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Live a Life Worthy

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” Ephesians 4:1 (NASB).

If you’ve never read Ephesians, start to finish, do it as soon as possible! In fact, if you want to go and read it now, I’ll wait for you. It’s one of my favorite books of the Bible. Paul wrote it while he was under house arrest–a prisoner of Rome, by accusation of the Jews–for preaching the gospel (See Acts 28).

The verse I quoted above comes almost right in the middle of the book. Paul has just spent the first three chapters of Ephesians laying out all the wonderful things we have in Christ. And now, he says “THEREFORE,” which refers back to all he just told us. He’s saying–he, who suffered much for his calling–based on all God has done for us in Christ, live your life in a manner worthy of all this. In a minute we’ll look at how we do that, but first let’s look at the why.

Have you ever found yourself watching an informercial? The people yell and gesticulate excitedly and tell you what amazing things you’ll receive for one low price, then they say, “But wait, THERE’S MORE!!”

That’s what I think of when I read the first three chapters of Ephesians. There was a high price, not a low one, but Jesus paid it on the cross, and still there’s more. God not only gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16), but he continues to give us more and more, simply because we have believed in his Son. In fact, Paul says in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Here are just a few of the things God has given us in Christ as listed in Ephesians 1–3:

  • He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and marked us in love for adoption as his children
  • He’s given us grace, redemption through Jesus’s blood, and forgiveness of sins
  • He’s given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that he will finish his work in us
  • Although we were dead in sin, he made us alive in Christ because of his love for us and because of his mercy
  • Formerly, (as sinners) we were objects of his wrath, but he saved us (from his wrath and judgment) by grace through faith–not by our works because we might boast (yet still they wouldn’t be enough); it’s a gift
  • He’s given us peace and reconciled us to God and given us his power through the Holy Spirit

WOW!! That’s a lot of spiritual treasure, and it’s only a partial list! So Paul says “therefore,” as in, because God has done that for us in Christ, live a life worthy of this calling on your life.

I told you earlier that Paul’s urging for us to walk in a manner worthy comes in the middle of the book; the first half tells why. Now, in the second half, he tells us how. How do we live a life worthy of what God has done for us? Let me say, first of all, that we are NOT worthy. We can do nothing to earn God’s mercy and grace. He gives it because of his great love for us, not because we deserve it or are worthy of it.

But that’s not what Paul means. He says we are to live our lives in a worthy manner, meaning that since God called us in Christ Jesus to be his children, we must live according to his commandments. As believers, we’re called OUT of our former way of life–that life that made us objects of the wrath of a holy God. We’re to put off our old sinful nature that’s being corrupted.

Instead, we are to put on the new nature, which is created to like God in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). We’re to be like God, not like our former selves, not like unbelievers, not like the world.

We should live as children of light: humble, patient, gentle, loving, peaceful, mature, truthful, industrious, etc., etc. (read the rest on your own).

There should be none of that former corruption coming from our mouths either!

  • no gossip
  • no slander
  • no unwholesome talk
  • no obscenity
  • no coarse joking

***AND NOT EVEN A HINT OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY***

God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient, and we have been saved from that, so we’re not to be partners with them in that behavior. Paul says, “Be very careful how you live.”

In Jesus, God gave us his very best–he was the perfect Lamb of God, without sin, who came to take away the sin of the world. His sacrifice on the cross gave us forgiveness of sin, a relationship with God, and blessings in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). All of the incredible things described in chapters 1–3.

So THEREFORE, let us listen to Paul and live a life worthy of God’s call.

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Walking Through Grief Part 3 of 3

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

A Devotional Bible Study

Day 5 and Optional Day 6

Day 5

This is the final day of this Bible study on grieving. It is a day of celebration for what the Heavenly Father will accomplish in your heart, mind, and life. I believe it for you. 

Even if you don’t feel it right now, that’s alright because Romans 4:17 says that God calls things that are not as though they were. It is a matter of faith. Praise God!! We are not righteous, yet he declares that we are. We are not justified (acquitted from sin) but he says that we are. And it is all because Christ is each of those things on our behalf. We only have to have faith and believe in him. 

The same is true of your victory over grief and despair. The Lord God of heaven and earth will bring you through the waters victorious. Through him, you will not drown in your grief. He will see you through and, over time, will heal you.

Each of these passages celebrates and praises and thanks God for what he has accomplished. Write down what stands out to you from each passage.

First of all, look up Psalm 22:22–25. One day you will do this!

Next, Psalm 30:11–12; 119:49–50, 74; and Isaiah 61:1–3. This passage in Isaiah speaks of the coming of the Messiah. It was fulfilled in Jesus’s ministry on earth.

Finally, Lamentations 3:21–26, 31–33. The book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, portrays the overwhelming sense of loss felt by the Jewish people when Babylon decimated their beloved Jerusalem and Temple, subsequently taking more of their people into captivity. It was written from a place of utter brokenness and despair. Yet in it, we still find hope. We find the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord in the midst of trouble.

Mark these verses in your Bible and refer to them often. As mentioned before, keep a journal of your journey through your pain so future you can see what the Lord has done. Write the scriptures on cards and post them around your house so you can see them and be constantly reminded of the truths God is teaching you from his Word.

I pray that you will be strengthened through your trial and emerge victorious on the other side.

Optional Day 6

This day is for the person who hasn’t yet come to the place of accepting the gift of salvation by faith in Jesus.

The first thing you have to do is understand your need for a Savior. If you’re struggling in the swimming pool and I knock you on the head with a lifesaver to try and drag you out, assuming you’re drowning when you’re not, you’re going to be upset with me. 

If, on the other hand, you are drowning and desperately hope someone will come along and pull you to safety, you will be so grateful for that lifesaver.

So why do people need a Savior?

Romans 3:23 and 6:23 tell us that everyone has sinned. There is no one who is righteous, “No, not one.” But God will forgive us and make us righteous in his sight if we have faith in Jesus.

The Bible calls that being “born again.” (John 3:3). You may have heard that term before. Jesus said in John 14:6 that he is the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the God, the Father, except through him.

So let’s review right quick. We are all sinners. We’re born that way. Can’t help it. If you think about it, you never have to teach a child how to lie or how to be selfish. They know that instinctively. What you have to teach them is truthfulness and kindness. 

God, on the other hand, IS holy, righteous, perfect, sin-free. His very nature requires that he judge sin. So what’s to do? How can we know God? How can we go to heaven? How can we gain forgiveness from sin?

You have to recognize your need for a Savior, your need for forgiveness of your sin. Romans 10:9-10 says that you have to confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believer in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Then you will be “saved,” “justified,” “born again.” Those are all terms the Bible uses to mean FORGIVEN!!

There’s no magic prayer or special words you have to say. You just have to come to God and humbly ask him for salvation and forgiveness. Romans 3:24 says he justifies us FREELY by his grace. It is all by faith in Jesus, not by our own righteousness (remember, we have none) or by our works. God through Jesus did all the work. We just have to believe (Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 3:3-7).

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and received forgiveness of sin, you are now a child of God, a Christian. Your work is now ahead of you. You must learn the teachings of the Bible and work in God’s kingdom and grow in your faith. 

Step 1: TELL SOMEONE!! Share what God has done in your life.

Step 2: Find a person or a ministry who can help you grow and support you as you learn to live for Jesus. (I heartily recommend BibleThinker.org or Grace to You ministries at gty.org or Precept Ministries at precept.org or LifeWord.org.) 

Step 3: Find a local, Bible-following church where you can be baptized and join in fellowship with other believers. There are many out there, so don’t be discouraged if you try one and it doesn’t quite fit. Churches are like shoes. There are hundreds of sizes and styles and types of functionality. You have to try them on to see what fits. 

But the Bible is clear: we can’t be a Christian all on our own. We are part of the body of Christ, his CHURCH, made of many, many members across the world in hundreds of countries. There are local meeting places where we meet together, but we are all brothers and sisters, and we encourage and support one another as we serve Jesus in this difficult life.

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Walking Through Grief Part 2 of 3

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

A Devotional Bible Study

Days 3-4

Day 3

Again today I have listed for you a passage which may express your current feelings. It is a cry unto the Lord from the depths of a heart that suffering.

Read Psalm 143. Twice this psalm requests the Lord to deliver from enemies. Make a list of your enemies in your particular situation. Things like grief, isolation, depression, even Satan himself. Once you can recognize these enemies, you will be more able to defend against them and ask God for assistance in battling them.

Notice in verse 11 David asks God to preserve his life and bring him out of trouble. I want to be blunt right now, okay? I touched on this in the introduction, but it’s important enough to bring up again. Oftentimes when people struggle and are in despair they can become depressed or even suicidal. I hope and pray that you are not in that position, dear friend. If you are, seek help, whether from a trusted friend, pastor, therapist, or a suicide hotline. Don’t wait. Your life is valuable, even if you don’t feel that right now. God creates life, and only he can decide when it should be ended.

Even if we despair of life we must continue living, as in staying alive, and living, as in going about our daily lives, even though our world may seem as if it is coming to an end. We must continue to interact with life, people, situations. We can’t isolate ourselves from friends and family. Why?

Look at Psalm 138:7–8. Pay close attention to verse 8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me…do not abandon the works of your hands.” 

Now read Philippians 1:6. The Father began his work in us before the foundation of the world. Ephesians tells us that he prepared good works for us to do, and he prepared them beforehand. He will not neglect to finish the work he began. We don’t need to hinder that work but cooperate with it and thus fulfill our purpose.

Next read Romans 8:28–29. This verse is quoted a lot in times like these but don’t fail to notice what comes after verse 28. What is his purpose? Verse 29 says to conform us to the likeness of his Son. He uses the good and the bad in our lives to make us more like Jesus, our example.

Now skip down to verse 31, then 35–39. What powerful words! Make a list of the things that can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. (Pretty short list, huh.) Now make another list of the things that cannot separate us from his love. 

Wow, what a comparison! He has a purpose for each of our lives and everything we go through, both good and bad, conforms to that purpose if we are submitted to him and his will.

You’ve read a lot of verses today. Take a few minutes to think about all the Father has taught you through his word and meditate on those truths as the day goes on.

Day 4

Okay. Today we are really going to get down to the nitty gritty. Very often we must be proactive in our walk with the Lord. He does all the work of salvation, but we have to claim promises and obey commands, which is our part in his work in our lives.

You are going to look at verses about controlling our thoughts. Hang in there, there are several. Why do we need to see what Scripture says about this? Romans 8:6 says, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…”

So, the first verse to look up is Isaiah 26:3.

The word steadfast implies established, resting in, leaning on. How can a person make his/her mind steadfast? This verse says it is steadfast because the person trusts in the Lord. 

Flip over to Philippians 4:6–8.

Paul says that we should not be anxious about anything. That’s easier said than done, isn’t it? 

But when we present our requests to God, verse 7 tells us that his peace, which transcends all understanding (How can a person have peace when they have lost someone dear?? It transcends our understanding.) will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. 

Guard them from what, do you think? Guard them from many things, not the least of which would be Satan’s attacks on our thoughts, his attempts to make us doubt, to discourage us, to make us think life isn’t worth living.

Now verse 8. This well-known verse helps us see how important it is to “take every thought captive unto Christ.” Write down the things Paul says we should think about and compare that to what we are tempted to think about, especially in times of despair. 

Skip down to verses 12 and 13. That is how you manage. Only through Christ. He is the one through whom God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches (v. 19).

I want you to see Psalm 112:6–8 next. In this passage it’s the heart of the righteous person that steadfastly trusts in the Lord. But that’s another way of saying mind.

I would like to encourage you to really pray over these verses. It is so easy to let our thoughts run away with us, especially when life seems too much to bear, and we languish on a continual diet of desperation and heartache and despair. But one of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. 

Again, we must take our thoughts captive, make them submissive to the control of the Spirit to prevent Satan from achieving his purpose to discourage and defeat us.

I want to leave you today with 1 Peter 5:8­–10 as my prayer for you. Amen and amen.

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Walking Through Grief Part 1 of 3

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

A Devotional Bible Study

Introduction

Grief is something everyone deals with at some point in their lives. We may grieve something as heavy and choking as the loss of a loved one or merely as stinging as a disappointment. We sometimes must wrestle with anguish at the gaping hole left in our hearts and lives, and other times we might just need a good cry to feel all better.

We all grieve in different ways and about different things, but grief is a process that can’t be skipped or hurried without doing further damage. And for those of us who know the Lord, grief can bring us closer to him and teach us to rely on him, to trust him. We don’t have to go through it alone, for he has promised to walk with us in those dark times. 

Several years ago a friend of mine lost her husband of many happy years. Her grief was deep and debilitating. I wrote this little devotional study for her to help her find the comfort that’s in God’s Word. 

I’ve made some modifications to make it more general, but I share it with you now, written as if to a friend. May God bless it to speak to your heart or to share with someone you know who is hurting, when you don’t know the words to say.

If your grief is from something other than the loss of a person—a job, a pet, a dream, or any other situation that leaves you hurting—just substitute that any place I’ve written “loved one.” You will still benefit from this time in the Word, sharing your burden with the Lord, and seeking his face.

I will post it in three parts. Take your time and sit with the message the Lord gives you, meditate on the verses, and allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and minister to you. This devotional uses God’s Word to remind us of his promises. 

If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, skip down to Day 6 and learn how to ask his forgiveness for your sins and invite him to be the Lord of your life.

Dearest Friend,

My heart is so heavy for you. I cannot begin to understand what you are going through. I wish so much I could take it away. I wish I could say some magic words that would soothe and comfort you, but those do not exist from human lips. 

People mean well when they use platitudes; they don’t know what else to say and feel the need to say something. Those words sound nice until we are the ones going through the pain. I won’t repeat platitudes to you now. 

Besides you probably already know in your head everything that people say about how your loved one is in heaven with Jesus or how they aren’t in pain anymore. What is impossible is to get your heart to be comforted by that. Sure, they aren’t in pain anymore, but you are! You are the one left to live here without your loved one and try to figure out how to create a new life that doesn’t include that person.

I know these blatant words are probably making you cry. It’s not my desire to cause you more pain, but it is okay to cry. And cry. Get it out. There are times when, for the sake of others, you hold it in, put on a brave face. But as you read this letter, as you talk to God, cry! It is part of the healing. 

Only God and time can heal you and oh how we all wish we could shorten that time and skip to the part where the pain ceases to be so acute and retching. Alas, God doesn’t allow us to do that, does he? Pain is part of this cursed world we live in. However, he does lend us his presence and his soothing grace to spread over our hurts. His Word shares comfort and provides strength and guidance during dark times. 

Maybe I’m being presumptuous to write to you like this. Who am I to give advice? 

I was twenty-four when my mom died. So young—the both of us. Someone marveled that I was “such a rock.” But just because someone looks together on the outside, doesn’t mean they’re not a drippy, gelatinous puddle on the inside…or that they’re even mentally present. 

I don’t have wisdom or special insight into grief. But through the trials I’ve had in my life, I have found comfort in certain passages of Scripture. So, I hope my attempt at ministering to you isn’t offensive. I want to give you some verses to look up and meditate upon that have ministered to me during times when I felt like the Lord was far away.

I’ve written them in this daily devotional format so you can read a couple each day and think about what God is saying and how it applies to or influences you. Keep a journal or notebook with you so if you feel him saying something special, you can write it down. It will bless you later to recall his message and see how your healing progressed. 

I have forgotten so much of what happened during my times of loss and pain, how the Lord ministered to me, how he used his people to be his voice and hands and feet. I wish I had kept a journal, so I’m encouraging you to.

I know it can be hard to go on every day. I’m sure at times it may feel pointless. There may be times you want to give up. But neither your loved one, nor the Lord, nor your family and friends want that for you. If you are having those types of thoughts persistently, seek help. Don’t let the thoughts grow and take you over.

I humbly offer you these scriptures with the hope that they will bring you comfort, renew your strength, and turn your focus toward the God of All Comfort, for they are breathed directly from his heart.

Day 1

Read Isaiah 40:28-31. This was my mom’s favorite verse. For many years after her death, I still choked up when I read it, not only because it reminded me of her, but also because it is such a beautiful and powerful passage.

Note v. 28. In contrast to us humans, God does not grow _______ or _______. Instead (v. 29), he gives _______ to the _______ and increases the _______ of the _______. How can we renew our strength (v. 31)?

The Hebrew word translated hope means to expect, tarry, patiently wait. But there’s another meaning that, based on the context of the verse, seems like it would fit as well, maybe better. The other meaning is to bind together by twisting. If we are bound together tightly with the Lord, our strength can be renewed as he does the work for us by lifting us up on eagle’s wings. We can run and not be weary because he is carrying us in his strength.

One writer likened it to the games kids play where they grab onto a parent’s leg and the parent continues to walk, carrying the child along for a free ride. The child is twisted onto the parent’s leg and can “run” and not be weary and “walk” and not faint. What a beautiful picture!

Sometimes when we are hurting or weary, praying is difficult. We can then rest in the prayers of others on our behalf. This is my prayer for you today: Psalm 20. You can read it now and substitute “me”s for the “you”s to make it your own prayer to God.

Day 2

Psalm 119:81–82 says, “My soul _______ with longing for your _______, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, ‘When will you _______ me?’”

Several years ago I suffered a health crisis. I was in the hospital four times within a year, and in between, I was so sick I could barely walk or eat or be with my family. As I lay in bed all day every day I would stare out the window at the beautiful green and blue world the Creator blessed us with, and I would feel like life was passing me by. Everything went on without me, and I so wanted to be a part of it, not to ever miss anything ever again.

Read Psalm 142.

Notice verse 4. When we are in the depths of despair it is sometimes easy to feel alone and isolated from those we love. I had a wonderful support network in my family and in other Christians who prayed for me, brought food, or took care of my kids or drove them places. 

If you have a support network, pray right now and thank God for them. Ask his blessings on them. Share your burdens with them and allow them to minister to you in his name. If you don’t have anyone, reach out to a local church or civic organization who will be eager and willing to walk arm in arm with you through this valley.

Verse 6 asks for rescue from “those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.” In the case of someone in the midst of grief, sadness and despair pursue you and they can be too strong to resist alone. But the Lord is able to set you free from your prison that you may praise his name (v. 7).

Now, my prayer for you today is Ephesians 3:14–21. Read it more than once and meditate on the parts that particularly speak to you. I pray that he will “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Be sure to focus on the section of praise in verse 21. 

Very often praising the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ through the precious Holy Spirit can retrain our focus off of the trouble of the moment and back onto him, for, like Peter when he tried to walk on the water, we lose sight of Jesus and begin to notice the storm all around us. That’s when we sink. 

But he is faithful when we are faithless. He will not allow us to drown. He will pick us up from the miry clay and set our feet on a rock and establish our going and place a new song in our heart, a song of praise to our God (see Psalm 40:2).

Posted in Mini Bible Studies

Dealing With Insecurity

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

Many people deal with insecurity. Are you one of those people? Now, I’m not talking about the normal, day-to-day insecurities pretty much everyone has. I’m talking about if you struggle to like yourself or if you feel you’re not good enough. Do you ever wonder if God could even love you?

That’s not what God wants for you. He created you. He brought you into this world for a special purpose that is unique for you. You have special gifts that are unique to you. Since he created you, God wants you to love, nurture, and care for yourself. He loves you, and if the Creator of the universe takes an interest in you, you must be special!

I want to help you become comfortable with YOU: how you look, your personality, your future, your faith, everything that makes you, YOU. There is NOTHING wrong with you.

Now, understand, I’m not saying you’re perfect. Of course, that’s not possible. Each person has flaws and sins they struggle with. That’s just part of being human and living in a sinful world. Sin has been in the world since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden. 

If you have never repented of your sin and asked God to forgive you through Jesus, skip to the end of this Bible study and learn how to do that. If you are already a believer, a follower of Jesus, and have repented and asked him to be your Savior, then read on. 

As followers of Christ, we should strive each day to make improvements in those areas of sin we struggle with and to grow and mature so we are more like Christ, our model of perfect, holy humanity. It is a lifelong process. The Bible calls it “sanctification.” And we won’t be complete until we get to heaven.

Just take a few minutes each day to read the verses in this Bible study and meditate on what the Scripture is saying to you. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed. So when you read the Bible and really take it in, you are hearing the very words of God, and he is speaking to you!

Day 1

Read Psalm 139:1–12

Notice in 1–4 how very WELL the Lord KNOWS you. Since He created you, he knows everything about you! Another place in Scripture says that He even knows how many hairs are on your head (Luke 12:7).

Verses 5 and 6 tell you that God is intimately involved in your life. His hand is upon everything you do. The rest of the verses, read them once more, are either a comfort or a problem, depending on your perspective. If we want the Lord to be in control, those promises are wonderful! No matter where we go, he is there. We can always count on Him. In Joshua 1:9 God tells Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And he is with you too if you are his child. One of the names of Jesus we hear especially at Christmas is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”

On the other hand, if a person is trying to run from God like Jonah did, that person has problems because God is everywhere, and you can’t get away from him. He was even with Jonah in the fish’s belly!

Pray right now that you will begin to understand that God created you exactly as you are and knows everything about you and that He loves you unconditionally.

Day 2

Read Psalm 139:13–24

How were you brought into this world? (v. 13)

How does v. 14 describe the way God made you? You are one of his works. So that makes you _______________________!

Notice v 16. When did God ordain all of your days and write them in his book?

Skip down to v 23–24. This should be your prayer to God for today. You may have a lot of anxious thoughts. We’re going to talk about those on a different day. God does know what you think, but you still can tell him about it. Verse 24 is what I mentioned yesterday. Every day we must allow him to reveal to us the ways in which we offend him so we can make it right with him and allow him to lead us down the right path.

Day 3

You may know John 3:16 by heart but look it up anyway and read it slowly so you get its full meaning. Why did God give his only begotten Son? 

It’s not in this particular verse, but what did God send his Son to do? (If you don’t know, read 1 Corinthians 15:3–4.)

You are part of the world, right? So that means that God LOVED you so much that he sent Jesus, and Jesus DIED for YOU!

Do you see what you mean to him? You have to begin to accept yourself as God accepts you. It is an insult to him when you don’t like yourself. In Genesis 1, after each thing God created, he said it was GOOD. God doesn’t make mistakes, and nothing takes him by surprise. When you can learn to rest in that, you will be at peace with yourself.

Next, I want you to look at Ephesians 1:4–5. 

Do you understand what that means? It is saying that we who are saved were chosen by God before the world was even created to be adopted into his family (to be saved) through Jesus because it pleased him, and he wanted to. Isn’t that incredible?

Flip over to Ephesians 2:10. This says that we are God’s workmanship – he is a craftsman and we are his finished product – and we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. But here is the part I want you to get: God prepared those good works IN ADVANCE for us to do. 

That shows us that he created us for a specific purpose. He has a plan for our lives.

Lastly, look up Romans 8:28. Have you heard this verse before? We will look at it more tomorrow, but for now, just meditate on it a while. It doesn’t mean that God won’t ever let anything bad happen to us, because Scripture tells us we will have trials and hard times, but it means that God has a plan, and it is for our own good and the good of his kingdom.

Pray that God will help you to begin to rest in his plan and know that you are special to him. Thank him for sending Jesus to die so that we can know God.

Day 4

Today I want you to see that God has your best interest at heart. Go to Romans 8:28 again. This time read through the end of the chapter. Which of those verses speak to you the most?

You can trust God. He made you, he saved you, he has a plan for you, and everything that happens to you, both good and bad, works for your good because you have been called for his purpose in you.

This means that you don’t have to constantly be worried about when you’re going to meet the right guy or girl or find just the right job or whatever it is that gives you anxious thoughts. That is in God’s hands. 

Check out Matthew 6:25–34. What do these verses teach us about worry, trust, and what is truly important in life?

Pray that you will let go of the constant need to be in control of your life and that you will stop worrying and trust God with your future. Ask him to help you seek him first, above all the things you desire so that he will order your priorities into their proper place.

Day 5

Today I want to show you how to let God be in charge of your thoughts so you can let go of a desire when it’s not in your best interest or let go of the insecurities that cause you anxiety.

Romans 8:6–7 says that the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace and that the sinful mind does not submit to God. When you dislike yourself or allow yourself to be dependent upon the opinion of others for your self-worth, that doesn’t please God. If you put a human’s opinion above God’s opinion, that is sin.

Now, that is not to say that even if someone compliments or praises us that we have to shun that. On the contrary, Proverbs 25:11 says that words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in settings of silver. And 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to encourage people and build them up. God uses those “fitly spoken” words to help us feel good.

Next read Philippians 4:6-8. 

We are not to be anxious about things, but instead to come to God with thanksgiving for all he has done for us and ask him for the things we want—not material possessions, but our needs.

When we do that, we can have peace in Christ Jesus. That peace will guard our hearts and minds from bad things. Again, not that bad things will never happen; they definitely will. That is part of living in a sinful world as sinful people. But, instead, it means we can have peace in the middle of the storms of life.

Verse 8 tells us what kind of thoughts we are to have to give us that peace. Write out what things they are.

Verse 13 says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” What in your life do you need God’s strength for?

2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. That includes those anxious thoughts and those thoughts of not being good enough.

Pray that God will transform you into the strong, confident person he created you to be and that you would give your heart and mind to him. Pray that you will rest in HIS plan for your life and focus on doing good works to others in his name and not focus on gaining the approval of others.

The hurts and brokenness of the past don’t go away overnight. Healing takes time and sometimes requires help from a friend, a pastor, a mentor, or a professional counselor. This little Bible study is simply to point you to Christ Jesus, who loves you and died for you so you could know the Father.

Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord will mount up on eagles’ wings. They will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint.”

Optional Day 6

This day is for the person who hasn’t yet come to the place of accepting the gift of salvation by faith in Jesus.

The first thing you have to do is understand your need for a Savior. If you’re struggling in the swimming pool and I knock you on the head with a lifesaver to try and drag you out, assuming you’re drowning when you’re not, you’re going to be upset with me. 

If, on the other hand, you are drowning and desperately hope someone will come along and pull you to safety, you will be so grateful for that lifesaver.

So why do people need a Savior?

Romans 3:23 and 6:23 tell us that everyone has sinned. There is no one who is righteous, “No, not one.” But God will forgive us and make us righteous in his sight if we have faith in Jesus.

The Bible calls that being “born again.” (John 3:3). You may have heard that term before. Jesus said in John 14:6 that he is the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the God, the Father, except through him.

So let’s review right quick. We are all sinners. We’re born that way. Can’t help it. If you think about it, you never have to teach a child how to lie or how to be selfish. They know that instinctively. What you have to teach them is truthfulness and kindness. 

God, on the other hand, IS holy, righteous, perfect, sin-free. His very nature requires that he judge sin. So what’s to do? How can we know God? How can we go to heaven? How can we gain forgiveness from sin?

You have to recognize your need for a Savior, your need for forgiveness of your sin. Romans 10:9-10 says that you have to confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believer in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Then you will be “saved,” “justified,” “born again.” Those are all terms the Bible uses to mean FORGIVEN!!

There’s no magic prayer or special words you have to say. You just have to come to God and humbly ask him for salvation and forgiveness. Romans 3:24 says he justifies us FREELY by his grace. It is all by faith in Jesus, not by our own righteousness (remember, we have none) or by our works. God through Jesus did all the work. We just have to believe (Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 3:3-7).

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and received forgiveness of sin, you are now a child of God, a Christian. Your work is now ahead of you. You must learn the teachings of the Bible and work in God’s kingdom and grow in your faith. 

Step 1: TELL SOMEONE!! Share what God has done in your life.

Step 2: Find a person or a ministry who can help you grow and support you as you learn to live for Jesus. (I heartily recommend BibleThinker.org or Grace to You ministries at gty.org or Precept Ministries at precept.org or LifeWord.org.)

Step 3: Find a local, Bible-following church where you can be baptized and join in fellowship with other believers. There are many out there, so don’t be discouraged if you try one and it doesn’t quite fit. Churches are like shoes. There are hundreds of sizes and styles and types of functionality. You have to try them on to see what fits. 

But the Bible is clear: we can’t be a Christian all on our own. We are part of the body of Christ, his CHURCH, made of many, many members across the world in hundreds of countries. There are local meeting places where we meet together, but we are all brothers and sisters, and we encourage and support one another as we serve Jesus in this difficult life.

Posted in Blog posts

Hope in Death

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

The Visitation

Groups of people clustered around the spacious gathering room, in the aisles, between rows of chairs, smiling, chatting, embracing, remembering. Some, with chins quavering, dabbed the corners of their eyes with tissues to levee the tears that overflowed their banks. A blond wooden casket presided over the room, but most of the people ignored its presence. They knew the broken, octogenarian form resting inside was just an empty shell. His spirit was rejoicing in the presence of the Heavenly Father. Jim lived a full life, always surrounded by family and friends, just as in that room at his death.

The Funeral

When the time came for the service to begin, Jim’s son stood to officiate. With fondness, he told warm stories of days gone by, of quirks and habits that made his father beloved by all. The listeners nodded their agreement and chuckled in their reminiscences. 

Jim had been a schoolteacher for more than three decades and a Sunday School teacher longer than that. Years of sharing his life with children, grandchildren, students, and friends, investing his life in the lives of others, talking of the Lord—this was the fruition, being honored by those left behind. Those who would, as his son poignantly noted, “have to learn how to live life without him.”

 “But I know I will see him again one day,” he continued, his eyes wistful. “That hope allows me to stand before you brokenhearted, and yet with a smile.” He shared his father’s love of the Savior. Jim, in death as in life, pointed people to Jesus. 

The Hope

The funeral of a Christian is a time of rejoicing and hope. Though we mourn, we are comforted. The Apostle Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

He also says, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

The Truth

Outside of Jesus Christ there is no hope after death. But because Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, he provides a way for humans to be reconciled to God the Father, to be forgiven of sin so that we can have a relationship with him. Jesus said of himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He is our hope, the reason we can rejoice even in the face of death, if we have trusted in him as our Savior.

Posted in Blog posts

A Faith to Live By Is a Faith to Die By

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

Last night I dreamed about my dad. It’s strange, because although he passed away eleven years ago next month, this is probably only the third time I’ve dreamed about him. It’s odd when it happens; I wake up and realize it was a dream, but it feels so fresh and real that it rips open the hole that I had finally gotten all boarded up. My dad and I had a pretty complicated relationship, but I still miss him. If he were here now, we’d have a great time catching up and talking for several hours, but then we would need a break. That’s just reality. But I’d be willing to give it a go anyway.

 One thing that was of utmost importance to my dad when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer was to finish well. He knew he was in for some hard times and he needed to know that his faith would remain strong, that what he had lived his life by would be sufficient when it was time to suffer and then to die. I remembered that recently as I was thinking about the reality that many face with coronavirus.

If you know that you’re one of the vulnerable ones, that if you get the virus you will likely die, it’s easy to become fearful. That is true of me. I have an underlying medical condition and I am immune suppressed. My husband has acted as the royal guard, not allowing me to come in contact with anyone who has the remotest possibility of exposing me to the virus. I’ve gone from denial: it’s ridiculous – that’s not going to happen; to fear: what if it did happen – I could really die; to acceptance: I’m doing what I can and being sensible and trusting God. 

I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic, but I had a moment where I did actually consider my own death. Even though I’ve lost both my parents and have been sick enough before that I too could have died, I don’t think I have ever pondered my death. I don’t like to think about it. I don’t want to die and, to be honest, it scares me. 

You have to be careful saying that around some Christians because you might get a scolding. Christians aren’t supposed to be afraid to die, right? Maybe. But I think it’s pretty human to carry that fear. For one thing, there’s a lot in this life you don’t want to miss out on. Plus, you don’t REALLY know what’s on the other side. You believe; you have faith; you trust; you “know.” But there’s always that tug of doubt.

As I wrestled with these thoughts about death, I had the realization that faith doesn’t mean you never doubt. All the major heroes of the Bible had periods of doubt, even some in listed in Hebrews 11, the “faith chapter.” I also fully believe that the Lord gives grace for the moment. He will not leave his children when it’s time for them to die, especially if they have to suffer. If we have a faith worth living by, we will also have a faith worth dying by.

By God’s grace, my dad succeeded in holding onto his faith right up to the end. He was a witness for the Lord in the months and weeks leading up to his final days. As he got closer to death, and delirium set in, he “talked to” loved ones who had already passed and “saw” beautiful sights. He had moments of presence during which he got to say goodbye to his family members. His final words were, “I love you, baby doll” to his wife. He asked that at his funeral 2 Timothy 4:6-8 be read to the family after all the guests had exited. Verse 7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” It was a wonderful testimony. His faith was enough to live by and also enough to die by.

As I worked through all this in my mind, I felt at peace. I’m done pondering my own death for now, thank goodness. For anyone who doesn’t have that luxury at the present moment, I pray that you will find peace, comfort and trust through the Lord Jesus Christ and that your faith in him will sustain you. If you haven’t come to faith in him call on his name. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

Posted in Blog posts

“Where Two or Three Are Gathered”

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . But brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you” 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2:17 (NIV).

Sometimes technology is wonderful. A few Sundays ago I experienced my first-ever livestreaming church service. Like many churches around the world, my church has canceled services due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, due to modern advances, we can still join together in worship and hear sermons from our pastor. We can still “go” to church.

When I was growing up, my dad, a pastor, was like two different people: Dr. Playful and Mr. Strict. I could skip school any time I wanted. I was a very responsible student and made good grades, so he never worried about whether I would get my work done. In fact, I can remember occasions when he would try to get me to stay home! I would have to be the grown-up and say, “No, Dad, I have a test today.” Other times though, I would agree. I remember one day staying home watching Donahue, eating tangerines, and playing dominoes with my dad. Another time, someone had given him a ping pong table and he talked me into staying home from school and playing. It was outside in the carport, and we were still playing when the bus came by that afternoon. My friends called me later, incredulous, and no doubt a tad jealous, that my dad had orchestrated that hooky session for the sake of ping pong.

On the other hand, church was a whole different matter! I had to have a doctor’s note, filled out in triplicate and notarized, documenting lab cultures and stating the degree of my fever if I wanted to miss any church service or church-sponsored event. Okay, I’m exaggerating. But only a little. We did not miss church. Ever. I had my tonsils removed when I was nine. I did get to miss church that Sunday, but I was on my own because Mom still went to the service. I remember lying on the couch watching our 13-inch television, ten feet away on a high shelf. Such freedom I felt! And maybe just a little bit of rebellion, way down deep.

My husband was raised similarly, though not quite as rigidly. That’s just what you did: you went to church every time the doors were open. When we had children of our own, we struggled with trying to emphasize the importance of church attendance and involvement without it becoming legalistic. By that time, families were excessively busy with sports and other activities, and church was part of that busyness. So, if we had a gymnastics meet or a ball tournament out of town on a Sunday, we didn’t stress about missing church. The rest of the time, however, we were involved in everything from G.A.’s, to A.W.A.N.A., to handbells and choir, to youth group. 

To be honest, I’m not certain if we did that right. Now that our kids are grown, they don’t always put the emphasis on church attendance and involvement that we would wish. Maybe that’s our fault. But on the other hand, I know an awful lot of people who were forced to go religiously (pun intended) as children and now refuse to darken the doors. It’s impossible to know.

What I do know is how wonderful it is to be a member of the family of God and what a blessing and privilege to meet together for worship, not “forsaking the assembling of [ourselves] together,” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV) even when there’s a global pandemic. Jesus promised that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He will be in their midst (Matthew 18:20). That thought stirred my spirit the first week of livestreaming as I visualized little groups of quarantined Christians across the world, gathered in their homes around televisions, computers, or phones, watching the livestreams of their respective churches, all worshiping God together separately, some in their PJs, others in their Sunday best, with their kids, with their coffee, with the dog, cuddled up, or socially distanced. And I felt His presence. I think He was glorified. 

Unfortunately, not every week has been quite as warm and fuzzy. One time the video kept glitching and the audio and video were out of sync. Last week our dogs were feeling feisty and kept rolling around and growling during “church,” a tad distracting to say the least. 

Nevertheless, if it is one thing we know, until the Lord takes us out of here en masse, His church will endure. The gates of hell will not prevail against it, and neither will coronavirus (nor dogs nor video glitches)! I encourage each of you to join a livestreaming church service faithfully as long as we are all quarantined. When life returns to normal, however, all who are able should go back to our brick-and-mortar buildings. While solidarity via technology is a beautiful thing, even more beautiful is the work and worship we do together, side-by-side.

Posted in Blog posts

Doing Good to All

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

“Let us not become weary in doing good…Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

One day as I entered Sunday School, a man roughly in his thirties sat alone in the room, having arrived early. I greeted him as I passed, and he immediately introduced himself. This man, (I’ll call him “Jerry”) whom I had never met before, proceeded to fill me in on the current events in his life: He had a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday because he had been feeling sick. He hoped it didn’t take too long because he was supposed to have a job interview. He was new to town and living at the independent living center and was going to start coming to church…and on and on he prattled. It didn’t take long to figure out that Jerry was “different.” 

Things did not improve as the class leader began the lesson. Jerry interjected and interrupted, talking for minutes at a time, and, quite honestly, saying nothing. He made no sense yet spoke with a tone of importance and invented important sounding words as he went. It was clear that he actually had a body of basic Bible knowledge, but it was lost in translation, so to speak – a phrase, ironically, that he sprinkled inappropriately throughout his discourse.

The leader did a good job of patiently waiting for Jerry to finish or politely breaking in to try and stay on topic. But most everyone else sat stiff and uncomfortable until class was mercifully over and tried not to make eye contact as we filed out, ears ringing and heads spinning. It was my turn to lead the class the next week, and I was already praying.

The Holy Spirit was gracious and, miraculously, I managed to lead class, including Jerry in the discussion while at the same time keeping his contributions more or less under control. However, the pastoral staff as well began to recognize the challenge Jerry would present during the worship service. He sat right down on the front row and loved raising his arms high during the singing – not normally a problem – but, in his excitement, he also tended to migrate toward the stage ending up front and center. He clapped loudly and off beat during and after every song. He said “amen” too often and in all the wrong places during the sermon. It was all very distracting. Many of us regular attenders felt resentment toward this interloper, and, consequently, the guilt that ought to accompany those kinds of feelings.

Once again, enter the Holy Spirit. Several of us in the Sunday School class in those first few weeks felt conviction over our tendency to be annoyed by Jerry or our wishing he wasn’t there. We quickly began to pray that we would tolerate him the way the Lord tolerates us, with love and forbearance. After all, isn’t that what the church is about, what Christians are supposed to do? (For the record, we all went through this individually or as married couples. Only later did we discuss it with other class members and, even then, it was still individually rather than a corporate decision. I was amazed at the Spirit’s simultaneous work in us as individuals within the group.)

Eventually we learned that Jerry has had a pretty difficult life. Raised by an abusive mother, he went through life as a problem child with behavioral issues. He has difficulty with social cues and poor impulse control, which led to some angry outbursts at times. We realized that he needed community just like all of us do. He needed a family, a church family, who would love him the way he is and accept him as a part of us. 

For a while, different ones would go and sit by him during Sunday School or worship service and help direct or redirect him. He actually seemed to appreciate it. He had a real desire to please and it brought him joy to be noticed and praised. The ministerial staff, seeking a better solution to his distractive worship experience, decided to enlist his help in running the video camera in the balcony. You’d have thought they asked him to have dinner with the president! He felt so important and proud of his new job.

Sadly, Jerry’s situation changed, and he had to move away. He sent the pastor the most precious and heart-stirring note expressing his love for his church family and lamenting how much he would miss it. He was worried he wouldn’t find another church that would love and accept him. I worry about that too. Our church is pretty special, but I bet the Holy Spirit will lead other brothers and sisters to lean into Jerry, to walk beside him in love and mutual acceptance. If we only love those who are like us, we are no different than the world. But Christ has called his body to a higher standard and he already showed us how to do it.

Posted in Blog posts

Giving God Control

Posted on by Vicki Lowery

The day my oldest daughter had a baby is a day forever imprinted in my memory. Since he was the first grandchild on both sides of his family, his arrival caused quite a stir. Family members began to gather in the labor and delivery waiting room at the hospital, all grinning broadly and twittering with joy and excitement. None of us, however, could have anticipated at that moment the sine wave of emotions that was ahead. The events of that day left me feeling powerless and out of control, yet as a person of faith, I learned once again that in life’s scary moments, God will provide peace if we trust Him with our burdens.

Around two a.m., my youngest daughter woke my husband and me with a giddy whisper, “Mom, Dad, Emily’s water broke! They’re heading to the hospital!” 

We were instantly awake and discussing plans. Though we wanted to immediately hop into the car and make the two-hour drive, we knew it was impractical. My husband, an eye surgeon, was obligated to see his post-surgical patients in clinic that morning, but would need to make arrangements for the remainder of clinic to be canceled. Besides, my daughter, a very private person, did not want anyone in the labor room with her, so while we wanted to be close by, we would, in essence only be hurrying up to wait.  

“We might as well try to get some sleep,” we reasoned. Yeah, right.

Several hours later when we all finally arrived at the hospital, we found my son-in-law’s family already there. Most of us held our phones in our laps, snatching them up with each buzz, hungry for the slightest morsel of news. Though we calmly made small talk, it was quite evident that our insides were all butterflies and grasshoppers. 

“It looks like delivery is a few hours away,” observed Emily’s father-in-law after reading a message from his son. “Would you all want to go grab some lunch?”

Forks clinked against plates, conversation flowed freely, and laughter filled the room as we shared not only the meal, but also a spirit of kinship and family. Just as lunch concluded, word came that my daughter was almost ready to start pushing. We quickly gathered up and hurried back to the hospital.

The news, as it turned out, belied what was to come, and as the minutes ticked into hour upon hour, anticipation turned to apprehension, joy to concern. We hung on each new bit of information. 

“Her labor has stalled.”

“They are trying different labor positions and administering a drug.” 

Finally, “Progress is being made!”

Then, “Actually, no, the baby’s head is too large to fit into the birth canal.”

I had so hoped and prayed that she would not have to have a C-section, but after twenty-four hours of labor, that was the only option remaining. Unable to sit, I took the elevator down to the cafeteria and absently scanned the menu. Choosing French fries for their munchable quality, I chewed each fry like a rabbit would a carrot and tried to control my nerves. Eventually, I made the trek back to the waiting room to sit on the edge of my very uncomfortable seat.

By this point, we had all been at the hospital for fourteen hours or more, and the siblings had to leave. We four parents were the only family members – in fact, the only people at all – still in the waiting room. We began to speak of our worry, of the percentages and likelihoods (the father-in-law is a doctor too), of our kids’ exhaustion and courage. There were unspoken things as well. I felt powerless. I could do nothing to help. I could not, according to my daughter’s own wishes, even see her, hold her hand, caress her face, smooth her hair. Her husband was to be her comfort in that moment of intimacy; it was their time. Although I know her well, and I understood her need for privacy, it increased my anxiety and left me in a sort of limbo. I could not leave the hospital. I could not distract myself. I could not sleep. 

Ultimately, we parents joined hands and hearts in prayer for our precious treasures. We prayed for the doctor and the nurses too. We did aloud what we had all been doing silently in our hearts all day, giving the matter to God yet again. In that moment of unity and agreement together in prayer, we felt peace. In that deserted, stiff, non-conducive waiting room in the hospital, our hope was renewed. Soon after, I lay down across the bench and dozed. When I woke, news came that, after nearly twenty-six hours, the baby was finally born, and both mom and baby were fine.

While life provides us with many joyful moments, there are also many times when we may feel out of control or powerless. During the birth of my grandchild, a very joyous occasion, I felt powerless to ease my daughter’s suffering or to assist in any way. I felt out of control when worry and anxiety were beginning to gain the upper hand. When we prayed, I trusted God with my fears. Afterward, I felt God’s peace wash over me. At that moment, I was reminded that God is available to hear prayers and will provide strength and comfort as we place our burdens on His all-powerful shoulders.