With all that's gone on in our world the last few weeks, it seems like everyone is getting crazier and crazier. Or maybe we just have more news and the word travels faster? I don't know. But in this 24/7 news culture, it seems that the loudest voices aren't the ones speaking hope. I just thought with all our sharing and retweeting, as Christians, as the supposed majority, we should do our part in sharing a little more hope. "'Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.' At this they exclaimed, 'Now we know that you are demon possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?'" (John 8) Important to note:
Tasting Hope The taste of sweat in your mouth on a long run. Unmistakeable. And kind of gross. The taste of salty ocean when an unexpected wave crashes into you, buoying you into the reality of its power and your smallness. The sweet taste of wedding cake being crammed into your mouth by your beloved. Hey, that's all that most of us get! We all understand it - it's one of the five senses we learned about in grade school. But the other day while reading The Story the phrase "will never taste death" stood out to me. I hope it's a reminder to you if you're a believer in Christ of the hope that you have. The hope we are commanded to share. Let's spread the taste of hope, because of the infinite mercy and wonderful mystery of the One who tasted death on our behalf. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. He is greater than Abraham. Jesus is Messiah. There is hope.
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"We never know where God has hidden streams. We see a large stone and have no idea that it covers the source of a spring. We see a rocky area and never imagine that it is hiding a fountain. God leads me into hard and difficult places, and it is there I realize I am where eternal streams abide." -Streams in the Desert What comes to mind when you think of a well? Here are a few of my random journal scribbles. They provide water. They bring life. Even in drought. Sometimes you have to dig deep to get to that water. They bring water from the ground of all places. What was unseen is revealed. You need a bucket or something to bring the water up. Water is there, but you have do expend effort to bring it to the surface. If the well is good, the water lasts for years and years. You get to use well water even when city water is regulated. People "go to the wishing well." I think of Jesus and the woman at the well, or Jacob meeting Rachel for the first time. I think of him rolling away the stone that covered the well, Rachel watching in awe of his strength, of him giving her a kiss! I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I'm the one who thinks of blog posts when I lay my head down on the pillow. After the fog of post-vacation laundry, grocery shopping, and making 7-layer-dip and calling it "supper" has passed. And I can't sleep until I get up and get it out. I wish for ways to encourage you - wherever you're at. Job hunting, nursing a new baby, praying for a baby, aching for Mr. Right, caring for sick family members ... underneath the stack of bills, awaiting test results, or heavy with a sense of dread - I pray you can find encouragement in this verse. FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK; for it is YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE to GIVE you the KINGDOM. Luke 12:32 You've been handed the keys to something special. God is not worried that you're going to wreck it. He hasn't installed GPS to watch your every turn, or judge your every maneuver. He already knows the future. He's not surprised when you don't quite have enough strength on your own. In the midst of Jesus' command to not worry about clothes or food, but to "Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you" (Luke 12:31), He gives this assurance. He is a GOOD FATHER. He shepherds His FLOCK of children. And it's His GOOD PLEASURE to give his Kingdom ...The Greek word used for good pleasure is eudokeō: "It seems good to one, is one's good pleasure; to think it good, choose, determine, decide; to do willingly; to be ready to, to prefer to, choose rather; to be well pleased with, take pleasure in, to be favorably inclined towards one." Not only did Jesus leave His heavenly Kingdom to pay the price for sinners on the cross, He gives the Kingdom itself. No one is twisting His arm. Our attempts at good works do not indebt Him. He does it willingly. Because He wants to. Because it makes Him happy. During our recent trip to California, we went to The Getty Center, one of my favorite parts being the Robert Irwin Central Garden. While we strolled around snapping pictures and admiring the pattern of succulents and the bright flowers, I realized we're all, in some way, always trying to get back to the original Garden. Across history and cultures, we've built and admired gardens. Why are we so drawn to them? I think to be reunited with our Maker. He likes to be good to you. He is not acting out of character when He does good things to you. He is not always angry looking for a reason to punish. In some way, echoes of the Garden remind us of He is heart toward us. He is good. He wants to be with us. That He has paid the price for fellowship with Him. Will we accept His gift? Daily press in. Daily seek His Kingdom first. Fear not. Here's a message from John Piper on Luke 12:32. It's worth a listen. Love, Kennan I count being a media minister's wife as one of my biggest blessings. For starters, I get to see some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into church media life that many don't even know about. The creative process is both energizing and tiring. There are failed attempts at new strategies to bring change, as well as big dreams that come to life and point people to the Lord in meaningful, powerful ways. Sometimes I'm one of the first people to see a testimony video and weep as it moves my heart and brings me to tears. Other times I get texted a photo of the new stage design or the mock-up for an upcoming publication. All the while, I'm proud of the man who put his heart and talent into making it appear effortless. The best church media is media that doesn't draw attention to itself. I'm also the one of the first to share my husband. Sunday mornings in a groggy haze I whisper, "I love you, too" as he kisses me goodbye around 5:30 a.m. I get up a couple hours later, make biscuits for two, and take him a few when I get to service - somehow always a few minutes late - my new "on time" as a mom. Thursday nights I keep the oven on warm with the remnants of dinner awaiting his late-night return after band rehearsal. And beyond the "normal" church events, there's also weddings, birthday parties, funerals, youth discipleship weekends... And sometimes, on weekends like this one, there are women's retreats. I missed last year's feeling too pregnant to be in a car that long. And for the first time, I'm by myself overnight with our 10-month-old son. Being a media minister's wife is a challenge, and it's a gift. I also believe it's a calling. Sometimes I have to say "no" to things. Other times, I get to say "yes," and learn the joy of little bursts of spontaneity. Like taking Jaxson to a small weeknight concert because Marcus is working. Or meeting him for lunch on a random day at a steakhouse (we never go to steakhouses!) because we're still carefully spending a gift card he got as a "thank you" from one of his weddings. So here's to my best friend who's kicking it with over a hundred Grand Parkway ladies in the Piney Woods tonight. I'm proud of you. I'm so glad to get to do life with you. We're cheering for you. I'm pushed to greater dependence on the Lord on these solo nights - as my strength isn't strong enough. My good attitude quickly runs out when there's pee in the tub, crumbs on the kitchen floor, and chewed up toilet paper rolls in the bathroom. He is sufficient. His joy isn't circumstantial. PRAISE. Married ladies, in whatever ways you support your man, whatever his profession may be, remember that what you are doing on the homefront is irreplaceable and valuable and important. Single ladies, whether you're raising littles on your own or living alone, press in to the Lord's friendship. Take your burdens to Him. Eleanor Roosevelt said that "Women are like teabags, we don't know our true strength until we're in hot water." So with that, I'll fill a glass with sweet tea, flip the baby monitor on, and run a hot bubble bath. I know Saturday night's coming and my Piney Woods camper will be home soon. I have loved you, but you ask "How have You loved us?" (Malachi 1:2), as the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. The Father loves Me and has given all things into my hand (John 3:35). The Father and I are one (John 10:30).
I invite you to abide {accept or act in accordance with; continue without fading or being lost} in my love (John 15:9). If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love (John 15:10). You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I chose you so that you should go and bear fruit, fruit that should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father for in My name, He will give it to you (John 15:16). And if the Father did not spare Me, but gave Me up for you all, how will He not also with Me graciously give you all things? (Romans 8:32) I have not forgotten you. Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). I will not forget you for my great name's sake, because it pleased me to make you mine (1 Samuel 12:22). I will not abandon you (Psalm 16:10). I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you - this is why I ask you to make sure your character is free from the love of money, and that you are content with what you have - ME (Hebrews 13:5). I loved you first (1 John 4:19). I want to make my dwelling {place of residence} with you, and walk among you (Leviticus 26:11-12). Nothing can separate you from My love - not death, not rulers, not the past, not the future - nothing (Romans 8:38-39). This is my commandment, that you love others as I have loved you. (John 15:12) Because if anyone has the world's goods and sees someone in need, yet closes their heart toward them, how does God's love abide in him? (1 John 3:17) By this you will know that you abide in Me, and Me in you, because I have given you my Spirit (1 John 4:13). I am waiting for you. I long {yearning desire} to be gracious to you and to show you compassion (Isaiah 30:18). When I ate my last supper on earth, I said, "I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine {wine} until that day when I drink it new with you in the Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy {meet the expectations, needs, and desires; to fulfill}? Listen to me, eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food (Isaiah 55:2). I am the Bread of Life, whoever comes to me will not hunger, and whoever believes in me will not thirst (John 6:35). The bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh (John 6:51). The cross was me saying, this is my body, broken for you (I Corinthians 11:24). So if you are thirsty, come to Me and drink (John 7:37). My steadfast {firm, unwavering} love endures {suffers patiently, remains} forever (Psalm 89:28). Marcus and I enjoyed free breakfast at Chick-fil-A this morning. Thank you, Christian chicken! We've created a standing breakfast date once a week that usually lends itself to nerdy talks about how the Church, capital C, can better engage the world, ways we can help make the never-changing Truth of the Bible real for our ever-changing peers.
Phil Cooke said, "Hollywood is great at making fake things look real. Christians are great at making real things look fake." (He and I also share a birthday, so I feel an odd connection. Go August 31st-ers). It's been weeks since I blogged, but I felt it rising up in me as I drove home. So here's the best way I can put into words the burden of my heart. 1. The Church needs millennials to help with social media. If social media is where 18- to 34-year-olds spend an average of 3.8 hours a day, and 35- to 49-year-olds spend 3 hours a day, and 50- to 64-year-olds spend 2.4 hours a day (source) then the Church has the responsibility to engage that venue in meaningful ways. Millennials grew up with social media. It comes naturally to us. If our local church does not have a meaningful presence on these platforms, I believe it's our responsibility to serve the Bride by making it so. I'm afraid we've lazily left this up to "the people in charge" instead of offering our expertise to help. As a whole, I believe the Church is very particular about resources, budgeting items and purchases to manage God's money well. But when it comes to managing free platforms like social media, we are lacking. Posts that are three months old, contain grammatical errors, or have long hyperlinks with zero explanation as to why we should click them is not good stewardship of those platforms. 2. The Church needs millennials to help with digital communications. Millennials need to help the Church approach emails with the same intentionality and purpose as it would approach paying for a stamp to physically send a letter in the mail. Open rates for emails are typically below 23% making it one of least effective ways to communicate. We can learn a thing or two from marketers when it comes to communicating via email. If emails contain spelling and capitalization errors, lots of text with no photos, and broken links what we are communicating is a lack of care. If the email doesn't have a punchy subject line, clear purpose, or call to action - the lack of intentionality that would come with a stamp-paid-for letter - receivers can sense that. People receive on average 50 emails per day. Bottom line, we must help our churches communicate their message effectively and efficiently when it comes to email. 3. The Church needs millennials to help communicate to the world in relevant ways. Millennials can help "translate" the Church's heart. Marcus reminded me of a quote we heard on a PBS documentary about Henry Ford. Ford said, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Sometimes churches don't actually need what they want or want what they need. Sometimes the answers isn't a faster horse that runs on hay and water. It's a car that runs on gasoline. If millennials grew up with the internet and went from cassettes with Walkmans to iPhones with thousands of songs streamed on Pandora, think of the changes Generation Z/post-millennials will experience in their lifetime. The modes of communicating the Gospel to the next generation can't be recordings on cassette tapes. They don't carry Walkmans anymore. 4. Millennials need the Church to remind them to put their phones away. A survey found that 93% of millennials use their phones in bed, 80% in the restroom, and 43% while at a red light. Besides being just plain gross or dangerous - I'm guilty of all three of those. Because the Church knew how to connect believers long before these modern tools, millennials need to be around those who know these basics. We need the Church to remind us to be present, to engage with those right next to us, to experience the world without our screens. 5. Millennials need the Church for face-to-face relationships. Where the Church lacks in social media skills, most millennials lack in people skills. Millennials need the Church for wisdom from real-life people who've been there, who've raised kids, been through job loss, helped aging parents, and been married longer than we have. You just can't get that type of relationship, that depth, over the internet. 6. Millennials need the Church to hear Truth. Millennials need to be reminded to keep the Gospel the Gospel. Too many other causes or personal opinions take our center stage. We're quick to talk about our stance on topics like organic produce, vaccinations, social justice, and politics - and we're slow to talk about what the Bible actually says: Jesus is the only way to God. The Truth is that our causes, though many are good things and are helping people, are not the Gospel. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15 For more on the topic, check out "5 Reasons Millennials Stay Connected to Church" by The Barna Group. In 2011, Marta Castillo was awakened in the middle of the night by her then 8-year-old son Joshua. He was suffering from nightmares that his mom was burning in fire. She wondered what it meant. “I didn’t know what to do,” says Marta. She prayed. After talking with his school counselor, Marta asked Joshua about his dreams. He replied, “What if you die? Who do I go with?” Read the rest of the story here. Trust in Him with all your heart... Sometimes we act like the matters of the heart are not in our control. We say things, like follow your heart and the heart wants what it wants... But the command to trust Him using all my heart points to the truth. I am in control of who and what my heart trusts. Maybe that’s why David so often talked to his heart, telling his soul to remember the Lord, to remember His provision of the past, to remind himself of God’s promises. It seems to lend itself to say, I might be trusting Him with only part of my heart. But God wants it all. No emergency brakes. No backup plan. No self-preservation. All of my heart. All of it. That means the not so pretty parts, too. In my moments of anger. Trust Him. In my frazzled, power-through-it, work hard and you’ll win state. Trust Him. When I feel like all is well, but I analyze possible future circumstances to no end. Trust Him. When I feel inadequate to the tasks I’ve been given. Trust Him. If life feels boring and monotonous in the repetition of dishes, laundry, meals, diapers, nursing, dishes, laundry, meals, diapers, nursing... Trust Him. In anger. I choose to let go of my rights. He will both judge and redeem. Trust Him. In stress. I choose to accept I’m responsible for only what I can do. He will make all things work together for my good. Trust Him. In my thoughts. I choose to enjoy the present. It’s the only place I am. Trust Him. In my humanness. I choose to accept opportunities for growth knowing He will equip me for whatever He calls me to. Trust Him. In my day to day. I choose to accept my calling and use the gifts He has given to serve my family well. To Him this is no small thing. Trust Him. Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. "In exercising faith — trusting fully in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding — we’re not setting aside our intellect. We’re resting our intellect upon the intellect of God. Nothing is wiser or saner. To do so is to allow Him to direct our paths, which not only lead to ultimate joy, but also make the journey itself, even when laden with sorrow, joyful (2 Corinthians 6:10). And it preserves for us all the pleasures God provides us in the world. To not do this is the height of foolishness and the path to misery. So let us choose joy today by not leaning on our own understanding but in sweet, childlike trust on the sure foundation of our loving Creator’s omniscience." -Jon Bloom Red cups didn't make this Christian frustrated. But the way the baristas were being treated did. This morning I was in line at Starbucks. The Saturday morning rush was in full swing. The drive-thru was packed, so I parked and went inside. With only one woman in line in front of me, I thought I chose well. But she had an issue with her order that required two, sometimes three, employees' attention. Great. A royal toot. Trying to pay with her phone app. Needing a refund. Trying to reload her card. There was a lot going on. By now, our line had grown to five or six waiting customers. When it was all said and done another barista came to our rescue and started taking orders at another register. When I was leaving, the woman was leaving at the same time. As we walked towards the row of parked cars I saw one next to mine with Christian bumper stickers and one for a local church. "Oh no. That's going to be her car." Sure enough. The royal toot was labelled "Christian." Maybe if I was older, wiser, and cared a little less what people thought of me I might have said, "Hey, I see you have a sticker for such-and-such church. Are you a Christian?" And then maybe told her as a sister I thought she'd been a toot back there. As I drove away I realized in my spirit I'd been a little toot-ish in response, too. Thinking things like, "Ugh. It's starting to rain." "This is taking for-ever." "Does the world revolve around you, lady?" as I chose to be super sweet to the barista taking my order and a little "holier than thou" towards my fellow customer. 2 Timothy 3 gives us a good look at the characteristics of the fakers, the mimickers, and those with a knowledge of the truth. Paul warns Timothy that there will be those who are lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. These lovers will have the appearance of godliness (vs. 5) but are actually disqualified regarding the faith. The fruits of these false lovers are: Proud feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated Arrogant having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities Abusive extremely offensive and insulting Disobedient to Parents refusing to obey rules or someone in authority Ungrateful not feeling or showing gratitude Unholy sinful, wicked Heartless displaying a complete lack of feeling or consideration Unappeasable not able to be pacified, placated (to make someone less angry or hostile), or satisfied Slanderous (of a spoken statement) false and malicious Without Self-Control the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations Brutal savagely violent, direct and lacking any attempt to disguise unpleasantness Not Loving Good feeling or showing love or great care Treacherous guilty of or involving betrayal or deception Reckless (of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequence of an action Swollen with Conceit excessive pride in oneself In verse 8 he compares these people to Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses. These two were believed to be the court magicians in Egypt mentioned in Exodus 7. God told Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh would have a hard heart and wouldn't listen to their message. But that this was so "I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD..." So 80-year-old Moses and 83-year-old Aaron went to Pharaoh. Pharaoh basically said prove you're from God and asked for a miracle. So Aaron threw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and his men, and it turned into a serpent. So Pharaoh called in his guys. The magicians, Jannes and Jambres, who were able to do that same trick (Exodus 7:11) "by their secret arts." Mimickers. Those who Paul warns Timothy are "always learning and never able to arrive at the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7) that would be able to make them (Tim. 3:15) "wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. The story of Moses and Aaron takes a turn in Exodus 7:12 "For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said." Only the love of God can swallow up the love of self, money, and pleasure. Sometimes my affections get wonky. I get prideful, ungrateful. So I press in further. Knowing that the Scriptures are profitable for teaching me, for correcting me, for training me. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. Those who oppose the truth are "corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith." But we don't have to worry about it. Timothy was told in verse 5 to "avoid such people," to expect persecution, and in verse 14 to "continue in what you have learned and firmly believed."
Just like vs. 9 says, "But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men." It's our first Christmas as a family of three, and while Marcus and I have had five Christmas seasons as a married couple, there's just something new and exciting about experiencing it the first time with Jaxson. We bought him a couple small gifts this year, knowing #1 he doesn't have a clue what's going on, and #2 we're sure family will more than take care of spoiling him! But the other day I found myself so tempted to run to the closet and open the gifts we got so that he could play with them. I just wanted to see his reaction! He doesn't even know what he is missing. He's not really missing anything. His needs are met. But that's the good we as parents wish upon our kiddos. I'll exercise some self-control, patiently waiting for the right timing. Waiting for Christmas morning. As I lay in bed that night I thought of God. He has that heart towards you. God has gifts that He has picked out just for you. He knows your needs are met, but He wants to give you more to enjoy. To point to His goodness. An expression of His love. He is ready to go to His storehouse and give you the gift He has just so He can see your face. You don't even know what you're missing. You're not really missing anything. Your needs are met. But that's the good He, as your heavenly Daddy, wishes on you, His kiddo. He is patiently waiting for the right timing. Friends, the Great Keeper of the gifts is not the Withholder of them. His heart all along has been for your redemption. Your Christmas morning is coming. "This is a comprehensive promise, and is such an assurance of the present comfort of the saints that, whatever they desire, and think they need, they may be sure that either Infinite Wisdom sees it is not good for them or Infinite Goodness will give it to them in due time. Let it be our care to walk uprightly, and then let us trust God to give us every thing that is good for us." -Matthew Henry “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?" Luke 11:10-13, The Message Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory... Ephesians 3:20-21, English Standard Version For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11-12, English Standard Version I’ll give you my full attention: I’ll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You’ll still be eating from last year’s harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops. “I’ll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won’t avoid or shun you; I’ll stroll through your streets. I’ll be your God; you’ll be my people. I am God, your personal God who rescued you from Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I ripped off the harness of your slavery so that you can move about freely. Leviticus 26:9-13, The Message |
PodcastListen to devotionals shared at FBCSA MOPS on Kennan's Podbean Podcast channel here.
Marken Media Co.Marcus & Kennan own Marken Media Co. serving the multimedia needs of small businesses. Known by the #devinecolorwall, we strive to foster a space for the community to CREATE • COLLABORATE • CELEBRATE.
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KennanI'm a lover of words. Sometimes I edit, cook, craft, or sing. I'm also a wife and mom. Categories
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