Who Was Paul

Posted on by Rachel

 

One of the things I love most about studying the Bible is finding great application in verses we often overlook. For example, when reading Paul’s introduction in Romans 1:1, it’s easy to skim over and hurry along to the “real” meat. However, when we take time to stop and evaluate his words, we can learn a lot.
Remember, this is coming from Paul. Before he encountered the Lord, Paul was known as Saul, a man who hated and persecuted Christians. However, in a life-changing moment, God turned Saul’s world upside down. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, he was no longer referenced as Saul, only Paul.
His old self, everything he ever knew, identified with, and related to was gone. That is what happens when we allow God to change our lives. The old is gone. We are no longer who we once were. There is a new creation. With that comes a new identity. Check out how Paul described his identity in Romans 1:1. If you were to introduce yourself based on the five descriptions in this verse, what would your identity be?

How Do I Disciple My Kids?

Posted on by Rachel

In all my time as a Children’s Pastor, one of the most asked questions I heard from parents was, “How do I teach my child to study the Bible?” As I continued to receive this question, I began to realize it was being asked so often because many of the adults themselves did not know how to study. This ignited in me a passion to equip people with the materials needed to study God’s Word. I am a firm believer that discipleship takes place at home. Church is an important piece of the puzzle, but it is simply that: a piece. One of many pieces. Most of these puzzle pieces come from times spent at home, in the car, hanging out with family, and experiencing life together.

 

As kids navigate life’s issues, they watch as the adults in their lives navigate similar situations. They follow the behaviors, reactions, and processes we display. The best way to disciple our kids is to live out the life we want them to have with the Lord. If we want them to pray more, we must let them hear us pray regularly. If we want them to read the Bible more, we must let them see us reading it often. If we want our children to choose Scripture over social media, we must lead by example.

 

It has been said that what one generation does in moderation the next will do in excess. If that is the case, and I want my kids to read their Bibles, pray, and worship in excess, then they must see me do that, at the very least, in moderation. So my advice to someone wanting to better disciple their kids? Just start. Open your Bible, pray, and worship, but not just in a personal quiet time they never see. Live out your life openly, in front of your family. Let them be part of the process. I do agree, private quiet time with the Lord is important, however, some of my favorite quiet times have included those moments when my daughter curls up in my lap and reads along with me. The walk of faith we get to experience is a joy, and I can’t think of anything better, or more important, to share with our children. Let them see you make it a priority you enjoy, and watch it become a priority they enjoy.

 

Why Study?

Posted on by Rachel

I have often heard the Bible described as a love letter from God to us. While it is absolutely a story of God’s love, grace, and redemption, it is also described as a powerful weapon. It is a weapon the enemy does not want us to use. The more illiterate we are, the more he can use it against us.
 
That’s right, the devil knows the Bible. In the garden, he twisted God’s words to trick Eve into sinning. In the desert, he tried to trick Jesus into sinning, using Scripture. He knows the Bible, and he tries to use it against us more than we may realize.
 
We must be fully trained in how to use this weapon in our spiritual warfare. Don’t let the enemy be better at using your weapon than you are. Get in the Word. Read it daily. Study it. Pray it. Meditate on it. Know it. Live it. Let it guide your every step, every word, every thought, every action.
 
Psalm 119 is full of incredible verses about the importance and power of God’s Word in our lives. Here are two of my favorite verses from the chapter. What are some of yours?
 
Psalm 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”
Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Do Not Be Afraid…

Posted on by Rachel

It is easy to look around and find things in this world to fear. Some are valid, others are outrageous. However, the enemy can use these fears to invade our mind and overtake our perspective. It is easy for him to fill our mind with seemingly realistic scenarios that flood our hearts and minds with anxiety. It is not as easy for us to fight these fears. We must be intentional about taking every thought into captivity and choosing to think on things that are right, true, pure and praiseworthy. We must analyze every thought, every concern, every fear and compare them to the truths found in God’s Word. Truth: God is love. Truth: God will never leave us. Truth: God is for us. Truth: God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. Truth: We can trust God.

Ultimately, we find a repeated truth, in fact, a repeated command in Scripture: do not fear. This phrase is repeated in many instances, to multiple people. Each time, we find the assurance that God and His presence is greater than anything we might fear. In the instance of Isaiah 41:10, God is reminding his people, the Israelites, that He is with them. His presence changes everything. They did not need to fear because He was with them. They did not need to be discouraged because He was the One providing their strength and victory.

This is true for any of us, His children, today. The same God who created the universe, the One who controls all things; He is with you. He is your God. He is your strength. He is your source of help. He is the One who holds you up. It is God who provides and protects. Trust in Him. Will you say, as David did in Psalms 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”?

What is your go-to truth verse whenever you are battling fear?

Master Planning for Leaders

Posted on by Rachel

There are several apps available for mapping out To Do lists. However, I personally find the following method to be much simpler and more efficient for me.  

  • Using a OneNote folder or Google Doc, write down everything that needs to be done, and just drop it under the correct date it is going to be accomplished.
    • When using Google Docs you can bold each date so it shows up in the Document Outline for easy access. From the Document Outline, you can click on a date to jump to that portion of the document.
  • As tasks are completed, mark them off. If you do something that was not on the list, go back and add it to the list, then cross it off.
    • It is beneficial to enter this in italics so that you can see how often the unexpected arises. This may also help understand why any uncompleted items were not done.
    • Note: I use live links to some of the specific items to be completed. This saves time from having to hunt for documents, websites, etc.
  • When planning the week, sit down and add items for each day.
    • I keep my list set up several weeks out, and add things such as meetings, calls, time off, and other tasks I know of in advance. This helps with planning, so I don’t overbook items, or forget about important meetings.
  • In OneNote, this can be organized within a folder, using different tabs for each week, and typing in the dates for each one.
  • Click here to access the Google Doc template I created. You can create a copy and edit it to fit your own needs.
    • Benefit of either Google Doc or OneNote: it can be pulled up from any device in any location for easy access at any time.

 

 

Live with Anticipation

Posted on by Rachel
Anyone who has traveled with kids for any amount of time has fallen prey to the standard, “Are we there yet?”. The longer the trip, the more often you will hear it. There are many factors that play into how often and how many times you will be asked this question: The age of the child, the length of the trip, the level of anticipation for the destination, just to name a few. At a young age, children have no concept of time. They don’t know how long an hour is, they simply know they are tired of being on the road, and want to get where they are going.
While we do eventually grow to understand time a little better, may we never outgrow the anticipation of our destination. We are on a journey. Hebrews 13:14 “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
We have a promise of a great destination ahead, so don’t lose hope in the journey. Let your life echo the words of Paul in Philippians 3:14, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Press on, my friends. Persevere. Live with anticipation for a greater destination.

 

 

 

Trust God, Even When It’s Cloudy

Posted on by Rachel

I love a quiet evening spent with my little one, gazing at the stars. On a clear night, we can look up and see stars so numerous we lose count. In these moments, I’m reminded of God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 15:5. “Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
As Abram gazed at the stars that cloudless night, he must have been filled with awe and wonder. However, my mind takes me to the following evenings in weeks, months and years to come, when perhaps he looked up only to see a cloudy sky with no visibility. What thoughts crossed his mind? Descendants as numerous as the stars…what stars?
Even on the cloudiest of nights, the validity of the promise didn’t change, the visibility did. Even when you can’t see it, God is still at work. He is always faithful, always true. His Word does not return void. What promise are you still believing for? Don’t lose faith. Trust God, even when it’s cloudy. 

A different first day…

Posted on by Rachel

“I am forever grateful that in continually changing times, we serve an unchanging God…When everything else is different, this is the same: We can still trust Him.”

This was undoubtedly a very different first day of school. We couldn’t walk our 3rd grader to her classroom. We didn’t meet the teacher in person. We won’t be having lunch with her. There was not a three mile long car line. For the time ever, we had to pick out matching masks for all her outfits. The list goes on and on.
However, I would rather focus on the things that are the same. What was not different about today?
  • God is still in control. He is with her every step of the way. (Is. 41:10) I couldn’t walk those halls and pray, but God will walk those halls with her every day.
  • He still gives his angels charge over her to protect her in all her ways (Ps 91:11).
  • He is the same God this year on this first day of school as He was last year and all the years before that (Heb 13:8).
  • He still cares about every concern that races through my mind, and I will continue to trust Him with every thought (1 Peter 5:7).
I am forever grateful that in continually changing times, we serve an unchanging God. We have a God on our side who knows the unknown, sees the unforeseen, and controls the things beyond our control. When everything else is different, this is the same: We can still trust Him. So, what are you trusting God with today? What is out of your control, that you can leave in His control?