eternity

Worship VIII Day 3 Everyday Praise

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 11:33-36
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 3:1-8

Worship VIII, Day 3

The fall colors were stunning, adorning the towering trees in red and gold finery. The autumn sunshine warmed my skin as I laced up my shoes and prepared to run the leaf-covered path stretching before me.

I had been praying over this run, asking the Lord to reveal Himself. I wanted to meet with Him. I wanted to know Him. I wanted to be held and comforted and loved. Today was supposed to be my son’s 6th birthday; instead little Elijah James has spent every September 30th running the fields of Heaven with Jesus. When I was pregnant with him, running kept my nausea at bay, so I ran often. As I ran, I prayed for him, for his life, for his future, and I thanked God for giving me the gift of being his mama.

Then, one day, his heart stopped beating and Jesus called my little boy home before I ever saw his face on this side of my womb. The last day of September will always find me running outside, enjoying the gift of fall sunlight and remembering an incredible truth, my little boy knows more about Jesus than I do, for he sees Him face-to-face.

Elijah worships the King in His very presence, while I ache earthside for eternity.
EJ’s everyday praise looks magnificently more brilliant than my own, but even so,
I’m invited into the same sacred space as I offer up my praise because we worship the same Lord and Savior.

As my feet rustled the fallen leaves that afternoon, I knew my heart was ready to hear from the Lord. I had slowed down, preparing to listen and know Him. The Lord asked questions, and my heart wrestled with them, seeing areas of sin and patterns of rebellion and distrust. Weeds were cut back as my Father sang over me and once again, I was made new from the inside out. My heart responded to His melodies of love by praising Him, speaking with Him, and delighting in Him.

Spiritual retreats, special church services, and times set aside specifically for prayer are rich and powerful in our lives and marked with deep heart worship. While these milestones are significant, such experiences are not intended to be sequestered to “holy retreat days.” Yes, the Lord met me on that beautiful fall day and I was drawn into deep worship, but this access to the Holy One is available every day, in all of my ordinary moments.

Cultivating a heart of everyday praise begins with realizing the fullness of His Holy Presence is as close and available as our skin and bones for those who have made Jesus their Savior.

Paul was an apostle full of passionate zeal, and his love for God overflowed into everyday praise simply because he practiced rehearsing the truths of God’s character on repeat. In his letter to the church in Rome, he writes of God’s radical grace in making eternal salvation available to all people. His pen practically shouts praises inspired by God’s love, which bestows spiritual gifts and calling and divine purpose upon all who call on His name. (Romans 11:29) Paul’s emotion catches up to him as he proclaims to his audience, “You were disobedient, but God took your wretchedness and showed you unfathomable riches!” (Romans 11:30-32, my paraphrase)

The more Paul speaks of the glories He knows to be true about God, the more his intensity grows until finally he can’t help but sing,
“Oh, the depth of the riches
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments
and untraceable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?
For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.”
(Romans 11:33-36)

This morning, I was hurt by a loved one’s words. I was frustrated by my children. I was angered by the mess. I felt unseen and unknown. I hadn’t spent hours praying over my day, asking the Lord to meet me and prepare my heart to know Him. I wasn’t reflective and open to the Spirit’s work; I was a mess.

But my reality didn’t equate to God becoming distant.
His nearness isn’t dictated by my feelings or circumstance, only by His choice.
And His choice is faithful love for those who have been clothed in His own righteousness through Jesus, every single time.

My heart status this morning was nothing like the afternoon of September 30th, but the Lord was unchanging. As I sat in the Target parking lot and cried (….and shouted), the Spirit reminded me of Who He Is. As I breathed in His grace, His Spirit flooded me with peace I absolutely cannot describe. My clenched jaw instantly relaxed, my breathing slowed, my head rested back against the seat. As anger seeped away, peace invaded, and I was once again graciously reminded that I live out my everyday messiness in the very presence of the God of holiness who has declared me righteous.

His love for me will never abandon and will always pursue my heart that I might know Him more, inviting me into everyday praise.

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Questions 2 Day 15 Does God Need Me?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:13-15
Psalm 50:7-15
John 15:9-17
John 17:9-13
Romans 5:6-11

Questions 2, Day 15

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

Drops of blood struck a staccato beat as they fell into an ever-widening pool, saturating the dirt around rough-hewn beams gouged into the earth. Blood’s heavy iron scent settled in a stifling cloud over nearby onlookers.

Soldiers clustered in conversation a little distance away, raising their voices over the heartrending wail of mourners. One soldier threw a puzzled glance to the sky, wondering at the darkness shrouding the sun since midday. He shrugged in the inky darkness and turned back to his fellow servicemen. For those assigned to crucifixion duty, the agony that daily played out around them faded quickly into mundane.

But their talk halted abruptly as a figure on one of the three crosses heaved against the spikes and cried out,

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?(Matthew 27:46)

Centuries later, we wonder what could possibly compel the God-man on that cross to knowingly and willingly submit to such agony?
To a death that left Him unrecognizable as human?To total and utter separation from God the Father and the Spirit?

Surely, it must have been to satisfy a desperate need.
To mend His eternity, torn by the sins of His creations.
To fill the aching loneliness left by their desertion.
To secure for Himself workers in the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

These are logical conclusions, but they’re based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the character and heart of God . . . one I’d never really considered until now. If it’s a new idea for you, too, cool! Let’s learn together in this safe space!

In essence, we ask
Did Jesus die to redeem me because God needs me in order to be happy?
To be joyful?
To be satisfied, or fulfilled, or in community?
To be effective, powerful, or present?
Does God need me . . . at all?

Absolutely not.

Stings, doesn’t it?
But let’s invite our egos to take a seat and talk it through . . .
Because it’s actually THE BEST news.

God needs nothing.

He lacks nothing; the world and everything in it are His.
He does not need our offerings, praise, or provision.(Psalm 50:7-15)

He created all, in heaven and on earth.
He owns all.
He is victorious over all, with no need of aid.
(Genesis 14:17-20, Psalm 24:1-2)

Instead of needing anything, He is the source of everything.
Including us.
He gives us life and breath.
He determines our days and our boundaries.
He, Who made us, cannot be contained by us.
Our service does not fulfill or empower Him.
He is not bound by our understanding or creations or imagination.
(Acts 17:22-29)

He. is. all.
When God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush, He declared, “I AM WHO I AM”. (Exodus 3:14)
No other descriptor is needed, or could be more than, God Himself.

He is fullness of joy.
While He offers to share His joy with us, His joy is NOT dependent upon us.(John 15:11)

He is fullness of community, existing as God the Father, Christ the Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Himself is shared ownership, shared pleasure, and shared knowledge of each other on the most intimate level.

He has no need of us.

But take heart; we’re coming to the best part.

If the God-man on that cross knowingly and willingly submitted to such agony to satisfy a desperate need, His sacrifice would have been one of obligation.

Instead, He embraced His suffering
Unto disfigured death and utter abandonment
to satisfy a desperate love.

Our sin broke our world, broke our eternity, broke our spirits,
But it did NOT break His love.
And so He made a way to overcome our sin.
(Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:4-5)

No, He doesn’t need us.
But oh, how He wants us!
How He loves us!

In those moments when….
the enormity and ugliness and shame of our sin
punches us in the gut, stealing our breath and leaving us longing
to peel off our skin, climb out, and be someone else because we can’t stand to be this wretched mess for one more second . . .

Oh, how He wants us!
How He loves us!

For here, in the absence of need, the fullness of God’s want
astounds us with its flourishing passion. 

Beholding the sobbing heap of mistakes and regret before Him,
Against all human logic, with obligation nowhere to be found,
Driven by abiding love,
He wraps us in His scarred arms and whispers,
“Beloved, I chose the cross, because I choose you.
Even here. Even now.”

(Cue the ugly cry. Every time.)

What will we do with this stunning reality?

Perhaps you’re experiencing significant lack, or feeling small and incapable . . .
His truth reminds you of the God Who needs nothing,
Who is the source of all, and is graciously, your Provider.

Perhaps you’re drowning in condemnation and shame, feeling wholly unlovable . . .
His truth resoundingly declares His incomprehensible love for you.

Perhaps He’s asking you to respond to His love by stepping out in forgiveness, obedience, or repentance . . . .
Here, in this unforced space, you are free to proclaim grateful devotion to your Father, Lover, and Helper.

Move into truth and act upon it, knowing full well the One Who loves us best is for us!

As we reflect on these questions, seek His heart, and follow the gentle nudges of His Spirit, we can walk on in partnership with the One Who loves us best.

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Worship VII Day 12 Held Fast: 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!
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The Questions

1) What is the treasure in jars of clay? (verse 7)

2) If there is hope and life in Jesus why does Paul include verses 8-9 about suffering?

3) What does it mean to focus on what is unseen? (verse 18)

2 Corinthians 4:7-8

7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. 14 For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. 15 Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Original Intent

1) What is the treasure in jars of clay? (verse 7)
Jars of clay or earthly, temporary jars are what Paul is referring to by “jars of clay”. However, the treasure in them surpasses the temporariness of the jar. The jars are fragile and weak, but what they hold is far from fragile, weak, or temporary! Paul is writing to believers of a treasure that will surpass all of time. He is writing of God Himself dwelling in believers as they live in relationship with Him. Paul is reminding the Corinthian believers they know the good news of Christ and salvation. These verses remind us the treasure of Jesus comes from God alone; they cannot attain it without Him. However, verse 15 also reminds them this grace and good news is not to stop with them. They are to extend it to others by sharing the good news of Christ and offering others the same relationship with the Heavenly Father they enjoy.

2) If there is hope and life in Jesus why does Paul include verses 8-9 about suffering?
Paul knew the truth of these verses better than most. His life was anything but easy. He was persecuted, shipwrecked, and imprisoned for the Gospel, yet he never gave up. He kept walking the path God laid before him. “Instead of finding in this disparity reason to doubt his vocation, he saw in it an illustration of a great law of God. It served to protect the truth that salvation is of the Lord.” (Expositors Commentary) Paul is reminding the Corinthians life following Jesus wasn’t guaranteed to be easy. However, Paul doesn’t leave them in their hopelessness. He follows these verses with the reminder Christ walked through suffering and conquered death. Their journey is not hopeless because God will never leave them and because God purchased their hope and security with His own blood. They share in the victory of Jesus even in the trials and sufferings this world offers. (Romans 8:17, 1 Peter 4:13)

3) What does it mean to focus on what is unseen? (verse 18)
Paul didn’t know Jesus personally when He walked on earth, and neither did Paul’s audience. Paul has shared the message of the Gospel with them and is now writing to them. They have never seen the hope they cling to, but instead it is faith in the unseen they are living out in everyday life. What they see around them is temporary, but they are to focus on what is unseen and what is eternal.  Paul is reminding them this world is not the end, there is a promise for more. A promise of a day when Christ will return. A day the believers in Corinth thought was closer than it was, but a day that will indeed one day happen. Paul is reminding them, someday all will be made right; there is hope and life and the promise of an eternity spent with God. The struggle now will be worth it!

Everyday Application

1) What is the treasure in jars of clay? (verse 7)
We are the jars of clay. Our bodies may be temporary, weak, and fragile, but we hold the greatest treasure when we live in relationship with our Heavenly Father. I don’t know about you sisters, but the season we are living in during Covid-19 has been exhausting and hard. I have felt my humanity maybe more now than at any other point in my life. I am weak and fragile, but the good news is, I was never asked to walk this life alone! God extends this amazing treasure of relationship with Him to each of us when we choose to accept His offer of complete forgiveness for sin. He promises to live in us and we never face any aspect of life apart from His strength. As I cling to the treasure deposited inside me (2 Corinthians 5:5), the good news is that only Christ offers this unexplainable hope and joy. However, just like the Corinthian believers, I am not supposed to keep this treasure a secret. I am to share and extend the good news beyond me to a hurting world. I am to share with others the life only Jesus can offer as we walk in relationship with Him. I challenge you today to ask yourself, “Am I living a life where others see Christ living through me or am I keeping Him a secret?”

2) If there is hope and life in Jesus why does Paul include verses 8-9 about suffering?
We may understand these verses better today than we ever have before in light of a global pandemic, racial unrest, and many other worldwide struggles. If we are honest, the world around us brings affliction and persecution like never before. We look around and feel perplexed and at times struck down. Jesus never promised His followers a life of ease. Instead, in Matthew 16:24 we are told to pick up our cross and follow Him. In John 16:33 Jesus tells there will be suffering. Jesus Himself suffered worse than any of us could ever imagine, yet He did not lose hope. His suffering and sacrifice is the source of our life! Paul includes these verses to remind us following Jesus won’t always be easy. There will be tough days, weeks, and years, however, He will never abandon us! (Psalm 138:8) Instead, as we cling to Him during the hard seasons of life, it is an “opportunity for Christ to demonstrate His power and presence in and through us (NLT Study Bible).” When we walk through suffering and hard times, the work of Christ in our life is evident to the world around us. We simply have to choose to lean in and cling to Him by faith.

3) What does it mean to focus on what is unseen? (verse 18)
Like Paul, we don’t have the privilege the first disciples had. We don’t get to walk with Jesus and learn from Him as He lives and teaches. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “we walk by faith not sight.” I am reminded of what Jesus said in John 20:29, “Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe.” When we choose to put our faith in the promises we cannot see, we are blessed! We look around and see a temporary world filled with sin and suffering, but there is a promise of more. There is the promise of the eternal. When Jesus left earth, He promised to return. (Acts 1:11) This is the promise we cling to as believers. Our life now isn’t forever! We know the unseen includes life forever with God that will be without pain and suffering. It is a place where He will wipe away the tears and there will be no more mourning or pain. All of what we know will pass away (Revelation 21:4). I don’t know about you sisters, but I long for that day. We have hope in this unseen promise. I challenge you to live in light of the end of the story clinging to the promise of the perfection that lies ahead of us.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Worship VII Day 3 The Wonderful Cross

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:1-11
Isaiah 53
John 15:6-17
Mark 15:6-37

Worship VII, Day 3

Dichotomy
Such a fancy-sounding word, simply meaning a contrast between two differing or opposing ideas. Why is this word important for today’s journey into worship? As we explore the hymn The Wonderful Cross, we uncover the incredible dichotomy of the cross of Jesus, simultaneously wonderful and horrible. Come, discover with me.

“When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.”

In Biblical times, there was nothing wonderful about a cross. It meant crucifixion, which was excruciatingly painful, while also publicizing the victim had committed a crime deserving a penalty of death.

Except Jesus committed no crime.
There was no sin to attribute to Him. (1 John 3:5)

However, human beings have sins to spare, and Jesus took every last, ugly, despicable one of them to that cross of death and shame. (Isaiah 53:5-6)
His holiness took on our sinfulness.
His righteousness was willingly offered in exchange for our unrighteousness when we embrace the cross. This place of death offers a slaying of our sin as we submit to His rule and reign! Anything we give up in this life to follow Him is a loss so we can gain eternity. (Philippians 3:7-9) Praise Him, the Prince of Glory!

“See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose, so rich a crown.” 

Jesus’ cross experience was filled with pain and suffering. Can you imagine being beaten with a whip laced with metal? (Mark 15:15) Picture a crown of thorns beaten into your head. (Mark 15:17-19) Then carry a cross beam on your wounded back, only to be nailed to it, and hung to die. Every drop of blood, from His head, hands and feet flowed from joyful obedience to the Father. He could have focused on the pain of the cross. Instead, He focused on the joy of it, because He was winning our salvation.

In the face of hatred and jealousy, He expressed love.
In response to the envy of the chief priests (Mark 15:10),
His fellow Jews yelling, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:12-14),
Roman soldiers mocking Him (Mark 15:20),
and crowds scoffing as He hung on the cross for their sins (Mark 15:29-32),
He offered His life for them all.

This was pure love.

John 15:13 says, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus, however, went beyond this definition. Romans 5:8 says,
“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While they were not His friends.
While we were not His friends.
He still laid down His life, because He loves us! Does it ever bring you to tears to think about someone, anyone, loving you so much? I can scarcely handle the thought of the most holy God loving sinful me that much. Yet He does! Glory!

“Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name.” 

The chorus mentions “gathering to bless His name.” This is what we do on Sundays at church, at Bible study, in small groups, and as we pray together throughout the week. We bless Him.
When we lay our problems down so He can handle them, we bless Him.
All made possible because of the wonderful cross that brought His brutal death and our freedom.

On the day Jesus died, people gathered at the foot of His cross, but their intention was not to bless. They drew near to mock the very One who could save them. Today, in light of what Jesus finished for us, we metaphorically gather at the foot of the cross to bless the very one who did save us. (Isaiah 53:5 and Isaiah 53:11)

“Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

How do we respond to this costly, sacrificial love? In His horrific death, we find the most profoundly extravagant act of love and selflessness ever displayed.

I can think of three actions we can take in response.
First, accept the gift of salvation. Jesus paid a high price for us to spend eternity with Him. Let’s not leave His gift unaccepted and unopened.

Second, since Jesus died for us, we should die for others in sacrificial love. On a daily basis, we work toward dying to self and to our sin. Philippians 2:3 explains it best, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” In a nutshell, dying to self means:

  • Operating in humility
  • Considering others before ourselves
  • Placing others’ needs before ours

I warn you, it will feel like death. I’ve tried it!
But it’s nothing compared to the cross of Christ. So, let’s just do the thing, and live in the love of Jesus as we follow Him, okay?

Third, we can take hold of the life Jesus died to give us.
Let’s read our Bible and do what it says.
Let’s use our gifts for His glory, not ours.
Let’s press on toward the goal for the prize of following Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
We can do this in honor of the wonderful cross and our beautiful Savior!

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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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Neighbor Day 3 For The Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 10:25-37
1 Peter 4:7-16
John 13:1-15

Neighbor, Day 3

Then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
(Luke 10:25)

Do.
What must I DO….to inherit eternal life.

When I said, “I do” to my husband, like any other wife, I had no idea what I was saying yes to.

I thought I was saying yes to….
Lifelong happiness.
A good partner.
Someone who would always cheer me on.
A leader I would always want to follow.
Never feeling alone.

What I didn’t think I was saying yes to….
Feeling alone for huge chunks of our marriage.
Wondering if I’d married the “wrong person”.
Feeling more encouraged by my barista than my husband.
Wondering how we could disagree about so. many. things.
Making plans for how to survive if he left me.
Long seasons of sadness.

Eventually, when all my expectations kept falling flat, and I realized I just might not get that “happily ever after”, I was ready to throw it all away…and blame God in the process.

I had stayed in the marriage.
I had been loving and kind. (well….mostly)
I had done the hard relational work.
I had been patient.
I had been prayerful.

I felt I had “done” everything I could, and God….well, He should have done something more…

He should have changed my husband.
He should have made marriage easier.
He should have made us more similar than different.
This was His fault.

If Jesus had been living on earth in physical form around years 7-8 of my marriage (and 9-10, and 11-13…), I probably would have driven over to His house and had a little “come to Jesus meeting.”

And it probably would have looked quite a bit like the conversation between Jesus and the lawyer recorded in Luke’s gospel.

What else could I possibly DO for You to give me a good marriage, Jesus?!
Do you not see how hard I’ve worked here?
Do you not see how hard this is?
What more must I do?!

When the lawyer approached Jesus that afternoon in Jerusalem, he had an agenda, and it wasn’t a heart-felt, how-can-I-change-to-honor-God attitude, either. He wanted to justify himself before this carpenter man from no-good Nazareth who claimed to be the Promised Messiah. He wanted the mic drop moment, where Jesus would be forced to give props to the lawyer and all his astounding “goodness”.

Jesus’ answered the lawyer, the expert on the law, by turning his question back on him with such poignancy, such directness, yet such intimate tenderness, it was impossible to miss Jesus’ heart for people.

In His own culture, Jesus did what I imagine He would have done for me if I had stormed His house with my own agenda. In my mind, He would have poured me a coffee and sat with me on the front steps while I poured out my frustrations, along with a solid dose of self-righteousness. Then, when I took a breath, He would have begun sharing a story. A story about me. A story I would be drawn into. A story that would take my breath away with its accuracy.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem….”, Jesus began, immediately arresting the attention of all those around Him, especially the lawyer. His story went on, full of nuances the expert of the Law would not have missed, while making His point that both examples of self-righteous souls in His story severely missed the mark precisely because they were keenly focused on their ability to perform and do.

Then, unexpectedly, there was a third character in Jesus’ story. A man who simply by being mentioned, would have turned the stomachs of those listening, especially our lawyer friend. The lawyer’s fists began to tighten and the color rushed to his cheeks as the despised man of the story turned out to be the hero instead of the righteous doers.

Without missing a single beat, Jesus looked squarely in the lawyer’s eyes (and mine), and asked, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?

Perhaps it was with clenched teeth and a stubborn insistence to not roll his eyes, the lawyer responded with resignation, “The one…” How it galled him that the hero was from a people group he loathed with every fiber of his being! He took a big gulp of air and quickly finished, “The one who showed mercy.”

Again, in a nanosecond, Jesus would have picked up our empty coffee cups, tossed me my car keys from the front stoop, and said with that kind, gentle, firm voice,
“Go and do the same.”

Dumbfounded, and awash with the kind of realization that just keeps hitting you like ocean waves, I would walk back to my car knowing I had a single calling in my marriage, to love like that man who was the very least likely to love.

I was called to be merciful.
I was called to be a good neighbor, not a self-righteous one.
I had been invited, by the Lord of All, to love my husband deeply, and continuously, because the Jesus-kind-of-love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

What could the lawyer do to earn eternal life?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
So how could he access eternity?
By becoming like the Savior, which is only possible by a complete heart-transplant. Death to the old way of doing things, and coming alive to the love of Jesus and His mercy by trusting Him for salvation alone. No work of ours could suffice.

This really wasn’t about how my husband should change.
This was about my willingness to look at Jesus’ perfection instead of my marital flaws. When I found satisfaction in Christ, He fueled me to love my husband in a way that truly honored Him.

With startling clarity, as I reflected on that coffee meeting with Jesus that afternoon, I was reminded of another scene.
One where smelly, dirt-caked feet were held by the Master of the Universe and gently washed. Humility paired beautifully with lavish, divine love. Humility picked up feet that didn’t deserve His attention, and love bathed them with tenderness.
Christ’s words after giving such a majestic gift?
“Go and do the same.”

Being a neighbor to my husband means washing feet.
It means humility and love and tender mercy.
None of which are possible in my own human strength. I need divine intervention for this calling, which is why I need Jesus and His love to make me new.
For the love of Jesus, I can love my man.
For the love of Christ, I can go, and do the same as my Lord has done for me.

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Hallel Day 12 For All Peoples: 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 For All Peoples!

The Questions

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?

2) Who will receive the reward?

3) What does the water of life represent?

Revelation 22:12-17

“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 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.

Original Intent

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?
Christ’s return is a guaranteed promise. Signed, sealed and soon to be delivered; Christ will indeed return. (John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:7) With His coming, Jesus says He will reward “each person” according to their works. The phrase, “My reward is with Me”, is a direct quote from Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy stating, “See, the Lord God comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His wages are with Him, and His reward accompanies Him.” (Isaiah 40:10) Christ’s promised return incites great joy for those who have trusted Him for their salvation, placing on Him the full weight of their life. In contrast, for those who have not trusted Him fully, or those who have only “appeared” to trust Him superficially, Christ’s assured return brings dreadful fear. (Matthew 7:21-23) The reward for “work” is clearly coming, but a correct understanding of “work” is critically imperative to note. Kistemaker, a New Testament theologian, underlines the correct understanding of “work” by saying, “In Scripture there are no “works of righteousness” man can accomplish on his own, “no counting of good works to outweigh bad”. The term “reward” here in this passage has NO connection with the concept “treasure in heaven”.” There are only 2 types of “reward” spoken of here. One is the earned wages of eternal separation from a loving and holy God; these wages are earned by committing sin. The other reward is the grace-gift of eternal life which is granted to all who have trusted in Christ for their salvation. The “work” here is simply an act of faith, trusting that Jesus has accomplished our victory and rescued us from eternal condemnation. Revelation 11:18 speaks into this saying, “Your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

2) Who will receive the reward?
Everyone, across all of time, will be involved in this future event. There will be no escaping the reward of Christ in that day of return, whether for eternal life or eternal judgment. There is a due wage, a reward of punishment, which will be righteously given to the wicked for their sin. They chose to trust themselves, reject the Holy God, and oppose His gift of grace. They have rightfully earned eternal separation from Him. (Hebrews 2:2, Isaiah 3:11) There is also a reward of grace, a reward of inheritance, which is the gift of eternal life, in which God, of His free grace, gives to His people freely when they choose to trust Him for their salvation. He has given them His own righteousness because they had no righteousness of their own. (Colossians 3:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21) Christ has the authority from God, as mediator to inflict vengeance on the wicked and to give eternal life to His people, both of which He will do. Because God is loving, He offers the free gift of grace to all peoples through the sacrificial work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Because God is just, He will punish all who reject life and the offer of righteousness. He will not force His gift of grace on anyone, each must choose, this choosing is the “work” that determines the reward received. Consider Paul’s words from Romans, “For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12) One day, when Christ returns, all choice will be removed and all peoples will indeed acknowledge Christ as sovereign ruler with all authority, but at that point, our opportunity to choose Him of our own volition, will be gone. Judgment will be present and the reward will already have come.

3) What does the water of life represent?
Throughout Scripture, a place of barrenness and unquenchable thirst is an apt description for life apart from Christ. For the woman at the well in John 4, whom Christ encountered, she came to understand that without Jesus, the source of living water, she would always experience empty thirst. A dry and thirsty land where there is no water represents very well this world, to the one who doesn’t have the constant presence of the Savior dwelling in their hearts through the Holy Spirit. He is the fountain of life, He is the living water. He is the source of our eternal hope, having raised us from death to life, spiritually speaking, as He took away our sin and gave us His righteousness. As the Israelites would have perished without the flow of water from the rock as they wandered in the barren wilderness, so does every soul perish for eternity without Christ. In our physical world, water is commonly associated with life, without water we will quickly die! Water is mentioned many times throughout the Bible in association with life, not just temporary, but eternal! “But whoever drinks from the water I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, ,the water I give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” (John 4:14) With this living water of life, there comes a grand invitation, “COME! Let him who is thirsty (for true life), come and take the water of life freely!” (Revelation 22:17)

Everyday Application

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?
The entire chapter of Revelation 22 is phenomenal! It is the end of the Bible, and is a beautiful summation of what God has been drawing us to throughout His Word.  Having run the race of following Christ in this world for Jesus, our great reward is coming in His hand! We, who have placed our faith in Jesus, may eat of the tree of life and enter into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem! Not because we have worked hard at righteousness on our own, but because Christ has completed our work and given us His Own Righteousness in place of our sinfulness. However, there is not only one reward because there are two groups of people. Of all peoples, we are either inside the gates of the Holy City because our names are in the Book of Life as a result of trusting Christ (Revelation 3:5) OR we are outside the gates of the Holy City never to enter in, but to be in Hell for all eternity and separated from God, the author of life and love. (Matthew 18:5-9, Matthew 25:31-46) This is a very clear statement of the only two possible places we will spend in eternity, either Heaven or Hell. Christ is coming soon (verse 12), His reward is with Him to repay us whether we have chosen to trust Him or trust ourselves. He holds all authority, existing for all eternity as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 22:13) Because it is true that “salvation exists in no other name” (Acts 4:12), our opportunity to choose Christ now, at this moment, is the single most important decision we will ever make. In 10,000 years from now, Christians will still be rejoicing in knowing the eternal God of love in deeper ways. Those who rejected Him now will continue in their unfathomable suffering as they live out eternity under the full wrath of God. Where is your reward?!

2) Who will receive the reward?
Verse 14 is very descriptive and straight forward as to who the rewards are designated for, “Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter into the Holy City by the gates”. Those who have followed Jesus, those who are All in for Christ no matter the cost and whose names are written in the Book of Life, finally after running the race on earth, will find their eternal home is heaven. This is their great reward! To be with Christ! The second group of people are those who chose not to follow Christ, rejecting the offer of life and righteousness. These folks are described as being OUTSIDE the city gates, and their sinfulness and immorality is clearly described (verse 15). These sins once characterized those who have trusted Jesus for salvation too. (Ephesians 5:8, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) The only thing separating one group from the other is the precious blood of Jesus who covers all sin when we ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 1:18-19) All forms of wickedness and unrighteous persons will be shut out of heaven forever. There is no middle ground! This should be a wake-up call for all of us. We’re talking about eternity, forever and ever! What side are we on? Where will we freely choose to live eternally? If we’ve already trusted Christ for our own salvation, I urge you my sister, to share this living hope with all gentles, respect, and urgency with those around you! (1 Peter 3:15)

3) What does the water of life represent?
Jesus has freely offered this living water to all peoples, and given many warnings so all would know that now is the time to choose to accept that gift of life for themselves. When Jesus calls out, “Come!”, His offer is extended to all who thirst. The promises and the rich inheritance of the freedom found only in Christ is offered to all! We all experience thirst, and dry emptiness in this life. Loss, hurt, illness, and many others, but with the living water of Christ flooding our hearts through His presence by His Holy Spirit, we are made alive, we are sustained and upheld. We are carried and preserved, and will one day, see our redemption face to face in the lovely countenance of Christ Himself as He brings His reward to us! Jesus calls us to come and freely take of the living water so we may abundantly live while serving here on earth in HIS name as we await the coming day of Christ’s magnificent and most glorious return. If we can just picture in our mind the absolute beauty of God’s restoration of Eden as depicted in the first five verses of Revelation 22, that alone should be a huge catalyst in pulling us nearer to the Father and increasing our thirst for Christ, and Christ alone! The more we drink of Him through feasting on His word in Scripture, the more we are rooted ever more firmly in truth, and encouraged to boldly share this hope of life with all those around us, calling aloud, “Come!”. The account of Revelation assures us God is in control. History is moving toward the consummation of His purposes. His plan is unfolding according to His schedule. Christ will return and win the final battle against evil and injustice. He will reign in victory forever! Believers will be rescued and live forever in the sweet presence of God. I’m in! How about you?!

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Catch up with For All Peoples!

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!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Hallel Week Three!
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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Treasure Day 10 Kingdom Work

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Chronicles 15:1-7
Psalm 90:10-17
Matthew 7:13-25
Colossians 3:17-24
2 Timothy 3:12-17

Treasure, Day 10

I sat in the parking lot for five more minutes, thinking to myself, “I’m not ready to go in.” I really disliked that place, my job. While I tried to do my best work, my heart just wasn’t in it, and it felt like drudgery.

Move forward to Sunday morning, and you’d see me cheerfully awake at 7:30 am, getting ready to serve in Children’s Ministry at church. There was no sitting in the parking lot with dread in my heart. Instead, I was full of anticipation and joy because I considered it kingdom work. 

My perspective on my less-than-appealing job changed radically when I encountered Colossians 3:23-24,
“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.” 

I came to understand that all of our work can be kingdom work, whether or not it happens within the walls of a church. We carry the Holy Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 3:16), and therefore we represent Christ always.

When we give of our time to a ministry or our church, it’s kingdom work.
When we go to our place of employment, it’s kingdom work.
It’s so easy to separate the “now” from the “eternal.”
But they are intertwined. . . through kingdom work.
Our now affects our eternity.
And our eternity should inform our now. 

Let’s talk about eternity. Throughout the Bible, God reminds us eternal rewards await us in heaven. (Romans 2:6, Hebrews 11:6) The reward of heaven itself is unbelievable, but our gracious and abundant God offers even more!

Heaven is not tied to our work, but to Jesus’ finished work on the cross. However, other rewards are directly related to our earthly efforts, and therefore, our eternity should directly impact how we live in the present. 

The Bible identifies five crowns we can receive as eternal rewards, each for different work believer’s have done during life on earth.

First is the crown of victory.
According to 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, this crown blesses those who are disciplined in their spiritual lives.

How can we practice discipline?
We can begin by consistently reading, studying, and obeying God’s Word. The more we commit to these disciplines, the more the Lord will grow them in us! ( James 1:22-25)

Next, let’s maintain a posture of gratitude.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to give thanks, always.

Third, we pray. In the Gospel accounts, Jesus took time to pray both corporately and privately.  He even instructed us how to pray. 

My final suggestion is to be generous with our resources, time, and talents (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 1 Peter 4:10). Let’s bless others out of the overflow of God’s incredible generosity to each of us! Sisters, I believe every Christ-follower can earn this crown of victory!

The second crown is the crown of life.
This crown is given to those who tenaciously hold onto their faith and persevere through trials. (James 1:12)

I’d love to say my aforementioned hated job would fall in this category, but I believe this speaks of much greater struggle. I can’t say in my now, I’d want this crown, but ladies, if God ordains this crown for us, let us win it well. 

Next comes the crown of rejoicing.
This crown is given to those who have rejoiced in the salvation of others.  We wear this crown if we have shared the gospel and helped build and celebrate biblical community Have you shared your testimony to help win someone to Christ and make a disciple? Have you told someone about the goodness of God and how they can have assurance of heaven? Then, this crown will be rewarded in Heaven! (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

The crown of glory is for pastors, elders, and church leaders, an eternal recognition of the special sacrifices made by those who devote their lives to serving the church. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Finally, the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8) blesses those who lived completely sold out for Jesus, always expectant of His return. I pray we all shift our focus to eternity so we might win this crown.

We are called to give ourselves away for the glory of God and for the advancement of the kingdom.

With Jesus ever before us and His Holy Spirit guiding us from within,
our eternal calling can be lived out in the now.

When we’re tempted to skip our time in His Word,
when we consider compromise to avoid ridicule,
when fear threatens to silence our sharing of the gospel,
or hold us back from the role to which He’s called us,
let’s remember this narrow road, while sometimes hard in the moment, brings eternal reward and ultimately, greater glory to God.

May we keep the vision of our crowns offered back to our Father in praise before us as we go about living in the now with eyes for eternity.


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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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Glimmers Day 14 Hope For Life (because of death)

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:9-17
Matthew 27:27-56
1 Corinthians 13
Luke 6:27-35

Glimmers, Day 14

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

In a country where poverty and homelessness is prevalent and visible.
Most of the homeless people in the Bahamas are men, but sometimes they are mothers with babies, asking for money. The five dollars in my wallet could be the way of provision for a family’s dinner.
Yet, I find myself rolling up my windows while I am at a stop.
Avoiding eye contact with the person knocking on my car window.
I justify it with thoughts on their choices leading them here or concern for my safety.

Love each other like Christ loved us.
How?

Unlike myself, where I am caught between loving myself and loving another, the Godhead was never at a loss for how to love.
He demonstrated it plainly.
He loved clearly.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Christ Died – Surrendering His all, giving up everything, holding nothing back and coming towards us in radical love.
For Us  – Not for unknown strangers, but for His beloved ones, those crafted in His image. He cane for you and me.
While – Progressive, continuous, perpetual.
We Were Still Sinners – Us, the beloved of God, perpetually stuck in our own sin, utterly incapable of saving ourselves. In sin, we were eternally separated from the God who crafted us for relationship with Himself.

We deserved death, yet He took our place and bore our sins upon Himself. (1 Peter 2:24)
We hated Him, while He loved us.

He became our sin offering, taking our rightful punishment upon Himself as only the perfect God-man could do. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

He was separated from His Father, in our rightful place, that we might never again experience separation because of sin if we ask Him to forever save us.

And then, after enduring a great amount of physical pain, He intentionally, with full control, gave His spirit into the hands of the Almighty, Righteous, God and Judge.
Wiping our slates clean, He allowed us access to God as a result of His sacrifice,
all while we still hated Him, dead set against Him,
because we loved our Sin more than the Savior.

And there is the glimmer of hope.
Us, in our inky, black sin, impossibly, eternally removed from the glorious goodness of a God of love.
But Hope.
But God.

Watching the movie, The Passion of Christ, painted images in my mind for what Jesus’ suffering would have entailed as a human being, with flesh and blood.

I watched as Jesus was scourged with the cat o’ nine tails.
I watched as they mocked Him and spit on Him.
I watched as they push the crown of thorns onto his head.
I watched as they ridiculed His great name.
I watched as they dislocated His shoulders to drive the nails through His hands.
I watched as they raised the cross and lowered it into the ground.
I watched as they pierced His side, to declare Him dead.
I watched the blood run out of His body.

And I cried I witnessed the most beautiful acts of love I’d ever seen.

But Jesus’ crucifixion wasn’t only about His humanity,
it was about His equality with God the Father.
Christ’s death was about relationship.

I watched as He asked the Father to forgive those torturing Him, including me.
I watched as He accepted the thief into the kingdom as a beloved son.
I watched as He took care of His mom, naming John, as her son, protector, and provider.

I watched as He held the world’s sin, crying out to His Father with a heart-wrenching pain that went far, far beyond any physical wound, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?!” Forsaken because of sin. My sin. Your sin.

I saw a love so amazing, it was beyond comprehension or description.

Jesus willingly took on the punishment of death
for crimes He did not commit,
for people that did not love Him,
including me. (Isaiah 53:5)

Love each other like Christ loved us.
How?

If we’re honest, we often fail to love others like Christ loved us.
We forget that others are just as sinful as us.
We love conditionally, looking for what we can gain.
We respond as if Jesus did not die for others, calling them beloved, just as He calls us.
We are judgmental and hurtful to people who truly need Jesus’ love, just like us.  

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love,
I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

We can give much.
Serve often.
Start ministries.

But if there is no love, we have nothing.

Christ’s death, and victorious resurrection, give us the ability to love as He did because of the life found through the Spirit of God who dwells within every believer.
The Spirit makes us one with God, while prompting us to extend His love to people around us.

Christ’s death itself was the glimmer of Hope.
Hope for resurrection.
Hope for restoration.
Hope to love a lost world.

The more we learn of this radiant, unconditional love, the deeper our hearts are shifted from death to life through the Holy Spirit. Gradually, His pattern of loving, becomes our own. We learn to love well, because we have been well loved.

May God be glorified and may the nations, and our neighbors, be forever changed because we love like Jesus!
Love well, Sisters.

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

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
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The GT Weekend! Glimmers, 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) Do you struggle with feeling like you aren’t enough, buried under a load of “shoulds”? Do you ever find yourself expecting more of others and frustrated when they don’t follow through on the “shoulds”? Think through these areas and the people who could be affected by unfair expectations. Each of us long for freedom found in unconditional love. Pray through some specific actions you can begin implementing towards others and yourself in showing grace and love that doesn’t let go.

2) Consider Sara’s words on allowing hope to grow within us, “I don’t know the full pictures of my life, but just like the prophets of old, I am to obey regardless.” How have you seen hope grow as you have intentionally chosen to trust and obey the Lord who knows you and leads you, even when it feels dark and terrifying? If you haven’t experienced that, what current circumstance are you walking in where you could desperately use some hope? Decide to seek the Lord’s wisdom and be transparent in biblical community, ask Him to show you where to trust and follow in obedience.

3) Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful time of hope and joy and delight, but when it brings pain and strong reminders of loss, the God of all comfort is eternally present in the midst of our everyday. Give yourself the freedom to identify your hurts or sadness or needs this weekend. Instead of shoving those feelings aside, instead journal and pray through surrendering those, and welcoming the comfort the God who loves you and pursues you that He might fill you with Himself!

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 Isaiah 40:1-2 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Prayer Journal
Father, Your intimacies are sweet and precious, life-giving, and richly deep. Abba, I praise You for being my comforting embrace regardless of the contents of my everyday life. I surrender my sadness, my weariness, my ‘not enough’, my lack, knowing that You never intended those burdens to define me. You came to comfort. You came to carry me. The deep, solid joy that truth brings is indescribable! My heart will sing of Your goodness!

Give me the opportunity to declare Your joy to others. This joy was meant to shared and declared with boldness. Spirit, give me that boldness!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music