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Worship VIII Day 15 There Was Jesus

March 26, 2021 by Audra Watson 1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 31:1-8
John 16:31-33
James 1:2-3

Worship VIII, Day 15

Have you experienced times when you couldn’t see Jesus?
When the fog of confusion or pain cloaked you in isolation and fear?

I have. Recently, I was in such despair, I was blinded to Jesus standing right next to me, holding my hand and walking with me.

To be completely transparent, I am in a season of fighting for my marriage. At one point, I wanted to give up and call it quits. In my pain, I flung my questions to Heaven.
“God, why is this happening to me?”
“God, where are you?”
“God, I feel so alone.”

It is one of the hardest seasons I have ever experienced.
My heart was broken, crying out for God’s presence and His promises to reassure me.

Because God is so good, He gave me exactly what I needed.

One day, during a devotional time at work, my boss shared the song There Was Jesus, explaining how its message of truth had supported her like a rock through difficult times.

“In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I’ve been and where I’m going
Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it
There was Jesus”

I sang to Jesus and cried my eyes out, letting the very present truth of my God-with-me soothe the raw, jagged edges of my heart.

But I did something else, too.

I prayed for God to take the blinders off of my eyes, so I could see Him clearly through this season. Searching for something to cling to, I asked Him to reveal His promises to me.
Because He is kind, He did exactly this.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

He reminds us life will be difficult and painful.
Yet, in the midst of our confusion and struggle, He promises we have access to His eternal, transcendent peace through Jesus because He has overcome the world.

“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

He promises to go before us, never abandoning us regardless of our attitude, our circumstance, or our level of emotional control.
Never. He will never leave us.
In our darkest moments, when we feel most alone, we have only to reach out our hands to discover He is right there beside us.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3, emphasis mine)
We can have joy through our trials, because our God is both good and kind.
When we cling ever tighter to God in the midst of our hardship, we grow closer to Him and our character becomes more like His. Our pain will not be in vain.

“On the mountain, in the valleys (There was Jesus)
In the shadows of the alleys (There was Jesus)
In the fire, in the flood (There was Jesus)
Always is and always was
No, I never walk alone (Never walk alone)
You are always there”

Circumstance in our lives change; God does not.

Whether we fling our arms wide atop a mountain, reveling in the blaze of unbroken sunlight, drinking in crystal clear air, unwaveringly certain of our place in the landscape stretched out before us . . .

Or we huddle in the shadowed and rocky valley, hungry and bleeding, too exhausted to take one more trudging step, fighting desperately against the enemy whisper that we are lost forever in this mire of suffering . . .

His promises remain true (scroll back up and read them again!).
His Spirit remains with us, for always. (Matthew 28:20)
His goodness remains unchallenged. (Psalm 31:19)
His kindness remains for all who turn to Him. (Titus 3:4-7)

Therefore, in any circumstance, we can fix our gaze upon Him,
and find a God worthy of our authentic worship.

In joy or in pain, our spirits can declare,
“Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to Him with my song.” (Psalm 28:6-7)

Sisters, how well I know the challenge of seeing God’s hand in the midst of trials. I pray in those trials, we draw faith from His past provision, proclaiming in chorus with today’s song, “There was Jesus.” I pray our faith gives us eyes to see through the chaos swirling around us to the One who is greater than all else, enabling us to say, “And here is Jesus.”

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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 Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship VIII!

Posted in: Broken, Fear, God, Good, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Pain, Peace, Prayer, Promises, Seeking, Truth, Waiting, Worship Tagged: alone, authentic worship, blessing, confusion, Great Joy, isolation, kind, Searching, see, There Was, Unchanging

Sketched VI Day 6 Cassidy

October 7, 2019 by Guest Writer Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Thessalonians 1:2-7
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Sketched VI, Day 6

 

I used to think my story was boring.
Just your typical, “I grew up in a Christian home, found Jesus, was baptized, and went on my merry way all before I entered second-grade,” kind of story.
Those things are true, but I’ve learned how the Lord uses every story–sensational or otherwise–to show His redeeming power. 

When I was six, my parents divorced. People often ask if I remember my parents when they were married, and the short answer is no.
I do, however, remember feeling confused.

How could you stop loving someone?
How could my mom file for divorce? 

A daddy’s girl at heart, I quickly jumped on board with whatever Dad had to say about my mom. His bitterness, blame, and judgement clouded how I saw my mom. As both of my parents remarried, I initially didn’t think my mom deserved to get remarried. In my mind, Mom was the enemy of my story, the reason nothing was as it was supposed to be.

Quite frankly, there wasn’t much spiritual fruit in my life when both parents got remarried. New siblings were born, I moved across town, and changed churches. Even though I wasn’t a fan of these changes, I can now see that God knew exactly what He was doing. 

After my first year in a new youth group, I attended summer camp. One of the evening sessions ended with a time of response. As the band played Come as You Are, leaders coached us through a time of reflection:
When had I felt like God abandoned me?
Easy.
There was no way He had been in the midst of my parents’ divorce. 

But, in those moments of honesty, God spoke into my brokenness.
“I was with you and I love you.”

Cue the tears. I came to God in the messy form of my teenage self.
He met me and redeemed my story.

That same week I forgave my mom in a prayer room and symbolically washed away the bitterness inside me. She wasn’t the enemy. The brokenness of a sinful world was to blame. God called me to forgiveness, and bitterness had become exhausting.

I really believe God redeemed my sinfulness at seven years old, but the Lord used those moments at camp to draw me back, renew our relationship, and awaken me to real life.
Church became the body of believers with whom I craved community.
Community group became the place where I dug into the Word and asked hard questions.
I began taking active steps of obedience toward Christ as He called out to me.

Several years later, in the same room at camp, after an incredible time of worshipping God, I sat down for another evening session. Even today, I can show you the page of notes where I quickly wrote the speaker’s arresting question:
“After a time of worship like that,
why are you not going where God has called you?”

I didn’t have to wait long for my answer.
From way out in left field, the Holy Spirit clearly called me to vocational ministry.
I told my friends and leaders, and headed home determined to chase this call.

And then I came down from the mountaintop experience.
I loved the teaching internship I’d started that fall.
Maybe I could minister to kids as a public school teacher.
I made plans to study elementary education, was accepted into a school, and even placed a housing deposit for the dorms.

God is a God of peace, and He gives peace when we walk in His call. Ephesians 6:23 says, “Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I never had peace about pursuing education.
Just eight months before beginning classes, a family friend asked about my college plans. My lack of peace brought immediate tears and the Holy Spirit immediately convicted me for my lack of obedience in pursuing His calling over mine.

I went home and told my parents I needed to attend the undergrad program at our local seminary. There were a lot of questions, but peace set in quickly as I applied and scheduled a tour.

Here I sit, preparing for another year of school, on staff at my local church, and serving in many ways at church beyond my work roles.
Walking into ministry was, and still is, a scary pursuit for me.
I desire security.

Vocational ministry doesn’t provide monetary security.
There is no guarantee I will find “success” or that I’ll see the fruit of the seeds the Lord sows through me.

What I am guaranteed through seminary training is intense spiritual growth and preparation to walk confidently on the path He has laid out for me.
Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us He goes before us and will not leave or forsake us.
I cling daily to this truth!

God uses our seemingly boring stories to display His glory and redemption.
He redeemed divorce and the bitterness that ensued
into a story of hope.
He redeemed my stubborn resistance to a scary ministry calling
into a story of His guidance and provision.

“So we set our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (
2 Corinthians 4:18)

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched VI 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 Sketched VI!

Posted in: Forgiven, God, Jesus, Love, Power, Redemption, Sketched Tagged: bitterness, brokenness, Cassidy, confusion, redeeming, spiritual fruit, spoke, story

Adoring Day 5
In The Midst of Chaos

November 25, 2016 by Katelyn Bartlett Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 33
John 16:33
Romans 13:1attachment-1-37

“God, what is happening in this world?”
“Where are you, God?”
“How does this tragedy fit into Your perfect plan?”

I often find these questions creeping into my mind as I watch the news and scroll through social media. Some days it can feel like the earth is in complete chaos. Warring political parties, needless violence, incomprehensible racism, corrupt governments, horrific natural disasters, extreme poverty, and desperate sickness. When our eyes behold the tragedies of the world, our hope can begin to feel as if it’s fading away and darkness is taking hold.
But for every moment I look at the hardships of this world, I remember my need to turn to the Word of God.

For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. (Psalm 33:4-5)

Even when we feel as if sin and darkness are winning, the Lord has and is continually filling the earth with His steadfast love. His love for the world doesn’t change according to governments, political powers, or emotional highs.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever
the plans of His heart to all generations. (v. 10-11)

The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue (v. 16-17)

In an uncertain political climate, we as believers can be certain of God’s sovereignty and love for us. The psalmist declares that human leaders cannot save us and that putting our hope in them will always fail us.
It is the counsel of the Lord alone that stands forever.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
on those who hope in His steadfast love,
that He may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine. (v. 18-19)

Famine will come. Whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, we will endure hardships in our lives. In fact, Jesus Himself promises it. On one occasion He said to His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) When we put our hope and trust in God, He is faithful to deliver us because He is bigger than the sin in our hearts and in our world.

The psalmist begins and ends this psalm with a declaration of praise:
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. (v.1-3)

Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield:
For our heart is glad in Him,
because we trust His holy name.
Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in You. (v. 20-22)

We worship the God that loves us and delivers us in the midst of chaos.
Our heart is glad in Jesus Christ – not because our life is perfect or because He answers all of our prayers our way,
but because we trust Him and He is holy.

He is where our hope comes from.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Adoring Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Posted in: Adoring, Faith, Fear, Hope, Meaning, Need, Pain, Peace, Praise, Prayer, Rest, Safe, Thankfulness, Trust, Worship Tagged: chaos, circumstances, confusion, Desperate, emotion, hope, peace, praise

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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