The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI Week 1

June 24, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI Week 1

Katelyn Palmer

June 24, 2023

Alive,Broken,Confession,Faith,Fear,Obedience,Power,Praise

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!

John 6:32-35

Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

Then they said, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ ‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.”

Prayer Journal Entry

Dear Yahweh, thank You for showing me the humanity and struggle in each of the characters of the Bible. As one of Your vessels, I’m encouraged to know You will never forsake me (Psalm 16:10) and You will accomplish Your will through me (Ephesians 2:10) just as You did through them.

Lord, I am grateful to You for cultivating a faith within me that carries with it hope for this lifetime and the next. I ask You, Yahweh, to now cultivate a community around me, one that will strengthen me in my faith and lovingly point me back to You. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Like You provided Elijah for the widow (1 Kings 17:8-24), I need that communal support, the kind which will pray with me and for me (James 5:16-18). For this I humbly ask Your good gift of community.

Lord, I also ask for Your continued provision in my life just as You provided bread and meat for Elijah in the wilderness every day. (1 Kings 17:5-6) I know You have mighty things planned for my life, Lord, so I am praying for patience and courage (Psalm 27:14) as I continue to seek You and Your will daily (Psalm 63:1, Matthew 7:7).
I pray this in the Name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

The pattern of humanity through time regarding faith has not changed. We remain a tapestry of tragedy and faith woven together, as Ms. Bailey so eloquently put it earlier this week.

Meditating on the threads of tragedy can leave us feeling defeated with the same mindset Elijah had on day one of our study, “I can’t do this…I am only one man”. When we pull on the threads of faith, however, we are reminded of the biblical greats who came before us, like king David. His legacy of faith still teaches us today.

In Psalm 16, king David called on God for protection, believing in God as his personal refuge and shield from evil. We learn David first sought the Lord’s counsel before acting (2 Samuel 5:18-25), a reminder that we can’t, in fact, do this alone, but God can do it through us. Turns out, behind the storyline of “mighty David”, the true Champion was the Lord God all along.

David’s faith was founded in God’s character rather than what God had done for David, giving him the confidence to face the many trials that marked his reign as king of Israel. We, too, can have this confidence in our Lord if we follow David’s practiced example and intentionally preach biblical truth to our souls in times of affliction, combatting the devil’s lies with God’s Word. (Matthew 4:1-11)

JOURNAL TWO

I have enjoyed studying Elijah’s story in the unique manner of our Sketched theme; there are so many excellent examples of God’s faithfulness and provision in the storyline of his life.

Elijah was a man of faith who sought for the Lord’s power to be exalted over the heathen gods of his time, but he was also human just like us. He experienced doubt (1 Kings 19:9-10), fear (1 Kings 19:3), sorrow (1 Kings 17:17-21), regret (1 Kings 19:3-5), even the threat of death (1 Kings 19:2). He was wildly un-popular, yet he witnessed the life-giving power of the Lord (1 Kings 17:22-24), divine provision (1 Kings 17:3-6, 13-15); the Lord’s voice (1 Kings 19:12-13), victory over enemies (1 Kings 18:36-39), the Lord’s control over creation (1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:44-45), and the Lord’s mercy (1 Kings 19:18).

In the end, the Lord cultivated a faith in Elijah that continues to teach us today, a faith that illustrates the care God has for each one of us. How might the Lord be growing your faith in your current season?

JOURNAL THREE

People are broken and therefore unreliable, but Elijah knew the Lord would make a way for him in Zarephath whether the widow heeded God’s commands or not. He also knew the Lord had set this particular woman apart for His will, so she would have been strengthened by God to follow His commands.

When we rely on God to provide, we find it easier to leverage our vulnerability to create lasting and impactful relationships, ultimately bringing glory to God (1 Kings 17:24) and bringing God to lost people. The widow is an example of God’s strength in our weakness. He took the dire circumstances of this poor woman and her family and used them as a backdrop for the transformation He would bring in her heart and life.

Not only did He physically provide for the widow and her son during the drought, He provided for her for eternity when she demonstrated a true heart change as she believed on Yahweh through her own faith. One heart surrendered to the Lord in genuine faith can have generational impacts!

This story in Elijah’s life is also a great testament to the importance of community. This woman was prepared to die with her child, but together God and Elijah came alongside her and encouraged her. Who can you reach out to and come alongside today?

If you’re walking through your own difficult circumstances, take heart that the Lord sees you and is waiting for you to trust Him in faith just as the widow!

Tags :

faith,fear,hopeless,Journey,need,struggle

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Waiting Day 1 Not Abandoned

October 4, 2021 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 45:4-8
Psalm 13:1-6
Psalm 23
Philippians 1:3-6

Waiting, Day 1

Waiting is hard.
Especially when there’s no end in sight.
Especially when circumstances become painful, or confound our expectations.

In such moments, we begin to ask questions.
Questions such as the ones King David asked in Psalm 13:1-2.

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long will I store up anxious concerns within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemies dominate me?”

On another occasion, David cried out, “Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?” (Psalm 73:13)

Generations before David penned his anguished words, Joseph found himself in a similar situation, seemingly lost in a wait without end. The more he waited, the darker his world grew.

After being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph found himself in Egypt, serving a man named Potiphar. (Genesis 37:3-28, 36) Joseph served his master so faithfully that Potiphar put his entire household under Joseph’s care, and the Lord blessed everything under Joseph’s authority. (Genesis 39:1-5)

Sounds like a happy ending, right?

Not quite.

Potiphar’s wife, seeing Joseph was “well-built and handsome,” tried repeatedly to force him to lay with her. Finally, he had to literally run away as she tore at his clothing. (Genesis 39:6-12)

What should be Joseph’s reward for resisting sin and honoring Potiphar’s trust in him? Promotion, right?

No.

Enraged by Joseph’s rejection, Potiphar’s wife told her husband Joseph tried to rape her. Without any fair hearing, his master put him in prison. (Genesis 39:13-20)

Perhaps, as a slave, Joseph might have expected unfair treatment by his master, but shouldn’t God defend him? He was in this mess because he refused to sin against God! Yet, God seemed silent, and Joseph was left to face his fate.

Despite Joseph’s situation, God had not abandoned him; even in prison, He was with Joseph. He gave Joseph favor with the prison keeper, and once again, Joseph was placed in authority. (Genesis 39:21-23)

In the process of time, two prisoners, both Pharaoh’s officers, had troubling dreams. (Genesis 40) With God’s help, Joseph interpreted their dreams and his interpretations came to pass. Joseph asked one of the officers, who was restored to his position of cupbearer in Pharaoh’s court, to remember Joseph before Pharaoh. But when the man resumed his office, he forgot about Joseph. Oh, what a hopeless situation it appeared, but Joseph did not despair.

Finally, God set in motion the vehicle for the culmination of His plan in Joseph’s life. (Genesis 41) Pharaoh himself had two similar dreams, and none of the Egyptian magicians could interpret them. Then, Pharaoh’s cupbearer remembered Joseph, and urged Pharaoh to consult him. With God’s help, Joseph gave the right interpretation. Egypt would experience seven years of abundant grain, followed by seven years of severe famine. With this foreknowledge, Egypt could stockpile food during the plentiful years, and use it to survive the famine. Impressed by Joseph’s discernment, the king realized God was with him, and he made Joseph second in command of all of Egypt. Hallelujah! From prison to palace in one inspired moment.

God’s plan for Joseph continued to unfold. (Genesis 42-44) As the famine set in, Joseph’s family back home was affected and the only option for survival was traveling to Egypt for food. Joseph was in charge of the grains, so his brothers were forced to encounter the brother they’d betrayed face to face.

While they thought they had ended his destiny when they sold him, they found themselves prostrating before him in Egypt.

Joseph’s dream became a reality.

When God makes a promise, it must come to pass, because His word cannot return to Him empty.

At last, Joseph welcomed his father and the rest of the family to settle in Egypt. (Genesis 45-46) Approximately 22 years of waiting passed between Joseph’s boyhood dream in his father’s tent and its fulfillment in the palaces of Egypt.

But why did God allow Joseph to wait so long amidst those trials?

I see God using every trial to draw Joseph closer to Him. As he communed with God moment by moment, day after day, he learned about God’s unfailing love, and entrusted himself to Him.

Like David, Joseph might have concluded by saying,

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need [. . .] He leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1, 3b-4)

With his faith firmly established in God, the place of power could not corrupt Joseph. He remained focused and firm in his walk with God. As a result, he forgave all the evil his brothers did against him. He said to his brothers, “And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5)

The purpose of God was, and always will be, fulfilled.

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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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The GT Weekend! ~ Fervent Week 2

February 27, 2021 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Fervent Week 2

Rebecca Adams

February 27, 2021

Deep,Faith,Faithfulness,Fervent,Gospel,GT Weekend,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Love,Prayer,Scripture,Trust

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
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This Week's Journeys

Pray His Words Back To Him!

1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Prayer Journal Entry

Teach me about fervent prayer, Jesus. Put me in your school of learning to pray with Your heart, Your passion, and Your depth of understanding. Convict me of giving into temptation to judge others from the outside while forgetting that they also represent souls in need of a Savior, just as I am. Take me deeper every day with You, whether I recognize it or not.

Open my eyes to new opportunities of seeing Your hand at work and Your Spirit teaching me about You. Increase my faith, Lord Jesus! Bring people of faith into my life who can challenge me as I grow and show me by example what it looks like to trust You and share in conversation with You. Teach me to honor You as both Faithful Friend and Mighty God in my relationship with You!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Does the term “fervent prayer” feel intimidating to you like it does me? When you think of giants in the faith spending hours on their knees in prayer, do you feel like giving up before you even start? The whole idea of lengthy prayer can feel awkward and even impossible, but remember that every Christ-follower is on a journey and it’s the Lord who leads us all as He pursues our hearts.

Not one step on our journey into prayer is made without Him going before us and leading us tenderly by the hand. As we journey, He reveals more about our own hearts and shows us the beauty of Himself. Small utterances of faith grow into longer and ever deepening conversations of total trust and dependence.

In the conversation, we learn to love Him. Spend time thinking about your conversations with the Lord this past week. Have you had any? What are they about? What would you like your conversations with the Lord Jesus to be characterized by?

Jot down a few notes of how you’d like to grow in your relationship with Him, then begin by taking a step of faith and praying deeper than you have before, even if it does feel awkward!

JOURNAL TWO

Often fervent prayer can be our “last resort” in difficulty. Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase, or even said it yourself like I have, “I feel so helpless; the only thing I can do is pray.” Because prayer is the unseen work, it can be difficult to give ourselves to it fervently when all seems lost. This active prayer is made of real faith, Sister!

God does not call us to “blind faith”, rather knowing Him deeply allows for our faith to grow. Marietta referred to God as the “anchor of our souls”, but unless we trust Him in this role, we will not fervently pray to Him whether life is easy or difficult. Spend some time reflecting on how much you trust the Lord. Is He your last resort, your first, or somewhere in the middle?

Remember the antidote to lack of trust is knowing Him deeper, and the gateway to knowing Him is found in every page of your Bible. Set up a Knowing Journal and keep it somewhere you’ll see everyday. As you read Scripture, jot down something new you can know, and trust, about God. Let this knowing lead you into the depths of fervent prayer!

JOURNAL THREE

Sarah shared some bold, riveting statements in yesterday’s Journey Study. As you re-read these, identify which one irritates your soul, and be willing to sit in that discomfort for a few minutes. Take the “right now” to quiet yourself, be still, embrace silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

“The gospel is an issue of life or death, an eternity in heaven or in hell.” Do you agree? Does your everyday life reflect this? How so?

“The fact that someone somewhere could die without Christ should be a matter of great concern to me.” In what ways does your heart already long for others to know Jesus? This is a great place to begin in prayer!

Ask the Spirit to increasingly stir your heart with His desire for the lost. Boldly ask Him for names and faces of those who don’t know Jesus, write them down, and begin covering them in fervent prayer. Post reminders on your mirror, on your phone, and your fridge to intentionally pray for their hearts and for opportunities to share Jesus with them.

Tags :

conversations,faithful,hopeless,known,Life and Death,Savior,teach

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Sketched VIII Day 13 Tamar And Absalom

September 9, 2020 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Samuel 13
1 Corinthians 13
2 Samuel 11
Colossians 3:18-25
Psalm 91

Sketched VIII, Day 13

Tamar
What a mess I am in. According to our law, he is supposed to make me his wife. (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) But the law also says he cannot, because what happened between us is a disgrace and we’ll both bear the sin. (Leviticus 18:11, 20:17) However, I know my suffering and shame will be greater than his . . . though he was the initiator and violator.

My name, Tamar, is now soiled because of my half brother, Amnon. How could he deceive me into thinking I was coming to help him in his sickness, when he only wanted to rape me? (2 Samuel 13:6-14) How could he profess his love for me and
commit this great iniquity?
Love isn’t rude like he was.
Love does not do unrighteous acts.
Love is not selfish. (1 Corinthians 13: 5-6)

Amnon never loved me. He loved what he could take from me. And he has taken everything.
My virginity, my trust in men, my hope of a future, my peace.
All of it, stolen, never to be returned.

Who will vindicate me? Will my father, David? I am not sure. Whispers in the court claim he took Bathsheba as his wife in a similar way. Is it true my father also violated Bathsheba while her husband Uriah was fighting a war, as my father should have been? (2 Samuel 11:1-4) Are the rumors true that the child she mourned was also my father’s, a product of their encounter? (2 Samuel 12:16-18)

But she became his wife, so I cannot turn to her with my pain. She will not understand my position because my father did not despise her afterwards as Amnon hates me. O, woe is me! Who can help me in my time of great distress and need?

Surely not my father. No, Amnon is David’s son; David has taught Amnon by word and by deed. How can David chastise his son for something he also did? I will seek out my brother, Absalom. Perhaps he will not fail me.

Absalom
The scoundrel Amnon! He deceived our father and committed a great sin against my sister, Tamar. She came to me hopeless, weeping, covered in ashes of mourning. I took her into my home, asking her to keep quiet so I could make a plan before word of her disgrace spread. (2 Samuel 13:20)

I tried asking my father for help, but was denied. He showed anger, yes. But he did nothing for Tamar (2 Samuel 13:21); he chose his firstborn over us. Therefore, my own anger burned for two years because of his inaction. (Colossians 3:21)

Finally, I vindicated Tamar and made right what King David left in disgrace. Amnon is dead at the hands of the men under my command. Now my father grieves for Amnon while I must flee for my life. (2 Samuel 13:23-37)

Tamar
Amnon is dead. Absalom fled after he ordered Amnon’s killing.
I know Amnon thinks he has vindicated me.
I suppose, if nothing else, he has avenged me.

But I still live with shame. When Absalom ran, he left the household that had been my shelter. I must now return to my mother, Maacah, who is part of David’s royal harem. (2 Samuel 3:3) How humiliating to be the only one who is not a virgin, yet unmarried. No hope of marriage or family is forthcoming for me.

Though he tried, Absalom has also failed me. Blinded by anger and vengeance, he left me here alone. And now my father mourns for Amnon, but who mourns for me? There is no man in whom I can hope or trust with my life, my well being.

I hurl my broken cries into the void surrounding me, expecting no answer but silence.
Yet here, in my deepest darkness and depression and pain, Someone whispers my name.
Not with derision or scorn, but tenderness and love.

YAHWEH
He alone will be my hope.
He will be my refuge and strength.
He will help me when I am in trouble.
He will provide.

If He is with me, I will not need to be afraid. When men continue to fail me, I will trust in Him. (Psalm 91:1-4) I cling to His promises to protect me and give me peace. (Psalm 91:14-16)

At the hands of men, I have been deceived, abused, violated, ignored, and abandoned.
In the arms of YAHWEH, I have found safety, acceptance, vindication, and redemption.
YAHWEH’s faithfulness, unlike men’s, is everlasting.

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

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

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The GT Weekend! Sketched IV Week 2

August 11, 2018 by Michelle Promise 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) The desire to stand on our own two feet and move in our own power is strong. Where are your weaknesses? Where do you need to shore up your defense against the enemy’s potential attack on your life? Claim truth from Scripture that you can cling to during temptation!

2) In America, the physical cost of following Jesus is not as dangerous as some of our brothers and sisters around the world. However, the fear of rejection or separation is very real, and readily holds us back from sharing Truth with those around us. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you boldness this week. Who in your sphere of influence needs to hear the Hope of the Gospel?

3) As women in the kingdom of God, we have an important role to play. We can change the course of someone’s life, for better or for worse. Think back on the women in your past that spoke life into you. How did they influence your spiritual development? Looking forward, who in your sphere of influence can you make a difference in? Be ready to speak words that bring refreshment to the soul, encouragement and truth from Scripture!

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 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Prayer Journal
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Taken from the Common Book of Prayers

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Shepherd Day 6 Lifelines In The Dark

April 2, 2018 by Sara Cissell 7 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23:4
Isaiah 42:10-16
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Jeremiah 29:10-14

Shepherd, Day 6

I remember feeling like I had fallen into a deep pit, so deep that only a small circle of light marked where I used to walk. Not only did the darkness envelop me, it seemed all breath had been knocked from my lungs, and the ability to cry out for help remained just out of reach. The college semester and its expectations were rapidly spiraling out of my control.
Had I actually fallen?
No, in reality I remember standing in a well-lit lobby surrounded by friends. My body with them. My thoughts and emotions solidly resting at the bottom of that figurative dark pit.

However, in that moment, I suddenly understood how the thought of suicide made sense. From that vantage point of near darkness where the overwhelming expectations of perfection and the inability to meet those choked out the light, permanently closing my eyes and fully embracing the blackness seemed like the one option for success left.

All of those feelings, and the circumstances that caused them, were quite real,
but they were far from the truth.

Lying there at the bottom of that figurative pit, the Holy Spirit waged war to pierce the darkness.
For every chill that tried to seep into my bones, He countered it with Truth found in the Word. He did not suddenly pluck me out of the pit overnight, as I so desperately desired. Instead, the Lord showed me His faithfulness by walking with me through the season; one filled with many tears and daily choices to believe He was with me even on the days I felt alone.

In Psalm 23, the psalmist holds on to this truth:
“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me.”

David, the author of this psalm, had many reasons to write these words. Though I do not know what season of life David was in when he wrote this psalm, I can imagine a few of the scenarios in which he experienced the truth of the words. As a young man, he may have thought them as he stared down an approaching threat to his flock. He may have thought them as he picked up the five stones before facing Goliath. Death would most certainly be the outcome if he did not defeat the giant. Still later in life these words may have risen as a prayer while Saul hunted him. David had been anointed the next king of Israel, and Saul, the currently reigning king, sought David to kill him. David knew the reality of the Lord shepherding him through the dark times. Over and over again, he experienced the faithfulness of the Lord leading him on.

Unlike David, I could quote this verse from memory with an untested confidence of its truth before my challenging college years. In hindsight, I look back upon that time and thank the Lord for allowing me to experience it. It was through the process of trusting Him in the dark that my faith grew and the truth of the verse became a deeply rooted experiential reality. I truly experienced His shepherding me through the season.

The Lord proved His presence in many ways in the midst of the darkness, but His Word remains one of the most memorable, just as it was for David.

“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The Word came alive to me during that season where the light seemed so far away. My desperation to hear the Lord speak, rescue, and lead me caused me to search the Bible for hope, truth, and ways to pray. It became my lifeline during that dark season and has been since then as the Lord faithfully allowed me to find Him there, in His Word.

He’ll do the same for you!
If you find the lights dimming, or the darkness winning,
may the truth in these verses remind you of the faithfulness of the Lord.
He has the ability to make darkness, light and despair, hope.

Allow these truths from the Good Shepherd to steady you, bring you light, and remind you of hope, just as they did for me.
“You will find the Lord when you search for Him with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

“The Lord says He will make the darkness into light before you and He will not leave incomplete.” (Isaiah 42:16)

“The Lord God is my Strength,
my personal bravery, and my invincible army;
He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk]
and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places
[of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!.”
(Habbakuk 3:19, Amplified Bible)

What verses are your lifelines in the dark?
Which ones remind you the Lord is your faithful Shepherd?
Hold fast, dear sister, to the truth in the Word and keep walking.
He is with you!

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Worship II Day 12 A Savior’s Love: Digging Deeper

November 28, 2017 by Candace Jeffries 18 Comments

Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

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Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

The people who walk in darkness

Will see a great light;

Those who live in a dark land,

The light will shine on them.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness

From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

The Questions

1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?

2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?

3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?

The Findings for Intention

1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?
Isaiah was writing to Jews who were under the constant threat of being invaded by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were their enemies and they were a fierce and cruel enemy who showed little mercy to those they conquered. The fear of the Assyrians had them walking in darkness, but they were also walking in deep spiritual darkness. Most of Judah and Israel at that time were practicing some form of idolatry or personal or political immorality.

2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?
The whole goal of Isaiah’s book was to turn the Israelites back to Jehovah. At that time, a handful of people were starting to realize that their only hope was in God. Isaiah was warning his listeners and encouraging them to follow God in the midst of the Assyrian invasions, to hold fast to Truth. God was the only Light in that dark world, and He is the only Light in ours! Isaiah was prophesying that Jesus was coming from Heaven to enter into this dark world.

3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?
The word Wonderful is a word used to represent something unusual or extraordinary. A Counselor is someone who advises someone else, so Wonderful Counselor is an extraordinary advice giver. Mighty means strong, fearless, brave. This Light that would come into the world was no wimpy God. God was, is, and always will be, our Father. Prince of Peace means captain of tranquility. This particular name would have meant so much to the Jews who were in constant worry and despair of being overcome by their enemies.

The Everyday Application

1) Who are the people who walk in darkness or live in a dark land?
Today, many walk in darkness. There are the lost, those who have no hope of eternal life. There are people who are living in sin who haven’t seen the Light yet. However, Jesus didn’t just come for them. He also came to bring Light into the life of Christians. As Christians living in the world, it can feel very dark. We, too, have an enemy that comes to kill, steal, and destroy us. Our land feels very dark as we watch the news or listen to what’s going on around us. Our hope lies in the Light that has already come.

2) What is this light that shines on them, and where does it come from?
Jesus came into the world to bring Light into the darkness. He came into each of our lives to shine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control into the darkest parts of our souls. When we feel like the enemy is oppressing us, remember the truth that God’s powerful Spirit lives within us; “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4) His Light shines from within us to a dark world. In a sense, we have become the Light of Christ. We are His body, and He deeply desires to use us in our dark world today!!

3) What do the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace mean?
When the world seems dark, the best place to run is into the Light of God’s Word. The extraordinary advice that God gives through the pages of Scripture makes Him a Wonderful Counselor. His Holy Spirit residing in us, His mere presence, is enough to sustain us through anything we’re going through. He is strong and He will fight our battles for us. He is not powerless or lazy, but mighty and fierce! Before God was anything, He was a Father. He has eternally been a father, and a good one at that. Whenever I’m weary, I like to climb up into my Daddy’s lap and let Him sing over me. There’s something so soothing about His voice as He tells me everything will be okay because He already has it all worked out through His Son. And last, but not least, He is Prince of Peace. In the middle of the darkest storms of my life, my Prince rides in on a white horse bringing peace to the deepest parts of my soul. When the darkness surrounds me and I feel like I will drown, His peace floods my soul because He is near, and He came into this dark world to be the Light in the middle of any dark situation I might be in. He truly is the Prince of Peace! Peace that surpasses all understanding!!

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I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into
Worship II Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion.
We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources. Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

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.
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Justice Day 3 Poor and Hopeless?

September 13, 2017 by Sara Colquhoun 4 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Proverbs 31:8-9
Psalm 113:5-8
Luke 6:20-21

I currently live in one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia. Everywhere you look, land that used to stretch for miles, has been plowed to make room for more and more housing developments. You would think with all of the building and families relocating to our area it would mean that we live in a fairly wealthy place, and while that may be true to a certain degree, if you drive just a few minutes from my apartment you’ll enter a completely different world.

One where an entire family lives in a 600sq ft home with nothing but a pallet on the floor for all the children and five radishes in the fridge. You’d see children who rely on breakfast and lunch at school and starve in the summertime. You’d see eyes of sadness, as they search for someone to help them, and no one will look up to see the need right before them.

These precious sons and daughters of God are in my backyard, and I am so guilty of driving right by without stopping. Poverty isn’t just found in third world countries, it surrounds us every day.

A few months ago, I messaged one of my dearest friends, Anna, whom I met on my first trip to Kenya, seven years ago. Anna, and her husband Ryan, are co-founders of the non-profit organization, One Heart Africa, and have lived on a farm in Swaziland for the last three years. Anna sees poverty every day, so I asked her a simple question: help me see what you see.
Here’s what she said….

I know this isn’t the most graceful way to say this, but… poverty sucks.
I see families ripped apart as one parent leaves to find work elsewhere and never returns.
I see poverty play a role in the spread of treatable and/or preventable illnesses like HIV, parasites, ringworm, malnutrition, and malaria just to name a few.
I see bright young men and women full of hope and potential dropping out of high school because they can no longer afford the $300-ish for school fees.
I am constantly followed in the grocery store by kids and adults who ask me if I can buy their groceries.
I despise feeling guilty when I don’t.

But, most of all, I hate how poverty completely alters the brains of those who have experienced it.

I think the best illustration of this kind of “re-wiring” is the little girl and boy who live on the farm with us. They are seven and five, and grew up in an informal settlement (kind of like a slum area) where their parents struggled to keep work and life was anything but stable.

Now, both of their parents have dependable employment on the farm, they have safe housing, steady meals, and are deeply loved, protected, and cared for. But, every time they see food, they inhale it. If there’s any left over, they stick it in their pockets to save for later. We often find them using things that we’ve thrown away (like paper and plastic food packaging). The kids make toys out of bottle caps and coke cans despite having been gifted toys. Building trust is hard, making plans is hard, teaching budgeting is hard.

Poverty teaches the brain to only do what needs to be done to survive.

I’ve given away meals, clothes, school supplies and medicine.
I’ve seen people living in trash dumps, tents, huts, and shacks made of scrap. But, after all of that, this is the conclusion I’ve come to:
being physically poor is not the worst thing that a person can be.

Penniless is one thing.
Hopeless is another.

There are plenty of people I know who lack “things” and yet, God takes care of them. It’s such a beautiful picture of trust and provision.
In fact, Jesus blesses the poor!

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours in the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.” (Luke 6:20-21)

But, being poor and hopeless?
That’s a problem.
So, that’s our job—to bless those who we would consider to be less fortunate or have less than ourselves through much more than tangible gifts, but with the eternal HOPE.
Sometimes that blessing DOES look like meeting the physical need of another person, right then and there.

We MUST realize that “blessing someone” is not just giving away stuff.
It also looks like sitting down, listening to their struggles, making plans, searching for opportunity, sharing hope, confronting the ugly stuff, crying, humbling ourselves, asking for forgiveness, and praying. A lot.

So today, my sweet sister, what needs could you meet for someone?
Not just the physical needs, but the spiritual and emotional needs too.
Do you have a local mission you could partner with to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Do you have someone in mind that could use the extra baby clothes you have stored away?
How is God moving in you to love the impoverished today?

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Justice 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 Justice!

Borders Day 11
Miracle Working God

June 12, 2017 by Sara Colquhoun 2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 11:28-44
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 123:1

Sweet sister,
Do you feel like there are lifeless places in your heart that continue to dry up day by day?
Do you feel like God sometimes is slow in regards to the promises He’s spoken over you?
Do you question why a miracle didn’t happen to you, even though you prayed so hard for it?
It’s okay. I do too.

When those questions start rising up in my spirit, I look back into my old journals where I’ve written down the words that Jesus has spoken to me, or the miracles He has done in my life in order to remind myself that His promises are true.

Can I encourage you to do the same?

Back in the fall, my husband was going through a tough job transition. He left one job and was unable to find another for quite some time. This left us as a one-income household with the holidays quickly approaching. I immediately started to feel panic rise up in my spirit. How were we going to give our daughter an amazing 1^st Christmas? How were we supposed to buy groceries? What about our bills?

Yet, God was so quick to remind us that He is our ultimate provider. He loves taking care of His children, and this situation was no exception.

God works just as much in the mountain top places of our lives as He does in the valleys.
It just looks different, depending upon the season.

We felt like we couldn’t get our head above water, but through the community around us, we were taken care of. We received unexpected groceries from friends, a gift card from our church, and hand-me-down clothes for our baby from my dear sisters in Christ. It was those surrounding us in the hardest of times that loved beyond their borders and changed our live.

None of them had to do these things, but they saw that we were in need and listened to the Lord, bringing us hope in the Giver of Life.

Don’t forget.
God raises the dead to life.

I recently heard a song by Bethel worship called “You came (Lazarus)”.
In the Bible Lazarus is only mentioned a few times, but he was Jesus’s close friend, and when he died, Jesus wept, just as anyone that has lost a loved one would.

“You stood outside my grave
With tears still on Your face
I heard You say my name
My night was turned to day

You came, I knew that You would come
You sang My heart it woke up
I’m not afraid, I see Your face, I am alive
You came I knew that You would come

You said death’s only sleeping
With one word my heart was beating
I rose up from my grave
My fear was turned to faith

You are a miracle working God

You turn my fear into faith
You raise me up from the grave”

The song beautifully shares not just Lazarus’ story, but each of ours as we first come to know our Heavenly Father. Lazarus was dead for four days before Jesus returned to Bethany to see him. Many had already begun the grieving process, and as Jesus walked into town, Martha and Mary were quick to greet and question Jesus.

Through their questions, He reminded the sisters that Lazarus would live again, and while they were thinking in terms of the resurrection when we all go to Heaven, Jesus had another plan.

I wish I could’ve been there, standing outside of the tomb where Lazarus was laid to rest when Jesus commanded him to come out. To see Jesus look up towards Heaven, and talk with His Father, oh what a sight it would’ve been to witness!

You see, sometimes all it takes is turning our eyes Heavenward
to bring fresh breath to the dead places in our lives.

Jesus didn’t have to perform this miracle in Lazarus, but He knew that by doing this, many more would come to know Him, and He was right. Many more did.

Just as it was through the acts of community around us that helped breathe life back into our lungs, we were in turn able to pour out to them once we got back on our feet.

So be encouraged today.
Start letting Jesus speak life over the dead places in your midst.
Write down what you’re believing God for according to His Word, and what you’ve seen Him do for you! There is power in remembering that our God is indeed a miracle working God, my friend!

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

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