Light in the Darkness//Sarah Mercado

SHINE. I think of that word and am immediately flooded with anxiety. My heart rate increases, my stomach starts turning, and my mind begins to race. Even now as I type this.

This may sound a bit strange to you, but I’d like to be vulnerable and shed some light on this by sharing a bit of my story with you today.

I met Jesus at the tender age of five. One of my earliest memories is praying the prayer of salvation with my mother in our family home. It was a sweet and tender moment that would forever change my life, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time. The 13 years that followed were extremely dark and tumultuous. They were filled with abuse, neglect, pain, and turmoil. But God was with me through it all.

Amidst all the chaos that was my home life, I learned from a very young age that to be visible meant to literally put myself in harm’s way. So, I made it my mission to be invisible, to blend into the background in any and all situations. This was how I kept myself safe. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I was labelled as shy and quiet. Some even wondered if I was mute at one point (no lie), but it was just a defense mechanism. If I just kept to myself, and stayed quiet, I wouldn’t be noticed and therefore would not be the target of the abuse. Sometimes that worked, and sometimes it didn’t.

Someday I’ll tell the story of how God carried me through that time in my life. It’s an incredible story of God’s faithfulness and goodness. I would not be here today if it hadn’t been for His love and grace in my life.

I carried this mentality with me into adulthood and even though I was no longer in that dangerous situation, I continued to work hard to blend into the background and not draw attention to myself because I still so desperately needed to feel safe. I’ve only really started to unpack and process this in the last couple of years and God has been so gracious to me while I work through this.

I’d love to be able to tell you that tomorrow if someone asks me to do something like be on stage for something or speak in front of people, that I won’t have that immediate moment of panic, but the reality is that the panic still comes. The anxiety is still present. But so is Jesus. And I am learning to lean into Jesus in those moments.

Each time I am presented with an opportunity to do something that may be out of my comfort zone, those alarm bells begin to go off. In my mind and in my body. But it’s in those moments that, in the same gentle way that Jesus spoke to my heart at five years old and drew me to himself, He reminds me, “You’re safe. You don’t have to hide anymore.”, and He reaches out His hand for me to grasp as He lovingly pulls me out of the darkness and into His light. He does this for me again, and again, and again. Always

patient and kind. And by His grace, I am learning to allow myself to be used in ways that I never would have dreamed were possible.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

I recently heard someone speak about this passage of scripture. She pointed out the part about “His power at work within us.”, and said that He works gently, deeply within us, not by force.

Gently, deeply. That is how Jesus is working within me.

It’s time for me to step out of the darkness that I have been hiding in for most of my life and into the light by making myself vulnerable and allowing myself to be visible. Not for my own sake, but to point people to Him and to bring Him glory.

Writing for this blog a few times last year was a great way to dip my toe in, but this year I feel God stirring my heart even more to step out and allow Him to use me in other ways that I have been resistant to in the past. He is helping me to rewrite my story and break the chains that once bound me. Helping me to SHINE for Him like never before.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Let your light shine. So that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Yes! That is my prayer. For myself, and for each of you.

SHINE!

Mr. Golden Sun // Heather Dillingham

What do you think of when you think of the word ‘SHINE’?

Maybe it’s the two little children in my house but for me, I instantly think of the song Mr. Golden Sun.

You know the one…

“Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun, please shine down on me.’

Please don’t hate me. I just didn’t want to be the only one with it stuck in my head.

In the song, the children want to go and play, but they can’t because the sun is hiding. Their happiness rests on the perception of where the sun is.

We know that the sun isn’t actually gone. Things move in its way or the earth rotates to where we can’t see it, but it’s still always there. A constant in the sky.

And maybe the children in the song know that too, but it doesn’t change the outcome. Just like it doesn’t for us.

Bright days make most of us happy, while cloudy days bring an air of gloom. Even though, both days the sun is the same. A constant in the sky.

It’s everything swirling around us or blocking our view that changes how we see it.

The same can be said for The Son. The constant.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

How many times have we allowed what is swirling around or blocking our view to blind us to the fact that the Son is still in the sky? Still a constant.

Instead, we look up, see the clouds, and rest on the perception that our day, season, or even our entire lives are filled with darkness and all we can do is cry out, “Please shine down on me.”

We forget that the Son isn’t hiding. He's there.

And I’m just as guilty.

This winter has been hard. I have felt more alone than I remember feeling in a long time. I have felt forgotten, lost, confused, taken advantage of, and so tapped out as a mom that I know I haven’t been shining my own light.

Instead of resting on the truth that the Son is there, I have allowed myself to go off perception and believe lies.

“No one likes you.”

“You are only loved if you are useful.”

“Does it all really matter?”

“Do I even matter?”

But it does matter. I matter. YOU MATTER.

The Son is still there! We can’t give up hope just because of the clouds, the season, or the perceptions this world shows us.

‘Mr. Son, Son, Mr. Golden Son,’ will always be shining on us. We are His beloved! So do not be discouraged.

Take heart, and trust in The Son.

______

How have you been viewing The Son this winter? Have you perceived Him as hiding or guiding? I encourage you to pray RIGHT NOW to let God change your heart and clear your eyes to see that The Son is there even through the clouds.

Where Your Fruit Comes From // Vicky Hodson

Love is where our faith journey begins. If love did not exist, neither would we.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish” John 3:16.

After we discover love we are introduced to joy,

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.

You simply cannot experience true love without also embracing joy. As we work through Galatians 5:22-25 in the upcoming weeks we will see how the fruit of the Spirit is conclusive. They go together seamlessly and they are given to us by the Holy Spirit when we choose to accept the love straight from our Creator.

We have all heard and read Bible verses on Love, how it is patient and kind, how it does not boast, how we are to love our enemies, etc. We have also heard that God is love. When you Google “love” it says, “a quality or feeling of strong or CONSTANT affection for and dedication to another. Constant affection for and dedication to another. We know that God is constant. Therefore, He has a constant strong affection and dedication to us, His children. There is nothing we can do to change that, no matter our past or future mistakes, he will always love us. He will always be dedicated to us with strong affection. Let that soak in. As it soaks in, we feel an overwhelming feeling that comes directly from our Savior; Joy.

Google also tells us that joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Reflecting on how God has loved us through our journey, we feel comforted in knowing that he has and will always love us, thus bringing joy to our life.

I have been a follower of Jesus for 25 years, I have studied God’s Word and learned from other believers. It amazes me that after 25 years I am still learning. God is still showing me knew things every day. As I studied for this blog I had a revelation that I honestly feel I should have had several years ago but for some reason God wanted me to have it now.

I remember praying for my children to come to know the Lord. I desired for them to know Jesus as their Savior and to feel the comfort only He can bring. I longed to know that I would rejoice with them in Heaven. When my youngest came to me and told me that they had accepted the Lord I felt overwhelming emotions that lead to tears of joy. When reading through the Bible, all the examples of how God welcomed sinners to him, I now have a better understanding of the joy God feels. When we receive our gift of salvation from God and the Holy Spirit enters our heart, we receive the Fruit of the Spirit. Then it hit me. I know some of you reading this have already figured this part out….however apparently there are some of us that are just now getting this memo! Are you ready for this? The Holy Spirit gives us love and joy. Not just any love and joy but THE love and joy directly from our Heavenly Father!

Do you see it? If it has not hit you yet, go back to your moment of salvation. That intense time that you realized your sin, you realized that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, and believing in Him brings us directly to the Father. Do you remember the overwhelming, rushing emotion that consumed you? THAT, sweet friend, was HIS joy.

Wow, I know! However, how do we keep that joy in our faith journey? We keep our connection alive with

God. See, he wants an ongoing relationship with us. He doesn’t want us just to come to him then walk away. He wants to be in our life daily. Our salvation brings him joy and also our continued obedience. I can’t help but visualize every time I’m obedient, the smile that must appear on his face. As we walk in the spirit, obeying God, we are directly connected to him and feel his joy.

If you are in a season where love and joy seem distant, take some time to reflect on your relationship with Christ. Are you spending the time with him he desires from us? Are you seeking him daily? Or are you consumed with the hustle and bustle of the life you have created for yourself? I challenge you to EXCHANGE your business for focus. Focus on the things of Christ, reconnect with your Father and re-discover the love and joy that He is anxiously awaiting to share with you.

Yet I Will . . . // Chelynn Broughton

I recently heard some of my high school students talking about God also being the Son and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity). One student was asking how it could even be possible, and another was trying his best to explain. (Side note: we were working on a verb tense worksheet, so I’m not sure how this came up…lol) I had to stop myself from jumping in and telling them that they were trying to limit God by looking at Him the same way they would a human, but being a teacher, I had to leave them to discuss on their own. 

This is the moment I realized what I wanted to write about in this blog. The assigned topic was Habakkuk 3:16-19. This wasn’t an easy task. Habakkuk is one of the minor prophets from the Old Testament, and you don’t hear his name anywhere else in the Bible. He isn’t someone you hear many preachers talking about, so I was really struggling until that conversation ignited a spark in me.  

If you’ve been keeping up with the past few weeks’ blog posts, you know that Habakkuk had questioned God about all the bad people in the world and earnestly sought out the answer as to why God hadn’t yet done anything about it. 

God responded in Book 2 that He was bringing the Babylonians to handle it, which frustrated Habakkuk even more because the Babylonians were not good people either. In the 3rd book, Habakkuk finally realizes that he didn’t need to understand God’s ways; he just needed to have faith that God could and would deal out justice when the time was right. 

Habakkuk 3:13 “You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe.”

‭If you are a news watcher, you may be feeling like Habakkuk did about all the chaos going on across the world, wondering how God can just ignore all of the evil going on around us. As our next Election Day gets closer, many people are questioning what the future holds. 

I think most of us can relate with Habakkuk, wondering when God is finally going to step up and take control of the chaotic mess we’ve made of the planet that He trusted to us.

This is where that aha moment I had that day in my classroom comes in. We do not have to understand God’s ways, we just have to know that He is able to do more than we can even imagine. 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I think Habakkuk had that same aha moment and realized that all he could do as he waited for God’s judgment to be dealt out on the evilness of his days, was to praise God and have faith that everything would work out:

16 I heard and my heart pounded,
    my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
    and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
    to come on the nation invading us.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

I’ve recently attended several funerals for really good people who died way too soon and prayed continuously and earnestly for another amazing woman who just passed away with cancer. I have said more than once, “This just isn’t fair!” 

Maybe you’re going through something extremely difficult right now,  and you’re questioning how God can possibly let it continue to go on. Like Habakkuk, we just need to praise God through our storms and trust that His ways are so much greater than our ways. 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ 

The final verses of Habakkuk 3 remind me of the song “Praise you in this Storm” by Casting Crowns. As you listen with the attached link, turn your worries over to God and know that He’s in control. https://youtu.be/0YUGwUgBvTU?si=0IBCvK-OG8xzn0hK

Do it again // Mary Swafford

Today we’re going to talk about remembering. There are SO many things we could say about the word remember that I almost don’t even know quite where to begin.

Some of you may think I didn’t “remember” to write this blog, because I am a couple of weeks late. Others may want to “remind” me of my commitment to honor God with my obedience, instead of my delayed responses and procrastination….

Whatever side of the fence you may be on, the lesson for today is the importance of remembering.

“I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works.” Habakkuk 3:2

Remembering is important. Our shared stories give us our identity and shape the way we live. That is true of any family, community, or nation. And it is especially true for God’s people.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderous deeds. Exult his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” Psalm 105:1-4

There are ten commands in these verses encompassing worship, evangelism, allegiance, trust, communion—all of the Christian life is right here in these four verses.

But how are we to fulfill these commands? The answer is through one final command: Remember.

“Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.” Psalm 105:5-7

This is the perfect picture of Habakkuk’s letter to God. He exemplifies all of these remembrances and we should do the same.

My husband Mark and I had one of the most restorative, moving, purifying and emotional times of worship and prayer recently. We had been in a season of despair and angst of our own for quite some time. This particular week, it seemed the enemies attack on our family was more than we could bear. We were worn and at our end. With nothing left to give and nothing new to say or pray (I thought), we reached out to our pastor, Rusty Gunn and asked if he would come to the house and pray with us. It seemed a last resort as all of our efforts had felt in vain.

Rusty came as soon as he could and graciously listened as we poured out our hearts in fear and anxiousness at the situation. He listened intently and asked a lot of questions.

Then he asked us to remember. Remember and say out loud who God is and who he is to us personally.

God you are: my Savior, my redeemer, my father, my friend, my creator, my guide, my strength and my comfort. Lord you are my healer, my protector, my provider. You are my author and creator. My sustainer. Lord you are my life. You are the breath in my lungs. Everything I have is from you Lord. You are my peace. You are my past, my present and you are my future.

Remember and say out loud, what God has done for me in the past.

God you gave me the gift of salvation and eternal life through your son Jesus Christ. You gave me your spirit who lives within me. The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me. God you gave that to me! God you have cleansed me and made me new. Made me whole. You have forgiven me. Freed me from addiction. Freed me from the things I placed before you. Lord you redeemed marriage and family for me. You’ve given me a family. Those that are blood and those that are not. You’ve called me and given me a purpose in you. You’ve declared me your child. I am yours and you are mine! Amen!

Remember and say out loud, what I believe God will do for me.

God I believe you will make a way where there seems to be none. God you will go before me and light the way, you will go behind me and provide a cloud of covering and you will walk beside me. Wherever you go, Lord I will follow. God if it is your will, this job will come to pass and it will open the door for me to share the gospel with those I wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise. God you will bring our son Hunter home, just like the prodigal son came home, so we can embrace and celebrate him just like you celebrate me. God you will equip us for the call to ministry you’ve placed on our lives. God you will call others to go with us and change the course of history in the lives of those that will surrender to you in Jesus Holy Name. God you will be in my words and you will be in my actions. You will provide everything because you are everything to me. Amen! Amen! And Amen!!

Remembering isn't passive, it is an action that brings the power of Jesus into our lives. As we remember what He has done, it enables us to stop focusing on impossibility and instead focus on the God who does the impossible.

“In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2

Help us again as you did in years gone by. Do it again, Lord!

In remembering God’s works in Scripture and in our lives, we are strengthened in our faith. A strengthened faith results in praise that comes more easily and prayers that flow more readily.

Ultimately, we are better equipped to strengthen the faith of others and glorify God in our remembering. 

Exchange your forgetting, your worry and your fear for God’s goodness and faithfulness. Trust God to do it again, because you know and remember he’s done it before.

Patient Affliction//Vicky Hodson

Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah, during a time when Judah was taken over by sin. They were worshiping idols, sacrificing their children to pagan gods and completely ignoring God.

King Jehoiakim refused to listen to God’s prophets and even went to the extreme of burning their writings.

As you have learned so far, Habakkuk cried out to God, not understanding why they had to endure so much sin and evil. As hard as it was for him to wait on God’s answer, he chose to be faithful to God and answers God with:

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to his complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1

What do we know about these ancient cities? They were built with a wall for protection. The ramparts were outside the city walls and were the first line of defense.

Habakkuk was saying that he’ll be like a watchman whose purpose was to stand on the towers and watch for invasions or messengers. He would stand outside the walls, ready and waiting for God to answer his question.

We often give up on God if He doesn’t answer right away or in our time. God’s timing is not equivalent to our timing. That is hard for us since we are accustomed to “instant gratification”.

Like Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, “I want it and I want it now". We expect answers when we want them and we want them now. Habakkuk, though, was willing to wait.

Wait on the Lord.

Psalms 27:14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

What situation are you currently facing that you have asked over and over for God to intervene? Maybe its a situation where you work, a marriage, or a family situation. How do we stand firm in our faith and wait for God’s answers?

Can we be like Habakkuk? Can we be like watchmen and wait? Can we get outside our situation and look at it from a different perspective? There is no one answer for how to do this. It will look different for each person, however, there are some principles to consider;

Actively seek God.

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Give your situation to God, He will bear your burdens.

Psalms 55: 22 “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.”

Be patient.

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Have faith.

Matthew 21:22 “and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Look at Romans 12:12. Patient in affliction. This is exactly what Habakkuk was doing. Being patient and watching for the Lord.

What are you struggling with today? What trouble do you have in your life that you are anxious about? We often react in fear when facing trials. Are you willing to EXCHANGE your fear for PATIENCE?

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to his complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1

Pray these verses as often as you need to. Write them down and keep them in front of you to help you be patient and to wait and watch for the Lord.

Vicky Hodson

Love Letters//Mary Swafford

When I was growing up, my best friend in the whole world was Mercedes.  We were in school together from early elementary, all the way through graduation.  We didn’t remain close that entire time, but from about 5th grade through 10th grade we were inseparable.

Back in the day, cell phones didn’t exist yet (How did we ever survive?) and it was common to write letters.  Even when I would go to Mississippi to visit my grandmother, she would have me write a letter to my parents telling them of my experiences while with her.  I would spend one morning writing them a letter and then we would stick it in the mail that afternoon.  These letters never required a response, because I was returning home a few days later.

But Mercedes and I.  We could write some letters.  Our letters ALWAYS required a response.  We wrote to each other so often, that we quit using different pieces of paper and would just write our responses on the same letter, fold it up into a triangle and pass it back.  We did this for the entirety of our friendship.  

One summer Mercedes gave me a journal.  Instead of writing little notes back and forth, we would write whole pages or two in the journal and then pass the journal back and forth to each other.  

I remember waiting with eager anticipation to receive the journal back from Mercedes and hear all about her adventures that summer.  We shared everything with each other.  Our hopes and dreams for the future.  Our thoughts and feelings about every situation.  Our joys and happiness, as well as our hurt and confusion.  Every outward expression and experience we shared together.  Every hidden, quiet secret as well.  

There was such intimacy to our relationship.  I could hear her voice in the distance and immediately know it was her.  I could see a figure in the distance and call her out because I was familiar with how she carried herself.  I could read something and know she wrote it.  Not just because I recognized her writing but I also knew the way she wrote and the way she phrased things.  We could finish each other’s sentences.  It was like we had our own language.  A love language, and these were our love letters.

This is how I see Habakkuk.  

In case I didn’t share with you last time, Habakkuk is not like any other book in the bible.  If you’ve read it for yourself, you know this already.  It is unique in that it is not so much an account of what’s happening in Habakkuk’s time as it is a prayer journaling experience with God.

Habakkuk cries out to the Lord, “Lord, how long must I cry for help?”. 

His cry doesn’t make the book unique.  Many authors in the bible record similar such cries.  Especially in the Psalms.  

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord.  Be merciful and answer me!” – Psalm 27:7

What really stands out to me is that Habakkuk continues.  Not only with his prayers, but with God’s responses.  It’s his love letter.  Habakkuk’s heart’s cry to God and God’s heart in return.  

“The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  Habakkuk 1:5

Aaaaaaahhhhhh….  Goosebumps!  What I would give to receive such a letter from God.

My immediate response is that above, but my spirit corrects me.  I already HAVE a love letter from God.  YOU already have a love letter from God.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."  John 1:1-3

Not only is our love letter in Jesus Christ himself, but it’s in His word.  All we have to do is read it.  When our heart cries out to him in prayer, he responds;

“Look, you mockers, be amazed . . .  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  Acts 13:41

When our prayers seem to go unanswered, and things aren’t going our way, He responds;

“For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

Jesus wants us to seek the One who answers our prayers and not the answer itself.  

We need to…. I NEED to wait for his response with eager anticipation.  He longs for us to share everything with each other.  Our hopes and dreams for the future.  Our thoughts and feelings about every situation.  Our joys and happiness, as well as our hurt and confusion.  Every outward expression and experience we share together.  Every hidden, quiet secret as well.  

He longs for this kind of intimacy in our relationship.  So that I can hear His voice in the distance and immediately know it is him.  I can see a figure in the distance and call Him out because I’m familiar with how He carries himself.  I can read something and know He wrote it.  Not just because I recognize his writing but also because I know the way He writes in my heart and in His word.  We can finish each other’s sentences.  

We have our own language.  A love language, and these are our love letters.

Exchange your desire for an answer to your prayers for the One who answers prayers.  Imprint His words on your heart, write them on your doorposts and in your journals!

Come Lord Jesus // Mary Swafford

Can I get real with you girls?  I mean, REALLY real?  Writing this blog has kicked my tail.  It’s been so difficult for me to get started.  I know it’s what God wants me to write about, but it’s been; So. Very. Hard. 

I’ve read countless commentary over the book of Habakkuk and I’ve completed at least 4 bible study plans on it.  Twice each.   I downloaded my favorite ones again, just to help me get started tonight.  I’ve prayed and thought about it and prayed and thought about it and prayed and thought about it some more.  And then I giggled.  Isn’t that so fitting for the book of Habakkuk, that I would be praying and waiting and praying and waiting.  Hahahahaha  Just like the prophet himself.  God has such a sense of humor.

“How long, Lord, must I cry to you, and you do not listen?” - Habakkuk 1:1

I haven’t prayed this EXACT prayer, but I feel it in my soul.  

Recently we talked about the beauty of “hindsight”.  A gift that God gives us once he has delivered us from something into something new.  We’re able to look back and see where God intervened and directed our steps and carried us all the way, even when we couldn’t feel him or see him working in the moment.

At our leadership team meeting today for Shaken & Stirred we talked about “seasons”.  We are all in some kind of season or another.  Some of us are entering new seasons and others are coming out of seasons.  Some of these seasons bring freedom through Christ Jesus and deliverance from our circumstances.  Some of these seasons are periods of preparation for when, where and how God will use us in the future.  Still others are seasons of dark, heavy, burdensome fears, trials, worry and doubt.

You’ve heard it said, it’s easy to praise God from the mountain top.  It’s true.  When things are going your way, it’s easy to see and feel the goodness of God.  But have you ever found yourself in a place where you have asked God; how long, Lord, must I cry to you, and you do not listen?

Have you been in that desperate place in the quiet of your private conversations and thoughts and wondered the same?  Maybe you’ve been betrayed, or your heart has been broken.  Maybe your marriage has ended or another relationship torn apart.  Maybe your sweet child is hurting and sick and everything you’ve tried has failed.  And you wonder, why Lord?  How long, Lord?  And no matter what, God feels far away and the answers you’re seeking remain hidden.

I’ve cried out to God for so long, in my own desperation, that eventually I had no new words to say and nothing new to ask God for.  I found myself telling God, Lord you know my heart.  I don’t even know what to pray anymore, so God, just give me you.  Come into this space where I am, and give me more of you Lord.  I give myself to you.

Habakkuk faced his pain by crying out to God.  He didn’t turn his back on God but faced Him with the full force of his pain.

“How long, Lord, must I cry to you, and you do not listen?” - Habakkuk 1:1

Habakkuk knew that he couldn’t live without God, so he held on to Him with ruthless trust until God answered.  He continued to ask God, because he believed God was the answer.  Not just that he thought God HAD an answer, but God IS the answer!  Amen!

When we seek God in intimate conversation and prayer and when we seek God’s presence through reading daily His word, we find Him and he brings peace.  God is our peace in spite of and in the midst of our trouble.

When you believe this of the Lord, you can change your prayer from that of how long, Lord to;

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord.  Be merciful and answer me!  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”  And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” - Psalm 27:7-8

Take some time to think about the cries of your heart.  What are some ways that you are talking to God about your pain?  What questions do you have for him?  Don’t be afraid to share the deepest corners of your heart with the One who created your innermost being.  He knows what’s there already and longs to hear you say it.

Exchange your how long, Lord for Come Lord, Jesus!

Obedience When it Hurts // Vicky Hodson

I often have the conversation of the difference between being a “Believer in Jesus” and being a “Follower of Jesus”. As some will see these two statements as one in the same, they are actually very different.

My handy online dictionary tells me; Believe simply means accept (something) as true whereas to Follow means to act according to (an instruction). It is not enough for us to simply “Believe” in Jesus.

James 2:19, tells us “You believe that there is one God, Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.”

Believing in Jesus does not put us into action, but Following…that’s action.

Matthew 4:19, “Jesus said, ‘Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of people.’”

Fishers of people. Remember that nugget.

As we come to Jonah chapter 4, we have witnessed Jonah doing the opposite of following God. In fact, he is running from God. The Bible tells us that Jonah was a prophet. What is a prophet? Well I’m glad you asked! In Hebrew, the word means “spokesperson”. A prophet, is a spokesperson for God, our Father.

Telling the world of God’s messages. That was the calling God had put on Jonah’s life. We know that Nineveh was known to be savage and enemies of the Hebrews, which Jonah was. But God TOLD him to go. Go deliver the message so that they will be saved. So why did Jonah run from Nineveh when God asked him to go?

I wish I had the perfect answer for you, but I do not. As I studied this chapter it brought me to a place of self-reflection. The realization that in my humanness I often do things that are best for me and not best for the kingdom. It is easier for me to build walls and keep things away that threaten my peace the same way Jonah chose to run instead of being uncomfortable in facing his enemies.

Remember that nugget I told you to remember? Fishers of people? Building walls or running does not make us fishers of people. Instead, it can paralyze your effectiveness and delay people from entering the Kingdom of God. Ouch! Delay people from entering the Kingdom of God? There is no way I want to personally be responsible for that.

As a follower of Jesus (following His instruction), I want to be focused on Kingdom work. Even when people are rude, cruel, harsh, whatever adjective you would like to apply. God’s will is to save them all.

But why? Why does God want to save them, the evilest of evil? Simply put, we ALL are God’s creation.

Take a quick look at John 1:1-3;

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

If God created everything, who are we to mistreat any of it, including people? If we are truly followers of Jesus, we are to be like Jesus. We are to be the light. Even when our flesh says “no, protect yourself.”

Psalms 18:30, “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

According to this scripture, God’s way is perfect, even helping those that have sinned against us. For when we do, this tells us that God will shield us.

When we get to chapter 4, we fully understand why Jonah ran and why he didn’t want to help. In fact, we see in Jonah that not only did he initially run, but when God did bring him Nineveh, Jonah was angry that God helped them. He wanted to see Nineveh parish instead of being saved. He could not get past his own humanness, his own feelings of hurt. In fact, he would rather die than see the undeserving people of Nineveh saved.

Jonah 4:1-3, “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’”

I mean that’s pretty extreme…but what are some things we do today when it comes to our enemies? Gossip, slander, avoidance? If God is clearly telling us to go and give a message we often choose to not obey. Giving a message doesn’t always mean a verbal message. We can give a message from God in our behavior. We can treat our enemies with respect because they are Gods creation. We can stop gossiping about them, we can stop talking ill of them, and we can be open to an opportunity to be in their presence if that is what God is calling us to do.

Jonah would rather have died than to obey. If we believe and follow Jesus, we know that our sin separates us from God. Being separated from God means spiritual death. Are we being disobedient of God’s will with our enemies? If we are, we like Jonah, would rather die, in our spirit, than help God’s creation.

I encourage you today to reflect on Jonah and his actions. Do you have enemies in your life that God is calling you to share a message with? Are you willing to EXCHANGE your inaction for action and the opportunity to be used by God? Spend time in prayer with God. Heal from past hurts and move forward into God’s perfect will for your life.

Vicky Hodson

Overthinking for Obedience // Sarah Mercado

I’m an overthinker. If overthinking were a sport, I’m pretty sure I would have a few gold medals. Seriously. My mental gymnastics game is Olympic level.

Give me a task, and I will analyze all the possible scenarios and their potential outcomes before I even consider starting the task. I tend to tie myself in knots thinking through things, even staying up late at night to spend even more time thinking about the task at hand, how I will execute it and all the problems I might encounter. It can be exhausting. I may even spend some time coming up with excuses as to why I shouldn’t do it at all or who I might be able to pass it off to. I will most likely procrastinate, and maybe even just try to get out of the whole thing.

When I read the story of Jonah, I see myself in him. He was given a task, he didn’t want to do, so he made up excuses and ran from what God wanted him to do. His reasons may be different than mine, but ultimately, I think Jonah was overthinking his situation.

God told him to go to Nineveh and deliver God’s message to the people there. Jonah immediately started overthinking the situation by inserting his own feelings and opinions into it, rather than just doing what God told him to do. He ended up in a difficult and scary situation, but God in His endless mercy, gave Jonah a second chance. That is where we pick up in Jonah Chapter 3.

God tells Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh and deliver His message to the people. This time Jonah obeyed and went straight to Nineveh. He delivered the message, and the people believed it. The king humbled himself and ordered everyone in the city to turn from their evil ways, stop all their violence and pray earnestly to God, in hopes that God would change His mind and hold back His anger from them.

“When God saw what they had done and how they put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah 3:10

Ultimately, God decided not to destroy the city of Nineveh because of their belief in Him and the radical transformation that occurred in the people after they received His message.

This is the part that gets me. The message Jonah delivered to the people of Nineveh;

“Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” Jonah 3:4b

That’s it. The whole message in its entirety.

One sentence. Eight words. And God used it to transform an entire city for His glory.

Often when God asks me to do something, I overthink it, thinking it has to be some big, complicated thing. When all God wants is for me to obedient and trust Him to do the rest. The truth is that most times, what God wants me to do isn’t complicated at all. Much like with Jonah, it’s usually something simple and small that God wants to use to make a big impact. When I choose to obey and trust God instead of overthinking it, God can do some beautiful and amazing things.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been one of my favorite verses since I was a child. I often go back to it when I need a reminder of who is in control and that all I need to do is trust in Him instead of my own understanding. When I overthink something that God has told me to do, I am depending on my own understanding. If I can trust Him and seek His will instead if trying to understand everything, He will guide me and He will be able to use me to do far greater things than I can accomplish on my own.

I wonder if there is something God has asked you to do that you are running from or overthinking. If so, I pray that you would be able to EXCHANGE your overthinking for obedience and trust God’s will for your life. This is my prayer for myself as well. That we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and obedient to what God asks us to do, trusting that He is the one in control and that He is able to take our small, imperfect acts of obedience and use them to further His kingdom.

Let’s believe this. And live it out together.

Rescuing Runaways // Mary Swafford

“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow up Jonah.  And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”  Jonah 1:17

As we saw in Jonah chapter one, God has asked Jonah to go and do something he clearly does not want to do (preach to the Ninevites their need to clean their rooms and change their ways!).  The prophet of God who has been faithful in previous instances, wants to do anything other than obey God's command to go to the Ninevites.  And so, Jonah runs away.

But God, our God, is a God who goes after him and does not wait for him to be ready for Him! 

Have you ever heard of “hindsight”?  

When I was growing up, my mom was always quoting these cliche sayings that drove me absolutely insane.  Some of them were silly; “If your right hand itches, you’re going to shake hands with a stranger.”, if you got a cold chill, “someone was walking over your grave.”  If she didn’t like the kind of friends I had, she’d say “birds of a feather flock together”.  And my least favorite, when I snuck around and called a boy on the phone (a boy I had been dating for a year mind you) she would say, “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free!” There’s nothing like being called a cow by your own mom, but that's a whole other blog for another day…

She would also say, “hindsight is 20/20”.  I never understood that phrase when I was growing up.   But now I love the gift of hindsight and I cherish the times when God reveals himself to me.

Webster’s Dictionary defines hindsight as “understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.”

You see, in the middle of our rebellion or in the middle of our need to control the outcome, we’re unable to see God at work.  We are so short sighted that we can only see what we want and what we’re focused on.  It’s kind of like not being able to see the forest for the trees.  (Wink wink).  But God sees the whole picture from the end to the beginning and he orchestrates divine encounters all along the way.

God arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah at just the moment in time when Jonah had been thrown overboard and was sinking into the depths of the sea.  I imagine that he was at the point of no longer being able to hold his breath.  The pressure of the waters weighing on his body.  No longer able to hear anything other than the beating of his own heart.  Blinded by the darkness in the deep.  Jonah relinquishes control, his body no longer fighting, he surrenders and that’s the moment that it happens.  That’s when the fish swallows him.  Breath returns to his lungs, filling them at full capacity.  He’s surrounded by the safety and warmth of the fish’s belly and in the darkness inside is where Jonah has clear sight.  He can see the hand of God guiding him and leading him in the purpose and path God created for him.  

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.  He said, I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.  I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!  You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea.  The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.  Then I said, O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.  Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.”  Jonah 2:1-4

Here inside the fish, Jonah cries out to God.  Jonah has reached his point of desperate need and recognizes that only God can rescue him. Jonah is in full submission to God’s will for his life and not his own. 

This is true for you and I too.  We are all broken on our own, in our rebellion, yet God still rescues us.  He still forgives, redeems and loves any one who will turn to Him.  

“Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.”  Jonah 2:10

In his disobedience to God, Jonah experiences forgiveness when God rescued him from the fish.  At that point, Jonah has not proven himself worthy or committed or even changed.  All he had done was surrender and recognize his need for a savior.

And God, met him where he was at in the middle of his need and forgave Jonah and redeemed him. 

Jonah chapter 2 describes a man who is running from God, and a God that pursues him.  This chapter and all of scripture, shows us that God doesn’t despise the runaways, he rescues them.

Will you EXCHANGE your will for his and let him rescue you too?  

Delayed Obedience Is Disobedience // Mary Swafford

Have you ever tried to run away from God?  David talks about this in Psalm 139;

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.   You know what I’m going to say even before I say it, Lord.” Psalm 139:1-4

Is it possible to get away from God?  Can you move yourself far enough away that He can’t reach you?

When I was a kid, I used to get so mad when my parents would tell me to clean my room.  Usually it was because I already knew what state my room was in.  I already knew it needed to be cleaned, but I didn’t like them telling me to do it.

Similarly, in the first chapter, in the book of Jonah;

“The Word came to Jonah and told him to get up, go to Ninevah, that great big city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

In other words, it’s filthy in Ninevah and it needs to be cleaned up.  It’s been a mess for too long. 

And just like little Mary, Jonah didn’t want to be told it was his responsibility to clean the rooms of Ninevah.

“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.  He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.  So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”  Jonah 1:3

Little Mary couldn’t run away and charter a boat to get away from my parents authority or commands (actually I tried that once.  I stayed out all night instead of going home.  Dad called the police and reported my car stolen.  That was a long, bad night), but I could and did drag my feet, do other things, wait until the middle of the night and put it off as long as possible.

“I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”  

Psalm 139:7-10

God called Jonah to go to Ninevah, which is east of Israel, but Jonah is sailing to Tarshish in the far west.  Jonah went in the direction furthest from where God wanted him to be.

“But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.”  Jonah 1:4

I was being disobedient to my parents by not cleaning my room when my parents asked (or coming home after prom my senior year).  Jonah was being disobedient to God by running away and not going to Ninevah.

The consequences of my disobedience caused me to be grounded and lose privileges for a long time.  It also caused my parents to lose trust in me.  The consequences of Jonah’s disobedience caused the entire crew of the ship to be put at risk of losing their lives.  It also caused them to throw Jonah into the sea in hopes of saving themselves.

But God. 

But God calmed the storm.  But God used His miraculous display of power to be his witness to the sailors who were in awe of him.  But God arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah and save his life.  But God used Jonah’s disobedience to bring salvation, to the sailors who witnessed God’s power firsthand and to the Ninevites through Jonah’s eventual obedience.

The Enemy wants our disobedience and he uses it for destruction.  Thank you Jesus that what the Enemy wants to use to harm us, God uses to bring glory and honor to him!

What has God called you to do in your life that you are putting off, running away from, dragging your feet on?  What does he want you to EXCHANGE that will bring glory and honor to him and perhaps salvation to others?

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Don’t delay.  Surrender your will to the Lord today.  Delayed obedience is still disobedience.  God can and will use your long, bad night or three days in the belly of a fish to bring salvation to others.  Hallelujah!

The Goodness of God // Sarah Mercado

As we wrap up our series on Daniel, I find myself reflecting on Daniel’s life. He endured many trials and temptations and remained faithful through them all. But the story that sticks out to me most is from Daniel chapter 6.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den. We all know the story, right?

The king makes a law (under the advisement of some of Daniel’s jealous colleagues) that no one should pray to anyone but the king for 30 days. If anyone broke this law, they would be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel, a man strong in conviction and faith, couldn’t obey such a law. And so, he continued to pray to God and was thrown into the den of lions.

“So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.” Daniel 6:16-17

Having heard this story before, we know that God performs a miraculous work of protection in Daniel’s life here and spares him from the mouth of the lion. But let’s not jump ahead. Let’s pause here for a moment. With Daniel left alone in a den full of lions. I wonder what Daniel may have been feeling in this moment. I know for me, it would be easy to feel abandoned by God in this situation.

I have spent some time in my own type of lions’ den. A situation that was completely out of my control; very dark, and seemingly hopeless. I had a relationship with Christ, was following and serving him faithfully, and yet there I was, in this deep, dark pit that I didn’t put myself in and was powerless to get myself out of. I was there for several years and at times I felt as though God had abandoned me.

In His timing, God made a way out of this situation for me. Though I questioned His presence and His goodness at times during that experience, when I look back on it now, I can’t help but see His goodness all over me and my situation. I can see His loving hand guiding me through every step of the way and preparing me for the things to come.

Now back to Daniel. He had done everything right, but he is still in this awful, scary situation. Potentially feeling alone and abandoned.

But God.

God was there in the midst of it all. He kept Daniel safe. God is so good!

“Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.” Daniel 6:19-23

He trusted in God. All the trials and temptations Daniel had faced earlier in his life had prepared him for this moment. And this trial was no different. This trial helped Daniel to be prepared for even more things that God had in store for him.

When we are going through something difficult, it can be hard to see God’s hand in it all or feel His presence. It may feel as though He’s not there and he has forgotten about us. But He is good, all the time. And He is working out His plan in our lives. Sometimes what feels like abandoning is actually preparing. God in His goodness uses our hardships to help prepare us for the things to come. I know I have seen this to be true in my own life, and reading Daniel’s story, I think I can say the same for him.

Whatever trial you are going through right now, your “lions’ den”, I pray that you are able to feel God’s presence with you in the midst of your circumstances and know that He is for you, He is with you, and He is truly good. You can trust that He is working things out for your good, even if it doesn’t feel good right now.

He graciously brought me out of my lions’ den, so now no matter what I face, I know that He is able, He is good, and His timing is perfect. I know I can trust Him. And I pray that you can too.

We Aren’t Called To Be Ordinary // Heather Dillingham

Let’s play a game. I want you all to give yourself a work review right now. Yes, like those uncomfortable, once-a-year reviews that nobody likes.

If you stay at home, imagine this review is going to your spouse or your children instead of a boss. Ready? Let’s go.

Q. How would you rate your attitude at work?

Q. Would you consider yourself an ordinary worker? What sets you apart?

Q. What do you hope to get out of this job?

Three questions, that wasn’t so bad right? But those three questions can bring up some very real observations. Let me show you…

My Answers:

1. Ooff, can I plead the fifth? To be honest my attitude has been not great as of late. I easily lose patience with myself and others and have been finding it hard not to disassociate. 

2. Yes, while I would love to say that I am extraordinary, currently I’m not. I do a really good job of teaching my children and creating things for them, but I struggle with play and connection with them and my spouse.

3. I’m not sure, but hopefully functioning humans. 

Why the review?  Because what we do at work matters. Oftentimes those that we work with see more of us than our family. They can be the easiest ones to lead to Christ or away based on our attitude and how we present ourselves. Because of this, we need to work with a purpose. We need to work knowing we are called to be more than ordinary.

In Daniel 6:4 we see that Daniel gave a great example of this; 

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

When the administrators and satraps of Babylon tried to find corruption or negligence in his work, they couldn’t. You have to assume by the text that the faults they were trying to find were normal, maybe even faults they had themselves. 

But Daniel, because of God’s work in him, wasn’t normal. 

His review would look something like this…

Q. How would you rate your attitude at work?

1. My attitude is great. I am kind, wise, and show discernment.

Q. Would you consider yourself an ordinary worker? What sets you apart?

2. Yes (I feel like he would be humble here), I am ordinary in the fact that my goal is to serve and serve well. I am set apart only by what God has given me. 

Q. What do you hope to get out of this job?

3. My goal is to glorify the Lord.

So the last question is, are you choosing to be ordinary at work, hiding your faith or giving into the stress to be less than what God asks? Or, are you choosing to lean into God’s abundance even if it sets you apart or makes you a target for those who don’t understand?

Take time this week, even now, to write out your answers.

God, I pray for each woman reading this. That we first and foremost understand how important we are in the work you have given us. God that you guide our hands and give us strength especially when we feel on the edge of failure. God I thank you that you can and always will provide the encouragement, strength, and wisdom we need. Lead us to be more than ordinary. Lead us to be like you. In Jesus name, Amen!

Conviction Brings Faithful Blessings

In our last blog we read about the importance of having a godly foundation.  Bethany Thomas shared about her childhood and how her parents raised her according to the Bible and then sent her out into the world praying that she would follow God’s direction for her life.  

She shared about Daniel and the other young men of Israel being taken captive when King Nebuchadnezzar’s army invaded Jerusalem and the “training regimen” they were to undergo.  Part of their training included daily provisions from the King’s royal food and from the wine that he drank.

But Daniel, because of his foundation;

“...determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.”

  Daniel 1:8

If you know my husband or I, you know that we are trying to plan our first EVER vacation together.  To a beach.  Where people wear swimsuits.  Between you and I, I’ve gained about 50 pounds since I married Mark almost 13 years ago.  I was underweight when we married, but that’s not the point for this story.  

The point is, we’re on a diet.  We bought special food and smoothies to drink for all but one of our meals each day.  Jeremiah, our youngest son, often watches me wide eyed as I try to swallow the thick, pasty substances or dry, almost stale feeling crunchy things.  You would’ve thought I was drinking some kind of awful liquid after losing a bet, but it’s only my diet food.  High in protein and fiber and full of yummy probiotics….but low in flavor and carbs.  As much as I don’t like some of it, I know it’s good for me.  It fills me up with good nutrients and vitamins and makes me feel full so I don’t binge eat chocolate chip cookies.  Not often anyway.

Similarly, in Babylon, Daniel may not have been eating protein drinks and crunchy sticks, but he was eating what was good for him and ONLY what God wanted the Israelites to eat.  I sometimes imagine Daniel and the boys standing in front of a glorious “char-dude-ery board” full of choice meats, yet he chose to eat what he knew was good for his body and was acceptable to God.  Daniel and his friends made a commitment to purity and did not eat the food that was forbidden by God.  They DETERMINED, or decided ahead of time, to stick to their convictions.

Like Bethany suggested, sometimes we get in trouble because we have not DECIDED ahead of time where to draw the line or what our convictions are.  Amazingly, God gives perfect insight into what we are to  do.

“Love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength….Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Mark 12:30-31

If you do that, you will not have to worry about what type of protein drink or crunchy stick to eat or only eat vegetables as Daniel did.  You will be pleasing God by obeying His commands and bringing glory to Him.  

But how do we do that?  How do we know what it is that God is asking us to do?  What are your convictions?

For me and I believe you as well, it is by spending time with the Father.  Not just a checklist of to do’s time with God, but genuine, focused, intimate and devoted time with Him.  Time that is beyond my morning “quiet time”.  This year in particular, God has been telling me and showing me the importance of having a Sabbath rest with Him.

Earlier this year myself and several women from my House Church committed to fasting and praying for one another for 2 weeks as we prayed through specific needs for ourselves and loved ones.  When we talked about doing the fast together everyone agreed that they long for the intimacy they had with Christ during our corporate fast in January and all wondered why we “lost” the intimacy we had gained with the Father during that time.  And we experienced Him again.  And to some extent, we “lost” the intimacy AGAIN when the fast ended.

In my time with God since then, this is what He has been teaching me.  I’ve discovered that rest is not a time to be lazy and disconnect from the world, but a time to connect with the Father.  Rest is instituted in a Person - the Lord of the Sabbath.  His rest is rich and sweet, easy and light, just as He said it would be.  “Learn of me.  You will find rest for your soul.”  This “rest” is a holy relationship.  

Resting in Jesus involves remembering Him, knowing Him, following Him, obeying Him, trusting Him and enjoying Him.

Christ has commanded and I am obeying and committing to a weekly (and daily if we are honest) Sabbath rest time with Him.  This is my conviction.  I am to set aside focused, devoted time to worship Him, pray with Him, study His word.  Marvel at His creation.  Stand in awe at His people.  Listen for Him to speak.  Respond with anticipation.  Be His representative in a lost and lonely world.  Share the gospel and honor Him with my surrender.

I am EXCHANGING a life full of to-do’s and half hearted time with Him, for the fullness of Christ in each and every day through worship and honest devotion to Him.  In surrendering this sacred time to the Father, I will be equipped, as Daniel, to DETERMINE in advance, how to honor God in everything that I do.

Our lives matter.  When we stick to our convictions and show discipline in following Christ, God is faithful to give us more of Him.  In Daniel’s case, he flourished both physically and in;

“Knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.”  Daniel 1:17

God rewarded Daniel’s faithfulness.  God will reward yours, whether now on earth (and 20 pounds of weight loss) or for eternity with Him.

Godly Foundation

When I left home for College it was the first time where I legitimately had control over my own life. I had been removed from my home environment and safeguards. My parents weren’t with me to make sure I went to church (I didn’t always). I had to take care of my own finances and say “no” to things I wanted but didn’t need. I can’t say enough how grateful I am to say that my parents are Jim and Val Anderson. They raised me according to the Bible and then sent me out into the world praying that I would follow God’s direction for my life.     

In the book of Daniel, we are introduced to four Israelites: Daniel (God is my Judge), Hanania (Yah has been gracious), Mishael (Who is what God is?), and Azariah (Yah has helped). These young men are from noble, influential families. Basically, the future leaders of their captive people. 

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These young men were snatched from their homes, religion, and culture. They even had their names changed: Daniel was called Belteahazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abendnego. In taking away their names the Babylonians were taking their last connection to their roots.

Part of the training regiment included a change in their diet. Their food and drink was provided by the King to bulk them up and give them energy for their studies. However, there was a problem. The meat that was served to them had been sacrificed to the gods of Babylon. 

Daniel though wanted to stay faithful to God and His commandments so, 

“…Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

There are going to be situations in our lives as Christians where we are going to be asked (and told) to change how we live life. The world is going to say that there’s nothing wrong with relaxing our guard. But it’s when we relax and stop seeking God that we fall out of the presence of God. He’s still with us but it becomes harder for us to hear him speak to us. Daniel was given favor and grace by God because he was faithful. He followed God’s instructions even when it would have been smart to go along with what the chief steward asked of him. 

What are areas in your life where you find yourself exchanging the ways of God for the ways of the world? Is your foundation in God strong enough withstand the sneaky pressures of your day to day life? I find myself having to concisely make the choice to focus on what God wants me to do.  

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Saul to Paul // Sarah Mercado

I chose to write this week’s blog post for a couple of reasons. First, I am a procrastinator and it was the last week of this series of posts. Second, it was about Saul’s name change to Paul, a story that I am familiar with, so I thought it would be fairly easy to write about. I thought I would write about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus and how his name was changed to Paul following his conversion, signifying that he was a new creation in Christ and marking the beginning of his incredible ministry. 

But as I dug into scripture, that’s not the story I found at all. Saul did have a life-changing encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and was transformed from a Christian persecuting pharisee to one of the most influential leaders of the early church. However, his name wasn’t changed as a result of his conversion. He continued to go by the name Saul even AFTER his conversion. I’m not sure if I was ever actually taught that his name was changed to Paul as a result of his conversion or if I just assumed that was the case, but either way, that’s what I have always believed. Maybe you did too. It seems to be a pretty common misconception.

So when did Saul become Paul? Well, as it turns out, Saul had a dual name at birth. He was a Jew but also a Roman citizen. Saul was his Hebrew name, and Paul was his Greco-Roman name. It was common for the Jews of that time to have both a Hebrew and a Latin or Greek name. In Acts 13:9 Luke refers to him as “Saul, who is also called Paul”. He was raised in the Jewish culture, so it made sense for him to use his Hebrew name, Saul, for most of his life. After his conversion, he remained among the Jewish people so he continued to go by Saul. 

But Saul felt called to take the gospel beyond the Jewish communities, so he began a ministry to the Gentiles. It wasn’t until he was embarking upon his first missionary journey that he began to use his Greek name, Paul. In doing so, he was able to minister more effectively to the gentile communities. Had he used his Hebrew name, the people he was sharing the gospel with may not have been as receptive. This approach to ministry was pretty typical for Paul. In 1 Corinthians, he talks about his ministry strategy of becoming “all things to all people”.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law… To those not having the law I became like one not having the law... To the weak I became weak… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul knew it was important to meet people where they were. He sought to find common ground with everyone, putting them at ease, and approaching them in a language and style they could relate to. His message stayed the same, but his approach and delivery is what differed. 

This name exchange was an intentional shift for Paul in order to be well received among the gentiles. He didn’t want anything, including his name, to be a hindrance to anyone receiving the gospel message. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the meaning of the name Paul is “humble, small”. This was definitely an act of humility for Paul. Paul was actually very proud of his Jewish heritage, referring to himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” in Philippians 3:5, so to no longer go by the name that would tie him to his Jewish heritage, was no small thing. God honored this act of humility, making Paul’s ministry fruitful, using him to spread the gospel more than any other Apostle and to unify and encourage the church. What a legacy!

I think we can all take a cue from Paul and take a look at what in our lives might be hindering us from sharing the gospel effectively. What do we need to exchange in order for God to work in and through us more effectively? Let’s “throw off everything that hinders….fixing our eyes on Jesus” as Paul wrote in Hebrews 12:1-2, and see what incredible things God does.

Sarah Mercado is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a follower of Christ, a wife, and

mother of two. She is a small business owner, and a founding contributor of Church That Matters. When

she is not working, she can be found spending time with her family and friends, cooking, reading, or

listening to a podcast.

Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash

Hoshea to Joshua // Heather Dillingham

Ever read something and then just think, “that’s it!? There is nothing else?”

Not going to lie, that was me when reviewing this change from Hosea to Joshua. In this story, Moses is sending one man from each tribe to scout Canaan before taking the land God promised, but the actual verses talk about this significant name change. Well, let me just show you.

“These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land.
(Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua).”
Numbers 13:16

Two sentences and one man's name is changed for the rest of his life. His legacy, altered, his purpose chosen, in two sentences.

Different resources tell us that his name could have been altered to protect him (kind of like a blessing) or to point to the fact that Moses was already planning on taking him under his wing, but for us today, it leaves a lot of questions. Isn’t that like God?

Throughout my life, I have constantly questioned God. I think it’s a normal consequence of our nature. We always want to know, to have control, and to be informed.

But God isn’t that forthcoming and honestly, looking at the craziness of this world from the existence of galaxies to the heartbreaking realities that are in each of our characters, I am glad I don’t know it all.

Just like Joshua at this moment, the most we can hope for is that in the confusion, the fog, and the changes, we continue to point to God.

You see, his name change, while small, meant something. It changed his name from “salvation” to “God is salvation.” It pointed back to God.

In this, God is showing that even the little changes, a few characters here or there, make a difference for His kingdom and for our legacy. That we don’t always have to know the reason behind His choices as long as we walk in faith.

After all, faith isn’t knowing all the answers. It’s trusting in something DESPITE not having the answers. A hard concept, but something God reminds us of time and time again.

So, what act of faith is God asking you to trust Him in? Is there a name change that needs to happen for you? A shift in your legacy and purpose?

Maybe, like me, you need to let go of control even if it feels like the changes in life aren’t fast enough or big enough.

I mean, look at Joshua, this was a big thing but there was no pomp and circumstance, just two lines! Yet God used Joshua to bring His people to the land He promised.

God, we ask that you open each of our hearts, first to your truth, then to accepting the faith you provide. God sometimes it’s hard to accept that we don’t, can’t, and never will know all that You do. Help us accept the place you have created for us in this world. Give us grace when we try to push against Your will and lead us to see the importance of the seemingly small changes You provide. We thank You God for all that you are. In Jesus's Name Amen.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus, use this as an opportunity to let him change you. If you have, let us know in the comments, what small change have you seen God make in your life that turned into so much more.

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) toddler. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be seen taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Raychan on Unsplash