A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick My next hidden hero is Timothy. We don't know when, but at some point he became a follower of Jesus and a mentee of Paul. Over Paul and Timothy's journey together, Paul developed a tremendous love for Timothy as a fellow worker for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus. He ended up writing letters to him in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. Timothy was raised in the Christian faith by his mother, Lois and his grandmother, Eunice. Both of whom apparently had a deep and sincere faith in Jesus (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy was also a church planter in Ephesus. We see in 2 Timothy 1:7 that he probably struggled with fear and in 1 Timothy 5:23 that he had a weak stomach that needed an occasional shot of wine, which if you know anything about the gut, may well have been caused by his bouts with fear. Nonetheless, I so admire Timothy because of his loyalty to Paul, his mentor. When Paul is facing death in a Roman prison cell, it is Timothy who Paul asked to bring him his parchments. Could it be that these were the bare parchments Paul used to write his letters to the churches? Or more likely, they were the ones where Paul had already written letters about sound doctrine and practices to the churches throughout the Roman Empire. Either way, Timothy is a hero of mine to be a loyal servant and friend to Paul and make provisions for the Gospel to move forward through Paul's writings. Most importantly, Timothy was faithful. He was a servant. He gave his life and time to Paul's ministry. Loyalty and honor. Two concepts that are often either greatly missing in our modern world. May we learn from Timothy and be people who act in ways that are worthy of honor and therefore encourage others to stand loyally with spouses, friends, pastors, and leaders.

by David Chadwick My next hidden hero of the faith is the boy who brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus when he fed the 5,000 people in John 6:1-15. Who was this little boy mentioned in verse 9? Well, we don't know exactly who he was, how old he was, or even his name. It appears he came to hear Jesus preach and it seems from the text that his mom packed him a small lunch. He was one of the thousands who came to listen to Jesus preach that day. Jesus preached all day, healed the sick, and ministered to the people. Evening came and as you can imagine, everyone began to get hungry. The disciples took note of the problem and went to mention it to Jesus, suggesting that he send the crowds away. He basically looked at them and said, "You solve it." The only food the disciples could find was this boy's small lunch – 2 loaves and 5 fish. Can you imagine what the disciples' conversation must have looked like when they realized that was the only food anyone had? I wonder how they approached the boy, what they said to him, and how they proposed asking him for his food. Let me tell you why this little boy is one of my hidden heroes. He readily gave up his food to Jesus. He didn't even think about his own hunger and needs. As a small child, he released all he had to his Lord with great faith, and, it seems to me, with great joy! The food was multiplied and all the thousands were fed. With 12 baskets to spare! God provided enough for everyone there and abundantly more for any future needs the disciples might have. This is a story where we see Ephesians 3:20 play out in real life. "Immeasurably more." Abundance! And think about this for a second. This story never would have happened without the joyful selflessness of a little boy. A boy with an obvious great faith and a servant's heart! Kingdom attributes we all should aspire to develop.

by David Chadwick John Mark is most likely the young boy in the Garden of Gethsemane in Mark 14:51-52 who followed Jesus "with nothing but a linen cloth about his body" and ended up being seized. He was able to escape and run away. We see in the book of Acts that Jesus and his disciples commonly frequented what they call the upper room. It was probably a wealthy residence in Jerusalem. That residence could have belonged to John Mark's mother and father. John Mark probably followed Jesus and his disciples up to the Garden of Gethsemane and probably overheard Jesus's conversations with the Father in heaven plus his interactions with sleepy Peter, James, and John. John Mark is the one Paul took with him and Barnabas on his first missionary journey to the Galatian region. He is also the one who failed Paul. Maybe because of fear? Maybe he was homesick? We don't know. But he left Paul and Barnabas and went home. So, why is he someone I see as a hidden hero, you might be wondering? I can understand why you would ask. From what I have shared with you so far, he seems like anything but a hero. Yet in spite of some of his flustered decision-making and quirky personality traits along the way, John Mark later returned to have a courageous faith. He ended up spending a great deal of time with Peter, perhaps even traveling with him, and then penned Peter's words to give us the gospel of Mark. Finally, we see John Mark display a tremendous amount of humility toward the end of Paul's life. Paul asked Timothy to bring John Mark to him as he neared his death "because he is helpful to me in my ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). There was undoubtedly reconciliation between John Mark and Paul. John Mark is a hero to me because though he once failed, he got back up and kept moving toward Jesus and his ministry call. Plus, he was not so prideful that he couldn't reconcile with Paul. He is a model of Christlike living both today and forever.

by David Chadwick John the Baptist is today's hidden hero. A more well known Biblical name, but someone whose story has so many treasures I want to share with you. Who is John the Baptist? He is Jesus's second cousin. Born to Mary's cousin Elizabeth. He was six months older than Jesus. John the Baptist and Jesus grew up together and knew each other very well. They were very close. Their closeness started in the womb. In Luke 1:41, we see that when Elizabeth greeted Mary, John the Baptist leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist was very gifted. His preaching brought thousands to hear him. He carried authority and power as he spoke, calling everyone who fell under the sound of his voice to repent of their sins and be baptized. Probably a bit rough around the edges with garments of camel's hair and a diet of locusts and honey, John the Baptist was prophesied about by Isaiah in the Old Testament as being the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:1-4). John the Baptist is my hidden hero for two reasons. First, because he saw a lot of his followers leave him and follow Jesus instead. Even some of his leaders like Andrew and John. Yet he ENCOURAGED them to do so! Stop for a moment and think about that. Can you imagine? What preacher does that? Someone with a tremendous amount of humility! He knew that the story was not about him and freely released those who had been with him for a season to leave him and support Jesus's earthly mission. Secondly, I love John the Baptist because he urged people that he must decrease and Jesus increase (John 3:30). It's one of my life verses that I use frequently to this day. He did not want his own life to get the glory, but Jesus, his Lord and Savior. I feel the same way John the Baptist did. I am nothing. Jesus is everything! He alone deserves all the glory!

by David Chadwick There are so many heroes in the Bible. Whether big or small, each person who made it into the Bible for doing something for God's kingdom is worthy of honor. Phinehas is my next hidden hero. Who was he? He was the grandson of Aaron. If you remember biblical history, Aaron and Hur were the two that came alongside Moses in Exodus 17:12-13 to hold up his arms in battle. Well, by the time Aaron's grandson Phinehas came around in Numbers 25:7-13, the Israelites had started to worship the idols of Moab. The men were sleeping with Moabite women and quite frankly, God was sick and tired of it! God was fully prepared to wipe Israel from the face of the earth with a plague because of the unrighteous behavior taking place. But Phinehas, because of his zeal for God, went in and personally executed an Israelite man and a Moabite woman in a tent, putting an end to the plague. God commended him to Moses in Numbers 25:10-13 by establishing a covenant of perpetual priesthood through him and his descendants. Later on, he was appointed as the third High Priest in Israel's history. What we learn from the life of Phinehas is this: there is tremendous power in zeal for the Lord. His zeal literally stopped God's judgment from coming to this world. God hates a lukewarm faith. We see this in Revelation 3 when he addresses one of the churches as having a lukewarm faith and tells them he will spit them out of his mouth. He is disgusted by lukewarm convictions. Be hot or cold. But never lukewarm. My friends, I urge you to give your whole life to him. Use Phinehas as an example. Not to kill someone, obviously! But as an example of someone who sought God's holiness above all and was willing to stand strongly against a decrepit culture. In a world filled with too many Christians compromising in their faith, be set apart. Live what you say you believe. Steward the power of the Gospel with integrity. In Psalm 69:9, King David says, "Zeal for your house will consume me." Jesus's disciples remember the importance of this verse in John 2:17 after Jesus cleansed the temple. We, too, must be consumed with zeal for the Lord and for his house until Jesus returns!

by David Chadwick Over the next two weeks, I want to take you on a fun journey to explore some of the hidden heroes in the Bible. Too often, we only discover the well-known characters of the Bible that make it into a sermon on Sunday morning, which is why I encourage people to dig into the Word of God on their own. The Bible is like the ocean. Vast and full of wonder! There is so much more to discover than most could ever imagine. So, let's go on an adventure and learn about some of these lesser known, equally important people who God used throughout history. A man named Baruch. Have you ever heard of him? His grandfather was a prized advisor to King Josiah. And while Baruch wasn't a prized prince like his brother Seraiah, he certainly has a significant story. You may know of a more well known character, Jeremiah, often referred to as the weeping prophet. He mostly spoke prophecies of doom and gloom over Israel. He experienced deep sadness and pain as he watched a nation disobey and rebel (read the book of Lamentations, penned by Jeremiah). But did you know who Jeremiah's scribe was? Baruch! The book of Jeremiah exists today because of Baruch's faithful writing and stewardship of Jeremiah's words. The book of Jeremiah holds a special place in my life and ministry because my dad used to point to Jeremiah 45:5 as a verse that should guide all pastors (and people) to quest after. Let me share it with you, Jeremiah speaking to his faithful scribe, Baruch: "And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go." What a rich caution and warning to keep the main thing the main thing! I'm so glad Baruch took the time to write this down. And simply do what God had called him to do: be a scribe! Not seeking anything greater. It's why he is one of my hidden heroes. Don't seek great things for yourself. It will always result in disaster. But rather seek to be faithful to God and submit to his authority. Then God will protect you in all things. He will give you true life as you lay your life down. Sacrifice is always the prelude to abundant life! In fact, I have heard one teaching that you love the most that which you sacrifice for the most. "Great things" in this world are or will soon be crumbling around us. Rather, seek first the great things of God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33). Eternal things that will never crumble in God's kingdom, the one that lasts forever and ever. A beautiful teaching that Baruch wrote down for us to learn today!

by David Chadwick Grief is real. But thankfully, because of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we now have access to restored communion with the Father, the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. A life surrendered to Jesus gives us a new operating system rather than the evil, dysfunctional one by which Satan wants to keep the world ensnared. Because of this we can grieve differently. I want you to know you can experience good grief. Understand that grief is real. Find friends with whom you can process your grief. Grieve openly, as needed. Remember that everyone grieves. And today's final tip? Grieve with hope! 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We know there is more to the story because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I've walked through grief with people who have no faith and it's so painful to watch. They have no hope whatsoever. No context for their pain. No words to give eternal perspective. It's starkly different from walking with those who have faith and therefore display great hope! What is that great hope? That blessed hope mentioned in Titus 2:13 that gives us strength no matter what we may be facing? It's the hope that knows Jesus is coming back for his bride. He has made a way for us to get back to the Father. This hope never disappoints. It's the hope that we will see our fellow believing friends and family members again! It's the hope that heaven is real. There will be a day in the world to come where there will be no more pain, tears, trials, or turmoil. A place is being prepared for us right now without any more grief (John 14:2-6). This should give all believers great hope! I implore each of you. Grieve with hope. Allow the waves of grief to take you where they need you to go, but don't stop there. Receive the comfort and compassion of Jesus and others in your pain and then get back up and keep swimming! Your fortitude and decision to not give up will pave the way for others to do the same when they experience grief. The Gospel of Jesus is a "to you, thru you" Gospel. Jesus came TO us because he wants to move THROUGH us to reach others. So as you cultivate good grief, you will be able to help so many others do the same. Keep enduring, saints! "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3). Use your pain to help others going through what you have gone through (2 Corinthians 1:4). Jesus is coming back soon!

by David Chadwick We are learning how to have GOOD grief that produces character and hope (Romans 5:3-4) instead of living with a cacophony of "good griefs" that keeps us in despair and agony. How do we do this? First, recognize that grief is real. Secondly, grieve with friends. Third, grieve openly. Fourth? Realize that everyone grieves. We all go through it. I wish there was a way around it, or over it, or under it. No, we have to go through it. We live in such a broken world. It doesn't matter if you're 3 or 93, grief can find a way to come busting through the door of your heart. Disasters, pain, sickness, trials, tribulations are inevitable parts of being a human being. God never wanted it to be this way. He desired for us to live in perfect communion with him and one other. We are the ones who messed up God's perfect and good Garden of Eden. As a result, everyone grieves. There is no timetable for grief. Some are able to walk through it quickly. Others are not. Every person is so uniquely and individually wired. There is no playbook for how people need to process their pain. Soldiers with PTSD are the first to attest to this. The memories and traumas of things they saw and experienced are so real. They do subside over time, but there is no timetable for how long it takes for the intensity to lessen. And this is important to add…for some, grief may never completely go away. It will hopefully get better, but it may last at some level of intensity for the rest of someone's life. But don't despair. There is hope even in this! God has purpose in pain. Many who love Jesus and have experienced unimaginable grief have told me over the years that with each pang of grief, they are reminded that this place called planet earth, in all its brokenness, is not their home. The feelings of pain actually urge them to press on in this pilgrimage toward our eternal home, heaven, where there are no more tears, trials, tribulations, or turmoil. That reality may be the best antidote to the deep pain of grief. A deep hope in Jesus and being willing to allow grief to untether us more and more from any reliance and/or dependence we may have developed on self, others, or anything else in this broken world.

by David Chadwick Good grief! No, really, don't get frustrated. Grief really can be good. If Romans 8:28 is true, that God works ALL things together for our good, then even grief can be worked together for our good and for his glory. Recognize grief is real. Grieve with trusted friends and/or family. And today? Grieve openly! It is so important not to isolate yourself from a strong, biblical community. And please don't stuff your feelings. Get them out! Find someone who can help guide you through your feelings. Oftentimes, a really healthy friend who loves you and loves Jesus can give you the wisdom, insight, support and presence needed to process openly. Sometimes people need a wisely trained, biblical pastoral counselor to talk through the depth of pain and that's okay, too. Just remember. When you stuff things deep inside of you, the emotions just stir within. Eventually, they will fester to the point of sickness. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches that we are body, soul, and spirit. When our soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions, becomes unhealthy or embittered or continually negative, our soul begins to fester and it can eventually hurt our bodies. Bitterness can cause things like arthritis, muscle and joint pain, etc. It has actually been proven by health professionals in the medical world that negative emotions can hurt our bodies. If you are a friend walking with you through grief, here is a great question to ask the one grieving: How is your heart? After you ask them this, let them talk. Don't try to fix them, correct them or teach them. Just let them speak and process their emotions. It's a healthy and loving thing to do. A way to love your friend in Christ (John 13:34-35). Also, get the one grieving to remember and talk about joyous times with the person they've lost. Warm memories help heal a broken heart. After you become comfortable with openly processing your grief, begin to take small steps to put joy in your life. Do things you love to do. This is so important. Finding joy, even in ever so small ways, is crucial to becoming strong again. You will make it through your grief. You'll never be the same. But you will have experienced good grief.

by David Chadwick Grief. Defined as deep sorrow or poignant pain. If you are living, you will inevitably go through grief in your life. When, not if you go through grief, always remember to grieve with people you love, ones who will point you to Jesus and to hope as you work through your pain. Ask the Lord to show you trustworthy friends and family members who can enter into your grief with you. Don't do it alone. As tempting as it is to wall up your heart and protect yourself in your pain, please don't isolate yourself! If you do, you'll brood. You'll keep thinking about the pain and it will end up driving you deeper and deeper into despair. Eventually, you'll become depressed. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you three people who you can trust to help you walk out good grief in your specific situation. These people may be God's gift to you for one situation of grief, but not for something else. That's okay. Different people carry different purposes in different seasons. I remember when my daughter Bethany had a miscarriage. She was grieving so deeply and did not want to talk to anyone who had not also experienced a miscarriage. Her own husband had a hard time consoling her. God brought her a few special people who had miscarried and could specifically speak to her grief. They helped her grieve well and turn her despair into good grief. Over time, she got stronger and stronger. When God has called someone to walk with you in grief, they will not grow weary of giving you their ears and counsel. They will listen, cry with you, pray for you, and if necessary, give wisdom. Have you ever heard of the phrase social isolation? I would call it isolation sickness! It's when your isolation produces a loneliness that is so deep it makes you sick. Some say it actually increases your risk of premature death. Genesis 2 makes it abundantly clear that God never designed for man to be alone. He created us for communion with him and community with other people. So, grieve with friends. As you do, trust that you are being strengthened in your pain. Eventually, you will feel strong again.

by David Chadwick "Good grief." It's a commonly used statement to display frustration. It's a phrase that shows deep emotion. Sometimes even annoyance with someone. But at its core, the phrase really is about grief. Many of you probably remember it as Charlie Brown's favorite phrase. But I want you to walk away from this week knowing that grief really can be good. God can take all your "good griefs" and turn them into GOOD grief. Grief is real. It happens to everyone. Over the past several weeks, I've cared for a friend who suddenly lost his 20 year old daughter to heart failure. And another one who was told he had weeks to live. Even Jesus knew grief all too well as he cried over Lazarus's death. It's rooted in loss. In fact, someone once said that grief is spelled L-O-S-S. I tend to agree. And the greater the value of what was lost, the greater the grief. So how should we handle it? Well, I want to walk you through a few things I have learned in 40 plus years of ministry about helping people walk through grief. Here's my first suggestion. Because we know grief is real, you must let it take you where it needs to take you. It's kind of like being in the ocean. You know that feeling when you're out in the water and a rogue wave hits you? Every lifeguard teaches you that if this happens, go limp. You have to yield to the power of the wave and let it take you where it wants to take you. Then, once the intensity dies down, you can hopefully get up and get to the shore to rest. The grief in your life can be triggered by a sight, sound, smell or memory. It often catches you off guard like that rogue wave I just talked about. When it hits, go limp. Ride through the emotions and embrace them. It will eventually pass. And always remember, dear friends, that everyone grieves differently. Be patient with people walking through it when they experience a rogue wave. Also, know that when you recover, you've got to get back up and go back out into the water. If not, you'll never enjoy the ocean again. You'll not enjoy life again. Don't allow grief to keep you from enjoying life! Allow God to heal you and minister to you in your grief, so it becomes a good grief!!

by Marilynn Chadwick Even after the birth of a beautiful daughter and a strong son, I still felt like our family wasn't finished. We had agonized through years of infertility before having our two children. People wondered why we would put ourselves through more anguish and expense when we already had a daughter and a son. I could only describe my feelings by explaining that it was as if someone was "trying to come to us." And sure enough, just a couple of months shy of my fortieth birthday, our little Michael made his entrance into this world. Our lives, which had become fairly predictable with a nine-year-old and almost six year old, took a sudden detour back to the world of diapers and midnight feedings. Things were made easier by the fact that Michael was a happy child. But he was also active, curious and always into something. In fact, Michael's curiosity as a toddler was the reason I had to call poison control three times in one week. He swallowed a penny, drank a bottle of ear drops, and ate half a tube of toothpaste all in the same week. This is still a family record. Michael began developing sinus infections the winter before his second birthday. The repeated infections were resistant to antibiotics and grew more serious by the day. This forty-something mother of a toddler was exhausted. Doctors were baffled. Our next step would be a series of x-rays to determine the cause of the infections. Six weeks into this saga, I decided in desperation to fast for our son. I had little experience with fasting, but I was at the end of my rope. I wasn't sure how one even did such a thing. So I resolved not to eat. Throughout the day, I went to God over and over with the same simple prayer: "Help, Lord…we've tried everything. Surely you know what is causing these infections. Please show me!" After naptime, I let Michael venture outside to play for a little while. It was unusually warm for February, and he had been cooped up for weeks. A few minutes later, he ran inside pointing to his nose. For a split second, I simply thought he wanted me to wipe it. Looking closer I caught my breath. A partially lodged brass pin-back (the kind used to fasten a sports insignia) was sticking out of Michael's left nostril! As I gently removed the badly tarnished (and very gross) pin-back, it suddenly dawned on me this was the culprit of our forty-day ordeal! When I asked Michael how the thing got into his nose, he explained, in toddler language. Weeks earlier, he had climbed out of his crib one night and crawled up on his big brother's bunk bed. He unfastened one of the sports pins on his brother's baseball cap and stuck the pin-back in his nose. Seriously?? We stood there, incredulous, Michael and I, half-laughing, and half-crying. I could hardly believe what had just happened. And right at that moment, a calm, yet somewhat amused inner voice seemed to whisper the same words Jesus once spoke to his disciples (Mark 9:29). Words I have never forgotten: "This kind can only come out by prayer and fasting." If you feel stuck and need a breakthrough, try fasting. You never know what might come out of it! Adapted from: Marilynn Chadwick, Woman of Valor (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). To receive a copy please visit our website here.

by Marilynn Chadwick "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, 'I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel'" (Luke 7:9 NIV). Jesus was amazed at the man's faith. What was it about this Roman army officer—an outsider—that inspired Jesus to marvel at his faith? This centurion happens to be one of my favorite characters in the New Testament. As I reflect on the story, three things stand out: First, the centurion was compassionate. Servants in that day were regarded as personal property and often mistreated. Yet the centurion truly cared for his worker as a human being. The servant was highly valued by his master. Second, he was humble. The centurion had such high regard for Jesus that he didn't count himself worthy of his presence. He sent some Jewish elders to speak to Jesus on his behalf. His friends pleaded earnestly for Jesus to come to this man who "loves our nation." So, Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed" (Luke 7:6,7). Third, he understood authority. Centurions, though powerful in rank, were often from common stock. They were usually promoted from within ranks because of great bravery or military skill. The centurion was a fighting man who understood chain of command. He got the concept of authority. "I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it" (Luke 7:8). Somehow, the centurion discerned that Jesus operated with supernatural authority. Jesus stopped in his tracks. None of his followers in Israel had quite grasped the full extent of his heavenly authority—until now. Jesus was amazed at the centurion's insight, calling it "great faith." The friends who brought his message to Jesus returned to the house and found the servant healed. That's the kind of faith that amazes our Lord. To pray—and walk away. Not in defeat but in absolute confidence. To trust in Jesus's authority to heal—even from a distance. Lord, I don't even know the centurion's name. Yet his compassion and humility inspire me. Help me grasp your authority, confident that all of heaven and earth is under your control. Just one Word from you can change any situation. I pray to have faith that amazes you and gives birth to bold and daring prayers for a broken world so desperate for your healing touch.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Jesus repeatedly left the crowds...stealing away into the wilderness to pray" (Luke 5:16 VOICE). Nothing about the word wilderness sounds appealing to me. Rather, I imagine it to be empty, lonely, and barren. Yet Jesus found the wilderness to be full of fruit—spiritual fruit. Jesus withdrew often to talk with his father in the wilderness. The Son of God, with divinity downloaded into every gene, still felt the need to separate himself often from the world around him to pray. I wonder what this means for you and me. Remember, it took real effort to be alone back in those days. Families were big. Homes were tiny. Rooms were shared. Can you imagine the noise and chaos? Jesus had to make an effort to get away. He arose early. It was his custom, we're told. The wilderness was the place where he got away from distractions. It's where he spent the night in prayer over the selection of the twelve disciples. It's where he prayed for power. It's where he met God. The wilderness is also where Jesus met the devil and wrestled over his calling and purpose on earth. For Jesus, the wilderness was full of defining moments in his ministry. Do you suppose he had a favorite spot? A place under a tree, with a view over Jerusalem? Oh Jerusalem…he wept as he prayed over the city. Imagine how the wilderness reverberated with the voice of the Son of God as he cried out to his Father for the needs of a broken world. Jesus knew that wilderness time is crucial to a powerful prayer life. Take a minute to reflect on his prayer tip to his disciples about the importance of getting alone with God: "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:6 NLT). Where do you go to feel close to God? Your room. A favorite chair. Your car. When surrounded by nature. "I encounter God in places where I feel small," a friend once said. Does that describe you? I encourage you to find a secret place where you can go and "shut the door" to the outside world. Go there to meet with God daily. Early. Spend time in God's Word and prayer. And don't hurry through this "morning watch." If Jesus required time to listen to the Father's Words and interact with him through prayer, how much more do we? Lord, draw me to times of wilderness with you. Help me carve out the first fruit of my day to seek your face. I commit to laying my requests before you this morning and keeping watch for signs of your work all day long (Psalm 5:3).

by Marilynn Chadwick "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV). Triggered. That's what happens when my normal train of thought is interrupted with a sudden reminder to pray for someone. I'm prompted to intercede and offer a quick prayer for them. That's why I have all kinds of prayer triggers that nudge me to pray for friends, family, and beyond. Prayer triggers take my prayer life out of the prayer closet and into the world. I adopted "bunnies" as a prayer trigger many years ago when I was going through a long battle with infertility. Friends started to pray for me when they saw bunnies. They even began to send bunnies to encourage me. Then, still more bunnies to celebrate after we had our three children. Our kids once counted about a hundred bunnies—subtle and not-so-subtle scattered around our home. Figurines, framed prints, on fabric or pottery. You get the point! Another prayer trigger for one child is a dolphin. Deer (and we have lots roaming through our yard) nudge me to pray for my husband. A friend has clouds as her trigger. Hummingbirds remind me of our oldest granddaughter. I have prayer triggers for all my family members and many friends. For places and people I've never met. I've even begun praying for several Israeli hostages by name. Imagine my joy as I've seen three among those who have been released. With prayer triggers woven throughout my days, I find I pray more. I'm continually on the lookout for answers. With more answers comes more prayer—and the flywheel of prayer starts turning. Prayer triggers have helped me grasp what Paul meant when he said, "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). I believe prayer works, or rather, God works in response to prayer. But I've discovered that by finding a few practical tips—like prayer triggers—I'm more alert and watchful to what God is doing in the world around me. No more sleepwalking through life! It's a broken world out there. God has need of praying saints like never before. If we believe our prayers make a difference, then how can we not pray? "In the morning...I will offer my prayer to you and watch expectantly for Your answer" (Psalm 5:3 VOICE).

by Marilynn Chadwick "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2 NIV) Why pray? I can think of lots of good reasons. Prayer helps us stay connected to God. It's how we get to know him, enjoy his presence, and answer his call. Renowned nineteenth century theologian, R. A. Torrey, in his short but power packed little book, How to Pray, addresses this question. "Why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?" His answer? "There is a devil." Our enemy never rests, and continually looks for ways to ensnare the children of God. He's always ready to devour the unsuspecting. Therefore, writes the Apostle Peter, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). Similarly, John Wesley encouraged his early followers to be alert and practice what he called "the discipline of watching." If you want to learn how to pray with power, it's vital to remain alert to God's voice. It's also important to carve out a time and a place to listen to God on a daily basis. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more easily we can recognize his voice. When my husband David calls me on the phone, I don't have to ask who it is. I recognize his voice because I've spent so much time with him. In 1812 on the campus of Cambridge University, a small group of students took seriously their call to be alert and watchful for prayer. They came up with a strategy they called "the morning watch." These students, who came to be later known as the "Cambridge Seven," committed to spend their first minutes of each day in Bible Study and prayer. The idea caught fire. A remarkable period of revival on the Cambridge campus followed. The Cambridge Seven, all prominent athletes and men of wealth and education, gave up everything to leave England and go to China for Christ. This resulted in the stunning sweep of the Gospel across a land that knew very little of Jesus. Today, the underground church in China, by some counts numbering 100 million, owes its very existence to the Cambridge Seven and others who dared to devote themselves to prayer, to keeping watch and to listening to God's voice. God's Word promises "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16 NKJV). Moreover, James reminds us Elijah was "human just like us." Like Elijah, we can train our heart to hear God's voice—not always easy in our busy, noisy world. But Elijah heard the still, small voice of God. "After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper" (1 Kings 19:12 CSB). Remember, there's no limit to what God will do through even one person who is willing to carve out time early and faithfully for prayer—would you dare to commit to your own morning watch? _________________________ R.A. Torrey, How to Pray. Chicago: Moody Classics (New Edition: 2007), p. 8

by David Chadwick We are on day five of learning how to pray. If Jesus taught it in Scripture, I should be teaching it to those under my care. You've learned about keeping a prayer journal, persisting in prayer, using prayer to build faith as you wait, praying the Lord's Prayer. Today's lesson – pray your day! I have found this to be a simple, yet profound way to better your prayer life. As you start your day, take a moment to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and look at your schedule for the day. Pray over each appointment. Each meeting. Each gathering. Pray for the people you will meet. Pray for strangers you may interact with at the gas station or the grocery store. Pray for wisdom in decision-making. Pray against hostility and enmity. Pray for God's presence to follow you. For the Holy Spirit to guide you in all your ways. Pray that you will use your words to honor God and others. If you're married and have a family, pray for them and the unique things they are facing in their day. Pray for your kids. For their school and their teachers. Pray for their friendships and mentors. Pray for opportunities for them to encounter Jesus throughout their day. Keep going. Pray for anyone coming to work at your house. Maybe it's the yard guy, the appliance repair technician, the pest control company. Pray for opportunities to share Jesus with people when God opens that door. You are only given today! Don't miss his daily bread! Take everything to Jesus in prayer. He loves to see his children recognize their need for him moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. I pray you will develop a deep and meaningful prayer life. I pray that these lessons will take root deep inside your heart and bear much fruit. I pray you will see your great need for the presence of God. That you will not take for granted one moment of your life. That you will see every opportunity as a God opportunity. Journal. Persist. Wait. Pray the Lord's Prayer. And pray your day. Five suggestions that I hope will increase your prayer life—as it has mine.

by David Chadwick How do you pray? Jesus taught us principles in his Word and I want to share what I have learned from him with you. Keep a journal that reminds you of your history with God. Persist in prayer, even when it's hard. Learn to wait and build your faith muscles. Today's tip? Pray the Lord's Prayer. This may sound simple, but Jesus gave us an outline in Matthew 6:6-12 for a reason. Because it works! He is the master teacher and he knows what we need to sustain us through this life. If he used this prayer to teach his disciples, surely we should learn from it, too! Go through each line of the prayer. Start by greeting the Creator of the Universe as your Father. Spend some time praising him and acknowledging his holiness. His majesty. The wonder of his name. Pray for his will to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Be specific about personal and universal concerns that exist here that you know don't exist in heaven. Then start to pray for your needs. Your daily bread. The things that are on the forefront of your mind that you need to sustain yourself on this journey. Maybe it's the fruit of the Spirit. Maybe it's a financial need. Remember, these are not your "greeds," but your needs! As you continue, take some time to forgive anyone you need to forgive, just as God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is a process and sometimes you have to work through various layers of emotions and grief to fully forgive. Take the time to do this in prayer. Release anyone who has offended you to Jesus! Do it repeatedly if necessary. Pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance to keep you away from the evil one's traps. The enemy knows your weaknesses and wants you disabled. Ask God to give you discernment and a keen heart to know right from wrong. It's not always obvious to see evil. Sometimes evil masquerades as good. And other times you may think something is evil that is good. Pray for your heart to always see things clearly just as he sees them. If you're trapped in sin, ask for Jesus's profound deliverance. Finish by giving all glory and honor back to God. As you pray this way, you'll be amazed by how quickly time flies by. And how much you've prayed for. The Lord's Prayer was given to us by Jesus to help disciples pray more effectively. It's such an easy way to pray and it works!

by David Chadwick How do we pray? So far we have learned about praying through journaling and about persistent prayer. I finished yesterday's teaching on how to pray by saying this: I believe persistence allows your heart to keep believing as you learn to wait upon the Lord. What's today's tip? We learn to wait. Waiting. It's not easy, but it strengthens the core of a person. It tests us. It challenges us. It strengthens us. Isaiah 40:31 actually says, "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength." So waiting renews us! In God's economy, I believe waiting is a synonym for faith. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. And Mark 11:22-25 says that when we pray, we are to pray with great faith! It's often in the waiting that this kind of faith will rise up! And move our hearts to persist in prayer. All great faith includes waiting upon the Lord. Becoming staunchly aware that he is sovereign and provident over ALL things. Sovereign – having the ultimate power without limitation. Providence – God's protective care and guardianship over his creation. His will will be done! Galatians 6 says that after we have planted our seeds, there is a "due season" to reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 4:4a says, "when the fullness of time had come." Words like "due season" and "fullness of time" show me that God must have a time! An appointed time! Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says God has a time and a season and a purpose for everything that happens under heaven. Yes, hope deferred truly does make the heart sick. But a fulfilled desire is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). And oftentimes those fulfilled desires only come through a long wait of faith. But when you are willing to be patient, you are proactively practicing faith. And we serve a God who loves to see his children rise up in faith!

by David Chadwick Prayer. It is such an important tool in our Christian walk. It's a skill we must tend to and cultivate. Learn and develop. Jesus saw such high value in teaching people how to pray. In Matthew 6, he goes into great detail of when to pray, how to pray, principles of prayer and so forth. He even saw the wrong ways people could engage in prayer and warned people of the dangers of pride sneaking into your prayer life. So how do you pray? Yesterday, I taught you how to discipline yourself in prayer through the habit of journaling. Today? I want to focus on how to persist in prayer! Persistence is a way to remind God of who he is. When you pray, you are engaging in a partnership with God in which you become more dependent and he becomes more glorified. When you have to persist for an answer, you become more convinced about what you desire and more reliant on him to come through! This both strengthens your spirit and builds your faith! The Bible undoubtedly teaches about the need to persist in prayer. Read Matthew 7:7-11. Ask, seek, knock. Or Luke 11:5-11 about the friend coming to ask for something at midnight. Or Luke 18:1-8, the story of the persistent widow. Take note in this particular passage of verse 1, where Jesus says that he tells parables "to illustrate that it is necessary always to pray and not lose heart." He cared about the lessons learned through persistence. What should we do if we don't get the answer, you might ask? Keep praying! Some of you may be wondering if persistence is like nagging God until you get what you want. No! It's not that at all. What I've learned through the years is that persistence in prayer is often just reminding God. A kind of "Oh, by the way…" and then stating your heart once again to the Lord. And he loves it when we don't give up on something good for us to have. You could almost think of persistence like a child with his or her parents leading up to Christmas Day. I don't know about you, but when my kids created their Christmas lists, they didn't tell me and Marilynn about it one time…they mentioned it two, three, four…fifteen times. That's persistence! Persistence allows your heart to keep believing as you learn to wait upon the Lord. Which is a perfect segue into tomorrow's tip…stay tuned!

by David Chadwick How to pray. It's a topic Jesus cared deeply about. He knew that prayer was the only way to maintain communion with the Father and to remain dependent on him. Jesus also knew that prayer is how God chooses to involve his children in bringing heaven to earth. To see his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). This week, I want to help teach you how to pray. If it was important to Jesus, it must be important to us. I want to share specific tools I have used over the years that have helped me steward this spiritual discipline. Today's tip: keep a prayer journal. Every day, I write out my prayers to the Father in Jesus's name, by the power of his Holy Spirit. Did you know you can pray to each person in the Trinity? You can! For each person is God and a part of the Godhead. And don't forget to pray in Jesus's mighty NAME. There's something in his name. There is power in the name of Jesus. Authority. Faith. Trust. His name is the greatest reminder of God's sovereign providence and timing. As you journal in prayer, make sure to write specifically. Don't be vague. Praise him for what he has done for you. Give thanks for the many blessings he has bestowed upon you. Gratitude is such a powerful tool. So powerful that even secular academicians have proven the power of thankfulness. Be sure to also pray for what you desire! Be specific. Write down what you hope God will do in your life. Your dreams. Your aspirations. Remember we serve a God who loves to do exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). The beauty of a daily, written prayer journal is that you can go back three months from now. A year from now. Three years. Five years down the road. And in doing so, you will see how God has been faithful to answer your prayers. You'll also see what you need to keep praying for. For me, this has been a small discipline that has reaped great rewards. I pray you will say the same!

by Marilynn Chadwick A small, worn bookmark in my box is another "Ebenezer Stone." It tells the story of my very first mission trip to Africa. Yet another reminder of how we find joy when we step out in faith to answer God's call. David and I had close friends who had been missionaries in Ethiopia, an African nation with a turbulent history. They approached us about coming to speak at a large conference they were planning through SIM, a well-known missions organization. This was the early 1990s and Ethiopia had just gone through a long and bloody civil war in which their revolutionary freedom fighters had finally overthrown the Communist government. Christians had been cruelly persecuted by the Russian-backed Communists during their seventeen-year regime. At long last, Ethiopia was finally free! This conference would be the first Christian gathering since the initial Communist takeover in 1974. Many of the missionaries vividly remembered the last such gathering where Christian leaders were arrested by the Soviet-backed forces, imprisoned, and tortured for their faith. SIM leaders anticipated this conference would be peaceful, but no one could be sure. Things were still chaotic after the war. Kidnappings and robberies were frequent. Poverty and hunger widespread. I had reluctantly agreed to go—how could I miss such an opportunity? I tried not to think of the dangers we might face. At that time, our children Bethany and DB, seven and four, were still quite young. We would be away from them for three weeks. Travel advisories discouraged travel to Ethiopia, but the missions organization assured us we'd be safe. Yet, I was apprehensive. I even had nightmares about being so far away, separated from my children by the wide expanse of ocean. I awakened one morning, very troubled after a disturbing dream in which I was swimming in the ocean. During my quiet time, I came across these words: "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:9,10 NIV). It was as if God was reminding me that even if I am on the other side of the sea, he would take care of me—and our children. I believe God primarily communicates his will to us through his Word. However, his will is often confirmed by a sense of inner peace. Still, I felt no peace. God, you are going to have to be way more clear if you're truly calling me to go on such a risky journey! As I left my house later that morning, I noticed a bookmark lying face down on our garage floor. Hmm. I don't remember seeing that when I came home last night. I leaned over to pick up the small card. I had never seen it before. There was a picture of the ocean on the front. I turned it over and caught my breath. Carefully scripted on the back were the same words from my earlier Bible reading that morning: If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast (Psalm 139:9,10). An inner peace swept over me. Suddenly, I knew that God was calling us to go to Ethiopia. And that his hand would guide and protect us. I was sure he could be trusted. What I could not have imagined were the incredible adventures David and I would share during that trip. We flew by helicopter into remote Ethiopian villages. We worshiped with lively congregations who had only recently learned about the love of Jesus. We experienced celebratory foot-washing ceremonies accompanied by vibrant music and the characteristic Ethiopian joy-yells. We also made many life-long friends. That trip, next to marrying David and having our children, remains one of the greatest blessings of my entire life! I've come to realize that God's strength shows itself best when I am weak or afraid. If I will just trust him and step out in faith to where he is calling me, I am likely to discover a new dimension of God's goodness. My Ebenezer Box reminds me of God's love for me. The "Ebenezer Stones" I have collected encourage me to stand firm when I am tempted to give up. To take risks. To be intentional to share the good news of Jesus with others. Don't forget to be on the lookout for signs of God's work in your life. I hope you will collect your own "Ebenezer Stones" along the way to put in your Ebenezer Box. Just remember, "There is no safer or better place to be than in the will of God!" Just go!

by Marilynn Chadwick Continued from yesterday... …The day of our mission trip finally arrived. We boarded the plane to the Himalayas and I settled in for what would be a forty-hour journey, including layovers. We then flew by helicopter to the remote village to visit the new school our church helped build. Eager parents had assembled around the courtyard where the opening ceremony was to be held. There was an air of anticipation for the very first school ever in this tiny mountain village! We met with our missionary friends, who confided some of the daunting challenges they'd recently faced in bringing the school here. This area was home to several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and in recent years, a handful of the local villagers—the very first ones to accept Christ—had been killed. One by one, they had their throats slit in the dark of night, their bodies tossed into the river below. Some suspected that the Buddhist Lamas were behind the violence. Lama is a term of honor for the spiritual leader of a monastery. Lamas were the most powerful and influential leaders in this region. So far, no westerners had been martyred here, but the risk was real. No one knew why, but hostilities in the village had heated up again. Our friends wryly referred to it as "Lama drama," but I could tell they were concerned. The conversation suddenly grew quiet as we looked up to see a lone figure walking down the steep hill toward us. A hush fell as the Lama from a monastery approached. The burgundy-robed figure carried a staff and wore the familiar shaved head worn by teachers of Buddhism—just like I'd seen in movies. "That's the head Lama of this region," our host whispered. Turns out he had walked for hours—a full day in fact—to attend the festivities. There was no reason to think this was a friendly visit. The Lama turned to offer greetings to our team. Inwardly, I sensed the Lord whispering to me, "You are not here by accident." And suddenly I thought back to my encounter with the construction worker on our airport shuttle a couple weeks earlier. "Your greatest fear will turn into your greatest joy." Why would I suddenly remember his words just now? The Lama took the seat right next to me to watch the school dedication ceremony. I remarked that one of the little girls running around the courtyard reminded me of my youngest granddaughter—a rather active three-year-old. He chuckled as if he understood. This particular Lama may not have been the one behind the recent trouble in the village. But even if he was not the instigator of the earlier murders, a missionary told us, he at least was aware of them. It all felt surreal. How did I end up next to a Tibetan Buddhist Lama, surrounded by the highest mountains in the world? After the ceremony, the Lama invited our small team to have tea with him. The mission director leaned over and whispered that for the Lama to embrace this school would be a valuable endorsement for their work here. It would also provide greater freedom, not to mention security, for their team. Five of us sat down on wooden benches around a table in a tiny guest house next to the school. The Lama went around to each person, bowed, and draped a white silk scarf around our necks as a sign of honor. He served us himself, pouring the aromatic jasmine tea from an ornate brass teapot into our cups. The Lama shared how a school for these village children would be most welcome. He continued to talk with us over tea—for nearly an hour! At one point, the mission director glanced our way, his eyes raised in amazement. After tea-time, our new missionary friends invited us to go for a hike. The air was crisp and thin. I noticed a little difficulty in breathing. There were a few minor drops here and there in the terrain, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then we came to a tall bridge. I was nervous as I stepped upon the metal grate that was the bridge floor—I could see the river raged far below. "Keep walking and don't look down," David kept telling me! I got to the other side just fine, still drinking in the quiet—no roads, no cars, no sounds of civilization. My heart felt full as I suddenly realized there was no fear! I knew at that moment I was right where I was supposed to be. The white silk scarf in my Ebenezer Box will always remind me of a magical tea-time with a Tibetan Buddhist Lama. And of my great joy in hiking along a beautiful mountain range—looking up at the highest peaks on earth. With no fear. As for the man in the tattered jeans on the airport shuttle van? Looking back, I believe God sent encouragement just when I needed it. Whether this mysterious man was an earthly messenger or an angel, I'll never know—until heaven. But one thing proved true. Just like the man had promised, "Your greatest fear will become your greatest joy."

by Marilynn Chadwick Continued from yesterday... …Suddenly, I snapped back into the reality of sitting on the airport shuttle van. The conversation between the construction worker and the van driver continued. I caught a word or phrase here and there, still not paying much attention. That is, until the older man said something to the young driver about how "you just gotta be willing to try a new thing—even if it scares you." "Take working on skyscrapers," he went on. "At first, walking on that high beam is downright terrifying. But after a while, you don't even notice it. You kinda enjoy the view—so high up there, above the world," he said as he smiled. Again, I was struck by the way his eyes sparkled when he talked. He continued his play-by-play account of how he overcame his own fear of heights. By now, I'm all ears. What is there about this guy? Did he really just say that? Not once had our van driver said anything about a fear of heights. It's as if this guy is talking directly to me! I tried to be casual as I leaned in even further to eavesdrop on the rest of their conversation. "It's like when you're up on a high diving board," the older man went on. "The very first time you climb up on that board, it seems like you're a mile high—especially when you look down at the ground. Just bouncing up and down is downright scary. But then, you get your courage up and jump off! After practicing a while, you take your first dive. Then, you learn to do flips! All of a sudden, you realize that what started out as your greatest fear becomes your greatest joy!" By this point, I'm in awe. Without knowing it, this guy had perfectly described my very first experience on a high diving board back when I was a kid. To this day, I can remember the moment I got the nerve to climb that tall ladder. And how I mustered up the courage to jump off. Then, my first dive—and the day I learned to do a flip. How much I loved the high diving board after that! Just thinking back to those days made me feel a little less worried about our trip to the Himalayas. I studied the wise, but mysterious man. A former, high-beam construction worker—part philosopher, part counselor—who had learned how to do somersaults off a high diving board. Where did this guy come from? "OK, young fella," he suddenly blurted out, "I think I'll hop off here." The driver stopped the van abruptly. The construction worker jumped up and glanced over at me with a knowing smile. He waved and went bounding off across the street. It was as if God himself had winked at me. As if he was saying, "I've got this!" A sense of peace flooded my heart. For the first time, instead of fear, I began to feel excitement about our upcoming trip to the Himalayas. Could this guy have been some kind of "messenger" sent by God—maybe an angel? To encourage me and calm my fears; to remind me he's in control? I've often wondered. Would my fear of heights turn into great joy as the man had described it? Our trip was in two weeks. Soon, I'd find out the answer to that question... (To be continued tomorrow)

by Marilynn Chadwick A frayed white silk scarf in my Ebenezer Box is a rather odd-looking souvenir. Yet it reminds me of the time I got to see the Lord at work in a very dramatic way. During this mysterious encounter, God also broke the back of a troubling fear. When it was all over, the world seemed much smaller, and my confidence in God grew to new heights. It all started on the way to catch a flight at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. We were heading home after visiting our son who attended a nearby university. I glanced up from my reading just in time to notice the man who stepped aboard our airport shuttle. He wore tattered jeans—the well-worn denims of a hard-working laborer. He looked to be in his sixties. The man sat down in the side seat facing our driver. I had a good view of his face as he launched into an animated discussion with our young driver. He had an easy laugh and an almost-twinkle in his eye. "How long ya been working for this company, young fella?" he asked. "Four years," the driver replied, "but one day I'm gonna do something different with my life." That comment triggered a steady flow of encouragement from the older guy—practically a pep-talk. My mind drifted as their conversation faded into the surrounding noise and I became deep in thought about our upcoming mission trip. David and I would soon be flying to a remote area of the Himalayan mountains–to a nearly forgotten corner of the world. Few had ever heard of Jesus in this faraway land. Our church had raised funds to help build a school—the first ever in the tiny village. Education was known to increase the standard of living. What's more, the school would provide a strong defense against the hideous assault upon families in this region—the sex-trafficking of children. Outsiders would frequently come into these remote villages promising free education for the children of the illiterate, unsuspecting parents. They commit to employ the children and send wages back to families who are barely scraping by. Their children disappear—never to be seen again. Our missions partner formed this organization to fight trafficking and the missionaries were incredibly courageous in their calling. Sharing the Gospel was illegal in this country, but they quietly found ways to tell people about the love of Jesus. It's important to note that this type of trip was not unusual for me. David's and my travels to visit global missions partners had taken us to war zones, genocide sites, and places where Christians are fiercely persecuted. After visiting over forty countries on six continents including places like South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, India, parts of the Middle East, you could say we had been to some of the most dangerous places on earth. But for some reason, I was uneasy about this trip. I didn't mind that we'd be in a remote area. I wasn't worried about the primitive sleeping quarters, the extreme cold, or even the outdoor pit toilets. There was, however, one thing that really scared me. I absolutely hate heights! The Himalayas—with eight out of the world's ten highest peaks including Mt. Everest—would have plenty of heights and I felt a little sick just thinking about it… (To be continued tomorrow)

by Marilynn Chadwick After the events of 9/11, I felt compelled to pray for a world in trouble. I specifically asked God to break my heart for the things that break his. One by one, he put different nations on my heart for prayer. A few weeks later, after reading about the massive genocide of Christians, I put the Sudan on my list. In my Ebenezer Box is this excerpt from my journal dated October 11, 2001: Confession: Lord, I have not prayed for the suffering of your people worldwide. My view has been so narrow. The great persecution of your people in the Sudan is staggering. Show me how to pray. From the moment I wrote down this prayer, I began to stumble on reports about the Sudan everywhere. The situation in their country was staggering. I had committed to pray. But how could I get my arms around such a huge nation? How could the prayers of one person possibly make a difference? One evening I watched a documentary on the Sudan and was struck by the plight of so many refugees. I was especially burdened by the tragic story of people still wandering in search of their families. I decided I would pray for one specific man and randomly nicknamed him "Sudan Sam." I prayed that Sudan Sam would be reconnected with his family. From then on, the Sudan wasn't just a huge nation. It now had a face. I prayed for Sudan Sam, whoever and wherever he was. Years later, and much to my surprise, a door eventually opened for David and me to travel to the Sudan. While in the Sudan, we grew especially fond of Zaki, our Sudanese interpreter and a member of the Samaritan's Purse team. A survivor of the brutal war, this joyful man was the son of the very first convert to Christianity in the Nuba Mountain region. His clipped British accent gave a clue to years of schooling in England. He had recently returned to Southern Sudan to oversee Samaritan's Purse's church rebuilding efforts. One evening, around an outdoor campfire, Zaki asked how I first became interested in the Sudan. I casually mentioned that I had been praying for the Sudan for seven years and had even nicknamed someone to pray for whom I called "Sudan Sam." Zaki looked startled and grew very quiet. He then blurted out, "That's got to be me! I am Sudan Sam," he said in amazement. "But I thought your name was Zaki," I answered. He smiled and said, "Ah, but my full name is Zaki Samwiil" (Arabic for Samuel). My father was also Samuel. There's even a book about his life called Sam of Sudan!" Zaki and I practically laughed and cried all at the same time as we realized that my prayers for "Sudan Sam" to find his family were probably most intense during the time he was making the difficult transition from England back to his homeland to help his people in the Nuba Mountains. We were amazed that our lives had been connected by a simple nudge from the Holy Spirit to pray for the Sudan, and especially for Sudan Sam. I reflected on the odds against such an unlikely encounter. For a moment, the world seemed very small. "Zaki," I said quietly, "can you believe that halfway around the world, God alerted me to pray for you by name before I ever knew you?" At that moment, the love of God for two very different people from very different parts of the world seemed enormous. Adapted from: Marilynn Chadwick, Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars: Learning to Hear the Voice of God (New York: Howard Books, 2012)

by Marilynn Chadwick A staggering 400 million people in India have never even heard the name of Jesus! Some people worship over 300 million gods. They are often overwhelmed by fear, bondage, and darkness. If I ever wondered whether the spiritual forces of darkness are real, I became thoroughly convinced after I met Pastor Jay, a church planter in a remote village in central India. One small photo of a little family in this village stays in my Ebenezer Box as a reminder of how one ordinary woman was set free from the power of darkness that held an entire village captive. Pastor Jay told us the story of Nisha, a young wife and mother of three. She and her husband Bhag were farmers. Strange things started happening in their village—people were afraid to go out after dark. They called the place haunted. Some claimed to hear screaming at night. Men and women would fall unconscious while simply walking down the street. According to Pastor Jay, Nisha and her husband tried to get peace through sorcery and black magic, but all their attempts failed. So, they went to different places to worship demon gods. They offered chicken, goats, and pigs as sacrifices. When the sacrifices failed to bring them peace, they consulted fortune-tellers and palm readers. Their spiritual darkness and suffering increased by the day. Nisha and her husband lived in such fear that they wanted to sell their land and move. In fact, Bhag's older brother suddenly died one day. That same evening the brother's wife fell over dead! People were terrified and stayed away from them, believing the family was cursed. Day after day, Nisha and Bhag continued to visit temples and observe rituals to please the gods. They consulted gurus and temple priests and wore all kinds of magic charms. They worshiped other demon gods. Pastor Jay knew the village was in desperate trouble. He himself was only a recent believer, but he had experienced such joy and relief when he heard the Gospel that he hoped to preach that same Good News and plant a church in the village. Jesus had truly set him free! During Nisha and Bhag's dark and terrifying days, he tried to tell them about Jesus Christ and the power in his name. But they refused to listen. One afternoon, Nisha suddenly fell over unconscious. She was unresponsive and could not open her mouth. She had no pulse—it was clear to everyone that she had died. At that point, her husband Bhag lost faith in all his idols and demon gods. Finally, he was desperate enough to cry out to God for help! Bhag decided to give this Jesus one try and called on Pastor Jay to pray. Pastor Jay prayed a simple prayer in the name of Jesus. Nisha was suddenly revived and came back to life within five minutes! Awestruck at the mighty power of God, the villagers marveled that Nisha had been raised from the dead—a miracle! Nisha's entire family put their faith in Christ that day. Immediately they removed all idols and worship material from their home. They all received water baptism and publicly professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They opened their door for a house church in their village and as Pastor Jay put it, "Now the whole family is happy in the Lord!"

by Marilynn Chadwick Life was exciting at the large, southern university I attended in the 1970s. I was more absorbed with fun, football games, and finding myself than I was with finding God. But when I accepted Christ the summer after my junior year, my whole world shifted. Until then, I had dated a number of perfectly nice guys. But now I began to yearn for a man who had a passion to serve God. I confided in the Lord about my hunger for a companion with whom I could share my spiritual life. After college, I moved to Atlanta and started my corporate dream job. I had yet to find my spiritual soul mate, but had considerable time to formulate my "checklist." I wanted him to be handsome. Tall and athletic would be nice, as would a sense of humor, maybe even musical. But I was adamant about one thing—his heart for God. When I invited God to take control of my life a year earlier, I didn't know where to go or what to do next. I went to a local bookstore and looked under the Religion section to find some answers. I stumbled upon A Man Called Peter, the story of Peter Marshall, the famed Scottish-born preacher and chaplain to the United States Senate. The author, his wife Catherine, tells the wonderful story of their romantic meeting and life of adventure as they served God together. I had always said I'd never marry a minister. But after reading Catherine and Peter Marshall's story, a thought flashed through my mind, "I have this strange sense that I'm going to marry a minister." For the first time, that thought did not terrify me, which in itself was a little scary. Soon after moving to Atlanta, a friend set me up on a blind date. David Chadwick, I would learn, was a former college basketball player. He had a wonderful sense of humor, played the guitar, and happened to be very handsome. He was also studying to be a minister. Steve, the guy that set us up, kept pestering David to ask me out, insisting that our "auras matched." You have to remember—this was the seventies! An old high school friend, who was now a member of the college ministry David was leading, called to fill me in on this David Chadwick. "You are really going to like this guy," she assured me. "He played basketball at the University of North Carolina and pro basketball in Europe. He has traveled a lot and done some pretty incredible things—plus, he stayed humble in spite of it all." As David tells his side of the story, Donna called him and simply said, "Are you ready to fall in love?" The first time I visited Columbia Seminary in Decatur, where David was a student, I noticed a brass plaque on the brick wall of his dorm. I glanced at the inscription and caught my breath. The plaque was dedicated in loving memory to a noteworthy man of God who had prepared for the ministry at this historic seminary. He had lived in that very dormitory. His name? Peter Marshall. If I was looking for a sign from God, this surely seemed to be it! David and I were married on May 20, 1978, almost ten months to the day after our first date. We have Donna and Steve to thank, but it was really God who was in the matchmaking business! I always go back to a memento from this story in my Ebenezer Box so as to never forget.

by Marilynn Chadwick To hold onto hope, we must learn how to guard our minds against "hope killers"—those pesky predators that seek to destroy our God-given dreams as well as our peace of mind. One of the most troublesome hope-killers is anxiety. Like a slow leak, anxiety drains our faith. It fills us with a low-grade dread that steals our joy. Mental health experts are disturbed by the growing numbers of those suffering from anxiety—now the most common mental illness in the United States. I've discovered a simple prayer that helps quench my anxiety and build hope. I call it "praying beyond" the problem. It goes something like this: Lord, I trust you to answer my prayer in a way that goes beyond what I even know to ask. In other words, "Surprise me with more than I can imagine." This prayer is right in line with the Bible's encouragement to trust the One "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20 MEV). Praying beyond the problem helps me take my focus off the obstacles and fix my mind on God's promises. Once I was out of town for one of our son Michael's swim meets, I happened to read Ephesians 3:20 before going out for my morning run, this time in a different Bible version. The words put a fresh twist on my "praying beyond" concept: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). Above all. Another way to "pray beyond." While running, I reflected on Michael's dreams to be a collegiate swimmer—a dream which looked like a long shot. The competition for scholarships was fierce. Lord, maybe you're encouraging me to pray as though I'm high above my problems, looking down on them from your vantage point. I was reminded of another verse that promises God has raised us up "with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 2:6 NIV). I continued talking to God as I ran. Lord, from where you're sitting, I imagine my dreams seem easy. I believe that nothing's too hard for you. I truly want to believe you're able to do above all I can ask or think. I rounded the corner and jogged by several swim team charter buses. I nearly laughed out loud as I looked at the name on the side of one of the buses: Above All Charters. Another sign from God? I'm pretty sure he was making his point loud and clear. He is able to do exceedingly above all I could ask or imagine. So why do I ever need to worry? I wrote down "Above All Charters" on a notecard and stuck it in my Ebenezer Box as a gentle reminder to squash "hope killers" and to trust. A simple, but profound lesson that God taught me while going for a run one day. Keep your eyes open. You never know what you might see.

by Marilynn Chadwick Back in 1976, after I made the giant leap from unbeliever to believer, I was surprised to find I could actually sense God's presence—he was real! What's more, I discovered that if I was alert, I might catch tiny glimpses of his work all around me. The Bible calls these signs. The word sign means "direction, evidence, working" or even "fingerprints." Signs reassure us that God has our life—including our problems—in his hands. Nowadays, smartphones make it easy to capture a photo when we notice a sign from God. A printed photo can easily become an "Ebenezer Stone." A few special photos have made their way into my Ebenezer Box. One reminds me of a time years ago when I was worried about our youngest child. Michael had just gotten his driver's license—that in itself makes most moms worry. He was moving up to an elite division of his swim team to train with the older, more experienced swimmers. This meant he had to drive across town every afternoon on our city's busiest interstate to a local university for practice. He was a young and inexperienced driver and the afternoon traffic hour was especially busy. I prayed for the Lord to keep Michael safe and alert—especially when he was exhausted after a tough practice. One day, I was having a hard time releasing this worry into God's hands. I had let my imagination run wild with "what if'" scenarios. What if he had a wreck, or ran out of gas, or got lost? I worried all that day and must have carried my anxieties to bed with me because I had a fitful night's sleep. I was worrying in my sleep when an audible voice whispered these words: "I can be trusted." First person, singular. "Who was that?" I wondered, now half-awake. "Did I just imagine that voice?" I thought to myself. I drifted back to sleep but the next morning, I distinctly remembered the voice and began to reflect on whether it was possible that God had been talking to me. During my usual morning quiet time, I happened to be reading the book of John. I was struck by Jesus's words to his disciples: "Trust in God. Trust also in me" (John 14:1 CEB). There it was again. Trust in me—first person singular. Could that have been Jesus talking to me the night before in my sleep? I desperately wanted to release my anxieties into God's hands and trust him to care for our son. Why was this so hard? A few days later, I was worrying again. Suddenly, an inner voice—this time, not audible but very real—interrupted my anxiety with a question: "When are you going to trust me?" It was a gentle, but stern, rebuke—the same tone of voice I used with my kids when they weren't listening to me. This time, I sensed right away it was the Lord. Our family left later that day for our vacation at the beach. We arrived after dark. I went out for a quick grocery store run, still having my ongoing conversation with God. Lord, can I really trust you? Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, like a beacon of light, flashed this sign in front of a small beach chapel. I had to smile as I wheeled into the parking lot to snap a photo. God must have a sense of humor because the sign simply said: "Trust Me –God." You had better believe that photo now sits inside my Ebenezer Box as a wonderful reminder. Maybe you have a photo you need to add to your box? If not, keep your eyes open for one!

by Marilynn Chadwick I don't know about you, but my faith grows when I hear stories of God's power. And when I personally experience a miracle, my faith soars! Over the years, I've collected mementos of my own spiritual victories—I call them my "Ebenezer Stones." Photos, small artifacts, scraps of paper, pages of my journal, little bits of "this and that" all point me back to times when God showed himself strong by interrupting the ordinary flow of daily life with a miracle. Any time I find something, I pause and thank God. I preserve the evidence as a reminder. Then I go back often to remember. It's not enough to witness God's miracles. We must remember them. No wonder the word remember occurs over 200 times in the Bible! The Bible tells the story of how the Children of Israel came back to God after many years of wandering. After copying the evil behavior of the pagan people around them, worshiping the demon gods of their enemies—and sometimes sacrificing their own babies, they finally had enough! They were sick and tired of the consequences of their rebellion. They asked their leader, Samuel, to pray for them because they were desperate and had forgotten how to pray. First, Samuel called them together to confess their sins. Then, he challenged them to commit to following God with their whole heart. Above all, he warned them to stop their wicked worship of pagan idols. While Samuel was praying, their mortal enemy, the Philistines, launched a surprise attack. But instead of fighting back, the people pleaded with Samuel to keep praying. The Lord rushed to their rescue and brought fierce thunder and lightning from heaven that day. The entire Philistine army was terrified and thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them and won a thrilling victory. Samuel took a large stone and placed it as a monument in their town. He named it Ebenezer (which means "the stone of help"). "This marks the place where God helped us!" He wanted them to always remember how God gave them victory and never drift from Him again (1 Samuel 7:12, MSG). Over the years, I have collected my "Ebenezer Stones" in a special box I call my "Ebenezer Box." Not much bigger than a shoebox, it looks like one of my grandmother's old hat boxes. My oldest granddaughter became fascinated with the stories, so I encouraged her to start her own Ebenezer Box. I would encourage you to do the same. Create your own Ebenezer Box and begin to collect reminders of God's work in your life. It can be a great project for your whole family! My Ebenezer Box is full of collected treasures that remind me that God is still in the miracle business. Some of my spiritual victories have been dramatic. Others have been subtle, more like whispers. Join me over the next two weeks as I give you a glimpse into my Ebenezer Box. I pray these stories stir your faith and inspire you!

by Marilynn Chadwick Resist him, standing firm in the faith... (1 Peter 5:9 NIV). A man who had just returned from visiting members of the underground church in China was asked how the believers were able to cope with continued trials. "These brothers and sisters know this is not the end of the story," he explained. "They expect God's glory to come at the end of their trial. And they do believe the trial will end in victory." No wonder the Chinese church is often referred to as "the joy force." Are you going through a trial in your life today? Peter invites us to stand strong against the devil: "Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering" (1 Peter 5:9 NRSV). We've looked at several ways God makes us strong. He helps us stand our ground through his Word, prayer, and joining forces with other believers. Often, our strength grows during times of weakness—especially during seasons of suffering. Life can be hard. It's not like Jesus didn't warn us. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!" he reminds us, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV). I need to stay connected to Jesus if I hope to stay strong in the spiritual fight. To stand one's ground during trouble is to endure. Endurance is a special kind of spiritual strength. Hypomeno, comes from two words: hypo or "under", and meno, "to remain." To endure is to "remain under" a painful trial. It's bearing up under a load of trouble with a tranquil mind. Meno is the same word Jesus uses when he tells us to "abide" in him (John 15:7). Endurance is an important weapon in the arsenal we're building to grow strong in the Lord. Will you be able to stand your ground when trouble hits? Remember, you can't endure apart from Jesus, so abide in him daily. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Stay filled up with God's Word. Pray always. And don't travel alone. Here's a special reminder to help you stay strong: If you don't abide in the light, you can't endure in the dark. "Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4 AMP).

by Marilynn Chadwick I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one (John 17:22 NIV). If we want to grow strong, we need to stick together. We are better and stronger when we're part of a team—a body of believers. Who would dream of fighting a war alone, or playing against an entire basketball team by ourselves? I heard a statistic recently that made me pause. Guess why most missionaries leave the field? Not poor living conditions, lack of creature comforts, fear of threats like Ebola or ISIS, or attacks from the locals; not even family issues. The reason most missionaries leave their assignment is because of conflict with other missionaries. Perhaps this is true for local church pastors leaving the ministry, too. Internal conflicts, like family squabbles, are the most destructive and painful of all. Maybe you've trusted someone close, only to be deceived. Deception is as old as time itself. The deceiver works his or her magic by flashing one set of motives, while armed with another. We'd agree that those who know us best can wound us the most deeply. Why does this stealth attack among Christians happen so often? Most likely because it works. We're unaware and therefore don't properly guard against the threat. The evil one is very good at what he does. After all, the word translated "devil" is diabalos, which means "divider." Division is his name—and his job description. It's how he incited the angels to cause a rebellion against Almighty God. I imagine most divisions are secretly animated by the devil and his minions. The "divider" is also called the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10 KJV). Division is the sordid work demons know and love most. Like any opponent, the enemy plays to our weakness—our natural pride and selfish ambition, envy and competitiveness (James 3:14-16). He also exploits our sense of self-righteousness. Our awareness of being "wronged." He strategically stirs up wounds from our family dysfunctions. Moreover, he usually does this dirty work in secret, so we don't see it until it's too late. Jesus knows the importance of unity in the body—it's the kind of love reflected in the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One of Jesus's most powerful prayers for the church reflects this divine call to unity. "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:22, 23 NIV). We must resist strife like the plague it is. The battle begins in our mind. The stakes are eternal, for our success or failure in this conflict is lived out before a watching world desperate for the Good News of the Gospel.

by Marilynn Chadwick May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus... (Romans 15:5 NIV, 1984 version). I love going to the beach. Everything about a trip to the ocean inspires, refreshes, and amazes me! Of all the oceanic animals God created, I am most fascinated by bottlenose dolphins, the most intelligent creatures in the ocean. Dolphins are easily trained. They can reason, solve problems, think abstractly, and even recognize themselves in a mirror! Dolphins can also swim up to 35 miles an hour. They're incredibly strong and can use their snout as a high-speed battering ram. No wonder they have virtually no natural predators. We can learn a few lessons about strength from these powerful and magnificent creatures. Stories abound of dolphins protecting humans against sharks. My dad happens to be one of the few living World War II submarine veterans. While on long, hot tours in the South Pacific, the sailors hoped to see dolphins swimming close by so they could dive off the sub for a refreshing swim—sure to be safe from sharks. Sharks steer clear of dolphins for another reason: Dolphins don't travel alone. They find safety in numbers by sticking together in groups or "pods." Like dolphins, our teammates can help us gain strength in prayer, which in turn, helps us defeat our spiritual enemies. Jesus said it this way: "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NIV). The Greek word translated "agree" is symphone, which comes from two words which mean "together" and "voice." When believers gather for prayer, they are like a "symphony" of powerful prayer. This principle was reinforced by a Marine who saw lots of combat duty in Iraq. He shared a lesson I'll never forget. "When danger hits," he explained, "I'm trained to run toward the danger. But my second response is to look around for my men." "So you can protect them?" I asked. "No," he said firmly. "I look around for my men because I know I cannot do this mission by myself." Much like dolphins, marines know they need to stick together to be strong. Are you connected with other members of the body of Christ? In prayer, in Bible study, in fellowship, and in service to others? Our mission—the Great Commission—is too important and too dangerous to be accomplished alone.

by Marilynn Chadwick If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV). We've been exploring practical ways to grow strong in the Lord. Earlier, we saw how King David strengthened himself after a devastating attack by the Amalekites. He got alone and "strengthened himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6 ESV). Then he courageously obeyed God's instructions. David had experienced God's power in battle before, so he was certain God could be trusted again. David's obedience resulted in a thrilling victory. In Hebrew and Greek, the original Bible languages, the words for listen and obey are virtually the same. Hearing God implies that I will obey his marching orders. If I want to grow strong in the Lord, it's vital that I learn to both hear and obey. Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10-year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. It was a letter written by John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again: "Unless the divine power has raised you up...I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that [abominable practice of slavery], which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might." Much like William Wilberforce's fight against slavery, sometimes God asks us to do very difficult things. Do we change our lives to conform to God's call or take the easy way out? Remember, we have an advantage even over King David when it comes to hearing God. As believers in Christ, we have the gift of his Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This means we have access to God's voice in a much more intimate way. We also have the entire Bible available to us. Imagine how David would have felt if he had the whole Bible in his hands—complete with his own book of Psalms! We must give God time to speak to us. A few minutes each day to read and reflect on God's promises—letting them sink down deep—these are nourishment to our soul. God's Word sharpens our inner hearing of God's voice. Jesus said believers will recognize his voice. "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27). Has God ever asked you to do a hard thing? Did you say yes? How did obedience to God's Word help you grow stronger? Perhaps he is asking you to do a hard thing today. Maybe God has raised you up for this very assignment. And as Wesley said to Wilberforce, "If God be for you, who can be against you?"

by Marilynn Chadwick Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16 NIV). God loves us when we are weak, but he delights in making us strong. His power shines most dramatically through our weakness. We've been exploring the various ways God strengthens us. Last week we saw how structure and order can help us free ourselves from the things that rob our strength, enabling us to follow hard after Christ. God wants us to travel lean and light through this life. Light-hearted, that is. He knows that getting rid of the internal baggage that weighs us down helps us run our race of faith. That's why he provided a way to cleanse us of the overwhelming penalty of sin through Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection. Even after we have received God's free gift of salvation through Jesus, we sometimes find ourselves entangled in sin. Let's remind ourselves of the challenge from Hebrews 12:1 to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Confession is yet another way we can declutter our soul and grow stronger. We rid our soul of toxins that drain and weaken us by taking them to the cross. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). We confess. He forgives and purifies. If that seems too easy, just remember, it cost God everything. One area of my life that is mentally draining and weakens my faith is worry. Over the years, I've made a lot of progress in dealing with this unwelcome intruder into my mind. But I have to be ruthless. Worry is a robber and a thief. It steals God's peace. Let's face it. Worry is exhausting. A friend of mine developed this little acronym for W.O.R.R.Y: Worry-Only-Robs-Rest-from You. How true! But I must be alert, and when worry springs up, I confess it as sin. I take my thoughts captive, remind myself of God's power, and reflect on how he has worked in the past. Then I fill my mind with the promises in his Word. When I do this, my hope soars in proportion to my lighter mental load and I gain new strength. What areas of your life cause you to grow weak and weary? What robs your strength? Confess those to God and trust him to give you the strength to overcome. Remember, confession is good for the soul.

by Marilynn Chadwick We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure... (Hebrews 6:19 NIV). God's strength helps keep our hope alive. Hope, in turn, makes us stronger—like an anchor for our soul. Perhaps you're fighting today to hold on to your dream. The mountain of obstacles looks too big to overcome. It takes spiritual muscle to keep dreaming when circumstances look bleak. Strength is crucial to resist the aggressive intruders of discouragement and fear. I pray that you'll find encouragement today as we continue our theme "Strong in the Lord." Years ago, when I was walking through infertility, I experienced God's strength in several practical ways—lessons that are with me even today. But one thing's for sure. Waiting is hard work! One day, my husband David spoke words that helped me turn a corner. He looked at me and said quietly, "You know, we'll never be happy with a baby unless we're happy without one." We were on vacation at the time. So, I went for a walk to do business with God. Two hours—and a very long walk on the beach later—I returned. I had surrendered my dream to God; "buried" my dream to have a baby in the sand. But I still held onto hope that God had a plan for us that was good. I felt strangely empty and free at the same time. There was a new fire for change. I wanted to begin again. And this time, hold my dream for a baby with a looser grip. I took stock of where I was. What I had. What I lacked. Where I could grow. In short, I began to "clean house." This was part practical and part spiritual. I worked at redoing the fixer-upper house we had purchased a few years earlier. Paint, wallpaper, and yard work were doable. These, I could control. I also took stock of my physical body; my temple. My health had suffered from all the infertility drugs and treatments. Plus, I was somewhat of a "junk food addict." So, I zeroed in on my habits and began to eat organic and healthy, not easy or even embraced by most people forty years ago. I also found ways to discipline myself through exercise. I discovered that structure and order kept me mentally healthy. There was some comfort in controlling what I could control. I could not control when I would get pregnant. But I could make a conscious choice to declutter both my soul and my surroundings. Friends, we grow stronger when we lighten our load. The Bible encourages us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). Is there anything in your life that's slowing you down? Let's pray this together: Lord, please reveal any sins, habits, or circumstances I need to "throw off" so that I can grow stronger. Empower me anew to pursue the dream you have placed on my heart.

by Marilynn Chadwick Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you... (Isaiah 26:20 NIV). I'll say it again. Some of God's best miracles happen behind closed doors. Jesus instructed his disciples to go into their room and shut the door when they prayed. Their Father, who "sees in secret," would reward them, he promised. We may discover God gives us strength when we're out of sight. Hidden from people. Away from distractions. We've been looking at some of the ways God empowers us and makes us strong. But occasionally, he puts us behind a closed door not just to strengthen us, but to protect us from a situation that is about to get dangerous. Sometimes, when God plans to judge sin, he tells us to shut the door to protect us from his wrath. "Wait a minute," you may be saying. "You mean God judges sin here and now—not just in eternity?" You bet. In fact, the Bible is filled with examples of people whose hearts grew so hard that they eventually got what was coming to them in this life. In real time. And in eternity. Think about the massive flood during the dark days of Noah. Or the incineration of the corrupt Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember God's instructions to the children of Israel while slaves in Egypt. "Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning" (Exodus 12:22 ESV). In other words, "Shut the door and stay put!" God was about to do two very dramatic things. First, he would judge the Egyptians for their refusal to heed his repeated warnings to release the Jews. He sent a destroying angel to strike down the firstborn son of each Egyptian home, passing over those homes that had blood on their door. The children of Israel could finally leave after hundreds of years of slavery—and begin their journey to the Promised Land. Second, he gave the Israelites a foreshadowing of the redemption which would take place through the coming Messiah. The blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, would bring forgiveness of sin and protect people from God's wrath forever. God may shut the door for a season to protect us. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: "Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins" (Isaiah 26:20, 21 NIV). My friend, are you discouraged by that "shut door" in your life? Perhaps God seems to have knocked you off course in a relationship. Or a plan. Or a dearly held dream. But as my husband David is fond of saying, "Rejection is God's protection." God may temporarily take us out of the game. He sometimes strengthens us by shielding us while he cleans up a mess that is not of our making. So be patient. Seek the Lord. Use this time to grow strong. To prepare for the purpose that awaits you as soon as this storm is over. And don't forget to look for miracles behind closed doors. If you're sidelined, take heart. Perhaps God is calling you to "go to your room" to draw you to himself. Maybe he has put you into hiding and doesn't want you harmed. Always remember, "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:9 ESV).

by Marilynn Chadwick But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:6 ESV). There is strength in getting alone with God. The Bible tells us Jesus "withdrew often" to be alone with the Father. How much more should we? There's no more important task on earth than seeking God. When trouble hits, I've learned to go into my room, shut the door, and seek God through his Word and prayer. Sometimes God may close a door in our life so we have time and space to draw close to him. We get alone to shut God in, and to shut other things—like distractions and discouragement—out. Think about it. Some of God's greatest miracles have happened behind closed doors. A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house. Jairus's only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. While Jesus was still speaking to the group, Jairus received word that his daughter had died. Jesus said to him, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed" (Luke 8:50 NIV). When Jesus arrived at Jairus's house, "he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's mother and father" (v. 51). In other words, Jesus shut the door. He shut some things—and people—in. And he shut others out. Then Jesus took the little girl by the hand and said to her, "My child, get up!" (v. 54). Her "spirit returned," and at once she stood up, fully revived (v. 55). We see another shut door in 2 Kings 4:20-37. A young boy had died, and his mother ran to the prophet Elisha for help. When the prophet returned, he found the boy dead on the couch. Elisha shut the door and went in with the mother where the two of them prayed for the boy. The prophet prayed fervently, and the boy was restored to life. Yet another miracle behind closed doors! (2 Kings 4:34-35). So, when you are weak, worried, or weary and need to strengthen yourself in the Lord, remember to go to your room and shut the door to be alone with God. God sometimes asks that we be quiet for a while, go to our rooms and shut the door. But take heart. Some of God's greatest miracles occur behind closed doors.

by Marilynn Chadwick Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue (1 Samuel 30:8 ESV). God is near to the broken hearted. He loves us when we're weak. But he wants to make us strong. It's not hard to embrace the concept that God is close to us when we suffer. After all, we love our own children and hold them close when they're in pain. We may secretly wonder whether God wants us to remain weak, so we'll be more dependent upon him. That's like saying that as a mom, I would rather my children be sick and wounded so they'll want to hang onto me more. Of course not! I want to help them return to strength so they can live their lives to the fullest. But I have to admit. I have experienced God's greatest strength during times when I am broken. I would never have known Jesus as healer if I hadn't gone through years of infertility and the subsequent healing that resulted in our three children. Nor could I have comprehended God's mighty power if I hadn't seen him set me free from stubborn fears. And of course, I could never have grasped his saving grace if I hadn't come face to face with my condition as a sinner. Perhaps you have your own stories. Over the next several days, we'll learn how others have experienced God's power during times of weakness. We can draw strength from their stories and practical tips from those who have experienced God's strength firsthand. Let's take a few minutes to reflect further upon David's encounter with God in 1 Samuel 30. We saw in yesterday's post how, upon returning from battle, David and his mighty men were horrified to find their village raided and burned, their wives and children taken captive by the violent Amalekites. David and his men "wept until they had no more strength to weep" (1 Samuel 30:4). Can you imagine the sound? The despair? The men were so distressed they talked of stoning David. What would you do under these circumstances? Where would you turn for strength? Let's look again at David as our example. One simple sentence says it all: "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (v. 6). After seeking the Lord, David receives this answer from the Lord, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue" (v.8). Which is exactly what happened. David and his men defeated the Amalekites and returned with all their family members safe and sound, along with everything that had been stolen. Their victory was triumphant! I keep returning to this simple question: How do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord? Perhaps we can now better understand what Paul meant when he said, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

David and Marilynn Chadwick join Jenn Houston in a discussion about today's blog.

by Marilynn Chadwick The Bible says angels are God's "ministering spirits" sent to serve the followers of Jesus (Hebrews 1:14). They deliver his messages and give help when needed. But Scripture also reveals how they provide protection. Scripture reminds us how the angel of the Lord "encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them" (Psalm 34:7 NIV). One clue about whether we've encountered an angel might be if we are unexplainably delivered from danger. Many years ago, a mysterious helper showed up during a scary situation—just when I needed him. And while I cannot say for sure the man was an angel, neither can I say for sure that he was not. David and I had been serving our church for a couple years. This was well before we had children. I was driving my regular freeway commute to UNCC, where I was working on my master's degree in counseling. Our cars were old—so old we gave them names to add a little character. David drove "Big Blue," a high-mileage, oversized Oldsmobile. I drove a clunky, yellow Ford sedan, which I had nicknamed "The Banana." Speeding down the freeway in "The Banana" that morning, my mind was occupied with my big research paper that was due. All of a sudden, my car made a weird noise and smoke began to spew from under the hood. I quickly pulled over to the side of the freeway. I was afraid to get out—nervous as speeding cars whizzed by. This was before the days of cell phones. I tried to calm down. I would need to walk to the nearest exit and find a payphone. I tried not to think of stories I had heard of women being attacked by "helpful "strangers when their cars broke down. Suddenly a car pulled off the road right behind me on the freeway shoulder. A man got out and came around to my window. He immediately took control of the situation. I do not remember being one bit scared—even though I was a young woman in a vulnerable position. He said, "Miss, your water pump just burst. You can't drive far with that thing steaming like it is." He never opened the hood, so how did he know it was my water pump? He went on, "Good thing I have a friend who has an auto repair shop just off the next exit. Follow me." Waiting for a break in the traffic, he pulled his car around in front of me and I slowly followed him to the next exit. Sure enough, there was a small car repair shop at the end of the ramp. The man quickly hopped out of his car and went to find the owner. The mechanic on duty got me fixed right up. I had a brand new water pump—and everything was taken care of in plenty of time for me to turn in my paper at school. But where was the kind stranger? He was nowhere to be found, so I couldn't even thank him. It was only later, when I reflected on the series of coincidences, that I began to wonder about the man. How did he "happen" to be following along behind my car—and how did he manage to pull off the freeway so close behind me? How did he know my water pump was the problem when he never opened the hood of my car? How did he know the exit was nearby and how did he know a mechanic was available in the car shop? And why did he leave before I could thank him? Could he have possibly been an angel? I'll never know. Whether he was simply a servant-hearted human who happened to be in the right place at the right time or a heavenly "angel on assignment," the story reminds me that God loves me. He is in control of my life. And he is always a step ahead!

by Marilynn Chadwick The next day, I checked into the hospital. The surgery, we were told, could last up to four hours. But forty-five minutes into the operation, the surgeon called my husband for an immediate consultation. "Had they found something awful and simply closed Marilynn back up?" He feared the worst. Meanwhile, I awakened groggy in the recovery room, with a man in a white lab coat peering over me. He had striking red hair and a very kind voice. "You did really well in surgery," he said gently, his face close to mine. "Your tubes are perfect," he added. I especially remember the word he used—perfect. Deeply comforted, I dozed back off. Down the hall, the surgeon is telling David that the six-inch incision and invasive surgery had revealed something quite unexpected. That my tubes were perfect! The doctor closed me up after a few minutes. The fallopian tubes, which had been scarred completely shut, were now perfectly normal. Not simply improved. Perfect! Absolutely no sign of scar tissue anywhere. David was waiting by my bedside as I came to. Before he could say a word, I whispered, "I'm healed, aren't I?" I just knew it. I began inwardly rejoicing as he smiled. Strangely, no one at the hospital remembered seeing a red-haired man in a white coat in the recovery room. But I know he was there. I asked numerous nurses and technicians, and they were equally certain. There was no sight of a red-haired man working in the recovery room, or anywhere else on the hospital floor. I've come to believe the mysterious man with the kind voice was an angel, a messenger with good news from God. The Bible has lots to say about angels. As we've seen, the word angel means "messenger." This certainly wouldn't be the first time the Lord used an angel to deliver a message of hope! During my six weeks of recovery following the abdominal surgery, I experienced an unexplainable peace and complete assurance. I almost felt like I was "expecting." I even bought a cute blanket and portable baby bed at a garage sale. What's more, I began to paint the nursery in anticipation of the baby I knew would come. The following month I learned I was finally pregnant! I tore out the page from my journal, which documented the healing prayer, and took it to our surgeon. He and his wife eventually began attending our church—their own faith encouraged by our miracle. Almost exactly one year later, we went back to the same floor of that hospital. This time, we were on the maternity wing—where Bethany entered the world to the surprised joy of the same nurses who had cared for us during my surgery. The memory of my encounter with the red-haired angel in the recovery room is forever etched in my mind. I've saved my journal page—the one dated January 27, 1985, documenting the healing prayer. Now and then, I look at those hastily scribbled words. They remind me to trust him when things look hopeless—you never know when he may send us an angel with a message of hope! Exactly forty-eight months from the start of my infertility journey, we conceived our Bethany. Three years later, we had our son David. And just shy of forty, I delivered Michael. We now have ten grandchildren and counting. Guess it goes to show that with God, nothing is impossible!

by Marilynn Chadwick During our years of infertility, hopes to have a baby grew increasingly dim. David and I continued to "feed" on the promises of God's Word about healing—too many to count—day after day, month after month, year after year. Promises such as, "He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children" (Psalm 113:9 NIV). During those desperate days, I learned to hear God's whispers of encouragement, see little signs of his work, and trust his character. In short, I learned the secret of what the apostle John calls "abiding in Christ" (John 15:7). Near the end of our fourth year of waiting, we enlisted the help of a highly-recommended specialist with a reputation for remarkable success with hard cases like ours. During our first consultation, the doctor delivered the crushing news that my fallopian tubes were scarred completely shut. Our chances of getting pregnant, even with surgery, looked next to impossible. David and I sat there stunned, letting the news sink in. We left the office, hopes dashed. One thing was certain. We needed a miracle. David and I drew strength from each other. We sensed God whispering to press on and not give up hope. Looking to the example of Abraham and Sarah I purposed in my heart to keep believing. Even if I am old, like Sarah, I whispered to God, I will still keep believing your promise. And despite what the facts tell us, I still believe you have placed this dream for a baby in our hearts. It's now in your hands. I trust you, no matter what. The doctor scheduled major surgery—a last ditch effort. The night before surgery, something happened that even our doctor couldn't explain. As for me, I felt like a bit of heaven touched earth. Trying to keep my mind off the surgery, I was flipping through channels with the remote. We called it "channel-surfing" back then. I happened upon a Christian television show. The program host was praying for people to be healed. Curious, I listened as the camera zoomed in for a close up. As I watched, he had his head bowed and was praying for people to be healed of various conditions. Then he paused and looked right into the camera. "There is someone watching this program who has scar tissue. It could be in their lungs…no, it's in her abdomen. I sense I'm to tell you that God is healing you right now." Scar tissue in their abdomen—who could possibly care about scar tissue in their abdomen except me? That's got to be for me! I pulled out my journal and hastily scribbled the time, date, and words, writing down all the "evidence" in case this startling scenario proved true. To be continued…

by Marilynn Chadwick I think back to an incident that involved two curious strangers who showed up at our church one evening. I was a beginner in my ministry journey. David and I had only been married a couple of years. My own faith was still pretty new, but very real. I sensed God had a ministry calling on my life. How ironic, since I'm the girl who once vowed, "I will never become a Christian, and I most certainly will never, ever marry a minister." God must have chuckled. Our church back then was on a busy road, sometimes frequented by transients. It was 1980, and things were a little different. We did not have to be quite so worried about strangers back then. So, when a couple of strangers wandered off the street into our Wednesday Night Bible Study, we simply spread out our chairs and welcomed them into our circle of thirty or so people gathered in the church foyer. As I recall, they joined in the singing and stayed for the entire Bible Study. Afterwards, we asked if they needed anything. Nope, they said, they just felt like wandering into our church. "Could you at least use a few groceries?" we gently prodded. They looked like they could use a meal and reluctantly accepted. We drove them to the local Mini-Mart down the street where we filled up a couple of grocery bags. "Where would you like us to drop you off?" David asked. "Oh, you can just take us back to the church," they replied politely. "Then we'll be on our way." We drove them back to the very same doors where they'd entered our Bible Study. The two young men got out of our car and thanked us for the groceries. As they walked away, the blonde-headed guy suddenly turned around and headed back to our car. For the first time, I noticed what a nice face and kind expression he had. He walked over to the passenger side toward my window, which I had rolled down. He looked at me rather intently. Quietly, but deliberately, he spoke these words: "You have just entertained angels unawares." With that, he and the dark-haired one walked away. We never saw them again. David and I drove off. Were these two for real? And just what were "angels unawares" anyway? I kept thinking about this strange word unawares. It sounded too old-fashioned for a young, hippie-kind of guy. And angels—seriously? I did a little research and found out that "unawares" was an outdated expression meaning "unaware or unwittingly," from the old King James version: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2 KJV). Could these two young strangers really have been angels? I guess I won't know until I get to Heaven. What I do know is that this incident left me with a strange certainty that God was near. A few simple words of encouragement from our two unusual visitors affirmed my sense of calling into the ministry. They reminded me that God saw me. He had called me to serve him. And if God had called me, surely, he knew what he was doing. He would help me find my way. What's more God reminds us to serve others—sometimes even strangers. I'd like to think God was pleased we had shown kindness to two ordinary young visitors—who may not have been so ordinary after all.

by Marilynn Chadwick Have you ever wondered whether you've had an encounter with an angel? If so, you're not alone. Over 80% of Americans believe in angels and over half feel sure they've been helped by an angel—even those who claim to be non-religious! But how are we as Christians to understand these supernatural beings? With all the misguided fascination with angels, it's important for us to rely only on Scripture for our understanding of these mysterious beings. The Bible describes angels as "ministering spirits" sent to serve "those who will inherit salvation" (Hebrews 1:14, NIV). If we have trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God has assigned angels to carry out his will and minister to us. They're always available to do God's bidding, whether guiding, encouraging, and even protecting those of us "lined up to receive salvation" (Heb. 1:14 MSG). In the Bible, angels delivered important messages from God, helped his people fight enemies, and announced the birth of Jesus. The word for "angel" in the original Bible languages—Hebrew and Greek—simply means "messenger." Sometimes these spiritual messengers take the form of humans, like the three angelic visitors who appeared to Abraham and Sara with a special message (Genesis 18:1-21). Other times they appear in full glory, like with Elisha, his servant, and the mighty angel army. These heavenly warriors far outnumbered the approaching enemy! You must read it to believe it (2 Kings 6:15-17)! Then in Revelation, the angel revealed the glorious message to the disciple John, who was so overcome by the awesome creature he fell face down at his feet. "Don't worship me!" the angel told John. "Don't worship me. I am a servant like you… Worship God!" (Revelation 22:9 ERV). Angels often do their work in secret because they want to draw attention only to the Lord. God, not the angels, is always the star of the show. But the Bible clearly reveals how God uses angels to carry out his purposes on earth. It's possible that somewhere along the way, angels have ministered to us. Perhaps we experienced something unusual or unexplainable. Often in looking back, we may wonder whether we were assisted by an angel. This week, I'll share several experiences that have caused me to reflect on this possibility of entertaining angels. If you follow Jesus, I imagine you, too, have stories of your own. If Hebrews 1:14 is true, then angels have been sent by God to minister to us—and most of the time, we were completely unaware of their presence!

by David Chadwick We are wrapping up our week with one more heresy: Marcionism. This heretical thinking became popular in the 2nd century. Marcion, an early Christian theologian, presumed that there is a difference between the God of anger and judgment in the Old Testament and the God of mercy and love revealed through Jesus in the New Testament. Marcion drew up a canon of 11 books in the New Testament that included the four gospels and a few of Paul's writings. He left out the entire Old Testament. Eventually, this was labeled a heresy, a wrong teaching. Take note of any leader or pastor today who is trying to discount the veracity and the importance of the Old Testament as they are dancing with Marcionism. In the Old Testament, one sees a God of anger and judgment, yes. But I would argue, and many others would as well, that a God of love, compassion, and forgiveness is displayed as well. Grace is woven into every part of the Old Testament and story after story gives whispers and glimpses of the coming King Jesus. Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus rules and reigns with a message of humility, forgiveness, love, grace, mercy and compassion. But he also warns of the reality of hell and of eternal judgment. Jesus gives us more info about hell than about heaven! God's eventual judgment of this world is evident in most of the New Testament books. God is the same God of the Old and New Testaments. And as I mentioned earlier, Jesus is found throughout all of Scripture. He is even seen physically in Old Testament, pre-incarnate theophanies as well as the New Testament Incarnation. This refutes one popular preacher who recently encouraged Christians to "unhitch" ourselves from the Old Testament. Take heed of such thinking! It is wrong and will lead you astray! Strengthen yourselves in the Lord, my friends. Put your trust in him. See and understand the amazing storyline of the Bible, one common theme woven throughout all 66 books. Learn the historical truths of both the key doctrines of the Christian faith as well as the heresies that lead people into deception. Develop strong theological muscles that can withstand any storm! And always remember: Sound doctrine produces a sound mind and mental health.

by David Chadwick Understanding the heresies of the Christian faith strengthens our theological muscles. If you've spent any time at Moments of Hope Church lately, you've heard us talk about what we call the "Core 4": Scripture, Theology, Wholeness, and Outreach. These are 4 spiritual food groups, if you will, that we believe develop mature believers. Too much of one thing over another creates an unhealthy imbalance. Understanding heresies will help you to develop a strong theology. Today's heresy is Arianism. It's probably the longest standing heresy. It was dealt with repeatedly over several centuries. Its name came from an Egyptian priest who introduced it in the 4th century. The belief of Arianism is this – while Jesus was the son of God, he was not eternal, nor was he divine like the Father. Nor was he the same nature as God the Father. So, who was Jesus to those who support this heresy? He was a holy man. A good moral philosopher. An interesting and insightful teacher. He was fully man, but not fully God. See, what heresy does is that it allows the church to weigh false teaching against what has commonly been held by the church. Though a mystery, the Incarnation holds that Jesus was fully man and fully divine at the same time. Conceived by the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember Philippians 2:5-11 from yesterday? The same argument applies here. He suffered as a man, yet was fully God. He lived as a man, yet was fully God. This is the clear teaching in the Scripture. For example, look at Thomas when he finally saw the resurrected Jesus. He fell to his knees and worshiped him. Note that Jesus received the worship and didn't correct him! Also bookmark John 1:1-2, John 1:14, Colossians 1:15-20 and so many other verses. Don't be deceived by teachings that have historically been labeled heretical. Build strong theological muscles that allow you to stand in faith in the midst of wrong thinking. Always remember: Sound doctrine produces a sound mind!

by David Chadwick Heresies. They are the beliefs and opinions that are contrary to the Christian faith. As we move forward, let me first add how important it is to note that not every area of disagreement is a heresy. Unfortunately, in my many years of pastoral ministry, I have seen many who deem things they are uncomfortable with as heretical. Dear friends, please be careful. Unless it's a clearly outlined biblical and historical heresy, we should not toss this word around loosely. With that said, let's look at another one of the historical deviations from Biblical Christianity so we can learn more clearly what are considered true heresies. Docetism. It is the belief that Jesus is not human. The Greek word "to seem" is the root of the word Docetism. In this heretical thought, Jesus seemed human but is not. He did not have a real human body. It only appeared to be real. All of the suffering on the cross was not real. It only appeared to be real. So, according to this way of thinking, the crucifixion was an illusion of reality and Jesus, as a perfect spirit, only "seemed" to suffer and die. Don't fall for this heresy! Its logic is no better than a sleight of hand trick. Jesus was totally God and totally human at the same time (Philippians 2:5-11)! Both his body and his spirit were real. He was a flesh and blood person, conceived in a virgin's womb. He walked this earth and chose to suffer just like us, as a demonstration of love! He is able to help us because he knows everything we experience (Hebrews 2:18). Plus, he had to be fully human, the second Adam, to pay the price for the forgiveness of our sin (Romans 5:12-19). I find it interesting that Gnosticism promotes the separation of the spiritual and the material and Docetism encourages the separation of divinity and humanity. Oh how humankind loves extremes! But the profound message of the Gospel is found in the tension and mystery of extremes. A message that is profoundly material and mystically spiritual. A Savior who was fully God and fully man. This is the Gospel that saved my life! I pray it has saved yours as well!

by David Chadwick Theology is one of our "Core 4" at Moments of Hope Church. Scripture, Theology, Wholeness, and Outreach are 4 pillars we believe create a healthy diet in maturing Christians. Developing a strong understanding of theology is a crucial part of living as a mature Christ follower. It is important to understand the key doctrines of the Christian faith. But it is also important to understand the key heresies, which is what I am teaching you this week. Today's heresy is Gnosticism. This is the belief that the material world is bad and the spirit world is good. Therefore, God had to place many different "emanations" between him and the fallen, evil world. What are emanations, you might ask? Think of them as abstract layers in between God and this world. They become degrees of separation, distancing a perfect spiritual God from this evil world. So, following this consistency of thought, Jesus had to be only spiritual in nature, not material at all. And salvation is only achieved through esoteric knowledge. The term "Gnosticism" comes from the Greek word "gnosis," which means "knowledge" or "to know." It implies that there is a spiritual knowledge that only a few can actually attain. Paul addresses Gnosticism in the book of Colossians. Take a look at Colossians 2:18, for instance, where he corrects the wrong thinking that only a few really understand and attain a certain level of spirituality: "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God." Bottom line is this - earth and matter is good because God created it. It's the Lord's earth (Psalm 24:1)! Yes, it's tainted by sin, but still lovely in its beauty, productivity, and livability! Moreover, concerning Jesus, he was totally God and totally human at the same time–the major Christian tenets Gnosticism could not grasp nor believe. May we never partner with this heresy of Gnosticism that creates an unhealthy chasm between the spiritual and the material. May we never teach a Gospel that is unattainable and unreachable, granting oversight to only a few elites. Finally, may we followers of Jesus always live as ambassadors of the Kingdom of heaven, who reveal the many displays of the wonder of God in the midst of this broken world!