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Faith

Let Us Not Forget The Naomi’s

written by Katrina

One of the most beautiful trees of God’s creation that I have ever seen is The Weeping Willow. It looks so serene, peaceful and wise but it also has a haunting glow of sorrow. It reminds me of many elderly women that I cared for when I worked in nursing homes years ago.

The Weeping Willow

They have been through The Great Depression, The Civil Rights Movement and sent their husbands, brothers and sons to serve several deployments of war. You know, back when we actually fought for freedom instead of money and power. There they were, staying strong alone on the homefront. Their discipline was tough but their comfort was gentle. They cooked meals every night and only allowed an hour of television. They stretched every penny, irons many creases, scubbed many floors and sewed many seams. They have been to many weddings and sadly even more funerals.

Growing Solid Roots

They have witnessed and survived tragedy but through their journey, they have grown solid roots that sprout trunks and branches that sprout beautiful and magnificant leaves of both wisdom and sorrow.

Today, many women use the term “strong” so loosely. But we women of today are just apple trees compared to these weeping willows. Yes, we have all had our share of trials and tribulations but we are still growing in wisdom, knowledge and experience. And most of our sorrows are from our own poor choices.

True Definition Of Strength

These willows have been through the worst of times, yet survived and through their trials, they maintained eloquence, class and an attitude of gratitude, never whining and never complaining. They taught us that in the midst of their storm, fall to your knees to praise the Lord. They scrubbed clothing with their bare hands and hung them out to dry, planted and maintained a garden, made dinner from scratch, used cloth diapers, sewing machines and wash dishes by hand. There was no air conditioning, dishwashers, microwaves, spas or Reality TV. There was no time fillers in their parenting such as McDonalds, video games, MTV or BET.

When they spoke, their words poured out wise instruction, encouragement and fair warning.

They despised lies, gossip, back-biting and foul language because they understood that life and death were in the power of the tongue and if you didn’t tame it, you got a switch to your back-side and a bar of soap in your mouth. You sat down at the dinner table saying your grace, and asking to be excused before you got up. School was a privilege not a burden and work came before fun.

The Anchors In Our Lives

They are the anchors in our lives, a glimpse of the flickering star of hope that we still have a chance to get it right by modeling them in their fight for faith, hope and the restoration of the family unit. They are the true definition of strength.

Let us not forget the Naomi’s in our lives so that the Ruth within us can rise up when we face loss and despair. Happy International Women’s Day.

“For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Ecclesiastes 1:18

The Real Life Gospel

written by Hanna

God’s goodness does not depend on your attitude.

I’m just going to drop that bomb on you and let it sit for a little bit. Don’t keep reading quite yet. Read the line over and over and over. Let it sit and convict and heal and give hope.

The Goodness Of God

I was recently in a discussion with some dear, unbelieving friends about the goodness of God. Their seven-month old son is dealing with some severe disabilities and if I’m being honest, as someone who has suffered recently and had her own doubts, it was a hard conversation to have.

As I woke up this morning, I could feel an attitude of doubt and ungratefulness start to loom over me, but Daddy kindly spoke, “My goodness does not depend on your attitude.”

Wow. Let me tell you, that definitely gave me a quick attitude adjustment. As I meditated on it more, I was reminded about a phrase the Lord gave me a couple years back. It was also in a time of suffering when I lost my community, a dear friend, my father got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and my grandfather was about to die. In that time the Lord said, “Hanna, no matter what happens on this side of eternity, in the end it’s all the same glory.”

That statement reminded me of passages in Romans 8 that reads:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (v. 16-18; 35, 37, ESV)

You know what Paul is saying here?

He says if we are to take our place as heirs with Christ and children of God. We’ll suffer. That’s not the sweet, gentle, soft gospel you’ll here in many churches, but it’s the real-life gospel. Even if we love Christ with all our hearts we still experience loss and death. But what does this suffering lead to? GLORY.

Changing Your Perspective

What God was speaking to me two years ago and reminded me of this morning was this: “Hanna, change your perspective. As my child, because of Christ, you now live with an eternal perspective and not just a single lifespan. Death is hard, but its not final. JESUS FINISHED THAT. All suffering is rooted in fear of death–you don’t live under that spirit of slavery anymore.

Death isn’t the finish line, rather it’s the gateway to what you’re really made for.

What’s happening to you in the present time isn’t even worth comparing to what is to come in eternity. You can always be a conqueror, even when you feel defeated, because Christ already created that avenue for you.”

WOW. Now that’s the gospel. That’s the truth. No matter how easy (we have two cars, a home, a loving family and retire at 65) or hard (we’re born into poverty in 3rd world circumstances surrounded by death, disease and war) our life is, with Christ the end is always the same, wonderful glory. When we love and pursue Christ–it doesn’t matter what this present world brings us, or what our perspective and/or attitude is, because the end is always eternal pleasure in His Presence.

Because With Christ…

And that statement is what I want to tell my friends. God’s goodness is eternal and never changing. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you don’t suffer–but you have hope in the midst of suffering because with Christ, you always have a happy ending. Because with Christ, death is a victory–not a defeat. Fear and worry don’t have a legal hold on us anymore–because with Christ, we are more than conquerors and nothing in this world or the world to come can change that…now that’s the true, eternal goodness of God!

You sit in heavenly places, dear ones. Take your rightful place alongside Christ. Let your royalty and your authority as a daughter of the eternal King set the tone for your circumstances; and always remember–this isn’t all there is. There’s always so much more.

In the end it’s all the same glory.

Settle into stillness

written by Kaity

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.”

Psalm 62:1

“He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”

Psalm 107:29

Enjoying the stillness

Have you ever enjoyed the stillness? I most often find it in nature: on a beach listening to the crashing waves, watching the snow fall and gearing the hushes pelt of flakes gently landed on the earth, standing atop a mountain as the wind roars over the treetops, or standing in the woods, completely alone and silent

Stillness can seem elusive at times. We finally get a moment alone, away from work or family, and technology attacks. Dings and beeps of email, texts, and social media can keep us occupied and distracted. Even after silencing it all, are we able to silence our minds? I often have roaming thoughts, to do lists, lingering emotions and snippets of conversations coursing through my brain. I cant turn it off. I feel like there’s a constant buzz running through my mind.

Rest and be renewed

And yet the moments of stillness are when can finally hear God’s voice. I struggle with finding stillness and sometimes when I finally grasp it, I’m met with emptiness and depression, loneliness or anxiety. These are the moments when my mind says it needs stimulation or craves people. It mistakenly longs for distractions and busyness. Our flesh is weak. What our minds really need is stillness, to rest and be renew in God’s word.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

Jesus often went to go pray alone. We must follow His example as we turn everything off and settle into the stillness. If Jesus can quiet an actual storm, He can certainly calm the storms in our hearts and minds.

Sometimes it’s uncomfortable; we’re so used to the noise. Sometimes it is so welcomed as the harsh din bombarding us fades away. When we enter the stillness, God’s voice becomes audible once again and we leave refreshed and renewed.

February 21, 2019 Comments

Bible Faith God Identity Jesus Life Lifestyle

Your burning bush

written by Hanna

Hey! Guess what?

You can’t do it.

Whatever that “it” is for you. Be it a degree, a career, motherhood, a skill, a relationship, a leadership position, moving across the world; whatever it is: you are inadequate. If it is outside of the calling of God, you are inadequate. If you are pursuing things aside from God, then it’s rooted in selfish ambition and pride.

Then why?

Then why does He call us to do really terrifying, scary things? Why does God give us big tasks when we are inadequate?

First off, it is to purge us of insecurities. I’ve been reading through Exodus and I’ve been hung up on the part with the burning bush. Where God meets Moses with something so common (a bush) but makes it entirely uncommon (it burns without being consumed). And you know what has caught my eye and convicted my core? Moses’ answers to God’s instruction and miracles:

“Who am I to appear before Pharoah? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (3:11)

“What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” (4:1)

“But Moses pleaded again, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled. (4:10; emphasis added).

“But Moses again pleaded, ‘Lord, please! Send anyone else.’ (4:13)

After reading Moses responses, I thought, “Wow. Here was Yahweh speaking directly to Moses through a constantly burning bush and he still doubts FOUR TIMES.” Then I was convicted because I know the Lord has instructed me to do scary things and I’ve doubted far more than four times–but He was still patient and gracious.

We are our worst critic

Isn’t easy to get stuck in our own head? We really are our worst critic. We often receive insults as truth before we receive encouragement. We allow the devil’s voice of doubt to reign before the Truth of God. That was even present in the garden, when Satan slithered at Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit?” (Gen. 3:1). Doubt was at the root of the first sin.

But I Can

We let insecurities fog our calling and our dreams–but God wants to shine through that. He says, “Yes, you are merely human, but I can make a path for you. If you let Me, I will direct your steps!” We can only go so far on our own. In our salvation, going on our own meant the Law and animal sacrifice–but Jesus overshadowed all our inadequacies with his Power and has given us that same Power, The Holy Spirit.

“We are confident in all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of the new covenant.” (2 Cor. 3:4-6).

I’ve got you

The second reason God calls us to do scary things is to display HIS adequacy through our inadequacy. It brings us to a place of humility where we say, “Woah. There’s no way I could have done that. That was God.” From the gift of initial salvation to living out our salvation through pursuing Jesus into scary, impossible but God-glorifying things, God lifts us up in His glory. He silents those insecurities and whispers “I’ve got you, so you’ve got this.”

And you know what? Moses successfully led the Israelites out of Egypt, under the exact circumstances God had promised. Now, the Israelites were stuck in the wilderness for a long time afterward, but that’s another story for another time.

What are you going to do with your burning bush?

So, dear heart, what are you going to do with your burning bush? Are you going to listen to insecurities, doubts and smother the bush? Or will you let it’s flame, His flame, spark your heart into action and passion?

It’s up to you. The Lord is only awaiting your YES.

Leave a little sparkle wherever you go

written by Gerdina

The other day I read this quote and it really touched and moved me. The quote read, “Jesus seemed to enjoy the company of the broken more than the debates of the religious”. Well, this is what I’m wanting to discuss today.

God’s love letter

Scripture, the Word, is God’s love letter to all of creation. From Genesis to Revelation the Word of God is revealing Himself to us. It is apparent that all of Scripture is referring to Jesus in His entirety. There was and is no one who knew and understood the Word of God as well as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus understood the Word with such astounding insight. The Word was God and Jesus was God in the flesh. (John 1:1-2)

Gathering knowledge

So, we may be asking ourselves, “What did Jesus do with all this knowledge”? Did He gather all this knowledge to obtain more and more “information” and just fill His mind with facts and history? Or was He trying to impress others and have discussions and debates that showed everyone just how much knowledge He did have? Absolutely not! Jesus allowed the knowledge that God bestowed to Him to deeply penetrate His heart. He cherished the Word. He meditated and prayed. He loved the Word of God and to do the will of God was His only desire. In fact, Jesus used the Word to defeat Satan’s temptations in the desert. Jesus properly used the Word as a defense; a defense that only speaks Truth. It is written that the Word was His sword. Jesus also used the Word when the Pharisees tried to lure Him into a trap.

Transformation of heart

Throughout Scripture, we repeatedly see there were many men with tremendous knowledge of the Word of God. However, many of these men did not allow the Word to penetrate deep into their heart and soul and it was obvious that there was no sincere heart transformation. Oh sure, things looked good on the outside and they knew exactly how to tell others to live and what they should and should not do. But, for themselves, the Word just did not apply. This is what Jesus had to say when referring to these men in Matthew 23:2-5 (NLT).

2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

No matter the cost

Jesus did not have to broadcast how much knowledge He had or do things just to draw attention Himself. No, He willingly, key word here…. “willingly” lived out the Word of God; no matter what it cost Him. Even, when it meant death on a cross. Everything He did was to bring glory to our Heavenly Father. Jesus was not against having vast knowledge, but He did something far greater; something we all must be willing to do. Like Jesus, we must allow that knowledge to pierce deeply into our hearts and transform us from the inside out. Jesus lived out the Word of God and everything He did was in accordance with what He taught from that Word. Jesus is our living example of a humble and lowly servant.

He welcomed all

During Jesus’ ministry, He was always acceptant of the people that others did not want anything to do with. He welcomed all to follow Him…. no matter their background. For example prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans, and the broken-hearted. Some may wonder why did He do this? Why did He not sit down with all those great theologians and well-known leaders? Jesus came for the broken, “ordinary” people and what some would call the outcasts. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to rescue and reconcile us all back with God, so we could live with Him.

The Pharisee and the tax collector

I think the parable about the prayer of the Pharisee and the tax collector gives us the answer.

Luke 18: 9-13 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We can see here that the Pharisee thought he was a good man; good enough. He apparently saw himself as much better than all the other people around him. He exalted himself and “self” was on the throne of his heart. He believed and trusted his own righteousness. However, the tax collector saw his wretched condition before a Holy God and was undone. He was pleading for Gods mercy on his life and realized that he was in great need of God’s grace and forgiveness. The tax collector showed true Godly sorrow for his sinful life and repented whole-heartedly. Have you confessed your sins and repented to the Lord? He’s waiting for you to come to Him and lay it all down at the cross. Turn from sin and turn to God.

Romans 3: 23-24 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Let your light shine

Let us, therefore, honor the Lord with our lives as a living sacrifice. Let’s devote time each day to spend with Him, engaging with Him in His Word and in prayer. Allow His love and mercy to sink deep in our hearts and pass on that love and mercy to others. Let us not only read His Word but really live it out. Allow the light and love of Jesus to shine through you in such a dark and fallen world. Reach out to the “outcast” and lost souls. They are all around us, seeking and grasping for worldly things that can’t satisfy. Let your light shine! Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb of God.

Blessed to the point of breaking

written by Hanna

“And when He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word, I will let down the nets.”-Luke 5:4-5

Hard labor

Do you ever feel like you’re digging a perpetual hole? Toiling, sweating, giving everything and never being satisfied? Maybe it’s with your work. Maybe it’s in a relationship. Maybe it’s in your finances. Or maybe it’s a God-dream that you’re trying to make happen because He promised it to you?

“We toiled all night and took nothing…”

I can imagine you know exactly how that feels. To work so hard (sometimes even through the night) only to see you wasted time and didn’t get anywhere. It’s aggravating, isn’t? I like to imagine how Simon felt (or at least how I would have felt if I were him) in the moment when Jesus told him to go back out and fish. Maybe he was thinking, “Alright holy-rabbi-teacher-carpenter-dude who probably knows nothing about fishing. We’ll give it another try—but you’ll see!”

A glimpse of His glory

Yet in that moment, Simon Peter was granted the humbling experience of seeing God follow through in His seemingly illogical yet good instructions. He not only heard, but experienced that Jesus’ words are always true.

Luke continues,
“And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking…But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees…” (v. 6, 8)

Jesus didn’t have to bless Simon Peter to the point of breaking—but He did. Jesus desired his devotion, and proved His faithfulness before He required Simon Peter’s. He showed Peter a glimpse of His glory, and Peter wholeheartedly chose to follow Him. He wholeheartedly responded to Jesus’ instructions to GO. First, to do the smaller thing (catching fish) and then to do the bigger at—following Christ and catching men.

Seasons in life

There’s something terrifying and beautiful about “go” seasons; times in life when Jesus moves things quickly and things start to fall into place. I’m currently in a season of waiting for God to say “GO.” I know this because I’ve felt resistance when I’ve tried to make moves on my own. And I’ll admit, this is very different and difficult for me. I’ve always been someone who pushed open doors and just let God close the ones He didn’t want open. But now He’s saying, “Hanna, be patient, I’m going to open up this door Myself this time.”

His timing

Sometimes in life, there is resistance from the devil but you push forward because you’ve heard God’s instruction to do so. But other times, we try to go our own way and feel resistance because God hadn’t yet said to do so—and we toil for nothing. Anything done outside of the purpose of God’s Kingdom and eternity is pointles because anything outside of God’s Kingdom and eternity will fade away. He gives important tasks to be done in His timing and instruction.

A humbling experience

After that humbling experience, Simon Peter saw that Jesus was one to be trusted. So he dropped everything immediately and followed Christ. They didn’t take the fish with them. They didn’t try and say, “Lord, let us sell these fish you’ve blessed us with so we can use that money on our travels with you.” No. The Lord said go, so they immediately let go of everything and pursued Jesus. And that last part? That’s the key. Whether you’re in a season of movement and excitement or you’re in one full of waiting, rooting and asking questions; you still pursue Jesus. You drop everything—the blessing, the doubt, the excitement, the frustration—and pursue Jesus. Because we can find discontentment in any and every season of life if we aren’t passionately loving Him.

See the blessings in all seasons

Seasons of full nets or empty nets shouldn’t determine our mood and choices either—only Jesus should. I know I’m convicted of not letting Christ’s love dictate my emotions, choices, dreams and life-purpose. But when we surrender, worship, obey and love, He blesses us to the point of breaking. With His love in our hearts and His perspective in our minds, we can see that blessing in all seasons.

So let’s focus our eyes on Jesus—and see the blessing in every season given to us. Let’s wait, pray, love each other and chase the dreams God’s placed in our hearts. And let’s encourage other women to do the same.

As a bride longing for her groom

written by Gerdina

We, as resurrected born-again Christians (the church), are often referred to as the Bride of Christ. All who have obtained salvation by grace through faith are His Bride. And one day the Lord, the Bridegroom, will come for His people, His Bride, and make all things new. The wedding ceremony will take place and the official union will be accomplished. (Revelation 19:7-9 and 21:1-2). Hallelujah!

December 19, 2018 Comments

Faith Fellowship Jesus Relationships

The gift of Presence

written by Hanna

I was having coffee with a friend a couple years ago, when she said something that really rocked my world… She said, “One of the biggest revelations God has given me is realizing that presence is the greatest gift you can ever give anyone.”

December 6, 2018 Comments

Biblical women Faith God Trust

Stand up like Tamar

written by Carla

The Bible is called God-inspired, and I believe it really is. This makes it all the more amazing that the lives of the men and women in the Bible are not made ‘more holy’ than they were. God meant them to be just as they are with all their strengths and weaknesses. This time I’d like to share about Judah’s daughter in law.

December 5, 2018 Comments

Faith Life Lifestyle

Thankful for the good and bad

written by Jenefer

On October 3 rd of 1863, the late president Abraham Lincoln of America declared “Thanksgiving” a holiday in America. It is normally the 4 th Thursday of November. It was modeled after the New England colonist harvest feast. They were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanks Giving” days of prayer – thanking God for blessings such as military victory or end of a drought.

November 20, 2018 Comments