GOODlife Magazine July/August 2020 - Colton Dixon

5 Questions to ask before you start dating Local woman’s Tragedy Helps Widows Triumph

Colton Dixon American Idol Finalist on Choosing Faith over Fear

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CONTENTS 06

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LOCAL EVENTS Happenings around town for people of all ages and stages TRANSFORMED, NOT CONFORMED Fulfilling the call to be a living sacrifice to truly influence those around you

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU START DATING

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08 Teenagers: prepare your hearts to

approach dating with God-glorifying motives.

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EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME God’s omnipresence assures us that we never face life situations alone.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: MISHAEL POREMBSKI One woman’s experience helps many other widows triumph over grief.

HELP YOUR KIDS HOPE IN GOD Family devotional time provides an environment for our kids’ growth in Christ.

GOODLIFE RECIPES Enjoy some fresh Southern favorites from Atlanta’s own Buttermilk Kitchen.

FEATURED COVER: COLTON DIXON The singer-songwriter, whose career was launched by American Idol, shares how truly trusting in God carries him through his personal challenges, as well as through the uncertain and difficult times we all face in our world today.

Publisher

Kristen Bland

Editor-In-Chief Gabriel Bland

Assistant Editor Autumn Burr

Contributing Writer Sharita Hanley

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EVENT EVEN TS Southeast Homeschool Expo

Fri – Sat, July 24-25 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta A two-day expo devoted entirely to the display, sale, and discussion of educational materials, with entire exhibit hall displays of materials by the best Christian, secular, and specialty publishers. southeasthomeschoolexpo.com

Georgia Bridal Show

Sun, August 2 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Your dream wedding begins here! You’ve been online searching wedding ideas and trends. Now it’s time to see all of this come to life. georgiabridalshow.com

Summer Adventures Family Fun Day

Pinners Conference & Expo

Fri, August 14 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta Featuring 100 Pinterest-based classes taught by the best presenters in the nation and an expo with nearly 200 top businesses providing beautiful options in the worlds of DIY, crafts, cooking, self-improvement, photography, party planning, scrapbooking, holiday, beauty and fashion, and much more. ga.pinnersconference.com

Georgia Mountain Fair

Fri – Sat, August 14-22 Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee Family-friendly musical performances, an arts & crafts show, carnival rides, a parade, unique attractions, and a glimpse into North Georgia’s rich history and culture georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

Sun, August 2 from 12-4pm Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell Celebrate the end of summer with canoeing and other outdoor skills. Enjoy crafts and games, discover water science and conservation, and experience so much more at this event filled with adventure. chattnaturecenter.org

Kennesaw Outdoor Movie

Sat, August 8 at 6pm Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw Arrive early for games, activities, fun, and more. The free animated feature, Frozen II (PG), will be projected onto a giant inflatable screen after sundown. kennesaw-ga.gov

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Fri – Sat, August 21-22 Adams Park, Kennesaw It’s time once again for festival fans and music lovers to converge in Kennesaw for two days of smoked and seasoned barbeque bliss! pigsandpeaches.com

Women’s Conference with Lysa TerKeurst

Sat, August 22 First Baptist Church Woodstock Featuring Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times’ best-selling author. fbcw.org

Acworth Classic Car Cruise

Sat, August 29 The Lake City Cruisers partner with the city and the downtown Acworth merchants to benefit Horizon Field, an all-inclusive special needs sports facility in Acworth. acworthtourism.org

Annual Art in the Park

Sat – Mon, September 5-7 Glover Park, Marietta In addition to 175 fine artists, the festival also features Chalk Spot, a street chalk art display for aspiring artists young and old; Children’s Art Alley, a free interactive “make and take” area; and Food Truck Row, for those who want to grab a bite to eat on the go. artparkmarietta.com

The Global Leadership Summit

Thur – Fri, August 6-7 West Ridge Church, Dallas Your influence matters. Join online or in person with your peers to learn how to maximize it with two days of world-class leadership training. globalleadership.org

Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

Big Daddy Weave Concert

Fri, August 21 at 7pm Mount Paran North Church, Marietta Enjoy a live performance of their “When the Light Comes” tour. transparentproductions.com

Born Again Blessings Consignment Fri – Sat, August 21-22 Riverstone Church, Kennesaw Children’s and maternity clothes, shoes, toys, nursery items, baby equipment, furniture, and more! bornagainblessings.com

Atlanta Home Show

Fri – Sun, September 11-13 Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta The Atlanta Home Show offers innovative products and hundreds of experts under one roof—featuring home improvement exhibitors, live radio broadcasts, product demonstrations and on-stage presentations by celebrity speakers, and home landscape experts. fallatlantahomeshow.com

Transformed, Not Conformed BY: WILL GRAHAM

Quick question, just to make myself feel better: Are you perfect? No? Okay, that helps. I’m not perfect either, and it’s good to know that I’m not in this boat all by myself!

All joking aside, the Bible tells us, of course, that all men have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. You’ve sinned, and I’ve sinned. Thankfully, God sent His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for us, to take our sin as we repent and turn to Him. The Bible shares many things about both sin and the victorious Christian life, but today I want to focus on the words of Paul in Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV) Yes, we are all sinners, and ultimately our human stumbles are a matter between us and God. It’s a “vertical” issue, so to speak.

However, it’s naïve to pretend that there isn’t a “horizontal” component to our sinfulness as well, especially as it pertains to our ability to effectively share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with those around us.

It’s all of our responsibility as Christians to share Christ with those around us. This isn’t just the realm of the evangelist or the pastor but of every believer. In order to do this well, however, we need to make sure that we are living in such a way that we aren’t a hindrance to the very gospel we preach.

In Romans, Paul calls on each of us to be a “living sacrifice,” and commands us to not be “conformed to this world.”

Let me get straight to the point: As you go through your days, do your actions exhibit sacrifice—avoiding the sinful pleasures that surround us—or do they scream conformity and lack of self-control? If your answer to that question is the latter, you can bet that your

friend is going to use those things against you as you attempt to share how God has changed your life.

I’ll put it a different way using a saying I’ve heard many times before: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If not, you better believe there will be horizontal ramifications, that your effective Christian witness will be harmed as you fail to be a living sacrifice.

“If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

As I share this, please know that I’m not advocating for legalism or, as we’ve already ascertained, trying to pretend that I’m perfect.

I’m not. But I do try to be mindful of how my actions would be perceived by those I’m seeking to reach.

I’ve spoken with men who stay out all night at the bar—away from their families—drinking, cussing, and laughing it up with “the boys.”

Their excuse is that they’re “ministering” because they’re the only Christian in the group, and this is their way of fellowshipping.

My friend, if this is you, I strongly suggest that you look in the mirror and contemplate your actions, the path that you’re on. It’s fairly brazen for you to ask God to minister through you while you’re living the exact same broken and sinful life as those around you. Of course, as you really consider your motivations, you’ll likely be convicted of the fact that you aren’t acting this way for ministry purposes at all but simply following your own sinful desires.

Eternity is at stake. It may all be fun and games now, but when you miss opportunities to share Christ and instead become a stumbling block by participating in and condoning sin, there are eternal consequences.

My challenge to you is to examine your life and intentionally seek to be a living sacrifice for Christ, not conformed but transformed, for the glory of God. If you do that, my guess is that your friends will notice that change in you, and you’ll finally have the opportunity to really tell them about how Jesus has worked in and through you.

Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C.

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By: Jaquelle Crowe

Five Questions

to Ask Before You Start Dating

I just turned nineteen, and I have never been on a date... ...Seriously, no coffee, no dinner, no movie, no one-on-one—ever. That’s not because I don’t like boys. Or because I never want to get married. I do, on both counts. It’s because I’m waiting to date until I can marry, and I’m not ready yet.

Within a few years I think I will be ready, and the idea of dating with intentionality and gospel-fueled motives excites me. That’s why I’m trying to use this time now to cultivate the right kind of heart. I want to do as much as I can to avoid heartbreak, painful consequences, and naïve mistakes.

As I think about dating for the right reasons, in the right season, for the glory of God, I’ve considered five questions to ask myself before I start dating—five indicators that I’m ready (or not) to date.

“A boyfriend or girlfriend won’t complete you, no matter how much culture tries to convince you otherwise.”

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1. Am I dating to find validation?

Dating is inherently validating. Here is someone who is living, breathing, chocolate-and-flower-giving proof that you’re interesting and attractive. And let’s be honest: that’s really flattering.

But if dating is the source of your validation, it indicates soul-damaging idolatry.

A boyfriend or girlfriend won’t complete you, no matter how much culture tries to convince you otherwise. Dating—just like food or sex or television or money—does not secure (or create) your ultimate peace, happiness, and satisfaction. You can’t find your identity in dating. If you follow Christ, your identity is first, finally, and fully in him.

Before you consider engaging your heart in a romantic relationship, are you confident in your identity as a child of God? If you’re doubting that, now is not the time to tempt your heart toward idolatry. Wait to date until you can say with surety that Christ alone is the source of your validation.

2. Am I dating because it’s expected or pressured?

The pressure to date young is subtle yet powerfully pervasive. Our cultural narrative weaves an overwhelming expectation for teenagers to date frequently and intimately. There it is in our sitcoms and schools, in our commercials and magazines, on our smart phones and in our homes— one theme pounding its way into our psyches: To be accepted in this society, you must date.

If conformity and expectation drive you to do anything, don’t do it, especially in dating. Other people’s desires or opinions may be the worst reason to go out with someone.

Romance is risky and serious business and should never be entered from a place of pressure.

As teenagers who follow Christ, we shouldn’t want to conform or cave to culture’s standards for relationships.

We should want something better.

We should chase something higher.

We should be different. And what’s more different than remaining joyfully single as a teenager? Wait to date until you are emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared to pursue romance.

“Other people’s desires or opinions may be the worst reason to go out with someone. Romance is risky and serious business and should never be entered from a place of pressure.”

3. Am I dating in community?

4. Am I dating with shortterm intentions?

5. Am I dating in submission to God?

If you watch two people date in a movie, it usually goes like this: The couple meets and there are intense and immediate sparks of attraction. So, they go out together, just the two of them, to get to know each other.

Then they keep going out together alone— an intense and isolated romance—until finally, at a big, dramatic moment in the relationship, they introduce one another to their parents. We’re told this is normal.

We meet, we date, and then we involve our community.

Most teenagers want to get married someday. I definitely do. But too many of us don’t want to wait to date until then, and so we suspiciously wonder: What’s so dangerous about dating purely for fun now? How can it be so bad when almost every teen we know has done it?

When I was sixteen, I remember there being a lurking loneliness in my heart. I saw my peers dating and thought, I want someone to prize me like that, too. Yet my reasons for wanting to date were enormously selfish.

They were fueled by a desire for satisfaction, significance, and self-glory.

Ultimately, the problem with (and danger of) short-term dating is far greater and more serious than we imagine. These relationships distort and demean the sacredly beautiful, God-given vision of romance.

Dating then wouldn’t have been in submission to God. It would have been outright, self-focused rebellion. Godly dating is submissive dating. We submit our desires, temptations, timing, preferences, and bodies to Christ, and sacrifice ourselves for the holiness and good of another person.

What an emotionally unhealthy picture!

Where’s the accountability? Where are the counselors? Where’s the outside protection So, from naïve heartbreak? Where’s the community that can come alongside the couple and provide spiritual maturity, “...so we suspiciously insight, and objective advice? It’s all wonder: What’s so dangerous about been killed by a culture of convenience and speed. In relationships, we’re dating purely for fun now? How can trained to want all the rewards without it be so bad when almost every teen any of the work.

But pursuing this kind of reckless, selfcontained relationship is inconsistent with the counsel of Scripture. Compare it with Paul’s sober words to Timothy: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Paul’s advice to young people: flee isolated romance and embrace purity in the context of community. Wait to date until you’re ready to be held accountable by others, and they’re ready to hold you accountable.

we know has done it?”

In God’s word, love, intimacy, and marriage are all profoundly linked. Nostrings-attached flings are antithetical to this image. Thus godly dating should be a conscious movement toward marriage.

Our hearts are not made to be put on the line for quick and casual intimacy, and the consequences confirm that. Wait to date until you can have long-term, marriagemotivated intentions.

wait to date until you can joyfully submit every part of your relationship to God’s loving authority. Wait to date until he brings you a person who will aid your sanctification and chase Christlikeness with you. Wait to date until you’re satisfied in Christ, when you’re free from expectation and pressure, when you’re supported by a gospel community, and when you’re committed to a long-term, lasting relationship.

Teenager, wait to date until it brings more glory to God in your life to date than to remain single.

Jaquelle Crowe (now Ferris) wrote and originally published this article in 2016 before she began dating her now husband, Joe. She is the co-founder of The Young Writers Workshop and author of This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years (2017). You can find more of her writing at JaquelleCrowe.com. july/august 2020

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By: Sharita Hanley

COLTON DIXON:

FAITH IN THE DESERT SEASON

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We don’t k

faith comes in. e er h w s t’ a th ; w o n k t But it’s okay to no

Like most of us, Colton Dixon had no idea how much his life would be affected this season. But when his managers canceled his shows as a result of COVID-19, the singer-songwriter started to feel the distress of uncertainty. His income took a hit, leaving him with one option: trust God. “It’s easy to find security in your job or source of income,” he explains. “But this season feels like a desert right now,” he adds, explaining that touring is a major source of a musician’s income. “So, I’m just learning that God is our source, not what we do or how we do it. He’s still a supplier of our needs,” he declares, admitting he struggles with trust. “I’ve had great days, and I’ve had days where I’m like, ‘God, what are you 10

en.

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doing?’ But He’s always faithful, and His Word never returns void.”

Colton’s newly released EP (or mini album) is a creative expression of his own journey of faith in desert seasons. “It’s been three years in the making, but we finally just put out some new music that I’m so proud of,” he shares. “Out of my season of doubt and the unknown and questions, I was able to write these songs, which came out during this quarantine season where most people are dealing with thoughts, questions, and the unknown. We’re all kind of saying to ourselves, ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen.’ But it’s okay to not know; that’s where faith comes in.” That’s a truth Colton knows firsthand.

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We Must Remember God Always Has a Plan “At like seven or eight years old, I gave my life to the Lord. It wasn’t until I was thirteen, though, that I actually felt a calling on my life, and that was to do music,” Colton explains.

But even in that moment of certainty, he had to trust God. During a piano recital, his music teacher decided that he should sing the song that he was supposed to play on the piano. “I was a nervous wreck—scared to death.” Yet, with sweaty palms and a rapid heartbeat, he walked up to a single microphone, swallowed hard, and sang “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. “I knew [at that moment] that’s what I was going to

do with my life, but I didn’t know what it would look like.” He started pursuing opportunities, but once again, he came face to face with the t-word: trust. That was exactly what he did—for years—until American Idol tryouts came to his town.

“Fear creeps in, and it has a bunch of different shapes, sizes, and forms. But ultimately, we all know where it comes from: the enemy.

But God, on the flip side, comes to give us life more abundantly.”

“My sister really wanted to audition,” Colton emphasizes. So, his entire family went to show her their support. “I didn’t really know if I was going to sing or not,” he recalls. But he did. He made it to the Top 40. It was exciting and exhilarating and seemed like God’s perfect plan until he got cut from the show. “I thought, ‘Alright, that was fun. Time to move on to other things and see where this takes me.’” His sister wanted to audition again. Colton did not. But he agreed to support his sister. Then, things took a crazy turn, and before he knew it, Colton was auditioning for American Idol once again. Not only did he make the show but ended up in the show’s Top 10.

“I made the live show and got to do the tour and all that fun stuff.

That was the year that the doors opened,” he remembers. It was a very tangible reminder that God always has a plan.

“I signed a deal with a Christian record label. We made three records, and it was amazing. And then something crazy happened, which no artist ever expects,” he divulges. The American Idol deal came to a close, and he was dropped from the label. Shocked, stunned, and at a loss for words, Colton was once again forced to trust God in an unexpected desert season.

Uncertainty Is a Breeding Ground for God’s Next Move “So, the label was like, ‘Things are going well, but it’s in our best interest to do something else,’” Colton continues. However, his wife, Annie, reminded him that uncertainty is often a breeding ground for God’s next move. She

told him, “I know this seems like a setback, but what if this is actually God’s way of setting you up for what’s next?” So, they clung to their faith, hoping, waiting, and praying to God for clarity.

“Faith is the one thing that pleases God,” Colton stresses. “So, when we come with faith, God can’t help but bring the miracle. It’s almost like He’s waiting on us to come to Him with faith. Then, He’s like, ‘Alright, that’s the right attitude,’ and boom.

But it’s not always immediate either.” Month after month went by as Colton waited for God to reveal what was next for him. Nothing happened. “It was like crickets,” Colton recounts. “We had already written ten songs or so for a new project and didn’t know what was going to happen.” But, once again, God proved himself to be faithful.

“A new record label came to the table, which exceeded all of our expectations” says Colton, referring to Atlantic, a label so mainstream that it forced him to step out of his comfort zone. However, “I knew it was right and had peace about it,” he affirms, explaining that it’s up to us to trust God when we’re waiting, expecting, and afraid.

Trust Makes our Faith Greater Than Our Fear “Fear creeps in, and it has a bunch of different shapes, sizes, and forms. But ultimately, we all know where it comes from: the enemy,” Colton asserts, pointing out, “But God, on the flip side, comes to give us life more abundantly. So, when fear tries to creep in, [we] need to push that down and choose faith over fear, and we need to trust.” This is especially true for us as we live through a worldwide pandemic, conflict, looting, and racial tension. We’re surrounded by panic, fear, and anxiety, but trusting God makes our faith greater than our fears. “We formed this new normal, but there’s the fear july/august 2020

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of Will the way we do whatever be the same? Will the way that we church ever be the same? Or, you know, touring, will that ever look the same? But it’s in those moments that we have an opportunity to choose faith over fear. So, no matter what season that you’re in, choose [true] faith over fear-based faith,” he encourages.

For Colton, trusting God has helped his music reach people who don’t typically listen to Christian music or go to church.

“Those people still need hope and love. Even if they want nothing to do with God, God created them, and God is love. So, when you love people like that, and they accept it, they don’t even realize that they’re accepting a form of God.” Despite everything that’s happening in the world today, spreading God’s love, developing our faith, and modeling Christlikeness really is all that matters.

All that Matters “God wants the best for His kids.

He’ll open doors that no man can shut,” Colton testifies. “We take a lot of God’s handiwork for granted and categorize [it] as coincidence. But no. That’s not it.

God is at work for us every single day behind the scenes.” But we’ve got to trust Him, especially in the desert seasons. In 1 Kings 17:2-16, God sent ravens to feed Elijah. He supplied his needs. He’ll do the same for us even in times of great anxiety, worry, fear, and cultural tension. He will make a way in the desert, create a path in mighty waters, open up ways in the wilderness, and provide streams in the wasteland, as it says in Isaiah 43:16-19. But will we trust Him?

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“God wants the best for His kids. He’ll open doors that no man can shut.”

Colton’s EP is about having hope in the midst of the unknown. As we cling to our faith in desert seasons, we must remember to focus on all that matters, which is the title of one of Colton’s songs. The lyrics read: What would I live for If I don’t have You in my life?

What would I gain If You take the Holy Ghost?

What would become of me If I didn’t see Your light?

What would have been said of me

If You didn’t hold my hands?

Now I’ve come to realize That You are all I have You’re all that matters.

Perhaps this is the message God’s trying to send us as we sit back wondering when things will return to normal. Maybe desert seasons are God’s way of reminding us that He—not our titles, possessions, accomplishments, or dreams—is all that matters.

d and categorize te n a gr r fo rk o iw d n ’s ha We take a lot of God . That’s not it. o n t nes u B e . c ce s en d e ci in h t d n [it] as co i day beh

God is

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ery si v e s u r o f k r at wo

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CENTER ON CHRIST. CHANGE THE WORLD. ON-CAMPUS. ONLINE. GRADUATE. DUAL ENROLLMENT.

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EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME

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Have you ever wished you could be several places at one time? Maybe you double-booked appointments and had trouble choosing which one to keep and which one to cancel. Maybe your children had school functions at the same time, and you attempted to tread the murky waters of decision, knowing that the choice will please one child and haunt the other (or haunt you). This dilemma can cause much anxiety to us as humans, but what about God? Does He struggle with this issue, knowing that over 7.8 billion people inhabit this Earth? Obviously, there must be some serious scheduling issues in Heaven.

already there waiting! Then I said to myself, ‘Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!’ It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.�

However, God never has a problem keeping up with His creation, especially those He calls children.

There is a strange theological position called omnipresence. This big word simply describes the attribute of God in that He is present everywhere at all times—not just present, but fully present. How is that possible? God is present by way of the Holy Spirit.

God is with us at home with our families, at school with our friends, and at work with our peers. God’s omnipresence gives us assurance that we will never face another life situation alone. His omnipresence literally fulfills the promise Jesus made in Matthew 28:20 when He said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,� and the promise in Hebrews 13:5 that declares God will “never leave us nor forsake us.�

Psalm 139:7-12 in the Message translation states: “Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit—to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, you’d find me in a minute—you’re 14

BY: DR. KIRK WALTERS

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This is difficult for us to comprehend because of our human limitations, but God is not limited by our human reason or thought. God is not confined to our three-dimensional world. However challenging this may be to us, God’s omnipresence can be life-changing when we live with the knowledge that God is right here, right now, wherever we are.

Maybe that’s why Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God with us.�  Maybe this is why one of God’s descriptive names in the Old Testament is Jehovah Shammah—“the Lord is there� (wherever you are!).  Maybe God doesn’t have a problem keeping up with you and me because He’s everywhere—all the time.

Dr. Kirk Walters is the Senior Pastor of Mount Paran North Church in Marietta. He was raised on the Mississippi Gulf coast and comes from a four-generation legacy of ministers.

He is married to his beautiful wife, Laura, and they have two wonderful children, Bradley and Lauren.

Local Spotlight

MISHAEL POREMBSKI:

TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH BY: SHARITA HANLEY

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

A

fter becoming a widowed mom, Mishael Porembski felt an urgent call to serve other widows and those grieving.

But she wanted to do so in a new and fresh way. So, along with her team, she developed digital environments that offer clinically proven and biblically based strategies to help those suffering from loss to heal mentally, physically, and spiritually. After realizing how successful those environments were, she started using Zoom to facilitate live grief support groups online.

Passionate about this calling, Mishael sold her home and her new car to fund this type of support for widows, their families, and those seeking grief recovery. It was a leap of faith, and sometimes Mishael thought she was crazy to take such risky steps as a single parent, admitting that she often wondered, “How does this make any sense?”

But in March 2020 it all started to become clear. When a state of emergency was declared in the United States because of COVID-19, many faith environments quickly migrated to online meetings due to social distancing and quarantine measures. Mishael and her team of widows, who were already providing help and healing online, were miraculously ready with all their grief empowerment videos and materials to continue helping people deal with grief from the comfort and safety of their homes.

This is the story of how God turned her tragedy into triumph.

“I lost my sweet husband, who was also my best friend, to suicide while I was seven months pregnant with our second daughter,” shares Mishael. “Three months after Sophia’s birth, my mother lost her battle with breast cancer,” she recalls, admitting that, although

she was grateful for her daughters, she was drowning in a tsunami of grief. “How could this be real?” she questioned, “Two deaths and a birth in five months’ time?”

“I felt so alone. I didn’t know anyone else like me. Platitudes fell flat. I felt like I no longer fit in with my own community. I craved connection with those who understood this journey. I couldn’t sleep, and I struggled with depression. My mind kept going over details.

I desperately missed my husband,” Mishael shares, confessing, “Sometimes, I thought about taking my own life, but I could not leave my children with more pain. I needed a way to heal. My girls deserved to live in a healthy home. We needed consistent, comprehensive healing in our minds, bodies, and spirits.”

Ironically, that healing began with a challenging question from a loving friend.

“She asked me, ‘When do you stop asking why and get to the business of how?’” That simple but thought-provoking question incited Mishael to action. Was God powerful enough and real enough to heal her pain? To be honest, she wasn’t exactly sure, but she turned to Him anyway. “Desperate for real hope, I prayed and searched for answers.”

True to His promise to never leave or forsake her, the Spirit of God started providing her with wisdom and directing her steps.

Moving from Why to How Making use of her experience as a freelance producer for NBC Network News, she started investigating how people handle grief. She spoke with health, wellness, and grief experts.

She also spoke with everyday believers who had lost family members, friends, and people close to them. Despite their pain, they were living purposeful lives. She wanted that for

herself and her daughters too. So, she started recording the way they processed their grief and the ways they were able to move forward.

“I documented their steps through grief recovery and started to practice them with my daughters and myself. And they worked!

I felt better, slept better, had more energy, and experienced peace. As a family, we laughed more, went on adventures, and exercised together,” she shares, admitting that she and her girls were finally thriving.

No longer stagnant by her grief, Mishael wanted to help others who felt the same sorrow she did. So, she started sharing the steps with other people who were struggling with grief and loss. Miraculously, the steps worked for them too. That’s when a “God idea” popped into her heart and mind.

From Pain & Misery to Ministry & Mission Mishael realized she could write the steps down, make them into a book, and share that wisdom with others. Even more than that, she could open up a non-profit for other widows seeking connection, guidance, and support. She did both. Her grief steps became 180 Your Life: From Tragedy to Triumph, a grief empowerment print and video program designed to help widows, as well as those who are grieving from various forms of loss.

Her desire to help other women suffering from the loss of a spouse became Widow Strong, a center for health, hope, and healing.

Today, both 180 Your Life and Widow Strong are ministries God is using to help heal the brokenhearted, a promise David speaks of in Psalm 34:18. After writing 180 Your Life, Mishael and her team went on to conduct video interviews with people featured in the book. You can meet those people, hear july/august 2020

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their stories, and follow their journeys in the 180 Your Life video series available at 180u. teachable.com.

“The mission of the 180 Your Life curriculum,” Mishael explains, “is to offer real hope for real grief using biblically-based, clinically proven grief empowerment strategies for body, mind, and spirit in small group environments. Think of it like Grief Share meets a Beth Moore Bible study and the Daniel Plan in a 10-week or 12-month program. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, loss of a marriage, move, or job loss, it is possible to craft a purposeful life you love moving forward.”

Widow Strong is the community Mishael craved when she first became a widow. “It’s a tribe of empowered widows growing stronger together. We are a tribe of healthy, fun, warrior widows that laugh together, support each other, cry together, and cheer one another on. I love seeing our community of widows transform, embrace their lives, thrive, and become powerhouse leaders…,” Mishael says, explaining that widow empowerment is a form of generational healing. Through the power of God, she’s witnessed widowed moms start businesses, graduate with a college or advanced degree, and develop productive and joyful lives. “Miracles happen when widows are content, knowing that God is an able Father to the fatherless and a heavenly husband.”

God Is Strong When We are Weak “For those who are grieving, I’m so sorry for your pain. Be gentle with yourself. Take your time. Pray. Breathe. Rest. Nourish. Connect,” Mishael advises. “Your grief journey is a process. You are never alone. God promises in Psalm 34:18 to be near to the broken-hearted.

There is a path through loss,” she says, explaining that usually grief recovery comes

through the body first. “Studies show that our minds need community and bi-lateral movement, such as walking, swimming, biking, and running, as well as experiences of success to healthfully process loss. We call this formula, Team, Train, Triumph. These strategies can help you feel better faster,” she shares, knowing that moving might be the last thing people grieving want to do. “The funny thing about grief is that all you want to do is eat comfort carbs and binge-watch TV. So, take small steps. There’s no rush. You can start by taking a walk around the block with a friend or family member.” She also invites grieving widows to join Widow Strong gathering events, which take place the first Sunday of every month, whether in-person or in live, online Zoom meetings. “We would love to welcome you into our community.

Learn more by visiting WidowStrong.com.”

“God is a loving Papa that wants us to thrive, and God has a plan for your life—even the terrible, messy parts,” she says, reminding those facing grief that their story isn’t over yet. “Allow God to guide you. If this chapter in your life feels awful, keep writing. Every hero journey has a tough part. God delights in guiding us to become the most beloved and empowered versions of ourselves. Grief, when shepherded well, can be the launchpad to your most purposeful life.”

Our weakness isn’t a stumbling block for God. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s power is made perfect in and through our weakness. In our darkest, deepest, most terrifying moments, we are made strong, not by our own power or strength, but by God’s Spirit.

You can learn more about Mishael, Widow Strong, and 180 Your Life by visiting the following: Websites: WidowStrong.com and 180YourLife.com Facebook: facebook.com/widowstrongtribe, …/180yourlifetoday, or …/mishael180 Instagram: @widowstrong

Mount Paran North

A place to caa home!

Sundays at 9:30 & 11:15am | Online and On Campus | mountparannorth.com 1700 Allgood Road, Marietta, GA | 770.578.9081

Help your kids hope in god One Simple Recipe for Family Devotions BY: Jason Helopoulos

No practice in your home will prove more beneficial to your family than daily family worship.

Just as two bankers living together doesn’t make a bank, so two or more Christians living together doesn’t make a Christian home. The exchanges that happen in a bank, or in a home, define a place.

Christians worship; that is what we do.

Worship defines our churches and our personal lives, and it should mark our homes. In fact, family worship has a long history in the church. Along with corporate and private worship, it has been considered one of the regular routines of the Christian life. And the benefits are eternal.

The Central Mark of the Christian Home

“FAMILY WORSHIP ISN’T HARD. IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. TAKE TEN MINUTES A NIGHT.”

Of course, all kinds of activities occur in our homes. My family loves to play games, cook together, and watch funny videos. Though I love doing each of these activities with my wife and children, I hope none of these events occupies the center of our home and life together.

As a Christian, I want and even need Christ to be the center. It is one of the marks, if not the central mark, of the Christian family that it makes Christ the center of its daily life. And daily family worship centers the Christian home upon Christ.

One of the greatest benefits of family worship is the opportunity to pass on the faith to our children. This privilege is laid out in every direction before the Christian parent.

Helping Our Children to Hope I often think of Psalm 78 when I think of the need to pass on the truth of God to our children. Asaph says he will tell the “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (Psalm 78:3–4). Why? “So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Psalm 78:7).

Isn’t this the deepest desire of every Christian parent? We long to see our children set their hope in God and live according to his word.

Family worship provides our children (and ourselves) with a daily encounter with this God of grace and truth. By practicing family worship, we bring our children before Christ and we keep putting them in the way of his blessing. Much like the parents in Mark 10:13 who brought their children to Christ that he might bless them, so we place our children before him daily.

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Gardeners of Faith Of course, this does not mean that we can cause their salvation or make Christ bless them—salvation is only by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–10)—but as Christian parents, we are privileged and responsible to provide an environment conducive to their growth in Christ.

It is much like gardening. The gardener has no control over whether the seed grows into a plant. God must cause the growth. But the gardener tends the soil, waters, weeds, and ensures that the plant receives the right amount of sunlight (1 Corinthians 3:5–7).

She provides a conducive environment, to the best of her ability. She employs all the tools and knowledge at her disposal.

She can’t guarantee the growth, cause the growth, or demand the growth, but she nurtures it, tends to it, and hopes for it.

In family worship, the family gathers around the word and prays together. We provide a conducive environment as we encounter Christ together daily in these means of God’s grace. God promises to bless his children through his word and prayer. So, as parents, the way we bless our children is not to invent new ways for our kids to get to God; we simply put them in the way of God’s word and prayer. But without some regularity and structure and purpose, I think we may assume that we’re doing this more than we actually are.

Call It a Delight Family worship isn’t hard. It’s not rocket science. Take ten minutes a night. After dinner, clear the table, move to the family room, open the Bible, read a short section, and pray.

That’s it.

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It doesn’t need to last too long—probably, if you’re just beginning, it shouldn’t. As your family grows in this simple practice, you may begin to ask questions, discuss the passage that you read, and sing psalms or hymns together. Regardless of what you add to simple Bible reading and prayer, refrain from making it too arduous.

remove obstacles from the easy enjoyment of Christ (Matthew 11:30; 23:4).

It doesn’t have to be intimidating; it doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it shouldn’t be. As with every time we enjoy God’s presence, our goal is not to add religious burdens but rather to enjoy God as a delight (Isaiah 58:13). Imagine what it would mean for your children to call family worship a delight! Of course, this might not always be the case (for your children or for you), but as parents, we should do what we can to

In family worship, we simply put ourselves and our children in the way of Christ’s blessing. Try it. I promise it isn’t hard. Over time, practicing daily family worship will change your home. It will change your life.

By coming daily to Jesus, not just in our private devotions but together as families, Christ pours out blessings that will overflow into eternity.

If you miss a night, or three nights, or a week, just start right back up again. It isn’t a wheel that needs to be cranked up afresh or a huge project requiring a new relaunch.

It is a means of grace God provides to his children. It isn’t meant to be a burden.

“In family worship, we simply put ourselves and our children in the way of Christ’s blessing.”

Jason Helopoulos (@Helopoulos) serves as the Associate Pastor at University Reformed Church (PCA) in East Lansing, Michigan. He is the author of three books, including Let the Children Worship. Jason resides in mid-Michigan with his wife, Leah, and their two children.

Pimento Cheese Spread

StrawberryIced Green Tea Latte

Pimento cheese is an extremely versatile ingredient, so I encourage you to keep a batch on hand at all times.

If you want to be a boss, make your own roasted red peppers by charring them over an open flame and dicing them into small pieces.

If not, a store-bought brand like Roland’s pimentos work just fine. I suggest mixing this recipe with your hands, because massaging the pimento cheese is a crucial step in achieving the right consistency.

If you do not have time to make your own mayonnaise, substitute Duke’s brand if you can.

MAKES 2-3 DRINKS INGREDIENTS: • 11/2 cups halved strawberries • 1/4 cup turbinado sugar • 2 green tea bags

SERVES 10 TO 12 OR MAKES 4 CUPS

• 16 ounces hot water • 1 to 2 ounces milk of choice, such as whole, almond, or coconut

DIRECTIONS:

INGREDIENTS: • 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated • 1 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 cup small diced fire roasted red peppers (pimentos), drained

Green tea is a one of those buzz words; you are beginning to see it more and more on menus.

The taste can be slightly bitter, which is counteracted here by fresh strawberries and raw sugar. We use strawberries in the peak season, but you could also substitute cherries or blackberries.

• 2 teaspoons Sriracha • 2 teaspoons minced onion • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Using a big wooden spoon, muddle fruit and sugar together by mashing it in a small mixing bowl. In a measuring cup with a spout, combine tea bags and hot water. Let water infuse for 5 minutes; then remove tea bags, pour into strawberry mixture, and chill completely.

Fill a 16-ounce Mason jar with ice to the top. Ladle in about 1 cup of infused tea and top with milk.

DIRECTIONS: Place all ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl. Combine, using your hands, massaging the ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed.

Transfer pimento cheese to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

VARIATIONS: Who says you have to stick to just regular pimento cheese? There are many different ways to jazz it up. Give one of these options a try!

MEXICAN CHEESE

RAMP CHEESE

Using the same amounts, swap out the pimentos with roasted poblanos, and use Chihuahua Mexican cheese in place of the cheddar.

There is a small period of time in the spring when ramps (wild leeks) are in season. ramps have a delicious, garlicky flavor that pairs nicely with the sharp cheddar. Using the same amount, swap out pimentos with the ramps.

CACIO E PEPE PIMENTO CHEESE This is a twist on the classic Italian dish Cacio e Pepe. Substitute freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the cheddar cheese, remove the salt and Sriracha, and double the amount of black pepper.

Recipes from Suzanne Vizethann’s new book Buttermilk Kitchen, named after her “undeniably Southern” restaurant in Atlanta that is “less inspired by current crazes and more by timeless traditions.” Photos by Angie Mosier july/august 2020

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