Journey Magazine-May 2015 by LifeWay Christian Resources

A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO INTIMACY WITH GOD

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Journey devotional magazine equips women to develop a daily walk with God and to serve Him in their homes, churches, and communities.

2015

Production & Ministry Team Eric Geiger

VICE PRESIDENT, LIFEWAY RESOURCES

Faith Whatley

DIRECTOR, ADULT MINISTRY

Amy Lowe

MANAGER, ADULT MINISTRY PUBLISHING

Contents

Chris Adams

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Emily Ellis

Dawn Wyse

PUBLISHING TEAM LEADER ART DIRECTOR

D EVOTI ON A LS

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EDITOR’S NOTES

Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five

JEN ’ S J OUR N EY 12 Christ Enables Us to Love

Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Intimacy with God (ISSN 1073-4473; Item 005075231) is a Christian women’s devotional magazine published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President, LifeWay Christian Resources. Copyright © 2015 by LifeWay Press®. How to Order Journey If you need help with an order, WRITE LifeWay Church Resources, Customer Service Center, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions, FAX (615) 251-5818 or EMAIL subscribe@lifeway.com. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, FAX (615) 251-5933 or EMAIL orderentry@lifeway.com. Order ONLINE at www.lifeway.com/ journey. Mail address changes to Journey, same address.

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C A FÉ CON N ECTI ON

22 God’s Presence Is Our Provision

H OLY LA N D LESSON S

30 Hebrew Word Study: Yahweh 31

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Editor’s N O T E S

his month, let’s celebrate the continual faithfulness of God day after day, year after year. What are some things that come to mind when you consider how He has been faithful to you? Here are a few things I thought of: • Walking me through my father’s cancer and my mother’s dementia, and both of their passings • Giving me opportunities to soak Him up at the beach • Showing me that infertility was not the end of the world as I thought it would be • Helping me walk in faith for years and then blessing us with the adoption of twins

• Molding my life through the joys of ministry, marriage, children, grandchildren, and relationships • Molding my life through the pain of ministry, relationships, family addictions, and suicide • Finding joy when days are beautiful and blessed by happiness • Finding joy when days are painful and dark Okay, I got the list started. Now start your own list! How has God been faithful to you? This is a great time to remember and lay those “memorial stones” (see Joshua 4:1-9) so that a future generation will see God’s faithfulness and provision as well!

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“As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you.”

ISAIAH 66:13

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Death Brings Life “UNL ESS A GRA IN O F W HEAT FA L L S TO T HE G R O U N D A N D D I E S , IT R EMA IN S BY ITSELF. BU T I F I T D I ES, I T P R ODU C E S A L A R G E C R O P ” (J OHN 12: 24 ) .

My family and I traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for Christmas a couple of years ago. One of the highlights of our trip was snowmobiling through Yellowstone National Park. The beauty of God’s creation was overwhelming at points; tears filled my eyes as we maneuvered through the heavy snow. It made me think, How much of God’s creation remains undiscovered? It’s amazing to think that God created parts of the world for His enjoyment only! During our excursion, our tour guide said something that has stuck with me. He was telling us about the fire in Yellowstone in 1988, which covered 1.2 million acres. Of course, people were terrified that the forest would never recover, and that one of the greatest national parks in America would be damaged forever. But then our tour guide said something remarkable — while everyone else was worried about it, scientists weren’t because they knew fire was a necessary part of the forest’s growth. In fact, some trees in Yellowstone only grow and reproduce when they experience fire. It’s the cycle of life. As soon as our tour guide said that, I immediately thought of what the Book of Isaiah calls “the furnace of affliction.” God said to His people, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10, NIV). Just like those

trees in Yellowstone, we can’t grow and produce good fruit without going through the cleansing fire in the furnace of affliction. Why are we so surprised, then, when we face trials? Trials are God’s method of refinement. In the next verse, God said, “I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give My glory to another” (v. 11). God takes the time, in love, to conform us into the image of His Son for His name’s sake. The apostle Paul said that we are Christ’s ambassadors to this broken world. Have 1 PETER we been equipped 4:12-19 and prepared for such a great mission? Are we ready to bring glory to God’s name (not defile it)? As we experience life’s trials, let’s remember that they are necessary for our spiritual growth. We must surrender in the hands of the Refiner, knowing that everything He allows is for His glory and for our good.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to have the right perspective of my trials. They are Your method of refinement. 5

SATURDAY, MAY 2

The Power of Love “T H EN CHRIST WIL L M A KE HI S HOM E I N YOUR H E A R TS AS YO U TR UST IN HIM. YOUR R OOTS W I L L G R OW D OW N I N TO G O D ’ S LOV E A N D KEEP YOU ST R ON G ” ( EP HESI A N S 3: 1 7, N LT) .

I live in a city where, in certain parts especially, people are in desperate need. Admittedly, I tend to live so wrapped up in my own sphere of life that I rarely look long enough to see it. But one night, a friend and I were picking up donations for a ministry that uses those funds to help the needy. And as we were walking back to the car, we came across a homeless man whom we had seen a couple of times at our monthly outreach. On this particular night, he decided to tell us his story and why he was on the streets. He had 1 CORINTHIANS been rejected by his 13 family and was asked to leave. He had been sleeping on the streets for the past six years, and his family lives less than 30 minutes away. As all of this information was hitting me, I was so disheartened that human beings could treat each other in such a way. I then realized how dimly we see, and how often we fail to represent Jesus rightly. As we wrapped up the conversation, he pulled out his cardboard box and began getting ready to sleep there for the night. My heart was torn for him, and for a few moments my eyes were opened again to the deep pain of the needy around me. I didn’t have the

means to give him the help he needed to get him off the streets. All I could do was show him the love of Christ. And maybe in that moment, the wound of rejection was given room to heal. When we choose to love, we give life where it’s needed most. Love has the power to transform the broken into the beautiful. It puts flesh and bones where death once reigned. It calls forth life from desert places. So when you struggle to love others, remember that the choices you make influence those around you more than you can see. To love someone who has been broken is the kindest thing we can do for another human being. It is hope in action. But more importantly, it is the love of Christ displayed as it was designed to be — uninhibited, and without the expectation of gaining something in return. Oftentimes, we may not know how to help those we see. If nothing else, what we can do is love them where they are. We may not have the answer, but Jesus does. Live with eyes wide open. Learn to love the ones you see in front of you, even if in small, simple ways.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, give me a heart of understanding. Help me to see what You see. 6

SUNDAY, MAY 3

God's Lap “DRAW N EA R TO G OD, A N D HE W I L L D R AW N E A R TO YO U ” (JA M ES 4 : 8 ) .

As I’m raising a newborn, I’m learning how I need God’s grace now more than ever. But I’m also learning how, in God’s infinite goodness, He has built grace into the hectic schedule of motherhood. For example, right in the middle of the laundry, the naptimes, and the dishes, God has built in 30 minutes every few hours where I am to stop everything I’m doing, come to a halt, sit, and hold and feed my baby. I can do nothing else during those minutes but snuggle him and gaze into his baby blues. That is what I’m supposed to do. If this time wasn’t required — a little baby has to eat — who knows how many precious moments I’d miss in the motherhood bustle. It’s God’s special mommy grace. And I also love how, in those moments when he’s on my lap, my little baby is snuggled, warm, and completely taken care of. He could have been fussing furiously seconds earlier, but when I put him on my lap, tuck him in my arms, and start to feed him, he settles and quiets. All is well. His needs are met. He’s held and warm. He’s happy. His calmness in my arms has been a reminder of my Father’s heart for me. When Jesus teaches about prayer, He says something interesting: “When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6). Prayer is a shutting

out of the world for a time. It’s an intentional slowing down for privacy and togetherness. When we pray, it’s just us and our Father — the world can whirl around us while we slow down and spend time with God. God must love when we slow down our lives, shut out the world, and sit with Him. I have a hunch that He longs for us to just be with Him, to feel the warmth of His loving presence, and to rest there, knowing that He has all of our needs taken care of. And I have a feeling that’s one of the reasons why He longs for us LUKE to do it often — so 13:34 that we’ll live in His love.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, don’t let me miss moments when You want me to slow down and be with You. Call to me when You want to spend time with me.

MONDAY, MAY 4

Humility to Recognize Sin “T H E P HA RISEE TOOK HI S STA N D A N D WAS P R AY I N G L I K E TH I S : ‘ G O D, I THA N K YOU T HAT I ’M N OT L I KE OT HER P E O P L E — G R E E DY, UNRIGHTEOU S, A D U LT ER ER S…’” ( LU K E 1 8: 1 1 ) .

“No! I don’t want to!” screams a defiant child. I hear these words a lot. As a mother of a 3-year-old, I’m daily marching to the battlefield of the wills. Teaching obedience is a constant struggle, and oftentimes I feel as if the disobedience triumphs. In these times, I’m so quick to see my son’s sin. I see his willful disobedience, his temper, and his lack of self-control. What often goes unrecognized is my own sin in the moment, such as an outburst of anger or ill feelings welling up in my heart. It can be so easy to focus more on the 1 JOHN sins of others rather 1:5-10 than the sin lurking in our own lives. Pointing the finger or placing blame on another is a deterrent often used to proclaim self-righteousness and hide the sin in our hearts. We seek to justify our wrongs by making the wrongs of others look worse. In doing so, we lose sight of the gospel and deny grace, the same grace we were given through Jesus. Like the Pharisee in Luke 18, we focus on others and see all the ways in which they have sinned, like the tax collector whose greedy, dishonest dealings were apparent to all. However, one sin isn’t greater than another. Each of our sins,

whether done in secret or public, prove us guilty before a holy God. We stand condemned. There is no one who can shift blame or hide sin from God. And without the beautiful, merciful grace of our Lord, we would remain under the wrath of God. Thanks be to our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can cry out to God, as did the tax collector, and say, “God, turn Your wrath from me — a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). In lowly stature, humble before our Lord, we can confess our sins, knowing that in Christ there is no condemnation. Trying to justify our sin by making it look less sinful compared to another’s does not negate the sin. Nor does it save. Only when we look to Jesus, who took our sins upon Himself, will we find forgiveness and grace. Before we start to accuse or place blame, may we remember to humbly come before the Lord and plead, “See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:24).

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, give me humility to see the sin within my heart and to not be blinded by self-righteousness. Forgive me, Lord.

TUESDAY, MAY 5

Cleanse My Mouth “ KE EP YOU R TON G U E F R OM EV I L A N D YOU R L I P S F R OM D EC EI T F U L S P E E C H ” ( P SA L M 3 4 : 13 ) .

If you look up the definition of gossip in a dictionary, you’ll see it defined as idle talk, rumors, and the like. Early on in my adult walk with Christ, I had a skewed, worldly definition of gossip — I felt that repeating things wasn’t wrong as long as I knew the story was true. In my eyes, gossip was only gossip if it was seasoned with lies. When I was in my thirties, God began revealing His standards to me. I felt convicted as I studied God’s Word and recognized His holiness. Suddenly, I realized the Forgiver of all my sin was also the silent Witness to my speech. It took years to really get my mouth under control. It was a cleansing, backand-forth process of allowing God to work and confessing my sin before Him in prayer. Although I wasn’t “cured” overnight of my gossip habit, the more I got away from it, the more I felt convicted when I did it. God also helped me sort out my reasons for enjoying gossip, and the primary one was to fill a void that should have been filled by a relationship with Him. There was a false sense of importance by being the “deliverer of details” that someone else found interesting. God brought me to an understanding of how powerful my words really were to those around me. Every sentence had the potential to either harm or give grace

to the hearer. Would I make someone look bad if I repeated what I heard them say or do? Would I be damaging an entire family with a few minutes of conversation? Would my words lead the person to ponder the things of God, or to be overwhelmed with something they shouldn’t even be thinking of? Even if someone might eventually hear something, I realized that I didn’t have to be the one to say it. Just consider what we do when we share prayer requests with a long list of intimate details attached — details EPHESIANS that would probably 4:29 make the person involved feel her privacy was invaded. Think about what it must sound like to the person at the next table when we meet a fellow church member for coffee and discussion of what’s wrong at church. Instead of using our mouths to gossip, let’s use them to encourage one another and to glorify our Lord.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, touch my mouth with a keen sense of right and wrong. May I meditate on You today so that my words bring glory to Your name. 9

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

Kingdom Vision “T H E N ELISHA P RAYED, ‘LOR D, P L EASE OP EN H I S E Y E S A N D L E T H IM SEE.’ SO THE LOR D OP EN ED T HE SERVA N T’ S E Y E S ” ( 2 KI N G S 6 : 17 ) .

A few years ago, I had LASIK eye surgery. For the first time in a long time, I was able to see with a clarity that would often stop me in my tracks. I could see blades of grass, bark on trees, the details of a honeybee’s wing. I remember getting honked at once when I was at a stoplight because I was captivated by the texture of a nearby pile of gravel. I also remember turning to my friend in the car a few days later and saying, “You see sunsets like this all of the time?” My vision had been completely changed. God tells us in His 2 KINGS Word that we also 6:8-17 need a vision change. As Elisha’s servant came to realize, there is more going on in the world than just what we see. God makes it clear that we live in a world that’s in the middle of a spiritual war, where forces of His kingdom and forces of the kingdom of darkness are engaged in battle. While we can’t see them like we see physical objects, spiritual beings are a part of the landscape of our lives. And God wants us to be aware. While Jesus was on earth, He was helped by angels (see Matthew 4:11). Demons would screech in terror when they saw Him coming because they

knew that He is the Messiah, the Son of God (see Mark 5:6-13). What does this mean for us? It means changing the way we look upon the world. It means living with an awareness that our physical sight doesn’t always tell the whole story. It means asking God, like Elisha did, to give us insight when there’s more going on in our worlds than what we’re able to see with our eyes. It means asking Jesus to teach us how to recognize the forces of the kingdom of darkness, and to give us insight into how they’re working and how we can stand in His authority and battle against them. It means that, standing confidently as citizens of God’s kingdom, we can ask Him to show us where and how He’d like us to take a stand for His kingdom. And then, in His authority and power, we can fight.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, as I walk through my world today, give me kingdom sight. Show me how You’d like me to battle for Your kingdom.

THURSDAY, MAY 7

Singing in Uncertainty “HE P U T A N EW SON G I N M Y M O U TH , A HYM N OF P R A I SE TO OU R G O D” ( P SA L M 4 0: 3 ) .

Alice lay on the cold exam table as she was moved into the tube-like chamber. She was undergoing an MRI of her brain to determine why she was experiencing headaches. “Other people told me about the experience, but nothing really prepares you for it,” Alice told me a few days after the procedure. At first, she kept her eyes open when the hood encased her. But then she realized she needed to close her eyes and think about something else. All sorts of sounds were occurring. A crashing sound, some pinging. As she closed her eyes and tried to relax she put the sounds together and made a song. “I pictured the sounds as notes to a song, rising up and going down,” Alice said. “I created in my mind a little symphony with the sounds, trying to picture the notes as they happened.” Alice was creating a symphony of praise in the middle of uncertainty. Oh, how that helps when we’re worried, anxious, or fearful. From the time my daughter could talk, I taught her to sing about whatever she was experiencing. If she was hungry, we’d sing about it. If she was excited or if she was bored at having to wait for something, we would come up with a song. Often, it was the same tune and we just created new words. This kept her focused on the song and not on the situation. It was a way of distracting her from worry and

uncertainty, and a way to keep a song — and some joy — in her heart. That must be what God is doing in our lives when He gives us songs. He’s redirecting our focus from our distress and turning it on Him. Because He’s our Father, God turns our hearts away from worry by tuning us into a song. In Psalm 40, David sang of waiting in a pit for God’s deliverance. When God pulled him out of the sinking mud and set him on solid ground, David said that God put a new song in his mouth. God not only gives us songs of praise PHILIPPIANS after our victories, 4:4-7 but He also gives us songs of surrender while we’re still in the pit! Are you in a place of uncertainty today? Whether you’re on an exam table, in a hospital waiting room, alone in an unfamiliar place, or waiting in what feels like a pit, God can fill you with His song. Let Him help you pull together the sounds and situations of your life into a symphony of praise to Him.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, when I feel anxious, afraid, lonely, or depressed, fill my heart with a song of praise to You. 11

JEN' S JOURN EY ( B LOG G I N G F R OM BA N G KOK )

Christ Enables Us to Love BY JENNIFER MCCAMAN

hree years ago, we sold all of our stuff, left the comforts of Western life, and moved to Thailand to share the gospel with Thai people. That may sound impressive, but before you fasten the halo to my head, you should know the truth. Sometimes there are days when I want to lock myself in our apartment, order a pizza (which, fortunately, is an option in Bangkok), turn on the DVD player, and watch a movie that reminds me of home. Some weeks I look at my calendar, and all of my play dates, lunch dates, and chats over coffee are with other Americans — members of our team or friends I’ve met here. Why is this? It’s simple: we gravitate toward people who are like us. We tend to befriend people who look like us, dress like us, and share our interests and our socioeconomic status. It’s easy and enjoyable. On Sundays, I often catch my 4-year-old son playing alone with the only other American kid in our church, even though 15 Thai kids are playing nearby. Even a 4-year-old gravitates toward the child he thinks is most like him. It’s typical human behavior. The problem is, it doesn’t reflect the gospel of Christ.

The gospel unites people who otherwise might not have anything to do with one another — people of different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different ages, and different languages. It can even turn enemies into friends. The gospel enables us to love those who are different from us. The closer I am to Christ, the more I desire to draw near to Thai people. When I find myself surrounded by cookie-cutter versions of my own family, I ask God to help me remember that the gospel is about stepping outside my own world, reaching out to others, and serving as the hands and feet of Christ. It’s about dying to myself and showing His love to those around me. It’s about making play dates with moms whose kids are on a totally different schedule than mine. It’s about taking an older woman to lunch, even though she’ll likely want to stop and “make merit” at a Buddha statue on the way there. My Heavenly Father lovingly reminds me that there are people around me who desperately need to know Him. Only He can free us to step outside our comfort zone in order to share His love with people who are different from us. My Heavenly Father helps me to get over myself. When I draw near to Him, 12

Has God placed someone in your life who doesn’t know Christ? Maybe He’s calling you to step out of your comfort zone and take a new friend to lunch. You might not have to look far for opportunities to interact with and witness to people whose culture or beliefs are different from yours. As you share Christ’s love and the gospel message with others, you’ll be amazed at how much it will change you.

He gives me a supernatural love for my Thai neighbors that I would never be able to manufacture on my own. He reveals my selfish tendencies, and He gently helps me deal with the fear and awkwardness of getting to know people who aren’t like me. In fact, we can’t get close to God without getting close to others. The more I grow to know and love God, the more restless and dissatisfied I feel about surrounding myself with people who are like me. I love my Christian friends, but if I’m only hanging out with other Christian moms day in and day out, it gets a little stuffy in the “bubble,” and I need to prayerfully step out in faith as the Lord leads me.

When Jennifer McCaman and her family moved to Bangkok three years ago, she never expected she’d form some of the truest and most beautiful friendships of her life during their time there. 13

FRIDAY, MAY 8

Be an Encourager “THEREF OR E EN COU R AG E ON E A NOTH E R AND BUILD EACH OT HER U P AS YOU A R E A L R E A DY DO I N G ” ( 1 T HESSA LON I A N S 5 : 11) .

On some days it seems like every part of life delights in going absurdly wrong and then refuses to right itself. In those times, as we wonder where God is, we wish for a small encouragement from anyone to show that somebody cares, but more importantly, that God cares. During a time when I was battling lies from the enemy, I sunk into discouragement after just a few days. I begged God to show me that He cared, that He would rescue me. After praying, I felt even more alone. I moved on and went about my day. A couple 1 PETER hours later, I checked 4:8-10 my social media and saw a message from a friend. In it, she spoke life and heavenly promises over me, reminding me of God’s faithfulness and of His wonderful plan for my life. She added that she didn’t know what I was going through, but had felt so strongly from God that she was supposed to speak life into me. Isn’t our Father wonderful? He knows full well what we need before we even speak it. Sometimes, He answers us through His own voice speaking to us, sometimes through the pages of His Word, and sometimes through conversations with other believers.

Sometimes, in my eagerness to receive encouragement, I forget that giving encouragement to others is just as important. As Paul reminded the Thessalonians, we are called to share in one another’s battles, joy, sadness, and victories. Whether that encouragement looks like a short conversation, a handwritten letter, a meal, or a spa day, encouragement is our duty and it should be our joy. Rather than always focusing on the ways you wish people served you, set an example by serving others. We can’t always see when someone is having a bad day; some people hide their hurts very well. Rather than waiting until someone comes crying to you, take every opportunity you get to speak life into those around you.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, thank You for all the ways that You provide encouragement to me. Help me to tune into the needs of others so that I can be Your tool of encouragement to them.

SATURDAY, MAY 9

In His Image “THEN GOD SA I D, ‘L ET U S M A KE M A N I N O U R I M AG E , ACCOR D I N G TO OU R L I KEN ESS ’ ” (G EN ESI S 1: 26 ) .

My daughter, Nia, insists she looks nothing like me. No matter how many times I try to point out the similarities, she just doesn’t see it. Now mind you, I’m sure the gray in my hair and my notso-soft skin don’t help any, but those come with growing old gracefully! Others see the resemblance, too, and they tell my daughter so. What is it they see that she doesn’t? The way I walk? Talk? Smile? Perhaps it goes deeper than that. Though it’s true we don’t look exactly alike, I see in her my mannerisms, gestures, and interests — the way she carefully chooses her words, offers a helping hand to those in need, and even how she searches for just the right song for the youth choir she now directs, just as I did when she was a child. Without knowing or even trying, she resembles my very being. Maybe if Nia thought of it from that perspective, she would begin to see what I see. How often we, though children of God, fail to recognize that we are made in the image of our Heavenly Father! God desires that we exhibit His divine mannerisms, gestures, and interests by unconditionally loving, forgiving, and caring for our fellow humans. It seems that we should want to emulate the loving and caring nature of our Father, but we often can’t see how we could ever possibly begin to “look” like Him. Perhaps if we could

see ourselves as He sees us, with the foundation of His power and through the lens of His perfect Son, Jesus, we would understand how much we resemble Him. We are, after all, His children. When I see a picture of my daughter and me, I urge her to look feature by feature, asking her to focus on the physical similarities. But maybe I should hint to her at the ways she has followed in my footsteps. If she could see it from that perspective, she might agree. As we examine our Father feature GENESIS by feature, let us “be 1:26-28 imitators of God, as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1). Then we will begin to see our resemblance to Him and will consequently “walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us” (v. 2).

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to want to be more like You in every way.

SUNDAY, MAY 10

Waiting to Conceive “HE GIVES THE C HI L D L ESS WOM A N A H O U S E H O L D, MAK ING HER THE JOYF U L M OT HER OF C HI L D R E N . H A L L E LUJA H ! ” ( P SA L M 113 : 9 ) .

I didn’t want anyone to know that my husband and I were trying to have a baby for fear that I was too old to conceive. Married for a year, we were already fielding the “when are you going to have children” questions. And getting married at 40 meant that any attempt at conceiving — no matter when we started — would likely be an uphill battle. Unfortunately, there’s been no “uphill” about it. There’s only been a wall. And it’s dreadfully exhausting to attempt to scale it each month. My peace and strength come from 1 SAMUEL the stories of some 1 of the great women in the Bible: Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth. I pray for their miracles to happen within me — hopefully sooner than Sarah’s, truth be told. But each of these women’s stories holds a treasure of truth. In spite of her age and barrenness, Hannah’s faith persisted and she remained steadfast in seeking God’s blessing. The priest, Eli, saw her lips moving while praying and thought she was drunk. She explained to him her pleas to God, and Eli blessed her. Soon, she conceived — Scripture says that God “remembered her” (1 Samuel 1:19). The treasure of truth is that she

persisted for years, always believing that God had the power to help her. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, was past child-bearing years when she conceived. She had not grown bitter in her barrenness; rather, she focused on obeying God. Luke 1:6 says that both Elizabeth and her husband were righteous and observed all of God’s commands and decrees blamelessly. The treasure of truth is that Elizabeth focused on God and served Him with humility, never becoming bitter. I know the story of Abraham and Sarah best. How God promised Abraham he’d be the father of nations. How Sarah offered Hagar to Abraham. How Sarah conceived at the age of 90. I know this story best because I’m most like Sarah. Sarah, tired of waiting on God, thought she’d found a way to make God’s promise come to pass. There have been many times I’ve stepped out of God’s waiting room into thin air, only to freefall back into His arms. The treasure of truth is that God’s timing never fails, and His ways are not always “usual.”

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, Your ways and Your timing are often beyond my understanding. As I lean on You, strengthen my heart. As I wait for You, I pray I’ll honor You. 16

MONDAY, MAY 11

Enter into Communion “ D O N OT T R U ST I N N OBL ES , IN M A N , W HO C A N N OT SAV E ” ( P SA L M 14 6 : 3 ) .

My friend Ann has asked me to pray. Her antique family photos are lost, and she has searched every closet. I am praying for her and for Bonnie, who had an emergency appendectomy. And for Celia, who rejects God. And for Dolores, whose finances are ruined. And… Stop! This is getting nowhere. Worry has come front and center, and my prayers stumble around in my head. I am alone with all this trouble. Where can I go? I think. And then the answer comes: into communion. In the front of my prayer notebook I keep verses that remind me of who God is, verses that will lead to praise and not fear. I choose to meditate on the power of God until my worry recedes. God is enthroned on the praises of His people, Psalm 22:3 tells us, so we must commune in His presence before interceding for anyone. For several minutes, I rest my mind on a verse, and my eyes on the sky above. “The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). I want to stay here in meditation on this verse because God is here, and I’m no longer locked up in my head with my worry. Meditation is an entry to worship, and worship is an entry to praise. Exulting in the promise of 1 John 2:8 — that the darkness is passing and the true light already shining —

leads me to God Himself. My mind isn’t stumbling anymore; my whole being is rejoicing. Yes, it’s true: there is darkness, and our needs can be overwhelming. These realities weigh heavily, but the sky above declares a larger truth — one that brings the believer freedom. As we rest in meditation on the Lord, we leave the darkness and lay down the weight. There’s one place only to center ourselves — not in the need, and not in the powerless flesh. Centered on God, we can find a voice to pray with. PSALM It comes from Him. 146 Meditating on the Word hasn’t only led me to mere belief in a prayeranswering God, but has led me to God’s presence. I’m not just a human alone praying; I’m with the River of Life, who knows my every need. What an amazing comfort!

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You for calling me into the service of Your glory. Instead of being overwhelmed, I want to commune with You and be led, lifted, and awakened to Your presence. 17

TUESDAY, MAY 12

Forgiving the Nameless “MAKE SURE THAT N O ON E FA L L S SHOR T O F TH E G R AC E O F G O D AND THAT N O R OOT OF BI T T ER N ESS SP R I N G S U P, C AU S I N G T ROUBLE AND BY I T, D EF I L I N G M A N Y” ( HE B R E WS 1 2 : 1 5) .

Our 19-year-old autistic son, Taylor, has a professional worker named Matthew who spends time with him, teaching him valuable social skills. Recently, Matthew stood in our doorway and gave me an update on how their outing had gone. Typically, the updates make me smile. This time, however, Matthew shared that a restaurant worker wasn’t very gracious to our son’s special needs. Instantly, the story reminded me of an encounter I’d had with some young children, so I related that incident to Matthew. Although MARK it was ten years ago, 11:25 the details were as vivid as if it had just happened. This incident involved several children staring at Taylor, making derogatory comments, then calling him “retarded.” When I shared this story, my heart sank in despair. Later that evening, I couldn’t shake my anguish. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why something that had taken place so long ago still hurt so badly. As I cried out to the Lord, I heard the Holy Spirit answer back with one word — forgive. In recent years, the Lord had done a tremendous work in my heart regarding forgiveness. Relationships with people

were growing, and my heart seemed softer now. But this encounter was different; these were children I never really knew. Nobody was suffering other than me. After talking it out with God, I purposely prayed and repented of my unforgiveness. It’s important to forgive people who have hurt us, even if we don’t know their names, because their offenses can cause a root of bitterness. Any bitterness will make for a negative disposition, an undercurrent of anger, and a wall between us and the Lord. Grudges are ugly little packages we keep on the shelf of our hearts. When things get moved and the contents fall out, it gets messy. Consider all the nameless people who offend you: the lady who makes you swerve in traffic, the doctor’s receptionist who lacks empathy, the waiter who overlooks you, etc. We’re called to forgive all offenses. Choose to obey God and let Him help you forgive everyone. Keep your heart clean and keep no record of wrongs.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, make me aware of Your presence today. Remind me to forgive when others sin against me. Help me remember that I’m also a nameless person to somebody, and I also need forgiveness. 18

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

Change of Plans “A M A N ’S HEA R T P L A N S HI S WAY, BUT TH E LOR D D ET ER M I N ES HI S STE P S ” ( P R OV ER BS 16 : 9 ) .

It seems like only yesterday I was wearing my graduation gown and addressing the large crowd of parents and friends. I was barely 18 years old, and I thought I knew what the Lord had planned for my future. I had chosen Proverbs 16:9 as the key verse to my commencement speech but had little personal understanding of its meaning. You see, the plans I believed were God’s design for me included earning a degree in nursing and heading straight for the foreign mission field. I envisioned a life in Africa, spending my days healing the sick and my nights in a hut. Twenty years later, I realize that I only had the first part right. I did receive a degree in nursing, but I’m now a stayat-home mom and a wife to a minister. Isn’t it funny how we can create future plans for our lives and be so convinced that they are what’s best for us? We may even become dismayed or saddened if (more likely when) the Lord alters them. The truth is, it was only our plans that changed. Never His. Psalm 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.” In this verse, David reminds us that God knew us and His plans for us before we were even born. And Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that His plans are purely good. As believers, why do you think it’s

so difficult to accept changes in our personal plans? Stress, fear, and doubt remind us that we need to seek the Lord during times of change and rest in His promises. Knowing the Scripture can also help us during times of transition. Unlike the world, we don’t have to live in fear or in purposelessness. Even if we can’t see the immediate purpose in a situation, Scripture promises that God has a plan. Sometimes, this promise is the only anchor to peace that can be found. Other times, it may be just an encouragement PROVERBS to what we already 3:5-6 see unfolding. Either way, children of God can be confident in the promises of the Word, promises that assure us of God’s goodness, sovereignty, love, and provision. He is leading us every step of the way, even when we can’t see it.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, thank You for the promise that You have each day of my life already in Your hands. Help me to be flexible to mold my days and decisions according to Your perfect purpose. 19

THURSDAY, MAY 14

When God Says No “I P LEADED W I T H T HE LOR D T HR EE TI ME S TO TA KE I T AWAY F R OM M E ” ( 2 COR I N T HI A N S 12: 8 ) .

For nearly 20 years of my life, my mother suffered with an awful disease. It was the most painful experience of my life. Watching someone you love suffer, and not having the ability to do anything about it, is torturous. I prayed. My mother prayed. Friends prayed. Family prayed. So many people asked God to heal her. But on this side of heaven, He never did. Mom went home to Him a few years ago. And while God showed His goodness in countless ways throughout the painful journey, He never showed it by healing her, which 2 CORINTHIANS is something I’ve 12:7-10 wrestled with God about quite a bit. He and I have talked a lot about how difficult it is to trust Him when I know that He has the ability to heal but chooses not to. In the Book of Romans, God inspired Paul to write this: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “The sufferings of this present time” (Romans 8:18) are why God inspired Paul to share this bedrock truth — God knew that there would be countless conversations like the ones I had with Him about my mother’s illness

and how I hoped He would heal her. He knew that when we were enduring incredible hardships, our hearts would wonder about His heart toward us. So tenderly, lovingly, through Paul’s words, God shares what He is doing in hard times. He promises that no matter how hard things are, He’s working for good — and honestly, that’s about the only promise that’s good enough to sustain us when the pain of suffering is overwhelming. God is working for good when it doesn’t feel like He is. When it doesn’t look like He is. If we could see the goodness that He’s working on, we’d agree with His choice to allow these seasons of pain. When we’re walking through suffering, all we can do is cling to that truth of God’s heart, stare up at Jesus with tear-filled eyes, and say, “I don’t know what good You’re working on, but I trust You. Please hold my heart as we walk through this.” That kind of prayer honors Him deeply. And as He works for good, He will carry us through the pain.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Jesus, when I’m enduring hard times, please help me to trust Your heart. And please hold mine.

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C AFÉ CON N ECTION In Christ

God’s Presence Is Our Provision BY CHRIS ADAMS

Adapted from BSFL ongoing curriculum, Winter 2013-2014 issue, Honest to God Series.

Chris Adams is senior lead women's ministry specialist at LifeWay. 22

any of us struggle to understand why people who love the Lord experience suffering. We don’t have to look far into the Book of Job to discover a difficult time in this godly man’s life. Job was a righteous man who experienced unimaginable suffering. What’s up with that? God allowed the Devil to bring catastrophe into Job’s life. At first glance, that doesn’t seem to make sense. But as Job suffered terrible pain and loss, let’s see what he learned in the process. • Read Job 30:26-31. List the kinds of suffering that Job endured. What thoughts and emotions do you see in his words? Although the Devil was allowed to harm Job, his plan ended up backfiring and actually proved Job’s faithfulness to God. Although Job mourned and wept and questioned the Lord, he never turned away from Him. What would you say to a friend who lost her job or to someone who was diagnosed with a terminal illness? Job’s friends offered advice that was neither reliable nor helpful. In fact, they actually provided more comfort to Job when they didn’t speak. When people are hurting, sometimes they just need us to sit with them, weep with them, and — as we see in Romans 12:15 — pray with them. Our advice isn’t always needed or warranted. • Read Job 38–41. How did God respond to Job’s questions? • Read Job’s response to God in 42:1-6. In verse 5, what do you think Job was saying about his understanding of God? Job was humbled that the Creator of the universe had spoken to him. God’s very presence provided the answer to his questions.

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Learning from Him “L E ARN FROM ME, B EC AU SE I A M G EN T L E A N D H U M B L E I N H E A R T, AND YOU W I L L F I N D R EST F OR YOU R S E LV E S ” ( M AT T HEW 11: 29 ) .

“I’ve been so busy lately; I’m actually worried about myself,” I said in response to Bria’s question about why I hadn’t been to small group. Did I really say that? I thought. I could tell Bria hadn’t expected my brutally honest answer, and she moved things along by responding, “Well, take care of yourself, and I hope to see you back soon.” I had just moved up in my little work world to more responsibilities and more demands of my time. In many ways, I was trying to wrap my head around all that was being thrown my way and how to get up to speed on all that I needed to know. On one particular day, as I listened to a podcast focused on a work-related subject, I felt fear welling up in my throat, and I asked God what to do. I am fortunate that His answer was swift. Two simple words: “Worship Me.” I turned off the podcast, turned on a worship CD, and cast the fear, anxiety, and helplessness onto Him. It had been too long since I had worshiped. In those moments in the car, I was reminded of how totally dependent upon God I really am. How I’m not meant to do life in a bubble; I’m not meant to shoulder everything; I don’t have to know it all. We’re familiar with Jesus’ command in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.” But I take more interest in the next part of this passage, where Jesus says, “Learn from Me.” This indicates that I need to listen to Him — not just hear Him, but listen, take in, learn, and practice His ways, His character, and His demeanor. What a teacher the Lord is. He is gentle and humble in heart, this passage says, more than qualifying Himself to teach me through my ignorance. And Scripture says that in learning from Jesus I will find rest for myself — the deepest rest possible. This deep ISAIAH soul rest can only 40:28-31 be found at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning, letting everything go except communion with Christ.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Jesus, I submit myself to You, sitting at Your feet to listen and to learn. As I rest in communion with You, will You give my soul rest? Restore my soul, Lord.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Fully Known “A FR I EN D LOV ES AT A L L T I M E S , A N D A BROT HER I S BOR N F OR A D I F F I C U LT TI M E ” ( P R OV ER BS 17 : 17 ) .

For most of us, our greatest fear and our deepest longing are one in the same: to be fully known. Not from a distance, but up close. Not to be seen, but to be understood. Not to be enjoyed, but to be fully loved. To be fully known requires an unveiling of who we are. It also requires sacred trust, a trust that is fueled by the belief that we’re meant to be loved because of grace, not because of how close we are to perfection. Grace is what allows us to see the scarred and tainted exterior of a person and wholly JOHN love that person 15:12-15 regardless. Grace is what enables others to love us, too. I used to be closed off to others. I had been hurt so many times before that I built a fortress of safety around myself, one that was very difficult for others to break through. I assumed people thought and saw the worst of me, and I lived my life in such a way that reflected these negative thought patterns. My insecurities fueled deep depression. I’d often find myself “stuck” in seasons of perpetual dormancy, and it seemed like I’d never make it beyond where I was. A few years later, I found a home in a community of

people who showed me the meaning of long-suffering love. In this faith family, I encountered the reality of my brokenness, while simultaneously seeing for the first time what it looked like to be whole in Christ. In the presence of God, I found healing. And in the hearts of true leaders and friends, I discovered the beauty of vulnerability — of being fully known. Today, the people in this community are some of my best friends and the most valued men and women in my life because they know me inside and out. They’ve chosen to see me through the eyes of God and have taught me how to do the same with others. To be fully known is a journey that takes courage, but once embarked upon, is a haven of safety where we can find a “home” — a home in God and a home in the hearts of those who have laughed, cried, fought, and walked the winding road of life with us. The strength and freedom found in being known by others is the epitome of relationship. And it’s one of God’s greatest gifts to us.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, give me the courage to be known by others and the grace to know others like You do.

SUNDAY, MAY 17

Don’t Tire of Doing Good “SO WE MU ST N OT G ET T I R ED OF D OI N G G O O D, F O R WE WILL REA P AT T HE P R OP ER T I M E I F W E DO N ’ T G I V E U P ” (G A L AT I A N S 6 : 9 ) .

As a fresh college graduate, I started my first job as a high school teacher. Naively, I was under the assumption that my students would enjoy having me as their teacher and would enthusiastically enjoy the subject of chemistry. I wanted them to come to class prepared and ready to work, and then leave having learned something new. Sadly, I met a lot of opposition from my students during the year, and I soon started to feel that all of my hard work was not reaping any fruit. Had I labored in vain? Most of us have asked ourselves this question. Maybe we feel like we’re pouring selfless love into our marriage, yet there seems to be no sign of it doing any good. Or maybe we’re consistently correcting, praying for, and loving our children to what seems like no avail. The same could be said in our workplaces, where we try to work hard and be kind to others, yet there’s no reward. If we’re only focusing on the outcome of our efforts, we can easily grow weary. And if we think about whether or not our labor is producing any spiritual or eternal fruit, we can especially feel discouraged. But God’s Word tells us that if we don’t tire of doing good (to all), we will reap at the proper time. The fruit may not always come when or how we expect it to, but we can be sure that striving to sow in faith will bring fruit by means of sanctification in

our own lives. What we sow personally we also reap. And when we trust that God is working in us for our good, to make us holy for His glory, we know that our labor is not in vain. I may not have had the easiest first year of teaching, but I saw God’s hand at work within my own life. There were many struggles, but because of my faith in Jesus, knowing He was producing righteousness in me through faith, I came through having learned to be more patient and loving and joyful with my students. God was faithful to HEBREWS bless my labor, and 10:36-38 I left that year more refined. Be encouraged that by not growing weary of doing good, God is bringing forth a harvest of fruit in your life to be reaped at the proper time. In the daily fields of labor, He is (perhaps little by little) conforming you into the image of His Son.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, help me by faith to not grow weary of doing good. May I seek to sow according to the promises in Your Word and for Your glory. 25

MONDAY, MAY 18

Chosen Love “T H OS E WHO PASSED BY W ER E YEL L I N G I N SU LTS AT H I M , S H A K I N G T H EIR HEA DS, A N D SAYI N G , ‘HA ! … SAV E YOU R S E L F BY CO M I N G DOWN FROM T HE C R OSS!’” ( M A R K 1 5: 2 9 -30 ) .

The evil was thick around the events of the crucifixion. Jesus was whipped and beaten. Sinful people spewed hate. Blinded religious leaders wrongly thought they were cleaning house by eliminating a heretic. There was punching, spitting, humiliation, and pain. And there were insults. “Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!’ In JOHN the same way the 15:13 chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him and said, ‘He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him’” (Matthew 27:39-42). There is great irony in the mockers’ mockery. “Come down from the cross!” they yell. “Save Yourself!” they chide. The great irony is that Jesus could have. At any point, Jesus could have come down from the cross, healed His wounds, and walked away. As He was being arrested, Jesus explained this reality: “Do you think that I cannot call

on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). At any point, Jesus could have stopped everything and saved Himself, which means that every lash of the whip Jesus took, He took willingly. Every punch He received, He received willingly. Every spit in the face He accepted, He accepted willingly. Every second on the cross was a chosen second. Jesus chose to remain there. And then, Jesus willingly died. Why did He choose to remain on the cross? “Jesus ... who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame” (Hebrews 12:2, emphasis added). Jesus endured the shame of the cross because of the joy of being with us forever. Jesus did it because He loves us. You are loved by a God who so longs to spend eternity with you that He chose to die for you. Your sins required death (see Romans 6:23), and He volunteered to die in your place. His actions are mind-boggling, but that’s because the depth of His love for you is mind-boggling.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Jesus, You paid such a great price for me. Help me to live in Your love today.

TUESDAY, MAY 19

He’s Listening “ TRUST I N HI M AT A L L T I M ES, YOU P E O P L E ; PO UR OUT YOUR H EA R TS BEF OR E HI M . G OD I S O U R R E F U G E ” ( P SA L M 6 2: 8 ) .

I called up my friend, bursting with news to share. “Guess what?” I blurted out as soon as she answered. “Sorry, I’m on the other line,” she replied, cutting me off. “Can I call you back?” So I called another friend. No answer. Finally, I called my husband. “I’m in the middle of something right now,” he said. “I’ll get back to you later.” Three attempts to share what was on my heart… all to no avail. Then, as if remembering a friend on standby, I called on the One who is always available when I want to talk. “Trust in Him at all times... pour out your hearts before Him,” David sang to the God who listens. So I bowed my head and prayed. I told God all that was on my heart. And do you know what? He listened. Why don’t I think to go to God first when I have something to say? God doesn’t have call waiting. He’s never on “another line.” He’s never got something else that’s more pressing or more important than what I want to share with Him. Like a daddy eager to hear from his daughter, God is always listening. So why don’t I tell Him first? We often have something on our hearts we just need to share with someone. A prayer request. Some exciting news. Something discouraging that’s weighing us down. Who do you call when there’s something on

your heart and mind that you need to share? I’ve learned from experience that if I always go to someone else, I’m eventually going to be disappointed by his or her unavailability, cold response, or maybe even lack of response. David proclaimed in Psalm 3:4, “I cry aloud to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain.” Did you catch that? God isn’t on another line. He isn’t too busy to pick up the call. He isn’t distracted by another incoming call. “He answers me.” As you go about your day, with all that comes your PSALM way, tell God about 5:1-3 it first. Of course, He already knows what it is you’re about to say, but by telling Him your news first, you’re reassuring Him — and yourself — that He is the single most important One in your life. And you have a guarantee that He’s listening.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Thank You, Lord, that Your ear is always tuned to me. Help me to come to You first as You wait for me to share all that is on my heart and mind.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

Greenhouse of Our Hearts “CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS AND ... BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST” (2 COR I N T HI A N S 10: 5 , N KJ V ) .

There’s a lot that takes place in the life of a plant before we pick it out for purchase. What begins as a seed is nurtured with just the right combination of time, temperature, water, and sunlight. Just for today, I’d like you to ponder a “greenhouse” that you were born with — that is, your heart. Within that greenhouse is the breeding ground for goodness or for sin. God shows us this when He urges us to make our thoughts obey Christ. Often, we think of sinning before we act on it. We have that window of time JEREMIAH when sin is in the 17:9-11 thought stage before it comes to fruition. God’s Word also tells us that our feelings are not trustworthy. We’re bent toward what is wrong, yet God is gracious to lead us the other direction (see Jeremiah 17:9). How do we make our thoughts bow to the authority of Christ? This is done by the Holy Spirit’s power, by welcoming Him to speak to your thought life. Let me give a few scenarios: My house is in desperate need of new flooring; therefore, twinges of jealousy rise when someone tells me they just redid their flooring. Then the Holy Spirit graciously convicts me, so I literally talk

to myself and ask, “Do I think God’s timing isn’t perfect? Was God wrong to bless them with new flooring and not me?” Asking these questions aloud humbles me and draws my heart back to God, making me grateful for what I have. By doing this, I’m letting truth be my counselor. My thoughts start out sinful, but then God wins. Sometimes my thoughts aren’t godly or gospel-driven at all. It can be as simple as avoiding a store clerk who I think is unfriendly. But I catch myself and ask if I’m being selfish with the love of God. Then I call upon Christ to give me the strength to be kind as I remember how He loved me first while I was in my sin. We sometimes behave as if we have no control over our sin when Christ Himself has empowered us to turn from it. Repenting of sin means calling it out for what it is, but it also means letting God expose it at the root before that seed grows in the greenhouse of our hearts.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, make me keenly aware of Your voice. Help me to identify sinful thoughts so I can deal with them by Your grace.

THURSDAY, MAY 21

God’s Infinite Imagination “G OD … RICHLY P R OV I D ES U S W I T H A L L T H I N G S TO E N J OY ” ( 1 T I M OT HY 6 : 17 ) .

My 6-week-old son is learning how to smile. And it is, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. When we unswaddle him in the morning, he smiles. When he hears my voice, he smiles. When he sees that it’s time for lunch — he smiles. When he feels his daddy’s tickles, he smiles. My son’s smiles aren’t just beautiful; they’re also meaningful. He is very young in this world, yet there are certain things he has found in his short time to like. They bring him joy. They warm up his little heart and elicit his toothless grins. And that has reminded me of the goodness of our God. Because our good God created little Jonah, He created warm bath water, and He put something in Jonah’s little heart that would allow him to enjoy it. God created tickles and mommies and daddies and nights of good rest and new days — and He made my little man and gave him the heartwarming, beautiful feeling of happiness as he experiences these things. “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). God didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to design the world this way. He, the Infinite Imagination, could have created the world any way He wanted to. He could have ended each day with a scary, immediate plunge into darkness and not a gentle painted sunset

surrender. And He didn’t have to give us sight to view it all. He could have made food taste like gritty gruel instead of inventing cocoa beans and sugar cane. And He didn’t have to provide us with the ability to combine the two into chocolate or give us tongues to taste it. Out of all of His creative options, God chose to be lovingly extravagant in the world that He made. And then, to top it off, He made us to experience joy in His artistry. “It is a good world, yes,” God is saying in His creation. “It GENESIS is good because I am 1 good. And because I am good, I want to bring you joy, so I made you with the capacity to feel the world’s goodness, to live in it. Enjoy it. I love you.” If I do my job well, my son will know deep down in his heart that God is good. His smiles are clues to me that he’s already picking up on that.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, help me make the connection between the good things that I experience in the world and the truth that they are of You. 29

H O LY LAND LESSO N S BY EMILY ELLIS

HEBREW WORD STUDY YHVH (Yahweh)

YHVH (or Yahweh) is the most used name for God in the Old Testament, appearing more than 6,800 times. This name consists of the four Hebrew consonants yod, hey, vav, hey, and is commonly known as the Tetragrammaton (Greek for “four letters”). Since there are no vowels in the original Hebrew, and since the Jewish people haven’t spoken this name aloud since the third century for fear of defiling it (they say instead HaShem, which means “the name,” or Adonai, which means “the Lord”), the actual pronunciation of YHVH has been lost. God revealed Himself as YHVH to His people in Exodus 3:14-15. According to Maimonides, the 12th century Jewish philosopher, what distinguishes this name from all the other names of God is that YHVH describes His essence, whereas God’s other names describe His actions. You can see this in the English text: “God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). God’s name here is a verb, not a noun. He always is. What a comfort to know that God is constantly working, moving, and acting on behalf of His people. It is who He is. He is the great “I AM,” not the great “I WAS” or the great “I WILL BE.” No, I AM. Now. Present. Take comfort in this today! If you feel forgotten by God, or if you’re wondering if He’s “hands-off,” encourage your soul that the great I AM never stops acting on behalf of His people. Ever. “For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Originally from Boston, Emily Ellis went to college in Nashville, Tenn., Seminary in Chicago, studied abroad in Israel, and then found her way back to Nashville, which she now calls home. She is the team leader for magazines and devotionals at LifeWay Christian Resources. 30

NEW LIFE IN CHRI ST

who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus Christ showed us how to live and then died as payment for our sins so that we, too, could choose to live meaningful, purpose-driven lives by placing our faith in Him. If you are ready to make this choice, as an affirmation of your belief, you may wish to pray a prayer like this one: Dear God, I understand I am a sinner, but I believe Jesus died for my sins, and I now accept His gift of eternal life. Thank You for forgiving my sins. Thank You for my new life. From this day on, I choose to follow You and Your will for my life. If you choose to begin a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, please share this with the person or church that gave you this magazine. To learn more, visit sbc.net/knowjesus.

hen people embark on a journey to climb a mountain in the Himalayas, they often hire a guide to prevent them from losing their way or from treading into treacherous territory. Our Heavenly Father wants to serve as our Guide by steering us away from the “crevices” of life and providing a foundation for purposeful living. He has given us the Bible as our guidebook to show us the pathway to a fulfilled life. Psalm 16:11 says, “You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” Because of sin, we are separated from God and are spiritually dead. However, because God loves us, He provided a way to remove the sin that separates us from Him. The Bible tells us, “God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone 31

FRIDAY, MAY 22

Forgive Us Our Debts “ HON OR THE LOR D W I T H YOU R P OSS E SS I O N S AND WITH THE FI R ST P R OD U C E OF YOU R ENTI R E H A RV E ST” ( P R OV ER BS 3 : 9 ) .

My husband and I entered our marriage with debt, and the first thing we set out to do was conquer it. Over the first two years of our marriage, we paid off nearly half of our debt, with the remainder to be paid off next year. Both of us are go-getters, so we set out taking on extra jobs to pay off bills even faster. Over time, we started seeing small changes. Yes, balances were going down, but those aren’t the changes I’m referring to. Tempers were going up, exhaustion ruled our home, and it seemed joy had taken a vacation. Our balance was way off. Everything — all of our energy, time, and focus — was going toward bills. For many months we had chosen to pay a bill rather than pay our tithe, rationalizing that God didn’t want us to be in debt so surely He understood. But my upbringing pricked at my mind. My parents didn’t have much money; in fact, there were some months when bills weren’t paid and collectors called. But they always paid their tithe. “It’s not my money, even as little as it is,” my mother would say. My husband was raised similarly, so we both had a level of understanding to build on. At first, we started out with only the example given in Scripture of a 10 percent tithe. This meant paying less on bills, but it also meant refocusing on what truly mattered — our relationship

with each other and with God. In addition, of the three jobs we held (each a full-time job and two contract jobs), we decided to let go of one contract job. This was an intentional effort to slow things down. As we made these changes, I felt like 2 Corinthians 9:610 was playing out in our lives. When we had tunnel vision on paying off debt without a glance at giving, we reaped sparingly, our lives shriveled and cracked under the lack of life that generosity brings. As we gave, we received so much more — more grace, 2 CORINTHIANS more hope, more joy, 9:6-15 more love, and even more giving. As the passage continues, it speaks of God providing more so that more can be reaped and more given. It’s amazing to see the passing of God’s blessings literally through our hands — as He gives to us, we give to others.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You for blessing us so generously. Thank You for moving hearts and bringing joy and life through giving. May my hands be open to give as You ask of me. 33

SATURDAY, MAY 23

Itchy Ears “T H EY WILL FOLLOW T HEI R OW N D ESI R ES A N D W I L L LO O K F O R TE ACH ERS WHO WIL L T EL L T HEM W HAT EV ER TH E I R I TC H I N G E A R S WA N T TO HEA R ” ( 2 T I M OT HY 4 : 3 , N LT) .

I read an article the other day by a reputable and experienced doctor about how bad cheese is for a person’s overall health. Apparently, it’s one of the worst things we can eat. Well, I love cheese, so in a matter of seconds, I was online searching for articles that would tell me what I wanted to hear — i.e., cheese actually isn’t that bad. Of course, I found such articles, but they weren’t written by reputable doctors or nutritionists; they were written by people like me, who wanted an excuse to keep eating cheese. I was itching to hear what 2 TIMOTHY I wanted to hear, not 3:14-17 what was true. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he admonished the young pastor to boldly proclaim the gospel message “whether convenient or not” (4:2), because a time was coming when people “will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (v. 3, NLT). Sound familiar? Our society is filled with people who have itchy ears, ears that only want to hear what will feed into and justify their own desires. And the scary thing is, it’s so easy to find people teaching such messages. A man wants to have pre-marital or

extra-marital sex? Our culture would say, “That’s natural! Do whatever makes you happy. Life is short!” Scripture, though, commands chastity outside of marriage and commitment within it. And these commands, even if they may not feel like it, are for our good. A woman wants to put her passive husband in his place by emasculating him? Our culture would tell her, “Men and women have the same roles. You wear the pants in the family if you need to!” Scripture, on the other hand, tells Christian women to have a “gentle and quiet spirit” and to submit to their husband’s leadership (1 Peter 3:4). Again, these commands, even if they may not feel like it, are for our good. Our itchy ears can find justification for just about anything, but as Christian women, we need to constantly go back to the Word of God, which never changes. We must be careful not to be swayed by the trendy teachings of today’s society; instead, we must ground ourselves on Scripture no matter what culture throws our way.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Heavenly Father, help me to stand firm on the Word of God and not to be swayed by the false teachings of today’s society. 34

SUNDAY, MAY 24

Resurrection and Life “JE S US SA ID TO HE R , ‘I A M T HE R ESU R R EC T I O N A N D TH E L I F E . THE ON E W HO BEL I EV ES I N ME , EVEN IF HE D I ES, W I L L L I V E’” (J OH N 1 1 : 2 5) .

Simply put, life was good. I had just received a promotion at work, my family was happy, and I served in a church I loved. Life only seemed to be getting better as the years went on until everything came to a screeching halt in the doctor’s office one day: “You have cancer,” the doctor said. “Leukemia.” It didn’t seem real. I knew people who had cancer. I knew people who died from cancer. But I never thought it could happen to me. In one conversation, everything fell apart. How could God let this happen? Was He angry? Did He forget about me? In the following months, I couldn’t seem to get away from the story of Lazarus: “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.’ … ‘Remove the stone,’ Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, ‘Lord, he’s already decaying. It’s been four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’” (John 11:21, 3940). With one turn of a page in my Bible, I see redemption in the lives of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. I can read ahead and know Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. I can see how God was glorified in a miraculous way. I know God heard Mary and Martha’s prayers after all. But my life (and your life) is not a finished story yet.

Many times, I feel forgotten, like God has abandoned me in my pain. Many times, I feel like miracles are happening for everyone else except me. In those times, there is deep comfort to be found in John 11. It serves as a reminder that Jesus doesn’t forget His people. It reminds me that my prayers don’t fall on deaf ears. It reminds me that if I’m brave enough to give my deepest wounds to Him, He is powerful enough to make dead men live. He is strong enough to redeem death itself! Notice that Jesus never abandoned Lazarus, Mary, and JOHN Martha, and He will 11:1-44 never abandon you. He is present in your suffering. While bad things will happen, you can be certain of two things: your Savior is with you, and you will see His glory. Pray confidently, then, remembering your story is not finished, and He has not forgotten you.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me believe You are with me and You hear my prayers. Give me an awareness of Your presence in the midst of my suffering.

MONDAY, MAY 25

Church Housekeeping “ FOR W E A R E G OD ’S COWOR KE R S . YOU A RE G OD ’S F I EL D, G OD ’S BU I L D I N G ” ( 1 COR I N T HI A N S 3 : 9 ) .

It was time to prepare for a new year in our children’s ministry. We decided to utilize some older TeamKid materials, which had been in the church closet for about four years. There were numerous leftover lessons, and it was my job to figure out what was useable for the session ahead of us. Because I had only been in leadership for a few years, I wasn’t the person who packed up the materials. So I had no idea if the box was going to take hours to sort through or not. After doing every other task, I cracked open the lid and LUKE could hardly believe 10:2 my eyes. Much to my delight, the leftover lessons had been perfectly stacked in numerical order and lovingly placed in the carton! As I quietly worked on the curriculum, I realized who had taken such great care of it. We affectionately call her “Miss Donna.” Donna is in her mid-seventies and has always been a tireless worker in the church. She’s not a wearer of fancy titles; instead, she has served as the nuts and bolts of many operations. Quite simply, Donna gets things done without fanfare or attention. And here I stood reaping the benefit of her work.

Sometimes, we tend to overglamorize Christian service, thinking we have to have star qualities or be able to rattle off our spiritual gifts like badges on a vest. The truth is that much of the Lord’s work is humbly done by those who love Him, those who have ordinary abilities that have been sanctified by God for His purposes. If you know people in your church whom you consider “spiritual giants,” ask them when they realized what their gifts were. The vast majority will tell you they learned what their gifts were just by being available to the Lord. All the Lord really wants is our willingness. He wants us to stop thinking about us so much and to start thinking about His kingdom. He’s looking for selfless servants, surrendered and willing to give up our will for His will. In this place of surrender, we become God’s coworkers, pursuing a kingdom right in front of our eyes.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, open my ears that I may hear Your call to missions every day. Let me cast aside any selfishness in order to better serve You.

TUESDAY, MAY 26

The Ache of Singleness “ IT IS N OT G OOD F OR T HE M A N TO B E A LO N E ” (G EN ESI S 2: 18 ) .

I felt the truth of these words during most of the 34 years I was single. But according to this truth, the ache I had for companionship was normal. And it wasn’t due to an insufficiency in my relationship with God — God made this statement to Adam before the fall. It’s true that only God can meet the deepest needs of our hearts. Even in marriage I can vouch that I still feel lonely from time to time. But it’s also true that God designed an aspect of our longing to be met in the closest human relationship — the relationship between a husband and a wife. In His unique design, God made us to be dependent on Him and on each other. The longing for an Adam is not a wrong one. But what are we supposed to do with this desire for closeness while we’re single? Is the answer just God now, marriage later? No. A lot of that longing gets met now in healthy interactions with the opposite gender. God tells us that He “created man in His own image … male and female” (Genesis 1:27). God made us male and female, and in some ways, each gender is incomplete without the other — it’s part of God’s ingenious design. So, we need each other. Single ladies, spend time with Jesusloving, single men, even if you’re not attracted to them and would never date them. Be sure to be honest with yourself

about guarding their hearts, and know that this might best be done in groups. Give the Holy Spirit full rein to speak to you about the slightest tweak in your heart if something’s not honoring to Him or to your brothers. God made the tension between genders incredibly powerful, and it’s easy to cross lines. God’s Spirit will guide you. But as you walk in integrity before God and spend time with single men who love Him too, encourage them. Build them up. Be encouraged by them and by how God made HEBREWS them. Let them offer 3:13-14 their strength and protection to you in the various ways God designed them to. And offer your tenderness and support back. Steward the other Adams in your life as God’s provision for you at this time and also as the future husbands of your sisters in Christ. And continue to ask Him to bring your Adam in His way and in His perfect time.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, please help me build up the Adams in my life in ways that honor You and them. 37

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

Proof of His Love “BUT HE WAS PIERCED BECAUSE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, CRUSHED BECAUSE OF OUR INIQUITIES; PUNISHMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS ON HIM, AND WE ARE HEALED BY HIS WOUNDS” ( I SAI A H 53: 5) .

Whenever I go to the gym, I station myself on an elliptical by the television that plays the national news. I listen to worship music through my headphones and watch the TV as different tragedies flash before my eyes like a progression of surreal nightmares. Playing in my ears are dozens of songs that proclaim the goodness and glory of God, yet before my eyes are brutal realities of how sinful the world is. It serves as a good reminder of the tension we exist in every day: God is completely good and the world is severely broken. ISAIAH It is difficult to live 53 in this tension, isn’t it? Sometimes I want to run away from reality and live on some self-sustaining farm where nobody can find me. And while it would be easier to cocoon myself and ignore the suffering that humanity endures, it wouldn’t be right. God doesn’t save people into a life of isolation. He saves people so they might bring the gospel even deeper into a suffering world. God didn’t run away from reality, did He? He could’ve kept His hands clean of the world, leaving us to our own destruction, but instead He gave Himself to us in Jesus Christ. “The Word became flesh,” John says (John

1:14). He entered into our dysfunction to suffer alongside us. He suffered with and for us. He didn’t run away, but rather threw Himself in the way of our brokenness so that we might know Him: “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8). Oh, that we might understand the proof of His love — that He chose us before we could have ever thought about choosing Him. He pursued the world and fought for our affection by becoming one of us. He made Himself vulnerable to pain and suffering for our sake and for His glory. How incomparably great is He! Because of the love extended to us through Christ, we should be compelled to live in the same way, engaging with suffering by offering hope and healing through Christ. Knowing that Christ died for us while we were dead in our sin, we must also lay down our lives for a sinful and suffering world. Let us not run away from reality, but run toward it, proclaiming the news that Christ deeply loves an undeserving world!

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me understand how great Your love is for me so that I might pour out my life as an offering for Your glory. 38

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Gracious Places “ HE BROUG HT M E OU T TO A SPAC I OU S P L AC E ; HE RESCUED M E BEC AU SE HE D EL I G HTE D I N ME ” ( P SA L M 18 : 19 ) .

Recently, I met a former coworker for coffee. Five years ago, she and I worked at the same company, which didn’t have the best working environment. In fact, it was downright crazy. I was there for a total of three years, and toward the end of that time I literally begged God to get me out of there. And He did. But He didn’t just get me out of there to bring me to something only slightly better. No, He gave me my dream job. He exceeded my expectations so wildly in every way that I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I woke up every day and thanked God for the blessings He had given me. It was like I fell in love with our good God all over again. Fast-forward a couple of years, and I still love my dream job, but I often find myself forgetting what God brought me out of. My dream job is now my “new normal.” I’m still grateful, but not like I was when I first got it. Well, coffee with my friend (who is still at that company) was a muchneeded reminder of just what God has delivered me out of and where He has placed me. After leaving the coffee shop, I got in my car and cried tears of gratitude, praising the God who heard me, delivered me, and set my feet in a spacious place. It just so happened that the same day I met my friend for coffee, my husband and I had gotten in a little tiff, and I was

still really annoyed at him. It was over the silliest thing, but I didn’t realize how unreasonable and selfish I was being until gratitude got ahold of me. Then my perspective shifted, and, in a sudden moment of lucidity, I saw everything and everyone as a blessing instead of a burden. I immediately called him and apologized. Gratitude has a way of making us see things clearly. In the busyness and frustrations of life, it’s easy to let other things overshadow gratitude — perhaps a fight with your spouse, a very long PSALM day at home with 100 your kids, a bad review at work, a deep disappointment — instead of realizing that everything we have, including our spouse, our children, our jobs, our friends, are all gifts from the Father, gifts we didn’t earn or deserve. Today, remember that “every generous act and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), and give thanks.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You so much for the many blessings You have given to me. Help me to make gratitude a priority. 39

FRIDAY, MAY 29

The Diminishing Crowd “AS [JESUS] STEPP ED ASHOR E, HE SAW A HU G E C R OW D A N D H AD COMPASSION ON T HEM , BEC AU SE T HEY W E R E L I K E S H E E P WITHOU T A SHEP HER D ” ( M A R K 6: 34 ) .

As word spread about Jesus and all of the miracles He was performing, crowds began to seek Him out and follow Him. Everyone was anxious to receive something from Him. The Gospel of Mark records that, at one point, Jesus “went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat” (3:20). Fast forward a few chapters and we see Jesus miraculously feeding a crowd of 5,000 (see 6:3044) and then later a crowd of 4,000 (see 8:1-10). He was so well known that “they laid the sick in the marketplaces 2 CORINTHIANS and begged Him that 1:3-6 they might touch just the tassel of His robe. And everyone who touched it was made well” (6:56). This is an amazing insight into the compassionate and caring nature of our Savior, but it’s worth noting who was with Jesus when things got tough, when He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane: “They all deserted Him and ran away” (14:50). There is absolutely nothing wrong with receiving the blessings that our Savior chooses to lavish upon us in seasons of abundance, but what about those seasons when it seems like God has forgotten about us, seasons when

we are called to pick up our cross and follow Him even though we really don’t feel like it? Will we be the first to desert Him in search of something more comfortable? Or will we obediently follow Him to the cross? A few years ago, in the middle of a particularly dark time in my life, I threw down my cross on a number of occasions and ran in the opposite direction in search of something more convenient. I thought, Well, if God’s forgotten about me, then I’ll forget about Him! Thankfully, God continued to pursue me until I picked up my cross and died to myself. (And, oh, what life that death produced!) It’s so easy to walk with the Lord during the good times, when God’s blessings are falling like rain. I’m sure the crowd of 5,000 was all too happy to receive what Jesus was handing out. But where were they when He was on His way to the cross? When following Him meant sacrifice and death? Let’s be women of the cross, who “rejoice as [we] share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that [we] may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory” (1 Peter 4:13).

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, help me to obediently cling to the cross in good times and in bad. 40

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Identity Thief “ YET I T D I D N ’T COL L A P SE, BECAUSE ITS F OU N DAT I ON WAS ON T H E R O C K ” ( M AT T HEW 7 : 25 ) .

Many days, I look in the mirror and believe God made a mistake when He designed me. It’s easy to think I’d be a “better creation” if only I were smarter or more creative or didn’t cry as much or had smaller arms or longer hair. Falling into the destructive habit of self-deprecation, I’ve found that I can regularly obsess over my body and myself. What a fragile foundation on which to build my acceptance! It is turned inward, bound to crumble under the world’s pressure. In the height of “one of those days,” I was reminded of a parable in Matthew 7:“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” (Matthew 7:24-27). God calls me to build my identity on a foundation that can’t be moved by the mirror, the media, or “one of those days.” He asks me to stake my acceptance on the Rock, who knows me and loves me based on His worth, not

mine. He tells me to remember there is a better way of living, generously made available by a wonderful God. I don’t have to be a slave to empty selfobsession when He has freed me to be a worshipper of Him. What joy to know He is not a careless Creator! He formed me with thought, weaving me together in such a way that I could uniquely glorify Him, love Him, and advance His kingdom.You aren’t accidental either, not a work of chance. You are wonderfully made. So be encouraged: you don’t have to PSALM be enslaved by self139:13-18 obsession. Through the power of the Spirit, you can turn outward and become a worshipper of Christ. If you are stuck in a cycle of self-deprecation, there is room for you at the cross. Turn around and run to Him. He makes self-denying worshippers out of self-obsessed rebels. There is hope. Run to Him.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me turn from myself and look to You. If I am building my identity on a foundation of sand, lead me to You so I can build on the Rock. 41

SUNDAY, MAY 31

Broken and Waiting “YOU YOURSELF HAV E … P U T M Y T EA R S I N YO U R B OTTL E . A RE THEY N OT I N YOU R R ECORDS? ” ( P SA L M 5 6 : 8 ) .

For the first 48 hours of my newborn son’s life, my husband and I were giving each other pats on the back for having the world’s greatest baby. He never cried; he was just angelically wide-eyed and cute. Silly us. We had no idea, but apparently, most newborns are like that — the nurses called it “the 48-hour bliss.” For the first two days of life, newborn babies are comfortable. They still have enough food in their bellies from their mothers. But after 48 hours, they feel hunger for the first time. Our little REVELATION guy was right on 21:1-5 schedule; he started to wail when he got hungry. And wail he did. My son’s cries are evidence of something our hearts know. This world is broken and not as it should be. After they sinned and the world fell, Adam and Eve had an experience like my son had. They felt a horrible feeling for the first time — shame (see Genesis 3:8-9). It made them run and hide from God. It was their first clue that all was no longer right in the world. God has built in other evidence that this world is not as it should be. When things are dead — a condition God didn’t create at the beginning of

the world — they’re rotten and they smell. The scent is unpleasant, and it’s a declaration: “this is bad, not right, a misfit.” When we cut our fingers, we feel pain and discomfort, and we don’t want to experience it again. Disease and sickness aren’t beautiful — they show up as irregularities. A broken bone, a cancer mass, chicken pox. They’re corruptions. Insecurity feels uncomfortable; jealousy does, too. Anxiety isn’t pleasant, and worry doesn’t feel quite right either. Even though all of these things are at the very least uncomfortable, our awareness of their wrongness is actually a gift. God didn’t leave this broken world confusing. Brokenness is clearly brokenness. So we can be sure of what won’t exist when He sets things right. Anything that causes us pain, discomfort, unhappiness, death... God is going to end it. We can know with certainty that pain is not permanent, so when we’re enduring it, we can hold His hand and trust His heart, knowing that one day, it will pass. And in the meantime, He will get us through.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, when my heart is heavy with the brokenness of this world, remind me that its time is limited, and give me strength to press on. 42

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