by Catherine McDaugale | May 15, 2023 | Christian Living, Ministry, Spiritual Growth
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. (John 15:8 (NKJV))
Do you want to glorify God the Father? If so, ask yourself how much fruit you’ve been producing. The Bible tells us that we glorify Him by bearing much fruit.
What is Fruit?
In addition to other fruit (see, e.g., John 4:36; Ephesians 5:8-9), the Bible teaches us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)). Those qualities describe Jesus. Jesus is love. He is patient. Jesus is perfectly all of those things.
You may or may not have had those qualities (to some extent) before you started following Jesus. But after you came to Him, the Father began the process of changing you into His image.
If you look at your life before you came to Jesus and compare it to your life since then, you will likely see a difference. You’ll be able to see more and more of the fruit of the Spirit the longer you walk with Jesus.
How do you produce fruit?
We can’t become more loving, patient, kind, gentle, etc. on our own. In teaching us about fruit, Jesus used a metaphor in which He compared Himself to a vine and us to branches (John 15:5). It’s a great metaphor because it helps us to easily understand Jesus’ teaching by looking at a grapevine or a tree.
Have you ever seen a tree straining to bear fruit? Of course not. A silly image comes to my mind of a little face on the tree, clenching its jaw and branches, hoping the fruit will pop out.
Like the tree, we don’t need to strive either. We can’t produce fruit on our own. Instead, it’s a process of letting God work in and through you. You still participate. But it’s only through the strength of God’s Spirit that we produce fruit (Zechariah 4:6).
Jesus told us how to produce fruit. When we (as branches) are attached to Jesus (the true vine), we’re abiding in Him.
If we’re not abiding in Jesus, we can do nothing, and we won’t produce fruit (John 15:5). But when we abide in Him, we bear fruit (John 15:5). The fruit naturally flows from you when you abide in Jesus.
Just like a branch on a grapevine won’t produce any grapes if it isn’t attached to the vine, we won’t produce any fruit if we’re not attached to Jesus. A branch that is detached from the vine dries up, withers, and dies. The branch needs the nourishment it gets from being attached to the vine or it won’t be fruitful.
How do you produce much fruit?
Jesus said that we will bear “much fruit” if we abide in Him and He in us (John 15:5 (NKJV)). So, what does it mean to abide?
The word abide means to be present or remain. We need to remain in Jesus, to be present with Him. You’re not abiding if you get a little closer but aren’t attached to Him. If you’re reading your Bible and saying repetitious prayers so you can check it off your list, you’re not abiding.
But if you’re
- relying on Jesus for everything as you go through your day,
- reading the Bible because you want to learn more about Him,
- praying because you need His strength or direction
- singing praises to Him because you’re thankful for all He’s doing in your life, and
- obeying when you know God wants you to do something,
then you’re abiding in Jesus.
And, abiding some of the time is not enough. We need to abide in Jesus all of the time. There is a direct correlation between the amount of time you spend with Jesus and the amount of fruit you produce.
So, be present with Jesus all day, every day. Then, watch the fruit grow in and through your life as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Rohit Tandon on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | May 1, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 (NKJV))
Can we love others like Jesus? Jesus commanded us to do so. And Jesus wouldn’t tell us to do something we couldn’t do.
Yet, it’s a high bar (to say the least). Jesus loved us (and continues to love us) with a perfect love. A love that is patient and kind. One that’s self-sacrificial. A love that’s a verb – an action – more than a feeling.
So, can we really love others like that? Let’s take a few minutes to look at just a few examples of how Jesus loved when He walked on this earth.
- Jesus was available.
When Jesus heard that His cousin (John the Baptist) had been beheaded, Jesus “departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself” (Matthew 14:13 (NKJV)). It sounds like Jesus wanted to get away to mourn. But the crowds followed Him (Matthew 14:13).
What did Jesus do in response? Did He tell them to go away because He needed time alone? Did He hide and hope they would leave? Was He rude to them?
No. When “He saw a great multitude,” Jesus “was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14 (NKJV)).
Even in His grief, Jesus made Himself available to serve the people who came to Him. He set aside His own feelings and helped them.
- Jesus was patient.
When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, Thomas wasn’t with them (John 20:24). They told Thomas that they had seen Jesus. But Thomas didn’t believe them. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25 (NKJV)).
About a week later, Jesus appeared to His disciples again. And this time, Thomas was there (John 20:26). Did Jesus rebuke him for his unbelief? Did He ask Thomas what his problem was or criticize him?
Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus was patient. He told Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27 (NKJV)).
Jesus met Thomas where he was and helped him to believe. Because Jesus was patient, Thomas was able to come fully to Jesus, calling Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 (NKJV)).
- Jesus served.
The night before He died on the cross, Jesus got up after dinner, “laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself” (John 13:4 (NKJV)). Then He poured water into a basin and washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:5).
In Biblical times, people wore sandals. When they traveled, their feet would get dirty. So, each house you entered typically had a basin of water and towel ready for visitors to wash their feet.
And if you were wealthy and had servants, they would assign the lowest servant to wash peoples’ feet. As I’m sure you could imagine, washing someone’s feet wasn’t something you wanted as your occupation.
Yet, Jesus – God Himself – was willing to serve His disciples in this way. He likely got down on His knees, serving those who should have been serving Him.
Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had taught His disciples that, in order to be great, one needed to be a servant (Mark 10:42-43). He told them that “whoever desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:44 (NKJV)). Jesus then revealed to them that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 (NKJV)).
Jesus put His teaching into action. He showed His disciples that no task was beneath them. Of course, the next day, Jesus would demonstrate the greatest sacrificial love of all – when He died on the cross for our sins.
Can we love others in those ways? The answer is yes – and no.
It’s hard to love others as Jesus loved us. To be sure, it’s impossible without the help of God’s Holy Spirit. We need to ask God to help us. We need His power
- to make ourselves available when we don’t feel like serving,
- to be patient when others have a hard time believing, and
- to serve in self-sacrificial ways.
So, we can love others like Jesus with God’s help. Take time to meditate on the ways Jesus loved. Decide to follow Jesus’ command. Then ask God to help you love others as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Fadi Xd on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Apr 17, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Jesus said, “I am the true vine . . . Abide in Me . . . .” (John 15:1, 4 (NKJV))
Where do you live? I’m not talking about your address. We can be in one place physically with our minds somewhere entirely different.
Jesus instructed us to abide in Him. Abide means to stay in a given place – to be present or remain. We should remain in Jesus. In other words, we should live in Him with everything we are, including our minds.
If we live with our minds focused on Jesus, we’ll be attached to Him. Jesus is the true vine. In the metaphor, the Bible compares us to branches (John 15:5). A branch must be attached to the vine to get the nutrients it needs to grow and produce fruit.
But we can only get that sustenance from the true vine. We can try to get it from somewhere other than Jesus. There are other vines. Yet, those vines won’t give us what we need. Only Jesus is the true vine.
When we connect to something other than the true vine, we end up empty. Unfulfilled. Depressed. The false vines are detrimental to us and poison our minds.
So, where do you live? Where is your mind most of the time?
Do you . . .
- binge-watch tv shows or movies on Netflix or some other streaming service, numbing your mind to reality?
- ruminate on your circumstances, replaying something that happened over and over again?
- dwell on your finances, worrying about where the next dollar will come from, bills that need to be paid, or how to get more money?
- obsess about your appearance – the clothes you want to wear, how to do your makeup just right, how to fix your hair, looking in every mirror you pass by?
- constantly think about food, planning what you will or won’t eat, where you will get it, and how good it will taste?
To be clear, the Bible doesn’t say we should never think about these things. It doesn’t tell us it’s a sin to enjoy wholesome entertainment. Instead, those things shouldn’t consume us. They shouldn’t separate us from the true vine.
Examine yourself. Be honest about where you live. Is your mind immersed in those things? Or are you living in Jesus?
Are you . . .
- reading the Bible and learning about the things Jesus wants to share with you?
- talking to Jesus as you go throughout your day?
- praising Jesus for who He is?
- thanking Jesus for all that He’s done?
When we remain in Jesus, we’re in the best place we could be. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11 (NKJV)). There’s joy when we stay connected to the true vine. There’s a calm delight in being where we’re supposed to be.
So, I’ll ask you again: where do you live? It’s your choice. You can decide to live in the true vine, Jesus. Or you can waste your time on something that will have no eternal value.
Let’s choose to remain in Jesus so we can walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Apr 3, 2023 | Bible Study, Life
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 (NKJV))
How stubborn are you? Are you unwilling to alter something that you know God wants you to change? Many in our society are stubborn – unwilling to yield or turn from the direction they’ve chosen.
And we’re not the only ones who are stubborn. God referred to the Israelites as “stiff‑necked” (see, e.g., Exodus 32:9 (NKJV)). I love how that gives us a visual of our stubbornness. When a person is stiff‑necked, she is unwilling to turn her head from the course she wants to take.
We see this play out when the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. At one point, the Israelites complained about the manna (the bread from heaven) that God provided for them to eat. They called the bread “worthless” and said they “loathe[d]” it (Numbers 21:5 (NKJV)).
“So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:6 (NKJV))
Then, in His graciousness, God directed Moses to make a serpent and put it on a pole, so “everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8 (NKJV)). Moses did so. And anyone who was bitten lived “when he looked at the bronze serpent” (Numbers 21:9 (NKJV)).
Such an easy remedy, right? You would think all of them would have looked at the serpent. After all, the only thing they needed to do was open their eyes and turn their heads.
Yet, the Bible doesn’t say that all of them looked and lived. If they refused to look, they died. If anyone was stubborn, it would cost him his life.
The same thing is happening today. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). And all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). So, each of us is facing death.
But God has given us a remedy too. He loves us so much that He “gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 (NKJV)). Jesus was lifted up – like the serpent on the pole – so anyone willing to look to and believe in Him will have eternal life (John 3:14-15, 36).
Jesus paid the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross. It’s a free gift. One only needs to accept and open the gift that’s been given. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13 (NKJV)).
So, how stubborn are you? Are you willing to turn your head to look to Jesus and believe in Him? I’m ashamed to say it took me 37 years before I was willing.
If you haven’t already, turn your head and look to Jesus. Believe in Him. Don’t be stiff‑necked. Don’t be stubborn. Your stubbornness could cost you your life.
Instead, believe in Jesus. Accept the free gift of salvation He’s given to you. Yield to Jesus. And then walk by faith with Him into eternity.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 20, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (John 11:5-6 (NKJV))
God’s timing is always perfect. And so is His will. If you’ve been waiting, it’s easy to think that the perfect timing was yesterday. Or right now. We get caught up in feelings. So, we often default to wanting something to happen as soon as possible.
But God’s timing really is perfect. He’s outside of time. And His reasoning isn’t clouded by feelings. He also knows all things – from the beginning to the end. He knows the perfect timing for something to happen.
And God knows if something would even be good for you. If you’re waiting for an answer to prayer, remember that the answer might be no. Yet, even if something is God’s will, that doesn’t mean it will happen when you think it should.
God knows when something will bring Him the most glory. He loves us and knows what’s best for us.
Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, Martha, and Mary (John 11:5). When Lazarus got sick, Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (John 11:3 (NKJV)).
Because Jesus loved them, you might expect that He would have gone to them as quickly as He could. Yet, it was because Jesus loved them that “He stayed two more days in the place where He was” (John 11:6 (NKJV)).
Jesus waited. Jesus didn’t go to them the moment He heard the news. Why? It wasn’t God’s perfect timing.
Jesus is God. He knew the perfect time to go because He knew what He would do.
By the time Jesus headed toward Bethany, Jesus knew that Lazarus had already died (John 11:14). Jesus told His disciples, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe” (John 11:15 (NKJV)).
God’s timing was perfect. But Martha and Mary couldn’t see it. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days (John 11:39). And each one told Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32 (NKJV)).
But God had a plan. Jesus prayed,
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:41-42 (NKJV))
Then Jesus “cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus come forth!’” (John 11:43 (NKJV)). “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth” (John 11:44 (NKJV)).
Could you imagine? Jesus showed them in a tangible way that God had sent Him. He demonstrated His power over death when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Only God could do that.
God’s timing was perfect. If Jesus had quickly gone to see Lazarus when He got word that Lazarus was sick, it wouldn’t have glorified God in the same way. And if He had healed Lazarus in their presence or from afar, they wouldn’t have witnessed Jesus’ power over death.
So, as the days, months, and even years roll by, remember that God’s timing is always perfect. He hasn’t forgotten about you. He hears you. Trust God as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 6, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
And take the helmet of salvation . . . . (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV))
Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit? As you look up, the small point of light is so far away that getting out seems impossible. In those times, the only thing I can pray is “Abba, please help me,” over and over again.
Of course, God always rescues me when I finally turn to Him. He pulls me out of the pit. But how did I get there in the first place?
The day usually starts off just fine. No sign of a storm. Not a cloud in the sky.
But at some point, a barrage of negative thoughts pour into my head when I’m not paying attention. Before I know it, my mind is consumed by a situation, circumstance, or event.
Those thoughts are uninvited. Unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop them. And the descent into the pit begins.
So, what happened? When the thoughts came, I didn’t even consider that it was a tactic of the enemy. Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan can’t possess a born-again believer who is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). But one way he fulfills his mission is by messing with our minds.
Paul warned us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)). There’s a spiritual battle going on right now that we cannot see.
But God didn’t leave us defenseless. He gave us spiritual armor that we need to put on every day (Ephesians 6:13-18). One piece of that armor is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).
You can protect your mind with that helmet. You can keep the enemy from using your thoughts against you.
Surrounding your mind with the helmet of salvation reminds you of the truth. As a born‑again believer, all of God’s promises are yours in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). The truth about your salvation is that
- your soul is secure because you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13);
- you are God’s child (1 John 3:1);
- you’re victorious because of what Jesus has done for you (1 John 5:4-5);
- you are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28);
- nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39); and
- this life is not all there is – one day you will live with Jesus (John 14:3).
All of these promises – and many more – belong to you. God loves you, and He will be faithful to fulfill His promises. As my pastor likes to say, “The best is yet to come.” Amen!
Remind yourself of these truths. They remain true no matter how you feel. Although feelings are real and we all experience them, they lie. They’ll pull you down into the pit if you don’t remember the truth.
So, be proactive. Protect your mind by putting on the helmet of salvation. Pray and ask God to protect your mind at the start of each day. Say something like this in your own words:
Abba Father, please protect my mind from spiritual warfare today. Help me to remember that I belong to You. Please remind me throughout the day that I am safe in Your hand. Prompt me to meditate on the fact that I have an amazing future in store for me with You. I praise You because You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Another beautiful promise is that, when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Draw close to Him today.
And remember – even though you can’t see what your future holds in this life, you can trust that God will fulfill His promises. Remember your status as God’s child and all He has promised as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Feb 20, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63 (NKJV))
Remember that cute guy in high school? The one you stared at every chance you got. You were nervous every time he walked by you in the hallway because it might be the moment he would finally notice you.
What would you have done if he had written you a note? I’m guessing you wouldn’t have set it aside to read later. You wouldn’t have put it in a place you could see so you would remember to read it – yet, never actually get around to opening it.
And I’ll bet it didn’t go unread so long that you finally committed to waking up at 6:00 every morning to read three lines a day until you had finally finished reading it. Then, when you did read three lines on the morning you managed to drag yourself out of bed, you probably wouldn’t have forgotten what you read almost immediately after you read it.
I would be surprised if that’s how it went down.
No, the moment you had that letter in your hand, it would have set your heart on fire. You wouldn’t have hardly been able to wait until you had a moment to open it. And then you would have devoured it. You would’ve taken it all in, reread it multiple times, and literally held it close to your heart.
Why? You loved him and wanted to know what he said.
It’s the same now with my husband. When he writes me a note, I want to read it as soon as I can. I want to know the words he took the time to pen. I know the note will reveal something about what he thinks and who he is.
It’s about relationship, isn’t it? In a relationship, you want to know the other person. You want to
- hear his voice;
- discover what he likes;
- find out what he hates; and
- be close to him.
You read something he wrote because you get to, not because you have to.
So, why is it so hard to read the Bible sometimes?
God has written down things for you to read. The Bible is literally God’s word. And when you take time to read it, the Holy Spirit teaches you what God wants you to know in that moment.
The point is that we make time for the things we want to do. Are you reading the Bible because you think you have to – as an item on your checklist? Or do you open it up and read it because you get to?
Check your heart motivation. If you find that you’ve been reading the Bible mainly because you’re supposed to and not because you want to, ask God to give you the desire to read His word.
God wants you to know about the things He loves and the things He hates. He wants you to know Him better. God wants you to know how much He loves you. And His words are life (John 6:63). If you truly want that desire, God will give it to you.
So, open up God’s word and devour it. Take it all in. Think about God and who He is – not because you have to but because you get to. Keep God in your thoughts all day long as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Feb 6, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1 (NKJV))
Are you looking for the Father’s love? Many of our fathers were absent. Some rejected us. Others left us. And some just weren’t around while we were growing up.
God designed us to love and be loved by our fathers. So, we crave the love that we should have received from them. And, we go to great lengths to try to substitute it with something, anything, that feels like love.
I’ve had three fathers in my life. Two were earthly; One is heavenly. One was biological, another willingly supported me, and the third adopted me as His daughter. One was absent for most of my childhood, one came into my life when I was a teenager, and One patiently waited for years for me to turn to Him.
My biological father wasn’t around after my parents divorced when I was young. But I always craved his love. And, although a benevolent man stepped into my life to be a father figure to me, I still wanted love from my own father.
After I was grown, I reconnected with my dad. One day when we were spending time together, I suddenly realized, This is what I had been looking for all those years. It was an epiphany of sorts. God created us to be loved by a father.
Years later, I finally surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. At that moment, I was adopted as one of God’s children. He had chosen me!
And then I had a true epiphany. As I felt the Father’s love wash over me, I knew that this was what I had been searching for all those years. I was home. I was loved. And it was better than I could have ever imagined. As our heavenly Father, God designed us to receive His love.
Are you still looking for the Father’s love? Your heavenly Father is right there waiting for you to come to Him. He loves you so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins (John 3:16).
Come to Him. Accept His love. Become His daughter.
Only then will you be able to enjoy the love of your Father as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 23, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35 (NKJV))
What have you done for me lately? Have you ever heard that song from the 80s? In it, Janet Jackson bemoans her boyfriend’s inattentiveness and his failure to do things for her. That idea is ingrained in our culture. You know, why should I do anything for you if you haven’t done anything for me?
It’s not uncommon to hear people say things like,
“What’s in it for me?”
“How am I going to benefit from it?”
Or, “There’s no point in doing it if I don’t get something out of it.”
It’s all about me, isn’t it? It’s about what I will gain from an interaction, a job, or a relationship.
Sure, maybe it’s not that overt. But I’ve heard women complain that their husbands never help out around the house with chores. And, I’ve heard them say their husbands can just deal with something on their own because they never help them with problems that arise. Essentially, they’re saying, “What has he done for me lately?”
Relationships can leave you feeling empty when the other person seems to only take and not give. Maybe it’s not a husband but a friend who’s only focused on herself. Or it could be parents who take more than they give. You’re their child, after all, so you wish for once they would focus on your needs instead of their own.
Relationships aren’t always trouble-free. We all have someone in our lives who can be difficult. It could be easy to start thinking, What have you done for me lately?
But it’s not about you. And it’s not about me. It’s not about what someone else should be doing for you. It’s about what Christ Jesus has done for each one of us.
As born-again believers, we’ve given our lives to Jesus. As the Bible teaches,
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 (NKJV))
Jesus died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven. When we were born again, we became His. Our lives belong to Jesus.
And Jesus wants us to love others. He calls us to live self-sacrificially. When we do, His love flows through us and impacts others.
Remember what Jesus’ love is like? His love
- “suffers long and is kind”;
- “does not envy”;
- “does not parade itself”;
- “is not puffed up”;
- “does not behave rudely”;
- “does not seek its own”;
- “is not provoked”;
- “thinks no evil”;
- “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth”; and
- “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV))
So, instead of asking, “What have you done for me lately?” let’s love others like Jesus wants us to love them. Let’s show others that we are Jesus’ disciples as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 9, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 (NKJV))
When Jesus prayed for His disciples, He did not pray for God to take them out of the world (John 17:15). And before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 (NKJV)).
We’re not supposed to isolate ourselves, go off the grid, or move to a remote area where there aren’t any people. Doing so would be contrary to Jesus’ command to preach the gospel to everyone.
In addition to staying in the world, Jesus commanded us to love others (Matthew 22:39). Yet, we’re not supposed to be in love with the world or the things in it.
If you’re longing for the things in this world, you’ll be distracted by stuff that doesn’t matter. Meditating on getting what you don’t have – like a new car, house, purse, or jewelry – will keep you from whatever God has for you. Jesus warned that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)).
We see an example in Lot’s life of what can happen when you fall in love with the world.
Lot was Abraham’s nephew. He had been with Abraham for years before they separated. And, we know that he worshipped God because the Bible tells us he was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7).
But Lot’s priorities got mixed up. He fell in love with the world. It started when he “lifted his eyes” toward Sodom (a picture of the world) and saw that “it was well watered everywhere . . . like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10 (NKJV)). Lot liked what he saw and wanted it for himself.
Then Lot’s actions followed his eyes. He “chose for himself,” moved, and “pitched his tent” near Sodom (Genesis 13:11-12 (NKJV)).
Lot did what he wanted based on what Sodom offered him, instead of asking what God wanted for him. He chose to be part of a place where the men “were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13 (NKJV)).
Later, Lot moved into Sodom and lived there (Genesis 14:12). Lot had fallen in love with the world and wanted to be part of it.
By the time God destroyed Sodom for its wickedness, Lot was “sitting in the gate of Sodom” (Genesis 19:1 (NKJV)). He had become one of them. As Jon Courson noted in his commentary on this verse,
Like every other city gate in biblical times, the gate in which Lot sat was a large area at the entrance of the city wherein the city leaders would give advice and render civic decisions. The fact that Lot sat in Sodom’s gate indicates he had become a leader of Sodom.
Lot compromised to get what Sodom offered. He didn’t make an impact on Sodom. Sodom impacted him. As the Bible tells us, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)).
Lot didn’t even influence his own family. When Lot told his sons-in-law to get up and leave because God was going to destroy Sodom, they thought he was joking (Genesis 19:14).
In the end, Lot didn’t gain anything from Sodom. It was all burned up when God “rained brimstone and fire on Sodom” (Genesis 19:24 (NKJV)). He even lost most of his family – his daughters and sons-in-law (who refused to leave) and his wife (who looked back intently toward Sodom and became a pillar of salt).
We won’t take anything with us either when we die. The only eternal difference we can make during our lifetime is to abide in Jesus and do His work.
So, don’t be like Lot. Don’t fall in love with the world. Instead, keep your eyes fixed firmly on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Be set apart for God – in the world but not of it – as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 26, 2022 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 (NKJV))
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Even those who aren’t Christian know it’s the day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But what’s so special about someone’s birthday?
Now that the busyness of the Christmas holiday has subsided, let’s reflect on how amazing it is that Jesus was born that night in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. And let’s meditate on what His birth meant for us.
People are sinners. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). And our sins put us in a real quandary. They left us separated from God.
None of us could pay the penalty for our sins. Our sins were too costly because they were committed against a perfect, all-powerful God. Because we are imperfect, we couldn’t do anything to pay off our debt. The best we could offer was like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
But God knew our predicament. He knew we weren’t able to save ourselves. So, God Himself chose to pay the penalty for our sins. And He was our only hope.
Jesus is God. He was there at the beginning with God the Father (John 1:1). He existed before anything was created. Jesus is eternal. He was not created; He is the Creator.
Everything was made through Jesus. He created you, me, the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the animals, the birds, the earth, the stars, and the universe – to name just a few. The Bible says, “All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16 (NKJV)).
Yet, with all that power, Jesus chose to leave His glory in heaven to be born a helpless baby on earth. He loves you so much that He wanted to make a way for you to have a relationship with Him.
Jesus – the Word – became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He lived a perfect, sinless life; willingly died on the cross for your sins; was buried; and rose from the grave three days later (Matthew 28:6; John 10:17-18; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
How can we fully grasp the great sacrifice that our God made for us? An infinite God chose to come down to earth and take on a finite body. He left heaven, knowing that He would be rejected by His creation and die on the cross.
And He did it all for you. Jesus did it so your sins could be forgiven. He did it so you could have eternal life with Him. It’s truly something to celebrate!
So, whether or not you made time to worship Jesus on Christmas, worship Him now. Our worship is not confined to any specific day. In the aftermath of the holiday rush, let’s slow down and remember everything that our faithful God has done for us. Let’s take time to worship Jesus as we walk by faith with Him.
by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 12, 2022 | Christian Living, Ministry, Spiritual Growth
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV))
Do you want all God has for you? God has fashioned days for you (Psalm 139:16). Although we’re not saved by good works, we are saved by grace, through faith, for those good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). God has prepared those works for you beforehand that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).
God wants to do things in and through your life. But He won’t force you. He gives you the choice. Yet, when you say no, you miss out on so much joy.
So, I’ll ask the question again: Do you want all God has for you?
If you do, you will need to be persistent and focused. And you’ll have to watch out for discouragement. Unfortunately, discouragement can come from well-meaning sources.
Toward the end of Elijah’s ministry as a prophet, God told him that Elisha would take his place (1 Kings 19:16). So, Elijah went and threw his mantle – his garment or cloak – on Elisha (1 Kings 19:19). Elisha then followed Elijah and became his servant (1 Kings 19:21). By being Elijah’s servant, it prepared him to be God’s prophet.
Now, you may know that Elijah was one of two people in the Bible who never died. Instead, God took Elijah home to be with Him in a chariot of fire by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). When it came close to that time,
Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” (2 Kings 2:1-3 (NKJV))
The same thing happened two more times when Elijah continued on to Jericho and then to the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:4-6). Yet, Elisha was persistent. Each time Elijah told him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on,” Elisha declared, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” And he stayed with Elijah.
And even when others asked him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” he kept on. He didn’t stop. Elisha didn’t get bummed out or sidetracked. He was focused.
If Elisha hadn’t remained persistent and focused, he wouldn’t have received all God had for him. After they crossed over the Jordan River, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (2 Kings 2:9-10 (NKJV))
Did you catch that? Elijah told him, “if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” That means if Elisha had gotten sidetracked or discouraged at any point and hadn’t stayed with Elijah, he wouldn’t have seen Elijah when he was taken up in the whirlwind. And then he wouldn’t have received a double portion.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? God won’t give you more to do when you’ve already decided to stop doing what He’s already entrusted to you. If you’re not faithful with what God’s already given you, He’s not going to add anything to your plate.
We see this principle repeated in the parable of the talents. The servant who hid his talent and didn’t even try had his talent taken away. But those who used their talents were given more (Matthew 25:24-28).
So, the question remains: Do you want all God has for you? Or are you only pursuing what God has for you halfheartedly? If you’re not all in, seeking all God has for you, you could miss out.
I know the path can get hard. Sometimes the circumstances make continuing on to the next place difficult. It can feel cold and lonely. But let’s be persistent and focused. Let’s choose to be women who seek all God has for us as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 28, 2022 | Christian Living, Spiritual Growth, Thoughts
You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. (Nehemiah 9:6 (NKJV))
When someone introduces a speaker, he’ll tell you a little about the person. You’ll learn who he is, where he’s from, and why he’s qualified to tell you about the topic he’s speaking on. But God needs no introduction. He just is. He always was. And He always will be.
So, the Bible doesn’t start by giving us God’s credentials. Instead, it simply says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)). God is God, and we are not.
Yet, we try to put God into a box sometimes, don’t we? We try to define Him. Or we try to bring God down to our level by making Him smaller and quantifiable. Like Natalie Grant lamented in her song, King of the World:
I try to fit You in the walls inside my mind
I try to keep You safely in between the lines
I try to put You in the box that I’ve designed
I try to pull You down so we are eye-to-eye
When did I forget that You’ve always been the King of the world?
I try to take life back right out of the hands of the King of the world
How could I make You so small when You’re the One who holds it all?
It’s the old story of us wanting to be God. Before Eve sinned, Satan tempted her by appealing to her pride. He told Eve that her eyes would be opened if she ate the forbidden fruit. He promised that she would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5 (NKJV)). He insinuated that God was trying to hold her back and keep her from being all that she could be.
I think we all make the mistake of trying to put God in a box sometimes. Our pride rises up, and we think we know best. We try to make ourselves equal to God. Yet, when we do, we’re making an idol.
Countless people before us have tried to minimize God by making idols of wood, clay, stone, silver, and gold. They gave those idols human characteristics that they could understand. But those idols were not God. As the Bible tells us:
Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat. (Psalm 115:4-7 (NKJV))
Idols cannot help us. They cannot see, hear, or do anything. They are lifeless.
You can’t make any image that would even come close to representing God. And you can’t fit God into a box. The almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God cannot be contained or recreated by His creation. Our Creator exceeds our understanding.
And that’s a good thing. Anything you could hold in your hand or fully grasp with your mind would not be able to help you. Anything you make is limited by your own resources.
But our God is limitless. He is the One who made the heavens and the earth. He is the One who made you and me. Our God is bigger and more amazing than we could imagine. Praise Him!
So, don’t put God in a box. Don’t try to diminish who He is. You can’t hold Him in your hand. But God’s holding you in His as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 24, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 (NKJV))
How do you live for God? The Bible instructs us to give our lives to Him. We are to offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice.
What does that mean? Living for God is a moment-by-moment surrender to Him. It’s about doing things His way and not the way you think you should be doing them.
If you’re born again, you are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). God is with you every moment of every day and night. So, remind yourself of His presence. Pay attention to Him. As you surrender to God, listen for the direction He gives you.
For example, when you wake up in the morning, acknowledge that God is with you. Ask Him what He wants you to do that day. Sure, you may already know that you’re going to work. Or that you’ll be homeschooling your kids. Yet, God will guide you throughout your day.
When a thought comes into your mind that you should open your Bible and spend time with God, take the time to do it. Instead of checking your email or spending time on social media, use that time to seek God.
Before you begin reading, ask God to speak to you and teach you something He wants you to learn. Then when He shows you something He wants you to stop doing, obey Him and stop doing it. Likewise, if God shows you something you should be doing, obey Him and start doing it. If you ask God for help, He will help you.
As you go through your day, pay attention to the Holy Spirit as He guides you. When you’re talking to your colleagues at work and one of them starts gossiping about someone, you may start to feel uncomfortable. You know God doesn’t want you to gossip. If the Holy Spirit is prompting you to politely leave the conversation, obey His guidance and leave.
Then, that evening, maybe you start watching a movie you’ve been wanting to watch. Everyone has been talking about how good it is. But then you hear them use Jesus’ name as a curse word or there’s nudity. You think, I shouldn’t be watching this. God has said that I shouldn’t “misuse” His name (Exodus 20:7 (NLT)) and that I should abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). When you have that thought, obey God and turn it off.
God’s Holy Spirit will lead you all throughout your day. When you decide to live for God, He will guide you. Listen for His voice and obey Him when He speaks to you.
Change the station when a song comes on the radio that has profanity in it. Listen when He tells you not to send an email in anger. Repent when you realize that you said something you shouldn’t have said. Forgive someone who’s wronged you.
Living your life for God is a moment-by-moment surrender to whatever He wants you to do. It’s a choice to live a life pleasing to Him.
Can we do it perfectly? No. As Paul lamented, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (Romans 7:15 (NLT)).
But praise God because He is so gracious to forgive us when we mess up. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 (NKJV)).
So, live for God. Surrender your life to Him as a living sacrifice. Choose to listen to His voice as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 10, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean.” (John 13:10 (NKJV))
Okay. It’s confession time. My last blog post, What Do Your Words Say About You?, cautioned how your words reveal what’s in your heart. Well, just two days later, God showed me that my words had revealed a lack of trust in Him, pride, gossip, and something that could be construed as dishonoring to my husband. And that was all within the span of a single hour. I was busted. My feet were dirty.
Jesus gave us a picture of our sin. Before you came to Jesus, you were dirty from head to toe. Your sin covered you. You really needed a bath!
But when you were born again, God cleansed you. As it says in 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT),
“But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
In Jesus, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)). When we’re forgiven, God removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
But your feet can still get dirty. And they do. As we continue to walk through life, we still sin. Although we sin less, we are not sinless. In fact, the Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8 (NKJV)).
When our feet get dirty, we don’t need another complete bath. Our eternal destiny is already secure. We’re still going to heaven when we die. Yet, unconfessed sin can hinder the closeness of our relationship with God in the present.
So, are you willing to let Jesus wash your dirty feet? When Jesus was washing the disciples feet, Peter strongly protested at first (John 13:8). He thought it was beneath Jesus. He didn’t yet realize that Jesus had come not only to wash our feet but to give us a full bath. Jesus died on the cross so all of our sins could be forgiven.
It’s good to realize your feet are dirty. Then you can do something about it. And here are two steps you can take:
- Confess to God
The first thing we need to do when we realize our feet are dirty is to repent (turn from our sin) and confess it to God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 (NKJV)).
Decide that you don’t want to do whatever it was again. And spend time in prayer. Talk to God about what you did. Agree with Him that it’s sin. Ask God for forgiveness. And then ask Him to help you walk in the freedom over sin that He’s already given you. Let Jesus wash your feet.
- Confess to Others
Tell whoever was affected by your sin that you know what you did was wrong and ask them for forgiveness. The Bible instructs us to “[c]onfess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16 (NKJV)).
Most people are willing to forgive. But even if someone is unwilling, you will know that you’ve done your part. You did what God wanted you to do.
So, are your feet dirty? Stop for a moment and let Jesus wash them. Then continue on your journey as you walk by faith with God.
Photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 26, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 (NKJV))
Words are powerful. They can build one person up and tear another down. Inspire or crush. The words you say can make the difference between a great day with your husband or a cringeworthy one.
And your words reveal the state of your heart. As the Bible teaches us, “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person” (Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)).
Bitter people spew venom – words that sear and scald. And hurting people use caustic words that wound others. As they say, hurting people hurt people. Misery loves company, doesn’t it?
So, what do your words say about you? Do they reflect your relationship with Jesus? Can people tell from the things you say that you’ve been spending time with Him?
Listen to yourself when you talk. Do your words glorify God? Edify others? Or do your words reveal a heart problem?
For example, God commanded us not to take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7). God told us, “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His name” (Exodus 20:7 (NLT)).
The word vain means empty, worthless. God’s name is holy. It is the name above all other names. It is far above “every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV)). When His name comes out of your mouth, it should be used with reverence and awe.
Yet, it’s common in our society to use His name carelessly, recklessly, or even as a curse word. The exclamation, “Oh my God!” or its shorthand “OMG!” falls out of kids’ and grownups’ mouths alike. When it does, the person usually has no intention of actually calling on Him.
And the speech of many is peppered with the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus without any respect for His beautiful name. You hear it on the streets, on colleagues’ lips, and in movies and television shows. It’s so commonplace that many who profess to be Christian don’t think twice about hearing it or carelessly saying it themselves.
As James taught us, “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” (James 3:10 (NLT)).
If you notice that your words reveal a heart problem, pray to God. Ask Him to reveal the state of your heart. Bitterness often results from a lack of forgiveness. And careless words can demonstrate a lack of respect for God or an absence of love for those around you.
Once God shows you what you need to take care of, confess any sin. Then ask God to help you forgive whatever needs to be forgiven and to give you a greater respect for Him and more love for others.
We need to be careful with our words. Remember that the words you speak make a difference in the lives of those around you.
Let’s be women whose words encourage and bless the people in our lives. Let us use words that are “fitly spoken” – ones that are “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV)). Let our speech glorify God as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 12, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV))
Each year my church hosts a Refresh Conference for people who serve in the ministry. It’s a time set aside to encourage and rejuvenate those who come. During the conference, we study God’s word, pray together, sing praises to our amazing God, and fellowship with each other.
Such a conference can sound exhausting. Attending the conference necessarily takes time out of your schedule. Instead of your usual Friday night relaxation or entertainment, you’re up late worshipping the Lord at the church. And your time of sleeping in on Saturday morning? Well, it’s not going to happen that week.
Yet, when the conference ends on Saturday, people will leave energized. They’ll be reinvigorated to continue doing God’s work. It seems counter-intuitive. How can less sleep and less relaxation result in more energy?
In Isaiah 28, we get the answer. In that chapter, God gives a remedy to those who are weary. He tells us what will give us rest and refresh us.
God said,
“This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest.” And, “This is the refreshing.”
. . .
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (Isaiah 28:12-13 (NKJV))
The remedy for weariness is going through God’s word. That’s why hearing expository teaching will refresh you. We feel better as we go through the whole counsel of God – precept upon precept, line upon line – learning about everything God has revealed to us.
As Psalm 19 teaches us, “The statutes of the Lord are right; rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8 (NKJV)). Learning about God’s ways causes us to rejoice and be glad.
When you take time to learn about God and apply His truths to your life, you are letting your good Shepherd Jesus lead you. Jesus will lead you “beside the still waters” and restore your soul (Psalm 23:2-3 (NKJV)).
The Hebrew word translated as “still” in Psalm 23:2 is the same Hebrew word translated as “rest” in Isaiah 28:12. The word means resting place. When you spend time with Jesus and let Him guide you, He will take you to a place of rest.
And Jesus wants us to come to Him with all our worries and anxiety. Jesus invited those “who labor and are heavy laden” to come to Him and promised He would give them rest (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)).
Jesus is the One who will truly give our souls rest. Zoning out in front of the television while watching a movie may be enjoyable. But you won’t be refreshed afterward. If you’re physically tired, a good night’s sleep will help your body to function properly. Yet, when you wake up, you may still feel as burdened as you did the night before.
So, do you need to be refreshed? If you need that rest, here are some things you can do:
- Read God’s word every day.
- Take time to worship God and talk to Him.
- Spend time in fellowship with other believers.
- Be intentional about learning what God has revealed to us in the Bible, precept upon precept and line upon line.
- Go to a church that teaches through the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
- Attend conferences where you can sit under solid Biblical teaching.
If you do these things, your soul will be refreshed. And that refreshment will help you to walk by faith with God.
*Photo by Herbert Goetsch on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 29, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
God said, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22 (NKJV))
The other day, I was reading an article about Stanley Jenkins. I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard of him. I hadn’t either. Stanley lived from 1884 to 1967. When he died, he left no wife or children. He’s not known as a man who did something incredibly noble. Instead, he’s credited as the inventor of the corn dog. [1]
That’s his legacy – corn dog inventor. A man who obtained a patent for a machine to skewer and deep fry hot dogs dipped in a corn meal mixture.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good corn dog from time to time. But after you’re gone, is that all you want to be known for?
It got me thinking, we only have one life. When your time is up, what will people say about you? What will you be known for? Inventing a food dish? Or someone who loved God?
David was known as a man after God’s own heart. He was known as a man who would do God’s will. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful way to be remembered?
It sounds like a high standard. Maybe you’re thinking that’s something you could never live up to. Yet, David wasn’t perfect. He made many mistakes. He not only committed adultery but tried to cover it up by having the woman’s husband killed (2 Samuel 11:2-5, 14-17). It wasn’t perfection that gave David this legacy. It was his love for God and his faith in Him.
When David heard that Israel was being taunted by one of the Philistine giants named Goliath, (1 Samuel 17:4-11, 23), he asked, “[W]ho is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV)). David knew that Goliath was not just challenging men, but God Himself.
So, when Saul told David that he wouldn’t be able to fight Goliath because he was just a youth, David assured him that the Lord – who delivered him from the lion’s paw and the bear’s paw as he shepherded his father’s flock – would also deliver him from the hand of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). David trusted God.
Not only did David openly trust God before all the people, he also expressed his love for God. When the ark of God – the place where God would meet the high priest once a year – was brought up to Jerusalem, “David danced before the Lord with all his might,” leaping and whirling before Him (2 Samuel 6:14-16 (NKJV)).
David gives us a good example to follow. We should aim to be known as women who love God and trust Him.
In your life, are you known as a woman after God’s own heart who will do all His will? Do those around you even know that you’re a Christian? What evidence is there of your love for God?
I’m not suggesting that you do things to call attention to yourself and what you’re doing so people will notice you. Jesus warned us not to be like the Pharisees who loved to “pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5 (NKJV)).
But if you live your life loving God, being sensitive to His Spirit, and willing to step out in faith to do the things He asks you to do, people will know you love God. As you abide in Jesus by reading the Bible, talking to Him, and worshipping Him, it will be evident that you’ve spent time with Him.
And as you live a life of obedience, your life will bless others. Don’t be afraid to pray with someone He asks you to pray with. Be bold to share with others what God is doing in your life. Make yourself available to serve those around you.
As we do these things, we will become known as women after God’s own heart. So let’s commit our lives to Jesus as we walk by faith with Him.
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
[1] Kerry J. Byrne, “Meet the American who invented the ‘clean, wholesome’ corn dog,” Fox News, Jun. 10, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/meet-american-invented-corn-dog.
by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 15, 2022 | Life, Ministry
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 (NKJV))
Don’t you love to hear stories about how different couples met? They’re as individual as fingerprints – no two are alike. Some got to know each other in high school and have been married for decades. Others met in an online gaming site, through friends, or even while commuting to work on the bus. There are couples who fell in love at first sight, while others took years for the relationship to develop.
The story of how I met my husband is as distinct as any other. We first saw each other at a McDonalds while we were at lunch in high school. Then we saw each other again at a mutual friend’s house. A few months later, we met at a cast party for a high school play.
We became friends, going on short road trips, eating dinner, hiking, and hanging out. He was always there when I needed him – through good times and bad. As the trust grew, I fell in love. But it would still be a while before I would admit my feelings. And a few years before we would become a couple and get married.
Salvation stories – accounts of how you met your first love, Jesus – are just as unique. God is awesome. He doesn’t work the same way twice. I’m sure that the way I came to know Jesus is very different from the way you met Him. Each one is beautiful, intricate . . . impossible.
But God.
God meets us right where we’re at. He pursues each one of us, desiring for us to see all He has done so we’ll fall in love with Him. When we do, “[w]e love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 (NKJV)).
Jesus is so patient, so kind, so loving. He’s a gentleman. He knocks on the door of your heart and patiently waits to see if you’ll open the door to invite Him in. He doesn’t ever force the door open.
I was thinking about how my love story with my husband parallels my salvation story in certain ways. Like my husband, I saw Jesus a few times before I actually met Him. When I was young child, I saw Jesus during Sunday school classes. Then, as a teenager, I saw Him again at Bible camp one summer. But it would take longer before I met Jesus. I didn’t take the time to meet Him and get to know Him until many years later.
Although I grew up going to different churches, I was unwilling to submit myself to God, to do things His way. Instead, I relied on myself. I had many goals that I wanted to accomplish – things I thought would make me happy. Yet, after I had achieved most of them, I was still miserable, unsatisfied, and empty inside.
During that time, I finally sought God with all my heart for the first time in my life. God promises that when you search for Him with all your heart, you will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13). And I did.
When I finally opened the door of my heart and invited Jesus in, I got to know Him and learned to trust Him. And then I fell in love.
Although my circumstances didn’t change, my perspective on life was suddenly different. I no longer feared death. I felt a deep contentment in His love. Needless to say, my life hasn’t been the same since.
God began changing me from the inside out, one issue at a time. He began by showing me that the music I was listening to and some of the movies I was watching didn’t glorify Him. Not only that, the music and movies weren’t building me up but tearing me down. He showed me the importance of my thought life. And He implanted desires to serve Him and others. The work He’s done in my life has been amazing.
So, how did you meet your first love, Jesus? What’s your salvation story? Take time to record your testimony. Then tell someone how God brought you to Him. Let’s encourage each other by sharing how we met our first love, Jesus, as we walk by faith with Him.
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 1, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. (Psalm 71:14 (NKJV))
Most of us have been disappointed at some point in our lives. And as we get older, we’re likely to have more. It comes in many different forms. A failed or difficult marriage. Singleness despite a desire for a husband. Wayward children. No children. Or maybe your life just didn’t turn out the way you thought it should. If you could go back, you would have made different choices.
So, what should you do with your disappointment? Here are three things to help you with those nagging feelings:
1. Take it To the Cross
I love the expression, “Take it to the cross.” Yet, it can be thrown around too haphazardly. It’s what some would call Christian-eeze – language that only insiders understand.
But it simply means to talk to God about it. Pray. Tell God about your disappointment, and then give it to Him. Let Him handle it.
The Bible instructs us to cast all our care on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). The word “cast” means “to throw upon.” When you throw your disappointment to God, it’s out of your hands and in His capable hands. He will handle it for you.
I like Craig Groeschel’s suggestion of using a “God” box in his book, Winning the War in Your Mind.[1] You can use any box – one you buy that looks pretty or even just a shoe box. When you have a care, concern, or disappointment, write it on a piece of paper and put it in the box as you pray, giving whatever it is to God.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that the box is God or even a representation of Him. It’s simply a visual reminder that you’ve given it to God – that you’ve thrown it in His hands and have decided to trust Him with it. If you start worrying about it again, you have to go and take it out of the box. Anytime you do, it’s another visual reminder – this time, that you no longer trust God to handle it.
It’s a powerful thing because that’s exactly what we do when we say we’ve given something to God but then continue to worry about it. Stop doing that. Leave it in God’s hands. He knows what He’s doing. And He’s more than able to handle any problem you have.
So, take your disappointment to the cross and leave. . . it. . . there.
2. Remember that God’s Grace is Sufficient
The Bible describes how the apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh that he “pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from [him]” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 (NKJV)). We don’t know what the thorn was. But it must have been something that really challenged him if he begged God three times to take it away.
Despite Paul’s pleas, God didn’t take the thorn away. Instead, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)).
At this news, Paul could have thrown himself a pity party. But he didn’t. He was likely disappointed to some extent. The thorn was something that had impacted him in a very real way, and He wanted it to be gone.
Yet, we discover in the next part of that verse that Paul didn’t allow any disappointment to keep him from doing what God had called him to do. He proclaimed, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)). Paul chose to trust God. He decided to believe that God knew what was best for him.
It can be difficult to do this. It’s not easy to choose to trust God when your feelings have taken your thoughts hostage. But God’s grace is sufficient for you too. Just like Paul, if you turn to God and trust Him – no matter how you feel – His strength will be made perfect in your weakness. God is enough for you.
3. Enjoy Your Relationship with God
When you’re feeling disappointed, it’s easy to get focused on what you don’t have and forget what you do have. It’s so important to realize that, although very real, feelings can lie to you. You may not have everything you wanted. But if you’ve decided to follow Jesus, you have the best thing ever – God Himself.
God loves you. He’s promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). His Holy Spirit lives inside of you (John 14:16-17). He is with you right now.
Spend time getting to know God better. He has revealed Himself to us in His word, the Bible. Take a moment to contemplate God’s amazing love for you. Put on your favorite worship song and sing to Him, praising Him and thanking Him for all He has done. Talk to God throughout your day. Ask Him for wisdom and guidance. Live your life like He’s right there beside you every moment of every day because He is.
As you give your disappointment to God, remember that He is all you need, and enjoy the relationship you have with Him, God will help you through this time. Continue seeking His plan for your life as you walk by faith with Him.
* Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash
[1] Craig Groeschel, Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 178-179.
