30daysofpraise

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Day 6 All of My Days

July 6, 2024July 5, 2024 krisshetter

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

According to a University of California Irvine study, it takes an average of 23 minutes after having been distracted to get back to the task at hand. Now imagine if that “task at hand” was to stay on the narrow path laid out by Jesus in His famous Sermon on the Mount – “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.” Keeping our mind and body focused on the goodness and mercy of God. On how much He loves us. And responding to Him throughout our day in obedience and gratefulness.

There’s never a moment, not ever, that the Lord of all creation has forgotten you. He knows every single thing about you. He has plans and blessings for you; not just for your earthly days but for all eternity.

How often do we, however, forget about God? We aren’t desperate for Him. We don’t think to ask Him to help us. Worse yet, we don’t think He will help us. We get distracted by all the flashing billboards along that narrow path luring us to take the off ramps and spend a little time (or a lot) seeking pleasure or life that fits in so nicely with the rest of the world. Every off ramp leading us further away from His loving arms.

Each time a friend, a pastor, a word here or there, or the Holy Spirit nudges us back to the path you have to wonder, how much time did we waste that could’ve been spent doing His will. Serving someone He wanted us to bless? Or even strengthening us for future trials?

23 minutes each time we are distracted. Add up all those times we chose not to go to church, not read our Bibles, not go to Bible study, not choose the narrow path. I know for me that adds up to a lot of days. Thank goodness for His free flowing mercy!

I spent a lot of years being distracted by the world. But I am forgiven. I’ve joined up with the narrow path. We need to keep our face lifted to the God who loves us all of the rest of our days. Won’t you join me?

Day 5 Gratitude

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 krisshetter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  Ephesians 1:3-4

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens…. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8: 1 & 3-4

Have you ever had someone do something for you that was unexpected and thoughtful? A few months ago, I was so sick with the flu I could barely walk from my bed to the bathroom. A friend of mine heard how sick I was and that day left a care package of healing teas at my door. It was a loving, unsolicited gesture — wanting to help nurse me back to good health

When I hear this beautiful song by Brandon Lake I am overwhelmed by God’s unwarranted love and care for me. I’m a sinner from way back. I’m a backsliding sinner. I will probably manage to say or do something today that I shouldn’t. Yet, the God of the universe, the Almighty One, still loves me and sees me and provides for me. He loves you too, fellow sinner.

His love is freely given. His offer of salvation is crowned upon us without us having to lift a finger. We need only to believe. No trying harder. No paying a fee. No list of things to accomplish. No shame. Just a heart that says, “I believe you and I want to have you as my Lord.” After that He infuses Himself with us through the Holy Spirit. The free gift of an ever present counselor, comforter and guide who reveals God’s will for our life.

How can we not get emotional over something so staggering, so loving, and so unexpected? We throw up our hands and praise Him over and over for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ who died to cleanse us of the stain of sin. We shed tears knowing how much we don’t deserve this love yet are showered with it each day.

All I can say to that is Hallelujah and Amen!

Day 4 Your Love

July 4, 2024June 25, 2024 krisshetter

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

In God’s Big Book of Life He constantly demonstrates He has a plan, an order of all things. All one needs to do is picture the cosmos, see the structure of our solar system, recognize we have everything we need here on this Big Blue Ball to sustain and enjoy life. He loves His creation so much that He promises to never leave us, never forsake us. He sent His son to bring us back into a relationship, bringing order into our lives.

He created an order for marriage, for our sexuality, roles for both genders, for how we treat others and so much more. It’s all there in that big book called His Word or the Bible. Yet for 1,000s of years we humans take our gifts of a free will and a big brain and buck against His order of all things. We are the only created beings that do this.

A tree, as a tiny seed, doesn’t decide if it wants to become a tree. It doesn’t decide where it will grow, or even what type of tree it will be. No, its very essence is to live according to how it was made by God. The same for all plants and animals. A bird doesn’t stress and ponder how to make a nest or even if it wants to lay eggs. It seamlessly moves to God’s plan and rhythm.

Believer or not, all humans seem to instinctively know when they aren’t in sync with God’s plan. Some of us may recognize we push to the limits of the natural order. While others may blame everyone else for not conforming to their plan for the world. But we all feel that friction when our marriages struggle, when we act sexually immoral, or when we are constantly unkind and ungenerous. That friction is God reminding us He is the creator; He is the keeper of the order of all things.

It’s taken me awhile but I finally decided I want to stay right in the middle of God’s love at all times. I want my life to be ordered such that I never leave the comfort, joy and peace that He promises when we stay close to Him. Because the thing about God is if you want to live outside His order, He will allow you. And you will experience a friction that maybe you just can’t understand.

No, I want to be right in the middle of His love. Not following my own will but His. Not sitting on the fence straddling between two worlds. Right in the middle.

Day 3 For the Love of God

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 krisshetter

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:3-5

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

I’m currently training to be a discipleship coach. Part of coaching new believers is to help them write their testimony or story about how their belief in Jesus as their Savior has changed them. It’s that portion of our testimony that brings a commonality to a conversation with a non-believer and provides a bridge to the Gospel.

So many Christians seem to think “sharing the Gospel” is taking a stranger by the hand, looking them earnestly in the eye, and then, like the church lady on Saturday Night Live, asking, “Do you know Jesus?” No, the Gospel is shared every time you tell your friend, family member or yes, even a stranger, how you too struggle with a problem in life and how you rely on the strength of your faith to get you through it. How you know, even when you have sinned, you are loved and seen and forgiven.

People can debate you all they want on scripture but you sharing your faith in Jesus can’t be disputed. And I have found it’s rarely even scoffed at when shared gently, with honesty, and most of all out of love.

The love of God, which I share with those willing to listen, is what has set me free from guilt and shame. It has set me free from constantly grasping at being “a good person” – not really knowing how to do that or what that person should look like. Resting in the love, strength and wisdom of God, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the teaching and mercy of Jesus, I am free, free indeed.

Where would I be, where would any of us be, without that type of freedom? We would be mired in our past anxiety, worries, fears, shame, and sinful desires.

Hallelujah to God who loves us so!

Day 2 Fresh Fire

July 2, 2024June 25, 2024 krisshetter

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesas the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:2-4

The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. Leviticus 6:13

Where I live, the threat of devastating fires is always with us. During certain months I feel my mind and body change in alertness to puffs of smoke on the horizon or that distinctive smell of vegetation burning somewhere. But fire in all its frightfulness offers so much goodness in its flickering flames.

It’s fire that changed man’s way of life by providing warmth, a new way to eat, and a comfort in throwing light out to scare away all that darkness brings. Fire is a powerful, God-given element – both dangerous and life sustaining.

Throughout the Bible we see fire used by God to consecrate covenants, protect the people of Israel at night, to burn up sacrifices, and to pass judgment. The New Testament refers to God as a “consuming fire.”

For non-believers they face the lake of fire. But for believers we are given the fire of the Holy Spirit. This fire doesn’t consume but rather refines. On the day of Pentecost, the fire placed in the disciples just days before by the resurrected Jesus draws a huge crowd in Jerusalem. And because of the power of that fire, thousands were saved and also given that fire.

I want to live with God’s ever-burning fire in me. Not a tiny spark or a flame but a wildfire. A fire that speaks with the confidence of knowing the Holy Spirit is really doing the talking. A fire that hungers and thirsts every single day for the Lord’s will.

This song is one I heard a few years ago and inspired my series aptly called Fresh Fire. Not too long ago it was also recorded by Brandon Lake and Maverick City Music. It brings you to your feet saying “Yes! Me too!” I especially love the line – “A man on fire doesn’t care what he looks like, what he sounds like.” As daughters and sons of God we don’t need to fear man, only God. And God calls us to be full of fire with His message of love and salvation to those all around us.

Day 1 Way Maker

July 1, 2024June 25, 2024 krisshetter

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

My Christian journey has had long stretches of a lazy attitude toward God. I realized I was trying the straddle the line between darkness and light. The worlds of my will and His will. However, within the last 10 years, I’ve begun to grasp the amazing and wonderous facets of our Holy Creator.

I discovered God is the giver of love. He provides. He comforts. But best of all He is the giver of light. The light that guides us on this narrow and frequently challenging path Jesus laid out for us. He is the one to hold tightly to so we are blessed with every day and not-so-every day miracles.

He is a promise keeper since time began. We can trust Him when the Bible tells us He will keep watch over His sheep who know His name. I read recently that there are more than 2,000 promises of God in scripture. Conservatively, Jesus alone fulfilled at least 300 of those prophecies or promises made by God through the prophets. That is who He is.

I recall a day I heard this song playing on a random Christian playlist. I was sitting in my “She Shed” working on a Bible study. I stopped what I was doing and listened intently to the words. As tears of joy and gratefulness touched my cheek, I threw up my hands in worship. Singing loudly for all the heavens to hear, I wanted the Lord our God to know not only that I love Him but how much I appreciate all He has done and is doing in my life and yours.

30daysofpraise, Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, christian podcast, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, proverbs, religion, Transformation Prayer, Uncategorized, wisdom

30 Days of Worship

June 28, 2024June 21, 2024 krisshetter

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
²Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
³Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.

⁴For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
⁵The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:1-5

Hello Friends! While we may not have a 10-string lyre laying around we can definitely sing joyfully to the Lord! I’m excited to announce my new 30 Days series which starts on July 1, 30 Days of Worship. For 30 days, we will worship the Lord through my current Spotify Christian music playlist called Kris’ Inspirational. This playlist has seen its fair share of changes over the years. Its messages are as diverse as the artists. There’s even a hidden gem from the band at my daughter’s church in St. Charles, Missouri!

You’ll notice each day’s devotional scripture most likely is not the verse that seemed to have inspired the artist. That’d be too easy! Instead, you’ll read complementary verses that spoke to me while listening to the songs. If you’ve studied the Bible at all, you soon learn that every verse has its set of other verses which complement, repeat, or confirm each other. I also included accompanying commentary that flowed from the music.

With this series of 30 day devotionals, I hope you listen to the song, no matter your favorite musical style, and lift up your arms in praise! You’ll notice Psalm 33 doesn’t say you must sing in hymns, praise, gospel, rap or a dirge. It tells us to shout for joy and make music!

Along the way, be sure to comment your favorite song that matches the message for the day. Enjoy and sing loud and proud to the Lord because He is so, so, good!

If you’ve missed any of my 30 Days series, be sure to check out this page on my blog, Emboldened: Living a Bold Christian Life. And if you aren’t already a subscriber, sign up to receive your 30 Days of Worship via email each morning!

30 Days of Worship

June 3, 2024May 31, 2024 krisshetter

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

Hello Friends! What is your heart set upon right now? What does your mind have on a continuous loop? You are yearning and hoping for something right now, what is it? For most of us we’d probably answer something related to finances, our health, our family, a job, a relationship, or even a material item like a house or new car. But if I had to summarize the words of Jesus throughout His time here on Earth, I’d have to take one line out of His Sermon on The Mount.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Matthew 5:6

When we hunger and thirst to know God, know His promises, His ways, and His infinitesimal love for us sinners I truly believe it brings the members of the Holy Trinity great joy! The most beautiful part about God, so different than other religions, is that He doesn’t need us one single bit but He wants a relationship with us built on a two-way love. He wants to provide for us and protect us. He wants to bring our hearts and souls into eternity with Him.

He wants our hearts to reside in Him – a point clearly emphasized by Jesus throughout the Sermon on the Mount. My BSGs have been steeped in this message for the last few months and it has inspired me for my next blog series–“30 Days of Worship.” Worshipping this amazing, all powerful, all knowing, all sufficient God and seeking Him in all things.

Each morning when I walk my dog Tucker, I typically enjoy listening to my Spotify Christian playlist. Our faith is so blessed to have an incredibly long tradition of utilizing music to express our praise, thankfulness, and even cries of help to God. So, I decided to use my playlist to inspire each day’s Worship post and wouldn’t you know… there were 30 songs on it! God is so good!

So, over the next few weeks I’ll be listening and re-listening to some of my current favorite songs getting the right words to worship the Lord, Our God, with all my heart, mind, body and soul. Each day starting July 1, I’ll post a scripture from the Old and New Testaments, a few thoughts, and the song that inspired me. I hope you will join me in on this 30 day journey! I’m sure you have favorite Christian worship songs from various genres that I will have missed so be sure to share yours as the days go by!

If you missed any of the other 30 Days series be sure to check out my website at emboldened.net. And please share the website with a friend so they can follow along too!

Glorious Victory

December 30, 2023December 29, 2023 krisshetter

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours."  1 Chronicles 29:11

One of King David’s first steps, after he was crowned King of Israel, was to coalesce the people of Israel and bring back the Ark to Jerusalem. As it was brought into Jerusalem, a massive celebration commenced. It was as though the victor had finally arrived back home. David wore his finest clothing, thousands went about rejoicing and hundreds of musicians celebrated in song and dance. A magnificent spectacle to be sure!

David, in most of his years, looked upon the Lord with great reverence and fear. He prayed regularly for God’s favor to be upon him and the people. God, in turn, brought down enemy after enemy providing Israel with countless victories.

As King David made plans for the new temple to be built one would surmise that nothing could go wrong in this great kingdom. In fact, 1 Chronicles ends with the death of David and this statement:

"Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor." 1 Chronicles 29:28

A man with great faith which led him to great obedience (with a few exceptions). Isn’t that something to which we should all aspire? We may not all be kings or queens, battling other countries in the name of the Lord. But, we have been placed in very specific circumstances by God with our own gifts. He wants us to experience that same sense of victory.

Too often we look around and think we are “nobodies” in this grand plan. We probably aren’t pastors, or Bible teachers. We aren’t accomplished missionaries or evangelists. We find ourselves frequently uncomfortable speaking God’s truth to our friends and family lest we damage relationships. How could we ever participate with God in victory like King David?

But David was just a boy to whom God made a promise. To whom God asked for faithfulness. It wasn’t David who made himself victorious, it was God. It was David who stayed close to God, honored Him, and glorified Him.

Throughout this last 30 days, I’ve learned that if I give God glory upon waking, if I give Him glory throughout my day, and if I give Him glory as I lay my head down on my pillow at night, He has made me victorious in so many ways. He helps me win the battle of self-doubt. His flag is planted as He destroys the fields of my pridefulness, envy and discord. He tears down the walls of worry and fear. With my heart, mind and body turned to Him, He makes me victorious!

Friend, Jesus may have arrived as a humble baby but He came to be our victorious Lord and King. God may not strike with thunder and lightning but He is doing a mighty and glorious work in our unseen parts. He asks us only to be faithful and rely on Him. He is making an army that looks like no other. One that, when this world is all said and done, will rule with Him in glory throughout the heavens and the earth. May we begin and end each day this coming year with one of King David’s prayers upon dedicating the Temple to the Lord Our God.

"Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. " 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

AMEN.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of 30 Days of Glory to God Alone! If you missed a post, be sure to check out the Soli Deo Gloria page.

30daysofpraise, Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, Christian women, Faith, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, proverbs, religion, Transformation Prayer, Uncategorized, wisdom

Rise & Shine

December 29, 2023 krisshetter

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you." Isaiah 60:1-2

Rise and shine and give God the glory! Those are the words I heard when I first woke this morning. You see I had told my husband last night, just before we went to sleep, that I had no idea what I was going to write about today. Zip, zilch, nada. But I wasn’t worried. I didn’t lay awake all night concerned about the words that had yet to come. Why? Because over a month ago I made the commitment to the Lord that I wouldn’t run ahead of Him in this project. I turned any worries I might have over to Him. So, last night I fell into a blissful sleep with the knowledge that our glorious Lord always comes through for us.

You read that correctly. He always comes through on His promises. He is always present to comfort us, to teach us, to protect and heal. The way He accomplishes this may not (and it usually doesn’t) look like how we imagined but, when we have faith in His love for us and we seek Him in every circumstance we will see Him at work.

Yesterday at lunch my friend and I shared the topics of what can keep us up at night: family strife, fears of illness, the state of the world, and even our pets. As the Lord has worked on the part of my body that brings me so much grief — my mind — He has shown me how to turn each thought over to Him in trust and prayer. To release my prideful ideas of control and be still of mind.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

That thief? He is the one keeping you up at night. He is the one that whispers that you must be the one to fix other people. He reminds you that death may be just around the corner. He reveals to you all your weaknesses and screw ups. He places the doubt of God’s sovereignty and love in your mind. He’s convincing you to expect bad things to happen. He’s the one telling you to clean up your act before you can come bow down before our Mighty and Glorious King. Ugh! I hate that guy! The king of lies.

"Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me." Micah 7:8

Oh, yes we will rise! We will rise because when we pray, the glory of the Lord shines a light on the lies. Before we go to bed each night we turn every single thought over to Him and we don’t take it back. We put it in God’s holy lockbox. We pray for the hope of tomorrow. That the Lord will do a mighty work in our circumstances. Because Jesus came to slay that serpent and indwell in us the fruit of the spirit.

I heard in a podcast this morning that Israel’s enemies would try to defeat them by putting rocks in their fruitful wells. King David was said to have opened all the wells up in victory. That’s what we need to pray today. For the Lord not to fill us — as believers we already have the gift of the Spirit in us — but to remove all those rocks we have placed in our well. It may be bitterness, jealousy, fear, mistrust, anger or any number of negative thoughts and actions. We pray not to be filled but to break down those rocks and fully utilize the glorious gifts we’ve been given such as love, joy and especially peace.

Oh, that blissful peace. It’s what we yearn for each night we lay our heads to rest. My friends, it’s time to unblock our wells and give God the glory for all He has done and will do for you. The hope of today and tomorrow that He will be present in your life every single moment.

And when you rise, give God all glory and honor and power. Amen.