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Worship VII Day 5 Lower Still

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 53:2-3
Matthew 11:28-30
John 13:12-16
Philippians 2:5-8
Hebrews 2:14-18

Worship VII, Day 5

For years, I stood in church services and wrestled with my conscience.

Am I singing lyrics I sincerely believe?
Are my motives sincere?

Oh, what grace I have discovered as I sought the Lord with these concerns!

In our songs as believers, we address three audiences: ourselves, others, and God.
Sometimes, we are reminding our own souls of Who God is. (Psalm 103:1-2)
Other times, we join in song with, and to, each other as we sing truth. (Ephesians 5:18-21)
Most importantly, we lift our spirits and songs directly to God in awestruck wonder. (Psalm 92:1-4)

Though we may not always “feel” the words, God takes our imperfect praise and uses it to reveal Himself to us.

As I considered the lyrics to Lower Still, my heart could barely contain my angst mixed with glorious praise.

“Look, He’s covered in dirt
The blood of His mother has mixed with the Earth
And she’s just a child who’s throbbing in pain
From the terror of birth by the light of a cave
Now they’ve laid that small baby
Where creatures come eat
Like a meal for the swine who have no clue that He
Is still holding together the world that they see
They don’t know just how low He has to go
Lower still” 

The sight of a young mother laying her newborn child in a feeding trough intended for the animal’ food is likely unimaginable to us. The irony of the humble surroundings of Christ’s birth is much more significant when we understand this baby was God in the flesh.

The child’s mother, Mary, submitted to her God (Luke 1:46-49), despite her limited understanding. Did Mary realize her son’s humble beginning would set the trend of His life? That Jesus would become her Savior?

Just as obediently, the omniscient Son of God, humbled Himself and came to earth in human form (Hebrews 2:14-18), knowingly embracing a sacrificial life on the dusty planet He’d created. How do we comprehend a Father sending His Son to the agonies of earth and leaving the glories of Heaven? For, as we follow Jesus’ story, we learn He would go even lower than a feeding trough.

“Look now He’s kneeling He’s washin’ their feet
Though they’re all filthy fishermen, traitors and thieves
Now He’s pouring His heart out and they’re fallin’ asleep
But He has to go lower still”

Unable to grasp this level of humility, Simon Peter initially refused Jesus’ invitation to wash his feet. (John 13:6-8) He didn’t realize Jesus was demonstrating why He had come.

Although we don’t know much about Jesus’ life between His boyhood and His manhood, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Philippi, describing Jesus’ heart. It would be difficult to find a better example of Jesus’ humble depths than Paul’s words in Philippians 2.

God in Jesus “emptied Himself.” That’s low!
He took upon Himself “the likeness of humanity.” That’s lower!
In this human condition, Christ humbled Himself “to the point of death — even death on a cross.” Lower still.

Commentators help us imagine why the apostles would have been gripped by death on a cross, in comparing it to the barbaric way many Jews died during the Nazi regime. Stripped of their belongings, clothing, and dignity, millions were led to gas chambers to die an agonizing death. Crucifixion was THIS kind of death. And Jesus went willingly. Author and pastor, Trevin Wax, explained, “The Creator was slain by His creation. The Shepherd was slain by His sheep. The Creator of life submitted to death.”

Even lower He went.

“There is greater love to show
Hands to the plow
Further down now
Blood must flow

All these steps are personal
All His shame is ransom
Oh do you see, do you see just how low, he has come
Do you see it now?
No one takes from him
What he freely gives away
Beat in his face
Tear the skin off his back
Lower still, lower still
Strip off his clothes
Make him crawl through the streets
Lower still, lower still
Hang him like meat
On a criminal’s tree
Lower still, lower still
Bury his corpse in the Earth
Like a seed, like a seed, like a seed
Lower still, lower still

Lower still, lower still…”

But God! (Romans 5:6-8)
Christ was lowered into a borrowed tomb, then rose out of it
that we may be lowered and raised with Him!
Christ went low so our songs could rise:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

“The Earth explodes
She cannot hold Him!
And all therein is placed beneath Him
And death itself no longer reigns
It cannot keep the ones He gave himself to save
And as the universe shatters the darkness dissolves
He alone will be honored
We will bathe in His splendor
As all heads bow lower still
All heads bow lower still.”

Paul reminds us Christ died and returned to life. And one day every knee will bow lower still to the risen and reigning Christ. (Romans 14:9-11) May we choose now to fall honestly and humbly at the feet of Jesus, to bow our heads and hearts lower still, and discover His glorious grace.

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Worship VII Day 1 Be Still My Soul

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46
Isaiah 43:1-7
Romans 8:31-39

Worship VII, Day 1

I’ve always loved the beautiful hymn, “Be Still, My Soul” by Finnish writer Veikko Antero Koskenniemi. In studying the rich Scriptural truths behind these inspired lyrics I’ve discovered deep theological waters. Journey with me into cavernous springs of solid truth and sweet grace as we unpack the foundational truths behind one Finnish man’s heart cry.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

While Veikko’s lyrical melodies wash over us,
ancient truths from the heart of God are reborn within us.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~ Romans 8:31b

“For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘the Lord is my helper; will not fear; what can man do to me?’” ~ Hebrews 13:5b-6

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice, who ruled them while He dwelt below.

“Be still”, Veikko croons as he quotes from King David.
How strenuously our bodies, minds, and souls push against this gift of slowing to stillness and silence before the God of the Universe! Yet, He continues washing us with truth…

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” ~Proverbs 16:9

“The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.” ~Proverbs 16:33

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” ~Mark 4:39

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the veil of tears,
then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.

Deep, dark waters of loss threaten to pull us under with gripping physical force, but Hope sings low and clear with growing intensity, “I have defeated death!”

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” ~ Job 1:20-21

 

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:38-39

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

One day, time will cease, we will breath our last, and with our very own eyes, we will behold the mysteries that have eluded us for so long. At long last, we will be face to face with the Lover of our souls, the Great Rescuer of our hearts. We will be Home, and forever, we will dwell with the Lord of All. Oh, come Lord Jesus!

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~Revelation 21:4

Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely. ~ Revelation 22:17

Come away and drink deeply of the sweet waters of truth and feel the embrace of grace by the Father who loves you without end! The next time you hear this hymn or sing it yourself, remember just how much truth from God’s Word you are meditating on and memorizing, and may it encourage you in your walk with the Lord!

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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 VII Week One! 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 VII!

Calling Day 15 Undying Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-24
Psalm 138:1-8
Colossians 1:1-29

Calling, Day 15

For my birthday, my sister gave me an Amazon gift card. With that e-card, she placed a vast array of options at my fingertips and whatever I chose could be on my doorstep in two days. Any guesses as to what I selected?

A charging station for all my electronics. 

All #adulting jokes aside, I have happily used the charging station daily since it arrived. Gone are the days of plugging items in to charge all around the room since no outlet had enough space for all my chargers. No longer am I searching for various cords and adaptors and successfully pair them accurately with devices, which were often threatening to die at any moment. Now a small bamboo box, containing a charging hub, hosts all my charging electronics.

So now that I’ve given you far more insight into my life than you ever wanted, let me share how the Lord used this ordinary charger to provide a new perspective on a portion of His Word.

Our study on Ephesians is drawing to a close, but the rich depth of its application continues on if we embrace the challenge presented to us in the final verses of this letter from Paul. This challenge produces fruit and the abundant life Christ died to bring us. (John 10:10) In verse 10, Paul begins to walk through the armor of God.

If you grew up in the church, you may remember learning this concept in Sunday school; I distinctly remember something akin to an “armor of God” paper doll. (For those in a younger generation, they were like paper doll apps but–gasp–made of real paper!)

If you’re not familiar with the concept, the armor of God describes how believers can prepare for, and successfully fight, in the spiritual battles we face on our journeys of faith.

Unfortunately, I sometimes equate putting on the armor of God with the dressing up of a paper doll. I can “dress” myself with the correct words, thoughts, and outlooks from head to toe, but am I truly drawing my strength from the Lord . . . or just putting on a good show?

So as I read through Ephesians 6, I asked myself if I am truly “plugging in” to the Lord as my source as I seek to live out the life described in verses 10-18? As I pondered that question, the Lord brought to mind my charging station. I would not set my phone on the wooden base and assume it would charge without plugging in the base.

Similarly, putting on the armor of God is about drawing close to Christ and His Word, and listening to the Holy Spirit as we pray. It is not about looking the part; it is about living the part.

For example, when verse 14 challenges us to stand with truth like a belt around our waists, it is not exhorting us to assume a certain physical posture, or pull ourselves up by our bootstraps emotionally.

Instead, Paul encourages us to embrace truth, both through immersion in Scripture and prayerful pursuit of discernment and wisdom in the Holy Spirit. Then, just as a literal belt was the foundational piece of armor to which all else was attached, God’s truth will be the launchpad from which the rest of our spiritual armor springs.

What passage of Scripture or words of the Spirit speak to your heart in this moment and remind you the God who has overcome the world is for you? Stand on His words of truth, dear sister; stand with the authority Christ died to give you.

As we read through the armor of God, let’s envision each piece as a charger for an electronic device.
What would it look like to “plug ourselves into Christ” for each piece of armor?
Let’s invest the time to intentionally seek interaction with the Lord and discover His strength.

The key component in my charging station is electricity, and the key component of the armor of God is God. Long before electricity ever made its mark on planet earth, Paul understood the reality of being plugged into Christ, and the significance of this vital connection is still felt today as we read his letters.

Paul wrote about the armor of God as a tested and tried warrior, not as a child playing with paper dolls. He put on the armor of God in order to fulfill the purpose the Lord had for him. Paul sought to declare the gospel and he worked with the Lord to spread the good news about Christ. He has modeled what it looks like to live fully alive in Christ and fully alive for Christ. 

Paul ended his letter to the church in Ephesus (and to all of us eavesdropping on the conversation) with a prayer for grace to all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear sister, may we plug in to the Lord and be counted among those with an undying love.

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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 Calling Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Sketched VIII Day 4 Zacchaeus: 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 Zacchaeus!

The Questions

1) Why is there such a dichotomy between verses 6 and 7 where there is joy and complaint?

2) What is significant about Zacchaeus’ response in verses 6-8?

3) What does it mean to be a “son of Abraham” (verse 9) and how is this tied to Jesus’ mission statement in verse 10?

Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”

9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Original Intent

1) Why is there such a dichotomy between verses 6 and 7 where there is joy and complaint?
Jesus extends the invitation of hope to Zacchaeus, even calling him by name. You can almost hear the rich welcome in Jesus’ hearty greeting as He called aloud to the rich man in the tree. Zacchaeus’ heart was ready to welcome Jesus, not just in his house, but in his heart and life. Joy is the inevitable, always consistent component of welcoming Jesus into one’s heart and life. Peace flows and joy abounds every single time; it’s simply part of the delight of being made new! God does not call us to Him only for us to respond as if we had been coerced; genuine repentance always results in genuine joy because we are being welcomed by the God of the Universe! However, to those hearts who aren’t ready to repent, who are still stuck in themselves and their own prideful arrogance, this “good news” of forgiveness and new life, repels them. Follow Jesus and give away their wealth? No, thanks! Follow Jesus and become an outcast in their family or society? No way! Follow Jesus and live His way instead of my own? Insanity! Paul illustrates this reality by using the imagery of a wonderful fragrance lingering on the clothes of a redeemed, Christ-following heart. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15) To those who are also ready to welcome Jesus, this fragrance is a beautiful, sweet invitation to new life! To those who still want to serve themselves, this fragrance carries the strong reminder of their own soul-death. Paul bluntly states it as “the aroma of death leading to death”. (2 Corinthians 2:16) While Jesus and Zacchaeus rejoiced, the Pharisees around them complained because their hearts still stubbornly clung to their own attempt to rule their own lives.

2) What is significant about Zacchaeus’ response in verses 6-8?
First, it’s important to note that Zacchaeus’ actions are indeed a response, not an initiation. Often, we think we have “found God” as if He were working to hide from us, waiting for us look in the right place. Long before Zacchaeus climbed that sycamore tree, his heart had been stirred to curiosity about Jesus as the Spirit of God wooed his heart to hunger for depth and truth. On our own, we will never seek for God, instead, we will all choose to go our own ways. This is exactly why Jesus came! He knew we would never seek Him out, so He came to choose us, to lovingly sacrifice Himself for us, and to call us to be in relationship with Him. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him (Jesus!) for the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) He does, however, still give us the choice to accept or reject Him. He calls us to Him, willingly holding out forgiveness and hope, but it’s our decision to either humbly accept with joy, as Zacchaeus did, or to reject Him. (Romans 10:13) Jesus called Zacchaeus by name, and commanded him to hurry, to which Zacchaeus wastes no time scurrying down the tree. His heart was awakening to new life! He further responds to Jesus by declaring full repentance from his past way of life and making choices to live out his new redeemed life in new, radical ways.

3) What does it mean to be a “son of Abraham” (verse 9) and how is this tied to Jesus’ mission statement in verse 10?
God promised Abraham he would become the father of many nations. He would have so many offspring they would be too numerous to count, even more than the sand on the shores or the stars in the sky! (Genesis 22:17) God gave Abraham a son, Isaac, as his son of promise. From Isaac came Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel and who fathered 12 sons who became the patriarchs for the 12 tribes of Israel. This is the beginning of the nation Israel, the Jews, God’s chosen people. A “son of Abraham” was common lingo among Jews for a traceable bloodline that extended back to “Father Abraham”. This was strictly for Jews and would never be associated with a Gentile who had zero physical connection to Abraham. While Zacchaeus was a Jew, he was easily the most hated man in the Jericho region for his swindling and collaboration with the Roman government. To call this man a “son of Abraham” was offensive and despicable! In this heart-transformative moment, however, Jesus wasn’t referencing Zacchaeus’ physical heritage. When God promised Abraham he would become the father of many nations, God wasn’t limiting his promise to physical children, He went far beyond flesh and bone to include spiritual offspring. Abraham’s son of promise was more than the first Jewish boy, rather, Isaac became the first offspring through whom would eventually come Jesus Christ. All who trust in Jesus’ saving work on the cross becomes a child of God through their faith. Instead of physical genetic code being passed down generation to generation, God had always intended for His people to understand it was Abraham’s faith that saved him and set him apart. (Romans 4:23-25) When Jesus said Zacchaeus was a “son of Abraham”, He meant Zacchaeus also believed Him with faith just as Abraham had done centuries earlier.

Everyday Application

1) Why is there such a dichotomy between verses 6 and 7 where there is joy and complaint? We look at the scenario in these verses and it may seem happenchance. Jesus was walking through the area, which happened to be in the vicinity of a certain tax official. This official also happened to have already heard of Jesus, and his curiosity about Him happened to be so intensified he climbed a sycamore tree, which also, by the way, happened to be on the route where Jesus was walking. Then, Jesus happened to know Zacchaeus’ name and his exact location. Good luck, right? Because Jesus is fully God, and walked in full unity with God the Father, there was absolutely nothing circumstantial about Jesus meeting Zacchaeus on the road that day. In fact, in His infinite knowledge, God foresaw this divine appointment when He planted the seed that would one day grow into that very sycamore tree! As Jesus walked the road that day, He knew He would meet Zacchaeus. He knew He was about to reach a lost soul and rescue him for all eternity. He knew of the impact Zacchaeus’ renewed life would make for the kingdom, and He was excitedly anticipating “meeting” Zacchaeus. Play out this divine perspective in your own life. Where have you experienced God deeply? Imagine how He eagerly waited for those moments! Embrace this joy, then walk confidently in the calling He has prepared for you! God rescued you on purpose to live for Him with intentionality. It isn’t always easy, in fact, like Zacchaeus, you will be met with sneers, complaints, and mockery for following Jesus, but to others, you will be extending the fragrance of life that was extended to you through Jesus! Following Him is always worth it!

2) What is significant about Zacchaeus’ response in verses 6-8?
Jesus called Zacchaeus to hurry down, which he hastily and joyfully obliged, then he took another step and declared a turning away from his past life. He simultaneously admitted to his sinfulness, while also actively moving in a new, opposite, direction from how he was previously living. He moved from deceptively stealing to generously giving following his heart shift from arrogance to repentance. This pattern is significant because we see it all over Scripture. The disciples immediately left all their material possessions and followed Jesus when He called them. (Matthew 4:19-20) The demon-possessed man begged to follow Jesus after being healed spiritually and physically. (Mark 5:18-20) In the Old Testament, Abraham left his hometown and his family of origin to follow God. (Genesis 12:1-4) This same pattern should show up often in our own lives. Hear God’s call to obedience, joyfully embrace His grace, then waste no time moving into following Him and living it out!

3) What does it mean to be a “son of Abraham” (verse 9) and how is this tied to Jesus’ mission statement in verse 10?
For centuries, Jews had missed the point that it was Abraham’s faith, not his bloodline, the Jews were to emulate. They focused so heavily on pure heritage and traceable ancestors they missed the whole concept of saving faith in God. It was never Abraham’s work, or even the heir he produced, it was always and only about trusting the God of the Universe who brought life and miracles out of dead things. (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:22) In their late 90’s, Abraham and Sarah were far past the age of child-bearing. Their bodies were “dead to heirs”, (Romans 4:19) but God brought life just as He said He would. What a beautiful illustration of our own souls! Apart from Jesus, we are dead to the “real life” we could have in God! (Ephesians 2:1) We are bound as a slave to sin and completely incapable of pleasing God and earning a right standing with Him. The author of Hebrews says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) This is the key! Only through faith alone, can we find peace with God and abundant life. When we trust Jesus and repent from our sin, trusting Him with our everything, God uses our faith as a “seed” to make us new and call us into life from the dead way we had been living. (Romans 4:23-25)

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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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This is Sketched VIII Week One!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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The GT Weekend! ~ Blessed 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) Several years ago, a slogan became popular, “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace.” It’s simplicity speaks volumes of the only path to attaining true, lasting peace. We chase after many things in attempt to be at peace. If I just have this amount of money in my budget. If only my husband would make these changes. If my child could just stop this, or start doing that. If everyone would just let me off the crazy train every now and then, I could have peace!! Am I right?! Alas, none of those things have the capability of bringing lasting peace, only the illusion of cessation from all the other noise. Where are you chasing peace? What series of events are you waiting for before you can finally have peace? Choose to stop the mad race to grasp at handfuls of wind, and sit with the one and only peacemaker. Jesus didn’t come to drop spoonfuls of peace from the sky when we behave. Rather, His peace is available in full at every moment, in every situation. Welcome the Peacemaker, then live as His ambassador as you extend His invitation of peace to others!

2) No one wants to suffer, right?! Often, when we, as believers, experience difficulty or intense struggling in our faith journey, we pray for the Lord to remove it, to heal us, to get us OUT of our trial! As Sara referenced Wednesday on the process of making diamonds, it’s only through intensity that rocks eventually glisten as jewels. A wise friend once shared with me this simple phrase, bringing deep clarity for me, “Believers will suffer because they follow Jesus. The only way to end persecution is to stop following Jesus.” Wow! Truth like that cuts straight through all my defenses. Jesus promised suffering for those who truly follow Him, and so the logic follows, “stop following Him, end persecution of the believer.” I want to follow my Savior more than I want my comfort. I know there are many times where I choose comfort, but pray with me for both of us to choose Jesus over and over, even in the face of adversity!

3) If persecution is guaranteed for every believer who truly follows Jesus, what should our response be when persecution comes our way? The Bible shares story after story of the early church responding to attack and trial with prayer, and perhaps most surprisingly, thanksgiving for who God was and continued to be. Their prayer was neither to remove the persecution, nor give them the upper hand, but for boldness and endurance to honor Christ and preach freedom in Jesus amidst intense struggle. When have you encountered persecution, on some level, for what you believe? Ask the Lord to grow your heart in boldness for Him, and willingness to speak of Him and of His truth! Spend time praising Him for His unchanging character of kind goodness towards 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 Matthew 5:13 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Prayer Journal
You’ve rescued us from ourselves, and our eternally condemned state because of our sin, by giving us Your righteousness instead of our rightly deserved death. You’ve lovingly embraced us, adopting us as Your own children, giving us the right to reign with You. You’ve given Your own Spirit to dwell within us to teach us to become more like You. Your love knows no boundaries. Your welcome casts off all disgrace. Your forgiveness makes all shame flee. You prepare a perfect eternity for us to dwell with You forever, face to face. Lord! It’s too astounding to take in! Yet, in the meantime, in our right now, You’ve called us into a life of purpose knowing it will be met with difficulty, persecution, and struggle. You’ve promised to never leave, Your Almighty Presence is indeed the richest blessing of a truly “blessed life”. Encourage our hearts to live with love, to remain deeply connected to Your truth, that we might be salt and light to a world around us, so desperate for truth and grace!

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Questions Day 5 Easy Life

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 10:5-15
Psalm 1:1-6
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 39:1-5
James 1:2-12

Questions, Day 5

As we journey through our theme on Questions, we are working through the answers to common questions many of us wrestle in our daily walk. Today’s question is one I’ve found myself asking…and maybe you have, too?

Why doesn’t God give Christians the promise of an easy life,
full of blessings and health?

Woo. Talk about a loaded question. Yet, I’m willing to bet it’s one that many, if not most of us, have found ourselves asking at one point or another. Sometimes we might phrase it in the context of “adulting” (read: why is adulting so hard?!), but our heart cry is the same. I mean, it makes sense, right? If we embrace Truth, have chosen to follow Christ, and do our best to live as Christ, doesn’t it make sense that our lives would be simpler and more pleasant?

In order to gain heavenly perspective and answer this question, we need to ask (and answer) a few more questions.

What are some earmarks of what we might consider an “easy life?”

  • A healthy body, free of pain and illness, comes to mind.
  • Smooth, conflict-free relationships with our spouse, family members, friends, acquaintances.
  • The absence of trauma or abuse, and freedom from inherited familial traits we might wish to avoid.
  • An easy life might include realized desires of our hearts, and the ability to do work we enjoy.
  • Freedom from unhealthy habits or preoccupations.
  • Ample finances.
  • Fill in your blank.

To put it simply, most of us would consider a life in which we are free to do the things we want to do, when we want to do them, and in the way we want to do them an “easy life.”

The phrase, “You do you, boo,” is surprisingly apt.

We want to do “us,”
without having to worry about it affecting us
or those around us.

Do you know what didn’t make it onto our list above? Anything eternal.
Does anything else strike you about that list, Love? It is wholly focused on ourselves.

Ouch.

Throughout Scripture, God reveals His ways are not our ways, and those who choose to commit their lives to Him are called to a life poured out in service. As humans, it’s impossible to live with the kind of perspective God has in our own strength, but when we recognize that “our good” does not directly translate to “what we consider as our good,” and allow Holy Spirit to guide us, we’re on the right track.

So, why did God place us here and breathe life into us?

I don’t know about you, but not a single one of those things sound particularly “easy” to me. In fact, they sound impossible, because none of those are things we could ever hope to accomplish on our own! The truth is that the obedience and submission we are instructed to have are only accomplished through the work of complete transformation He does within us when He renews our mind and causes our hearts to burn within us for His Name. 

Our part is to submit every part of ourselves to Him and allow Him to change us from the inside out, which results in that whole heart, whole life conversion that caught the early church on fire – and will spark revival across the globe again.

The bottom line is that you and I, we aren’t called to comfort or an easy life, dear friend. If we believe what we claim to believe, then we must agree that our days here are but a whisper. And if our days here are but a whisper, how can we resign even a moment to anything that doesn’t serve our Father?

Love, don’t read this as condemnation or judgement. Conviction is stirred in my own heart in response to this invitation to submit more fully and embrace the life He has given me.

We are called to honesty, and authenticity. To truth, obedience, and joyful submission, but these aren’t traits we can simply decide to cultivate on our own. They are completely, wholly the work of the Holy Spirit in us as He renews us and gives us the mind of Christ. We have only to say “yes” and let Him do His work. Sister, be encouraged! What freedom and release we can find in that truth!

Father, You are worthy of all my praise. Thank You for the work You are doing, in my life personally and across the earth today. Thank You for never wasting anything. Today, I turn again to You and invite You into every area of my life. All I have belongs to You. Create in me a hunger for You, for righteousness, and to live a life wholly yielded to You. Stir in me a thirst for Your word, and for time in Your presence. Everything I have is Yours. 

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Anchored Day 10 Fabric Of Life

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:1-4
Colossians 3:12-18
Genesis 1:26-27

Anchored, Day 10

Be Who You Are?
Look around and you’ll see all kinds of inspirational quotes encouraging you to
“be yourself”, “be who you are”, “you be you”.

Absolutely! God made each of us uniquely (Psalm 139:13-16) and we can celebrate that! However, found hiding underneath these pithy statements is a subtle message to focus on whatever you’d like to say or do regardless of what others think or care about.
Surely this must be the “real” you.

The problem?
Who you are depends on you.

When I became a mom 11 years ago, I slowly had to face the painful reality of
who I thought I was,
what I felt defined that identity,
and the stark contrast of who God says I am in Christ.
Who I thought I was, wasn’t good enough.
I needed something much more solid.

Perhaps you’ve had a season like this, where God uses circumstances and people in your life to patiently reveal where your identity had wrongly been resting.
Perhaps like me, you didn’t even know it was resting there
and it was God’s grace He showed you!

The book of Colossians gives us a different framework to, “be who you are”.
It’s actually the most hope-filled message of identity there could possibly be!
Colossians 3:12 begins, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved…”.  
What glorious truths!
God chose me of His own will!

His redemption makes me holy!

The Father already dearly loves me!

 Paul purposely sets the Colossians up to be rooted in who God has
already established them to be.
If we go back to the beginning of chapter 3, He also reminds those in the church:
1) We have died and been raised with Christ
2) Our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4)

So in a sense, this is Paul’s case to “be who you are”.
Perhaps a better way of saying this is be-who-you-already-redemptively-are.
(but that doesn’t fit quite as nicely on a bumper sticker, now does it? 😉

 The Clothes Laid Out For You
Paul continues by telling us what to “put on”.
It’s as if these are the clothes that the Holy Spirit has laid out for us.
Among them are compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (3:12), as well as forgiving one another and bearing with others, and above all the garment of love, which has the ability to weave all things together in unity (3:13-14).
It’s important to note these all relate to our relationships with others.
Whether with family, neighbors or co-workers, we all feel hard-pressed in the very things we’re told to put on!

This is a tall order in our own strength and impossible to muster up.
Which is exactly why Paul started by reminding us to step into these clothes
from a place of being chosen, holy and dearly loved.
This identity is fitted by the power of God.

We don’t show compassion and kindness so that God chooses us.
We don’t respond with humility and gentleness to make ourselves holy.
We certainly don’t show love to be loved.

When we know and understand our position in Christ,
it frees us to step into the character God has designed us to show others.   

Reflecting The Father
In 3:13 Paul implores, “forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
In verse 15 he asks us to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts”.
In 3:16 Paul insists “the words of Christ should richly dwell (take up their home!) in us.”
With wide strokes and vibrant colors, Paul paints what a life reflecting the character of Christ looks like when we put it on.

When Genesis 1:27 tells us God created mankind in his own image, it supports what Paul is saying here.  Since you’ve been crafted to reflect the image of God – so reflect Him! Do It!

We are given ample opportunities to do this through the relationships God has placed in our lives. Remembering we were created to reflect Him helps us turn away from seeking our own comfort, pleasure and happiness in those relationships, instead asking God’s glory to be revealed even as we struggle and brush up against others.

When we are rightly rooted in reflecting God’s image,
we’re not stuck trying to be filled by others as we relate to them.

Drilling Down
At first glance, it seems Paul begins an entirely new thought in verses 3:18-4:1, but if we think about the whole chapter, it becomes clear Paul is simply drilling down to another layer.
He’s already encouraged us with who we are in Christ.
He’s told us what to put on.
Now He’s showing us what our daily relationships will look like
if the first two areas are embraced.

Tying it up, Paul circles back to what could be the second side of the same coin.
Instead of stating his point from the place of our identity,
this time he states it from the place of our ultimate motivation:
to bring glory to our Master!

“Whatever you do, do it from the heart,
as something done for the Lord and not for people,
knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.
You serve the Lord Christ.” (3:23-24)

What are you wearing today, Sister?
Does your apparel reflect the rich identity you have as Beloved Daughter of God?
be-who-you-already-redemptively-are
Wear it well and may it bring glory to God!

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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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Tabernacle Day 11 Drawn In

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 10:19-23 
John 4:20-26 
Psalm 51 

Tabernacle, Day 11

It’s happened a wonderful amount of times to my heart.  
This sense of total abandonment to something bigger, grander,  
more glorious than I can imagine.  
 
I’ve stood in large worship centers, filled to the brim with people, and it’s as if a giant wave, like one gracious, incredible embrace, flooded my soul.  
 
I’ve sat in my living room, my small group friends gathered close, while children wiggled and tiny voices raised with adult ones, “We love you, Jesus. You are good. You are good.”  
 
I’ve shared communion with believers, washed the feet of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I’ve stood in tiny churches in Mexico and the inner city, I’ve sat at my kitchen table as we’ve sung or prayed together, I’ve knelt at the front of my church,  
and each time I’ve felt the same awe-full embrace.  
 
Tears.  
Glory.  
Awe.  
God With Us.  
Indescribable.  
It’s as if touching the untouchable God.  
This is worship.  
 
I’ve also gone running because the stress at home was too high, so I ran to flee.  
I’ve screamed at the same God.  
I’ve begged to know why.  
I’ve raged that I don’t understand.  
He allows the screaming, the pent-up fury, and then He whispers.  
He whispers truth.  
 
And though I’m tempted to fight back, I’m reminded how good and gracious my God is.  
I’m reminded of Scriptures that state the truth about His character, and about me and my limited perspective. Steadily He woos me back, until my feet stop and I’m face down on the pavement with tears of humility and awe at the beautiful tenderness of my God.  
This too is worship, deep worship.  
 
I didn’t start in humility.  
I didn’t start with tears of intimacy and awe.  
It was a process, a drawing in, a mutual knowing.  
Worship was always intended to draw us deeper.  
 
As we’ve studied the nuances of the Old Testament tabernacle, we’ve seen parallels to the New Testament, we’ve seen the handiwork and creative design of a God who has never been random, and we’ve seen His heart more clearly.  
 
We’ve seen His love evidenced beautifully and the vast lengths He went to,  
just to rescue us and bring us near.  
 
We’ve seen that His heart was never about our performance,  
but about a tender, loving, deep and intimate relationship.  
 
And so, we come to Tabernacle worship where we find an incredible pattern, 
a rhythm, a dance, an invitation to come deep, to know Him, be fully known,  
and be drawn in to worship!  
 
Our friend, Tawnya, did an amazing job helping us understand all the purposes behind all the pieces of the Tabernacle. (Check out her Journey here!)  
Taking that same model, let’s walk through as if we were worshippers coming to sacrifice to Yahweh.  
We enter the gates. 
We sacrifice and confess at the Bronze Altar.  
We are cleansed and forgiven at the Bronze Basin.  
Moving into the Holy Place, the priest is invited to worship at the Table of Showbread and the 7-Branched Lampstand.  
Then, gloriously, there is an encounter with Yahweh Himself at the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies with the High Priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement. 
 
While much is different between the Old Testament sacrificial system and the wonderful fulfillment Jesus brought in the New Testament, this biblical model of worship is an open invitation for each of us to be drawn in to encounter the One True Living God!  
 
We no longer need to make sacrifices,  
as Jesus died once and for all, spilling His precious blood for every single sin, small and great.  
1 Peter 1:18-19 
We no longer are required to rely on a High Priest to intercede for us,  
as Jesus Himself sits at the right hand of God interceding for us.  
Romans 8:34  
 
We no longer need to wait for the annual Day of Atonement to encounter the Living God in the Holy of Holies,  
as the very Spirit of God lives and dwells right inside of every believer.  
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 
But the model is the same.  
 
When I sat in my living room with my small group friends, I had entered simply by being present. I had cleared my calendar and I had prioritized that evening, setting it aside for worship.  
 
My sacrifice in each instance of worship was my heart, as I recognized anew that I couldn’t do it all, didn’t have all the answers, didn’t have all the solutions, and needed a Savior at every point. 
Whether I was running and screaming to the Lord, or sitting still waiting for His presence, or standing with a congregation, arms flung wide in expectation,  
my heart was the necessary sacrifice.  
 
When the sacrifice is truly brought, no strings attached, laying our hearts openly and brokenly before the King of Kings, His presence greets us, His forgiveness overwhelms us, His peace and His cleansing deeply wash away all sin and shame and fear.  
 
This.  
This is true worship.  
And unlike our Jewish brothers and sisters of the Old Testament,  
and because of the Holy Spirit living inside of us,  
true worship automatically begets a real encounter with Yahweh, the One True Living God.  
 
It simply doesn’t get better, my friends.  
To worship the Maker, as we were designed to do, following the rhythmic dance He created,  
encountering Him, in all His glory, is priceless!  
 
I challenge you to follow this Tabernacle model next time you sit alone in your quiet time, or stand in church, or engage with your family.  
Worship is one thing you will never regret!  

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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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Bride Day 13 Snapshots & Love Notes

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 11:1-4
Proverbs 3:1-12
Matthew 2:13-15

Bride, Day 13

The first four verses in Hosea 11 paint beautiful pictures of the Lord’s love.
As I read them, I find myself challenged to apply them in my everyday life.
I can imagine the Lord speaking those words over Ephraim,
but I don’t always make the jump to include myself in that expression of love.

Who am I to evoke that level of response from the Lord?

I’ve discovered speaking Scripture with my name included, invites me to experience the expressions of His love in a deeper, more personal way. Picture them with me.

“It was I who taught (your name) to walk, taking her by the hand.” Hosea 11:3

Odds are high all of us have had the chance to watch a toddler learn to walk or have seen a video showing those first, tentative steps. The family rejoices and cheers for those steps, then move to catch her when she falls. Prior to those initial independent steps were probably several backbreaking parental moments, bent over with tiny fingers wrapped around theirs as they walk around the room.
Let your mind connect those images to the Savior…
“It was I who taught (your name) to walk, taking her by the hand.”

Looking over the years since I accepted Christ as my Lord and asked Him to lead my life,
He has taught me to walk.
His Word guides, directs, and strengthens.
I’ve taken steps, sinned, and fallen flat on my face.
Yet the Lord has been there, graciously accepting my request for forgiveness and reaching down to lift me up, teaching me to walk.

I have learned how to grow and stumble less, walking more and more like an adult alongside the Lord, while other areas of my life still require my childlike fingers wrapped around His as I work through sin struggles and fears. Someday I desire to grow in maturity in those areas, but until then, I will reach for His hand and ask Him to teach me to walk.
And just like a good parent,
His hands are never far from mine.

“I led her with human cords, with ropes of love.
To (your name), I was like one who eases the yoke from her jaws.” Hosea 11:4

While the first verse brings to mind the early toddler years of growth,
this verse calls to mind teenage rebellion and the process of submission.
Yes, that is a bit of stark comparison, but I have discovered the battles, where I’m called to submit my flesh to the Lord, have been some of the hardest fought training seasons of my journey with Jesus.
In the midst of these lessons, it has been the love of the Lord that has led me and not the boundaries set by legalism.
His ways are love based. Proverbs 3:1-12

“I bent down and fed her.” Hosea 11:4

Snapshots of life made sweeter by a meal come to mind:
a toddler’s joyous face covered with spaghetti sauce,
the sweet awkwardness of a first dinner date,
the moments of shared laughter over coffee with a friend,
a mom bringing a bowl of soup to a sick child,
a friend delivering a meal to a family with a newborn or one who has just said farewell to a family member who passed away.

Food is often a backdrop to intimacy, and this verse reminds us that the Lord beckons us to an intimate relationship with Him.
He provided manna in the wilderness,
sent the ravens to deliver food,
ensured the oil and flour never ran out,
and in His final night before death, drew His disciples deeply into the new covenant with a beautiful gift, The Last Supper.
 Not only does the Lord physically provide food,
He also provides for us through His Presence and His Word.

As the Lord provides, He proves that His love is extravagant, powerful, persistent, and sweet.
Sometimes I forget that.
And sometimes the Lord reminds me by revealing a love note He sent years ago.

This particular love note is nestled in the first verse of Hosea 11.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.”
The cross reference for this verse is Matthew 2:13-15 where Joseph is told by God to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt. An Old Testament verse foreshadowing a New Testament reality, and what an incredible New Testament reality!

Hosea 11:1 isn’t just talking about the Lord rescuing Israel from captivity in Egypt, the Holy Spirit is using Hosea’s words to draw an arrow pointing directly to Jesus! Jesus, the Messiah who came to show the world His love for God the Father and create a way for us to have relationship with Him by becoming the sacrifice that takes away our sins.

“When (your name), was a child, I loved her, and out of Egypt I called My son Jesus, to be her Redeemer.”
Long before our Salvation walked the earth in human flesh,
the Lord put into writing His love for us.
Signed, sealed, delivered.

In what ways has the Lord shown His love for you?
Which aspect of Hosea 11 impacted you today?
Reflect on your day, your week, your month, your year, and see Him teaching you to walk, binding you with His love.
May the reminders of His love bless you.

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

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