“Deeper Discussions with children”
My children’s BSF lesson this week was out of the book of Hosea. Let’s just say that’s an interesting lesson to explain to young kids…” Mom, what’s promiscuous mean??” As I fumbled to find an appropriate explanation for the story of Hosea and Gomer, we landed on “Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes,” Hosea 3:1(NIV).
At first glance the text can be confusing. We’ve got Hosea chasing a wild woman, random raisin cake references and more, but with intentional questions and deeper thoughts, a great discussion emerged with my daughters.
As we focused on the ‘turning to other gods’ section and referenced forming ‘idols’ in our lives, I asked the girls for examples. One daughter stood like a statue chanting a strange language, while the other daughter wisely remarked, “entitlement.” Praise Jesus, at least one of them is picking up what I’m putting down!
We spent time sorting through ‘gods’ that are easily formed in our lives that draw us away from the relationship with our true God. It’s interesting how easily our children identify concepts we as adults often overlook. My daughter’s word, ‘entitlement’ prompted me to think that concept could be the basis for why we mindlessly allow idols to form in our lives…
The definition of entitlement is a belief that one is deserving or entitled to certain privileges. This is where we find the Israelites at the time of the prophet Hosea speaking to them, entitled and expectant of blessings. The phrase “a spirit of prostitution” is used to describe their lack of commitment and acknowledgement for God. They were fleeting with their love for Him, seeking pleasure and fulfillment in a variety of ways. Much like the Israelites, we search for happiness or fulfillment in goals, relationships, achievements, and pleasure. As I attempted to break the discussion down to their level, I reminded them of that big word, ‘entitlement.’ If we fail to recognize our hearts inclination towards that concept, then we will live a life filled with an expectant attitude of blessings. This can be grounds for disaster and leave us chasing emptiness in life.
The amazing part of sorting through scripture with your children is the never ending, always present, reassuring message of love that accompanies the lesson. Notice Hosea 3:1 starts with “Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though…….they turn….” Love always precedes or follows behind our God’s message.
I love that I was able to remind my daughters of God’s pursuing love for each of us throughout each story in the Bible. He desires to pursue us despite our mistakes.
So many scriptures in the Bible offer opportunity for great discussions with our children and others. Don’t be afraid to dive in and find opportunities to talk more about His Word; you might be surprised by where it lands.
“Reflecting on Purpose with Perspective”
As 2023 arrived I found myself revisiting previously journaled prayers. Journaling life’s concerns and the prayers accompanying them was mentioned to me in college as a habit to consider forming. Twenty years later, it was the best advice I could have received as a young adult. Returning to words written so many years ago and watching God orchestrate events in my life gave and continues to give me a strong foundation on the attributes of God.
God began to stir the idea of sharing my experiences through stories about seven years ago and brought it into action in 2021 when I launched Purpose with Perspective. My goal was to show others how relatable Bible stories are to our lives, finding purpose in the mundane of life and gaining perspective when inconveniences come upon us. Two years later I’m still gathering and sprinkling the words He brings into my heart, but not without a heavy word attached, commitment. Returning to the Word is crucial to put the negative thoughts to bed and fill yourself with assurance through His promises. Commitment to His Word forms a foundation that grounds your trust in the unseen, your peace in the chaos and the joy in being a follower of Christ.
So, with a fresh start upon us and a glance back at the years behind us, consider the purpose of the Bible. If it’s been a bit out of reach, dust it off and dive in. If you love it and approach it often, share the joy of what you read with others; people love a good nugget of truth for their day!
Enjoy my writing below from the early part of 2021 that I consider one of my favorites. It spoke to me at that time in my life and reminded me in 2023 how thankful I am for His promises that never change.
“While Noah Waited”
February 2, 2021
We have all heard it, the story of Noah and the ark. A boat overflowing with animals and a rainbow beaming in the background are pictures recognized by anyone even somewhat familiar with God’s Word. It’s a reference the mind makes to God sending the flood and the rainbow representing a promise never to do it again. But what about everything that happened in between those high points our minds recall?
I too, had read the story of Noah a gazillion times. Majority of those times were out of children’s books that gave me the impression this was a fun adventure! Don’t get me wrong, I love the innocent images our children’s authors can paint with familiar stories, but I learned there is more to this story than butterflies and rainbows. There were emotions, despair, and perseverance. These are intentionally intertwined in God’s story to us for relatability. Let us not skip over considering these aspects of the story that offer a deeper perspective.
It was just recently that my mind registered with a new perspective for this bedtime story….one that will forever change my outlook on the picture of Noah and the ark.
Before I cut the chase, let’s revisit the setting of this familiar story for a moment. Mankind was sinning more than ever. Picture the worst of the worst environment with no acknowledgement of God. Gosh, you might just envision today’s world. Genesis 6 gets straight to the point with, “The Lord saw that humanity had become thoroughly evil on the earth and that every idea their minds thought up was always completely evil.” Mankind had taken on that ‘Yolo’ mindset and God was pressing a reset button for mankind. A flood was coming to wipe everything off the earth, except ones He chose to save. And there, in the midst of all of the selfish ambitions and havoc was one He chose, Noah. Faithful, God fearing Noah. He was chosen to build an ark, to not only escape the flood, but become part of a story that would teach active faith, patience and full reliance on God. Originally, my fingers would turn to the next page and carry on with my reading as I knew how the story ended, but this time my eye caught something new. There nestled among the tiny black words was a number I had never noticed, 150.
Genesis 7 tells us God clearly told Noah that it would rain 40 days and 40 nights, and so it did...
But in verse 24 it says, “and the water surged on the earth 150 days.” Wait, I thought it was just 40. What does 150 have to do with anything? After research I learned that Noah and his family drifted along for approximately five months after they endured what felt like never ending rainfall. We grumble if it rains seven days straight, and that’s with cars, homes and rain jackets available to us! So now consider five months after 40 days of rain with every animal known to mankind and remind yourself this isn’t a cruise to Mexico. People, this is hard core destruction to mankind without knowing what the future holds. We get ruffled if we don’t know what’s for supper, much less the unknown direction of this giant ark. God was specific on a lot of things with Noah, but the destination of his arrival was not one. And remember God revealed to Noah how long it would rain, but He didn’t mention the waiting period after his obedience took place...
Put yourself in Noah’s sandals. The reality of this scene needs to sketch into your mind. The mixture of emotions Noah must have felt; sorrow and gratitude interchanging in his heart as he floated along. Noah realizing how grateful he was that God spared him, yet knowing so many others had drowned. Joy and fear tossing back and forth like the waves beneath him. Joy in knowing he and his family had survived, but fear of the unknown as he peered up from the dark, dank, dreary boat wondering when God would speak again. Noah had been obedient to everything God had commanded of him, putting his hope in God when no one else would, but now he sat waiting for the next step. 150 days of waiting for the next step, the next encounter with that outside world. He may have thought, “did I do this right, is God still with us?” or maybe “I want to trust, but I’m scared, God are you there?”
Have you ever been in Noah’s position? Maybe God called you to take a courageous step and you followed through, but now feel some of Noah’s emotions? As Noah waited, he must have fought against his doubt and despair and fought to hold onto hope. The hope his heart knew was the anchor and the perseverance needed to survive.
We do not like to wait, especially in today’s world of instant gain. But we are smart people, and we know the reliance on God in the waiting is what strengthens us. But waiting on God to reveal the next step takes full reliance on Him and self denial. Self denial-laying our timeline and desires down at His feet-that’s tough stuff! Yet, waiting on God produces a renewed sense of trust in who He is every time..always consistent and always faithful.
Fast forward to God breaking the silence for Noah. Genesis 8 shines bright the faithfulness of God as it states, “But God remembered Noah,” and commanded them to “come out of the ark.” God remembering in this moment is not that He forgot; God never forgets. But it is God directly taking action to fulfill the promise to His people. God remembers all His promises to us even when we are caught in a sea of doubt.
Are you caught in a season of waiting and feel uncertain? Have you been obedient to following Him, but wondering about your next step? Remember Noah’s situation during the in between moments of this story. Those in between moments teach us patience, perseverance, and reliance. These are attributes of Noah worth pointing out to our children and ourselves. This life, that sometimes feels like a wild boat ride with a zoo, has a parallel and contrast to Noah’s story. As followers of Jesus Christ, we may be called by God to take action with our faith. It may require patience as we fight a storm of emotions. But the difference from Noah’s story is God already gave us the final destination and the next step: the promise of Heaven through Jesus Christ.
Stand firm in the storm as you wait. Allow God’s promises of faithfulness to shine bright in your heart as you persevere into God’s plan and never stop reading His Word. God will always remind us of His faithfulness through it.
“A Mary and Joseph Perspective”
Twas a few nights before Christmas and all through my house, not a gremlin was stirring whew, let’s praise Him for that!
The stockings were hung by my China cabinet with care and the stress of moving that elf would soon disappear.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of Christmas break adventures danced in their head.
Mama was making a long list of food to prepare, while ole dad slept blissfully unaware.
My amateur twist on this Christmas classic makes me snicker as it holds too much truth about our household this week! This season can bring a whirlwind of to do lists and if we’re not careful, it’ll swipe intentional moments The Lord intends for our good…
I have to admit, all of the things listed in the poem above had cluttered my mind lately. I deeply love and know the true meaning of Christmas; but the beautiful story of His birth was prancing past my heart and the busyness of this world was landing on my shoulders. Recently, my rotation in the children’s ministry had circled around again. Shooing our gremlins out the door I rushed into the classroom to quickly review the lesson…Jesus’ birth…. shocker. The cartoon Bible characters acted out the familiar story, but mentioned something profound…. how much of an inconvenience the trip to Bethlehem was for Mary and Joseph. Wow, I have never thought of it like that, an inconvenience. I knew a census had been ordered and people were required to travel, but to consider Mary and Joseph’s mindset when they realized the timing and distance ahead of them gave a different perspective.
Let’s consider a comparison for today’s time. Imagine yourself 9 months pregnant counting the days until delivery when your husband informs you of a road trip you must take to the Passport office. He also informs you to pack a lunch, the lines will be crazy long and he’s considering the motorcycle because the car isn’t reliable. Your thoughts are yelling, “Are you kidding me? Why now?!” As you arrive at the destination, your husband says, “honey, I’m sorry, the hotels are booked, we’ll need to find a place to sleep.”
It's easy to skim over the familiar details of Mary and Joseph’s story because we’ve heard them so many times, but when we pause to put ourselves in their sandals it brings a relatable perspective. Life is filled with inconveniences that seem to make no sense at that moment. Children become sick in the middle of a busy work week, family members get their feelings hurt when it was never intended, and schedules seem to stay hectic. The list rolls on of life’s unexpected challenges, but one thing over arches all of them…. God’s detailed plan. God knew this inconvenience would be the background to a beautiful story that would stand the test of time, the birth of His only Son, Jesus. In the still of the night, quietly and gracefully, Jesus would enter a world of chaos and doubt to bring peace and hope.
Mary and Joseph knew God would provide for the gift He had given them, but I bet it’s safe to say they had some doubts. What felt like such an inconvenience became an intentional moment that led to God’s plan being fulfilled.
This Christmas and New Year take a moment to remember Who God is, faithful, never forgetful, always present, all knowing and true; and when life becomes filled with inconveniences, picture Mary and Joseph. Their story reminds us God has a purpose in everything and we see it when we have a different perspective. Merry Christmas!
“Bearing witness this Christmas”
Christmas trees, holiday gatherings and lights, oh my! It’s that time again. The holidays seem to arrive earlier each year. Our family looks forward to seeing the lights twinkle on our house each year, especially since they are now hung by someone else! Let’s just say my husband, a string of lights and a ladder makes him resemble Chevy Chase more than we’d prefer.
The holidays can be filled with a variety of emotions; excitement for the festivities, anticipation of family gatherings, or even anxiousness at the thought of seeing the distant relatives. Whatever feeling dances across your mind, we could probably all agree on one thing….we all know a friend or family member that lives year-round without the joy of Jesus. They are a part of our lives, perhaps daily or maybe only at special gatherings, and we love them dearly, but we know they lack a relationship with The One that Christmas is all about…
So, what comes to mind when you consider being a ‘witness’ for Jesus? Is it a Bible in hand, a formal speech about John 3:16?
Expressing your relationship with Jesus can come in a wide range of interactions. Sometimes it’s a casual conversation that brings light to a topic that shows how much freedom Christ has given you in that area, such as doubt or stress. Other times it can be expressing the peace that Jesus brings to your mind as you comment on a difficult circumstance you’re dealing with in life. When Jesus is a part of our daily lives, we can’t help but include Him in our conversation. Speaking about the goodness of our Lord becomes part of our vocabulary, not a forced interjection.
Consider these lyrics from a Christian song, “Let us become more aware of your presence, let us experience the glory of your goodness.”
I love the words chosen for these lyrics. They remind us to be ‘aware’ of His presence and to ‘experience His goodness.’ We, as believers, can be the light by telling others about His presence within our everyday lives and telling of how good our Lord is. When our love for Christ is naturally expressed in our speech and actions, we naturally become a witness for His love.
So, consider those relatives or friends that may gather for the birthday party this year, but don’t truly know how special the birthday boy is…consider sprinkling into the conversation how good He really is and what He has done in your life lately.
Check out this week’s beautiful song below!
“When the ‘impossible’ is all we see”
Our friend Elijah has exited the scene and Elisha has stepped into his role. Elisha is eager, yet gentle; powerful, yet compassionate, and ready, yet patient to meet the needs of those around him. We find Elisha meeting the needs of one of many women in the book of 2 Kings and witness God’s provision being shown through his people.
“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil,” 2 Kings 4:1-2.
It was customary to pay debt back through the form of slavery, yet without her boys’ assistance and companionship in life she would suffer greatly. Can you imagine her doubt and hear her despair?
Most of us could say we have witnessed someone losing a spouse or close family member and allowed the question to arise, “Why God, why them?” Yet, when we read true stories from the Bible, we are reminded of God’s overarching love and the perfectly orchestrated tenderness He sends through His people to deepen our trust.
Elisha tells the widow to retrieve empty jars from her neighbors and return to her home to the last bit of olive oil she owns. After gathering the empty jars, he instructs her to begin pouring her remaining oil into all of the extra jars, then keep pouring…and keep pouring….and keeeeeep pouring….until an abundance of what she needed to keep moving forward and pay her debt was before her.
Imagine yourself in this woman’s sandals….it’s so hard to stop the natural thought process filled with ‘how’ when the impossible is before us, yet we are constantly reminded in Scripture of how creative our God is. I think it’s imperative to note how the woman did not respond. She did not say, “but you don’t understand, I only have a tiny bit of oil left,” or “you don’t get it, I owe so much, there’s no point,” but she trusted the man of God as she knew where his blessings came from, their Creator.
The world will fill your mind with the ‘what ifs,’ but Scripture teaches us to say, “what if God is doing something bigger than we can imagine?”
If you are in a season of asking ‘how’ or ‘what if,’ I encourage you to spend some time reading Psalms 40 alongside the story of the widow in 2 Kings. Allow the words of David reassure you of God’s concern for you and remind yourself of the work of God’s friend, Elisha, as he came alongside the widow. Nothing goes unnoticed by our God; nothing surprises Him, and nothing is too complicated for Him. He is our deliverer.
“When you’ve had enough..”
Last week we found Elijah on his knees waiting expectantly for God to answer his prayer. God did fulfill the request and Elijah was strengthened with assurance that God was on His side, but this week we find Elijah weary, doubtful, and burnt out.
The story picks up with Queen Jezebel vocalizing her plans to kill Elijah after his fiery showdown and the disposal of her prophets by him. Elijah hightails it out of there and arrives exhausted in the middle of the desert. Mentally, physically, and spiritually drained, he sat down and cried out to God, “I have had enough Lord!” Elijah had courageously challenged arrogant prophets, smack talked an evil king and boldly proclaimed God’s name, but was now depleted and full of fear from Jezebel’s words.
Our lives may not involve physically running from kings and queens, but life’s challenges can produce a sense of fear and despair that smother our thought process and leaves us uttering, “I’ve had enough, I just can’t God.”
Take a look at how Elijah’s position and demeanor changed…. he didn’t kneel with an expectant prayer for deliverance this time; he dropped with a discouraged heart. 1 Kings, chapter 19 tells us that Elijah fell asleep after his cry to God and awoke to bread and water beside his head. After the meal, he laid down once again to rest his weary soul and awoke to another meal. After replenishing his body with food and rest he walked forty days until he reached a quiet cave on Mount Horeb and faced his thoughts. As silence surrounded him, he heard God tenderly pursue him with questions to provoke truth, concerns to remind him of faithfulness and direction to offer clarity.
God lovingly clarified Elijah’s false perspective that was smothered by fear and doubt, gently provided rest and nourishment for his body, and met him without condemnation, but direction.
Physical pain, emotional roller coasters and unsettling mindsets will leave us mimicking Elijah’s actions, but reminding ourselves of God’s tender concern brings Him into our focus. God knows exactly what we need, He is never surprised by our reactions, and never grows weary with His love for us. Trust Who He is and surrender your concerns to Him.
The next time you feel like giving up, think of Elijah’s stance….God will meet you at whichever one you choose, prayer knees or falling on your face with tears.
Check out this week’s song below!
“Waiting Expectantly”
Even if you aren’t very familiar with the story of Elijah the prophet, your mind may recall a showdown with fire and false gods from the Old Testament. Elijah was sent by God to King Ahab to confront him. King Ahab was married to the evil queen, Jezebel and together they lead the nation in worshiping Baal, a god representing pleasure, power, and personal gain.
1 Kings 18 tells us about Elijah being challenged by Ahab to prove his God is more powerful than Baal. After an impressive approach that involved water all over the sacrifice to be burned and some smack talk from Elijah, God answers Elijah’s request and sends fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice. The followers of Baal and King Ahab are left stunned as they witness God’s mightiness strike right before their eyes.
The Bible is filled with extraordinary events such as this that show God’s mightiness, and while it may be hard to relate to such dramatic occurrences with Elijah, it’s not hard to relate to Elijah’s emotions in the aftermath…
After Elijah fulfilled God’s assignment and experienced such a direct response from Him with the fire from Heaven, he had another mountain to climb in life.
See, after Elijah requested fire to prove his point to Ahab, he then had to request rain to stop the severe drought in the land and this request didn’t come as quickly. Verse 42 says Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and placed his face between his knees as he waited expectantly for the Lord to answer with rain.
Think about the position he took…. he’s just experienced an amazing moment, a ‘no doubt it was God’ answered prayer and we find him on his knees with his face in the palms of his hands awaiting another victory from the Lord. Can you relate to this? Has your faith ever been so strong you prayed expectantly for the Lord to deliver? Your faith was so strong you felt it in your bones that He would answer, but you also hear a faint whisper, ‘what if He doesn’t?’…. The Bible says Elijah sent a servant to look across the sea for a rain cloud not once, not twice, but seven times! The 7th time, the servant reported a rain cloud approaching.
I love Elijah’s approach and posture as he waited out those seven times. Have you ever found yourself on your knees in prayer? Maybe it wasn’t intentional, but the plea for Him to answer brought you to a point of surrender. That posture is an incredibly humbling experience. Elijah didn’t know when God would send the rain, but he knew God was with Him and for Him, so he waited, expectantly for God’s timing.
Are you waiting for God to answer? Perhaps you have experienced monumental moments with Him and know He will deliver in His own creative way, but you are in the season of waiting for it. Consider Elijah’s approach; take a posture of surrender and wait expectantly for Him.
Stay tuned next time for Elijah’s battle with fear and depression. God was and always is creative with relatability from His Word!
“Choosing to make a Choice”
“My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn(strength) is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God,” 1 Samuel 2:1,2.
I had been reading the book of Samuel lately and surprisingly saw this verse on my Bible app for the verse of the day. As I read the words, “my heart rejoices and delight in your deliverance,” I was reminded of how the person speaking, Hannah, moved from broken despair to this confidence within her life.
Hannah was one of two wives to a man named Elkanah….and all I can say is thank goodness for commentaries when it comes to strange situations in Bible stories such as multiples wives…. Peninnah was the other wife that harbored bitterness and lacked joy despite being the mother of many for Elkanah. Hannah lived her life with pestering remarks from Peninnah as her heart grew weary from the ridicule. Hannah desperately wanted children, but had not received the answer to that prayer. Can you imagine the depression she must have experienced? Not only are you deeply desiring something in life, but you’re being taunted by your peers about wanting it?! This is a harsh, heartbreaking burden she is carrying.
The Bible says, “In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, and she made a vow, saying “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,” 1 Samuel 1:10,11.
If you are familiar with the story, you know Hannah does become pregnant and she does keep her promise to the Lord as she dedicates Samuel to Him; “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord,” 1 Samuel 1:27,28.
I love the heart of this woman. There is a magnitude of faith being poured into that commitment to the Lord and a deep level of trust as she returns to fulfill it, but the even bigger message my heart takes note of is the choice she made. Hannah had so many opportunities to grow bitter, become angry, deny God’s sovereignty, and disregard her promise. Hannah chose to believe her God knew best, she chose to believe her God had not forgotten the desires of her heart, and that her son was first God’s, then her own. Oh, to have that mindset every hour of every day in all areas of life.
Hannah’s choice made all the difference. She chose to remain faithful to the Lord, waiting for His timing and honoring the words she spoke to Him.
We live in a world that portrays one’s faith as something that just falls into place, but it’s the opposite. We choose to believe God is bigger than the problem; we choose to trust God’s timing, and we choose to follow God’s commands despite our opinion. Hannah’s heart rejoiced in the Lord and delighted in His deliverance because of her choice to wholeheartedly commit her decisions to the Lord. May we consider Hannah’s approach in life and be strengthened by her story.
“Are you a Gideon?”
Are you a ‘Gideon’? Your mind may think of someone that places Bibles in a hotel and honestly, prior to this week’s reading I never knew why they were called that, nor did I know of the man in the Bible named Gideon. It turns out I can really relate to my new Bible friend Gideon.
According to the book of Judges life was hard for the Israelites as the Midianites robbed, abused, and starved the people of the region. Gideon was a normal guy trying to survive the chaos when God called him to step out in faith.
“One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, “God is with you, O mighty warrior!” Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.” But God faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?” Gideon said to him, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” God said to him, “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man,” Judges 6: 11-16.
I love the honesty in Gideon’s responses. He was exhausted and doubtful because life was simply hard. He knew the stories of victory, yet felt unsure his would end that way. Despite his doubt, Gideon musters up the faith to say ‘yes’ to God, but notice how quickly he needs reassurance…
“Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return,” Judges 6: 17,18.
Aren’t we so much like Gideon? We recognize our need for God’s guidance and believe in miracles, but become plagued with doubt as we consider the magnitude of problem. Then, when we finally lay it at God’s feet, we find ourselves questioning God for a sign to ensure His faithfulness to us. So often, my mind will dissect a circumstance and drown itself in the details of how it could possibly work out; notice Gideon did the same when he referenced being the runt of the litter and the how’s and with what’s. I also can doubt God’s intentional focus on me just like Gideon when he repeatedly said, “Me??”
When you feel God calling you to step out in faith…know it. is. you. He. is. speaking. to. That’s an incredible thought when we allow it to sink in.
May we be like Gideon and not be afraid to be honest with God about our concerns. Tell him your fears and ask Him to remind you of His miracles in your past. Focus on His faithfulness and reassure yourself by knowing He intentionally seeks you.
“Building cornerstones with a Proverbs”
Recently, my family laid my 93-year-old grandfather to rest. He wasn’t your typical almost 100-year-old man…. He attended soccer games, catted around town, and had a mind sharper than my own. Grandaddy remained full of joy and kept his love for The Lord as his last days drew near.
As I reflected on my grandfather’s character and legacy, I considered qualities I desire my children to hold as they grow. Humility, discernment, and honor are a few that land high on the chart. One of my favorite scriptures has become Proverbs 15:33, “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.” Initially, this verse simply seemed to be an easy one to memorize, but cornerstones have been made from it.
Another word for humility is humble, and the definition of humble is “reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of submission.” The key word mentioned is ‘reflecting.’ Consider how quickly our attitudes shift when we pause to reflect on what Christ has done in our lives. Humility is a trait that reveals a person consistently taking time to examine their hearts and motives. Our world screams entitlement and self-worth, yet The Bible teaches us to assess our hearts, consider our motives and repeatedly return to our Heavenly Father for acceptance, love, and direction.
Discernment has become one of my reoccurring prayer requests for our children. Having the ability to decipher what is true and right has become a difficult task in our egocentric world. It takes a commitment to God’s Word and your identity in Christ to withstand the enemy’s schemes these days. Life is filled with opportunities to self sooth with idols, dilute our faith, and question ourselves. Discernment rooted in God’s voice lifts the fog and guides us back to Him.
Honor is the other trait that falls near to my heart. I feel it’s a concept that’s quickly being diminished and slowly deteriorating. A definition for honor is “one whose worth brings respect.” Our worth lies in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our respect should fall upon His Father’s commands. Our children, as well as ourselves, should actively seek a healthy ‘fear of the Lord’ rooted in reverence, or honor due unto Him.
I’m beginning to sound like a King James version of The Bible….
So as this scripture continues to settle into my mind, the cornerstones become built around my heart for myself, my children, and those around me…………Wisdom’s instruction (the Bible, guidance from God) is to fear The Lord(hold a healthy respect for Him and His commands) and humility(an understanding of our position in this world, reflecting on Christ’ sacrifice and God’s goodness) comes before honor(as we seek to glorify Him, we find honor in serving for Christ).
May we be a group of believers that lead by example with humility, discernment and honor as we live out one of the Proverbs and wait for our Heavenly Father to call us home.
“Embedding Scripture”
Many are probably familiar with Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength,” but how about the words that trail behind that verse…
Verses 6-8 give this eye-opening message, “These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.”
I have grown in amazement with believers that speak scripture within a prayer or a conversation. My own heart and mind know the message within God’s Word, but referencing the actual words within The Bible reveals a deeper embedment of the Word.
I developed a hunger for God’s Word years ago and still enjoy studying it, but as life has bulldozed towards me and the uncertainty of circumstances crowd my mind, I desire His Word on a deeper level; one that would bubble up from within me when I’m left with speechless prayers. Scripture memorization repeatedly entered my mind as I watched my children attempt to soak in monthly Bible verses at church. A commitment surfaced that propelled me to stop letting my eyes absorb His Words, but to live out ‘binding them to my hands and forehead.’ I didn’t feel compelled to visit the tattoo parlor, but I did feel lead to write them on note-cards and begin exposing my eyes to them far more often than an early morning reading with a coffee in hand…
The Bible references the ‘helmet’ of salvation with the armor of God in Ephesians 6, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit-which is the word of God.”
If we put our eyes on the armor and hold it, but never actually place it into position then how will it be effective?
Studying the scripture forms the foundation that trains our thoughts to decipher our opinion versus God’s Word, but writing His Word into our heart trains us to combat the enemy’s schemes as the battle begins….
If we truly believe God’s Word is as powerful as a double-edged sword and His guidance comes from His promises, then we must bind them to our hearts to overflow into our minds and out of our mouths.
Allowing our children, friends, and peers to see scripture become a part of our daily activities is an incredible testament to God’s Holy Word. Write them on note-cards and consider exercising your mind before your thumb scrolls social media. Put a favorite scripture on repeat in the car in the mornings and let your children observe you absorbing it. Let’s be believers that take time to live out Deuteronomy 6: 5-8.
“Teaching myself to look back”
Last week’s song, “Million Little Miracles” began playing on my playlist in the car. I was familiar with the lyrics and recognized the tune, but found myself lingering in the message…. “I’ve got some blessings I don’t deserve; I’ve got some scars but that’s how you learn, I’ve got miracles on miracles.”
Life had been frustrating lately. Difficult circumstances were staring our family in the face and the uncertainty of an outcome hovered over me. Isn’t that such a hard place to be? The course ahead of you requires action, but the feeling of certainty hasn’t arrived yet. We wait with anticipation for a peace, a strong feeling of solidity.
Perhaps it’s not an actual decision, but the answer to a prayer. This too, can cloud your mind with doubt and fear within your circumstance as you wait. No matter what the situation is, I think we can all agree it takes a conscious effort to change the trajectory of our thoughts when we are in a season of waiting or facing difficult times.
As the lyrics repeated the phrase, “I’ve got a million little miracles,” my mind began to consider a different angle. I stopped and thought about all I had to be thankful for within the circumstance and suddenly my emotions steadied themselves. I was able to recall so many blessings and moments that produced a sense of peace inside.
Every day poses an opportunity for thankfulness if we shift our focus towards it versus lingering in the unknown. A somewhat strange approach involves looking backwards to gain a different view and remind ourselves of what God has done.
I may not know the outcome of my concern, but I do know what God has done so far and when I recall His blessing of protection and wisdom, then I recall who He is and that refreshes my perspective.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds,” Psalms 77:11,12.
“Monumental Reminders”
“In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Joshua 4:21-24
2022 has brought many ‘Red Sea’ moments for my family. I often say to my husband, “He’s parting the Sea, Matt, He’s parting the sea!” I’ve referenced it so much that Matt blubbered once, “ok, gah, can we pick a different Bible story now?”
As I read the book of Joshua, I was surprised I didn’t recall this particular water parting for the Israelites. Moses has died at this point; Joshua is in charge and the Israelites are preparing to approach Jericho’s wall. Yet, as they move forward in life, another obstacle is staring at them, the Jordan River.
Realistically, we don’t encounter mother nature as a daily obstacle, but we do experience moments of intense doubt as we encounter unexpected circumstances.
The Israelites have witnessed a lot of miraculous moments as they have watched God deliver for them. You can probably relate; God answers a prayer and eases your circumstances, or you experience an unexplained peace amid chaos. Blessings from our Heavenly Father can be monumental in our hearts and should mimic God’s message in Joshua…
God commanded Joshua to have twelve men take a stone from the dry ground in the middle of the Jordan river to be used as a monument, or reminder, for this groundbreaking moment. He goes on to explain…” In the future when your descendants ask their parents…. tell them…about the hand of the Lord.”
Now let all of this sink in a minute…. what monumental moment has occurred in your life?
What prayer was answered only by God’s mighty hand that reminded you of His faithfulness and love for you?
He is still parting waters today, but are we as believers telling others of how and by whom the water was parted?
The miraculous healing, the softened heart, the protection of family… the list goes on of the goodness of God, but are we ingraining our children and others with the source of the blessing?
As we move forward in life and encounter a variety of challenges, may we remember to tell others of God’s faithfulness and power. May we boast that nothing we have done, nor will do, could ever bring an answer to the prayer; only our Heavenly Father can do so.
“Wandering in the Wilderness”
Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy…. oh my. If you’ve spent any time within the pages of these books of the Bible, you know how strange, repetitive, and difficult they can be to absorb. Many days, I would doubt my endeavor to read through the Bible, asking “what on earth could I learn from this” and “why am I doing this?” As these questions arose, they lead me to consider my motive, “why do I commit to studying my Bible when I’ve been exposed to it my whole life?”
To my surprise, Deuteronomy revealed a relatable, comprehensive message that spoke to my heart and answered my doubt.
Deuteronomy 26:16-17 says, “The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws-that you will listen to him.”
This particular section represented Moses reminding the Israelites to commit their ways to the Lord as they received boundaries and rules for ways of life. As I realized the overarching message it became clear that these words still applied to my life today.
I was reminded of my own walk with God; the change within my heart, the commitment I made. Much like the Israelites, I too, had walked an almost 40-year journey with Him still learning boundaries in life. Moses was told by God to repeatedly remind them of His commands, His faithfulness, and their responsibilities as he carefully recorded the words from God for future generations to read and hear.
Notice the wording God gave Moses to speak to others, “carefully observe them with all your heart,” and “declaring…to walk in obedience,” and “that you will listen to Him.”
· The observation begins in His Word-The Bible.
· The ‘walk in’ obedience is a commitment to search for His message within The Bible.
· His voice is spoken through His own Words…found in The Bible.
Just like an Israelite, I am wayward, stubborn, and forgetful. I need to be reminded daily of His commands, Who He is, who He says I am, and hear His voice above my own.
So, why do I read, study, and keep crawling back to my Bible? Because….
· I want to observe His Words with all my heart and soul.
· I have a responsibility as a Christian to know His Word, not just hear it.
· And lastly, I want to hear His voice.
As I continue to wander through a modern-day wilderness, may I never stop turning my eyes back to God’s message and opening my heart to His commands. I encourage you to consider your commitment made to Him and intentionally set aside time to spend in His Word.
“Identify the Root”
It was time to spruce up the flowerbeds outside my home. I’m not big on pulling weeds or traipsing through flowerbeds, due to my ridiculous fear of snakes, but I had gussied up some courage and decided to get the job done. As I began to tug on a short, dead, stubby trunk I quickly noticed it not budging. It was only three inches in height; why wouldn’t this stub move? Grabbing a shovel, I began to excavate and spoon out to my surprise an eighteen-inch root!
Roots can be a fascinating concept once they are revealed. What appeared shallow and simple was deep and tenacious. I snapped a picture of my discovery and began to consider roots within ourselves.
A reoccurring problem we have in our home is sibling rivalry. Our daughters are three years apart and will challenge one another in the blink of an eye. Our oldest revealed recently that the younger one put both fists up to some boys on the playground to show them who’s boss- oh sweet Jesus guide us. While we, as parents, are exhausted with the bickering and challenges, we have grown to stop and consider the roots that could be forming when constant arguments are occurring.
When arguments arise between our daughters, we will ask each one to apologize and identify the reason they are apologizing. As we teach the girls to dig deeper, we teach them to consider the root of the issue. Is their behavior stemming from revenge? Is jealousy fueling the negative remarks? Was bitterness the source of constant pestering? These are vital questions my husband and I have needed to ask.
Many times, the reaction for the circumstance begins with the emotion that is taking root within us. Our response isn’t typically a fleeting response; it’s an overflow of what’s really going on inside.
I wish I could portray our daughters promptly offering remorse and soaking in the wisdom, but not a chance. They usually become Ms. Huffy and Ms. Puffy with a strong case of eye rolling. Yet, the phrase, “Identify the root,” continues to surface within our minds reminding us to consider the heart of the matter. As this concept has remained at the forefront of my mind, I have seen more clearly the larger, deeper roots attempting to grow-bitterness, anger, doubt, resentment. Initially, it felt like defeat, but with perspective it became knowledge. By identifying the emotion trying to take root in their hearts we become better equipped to pray for it to cease growth. Sin will always be within each of us; it’s the nature of our flesh, but recognizing it and asking God to cutoff the growth allows room for His love to take root.
Unfortunately, my husband and I will face a zillion more referee moments with our girls, but thankfully, the larger perspective helps us see a deeper purpose. Purpose fuels us; it gives us endurance in the mundane. Consider your purpose in parenting and identify the root of some of the concerns. Ask God to reveal a deeper message to you and your family.
“Do you pray about spaghetti sauce?”
“She doesn’t even buy a jar of spaghetti sauce without praying about it!” This was a statement I once heard to describe the mother of a friend. Initially, I assumed it was overly exaggerated, but the truth was my friend was serious about the remark; the woman prayed about everything. This mother was known for seeking God’s counsel with anything in her life. She simply recognized the need for God in every moment and stayed in prayer with Him, hence her coined description. My friend’s remark lingers in my head as I picture and admire strong Godly people that make daily decisions in that manner.
What comes to mind when you picture a man or woman of God? Is it a person without any faults or a person simply involving God in all circumstances? A great example for all of us to consider would be our reoccurring friend from the Old Testament, Moses.
As the pages of Exodus come to an end and Leviticus peeks around the corner at me, I considered the virtues of Moses shown throughout Exodus. Moses wasn’t free from failure, but he trusted God. He didn’t conquer all his emotions and control every reaction, but he welcomed humility and conviction and most importantly, Moses demonstrated obedience out of respect. So often, I am reminded that my relationship with God not only involves trusting Him, but obeying His commands, holding a reverence for Him, and allowing Him in all areas of my life.
Exodus 34:8, 9 is a powerful depiction of Moses wholeheartedly experiencing his relationship with God and revealing his character, “Moses immediately knelt low on the ground and worshiped. Then he said, My Lord, if I have indeed found favor with you, my Lord, please go with us, even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your own possession.”
I love the imagery in this text…. bowing low, showing respect, seeking God’s favor, recognizing His Holiness, desiring His counsel, and acknowledging their sin.
I don’t personally know the ‘lady that prays before buying spaghetti sauce’ at the market, but I would like to assume she has a heart like Moses…filled with respect and obedience.
Today’s world will not encourage us, nor our children, to include God in the details of our daily lives, but God says otherwise. He wants an ongoing conversation with you. He is present in the mundane.
· Worried about your child’s grades and attention span in class? Kneel before God and give it all to Him.
· Burnt out in your career and just uncertain of your next step? Seek Him with all of your heart and find favor with Him.
· Concerned about decisions to be made for your family? Place it before the Lord and worship Him.
The list goes on and is filled with endless circumstances, but God’s response never changes.
Are you like the spaghetti sauce lady and our friend Moses? Maybe you aren’t praying over Ragu or Prego, but have you included God in your thoughts and concerns today? Invite Him into your daily decisions and everyday encounters; experience Him for who He is- a faithful, Holy Father to His children.
“Who is the Aaron or Hur in your life?”
“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up- one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:10-12
I admit, I had never heard this story until recently, but it quickly became one of my favorites with its imagery and significance!
The Israelites have witnessed and endured a lot of monumental moments as they continue to be lead through the wilderness by Moses. If anxiousness was a word back then, I feel confident this group of people experienced it to the max.
Moses and the Israelites have set up camp in the desert at Rephidim when a wild, blood thirsty tribe called the Amalekites attack them. Surprised and fearful, the Israelites are forced to dive into this battle. As the scripture shows, God uses certain people to carry out His plan during the battle. I love how God reveals that Moses, Joshua, Aaron, and Hur each play a part as they work together as a whole. Joshua uses his courage and skills to take action in the battle. Moses continues to seek God’s Will as he moves forward with faith, while Aaron and Hur are an amazing image of friendship as they come alongside him.
We may not be on a hill overlooking men with swords, but we all know life is a battlefield. Aging parents become ill, children can be exhausting, schedules overwhelm us, and uncertainty unravels us. Yet, when the enemy shoots fiery darts at us, nothing shields us more than prayer and those that become the hands and feet of Jesus. The friend that shows up with dinner unexpectedly, the text that comes at just the right time, the encouraging remark spoken, all of these represent the Hur’s and Aaron’s in today’s world.
Moses knew deep within his heart that God’s Will would be done, but weariness set in while he waited. That’s how we feel at times… growing weary as we wait. I love how God incorporated Aaron and Hur to stand alongside Moses reminding him he was not alone. They offered physical, emotional, and spiritual encouragement as they ‘held’ Moses when he couldn’t press on. His friends helped carry out God’s plan.
Just in case you are wondering what the outcome of the Amalekite battle was…Joshua overcame them. Exodus 17:13, “So Joshua defeated defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.” Moses’ hands raised high with his staff represented God’s overarching power. The outcome of the battle was ultimately within God’s hands, but Moses’ trust and his friend’s support assisted in carrying it out.
Who are the Aaron and Hur’s in your life? Better yet, are you being an Aaron or Hur for someone? Ask God to help to make you aware of those that may need encouragement. Being intentional by coming alongside others in life is a wonderful depiction of the gift of Christian friendship.
“Purpose in Parenting”
I still remember the excitement I felt when the ultrasound tech revealed our second child would be another girl. I grew up with brothers, so the thought of braiding hair, nail painting and chick flicks became everything I wanted! But the phrase, “the days are long and the years are short,” has never been a truer statement because with their older ages upon us, also came their opposite personalities.
The oldest is textbook type A, organized, responsible and cautious. The youngest flies by the seat of her pants, makes witty comments in the heat of the moment, and declares her brain is too tired to do homework. Managing their strengths and weaknesses always keeps us on our toes, but navigating through sibling rivalry has become quite the challenge.
As the girls would bicker and smack one another, it felt exhausting commanding them to stop. One would whine, “she hit me” while the other would rebuttal, “well she was being mean.” As I refereed them almost daily on this matter, two overarching messages began to take root in my heart, ‘you hurt me, so I will hurt you back’ and ‘when you hurt me, I react to you.’
These underlying messages helped me see the root of this issue and a broader message. It was beyond “stop fighting,” or “you should be nice to your sister;” it became a deeper look at the habits they were forming in relationships. Today’s world is filled with hurt, emotionally driven reactions and often, revenge.
The Golden Rule has become like a ball being tossed between two opponents. With this new insight, I stopped the game. I began to say, “if your sister hits you and you hit her back, the last one that hit will answer to me first.” I began to explain, “the last one that responded in an ugly way chose to ‘react’ in an unhealthy way and chose revenge.” Our girls are learning that pain in this world will be inevitable, and unfortunately a lot of this pain will stem from people. Yet, when this happens, what becomes important is how we react. Acquiring self-control in our responses is what builds wisdom and character. Grasping our emotions in the moment and sorting through our thoughts teaches us not to make decisions based off feelings.
Seeing this frustrating cycle from a different angle gave my job as a parental referee more drive. Guiding children to make better decisions can be downright exhausting, but when we step back and look at the root of the matter, we may find a deeper message to approach. I often ask God, “reveal my daughter’s weaknesses so I can memorize and apply scripture for them and also show me their strengths so I can encourage and cultivate them.” Proverbs 17: 28 comes to mind often, for me and our family,” Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
Discernment, a quality of being able to grasp what is obscure; what a great quality to obtain in today’s world. A hidden message within our world is “you hurt me, so I will hurt you back,” or a trendier term would be the word, ‘karma.’
Take time in prayer to seek an alternative message, God’s message. Teach others to stand on His Word; one that reaps patience, discernment, knowledge, and wisdom. Parenting will always be challenging, but finding purpose in the process will equip us to keep pressing forward.
Check out this week’s video by Ellie Holcomb and Need to Breathe!
“Previously Equipped”
It was a section in the Old Testament I wanted to skip over. I knew words like, “cubits and tabernacle” were waiting to rattle my brain and produce doubt to their relevancy. I loved the familiar stories in Exodus but didn’t see the point in stumbling over detailed instructions of how to build a massive tent. God had already given Moses the Ten Commandments; I felt I had grasped the bigger message, what more was there?
Ironically, this massive tent, aka the tabernacle, happen to be the lesson planned for my rotation in children’s church- gee thanks God. If that wasn’t enough, God made sure to add it to the lesson in my adult Bible study that week too.
As I reluctantly thumbed through cubit measurements and detailed building instructions, I grumbled there was no relatable ‘life message’ to be found…until Exodus 25 thumped my forehead.
Exodus 25 described a strong message to the Israelites in reference to their participation in building this dwelling place for God, “tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings to me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give. These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet material.” A question within my Bible study was, “where did these items to be offered even come from since they had fled Egypt and had been wandering around the desert?”
The answer to this question is where my reluctancy found purpose.
Back up a bit to Exodus 12 to see how detailed God can be…as they fled Pharoah and the Egyptians, well before they even dreamed of building a tabernacle, verse 35 says, “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for.”
Isn’t that amazing?! Amid chaos and confusion God worked in the detail of supplying them with items they would later use for His glory. I’m sure in the moment of fleeing Egypt the Israelites thought, “Are you kidding me, you want me to ask for their possessions too, aren’t we escaping this place?!”
God was orchestrating what they could not see, just as He does for us. He equips us well in advance for what lies ahead; sometimes in the form of a strong trait, support from community, success, time, the list goes on. I often need to remind myself of this. The world has a way of clouding God’s message to us, but reminding ourselves of how relatable the Bible can be, and absorbing God’s Word is the willingness He desires. When we focus on His Word and who He is, we see a God of detail, fully equipping us with everything we need for the journey ahead. Our willingness to recognize it is key.
I’m thankful for detailed cubit measurements and weird Bible words, because among all the tiny black words are life lessons.
“Our Circle”
Today’s blog is written by my husband, Matt Bridges. Take a minute to gain insight on our influences and the blessing of friendships!
There is an old saying that says you are a lot like the people you hang around. Our circle of friends has a strong influence on each of us. From day-to-day issues to life changing decisions, we are all looking for someone to bounce ideas and concerns off.
Consider this, you talk with your group of friends after an argument with your spouse. How does your circle respond? Do they side with you and tell you all the things you did correct and your spouse did wrong? Or do they hold you accountable and tell you biblical truths to that disagreement? Here comes the hard part. If your circle is not holding you accountable and speaking biblical truths, your circle needs to be re-evaluated.
By God’s hand, I have been fortunate over the last few years to have a circle that God handpicked. A circle that has helped evolve clear thoughts during uncertainty and using Godly influence whether it be with business decisions, family challenges or daily concerns. The men in my life have helped me grow stronger personally and spiritually. We have laughed together, cried together, and watched our families endure hardships. But, one thing is certain, all blessings and hardships are hit head on with prayer first.
Our circle uses the “circle approach” to prayer. Mark Batterson authored a book, “The Circle Maker.” In this book, Mark details obstacles in life in which each concern was prayed over in the form of a circle. He would physically walk circles around the concern being lifted in prayer. In doing this, you are changing your prayer routine and talking to God in a new, sometimes, tangible way. Circle your homes when you are having difficulties in your marriage or with your kids. Circle your business or place of employment when difficulties arise at work. Circle your kids’ schools when they are facing trials. Circle your churches when the Spirit prompts you. You get the idea. And remember this, it is ok to not get immediate results. Our circle has learned that circling can take months or years. Yet, one thing we have learned is that God is faithful, and faith is strengthened during the wait.
Key words to biblical truths to our lives is supplication and application. What does God’s Word tell us about handling life’s challenges? Philippians 4:6 says in all things, offer prayer and petition. What does God’s Word tell us about marriage? Ephesians 5 should be your go to. What if we are struggling with a tough decision? Read Proverbs daily. God will certainly speak knowledge, truth, and discernment through this profound book of the Bible.
And lastly, is your circle displaying Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus told his disciples to GO, whether next door, another country or within your circle. This is not an option; this is a command to all who follow Jesus and call him Lord. Use your spiritual gift to accomplish the great commission. And use your circle to change families and grow the Kingdom!