Camp in the Hard-to-Read Parts of the Bible

When I study my Bible I’m prone to reading the books that I’m comfortable with–the ones that are relatively easy to read and that I can quickly pluck application points from. I tend to steer away from Job, Revelation, and Numbers. But none of God’s words are insignificant–He doesn’t waste words. This article highlights the importance of reading the more difficult parts of the Bible and the joy and revelation that can come when we really dive into the books that seem harder to understand. The author explains the significance of the Feast of Booths. And surprise, the Feast of Booths is actually occurring this week. So open up your Bible to those hard to read passages and wait expectantly for God to reveal more of Himself.

The old stories tucked in the pages of our Bible aren’t there for nostalgia. They’re there to remind us who God is and what He has done. We’re just as prone to forget as the Israelites and therefore just as much in need of constant reminders of God’s faithful care. We need God’s Word daily to remind us who God is. 

[Revive Our Hearts]

How Do You Feel About How Your Kids Feel

As parents, we love our children and care about how they feel. But often in my own life, my response to my children’s feelings reveals disordered priorities and sinfulness. I delight in seeing my children happy. But when one of them throws a temper tantrum at an inopportune time and my response is annoyance rather than joy at having an opportunity to disciple then it really reveals my selfishness. This article looks at how what we love, treasure, or worship directs our feelings, especially in regard to our children. As our sinful tendencies are revealed we’re presented with an opportunity to receive grace and help from our good, heavenly Father and display the gospel for our children.

[W]e always learn something about our own hearts and what we’re really loving or treasuring when our kids’ emotions set off something emotional in us. When she shows kindness to a sibling or growth in patience, it speaks well of our love for her and the Lord if we feel happy about it. When his little tantrum comes at an inconvenient moment, our annoyance tells us that our desire to get our tasks done is dearer to us than the chance to disciple our child. When her squeals of joy impinge upon our chance to relax in peace and quiet, our emotions provide evidence for whose joy is more important to us, ours or hers (spoiler alert: given that humans are sinners and parents are humans, parents tend to prefer their own joy!)

All that to say, that when, as will often be the case, our emotions reveal that sin and disordered treasures still linger in our hearts, we need not despair! On the contrary, even our most selfish feelings and most embarrassing emotional responses to our kids are opportunities to run to the Lord for help. They’re open doors to bring him our hearts and grow into a deeper experience of the heart of Christ for our children.

[Risen Motherhood]

8 Marks of a Sluggard

I am a typical Type A, overachiever. Furthermore, I am a One on the Enneagram test–I tend toward perfectionism and could be described as a go-getter. I would not describe myself as lazy. In this article, the author shares 8 marks of a sluggard. I read the title and thought, “That’s not me.” But as I read through his list, I was convicted. You see, while I am a perfectionist and usually hate procrastinating, I have a really big flaw. When I’m feeling extremely overwhelmed or facing a hard-decision, I have a tendency to withdraw and refuse to confront the problem. I had never realized my desire to avoid confrontation was actually laziness. The author draws his list from Proverbs and challenges his readers to dive into the book of wisdom and allow God’s word to pinpoint areas where we are prone to laziness. I hope you’ll check it our even if you don’t think you struggle with laziness. It was certainly eye-opening for me.

The sluggard will also refuse to face hard tasks. To mask his laziness, he will find refuge in cowardly excuses like, “There’s a lion outside, I shall be killed in the streets” (Prov. 22:13). Confronted with hard decisions and potentially hard conversations, the sluggard is thrown into indecision, wavering between multiple options, and will turn to entertainment to take his mind off the work before him. Netflix or Fortnite can be the opiate of the sluggard.

[TGC]

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How Do I Follow God’s Will in the Face of Two Good Options?

Pastor John Piper answers a question I believe everyone has wrestled with at one time: “Does God have a specific plan for my life, or do I have freedom to choose what I want to do and God will work in that? Two good career options are in front of me. Neither would be bad or sinful. When faced with two good options, how have you made decisions on God’s leading? ” Pastor John shares 6 things we can do as we discern God’s will for our lives.

God’s sovereign will for your life is going to happen no matter what. “The mind of a woman plans her way, but the Lord directs her steps.” That’s a paraphrase of Proverbs 16:9 and Proverbs 19:21. Apply it to yourself. You plan; he directs. It’s good to plan, but he’s decisive. His revealed will — his will of command, the will that he reveals for us — is what he tells us to do in Scripture. You should always pursue that — always.

[Desiring God]

A Tree Planted by the Water

I’ve noticed two very different reactions in my life when difficult seasons or trials come. I will either draw near to the Lord, amp up my Bible reading and prayer time, and immerse myself in the Word, or I will withdraw from the Lord’s hand, neglect reading my Bible, and offer short, half-hearted prayers, unsure if the Lord is listening. In today’s article, I share the importance of God’s word to us during trials.

[GEM]

When Trusting Your Husband Means Trusting God

I have an incredible husband who is an excellent provider. But we’ve certainly walked through seasons where my anxiety is high and my fear has wanted to run rampant. In fact, we’re currently walking through one of those seasons. I find myself looking only at what I can see with my physical eyes–my husband, our bank account balance, amount of bills due, grocery list, etc. When I should be looking to God, who stands behind my husband and takes care of our entire family–my spouse included. This article was such a good reminder that our trust must be in God and in His promises, not our circumstances or our spouse. I pray this would encourage you and point your fearful heart to the One who has given us everything we need for life and godliness.

For married ladies, our husbands are wonderful gifts to us, but we should never put them in the place of God or expect them to do what only God can do, or be who only God is. When I think about my husband, I see a handsome, tall guy with broad shoulders who lovingly carries, counsels, and leads our family. But behind him, there’s an infallible God who is completely trustworthy. God showed His great love for us in sending Jesus. He met our greatest need – salvation from sin – with the gospel. If He has already met our greatest need, surely, He is able to meet our practical needs.

[Women Encouraged]

7 Prayers to Pray for those You Love

Confession–lately my prayer life has been pretty dismal. While I know I have the time to pray, I often don’t because it takes a lot of mental discipline for me to get my mind quiet to begin with and then to keep it focused as I pray. But when I do pray for loved ones, I find myself praying small prayers where I’m really just asking for the Lord to change their circumstances rather than their hearts. I pray for safety, health, and basic needs. I don’t pray for them to grow in their knowledge of Jesus, to abide in Him, to love others as Christ has loved them. This article was so good for me to read because the author provides seven big prayers we can pray for our loved ones that will have eternal significance.

Big prayers require more grace, more faith, and more effort because spiritual realities do not naturally come to mind, and because the answers to bigger prayers are often harder to recognize — at least for now. For hundreds of thousands of years to come, though, we will taste and see and witness the preciousness of the big prayers we prayed — prayers that moved mountains in people’s hearts, causing earthquakes at their spiritual cores, and changing the course of their eternities.

[Desiring God]

4 Practical Tips for Faithful Workplace Witness

My husband and I were recently asking each other if the people that we work with and interact with on a daily basis could tell we were Christians from our conduct in the workplace or if they would be surprised to learn that about us. This article was incredibly helpful for me to think through as I asked myself that hard question. The author gives four practical ways we can honor Christ in our chosen vocation. I especially loved the one about celebrating milestones and special events with our coworkers–such an easy way to show love to them.

Usually there is one person in the office who organizes personal or professional office celebrations for employees. Aim to be that person—or joyfully assist them. Why? In any workplace, there are employees who feel out of place or simply aren’t well-liked among their peers. A recognition of a celebratory event in their lives is one of the easiest ways to let them know they’re important.

[TGC]

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Discover the Grace of Lament Podcast

Mark Vroegop discusses how we can learn to speak the language of lament as we await Christ’s return. He defines lament as, “a prayer that people offer to a sovereign God when life doesn’t fit with what they know to be true about Him, or the coming of Jesus, or the coming of justice, or the coming of God’s promises seem to be delayed.” I hope you are encouraged by this podcast and as challenged by it as I was.

Of all the people on the planet, Christians know the arc of redemptive history. We know what’s going to happen at the end. We know of the One who makes all wrongs right. And so it just seems to me that, of all the people on the planet, Christians ought to be the ones who master the language for the in-between world, and that is the language of lament.

[TGC]

Why You Don’t Have to Fear the Valley

I’ve been working through an amazing Bible study with my discipler. This last week, we covered fear and anxiety. The author of the study, Matt Chandler, wrote “Underneath all fear and anxiety is the simple fact that we don’t believe–don’t have faith–in the goodness of God. To be a worrier means means we don’t trust He’s going to provide for us, we don’t think He’s looking out for our best interests, or we don’t feel convinced that He’s wise enough to know what to do for us.” All I could say to that statement was, “Amen.” I would love to isolate myself from all the things I fear but that’s impossible. We will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The question is not if, but when. However, when we find ourselves in the valley, we can trust that God is good, He is for us, and He keeps His promises. I loved this article and hope you are encouraged by it as well.

[T]he way to remove fear from our lives is not to isolate ourselves from all dangers—because that’s impossible—but to believe the promises of a God who is bigger than the dangers.

The godly woman has no fear of the future because she knows a God bigger than anything that can threaten her, whose presence and power are with her no matter what, and who promises to transform any of the things she’s afraid of into an agent of his purpose.

[JD Greear]

Lessons from the Life of Joseph

The story of Joseph is one of my favorites in the Bible. Each time I read it, I marvel at his character and trust in the Lord. It would have been easy for him to become bitter, believing the lie that the Lord had forgotten him. Justifiably, he could have complained about his circumstances. Instead, he worked diligently wherever he was placed and sought to honor the Lord. Although Joseph could not see God at work in his situation, He was laying the groundwork for Joseph to save Israel. Let us persevere in our waiting as Joseph did, confident that God is at work outside our time frame and sees the whole picture.

Joseph was only seventeen when he was taken to Egypt. It wasn’t until he was thirty that he was made second-in-command of Egypt. About a decade later, he was reunited with his family. That’s a lot of years passing without Joseph knowing or reaching the beautiful end. Do not lose heart in your waiting. Be mindful of all that God is doing in your heart and in your life. Do not believe the lie of the enemy that time is passing you by, hope is lost, and you have been missed or overlooked by God.

[Revive Our Hearts]

A Prayer for Those Who Feel Awkward at Social Gatherings

The title of this article made me laugh, but I can also 100% relate to feeling awkward in social situations. If given the choice of having to make small talk with people I don’t know very well or have deep one-on-one conversations individually, I would choose the deep conversation every time. I dread going to social gatherings where I feel judged on my wittiness (which I’m not), outgoing nature (which I don’t possess), and my ability to carry a conversation in a large group of people (which terrifies me). If you’re like me, and find yourself desperately clinging to the one person you know at a party so you don’t have to look like you don’t belong in any group or intently looking at your phone to avoid small talk, then I hope this prayer encourages your little introverted heart like it did mine.

[D]espite my shyness, I would rather learn to emulate your mercies by entering the lives of others, affirming their dignity and worth simply by showing interest in the details of their lives, however awkward I might feel in the process. Give me grace therefore, O God, to love others, to move toward them when my instinct is to run.

[TGC]

Dependence is an Opportunity

My twins are currently two and lately it seems like they always want to exert their independence and walk rather than be held. Fine with me–it’s easier to hold their hands as we walk across the parking lot rather than trying to carry both of them in my arms. It’s easier until they both start trying to pull free from my grip and walk alone, usually right into the path of a vehicle. As I read this article, I was reminded that I so often try to shake the Lord’s grip and walk alone rather than enjoying dependence on Him. The gospel and motherhood continually point out my sinfulness and my need for a Savior. I’m so thankful for God’s patience as I relearn that dependence on Him and not myself is where true life is found. I’ll forever be thankful that He’s always there as I reach up and slip my fingers back into His hand.

When I consider the process of sanctification, I’m first reminded of my shortcomings, and how often my days look like I’m simply surviving. But when I look at Christ, I’m reminded that every display of sin and weakness is an opportunity for God to make me more like his Son. It’s an opportunity for me to repent of my sin and focus on the cross as opposed to myself. 

Every day is an opportunity for me to hold my good Parent’s hand in utter dependence, knowing that I can trust my Father to make me more like him, in and through motherhood.

[Risen Motherhood]

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How to Have Peace in Trials Podcast

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth shares how we can have peace and even hope in the midst of trials and pain. She examines Isaiah 54 and how God wants His people to walk by faith and not give into hopelessness and despair.

When you’re in trouble, listen to what God says! Don’t listen to what your circumstances are telling you, but listen to what God says, and look at what kind of God He is—compassionate, redeeming. Though God has seemingly deserted His people and has hidden His face from them in discipline, His anger is but “for a brief moment.” What will last forever is not His anger, not His discipline, not His chastening, but His compassion. His covenant love, His hesed.

Though they have sinned against Him and rightly deserve His wrath, He will have mercy on them. Why? Because they deserve it? No, they don’t deserve it! It’s because this is His character. This is “your compassionate Lord,” verse 10 tells us. When everything looks like the mountains are moving and the hills are shaking, we need to counsel our hearts about what kind of God we have and the promises He’s made and the covenant He has with His people.

[Revive Our Hearts]

Forgiven Little–Loves Little

Over the last few years, something strange has started happening when I read the Bible. I always find myself relating more to the Pharisee that Jesus is rebuking than to the sinner who comes to Jesus humbly, repents of his sin, and goes away forgiven. I always feel a little ashamed that I connect so strongly to the Pharisee and not to the sinner. But what’s amazed me lately is that Jesus just as desperately wants the Pharisee to recognize his need for a Savior as he does for the “sinner.” That’s incredible news for my Pharisee-prone heart. Here’s my most recent example.

[GEM]

How Jesus Removes Our Shame

When I was 7, I had a friend from church come over to play at my house. I lived out in the country and we were playing outside. There was a drainage ditch by the road that was terrifically full of mud after a recent rain. So what did my friend and I do? We got down in the ditch and played in the mud. We were so filthy. I’m talking all that was visible was our eyes and teeth. When we had to face the music or more accurately, my mom, I was so ashamed. I knew she would not be pleased at the gigantic mess we made. As I read this article, I thought about how often I feel ashamed at my own sinfulness when I’m facing the Lord. I desperately try to wipe my hands on any clean part of my shirt I can find. Hoping He won’t notice how truly filthy I am and change His mind about me. The beauty of the gospel is that we can never be too dirty to come before Christ and appropriate His goodness for ourselves. I hope this article stirs your affections for Christ, as it did mine.

Jesus’s cleanness is a far more powerful contagion than any dirt we can bring to him. There is always more that’s right in Jesus than there is what’s wrong in us, more grace in him than offense in us, more forgiveness in him than sin in us. The very worst in us cannot compete with the best in Christ. We can’t sully him. He can only purify us. However deep our mess goes, his holiness goes deeper. We will never exhaust it.

Jesus went through ultimate exclusion — not just from people, but also from his Father (Mark 15:34). He was made toxic so I can be made fragrant. He was shut out so I could be beckoned in. That doesn’t mean I never feel unclean. There is the ongoing attack of the accuser. Satan’s gonna Satan. But I have a place to look in my war against sin and shame.

[Desiring God]

Great Marriages or Just Ok Marriages

My husband and I just celebrated 7 years of marriage–woohoo! But I remember when we were engaged and then newlyweds, I had several well-meaning married friends who warned me that marriage can be good but it’s also really hard. They didn’t want me to have unrealistic expectations, but the problem was that I then had lowered expectations. When I experienced the “hard” times my friends warned me about, I thought, “so, this is marriage . . . not all that great really.” Over time I became the hardened skeptic, warning my soon to be married friends about the difficulties of marriage. Yes, marriage is hard. But I think I’ve done a disservice to my own marriage and to my friends by lowering my expectations and not asking, believing, and trying to make my own marriage better. Let’s not believe the lies that Satan feeds us–God intends and wants us to have good marriages because a Christian marriage is a beautiful reflection of what eternity will be like when we’re united with Christ.

The problem with a lowered “realistic” standard or picture of marriage is that pretty soon people buy into it. The lowered standard becomes what everyone is shooting for, and then they start missing even that.

But that’s not what God had in mind when He designed marriage. Hope rises against all that gloom because as Christians we know that God did intend marriage to send His people into orbit. He specifically meant it to provide a taste of heaven on earth. Marriage, after all, is His own carefully drawn picture of the relationship He wants to have with us.

[World Magazine]

Two Habits of Successful Parents

I am guilty of middle of the night, panic, Googling. Let me explain. My child has suddenly started doing something strange. I convince myself it’s a medical emergency. I pull out my phone, while my husband tries to sleep, and consult Google, the great physician. I stumble onto a forum or a blog where other moms recount that their child did the exact same strange thing my child did. They did not take their child to the doctor. The child quit doing the strange thing, and life went on as normal. Feeling comforted that I’ve consulted the experts, I go to sleep. But…those people aren’t necessarily experts. And when I’m trying to raise kind, godly children who grow into adults that walk with Jesus, they probably shouldn’t be my first line of defense. I loved, loved, this article about asking people who have raised godly children to tell you how they did it and then offer helpful critiques for blindspots they see in your parenting (scary, but incredibly useful). I hope you’re as challenged by this article as I was.

Many of the most successful parents have never launched a blog or podcast or otherwise spoken publicly about their parenting. Find those people, especially in your local church, and learn from them. It’s as simple as finding kids who you’d be proud to call your own, then inviting yourself into the lives of their parents.

There are few tasks you will undertake in life that are more important than raising children. It is an incredible honor that God allows us to create, birth, and raise other human beings made in his image. With this incredible honor comes great responsibility. You’re unlikely to fulfill this task well, or as well as you could have, without the input of the community God has given you. So take advantage of it!

[Challies]

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Freedom From a Self-Focused Life

This is a great podcast on beholding Christ. Ruth Chou Simons discusses how we are shaped by the things we behold. Therefore, the more we behold Christ, the more we are transformed by Him.

As simple as it is, if we were to start our day observing all the ways he is faithful and how he brings the day to order with the sunrise, it’s startling to see how that puts us in our place. Everyday is an opportunity to grow in the awareness of God’s work or to grow obsessed about my own.

If we see ourselves as image-bearers – if sanctification is conforming us to the likeness of Christ – if we see that rightly, then my job today is not to create in myself the image of who I want to be, but to allow myself to be transformed by his conforming me to his image.

Journey Women

When Jesus Tells You To Stay

I have friends who have gone on foreign missions, fallen in love with the people and culture, and decided to stay full-time, sharing the good news of Christ. Other than Mexico, I have never left the U.S. However, I’ve frequently told myself that I can have just as much of an impact for the kingdom here in Oklahoma. But when I read this article, I had to stop and ask myself, “But are you having any impact? Are you telling people about what Jesus has done for you?” The hard truth–no. I’ve allowed fear of man to dictate my boldness for my Savior. I don’t want to make people uncomfortable–but the reality is that I don’t want to be uncomfortable. Jesus has saved us so that “we can declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

There are lost people where we live. We don’t necessarily have to leave the country to find them. God has a purpose for our staying. Even if we’re not traveling to the ends of earth, we must be faithful to tell those around us of the incredible and mighty things the Lord has done for us and in us. This article was so challenging for me, and I hope it stirs your heart as well.

Instead of telling him “come,” Jesus told him “stay.” He told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

There could be no better missionary to these people than one of their own. This man had the advantage of knowing them, of knowing their place, of knowing their culture. This man had the advantage of being known. These people knew who and what he had been. As he returned to live among them, they could see who and what he now was. And his task was simply to explain what had happened between times. His task was simply to explain what the Lord had done to liberate him from his demons and to liberate him from his sin.

[Challies]

Your Church Needs You to Sing

I’m not big on singing in church. I love worship music, but I feel self-conscious about my voice, worried my terrible singing is distracting those around me. And if I’m honest, these last few months, I have not felt much like singing praises. But I remember the Sunday after my husband lost his job, he and I were standing in our pew together and the worship team started playing, “Blessed Be Your Name.” As soon as it began I silently and stubbornly thought, “Nope, Lord. Sorry, I’m sitting this one out.” But as I listened to the lyrics, I realized more than anything I needed to sing that song. I needed to declare to myself the Lord’s faithfulness even in times of want. I needed to bless His name when it was the last thing my flesh wanted to do. So, with tears streaming down my face, I reminded myself and the Lord that even when life is difficult, my trust is in Him and not in my circumstances. Congregation singing can fortify your spirit, remind you of the Lord’s goodness, and renew your awe in the gospel. I loved this article, and I hope you enjoy it too. Our churches and our souls need us to sing.

What about when you don’t feel like singing, though? When your soul is downcast, and your faith is diminished? These are the times when your church needs your voice the most.

The gospel is on full display in our weakness. When all is going well for you, and life is sailing smoothly along, you should sing — but it’s less surprising when you do. When all is going well, it is surprising when you don’t sing.

But when life is falling apart, and trials threaten your security, that is when your singing becomes a forceful testimony to the faithfulness of God.

[Desiring God]

Follow the Leader

Being a follower can have a negative connotation. We don’t want to be followers and we don’t want our children to be followers–we want them to be leaders. We don’t really care about how many Instagram or Twitter accounts we follow, we care about our number of followers, once again putting the emphasis on us being the leaders. But we cannot lead our children or even our friends and co-workers to Christ if we’re not following Him closely–spending time in His word, in prayer, in fellowship with other believers. Let’s not neglect the importance of being a follower, so that our children will be able to follow us as we follow Christ.

As moms (and grammies) we both follow and lead every day. Unfortunately, we often get it backwards, or due to extensive demands, we forego “following” altogether. In the age-old game, Follow the Leader, “follow” comes first. As moms we can lead our children graciously and confidently when our leadership stems from following Christ. Our leadership at Bible study, in the work-place, and most importantly, in our home, flourishes when it is rooted in the fact that we are first and foremost a Christ-follower. Our children and grandchildren will then witness in us a sound, steady, obedient leadership which flows out of a submissive heart and posture before Jesus.

[Risen Motherhood]

Sisters, Jesus Is Not Your Cheerleader

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I love to validate my girlfriends’ struggles. I’m quick to downplay the seriousness of what they’ve done and offer grace. I’m not great at speaking the hard truth. I try to let myself off the hook by telling myself, “They already feel awful. What good will it do for me to reaffirm that?” But for us to think rightly about Jesus and even a step farther, to think like Jesus, we must take sin seriously. We must love our girlfriends enough to not mow over their sin but help them see it for what it is–corrosive to our souls–and offer them grace when they need it. We must also have a correct view of ourselves and call our struggles “sin,” eradicating it from our lives rather than indulging it. Jesus literally died on the cross to free us from our enslavement to sin; He did not die on the cross for us to tolerate our own sinfulness and help others not feel so bad about their sin. This article shares several different ways we can think rightly and thus, think more like Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t look at our sin and say, “No big deal, just do whatever makes you happy.” Instead he says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matt. 5:29).

Jesus makes it crystal clear how he feels about our sin: He hates it. He knows it’s corrosive to our souls. He knows it never fulfills, and always destroys. Because he loves us, he wants us to flee from sin and call others do the same (Matt. 18:15–17). When teachers or books promote sinful behavior as a means of self-fulfillment, Jesus sternly rebukes and warns against them (Luke 17:1–3). .

[TGC]

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Parents are Works in Progress by Paul David Tripp

This podcast on parenting was so on-point for me. It’s relatively short–only 27 minutes. So, if you have time, I hope you’ll listen to it.

If you are honest as a parent, there’s few things that you will ever identify in the life of your children that you can’t yet find artifacts of in your own life.

That’s the gospel in parenting. The playing field is level, and every moment that I’m parenting, the wise Heavenly Father is parenting everybody in the room because everybody in the room still needs to be parented. You forget that and you’ll have shockingly self-righteous things to say and things to do in those moments when God has given you an opportunity. [TGC]

Getting to the Other Side

If you feel as though you’re in a boat, stuck in a stormy sea, and Jesus appears to be asleep, then I hope this article will encourage your weary heart.

Jesus’ words are powerful. They carry the power to calm the storm. But too often I read His promises, see the storm, quickly discount their power, and question His goodness.

[GEM]

Hope Deferred

I don’t know anyone who enjoys waiting–waiting in line, waiting for my wifi connection to be established, waiting for the coffee to brew, waiting for Christmas to come (or maybe that’s just me), or waiting for God to answer a prayer. Waiting for little things can be frustrating, while waiting for big things can be heartbreaking. But the thing I’ve continued to learn as I’ve gone through periods of waiting, is that God is always at work in those times. This article challenges us to shift our focus from asking “Why did You allow this to happen?” and “When will my waiting be over?” to “Who are you God, even as I wait?”

Learning about God’s character taught me to trust him, to wait with peace because he has proven himself faithful time and again. He sent Jesus to meet my greatest need in paying for my sins at the cross. Such a gracious and kind God can be trusted with my waiting for other, lesser needs. As Paul encourages us: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)

[TGC]

How Children Reveal our Idols

First of all, let me issue a disclaimer that I love my kids. I view them as two of the biggest blessings and joys in my life. They are a delight, and I thank God everyday for entrusting them to my care. But when I’m being selfish and desperately wanting some alone time to do normal human things like shower in peace, I can think back fondly with nostalgia and a hint of idealization about life pre-kids. If I’m not careful, I can become frustrated when I feel that my time is continuously being infringed upon and my schedule is constantly being interrupted. This article points out that what I’m really serving in those moments is the idol of self. Our children are a gift from the Lord and one that He can graciously use to expose the idols in our lives. The author shares five different ways our children reveal the idols of our heart.

We live in a society that is growing in its animosity toward children, primarily because we view them as a limitation. Kids hinder us from doing (or being) what we might do (or be) if they weren’t around to limit our options. We view them as weights around our ankles. It is the idol of self — of determining our schedule and deciding our priorities based on what we want.

The psalmist says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3). God calls us to die to our definition of “dreams” and “impact” and view our children, not as limitations, but instead as our God-given gift and responsibility.

[Desiring God]

How the Gospel Frees us from Pretending and Performing

I work part-time at a high-end retail store. The other day, my husband came in to see me. I was talking to him in my normal voice when suddenly a customer approached. My tone shifted, my smile changed, and my voice became extra sugary. Later that night my husband remarked that he thought it was funny he got to see the “work-me.” The one who talks, dresses, and even smiles differently than at home. I knew what he was really saying–the “pretend-me,” the one I want customers to see, the happy, boho-loving, hat and kimono wearing girl. Not always the real me. How often do I put on the fake front that I think people want to see at church and even with God? The answer is way too often. However, the gospel has freed us from having to perform or pretend. We are covered by the blood of Christ and partakers in the unconditional love and acceptance of a gracious Father. So, let’s quit pretending and performing and bask in the goodness of the gospel and what Christ has already done.

There is nothing about you or me that can be revealed that Jesus has not already seen and that his blood has not already covered. When someone points something out, we can say, “Yes, God saw that, too, and he set his love on me anyway and has promised to change that in me.”

Whatever we are embarrassed of right now, whatever it is we don’t want others to know about, God has already seen it, and he declares, there is no condemnation. Jesus paid for it in full, and he receives us in love. There is nothing about you or me that can be revealed that Jesus has not already seen and that his blood has not already covered. When someone points something out, we can say, “Yes, God saw that, too, and he set his love on me anyway and has promised to change that in me.”

[JD Greear]

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How to Have a Good Fight Podcast

Conflict is inevitable. Whether married or single, parent or child, employee or employer–conflict is everywhere. Danielle Salade shares how to have a “good fight.” Yes, you read that right. She defines a good fight as resolving conflict “in a way that honors God and results in bringing about his kingdom purposes in the world and in our lives.” I hope this podcast is as helpful for you as it was for me. [TGC]

Parenting Myths

The other night I was spending time with the girls in my small group. We were discussing perfectionism and the conversation drifted to desiring and feeling the pressure to do everything perfectly for our children. While we know that’s an impossible task, we easily fall into the mindset that in order for our kids to follow the Lord, we must create a perfect environment that will guarantee they trust Christ early. If only that were possible. Our kids are independent people who will make their own choices. However, we can faithfully model the gospel, pray daily for them, and trust that the Lord is working in their hearts. How encouraging that we don’t have to be perfect–just faithful!

[E]ven while we acknowledge the usefulness of methods, we must reject their supremacy. “Discipling our children in the faith is not a matter of combining the right ingredients and the right environment to guarantee a godly adult.” Parenting is not baking a cake or assembling IKEA furniture.

 “Our job is to discharge faithfully the duties God has given to us, leaving the results in God’s hands. Our goal is not ‘successful’ parenting per se, but faithful parenting.” This is a sweet, liberating truth.

[Challies]

Experiencing God as You Wait

For the last three months I’ve been in a painful and faith-stretching season of waiting. I’ve prayed for God to provide; yet it seems He has remained silent and distant, choosing to not answer my prayers. If I’m being honest, I have struggled in this season to see God. I’ve asked over and over, “God, when will You provide?” “Will You provide something good or just a temporary fix?” “Do you care about me at all?” But as the author pointed out, what I’m really asking is “Are you really in control here?” “Are you trustworthy?” “Are you. . . enough?” This article was convicting in the best way possible–challenging how I view this season of waiting. I hope it encourages you as you wait for your answer and enjoy the faithfulness of a God who is sufficient and good.

Delay can often feel like a burden. I used to squander such seasons, longing in vain for timely answers to tired prayers. I’d launch a countdown to God’s yes—and withhold praise until it arrived. Sadly, I knew nothing of the power that could transform a seemingly fallow, horizonless wait into one of lush, redemptive possibility. My eyes failed, looking not for Christ but for escape.

Waiting isn’t the wasted space around the greatest blessings of our lives; it’s their incubator. It tutors us in the way of faith, that divine vision beyond human sight (2 Cor. 5:7). It forces us to confront our insecurities and cross-examine our doubts. Above all, waiting invites us to retrace the well-worn paths of grace back to a bloody cross and empty tomb.

[TGC]

We Yawn Because We Forget

Having been a Christian now for 23 years I can often be complacent about Jesus. I can forget how in awe of His grace and compassion I was when I first trusted Him. After repeated readings of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, I can dull the cruelty and beauty of the cross. I can forget what He saved me from. But it shouldn’t be that way. The longer I walk with Christ, the more in love and in awe of Him I should be. May we all take time today to gaze upon the beauty of our Savior and marvel at the work He has done.

For every follower of Jesus, there was a time when he went from interesting to stunning, from intriguing to mouth-stopping, from inspiring to everything — from great man to God himself. When we fed on his word those first few weeks, we ate like we had never had a real meal. When we drank the living water from his well, we barely stopped to breathe. Like the man who sold all he had, we had found our pearl of great price, our treasure beyond compare. Wasn’t he marvelous? We lose that sense of awe when we don’t give ourselves time to gaze. How extravagant could he possibly look if we only ever give him a few minutes here and there?

[Desiring God]

How to Avoid Bible Study Legalism

Before I had kids my time spent in God’s word was predictable and easy to fit into my schedule. Every morning I got up at the same time and read my Bible. But since having kids my Bible study has become erratic at best. Often I feel so much guilt that my quiet times don’t look like they used to. This article was so encouraging. We are not right before the Lord because of the amount of time spent reading His Word but rather because of the finished work of Christ. Yes, we should try our hardest to prioritize time with the Lord, but that time is not what justifies me before Him. I hope it encourages all you mamas to continue to be faithful to spend time with the Lord when the opportunity presents itself, but frees you from the guilt and shame that surfaces because it may not look like previous seasons in your life.

Moms at any stage can easily fall into the lie that says we must study the Bible a certain way, every day. Though Bible study is essential to the Christian life, we must guard against Bible study legalism.  Legalism enters, however, when we believe that our time studying the Bible makes us right before God.

As important as Bible study is to our Christian lives, it doesn’t secure our relationship with God. The beauty of the gospel is that we are not saved through our method of study, how long we study the Bible, or how often we study the Bible. We are in right relationship with God because we bear Christ’s righteousness, a righteousness apart from the law given freely to us who believe in his saving work on the cross.

This gospel frees us to read the Bible from a place of joy rather than fear or shame. Instead of coming to the Bible burdened with guilt, we can come excited to be refreshed and revived.

[Risen Motherhood]

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Perfectionism Podcast

Regardless of if we’re Type A or Type B, we all struggle with perfectionism in some form or another. The real question for me is in what area do I not struggle with perfectionism–that would be a much shorter list. In this podcast, Laura and Emily of the Risen Motherhood Podcast share how the gospel frees us from perfectionism. I hope it stirs your heart the same way it did mine.

When we haven’t trusted in the reality that Christ is perfect on our behalf, we will be obsessed with making ourselves perfect.

Jesus isn’t asking us to be perfect, he knows full well that we cannot be perfect. But in him we are made righteous before a perfectly holy God. Righteousness is being morally right – free from all sin and guilt, perfection. Jesus was willing to die in our place so that we can be next to God, so we can perfect as our Father is perfect.

[Journey Women Podcast]