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Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

Marietta Taylor

June 27, 2023

Believe,Community,Enough,Faith,Restored,Truth,Yahweh

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "What Do You Have Against Me?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:17-24

17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me? Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death?” 19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?”

21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.ad He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” 22 So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.

23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Elijah had lived in the widow’s home for a period of time (1 Kings 17:8-16) and she had experienced the miraculous power of God sustain her and her son in a devastating drought; by this, the widow knew God was with Elijah.

When her son fell ill, she likely expected God to again display His miraculous power. Instead, her son died. Maybe Elijah’s God was not the giver of life after all. In her grief, she began the age-old game of blaming. (Genesis 3:11-13) First, she blamed Elijah, then she blamed her own, unspecified sin for her son’s death. According to David Guzik, “Whatever her sin was, the guilty memory of it was always close to her.” (Enduring Word)

Now that the one closest to her was gone, all she could see was her sin and her grief. Self-loathing and Shame are horrible places to dwell, but this is exactly where this grief-ridden mama found herself. 

Another likely reason for her self-shaming guilt was her cultural and spiritual background. Baal worshipers were taught that their sins would be met with anger and fury from Baal. (Cornerstone Church Kingston) Since this was what she believed of Baal, seeing her son die in the presence of the “Man of God”, caused her to naturally assume Elijah’s God operated the same as Baal.

Again, the question of, “Is it true that Elijah’s God is the giver of life” is up for debate in her heart and mind; she chooses her answer based on her spiritual background and not on her most recent experience with God. 

The Everyday Application

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Many years ago, my husband and I went through a rough patch. He was in a car accident and had some minor injuries and resulting back pain. A week later, I had a car accident and had to be transported to the ER for observation. A couple weeks later, he started having trouble at his job, and on and on it went for a time. We had some professing Christians say to our faces that we needed to get rid of our sin so God would start blessing us and quit punishing us.

This is wrong theology! John 16:33 says, “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” This world is a hard place and trouble will come. We cannot avoid it, but we have no fear because God is with us and will help us through it all. (John 14:18-21) God allows the sun to rise and the rain to fall on both the evil and the good. (Matthew 5:45)

Haven’t we all witnessed someone enjoying what looks like a blessing, but turns out to be an ill-gotten gain? Can hard things be the result of sin? Yes. Are we the ones who can absolutely determine that every time? No.

If we think something might be the result of a specific sin, we can ask the Lord to reveal it to us and convict us by His Spirit, allowing us to confess and repent. If He does not show us anything, then we can know this is most likely a growth opportunity as it was for the widow.

I like how Sermon Notebook phrases it, “God’s method for growing us isn’t always pleasant, nor is it fun. However, it is essential that we pass through the growing process so that we can be better used of the Lord. As God takes us through the battles, and we see Him win them all by His power, we are enabled, by faith, to trust Him for even greater victories.”

The Original Intent

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

Elijah, and indirectly, God, had been blamed for the death of the widow’s son. Rain had not fallen, therefore, according to God’s promise in 1 Kings 17:13-14, flour and oil should still be plentiful, allowing everyone in the home to still be living.

That would be true, if flour and oil, if bread alone, were the Source of life. But Scripture teaches differently. (Colossians 1:17) In fact, Christ taught differently by saying, “Man should not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Perhaps the Lord took the boy’s life, proving His authority over life and death, that the woman’s heart might learn to lean on Truth instead of her own understanding.

Elijah could not make sense of this turn of events. Surely, it was very discouraging after all the life-giving things he had seen God do in his own life and the widow’s. So, he took his crisis of faith to the True Source, Yahweh. This is very reminiscent of King Hezekiah who took his concerns about his enemies’ death threats and even his failing health to the Lord, expecting God to handle it, regardless of Hezekiah’s personal confidence level. (Got Questions)

This was Elijah’s way of drawing near to God at a time when his faith was rattled, yet believing God could do the impossible, just like we see so many times on the Psalms. Elijah had learned a lesson the widow had not yet owned for herself, within God’s sustenance, Truth lived, regardless of circumstance, and He was worthy of Elijah’s worship. 

The Everyday Application

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

It’s so easy to have faith when things are going well. So easy to not doubt. But when things get really tough, does our faith flourish or does it wither? Elijah prayed such an honest prayer, bringing his confusion and doubt to the Lord, but then he immediately demonstrated his faith in God’s character.

If you read through even just a few psalms, you’ll see this rhythm played out over and over in the raw honesty of the psalmists. Another great example of a “Why God?! But I trust You, God” prayer is found in Daniel. Jami helps us understand these depths well in her Journey Study, “Why God?”. She beautifully offers us this encouragement, “God doesn’t require us to have all of the answers, and we can rest knowing we don’t need them. He simply welcomes us, right now, as we are, to trust Him for the Journey.”

Rest in the knowledge that if He did not chastise Moses (Exodus 33:12-26), or the man whose son was demon-possessed (Mark 9:23-24), or even doubting Thomas, His own disciple (John 20:25-29), He will not chastise us for our moments of doubt, unbelief or lack of faith either. 

The Original Intent

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

The widow had decided God was not trustworthy. Meanwhile, Elijah was depending on God to be truthful and faithful to His character, which was why he was confident in asking God to resurrect the widow’s son. Elijah knew that nothing he specifically did would bring the boy back, But God…with God, nothing was impossible! (Luke 1:37)

The Sermon Notebook says, “God honored the faith of the prophet and raised the child to life again. Why? Because Elijah trusted God by faith!” If by faith we believe, God is ABLE to do the impossible, we have laid the necessary groundwork for coming before the Father who is “able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) The widow, seeing her son brought back to life, realized that everything Elijah had ever spoken about his God was true. God was indeed both giver and sustainer of life.

“Elijah’s miraculous, never-ending oil jar hints at such life-giving power, but it is the widow’s witnessing of her child’s renewed life that convinces her.” (Working Preacher) She realizes that Yahweh is NOT like Baal. It is true that He is compassionate and does not cause harm just for harm’s sake. Everything He does is intentionally for good. (Genesis 50:20) And the truth is, it took suffering to get her to this place of firm belief. I believe in the end, that was okay with her. 

The Everyday Application

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

There are so many promises in the Bible, but one that is commonly quoted and is among my favorites is Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or abandon you”, which was first given in Deuteronomy 31:6.

God never changes, His character is always the same, and His promises never fail. Just read through Hebrews 11, listing out all the heroes of the faith. They all trusted God, but not all saw His final promise. What made them heroes in spite of this? They trusted that God’s Word was Truth.

We don’t even need to wing it, stretching beyond all reason that what God says is trustworthy, for He has provided His Word, His testimony in His people, and His Spirit to teach us all truth. In John 17:17, Jesus asks God the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” 

Every good thing that happens. Every hardship we endure. Every stronghold that is broken. Every wound that is bound and healed. Everything comes back to the character of God.

Can we trust Him? Resoundingly, Yes!

“God is not a man, that He might lie, or a son of man, that He might change His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

Our God is Truth so we can always trust that no matter how the landscape of our lives appears, He is in control and He will keep His promises. 

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comfort,doubt,faith,rest,trust,Truth
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Sketched XI, Day 6
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My son lives! Elijah has done this!

No; my heart pulls back at those words. It is his God, his Yahweh.

Recognition and realization of truth washes over me as my heart and voice affirm what my eyes have seen, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true.
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Wilderness Day 6 For The Long Haul

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 33:12-23
Deuteronomy 29:1-15
Matthew 26:36-44

Wilderness, Day 6

When we journey to a new place, we don’t plan on traveling for 40 years, encountering hardship after hardship.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened to the people of Israel.
God delivered them from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 13:17-22), and they began their journey to the land He’d promised.
Then they spent 40 years in the wilderness.

Their wilderness wanderings were marked with struggle and pain and sin . . . and by miracle after miracle, if only the people could recognize them.

Their first wilderness encounter with the God Who Saves is at the edge of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:5-14) Barely out of Egypt, camped between equally insurmountable obstacles of desert and sea, Israel hears the sound of distant thunder. Turning their eyes from the pillar of cloud embodying God’s presence to the horizon, they see Pharaoh’s army swarming toward them. Panic and horror sweep through the camp, and the people swiftly turn against Moses, the man appointed by God to lead Israel.

But God.
Miracle #1- God parts the sea and holds back the waves so Israel could walk to the other side. (Exodus 14:15-22)
Miracle #1.5- As the Egyptian army attempts to cross, the sea crashes back to its original position and their pursuers drown. (Exodus 14:23-28)

Exhilarated by God’s rescue, Israel turns her face to the Promised Land. According to today’s maps, their journey should have only taken 7-10 days.

Even on this relatively short journey, resources and rations were finite and began to dwindle. When we walk in the wilderness, it’s easy to focus on what is lacking (can you relate?), and so the people turned to grumbling.

But God.
Miracle #2 – Even in the wilderness, there are oases, places of rest and refreshment. God led Israel to Marah, a place of water. Though the water was bitter, God miraculously caused it to become sweet. (Exodus 15:22-25)

Miracle #3 – After a brief stop in Marah, Israel set up camp in Elim, which held 12 springs, with the implication that one had been prepared for each of Israel’s tribes. (Exodus 15:27)

How would you have reacted to this bounty of clean, cool, fresh water after being in the wilderness for about six weeks? Sadly, the Israelites don’t see God’s leading. Instead, they focus on what they lack, even in the midst of God’s miraculous provision. They think their former life of bondage would have been better. (Exodus 16:2-3)

Before we judge too harshly, let’s realize we often do the same. When struggling through a wilderness season, it’s easy to imagine the past season as immensely better than the present . . . even if it was a season of bondage.

But God.
Miracle #4 – Though Israel quickly forgot His faithfulness, rescue, and provision, God still saw them and heard their complaints. Daily, He fed them, giving quail in the evening and manna (a wafer-like bread) in the day. (Exodus 16:4-23) Some people wanted more, deciding they didn’t trust God to provide again tomorrow, so they tried to stock up. However, manna was meant for just one day, and the extra spoiled. How often have we missed God’s perfectly timed provisions because we focus on future worry?
For God does indeed still show up, Sisters, even in our barren and desolate seasons.

Israel continues to grumble and complain, leaning on their own understanding and erecting idols (Exodus 32), yet God holds them.
God faithfully led His ungrateful, rebellious children right up to the Promised Land (Canaan), but, overwhelmed with fear of its inhabitants, they refused to enter. (Numbers 14) They chose disobedience over God’s ideas, and it cost them an entire generation.

Thus began the 40-year road trip.
And the story repeats, over and over.
God miraculously provides, protects, and empowers Israel as He leads them through the wilderness, from victory in battle to shoes and clothes that don’t wear out. (Deuteronomy 29:5) Yet, time and again, His faithfulness and provision are quickly forgotten as His people choose sin and self.

Sometimes, we may realize our own wilderness is due, at least in part, to our sin and our choice to follow our way instead of God’s. This realization is always painful. Yet God, in His faithful love, remains with us just as He was with Israel.

While we may not wander in an actual desert, wilderness seasons remain part of our lives. My prayer is to not miss God in the midst of them. And not be so stubborn (yes, even when I am feeling desolate and empty) that my attitude causes me to stay in the wilderness for what seems like a generation.

How should we respond when finding ourselves in the wilderness?

Look for God-moments in the midst of what feels like aimless wandering. He’s active, don’t miss Him!
Focus on intentionally looking for His hand, for He will keep us from falling into despair.
Lean into Scripture, for even Jesus, God Himself made manifest, relied on Scripture in His wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 26:36-44)
Cling to the certain knowledge that Emmanuel, our God-with-us, is present every step of our wilderness, providing for us, rescuing us, and leading us home.

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The GT Weekend! ~ Questions 2 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) One of the most prevalent questions in our shared human experience is, “What is the meaning of life?”. We have found many different ways to answer this question on our own terms, but Monday’s Journey Study brought us face-to-face with one of the most common false answers and also with the truth. Many people think that getting the most pleasure out of life is what “it’s all about”, but God tells us glorifying Him and remaining in close relationship with Him is the only path to true fulfillment. How have you regarded fun and pleasure in your own life? Have you placed the false promise of pleasure above your need for relationship with God? If I’m honest, I frequently choose pleasure over relationship with God. While it is not wrong to find pleasure in our lives, when pleasure becomes a stumbling block to following Christ, we must make a choice. Will we follow God’s will or the siren call of “fun?”  Write down two ways you can choose to forego a pleasure that is tripping you up and choose to glorify God instead. This may look like fasting from social media for a time or giving up a certain TV show that is fun, but not glorifying to God. Ask God to show you where you can bring Him the most glory.

2) You may have heard it said that all religions are basically the same. They all boil down to the idea that if you are a good person and do good things, you will go to heaven when you die. Contrary to this common belief, the astonishing truth is following Christ means acknowledging you cannot be a good person or do enough good things to get to Heaven. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. On Wednesday, we saw how believing in Jesus and receiving His grace is the only way for us to be saved. Have we taken the time to really reflect on the wonder of this truth? God’s grace doesn’t depend on our ability to “be good.” God lavishes His grace on us even when we least deserve it. Sister, do you believe that? Or have you been burning the candle at both ends working to try to earn God’s favor? If you believe in the work Jesus did for you on the cross, you can take time today to rest in Him. Thank Him that His work is enough and find comfort in knowing you are secure in His grace.

3) Have your conversations with God ever felt one-sided? You sit down to pray, asking God for your deepest heart-felt desires and then… nothing. All is quiet. You wonder why you even bothered to try. Then as time goes by, you keep bringing your requests before Him, asking Him to do as He promised. And one day, your prayers are answered. Maybe not the way you had thought they would be, but God proved Himself faithful in the end. I have many stories of times I had all but given up on God answering my prayers, and yet, He has never failed me. If you don’t have any stories of answered prayers, I would challenge you to go back and look at past prayers. Look for the ways God has been working in your life. If you don’t have any prayers to look back on, start today. Write down your requests and your prayers to God. Then eagerly look to see how He answers them. When you see how God works in your life through your prayers, write down what you observe and thank Him for His faithfulness. Remember the truth that God gives good gifts to His children, and glorify Him when He shows up for you!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Ephesians 1:3-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

Prayer Journal
Praise the Lord! Praise His holy name forever! You, oh Lord, give meaning to our lives. You make a way for us to behold Your goodness. You hear our prayers. Forgive me Lord for the ways I have neglected to glorify You in my life. Forgive me for the ways I have chosen pleasure and comfort over Your good plan for my life. Help me to identify the idols in my heart that draw me away from You. Thank You that I do not need to earn Your grace, but that while I was yet a sinner, You gave your life for me. Help me to treasure the gift You have given me and to share it eagerly with others. Most of all, I thank You for hearing my prayers and giving me just what I need, even when I do not know how to ask.  Forgive me for my neglect of prayer and my disregard for Your faithful answers. Help my heart to be attuned to the wonder of Your glorious answers to my prayers. .Help me to say, “the Lord has helped me to this point!”

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship VII Day 11 Held Fast

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Timothy 1:8-14
Psalm 91
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Hebrews 6:17-20
Jude 1:24-25

Worship VII, Day 11

When asked in 2015, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I’m certain no one answered correctly! In Kansas City, we started with a Super Bowl Championship parade; joy was in the air and life was GOOD.

A few weeks later, Covid-19 entered the US; life turned upside-down.
Stay-at-home orders were issued.
#InThisTogether began trending.

Despite the hashtag’s slogan, however, stress and uncertainty quickly gave way to anger and division on our streets over racial inequality. The deaths of Ahmaud, Breonna, and George sparked protests against racial injustice and emotions raced even higher.

Adding to the tumult, investigations continue uncovering horrific atrocities against children.

Not to mention, it’s an election year in the United States.

Yep, pretty sure NO ONE could have predicted 2020’s events.
NO ONE except God.

As unsettling as 2020 has been so far, NOTHING has surprised God.  Our family word is KAIROS, referring to how God’s timing is SO different from ours.  As finite humans with limited knowledge, we are unable to “fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

To illustrate this mystery, consider a beautiful tapestry.  Merely surveying the BACK of the tapestry reveals only a tangle of thread and knots. Amidst the mess, the weaver continues the work, knowing the end result will be stunning.

GOD is a master weaver.

2020 is part of His plan.
In fact, all of history is His Story unfolding.
None of it is beyond His weaver’s fingers.
We can trust Him!

In the midst of chaos and confusion, HE remains steadfast, faithful, and GOOD.
We must cling to this truth!

Sitting in the middle of the unknown, it’s tempting to feel overwhelmed or defeated. Instead, let’s focus on truth: God is still at work.

In researching the hymn, He Will Hold Me Fast, I was blown away by God’s Almighty ability to weave the threads together.

In the early 1900s, the traveling evangelist, R.A. Torrey, was sharing the gospel. In 1902, in Australia, Robert Harkness joined his team as a pianist. Ironically, he agreed to be an accompanist at revival meetings BEFORE trusting Jesus as his personal Savior. He actually tried to mess up the music but failed. Due to the grace shown him by Torrey, he accepted Christ into his life.

The team traveled Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, India, and the British Isles while sharing Jesus. In London, they connected with the then-famous song writer, Ada Habershon, who joined their team. Ada would pen hymns lyrics while Robert expertly put them to music.

In 1906, a Canadian man spoke with Robert, expressing his fear of being unable to “hold out” in the midst of difficulty. Harkness wrote to Ada in England and requested lyrics speaking to this man’s struggle.

While Torrey preached to a crowd of 4,000 in Philadelphia, Harkness took out the slips of paper with Ada’s newly penned words for “He Will Hold Me Fast”, putting them to a melody then and there.

The music was captivating, and the song’s message stuck.
Over a hundred years later, we still sing Ada’s lyrics set to Robert’s melodies.
Incredibly, these words from 1906 intertwine perfectly with the experiences of 2020!

This is God at work, weaving a beautiful tapestry!

I got goosebumps reading testimonies of the impact Ada’s words have had over the years, even some from Kansas City.  Consider studying this history for yourself and pray God reminds you He is the same today just as He was then. (Hebrews 13:8)

Do you fear you also cannot “hold out”?

Maybe you need to be reminded we don’t need to depend on OUR strength, but in Jesus!  We can REST in Him, depending FULLY on HIS wisdom, power, joy, hope, peace, courage, and love.

Do you feel weak or weary?
Can you sense fear creeping in?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do you question where your path will take you?
Do you question God’s love and goodness?
Do you doubt His sovereignty?
Do you wonder if He TRULY cares about you and the details of YOUR life?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do doubt, cynicism, and anger seem to be crowding out grace and compassion?
Does showing love to others feel exhausting?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Do you feel control slipping away?
Are you longing for Jesus to come back, wondering why He hasn’t yet?
Are you worried you might lose hope before He does?
You are NOT alone.
Christ will hold you fast.

Recently, the song, Another In The Fire, reminded me again that even in the FIRE, we are not alone.  Jesus stands with us just as He did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

God parted the Red Sea.
He provided manna in the wilderness.
He shot water from a rock.
He closed lions’ mouths.
He defeated a giant through one boy’s faith.
Time and time again throughout history, He made His presence and power known as He wove His tapestry.

Then, He came to actually DWELL among us.
Jesus left heaven and was born humbly in Bethlehem.
His presence and power were felt in fresh BIG ways.

Jesus made the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see, and brought the dead back to life.
Then, one day, He Himself died, paying the penalty for our sin.
Three days later, He rose again, forever conquering Death and offering eternal life and forgiveness to all who trust Him!
He can indeed hold us fast!

No thread of history can unravel God’s plan, including 2020 and the struggles in your life! We can trust JESUS remains constant, knowing He will forever hold us fast!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
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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 Worship VII 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 Worship VII!

Pause 3 Day 2 Intended For Rest

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Pause 3, Day 2

Rest.
We all need it, but most of us push back from it, not wanting to be found lazy, weak, or ineffective. We stay awake until the wee hours working, press ourselves to exhaustion during the day, or move from one activity to the next without a breath.
Yet, we were designed for resting.

Resting.
Pausing.
Breathing.
Being.

As often is the case, the physical realm mirrors the spiritual in order to accentuate it. Just as our physical bodies were made to literally live off of rest, so were our souls. This is the emphasis of chapter three in Hebrews. The only safe haven of rest for our souls is found in Christ Jesus, the author of our hearts.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

1) Pull out your Bible and read Hebrews 3 fully through 3 times.

2) Each time, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Pay special attention to the kind of rest we are made for. Who is able to ensure we will be given the inheritance of rest? What kind of rest is the author wanting us to make sure we enter? How do we enter it? What keeps us from this specific rest?

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Hebrews 3

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was in all God’s household. 3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. 4 Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers tested me, tried me,
and saw my works 10 for forty years.
Therefore I was provoked to anger with that generation
and said, “They always go astray in their hearts,
and they have not known my ways.”
11 So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest.”

12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. 15 As it is said:
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

16 For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all who came out of Egypt under Moses? 17 With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge 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 3 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 Pause 3!

Worship IV, Day 3 Holding Us Together

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:15-20
Hebrews 12:26-29
Isaiah 9:1-7 

Worship IV, Day 3

Some may ask what the value is of their high school studies in chemistry (let’s be honest: high school math, art, etc.). While I always thought there was some use in what I was learning even if passing the class was the main reason, preparing for this Journey Study highlighted how the Lord can use anything for His glory.
High school chemistry included.  

I read through Colossians 1:15-20 and spent some time pondering the truths nestled there. What does it say about the Lord? What does it say about me? What does it speak to regarding my interactions with the Lord? 

In the midst of those questions, my high school chemistry class materialized in my mind. The long black countertops and the silver gray stools that became the backdrop of our scientific explorations set the scene. I remembered the feel of the delightful goggles providing safety as we dealt with chemicals as well as deep imprints on our cheeks announcing to everyone that we had just spend time dabbling with liquids, and solids, and mass (oh my).  

In my mind’s eye, I remember seeing a centrifuge on the counter and clearly recollected this actual day in class. We had a few liquids in our test tube and the only way to separate them was using the centrifuge, which essentially spun the tube at high speeds, the force of which caused the liquids to layer themselves by their densities. Little did I know that learning how to use that machine and comprehending all the science behind it would bring a section of Scripture to life years later.
Yet, here we have on display the goodness of the Lord through His creation.  

Colossians states that the Lord is before all things and in Him all things hold together. 

All things. 
Held together.  

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months, seasons where you just don’t feel like you have it together?
That everything is spinning out of control?  

Me too.  

Those personal examples came flooding to my mind after the centrifuge memory.
They marked my own moments of surviving the centrifuge of life.
Moments where life only seemed to pick up speed and everything began coming apart at the seams.

Hebrews 12 says that the Lord will shake things to prove what cannot be shaken. Those times have come and will come again, and I have learned to rejoice in the outcome of those moments because I am then able to separate what is from the Lord and what is not. I have discovered that sometimes that “spinning” of life is the only way to find that dividing line, much like using the centrifuge enables separating the liquids in that specific way as well.   

So if you are like me, may this section of verses from Colossians grant you the permission to quit trying to hold everything together by your own strength and rest in the arms of Jesus.  

Because He is strong enough to hold us together
and to separate what needs to be removed.  

Colossians 1:15
Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
Wait, what? He is the image of the invisible God.
Have you ever known that the Lord has you but you still wanted some “real” arms to hold you?
I have.
It’s comforting to know that Jesus lived and walked the earth. He came to us with skin on and arms that could truly hold us together. Hands that healed the servant whose ear had just been cut off and hands that willingly surrendered to nails at the cross. So while I’ve never experienced the literal arms of the Lord encircling me, I know that they once embraced those that came before me, and He brought to life the picture of God the Father.  

Colossians 1:16
All things have been created through Him and for Him.
I am friends with artists of many kinds. I have watched the love and effort they pour into their creations. Their investment is not haphazard and their joy at the completion is deeply felt. Now imagine Jesus’ response to His creation. (For the record, we are His creation.) Let that soak in for a bit. 

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things and by Him all things hold together.
Read this one out loud. Read it with the understanding that as the Creator of all things He alone has the capability to hold all things together.
Let the words sink into the depths of who you are.  

Colossians 1:18
He is the head of the body and the church and is the firstborn from the dead. Jesus has the authority and capability to lead us into eternal life.
He died and defeated death for us. He has us.  

Colossians 1:19-20
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Jesus came to earth as fully God and fully man. Because of this duality, His death on the cross and victorious resurrection created the way through which we are reconciled with the Lord God. Without Jesus and His sacrifice, I would be spiraling out of control due to the weight of my sin and the separation from Him it causes.  

So, is your world spinning?
Is the force of life starting to pull you apart?
Run to Jesus.
Surrender it all.
He can hold you together.  

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship IV 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 Worship IV!

Dwell Day 4 Rhythm Of Rest: 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 Rhythm Of Rest!

The Questions

1) In light of the New Covenant through Jesus, how are we to interpret and apply the Old Testament’s very serious command to “remember and keep the Sabbath”? 

2) What is considered “work” to God? How do we know if we are being legalistic or obedient? 

3) God gave some commentary regarding the Sabbath commandment. Is He intending to provide a deeper meaning of keeping the Sabbath, even before Christ provided us with forever rest in Heaven for eternity?

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey, any of your livestock, or the resident alien who lives within your city gates, so that your male and female slaves may rest as you do.
15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Original Intent

1) In light of the New Covenant through Jesus, how are we to interpret and apply the Old Testament’s very serious command to “remember and keep the Sabbath”?
The command regarding Sabbath was repeated for emphasis throughout the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy all speak in serious language about the consequence of being “sabbath-breakers.” The law even held a death sentence for certain violators. As followers of the resurrected Christ, we now honor God and keep the sabbath by looking to how Jesus fulfilled it through His life and death. Although there were very specific guidelines in Old Testament Law, it seems very clear that the apostles specifically omitted dogmatic instruction about the observation of certain days to communicate a new kind of rest that had been instituted by Jesus. This is not an obligatory external rest – ceasing from work – but an internal rest that begins in and flows from the heart.

2) What is considered “work” to God? How do we know if we are being legalistic or obedient?
God didn’t go into great detail with His people about what was included and not included in the command to cease from their labor. Although He is specific in Deuteronomy 5 about who is to cease from labor, which is everyone, He does not have a list of laws specifying what they were to cease from doing. In fact, it’s in the New Testament we observe the Jewish leaders taking it upon themselves to determine what was unlawful work. On one occasion, Jesus rebuked them, even questioning their knowledge of scripture! (Matthew 12:5) He knew God’s commandment did not forbid all activity. It was never meant to be used against those who were actively serving God. Rather, it was intended to serve the purpose of drawing one’s attention more fully to God. (www.biblestudytools.com)
The apostles told the believers to rely on their personal consciences, shaped by a desire to please God, when they were making decisions about work and rest. 

3) God gave some commentary regarding the Sabbath commandment. Is He intending to provide a deeper meaning of keeping the Sabbath, even before Christ provided us with forever rest in Heaven for eternity?
God gave two reasons in the Old Testament for establishing the Sabbath as a sacred day. One is specifically found in Genesis at creation (Genesis 2:3) and the other is specifically seen in the passage today. We learn in these passages that the Sabbath is for rest and for remembering. Even though the Old Testament command specifies a day (the seventh day), in the New Testament, Paul explains the Sabbath was a shadow of Christ and that the actual day itself had become insignificant. Christ established eternal rest – salvation – through His death on the cross. (www.gty.org) At the last supper with His disciples, Jesus invited them to remember a rescue they had not yet witnessed and most certainly did not grasp as Jesus prepared to give His life as a ransom from their sin and ours! At Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Law, God invited His people to remember a rescue they had witnessed as He had parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow them safe passage from the hands of the Egyptian slave masters. In verse 15, even in the observance of Sabbath, the story of redemption is woven through every part of Israel’s history.

Everyday Application

1) In light of the New Covenant through Jesus, how are we to interpret and apply the Old Testament’s very serious command to “remember and keep the Sabbath”?
We remember the Sabbath by remembering the work of Christ on the cross where He took the punishment for our sin upon Himself. “Resting in” the work of Christ is not the same as “resting from” the work we do. But there is a connection. Although we are no longer slaves to the Law in the same way the Old Testament believers were, we are also no longer slaves to sin. We are now slaves to righteousness. It’s a new kind of slavery, and a new kind of rest. Our obedience is not a condition for salvation, but it is an evidence of it. We keep the Sabbath by making time in our days and weeks to focus on what has been done for us through Christ’s work. If we have been redeemed, we will make time to be free of distractions that keep our souls in turmoil. We will desire to make time to rest our minds and bodies, intentionally tuning our hearts to remember the amazing grace of God that rescued us from sin, death and the grave! 

2) What is considered “work” to God? How do we know if we are being legalistic or obedient?
God makes it clear in the New Testament (Romans and Hebrews especially) that Christ finished the work of sacrificing for our sins. There is no work to be done that would earn us a relationship with God or eternal life, but there is to be obedience, springing from a transformed heart. God’s word sometimes gives us specific instruction on how to live; other times it offers guiding principles that we must pray through, asking for wisdom to know how to apply it to different situations. Paul said in Philippians 2:13 that God is working in us the desire to do good works. Thankfully, the saving work has been done by the Lord Jesus. The sanctifying work happens day by day as we surrender to the Spirit of God, seeking to know Him deeply through His word and prayer, then resting in His power working in us to accomplish His purposes. 

3) God gave some commentary regarding the Sabbath commandment. Is He intending to provide a deeper meaning of keeping the Sabbath, even before Christ provided us with forever rest in Heaven for eternity?
The very short answer is YES! God wants us to read the whole Bible as one story of His redeeming love. The thread of redemption is woven through it from Genesis to Revelation. God has always been drawing us to Himself. He was always making a way for us to know Him intimately. The Sabbath has always been more than simply a cessation of labor; we rest in order to remember. We remember in order to worship! 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Rhythm Of  Rest!

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

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Dwell Week One!
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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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Dwell Day 3 Rhythm Of Rest

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 16:22-30
Exodus 31:12-17
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Ezekiel 22:23-26 

Dwell, Day 3

Sitting on top of a mountain in Colorado for a week, disconnected from life and the rest of the world, brings a rest to the soul that is hard to describe.  That time of silence and solitude made my husband and I realize we weren’t doing enough to observe a time of dedicated rest, or sabbath, in our lives.  We were good at disconnecting from work and obligation, rest didn’t feel life-giving. With four teenagers, a full-time ministry position for my husband, a dog, a full-time job for me, a weekly community group, friends, school and much more…the idea of true rest often felt like a cruel joke.  Yet, what we began to grasp was the truth that, if we were willing, we could enjoy the kind of rest God desired.  Intentional decisions and planning were required, but it wasn’t out of reach.   

To understand why we were committed to making adjustments in our lives, you first have to understand how sabbath rest serves to distinguish, focus, and remind.   

Sabbath Distinguishes
God himself established the idea of sabbath rest on the final seventh day of creation. (Genesis 2:1-3) He took a step back, considered the work He had done, saw what was good, rested, and declared the day holy. He effectively distinguished the seventh day from the other six.  God then asked His people to observe the same pattern of work, labor, and gather for six days; rest, remain, and trust in Him for the seventh. (Exodus 16:22-30, Exodus 20:8-11) 

Simple, right?  Not so much… 
In our pride, we think we know better. 
In our greed, we think we need more.
In our need to be the best, we think we need to do more.  
In our need to be important, we think we must been seen. 

None of those beliefs lend themselves to rest and pulling back.
Sabbath is admittedly counter-intuitive to our current cultural way of life.  But God’s desire is that as His children, we distinguish between the common and the holy.  Six days are common and we work just like everyone else; but then, there is one day where we are to declare how we are different (Ezekiel 22:23-26).
When we ignore the Sabbath, it ends up looking like any other day.
We’ve declared the common to be enough! 

Sabbath Focuses
“Sabbath is that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing.” —Eugene Peterson 

Setting aside the cares, burdens, and work of the world opens the ability to reflect on and think about the God of the universe.  Throughout scripture, we see God time and again instruct us to remember.  With the Sabbath, we are to remember a couple of specific things:  God’s work AROUND US  through His creation (Exodus 20:11) and God’s work IN US as He sanctifies us (Exodus 31:13), making us more like Christ.   

Not only are we given the Sabbath to focus on our relationship with God, the time also allows us to focus on the earthly relationships that matter most.  We are called to observe the Sabbath with anyone within the walls of our home at the time  – family, friend, co-worker, or someone just passing through. (Exodus 20:10) 

Sabbath Reminds
Perhaps my favorite benefit of observing the Sabbath is its purposeful  reminder that I am no longer a slave, but have been set free (Deuteronomy 5:15).  Regularly reflecting on what my life was like without Christ, realizing all God has done to rescue me, and acknowledging that I could not do that on my own, has a profound effect. 

God receives the credit.
I remember how imperfect I am.
I am aware of my desperate need for salvation. 

Realizing our need for salvation isn’t just a one-time thing.  

Sabbath reminds me there is freedom available.
Sabbath reminds me there is a God willing to rescue.
Sabbath reminds me I cannot do this on my own. 

Sabbath Isn’t Easy
Coming home from our time in the mountains, we had a strong commitment to adjust how we would intentionally observe the Sabbath; but reality has proven it difficult to remain consistent. Resting well requires us to work well.   

To enter into our sabbath time with the ability to remember, focus and be aware of God and His work, we must do the prep work to allow these to happen.  When we do that, we experience the life-giving, empowering and rejuvenating joy God gives as a result.   

And then there are the questions….
What’s the right way to do this?
Am I allowed to….?
Is it ok if we….?
What about…..?
Can I go and….? 

We can quickly get caught up in the “rules and regulations” of what is or isn’t “Sabbath” to the point that it’s no longer restful.  Mark Buchanan, in his book The Rest of God, provides two principles that characterize a healthy Sabbath: DO NOT DO what is necessary; DO what is life-giving.  Those have become our Sabbath filter. The simplicity has helped us let go of questions and concerns about doing it the “right” way.  Our Sabbath doesn’t look like others, but it honors the expectations that God has put in place for us.  We can follow the command to keep the observance (Hebrews 4:9), yet we have freedom in how that takes shape (Colossians 2:16) through the gifts gained in Christ.   

Work hard. 
Rest well.
Distinguish yourself.
Focus on God.
Remember His work. 

The fight for Sabbath is worth it! 

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
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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 Dwell 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 Dwell!

The GT Weekend! Sketched IV Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) We speak countless words every day. Think through your day and estimate the amount of time talking versus the amount of time listening. How would your day look if your speech was stopped? Building in intentional time of silence can be a very effective way to hear from God. Curious as to why silence with God is necessary? Check this out!

2) We see several places in the Bible where faith is the space between logic and the promises of Scripture. Which topic in Scripture causes you to squirm? What do you secretly doubt didn’t actually happen? Perhaps there’s a premise of Scripture you think might not really be true? God is bigger than your doubts and He longs for you to trust Him enough to voice your questions. Finding a safe community to explore and find what the Bible actually has to say is important to our continued growth. Needing help finding someone to talk with, email us at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com , we’d love to hear from you!

3) The idea of “there’s no free lunch” permeates our life. It’s difficult to see how salvation could actually be a FREE gift. We don’t need to work and earn our salvation, yet we often consider our perceived value in God’s eyes based on how busy we are doing good things. Where do you see this lie seeping into your life? Are you needing a reminder that Jesus has covered ALL the punishment and paid the price for you to enjoy relationship with Creator God again?

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 Hebrews 11:1-3 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by it our ancestors won God’s approval. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

Prayer Journal
O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all their righteous offspring: You made the heavens and the earth, with all their vast array.

All things quake with fear at your presence; they tremble because of your power. But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; it surpasses all that our minds can fathom. O Lord, you are full of compassion, long-suffering, and abounding in mercy. You hold back your hand; you do not punish as we deserve. In your great goodness, Lord, you have promised forgiveness to sinners, that they may repent of their sin and be saved. And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my wickedness only too well. Therefore, I make this prayer to you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me. Do not let me perish in my sin, nor condemn me to the depths of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, and in me you will show forth your goodness. Unworthy as I am, you will save me, in accordance with your great mercy, and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life. For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.

Taken from the Common Book of Prayers

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music