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Read His Words Before Ours! Luke 1:26-28 John 4:1-2 John 4:39-41 Psalm 139:13-18 Oh God, please, please, please just give me a baby sister. Please. This was the pleading of a five-year-old little girl, who continued praying this for 2 years. This was my prayer. As much as my five-year-old brain could understand, I knew my mom couldn’t physically have more children, but I also knew God was a God of miracles, which meant I could still have a little sister. So I prayed with everything in me. Oh the joy when my prayers were answered one evening two years later! My parents gathered my grandparents, brother, and I into our tiny living room, telling us we would be adopting a baby in a few months. They didn’t know whether that baby was a boy or a girl… but I knew. This baby was my answered prayer. This baby was my sister. As hot tears streamed down my tanned cheeks, I knew, at just eight-years-old, that the Lord hears. He does the impossible, far beyond what we can imagine or dream. I knew God loved me. This began my deep passion for adoption, and a softened heart towards women surprised with pregnancy. Unexpected pregnancies have been a rhythm in my family, including my precious Gamma and her beloved Harald. My Papa passed away right after they celebrated 59 years of marriage, but their marriage began unconventionally. When Gamma was 15 and smitten with a handsome, blonde, German boy, they found out they would become parents much sooner than planned. At 16, they made vows they took seriously and carried out all 59 years of their marriage. However, being pregnant in the 50s at only 15, forever marked my Gamma. So, when other family members found themselves in similar circumstances, her heart ached for the pain they endured from scoffers and judgers; which marked me. I learned at a very young age the Bible is clear: sex outside of marriage is wrong. Pregnancy is not. It is not a sin to be pregnant. Life is never a sin. Life, because of God’s great redemption, can be the result of sin, but it is not sin. Period. So, sisters, how do we go about loving the fellow mamas around us who are expecting a life they weren’t planning to receive? How do we approach the mamas who were planning their pregnancy, but became pregnant outside of marriage? Well… we love them, just like the Father loves them. Jesus was the result of an unplanned pregnancy occurring outside of marriage. Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit as a young teenage girl. (Matthew 1:18) Motivated by redemption, the Father brought forth LIFE. The Spirit impressed on the hearts of wise-men to search for the King and shower Him with gifts. We love our fellow sisters, women, image-bearers, by welcoming their miracles with gifts and showering those mamas with love. The Woman at the Well was a woman living in repeated sexual sin. She’d been married five times, and while we don’t know the reason for each of those marriages, we do know she was with a man who wasn’t her husband at the time she met Jesus. While she didn’t physically bear the evidence of her sin, Jesus saw her and He knew it all. Even still, He loved, accepted, and conversed with her as He offered redemption. Through her powerful story, many came to know Him. We love our fellow hurting women by accepting them, conversing with them, and showing them grace and Jesus through our actions. God has not abandoned her or her child. If He will not cast her off, neither can we. He offers redemption and hope to her just as He has for us. Sisters, Jesus is for life. He is for all life, which includes the life of the mama with the unplanned pregnancy. He isn’t just longing for her physical life, but her spiritual life. Despite painful circumstances, shame, and brokenness, He will use all of it to draw her to Him. How incredible to be a part of that redemption! I am so thankful my sister’s birth mama chose life. The Lord used her unplanned pregnancy to answer to my prayers and show me His Love. God is the creator of life, and all life has a purpose. Let us, the Church, join together to celebrate life, celebrate redemption, and celebrate motherhood. Let’s join together to love the mamas who desperately need to experience Jesus’ loving redemption. Ready for some practical tools to love these mamas? Below is a list of ministries both international and local to Kansas City (GT headquarters) that do exactly that! All of these ministries focus on loving women with Jesus’ love while helping prepare them for their future as a birth mama, for a baby being adopted, or a single mama raising her child. If you are an expecting single mama or already a single mama, these are some awesome resources for you. Know you are Loved. You are Valued. You are Treasured. You are not the sum of your mistakes, and we would love to pray for you and love on you – so please reach out to us! Embrace Grace – A support group for women with an unplanned pregnancy where mamas are showered with love by throwing baby showers for expecting moms. There are groups all around the country and you can find a group near you! There are also support groups for those same mamas after their babes are born. Rachel’s House – This amazing organization has four locations across the Kansas City metro and is focused on educating parents on all options for their unexpected pregnancies as well as supporting families through pregnancy and adoption or parenting. The Single Mom KC – A group for soon-to-be single moms and current single moms of all ages, stages, and circumstances. They have a free boutique for moms to “shop” at as well as hosting monthly workshops to help equip mamas and give them a night out (Free childcare! Woohoo!) Bahamas Godparent Center – This community ministry offers biblical guidance, pregnancy testing, counseling, ultrasound imagery, and, most importantly, HOPE! The Life of a Single Mom – This ministry works to educate church and community leaders as well as the general public with the challenges faced by single moms. They believe no single mom should walk alone. Heartbeat International – An international ministry that helps 1,500,000 clients every year by offering resources, helping with adoptions, and overall, aiming to help women recognize life and choose life. This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. For more studies like this one, check out GracefullyTruthful.com!
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Read His Words Before Ours! John 3:16-21 1 John 4:7-19 Psalm 86:10-17 This last Christmas, I spent a lot of time talking about the meaning of the holiday with my three girls. They learned all about John the Baptist (actually, they call him John the Bathroom, please don’t ask me why because I really have no idea!) and his miraculous birth. They learned about the angel, Gabriel, telling Mary about her impending pregnancy. They sang Happy Birthday to Jesus over and over again, and I really think they grasped the holiness of that precious day as much three toddlers under three can. But for me, Christmas continues to become more intimate and cherished as my relationship with Jesus deepens. Throughout the entire season, I kept reflecting on the fact that God gave His one and only Son, first as a baby into this human world, and then to death. I’ve heard my dad preach quite a few messages, but the one forever imprinted on my heart is titled, “It’s Christmas, but Easter’s coming”. He taught about the importance of celebrating Jesus’ birth, but the reason His birth is so incredible is because just 33 years later, God gave that same baby over to death. Then showed His infinite power by bringing Him back to life three days later. Sisters, if you ever question your value… If you ever doubt how loved you are by God… Stop and remember this: God, the Creator of the world, became what He created (human), for you. Though He was flawless, wholly perfect, and innocent of all wrong, He took the punishment of sin, which is death, upon Himself because He loves you. God stopped at nothing, not even death, to bring us salvation. Nothing would separate us from His love. Nothing would stop Him from extending the opportunity for eternal life to all of us. If you don’t know me, I’m a sing-songy person. I have a song for every moment. You want a song about brushing teeth? I’ve got a few to offer. How about a song about driving in the car or studying for a test? I’ve got songs for those, too. Songs about God giving His Son for you and I? Hundreds. But as I prayed over, studied for, and thought about this Journey Study for the last eight weeks, only one song kept coming to mind: “How Great Thou Art”. And when I think of God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in Pause. Right there. When we stop to think about the fact that God stopped at nothing for us, I think the magnitude of that thought should cause our breaths to catch a bit. Maybe your heart beats a little faster? Maybe not yet? Then, stop and think of this: Are you a mama or an auntie? Is there a precious little one in your life? Imagine taking your sweet little one into your arms. Set them on your lap and wrap your arms around them. Feel their soft, squishy cheeks against yours; feel their sticky little fingers in your hand. Sense the weight of them leaning against you; breath in the smell of their hair. Focus on the depth of love you have for this wee one and the great life you know they are capable of leading. Think of the incredible moments you’ve had with them, the moments making your heart swell with pride or tender delight. The moments that marked the preciousness of your relationship together. Now, imagine that child on their deathbed. Imagine them lying in a hospital bed, barely breathing, their skin pale and their face expressionless. Don’t stay here long, but stop and realize the pain you’re feeling. Notice how you’re sick to your stomach and your heart literally hurts. Maybe your breathing grows heavier or your eyes begin to sting. Maybe you don’t have to imagine this pain at all, because you’ve lived it. Imagine you could stop this child from experiencing any pain, sickness, or rejection if you wanted to, but you choose not to. Hold onto the weight of that feeling and linger there. Now we’ve glimpsed, ever so slightly, the heart of Father God. We’ve caught a taste of the pain He felt watching Jesus suffer on earth. When Jesus had a stomach bug or a horrible cold, when He was teased by fellow playmates as a child, and rejected by His own hometown, His own people (Luke 4:16-30) as an adult. Father God watched and ached as Jesus was betrayed by one of His best friends (Luke 22:47-53), beaten so severely He didn’t even look human, denied by another best friend as He walked through the valley of death (Mark 14:66-72), and then nailed to a cross to slowly suffocate and die. The pain He experienced as a Father is incomprehensible. But God still gave His one and only Son. God knew the pain He would experience as Father. He knew the pain His Son would experience as the agony of sin pressed upon Him. But that didn’t hold Him back. Nothing, neither the pain in His own Father heart nor the pain Jesus, as God the Son, would experience, was going to stop the triune godhead from demonstrating His great love for the world or executing His master plan of redemption. That’s how important you are. That’s how loved you are. And when I think of God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died, to take away my sins Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Sisters? Easter is coming! This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. Visit GracefullyTruthful.com for most studies like this one!
Read His Words Before Ours! Colossians 1:24-2:3 Colossians 2:4-23 Ephesians 4:11-14 Hebrews 5:12-14 When we moved into our house, autumn was upon us, and many of the plants had started to fade away. The entire year following, I was delighted and surprised by multiple green sprouts appearing in my little bed at the front of our house. Fortunately, my Gamma had come to visit for several months and was able to teach me about the daisies, hostas, and roses blooming before my eyes. The roses thrilled me the most, and while they weren’t the large yellow roses my Papa and Gamma had always had in their garden, they were still a beautiful, bright pink. My Gamma gently warned me that when I cut flowers, I needed to cut them at an angle right above the growth bud, so the stem would continue to grow and produce more flowers. I hadn’t been as cautious about that before, resulting in an awkwardly shaped rose bush on the side of my house. I was reminded of this pruning process, but the necessity of pruning when I read this post on Instagram: “You will go through seasons of pruning, when God removes you from good things – friendships, privilege, ministry platforms, money, sustenance, hope, even your reputation. Pruning is always very painful and very difficult, although you may have a clear conscience and know that it comes from God, and that there are promises of a better and more fruitful future. It usually results in being very much alone. Most people will shy away from you when you experience pain. David in scripture was blessed to have one friend who stood solidly with him through God’s pruning and he eventually walked into a season of abundance.” My roses needed to be pruned – correctly – in order to continue growing and produce more roses than they otherwise would. Another word for pruning: sanctification. And ooftah does sanctification hurt sometimes. But is it worth it? Oh yes, dear Sisters, it totally is. Because sanctification means that I look more like Jesus and am being used for my intended purpose of bringing glory to Him. Sanctification means I’m growing. Paul talks about both the pain that comes with sanctification, as well as its inestimable value. He actually rejoices because of his suffering (and let me tell you, sanctification happens most during suffering). Paul understands that through this growing, pruning, and maturing process He is being prepared to take new ground for the Kingdom! Paul speaks of proclaiming Jesus’ name and building strong disciples so we may all be fully mature in Christ. This kind of maturity isn’t about physical age, rather it’s characterized by the natural growth that comes from intentional willingness to be consistently discipled by the Holy Spirit. By regularly dwelling with the Lord through Scripture intake, prayer, and living authentically in biblical community, the Spirit strengthens our “inner being” to love Christ and be shaped to mirror Him more and more. Speaking of this maturing, Paul says, “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7) Saying yes to Jesus is only the beginning. Surrendering your heart and receiving “Christ Jesus as Lord” will save you for eternity, but if you stop here, you’ve chosen to live far below your birthright in Jesus. Paul urges, “continue to live in Him..” Become rooted, built up, and established in the faith. Don’t Stop Now! Say yes to Jesus, and keep saying yes as He prunes your heart and life! The “steadying” growth Jesus cultivates in a heart committed to Him, makes you keenly aware of truth verses a lie. And, Sister, the world is full of deception and ‘empty deceit’. (Colossians 2:8) Paul ached for the Church. He ached for believers to not be stuck drinking milk, but eating solid food. He ached for believers to grow deep and become rooted that they would be able to distinguish between truth and heresy. Heresy ran rampant in the Colossian church, and it does in our culture today, too. The only way we will know the difference between what is solid and a deceptive mirage is by renewing our mind through Scripture. We must be…. Regular. Consistent. Intentional. Disciplined. Mature in Christ. As you encounter suffering, hold fast to the faith because Jesus is worth it. Give yourself fully to spiritual disciplines, watch the Spirit grow you deeply. Stand firm for truth, and lead others well as you love with grace. The second half of this beautiful post continues: “I bless you with the pruning of the Lord. As painful as they are, they are for the best. They come from a wise Father. I bless you with pruning that brings redemption. I bless you with deep, solid, life-giving friendships when you are going through a season of God’s pruning you. I bless you with friendships that are designed, crafted, nurtured, and given to you by your Father, even at the same time that He is taking away other friendships that you have deemed important and necessary to your life. Although you may be severely pruned, I bless you with at least one friend who maintains covenant relationship with you in your darkest hour and is able to encourage you, strengthen you, and focus your attention on God’s promises.” This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. Visit GracefullyTruthful.com for more studies like this one!
Read His Words Before Ours! 1 Peter 1:13-16 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Romans 12:1-2 Ever since writing for Gracefully Truthful, I’ve been continually amazed how the Lord perfectly aligns Journey Studies I write alongside my spiritual journey with Him. We choose our Journey assignments months prior to writing, and even longer before they ever go live on the website. And still…. the Lord always leads me to write specific Journey Studies He knows in advance He will use to transform my heart. This journey through 1 Peter has proven, yet again, God’s incredible timing and His miraculous voice through Scripture. As Partners at GT, we committed to read through 1 Peter many times before we even began writing. Two weeks ago (which was months ago as you read my words today), I sat down to read and the tears began flowing as I fixated on the first chapter detailing birth into a living hope. What I didn’t know when I chose this Journey was when it came time to write, I’d be swinging from days of great hope to days that left me utterly hopeless. Hopelessness has been hanging heavy here, Sisters. But as I sat weeping with His Word, His Spirit breathed, and I was reminded of LIVING hope that is mine in Christ Jesus! Hope that is moving and breathing and actively working because of Jesus! Our trials will result in “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ!” (1 Peter 1:7) And because of that hope, sisters, that massive, freeing, and life-giving hope, we land at 1 Peter 1:13… Therefore One powerful word; don’t miss it! Therefore means that “hope” doesn’t stop at “initial salvation”. Yes, our salvation is certain and sure and these Scriptures that proclaim this glorious gospel are fully reliable because they are the very words of God that will not pass away. (1 Peter 1:25) Yes! Hope is found here! But “therefore” means it doesn’t stop there. Therefore. Because of. For that reason. Consequently. It Continues… Because our hope is so assuredly solid, we are called to prepare our minds for action, and take an active role in this living hope! Our salvation, grounded in hope, is meant to catapult us forward into living with hope as our inner minds shift. At salvation, we surrender all we know of ourselves to all we know of the Savior, trusting Him not only to save us from Sin and Death, but to save us for the fullness of life. That radical transformation where we begin moving into life, comes as a result of an inner shift. A moving away from conformity to the ways of the world, and a moving into surrendered transformation as the Spirit remakes us into the image of Christ Jesus. Transformed into holy. Just as He is holy. Un-Fathom-Able! We can never earn holiness, Sisters. It’s no secret you and I would never, ever reach the perfection of the Almighty God by our own effort. One little lie, one little lustful thought, and we are sinners. We are justified and made eternally righteous once we choose to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. We grow in our like-Jesus-ness through daily surrender as we keep our eyes fixed on eternal hope. This is sanctification through the work of the Spirit. If Jesus is ours and we claim His incorruptible inheritance waiting for us in Heaven, then we are called to conform to this gospel, and His holiness, leaving the ways of the world in the dust. That means the TV shows we watch. The movies we go to. The people we spend most of our time with. The places we hang out. The way we think. The way we conduct ourselves at work. Everything about us should be different because of the therefore. Because of certain hope in the trustworthiness of the Savior. Our relationships should look different. The way we dress should look different. Our marriages should look different. Our language should be different. Not different because we’re trying so hard to look like Jesus. Different because when we chose Jesus, an inner shift happened, hope grew, we were made new. We long to look like Him more than we long to look like that cute mom we adore on social media. OOFTAH. For me, that’s a hard pill to swallow because I idolize, yes, idolize, other mamas. Her hair is perfect, her kids look so put together, her house is clean, she’s so talented, AND she loves Jesus?! For a long time, I wanted to look more like her than I wanted to look like Jesus (sometimes I still do). I focused on transforming myself to become more like her instead of my King. Maybe that’s you too? Hope, Sisters. Inner Shift. Eyes on holy. When we say yes to Jesus, the radical inner shift begins. I was about five when I asked Jesus to become my King; that’s when my inner shift began. Small, yes, but it was there. My focus changed from inward to upward, and I became passionate about others meeting Jesus! Hope grew the fruit of a transformed life. Hope of salvation is not the end. It’s the therefore that doesn’t stop there. If He gave His life for me to live forever, surely, I can give my life to serve and love Him. We have incorruptible hope. It’s solid enough to anchor my everyday life and transform my heart toward holy! This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. For other Bible studies like this one, check out GracefullyTruthful.com!
Read His Words Before Ours! John 21:15-19 Mark 14:66-72 John 1:35-42 “Simon, do you love me with a love that is selfless, pure, and passionate? Do you love Me most?” My eyes lifted from my hands, meeting Jesus’ gaze. His question lingered, as the juice from the fish dripped down my forearms, my heart pounding. I couldn’t stop the scene playing out in my mind’s eye as I recalled the darkest moment in my life… _ “Aren’t you one of His disciples?” she asked as I walked into courtyard where Jesus was. I quickly shook my head, “I’m not!” But guilt consumed me. I am. I am His disciple. But I didn’t want to die. “Aren’t you one of His disciples?” I was asked again. “No!” I insisted. “But I saw you in the garden with Jesus,” another said. “No, you didn’t! I do not know this Man!” The rooster crowed. Just as He’d said it would. I had denied my Lord three times. _ “Lord, You know I love you as a friend and brother,” I respond quickly, my focus returning. Yet, my heart would not be stilled. How could I say I love Him selflessly? How could I say I love Him most? I denied Him when He needed me most. But Jesus continued, “Feed my lambs, Simon.” His words brought a new scene to mind. It was winter, and we were listening to Jesus as we walked the grand colonnade of Solomon’s temple. His words, as always, had arrested my wandering attention. _ “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers… The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:1-10) _ Feed His lambs? But He is the Good Shepherd. Besides, I’m a fisherman. What does this mean? I still can’t look Him in the eyes. He knows me, He knows I denied Him three times, He knows I turned my back on Him. How could He even ask if I love Him? Jesus was speaking again, insistently, “Simon, Son of John, do you love me with a love so strong you will put Myself before you? Do you love me with a love so passionate, you would protect My truth and build others up with it?" My heart flew to another impossible invitation by the Lord as we’d stood by the Sea of Galilee. It was my fishing boat, my empty nets, and His winsome offer… _ “Hello, Peter. Would you do me a favor and let me get in your boat?”, Jesus asked. I noticed the crowd of people behind him, moving closer and closer to Him. His only other option would have been to stand in the sea. “Yes! Of course. I haven’t caught any fish anyways; my boat is empty.” He asked me to row out, then He stood and began speaking to the people. I tried to listen as He talked, but I’d been awake all night fishing, exhaustion was setting in. Suddenly, He had my full attention as He’d turned His gaze on me, “Put your net out to catch some fish.” I was embarrassed; I’d caught nothing after an entire night’s worth of work, but who was I to say no? “I’ve been fishing all night and caught nothing, but I’ll try it again for you,” I shrugged and tossed the nets overboard. After a moment, my nets began to tug and tear! Fish flooded my nets! I whistled to our boating partners, and with all of our might, we pulled loads of fish into our boats. There were so many we began sinking! A miracle! I’d been wondering how I would make money today and this Miracle Worker brought in enough fish to cover my wages for days! It was then I knew, I knew He was Lord! I fell to my knees, fully aware of my unworthiness and utter sinfulness; I’d begged Him to leave. How could He even associate with me? “Do not be afraid! From now on, you will be catching men.” I caught those fish that day, but I gave them to another local fisherman. Instead, I chose to follow Jesus… this man who was Lord. The same one I later denied… _ “Jesus, You know I love you as my friend.” I dug deep for a response to His incessant questioning, my sorrow continuing to burn hot in my belly. I loved Him with everything in me. But how could I convey it? Before I could attempt a better response, He instructed. “Tend my sheep.” Or was it an invitation? Either way, He knew exactly the story His words would bring to mind. _ “Which of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost? And on finding it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing.” Jesus would leave ninety-nine sheep just to go after one. He would do that for me, for anyone. He loved the wealthy and the poor, the Jews and the Gentiles, the adulteress and the leper. He was more than Jesus Christ to me, He was my Lord, and my friend. _ Jesus saw my eyes return to His, my fish breakfast long since forgotten. “Simon,” He questioned slowly for the third time. “Do you love me as your friend and as your brother?” This time it was different. This time, He knew the answer, and my heart was shattered. What’s more, I knew the answer. I knew I just simply loved Him, and that was enough. Wherever He took me, whatever it cost, whatever the task, I loved Him. “Lord, You know me; You know everything. You know I love You.” Again, He invited and commanded, “Feed My sheep.” “Simon, the cost of following Me is your full surrender. You may lose physical freedom, but you will truly be free. FOLLOW ME.” Our eyes locked and I knew the depth of this invitation. I was forgiven. He trusted me with His sheep. I was to make fishers of men, continuing to extend the invitation I’d been given. Why would I say yes? I loved Him. He loved me. _ Simon Peter’s life is one of transformation and sanctification that we get to watch transform through the pages of Scripture. From the quick and wordy fisherman who was called by Jesus, to the wise and heroic martyr and was an essential piece of the founding of the Church, Peter shows us that even when we fall, even when we deny Jesus, He isn’t finished with us. God’s plan for us is deep and wide. We can accomplish His purposes because of His unconditional love. This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. For studies like this one, visit GracefullyTruthful.com!
Read His Words Before Ours! Hosea 1:1-10 Hosea 2:7-9 Hosea 2:14-20 Hosea 11:4-9 Hosea 14:4-7 She doesn’t even know how loved she is. She doesn’t know her value. She doesn’t know her worth. Hosea was alone, once again. His emotions a mix of anger, hurt, jealousy, and sorrow. She gave herself and her love to every man except him. They had joyful and sweet moments, but then, she was gone, chasing other fantasies….other men. And Hosea was alone. Heartsick, worried; He missed his wife. And this, he knew, was how God felt over His unfaithful people. The Lord had saved Israel time and time again, He had loved her, pursued her, provided for her, yet Israel gave herself and her love to everything but Him. There were times of joy, sweet worship, and surrender, but then, just as it had happened before, they were gone… Chasing other nations and bowing before other idols, brazenly loving another. In Hosea’s emotion he saw the Lord’s heart for Israel. A burning jealousy for his bride. A steady flame in his belly, slowly growing until it became a lion within that had to roar. “Hosea, have mercy on your wife.” The Lord beckoned to Hosea. Yahweh, have I not done that before? She had already been loved by many men when I married her, and yet, I gave her all of me, and that wasn’t enough. I am not enough to satisfy her. Hosea, allure her. Bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. Give her beautiful things. She will know you again. Let her come home, shelter her from the wars raging inside of her soul. Give her rest. How do You do this, Yahweh? How do You endure this? I see your people, I see their sin! I feel your agony! How can you pursue us still?! Because I love my people. They have forgotten my ways, ignored the blessing I set before them, broken our covenant. The more they grow arrogant in their independence, the more they sin against me, and I will punish them for their ways because I want them back! They have forsaken me. They have left me… just as Gomer has left you. I am enough for them, but my Bride would rather believe lies. She forgets that I AM the One who has saved her and lavished gifts on her. All Israel has is because of Me. I give her value. I give her worth. I’ve fought for her. Yet, she still forgets me. Together, their hearts broke. The Lord’s broke for His children. Hosea’s broke for his wife, and with fresh eyes, he saw Israel’s faithlessness and he was broken for their sin as a people against the Lord. As Hosea spoke the Lord’s prophetic words to Israel, his voice broke and the tears poured. God was speaking to the Israelites, but Hosea was speaking to his wife. I led her with cords of kindness, with bands of love. I worked to ease her burdens. I’ve provided for her and given everything to her. How can I give you up, my dear one? How can I hand you over to another man? How can I let you destroy yourself? How can I let you feel like you are not worthy? How can I treat you like a whore? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I’m angry, but I will come after you. I will fight for you. I will take up my job as your husband and you will come back to me. Hosea found his wife, who had, once again, been loved by another man. The love that went far beyond emotion began to billow out as he ROARED: Return to me, your husband! No one else can love you the way I do! I will love you freely, I’m not angry at you anymore! Come back and live with me, let me protect you, and you will flourish, you will see your true value and worth. COME HOME WITH ME. I WANT YOU. I LOVE YOU. AND I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU. He paid a price for her and brought her home. He stared into her downcast eyes and prayed, Yahweh, let her see her worth. Let her know her value. Let her know how loved she is. Gomer’s eyes slowly raised and met his, and there she saw love. There, she saw redemption. Sisters, the Lord’s heart breaks when we give ourselves to anything and anyone besides Him, just as Hosea’s broke when Gomer gave herself away to other men. Gomer willingly abandoned her family and husband to pursue something she thought was better. She didn’t know her true worth to Hosea. She couldn’t fully grasp the kind of love Hosea had lavished on her. The Lord chose Hosea to deliver His messages of coming destruction to Israel, but the Lord knew that Hosea would be able to deliver these messages in a way no other prophet could… because Hosea lived out heartbroken love in his marriage. God used Hosea’s heart, his marriage, and his life to showcase His own love for His people. Sisters, never doubt the trials God is asking you to endure, because He may just be softening your heart to reach people. And never doubt the great love God has lavished on you, because, just as Hosea deeply loved his wife, the Lord deeply loves you. This Bible Study first appeared on GracefullyTruthful.com and is also property of Gracefully Truthful. For more studies like this one, check out the website!
Read His Words Before Ours! Psalm 23 John 6:27-35 James 1:2-4 I had to sit and meditate on this verse for a long time. I read every commentary you could imagine. I read and reread the entire 23th Psalm. I thought about it all throughout the week, and still, I hadn’t had that, “AHA!” moment. But I think I’ve started to figure out why. As I sit at my favorite table at my favorite cafe just a few blocks from my house, the Spirit pokes at my heart… “when have you felt the Lord make you lie down in green pastures?” What moments in my life can I look back, and without a doubt, say there, He made me lie down? As those moments begin to flash in my memory, I realize that for some of those, I didn’t want to lie down. He literally had to make me. When my twin daughters were born, six weeks premature, and spent two weeks in the NICU, it was one of the most trying times of my life. If you’d told me God was making me lie down in green pastures, I would’ve snickered and rolled my eyes. But, almost three years removed, I can look back and say that He was there, holding me, making me lay down and rest. Providing for me. Being my sufficiency. I had hours upon hours to sit and hold my sweet girls, without being interrupted by the daily demands of trying to keep a house clean, prepare meals, or follow a newborn schedule. And while God never wants to His children hurting or suffering, sometimes He allows it. The very good God allowed my babes to spend time in the NICU, and in it, He showed His goodness by making me lie down. When my youngest daughter was hospitalized twice last year, again, I was forced to rest and be in the moment. Jesus was making me lie down in green pastures. I wouldn’t have seen it then. I’m not sure I would’ve seen it a week ago. But I see it now. Had I been offered those chances of rest, I wouldn’t have taken them. Which is why He had to MAKE me lie down. But the other part of that verse is just as crucial as the first… “in green pastures”. He wanted to feed me, good and nutrient-rich food. The Bread of Life. Jesus. Who is essential for life. God was giving me that time to be fed, to learn to fully rely and trust in HIM, to take Him in, and soak in His promises of love and protection. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs, “Blessings” by Laura Story. We pray for blessings We pray for peace Comfort for family Protection while we sleep We pray for healing For prosperity, We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering. And all the while, You hear each spoken need Yet love us way too much, to give us lesser things. What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re here? What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise? And here I am, crying all over again as I think about the trials I’ve faced in my life. What if God used the moments created by this fallen world, to show me His blessings, His mercies, and to make me lie down in green pastures? As I think about this coming year for me… a year I’ve dubbed my year of living “simply”. Simplifying my wardrobe. Simplifying the amount of things in my pantry, closets and drawers. Simply serving more by writing more notes and preparing more meals for people. Simply reducing the input I receive from social media. Simply eating a more balanced diet. Simply finding joy in the little things. Simple. Every time when the Father was making me lie down in green pastures… He was helping me simplify my life so I can spend more time with Him. As I’m striving for simplicity, I now see myself as trying to lay down in those green pastures. Maybe this year, God won’t have to “make” me. Rephrase that to… prayerfully, if I listen to what God is calling me to, He won’t have to make me lie down because I already am. In surrender. Ready for the rich and nutrient-filled grass that I can freely feast on when I’m in green pastures. And there it was… my “AHA!” moment. It came as these words flew from my fingertips because I was writing what the Lord was speaking to my soul… an invitation to come away, feast on Him, and know Him more deeply. Not overrun or overruled by my busyness. Rather, an invitation for me to lie down and rest. It is so simple. He makes me lie down in green pastures. This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. For more studies like this one, check out GracefullyTruthful.com!
Read His Words Before Ours! Luke 10:25-37 Luke 10:38-42 Psalm 46:10-11 Mark 6:30-32 “Being a mama is your most important job right now. It is your great calling and it is a wonderful calling with amazing rewards. It is alright to let other things go and focus on your little girls, it really is.” With everything in me, I wanted to protest that I knew that and I was able to do that while serving at the same time. But I couldn’t even protest, because I knew it was true. I am walking in a season of saying “no” and of letting go. This is a hard season. I’ve let go of potential job opportunities, I’ve said no to other opportunities. I’ve let go of ministries I’ve served in, and said no to serving in other capacities. For a woman who loves to say “yes” and loves to go, go, go, this season is a hard one. So, when an older, wiser mama spoke those words to me, I allowed them to wash over me and settle on my soul, and I cleared another day on my schedule. As I reread the parable of the Good Samaritan for what felt like the umpteenth time, I was stricken with a resemblance between my life and the lives of two of the characters… and not the ones I would want to resemble either. Have I been like the Priest and the Levite who were so busy traveling that they couldn’t even stop to help the beaten, dying man on the side of the road? They saw that he was physically broken, and yet they completely avoided him because they were too busy. They missed out. And so did the man. My entire life has been filled with event after appointment after assignment. I can’t help but wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed because of that full calendar. Was I too busy rushing from place to place that I missed a chance to love someone? In that same story, we read of one man, who may have been in a hurry himself, but wasn’t too busy to actually stop. This man, a Samaritan, an outcast from the elite “chosen people of God”, stopped in the middle of his travels, completely halted his plans, and loved a total stranger. Right after that parable, we read about Martha and Mary, two women who loved the Lord but showed their love in different ways. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, scampering to and fro, preparing food for Jesus, making sure His water cup was full, attending to all of His needs and serving Him. Her sister, Mary, however, sat near to Jesus, listening intently to everything He had to say. She was so enthralled with Him, that she wouldn’t miss a moment. Unsurprisingly, Martha got rather annoyed with her sister, who wasn’t helping at all. It was almost as if Mary just expected Martha to serve her!Martha was working hard for Jesus! She was busy and tired from that busyness. So she asked Him if He cared that Mary left her to serve alone. I imagine Jesus answering her in the way men often answer women- we ask a man to fix our problem and he looks at us with amusement and gives us the obvious solution to our problem. Jesus’ answer seems so obvious we almost can’t accept it. Jesus looked at Martha, His eyes slightly bewildered, but full of compassion because He knew her so well. Then He said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary…” going on to tell her it was more important for Mary to sit and spend time with Him, learning and listening, than it was for Martha to serve Him. Let’s stop there for just a moment. Jesus said it was more important for Mary to spend time with Him than it was for Martha to serve Him. Sucker punch. So many times I allow myself to believe that I need a schedule jam-packed and full of serving in order to prove my love for the Lord. That isn’t what He asks. He asks for a schedule with space enough to love. Space enough to not miss out. Space enough for sitting with Him. This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful, where it was first published. For more studies like this one, check out GracefullyTruthful.com!
Read His Words Before Ours! Jonah 4 John 3:16-18 1 John 2:16-18 Matthew 20:1-16 “For God so loved the world…” The world. God loves the world. Not just the saints. Not just the Jews. Not just the believers. Not just the Christians. Not just the rule followers and law obey-ers. Not just the mamas who seem to have it all together. Not just the families that go to church every Sunday. Not just the women who can balance their whole lives perfectly. Not just the thankful. Not just the healthy. Not just the clean. God loves the WORLD. He loves the people overtaken with pride. He loves the Muslims. He loves the agnostics. He loves the rule breakers. He loves the mamas who get a little too angry a little too quickly. He loves the broken families. He loves the women who put on their lipstick while trying to drive a stick shift in traffic. He loves the dissatisfied. He loves the sick. He loves the dirty. God loves everyone. It doesn’t always seem fair that He has the same amount of love for the person who doesn’t even try to live a godly life as He does for those who are working daily to grow their relationship with Him. And as embarrassing as it is to admit, these thoughts cross my mind sometimes: “I’m such a better mom than her.” “I’m so much nicer than her.” “I give so much more than them.” “I present myself better than her.” “My house is so much cleaner than hers.” “My walk with God is a little shinier than hers.” I bet I’m not the only one that thinks these things… (Read: Please tell me I’m not the only one that thinks these things!) And even if I am today… I know I’m not the only one in history who has had similar thoughts. Pharisees. Adam. The Prodigal Son’s brother. James. John. The Rich Young Man in Mark and Luke. Saul. Joseph. Jacob. I mean, just to name a few. But one that stands out to me the most is this man we’re going to be talking about for a little while… Jonah. Jonah. The prophet infamously known for being swallowed by a giant fish because he refused to go where God called him to go. But, why did he refuse to go to Nineveh? He was a prophet of the Lord! Shouldn’t he WANT to go where God’s love was greatly needed? He thought the Ninevites didn’t deserve grace. They were too far gone. Too dirty. Too lost. Way too sinful. And this is where my breath catches and my eyes start to tingle with tears of guilt suddenly threatening to spill over. How many times have I been Jonah? How many times have I looked at someone and refused to show them love because I thought they were too far gone? They were too dirty, too lost, and way too sinful for me to even consider offering them the grace that God gives freely to ALL? Sisters, if my answer is even “just one time”, that’s one time too many. And, unfortunately, my answer is way more than one. My prejudice-ness, pride, judgment, and self-entitlement clouds my perception of others and their need for grace, while also radically fogging other’s viewpoint of God’s character of pursuit of His children. We all have our own ideas of what “too far gone” looks like. For Jonah, it was the Ninevites. For some, it might be murderers, child abusers, prostitutes, politicians, dictators. For me, sometimes it looks like another woman who is struggling to find her place in this world. And realizing that ugliness in me, breaks my heart. I can’t believe that I could ever limit the love that I show someone based on my perception of them. Until I remember how dirty and lost and sinful I am too. Jesus saved me, despite all of it, and in the sight of the Lord, I am absolutely no better than anyone else. Love can be so messy. It can be so dirty. But if Jesus can love the entire world… the abuser and the victim, the prostitute and the pimp, the dictator and the citizens, you and me… then surely I can love the people that can seem the hardest to love. Let us learn from the sad life of a man who would rather die than watch the Lord extend grace to people he deemed unworthy. Because we are all unworthy. This Bible Study is property of Gracefully Truthful where it was first published. For more studies like this one, visit GracefullyTruthful.com!
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Kendra LeeAnneFrom Bible studies to blogs, articles to musings of the heart, Kendra's writings are unbarred and raw - exactly how she speaks. 
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