exterior, red velvet carpet, wooden pews that groaned when you sat (or wiggled), a bell tower that tolled when rung by hand at the conclusion of every service, and a rough-hewn stone baptismal pool that smelled of sulfur.

As traditional as church was, these hymns were carving a foundation of Scriptural truth into the bedrock of my heart. When I was plunged into the cold waters that Sunday, coming up gasping for breath and shivering, I requested the hymn that had been playing in my heart on repeat for weeks…. A New Name In Glory.  

I only knew the chorus, but that was enough.
There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
A sinner has come home.
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam

“It’s mine! O yes! It’s mine!” 
Jesus was mine, I was safe! Rescued from death, bound to the Savior and made new that I might run free in life everlasting. Something deep began when I gave Jesus my everything, an anchor was placed. I was His and He was mine, “never more to roam”. 

Storms were coming. I didn’t realize how many or how fierce, but the solidity of my name being written down in glory would hold firm, despite my efforts to run hard and fast away from the Lord. This holding me, binding me. This writing my name down in Glory, this was a forever vow, and it wasn’t held by my ability, only Christ’s. 

Jesus said it like this:
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. 
No one will snatch them out of my hand. 
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.
No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 
 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

Christ is both the Giver and Securer of eternal life.
Salvation begins with Jesus, is continued because of Jesus,
and is brought to completion because of Jesus.
No attempt on our behalf could even make a smudge of a difference. 

But neither is everyone automatically rescued from the deadly consequences of sin.
When we choose to trust Jesus, taking Him at His word, made clear in Scripture, that He is willing to take our sin and punishment on Himself and give us His own flawless righteousness, that’s faith.
Faith that pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith the Lord credits to us as righteousness because of Christ. (Romans 4:3-5)
Faith that allows His salvation to bind us to Himself. (Romans 5:1-2)
Faith that makes us conquerors over Sin and Death. (1 John 5:4)

Jesus says of those believers whom He has made conquerors:
The one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes,
and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life, 
but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

My name is written down in the Book of Life, I stake my life on it.
But I’ve also been given a New Name. 
The Name of Righteousness Himself; I am Christ’s, I wear His Name. 
Shame is not mine.
Neither is regret.
Despair, emptiness, lost, broken, wounded, scarred, these are not mine. 
Christ Is. 
I am His and He is mine. 

As believers, we have been Made New. 
We are given a new life
with a new purpose,
wearing our new name.

We are called to purposefully, intentionally love people. (Romans 13:8-12)
Love by sharing the eternal hope of Jesus!
Love because the Day is near when time will cease and Glory will begin.
The Day when the time for writing down new names will end. 

A Day when the books are opened.
“Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12)

A Day when the Lord’s Justice will finally set the record straight with all who have sinned against Him, which is all of us. 
Our only hope is faith in Christ.
Which is enough! 
Faith is enough, Sisters! 
But it is the only thing that counts. 

“And anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life 
was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

That Lake of Fire is eternal punishment, rightly deserved because of our sins. 
God is not un-just, payment for sin must be made on an individual level.
Which is why, out of vast love we will never understand, Jesus stood in the gap, taking the punishment on Himself for us. 

The very moment, I said yes to Jesus, I was covered for eternity by His righteousness.
Those steps into the chilly waters of baptism were my first steps of a life lived out to follow Him forever.
It was the beginning of being made new.
The beginning of wearing His Name! 

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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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 Worship III Week Three! 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 Worship III!

Posted in: Believe, church, Faith, Jesus, Made New, Marriage, Rescue, Sacrifice, Safe, Sin, Worship Tagged: believe, church, faith, Jesus, made new, marriage, sacrifice, Safe, Sin, worship

Worship III, Day 3 Returning To Wonder

May 30, 2018 by Mary Kathryn Tiller Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 4:6-10
Psalm 5:1-3
Exodus 33:18-23
Isaiah 45:5-7
Psalm 96:10-12

Worship III, Day 3

While my mother would tell you she does not have a good singing voice, to me,
her voice will always be a sound of comfort and home.

One of my earliest memories is of my mother singing a hymn as she cleaned the house, her voice floating down the hall and into my room,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee!
”

Even now, as I remember the lines of that song, I hear it sung in her voice and I long to go back to that happy time, to my childhood home. As an adult, however, the Lord has used that song
to bring me home to Him.

I have recently come to a place in my faith where I am tired most of the time.
I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy “doing” the work of the Lord,
and not enough time simply “being” his daughter.
If you’ve read my story, you’ll understand this is an ongoing battle for me.
One from which the Lord is consistently winning me back.

One particularly harsh side effect of my busyness is I often lose the wonder of my faith.
The more I focus ministry and the service of God, zeroing in on accomplishments and tasks,
the more I forget to simply see Him, love Him, and worship Him.

In the past few weeks, however, the Lord has been playing “Holy, Holy, Holy” in my mind, bringing it up in those quiet moments. I woke one morning with this song in my head and felt compelled to look up the lyrics. An hour later I was in tears, overwhelmed by the beauty and wonder of our God.

This is the power of a good hymn.
They can help us see and understand the theology of our God with fresh eyes,
bringing us to worship Him the way He deserves.

Relational & Personal
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

The author of this song tells us so much about God in these four powerful lines.
We are reminded that God is holy, merciful, mighty and in perfect relationship with the members of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

King David declares,
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.
” (Psalm 5:3)

We serve a God who loves us and listens to our requests.
David knows God not only listens to us, but He responds and therefore, when we cry out to Him in the morning, we can spend our day waiting expectantly for His response.
It blesses me to know that this merciful, mighty, and awesome God
listens and responds to me.

He Alone Is Worthy
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Painting a picture of Revelation 4, the author describes the “right now” snapshot happening in God’s heavenly throne room, where elders and living creatures are bowing down and worshipping God. The scene depicted is beyond imagination: thunder, lightning, rainbows, creatures covered in rare jewels, and of course, a “sea of glass, like crystal”. While everything in this throne room is awe-inspiring, it is our eternal and infinite God, the Creator of all these things, who alone deserves our worship.
He alone is worthy of our praise!

Perfectly Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Here, the author takes a moment to remind us of our sinful condition and its implications. Because we are born into sin,
we are unable to fully grasp the glory of our God.

It is my sin that constantly draws me away from worship
and into frenzied action.

But, as we know, He has not left us in this state.
Mercifully he sent us Christ,
who became sin,
defeated death,
and hides us within Himself until He returns.
It is His perfect power and love that has opened the door to intimacy with God!

Without Christ, we could not draw near to a holy God, who is completely separated from sin.
But covered by Christ’s perfect purity,
we too have been made holy and can draw near!

I love that the Lord used this song from my childhood to draw my eyes back to Him.
I am floored by the amount of wonder the author of this hymn packed into four little stanzas!
I pray that we would always remember just how wonderful, powerful, mighty and gracious our God is, and should we forget, I pray He would sing his songs over us again and give us the ears to hear Him. Amen!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship III Week One! 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 Worship III!

Posted in: Adoring, Future, God, Handiwork, Heaven, Made New, Power, Praise, Prayer, Restored, Scripture, Truth, Worship Tagged: awe, Christ, glory, Heaven, holy, reigning King, sovereign, wonder, worthy

The GT Weekend! Sketched III, Week 2

March 3, 2018 by Michelle Promise 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) We all want to belong, to feel valued. We want our lives to matter and leave an impression on those around us. Reflect back over your last few months. How are you feeling? What are people remembering you for? Praise Father if you are in a place that you are comfortable with. Ask the Holy Spirit to change your impact. He will use your obedience to grow you in new ways!

2) It’s easy to feel that we should “fix” our sin before we come to the Lord in repentance. There is nothing we can do to purify ourselves, nor does the Lord expect us to; that’s why He sent us Jesus! He is ready to redeem us and restore us if we’re obedient. Turn your face to Him today!

3) The Lord, in His might, can use our weakness for His glory. His word says “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What weakness of yours can you surrender to allow the Lord to work in your life? Journal through that idea and offer yourself in open-handed submission.

We journeyed into the life of Fanny Crosby this week. Prolific hymn writer, true, but mostly, lover of Jesus. Slow down as you read these words of “Draw Me Nearer” by Fanny, then write your own song of praise for the Savior. There’s no “right” way, just pour out your heart to Him. Be still before the Lord and enjoy His presence!

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Adoring, Broken, Clothed, Courage, Excuses, Faith, Fear, Fullness, God, Grace, GT Weekend, Healing, Help, Hope, Loss, Love, Made New, Meaning, Pain, Peace, Power, Praise, Prayer, Worship Tagged: courage, faith, fear, fullness, GT Weekend, healing, hope, prayer, restoration, worship

Sketched III, Day 5 Barabbas

February 23, 2018 by Katelyn Bartlett Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 27:15-26
Mark 15:1-15
Luke 23:1-25

Sketched III, Day 5

After weeks of waiting in prison, the day has finally come.
I, Barabbas, have been convicted of treason against Rome.
My punishment is the worst imaginable – crucifixion at Golgotha.

I joined the insurrectionists because I believed in their mission – to rebel against the iron fist that was Roman rule and the elite upper class of Israel. Joining the zealots gave me a sense of purpose and belonging.

My name means “son of the father”, but I have no family.
This guerilla rebel group took me in and showed me that I could make a lasting impact on the world – for good or for bad.

During the riots, I felt full of fire and passion, like I would never get caught!
I robbed and I murdered.
I became notorious among the people as a revolutionary, gained popularity among other insurrectionists, and sympathy from the common people.
My life was going great, but in the back of my mind,
I wondered when my luck would run out.

Finally, it did.
I was arrested at our most recent uprising, and I’ve been in jail with other rebels ever since. I knew I was in trouble the moment the Roman soldier grabbed me.
The Romans don’t go easy on people like me.
They don’t care if I’ve stolen or if I’ve killed someone.
My sentence is for treason, the highest offense in Roman eyes.
When I was arrested, my first thought was of crucifixion.
I knew that would be my fate.

But I have one small hope, Paschal Pardon, the Jewish Passover custom of releasing to the crowd one prisoner of their choice.
So my fate lies in the hands of an angry mob.

I’ve been told that the governor, Pontius Pilate, is going to offer to the crowd me and one other man, Jesus of Nazareth. This man is also convicted on treason,
but He’s nothing like me.
I’ve heard He’s been creating quite the commotion around the city.
I’ve heard He performs miracles.
I’ve heard He heals the sick and dines with the poor.
Some say He is a good teacher.
Others say He is the Messiah.

Jesus landed himself in this position because the chief priests and scribes are angry at Him. He claims to be the Son of God – blasphemy in their eyes.
He said that the temple would be destroyed, but He would raise it up in 3 days (John 2:19). More blasphemy.

Getting the chief priests and scribes angry may play to my advantage, though.
They have influence and they will be in the crowd today. They want Jesus out of their way and they will do whatever it takes to make it happen!
If they argue for Jesus’s crucifixion, surely the crowd will as well.
—

I’ve gotten word that the crowd seems to be favoring my release over Jesus! I may have a second chance at life! I feel so full of relief, vigor, excitement, deliverance, and…

Guilt.
This man has done nothing to deserve death!
When He came into Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover, He came riding in on a donkey and people praised Him shouting, “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:1-11).
He has brought hope and healing, not death and destruction like me.
Who could this man be?
Is he a good teacher?
Is he a prophet?
Or is he really the Messiah?

How could this innocent man die in my place?
Me, a sinful and guilty man!
If this Jesus really does die for me, I must find out the truth.
Why He is here and why He died.
——

Barabbas was the forerunner of all people to be saved by Jesus’ death. Barabbas was guilty for his sins. He deserved death. Instead of receiving what he deserved, he was shown mercy. Jesus took his place on the cross so that Barabbas would not that have to die that day.
Today, we are all Barabbas.
We deserve death for the sins we have committed, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (
Romans 3:23). Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and died the death we deserve. Imagine the relief Barabbas must have felt when he learned that he would not be crucified. May we also experience that kind of appreciation and thankfulness for our salvation through Jesus Christ!

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched Week One!
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 Sketched III!

Posted in: Desperate, Excuses, Fear, Forgiven, Freedom, Gospel, Help, Jesus, Legacy, Made New, Redemption, Relationship, Remade Tagged: barabbas, Desperate, help, Lord, lost, need, Savior, sketched
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