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Be of Good Cheer: Hope for Recovery

by | Oct 1, 2019 | Bible study, Devotional

Be of Good Cheer: Hope for Recovery

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV

Hurricanes and Other Disasters

With the descent of Dorian, hurricane season has launched, tossing its mighty winds and roaring waters through our mind’s eye, arousing fears of future devastation and memories of past disasters.

It’s been about fifteen years since Hurricane Ivan wreaked its havoc on our hometown, Pensacola, Florida, leaving a morass of blue roofs in its wake.

  • Fifteen years since…
  • The fall our children and I lived with my mom in Atlanta for three long weeks.
  • The weeks my husband sweated through a restless sleep at our home and rode his bicycle to the hospital for work.
  • The year I entitled our Christmas letter: “living in a landscape of loss.”

Recovery

It’s been so long ago now that the primary impact has faded, and we’re left mainly with the memories, the funny (now) stories of how our fifteen year old son, who had only had his learner’s permit for a month, drove my mom and our other children to Atlanta to evacuate because I was away for a grad school class. The story of my husband riding his bike home after the storm, stopping to climb over piles of trees blocking the road, finally arriving at our home, only to realize he had left his house keys in his car at the hospital. We can laugh now. I guess you could say we’ve recovered from Hurricane Ivan.

We’ve recovered. But some never did. Some lost homes, businesses, even families to the disaster. They may have found a new home or started a new business, but the heartache of the catastrophe lingers. Maybe you haven’t been hit by a hurricane; maybe it was a divorce, a sudden revelation of a spouse’s affair. Maybe you were slapped with a devastating cancer diagnosis. Or maybe your 23-year-old just disclosed that she “identifies” as transgender.

The hard reality is that many of the disasters we face in our lives deal us losses we may never fully recover from. What are we to do? How can we live in a world in which some losses will never be recouped?”

Hope

Jesus, in his final discussion with his disciples, anticipated this question. Shortly before his brutal crucifixion for a made-up crime, he prepared his followers for the disasters that mark life in a fallen world:

“In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”

Many of us in western culture struggle to understand Jesus’ words, because our culture wants us to believe a lie: that the world is good, and that the things in it are here to make us happy. The message of the Bible contradicts this lie: humans were created “very good,” in the image of God, but when the first humans, Adam and Eve, tried to take things into their own hands, tried to steal glory from God, life on this earth unraveled. Now, every human comes into this world seeking to satisfy self (Psalm 51:5). Now, in this fallen world, creation groans, and we groan along with it. (Romans 8:23).

Thankfully, the story didn’t end there, with a weeping creation that would never fully recover. It didn’t end there with selfish human beings who would never learn how to love others and love God again. Thanks be to God.

And that is what Jesus is trying to explain to his disciples. It’s okay, he assures them. Yes, in this world, on this earth, you will suffer. I’m teaching you how to live in my world, my kingdom. Not only that, when I die and am raised again, you will have the resurrection power to live a different life, a new life, to recover some of what was lost in the fall. You will still struggle; you will still suffer, here on this earth. That’s okay. That’s to be expected. But if you remember these things I have told you, you will have peace. Not only that, you can be “of good cheer,” “take courage,” “not be afraid,” “take heart,”

Because “I have overcome the world.”

One day, not yet, but “soon,” I will come back. And I will take you to live with me in a new world, the world you were really made for. In that day, all of the pain, the pain of being betrayed by the one you gave your heart to, the pain of seeing your home ravaged by a storm or flood or fire, the pain of losing the business your grandmother built…all that sorrow will be washed away. All the sin—the clawing to get your own way, the clashing against loved ones over small differences, the clinging to things you think will satisfy you—it will be over. Overcome. Defeated. By me, your King. Love, Jesus.

There is something better that awaits. It is not recovery. It is restoration. It is renewal. It is reunion. It is reconciliation. Cheer loudly and long. Jesus has overcome the world.

Photo by John Middelkoop on Unsplash

5 Verses for Meditating on Christ’s Sacrifice for Us

by | Apr 16, 2019 | Bible study, Easter, Lent

5 Verses on Meditating on Christ’s Sacrifice for Us

It’s a crazy story when you think about it—a perfect Savior dies for a people who are, shall we say, less than perfect—or, let’s be honest—just plain sinful? As Easter approaches, take some time to meditate on the surprising sacrifice Christ made for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:16

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Romans 3:25

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

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Preparing for Easter: A Lent Encouragement

by | Mar 11, 2019 | Bible study, Easter, Lent, Seasons & Holidays

As we continue to prepare our hearts to celebrate the Resurrection, my friend, writer Suzanne Marshall, author of two studies for Lent, joins us with a guest blog about how to awaken our hearts to Easter. 

As hard as it is to believe, Easter is just around the corner. Spring clothes, baskets and family gatherings come to mind. These colorful scenes, though, are followed by more solemn ones. I stand with the congregation Easter morning, trying to rev my heart  during the alleluias, while deep down I know that I’m not all that joyful and thankful. What happened to my soul’s love?

In Luke 7, we read about Simon, a church leader, who must have allowed his love for God to wane as well. Simon invites Jesus to eat dinner with him at his house, and while the two men recline at the table, a prostitute stands behind Jesus. She clasps an alabaster vial of perfume and weeps. Tears course down her cheeks and fall onto Jesus’ feet. She drops to wipe her tears with her hair, and so moved, she pours the perfume and adds her kisses as she washes his feet. Simon secretly reasons that Jesus couldn’t be a prophet, because he obviously isn’t savvy enough to know that the woman with her hands all over his feet is one of those kind of women.

Jesus knows Simon’s thoughts and leads his host through a parable, to help Simon see himself and the woman more accurately. Jesus’ story unfolds. Two people owed money to a banker. One owed fifty coins and the other owed five hundred. The banker tore up both loans, forgiving the debts.

“So which of them will love him more?” Jesus asks.

“I suppose the one whom he forgave more,” Simon answers (Luke 7:42-43).

Then, turning toward the woman, Jesus says to Simon,

“Do you see this woman? 

I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  

You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. 

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:44-47).

Did you catch that Jesus turns to the woman, not Simon, as he replies to Simon’s answer? Jesus extends love and forgiveness to the woman in his gaze, the same love that liberates her and moves her to adoration. Jesus does not look down at Simon or shake his finger at him but asks if he saw the woman. Does Simon see her as a person, with worth? Does he see her love in action, love given because of love received? Jesus points out what Simon cannot see, that he is sinful and needs forgiveness as much as the prostitute does. The difference between Simon and the woman is that she recognizes her sin, but Simon doesn’t recognize his.

The reason my love lags on Easter is because, like Simon, I have lost sight of the extent of my sin and of God’s astounding love in forgiving and accepting me. How can I recapture my gratitude and celebrate Easter in sincere joy? Like the early fathers and others through the centuries, I can prepare my heart for Easter. I begin weeks in advance, just as I prepare for Christmas during Advent. The season of Easter preparation is called Lent. Many Protestants are returning to Lent, not to earn salvation, but to appreciate salvation.

During Lent, we pray and fast. A fast may be a limitation of food or drink or a giving up of some other daily part of our lives. Some people choose to take up an action instead of abstaining from something. Practicing Lent with these intentions of giving-up or taking-up engages our bodies; in this way, our soul is powerfully awakened to attend. Just as Jesus pointed to the woman’s actions to help Simon recognize his need, our Lord uses our intentions as tools to reveal our need and his fathomless love.

Do you yearn to greet Easter with the joy of first love? Consider engaging in Lent this year. Though the season began last Wednesday, it’s never too late to dive in. Let us sing joyful alleluias to our King.

Note: Four years ago, I sought a Lenten devotional but did not find one that met my needs. The Lord then prompted me to write the lessons He would teach me during Lent. The next year, I combined these lessons into a devotional, Running to the Empty Tomb: Finding the Joy in Easter. Many people who purchased the devotional were unfamiliar with Lent, so I also wrote and led A Bible Study for Your Easter Journey. The study corresponds with the devotional and more fully explains participation in Lent. An Answer Guide with suggested answers to the Bible study may be viewed for free on my website, SuzanneDmarshall.com, under the Publications tab.

Photo by Suzanne Marshall

Begin your study of Lent!

Bible Study: 3 Ways to Stick to It

by | Sep 18, 2018 | Bible study, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

Bible Study: 3 Ways to Stick to It

Bible study reveals God’s glory…

In the previous post in this series on developing Spiritual Graces, I shared the first two tips for “buying a camera” — that is, choosing a Bible to study. Admittedly, buying a camera is not THE most exciting part of photography:-)!

To learn photography, we’ve got to pick up our cameras and actually take some pictures. The camera lens reveals beauties of the world that I wouldn’t have seen without it. In the same way,

  • to discover the glories of God (Ps. 119),
  • to remember the wondrous deeds he has done in Christ (Ps. 96:2),
  • to learn what it means to live in the grace Story he has written,

we need to look through the lens of the Bible.

3 practical ways to develop a rhythm of Bible study:

3. Create a ritual.

Ritual, while some think it means “dull and dry,” is actually a story word.

The Bible suggests that ritual is essential to living out our calling. God’s people gathered regularly to remember and re-tell God’s Story of grace, because when they did, they lived in the freedom and hope the gospel brings. (When they didn’t, they forgot how powerful he was and did ridiculous things like running away in the day of battle. (Ps. 78:9))

To learn photography, we've got to pick up the camera and take some pics. To discover God's glory in the Bible, we've got to pick up the Bible and read. Share on X

Here are some ideas for creating a Bible-reading ritual:

  • Set up a sanctuary. Years ago, my place was a laundry room with a small desk, a Bible, a journal, and church bulletins with prayers and songs. Others have created space in a comfy chair, anywhere outdoors, an area of a cubicle, and a storage closet (yes, I know a mom who claimed that spot and occasionally disappeared there during frenetic days:-).
  • Make it a place of delight. Remember that this is a time of reading, seeing, hearing, the Story of who our delightful God is and how he delights in you. What delights do you want to bring to or leave in your space? A steaming cup of coffee, a cold glass of iced tea, photos of friends, a special journal?
  • Make an appointment. Enter it in your reminders or on your calendar as a recurring event. Look at your day and decide when the best times are: before bed, early in the morning, on a long commute, during afternoon naps (children’s that is:-)!

4. Make a plan/use a plan.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Remember that the Holy Spirit will work in you through your reading, so be encouraged and choose something. Here are some really helpful ideas:

  • Go through a portion of Scripture:the gospels, the Psalms, the first five books of the Old Testament. You will begin to see how the story of God’s grace develops.
  • Use a designed plan:There are so many good ones out there, and with smartphones and other technology, it can be easier than ever! Here are two I like:
  • The YouVersion: I don’t love the name, but I like having the plan on my phone:-).
  • ESV Reading Plans: Lots of different options to reveal how the redemption story can be found throughout Scripture.

5. Study in community.

Extraverts may like this one better than introverts:  Christianity was never meant to be a solo religion, and the Bible was never meant to be read completely in isolation! Here are a few ideas for community study:

  • at lunch: lunchtime study group to discuss what you read that day.
  • meeting regularly with a friend to study a particular book.
  • attending a local Bible study or even one online.

When we read the Bible in community, we help one another remember gospel truths and challenge one another to live in them through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Free Bible Study Planner Pages

Since I know a lot of folks are into planners these days, and since writing out some of your Bible study notes can be an excellent way to develop a good Bible study habit, this month I designed some planner pages for you, along with the top 6 ideas for developing habits. Subscribe now to get yours!

One last thing about Bible reading: prayer:

Some of you may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned prayer, since Bible reading and prayer go hand in hand. I totally agree, so please stay tuned to read more about what many think is the second hardest spiritual grace: prayer.

 

A prayer about Bible study:

Lord, you created order out of chaos. We need you to create order in our lives so we can stick to a plan to engage your Word on a regular basis. Give us workable plans, good community, and a place of delight, so that we might begin this joyful ritual of spending time with you in your Scripture. In the name of Jesus, the living Word, we pray. Amen.

Photo credit: Photo by madeleine ragsdale on Unsplash.

Bible Reading: Helpful Tools for Healthy Habits

by | Sep 11, 2018 | Bible study, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

Bible Reading: Helpful Tools for Healthy Habits

Last week, I began a series on how spiritual disciplines become spiritual graces.Today, we look at Bible reading, the beginning place of spiritual graces.

What’s so hard about reading the Bible?

The Bible itself promises us that we will be transformed by reading, meditating, praying, and discussing it (Deuteronomy 8:3; Hebrews 4:12). Yet, Bible reading is probably the spiritual grace Christians struggle with the most. Why?

Two main reasons we struggle are…

  • our worldly selves are more comfortable with the quick-fix, self-promotional stories culture tells. Guess what? The evil one wants to keep it that way!
  • Or, we really really do want to start reading our Bibles more, but we just don’t know how to go about it. Let me tell you a little story to illustrate.
What are your reasons for reading or not reading the Bible regularly? #Biblestudy #gospel Share on X

A story to illustrate…

Every fall, I used to decide to improve my photography skills. I have a nice camera, but it often sits quietly, sadly on my shelf. It has lost its capacity to make dangerous discoveries of God’s exotic world, simply because I don’t touch it.

Usually, I would say, “Okay, I’m really going to do it this time.” I would get out my books about photography, maybe even take part of an online course. Before I knew it, my mind was on overload with all the things to know about apertures, shutter speeds, and ISO’s. By the time I went to take a photograph, I was so paralyzed, I could hardly hold the camera.

Then one year, I did something different. I asked my husband, who is a semi-pro photographer (as in, it’s not his day job, but it could be), to give me some assignments. He watched and taught me as I put on the correct lens and placed the camera on the tripod. Once I was ready, questions answered, he led me to the yard and told me to take pictures of one flower from different perspectives. Later, we discussed it, and I came to understand more about photography.

The point is…

Bible reading doesn’t have to overwhelm you!

I hope these suggestions will get you started, not bog you down with too much information. Today’s post will focus on (ha, get it!) choosing a camera and knowing a little bit about it. Next week, we’ll go out to take some pictures.

1. Learn what the Bible is.

 [People] know that God has provided His Word as heavenly food for daily consumption, but morning by morning, as folks wake up to find God’s Word sitting on the chair-side table covered with dust, they wonder: What is it? and What do we do with it?” Jimmy Davis, The Cruciform Life

The Bible is the one true love story.

It tells us who God is and how he’s made the world, including us. It tells us about how Adam and Eve sinned, trying to take life into their own hands and do things their way, doubting that God was really good. And it tells us how God loved his creation so much that he sent his holy Son as a divine human to die so that we could live in loving relationship with him and one another again. Every historical account, chronicle, law, poem, and prophecy in the Bible points us to God’s work of redemption and grace.

2. Use a good study Bible.

I know. Lots of people tell us not to read commentaries. I agree that it’s important to read the Bible straight-up, but at times, good notes can help us push past the confusion to learning and living The Story in real life.
Here are several of my favorites:

3. Read in different translations:

You have more opportunities than ever to do this in the age of the internet:

Four good translations for various purposes:

  • ESV: a translation that sticks very closely to the original languages while keeping it readable for 21st century readers.
  • NIV84: The original New International Version also correlates closely with original languages and is perhaps slightly easier to read than the ESV.
  • NLT: This translation is a “dynamic equivalent” — it conveys the tone and sense of the original communicators in a highly readable style.
  • The Message: is not a strict translation but is more poetic and like reading a well-written story.

Three places to find these translations:

Ready to practice your Bible reading?

Click on any of the above links, and read John 1:1-5. After reading it, write one short sentence or even a few words about what you read there. You could do that in the comments, somewhere on your phone. Or even on Twitter:-)!

A Prayer about Bible Reading

Lord, we thank you for sharing your majesty, holiness, kindness, and unfailing love with us through your Word. We are awed that as we read, you help us know you better! And that’s not all, as we engage your Scripture, you actually work in us by your Spirit to grow us more and more into the likeness of your Son! Please help us begin good habits of exploring your lovely gift with great joy and deeper understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How Spiritual Disciplines Can Become Spiritual Graces

by | Sep 4, 2018 | Bible study, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

How Spiritual Disciplines Can Become Spiritual Graces

Re-thinking spiritual disciplines

As many students and teachers get back to school, it’s a prime time to return to or develop good routines. This month at Living Story, I’ll share some encouragement and tools for spiritual disciplines, looking at the means God uses to grow us as Christians. Be sure to subscribe if you want to receive all of the posts in your inbox.

I confess, as a young Christian back in the 70’s, I got the wrong impression about what we often called our “spiritual life.” For example, I thought things like having good quiet times (whatever that meant) or memorizing Bible verses would make me a better Christian and more acceptable to God. Thank goodness for the great gospel news that God loves us because he loves us, not because we are “spiritual giants,” which I definitely was not.

The good news/bad news of spiritual disciplines

The good news is that I learned that my so-called spiritual labors did not save me. Thankfully, that work was done by Jesus on the Cross.

The bad news is that somehow I, along with many other people got the idea that being saved by grace alone meant we didn’t need to be diligent about reading our Bibles.

I used to think being saved by grace alone meant it didn’t matter if I didn’t read my Bible very often. #spiritualgrowth Share on X

Why we need spiritual disciplines:

At the office, the school, the playing field, and of course, on the internet, our culture bombards us with stories about who we are and what we should be. These stories tell us how to spend our money and our time. They often make us feel that we don’t measure up. Then, after we’re beaten down, they teach us how to regain our lost self-esteem.

In the midst of these mixed messages, we desperately need to know the one True Story Scripture tells. This Story reminds us:

  • A glorious God created us in his image, so we have incalculable value.
  • This same glorious God loves his people and pursued us to make us his own.
  • Christ came and died to set us free from our sins. (Gal. 5:1).
We desperately need to know the Story of Grace Scripture tells. #Biblestudy #grace Share on X

Knowing God’s story will help us when neighbors think we’re odd for going to church on Sunday mornings, or when co-workers think we prioritize our family over our work (we do!). We will remember that we do live differently because we are citizens of heaven, not citizens of this earth (Phil. 3:20).

Spiritual disciplines: our means of living God’s story of grace

Spiritual disciplines, like Bible reading and memorization, prayer, and attending church, among others, matter deeply to our calling to worship and enjoy God forever! Next week we will continue this series by looking at practical suggestions for developing and refining practices for immersing ourselves in The Story — the Bible!

A PRAYER ABOUT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Holy God, forgive us for the ways we have misunderstood and abused your grace, mercy, and love. Help us to enjoy the good gifts you have given us to grow more and more like Jesus. We want to be like him; please help us to root ourselves in good soil. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen

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