Sola Day 5 Sola Scriptura

May 15, 2020 by Shannelle Logan Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 11
Hebrews 1:1-4
Psalms 138:1-3
Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Sola, Day 5

The haggard monk sensed the cold darkness seep into his cell, filling every corner of the room. Standing alone against the darkness was one flickering candle. His faith, the monk mused, was just like the candle, keeping the blackness of fear from overwhelming his mind.

Luther instinctively wrapped his robes tighter around his body. An invisible battle raged inside his prison cell, one that would change the course of history for centuries to come.

Would Luther recant and lay aside the truths he had come to hold so dear, or risk a heretic’s death for declaring God’s Holy Scripture to be the final authority of the church?

Luther was an ordinary man and, as we often are, was filled with uncertainty regarding the outcome of his stand on the truth. In fact, many times Luther would obey, even while scared. Every time, God came through.

Like Luther, we are often brought to crossroads in life. Do I follow the traditions of men and my own logic when faced with a dilemma? Or do I seek God’s face and find counsel in His Word to direct my course of action?

Since Eden, this has been humanity’s greatest failure. Instead of acknowledging God’s Word as the final authority, we often choose our own way. In Luther’s time, the ruling powers of the church chose to follow their own edicts, making themselves, and the Pope, the ultimate authority, instead of Scripture. The results were corruption and rampant sin in a kingdom built for man, not God.

The times when I chose to build my own kingdom always came at a cost. Because I relied on myself as the ultimate authority, I was responsible for whatever happened. Sometimes the results were fine, but many times, the consequences of my actions led to more self-reliance and more sin.

Often, faced with a mess of my own making, I would run to God, asking Him to fix my mistakes . . . just as a toddler tearfully asks a parent to fix the toy she’s broken. But growing up in Christ means we begin to choose God’s way as our default method of operating.

And we are not alone! In the Scriptures, God laid out countless scenarios of people just like us, faced with the decision to have faith in the Word or themselves. Time and again, those who chose to trust in the authority of God’s Word saw His promises fulfilled in their lives and legacies. (Hebrews 11)

You see, God upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3); in fact, God honors His Word and authority of His Name ABOVE all else (Psalms 138:2)! If God honors His Word so highly, we can trust the choices we make to honor the Scriptures will be blessed by our Creator.

At this point, we might logically ask ourselves, what’s so special about Scripture? All religions have some form of holy writings. Why is the Word of God different? Why is it bedrock of our faith, far and away better for guiding my life than my own thoughts or choices? Why was Luther willing to die to defend its holy authority?

Our Scripture alone is the Spirit-inspired Word of God.
This is not a book of witty musings, empty ravings of self-appointed prophets, or self-help tips for living your best life. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

With His words, our God created the world. (Genesis 1:1-27)
Generations later, God Incarnate, Emmanuel, spoke, and the power of condemnation and shame was broken. (John 8:2-11)
When He spoke, demons were driven out. (Matthew 8:28-32)
When He spoke, bodies were healed (Matthew 8:8-13) and the dead were raised (John 11:38-44).
Finally, three words spoken from the cracked lips of the sinless Lamb of God on a bloody cross signaled the final defeat of sin and death. (John 19:28-30)

The Word of God is power; the same power that flooded His spoken words lives and breathes in Scripture. It is His will, His plan, His heart for us, the absolute truth, written down and enduring across the generations for us.

Within Scripture’s pages, we learn of our God.
We are corrected, and trained for righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We find understanding, strength, and life itself. (Psalm 119:25-32)

Luther understood the power, authority, and vital importance of Scripture.
Yet, in his humanity, he grappled with fear on the eve of his trial.
Would he choose the illusion of safety and recant?
Will we choose the illusion of the easy road and our own counsel?

Poised on the brink of the Promised Land, the Israelites also faced a moment of decision. Would they be swayed by the surrounding culture? Would they follow their own way and abandon their God? Or would they stand firm in their faith, embracing the Word of God as the ultimate authority in their lives, and worship Him alone?

“Choose life,” Father God urged His children, “so that you and your descendants may live!”. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

In our own moments of decision, let’s look to our Father.
Let’s find His guidance and His heart in His Word.
Let’s choose life rooted in the unchanging truth of Scripture!

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Esther Day 15 A Legacy Of Celebration

November 22, 2019 by Stacy Daniel Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 9:16-10:3
Psalm 78:1-8
Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 2:1-9

Esther, Day 15

Mordecai went from the king’s presence clothed in royal purple and white, with a great gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced, and the Jews celebrated with gladness, joy, and honor. In every province and every city, wherever the king’s command and his law reached, joy and rejoicing took place among the Jews. There was a celebration and a holiday. Esther 8:15-16

The Jews had much to celebrate!
Imagine receiving a death sentence from a power-hungry leader for no other reason except he didn’t like your people. Imagine the fear and despair you’d feel; hopeless and helpless to save yourself or those you love. Then you receive word of a new law to counter the first one and the leader being punished; you and your people are free!

There was rejoicing and shouting and celebrating going on in Susa!
Thanks to the courage of Esther, as she followed Mordecai’s wisdom and was covered by prayer and fasting of the Jewish people, God rescued His chosen people. I doubt there is anyone who would look unfavorably upon them or think their celebration was too extravagant. I doubt the Jewish people themselves were concerned with how they were perceived by others. Their death was imminent, but they had been spared!

After the Jews were saved from destruction, the holiday, Purim, was established and is still celebrated by Jews today. The holiday is a joyous one, preceded by a day of fasting as they remember how the Jews fasted and prayed for Esther as she approached the king. The story of Esther may be read as they remember from where they have come, and from where their Help came. They rest and feast and celebrate! The celebration was a decree and was established as an official holiday so future generations would not forget the great rescue. Esther 9:27-28

Sometimes we forget how we, too, have been spared.
Ephesians 2 tells us that, as sinners, we are also dead, eternally separated from God because of our unrighteousness. We had no access to God and His holiness, and were destined to face eternity apart from Him. But in His great mercy, God sent Jesus to rescue us so we can have a restored relationship with Him. We are made alive in Christ! Ephesians 2:1-9 That is reason to celebrate!

How can we celebrate?
One way is to share your story.

Every single Christ-follower has a story worthy of celebratory re-telling!
At one point we were all separated from God because of our sin. Then, He, in His infinite grace, sent His only Son to take our sin upon Himself and put it to death on the cross.
Not only did He die for our sins, but He defied the enemy who thought he had won by rising from the grave, forever to live with our Father God in Heaven where He continues to fight for us. Out of great love, He left His Holy Spirit to personally live inside each one who calls on His name. The Spirit guides into Truth and fills us with power to do the work He has called each of us to do.

He invited us into His story so we may draw others to Him as well.
As we share what He has done for us, others see His faithfulness and are drawn into a relationship with Him as well.

At the very moment we decide to follow Jesus with our whole being, our faith stories don’t end, but are only beginning! He continues the work in our hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit so we may encourage others and grow closer to Him as we journey through life. He provides us encouragement while challenging us to lean on Him during trial so we can encourage others in their growth. I know it encourages me in difficult times to hear how God is moving in the lives of others, especially if I’m walking a path similar to another’s. As we continue to share our stories, God is glorified and we can celebrate together who He is and all He has done for us.

I’ve been convicted recently about how little I share my story of faith and growth.
Also, how infrequently I ask others about their journey.
Perhaps it’s fear of rejection or being thought too “religious”, or maybe I just don’t pay enough attention to those around me to be sensitive to what God is doing.

What if we spent some time in the mornings inviting God into our days,
thanking Him for the work He has done in our own hearts,
and asking Him to specifically show us someone who needs to hear the hope of the Gospel? What if we were intentionally open to readily sharing how God has proven Himself real in our own lives?
It may feel risky, but we have much to share with great reason to celebrate our Rescuer!
The God who created the universe invites each of us into a relationship with Him!

Who needs to hear about the hope that lives within you?
Who might God want you to share your story with so they can know Him?
Who in your life needs to be encouraged that God is still good and still at work?
Whose life will be forever changed because you chose to share?
Do your children know your own faith story so they are able to continue your legacy of faith to future generations?

The next time you hear about Esther and her reason to celebrate with her people, remember you have even more reason to declare the goodness of God!
Celebrate out loud for the world to hear!

A P.S. from Gracefully Truthful….
Maybe, you’ve never told your story to anyone before; today is a great day to start!
We want to make it easy for you to get started and we would be honored to help you share boldly through the Faces of Grace platform.
Check out the “Get Started” tips, then send in your story and begin celebrating out loud what God has done!

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Misunderstood Day 5 God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

May 11, 2018 by Paula Romang Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 4:28-37
Philippians 2:3-4
James 4:1-10
Isaiah 66:1-2
Luke 10:38-42

Misunderstood, Day 5

We are a society of the Self-Made. We pride ourselves on being the DIY-ers.
We are those with a gritty, “git’er done” work ethic.
Accomplishment appeals to our ingenuity, our “pull ourselves up the bootstraps” mentality,
our self-sufficiency…..our pride.

Perhaps you, like me, have thought some of these, though we would never admit them out loud:
God helps the self-starters, builders and creators who are industriously solving problems.

The more we accomplish, the more valuable we are.
I accomplish more than anybody, therefore, I’m more valuable.

God probably likes industrious people better because we actually accomplish something, while others sit around and talk about it.

When I see my own thoughts on paper they sound terribly prideful,
mostly because they are.

While it’s true, our world is indebted to the industrious, we tend to take the very good, biblical premise of a strong work ethic and apply it just as intently to our spiritual lives as we do our physical lives.
And suddenly, we are off course.

Remember Martha and Mary in scripture? The two sisters had a squabble in our Lord’s presence about this very issue. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of it:
Martha is busily cooking, prepping for an event she is hosting. Mary is not helping, she is sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching. Martha is miffed; can’t Mary see there’s work to do be done?
How dare she sit on her backside when I’m slaving in the kitchen!
I’d love to sit at Jesus’ feet too, but someone has to clean and cook if anything is going to get done around here!

Clearly Martha feels superior to Mary in that moment; she’s busy and busy is best.
Finally, Martha’s outrage boils over. She asks Jesus to tell Mary to get off her duff and help in the kitchen. And then Jesus’ reply:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things,
but only one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen the better thing that won’t be taken from her.” (Luke 10:39-42)

Besides the tender, yet straight-forward rebuke to Martha, the implication is that Martha was choosing the temporal things of life while Mary was choosing the eternal.
When we sit with the Lord, it forces us to slow.
There is absolutely nothing we can do to bring about better, other than just be.

Jesus commended Mary for her choice.
The implication for us is obvious as well. Rather than making sure we are “doing our part to show God we are serious” or “going half-way so God will do His part”, Jesus invites us to choose the eternal over the temporal.
Busy isn’t always better.
Sometimes Busy points to our self-reliance instead of our God reliance.

God’s glory is reflected best in our rest.
There once was a man, a king, who built a vast empire. Later his capital city would be listed among the seven wonders of the world. His work was grand and impressive, but this king’s boast was in the mightiness of his busy.

In the Old Testament writings of Daniel, we meet Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Though he ruled a vast kingdom he was ruled by pride.
Daniel served in Nebuchadnezzar’s administration and one night the king had a weird dream. As the ancients believed the gods spoke through dreams, Nebuchadnezzar called for an interpreter.
Enter Daniel. God did speak in that dream. He told Nebuchadnezzar:

Your hubris will lead to your humiliation. I am God; not you.
I will relent if you repent.
If you repent, I will restore your honor.

A year of grace passed; Nebuchadnezzar did not repent.
Judgement fell as he strolled about his lavish gardens; within an hour he lost his sanity, and lived like a wild animal for seven years.
Finally, he repented; his honor was restored.

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was built in spite of him and his busy-ness.

The super-apostle, Paul, boasted in his weakness, that Christ might be glorified.
…on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses…. for My (Christ’s) power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:5, 9)

The psalmist insists, if our work is done in our name and for our glory, it’s all in vain.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
(Psalm 127:1)

And our sweet Martha was invited into a better that didn’t involve busy.
“Mary has chosen the better thing that will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

To all the DIY-ers and Self-made sisters, a word from our Lord:
REST!

To meet God halfway, to attempt to pull our share of the load, is a mockery.
No one can do enough to please God, except for one, single, solitary thing:
Faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for whoever would draw near to God must believe
that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

That faith is found, and grown,
not in the busy, but in the being;
the being still. (Psalm 46:10)

Martha had the Incarnate Christ sitting in her living room,
yet she chose meal prep over Him.

It’s easy to cluck our tongues at Martha, wondering how she could trade such an eternal moment for cooking. However, anytime we believe we’re superior because we’re busier, and surely God must owe us, or certainly the Lord must be impressed by our busy, we’ve made Martha’s prideful error.
Anytime we choose the temporal over the eternal, we stand in Martha’s sandals and live in Nebuchadnezzar’s mad legacy.

Rest, sister, you have no need to impress the Almighty.
You can’t possibly succeed in that endeavor.
Instead, rest, and let Him to do the work of crafting your soul and bringing you rich life!

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Woven Day 14 The Good Shepherd: Digging Deeper

February 15, 2018 by Multiple Authors Leave a Comment

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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1 Samuel 16:1-12 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”

²Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”

⁴Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.”

⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

⁸Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. ⁹Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” ¹⁰After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” ¹¹Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” ¹²So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”

The Questions

1) Why did the Lord reject Saul?

2) What is the significance of the phrase, “…humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart”?

3) Why was the youngest son not included in the festivities until after all of his brothers had been presented to Samuel?

The Findings for Intention

1) Why did the Lord reject Saul?
In just the previous chapter, 1 Samuel 15, we read of the Lord’s command to Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. The Lord was issuing forth justice for their sneaky, from-behind attack on the Israelites as they journeyed through the Promised Land many generations previously. The Life Application Study Bible notes that “God knew that the Israelites could never live peacefully in the Promised Land as long as the Amalekites existed. He also knew that their corrupt, idolatrous religious practices threatened Israel’s relationship with him. The only way to protect the Israelites’ bodies and souls was to utterly destroy the people of this warlike nation and all their possessions, including their idols.” However, Saul did not completely destroy the Amalekite nation; he returned with their king, Agag, and many animals. When Samuel confronted Saul about his disobedience to God’s command, Saul tried to lie his way out of trouble by saying the animals were for sacrifice. This was not the first act of disobedience, though. Samuel had given instructions to Saul in chapter 10 which included going to Gilgal and waiting seven days for Samuel to come and sacrifice offerings (1 Samuel 10:8). Saul followed the instructions to the point of going to Gilgal. But he did not wait for Samuel to arrive; he sacrificed the burnt offering himself, which was against God’s laws. Only the priest was allowed to sacrifice. In short, Saul was rebellious and stubborn, and his heart was not seeking after God. He insisted on putting himself before God.

2) What is the significance of the phrase, “…humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart”?
Saul was tall and handsome (1 Samuel 9:2), appearing to be capable of being a great king. But he was impulsive and self-serving. As Samuel was presented with Jesse’s sons, he was struck by the physical appearance of the first and thought Eliab must be God’s anointed.
Ironically, the son of Jesse who was anointed by God to be Israel’s next king was indeed handsome with beautiful eyes, as the text states. Good looks must have run in the family. But, looks weren’t what mattered; what set David apart was his heart for God.

3) Why was the youngest son not included in the festivities until after all of his brothers had been presented to Samuel?
Truly, there is no clear answer to this question. One can only speculate that Jesse didn’t consider David worthy. Thomas Constable’s note from www.studylight.org suggests this may have been the case, referencing Psalm 27:10 where David wrote of his parents forsaking him. In the social structure of ancient Jewish culture, shepherds were not high society. (Think about the Christmas story, in which the angels visited the shepherds first, which was regarded with shock because they were lowest-class.) It is possible that Jesse never thought to include David because he believed a shepherd boy could never be king.

The Everyday Application

1) Why did the Lord reject Saul?
The text says that Saul was rejected “because He did not believe the word of the Lord.” (I Samuel 15:22-23), and the same is true for us. When we do not believe the Lord for who He has proven Himself to be, when we choose to trust ourselves over the God of the Universe, we leave God no option but to reject us! The writer of Hebrews says it like this, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Saul was disobedient to the Lord’s Word again and again, and in that disobedience, Saul shunned the Lord with everything he had, choosing himself over God. Ladies, let us be very careful here! God does not require all your “boxes” of “good things” checked off in order to please Him, but He does require your faith. Your willingness to choose Him over yourself. In what areas are you already doing well in this? Consider some areas where you are holding onto your own way, instead of surrendering to His.

2) What is the significance of the phrase, “…humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart”?
As humans, it is so natural to make snap judgments about situations or people based on what we see. We don’t have supernatural power to discern the heart of someone at first glance, only the Lord does. In the case of David, the text amplifies the fact that God is all-knowing, even into the very core of someone’s heart. Though it’s so tempting to make flippant judgements about another, discipline yourself to pause, and remember that it’s only the Lord who sees and knows not only their heart, but yours. Determine to give others the benefit of the doubt in your relationships, praying for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to new perspectives.

3) Why was the youngest son not included in the festivities until after all of his brothers had been presented to Samuel?
No doubt about it, David was the least likely to become king, no matter who was sizing him up, even his own father. But how the Lord, who knows the intimacies of our hearts, delights in using the least to bring about His greatest! Jesus used 1 boy and his small lunch to feed thousands, 12 un-popular, un-educated men to launch the New Testament Church, countless other real-life stories, and He still loves to use the least! Your gifts, your talents, your heart’s passions, God has a specific intention for each of them. When we choose obedience to His Word and faith in Him, trusting that He truly does have the power to use our “least” for “much”, He will use us to bring Him glory! (Which also happens to bring us extreme satisfaction and delight as well!) Where are you struggling with your “least”? Where are you worried that you aren’t “enough” for God to use you? Pray deeply over these, surrender them in faith to the Father who sees your heart!
*Written by Rebecca Chartier and Rebecca Adams

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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
Woven 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.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

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Sketched II Day 5 Elisabeth Elliot

June 23, 2017 by Sara Colquhoun Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 33:27
Isaiah 43:2-3
Psalm 48:9-14
Colossians 3:1-4

I have one desire now — to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it.

I’m nearing the end of my time here on this earth, and with each moment that passes by, I’m reminded of the life that I have lived over the last eighty-eight years.

My mind isn’t as sharp as it once was all those years ago. I’m forgetful. I’m slower in pace. But my heart for the Father is as receptive and eager as ever.

Many have referred to me as having a reckless faith with an immense amount of freedom.
In my mind, there wasn’t another way to live.

I can still see it, that tiny shack of a house in the deep jungles of Ecuador with my first husband, Jim. Oh to have known Jim would’ve been to know more of the Father! Jim moved in accordance to the Holy Spirit’s steps in everything. Although he never came out and said it, he knew that when we got to Ecuador, there was a good chance he would never return to America.

Our time together was cut short, as Jim and four others were killed while ministering to the Aucas tribe. They were known for not being receptive to white people, but after years of preparation and learning the language with the help of a local missionary, the team thought that they had an in with a tribe member. We were hopeful, and anticipating all that the Lord would do.

The morning they left, the husbands had pre-arranged a signal to let us wives know they had made it safely. We tried to go about our normal day, cooking, cleaning, and teaching English to the local little ones. The minutes suddenly began to turn into hours, and in our hearts we knew something was wrong. With each hour that passed, I would write in my journal and pray. The Lord has always been my strength, and this time was no different. While praying, we received word that the aircraft was circling the site to see if they could spot any bodies.

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke 1:44-45
I believed the Lord would be my strength, regardless of what happened.

Jim and I had fallen madly in love, gotten married rather quickly, and had our daughter soon after. We spent most of our time apart, as he was with the local Ecuadorian missionary trying to learn as much as he could before they made their initial outreach. I knew that God had me there for a purpose as well, and that is when I began to form relationships with those around me. I wanted people to know the Gospel, I wanted them to know the depths of the Father’s love. This wasn’t just Jim’s ministry, it was mine!

Our worst nightmare became a reality as it was confirmed the next day, all five men were dead. In one instant I went from being Jim’s wife, to being a widow. My heart was broken. Jim and the rest of the men had worked so hard. In that moment of shock, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me “Elisabeth, your time in Ecuador isn’t done yet. I have much more for you to do here.” His assured strength was undergirding me!

I returned home for a couple years to grieve, gather myself, and lean into that strength of the Lord. I remembered the words the Spirit spoke to me the day Jim died, and, by faith, I returned, to that same part of the jungle, with my three-year-old daughter, and Rachel, wife of one of the other men who had been speared alongside Jim.

My heart was burdened for these unreached people! Jim’s eternity was secure, but theirs was not. I needed to show them that I loved them, just as they were, and that I forgave them for what they had done. Rachel and I spent five years learning the Gospel in the Aucas language. I can so vividly remember the gentle sway of the hammock hanging between two trees where I studied as precious little Valerie napped on my chest. The Aucas language was made up of many sounds, so translating it into an alphabet was tedious, making for late nights translating by candlelight. But, we pressed on, fueled by the goal to present the Aucas with the Bible in their own language. With each verse translated, I prayed for receptive hearts. Even if just one Aucas would come to know our Father in Heaven, then everything was worth it.

When we had completed the entire translation, we knew it was time to meet. So one bright morning, we left our home, and went to meet the Tribe. I was anxious. Not for fear, but because I was confident God would do something incredible, I just knew it.

Jim and Elisabeth Elliot were missionaries to the Aucas and surrounding tribes in the 1950’s. Many came to know the Lord because of their faith in Jesus, and their bravery to follow Him no matter what. I wonder, what might this same God do for the eternal Kingdom, if I gave Him my everything?

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Flourishing Day 9
His Flourishing: Digging Deeper

May 18, 2017 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

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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1 Timothy 6:17-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

²⁰O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” ²¹for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.

The Questions

1) Why is there a comparison between wealth and God?

2) If someone is generous in their giving, will this earn them eternal life?

3) What is the “irreverent babble” Paul is referring to?

4) What does it mean to “swerve from the faith”?

The Findings for Intention

1) Why is there a comparison between wealth and God?
As in Mark 10:17-31 and numerous other places in both Old and New Testaments, Paul is noting the human tendency to become dependent on something that cannot be trusted to sustain us, money. Wealth can be wiped away much easier than we’d like to think, and whether we have plenty or are pinching pennies, it’s much easier to set our focus on those numbers in our bank account than it is to gaze into the glories of God.

2) If someone is generous and philanthropic in their giving, will this earn them eternal life?
This passage takes careful reading, so be sure to slow down and pay attention to the sentence structure as well as the greater context of the chapter. Paul’s entire letter is written to Timothy as he pastors on the island of Crete. His instructions are for Timothy and the believers in his church, so it is a given that those who “are rich in this present age” were already Christ-followers. These verses are a warning for Timothy to pass on to the materially wealthy of Timothy’s church, not in how they could earn favor with God or salvation, but in how they could live a fuller, more abundant life both now and in the eternal life to come. See also Matthew 6:19-20 for more teaching on laying up treasure in Heaven for the believer.

3) What is the “irreverent babble” Paul is referring to?
In Paul’s day, religious ideas like Mysticism (experiencing God/knowing truth is discovered inside yourself) and Gnosticism (salvation could only be gained through a secret knowledge) were springing up everywhere and false teaching was constantly threatening to infiltrate truth. Paul refers to all of these teachings as “irreverent babble” here and uses similar language in his other letters.

4) What does it mean to “swerve from the faith”?
The idea of “swerving” here is tightly associated with distraction. Paul references this same idea in chapter 1, where he notes that small, seemingly important things, end up undermining a life that could have otherwise done much for the kingdom. This “swerving from the faith” isn’t a warning that you might “lose” your salvation, but rather that there is danger in becoming ineffective in your faith as a believer. Again, Paul’s letters to Timothy are overflowing with sage warnings. Often, Satan ambushes us not with temptation to fall into “big” sins, but by simple distraction, slowly leading us away from intimacy with God and effectiveness in His kingdom. 2 Timothy 2:16-17

The Everyday Application

1) Why is there a comparison between wealth and God?
Humanly, we see finances as being real and “needed” for daily life, and the Lord as “supplemental”, if even that. Don’t believe me? Take a look at your day. How often have you considered buying something today or had a bill go through electronically or ran to Target for one more thing? Compare it to how often you cried out to Jesus, opened your Bible, repeated a verse to memorize it, or prayed for God to show you more of His glory? In the end, “riches” aren’t just limited to our finances, but anything we set our eyes on that deceives us into thinking that it holds “real life”. There’s only ONE that holds out deep, true, abundant living and it’s the Lord Jesus Christ. Where is your heart focus? Are you ready to truly flourish? Sink your feet into the rich grace of God and find the life you’ve been aching to discover!

2) If someone is generous and philanthropic in their giving, will this earn them eternal life?
Before you mentally “check out” and think these verses don’t apply to you because you aren’t “wealthy”, consider Randy Alcorn’s statement, “if you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy.” You, my friend, are exactly who this verse applies to. For more mind-blowing statistics, check here. While being generous with time, giftings, and finances will not earn us eternal life, it will most definitely “lay a good foundation for the future (i.e. eternity). How all of that works out in the life to come or what it looks like, we can only theorize, but we do know for sure that what we do now, today, has an eternal affect!

3) What is the “irreverent babble” Paul is referring to?
Truth is under fire just as much today, if not more so, than it was in Timothy’s, so this letter we are reading through in the 21^st century is incredibly relevant. We would be wise to heed its warnings! As you study God’s Word, listen to sermons, attend church programs, read blogs, and shape your beliefs about God and eternity, are you continually testing the basis of those beliefs? Deception slips in quietly, in countless forms. The Enemy is always prowling, ready to deceive us, leading us away from the Beloved Savior. Be on guard!

4) What does it mean to “swerve from the faith”?
Distractions are small and seemingly insignificant at the time, but lead to an entire life being thrown off course if they aren’t caught. A simple example is me sitting down with the intention of spending quiet time with God. Bible open, I think of a question, write it down, and the dog needs out, then I realize I forgot to respond to that email, then one of my kids is needing a band-aid, then I’m thinking about dinner and whether or not I need to go to the store…Oh, what was I reading? Distraction leaves me with a busy day, full of opportunities to either lean into Jesus or trust my own abilities, but now I haven’t aligned my heart with the Father’s before I even begin. That shirt is sure cute with those swirls and floral print. “Do what makes you happy” its script entices me, but is it true? If I follow that mantra, will I find “real life” that Paul is talking about here in Timothy? Simple distraction. Join me by examining your life and teaching, “Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this!” (1 Timothy 4:16a)

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I Can Do That!

The Community!

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Flourishing Week Two!
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The Tools!

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.

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Brave Day 3
The World Was Not Worthy of Them

September 28, 2016 by Katelyn Bartlett Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 11
Matthew 16:24-28
Psalm 20
1 John 5:1-13

“They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” – Hebrews 11:38
As a believer, I love reading about the miraculous ways God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things! How great would it have been to be Enoch, who was taken up to heaven instead of facing death? Or Sarah, who, despite her old age, believed that God had the power to give her the desire of her heart – a child. The author of Hebrews “doesn’t even have time” to tell us about how the prophets conquered kingdoms and stopped the mouths of lions (v. 33). Reading this passage gets me pumped about following Jesus! It shows that if we have faith in a God that is mighty, we can take on the world!

And then there are verses 36-38 in the same chapter, which can be a bit….deflating, to put it mildly.

“Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

Suddenly being a hero of the faith doesn’t sound so glamorous.
What happened to the power we have in a conquering King of Kings?
And how often do we, as Christ-followers, follow a similar “up-down pattern”?

We experience mountain-top-highs full of euphoric close-to-Jesus-moments, but then….the suffering, the mocking, the trials, afflictions, mistreatment, and feeling like a wanderer come closing in. What makes us victorious then? How can it possibly be said of us, “of whom the world was not worthy”?

Hebrews 11:1-35 paints a rosy picture of what it looks like to walk according to God’s will. If taken at face value, we can miss the trials and tribulations that many Biblical heroes faced before their triumphant moments and overlook the fact that Christ Himself tells us that to be His follower guarantees tribulation and persecution.

The morally upright and innocent Abel was despised and killed by his own brother.
Faithful and brave Noah was mocked by the world for building an ark.
Abraham and Sarah left all they knew for a land unknown, trusting God’s leading.
Joseph was tricked and sold into slavery by his brothers long before he became a political leader in Egypt.

What about your story? How have you been scaling mountains only to later be groping in the darkness of trial and persecution for following your Lord? In a world where joy and perfection is expected, it’s easy to lose sight of our solid and sure victory because of Whose We Are.

Instead of looking at Hebrews 11 and becoming discouraged by the trials these heroes faced, we can see the eternal victory behind their temporary un-justice.
“…of whom the world was not worthy…”

The world was not worthy of them because the power of God filled them! The mighty influence of the God of Creation fueled the faith and obedience that set these brave men and women apart from their culture. The same power is available to us as well! When we are brave enough to say no to the treasures of the world and yes to God’s plan for us, the world becomes unworthy of us.

In Philippians 1:27, Paul encourages believers to let their manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ because our victory lies in the permanency of the eternal instead of the fleeting vapor of the temporary. Feeling destitute, afflicted, mistreated, and like you’re wandering in a desert, doesn’t have to render us defeated. Instead we can use these times as a reminder of the words of Jesus: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

Christ has promised that He has already overcome the world. The afflictions of this world are only shadows compared to the holiness of God and the riches of heaven that await those in Christ. In fact God, in His beautiful irony, flips the table on the world’s idea of success – it is those who suffer for Him that will inherit the world.
Take heart, walk in bravery, Christian, and rejoice in suffering because you have been counted worthy of Christ!

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The GT Weekend – Beauty Week 3

September 24, 2016 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!

Journal With Us!

Journal Prompts

1) What are some things you would like to leave as a legacy? How can you start today to develop those so you can pass them on?

2) Who is one person that is different from you that is difficult to love? Think of them. Pray for them. Allow His love to be your language to this person this week.

3) Make a small note to hang on your bathroom mirror with these words: I am loved by the One who made me. I am beautiful because I’m clothed in His righteousness!

Worship In Song

Music Video: JJ Heller’s “All the Beauty”

Pour Out Your Heart

Lord, let me know my worth. Show me the places my pride is blinding me and leaving me separated from You. Remind me as I start comparing myself with my friends that your grace and righteousness has been extended to me. Renew my mind Father, take away the junk that I allow to swim in my thoughts and replace it with the truth of who You are and who I am because of Your love for me.

Lord, help me to put on Your full armor every day. Help me to pray continually, and to remember that no matter the name or face man pins to the evil we see, my battle is not with flesh and blood. Father, heal our land. Heal my relationships. Heal my heart.

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In everything, with praise and thanksgiving,
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Beauty Day 12
Unfading Beauty of Legacy: Digging Deeper

September 20, 2016 by Dr. Leslie Umstattd Leave a Comment

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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1 Samuel 16:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

The Questions

1) What is the greater context of this passage?

2) What comparison is made between how man sees and how God sees?

3) What does the word “heart” mean in this passage?

The Findings for Intention

1) In this passage Samuel the high priest, is searching for who will be the King of Israel. He has traveled to Bethlehem where God has told him to invite Jesse and his sons. One of Jesse’s son will become the anointed king. Samuel instructs Jesse to bring each one of his sons before him. Each time Jesse sees physical strength and stature but God says no. When there is only one son left, a shepherd boy, the youngest of Jesse’s son, David, God says this is the one. The one that you, and even Jesse his father, thought as not even a possible candidate, he is the one I have chosen. God saw David’s heart and he was eventually anointed king!

2) The writer of Samuel says that man sees differently than God. We, as humans, see physical features, the outside of others. When God looks, He pierces to the depths of our very soul. He sees us and He sees our heart!

3) When I read the word “heart” I want to make sure that I am thinking right about how the writer is using it. I used Studylight to see the word in the original language and it does mean more than the physical heart or even our emotions. The word means the inner man, the mind, the will, the heart, soul, and understanding of a man. This is how God sees. He knows us intimately and fully!

The Everyday Application

1) God chose David over seemingly more qualified brothers. When Samuel, the high priest, saw David’s oldest brother, he thought for sure this was the man that God intended to rule Israel. God gently reminded Samuel that physical appearance alone does not leave a legacy that God desires. He looked at the heart of the man David just as He looks at our heart. He knows our desires, our joys, our heartbreak, and pain. He works in us and through us to leave a legacy that is pleasing to Him!

2) God’s ways are not our ways. He is in the habit of choosing the least likely to do the most profound things on behalf of His kingdom. He chose a shepherd boy to rule over the nation of Israel, but when people looked at David, they missed what God saw in him. People, and the standards of this world, do not define your character, your beauty, your heart, or the legacy you will leave for those around you. We, each one of us, make choices every day for who we will be and whose we will be. You decide your legacy because God has already chosen you Beloved to fulfill His purpose and to impact the lives of those around you.

3) “The Lord looks at the heart…” is a scary but thrilling statement. Scary because He sees me and my deepest thoughts and desires, which aren’t always pleasing to Him. In His grace, He molds, shapes, and redeems those thoughts and desires into something beautiful for Him. Thrilling because the God of the universe is intimately acquainted with who I am and He chooses to use me to leave an imprint for Him in this world!

I Can Do That!

The Community!

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

The Tools!

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.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Beauty!