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Sketched XI Day 4 Feast In The Famine: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XI Day 4 Feast In The Famine: Digging Deeper

Carol Graft

June 22, 2023

Joy,Peace,Provider,Rest,Shepherd,Sketched

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 "Feast In The Famine"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 6:24-35

24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” 28 “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.

29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.” 30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you; Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the context of this conversation? (John 6:1-23)

Studying context can be as simple as reading the chapter before and after or can be as in-depth as reading the whole book in a single sitting for a solid overview of purpose, theme, and insight. Studying Scripture will always be worth it for it accomplishes God’s purposes every time it’s read. (Isaiah 55:11)

This discussion follows two significant miracles. One involved the disciples (John 6:16-21) and one also included numerous followers (John 6:1-14). John highlights these and 4 other miracles to emphasize the overall point of his gospel, Jesus is God! John uniquely recorded only those miracles that could not be replicated by magicians or soothsayers of that time. Also unique, John provided the “I Am” statements of Jesus that clearly tie Him to the God of the Old Testament as One and the Same, proving He was God incarnate.

John wrote to Jews and Gentiles of Jesus’ deity while Matthew wrote to Jews who had converted to Christianity. Mark wrote for the Gentiles who knew nothing of Jewish culture. Luke meticulously demonstrated how God’s love is intended for both Jew and Gentile.

This conversation about bread follows on the heels of Jesus feeding the 5,000, so we can imagine sitting with the crowd, being miraculously fed and astounded by Jesus.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the context of this conversation? (John 6:1-23)

While all of God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)  and we can glean much from regularly reading its entirety, the Gospel of John is a wonderful place to begin if you are new to reading the Bible. John shows us throughout his eyewitness account that Jesus is indeed God incarnate. Consider taking a deeper dive and looking up the cross references for Jesus’ “I AM” statements and see what you discover about His divinity! (Hint: Cross-references are provided in many Bibles, they are the tiny-print references to other passages that relate to a verse or words in a verse. They are usually denoted with lowercase alphabet letters.)

In this passage, Jesus tells His disciples that He is the fullness of their satisfaction. There is no want or desire that will satisfy us better than Him, no matter how hungry we become. Jesus’ message of delightfull satisfaction for the crowd and disciples is just as relevant to us today.

Whether you’ve given your whole life to Jesus by repenting from your sin and making Him your Savior, or whether you have only used His name as a cuss word, or anywhere in between, His truth stands as unchanging as His invitation, “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” (verse 35)

All we need to do is come hungry to the One who satisfies in full!

The Original Intent

2) Why was the crowd arguing about Moses, Manna, and Jesus? (verses 26-31)

Some Jews from the crowd (verse 24) became offended when Jesus pinpointed the real reason they were looking for Him after the feeding of the 5,000. (verse 26) Further, they likely didn’t enjoy His prodding that undercut their self-reliant religious system, “Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him.” (verse 27)

They didn’t enjoy the clear insinuation from Jesus that they were working hard for perishable food that wouldn’t last for eternity by doing good works and abiding by Moses’ Law. When they asked Jesus what works they could do to get the “food” that would last for eternity and carry the favor of God’s approval seal, Jesus’ reply pointedly told them they couldn’t do anything. God was the One who did the work that would last, and this lasting work was available freely to them if they would only believe in the One God had sent who stood right in front of their eyes as Jesus, God incarnate!

Highly offended by now because, like all good Jews, they rested the hope of their salvation on exactly that, being good Jews by their work. Frustrated, they pitted Jesus against Moses by saying Moses’ miracle of Bread from Heaven was superior. (Exodus 16:31) From their vantage point, Jesus simply multiplied existing food whereas Moses made manna fall from the sky. (John 6:29-31) Because it was Passover (John 6:4) Jews were freshly hearing Exodus passages in their synagogues. They expected more from the “Promised Messiah” and weren’t convinced Jesus was the Great I Am who led Israel through the Red Sea and Wilderness.

Just believe in Jesus and God’s seal of approval would be upon them because they had trusted in Jesus who provided the only “food” that would last for eternity? Impossible!

The Everyday Application

2) Why was the crowd arguing about Moses, Manna, and Jesus? (verses 26-31)

We all hunger and thirst both physically and spiritually. Jesus is the “better Moses” because He Himself is the Bread of Life. Had the crowd looked past their full bellies to see the God who stood before them wrapped in flesh, they would have worshiped Him instead of becoming distracted by arguments over physical bread and self-righteousness.

In the same way, we can also be distracted by the things we can experience with our senses and forget about the spiritual realm. When we do, we become tempted to sin, which will always trap us. Yes, even as committed Christ-followers, we fall prey to temptation; none of us are immune to the distracting allure of sin. 

Our antidote is found by leaning into the Word of God and the Word made Flesh, Jesus, who was offered for us by God’s design as a payment in full for our sin. Jesus did all the work for us by living a perfect life needed to please God. Just like the ancient Jews, we can’t do anything to earn God’s favor.

When we repent of our sin and “come hungry” to Him, we find He is indeed bread for our soul; He provides true nourishment. The more we come to Him for satisfaction, the less we hunger for the things of this world as we practice feasting on the Bread of Life.

We may scoff at those who begged for more signs that Jesus is God or who grew offended at Jesus for pointing out how their self-rescue attempts would fail, but we are more alike than different.

Many seek a rescue and Eternal Hope, but they don’t see the True Rescuer standing before them. If you are hungering after something, whether in this world or beyond, my sister, I urge you to run to the Father who gave His Son as a ransom for you. (Mark 10:45) Run to Jesus. His word is life!

The Original Intent

3) What is the difference between manna and the bread of life? (verse 33)

Manna is mentioned in Exodus 16 when the Israelites were grumbling and hungry in the wilderness after their rescue from slavery in Egypt. Who was the Rescuer? The “I AM” God who spoke with Moses from a burning bush. (Exodus 3:14)

Moses interceded to God on behalf of the grumbling, hungry people and in the morning, there were flakes like dew on the ground. These flakes were “manna” given by God who gives good gifts to His people (Matthew 7:11) and who knows what they need before they even ask (Matthew 6:8).

The Israelites were given specific amounts to gather daily, and manna appeared every morning. If someone collected extra because they didn’t trust God to provide it again, the manna would rot by morning. However, the day before Sabbath, they were instructed to collect extra; that manna did not rot. The “I AM” God provided perfectly, doing the work of providing on their behalf. All they needed to do was trust Him.

The Jews were offended and bothered by Jesus who was the “Better Moses” because they failed to see the purpose of both Moses and the manna. Both were meant to point forward to the day when the true Bread of Life, Jesus, would be provided and readily available to all who trusted Him.

The same God who provided flakes of food in the wilderness, sent Jesus as God in the flesh, to provide the perfect atonement necessary for our salvation. It was never about Moses, and always about God. (verse 32) The same God who stood before the Jews calling Himself the Bread of Life and extending an invitation to all to come and be satisfied.

““I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” (verse 35)

The Everyday Application

3) What is the difference between manna and the bread of life? (verse 33)

The first Jews who wandered the desert, grumbling and complaining about their hunger, were satisfied and provided for in full every single morning of their forty years in the wilderness. Thousands of years later, the Jews were still fixated on the gift of manna and the fulfillment of their physical desires instead of worshiping the Giver who abundantly satisfies all desires!

Jesus reminds the grumbling crowd that manna only fulfilled the temporary need of daily hunger with a temporary solution.

The “bread” we eat fills a temporary hole, and we ravenously stuff the empty spaces of our lives with every lust imaginable. Physical food, fitness, social media, careers, children, friendships, and all manner of lusting idols. These “temporary foods” will always let us down, leaving us just as empty and even more disappointed than we were before. What we need is to feast daily on the Bread of Life. Jesus, the true Bread, fills every single empty space if we surrender them. The best part? His filling lasts!

We don’t realize we are actually hungry for the provision only God can provide, but we look to the world to fulfill our longings. When we look to God to fulfill our needs, we will never experience lack!

If you are hungry, if you are thirsty for more than what you are finding in your corner of the world, turn to Jesus. Repent of your sins, confess them openly to Him and allow Christ to fill you to overflowing with His living water. Worship the Giver for the Gift of Himself, the “I AM” God who fills you with the Bread of Life!

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fullness,hope,nourish,satisfied,sustenance
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Sketched XI Day 3
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A culture of rebellion against Yahweh was all I had ever known, growing up in Tishbe in the northern kingdom of Israel, and yet I had come to believe that Yahweh is God and that, despite the seeming chaos all around, Yahweh is Sovereign.

Ahab was the worst in a series of wicked kings, leading the people in worship to Baal, but I knew Yahweh was the true King.
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Training Day 6 Filled With Him

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:8-11
Psalm 119:9-16
Isaiah 26:1-6
Romans 12:1-2

Training, Day 6

We live in a world full of noise.
In its midst, we all feel a desire for silence.

When I think of silence, I think of peace, rest, and tranquility. The world might direct us to seek these qualities through a form of meditation involving emptying one’s mind. This form of meditation has become more and more prevalent, but is this the way Christians should seek peace and rest?

The Bible clearly and emphatically answers, “No!”. Our goal as Christians is to seek silence with the Lord in order to fill our minds with truths about Him. Psalm 46:10 says “Stop fighting and know that I am God.” Other translations use the phrase, “Be still.” Be still and think about who God says He is in His Word; this is the holy, biblical way of meditation.

Psalm 119 gives us a clear understanding of Christian meditation:
“I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16)

While other forms of meditation attempt to lure us with false promises of peace if we empty our minds, God promises true peace when we practice His idea of filling our minds with God’s Word and delighting in His truth! Isaiah 26:3 promises, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.”

I can empathize in the struggle to find time for quiet study and reflection, prayer and meditation in God’s Word. I had been battling idleness and was immensely helped by reading C.S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters. If you are not familiar with this book, it is an allegorical series of letters written from an older, wiser demon mentoring his nephew, a novice demon, put in charge of keeping a young man away from God. The older demon writes, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

Yikes! Lewis’ words really convicted me of the idleness of my mind. It is never too late to start filling our minds with God’s Word. Pick up God’s Word, pray for guidance, and the Holy Spirit is faithful and able to reveal truth to us. (John 16:13)

When I actually make time, I’ve found reading and studying God’s Word to be a most satisfying endeavor. If I’m being honest though, spending time in prayer has often seemed tedious and even boring. I was ashamed to even admit that until I read Donald Whitney echo my thoughts in his book, Praying the Bible. He explained that if prayer feels dry and boring, we are doing it wrong! He encourages us to pray using God’s own words. I found it so beneficial to begin my time of prayer with reading a Psalm in prayer to God. Since I’ve begun this practice, my prayers have become much more saturated with Scripture and they are far from boring!

Finally, believing lies is a sure way to keep ourselves from quieting our hearts before the Lord in meditation and prayer. For the longest time, I believed I needed to pray the “right” words. So, I “hid” my “wrong” feelings from God, so as not to be irreverent. For example, if I felt anxious, I felt I had to deal with that before praying, because I knew my anxiety stemmed from not trusting in the Lord.

In truth, we cannot hide our feelings from God. I condemned myself for having “wrong” feelings, rather than being honest and submitting them to the Lord. God gave us feelings in order to point us to Him, not away from Him. If we pray like the Psalmist and cry out to God, in the midst of our fear and anxiety, He will change our hearts to be conformed to His!

What can you do today to make time to quiet yourself before the Lord? If you are a mom, can you load your littles up in a stroller and walk around the neighborhood and pray? (I put in my bluetooth earbuds so I can pray out loud without looking like a crazy person talking to myself!) If you work full-time, can you pray in your car while you’re on your lunch break? Praying out loud is not a requirement, but I’ve found it keeps me focused!

Sisters, let’s practice silence and holy meditation by filling our minds with God! Together with the apostle and teacher Paul, I pray for us:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2, emphasis mine) Amen.

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Worship VIII Day 8 Who Is Like Our God?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Worship VIII, Day 8

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

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

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

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

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

We seem so divided.

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

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

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

Like us, the song is FULL of questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VII Week 2

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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) What a glorious thought! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His family. For those who believe in Jesus, there is an eternal home waiting for us without tears or pain or suffering. We will dwell forever in the house of God! When was the last time you thought about what heaven will be like? Have you spent time contemplating the majesty and wonder of a God who is pleased to be with His people, creating a place for them that is perfect and beautiful? What will it be like to live in a perfect world, in perfect relationship with God, with no sin to get in the way? Sit with these questions today. Imagine deeply what God has promised us in the resurrection. Look back through the verses Quantrilla referenced in our Journey Study yesterday and visualize the glory awaiting God’s people. Write a prayer thanking God for His good plans and telling Him what you are most delighted by as you consider the “sweet by and by.”

2) Throughout Scripture, our life in Christ is referred to as a race or some other physical competition. Running a race requires stamina and endurance, determination and discipline. How often do we become weary in our day-to-day life between the demands of others and seemingly endless checklists? At times, it can feel more like we are running in a hamster wheel than actually pressing on toward a goal. Regardless of our feelings, our sure hope is we do not need to run this race in our own strength! We can put our faith in Christ and trust in His faithfulness to sustain us. As Lesley pointed out, “faith is a matter of focus.” Are you trusting in your own will power, strength, or ability to “finish your race”? Or are you turning your eyes to the faithfulness of Christ, resting in His power, strength, and ability to carry you across the finish line? Is there an area in your life where you have not fully turned your fears over to Him? Take some time today to consider where you are struggling and reorient your focus in those areas to Christ. Ask God to show you His faithfulness, knowing He does great things.

3) Jesus Christ is the great King of Kings! If we really believe this truth, our response should be one of worship and praise for the great work which He has done. Marietta reminded us that Jesus came to Earth at the end of a period of four hundred years of apparent silence from God. The people had been waiting for a promised Messiah; yet, many did not know or recognize Him when He finally arrived. Have you ever gone through a season where it seemed like God was silent? What was your response in that time? How did God come through for you in the end? Reflect today on the faithfulness of God in seasons past, and let this reality encourage you right now. Perhaps you are currently in a season where God seems quiet. How are you responding to His quiet? Are you continuing to walk in faith, even when God seems distant? How can you press into the waiting season and trust in God as King of Kings, and believe He will be faithful to you? Talk to God honestly today about your struggles, big and small. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and help you remember His goodness.

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 Jude 1:24-25 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer Journal
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God above all. You are great and mighty, yet You choose to care for the weak and lowly. You are faithful, even when Your people are faithless. Thank You for Your loving kindness towards me. Thank You that my life has meaning, not because of who I am or what I do, but because of who You are and what You have done for me. Even when my days are hard, and my weakness is on display, You are constantly faithful. It is only by faith in You and through Your faithful work that I have any hope of salvation. While the world around me seems shaky, when I don’t know who or what to believe, when my future feels uncertain, thank You for holding me fast. Thank You that I do not need to fix myself or my circumstances. Thank You for sustaining the world. Help me to lay down my need for control and certainty. Help me to trust in Your unending goodness.

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VII Week 1

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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) “Be still and know”. In a society which urges us at every moment to hustle harder, hurry to the next thing, and do more, the King of Kings calls His beloved children to be still. He calls those who love Him to cease their striving, to rest in His goodness and His completed work. He has always been faithful, and He will continue in His faithfulness. No amount of work or hustle can change His faithfulness toward you. Over the last six months since Covid-19 hit, some of us had the opportunity to slow down and sit with our thoughts as we have been kept at home, while others of us have had more and more responsibilities heaped on our plates beyond what we can manage. Spend some time today considering your response to God’s call to be still. Where in your life are you striving and working to make yourself better? Where are you resisting the gift of rest God has provided for you? Set aside some time this week to practice stillness. This may require getting up a little earlier or coordinating with your spouse to allow for some time away. Find space to rest, listen to God’s gentle leading, worship Him with honest transparency, and renew your soul by remembering “the Lord is on your side.”

2) “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Jesus gave His life on the wondrous cross so we who believe might be united to Him. This unity demands we die to our selfish desires and relinquish any control we think we have over our lives. In Philippians 3, Paul tells his readers he has lost everything for the sake of Jesus, but considers all he lost as nothing because he has gained Christ. As followers of Christ, we will face suffering. This is the nature of our broken world. How have you responded to suffering in your life? Have you allowed God to make you new, even in the midst of suffering, or are you carrying around bitterness? Write down a current or recent struggle, then intentionally turn it over to the Lord. Ask for His help as you navigate this suffering. Name specific heart responses you have had toward your difficult situation, both positive and negative. Praise God for His work in you! If you’ve never died to yourself, knowing you have no righteousness on your own apart from Jesus, (Philippians 3:9) take these moments to repent from sin, asking Him to bring you the fullness of life only He can offer!

3)It is easy to forget all that went into securing our hope of salvation. Jesus was brought down low in order that we who trust in Him could be united to Him. He suffered and died so He might invite the weary and burdened to follow Him and take up His easy yoke. I don’t know about you, but I am humbled that anyone would choose to die such a horrific death on my behalf; much less Jesus himself who stepped down from the highest heaven to become the lowest servant. This sobering thought should lead us to consider how we can serve others. What could we possibly do that Jesus Himself has not already done to serve the Church? How can I ever possibly think I am above any position of service? Where is God calling you to lay down your life and serve others today? Is there a need for volunteers in your church? Do you have a friend or neighbor in need of encouragement or a meal? Ask God to show you ways you can reflect the humility of Christ by serving those in need around you. Make a plan to serve at least one person this week because Jesus came low to serve you.

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 8:37-39 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer Journal
Lord, quiet my heart. Help me to be still and consider the greatness of the gifts You have given Your people. Thank You that You are on my side, despite what the world tells me. I know You gave Your Son to die on a cross, so I might have life to the full. Help me to never take Your gift for granted! Remind me the wonderful cross was the ultimate sacrifice for my ultimate good. Give me courage, strength, and perseverance to die to myself and live out my union with Christ. And oh! Let me not forget the glory awaiting me in the life to come! Let my weary soul find rest in the comfort of knowing that one day, I will dwell in Your presence. I trust You are preparing a place for me, and I find joy in knowing You will make all things new. As I consider what heaven will be like, help me to live out the principles of Your Kingdom “on earth, as it is in heaven.” Let me abide in Your perfect love and share Your love with the world around me. May I be full of Your goodness and truth.

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Sketched VIII Day 1 Hagar And Ishmael

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Sketched VIII Day 1 Hagar And Ishmael

Sarah Young

August 24, 2020

God,Longing,Mercy,Obedience,Overwhelmed,Power,Promises,Rest,Safe,Sketched,Strength

Read His Words Before Ours!

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

 

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

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

Returning wasn’t an option.
Not now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOVE.

Peace washed over me.

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

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

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

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

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

“Go back to Sarai and submit to her.”

Go back?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No matter what happened, God would be with me.

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

The following months were NOT easy.

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

***

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

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step 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 viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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Sketched VIII, Day 2 Digging Deeper

When God promises to do something for us or in us or through us, He will make it happen. (Philippians 1:6)

Though He sometimes uses us to fulfill His plans and purposes, He does not need us to come up with plan B when we feel His plan is off track.

His plans, and His ways, can be trusted! (Proverbs 3:5)
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The GT Weekend Ten Week 1

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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) Idols come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe it’s the little “harmless” Buddha statue you leave food and water for. Maybe it’s a statue of Mary, or even Jesus, that you make the sign of the cross in front of, or give a little bow towards. While the motivations may be genuine, the Lord is clear about idolatry; it has no place in the life of a believer. The Lord is infinite and vast, much too magnificent to be represented by an object made by human hands. Idolatry doesn’t stop at objects, however, it seeps into our hearts through a love of anyone or anything more than the God of the Universe. He will not share His glory with anyone or anything else, because none, beyond Himself, are worthy of worship. Make some space this weekend with a pen and paper and God’s Word, praying for the Lord to reveal your idols. Lay these before the One God of all, and ask Him to quicken your heart to love Him most and best!

2) On Wednesday, Merry challenged us to reconsider the depths of taking on the Lord’s holy name. She picked up on the theme of marriage as Paul does in his letters about Christ and the Church. When we consider our daily walk with the Lord as being a marriage partnership where we are living under His Name and for the purpose of glorifying His Name, where might we be taking His Name in vain? Calling ourselves Christ-followers or walking through the doors of a church building, but not allowing His Holy Spirit to remake us from the inside out is taking the Lord’s Name in vain. We may appear as if we are working for the Lord, but really the inside hasn’t been remade. Live up to the calling you have been given in Christ! Live worthy of the high price of sacrifice and love Jesus has lavished upon you, and follow Him in full surrender! Take His Name, and live it out!

3) The idea of sabbathing is largely a foreign concept within the Church, and practically unheard of outside of the Church, which results in a tragic neglect of this precious, life-giving commandment from the heart of God. Many believers think, as I once did, that honoring the Sabbath equates to going to church on Sunday. While it can certainly include this, it isn’t the whole! Kendra beautifully shared, and challenged, us yesterday to begin incorporating Sabbath into our everyday rhythms of life. You can begin this weekend! The value doesn’t lie in a specific day, or a specific set of rules, but in setting aside time to truly rest and worship. The rewards are rich and deep; come see for yourself!

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 Ephesians 4:4-5 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Prayer Journal
Father God, Your word is so rich and full of intricacies, deeper than I often am willing to see at first glance. Holy Spirit, teach me the depth of your majesty, the lavish love You have for mankind, and the work You have prepared for me as I follow You. Use this study of Your commandments to shake my heart and unveil my preconceived ideas about who You are! Take me deeper into truth, Lord God. Wrap me in grace as You show me Yourself. Convict me of sin, and fuel me with passion to pursue You with everything I have!

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Ten Day 5 A Time For Sabbath

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 20:8-11
Mark 2:23-28 
Matthew 12:9-14

Ten, Day 5

I curled up in my chair with my coffee steaming beside me and opened my book.
The title beckoned, calling to my weary soul . . .

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. 

My breathing slows and deepens; I need this.

“Just before sunset on Friday, we finish up all our to-do lists and homework and grocery shopping and responsibilities, power down all our devices (we literally put them all in a box and stow it in a closet), and gather around the table as a family. We open a bottle of wine, light some candles, read a psalm, pray. Then we feast, and we basically don’t stop feasting for the next twenty-four hours. It’s the Comer way! And, I might add, the Jesus way. We sleep in Saturday morning. Drink coffee. Read our Bibles. Pray more. Spend time together. Talk. Laugh. In summer, we walk to the park. In winter, make a fire. Get lost in good novels on the couch. Cuddle. Nap.” 

As I read this paragraph in John Mark Comer’s book, I recalled some of the sweetest moments in my life …

A quiet afternoon reading and drinking hot cocoa in a ski lodge …
Napping on my couch as I listen to rain falling outside …
Slow, meandering walks with my girls …
Card games and family dinners around my uncle’s kitchen table …
Sunday drives in the middle of nowhere …

But for me, these times typically only happen during vacation or holidays; John Mark Comer’s family shares peace-filled days weekly!

I wanted that. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
But that’s ancient history, isn’t it?
Or maybe it kinda-sorta applies to us, but we keep it holy by going to church… right?

To find our answer, let’s look back to Scripture. There’s a second component to this commandment:
“You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.”
(Exodus 20:9-11, emphasis mine)

First part: Keep the day holy. Remember God.
Second part: Don’t work. Rest.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ human-days took the second part of this commandment to the extreme. In fact, even today, Orthodox Jews strictly prohibit 39 categories of activities on the Sabbath (or Shabbat); these include the size food can be cut into, the texture of dough that can be made, and much more.

In Mark 2, Jesus abolished this legalistic mindset, reminding them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), meaning the Sabbath was created to help people, not burden them.

Contrastingly, we have the majority of the Church today, gathering on Sunday (our Sabbath) to worship, then catching up or getting a head start on the busyness coming at us in the week ahead: last minute projects and homework, cleaning the house, meal prepping, laundry. We don’t actually rest.

The Sabbath was never meant to be a catching-up day. 

John Mark Comer, and other pivotal leaders in the evangelical church are on a quest to practice the Sabbath in all its intended goodness and beauty. When planning an activity on their Sabbath (sidenote: often not a Sunday, as many are involved in full-time ministry), they ask:

  1. Is this worshipful?
  2. Is this restful?

And if the answer is no to either, then it can wait.

I’ve been delving into the world of practicing Sabbath because the calm and stillness and remembrance of this gift are so inviting. While I could write heaps, I want to share a few points to consider, then encourage you to read, research, and practice on your own …

God knew we couldn’t do it. 

But God loves us more than we can understand, so He gives us these commandments to lead us to His best for us. Yet we, in our rebellious sin, fight against His words, treating them as a burden, rather than a gift . . . and He knew we would.

Into this tension stepped Jesus and His death and resurrection. Even THIS commandment to honor the Sabbath points to Jesus, our sinful nature, and our great need for a Redeemer.

—

“Girls! It’s almost Sabbath! Help me get the dishes put away!” I call, and my three little loves rush into the kitchen to sort silverware and stack their bowls and plates. It is 5pm and almost time for our Sabbath. I’ve already deleted the social media apps from my phone, and spent the day preparing by wrapping up work.

As we settle onto my bed with our nontraditional, but weekly, Shabbat meal of chicken nuggets, french fries, and broccoli, I remind the girls why we take the time to remember God and what He has done.

“How have you seen God this week?” I ask my girls.

One of my twins says she saw Him in the beautiful flowers she smelled.

The other shares how she saw Him when she jumped in the pool and her entire head went under water.

My three-year old tells me she saw Him “everywhere.”

We’re still learning. We’re still practicing. But we’re taking time to breathe in deeply and worship the Lord while completely resting our weary souls.

—

For further Sabbath study, check out these resources:
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer
“The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel
Annie F Downs’ highlight on Sabbath


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Treasure Day 9 The Gift Of Laboring: Digging Deeper

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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 The Gift Of Laboring!

The Questions

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Original Intent

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)
When you study the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you’ll learn that verses 28-30 are distinct to Matthew’s gospel alone. Though a simple reading of Chapter 11 may cause an observer to feel it is disjointed, there is a connection we find when we dig into Jesus’ repeated call to the weary. In these three verses, Jesus invites burdened people to come to Him for relief from what loads them down. In the context of all of Jesus’ teaching, it is quite evident He isn’t speaking of physical burdens like a backpack or an illness. Jesus wanted those who followed Him to understand He was inviting them to surrender in a much different way than the religious leaders of the day required (which was purely physical). (Matthew 23:1-7) Jesus called them to reject their own sufficiency. The burdens of heartless law-keeping were placed on them by men, not God. Matthew reveals Jesus’ heart through His words of rebuke to the cities. Jesus and John had preached repentance, had worked miracles, and had given them ample opportunities to be released from the bondage of sin, but they continued to ignore the message of hope, Instead, by rejecting Him and His freedom from the bondage of sin, they brought upon themselves judgment instead of comfort. (Matthew 11:16-20)

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?
Verse 28 reveals the offer Jesus made to those listening, “Come to Me.” In verse 29, He presents to them Himself as their example of what finding rest will mean for them. Jesus had come to release them from the heavy burdens the religious leaders placed on the people. The entire ministry and message of Jesus centers around this exchange and drastic mind shift. Jesus knew the oppression they experienced was never what God intended the Law to produce. Instead, the Law was intended to be a reminder that repentance and faith was all that was essential, since no one would ever be able to keep the full law perfectly. The obedience that followed the surrender would not be burdensome because Jesus’ righteousness provided all that was necessary to release the weary soul from sin and death. (1 John 5:1-4) The good news of Jesus was His promise that no would need to earn their way into heaven! Instead, all one must do is come toward Jesus and exchange the burden of impossible perfection for His true goodness. (1 Peter 2:24)

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?
Earlier in chapter 11 we read John the Baptist (Luke 3) was in prison. Considering the inquiry, it appears John’s faith in Jesus had been met with doubt. Though we don’t know for sure his motivation, the message from John’s disciples required Jesus to assure John that He was indeed the Messiah of whom John had preached. (John 3:28-30) Jesus instructed John’s friends to tell him of what they had observed. Was it possible John’s weariness of waiting had caused him to doubt? Maybe. Even so, Jesus affirmed John (Matthew 11:11) and Himself, rebuking the crowds for their unrepentant hearts. (Matthew 11:19-20,  25-27) Under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, Matthew records John’s inquiry and Jesus’ response. Even John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Jesus, (or his disciples), needed to be reminded why Jesus came and assured He was exactly who He claimed to be. It wasn’t to overthrow an earthly kingdom built by human hands. He came to replace the burdensome system by surrendering His own life so ours would be death-penalty free. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Everyday Application

1) What was the burden that wearied the people to whom Jesus was speaking? (verse 28)
The burden that afflicted the people in Jesus’ day is the same one that we must shake off from ourselves today in our own time. It’s the burden of our own efforts in our salvation and spiritual growth. We cannot be “good enough” to gain favor from God or make Him smile on us. Jesus has provided the answer, the only answer, for us when He said, “abide in Me” (John 15:9). The only effort we must make is to move toward His extended hand and heart, openly, willingly, humbly receiving His lavish offer of grace and forgiveness. Once we have come to Jesus, then we rest. The burden of perfection is too heavy, too demanding, and will never be lifted by our efforts. That’s why faith is essential. We must trust Christ at His work on our behalf, believing His word as true. Faith is resting in what Jesus has told us about Himself, then believing and abiding in that truth. The yoke of Jesus is a hopeful assurance of life abundant and everlasting as we learn to live in the pattern of love and surrender He has modeled for us. Only here will we finally find rest for our souls!

2) What does it mean when Jesus says to “take up my yoke” (verse 29)?
The author of Hebrews tells us to “run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eye on Jesus, the Source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) This is the light yoke Jesus calls us to take up. There is not another yoke in existence that gives us rest for our souls. “Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus) Where are you working hard to be good enough for God and earn His favor? Where are you relying on your own strength to be a better Christian, wife, friend, mother, or daughter? Only Jesus is your strength and sustenance. Only by His Spirit can be made like Him! Surrender to Him!

3) In what way is the yoke of Jesus easy and how does He make a burden light (verse 30)?
The yoke of Jesus is easy because He carried the burden that was meant for us to carry; and He was the only one who could carry it all the way to the end perfectly without a single flaw. We are the recipients of His gracious and perfect obedience to the Father’s plan for our redemption because of His unfathomable love for us. You could say our obedience to Jesus is “easy like Sunday morning.” It’s resurrection power & peace. Those of us who have put our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross find ourselves being made into His likeness by the Spirit’s work daily in our lives. What sweet rest we have in Jesus, through the gift of grace from the Father and the help and comfort of the Spirit. We aren’t to bear the burdens of a life of law-keeping, checkboxes to mark off, and “being good enough” in order to make ourselves right with God. We are instead worshippers, resting in the obedience of Christ and His finished work on the cross, which He did on our behalf that we may, finally, be truly free! (Hebrews 10:8-14)

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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 :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.