Displaying Grace

Psalm 91, Part 1 (FREE Workbook)

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When I started to put pen to paper and write about Psalm 91, there were so many different thoughts that stem from this passage of Scripture. It applies to all the dark, and dangerous seasons you can imagine. But, as I approached this I noticed so many friends experiencing some severe attacks from the enemy, including myself. Our enemy is seeking to distract, discourage, and keep them from doing what God has called us to do.

I cannot think of a more dangerous place than in the crosshairs of the enemy. The place that leaves you feeling ready to throw up your hands, or believing your calling is too hard or feeling it would be easier to stop than it would be to face such opposition. It may not raise up the desire to quit within you, but he will certainly try to slow you to a screeching halt.

I have experienced it many times, as recently as the last few days. You see when you head in the right direction (God’s Will) there will without a doubt be opposition. You will feel the heavy weight, the whispers that you are not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, etc., etc. It will drain your energy, your emotions, and your focus. The enemy is seeking to stop you, or at least slow you down.

When I read Psalm 91 the words fill me with hope, the reminder that my protection is Christ alone. I am secure in Him. Ten different times in the first ten verses we see words that are used to describe a form of protection; shelter, fortress, shadow, cover, refuge, shield, bulwark (which is a defensive wall), and dwelling place. Take your highlighter and mark every word in the Psalm that is a form of protection.

These repeated words are for our benefit; a constant reminder in this short passage; it emphasizes the incredible importance of knowing where our real protection comes from.

We can try and find refuge and shelter, we can drown our sadness in cookie dough, get our endorphins going to exercise or talk it out with friends but there is absolutely nothing that can remove the oppression of the enemy apart from the mighty hand of God. Make no mistake that what you are fighting is on purpose.

Let’s look at the outcome when we seek the Almighty as our refuge, highlight verses 6-8.
What does it say will be the result? “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks the darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.”

We don’t have to be afraid; we don’t have to fear evil or what is thrown at us because Christ alone is our defensive wall, He is our shield and our cover. When you feel the arrows flying, pray boldly for your protection to be firm against the enemy. Rest in God’s protection and walk forward stronger in your faith.

Download your FREE Psalm 91 Workbook

When You’re Walking Into The Lion’s Den

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The story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den always makes me think of the Veggie Tales version; there is just something about a story told with summer vegetables to make a story stick. But, this story is one that we cannot overlook or brush under the rug because there will be times in our lives when we, ourselves, will be thrown head first into a den of lions.

Maybe not a literal den but I can think of a few places that felt dangerous because of who was in the room. It’s not always the physical danger we have to watch out for. Spiritual and mental danger also lurk without us even realizing until it is too late.

For you it could be more than that, it could be walking into a room of people who don’t like you because of your faith. A workplace filled with individuals who want to see your fail. Even family members who have life twisted and are verbally abusive to you. I don’t know your den of lions, but I bet you are thinking of a good example right now.

Here is the story…Daniel was a man loyal to God but served on the staff of an earthly king. His job was God appointed; Scripture tells us in verse three that he began to distinguish himself from the others, the NASB says, “he possessed an extraordinary Spirit.” God is the one who set him apart, and the king took notice of this remarkable man.

Well, as it usually happens someone or should I say three ‘someones’ saw Daniel in his set apart way and sought to destroy him. But with Daniel being the godly man he was, they knew the only way to get him would be to use God’s law against him. (As if these guys had nothing else better to do.)

The same three deceived the king into passing a law which stated people could only pray to him and no other god. But, it didn’t stop Daniel, he prayed windows open and unashamed. He knew the consequences of choosing to pray, but Daniel decided to obey God rather than man. His choice landed him in the middle of a lion’s den, sentenced to death.

Friend, this applies to you and I. We will face our own ‘lion’s den.’ Times, when we will meet people who want to talk bad about us or want to destroy our reputation simply for being a child of God and for continuing to live set-apart even when it is not the popular choice.

God set us apart for a unique purpose and plan, He didn’t fill us with His Spirit for us to cower in the face of adversity, but He empowers us to stand strong for His holy name. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and or sound judgment and personal discipline {abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control}.” (2 Tim. 1:7, AMP)

But, just like Daniel’s story, God is with us in the lion’s den, and He will provide the protection we need. Stick firm to His truth, trust Him fully and watch Him shut the mouths of the lions.

 

Join us Monday for Psalm 91 and FREE PDF Workbook!

The Disease of Perfection

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“I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.” Ruth 1:21
“And he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Most of us wake up with an abundance of expectations. You know the ones. Before our feet hit the floor, we usually have a long list of things that we need to accomplish for the day, tasks that need to be overseen, people to make happy, etc., etc. We spend the morning picking out the “perfect” outfit for our day, placing our hair just right, making sure we have what we need in our purses or bags to take on the day ahead of us. Then, it happens. The dreaded moment when all of our planning falls through, all of our hopes and dreams suddenly turn into a giant puff of smoke above our heads.

The truth? We are desperate for perfection; we are desperately trying to get it all right because after all who in the world would want to be a mess? Deep down all the striving for perfection has just revealed how much of a disaster we are simply for the fact that we will never be perfect. We desire for the list to be checked off, the best job, name brand new clothes, all for what? So those around us will be deceived into believing we have it together.

I imagine as Naomi and her husband left their home to escape the famine, their goal was to find a place for her husband to work and food for their family. They sought a place that was better than where they were. Naomi being a woman probably had a plan, a checklist of some sort:
House – check
Food – check
Job for hubby – check

Never would she have excepted that her husband would die while they were in this place, much less both of her sons. The planning for perfection was no good because her dreams were shattered. “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty” (Ruth 1:21). Isn’t that just like us to point our finger at God when things go horribly wrong “You did this to me!” We press into perfection, avoid the messes, and when we find ourselves in trouble, there is always someone else to blame.

We cannot minimize Naomi’s despair. This poor woman lost it all, she was left with two young women who were not her flesh and blood, in a foreign land, and she was left to sit in the middle of her mess. The story could have ended at that point. But, that’s not what God does friend. He isn’t going to leave you wallowing, heaped up in a mountain of despair and bitterness. No, no, no. You see He often uses our greatest hurts to create the most significant message.

Naomi’s story graces the pages of Scripture, women for generations upon generations have read about her and witnessed her mess and bitterness and most certainly have echoed her words. They have seen themselves in her shoes, but I pray we finish the story and witness God’s divine grace and redemption.

When we strive for perfection, it always backfires, but when we show our weakness, God displays His power.

Ruth and Naomi had no plan when they walked through the streets back to Bethlehem. Naomi had all but given up on life, and Ruth? She had no idea what she was doing or where she was headed. But, here is the exciting part. God placed her in a field that leads to her redemption.

God doesn’t command our perfection, so we shouldn’t demand it of ourselves. He wants our weakness, our mess, and deep-seated hurts. He wants to display His perfect power and turn our lives into a walking message of the Gospel.

FREE Praise & Prayer Through the Psalms Guide

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It feels like so many around me are hurting for many reasons. These are days when you feel so small up against the giant trials that seem to surround you. The greatest opportunity we have is to reach high when we feel small. Praise Him despite our greatest hurts and pray for His comfort and peace. Maybe it’s not the hurts of life making you feel small. Maybe it is the calling God has placed upon your life, challenges that are coming your way that has left you in this place. Reach high friend.

In this 5-Day guide you will walk through five different Psalms and study them, then we will turn them into praise and prayers on the sheets provided. Soak them in deep friend and use them as a tool to reach up to God, who is the lifter of your head.

Get this guide now!

 

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When Father’s Day Hurts

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Every year a fierce hurt pierces my heart. I wake up on Father’s Day and miss my dad more than the year before. Most Father’s Day’s I wish I could sleep through or skip over, but there is a man in my house worth honoring. The first Father’s Day I spent without my dad ten years ago, my precious man wrote me a letter, because you see not only was it the first Father’s Day without my dad, it was his first father’s day as a dad himself. We cycled through all the emotions. His letter poured out a heart of a man who knew how much my heart was aching without a dad to call on Father’s Day, without a dad to hug and kiss.

Sometimes Father’s Day hurts.

My heart is tired from missing him as much as I do. I miss his laugh; my dad had the greatest laugh.

I can’t neglect God’s promise for the hurting hearts. I cannot overlook the beautiful the incredible promise that God is a Father to the fatherless.  My gracious God has not let me walk these years alone; He has carried my burdens and pain. He has stood by myside as I walked through big seasons of life without my daddy by my side.

Psalm 68:5 “A Father to the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling.”

We have this truth, if you find yourself fatherless this Father’s Day for whatever the reason, God is a faithful father. He is our sure place, our firm foundation. A father who won’t forsake or abandon, a father who cannot perish.

Friend, Father’s Day may hurt but God is greater than any hurt we face. Wherever your heart may be today, know that you are prayed for.

When Everything Falls Apart…

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She was one of the kindest, most loyal and loving people I know. My friend Lyndall was more than just a friend; she was a spiritual leader and mentor in my life. If I asked for prayer, she wouldn’t hesitate to seek God on my behalf. She prayed for my writing ministry, every time I spoke, every book I wrote she was there to encourage and cheer me on. I miss her.

Grief has been all too present in my life these last few months.

Losing my friend hasn’t been the only hurt within our church or community. It seems as if there something new every day that is plaguing our hearts with deep grief. As I read a post this week from someone I respect who dealing with a very severe hurt, this thought overwhelmed my mind as I read the heartfelt response to her crisis. Does it matter how we respond when everything falls apart?

As a believer, we will face trials and difficulties, if we don’t share our pain or react in a way that honors God we are missing a chance to share the Gospel. When we hide our messes and imperfections, the world starts to believe the enemy who tells them they will never be good enough for God. When there is heartbreak, and we respond as the world does then we are not sharing any hope.

As His child we sing a different song, we proclaim a different name.

In our broken chaos, we display just how much we are not enough on our own and why we need Jesus. We show the world what it means to be covered by grace, despite the hurts of this life. Our response counts. When pain comes Psalm 34:18 is a promise of God; “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV) The Father is near, God brings comfort when nothing else can touch the hurt we feel, He brings people who will sit with you, listens and prays, and He will bind up wounds that only He can heal.

When everything falls apart, our fleshly response is to run and hide, to escape and look for cover. We want to be anywhere trouble cannot find us. But, the truth is we cannot run from trouble, in a sinful world it will always find us. Being God’s child does not exempt us from pain. It’s what we do with the pain that will say it all.

Whatever you are facing today, whatever trail, heartbreak or let down, know this; God has not left you, He is near to your broken heart friend. While the days may be difficult, He sees you, and how you respond to the hurt matters. It will reflect to a lost world where your hope lies.

5 Books You Should Read This Summer

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We have been talking all week over on Instagram and right here on the blog about creating an intentional summer. I wanted to share my top 5 books you should read this summer. Whether you are headed to the beach or just need a weekend read, these are a few books that will fill you up this summer.

She Reads Truth: Holding Tight to the Permenant in a World That’s Passing Away

By: Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers

(One of my favorite reads from this year so far, filled with so many nuggets of truth and wisdom about how we approach the Word and what it means for us, every day.)

The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands 

By:Lysa Terkeurst

(This is an old favorite and will speak to places you never knew needed to be adjusted. Making decisions is hard in the midst of all we have going on, Lysa gives timeless truth that will help you say your best yes.)

Nothing to Prove:Why we can Stop Trying so Hard

By: Jennie Allen

(The title alone will grab any woman who feels the need to be enough and prove herself. This one is on my summer reading list)

10 Ways to Fall in Love with your Bible and Stay in Love

By: Shanna Noel

(I am currently reading this book and it is simple yet, perfect read for summer. It will break down so many barriers that come between us and getting in the Word on a regular basis)

Put Your Warrior Boots On: Walking Jesus Strong Once and For all 

By: Lisa Whittle

(This one is also on my summer reading list and I cannot wait for this message to soak deep into my life. It is one every woman needs in the cutlure we find ourselves in, let’s read it together!)

Bonus for fiction fans:

The Undoing of Saint Silvanus

By: Beth Moore

(I am not a big fiction reader but I devoured this book, the story is incredible and she draws you in with every word. Must read for Christian fiction fans!)

Summer: Building an Intentional Season

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Umm, my calendar for the month of June looks busier than the rest of the year. How is that possible? The first month of the summer for us has always been full. All of my children celebrate their birthdays in June, not to mention the pick up of the extra summer activities like pools, movies, and anything that will keep them from crying out the words, “I’m bored.”

One luxury of homeschooling is when they spout those words I always respond with, “I’d be happy to get back to school work if you like.” That response usually buys me about two hours before those particular words rise back to the surface. This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year because much can be done when we step back from one of the bigger tasks of the year. There is freedom to move, run, play, and do the things that we don’t get to the rest of the year.

My kids look forward to filling a to-do list with all the things they want to accomplish before we start back to school. Places to go, recipes to try, things to make, and of course a ton of other stuff that can’t even be categorized. A few have become traditions over the years; indoor camping with smores cookies, family night Fridays, and movie theme nights.

There is something about summer, the longer days, the sunshine; it’s a renewed commitment to my people. My commitment to being what they need. For our family it means cooking more meals at home, cuddling under blankets watching movies, reading books, and just talking a little while longer. Summer means friends, less rush, and more rest. It means choosing only the things that fill us up and letting everything else is put to the side for now. It means new rhythms of life.

Here are some tips we use that may help you create a more intentional summer with your family:

Meal Planning: I like planning most of our meals each month (it keeps us on a budget and keeps us eating a bit healthier). Don’t get me wrong there will be ice cream trips and a few fun nights out mixed in, but for the most part, I plan out the meals. The kids love to help share their favorite ideas for dinners and my daughter, and I even scroll through Pinterest for new recipes to try.

Summer Bucket List: We don’t venture far during the school year because we like to finish early in May. So for my kids it is the time to do all the crazy fun things they want to do, places they want to go, the food they want to make, crafts to try, the sky is the limit. I let them each choose things for the list, some are as simple as go out for ice cream, to the more elaborate like making slime (yuck). I also add a few of my own like summer reading and a few other surprises.

Trade off: This year is different from past summers with a book on the horizon and other projects, I still need time to write. They have agreed to trade with me, I give them a fun-filled morning, and they give me time to write in the afternoon. Summer is for Moms too, whatever you may have going on, work, projects, etc. Trading off will work wonders.

Marriage: Don’t neglect your marriage this Summer, whether it is an at-home date after the kids get in bed or a date night out. Make sure to spend time with your main squeeze. Work out special family days when you can and plan the bigger events on weekends or days when you can both be off of work.

Bible Study: Summer is a great time to get serious about your time in the Word, creating family devotional habits and prayer habits. Create patterns that will be easy to transition into the school year as well. (For example, try to make your family devotions during the morning over breakfast or in the evenings so you can continue daily into the fall).

Rest: Be intentional with rest. A few months ago we created a new Sabbath rhythm in our home. Friday afternoons to Saturday evenings or sometimes Saturday afternoons to Sunday evenings. Turn off the social media, put the phones and iPads out of reach and rest. Whatever rest may look like to you and your family, but be serious about your need for rest, your kids will need it to.

Be realistic: Know your limits, what you have time for, don’t make a promise you cannot keep and keep it simple. If you don’t want your summer filled with lots of activities, take them off the list. If you know that meal planning isn’t your thing, then do what is right for you. The best part about creating an intentional season is to know what your intentions are in the first place. If your intentions are to have a slow, quiet summer; make it happen. If you have the intention of filling your summer with fun, laughter, and time with your people; make it happen. Be realistic with your plans.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook @Displayinggrace for tips every day this week about how to create an intentional summer season in each of these areas. Also, share your ideas in the comments below, how are you creating an intentional season for your family?

Awaken our Hearts to Your Word {Awaken Series}

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Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

God’s word is the instrument that nourishes our faith. It feeds us, just like we need food and water each day for strength and to sustain life.
There was a time not too long ago that I chose anything but the Word, not because I didn’t want to be in my Bible but because I was intimidated, busy, and didn’t know where to start. But being in the Word every day is what God has used to bring me to this place. My calling emerged when I began to dig into the pages of Scripture. The calling became, “other women need to see this, hear this, and know this.”

When we are in the Word regularly, we begin to see the faithful movements of God.

Here is the challenge…

I have three kids under the age of ten, we homeschool, and they are loud; when God prompted my heart to get over my excuses and get in the Word regularly, I knew it would be a challenge. I was looking for the quiet space when I just needed to wait for God to show me.

He began to show me that there was time I wasn’t wasting, and the time that I was looking for doesn’t always have to be quiet. As I write these words, there is a small child running at my feet. We think that quiet time has to be just that…quiet. We think it needs to be perfect but friend, God will show you space, but you have to be willing to do the work.

He nudged my heart about my mornings. I hate them. I am not a morning person even in the slightest. I used to wake up to the alarm of my children’s feet, but God showed me the sacred time that was waiting in those wee hours while they slept.

But more than just mornings, He convicted my heart of how much time I wasted every single day. He showed me that often my first reflex of the day is to grab my phone and scroll through the endless photos of Instagram or scroll through Facebook. I reached for the world first every day. Not Him. Even throughout the day how many moments, I was hooked to my phone rather than the people in front of me. Or sharing every detail of my life on social media rather than living a real life with the ones I love.

For you it may not be your morning time that God is asking for, maybe He is asking for your lunch break, the quiet of nap time, or all those wasted minutes on social media. Whatever God is asking you for, it will be worth giving it to Him entirely.

I very fondly/not so fondly remember a season of trying to be in the Word with an infant in my arms. After his first early morning feeding, he would take a short nap in the swing; it was my only moment of the day to turn it over to God, to read the Word and to utter the prayers I needed for the day. It was a hard season, but I am grateful for it. It taught me that despite my seasons, there is always time for Him, and it will always be worth it.

Friend, don’t ignore your season because God won’t either. God will honor the time you give, no matter how large or small. When we seek him with our whole heart Scripture says we will be blessed (Psalm 119:2), not blessed because of waking up earlier or giving up our lunch break but because we sought Him with everything we have.

Are you in a place that you want to be in the Word but don’t know where to begin? Or a season where you have drifted away and don’t feel like you can find your way back? I have created a list of resources for you to get you going a motivated to get in the Word. Check out our Bible Study Tools tab at the top of the page for some free printable and our free Bible reading plan. Currently, we are reading one Psalm a day through the Summer, and we want you to join us!

Here are a few of my favorite Bible study tools:

1. Bible: Key Word Study Bible,
She Reads Truth Bible,
Life Application Study Bible
2.Reading Plans or Studies:
@Shereadstruth
@First5app (Proverbs 31 Ministries)
@Lifelivedbeautifully
@Youversion (app for your phone)
3. Study tips and tools:
Www.biblestudytools.com
Warren Wiersbe – Be series
Christ-Centered Exposition book
Matthew Henry Commentary
@Amyhale (on Instagram, amazing study tips!)
@Risenmotherhood (inductive Bible study printable)

Awaken our hearts to Prayer {Awaken Series}

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I spent many years trying to figure out how to pray. Was there a right or wrong way? What do I say? Am I supposed to kneel or sit? I have longed to be a prayer warrior, but no one ever told me or showed me how to truly pray.

Prayer seems easier in harder seasons; our inclination is to cry out the only one we know can move mountains. But, what about daily prayer, the kind that sets your mind on things above, the ones that cover your family and lay it all down in God’s hands. The every day prayer of repentance and asking for forgiveness can be difficult to do; it can be hard to know where to start.

If no one ever taught you or showed you how to pray it is possible you don’t pray as much as you would like because you feel like you don’t know how I can relate. Maybe the thought of prayer overwhelms you. What do I pray for? Who do I pray for? How often should I pray?

But, like most good spiritual and theological things we make them more complicated than they should be.

I cannot help but think of Susanna Wesley and her apron prayers. Her life was no piece of cake; she faced difficulties in her marriage, health issues for herself and her children, not to mention living in England after the Reformation. Many challenges faced her but she made a committed promise to the Lord as a young girl, for every hour spent on entertainment she would give just as much time in prayer and the Word.

And this was coming from a woman who didn’t live in a day of televisions, iPads, or social media.

Susanna had ten children under her roof and as you can imagine quiet was hard to find, but none the less she stuck to her commitment and spent on average two hours a day in prayer. She instructed her children when her apron was over her head, she was praying, and not to be disturbed.

Here is the thing, her faithfulness impacted her children and they went on to win many to Christ. There mother’s prayers were certainly messy as she covered her head with a flour covered apron. Her commitment was to pray, despite what was happening around her.

Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus gives us simple prayer instructions. Ask, Seek, Knock.

If we come to His throne in faith we can ask like someone who is hungry for food, we can seek as someone who is searching for treasure, and we can knock on the door, and God welcomes us in. Susanna Wesley didn’t have a secret formula to prayer other than her commitment, other than asking, seeking and knocking over and over.

We all too often look for the right formula, we are looking for someone to tell us exactly how to pray, but the truth is God has already told us how. Pouring our hearts out before Him.

Prayer is essential in the life of the believer; Beth Moore says, “Prayerless lives are powerless lives, and prayerful lives are powerful lives.” When we are connected to the Father in prayer and communicate with Him, His Spirit displays His strength within us. Susanna’s life was powerful not because she wrote a book or spoke in front of thousands but because she was faithful and God used her faithfulness in the lives of her children to accomplish the work of the Kingdom.

“Prayer is the most important thing in my life. If I should neglect prayer for a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith.” – Martin Luther
If we want to get serious with God, we have to pray, and we have to make it important. Ask God to awaken your prayer life, awaken your heart to prayer. Praying not just because something is wrong but because Luther was right in saying, the fire of our faith comes when we are tapped into the source of its power. Prayer is fuel for us.

Let us use Susanna Wesley as an example of a woman who didn’t let anything come in the way of her prayer life, and it showed in the legacy of her life and the lives of her children.