We were dead in our sins.

Life is busy these days. I find myself defaulting to "survival mode" all too often, just simply trying to make it through these days without a major meltdown or an accidental nap. I quickly find myself living for me. I quickly forget that it's not about me. I forget the truths of the gospel, what has been given to me in Christ... I forget that I owe Him everything.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

- Ephesians 2:1-3

I was dead. Dead.

Dead in my sins. Following the course of this world, like the rest of mankind. Loving myself, pursuing my own passions and desires. A child of wrath.

But God...

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

- Ephesians 2:4-10

Saved. By grace. Through faith. And even this faith has been given to us. Saved... From what? Saved from ourselves, saved from the wrath of God, who could rightly and justly destroy us the moment we take our first breath. Saved to a new life in Christ. Covered in His blood. Set apart, as holy vessels, for His purposes. For His purposes and not our own.

I memorized most of this passage recently, and thinking on these few verses has been an encouragement and a challenge. I find myself amazed at these truths, and appalled a how quickly I forget them. Life would look so differently if I truly lived in light of these truths each day.

When I'm being yelled at by a customer for something out of my control... I'm quick to complain to coworkers after the fact, quick to think I deserve to be treated a certain way. But I was dead in my sins. It's only by God's grace that I can do any good thing. My heart should be filled with compassion. My words should be seasoned with grace.

When I am tired of writing papers, when school feels pointless... Again, I am quick to complain. Quick to want what I want. But I owe Christ everything. I must be a good steward, even in the little things, because I am representing Him and I must trust in where He has me in each and every moment.

When things change, when I am in the unknown, when life is confusing... I am quick to want the answers, quick to seek a solution and not a Savior. He has been so kind. I deserve nothing, yet He continues to lavish His grace on His children. If I would strive to focus my mind on these truths more and more each moment, life would change drastically. Ladies, let us not forget that we were once dead in our sins.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
- Jonathan Edwards

We serve a kind, gracious, patient heavenly Father. But let us not forget how helpless we are apart from Him. Let us no continue in sin because grace abounds, but let that grace be a motivation for us to continue putting off sin and putting on the fruits of the Spirit. Let us be known as ladies with gentle quiet spirits, speech seasoned with grace, and lives that are not our own.

The Pitfall of Perfectionism

I’ve been thinking about perfectionism and idealism a lot lately. Admittedly, I’m not your typical perfectionist. I’m a little messy and unorganized at times, and if you were to watch me clean out my car you’d probably hear me say a few times, “Oh! There that is!” However, in other areas of my life I let perfectionism creep in. A few weeks back I wrote an article about anxiety and how we can often deem it a personality trait rather than see it as the sin that it is. I believe perfectionism can fall into the same assumption. People generally describe perfectionists as “neat”, “organized”, or “particular”. There is nothing wrong with being neat and organized; in fact, Scripture encourages it! When talking about worship/speaking in tongues 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “But all things should be done decently and in order.” All we do in our lives is worship to someone or something, and as Christians we seek to live lives that worship our King, and our King desires order. The key here is the order He prescribes. Not the order we prefer in our own idealistic world where everyone does the things we want them to do and everything goes our way. This is the pitfall of perfectionism. I find sometimes I can be very zealous about the things that I want. I desire to be a good employee. To work hard. To be appreciated by my coworkers and praised by my supervisor. To be liked by the patients I see. I desire to be a good wife. To accomplish all of the things on my to do list. Dishes washed, laundry folded, floors cleaned, dinner made. I also need to be sure I’m eating at least somewhat healthy and able to workout routinely. I want to be a faithful member of the church. To be there every Sunday, be involved in church functions, serve where I can. You may be thinking, “Well, all of these seem like good, harmless things. What’s the problem?” For the most part, there is no problem with the list above. The problem arises when someone or something interferes with my plan. When my schedule gets rearranged and I don’t get to accomplish the things I intended to accomplish. When the help I anticipated on having doesn’t come through. When I realize I’m not Wonder Woman and can’t do everything on my list in one day. When I work so hard and don’t get the pat on the back that I feel I deserve. It’s then that I allow myself to become frustrated. I selfishly saw the wonderful plan I had for my time and when I didn’t make it there, I had a pity party.  Man, the filthy dross that comes out of my heart! God doesn’t want me to be zealous for what I want, He wants me to be zealous for good works! For his purposes, not my own. To realize the things that come up that prevent me from doing what I had planned, those things are God-ordained. Maybe I won’t be or do everything I had planned; but if I am doing all that I do with my heart, with love for my Savior and love for others, that is what truly matters. So rather than being particular and organized about what I want, I need to be particular about what God asks of me. What does he ask of me? I’ve been chewing on Romans 12:9-13 lately. Here’s what it says:

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,  serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

This is what He asks of me. Breaking this passage down I’m commanded to love truly and sincerely, focusing on the needs of others. To hate sin and evil. To hold on tightly to what is good and true. He also adds (somehow he knows I already forgot), to love those around me like I would a beloved sibling! This love is not based on what they do for me or how much I love (or hate) to be around them. To show a sincere appreciation and honor to those around me, no praising myself. Also, he tells me not to be lazy. He tells me to let a fire burn within my heart to serve the Lord! He tells me to be enthusiastic about what He has called me to do. When expounding on this passage MacArthur encourages, “Whatever is worth doing in the Christian life is valuable enough to be done with enthusiasm and care.”  He tells me to joyful about the hope I have in Christ. Don’t get antsy when I’m being tried. Be patient. Pray to my Father; in fact, do it on a continual basis! Make sure I’m aware of the needs of my fellow siblings in Christ, be hospitable (when Paul says, “show hospitality” in this passage, it literally means to “pursue the love of strangers”). These are the things I should be focusing on! There is so much here that can be unpacked. If you’ve got a study Bible I would encourage you to get it out and dig through the associated verses listed. When I look at the list above of what I’m called to do, it seems daunting, intimidating and even discouraging; and it is if I planning on doing it in my own strength! I know I can’t do this on my own and that I’ll mess up. Then I’m reminded of grace. That wonderful, marvelous grace of God that forgives and restores. That strengthens and encourages. That saved my soul. I read about Paul and the amazing things he did for the Lord. Paul will be the first to tell you that all that he is an all that he accomplished was only by the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” It’s the same grace that he extends to the hearts of other fellow believers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the grace of my God poured out through His people. He will give us the strength we need to be this kind of Christian.  All that energy I’ve been spending on building my kingdom, let me invest it in His Kingdom. That is something to be particular about. 

With love,

Anna Leigh

Living as Christ.

We all long for something. Whether its longing for the upcoming installment of a favorite movie or book series (e.g. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"), a meal to satisfy the stomach rumbles, a holiday after a weary season, or a certain kind of relationship, longing is an everyday reality.

As Christians, we all long for the coming of our Lord to bring about the completion of the Kingdom of God. Especially in the weariness and uncertainty of this present life, we long for the certain hope and destination that is ours in Christ Jesus. Yet, the reality is that we have not yet entered that promised Rest. We are still journeying forward through the mire and muck of a fallen world.

How do we maintain courage and persevere in walking faithfully in this life before we enter Heaven's Rest? Paul's answer is found in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." We see here that we not only have a future hope in Christ, but also a present hope.

We are able to endure and persevere with the hope that in the end there will be certain deliverance and victory: to die is gain. This is reason to rejoice! Paul writes, "Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed" (v.19-20). Paul wasn't just referring to his hope to no longer be in physical bondage, as he is under house arrest while writing this letter, but he is also speaking of his ultimate deliverance from a weak creation longing for the perfect heavenly rest (2 Cor. 5:2).

Paul uses triumphant language demonstrating his faith in the certainty of Christ's victory. In Christ's death and resurrection, he defeated the curse of sin (death) and effectively atoned for the sin of all who believe in him. As we are united in Christ, we will never be defeated or can be condemned for the sin he already paid the price for. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom. 8:37). So, that's our future hope of ultimate deliverance, that is sure because of the work of Christ on the Cross.

Our present hope is found in this: Living is Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:9, Paul recognizes that he would rather be at home with the Lord, but that regardless of where he is he knows that his purpose is living to glorify the Lord: "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him."

We have good work that was created for us by God, and we are strengthened by God's abundant grace to invest the different gifts he has given to us individually in his wisdom (Eph. 2:8-10). If we invest and cultivate skills in any area of our life, we are expecting a certain result. If you want to be a good cook, you read some recipes and learn from the example of an experienced cook. If you want to do well at a sport, you practice and go hard in the games. God tells us that we will "reap what we sow," and that he supplies all that we need to invest and grow in godliness and the Kingdom of God: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).

Paul recognizes that, in living and life, he has a fruitful labor given to him by God. He says that living will benefit the Philippians and be used to bring them "progress and joy in the faith" and glory to God (Phil. 1:25-26). This is a labor shared by every believer. God calls us to live lives worthy of the gospel ,wherever we are. Whatever roles you are in: wife, daughter, mom, sister, friend, Church member, student, employee, we have the opportunity to honor God and live lives worthy of the gospel (Phil 1:27). In Christ, our living always has purpose.

Jim Elliot once wrote, "Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living." If we only dwell on the future hope, and neglect the present hope offered in Christ we kill the abundant joy of living for Christ. So, we cry out, "Come, Lord Jesus!" and rejoice in the Lord, while we are still waiting and laboring.

Pain, Pride, and Priorites

For the past couple of months I have been dealing with severe lower back pain.  The kind of pain that won’t let you sit, stand, move, or sleep without constantly reminding you it’s there.  I knew I needed to go to the chiropractor, but I stubbornly put it off. I made excuses as to why I didn’t really need to go and foolishly spent way too much time combing the internet for ways I could treat myself at home. Time after time, Tyler would gently encourage me to just go to the chiropractor, but I would not heed his clearly superior advice. And so, I remained in pain . . . which just got worse.  Finally, about a week ago, I listened to Tyler’s urging and made an appointment for the next day.  

At the risk of sounding overdramatic, words cannot accurately express what relief I found by finally going to my chiropractor.  Seriously.  I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in weeks.  I could sit and stand without moaning or grimacing.  When I went in for a follow up appointment, my chiropractor asked me, “Why did you wait so long to come in?  You knew this was the only way you’d feel better.  Why did you wait?”  

Her words made me think . . . not just about my back pain but also about my faith and walk with the Lord.  How often have I been in a situation where I am struggling — with a sin, with a conflict, with an attitude, with a difficulty, with feeling dry in my soul — and yet I delay and, in many cases, refuse to go to the Source of relief & comfort?  To my chagrin, I must admit that it is too often.  And why would I wait? Especially when this is what I can find . . . 

Isaiah 26: 3 - “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts You.”

Phil. 4:6,7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 18:10 - “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

For me, I have found that the answer to why I delay to seek the Lord in His Word and in prayer is ultimately rooted in pride.  I think I know better.  I don’t feel like running to the Lord and scripture because I know I will have to submit to Him and His truth.  I foolishly listen to my feelings that it will be easier if I just keep plugging along in my current state.  Like I said, good ol’ fashioned pride.  

All too often pride keeps us from being able to partake in the joy of resting in Christ.  It prevents me from the blessedness that comes from submitting to God’s will.  Seeking Him, knowing Him, and communing with Him is one of the things that Paul tells us is God’s will for our lives.  

Romans 12:2 - “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

How else can I renew my mind than by pursuing the Lord in His Word and in prayer? It grieves me when I realize how I have failed to keep time with the Lord as a priority because I know that regardless of how busy you or I may be, we always make time for the things we want to do.  Always.  

I know how easy it is to become distracted, burdened, and busied by so many other things.  If I am not careful and vigilant I let those things (some of them very good in and of themselves) slowly take over my focus and become much weightier in my priorities.  God is crowded out, and I am left dry in my soul and ineffective for the kingdom.  

My pride will tell me I can make do or even thrive if continue on in this way, but that is nothing but a lie.  I have been reminded yet again how desperately I need my God and His precious Word.   It isn’t just that He must have 1st place . . . He must have preeminence in everything I do.  Seeking the Lord isn’t just something I do with my Bible and a cup of coffee each morning.  Seeking Him must be part of all that I do.  

I encourage you to take some time this week and consider if pride or misplaced priorities are keeping you from knowing our great God as intimately as He desires us to.  I know I am, and I ask that you keep me in your prayers! 

Much love and God bless!

Elisabeth 

Unmet Expectations and the Goodness of God

We all have expectations. Each day we wake up we have an expectation of how that day is going to go (whether big or small) and yet every day we face unmet expectations. The past few months the Lord has been teaching me that in spite of my expectations, God is the one who determines my path… and is to be trusted. That path isn’t always easy.  In fact, sometimes it’s really hard.  Sinners that we are, we too often focus on our desires outside of Him. Here’s a confession: It is impossible to be content with anything if focused on earthly desires and not on the God who gives grace. In fact when we realize that those are the only options, the circumstances of life show us where our desires are truly rooted! We must not find contentment in our circumstances and we must have faith in God who has allowed us to go through whatever we are facing.

Have you ever caught yourself saying, “IF ONLY__________then I would be happy”? Many times we think that if our circumstances were different then we would be happy or content. However, this is sinful thinking and will lead us down a path of wrong thinking that will make us discontent. When we ask the “what if’s”, we are not trusting God and allowing ourselves to think rightly about Him.  We know we will all face trials and afflictions in this life.  Yet many times they come as a surprise to us. Why is this? Well, our expectations of how we thought life was meant to be have been overturned.  We love and cherish our thoughts and ideas about how we see our life above that of the infinite mind of God.  As believers, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face trials.  Even when the unexpected takes us by surprise, we must trust that God’s sovereign plan has allowed it in our lives for good.  Why?  Because ultimately, it’s not about us and what our flesh craves.  It’s about bringing glory to Jesus Christ by trusting in the grace only He provides.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him… For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from heart or grieve the children of men." (Lamentations 3:22-25;31-33)

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Ps. 25:10)

What a good and loving God we serve that He is faithful to keep His promises to us and that He has compassion on us!! I am a sinner who has already been given more than I deserve, which is Christ who took my sin and declared me righteous that I might have eternal life with Him!! The Lord will not disappoint us if we put our hope and trust in Him.  I can say that I am so thankful for the trials the Lord has allowed in my life because through them they have grown me closer to Him and have caused me to realize how sinful my heart really is and my need of Christ. I pray that I would set my expectations and hope in Christ and trust Him that He will direct my steps.

I would encourage you to take some time to think about what expectations you might have and ask God to show you through His Word if these are right. Whatever circumstances the Lord is allowing in your life right now are to grow you and make you more like Him. We have to cling to the Lord and place our hope in Him and trust that He is good.  I pray that we can “count it all joy when we face trials of various kinds, for we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Brooke

A Heart of Submission and Prayer

Lately my heart has been so thankful for God’s design of submission. And that through His Son, I can learn to be submissive in the most impactful ways that glorify Him to the up-most. Before the Lord so graciously saved me, I viewed submission in all the wrong ways. I thought of it as a demeaning term and that it was something I had to do because it was “right” or because my guy friends told me I needed to do it ‘cause I was a girl. You can imagine my attitude towards submission then as an enemy of God. But through God’s grace He changed the way that I viewed and lived out this term. He caused me to realize the great privilege I have in learning what it means to submit to the glory of Himself with all my “…heart, soul, mind, and strength.” (Matthew 22:37) I’ve experienced the joy that comes when I submit my will to the Father’s. Learning to trust in Him in the day to day circumstances excites my heart to further serve the Lord. Sometimes submission isn't always the easiest thing to do or even what I want to do when my flesh fights it, but as a woman of God it is something I must learn to do in the hardest of times.

In the past few weeks the Lord has granted me an incredible, wonderful new avenue for me to learn submission. Just when I thought I had a good handle on it, God had a new challenge for me and knew the need for me to learn still. I honestly never thought I could learn so much in such a short period of time, but through marriage God has continued to open my eyes to my daily need for Him in order to submit and serve Him and my husband the way I am called to. When I fully submit to my husband I am ultimately submitting to the Lord. Learning to humbly serve the Lord as a single person has just continued into the relationship I have with my husband.  How thankful I am for this area where I can continue to be challenged to grow!

Submission has also made me incredibly aware of the need for prayer and the importance of it in my life. Apart from the well-known scriptural calls to prayer, there are really two great human reasons, I've learned, why we ought to pray. One because of the fact that prayer is the source of power for growth and perseverance in our spiritual lives. How am I to know how to best serve and love my husband, others, and my Savior unless I am constantly on my knees asking for the knowledge to best do so? How am I going to grow in endurance in the various areas of my life if I am not going and laying down my life before the Father daily? The scripture tells us that “…He has given us all that we need for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3), through the living out of His Word. What better way can we honor and glorify the Lord than to align ourselves to His Holy Word and praise Him for it every day that we live? The second reason is that prayer bends our will to God’s will, which is what submitting our life is all about. Prayer and submission weren't designed to pull God to my will, but to align my will to His. How awesome is this?! How awesome is it that we as God’s children have the privilege to have our wills aligned with our Savior! Even when we don’t understand why life brings hardships and trials, we can fully trust in the Lord and have a true peace when we submit to Him and trust that He knows and has the best in mind for us "...for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28-30)

Yet how few of us exploit this opportunity to draw from Him the power we need to press on or to have our will bent to God’s. How I have failed in the past to try to understand how to better serve my Lord, how to submit my life to Him, and praise Him in thanksgiving. Yet, He is SO gracious! He has provided us a way to draw closer to Him and enter into His presence daily….through the saving power of the Gospel and through prayer! Adoration and praise for our God quite naturally leads to the presentation of our bodies – our entire lives – in an ultimate act of worship. After the apostle Paul says, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36), he immediately calls us to submission: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

Through learning about submission to God I realize that my devotion results in a conscious yielding of every part of my personality, every ambition, every relationship, and every hope to Him. This is a daily task of laying down my life in which, by God’s grace, you and I can grow and one day be presented "...fully mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28) I pray that this encourages you to submit and praise the Lord in whatever stage of life you are in. Submitting to the Lord is one of the single most effective ways we as women can make the Gospel attractive to others and exhibit a true heart of worship!

"In all things, praise Him."

Tiffany

It's gonna be okay...and even better than that.

To be completely honest, this last month has been the hardest month I have had in a long time. Details aside, it was mixed with decisions that needed to be made, uncertainty, anger, fear, sadness, restlessness, lots and lots of tears (which I blame at least 50% on being 32 weeks pregnant)...lots of highs and lows. I found myself being "okay" one minute to being a puddle of tears the next. "What the heck is wrong with me?!" I kept asking myself. I knew some of the things I felt were valid, human emotions, but I also knew that I couldn't go on like this indefinitely.

Our pastor here has been preaching through Ephesians, and the last several weeks has been on the armor of God (Ephesians 6). Last Sunday was just what I needed to hear...balm for my soul, really. He was talking about how Christians have to constantly remind themselves of the gospel in order to be armed against Satan's attacks- not just reminding ourselves what Christ has done for us on the cross (although it definitely includes that!), but also the present help and future hope that we have as His children. It was nothing new, nothing I haven't heard before, but it spoke directly into my fears and sadness. Even hearing Pastor Todd simply say, "it's going to be okay!" was a relief to my restless heart.

You know what? At the end of the day, Christ is still King. He is still my Savior, He is still the one that holds me in the palm of His hands. Even though the present trials are not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, He still cares. That truth alone brings me to tears (as if I haven't cried enough this month!) :) Not only does He care, He has secured for us, His precious children, a certain hope of a new heavens and a new earth with Him eternally. So while it doesn't discount the hardships we face day to day, it gives us perspective and the strength to keep going.

So as simple as it may seem, remind yourself of the big picture. We don't have to pretend the trials aren't there, but we don't have to go through them as if there is no end in sight...because there is. A beautiful, glorious end where He will make all things new.

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity...
Christ has died and Christ is risen
And Christ will come again 
("Mystery" by Charlie Hall)

Dust Bunny Sins and Not Loving this World

“Let us seek treasure in heaven, lest we awake to find that we are paupers for evermore.” – JC Ryle

The Lord recently gave me a check-up that left me speechless.

Have you ever been in a situation, an ordinary day with an ordinary conversation, and a little something comes up and you find yourself shocked at your response.

In the words of You’ve Got Mail, “Boom! It’s Mr. Nasty.”

I think the Lord gives us those opportunities to show us the dust bunny sins that hide under the couch in our hearts. The Lord recently blessed me with one of these sweet opportunities, where Clay threw out a random idea and I was surprised at the panic I felt in my heart. “What!! Change the way things are? May it never be! I like my life! I like the way things are. I like what I have! No change!!!!”

And “Boom” – there was Mr. Nasty.

My response revealed so many flaws, among which were

                - forgetting that my life needs to be aimed at God’s glory, not my own

- thinking I own anything

- thinking I needed to be happy

-clinging too tightly to the things of this world

And I am so grateful that the Lord showed me this. I struggled and stewed and prayed, and am still praying, confessing the idols in my heart and asking God to give me the grace to destroy them. I’ve had to copy Paul David Trip and physically pray with my hands open to remind myself that “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” It is difficult not to get caught up in what I see. I am too often distracted by what my hands can touch. My eyes linger on pretty, glamorous things that do not actually matter.

And here is where the need to renew my mind becomes so clear. 1 John warns about this very thing, 

saying,

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the World is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

As Jesus taught in Luke 9:23-25,

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever saves his life for my sake will find it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?’”

I am always in danger of being like the crowd who followed Jesus when they were fed, but left him afterward. The daily taking up the cross, realizing the world and its desires are passing away, and being diligent to do the will of God who abides forever is a worthwhile yet constant battle. I don’t want to be deluded; I don’t want to be distracted from the reality of God’s call on my life.

How about you? How do you battle the tempting sirens of this world? What keeps you from being sidetracked by earthly things?

Love

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about love.  After all, this has certainly been a summer packed with weddings. I’ve had friends who have gotten engaged.  Tyler and I just celebrated our second anniversary.  Yes, love is in the air! But this isn’t the love that I’ve been thinking about.  

The love of the body of Christ, the love that should be between believers . . . this is the love that the Lord has continuously brought to my mind and confronted my heart with over the last several weeks.  I’m immensely grateful for the recent teaching we’ve received from Pastor Shane on 1 Corinthians 13.  And in the weeks that have followed, I’ve had to ask myself a difficult question.  Where is my love?  

I don’t think it’s a secret that a very real danger that exists in any church, even one that is wholly dedicated to deep, exposition of the Word, is that we can fool ourselves into equating agreeing with truth with putting truth into action.  Honestly, it’s a lot easier for me to sit under teaching and think of all the ways other people need to hear what’s being taught than for me to admit that I need to hear it.  Additionally, I need to stop going into times of preaching, teaching, or Bible study with the assumption that just because I know truth doesn’t mean I’m living it out.  Instead, I need to assume that I am always lacking, because guess what?  I am.   

Here are some hard truths on love I’ve had to wrestle with, admit to, and in many cases, repent of: 

 1.  Love changes how I think

 I’m commanded to love ALL believers. 

There is no shortage of verses in Scripture requiring us to love the body, but one of the clearest to me is found in John 13: 34-35.  

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you 

have love for one another.”

There are no conditions or caveats put on this love for the body.  No “you only have to love believers who are your closest friends” or “you only have to love believers who don’t annoy, frustrate, or irritate you.” This is a call to love all believers at all times under all circumstances.  

It’s very easy for me to come to church or college group with the mindset that I’m going to fellowship with just my friends or the people that I may know really well.  That is selfish.  I ought to come with the mindset of “Are there new people/visitors to whom I can be a friend? Who can I encourage today outside of my comfort zone?” In truth, the best friendships and relationships I have today, including that of my husband, are ones that forced me to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people.  I should never be content that I have “just enough” friends within the body and lack the desire to forge new relationships.  If that is my heart, I don’t have love for all believers.  And if I don’t have love for ALL believers, I don’t have love at all.  

2.  Love changes what I do

Love = Service

Phil. 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Our greatest example of a loving, selfless, sacrificial life is Jesus Christ.  He loved us to the point of death.  But imagine if Christ responded to the command from His Father to love us poor, weak, annoying, unlovable people with human and selfish excuses: 

“Ugh! Her?!? I don’t feel like dying for her! She is so annoying!”

“Can’t I just die for my disciples?  I mean, they’re my friends.”

“I’m tired and I’ve had a long day.  I’ll do it tomorrow.” 

I’m so grateful that Christ’s love is not like that! And His love wasn’t in word only but in action, too!  Love is a choice.  Love is an action.  Love that is real and genuine will be fleshed out in ministry.  And that ministry isn’t always convenient or even appreciated.  However, if I truly love the body, I will be pursuing ways to serve the it, rather than myself.  

3.  Love changes who I am 

Am I really changed?

1 John 4: 7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, 

we also ought to love one another.”

Love for the church is not only a command but it is also a mark of true, genuine belief.  Lack of love for believers has many faces.  It’s more than just being at odds with someone.  It can manifest itself as selfishness that refuses to serve but expects to be served, a critical spirit toward church leadership, failure to seek out ways to encourage those beyond my most intimate circle of friends, ignoring the call to be transparent with each other and seek to be discipled as well as to be discipling, etc.  

I had a professor in college who was known for saying, “Ministry is a natural overflow of your love for God.  So, if you aren’t ministering to others, what does that say about your love for God?” Over the years, and even in the last few weeks, I’ve had to do this “gut check.”  What does my pattern of love (or the lack thereof) say about my faith?  Does it prove my salvation to be real?  Or should I be concerned about what I’m seeing?  

My heart in sharing this with you all and encouraging you to think on these things is not to be harsh.  But I do hope it is shocking.  Why?  Because shocking things get our attention.  And, when it comes to God's commands for love, we need to pay attention because the stakes are high.  If we continue to live in such a way that only receives theological teaching, doctrine, and truth about love but neglect to put it into practice toward ALL of the body, we are living in a state of delusion.  We delude ourselves into thinking we are growing, learning, and maturing.  We think we are okay, when in fact we are lacking a primary and vital thing . . . love for God and for His church.  

The truth is that I haven’t been loving as I ought to.  But now, confronted with truth, I am called to act not just agree.  If I love the Lord, I will pursue keeping His commandments . . . I will pursue love.  So, pursue it I will.  May we all as young women of faith, exhort, encourage, and challenge each other to love as He commands us to . . . to love as He first loved us.  


Elisabeth

Here's My Heart.

These past few months have been crazy for me. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed. I’ve smiled. I’ve worried. I’ve sung. I’ve struggled. I’ve rejoiced. I’ve sifted through feelings and focused on truths. I’ve felt alone. I’ve felt surrounded. I’m embarking on a new adventure here. One I’m thrilled about, and one I’m scared about. I don’t know how to be a wife. I have all these ideals of what I want to be and it seems so big. I see faithful wives around me and I want to be like them. I want a love like 1 Corinthians 13. I want to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. I want that love to never fail.  I want to be a helper who is strong and steady for when my husband doesn’t feel strong. I want to be full of wisdom and grace. I have idolized what it is to be a wife at times. Having a statue of something glorious in my mind. It’s a worthy calling, it truly is. But it’s not worthy to be worshipped. (Wo)man’s chief end is not to glorify wifehood and enjoy it forever (for those of you who grew up learning the Westminster Shorter Catechism). We can worship anything for that matter….kids, school, singleness, work, church, family, friends. These things in and of themselves are not what we live for. They are all part of our lives and a part of who we are. In living out these callings there is an intermingling of unique gifts and abilities God has given us to serve in these areas, but they are not our “chief end”. In recently listening to a sermon preached by Brad Bigney (author of Gospel Treason) I heard repeated, “An idol is anyone or anything that begins to capture our hearts, minds, and affections more than God.” My heart. My mind. My affections. How utterly consuming! That’s all of me. Oh how easily I let these idols build in my heart. It seems as though my heart is filled with hundreds of little factory workers anxious to meet a deadline, so they are working as fast as they can, scurrying around in my heart. However in the end I have myself to blame. My passions, my desires. If I am not vigilant I will let desires and passions capture this heart of mine. It’s a daily struggle. A daily reminder of my need to preach the truths of Scripture to my heart, to be on my knees before the Lord, to say, “here’s my heart, Lord. Take and seal it.” I am comforted. I am comforted that “he who began the good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” I’m thankful he doesn’t leave me in pursuit of these idols, but he stops me and shows me my sin, and lavishes me with grace. So what is my chief end? “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” When I pursue my idol of an ideal wife, a daughter, a co-worker for my own good I am met with disappointment because I meet failure. When I pursue the Lord, I find joy because in him are deep waters of grace and strength.  It is in His grace and strength that I am able to be what he has called me to be. His perfection covers my imperfections. His grace is sufficient for me. His power made perfect in weakness. In pursuing him, in his presence, there is fullness of joy.

Knowing Him and Making Him Known

On Monday evening, many of us were surprised to hear about the death of Robin Williams. The Facebook posts, articles, tweets, etc, that followed likely stemmed many thoughts.

For me, I found myself saddened by the state of this world, convicted by my lack of diligence to share the truth, and reminded of the hope found in the Savior.

So often, we get caught up in our routines. Clock in, clock out. Church on Sunday. Bible study on Thursday. Clean the kitchen. Fold the clothes. And I think, when we're truly honest, our focus is so often not on glorifying the Lord, especially in the mundane routines of our daily lives.

Things hit home for me this week. On Monday, I was hit with the realization that people around me may be deeply struggling with anger, depression, and are often clinging tightly to the sin that continues to destroy them. In my pride, I grow frustrated with people and I fail to show grace. Some of these thoughts began whirling through my mind and I soon heard of Robin Williams' apparent suicide.

What is holding me back from sharing truth today?

It's as if I am surrounded by people drowning in the sea, and I'm in a boat filled with life preservers. Why am I not more diligent in sharing the truth that saves souls? Now, I'm not trying to say that God is not sovereign in these situations, because He surely is. We have a responsibility we often fail at, and He's sovereign even in our failures. But this is no excuse to not even try. We have a great responsibility.

I have heard many a comments this week... Some that have invoked a deep sadness inside of me for the lost souls around me. Just goes to show that money can't buy happiness. Yes, but you've still got it all wrong. Living for yourself can't buy that either. Not family, not friends, not "good works," not a house or a husband or kids or anything this world has to offer.

Can you imagine getting to the end of your life and the biggest thing people have to say about you is that you made people laugh? What about those empty words we hear uttered in regards to death in a non-believing community? He loved football, loved to make people laugh, he loved country music, and he loved his mamma's cheeseburgers. These are the things that people live for. There's nothing inherently sinful about sports or laughing or music or food... But these kinds of things are the things the world grows consumed with.

I've heard and read a lot of comments this week. Many of them seem to be filled with pieces of truth, yet they're missing the main point. Surrendering our hearts and our lives to Christ is truly the only way to find true hope and joy in this life. No, money can't buy happiness. That is evident all over our culture. Yes, Robin Williams made many people laugh. I can't say with one hundred percent certainty that I know the state of his soul, but I can say this... What value does any earthly achievement have at the end of a life? And this continues to hit home in my heart because I am surrounded (as many of you probably are) with people pursuing success and pursuing a great name in the eyes of the world (and these temptations are still there for believers, including myself). And I see them continuing to feel empty. And here I am, filled with hope, and often keeping it to myself. I often miss the opportunities in front of my face. I quickly fear man. But truly, what can man do to me? God is so kind to show us our hearts, to forgive us, to teach us, and to grow us.

Am I ready to give an answer when they ask about the hope that is within me? Do they see me living a life characterized by the fruits of the Spirit? Am I sharing these truths when given the opportunity, and praying for more opportunities? Am I caring for their souls? Is my greatest desire to know Christ and to see Christ formed in people?

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev'ry fear, 
As I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word. 
Not forsaken, not alone, for the Comforter has come, 
And I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word. 
Grace sufficient, grace for me, 
Grace for all who will believe— 
We will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

- Getty and Townend

Our hope is found in the truths in His word. This is the hope that a dying world is searching for in everything but Christ and His word. Let us continually be examining our hearts, desiring to know Christ, and desiring to make Him known. That is what this life is about. Knowing Him and making Him known.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26 ESV)

Kindness

The Lord has been gracious to allow me to be a stay at home to my four little kiddos. I love my job and can't imagine doing anything else. My days are full of cooking, doing laundry, cleaning up messes, and teaching my children to be loving and kind. It seems that kindness is a never ending theme in our home. I have the privilege of training, rebuking, and correcting their little hearts and pointing them to Christ while showing them their need for the Gospel. So, we are always talking about how we are to be kind to one another. It always amazes me at how early our sin nature shows itself and how we are born to be naturally self absorbed and think only about what we want. Lately I have been more convicted at ways that I also do not show kindness. It is easy to see that when a child doesn't want to share a toy that he is not being kind, but what about all the ways I am unkind when I loose my patience or give a short response all because things are not going my way.

In Titus 2 we see that the older women are to teach the younger women to be kind. This quality is essential for us to commend the gospel in our homes and through our lives. Jerry Bridges says that kindness "is a sincere desire for the happiness of others. After observing my own life there are three sins that usually hinder this godly desire: anger, bitterness, and judging,

We are always talking about what's in our hearts with the children. Our expressions of anger reveal the sin that is in our heart. We so often want our own way and not God's, and when we can't have our own way we become angry. I realize this is not only something that my three old struggles with but I do too. So many times I want things done my way and when things don't seem to be going that way I get angry thus revealing what is in my heart. Matthew 5:18 says, "what comes out of the heart proceeds from the heart". Whether I want  a clean and orderly house or a few minutes of peace I am propelled to anger when I do not get my way. I must humble myself and submit to God and confess and repent of my sin. Only God can help us turn from anger and cultivate kindness in our hearts.

Hurt feelings are another thing that we talk about a lot in our home. When we are hurt by someone elses sin it can lead to bitterness towards that person if we are not careful. When we replay the offenders wrong in our lives and become withdrawn and fall into self-pity then chances are we have succumb to bitterness. We have to remember to forgive others in the same way Christ forgave you. As we look to Christ we will be able to grant forgiveness and kindness to others.

Lastly, we need to be careful to not judge others motives. Sometimes it is so easy to assume we know the reason behind why someone treated us the way that they did. We can be so inclined to look for the worst in others. Instead of looking for the faults in others we should ask the Holy Spirit to help us make loving judgments of others. 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. We shouldn't ignore sin in others lives but we shouldn't assume they are sinning until there is solid evidence.

So as we seek to be kind to others remember it is the Lord who sees our efforts and whether or not it is noticed by others we do it to glorify Christ. I pray the the Lord would give me a heart that is kind to others and it is not prone to anger, bitterness, or judging others. Life is so much sweeter when we show kindness. I want my life to be marked by one of kindness and to set the example for my children.

What is a way that you can show kindness to someone else today?

Love,
Brooke

Renewed Joy in the Lord: An Update

Dear Sister,

Every season of life will bring the temptation to doubt and wonder how God will work and move in your life to somehow bring about his plan. As I shared with you in my last post, sometimes I struggle to trust God with his timing to grow me. Yet, he promises to complete the work that he has begun in each one of his children (Philippians 1:6). After all, his will is to grow us in Christ-likeness for his glory and our good.

Day to day, however, it is difficult to remember the big picture of God's loving plan to grow us in his wise and careful discipline. In the moment of trial, no matter how big or small, it is hard to not be so overwhelmed with the frustration and inconvenience to rejoice that the Lord will lovingly use each situation for our good and growth in Him.

I have been in a season that I have seen little growth and purpose coming from various difficult situations.  Yet, God has been so kind to give me little glimpses of his work on me and through me. Even this summer, while serving in Croatia in various ministries, I have often been discouraged that perhaps my time here has been wasted and that I will never see good results from my days here. I have been burdened by personal sin as well as just feeling dry and empty. In these last couple of months though God has been so kind and gracious to continue to show me how He has grown me.

Psalm 42:1-8

As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food

day and night,

while they say to me all the day long,

“Where is your God?”

These things I remember,

as I pour out my soul:

how I would go with the throng

and lead them in procession to the house of God

with glad shouts and songs of praise,

a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,

from Mount Mizar.

 Deep calls to deep

at the roar of your waterfalls;

all your breakers and your waves

have gone over me.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

This past week, I participated in a camp hosted by several like-minded Baptist churches in Croatia. Each year they preach through one book of the Bible through evening sermons and morning small groups, and this year they just so happened to be studying through Philippians.

For the past two years, Paul's letter to the Philippians has been an encouragement to me to fight for the joy and the contentment found in Christ alone in every circumstance. I have read this epistle countless times and have even committed chapters to memory.  Still, I am learning from the depths of this small portion of God's bountiful Word.

When I first arrived, I felt defeated, weak, and so very alone. I was the only native English speaker there at the time (two other Americans and an Irish family would come later for a few days). Yet again, God had given me the opportunity to experience weakness in a new way. This time, I was feeling my vulnerability and dependence on God to persevere as a lone single girl among a sea of people communicating in a language I still struggle to engage in. It had been more than two months since arriving in Croatia, and now here I was alone without the missionary family I had grown to love (the girls had already traveled to the States for a brief furlough) and without many of my English speaking Croatian friends (they would arrive a few days later).  Here I was living life with mostly unfamiliar people speaking rapid Croatian camping in a tent on an island off the coast of a foreign country... Basically, the perfect recipe for isolation and homesickness to settle in.

As the days went on, I began to feel less homesick, settled in to the routine of the camp, and welcomed the company of  familiar friends... but it was the messages and the Croatian brothers and sisters around me that led to the greatest joy. Faithful pastors preached and lived out the message of true joy taught in Philippians.

Surrounding me were so many examples of joy that can only be found in the Lord.I met a gypsy girl who was ridiculed by her community for accepting Jesus, but is so full of joy in the Lord that she can't help but sing praise songs wherever she goes. I heard the story of a pastor's faithful brother who lost his wife suddenly to cancer, but still sang praises with joy knowing his wife and mother of their two children is resting safely with the Lord. I saw a dear friend cry tears of joy as she began to realize anew the surpassing worth and undeserved blessing of knowing Christ though she still battles daily against a crippling muscular disease. God also blessed me with several conversations that I know would not have been so rich and encouraging had I not been learning and growing these past two years, as I studied Philippians and walked through the daily struggles of life.

God used this past week to open my eyes to see not only how God has fulfilled his promise to use the comfort I have found in Him to comfort others, but also how God has been working to grow me through the daily fight for joy in him. Somehow, the experience this past week even open my eyes to see this whole summer and the past two years in a different light. Now I see more clearly that I am not the same girl who I used to be. God has changed me and will continue to chisel away at me, even if in the moment I can't recognize the outcome of all the pain and broken pieces of my life coming together and shaping me for my good.

To see in so many ways that God has indeed changed and grown me over the past 6 years of Christian life and even in these past 3 months has been such a refreshing blessing. God is renewing the joy of my salvation, and I am seeing anew that I cannot rest on shaky feelings and my own perspective of what God is doing in my life. In the moment, you rarely see how God is at work, but maybe two years down the line He will show you God is working even now to shape you more into the image of Christ through the daily struggles of life. So if you are struggling for joy and contentment wherever God has you, if you are tempted to believe that maybe God has left you or that you are too much a of a mess for God to change you, keep striving toward the Lord and seeking to follow him faithfully. Engage your fears and failures with the truth of the Gospel. There is joy to be found.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:9-11

With love,

Michaela

Com·mu·ni·ca·tion

                Recently, you could say communication has been on the brain. It has been the topic of conversation amongst friends and especially pre-marital counseling! Biblical communication is vital, not only because what we say and how we say it play a crucial role in our relationships, but because God designed us and expects us to communicate in a way that pleases Him. Reading books about effective communication between individuals has made me realize what a long road I have to work on this, especially in preparing for marriage. The Lord has been so gracious thus far with me in this area of communication! I read a quote recently saying that, “10% of marital strife is due to disagreement and the other 90% is due to tone of voice.”

….reading this makes me cringe. BIG time! How convicted I am when I think about the things I say sometimes in a distasteful tone (or sarcastic tone!). How many arguments and hurt feelings I could have avoided if I had spoken in a loving way by putting others before myself as the Lords commands.

 

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2.3

Considering the fact that God could have chosen a multitude of ways for us to communicate with Him and each other, He chose our primary way of communicating to be the use of words! How important they are to Him and so how much more important they should be to me! I’ve realized just how, in our sin, we abuse communication for our own glory. Sometimes we “undertalk” by avoiding conversations with others because we are fearful, selfish, tired, too busy, or the topic (we feel) puts us in a place of inferiority…aka pride! Or we “overtalk” by means of gossip, nagging, taking over a conversation, being defensive, and well…the list could go on! In all of these areas we must constantly bring our minds back to the Truth about what God says about our words.

  “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor . . .”

Proverbs 11.9

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15.1
 

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 15.4

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Proverbs 16.24

 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Proverbs 18.21

 

 

Some people seem to be better communicators than others. While that may be true to some degree, we all must realize that communication is a learned behavior and requires growth just like every other area in our Christian lives. It takes work to communicate in a God honoring way! Sometimes I struggle with communicating the wrong things (or what I should not be communicating). On the other hand, I also struggle with failing to communicate the right things (or things that I should be communicating)….verbally (my words and tone) as well as non-verbally (my actions).  I’m so thankful that the Lord didn’t just leave us to figure it out on our own. He gave us His Word to live by; to realize that Biblical communication begins with a commitment to speaking the truth and allowing God’s Word to impact not only what a person communicates, but how a person communicates.

 

This topic of communication has encouraged me greatly to pursue and practice it Biblically!

 

In Christ,

Tiffany

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

           

Dreaming Smaller

When I was younger, I knew I was destined for something important. I was going to revolutionize whatever youth group I was in. I was going to leave the country for years at a time to preach the gospel to people whose language I didn’t speak (but I would surely be fluent in by the time I got home). I was going to be the next C. S. Lewis, and I have the Narnia fan fiction to prove it. My life was going to be exciting. It was going to be flashy.

Obviously, my life did not go in that direction.

So far, while writing this, I’ve had to put my son down for a nap (always a battle), feed him when he woke up, put him in his bouncer so he’d get some exercise, start the dishes, start the laundry, get my screaming son back out of the bouncer, console him and his hurting teeth (teething is not fun. Poor dude), set up a safe area for him to play on the floor, and separate him and the cat several dozen times. And that’s just in the last few hours.

What I’m saying is this: I’m not great at time management. I’m not a wonderful housekeeper or cook or laundry maid. I need to take extra time to complete these tasks and complete them well.  I wasn’t good at these things before I got married. I didn’t get much better at these things before my son was born. My progress has been slow and never steady. However, this Is my ministry. Right now, in this place in life, I need to be a good steward of my home, try and help David in any way I can, and spend time with Anderson, teaching him about the Lord as well as how to sit up without support or incorporate consonants into his gurgling. It’s not a flashy ministry, and I need to learn to be ok with that.  

I’m learning to be content. My ministry is small and simple, and centered around one 6 month old most days, but it’s where I am at right now. The Lord has given me exactly as much as I can handle. I’ve known people who have participated in the sort of ministry opportunities I dreamed of as a teenager, but they did them well and they did not seek the approval of man like I would have in their situation. I, right now, can’t handle anything flashy. It would make me more prideful. It would fuel my need to be noticed and admired by other people. It wouldn’t be good for me. The simplicity of my life is a gracious gift.

And, on those days when I wonder if my ministry even qualifies as that, I am reminded of Timothy’s mother. She is briefly mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:5:

“I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

Paul celebrates the legacy of Timothy’s mother. Timothy’s father was Greek. He probably didn’t know the Scriptures. It was up to Timothy’s mother and grandmother to teach him about the Lord, and the Lord used their ministry to bring Timothy to a saving faith. Timothy did great things for the Lord.

So, that’s where my greatest achievement might be. It might be one of my kids (no pressure). Or a sibling. Or one of a million other tiny things I don’t have the eternal perspective to understand. I doubt Lois or Eunice understood what the Lord was using them for fully in their lifetimes either, but they were faithful with what little the Lord had given them, and so must I be.