OUTPOUR MAGAZINE FOUNDER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Krystion Nelson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joy Shamberger COPY EDITOR Bryndle Bottoms CREATIVE DESIGN EDITOR Donald Currie, 12/24 Media THEOLOGY EDITOR Ronald Obie
Mar. 2021 CONTRIBUTORS Mareshah Miller LaToya Bryant Brian Evans Michelle Tillman John Das Published by Issuu Inc. Cover/Article pictures: Envato Elements/Canva
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SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS Justice Zimmerman
CONTACT info@outpourmagazine.com Outpour Magazine, Mar. 2021 (c) All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible.
*Please do not republish, copy, or reproduce magazine pages without written permission.
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Letter from Editor Joy Shamberger
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Editor-In-Chief
Hi! I’m Joy! Welcome to Outpour Magazine. As we shake off the chilly remnants of winter and bear witness to the slow gradual thawing of cold and frozen landscapes, spring dawns. I am heartened to know that our Creator, in His infinite knowledge and wisdom, built promises inside the various seasons of nature. I believe inside of spring is the promise of new life. The darkness of long winter days fades, and spring’s light chases away shadows as the earth tilts toward the sun. Beneath the surface of deadened leaves, stripped branches, and barren earth awaits new growth. Rebirth, renewal, and resurrection are poised to spring forth. But we’re not there yet. The shine of this new year seems to have worn off too soon and a harsh wintry season has stretched on long enough; yet there is hope. Spring is almost here! The Old English term “Lent” for this time of year meant “springing time.” Believers across the globe have entered into the solemn season of Lent to prepare their spirits, hearts, and minds to reflect on the life of Christ and His triumphal journey beyond death and the grave. This dedicated time of discipline and focus eventually gives way to celebration. Let’s ready our hearts in full anticipation for all the Lord is doing and all He has in store. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT). Hold fast to hope, and get ready— for soon it’s springing time! In this month’s issue, we invite you to meet a vibrant military family (page 16); lean on what you know about God to get through tough times (page 10); and learn
how to bounce back after hitting rock bottom (page 14). Also explore how to live a confident life (page 22); experience the freedom of God (page 29); and understand the ultimate goal of discipleship (page 30). And lastly, meet Pastors Ty and Taryn Francis of Flowing Life Outreach & Worship Center in Charlotte, NC (page 24). Don’t forget to subscribe to our FREE magazine at outpourmagazine.com and share with your family and friends! And we’d love to hear from you! What are you looking forward to this spring? Contact us and send us prayer requests at info@outpourmagazine.com. We love you and are praying for you! God Bless!
*Follow us on IG @outpourmag and FB @outpourmagazine for more daily encouragement and inspiration!
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Brian Evans offers us five principles to use when we hit rock bottom in our lives - showing us that we can bounce back, no matter what! He lives in Charlotte, NC and attends Have Life Church.
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TIKELIA STENNIS
Latoya Bryant helps us rely on what we know about God - from His Word - to get through the tough times in life. She lives in Fort Mill, SC and attends Revive Church.
Michelle Tillman uses her poetic gift to explore the freedom we have in God. She lives in Charlotte, NC and attends Have Life Church.
Contributors Walking by Faith Meet the Writers of this Issue
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Pastor John Das shows us that the ultimate goal of discipleship is to be like Jesus. He and his wife Roslyn are the senior pastors at Revive Church in Charlotte, NC.
Mareshah Miller shows us how we can live a confident life in God by relying on Him in every situation. She lives in Orlando, FL and attends City of Life Church.
Want to write for Outpour Magazine? Contact us today at info@outpourmagazine.com SUBSCRIBE AT OUTPOURMAGAZINE.COM
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Contents 30
In Every Issue: FAMILY FEATURE STORY P A G E
THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR DISCIPLESHIP
PASTOR SPOTLIGHT THE CHRISTIAN BOOKSHELF
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BOUNCING BACK: 5 PRINCIPLES FOR SURVIVING ROCK BOTTOM
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EDITOR’S LETTER
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Pastor Spotlight
Meet Pastors Ty and Taryn Francis of Flowing Life Outreach & Worship Center in Charlotte, NC.
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A Known God
As you may have your own furnaces to walk through, use this as a time to strengthen who God is to you. Do you truly believe God is able to deliver you?
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Family Feature: the McCombs Family
Meet Adam and Traci and their two beautiful children, Morgan and Micah. They talked to us about being a military family, keeping God first in their marriage and how they are teaching their kids to love God and others. SUBSCRIBE AT OUTPOURMAGAZINE.COM
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A KNOWN GOD
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BY LATOYA BRYANT
In the frailty of our humanity, we are programmed to fear the unknown. The mystery of what lies ahead can cause immense unrest and anxiety. In this life, we are not privy to all the things we will have to face. The last several months, as a nation and as individuals, we have had to walk into new territories of things we have not seen before. This has been a season like no other. However, even in the midst of the unknown, we are challenged to put our trust in Christ. When we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit reprograms us with faith instead of fear. He empowers us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Sight represents seeing what is ahead of us. Faith happens in the realm of what we cannot see. We may not have foresight into everything the future holds, but we can have confidence in who holds the future. Think about the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Walking into the fiery furnace, they did not know how their story would end (see Daniel 3:16-28). The smell of the dangerous engulfing flames lay ahead. Unexpectedly and suddenly, they found themselves facing the dread of the unknown. In a matter of moments, everything
would be revealed. Would God let them die in the fire? Would God deliver them? Would He allow them to be put to shame even though they were taking a stand for Him? Regardless of what the outcome would be, they knew and had faith in their God. They responded to the king in Daniel 3:17-18 NKJV, “ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Even if God did not deliver them, their hearts were postured towards Him. They refused to bow and give in to the pressure to conform to idol worship. By faith, they were fully assured of three things: 1. God was able to deliver them 2. God would deliver them 3. And if for some reason God did not deliver them, everyone would still know that they refused to worship another god. When we face uncertainty, everything about
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“We may not have foresight into everything the future holds, but we can have confidence in who holds the future.”
When you step into the unknown, remember that you are anchored in a known God. In times of weakness, you do not have to rely on your own strength. Your strength and your hope are in Christ alone. Trust Him to bring you through every fiery furnace. Remind yourself of this verse in Psalm 9:10 NKJV, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” God will not forsake you as you seek His face. You may not know the outcome of your situation, but trust that you know Him: through His Word, His nature, His character and most importantly His heart. Knowing God is the greatest treasure in this life.
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our belief system is challenged. The core of what we really believe is abruptly brought to the surface: our fears, our insecurities, our faith and who we deem God to be. We learn more about ourselves when we go through difficult circumstances. If we are open, we even learn more about God and what He wants to reveal to us. At the core of these three men dwelt a resounding, steadfast, bold and even illogical trust in God. I wonder if they even knew this level of commitment to the Lord was on the inside of them. It was not a light thing to face the king and to defiantly oppose him – knowing it would cost them their lives. They stood against the highest level of authority to defend their worship of the Lord who is the highest authority of both heaven and earth. As you may have your own furnaces to walk through, use this as a time to strengthen who God is to you. Do you truly believe God is able to deliver you? Will God be with you in your trials? In John 16:33, Jesus assured us that in this life we would have tribulation. He then commanded us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Every trial and every tribulation, including the ones that appear without notice, Jesus has already overcome.
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Latoya is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. She has a heart to encourage people to draw closer to God and not conform to the ways of this world. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from Hampton University, she is the founder of Awake Christian Clothing. In addition, she is the founder of “Prayer is Breathing” and hosts prayer events while teaching on prayer in a weekly podcast. The “Prayer is Breathing” podcast can be found on all major podcast platforms. For encouragement on how to trust in God, Latoya is the author of “Before the Promise” which is available for purchase on Amazon. SUBSCRIBE AT OUTPOURMAGAZINE.COM
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Psalm 16:11 NKJV
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“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
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Bouncing Back: 5 Principles for Surviving Rock Bottom by Brian Evans “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
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Proverbs 24:16 KJV As I was reading Travel and Leisure’s list of the “Top 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021” I noticed that Rock Bottom, USA did not make the cut. In spite of this truth, I venture to say that Rock Bottom has had more than its share of lonesome visitors throughout the ages. In fact, there are two main types of travelers who visit Rock Bottom, USA. The first is the person who arrives as a “tourist” of sorts. Perhaps they hit Rock Bottom through a series of bad choices, tough circumstances, or wrong turns, but they most certainly never intend to stay. They are only passing through to see the sites and learn from their experience before moving on to better vistas. The second type of traveler, however, arrives with no clear plan to learn or leave anytime soon, and in extreme cases, ends up changing their address to become a permanent resident. In either case, travelers who traverse the streets of Rock Bottom ultimately have a choice to make. Will they commit to learning some tough lessons and depart with an “I survived Rock Bottom” t-shirt, or will they cease to grow thereby succumbing to its deceptive comforts? Herein lies one of life’s greatest dilemmas. As we have seen during the course of this pandemic, bouncing back is a skill that not everyone possesses. It requires a level of hope and internal grit that is not easily accessed, and many people stop short of their breakthrough. So how does a person bounce back from rock bottom? To answer that question, one must first understand what it means to hit rock bottom. After all, rock bottom can be relative. Rock bottom for one person may not necessarily be rock bottom for another. Rock bottom can happen in relationships, careers, personal finances, and the list goes on. Experiencing two divorces and two layoffs
taught me a few things about hitting rock bottom and starting over. The humiliation that follows not just one, but two divorces is completely debilitating. Many days it was all I could do to force myself to get out of bed, and some days I even failed at that task. The death of a marriage ushers in a very distinct type of grief. If I had a dollar for every suicidal thought that passed through my mind I would be a very rich man today. Though the process was excruciating, I learned some invaluable lessons while on my journey to and from “Rock Bottom.” In fact, here are five key principles that I walked away with:
Bounce-Back Principles (The Five S’s) 1. Sync with your Source. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to bounce back from rock bottom. Not just the feeble type of strength often found in the waning will of human capacity, but a supernatural strength that only comes from God, the Source of all things. The great Apostle Paul posited in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s grace is all sufficient and His strength is perfected in the presence of our weakness. In order to fully access this miraculous “bounce-back” strength, we must consistently connect and sync up with God in prayer, bible study, and worship. It is here that divine plans and strategies are released to us as believers thus empowering us to rise up and change our world. 2. Become Solution-Focused. Let’s face it: focusing on the problem will never yield positive outcomes. In the counseling world, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is often utilized to effectively shift a person’s perspective from past pain to future goals in order to effect positive change. Habakkuk 2:2 KJV states “[a]nd the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” The process of setting goals reboots the mind in powerful ways. Further, the shame and devastation of hitting rock bottom can be crippling. Setting strategic goals can be the antidote to the paralyzing effects of grief and loss. This can also be a powerful boost to morale. Start with small, obtainable goals and celebrate every win along the way.
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with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” He gives us plans and strategies that act like spiritual belays which can prevent us from hitting rock bottom even when we slip up. As we create a bounce back plan, it is important to secure our gains through the power of God as He restores us back to health. Creating a bounce back plan requires asking some tough questions, some of which we may not have answers to. How can we better protect our finances, relationships, integrity, and health, and stand guard over our futures? By seeking the God of all wisdom. Life happens, and sometimes we may find ourselves heading towards rock bottom, but if we apply these principles, we can survive the fall and live to tell the story. P A G E 1 5 | O U T P O U R M A G A Z I N E
3. Survey your Strengths. We all are born with a particular set of skills that make us unique. We all possess something that no other individual on this planet has. Our mission in life is to find out what that is. Part of surviving rock bottom is cultivating our strengths and tapping into a strong sense of purpose. Discovering our strengths and what we are good at can be the difference between living with hope and dying in despair. The moment we decide to discover them and harness their powers is the moment our lives can begin to turn around. 4. Be Selective about your Circle. It is no secret that the company we keep can carve the landscape of our entire lives. When we are attempting to rebuild after a setback, it is imperative that we surround ourselves with quality people who genuinely have our best interests at heart and will never intentionally seek to harm us. Seeking out people who possess godly wisdom and integrity to be our mentors, coaches, pastors, and friends can make the bounce back that much easier. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:22 KJV that “without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” I’m grateful for the network of amazing people that God has brought into my life; people I can trust with my heart and my hurts. I cannot express how important it is to connect with people who truly know us even if we act out of character. Take a moment to inventory your life now, to see if there is someone in your circle who meets this criterion. If so, hold on tight and don’t let go. 5. Secure your Position. Unfortunately, setbacks will happen. Sometimes, hitting rock bottom forces us to create a plan for success that we may not have created otherwise. However, having a plan before we encounter tough times can also minimize the pain of a setback and set us up for a strong bounce back. Rock climbers often secure their positions as they climb using a rope and harness system called a “belay.” These devices create friction within a harnessing device designed to stop a falling climber from hitting “rock bottom.” This reminds me of what God does for us when we trust Him with our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV says to “Trust in the LORD
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Brian L. Evans is an inspirational author and speaker who currently resides in Charlotte, NC. He is a manager at one of the largest healthcare organizations in the Triad/Piedmont region. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling. Brian is the author of “The S.P.E.A.R. Paradigm: Encountering God,” and manages his own blog called “Wisdom’s Quill.” Connect with Brian at brianlevans.com, wisdomsquill.wordpress.com, and @brian_l_evans on IG and FB.
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Meet the Mc
• Residence: Stuttgart, Germany • Church: International Baptist Church of Stuttgart • Favorite Family Activity? During COVID-19 it’s Candy Land and trips to the park. Before COVID-19 it was travel. • One word to describe your family: flexible
Combs Family
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Photos provided by the McCombs Family
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Meet the McCombs Family: Adam and Traci and their two beautiful children, Morgan and Micah. They talked to us about being a military family, keeping God first in their marriage and how they are teaching their kids to love God and others.
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Outpour Magazine: Tell us a little bit about yourselves: Who are the McCombs? Traci McCombs: We are an outspoken and loud family of four. My husband has been an Army officer for seventeen years. I’ve been an Analyst with the National Institutes of Health for seven years. Our daughter is turning five this month and she is the kindest social butterfly you will ever meet. Our son is turning three and loves to be the life of the party and make everyone laugh. We are so thankful our kids are as adventurous as us. They love to travel as much as Adam and I do! Adam McCombs: We are a military family, and like most military families we move around a lot. So far our kids seem to enjoy moving and traveling as much as we do. The kids have adapted to life in Germany even better than we have. They not only embrace the culture but also the language. They already speak German very well. OM: What has life been like as a military family moving every few years? TM: It’s been an adventure. The actual move has logistical challenges. It’s so easy to forget all the small details of a move like flights, homes, household goods, schools, jobs, friends, electric bills, taxes, and so much more. But when the dust settles, things start to get fun. We make new friends, travel to new places, and get to experience life through multiple lenses. God has blessed us with some incredible situations. We are truly grateful for the opportunities the Army has afforded us. I know I’m extremely grateful to the NIH for allowing me to work remotely for the past five years. AM: The move itself is very stressful. It takes a lot of work to figure out all the details. But once it’s complete, it’s the best. You get to meet new people, make new friends and have incredible experiences in different places. We’ve met new church families too. The best part is the Army is here to support us throughout the process. They do a great job of doing everything they
can to make the moves as easy as possible. I love looking forward every couple of years to the next place we might go and thinking of the different possibilities for our family. OM: What have been some of your best memories as a family? TM: We have so many great memories. Off the top of my head, I’d say time spent with my dad at his lake house before he passed. It was an opportunity for my side of the family to get together and enjoy time on the water. Before COVID-19, we were fortunate enough to travel with the kids to Mallorca, Spain. We had a wonderful beach vacation at a family resort. I have a lot of great memories from that vacation. Since COVID-19, we have enjoyed a lot of family movie/ game nights and dinners together. We are doing our best to make the most out of this quarantine situation. AM: My best memories as a family are the different vacations we have gone on. From swimming in the Mediterranean to Vienna with my parents to taking the kids to a water park in Croatia; or taking Micah to see the dolphins in Portugal to trips like Rulantica, an indoor water park in Germany, and Lego Land. Sometimes the kids enjoy the hotels more than they like the places [we’re visiting]. But they are always up for a new adventure and are always excited to travel. OM: When was the last time you laughed so hard that it hurt? TM: I’m sure the most recent time has been at the dinner table with our son. He loves to make us laugh. But my favorite laughable moment was when our daughter was eighteen months old and
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I was pregnant with our son. Morgan was running in circles around the island in the kitchen. Finally, after an exhausting run, she turned to me, slapped her booty, and said, “This booty’s hot!” My mom and I laughed for half an hour. I think she was running so fast that her body was hot from the run. I’ll never forget how matter of fact her statement was. She had no idea the other funny meanings behind her statement. It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. AM: For me, it was when Micah danced with an oversize pair of sunglasses, no shirt, and Santa pajama pants. I think he’s a pretty good dancer.
OM: What has been the most difficult season in your life? How did God help your family get through it? TM: For me, it was my season of infertility followed by back-to-back miscarriages. I was in my twenties and Adam and I were hoping to start a family before he deployed again. God helped our family through that difficult season in so many ways. Looking back, He perfectly orchestrated many events that involved scripture, friends, and signs. I’m so grateful that we serve a God who is willing to meet us exactly where we are. God did amazing things during that season of my life. I didn’t understand at first, but with time He revealed His perfect plan. I’m thankful that Adam and I learned to trust God with our desire to become parents before we were blessed with children.
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OM: Traci, you have your first book “My Miscarriage: And Other Uninvited Events” coming out in the Spring of this year. How exciting! Please tell us more about your new book! TM: My book is for anyone who feels lost and alone after pregnancy loss. My book is about my best attempt to navigate miscarriage. I was flat out angry. Angry at God, angry at my alcoholic father, and angry at the world. I couldn’t carry a baby past 8 weeks and my young athletic body had let me down in ways I never thought possible. But slowly, over a year, I found myself sitting one-on-one with girlfriends who shared their stories of stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, IVF, bareness, and pregnancy loss. I discovered then
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AM: The most difficult season in my life was when Traci suffered two miscarriages and was diagnosed with cancer. It was difficult at the time and in all honesty, I wasn’t sure that God was hearing my prayers. But when I look back on it now I know God had a very specific plan for us. He saw us through that storm and has seen us through others since then. But because of this experience I have more faith than ever in God’s plans for our family and trust that no matter what He will take care of us.
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AM: I think the biggest ways are the prayers we say before eating dinner and reading Bible stories before the kids go to bed. Morgan especially is getting to the point she understands the stories and their meaning. Through Awana, the verses
she is memorizing now have more meaning as she gets older.
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OM: In what ways are you teaching your children to love God and love others? TM: Our daughter is currently in Awana [Children’s Club] at our church. I think it has been a wonderful program that is teaching her the important foundational principles of Christianity. At dinner she often thanks God for sending Jesus to die in our place. It’s amazing what a four-yearold can remember. Next year, our son will be old enough to attend the program as well. For now, we encourage both our kids to sing a prayer before dinner or be kind and share their toys. We do our best to constantly remind our kids we love them, no matter what they do. I think children need to know they are loved unconditionally as it helps them in turn love others.
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that infertility doesn’t discriminate. Healthy women, intelligent women, spiritual women, beautiful women, all uniquely suffer. For a long time, I thought my broken body was the problem. But my broken body wasn’t the problem. The problem was the lens through which I was seeing life. One that didn’t believe God had a purpose beyond my growing orbit of painful events. Gosh. I have poured my heart into this book for the last four years. I’d say it’s a gift from my heart to all the women who need to say, “I experienced that too.” I know it’s hard to be vulnerable about miscarriages and uninvited painful events that enter our lives. But our stories are what heals us, unite us, and empower us. Through my story and the stories of other amazing women found in my book, my prayer is that someone will find purpose and healing on their unique journey through pain and loss. Even if it’s just one person who benefits from my book – it was worth it! AM: I’d also add that while Traci’s book is focused on her miscarriages and stories of infertility, I think the book is more about difficult seasons and how God helps us through them. Anyone going through a difficult time can find comfort and inspiration through her story, even if it’s something other than miscarriage. It’s really about finding faith in brokenness. Everyone needs that. OM: Lastly, you also just celebrated 10 years of marriage. Congratulations! How has God sustained your marriage and what advice would you give other couples on how to make it to ten years or more? TM: Great question. First, as a couple, you must trust that God is working, even when you don’t understand. God has carried Adam and me through a lot of challenges over the years –
deployments, infertility, miscarriages, and more recently the losses of our grandmothers and my father. Life hurts sometimes, but Adam and I trust that God isn’t in the business of harming His children. Rather, He wants to give us hope and a future. I think Jeremiah 29:11 is a great verse for couples to memorize, especially during difficult seasons. I know our marriage is stronger than it has ever been and it’s because we have weathered the storms together. Second, I’d say marriage counseling is a great resource. When Adam and I were engaged, we utilized marriage counseling services through our church in Kapolei, Hawaii. Kimo and Vanessa are still mentors to us. We learned so much about marriage before we said, “I do.” I think having realistic expectations going into marriage is so important. Lastly, don’t take yourself so seriously. Life is serious enough. AM: In all honesty, I don’t know if I feel comfortable giving people advice at ten years. When I look at my parents who’ve been married thirty-plus years, I feel like that is a better example of people to ask. But, I believe that what helped Traci and me this decade is that no matter what, we’ve tried to put the other person first in the big decisions of our lives and always considered how those decisions impact each other. From a day-to-day perspective, the bottom line, we like hanging out with each other. We make time to spend together, just the two of us, even with kids and busy schedules. We travel, just the two of us, and carve out time where we can continue to stay connected especially when life gets busy. - OM
*Learn more about Traci’s story and purchase her new book here: www.tracimccombs.com Follow her on IG @tracidmccombs
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T R U S T
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W E K NOW ! L IVING A C ONFIDENT L IFE
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B Y M ARESHAH B ROWN M ILLER Life is filled with an abundance of uncertainty. I suppose we human beings have dealt with the unknowns of life since the beginning of time. After all, we cannot see into the future, and ultimately our entire existence is a faith walk. This is true for every single human being—religious or not. Yes, we make some reasonably confident predictions about what’s ahead and make logical decisions based on historical facts. But every decision is still a faith move. When we invest in doing a job each day, we have faith that our employer will honor the contract to pay us our wage. When we enter into marriage, we have faith that our spouse will love us and be with us for a lifetime. When we nurture, train, and love our children, we have faith that they will appreciate us as their parents. We even have faith that we will see a new day. None of these things are guaranteed in life, but our faith keeps us moving, growing, and accomplishing. However, as believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible assures us that there are specific things that “WE KNOW.” We Know God Loves Us and Has Saved Us “But you know that He [Jesus Christ] appeared so
that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin.” (1 John 3:5 NIV) “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love...” (1 John 4:16 NIV) We Know God Hears Our Prayers “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us— whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV) We Know Christ Has Prepared Heaven for Us [Jesus said] “There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:2-4 CEV) “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2 NIV) We Know God Works All Situations for Our Good And His Glory “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV) Some may respond to this by saying, “It takes faith to believe these things, also.” I won’t deny that. But the writers of the Bible were very specific in telling us (believers in Christ) that these are things we should absolutely “know.” These truths make up every maturing believer’s spiritual DNA. However, please realize that “faith” and what “we know” are not mutually exclusive. What “we know” fuels our faith. There is no wavering in our belief. Our conviction is solid and unshakable. So even though
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Mareshah Brown Miller is a retired educator from the Orange County Public Schools. She grew up in the suburbs of Miami, Florida among a large close-knit family and rich spiritual training. She developed a walk with Christ at an early age and continues to encourage others to begin their personal walk with God. She is the author of Divine Pearls: Spiritual Insight Through Personal Short Stories. Mareshah serves her community and is a longstanding member of the City of Life Church in Kissimmee, Florida. She is a widow after thirty years of marriage, and the mother of two adult daughters and a son-in-law. Her desire is to live a life of love every day.
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matter what circumstance Joseph found himself in, his confidence in God was steady. In fact, Joseph told his brothers that what the enemy meant for evil, God used for good (Gen. 50:20). And if you continue to study the historical account, you will see that what God did in Joseph’s life was setting the stage for God’s greater plan for Joseph’s family and the entire world (see Genesis Chapters 37 50). So, we clearly see the confidence of Joseph in this story. He didn’t have all the answers or even perceive the exact outcome, but he knew God loved him and that he was on THE winning team. Joseph’s confidence was not in himself; his confidence was in God! Joseph’s story also reveals that we are not just sitting back waiting to see what life dishes out. God is directing our steps (Psalm 37:23) and has given us authority over our environment (Luke 10:19). This is a journey that we travel with the Holy Spirit. When we do this, the messiness and uncertainty of life won’t overtake or consume us. We will recognize that God (in His sovereignty) has designed a master blueprint that we can’t fully comprehend. God is just as active in our lives as He was in Joseph’s life. So, when we fully live based on the truth of God’s Word, we are encouraged and empowered to look to Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Then, we will live a confident life!
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we don’t know what situation or circumstance tomorrow will bring (or the next minute for that matter), we stand assured on the truth of the Bible and that God is in complete control and twisting the mishaps of life for our good and His glory (Hebrew 10:38; Hebrew 11:6; Romans 8:28). To emphasize my point, I will remind you about the experiences of Joseph. As you read about him, please remember that he was a human being just like you and me—flesh and blood—with no supernatural powers. Yet, he knew and trusted the God of the universe. Joseph was the eleventh son of Israel. God revealed Joseph’s destiny to him in two dreams. God told Joseph that one day his entire family would bow to him. Joseph shared those dreams with his family and that seemed to bring an avalanche of difficulty for Joseph. But every time Joseph found himself in a hard place, God was there too—working things out for Joseph’s benefit and God’s glory. Joseph’s brothers despised him and sold him into slavery. He was taken to Egypt and bought by Potiphar, who was a government official. Very quickly Potiphar recognized Joseph’s talents and that he was blessed by God. So, Potiphar promoted him to manage his entire household. Sometime later, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph. When he refused (her advances), she lied and said Joseph tried to sexually attack her. This lie landed Joseph in jail. But soon the prison warden recognized Joseph’s talents and promoted him to manage the jail. As time went on, Joseph was summoned to interpret a dream for the king of Egypt. God gave Joseph the interpretation, and Joseph was appointed second in command of Egypt. As years passed, because of a major famine, Joseph’s family had to travel to Egypt and bow before Joseph to obtain food. Eventually, Joseph’s entire family migrated to Egypt and survived the famine because of Joseph’s position in the government. Please notice that Joseph was 17 years old when God revealed his destiny to him. He was 39 years old when that dream was realized. However, I observed that Joseph never complained about his circumstances. He could have seen himself as a victim, but he chose not to do that. And the Bible consistently stated that God was with Joseph. He knew God and God knew him. No
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE FRANCIS FAMILY
Meet the Pastors of Flowing Life Outreach & Worship Center
We sat down with Pastors Ty and Taryn Francis of Flowing Life Outreach & Worship Center in Charlotte, NC. They talk about their ministry, hearing from God, and comfort and peace during times of grief.
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Outpour Magazine: Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your ministry. Ty Francis: We moved here from Virginia, feeling the call of God on our lives for ministry. [We’ve felt that call] for years, really ever since we got married. And we decided that it was time to follow through with what God had put on our heart to do. We continued to pray about it and long story short, we moved to Charlotte, NC. We started a church in a city that we did not have any family. Prior to considering moving, we had never been to Charlotte. We prayed about it and made maybe three trips and God spoke to us and told us, hey, this is where you are going to set up shop. We went back home, talked to our pastor and he gave us the greenlight. Again, we came to a city where we had no family, and knew maybe a couple of people. Just stepping out on faith and started Flowing Life Outreach and Worship Center. And here we are, almost three years later, still walking by faith.
OM: You both are very popular on social media - fusing humor with daily living. Talk more about this and how you use social media platforms to reach people for Jesus. Taryn Francis: The interesting thing about this is that prior to us getting married, we weren’t on social media. I had gotten off in 2008 and didn’t get back on until 2015, when I was pregnant. Ty Francis: And I was off social media for a few years too.
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Ty Francis: Yes, it’s exactly what she said. I actually did not want to be on social media - but she was like, “you have a media company, so you have to be on social media.” So I was like, I guess (laughs). And then we have a group [that does] social media for the church. But for my personal page, [my wife] had to remind me about my sphere of influence. I fought it for a while. Even what you see on social media - not just us but what other people post - I think the beauty of it is the authenticity, when people can see you being you. It’s not you being completely transparent. But one of the things we are
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Taryn Francis: So that was interesting when we first met. And it was for that season of our life. But we also knew that God wanted to use our influence. That was some of the reservations that we had. We knew our influence and we didn’t want to get on social media presenting just anything; we wanted to be very intentional. In the past, [social media] made us both pull back but God began to deal with me about using that platform and doing it in a way that was authentic and transparent. Showing our life in a way that can encourage somebody else. That’s always my thought process with anything on social media. And we check one another, making sure that we have that accountability. That’s our whole heart behind anything we do on social media. We’re always mindful and very intentional with it. Wanting to glorify God in anything we post and really encourage people. It doesn’t have to be something super deep all the time; sometimes people just want to see the realness through our life. And I believe it’s been a blessing to so many others.
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Ty Francis: I’m glad my wife brought that up, because that’s where it all started. When we got married in our small one bedroom apartment, this was around the time God started showing us things about the ministry. We didn’t know at that time that we would be pastoring or where we would be going. We were just praying. And it reminds me of the scripture when the sadducees and the pharisees were asking Jesus, “what’s the greatest commandment?” And He says “love God and love your neighbor” (see Matt. 22:34-40). They probably didn’t like that, because it was too simple. But you could hang all the rest of [the law] on that. And I think for us, that one scripture has simplified life for us, so much. To the point that everything else is extra; it’s icing on the cake.
At the core, at the foundation, we want to love God with all our hearts. If we do that, that’s going to take care of everything else. And if we love God’s people, we don’t have to worry about are we going to be able to meet people where they are, because you love people so you draw them in naturally by that love anyway. So that’s been at that core of our relationship but then it spills out into our ministry and everything we do as well.
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OM: Talk about your vision of loving God and loving people and how that is evident in your ministry and outreach. Taryn Francis: Even before we moved, we would set some time aside to pray. And God began to show us the people that He was calling us to, what they would look like and what they may be dealing with. We were very specific in our prayers. So we pinpointed those areas and I think that was one of the things that led us towards loving God and loving people. But even prior to that, in our own lives and serving at our previous church, that was something that we talked about, just wanting to consider others, and of course that’s what the Bible tells us to do. So bringing that together and allowing that to be the focal point of our ministry, really spoke to what God was doing in us and what He wanted to do through the ministry.
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learning is that your anointing is the most potent when it is authentic, when you are just being you. Nobody wants to see you try to copy somebody or post everything that everyone else posts. This reminds me of the passage where Jesus calls Peter, saying I want to use you to fish for men (Matt. 4:19). For me, social media is kind of that platform, where we are fishing a different way. So for us, we’re still living our lives, having fun. And we are pastors. There is a certain cliche or stigma or idea of what people have in their minds what they think pastors are. But we show them that we still like to have fun, we still like to joke, still clown. And they think, well maybe I can do this, maybe I can be a Christian, I can be a believer. It’s like “hey, he goes out and takes his kids to the park. Or he’s a pastor and he still makes time for his wife.” And people are thinking, maybe I can do that. Just having that influence that is really genuine and authentic to who we are.
There’s so many thoughts coming to mind about that person. You miss them; you wonder what if; what could have changed or happened to have them still here. But it’s like I really have to “cast my cares” and it’s a daily thing to do that. But just being able to honor that person and continuing to move on in their honor and legacy that they left - even if it’s not an older person, there’s still something that you can do to honor the person who passed on. And that’s what I am choosing to do and would encourage someone to do. And also make sure that you are surrounding yourself with the people that you need to help you and to communicate those things - such as going to grief counseling, talking to somebody about what you’re feeling and leaning into those emotions and not just building up a wall. If you build up that wall, eventually you will be overwhelmed. So let me lean into this; let me process it, talk about it, [and] pray about it.
OM: Pastor Taryn, you recently lost your grandmother. I am so very sorry. How is God displaying His comfort and peace during this time of grief, and what words of encouragement might you have for those experiencing loss of a loved one, especially now during this pandemic? Taryn Francis: It comes through my children. It comes with me being able to talk to my husband about my feelings, and being able to express myself. It comes through of course that time spent with God. I just think to myself I don’t know how I would have the peace that I have if I didn’t have Jesus, if I didn’t have a relationship with God. Yes, I do feel that weight sometimes, as I am processing through this [grief ]; but I’m thankful that I know that I can go to God and that’s what I’ve been choosing to do. Because I know for myself I can’t handle this on my own. God has been so faithful with peace, even with the many questions I may have as I am processing through it. Like the scripture that says “peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) - it’s real. It has become real to me, that I am able to have the peace that I have. And in my situation, actually being able to talk to my grandmother [before she passed] - I know not everyone gets that opportunity. But that is something that I am holding on to. Also, being able to honor her legacy. That’s something I would encourage someone else [to do]. And being able to “cast your cares” (1 Peter 5:7) because it’s a daily process when you are dealing with grief.
OM: Let’s talk a bit about prayer. Why is prayer still essential in the life of every believer? Ty Francis: I would correlate prayer to a natural relationship...for example the communication that we have in our marriage. We need to have that same communication with God. Anytime anyone asks me what’s most important in marriage - we’ve been married eight years - I’ll say communication. It is the most important thing, for us. That has been the meat of our relationship. And we had a long distance relationship before we got married, so communication was all we had. If you correlate that with our relationship with God, communication is a lot of times the only thing you have with Him, being able to talk to Him.
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And I think sometimes where people start to get away from that, is when they feel like they are the only ones talking. Most people aren’t going to keep talking to someone if they aren’t going to respond. And so people may stop communicating, stop asking questions or pull away, and prayer doesn’t become important anymore. People may feel that they aren’t getting the answers they are looking for, not hearing from God or [they are] not patient enough. Or they are talking but not listening. And prayer is so very important in maintaining that relationship with God.
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OM: Great points here. And it brings to mind another question. In an age where we can literally find any and everything on google, can you talk about the importance of prayer to correctly hear from God? Ty Francis: So I do believe that God speaks to us in different ways. I’ll be completely honest. In my life, I’ve heard God speak to me audibly only twice. And I share that openly and unashamedly because I don’t want you to think where this is a thing and every single morning I’m waking up like Moses and the burning bush (laughs). But outside of [those two moments] it’s more so I’m reading the Word of God and His Word speaks to me. The Word of God is living. And being filled with the Holy Spirit, where I recognize God’s voice. Just like I recognize my wife’s voice, using my example of being married. You can play 100 voicemails, and I’m going to be able to pick out my wife’s voice. And the more time we spend together, the more I recognize it. Even if it’s just a whisper, I still recognize it. The closer we get to God, the more we read His Word, the more we pray - the more sensitive we become to His voice. Even when there’s chaos, it’s like, yep, I hear Him. And sometimes it’s not a voice; it might be that nudge of the Holy Spirit.
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Ty Francis: There’s also that anxiety factor. The Word says “be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Especially in our world right now, everything is quick and easy, at your fingertips.
But God doesn’t always work like that. And so when something happens in the world, when people storm the capital or someone is shot in the street or the economy is spiraling downward, we’re looking for an instantaneous fix. And then we become anxious when it doesn’t happen, asking, “ok God, where are you?” Instead God’s like, “no, I need you to talk to me about this. Let’s have a conversation. I’m working things out, and it’s under control.” But again, if you are not having that conversation with the person that has the answers, then of course you’ll be freaking out, trying to figure it out just like everyone else.
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Taryn Francis: I would agree and would also add that it is very much essential, being able to go to God. And sometimes we may think something is a small thing, and that we can handle it on our own. Or I don’t have to go to God for this. But what I’m learning is that with everything, I’m taking it to God in prayer. I had to retrain myself. I can be independent and want to do things myself. But what God has been teaching me is no, bring it to Him. For He can direct us. And that’s what His Word tells us; He will guide us. In life we don’t have all the answers. We don’t even know what tomorrow will bring. I need to talk to God, so He can tell me the steps He has ordered for my life. I cannot function unless I am hearing His voice. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of His mouth” (Matt. 4:4). Once you understand that, [prayer] will become even more important to make sure you are tuned in to hear the voice of God for [your] life. My life depends on it.
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Taryn Francis: Something that we live by and also teach, is when you do feel like you are hearing God’s voice and wondering if you are or not, [ask yourself ] do you have peace about it? That’s with decisions we have to make, things we may be working on - do we have peace about it? Sometimes it may not be an audible voice when God is speaking to us but we can get that nudge, and say, ok I know what that is. Ty Francis: And to be honest with you, before we moved to Charlotte, our pastor was like ok, if this is what you feel, take a trip down there and pray about it. And come back to let him know what God had said. But even before we went down there, we were taking a trip to visit her family in Alabama and were passing through Charlotte - not even through the city but coming around the outer loop - and we stopped to get gas. And when we got out to get gas, I told her that there was so much peace here. I’ve never felt this before. This just feels like home. We had not prayed about Charlotte. We were not even thinking about pastoring. We were just like, there’s peace here. And so once we started making those other trips and being intentional about praying [about pastoring], every trip we made, this just felt like home and where we’re supposed to be. We were led with peace every single step, even as far as the timing. God showed it to us and [it was] a whole year later before He gave us peace to move. OM: Lastly, what is the role of the church and the pastor in today’s society? Ty Francis: That is a very loaded question and I am going to try my best to answer it in a nutshell. I’ll preface it by saying this - last year, about March or April, when Covid started and you had a lot of the civil unrest with racial tension, those were really tough times for the church. Because a lot of people that I talked to whether civil rights leaders or leaders in churches - a lot of them were frustrated and upset that the church wasn’t taking a more active role in everything going on in the community or nation. I understood the frustration. [However] my idea of what the church is in modern day honestly is the same as it was in the New Testament in the book of Acts and Corinthians. I believe it’s the same church. Times have changed so we adapt to different cultural norms. But I don’t think the church has changed. The church has remained the same, which is to reproduce
disciples. It’s to reproduce Jesus in the earth. Now the challenging part is that every church has a different way of doing this. There’s different bait for different fish. Some churches are called to civil rights; [others] are called to the sick. Some are called to church people; [others] are called to the streets. Churches have different purposes for their existence in the community, but the overarching goal for the Church should all be the same, regardless of how you choose to reach people. It is to reproduce disciples and for salvation. Whether people step inside our church or not, our goal is to go out and reach the lost. And what the church should be now is what it was in the new testament. -OM
“In life we don’t have all the answers. We don’t even know what tomorrow will bring. I need to talk to God, so He can tell me the steps He has ordered for my life. I cannot function unless I am hearing His voice.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT FLOWING LIFE OUTREACH & WORSHIP CENTER, AND PASTORS TY & TARYN FRANCIS AT:
FLOWINGLIFE . ORG FOLLOW THEM ON IG @flowinglifecharlotte @iamtyfrancis @tarynvfrancis
Freedom by Michelle Tillman See as a believer I’m free to lift my hands, and wave them in the air like I just don’t care. Freedom is me accepting my dependence on Him. I can walk about in Godly freedom when I seek His precepts. For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Brothers and Sisters, you were called to be free.
Michelle Tillman is a poet and inspirational speaker who turns her life experiences into creative writing and spoken word. She has an online ministry to uplift women of God with inspirational YouTube video SUBSCRIBE AT ”OUTPOURMAGAZINE . COM content, and is also a podcast host for her show “Booty Call to Bride. Follow her at https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleTillman
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I am a living testimony, where I wake up to God’s new mercies and forever forgiving grace. For He that is Free is free indeed. And it is this freedom where I’ll take my place.
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So pardon me if I can’t stop dancing or shouting during worship. My hands were once bound by hidden sin, but now I thirst for the living water only brought by His presence and His glory. It took me years to build up boldness to even be free enough to tell this story. Holy, Holy, Holy are you Lord on the right hand of the father, I cried tears for my break through, there’s no more pain, I’m not bothered. I’ve been released, once I finally surrendered my pain and bitterness to the Lord my Prince of Peace.
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Worship Him in spirit and truth. Because He made a way and is your light. Authentic worship gives the Holy Spirit freedom to come. Don’t forget your body is not your own it was bought at a price a living sacrifice, a reflection of Christ.
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Freedom means WE call Him Master, Savior, Redeemer, El Shaddai, Almighty God, King of Kings, the great I AM, Rose of Sharon, Lily in the valley, Lord of Lords. How can having all of that freedom in our lives result in bondage?
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But don’t use your freedom to indulge the flesh. Just because you have the right to do anything, does not mean everything is beneficial. You don’t want to be mastered by sin. Rather accept that Jesus’ body was plastered on wood for you to see God’s good. Surrender your mind to receive His freedom.
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The Ultimate Goal for Discipleship: Be like Jesus Christ.
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By Pastor John Das
What is the ultimate goal for discipleship? As believers, Jesus Christ is our leader and ultimate example. The Bible calls Jesus the head of the church. According to Colossian 1:18 NLT “Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.” If He is the leader and we are following Him, it only makes sense that we know a little bit about who He is and if He happens to be a good quality person, or not; and if He is, why we should want to be like Him. And lastly, if we can be like Him. We know that Jesus Christ is one third of the Godhead according to 1 John 5:7 and Matthew 28:19. “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7 NKJV). “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19 NLT). And according to Colossians 2:9 – “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” - Jesus encapsulates 100% of the Godhead within human bodily form. John chapter one also gives a further breakdown of the deity of Christ Jesus. But none of us will be able to fully achieve the spiritual side of Christ. After all, none of us were born from a virgin; none of us existed before time; none of us created the world or the universe; none of us are sinless; and none of us died on a cross or rose from the dead to save all mankind. But naturally we can come close. After all Jesus was a man, and He was a very good man. Further, He was tempted like us. He had to make choices and decisions like us. He experienced mental, emotional and physical stress and pain just like us. And He experienced death, just like every one of us will
also experience death at some point in our lives (Hebrews 9:27). Whether you happen to be a follower of Christ or not, most would say that Jesus was a very good person - the kind of person that others would want to be like. He was kind yet straightforward and consistent; merciful yet principled and firm; knowledgeable yet warm and welcoming; popular yet humble and down to earth; holy yet He hung out with those who did dirt; strict yet graceful and forgiving; and the list goes on and on. Years ago there was a movement that was memorialized with a bracelet that said WWJD. This stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” This movement was very enlightening and exciting because it caused people to think twice before they did or said anything, as in “If Jesus were here and He found Himself in this situation, what would He say or what would He do?” But before we can hypothesize on what Jesus would do, we need to read and understand what Jesus did do. Therefore WDJD would come before WWJD. Let’s think about seven characteristics of Christ and ways we can be like Him: 1. Obedience - “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8 ESV) 2. Servanthood – “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is
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Pastor John Das serves with his wife CoPastor Roslyn Das at Revive Church in Charlotte, NC. His heart is to reach out to people with a message of love. He has a unique gifting to minister to all ages, cultures, backgrounds, and denominations with a special call to reach the youth. You can learn more about them and their ministry at revivethecity.com and follow them on FB at @ReviveCharlotte
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and women; how He felt towards those who were sick and those who were whole; And how He loved friends, family, enemies, accusers, betrayers, tempters and disciples. This model of His behavior gives us a pattern or guideline for how we should relate to others as well. Additionally, the everyday Jesus paid taxes, ate food, went to sleep, used the bathroom and took showers. The everyday Jesus did not levitate, but walked everywhere He went just like everyone else. He taught us how to overcome temptation and how to relate to our Heavenly Father as well, by spending time with God, listening to His voice, and obeying His will, even when the Father’s will led to His own death. However, it wasn’t just what He did, but how, when and why He did it, and with whom. He ate when He needed to eat; He worked when He needed to work; He rested when He needed to rest; He was aggressive when He needed to be aggressive; He was gentle when He need to be gentle; He spoke up some times, and remained silent at other times. He ran when He needed to run, and He laid his life down when He needed to lay His life down. He also knew when to minister to the few and when to minister to the masses. He excelled at everything! The key is not just what He did, it’s how He did it and why He did it and when He did it. It’s not just timing, it’s knowing when a certain action or response is needed, called for, led by God or at least appropriate. As we study the life of Christ, we are able to see several different real life situations and circumstances that Jesus was involved in. Therefore we are able to observe His patterns and ways of acting or response to certain situations. And one day, may we all “come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Eph. 4:13 NLT).
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not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:12-17 NKJV). 3. Love, compassion and kindness – “Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, ‘I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way” (Matt. 15:32 NKJV); “When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Luke 7:13 NKJV). 4. He knew how to address each and every audience – “But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing” (Luke 9:11 NKJV). 5. He was aware of His surroundings and those who were around Him – “While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: ‘Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:15-17 NKJV). 6. He knew when it was time to rest or pray (to refresh, revive and renew Himself) – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (Luke 6:12 NIV). 7. He knew when to rebuke or correct, and when to show grace or excuse – “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ He said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers” (Matt. 21:12-13 NIV); “But He kept on looking around to see who had [touched Him]. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over’” (Mark 5:32-34 NLT). This is the Jesus that people need to see and know. The everyday Jesus who showed us how to not only be spiritual, but how to be excellent in natural behavior as well. How Jesus related to the rich, poor, young, and old; how He interacted with Jews, Gentiles, men,
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