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Category: Missionary Member Articles

5 Things to Stop Doing in Your 20s

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A lot happens in your 20s! So, it is important to be taking intentional steps towards formulating good habits. What you put into practice today will shape the rest of your life. Here are five habits I have observed in twenty-year-olds and how God is calling us to something different!  

Stop Thinking Only About Yourself

Philippians 2:3 commands us to humbly count others as more significant than ourselves. We are called to love those around us. One of the best ways to do this is to serve. A mindset of servanthood, shifts our focus away from ourselves. It makes us think about how our actions affect others, helps us make wiser decisions and builds up lasting friendships and community.

Stop Running from Authentic Vulnerability

It’s time to break the trend of false community that social media has created. We all crave genuine and authentic relationships. One of the best ways to achieve this is to step out in vulnerability. Be real with people. Share about the things you are struggling with. Talk about the things that make you happy or sad. Open up to people. Vulnerability isn’t easy but it is worth it. Take the time to intentionally invest in real relationships. Leave Facebook and Instagram behind for a few hours and let people into your life.

Stop Trying to Take the Easy Way

We should be intentional, not accidental. 

Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “It has long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” What a good reminder why we should not be passive about life. We should be intentional, not accidental. This principle is applicable at work, at school, in relationships, etc. Though our first response may be to busy our schedules, busyness is just another form of passivity. Appearing to be doing a lot of work is not the same as actually being productive. We need to start asking God what he desires us to be working towards. His direction and desire for our lives should be the motivation of our work. And we should run after it with all we’ve got!

Stop Playing the Comparison Game

Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. 

Do you want to know a secret? The only one who can truly determine your value is the God who created you! We need to stop looking to our digital likes as the thing that defines us. You are more than just a social media profile. Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. The comparison game is deadly. You were uniquely made by the Creator of the entire universe. Psalm 139 gives a beautiful picture of the deep identity that can be found in intimate relationship with the Creator. You are uniquely you. Stop thinking that your gifts and talents are not enough. God created you for a specific purpose that no one else can accomplish. Once you fully embrace yourself, then you can stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and just go for it!

Stop Forgetting to Joyfully Celebrate Life

We need to take time and reflect on the goodness of God, his faithfulness to us and the blessings we experience every day from him.

Celebration is important and today is a gift — that’s why it’s called the present. We need to take time and reflect on the goodness of God, his faithfulness to us and the blessings we experience every day from him. This doesn’t mean we forget about hard work and planning for the future but it does mean life doesn’t always have to be work. Having fun and living in the moment is a necessity. It is thanksgiving and praise to God which open the gates of heaven. Sometimes this means we need to choose joy even when everything seems to be going so wrong. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it says we should rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. This concept is repeated again in Philippians 4:4. Joy helps uplift your perspective and sheds light on the situation you find yourself in. It gives us hope and reminds us of the greatness of our God.

 

How are you doing in these 5 areas? Ready to develop new habits that bring you closer to God?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School to learn how God speaks when we make time to listen.

 

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Advice From A Recovering Quoteaholic

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I am a quote junkie. Deep breath…It’s out there.

I just love those little sentences that inspire and motivate. Funny quotes, health quotes, Bible verses out of context (that’s a whole other topic!), movie quotes, quotes with beautiful fonts and backgrounds, you name it. And the meme phenomenon has only fueled this obsession. Growing up there was a notebook I creatively recorded quotes in, but it’s 2017. Today, I simply ‘save image’ or screenshot that eye candy.

The problem with this practice? Well, other than all those seconds spent holding my finger down on the screen to save the beautiful words which, are almost guaranteed never to been looked at again (like that notebook tucked away somewhere in my parent’s attic), what has been the actual point? Sure, sometimes they make me think for a second, but what are they actually inspiring? What do they motivate me to do? What action is taken?

…words in ‘quote’ format have become a kind of outlet that I started to recognize was gradually distracting me from life’s finer moments.

This simple activity has recently brought the question to the surface of how I spend my time. Not only online (harmless practices like wishing Facebook acquaintances I haven’t talked to in years and don’t have cell phones numbers for a happy birthday or saving that random bible verse artistically expressed so beautifully) but what I spend time doing period. I believe this has been highlighted because I have 3 young kids and words in ‘quote’ format have become a kind of outlet that I started to recognize was gradually distracting me from life’s finer moments. I knew that nudge to rein it in was from God… he won’t let us wander too far off course. His grace is so unbelievably beautiful.

But in the midst of this technology-driven life, God is not silent.

There are an increasing number of articles floating around right now that talk about the need for this tech-savvy generation to re-learn how to be intentional again with our days and not let the internet or social media hijack our lives and hold it ransom under the pain of loneliness and guilt. Even when we are doing things that are seemingly innocent there is a good chance it’s ultimately meaningless and bowing down to the notification idol sacrifices more than we realize. If you’re in your teens and 20’s, chances are you struggle to remember anything different. But in the midst of this technology-driven life, God is not silent. We just have trouble hearing over all the noise and there is a lot of noise out there.

…I bet in 50 years not one of us will say, “I wish I’d spent more time pinning, snapping, double tapping, and swiping.”

Now, I’m not telling you to sell the tablet or do a Netflix-free weekend. Chances are a little media fast like that will simply be a Band-Aid on a gushing wound that needs deeper attention. But if what you spend your time on isn’t causing positive change in your life or the lives of those around you then I submit that you are probably wasting those precious minutes. Maybe there are weekends of binge watching that bring a certain level of relaxation (you keep telling yourself that) but I bet in 50 years not one of us will say, “I wish I’d spent more time pinning, snapping, double tapping, and swiping.” Those don’t have value. Even if some of those moments lead us to focus for a few seconds on something good, something Godly even, they aren’t actually benefiting our days, causing change or putting action towards anything at all.

My path to recovery started with putting the screen away. It’s not a distraction if it isn’t in my hand. Sometimes we need to stop and take control of what controls our attention. We need to form good habits that will last a lifetime instead of stumbling into bad ones we would never have chosen for ourselves. 

Often times to hear God’s voice we need to silence everything else. This undeniably includes anything online. Don’t miss out on the most important connection you’ll ever make because you let pixels steal precious hours of your life that God intended for more

 Are you willing to put down what’s distracting you for the sake of the people right in front of you? To experience more of God?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School to learn how God speaks when we make time to listen.

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5 Reasons Traveling to Another Country is Good for You

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When I first decided to travel to another country it sounded fun, adventurous and like a once in a lifetime opportunity – plus I could post some cool pictures on Instagram and have an international experience that might impress people. It helps that I’m also single with no kids and little responsibility. This season in life seemed like a great time to travel. At the time, I thought going to another country would be good for me. Turns out it is, but I didn’t expect some of the reasons why.

Things I have learned by traveling to another country:

  1. I don’t live at the center of the universe – As a citizen of  Western Civilization, I have a tendency to believe that world history and current events are all a reaction to what happens in my small corner of the world. But, it’s not. My country, my civilization, makes up a small fraction of the population that existed thousands of years before “the west” was a thing. It wasn’t until l stood in the middle of a crowded street in Asia, surrounded by thousands of people who utter syllables I had never heard, that I began to understand this. There are hundreds of languages, cultures, ways of life that millions understand yet I cannot navigate. Just doing something as simple as buying a piece of fruit seems unmanageable. Many fruit vendors overseas have been thoroughly entertained by how stupid I sound trying to speak their tonal language and even more excited at the price this ignorant American was willing to pay for a piece of fruit. It makes me feel really small, and that’s a good thing because I am. It makes me feel really out of control, and that’s good because I am. It helps me realize that I am not at the center of the universe and the world was not made to cater to Western Civilization. And that’s good, because it’s not.
  1. People live differently than me and it’s not wrong – You can disagree but, to a certain extent, I think it is a good thing to look stupid every once in awhile. Traveling to a different country showed me people are different and everyone doesn’t do things the same way I do. For example, try cooking with women from Cambodia. They laugh at the way I cut limes and vegetables with the knives they use. I have no other choice but to be a learner and humbly ask them to re-teach me how to cook when I have already taken culinary class and worked in the foodservice industry. They don’t do it wrong. In fact, their method works really well, maybe even better than mine. It’s just different, it seems weird, and it makes me look stupid. But, that’s okay. Because being a learner and being willing to see things from a different perspective is a gift.
  1. Even when I can’t afford Taco Bell or scrape together enough quarters to do my laundry, I am rich – For most of the world, a family having one car means they are well off. I have a car that I don’t have to share with anyone. I also have carpet in my house, not a dirt floor. At night, I sleep on my own bed, I don’t sleep in one room with my whole family. The poverty, the way of life, the standard of living, it wrecks me and and helps me understand how much I have. Not in a cliche way that makes me feel guilty.  Because I shouldn’t  feel guilty about how God has blessed me, I should be grateful. Being exposed to the way the rest of the world lives changes my attitude if I allow it. I learn how to be grateful when it is raining and I am stuck in traffic. I am not on the back of a moto with two other people, I am sitting dry and warm in a car – and for that I am grateful!
  1. The world is beautiful – Who doesn’t like adventure, seeing ancient wonders of the world, and the things read about in history books? Or being surrounded by foreign smells and noises I didn’t know existed? Eating the best Thai food I’ve ever had, for less than a dollar, while sitting in a crowded market?  Just reading about it or watching it on the travel channel is nothing compared to experiencing it for yourself.  It’s the difference between jumping head first into a cool clear lake versus sprinkling myself with a few drops of water. When I travel, I do more than just see the breathtaking Asian countryside, the ancient temples, the mountains of Nepal, the beaches in Taiwan – I engage and experience them with all of my senses. Travel is the best way to take part in such diverse beauty. I don’t have to pin catchy quotes on Pinterest about wanderlust, travel or adventure because I know it, I breathed it, tasted it, felt it, heard it, saw it, and lived it.
  1. People are all the same – When I travel to another country, there have been moments when I connect over an emotion, a common feeling and understanding with someone from a foreign way of life. It is in that moment that the world becomes smaller. It helps me to see that even though most things about their life, down to how they use the bathroom and dress themselves in the morning, are different, we are still the same. We are created in the same way by the same God and He is universal. That is I why travel. That is why it is good to travel to another country. Because people are beautiful and made in the image of God but, most of the time, they don’t know it and someone needs to tell them.

While I was right about many of the reasons I thought traveling was going to be good for me, it wasn’t until I actually traveled that I began to understand why it was truly good for me. Overall, it gave me perspective. A perspective that is bigger than a few Instagram pictures and stories that impress people. If you decide to visit another part of our world, you will never be the same. You will see people differently, you will appreciate things in a new way and, later, you will find yourself missing people and food you didn’t know existed before. Traveling to a different country will bring lots of unexpected adventures and challenges but it is so worth it and it is good for you.

 Are you wanting to experience the perspective shift that only comes from traveling to a new country?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School to learn more about God, how He created us all differently and then travel to experience it first hand.

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What’s the difference between perfectionism and excellence?

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There is a strong theme throughout the bible that challenges believers to walk in excellence as followers of Christ. But, when I personally began working in ministry, this expectation filled me with anxiety – fearing that my own inabilities would lead to rejection from others if I was not being the most excellent Christian possible. This stemmed from a lie telling me that since Jesus died for me, I could no longer be struggling with insecurity. But, because I am human, I was struggling. And because I was struggling, I began to view this call to excellence as a demand for perfectionism.

I placed my value on what I thought others thought of me based on my actions…

The reason my heart translated excellence into anxiety-ridden, doubting, and insecure perfectionism, was because I placed my value on what I thought others thought of me based on my actions, instead of who God made me to be. This mindset affected me even in my private times with the Lord. I lived more in fear of someone asking about how I spent my time with God, rather than sitting in reverence toward God Himself. As I began to recognize my lack of peace and heightened insecurities, I worried that others would see through my façade.  That’s when I felt God expose that I had come to believe that His death on the cross was not enough to cover my imperfections. And if I believed that, then I was believing I wasn’t valuable enough for the price He paid for me to have life. Essentially I was saying that what Jesus thought wasn’t as valuable to me as the opinions of others – that what He had done by taking on my sin, brokenness, and shame is not enough, and somehow I arrogantly thought I could do better.

As Jesus gently led me to see what I was believing, the reality of where my heart was at hit me like a ton of bricks. What I had twisted as an expectation over my life as a Christian, was actually keeping me from fully realizing the depth and gravity of freedom which Jesus paid for me to have. He did not give His life for me to be perfect in my actions, but He gave His perfect life so that I could be loved and valued by Him in the midst of my imperfections.

So how are we to walk in excellence?

Excellence is achieved simply by doing the best that one can do for the sake of another person.

In recognizing His grace over my “performance” as a Christian, I still wondered how I was supposed to walk in excellence while also residing within my imperfect humanity. Even though Christ has grace for my mistakes or shortcomings, I still have a call to be a representative of a perfect God. The perfectionism I had striven for was for my own selfish benefit. In it, my heart was striving for others to recognize and praise me, not the God I was representing. This state of the heart will suck the life out of anyone attempting to do ministry within its borders. Excellence, on the other hand, is a direct rebellion of the perfectionism mind-set. Instead of seeking the benefit of oneself, pursuing excellence comes from the desire to benefit those you are serving. Excellence is achieved simply by doing the best that one can do for the sake of another person. This heart position brings life simply because it reflects God’s love and value towards those being served, while also covering those walking in excellence with His grace to do so.

I am not perfect. I have been (and still am) coming to a place of seeing my lack of perfection as a gift. Not because I am praising my sin or brokenness, but because that’s what continuously points me to my undeniable need for Christ’s grace, which teaches me how be more like Him.

Tired of striving for perfection?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School where you can learn about God’s infinite grace and how to make the shift to serving others with excellence.

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Feeling Trapped in the Busy-ness of Life?

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I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve looked around at everyone else and thought, “nobody is as busy as me.”  I’ve compared my life to another’s, reassuring myself that I was busier and somewhere in my mind I thought that made me better.  My value came from all of the “yes’s” I could give to people.  And why shouldn’t I say yes?  Usually, it was to things that encouraged my talents and gifts. Though, if it wasn’t, I’d made it work because it was a need I could still fill.  But, soon the once a week commitment spiraled into being gone every night of the week (after working an 8 hour shift).  I would even try to say no, and people wouldn’t hear it.  I’d explain my no, like people needed to hear my reasons, but they still wouldn’t get it.  Everything I was involved in and nearly all my relationships were filtered through my “I’m so busy” filter.  It was breaking me apart and stretching me too thin.  But, it was how I survived – definitely not thrived – through my early twenties.

I needed permission that saying “no” was okay

I wouldn’t say I’m a completely non-busy person nowadays, but I put a much greater effort into not using the word “busy.”  In fact, I’ve swallowed the word more than once because it is such a norm to just be busy and tell everyone about that busy.  When I say I’m busy, I think I’m busy; when I think I’m busy I get stressed; and when I get stressed I start to judge everyone else – thinking I’m the best at being busy and no one else is as busy as I am.  You see how it snowballs into a giant, out of control, doesn’t-melt-until-summer-is-over, snowball?  I’m pretty sure I am not alone in this, and I’m ready for it to stop.  But, I recognized that it started with me.  I needed a mindset and attitude change.  I needed to not be busy, and just get organized.   I needed permission that saying “no” was okay.  Everything in my life needed to change from a dragging chore to joy-filled purpose.

Life shouldn’t pedestal the busy.  Life should respect the yes and value the no.  So, how can we support each other in this?  Here’s a few ideas.

1.When someone says yes to you, be sure to thank them.

How many people are feigning for your attention and involvement?  Probably a fair few, and you know you can’t say yes to them all. Therefore, do not expect everyone to say yes to you.  When someone says yes to you, they made the intentional choice to do so.  Be grateful!  A simple thank you card (nothing like snail mail!) goes a long way.  I remember when I was applying to go to the School of Biblical Studies in Montana, I sent a check to the base inside of a thank you note – those girls in the office do a TON of work; they say YES everyday to students who apply and have their hundreds of questions, so those ladies needed to be thanked.  I figured they probably got a lot of thank you’s for all of the yes’s they give.  When I got to Montana months later, I was in the office taking care of some business when the Registrar says to me, “Oh you’re the one who wrote the thank you note!  Look, we put it on our wall!”  A little thank you goes a LONG way, so be sure to thank those who say yes to you.

2. Hear the no, accept the no, and realize that it’s probably not personal.

Just the other day I was saying no to a customer at work about something, but for the life of her she just wasn’t accepting it.  She kept pressing me and pressing me, rewording her question and standing around as if her persistence would make me change my mind.  That lady just wasn’t hearing or accepting my no – and it’s not like I even wanted to tell her no!  I realistically just didn’t have the means to supply what she was looking for.  I used this example specifically to say ladies, I think we’re the ones who are really guilty of this.  We ask the one person on our ask list to fill the need we have and when they can’t do it, we take it so personally that we push and pressure as opposed to accept and affirm.  And there’s a really good chance that the reason the person is saying no to you (and they don’t need to explain or justify their no) is because they legitimately cannot help at this time.  When we’ve got a need that has to be filled (i.e. volunteers for the spaghetti dinner, more leaders for your ministry, a chaperone for the kid’s movie night), be sure to have some back-up options – and be sure you’re good with them.  This will make hearing and accepting a “no” significantly easier.

3. Choose words wisely.

Sometimes all it takes for us to feel less busy is to use words like “no” more and words like “I’m busy” less.  I really think our busy lives are reflective of busy attitudes and of living in a culture where busy is valued.  A couple of years ago I was encouraged to start planning my weeks, including slotting in things like “Sabbath rest” and “social time.”  At first I thought I was being ridiculously OCD, but as my mentor assured me, “you’re just being wise with your time!”  In fact, as I penned into my week the things I needed to do I found that I was much less stressed and I had more free time to invest in relationships that had so long been ignored.  I started saying no to things when it fell the same day as “Sabbath rest,” and I limited myself to being involved in significantly less ministry opportunities.  The reality was I wasn’t needed everywhere, and in saying no to people I stopped hindering others from excelling in their gifts.  Whereas I previously thought I was the “best,” I soon came to see that there were several others who were better, and that was a gift all in itself (it’s a gift called delegation; a whole different blog!)

So, how about it?  Shall we be more grateful, accept the no, and choose the words we use more wisely?  You have permission.  You’re allowed to take a break.  You’re allowed to recharge.  You’re allowed to spend a Friday night on a date with the man you fell in love with all those years ago – kids, ministry, homework and busy free.  You’re allowed.

God is more sovereign than our no

God is faithful to us when we invest in our relationship with Him and the ones He’s given us to love especially.  God is more sovereign than our no, and if whatever you said “no” to is supposed to flourish, then it will flourish under His will.  Don’t you worry.  Really.  Take a deep breath (really, take a deep breath)…hold it there for a minute…you have permission to not be busy, and to just say no.  I dare you to try it sometime soon (like…later today?)

Wanting to learn how to say no and stop relying on “busy” as an identity?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School where you can learn about God’s faithfulness and your identity in Him apart from what you do.

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A Perfect Father Doesn’t Vacuum up His Children

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My oldest is nearly seven and she still has the irrational fear of being sucked up by our vacuum cleaner. As far as I know, nothing has ever happened to bring on this condition. But, every time I wheel it out to the living room she’ll get up (even if she’s already a safe distance away) and either scramble to the very top of the couch like her life is in danger or, more recently, just go and hide in her room. Now let me tell you something, I have a 100% success rate of not vacuuming up any of my children or anyone else’s children. Part of her just doesn’t believe she is safe in that moment and maybe this is the time she’ll disappear into the bag.

Looking back, He has been 100% faithful when it comes to caring for us.

You know who else has a 100% success rate in being faithful to His word? You see, God has never let me down. Never failed to provide for me when I lived with my parents, when I was single and living on my own, or since my own family has been in full time ministry. He has always provided friends, food, cars, laptops, plane tickets, shoes, last minute babysitters, the list goes on and on. It may not always be what I would prefer at the time in all of those areas, but it is always what I needed and what He knew was best for my family. Looking back, He has been 100% faithful when it comes to caring for us.

Yet, even with the facts laid out over and over again before me, I still doubt. I still struggle to have faith – not every time, but often enough for the same question to pop up again: “What if this time is the time it doesn’t work out?”.  How many doubts and worries rise up in those moments that cause stress, bad moods, despair, health issues, overeating, under eating, loneliness, and guilt because I am obviously not cutting it as a ‘good Christian’ when I worry?

The longer I’m alive, the more examples I have of God not letting me down…

The longer I’m alive, the more examples I have of God not letting me down and the more weight that 100% has behind it. But, if you’ve read even a little of the Old Testament you know the concept of forgetting is nothing new. One of the most famous  examples of this is the deliverance of the Israelite’s from slavery, how quickly they forgot God’s faithfulness and therefore spending the next 40 years wandering around in the desert.

WE may never fully understand God’s character in this lifetime, but there are many absolutes the Bible does teach us about our Creator. I don’t have space to list them all here, but faithfulness is one of the big ones.

…perfect Fathers don’t vacuum up their children.

So, even when we doubt, when we turn away, when we give up, He has nothing but grace, mercy, and a new start waiting. That’s what our perfect Father is like. And perfect fathers don’t vacuum up their children. We have nothing to fear as the Bible reminds us over and over again.

Hopefully, one day, my little girl’s brain cells will finally multiply in the right sequence for her fear to fade away. But, until then, that lowly machine that lives in the closet has become a physical reminder to me of God’s faithfulness and to not doubt His promises.

Wanting to learn more about God’s faithfulness?

Come join us for a Discipleship Training School where you can learn about God’s character and experience His faithfulness alongside others

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Can One Word Change Your Life?

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God spoke one word clearly during the lecture phase; “Montana.”

When I was 19 I left England and eagerly boarded a plane for The Netherlands to do a Discipleship Training School (DTS) at YWAM Heidebeek. As the oldest of four, I couldn’t wait to finally leave home and do something that was just mine. God spoke one word clearly during the lecture phase; “Montana.” I heard it once again on outreach in India and then in random ways over the next few years.  At the time I had no idea YWAM was even in Montana, this was obviously before the Internet ruled all. Having never been to the USA but being of prime American-movie-watching age, “Montana” conjured up 3 thoughts: rural, cowboys, and borders Canada. I’ve since discovered the other 49 states pretty much feel the same way. Like most young Brits, the USA was the cool aunt you always wanted to live with and I couldn’t wait for my turn. Montana would be as good a place as any to start.

Fast forward four years and the now 23-year-old-me left London again to start the first leg of my journey for what would become three YWAM schools. Fun fact: in July 2005 a one-way train ticket from NYC to Whitefish, Montana was $72. Guess who spent 3 full days riding coach with Amtrack?!

As it turns out, that single word God spoke to me at age 19 in a tiny Dutch village, in a multi-purpose classroom filled with Dutch and international missionaries-in-training, with bi-lingual everything and a lot of stroopwaffels, was a glimpse into over a decade of life I was going to spend in another tiny (but similar) place on the other side of the world. I didn’t fixate on it much, I just knew that one day God would bring me to Montana for some reason and that it was an important part of His plan for me.

That’s what lead me to DTS and then ultimately to Montana, where I still am…

I spent my later teenage years in the church trying to wrap my head around how to live a Christian life that was worth something:  trying to be a world-changer and earth-adventurer while I’m here, and trying to please God and have purpose beyond what my culture was funneling me into (university at the time).  That’s what lead me to DTS and then ultimately to Montana, where I still am 12 years after getting off of that train in Whitefish with 2 suitcases, complete confidence God was going to rock the next year, and needing a shower ASAP.

There are only a few times I remember when I knew I heard God absolutely, and for some reason they have usually been just one word.  If you have ever heard a clear word from God about anything, you know that He exists. And just like working on your health is key to having a body capable of carrying out what you are doing in life, working on your ‘Christian skills’ is also paramount to finding success in your walk with Jesus through everything the world is going to throw at you.

I know that I know that I heard His voice…

DTS changed my life in many ways – those ‘skills’ included learning how to be quiet before the Lord, listening to Him, thinking outside the box through a biblical lens, being part of something greater than myself, seeing God in cultures and people different from me, and that’s just scratching the surface. Mainly DTS changed my life because it was the place I got clear direction from God, which has since silenced any doubts I’ve had about His goodness and grace. I know that I know that I heard His voice then and, although He could have said it any time, He chose to do it in a place He knew I would hear Him and have the faith to wait for that word to be fulfilled. That one word has since transformed into another that will forever mark my life: “Home”.

If you need direction, if you struggle to hear God or even doubt that He’s real, if you long to see miracles, to find people who understand your fears, to somehow have your faith grow and your heart set on a path of healing, I encourage you to pursue DTS. No matter your age or current situation – if all it took was 5 months to bring life-long change, wouldn’t you drop everything and go? It’s worth it all to find out.

TAKE THE LEAP AND JOIN US FOR OUR FALL DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL! 

Starts September 18th

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How to Avoid Misusing and Abusing the Bible

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a particular passage in Philippians 4 immediately jumped into my mind. Which states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Relevant magazine produced an article on The Five Most Misused and Abused Bible Verses in the church. When I saw the title, a particular passage in Philippians 4 immediately jumped into my mind. Which states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Sure enough, the author stated that verse as the number one most abused passage in the body of Christ.

Here are a few more common verses people seem to abuse.

How about sweethearts quoting Jacob and Esau’s statement to each other that, “The Lord watch between you and me while we are apart”. In it’s original context this is a statement between two adversaries saying, “if you rip me off or do something bad to me while we’re apart, my God himself repay.” It’s not a romantic verse between a courting couple. Of course, the intention is good and they are just wanting to say may God watch between us and bless us as we are apart.

And, of course, there are the people who quote, “For where two or three are gathered in his name, he is in their midst.” The verse actually refers to when two or three people gathered together to discipline somebody for their disobedience to the Lord.

More famously, there is the Romans 8:28 passage that says God makes all things work together for “my” good. When, according to the context, it is for the whole church not the individual. One more example of the danger to interpret scripture based on “me” rather than the original context.

So, why do people go about abusing Bible verses?

Different people would give different answers as to why all of this happens.The relevant magazine article is quite good about context, literary context and the usage of words etc.

Imagine reading Tolstoy or Tolkien and pulling out one sentence from the middle of either of their works…

However, In my mind, the primary reason that people abuse Bible verses is because they don’t read the Bible.  What I mean by this is that people often read the Bible like they read the phone book.  Every verse has an independent meaning apart from the verses around it. Imagine reading Tolstoy or Tolkien and pulling out one sentence from the middle of either of their works and claiming to understand what the author is saying.

My wife and I have been running a Bible school for the last 40 years (called the School of Biblical Studies). At our ministry location our leadership recently instituted a year-long emphasis on Bible reading.

They asked everyone to pray and create a plan for their yearly reading. Further, our ministry leader asked everyone to choose an accountability partner to talk to about how we are doing with our plan.

My accountability partner decided to read through the whole Bible this year. She just told me that she finished the old testament as she had planned even though she just had a baby three weeks ago. After that update, she received a new Bible. And in a text message she told me, “because of my hunger for the Bible, I simply read through the whole Bible – my new one.”

How does that relate to abusing Bible verses?

Plenty. As I said at the beginning of the article, in my opinion, the reason people abuse Bible verses is that they do not read the Bible. And by not reading the Bible, I mean that they do not read the Bible as a book. My accountability partner, the mom with the new baby, certainly read the Bible as literature.

A person can read through the whole Bible in one year if they read just four chapters a day.

Reading through the entire Bible in a week or a month might seem a bit ambitious but, that does not have to be the starting point.  A person can read through the whole Bible in one year if they read just four chapters a day. Taking smalls steps might be the best option for someone who has never read the Bible like this before. An individual can pray and ask God how He wants him or her to be reading through the whole Bible as a beautiful piece of literature.

So, what about people who don’t like to read the Bible? Well, I have two answers.  

First, they need to pray (and ask others to pray) that God will give them a hunger for the Bible. This has always been my basic encouragement to those who have asked me to teach them to read their Bible. I recommend they simply ask God to give them a hunger and then read the Bible. This is how I developed my passion for the Bible – six young men prayed for me regularly for six weeks without me even knowing they were doing it.

My second answer would be to recall John Wesley’s statement to Methodist preachers in the 1700s. He wanted all Methodist preachers reading (both Christian and non-Christian literature ) five hours a day in order to preach sermons that would be “worthwhile.” If a person didn’t like to read, Wesley’s words were, “You need to learn to like to read.” I would say the same thing is true for the Bible:  if you don’t like to read the Bible you need to learn to like to read the Bible.

Kudos to relevant magazine.

How do I answer the question, “what is the best way to prevent abusing and misusing the Bible?”

Read the Bible.

 

HAVE YOU DONE A DTS BUT STRUGGLE TO READ THE BIBLE AS A BOOK? 

COME JOIN US FOR A SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES THIS SEPTEMBER TO SPEND 9 MONTHS STUDYING GOD’S WORD AND BEING TRANSFORMED BY IT. 

YOU WON’T REGRET THIS.

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What If God Isn’t Telling Me What to Do?

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…but as life continues, you realize just how out of control you are.

Life is always full of transition. Whether it’s moving, a new job, relationships changing or ending, or even a perspective shift. Transition is inevitable and in many ways, unwelcome. We enjoy stability and knowing what tomorrow will bring. It brings us security and a sense that we are somewhat in control, but as life continues, you realize just how out of control you are.

As a Christian, at times, God gives you a direction for your life. He will tell you what to study at school, to go on a missions trip, or tell someone about Him. While this can be quite terrifying at times, there is always a sense of peace. It is black or white – you either obey or you disobey. To some, that brings comfort because the decision is made, you simply have to follow.

But what about those times in your life when God doesn’t give you a clear direction? What then? Do you simply continue to live your life or search for something more? These times, I’ve found, are almost crippling. Why would the Creator of the universe give me a choice, or worse, be silent as I seek direction? I am nothing in comparison to Him and yet He would allow me to decide? So In those times the simple question is, “What do I do?”

You never want to hear your mother say she has breast cancer, let alone six days before your wedding.

The past year has been a whirlwind of transition in my life. In the matter of a week, I found out that my mom had a rare form of breast cancer, I got married, and I finally laid down a dream I had had for years. You never want to hear your mother say she has breast cancer, let alone six days before your wedding. You don’t want to lay down your dreams, however, you are also willing to for something better. It made for a long, confusing, scary, and also terrific week.

That time in my life was very difficult and I had to make big choices constantly. Walking through cancer with my family and deciding where that would take me, as well as my new wife, while also grieving giving up my dream that I thought my future would look like. And through all of that, God was letting me decide which steps to take.

I found no clear guidance from my Father in heaven on issues near and dear to my heart – He simply let me choose. Choose what dream I wanted to follow in my life, choose where to live, choose what to do, and choose the kind of life I wanted essentially. One year later, and through many decisions changing, God is proud of what I have decided and I have learned many valuable things through making those decisions.

Letting you choose is God’s way of letting you know that you are mature enough to make decisions for yourself…

The pinnacle of what I learned through this time of stepping up and deciding what I wanted my life to look like is simple:  When God gives you a choice, rejoice. Letting you choose is God’s way of letting you know that you are mature enough to make decisions for yourself and shows that He truly cares what your dreams are. He is such a loving Father that He will let you decide which path your life will take and wants to bless you.

Through these times, always remember that even when God is silent and seems to be absent when you are struggling with life’s choices, He is always there. And the good news is that He will give always be there for you when you need Him, it just might not look like what you think you need from Him.

*Scriptural support comes from Proverbs 1:1-7 and 16:1

ARE YOU IN A TIME WHERE GOD SEEMS TO BE GIVING YOU CHOICES (FOR YOUR FUTURE)?

COME JOIN US FOR A DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE AND HOW TO TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN HE GIVES YOU CHOICES!

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