Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 16

The Spiritual Legacy of My Great-Great-Grandmother

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It began with a discovery. The discovery prompted a blog post. The blog post caught the eye of an editor. The result is my soon-to-be-released devotional book, “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith.” The following post is adapted from “Heirloom.” It describes that century-old letter and prayer that challenged me to be purposeful about spiritual legacy.

Heirloom Day One

I found the treasure while cleaning out a desk at my parents’ home. Stuffed in an old metal box, it shared the space with a pair of delicate, wire-rimmed spectacles and a small ledger that recorded regular savings of twenty-five cents a week. The letter, yellowed and fragile with age, was dated March 26, 1914. I struggled to read the faded ink. Addressed to Howell Adam Shouse, my great-grandfather on my mother’s side, it was written by his mother, Mary Dozier Shouse, more than a century ago.

Much of the news was what you’d expect—who’d been sick, who’d gotten married, who’d been to visit, and how she longed to see her “dear son.” But one particular paragraph brought me to tears:

Oh, how much I do pray for you every single morning and night. I pray mightily to the Lord that you Howell and your children may be convicted and converted and sanctified. Never a day do I miss. May God hear and answer my prayers.

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi, he recorded a similar prayer for their spiritual well-being. Paul loved these “spiritual children” and prayed for them constantly.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10, niv

Like Paul, Mary Dozier faithfully interceded on behalf of her descendants. This discovery thrilled me because I knew her prayers covered me too. Long before I was born, my great-great-grandmother prayed for me to have a saving, growing relationship with Jesus. The letter also challenged me to not just pray for the physical welfare of my loved ones, but to also faithfully lift prayers that matter for eternity.

Yes, I pray for the physical circumstances of my family. But I also pray for their spiritual needs and struggles. Maybe one day my great-great-granddaughter will find my prayer journal and be blessed when she discovers that I prayed for her.

Why a Book about Spiritual Legacy?

The Bible places great value on knowing our family history, specifically our spiritual roots. The stories of those who’ve come before us can strengthen and encourage our faith today. And by living intentionally for God today, we lay a spiritual foundation for those who come after us. (See also “God’s Design for Spiritual Legacy.”)

When our three children were growing up, my husband and I worked to encourage their faith. In hindsight, I see some gaps. We could have been more purposeful in some areas. Looking forward, I want to take advantage of every opportunity God give us with our grandchildren.

What legacy do you want to leave your children, grandchildren, and their children? The most valuable heirloom we can pass down is a legacy of faith. While we can’t believe for our children, we can teach them about our great God and create an atmosphere in our homes where trust in Him can flourish. We can tell our own stories, share God’s Word, and point them to Jesus.

This devotional book is designed to help you purposefully live today in ways that will leave a legacy of faith for your descendants. Heirloom ties the past to the future. Within these pages are fifty-two stories of people who’ve gone before us, how they lived, and who they worshiped. These stories, which come from families, history, and the Bible, reveal the seeds of our faith. The seeds that sprouted and took root, growing through the centuries to touch our lives today.

These stories of persevering faith exemplify biblical principles of spiritual legacy. Each devotion includes Scripture, questions for personal reflection, a prayer, and a practical legacy tip to help you build a spiritual heirloom your family will treasure. And for those of you who love digging into the stories of your own family’s past, there’s a bonus genealogy research tip.

Let’s Talk: Today you’re reading your ancestors’ stories. Tomorrow, your descendants will be reading your story. What will you write? What do you want your life to exhibit for future generations?

 “ Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith ” officially releases on October 19th, but is available for preorder now. See “ Heirloom” on Amazon .

The Spiritual Legacy of My Great-Great-Grandmother by Kathy Howard.

God’s Design for Spiritual Legacy

Want your children and grandchildren to love God and follow Him? God wants that too. That’s why He calls each generation to pass our faith to the next. Although we cannot believe for our descendants, we can create an atmosphere in our homes where faith can flourish. We can live out and leave a spiritual legacy.

God’s Spiritual Legacy Design in Scripture

We see God’s design scattered all throughout Scripture. The most familiar passage is probably Deuteronomy 6:4-9. (For more on this passage see this post.) God tells His people to teach His Words diligently to our children. To talk about them when we sit at home, when we go out, when we rise, and when we lie down. His Word should be woven into the fabric of our family.

Timothy’s spiritual heritage is my favorite New Testament example. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he highlighted the younger man’s “sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy’s mother and grandmother faithfully taught him God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:14-15) and modeled godly lives.

Faith Legacy in the Psalms

Even in the Psalms we find God’s design for His people to pass faith to the next generation. Not long ago, I “discovered” a prescription for spiritual legacy in Psalm 78:1-8:

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
8 They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

“Do this… So that…”

I noticed a “do this… so that…” format in the psalm. If we as parents follow God’s design for passing down our faith, then our children will be impacted in these ways. Here’s what I found in the passage:

“Do this…”

Teach our children God’s lawEncourage our children to obey GodTell our children about the hope we have in the LordTell our children about God’s mighty works

“So that…”

Our children will know God’s commandsOur children will obey God’s commandsOur children will have hope in GodOur children will be steadfast and faithful to God

We don’t have to merely hope that our children will claim God as their own. We can take purposeful action to encourage them to find their eternal hope in Him.

Want to know more about spiritual legacy?

My new devotional book, “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith” releases October 19th! “Heirloom” tells stories of the past that reveal the seeds of our faith―seeds that sprouted and took root, growing through the centuries to touch our lives today. Heirloom weaves these stories of faith and family history with Scripture, beautiful artwork, and ancestry research tips and techniques. Find out more about “Heirloom.” Preorder now on Amazon.

I could use your help with Heirloom!

I have a brand new devotional book coming out in October filled with stories of faith and practical tips for living and leaving a spiritual legacy. But it truly takes a village to get the word out. I need people on my launch team to help. The team will only be active for 4 weeks and you will be given everything you need to share. It will be easy and won’t require a lot of time. PLUS, you will get some perks! Here are a few:

Advance PDF of “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith“Scripture art cardGuide to writing your faith story for your familyChances to win weekly Amazon gift cardsFun and community in the teamMy gratitude!APPLY TO LAUNCH TEAM

Let’s Talk: What are some ways you’ve seen in Scripture that we can instill a spiritual heritage in our children?

God’s Design for Spiritual Legacy by Kathy Howard.

The “Delight” and “Desire” of Psalm 37:4

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

How many times have you heard this verse quoted or even quoted it yourself? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? By itself, that one statement seemingly holds great promise. “If we delight in, love God, and find joy in Him, He will fill our lives with all the things we enjoy and value.”

Just one problem. That “interpretation” is taken out of context and totally self-focused. In order to understand the original meaning, let’s step back and consider the greater context of the verse – Psalm 37 – so we can better grasp the meaning of verse 4. (If you have time, read Psalm 37:1-9 now.)

Does #Ps37:4 mean what you think it does? #Delight #Desire
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The context of Psalm 37:4

In this psalm, David – the shepherd boy God made king – contemplates an age-old dilemma. Often, evil people prosper while those who faithfully follow God struggle to pay the bills and provide for their families. It’s tempting to envy “evil” people who enjoy wealth and all the things the world offers. We may even wonder what’s the use of following God? Maybe we should just do things the world’s way?

Things really haven’t changed throughout history. Since the fall, people have acquired wealth through deception. Innocent people have gone hungry. Evil people enjoy luxury while righteous people suffer great need. The wicked gain at the expense of the godly. The ways of the wicked both tempt us and harm us.

David saw this plight in his own day. He knew this earthly life is not fair. But as horrible as the situation was and is, he knew it was temporary. He wrote Psalm 37 to encourage God’s people to see things through an eternal lens. To realize that the spiritual far outweighs the physical.

The wicked and their wealth will one day perish (Psalm 37:20), but the spiritual inheritance of the godly will “endure forever” (Psalm 37:18). The things of this world are fleeting and temporary. The things that only God can give will remain for eternity.

A Better Understanding of Psalm 37:4

Now that we’ve looked briefly at the larger context, let’s reconsider verse 4. “Delight” means to be “soft, pliable” and to “pamper oneself.” We are tempted to “delight” ourselves in the world, to be molded by it and to lose ourselves in its offerings. But God calls us to yield ourselves to Him, to be soft and pliable in His hand so He can shape us into His image.

In the surrounding verses, David helps the reader understand what it means to “delight yourself in the Lord.” Here are three ways David encourages us to do this:

Trust in God through active obedience (Psalm 37:3).“Commit” our way to Him by living under submission to His will (Psalm 37:5).Wait patiently for God to act on our behalf (Psalm 37:7).

A Christian who “delights herself in the LORD” will be pliable in God’s transforming hand because she trusts in, submits to, and waits on Him.

3 characteristics of #delight in God #Ps37:4
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But what about the “desires of your heart?” The context helps us understand this as well. God’s people saw the seeming success and prosperity of the wicked, even at the expense of the righteous. The purpose of the psalm is to encourage those who trust in God that the wicked will not win. If God’s people will continue to “trust in, submit to, and wait on” God, their “desire” (request and petition) for righteousness to prevail will be satisfied.

5 Ways the LORD Will Fulfill the Desires of the RighteousJustice will be done. The wicked will be punished (Psalm 37:2, 13, 17, 35-36, 38).The Lord will protect His children and give them strength in times of difficulty (Psalm 37:15-17, 24, 39-40).The righteous will receive an eternal inheritance (Psalm 37:18, 29, 37).The Lord will sustain them in times of need (Psalm 37:19).The righteous will experience the Lord’s love and faithfulness (Psalm 37:28).

When we patiently trust in God and submit ourselves to His care and protection, He will be faithful to sustain, protect, and provide. And we will see His justice carried out in His time. The wicked will not prevail.

Do you see this verse from a different perspective? How has your understanding changed?

Other posts you might like: The Real Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 Do You Misuse Philippians 4:13? Proverbs 22:6 is NOT a Promise Some upcoming events you might be interested in:

Oct 1-2: Enjoy God’s Word Women’s Online Bible Study Conference – This 4th annual conference organized by Katie Orr is a huge encouragement for all women who want to get more out of God’s Word every day. Dozens of solid Bible teachers share their experience and heart. I’m honored to get to share here too! The $49 ticket gets you lifetime access to the recorded teachings. Find out more.

Oct 4-29: “Heirloom” Book Launch Team – I need your help to introduce my upcoming devotional book about spiritual legacy to the world. The book launch team is also a lot of fun! And you get a few goodies! Who’s in?? Apply now. Find out more about “Heirloom.”

Sept 23-25: Falling in Love with Jesus Online Retreat – Another great online opportunity for women to be encouraged through God’s Word. I am honored to be teaching here. And the proceeds from this event benefit Mercy’s Light Family, a maternity home and transformation housing for girls/young women in Kenya. Find out more.

The “Delight” and “Desire” of Psalm 37:4 by Kathy Howard.

I Need Your Help with the “Heirloom” Book Launch

It’s almost here. I spent months writing “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith.” Tyndale Publishers has spent months turning my work into a beautiful physical book. Now, it’s finally time for the Heirloom book launch! Time to introduce my book baby to the world. But I can’t do it alone. I need your help.

Reasons to join the Heirloom book launch team

Yep, I’m asking for your help. I get a lot of benefit from you joining the launch team. But, I also want the experience to benefit you as a team member. Here are some of the perks:

Advance PDF copy of “Heirloom”“Heirloom” Scripture CardFamily Tree book plate for your BibleGuide to help you write your faith story for your familyChance of winning weekly Amazon gift card draws!

Another BIG benefit is the community of the launch team itself. It’s a lot of fun to be part of the group, working together to make something happen. And launch team leader Karen works to build that fun and sense of community.

And last, but not least, you will be a HUGE encouragement to me!

What do book launch team members do?

Okay, so maybe you’re thinking about it. But what will we ask you to do? First of all, team captain Karen is awesome! She gives team members everything they need. AND, she tells you exactly how and when! The following are the basic things we ask of team members.

Have a few minutes here and there during the launch: October 4 – 29Since the team operates through a Facebook group, team members must have a FB accountShare graphics – that Karen provides – once or twice a week on social mediaPost a book review on Amazon – Karen walks you through how to do this!Tell your friends!Order the book (if possible) for yourself or a friend on Power Purchase DayOptional: Host Kathy on your blog, newsletter, or podcast!

Ready to apply? Apply to the team!

Not quite ready? Keep reading!

What is “Heirloom” about anyway?

One more thing. You’re probably wondering if the book is even worth investing your time. Here’s a bit more about “Heirloom:”

Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith tells stories of the past that will impact our faith today. These 52 heart-felt reflections reveal the seeds of our faith―seeds that sprouted and took root, growing through the centuries to touch our lives today. Heirloom weaves these stories of faith and family history with Scripture, beautiful artwork, and ancestry research tips and techniques. Through these stories of persevering faith you’ll discover the potential your story has to impact future generations. (See a preview on Amazon.) Key features of Heirloom:

Includes 52 inspiring stories of faith from the Bible, family research, and historyGives 52 genealogy research tips to help you explore your own familyShares 52 biblical and practical tips to inspire you to live out your faith in ways that will impact your family tomorrowEncourages you to trace your heritage and document the stories of your ancestors

In a nutshell, “Heirloom” encourages readers to be purposeful about leaving a spiritual legacy for their loved ones, gives the foundation from Scripture, and offers practical tips for how to do it.

So, what do you think? Ready to help launch “Heirloom” into the world? Click the button below to go to the Heirloom book launch team application!

Heirloom Launch Team Application

Thank you for your interest. I couldn’t keep doing what God has called me to do without your help and encouragement!

I Need Your Help with the “Heirloom” Book Launch by Kathy Howard.

4 Tips to Help You Understand the Bible

The Bible has endless application for our lives, but only one meaning. Every part of Scripture means the same thing today as it did when it was written. In our desire to understand the Bible, our goal should be to discover that one original meaning. To grasp the eternal truth God gave us through the pen of man.

So, why do we struggle so often to understand the Bible? And why do so many sincere Christians understand parts differently? While there are many reasons for our individual struggles and the doctrinal differences between groups and denominations, there is one problem that affects many of us: We often read the Bible incorrectly.

4 Guidelines to Understand the Bible Correctly

We don’t have the time or space to do a deep dive into everything that hinders our proper understanding. However, we will touch on four key guidelines to aid us in our pursuit to understand the Bible correctly.

Literary Genre – The Bible is literature. The specific style of a Bible book impacts how we should understand it. The Bible includes roughly six to eight different literary genres, depending on how its broken down. We don’t have time to fully explore each type of biblical genre and discuss tips for understanding it. However, see “How Biblical Genre Impacts our Understanding” for a list, brief description, and practical tips. (Other articles you may also find helpful: “The Many Genres of Scripture”and “How Should the Different Genres Impact How We Should Interpret the Bible.”)Context – Every book was written at a specific point in history to a particular audience with a specific purpose. This context greatly impacts how we should understand the text. (For more info on context, see “4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context.”)Historical/Cultural Context – Every book of the Bible was written at a point in history to a specific people with a particular set of circumstances. In order to properly understand a passage we need to have a grasp on its context. Who was the author, recipients, date, and location for the book? What was the author’s purpose? Knowing the world events, world powers, the economy, and world religions all aid proper understanding. The culture in which they lived also affects how we should understand the text. Tips: Consult resources like Bible dictionaries and commentaries to help.Literary Context – Keep each verse and passage within the context of the surrounding text. It is so easy to misunderstand when we pull one verse or short passage out by itself. Philippians 4:13is a very common victim of this. Tips: When possible, read the book in an entire sitting. Look at every verse and passage with a “wide angle” lenses.Meta–Narrative – All the individual books and stories of the Bible join together to tell us one big story: The rule, reign, and redemptive purposes of God. No individual will contradict the Big Story. Tips: Ask, where does this fit in the Big Story? What does this teach us about God’s rule, reign, and redemption?Interpret Scripture with Scripture – There is no conflict in the Bible only incorrect or incomplete understanding on our part. Therefore, we can use other passages to help us understand a difficult or obscure one. Tip: Use a concordance to look up other passages that cover this same topic or principle.

This post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to properly understanding God’s Word. If you want to learn more, I recommend these two helpful resources: How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Fee and Stuart and Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. Both books give great information but you don’t have to be a seminary student to understand them!

What other great resources have you found helpful?

4 Tips to Help You Understand the Bible by Kathy Howard.

3 Sweet Friends, 3 Great Books, 3 Chances to Win

A couple of weeks ago I got to spend some time with three sweet friends who love Jesus and tirelessly minister to others. Since all of them have recently released great books I decided it wanted to tell you about them – my friends and their new books! AND, I want to give you a chance to win one of their books! (This post/email is longer than usual, but feel free to skim or jump down to a book that captures your attention!)

There will actually be FOUR winners – one for each of my friends’ books and one winner of my last release “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark.” You can enter up to three times. Here are the ways you can enter: 1. Leave a comment on this blog saying which book you most need to read. 2. Share this post on Facebook. Be sure to come back here and leave a separate comment letting me know you shared. 3. Email this post to one or more friends. Again, come back here and leave a separate comment to let me know you did this. (Note: The random winner is drawn from the comments. That’s why you need to leave separate comments!)

“Letting God be Enough” by Erica WiggenhornErica’s own testimony:

“For years I tried to be the superhero Christian woman. You know- put together, well-behaved kids, faithful volunteer, always dependable. I strove to meet every need, make everybody happy, and keep up the image of doing it all in the joy of Jesus. But, inside I was exhausted. And I did it out of fear not love. I worried that if I dropped my superhero cape, people would reject me. Maybe even God would be disappointed in me. So, I kept up the pace of frenetic performance. Still I felt judged, rejected, diminished, not enough. But then I found freedom from all this and more by letting God be enough.”

More about “Letting God Be Enough:”

In a world where “never enough” is the norm, how do you avoid comparing yourself to others? Do you attempt to keep up or simply give up? And how does God fit into the equation?

Erica Wiggenhorn has led thousands of women through the pages of Scripture. In “Letting God Be Enough” she biblically tackles the age-old feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, fear, comparison, and insecurity. Through the life of Moses, Erica shows how God can work powerfully through our weaknesses. You will discover how to:

Jump off the merry-go-round of other people’s opinionExchange past regrets with God’s exciting plan for your futureExperience freedom from self-doubt, comparison, and feelings of inadequacyWalk in confidence that God can handle everything that happens todayRest in God when life doesn’t make senseLet God be enough!

This book releases SEPTEMBER 7th! PREORDER “Letting God Be Enough” on Amazon

More about Erica:

Erica Wiggenhorn is an award-winning author and the Founder of Every Life Ministries. Erica loves to bring God’s Word to anyone who will listen whether it’s a large women’s conference, a church retreat or her own kitchen table. Erica lives in Phoenix, with her best friend Jonathan and her five kids, only two of which are human and the others furry and adorable. You can connect with Erica at ericawiggenhorn.com.

“Messy Hope” by Lori Wildenberg

This book is so timely. Over the last 18 months, the impact of COVID has intensified feelings of depression, anxiety, and hopeless among our children and teenagers. Lori Wildenberg has prayed over this message and this book. She has also helped her own daughter who has wrestled with depression.

More about “Messy Hope:”

Some experts say that depression and anxiety are the new normal. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people. As parents, we cannot accept this. Many young people feel helpless and hopeless. Our kids must be equipped with more than resiliency and positivity. They need hope. Hope for a future. Along with her daughter Kendra, parent and family educator Lori Wildenberg encourages you to take the practical ways offered in “Messy Hope” to foster necessary hope growth in your children’s hearts. Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety, Depression, or Suicidal Ideation is more than a self-help book. This is your lifeline to help them overcome depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation to experience a hope-filled life. See “Messy Hope” on Amazon.

More about Lori:

Lori Wildenberg, mom of a daughter who has wrestled with depression, is passionate about helping parents help their children embrace hope in a hard world. Lori is a licensed parent and family educator, national speaker, podcaster, and author of six parenting books.  https://loriwildenberg.com/

“Stronger Every Day” by Janell Rardon

As a trauma-informed professional life coach, Janell Rardon regularly works with brokenness–broken families, broken relationships, broken hearts and souls. In response to the pleas of her clients, she developed a set of emotional-health tools to help them repair the broken parts of their lives. In Stronger Every Day: 9 Tools for an Emotionally Healthy You, she shares powerful tools to help you:

Transform pain into meaningExperience secure attachment with GodShape healthy thoughtsShift from shame to self-compassionPractice healthy assertivenessSet mental and emotional boundariesUnderstand triggers and defense mechanismsRegulate emotional highs and lowsCultivate healthy human connection

With inspiring Scriptures, quotes, prayers, personal stories, and case studies, Rardon sets you on the path of emotional health so that you can be stronger than ever–every day.

About Janell

Janell Rardon, MA, is a Board-Certified Life Coach (AACC), adjunct professor, and an award-winning author who loves nothing more than helping family systems become emotionally healthy, happy, and whole. She specializes in trauma-informed, attachment-based, faith-infused modalities. She and her husband live in Virginia and have three grown children. Connect with Janell at JanellRardon.com

“Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark”

Here’s one more chance to win a book! And it’s one of mine!

You CAN nurture a delight for God’s Word that keeps you rooted and growing! Want to experience regular spiritual nourishment from the Bible, but not sure how to start? Deep Rooted, a 40-day devotional journey through the life and ministry of Jesus, will show you how to interact with and apply Scripture, not just read it. These meaty, daily devotions use a simple study framework to help you:

Develop a regular habit of spending quality time in God’s WordKnow Jesus more fully and intimatelyLearn how to dig into Scripture yourself with the 4 R Bible Study MethodBe transformed by God’s Word, not just informedPractically live out the truths you discover in Scripture

FUN NEWS about DEEP ROOTED – It’s going to be a SERIES! “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts” will be released in early December 2021 and “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans” will be out Spring 2022!

Time to enter for a chance to win! Leave a comment about which book would most help you right now. Leave additional comments about sharing on Facebook or by email! Winner will be drawn on Saturday, September 4th!

3 Sweet Friends, 3 Great Books, 3 Chances to Win by Kathy Howard.

Two Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Development

Even in these crazy times God graciously continues to provide opportunities for our spiritual growth and leadership development. I am honored to be speaking at two events this fall that will do both and I want to share them with you.

Enjoy God’s Word – October 1-2, 2021

This fully online women’s conference is rich, deep, and grounded in Scripture. Bible teacher and author Katie Orr founded this yearly conference for the purpose of encouraging women through solid Bible teaching, equipping women with practical tools to live out our faith, and giving women a spiritual boost to keep following Jesus. This year’s theme is “Poured Out.”

In addition to Katie’s teaching, more than a dozen Bible teachers will be sharing workshops that will encourage you and foster spiritual growth. A few of these teachers are Amy Hale, Stacey Thacker, Laura Krokos, and more! I will be teaching on “3 Ways God Pours Out His Grace in Our Trails” from 2 Corinthians. I can’t wait to share these truths with you!

DON’T MISS IT! This conference is for all women who long for spiritual growth. And it is convenient and very affordable. Convenient because it all happens online! Affordable because you get two days of solid teaching and encouragement for just $49! BUT… If you get your ticket by September 10th, you get the EARLY BIRD price of just $39!! Get more information or sign up now at ENJOY GOD’S WORD.

ENJOY GOD’S WORD 2021

You Lead Austin – September 17, 2021

If you are a Bible study teacher, women’s ministry leader, or in any type of leadership position, you know how important training can be for your ministry. LifeWay Women offers so many opportunities for training. I am so excited to get to be part of You Lead!

This one-day, in-person training is for women in leadership or feel God calling them into some leadership capacity. At the Austin You Lead, I will be teaching a workshop titled “Being a Gracious Witness in Today’s Culture.” With the ever-widening gap between the world’s values and God’s standards, it’s easy to lose sight of our prime directive to share Jesus and instead use the world’s tactics to fight a spiritual battle. In this workshop, we’ll explore five practical ways to share Jesus and counter a godless culture. (For a preview of this topic see “Should Christians Judge the World?”)

Get more information about You Lead in Austin.

YOU LEAD AUSTIN

Please check out these opportunities and see if one of them might be right for you!

What has God used lately to encourage your spiritual growth and leadership development?

Two Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Development by Kathy Howard.

8 Tips to Help You Understand the Epistles

Since they make up almost 80% of the New Testament, it’s important for us to know how best to understand the epistles. These letters were written by an apostle or early church leader to another individual, church, or group of churches. The epistles are a great blessing to the church today. They teach us what we should believe (theology) and how we should behave (ethical instruction) as the people of God. I certainly need that!

Epistles are a unique literary genre. (See also: “How Biblical Genre Impacts Our Understanding.”) We cannot interpret/understand them the same way we do biblical narrative or prophecy (See also “5 Tips for Understanding Biblical Narrative” and “Tips for Understanding the Prophets”.) These letters are very situational because they are tied to specific people in a specific time in history, with specific problems and issues.

In order to properly understand the epistles and apply their teachings, we need to get a good grasp on the original situation. When we better understand what the letter meant to the original recipient, then we can better understand God’s original meaning. Then, we can more accurately apply His truths to our lives. (See also “4 Guidelines to Help You Understand the Bible.”)

8 Tips to Understand the EpistlesDiscover the author, date, and recipients – These basic facts can be found in the introduction and/or closing of most of the letters. There are also a lot of great resources to help you know more about them and enhance your understanding. (See the resource section below for some suggestions.)Pinpoint the author’s purpose – Scholars refer to this as the “occasion.” Why did the author write these particular people then? Was there a problem or problems that needed to be addressed? Was there a specific doctrine he wanted to teach?Read the entire book in one sitting – This helps us identify main themes, running arguments, and the overall purpose of the letter. Reading a letter in chunks makes this more difficult. Most letters are short enough to read the whole thing in less than an hour. Some are short enough to read in just a few minutes.Keep every passage in its literary context – Pulling a verse or passage out of the surrounding context is probably the mistake we Bible students make most often. (See “Do You Misuse Philippians 4:13?” for a prime example.)Compare letter to the book of Acts – Many of the events recorded in Acts can shed light on issues addressed in the epistles – particularly Paul’s letters. For instance, Paul’s unique love for the Philippians is better understood when we read of his time in Philippi. The emphasis on sexual morality in 1 Corinthians can be better understood by getting the background on the pagan worship in Corinth.Research the culture and history – More than 2,000 years separate us from the time of the epistles. So much has changed about society, family life, the way we do business, world religions, and a host of other things. All of this impacts our understanding and how we should apply what we read. For instance, Paul’s guidelines for head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 is directly tied to customs of the day and the impact paganism had on society. We must understand those things so we can separate Paul’s teaching that is situational only.Look for the underlying spiritual principles – When we understand the cultural and historical context we can more easily separate the timeless truths and principles from those things that aren’t directly applicable. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 8, Paul discusses meat sacrificed to idols. That’s not something we typically encounter today. But the underlying spiritual principle of not exercising any freedom that could cause another believer to stumble or struggle is directly applicable to us.Watch for creeds and hymns – Some of the NT letter writers included short segments within their letters that most scholars agree were probably creeds or hymns of the early church. These would have been well-known by the recipients and probably even used in worship. Many of these can be spotted in an epistle due to their poetic style. Examples of this include Philippians 2:6-11 and 1 Timothy 3:16.Suggested Helps and Resources

All this may seem a bit daunting. The good news is, a lot of great resources are available to help us. Here are a few that I use myself. (Note: The links below are affiliate links.)

Good Study Bible – We can get a lot of the above information from the notes in a study Bible.The IVP Bible Background Commentaries – This 2-volume set is absolutely invaluable to me. I use them almost every day. They give great historical and cultural background on most Bible passages. The OT and NT volumes can be purchased together.Online Study tools – There are so many digital resources out there! I’ve collected a few that I’ve used and put together a list. Check it out here!Bible Dictionary – A good dictionary gives information on people, places, books of the Bible, and so much more. I regularly use “Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible.”Bible Handbook – These helpful resources give information on history, culture, and the background on individual Bible books. I like the “Zondervan Handbook to the Bible.”

Let’s talk! What’s your favorite letter in the Bible? Why? What is one of your favorite resources?

8 Tips to Help You Understand the Epistles by Kathy Howard.

3 Ways God Gives Grace in Trials

God has the power to “fix” any circumstances, but often He does something more miraculous. He pours out His grace so we can stand firm in our trials. I know this is true because His Word teaches it. And I have experienced it myself.

God has the power to “fix” any circumstances, but often He does something more miraculous. He pours out His grace so we can stand firm in our trials. I know this is true because His Word teaches it. And I have experienced it myself.

I woke in the middle of the night and the rawness of it all washed over me again. Our family faced a heart-breaking situation. I tried to fix it, but it seemed hopeless. I knew sleep would not come easily. I had no words left for prayer. I was prayed out.

Anxiety welled up and I reached for God. The Holy Spirit began to bring Scriptures to mind, so I began to “pray” them. Soon peace started to push out the anxiety until it was gone. Somewhere in the first chapter of 1 Peter I drifted off to sleep.

At the time, I was away from home staying with my oldest daughter. My new grandson was just a few days old and I was helping out. The next morning, Kelley reported on how the baby slept the night before. Then almost as an afterthought she added, “The second time I came back to bed, Jeremy asked me to pray with him. He felt strongly we should pray for you right then.”

“What time was that?” I asked.

“It was about 3:15, 3:20,” Kelley replied.

That was the same time I lay awake in bed with anxiety threatening to take over. I know because I had looked at my phone. God did not fix the situation like I’d hoped, but He was not idle. He saw my need and He cared. He poured out His grace through the heart of my son-in-law and gave me the peace and strength to keep going.

God Always Works in Trials

Sometimes God intervenes in our trials in physical ways. He heals. He frees. He delivers. But He does not always. Often God works in far more miraculous ways. He pours out His grace to cover our soul needs.

God physically delivered the apostle Paul many times, like the release from prison shackles in Philippi. But it wasn’t those physical rescues Paul marveled over. No, Paul preached passionately about the lavish, unbounded grace of God poured out to sustain him in the midst of his trials.

Sometimes God allows struggles and difficulties to remain in our lives because He is using them to work out His spiritual and eternal purposes. He works in and through our trials to spiritually conform us to the image of Christ and to refine our faith and character.

Yet in the midst of those trials – while His “soul work” is being accomplished – God extends His grace to comfort, encourage, strengthen, and provide.

3 Ways God Extends Grace in TrialsPresence – God may not change our difficult circumstances, but He will be with us. He will draw us close to His side through the presence of His Spirit to encourage, comfort, and console. He will ease our pain and grief through the fellowship of His people. He will even later use that experience to comfort others. Praise be to the God of all comfort! (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.)Power – When we have no strength to go on, God has more than enough. Acknowledge your need to God and accept His strength. Allow Him to push out any pride and self-sufficiency and make room for the abundant flow of God’s power. What we lack in our weakness, God will provide by His grace. (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)Provision – Even if God doesn’t change our basic circumstances, He still meets our needs in the midst of them. Sometimes He makes physical provision. Sometimes He protects us from additional difficulty. But all the time, He is our Helper and Provider. (See 2 Corinthians 1:10-11.)

God may not always save the job, heal the illness, or calm the storm. But He will always give you an anchor of grace to hold you securely to the Solid Rock while the storm rages. God may not remove your difficult circumstances, but He will graciously give you everything you need to keep going.

In what ways have you experienced God’s grace in past trials? How can you look for His grace in your current struggle?

If you want to learn more about God’s grace, check out my Bible study “Lavish Grace.” This 9-week study on the life and teachings of Paul will help you more fully experience and share God’s lavish grace. Find out more about the book. Purchase “Lavish Grace” on Amazon.

Download and use the 3-week “Lavish Grace” Bible Reading Plan

3 Ways God Gives Grace in Trials by Kathy Howard.

6 Things You May Not Know about Apostle Paul

I thought I knew him. I followed his ministry. And over the years, I have read and reread his writings. But not long ago, I realized I didn’t know as much about the Apostle Paul as I thought.

While studying Paul’s life for the 9-week Bible study “Lavish Grace,” I discovered several “new” things about the apostle of grace. Of course they were there all along; I had simply overlooked them. Maybe some will be new to you too.

6 little-known facts about the Apostle PaulPaul didn’t jump right into long-term ministry (Galatians 1:13-18) – In my mind, Paul met Jesus on a dusty road, spent three days fasting in Damascus, regained his eyesight, then jumped right into ministry to the Gentiles and never looked back. But a closer examination of Scripture tells a little different story. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote he “went immediately into Arabia (Galatians 1:17).” In fact, he didn’t return to Jerusalem for three years (Galatians 1:18). What did Paul do during all this time in Arabia? Many scholars feel this may have been a spiritual retreat for Paul, a time to reconcile everything he knew from the Old Testament Scriptures with his new reality in Christ. In Arabia, Paul could immerse himself in the reality of his Savior and focus on learning and growing in preparation for ministry.Paul’s nephew saved his life (Acts 23:12-35) – After Paul’s arrest by a Roman commander in Jerusalem, 40 Jewish men bound themselves in an oath to not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. The Jewish leaders agreed to help them by petitioning the Roman commander to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin for questioning. The assassins planned to attack Paul during the transfer. But the son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot and reported it to Paul at the Roman barracks. When Paul told a centurion, the Roman commander ordered a detachment of almost 500 guards to move him to Caesarea under the cover of night.Saul’s name was not changed to Paul (Acts 13:6-9)– During the biblical account of Paul’s first missionary journey, Luke writes: “Then Saul, who was also called Paul…” (Acts 13:9). From this point forward, Luke only refers to the apostle as “Paul.” This shift does not reflect a name change, as has often been said, but rather a conscious decision on Paul’s part to use a name he already had. Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he was given three names at birth. The third – Paul’s Latin name – better fit the predominately Roman environment. “Saul the Pharisee” chose to be known as “Paul, citizen of Rome.”God gave Paul more than he could handle (2 Corinthians 1:8-11) – Paul and his companions suffered such extreme pressure during a particular situation in Asia they “despaired even of life.” Scholars aren’t sure what event Paul referred to in these verses, but the situation was so dire Paul believed he and his companions might die. He saw no way out of the life-threatening encounter. And indeed, without God’s miraculous intervention, they would have perished. When all human hope was lost God delivered them by His grace through the prayers of the believers (2 Corinthians 1:11). Note: For more about God giving us more than we can handle, see “The Real Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13.”Paul visited heaven before his death (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) – God gave Paul a glimpse of heaven during his early years as a believer, perhaps during his time of spiritual retreat in Arabia (Galatians 1:17). Paul didn’t know if he had been physically transported or was there in spirit. But he saw and heard “inexpressible things.” Pride would be the natural sinful response to an experience like this, but pride and conceit have no place in God’s servant. Therefore, God allowed something into Paul’s life to foster humility – a “thorn of the flesh.”Paul felt deserted by everyone but God (2 Timothy 4:9-18) – Throughout Paul’s ministry he suffered trials and persecution for the sake of Christ. He was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and betrayed. He often went without food, sleep, and shelter. During his Roman imprisonment, he also felt alone with no other person to support or defend him. Demas left him because he loved the world. Alexander did him “a great deal of harm.” Yet through it all, the Lord stood with him. Paul was comforted and strengthened by God’s powerful presence.

6 facts about #ApostlePaul you may not know
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#Saul did not CHANGE his name to #Paul and other little-known facts

I would love to sit down with Paul and hear all his stories, find out all those things not recorded in Scripture. Perhaps he would recount all the Gospel victories and tell me more about the suffering he endured for the name of Christ. Pain and struggle may have marked his life, but God’s lavish grace sustained him every moment.

Was one of these facts about Paul new to you? If so, which one? Do you know any other little-known facts about Paul?

Want to learn even more about Paul? The 9-week Bible study “Lavish Grace” explores Paul’s writings and life experience with God’s grace. Find out more about “Lavish Grace.”

Kathy also  frequently speaks on this topic. She’d love the chance to share about God’s lavish grace at your women’s retreat, conference, or event. 

6 Things You May Not Know about Apostle Paul by Kathy Howard.