Author: Missy Armstrong

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Bible Study faith

1 Timothy: Desire to See People be Saved

We live in a time where the news and those on social media like to tell us we only care about our own. Forcing a narrative that we only care about those who look like us, speak like us and live where we live.  However, we are seeing truth emerging through inspiring stories of people around the world and here at home.

I see people I know and love picking up there lives and family’s lives to move somewhere new and unknown to spread the truth of the Gospel.

I often see reports of fighting and discontentment in the news. And then something happens; a hurricane, flood, earthquake or etc. And you see people helping strangers. Not because they want to be seen as a hero,but because it is the right thing to do.

This past week I’ve seen what a group of people can do when they unite around helping each other. When they focus together to solve problems, save lives and restore what was lost.

Yes, we live in a fallen, evil, painful world. There is no doubt about that, but even in the darkest…God is always there, working through His people.

And I just wonder, what if we all stepped up and united around verses like 1 Timothy 2:4… “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth…”

What if we united around reaching those in the swirling flood waters of unbelief? What if we purposefully made a point to reach out with our love, our time, and God’s Truth to those who don’t look, sound or live like us?

What if?

Imagine what God could do through a group of women with that focus, with that passion and that desire to reach others with God’s Truth…so that none will perish in the flood waters of unbelief.

“All men” in 1 Timothy 2:4 doesn’t mean only those who look like us, sound like us or have our same citizenship. “All men” means men, women, children from all races, all languages and all nations.

For we know in Revelations 7:9
“…I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…”

God desires for ALL men and women to be saved through Jesus Christ…not just those who look like us, sound like us and live where we live.

And so I’m reminded of all the stories of these brave men and women in Houston who risked their lives to help save the lives of others…regardless of their differences, as they entered the danger to bring light and hope to those who were perishing.

We are all called to do the same.

Because I don’t want us just to read 1 Timothy 2:4…I want us to LIVE this verse out.

Taking 1 Timothy 2:4 to heart and equipping and training these amazing people to go out and be a catalyst of change using God’s Word to reach those who are drowning in their flood waters of unbelief. Sharing the life-saving truth found in 1 Timothy 2:5...that there is only one way to God…through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Pray with us because it takes you and it takes me each working together as the Body of Christ, praying, serving, and giving what we can to accomplish what only He can.

Together let’s work on putting 1 Timothy 2:4 into action and enter the flood waters…arm-in-arm, prayer by prayer, reaching, searching and helping…just like Jesus did for us.

“who gave himself as a ransom for all men…” 1 Timothy 2:6 

Because God desires ALL people, men, women, children from every region of the world to be saved and to know Him. Yet, we live in a world that shouts that there are many ways to God. As children of the King, we know this isn’t true. There is only one way to God: through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave His life for this mission. He is the Rescuer for which our hearts long. His mission needs to become our mission…His desires our own, because no one is outside of God’s mercy.

One woman, one community…one nation at a time. 

Friends, the flood waters are rising and it’s time to jump in and help out!

What are some ways you can put 1 Timothy 2:4 into action in your life? What part of this amazing gospel story has God equipped you to play?

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Bible Study faith Fight Like a Girl Freedom

1 Timothy: Fight the Good Fight

Have you ever felt worn out while trying to live the Christian life? I have. There are times when doing what is right, going against the flow of culture, and living by faith is downright exhausting. But this is not how it’s supposed to be, and I can see that my problem is not my own weakness, but my attempt to live this life apart from the wisdom and strength God provides.

1 Timothy 1:18-19 

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

Paul encourages Timothy, and the rest of us, to fight the good fight and to not shipwreck our faith, as some had done.

It looks like Timothy is a young pastor, possibly just recently ordained. Paul is telling Timothy to remember the truths that were spoken to him during his ordination. While we don’t have a transcript of what was said, we know that it was in accordance with the gospel and that those words gave the strength young Timothy needed during stormy times.

Paul uses two different kinds of metaphors. One is of a military nature and one is nautical. His point is that we need to be good warriors as well as good sailors.

Warrior

As a warrior we have two jobs. One is to fight against those things that are contrary to God’s Word and His honor. The world calls us to come and rest in her comforts and to amass her fortunes. She tells us to accept her philosophies in order to find joy, and to link arms with those who oppose God. But comfort is not found in stuff, and our value and dignity cannot be found in the world, but only in our relationship with Jesus. We are to fight against lies and injustice, perversion and evil.

But we also have to fight against all those same things that lurk in our own hearts. We are tempted to disbelieve God and we must fight that impulse. We are tempted to dishonor God by being lazy, unkind, thoughtless, or greedy and we must fight.

The second job we have as warriors is to fight for the gospel; to fight for righteousness and goodness and truth. It is not enough to speak out against what is wrong, but to speak clearly for what is right, and to then follow such words with holy actions.

But we must always fight with love and grace because this is how the Captain of Armies interacts with us and we are to be like our Captain.

Sailor

The second charge Paul gives us is to make sure we don’t shipwreck our faith. We believe that once you are saved you cannot lose your salvation. The sacrifice of Christ cannot be undone, the pardon cannot be taken back, and our adoption as children of God cannot be made void. Our salvation is secure, but we are capable of weakening and even wrecking our faith to the point of bringing shame on the name of God and earthly consequences to ourselves.

In order to be a good sailor we need knowledge and wisdom. We need to know how to spot false teachings that cause harm to people’s souls. We need to be able to distinguish between truth and error. We need to learn how to sail through different kinds of water, whether still, choppy, or turbulent. All of this knowledge and wisdom can only come through the study of God’s Word and communion with God through prayer.

Through all of this we need to remember that we cannot be strong warriors or smart sailors on our own. If you rely on your own strength you will become overwhelmed, fearful, worn out, and ready to give up very quickly. We must rely on the power and strength that God offers us on a daily basis.

Confess your weaknesses, ask for help, trust that God will answer, and watch him work in your life.

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Bible Study Broken faith Knowing God Uncategorized

1 Timothy: It’s Never Too Late to Turn Around and Try Again

Many times I have had a sit down talk with Jackson; made him look into my eyes and said, “God still loves you, buddy. He will never, ever stop loving you.”

This boy of mine has a hard time remembering this. His sin is ever before him – that thorn in his side that has the potential to be his greatest gift when it’s channeled God’s way. But man, that fine line. Sometimes it only takes a split second for his passions to get derailed and take him down a road that he wishes he didn’t travel.

Me too, boy. Me too.

But oh, how he loves Jesus. He’s the same one I found crying in the middle of the night – not sick or scared – but weeping because he couldn’t get over the cross and what Jesus had done for him. Jesus gave for him, the one who loves so much and lives so passionately, but feels like he gets it wrong so often.

You need to know that I get it, Jack. It’s not just you…

He needs to hear that God isn’t looking for perfection. He’s looking for a heart fully surrendered. Jesus came not just for the murderers and thieves. He came for the proud, the gossip, the money lover, and for every last hidden thought and motive that makes us cringe at the thought of exposure. He came for the ones who thought they only needed Him from afar; for the ones who thought that with enough striving they could get by on their own.

You can stop striving, son. 

Instead… abide.Remember that it’s not about the perfect cover up. It’s about exposing our need to His perfect solution. We can search and try and look in a million other places, but nothing else will ever satisfy like Jesus. He loves like no other, He forgives like no other, He provides peace and hope and joy and freedom like no other. No more exhaustion on your own strength, boy. Lean in close and rest in the embrace of the One who has already done it all.

Listen, you’re not too far gone.

Don’t you dare listen to those lies. Jesus’s mercy transforms what the world calls too broken. His grace overflows, smoothing the rough edges and channeling our thorns into great purpose and humble service for Him… if we’ll only let Him. His power equips the weak and strengthens the weary for the task. God uses the most unlikely because our stories reveal His glory.

So son, turn your pride into praise.

It’ll never be about performance. Instead, let your life be marked by worship for the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Worthy is that  Lamb – Friend to sinners; the One who rescued you and refines you; the One who never, ever changes. Embrace His amazing grace, and then make Him the hero of your story.

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 1:12-14

Girl, now it’s your turn.

You’re not too far gone. Oh, no. In fact, you’re just getting started…

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Bible Study

Compassion. Where has it gone?

The word compassion means: a deep awareness and sympathy of the sufferings of another. I n addition to having the sorrow that is felt for the suffering of others, it is a willingness and an urge to assist them. The word actually means to do something about feeling sorry, to be affected by their situation. It is to enter into one’s sorrow and pain. When we feel true compassion, we will be moved inwardly. Having empathy; to have one’s heart reach out toward the needs of others. To be compassionate, to pity; to be kindhearted. It means to be tenderhearted; to be sensitive and affectionate, to be moved with tender feelings over the pain and sufferings of others.


We are told by Peter to be united in brotherly love. He means there should be no fussing and arguing within the Lord’s body. Also in Mark 5:21-43 we read of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood and raising to life again the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue. The Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated His great power with His enormous compassion. His death was motivated by compassion, as was His power over nature and evil spirits.

I Peter 3:8-9(NKJV)

All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

There are many examples given in the Bible where we read of Jesus’ compassion. His compassion was shown for a demon-possessed man who lived among tombs. People such as He were considered unclean by rabbis of the day. Polite society avoided them. Our Lord reached out and helped those he encountered who were in need. He had compassion for a diseased woman, and for a dead girl’s family.

In Job 6:1-30 we are told how compassion can go beyond words. Job said that his friend Eliphaz’s advice was like eating the tasteless white of an egg. This shows us how bad counsel is distasteful when someone is going through a severe trial. Inside they are upset, even though they may listen quietly and politely. We should be slow in giving advice to those who are hurting. Many times they often need compassion more than they need advice.

In Mark 2:1-12 we read of the paralytic’s need and how it moved his friends to action. The action they took was to bring their friend to Jesus. There are many people who have both physical and spiritual needs you can meet or help meet. This can be done by yourself or with others who also are concerned. We see how the human need moved his four friends to action, may it also move you to an action that is compassionate.


Our Lord God is compassionate. A ray of hope was seen in all of the sin and sorrow surrounding him by Jeremiah. Lamentations 3:22 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” When we ask, the Lord will willingly respond. God’s steadfast love and mercy are greater than any sin in your life, and the Lord promises forgiveness. We sing a song that contains words that apply here. Some of the words are – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end….”

Jesus Christ took the term a step further. He used it to help illustrate the attitude that should capture the life of every believer. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the master had compassion and forgave the servant’s debt. This is told in Matthew 18:27. We also see where the prodigal son’ s father had compassion on him ( Luke 15: 20 ). The parable of the Good Samaritan who had compassion on the injured traveler is told in Luke 10:33. The Lord had compassion on the crowd (Mark 6:34).

This compassion will stand ready to assist the one who is sorrowing. Paul preached that God is the source of all the believer’s ability for showing true compassion. In Colossians. 3:12 we see “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”

There has been so much mercy that God has had upon us. The one thing we need do is to show mercy unto others. Pity and compassion should overflow our hearts for the poor, aged, lost, lonely, wayward, hungry, empty, orphaned, diseased, hungry, unclothed and hurting. The list could go on and on, of course. The important point is for us to see is that the believer no longer has a right to overlook the needy of the world.

We as Christians should reach out and try to help others through their suffering.


Our Lord God is revealed clearly as a God full of compassion. This extends to the entire human race, which He effected not only a temporal, but a spiritual and eternal deliverance by giving up His own Son to the death of the cross. This was done in order to save us from sin, with its consequences. It is seen in that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind. Therefore, all who are Christians must necessarily cultivate compassion and show mercy. This is to be shown just as He is merciful. Christianity needs to always be compassionate

There is also the compassion of humans told of in the Scriptures. In Matthew 18:27 we read of human compassion being shown. I Peter 3:8 the apostle Peter tells us “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:” The world that we live in desperately needs pity. It is a world of tremendous suffering.


There are so many people who suffer and keep on suffering never having their needs met. Thus many in the world have become hardened to others’ sufferings. Many hoard and build up assets when they could be sacrificing and reaching out so that they can meet the world’s needs. This should not be said of the believer. It is not being said that believers should be without the necessities of life. All believers need to have pity when they see the sufferings of others. Pity is to be felt by believers to the point they are moved to act. These actions will include sacrificing and reaching out to meet others’ needs.

Notice how compassion will not leave any room for selfishness. True compassion will have a person deny himself so he can help others in their grim needs and sufferings. As people impart and assist others, they are drawn together. People being united can be done by compassion – when a person shows a feeling for another and sacrifices – reaching out to help each other. A great bond is formed between the believer and the ones that he ministers unto.



Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

John 15:13 (NKJV)



Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.


Discussion and study questions:
(1) How important is it to practice compassion?
(2) Do you act when you see someone’s need?


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Bible Study

An Attitude Adjustment

Growing up I frequently heard, “Missy, you need an attitude adjustment.” Which meant if I didn’t straighten up and act right, I was about to get in serious trouble. As an a adult, God has also reminded me from time to time that I need to adjust my attitude and get back to bringing glory to Him.

Philippians 2: 5- 11

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

If as we go through life, we have an attitude as that of Christ, just think how much easier life would be. When we are faced with temptations, if we have the mind of Christ, we will handle all situations as our Lord Jesus Christ would. All of our conduct will be affected. We need to be humble as Christ was. We are to have the same character, thus identifying us. Jesus: he was humble, loving, hard working, and patient. When he was twelve and in the temple, he said he needed to do the will of his Father. That should be our wish, to do His will.

Philippians 2:5-7 New International Version (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.

How is our association with God influenced by our negative attitudes?

Often we become too engrossed with other things to utilize our time to the work of the Lord. If we became too dismal and then in turn have a negative attitude. Satan would be ecstatic, but it would cause destruction to the work of God. If you have a negative attitude you would not be prone to work for the Lord. Do you know of anyone who would want someone with an unhappy attitude trying to teach others about God?



What are the benefits of a positive attitude?

By having a positive attitude, we willingly will do God’s work. Are you countering a seemingly hopeless dilemma at work, at home, or at school, by performing each small task and doing your best? We have many Biblical examples describing to us how a person’s positive attitude helped them.

Two stories come to mind when I think about how God turned odds around for two men: The Lord turned Joseph’s situation around. He will see your endeavors and can reverse even overpowering odds.

Positive attitudes can impact others. The people were belligerent and hopeless, but Moses assured them that God would rescue them. Moses had a positive attitude! When it seemed as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intercede. Instead of giving in to despair, we should borrow Moses’ attitude to “stand firm” and see the deliverance that the Lord will achieve.

A circumstance occurs in which our life is altered. This could be a catastrophe within our family or friends or a loss of a job or the loss of good health. Our perspective at any event that we encounter either helps us or hinders us. If an unpleasant incident occurs, we need to stop and consider our blessings. Positive attitudes will help overcome adversity. What is your approach when the task you have been given is not up to your true capability? The task at hand may be all you can do, or it may be the work God wants you to do.

Everything that you do is affected by the attitude that you possess. When someone has a negative attitude, it could turn them away from God. All that you do and say is being observed by others.

The observation is being done when you are unaware. Someone is always watching you. Your example is so significant. Negative attitudes lead to wrong choices. So many times our attitudes and conduct are formed by the values and actions of others. Have you ever made an incorrect choice because you desired to be like everyone else? We need to be cautious that the standards of our friends or heroes don’t pull us away from what God has said in His Word. Anytime God’s family wants to be like unbelievers, they are on the path leading to spiritual disaster.

In high school, many years ago, I had to study Ben Franklin. I came across one of his writings that has helped me with my attitude adjustments.


“The sentence which has most influenced my life is, ‘Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because He placed roses among thorns?’ I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life and has given it an optimistic trend.” (Benjamin Franklin)

To be meek is to have a disposition to see the roses among the thorns, rather than to complain about the thorns among the roses. Which do you see? Your answer will help you to judge whether you possess that meekness of which our Savior spoke.



I have learned, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to be content in every state.

Hebrews 5:7-10 New International Version (NIV)

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Unflappable to the serenity of the Christian, whose adequacy isn’t in itself, but in God.

2 Corinthians 3:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

To keep my heart searching and longing for God. And to
Keep my heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 New International Version (NIV)

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.


To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.



In this last verse, we are told that the worldly person is alive in the physical sense, but he is spiritually dead. The inner person is dead to God in all that he does and says. Even though someone might be moral, even religious, he lacks the spiritual life. We find in Romans 8:2 he needs the life we have in Christ Jesus.

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Bible Study Broken

I am Broken: Jesus was Broken for You

Over the course of the last few weeks, we have seen that if you are human, you are broken. The result of sin is brokenness. Brokenness is something we can’t escape and it manifests itself in various ways, from pride to pain, loss, fear and much much more.

So with Paul, we cry “who can save us from this body of death” and all the brokenness found around us?

JESUS!

He is the beautiful answer to all of the ruined, fragmented pieces of our lives. But the only way he could heal us is by becoming broken for us.

Isaiah 53:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

John 19:28-30 New International Version (NIV)

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Hebrews 12:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

These are just a few verses that are well-known verses, that show the great length Jesus went in order to become our salvation and our healer.

He could have left us to our brokenness and sin, but instead, he became one of us. He experienced hunger, thirst, and fatigue. He knew first hand what it was like to be rejected and mocked, to be treated unfairly and even let down by those closest to him. He knew what it was like to have all sorts of evil done against him though he deserved none of it.

Ultimately he was punished for lies, unkindnesses, adulteries, murders, slanders, complaints, perversions, and all other forms of sin that weren’t even his.

And he did this for you and for me!

1. Through his punishments, we receive peace. His punishments should have been ours! We are the ones who sinned and our sin separated us from God. Instead of peace, there was enmity. But Jesus took it all. He took our sins, our punishments, our separation from God, and gave us his peace and righteousness.

Now we can draw near to God, now we can be confident in his love, now we have divine help at all times. Now we have a glorious future.

2. By his wounds, we are healed. Jesus died so we could have peace with God, but his death also brought us healing. It brought us life. Our brokenness was so severe that it affected every part of our being, from our heart to our soul.

If you know yourself at all, you know you can’t fix yourself. But through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we now have the power to fight. We can fight temptation and actually win, we can declare war on the sins that lurk in us and begin to have victory, not because we are strong enough, but because the strength of Jesus has been given to us.

Let’s never take for granted Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf.

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Bible Study Broken Uncategorized

I am Broken: I am Free

For His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” – Psalm 103:11-13 

A broken life that had truly been redeemed is free. I have often talked about how my shame is planted by guilt, nourished by memories, and watered by secrecy.  My heart has many times needed full healing, plain and simple. As you deal with the brokenness of your life you often find the roots of your pain are much deeper than you thought. The Master Gardener was the only One who could truly tend to the roots you dig up.  Although I have experienced a lot of victory and breakthrough, certain triggers still occur, and shame seems to always try to rear its ugly head in my life.

I came to know Christ at an early age, but life…well, life happened.  I rebelled in my 20’s that while I loved God and wanted to serve God, I didn’t. I was tired, my heart felt heavy…I was exhausted. When I had returned to God’s will around age 28 or so; the Lord’s mercy had once again went before me and as a good Father does, He wanted to deal with an area of my life that was full of guilt and shame. I was carrying a heavy suitcase and didn’t feel I was fully cultivating a good relationship with God, like He had intended.  The bag was weighing me down because it contained past regrets, old memories, and fears about my future.

Carrying this around had almost become a habit to me, and I couldn’t even remember the exact time or spot I chose to pick it up.  I was moving, but just creeping forward. All this baggage kept me from running the race. To every fruit in our lives, good or bad, there is always a root and I knew this was a deep root God needed to tend to.  It was time to drop the bag and run.  I sat with God and wept. I told Him I wanted to hand over the shame, every part of it and walk in the life-giving freedom Jesus had died for me to have. I knew God sent His son, a gift, and He was enough.  What He did was big enough for me, and brokenness and shame were no longer calling the shots.

This battle I was facing in my mind could only be fought and overcome through applying His Word to every single moment as they came. 

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.  

John 8:10-11 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you? 11 “No, Lord,” she said,…And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8 is one of my favorite New Testament stories.  When I read I visualize what I am reading.  If we’re honest, we all in a sense can relate to the woman in John 8.  While we don’t deal with physical accusers necessarily, many people deal with mental accusations.  In this passage, she is caught and exposed in the act of sin by many accusers and brought to center stage for the punishment the law states she deserves. She must have felt so hopeless, embarrassed, so alone.

This exposure was actually her gateway to Grace as she was thrown at the very feet of the One who could not only save her life but save her soul. As the people gathered to stone her, Jesus takes the way of compassion by coming down to her level and writing in the dirt.  Here, he quiets her accusers and tells her she is fully forgiven and to go and sin no more.  As thoughts of condemnation from your accusers come into your mind come to taunt you, follow the model of Jesus.  Answer them with the Word, know you’re forgiven and move forward to live your life with Christ.

The antidote to shame is TRUTH.   A formula for shame breaking is found in Psalm 103.  David sets the stage and opens up the Psalm acknowledging truth and proclaiming it.  He says “Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul, and all the deepest parts of me, BLESS HIS NAME!” And forget not all His benefits. He, who FORGIVES all of your sins and who heals ALL of your diseases. He, who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”

Psalm 103:11 “For His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

This scripture proclaims the LIMITLESS love of God toward us. I once heard a pastor say, “How do you describe a rose to a blind person? How do you describe Handle’s Hallelujah Chorus to a deaf person? How do you describe the thrill of down hill skiing to one who has never walked? How do you describe the impeccable, infinite love of God to impure, finite humans?”

Psalm 103 speaks of this Love. David attempts to portray it with a visual, stating that its higher than the Heavens.  He says your sins have been completely removed as far as the East is from the West, meaning they’re untraceable, gone, forgiven. Life changes when instead of running for forgiveness, you run from a place of forgiveness. His Love is unfailing and will chase us all the days of our lives. I’m so grateful for this Love that doesn’t give up! May we accept and receive this free gift today and truly walk in it’s benefits.

Psalm 103:13 “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” Knowing the nature of God is so vital in our walk with Him. We live in the overflow of who we really believe God to be. 

This is why it is so important we walk in the Word and believe the Truth. In Matthew Henry’s commentary, he says, “The Scripture says a great deal of the mercy of God, and we all have experienced it. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge, and teaches them; pities them when they are froward, and bears with them; pities them when they are sick, and comforts them; pities them when they are fallen, and helps them to rise; pities them when they have offended, and, upon their submission, forgives them; pities them when wronged, and rights them: thus the Lord pities those that fear him. See why he pities. He considers the frailty of our bodies, and the folly of our souls, how little we can do, how little we can bear; in all which his compassion appears.”

His mercy and compassion toward us is great, like a father to a child. I want to say, walking without the suitcase has been so much greater.  A beautiful exchange took place and I not only put the suitcase down but traded it for better things, like joy, hope, peace, and forgiveness.  I pray you receive this Love today, and walk in the fruit that comes from it…true identity, rest and acceptance in Christ.  He is for you, He loves you with a love that cannot be measured, and He says to you today, too, BE FREE + GO + RUN and sin no more.” He is for you! 

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Bible Study Broken

I am Broken: I Have a Redeemer

When My son Jack was born. He was the most frail and beautiful thing I had ever seen. I remember the pride and terror that I had when I realized this tiny boy was mine. dependent on me for everything.

He was amazing.

He was tiny.

He was mine.

I was now a mom.

As an unmarried mother, I wrestled with the idea of God’s love for me and an actual belief in God’s love for me.

A positive pregnancy test months earlier had set off a string of new realities in my life, one of which was a strong feeling of my own lack of worth. I had messed up. I had disappointed people I loved. I was on my way to being a mom when I was barely able to take care of myself.

I was no longer the “good girl”.

And I wondered, sometimes out loud, if God still loved me.

Pain mixed with a little shock, a ton of remorse, and lots of uncertainty left me feeling unlovable, nonredeemable, and out of God’s good graces. It felt as if I had traveled to the ends of the earth and was there alone, in the dark, and in the cold. While I had always believed that God loved me during those days of new motherhood, sometimes I didn’t feel it.

But apparently during one of those lonely, dark, cold moments, I reached for my Bible and searched for reassurance of God’s love for me. All of my life I had been taught to believe that He loved me no matter what. I just wanted proof. I needed a reminder that I could rest in and rehearse so that I wouldn’t forget or doubt the reality of His love in my life.

I found one verse of assurance and wrote it down on a sheet of notebook paper. That one verse became two, then five, then over time became two pages of Scriptures that reminded me that God loved me. I kept those pieces of notebook paper with me at all times – folded up in my pocket or in my purse or in my diaper bag.

Recently, I thought about those pieces of paper and dug them out of an old drawer. They were still intact even though they’d yellowed with time. I remember how difficult it was to accept God’s love for me when I felt that I didn’t deserve it.

But here’s what I was reminded of as I allowed God’s Word to remind me of the truth — God gave Himself for me to redeem me from every lawless deed.

The little ones.

The big ones.

Every single one.

I now know that whether we are a new Christian or even if we’ve been a Christian for awhile, we need his redeeming love every single day. But we must accept that love and live in light of Christ’s sacrifice for us.  Sometimes that means walking with Him in daily obedience in small ways. Other times, that means accepting His love and forgiveness as we seek to recover from the consequences of our sin.

In either case, God’s work in us is a work of sanctification. He teaches us as we walk with Him and as we study the truth in His Word.

John 17:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

What it means to be holy, set apart as sacred, and consecrated to His purposes.

We just have to choose to believe that His redeeming work is still at work in us — no matter how far we think we may have fallen. And as we believe and act out that belief, He changes us.

The key is to believe.

Believe that you are loved — because you are.

1 John 3:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Believe that God redeems — because He does.

Galatians 3:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Believe that God will produce good works in you — because He can. 

Philippians 1:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

And regardless of what is in your past or facing you now in your present, believe that God is never ceasing in His grace, mercy, and compassion. The redeeming work of the cross is available to you and me each and every day.

Years later, that Son is now 18 and graduated high school. While I remember the struggle of his younger years, it doesn’t define my life — the redeeming work of God does. My life is marked by His goodness, His kindness, His mercy, and His never-ending love. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that He makes beautiful the broken because I’ve seen Him do that for me.

Search out the truth of God’s Word. Choose to believe what it says over how you feel. Then act as if you really do believe His Word is true.

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Bible Study Broken

I am Broken: Boast in the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

It happened to be one of those Sunday mornings.

You know the ones.

After getting up a little too late and rushing through mine and Jackson’s bath and Daniel’s shower. Throwing together an outfit that fits and does not look too bad. Getting breakfast and arguing with Jackson about what he is wearing, running a brush through my hair and spending less than five minutes on makeup. Sliding into church and sitting down already exhausted for Sunday school. And then I see them, the perfect family all in matching clothes.

How do these people pull off looking like they have their acts together week after week?

My friend across the aisle smiled and waved, and I shot back the best “church smile” I could muster as sweat beads slowly dripped down my back. As the Sunday school teacher began to teach, I desperately wanted to prepare my heart for worship. I wanted to have it all together and give my best to Jesus. But all I could think about was the impatience, anger, and harsh words that had hijacked our morning.

The five minute drive to church had humbled us. Apologies were offered and forgiveness was extended. But sitting in Sunday School dressed in our best and trying to pretend like nothing had happened – left me feeling like an imposter.

Man, we’re broken. 

When we head into church I see it. The communion table set. The Lord’s Supper, really?… today of all days?! I instantly felt so unworthy.

Foolish.

Weak.

Lowly.

Broken.

In my pride, I had wanted our family to walk through those church doors that morning looking like we had our act together. I wanted to be strong instead of weak. I wanted to be polished instead of falling apart. I wanted to settle in on that Sunday morning – and every day for that matter – feeling pretty great about myself and all that I had accomplished. But the church isn’t a perfect place full of perfect people.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

It’s a place for the sick to come and find hope – not in their own wisdom, status, or performance – but in the person and work of Jesus.

It’s where the truth of who He is trumps our flaws and failures; where we worship Him for the depth of His forgiveness and the newness of His mercies.

It’s where the broken are welcomed and where the weary can find rest; where His wisdom reigns over the hardness of our hearts and the loud voices of the world.

It’s where once again we can find the end of ourselves at the foot of the cross, humbled by His sacrifice and amazed by His transforming power in us.

It’s where we can be filled up to go out and proclaim to a lost world that it isn’t us – but rather Him – who has done it all.

Wise.

Strong.

Exalted.

Whole.

This is Christ. Hallelujah, this is Christ in us!

“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

It is actually the verse that is the anchor verse for my book. We have to drop that pride and realize that we are weak and need God’s grace. But it doesn’t stop there, we need share our weaknesses with others because they can see what God has done for us.

In what areas are you tempted to boast in yourself instead of the Lord? Like Paul, where is God calling you to speak up and boldly make much of Him?

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Bible Study Broken

I am Broken: But not so Much God Can’t Fix Me

In the book, Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis shares a story about one of his favorite teachers, who was a brilliant teacher and personal friend of Lewis’s father, Mr. Kirkpatrick was the one who taught Lewis how to be a merciless debater by building a strong logical case, one that would be hard, if not impossible, to defeat. A staunch atheist, Mr. Kirkpatrick wanted to strengthen Lewis in his own beliefs.

Yet years later through Christ’s grace and deep friendships with Christians, C.S. Lewis began questioning his atheism and within a few years, became a Christian himself. Because of his early training by Mr. Kirkpatrick, Lewis was an amazing debater and God used his former training for good as C.S. Lewis became one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith in the 20th century.

Genesis 50:20 New King James Version (NKJV)

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

In some ways, I feel Paul is a little bit like C.S. Lewis before Lewis became a Christian. Both men were very well educated and trained at a young age to defend their “beliefs” and oppose the opposite side. Both men were all-stars in their worlds of academics with high expectations from those who trained them.

Galatians 1:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul was the Jew of all Jews. He was the elite. He had the education and the pedigree… and he knew it.

Because of the pride in his heart, Paul was blinded to the truth.

He was a man of religious deeds and was an amazing religious rule-keeper. So focused on being right and persecuting those he felt were wrong, Paul missed the big picture of what God was doing in the world…redeeming it through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

We see how God had set Paul apart from birth, preparing him all along the way for the exact purpose of being one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith of all time.

Nothing from Paul’s past was unused.

The pride that had driven him to be the best, the most worthy and the moralist, now was replaced with God’s grace. God in his amazing redemption used all of Paul’s past experiences, failures, and zealous pride to break him and then equip him to be the very man to build His church – the very church Paul once persecuted.

What a powerful reminder to all of us today: NO ONE is too broken for God’s redemptive grace!

If God can take a man like Paul – a man who was filled with pride, who hated Christians and even killed them – and turn his life around, how can we ever doubt He can’t do it again?

May we never forget we serve an amazing God who redeems the religiously prideful just as He does the lost. No one is too far out of reach for our Lord to touch with His amazing love and grace!

Let us take courage and find delight in the mighty way God worked through Paul’s life to redeem his past and bring hope for his future! Just as God extended redemption to Paul, He does for us, too. God takes our sins, our past misunderstandings, our previous training and brings purpose to it all.

May we not be afraid of our pasts and the sins we wish we could erase, but rather allow God to redeem them for His glory just like He did in Paul’s life!

Spend time praying today for the “Saul” in your life, asking God to intervene in this person’s life and redeem their past for Jesus’ glory! And have hope sweet friend, God turned Saul into Paul and He can do it again!