The GT Weekend! ~ Philemon Week 1

February 18, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Philemon Week 1

Katelyn Palmer

February 18, 2023

church,Faith,Family,Fellowship,Holy Spirit,Identity

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Pray His Words Back To Him!

1 Thessalonians 5:14-21

And we exhort you, brothers and sisters; warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything. (...) Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, I come to you tonight broken and defeated, but with the words of Psalm 56:3 on my heart, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” I am ashamed of how much I have pulled away from You, which only gives the enemy room to taunt me and make me believe I should pull away even more.

I’m so grateful to know I’m not strong enough to separate myself from You, Lord – nothing is – but sometimes the darkness of the world makes me forget truth. So many are struggling, including myself, and depression seems to cover society like a weighted blanket.

As I meditate on Your Word and Your character, Lord, I ask You to bring to mind verses of comfort for my soul and encouragement. I know that ultimately, I will triumph by Your hand (Psalm 92:4); I just need spiritual refreshment, as do my brothers and sisters.

As I await your whispers of comfort, I will do as You commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and rejoice in Your love, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything. Hear my prayer, oh Lord, and do not hide from my plea for help. (Psalm 55:1)
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Paul is particular with his letters when it comes to his greetings and closings. Like bookends, he illustrates unity in both. Philemon 1:1-4 is a great example of how Paul sees himself in relation to Christ, how he sees his intended audience as family in Christ, and how he remains in constant prayer for every brother and sister he encounters.

In just the opening sentences of his letter, Paul demonstrates the kind of attitude we are meant to have toward our believing brothers and sisters. He closes his letters with the same grace and reverence toward each believer.

It’s important to remember that churches in Paul and Philemon’s day didn’t own properties or buildings in which to meet, they gathered in homes for worship, preaching, and shared fellowship. These churches were intimate, tight communities that depended on one another and supported each other in daily life.

With this understanding, when we consider Paul’s terminology of “fellow laborers,” “fellow prisoners,” “coworkers,” and “sister/brother”, we gain a deeper appreciation for what these terms truly meant in real life. These terms support the intimacy of a small home church and the true compassion Paul had for these believers.

Are we seeing others this way when we show up to our local churches on Sunday? Are we compassionately loving one another by first seeing them as beloved family members? This weekend, ask the Lord to prepare your heart to see your church family through new eyes!

JOURNAL TWO

The Bible was written by men inspired by the hand of God. God wastes nothing in our lives and certainly wastes no words in the Bible. In studying Paul’s letter to Philemon, Rebekah noted how Paul directed his audience’s attention to God’s call for unity between Jewish and Gentile communities through Christ simply by combining two common greetings from both peoples: “grace to you” (Jewish greeting) and “peace to you” (Gentile greeting).

With the simplicity of a greeting, God reminds us of the work Jesus finished with His death and resurrection as He, the God of Peace and Grace, reconciled sinful humanity back to Himself by paying our debt.

Because of His perfect redemptive work on our behalf to bring us peace, we are then empowered to spread His peace and grace to others, along with His love. (Ephesians 2:14)

As we share His love in our everyday lives, we carry out Jesus’ command to love others in the same way He has loved us with grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. (John 13:34-35)

In God’s hands everything is connected and purposeful, especially including our surrendered life to Him. If that isn’t something worth rejoicing over, then I don’t know what is!

JOURNAL THREE

The story of the widow who feeds Elijah and her family on God’s provision fascinates me! (1 Kings 17:8-16) The physical drought their land was experiencing is interesting to me as I consider the spiritual, emotional, and mental drought of our post-COVID world. The widow in this story was on her last bit of food and prepared to die with her son once it was gone.

Many today are feeling that same devastation following the COVID pandemic. Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns are at an all-time high. Just as Elijah served as a vessel to rescue this woman and her son from a seemingly hopeless end, we too must be the instruments of rescue for those around us as we carry around the hope of Christ.

We are the vessels, like Elijah and even like the jars that held the flour and oil, and the Holy Spirit is God’s provision inside us. Under Christ’s leadership and by His Spirit, we have the power to bring restoration from spiritual drought one soul at a time, but this requires surrendering ourselves to God’s ways.

Tags :

family,generosity,grace,hope,love,peace

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Philemon Day 5 For Glory: Digging Deeper

February 17, 2023 by Shannon Vicker Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 5 For Glory: Digging Deeper

Shannon Vicker

February 17, 2023

Digging Deeper,Encourage,Faith,Family

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:6-7

6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

The Original Intent

1) Who is the one praying in these verses and who is he praying for? (verse 6)

Backing up to the beginning of this letter, verse 1 leaves no possibility to mistake the author’s identity as the apostle Paul. Along with Timothy, his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2), Paul is writing from prison to fellow Christ-followers, Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus along with the believers meeting in their home. (verse 2)

Philemon is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament outside of this epistle. However, we know he was a believer and can assume he knew Paul based upon his greeting in the epistle. While Paul mentions two others by name and the house church, Philemon is the main audience of Paul’s words.

We also know these words were not meant to stay solely with Philemon, but to be shared with the believers in the house church. The principles of Paul’s message went beyond one person to the larger church body in Colossae. (Colossians 4:9, 17)

The Everyday Application

1) Who is the one praying in these verses and who is he praying for? (verse 6)

While Paul wrote these words primarily to Philemon, he never intended his epistle to stop there. In his greeting, Paul intentionally included those who regularly gathered in the house church to make clear he intended his message to be heard and received by them as well.

As believers today, centuries removed from Paul’s first intended audience, we can be assured his message applies to us as well. Letters from apostles were carried from city to city to encourage, teach, train, and rebuke the global church as a whole. We are simply part of the still-growing Body of Believers known as Church, albeit two thousand years later.

Because all of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), and God timelessly never changes (Malachi 3:6), neither does His message. (Psalm 33:11) We must always approach Scripture with ears ready to hear and hearts humbly ready to accept the word of the Lord He desires to plant within us. (James 1:21-22)

Paul’s words, timely and relevant for Philemon and the church in Colossae, are equally timely and relevant for us; let’s read it that way!

The Original Intent

2) Why does Paul pray for Philemon? (verse 6)

Prayer and Paul are commonly seen together in his letters, in fact, Paul frequently began his letters by praying for those he was addressing. (Philippians 1:3, Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:3)

Although the idea of praying for the recipients of his letter is not unique to this particular letter, the specificities of this prayer are unique. Praying for fellow believers in other churches was something Paul did regularly in the course of his everyday life.

To Paul, prayer was like breathing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and as he did, it was often filled with intercessory prayers for fellow believers like this one for Philemon and believers living alongside him. In this letter, Paul prays specifically that Philemon’s “participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.” (verse 6)

This idea of putting faith into action and becoming effective for kingdom work is something Paul knows Philemon will need if he is to follow through with the appeal Paul will make in the rest of his letter.

Following Christ is hard, it costs our pride, and Paul knows that for Philemon to continue to be effective for sharing the gospel in real life his “participation in the faith” and “knowing every good thing” about Christ through His Word will be essential.

The Everyday Application

2) Why does Paul pray for Philemon? (verse 6)

This repetition of praying for other believers is a lesson every believer can grow more consistent and deeper in, regardless of how long we have been following Jesus. Not only did Paul privately go before the Lord on behalf of other believers, but he often wrote out those prayers as a testimony and encouragement to those for whom he prayed. (Colossians 1:9-10)

Paul prays for Philemon to be effective in his faith and to have knowledge of the goodness the Lord Jesus’s glory was bringing about in Paul and Timothy. Paul does not shy away from sharing his prayers, which sets an example for every Christ-follower’s prayer life!

First, we are called to pray for others; it’s expected for every believer to be praying for other brothers and sisters.

Second, there is something sacred in sharing those prayers with those for whom you’ve prayed. Sometimes we will blithely say “I’ll pray for you”, but never follow through. Neither must we be guilty of the opposite, praying for someone and never encouraging them by letting them know of your prayers on their behalf. It’s certainly not required to share every prayer you pray, but we should follow the Spirit’s lead to share our prayers when He prompts us. Together, let’s be obedient to bless and comfort others through our written-out or spoken-aloud prayers over others. There is a blessing in reading the words of another believer lifted up for you in prayer.

Third, we are to pray specifically. Know the needs for the ones you pray, and pray using that understanding as you carry them to the Lord in prayer. Let’s begin following Paul’s example of how to pray!

The Original Intent

3) How have the hearts of the saints been refreshed? (verse 7)

The refreshment Paul speaks of directly connects his thought to the words at the beginning of verse 7 regarding “joy and encouragement from your (Philemon’s) love”. Expositor’s Bible Commentary defines this love as “The “love” which gives Paul such “great joy and consolation” is not love directed to himself, but to others; and the reason why it gladdened the Apostle was because it had “refreshed the hearts” of sorrowful and needy saints in Colossae.”

Philemon has refreshed and encouraged others in the love he has shown and it was exactly what the believers needed. In turn, this genuine love encouraged Paul’s heart as well. So we find this truth at work in the spiritual realm, the more we pour out the love of Christ, the more His Spirit encourages and brings joy to His people!

The Everyday Application

3) How have the hearts of the saints been refreshed? (verse 7)

Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “No man can ever tell how far the blessing of his trivial acts of kindness, or other pieces of Christian conduct, may travel. They may benefit one in material fashion, but the fragrance may reach many others. Philemon little dreamed that his small charity to some suffering brother in Colossae would find its way across the sea and bring a waft of coolness and refreshing into the hot prison house.”

As I pondered this quote, it led me to dwell on acts of kindness bestowed on me. They have been a refreshing blessing to me, but many times they prod me to share even more kindly and generously to others. When I share with others how someone’s kindness affected me, they are also stirred up to live with kind generosity. The rippling effects of kind love cannot be calculated!

Philemon refreshed the saints through his acts of kindness, which should encourage all who claim to love Jesus to follow Philemon’s example. We never know when a simple act of kindness will refresh those who were directly impacted as well as those who have witnessed the kindness. There is something refreshing in being reminded kindness still exists in our broken world and it goes a long way in lifting the hearts of those who experience it.

Together, let’s find simple ways to express the simple gift of kindness to those around us.

Tags :

church,generosity,kindness,love,prayer

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Philemon Day 10 Journey Study

As we practice tuning the ears of our hearts to know His voice through His Word, we will be drawn deeper into worship, which naturally leads to a life fully surrendered to the Love of Christ. Working like an ever-deepening spiral, the more we know Him, the more we will worshipfully surrender, the more our faith grows, and by the Spirit’s work, our effectiveness for the Lord increases exponentially.

This surrendered life resulting in effective faith, deeply refreshes the hearts of our “fellow ones”, brothers and sisters in Jesus. Joy floods and encouragement abounds from this rich well of surrendered following of the Lord Jesus.

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The GT Weekend! ~ Training Week 3

February 12, 2022 by Multiple Authors Leave a Comment

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

1) I often find myself getting busy and eventually, I realize I haven’t eaten or been hungry. However, when intentionally choosing to fast, my attention becomes desperately focused on the necessity of food. Funny how our minds work! Not so funny is understanding that Satan is working against us by attacking our discipline of fasting with distraction. For me, I find fasting to be among the more difficult spiritual disciplines. Fasting for various reasons has become trendier in recent times, providing a more comfortable platform for discussion, but spiritual fasting is still often forgotten. On the other hand, believers who fast can be tempted to look down upon those who haven’t yet practiced fasting. For years, I didn’t fast as I was either pregnant or nursing, and undisciplined in between. The more I leaned into relationship with Jesus, the more convicted I became concerning fasting. I realized I may be missing the movement of God because I was unwilling to set myself aside through prayer and fasting. Where can you begin to train in fasting? Try giving up a single meal once a week, then move towards two and three a day. Watch how the Lord shows you Himself in deeper ways and moves mountains with your faith as you physically surrender to Him! Written by Carol Graft

2) It’s easy to become caught up in worship music and think we’ve truly worshiped the Lord fully, but Wednesday’s Journey Study showed us how worship is much more than an experience. Brenda taught us that biblical worship is a lifestyle that glorifies God, moves us to obedience and complete surrender, and cultivates respect for the Lord. Reflect on being sustained by God. Write out prayers of thanksgiving and praise for the ways He guards, protects, and preserves. As we reflect upon and see the characteristics of God, allowing Him to be everything we need in every situation, we worship! How can you incorporate meditating on God’s character into your daily schedule? As you meditate on those characteristics, find Scripture you can use to remind yourself of these truths about God’s heart so this fundamental understanding will lead our hearts into genuine worship. Written by Marietta Taylor

3) Generosity is almost always associated with giving money. While this is certainly part of generosity, we saw how exercising our generosity muscles encompasses more than finances. A generosity that reflects God’s heart is founded upon intentional and joyful sacrifice. This lifestyle of giving can involve money, prayer, sharing wisdom, or using your talents to encourage and edify the Church. I remember offering to babysit for our neighbor’s young children so the couple could enjoy their anniversary. My husband and I kept the kids not one night, but two. Something so simple, but richly life-giving to them, and memorable for all of us! Think of some instances when you’ve experienced another’s generosity toward you. Record what they did, how it made you feel, and how it reflected the heart of God to you. How have you been generous to others? Remember that being generous is something only God equips us to do. How can you make space in your life to be more generous? Begin by praying about how the Lord may be specifically calling you to be generous and then do it! If you need some inspiration, check out the Open Journey Theme! Written by Marietta Taylor

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 Colossians 3:23-24 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

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.

Prayer Journal
Heavenly Father, as we close out this study on training, I pray all I have learned will remain with me. You know I struggle with consistency. So, I pray the Holy Spirit will continually nudge me to evaluate my life to reveal how I can better worship you, serve you and others, and grow ever closer to You. May I spend my everyday moments practicing for that One Day when I will finally be in Your presence, worshiping You forever. Every breath spent on this endeavor is well spent and echoes into eternity! May I never stop pursuing after, and participating in, spiritual training, for here, I come to know You in ever deepening ways. Help me be an example to others, not for my glory Lord, but for Yours. Praise Your glorious name for the good work You are doing through my surrender!

Worship Through Community

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Training Day 15 The Generosity Muscles

February 11, 2022 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 3:16-18
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Matthew 6:1-4
2 Corinthians 9:7-11
Malachi 3:10-12

Training, Day 15

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Over the last few weeks we have been diving into the Word and focusing on spiritual disciplines. How have you been impacted through this journey? What specific discipline(s) has the Lord highlighted for you to focus on moving forward?

Has silence taken on a new meaning in your life? Or has your perspective of fasting morphed? Maybe you have not sensed any dramatic shifts, but you now have more nuanced understandings of several of the spiritual disciplines.

Before we transition to the next study theme, we have one more training topic to discuss: generosity.

To start, pull out paper and pen or the notes app on your phone. For the next minute, please list ways you can show generosity in your current sphere of influence. Your goal is to think of as many as possible in these 60 seconds. Don’t second guess. Don’t analyze. Simply picture generosity in your world and go.

60 seconds. Set an alarm if it helps.
List away.
Finished?
What was your experience like? What categories and actions made it to your list?

How I wish this conversation were taking place in person.
Since it is not, I will share a few elements I discovered about my list, some of which surprised me.

The first category on my list was money. Scripture does not shy away from addressing money and its impact on our hearts, minds, and walks with the Lord. Tithing, the practice of returning the first 10% of our income to the Lord, is a key component for keeping our hearts focused on the Lord and what He is doing. The Lord knew how significantly money could ensnare our hearts and even encourages us to test Him to show His faithfulness when we tithe. (Malachi 3:10-12)

Financial generosity, however, is not formulaic and moves beyond tithing. Rather than being defined by a certain number, recipient, or cause, financial generosity is characterized by our willingness to give joyfully as the Lord leads. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

In fact, a key component to any and all generosity is obedience to the Lord.

“Because of the proof provided by this ministry, [fellow believers] will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.” (2 Corinithians 9:13)

Our goal is to become more Christlike. (2 Corinthians 3:18) True generosity, the kind that makes us more like Him and demonstrates our spiritual growth, is an outpouring of hearing and obeying. It’s a heart-level response.

Is the Lord asking you to give to a missionary? Is He asking you to help support a single parent? Is He the author of the totally random and unexpected “passing thought” to bring your co-worker a coffee one morning?

The Lord knows each one of us so very intimately and, simultaneously, sees the big picture in all things. Therefore, He knows what each of us needs and how our paths cross. Maybe that random cup of coffee is the warm hug from the Lord your co-worker needs; we may never know how we might be an answer to prayer.

Generosity, then, is about giving open-handedly, no strings attached, zero expectation for accolades; instead, we expect God’s promises outlined in His Word to be fulfilled; His grace will overflow to us, equipping us to do the good work to which He’s called us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
He will give us what we need that we might live with righteous generosity, bringing glory and thanksgiving to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 9:10-13)
He will build “deep affection” among believers, as those blessed by generosity lift up the givers in prayer. (2 Corinthians 9:14)

And finally, as I made my list, I found that while a few situations were financial, many were not, reminding me generosity includes, but also extends beyond, our finances.

One person is in a challenging season and needs solid, consistent prayer covering. While money may help at some point, the Lord highlighted her name when brainstorming how I could be generous with my time and intercession.

Another idea is to send a handwritten note to a friend who unexpectedly lost her husband this summer. This idea prompts me to be generous with my talents and my time. How could your talents be used generously for the glory of the Lord?

Regardless of what made your list, as we grow and practice our generosity, may we keep our eyes focused on the Lord. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith and it is through Him we become more like Him in every spiritual discipline.

My sister, thank you for growing in the Lord by leaning into training more intensely in these spiritual disciplines. May the Lord define and strengthen your “spiritual muscles” and bless your training!

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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 Training Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Pause V Day 3 Generosity

October 27, 2021 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

Pause Five, Day 3

Hospitality provides the opportunity to be generous with resources, time and one’s presence. It happens to be one of my spiritual gifts and I thoroughly enjoy exercising it while also delighting in seeing others use this gift. In the second chapter of John we are present at a wedding feast where some generosity is needed because they’d run out of wine.

Unlike today, you couldn’t just run to the store and buy wine.
But Jesus.
He was fully present that day and had vast resources at His disposal as the Lord of All. Would He be generous to help?

Indeed, Jesus was quite generous in not only providing wine, but fine wine. He didn’t advertise what His power was capable of doing, just provided instructions to the waitstaff, who were obedient to do as He instructed.
His generosity saved the day, and wooed others to glimpse God’s glory.

In the same way, He is generous to us as Messiah. He offers us the opportunity to be transformed from condemned in our sin to saved and redeemed into a new life. From powerless in sin and shame to empowered by His Spirit within us to live for Him. What needs we have, He can supply in ways we could never imagine. Jesus is still in the habit of being generous. He still saves the day as a good and generous Savior while pointing our hearts to His glory. Have you allowed His power to work in your life?

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of John 2:1-12 today. As you copy, look up a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community!
a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
c) Leave a comment here about it.
d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group
e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in!

3) Memorize John 3:20-21

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John 2:1-12

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.”

4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked.
“My hour has not yet come.”

5 “Do whatever he tells you,” His mother told the servants.

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did.

9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

11 Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee.
He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause Five Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

Redeemed Day 10 Steps Of Faith

July 3, 2020 by Penny Noyes Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 3:1-5
Proverbs 27:9
Exodus 33:12-23

Redeemed, Day 10

“I’m home.” Flinging open the door to our small house, I called out to my mother-in-law. She looked up with joy in her twinkling brown eyes. I knew she loved me every time she looked at me.

“Ruth!” she exclaimed, looking up from her mending. “You’re home early!”

“The barley harvest is over,” I explained. I’d been gathering grain in the barley fields of Naomi’s relative Boaz for the past month. He was so kind to me and everyone who worked for him. I had spent the morning picking up the final grains and cleaning up alongside the other working girls. While eating lunch, I recalled that first day when I began working in Boaz’s fields. Naomi and I had just moved back from Moab, my homeland. We were destitute. Boaz, in his generosity, had shared his wine and toasted grain with me. Naomi was so excited when I showed her the barley I’d collected from his fields. It was the happiest I had seen her in years!

Now, as she took the final bag of barley and placed it into the storage bin, she turned to me with a familiar intensity in her eye. It was the same look I’d seen when she decided to return here to Bethlehem after my husband, Kilion and his brother had died.

Naomi had a plan.

She reached for my hands, gripping them with tender love as she spoke,
“My daughter, I must seek rest for you and find a home for you,
where you will be well provided for.”

Naomi’s passionate gesture brought back an instant visual of when my sister-in-law, Orpah, and I last held Naomi’s hands. Naomi had decided to leave Moab and return to her homeland, Bethlehem. Through tears, she’d encouraged Orpah and me to stop following her to Bethlehem and instead return to Moab. She blessed us, saying, “May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

Orpah pulled her hands from Naomi’s grip and wrapped her arms around us. She would return to her parent’s home, but I couldn’t leave Naomi. I knew this decision was more significant than where I lived; it was an opportunity to leave the gods of Moab and follow Yahweh. Naomi had taught me of Yahweh and His goodness. Though she had suffered the loss of her two boys and her husband, she still believed Yahweh was kind. Though our life was hard and bitter, she taught me to see Lord’s kindness in our friendship, safety on our journey to her hometown, and provision in Boaz’s fields. Even though I was now a foreigner and an outsider, she knew the Lord could answer her prayer for a home with security and a husband and kids. It wasn’t too much for the Lord.

She paused and looked me up and down, but her hold on my hands intensified with a fire of love in her eyes. My hair was straggly with husks stuck to my clothes, and I smelled like sweat and barley. It wasn’t a pretty picture, but that didn’t stop her.

“Tonight, our relative, Boaz, will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:3-4)

My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t believe Naomi’s plan. Sneak onto the threshing floor while Boaz was asleep, uncover his feet, and lie down!

Only men went to the threshing floor. What if someone saw me?

I was shocked. I did not expect Naomi to come up with a plan like this!

Since moving to Bethlehem, Naomi had spent much time teaching me the Law. There were rules about food, keeping the Sabbath, our clothing, and appropriate relationships. Since Boaz was our relative, she had explained the role of the kinsman-redeemer. Meaning, Boaz had a special responsibility to protect the family and the land. She also explained why such a kind and faithful man was still single. Though Boaz’s father was Naomi’s relative, his mother was a former Canaanite prostitute. No parent in Bethlehem would allow their daughter to marry Boaz. To do so would risk Yahweh’s anger burning against them according to Deuteronomy 7:3-4, “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.”

As Naomi shared her plan, she noted how she had heard of Boaz’s kind character through conversation with the women of Bethlehem at the town well. The women’s testimony of his character and my stories of working with him had convinced her Boaz was a good man, who reflected Yahweh’s kindness. She believed God had saved him for me and brought me back from Moab for him.

Wow! What a surprise. I never imagined remarrying after Kilion died, but here was a gift of redemption. Naomi was giving me a life-changing choice just like she had with the choice to return home or move to Bethlehem. She would love me regardless of my decision. She was more than my mother-in-law, she was my friend. We cooked together, laughed together, and learned Scripture together. Long before my husband died, she held me and cried with me every month I wasn’t pregnant. I trusted Naomi’s wisdom and perspective. I trusted her heart and advice more than I trusted my own.

It was time to get cleaned up and put on my perfume.
It was time for me to take one more step of faith.

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Open Day 13 Radical Offering

August 14, 2019 by Kendra Kuntz 2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Kings 4:8-17
Matthew 6:1-4
Matthew 25:42-46

Open, Day 13

Twelve years ago, I met a woman we’ll call “Marcy”.
Marcy’s children and I went to the same school and attended the same church. I knew Marcy’s children better than I knew Marcy, but over the years, we served together in different ministries at church and grew closer.

Marcy and her family live in a beautiful home, her husband has a solid job, and from the outside looking in, it appears that Marcy has everything she needs and even wants. That’s all pretty surface-y, but I’m guessing we can all imagine someone with Marcy’s lifestyle.

However, I know something else about Marcy….
I know she and her husband live out selfless generosity.
All without saying anything to anyone.

The only way I could possibly know this is if I were a benefactor of their open-handed generosity… which I am.
Marcy has opened her home over and over as a welcome place for discipleship, worship, blessing, celebrating, and feeding others. Including me.
I’ve watched Marcy open her arms to people of all walks of life… sometimes she doesn’t remember their names, but she never forgets a face! That Marcy would literally give the shoes off of her feet to someone… and she has.

My mom once told Marcy the shoes she was wearing were adorable and that I would love them. Finding out we wore the same size, she literally took her shoes off of her feet, handed them to my mom, and told her to give them to me.

Marcy’s husband has used his profession to assist my parents on the mission field at no cost to them. Together they bought my entire cart full of Christmas gifts when we ran into one another at Target, where they were purchasing food to serve to parents with sick kiddos. This couple have poured themselves out to love others in countless ways as they have discipled, mentored, and given away what they had for others. Marcy told me once that nothing they own is actually theirs, it all belongs to God.

The reason we’re even calling her “Marcy”, is because many of the times she has given to me, she has sworn me to secrecy. She and her husband live out Matthew 6:1-4 with extravagance! While I could go on about this couple and their generosity, they would humbly remind me that living with open hands and hearts is simply the means by which they are called to further the Kingdom.

Marcy reminds me of a woman in the Bible whose name also isn’t mentioned… perhaps because her heart was so similar to Marcy’s. She wasn’t concerned about being remembered only about living generously.

This nameless woman is known as the “Shunammite Woman”.
Like our friend, Gaius, she isn’t well known, but from Scripture, we do know she was wealthy, married, and perhaps most importantly:
she used hospitality to love others well.

The benefactor of her gifts was a prophet named Elisha.
Elisha and this woman somehow met when he visited her town. She insisted on feeding him. (Which I can only laugh at because I literally try to force-feed my brother every time he visits. “Are you hungry? No? Are you sure? Here, I made spaghetti last night, let me just reheat some for you. I also have salad and brownies and coffee and the lesser-known sparkling water, Bubly!”)

The Shunammite Woman must’ve been a pretty decent cook, because after their first encounter, Elisha stopped by her house to eat every single time he visited. I can’t imagine the conversations that occurred, but there is no doubt that Elisha shared about the One True God, Yahweh, with this woman and her husband. Before long, the Shunammite Woman referred to Elisha as a ‘holy man of God’ and had a room built just for him on the roof of their house. They fully furnished the room and welcomed Elisha and his servant readily.

Many of us have guest rooms and happily welcome visitors throughout the year, but to actually construct an entire room specifically for a guest-turned friend is radical.
Elisha wasn’t family.
This wasn’t a neat Airbnb designed for income off of Elisha.
This was love and hospitality and generosity.

After becoming aware of the work the One True God was doing through Elisha, they used what they had – a rooftop – to support God’s Kingdom work in their community.
Expecting nothing in return.

I’ve been writing this Journey study while sitting in my church’s building watching the hustle and bustle of daily church activities occur. Just a moment ago, friends of mine who are empty-nesters, came over to chat and I asked why they were here on a Thursday morning. “Oh, we have four camp counselors staying at our house and we told them we’d come see them at camp today!”
Open handed generosity.

This same couple has opened up their home again and again for Kingdom work.
After becoming aware of the work the One True God is doing, this couple used what they had – a home with empty rooms – to support God’s work in our community.

Sisters, it doesn’t take much for us to demonstrate incredible hospitality like Marcy, the Shunammite woman, or my empty-nester friends.
Each are using what they have – their homes, their love for people, and their love for the Father – to further the work God is doing.

We don’t need a secure job with a steady income, just an open heart.
Maybe all we have is a pull-out couch, bottomless coffee, or cold water on a hot day.

God takes our willingness,
our open hands,
and open hearts,
and He builds His Kingdom!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Open Week 2

August 10, 2019 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

Worship Through Journaling

1) How willing are we to up-end our home, our plans, and our comfortable places for the sake of loving others? It’s easy to say, “of course” to that, isn’t it? We want to love well. But when we are holding onto our last thread, when the dishes are high in the sink, and we feel run down, we aren’t very likely to hold open the door are we? And most of the time, the opportunity to ‘open the door’ doesn’t coincide with our times of “being spent”, but suppose the next time we are challenged like this, we say yes instead of later? Jesus’ yes, despite His weariness and just wanting to be home, brought opportunity for souls to be rescued for eternity. What might God do with your “yes”, even in spite of your exhaustion?!

2) Every person who has said yes to Jesus, yes to breaking free from sin and shame, has been freed to love with a generosity like Christ has shown us. Jesus brings healing, hope, and freedom to our dark, broken places, transforming hurt and loss into a platform to speak of His glorious goodness to others. So, here’s the challenge, who have you shared your story with? Take time this weekend to one, write your story with pen to paper or fingers to keys and two, pray for God to bring you someone who needs to hear your story. Then follow through in obedience, and share what God has done for you!

3) Unknown, unremarkable, forgotten. Sounds horrible and cringe-worthy doesn’t it? But this is the reality for countless believers through the ages who have surrendered all for Christ and given their everything for the sake of loving others and sharing the gospel. Jesus didn’t promise our name in lights or sprawled across the cover of a book, He promised suffering and persecution for following Him. But He also promised it would be worth it. What specific ways do you shy away from serving others with love because it just doesn’t seem important enough or make a big enough impact? Sisters, that’s not how God counts value! What matters is our obedience to His call to love others well just like Gaius. (Gaius Who?!) Stop everything right now and spend time talking with the Savior about how He wants you to love others specifically this weekend!

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 3 John 1:3-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Prayer Journal
This walking in truth You have called us to stretches me more than I realize. Far from being a checkmark of boxes to accomplish day to day, You call me to sink my feet deeply into Your truth, continually calling me to take in more of You. And then live it out with the same fullness of love You show me. I confess that I often feel ruled by my schedule and list of ‘must-dos’ more than I do a law of love. Spirit, remind me of the truth of Who you are and what You have called me into. Remind me how You are not bound by my endless lists. Remind me that the greatest work You want to accomplish in and through me is open handed, open hearted, generous, genuine love. Keep making me new in this area, Father, and begin changing the world around me, beginning with my own heart!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend ~ Anchored Week One

February 23, 2019 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

Worship Through Journaling

1) When you think of the local church, do you see yourself as having a role in helping her grow healthy and strong? Why or why not? Don’t give quick answers. Consider what you say you believe and what your actions prove. Consider your words and how you view leadership in the church. Are you generally encouraging and looking for ways to strengthen the Body? Take time this weekend to write a note or two to a church leader the Spirit is leading you to encourage! Love the church well this week!

2) What feelings do you sense as you consider words like “community” “church” “transparency” “connection” “prayer” and “worship”? Exuberance? Warm feelings? Gratitude? Fear or pulling back? How we view God and our role in His Body, the Church, greatly impacts how we view those words and what we choose to associate with them. As you think through these, look for ways you can grow deeper in your understanding of God’s perspective, plan, and purpose for the Church to live together.

3) Tawnya tackled some big topics in yesterday’s Journey Study as she helped us unpack core truths of the Almighty God of the Bible. Right thinking about God and His character will lead to right living and a true gospel shining out in our lives from the mundane to the big-moment-highlights. Make a list of the top 10 things you know for sure about the God of the Bible. Don’t think too hard, just the first 10 that come to mind. Next make a list of things you also know about God that seem to contradict the first list. For example, how can God be both loving and jealous? Or how can he hold Justice and Grace perfectly? Don’t let your questions scare you away! The Lord isn’t afraid of them, He wants you to ask and explore Him in greater ways!

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 Colossians 1:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.

Prayer Journal
Yes, Abba. Ah, gracious Lord God! How sweet and pleasing it is to gaze at this “Word of Truth”, Your gospel, Your hope given generously to humanity. Precious, Lord, it is precious! Remind me, again and again, every single day, hour by hour, of this life-giving gospel by which I am surrounded by abundant, unending grace. Remind me that the work is finished, my job is to submit to Your tender leading as Your Spirit whispers through Your Word.

Bear much fruit here, Father. See my relationships? My children? These ministries You’ve given me to steward well? Grow gospel fruit here, Lord. Teach me to surrender more and more of myself to You that Your Spirit may be free to grow and prune and multiply Kingdom growth here in the soil of my life. I praise you, Lord God, ruler of all, Creator of all!

Worship Through Community

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

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Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!