Zoe, Grace & Joy

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March Madness

Like many of you, around this time every year our staff members (those who choose to participate) pick teams, organize strategies, and intently watch the NCAA basketball tournament. The victories and the upsets bring about shifts to those famous brackets as everyone adjusts their expectations, all the while hoping to win the title of Bethel staff March Madness champion (and the promised, though most often imaginary) grand prize. I have never actually participated in these friendly shenanigans, but I know so many were incredibly disappointed when this year’s March Madness was cancelled.

Little did we realize in that moment that much of life as we knew it was on the brink of postponement, suspension or cancellation. These last few weeks have been nothing short of life-altering and have felt much more like months than weeks! Agreed? And while the tournament may have been cancelled, the madness was not. The March Madness of 2020 has been like no other. And unfortunately, no one gets to opt out. Each and every one of us not only sits on the sidelines as this all unfolds before us, but we also find ourselves out there on the court, praying that we don’t get injured or foul out.

Though we are all dealing with our own set of specifics, we are all experiencing significant changes in how we do life, all from the confines of our own home. And that is overwhelming. It is way too much way too fast; our brains simply cannot keep up. And March madness of the mind ensues. Many of us are not sleeping well. We are wondering how long we will continue to have a job. Or we panic because we’ve already lost a job and can’t pay the bills. We think ahead to what this means for the future. We worry about vulnerable people we love. We are frustrated with e-learning. We are at our wit’s end with our children. Our minds are spinning with information, trying to figure out what this all means. We know the truth of God’s Word and the weight of His promises, but right now, in the madness of all this, we just aren’t feeling it. I have good news. IT’S OKAY.

God sees you right where you are and loves you even in the madness. He longs to hear from you. He wants you to pour your heart out to Him, no matter what that looks like. So go ahead: give yourself permission to have a meltdown. Cry your eyes out before God, take off the gloves, throw down some punches, stomp your feet if you need to. Release all your worries. Express your fears. Acknowledge the host of emotions you feel. Give yourself space to grieve the loss of life as we know it. God can handle it. Then let yourself fall into His mighty arms. Let the Good Shepherd pull you into His chest, hold you close, and comfort your weary soul. And then, like Jeremiah after his lamenting, remember this: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion – therefore, I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24). Wash your face, give yourself grace, and then get back out there on the court. Know that there will be both victories and upsets along the way. But you are part of a team – and we are all in this together. The madness and the meltdowns of this March will pass. So press on, friends! Our Coach always has His eyes on us and will continue to direct us. And at the end of the day, Jesus Himself is our promised and very real grand prize – even in the middle of this March Madness.

* parts of this inspired by Max Lucado’s Facebook video – Coronavirus Check-in: Grant Yourself a Meltdown

**originally written for Bethel Church & Ministries

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Quietly Waiting

bibleandwatch “I wait quietly before the Lord, for my victory comes from him.” We spend a lot of time waiting, don’t we? Nearly every day we wait in line, wait in traffic, wait for our turn at something. There are times when the wait is longer, the wait is harder, the wait is even necessary. And in a world that constantly pushes instant gratification and demands immediate results, the art of waiting quietly is all but lost. Ironically, the word “quietly” is the word that spoke loudest to me when I read Psalm 62:1 a few days ago. And I was convicted by how poorly I do at waiting quietly before God. Because even when I’m waiting on good news and favorable results, my heart is anything but quiet. I tend to be more like Israel, whom God rebuked saying, “In quietness and trust shall be your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15) Ouch. But it’s true. I get restless with anticipation, jittery with nervous energy, dancing eagerly on the inside. Even though I appear well-composed on the outside, my heart often does not find strength in quietness and trust.

Can you relate? People are living in a variety of waiting rooms: some are waiting for clear direction on a career path, while others are waiting to meet and fall in love with the future spouse God has chosen for them. Some are anxiously awaiting a positive pregnancy test, while others are desperately waiting for the cancer screening to be negative. Some are waiting for an organ donor to enhance and prolong their lives, while others are waiting to see how God will use them to live beyond themselves. Some are waiting to fulfill a God-given passion and others are waiting to know just what this abundant life looks like in the real world.

In what waiting room does God have you right now? More importantly, how’s your heart handling the wait? Are you finding quietness and trust to be your strength, or will you have none of it? No matter what chair of the waiting room you are currently occupying, I challenge you to wait QUIETLY before God, trusting Him fully with every exciting and every scary detail, confident that while you’re waiting, He is working – not only working in you, but also working to bring the victory that can only come from Him. Let’s return to the Lord, receive rest in Him, and gain strength and perspective and calm as we wait in quietness and trust. In the ridiculously fast pace of this world and the intense volume it creates in our lives, together let’s rediscover the art of waiting quietly before the Lord.

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Zoe, Grace & Joy

This is the post excerpt.

Welcome to my blog!

Zoe, Grace & Joy is essentially about those three things: zoe, grace and joy.

ZOE is the Greek word (pronounced zo-ay) meaning “absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed in this life and the next.” This is the life Jesus came to bring to those who trust in Him. It is life, more and better than we ever dreamed.

GRACE is “undeserved favor or kindness.” It is grace that saves us and grace that compels us to seek to live abundant lives. It is in receiving grace from God through Christ that we are moved to give grace to others as we do life together.

And JOY is “exceeding gladness or delight.” Joy is sure to characterize the faces and lives of those experiencing overflowing grace and fullness of life. In addition to that, my name is Joy, and what I will share here are paragraphs and pages of the story God has written for my life, and how He is using all of it to transform me more and more into the image of His Son.

It is my prayer that God will use this place of Zoe, Grace & Joy to share authentic life experiences, to offer transparent glimpses into my own faith journey, to encourage you with the truths of God’s Word, and to challenge you in your walk with the Lord. It is my heart’s desire that together we seek to radiate zoe, grace and joy that will bring much glory to our King.

My “YES” Is On the Table

Last summer my family experienced The Ark Encounter in Kentucky. Standing in front of a life-size replica of Noah’s ark was quite impressive, greatly enhancing my understanding of what a high calling and colossal task God had instructed Noah to accomplish. But more than that, God showed me the immensity of my smallness in contrast to the incomparable greatness of the mission He calls us to.

God often calls His people to tasks, plans, and missions much bigger than ourselves. As a matter of fact, when God places a call on your life, you can guarantee it cannot be fulfilled without His Holy Spirit power. Can you imagine the thoughts that might have invaded Noah’s mind when God called him to build the ark? You want me to do what now? You do realize there’s no rain in the forecast…like not even a cloud in the sky…right? 300 cubits by 50 cubits by 30 cubits? That’s a bit beyond my level of experience. Exactly how do you suggest I do that?

We don’t actually know what Noah thought, but we do know that he obeyed. Genesis 6:22 simply says, “Noah did this, he did all that God commanded him.” When the world saw a crazy man, God saw a faithful man. When the world questioned, God declared. When the world ridiculed, God equipped, and when the world mocked the mission, God strengthened Noah to fulfill the mission. When God called, Noah put his “YES” on the table – quite likely a table he built with his own hands.

Noah said “YES” to God. Even when he couldn’t fully understand the mission. Even when he felt miniscule compared to the task at hand. Even when he couldn’t possibly realize the startling result of his obedience.

God hasn’t called me to build an ark, but He has called me to write. Not only that, but He has also called me to influence and encourage others to truly experience the abundance of eternal life on this side of heaven. He has called me to do this by sharing gospel truth in both written and spoken word, as a writer and author, as a teacher and speaker. I’ve known this a long time but have allowed lies and fears and questions to haunt me.While I’d love to do this, God, I’m not educated enough or experienced enough. Besides, there are so many other writers and speakers out there… I don’t have enough money to grow a ministry. Where would I even begin? I don’t have a big enough following to ever be taken seriously… I am not man-enough to be heard and respected, let alone be used to impact the kingdom. These are the thoughts…no, these are the lies that invade my mind and have held me captive far too long.

The truth is that “it is for freedom that Christ has set me free” (Gal. 5:1). So I am taking a giant leap into this freedom that Christ has for me by developing a writing and speaking ministry. I know there will be nay-sayers and haters. But when some see a girl in over her head, God sees a woman after His own heart. When some question, God will declare. When some ridicule, God will encourage. When some mock the mission, God will strengthen me to fulfill it. My “YES” is on the table. With an open heart and open hands, my knees trembling before God, I give this ministry to Him.

Oh, how I want to follow the example of Noah: may it be said of me, “Joy did this, she did all that God commanded her.” God hasn’t given me the exact cubit size of what this will look like, but I am certain that it is WAAAYYY bigger than me! I already feel miniscule compared to the task at hand; I pray to be small but mighty (a humble heart fueled by the power of God). I cannot possibly anticipate what God is going to do as a result, but thankfully, my job is only to obey and trust God with the rest (and quite frankly, that is hard enough!).

So why am I sharing all this with you? Because I need you. You are my people. I need you to pray for me. I need you to encourage me. I need you to spread the word and share my page. I need you to hold me accountable. My “YES” is out there, and I can’t take it back. I also share this with you because you need me. We need each other, friends. I believe with all my heart that God has called or is calling you to something as well. Do you know what it is? What needs to happen for you to put your “YES” on the table in order to make much of Jesus? I want to cheer you on. I want to pray for you. I want you to see what God can do with your “YES.” The abundance of eternal life is now, and God has so much of it for us to experience on this side of heaven.

See you at the table!

**my blog has moved to joykats.com – I would love to see you there!**

My “YES” Is On the Table

God hasn’t called me to build an ark, but He has called me to write. Not only that, but He has also called me to influence and encourage others to truly experience the abundance of eternal life on this side of heaven. He has called me to do this by sharing gospel truth in both written and spoken word, as a writer and author, as a teacher and speaker. I’ve known this a long time but have allowed lies and fears and questions to haunt me. While I’d love to do this, God, I’m not educated enough or experienced enough. Besides, there are so many other writers and speakers out there… I don’t have enough money to grow a ministry. Where would I even begin? I don’t have a big enough following to ever be taken seriously… I am not man-enough to be heard and respected, let alone be used to impact the kingdom. These are the thoughts…no, these are the lies that invade my mind and have held me captive far too long.

See you at the table!

Who Am I?

O Lord, my Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens…When I see and consider your heavens, and the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, the sun and the clouds, that you have ordained and put in their place, who am I that you are mindful of me? A mere human, that you should care for me?

Yet you have fearfully and wonderfully made me and positioned me a little lower than yourself, bearing your image, just under the heavenly beings. You have crowned me with glory and honor. You have seen fit to give me dominion and responsibility over the created things of this world…

Oh Lord, my Lord, how excellent and glorious is your name in all the earth!

– Psalm 8

I have recently seen the magnificent beauty of God’s creation in ways I’d never seen before – bright blue skies and white fluffy clouds hovering over rugged mountains and ocean waters, the intricate interweaving of a banyan tree, lush green plants with unique patterns and designs, and a host of brilliant-colored blooming trees and flowers. Truly a glimpse of paradise. As I spot new green life growing from the cracks of dormant volcanic rock, carefully climb mountains that overlook the powerful rushing blue waters capped in white, I breathe in the presence of an Almighty God and sense His glory invading my soul…and feel so incredibly small.

Yet of all the amazing and incomparable things God has created, mankind is the pinnacle of His creation. You and I have been crowned with glory and honor by the God who reigns over all.

Who am I that Almighty God is mindful of me – a little, insignificant, weak, fragile, sinful human being such as I? As a human being, I belong to the one part of all God has designed to not only point to Himself, but to also bear His image. I hear the roar of the waters, feel the blaze of the sun, see the cascading waterfall on the mountainside. I touch the soft, hot sand on the beach aware that He keeps count of every grain. I smell the hint of morning rain. I taste the delicious delicacies of Hawaiian life. I have undoubtedly lived in the goodness of God.

I take in all of this majesty, and as I stand at the base of a giant eucalyptus tree whose trunk has been painted by the hand of God Himself, I find it inconceivable that of everything that He has made, I am His prized possession, crowned with glory and honor. We are what matters most to Him. I will never fully grasp this powerful truth. But I sit in it, eternally grateful for it. I continue to be in awe of who God is, all He has made, and what He has done. My prayer is that as His imager bearer, I will reflect Him well, remembering that I am His beloved. I pray that His name will always be as majestic in my own heart and life as it is excellent and glorious in all the earth.

In the Shadow of the Cross

Step by painful step, I trudge up the rugged hillside. The chains that bind my ankles clink hard and heavy against the stones beneath my feet. I keep my head down in shame and fear, making desperate attempts to deny the fate that awaits me. The weight of my shackles is nothing compared to the burdens that crush my soul. Some days I can barely stand under the pressure of it all.

Sin. Pain. Sorrow. Guilt. In anguish I cry from the depths of my heart. Oh, how I long for freedom, but none is to be found. If only there was another way. If only I had another chance. But it’s too late. I’m a dead man walking.

The ground begins to level as I reach the top of the hill. I squint my eyes in the afternoon sun. And there in the shadow stands a wooden cross. I pause for a moment before moving toward it. The reality of my imminent death overcomes me, and I fall to my knees in repentance and regret.

Through my tears I notice fresh blood in the grass. I follow the trail that leads me to the cross, where pieces of flesh still cling and blood stains red. Knowing that this is soon my death, I turn away. It’s simply too much to bear.

But then in the shadow, I see the light. The Light of the World opening my eyes to the truth. This blood on my fingers is the blood of Jesus. Instead of me – because of me – spilled out for me. O Lord, if you kept record of sin, who could stand? I now realize this is my death. And yet I’m still alive. How can this be?

Hear my voice, I call out in earnest. Be merciful, Lord Jesus; for with you, there is forgiveness. This truth starts to take root in my soul as I sit quietly in the shadow of the cross.

While I wait for the Lord, the burden begins to lessen and the chains begin to loosen. Still shaky and unsteady on my feet, I slowly stand up. I look up at the now empty cross, envisioning Jesus still nailed there.

As I run my hand over the splintered wood, I feel the hole left by the stake that held His feet. I hear echoes of taunting and wicked laughter. I smell the unmistakeable stench of death. I taste the salt of my own tears as I grapple with the magnitude of what has happened in this place.

My wretchedness for Christ’s righteousness.

My sin for His salvation.

My curse for His commendation.

My guilt for His grace.

Here in the shadow I have hope, for with Christ, there is a way. A second chance. For Christ offers steadfast love and overflowing redemption. And with Jesus, there is grace: the merciful kindness of God. This amazing and beautiful gift of unearned favor with Almighty God offered to me because Jesus endured the horrors of sin and incomparable ugliness of death.

Between the light of heaven and the dark of earth stands the cross. In the shadow it stretches high and deep. And in the shadow, I find all that I need. For in the shadow, I find grace.

No more fear. No more guilt. No condemnation now I dread. In the shadow of the cross, I see that His love is longer and wider and higher and deeper than any I’ve ever known. In the shadow I see the Light of Life. For Jesus came to give me life, full and free.

It is for freedom that Christ has set me free!

In this moment, the shackles fall and so do I, once again overcome. Broken. Humbled. Forgiven. The weight of sin now replaced by the weight of glory. Here in the shadow of the cross, I weep tears of joy and sing songs of praise to my beautiful Savior. I open wide my arms and lift my head high.

Jesus loves me, this I know! I step out to allow the radiance of the Son to shine on my face. Because of Jesus, I AM FREE!

My chains are gone, and I now run down the hillside, my steps quick and light, to go back to my home, my family, my life. I leave this place eternally changed and forever grateful, transformed from the inside out. I came here a dead man, yet leave here more alive than ever before! And I can’t wait to share this good news!

The world needs to know this Jesus; His amazing grace, His glorious freedom, and His gift of eternal life right now, on this side of heaven – the wonderful truths He revealed to me in the shadow of the cross.

*originally written for and posted by Bethel Church & Ministries

Glimpses of Jesus

In a time when the Old Testament of the Bible is being disregarded more than ever, even by some leaders and churches, I was especially encouraged by a sermon that walked us through many of the places where we see glimpses of Jesus in the Old Testament. All of Scripture is the inerrant Word of God and beautifully displays God’s redemption story throughout its pages.

“The Old is in the New revealed

The New is in the Old concealed”

But glimpses of Jesus we are able to see

From Old to New and eternally

In Genesis, Jesus is the RAM

In Exodus, He is PASSOVER LAMB

FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in Leviticus

In Numbers, our PROMISED LAND does exist

CITY OF REFUGE in Deuteronomy

RED CORD OF HOPE in Joshua’s plea

Jesus, in Judges, the GREAT JUDGE of truth

Our KINGSMAN REDEEMER in the book of Ruth

He is TRUSTED PROPHET in Samuel; He’s REIGNING KING in Kings

FAITHFUL SCRIBE in Ezra; in Nehemiah, REBUILDING all broken things

As MORDECAI in Esther, He sits at the gate

EVER-LIVING REDEEMER with Job in the wait

In Psalms He’s the SHEPHERD who cares for His sheep

In Proverbs we see Him as WISDOM so deep

The BEAUTIFUL BRIDEGROOM in Solomon’s Song

SUFFERING SERVANT in Isaiah, who takes on all wrong

WEEPING PROPHET in Jeremiah, grieved by man’s sin

In Ezekiel revealed as the WHEEL WITHIN

FOURTH MAN IN THE FURNACE, in the book of Daniel

FAITHFUL LOVER in Hosea, true to us all

In Joel Jesus BAPTIZES with Spirit power

GREAT SAVIOR in Obadiah, coming at the right hour

MISSIONARY to the world as revealed in Jonah

With BEAUTIFUL FEET brings the news in Micah

In Nahum, He’s the AVENGER; in Habakkuk the WATCHMAN

Praying for revival to come in the land

In Zephaniah, He’s the LORD, MIGHTY TO SAVE

In Haggai RESTORES FORTUNES lost to the grave

In Zechariah He is the FOUNTAIN to bless

In Malachi the SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

And when comes the New, Jesus Christ is revealed

What once were just glimpses no longer concealed

There from the beginning, in Scripture to see

The presence of Jesus throughout God’s story

Based on a quote from Augustine and Pastor Steve DeWitt’s sermon at Bethel Church & Ministries (11.15.20) on Romans 15:4.

Living Free in a Captive World

COVID. Quarantine. Masks. Virus. Numbers. Social Distance. Racial injustice. Police brutality. Political agenda. Riots. Hearings. Mandates. Rights. Opinions. Freedoms. Things.of.this.world.

While there is nothing new under the sun, it certainly is true that 2020 has revealed manifestations of evil and consequences of sin many have never before seen in this lifetime. We’ve spent most of this year held captive by new restrictions and mandates. We’ve been tied up in knots over the racial and political tensions that surround us. We are enslaved by our worry over our kids and how to best educate them this fall. And we are imprisoned by our own opinions of how things should be. Fear has locked us up like never before.

This world is bound up by all that is happening, navigating what has been deemed as unprecedented times. Every click. Every swipe. Every turn of the page. Every conversation, it seems, reveals more reason for discouragement or fear. And people are reacting – loudly!

Never before have I seen so much negativity, so much anger and fear. Unkindness. Ugliness. Complaining. Bickering. Nastiness. Belligerence. Pride. And I’m not just talking about the unbelieving world. My newsfeed includes much of the same from believing friends. So I have to ask: what is it, exactly, that you are believing, friends? Are you held captive by the generated news or are you holding fast to the Good News?

Galatians 1:3 says, “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age…” The Good News brings grace and peace, neither of which we are seeing enough of these days. I invite you, right now, even as you’re reading this, to pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. And allow the glorious grace and the unexplainable peace of God to wash over you. And as you soak it in, remember that Jesus didn’t just come to save you from your sins (although that in itself would have been more than enough!). He also came to deliver you from this present evil age. Heaven knows that our world is a difficult place to live. It’s riddled with evil and certainly ruled by the prince of darkness himself. We must be sober- minded and watchful because he prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). In a world filled with obnoxious opinions, media-driven narrative, and conspiracy theories, it’s increasingly difficult to discern truth. But of this I have no doubt: this is about much more that what the eye can see. This is a fight for our souls. And the enemy is unrelenting in his attempts to suck us into the world’s darkness. But this truth also remains: God is still on the throne.

The good news is that Jesus came to rescue us; He came to pluck us out of the darkness. He came to break the chains of our bondage. Jesus came to set us free! He said, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life – to the full. Life abundant. And you better believe that an abundant life is a life of freedom! But this freedom doesn’t give us permission to do whatever we want, to indulge ourselves, to insist our opinion is always and only the right one – no matter what side of the coin (shortage) you prefer. The freedom that Jesus brings allows us to humbly admit our own shortcomings and enables us to love and serve others. This freedom compels us to walk in step with the Spirit, giving Him room to produce fruit in our lives. This freedom pushes us toward the goal of Christ being formed in us (Gal. 4:19). “Christ formed in you” is not just about getting us into heaven; it’s about getting heaven into us, so that we look more and more like Jesus.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1) Jesus didn’t die on the cross only for us to go back to a life of bondage. He died so the shackles would be shattered. He died so the chains would be broken. He died so the prison doors of our hearts and minds would be thrown open! Whatever it is that is holding you captive has been destroyed by what Jesus has done. This freedom is internal and eternal. This freedom has nothing to do with viruses, or politics, or race; it has everything to do with the Almighty God who reigns over those things. And nothing in this life can ever take this freedom away. But it is something you have to choose. We were never promised that life would be easy. As a matter of fact, Jesus told us we would have trouble….but He also said, “Take heart, for I have overcome!” (John 16:33) Because of His victory, for every trouble, He offers grace upon grace upon grace. And He reminds us that we are only here for a little while. How will we use the time God has given us on this earth?

We certainly are willing to put up a good fight to protect and defend our rights, our religious freedoms and political freedoms, our personal freedoms. But are we willing to fight just as hard to keep and defend and LIVE in the glorious freedom for which Christ died? Choosing this freedom for our hearts and minds will produce internal fruit that will evidence itself in external ways. Our unkindness, ugliness, complaining, bickering, nastiness, belligerence, and pride will be transformed by the Spirit’s power into words and displays of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control – things against which there is no law (Gal 5:22-23); things which should be abounding in our churches and flowing abundantly from our Christian communities to those around us. We may not be able to control the things of this world, but we are free to rest in the God who does. That is good news! And the freedom He gives remains real and true in our lives despite anything that may happen on the outside. As followers of Christ, we are not spiritually bound by the things of this world. Jesus came to set us free! And by His Spirit, we can choose to live free in a world held captive.

People of God, we are called to be agents of the grace and peace of God and to show the world what it looks like when the Son sets you free. May our lives magnify Jesus and exemplify what it means to be free indeed!

Thoughts From Home

It’s been several months since the words “go home” first caused me to shutter and sparked the fire in my soul to ignite once again. In case you may not know, “go home” was spoken as the knee-jerk reaction from a highly influential pastor regarding another well-known author and teacher, one who also happens to be a woman.[1] I have many thoughts and personal opinions on said situation that until now, I have not ventured to share publicly. But after recently reading an article revealing what should be unspeakable, I can no longer hold my peace. The article described conversations among male denominational and church leaders. The derogatory, crude, and entirely inappropriate comments about their sisters in Christ included the following:

“I wish her husband loved her enough to tell her to shut up.”

“They became man-haters because they’ve used up their sex capitol.”

“Why can’t these women just take their shoes off and make us some sandwiches?!”[2]

Ummmm….EXCUSE ME?!?! This is beyond infuriating. And what’s worse is that in both of these situations, the immediate response was laughter instead of rebuke. What?!?! This type of dismissive disregard in ministry not only degrades women, it reflects poorly on the entire church, and I believe it grieves the heart of God Himself. These men need to be held accountable for this behavior! I am outraged to know that some Christian men believe that women were created for nothing more than serving them and raising children. How can these men, how can these church leaders, even allow those repulsive thoughts turn into the words that came out of their mouths? Not only are these men speaking in a way that opposes a life led by the Spirit, but they also evidence blatant contradictions to the qualifications for church leaders given in Scripture – the very same passages they use to support their “men only” views. There are many layers of concern regarding women in ministry leadership, but that is not my point for writing. For some, what started as an issue of theology or Scriptural interpretation has become more an issue of disgusting, ugly pride. The idea that to encourage and support women in their giftedness in the church is to give them an inch – and they’ll undoubtedly take a mile…and before we know it, the church and the world will be headed to hell in a hand basket – is absolutely ludicrous! It wreaks of both arrogance and insecurity. The church and the world need both men and women, working together in unity, to fulfill the mission of God. If it were not so, He would not have created both male and female.

Most godly women are not looking to take over or usurp anyone’s authority, but rather to be faithful to God by using the gifts He has graciously granted and to be valued as the equal image bearers that we are. I actually feel bad for these men because they are failing to see beyond their own egos to recognize that not only are women created in the image of God, but we’ve also been gifted by Him to further His kingdom. And believe it or not, some of those gifts are meant to be utilized beyond the walls of our homes. I am scared for these men because as church leaders, they will be held accountable for what God has granted to them, including how they’ve treated the women in their spheres of influence, how they’ve treated women as sisters in the Lord. They will answer for the way they’ve either encouraged and empowered women or how they’ve disregarded, under-valued, and dismissed these same women.

This issue is personal to me because I am a Christian woman with a passion for teaching God’s Word and using my gifts to point others to Christ. And I have a daughter with strong leadership skills and a theological mind with a desire to teach transformational, doctrinal truth. But I know the battle she will face, for no other reason than that she’s a woman. There have been times, throughout my many years of ministry, when I have been stifled, when I have been under-utilized, when I have been dismissed. There were times I was essentially told to both “shut up” and “go home.” This should not be. The Body of Christ needs all its parts working together. When one suffers, the whole suffers. Likewise, when one is honored, all rejoice together.

Last year I met a man suffering from kidney failure. He needed a kidney transplant to essentially save his life. I had a healthy kidney to give him, and he humbly and gratefully accepted the gift. What I cannot seem to wrap my mind around is this: if I, as a woman, am able to give a man a physical gift that will forever change and potentially save his life, why am I not able to teach a man Jesus, giving him the gift that will eternally save his soul?

As I mentioned earlier, there are many layers to this issue of women in ministry leadership. And honestly, I have no desire to be a pastor. But I do believe God has called me to be a woman of influence. He has given me something to say. And when the message is from God, it should not matter if the voice delivering that message belongs to a man or a woman. Oh, how I have struggled with the inconsistencies on what I am allowed to do and what I am not. As I have laid myself out before the Lord, begging for clarity and wisdom, He has been gracious and kind. He has convicted my heart on what it is I am truly fighting for. He repeatedly reminds me that my confidence comes from my identity in Christ, and as I grow in the gifts I am certain God has granted to me, I can find peace. Peace in knowing that as a woman, I am created in the image of God. I rest in the fact that I am His beloved daughter. He has called me and chosen me for a purpose, and I am on this earth for such a time as this. God has blessed me with talents and spiritual gifts that I am responsible to use to build His kingdom and bring glory to His name. I am also confident that He will not call me to do anything outside His will. I will have to answer for what I do with this life. And I’ve spent far too much of it striving to earn man’s approval, trying to prove myself worthy, walking the tightrope of being enough without being too much, and listening to the voices who’ve told me to “go home.”

Home is not a bad place to be. I love being home. I cherish being a wife and a mama. But home is not the only place where women have worth and value. Home is not the only place where women can have a deep eternal impact. To insinuate as much is insulting. And to degrade the male counterpart is to degrade the very image of God. I choose to rest in who God, my Creator and Redeemer, says that I am. I will listen for HIS voice, obey HIS commands, and follow where HE leads, trusting Him to open doors and provide opportunities to live out this abundant life to the fullest. I will write when He says “write” and speak when He says “speak.” I will be quiet when HE tells me to “be quiet.” I will wholeheartedly do what God enables me to do. If I am invited to minister to a group of women and/or men, I will heartily welcome it – whether it’s in conversation, in my home, at my small group, or from a stage. There might be steps to make it up to the pulpit, but the ground is level at the foot of the cross. And that’s really where I want to be. There was no separating men from women when God poured out His Spirit on all flesh. God’s Word says both sons and daughters will prophesy. There were no gender specific lists in the giving of spiritual gifts, and no one was left empty-handed. Jesus wasn’t only addressing the male population when He said, “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them…”

The goal is not the power and authority of the pulpit. The goal is the power and authority of the gospel. And if I can give a man a gift that will physically save his life, I can absolutely give a man the gift that will spiritually save his soul.

So I will teach and preach Christ; I will live and love Christ; I will share and serve Christ in every facet of my life for as long as I have breath. And when God declares it’s time for me to go home, I will not shrink back: I will run to Jesus and stand before my Savior with humble confidence knowing I have finished the work He gave me to do.

*** sincerest gratitude for the godly men in my life who pray for me, encourage me, push me to use my gifts, who would never tell me to shut up, and who love like Jesus!

[1] Michel, Jen Pollock. “A Message to John MacArthur: The Bible Calls Both Men and Women to Go Home.” Christianity Today 24 Oct. 2019, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/october-web-only/john-macarthur-bible-invites-both-men-women-go-home.html

[2] Stetzer, Ed. “Complementarians in Closed Rooms.” Christianity Today 19 June 2020, https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2020/june/complementarians-closed-rooms-aimee-byrd-beth-moore.html

Hell, No!

My thoughts are a jumbled mess as my mind tries to process what my eyes have seen in recent days. Our nation has gone from pandemic to pandemonium essentially overnight. As we’ve just started to emerge from quarantine, anxieties are already high as life continues to be vastly different and the COVID threat still exists. But then suddenly that fear and tension have shifted to demonstrations of outrage, hatred, and violence as our country reacts to ongoing racial division.

As I try to make sense of it all, my heart is heavy and I am deeply saddened by many things. And it seems there is no right way to respond. As I’ve come before the Lord, begging Him to intercede, He has reawakened me to the obvious, yet often forgotten reality that what we’re dealing with at all levels here is a heart issue. What we are up against here is sin in its vilest form. And until every one of us addresses that at personal level, change and reconciliation can not occur. What we are battling at ground level is spiritual warfare: good versus evil, God versus Satan, and heaven versus hell.

Considering this truth pushes me from being heavy- hearted and sad to being downright angry. Angry because people are dying. Angry because violence is leading to more violence. Angry because peaceful protesters are being equated to destructive rioters. Angry because people made in the image of God are destroying other people also made in the image of God. It’s absolutely outrageous!

Too many of us are giving the devil a foothold by doing nothing, by saying nothing, by failing to acknowledge this worldly reality. Too many God-fearing people are fearing man more than God right now. As believers, we have the victory! Jesus told us there will be trouble in this world, but to take heart! He has overcome! (John 16:33). In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female (Gal. 3:28). Jesus has permanently eradicated all racial divides, all socio-economic divides, and all gender divides. We are all ONE in Christ Jesus. It’s time we act like it!

It’s time for us to link arms, standing firm in the faith, covered and armed with God Himself. It’s time for us to do battle- not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:10-12). The enemy is working overtime right now to cause chaos and confusion, divisions, hatred, violence, and fear. I can imagine the devil sitting back with his feet up, hands behind his head, flashing his evil smirk and laughing wickedly at his ability to divide our country, our neighborhoods, our churches, and even our own families. I’m sure he quite proud of his recent success.

Hell is rejoicing that another black man is dead and racism continues. Hell is celebrating the fact that reactionary riots and looting have destroyed businesses and towns. Hell squeals with delight at the sight of men and women of all races at odds with one another, intimidating and threatening and harming each other. Hell is applauding those spewing lies, instilling fear, and perpetuating panic. The enemy must be stopped.

Hell itself would love for us to remain divided, stay silent, shrink back, and succumb to fear. I say, “NO MORE!” It’s time for us to look evil in the eye and boldly declare, “Hell, no! Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever, Satan. Hell, you have nothing on people firmly planted in the saving and victorious name of Jesus Christ!” For the sake of Christ and the gospel, we must go to war, spiritually speaking. We must fight for love and unity, for justice and peace. But it must begin within the individual heart. It must include repentance for our own prejudices and ignorance. It must involve a humble and teachable spirit, significant time on our knees in prayer, combing the pages of God’s Word, having hard conversations, clothing ourselves with love and godly wisdom and courage, and daily arming ourselves with the power of the Spirit.

People of God, we are the Church. And Jesus Himself said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ( Matt. 16:18) Instead of getting angry at each other, it’s time to get good and angry at the primary source of evil and all the powers of hell. We must stand firm together, united in Christ, confident in the strength of the Lord’s might (Eph. 6:10) and say, “Hell, no! Get behind me, Satan. Your reign is over. Your power has been defeated by the cross of Jesus Christ. And the God of peace will soon crush you under His feet.” (Gen. 3:15, Rom.16:20) Are you ready to go to war?

#CoronaBonus

Back on March 14, when “social distancing” and “stay-at-home orders” were relatively new terms for us, my brother posted a picture of one of his favorite places—the lake where we spend the summer camping together. The picture showed the campground beach, blue skies, and calm waters—a welcomed respite from the chaos that was starting to overtake our world. He captioned the picture #coronabonus as a play on the word “coronavirus,” a term that has inundated our TV screens and newsfeeds in the weeks that have followed.

But the hashtag has stuck with me even as COVID-19, the now official term for this virus, has brought with it so many changes, restrictions, and challenges. Amid all the hard realities of life as we currently know it, there are also myriads of blessings. Believe it or not, coronavirus has also produced many a “corona bonus.” In a normally busy, often over-scheduled life, I’ve heard several people say they have enjoyed the forced slow-down of shelter-in-place. Being at home has allowed us to rest. It has allowed us to get reacquainted with our own families: eating dinner together, playing board games, drawing with chalk on the driveway, dad and son playing catch in the yard, and family walks or bike rides.

The shutdown of communities and entire states has given the skies time to clear and the earth time to heal from the massive pollution that clouds and distorts God’s handiwork. Spending so much time inside has given us a greater appreciation for sunshine and warm weather (here in Northwest Indiana), the natural beauty of creation, and a thankfulness for opportunity to cruise the open road with windows down, praise music blaring, and the sun warming your skin through the open sunroof.

One corona bonus that has really meant a lot to me has been having my daughter at home. While her life was turned upside down when her college campus closed and transitioned to classes online, she has also recently gotten engaged. Having her home as we start to plan her wedding has been a great blessing to me, and I am so grateful that we can share this special time together. Another corona bonus for me is increased opportunity to write. Be it weekly encouragements for our Celebrate Recovery ministry, blogs, devotions, or Bible study lessons, I am thrilled to be doing that which sets my soul on fire. Who would have thought that a worldwide pandemic could launch me into my sweet spot?

I’ve been so encouraged by the creativity and innovation of people, especially within the church. We can’t host a birthday party, so we decorate our cars and form a birthday train or parade. We can’t gather in person to worship as a body, so we turn our living rooms into sanctuaries and our kitchens into dance parties. Pastors are doing driveway drop-ins to love on their people while still maintaining social distance. We can’t meet together for Bible studies or small groups, so we create a Zoom room to maintain connectivity. For each of us who feel stuck at home, there is someone on the front lines, meeting needs and putting their lives on the line for the greater good.

All that said, we have unique and wonderful opportunities to be the church in ways we never have before. The extra efforts of our church leadership have allowed us to maintain engagement with one another as well as establish new community relationships. People are making masks for healthcare workers, drawing pictures, writing notes, organizing snack packs and gift bags for those on the front lines. We have opportunity to serve those who are most vulnerable by writing words of encouragement, providing meals, and grocery shopping for them. We can encourage our communities by supporting our local businesses (my family loves the new rhythm of getting takeout once a week!), posting quotes in your picture windows, or showing support with a sign in your front yard. This is what it means to truly BE the church! God’s Word continues to go forth with power! Only our God can take something meant for evil and destruction and use it for good and for the growth of his kingdom.

COVID-19 has given us the perfect reason to share the hope that we have in Christ Jesus! This season has pushed us into living with a sense of intentionality we may never before have considered. But this is it, friends. This is what it looks like to live on purpose! If you’re discovering that for the first time, you too have experienced a corona bonus! I challenge you this week not to be overcome by fear of coronavirus, but to be overcome with gratitude for corona bonus. Take note of all the blessings that God has poured out during this time and thank him for using even this hard season to reveal himself and to make you more like him as a result. What’s your #CoronaBonus?

Seeing God Best

Meet Jacob. Jacob is the younger son of Isaac. He is the grandson of Abraham. And although he is known as one of the Old Testament patriarchs of faith, Jacob spent much of his life grasping for God’s blessing: he deceived and schemed for it, he worked for it, he dreamed for it, he wrestled for it. And then in Genesis 35, Jacob finally rests in the blessing of God. In verse 3 he says to his family – “Let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”

Jacob’s life has been marked by deceit and struggle, and yet, in this moment he not only acknowledges that the God of his fathers is indeed his God; but he also realizes that his God has been with him every step, and he finally surrenders to Him. He sees that despite all of his struggles and personal failures, God’s word will go forward. His purposes will succeed. In Jacob’s life we see that blessing does not mean a lack of struggle or sorrow. We see that sometimes full surrender to God requires the “divine dislocation of whatever it is that makes us strong,” (Guthrie) so that Christ’s strength can shine through our weaknesses.

Are any of you feeling dislocated right now?

When we are able to do things by our own strength, we often don’t look to God for help. Our weaknesses are what drive us to the strength of Christ. I was recently challenged to consider this phrase: “When life is at its worst, God is at His best.” And that is not untrue…but God is ALWAYS at His best, no matter what life looks like for us. Sometimes it takes life being at its worst for us to see God best.

And let’s face it, these last several weeks have been among the worst in our lifetime throughout the world. None of us has ever known anything like what is happening right now. But in all the chaos, in all the changes, in all the social-distancing we continue to have to do, God has never distanced Himself from us.

He remains the God who answers us in our days of distress, and continues to be with us in every moment. Distancing, disease, and even death can never thwart the perfect plan, authority, or sovereignty of God. They didn’t in Jacob’s day and they don’t right now. God’s word will go forward. His purposes will succeed. His promises will be fulfilled.

We are several weeks into this crazy pandemic, and really have no idea how long this will last. But consider these words from Nancy Guthrie: “To be truly blessed by God is not to emerge from the struggles of life unscathed, but to emerge from them having been pressed more deeply into God, to have become more desperate for God, to have become convinced that having your identity flow from his victory in your life is worth more than walking away from the struggle with your health and position and lifestyle perfectly intact.”

To experience the blessing of God does not mean we are exempt or immune from the things of the world. Your health might very well be affected by this virus; your job might have already been affected; all of our lifestyles have certainly been affected. COVID-19 is still running rampant, fear still assails, and uncertainty still abounds. For some it seems nothing is still intact…so do we get angry at God for allowing all this? Or do we find ourselves more desperate for him, inquiring of Him, trusting Him to work in the middle of this mess, trusting Him to use this to make us more like Jesus?

Several years ago, my husband and I endured a really hard year. One of my hardest years to date. Marc suffered an injury at work, needed surgery and then physical therapy, and was off work almost a full year. And during that same time, God called me away from my ministry staff position. With three young kids, Christian school tuition, and a mortgage to pay, I did much wrestling with God during that time. At one point we had a total of $11 to our name and I wondered how in the world we were going to make it. I spent much time crying out in distress! I was forced to trust God like never before…because He was my only hope.

And He.came.through.for us. We never went without a meal; never missed a mortgage payment. I learned what it meant to be a servant as I cared for my husband. My marriage grew and my faith grew immensely during that time. I will never forget those struggles. And I will never forgot the God who was with me through every part of it. But it pains me to admit that once Marc and I were both back to work and our income was once again steady and sufficient, we quickly fell back into old patterns of self-reliance. Yes, I was thankful. But I was no longer desperate for God the way I had been. And while I would never want to go back to that time, I am so thankful for it. And I do want my heart to be in a place of complete surrender and utter dependence on Jesus no matter what is happening in life.

I share this because I see the same kinds of things happening now in this worldwide crisis. We are desperate for assurance and security. We are fearful because we have absolutely no control over what is happening. It’s just too big for us. We cry out to God to help, to protect, to provide, to heal, and to just make it stop. Our weaknesses make us aware of our desperate need for God. And I pray that our eyes are opened to see the goodness and blessing of God even in the struggle, even in the midst of all this COVID chaos. But more than that, I pray that once this is over, once life goes back to whatever normal is going to look like, that we will not fall back into old patterns. That we will continue to want God the way we do right now. I pray that we will cling to Him, recognizing that our relationship with Him is not simply useful in desperate situations, but crucial for all of life.

Jacob could not actually see the face of his adversary as he wrestled in the dark. But God has given to us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” So let US arise, friends…and make an altar to our God – the God who answers us in these days of distress; the God who is with each of us wherever we go and who remains with us every moment we are issued to stay at home. And when we emerge from this current crisis, may we not hope to arise unscathed; may it be our goal to arise looking a whole lot more like Jesus.