She Day 1 Called To Friendship

October 30, 2023 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

She Day 1 Called To Friendship

Sara Cissell

October 30, 2023

Accepted,Community,Discipleship,Family,Friend

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:39-45, 56
Ruth 1-4
John 15:1-17

I met Kelley more than a decade ago. Little did I know our first greeting would lead to a deep, lasting friendship, one crafted by the Lord and for the Lord.

The Lord, in all His goodness, created friendship, both for us to experience with each other and, even more importantly, with Him.

Friendship is a high calling.

When the Lord calls us friends, it is an invitation and challenge, one highly worth accepting. Friendships take time, energy, and intentionality, but the return on our authentic investment will be deeply worth it.

In any relationship, the health of those in the relationship determines the overall health of the relationship itself: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If two unhealthy people are in a relationship, the relationship struggles. Two individuals striving to be healthier themselves will result in a relationship showing greater signs of health.

Thankfully, when we are friends with the Lord, we are in a relationship with the perfectly healthy friend! The Lord always does things flawlessly. The more we interact with the Lord and seek to be like Him, the healthier our relationship with Him becomes and the more we flourish in His ways.

Graciously, the Lord brings people into our lives for seasons and purposes. Our role is to obey His leading and aim to reflect His character of kind, generous friendship in our relationships.

The Lord has preserved beautiful examples of friendship in His Word as practical examples for us! Within the Old Testament, we find a moving story of friendship against all odds: Ruth and Naomi.

These were women from different nations and cultures, serving different gods, bound only through the marriage of Ruth to Naomi’s son. When Ruth’s husband died, anyone would expect the relationship to meet a swift end in grief, each a painful reminder to the other of all they had lost.

Yet Ruth clung to Naomi, pledging devotion, lovingkindness, and companionship down the fraught road of widowhood stretching out before both women. As their story progresses and the Lord brings redemption and restoration to their lives, we see their lives and hearts intricately, intentionally, and irrevocably intertwined. Their friendship is sweet and strong as each woman reflects different aspects of God’s friendship to one another.

Read their story for yourself and explore the friendship of God these women lived out!
(Ruth 1-4)

Turning to the New Testament, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Elizabeth’s (the mother of John the Baptist) relationship offers another glimpse into the friendship the Lord offers us. (Luke 1:39-45, 56) Across the decades likely separating their ages, these cousins were united by the touch of the miraculous in their lives. (Luke 1:5-25; Luke 1:26-38) They demonstrated generosity, selfless love, and humble service like the God they worshiped!

In one another, these women found respite from the stares and whispers of those around them, the empathy of another trusting beyond her understanding, and a fellow reveler in the glory of the Lord’s plan as it unfolded in their lives.What can we learn from these women?

1. Know the Lord through His Word and prayer.
When we know the Lord’s heart and grow in friendship with Him, we learn the rhythms of His design for friendship. Prayer and Scripture are the hallmark entry points for an ever-deepening intimacy with God. Though we fail in our relationships, we can point to Christ, the perfect friend, again and again through His Word, who remains kind and gracious, forgiving, and loving. (Psalm 103:8-10)

2. Know ourselves.
A woman who builds her identity in the Lord will set wise boundaries in friendship as she keeps her eyes focused on her Lord and her relationship with Him. Worship for the Savior, and grace for others will be her fragrance. She won’t be tossed around by the temptation to compare, gossip, or slander for she remembers Christ holds the first place in friendship for her. (Titus 3:1-5)

3. Know how to be a friend.
The woman who practices cultivating a friendship with the Perfect Friend will naturally reflect God’s kind heart of mercy and love to all her friends. She will listen to others as the Lord listens to her. She will walk wisely in conflict for her feet have learned to trust the Lord’s ways over her own. She will selflessly treat others with respect and grudgeless forgiveness for she understands that, despite her own rebellious sin, the Lord still pursues her. “Mean girl” doesn’t mark her character for she has learned to put off the old pattern of life and has dressed herself daily in the clothing of Christ. (Colossians 3:5-17)

Kelley and I met when we both lived on a college campus as resident directors in on-campus housing. We lived and worked in the same place. We saw each other at meetings, on the quad, and in the cafeteria. We shared life in a unique way.

Over the years, we have seen each other at our best and at our worst. As we have each grown in our walk with the Lord, we’ve found ourselves being a better friend to one another.

May we each draw closer to Jesus, the best friend any of us could ever find, and may we find our friendships flourishing as we reflect Him!

Tags :

Elizabeth,friend,Holy Spirit,Mary,One Another,she

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Friendships are strengthened during those times when we provide emotional and practical support to one another, especially when our need is deep.

We can send messages, deliver meals, or spend time together on a regular basis. The key is to be present in a meaningful, genuine way for each other.

This is the heartbeat of God’s friendship with us as He sends His Spirit to comfort and guide His children at all times; never once does His Spirit leave a true believer! (John 14:26)

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Champion Day 12 Just An Ordinary Girl: Digging Deeper

June 14, 2022 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Just An Ordinary Girl!

The Questions

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)

Luke 1:28-38

[The virgin’s name was Mary.] 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Original Intent

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)
This passage of Scripture parallels the verses immediately preceding it. The similarities are evidenced by Luke, a detailed author and physician (Colossians 4:14), who arranged the passages with intention. We read that Gabriel is the angel who announced the birth of John and Jesus. While there is no exact term in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic to denote the relationship of cousin, we know John and Jesus were related through their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth. A close reading of these heavenly initiated birth announcements reveals the distinct significance of those being born. It’s interesting to note that in the preceding passage regarding the coming birth of John the Baptist, the father was the main figure, but in these verses Luke spotlights the mother. What occurred with John’s birth was unlikely and shocking. For Elizabeth to conceive at such an old age was not typical. But the news the angel was about to give Mary … now THAT was impossible! We are told in verse 26 that the angel’s news to Mary occurred in Nazareth. I have visited this area in Israel. The guide we had was quick to point out how unremarkable the city was in its day. Which is exactly why it was remarkable to Mary that she was being visited by an angelic being. She was just an ordinary girl in an ordinary town. We tend to underestimate angelic appearances in Scripture as if they happened all the time. Though we read in a very brief span of verses in the gospels about several appearances (Zechariah in Luke 1:5-12 , Joseph in Matthew 1:20 , and the shepherds in Luke 2:8-11), it’s important to note there was always fear involved! Mary knew this appearance and greeting meant something extremely out of the ordinary was happening. As a result, she was “deeply troubled.”

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)
Can you imagine this news that was shared through an angel? God had chosen a young girl from nowhere to be the mother of the Messiah. Although there’s no real proof, most Christian historians suppose that she was around 15-16 years of age when the angel appeared to Mary. Who really was this one who had “found favor with God.” (verse 30) Incredibly, the Scriptures introduce us to “her” in Genesis during man’s fall after creation. Though not explicit, when the Bible is read as one big story it is apparent from Genesis 3:15 that the mother of Christ was in the heart of God from the beginning. There would be a birth of One who would crush the serpent. Bible scholars tell us that the audience of Genesis would have understood the serpent as representing the spiritual forces of evil. (Genesis 3 Net notes) We also find “her” at the end of the Scriptures in the final chapter of the world before everything in creation is remade. Revelation 12:1-5 seems to confirm for us that the “woman clothed with the sun … and a crown of twelve stars” represents that the promised Messiah would come from Israel. Luke traces Mary’s lineage through Israel’s patriarchs as he names David and Jacob. Her son would assume the title Son of David and be the royal “branch” from David’s family. (Isaiah 11:1-2).Though many virgins may have known God’s favor, and some may have descended from King David’s line, and still others could possibly have a reason to return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23), none but Mary would also have needed to be in Bethlehem with her fiancé at the appointed time of Messiah’s birth. (Micah 5:2-5) It was all part of the sovereign planning of the God worthy of Mary’s worship. (Luke 1:46-55)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)
The angel assured Mary that this news was not to cause her fear. Instead, everything that would happen was from the hand and heart of God. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (verse 35) Bible commentators tell us there were three stages to Jewish weddings/marriage. Engagement was the first stage. It was a formal agreement made by the fathers prior to the betrothal and marriage. When a couple reached the second stage of betrothal, they were under the obligations of faithfulness. Not viewed as simply a casual promise, divorce would have been required to break the commitment. (enduringword.com) Mary knew the ramifications of the news she was being told, and though her motives aren’t revealed, I’m prone to agree with commentator David Guzik that “she asked the same question Zechariah asked (Luke 1:18), but his question was asked in skeptical unbelief, and her question was asked in wonder-filled faith.” Later in the passage, her response demonstrates her humility and faith in God’s plan. Some Bibles label verses 46-55 the “Song of Mary,” although the original text does not indicate that she was singing. Whether she danced around and sang it to the top of her lungs or bowed and quietly whispered it under her breath, the posture revealed in her words demonstrated a heart of awe and trust in her God. Through the angel, God assured Mary that “nothing is impossible with God.” And she believed Him. “May it happen to me as you have said.” (verses 37-38)

Everyday Application

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)
I have a confession: I believe in women’s intuition. I don’t have biblical evidence to back it up, but I do have years of experience as a woman! Since there are no Bible condemnations against it, I will continue holding this belief. So, sister, what would you think if an angel showed up in your room? Before a word was spoken, most of us would begin to create scenarios of what must be next. We would certainly wonder what kind of news would prompt a visit from a heavenly being. When I read the story as if it’s the first time, I am relieved when the angel quickly seeks to make it better. It’s like a surprise phone call you receive. You answer with great hesitation, even trepidation, wondering what provoked the call. Then the person on the other end of the line begins with “don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.” Whew! But Mary’s visitor wasn’t a surprise appearance of a far-away relative. This was an angel standing in front of her. Though the words he spoke were of comfort and joy, you can imagine her shock and confusion as she processed this interruption. I wonder if she began to rehearse the Scriptures about a promised Messiah. Was this appearance related to the coming One? I’m so thankful that the woman chosen to be the mother of Jesus, God in flesh, was just a normal woman responding with usual confusion. She was not all-knowing, but she was all-trusting! Her fear did not cause her to flee. I want to be that kind of ordinary girl. One who waits and believes God for the rest of the story!

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)
There are different beliefs related to the person of Mary. Nowhere in Scripture does it tell us she was chosen because she was more holy. Though there are certain misunderstandings about her that appear to have their root in tradition rather than Scripture, there is also the tendency by some to dismiss the extraordinary purpose of Mary being chosen to birth the Son of God. The phrase highly favored comes from a single Greek word meaning “much grace.” Mary was a recipient of God’s grace. (bibletools.org) While she was certainly a godly woman, we must not miss the reality that God uses ordinary people for His glory. Mary was a humble servant, willing to do God’s will. When Jesus was older, she attended a wedding with Him. (John 2:1-10) It appears Mary knew the wedding party well enough to be concerned that they faced potential embarrassment. John records her comment to Jesus in John 2:3. She was trying to involve Him in finding a solution. I believe Mary knew what others didn’t. She trusted that Jesus could do something for them. As a recipient of God’s undeserved favor and grace, Luke 2 tells us a couple times that Mary “pondered things”. Since the day the angel announced the big news, Mary’s life would never be the same. And that, my sweet Sister, is good news for us! We, too, are offered the opportunity to receive the gift of Jesus. God promises the believer salvation and peace. “They will live securely for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.” (Micah 5:4)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)
Mary is exhorting us from thousands of years away to believe the God who chose her. Her example of humble obedience calls out to us. Yes, she was ordinary. Like us, she wondered. Like us, she pondered. Like us, she grieved. But she also worshipped! She was faithful to the God who had sent His message to her through an angel one day. She believed it when the angel told her nothing was impossible with God. Now, let’s fast forward to the cross where we find Mary with Jesus’ friend, John, as they watch Jesus die. (John 19:25) Sister, she is still there waiting, loving, and watching closely. When we find her at the tomb, we realize that for thirty years or so she’s been walking the earth as the mother of God. Now here she is again, aware that angels are standing before her. She must receive and believe another message of hope. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen!” (Luke 24:5) Can you imagine, my friend, the depth of her emotion?! She has grieved as never before. She’s completely exhausted from watching her son die. Do you think the words of Simeon have rung in her ears? (Luke 2:35) Did she recall the angel’s words so long ago and muster a little hope that another miracle could happen? Oh sister, do you believe God can work through you, an ordinary girl? He can! Nothing … nothing …. nothing … is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37) Lean in close, friend. He is near.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Terrain Day 8 Bethlehem & Nazareth

August 11, 2021 by Brenda Earley Leave a Comment

Terrain Day 8 Bethlehem & Nazareth

Brenda Earley

August 11, 2021

Birth,Equipped,God,Jesus,Journey,Life,Purpose,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 2:4-11
John 7:40-52
John 6:22-35
John 15:1-11
Jeremiah 33:14-16

Come journey with me as we navigate the rough terrain Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born! (Luke 2:1-7) Are you ready to unpack the wonderful nuggets God is going to share with us? Let’s go!

Imagine the hot, humid climate of Israel.
You’ll need plenty of water on this trip. (Here’s where being a camel would be great, haha!)
Feel the sun on your back.
The sizzle of the water as it touches your lips, and the refreshing relief it brings!
You’ll also need to pack bread and oil for your meals.
Just take the clothes on your back, traveling light is a necessity in these parts.
I think that’s everything on my travel list. Wait, the donkey . . . ok, check!

The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem is roughly 90 miles (144 km) southwest. OK, this doesn’t sound too bad if traveled by car, but during Biblical times, it was tiresome. We may not know exactly how arduous the journey was, but we know it was surely uncomfortable for Mary, who neared the end of her pregnancy. Nothing could have equipped them for this rough, downhill, and very windy terrain.

Nazareth, which means “the branch,” is just that, a branch, or fork, in the road, a secluded town perched on a hill, located in lower Galilee. It was said to be a “backwards town,” forgotten among other cities. Joseph and his espoused wife, Mary, were to be taxed and needed to travel from their hometown, Nazareth, to their ancestor’s city, Bethlehem, the city of David, or “the Bread.” (John 7:42)

In Bethlehem, this hill country-city located south of Jerusalem, the Messiah was prophesied to be born. (Micah 5:2) At the time of the census, an overcrowded city held no room at any type of suitable lodging. So, our couple resorted to a tucked-in-the-hills cave away from the harshness of the climate. This shelter in the rock, home to farm animals, would have been terribly noisy and odorous. Why would the Messiah be born here? Mary must have pondered so much that night.

“Bethlehem Morning, is more than just a memory
For the Child that was born
there
Has come to set us free”
(Bethlehem Morning by Sandi Patty)

After the birth of Jesus, shepherds came from the fields to worship this babe in a feeding trough. (Luke 2:8-20) Then, Joseph and Mary fled with baby Jesus into Egypt to escape the king’s jealous decree of death to all baby boys (Matthew 2:13-18), where wise men eventually came to worship as well. (Matthew 2:1-12) Once the threat was neutralized, Joseph was told by an angel to return to their hometown of Nazareth. (Matthew 2:19-23) Another tiresome journey, this time with a busy little boy!

While Jesus grew up in Nazareth, He would later be rejected by His own people. (Mark 6:1-6, Psalm 118:22) But from this town, Jesus’ ministry began. God’s plan for His Son was to be fulfilled even from the lowliest of places. From this forgotten branch, the Bread of Life rose up!

You see, the All-Sustaining One born in Bethlehem, “the bread,” was the Bread of Life:
“‘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.’” (John 6:35)

Though rejected by His own Nazarene people, He grew in connection to those who trusted Him (John 1:11-13) as the All-Encompassing One (the True Vine) from Nazareth, “the branch”:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” (John 15:5)

Today, He is our All-Sufficient One:
“And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

How many of us feel like there are many forgotten places in our lives? Or, maybe, we feel forgotten? It’s been a tough, arduous journey just to arrive here in our lives. The past haunts us. The past reminds us. Our present life and our future life do not look like what we want.

Believe me, I understand. For so many years, I felt forsaken by friends and family as a result of abuse I endured. I was ashamed of letting myself believe marriage would solve all the problems in my abusive relationship. But the abuse continued, and I needed to conceal the problems to protect myself. Yet in these lonely times, God was showing me His love and care. You see, abuse doesn’t need to define your lifestyle either. You can reach out for help! It’s one hug away from hope! Restoration is just a prayer away! God became the Bread of Life to me, wrapped me in His love, and sustained me until He fulfilled His plan and purpose for me. And He can do the same for you!

Oh sweet friends, remember God takes those forgotten places, those forks in the road, and makes our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) We can rest assured our forgotten places will become what God has intended for His purpose and His glory!

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’–this is the Lord’s declaration– ‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

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Bethlehem,Fulfilled,glory,Joseph,Mary,Messiah,Nazareth,plan,Rough,Terrain,water