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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.

Thankfulness for 2020

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This year, instead of sending a Christmas letter, I decided to jump on the early bird train and send a “Thanksgiving Letter,” because despite all the curveballs from 2020, there is a lot to be thankful for! This is the letter I sent out to several people but also wanted to have it digitally right here to share with those I was unable to send letters to this year. I want to tell you about 20 things I’m thankful for this year, and I pray this will encourage you to end your year with gratitude too!

1. New Washer: Our washer broke in January. One of our friends came to look at it, and was going to order the right pieces for us and fix it. Instead, his family bought us a brand new washer AND installed it for us! This may seem small, but I am thankful for this family and the way they loved me and my roommates!

2. Spin Weekend: We were able to have our annual spring student event, SPIN, in March a few weeks before the pandemic hit Texas. That was one of our last times seeing our students, and I am so grateful for that weekend together!

3. Roommates and Movie Marathons: Once the pandemic hit, my roommates (Shelby and Margie) and I watched over 40 movies! I am grateful for their friendship, willingness to eat popcorn every night, and for their grace during quarantine.

4. Loving Neighbors: One blessing the pandemic provided was the opportunity for me, my roommates, and a few of our other friends to meet our neighbors, pray with them, and have spiritual conversations with them. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we were invited in for hours to talk with people who were really lonely, several who were sick, and many who were struggling during this season. We had frequent conversations with our closest neighbors, but knocked on almost every door in our apartment complex over the span of a few months. I am grateful for these friends to love neighbors with, the conversations we got to have, & the men and women who trusted Jesus!

5. Sabbath Rhythms: This quarantine season honestly gave me a great opportunity to truly practice sabbath. I know I haven’t “nailed it” yet, but I am thankful for the new mercies each week to practice sabbath rest and trust the Lord deeper.

6. Parents 30 Year Anniversary: On June 9, my parents celebrate 30 years of marriage! Although I didn’t get to be there in person to celebrate with them, I am incredibly grateful for the ways their marriage is an example of faithfulness, devotion, service, and humility. They love God, each other, and others with the deepest love, and I am proud to call them my parents! Congrats mom and dad!

7. TVC Residency Program: I began the Residency Program at The Village Church in the Fall of 2019 and completed it this spring! This program grew me in uncountable ways, including challenging me in how many books I could physically read in a year! We had in depth conversations about culture, postmodernism, theology, and the church. I am thankful for the challenge and the ways I was pushed to be a deeper disciple of Jesus.

8. Backpacking Trip: With all of our student summer events canceled, this gave me the opportunity to plan a backpacking trip with a few friends! None of us had backpacked before, which made for an interesting trip! You can read about this trip (and the many other hiking adventures I’ve had recently) on my blog under the “Adventures” tab. But, I am thankful for these adventure friends and the opportunity to be in the middle of nature with them!

9. Accepted Job at Storyline Fellowship: In August, I began a new job as the student minister at Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colorado. It was not an easy thing to apply for this job, simply because I loved my community, my friends, and my coworkers so much at The Village Church. This decision took weeks of fasting, prayer, and guidance from others. I am thankful for the ways the Lord showed me more of Himself during these stressful few weeks and the clarity He provided through it all. Although I deeply miss the students, my coworkers, my roommates, the families, and my close community in Texas, I know this is exactly where God wants me, & for that I am grateful. Also, I love my new job a whole lot!

10. Mom Healed from Cancer! My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer on the first week the pandemic hit. So yeah, it was a rough week. On the day I accepted the position at Storyline, my mom also went in for her last treatment and is doing great! I am thankful for the ways the Lord guided her, provided friends around her to love and support her when Austin and I could not be near, and brought her healing through incredible doctors. And I’m grateful that cancer has been defeated in her life, & prayerful it will not return!!

11. My Texas Family: There are several families that impacted me during my time in Texas & invited me in. But I have some favorite little people who I love deeply & miss daily (pictured below). I am grateful for my 5 years in Texas, all God taught me, & the people I call my family.

12. Moved in a Pandemic: My friends who were planning on driving the moving truck with me ended up getting Covid two days before we left. That led to a day of panic about how I was going to move to Colorado, followed with sadness that I wouldn’t get to see them before I left. Yet, the Lord provided two other friends who were willing to drive for 13 hours straight with a moving van across three states! I am thankful for these friends and their willingness to go on a spontaneous moving trip with me!

13. Hiked My 14th 14er: I was able to hike four 14ers (mountains over 14,000 ft) this summer, reaching number 14 on my list! My goal remains to hike all 58, & now that I’m back in Colorado, I hope this goal will come sooner than later! I’m thankful for the friends who hiked 14ers with me this summer, the majesty of God I get to see from that altitude, & for the physical ability to hike. I never want to take that for granted, so I’m thankful for a healthy body this year!

14. New Roommates and New Traditions: Upon moving to Colorado, that meant I needed new roommates and a place to live. Praise the Lord for two other single girls, who both moved from Texas and The Village, and who were looking for roommates! Caitie and Lindsay have quickly become great friends and I am so thankful for the community they have provided during this transition and continued pandemic. We also have started a tradition of getting up early on Saturday mornings (mostly to beat the crowd and be more efficient… can you tell we are all enneagram 1’s?!) and go on a nice long hike! So if you’re in town on a Saturday & want to get up early, you know where to find us!

15. Early Snow: We got hit with early snow in September and it made my heart happy! Again, this may seem like a little thing to mention, but it’s something I am grateful for! The snow seems to bring with it this sense of peace and the remove of urgency to be everywhere and do everything. Plus, it’s been really fun teaching my Texas roommates about all things Colorado, preparing for winter, and how to shovel a driveway!

16. Community: In Texas, I cherished living within walking distance of a lot of people I knew, spent time with, and loved. And yet, I remembered moving to Texas a little over five years ago and having no community at first. God answered that prayer over time as I lived there! Moving back to Colorado has led me to pray for the same thing! I am thankful for the community God provided in Texas, especially during a pandemic, & for the community he has provided here in families who moved from Texas at the same time!

17. Family Visited: My brother (Austin) and sister-in-law (Jenna) came to visit for two whole weeks in October! That was a really sweet and unexpected gift since Hawaii has been in full lock down for most of the year. I’m grateful they were able to come and spend a few weeks here with us, & thankful for the ways they encourage me, along with all the fun we have together.

18. Student Came to Faith: During the second month of my job, I got to see the Lord save one of our students and totally transform her life! I’m grateful to be on the front row of seeing all God is doing in the lives of students in Arvada!

19. No Instagram: I took a year off from Instagram (except the one week in August to announce I was moving) and it has been wonderful! I am thankful for the ways this has led me to be more present with those around me & less concerned about getting the perfect picture and caption everywhere I go.

20. YOU! Last but not least, I am grateful for you! Thank you for reading this post and many other posts from this year! I pray that these have been an encouragement to you and a little glimpse into my life while I take a break from Instagram! And I hope this list encourages you to make your own list of things to be grateful for from this crazy year!

Stay around for more posts in the future and follow my blog using the links below so you won’t miss a post! Until then, Happy Thanksgiving!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1 (ESV)

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 Most Delightful Dinner.

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Think about the most delightful dinner you have ever had. What made it so great? The scenery? The people? The journey to get there?

After our crazy backpacking experience, which you can read about in my other posts HERE, we decided to ditch the last 14er and head into town early. We were all way more tired than we expected and we still had to backpack down the mountain and drive an hour into town.

With the crazy hiking portion of our trip finalized, we decided to go to the store and get a good, savory meal to cook for dinner. We grabbed all the essentials: steak, asparagus, potatoes, and wine. Then we headed to our perfect little Airbnb in the middle of an aspen forest! We took hot showers, short naps, and began cooking dinner. We found a small picnic table outside and decided that it would be the perfect place for dinner.

And it was.

This was the most delightful, content, and filling meal I have had in a long time…. dare I say, it was the best dinner ever. It is pretty hard to beat good friends, fine food, and cool mountain air. Plus we were completely surround by Colorado 14er… sitting in a forest of aspen trees… as the sun was setting… listening to deer prancing about in the trees nearby.

Yep, that’s hard to beat.

This was the most delightful dinner. And I think what made it so delightful was not just the incredible scenery, but also the journey to get to that dinner. We had just spent several days eating granola bars, oatmeal, and instant meals. (Though the astronaut ice cream was pretty tasty!) To be in a place where we had a hot meal (that was not made by heating up water) was pure joy.

The only thing we thought of that could make this dinner better was if Jesus Himself was there in the flesh with us. This truly felt like a dinner He would have enjoyed with us if He had been here in person. And yet, He was with us. He was with us on the mountains and during the cold nights and throughout the tough hiking. And He was with us during this most delightful dinner ever.

And friends, I can’t wait to have more dinners like this for eternity with Jesus. Can you imagine?! Eternity with Jesus is going to be delightful!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV)

Gentle and Lowly – Book Recommendation

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Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund may have become one of my favorite books over the last few weeks.

This is a book that, as the title suggests, tells about the heart of Jesus. Dane is pastoral in his writing and there is a tenderness about this book. He relies heavily on two key theologians: Thomas Goodwin and John Owen (with some John Bunyan and C.S. Lewis sprinkled throughout). The works of these two men in particular are works that I was not completely familiar with prior to this book. After reading this book, I feel like I understand the writings of both Goodwin and Owen with much more clarity, though I still have not directly read their works.

When I describe this book to others, I typically say that it’s a book about the attributes of Christ. Yes, the attributes of Christ are the same as those of God because Jesus is God, yet this book reveals a lot about Jesus’ humanity and God’s true heart towards us. As I read this book, I felt my soul become lighter, unraveled, and more at peace. I didn’t feel like I was being condemned or shamed by God, but rather, like I was being invited to simply sit and rest, as He healed the brokenness of my soul and my misunderstanding of who He truly is.

This book reminded me over and over again that God does not look on us with disappointment and frustration. He does not shame us or push us aside. He does not remove His love from us despite our sin. I was reminded that our very sin is what God draws near to. He sees us and cares for us in the very lowest of lows.

One of my favorite lines in this book is a quote from Goodwin. He says, “O therefore come in unto him. If you knew his heart, you would.” How beautiful and secure is that promise. If we truly knew the heart of the one who gave up everything for us, we would not hesitate to run to Him, even in (and especially in) our sins and failures.

Overall, this is a book I would HIGHLY recommend. But please, do not rush through this book, flipping page after page just to get through it and on to the next one. Sit in this book for a while. Let the words of Christ marinate in your heart and wash over your soul like a refreshing drink of water. Let Christ invite you into truly see His heart for you. For He is gentle and lowly, and His arms are open wide for you.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Pick Up Your Armor. And Fight!

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Sin is a battle. And lies are the fuel behind the sin. It must be fought.

The Bible tells us about special weapons we can use to fight against the enemy. And those who belong to His Kingdom are equipped with these weapons.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 

Ephesians 6:10-17

Each piece of armor described above in the book of Ephesians is to be used by the Children of God. When I read this passage I often think back to the book I read as a child countless times, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In this book we see Aslan give each of the children a specific and special gift, which is helpful to fight against the enemy. In the same way, God gives His children specific gifts to be used against the true enemy of this world. Yes, He gives each child specific gifts, but He also gives all of His children these pieces of armor to fight.

Armor is not meant to sit on the floor. A sword isn’t meant to just cut the Christmas ham at the family table. Nor are you to put on your shoes and stay on the couch. Each armor article is used for a specific thing and is meant to be used by God’s Children to fight for the Kingdom.

Is your armor on the floor? Do you need to pick it up? Spend time reading through this passage slowly and thinking about each piece. Put it all on and use it to fight against our true enemy. He is not flesh and blood, but rather lies, deception, and twisted truths.

And the only way to fight against the sin of this world, the sin in your heart and life, and the lies you are believing as truth… is to fight. But you must go into battle with the right equipment, not a butter knife and baseball hat. You must fight. You must not give up. And you must rely on the Spirit of God to lead and guide you as you go.

The Added Despair of Good Friday This Year.

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Good Friday, the day we remember the trial, crucifixion, and death of our Savior, is already a day of darkness and mourning for the Christian believer. This year, amidst Covid-19 and social distancing, there is an added layer of despair, loss, and loneliness we will all feel this year.

Imagine for a moment that you were one of Jesus’ disciples or a close follower of His. You went with Him everywhere. You saw the miracles He did. You witnessed the nearness to the Father that was displayed in his every word and action. You believed He was the Messiah, the long awaited King who would bring the true Kingdom. And you believed He came to prepare for war, a war against Rome.

But then He was carried away, put on trial, beated, mocked, and hung on a cross.

And then, He died.

Wait, what?! He was supposed to be the Messiah, the Savior, the King! And He died?! He was supposed to save Israel from Rome! Image the despair, loss, confusion, and grief that those who followed Him and looked to Him for hope and rescue felt on that day.

I imagine it was a feeling of deep separation, a feeling of incredible despair, and a feeling of disorientation. I imagine it was hard to get up the next day and go about life. And I imagine there were a lot of tears shed and prayers of confusion uttered through it all.

So maybe this is a helpful season to be in as we celebrate Holy Week. Consider how you can relate all the more to the despair of those who followed Jesus closely. We have so many of those same types of feelings right now. We feel loss of nearness to others because of social distancing. We feel disoriented with reality and the uncertain about the future. We grieve over the things we have lost, and those who have lost loved ones. We shed tears and utter prayers asking God, “Why is this happening?”

This year, we may have an added despair of Good Friday, and that is okay. I think there may even be a new type of sadness that is also felt on Easter Sunday when we celebrate the Resurrection in individual households because we are unable to gather together. And that is okay.

God sees your tears. He knows your feelings of loss and grief. And He has not abandoned us.

Holy Week is a reminder that He is the one true King! He came to die for our sins and to bring the Kingdom of God. Satan was the enemy He came to fight, and the grave shows His victory for all who would trust in Him!

This year will look different than any other Easter celebration, but maybe it will help guide us closer to Our Savior with greater dependence on Our God. Maybe it will cause us to understand in a new way the depth of sacrifice Jesus gave to bring us near. Maybe, just maybe, it will stir up a deeper gratitude and affection for Jesus. And if that is the case, then praise be to God! For His alone is worthy!

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.