Tag: word of god

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The Christian Traveler 

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For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I’m that Christian who had long convinced myself that I could never memorize Bible scripture.  I’m in awe of my friend Betsy who can roll out verses like a pro.  She doesn’t just know them; she uses scripture to comfort, encourage, convict and enlighten as she hikes her Christian path.  It’s what the Bible means by taking up the “sword of the Spirit.” (Eph 6:17).  

Earlier this year I finally understood this analogy.  Without scripture at my fingertips, I was like a soldier going into battle without ammunition.  Or as though I was on a road trip and forgot the most important thing to keep me going – snacks.  Realizing this, I set out to memorize Isaiah 26:3-4 which says, “You keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the LORD God forever for He is an everlasting rock.”  

When my mind strays to worries, fears and all the other things of this world that pull me away from God, I’m slowly using this new weapon as a reminder.  A reminder that perfect peace can only be found in the Lord. 

Last week, we looked at corporately attaining knowledge about our Christian faith to grow in sanctification. Through church participation or group Bible study we gain helpful insight into God’s Word.  Today, we will look at the individual means the Holy Spirit guides us on this holy journey.

Daily, personal Bible reading, whether through reading a book of the Bible, a teaching-style daily devotional, or individual Bible study book, is essential to gaining knowledge of the God we profess to be our King.  Without this, we close off an avenue for the Holy Spirit to work in us.  It’s our “sitting at the feet of Jesus,” learning His ways.

I’ve always recommended to fellow Christian travelers to do their Bible reading in the morning.  While we need to be careful not to become Pharisee-like in our routines, there’s a good reason I recommend this.  

The Right Path

Why do you already do the tasks in your morning routine?  You get cleaned up for the day, get energized and mentally review your daily schedule.  You might even exercise somewhere in all of that.  Keeping physically fit to “make it a great day.”  All that’s wonderful, until you hit rush hour traffic or you get a flat tire.  Or you get a giant project dumped on you that no one else wanted.  Maybe your child suddenly throws up as you’re about to take them to school.  It starts raining and you had a picnic planned.

You know, life happens and it’s only 8:30am.

I mentioned previously that my mom died suddenly last year.  I had just finished my evening prayers when I got the phone call.  Then, just four days later my 85 year old dad was given the news that his 10 year fight with bladder cancer had progressed to something much worse.  My life and my schedule were instantly thrown for a loop.  Each morning I did my studies and turned my schedule over to God. I began memorizing Isaiah 26. The Holy Spirit spoke through His Word encouraging me and teaching me.

On January 7, 2025 one of my devotionals used Genesis 6:22 to remind me of my purpose here on earth: “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” In other words, live in obedience to His will.

So, before you start your day let’s get our heart, minds and souls fed and strengthened.  Let’s get ourselves aligned on God’s road.  We then set out, wading through burnt toast, coffee spills, traffic, rain, clothing mishaps, annoying people, and lost phones with being tethered to God’s perfect peace.  We are fully stocked with all our favorite road trip snacks.

You may wonder where to start?  That’s really not the problem.  The problem is just starting.  I can recommend, however, reading the book of Mark.  It’s fast paced and gives an overview of Jesus’ ministry.  

Roadside Service

The other daily tether on our journey is prayer.

I heard a great sermon by Tim Keller where he looks at Psalm 1 as our introduction on how to pray.  Verse 2-3 says, “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”  He explained how “meditating” is frequently misunderstood to mean gazing at our navel or the ocean.  But what it really means is having a conversation with God.  A two-way conversation.  Talking and listening. God speaks to us through the gift of His living Word, the Bible.

Here’s Dr. Keller’s example of how to mediate on the “law of the Lord” (meaning the entire word of God):

  1. Take a piece of scripture and read it a few times
  2. For 15 minutes or so write down 10 things you observe or learn in that scripture
  3. Circle two or three things that stand out to you or have special meaning to you at that time
  4. Think on those for the remainder of your day while talking with God

I guarantee if you do that a few times a week you will grow in your knowledge of the Lord.  You will see His beautiful promises, His truths, and His expectations for your walk with Christ.  

We don’t need flowery poetry to talk with God.  And God doesn’t need you to speak in tongues (He’s well-versed in whatever language you naturally use!).  You may have heard the Bible verse, “pray without ceasing.” That isn’t something that looks like being a cloistered monk all day.  It means when something good happens, you immediately thank Him.  When you are in a tough spot, ask Him.  When you sin, seek forgiveness and help.  In the morning seek His will, not yours, for the day.  And in the evening review how you saw Him at work in your life.  A constant “roadside assistance service” to our God.  The Holy Spirit is ready and waiting to fill you up with the knowledge and wisdom of God through answered (or even unanswered) prayers.

Friend, do you want to grow closer to God — meaning you are walking the path of sanctification?  If you want what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ,” it’s like any earthly relationship.  You need to get to know Him.  You must spend time with Him.  

Through private, quiet contemplation and study and congregational teaching and worship the Holy Spirit reveals our glorious God.  He holds your hand while you travel through this Christian life.  

I’ve learned a lot about how much God loves us and how to see Him throughout my day these last six months.  I’ve learned on my long drives home from my dad’s house after a day of doctor visits to thank God for all the ways He has helped and strengthened me.  And although I haven’t yet achieved “perfect” peace, I’m at least going in the right direction.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  John 16:13

This week’s question: What Bible scripture have you memorized that you use often?  Or which scripture would you like to memorize?

Next week: We plunge into seeking the joy of trials. 

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Ready, Set, Roll

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His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-8

When my oldest daughter was little, she announced the desire to roller blade.  So, we bought the skates, helmet, wrist and knee pads to embark on this new adventure.  After the first outing, which saw numerous falls, she then announced she was a complete failure and wanted to quit.  The skill building process is not one which children seem to embrace readily.  They’re easily frustrated, disappointed and prone to toss it all in the trash.  

My daughter thought that she could strap on those skates and glide her way around the neighborhood with ease – enjoying the freedom of movement and wind in her hair – without having to actually learn how to skate.

As adults we usually understand this process.  We come to realize the time and effort needed to learn a topic, skill, language, job, etc.  Yet there are still times when many of us think a lesson or two should do.  I’m reminded of this fallacy each time I take to the golf course.  As an occasional golfer, when I whiff a shot and get frustrated or even mad, I must remind myself how little I play and how rare I practice.  

What does this have to do with being sanctified in Christ?  For the past year I have been a discipleship coach with an online ministry.  The students sign up for a course, answer questions about Jesus and the Bible, and ask me their questions on Christian doctrine or scripture.  When asked why they are taking the course, all say they want a closer relationship with God and Jesus.  They say they want to grow their faith.  But my friends, here’s the truth.  Only one has completed the course.  Many don’t even start it.  I don’t take it personally.  The stats are the same throughout the program.

They have to opportunity to strap on the skates, to attain their goal of freedom in Christ yet they don’t want to learn how to do it.  So, I have to ask you, do you want to learn how to grow in your faith, in your relationship with Jesus?  Do you really?  It’s not a passive activity.  Sanctification doesn’t just descend upon you and poof you’re fully changed.  The Holy Spirit prompts us, presents opportunities for growth, and when we step forward, He changes us.  

Let’s go back to the scripture at the top of the page.  There’s a word repeated throughout which leads us to not only being an effective and productive member of Christ’s kingdom but also how to grow closer to God.  Do you see it?

Knowledge.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24

When you accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior, God isn’t expecting you to strap on your skates and head off onto the nearest beach boardwalk skating and dancing gracefully to the tune of Boogie Nights.  No, He says, “Follow Me.”  Learn from Me, watch Me, imitate Me.  Change with Me, while the Holy Spirit holds your hand.

How do we do this?  Today let’s talk about knowing God and I mean really knowing God – as much as He allows. Knowing Jesus’ words and understanding as much as the Holy Spirit wants to reveals to us.  Our faith is built on the truths of God so we can stand firm on the battlefield.  So that when we slip and fall, we can know we are still loved and forgiven.  We accomplish this with His help both congregationally and individually. Today we will roll into the topic of congregational learning, why and how to seek it plus, tips on preparing yourself for the best experience.

When Jesus called the disciples, He didn’t just hang out with them.  He taught them.  The entire book of Matthew is Jesus teaching these disciples what the Kingdom of God is actually about and how the citizens of the kingdom act, think and love.  It wasn’t by osmosis.  It was by sitting at the feet of a teacher and putting what was learned into practice – an internship program of sorts.  

In modern times we call that going to church.

Friend, if you’re one of those folks that thinks they don’t need to go to church because it’s “just a building” or you were hurt by another believer in a church, and you are learning to skate all by yourself, then you don’t know the full Word of God.  Scripture after scripture tells us, even admonishes us, to gather to hear the Word and to worship Him.

God’s Holy Word calls us to commune with other believers in our process of sanctification.  Jesus didn’t just call one person, He called 12.  And then hundreds sat at His feet.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

The Sermon on the Mount might be considered the first large church meeting.  People gathering to hear the teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God.  He gave insight to the Law they’d never heard before.  They were blessed, convicted, and fed.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Hebrews 10:25-27

Did you catch all the reasons to go to church? To show love to each other; to do good works with each other; to encourage one another; and don’t miss this one – to gain knowledge to help us not to go on sinning.

When you trust in Jesus you are made a member of the body of Christ – not just an independent body part.  You need the body and the body needs you to learn to roll with God. Choosing a church or group should reflect your thirst for learning God’s Word and desire to worship Him.  

This week, if you aren’t in a church, start looking and visiting.  Before you go try and look up the church online.  Search for their “what do we believe” page. If they don’t have a page like that, I recommend you skip that church.  Be prepared to visit a number of churches.  If you want some tips on what to look for in a church, ask in the comments below!

Meeting together is not a choice in God’s view.  It is not only a place to be uplifted by other believers but also to gain knowledge and wisdom about Him.  Without this, we are prone to believe so many of the devil’s lies about God.  It’s a commitment to life-long learning so we can step out and skate into the truth and freedom from sin.

Your church should be a place of spiritual growth.  A teaching environment, not a personal counseling session intended to make you feel good for a bit.  Sermons should leave you thinking, contemplating on your obedience to God’s will, not how it’s ok to disobey God.  They should bring you new insight into scripture, not creating new scripture.  The teaching must be God focused, not you focused.  

Here’s some tips on being in the right mind before you walk into church or even Bible study this week:

  1. Pray and be in joyful anticipation that you will learn something new about God today. Romans 10:17, Psalms 119:16
  2. Think with eagerness on how you get to worship God today. Hebrews 13:15
  3. Be watchful, excited and intentional about how you can be a cheerful, welcoming, or comforting person to someone else in the congregation (especially looking for people you don’t recognize). Hebrews 3:13, 1 John 4:12
  4. Take what you have learned and teach someone else. 1 Peter 3:15

Friends, this coming Sunday so many of you get to hear God’s Word taught without fear of persecution like so many of the early Christians experienced.  Some Christians, as in Syria and Egypt, face this still today.  When you plan out your weekend be sure that God is first on your list of skill building opportunities you want to do.  He is waiting to see you roll in, ready to praise, pray, learn and love.

This week’s question: What do you (honestly) think is the most important decision in choosing a church?

Next week’s post: Your individual search for knowledge and wisdom

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Day 14 Lion

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Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.  His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees andtrembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:1-6

So often when we share our faith we talk about the gentle love of God.  He comforts us in our sorrows.  He counsels us in our pain.  He provides for us in our time of need.  While this is all true, we can’t forget the basis for why we can be comforted.  Why we know one day our pain will disappear.  The hope that we have through God’s promised victory is the foundation for all that we believe.  That one day we will stand beside our conqueror, Christ, in heaven.

Our gentle Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah.  The God who destroyed evil nations, who moves mountains, who promises that justice will be His in the final battle, that is also our God.  While we may romanticize Jesus during His time here on earth as humble and gentle, we need to remember the Jesus who cleared the temple with a whip.  The one who called the Pharisees, who distorted the Word of God, vipers and evildoers.  He was quiet and gentle at times because of a strength that no man can imagine.  

When we feel sorrow over the ways of this world, we need to remember two truths.  The first is that nothing that is happening is new.  The words of Peter, James, Paul, and Jesus attest to that.  The disciples who were killed for nothing more than proclaiming their faith in God’s son are just another scene played out for centuries before and after.  Injustice, violence and evil perpetrated by people who deny the sovereignty of God.  

If we sit and marinate in the knowledge of these evils, we too dismiss the second truth – the power of God and promise of things to come.  It is that power and the written account of future events which lift us.  We see the glory of God bringing His sword of justice to all mankind.  With no one escaping judgement.  No one. 

We don’t know the day or time.  But we should always plan as though it is today.  Acting, speaking, loving, and doing in such a way as Jesus has ordained us.  Spreading the word of His coming justice to truly ease our pain.  And the hope of salvation from eternal damnation.  Through our belief in Jesus Christ, who died for our punishable sins, we can stand in assurance of God’s coming roaring, glory.  

Click here to listen to today’s song: LION

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Enjoy The Right Side of Life Part Two

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Did you miss part one? Click here!

We need to put the best people on the horses and don’t apologize for it.”  

Warren Wiersbe

I have to ask you – who have you placed as your “experts” in life?  Your “ruler who sits on the horse,” (Ecc 10:6&7) who is ready to lead you into battle?  Are they leading you in the right hand life of Christ or in the left hand life of folly?  How can you know?  The Bible.  It is the preserved Word of God that does not change, no matter the era or point in history.

When faced with people who think following the truth and wisdom of the Bible say that’s “old fashioned” or irrelevant today, all you really need to do is read through the entire book of Ecclesiastes to see Solomon’s study of life in his age.  We are no different.  We want what we want and we want it now.  Preferably served with a slice of fun and merriment.

If you want to rejoice in the “right hand” life (by the way,  the word “sinister” comes from the Latin word meaning “on the left hand”… sorry again lefties), what do we need to do?  

Look to and at Jesus like we do our cell phones.  When we abide in Him, we experience abundance.”  

Pastor Ryan Paulson

When I heard this a few weeks ago at church it really hit home.  I carry my phone around in my back pocket throughout my small home.  I can hear the phone ring from any room in my house.  Yet I keep it close.  I look at it even when it hasn’t rung or chimed in a while just to make sure I haven’t missed a call or text.  

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

That’s how we need to place God – right in our back pocket.  Right in front of our face.  Not in a drawer we pull out in times of trouble or a couple times a year.  We dust off our Bibles, we sign up for Bible study (and actually do the work and attend), we find a church that is biblically based, not wishy washy.  We commune — not on-line in a faceless, non-participatory way — with other Christians to help bolster us and them.  We make God our expert, our Lord and our Holy King.

“If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.” Ecclesiastes 10:10

Do you need to sharpen up your edge so that you can cut through the lies of this life?  A knife so sharp we can spot the people we should and shouldn’t allow to guide us in the right handed life?  

It’s time to learn that the way we’ve always done “life” may not be working out so great for us.  We are weak and feel so much rejection from the left hand way of the world.  It’s time to step up and rejoice!  To enjoy a life of strength and wisdom and acceptance given to us freely by God.  The God we put squarely in the center of lives, riding us onward into victory.

"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will lift me high upon a rock. 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord."  Psalm 27:5 & 6
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Enjoying the Right Side of Life

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I’ve mentioned in past series that I wasn’t raised in a Christian home.  My father is, to this day, an atheist and my mom is well, just sort of lost.  In my younger years, I would probably tell you I believed in God but I didn’t really know what that meant.  God was the creator and He was still hanging around, I supposed.  If I had died back then I would’ve had the same judgement as my father, I believe.  Because just like my atheist father, I didn’t have God as the centerstone of my life.

I hate to say it but I talk to a lot of folks who seem to be in this same boat.  They might even call themselves “Christian.”  But dig a bit deeper and they don’t believe the basic tenets of the faith.  Such as Jesus being full man and fully God who died to cover our sins and make us righteous before God.  Or that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.  Without these basic truths to help us navigate through life what’s to keep them from wandering off the path?  To avoid a life of fool-hardy behavior and thinking?  To be led by foolish teachers and pastors?

“Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.” Ecclesiastes 10:1-2

Back in the ancient world of King Solomon, the right hand represented the place of honor and power.  The left hand (sorry lefties) represented weakness and even rejection.  In this introduction to chapter 10 of Ecclesiastes, Solomon shines the light on our propensity to lean a bit too far into our personal temptations and sins.  We give way to the left-hand side of life.  Those sinful “flies in the ointment” create a life that looks a lot like one without knowing or trusting in God.

Blessed is the man who has the God of Jacob for his Helper; he need not fear either want or pain, or death. The more you can realize this, the happier will you become; and the only means for so doing is to hold frequent communion with God in prayer. Get alone with Jesus, and He will comfort your hearts, and restore your weary souls.”

Charles Spurgeon

No only had I not put God as a cornerstone of my life I put so many other things and people there in His place.  In Solomon’s words I put “fools in a high position” (Ecc 10:6).  And wisdom?  Let’s just say it wasn’t a top priority for me.  

“The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.” Ecclesiastes 10:15

What a sad state to be in, as so many are today.  Lost amongst well-travelled roads.  Thinking they know the way to enjoying life to the fullest only to find themselves each morning back on the wrong side of a meaningful life.

I’ll make a confession to you.  I started having sex when I was about 16 years old – sad to say that may be a bit old nowadays.  By the time I met my future husband at age 22, I had been with more than 15 different men.  The first few sexual relationships were ones I sometimes, still today, thank God that He didn’t allow me to become pregnant because I was also unprotected.  In the midst of my sexual promiscuity years something inside me knew what I was doing was wrong but it didn’t stop me.  I plowed ahead in my left hand life.

Later, I even realized my behavior was borne out of a need to seek love and acceptance.  Of which, I usually received the exact opposite.  Folly, folly, folly.  And more wandering over the same roads.

My centerstones, or my go-to experts, were like-minded travellers.  Women’s liberation bullhorns, pro-abortionists, people who believed we deserved to do what we please, and others who scoffed at the religious right and their limiting “rules for life.”  I was going to do what I wanted, with whom I wanted, and was going to be happy and successful.  

Until I wasn’t.

As a person searching for a meaningful life, that younger me was bombarded by foolish rulers.  College teachers who were all about living the life that was “true to yourself.”  The people I worked with had no place for God and encouraged debauchery and folly.  Even the pastor of the church, where I spent about 10 years as  a new Christian, never talked about sin.

Now, as a Christ-centered Christian, it angers me that there are pastors who fall into these same categories.  Their own lives and their teaching don’t reflect God as their centerstone.  They are ok with abortion – murdering the innocent.  They are just fine with people having sex outside of marriage.  With living immoral lives as long we know we are “loved” and “don’t judge.”  They’re apparently reading from a different Bible than the one I have.  

They are not leaders of the right handed side of life.  When we look at who we’ve put as our centerstones we have to ask: are they simply leading us back around in circles to all our old sinful paths?

Click here for Enjoying the Right Side of Life Part Two as we discover the path straight to love and joy.

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Savior King

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"Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!" Psalm 24:10

Yesterday, in the Advent study I’m working through we were tasked with listing the names and characteristics of Jesus from various Old and New Testament scriptures. The names included: child, son, Son of the Most High, Father, Counselor, God, Prince of Peace, Lord, King, Jesus and Messiah/Savior. Attached to these names were adjectives such as wonderful, mighty, great, everlasting, zealous, wise, and upholder of justice and righteousness.

We were then asked to highlight the name and characteristic that we believe to be the most significant. Which would you say? It may depend on your current state of mind or the situation you find yourself in. But let me back up a bit and take us to the year 2019. There were just a few small things going on in the world that year. A worldwide pandemic for one. And the U.S. election for a new president.

What was your state of mind at the time? Were you afraid for your health? Worried about who would lead the world’s most influential country? Concerned about the status of your job? Upset about the situation with your children’s schools? Angry about people wearing masks or not? Abandon by your church for shutting their doors? Distraught over a loved one’s death? The year 2019 certainly held a lot of opportunity for all those emotions. At the time, the bigger question was: being honest, who did you cling to? The TV newscasters? Health officials? Elected leaders? Family? Or God?

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13

“When His glory is revealed.” What does that mean for us in the here and now? We suffer through leaders seeking their own glory through greed and immorality. We hear false teachers leading Christians astray with destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). Neighbors and even family and friends follow their sensual desires and blaspheme the truth (2 Peter 2:2). And we shouldn’t be surprised. It is all written in God’s Holy Word. But what is also written is that there will be a day of judgment. 

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." 2 Peter 3:9-10

My friends, if we believe that Jesus is a real person who walked this earth as both God and man; if we see how the truth of the prophets in the Old Testament came to pass over and over; if we have experienced our glorious God working throughout our life, then we must place the banner of truth on the promise of times to come.  We must look different than the world. Our choices both physically and emotionally must cause others to ask us questions. ”Why aren’t you worried?”

I’ll tell you honestly the Lord was doing a might work in me in 2019. On one hand, I allowed myself to be carried away with all manner of worldly emotions. On the other, I began clinging to God. The battle of the heavens was revealed in little ‘ole me.  I know that God is winning and will be victorious. Just the other day a good friend shared her husband’s observation of me. He told her how much I’ve changed over the years. I almost cried when she shared that he called me “gentler.” And I raised my hand up giving God, the Victorious, all glory.

Jesus is all the names I listed during my study. He has all the characteristics found in those scriptures. Surely the name Savior should speak most to us especially during times of trouble and strife. He came to save us from a terrible judgement. He is the Savior King who will uphold all final justice and righteousness. Knowing that this glorious and powerful God cares about those two things should bring us everlasting peace. 

The world is a mess, just like it was hundreds of thousands of years ago. Just like it was when the Romans ruled throughout Israel, Judea, Samaria and the far reaches of Europe when the Jews sought an earthly king to save them. The Word of God promises us it won’t get better until Jesus returns. So, let’s put our hope and peace and love in His hands. He is the only one who will lead us into victory.

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen

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God’s Flawless Words

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“Every word of God is flawless;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”  Proverbs 30:5

In January 2020 I embarked on a faith journey of which I am still on today and will be for the rest of my life.  It was a simple journey, for which I only needed one book and the desire to converse with God.  I added a few new friends and a few old timers who understood God a lot better than me.  And so began my study of the infallible Word of God, the Bible.  I appreciate the way one of the “old timers” I’ve had with me describes this amazing book.

We have a more sure word of testimony, a rock of truth upon which we rest, for our infallible standard lies in, “It is written.” The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, is our religion.”  

Charles Spurgeon

What I found, having researched the Bible’s origins and its mind-boggling consistency in truths over thousands of years and multiple writers, is that God is never wrong.  He’s never been mistaken.  He has never told a lie or broke a promise.  Most “confusion” over His Word is typically because we humans can’t understand a being that loves us so much that He hates sin.  Other issues with His Word abound because we don’t take the time to place the stories in context of the times or within their original language.

More importantly what I have found is comfort, peace, joy and hope.  Comfort that He never leaves us and is always teaching, guiding, encouraging, forgiving.  Peace in that He wants a relationship with us free from strife and He shows us how to live in this world knowing of the beautiful eternity to come.  The joy He brings is through His love of this place we call earth.  His creation is so gloriously beautiful and intricately woven together.  And of course, the hope that Jesus gave through the forgiveness of our sins.  Knowing that when the day of judgment comes, He will welcome us into the New Eden with open arms.  Hope that sees no pain or suffering.  No sadness or despair.

My friends, don’t let the unbelieving world define God’s Word for you.  Read it for yourself.  Study it with all your heart, mind and soul.  There is nothing else that will bring you such comfort and hope.  There is no other book that will tell you as much about the world, its people and its creator as the Holy Bible.

Thank you, Lord God for your infallible Word.  Speak to me in my confusion, my pain, my sadness, my joy and my hope through the pages of your book.  Amen

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Contend for the Faith

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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 4th 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:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.

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The Purposeful Path

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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 4th grade overnight trip that every single 4th 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.

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Resolute In Christ

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As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

Hi Friends!  It’s been a while since my last post – which ended the 30 More Days of Praise series.  I’ve been praying for some time for direction about my next series.  And I finally received a push a few weeks ago to write about standing strong in our faith, in the face of adversity.  There’s a lot going on out in our world that pushes back against the message of Jesus.  From twisting God’s view of agape-type love to seeking comfort from our fears through worldly means, we Christians are in a tough battle.  Tough, but not a new one.

When we read the New Testament books, a common thread throughout is adversity.  The saints were constantly up against the threat of death, torture, and imprisonment.  Much of Jesus’ time here on earth was pushing up against, not the political world, but the religious one.  It was the supposed followers of God who called for Jesus’ crucifixion.  And it was his supposed loyal followers that abandoned Him at the time of His greatest need.

And once the twelve received the Holy Spirit and realized their holy callings it only got worse.  As word spread and followers grew so did false teachers and strife amongst congregations.  And each apostle either found themselves facing a murderous mob or a lonely prison.  Yet the Word endured. 

On the face of it all it seems improbable.  How could a tiny group of men (and a few women) from thousands of years ago be the ones who today help us to know and understand our glorious God, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit?  How could the Word of God have been passed down through the ages with only slight changes in translations?  Because God is God.  And, because God is resolute in His love for us, He has made sure His message continued and will continue to educate, inspire, and comfort us for all time.

And that brings me to where I am today.  In a recent visit to my mother in law, I mentioned how I haven’t been writing lately.  And she said, “Oh how I miss my Emboldened each day.  I just am amazed at how much and what you write.”  It made me realize there are real people out there behind my computer screen reading my messages of God.  And I owe you an apology and explanation. 

You see, as always, God put on my heart just the right message at the right time.  To be Resolute in Christ.  To stand firm in His promises.  To be assured that He loves us.  To know without a doubt that He is with us, through thick and thin.  I need that message right now.  For the last two months I’ve been suffering through a medical condition that perplexes my doctors.  My ears are under extreme pressure and I’ve lost much of my hearing in my left ear.  I am in constant pain and so often can barely focus on the basic work I need to accomplish – much less sit and write.

I have pleaded with God to relieve me.  I have cried to God.  I have argued with God.  I have questioned God – even just today after yet another fruitless doctor appointment.  I’ve been so weak at times I’ve wanted to turn my back on Him.  But He pulls me back each day.  He is resolute and I need to be the same.

So, this is my first step to working through my pain, my brain fog and to be honest my self-pity.  I am a Jesus follower, just like the early disciples, who needs to trust God and obey His Word.  He has given me my marching orders and I choose to engage in the battle for the saints.  I am resolute.  

Join me September 20-October 22 as we explore the many passages in the Bible that show us how to be Resolute in Christ and to live an uncompromising Christian life.