Tag: Jacqui Stoner

Nehemiah’s Prayer: A Powerful Defense Against Spiritual Warfare

When Nehemiah saw the need, he prayed for four months. God planned to use him to set right a 100-year-old problem.

Read: Nehemiah 6

Why do we so frequently hear the phrase “Let’s have a quick word of prayer”? Did you know when Nehemiah saw the need, he prayed for four months? God planned to use him to set right a 100-year-old problem. Nehemiah worked longer in prayer than the time needed to complete the wall around Jerusalem. The enemy loomed on the horizon. Think carefully about choosing the size of your prayer, especially when it is a brutal onslaught. Prayer is your both your largest defense and greatest weapon against the one who wants to destroy you.

SPIRITUAL WHACK-A-MOLE

Nehemiah’s construction project is targeted by major spiritual warfare. The battle to rebuild the wall is not over as it nears completion. Conspiracy after conspiracy arise against Nehemiah. It is spiritual “whack-a-mole”; one problem remedied only for another to pop up elsewhere.

SATAN’S PLAN

Satan’s age-old plan is to defeat Christians. If Satan can discredit them, divide, and discourage them, he can create havoc using the strategies he used during Nehemiah’s time. When you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, be very watchful, because it’s in those seasons that the enemy plays especially dirty.

NEHEMIAH’S DEFENSE

What is Nehemiah’s response to the spiritual and mental attacks from Sanballat and friends? David Guzik observes: “Nehemiah did not mount an elaborate defense, trying to prove Sanballat wrong point by point. He wasn’t going to waste his time. You don’t satisfy men like Sanballat with facts, explanations, and evidence. Nehemiah replied by calmly and straightforwardly telling Sanballat that he was a liar, and by carrying on with the work.” We can choose to carry on and refuse fear.

NO STOPPING NEHEMIAH

More than four times the ungodly trio of Sanballat, Geshem and Geshem plot against Nehemiah. The final gates around Jerusalem are not yet in place. The evil think tank attempt to set up an out-of-town meeting with Nehemiah in order to harm him. Nehemiah replies, “I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?” Nehemiah chooses not to stop.

Then an evil letter arrives from the hand of Sanballat. An open letter (an op-ed) is to be sent to the King of Persia accusing Nehemiah of leading a revolt against Persia. Without a beat, Nehemiah replies, “We are not engaged in these activities you are describing. All of this is a figment of your imagination.” Nehemiah observes the heart of the enemy, “All of them wantto scare us, supposing, ‘Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won’t get done.’”

MORTAR THAT REBUILDS STRONG WALLS

Don’t miss how Nehemiah handles opposition. He didn’t drop his tools; he dropped to his knees and prayed “strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah knows he is vulnerable, tired, and must be discerning in who to trust. “The mortar that causes the rebuilt walls to stand is a deep prayer life reflecting dependance and faith in God. Pull out the mortar and the walls would fall.” No prayer = no walls. Nehemiah’s prayer life runs deep.

Yet despite all this horrendous opposition from Satan and his tools, Nehemiah stays on task. “So, the wall was completed…. When all our enemies heard and all the nations who were around us saw this, they were greatly disheartened. They knew that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

WHERE TO FOCUS

Dear friend, Satan wants to destroy you. He wants to destroy your name and everything about you. He wants to win at spiritual whack-a-mole. David Platt advises: “Keep your focus on God and on the work he has called you to do. Let Him, God alone, be your focus instead of the enemy’s distractions and your encouragement instead of the enemy’s discouragement. Let Him be your joy and hope and peace and life instead of the enemy’s attempts to destroy you in whatever way he can.” Don’t just have a quick word in prayer. Dive into prayer – it is your biggest weapon against the one who wants to destroy you.

Memorize: Ephesians 6:10-20.

Generosity vs Greed: A Spiritual Reflection

We thought Marge was sharing her bounty, but Marge was making a buck.

“Do you like cantaloupes?” asked Marge. With big smiles, we replied, “We love cantaloupes!” Marge promptly produced two and said, “That will be $6.” This interaction was not at her fruit stand, but in shaking hands as our congregation exited the church doors. We thought Marge was sharing her bounty, but Marge was making a buck.

MAKING A BUCK IN HARD TIMES

In Nehemiah 5, there are wealthy people taking advantage their own Jewish brothers during hard times. Many people returned to the Holy Land from exile with little extra money. In the previous chapter, Satan attacked the Jews from the outside, now he attacks within their ranks. Greed runs rampant among God’s people to the point that resentment explodes when making a buck replaces caring for each other.

THE GREAT OUTCRY

“There was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. ‘We must obtain] grain in order to eat and stay alive…We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our houses as collateral in order to obtain grain during the famine…We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the king on our fields and our vineyards… Some of our daughters have been subjected to slavery, while we are powerless to help, since our fields and vineyards now belong to other people.’” Satan turns brother against brother. Greed eats away at the fabric of the nation.

GREED OFFENDS GOD

While working on rebuilding the city walls the people demonstrated tremendous unity. That collaboration and cooperation has now evaporated. Nehemiah is outraged what brother is doing to brother for the sake of a buck. Greed offends God.

WHAT THEY OWNED WAS NOT THEIR OWN

God always takes offense at an ungenerous heart. Satan has a field day. In the early Christian Church, displaying open generosity was a work of the Holy Spirit. “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had…There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (Acts 4:32-35) Generosity is an attribute of God.

GLORY OF GOD IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK

During summers at GCC one often sees a truck parked outside the church doors after a morning service. In the back of it is the harvest of a farmer’s gardens. He brings bags and encourages people to freely fill them with what they can use in their kitchens. His generous steward’s heart freely displays God’s generosity. The glory of God can be seen in that truck.

RULE FOR GENEROSITY

What is a good rule of thumb for generosity? C.S. Lewis wrote: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”

My bounty isn’t really mine. I am just a steward of it. Marge’s cantaloupes, the money held back by Nehemiah’s countrymen, and the GCC farmer’s produce all belong to God. Joy begins when we demonstrate the glory of God through generous hearts.

Click to read more on generosity.

Past Wounds Shape Our View of God

All wounds affect us.  They cause fear that seeps into our relationships, especially our relationship with God.

Last Summer our family visited Florida, and we stopped at a sea turtle hospital.  I became enthralled with sea turtles as I listened to the staff describe in detail how these huge creatures nest.  At night, a turtle mom laboriously crawls, dragging her heavy clumsy body through the dry sand for long distances to find the perfect nesting spot.   She is sensitive to dangers that threaten her hatchlings when they emerge.  If she senses danger, she may spend the night in a “false crawl”, opting to return to the sea, exhausted, without laying her eggs.  Something as harmless as a beach chair can scare her away from an otherwise perfect nesting spot. It seems silly to us, but she sees her fears as real. They dictate her behavior.

ALL WOUNDS AFFECT US

What fears do I have and how they affect my behavior in my relationship with God?  Living in a fallen world as imperfect people, we are all wounded in human relationships. Some wounds are big and obvious; others are small and get brushed aside easily. All wounds affect us.  They cause fear that seeps into our relationships, especially our relationship with God.

HOW WE PERCEIVE GOD’S LOVE

It is easy to project the imperfect ways we experience love on earth on how we perceive God’s love for us.  In our earthly relationships we may experience apathy, contempt, anger, criticism, neglect, emotional or physical abandonment.  Based on our life experiences, deep down we expect God to react with similar behavior when we relate to Him.  This can make us fearful to approach or spend time with God.  It affects our level of trust and intimacy with Him and dictates our own behavior.

DICTATED BY FEAR

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), one servant was afraid of the master’s punishment. He hid his talent and did not put it to work.  The servant’s fear of the master’s reaction to anything other than perfection paralyzed him.  His behavior was dictated by fear.

NOT DICTATED BY FEAR

Thankfully, God’s love for us is vastly different than anything we can experience on earth.  He loves imperfect people perfectly.  We are chosen, cherished and adored children of God.  He yearns to spend time with us, to be intimately involved in a relationship with us, no matter how imperfect we are.  “God is perfect and far more lovingly powerful than even out greatest fears. Fear does not have to dictate our behavior toward God.” (Lou Giglio)

NO FEAR IN LOVE

“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].” (I John 4:18 AMP)

What deep heart fears do you have from past experiences?  How are they affecting your perception of God’s love for you?  In what manner does your heart expect Him to react to you when you come to Him?

We do not have to stay stuck with fear dictating our behavior like the sea turtle. We can grow in our understanding of God’s perfect love for us. Ask Him to help and seek other Christians to be part of your journey closer to God and away from fear.

Prayer: Father, we struggle to wrap our minds around how deeply and perfectly You love us.  Please transform our understanding of the joy you find in a relationship with each of us and of how trustworthy You are.  Heal the wounds we have sustained in earthly relationships.  Lead us closer and closer to You every day as we show up and soak in Your presence. Amen.

Nehemiah 4: Overcoming Adversity through Prayer

We stand tallest and strongest on our knees

Nehemiah 4 records a critical part of the game which can turn on the head of a dime. The completion of the massive project of rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem is close to 50%. Work has progressed at least twenty days and the results are phenomenal. Concurrently, tons of debris are disposed of while walls are going up. Chapter 3 mentions the words “next to” 16 times. This is a massive joint effort from relative strangers working next to each other after returning from years in exile. And just when victory is rising on the horizon, the enemy shows up in full battle gear.

A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL ATTACK

Sanballat is Nehemiah’s nemesis. The powerful Persian-appointed governor of Samaria appears loudly on the scene. Sanballat furiously opposes rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. A strong Jerusalem is a major threat to his powerbase. He pulls every trick in the book, including mockery, threats, and plots to disrupt the Jewish workers.  The enemy launches a powerful psychological and spiritual attack.

WORDS FROM THE PIT OF HELL

Enraged and furious, Sanballat publicly ridicules the Jews. “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” Sidekick Tobiah gleefully adds, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”. Words penned from the pit of hell.

WE STAND STRONGEST ON OUR KNEES

How does Nehemiah respond? He immediately runs to God. Nehemiah realizes that this battle is not his; it is God’s. Only God can handle Satan. Charles Stanley notes, “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”

God responds by giving the Jews new vigor. “At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people worked with enthusiasm.” End of drama? No! Sanballat and company “all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.” The enemy loves to frighten and confuse us.

NO HOPE OF ANYTHING GETTING BETTER

Notice the response from the Jewish people this time: “But WE prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” Prayer catches on at a crucial moment as a blanket of discouragement settles down on Jerusalem’s exhausted workers. “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’.. The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, ‘They will come from all directions and attack us!’” Sounds like the hopeless worldview of Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore: “End of the road. Nothing to do. And no hope of things getting better.” Satan prepares for a victory lap.

WHEN VICTORY BLOSSOMS

The workers only see obstacles rather than the goal. This is the moment when God can shine the greatest. Yes, they will never be able to build the wall by themselves. Victory blossoms when we come to an end of ourselves, our own strengths, talents and abilities and admit it to God. Satan doesn’t like to hear when we totally submit to God. God’s angels begin running a victory lap.

REMEMBER WHO GOD IS

Nehemiah looks over the situation, calls together the nobles and the rest of the people and says, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” In other words, REMEMBER! REMEMBER WHO GOD IS!!!!!! These are the words that strike fear in the evil one’s heart.

The Jewish people at that point throw their lot totally into the hands of God. Instead of wringing their hands, they “work early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men are always on guard.” Can you imagine the new attitude and words of encouragement coming out of the mouths of God’s people?

The enemy retreats back to the shadows when we intentionally adjust our attitudes. “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious!” “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”

How to Support Loved Ones Through Prayer

How am I to respond to all this sorrow? I don’t know what to do except take each situation to Jesus.

Last week was a tough one. My heart felt heavier than normal all week. My daughter still suffered with the pain of a pinched nerve. Multiple friends went through difficult trials including life threatening illnesses and marital crisis. A fellow bereaved mother experienced the death of her newborn granddaughter. How am I to respond to all this sorrow? I don’t know what to do except take each situation to Jesus.

WHAT DOES GOD FIRST ASK OF ME

When others are suffering, I often look for something, anything I can do or say to make it better. It is easy to think of prayer as the last resort, but it is exactly what God first asks of me. I may not be able to directly change loved ones’ present situations, but prayer is something I can do. Prayer is my first priority.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF PRAYER

Repeatedly, I lift each of these people up to the throne of Heaven. Whether I pray at a hospital bed, send a text, or whisper petitions in the early morning quiet or throughout the day. Each time a name comes to mind, I ask for divine intervention and provision. I beg for God’s Holy Spirit to be present and bring comfort.

HELP IN PRAYER

Often, I don’t know exactly how to pray. I’m comforted by, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:26-27)

GOD’S RESPONSE

How does God respond to my prayers? One friend told me of God’s provision before their need was even known (Matthew 6:8). I experienced friends sharing laughter like good medicine in the middle of intense uncertainty (Proverbs 17:22). And my faith was challenged as another shared her invitation to a deeper grace and greater love of God as she once again walked in the dark crevasse of the Valley of Death’s Shadow (Psalm 23:4).

Prayer doesn’t always bring about immediate visible resolution. My prayers usually do not bring miraculous instant outcomes for my family and friends. They’re still dealing with the realities of their situations. But by praying, I asked Jesus to step into the pain within us. I may not understand how our life experiences weave into the greater plan and purpose of God, but I know the ultimate outcome. He will wipe away all tears! (Rev. 21:3-4)

We are invited to doggedly pray for each situation God brings to mind. Our prayers change hearts and situations, allowing us to participate in the transforming process of surrendering to God’s plan. What is the first and best thing to do first for those we care about? Pray!!!!!

Getting to Know God: The Encounter with I AM

Read: Exodus 3:1-15

After a long hard day of caring for the sheep, he is tired and hungry. In lightened happy version, Moses sees a fire in the distance. A guy sits at a campfire roasting hot dogs and making smores. The stranger invites Moses to share in the feast. They ended a great evening of companionship singing Kumbaya. Moses walks away, thinking of the nice little visit he had with the nice man.

However, the biblical version of this event is not a friendly campfire. In Exodus 3, the fire of the holiness of the God of the Universe is burning and it is hot! Getting to know God can be uncomfortable.

God’s timing is unique. He reveals Himself to an old shepherd who has seen better days. While in his prime, Moses’ future held great promise. Raised in Pharoah’s Court, Moses was privileged, bright, articulate and brash. Impulsive Moses took on the cloak of a revolutionary. By murdering an Egyptian, he rebelled against the oppression of his people, the Israelites. However, none of his people joined the cause. Moses flees for his life. By Exodus 3 he is broken. Why would God want to know him?

If asked the identity of Moses, the Israelites during this time would probably all ask, “Moses??? Moses who?” But God thoroughly knew who Moses had become, the man who matured during all those years while tending stupid sheep. Moses’ pride evaporated a long time ago. When people arrive at the end of themselves, this is when God can finally work. This is the time to get to know God.

Nothing gets past God. His timing is always right. This is not a comfortable, feel-good God. You can understand the terror of Moses when he hears: “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” Who is this God?

Moses not only wonders, “Who am I?” he asks God, “Who are You?” God answers, “I AM.” Those two words describe the God of eternity. “When used as a stand-alone description, I AM is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. He promises that He will be what He will be; that is, He will be the eternally constant God. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, completely sufficient in Himself to do what He wills to do and to accomplish what He wills to accomplish. (Gotquestions.org)

Is this the God you know and acknowledge every day of your life? Do you wake up with joy knowing that God is eternally present in your day? When you are exhausted, do you choose to still obey and serve the completely sufficient God? God doesn’t care about all your inabilities; God just requires that you offer yourself unreservedly to Him. God wants you to know Him.

Maybe you will not be leading millions of people out of captivity, but regardless of the challenge you can courageously get to know Christ. After all, I Am is the eternally constant God. His plans are much bigger than a comfortable little campfire. Before this God we take off our shoes, lay prone, and offer up our hands in obedience. What a God to know!

God chooses the most unlikely people to get to know Him and to serve in incredible ways. Unlikely? Yes! But not unwilling. Read about: Mary Slessor, a millworker. Christiana Tsai, who said, “My bed is not a prison, but a training school; the Holy Spirit is my mentor, and my visitors are my homework.” Hudson Taylor, the father of modern missions. Get to know the I AM!

Do You Want Your Life Upended? A Call for Change

I have spent a lot of miles driving the car with at least one hand raised, offering up ordeal to God.

Yet another round of medical tests. We rarely play “Dr. Google” with the results from the hospital portal, but we do observe how Bill’s blood tests are trending. A recent wait for results felt especially exhausting. Our health journey has transported us to landscapes we never envisioned. We pray. Friends pray for us and with us. What do we pray for more than anything else? Strength for the journey, regardless of medical test results. Strength as our lives are upended by this illness.

TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

“Upended” means turned on its end or upside down. In the Gospel of John (John 5:1-14) we read of a man whose life was upended. Jesus challenges the disabled man: “Do you want to get well?” Never given a name in the Gospel account, let’s call the disabled guy “Joe”. Why in the world does Jesus ask, “Do you want to get well?” Seems like a strange query to ask someone who has spent his life unable to walk and having to beg for a living.

DID HE REALLY WANT CHANGE?

Why did Jesus ask this? Maybe historical context will help. Jewish culture considered it a blessing to give money to the poor. Culture says that if you do a good work God gives back to you. It is transactional. You give money and God fills your coffers. After many years, Joe had regular donors who thought God in return would give right back to them. Did Joe really want to get well with the resulting change?

Rephrase Jesus question as: “Do you want your entire life upended? Do you want substantial change?” Restored mobility entailed Joe’s finding regular employment, not being eligible for handouts, and contributing to society. Did he really want an upended life? Change can be painful.

Jesus added something to his conversation which has eternal value. “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Sounds like Joe possessed terminal spiritual disabilities much worse than his physical condition. Did this message take root as Joe picked up his mat and danced home? Did he choose to change and become a Jesus follower?

DO WE WANT OUR LIVES UPENDED?

“Do you want your life upended?” In our own household, do we want our lives upended? Will Bill’s healing come in this world or the next? God asks us daily to open our hands and give all of it over to Him. I have spent a lot of miles driving the car with at least one hand raised, offering up our condition. Our response to circumstances is our offering to God. We ask that the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit daily wash over our lives. We want others to see lives transformed by Christ. Hard as it is, we keep asking God to upend our lives.

LIVES TRANSFORMED

The hard question: do you want transformation? “Transformation” means “change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to one that pleases God” (Romans 12:2) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (II Corinthians 5:17)

Transformation is costly. Do I continue to desire to be upended by Christ? Do you? Click to read Fannie’s story of a transformed life.

Understanding God’s Plan in Uncertain Times

Moses’ choice does not seem hard to us, because we know what happens down the road, but he did not possess God’s detailed plan.

Read: Exodus 2:1-15

Filming this account of Moses’ life would make a binge-worthy Netflix series.   Moses is an Israelite slave baby born under a death order. In rapid succession, he miraculously becomes an Egyptian prince, murder, fugitive, and refugee. God’s plan for Moses’ life appeared a dead end.

Escaping from a death sentence, Moses runs off to Midian. Every bit of influence and all of his plans for the future evaporate into thin air. He discovers himself in the middle of nowhere. All his power is gone. Everyone and everything that provided comfort and security in his life evaporate. The only One left is God. Moses chooses to focus on God.  Moses’ choice does not seem hard to us, because we know what happens down the road. Moses did not possess God’s detailed plan.

If you have not been there yet, you will be. Life veers off course. It may be a result of your choices, or it may seem random and unfair. Either way, life is not what you expect, and you feel stuck.  You wait for God to act.  “Fix this God!” is your repeat cry.  Eventually, you begin to realize that His timing and plans often do not match ours. God possesses more important long-term goals for each of us than we have for ourselves. God’s plan is much larger than we can imagine.

“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out)” (Proverbs 19:21 AMP). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55: 8-9 NIV).

When life is not what you expect, what do you choose? Do you abandon God or dig deeper into Him and His Word? Do you opt to pout, get bitter and angry? Or do you choose to remember and stubbornly cling to the truth of God’s goodness, power, and love? Is your conscious decision to believe He has good plans for you no matter what life looks like at the moment?  Have you learned to hear His voice, abide in Him, trust Him while you wait for Him to work in your life circumstances? Are you willing to subject your life to God’s plan?

To make this choice is a daily battle. Satan does not want us to win. With Jesus, we have the power to win that battle daily. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

Probably, you will not become an Egyptian prince, murder, fugitive and refugee, all in rapid succession. However, like Moses, we can learn what absolute joy is ours when we choose to cooperate with and totally depend on God. Pray and ask God for wisdom. What are some specific actions you can do this week to draw close to God? He wants you to seek the growth He seeks to provide, regardless of your circumstances. God’s plans may be puzzling, but they are trustworthy.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”(Ephesians 3: 20-21)

Suggested reading: “You’re Late Again, Lord!” by Karon Phillips Goodman

How God Worked in My Journey of Faith

When God remembers someone, God is ready to act on someone’s welfare. He does not forget. He is at work.

I remember the fear when I published and released my first book. Dropping it off at my store, I quickly wanted to return and take back my books. The trepidation and doubt I faced were overwhelming, but I didn’t run back to the store. Instead, I asked for support from a few close friends, drove home, and prayed. I knew God was calling me to share my book with the world, but at that moment, I wasn’t sure how everything would play out. God was at work.

REGARDLESS, GOD WORKED

God often does not let us know how obeying Him will play out. In Genesis 6:18, God says to Noah, “But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and sons’ wives.” Noah understood what a covenant (a promise) was but in the history of the world an ark had never been built. Regardless, Noah built the ark. It was 1 ½ football fields long and the width of a six-lane interstate. This was no small boat. The neighbors thought he was crazy, but God was at work.

GOD IS READY TO ACT

No way did Noah initially understand how his obedience would play out or how long he would be on the ark. Later in Genesis 8:1, God “remembered Noah.” Scholars believe Noah and his family lived on the ark for 370 days amid an earth completely covered with water. In the Bible, when God remembers someone, it indicates that God is ready to act on someone’s welfare. God does not forget. He is at work.

WAYS WE CANNOT IMAGINE

God showed up for Noah before the ark was built, during the process, and afterward. Often, we do not know how our obedience will play out or how we will build our own “arks”. Sometimes we doubt God’s orders. He may call us to build our arks or serve in a way that colors way outside of the lines. God works in ways we cannot imagine.

I’m glad I drove home that day, leaving my books at my store, I followed through with building the ark God called me to. As of writing this, my book has sold multiple copies. The messages and comments I received were wonderful. This is all and only from God.

When you build the ark God asks you to, He will see you through. What He did for Noah, what He did for me, He can do for you. Let God work.

Check out Ashley’s website: https://brokenuntilnow.com/

Emmanuel: God’s Promise to Exiled Humanity

The highway leading to eternal separation from God now offers an off-ramp leading to eternal community

Read: Colossians 1:21-22

Did you realize everyone who walks on Planet Earth is an exile, someone barred from one’s native country? Adam and Eve’s native country was the Garden of Eden. Daily, they walked and delighted in the presence of God. However, they were barred from their birthplace when they sinned. Sin brought both separation from God and death.  Because sin cannot in anyway exist in the presence of God, all mankind became “separated from Him by our evil thoughts and actions”. Thanks to Adam and Eve, all mankind is naturally born exiled from the very presence of God.

THE ETERNAL GOD REACHED OUT

This broke God’s heart. The original Latin text for the hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel” contains a reverse acrostic. It translates: “I shall be with you tomorrow”. The Eternal God reaches out to exiled humanity. He promised us His presence. That’s why God gave His Son the name Emmanuel which literally means “God with us”.

Written around the 8th century, this hymn was meant to be sung antiphonally. This entailed alternate singing by two choirs, positioned on opposite sides of a sanctuary. The first choir would sing “O come, O come, Emmanuel” While the sound waves still resonated across the expanse, the 2nd choir began singing “And ransom captive Israel”. And so, they alternately sing line after line, ever growing in confident hope. The building reverberates with the glorious sounds. Heaven rejoices as God reaches out to exiled humanity.

THE SON OF GOD APPEARS

All the angelic hosts break loose singing “the Son of God appears! Rejoice! Rejoice!” Heaven resounds with exuberant jubilant song. This is not the half-hearted clapping for someone receiving a participation award. This is the full throttle choirs of the heavens stamping their feet because God has won! The highway leading to eternal separation from God now offers an off-ramp leading to eternal community, companionship, and peace with God. The exiles no longer must face separation from God.

GOD IS WITH US! DRAW NEAR!

For all of you longing, hungering for God, His promise has been fulfilled. O Lord, make safe the way that leads to Thee and close the path to misery. God is with us! Draw near!

We face a new year. Challenges and heartbreak which you never anticipated may try to tear apart your life in shockwaves of pain. However, whatever comes, God also invites you to unimaginable victory. God invites the exile home. He desires to spend every moment with us.  Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”

RUN TO THE FATHER

Run to the Father. He offers you His eternal presence. Regardless of what 2026 brings, no longer do you have to remain in exile. Come home!

O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel

O come, Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe the way that leads to thee and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel