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Rescue

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished

May 26, 2023 by Rebecca Adams 1 Comment

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished

Rebecca Adams

May 26, 2023

Alive,Relationship,Rescue,Victorious,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23
John 10:1-5
Revelation 19:1-9
1 Corinthians 15:53-58

If there’s a topic we’d rather not dwell on, it’s death.
We pull away from feelings of loss, grief, and sadness, putting it off for “later in life”, secretly hoping to die peacefully in our sleep. Remembering our lives are fleeting and no one escapes the finality of death is a thought we’d prefer not to embrace.

Still; reality remains.
Death is coming.
One day, likely when we least expect, Death will have the final word over our earthly existence.

Perhaps, like every other aspect of following Jesus, our minds need to be renewed by
Life Himself in order to gain a right perspective on life and death.  (Romans 12:2)

The world urges us to seize the day,
manipulating us into believing today is the gift,
and it’s all we have.
Armed with this faulty belief system, we miss not only the purpose of now,
but also entirely eclipse the reality yet to come,
as well as the Giver Himself.

Life’s true purpose is inextricably bound up within an intimate relationship with the very source of Life Himself, the Triune God.

The often-missed secret to a spectacularly satisfying life is laying our life upon the foundation of worshiping the Creator rather than ourselves and our desires. (Romans 1:25) When we release our façade of control we find the freedom to flee fear, dis-entangle from sin, and find fulfillment, not in achievement, but in surrender.

Genuine Christ-followers, having arrived at the end of their days, ready to embrace the full reality of the richest life yet to come, recognize the familiarity of joy found in their last minutes. Its source isn’t knowing they have “checked every box”, but rather that all the boxes have been checked for them by Jesus, the One to whom they have run towards and delighted in through worship.

One week ago at the time of this publishing, Pastor and author, and most importantly genuine Christ-follower, Tim Keller, died on earth and awoke to the real life for which he’d been living for decades. Some of his last words earth-side were, “There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.”

Like the five virgins in Jesus’ parable who eagerly awaited Jesus’ return (Matthew 25:1-13), Keller was ready for death because he had firmly set the course of his life upon worshipping the Author of Life while waiting for the life that would not end.

When the mercy and goodness of God that had pursued him his whole life, finally caught him, Death was forever slain for him and he eagerly rejoiced. (Psalm 23:6) His mission of worship was not only accomplished on earth, it would continue in radiant glory for eternity to come as he welcomed an in-person, face-to-face worship that would ceaselessly endure forever.

A life committed to worship and marked by eagerness for life after death isn’t reserved for pastors but is available to all who follow Jesus.

Recently, a young woman from my church was brutally murdered. According to the onlooking world, her whole life was ahead of her. Which is true, but in a much different sense. Unlike Keller, Riley had lived most of her life in rebellion against the God who had surrendered Himself for her. She never authored a book, pastored a church, or studied at seminary, but one decision changed the theme of her life’s song. (Psalm 119:54)

Months before she died, Riley chose Jesus and her worship radically shifted off herself and onto the God who desired a relationship with her. With her mind renewed by the Spirit of God, she began sharing the Hope of Jesus. Roommates, coworkers, and neighbors who had never heard of the transformation offered by Jesus who came to pay the penalty accrued by our sin, now saw Jesus reflected in the worship-focus of Riley’s changed life.

As Riley breathed her last on earth, she was welcomed with the same celebration Keller received. Her mission on earth was accomplished, but her life of face-to-face worship was just beginning!

As we re-orient the worship of our lives, we will discover what Keller, Riley, and countless others have embraced. Regardless of the number of our days, the satisfaction of our mission is bound up within the joy of intimate knowledge of the Holy One as we lay our lives before Him in surrendered worship.

Perhaps there is no more beautiful picture of adoring, breathless worship than what is portrayed in Revelation 4 as angelic beings ceaselessly cry afresh, “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God the Almighty Worship, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8) If you haven’t read the whole scene and imagined yourself there to join the worship in person, you’re missing out! Go read Revelation 4!

Wherever you are in your faith journey today, decide to shift your focus.
Choose to place your worship solely on the Only One Worthy of it in the first place.
Then get excited, and eagerly anticipate the Forever Face-To-Face Life that will begin when this earthly life ends.

“Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent (life on earth),
burdened as we are,
because we do not want to be unclothed (
without Real Life)
but clothed (with Real Life),
so that mortality
(Death!) may be swallowed up by Life. 
Now the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God,
who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.”

(2 Corinthians 5:4-5, commentary mine)

 

Our purposed mission by God’s design is life with Him,
made available because of Christ’s sacrifice and His Spirit alive within us.
When we breathe our last on earth, Mission Accomplished is just beginning!

Tags :
death,life,mission,purpose,victory,worship
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Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
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When the end of time has come and we are united with Him and other believers, free from all sin, we will worship in pure spirit and sheer love. Nothing will hold us back from giving God all glory He deserves for Who He is and what He has accomplished for us.

We will delight in Him as a bride delights in her beloved husband and He will receive us as a husband delighting in His Bride whom He has desired and given everything for.
Dig Deeper!

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Posted in: Alive, Relationship, Rescue, Victorious, Worship Tagged: death, life, mission, purpose, victory, worship

Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

May 19, 2023 by Lesley Crawford 2 Comments

Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

  • Lesley Crawford
  • May 19, 2023
  • 2 Comments
Reflection, Rescue, Restored, Together, Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:16-20
Psalm 1
John 15:1-5
1 Peter 4:8-11
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I wonder, what comes to mind when you think about mission? 

Maybe your thoughts turn to events and activities. These are certainly a part of a mission. Over the years, I’ve been involved in many missional activities like work in schools, youth camps, community meals and outreach events with my church, which have often been effective.

However, these activities are only one aspect of Christ’s mission. At its heart, the mission is fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples, baptise them, and teach them to obey His commands. (Matthew 28:16-20)

I’ve learned how important it is to keep a correct focus as we attempt to reach others with the Hope of Christ. It can be easy to get caught up in practicalities, planning, and programmes, or become overly-concerned with how much of a success our activities seem to be. The danger is becoming so focused on the activities, we forget the heart of the mission, or our experience makes us so competent in ourselves we end up relying on our own strength and wisdom instead of looking to God.

To correct course, we must remember this is not our mission, but God’s. As Tommy MacNeil expresses it in his book Sleeping Giant, “The mission of the Church is God’s mission, and we are His partners in that cause. Mission flows from the heart of God, through the people of God, to the world. This means that mission must shift in our thinking from being an activity the Church engages in (or not) to being the core of who we are as God’s people.” (pg 58)

When we recognise it is God’s work which we have the privilege of participating in, we realize we cannot accomplish it in our own strength. 

We must do it His way, in His strength, motivated by His love, and there are a few practical steps we can take to do that.

One is to look to Jesus.
When we consider His example of mission, it is striking that He genuinely cared about others. He was never motivated by a desire to prove Himself. He had real compassion for those who were struggling and lost. (Matthew 9:36) As we look to Him, we can embrace His compassion for us, which allows His compassion for others to flow through us, reaching the point where, as early preacher and teacher Paul puts it, “the love of Christ compels us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Motivation matters.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that whatever good deeds we may do for God, and no matter how gifted we may be, if we fail to love, our work counts for nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Paul’s fellow apostle, Peter, writes we should seek to maintain constant love “above all.” (1 Peter 4:8)

One must spend time in God’s Word.
Meditating on Scripture allows His light to shine on our hearts and our motivations before we attempt to share Him with others. The writer of Hebrews points out that God’s Word penetrates to the depth of our souls; “It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

A desire to see God glorified.
Psalm 1 describes those who delight in the Lord and meditate on His Word as being like “a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3) 
Jesus used similar imagery when describing Himself as the vine and His disciples as the branches. Just as the branches can only bear fruit if they remain joined to the vine, we can only be fruitful if we remain in Him. (John 15:4-5)

Prayerful Participation
A key component of Christ’s mission involves the essential step of prayer. 
We must pray for ourselves and our heart motivations, for God to be glorified,
for His Spirit to make our work effective for His mission, and for those to whom we hope to witness, that their eyes would be opened to God that they might call on Him, know Him, and walk in His light.

Tags :
Christ,family,gospel,mission,Truth
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Digging Deeper

Most of us would probably say that we want to love Christ (Matthew 22:36-40), but how many of us would say that we are compelled by love like Paul?

If we are really honest with ourselves, our answer might be that we want to love Christ like that, but… there is a lot going on.
Dig Deeper!

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Posted in: Reflection, Rescue, Restored, Together, Truth Tagged: Christ, family, gospel, mission, Truth

Mission Day 2 Praying For Purpose: Digging Deeper

May 9, 2023 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Mission Day 2 Praying For Purpose: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

May 9, 2023

Neighbor,Purpose,Rescue,Shepherd

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

This DD Connects With "Praying For Purpose"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 9:35-38

35 Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the “good news of the kingdom” Jesus preached? (verse 35)

Jesus Christ was the Son of the living God (Matthew 6:13-20), Emmanuel (God With Us, Isaiah 7:14), Messiah (John 4:25-26), and King (Zechariah 9:9). Fully God, wrapped fully in flesh, came to earth to bridge the gap sin had caused between created beings and their Creator God. Promised from the moment the Lord God dealt with the introduction of sin in the garden of Eden, the Saviour had been prophesied to God’s chosen family over and over throughout all of time. Every part of Jewish history pointed toward the fulfillment of promise and prophecy.

The “good news of the kingdom” that Jesus would one day preach in person was echoed in every page of Scripture. From that initial curse of Satan and promise that the woman’s offspring would crush him beneath His divine heel (Genesis 3:14-15), to the law delivered to Moses on the mountaintop (Exodus 20-24; 31-35), to the sign of Jonah and his three days in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 1:9-2:10), and countless other types and historical arrows pointing straight to the promised Saviour: Jesus Christ.

The good news of the kingdom Jesus preached was that the promise was indeed fulfilled; their long awaited Saviour had come, and Jesus was He! The law served its intended purpose: to illustrate what sin was, show the holiness of God and the utter un-holiness of people, and demonstrate their desperate need for a Saviour.

They didn’t need to keep trying to save themselves by their own merit, or by tiptoeing their way around countless additional rules manufactured by people and tacked on to God’s law. Just as promised in the moment the serpent was sentenced, Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:13-20) in the way that human beings never would (Romans 3:21-26), and He did it perfectly.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the “good news of the kingdom” Jesus preached? (verse 35)

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, it can be embarrassing to admit that the simplicity of the gospel, or the “good news of the kingdom” can be challenging to easily share. When I consider the overarching story of the Gospel written through every page, chapter and book of the Bible, sometimes my words get jumbled. It all seems too big, too wonderful, too miraculous to share in simple terms. But the Holy Spirit is faithful to remind me that the reality of the wonderful mystery of the gospel is simple enough for a child to understand and rich enough to change every aspect in my life, and the lives of all people, if they choose to receive it.

When there is an opportunity to share the gospel, the Holy Spirit will work with us to communicate the good news; we can bring glory to God by sharing the gospel with believers, too. We all need to hear and preach the good news, daily! The good news of the kingdom is this: there is a holy, righteous God, and we can have a personal relationship with Him because of His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of His Word, the Bible, I know I can never do enough, be enough, say enough or give enough to earn my salvation or pay the price for my sins. (Ephesians 2:4)

There is no list of rules or behaviors I can follow to prove my holiness, or right the wrongs I’ve committed. I am a sinner, and I know this because God’s law shows me what sin is. But Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, came to earth as a man. He lived a perfect, sinless life, then laid down His life when He was crucified on a cross to pay the price for my sins and the sins of all people, was buried in a tomb and was resurrected to bodily life three days later. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, and He also lives through me because I have put all my trust in Him.

This good news changes everything about my life, because it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20-21) 

The Original Intent

2) What is the significance of “sheep without a shepherd,” and why did Jesus feel compassion for the crowds of people? (verse 36)

The reference of crowds of people being compared to sheep without a shepherd would not have been lost on the original readers of Matthew’s gospel. Shepherding was common in that region and age, and the characteristics of sheep would have been inferred and understood easily.

Jesus, and those with Him, knew that sheep are completely dependent upon their shepherd for survival. They knew a shepherd provides for his sheep in every way, from caring for the sheep’s wool and ensuring there are no pests or infestations, to maintaining the sheep’s hooves and ensuring they are able to move without injury or interference. A shepherd leads his sheep to pastures with suitable grazing, protects his flock from predators, and goes after sheep that wander off.

Sheep have strong flocking tendencies, and if one sheep begins to wander, the rest will follow…even if the wandering sheep falls into a ravine or off a cliff. This is why it is so important for the shepherd to retrieve the wayward sheep; it is for that sheep’s safety, but it is also to prevent the rest of the flock from following their fellow sheep into danger.

When Jesus saw the crowds of people, He recognized their humanity, their confusion, and their hopelessness. The Good Shepherd knew that without faithful shepherding, the people were vulnerable and in danger of falling prey to false teaching and a false Gospel. (John 10:11-18)

The Everyday Application

2) What is the significance of “sheep without a shepherd,” and why did Jesus feel compassion for the crowds of people? (verse 36)

Shepherding may not be common in our culture, but it doesn’t require much to look around and recognize the hopelessness, fear, and dejection our peers without Christ feel, does it? Can you imagine navigating a devastating loss, terminal diagnosis, broken marriage, financial ruin, or other earth-shattering life change apart from your Good Shepherd?

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the mindset that I am self-sufficient and capable of handling the different valleys and challenges life brings my way, but the reality is that we are called to live our lives completely dependent upon Christ for all things. Christ is my provider (Philippians 4:19), my shelter (Psalm 27:5), my protector (1 John 5:18-19). He brings me back when I wander and keeps me from following others who go astray. Day by day, he provides exactly what I need. By the same token, I can trust him to care for His flock when other believers (myself included!) wander astray.

We are called to live in willing responsibility to one another in godly community and hold ourselves accountable to the word of God and each other, but I mustn’t forget the Lord of the harvest is also the Good Shepherd. He sees and knows every need; He alone provides for each one. He knows exactly where His sheep are at all times and He can be trusted for their care, just as I trust Him for mine. 

The Original Intent

3) Why did Jesus tell His disciples to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest”? (verse 38)

Throughout His time with the disciples and ministering to people, Jesus repeatedly pointed to God as the one who orchestrated all things. Jesus was fully God, yet Jesus told His disciples He only did what He saw His Father doing. (John 5:19-23) Here, He again pointed to God the Father as Lord of all. In this case, Jesus wasn’t referring to a harvest of wheat, but to a “harvest” of people who were ready to receive the good news of the kingdom. (Matthew 13:24-30)

His words “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” made several points clear. First, He stated God the Father was the Lord of the harvest. No person could step outside the sovereign rule and reign of the Lord God, even the exact places they lived were under His sovereignty from generation to generation. (Acts 17:26) Promise and prophecy after promise and prophecy, all fulfilled. All pointing to Jesus as Messiah, all perfectly fulfilled in spite of human fallacy and sin by the hand of God alone.

Next, He rightly pointed to God as the only one capable of sending out Gospel-spreaders who would deliver the good news of the kingdom and point a lost and weary people to their true Savior. The commissioning of faithful workers could only come from God Himself. He had prepared the circumstances, He had prepared the people, and He had prepared their Savior. Only He could send out partners who would labor in His field to bring in His harvest.

Last, Jesus affirmed the harvest was God’s alone. No self-righteous additions to God’s law had brought about this turn of events. No devoted Pharisees or Sadducees could claim the ripe hearts of the crowds as the fruit of their labor. This harvest was first and only God’s.

The Everyday Application

3) Why did Jesus tell His disciples to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest”? (verse 38)

Jesus only ever did what He saw Father God doing, and He knew it was time to commission the disciples to go and preach the gospel. Jesus exemplified a lifestyle of constant prayer, and He knew God desires for people to partner with Him in prayer. There have been times I have stumbled with getting caught up in the temptation to fixate on my personal “calling” or purpose and have missed accepting the invitation to pray for opportunities to partner with God’s purpose.

It’s not a sin to desire to operate in a certain sphere or field, but when we place such an emphasis on our individual role, it is only a stone’s throw to slip into elevating self over our Savior. As a believer, I trust God will fulfill His ultimate will through my life, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t invitations He extends that I sometimes overlook or ignore. Ultimately, God’s purpose is clear: to spread the good news of His kingdom to all the world and teach new believers to obey Him in everyday life.

He fulfills this through His Church, the family of believers operating together in cooperation with him to further His kingdom and point everyone to Jesus Christ. We can and should partner with Father God in the same way: by praying that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His harvest!

When we pray in agreement with His will, we can trust that He will fulfill His purpose through us and make us ready workers in his field!

Tags :
evangelism,gospel,mission,prayer,purpose,share
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Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
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Mission Day 1
Journey Study

Early apostle and preacher, Paul, expressed similar encouragement in his letter to the church at Galatia. (Galatians 5:22-26)

We are image-bearers of Christ (Genesis 1:26-27), reflecting Him to our world. This mission isn’t just to get people to Heaven, but to show them the grace and hope they can have as believers while they still inhabit the earth.

This is why we pray for a mission. Pray to our Lord of the Harvest, who sees the fields ripe and needing workers. Pray for workers, pray for a field to work in, pray for open doors and divine appointments to share the Gospel.
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Posted in: Neighbor, Purpose, Rescue, Shepherd Tagged: evangelism, gospel, mission, prayer, purpose, share

Mission Day 1 Praying For Purpose

May 8, 2023 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Mission Day 1 Praying For Purpose

Carol Graft

May 8, 2023

Jesus,Joy,Purpose,Redemption,Relationship,Rescue

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 9:35-38
Matthew 28:16-20
1 John 3
Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 96

“Jesus came near [to His disciples] and said, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 26:18-20)

Following His death and resurrection, Jesus opens this discourse in Matthew 28:18 by reminding His disciples, “All authority has been given to me[.]” Even in this last appearance before ascending to heaven, He confirms His identity yet again by fulfilling the prophet Daniel’s prophecy about the Son of Man establishing an “everlasting dominion.” (Daniel 7:13-14) For those familiar with Hebrew Scripture’s prophecies of the Messiah, what an impossible yet glorious moment this must have been! 

This wasn’t the first time Jesus had commissioned His followers based on His authority. When teaching, preaching, and healing, Matthew 9:35-38 tells us Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. Comparing their widespread, desperate need for a savior to a harvest groaning to be collected, He asked His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest. “Lord” is translated from the Greek kyrios, meaning authority. As the One who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, He commissions His followers as workers to reap an abundant harvest.  

What does it mean to be commissioned by Jesus, often called being “on mission”? Every believer is called to a mission field whether it’s abroad, in our homes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, or even our churches. Jesus calls us to be His missionaries. (Mark 13:10, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48)

Scholar, theologian, and bishop N.T. Wright asserts, “The church’s task is to proclaim the Lord Jesus, to summon people to follow him with faithful allegiance, to nurture believers so that they become holy disciples […]” (The New Testament In Its World) 

Mr. Wright cautions those on Christ’s mission to avoid arrogantly thinking we can build the kingdom as he explains we are builders for the kingdom. Christ already paid the price and will re-establish His kingdom when He returns; our role is to reflect the love, peace, and joy exemplifying the new creations that Christ followers become. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Early apostle and preacher, Paul, expressed similar encouragement in his letter to the church at Galatia. (Galatians 5:22-26) We are image-bearers of Christ (Genesis 1:26-27), reflecting Him to our world. This mission isn’t just to get people to Heaven, but to show them the grace and hope they can have as believers while they still inhabit the earth. 

This is why we pray for a mission.
Pray to our Lord of the Harvest,
who sees the fields ripe and needing workers. 
Pray for workers, 
pray for a field to work in, 
pray for open doors and divine appointments to share the Gospel.

Such prayer aligns our minds and hearts with God’s. If we aren’t in alignment with His purpose, then we can fall into a trap of thinking it’s all about us. If our mission isn’t God-led, we easily become self-absorbed and proud and God gets no glory. We also run the risk of being all about the numbers, rather than reflecting Christ’s unconditional love.

Just as Jesus redeemed and discipled His first followers, giving them grace and lavish love, so too is our mission to point to redemption through Jesus, then disciple believers. No one is beyond the reach of God: not our supervisor at work, not our in-laws, not our grumpy neighbors, not our children. It is our job as believers to show love and grace to others, telling them the wonderful news of freedom and eternal life in Christ. (John 5:24)

Twenty centuries later, the teachings of Christ and the Word of God (Scripture) still matter. There are still souls to be saved (by God) and nurtured (by us) . . . even our own. 

If you don’t yet know of the unconditional love of Christ, it’s there for the asking!
Truly.
Repentance is simply acknowledging the sin in your life, and your desire to turn away from it. When we repent, ask for forgiveness, and accept Christ’s love for us, He will continue His sweet work within us, and invite us into partnership on His mission, for the rest of our lives. 

Tags :
mission,prayer,purpose,rescue,salvation
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi: Digging Deeper
July 28, 2023

Mission Day 2
Digging Deeper

There is no list of rules or behaviors I can follow to prove my holiness, or right the wrongs I’ve committed.

I am a sinner, and I know this because God’s law shows me what sin is.

But Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, came to earth as a man. He lived a perfect, sinless life, then laid down his life when he was crucified on a cross to pay the price for my sins and the sins of all people, was buried in a tomb and was resurrected to bodily life three days later.
Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
May 8 - May 26, 2023 - Journey Theme #118

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: Jesus, Joy, Purpose, Redemption, Relationship, Rescue Tagged: mission, prayer, purpose, rescue, salvation

Steadfast Day 11 To Be Revealed…

April 10, 2023 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Steadfast Day 11 To Be Revealed…

Sara Cissell

April 10, 2023

Alive,Mercy,Mighty,Rescue,Resurrection,Sacrifice

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 15:45-50
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
John 3:16-17
Psalm 90:3-6

The natural speaks of the supernatural.

I love it when the Lord uses His creation to help me comprehend His Word. Today I had one such sweet epiphany as my mind caught a glimmer of what I can look forward to in heaven. 

In 1 Corinthians 13, we are reminded, “we know in part” and “we see only a reflection as in a mirror.” We can’t grasp heaven with our earthly brains. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helps us translate until we reach heaven. 

So what natural elements did the Holy Spirit use today? 

A Ferris wheel and my daughter. 

My daughter recently visited the pediatrician and we discovered her height is in the 96th percentile. Now, my husband and I are tall. In fact, while pregnant we lovingly joked we were having a giraffe, so I wasn’t shocked by her measurements.

What did shock me, however, was a tangible application of her height. We had recently visited Scheels, a sporting goods store whose claim to fame is a Ferris wheel found in the center of the stores. 

My husband and I look forward to taking our daughter for her first Ferris wheel ride, and on this day, we were surprised to discover our nine-month-old daughter only needs to grow 6 inches before she can participate!

But she cannot ride it now. 

In that moment, the Holy Spirit quietly whispered the concept of 1 Corinthians 15:45-50 to my heart. 

My daughter cannot ride now because she does not meet the requirements needed to gain access. She may be incredibly close, but still falls short (pun intended). 

Similarly, citizens of first century Corinth refuted the idea of resurrection, claiming earthly bodies fall short (pun still intended) of worthiness to exist in a heavenly realm. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul initially agrees with their premise (although not their conclusion!), referring to our earthly bodies as “natural,” “corruptible,” made of “dust,” suited only for life on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:46-48, 53) Physical bodies, Paul goes on to explain, are in the type of Adam, who “became a living being.” (1 Corinthians 15:45)

“Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life in his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

Here, however, Paul’s argument shifts as he elucidates for the Corinthians that followers of Christ will be resurrected to spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:44-46) Our resurrected, spiritual bodies will be in the type of Jesus, often called the second or “last Adam,” who is “a life-giving spirit [. . .] from heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47)

Romans 8 confirms, “[T]he law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did [. . .] 

You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you [. . .] 
Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:2-3, 9-10, emphasis mine)

Friends, if the Spirit of God lives within us, we are living in the in-between. 

Here on earth, we live in our physical bodies, which are passing away, much as a seed planted in the ground appears to die. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) Yet we look forward, with great joy and anticipation to the day when new life springs forth from that dead seed. This is the hope (read: solid assurance) of our resurrection to incorruptible, spiritual bodies as heirs to the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:50)

In Scripture, we see some examples of others walking in the in-between. 

After spending time in the Lord’s presence, Moses’ physical body radiated the glory of God’s spirit. (Exodus 34:29-35)

Repentant as he hung on a cross next to Jesus, a guilty convict received the promise of spiritual resurrection, even as his physical body died slowly and brutally. (Luke 23:40-43) 

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus’ disciples had a glimpse into the spiritual realm, witnessing a transfigured Jesus speaking with Elijah and Moses. The disciples were dazzled and terrified as their physical bodies beheld spiritual beings. (Mark 9:2-8)  

From these stories, we learn our heavenly selves do not carry our physical bodies and sinful histories into heaven. 

Instead, Jesus grants us spiritual access, and eventual spiritual bodies, through His righteousness, which we can experience now through His crucifixion and resurrection.

This is how we inherit the kingdom of heaven
when we place the full weight of our trust
on Christ’s sacrifice,
offered on our behalf for every sin
we’ve committed against God. 

I am humbled as I write this, reminded Jesus died to take my sin in order to enable me to spend eternity with Him (John 3:16), to someday trade this earthly body for a spiritual one.

In light of this hope, we can walk through the in-between with the steadfastness Paul urges in 1 Corinthians 15:58, inviting others to join us on the journey as we anticipate heaven! 

May we rejoice in the heavenly life the Lord is preparing for us and seek to bring Him glory along the journey. 

“I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell; and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself.”     
-CS Lewis

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There is a dichotomy in the image of the man of the dust and the image of the man of heaven.

Dust reaps death, is hostile towards God, and does not submit to the law of God. The man of the dust is separated from God and has a mind set on things of the flesh.

The eternity of those who continue in the image of the man of the dust are excluded from God.
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Posted in: Alive, Mercy, Mighty, Rescue, Resurrection, Sacrifice Tagged: eternity, hope, Rescued, salvation

Sketched X Day 7 Without A Voice: Digging Deeper

July 19, 2022 by Lori Meeks 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!
Check out Without A Voice!

The Questions

1) The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years, why did it take so long for God to hear and respond to their cries for help? (verses 7-8)

2) Why would God give land to the Israelites that belonged to others? (verse 8)

3) Why would God choose Moses, for even he asks the Lord, “Who am I that I should go”? (verse 11)

Exodus 3:7-12

Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”

Original Intent

1) The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years, why did it take so long for God to hear and respond to their cries for help? (verses 7-8)
The easy answer to why God was so long in bringing rescue is that we can’t understand God’s timing. His scope is significantly broader than our own and His love infinitely outshines our own. However, if we step back and study Israel’s history a bit we can make some educated guesses to help answer this particular “why” of waiting. Let’s first remember it was God who brought the Israelites to Egypt in the first place, even before they were “Israelites”.  Joseph’s own struggles and injustices led him on a winding road that gave him a position of power benefitting his family and built a new nation. (Genesis 39-45) Secondly, the Israelites needed time, several generations, to grow into a nation and a people. Their numbers grew mightily during those years in Egypt; even Pharaoh was increasingly concerned by their multiplication. Lastly, God was raising up Moses as His instrument to lead His people out of Egypt and into a land of their own. Moses needed to grow, learn, make mistakes and become the man God would use to lead His people to freedom. How tragic it would have been for Israel to be so comfortable in the shadow of another nation that they never lived out the purposes God had for them! It really wasn’t that God didn’t hear Israel’s cry, rather, He was working “behind the scenes” to align each piece and person in preparation for freedom. His long-game purpose for His people was to move in such a mighty way that no one could miss how only He, the Great I Am, freed His people from the grip of slavery. These events were a pre-cursor for another miraculous set of events in the life of Jesus when, by His suffering, He offered freedom from sin’s slavery for us all!

2) Why would God give land to the Israelites that belonged to others? (verse 8)
All good stories have a beginning, and Israel’s begins long before their great exodus out of slavery in Egypt, before Joseph, before his father Jacob, and before his father Isaac. To discover the first time God spoke of Israel’s land, we go back to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-2.   God called Abraham (then known as Abram) to leave his home and travel to “the land that I will show you”. This land became known as the Promised Land referencing God’s covenant vow to give it to Abraham’s descendants. It extended from the wilderness to the Euphrates River and from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. (Exodus 23:31) However, by the time Israel was finally ready to take the land hundreds of years after Abraham, it was inhabited by pagan nations like Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Keep in mind this land was part of God’s provision for His chosen people, the Israelites. It was the Lord’s land and it had been promised to Israel centuries prior. It was important Israel take ownership to fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham. Psalm 24:1 tells us “The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord”. He has rights to everything and everyone; He can give and take away from whomever He chooses. 
3) Why would God choose Moses, for even he asks the Lord, “Who am I that I should go”? (
verse 11)
Because Moses knew he couldn’t accomplish this impossible task on his own, he quickly admitted his shortcomings and reservations about being “the guy” of God’s choosing. He had made some big mistakes in his life, but God, as only He can, used Moses in spite of those sinful choices to shape him into a man who was open and willing to be obedient to God. Moses recognized God’s voice in the burning bush, went to investigate, and listened to what God had to say. Moses knew this monumental task of freeing Israel was far beyond anything he could do or even wanted to do. For these reasons, and probably more, he pushed back on God. In fact, in Exodus 4:13 Moses said in essence, “You’ve got the wrong guy God, send someone else.” (my paraphrase) God’s response was one of anger for Moses disobedience and disrespect to the Sovereign God, still God provided an antidote to Moses’ insecurities in the form of Moses’ brother, Aaron. Ultimately, Moses acted obediently and depended on God for the enormous mission ahead of him.

Everyday Application

1) The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years, why did it take so long for God to hear and respond to their cries for help? (verses 7-8)
Don’t lose hope! If you’ve been crying to God for seemingly forever, don’t give up and assume He isn’t listening; this is a lie! God hears and is working, despite our impatience. I tend to stop praying about “it” and attempt to “help” God by pushing ahead with my solution. You’d think I’d learn to trust Him; alas, I haven’t. In the past months, I’ve intentionally worked to be still, listen and wait, but honestly, there are more days when I decide to push ahead with my plans. News flash! This doesn’t work! When we run ahead of God, we slow down His provision. God cannot be rushed. Perhaps even more frustrating than personally waiting on God is watching a loved one wait for Him. Recently, I was talking with my oldest, who desperately longs for a husband. As a parent, it’s hard not to give a solution and instead point them to Jesus! I know God is working in the waiting, but as her mom, I desperately want to fix her pain. I must remember the best I can do is lead her to seek Jesus and His comfort. Psalms 73-74 are written by a guy who clearly understood the struggle between the pain of waiting and the desire to honor God. “But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:2-3) He follows on with confident faith in verses 25-26, “Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” As we wait on the Lord, lets determine to move closer to God and dig into His word. Psalms is strong encouragement, filled with honest cries, hope, and healing.

2) Why would God give land to the Israelites that belonged to others? (verse 8)
When we remember God’s sovereign authority over every aspect of creation, including us, our perspective either shifts in alignment with truth or we press back against it, wanting to cling to a false sense of control and ownership. We all need the reminder to hold loosely to what the Lord has given for our use, even our relationships are a gift from Him. Our homes, churches, ministries, careers, and every material good is given to us by a graciously benevolent God; we are His stewards of these grace gifts and we never know when He will ask us to give something up for Him and His purposes. Job 1:21 says, “The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” I speak from a place of experience when I say that when we are faithful to God and His call on our lives, He will indeed ask us to give away or give up jobs, careers and even ministries. This ask has never made sense to me at the time, but after I’ve faithfully obeyed, God provides the understanding, insight and provision for the next step in my journey. It’s only in practicing full surrender of everything and everyone in our lives that we can fully embrace the abundant purposes of the Lord for us.

3) Why would God choose Moses, for even he asks the Lord, “Who am I that I should go”? (verse 11)
Because God is the Almighty God, and He has a tendency to use the most unlikely people in the most unlikely ways to further His kingdom, all of us have been given purposes that far-extend our human ability and reasoning. I could share many stories of times I’ve asked God the exact question or a similar one that Moses posed, “Are you sure about this God? I’m kind of a mess, in case you didn’t notice.” We can’t accomplish His mission in our power, but God can finish His work in us and through us by His Spirit! Jesus Himself said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) When it comes to accomplishing God’s mission for us, we must take Him at His word and remember the Lord’s word, “Not by strength,
Just like with Moses, God is looking for our willingness and trust, He’s got all the details already figured out. It’s okay to ask questions, God can handle them. It’s okay to feel nervous and uncertain about your abilities because they are required for us to lean in and trust in God over ourselves.

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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: God, Lord, Purpose, Rescue, Suffering, Worship Tagged: God, Lord, purpose, rescue, suffering, worship

Wilderness Day 15 Wilderness Faith

March 25, 2022 by Michelle Brown Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 1:1-4
Acts 1:12-14
Deuteronomy 8:2-10
Isaiah 53:4-6
Matthew 8

Wilderness, Day 15

Wilderness experiences often leave us feeling far from God.
Yet God is with us and at work in our midst.
He faithfully provides, leads, and humbles us as He reveals our hearts, all while moving us forward toward the fulfillment of His promise to finish His work. (Deuteronomy 8:2-10)

Wilderness waiting doesn’t mean inactivity or wasted time. As we see in the lives of Jesus’ disciples as they awaited the indwelling Holy Spirit, the wilderness teaches us faith, endurance, and dependence on God.

In the forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples, proving He was truly alive. (Acts 1:3) He told them about the Kingdom of God and instructed them on how to live after He ascended to His heavenly throne.

Jesus’ final words to them centered on the promised Holy Spirit:

“[F]or John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days [. . .] you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses [. . .] to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:5, 8)
Jesus returns to heaven. (Acts 1:9-11)
And the disciples enter the wilderness of waiting.

Wow! Can you imagine the conversation between the disciples on the road home?

Is He coming back?
What should we do now?
They were very dependent on Jesus during His earthly ministry, yet now Jesus expected them to take the Gospel to the entire world without Him! For the disciples, this was a major hurdle for persevering faith, a wilderness moment.

Consider our own circumstances, when ministry doesn’t fit with our expectations of how God would further His kingdom. We, too, can find ourselves staring at the sky, wondering what’s next.

Despite moments of confusion and anxiety, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, as Jesus had commanded. There, they “were continually united in prayer, along with the women[.]” (Acts 1:14)

Imagine the disciples remembering the lessons Jesus had taught them on prayer and worship, humility, faith, and community.

The disciples’ first move, therefore, was prayer, shaped by Jesus’ example. Jesus made prayer a priority in His life, modeling it to His disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 5:16)

Jesus also described true worship, in a shocking conversation with a derided Samaritan woman. (John 4:21-24) The physical location of worship would no longer be important, He explained, putting to rest a generations-old conflict between ethnic groups. Rather, all believers would “worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)

Another fundamental lesson Jesus taught was the greatness of those who humbly serve. (Luke 22:24-27) In answering a dispute over which disciple would be most glorified in Heaven, Jesus challenged their thinking.

“On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)

Jesus continually demonstrated servant leadership and humility. The disciples would need these skills to take the Gospel to the world.

Along with reflecting on Jesus’ teachings, the disciples could use their wilderness time to consider the importance of faith.

The disciples had witnessed Jesus restore abundance of life in miracle after miracle.
A centurion’s servant, healed with a word. (Matthew 8:5-13)
A leper, and the disciple Peter’s mother-in-law, healed with a touch. (Matthew 8:1-4, Matthew 8:14-16)
Spiritual and physical healing, again and again, living fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s words, before their eyes, “He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.” (Matthew 8:16-17, Isaiah 53:4)

Yet, in none of these restorations had the disciples’ own lives been at risk.
Until the night a terrible storm arose as Jesus and His disciples were traveling on the sea.
As their boat nearly capsized in the waves, the disciples woke a sleeping Jesus, begging Him for rescue. (Matthew 8:23-27) Jesus calmed the storm, then challenged them to assess their faith.

You see, it’s easy to proclaim faith that God is working in a stranger’s hardship.

The smallness of our faith may not become apparent until the waves surge before our eyes, threatening to sweep the air from our lungs and crush our bones beneath the weight of the sea.

Yet, Jesus calmly reminds, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Faith enables us to rely on God’s strength to overcome any storm or wilderness moments that tear into our lives.

Such faith would be critical for the disciples to carry out Jesus’ final commission. Now in the upper room, before the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter led them in faith as they waited and prayed.

When the Holy Spirit arrived, Peter, who denied Christ three times only weeks earlier, spoke powerfully about the life and resurrection of Jesus to the masses of Jews who filled Jerusalem. As a result, three thousand people came to faith. (Acts 2)

In the wilderness, we, like the disciples, can learn to prioritize prayer, engage in true worship, humbly serve, and move in the rhythms of faith.
God is faithful, and we can depend on Him, even in the wilderness.

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Posted in: Community, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Kingdom, Rescue, Worship Tagged: endurance, Faithfully, Humbles, leads, Provides, 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

The GT Weekend! ~ Wilderness Week 1

March 12, 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) We began our Journey Into Wilderness with an easily forgotten Old Testament wanderer, Cain. Perhaps you’ve never read his story, or maybe you only think of him as the murderer who jealously killed his own brother. Maybe, like me, you’ve never considered how your wilderness may have reflections of Cain’s wanderings. Remembering that every story in the whole of Scripture is meant to point toward the grander narrative of the Lord Jesus’ rescue for sinners and His magnificent love for them, how can you see God’s gracious love toward both Cain and Abel? (read their full story in Genesis 4) We may want to excuse ourselves from the wrecking shame and damage of sin, by claiming we’ve never done “that”, where “that” is our “unthinkable deed”. In doing this, however, we easily gloss over our other sins. None of us can be excused from the deadly price tag of sin. All sin breaks relationship, no matter how large or small. As you reflect on Cain’s story this weekend, ask the Lord to convict you of sin. Then take the next step and bravely confess that sin to another fellow believer and ask them to hold you accountable in not choosing that sin.

2) On Wednesday, Paula provided us with comparison between our lives and embroidery work. The backside is a seeming disarray of crisscrossed, zig-zagging threads jumbled, cut, and tied in a ridiculous maze. Only when flipping over the final product can we make out the lovely scene produced by the apparent tangling of threads. What scenes of your life feel, or have felt, chaotic, mismatched, and meaningless? As you reflect on these, what emotions are the strongest? Put names to them and think about the pains involved in those scenarios. Considering Job’s losses in the areas of health, friendships, wealth, respect, and family, which ones most closely connect with your story? Job’s pain ran deeper than he ever anticipated, as evidenced by his desire for death and his wish to have never been born. Still, he refused to curse God, and insisted the Lord was sovereign and good. What truths will you adamantly cling to as you re-frame your wilderness season? Are these truths reliable? How do you know? Spend time in this weekend reading Job 38-42 and glean stabilizing truths!

3) “If I become a Christian, my life should be easy, successful, and enjoyable.” This is an easy misconception to fall into, but we only need to briefly read Scripture to understand that belief system isn’t supported by biblical teaching. If Christ Jesus, as God the Son, entered the Wilderness, was persecuted, threatened, disowned, mocked, ridiculed, and torturously killed, why would His followers expect to be treated royally with a life of ease? Why would anyone decide to commit their lives to following this kind of Savior? Have you asked yourself this question? Amazingly, our reasons for why we follow are layered into Jesus’ wilderness experience. He holds all authority. Though He took on human flesh, and chose humanity, He still retained His deity. At any point during His wilderness Jesus could have ended Satan’s attacks and sent him packing. But He didn’t. He chose suffering again and again, so He could be our personal Savior. The God who holds all authority also loves with empathetic compassion having lived humanity like us, but was without sin, unlike us. In incredible love, He did what we could not accomplish on our own, and He holds out this gift freely for all. Yes, following this Savior is worth everything.

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 Job 23:10-12 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands from His lips; I have treasured the words from His mouth more than my daily food.

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, I am a mess. My heart loves myself. My circumstances are a swirling mess of puzzle pieces. I get lost in alternating waves of doubt and trust for You. My faith is weak. This pressing on all sides wears me thin. Still, in all of this, Your Word says I am known. My ways are known by You. My brokenness, my weariness, my doubts, fears, and desperate places as I wander this wilderness are all known by You. Lord, my God, my only Hope in life or death, You promise to bring me forth through all of this as pure gold. Lord, what a breathtaking wonder! What an astounding, attentive, loving Sovereign! My Jesus, remind me of this truth when I’m tempted to only fix my attention on my surroundings. You are worthy of my constant praise! May my heart learn to worship and trust You alone in this process of refinement!

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Posted in: Christ, Gift, God, Jesus, Journey, Love, Relationship, Rescue, Scripture, Sin Tagged: alone, compassionate, Job, loss, questions, Savior, wilderness
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14