reflection

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched X 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) Digging Deeper author, Patty Scott, held up snapshots of Joseph’s life and challenged us to consider how nearsighted we are when we view snippets of our own lives. It’s easy to longingly ache for more, for wholeness, for redemption, for better than our current hardship. We hunger for a season when the pressing isn’t so intense, and like our New Testament brother in Jesus, Stephen, we can wonder how our seemingly senseless difficulty could result in good. When we hold up Joseph’s and Stephen’s stories to Jesus and the Eternal Hope He offers, we are encouraged to take a broad scope lens approach to our own suffering. Learning to trust in the Hope of Jesus takes time as God’s Spirit teaches us through hardship to fix our eyes of Him instead of our circumstances. What is your perspective on the details of a current hardship? If you’re in a sweet place, where does your anchor lie for when the details shift from easy to hard? Take some time to read and reflect on the words from the Lord found in 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 over the weekend and let them take root in your heart!

2) As Joseph’s story began in the early years his fledgling faith was barely beginning, but he leaned into what he knew to be true despite the chaos and challenge of his life. The Lord was revealing Himself through the heritage of Joseph’s past and through dreams. His home life was painful and unstable in many ways, but he still believed the Lord enough to trust the dreams he’d been given. Through the pages of Scripture, we see the Lord revealing Himself to His people in small portions that increase over time as they deepen in their faith. This is true for us as well! Consider where you are in your faith journey. What do you hold to be true about God? Where did you learn it? Who influenced you in these beliefs? What do you hunger to know more about Him? Are you allowing your circumstances to dictate what you believe or the truth of Scripture? Take just 2 minutes this weekend and write down what you believe about God. Ponder these reflections and give them over to the Lord, letting Him lead you into deeper understanding of Him as you seek His face!

3) Injustice piled on top of injustice for Joseph. I’ve felt the same in my own life. My gut response is to seriously question the goodness of God and whether He really sees me and knows me. It’s so easy to doubt Him and, in place of faith, wonder if He will really do anything about unjust treatment. When resolution and redemption don’t happen on my timetable, I begin to doubt whether Scripture is true when it says the Lord is a God of justice. (Isaiah 30:18) Lord, pour spiritual cement on my heart when these temptations to doubt come at me; anchor me in truth and don’t let me leave! When are you most tempted to doubt the Lord and His goodness? Consider your default setting of belief about the Lord when you experience easy seasons and then again in hard ones. Do your beliefs align with what the Lord says about Himself in Scripture? Are you willing to embrace what God’s Word says or will you hold fast to your perspective? Think about the why behind your answers and bring this to the Lord!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, I can look backwards in my life and see how faithful You have proven to be to me and to every promise in Your word. When doubt creeps in, I can look straight to Scripture and see how You prove Your faithfulness through every story. Holding onto truth is much harder than holding onto lies; Lord Jesus, increase my appetite for truth and lead me away from temptation to believe deceptions.

I know You will follow through on Your word to redeem my suffering for good, to bring healing from my brokenness, and to restore the years the locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:25-26) Keep leading me to surrender my plans and expectations to You in the middle of suffering. Teach me to be strong and courageous and wait for You to move perfectly in Your time to accomplish Your good work! (Psalm 27:14)

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Pause V Day 6 Being Equal

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Pause V, Day 6

Young children like to imitate their parents. Whatever the parent does, children want to do it too. They can’t be equal to their parents, but oh how they try. In today’s reading, however, we see a Father and Son who are equal; God the Father and God the Son, Jesus.

After Jesus healed a man at the pool called Bethesda, located by The Sheep Gate, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He healed, or did work, on the Sabbath. This was a major taboo in Jewish Law. Jesus, being the Creator of the Sabbath, answered them this way:

“My Father is still working, and I am working also.” (John 5:17)

Here Jesus clearly states His equality with God, infuriating the leaders who wanted to remain in control of the spotlight they held in the community. Jesus, always ready to lead us deeper into truth, did not leave it at this one statement. He continued to explain what being equal with God looked like for Him and what it meant for the people. Jesus, like the Father, was concerned about saving souls, not the leaders saving face.

The glimpse into the relationship between Father and Son is precious. We see the Son only doing what the Father tells Him. The Father loves the Son. The Father gives authority to the Son to give life and to judge.

When we establish a relationship with the Son, it should look similar to the Father-Son relationship shared between Jesus and the Father God. Before Jesus returned to the Father’s presence, He spoke of how we are to live and love others as we continue to reflect the relationship of love we have with God. We should do those things faithfully. Jesus pours out His love on us so we are able to offer the invitation of eternal life to others by sharing the gospel.

Sisters, we should daily evaluate our relationship with Jesus. How’s it looking? Are we helping others develop or maintain one with Him as well? We can never be equal to the Son, but we can reflect Him in our daily lives.

Today's Invitation

1) Read John 5 and answer these 3 questions in your journal.

  1. a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
  2. b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
  3. c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today. Be sure to write out any questions you have as you read! If you’d like to send your questions to us, we’d love to study with you!

3) Memorize John 12:25-26

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John 5

After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Aramaic, which has five colonnades. 3 Within these lay a large number of the disabled—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

5 One man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”

8 “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.” 9 Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.

Now that day was the Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath. The law prohibits you from picking up your mat.”

11 He replied, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

12 “Who is this man who told you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” they asked. 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” 15 The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

17 Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

30 “I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true. 33 You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34 I don’t receive human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 “But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven’t seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word residing in you, because you don’t believe the one he sent. 39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. 40 But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from people, 42 but I know you—that you have no love for God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and yet you don’t accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?”

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

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

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

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

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

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 Pause V 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 Pause V!

Reveal Day 9 Sudden Peace: Digging Deeper

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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 Sudden Peace!

The Questions

1) What is the glory of the Lord? (verse 9)

2) How can we give glory to God like the angels did? (verse 14)

3) What do the angels mean with “peace on earth” when there are still so many struggles, trial, and war? (verse 14)

Luke 2:8-14

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Original Intent

1) What is the glory of the Lord? (verse 9)
Defining the glory of the Lord is not easy to do! How do you define something with human language that is untouchable and belonging solely to the divine? Looking at the content of these verses (like the verb ‘shone’), the words ‘glory of the Lord’ may have been used to describe an incredibly bright light. It was so bright the shepherds were terrified of its presence. A similar event happened when the angel of the Lord rolled away the stone at Jesus’ resurrection and the soldiers “became as dead men” in the presence of such outstanding glory and light so radiant it was described as “lightning”. (Matthew 28:3-4) The light shining around the angels at Jesus’ resurrection and His birth was brighter than we can even begin to imagine. So great was this reflection of God’s righteous glory, it terrified witnesses!

2) How can we give glory to God like the angels did? (verse 14)
In verse 14, the angels deliver the shepherds their message of the Messiah’s arrival and they give glory to God in doing so. Looking at what we previously discovered about the glory of the Lord, it seems rather impossible at first glance to give ‘light’ back to God. This use of “glory”, though the same Greek word, means something a little different given the particular context. What does remain the same is the straight definition of glory in Greek which carries the idea of the highest pronouncement of what is good and holy. In essence, “glory” is the good righteous holiness of God on display for us to see and interact with. This makes a lot more sense when we hear the word ‘glory’ in the context of verse 14. The angel here tells us to give praise and honour unto God for He has sent His Son into the world to save us.

3) What do the angels mean with “peace on earth” when there are still so many struggles, trial, and war? (verse 14)
The shepherds, though cultural outcasts, were still acquainted with the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and understood the implications of the angels’ message of “peace on earth”. In Isaiah 9:6 it is prophesied that Jesus would be known as the “Prince of Peace”. Isaiah also foretold that, while “the result of righteousness will be peace” (Isaiah 32:17), there would be “no peace for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22) Even these shepherds understood that, for God’s people, there would be peace because “the Lord blesses His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11). God had long ago laid the foundation of prophecies and His truth to be unfolded and later understood as the world welcomed the promised Messiah who would hold out salvation to all people, regardless of cultural status or difficult circumstance. Those who follow the Lord will have peace within them wherever they are, no matter the situation.

Everyday Application

1) What is the glory of the Lord? (verse 9)
While the glory of the Lord in today’s verses are referring to God’s brightness and His light, the word translated ‘glory’ is also used in Acts 22:11 in similar fashion. In this verse, Paul tells the story of his radical encounter with the risen Jesus. He describes seeing a bright light that instantly blinded him as he traveled to Damascus, intent on imprisoning and killing Christians. His intentions were fully against the Lord God, but he was left blind for three days from the glorious light of God. The King James Version reads, “And when I could not see for the glory of that light…” (emphasis mine). The Christian Standard Bible translates the Greek word “glory” directly into “brightness”. “Since I (Paul) couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light…” (emphasis mine) This closer study of the word “glory” and its intended meaning helps us understand the shepherds’ experience on that dark night. The lowly group of sheep herders witnessed an enormous bright light which itself reflected the character of God and they were forever changed. Just like Saul on the road to Damascus, the trajectory of his life was radically made new as he was renamed Paul and given a new mission. Has Jesus changed your life? Have you ever truly encountered His glory?

2) How can we give glory to God like the angels did? (verse 14)
In his gospel, John describes Jesus as being the Light of the world. In Colossians, Paul writes that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God”. (Colossians 1:15) The author of Hebrews says Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is God’s glory on display in human form for us to interact with and experience. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, His light becomes ours and we shine for Him. When we love like Jesus, when we worship Him in song, when we speak with kindness, show His compassion, and come alongside others as God has done for us, we are “giving glory to God”. We actually are giving His light back to Him because we are reflecting the Light He first gave us! Philippians 2:11 says, “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Confessing Jesus as Lord mirrors God’s glory back to Him. Paul also wrote that Jesus (and therefore God) is glorified by asking God through prayer to make us worthy of His calling and to fulfill our every desire to do good by His power (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). So, by confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, and by fulfilling God’s calling in faith, we give God glory!

3) What do the angels mean with “peace on earth” when there are still so many struggles, trial, and war? (verse 14)
Although the world can seem like a crazy place; when we have Jesus, we do have peace. Why? Because Jesus Himself brings the gift of peace. He tells us, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” (John 14:27) He warns us that life will not be easy, and will be filled with sorrow and suffering, but to prepare us for the troubles to come, He gives us peace. (John 16:33) Paul writes, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) He even refers to God in Heaven as our “God of peace” (Romans 15:33; 16:20). Perfect peace is only found through Jesus Christ. Whenever we feel overwhelmed by the chaos and confusion in this world, we need to turn to Him who gave up His life for us, so we might have eternal life… and peace! Amen.

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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!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Reveal Week Two!
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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 :-))

Memorize It!

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Beloved Day 1 Unveiled Faces

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 3:1-18
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Song of Solomon 2:1-17

Beloved, Day 1

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

Unveiled faces. Does that resonate differently now for anyone else in light of Covid-19? Walking in the front door of my house, I immediately remove my mask. Oh the freedom!

Now I admit, on days when an unwanted blemish visits and my mask covers it, I appreciate the ability to hide that flaw as I complete errands. However, I still remove my mask as soon as I possibly can. No amount of embarrassment will keep me wearing my mask, especially while at home.

As I sat down to write this study, which focuses on marriage and our relationship with the Lord, my mind turned to Moses and the mask, or veil, he used. Moses wore his face covering because his face shone so brightly after spending time with the Lord, the Israelites were afraid to approach him. (Exodus 34:29-35) However, the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face, and their level of intimacy left Moses radiant . . . literally.

Today, when I loop my mask behind my ears, unfortunately, it is NOT because my face shines after encountering the Lord. Regardless of the why behind our masks, the outcome is still the same: covered faces. It’s amazing to see how wearing masks impacts social connections. We easily hide imperfections, but struggle to bridge the isolation the mask creates.

The same is true both in marriage and our relationships with the Lord. My husband and I cannonballed into marriage as we said our vows three days before the shelter-in-place order went into effect. Over the past few months, I have learned so much about him and myself. One of the greatest surprises and blessings has been the refreshing experience of knowing and being known on a deep level.

Neither my husband nor I are perfect; nor has our marriage been tested the way only time and a variety of challenging circumstances can. However, God is empowering us to extend grace to one another and, in that safe space of unveiling, to be courageous enough to be our true selves: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

As a result, the last four months have been filled with serious amounts of love and growth. My love for him increases as he continues to embrace me, even after my flaws have been revealed and my quirks uncovered. I’ve grown as I’ve been challenged to die to myself and pour out grace to him as well, to embrace his quirks and flaws, and to love how I see Jesus in him.

In math only credited to the Lord, I am more drawn to my husband and our time together in the midst of unveiling, both painful and sweet. As hard as it may be, I delight in being known and challenged to continue to grow. In turn, tears come to my eyes in the moments I see how graciously loving him has blessed him and enabled him to grow, too.

Only the Lord could breathe passion into a relationship and so cause an increasing cycle of multiplication in which both parties benefit. Is marriage incredibly hard work, requiring intentionality, time, and a whole lot of Jesus? Most definitely, but it is deeply beautiful work. 

For readers who are unmarried, I urge you to cultivate this same passion for, and with, the Lord (my exhortation for married readers is the same!). I met my husband later in life and in my single years, I learned how to have hot dates with Jesus.

Because of those times with the Lord, I entered marriage without expecting my husband to complete me. I’d reached a place where I was content for it to be me and Him for the rest of my earthly days. Through my encounters with the Lord, and learning how to be unveiled before Him and with Him, I have grown the confidence to be vulnerable with my husband and to pour out grace as I see my husband unmasked, as well.

I still spend time with the Lord and am learning how to seek Him together with my husband. I recognize the health of all of my interactions is directly impacted by my walk with the Lord. 

The Lord created marriage as a reflection of the relationship we can have with Him. Imperfect humans will never build perfect marriages, although we can strive for strong, faithful relationships! However, the Lord, in His perfection, carries the weight of our covenant relationships with Him and invites us to know and be known by Him.

Regardless of our marital statuses, let’s each draw close to the Lord and risk being unmasked before Him. The love, passion, and connection experienced within His boundless love is well worth being seen.

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

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

Ten Day 9 Worth Of One: Digging Deeper

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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 Worth Of One!

The Questions

1) What was the effect of sin on the image of God on Earth?

2) How did sin defile the relationships between the image-bearers of God?

3) How did God intend for mankind to rule as a reflection of His image?

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Original Intent

1) What was the effect of sin on the image of God on Earth?
“In the beginning, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Perfect! Then sin came, and everything changed. This oral history would have been passed down to the Israelites during their 400 year period as Egyptian slaves. During the day, the Israelites were valued lower than human beings as they were slaves to their Egyptian masters. But at night, God’s words would have reminded everyone they were more than just slaves. An idol, or image, is carved to reflect the characteristics of the god it is dedicated to. In similar thought, both the slave working the field and the slave master holding the whip are the actual image of the one true God because they were both human beings. God crafted them to bear His image. Sin had defiled the relationship between God and people. With that defilement came rebellion against God,  slavery, hatred, and death. Thankfully, God declared how the events of time would play out from the very beginning. “The past events have indeed happened.

Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.” (Isaiah 42:9) Yahweh’s redemption plan to once again restore man as an image-bearer, and restore the relationship between Himself and each of us continued at Mount Horeb with the giving of the law and Ten Commandments.

2) How did sin defile the relationships between the image-bearers of God?
When God created mankind in His image, part of the intent was to reflect how the Godhead relates to each other. The Spirit gives glory to the Son, and the Son submits to the will of the Father. The Godhead works as a unit to rule the universe with love, honor and respect with each other as one, single God. When sin came, the first relationships to be broken were between God and Adam and Eve, and between husband and wife. Where once there was trust and unity, betrayal and separation now existed. Separation broke the sweet intimacy of oneness. The corruption that affected the unity of the image-bearers now corrupted how mankind ruled the Earth as well. Instead of honoring the reflection of God in each other, mankind enslaved, robbed, and killed one another instead. Every intent of man’s heart was evil (Genesis 6:5) When God established the system of the law, it was another step towards His coming restoration. The first four commandments centered around restoring the relationship between God and man. Commandments 5-10 focus on restoring relationships with fellow humans. For example, do not murder, was a clear affirmation of human life to former slaves after 400 years of oppression.

3) How did God intend for mankind to rule as a reflection of His image?
When God created man and the world for him to rule. He first placed Adam in the garden of Eden to tend to it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15) In a garden, one learns when and how to use power. If Adam had some seedlings to transplant, the wrong thing to do would be to handle them roughly and damage the roots. (Isaiah 42:3)  However, Adam would need to use just the right amount of power to pull up weeds and dig into the earth. Ruling the environment with love ensures that the earth under mankind’s domain will grow and prosper. Fast forward to Exodus 20, God was teaching the Israelites how to rule by first establishing a set of laws on how to govern their plot of earth. God taught them through the Old Covenant (10 commandments and Levitical law) how to rule with love, justice, and righteousness.

Everyday Application

1) What was the effect of sin on the image of God on Earth?
This week has been one of the most emotionally draining weeks I have experienced so far in 2020. Two videos came out today. In one, a white woman threatened a man in a park with potential police brutality for asking her to leash her dog. In another video, George Floyd is begging for his life as a police officer crushed his neck for 8 minutes. When God created mankind He loved diversity so much He made black, white, brown, and yellow people. This week, the effects of slavery in America still say the black man created in God’s image is dangerous by default of his skin color. The truth is we all have a sin problem, and that sin has made us each of us slaves. God has confined us all under sin, for there are none who are righteous. (Romans 3:9-10) Christ offers righteousness through faith for ALL. (Romans 3:22) In Christ, all who surrender to Him, are made into a new creation in Him. All races, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and Nigerian are slaves of sin just like the ancient Israelites were slaves to Egypt, but God stepped forth as our Redeemer! In Jesus, we are no longer slaves, we are free in Christ! “For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

2) How did sin defile the relationships between the image-bearers of God?
Sin prevents us from seeing outside of ourselves to witness how our actions affect fellow believers in Christ. This is a heart issue, and for me, at one time, it was a root of bitterness that led to hatred. I needed to repent and ask God to forgive me for not loving my white brother and sister in Christ. Because God can’t use petty people that hold on to grudges, I still find myself in situations ministering to all people. As much as it depends on me, I will make peace with all men. (Romans 12:18) Sometimes peacemaking involves having difficult conversations and being in difficult environments, we are called to make peace anyway. Even if making peace costs you relationships and opportunities, as much as depends on you, make peace because God made a way for peace with us. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:9-10) If the Lord puts you in a situation that requires you to make peace, do not fear and wonder, “what will I say?”. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them. (Luke 12:12) As representatives of Christ, it is on us to make peace and usher in reconciliation. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

3) How did God intend for mankind to rule as a reflection of His image?
Just like God gave Adam the power to rule and govern in Eden, so too has God given His church power (the authority to rule). “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you.” (Luke 10:19) Each one of us has our own “plot of land”, or sphere of influence, God has placed in our care. As a representative of the kingdom of God, how do you choose to use your power? I urge you brethren to plead for the fatherless and seek justice for the downtrodden, especially among the members of the body. (Isaiah 1:17)  “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering. I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 61:8) There is a reason why Christ called the church His body, with Christ occupying the head. How can a body function properly or rule, if the feet have been injured and no salve has been applied to heal the wound? Imagine trying to live your life in perpetual pain as the foot, while the hands say, “your problems do not concern us we have our work over here.” If the wound is never healed, the whole body will become sick, weak, and feeble. (2 Corinthians 12) “Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.” (Hebrews 12:12-13). For too long, the body has been dislocated, and now is the time for healing to take place. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. (Hebrews 12:14-15) Consider your “plot of land”; where can you begin actively pursuing peace to make the Body of Christ stronger?!

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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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Ten Day 6 Family On Purpose

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 20:12
Genesis 1:1-2:3
Leviticus 19:9-37
Ephesians 6:2-3

Ten, Day 6

Dread knotted in my stomach.

I had done it.
I was sure my parents would not only find out, but also be disappointed.

I had chosen to do what my foolish little girl brain wanted, instead of listening to my parents’ request. I didn’t honor them with my choice, and guilt mixed with remorse was coming on hot and heavy.

I was probably 10 years old when I decided to sneak into the garage refrigerator after dinner one night. It was the spare fridge, the one Mom used when preparing for company.

I took a spoon to my favorite dessert, Éclair Cake, and thought I could get away with helping myself to a few more bites. Somehow though, when I was putting it away, the pan flipped upside down. Even with the lid on, the dessert was ruined. There was no way to keep my secret now. Mom would undoubtedly realize a little snitch had been to her dessert.

You see, Mom and Dad had some rules. There were four of us kids at home. Left to our own devices, we could create lots of chaos. Therefore, the ‘rents had some parameters for us to live within, which allowed our house to have order, stability, and certainty. In their parental wisdom, they demonstrated their love for us by maintaining boundaries.

The Lord our God also has rules and parameters for us, His children.

As we journey through the Ten Commandments, we first see a list of rules. However, if we look a bit closer, we realize what seems to be a list of dos and don’ts is actually a reflection of God’s character. 

“Honor your father and mother so you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

God created the world in a specific order. (Genesis 1:1-2:3) He put in different systems to maintain this order. (Genesis 1:26-30) The Levitical law shows us God doesn’t act on a whim, but has a plan and a purpose for even the smallest part of our lives. (Leviticus 19:9-37)

Returning to Exodus, we see the family unit has order and purpose.
And we learn our God is a God of order and purpose.

Nothing Creator God does is wasted. His actions were purposeful in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in our lives now. He holds the systems of this world in His mighty hand and works things together for our good.

Life often seems chaotic and confusing. Bad things happen, loved ones become terminally ill, senseless murder continues. Our finances crumble, our children don’t make wise choices, we need to retire before we had planned. Where is order and purpose?

David, the Psalmist, wrestled with similar troubles. He wrote, “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.” (Psalm 69:1)

Yet, by Psalm 71, David was able to declare, “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me.”

David recognized God was using the overwhelming parts of his life to draw him near. God was redeeming the mountains of challenges David had climbed throughout his life by giving them beautiful purpose. 

Where have you felt the flood waters rising?
When have you experienced the Loving Father’s redemption?

Just as a loving parent has rules in place for the good of their children, God gives us parameters to guide us. When we honor our earthly parents, we honor our Heavenly Father. He loves us perfectly and completely; He knows what we need and how we may stumble. Honoring our parents is a command we can take hold of, trusting the Lord is creating order and fulfilling purpose.

{Let’s talk for a moment about parents who are harming their children. Make no mistake: honoring our parents does not mean submitting to abuse. If you are currently being abused at home, you can reach out here (nationally) or here (locally in KCMO). We, the collective church, support you, even if your abusers are Christians. Even if they’re involved in ministry. Even if they’re pastoring your church. God is not asking you to stay in harm’s way.}

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

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Sketched Day 13 Laura

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 1:9-13
Galatians 3:23-4:7
Psalm 27:7-14
Psalm 138:7-8

Sketched VI, Day 13

 

My life is a reflection of the grace of God.
I can’t look at any season I’ve walked through when Jesus hasn’t been faithful to provide.
It may not look like how I wanted, but He is faithful.

I was born to a mother who was addicted to drugs; I was a drug baby.
Those who knew my mother said if I were to think of any terrible action, my mother had done worse to get her hands on drugs. It was common for her to make drug deals in front of my sister and I, and prostitute in front of us.  I’m sure there was more, but it was never told to me – maybe to protect my mind – but I think I get the picture without any more stories.

My parents were foster parents when they welcomed my sister and I, which already gives you a glimpse of their hearts and lives, as they cared for children who weren’t their own. Later in life, I asked my mother why she’d never had her own kids. She told me about giving birth to a stillborn baby, which affected her more than anyone wanted to admit. She said she never wanted to experience that pain again.

So, my parents adopted both my sister and I, along with my brother who was born from another family. We lived in California, close to my biological family and siblings. We would visit often, usually weekly. I loved knowing my grandparents, it was like knowing I came from somewhere.

I remember one night packing up and leaving our home. We didn’t say goodbye to anyone, we just left. Our neighbor, who we were best friends with, saw us moving and came over to say goodbye. Later in life, that same neighbor told me she thinks my parents were trying to protect us from my siblings and biological mother in California. They saw the hurt and destruction the relationships were causing with my biological siblings being so close to my mom. My parents didn’t want to that environment for us too.

I remember being embarrassed telling people I was adopted when I entered elementary school. My cousin, Racheal, however, was so proud to know me and told EVERYONE we were related and I was adopted.
But for me, I always hated people knowing this part of my story.

Perhaps it was because my parents were older or a different ethnicity than me.
Or maybe adoption gave off the idea of being unwanted.
Regardless of how I felt about adoption, my parents loved me unconditionally.
Isn’t that strange for someone to love you SO well and SO deeply without being a biological parent?!

In middle school, we took our annual trip to California to visit friends and family where I had the opportunity to meet my biological aunts and uncles.
I had never met them, and I was so excited to meet people who were like me!
Maybe we had the same eye color, or nose, or the texture of our hair was the same. There was something about being adopted; for me, I just wanted to know who I was.

My aunts looked just like me, especially my aunt Vera.
When I met her, I felt like I had a connection with someone who looked like me. I asked my mom if we could move closer to them so I could know them better.
It crushed her, because she had spent the last 14 years of her life caring for us and raising us. To her, I seemed willing to throw that love away on someone I didn’t even know. While my aunt and I are still very close to this day, I think the idea of my mom losing someone she loved – again –  was terrifying.

The deep love the Lord has for us is much like this.
When I gave my life to Jesus at church camp in the summer of 2007, I began understanding His love. I began to take in the truth of the Lord having a plan for me and being for me, not against me.
Jesus had rescued me from a drugged-out woman who told my parents she never wanted me. He was there in the moments of abandonment as a child, comforting me through my earthly father’s love. That’s how good He is, that’s how good His plan is!

The Lord has taught me so much of His grace and what adoption looks like through His eyes. He is our Adopted Father!
I don’t think I really got this picture until I was in my twenties as I began realizing how much my parents sacrificed for our family; all for love.

There is something so sweet about adoption and the way it correlates with Scripture and God’s love for us.
When Jesus adopts us into His family,
He doesn’t give up on us when we do something wrong.
He doesn’t shame us when we fall short.

MY parents would NEVER do that to me, because they loved me like Jesus.
I partied in high school and they never once told me I was rejected from their family.
They chose love.
The same unconditional love our Father gives us surpasses anything I will ever experience.

I was abandoned. I was rejected, but I have been beautifully accepted, loved, and adopted. I know what it’s like to be loved, wanted, valued, heard, and a daughter to someone who said yes to you first!

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Sketched VI Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Focus 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) Whose voice do you most commonly find yourself listening to? Yours? Hers? (the one  you love to compare yourself to) Hers? (the one who frustrates and annoys and constantly gets under your skin) His? (the spouse you always try to please but never feel you can) Or HIS? (the Lord who calls you beloved. The Lord who delights over you. The Lord who has wisdom by the truckload to generously lavish on you, even in the middle of the chaos of your everyday.) Take a minute or two to write down the voices you most often gravitate towards and how they make you feel. Then spend some time listening to the Voice of the Lord by getting away for a few quiet moments with Scripture. Write down what you hear from Him!

2)  Who in your life has been a peacemaker as opposed to a peacekeeper? What qualities do they exhibit and how do they treat people? What do you think is at their core that makes them effective at creating an environment for peace to grow? How would you define the difference between making peace and keeping it? Consider your relationships and pray about some specific ways the Lord is calling you to boldly and lovingly be a peacemaker!

3) It’s much easier to choose our way over God’s way, isn’t it? Take stock from only the last few hours, mentally noting how often you chose, or were faced with a choice, to choose your way or God’s way. Which struggles were the most difficult? Which ones were easier? Consider how many of the battles you faced did you intentionally ask the Lord to empower you to make the wise, righteous choice over the one that would feed your own power or desire. Even for committed Christ-followers, we often overlook the Source of our power to live a life that honors and reflects God’s good, kind, loving heart. This weekend, intentionally remember that we can do nothing in our own power or strength, certainly not winning spiritual battles. Only through the power of Christ and His Spirit can we live for Jesus! Submit your will to His and celebrate when you do!

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 Proverbs 6:20-22 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

My son, keep your father’s command,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
Always bind them to your heart;
tie them around your neck.
When you walk here and there, they will guide you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you wake up, they will talk to you.

Prayer Journal
The desire to follow my own ways and take in the tempting lies of the enemy of my heart is strong. When I am at my weakest moments physically or emotionally, the desire to give in to the enemy feels nearly impossible to overcome. Lord, increase my hunger for righteousness! Especially during the times when I think I would rather satiate my desires with enemy food. Speak your wisdom aloud, call out to my heart, reminding me that only when my feet are planted in Your truth can I clearly see the spiritual battles in front of me.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Anchored Day 10 Fabric Of Life

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:1-4
Colossians 3:12-18
Genesis 1:26-27

Anchored, Day 10

Be Who You Are?
Look around and you’ll see all kinds of inspirational quotes encouraging you to
“be yourself”, “be who you are”, “you be you”.

Absolutely! God made each of us uniquely (Psalm 139:13-16) and we can celebrate that! However, found hiding underneath these pithy statements is a subtle message to focus on whatever you’d like to say or do regardless of what others think or care about.
Surely this must be the “real” you.

The problem?
Who you are depends on you.

When I became a mom 11 years ago, I slowly had to face the painful reality of
who I thought I was,
what I felt defined that identity,
and the stark contrast of who God says I am in Christ.
Who I thought I was, wasn’t good enough.
I needed something much more solid.

Perhaps you’ve had a season like this, where God uses circumstances and people in your life to patiently reveal where your identity had wrongly been resting.
Perhaps like me, you didn’t even know it was resting there
and it was God’s grace He showed you!

The book of Colossians gives us a different framework to, “be who you are”.
It’s actually the most hope-filled message of identity there could possibly be!
Colossians 3:12 begins, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved…”.  
What glorious truths!
God chose me of His own will!

His redemption makes me holy!

The Father already dearly loves me!

 Paul purposely sets the Colossians up to be rooted in who God has
already established them to be.
If we go back to the beginning of chapter 3, He also reminds those in the church:
1) We have died and been raised with Christ
2) Our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4)

So in a sense, this is Paul’s case to “be who you are”.
Perhaps a better way of saying this is be-who-you-already-redemptively-are.
(but that doesn’t fit quite as nicely on a bumper sticker, now does it? 😉

 The Clothes Laid Out For You
Paul continues by telling us what to “put on”.
It’s as if these are the clothes that the Holy Spirit has laid out for us.
Among them are compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (3:12), as well as forgiving one another and bearing with others, and above all the garment of love, which has the ability to weave all things together in unity (3:13-14).
It’s important to note these all relate to our relationships with others.
Whether with family, neighbors or co-workers, we all feel hard-pressed in the very things we’re told to put on!

This is a tall order in our own strength and impossible to muster up.
Which is exactly why Paul started by reminding us to step into these clothes
from a place of being chosen, holy and dearly loved.
This identity is fitted by the power of God.

We don’t show compassion and kindness so that God chooses us.
We don’t respond with humility and gentleness to make ourselves holy.
We certainly don’t show love to be loved.

When we know and understand our position in Christ,
it frees us to step into the character God has designed us to show others.   

Reflecting The Father
In 3:13 Paul implores, “forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
In verse 15 he asks us to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts”.
In 3:16 Paul insists “the words of Christ should richly dwell (take up their home!) in us.”
With wide strokes and vibrant colors, Paul paints what a life reflecting the character of Christ looks like when we put it on.

When Genesis 1:27 tells us God created mankind in his own image, it supports what Paul is saying here.  Since you’ve been crafted to reflect the image of God – so reflect Him! Do It!

We are given ample opportunities to do this through the relationships God has placed in our lives. Remembering we were created to reflect Him helps us turn away from seeking our own comfort, pleasure and happiness in those relationships, instead asking God’s glory to be revealed even as we struggle and brush up against others.

When we are rightly rooted in reflecting God’s image,
we’re not stuck trying to be filled by others as we relate to them.

Drilling Down
At first glance, it seems Paul begins an entirely new thought in verses 3:18-4:1, but if we think about the whole chapter, it becomes clear Paul is simply drilling down to another layer.
He’s already encouraged us with who we are in Christ.
He’s told us what to put on.
Now He’s showing us what our daily relationships will look like
if the first two areas are embraced.

Tying it up, Paul circles back to what could be the second side of the same coin.
Instead of stating his point from the place of our identity,
this time he states it from the place of our ultimate motivation:
to bring glory to our Master!

“Whatever you do, do it from the heart,
as something done for the Lord and not for people,
knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.
You serve the Lord Christ.” (3:23-24)

What are you wearing today, Sister?
Does your apparel reflect the rich identity you have as Beloved Daughter of God?
be-who-you-already-redemptively-are
Wear it well and may it bring glory to God!

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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 Anchored Week Two! 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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