Bible

Deep Discipleship – Book Recommendation

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“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Habakkuk 2:14

I could not recommend the book Deep Discipleship by JT English more highly, especially for those involved in church ministry. This book gives practical ministry advice that is based in scripture and applicable in all contexts of ministry. Plus, it is incredibly organized and clear, making this an easy, yet impactful read for anyone evaluating their own ministry or church.

This book recommendation is a little different than my others simply because I know JT personally and have heard his passion behind every word written in this book. JT cares deeply about the local church because he knows that this is the means by which God has given to us, as believers, to proclaim the coming Kingdom. I have seen JT not only teach on these things, but live them out. And by watching his life and ministry, I have grown in my own love for the Bride of Christ.

I feel blessed to have seen JT, Jen, and others at The Village Church work through these concepts on the ground and then put them into practice. My own story in ministry is a result of the majority of this book truly coming to life during my time at TVC. I was privileged to be in the first class of The Village Church Institute Training Program in 2015. (And yes, I still love my cohort 11 group so so much!) The Training Program was incredibly influential as we studied theology in depth as a community, were challenged to memorized entire chapters of the Bible, and tasked to write our own doctrinal statements on key Christian beliefs like trinitarianism, soteriology, and the resurrection. I had just finished college at a Baptist university and received a minor in Bible and yet, we were talking about concepts I had never truly gotten my hands on or studied for myself. Plus, we were reading some heavy things by authors like Herman Bavinck. This was the first time I remember seeing the Bible as one big narrative, with key promises (covenants) to guide the way. These conversations and this teaching truly changed how I saw the church, my love for God’s Word, and my desire to be in ministry teaching these very things to others.

From there, I was able to take these concepts and begin applying them into the middle school ministry. We took 8th grade girls through the Women’s Bible Class that Jen Wilkin was teaching on Tuesday nights. Each year we had 10-15 8th grade girls who were eager to study the Bible every Tuesday night for 2 hours… with women, not their peers or the cute boys in the youth group. And each year I was incredibly proud of them for showing up, doing their homework, sitting through the teaching time, and asking hard questions. (To be honest, most of the time they were the ones teaching me I think!)

We also wrote a curriculum series that outlined the story of the Bible following the important covenants of the Bible, and one that outlined basic Christian beliefs about God, people, and the church. Both of these series were birthed through The Training Program teachings, which my colleagues and I had received, in order to bring common language across all discipleship environments. Once we began to see the bigger picture of scripture, the ways beliefs are shaped from this, and how to practice these things in community, we desired to teach the students we ministered to these same concepts.

I say all these things not to point to the things I have accomplished in ministry, but rather to demonstrate that the things written about in this book can really happen… and they are happening in local churches! This book simply provides helpful questions to consider as you evaluate your own ministry or church, and a framework to begin teaching and training your people in a way that builds holistic disciples.

The framework that JT outlines of Bible, beliefs, and practices is a key framework that should be (and can be!!) implemented into any area of ministry. These things are not just for “big church” or the overall church structure. These things are also for our kids in preschool ministry, our teens in youth group, and our adults in home groups. Each area of discipleship, focusing on these key things, demonstrates a healthy local church, and provides a scope and sequence of continued growth for the disciple at every stage of life.

I could go on and tell you my favorite parts of every chapter and how I hope to continue to implement the ideas from this book into my ministry at Storyline Fellowship now, but I would rather let you dive into this book for yourself and be encouraged by these words.

Pastor, minister, deacon, teacher, volunteer… you are not alone. No ministry is perfect. And no church will get it right all the time. I love the encouragement JT gives multiple times, reminding the reader that these concepts will look different in different context. But friend, I pray that above all else, you love God more deeply and are eager to keep fighting the good fight as you keep the main thing the main thing.

“God is the goal of deep discipleship.”

Dr. JT English. Deep Discipleship, 21.

Deep Discipleship by JT English

2020: It’s Hard for Everyone.

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I have a goal of climbing to the summit of every 14er in Colorado. (A 14er is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet elevation.) This is a tedious goal and one that will take me years to complete. I have summited 14 of 58 over the past 9 years, so I’m about a quarter of the way there!

The thing about 14ers is that they never get easy. It doesn’t matter how many 14ers you hike, they are always hard. And every single 14er is different. They have different elevation gains, terrains, and distances. The weather shifts and they each have their own difficulties.

The year 2020 has reminded me of 14ers in a lot of ways. It has been hard for everyone. It doesn’t really matter what you had planned for 2020 because it has changed… probably a thousand times. Some people have had much harder years than others, but no matter what, I know 2020 has been hard for you.

Friend, I pray that you will not give up. I pray that you will continue on even though it is hard. I pray that you will see that this year has been hard for everyone, and yes, maybe it’s been especially hard for you. But the fact that it’s been a hard year for everyone gives you a pretty wide variety of people to talk with who will likely understand and relate to some of your hardship. So lean into community, family, and friends. Let them hear your hardships, weep with you over the losses, and sit with you in the sadness.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15 (ESV)

I think the worst part about what most of 2020 has brought is that it encourages people to hide and remain in isolation. This is exactly where the enemy wants us. He wants us to feel alone, isolated, and afraid. He wants us to be convinced that we are the only one struggling or suffering, and that no one could understand or help. I know this is his desire because of what John 10:10 says…

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 (ESV)

You see, the enemy is a thief who does not care for you or me. He only wants to steal our joy, kill our dreams, and destroy our lives. But Jesus came to give life. And not any life, an abundant, full life! He is the one who came to save us from hiding and isolation. He came to redeem us and give us true life. There are still hardships in this life with Jesus, but there is also joy, abundance, and fellowship.

The year 2020 has convinced many of you that you are alone. But I want you to hear today that you do not have to be alone. There is a God who sees you and cares for you. He sees your every need and created your very being. And He longs for a relationship with you.

2020 is hard for everyone. But if there’s anything I’ve learned in hiking 14ers, it’s that it’s way easier when you hike with good company. And in my opinion, the best company you could get is Jesus. Lean into Him. Ask Him to draw near. Spend time in His word. He is for you. And He is with you! May you be reminded of His nearness as we step into the last month of the year.

The Significance of Touch.

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One day, Jesus had just finished teaching and healing a lot of people. A man with a skin disease (called a leper) came up to him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me well.” Jesus looked at the man and told him he was willing. Then, Jesus did something amazing. He touched the man and the man was clean! His disease was gone and he was healed! (This story is taken from Matthew 8:1-11.)

As I studied this story this week, I looked more into lepers and their place in society. I knew they were considered “unclean” and “untouchable” since their disease could be spread easily. I knew they lived outside of the city in communities with other lepers. And I knew they often didn’t have any human touch. But the thing I discovered this week was that there was a law that said lepers had to stay at least 6 feet away from other people! SIX FEET!

Now, if you are reading this in the Covid-19 season, you see the significance of this. Right now, most places require a 6 foot distance between you and another person not in your household. Apparently there is something to the whole 6-foot rule after all! 😉

Reading this during the pandemic has given me a new perspective on this story. It is so significant that Jesus reaches out and touches the man. He goes against what the law said. He goes against what society said was good and right. He goes against what those around him said was appropriate.

And Jesus touches the man. He touches someone who has probably not had human contact in years. He puts himself in a vulnerable place. This is significant.

During this pandemic, we are asked to stay six-feet away from others and wear masks in most public places. These are laws that have been put in action to keep people safe and reduce the load the health care system is caring right now. I know these are not my favorite or your favorite rules, but if they help make others who are immune compromised feel safe, I will continue to do this when around them. But, this is not meant to be a post about masks, or no masks, or the division masks have created in our society.

Instead, this is a post simply noting that ways Jesus interacted with others. He leaned in. He stepped in. He stood in the gap. He put himself in a vulnerable place by touching someone with an infectious disease.

So I ask you to consider, who around you do you need to lean into? Where can you stand in the gap? How can you go the extra mile and love someone well?

In this pandemic, maybe that means giving a hug to a single person who is living alone and doesn’t have much human contact right now. Maybe that means spending extra time on phone calls with friends and family who are spending time by themselves. Maybe it means checking in on people more frequently, or inviting neighbors into your home. Maybe it simply means saying hello to people at the grocery store or a restaurant, even if the whole mask thing is hard and feels restricting. As Christians, we can continue to be people who love well in this season, masks or no masks. The commands of Jesus are the same: to love Him and love others. And I can tell you, as a single person, that touch is significant and I have loved getting hugs from friends and family! Even for those who don’t “love” hugs, right now, I bet that most people you know would love another hug. 2020 has been a hard year for everyone.

God created us for community… community with Him and community with one another. We do not need to let this season create further distance and isolation between us. We need to see those who are prone to isolation and lean in. We need to reach out and touch them, reminding them that there is hope.

This pandemic will not last forever, and this pandemic was not a surprise to God. He is fully aware of our lives right now, and how they were different 9 months ago, and what they will be like 9 months from now. In every season, we can have trust that God is in control. We have hope that goes beyond this broken world, and this is the season the world needs to hear of this hope.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

The Mountains Are Calling.

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I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado and loved my childhood. It included building snow-forts, sledding down our neighborhood hill, playing baseball in our backyard, running cross country at my high school, and countless friends enjoying our basement, which was full of games and adventure!

I don’t think I really realized the joy of living in Colorado until I left for college. I went to school at Oklahoma Baptist University to run on their track and cross country team. I loved my team and have some great memories from that place. But the question I got every time I met someone new was, “Why did you leave Colorado?”

My mom always said the same thing. Both of my parents grew up in Texas and much of our family still lives there. We moved from Texas to Colorado when I was four, so I don’t really remember much of Texas.

I ended up back in Texas after college to work at The Village Church in the middle school ministry. It was a dream job! I have felt called to student ministry since my senior year of college. That’s when I began to look for internships at churches so I could learn more about life in ministry and gain some hands on experience. Joining the staff at The Village was an incredible opportunity to grow, learn, and get the experience I needed.

I intended to only be in Dallas for the one year internship and then move again. But God had different plans. He allowed me to stay, grow, and be planted there for five years, almost exactly to the day.

During those five years I grew in my understanding of God and in my experience as a Bible teacher, and I grew to deeply love the Church, Christ’s Bride. I also went through trials during these years, like anxiety and depression, loss of friendships, and difficult health issues. Yet, God also allowed me to get to know some incredible people I would call family for the rest of my life.

Towards the end of last year (around October) I started to feel the Lord calling me into something new but I wasn’t sure what it was. I thought it was a new season at TVC, but once Covid hit, I thought maybe it was simply a different pace in student ministry and a time to rest. I continued to feel like the Lord was asking me to transition, but I was unsure what door He would open.

As summer began (and all of our events were canceled for students) I had some time in Colorado planned. My first trip was a backpacking trip with some friends. During this trip, I was able to spend some time asking God what He was doing in my life and where He wanted me to walk. Was it something new at TVC? Was it something new with students? Was it in a new place? I returned from that trip with a lot of questions and very few answers.

“Go to the place I will send you.”

I began to pray and fast, seeking more specific answers from God. And slowly, the Lord opened up doors. I was still really confused on what to do specifically and what he was doing, mostly because there seemed to be two really great doors opened to me.

When you come to a crossroad in life, what do you do? Well, if you are like me, you are first grateful for the options but also terrified of choosing the wrong one. Because of this, I needed some time and space to process and pray. I didn’t want to stay or go or move at all unless the Lord was in it.

So I prayed.

And prayed.

And prayed.

I asked some close friends to pray with and for me.

And then I prayed some more.

Slowly, He began to remind me of my childhood, of a people I love, of the place I go every time I get a free weekend and friend willing to join an adventure. He began to open up doors for a move back to my home state, just one hour from home.

This is a sweet gift. One I did not accept lightly. It was the most difficult decision I have had to make to this day. And yet, God was in it all. He guided me through conversations with others and by His word. He led me beside quiet waters to restore me and remind me that I belong to Him. He led me as a good shepherd does, reminding me that no matter where I go, He is the same God.

It was hard to say goodbye to friends in Texas, and even harder to say goodbye to those friends I call family. But I know that we still worship the same God. I know that God is still with them even when I can’t be there with them physically. I trust that God will watch over them just as He is watching over me.

Overall, I am grateful even amidst the sad and hard goodbyes. I’m grateful because God led me back to a place my heart has desired to go, to minister to a people a long to see redeemed, and to a place I feel the closest to God. He has called me to this place and given me a confidence that this is where I am to be planted right now.

My prayer for Colorado (and Arvada) is that they would know the God who molded the mountains, formed the forests, and spoke the stars into being. My prayer is that the people of Colorado would not just enjoy His creation but would recognize that there is a Creator, who also made them.

Would you join me in praying for this people (my neighbors) to know, love, and worship the one true God?! He is more than able! I am confident that He has called me and others to this place to be ministers of the gospel here, and to bring hope to a dark and dying world. I am eager to see God work and excited to join all that He is doing!

‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)

Campfires.

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There is something incredible about sitting around a fire in the middle of nature with good friends. And if you find yourself at a campfire in the middle of nature with a group of strangers, I have no doubt that they too will soon be your good friends.

Campfires bring out this desire to sit, watch, listen, and rest. You cannot be hurried around a campfire. (That is, unless you are building a campfire on the brink of a storm and you only have so long to cook the food you brought before the inevitable downpour. And I’m not writing that out of experience or anything.) When you sit around a campfire, you enjoy talking, asking questions, hearing stories, and sharing stories. I’m convinced that there is something within us that was made for this.

I often think about the Israelites and how hard of a life they had. They went through a lot of ups and downs, but especially a lot of downs. They spent 40 years in a desert. They had a system of sacrifices they had to perform in order to be right with God. This group of people constantly had to build fires. These fires would have been used for food preparation, warmth, and sacrifices. (Side note: Do you think they got tired of their clothes smelling like campfires too?)

We don’t know everything about the Israelites and their way of life. So, I often wonder if they sat around campfires at night, sharing stories from the day and remembering the faithfulness of God. I wonder what things they thought were funny and what stories they enjoyed telling the most. And I wonder what it was like to build a fire in a desert every single day for 40 years.

I also think they were probably all really good at getting fires started and keeping them going. We often “cheat” this by bringing fire starters, lighter fluid, torches, matches, etc. This is a skill I’m still trying to master. But back to the point.

Campfires may be one of my favorite things. I think a big part of this has to with them being in nature, which I love. It is a joy to sit around a fire and stare up into the tall trees around you, hear the leaves crunch under your feet, smell the bark and sap of the forest, and gaze up at the stars. But the other part is that campfires bring people together. They allow people to sit, rest, and chat. They provide a place where everyone has a chance to talk and share because everyone has the time to listen. You may find yourself around a fire with some people you don’t know very well, but somehow, by the flames of the fire and with the reality that there is no place to rush off to, it allows you to feel invited in and known. The flames themselves provide light in the darkest of nights, creating an invitation to sit and savor for just a moment or two. The flames dancing in front of you allow you to forget about the rest of the world for just a moment. And there is peace. Rest. Joy. Delight.

If you haven’t enjoyed a campfire in a while, I encourage you to make one soon and enjoy all that it provides. Invite some friends you know well or some friends you want to know better, and then just sit and relax together. Enjoy the sounds and smells of nature. Talk about the past and the future. Make a smore or two. Be reminded that the God who created everything around you is so big and so kind to give us small glimpses of heaven. And sometimes that comes through something as simple as a campfire.

Being Grounded in Gratitude.

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We are all in a season of loss. There are lot of things around us we are losing amidst “shelter-in-place” orders, sickness, and uncertainties of the future. Some of us may be experiencing more loss than others, but we know the feeling of loss well, especially right now.

Maybe the loss you are experiencing is present…loss of connecting with community, loss of physical touch if you live by yourself, loss of sanity if you are now both mom and teacher, or loss of a job. Maybe the loss you are experiencing is future oriented…no future securities, postponed weddings, or canceled vacations. But whatever the losses you are experiencing are, they are significant and the Lord sees those things that you have had to give up or have been taken from you over the last few weeks.

I was listening to a study on anxiety the other day and they were talking about how the brain works… which, side note, I think the brain is fascinating and if you have any good books that are not super technical, I would love to read those!! Anyways, they were saying that the pathways used in our brains that indicate anxiety, worry, and stress are the same ones used for gratitude and thanksgiving! So it’s actually impossible to be anxious and grateful at the same time.

I started to think about that, and was curious, “Is that really true? Can I experience a feeling of anxiety while I’m also experiencing gratitude?” And as I thought I about this, I came to the conclusion that this is true!

Now I know that there are a LOT of types of anxiety and that anxiety can also be a clinical diagnosis which requires medication and professional help. I think medication and professional help are both good and right places to go in the midst of anxiety. And I encourage my friends who experience this deep, clinical level of anxiety to use those good graces given to us for help. This is good and right.

I also think that there is something behind the science of our brains and that gratitude is a really helpful thing to consider. We can be grounded in gratitude because it reorients our minds to focus on the things that are truly important. We are forced, in gratitude, to look beyond our present situation or circumstance. We are required to shift our emotions to be grateful, even if it’s just for a moment.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

So in this season of uncertainty and loss, I encourage you to be grateful. Begin and end each day with writing down something you are grateful for. Try to be specific. Instead of being thankful for “another day” be specific about what you are thankful for. Maybe it’s that the sunshine feels warm on your skin. Or maybe you are thankful for the time you have today to watch a movie with your roommates and relax with them. Maybe you are thankful for the trees that are blossoming outside your window because they remind you that God is still at work and continues to care for even the trees and flowers.

Be grateful. And let your mind, emotions, and experiences in this world be grounded in gratitude. Spending time in thanksgiving does something to your brain, and through I don’t know all the specific scientific terms and chemistry dynamics, I know that change happens because I experience a changed mindset and renewed perspective in the midst of gratitude.

So if you feel anxious today about another day doing the same things again in your home, or you feel that deep sense of loss as you cancel yet another plan you were looking forward to, stop and take a moment to be grateful. Let gratitude ground you in what is true as the Lord of heaven and earth refocuses your mind on His eternal Kingdom and forever reign!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

You are Much More Valuable.

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25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

I think a lot of us need to take a moment and read through those verses slowly right now. And hey, we have the time… am I right?! So do that right now. Go back and read those verses slowly.

COVID-19 has been a disorienting and incredibly intense situation to watch unfold over the last few weeks. And yet, I just have a deeper and greater hope in the reality that God is with us, He sees us, and He cares for us.

Matthew 6:25-34 give us some really great truths to hold on to. Obviously, the main idea in this passage is “Do not worry.” Jesus is guiding his hearers to truth by pointing them to trust that God is the one who is in control and who cares for His world. He is asking His hearers to have a new perspective and understanding by reminding them that there is One True King who is Lord over all!

Jesus supports the idea of “do not worry” by talking about two examples: the birds and the flowers. These are both things that are pretty common and we see them often. Jesus says that the birds do not store up food or worry about tomorrow. They live day-by-day, trusting that they will be provided for. And God provides for them day after day after day. If God cares for the birds, who fly around everywhere, sometimes are very annoying to us, and who are not made in the image of God, how much more does He care for YOU!?

“Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Matthew 6:26b

Then Jesus tells us about the flowers, or lilies of the field. These are actually wildflowers… just simple flowers that grow in a field that no one cares for or tends to. Many of these flowers that pop up will not even be seen by the human eye! And yet, God cares for them. He sees them and calls them beautiful and valuable. How much more, friend, does God care for you…who are made in His image and lasts far longer than the flowers which wither quickly and fade away? You are so much more valuable.

“…will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

Matthew 6:30b

I love that in each of these examples, Jesus points our attention to our value being “much more” than the birds and the flowers. Both of these things seem so delicate and dependent. Jesus reminds us that we are of so much more value than these, helping us gain a perspective on life where God is the true King. If we understand our right position as image bearers and children, and trust God to be in charge, then we have no need of worry because we serve a good King who knows each of our needs!

The Lord was so kind to have me teach our middle school students on the verses above at our last gathering as a group for the foreseeable future. How kind is the Lord to leave those students and leaders with the message of “Do not worry” and “You are much more valuable than the birds and flowers!” Incredibly kind.

So today, I hope you hear the truths of these verses: Do not worry, for you are much more valuable than they! In the midst of constant change and alarming news, may you find security, safety, and stability in the words of Jesus, proclaimed 2,000 years ago on a mountainside across the world. Be encouraged, and set your perspective in the right place… on the One True King who is still ruling and reigning amidst it all. Then find someone else to encourage today! You are dearly loved, so do not worry.

The Disorienting Nature of COVID-19.

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Right now, I was supposed to be on the West Coast feeling the cool ocean breeze and hugging giant trees. But I’m not. The reality is, we all have things we were looking forward to over the next few days or weeks that have now been suspended, postponed, or canceled. COVID-19 is disorienting.

It’s easy to watch the news and hear about disasters and hardship in other places and not really feel it for yourself. Sure, maybe you can relate to some of the reports but you likely can’t relate to them all, nor can you actually know and experience what those people are experiencing at that very moment.

The coronavirus is different. With the first case reported on December 31, 2019 in China, it was easy to see that event and not believe it would effect that many people. And then it spread… quickly. This virus seemed to make the news almost overnight as it reached country after country, eventually landing in the United States.

Now we begin to feel it because now it affects us…in fact, it affects every single person on the planet. It’s affecting our friends and family living in other countries. It’s affecting our loved ones living in the U.S. in different states. And it’s affecting us… our plans, our hopes, and our day-to-day lives.

And for me, this is disorienting.

We don’t really seem to have a category to put our current lifestyle into. We walk around with caution, buy things in haste to stay prepared, and obsessively check the news. Some are responding with extreme caution while others are not missing a beat and continuing with their lives. But everyone is slowly becoming more and more aware to the reality and seriousness of this pandemic.

The feeling of disorientation is strange and seems to cause panic, frustration, and fear. No one likes this feeling because it feels out of control, with no stability. And let’s be honest, we all really like being in control.

Yet, in the midst of this disorienting time, there is a place we can go to find certainty, hope, and peace. That place is the Word of God, the Bible.

Taking time to sit in the presence of the Lord reorients us to what is true. The Bible tells us over and over again about how God is a safe refuge, a good Father, a shield, a rock, a fortress, a healer, and most importantly, He is God with us! Therefore, we can listen and respond to the most common command that God gives His people: “Do not fear.”

God tells His people to not fear because He is with them, He is in control, and He is a trustworthy and good God. He tells us not to worry because He cares for us and sees our needs. God reminds us that when we put our hope in the things of this world, they always leave us feeling empty, yet hope in God is certain and true.

I pray that today you would find time to take your cares, concerns, worries, and fears to the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. He is aware of what is going on, has not abandoned us, and deeply desires for His name to be glorified, even amidst the chaos of today. I pray that you would put your hope in Jesus, looking into God’s Word to see the beauty and grace of all that He is and all that He has done. Even through these are disorienting times, God is calling people to Himself and opening the door for people to put their full trust and hope in Him! And He is more than able to save!

Friends, we can have a certain, unswaying, and strong hope that goes beyond the cure of a virus or containment of the chaos. We can have a hope that reorients us to what is true. And that hope is in JESUS. Full, flourishing life is found only by trusting in His name. Run to Him today and let Him reorient you to truth. (And read the verse below. It’s my favorite verse and a great one to cling to in the days to come!)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

P.S. Here are some other verses that may give you hope, peace, and rest, helping you to be reoriented to the truth today. Feel free to comment below with some of your favorite verses as well!

The Kingdom of the Son.

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What does it mean to be part of the Kingdom of the Son? Well it means a whole lot of things, and it also means being called into a whole lot of things.

“God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭(MSG‬‬)

Being called into the Kingdom of the Son means being pulled out of the pit. It means being rescued from an eternal doom by the loved Son of God. It means being set free from frantic failures and patterns of sin. It means living into the identity God has given you. It means truly bearing the image of God in all you do and with all you are.

Being part of the Kingdom is about belonging. It’s about purpose.

My word for 2020 is purpose. I want to learn to live into my purpose here and now, and help others see their purpose in life too. Purpose, for the follower of Jesus, is to belong to the Kingdom of the Son and to live in light of that eternal reality.

As a believer in the one true God, I belong to a greater location than Texas or the United States. I am an ambassador of Jesus Christ and I belong to His Kingdom…and He is the Eternal King! My purpose then is to bring others close to God, that they may also see the beauty, grace, forgiveness, and love of the Father.

Purpose also includes living in light of a reality that is eternal. The chaos of this world, the disappointments, the failures, the flaws, the pain… these are all side effects of a broken world. But my reality is that there will come a day when the Kingdom of the Son will break through, redeeming all that was lost and bringing new life and eternal belonging to those who belong to the Son.

I’m finding that purpose is something we seek and desire as humans. It’s part of being human because our purpose has been marred by sin. We were made to be with God, to enjoy His creation, and to tend His garden. But that picture has been ruined by sin. So our purpose is now difficult to find, leading us to seek identity in other things and in ungodly ways. We attempt to find purpose in who others tells us we are or should be. We attempt to find purpose in our jobs and families. And all of these attempts leave us without lasting purpose or fulfillment, every single time.

The reason we can’t find true, lasting purpose in anything of this world is because we were made for a different world. God created us to be with Him in the beginning. So our longing for purpose, our desire for belonging, our hope for better days ahead, is all stemming from the fact that we were made to be with God. We were made to be in the Kingdom of the Son. And those who follow Jesus will be in this Kingdom forever!

So today, I pray you will consider what it means to be part of the Kingdom of the Son… to live the way He designed us with a purpose that is focused on Him. He is the only one who can rescue from failed attempts at perfection and misguided desires. And He saves all those who come to Him. His Kingdom is eternal and it begins here and now. Will you allow Him to be your King?

Minimalism, a Daily Habit.

moremarsh2 Comments

Minimalism is a thing these days, especially for those in my generation. I think we’ve all started to realize that we don’t need as much stuff as we think we do.

This year, one of my resolutions I made was to donate or throw away one item each day for a year. So far, this has been an easy process because I’ve needed to declutter for a while.

As I have thought about this resolution, I’ve considered: Why not just go through everything and pick out 365 (well 366 since it’s leap year) items to give get rid of? It’s definitely something to consider and then I would be done with that resolution for the year.

Yet, giving away something everyday really causes me to feel it because I have to intentionally find something to get rid of before the day is over. At the end of each day, I put one item either in the trash or in a donation bin, and as I do this, I am reminded that God provides all that I need and has graciously given me all that I have. Reducing my possessions to just those that I will have intentionally chosen to keep, reminds me that all I have belongs to God and I am a steward of His gifts. This is a daily habit I am creating in my life.

This resolution is so much more than just becoming a minimalist, setting a trend, or cleaning my room. This is about a deeper love, gratitude, and understanding for what has been given to me by God.

As a Christian, I believe that everything I have is from God. If God created all and is in charge of all, then He is also the one responsible for giving me all that I have. And yet, I don’t often live like this is true of my life.

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He told them not to take extra things with them for the journey. (See Matthew 10:9-15.)

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.”

Matthew 10:9-10 (NIV)

These men were essentially told to go be homeless as they traveled for a while proclaiming the message of the Kingdom. Often, this is the passage that is quoted in connection with minimalists, saying that clearly Jesus wants us to only have a few things.

We also read about the man who Jesus told to go sell everything and then follow him. (See Matthew 19:16-22.)

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21 (ESV)

So it seems like Jesus was really into this whole minimalist trend! I mean, He told His disciples to get rid of extra luggage they wanted to bring along their journey and told a man to sell everything in order to follow Him. It seems, from these verses and others, that Jesus is either a minimalist or else He really wants to promote homelessness! 😉

But I don’t think the lack of possessions is the point in either of these stories. Instead, I think the point is about the space created in their lives to truly live out the gospel. Jesus was helping them create space in their lives to live fully human.

Being human is about dependence on God, because we are dependent on God for absolutely everything! He has given us breath in our lungs, formed our bodies, provided food we can eat that gives us nourishment and keeps us alive, and so much more! We are dependent on God in so many ways!

By giving away things that I have relied on in the past, there’s more space for me to practice active dependence on God. I am dependent on God not only for all the normal human physical things we need each day (air, water, food, sleep, etc.) but also dependent on God for the invisible things like love, acceptance, forgiveness, grace, and joy!

Minimizing my possessions has helped me become more grateful for and generous with the things I have. I truly believe that this is a Christian practice. By simplifying my life, I have more capacity, time, and space for the things that matter the most. It’s not an instant equation of give an item away = get more time with God/living more missionally with God. BUT it is progress…one degree of glory to the next, am I right?! And reducing the things I have creates a unique awareness of God’s presence in my life that I have really enjoyed experiencing.

So yes, minimizing is trending uphill right now in culture. It’s the newest thing to make your space look tidy, modern, and ready for the perfect Insta pic! But it’s so much more than that! Minimizing is about simplifying your life so you can increase space for the most important things in life. And I would argue, that includes the importance of being fully dependent on God.

How can you follow God in faithfulness in light of this? What does this look like in your life? Maybe it’s similar to my New Year’s resolution of reducing the things I have by creating a daily habit, in order to create space for the things that matter more. Maybe it’s something else! Either way, let’s be faithful men and women who seek after God not only with our all but with our very best!