Uncategorized – Page 27

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The God Spark

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021 krisshetter

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So God created mankind in his own image in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Recently, an archeological site in Jordan was determined to be the site of the ancient city of Sodom – destroyed by a meteor of fire. That fact is now added to the 1000s upon 1000s of texts and archeological finds supporting details found within the Holy Bible. As author Eric Metaxas explains in his new book, Is Atheism Dead? , science, rather than moving us farther away from proving God’s existence, is actually moving us closer.

The desire by scientists to prove or disprove God does prove something else – our human desire to be connected to something greater than ourselves. In fact you could argue there is really no such thing as atheism. If we haven’t submitted ourselves to the one and only God and savior then we have most likely submitted our lives to something else. In our yearning for connection some turn their job into their worship. While for others it is nature, money, self-improvement, the mystical, and all other manner of things the Creator has created.

Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns. Jeremiah. 2:28

Since the beginning of time we humans have sought not just the answers to the universe but a connection to it. I’ve heard it called the “God spark.” Something within us that seeks Him, not always knowing who or what we seek. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit moving in and out and around us whispering to us to look heavenward. Far too many turn a deaf ear and instead seek the world for this connection and are never fully satisfied.

I was recently asked why I started going to church. About 25 years ago my oldest daughter, then around 4 years old, started drawing angels. And singing about angels and asking about angels. We didn’t attend any church or even talk about God. It wasn’t during Christmas season. Her questions were so innocent and yet deeply yearning for answers. It sparked me to start asking those same questions. Mind you, even though I came from an atheist household, I always believed God existed. I just didn’t know anything about Him. But with that innocent child’s questions our family began a journey.

I am so thankful that God put some of Himself in each and every one of us so that we would have that yearning to be re-connected with Him one day. So many of us just need to be directed to the Creator instead of His creations.

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, christian podcast, Christian women, Faith, Jesus, Jesus Follower, podcast, Uncategorized

30 Days of Thankfulness

October 28, 2021 krisshetter

Join me starting November 1-30 as I go on a journey of lifting up thanks to God! I hope you will enjoy these short, daily thank you notes to our one and only Holy Creator who has blessed us all so richly forever and ever! You can also follow along on the Emboldened podcast! Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more!

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The Well-Worn Path

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 krisshetter

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Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

In the mid-1800s hundreds of thousands of pioneers left the comfort of their eastern homes beyond the Mississippi River and traveled West toward what we now call Oregon. The result of those courageous pioneers is hundreds of miles of well-worn wagon wheel ruts. In some places the gouges from the wagons extend four feet deep in the rock. It became a symbol of being on the right path when your wagon wheels found the ruts for which to follow. And because they were so deep it meant your wheels would stay true to that path.

And there lies the idea behind “being in a rut.” A well-worn path that, in some cases, is a good place. So often, however, the result of creating those paths in our lives leads us down roads we long to escape. I wonder how many of us Christians find ourselves in a well-worn path that either isn’t to our liking or to God’s?

The last few weeks we’ve looked at ways Christians are expected to stand apart, be held to a higher standard, and stand resolutely with Christ, not the world. But for many of us that means climbing out of that four foot deep rut. The rut of going along to get along. The rut of living in half-truths such as only expressing love without truth or vice versa. The rut of an unintentional life. The rut of sitting in a church where you aren’t convicted or spurred to share the message of eternal life. The rut of any number of sins.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:9-10

The Apostle Paul was in a rut. He followed half-truths taught by the Pharisees and then he, himself, passed those false truths along with a vengeance. It wasn’t until Jesus abruptly entered his life and yanked him out of that four foot hole that he realized his state. And when he did, he took the message in Psalm 91 to heart. He pressed on and on staying close to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He trusted that although perils would befall him it would not stop him from his mission. And thank God. Because he, like you and I, was just a man. A regular flesh and blood human. A person filled with sinful ways. Without his trust in God, without his life of intentionally following Jesus we wouldn’t have his wise words to guide us. He was like Jesus in a sense that God wanted us to have a fleshly example to model. Jesus clothed Himself in skin so he could endure our earthly life. And endure it with full trust in God.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psalm 91:14

Because He loves me just as much as He loved Paul, I know that I can live a bold life in the name of Jesus. I know that even when hands come against me or when words try to hurt me, I will receive the ultimate promised prize. And when we live a life in worldly ruts – cowering before our accusers, afraid of speaking our faith, staying in the shadows not helping pull our fellow travelers from the flame – we are saying to God, “I really don’t trust you to work all things for my good.”

The ruts we need to seek are the well-worn paths of the saints, not the sinners. The paths that Jesus has laid out for us are so clearly defined in His Word. We need to look for them as parents, as spouses, as co-workers, as sisters in Christ, as citizens.

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:15-16

We can’t do this alone my friends. Through praying in the Spirit (not the flesh), through Christian fellowship, good teaching, and constantly living with God just ahead of us as our pioneer guide we can accomplish everything He asks of us. And He will satisfy us with salvation and the glory of heaven.

Friends, what well-worn worldly paths are you living in? Is it your parenting style? Or maybe you’ve flipped the script in your marriage. Are you in too deep with equating your faith with your politics? Have you forgotten that God sees and knows every word you speak, every emotion that lies in our heart? Are you taking advantage of God’s promised salvation and disobeying Him without repentance? It’s time to stop in our tracks and look up to the edge of the rut. Stick out your hand and ask the Holy Spirit for a leg up. You can do it, we can do it. You are not alone.

Join me starting November 1-30 for 30 Days of Thankfulness!

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A Plan for Us

October 19, 2021October 19, 2021 krisshetter

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The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d get married. Partially because I just wasn’t raised thinking about marriage and partially because I was the product of a marriage based on very little respect for each other. For many years, God allowed me to live my life in sexual sin. I went from one man to another, sometimes only passing through in the night. But God always has a plan for each and every one of us. For me, that plan included being given the gift of a wonderful husband.

In our early years, my husband and I weren’t faithful followers of Jesus. But he, at least, had a Christian background from which to draw. When I look back over our first 10 years of marriage I can see where I am grateful for that tension of knowing some of what God expected from us as a couple. I say “tension” because whenever we live outside of God’s narrow path we can either 1) live like we don’t have a clue that what we are doing is ungodly or 2) have some concept of ungodliness which can then pull us into learning more. We will be judged in the end so I’d rather not be oblivious to my sins and take the opportunity to work on them!

In our marriage we struggled for control. Control of who would be the head of our household. Control of our finances. Control over long term decisions for our family. Over discipline of our kids. Over our time management. Looking back, I was only doing what I had learned in my family home. A weak father figure gives way to a power vacuum. On the other hand, my husband came from a strong, godly father-led family. And so the back and forth went on and on.

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”  Genesis 3:2-3

There’s a lot of talk in feminist circles and the media about the “patriarchy” and how men shouldn’t “keep women down.” But from the beginning God had a very clear plan for women and men. Women were to be the “helpers,” assisting their Adams to be the best men they could be. Like a good golf caddy, this is no job to take lightly. Yet we arrive at Genesis 3 and Eve immediately forgoes her heavenly role. Instead of seeking wisdom from her husband she is drawn to the words of the serpent. The fleshly desires pull her farther and farther away from God’s plan.

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12

And the result? As you can read above the entire plan is turned upside down. Eve takes the lead and Adam falls into a weak position of blame. Eve is punished by God for her role in the Great Fall with painful childbirth and the knowledge that men will rule over her. But when you read the punishment of Adam, he receives a harsh future that effects every area of his life.

I have to be honest and say that every marriage I have been around that was in serious trouble was a direct result of this upside down relationship. That’s not to say there aren’t men who disobey God’s command to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Eph 5:25). But so often in our modern world and as a result of the feminist movement which started in the 70s, women have jostled or demanded control in their relationships. Like all actions that go against God’s holy plan we see the results with weak husbands and overbearing wives. And wives who underneath it all desire a man to stand up for them, to take charge, to love them to the point of sacrifice.

Women of God, the idea of submitting to our husbands or future husbands does not mean we are second class citizens. You’ll notice in Genesis 3:16 Eve’s punishment was to have men rule over her. Therefore, it wasn’t God’s plan for men to “rule” over her in the first place. Thankfully Jesus came to give us a new covenant, reminding us that although there is still a hierarchy of responsibility, every person is of equal value. A helper doesn’t mean you are less than the one being helped. It’s taken me awhile to truly understand this. What it means is we trust God’s plan. And if we have chosen wisely, we trust our husbands who also trust God. We trust them to take care of the family business. We trust they will have our best interest in mind. We trust they love us so much they want us to be content.

If our husbands are not trustworthy in those areas or men of faith, who are we to blame?

He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 1 Kings 11:3

King Solomon was considered one of the wisest men of all time. Yet it was his wives that managed to turn him away from God, to lead him astray. Our role as our husband’s life caddy is so important that we can’t let what the world says about feminism and submission sway us from following God’s plan. A good and godly wife holds so much sway over her husband. And the world laughs at us thinking a bigger paycheck or fancy job title is what’s most important. Our work in helping our husbands will take us a lifetime — much of the time simply modeling godly behavior, control over our emotions, showing love, showing faith in the Almighty and our men.

Eve’s veering from God’s plan, leading her husband to a great sin, can make me so angry at times. But then I think about the times I placed myself above my husband and ask for mercy. It took a lot of intentional work on my part to step back and encourage and teach my husband how to place himself at the head of our family. He didn’t think I needed him, ever.

Friends, whether you are a husband, wife, or not yet married we must stand resolutely against how the world wants to define marriage. We can’t let the world define what “submission” looks like in God’s world. His great plan for man and woman, joined together in harmony is just the example for what is the final plan. The ultimate marriage between Jesus and His bride will be full of love, joy, beauty and compassion. Let’s start today with making those fruits part of our earthly marriages.

Contend for the Faith

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 krisshetter

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Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  Hebrews 10:33-35

Our country has become a virtual cafeteria of different religions, cults, and non-Christian world views that are all vying for supremacy on America’s religious landscape. Our country is also currently confronted by many tough domestic and global issues. We need Christian wisdom and biblical discernment as never before.
Ron Rhodes, 5 Minute Apologetics for Today

That phone call that dreary night will never be forgotten, at least by me. And I wasn’t even the person in trouble. I wasn’t the one who desperately needed to hear the right words to save a life. But I was in need of knowing the right words to say. And because I didn’t have the wisdom, the strength of faith I have now, I must take part of the blame for ending a life that night.

My friend’s voice was filled with desperation. She was pregnant. She was also just 19, a college student far from home, a woman who was having an affair with a married man (who had also gotten another woman pregnant). I had counseled her before, over and over, trying to get her to stop seeing this man. He was slimy and untrustworthy. But of course, he was oh so different with her – a genuine prince apparently. And so, a life of unwanted, unprepared motherhood was staring at her in the face. What would she tell her parents? How could she show her face? My immediate response? “You must get an abortion of course.”

This young woman who dreamed of being married one day and having many children was looking for a way to erase her mistakes. To reboot her dream of becoming a nurse first then having a family. And I helped her take what seemed to be the easy path. We washed our hands of it all and moved forward with both our lives. But I have never forgotten what I did. And I doubt she has either.

I wasn’t a Christian at the time but I was a member of the human race. A person that valued fairness and justice. A person who for the most part thought she was a “good person.” I had no one in my life telling me different, showing me a different way. It wasn’t until I drew closer to Jesus that I realized how far from the truth I was really living.

The problem was I then swung too far in the other direction. I took up the mantle of “truth” and forgot about the Royal Commandment – to love one another. And I think when we Christians get ourselves mired in political and social issues we can forget about that place of balance that God seeks for us. We can forget about what we are really needing to accomplish in God’s name.

In the United States, the Republican/conservative/right leaning parties are automatically associated with Christians. And yes, there are many of the same values involved. But to assign our faith to one political party’s platform is a mistake in so many ways. For one, it politicizes the message of Jesus. For another it assumes that all party stances are within the biblical realm. It also assumes there aren’t people in other parties that profess their Christian faith.

And so, when we come personally up against a faith/biblical/moral issue we may frequently pull back from our commission of helping others out of a sin-filled life because we don’t want to be labeled a “right winger,” a “bigot,” a “nut job” or any other derogatory statements.

To be fair, too many of our churches have either abdicated their responsibility to teach their flock about so many hot button issues such as homosexuality and abortion and how to respond correctly. While others have so politicized their churches you can’t tell the difference on a Sunday between a patriot rally and a sermon.

A new friend of mine told me how she was visiting various churches trying to find a new church home. One visit took place on the 4^th of July – the U.S. Day of Independence. As she stood for the beginning worship, she noticed all the songs were patriotic ones. And when the US flag was marched in by worshippers, she got up to leave. At the door the pastor stopped her and asked why she was leaving. Her response? “I came to worship God, not the United States.” She loves her country but her love of God doesn’t have anything to do with her country.

And so, like the women in my Bible study groups we ask questions that our churches fail to address or in the way they need to be addressed. We feel safe to dig deep into what the Bible truly says about homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, and more. But we aren’t theologians – that’s why we go to church. To hear the Word of God taught to us in ways we can turn around and use them out in the world. It’s sad, to be honest, to hear Christians desperate for knowledge and yet left unfed week after week.

One of the ladies in my study group recently had a profound breakthrough related to this topic. She is very sweet and prides herself on creating good relationships. But she realizes her desire to not “rock any boat” has also been an excuse for not speaking the truth + love when it is needed most. “I’ve realized that in the past I had the excuse of being naïve as to the expectation of what God wants from me. But I can’t use that excuse anymore. I know he wants me to contend for the faith. I know what is truly at stake. I’m now struggling to see what that looks like for me,” she said.

I’m not going to take each major issue facing our world today because I am not a theologian with lots of important degrees to back up my words. But I will direct you to the steps you might take to be better prepared when your friend tells you their daughter wants to start hormone treatments to become a man. Or, when your co-worker tells you that having a nice house in a nice neighborhood is white privilege and you should be ashamed. We also need to be prepared to step back and know when a political issue maybe doesn’t have any biblical connection at all and just must be looked at from a “good citizen” point of view. Because yes, not everything we deal with is a faith hill to die on – but how we deal with those issues is.

You’ll remember at the beginning of this post I referenced the book 5 Minute Apologetics for Today. It was written in 2010. But you’ll find most of the issues we face currently. It’s a great, easy read for giving us biblical perspectives. In addition, here are 4 steps that were recently explained in my current Bible study on Jude.

As background, Jude (Jesus’ brother) was writing to a church that was infiltrated by false teachers. Teachers who were leading lives and encouraging believers to give themselves over to sexual immorality and more. Towards the end of his letter, before he tells the believers how to confront the false teachers, he gives them these four pieces of advice:

Build up your knowledge and confidence in the Word. Learn about and study the Bible, God’s character, His promises and the judgment to come. Be immersed by also finding a good biblical teaching church – not one that just tells you some good stories each week. Join Bible studies and do the work! Jude 20/Eph 2:19
Pray not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Go to the Holy Spirit and ask for help in what to pray. By doing so you’ll show God your dependence on Him. Ask for help in knowing what issues you should be concerned about and which you should just leave alone. Jude 20/Rom 8:26-27
Keep yourself in the love of God. Fight to resist your own passions and doctrine that keeps you separated from God. Lean into God for His promises and His direction. Jude 21/John 15:9
Stay in the hope of the mercy that is waiting for you. As Jackie Hill Perry says about this, “We have been saved from God’s wrath for God.” The knowledge and hope of what is to come when Jesus returns should feel like a protection. We have something better in store for us than man’s approval. We need to keep our sights on this so the persecution we might face doesn’t silence us. Jude 21/Heb 11:25-26

On a final note, I want to encourage you to do a study on Revelation. It helps to do it with others. Don’t just read Revelation. It’s probably too confusing to be honest. A good study with people you trust will reveal to you what so many of our churches seem to fail to remind us each and every week – that judgment is coming to all. We have a greater commission than just being “nice Christians.” We are commissioned to help God save souls. We might want to start in our own households.

Sojourners & Exiles

October 12, 2021October 13, 2021 krisshetter

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No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4

We Christians are sojourners and exiles. This is not where our ultimate allegiance lies!
David Van Drunen, Politics After Christendom

We certainly aren’t lacking in opportunities to engage in political discourse these days. From mask wearing to vaccine mandates and budget crises to abortion laws the world around us is in quite a turmoil. But when, as Christians, are we to engage? When are we called to join the fight and stand resolutely in our faith? These next two posts will look at our life as Christians and the political realm. First, starting with what role the church, and therefore Christians, play in our common citizenry.

But let’s back up a bit. For those of us living in the United States we’ve seen a serious deterioration from our Christian-held values over the last 70 years or so. Not long ago almost all businesses were closed on Sundays and you certainly couldn’t by alcohol on that day. Now, a business that makes the decision to not be open on Sundays because of their beliefs is vilified. I’ve heard different arguments about whether or not the United States was a special project by God. Whatever stance you may take on that we can be certain that every single nation was formed by God. Every single head of state has been placed in their position by God and therefore is subject to His expectations and final judgment.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

That the United States was founded with God and the idea of His sovereignty at the forefront should not, however, be in dispute. Besides the federal founding documents, all state constitutions, except one, reference God and His oversight of said government in the beginning of those documents. It was then left to the citizens, as it has throughout the history of the world, to maintain that stance.

When you get deep in to C.S. Lewis’ great Christian apologetic book, Mere Christianity, you’ll find the concept of a Moral Law. Through every empire, every phase of human existence we turn to this moral law for guidance. We know what basically is wrong (ie: killing another human for gain or pleasure) and what is right (ie: helping a widow or orphaned child). And, as Mr. Lewis argues, no matter your faith or lack thereof those concepts have been placed in our hearts and minds by someone.

But as a society drifts further away from a common faith, as in the case of much of Europe, North America and South America, we create new ways of working around what we know to be right and wrong. We bend the moral law to fit the desires of our flesh and we seek to be accepted by the world.

You cannot make men good by (man-made)law; and without good men you cannot have a good society.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

And so, as Christians we watch as one of the last bastions of religious freedom, the United States, which also built upon that with many other freedoms, begin to crumble. And we can so easily misplace our fears on our elected officials and the laws they create.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:8-9

At the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy the Romans ruled with an iron fist. Anyone that did not submit to their laws was imprisoned, tortured, killed, or pushed out of everyday society. And Paul reminds not just Timothy but all of us who read this message that we have one commander to whom we must be most concerned – God and His son Jesus Christ. We are set apart to be holy and live a holy life.

We are reminded that our role in this world is a sort of dual citizenship – to the country we call home and the home that waits for us. It’s a balancing act that the disciples knew all too well. We are to obey the laws of our government as good guests yet remembering we have limits based on God’s expectation of our adherence to His moral laws and knowledge of the final judgment.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:11-12

It may come as a surprise to many Christians in the United States but it isn’t our role to create a “just society.” It is our role to seek justice for those in need in our communities but we can’t right every wrong. We need to be comforted that God is in charge and we can, as individuals and corporately do His good works. But Jesus, time and again, never sought regime change. He sought heart change. He sought obedience by His followers to God’s expectations.

Being a sojourner did not require isolation from surrounding societies. Abraham seems to have understood the need to exercise prudential judgment about how, when and with whom to share common activity. One approach did not fit all cases.
David Van Drunen, Politics After Christendom

So does this mean we shouldn’t try and affect our government’s choices or laws? No, it’s just remembering who we serve first, resolutely. It’s remembering the difference between violently protesting a wrong and speaking out within the framework of how God wants us to act. It’s figuring out where God and the church stands on an issue (ie: abortion) and where something may not be biblical at all (ie: the federal budget). It’s making sure our heart and mind set firmly with God, not the world.

Believe me, I’ve struggled with these issues a lot. I’ve stood on street corners waving my country’s flag and promoting a candidate. I’ve stood up to politicians who have demonstrated a lack of moral character. Neither of which are wrong for a Christian. I vote in every single election. Which is, in a way, expected as a Christian. But as my faith progresses, I’m taking a new view of my place on this big blue planet. When I firmly set King Jesus as my authority, as my hope, as the Lord and Savior not just of my world but of every single human that has existed and will exist, my perspectives change.

As Christians we cannot continue to say we trust God, we know God will judge in the final conflict and still scream in outrage at people who disagree with our political opinion. That message speaks loud and clear to non-believers that we don’t trust God. That we haven’t set Him as our authority. That we have no concern for eternity.

It’s time, fellow sojourners, to pull out our passports and remind ourselves of our future travel plans. To stand resolutely with the one King that will judge everyone for all ungodly acts. He has not appointed us commissioners of that judgment. Yet, we are also not called to be passive in our worldly citizenry — sitting back and watching the world fall around us. He has appointed us as soldiers to exhort others to follow Him before it is too late.

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We Say Yes

October 7, 2021October 13, 2021 krisshetter

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Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

A few years ago, God put my faith listening ears and my trust in Him to the test. He asked me to step outside my well-built comfort zone based on the pride of working. For an unknown period of time, He directed me to feed the homeless with 100 lunches once a week. He told me what to make and where to take the food. He tested and challenged me week after week to put my complete faith in Him. To stand resolutely with Him. For almost a year I experienced a relationship with God like no other.

As I wrote the other day, sometimes God asks us to stay silent. Other times, like during His 100 Lunches Project, God asks us to step up and say, “Yes!” And if we aren’t paying attention, aren’t tuned in to His character, aren’t sure that He is directing us, then we miss out on great gifts of intimacy with Him.

The actual making of the first few weeks of lunches wasn’t so far out of my comfort zone. I had enthusiastic helpers and a husband who supported my venture. But as time passed and God kept calling, I was faced with having to be resolute in following Him. For one, my husband thought this would be sort of a “one and done” activity. Not a financial investment and something that would take up room in our already full garage. He also was concerned for my safety as I ventured into potentially dangerous areas, at times alone. I could have easily agreed with him on all counts and shut the program down. But I knew God wanted me to stand firm. So, as I explained to my husband, God was directing this project, not me, he relented with a few requests. One being that if I didn’t go with someone that I would regularly check in via text.

And then there was my work schedule. At the time I was a long term substitute in a school office. I prided myself on always being on the schedule to work at one school or another. It was my source of “happiness” that people needed me. The direction I was getting from God was to give out lunches in the middle of the week. Doing that would require me to tell the school I currently worked I couldn’t be there that day for an unknown period of time. My fear was they would let me go. And so, I prayed to God. Asking Him to guide me and bolster me. The day I spoke to the office secretary I told her, “I’m doing this lunch project, directed by God. And I can’t work Wednesdays anymore.” A weird thing to say, for sure. Especially in the more liberal area that I live. The response? “Sounds good. We will take you any day you can work for us.”

That’s how the year went. Door after door opened. And some closed as needed. I watched and listened for His Word. And I did His work in His name. It was glorious!

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

The greatest lesson I learned that year was about trust. Trusting in that when God speaks to us and gives us a challenge He will provide. And any obstacle that is put in front of you, you can stand firm in who has your back. That year I had many people scoff at what I was doing. Family, friends, policemen, strangers. But when you know that your mission is God-sent nothing should stop you. You can be resolute.

So many of us Christians are sitting and waiting for God to call us to something special and yet we haven’t taken up the directions already laid out before us in God’s Holy Word. We don’t need another whisper to tell us to be kind or forgiving. We don’t need a tap on the shoulder to know how dangerous our gossiping tongue can be. It’s all there in the Good Book waiting to be lived out. We just need to take a stand for God.

The process of sanctification starts with the basics and moves on toward more and more challenges of trust. When He sees we are obeying the small things He places more of His banquet in front of us. But like the process of knowing when to stay silent we must be able to discern it is God, not our flesh, directing us. I knew it was God asking me to embark on this grand project because it asked me to do things so in opposite of my own desires and yet followed perfectly His.

When you act for God you will have detractors. You will have people that call you crazy. You might even have people who get angry with you. You might have to ask God to confirm you are on the right path. And I’ll tell you, brothers and sisters, when you are on that path, the work you do for Him will be seen by people who need to see it. You just may never realize it.

There were so many lessons for me in that year of 100 Lunches (which grew to about 300 per week!). And one day in December of that year God said to me, “You are done. It’s time for something else.” He closed that door and told me to stop. Even then I needed to be resolute. People chastised me for not continuing. Someone got quite angry with me. My response? “This wasn’t my project to begin with, it was God’s. He told me to be done so I am done. But you are free to serve in my place.”

I mentioned in my last post about the story from Sparkling Gems from the Greek and listening to God’s voice. I’d like to share with you the prayer from that day.

Lord, help me follow the Holy Spirit’s leading whenever He impresses me to do something. I know there have been moments in my life when the Spirit was leading me to do something. But because I didn’t understand it, I didn’t obey – and later I was always sorry. Please help me become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to trust Him when He speaks to my heart. I want to be obedient and to experience the supernatural life that He wants to give me! I pray this in Jesus’ name!

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Slow to Speak

October 5, 2021October 13, 2021 krisshetter

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Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”

But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.  Mark 14:61

I sat in that meeting surrounded by men. I was the only woman on the coaching staff and that alone put me at a disadvantage. But I never have had an issue with being “the only one.” I frequently have found myself in the position of being the youngest, the woman, the questioning, the sober, the only one to say “no.” So that evening was no exception. What was uncomfortable was the man in front of the room threatening me. He also threatened to have the softball program thrown out of the community center if I remained a coach.

Something inside my head told me to do something I rarely do – keep silent. I typically will speak up and defend myself but it was almost as though tape were placed over my mouth. Partially out of a sense of shock and fear that this man might physically attack me and partially because of that voice I remained quiet as he ranted and raved.

When the ranter was out of steam, the president of the league stood up and with his large physical presence made it clear the man was done and needed to leave. A vote was taken and I stayed part of the coaching staff. When the meeting came to an end I was shocked again when the other men, many who had rarely given me the time of day, approached me and congratulated me on standing strong and being so “tough.” As I walked to my car that night my legs turned to jelly and I collapsed in my car in tears. The ranter’s words were painful but the words of congratulations also overwhelmed me. I had finally done something they could all respect. And it was all because I listened to that small voice to keep quiet.

Even though I experienced success that evening with my silence it can drive me bonkers reading how Jesus took the abuse from the Pharisees. Of course, unlike Him, I couldn’t rain hellfire down on my accuser and work a miracle. But Jesus knew exactly when to speak and when to stay silent.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry... James 1:19

And that’s my topic this week on being resolute in Christ – when to act or speak and when to rest or be silent. Because frequently doing the exact opposite of what the world expects is exactly what we need to do to serve God righteously.

But how do we know? It can be difficult to discern between our wants, needs and fears and the Word of God. I have found over the last few years, however, that God does make things clear when it is important. Plus, knowing the character of God and Jesus and what is expected of us is tantamount in making good decisions. God never speaks to our fleshly desires, encouraging us to indulge. He is prudent, loving, kind, careful with resources, seeks justice and forgiveness, and above all He is holy.

Study the three main traits of Christ (justice, goodness, holiness) for thirty days, begin to practice them in your daily life, and see what God does…you won’t be disappointed.
Joyce Meyer, God’s Character

I’ve found it fascinating that people who want clear answers from God aren’t willing to actually know the character of the “person” from whom they are seeking answers. Yet, I won’t go to a friend who clearly has difficulty with their finances and ask them for financial advice! And I won’t seek fashion advice from someone that looks like they’ve just rolled out of bed every day.

So much of obeying God’s and His Holy Spirit nudgings must start with knowing the road signs to even look for. And then when we have accomplished that we must start paying attention and actually acting on those directives.

I love reading Sparkling Gems from the Greek each morning. It’s a yearly devotional that takes scripture and studies it in the original Greek meaning. Recently, the author wrote of how he was to attend a gathering of fellow pastors whom he hadn’t seen in awhile. He and his wife travelled to the city where the event was to take place. As they were about to the leave the hotel a clear word came to him to not attend. He first told his wife he felt the need to stay in the hotel. But he went anyways not wanting to miss out on the fun. Each step along the way he was told over and over to not go. While at the event the message became almost overwhelming. He left his wife to keep visiting and he returned to his hotel. Upon entering his room, he realized they had been burgled. All their passports, computers, important papers, jewelry and more were gone. And he realized his fleshly desires overtook that warning voice.

How often have we stood in the midst of a situation that calls us to be an outsider, a dissenter, the weird one, the one to step out of line and answer the call of His voice? And how often have we brushed it aside thinking we know better? When we don’t know the character of God that will happen frequently. But when we do know the character of God there’s no excuse. We repent and tell God to give us another chance to serve Him rightly.

God will frequently call us in our everyday lives to do something that may help us or help others. That cashier you want to be rude to because she is talking to another co-worker about her personal life? Ya, God might be telling you to say something incredibly kind to her or just keep silent. That neighbor who yells at you because he doesn’t like where you put your trashcan? God might be telling you to keep your mouth shut. That trip you are about to take? He may be saying, “cancel it.” You won’t know if it’s your own worries or desires unless you know Him and His ways.

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.

“‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.  Zachariah 7: 11-13

God calls us to action and He calls us to inaction. He calls us to speak and calls us to stay silent. But if we worry too much about the world and what they will think if we obey those words, then we are sure to be judged. We must stand resolutely when we hear that voice and through knowing His mind we will be assured He has our backs.

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The Purposeful Path

September 30, 2021October 11, 2021 krisshetter

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  3 John 11

When I was first researching the word “resolute” I came across the tiny village of Resolute in the province of Nunavut, Canada. Back in 1999, Canada created a new province from the original Northern Territories specifically for its native citizens. And Resolute was one of the northernmost inhabited spots in that province. Its most famous resident, who put Resolute firmly on the map, was Joseph Idlout, the subject of two documentaries, Land of the Long Day in 1952 and Between Two Worlds in 1990. He was for a time one of the most well-known Inuit and was shown on the back of the Canadian two-dollar bill.

I decided to watch the Land of the Long Day and was treated to some childhood memories of old fashioned documentary film styles. This little film about a tiny family eking out an existence in the Arctic held my fascination for over an hour. You see, Mr. Idlout purposefully chose to keep his family close to the old ways of living. They hunted and gathered what was available each season, storing up for long, dark winters. They used every available resource to keep their family alive and thriving. Everyone in the family had a job to do for their survival. And to maintain this way of life he petitioned the Canadian government to move to a tiny weather station called Resolute and create a home for themselves. Rather than uprooting their lives and becoming more “modern” they chose to remain true to their culture. And they flourished.

It’s perfect that this “most famous Inuit” moved to a tiny town called Resolute because that’s what it took to make his decision for his family. And I wonder, how many decisions us modern parents make are based on what God really wants for our children?

As a grandma and parent of two, now grown women, I can easily recall times when I had to make decisions that would set my children and family apart from others. So many times, when I would go against the norm, others would say to me, “I hadn’t even thought about that.” In other words, they were just going along to get along without consulting any moral code whatsoever.

“When you are being taught how to use any machine, the instructor keeps on saying, “No, don’t do it like that,’ because, of course, there are all sorts of things that look all right and seem to you the natural way of treating the machine, but do not really work.”
CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

It seems so natural to automatically sign a permission slip for your child to go on the 4^th grade overnight trip that every single 4^th grader in your school has gone on for the last 10 years. There’ll be chaperones and it’s just down the street. Everyone is going. And then you find out boys and girls will be sleeping together in small rooms. Chaperones include moms and dads – many whom you don’t know. So your daughter will be spending the night with boys and a dad. No problem, everyone is going. Everyone has gone. No one has ever brought up any issue. So what’s your problem? Are you going to set your child apart? Will you be resolute in what you know is the God-directed answer?

In the verse today it says “imitate evil.” And I think so often when we read things like that in the Bible we give ourselves little passes to make immoral decisions, especially when we feel it might harm our kids’ social lives. I mean, it’s not “evil” to let our kids go on a boy/girl sleepover. It’s not “evil” to allow our daughters to wear the latest fashions that might be a bit revealing. It’s not “evil” to let our sons play violent video games. It’s also not “evil” for all the parents at the birthday party to get drunk. Right?

In a world where parents are pressured into allowing their elementary and middle school children to start dangerous hormones and go under the knife in order to try and change their gender, letting your kids watch R rated movies and TV shows seems tame in comparison. And we let it slide.

“Perfect behavior may be as unattainable as perfect gear changing when we drive; but it is a necessary ideal. Prescribed for all men by the very nature of the human machine just as perfect gear changing is an ideal prescribed for all drivers by the very nature of cars…it would be idiotic not to try; for every mistake is going to cause you trouble later on.”
CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

It’s interesting that this quote from Mere Christianity involves using a stick shift in a car. For just about every one of us that process has changed to be an automatic. But the question I ask is your automatic response to making decisions for yourself and your family set to the world of the flesh or the Word of God?

For Joseph Idlout, he drew on his people’s hundreds if not thousands of years of history and made the conscious decision to not go the modern route of the world. And I have to say they seemed to live a pretty content and peaceful life. Not an easy one by any means. The harsh Arctic conditions probably led many to scoff at their decision. They might even have been called any manner of names from savages to crazy to ignorant. But his children didn’t grow up with drug addictions, suicidal tendencies, endless debt, and more that our world offers.

We can’t all put our families on an island away from the world’s influences. But we can stop pretending things aren’t “evil” when they go against what God wants of us. We must be resolute and purposeful in following God’s will for our families. To be His humble servants, to know His Word inside and out so that it becomes automatic, and to live like the chosen people we are. Our children’s lives depend on it.

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, christian podcast, Christian women, Faith, Jesus, Jesus Follower, podcast, Uncategorized

Walking The Talk

September 28, 2021October 11, 2021 krisshetter

The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. Isaiah 38:19

I have a confession to make. I wasn’t an intentional Christian parent. Church was often relegated to the backseat during softball season (which pretty much lasts 9 months). I didn’t make sure my kids were involved in Christian youth groups. When we did pray at dinner we prayed the same prayer each time until it became almost meaningless. We didn’t talk about the Bible, we didn’t talk about our faith. I don’t think I’m alone in this confession. And I’m sure I’m not alone in saying there was a price paid for our “Christian-lite” stance.

I am thankful that, when my younger daughter went off to college, she was drawn to a Christian athlete organization and then a local church. Through that program she learned what we had failed to teach – the truth about our Savior and how much God loves us. My older daughter? She’s probably like a lot of our twenty-somethings. She believes in God but beyond that it gets murky.

“The single most important factor of shaping children’s religious lives is their parents – not society, not youth leaders, but their parents.”
Christian Smith, Handing Down the Faith

In other words, if you model faithfulness, if you live out what you say you believe on Sunday, the chances of your child being a devoted follower of Christ is increased exponentially. And if, like I did, you lead a lukewarm faith life you’ll most likely create the same fruit. Even worse, if you act or speak hypocritically you may get no fruit at all.

A few weeks ago, our pastor taught on Genesis 18:16-19:29. An overarching theme in these verses is the concept of being or having an advocate. Someone who will hold us up and speak for us to God. Abraham wrangled with God to save just a few people from the sin-filled cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the end, his pleas saved his nephew, Lot, and Lot’s daughters. It’s a beautiful foreshadowing of the ultimate Advocate – Jesus. As you can see in these two verses.

Then he (Abraham) said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”  He (God) answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”  Genesis 18:32

Jesus: My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

How many of us, as parents or grandparents or even aunts and uncles, see ourselves as “advocates” for our children? See being in that role as possibly one of the most important ones we will ever have? How many of us have prioritized our faith over the sparkling lights of “after school activities?” Their very souls are what we are talking about here. I’ve heard so many parents grieve their adult children’s faith. And so we pray as their advocate. How about we also live as one too?

Abraham was able to plead directly with God. A back and forth conversation. How? From the beginning of his relationship with God, Abraham obeyed and worked to be a faithful servant – with a few hiccups along the way. What does that look like as modern parents today? How can we be resolute in not compromising our children’s eternity?

In my next post I’ll talk about opening our eyes as parents to our everyday decisions. Are they of the world of the flesh or of God’s will? I recently listened to author Christian Smith about the research he has done in the area of youth and faith. His current book is titled, Handing Down the Faith. Here’s few great nuggets from the book.

Teens are actually paying attention to you. That might come as a shock to many. He found that even into their 20s our kids are actively noticing how we live and what we “preach.”
Just saying you are a Christian (Buddhist, Jew, etc) isn’t enough. Kids are learning both positive and negative faith examples.
We aren’t just counteracting world views but some church ones as well. Many Christian youth programs teach what he termed, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – act morally, be a nice person, and don’t judge. That’s great when life is easy. But as our kids age and the world comes crashing down it causes them to fall away.
Be authoritative – demand expectations, standards, with an abundance of warmth and support. Note: not “authoritarian.”
Talk routinely about religion. While your faith doesn’t need to be the subject of each discussion your faith should be woven in and used for handling conflict and decision making.
Walk the talk. If you live a life of service, humility, forgiveness and worship your kids will have the best example they will ever need.
Channel “internalization.” Or in other words place your child in situations where they will be influenced positively in your faith by others such as youth groups, religious schools, etc.
Know the Word. A good teacher is only as good as how well they know their topic!
Play the long game. None of us are wholly responsible for anyone’s faith and salvation. But the building blocks you instill are certainly a great cornerstone!
Pray. And pray some more. Pray for knowledge, pray for discernment, pray for your children and your spouse. Pray for doors to open for conversations and then walk through them!

I may have missed the opportunity when my kids were younger to instill Jesus into their lives. But to be fair, He wasn’t deeply rooted in mine either. Thankfully, how I’ve allowed Jesus to change me and use me is also a great lesson for my adult children. Until this Age of Grace is over, it is never too late for God to work in our familys’ lives. As a changed follower I’m asking for His help, so that I can stand resolutely and faithfully in being my kids’ advocate.