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Sketched XI Day 13 Unpopular Justice

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Sketched XI Day 13 Unpopular Justice

Rebecca Adams

July 5, 2023

Encourage,gentle,Impatient,Preparing,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 21
Philippians 3:18-21
Deuteronomy 32:1-9
Romans 2:1-16

The fire blazed in the hearth as I sat with my brother, Elisha, whom the Lord had given me. He would take my place when my ministry to Israel ended. His friendship encouraged my heart as if the Lord Himself was walking beside me.

Following my runaway cave experience when I was nearly consumed by the black waves of depression, the Lord gave me the gift I didn’t know I needed, a brother in partnership for this ministry, Elisha.

We had just finished our evening meal together, swapping stories of the afternoon, laughing, and prodding for the other’s thoughts around Ahab’s latest ridiculous antics. Reflective quiet engulfed us for a few moments before Elisha broke, “It’s so frustrating!”. His comment was laced with disgust as he gripped his mug of water.

“Ahab saw the Lord’s fire on Carmel. He saw the Lord send rain. His own chariot wheels got stuck in the mud the Lord made!”, Elisha’s voice emboldened emphatically with each point. Elisha paused, and his burdened eyes wandered to the window, watching the movement of fellow Israelites preparing for evening.
I waited. I knew there was more he wanted to say.

“They are the ones who pay the heaviest price for Ahab’s rebellion”, he voice was thick with emotion as he jutted his head in the direction of our people outside our walls.

The truth of his words settled around us both.
True, God had proven Himself as
Sovereign,
Enough,
Omnipotent,
Truthful, and
Jealous.
He had Revealed Himself to mere humanity and proven He would Sustain those who trusted Him.
But where was Yahweh’s justice?

The question eked into the corners of my heart despite my best attempts to thwart it. Inside, my flourishing faith fought against my doubt-soaked question that begged an answer.
My faith fought back my doubts with truths I had come to know.
“No, the Lord is good.
The Lord is faithful.
The Lord sees all.
The Lord knows all.
The Lord sees Ahab.
He will bring justice.
We just need to wait.”
 
“How long will we wait, Elijah?”, the question jolted me.
It was as if my brother had been made privy to the wrestling of my heart.
I caught his gaze, knowing the Lord desired truth in the inmost places (Psalm 51:6),
“I don’t know, Brother. But I know He’s worth waiting for.”

A child’s cries and mother’s call carried through the window, seeming to draw out our hearts even more with the ache for justice. Will the Lord hear their cries for mercy? Will the Lord save them from plunging headlong into greater rebellion as Ahab recklessly led them astray again and again?

In a moment, time seemed to freeze and my heart soared with the joy of intimacy and the trembled in awe as again I heard the voice of the Lord penetrate me through to my bones and marrow, “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” (1 Kings 21:18-19)

Just as quickly as it came, the Voice left. I looked up to see Elisha’s eyes locked intently on mine, “What has Yahweh said, Elijah?”, he queried.

“We are to go to Ahab. He will be in Naboth’s vineyard. He has murdered Naboth and stolen his vineyard.” I stood quickly, but the younger man was already ahead of me grabbing our water skins, packs, and walking sticks.

“What else, brother? Something else is inside you from the Lord, isn’t it?”. I was taken aback by Elisha’s sensitive awareness of the moving of the Lord. It was a good reminder to me of the Lord’s wise choice in providing Elisha as my successor. He would do well in listening and obeying the voice of the Lord. (1 Kings 19:19-21)

I gripped my staff more tightly and thrust myself through the door’s opening. It was no small matter to speak of the justice of Yahweh, especially regarding the death of the Lord’s appointed ruler.

“Ahab’s death is near”, I finally managed to speak after several minutes of heavy, silent walking.

Elisha’s arm stopped my forward momentum as he turned hard eyes on me,
“It will be dishonorable, won’t it?”.

I closed my eyes against the scene the Lord had given me of dog’s licking up Ahab’s blood. (1 Kings 21:19) He was intended to be Israel’s king, leading us to worship Yahweh, but instead his death would be a mockery just as his life had been.

The righteous justice of the Holy One of Israel was about to be carried out not only to Ahab, but also to his Queen Jezebel who had incited him to wholly devote himself to vile wickedness.
(1 Kings 21:23-25)

Our casual conversation over bread and meat earlier came rushing back with immediacy.
We both longed for justice.
But did we really understand that the Lord’s justice meant
recognizing we were all sinners? (Romans 3:23)
Every heart rebelled, including mine and Elisha’s.

No, not all of us murdered and thieved and led an entire nation astray as the royal couple had, but Elisha and I both knew our hearts were still tempted away from trusting the Lord. We still grew impetuous and angry, impatient for the Lord to carry out justice.

Warmth of understanding swept over me and I could not stop the tears racing down my cheeks,
“It is the kindness of the Lord to delay His justice, Elisha.
But the time for Ahab’s repentance is about to expire.”
The king lived as an enemy to Yahweh and his just punishment was nearly here.

The fact that the Lord’s Justice was coming, stirred up urgency in me to plead with all of Israel to turn back to the Lord while there was still time to repent. (Philippians 3:18-19, Romans 2:4)

I stepped forward with renewed urgency to follow the Lord’s word exactly as He had spoken it,
“Come, Elisha, let’s worship the Lord together
by obeying His commands
while it’s still called today.”
(Hebrews 3:15)

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hope,Journey,justice,relationship,reliance,trust
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Sketched XI, Day 14
Digging Deeper

The Son was struck not by the rod of Moses, but by the Father’s rod of wrath concerning sin. It is our unchanging Rock who perfectly completed the work of redemption and satisfied the justice of God. (Romans 9:30-33 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Sweet Sister, as a result of this, we have been given, not the promised land of Israel but a promised life with God! God's love lasts forever!!
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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI Week 1

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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!

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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.”
Read More Of His Words

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!
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Steadfast Day 3 Not In Vain

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Steadfast Day 3 Not In Vain

Lesley Crawford

March 29, 2023

Believe,Christ,Discipleship,Equipped,Freedom,Glory

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 15:8-11
Galatians 1:11-20
Acts 9:1-20
Isaiah 55:6-11

Often, progress in the Christian life can seem slow. Sometimes it can feel as if we’re pushing forward, trying to do the right thing day by day, without really getting anywhere.

It can be tempting to look at the lives of Jesus’ followers in the Bible and think the process of spiritual growth was different for them, especially when it comes to someone like Paul.

Paul has the honour of being designated an apostle. An apostle is a messenger, someone sent on a mission, commissioned to represent another. In Biblical terms, the word usually refers to Jesus’ twelve disciples who knew Him and were taught by Him personally.

Paul’s situation is slightly different, though. When Jesus was living on earth, Paul was not one of His followers. In fact, following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, Paul (or Saul, as he was also known) was one of the fiercest opponents and most relentless persecutors of those who tried to spread the Good News of Jesus. 

But everything changed when, on the way to Damascus to arrest the Christians who had travelled there, Paul encountered Jesus for himself. (Acts 9:1-20) Blinded by a dazzling light, Paul heard Jesus’ voice speaking to him personally, and he was appointed to preach about Jesus to the Gentiles.

It was such a powerful calling that Paul described himself as “one born at the wrong time.” (1 Corinthians 15:8) Although he did not know Jesus in the same way the other apostles, there was no question he had encountered Jesus in a very personal way.

Paul was clear he was called by God and “not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead[.]” (Galatians 1:1)

Despite Paul’s dishonourable past, when we consider his life after he encountered Jesus, it can be tempting to think of him as some kind of super-apostle. He spread the Gospel far and wide, establishing many churches; he wrote thirteen letters which are included in the New Testament; he saw countless lives transformed. His life seems to be full of excitement and success.

However, Paul understood his calling and his accomplishments were not because of his own worthiness. In fact, he clearly knew he was unworthy. “For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9) He knew the credit for all he achieved must go to God. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain[.]” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Paul’s dramatic conversion story didn’t mean every aspect of his growth in faith happened quickly. He still had a lot of learning and growing to do along the way.

After Paul’s conversion, he spent three years in Arabia. The Bible doesn’t provide details, but it is likely he spent significant time with God, studying the Old Testament Scriptures in the light of his new relationship with Jesus. 

He wrote later, “[T]he gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12) Only after this three-year period did he go to Jerusalem to meet with Peter and James and begin his ministry.

Throughout his life, Paul worked hard (1 Corinthians 15:10) and endured much hardship. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) There were times he doubted himself and needed reassurance from others. (Galatians 2:1-2)

It was not always easy for Paul to follow Jesus, but he was clear that, just as he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus by God’s grace, it was God’s grace that also sustained him and empowered him in his work. 

May this be an encouragement to us on days when our progress seems slow. 
Just as Paul was not transformed into a super-apostle overnight, neither will we be. 
Just like Paul, we have God’s grace to help us and sustain us as we keep moving forward, and all our little baby steps forward can add up to a great distance over time.

“Your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

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Christ,faith,Journey,transformation,Truth
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Steadfast Day 4
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God extended incredible grace to Paul, one of the worst sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), so that His redemptive power would be displayed, and Paul used that lavish grace to change his life around.

He became one of the most faithful Christians of all time, dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel. Paul allowed God’s grace to empower his life, ensuring that God’s grace was not given in vain.
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The GT Weekend ~ Terrain Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) The Jordan River was muddy, narrow at some spots, and wide in others. During flood season, it rushed madly and left mud-covered banks on either side. The Jordan was far from the beautiful flow of cascading water we might be prone to conjure up in our mind’s eye as we read of Jesus’ baptism or of fledgling Israel crossing before the battle of Jericho. Muddy as it was, the Jordan River played a pivotal role in both Old and New Testament stories, acting as a transition from one major scene to another. Think back over the major turning points in your own spiritual life. What emotions and circumstances marked their significance? If you had been the author of your life, would you have chosen cleaner, easier pathways for your journey? While the Jordan didn’t win any awards for being beautiful and clear, it did provide life-giving water to the entire Judean plain. Sometimes, life is found in the most unsuspecting of places. If you could “drop a pin” in the locations of your life marked by ugly struggle and hardship, consider the muddy Jordan River flowing through these areas. Pray redemption over them, and remember how deeply God loves to bring good, life-giving things out of muddy messes!

2) Forgotten. Hidden away. “Nothing good comes from Nazareth”. On Wednesday, Brenda took us away on a journey between two cities, utterly insignificant in their description and their surrounding terrain, but flooded with impact that reaches our own place in time. The Lord God could have chosen anywhere for the Messiah to be born and teach, but He intentionally picked the forgotten and neglected. This theme continues through all of Scripture and is woven tightly into every redemption story. So, let’s do something brave together, okay? I’ll take out pen and paper and you do the same. Take a big breath and write down, by name, all the places you wish were known and loved about you and your story, but remain hidden, unseen, and tucked away. Or perhaps, you’ve dared bring these out into the light only to have them rejected, “Nothing good comes from (fill in the blank).” Go ahead, write them down, I’m writing too. Don’t just mentally tick a list, it’s important to put these in ink and let our eyes take in the sight. One word, two words, get narrower and more descriptive. Are there tears in your eyes like there are in mine? Now tear these out of the page you’ve written and hold them up in your hands outstretched to the God who sees all things and specializes in bringing significance and beauty and richness out of the “good for nothing”. Lord God, take our broken nothings and make them beauty as You know us completely!

3) When we begin studying the physical components of the ancient world where Jesus taught, walked, laughed, and died, we gain a new perspective on the world around us. God seems so far off sometimes, doesn’t He? We are tempted to think He is out of touch. Our challenge in studying Terrain is to be reminded that the God who ordains every leaf to tremble in the wind, and knows the whereabouts of every strand of your hair, is keenly present in every moment. The whisper of the wind. The silkiness of rose petals. The smudgy kiss of a toddler. He is present. Yesterday, we were encouraged to “take a tent” to the Mt. of Olives and let our sandal clad feet explore the rocks and budding flowers, and the let the wispy olive tree branches graze our cheeks. As we walked in our minds, we were prodded to consider our own journeys with Jesus. Where have we seen Him? How have we encountered Him? Where does our hope lie? Take a full 60 seconds and just pause. Close your eyes and see the mountain, smell the breeze, listen for the Savior’s voice. What do you hear? As you open your eyes to your own landscape, decide to look closer into the ordinary things and be reminded of the utterly un-ordinary God who loves you!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Luke 12:6-7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Prayer Journal
Here is my mess, Lord, will You take it? Myself. All my sinful ways. The ways I decide to trust me over You. The attention and love I give to those things and while choosing to ignore You. My hard heart and sharp tongue. My love of self.
Here is my list of hidden things, all those I tuck away sensing their insignificance and rejection; will You look at them? Wayward sons, willful daughters, broken trust, scars too deep for words, dreams I try to pretend haven’t died, wistful aches that I don’t voice.
Here are my ordinary everyday things, Lord. Soap bubbles, sticky floors, strong-willed children, wayward sons, willful daughters, the scent of outside play, the tree branch outside my window, the silky grass at my feet, the softness of my pillow, and Your words singing over me to the rhythm of the Spirit’s dance.
Lord God, how is it possible for You, the Holy of Holies, to look upon me and all my wretchedness? Yet, You do. More so, You invite the broken, the heavy-laden, the sin-shattered to come. It’s as if our brokenness is the requirement for coming to You that You might redeem and make whole. Lord God, may it be so. Let me know You.

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The GT Weekend! ~ Nations Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Our beloved writer and GT Partner, Sarah, lives in Jos, Nigeria. She paraphrases a verse from Ephesians 4:17-18 to represent the spiritual journey of many in her village, “We, who once walked in the futility of our minds, having our understanding darkened…” She asserts the reality that “whoever comes into contact with the love of God must realize his sinful condition.” In what ways do you see evidence of this in your own spiritual journey? Where have you encountered God’s divine love, then turned to realize how unworthy we are of such love? How has God’s goodness and kindness towards you made you aware of your sin? If not, spend some time reflecting on why. While your everyday life may look nothing like Sarah’s in Jos, the markers of our journeys with God carry very similar characteristics. Without first embracing the truth that we, on our own, are impossibly far from God, we cannot take even one step toward Him. If you sincerely desire to grow deeper with God, start today by asking Him to open your eyes to the ways you love darkness and sin. Confess these and ask Him to help you understand His love more clearly!

2) Marietta shared her realization that faith, for the African American community, was birthed from a place of needing to feel loved unconditionally and find hope. On the streets where she lives and churches she attends, she understands this need in a way the majority of white Americans miss. While we all are bound together in this common need for love without condition and hope with confident assurance, the Black community brings a unique perspective as they live in the reality where they will never find this unconditional love from the neighborhoods of America. The snare of prejudice, the radical injustices against races other than white, and the naivety of modern white Christianity draw distinct conditional lines against Blacks. How many friends, real friends, not just acquaintances, do you have who aren’t your same race? How are you actively working to connect with others of a different skin tone? Until all of us are willing to sit, listen with walls down, and actively engage with persons different than us, we cannot effectively build God’s Kingdom. Pray for your oppressed brothers and sisters this weekend, and ask God to shift your heart and your eyes to see differently starting today!

3) Regardless of our location in the world, we are each familiar with the potential and vitality wrapped up in our youth. There is something deeply significant and enticing about a young person, whether newborn, or gangly teenager, or a 20-something with the world stretching before them. We recognize the magnetism of youthfulness, which is why many world religions seek to draw in young people to catch the vision for a new generation. In what ways do you see the youth of your culture steering the beliefs for the world around them? What sources can you identify that specifically feed them? How many young people are you currently engaged with who would consider you a confidante? If you aren’t friends with someone younger than you, or if your age ranges below the 20-somethings, consider ways you can begin to intentionally engage for the purpose of sharing Jesus. Being a young person is of high value in growing God’s Kingdom, take the opportunity to pray for this generation and pour into them!

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 Galatians 3:26-28 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

…through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the similarities, as well as the differences, between myself and my brothers and sisters in the Church who live out their calling to follow you around the world. Jesus, I pray you would bind us together through Your Spirit. Make me mindful of the ways we all struggle in our fight against sin, though it takes on different forms in different areas of the globe. Encourage all of us to continue persevering in our faith as we all wait expectantly for our coming Hope of glory found only in You! Remind me to pray for my fellow Christians in Nigeria as they continue to take bold new steps of faith. Remind me to pray for my sisters and brothers in the Southern United States who face the effects of racism on a daily basis. Remind me to pray fervently for those in SE Asia who find themselves worshipping many gods, give them ears to hear truth and embrace You with humble courage. Lord God, show me how I can be part of the fight to stand with each of these sisters and brothers by the bond of Your Spirit!

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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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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VII Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) “He Will Hold Me Fast” has been a theme song for me through the last few months as we have experienced uncertainty surrounding stay-at-home orders, political and social unrest, and even natural disasters which have shaken our world. The reminder that Christ will hold me fast is a blessing and a comfort to my weary soul. I don’t need to strive or work harder to be safe, because the God of creation is my safety. Consider setting aside some time this week to go for a quiet walk and reflect on what God is doing in your life right now. How is He holding you fast? Listen to this song before you go, and then leave the distractions behind. As you walk, talk to God specifically about the ways you have seen Him work, the ways you have hoped in Him, and the ways you continue to trust Him. You could even write down a few Scriptures beforehand to take with you and refer to as you walk so you can pray them back to Him.

2) What a profound and stirring truth we read in this Journey! The God of the Universe stepped down from Heaven while we were yet sinners, with not one good deed to our credit, and gave His life so we could be justified to Him. We have the opportunity to be saved from a life of sin and death and utter darkness, and to be brought into true unity and love with the only wise and good God. Because of the work Jesus did, your sins can be erased. Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? If not, what is holding you back? Stop here and write down your objections. Then go to a Christian friend or pastor and ask them your questions. Don’t let anything hold you back from the Good New of Jesus. If you have believed, are you faithfully walking in the freedom of your calling? Are you living as a victorious child of the King? Or are you continuing to enjoy the sins of the flesh? Beloved, Jesus died so you could live as a wholly authentic human. You do not need to carry the burdens of your sins any longer. Name your burdens and lay them down at the foot of the cross. Ask the Lord to carry them far from you. Remember, His work is what makes you free!

3) Amazing Grace is a well-known and well-loved hymn, not only in the church, but also in the culture at large. Something about the reminder of God’s grace poured out on sinners, bringing light to our eyes, and helping us find our way, strikes deep in the hearts of men and women. John Newton was not a perfect man, and he was well aware of this fact. It may seem harsh to call oneself a wretch, but surely we know without Christ, we have no good thing to offer. Have you ever considered where you would be today without the amazing grace of Jesus? While it is not healthy to wallow in self-doubt and pity, it can be good to consider what God has saved us from. Consider the trajectory of your life before you knew Christ. Even if you were saved at a young age, you know your sinful tendencies. Consider how those would play out un-checked by the Spirit. Write down a possible scenario of what your life would be like, had He not intervened. Spend time thanking God and worshiping Him for His great work in your life.

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 Lamentations 3:22-24 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great it your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.”

Prayer Journal
Great and merciful God, Your abundant love for me has drawn me to my knees. You were brought low that I may have life in You. Jesus, You allowed men to treat You shamefully and brutally murder You so I may have life to the full through Your victory. I did not, nor do I, deserve Your compassion, but You have lavished it upon me continuously. Help me to never forget the depths of Your great love. I confess I have sinned against You. I have taken for granted Your precious gift of life and have chosen to go my own way. Cause me to hate my sin. Help me to take up my cross, die to myself, and follow You daily. Thank You for Your forgiveness and Your never-ending mercy. Show me how I can reflect Your goodness to the people around me. Make me aware of the needs of my community and shape my heart to value sacrificial service over pleasant comfort. May I abide in You, remembering You have prepared good works for me to do so that I may walk in them. I know following You requires discipline, and You give strength to Your servants. Thank You for Your marvelous work of transformation in my life.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship III, Day 15 With Eyes Of Faith

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 11:13-16
Psalms 121
Isaiah 35 

Worship III, Day 15

“When We All Get To Heaven” is a hymn written by Eliza E. Hewitt around the late 1800s.  Eliza was bedridden for a time during which, she wrote a number of poems that were later put to music.  When We All Get to Heaven was one of these. This hymn of old is one that I sang growing up. I more than likely played it out of the hymnbook at the piano as well. Sometimes when we sing songs over and over, the songs become rote memory and the meaning fades, or perhaps we never paused to consider the significance of those thoughtfully penned words in the first place.  

Eliza E. Hewitt focuses on the glory of Heaven in her hymn. Its beauty, the pearly gates, and streets of gold are wonderful, but none are as glorious as the reward of seeing Jesus.  

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory.

The hope of Heaven is sure. (I Peter 5:10)
The promised reward of eternal life is unshakeable for those who confess Christ as Savior. (Colossians 3:23-24; James 1:12)
The glory of being in His very presence, dwelling in a very real place, living out the lives we were intended for from the beginning is sheer joy. (Revelation 21:3-7)
Yet, as glorious as it will truly be “when we all get to Heaven”, the often passed over middle verses of this beloved hymn hold solid truth for our everyday messiness.

Getting to Heaven will be wonderful, but before that sweet destination, we are on a journey. 

While we walk this pilgrim pathway
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over
Not a shadow not a sigh.

As believers in Christ, we are on a journey, a pilgrimage.
We hear about pilgrims at Thanksgiving perhaps picturing women in long dresses or men in short pants and belt buckle shoes.
Did you know we are pilgrims?
Not the pilgrims from England, but pilgrims in the middle of the everyday chaos and beauty of temporal life as we journey forward towards the eternal life that will never fade!

A bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker states:
“Our life on earth is like a pilgrimage because we are here 
to journey toward our heavenly home, 
to be united with God and 
to give Him glory and due worship.”

Our time on earth is a pilgrimage.
Eliza continues to unpack this idea of what our journey as pilgrims looks like.
Let us be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving ev’ryday;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

As believers, we are seeking after God, desiring to be true and faithful to who He has called us to be. (I Timothy 6:12) We study His character as He reveals Himself to us through Scripture.
The more we discover about His goodness and love, the easier our pilgrim hearts learn to trust Him, which overflows into serving Him with all that we are.
Even in the crazy of our Journeying. 

Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith chapter” of the Bible, full of stories of pilgrims just like us, journeying onward toward a glorious reward they couldn’t yet see.
These (the believing pilgrims) all died in faith, 
not having received the things promised, 
but having seen them and greeted them from afar, 
and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

Noah took insults from his peers, as he chose to obey in faith. Hebrews 11:7
(Read his story in Genesis 6-9) 

Abraham physically left his home, following God in faith. Hebrews 11:8-11
(Read his story in Genesis 12-15) 

Moses left all he knew, twice, trusting the God who was unseen. Hebrews 11:27
(Read his story in Exodus 1-3)

Each one was on a journey, and because of their faith,
God revealed Himself to them in ever more
amazing and precious ways as He led them onward
towards the reward of a sweeter relationship with Him.

These pilgrims’ journey was arduous.
Yet, God had prepared something better for them.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, 
for He has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)

I don’t have to tell you that life will have dark clouds overspreading our skies as Eliza writes about.
Many of us deal with dark clouds daily.   

Health problems,
family problems,
heartaches and hurts from friends/family members.
But God’s Word promises, with the most solid assurance, that one day brokenness will be banished, our temporal journey will end, and we will receive the reward of a heavenly home in the presence of our Savior! (I Timothy 6:12)

Hold onto the precious reward Eliza sings about:
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory.

And rest assuredly on the truth that as we journey,
we are never alone as the ancient hymn of the Israelites proclaims.
Make this song your own today!

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. 
He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.
The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
The Lord will protect your coming and going 

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship III Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
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Day Six
Desperate to Belong

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Click & Read!Desperate-Ruth Quote-KM
Ruth 1 & 2
Ruth 4:13-22
Deuteronomy 25:5-6
Isaiah 66:2

I have always been a nomad. By the time I was in eighth grade, I’d been in eight different schools in three new states. Even in my short year and a half of marriage, we have lived in two states and have just settled into our third home. Despite all of the good that came from our gypsy ways,  I have longed to belong many times over. I know all too well the strong feeling which can only be described as a form of homesickness, that comes when people around us have history with each other and have known one another for a long time. I know that twisted-knot feeling of wanting to stand out, but wanting to blend in all at the same time.

The Bible is speckled with people who didn’t belong: Moses, Jonah, Esther, John the Baptist, and even Jesus! But Ruth’s story is so wonderfully spectacular because in the end, not only did she belong, but she belonged to the lineage of King David.
Even more incredible… the lineage of Jesus!

Ruth’s life was marked with sorrow. Both her brother-in-law and husband passed away, preceded in death by their own father. She was left as a young widow with her sister-in-law, Orpah, and mother-in-law, Naomi. Their spirits were bound together because of the similar shades of grief, and they found solace in one another’s company. Naomi loved Orpah and Ruth as if they were her own daughters, and longed for them to find new love and new joy in their young lives. With a heavy sadness, Ruth and Naomi kissed their sweet Orpah goodbye. However, Ruth could not be persuaded to leave Naomi’s side. Naomi begged her, pleaded with her, and even tried demanding Ruth to leave and look for love.

Ruth looked into Naomi’s eyes, and solemnly spoke this vow: “Where you go I will go. Where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.”

This commitment to a life of servanthood and faithfulness was a testament to Ruth’s character and further,
the reason the Lord chose to bless her.

Naomi and Ruth returned to Naomi’s homeland from a lifetime ago. Already an outcast because of her nationality, Ruth found herself at the lowest rank in society because she was a widow. They had no money, no food, and no way to get a job. That is, until Providence stepped in.

Ruth found herself scrounging for the wheat that had fallen while being harvested in a field that belonged to an elite man of the city named Boaz. They encountered each other in something that can only be defined as a Divine Appointment. Boaz’s eyes met Ruth’s as she bowed her head in humility…

The rest, as they say, is history.

Boaz redeemed Ruth and her family name. He lifted her up from the bottom of society and made her someone who belonged in their city and someone whose name we can find listed hundreds of years before Jesus’.

Boaz and Ruth later became the grandparents to a man named Jesse, who had many sons, but called his youngest David. Ruth’s great grandson would go on to slay lions and a giant, rule an entire nation, and be known as a man after God’s own heart.

Because of Ruth’s commitment to not only serving Naomi, but serving her God as well, the Lord blessed her! He saw her heart and knew how desperately she yearned for a lasting relationship with her mother-in-law.
God saw her trying to blend into a new community.
He knew her loneliness.
He knew her sorrow.
He knew her heart…. and chose to bless her because of her faithfulness.
God sent her a redeemer in the form of a kind and prestigious man named Boaz.

Through the years I have found myself aching to be accepted by students, friends, other mamas, and ministry partners.

So often I forget that I already belong.
The Lord has sent me a Redeemer! A kind and prestigious man who lifted me up from my sin and made me someone who belongs to the Kingdom of Heaven and someone whose name you can find written as a follower of Christ.

We don’t have to be desperate to belong.
Because of Jesus, we already do.

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

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