Trusting God’s Voice: Lessons from Psalm 118

Have you ever stumbled upon a piece of scripture that just stopped you in your tracks? That’s what happened to me with Psalm 118:8-9. It says, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” It’s like a gentle nudge reminding us where our true safety lies.

I am so thankful to God for bringing wise, elder women into my life. When I first started my walk with God, I longed for that kind of mentorship, just like the kind mentioned in Titus 2. I was over the moon when I found myself surrounded by these kinds of ladies! But, it was during a big life decision that I really started to understand their role in my life.

Looking back, I wish I had leaned on Psalm 118 sooner. When facing that big decision, I realized I had been running to these wonderful women first for advice, prayer, and wisdom. But this time, I knew I needed to hear directly from God. I already guessed what advice they would give me, but I needed to hear God’s voice on this one.

I took some time to just be with God, praying, worshipping, and diving into the Bible. And then, I made my decision. While this decision would not determine my salvation, it was one that people were very divided on. When I shared my decision, I was surprised to find that it hurt some feelings. That hurt was mutual because I was in disbelief that going to the Lord first would make someone upset, and it made me pause. I wondered, “Should I have included them in my decision-making process?” Even though I doubted myself for a moment, the Lord affirmed I had made the right choice.

This experience taught me a lot about the importance of not letting anyone—even those we admire and look up to—take the place of God in our lives, especially when it comes to giving advice and being a mentor.

Who’s in control? God.
Who knows everything? God.
Who can change hearts like no one else? God.

Let’s consider some practical ways to apply the wisdom gleaned from Psalm 118:8-9.

  1. Reflect on your sources of guidance. Take some time to reflect on where you turn for advice and guidance in your life. Are there areas where you rely more on human wisdom than seeking God’s direction?
  2. Prioritize time with God. Make a conscious effort to prioritize spending time with God through prayer, worship, and studying the Bible. This will help you tune into His voice and discern His guidance more clearly.
  3. Seek God’s guidance first. When faced with important decisions, make it a habit to seek God’s guidance first before turning to others for advice. Open His word. Trust He will lead you in the right direction.
  4. Embrace Godly mentorship. Value the wisdom and guidance of godly mentors in your life, but remember they are not a substitute for seeking God Himself. Appreciate their role while keeping God at the center of your decision-making process.
  5. Encourage others to seek God. If you’re in a mentoring role, encourage those you mentor to seek God’s guidance above all else.
  6. Point others to Jesus. Continually point others, especially those you mentor, to Jesus as the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance. Help them develop a deeper relationship with God.
  7. Trust in God’s wisdom. Ultimately, trust in God’s wisdom over human understanding. Recognize that His plans are far greater than ours and that His guidance is always trustworthy.

I’m so grateful for the godly men and women in our lives who live out Titus 2, but at the end of the day, God is the one we can count on. He speaks to us through His Word, and for that, I’m incredibly thankful.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that there are times when seeking wise, biblically grounded counsel is not only appropriate but necessary, especially when our decisions may lead us into sin or compromise our faith. While God is our ultimate refuge and guide, He also provides us with a community of believers who can offer counsel and accountability in accordance with His Word.

In every part of our lives, let’s remember to take shelter in the Lord, above anyone or anything else. When faced with decisions that may impact our walk with Him, let’s seek His guidance fervently while also humbly seeking the counsel of those who are wise in His ways.

the unveiling majesty

In moments of grief and solitude, we often find solace in the pages of our Bible. After my dad’s passing, I turned to the familiar words of Psalm 23, seeking comfort. As I continued to read, Psalm 29 unfolded before me like a tapestry of profound theology, stopping me in my tracks. Join me in this journey through Psalm 29 as we delve into its rich expressions of God’s majestic presence, power, and sovereignty.

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
Ascribe to the LORD, glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.

Psalm 29:1-2 ESV

Have you ever experienced a moment when the world seemed to pause, and you couldn’t help but marvel at the wonder around you? What an incredible moment to consider. The psalm begins with an invitation – a call for the heavenly beings to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord. Who are these heavenly beings, and what does it mean to “ascribe”? Heavenly beings, often called angels or celestial creatures, are depicted in various parts of the Bible as worshiping and serving God. Ascribing glory and strength involves recognizing, acknowledging, and attributing these qualities to God, declaring His unmatched greatness. In times of grief and loss, this call to worship becomes a powerful reminder of our Lord’s eternal and unchanging nature. 

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare,
and in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

Psalm 29:3-9

Imagine a thunderstorm, its power reverberating through the air, the sound shaking everything around you. Have you ever stood in awe of such a display of nature’s might? In these verses, we find six descriptions of God’s voice, of which the thunder is an emblem.

  1. Powerful: Reflect on a time when you felt the raw power of God’s presence. His voice is not just a gentle whisper; it carries the weight of authority and might that demands our attention.
  2. Full of Majesty: Consider moments in your life when you’ve witnessed majesty – whether in nature, art, or acts of kindness. God’s voice is the epitome of majesty, surpassing any other experience.
  3. Breaks through cedars: Cedar trees are frequently mentioned in scripture. These trees are stately, long-branched, and durable. These were the trees that would remain standing in a strong storm. Because of these qualities, the cedar tree was used for boards, pillars, and masts. The Hebrew root meaning of cedar is “to be firm.” Ponder the strength required to break through something as sturdy as a cedar. God’s voice has the power to penetrate the seemingly unbreakable, reminding us of His limitless strength.
  4. Flashes forth flames of fire: Picture the imagery of fire, symbolizing purification and divine presence. God’s voice is powerful and carries the refining essence of His holiness.
  5. Shakes the wilderness: The wilderness of Kadesh is a dry land, a desert. Imagine the vastness of this wilderness, untouched and unshaken. God’s voice has the authority to shake the very foundations of our lives, bringing us to a profound awareness of His presence.
  6. Makes the deer give birth and strips forest bare: Contemplate the gentleness and intensity of God’s voice. In the midst of its mighty echoes, there is also a tender touch, symbolized by the birthing of a deer and still powerful enough to strip a forest bare. 

As we reflect on these descriptions, may we find a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of God’s voice. It’s no wonder the people in the temple cried GLORY!

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as King forever.
May the LORD give strength to His people!
May the LORD bless His people with peace!

Psalm 29:10-11

Consider the reference to the great flood in Genesis. Picture the tumultuous waters, the earth submerged, and God’s unwavering control over the chaos. In the aftermath, a rainbow emerged – a symbol of His covenant and enduring peace. In Psalm 29, we’re reminded that the Lord sits enthroned over the flood, signifying His supreme and exalted position, unmoved by the storms of life.

Verse 11 declares, “May the LORD give strength to His people! May the LORD bless His people with peace!” Reflect on these words in the context of God’s sovereignty. Acknowledge Him as King forever (Psalm 10:16), reigning over all circumstances. His enduring kingship provides a foundation for our strength and a source of lasting peace.

Let’s not forget the promise of a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). In the face of life’s storms, may we find solace in the unshakable throne of our King and experience a peace that transcends our understanding.

Psalm 29, discovered in a moment of personal grief, is a hymn of praise to God for His awesome power. It is a resounding declaration of His majesty and sovereignty over all creation. The phenomena of nature are not reflected as problems but as God’s creation, serving His purposes and demonstrating His power, wisdom, glory, faithfulness, and love.

As we close this journey through Psalm 29, let our hearts echo the hymn of praise, acknowledging our God’s unparalleled majesty and sovereignty. May this Psalm be etched in our hearts, guiding us in profound worship and steadfast trust in the One whose power knows no bounds.

Glory!

Through the Hymns: Crown Him with Many Crowns

Hymns have played a significant role in Christian worship for centuries, conveying profound theological truths and providing a means for believers to express their faith. Among these timeless hymns, “Crown Him with Many Crowns” stands as a masterpiece that beautifully encapsulates the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ. In this blog, we will explore the rich history of this hymn and its deep connection to scripture.

A bit of a back story – the other morning, I woke and began singing “Arise my soul and sing, for Him who died for me!” Immediately, I recognized the hymn that this line came from, but the rest of the lyrics were not coming to me very quickly. Thank goodness I had my phone nearby so I could ask it to display the lyrics. As I proceeded to get out of bed, phone in hand, I sang the rest of the song as I began my morning and was struck by these powerful lyrics. I also realized it has been quite a while since my last Through the Hymns blog post. How perfect to do one of these posts again and focus on this hymn that is rich in lyrics and deeply rooted in scripture.

A Brief History of the Hymn

“Crown Him with Many Crowns” was penned in the mid-19th century by Matthew Bridges, an Anglican clergyman and later expanded upon by Godfrey Thring. The hymn’s inspiration is believed to have come from the book of Revelation, particularly Revelation 19:12, which describes Jesus with “many crowns” on His head. The hymn was first published in 1851 and quickly gained popularity within the Christian community.

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

Revelation 19:12 ESV

The hymn contains multiple verses highlighting a different facet of Christ’s glory and reign. It invites believers to join in the celebration of Christ’s triumphant rule over all creation.

Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Verse one focuses on the exalted status of Jesus as the Lamb upon His throne and the heavenly anthem surrounding Him. Did you catch the third and fourth lines? The anthem drowns all music but its own. There is no other music as edifying and exalting as this heavenly anthem. It reminds me of Revelation 4:8, where the living beings are singing day after day and night after night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” I’m no longer someone who is guided by an emotional response when it comes to digging into scripture or sharing in my writing or speaking, but man… the goosies on my arms that appear whenever I consider just how incredible this is are overwhelming. I can’t think of a word that comes close to justly describing what this is like – WILL be like when we get to join these beings!

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

Jesus, being fully divine, is worthy of all worship to the glory of God.

Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.

Jesus is the conqueror of death and the source of eternal life to those who believe in Him. This verse encapsulates the core message of the Gospel – that through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers salvation, eternal life, and victory over sin and death to all who believe in Him. This is a profound declaration of faith and an invitation for believers to worship and celebrate the LORD OF LIFE who has TRIUMPHED over the grave for our salvation.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives an believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26 ESV

When the perishable puts ont he imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All who believe in Him will have eternal life. His triumph over death is central to the Christian life. Jesus is victorious over the grave. Hallelujah and Amen!

Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
And round His pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Verse 3 of this hymn is not one I was familiar with. In my years attending the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we may have sung this verse from the hymnal but, in my years of singing this at my current church or listening to recordings by contemporary Christian artists, I never heard this verse sung. And I ask – why the heck not???

This stanza highlights one of the titles and attributes of Jesus as the “Lord of peace” or the “Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, no crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4 ESV

Crown Him the Lord of love!
Behold His hands and side –
Rich wounds, yet visible above
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends His burning eye
At mysteries so bright.

I can’t help but think of Thomas when I sing this verse. In John 20, Jesus appears to His disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there initially. When the disciples told him about Jesus appearing, he said, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (Verse 25)

Eight days later, Jesus appears again but He takes it up a notch. He enters the house even though the doors were locked and then, in verse 27, He says to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas believed because he saw and felt the pierced hands and side of his Savior, Jesus. Blessed are those who believe but have not seen! (John 20:29)

This verse of Crown Him with Many Crowns places a spotlight on the profound love of Jesus. It acknowledges Him as the Lord of love and highlights His sacrificial and selfless nature demonstrated through His death and resurrection. Believers are invited to contemplate the depth of Christ’s love and the profound mystery of salvation. This is a poignant reminder of the central message of Christianity – the love of Christ that led Him to the cross for the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation of humanity with God.

Crown Him the Lord of years,
The potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.

This final verse exalts Jesus as the Lord of time and the Creator of the universe, emphasizing His eternal nature and the impact of His sacrifice.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

Christ is Lord of creation. Our Lord Jesus is the maker and upholder of all things in the universe.

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:11-13 ESV

What a beautiful magnification of the sovereignty of our Lord! This declaration of Christ’s supreme authority resonates deeply and affirms His unmatched greatness.

“Ineffably sublime” conveys that Jesus’ nature and attributes are beyond human comprehension. The qualities of Christ leave us in awe – the grandeur of His majesty is the focus of our worship. And worship of Him is never ending.

In closing, each stanza of this hymn beautiful weaves scripture into its verses, inviting us to worship Jesus Christ as the Lamb, the Conqueror of Death, the Lord of Peace, the Lord of Love, and the Eternal Creator of All Things. As we sing these words, we celebrate these Biblical truths and also deepen our understanding of the profound impact of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Sing a Song to the One Who’s All I Need

Still, I will praise You.

As I sat at my little piano, my fingers clumsily hit the notes to a favorite worship song of mine. At first, it frustrated me that the wrong chords were being played sometimes or that I seemed to be stuck on just playing a regular chord and not feeling confident to play more but, as I sang, it didn’t matter. As I sang, I felt a familiar lump begin to form in my throat and there was no holding it in.

Though You slay me.

What does that even mean? Why am I singing a song about God slaying me? Isn’t that sort of violent? But as the lump gave way to weeping, that’s exactly what it felt like. God, in His sovereign way, was slaying me… again.

An easy way out for me would be to cry out asking, “Why again??? Haven’t I already dealt with this? Haven’t I already given this to you Lord??? Why must I find myself here in this place again???”

Slay. I took a moment to look up this word in the dictionary. It means to kill by violence and to destroy or extinguish. So, here I am, singing a song about God destroying me with violence. How soothing. How calm. How inviting. Just what a lovely worship moment needs to be about. God, though you destroy me, though you kill me, I will still praise You!

Maybe I should sing a different song.

Of course, the song isn’t literally about God killing us in a violent way but it sure has a lot to do with suffering. You see, in this exact moment, God confronted me with my sin. Yes, sin that I thought I had already dealt with but God just knows. He knows us better than ourselves and I’m so thankful for that. If I was left to my own devices, the slaying I would be experiencing wouldn’t be as healing and full of love.

There is so much to unpack here but, the area of sin that God has confronted me with tonight is the sin of frustration and lack of faith. Let’s go back in time for just a minute and bring some context to the present situation. In 1995, I had just graduated from high school and had dreams. As I filled out a little journal provided by the company that provided our cap and gowns, I came upon the page where it prompted me to record where I hoped to be in 5 years and in 10 years. I remember filling this section out vividly. In 5 years, I would graduate from college with a degree and be married or engaged. In 10 years, I would be working, married, and have a child or two.

As most young girls do (yes, most!) I had dreams about finding my future husband, getting married, and having children. I had even recorded in my little journal that even though I had a degree and would be working, I looked forward to staying home with the kids and supporting my husband. But, 5 years went by, and then 10 years, and I was not married. And I didn’t have any children. It was okay though because I was still young enough. In fact, in 2005, I was thankful I hadn’t gotten married yet because I wasn’t as strong of a Christian as I had become. So, God knew that and He was going to bring me the right man around this time. I just knew it.

But no. Another 10 years went by and then 8 years to this present day. I sit here typing to you as a still single woman with no children.

Why?

On a good day, my answer is full of confidence and trust in the Lord. This is His plan for me. Yes, I still grieve not getting married and not having children but, if this is God’s plan for my life then I will be faithful to Him.

On a not-so-good day, I weep and I wonder and I fail. What is wrong with me? Why hasn’t the right guy come along? Did he already and I missed out? Was it something I said? Is it how I look? Am I not attractive enough? Is it because of my poor choices? Am I not marriage material? Why did my hope of giving birth to children not happen? Was I too scared? What did I do wrong?

My life has felt like a yo-yo… or maybe a roller coaster… or maybe both. Well, it hasn’t been chaotic but, I definitely have highs and lows. There are seasons of being at peace and accepting the reality that God has placed me. I say to people, “I’m okay with where I’m at. I’m not looking for anyone and I can still serve the Lord no matter my marital or parental status. In fact, being single has its perks!” And I am telling the truth in those seasons. I really do feel that way and in the deepest places of my soul I know this to be true – God is purposeful and in control of my life. He will make a way for what HE wills in my life.

But those low seasons. The ones where I sit on my bed, in the dark, crying out to God with all honesty. “God, why? Did I do something wrong?”

Though you ruin me.

Has God ruined me? Is that why no man has found me worthy of pursuing? Did I sin too much and so I’m deemed unclean? Did God know I would be a horrible mother so, He prevented me from having children? Or maybe I was supposed to have children and I ruined things with my choices.

What does that even mean that God ruins me? I don’t think it’s the kind of “ruin” I think it is.

In those low moments, I know it’s my pride. It’s me trying to take control and resolve a situation that I think can be resolved. I’m practically desperate. Like a child who did something wrong and is desperately trying to figure out how to make things right. Is there still time to fix me? What if God could allow me to go back in time? Just this once!

I will bless Your Name.

How in the world can I bless HIS Name in the midst of my ruin?

Oh, hello pride. You are still here, aren’t you?

Yes, God slayed me. He ruined me. Because He knew, in His providential way and crazy enormous love for me, that I needed some serious humbling. Needed…. ha… as if this is a past-tense situation. This happens more times than I care to admit!

Yes, I’m going to bless His Name. Especially in these moments of humility – when God has taken my jar of pride and shattered it into a million pieces.

The song I chose to play and “sweep” through (sweep = sing and weep), may not be based on the following Psalm but it is a Psalm that came to mind anyway.

Psalm 27 is one that I had highlighted in my Bible many, many years ago. My good ole trusty NIV Study Bible! I remember writing down this Psalm, word for word, in a journal. This was a few years before I would completely surrender my life to Jesus. Yet, there was something about the words of this Psalm that captured me. Back then, I had no clue. Today, I read these words with fresh eyes and a heart that longs for nothing more than to be drawn closer to my Lord and Savior.

What does this Psalm have to do with anything I have shared so far?

GREAT question. I actually sat for a few minutes, hands clasped below my chin with furrowed brows wondering the same thing. I’m actually going to quote from my ESV Study Bible because it summarizes Psalm 27 so well and I don’t need to embellish it.

In singing Psalm 27, God’s people have a way of not simply expressing confidence in Him but of cultivating that confidence for the widest range of challenging life situations. The psalm uses several synonyms for “enemies (vv. 2, 6, 11, 12), giving it the concrete setting of a faithful person beset by those who would destroy him with bloodthirsty and deceitful means; one who can trust God inthose circumstances can trust Him in other situations as well.

ESV Study Bible, Psalm 27.

Verse 1. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.

But I’m not afraid… exactly. Not quite. More like, disappointed. (Keep reading Melissa. By the way, this is me talking to me. Maybe with a little prompting from the Holy Spirit.)

Verse 2. When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

But I’m not sure what I’m going through right now relates exactly to this. It’s not evildoers or adversaries or foes. It’s me. I think. (Keep reading Melissa!)

Verse 3. Though an enemy encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

But I don’t feel like there are enemies encamping around me. And, again, I’m not really afraid. I mean, I guess there is technically a spiritual battle going on around me. The enemy would love nothing more than to make me doubt and question Your love for me… … .. .. oh. (Yep, keep reading Melissa.)

Verse 4. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.

Wait, I’m supposed to become a nun? Wrong religion but… I’m starting to see how these verses might be relating to what I am sharing in this post. I’ll let the ESV footnotes explain again.

Shelter in His Sanctuary. “House of the LORD,” “temple,” “tent,” and “sacrifices” show that these verses focus on public worship; they view unhindered access to God’s presence in worship as the best of all gifts. This is the place of true delight and true safety.

ESV Study Bible, Psalm 27

Oh, how true those footnotes are. I do find true delight in worshipping with God’s people in the sanctuary. And even in my own room, sitting at my little piano, plunking away at the keys and singing out to my God. As the tears flow, as the gasps for air happen in the midst of the crying and singing – I still know that I am worshipping with God’s people. There are others out there, in their own rooms, singing out to God. Exalting Him. Praising Him. (Yes, keep reading Melissa.)

Verses 5-6. For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Okay… let me just throw these thoughts out here. Could it be that I am my own enemy? My sin. My frustration. My doubt. My questioning God’s plan for my life. And then, I am still obedient in my worship of God. Because my enemy is pride. It’s all about me, me, me. Instead of succumbing completely to this sin, God helps me slay it. Kill it. And my response is to praise Him. Even when He brings me to a place of raw vulnerability and repentance.

Could it be that there really is an external enemy who hunts me down and attempts to lure me to moments of doubt? Oh yes, there is. I know it. You know it. God knows it. Scripture says there is.

Verses 7-10. Here, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O You who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.

I feel like I’ve just hit the crescendo here. Even in the midst of my tear-filled weeping, I seek the Lord. Why? Because I know He is trustworthy. Even when I doubt. Even when I make it about me. Even when I seem to forget. The Lord does not hide His face. He does not forsake me. My salvation is secure. In fact, it is good that I run to Him first and not anyone or anything else.

I’m going to pause in my reading of this chapter of Psalm because I’m noticing this is looking more like a personal journal entry and reflection than it is a blog post. In fact, as I was typing the words above, I kept thinking, “How can I add a paragraph that gives ideas on how this can apply to the reader?” After all, isn’t that what a good writer does? Here is the hook to catch your attention Here is my personal life example. Here is what scripture says. Here is how it applies to you too. Here is a prompt for how you can respond in your own personal life. And, now you know the secret formula to a good blog post or devotion!

But seriously, my hope in sharing all of this isn’t just to let you inside the deepest part of my soul or to share my struggles. If I’m going to be completely honest, I’m not sure what my hope is. My hope is definitely in the Lord. And I pray that is where your hope is too. I don’t claim to be an expert in anything. This will not be a “Here are 5 steps to get off the emotional roller coaster of questioning God’s faithfulness.” I’m not convinced we will ever get off that roller coaster while still on this Earth. (In this world you will have trouble…)

What I do know – God has already overcome the world. The battle has already been won. And, while we still experience trouble and have an enemy surrounding us, God is all we need. He is sufficient. He is enough. He ruins us in our pride and worry and slays our sins.

Verses 11-14. Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

For some, these last few verses may feel like the climax of the Psalm but I believe these are the calm closing remarks. There is so much to take comfort in.

To wait for the LORD is to look to Him with dependence and trust, not passivity; this is what enables one to be strong and courageous.

ESV Study Bible, Psalm 27.

Dependence and trust.

No, my life did not turn out the way I had dreamed it would. No husband. No children. According to the world’s standards, it could go a couple of ways. If I wanted to go full-feminist, I could shout out about how lucky I am and better I am than a married woman is. Or, I could fall victim to these lies – yes, there is something wrong with me or I did something wrong so that a man would not be attracted to me and I would never have children. I’m less than.

You’re still all that I need. You’re enough for me. Still, I will worship.

I don’t need a husband. Even though I still wouldn’t mind if God decided to bring a man into my life.

I don’t need to be a mother. Although, being a teacher for many years allowed me the opportunity to be a mother figure in many children’s lives.

God is all I need. He is enough for me. And, OH, how I love to worship Him. In my room on my little keyboard. In my church with all the saints. In my car… wherever.

You know, I wouldn’t equate my emotional moment tonight with suffering. I know so many who are reading this may be suffering – chronic pain, illness, loss of a loved one, trauma or abuse – the list goes on. Not having a husband or children doesn’t feel like suffering but, it is definitely disappointing. My expectations all those years ago were not met. The song I worshipped to is focused on suffering and giving God glory. But I think there is another element to suffering and that is self-inflicted shame, doubt, and fear.

And so, whatever season I am in – whether it is suffering in any way – even though my heart and flesh may fail and the earth gives way… I will see the LORD. I will trust Him. And not a tear was wasted when I let them flow as I gave it all to the Lord.

Sing a song to the One Who’s all I need.

holiness, legalism and being a goody-goody

When did pursuing holiness become legalistic?

Not long ago, a friend invited me out to a movie. I politely declined. There were multiple reasons for this. Movie tickets are expensive, even when it is a matinee. I can never avoid the temptation of purchasing that jumbo-sized bag of popcorn – yes, I would like extra artery-clogging butter, please, and thank you. Sticky floors and not comfy seats just aren’t worth it. However, many theaters have some significant upgrades and clean floors these days. Truth be told, I’ve now become that person who prefers to invite a few friends over, watch a movie on my own TV, in my comfy clothes, and on my comfy couch with a healthier snack that doesn’t cost $50+. 

There is another reason I declined this particular movie: it was a secular movie. *Gasp* I know. I know. Those secular movies! Cue the “goody-goody” reference – I’m okay with it, and as you continue to read, you’ll learn why.

I would have gone to the movie about five or so years ago. Back then, I could justify it by saying that the cuss words and other sinful behavior shown in the movie didn’t bother me nor cause me to want to sin. I was able to see past all of that and appreciate the storyline. And, by golly, I can relate some of it to the Christian life! The same holds for music. Sometimes I just longed to listen to 90’s country – back when it still sounded like country. I had the perfect playlist that I would crank up while doing chores. Boot scootin’ boogie took on a whole new meaning while vacuuming the floors! I also had the most epic 80s music playlist that had me singing in my hairbrush and wondering if stores still sell Aquanet or Teen Beat. 

Back in the day, I could justify all of my choices – especially the decisions to watch PG-13 movies and music that had lyrics about somebody getting tipsy at a watermelon festival. While I don’t remember anyone in particular, there were times when I would meet someone who chose not to watch those kinds of movies or listen to that kind of music. My immediate judgment was that they thought themselves better than someone like me and were a goody-goody. You know, that person who seems to do nothing wrong. Ever. It must be nice to be so perfect. So, when did things change for me? It may be evident that I’m writing this because my perspective has changed, and you would be right. In fact, my view has changed drastically. 

A little over two years ago, I decided to dig into the Word of God like never before by listening to expositional preaching and in-depth Bible Study. All of my church life, sermons were always topical. The Pastor would choose a topic, usually relevant to life, and teach what the Bible says about the topic. Not necessarily a wrong way to preach. In fact, there is absolutely a time and a place for topical preaching. It’s good to focus on topics – especially hot-button ones or those focusing on issues we face today. Recent examples would be social justice, unity, sexual identity, etc. Yes, it is definitely good to preach topically from time to time.

But there is something powerful about preaching verse by verse through an entire book of the Bible and teaching how it relates to our lives today. I became aware of verses and context in scripture that I had never noticed before. It may have been taught to me sometime in the past, but I didn’t remember. As a result, it became my passion to encourage other Christian women to read the entire context of a verse. Something else happened in a much deeper place – my soul. 

I began looking at things from a different perspective—everything from politics and social issues to my personal choices. Areas of my life I had been willing to compromise or justify were challenged. Some decisions needed to be made concerning what I was pursuing, not just Biblically but also what I pursued for entertainment, what I was doing to “pass the time,” and what sorts of conversations I was partaking in. Did I need to use that word to describe an unpleasant situation? Now that my roots were growing deeper in the Word of God, compromising and justifying sinful behavior was becoming more difficult. 

What was also interesting was that I noticed I was becoming that girl I called a goody-goody. Oh, dear! Am I becoming too legalistic? Am I going “too far” with my Christian ways? I mean, God knows I’m not perfect. Am I trying to be perfect, and is trying to be perfect the right thing to do? So many questions! All good questions. And I found all my answers. Can you guess where? That’s right! The B-I-B-L-E! (I hope you spelled that and sang the song…)

A truth I had to wrap my head around was that if I am saved and declare Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I should desire to live in a way that pleases Him and reflects Christ-like behavior. But living this way isn’t what “earns” my spot in Heaven. That has already been decided. And I think that is where we learn more about the difference between legalism and holiness and how the two are getting confused by those who say they are Christian.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 ESV

These verses appear near the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In this letter, he is encouraging them in their faith. Reminding them to live as citizens of heaven and thank them for their support. Many scholars believe that Paul was writing from prison. Imprisonment carried a social stigma. Yet, the Philippians never turned their back on Paul and remained faithful to him. The other reason for writing to the Philippians was to encourage them to continue making progress in their faith. The church in Philippi was healthy in contrast to the churches in Corinth and Galatia, but Paul wanted to make it clear that didn’t mean they should relax and rest. I love how my ESV Study Bible puts it when explaining the reasoning for this encouragement: The world is too perilous, and the gospel too glorious.

The entire book of Philippians is a great book to study, and I encourage you to do so!

Verses 8 and 9 of the scripture shared above – Paul is telling the Philippians what they should be filling their minds with. These things should inspire worship of God and service to others.

Here’s another verse as we take a step further into the idea of holiness –

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15-17 ESV

One important distinction when reading these verses is not to read them as a total rejection of the world. After all, when we read John 3:16, we read that because of God’s love for the world, He sent Jesus.

This is a different kind of love. Not the kind of love that describes why God sent Jesus to save the world. The words in 1 John are a warning against devotion to worldly things that are opposed to God. John then gives examples such as the desires of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life. Let’s explore all three of these examples.

Desires of the flesh

This refers to indulging in physical or sensual pleasure in ways that are contrary to God’s will. This includes excessive consumption of food or alcohol, engaging in promiscuous or immoral sexual behavior, or becoming addicted to substances or activities that harm one’s health and well-being. In today’s society, I can think of quite a few examples. Especially since it is the month of June and a certain “desire of the flesh” is constantly being promoted via all channels. But this expands to so much more when it comes to holiness that I’ll share a little further down in this post.

Desires of the eyes

This temptation involves coveting and longing for material possessions or worldly treasures. In today’s consumerist society, people often find themselves drawn to materialistic pursuits and the constant desire for the latest gadgets (apple, anyone?), fashion trends, or luxurious lifestyles. It can lead to a preoccupation with wealth, greed, and the pursuit of worldly success at the expense of spiritual values. I remember in the mid-80’s a certain popular shoe brand came with a blue label on the heel. If your shoe had that blue label, you were considered “in” or “cool.” There were other versions of the shoe. In fact, the style was identical. But don’t you dare wear the other brand because you are not in style if there is no blue label. And if you are not “in style,” then the door to teasing is opened. And who wants to be teased? I look back at the time in life and just shake my head. Does a blue label on a shoe really make that much of a difference? What about your phone? Are you always needing the latest model? Why?

Pride of life

This temptation revolves around arrogance, self-centeredness, and seeking recognition or status. In the age of social media, individuals may succumb to the desire for personal validation and attention, constantly seeking approval and admiration through carefully curated images and narratives. The focus shifts towards self-promotion, comparison with others, and the pursuit of popularity or influence, which can undermine humility and genuine relationships. Just scroll through your social media feed, and you will see this. Unfortunately, this kind of pride has appeared in the church as well. Worship ministry can be tricky because many churches have a band leading in front of the congregation. Over the years, I have witnessed prideful hearts as they “performed” a “concert” instead of centering their worship on the Lord. We see pride show in Pastors as well!

Desires of the flesh, eyes, and pride are the very things that will call holiness legalistic. I have heard every excuse. “Watching that movie won’t make me lust or desire the same thing.” “Listening to this song is just fun. The lyrics don’t influence me.” “It’s good for me to play my best and have the latest gear to help me do so. I’ve gotta have the best sound to honor the Lord!”

How can we not think these things will influence us in some way? I’m a walking example of being influenced whether I wanted to be or not. If the Bible is telling me to pursue what is holy and pleasing to the Lord, then that is what I need to be pursuing.

A final argument I have heard when it comes to holiness is the idea of wanting to be relatable to those who do not know God…yet. There is so much to unpack with this perspective that would require a completely new blog post, but I will say this – that perspective would equal saying something like this, “I need to sin so I can relate to other sinners.” My answer – what??? How does one get to that idea of evangelizing to others when the Bible is explicitly clear about sin?

Here are some more verses. I encourage you to look these up, especially if you have a study Bible. Read the commentary and related verses. You will soon find yourself on a rabbit trail of what it means to be holy.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 ESV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2

Sister in Christ, we are called to live a holy and distinct life where God is prioritized over everything else. When we embrace a mindset and lifestyle that aligns with God’s holiness, we experience a deeper relationship with Him and reflect His character to the world around us.

I am content with being a goody-goody if it means I am pursuing holiness. And, when I mess up, I run to the Lord in humility and receive His grace and mercy. It’s okay to not go to that movie. It’s okay to not fit in if it means you say and do things that do not honor the Lord. When you do pursue holiness, do so in humility.

He has told you, O man, what is good: and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

How to apply all this.

No, you do not need to go to that movie. It’s okay to turn it down.
Is that TV show really the way you should be spending your time? How is it honoring the Lord?
Pay attention to how you respond when faced with these decisions. Is your immediate reaction to go on the defense and justify your decision, or is it a reaction from a place of humility and honoring the Lord?
When participating in conversations with non-believers (or even those who profess to be Christian), guard the words that come out of your mouth. You don’t need to swear in an effort to fit in. You should be standing out for the glory of God!
No, condemning and not supporting sinful behavior is NOT legalistic. Stand firm in the truth!
When someone calls you a goody-goody, respond in humility. Don’t get proud about your goody-two-shoes, either. Always default to humility.
And when in doubt or unsure about something, go to the Word of God and trust Him. This includes when someone tries to tell you that you are being legalistic in your pursuit of holiness.

He is Faithful and Just

My church is doing a memory project in which we, as a congregation, have been given 25 Bible verses to memorize through the Spring and Summer. We’ll then receive another 25 verses to memorize in the Fall and Winter. I am so excited to participate in this and intentionally learn and memorize scripture. The goal isn’t just so I can stand in front of someone and tell them a Bible verse. The goal is to connect the mind and the heart with the Word of God. In so doing, may God be glorified, and may I run to the light of His Word every single day!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

So straightforward.

So simple.

There isn’t much to add now, is there?

If we confess our sins

If… then…

Who remembers learning about Conditional Sentences in Language Arts class? I remember having to write several sentences that would show that I understood how to write these types of sentences. If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens. But that result will only happen if the condition is true.

Christians must confess their sins. There is no way to get around it. There isn’t anything that God doesn’t know already. Some may question well, if God already knows everything, what is the point of confessing it? That’s just it. Yes, He knows, but He wants you to know as well and take the important step toward salvation – which is confession.

What does it mean to confess our sins? It means acknowledging our failures, our shortcomings, and our mistakes before God. We don’t try to justify or excuse our actions, but we openly and honestly admit to them. Confessing our sins is not just a ritual or formality but an act of surrender. It’s a way of letting go of our pride and admitting that we need God’s mercy and grace. It’s confessing any sin that goes against God’s commandments and how we are supposed to live.

Something that I have noticed in some church circles is the desire to welcome people in and want them to feel included – while remaining to live in their sinful lifestyle. In other words, there is no urgency for repentance or teaching them that they are living in sin. The urgency is focused more on wanting them to feel loved and welcome. However, enabling sin does not equal showing love. In fact, the greatest way we can love someone is by pointing out their sin and then directing them to the One who loves them the most and displaying that love in the most incredible way – by dying on the cross so that we may live!

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die –
but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:7-8

Twice, in the book of John, Jesus said, “Sin no more” (John 5:14; John 8:11).

We confess, and then we sin no more. Jesus is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us.

What does it mean that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins? It means that His forgiveness is not based on our merit or worthiness but on His character and promise. He is faithful to His Word and His love, and He is just to forgive us because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

God’s forgiveness is not just a pardon but a cleansing. It’s a process of removing the stain and the guilt of sin from our hearts and minds. It’s a way of renewing our spirit and our relationship with Him. As we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness, we also receive the gift of Holy Spirit who empowers us to live a new life of righteousness and holiness. We become children of God who walk in the light and fellowship with Him and one another.

Going back to my point about some churches excusing sin in order to make people feel welcome. As Christians, we are called to strive for holiness and to follow God’s commands. Sin is never condoned or excused. In fact, 1 John 3:4 says, Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. In 1 Peter, we are called to be holy.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16

Yes, Jesus came to save us from our sins and offers us grace and forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean we should continue to live in sin. Romans 6:1-2 reminds us that What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

So sister in Christ, if you carry the burden of your sins, don’t despair or hide from God. You can’t hide anyway. Confess your sins to Him and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. And go and sin no more. Live a life that pursues holiness and rejoices in the extraordinary love of Christ!

The Way, The Truth & The Life

My church is doing a memory project in which we, as a congregation, have been given 25 Bible verses to memorize through the Spring and Summer. We’ll then receive another 25 verses to memorize in the Fall and Winter. I am so excited to participate in this and intentionally learn and memorize scripture. The goal isn’t just so I can stand in front of someone and tell them a Bible verse. The goal is to connect the mind and the heart with the Word of God. In so doing, may God be glorified, and may I run to the light of His Word every single day!

As I memorize scripture, I don’t want this to just be words to say. I desire to truly dig in and learn more about each verse’s message. Sometimes it will be simple and straightforward. Other times there will be layers of amazing truth and wisdom. Since digging into the Word of God, I have noticed how it has changed me. Scripture humbles and expresses truth. It dispels any doubt I may have had and provides wisdom and guidance for daily life. The Word of God continually points to Jesus – the source of our Salvation. One of my favorite things to do is flip the pages between New Testament and Old Testament to see prophecy fulfilled and how connected scripture is. Context is so important! So I’ve decided to share what I learn with you! Let’s dig in together!

No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture.

Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian LIfe

The first verse to commit to memory is John 14:6. I’m choosing the ESV as my translation of choice to memorize these precious words.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

(I typed that from memory, in case you were wondering. Ha!)

Jesus is the way. In Exodus 26, God gives instructions for how to build His Tabernacle. In verses 33-36, the instructions are given for blocking off the Most Holy Place, which would contain the ark of the testimony. Only the Levitical High Priest (Leviticus 16) could enter this part of the Tabernacle once a year, on the Day of Atonement. No one else was allowed to enter God’s Holiness. In Leviticus 10:2, we read that Aaron’s two sons entered and offered “unauthorized fire” or strange fire, which the Lord had not commanded them to do. Each of them was consumed by a fire that came from the Lord and died. Right there. On the spot! And now we have Jesus, who has come to fulfill the OT prophecy. And there is salvation in one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The moment Jesus said, “It is finished,” and bowed His head to give up His spirit (John 19:30), the curtain that separated us from the Most Holy Place was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Thus, there was no longer any separation between God and the people.

I encourage you to open your Bible and read Hebrews 9:11-10:18 for a more in-depth explanation of the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross. He IS the way!

Jesus is the truth. John 1:17 says For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:20 says, And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus is the life. Believing in Jesus doesn’t just bring life to those who believe in Him and know His voice. It brings us eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) and My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand John 10:26-27).

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

I’m going to be honest with you. After taking the time to ponder what Jesus’ statement in John 14:6 means to the believer, I became overwhelmed and at a loss for words. What an incredible gift from a loving Savior Who has given up His life for me – a wretch that deserves so much worse.

We are so much more deserving of God’s wrath and eternal punishment, but Oh! what a gift it is for those who believe to know that because of Jesus, we have received grace, mercy, and forgiveness and life everlasting with the King of Kings. Oh, glorious day!

You do You (and other lies)

You do you!

Believe in yourself!

Follow your heart!

Do what makes you happy!

Love yourself!

These phrases appear all over these days. From social media posts to inspirational blog posts, magazine articles, and self-help books. You will be quick to find something pertaining to one of these sayings and it makes sense because our society is all about self-affirmation. I confess to saying one more of these and have humbly sought forgiveness and wisdom from the Lord. I’ve recently heard a friend say “you do you” in response to someone they know living a certain way they don’t agree with.

But is that how God wants us to live? Is this Biblical?

Our society, especially here in the U.S.A. is very self-serving. Everywhere you will see commercials, posters, billboards, and more celebrating individuality and encouraging women to “be themselves” and to “do what makes you happy”! In fact, a major beauty supply retailer launched a campaign in the Summer of 2022 celebrating women’s individuality, resilience, and strength. Included in this campaign were women who were from all different backgrounds and men masquerading as women. Yep, you read that right and I’m not going to describe it any other way. This campaign was embraced and celebrated by many celebrities and some I follow on social media. It was a bit shocking when I even saw self-professing Christians sharing the posts.

I don’t know why I continue to be shocked when this comes up but I am.

This idea of “you do you” is a bit crazy to me. First, the phrase can be used for a couple of situations. The first is when someone makes a decision for themselves that they deem is right for them. The second is when someone can’t seem to make a decision even if suggestions have been given. I’ve also heard the phrase used with an additional thought – it doesn’t affect me in any way. In other words, the decision the other person made has no effect on anyone else. Therefore, “you do you”.

This is such a huge contradiction to what the Word of God says. Sure, there isn’t anything wrong with having confidence in something you’re able to do. But that self-confidence needs to be accompanied by some other character traits such as humility and the fear of God. It’s imperative that we as Christian women take heed to the fine line that is drawn between a “self-love-you-do-you-believe-in-yourself” mentality and putting all our trust in the Lord and Him alone. There is also clear guidance in scripture for how we approach others who make sinful choices. It does indeed affect us.

When we use any of the phrases shared above, the focus is on the self. They point toward our own strengths and encourage placing our faith and trust in our own abilities. The implication is that we can trust ourselves and should “follow our heart”. Oh, sinner. This is so contradictory to what the Lord has to say about us.

Psalm 53:1-3 (ESV) says: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity: there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

If you think this verse is just for the people of the Old Testament, it is quoted in Romans 3:10-12 by Paul to the Romans. As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

In Luke 18:19, Jesus is addressing a rich ruler who calls Jesus “good”. Jesus’ response to him is “why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Proverbs 3:5 tell us to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Jeremiah 9:23, the Lord says, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, and that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.” Follow your heart? Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Repeatedly, in scripture, we are reminded we are filled with sin and to believe in the LORD. In fact, we are told to look away from ourselves and not to rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). How much clearer can it be made that every single one of the phrases above are contradicting what scripture tells us? Are we the way and truth of our own lives? Absolutely not. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The next time someone says to “follow your heart”, you can say your heart is deceitful but God is faithful and sovereign. Psalm 115:1 is a beautiful reminder of where to place our hope and who to follow at all times! Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” God – alone – is worthy of our trust, our worship, and our loyalty. It is so tempting to allow our society to whisper the lie to believe in ourselves but when left to ourselves – we fail.

So, what about others? If we see someone else living a sinful life and making choices contrary to the Bible? What are we to do? Do we say, “Hey… you do you, sister…” because it doesn’t affect us? I believe it depends on the relationship and if one is a professing Christian. It also depends on how scripture tells us to live and scripture is pretty clear about that.

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us we are “the light of the world” and to “let your light shine before others“. Ephesians 5:8 says we are now “light in the Lord” and to “walk as children of light”. What does this mean? Well, what does a light do? It helps us to see, right? So, we are to be that light to help others see God and His truth! Is telling someone, who is living in sin, “you do you” shining the light of Christ to them? Absolutely not! Even if it doesn’t affect our personal lives, to excuse the sin and take the opportunity to show Pure Love is doing a disservice to the way we are called to live.

Of course, there is a loving way to do this. I do not recommend you declare fire and brimstone but what an incredible opportunity to share the gospel and not compromise what the Word of God says. Here is a spectacular perspective to take on being a light to others around us. We are all image-bearers of God. In Genesis 1:26, we read that God made “man” in His image. This is all men; Christians and non-Christians. All humankind is made in the image of God. There is no one on this earth who is not in need of the gospel. All of us on this earth are heading down one of two paths – eternal life in heaven or eternal life in hell.

What will you do to be a light to those around you who live in sin? Will you dismiss their choices with “you do you” or will you take the bold stance in sharing the life-saving truth that is the gospel? It won’t be easy. You’ll be setting yourself up for persecution and losing friends but what are you more concerned with? Pleasing man or the Lord? Obeying God or succumbing to the whim of society? Will you compromise your faith in order to be accepted by others or will you be courageous and rooted and build up in Him and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7)?

I’m not saying we need to go seek out other sinners in a coffee shop and ask if they realize they are living in sin and repent of their ways. Or maybe we should??? But, when we have an opportunity to instead of saying “you do you”, say something like, “let me tell you about my Jesus” – oh what an incredible gift and opportunity to share about the Living Hope we know of.

What about fellow Christians? These are our sisters who have declared Christ as their Savior. First, no matter if we are sharing with a Christian or non-Christian, we must have the right attitude. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13 and 1 Peter 3:8 give more direction on putting on the virtues of Christ. With a compassionate heart, humility, and patience, we can speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1 – Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. “Spiritual” are those who are walking in the Spirit in faith and obedience – it’s not a word to elevate anyone. The second part of this verse gives a warning as well – as we give gentle restoration we must also be aware of how easy it is – for all of us – to be tempted by Satan.

Always go to the Lord first, have an attitude of humility, love, and genuine concern for the other person, and commit to what the Word of God says.

Sometimes these conversations will result in the sister not walking away from her sin. Matthew 18:15-17 gives the process of confronting a sinning brother or sister and would be what to follow.

This is rarely an easy process but it is so worth it! When we observe someone repenting of their sin and receiving restoration from Jesus – it is a reason for a joyous celebration! It is an opportunity to remember how faithful and merciful God is and He fulfills His promises in scripture.

I’ve got some new phrases to leave you with.

Believe and trust in the Lord!

Follow Jesus!

Do what pleases the Lord!

Love God!

Don’t “do you” – lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge HIS ways! (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Any additional thoughts? I’d love to hear from you!

Traditions, Anticipation, Worship

The following is from a devotion I shared during a recent ladies’ Christmas party at my church.

What kinds of traditions have you had throughout the years during Christmas? Do any special memories stand out to you when this time of year comes? For me, there are so many! Decorating the house with Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald playing on the record player, hanging up the green and red chain made of construction paper above my bed to count down the days until Christmas, going to the fabric store to pick out a pattern for my mom to make my fancy Christmas dress for the church service on Christmas Eve, Wednesday evening Advent service at church with soup dinner after, practicing for the Christmas pageant every Sunday after church and wondering who would be chosen to play Mary or one of the angels, going over the river and through the woods to Grandma and Grandpa Elsner’s house for Christmas Day dinner and presents. Yes, we really did go over a river and through the woods to get there. Going through the Montgomery Ward (did anyone else call it monkey ward?) Christmas catalog and Sears catalog, circling all the things I wanted for Christmas and then writing my list for my mom to give to Santa. I could go on and on and on but there is one special tradition that stands out the most. And that was baking the famous Elsner rolled Christmas cookies. Okay, they aren’t (weren’t?) really called that but everybody looked forward to our Christmas cookies. My mom would be in the kitchen making the dough, and I would help cut out the shapes with the cookie cutters. In the oven, they would go, and the fragrance of freshly baked cookies would fill the house. Then on to racks, they would go to cool off for my dad and me to decorate with frosting and sprinkles. It was quite the assembly line of prepping, rolling, baking, and decorating. Soon, there would be tubs of cookies ready to be packaged up and given to friends and family. Each year was a bit different for me – sometimes I was excited to help in making them and then there were days when I could think of a gazillion things to do. But I sure do treasure the memories of something that brought my family together for an entire weekend (sometimes longer) to make these cookies. I loved watching my dad purse his lips together as he frosted each cookie to perfection. I wanted to help sometimes but that was HIS job. So, I got creative with the sprinkles. To this day, these cookies get baked every year and they are just as delicious now as they were over 40 years ago. While we work away baking and decorating the cookies, we would listen to Christmas music on the record player. Even when we upgraded to the 8-track and cassette player, the record player was my favorite way to hear this music.

In addition to all the traditions listed above, I also loved listening to Christmas hymns. One that has become a favorite of mine is the hymn Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. As a child, I loved picking out the harmony line in the hymnal but never totally paid attention to the lyrics. It was just one of those hymns we sang every year at church and, whenever it came on the radio, I had to turn it up to practice that beautiful harmony line. This leads me to ponder something that seems to happen when it comes to traditions. The rituals we do and songs we sing every year because “it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t” can easily lose their purpose and meaning. A common result for many of us is we lose sight of why we celebrate this time of year. When these traditions were birthed, what was the reason? And I think a wise response is to truly stop and ponder that question.

Yes, traditions are a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday, but I have wanted to be intentional about remembering why we have and celebrate Christmas. This includes the days leading up to Christmas which is known as the Advent season. At first, I thought Advent was just an old-fashioned tradition, but I have learned there is a really special significance to Advent. And, I promise, it relates to the cherished Christmas hymn I mentioned above. Advent is anticipating Jesus. In the Old Testament, it was the waiting for the Messiah to arrive as prophesied by Isaiah, Haggai, Jeremiah, and God Himself. In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, I love to read from the major and minor prophets, like Isaiah, as they foretold Jesus’ coming. The miraculous birth of God, as a man, from a virgin. I mean, can we just take a moment to ponder that? This is actually what I love about the Advent season – taking a break from the hustle and bustle and taking the time to understand the significance of why we celebrate Christmas.

Back to the Christmas Hymn. As mentioned earlier, in my youth, I wasn’t so much aware of the lyrics, even though I sang along but it was the melody and harmonizing along with it that I just loved. Now, as an adult, these lyrics have become so very meaningful, and the hymn is my #1 favorite to listen to and sing during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Something that I love to do is learn more about who wrote a  hymn and why. Of course, I did just that with this hymn. It was written by Charles Wesley and first published in 1744. He originally wrote a prayer that was inspired by a verse in Haggai.

And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:7

The footnotes of my ESV study Bible say this about this verse:

God promises to shake all nations (as well as “the heavens, and the earth,” v. 6). The result of this shaking will be that the treasures of all nations will be yielded by the nations to adorn the temple; but the result will also be more than this, for the Lord will fill His house with glory – that is, with his own presence. The focus of Haggai’s oracle in its context is specifically on the immediate fulfillment of this prophecy. In addition, from a NT vantage point, many would see a foreshadowing of events unfolding in the incarnation of Christ and ultimately in His second coming at the of the age (e.g., when Jesus spoke of His body as “this temple” in John 2:20-21; and when the book of Revelation speaks of the day when the whole city of Jerusalem will be filled with the presence of God, “for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb…and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,” Rev. 21:22, 24).

The prayer that Charles Wesley published had the following words:

“Born your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all-sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen.”

The prayer was turned into a song, by Wesley with the intent for people to remember Advent and Christmas as commemorating the birth of Jesus and preparing for the second coming. In 1855, Charles Spurgeon made the hymn more well-known in a Christmas sermon, when he was 21, and included parts of the hymn to illustrate his point that very few are “born king” and that Jesus was the only one who had been born king without being a prince.

Knowing the history of this hymn makes it even more meaningful. In fact, each line of this hymn is a reflection of scripture. When we read scripture, our focus is turned to the One this time of year is all about. The reason we celebrate!

I’d love to go through each line of the song with you and show how each word and stanza relates to scripture.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

When Jesus was presented at the temple and the prophetess Anna met him her response in Luke 2:38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood (humans), He (Jesus) Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Hebrews 4:3, 10 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘they shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. Quoted from Psalm 95:11 – rest is enjoying God’s presence forever.

v. 9-10 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Speaking of Simeon who was watching for the Messiah when Jesus was presented at the temple, in Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Consolation is the hope that God would come to rescue and comfort his people.

Joel 3:16 The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. (amid the cosmic and military confusion, the people of God are held secure and spared destruction.)

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Isaiah 42:1-3; Matthew 12:18-21 after Jesus heals the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees went out to conspire against Him. Jesus knowing this, withdrew from the synagogue and continued to heal those who followed him ordering them not to make him known which fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-3 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He brings justice to victory; and in His name the Gentiles will hope.

Dear desire of every nation,

Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Joy of every longing heart.

1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace, there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it. With justice and with righteousness from this forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

John 18:37 Then Pilate said to Him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;

Jeremiah 31:33 when God is speaking of the new covenant (Jesus) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my new law within them, and I will write it on their hears. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

This is a beautiful hymn for Advent that expresses deeply the two-fold purpose of the Advent season – we remember the birth of Christ, and fiercely desire His coming again. Perhaps more than some Advent hymns, this text especially expresses our longing for Christ’s second coming.

After crying out and naming our concerns and heartbreaks before God, how beautiful to close with this simple prayer of longing that also speaks of our hope. Even as we express our need for consolation, we do so in the knowledge that our God is a God who consoles.

Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

I find it fitting that we sing this song together and truly ponder the words, and the prayer and enter into this Advent season with hope and faith in Jesus who has come to set His people free and will come again in glory.

*As a group, we sang this hymn together. But you can find several versions of this song on YouTube and streaming services like Spotify. My most favorite arrangement is by Shane and Shane which you can find at the link below.

People or God and Do We Have to Choose

I recently found a quote that went like this:

If you’ve reached a point where you only attend a church because of the relationships you’ve built there and not because of the sound doctrine/teaching that’s actually feeding your soul, then maybe it’s time to evaluate whether you’re attending a sound biblical church.

Well isn’t that just a snap in z formation to the face if I ever read one.

Where to even begin on this topic but what I do want to start with is the intention behind this post. It isn’t to call out any one person or church in particular. There are many people I cherish from past churches and while I have every intention of sharing truth here, it is never my intention to bring hurt or pain. What I do want to bring are accountability and awareness. In fact, the reason my posts have morphed over the past two years is that I have realized there is no time to become complacent or “seeker-friendly” with what I have to share. If what I share from scripture offends anyone, it isn’t me you need to come to terms with. It’s the Lord. He wrote those words through faithful believers.

There is so much that I have compromised for the sake of not offending others or to be “known”. I have lost opportunities to be bold all for the sake of being afraid to lose friendships. Historically, I embraced the “seeker-friendly” mindset that so many churches do. What do I mean by “seeker-friendly”? These are churches, or ministries – not all but most – that are more focused on bringing new people, mostly unbelievers or the curious, into the church. They are adamant about communicating that they want to provide an atmosphere that is welcoming to all. The sermons don’t get too serious or in-depth but are just enough to skim truth in such a way that is “understandable”. Worship trends toward produced and carefully curated for the purpose of not being a distraction or hindrance for others.

When I was ripe in giving my life to the Lord, I loved and appreciated how easy it was to get connected and volunteer. Many will hear the story of how my mentor interviewed me for teaching Sunday School and essentially told me I was the right one for the position immediately. It was only five minutes into our conversation and she just knew. I remember walking out the door feeling empowered, excited, and nervous all at the same time. The notion that I would be volunteering with like-minded, believers in the Lord had me so excited. But, I was also nervous because I didn’t feel equipped enough to teach these young kiddos. Thankfully, everything was scripted and it was super easy to teach the lessons. It was mostly just helping the kiddos pay attention and diffuse little spats.

As the years went by, I would become more and more involved in different ministries including choir, worship team, international missions, and the after-service prayer team. It was incredible to feel needed, known, and, at times, sought after. Friendships were blooming and I just loved that these friends were fellow believers.

In my mid-30’s I moved to Chicago and wanted to find a church similar to the one I had “grown-up” in spiritually. I found one! Or so I thought. At first, it was wonderful. The teaching seemed to be the kind I related to and the worship was pretty amazing and well-curated. The production was what I was used to, if not a little better because hey… we’re in Chicago folks! I have shared in past posts how things started to change for me when I realized how naive I had become when it came to assuming all Christians would agree on various social issues and sin. To me, these were all pretty clear in scripture but my eyes were opened to the fact that not all who called themselves Christians thought the same thing. At the time, I didn’t know how to refute or debate or find the scripture to support what I believed. So, I ignored and justified it all because there were so many other things I wasn’t willing to give up – like the relationships.

Fast forward to April 2022. Two years have gone by since the shutdowns prompted by the “C”. (Yep, I’m speaking in code on purpose. You know what I’m talking about though!) Up until this point, I had gotten really good at avoiding the things that were bothering me when it came to the church I was so committed to. I LOVED and ADORED the people I served with and I hated the thought of what would happen if I spoke up. I shouldn’t put past tense on those two words “loved” and “adored” because I currently love and adore these same people. And it is because of that love I am so desperate to share what I do via this blog and any other written forms. I’m not going to hold back for fear of what others think of me. And man is that hard because, in the past, all my decisions were filtered through what others thought of me.

The only One I am attempting to please is my Lord and Savior. As it should be for you dear sister in Christ. I truly believe we are at a place in time where it is even more important to stand firm in the Word and not to conform to the ways of this world. Arm yourself by reading scripture and digging deep. If your current church does not go deep into the Bible, find one that does. Pray for discernment and wisdom in your conversations that will likely happen. When relationships end, lean on the Lord for what those relationships provided. He will supply more than you could ever ask or imagine! Be prepared to celebrate when those same people reach out for reconciliation.

The important thing to remember is to never compromise the Word of God, simply to win people to church or to maintain relationships. Scripture tells us that many will have itching ears to hear words that conform to their own ideas and thinking. (2 Timothy 4:3). I love how the Amplified Bible states this verse:

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold.

2 Timothy 4:3 (AMP)

This permeates into the leadership of the church as well and influences the mindset I mentioned earlier when it comes to “seeker-friendly”. If the church you attend skips over scripture or skirts around important issues in order to not create “controversy” or to avoid appearing in the newspaper for offending, it’s time to find a new church. If there is no accountability or elders, it’s time to find a new church. If you are a leader or attend this type of church, seek God’s wisdom and direction in what you should do. If He is calling you to speak up, trust that He will guide your words and be your source of all you need. If He is calling you away, pray for the discernment needed in finding a new church and also remember His faithfulness.

For me, I had to come to terms with multiple things. I was comfortable. I loved being known. And I adored the friendships I had. I am sad to say some have decided to part ways for various reasons. It was not easy at all but, ultimately, knowing that God is the One I serve and aim to please has helped. I am currently working on a blog series focused on how to navigate through the muddy waters of relationship management, especially when it comes to changing your place of worship. It may not seem like a topic big enough to focus on but, it really is. I know I’m not alone in what I have gone through and it is SO important that we remember where to place our focus. 100% on Jesus.

Some may say that being relational is still important. Don’t get me wrong, it absolutely is.

Allow me to use this illustration – do you have a favorite pair of sunglasses? I do! Not only do they do an excellent job protecting my eyes from the UV rays but they are also very stylish. They are the lens I look through so that I’m not squinting. We have different lenses in life to look through as well. Each lens gives us perspective. If we choose only to look through the relational lens, every word, action, and decision we make will be based on being relational. The risk with that is compromising scripture and God’s clear direction given to us for how to live. It’s well-meaning. It’s not entirely bad. In fact, one could find plenty of verses in the Bible to support being relational. However, if we are only doing this through the relational lens, we are out of context.

With the lens of scripture and God’s truth, being relational and loving looks much, much different. Love according to the world’s standard is to bend in order to accept no matter what. And in order to accept, we don’t bring up anything that could offend. The lens of God’s truth shows us we are depraved sinners who deserve the wrath of God. It shows the good news of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and taking on our sin. It shows the teachings of Jesus leading up to His death where He held nothing back because He loved us too much not to. By His example, we also should not be holding anything back because we love others too much. We yearn for others to know Him and to accept Jesus as their Savior. We want to show them what the Bible says is sin so they know what to turn away from. Even if it offends. Even if it hurts. Even if it downright stinks because the sin one may need to turn away from is one that seems impossible to give up.

Sister friend, may I give you some sound advice?

Pray. Read your Bible. Pray. Live in Godly boldness. Pray. Read your Bible. Pray. Rinse and repeat.

The road is not easy but wow, what a glorious and wonderful opportunity to fully rely on Jesus. You may not see the “fruit” at first but you will. He will show you.

Some of you may now be thinking, “Melissa, how do I find a sound/biblical church?”

It’s a good and important question and the best answer I can give you is this: Visit churches. If you find one that could be “the one”, reach out to the Pastor and church council. Ask questions and be direct with them. Ask to see the mission, vision, values, and doctrinal statement. A sound/biblical church will be more than willing to share all of this with you! Pray. Ask for the discernment and wisdom from God as you search. Trust that He is faithful because He is!