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Devotionals

Category: Devotionals

clothed, spiritual, salvation

Adorn: Abandoning the Old and Clothing Ourselves With Salvation

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Worldly garments look completely different than spiritual garments. Clothing ourselves in sin hinders our ability to adorn salvation daily.

Clothes. Such a necessity. But why, oh why, do they have to produce laundry? I absolutely loathe laundry. It is one of those chores that we will never see come to completion. Unless you’re a family of nudists (not judging, but kind of). I really have tried the one “load of laundry a day” tip. Y’all, this is not realistic.

My boys are so very blessed with loads of clothes (pun intended). They have clothes for each season. Clothes for school, for playing, for sleeping. Church clothes, Christmas clothes, sports clothes. Seriously, I’m really contemplating becoming a minimalist. But, no matter how many clothes they have, my boys still have their favorites. The ones they will wear whenever they are clean (sometimes even dirty). Special clothes that wear out, tear, have stains. Even still, these items are chosen over shiny new ones.

Have I hit the point yet? This is moving toward matters of the heart…

Adorn: Dirty Clothes

We do this, don’t we? We all have “items” we put on day in and day out. For me, I’m constantly trying to change out of perfectionism, negativity, and insecurity. The list goes on but these are my comfortable clothes. These are the 8-year-old yoga pants I do chores in because they have bleach stains all over. They fit perfectly, and I NEED something to clean in, right?!

Because I’m a mere mortal, it is not in my nature to habitually clothe myself with supernatural adornments. It does feel good to put on freshly laundered clothes. But, why is this such a difficult process in our own spirits? When sin creeps in and goes unaddressed, we become more and more comfortable wearing it. The elastic starts breaking in, so to speak (I think I’ve pushed this analogy as far as I should).

Worldly garments look completely different than spiritual garments. Clothing ourselves in sin hinders our ability to adorn salvation daily.

Adorn: Daily Clothes

Sneaky sin is not what our Heavenly Father wishes for us. He has created the most beautiful spiritual ornaments. However, spiritual clothes are more difficult for us “put on”. In the midst of anger, how easy is it to be compassionate? When depression overwhelms, it’s difficult to be joyful. Anxiety makes us feel a need to act quickly, instead of being patient and trusting in the Lord.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12, NIV

It takes daily submission and acceptance of this truth; we are His chosen. In every worldly situation and circumstance, we are to stand out. We are set apart and should not be wearing the same yoga pants as everyone else. These are not to be worn for our own glory, but for everyone to witness God’s glory. For all to see the precious gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.

1 Cronicles 16:23, NIV
Worldly garments look completely different than spiritual garments. Clothing ourselves in sin hinders our ability to adorn salvation daily.

Adorn: Salvation Clothes

Most of us can remember the moment we accepted Jesus as our savior. It took me longer to understand what truly happens when we leave our sinful nature behind and accept the forgiveness and mercy of God. When we adorn our clothes of salvation, we are adorning ourselves in all that God has offered. Rest, protection, righteousness, joy, forgiveness, gratefulness, comfort, love.

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10, NIV

In our salvation, it takes more than just washing our dirty clothes, we must learn to completely abandon them. Every. Single. Day. Salvation is the only piece of clothing I want or need to put on. For in salvation all else rests. It is humbling to know I can approach the throne of God in my ugly yoga pants, because He prepared a way for me to ditch them. In Him, I am made new. My old clothes don’t fit anymore.

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Worldly garments look completely different than spiritual garments. Clothing ourselves in sin hinders our ability to adorn salvation daily.

Tammy Strot

I was tired, worn out, and dirty, but God…

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Captured: A True Story of Living in the Love of Christ

Devotionals, Stay Sane

It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ’s love.

It is not uncommon for a friend to ask for prayer for another friend or acquaintance. It is not even uncommon to get updates about the particular situation that you were praying for. I, however, have the uncommon opportunity to share with you this story of a friend of a friend.

Our group of ladies from church were praying for weeks for a friend who had suddenly found herself in a detention center (aka prison). When asking for an update, it was not the story I was expecting, but one I knew I had to share. She graciously agreed to let me share this part of her journey. Please know, this is not about politics, or what views you may hold about immigration. This is a story about the goodness of God and the love of His son, Jesus. 

It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ's love.

Captured: Being Pursued

Early in May of 2017, Cindy, her husband, and their 2 daughters were traveling from Raleigh to Charlotte to report into the immigration office per the advice given to them by their immigration lawyer. They had applied for a visa in 2014, but were still waiting for approval. They were told to continue reporting in every 6 months until it was approved, and they would be in the clear. This time though, they knew things may be different. Never before did they fear deportation. Neither of them held a criminal record and they were doing all that they had been told to do. Laws were changing, however, and they knew in their gut they would need to be prepared for things to not go as smoothly as before.

When it was their turn to report in, they took her aside, separating her from her family. The officers began asking questions like, “Are you pregnant?” and, “How is your health?” Never before were these kind of question being asked. Then the bombshell. She would need to go back to Honduras to wait for the visa. Effective: Immediately.

Instantly, the officers were placing her in handcuffs, not allowing her to hug her two daughters, or kiss her husband. They were saying their goodbyes through glass, her daughters seeing her like a criminal. Bravely, she told her husband that everything was going to be ok, and he needed to call their friends and their church. While Cindy was coming to grasp the reality of her situation, her husband was told he could return home with his daughters, but would need to essentially deport himself back to Honduras.

Captured: Unexpected Grace

From Charlotte, they were transferring her to a jail in South Carolina, complete with an orange jumpsuit. Cindy was only in this location for a day, but with no windows, and no sleep, she has no recollection of the time spent there. She only knew the despair she was feeling and that she could not survive this on her own. She prayed, “God I can’t do this. You have to take care of this and my family.” Then, in the midst of her jail cell, peace that simply does not make sense, washed over her. In that moment she knew that whatever was going to happen, it was going to be ok.

During that day in the jail, she met three other ladies who were also detained for immigration. They, however, had been there for a few weeks. One of the ladies reminded her, “You know that our citizenship is not here. It is in heaven.” Cindy and these three ladies were continuing to connect their lives together during a seven hour drive to Atlanta, the location of the detainment center. Upon their arrival, other ladies were kind and helping them to figure out their new situation.

Quickly, they were connecting with a lady who had been leading bible studies and praying for all the detainees. The women were hungry to learn. Daily, they were studying the Word, wanting to read and learn all that they could. Not all of the ladies participating were believers. Some had never read the bible before. Through contacts from Cindy’s church, bibles were sent for the ladies to each have their own. Other ladies had never experienced baptism. One day, one of the ladies said, “We have water here, why couldn’t I be baptized?” So the ladies were gathering buckets meant for storage, took them down to the showers, and began baptizing. 

Captured: THE Church

She was constantly receiving letters and cards offering prayers and words of encouragement. A couple of ladies from her church drove 7 hours to visit her for just a handful of minutes. Numerous letters were being sent to the senator on her behalf. At one point other detainees were wondering if she was famous. No, she explained, just loved and cared for.

“It isn’t because I am this amazing person, it is because of Jesus and the love of God.”

They are the only latino couple in an all white church, and they often found themselves questioning whether they were in the right church. Before, they felt love and support; but through this experience, God was confirming to them that truly did have love and support. Now, they know they are in the right place. Their church became THE church, not just A church.

captured, letters, love, support

Captured: A Rescued Relationship

Cindy acknowledges that before her detainment, she was living the life of a lukewarm christian. She prayed so often while she was in that place, and she saw that this was the relationship she was needing to have with God. She is grateful for the opportunity to have an impact on the lives of the other ladies she met there, but she is most thankful that this experience was instrumental in saving her marriage.

One night, weeks before her detainment, she was out with ladies from church at one of their homes. When she arrived home, he accused her of cheating on him. To put it very simply, it got ugly. No longer did she want to live that way. She was praying for God to mold her and change her. She was praying for their marriage to change. Before, he didn’t appreciate all that she did for their family. Now, he felt broken and desperate for their family to be whole again.

Captured: Christ’s Love

All in all, Cindy was in the detention center for 22 days. In those 22 days, her love for her husband and his love for her became secure. They are no longer living separate lives, but instead have a bond holding them together. In those 22 days, she learned what it meant to truly pray. She was no longer a cold Christian. In those 22 days, lives were going through a transformation that will go and transform their own circles, continuing to ripple. In those 22 days, a church in North Carolina put into practice the words of Christ.

Then the King will say… ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was… in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we… see you… in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:34-40, ESV

Without bond or the requirement of wearing an ankle bracelet, she was free to return home. Home, where family was. Daily she was praying it would be the day she would be able to go home to her family. She knew she had a purpose there, but she was still longing to be home with her husband and daughters. The day they said she was going to be able to go home, she fell to her knees and gave praise to God.

It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ's love.

Captured: Freedom

Because she was allowing the Lord to pursue her in the midst of suffering, she now lives a life knowing how much the Creator loves her. She always knew that God was with her, providing and protecting her, but the way He was showing her love, and all that she was learning…

“I would go through all this again. It is all in His hands.”

She admits she was living a prideful life, but is now living with humility. The Lord put her through fire to create a masterpiece. She is now a better wife, mom, sister. Instead of thinking how she can change her husband, she prays what she can do to make their relationship better.

Arriving home, her home was full of friends and family. A rainbow filled the sky. Her nephew pulling her over to see it says, “Look Cindy, God says hi to you!”

He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!

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It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ's love.

Mario Azzi

He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!

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Inheritance: The Source of Our Future and Present Hope

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Our hope, and our inheritance is not found in earthly things. Our inheritance is the promise of the Creator Himself.

In the early hours of December 10, my mom took her last ragged breath in this world and took a cleansing, pure breath in the next one. Her mind and body were instantly restored as she was welcomed home by a loving embrace from her heavenly Father. I’m sure my dad was standing or kneeling somewhere nearby and a joyful reunion likely followed.

My parents were middle class folks. Any meager savings they may have accumulated was spent on medical bills during the years my dad faced his battle with cancer. An inheritance isn’t something that ever entered my or my brother’s minds.

My father-in-law is 91. He worked in and retired from a factory. He and my mother-in-law had 6 children, so he also worked many odd jobs, in addition to any extra shifts he was asked to work at the factory. They were frugal; she sewed, grew a garden each year, and canned vegetables. As a result, their six children never had an unmet need. However, other than a small, rundown farm, an inheritance of large sums of money is unthinkable.

Since her death, my husband and I have attempted to close my mom’s estate, such as it was. We have chuckled at some of the absurdities of government, (don’t get me started)…such as having to take a $13.67 check from the bank to the nursing home so that Medicaid would not think we were stealing from the estate. Really. Oh! And having to call the Veteran’s Administration twice to inform them of her death only to have them deposit her funds, and then send us a letter to send it back. You can’t make this stuff up…

Inheritance: The Source of Our Future Hope

Inheritance. What comes to mind when you think of the word? The child of a wealthy person? People sitting around an attorney’s desk with an air of expectancy? Siblings fighting over heirlooms or the jewelry? The Jerry Springer show? Interesting where our thoughts initially go when that word comes up.

Recently, I was remembering a favorite passage of scripture I turn to in difficult times. You wouldn’t think Lamentations could give anyone cause for hope (!), however, these verses always renew mine.

This I recall to mind, Therefore I have hope.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Lamentations 3:21-24, NKJV

Our hope, and our inheritance is not found in earthly things. Our inheritance is the promise of the Creator Himself.

The Lord is my portion…

Today we have a tendency to think of a portion in regard to food, (as in smaller portions, since dieting is such a huge marketing focus.) Not surprisingly, there are other nuances of the word in the Old Testament that have become lost in today’s vernacular. In our simplification of the language for texting we often lose the richness of word meanings.

For decades the Psalms have given me much solace through seasons of trial, pain or loss. However, the full weight of the meaning of Psalms, such as Psalm 16:5, have only recently been dawning on my spirit.

Oh Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.
Yes, I have a good inheritance.

Psalm 16:5, NKJV

Let your heart rest on that for a moment, as Asaph finally did in Psalm 73 after feeling jealous of his enemies.

GOD, everything HE IS, is our inheritance when we belong to Him. What does it matter if we have houses and lands? We have HIM, the God of Creation.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing upon earth that I  desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26, ESV

Our hope, and our inheritance is not found in earthly things. Our inheritance is the promise of the Creator Himself.

Inheritance: The Source of Our Present Hope

You might be thinking, “Well, yeah, in the sweet by and by He’s my inheritance, but what about now?”

David answers you…

I cried out to you, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

Psalm 142:5, NKJV

God is our inheritance here, too.  He is our strength, our refuge, our deliverer, our fortress.

So, again, from where will your portion come?

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Our hope, and our inheritance is not found in earthly things. Our inheritance is the promise of the Creator Himself.

Quinsey Sablan

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Consumed: Too Many Choices Distract Us From What We Truly Need

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Our culture is consumed with satisfying our needs however we deem best, but we still crave more. We are created to to be filled by Christ alone.

I’ve been asking myself the same question for the past month. It’s that scene from You’ve Got Mail where Kathleen Kelly says, “I’m wondering about my work and all. I mean, what is it that I do exactly? All I really do is run a children’s bookstore…” Except I exchange bookstore for ministry. Couldn’t anyone do this job?

There are days when my heart and flesh fail. I want to get through a Sunday morning with zero hiccups and have so many volunteers I have to turn people away. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. He shows me how need leads to Him being able to show up at the last minute and save the day. God really likes to do that because He gets all the glory!

Our culture is consumed with satisfying our needs however we deem best, but we still crave more. We are created to to be filled by Christ alone.

Consumed: Too Many Options

It’s easy to slip into the show up, fill up, go home mentality. It’s like an entire generation of pirates, “Take what you need. Give nothing back.” Every day presents us with scads of choices. Do you want a small or medium latte?  Would you rather have chicken or hamburgers for dinner? Should you go with highlights, balayage or a solid color at the salon? Our options are abundant. When we walk through the doors of our churches it’s enticing to bring those expectations with us.

Options have been a thriving part of western society for the last few generations. As a result, self-absorption is now an inbred disease. We’ve all seen adults acting like toddlers, right? When they don’t get their way they whine and moan. Maybe you are that person. I’ve certainly digressed to infantile behavior on more than one occasion. It wasn’t pretty. I’m glad you weren’t there to see it.

Some churches succumb to giving tantrum-throwers a watered-down gospel that neither convicts nor produces change. At best, it offers a gold “I went to church today” sticker. Maybe we saw a few friends and got goose bumps during one of the worship songs. In our society we are easily bored. If something doesn’t dazzle us we’re on to the next thing.

Consumed: What We Need

Hold up! The gospel is dazzling! The Christian life is never boring! So what are we missing?

God takes our lives and changes our story. He fixes our mess and changes our want-to. Jesus doesn’t charge us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness so everything we need might be given to us. No; He said He will give us all the other things we need.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10, ESV

The early days of my faith were just that—faith. I professed Jesus Christ as Lord and by faith I continued to claim Christianity. But now I have come to know and believe the love God has for me.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:16, ESV

Our culture is consumed with satisfying our needs however we deem best, but we still crave more. We are created to to be filled by Christ alone.

He is the One and only. I want to be done toying around like this faith owes me something for being a long-standing member. Need motivates. Rapidly consuming and moving on to the next thing seems to merely produce more clutter. And don’t we all long for a simplified life?

His love heals the self-absorbed ego and enables us to notice and be sensitive to others around us.

Timothy Keller

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Our culture is consumed with satisfying our needs however we deem best, but we still crave more. We are created to to be filled by Christ alone.

 

Evan Dennis

We are messy people who make messes, but God redeems those messes and makes us beautiful.

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Blessings: Seeing the Unexpected Goodness of God

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Some blessings from God are undeniable, His goodness abounds. However, some blessings we may miss if we are not focusing on Him. Some are found in unexpected places.

A baby!  My sister-in-law just had a beautiful baby. I haven’t even seen him yet and I know he is beautiful. He is a gift from God, how could he be anything else.

A new job! My husband recently got a new job that he hadn’t even been looking for but it has afforded him so much opportunity in such a short period of time.

An “A”! My daughter is a college sophomore and is finishing up another semester with top grades. So much to be thankful for. Abundant blessings from God.

…because of the God of your father, who will help you, because of the sovereign God, who will bless you with blessings from the sky above, blessings from the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and womb.

Genesis 49:25

But what about “Mommy my ear hurts!” or “You aren’t doing enough Heather. I think you can do a better job.” Are these blessings? Could they be?  Yes, I think they could be. Maybe not in the moment, but they can be.

Last year I got a “neutral” evaluation at work. I have never had anything but a stellar review in 20+ years. It was very hard to hear. I wanted to fuss, make excuses, blame others. But the truth is that I was working with no joy for what I was doing. I wasn’t blessing others so I didn’t deserve to be blessed. What I did deserve was a wake up call that made me draw closer to God. My Heavenly Father was there in my time of need. He pressed upon me to pray. I could hear His voice in my head so clearly, “Talk to Me. Let Me be a part of your life.”

Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

Matthew 21:21

No mom ever wants their child to be hurt or sick. So how can “Mommy my ear hurts!” be a blessing? First it is another opportunity to pray. Invite God into the situation. Second, it gives everyone a chance to slow down. Even if it is only for the day, those snuggles, time to play together, and just a moment to relax are precious gifts. Blessings.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

I don’t want you to think I believe God allows bad things to happen. I categorically denounce that idea. Satan is alive and well in our world, sin runs rampant. Bad things, unspeakable things happen. But God is there. He will hold you and tighten His hold to help you get through. You will never be alone…and that is the true blessing.

‘no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17

Some blessings from God are undeniable, His goodness abounds. However, some blessings we may miss, for they are found in unexpected places.

You have heard “when the world hands you lemons make lemonade.” That is what God wants from us. Make a life that glorifies Him, invite Him into the brokenness. He will sweeten your experience and love you through it all.

My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me.

Jeremiah 17:7

Some blessings from God are undeniable, His goodness abounds. However, some blessings we may miss, for they are found in unexpected places.

Dear God,

Bless our hearts. Attune them to your voice. Let Your love surround us and tighten in our times of need. Thank You for always being there for us. You are my best friend because in You I find my truest and best self.  Thank you for that blessing.

Love,

me

All scripture used is from the New International Version.

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Some blessings from God are undeniable, His goodness abounds. However, some blessings we may miss, for they are found in unexpected places.

Galina N

Even in the difficult times, God is pursuing us and longs to pour blessings upon us.

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desperate, abuse, forgiveness, mercy, redeemed, redemption

Desperate: God’s Redemption Covers Our Messes

Devotionals, Stay Sane

God has heard the cry of women throughout history. Living through abuse may result in desperate actions to protect ourselves, but God’s redemption covers our messes and can bring Him glory.

Throughout the holiday season a song by Pentatonix has been playing both in my home and on the radio called “Good to Be Bad.” If you are a fan of the group, I’m sure you’ve heard it. It’s a fun tune that causes a smile to light your face – I imagine kids love it for its message! In fact, my husband has teased me throughout the season, saying it reminds him of me. I can’t imagine where he would get that idea!

Nevertheless, despite the silliness around the song, it spurred me to ruminate over the bad girls of the Bible, as Liz Curtis Higgs named them in her 2013 book. To be honest, it further spurred me. My thoughts first turned in that direction in early December when our pastor preached a sermon from Genesis 38 about Tamar, a daughter-in-law of Judah.

Now ladies, let’s be clear; I am a Baptist girl, raised in a Southern Baptist church, attended 2 Baptist colleges, even a short stint at Southern Seminary, so let’s just say that I had heard of Tamar. I practically drowned in Biblical theology and doctrine! But let me tell you girlfriends, this gal had never heard, at least not in my remembrance, that for Tamar, it was good to be bad.

How do I know?

Check out the lineage of Jesus…she’s there, a couple of lines above Rahab, the harlot.

In fact, as my pastor, Jamaal Williams, was stating, Jesus’ heritage is comprised of the very people He came to save! In addition, Pastor Jamaal reminded me of an important truth, which I believe conservative Christians too often forget when we become wrapped up in the doctrine of the “Thou Shalt Not’s“: God is tenaciously for vulnerable women, regardless of their pasts.

You see, Tamar had been chosen to be the wife of Judah’s firstborn son, Er. No falling in love or courtship there…still isn’t acceptable today in many middle eastern countries, by the way.  However, and this is difficult for us to grasp, God chose to kill him because Er was evil in His sight, (Genesis 38:6-7). It’s very likely Tamar was abused.

As was the custom, Tamar was then given to Judah’s next son, Onan, so that Er could have an heir. Turns out, (shocker), Onan had no desire to perform such a selfless act and allowed his seed to fall on the ground. Did he really think God couldn’t see in the dark? This angered God, so he killed Onan.

Whoa.

No sons left to give; the last one was too young…and truly, the apples hadn’t fallen far from the tree. Despite the honored cultural tradition of levirate marriage, Judah had no plan to give his last son to Tamar, even though it would bring destitution and shame to her life. He didn’t want that son to die, too!

And we thought #MeToo was a new thing.

Years passed, Tamar waited, no husband was forthcoming. What’s a girl to do when she is treated unjustly? She devises a plan…and what a plan it was!

Desperate: Self-Protection

I recommend you read the story in its entirety, but to condense it: Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute, tricked Judah into sleeping with her, and conceived a child. When he was first told that Tamar was pregnant, he wanted to have her burned alive. I kid you not; such was his self-righteousness and double standard of justice. However, when Tamar sent Judah proof that he was the father, uh-oh! He began to feel shame and rightly so.  He said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.”

Wouldn’t you have loved to see his face when Judah received that 11×14 envelope of proof?

This can be confusing, however. Tamar’s actions were not an act of faith, but sin. Out of desperation, she took matters into her own hands instead of trusting God to provide for her. However, Judah had power over her and chose to abuse it. For reasons we don’t fully grasp, God forgave her and used one of her sons (she had twins!) to carry the seed forward in the line that led to Christ.

Living through abuse may result in desperate actions to protect ourselves, but God's redemption covers our messes and can bring Him glory.

Desperate: God’s Redemption

God chooses to use weak and complex people to accomplish His will. Again, refer to the genealogy of Jesus. He doesn’t excuse our sin- there must be repentance (Psalm 86:4-5), but He uses ALL things, even the consequences of our sin, to accomplish His glory (Isaiah 46:8-10).

Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Psalm 86:4-5, NKJV

In many societies today women are still treated as property, no better than dogs, really. It’s easy to judge those cultures as backward or archaic.  Yet, in the U.S. 4,774,00 women experience domestic violence by an intimate partner every day. America’s abuse of women has just been more subtle and hidden…but not from the Father.

God hates injustice and watches over the needy, the fatherless and the widow. His Word speaks clearly concerning these issues; I’m only naming two due to space (Deut. 10:18-19; Isaiah 10:1-2). When we turn our backs to these groups and gather in our Christian huddles for more Bible studies, prayer meetings, or leadership trainings, I wonder if the Father grieves, as Gene Edwards posited in his 1993 book, The Divine Romance. (There is a place for equipping; of course there is, but let us equip ourselves in order to go, not to sit and simmer.)

My prayer for you this year is the same for me, that as we love Jesus more deeply, His love will flow through us to the needy, the abused, the fatherless and the widow…and whomever He places in our paths.

Living through abuse may result in desperate actions to protect ourselves, but God's redemption covers our messes and can bring Him glory.

If you have interest in the books mentioned, please consider purchasing them through these affiliate links. A small portion will go to help support this ministry at no extra cost to you (to read more about affiliates see the disclaimer page):

Bad Girls of the Bible

The Divine Romance

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Living through abuse may result in desperate actions to protect ourselves, but God's redemption covers our messes and can bring Him glory.

Joel Filipe

We all have messes in our lives.
If we allow Him to, God will redeem our stories and make them beautiful.


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Perspective: Resolving to Center Our Minds and Goals On God

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Setting goals looks very different for each one of us. Igniting ferocity to seek God and centering our minds on Him, can change our perspective on setting goals.

“My New Year’s resolution is…”

Everyone is saying it. I loathe this saying. This probably comes from a place of inability to set goals. I often feel like “goals” place me in a box. I understand the importance of setting goals and seeing them through, but I also understand that life is life. Goals don’t always work out quite like we think they should, so why bother?

Worldly Perspective

I am sure your social media is buzzing with fad diets and burst workouts, pushing you to succeed in losing some fluffiness you gained over the holidays. Ads on day planners, bullet journals, meditation routines; OH MY! You can’t escape the optimistic posts supplied by all your friends’ new found love for being life coaches.

Please, do not get me wrong. I completely understand (and practice) the importance of planning. I see how fun it can be to check things off a list and watch a scale drop numbers. However, the over all feeling inside is failure and guilt. This resolution thing was a “following the masses” decision. For social’s sake, we’ve gone and done it… we’ve made a beginning of the year promise to change, like we’ve done year in and year out.

Personal Perspective

Okay, okay. I might just be speaking for myself. I should probably just speak for myself. What’s the percentage of pessimists in the world? I’ll speak for us. But seriously, I can’t be the only one that feels this way. I want to know what makes us roll our eyes. Not only that, why is it so difficult to succeed? It has to be that our hearts aren’t in it, right? Maybe we just lack the focus and optimism?

A friend and I were chatting about goal setting and how it’s extremely important in her life. My perspective is different and I wondered how I could gain her enthusiasm for setting my eyes to the future. She offered up some advice… change the word “goal” to “wish” or “dream”. The free spirit side of me rejoiced. Seriously, much rejoicing.

A new line of thinking. That has to be the answer.

Failing Perspective

It is helping, but over all I still feel leery of setting “wishes”. Maybe instead of a pessimist, I’m a realist. Realistically, I understand that life has a mind of it’s own. I know that the year will, without a doubt, bring a hurdle or obstacle. Thus, catching my dreams ablaze. Okay, I’m a pessimist.

I often worry that my dreams are not what the Lord has called for my life. I worry that I’m not seeking Him enough to even know that I’m heading toward the correct wish. So, here I go, thinking ahead on something that hasn’t happened and may never happened. I focus on my future failure instead of God’s success.

This comes from a place of past failure. I’ve had complete and utter failures in my life. They all stemmed from wishes that weren’t meant for me yet. I ran after them, centered my thoughts around them. Centered my life around them. I fell flat on my face. I lacked a heart to follow God’s desires for my life. Lacked trust in His plan.

Setting goals looks different for each one of us. Igniting ferocity to seek God and centering our minds on Him, can change our perspective on setting goals.

Spiritual Perspective

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV

Yes. That is the usual scripture that goes along with this subject matter…but nothing about this scripture is cliche to me. In fact, the later part of scripture is often left out. God of the entire universe (omnisciencent, omnipotent, omnipresent) listens to us. He is the fabric of everything we know and don’t know. The vastness of this existence, is held in God’s mighty hands. Yet, He bends down to listen to our hearts.

“…Am I not a God near at hand” God’s Decree. “and not a God far off? Can anyone hide out in a corner where I can’t see him?” God’s Decree. “Am I not present everywhere, whether seen or unseen?” God’s Decree.

Jeremiah 23:17-18, MSG

Pause from reading and really let that sink in.

Setting goals looks different for each one of us. Igniting ferocity to seek God and centering our minds on Him, can change our perspective on setting goals.

When we seek our mighty God with ferocity, our ways align with His. His hopes are our hopes. When we center our whole being on God, we can’t get enough of learning Him; His commands, His character, His wisdom. Suddenly, our “goals” fade away and there is only God.

… teach me your ways [God] so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.

Exodus 33:13, NIV

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Psalm 24:4

I’m joining in. The resounding chorus is flowing from my tongue…

My New Year’s resolution is to seek after God. Wholeheartedly, unconditionally, and passionately learning His heart! 

Will you join with me?

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 Setting goals looks different for each one of us. Igniting ferocity to seek God and centering our minds on Him, can change our perspective on setting goals.

Matthew Bedford

Are you ready to seek God’s truth?

but God… Where the Story Changes, a six-week study on replacing lies with God’s truth. This study can be done on your own, with a friend, or with a group.

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Right: Forging New Paths Through the Valleys of the Unknown

Devotionals, Stay Sane

The new year often brings with it excitement at new possibilities, but it also brings with it a lot of the unknown. It’s easy to struggle knowing which way is the right way to forge ahead. How do we face all that is to come…the good and the bad, the planned and the unexpected?

It’s hard to believe a new year is already upon us. The older I get, and really I’m not old at all, the faster time seems to move. Still, with each new year comes a sense of new beginnings. The struggles of the last year are met with a renewed hope that this year could be the year of finally seeing God’s promises fulfilled. Anticipation at what may come and perhaps a tinge of nervousness about the unknown propel us to look at the future feeling ready to make the coming year better than ever…at least that’s what we plan, right?

As we enter together into a new year, I want to look to a well known psalm to give us a well balanced view into what lies ahead—both what we know and what remains unknown. I want us to anchor our anticipation of what we expect to happen and our uneasiness of the unknown which occurs without warning in the One who is with us through all of it. So let’s take a look at Psalm 23 (HCSB).

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

The new year brings excitement and new possibilities, but it also brings a lot of unknown. We struggle with which way is the right way to forge ahead.

Right: When the path makes sense

There is so much in these six verses. I’m not going to take one verse at a time, but I want us to look at each thought chunk. No one knows everything that will happen in the coming year. However, we can start each year with the truth that God is our Shepherd.

He guides us, His sheep, along the journey prepared for us. As such, there will be places on the path this coming year that are still, peaceful, calm. There will be green pastures and quiet waters to rest and refresh and renew our lives in. These are the paths that feel right. When I am in green pastures, calmed by the sound of quiet waters gently flowing, all seems right in my world. I breathe easy. There is a lightness to life in these renewing and refreshing places along the path.

Right: When the path turns unexpectedly

However, sometimes I find the path taking me down a dark turn. The road turns rocky, and I quickly lose my balance. Stumbling over stubble I didn’t see, I fall. The unexpected leaves me beaten up and bruised. The darkness surrounding me finds me fearing the unknown that lies ahead. Certainly I took a wrong turn. Nothing about these parts of the path feel right. Surely, I’ve wandered down the wrong trail.

Yet the right paths David, the psalmist, mentions go from green pastures and quiet waters of renewal right into the darkest valley. Many translations call it “the valley of the shadow of death.” The dark places in life, they can feel that way, can’t they. David acknowledges that our Lord, our Shepherd leads us on paths that include the dark valley—“even when.” There is no if. The right path He leads us on for His name’s sake will make its way through darkness and valleys.

While in the darkness, the lies are easier to believe because I cannot see. I retreat within myself thinking I am safer only trusting me.  Shrunk into myself, I listen to the lies running on repeat in my head and forget the truth. I find myself trapped, afraid to take the next step without knowing where it will take me…is it leading me to the way out? Is it taking me deeper into the darkness, further into the valley? I feel certain I am alone.

The new year brings excitement and new possibilities, but it also brings a lot of unknown. We struggle with which way is the right way to forge ahead.

Right: An anchor to steady stumbling feet

Thankfully, there is comfort even in the darkness, in the valleys I must travel through one step at a time.  Even in that valley where darkness surrounds me and panic easily takes over, I do not have to fear.  I am not alone.  Danger may lurk in the darkest valley, but I can take comfort knowing it will not overtake me.  God is with me.  Though I may not see Him in the dark, He is still there.  He has not, He will not, leave me.

Dear ones, when you too find yourself in the dark or the valley, afraid and feeling alone, remember this one truth. He is with you. When you don’t see the danger up ahead, He does. He is still a good Shepherd, and He cares for you even in the valley of the shadow of death. This path is still right. His kingdom purposes are still working in your life. Though you may not see, He is the God who sees. Though you may stumble and fall, He will lift you up and place your feet on solid ground again. Fear no evil, for your God is with you in the darkness, the valley, the unknown.

We cannot know what lies around the corner. Perhaps around the bend the light dawns and quiet waters bring much needed renewal. Or maybe just around the bend the light dims and darkness sets in. The unknown is often frightening itself. Yet we know, our Shepherd guides us and stays with us both through green pastures and dark valleys. In the end, when our path on earth is complete, we find the path—with the darkness and the pastures—lead us to dwell in our Father’s house forever.

Right: Considering the path ahead

Whether we are in green pastures by quiet waters or stumbling our way in the darkest valley, we must anchor ourselves on the truth that God is with us in all of it. The times we feel we must have taken a wrong turn, we find assurance that this valley is still the right path, and God is still with us. Other times, while He renews us by quiet waters in green pastures, we breathe deeply of His faithfulness to always lead the way.

As you enter into this new year, as you walk the path laid out before you, remember this one truth. The Lord, your Shepherd, guides you.

Are you in green pastures? The Lord, your Shepherd, renews you there. Breathe deeply. He is with you.

Are you in the darkest valley? The Lord, your Shepherd, sees for you there. Take heart. He is with you.

Are you fearful of the unknown ahead of you? Fear not. The Lord, your Shepherd, is with you.

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 The new year brings excitement and new possibilities, but it also brings a lot of unknown. We struggle with which way is the right way to forge ahead.

jens johnsson

The valley is dark and full of unknowns, but God loves us. In this love, fear no longer remains.

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unity, division, judgement, disagreements

Unity: Not Allowing Division to Destroy Us From Within

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Judgement will divide and destroy us from within. As followers of Christ, we are to live in unity by loving one another, even when we disagree. 

In the movie Captain America: Civil War (Yes, this is a life lesson from a superhero movie. I’m a mom to boys, what can I say?), the bad guy knows that he is not strong enough to fight and destroy the Avengers. So instead, he causes division among them so that they will destroy themselves. Only the Avengers are strong enough to fight each other.

Isn’t this what is happening? Our enemy knows that he is not strong enough to destroy us. He is, however, conniving enough to manipulate us into destroying each other.

Unity: The Opposing Sides

There is an incredible amount of divisiveness bombarding us. There is constant pressure making us feel like we need to take sides. And if we try to actually listen to the other side, we may face ridicule by the side we are supposedly on. Wow, that’s confusing. Too many sides. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really fit on a side.

We face division politically..

If you are a democrat, you must want to kill all the unborn babies. If you are republican, you must be racist and sexist. If you are libertarian, you must…smoke pot?

We face division with parenting…

If you bottle feed, you must be selfish and not want to give of yourself. If you wear your baby, you must not be able to set boundaries. If you send your children to public school, you must not care about the influences on their life.

And of course, we face division spiritually…

Unity: Among Believers

In private. As Christians we are to point out to one another if we are living in sin. That truly is the loving thing to do, even though it is uncomfortable. This confrontation, however, is to be done in love, and directly to that individual.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:34-35

After listening. Before speaking, listening is essential. Make sure that all the information is known and understood. No one is able to judge, and condemn, when we are only getting our information from outside sources.

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17

Unity: Even In Disagreements

But what if it’s not a sin issue? What if it is just a disagreement?

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12:18

We are intricate creatures, each having different passions and perspectives. We are absolutely going to disagree. Maybe we just don’t need to battle it out on social media. However, if we do find ourselves debating in view of others, then it needs to be done with respect and love. We need to remember that people are watching our actions and reading our words.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

Judgement will divide and destroy us from within. As followers of Christ, we are to live in unity by loving one another, even when we disagree. 

Unity: Ending the Judgement

Is it disagreeing, or judging?

In our culture right now we are so concerned with not offending people that we are more afraid than ever to disagree, but have never been more judgmental. Maybe, if we learn to understand people, and/or assume the best of them, we can get beyond ourselves and leave the judging thing to The Lord. After all, He’s the only one that truly knows our hearts anyways, right?

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1-2

For me, the best way to combat division (whether it’s from sin, a disagreement, or simply being judgmental) is to encourage the one I am “at odds” with.

The areas we need the most encouragement are the areas we are weakest in. Therefore, these areas are the most vulnerable to judgement because we are not doing them as well as we would like. Perhaps we need to encourage others to live with the qualities that truly matter:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

When we see others struggling in these areas, let us speak words of encouragement to them, rather than tearing them down with ridicule. Instead of dumping shame on top of them, build them up in love. This is living in unity.

Judgement will divide and destroy us from within. As followers of Christ, we are to live in unity by loving one another, even when we disagree. 

All scriptures used is from the ESV

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Judgement will divide and destroy us from within. As followers of Christ, we are to live in unity by loving one another, even when we disagree. 

NordWood Themes

Running…

It is tempting to run away from conflict, but God will meet us in the midst of it.
He will bond us together in love with others.

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uncomfortable, suffering, pursuing, pursued

Uncomfortable: Intimately Knowing God Through Suffering

Devotionals, Stay Sane

Christianity is hard and uncomfortable. Pursuing God through our suffering results in blessings and knowing Him more intimately.

I laid awake last night pondering the brokenness and sorrow surrounding us. The desperation is palpable. As I prayed, a verse nestled deep in my soul sprung to mind and repeated until I fell asleep.

I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13, NASB

When I got up this morning I went to the book shelf and retrieved the New American Standard Bible my parents gifted to me on Christmas day, 1990. Most other versions don’t include the part about despairing. NKJV says, “I would have lost heart,” but ESV, NIV, HCSB and NLT skip straight to being confident about seeing God’s goodness while here on earth.

Most days I feel that unwavering assurance, but what about the days when that conviction wavers? When the days turn into weeks or months? When you yell at the sky WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Christianity is hard and uncomfortable. Pursuing God through our suffering results in blessings and knowing Him more intimately.

Uncomfortable: Pursuing God In Spite of Suffering

Some of the people I love are hard pressed on every side. I wish I could swoop in and take on their struggle. But who am I to say I could weather a storm better if God has given a season of testing to someone else; to my friend…to my child? Stepping back, I am humbly reminded I am not their savior. I have no idea how God is working sadness or brokenness or devastation for His glory. He has used painfully uncomfortable times in my life to produce a courageous heart. Can He not do that for them?

C.S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”

Why Christianity then?

Pursuing the God of the bible has not saved me from heartache in this world; instead it seems to draw it like a magnet! But I have experienced God’s goodness. I have been wrapped in His peace that surpasses understanding. There was a time when I felt Christianity was only the best option and no other religion or belief was worth pursuing. In essence, if this world was all there was, I would still have lived a good life. I had no clue how thinking in those terms revealed the depth of my distrust. Only through the foundation of the scripture was I able to stop doubting and believe (John 20:27, NIV) when I encountered heartbreak, fear, and loss.

Christianity is hard and uncomfortable. Pursuing God through our suffering results in blessings and knowing Him more intimately.

Uncomfortable: Blessing from Suffering

It’s not all bad either. There is much good. In just my small sphere of life, I have witnessed God restore broken friendships and shattered marriages. God literally raised my son from the dead when his heart had not beat for nearly 10 minutes. I swore off volunteering in children’s ministry at church, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, God softened my heart and is not only using me to guide young minds toward the gospel, but He is blessing me in the process!

I am sincerely grateful for the glimmer of hope that has carried me for so long; yesterday’s belief has sustained me. Now I want the raging wildfire that doesn’t cower at challenge or shrivel up when tragedy strikes. On good days, I have prayed “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23, ESV). May I not recoil and complain when He does just that. Suffering is a necessity to achieve gratitude and grasp the fullness of life that is found in Jesus Christ.

I love Brennen Manning’s eloquent thoughts on the matter. “It is hard to be a Christian, but it is too dull to be anything else. When Jesus comes into our lives with his scandalous cross in the form of mental anguish, physical suffering, and wounds of the spirit that will not close, we pray for the courage to ‘stand fast a little’ against the insidious realism of the world, the flesh, and the devil.”

Uncomfortable: Intimately Knowing God

My son asked me this morning, “How can I make daddy laugh?” I laughed. “It’s taken me 20 years to learn that art; it’s not exactly something I can explain. You have to know him,” I said. “I do know him!” he argued. I said, “It’s the same with God. In order to know what pleases someone, what they enjoy, what makes them happy, sad, excited – what makes them tick – you have to spend time with them. As you get to know them more intimately, you learn how to say something at just the right moment to bring a smile to their face.”

To be loved and pursued is at the core of every human being. It is a longing placed there by God. He fulfills that daily through His word and any other means He chooses to use to make us aware that He is the God who sees. He is here. There is no one like Him.

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Christianity is hard and uncomfortable. Pursuing God through our suffering results in blessings and knowing Him more intimately.

Glenna Hopper

but God…pursued

Because the Lord loves you fiercely, you are pursued fiercely. When circumstances arise that feel like attacks against you, know that God is using them to bring you into a deeper relationship with Him.

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