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Eden Day 13 Exiled For Good

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 2
Genesis 3
Romans 6:16-23
Galatians 3:10-14

Eden, Day 13

“The grasses sang together,
the dew’s drops harmonized,
and the whir of insect wings melodically magnified the rhythmic sway
of undiluted, adoring praise to the Maker.”

Eve’s melodic words flowed quickly as she remembered. “We were blissfully free, although we didn’t understand this exquisite gift of Presence we so innocently enjoyed. Our feet danced to the cadence of the lilting music with every movement. Oh how I loved to talk with the wiggling worms and listen to the trees laugh in the breeze!”

Eve laughed, and the rich hues of deep mirth beckoned to all who heard, “Everything held abundant life, or was upheld by it.”

She shook her head at the still-unfathomable mystery.
“Every being was sustained by the Indescribable wonder of the Maker Himself.
His beauty was reflected in every pool of shimmering water, every star’s arching song over the curve of the earth,
and every baying creature’s unique sound.
As the sun-warmed grass welcomed our dancing feet,
even our work felt like playful delight as we cared for the earth and the animals.
Adam and I…”, Eve sighed longingly as she remembered Great-Grandfather. “How perfectly we fit together, not just bodies and hands, but purpose and . . . ” she stumbled for a word and landed on, “… joy. How wondrous it was to join, with him, in creation’s worship of Yahweh.”

Eve never tired of telling the wonder of that delight before…

I wiggled in spite of myself, thinking of what was to come. I’d heard my great-grandmother tell her tale a hundred times, and though I loved it more with every re-telling, the familiar ending always sent my heart plummeting.

Would the Maker cast me out as well?
Did He know the way I pouted behind my mother’s back and how I kicked my little brother?
Could I hide from Yahweh better than Great-Grandmother?

“Tell us about the two trees!” Kenan’s excited voice rose above the murmur of the children encircling Eve’s dusky fire. I elbowed him, preferring to linger on Eden’s perfection. I wanted nothing to do with the two trees and all they meant. Couldn’t Kenan understand how they tarnished him, too?

Still, Great-Grandmother’s voice rang out like crystal waters and I was immersed again as she spoke of the wide clearing of lush green grasses carpeting the warm earth at the base of the two trees. “Life and Death were set before us every day in the Garden, my children. Every day, we had the choice to eat of the Tree of Life and live forever with Yahweh in bliss; Abba never forbade it.” (Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17)

“But you didn’t choose Life! You chose DEATH.” Kenan clamored again; I couldn’t help but kick him in the shin. Why did he press so? He scowled at me, rubbing his bruise, and Eve pretended not to notice.

“You’re right, Kenan,” Eve continued, her free-falling tears belying her lilting smile. “We did choose death. That day, when Adam and I walked through the Garden, I felt a slippery snake sneak up beside me.

“Through his questions, I suddenly saw the two trees differently. I asked myself, ‘Had Yahweh been holding out on us? Would we experience greater goodness if we disobeyed Him? What if He wasn’t wholly as good as He’d led us to believe?’” (Genesis 3:1-6)

“But He was wholly good, wasn’t He?” I was surprised to hear my own quiet voice, and to taste salt on my lips from tears matching Great-Grandmother Eve’s. Her gaze caught mine with tenderness, and she nodded, sensing I had suddenly grasped something new and rich.

“Yes. The Maker’s intent was only always, and still is yet, wholly good. Even as Adam and I ate the forbidden fruit and chose rebellion over the supreme goodness of knowing Yahweh and walking with Him, even then He was good.” She leaned forward and wiped my tears with her crooked fingers, and in a whisper that sounded like dew drops, “He Still Is.” 

It was then, in the ending I loathed, that sobs shook my small frame.

Not in sorrow, but in worship.

Yahweh’s goodness banished Adam and Eve from the Garden.

What if, lost and condemned in their sin, they had then eaten from the Tree of Life and lived forever, separated from God?! What loathsome punishment! What horror; a literal hell on earth.

Instead, He banished them because He was good. Even tucked inside His curse was hidden Hope, for one day the Serpent Crusher would come to win Victory over his Death. (Genesis 3:15)

No, I was no better than Great-Grandmother Eve.
Again and again, I enacted my slavery to sin and earned death. (Romans 6:16-23)
And yet, even as my life pointed unswervingly to death, Yahweh was wholly good.

He’d given me a body to move in and air to breathe and food to eat and the beauty of the afternoon sun’s slant and the joy of friendship.

Yes, sin’s curse held us captive, but Yahweh held our victory, and our hope.

One day, the Serpent Crusher would walk among us and die for us and rise again, breaking the curse and restoring us to His Presence, now and for eternity. (Galatians 3:10-14)

“But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification–and the outcome is eternal life!” (Romans 6:22)

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

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Build Week 3

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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) Confessing sin isn’t glamorous or exciting. It doesn’t increase our popularity or score us bonus points on social media. But, as Marietta described on Monday, confession and repentance are the only materials that can properly sustain the desired framework of revival and renewal. Whether it’s in our own hearts, our closest relationships, or within the broader contexts of church, career, or city, confession and repentance, while completely un-lucrative, are absolutely essential for Building Renewal. I’m raising my hand to wanting the new life of revival and renewal breathed into every area of my life. Imagine the lasting good that would unfurl in my parenting, marriage, ministry, church, and city! Pause here for a few minutes, not with an agenda, but to just be still before the Lord. He desires good because He IS good. Focus on His good character. Ask Him directly what good He wants to build in and through you. Are you willing to ask Him to convict you of sin that He might bring this good work? Ask Him for grace to receive His conviction and holy desire to repent and flee from sin that true revival might be unleashed in you!

2) Have you ever moved homes unexpectedly or against your wishes? As a pastor’s wife, we moved 6 times. While we usually had some choice in the matter, the new place always came with different needs. There were often “expectations” for me as pastor’s wife that didn’t quite fit me. Sometimes, the ministry I most enjoyed already had a qualified leader in that position, so I was given different roles that I didn’t feel equipped to fulfill. Yet, with every challenge, I learned to be secure in God’s plan. He taught me to trust Him and often, I learned many new things. On Wednesday, Bethany shared, “God has placed you, and for a purpose.” I’m reminded of Esther when Mordecai encouraged her, “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Are you in a hard place? Have you been placed ‘for such a time as this’? Remember the faithful, sovereign God is always in control. He has a plan, and we can trust it. Ask Him what He would have you do rather than asking to be removed from that place; watch how He equips and builds you to do His work!

3) Gather. Community. Worship. What images are stirred up as you read these three simple words? Go back and read them again, pausing to prayerfully allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. Do you have an internal angst as you wrestle with imagery over a specific word? Talk to the Lord about this. Physically hold open your hands and repeat the word over and over slowly, asking the Lord to rebuild your ideas and bring conviction or encouragement surrounding this idea. Where are you bringing your heart to gather recently? Again, in prayer with your eyes closed to avoid distractions, reflect on your week. Where has your heart been drawn? Go slow and let the Spirit lead your thoughts and speak truth and grace over you. Where do you see the Lord’s unabashed love for you? Where is He inviting you into deeper worship? How have you responded to opportunity to partake in biblical community? Breathe deeply, friend, the Lord your God has died for you, taken you punishment for your sin, and risen alive to conquer your shame and guilt for eternity! Drink deeply of this radical love and open yourself in new ways to the building plans of the Master Architect!

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 Jeremiah 31:3-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. Again, I will build you so that you will be rebuilt, Virgin Israel. [insert your name]
You will take up your tambourines again and go out in joyful dancing.
You will plant vineyards again… and will enjoy the fruit.
“Come, let’s go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!”

Prayer Journal
Lord, I come in humbleness before You. I ask forgiveness for times I have not trusted You and gone out on my own; for times when I forgot You love me perfectly and have my best interest in mind. Renew my life, Lord. You love me with an everlasting love, and I don’t deserve it. But I do love You, Lord. I long to come into Your presence with joyful singing and dancing once again. Please rebuild my life to glorify You. Thank you, Lord for never leaving me alone. Thank You for convicting me of sin or when I stumble. Thank You for giving me a song in the night. You are a good, good Father.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Training Day 13 Much More Than

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 5:8-14
Psalm 100
Romans 12:1-2
John 4:23-24
Colossians 3:23-24

Training, Day 13

I’m ready for another summer vacation. But, y’all, in all honesty, packing hasn’t always been easy. I pack way too much! Several weeks ago, I tried packing “only essentials” for the first time. Talk about anxiety overload!

It’s the same with WORSHIP. Worship is much more than songs and encompasses far more than we could understand. For today, we’ll only discuss a few aspects; however, worship is an ongoing conversation at Gracefully Truthful, and we’d love for you to join us here!

To fully understand worship as more than music, we must first realize what worship is not. It is not entertainment. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good concert! Watching and listening to an artist in-person creates an explosive, exciting atmosphere. The music is, well, WOW; so surreal. Still, this experience does NOT yield the Presence of God! 

Are you ready to unpack worship?

Worship is a relationship-building lifestyle, not just an experience.

Worship should bring us closer to the heart of our Father as our sin and defenses are surrendered to the God who loves us!

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Romans 8:14-15)

When we’re closer to Abba Father, we call this “relationship,” and worship becomes a function of our hearts!

Worship glorifies our Creator.

We were created in His image. (Genesis 1:27) Our worship is the very breath of God inside us. In this fellowship, or relationship, we reach the highest point of communion with our Creator. (Revelation 4:11) It is the reason we were created and the most important purpose of our eternal calling.

Worship points us to the heart of the Father. 

We worship God because He is worthy; He is greater than anything or anyone. (Revelation 5:8-14) As we know Him more, understanding His love and power, we are drawn into worship, for our Father’s heart is revealed.

Worship is the sacrifice of our total selves.

The beginning of worship is praise. When we praise Him, we celebrate both what He does and Who He is! (Psalm 100) Our heart-atmosphere begins shifting toward worship. Here, we can fully surrender to Him, sacrificing ourselves as we trust our Father. In surrender, our heart attitude moves toward repentance and reverence for His holiness. (Exodus 34:5-9)

Worship strengthens and rejuvenates our inner being. 

Many of us move through different seasons in life. The one constant is “Jesus Christ [who] is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

In our dry season, He is our Living Water! (John 4:10-14)
In our hungry season, He is our Bread! (John 6:35)
In need, He is our Provider. (Philippians 4:19)
Through uncertainty, He is our Firm Foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
In weakness, He is our Strength. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
In every season, He is our Guide in the darkness, our Light. (John 8:12)

My sweet friends, let’s celebrate Him! Our prayer, praise, and worship should not fluctuate in any season of life, but remain constant, fixed on our Father. He faithfully refreshes us from the inside out.

Worship encompasses obedience.

When King Uzziah of ancient Judah sought and obeyed God, he had success in battling Judah’s enemies. (2 Chronicles 26:1-15) Later, Uzziah became prideful and unfaithful through blatant disobedience to God’s instructions for holy worship, which “led to his own destruction.” (2 Chronicles 26: 16-21) Obedience, we learn, is an important aspect of worship.

How does God instruct us to worship?
“Shout for joy” (Psalm 98:4)
“Bless the Lord at all times” (Psalm 34:1)
“Sing to the Lord, bless His Name” (Psalm 96:2)
Sister, let’s choose to worship with obedience!

Worship encompasses respect for God.

When we worship the Lord, we do so with respect, reverence, and awe.
Moses removed his sandals when standing on “holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)
King Darius instructed his kingdom to revere the true God of Daniel. (Daniel 6:26-27)

Reverence brings surrender, our response to His love. It acknowledges our trust in the One Who created us, and ultimately glorifies the One Who has given Himself for us! This is true worship.

Finally, worship encompasses celebration.

In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells a parable, a word picture painted to represent His fatherly love toward us: a boy left home as a wayward prodigal and returned as a repentant son. With open arms, his father welcomed his son home. This was a time for celebration!

Zephaniah 3:17 gives another glimpse of God’s celebration over His people.
“He will rejoice over you with gladness [. . .]
He will delight in you with singing.”

When we follow His example, celebration acknowledges the goodness and mercy of God through worship.

See, I told y’all about my packing. Worship is “packed full,” and while we’ve only skimmed its surface today, I pray God uses these principles to guide and empower each of us to worship in Spirit and in truth!

[Oh, before you go, I haven’t quite finished unpacking. Shuffle through this Spotify playlist; it’s chock-full of worship music. Where will worship lead you? Remember it’s His breath in our lungs!]

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

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

Sketched IX Day 11 I Have Seen Him

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 35:5-7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 78:2-4
Luke 5:1-11
Acts 1:12-26

Sketched IX, Day 11

Golden-rosy light glows in the east, dispelling the darkness. The breaking dawn mirrors the dawn of truth upon my soul. Truth casts its glow into the dark soul, ever brightening, ever rising, finally flooding the soul with radiant light. Like the rising sun, the truth of Jesus’ incarnation and His sojourn on earth has become increasingly clear. The light has broken upon my darkened understanding.

It all began on an early morning like this one. The crew and I had just finished a frustrating, fruitless night on the water. Usually we caught something, but that night there was nothing; it was odd. 

A rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Andrew knew, often came to the lake in the early mornings, teaching from the boats. Many viewed him as the Messiah. He told parables; His teaching was interesting and relatable. He taught as One having first-hand knowledge of ancient truth. His wisdom was primordial, yet fresh and alive. He was not just another rabbi, but Who He was remained a mystery to me. Andrew hung upon His words, convinced He was “the prophet” of which Moses prophesied.

That morning, He taught from our boats longer than usual. Water slapped against the side of the gently rocking boat and I dozed, half-listening. He roused me and matter-of-factly instructed, “Go out into the deep water; let down the nets for a catch.”

This Nazarene was serious. Andrew was already in his boat, shoving off; I followed. Andrew flung out his net; it slapped onto the water and slowly sank. Nothing, silence . . . then in an instantaneous rush, there were schools of fish!

Andrew gasped, then whooped as he began drawing in the net. Immediately his boat listed violently, nearly keeling over. We rowed fiercely, reaching them in time to fling out our net to reinforce theirs. Immediately, ours were full, nearly breaking under the weight. We were in danger of losing all the fish, both boats, and our lives as well.

We dug in with the oars, straining in unison for the shallows. I bailed into the lake and with rhythmic heave-hos, the crew and I made for the shore, dragging the straining nets. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the beach. My chest heaved as I lay on the sand and simply breathed.

He came to me. I stared up at the Creator against His blue dome of sky. He extended His hand and helped me stand. We all gaped in silence– at the haul of fish, at one another, but mostly at Him. He smiled and simply said, “From now on, you will be fishers of men!”  The light of truth was breaking upon me.

As I watched and listened, evidence began to mount. He just might be “the prophet” as Andrew insisted. He certainly held power over the movement of fish in the lake; no ordinary man does that! Every day He healed someone, often anyone who asked. Isaiah prophesied when “the prophet” came, healing those born blind would be one of His miracles. With my own eyes, I witnessed Jesus restore sight to people blind from birth. Elijah healed on a few occasions, but Jesus healed all the time.

The evidence continued increasing, but we understood Messiah’s coming as restoring Israel’s political and national glory. While Jesus spoke often of “the kingdom of Heaven,” He showed no interest in initiating an insurrection. On the other hand, His fulfillment of prophecies couldn’t be coincidental, or denied.

He multiplied food and wine as needed and had power to heal all diseases.

Nature obeyed His commands as though He were its Master. Storms stopped at His command; trees withered at His rebuke.

With evil spirits came immediate recognition, “Son of the Most High God,” they called Him. It wasn’t their first encounter with Him; they groveled in His presence. He held their fate in His hands, it seemed. Only Elohim could do this.

Then, in a brilliant, unforgettable moment of divine splendor, He showed James, John and I His glory on the sacred mountain. He stood as Friend with friend beside Moses and Elijah, emanating an ethereal, other-worldly light.

Then there was Lazarus’ return from death, and the people shouting “Hosanna” as He entered Jerusalem, riding a donkey’s colt. Within hours, the tide turned. His arrest, the flogging, and the cross. It was brutally sudden, unnerving, and terrifying, yet all of it followed straight from Isaiah’s prophecies.

Then Resurrection Day; He was back! It was stunning, yet confusing. Now He’s ascended to His former glory. He’s gone, and He left me in charge! This is both terrifying and humbling.

Every crowing rooster reminds of my failure. However, it was another early morning like this one, days ago, when His grace breathed life into my deflated soul. As long as I live, in the soft gray stillness of each breaking dawn, I will remember the fire of coals and the breakfast of fish. His questions were like well-aimed arrows piercing my soul. The same knowing gaze rested upon me, as it had in the courtyard the night of His trial. There was eternal knowing, yet eternal kindness in His eyes.

“Shepherd my sheep,” He said softly, His eyes of grace locked with my own shame-filled eyes. He placed before me the enormous calling of shepherding this fledgling flock.

The brothers and I remain in steadfast prayer since He returned to Glory.  It seems job one is to appoint Judas’ replacement, as Scripture says. We shall proceed in prayerful obedience, as we await His affirmation upon the chosen man.

In the courtyard below, the rooster fluffs his bronze-green feathers in the first rays of dawn and readies himself for a morning crow. Though he attempts to remind me of my failure, I choose to remind myself of my Lord’s grace and His holy calling.

“His grace covers me! Crow away, rooster, crow away!”

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

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

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.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
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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 Worship VIII 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 Worship VIII!

The GT Weekend! ~ Reveal 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) When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they declared “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Jesus’ birth was, and is, good news! We have the privilege of celebrating this good news every year at Christmas. Just as the Word of God went forth to fill the emptiness at creation, so also Jesus went forth from the Father to fill the emptiness of our broken world. His birth brought us the hope of Immanuel, God with us. As you consider the Christmas season, think about your traditions and rituals around Christmas. Are they filled with the presence of Christ, or are they empty motions to just “do”? What might be some ways you can celebrate the fullness of Christ as you celebrate His birth. What is one way you can incorporate others into your celebration, revealing to them the fullness of “God with us?” Consider inviting someone to join you for a meal or your church’s Christmas Eve service who may otherwise be alone. Or consider writing cards to residents of a local nursing home or members of your church who are unable to leave their homes. Share the Good News of great joy with all the people!

2) We live in a world of constant chaos. We don’t need to look far to see all the things causing the world to worry, fret, and fear. As people who trust Jesus, we do not need to be bound by chaos. We serve a God who chose to come down and experience the chaos for Himself, and then to make it right. Our God is in the business of bringing order from chaos. The world tells us we need to be in control, but God tells us He is in control. The world shows us we have every reason to fear, but God proves we can trust Him. We work endlessly to try to create our own peace, but God offers each of us true, lasting peace. As we anticipate the “busy” of the holiday season, there is a tendency to rush to complete every “to do” and “to purchase” list while forgetting where our peace comes from. Write down one or two ways you attempt to manufacture your own peace in stressful times. Consider how effective you have found these strategies in the past and whether they point toward the God of shalom or toward your own strength. Then write down two more strategies that would help you remember where true peace comes from and ask God to help you implement these new mindsets in your chaotic seasons.

3) There’s a popular saying you have probably heard, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s likely supposed to remind us that while there are many trappings surrounding Christmas, from the music and decorations to gifts and great food, ultimately our celebration should focus on Jesus and His coming to earth. Yesterday’s Journey Study reminds us our fullness, our peace, and our joy ultimately do not come from this world, but from the Creator of this world. What would it look like if we truly believed Christmas was about more than giving gifts and decorations? Suppose we were to truly celebrate Jesus in this season? There is nothing wrong with enjoying the celebration of this holy day, just as Nehemiah and Ezra told the people of Israel to celebrate their holy days. But we must remember to turn our eyes to the author and perfecter of our faith in the midst of it all. Ask the Lord today to give you grace to remember Him during this season. Ask Him to give you opportunities to share your joy with others. As you celebrate and feast this holiday season, ask God to remind you in fresh ways of His “good news of great joy.”

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 15:10-13 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!
And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples praise Him!
And again, Isaiah says,
The root of Jesse will appear,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
the Gentiles will hope in Him.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Journal
Immanuel, God with us, a very present help in times of trouble, You alone are the source of peace and joy. As I turn my thoughts to Christmas, I am so quickly overwhelmed. I want to do everything perfectly and please everyone around me. I know I become busy and distracted from the whole reason we are celebrating much too easily. I confess I work hard to look good for others, while also neglecting to worship and remember You. I admit my concern is often more tied to temporary pleasure than everlasting hope. Lord, help me when I am distracted! Thank You for Your gentle patience toward me. Thank You for giving us seasons of rejoicing in a broken world. Thank You for reminding us of Your great love for us. Teach us to find peace, joy, and comfort in Your goodness when chaos threatens to undo us. Guide us in the ways of true joy and lasting peace. Help us remember You are the reason we celebrate, and Your presence dwells among us because of the work You have done to rescue us from our sin.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend! ~ Beloved Week 3

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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) When you think of God and sexual intimacy, what are your first responses? Pulling away? Shame? Closeness and delight? Gratitude? How we respond to the idea of God and sex reveals what we believe about our Creator and intimacy with us. As you unpack your beliefs in this area, take the challenge to read through Song of Solomon aloud. Spend some time praying beforehand, asking God to open your heart to understand His desire for oneness and delight in marriage. The world, and our enemy Satan, would have us believe that sex is dirty, embarrassing, and anything but sacred. Whether you are single or married, all of us have room to grow in elevating our view of the holiness of marriage and sexual intimacy. As you finish reading through Song of Solomon, write down the truths that most arrested your attention. Ask the Lord to keep expanding your understanding of these rich truths!

2) We all love the thrilling feelings of soaring excitement when relationships begin or when we finally say, “I do.” It’s the after when the excitement fades, disagreements arise, and suddenly, the glorious feelings we once felt towards the one person we vowed to love are nowhere to be found. Stacy shares of her euphoria at the beginning, only to watch it fade to mundane and lackluster in the after. A million and one distractions tempt us away from growing in love and maturity with our spouse, and if we aren’t on guard, these can quickly fuel entitlement in relationship effectively driving a wedge between two who were once inseparable. If you’re married, some ways your spouse has become distracted and entitled are probably already popping into your mind! But, turn it around and ask the Spirit to show you how you are becoming disengaged and entitled as well. Thank Him for showing you these, then ask for His power to flee the temptation to run towards these and run away instead. Single friends, consider the idols you run towards most often to distract you from hard or messy things. What patterns do you notice about yourself when you are feeling unloved or unaccepted in your relationships? Take these to the Lord and ask Him to show you His rich redemptive work in your life!

3) Give yourself permission to have some space in your day to be still and reflective. Maybe you lock your closet or your bathroom door, or maybe “quiet” needs to look like your kids are loud. Just make the space! Close your eyes, take some deep breaths and consider what it has felt like, or what it might feel like, to have someone sing over you who knows you deeply, wholly, and without condition or judgement. What words would they choose to set to melody? What would their voice sound like? What characteristics would they eagerly highlight about you? What might they say about their own love toward you? What if this was the Lord’s voice over you; how might your heart respond? Pause here and take in these feelings without discounting them or brushing them aside. Beloved, how deeply the Lord loves to love you! Breathe in this truth and let His voice sing over you with bold declaration! Stay here as long you need, then as your time closes, ask the Lord specifically who you can sing over. Whether it’s with true musical melodies or it’s just a spoken word of truth, woven with life-giving love, be willing and ready to extend a song of love over whoever the Lord brings to mind!

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 Zephaniah 3:17 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

The Lord your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.”

Prayer Journal
Your love truly is matchless, oh Lord, my Savior and my God. Your love is as mighty as an ocean wave at every single moment of my life. When I feel alone in my relationships as friend, daughter, mother, or wife, You “send Your faithful love by day and at night Your song is with me.” (Psalm 42:8) No one else offers steadfast constancy like You. Forgive me, oh Abba, for the many times I choose to hinge my delight on another’s love and care for me instead of yours. Never will Your love change or disappoint; remind me to listen for Your love song regardless of feelings. Make me aware, Holy Spirit, of the countless distractions pulling me away from You, the Only One who loves me perfectly and completely. Empower me to turn my eyes from worthless things, focusing on You as complete satisfier of my every need. As I practice turning and looking in full at You and Your word, teach me how to love others selflessly with the same humility You model towards me. I love You, Lord Jesus, heal my relationships and use me as a conduit of Your love.

Worship Through Community

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

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

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Beloved Day 8 Intimacy

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Song of Solomon 4:1-7
Song of Solomon 7:1-13
Proverbs 5:15-23
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
John 14:8-11

Beloved, Day 8

Intimacy.

There’s no other way of saying it: sexual intimacy within marriage is a gift hand-crafted by our incredible Creator God for the people He made in His image.

Throughout the Bible, there are countless examples of God’s created beings enjoying and participating in the gift of physical union. Early in Genesis, the Lord affirms the goodness of sex for the purpose of procreation. (Genesis 1:28) Just a little later in Genesis, we see Isaac comforted in his grief by physical union with Rebekah, which affirms the great comfort of sex in times of grief and loss. (Genesis 24:61-67) In Proverbs, Scripture also asserts sex for the purpose of physical pleasure and enjoyment is good. (Proverbs 5:15-23)

The entire book of the Song of Solomon extols the heady pleasures of physical desire and fulfillment found in the physical act of sex. Vivid descriptions, expressions of love, and honest dialogue about the emotional and physical experiences which accompany physical intimacy were poured over, examined, tested, and ultimately included in the canon of Scripture for a specific purpose. God gave us sex, and sex within the context of marriage between a man and a woman is a good, good thing.

Song of Solomon is a depiction of the literal joys of physical intimacy, but there are some traits we see exemplified in the two young lovers which warrant further exploration in the context of our own marriages.

They are transparent.
The two young lovers are obviously desirous for each other, but they are also completely transparent with others about the one to whom their thoughts, emotions and desires are drawn. They aren’t hiding the way they feel about their beloved; they are practically shouting it from the rooftops. There is no mistaking how they feel, what they want, and to whom their heart belongs.

They are honest with each other.
There’s no question the two are each in pursuit of the other. There is no sub-text and no veiled references. Neither is playing “hard to get.” There’s no competition, no game, no “prove your love to me.” They are each completely, totally, all in.

They are vulnerable.
Nothing is too intimate to share. No expression too outlandish, no description too flowery. There’s no thought of looking foolish, or saying something silly. Each feels completely safe with the other, and as a result they are unashamed to share their thoughts, emotions and desires.

They are purposeful.
They are willing to do practically anything to steal away for an encounter with the one they love. They talk of slipping away to a vineyard, to a quiet room, to his chambers. They are not embarrassed to say exactly what they want, and their actions support their words.

For a moment, let’s set aside all our expectations of our spouse and take a look at where we are.

Beloved, when we examine how we operate in the context of our own marriage, can we say the same? Are we transparent with our spouses? Do we create space for them to be transparent in return, without fear of us shutting down or refusing to respond? Are we honest? And if we aren’t “all in,” is that an area we need to confess to our Father and allow Him to touch? Are we vulnerable in sharing the intimate spaces of our bodies, yes, but even more importantly, our hearts and minds? Are we purposeful in our marriage? Do we choose to pursue our spouse every day, even when we don’t feel like it?

Let’s take it a step further. Are those traits present in our relationship with our Father? Are we transparent about the condition of our hearts and lives with the One Who holds the power to change us? Are we honest with Him about our thoughts and feelings? Do we surrender them to Him? Do we allow ourselves to be open and soft to His conviction, to His healing? And do we pursue radical intimacy with the God Who is with us? Do we consistently prioritize placing ourselves before Him, in all our humanity?

These are hard questions, aren’t they? I can’t say yes to all of them. 

Maybe you can’t, either.

So what do we do from here? Where do we go from this place of knowing we aren’t where we’d like to be, and recognizing we can’t move forward on our own?

We start with confessing where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’d like to be to our Bridegroom King. We acknowledge our definition of intimacy falls woefully short of the intimacy He designed for us to experience with Him, and we ask Him to show us the way. He alone is the Author of intimacy; we can trust Him to lead us into the fullness of all He created!

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

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Redeemed Day 5 Comfort In The Bitter

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 15:22-27
Ruth 1:1-22
Matthew 20:17-28
Philippians 2:12-18

Redeemed, Day 5

Murmurs whispered swiftly through the small town, carried by dusty, sandaled feet. A sudden sense of excitement and curiosity pulsed through Bethlehem as two women approached. Questions swirled among small clusters of residents as all peered intently at the two figures.

The older woman walked with an authority that conveyed she knew the town well, and as excitement grew, a woman nearby exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” The elder woman stopped suddenly, and electricity charged the air as all within earshot waited for her reply.

“Don’t call me Naomi.” She bit the words off as if they were a weapon. “Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made me bitter.” The younger woman walking beside her slipped a comforting arm around her tense shoulders, but she stiffened and continued. “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

When Naomi left her hometown as a younger woman, she was in a far different season of life. Life in her new home of Moab was good. There were hardships, sure. It was a time of famine, after all. But for the most part, her life was pleasant. Which was fitting; the name “Naomi” means “pleasantness.” Her life was following the natural order.

Marry a good, upstanding Jewish man. Check.
Build a family together and continue the lineage. Check, check.

Her list could have been mine. Or yours too, maybe?

But then.

Elimelech died. Her person. The one with whom she built a life. The one she cleaved to, having left behind her family and friends. Gone.

Every plan for the future, every marital hope, every daydream glimpse of her beloved as a gray-haired grandfather, telling stories to delighted little ones. Vanished. Gone forever, like a wisp in the desert air. As a widow, she found herself facing an unknown future, alone.

Her sons married, and years passed.

It’s likely she began to look forward with expectancy as she waited for news of grandchildren. Scripture doesn’t say if those ten years were hard or soft, but sudden loss came to call on Naomi again with the death of not one, but both, of her sons.

Another defining facet of her identity, marred forever. Stripped of the treasured roles which defined a woman’s value, she grieved both those she loved and her cultural purpose. Wounds of loss and disappointment were raw and gaping for a time, but eventually, they began to harden.

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth insisted on joining her.

Scripture doesn’t describe the scene of Naomi’s return in quite the detail my imagination paints, but it isn’t difficult to picture, is it?

By the time Naomi and Ruth reached Bethlehem, Naomi’s heart posture was apparent. The grief and loss she had endured were not submitted to the Lord, but were instead allowed to harden into bitterness. By telling the women in Bethlehem to call her “Mara,” she drew a clear parallel between herself and the Israelites’ experience wandering through the wilderness with only bitter water to drink.

Anger, frustration, self-pity. Bitterness.

I imagine as they approached Bethlehem, her mind was flooded with memories of the day she and Elimilech left, and the sorrow of that initial separation. The naive, wistful thoughts about returning together in the future, perhaps with a few mischievous grandchildren in tow. Instead, she returned with her son’s widow, carrying a burden of grief and sorrow.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. 

Oh, Naomi. I’ve been there. The words feel familiar, because they are familiar. They’ve split through my hurting heart more than once.

And maybe yours, too, Sister? 

Have you let your own plans, or the experiences in your life, define you?

Have you let them fill you? 

I have. 

Just like Naomi, we can all reflect on times we have sought what only God can give
us from our
husband,
family,
friends,
career,
health,
talent,
reputation,
safety,
security,
political party, or
fill-in-your-blank.

But dear friend.

If we are filled and defined by what we want, or by our relationships or experiences, how are we any different from the rest of the world? Do any of those things fill us with light or God’s truth? 

More importantly, if we are full of those things, how can He fill us with what He desires? 

Ouch.

The truth of what happens when we allow ourselves to be filled by anything but our God is illustrated by Naomi’s response to the pressure and loss in her life. She allowed herself to be filled by something other than the Lord, so when those people and relationships were no longer in her life, she was empty. The wounds of loss allowed her hard heart to spill out when she publicly blamed Him for all she endured.

She missed the comfort the Lord provided her in Ruth, but she also missed the opportunity to share with the townspeople about the comfort, peace, joy, and fruitfulness the Lord provides in hard seasons.

And friend? We are in danger of the same. When we allow ourselves to be filled by anything but God, we are missing the blessing He longs to extend to us in both the famine and the plenty.

Lord, You are the author and creator of life. Your plans are far above any I could devise. I confess my desire and need for control, and I choose to repent today. Heal the places in me that need a touch from You, and teach me how to walk in Your way. All I have is Yours. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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

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