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silence

Training Day 15 The Generosity Muscles

February 11, 2022 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 3:16-18
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Matthew 6:1-4
2 Corinthians 9:7-11
Malachi 3:10-12

Training, Day 15

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Over the last few weeks we have been diving into the Word and focusing on spiritual disciplines. How have you been impacted through this journey? What specific discipline(s) has the Lord highlighted for you to focus on moving forward?

Has silence taken on a new meaning in your life? Or has your perspective of fasting morphed? Maybe you have not sensed any dramatic shifts, but you now have more nuanced understandings of several of the spiritual disciplines.

Before we transition to the next study theme, we have one more training topic to discuss: generosity.

To start, pull out paper and pen or the notes app on your phone. For the next minute, please list ways you can show generosity in your current sphere of influence. Your goal is to think of as many as possible in these 60 seconds. Don’t second guess. Don’t analyze. Simply picture generosity in your world and go.

60 seconds. Set an alarm if it helps.
List away.
Finished?
What was your experience like? What categories and actions made it to your list?

How I wish this conversation were taking place in person.
Since it is not, I will share a few elements I discovered about my list, some of which surprised me.

The first category on my list was money. Scripture does not shy away from addressing money and its impact on our hearts, minds, and walks with the Lord. Tithing, the practice of returning the first 10% of our income to the Lord, is a key component for keeping our hearts focused on the Lord and what He is doing. The Lord knew how significantly money could ensnare our hearts and even encourages us to test Him to show His faithfulness when we tithe. (Malachi 3:10-12)

Financial generosity, however, is not formulaic and moves beyond tithing. Rather than being defined by a certain number, recipient, or cause, financial generosity is characterized by our willingness to give joyfully as the Lord leads. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

In fact, a key component to any and all generosity is obedience to the Lord.

“Because of the proof provided by this ministry, [fellow believers] will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.” (2 Corinithians 9:13)

Our goal is to become more Christlike. (2 Corinthians 3:18) True generosity, the kind that makes us more like Him and demonstrates our spiritual growth, is an outpouring of hearing and obeying. It’s a heart-level response.

Is the Lord asking you to give to a missionary? Is He asking you to help support a single parent? Is He the author of the totally random and unexpected “passing thought” to bring your co-worker a coffee one morning?

The Lord knows each one of us so very intimately and, simultaneously, sees the big picture in all things. Therefore, He knows what each of us needs and how our paths cross. Maybe that random cup of coffee is the warm hug from the Lord your co-worker needs; we may never know how we might be an answer to prayer.

Generosity, then, is about giving open-handedly, no strings attached, zero expectation for accolades; instead, we expect God’s promises outlined in His Word to be fulfilled; His grace will overflow to us, equipping us to do the good work to which He’s called us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
He will give us what we need that we might live with righteous generosity, bringing glory and thanksgiving to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 9:10-13)
He will build “deep affection” among believers, as those blessed by generosity lift up the givers in prayer. (2 Corinthians 9:14)

And finally, as I made my list, I found that while a few situations were financial, many were not, reminding me generosity includes, but also extends beyond, our finances.

One person is in a challenging season and needs solid, consistent prayer covering. While money may help at some point, the Lord highlighted her name when brainstorming how I could be generous with my time and intercession.

Another idea is to send a handwritten note to a friend who unexpectedly lost her husband this summer. This idea prompts me to be generous with my talents and my time. How could your talents be used generously for the glory of the Lord?

Regardless of what made your list, as we grow and practice our generosity, may we keep our eyes focused on the Lord. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith and it is through Him we become more like Him in every spiritual discipline.

My sister, thank you for growing in the Lord by leaning into training more intensely in these spiritual disciplines. May the Lord define and strengthen your “spiritual muscles” and bless your training!

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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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Posted in: Blessed, Faithfulness, Obedience, Scripture Tagged: Christ Like, generosity, Muscles, practice, silence, Spiritual Disciplines, training, Word

Training Day 6 Filled With Him

January 31, 2022 by Kaitlyn Wright Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:8-11
Psalm 119:9-16
Isaiah 26:1-6
Romans 12:1-2

Training, Day 6

We live in a world full of noise.
In its midst, we all feel a desire for silence.

When I think of silence, I think of peace, rest, and tranquility. The world might direct us to seek these qualities through a form of meditation involving emptying one’s mind. This form of meditation has become more and more prevalent, but is this the way Christians should seek peace and rest?

The Bible clearly and emphatically answers, “No!”. Our goal as Christians is to seek silence with the Lord in order to fill our minds with truths about Him. Psalm 46:10 says “Stop fighting and know that I am God.” Other translations use the phrase, “Be still.” Be still and think about who God says He is in His Word; this is the holy, biblical way of meditation.

Psalm 119 gives us a clear understanding of Christian meditation:
“I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16)

While other forms of meditation attempt to lure us with false promises of peace if we empty our minds, God promises true peace when we practice His idea of filling our minds with God’s Word and delighting in His truth! Isaiah 26:3 promises, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.”

I can empathize in the struggle to find time for quiet study and reflection, prayer and meditation in God’s Word. I had been battling idleness and was immensely helped by reading C.S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters. If you are not familiar with this book, it is an allegorical series of letters written from an older, wiser demon mentoring his nephew, a novice demon, put in charge of keeping a young man away from God. The older demon writes, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

Yikes! Lewis’ words really convicted me of the idleness of my mind. It is never too late to start filling our minds with God’s Word. Pick up God’s Word, pray for guidance, and the Holy Spirit is faithful and able to reveal truth to us. (John 16:13)

When I actually make time, I’ve found reading and studying God’s Word to be a most satisfying endeavor. If I’m being honest though, spending time in prayer has often seemed tedious and even boring. I was ashamed to even admit that until I read Donald Whitney echo my thoughts in his book, Praying the Bible. He explained that if prayer feels dry and boring, we are doing it wrong! He encourages us to pray using God’s own words. I found it so beneficial to begin my time of prayer with reading a Psalm in prayer to God. Since I’ve begun this practice, my prayers have become much more saturated with Scripture and they are far from boring!

Finally, believing lies is a sure way to keep ourselves from quieting our hearts before the Lord in meditation and prayer. For the longest time, I believed I needed to pray the “right” words. So, I “hid” my “wrong” feelings from God, so as not to be irreverent. For example, if I felt anxious, I felt I had to deal with that before praying, because I knew my anxiety stemmed from not trusting in the Lord.

In truth, we cannot hide our feelings from God. I condemned myself for having “wrong” feelings, rather than being honest and submitting them to the Lord. God gave us feelings in order to point us to Him, not away from Him. If we pray like the Psalmist and cry out to God, in the midst of our fear and anxiety, He will change our hearts to be conformed to His!

What can you do today to make time to quiet yourself before the Lord? If you are a mom, can you load your littles up in a stroller and walk around the neighborhood and pray? (I put in my bluetooth earbuds so I can pray out loud without looking like a crazy person talking to myself!) If you work full-time, can you pray in your car while you’re on your lunch break? Praying out loud is not a requirement, but I’ve found it keeps me focused!

Sisters, let’s practice silence and holy meditation by filling our minds with God! Together with the apostle and teacher Paul, I pray for us:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2, emphasis mine) Amen.

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

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Posted in: God, Guidance, Peace, Prayer, Rest, Truth Tagged: delight, Filled, Noise, silence, training, Word

Terrain Day 11 Sea Of Galilee

August 16, 2021 by Lori Meeks 1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 11:18-25
Matthew 4:18-23
Matthew 13
Mark 4:35-41

Terrain, Day 11

Mountains, rocks, olive trees, gardens, waves, winding roads, and stone buildings.
The smell of the sea, fish, freshly broken dirt, rain, and warm bread.
Wind blowing in your face, sweat dripping from your brow, wet fishing nets draped over your shoulders.
People working, talking, laughing, wondering, hoping . . .

All normal sights, sounds, and smells in this place called Galilee.

Galilee, a region in northern Israel, is the setting for much of the gospels. This small locale touted mountains and hills in its upper region, while the lower region was famed for its fertile soil and the Sea of Galilee.

Normal daily life in Galilee meant walking, and a lot of it! In fact, it wasn’t uncommon to walk 20 plus miles (32 km) every day. People walked to work, walked to get water, walked to worship, walked up the mountains, down into valleys, and along the seashore.

Walking was also a normal, daily routine for Jesus, who called Galilee His home. He walked beside the seashore, calling disciples, teaching, confronting, loving, and healing. (Matthew 4:18-23)

He walked up the mountains, looking for higher ground on which to teach the growing crowds. Matthew 5:1-2 (emphasis mine) tells us, “When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them[.]”

He walked to the mountains alone to pray, never forgetting to make time for His Father. (Matthew 14:23)

He even walked to His death just outside of Galilee, a place called Golgotha, “The Skull”. (Luke 23:26-27, 32-33)

Fishing and boats were also a routine part of life for the people of Galilee, as fishing was a primary occupation in the region. Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen by trade before Jesus called them to “fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19) Jesus and His disciples often used these boats to cross from one side of the sea to the other. Pop-up storms were prevalent, as the cool eastern wind blew over the mountains and dropped into the sea.

The Sea of Galilee saw capsizing storms, like the one Jesus calmed in Mark 4:35-41.
“He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Silence! Be still!’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

As well as terrifying storms, like the one Jesus traversed as He “came toward them walking on the sea.” (Matthew 14:22-33)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose to walk on the water in that storm?
Yes, He was Jesus, but surely there was an easier way! Why not immediately calm that storm too, or take another boat?

Perhaps Jesus’ unyielding steps on wind-battered waves were meant as a lesson for us, as we walk through the storms of life.

Remember Peter, the bold disciple who called, “Jesus, if that is You, let me walk on the water too!” (Matthew 14:28, paraphrase) What happened when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves – yep, down he went. Similarly, life-storms can take us down when we take our eyes off the One we are to follow and walk toward.

Jesus the Teacher was a master at turning ordinary life into valuable lessons. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are full of these lessons, called parables.
Matthew 13 shares several of these purposeful stories:
“Parable of the Sower”
“Parable of the Wheat and Weeds”
“Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Priceless Pearl”

These imaginative stories were woven together with common everyday objects and routines to teach of God’s radically uncommon love,
showing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
Lessons still relevant today.
Lessons we would be wise to remember, meditate on, and apply to our lives.

 Throughout Scripture, God says,
“Do you have eyes and do not see;
do you have ears and do not hear?
”
(Mark 8:18, Jeremiah 5:21, Isaiah 6:10)
Even in Jesus’ day, so many people saw His miracles and did not believe.
They heard Him teach, yet denied His authority.
They witnessed the fulfillment of prophecy, but refused to accept the truth.

Let this not be said of us!

Let’s determine to walk through our everyday moments with eyes wide open to what God is revealing about Himself in the middle of our ordinary as we follow Him!

Speaking of following, the extremely narrow and maze-like roads of Galilee left only one choice when traversing them: closely following the person in front of you. It was easy to become lost among unfamiliar twists and turns.

Interesting, don’t you think?
When Jesus said, “follow Me,” He meant it quite literally. Imagine Jesus saying, “I know the way; to arrive safely, you must follow closely behind Me. Don’t take your eyes off Me.”

Walking. Fishing. Digging. Planting. Baking. Sunshine. Warm breezes. Sudden storms. Ordinary everyday life, until you add Jesus to the equation, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary!

Go for a walk today and consider the terrain Jesus walked, from the calling of His disciples to the road He traveled to His death.

Where or how is Jesus calling you to walk?

Who or what are you following?

Pray for open eyes and attentive ears.

Invite Jesus, our Master Teacher, into your ordinary and allow Him to make it extraordinary!

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

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Posted in: Discipleship, God, Jesus, Love, Ordinary, Prayer, Scripture Tagged: extraordinary, Galilee, hoping, Laughing, Messiah, Sea, silence, storm, Terrain, Wondering, Working

Sketched IX Day 11 I Have Seen Him

July 5, 2021 by Paula Romang Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 35:5-7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 78:2-4
Luke 5:1-11
Acts 1:12-26

Sketched IX, Day 11

Golden-rosy light glows in the east, dispelling the darkness. The breaking dawn mirrors the dawn of truth upon my soul. Truth casts its glow into the dark soul, ever brightening, ever rising, finally flooding the soul with radiant light. Like the rising sun, the truth of Jesus’ incarnation and His sojourn on earth has become increasingly clear. The light has broken upon my darkened understanding.

It all began on an early morning like this one. The crew and I had just finished a frustrating, fruitless night on the water. Usually we caught something, but that night there was nothing; it was odd. 

A rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Andrew knew, often came to the lake in the early mornings, teaching from the boats. Many viewed him as the Messiah. He told parables; His teaching was interesting and relatable. He taught as One having first-hand knowledge of ancient truth. His wisdom was primordial, yet fresh and alive. He was not just another rabbi, but Who He was remained a mystery to me. Andrew hung upon His words, convinced He was “the prophet” of which Moses prophesied.

That morning, He taught from our boats longer than usual. Water slapped against the side of the gently rocking boat and I dozed, half-listening. He roused me and matter-of-factly instructed, “Go out into the deep water; let down the nets for a catch.”

This Nazarene was serious. Andrew was already in his boat, shoving off; I followed. Andrew flung out his net; it slapped onto the water and slowly sank. Nothing, silence . . . then in an instantaneous rush, there were schools of fish!

Andrew gasped, then whooped as he began drawing in the net. Immediately his boat listed violently, nearly keeling over. We rowed fiercely, reaching them in time to fling out our net to reinforce theirs. Immediately, ours were full, nearly breaking under the weight. We were in danger of losing all the fish, both boats, and our lives as well.

We dug in with the oars, straining in unison for the shallows. I bailed into the lake and with rhythmic heave-hos, the crew and I made for the shore, dragging the straining nets. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the beach. My chest heaved as I lay on the sand and simply breathed.

He came to me. I stared up at the Creator against His blue dome of sky. He extended His hand and helped me stand. We all gaped in silence– at the haul of fish, at one another, but mostly at Him. He smiled and simply said, “From now on, you will be fishers of men!”  The light of truth was breaking upon me.

As I watched and listened, evidence began to mount. He just might be “the prophet” as Andrew insisted. He certainly held power over the movement of fish in the lake; no ordinary man does that! Every day He healed someone, often anyone who asked. Isaiah prophesied when “the prophet” came, healing those born blind would be one of His miracles. With my own eyes, I witnessed Jesus restore sight to people blind from birth. Elijah healed on a few occasions, but Jesus healed all the time.

The evidence continued increasing, but we understood Messiah’s coming as restoring Israel’s political and national glory. While Jesus spoke often of “the kingdom of Heaven,” He showed no interest in initiating an insurrection. On the other hand, His fulfillment of prophecies couldn’t be coincidental, or denied.

He multiplied food and wine as needed and had power to heal all diseases.

Nature obeyed His commands as though He were its Master. Storms stopped at His command; trees withered at His rebuke.

With evil spirits came immediate recognition, “Son of the Most High God,” they called Him. It wasn’t their first encounter with Him; they groveled in His presence. He held their fate in His hands, it seemed. Only Elohim could do this.

Then, in a brilliant, unforgettable moment of divine splendor, He showed James, John and I His glory on the sacred mountain. He stood as Friend with friend beside Moses and Elijah, emanating an ethereal, other-worldly light.

Then there was Lazarus’ return from death, and the people shouting “Hosanna” as He entered Jerusalem, riding a donkey’s colt. Within hours, the tide turned. His arrest, the flogging, and the cross. It was brutally sudden, unnerving, and terrifying, yet all of it followed straight from Isaiah’s prophecies.

Then Resurrection Day; He was back! It was stunning, yet confusing. Now He’s ascended to His former glory. He’s gone, and He left me in charge! This is both terrifying and humbling.

Every crowing rooster reminds of my failure. However, it was another early morning like this one, days ago, when His grace breathed life into my deflated soul. As long as I live, in the soft gray stillness of each breaking dawn, I will remember the fire of coals and the breakfast of fish. His questions were like well-aimed arrows piercing my soul. The same knowing gaze rested upon me, as it had in the courtyard the night of His trial. There was eternal knowing, yet eternal kindness in His eyes.

“Shepherd my sheep,” He said softly, His eyes of grace locked with my own shame-filled eyes. He placed before me the enormous calling of shepherding this fledgling flock.

The brothers and I remain in steadfast prayer since He returned to Glory.  It seems job one is to appoint Judas’ replacement, as Scripture says. We shall proceed in prayerful obedience, as we await His affirmation upon the chosen man.

In the courtyard below, the rooster fluffs his bronze-green feathers in the first rays of dawn and readies himself for a morning crow. Though he attempts to remind me of my failure, I choose to remind myself of my Lord’s grace and His holy calling.

“His grace covers me! Crow away, rooster, crow away!”

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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 IX 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 IX!

Posted in: God, Grace, Healing, Heaven, Jesus, Kingdom, Life, Power, Sketched, Wisdom Tagged: creator, Him, Hosanna, I Have, Messiah, Most High, prophet, Seen, silence, Teaching

Reveal day 13 We Have This Hope

December 23, 2020 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 71
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
1 Peter 1:3-7

Reveal, Day 13

Wars and rumors of wars . . . that is our life these days. One king after another has slaughtered us, starved us, kept us in confusion, unsure of the truth. Unsure of whom to trust.

At a loss, I try to remember the reassurances of my grandmother. “Remember Yahweh’s words,” she would say. “Listen for the prophets.”

But even Grandmother knew the prophets were long dead.

Their words of promise, of hope, are a distant, fading memory. A King to save us? That’s what they all say. Hundreds of years later, there is still no salvation from the bare existence we scratch out day . . . after day . . . after day.

They used to talk about David’s line, his descendants. From his family would come a new King, a Messiah. Ha! David’s line has not been seated on the throne for generations.

What good is Yahweh’s word when it simply isn’t?

It seems no one mentions Yahweh anymore. Not even a whisper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My father has taken to reading the Torah and the writings of David again. Pulling dusty scrolls from forgotten back shelves, he reads aloud Psalm 130 and Psalm 131.

Hope.
Yahweh.
“Wait on the Lord.”
I can’t see it. But if it makes him feel better, I will listen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tikvah. HOPE. Why are people suddenly talking about this?
Today at the well, one woman was even singing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THEN IN THE HEAVENLIES —

“Now. It’s time.”

To the Earth below, there appeared a star, shining brighter than all others in the sky, and the sound of a baby’s first breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever had a falling out with someone and not heard from her again?

I’ve been there.

What if you relied on someone to coach you, to give you good counsel, warn you of unwise plans on your part . . . but then suddenly she drops out of touch, just stops communicating with you?

How do you sit with that silence?

Israel sat in silence for 400 years. Generation after generation. An entire nation depended on hearing God’s voice, either directly or more typically, through His prophets, those He called to be His mouthpiece. Whether the prophets delivered words of encouragement and salvation, or chastisement and judgment, at least Israel heard from God.

But then came those 400 years of silence. As if Jehovah, God, locked tight the door of heaven. Silent.

It wasn’t as if they experienced 400 years of prosperity, of great economic growth and health, and stopped pursuing Him. No, they still had their cycles of corrupt governments, of wars, of pestilence.

Of hopelessness.

Maybe after so long without hearing from God, they simply gave up.

After being invaded and taken over by the world power of Rome and living under strict authoritarian rule, they wanted rescue. They wanted to hope in a King, a ruler who would come in like a warrior, defeat the Roman tyrannical rule, and bring prosperity and safety.

Have you ever felt that hopeless, that desperate?
Have you ever felt like God has left you, or you wonder if He was even there at all?

Even in the desperation, the questions, the loneliness, we can have hope.

We have hope in Christ, our God-made-flesh Who came to Earth and was born of a virgin.

Fast forward 30 years. Messiah begins His ministry of Hope. Not as the warrior or ruler Israel thought they wanted, but as a Savior, a Rescuer, and the Hope they needed.

He promised life abundant and life everlasting.
But like Israel, when we are in a hopeless situation, we can’t always see His promises.
We know we want out and want out now.
We want the answer to our hopelessness to be tangible. But it isn’t always.

Having faith in God, putting our hope in Jesus Christ, means trusting in the intangible. (Romans 8:24-25)

And yet, that intangible Hope is a very real anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:19)

We no longer need to strive within ourselves. We are free to admit we need something beyond ourselves; we need a Savior.

And so, our GOD OF HOPE gave of His very self to meet our desperate need. Jesus, the same babe born that first Christmas night in a Bethlehem cave, is our Hope. The God-man who gave His life on the cross, was buried, and rose again so we would be free and have eternal life is our living, breathing Hope.

He is your Hope. You only have to ask, to surrender yourself, your needs, and your heart to Him. Our journey in this life will still have challenges and struggles and hardship and hurt, but the One who sustains and controls everything in the Universe can and will be by our side through it all. (John 16:33)

Jesus Christ, our living hope. (1 Peter 1:3-9)

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

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Reveal!

Posted in: Christ, Desperate, Faith, God, Hope, Jesus, Journey, Need, Promises, Reveal, Salvation, Waiting Tagged: God's Voice, Hopelessness, Jehovah, King, living hope, Messiah, Prophets, Remember, rescuer, Savior, silence, Star, Yahweh

Reveal Day 11 Dancing In The Dark

December 21, 2020 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 37:15-28
2 Samuel 6:1-15
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Reveal, Day 11

I woke up today and struggled to put my feelings into words. For a person who loves words, failing to figure out which ones to use only added to the loneliness of the moment.

As I thought, a picture of the ocean tide going out came to mind.
That. I was feeling that.

How does the beach feel as the tide heads back to sea, taking with it anything not strong enough to anchor itself in the sand?
Does it recognize something is missing?
Does a sense of loss and an inability to hold onto the waves cause it to tremble?
Does an awareness of uncovering surprise it as the ocean breeze makes contact with the wet soil?

As the beach imagery provides words for my emotions, it also reminds me of the treasure trove revealed in the absence of those salty waters as the
waves run out and sea shells glisten on sandy shores. The ocean picture of runaway tides and hidden shells reminds me that while I may be feeling much like the beach at low tide, I have hope.

Good things, God-things, are found in the midst of these emotions.
Good things, God-things, are found in the faith that sustains us in the wake of raw, uncovered, and alone.

This hope is found in one Place, in one Person, the Presence of God.
Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, “‘You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you’–this is the Lord’s declaration.” How many times I have held onto this promise, and seeking Him, knowing He would faithfully allow me to find Him.
I’m sitting here humbled by the Lord’s promise not only to be found by me when I search for Him with all my heart, but to dwell within me. Because Christ came to earth and died for my sins, I am able to interact with Him directly.

This was not the case for those believers living in the days prior to His arrival. In fact, leading up to Jesus’ birth, the Israelites had no prophetic voice communicating the heart of the Father for 400 years. They had promises of the Messiah to come, but no present-day prophet through whom the Lord would guide and lead His people.

The Holy Spirit did not indwell them individually; a priest served as the intermediary between a believer and the Lord through the sacrifices required by the Law. Until Christ became our perpetual sacrifice, the Israelites lacked consistent access to the Presence of the Lord in their lives.

But oh, how they reveled in the joy of His nearness when His Presence visited! David danced with abandon before the Ark of the Covenant as it was restored to Israel. When was the last time you danced with joy, and I mean more than quiet toe tap to a song with a good beat? This dancing sprang up within David as an outrageous act of worship, totally disregarding social norms. David sought only to please the Lord and rejoice in His Presence.

Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, also experienced the impact of the Lord’s nearness. The baby in her womb leapt as the baby Mary carried, Jesus, drew close. I’ve never been pregnant, so I can only imagine the surprise and delight at feeling a child within dance. This must have been far more noticeable than the butterflies and kicks a soon-to-be mother feels.

As the first Christmas arrived, the shepherds were unaware of the nearness of the Lord’s Presence, but what must their responses have been when an angel appeared and brought the glory of the Lord with him? Years of silence ended as the host of heaven sang praises to the Lord.

The first Christmas ushered in the grace of access to experience the Almighty’s presence directly within our souls if we surrender our hearts to Him. When we seek Him with all we are, we will find Him. He will make His home with us. (Ephesians 3:17)

In those moments when an aching void turns your world dark, come to Him with your raw and uncovered and alone. Come with your bereft heart echoing mourning Israel’s exile cry,
“Oh, come, oh come, Emmanuel! “
Come with your longing for God with us, our God whose nearness is our good.
And in your dark waiting, hope in the assurance your Emmanuel is near!
Dance with David, John the Baptist, and a few surprised shepherds, and delight in the Presence of the Lord who came near!

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

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Posted in: Anchored, Faithfulness, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Joy, Promises, Reveal, Seeking, Worship Tagged: Close, Dancing, dark, emotions, God Things, Good Things, loneliness, Messiah, Nearness, Ocean, presence, silence, Tide

Reveal Day 5 The Longest Night

December 11, 2020 by Lesley Crawford 9 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Zephaniah 3:18-20
Malachi 4:1-6
Luke 1:26-38
Romans 5:6-8
Revelation 22:6-21

Reveal, Day 5

As I tossed and turned in an unfamiliar bed, it seemed like morning would never come.

I was tired, but sleep eluded me. Away from home for the first time, in a dorm filled with unfamiliar people, in darkness far deeper than I was accustomed to at home, it was impossible to settle.

After lying there, trying to sleep for what felt like hours, I finally grabbed my torch (that’s a flashlight for my American friends) I drew it under the covers so as not to disturb the others, and checked the time only to find, to my dismay, just twenty minutes had passed.

There were still hours to wait until morning . . .

The Israelites faced an even longer night.

Throughout the Old Testament, God promised a Messiah, a Saviour who would come to redeem and restore, who would deal with the problem of sin and provide a way back to closeness with God.

Zephaniah spoke of an end to oppression and shame, a gathering of God’s people who had been scattered, and the restoration of good fortune.

Malachi described a day when wickedness would be dealt with, and assured the people of God’s promise that, “for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2)

The promises were amazing . . . but then silence.

And waiting . . .

And still more waiting . . .

. . . Over four hundred years after Malachi’s words at the end of the Old Testament, the Israelites were still waiting for God’s promises to come true. Even worse, there were no more messages from the prophets. It seemed God had gone s i l e n t.

Perhaps this led to questions:

Would God’s promise of a Redeemer ever come true?
Had He forgotten?
Could He really be trusted?

And what about you? What are you waiting for just now?

The fulfilment of a long-held dream?
An answer to prayer?
Resolution in a situation of uncertainty?

Maybe, like the Israelites, you know God’s promises, but you’re struggling to see any evidence of their truth in your current situation. Maybe it feels like God has gone silent. It can be easy to lose hope, to wonder if God really will come through for us. Those times of waiting can be unsettling, uncomfortable, and often dark.

But what if God is at work in the waiting?
What if He is waiting, too . . .
For just the right moment?

Hundreds of years after Zephaniah and Malachi’s words, Jesus came, and the promise was fulfilled. It’s striking to note Paul, writing after the coming of Jesus, looks back on the fulfilment of the promise and describes both Jesus’ birth and His death as coming at just the right time.

“When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” (Galatians 4:4)

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

Suddenly, we realize the years of waiting were not caused by a delay, but were part of God’s design.

During those four hundred years, God may have been silent, but He was not inactive.
Various world powers rose and fell as predicted in prophecies in the book of Daniel. The Old Testament was translated into Greek, which was important for God’s Word being spread among the Gentiles. And Israel was conquered by the Romans, leaving the Jewish people desperate for freedom from oppression, recognising their only hope was in the coming of the Messiah.

The scene was set for Jesus to come.

Not only was God at work in the big picture of world events, but He was also preparing individuals for their part in His plan.

When the moment came, Mary was ready. She was ready to respond with faith and obedience despite the seeming impossibility of the angel’s message.

We can’t always understand why we have to wait; God’s ways and His timing are often not the same as ours. But we can trust in His goodness and His faithfulness. His promises will be fulfilled, sometimes (often!) in unexpected ways.

We can also trust He has a purpose in the waiting. Sometimes, while we are concerned with our circumstances, God is more interested in growing our character and our dependence on Him.

Often, the times of waiting reveal our lack of control and our inability to fix things for ourselves. They can drive us to God as they remind us our true hope is found in Him.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming, may it remind us, even when the situations troubling us are resolved, we are still waiting.

We are waiting for the day when He will come again, when sorrow and suffering will finally be gone forever, when our waiting will come to an end, when we see “the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16) and we know the longest night is finally over and the darkness is no more.

Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

..
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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 Reveal Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Posted in: Design, Freedom, God, Hope, Jesus, Promises, Purpose, Redemption, Reveal, Trust, Waiting Tagged: Dream, faithfulness, goodness, Longest Night, Messiah, redeem, restore, Savior, silence, trusted, What iF, Working

Esther Day 5 In The Details

November 8, 2019 by Kendra Kuntz 2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 2:19-23
Matthew 10:28-31
2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Esther, Day 5

I’ve always felt a special connection with Esther. Maybe it was the Bible study I did in middle school, or the movie I saw with my best friends as a young teenager, or maybe the tattoo I have from her story: “for such a time as this” from when I was in Kenya. (You bet your bottom dollar I got a tattoo in Africa and lived to tell about it!)

For whatever reason, Esther and her story have always held a special place in my heart, so writing about her and God’s redemption story in this book of the Bible feels second nature to me, as if I’m typing out my own life description here.

One detail that has always captured me about Esther, is how God’s name isn’t mentioned even once in the entire book. An entire book in the Bible without one mention of God’s holy name?! Yes! But His silence amplifies His presence.
Here, in absence of His written Name, we catch a glimpse of how He works through minute details and His people to bring about His redemption story.

In one brief recording, we see God’s perfect timing and attention to detail to save His people. Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gates when he heard of a plan to kill King Ahasuerus. Two of his eunuchs were angry with the king and plotted to kill him.
God, in His intricate attention to detail, placed Mordecai at the gate where these eunuchs ‘just so happen’ to discuss their plan.
Mordecai would ‘just so happen’ to have an “in” with Esther, who was now Queen, and told her what he’d overheard and the King’s life was saved!
Then the King would ‘just so happen’ to ensure this was recorded in the book of the chronicles, which would later play a tremendous role in promoting Mordecai.

Maybe this little rabbit trail of a story doesn’t seem important, but it is.
Because nothing is wasted with the Almighty.

Mordecai was later honored for life-saving act, which would become a tipping point for a man called Haman, whose goal was to eradicate every Jew.
Like divinely placed dominoes, God then used King Ahasuerus to help save the Jews from annihilation. Which, of course, he needed to be alive to do!

The book of Esther so obviously points us to the cross, when God would piece together so many small, seemingly insignificant details to ultimately save His people again…
This time, however, that salvation would not be for Jews alone, but for all people across all time.

Just like it was so easy to believe darkness had won when Jesus died on the cross, it may appear like darkness would win in Esther’s story as well.
The king was to be killed.
The Jewish people would be destroyed.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

Jesus was to be killed.
His disciples were too afraid to show their faces.
Christianity would die.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

You and I are dead because of our sin.
We have no hope for earning our way out of Hell.
Our destiny is separation from God.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

He’s in the details as you’re reading this Journey Study, as you pick up your Bible, as you connect with someone who loves Jesus, as you are encouraged by a friend, as you encounter God in the tiniest whispers.
Because our God hand-crafted the details to point you to His heart of love and redemption.

Nothing is wasted.
Darkness will never win over Light

Esther became the new queen.
Details.

Mordecai helped save the king.
Details.

Esther boldly told the king of Haman’s plot to kill the Jews.
Details.

With so many more details intertwined throughout the entire book (and really, the entire Bible), how can it not be the hand of our Mighty Creator?

Does this theme feel new to you?
Do you ever wonder where God could possibly be in the midst of the darkness that seems to be winning in your own life? I’ve wondered, too. 

He’s there. I promise He is.
He’s teaching us patience, perseverance, and trust as we wait for His story of redemption to unfold.

He is in the details, even when He is silent.
He’s simply giving room for His presence to be magnified,
so one day we can look back and say,
“You were there, God. You were in it all.” 

Darkness will never overcome.
The God of the details has already won!


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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Esther Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Posted in: Esther, God, Jesus, Perfect, Promises, Redemption, Time, Trust Tagged: Almighty, amplifies, Details, His, nothing waisted, perseverance, presence, silence, story, such a time as this, timing

The GT Weekend! ~ Captivating Week 2

July 20, 2019 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1)  We’ve been discussing and studying in this Journey Theme how beautiful it is for Christ’s fragrance to extend to a dying world through US as believers as we are His ambassadors. Incredible! But we must turn the question on ourselves. How captivated are WE with the presence of Jesus? How mission critical is it for us to regularly and consistently sit with the Savior? How high does cultivating our own spiritual growth in deep ways actually rank when it’s on the same scale as diaper changes, difficult relationships, the DMV, and bills to pay? What would it look like for you to increase your captivation with Jesus this week? Regardless of where you are in your faith journey today, what if the Lord wanted to take you deeper tomorrow? Are you willing to be captivated by the sweetest love of Christ?

2)  Who do you know that’s longing to be loved? Pause and carefully consider the groups of people you feel are beyond your love, or your ability to love? The elderly or those with disabilities? The under-privileged or the exceptionally wealthy? Maybe it’s the diseased or the emotionally unstable? Perhaps they wear tattoos, drink more than you would, stand at the corner of your familiar intersection, or maybe they sit behind you at church and let their kids play and be loud during service. Take the challenge this week and Choose To Love Intentionally. Pray out loud, pray with honesty, pray with confession on your lips and ask God to help you understand how to love those you see as unlovely.

3) Audra shared the visual of believers being like refreshing water bringing life and encouragement in the middle of dry, desert-like experiences to others. Identify a desert season you’ve had in your life, or maybe you feel like you’re in the midst of one now. Who were the people that were like that cool water to you? Take time this weekend to send them a text, write a note, or call them to say thank you for being Jesus to you. Sit silent for a few minutes, thinking through the visual of a desert and living water as you think of your sphere of friendships and acquaintances. Who is the Lord prompting you to bring refreshment for? Make an action plan and step into it!

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 John 7:37-38 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Prayer Journal
There are so many Scripture stories that paint You as quiet, unobtrusive, and silently loving or serving. Often, I keep this image of You in my mind, Lord, viewing You as always gentle, calm, and soothing. But then the Spirit reminds me of just as many recorded instances of You stepping, standing up, and crying out. Bold ways. Brave words. Fiercely following in obedience to the Father. This too is a picture of my Savior, and I’m so grateful, Lord! Get my attention, stand up in the middle of my self-supposed importance, remind I am Yours, remind me I’m called into a mission of living out love for others. Cry out, Abba, shake my shoulders and put my feet back on solid ground. Jesu, I love Thee!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Bold, Captivating, Christ, Grace, GT Weekend, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Love, Obedience, Relationship, Scripture, Service Tagged: Ambassadors, Fiercely, fragrance, intentionally, pause, presence, refreshing, silence, water
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14