Lori Stanley Roeleveld's Blog, page 12

When Trouble Comes, Don’t Blink

What do we do when we see things others don’t?

How do we respond when they react with scoffing or disbelief?

Why are there signs that to us are as clear as day while to others, they are easily rejected or ignored?

A mother in Knoxville, Tennessee noticed a “small glow” in her 17-month-old daughter’s eye. Her pediatrician dismissed her concerns. She made an appointment with a specialist, but it was months off because they felt no urgency.

So, she posted a photo of the child to social media.  A friend showed it to an eye doctor she worked with at the hospital. He asked to see the child immediately and diagnosed a rare cancer, a small tumor in her eye. His quick diagnosis led to immediate treatment.

The first two doctors were fine physicians but the third had a trained eye.

A trained eye is how experts spot art forgeries, how detectives solve crimes, how mothers determine which child broke the vase, and how quilters arrange a pile of discarded scraps into museum-worthy masterpieces of handcraft.

What we train our eyes to see can make a life-changing difference for others as well as for ourselves.

Do we train our eyes to see God at work, opportunities to share His truth and love, hearts open to the gospel, and how global events point to His return? Or do we train our eyes to see people’s shortcomings, to notice every wall and every giant, to recognize how small we are compared to kingdom tasks, and to spy opportunities for fear and doubt?

No matter how we’ve lived until this moment, we can change the way we see. We can retrain our eyes to become experts at God-focused life-giving views.

When I worked at a gym, I was responsible for enforcing the rules. It didn’t take long for me to realize I had a big problem. Through challenging childhood experiences, my eye was trained to assess people’s emotional states the moment I enter a room. This meant my focus was on faces, postures, and tones of voice. It also meant I missed it entirely if someone was wearing jeans on the leg press or work boots on the treadmill. I had to retrain myself to scan the room from the feet up before I became distracted by people’s moods and needs!

When you are someone with a trained eye, it’s vital that you don’t allow those with common sight to cause you to question what you see.

What if the eye doctor in Knoxville had recently missed a diagnosis and was doubting his abilities? What if he phoned the first doctor who dismissed the new finding and so, he told the family just to watch and wait, so as not to upset his colleague? The story might have a much different ending.

Christians are trained, by God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and by obedience to Christ, to see the world through God’s eyes. To know that there is a spiritual reality that is unseen but still powerfully impacting our world. To understand our lives and global events in the context of a greater story. To spot deception, false narratives, and lies.

Trusting our training is not the same as harboring pride. We can cultivate humility and still stand by what we see.

The church has gotten things wrong in the past and will continue to fall short of our calling. Believers fall prey to either legalism or licentiousness. False teachers infiltrate the flock and wreak havoc. Leaders with sound teaching hide terrible, sinful secrets. Even now, we reel from the revelation of the double life led by Ravi Zacharias – the network of abuse and lies that trail behind what many saw as a powerful and persuasive ministry – destroyed now because he used his reputation for righteousness as a covering for sin.

It’s a tactic of Satan to use the past and present failures of the church to cow us into silence, to take our eyes off the battle for souls and send us spiraling into endless naval gazing that renders us ineffective for the work of the gospel. Don’t fall for his scheme.

When we are wrong, as a church, as leaders, or as individuals, we must own it, confess, repent, take responsible (often public) steps to address the wrong, and return to our work.

Because here is what is true – God warns us in His word that wolves will come among us. He teaches us that our enemy is a deceiver. He cautions us that some will fall way, their love will grow cold, and that “the sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.” 1 Timothy 5:24 ESV. There’s nothing surprising here, then. When these situations occur, we must keep our heads about us, acknowledge it, continue to stand by the truth of Christ, and move on with the work of the kingdom.

The world needs our trained eye. They need us trusting God’s perspective and speaking it at appropriate opportunities.

What they don’t need is us hedging our bets, casting doubt on what we plainly see, or shrinking into silence because they don’t share our view or because some Christians have spectacularly, publicly failed. Don’t compound their failures by withdrawing your God-informed perspective from the conversation. Their self-destruction will do enough damage without you allowing the trauma of it to ripple into your life and the lives of those God calls you to reach with the gospel.

Spiritual blindness is rampant in our times and it causes many to stumble, to wander down wrong paths, and to act in fear. They don’t see what we see because their eyes are not trained to see it.

We are the ones with the trained eye. When trouble comes, press into God and don’t blink. We never know what may be at stake.

 

 

Is there a hard conversation in your future? You’re invited to attend a free, three-week workshop (one hour each) with me beginning next week on the six steps to prepare for a hard conversation. Join me Thursday at 8pm EST  beginning 3/4/2021 or Fridays at 12 noon EST beginning 3/5/2021. It helps to have a copy of The Art of Hard Conversations but it’s not essential.

Recent guest posts on Crosswalk.com:

What is the will of God?

10 Bible Verses about Kindness

5 Essential Verses about Spiritual Warfare

Do you understand the value of a trained eye? What if it's you? https://t.co/AFhDbx8rDY #Jesus #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) February 23, 2021

The post When Trouble Comes, Don’t Blink first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Because I Don’t Answer to You – That’s Why

First, to my fellow believers,

It’s incredibly tempting to take the bait.

We’re like hungry trout. Always hungry.

Relentless appetites for acceptance, belonging, meaning, security, attention, and comfort. We crave peace. We’re designed for unity, community, and worship.

All these things can be ours in Christ.

He accepts and receives us. Through Him, we belong to God and have a place in His family where we find meaning, eternal (if not temporal) comfort and security, and we know we are seen. Christ secured our peace with God on the cross, a peace the world can’t give. We are one, united in Christ and when we walk in the light, we experience rich, diverse community.

He made His disciples fishers of men. What they offer is freedom and life in Christ. But they aren’t the only ones with hooks in the sea.

The people screaming at us on social media offer counterfeits that temporarily easy the hunger pangs of our souls but don’t satisfy. They clone belonging, meaning, peace, and unity in their social labs, offered to those who worship what they worship, to all who align with ever-shifting community standards, and to those willing to swallow only their bait and renounce all others.

“Speak out against this, and you’re one of us – for now.”

“Agree with the right words and we can be united, we’ll even expand your platform. Otherwise, we’ll silence you. Your ideas disrupt unity because they speak of another truth.”

Jesus described this generation when He said, “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7:31-35 ESV

He said this to warn us that it’s dangerous and unproductive to play to the demands of the crowd. This isn’t unloving to acknowledge.

Jesus was perfect in love, but He acted according to God’s agenda, not the demands of the crowd. Yielding to the crowd doesn’t serve God and isn’t, in the long run, beneficial to the crowd. Love doesn’t pander. Love doesn’t compromise truth.

To Speak or Not to Speak – And When?

In the past weeks, I’ve seen Christians openly baited in numerous ways. One that particularly galls me is the taunt that “silence makes you complicit.” This is often accompanied by a reference to the silence of German citizens during the Nazi regime.

It’s a deft ploy because it’s not all wrong, but it’s wildly misapplied to an ever-expanding range of situations. We succumb because who wants to silently support a new wave of atrocities? Not I.

So, for instance, like lemmings, following the events at the Capitol on January 6th, those of us who communicate for Christ, no matter what our political affiliation, made certain to state somewhere on social media that we condemned the violence that occurred that day. (Which we do. It was wrong.)

Never mind that we’ve never acted violently, preached violence from our pulpits, or promoted it in our work. Never mind, that we teach Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, and sacrificial living. Never mind we weren’t anywhere near the Capitol and it would never dawn on us to take it by force. None of that mattered when the crowd demanded, “If you don’t condemn this violence, you support it. And use the words we use, or you are dog whistling in code for the ‘other side.’”

In today’s tense social climate, if we’re silent on a trending topic, we’re suspect. If we agree too vehemently, we’re “virtue-signaling.” If we disagree, we’re cancelled.

But, dear brothers and sisters, we waste time blaming the crowd. The crowd does what crowds have always done. They’re victims of group-think, fear, unchallenged bias, and biblical illiteracy.

Instead, we must take responsibility for falling prey to their baiting. We can’t operate on their matrix because we are citizens of another kingdom.

Here’s the biblical truth. Jesus does call us to speak out against evil – boldly, courageously, and publicly. He also calls us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

So, the command of Christ isn’t to add your voice to the mob cry before the dust settles and the facts are sorted. It’s not a command to condemn on demand. We must marry those biblical commands and speak truth when the facts are clear and with the timing and tone of love.

Jesus was silent sometimes. Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything – a time to keep silence and a time to speak. And the demanding crowd doesn’t get to determine when it’s time for Christians to speak or stay silent – the wisdom of the Holy Spirit rules. Period.

To Whom Do We Answer?

Christians don’t answer to the angry crowd. We aren’t accountable to those who don’t know Jesus. We answer only to Him and that’s why we mustn’t be knee-jerk in our reactions to public outcry, to opinion polls on the church, to fear of what we look like to unbelievers.

If our actions stem from the heart and mind of Christ, if they’re grounded in biblical truth, and timed to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, then we are being faithful children of God. And the crowd will do what it does.

When any of us need to be corrected, we should apply correction, in the manner prescribed in the Bible, not by popular opinion.

Each of these public events is a test. Don’t waste the opportunity to learn. We fail them all the time, but we can learn, and prepare for the next.

To my unbelieving friends:

I love you and have compassion for your understanding of our times. But, I don’t answer to you.

You tell me how you expect a Christian to act based on the incomplete outline you have of Jesus. You skim the surface of my faith and think you can judge my brothers and sisters with authority. But what you have are the spiritual equivalent of headlines, tweets, and slogans that are of no substance for determining my biblical response to complex and dynamic times.

If you care about me, be curious about my God. I won’t post a status update at your demand, but I’ll gladly meet you for coffee over Zoom to have a genuine dialog.

The God I follow is a respecter of life because He is the Author of it. He respects, not only the unborn, but those of every age, culture, ethnicity, nationality, economic status, political belief, and ability. From this respect for life, this culture of life, flows truth that is freeing, civil, and healing.

He has taught me to be slow to anger. To be discerning, wise, and not to judge. His way is one of peace, of reasoning, and sacrifice. He is a God of righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, mercy, grace, and love. And He is patient. He tarries His return – for which I long – to give you the opportunity to acknowledge Jesus as the only way to salvation.

You threaten to cancel and silence me based on misinformation, generalization, and a shallow understanding of how I operate in the name of Christ. Sometimes I’m tempted, out of caring what you think or fear of retribution, to dance to your tune, but the love, truth, and compassion of Christ constrains me to follow His voice alone.

Jesus gave everything for me, and I am surrendered to Him. If some days that puts me at odds with you, so be it. If my life doesn’t always satisfy you or demonstrate who you believe Jesus is, it may be that your understanding falls short of what is real.

There are false representatives of my faith, to be sure. They are wolves dressed as sheep. I can’t stop them from counterfeiting what I hold dear. But if you wish to discern the forgery from the genuine, I welcome you to take a closer look than you can get through social media. We don’t stop believing in art because there are forgers. We don’t dismiss the sparkle of diamonds because there are fakes. We learn through studying the authentic to discern the genuine article from the lie.

I do fall short of representing Jesus and so do others who are sincere followers. And we need correction but that comes from within the family of God. No offense, but you’re not qualified to instruct me here just as I would never be called to coach a team for the World Cup because I’ve no idea how soccer works.

The times aren’t only dangerous for Christians – they’re dangerous for you, too. The difference is that we see the danger. If you silence the doctor warning you of a dangerous virus, you’re not only harming him, are you?

And the voices that are truly spouting dangerous ideas, do we want to muzzle them into the dark corners and secret places? Banishing them from public life will only send them into hiding and, believe me, deception flourishes in darkness.

I don’t need you to be quiet. The truth will out. My faith will stand. Deception and wrong ideas will eventually be revealed for what they are. But you need me to keep speaking, even if you don’t understand why.

This has been a test, people. Let’s learn from it, because there are more to come.

This is not a simulation. We’re in this and it’s time for people of faith to get real, to listen to God, to speak truth plainly, and to apply wisdom in every moment.

(**My apologies, I know this post is longer than usual. It’s an accumulation of meditation and prayer over the past few weeks. I wanted to write it all in one post.)

Love and speaking truth in the time of cancel culture https://t.co/MycTgtilHY #CancelCulture #Jesus

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) January 24, 2021

The post Because I Don’t Answer to You – That’s Why first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

What Can We Speak into This Moment?

My dear friends,

Oh, how I wish I was wise enough and skilled enough with words to write a post about recent happenings that would minister to your hearts and sort truth from lies. Like you, I am laid low by what has transpired in our country. I would say it has driven me to my knees but in truth, that is where I have lived for some time now.

The violent acts of a few have traumatized a nation and ignited all manner of retaliative evil. Like you, I am grieved at the choices of those who acted with such foolish disregard for the law. I am also grieved for those who were peacefully exercising their right to protest but who are now painted with the same broad brush of condemnation. We’ve seen this happen repeatedly for many months in our country but still, we refuse to engage in discerning and nuanced dialog about what has occurred.

As horrified as I was at the violent invasion of the Capitol, I have also been horrified at the aftermath. Of course, we must speak out unwaveringly that violence is not acceptable in our midst. Of course, this must be stated with zeal and announced from every corner of society. And yet, beyond that, we rush to judging the lawful and the law keepers along with the lawless who appeared on our television screens that day.

From our smartphones and laptops, we pontificate about motives and missteps. All at once, each of us is capable of not only running the District of Columbia and its police force, but the entire nation. We all seem to have the answers and yet, a closer inspection of our lives would confirm the truth of Scripture that none of us has the right to throw stones.

While I believe firmly in speaking out against evil, it is always right to obey God to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 Our brother James lived in days of extreme tyranny and persecution. His words must have been a letdown for many believers and yet, they are from our Father God.

I have friends on both ends of the political spectrum. Christians I love have made strong cases for either political party based on biblical values. While every believer I know values caring for the poor, racial equality, freedom, and the sanctity of all human life – from the unborn to the disabled and dying, their ideas about how to demonstrate those values through national laws, policies, and cultural practices vary widely and are often at odds. There are fools on both sides but also there are sincere, Jesus-loving souls working to apply God’s Word in the context of complex conversations.

I also am a friend to many who operate in the arena of policies over person. For them, no one candidate has embodied our faith in both life and policy. They have strong opinions about ideologies and public practice but feel each candidate falls short and so they prayerfully vote their conscience – not with wholehearted endorsement but with trepidation and trust in God’s sovereign will. Their voting record is private – not out of fear but from prioritizing the furthering of God’s kingdom above all else and not wanting to place any stumbling block in the way of a soul who needs to see Jesus in them more than they need their opinion about how our nation should be run.

Also horrifying to me in the rhetoric and the rush to act is the silencing of voices in a nation that once valued free speech. Individuals who shout “fire” in a crowded theater should be confronted and face the consequence of their actions, but social litmus tests and broadband censorship should sober us all. And yet, fear is the quadrant where the faithless quarter, the fortress of those who make idols of countries and kings, the justification of those who lust for power and so exploit any crisis to further the suppression of their detractors. We will not fear for God is with us. The courage He provides enables us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to stand when evil would claim the day.

So, here is my comfort in days of unrest,

God is Sovereign. He is and was and is to come.
If Christ has set us free, we are free indeed. No power can take that from us.
Blessed is the man or woman who remains steadfast under trial
Most of God’s Word was written by people under siege, under fire, oppressed, misunderstood, powerless in human realms, seeking hope, seeking provision, seeking life – they found it in Christ alone. Now is the time to embed with Him, to know His Word, and to recommit to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The church of Jesus Christ is called to the same humility He embraced. Humble in heart, yet bold in truth, having a Christ-centered confidence and a kingdom-focused view.
We must be wise as serpents, innocent as doves for we are sheep surrounded by wolves. What those who do not know Christ think or say about us is not an accurate mirror of who we are. We all need correction, we all need further sanctification but that comes through a deep study of His Word, obedience to what it says, and the work of the Holy Spirit, not bowing to the reigning voices of the day, for they are fickle and unwise.
Now is the time to be certain of what we have been taught and to pay attention to the signs. Reread the Gospel of Luke. Study biblical prophecy. Read the Bible cover to cover. Ask for wisdom and God will supply it to you.
Words have power. Make no mistake. We follow the living Word who spoke the world into being. His Word is the first and the last. He tells us we are accountable for every careless word we speak. Let us be sobered by this. Emboldened as to the truth, yet cautious as to reactionary opinions and self-serving rhetoric.
We are not of those who shrink back, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
He is coming again. Our call is to place our hope in that day, to bear witness to His truth, and to live, not in the lesser story of our times, but in the greater story of eternity for which we have been saved.

Forgive me for my shortcomings as a believer and as a writer in a moment such as this. My words pale against the sorrow of our souls. But if my words do anything, I pray they will direct your heart, your mind, and your hopes to Jesus Christ alone. May God have mercy on us all.

What Can We Speak into This Moment? https://t.co/fW4uredZAh #CapitolRiots #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) January 9, 2021

The post What Can We Speak into This Moment? first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Real Time Hope (or what if 2021 is worse than 2020?)

What if the coming year is worse?

We seem to be pinning a great many hopes on the tick of a second hand.

Life doesn’t always march by our calendars. And our faith would be better invested in the character of God than in the year’s new digit.

2019 was likely the worse year of my life. It was marked by loss, rejection, trauma, and grief that altered not only my present and future, but also my understanding of the past.

I had many hopes for 2020 on the final eve of 2019.

Likewise, my grandson turned 10 in 2019 and had great hopes for his birthday. Then, my father died that day and it turned into a different gathering than he’d hoped.

So, we promised a bash in 2020 that would compensate for what death had stolen in 2019 only to find ourselves locked apart. What we realized in 2020, that we had learned in 2019, was not to wait for a new year but to exercise hope in real time – to celebrate anyway. I hope that was his greatest gift – that carpe diem truth.

We purchased a cake and cut it into thirds, distributing it to each household. He retrieved his presents trick-or-treat style, from our porches and front doorsteps, and then we shared cake together via Zoom.

Our family learned to be cautious about promises for tomorrow but to live fully in the day we find ourselves, no matter what the day may bring.

This isn’t to say that we live in the desolation of fearing the future, of prophesying only gloom, of banishing all planning for tomorrow. Not at all.

Instead, this year, the Lord has taught us to hope in Him – in real time – not just for eternity.

In this year of trial that followed a year of pain, I have yet found healing. In a year in which my plans were destroyed, my ministry altered, and the form of my calling brought into question, I have known deep and abiding joy.

And this experience of healing, joy, and growing contentment while I sit on the sofa designed by “no-one-saw-this-coming” provided greater hope for 2021 than I held in my heart last year.

Because now I remember that even when the turn is for the worst, God is truly Emmanuel – God with us.

The Apostle Paul once warned a captain not to sail but the captain sailed anyway. The ship encountered a mighty storm that would have been their doom had the Lord not made other plans for their passenger, Paul.

The ship was finally wrecked on Malta. They set out to make a fire, no doubt relieved to have escaped the death of the sea. When Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, a viper attached itself to his hand and the native gasped, surely Paul would die. Who escapes a tragedy at sea to be immediately bitten by a snake except under judgement of the Almighty?

Paul shook off the snake.

They waited for the signs of the venomous death, but it never came. The people imagined Paul a god, but Paul knew better. Paul knew he was just a man.

More importantly, he knew he was a man whose days were sealed by the Almighty God – sealed in such a way that neither raging sea nor piercing serpent could overrule God’s sovereignty and rule.

We have a hope that will not fade, even if 2021 causes us to look back at 2020 with wistful nostalgia as it puts the trials of this year to shame.

Our hope is a hope that we can exercise in real time. It is not only a hope for eternity, but a hope invested in Emmanuel – the God who is with us, come what may.

Or, as the Psalmist writes:

“The king is not saved by his great army;

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,

and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18  Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19 that he may deliver their soul from death

and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart is glad in him,

because we trust in his holy name.

22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,

even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:16-22 ESV

As the new year approaches, may we be found, not hopeful in a change of se as on, but hopeful in the One who was, and is, and is to come.

 

Happy New Year, my friends. May the Lord be with You – and may you know if full well in the new year.

What if 2021 is worse than 2020? Real time hope for real life. https://t.co/V9U4h5jnRH #NewYear #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 28, 2020

The post Real Time Hope (or what if 2021 is worse than 2020?) first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

I May Not Be Here to Help You Soon

Most of my dad’s firefighters had never known a time when he wasn’t their chief.

That’s what happens when you do a job, day after day after day, for over fifty-one years. Chiefs in other departments retired. Young firefighters became seasoned deputy chiefs. And Dad kept showing up – at his desk, at trainings, at meetings, and at fire/rescue calls.

“A force of nature.” They’d say.

He’d suffered heart attacks, smoke inhalation, mis-aimed bullets fired into his office, high speed drives on ice, and a brief ride on the front of a bull rescued from the ice. They called him a legend. Cats had nine lives. Dad appeared to have many more.

Then, at a routine fire call responding to a midnight box alarm at an abandoned mill, Dad disappeared in the dark.

There was no fire. After making that determination in the darkened structure, Dad left the group of firefighters to walk to the parking lot and wait for the police. On the way out, he decided to walk down one more hall and step into one last darkened room.

The floor collapsed beneath him and he fell ten feet, buried under piles of rotted floor and rubble. He couldn’t reach his light. Radios were almost useless in the old country building and his was lost somewhere in the debris. Finally, he located his cell phone.

First, he called my mom to let her know he was alive, but she might hear them on the radio searching for him. Then, he called 911 and the dispatcher called the firefighters on scene. I’ve heard that call – his shaking voice, the alarm in the voice of the dispatcher, the men shouting out to him, him yelling for them, then not responding.

That night, he was rescued by men he’d trained. He was 78 and would serve as their chief for one more year. After he retired, he and I would listen to the radio as his department responded to calls. He never fretted or worried. “They know exactly what to do.” Confident in their training, experience, and heart.

It’s good to have wise guides, competent leaders, teachers and communicators who help us find our way. But everyone I know is human. Sometimes we fall. Sometimes we walk down a wrong corridor. And we all die.

Dad’s firefighters weren’t lazy followers. That would never do. They studied, trained, and responded as if their lives depended on it – and they did. Their lives and the lives of the people they serve. When Dad retired, people would ask if he was worried about what he left behind. “What kind of leader would I be if I didn’t train people to replace me?” was his response.

Christians need to operate less like spectators of the faith and more like first responders training for our very lives and the lives of those we serve. We must commit to living ready to respond to God and to one another.

Every January, believers will resolve to have a “daily quiet time” or to “read through the Bible in a year.” Both good things. But many will hit Leviticus by February and abandon the effort. Quiet time may survive into March but disappear as the yard needs to be readied for spring.

God has given us teachers, preachers, writers, and speakers who devote themselves to studying and understanding God’s Word. We aren’t all called to this and we’re wise to listen to those who are.

Still, if a firefighter only glanced at his manual. If she came to training but sat on the sidelines when practicing with the air pack. If they didn’t condition themselves to carry grown adults through flames. If they showed up on scene and needed to be told every. single. move. by their chief. We’d think they weren’t serious about their calling.

God didn’t give us the Bible, so we’d have beautiful memes to share on Facebook. His Word is a breathtaking, holy, life-altering, soul-searching, heart reviving masterpiece of healing, guidance, challenge, and truth.

He reveals Himself in His Word and provides us understanding about His character, His plan, His power, His forgiveness, His love, and His Son. His Word instructs us in daily living, in loving others, and in defending against evil. In it, He provides us a roadmap through chaos.

Each of us has the privilege of holding God’s Word in our hands and knowing the presence of His Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. In other countries, God’s Word is banned. Christians cherish and memorize even scraps of pages. While in the West, we may have dozens on hand and go months without cracking their covers.

Leaders fall. Teachers die. Writers give up. The Internet can be hacked. Books can be burned. Each of us must read and study as if our lives and the lives of those around us depend on it. Today, that sounds like a dramatic over-statement. Times will come when you’ll wish I’d posted this message every day.

This is no dress rehearsal. No false alarm. No practice drill. This is our one life.

I am no one special.

When I was a child, I understood early that the adults in my life were lost. Perhaps that’s why Rev. Graham’s televised sermon reached me and why I responded to his alter call. From the moment I could read, God guided me by His Holy Spirit and His Word through trials, temptations, and traumas. I read it, studied it, and lived by it because no one was around to tell me I couldn’t.

I’m here to tell you His Word is written for you. Don’t just sip a verse here and there. Take great gulps – like oxygen in a burning building. What you understand, put into practice. When you don’t understand – seek answers. Ask God to bring understanding. Wrestle with it. Follow sound teaching. Don’t. Give. Up.

The time is now when every believer must rise to his or her calling in Christ. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, but we must avail ourselves of what He’s provided.

The life you save may be the person who trained YOU!

And if you’re a teacher/preacher/writer/speaker, what are you doing to prepare the next generation to know what to do when you disappear in the dark?

If you’d like to know the Best Bible Reading Plan – click HERE. 

I May Not Be Here to Help You Soon https://t.co/DCXPICWsAc #BibleReadingPlan #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 19, 2020

The post I May Not Be Here to Help You Soon first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Five Good Reasons to Cry this Christmas (maybe six)

Can you still hear your parents’ voices echoing from childhood?

“If you’re going to cry about it, go to your room.”

“Now, there’s nothing to cry about.”

“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.”

“Things happen. There’s no sense crying about it.”

Our human parents had their ways, needs, and struggles. Not always ideal.

Our Heavenly Father is perfect.

When we cry to Him, God doesn’t turn away or send us from Him. He receives us as we weep just as He received David – a warrior king – who wrote “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” Psalm 56:8 ESV

We’re born to tears and spend much of our early lives crying to get what we need. Of course, it’s a sign of maturity to reduce our use of tears to communicate, using words and actions instead.

And yet, even in adulthood, tears have their place.

Tears are God’s design. There’s scientific evidence of numerous benefits to crying – everything from releasing chemicals that dull pain to producing hormones that improve moods. Our Creator is an amazing designer.

Wise is the person who works with and not against God’s design.

Any good gift can be abused and certainly some of us are prone to focus too much on ourselves or on passing hardships and to wallow in self-pity, but there are actually several good reasons to allow ourselves a good cry this Christmas season.

Grief – Not since 9/11 has there been a Christmas in recent memory where so many of us are reeling from significant unexpected loss.

Across the nation, the death toll rises still. We’ve lost loved ones to COVID. And even those who’ve died of other reasons ended their lives in unusual circumstances. We’ve been shortchanged of presence in last moments, of traditional funerals, of gathering in grief, of faces and hands and healing rituals. We should weep with grief and weep with those who grieve. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4. Let the tears flow and trust God to receive your grief.

There was sorrow following Jesus’ birth when Herod ordered all infant males under two to be slaughtered.

Lament – The losses add up this year. Loss of dreams, ministries, businesses, sleep, strength, connection, relationships, and peace of mind. God knows what we’re made of – He understands when we wrestle with disappointment, discouragement, and fear. Stop trying to pretend it doesn’t matter, that it doesn’t hurt. It does. Let the tears flow and trust God to receive your lament.

Of course, He holds your future, but it won’t look like what you planned. He will fulfill His purpose in you but there is uncertainty about the path ahead. This is real.

Joseph and Mary’s life was disrupted in countless ways they didn’t plan – bearing God’s Son, giving birth in a stable, fleeing to Egypt.

Sorrow – The world is broken. Children suffer. Men are destroyed. Women give up hope. Countless souls live desperate lives without the hope of Christ. And we know that judgement will come.

So many have either rejected Jesus or haven’t heard of His salvation. Weep for them and sorrow before the Lord for a fallen world so in need. Ask Him to send workers into the field and pray for hearts to become fertile soil for the Word planted in them. He will receive your tears and answer them with guidance for sharing the gospel in the year to come. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Psalm 126:5

On the silent night when Christ was born, Rome oppressed the people, and many were broken with the weight of sin. But hope was born. God’s kingdom has come.

Weariness – We are so tired. Medical professionals are weary of fighting COVID. People of every skin color are weary of prejudice and hate. Teachers, business owners, and countless workers are weary of change. We are weary of working and falling short, praying and waiting for answers, loving and losing and laboring without the expected fruit.

Elijah was weary from the battle and he cried out to the Lord to let him die. Instead, God let him sleep. Your tears will spend your strength so that God can bring you rest. Let the tears fall and when you fall, fall into Him.

Rest just as surely as the Christ-child rested in Mary’s arms.

Longing. We are designed to walk with God. We are designed for a home that is not this fallen world. We are designed for an eternity to come. And it will. When we are far from home, we sometimes weep with longing for the familiar, for those we love. It is no different on this outpost of glory. We are citizens of His kingdom but we’re not home yet.

One day, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV. But until then, go ahead and cry.

Jesus arrived as was promised at the first Christmas, and He will return as He promised on the day He ascended. Of this, we can be sure.  

There are at least five good reasons to allow yourself a good cry this Christmas season. Jesus wept. God-lovers and Jesus-followers, saints of all stations have shed tears through the ages and found they aren’t a sign of weakness, but a gift from our Heavenly Father. The gift of release.

Release all that has built up inside this year into our Father’s great arms and feel His heart that still beats for us, His people, and for the world He loves. Go ahead. Conclude Advent with a good cry.

Then remember the cry of a child born in a manger that signaled our salvation had come.

And weep for joy.

What are some reasons you have wept through this Advent?

 

Five Reasons to Cry This Christmas (Maybe Six) https://t.co/6K500R9tQu #BlueChristmas #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 14, 2020

The post Five Good Reasons to Cry this Christmas (maybe six) first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Finding Success in Total Dependence – Guest Post

This post is adapted from Kathy Howard’s new devotional “Deep-Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark.”

I’ve experienced plenty of failure in my lifetime. You probably have too. We are imperfect people living in a broken world. Much of my failure has resulted from refusing to admit when I needed help, pridefully overestimating my own ability. And have you noticed? Simple defeat isn’t bad enough; failure always seems to draw a crowd. Why is that? Seriously, where are all those looky-loos when we succeed?

The ninth chapter of Mark’s Gospel records a big fail for some of Jesus’ disciples. When Jesus and His three closest disciples descended from the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13) the fallout of failure welcomed them. An eager crowd and a desperate father with a sick, demon-possessed son, looked on as the other nine frustrated disciples argued with some opportunistic scribes. The scene quickly dampened the spiritual high of the mountain-top experience.

Maybe this scene feels familiar. You returned home after a peaceful time of rest or some special time with the Lord and walked into a storm at home. Chaos chewed up calm. Discord displaced peace. This is what Jesus encountered.

The nine disciples had tried to heal the boy and failed. But, why? With the authority of Jesus, they had exorcised demons during their recent mission trip (Mark 6:13). So why did they fail now? The passage indicates not only insufficient faith, but also misplaced faith. When they were alone, Jesus blamed a lack of prayer (Mark 9:29). Prayer fosters dependence on God and His power. Lack of prayer reveals an attitude of self-sufficiency. Perhaps their past “success” had fostered pride, which caused them to battle the demon under their own power. And they lost the fight.

In contrast, the father was helpless and he knew it. Although he confessed weak faith, he humbly asked Jesus to strengthen it, to ease his doubts. The father brought everything to Jesus. He brought his sick son. He brought his hopelessness. He bought his fledgling faith. He even brought his doubts.

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22b-24, ESV

Jesus encouraged the father to embrace faith. “All things are possible for one who believes” (vs 23). “Possible” does not mean that we can dictate God’s work through our “faith.” Just because God can do something doesn’t mean He will. It does means that God is able. Our desire for an outcome, no matter how much we believe, will not override God’s plans and purposes. But, we can rest in the truth that God’s work does not depend on the size of our faith, but on His power and grace.

Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can either weaken it by independence and self-reliance or we can strengthen it through use. Let’s ask God for opportunities to build our faith. And when they come, may we exercise dependence on the One who is always able.

Have you been trying to undertake some ministry or work for God under your own strength? If so, confess your independence to God and submit to total dependence on Him.

Lord God, I confess feelings of independence and self-sufficiency. All things are possible only because You hold all power and authority. Help me depend fully on You at all times. Strengthen my faith where it is weak. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Kathy’s bio:

A former “cultural Christian,” Kathy Howard now has a passion for God’s Word that’s contagious. With more than 30 years of experience, Kathy has taught the Bible in dozens of states, internationally, and in a wide range of venues including multi-church conferences and large online events. Kathy, who has a Masters of Religious Education from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, is a devotional and Bible study author. She also writes for multiple online magazines and devotional sites. Kathy and her husband live near family in the Dallas/Ft Worth. They have three married children, six grandchildren, and two accidental dogs. Kathy provides free discipleship resources and blogs regularly at www.KathyHoward.org. Kathy’s new 40-day devotional book, Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark, is available now!

 

Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark

Foster 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, which are based on the 4 R Bible study framework, is designed to help you:

Develop a regular habit of spending quality time in God’s Word
Know Jesus more fully and intimately
Learn how to dig into Scripture on your own
Be transformed by God’s Word, not just informed
Practically live out the truths you discover in Scripture

In Deep Rooted: Growing through the Gospel of Mark, Kathy Howard’s seminary education, passion for God’s Word, and vast Bible teaching experience come together in a unique devotional experience. Finally, a daily devotional with some meat on its bones! Get your copy of “Deep Rooted!”

Finding success in total dependence – Guest Post. https://t.co/h6Y7x1OAmt #DeepRooted #amwriting #amreading

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 7, 2020

The post Finding Success in Total Dependence - Guest Post first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Now, I’m a Believer

One of the saddest things I encounter in my day job is children as young as six or seven who have given up believing.

Much of it is out of necessity. Parents who live in extreme poverty, can’t afford the pain of children who wonder why Santa missed their home. There are always toy donations, of course, but they’re usually generic. There’s no list making or wish books in these homes.

When asked what they dream of becoming one day, most of them shrug. Long ago, I stopped prodding because it was akin to poking at a fresh wound.

One 11-year-old stopped me in my tracks. “Do you have a dream for your future?” I asked.

“I’m going to study business and start my own landscaping business.”

I was impressed at the clarity of his vision. “What made you choose that plan?” I asked.

“My dad is the hardest worker in the world and if I owned a business, I’d be honored to have him as one of my workers. If I create this business, I can hire him to do what he loves, and he’ll never lose another job for the rest of his life.”

Children who lose the willingness to believe, the faith to hope in the future, the drive to imagine a better day, often come from homes where parents long ago lost hope or they’ve sold their hopes to substances or to bitterness and rage, or they wrestle with the demons of untreated mental illness.

These children are skeptics from the time they’re toddlers. More than one parent I’ve encountered instructs their children to trust no one and never to imagine help is coming. It’s their way of preparing them for the life they’ve experienced. In this thinking, they’re doing their children a kindness.

The children I see don’t care about stories, future plans, or dreams. They look at me with blank stares, pleading with me not to tempt them to hope. When hopes have been dashed enough times, it’s just easier to let it go – like a helium balloon we were only meant to enjoy for fleeting moment.

You and I have a good Father.

Our Father envisions a future that is eternal, full of worthwhile ventures, inclusive of all nations, tribes, and peoples, and free from sin and death.

He has sacrificed everything to lay hold of this future for us. And this is the season when we remember the waiting – the centuries of waiting – that came before the promised arrival of His Son.

His kingdom has come. You and I are citizens of this kingdom and we must not lose hope.

No matter how the world scoffs at our believing,

kicks sand at our dreams,

pokes fun at our stories of a Savior and of transforming love,

calls us gullible for worshiping or trusting miracles,

mocks our prayers when we suffer trials and setbacks,

or doubts our intelligence when we look to a Creator and study an ancient text,

we have a good Father who keeps His promises, even when they are slow to appear.

Just as Christ finally came after centuries of delay, so He will come again, and our eternal lives will come with Him – whole, intact, and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit.

So, we must hold on. But we don’t sit idly by as we wait. We love Jesus. We do kingdom work. We cultivate hope. We resist unbelief.

I remember one family with another 11-year-old, a chubby girl, the middle child whose father was lost to substances, living in dire poverty. Her family mocked her all the time. Called her names. Ridiculed her dreams.

Of course, I’d suggested better ways of parenting, but they resisted all attempts at change. One day, I arrived to find her crying.

She’d read them an essay she wrote at school about her hopes to one day audition for American Idol. They’d laughed at her. Told her she was too fat, too stupid, and would never amount to anything, never mind a singer.

They asked me to agree and to urge her to create a more realistic dream.

I defied them.

I looked at her (with them looking on) and said the same thing I’ll say to you now. “The people in this room trying to destroy your heart will not change. There are a lot of reasons for that. But because they won’t change, you have to become a person who can create dreams no one else can destroy.”

She looked at me with a flicker of hope left in her eyes. “They’re probably right. I probably won’t be a famous singer.”

I shrugged. “Very few people become famous singers, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use your love of music to bless the world or that music can’t be a part of your dream for your life. Do you know any singer who grew up in poverty and abuse that held onto their dreams?”

She brightened and nodded.

“You study her, and other people like her. When your family is making fun of you, in your head, tell yourself one of their stories, and remember that some people survive what you’re facing and they do it by deciding they know who they are better than anyone around them. In this world, there are believers who aim to build, to create, to contribute and disbelievers who aim to mock, to doubt, and to destroy. Which person are you?”

She smiled and said, “I’m a believer.”

The last I heard, she was in her school chorus and had a solo for the Christmas concert.

There’s nothing easy about believing – especially this year. It’s always been hard to wait for God’s promises to reach their fruition.

But in the fullness of time, they come.

Hold on, believer.

Live your story out loud. Defy the skeptics, the doubters, the soul-crushers. We have a good Father and we are no fools for investing our hope in Him.

Become a patron of the ministry of the blog.

Now I'm a Believer. Holding onto faith in a world of soul-crushing skeptics https://t.co/YDDX34bkCx #Christmas2020 #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) December 5, 2020

The post Now, I'm a Believer first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Gifts for You, my Wonderful Readers, to Brighten Your Advent Season!

To thank you, the readers who support us all year, I teamed with writer friends to assemble this virtual gift basket for you.

Each author provided a free download to enhance your Christmas season. You are welcome to explore our websites. We have plenty to offer all year long, so this can become a gift that keeps on giving.

Merry Christmas from our hearts to yours!   

Dawn Scott Damon, Jeanne Dennis, Tara Furman, Linda Goldfarb, Kathy Howard, Dr. Evelyn Johnson, Phylis Mantelli, Lori Stanley Roeleveld, PeggySue Wells, Joyce Zook

‘Tis the season for giving gifts! Especially for you, Homeless for the Holidays is a hope-filled novella about a family that loses it all and find they have everything. Click HERE to download Homeless for the Holidays.

As the author of 29 books including The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make and creator of Single Mom Circle, wishing you and yours grace and joy.

Merry Christmas!

PeggySue Wells

Author, book sherpa, dream-driver

 

As a former caregiver for a decade, I know holidays can be extremely stressful. With the added responsibility of caring for a loved one, it’s easy to dismiss the warning signs of caregiver burnout. Click Here to download Caregivers Tips for Surviving the Holiday and a Prayer for Caregivers.

Merry Christmas to you and the ones you love.

Evelyn Johnson Taylor Ph.D.

Author, speaker, coach, & professor

In the middle of the busy holiday season, it can be difficult to find money or time for a date with your mate. In 8 Holiday Dates,  you’ll find fun and inexpensive ideas to help you keep the romance in your marriage. Click Here to download 8 Holiday Dates. 

Wishing you a peaceful and loving holiday.

Joyce Zook

Life and Marriage Coach helping you Love Your Life and Your Marriage

 

Holidays can be stressful for the moms who are doing ALL THE THINGS and feeling exhausted. Click here to download the Three Prayers of Psalms.

I pray you find inspiration and hope to decompress and soak in God’s love.

Gently.

Phylis Mantelli

Memoir coach, and author of Unmothered

When Christmas is complicated or family challenges tax your heart, it can help to remember that the baby born in the manger is all grown up now.

Click here to download Don’t Treat Jesus Like a Baby – A Deeper Experience of Advent. Invite Jesus into your holiday no matter what you’re facing when it arrives!

Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Writing for those unsettled from comfortable places and moved to follow Jesus into the adventure of our times.

 

What is Christmas without music? This year, especially, we need a special touch of Christmas joy.

My newly completed Christmas album with my family features songs that bring moments of wonder, humor, gratitude, and contemplation to your Christmas season. Download your copy of A Family Christmas here.

All for God’s glory.

Jeanne Dennis

Award-winning author, singer/songwriter, veteran homeschooler, and online host of Heritage of Truth TV, and Grace Overflowing podcast

Season’s Greetings! I pray this Holiday Season you experience the FREEDOM Jesus came to give you! To help ensure you do that very thing, here is a free download from my latest book, The Freedom Challenge: 60 Days to Untie the Cords That Bind You.

Don’t be unprepared to battle the stressors that may come your way. Instead, triumph over them, stay in peace, and keep your FREEDOM!  Your Free Gift Here

Dawn Scott Damon

Your Freedom Coach, award-winning author, speaker, podcast host of Arise Esther: This is Your Moment

Lead Pastor of multi-cultural Tribes Church in Rockford, MI

Sometimes the real meaning of Christmas gets lost in the busyness of the season. This free devotional, The Ornaments of Christmas, is a great tool to help you and your family focus on Jesus this Christmas.

Download and find more free resources at KathyHoward.org.

May your focus this Christmas be on Jesus.

Kathy Howard 

Former “cultural Christian,” author, Bible teacher with a Masters in Christian Education and a contagious passion for God’s Word

When we learn to pray God’s Word, we can pray with power. Enjoy this prayer card of powerful scriptures you can integrate into your everyday prayer time. This handy tool helps you keep your mind focused and your prayers strong.

Find more resources to help you grow in your everyday walk with God @ www.tarafurman.com

Prayerfully yours. Tara Furman

President and Founder of Knowing God Ministries

Hello friends! Coach Linda Goldfarb here with Christmas cheer to pass your way. If you have young children who enjoy coloring adventure books, my coauthor, Kelly Harris, and I want to gift you this season with our free download of Lovey Mouse in the Night Before Christmas – #REAL Adventure Book and Audio narration. We pray you and the children in your life enjoy this story as much as we did writing and recording it.

The holidays can be stress-filled, so as an additional gift, download your copy of my Holiday Stress – A Matter of Choice. These doable strategies help you cope when you feel you’ve lost hope. I’d be honored to stay in touch with you throughout this season and beyond. Check out Coach Linda to see where you can find me.

May you be blessed this season.

Linda Goldfarb, Author, speaker, voice actor, podcast host

Happy Advent!

I pray these gifts will boost your spirits as we await the arrival of Christmas.

You’re all in my prayers every day.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

Mercy and grace, Lori

 

The post Gifts for You, my Wonderful Readers, to Brighten Your Advent Season! first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.

Cook Your Way Through the Bible (and 10 other ways to battle Bible fatigue)

Fatigue.

We’re encountering it on multiple levels as this pandemic drags on.

Compounding that, the Bible took a beating during the election. It’s easy to grow weary as people sword fight with God’s Word. And that weariness is the turnstile to wondering if anyone can really understand what it says.

That turnstile puts you on a fast train to doubt and Bible fatigue but one thing I know is true – we don’t have to ride every wrong train all the way to the station.

God’s Word led to me Christ from my childhood.

Growing up invisible does a number on a person’s soul. Invisible to parents focused on their own troubles. Invisible at school when my test scores caused a dilemma. From first to sixth grade, I was taught separately from the rest of my classmates. This meant hours alone, invisible, doing “independent study.”

I read so prolifically; the administration allowed me to bring my Bible. There, I met the God who sees. Within those pages, I found the pathway to friendship with God and I learned my true worth.

Yet there have been times I’ve experienced Bible fatigue, my spiritual senses dulled by grief, stress, boredom, ennui, trauma, confusion, illness, or simply habit. I’ve plowed more spiritual ruts than a favorite farm mule.

Some days I’ve shaken my Bible trying to liberate comfort or new insight – like someone banging a stubborn vending machine or pounding on the slots. Not exactly the image of a devoted disciple – but this is truth.

Through the years, God, has taught me that what He and I have is a real relationship. The tides come in, the tides recede. There is a season for new growth, a season for sharing, a season for comfort, and a season when truth may lie dormant beneath the frozen soil, but spring always returns. And there are things we can do to reignite our excitement about God’s Word.

Are you suffering from Bible fatigue? Are your readings stale? Do you wonder why others panning in the same river walk away with nuggets of gold while you stare at pyrite? Has weariness caused you to set God’s Word aside with a sense that somehow, you’re not special enough to meet Him in those pages?

Escape the lies. Abandon the train at this stop. God adores you.

He’s given you everything you need for life and godliness. You are human and humans grow weary, dull, and rut-worn at times, that’s all. God doesn’t reject your humanity. He loves you. He designed you.

Pray always. Ask God for renewal, direction, and revival. Confess any sin and seek the power to change. But also, try one or more of these 10 ideas for battling Bible fatigue:

Read a different translation. Ask your pastor or mature Christian friend to recommend a different reliable translation than you’re accustomed to reading. Or, try a paraphrase – not for intense study, but just to refresh your thinking on certain passages.
Read aloud. When we read aloud, we engage different parts of our brain and can hear familiar passages in new ways. Here are two articles about the benefits of reading aloud. Little Known Truths about Reading Aloud , Reading Aloud Boosts Memory


Listen to the Bible. In the same fashion, having an audio version of the Bible can stimulate new perspective, fresh thinking – plus, you can listen as you walk in the park, woods, or treadmill. 8 Mental and Physical Benefits of Audiobooks 
Read God’s Word with a child or with an unsaved friend. Tell your unsaved neighbor you need some support in your faith and ask if they would read the Bible with you once or twice and share their perspective. Or schedule to read aloud with a child/teen in your world and ask them their thoughts on the passages. This can help you see it in new ways and expand your relationship.
Read thematically – choose a word like righteousness or thanksgiving, even a word like bread, water, or plow, and use a concordance to direct you to all the passages on that word/theme. You may even find that matching your current mental state may help you feel more at home in Scripture again so search for all the passages on sorrow/lament/grief, or weariness, anger, fear, doubt. If you feel bored and trapped, read the books that Paul wrote from prison, the story of Joseph, Jonah, or Esther. If you feel persecuted and set aside, there are plenty of options there, too!
Live the Bible. Choose one verse each day and see how many ways you can live or express the truth of that verse through the day. Keep a journal about your experience.
Read or study with others. Invite others to read or study a book of the Bible with you. Zoom is a wonderful way to stay connected through COVID, but you can just do the same study and chat over the phone, too.
Interact with a passage of Scripture through your favorite art – read it and then respond by writing a poem, composing a piece of music, carving designs into a walking stick, creating a quilt square, or choreographing a dance. To enhance this, listen to great music, look at great art, or read great literature inspired by Scripture to reignite your own Christ-focused imagination. 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music, and Film.
Cook your way through God’s Word. Read all the passages on food and create meals inspired by the foods mentioned in scripture (I see a lot of olives and figs in your future.) Eating the Bible: Over 50 Delicious Recipes to Feed Your Body and Nourish Your Soul
Map the Bible. Pull out your atlas, your globe, or Google maps and begin to research the locations in the Bible. Learn all you can about the culture, climate, and politics of each area. What are their modern-day counterparts? Look at scripture from a geographical perspective. Location, location, location.
Read an entire book in as few sittings as possible. Choose a gospel or maybe Esther or Nehemiah and read it all in great gulps rather than small daily sips. Read all the passages about one Bible person such as Peter or Noah, Sarah or Mary. Reading the Bible in great swaths can be a marvelously eye-opening experience.

What do you do to battle Bible fatigue? Please share your ideas below.

Cook your way through the Bible and 10 other ways to battle Bible fatigue https://t.co/v5irD8vXvC #fatigue #Bible #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) November 24, 2020

Become a Patron!

The post Cook Your Way Through the Bible (and 10 other ways to battle Bible fatigue) first appeared on Lori Stanley Roeleveld . . . Disturber of Hobbits.