Love Deeply

"Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a [pure] heart. You have been reborn - not from seed that eventually dies but from seed that is eternal - through the word of God that lives and endures forever. For Isaiah said, 

'All life is like the grass, 

and its glory like a flower;

The grass will wither and die, 

and the flower falls,

But the word of the Lord will endure forever'

This is the word that has been preached to you" 
(1 Peter 1:22-25, The Voice).

I like this version from The Voice. As new creations, we are made alive by God's grace as we have turned to put our trust in Him as Lord and Savior. The body of Christ can come together and have a pure love like He does, since He fills us with the Holy Spirit and teaches us more of who He is. He can renew our hearts and help us forgive, reach out to and care for those around us. He can give us new eyes to see others as His precious creations that He can give new life to as well. We have known and have been filled with His love, and so we have the opportunity to multiply the world with a kind of love like God has shown.

Kelli Martin

How can you love someone today or this weekend? Recently, I stopped to talk with a neighbor who has dogs and was shocked to find out she has had recent back troubles. I wished I was there closer to when the troubles first occurred. We exchanged cell phone numbers, and I hope that I can be there for her in the future. Is there someone around you who may even just need a smile or a hopeful outlook of God's purposes? Maybe there is someone near You who doesn't know the hope and peace our God Father and Savior brings.

Let's pray that God fills us with His love so we can extend it to others and point them to God who has shown us the deepest love we've ever seen.

A couple of worship songs: "Bones" and "Like an Avalanche" by Hillsong United (Live in Miami video with lyrics)
Photo from Pinterest and psweadoreyou.blogspot.com.

Hope and Hide

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You. When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139: 13-16

Read that last line again. God has all of your days planned out for you. That means that you still have choices with your life but that He has your direction planned. He even knew you before you were born, because He decided how He would fashion you. It is no wonder that there is hope for you. The Creator of the universe not only made you, but also He knows what will make you happy and desires that you have a wonderful, hope-filled life.

Hope is found in God

Hope can come from a lot of different places. Hope can come from just anticipating an event or even from something much more important like finding hope in what your job will be.

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:5-8

When you acknowledge Him alone as your salvation, the Word of God says that He will be your hope and that you cannot be shaken. You may feel shaken and bounced around a bit, but the good news is that it won't have a lasting effect. You can depend on Him as your secure and mighty rock, your very foundation for all that this life on earth holds, as well as the life to come. The Bible says to pour out your heart to Him and trust in Him. When you do, He is your refuge and you can hide in Him.

Some days I have so many choices that I would like to crawl back in my mother's womb and hide. Anyone with me? God hears and understands. Let's pour our hearts out to God. We can hope and hide in Him.
 

Part of today's post comes from HeartCall New Heart. It will be available for shipping at the end of the week! www.jayemartin.com/shop. Order one for yourself, one to give and a case for your church.

The aim of our charge is love

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5, ESV). 

As I was on a trip with my parents last week, we got to see some friends in town. It was honestly a bit humbling finding them, as we attempted to master the mass transportation systems. So, after the travel, it was refreshing to talk and laugh with some good friends. Some were fellow believers in this diverse, hustling city.

Kelli Martin

As I read this chapter in Timothy during our trip, I noticed how encouraging it must have been for Timothy to receive this letter from Paul, his mentor. In Timothy's community, there were some false teachers. Paul explained that the source of a disciple's hope is rooted in Christ, and the aim of this message from God is love. This encouragement came at a timely moment for Timothy. He was not alone in his devotion to God. It must have inspired him to remain centered on Christ and keep teaching His Word.

As we share Him, let us be refreshed and give thanks that we are not alone in this message of hope that we share. There is already a great cloud of witnesses to the truth of the hope, forgiveness and new life that we have because of Christ. Let us pray for other believers as they share Christ in their cities, and let us pray that God gives us the wisdom, grace and boldness to share who He is. Let us be a light wherever God has us this week.

Living and Active

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Kari Beougher

 
I absolutely love the truth of this verse. As an avid reader who often re-reads books, I love that no matter how many times I may read a passage of Scripture, I learn new truths from it. Growing up in a devoted Christian home and attending Christian schools all my life, I have had the extreme privilege of reading the Word of God often. Yet, no matter how many times I read a passage or think I know it, some days it speaks to me or affects me in ways it never has before. The Word of God truly never grows old. It’s  never outdated, and it will never become meaningless.It is living and active. I love that I will never stop learning through reading and that God will continually communicate to me through the Bible, His revealed word. What a beautiful truth!

 I also continually experience the second part of this verse, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Reading the Bible not only teaches me more about who Jesus is or what He wants for my life, but it also convicts me of my sin and shows me when I am wrong- which unfortunately, is often.While other books may lose their significance, the Bible will always be relevant and absolutely necessary to the Christian life.It is a means through which we learn more of who God is and who we are called to be.

Is reading the Word of God a priority in our life? Are we allowing God's Word to teach us new things? Are we allowing His Spirit to convict and correct sin in our lives? Trust in the power of God's Word today. It never returns to Him void but always accomplishes what He intends!

Keep your head up

"Therefore if you have been raised up in Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:1-2, New American Standard Bible).

In a holiday rush, with flash sales, traffic, and other things asking for our attention, it can be easy to take our eyes off the Lord and begin to focus on other things more. In the verse above, we are called to set our hearts and minds on God.

How? One way to remember Him is to thank Him for who He is in the past, present, and future:

• Past - His Son's life that set a great example for us as well as His sacrifice for all mankind, and how we are offered forgiveness (Ephesians 2:1-7). This forgiveness we can receive as a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). 
• Present - His Word and how He can renew believers' minds through the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:1-2). 
• Future - His faithfulness to carry out His holy purposes and promises (Numbers 23:19, Jeremiah 1:12, 2 Peter 1:1-8).

This reminded me of Peter's story, when Jesus asked Him to walk on water. You can read more of his story here. Lecrae refers to Peter's story in his song, "Walking on Water:"

"Let me show you my Supply, yeah you need to know Him

He got me walkin' on the water when the wind's blowin' 

And when the storm's brewin', and when the tide's high

That's when I lean into the truth that I abide by."

God Father, thank You for sending Jesus to free us and for inviting us into a repaired relationship with You. Help us remember and share who You are. Help us keep our focus on You. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo by Mike Specian from http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~mspecian. He has another website, http://www.mikespecian.com/.
You can hear the full song "Walking on Water" on YouTube here.

The Best

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search with all your heart'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13, New American Standard Bible). 

God's unconditional love is something that reveals His divinity and His unmatchable, pure heart. He encourages us to receive His love. He invites us to trust in Him and talk to Him through prayer.

In Isaiah 46:4-5, God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah and said,

"Even to your old age I will be the same and even to your graying years I will be with you! 

I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you. 

To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare me, that we would be alike?"

The God of all time - past, present, and future (a.k.a. the "I AM") - has a divine plan to save His people. He sent Jesus Christ to show us His love on earth, as He came to speak and live God's Word, as well as sacrifice for our sins.  He did all of that so He could bring us out of the sin that threatens to damage us and into His family, where we are forgiven for our sins, are given the Holy Spirit, and can grow in our relationship with Him.

In Jesus, we can see even more how God loves us and wants the best for us and His kingdom. What's our response to God? Do we trust Him? Have we asked for forgiveness and leadership from Him? Are there ways we can share who He is with others today?

Lord, thank You for Your incomparable love and for wanting the best for us. Help us love You more and to trust in Your plans. Help us share where our hope comes from with others today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo is a print by Kyle Steed found at steedagrams.com.

We pray they believe and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9-10, New American Standard Bible).

Do you know anyone who has been adopted? In the past few years, I have gotten close to a few families who have adopted children. It has been inspiring and a joy to see people love each other as family, even when they are not family by blood.

Adoption is a great reflection of how God loves those who receive His call to be a part of His family. God already loves us, His creation. Do we know someone who has not yet received His invitation to lead us as the good and loving Father God?

John 1:12 explains, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (New American Standard Bible). God, most holy and righteous, sent His Son to die a death we deserve to die. If we receive His invitation by turning to Him and trusting in Him, then we are invited into His family, His protection, and His presence. His love and mercy draws us to Him and puts us in awe.

Lord, this person on our mind who does not know You, please help them believe in You and Your Son, Jesus. Help them believe in You and confess their sins, so they can have a mended relationship with You. We pray they confess and believe, so they, too, will be a part of Your family.

More verses on this: Matthew 10:32, John 5:24, John 20:31, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from stlfamilylife.com.

We pray they seek God

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29, New American Standard Bible).

"That they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27, NASB).

Even in exile, God told His people if you seek me, then you will find me. God has been faithful to keep His covenant of extending mercy over time. This is great news for us, since we desperately need Him.

In Deuteronomy, the Lord kept His promise in giving grace to Israel. He helped the Israelites believe, repent, and return to Him (Romans 11:25-36). In Acts, Paul and Barnabas explained how God revealed Himself even in nature and by providing food for them. God addressed the idols in these peoples' lives. Even today, He seeks to bring light to His grace and glory that is worthy to be celebrated.

Is there something you honor more than God? Do you put someone or something as more important than Him? Let us pray for ourselves and for others, that we may seek to put God first. It is amazing, God's love, because the relationship He wishes to have with us is not based on what we have done. Instead, it is based on who God is and the forgiveness He offers.

Lord, we pray for an unbeliever on our mind today. Help them seek You with all their heart. Give them the desire to learn more about You and to put You first in their life, so one day they may be a part of Your covenant of grace.

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB).

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999)
Photo of opera glasses from www.opticsplanet.com

The Heart of a Servant Leader

"Whatever you do,  do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Colossians 3:23-24, New American Standard Bible). 

Serving God and others is something that is evident in Christ's life on earth. He reached out to love others, and as He did that, He honored God. Our Lord can give us the heart to serve others, even as leaders. In the following link, Jaye Martin writes of what servant leadership looks like biblically: "The Heart of a Servant Leader" (link connects to www.buildingchurchleaders.com; managed by Christianity Today).

Photo from smallgrouppastors.com

Unmatched Faithfulness

"This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
-2 Timothy 2:11-13, Holman Christian Standard Bible

The last part of the verses above, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself," stood out to me.  God is unchanging in His character and virtue, and that is one of the things I love about Him.  He is faithful to us, and His grace is great.  Our God is both loving and just.

How can we love Him today?  How can we reach out and love others like He loves us?  My prayers after reading these verses:

• thanks to our God, who simply can't deny His character
• for the Holy Spirit to continue to transform our hearts to be more like Christ's
• that we see times to share God's unmatched faithfulness with others

catching my fall

This week, my understanding of God's power has increased through a series of events. All were humbling, some were from the Bible, some from teachings about it, but one is embarrassing!

Tuesday, the girls that I babysit had two neighbors ask them to play in their backyard. As I walked towards the girls, who were playing on a swing, I tried to pet their neighbor's Shetland Terrier. One of the girls called my name, I looked up, and walked onto a covered pool! I fell and was close enough to the edge to not slide into the middle. I think the girls were playing and didn't realize, and I just laughed.

Sometimes, I let sin fog my mind, and then I feel like it is inescapable. It takes time for me to realize that God is the only one who has the power to save me.

This week, as I listened to Tony Rose speak, he said (rephrased): "You are in a race. Your biggest competitor? You." He referred to this verse to show how to find power to run:
"For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart." – Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB)

Why, this sin that holds on to us can actually help us see our need for God. He, in His incomparable mercy and absolute power, has given us the opportunity to turn to Him and away from sin. When we focus on the sin and do not forgive ourselves, do we truly trust in His incredible power? Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB) explains: "Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time."

Christ is strong enough to fight the sin! I pray that we are quick to turn to Him when we fall.

Other verses: Daniel 6:26-27
Picture from swimmingpoolcovers.blogsavy.com

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." –Matthew 6:21 (Holeman Christian Standard Bible)

Lately, a number of things have been reminding me of this verse. Rachel's fundraising story is one of them.

Recently, a girl that I babysit, whom I will call Rachel, added a new element to our game of school: fundraising. She asked me what city I was from again, and I smiled and said, "Houston, Texas." Rachel then explained that our next task was to raise money for the poor people in Houston. After she found an empty jar, she proceeded to imagine how we would raise the money to fill it. When her mom arrived home, she unveiled her plan!

Her excitement about the cause touched me. It made me question, "What are my time and efforts moving towards?" My first step should at least be spending less time scanning shopping websites!

The book Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs (BakerBooks, 2005) suggests that churches look at their budgets and see in what categories their funds are allocated (p. 263). Malphurs points out that this is important for individuals as well (p. 258). This reminded me to evaluate my expenditures in time and money.

A verse that a friend reminded me of last night explains, "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow" (James 1:17, New Living Translation). How are we using our gifts? How would Jesus use them?

breathe in + exhale

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." –John 16:33

God is there for us through thick and thin. With Halloween approaching, personally I tend to see deadlines steadily approaching. I have a few papers due, and it seems like some responsibilities can flow like a waterfall. However, God can make that "waterfall" flow smoothly instead of ending in a crash. He brings peace.

Max Lucado, in his book Come Thirsty, explains, "Our Father makes the same request. 'Stay close to me. Talk to me. Pray to me. Breathe me in and exhale your worry.' " I love that part: "Breathe me in and exhale your worry."
This peace that we find in Him, how can we find and share it? Romans 5:1 explains how we have peace: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." How can we share it? Maybe Colossians 3:15 offers an idea: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

So, I pray that we can breathe Him in and exhale our worry or whatever binds us. In the face of what we see in this world, we can have confidence and peace in the strength of our Father. "The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace" (John 14:27).

More verses: Isaiah 9:6,7; Phillipians 4:9
Drawing by Picasso

with grace and heart

"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend." -Proverbs 22:11

This Monday, when I came back from my fall reading break, I was happy to see the two girls that I babysit. They are in first and third grade, and I take care of them after school. We laughed as the first grader dotted her nose with ice cream while the third grader crowned her with a sombrero made of a paper napkin. We get along well, but sometimes starting homework is not so fun.

This past Monday was Columbus Day, so the girls had homework about the holiday. The younger one had a reading booklet, but told me that she did not want to read it. When I asked her to read it anyway, she sighed and said it was just for fun. Then, I asked her if I could read it. Both of them looked up as she responded, "Sure." After I read the first page and began explaining its picture, she took the booklet from me and began to read it to us on her own.

This may sound simple, but it was a revelation for me! In the past, I think I had approached asking them to do homework with more of an attitude that was not so filled with the Spirit. However, on that Columbus Day, I saw that my attitude could make a difference on the experience of homework. When I spoke with more grace, I was showing them that I had hope in them and that the process could be an enjoyable. That day, homework had become a fun adventure instead of a heartless duty.

I pray that there will be more days like this where I choose to live and speak with an attitude and a heart that is more like Jesus!

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." -Psalm 51:10

Picture from http://www.visitoakpark.com/

The Heart of a Servant Leader

“Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God.” Ephesians 6:6 (The Message)

The heart is the very seat of our soul, our emotions, and our passions. It is the very essence of our being and that which drives our thoughts and our motives. No wonder God tells us to guard our hearts! “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV).

The heart of a leader is the very foundation of her life. It is what drives her passion for the Lord and her passion for service in the kingdom. There is no doubt that most of us feel called to lead in a very deep way from the bottom of our hearts.

And yet, with seemingly little notice, out of our hearts can spew some of the most ungodly thoughts and attitudes…even in the midst of ministry. I rememberr something happened some time ago that totally unnerved me. Surely you know the feeling. I was less than thrilled with a situation (and in particular with one of my former bosses) and was just about to share from the seat of my emotions the most spirit-filled reaction to what was happening when God intervened. The person was not there for me to share with. I thank God for that. My spirit-filling was not coming from God; it was coming from the enemy. Even though I felt righteous in my motive, it certainly was not the best way to handle things. As leaders, we must be constantly aware that the enemy will do everything he can to render us ineffective in service to our Lord.

I had to come before the Lord and pray to Him, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51:10 (NIV). “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” Psalm 86:11 (NIV). “Refresh my heart in Christ” Philemon 1:20b (NIV). God gave me His promise in response, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV).

To be a servant leader, sometimes we just need to keep in mind that we are servants first and leaders second. We must learn to model Christ-like servanthood in every situation. God has chosen us to lead. Not only must we be strong and do the work, we must be strong in our wholehearted devotion to Him and remember Who we are working for! He is in control of every situation. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV).

between the celery and the cucumber

Confession: this is my first time to blog! I am excited to join you ladies here! Please hang in as I give this a try... :)

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." (Colossians 3:23, New International Version)

After my dad and I tried to beat the rush to the grocery store before the 4th of July, I realized the power in this verse. After weaving through isles of people trying samples, ordering meals for their families, and debating over seemingly endless varieties of pasta, my dad and I reached the cash register with our collection.

A petite brunette with her hair pulled back bagged our groceries and we began to talk. I told her thank you as she bagged, and a couple of moments later she asked if that was my class ring on my hand. I said yes and then noted it was actually my college ring.

Her eyes lit up as she said that she is getting her high school senior ring in about a month, and that she is hoping to go to college to be a nurse. Suddenly, she looked down. She explained that she got into trouble last year, so she is actually a year behind in school.

My heart broke that her disappointment in herself seemed to drag her down. We talked about how much nurses were needed today. Inside, I did not want the past to puncture her confidence in the future. As my dad finished paying, I told her, "You have so much to look forward to now. Best wishes."

That night, I wondered if there was more I could have said to show her God's love. Looking back, I could have encouraged her to put her hope in God. I would have loved to share one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 40:31 (Holeman Christian Standard Bible):

"but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Every moment counts. I do not clearly see how I will impact the world. Yet, I thank God that whatever we do, even in the hurry of getting ready for celebrations like Independence Day, His light can shine through us!

"For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
'I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 13:47, HCSB)