In the beginning, the earth was formless and void, but that did not deter the Almighty. He looked into the fathomless depth of its darkness and concluded, “All it needs is light!” Likewise, in the beginning of our spiritual lives, we also are “formless and void” and God, just as confidently, is still saying, “All they need is a little light!” Remember: it’s the Lord’s responsibility to create and our responsibility to submit to His creating. The Lord only needs three things to fashion life. First, He needs a “nothing.” The Almighty always begins His great, creative works with a “nothing” (this is very important because this is where we come in.) Then, His Spirit needs to be hovering over the “nothing.” And, finally, He needs His Word, which is the “something” He’s going to put in the “nothing’s” place. God has no difficulty at all creating something out of nothing. The only obstacle He faces is when the nothing doesn’t know it is nothing but instead thinks it’s something. At that point God has to break it back down to nothing before it is good for anything. (Are you still following me?) Paul said this better than I when he wrote, “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3). Even as Christians, if we think we are “something” so that we look down on others or we are wise in our own eyes, we deceive ourselves! The only something there truly is, is God. If we know we are nothing without God, and we can simultaneously recognize that the grace He has worked in us is so we can bless others. If we have such an attitude, then there is no limit to how much God can use us. Our knowing we are nothing is a great attainment in His eyes. For then our energies are no longer spent exalting or defending ourselves but in clinging to Christ and relying upon Him. You see, God is not offended by chaos. There will be times when, like the pre-creation universe, you discover your life seems “formless and void.” Do not be over-concerned. When you discover there is “chaos” in the deepest part of you, do not fret. You are at a new beginning. It has taken the Lord quite a while helping your to appreciate your “nothingness.” So, let all who know they are nothings rejoice: you are miles ahead of everyone who thinks they are something! The proud, who consider themselves something special, do not deal with the lightless regions of chaos in their souls; they simply hide them. But if we are transparent with our need, the Spirit and Word can work in us to bring life and order. All we need do is to open up and confess our nothingness to the Holy Spirit. “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). This is the very way our great Creator creates. He causes light to shine out of darkness! The only thing He requires of us is to be honest about the darkness—to confess it instead of hiding it. “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them . . . But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light” (Eph. 5:11,13). When darkness is exposed to the light, it becomes light. In fact, the very reason our darkness becomes visible is because God shines His light on it. If you persevere—if you continually thrust your darkness into the light of God’s grace and power—that light will ultimately shine out from within you. Your darkness will actually become light. Beloved, if you know you are nothing in yourself, you’re a prime candidate to become something in God! Consider again Paul’s view of himself: “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil. 3:4-7). To become nothing in ourselves, to be excavated of pride and of being consumed by our attainments and pedigree, is part of the path to sonship. Paul actually saw all his human, religious attainments as obstacles. Certainly, in time the Lord used all of the elements of Paul’s life, but not before Paul gave them up to the Lord. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). You see, though self-confidence dies, God-confidence comes to life! So, do not fret. You can admit that you have areas within that are dead and dark. Romans 4:17 says, “God . . . gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” God gives LIFE to the dead. Do you sometimes feel dead? Good. You’re qualified to get God’s life! Look to God. Trust Him as your Creator. Do not fear when you discover you are nothing. There is a time when becoming nothing is an improvement. www.desiringgod.org .  Original article  HERE.

Christianity is a faith of relationships. This means that we were created to be with one another. From the beginning of creation when God saw that the first man, Adam, was alone he said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Then God created a woman, and the two began a family, and that family expanded and eventually became a group of societies. Church is a group in society that is purposed to teach and encourage believers and allow them to experience their relationship with God corporately. Christians who are not part of a group of believers (church) are not experiencing all that the Christian life has to offer. Every Christian needs encouragement and training. Church is where we go to acquire these important benefits. It is also where we gather to take part in sacraments that are designed to turn our affections toward Jesus in remembrance of all he has done for us. This study will look at the three basic functions of a body of believers: Teaching the Bible Worshipping God Encouraging one another These basic functions of a local body of believers help the Christian grow in his or her faith into spiritual maturity. Without church the Christian cannot experience all that God has for him or her. Let this study encourage you to get involved with other Christians and together, to grow in your faith. What Is Church? Church is where a group of believers in Jesus meet together for Bible teaching. “And a they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:42,46). Since the foundation of Christianity, groups of Christians have met together weekly to learn the principles taught in the Bible. Knowing the Bible is an important part of the Christian experience. Learning together under the leadership of a pastor increases our knowledge of God. Have you been reading the Bible on your own? Do you meet regularly with other believers to study the Bible? Would you like to start? Church is where a group of believers in Jesus partake in the sacraments of Jesus—this is part of our worship of God. “And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:14-20). “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (I Corinthians 11:23-26). The Christian sacraments include Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Obeying these practices is part of our obedience and worship of Jesus. Because Jesus commanded them, we do them. Have you been baptized? Do you take part in the Lord’s Supper? Talk with your local pastor or church leader about taking part in these rites. Church is where believers in Jesus meet for encouragement in their walk with God. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25). Christianity was never meant to be a faith that people practice alone. Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus. So too, Christians must be in active relationship with other Christians to encourage one another in our following of Jesus. Do you need encouragement in your faith? You can find that encouragement with a group of other believers! Are you part of a group of believers now? Why Go To Church? The Bible commands us to be part of a local group of fellow believers. In the Old Testament God commanded Israel to gather at certain times for worship in Jerusalem. After many centuries the Jews practiced weekly gatherings in local houses of worship called synagogues. Christians continue this practice by meeting weekly in church gatherings. The Bible commands us to take regular part in this practice. How often do you meet with other believers in church? Are you prepared to make a commitment to participate in church? Christians must be involved in the corporate worship of God. Throughout the history of the Bible God’s people have gathered together for corporate worship. This happens through reading the scripture, singing songs of worship to God, and observing certain rites that remind us of God’s commitment to his people. Taking part in church is an expression of worship to God. How do you express your worship to Jesus? Is corporate worship missing in your life? Believers in Jesus are all part of the body of Christ and thus we should function together—this encourages believers. “I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:3-8). “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit…that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (I Corinthians 12:12-14,25-27) No Christian is to live as an island to himself. We are meant to live and worship together in unity. Read the passages above. You will recognize that all Christians have a role to play in our corporate church life. Read the passages above. What role motivates you? What role would you be interested in playing with a group of fellow believers? How can you serve the needs of others? What Do I Do At Church? We take part in regular Bible study to build up our knowledge of Go d. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). Paul encouraged Timothy to teach the Bible in his church. From this we see that God intends for us to meet together and sit under the teaching of the Bible. The more we learn, the better we come to know God. How much do you want to know God? How can attending church help you learn more about Jesus? We spend time corporately worshipping God. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (Psalm 95:6) “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5). The book of Psalms was written for both private and corporate worship. Worship is both a private and a shared experience. It encourages us when we can meet with like-minded people to worship our Savior. Singing songs of praise and reading scriptures that extol the Lord brings honor to God. And only he is worthy of such affection and worship. What kind of commitment are you prepared to make to your local group of believers? Will you join them for regular, weekly worship of Jesus? We encourage one another in our common faith. “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). Church isn’t just about worshipping God. Church is also about encouraging fellow Christians in their spiritual service. Everyone needs like-minded people to encourage them. You can encourage others in their relationship with Christ—and you can receive the same encouragement from others! Make a commitment today to take part in regular, weekly church gatherings. guywithabible.com

This is God’s universe and God does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe. God commands us to be courageous because we are filled with His mighty Holy Spirit’s power.   Notes used by permission of LifeChurch.tv/open .

Jesus was more than a mere prophet – he was the sinless Son of God, the human-divine sacrifice for our sins. But he is a prophet nonetheless, and the greatest prophet the world has ever known. We like to think of Jesus in any kind of role except that of preacher and prophet, but preaching was a primary component of his earthly ministry. He was a truth-teller and herald of the good news and eternal truth of God. Mark, who was first to write an inspired biography of Jesus, jumps right into Jesus’ adult years and gives us a summary introduction to Jesus’ ministry with these words… Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Mark 1:14-15 NLT Jesus’ ministry was, of course, more than just words, but he started his ministry with words, uttered vital words from the cross, and gave even more words of empowerment after his resurrection. Preaching the good news mattered a great deal to Jesus, and preaching the good news is still the primary ministry of the church two thousand years later. Preaching , as a communication method, may sound outdated and unpopular, but that’s only because of the traditional baggage we attach to it. The fact is, human beings are still deeply moved and motivated by the art of spoken word, even in our visually-stimulating media-rich culture. From campaign stump speeches to TED talks, we listen to words conveyed through human personality. THAT Jesus preached matters greatly to how we serve truth to the world today, but WHAT he preached matters even more. And this is where I believe we misunderstand him most. Jesus didn’t just preach “good news” TO people. His message wasn’t motivational fluff. It wasn’t self-help gibberish or mystical, pithy sayings. It was good news, but there was a call to action. Specifically, there was a call to repentance based on the good news. Jesus expected his listeners to consider changing their minds about God, about sin, about themselves, and about their way of life. He called them to a radical commitment to believe and trust in him. When we simply preach good things without any call to repentance, we make the good news seem a little too good. Don’t change.  Just stay where you are and God will overlook the deep brokenness within you. On the other hand… Jesus didn’t just preach “repentance” AT people. My big problem with most street corner preachers is that they claim to speak a bold message of repentance – turn or burn, get right or get ready to hell – but what they really do is skip the good news or skim over it at best and head right for the call to action. When we skip the good news and start our presentations of the gospel with “You’re a sinner… own it… admit it… repent of it… or else…” then we make the good news seem… not very good. In fact, the gospel is the best news anyone could ever hear, and we should present it so. What, then, was Jesus’ message? Jesus preached the best news the world has ever heard with an invitation FOR people to turn from sin, trust him, and have their lives changed forever! Jesus  started  with the wonderful news that the deliverance broken humanity had been waiting for so long had finally arrived. And more specifically, the messiah for whom Israel had been waiting so long was finally being presented. Sin and the grave would soon be defeated. The King of all kings would be coronated over a Kingdom into which all who would believe in and follow him would be included. The gospel is really, really good news for broken sinners. Luke is a little more specific about one of Jesus’ earliest messages. One day in the synagogue, Jesus announced the purpose of his ministry by quoting Isaiah… “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 NLT Do you hear that? Because of Jesus, you can be  rescued from poverty ,  released from slavery ,  restored in your sight and your soul , and  redeemed from all oppression ! Addictions can be broken. Diseases lose their power. Demons have to flee. Cruelty and tyranny won’t last. The gospel is good news! One of the reasons we doubt the power of the gospel is because we fail to understand that God’s Kingdom is both now, and not yet. Deliverance is both gradual and eventual. Victory is sure, but it is only enjoyed partially, until the King returns to be worshipped by all. And  as  Jesus preached the good news of the ultimate deliverance from sin’s curse, he also called his hearers to respond. His calling to repentance and faith is both a command and an invitation. It is the required response of sinners to the gospel, and it is the offer of a good Savior to the broken. Biblical preaching is both a presentation of the good news of Jesus and a challenge to embrace it with the whole heart and mind. Both are necessary in our faithfulness to the great commission of Jesus to his church. If all you can do is yell at people about their sin, don’t call it gospel preaching. And if all you have the courage to do is speak the positive things of Christianity without any call to repentance and faith, don’t call it gospel preaching. I’m a big believer in being creative, in striving to communicate well, and in adapting our presentation methods to each new generation. And I think the content of Scripture ought to be presented in a way that connects with the brokenness and deep-seated needs of its audience. But at the end of the day, here is the non-negotiable core of all good preaching – preach the good news of Jesus, and invite people to embrace him by repenting of their sins and believing in him alone. www.brandoncox.com .  Originally titled  Jesus, the Prophet, Came Preaching.

Why is church attendance declining? Why are churches failing? Carey Nieuwhof reveals the hearts of many Christians today. He writes:  SPIRITUALITY HAS BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT First, spirituality is increasingly seen an individual pursuit, not a community activity. Honestly, I get it. In a world that has gotten noiser, louder and angrier, there’s a part of me that wants to retreat into myself more every day. Add to that the brokenness of true human community and unhealthy (or toxic) cultures, and it’s so much easier to say “I’m just going to figure this out on my own.” Which many people are trying to do. I feel the pull too. But I have to remind myself that for the most part, my desire to skip, pull away and do my own thing on my schedule isn’t solitude, it’s  isolation . And while solitude is a gift from God, isolation is a tool of the enemy. And there’s no faster way to render a community ineffective than to isolate its members. ATTENDANCE MAY BE A NEW SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE Second, because of how withdrawn and individualistic we’re all becoming, I wonder if—in an age in which people are devoted mostly to themselves—the mere act of attending church is becoming a spiritual discipline. Devoting yourselves publicly to God and to a wider community is a countercultural act. DECREASED ATTENDANCE OFTEN EQUALS DECREASED DEVOTION Finally, there’s a paradox developing that I don’t hear many people talking about publicly, and that’s spiritual growth. In my observation, rarely does decreased church attendance produce increased devotion. Sure, there are popular bloggers, authors and podcasters who might claim it does, but get out onto the streets and have a conversation with many people who used to go to church that don’t anymore, and you’ll meet a lot of people whose faith hasn’t grown. If anything, it’s diminished. 10 THINGS THAT AIN’T CHURCH So where does this leave us? In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church. If it gets a bit feisty in the points below, just know it’s because I’m challenging the gravitational pull I feel sometimes in me and I see all the time around me. So here goes. Here are 10 things that still ain’t church. 1. WATCHING CHURCH ONLINE Watching church online has exploded in the last decade. We have an online campus at our church, which I love, because for many people it’s a step into church can be if it’s a step back in if you’re  out of town or on vacation, but for too many people people church online is a step out of church. It’s a step toward lower devotion, not greater devotion. And to less mission, not deeper mission. Here’s a little exercise I want to propose. If you’re watching online because it’s easier (or honestly, you’re just lazy), get yourself into a real human community. Yes, a real church is going to be worse than your online experience. You will have to sit next to people you don’t like and who aren’t like you. You could get hurt. You’ll have to do something. And you may have to give. You’ll get into awkward conversations with people as you invite them to come with you. And you may damage the friendship as a result and feel all worried. This is church. (Have you ever read 1 Corinthians? I mean really….) Dating is easier than marriage. Especially first dating. But marriage is where the real reward is after you’ve disliked each other long enough to fall in love again and remember that in the midst of the mess God is writing a deeper, more powerful story than you could ever write on your own. A C+ real life church experience is better than an A+ online church experience because real life is messy, and it’s going to force you grow. So go find a real-life C+ church and get involved. And remember, you are not the solution to the C+ church’s problems. You’re part of the reason it’s a C+ church. So am I. 2. LISTENING TO A PODCAST If you want to 1.5x speed God into your life while you’re on a run or driving to work, go ahead. I love podcasting, but in the end, what it gives you is information and not much more. Podcasting (and church online) should function like online dating. Everyone I know who met online and fell in love gets married. You rarely meet someone who says “We met online, have been married for five years but we’ve never actually met.” Of course you meet, that’s the point. And I think that’s the point of church podcasts and church online…they lead to something greater: real human interaction around a mission bigger than you. But 1.5xing a sermon podcast every week probably only gives you a .5 dose of God. 3. VIRTUAL PASTORS Because there are thousands of churches online and thousands more who put their content online via podcasts, many people have multiple preachers they listen to and think of as their ‘pastors’. It’s great that you’re listening,  or that you follow 10 megachurch pastors or local pastors on Instagram, but that’s not church. You may have a charcuterie board of favorite speakers and feel full, but true discipleship is not measured by how much you know, it’s measured by how much you love, and how much that love flows out of you and into the lives of others. 4. THAT CHARITABLE THING YOU STARTED We live in an amazing time where it’s easy to start almost anything you imagine, including a charity. Charities are amazing, but they’re not church. When the church gathers in worship, prayer, community, joins together on a mission to baptize people and grow people into the likeness of Christ…well that’s church. I have a company outside the church that helps produce this blog, my podcast, books etc. Guess what? I think of it as a ministry, and it has huge ministry implications, but it’s not the church. It never will be. Sure, we think of it in many ways as a ministry. And yes, we’re on mission to help leaders. But it ain’t church. 5. COFFEE WITH FRIENDS If you stop attending a local church, it’s easy to come up with substitutes for it, like having coffee (or meals, or whatever) with friends. The early church didn’t change the world by gathering with friends for coffee. By all means, be social. Hang out. Cultivate deep friendships. Hang out. Connect. But don’t fool yourself—that isn’t church either. 6. THE GATHERING AT YOUR HOUSE I understand that this one will be a little controversial, but most of the time, that gathering in your house ain’t church either. Even if you gather to pray, study scripture, fellowship and celebrate communion, it may still not be the church. Why? Too often house church functions as a community of people who are fleeing the church, who have been hurt by the church, or who are rejecting the local churches in their neighbourhood. Rarely (I mean rarely, it’s not like it never happens) do I see a house church really embrace the full mission of the church, which would include evangelism  baptizing new disciples, community service, giving financially beyond itself and an outward focus that brings more people into the Kingdom. If that happens—and occasionally it does—then that is church. The problem of course, is that when you embrace all of that, it won’t be long until you outgrow your living room…and you start gathering in public space because you can’t squeeze into a home anymore. But if it’s just the eight of you year after year after year after year…it probably ain’t church. 7. A WALK IN THE WOODS/ON THE BEACH I love nature. My wife  really  loves nature. Almost all of us feel closer to God in nature. And some personality types feel extremely close to God in nature—maybe even closer than they feel in church. But your subjective feeling is no substitute for a timeless mission. God didn’t just call us to feel him. He calls us to serve him. 8. FAMILY DEVOTIONS I love my family. You love yours. And family devotions are wonderful. When you’re on vacation, I get that you may do family devotions on a Sunday rather than a long drive into a local church. But a steady diet of family devotions—even daily devotions—isn’t church because your family isn’t baptizing people, reaching out into the community, serving, or even moving beyond itself to engage the world for which Christ died. Authentic mission has to go beyond you to someone else and embrace and include them. Family devotions may be sincere and convenient, but they’re no substitute for the Kingdom of God. 9. CHURCH SURFING Church  shopping  is one thing. But I’ve met a growing number of people who are doing what I can only call church  surfing . They may go to the 9 a.m. service at one church, and then sample the later service at another, and then they switch it up against next weekend, adding maybe a third church into the mix. It’s like serial dating with no engagement, commitment or even investment. Once again, it’s an expression of a consumer culture—take, but feel no obligation to give. Of course, a significant life is rarely measured by what you consume. It’s measured by what you contribute. Church surfing contributes almost nothing to the true mission of the church. 10. ANONYMITY So let’s say you show up at the same church whenever you attend, but you sit in the back row, anonymously. You don’t engage, don’t serve, don’t invite, don’t join the mission. You just…sit. That’s not much different than just consumption, except it’s analog, not digital. It’s hard to build the future of the church on someone who consumes and never contributes. And it’s hard to build a meaningful, resilient life, when all you do is consume, not contribute. So contribute. Serve. Invite. Give. Do community. You’re called to be the church, not just attend one. THREE QUESTIONS If you find your church attendance declining or evaporating, ask yourself: Are my current patterns leading me to greater devotion to Jesus? Am I serving, inviting, giving and helping to make new disciples? Is this really about me, or is it about seeing the Kingdom of God flourish and expand around me? www.careynieuwhof.com

Some years ago I passed through a time of discouragement. I can’t remember the source of the struggle, but I recall the fruit. I created a tool for divine encouragement. I collected God’s words of affirmation in one place and turned them into a letter. Next time you are feeling low, read these thoughts and let God lift your spirit.   Dear child of mine, I am one who comforts you.  I bought you and complete you.  I delight in you and claim you as my own, rejoicing over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.  I will never fail you or forsake you. [i] You are worried and troubled about many things; trust me with all your heart.  I know how to rescue godly people from their trials. Let me strengthen you with my glorious power.  I did not spare my Son but gave him up for you. Won’t I give you everything else?  [ii] When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. [iii] So, don’t worry.  I never tire or sleep. I stand beside you.  The angel of the LORD encamps around you.  I hide you in the shelter of my presence.  I will go ahead of you, directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life. If you stumble, you will not fall, for I hold you by the hand.  I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. [iv] I will make you fruitful in the land of suffering, trading beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for despair. I live with the low spirited and spirit crushed. I put new spirit in you and get you on your feet again. Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.  If I am for you, who can ever be against you? [v] You sometimes say, “The Lord has deserted me; the Lord has forgotten me.” But can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? Even if that were possible, I would not forget you!  I paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, my sinless, spotless Lamb.  No one will snatch you away from me.  See, I have written your name on my hand.  I call you my friend.  Why, the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are valuable to me. [vi] Give me your burdens; I will take care of you. [vii]    Your Maker, your Father, God [i]   Is.51:12 ; 1 Cor.6:20 ; Col.2:10 ; Is.62:4-5 ; Heb.13:5 [ii]   Lk.10:41 ; Prov.3:5 ; Rom.8:26 ; Col.1:11 ; Rom.8:32 ; Judg.5:21 [iii]   Is.43:2 [iv]   Mt.6:34 ; Ps.121:4-5 ; Ps.34:7 ; Ps.31:20 ; Deut.31:6 ; Ps.37:23-24 ; Ps.32:8 [v]   Gen.41:52 ; Is.61:3 ; Is.57:15 ; Ps.30:5 ; Rom.8:31 [vi]   Is.49:14-15 ; 1 Pet.1:19 ; John 10:28 ; Is.49:16 ; John15:15 ; Mt.10:30-31 [vii]   Ps.55:22

Sometimes I like to think I’m good at this grace thing. Mostly this happens after I have listened to the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United. Having been hit with the audio waves of that fantastic chorus 92 times, I take my headphones out and make some strong declarations. “This is it! I’m going to show other people grace! I am going to walk on water and be bold and brave and yay #TeamGrace!” I don’t pronounce the word “Hashtag” out loud because I’m not 13 but in that moment, I do get ready to live with so much grace. Until, I run into these three situations and realize I stink at grace: 1. When someone walks across an intersection I’m at and doesn’t hustle. You see me. I know you see me waiting in my car for you to finish crossing. We’re making eye contact and I swear you actually slowed down. Why did you choose this moment to go all desert tortoise on me? Can’t you at the bare minimum do that awkward “intersection run/walk” gallop we all do when we realize a car is waiting for us to go? Is that too much to ask? I’m sure that when someone crossed in front of Jesus’ donkey he blessed them, but I’m not there yet. I’m not “make whip angry” which is the only level of anger Christians think they can have, but I’m not giving you much grace right this second. 2. When you poorly wrap my burrito. I see a fissure right there. Before you’ve even encased it in the outer protective shell of aluminum foil, I can see a fault line developing along the southern hemisphere of my burrito. That crack is only going to get bigger. The second I bite into it my burrito is going to transform into a burrito bowl, collapsing under the weight of the Mexican goodness packed within. I don’t want you to start over, but a double wrap feels necessary. And if it’s not a split, the other crime against burritomanity is when one end isn’t properly closed. The bottom of the burrito is supposed to be the best bite. That’s where all the fantastic collects as you eat it from the top, sending flavors and salsas and quesos to the bottom creating one last super bite. But you didn’t seal it right so it looks like a busted flower, akin to the times bugs bunny put something at the end of Elmer Fudd’s shotgun and it exploded in his face. Jesus might forgive you, but I don’t. 3. When someone is slow to get off a plane. Clearly I am not withholding grace from someone who has a legitimate reason to get off planes slowly. I am talking about people who act surprised that we have touched down and that there are 324 people behind them who would like to leave the plane now. We dropped 30,000 feet out of the sky. How did you miss that the earth, the very planet we inhabit, was getting closer to us? Remember that moment when the wheels squealed and it felt like we were on ground? It felt like that because we are. All of us. I’m not expecting you to exit the plane as fast as me. I’m like the Michael Jordan of leaving planes. I’m a pro. I would just like you to not gather items one by one, like some game of airplane pick up sticks. On the flip side of this one is the person who doesn’t have a connection to make but still jumps up and sprints as far as they can go down the aisle as soon as the plane lands. I’m not sure Jesus has ever been on a plane, though I do know he takes the wheel of cars, but I’m pretty even he would not be cool with that move. We all want to get off the plane Usain Bolt. There’s a widely accepted unwritten rule that you get off aisle by aisle. Accept it. Do those things make me sound petty? I hope so because the goal of this post was to say, “Yes I am petty.” And prone to thinking the stupidest things while waiting for a burrito to be made. Turns out I still stink at grace. I was going to say that I suck at it but then I’d have to enter into a long email exchange about my usage of that word. I would look up the Germanic roots, writing a detailed response that it was initially a farming term. You would argue it’s a swear and that I’m going to get a sofa bed in hell. And then I wouldn’t give you grace. So full circle. Let’s avoid that. Let’s instead go with the much safer, yet just as obvious statement, “I stink at grace.” Question: What’s one situation in life where you realize you’re not great at giving people grace? www.stuffchristianslike.net . Used by permission.

All of us have our weak moments in life–those moments when we doubt ourselves, our ability and our resources available to help us face up to the challenges of simply going forward in life. Therefore, it is very understandable how we mourners confronted with the overwhelming, all-consuming, energy-draining experience of grief can begin to doubt our abilities to proceed any further without the physical presence of our loved one who has died. I remember a young father whose teenage son had died in an automobile accident just weeks earlier telling me, “Larry, these two months of grieving my son have just been more than I thought I could ever bear. I am a relatively young person who could live for another thirty or forty years. If I can barely withstand two months of grief, I wonder how i will ever endure thirty of forty years of missing my son and hurting like hell all that time!” All of us mourners doubt because we are human and sometimes we are totally exhausted from the struggle in grief. When mourning clients, friends or family members ask me how they can go on, I ask them to do a short mental exercise. I ask them to pretend that they are the one who has died and their loved one is now left behind. I then ask what they would want for their loved one left behind after their death. They usually say things like: “I would want them to grieve for a little while but to go on. “I would want them to enjoy a happy, fulfilling life.” “I would want them to find peace.” “I wouldn’t want their life to be ruined simply because I died.” That is what you would want for your loved ones if you died. And that is what your loved one who has died wants for you. The best way that you can honor and respect the wishes and memory of your loved one who has died is to mourn them in healthy ways and to lead a good life. That means going on despite your doubts in grief. By defeating those doubts and courageously facing the grief in your life when all seems impossible you build a lasting living memorial to your loved one. Below are fourteen common self-defeating thoughts that happen often to humans just like you in grief. When doubt hits causing you to believe that you can not do grief alone and on your own power, then don’t. Call upon the resources that you have available to you — family, friends, co-workers, church ministers and fellow members, and your core beliefs in a Power beyond yourself. Whenever the following thoughts of doubt and self defeat strike, read the texts beside them and look thoroughly for the hope, encouragement and support written into these scriptures for your personal grief situation. “IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!” All things are possible – Luke 18:27 “IT’S HOPELESS!” In Christ, we find our hope – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “I’M TOO TIRED!” I will give you rest – Matthew 11:28-30 “I CANNOT GO ON!” My grace is sufficient – 2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15 “I CANNOT DO IT!” You can do all things – Philippians 4:13 “I CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT!” I’ll direct your steps – Proverbs 3:5-6 “IT’S NOT WORTH ALL THE TROUBLE (OR PAIN)!” It will soon be worth it all – Romans 8: 28 “I CANNOT FORGIVE MYSELF!” I forgive you – 1 John 1: 9 & Romans 8:1 “I CANNOT MANAGE IT!” I will supply all of your needs – Philippians 4:19 “I AM AFRAID WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN!” I have not given you a spirit of fear – 2 Timothy 1:7 “I AM ALWAYS WORRIED & FRUSTRATED!” Cast all your care on Him – 1 Peter 5:7 “I DO NOT HAVE THE FAITH IT TAKES!” I’ve given everyone a measure of faith – Romans 12:3 “I AM JUST NOT SMART ENOUGH!” I give you wisdom – 1 Corinthians 1:30 & James 1:5 “I AM ALL ALONE!” I will never leave you or forsake you – Hebrews 13:5 www.griefminister.com . Edited by Christopher Taylor.

My Daddy was an extrovert. He never met a stranger. Dad, a consummate salesman, built a successful construction company from the ground up. Pop was a joiner! He served as a church deacon, a Rotary club member, and president of the Dallas Woods and Waters Club. Daddy knew every Baptist, businessman and bass fisherman in North Texas. He loved them all! But as my father grew older, his world grew smaller and smaller. My Mom and Dad moved away from their hometown of seventy years to be near their kids and grandkids (they are precious, by the way)… Dad was a newcomer in this new town. Few people knew how beloved, gifted and successful he had been as a younger man. Most of Daddy’s friends were old and sick. Many had already gone to heaven. If your world is shrinking as you age, join the club. You may be one of the 42.6 million older adults who experience loneliness every day. Shrinking social circles, poor health, financial limitations, life changes, and even transportation challenges can mean isolation for older adults. Isolation can have a devastating on health and quality of life. Jesus promised He would be with His children. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. KJV When Christ ascended to heaven, He promised, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. KJV Enjoy Jesus, but learn how to develop a support system for those “golden years.” Let’s look at the lives of two famous Bible kings. One knew how to build a life-long group of loyal friends. The other died rich, cynical and lonely. King David cultivated deep friendships his entire life. David’s son, Solomon, died a dour, depressed old man. How could the richest, wisest man in history fail to build a network of supportive pals? “A man who has friends must show himself friendly.” Proverbs 18:14 (NIV) Read the psalms. David knew how to express his feelings and to freely show love and joy. He sang. He wept. He worshipped. And he did all of it in front of others. David was an open book. Solomon was guarded. He was rich and wise, but not as approachable. He was often suspicious of the motives of others. “Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6 NIV) “Wealth brings many friends, but a poor mans’ friend deserts him.” (Proverbs 19:4 NIV) Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s dearest friend, should have been his mortal enemy. David was a war hero, anointed to succeed Saul as king. Jonathan was the rightful heir. Instead, David and Jonathan became best buddies: “By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend. (1 Samuel 18:1). David inspired great loyalty and trust from his army. His three mighty men risked life and limb to bring the warrior king a drink from his hometown well in Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15-17). David fled from Saul’s sword and found refuge in enemy territory. King Achish, King of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10) was the sworn enemy of the Israelites. In just a few short months, David won Achish’s favor and trust. Even near the end of David’s life when his son Absalom almost succeeded in overthrowing David’s empire, David’s countrymen still rallied around him (2 Samuel 17:10). Such devotion for one man is astounding! Solomon must have learned a lot about friendship from watching his father. But Solomon struggled to make and keep friends. He was richer and smarter than everyone. You’d think with 700 wives and 300 concubines, the king would find a few close companions! Solomon’s only true friend on record was his Shunammite bride, his first love. She called him “my lover and my friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16). Where was his beloved bride during his later years? In Solomon’s last writings, Ecclesiastes, we see a sad man, jaded and cynical, with many regrets. “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me….So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. Every day is pain and grief; even at night my mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23 NIV) Many of us spend our lives investing in projects instead of people. Samuel Johnson said, “If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life he will soon find himself left alone. One should keep his friendships in constant repair.” My husband and I recently faced the challenge of retirement, relocation and isolation. Our health challenges and family needs seemed almost insurmountable. God was faithful. He gave us wisdom in hard times. Manage your expectations. Grieve your losses. Don’t live in the past. Wait for God to reveal His new plans for you. We determined not to live our “golden years” the way Solomon did. Roger and I joined a church and immediately began to serve and connect with small groups. We found prayer partners. We led Navigators programs on spiritual growth and evangelism. Roger continues to teach as a layman and joined the Gideons. We began a web ministry, teaching pastors and missionaries around the world. We worked to spend quality time with our children and all of our wonderful neighbors. Believe it or not, pastors and wives are often introverts. You may be shy, too! Stepping into a new life takes courage. Though rewarding, all of these activities require resolve, effort and perseverance. Living Christ’s abundant life in the moment is key. My Dad always said, “Old age is not for sissies!” He was right. Our world may shrink, but God’s grace grows and grows. He will NEVER leave you. He will NEVER forsake you. And He will provide you with the friends you need and a ministry you can manage.

Most people intuitively know that our expectations profoundly affect our life experiences. Yet even as believers, we simultaneously expect too much and too little. We need to discover what we should expect less of and what merits higher expectations. That involves lowering our expectations concerning all the advantages we think life should bring us while raising our expectations concerning Christ and what He is daily accomplishing in us. Here are six false expectations—those that are not grounded in Scripture and undermine our happiness: 1. God’s Love for Us Should Look Just Like What We Want God has promised us His undying love, but we often imagine how we’d do things differently for those we loved if we were all powerful. We’d surely keep anything bad from ever happening to them, right? That may be our understanding of love, but it’s not God’s. If we ignore countless passages that promise us persecution and suffering while focusing on those that promise us God’s blessing, we lose sight of His promise to discipline us, build our character, and increase our Christlikeness through suffering. We ought to expect with the highest confidence only what God has clearly, fundamentally, and absolutely promised. And if our gratitude is lessened with such an understanding, the problem is our expectations, not God’s promises. If we expect God to make our lives easy, our expectations are unbiblical. 2. We Won’t Be Persecuted for Our Faith Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” ( John 15:18, NIV ). Peter said we should be firm in our faith, “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” ( 1 Peter 5:9 ). In spite of multiple promises of suffering throughout Scripture, many Christians seem shocked or outraged when they have to face these trials. Americans have been slow to accept the extent to which Bible-believing Christ-followers have become socially unacceptable. Though we should work to hold on to our religious liberties, it’s likely they’ll continue to erode. But cheer up! Opposition is nothing new for God’s people, and historically the church’s greatest advances have come at the lowest ebb of its popularity. The Christian faith may never return to its central public role in our culture, but Christ’s gospel is bigger than every obstacle. Sometimes a less popular church becomes a more faithful, dynamic, and joyful church. Any church whose happiness hinges on its popularity will either compromise its integrity or surrender its happiness—in either case failing to show the world the true and joyful gospel of Jesus. 3. Jesus Must Return in Our Lifetime “Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. . . . Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” ( Matthew 24:42 ,  44 ). Christ will surely return, just as He promised (see  Luke 21:27 ). Since the beginning of church history, many believers have thought Christ would return in their lifetimes. So far, everyone who has died in the past two thousand years has been wrong in that expectation. In recent years, I’ve often heard believers say, “Christ has to return within the next few years.”  No, He doesn’t.  He may, but He may not return for decades or centuries. That’s entirely up to Him. Meanwhile, it’s up to us to continue living for Him. 4. Life Will Go Smoothly and We’ll Always Have Health and Wealth M. Scott Peck opens  The Road Less Traveled , “Life is difficult. . . . Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult.” Well, it’s  less  difficult, anyway! Paul said, “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” ( 1 Timothy 6:7-8 ). Food and clothing may seem like low expectations. By the standards of the health-and-wealth gospel, these expectations are dismally low, but they’re accompanied by dramatically high expectations of God, who gives us riches in Heaven. After all, He’s the source of our joy! Has God promised to make us healthy and wealthy? No, not in this life—only in the resurrected life on the New Earth. 5. Life Will Be Fair and People Will Treat Us Kindly and Thoughtfully Jesus said, “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? . . . But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” ( Luke 6:34-35 ). All Bible passages about forgiveness involve lowering our expectations of people and not insisting they live up to our standards, or demanding perfection we don’t measure up to ourselves. God’s grace should calm us and cheer us. If my saying, “Cheer up” seems naive, someone else—Jesus—said it first: “I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world” ( John 16:33, CEV ). 6. Churches Owe Us Better Treatment than We’ve Received I am sadly aware that churches have contributed to much unhappiness. But when our expectations of church people, and especially pastors, are inordinately high, we become deeply disappointed, thinking that Christians should know better and have no business being imperfect (often not realizing how imperfect we ourselves are and that the problem with church people is often that they are too much like us). Scripture tells us we shouldn’t be “neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,” but should gather together, “encouraging one another” ( Hebrews 10:25 ). When we back away from the local church, we often engage in spiritual isolation that’s likely to not only distance us from God’s work but also sour us and our children to the great good churches are doing. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus, raise our expectations of our personal need to obey Him by being part of and serving the church, and lower our expectations of others so we’ll be more understanding and forgiving. Sometimes we need to find another church that teaches God’s Word and centers on Jesus. He sees all the flaws in the church, but He hasn’t given up on His bride, and He won’t (see  Matthew 16:18 ). Neither should we. epm.org . Used by permission. Excerpted from  Happiness .

If you have breath, you are the proud owner of conflict. It lurks around every corner of our days. I wake up first in our home. I get dressed and start the coffee. I wake up Angel and our two teenage kids. The other day I kissed my daughter, “good morning, sweetie, it’s time to wake up.” “No, it isn’t!” she responded, pulling her covers over her head. My first whiff of conflict. I go back downstairs and work on breakfast. At 6:50 everyone is supposed to be gathered around the table. Usually only one of the three is there. I would tell you who, but you know, conflict. It lurks again. Eventually we are all around the table. We do our family devotions, but now they’re a little compressed and maybe one of the kids isn’t that engaged. Conflict sneaks its head in again. We’re off to school, but there was a lunch forgotten at home, and so we’re circling back. Now we’re late. Frustration in my heart tells me conflict is all too near. And now the two slowest drivers in Northwest Tucson have decided to drive side by side in front of me Parcheesi style, five miles below the speed limit. Conflict! And now I’m pretty sure the lights are in on the conspiracy. One light turns red and there isn’t even anyone at the intersection. Seriously? In 2019, our traffic signals aren’t intelligent enough to catch that? Conflict, code red. The kids are dropped off and now I’m headed to work. I pull in and head to the fridge to drop off my lunch. Seriously? Has anyone removed his lunch in the past month from this thing? More conflict?! I look over to the office sink: is this just a holding bay for dirty dishes? Do we not use the cabinet anymore? Conflict! I haven’t even reached my office door and conflict has reared its ugly head no less than eight times. And I’m not even mentioning the email I saw with the subject line that indicates my first email of the day is going to put my heart in knots. Sound anything like your day? How in the world can we navigate all of this conflict? The answer to that question is found in James 1:19 , where James says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James is writing a church that is in the midst of conflict. And he begins with this very practical advice, advice similar to what your mom may have told you: “you have two ears and one mouth for a reason!” Don’t be so quick to talk: listen! James next encourages us to slow our anger down. Anger closes us down to truth. Anger comes out of our heart, out of our core when something precious to us is threatened. We could confuse what James is saying with secular techniques to navigate conflict: mindfulness, pausing before we speak, validating the other person—each of these is fine and well, but James is pointing at a deeper reality that is weaved through the pages of scripture: we need to get to the heart. The ultimate answer to how we fight well is found not in techniques, but in a heart that is shaped by humility. When we don’t have humility, things go very poorly. One of the earliest fights in our marriage was about my driving. I drove pretty fast (and at times recklessly) when we first got married, and Angel would grasp onto the grab handle (that handle above the passenger’s side door), inhale sharply, and offer advice on how I could improve my driving. I remember one time Angel was particularly strong in her reaction to my driving. She clutched the grab handle and said forcefully, “John!” I snapped: “Why don’t you trust me? I’m a good driver! I’ve never been at fault in an accident. And besides, your dad drives a lot faster than me and you don’t get anxious when he drives!” The temperature spiked in the car. Voices were raised and accusations made. I set off a conflict that lasted well into the day and the chill in our relationship lasted more than a few days. Let’s diagnose this conflict. I was interpreting Angel’s actions: clutching the grab handle, gasping, and providing unsolicited advice as a lack of trust in me. I felt undermined and disrespected, and so I lashed out. Here are seven ways to fight poorly: 1)     Take it personally: I took Angel’s actions personally; she was responding to my driving and I made it about trust in our relationship. 2)     Deny: I denied what I did: “I’m a good driver!” 3)     Minimize: I diminished what I did: it wasn’t such a big deal. Why couldn’t she just get over herself? 4)     Exaggerate: I overstated what Angel said; I made her attacks worse than what they were. 5)     Don’t change: I didn’t try to fix the problem; I kept driving the same way. If I’m honest, I drove faster: I punished Angel for her complaint. 6)     Think only of yourself: I thought about myself first and not Angel. Angel was afraid for her safety, but I made the conflict about me, not her. 7)     Remove God: There was no hint of God being anywhere in my understanding of the conflict; this wasn’t an opportunity to show Angel that I loved her, this wasn’t an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love to my bride. This was about me: I needed to be right and I needed to make her trust me. At the root of all of these failures was my pride. I lost because my pride prevailed. Whenever we fail at navigating conflict, you can find our pride at the root of that failure. Next week we are going to consider how we can fight in a way that glorifies God and shapes our heart toward humility. thebeehive.live . Used by permission.

At the age of twelve I started praying for my future husband.  In the beginning my prayers were driven by my fear that I might marry the wrong person.   Later on, though, my motives changed.  Over the next ten years I would often find myself speaking with God about critical life choices.  Prayers which started fearfully, as a desperate act of self-protection, morphed into courage and trust as I came to believe in the goodness of all God’s plans for me.   I was twenty-two when I met my husband, Gary.  After six months of marriage I attended a youth conference and found myself listening to my husband address a room full of teen-age girls.  And, then he surprised me with these words.   “When I was 12 years of age someone challenged me to start praying about who I should marry.  And so, I began seeking God’s will about my future wife.  At twelve I didn’t know I would pray this prayer for fourteen years before God led to my wife.”   “As I look at you today, I want you to know, it is not to soon to begin praying for God’s will to be established in your life.  Whatever your future may hold you want to be in the safety of God’s will.”   Amazed, I sat there.  Gary and I had never discussed at what age we started praying for each other.  Quickly I did the math.  Since Gary is four years older than me, jointly, we had prayed for our future spouses for twenty-four years.   Some prayer requests call for that kind of perseverance.   In Gary I found a bridegroom worth waiting for.   In John 3:22-30 , John the Baptist introduces Jesus to us as the bridegroom.  This picture was originally foreshadowed in the Old Testament.  Look at John 3:28-30 .  John the Baptist says,   You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ’I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease.   This unique portrait of Jesus is foundational to our understanding God’s long-range plans for humanity.  As we wait for Jesus’ second coming, we all need to be reminded that a good bridegroom is worth waiting for.   Why did God choose a bridegroom as a metaphor to describe Jesus?   In the Old Testament book of Hosea, an attitude of God is exposed which is quite enlightening in its scope.  The prophet reveals the God of the universe as seeing himself in a marriage relationship with the nation of Israel.  While Luke explains the Father’s heart through the story of the prodigal son, Hosea tells the story of God’s “sacred romance” through the story of a wayward wife.  In this prophecy, God equates Israel’s idolatry with adultery.  No other minor prophet exposes this metaphor quite like Hosea.   Listen to some of God’s graphic language expressed in Hosea 2:2 ,   Plead with your mother, plead – for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband – that she put away her whoring from her face and her adultery from between her breasts;        ESV   Or these compelling words from Hosea 4:12 ,   My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles.  For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.   ESV   God’s heart aches for Israel like that of a jilted husband.   If we want to understand the uniqueness of the Bridegroom portrait, we must recognize God sees our idolatry as adultery.    The creator of the universe is a jealous God not because he is petty, or insecure, but because he truly loves us and knows the lies idols try to perpetrate.  They promise, but they can’t deliver ( Isaiah 44:13-16 ).  He knows our passion for them will only destroy us.  If we could grasp the bridegroom’s typology we would see how God views our reckless acts of adoration as acts of adultery.   What forms of idolatry might a Christian be tempted to run after?     I often pray for the right thing with the wrong motives.  For example, I pray, “God make me a good steward of the money you have entrusted into my care”.  But honestly, I am not looking to increase my charitable giving.  I pray this prayer most often when I am going shopping and I want to find a great bargain.   Unfortunately, even our prayers can become idolatrous.  Look at how James 4:3-5 uses some of the same vocabulary as the book of Hosea.   You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  You adulterous people!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?                             ESV   James is warning that we often struggle in prayer because we seek God’s intervention for the wrong reasons.  We seek more resources not to be generous or to advance Jesus’ kingdom, but to spend it on ourselves.   In the Living Bible, James 4:5b reads this way.   …The Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us watches over us with tender jealousy…                    LB   This phrase  tender jealousy  reminds us that God’s intentions toward us are always pure and gentle.  Jesus never forces his will on us, no matter the perfection of his plans and the gifts he wants to bestow.   Words like idolatry and adultery are difficult for me to hear.  Especially when they are employed to describe my level of unfaithfulness to God.  I grieve when I think that my self-deception, and my love for the world could hurt God like this.   But God chose this language of betrayal to wake us up, not to minister hopelessness. God, who is rich in mercy, is always on our side and holds his arms open wide ready to receive us home.   Why might we desire a deeper intimacy with Jesus?      We, the bride of Christ are called to journey through life anticipating Jesus’ return ( Matt. 25:1-13 ).  And this can be difficult because God doesn’t look at perseverance the same way we do.  We need to remember that the fruit born in our wait time is highly valued by God ( Psalm 27:13-14 , Lam. 3:25-26 ).   What is God producing during your wait time?      Over forty years have passed since Gary and I said, “I do”.  I still marvel at the wisdom of God’s plan to allow me the privilege of being Gary’s wife.  Even, now as I prayerfully watch Gary go through chemotherapy, I know we have lived a blessed life.   No principle in scripture is taught with greater certainty than the second coming of Christ, and yet as Jesus lingers we still need the encouragement that a good bridegroom is worth the wait.