From Cindy Buntin

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

 These two verses define a pivotal turning point in my life.

 I searched my entire life to fill a void inside my heart. I tried to fill it with earthly things: parents, education, career, friends, spouse, entertainment, money, grown-up toys, and a nice big house. Basically I was chasing the “American Dream” so to speak: get an education, get a good job, get married, have 2. 5 children, and live happily ever after. Except there was one big problem – I was NOT living happily ever after. In fact, I was miserable, depressed, and tired of searching for fulfillment. Each one of those things left me feeling empty inside. I was ready to give up on life if emptiness was all it had to offer.

I am so thankful God was not willing to give up on me! He gave me Proverbs 3:5-6 to learn at the lowest point of my life. I wrote it down daily for more than a year, not knowing why, but trusting God had a reason for giving it to me. Within just a few short months I had surgery, my husband got a job transfer from Illinois to Nebraska, I had to quit my teaching job of 16 years to move, and we were expecting our first baby after six years of infertility. We left everything we knew in Illinois – family, friends, and jobs – to move to Nebraska and start a family of our own.

It suddenly became clear why I was learning these verses. Now was the time to put God’s word to the test. I had a choice to make. Was I going to trust God or was I going to try to get through these huge changes on my own, knowing I had done a miserable job of dealing with life on my own? Instead of getting overwhelmed and more depressed, I found myself trusting in God with all my heart. I decided to let Him direct my path and suddenly I became excited for all the changes that were coming so quickly. When I put my trust in Christ, He gave me a peace I had never known before. I finally realized He was the one I had been searching for. He filled the void in my heart, and gave me the peace and contentment that was missing in my life.

Are you searching for someone or something to make you happy? Do you have a void in your life that never seems to go away? If so, Jesus will fill it for you if you let Him. In fact, He wants to fill it. He is waiting for you to open your heart to Him. When you do, He will give you peace and contentment in the midst of every situation you are going through in your life.

Will you open your heart to Him today?

If you have already put your trust in Jesus, have you given Him complete control of your life in every situation? If you are not experiencing the peace and contentment of Christ, consider where you might be holding on to control and surrender it to Him today.          

God changed my life through these two verses, and He can do the same for you!

In Christ,

Cindy

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

From Christine Anderson

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –

his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 Romans 12:2 is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. It is also one of those verses I find myself coming back to over and over again.

All of us have wondered what God’s will is for our lives, both in big picture ways and in everyday ways. Should I take that job, should I serve in this ministry, etc? Sometimes it is confusing; are we doing things because it is God’s will or do we have other motives?

Let Romans 12:2 be a check point for you. The second part of the verse says “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is….” Isn’t that what we need to be able to do? How much clarity would we have in our daily lives if we were able to “test and approve what God’s will is?”

The inclusion of the word “then” means there is something that must happen before we are able to discern God’s will. So what must happen first?

The answer lies in the beginning of the verse. We must stop conforming to the patterns of this world. Ok, sounds great, but how exactly do we do that? Keep reading…by being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What does that mean? It means we can’t keep thinking as the world thinks and know God’s will. The world’s standards for success, family, careers, money, and so on are completely different from God’s.

The word “transformed” comes from the same Greek word that we use for Metamorphosis. I Googled “Metamorphosis.” Did you know that when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it first builds its chrysalis around itself and then the caterpillar excretes digestive juices that actually destroy the caterpillar leaving just a few cells intact? Using the broken down caterpillar for nutrients, the cells divide and grow to be a butterfly. The caterpillar has to die in order to become a butterfly. It is physically impossible for the caterpillar to remain a caterpillar AND become a butterfly.

Do you see the parallel? The difference between how Christians think and the how the world thinks should be as radically different as a caterpillar and a butterfly. So often we want to know God’s will and we want to walk in the freedom of Christ while still looking, acting and thinking like the world.

I’m sorry to tell you this, my friend, but it doesn’t work that way.

Our natural default is to think like the world. The world says you can have anything you want, do whatever you want, say whatever you feel like saying and you deserve all of it. God says you must die to yourself, giving is better than receiving, obedience leads to freedom and others are more important than you. The difference is huge…kind of like the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly, isn’t it?

I challenge you to memorize Romans 12:2 and spend time meditating on it regularly. Think about where you are still clinging to the world’s values and ideals. Think about how you measure success and failure. How you handle your family, your free time and your money.  Examine the feelings that come to the surface as you think about these things. Do you get uncomfortable, angry, or irritated? Ask God to show you why. What areas of sin are being revealed to you? And then what do you need to do about it?

I pray that God blesses you as you memorize and meditate on His word. Time spent in God’s word is never, ever wasted. We are so thrilled to be taking this journey with you. Don’t forget to share with us on the blog…we want to know how God is working in your life as you hide His word in your heart.

Christine

From Jennifer Brown  

Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, O LORD,
   and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
   that I may fear your name.

Verses like this give me pause. As I read them, say them, or memorize them there is a voice in the back of my mind asking, “you say this, but do you do this? 

I like to pray for God to teach me His ways and give me an undivided heart, but I’m not always fond of walking in His truth or fearing His name. Sometimes I like my path much better than His and I fear worldly things and wounded pride more than I fear His great holiness and power. And often, I want to divide my heart. 

For me this week, the most powerful part of this scripture is that little four letter word in the second line, “will.”  It doesn’t say, I’ll try to walk in your truth, or consider it, or think about it. No, it says I WILL.  

Last night the Lord really started convicting me about my obedience, reminding me that obedience doesn’t come on a sliding scale and that it isn’t optional. I don’t know what God intends to show you this week as you memorize Psalm 86:11, but I am praying that you will have an open heart to hear Him and the discipline to obey Him. The term I wrote down last night was “extreme obedience.” 

I memorized verse 11 along with verses 12 and 13 also because it reminds us of why we want to obey… because He loves us. His ways are good for us because He loves us. We can trust His ways because He loves us. We can seek Him above all other things because His love is sufficient for us. 

Praying for us to live as those who are loved and those who WILL,   Jennifer

 Psalm 86:11-13

Teach me your way, O LORD,
   and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
   that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
   I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;
   you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

From Jennifer Brown

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not be faint.

How are you doing with our scripture project?  Was it a challenge to learn last week’s verse? Can you say it? Give it a try now…

Even if you just have part of it, that is more than you had a week ago! 

Have any of you found that you’re already being blessed? Be sure to share on our blog or facebook page so you can encourage others and be encouraged. I heard from several of you that since you’re asking your kids to memorize scripture, maybe it’s time for you to memorize also. I hear you on that one!

Are you excited for our new verse? This week’s verse, Isaiah 40:31, is the verse that Hope in the Lord Women’s Ministries was founded on. The ministry mission is to encourage women to hope in the Lord to renew their strength. Everything done through this ministry for the past four years has been done with the intent of encouraging women to find their hope in the Lord and the Lord alone so that they could be renewed from the weariness of life and truly soar like an eagle, resting in the love and peace of our Creator.

One of my favorite verses comes a few lines earlier in Isaiah 40:28a:

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God.

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

For most of my life, I did not know. I had not heard. I didn’t know the Lord really was the everlasting God and Creator of everything. I didn’t know it to the depth of my soul in a way that changed me. I am indescribably grateful to know now, and I want everyone in my path to know also.

This past weekend I spent two days with some girls from Grace University. Those girls KNOW. They have HEARD. I was overwhelmed with the blessing of seeing these young girls so on fire for the Lord. I can’t even imagine what God is going to do with them in the coming years. 

My friend, God has plans for you just as He does for those girls. He will take every bit that you give Him, and multiply it. I can’t wait to see what He is going to do with you in the coming years!  My prayer is that God has shown you the truth, that you have recognized that being “good” isn’t going to get you into Heaven, and that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. I pray that the Lord has encouraged each and every one of you, and that you are coming to know Him better each day. And I hope that this ministry has been used by Him in some small way in that process.

Hope in the Lord Ministries is expanding. There are more of us now. I’m still here, writing and speaking. Christine Anderson is also speaking and writing. We’re both hoping to have new Bible studies finished by the end of the year. Cindy Buntin is working one-on-one with women and adding book review information to the ministry. Mary Jensen is passionate about giving the ministry hands and feet to serve Christ. There are others God is using from time to time; a good friend joined us as a speaker at Grace University this past weekend. And, we have a group that faithfully prays for us (and you!). Above all, we’re seeking God’s will and trying to be faithful servants. Please keep us in your prayers as we move forward. We’re excited to see God’s work!

Though the ministry is growing, our mission remains.  We are still committed to encouraging others to find their hope in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, for it is the only true hope we have. I’m blessed to share this verse with you this week and to know that you are planting it in your heart as well. I pray it is the small seed leading to mighty fruit in your life.

May God bless you richly as you seek Him, Jennifer

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

From Jennifer Brown

Earlier this year I realized that I had stopped memorizing scripture. I think it happened last spring. I didn’t intend to stop and I’m sure it wasn’t a conscious decision. I imagine that I simply put it off during a busy week. And the next week it was probably very easy to not add it back in. And the weeks turned into months.

I’ve started again. I won’t tell you that I like having one more thing to do, but I will tell you that I regret all the weeks that I missed an opportunity to do it.  I had forgotten how wonderful and energizing it is to hide God’s word in my heart and mind.

This time, though, I don’t want to do it alone. I want you to do it with me. Yes, YOU. There are 46 weeks left in 2011. That means that we could have 46 passages of scripture tucked away by the end of the year.

I know you already have at least 15 reasons why you can’t do this. Nothing seems to cause us to backpedal and make excuses like the thought of memorizing Bible verses. You would think we had been asked to stick needles under our fingernails. 

So, go ahead, take a moment to think of all the reasons why you can’t memorize scripture.

Done?

Now let me say… So what? Get over it and just do it.

Sorry, that’s rude. But, I know it is hard to make this commitment. Those excuses can be pretty loud, so we need to silence them. We have to tell ourselves, “So what? Get over it and just do it.”

You’re not too old. You’re not too young. You’re not too busy. You’re not a poor memorizer. You do have time. You do need it. It will make a difference. You’ll never know unless you try. It doesn’t matter what other people think. Quit saying you can’t do it!

Start telling yourself why you CAN do it. I can give you lists of reasons, everything from “you’ll sleep better,” to “learn it before it is taken away from you,” to “it’s what God said to do.” But this is something you’re just going to have to decide to do on your own. It’s between you and God.

I hope and pray that you will do it with me. There are more than 800 of us on this mailing list. Imagine the power of all of us praying for each other and learning God’s Word together. 

This week I’m going to give you your choice. Pick your verse from the four below and memorize it. Do whatever works best for you. There have been volumes written on how to memorize scripture, but this is really just about learning His word. Write it out on an index card that you carry around with you. Take time to read the verse every day, several times a day. Think about what it means. Let the words wash over you. Pray the words back to God.

We’re going to open up our blog so you can share your comments, encouragements and struggles with each other. Visit it at www.hopeintheLord.org/blog.

I pray that you have a joyous week with God’s Word! Check in on the blog and let us know how you’re doing.

Much love,

Jennifer

(Pick one of these four to memorize this week.)

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 

I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

I realized the fullness of this truth this weekend when my daughter was baptized. My worship has never been so sweet. My peace has never been so complete. And my joy has never reached such a crescendo.

I was coming off a couple of miserable weeks…issues with the kids…strife in my marriage…unwelcome financial surprises…struggling to catch up at work… But standing there Sunday morning, all was right with the world. It is still turning, and God is still turning hearts to Him. Yes, there are problems and wars and sicknesses, but the God of this universe is still in control. And, with Him – because of Him – all things are possible and we are never without hope.

He truly can do all things, immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us. Not only has my daughter has chosen to follow Christ, but in the 36 hours since her baptism, I have been amazed at the changes in her. And for 17 of those hours she was asleep or at school! Yes, there will be hard years ahead for her, but she has eternal security. What could be better than that?

I share this with you because so many of you are parents. And, like my husband and I, I know you’re weary. Parenting is much harder than I ever imagined. But I want to encourage you to fight the fight for your children. Stand up to the world around you that wants to sway them and steal them away from the joy God has for them. Say no to the things that pull them away from God and yes to the things that glorify Him and His Holy Word.

And don’t just teach them, but show them! Make the Lord first in your life. Learn to love what He loves and hate what He hates. Turn to Him in times of trouble and in times of joy. Pray continuously, seeking God’s will in all things. Live to model the love of Christ and live your life to please Him.

My husband and I daily fall short as parents and as Christians. We all do! But don’t become discouraged. You don’t have to do this alone. It’s God who is at work in your children. And His faith, mercy, and forgiveness are available to you every single time to you turn back to Him with a sorrowful heart, asking Him to help you get it right next time.

If you don’t have children, I want to remind you that John, who wrote the verse I opened with, had no natural-born children. Nor did he have children adopted in the traditional manner. His children were the people he led to the Lord. Every single one of us can seek those children and know this joy. We all have the responsibility to teach others about Christ, talking about what He has done for us and sharing the truth of who He is with the people He puts in our path.

I pray that you will all know this joy, for there truly is none greater.

Heavenly Father, we praise you that through the blood of Christ you have given us the right to be your children. Lord strengthen us to bring more children to you, regardless of their age or our age. Give us eyes to see the ways we can teach others about you. Give us the whole-hearted devotion to follow your commands and dedicate our lives to you. Amen.

May God bless you and all your children,
Jennifer

I can hardly believe that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away.  Fortunately I started on my Christmas to-do list early this year so I think I’m ready for the holiday to arrive!

Christmas presents purchased and wrapped…check

Cookies baked (and eaten)…check

Tree decorated…check

Stockings hung…check

Spare change in the Salvation Army bucket…check

Parties planned…check

Christmas cards sent…check

I think I have everything done and yet I can’t shake the feeling that I am forgetting something.  But what is it?

Oh wait – I remember – I forgot Jesus.

No, not literally.  I’ve spent much time reminding my kids what Christmas is really about.  We’ve talked about the baby in the manger, Mary and Joseph, wise men from the East, barn animals, no room in the inn…blah, blah, blah.

I don’t mean to sound irreverent, but let’s face it we’ve heard the story of Christmas so many times that it seems to have lost its ability to impact our lives.    

Or has it?

For just a minute, I want you to humor me and forget the Christmas story as you’ve learned it.  Forget about the wise men and the donkeys and the star of Bethlehem.  Forget everything you think you know about Christmas.  I want you to focus your attention on only one detail of the Christmas story.  Look only in the manger and think about what you see.

Do you see a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes?   Is that all you see?  Hmm…look again and let me tell you what I see.

I see the answer to all of life’s questions.

I see the visible image of the invisible God.

I see Immanuel, God with us.

I see Light in the darkness.

I see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

I see redemption, righteousness, and holiness.

I see beauty, peace, and wisdom.

I see the One who created the heavens and the earth.

I see honesty, integrity, compassion, mercy, grace, and joy.

I see the beginning, the end and everything in between.

I see the Giver and the Gift.

I see the Healer, the Provider and the Great I Am.

I see love in human form.

I see truth.

I see the Word of God.

I see the One who is, who was, and who is to come.

I see the One who hung on a cross to pay the penalty for my sins.

I see the One who will one day return to earth.

The truth is that it doesn’t matter if you know the Christmas story.  God isn’t going to ask you to recite the three gifts the wise men brought, what city Jesus was born in, or how many angels appeared in the sky – but He is going to ask you if you know the One in the manger. 

He isn’t going to ask you if your good deeds out-weigh your bad deeds – but He is going to ask you if you know the One in the Manger.

He isn’t going to ask you about your church attendance record or how much money you gave away – but He is going to ask you if you know the One in the manger.

He isn’t going to ask you about your earthly successes, like how big your house is or how much money you make – but He is going to ask you if you know the One in the manger.

He isn’t going to ask you if you celebrate Christmas, Easter and Lent – but He is going to ask you if you know the One in the manger.

So…

Do you know the One in the manger?

Digging Deeper

1.      A lot of people believe they will be going to heaven because they are “good people.”   The first part of knowing Jesus is understanding that you are a sinner and because of your sin you cannot go to heaven.

a.     Write out Romans 3:23.

b.     How many have sinned?

c.     How many fall short of the glory of God?

The fact is – we’ve all sinned before we even knew what sin was.  I have 4 kids and I assure you, they already have many, many sins under their little belts.  It isn’t because they are bad kids or that we are bad people.  It is just that we are people.  Sin is so ingrained in us that we are unable, on our own, to avoid it.

2.      Read 1 Peter 2:22

                      d.     How many times did Jesus sin?

e.     How many times have you sinned?

3.      Read Matthew 5:48

                      f.     Because God is perfect, how are you supposed to be?

g.     Are you perfect?

Ok, so we are sinners, so what?  God is a God of love, right?  Yes, but God is also a God of justice and He will not tolerate sin – no matter how “small” we deem it to be.

4.      Read Romans 6:23

                     h.      What is the consequence of our sin?

If you read the Old Testament you will see the consequences of sin played out in living color.  Blood had to be spilled in order for sin to be covered.  Sin = death.

But then God did what only God could do.  Please read Romans 8:1-4 below:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God did what the law could not do.  He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.  And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (emphasis mine)

5.      Read 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10.

                     i.       How is Jesus described in these verses?

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for sin.  Salvation is complete in Christ – there is nothing else we need to do, except believe.

6.      Please write out Romans 10:9-10 and 13.

Here is the bottom line:  it doesn’t matter if you are a good person.  It doesn’t matter if you were raised in a Catholic church, a Pentecostal church, or a Baptist church.  It doesn’t matter if you were the preacher’s kid or if you were a missionary kid.  It doesn’t matter if you go to church every Sunday, baptize your children, give money to the poor, serve in a ministry or attend Christian school.  None of it matters for salvation – I repeat, NONE of it matters.  The only thing that matters is Jesus Christ and the work HE did on the cross.  You will never be able to do enough to earn salvation.  You will never go to church enough or give enough money away or pray enough to earn you way to heaven.  The ONLY way to heaven is to put your faith in Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

The greatest Christmas gift ever given was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.  This is God’s gift to you this Christmas and every Christmas.  If you don’t know the One in the manger, then I pray this is the year you will finally receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

God bless you, friend.

-Christine

This winter I’m writing and teaching a study on the Israelites’ return from exile. One of the first things recorded in the historical record of this event is a list of the almost 50,000 people who made the 900-mile trek. This list is a celebration in many ways: a celebration of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and return His people to Him; a celebration of the faithful who heard His call to return and responded in obedience; a celebration of God’s plans to prosper and not harm His people. 

Unfortunately, this list ends on a sad note. There were 652 people who desired to return to Israel to be in the presence of God. “These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded…” (Ezra 2:62a)

 I think back to times when I have frantically searched for an important document, looking everywhere I could possibly think of, but finding it nowhere. I wonder if that is what it was like for these families. Did they contact every relative they could find looking for a copy of the family genealogy? Did they beg the scribes to look through the scrolls just one more time? How many times did they dig through the same trunk, hoping they would find it with just one more search?

 Here we are 2,540 years later, and nothing has changed. When the final call is made to return to the Lord, there will be two lists. One list will celebrate: they will celebrate God’s faithfulness to keep His promises; they will celebrate the faithful who heard His call and obeyed; they will celebrate God’s plans to prosper and not harm His people.  The other list will despair because their name cannot be found on the list. They will search frantically and beg for forgiveness, but will be told, “I never knew you. Away from me.”

 But while nothing has changed in 2,540 years, everything has changed. And that is the greatest thing of all to be thankful for this Thursday and every day.

 Jesus Christ, the only son of God, came to earth as a baby. He suffered through temptation and torment, tears and trials. He was beaten, bruised and battered. Yet He never sinned. The penalty for sin is death, so since He was without sin He didn’t earn death.

 By contrast, I think we all know we’ve sinned at least once in our lives, if not daily. There are the times we’re wronged someone, or told a little white lie, and also all the times we could have been nicer or done a little more to help someone else. Those sins have earned us death.

 And Jesus gave up His life for you. But those words are so empty. There is no way they can even begin to convey the fullness of His sacrifice. We need to realize that He suffered greatly. In fact, just the anticipation of knowing what was to come caused Him such anguish that His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. He wasn’t just shot and killed. He was tormented and tortured. His death was done by crucifixion, one of the cruelest forms of capital punishment. He was hated and despised by those He loved. He was betrayed. He suffered and He lived through every agonizing detail of a slow and painful death.

 A death that was not His, but yours.

 He did this so that you would never have to search for your papers. He did this to guarantee your inheritance in His kingdom as His heir. He died so that you could live. He gave us the gift of life. But when we accept His payment for our sins, we get more than life; we get abundance… abundance and life for eternity.

 When we have this life in Christ, we can be thankful for everything. When we don’t, we can’t really be thankful for anything.

 —I am praying that you will choose today to have your name written in the book of life, my friend. Let today be the day that you will eternally be thankful for.

 Don’t stop now… Keep going!!!! 

1a. Read Daniel 12:1-3. What is the result of having your name in the book (v. 1)?

b. What are the two options after death from life on earth (v.2)?

 2a. Read Revelation 3:5. Are names removed from the book of life?

b. What does Jesus do for those whose names appear in the book of life?

 3a. Read Revelation 20:11-15. How are people judged (v. 13)?

b. What is the destination for those whose names are not written in the book of life (v. 15)?

c. What does this lead you to believe the judgment of “according to what he had done” refers to?

d. What additional information do you learn from Matthew 25:41?

 4a. Read Revelation 21:22-27. Who will be allowed to enter this city (v. 27)?

It’s not a question of eternity. God created us all as eternal beings. Every human will continue to exist after life on this earth. The question is where we spend eternity.

b. If you were to die today, would you spend eternity in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels, or in the city of the Lord God Almighty that is filled with splendor, glory and honor?

c. How certain are you?

When we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord, that we are a sinner who deserves death, but that our Lord Jesus died for our sins, we are saved. And when we truly believe that and give our life over to Him to experience a new life in Him, we can be absolutely certain of our eternal destiny in His glorious Kingdom.

 5a. If you are not certain of your destiny, or are ready to secure your position and have your name written in the book of life, click here and read through, “What Matters Most.”  Then pray about what the Lord would have you do.

 6a. If you are certain of your salvation, reread Daniel 12:1-3. What can you do to be wise (v. 3)?

b. What specifically will you do this week to lead others to shine and lead others to righteousness?

c. End today focused on Revelation 21 and thanking the Lord for your eternal security through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 With a deep love and longing for you to know Jesus,

Jennifer

By Christine Anderson

Writing has been difficult lately.  Frankly – thinking clearly has been difficult lately.

I’m feeling pulled in so many directions.  My thoughts are racing, I can’t focus on any one task and I seem to be falling further behind every day.  As a self-proclaimed control freak, these feelings of being out of control are very, very stressful.

So I do what I do best…I try harder.  Try harder to write something of substance.  Try harder to cross everything off my to-do list.  Try harder to make everyone happy.

It isn’t working.

I’m beginning to think that’s the point.  It isn’t meant to work.  God will make sure it doesn’t work.  You see, God doesn’t need self-sufficient go-getters charging ahead to do “His will.”  No – he wants humble, dependant servants.  People more concerned with the relationship they have with God than with the work they do for God.

This is where I am today.  Face-to-face with the realization that I have, once again, put my focus on what I’m doing FOR God instead of putting my focus on God.

I am like Martha in Luke 10:38-42.  She was so busy serving the Lord that she completely missed the point.  I think Martha started with good intentions.  She wanted to use her gift of hospitality to serve Jesus.  But somewhere along the way serving became a burden.  Somewhere along the way her joy turned to stress and anger.

I can relate to Martha.

I can’t help but wonder if she was really mad at Mary because she wasn’t helping or if she was jealous of Mary’s ability to sit with Jesus and be still in His presence.  For us multi-taskers, sitting still is no easy task.  Did Martha see something between Mary and Jesus that she wanted, but didn’t have?  Was she desperate to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, but she didn’t know how to fit it into her schedule when there was so much to do?  So much that sat squarely on HER shoulders?  Sometimes we have ourselves convinced that if we stop “doing” – everything will fall apart around us.  Was Martha too proud to admit that she was jealous; too proud to look like she needed something?  Martha seems like a very efficient, very capable woman…admitting she needed someone wouldn’t be easy.

I can relate to Martha.

What Martha failed to realize and what I often fail to remember is that everything is about Jesus.  It isn’t about me or my to-do list.  It isn’t about serving or working or results.  It is about Jesus.  There is nothing I can do for Him that He can’t do Himself.  He doesn’t need me or my “help.”

But I need Him.  With every fiber in my being – I need Him.  With every breath I take – I need Him.  With every beat of my heart – I need Him. 

What we so desperately need is not more time in a day or less work to do.  We need more of Jesus.  We need to learn to sit at His feet.  We need to learn to be still in His presence.

He is our joy.   He is our peace.  He is our provider.  He is our healer.  He is our refuge. 

He is everything you will ever need and He is waiting for you to come to Him.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow…it is all about Jesus.

Digging Deeper

Read about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

1.  What is Martha so upset about?
2. What does she say to Jesus?
3. What is His response to Martha?
4. How do you imagine Jesus said this to Martha?  Was He angry?  Compassionate? 
5. What is Mary doing during this discussion?
6. Are you a Martha or a Mary?  (Just for the record, Mary is not better than Martha and Jesus does not love Mary more than Martha.  So if you said “Martha” that is ok!)

Note Jesus says that Mary has chosen the “better” thing.   Martha wasn’t doing something wrong in making a meal for Jesus.   It isn’t a sin to make a dinner.  As I said earlier, I think Martha started with good intentions.  But how many of us let the good things we are doing get in the way of our relationship with Jesus?  I’m guessing I’m not the only one.

Read Matthew 6:25-34

1. In this passage Jesus is talking about the needs of life and all the things we chase after.  In other words…our to-do lists.  What are His words in Matthew 6:33?
2. What are we to seek FIRST?
3. Does it say anything about fitting God into our schedules?
4. Does it say anything about time with God being an item on our to-do lists?
5. Can you honestly say you seek God first in a typical day?
6. What does Jesus say will be the result of seeking Him first?
7. Do you believe Him?
8. If you don’t have a consistent relationship with Jesus, what changes need to be made to make that relationship a priority?

Friend, I know it is hard to let go and to let God.  Believe me – I know how hard it is.  But He is worth it.  He is all you will ever need.  He is the Giver and the Gift.  It is all about Jesus.

-Christine

Ouch!

 I hadn’t planned on writing this week’s newsletter. My busy schedule made it an unwelcome surprise. But as soon as God showed me the topic, I realized why I was writing it. I’ve written and rewritten it many times because I’m really lecturing myself and the words were harsh. I hope I have found the balance of truth and love. I know you are all in your own swirls of busyness, so I pray that you will take time to allow the Lord to speak to you and nurture your soul today.

 In praise of our mighty God,

Jennifer

 “Busy, How are You?”

Have you noticed that the new answer for “How are you?” has become “Busy.”? It’s usually followed by a litany of examples. A typical conversation might be:

 Friend 1:           “Hi, how are you?”

Friend 2:           “Busy. There’s just so much going on; we have Billy’s football and Betty’s dance and volleyball and church every Wednesday night and piano lessons for both of them and we’re just so busy. How are you?”

Friend 1:           “Busy. Paul got a promotion and he’s always gone. I have three big projects at work and I’m filling in for another woman and I volunteer at the shelter and I have reading club and the kids are coming home next weekend. It’s busy.”

Friend 2:           “Yes, well, I’ve got go run. Take care.”

Friend 1:           “You too, bye!”

 Busy has become a badge of honor that we wear and show off when others ask how we are. Being busy is how we communicate to ourselves and others that we matter in this world. If my calendar is full of stuff I must be important; I must matter; I must be popular and significant.

 But the truth is that being busy has nothing to do with our significance and can actually draw us away from our true purpose. We were each individually and specially created by a loving God to love and be loved – to have meaningful relationships with others. And above all, we were created to have a relationship with the Lord and love Him with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. Jesus said that was the greatest command. If you’ve ever wondered what your purpose in life is, that’s it: to love the Lord.

 Running around like a scatter-brained farm animal pecking away at everything but enjoying nothing is not building a relationship with the Lord or anyone else. I know because the wretched answers above are typical of my own responses lately. My family has gotten too busy and it’s taking a toll.  It’s getting harder to eat together as a family every night. The kids are pushed to get their homework done and get a good night’s sleep. And, my most used phrase is, “Come on, let’s go, we’re going to be late!”

 But it goes deeper than that, hacking away at our relationships. I’m too busy to take the time to be “in” love with my husband. The kids don’t have enough quality time hanging out and interacting with each other. We don’t have the creative bonding and memory-making opportunities that arise from being bored; there hasn’t been a fort built in my house since school started. 

 I’m noticing that the expense of our busyness extends beyond our immediate family. Last week I sent an email to our families to update them on our life because I can’t find time to call. They’re up-to-date, but a one-way email is no relationship. And, when a couple in small group mentioned that they need help moving this week, I could only think of how difficult it will be to fit that in our schedule. Our busyness has put the focus of our life on us, us, us with little room to serve and love others.

 Does any of this remind you of yourself, or is it just me?

 We’re trying to regain balance. We’re looking at which kids’ activities need to be cut. We’re praying about our own commitments. And we’re getting better at finding the joy in just being – sitting around on the patio or eating slower and lingering at the table after dinner. We’re trying to lose the mentality that each moment needs to be filled with accomplishing or experiencing something. We’re trying to put relationships above activities.

 How are you doing?

Are you sacrificing your relationship with God and others on the altar of busy?

Or, is your life in balance with the activities in your life coming from the overflow of your love for Lord?

 When someone asks us how we are, our answer really shouldn’t be “busy.”  Surely we are more than that… perhaps ”blessed,” or “at peace,” or “rested and rejoicing,” or “delightfully serving,” or “joyfully saved.”  And when we are struggling, it should be for a reason other than our man-made busyness: “I’m going through a hard time right now,” or “I’m struggling and could use some prayers,” or “I’m working to rely on God in this season,” or even, “I am in a pit of despair and I need a hand up.”

So, I ask: How are you?

Is “busy” the honest and true answer, superceding everything else in your life? If so, what do you need to get rid of? 

Or, is “busy” just the result of you not being focused on the Lord and who you are in Him? If so, will you dedicate time each day to spend with Him – in prayer, in the Bible, and in simply being and watching?

We have such a limited time on this earth. I hate to think we might miss out on the blessings God intended for us and the joys of relationships in exchange for a gold medal in “busy.”

 Dig Deeper

Grab your Bible and notebook and let’s dig deeper!

 (The following is an excerpt from “trusting God in all things: a journey of heart and hope through the book of Job” by Jennifer Brown. www.hopeintheLord.org. Reprinted with permission.)

Being busy is exhausting. As our creator, the Lord knew we would need rest.

What do Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11 teach you about rest?

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Skim Exodus 20:1-21. What well-known list is this passage talking about?

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 It is in the Ten Commandments that we are directed to set a day apart for rest and for worship! Satan and the world entice us to find our purpose and importance through constant activity, but in the Lord’s assessment, not observing the Sabbath is a sin, just like lying, stealing, adultery, and murder.

I want you to be serious about the Sabbath, but not legalistic about it. Read Jesus’ teachings on obeying the spirit, and not just the letter, of the law in Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-34, 38-42, and 43-45, along with Matthew 12:9-13.

♥ Based on God’s command in Exodus and Jesus’ teaching in these verses, what do you think it means to keep the Sabbath?

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What changes will you make in your life as a result of this lesson?

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 The Lord’s commands are for our good and His purpose. In His great wisdom He set apart one day a week for us to rest and to worship Him. Sadly, very few of us observe the Sabbath and experience true rest anymore. Instead, we fill every minute of every day with activity. 

♥ Have you been so busy doing that you have forgotten to simply be? Is your life all running with no rest? If so, what negative effects do you see?

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What do the following scriptures teach you about the importance of rest?

Exodus 33:14, Psalm 16:9-10, Psalm 62:1-2, Psalm 127:2, Jeremiah 6:16

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Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 33:12

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Zephaniah 3:17 

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 We find true rest in the presence of the Lord. When we are still and rest in Him, the Lord fights for and protects us. And when we cannot find a way to be quiet in our souls, He will help us.

My dear friend, it is time to make it a priority to rest in the Lord, to sit in quiet solitude, and to marvel at the wonders of your life. We must find time to rest in the Lord and to simply be with Him. Be conscious of what you can do to set apart the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship. If you’re not regularly attending church, that would be a great start. If you are attending church, how is the rest of your day being used?

What can you do to set apart the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship?

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 I am going to cut today’s lesson short and end now. Take this time to just sit and let your mind wander. I am as eager to write tomorrow’s lesson as you are to use this time to get something else done. But let’s not. Instead, let’s sit quietly for twenty minutes. It might be hard, but I know the Lord will bless us for it!

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If today was a little painful for you, just know that I am right there with you.  I’m so grateful that the Lord is a gracious and forgiving God who gently leads us. Now let’s not be too busy for His leading!

 With love,

Jennifer

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Jennifer Brown
Hope in the Lord Women’s Ministries