A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick We are halfway through our Christmas treasure hunt. Looking at hidden gems in the Christmas story. There are so many special messages that can be found in this story. Today's hidden gem is connected to Joseph. We can't forget about Joseph. He, too, had Gabriel visit him just like Mary did. God chose HIM to be Jesus's earthly daddy. Like Mary, he was godly. He was essential in raising Jesus. Dads are so important. They model faith. Their presence should give life to those around them. They show their daughters and sons how to live for God. God chose Joseph to be Jesus's daddy because he was a man of great faith. He was obedient. As whispers of scandal enshrouded Jesus's hometown and beyond, that the child in Mary's womb was conceived out of wedlock, Joseph stood by her. Protected her. Stayed committed to her even though he was tempted to leave her and could not explain the child in her womb. Joseph was a Godly man. He exemplified Godly manhood. What an example for all men to follow! And his story is told nowhere else except in the Christmas story. Another hidden gem? I think so! The humility and quietness of his role speaks volumes. May we not miss or overlook the significance of this man. To all the fathers and men reading this, I want this to speak directly to you for a moment. Your role matters. The significance of what you carry as a father figure matters. I don't care if you have biological children or not, if you know Jesus, you have been called to lead, protect, care for and father those who are younger than you in a God-honoring way. Let today's hidden gem encourage men to grow in biblical manhood! And total obedience to Jesus.

by David Chadwick We are taking two weeks to look at hidden gems in the Christmas story. Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." I want to help you search out some of the wonders and often overlooked parts of this Christmas story. I believe that with each hidden gem that we seek out, we gain a new appreciation for the wonder of this season. Did you know that when the early church was formed, everyone was considered equal? Jesus made a point to demolish the systems of man that made a relationship with God inaccessible and a hierarchy of partiality that had previously existed in religious structures. With Jesus's death and resurrection, male, female, Jew, Greek, slave, free - all became one in Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Because of Jesus, there is no caste system in the church! Or in heaven. But this idea really began in the Christmas story. Note who some of the first visitors were to the manger. Shepherds. People who, in the world's eyes in that day, were at the bottom rung of society. Low caste and class. Excluded. Marginalized. Yet there they were: Front and center in the Christmas narrative. Some of the first to worship and adore Jesus. Jesus made us all equal in him. Rich and poor. Great and small. Grand and lowly. Shepherds and wise men. Servants and kings. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. And this message began at the cradle. Take a look around. Even unbelievers find themselves sensitive and tender this time of year. Maybe some of these hidden gems will give you ways to converse with all those around you—especially ones who may be a bit more open than usual to the profound message of Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick Did you know the Christmas story is built on a foundation of family? Ministry that is knit together by a strong family carries such a powerful expression of the heart of God. In fact, I have heard it said that the government of heaven is family. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit - they work in perfect unity and are a powerful reflection of whole, pure love. And all of us who believe are the Father's children, eternally living with our big brother, Jesus, who places his life in the Holy Spirit inside us all. So, whether you have strong family connections on this side of eternity or not, there is always a place for you in the family of God - the church. Marilynn and I have known the joy of sharing ministry with members of our family. At first, we wondered if it would work. Now, after several years, we see the beauty of it. Ministering together as a family to carry forth the Gospel message should not be unusual. It's found throughout the Bible and especially in the Christmas story. Did you know that Mary and Elizabeth were cousins? That made John the Baptist and Jesus cousins, too! They probably grew up as close friends. Did you know Salome was a sister to Mary? That means James and John, her two boys, were cousins to Jesus as well. James and John went on to be chosen by Jesus to be an essential part of his apostolic band. Jesus could have built out his ministry alongside anyone, but he chose to build it out, at least in part, through family. Look at James, John's brother, who became the first martyr. John, James's brother, was the disciple whom Jesus loved and wrote several books in the New Testament. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he looked down and saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved and told them to take care of one another (John 19:25-27). And don't forget Mary and Joseph. They raised God's Son. They taught him holiness and godliness. Jesus's family ministry worked! And it all began at Christmas! Another Christmas hidden gem. A beautiful treasure to unearth during the Christmas season to point you to the wonderful gift that came through Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick There are so many hidden gems in the Christmas story. Often overlooked little treasures God has placed to stir up our faith and renew our hope. Nothing generates excitement like a birth announcement. A gender reveal party. The coming of a new baby! I have experienced this first hand with the birth of Marilynn's and my three kids and soon to be ten grandkids. It never gets old. Each time a new life comes on the scene, the excitement swells! And it feels like the world has new hope. This is especially true when you have had to wait a long time for a baby. Year after year of faith. Believing. Trusting. Marilynn and I know this firsthand. We waited years and years for our first child. Finally, God came through! Some of the BIble's most significant characters had babies at older ages. They had to wait for and contend for the promise of children. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years. Jacob and Rebecca had to wait a long time, to the point where she said, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (Genesis 30:1). Samson was born to aging parents. Hannah waited, cried out, and begged the Lord for Samuel (1 Samuel 1). And each child was used magnificently by the Lord. And, of course, in the Christmas narrative, there are Zechariah and Elizabeth. They waited and waited and waited. Elizabeth is even described as being hunched over, thus showing how old she was. But God finally gave them John the Baptist. A significant character in the Christmas story. John the Baptist was Jesus's cousin and was born just six months before him. John the Baptist paved the way for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Born to parents in old age, his birth was a miracle that led to Jesus - the ultimate miracle. Dear friends, don't ever give up! Don't lose heart! Maybe you, too, are begging God for a child. Your age is not a hindrance for the Lord. He is all powerful. Keep trusting him. Your Christmas miracle may be just around the corner.

by David Chadwick There is something about a treasure hunt that invites every person into wonder and delightful suspense. I want to spend the next two weeks taking you on a treasure hunt. I want to pull out ten gems that are in the Christmas story. Treat them as precious jewels, as treasures you can go back to again and again during this time of the year to stir up your faith and renew your hope for Jesus's return. Remember: Jesus's first coming set the stage for his Second Coming! Because our God can change everything in a moment! There were 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus's coming, one of which included prophesying the exact city where Jesus would be born. Micah 5:2 says, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." What a lot of people don't know is that between Malachi and Matthew, between all the 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament to the coming of Jesus, there were 400 years of silence. Not one prophetic word. Nothing! Can you imagine waiting that long for an answer? Waiting and silence. We have all been through it. It's the reason for the great Christmas hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." People were longing for Jesus's first coming. Are you in one of those times right now? If so, don't give up. Like when Jesus finally came, God can suddenly break through darkness and change everything. In a moment. With one word. God's light shatters darkness. And immediately, there is hope! Take this gem from the Christmas story and treasure it always!

by David Chadwick Christmas. Said by many to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, we know it's even more wonderful than most know. It's a rescue mission full of good news and miracles. Christmas is about the presence of God. Today, we learn it's also about the victory we have through Jesus. Victory is defined as "an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition." Everyone knows that it is far more fun to win than to lose. Victory is always a better outcome than losing. As we talk about the impact of the victory that comes with the Gospel of Jesus, always connect the cradle with the cross, remembering that the final chapter of the story of the cross is the empty tomb! That baby who grew up and perfectly obeyed all the righteous requirements of the law is the same one who took our place and our punishment on the cross. But on the third day, he rose from the dead. He has VICTORY over sin, death, and the devil. The miracle of all miracles! The Jesus who lives in us always gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). Thanks be to God who always gives us triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). If you believe this, you should have HOPE. Now and forever. The story begins with the incarnation. But it ends with the resurrection and the victory. A miraculous story from beginning to end. This is the true meaning of Christmas!

by David Chadwick Christmas is all about Jesus. The true miracle of Christmas is found in the rescue mission God sent Jesus on to save the world. It's a miraculous story full of good news! It's a story that tells the greatest miracle ever told, and this is a time to remember that miracles can still happen today. In a time that often centers around presents in our consumer culture, let's all remember this truth: Christmas is really all about God's presence. Sure, we love presents. They are fun! But the true meaning of Christmas is about the presence of God. God came down to be with us. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he referred to God as Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23-25). Sometimes God used angels in Scripture to increase people's awareness of his presence. In 2 Kings 6:16, Elisha and his servant saw the host of angels and realized, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This miracle of the awareness of God's support and nearness gave them great courage in a time of need. In Luke 2:13-21 we see the heavenly hosts, angel armies, that accompanied Jesus's birth. They were praising God and giving glory to him! This miracle, heaven meeting earth to reveal God's nearness, gave great joy and wonder to the shepherds as they were tending their flocks. When we receive Jesus, he promises to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). Indeed, he is even IN us (Colossians 1:27). Never leaving us. Never forsaking us. Never deserting us. Forever caring for us. Always empowering us in all things (Philippians 4:13). Meeting our every need. A miraculous promise to all of us who believe. And promising us an eternal home with him (John 14:1-3). And our loved ones. And the other saints who have trusted in him. What HOPE! This is another true miracle of Christmas!

by David Chadwick Christmas is a beautiful time of year to reflect on the birth of Jesus and the historic moment that marked eternity! The first miracle of Christmas: it is a rescue mission. God sent his son to save us from our sins and to rescue us from the effects of sin. Second, Christmas is good news! The goodness of God's love has chased us down and re-established a connection between us and the Father. And today…Christmas is for miracles! The entire Christmas narrative revolves around one major miracle. A baby, the perfect God/man named Jesus, is supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin teen named Mary. But there are other miracles in this biblical story as well. Gabriel, an archangel, appears out of nowhere to give Mary this news of Jesus's coming birth. Shepherds miraculously show up because angels tell them to go and visit Jesus. Wise men from the east show up following a miraculous sign from heaven, seen in a bright star, that led them to Bethlehem to meet the Savior of the world. Perhaps the greatest miracle in the entire Christmas story is you and me who believe. That God would take our dead spirits (Ephesians 2:2) and miraculously make them alive in Jesus. "Born again" out of death and into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The many miracles found in the Christmas story show us that miracles are a part of how God displays his power, his might, and reveals his kingdom to his people. And miracles still happen today. Maybe there is a Christmas miracle around the corner for you? Something you have longed for, waited for, believed for? My dear friends, please remember that all it takes is for God to speak a word for something to be done! Don't give up. Keep believing! Hope begets hope! May we thank God for the true meaning of Christmas!

by David Chadwick You don't have to look far to find a headline blasting bad news. Bad news is everywhere. Wars and rumors of wars. Creation gone awry and groaning (Romans 8:22). Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes everywhere. Disease. Unabated anger in the streets. Division, disruption, and chaos seem to be the norm. Yesterday, we learned that the first miracle of Christmas was that it was a rescue mission. A valiant quest to rescue the crown of God's creation, you and me, from the influence and power of the evil one. The Christmas season highlights this rescue mission. Today, we see that Christmas really is the opposite of bad news. It's good news! From the earliest pages of the Old Testament, God promises a good and everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7). The First Coming of Jesus was to forgive us from our sins and to set the stage for good news to prevail for those who follow him. His Second Coming will be to establish a perfect world here. Upon salvation, we are grafted into a kingdom that brings hope and light in the midst of brokenness. We are also given the assurance of a Second Coming where a new heaven and new earth will be established and none of this bad news exists (Revelation 21:1). Heaven will be our eternal home. This is our HOPE and expectation. One day, the earth will be rid of all bad news. It will happen. Jesus said so. This is the very hope, and the second miracle that tells us the true meaning of Christmas! We are forever forgiven. Fully loved. God's goodness in and through us. What good news!

by David Chadwick Christmas is a rescue mission. A mission to rescue mankind, the crown of God's creation, from the influence and power of the evil one. To set us free from the curse of sin and death. Before Jesus came as a baby in a manger, we were all dead in our sins and trespasses with no hope of living forever with our eternal Father (Ephesians 2:1-2). The wages of our sin is death. Separation from our heavenly Father forever. A fragmented life bound by the kingdom of darkness. After 400 long years of waiting and longing for a Savior, a Deliverer, and a Rescuer (from Malachi to Matthew), the Father said to the Son, "Will you go? And rescue my children from their sins?" The Son, named Jesus (which means "Savior"), said "Yes" to his Father's request. Jesus put on human flesh, took on the form of a servant, and went to the cross to rescue us from our sin. He then rose from the dead to show us that his resurrection is now our resurrection, for those of us who believe (Philippians 2:5-11). We now sit with Jesus in the heavenlies, ruling over all (Ephesians 2:6). A mysterious reality of grace that Jesus made possible. Amidst the pain, turmoil, stress, and problems of this broken world, we have this hope as an anchor for our soul. We have been forgiven of our sins and rescued from the kingdom of darkness and placed into our Father's glorious kingdom of light. Ruling and reigning with him forever. This is the true miracle of Christmas. A rescue mission that secures our eternal hope. And gives us new citizenship in an everlasting kingdom.

by Marilynn Chadwick Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13 NIV). Our two boys loved to wrestle with each other when they were little. If things got out of hand, the one who felt overpowered could cry out, "Mercy!" This was their signal of surrender. All tickling and roughhousing (at least in theory) was supposed to cease. Mercy calls out to the stronger to acknowledge the weaker one and show compassion. Mercy is woven throughout the Bible. Mercy is at the very heart of God's motivation for our salvation. Yet mercy is sometimes treated as a lesser virtue. Mistaken for mere sentimentality or emotionalism, mercy is seen by some as weak. James wants us to raise mercy to its rightful place of honor. Mercy is worthy of our deepest respect, he argues. Mercy is the social code by which believers are called to live. James exhorts followers of Jesus to a life of words and deeds governed by mercy: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:12-13 NIV). Mercy, or eleos in the Greek, describes the compassion which moves us to alleviate another's misery and relieve their suffering. Jesus used the story of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate eleos (Luke 10:37 NIV). To be hard-hearted, letter-of-the-law insistent, and unmoved by any extenuating circumstances, violated the spirit of the law. Plain and simple. Mercy characterizes the way God treats me. So naturally, it should characterize the way I treat others. Lord, slow me down today. Show me what causes my heart to be hard at times. Resistant to giving or receiving mercy. Could it be that I am simply moving too fast to notice the one in need of your mercy? I pray for a new vision of mercy as the true heart of Jesus. Make me especially alert to watch for opportunities today to show eleos to one of your children. Amen.

by Marilynn Chadwick If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:3-4 NIV). This word "discriminate" is a hot-button for me. I grew up in the deep South during the birth-pangs of the Civil Rights movement. Our town was the headquarters for the KKK. The first African American cheerleader in our high school's long football history was on my cheer squad. It was the 1970's in Georgia. Racial tensions were high. As cheerleading captain, I fought hard to help our team learn to stand strong against discrimination and care for one another. To remain unified. I wasn't a follower of Jesus at the time - that would come later. But in my heart, I knew discrimination was wrong, sinful, unjust. James hammers home the dangers of discrimination. Racial tension wasn't so much a problem for the early church as were religious and class distinctions. Some things never change. There was still a wrestling match among believers about whether to allow all those "unclean Gentiles" into their fellowship. It was not an easy marriage. As leader of the Jerusalem church, James probably had to oversee his share of disputes. No wonder they called him "camel knees." I'm sure he spent lots of time praying for love and unity among the believers. Over sixty years ago J.B. Phillips, a minister in the Church of England, authored a New Testament translation which was one of the earliest attempts to capture God's Word in a modern language. Notice Phillips' word choice as you prayerfully meditate on James' warnings about the dangers of discrimination: Don't ever attempt, my brothers, to combine snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ! Suppose one man comes into your meeting well-dressed and with a gold ring on his finger, and another man, obviously poor, arrives in shabby clothes. If you pay special attention to the well-dressed man by saying, "Please sit here—it's an excellent seat", and say to the poor man, "You stand over there, please, or if you must sit, sit on the floor", doesn't that prove that you are making class-distinctions in your mind, and setting yourselves up to assess a man's quality?—a very bad thing. For do notice, my brothers, that God chose poor men, whose only wealth was their faith, and made them heirs to the kingdom promised to those who love him (James 2:3-4 PHILLIPS). I'm reading those words with fresh eyes this morning, asking God to guard my heart against judging anyone by their outsides rather than their insides. Holy Spirit, I ask for your conviction. Don't let me show special favor because of someone's wealth, social standing, gifts, abilities, or attractiveness. Give me your eyes to see into their heart and love others as you love them. Thank you Lord, that you never discriminate.

by Marilynn Chadwick If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself (James 1:26 CSB). I love words. Words allow us to connect with each other—and with God. But I've seen the damage words can do to individuals, families, churches, even nations. James warns us to use our words wisely. He gives us a sober reflection on the dangers of the tongue. I may think I am walking out my faith well. But James warns that if I don't watch my words, I'm in trouble. The exact translation of this verse from the original Greek reads like this: "If someone thinks that he is religious, yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (James 1:26 MOUNCE). Notice the translator adds a twist: If I don't "bridle" my tongue, then I actually deceive my own heart. What's more, my religion, James says, is worthless. The word translated worthless conveys "purposelessness or futility." My faith is futile. Ouch. Words prove what's in our heart. Jesus said it this way: "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart" (Luke 6:45 NLT). Sometimes, I speak before I think. I need to grow in the area of governing my speech. Maybe you, too, struggle with your words. Bridling my tongue goes deeper than just my words. Jesus reminds me it's a heart issue. The message of James is straightforward. If I keep my heart clean, my words will take care of themselves. Lord, put a watch over the door to my lips. Catch me before I speak words that wound. Fill my heart so full of your love that my words will bring life to those around me. Make me sensitive to your voice and receptive to your Word. Daily.

by Marilynn Chadwick Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2 NIV). The Olympic Trials to be held in 2024 are always a spectacular event. Young athletes in various sports from all over the United States compete for the few coveted spots on the US Olympic team. Swimmers endure some of the most grueling training schedules of all the Olympic hopefuls. They often practice before dawn. Miss out on vacations. Barely remember a lazy day off. Pretty much sacrifice a normal life. All for the chance to make it to the Olympic Trials. "Training for trials" was familiar jargon around our home since our youngest son was a highly competitive swimmer and made it to the previous Olympic Trials. As believers we, too, should train for our trials. Like any good coach, James encourages us to face our trials head on. Today's Scripture focus is on the word trials. Have you thought about how your daily routine of prayer, reading God's Word, listening, and obeying—day after day after day—prepares you to stand strong when you are faced with a trial? Training for trials prepares you for the battles ahead. Do you love the fight of faith? Paul calls it a "good fight." It's been said that we should love the fight of faith in the same way an athlete loves his sport. I don't know if I'd say I love trials. But there's something invigorating about approaching each day on the offensive. Strengthening myself in God's Word. Being intentional about prayer. I believe we should walk away from our devotional time armed and ready. Expectant and watchful. Alert to signs of God at work. Prepared for opportunities to step out in faith. Ready to share the Gospel. Meet a need. Take back territory from the enemy. Determined to stand strong in the inevitable trials of life. Let's reflect on the rest of this passage from James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4 NIV). As we meditate on these verses, let's pay special attention to the word trials. Notice that James takes us beyond merely enduring trials. He encourages us to consider our trials as an opportunity for joy. Think about the joy of an athlete winning his race. What if that same kind of joy awaits us when we prevail in our trial? Why? Because trials are the very tools God uses to strengthen us, build endurance, and make us complete! Today, let's agree to train for our trials. And look forward to our victory through Christ!

by Marilynn Chadwick But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22 ESV). Keeping our faith—and our cool—can be challenging when the stresses of life hit. Maybe you need a little "faith-fix" as you approach this busy holiday season. I know I do. The book of James is filled with lots of practical wisdom. That's why some call it "The Proverbs of the New Testament." This is just the book to help us focus on what really matters this time of year! Let's face it. The turbulence in the world today threatens to wreck our calm. Plus, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can cause us to lose our focus. Let's look to God's Word and discover what the book of James has to teach us as we anticipate the birthday of Jesus. Each day, we will focus on one simple word from this practical epistle written by the half-brother of Jesus. James encourages us to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" so today's word is doer. These reflections are designed to help you meditate on a single truth from Scripture. Why just one Word? For starters, your minutes matter—especially when life gets busy. What's more, meditation on a small portion of Scripture helps you laser-focus on one facet of the message. It's a simple but effective way to fill your mind with God's Word. Plus, it helps you frontload your prayers with a burst of power for the rest of your day. I confess I'm a bit of a "word nerd." And reflecting on one word is a good way to unpack every morsel of truth in the Scripture. A single word may be just the inspiration that moves me to action, to be a "doer" of the Word, and not only a "hearer," as James challenges us (James 1:22). I've had a number of "aha" moments over the years when reading this short epistle. James prods me to a dangerous trust. To stick my neck out. Take a risk. Leap into the unknown. Obey and grow. But don't rush off too soon, James cautions, and forget what you've heard (James 1:24). Allow the words to sink in deep and change your heart. Reflect on what you've learned through your reading. What is God prompting you to do? James packs a wallop. The powerful truths in his little book have ignited life-change for countless readers for centuries. God's Word never returns void. Never leaves us empty. So...are you ready? Let's learn from James. Expect to be changed. Stay alert. Watch for signs of God at work all around you. And remember, Jesus loves to surprise us with Christmas miracles and sometimes it's with something as simple as one word from his Word!

by Marilynn Chadwick What about you—have you ever seen a sign or wonder? If you start paying attention, you might be surprised like I was when I started to find all those pennies! I continued to save these little reminders—pennies from heaven—I called them. Over the next months, pennies continued to appear. One day, I shared my "penny story" with my friend Kenna. I told her how these crazy pennies kept showing up. Pretty soon, she began finding her own pennies. A few days later in my morning quiet time, I was reading in John's Gospel about the man we know as "Doubting Thomas." Jesus' disciples suffered terribly after the death of their beloved savior. But miracle of miracles—he appeared to them—alive! All the disciples saw him. Except for Thomas, that is. Thomas had wandered away and missed the first showing when Jesus appeared to the others. I could imagine how his face fell as the disciples excitedly told him, "We have seen the Lord!" Sullen and discouraged, Thomas vowed, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were…I will not believe." Still, Thomas continued to hang around the others, hoping Jesus had not forgotten him. I felt for Thomas. For I, too, sometimes struggled with doubt. Jesus appeared again eight days later. This time, he singled Thomas out. But instead of scolding him, Jesus spoke to Thomas's deepest longing for proof that he was really alive. "Put your finger here," he told Thomas. "See my hands," he said. "Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas gasped and cried out, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28 NIV). Something about those verses got me thinking. Could it be that God cares enough to encourage sincere doubters like Thomas, or even like me? If so, maybe all those pennies I'd been finding were truly God's way of speaking to me. Lord, I prayed silently, I do believe you're sending those pennies to strengthen my faith. But I need more. Then, as an afterthought, I added, Lord, you showed your nail-scarred hands to Thomas. I want to see your nail marks, too! I never told anyone about my prayer to see a nail mark. How could God answer such an impossible request? A few days later, I received a card in the mail from Kenna. "Dear Marilynn," she wrote, "I found this penny in my dryer and I thought of you. Perhaps the Lord sent this penny as an encouragement to us both." I caught my breath. Taped to her card was an ordinary penny. But as I looked closer, I saw something that stunned me. Right through the center of the penny was a nail hole! I sat transfixed. And suddenly I knew. God had sent me my own nail mark, just as I'd prayed. For a moment, as I touched that penny, I felt like Thomas touching the nail hole in Jesus' hand. What could I say but "My Lord and My God!" Suddenly, it all became clear. My God is awesome and powerful enough to rule the universe. But he's also personal and tender enough to send a nail-pierced penny to another "Doubting Thomas" like me, in need of encouragement. I want to close this week with five reasons why I believe that giving thanks matters: Giving thanks to God is a good way to counter-attack discontent. It's easier to replace grumbling or complaining with thanksgiving than to simply try to "not gripe." Gratitude feeds my faith. I discovered that thanksgiving can stand up under a fiery trial. Giving thanks also seemed to use less energy than praying for a specific end—a good thing when you're in a hard place. Giving thanks is an effective way to roll my burdens into God's hands, which, in turn, calms my anxious heart. Having a thankful heart makes me more aware of my surroundings and more in tune with God's blessings. So I find myself more expectant—watching for him to show up. For some reason, giving thanks made me more sensitive to the needs of others—opening the door to holy conversations—a blessing in themselves. I don't have to understand all the reasons why giving thanks is a good thing in order to experience its benefits. Forming a habit of giving thanks changes my attitude and my actions. I discovered that giving thanks is a form of worship. It connects me to the Lord and places my focus on him. And when I focus on Jesus, it changes everything.

by Marilynn Chadwick I wanted to find a practical way to remember the amazing things God has done in my life. So I began to save my spiritual souvenirs, my "Ebenezers'' 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. What about you—have you ever seen a sign or wonder? If you start paying attention, you might be surprised like I was when I started to find all those pennies! My granddaughter Anna Grace was intrigued by the stories in my box. I gave her one of her own so she can collect her Ebenezers. Why not start your own Ebenezer Box? My Ebenezer Box holds treasured reminders that God is still in the miracle business. Some of my spiritual victories have been dramatic, such as the medically validated miracle that allowed us to have our three children. Those moments were like a roar. God was using his outside voice! Miracles like that get our attention. But I've learned that God's wonders are often much quieter—more like a whisper—especially when he's working in the everyday details of my daily life. And if I'm not watching, I just might miss him! A penny taped to a greeting card in my Ebenezer Box reminds me of one of those times. After all, what could be more ordinary than a penny? Who would think that a penny might be a whisper from God? A little penny may seem commonplace. But it tells of the time God answered my prayer in a way that was unmistakably him—and left me speechless with awe. I don't remember the first penny that caught my eye. For months I had been noticing pennies in the strangest places. Sometimes I would discover one at my feet—just as I was praying about something. Funny, I thought. It's almost as though God wants to let me know that he hears my prayers. I sure hoped so. I was going through a spiritually dry season in my life. I can't remember all the details. What I do remember is that I desperately wanted to believe God was still at work and that he cared about me. I was a young mom with two small children. David and I had worked hard together for over ten years of ministry building our church. Sometimes, the sheer load of caring about so many people became exhausting. Could these pennies really be little messages of encouragement from God? I wondered. Perhaps it was wishful thinking. After all, the world groans with the weight of earthquakes, injustice, and war. God has better things to do than send me pennies. Still, I hoped. And there it was. Another penny. This one in the heel of my shoe, just as I was preparing to put it on! The last penny had been under a glass on the kitchen shelf. The one before that, right in the middle of my bed! (To be continued tomorrow...)

by Marilynn Chadwick Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV). The Bible tells how the Children of Israel came back to God after many years of wandering. They began to copy the evil behavior of the pagan people around them and even started to worship the demon gods of their enemies—sometimes sacrificing their own babies! Finally, they'd had enough. They were sick and tired of the consequences of their rebellion. Sick and tired of fear and failure. Sick and tired of feeling like they were under a curse. They had forgotten how to pray so they asked their leader Samuel to pray for them. 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, they must stop their wicked worship of pagan idols. While Samuel was still praying, their mortal enemy, the Philistines, launched a surprise attack. But instead of fighting back, the people pleaded with Samuel to keep praying. I can imagine how they all began to cry out with the prayer that gets God's attention. "Help!" 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 the Lord has helped us!" He wanted them to always remember how God gave them victory and to never drift from Him again (1 Samuel 7:12, MSG). The word Ebenezer comes from two Hebrew words. Eben, which means "stone or rock" and ezer, which means "help or support." That's why an Ebenezer is a "stone of help." Even to this day, people sometimes use the word Ebenezer to commemorate an important victory. 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 seems to soar! Over the years, I've collected spiritual mementos of my own victories—my Ebenezer Stones. Photos, small artifacts, scraps of paper, pages of my journal, little bits of "this and that" point me back to times when God showed himself strong or interrupted the ordinary flow of daily life with a miracle. When that happened, it seemed important to pause and thank God. Then, to preserve the evidence. These little reminders help me hold onto my faith when answers to my prayers are slow in coming or when life gets really messy. My "Ebenezer Stones" remind me that nothing is impossible with God. You see, it's not enough to simply witness God's miracles. We also have to remember them. No wonder the word remember occurs about 400 times in the Bible!

by Marilynn Chadwick Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). The Bible actually speaks more about praise than it does prayer. I call it the "protein of prayer." Protein comes from a Greek word meaning "of first importance." And to me, thanksgiving is like "praise in detail." I am more of a pragmatist than mystic. I can't tell you why praise lifts my spirits and sometimes turns situations around faster than endless amounts of asking. It just does. Praise is like a one-two punch to the solar plexus of the enemy. Praise prompts breakthroughs in my prayers. Willie Myrick is one of my heroes. Nearly a decade ago, the then ten-year-old boy was the victim of a crime that became international news. Willie was kidnapped from his home in Atlanta by a knife-wielding assailant. His kidnapper placed a ten-dollar bill as "bait" at the foot of a tree near Willie's driveway. When the curious youngster reached down to pick it up, the man came from behind the tree, forced Willie into the car and began to drive. Speeding across town with the little boy in the back seat, the man spewed profanity and threats. The frightened ten-year-old decided to sing. And not just any song--Willie began to sing his favorite worship song, "Every Praise." When Willie was later asked why he sang this particular song, he answered, "Well, because I knew that Jesus was gonna be with me and he was gonna take me through the steps of getting out!" Willie continued to sing—for three hours! Finally, his kidnapper stopped the car, still cursing and shouting threats, and shoved Willie out unharmed. Just imagine the faith of this young boy. Instead of dissolving into tears or panic, he praised and worshiped God! I'm inspired by Willie's story. When faced with the worries or fears of daily life, I'm trying to respond with praise. To use annoyances as a trigger to praise God instead of complaining. It's amazing how quickly my mental climate changes when I begin giving thanks. And when it doesn't lift right away, I remind myself that Willie kept singing his simple praise song for three hours! "Rejoice always," the Bible tells us. "Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I want to refresh the habit of being thankful. I invite you to join me as we devote the next few days to thanking God in all circumstances. Thanksgiving is so powerful. Let's take a lesson from a brave ten-year-old and become people of praise.

by Marilynn Chadwick In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch (Psalm 5:3 NASB 1995). "Mom, you seem to see God work in the craziest ways," my daughter Bethany laughed after hearing about my latest answered prayer. My now-grown daughter, who was fifteen at the time, was used to hearing my "God stories." After all, she herself was the product of a miracle. Bethany had grown up hearing the story of how I had experienced a dramatic healing that enabled us to finally have her after many years of waiting and praying. Her two younger brothers were also the result of God's mysterious healing hand. Our soon to be ten grandchildren share in the legacy of this healing miracle. I've often thought back to Bethany's comment. Why do I seem to see God work in such "crazy ways?" Being the wife of a minister in no way guarantees that I get to see God more clearly. Maybe it's simply because I'm always watching. I have come to believe that God is involved in even the tiniest details of my life. I suppose I'm a bit like the character in a now-classic movie, Fools Rush In, who said, "Signs are everywhere. You just have to watch for them." And because I am usually watching, I often see God at work in the big moments and the small. Maybe you're like me—always on the lookout for God. The Bible talks a lot about "signs and wonders." I think they are kind of like God's fingerprints. I personally believe that when we see a sign from God, we should wonder, "What is he trying to say to me?" Looking back over my life, I can point to times when God showed up big and did something only he could do. Heal a sick body, rescue someone from danger, send an angel, or answer a prayer. I've seen miracles up close and personal—in my own family, my neighborhood, and in faraway places. David and I have served God in the same city for over forty years, but our ministry has taken us to six continents. But no matter where I go, I find men and women, boys and girls, who have discovered the amazing grace of Jesus. Many have shared their own stories of how God showed up with a miracle when they cried out for his help. And just like I did, they have seen him move in mighty ways when they reached the end of their rope. That's why I like to say that the prayer that most often gets God's attention is simply: "Help!" Watching for signs is crucial to seeing God at work. But so is desperation. Praying to him like you really mean it. Even in our modern world, God still speaks through signs and wonders. I've had mysterious encounters that convince me that angels are real. That prayer works. That some stories can only be described as miracles. Over the next few days, I hope you'll join us as we take time to remember our miracles. May we all pray more, watch more, and especially thank God more—especially during this Thanksgiving season.

by David Chadwick We have spent the past three weeks learning how to live a life of faith, hope, and love. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). They are the three qualities of this life that will exist forever in heaven. Love is our theme this week and we are wrapping it up today. I pray we all pass the agape test in 1 Corinthians 13. We must know God is love. We must look at the cross and see the Father's love for us in Jesus. We must understand the power of love. And today's tip: love one another. Dear friends, go love someone who is worse off than you. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Quit living as a victim. It does not matter how bad your situation might be, there is always someone worse off than you. Go visit them. Try to love them like Jesus would. Practice agape love. Find someone in a desperate situation, and go give your life away. If you are suffering from depression, this might be a cure. As you choose to give your life away, taking the focus off yourself, watch as your own depression might lift. It's a spiritual principle and it's personified in Isaiah 58:10. "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday." I would encourage you to memorize this verse and put it into practice. Remember that at the end of the apostle John's life, at the ripe old age of 95, he gathered his congregation together and just before he died he purportedly said, "Little children, love one another." It was true back then and it's true for us now. May we all seek to cultivate a life of love. After all, it's one of only three things that remains forever!

by David Chadwick Huey Lewis wrote a wonderful song called "The Power of Love." It perfectly captures the incredible power that love has. He says, "It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes, but it might just save your life. That's the power of love." 1 John 4:8 states that God is love. And his love is the most powerful force in the universe. It convicts us of our sins, which at times can feel cruel, but will end up healing us. It is strong enough to transform us. It is captivating and comprehensive. We must know the power of love. Read stories about how unconditional love changed a life. They are numerous! People like Anne Sullivan who sacrificially poured into Helen Keller and taught her in the midst of Helen's blindness. Watch movies that show the power of love. Stories where someone actually sacrifices his or her life for another. McFarland, USA is a wonderful example of this. Coach Jim White moved to McFarland, Texas, a town that was economically challenged, and invested into that community. The power of this coach's love changed the lives of many students, turned their entire sports program around, and transformed generations to come. As you fill your mind and heart with stories that show sacrificial and powerful love, remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us. I would encourage you to memorize John 15:13. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Once you understand the power of love, it will inspire you. Once you realize that, in Christ, God has given his unconditional love to you, it will humble you. Then, and only then, can you represent Jesus and become a conduit of unconditional love to others. This is our highest calling in life.

by David Chadwick As followers of Jesus, we are to be demonstrators of love because God is love. As we understand more and more who God is, our lives will emulate the characteristics of agape love. What helps you live a life of love? Look at the cross. Remember it. Stare at it. Remind yourself of its power. Jesus's pain. His suffering. The price he paid all because he loves you. He took all that pain upon himself as a substitute for your sins. It was our cross. Our sins deserved that punishment. But Jesus went through it on our behalf. Read and reread 1 John 4:10. "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Real love is that God loved us first! He initiated the love relationship. He made the first phone call, so to speak. There was nothing meritorious in us to make him love us, but he did! And he gave his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins! Contemplate that! Wow! This is how Jesus wants us to love others. In John 13:34-35 he says, "...just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." Take a moment and think about all of the ways Jesus has loved you. Starting with the cross. Loving others as he has loved you. Yes, even difficult people. Even your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Maybe it's a person in your family. Your spouse. Your kids. Someone in your workplace whom you are called to love. Remember a time when you know God expressed his love to you. A time he healed you. A moment where you felt alone and God comforted you. Once you start thinking about the list, it's almost hard to stop. You'll begin to see God in everything and the love in your heart for him and for others will increase. The cross is just the starting point for a life of love. Contemplate the cross! It's there where you begin to learn a life of love.

by David Chadwick It takes intentionality to discipline ourselves in a life of faith, hope and love. This week we are learning how to live a life of love. Yesterday we talked about the many qualities of agape love found in 1 Corinthians 13. Do you pass what I like to call "the agape test"? Is your life patient, kind, not easily angered? Are you quick to forgive? If not, maybe today's tip will help you learn to pass that test. In order to live a life of agape love, you must know that God is love. He is the only One who fully encompasses the definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 John 4:8 says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." Verse 16 goes on to say, "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Love is inherent in the Trinity. The Father loves the son. The Son loves the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit loves the Father. Love can only exist if there is a direct object of the love. That is why the Trinity, though mysterious and unexplainable this side of eternity, is a crucial part of understanding God as love. Do you know one of the major reasons God created you, me and the angels? To extend the love in the Trinity outward. To have more creatures that he could love and who would love him in return. Think about this for a second. You were created by perfect love to love! That is one of the major reasons why God made you and put you on this earth. As you understand God as love, it will spill out onto other people. Who can you love today? Make a point to love them somehow, some way, today. Then feel God's love grow within you.

by David Chadwick For the past two weeks we have looked at how to live a life of faith and hope. This week, we're going to look at developing a life of love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul wrote that it's important to have faith and hope "but the greatest of these is love." In fact, Paul makes an impressive list of the many attributes believers can attain, but goes on to say that without love, it's all just noise with nothing to be gained. Let's look at the biblical definition of love. Agape love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Memorize these descriptions of real Christian love. Mirror your life against these verses. I like to call this "the agape test." This is a test that followers of Jesus should take regularly to see if they are living as Jesus intended us to live. How are you doing at "the agape test?" Be honest. Is patience a normal expression in frustrating moments? Are you choosing to not get irritable when something goes wrong? Do you rejoice when great things happen? Are you selfless, not insisting on your own way? In your marriage? All relationships? And if you come up short? Remember 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." We don't have to do this in our own strength. 1 John 4:19 goes on to remind us that "we love because he (God) first loved us." After taking an honest look at your life against the biblical standard of love, and remembering God's immeasurable love for you, decide today: I will be more patient. Kind. Not jealous. Not selfish or rude. I won't store up the memory of past wrongs. And remember: Love is a choice. Not based on feelings nor circumstances. It's to be practiced regularly. Daily. Agape love is the most powerful force in the universe. It's a verb, something that needs to be done. Let's abide in the Father's perfect love. And see if the world around us doesn't change.

by David Chadwick We are finishing up our week of looking at what it takes to live a life of hope. Remember your story. Read Biblical stories. Read Christian biographies. Give hope to others. And today: know the character of God. You must know that you know that you know that God is the God of hope. This is a major way to increase hope in your own life. The Scripture is so clear that this is his nature and character. When you know who your Daddy is, you'll reflect him accurately and confidently to other people. Sometimes, we have to talk to our soul like David did in Psalm 42:5, reminding ourselves of who God is. As David poured out his soul before the Lord, he called his emotions and his circumstances into submission with who he knew God to be. Take note of God's nature and character with the Israelites during Babylonian captivity. Even after the 70 years of exile, God still had a hope and a future for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Our Father in heaven is long-suffering and gracious, slow to get angry, abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). Because of Jesus and his Resurrection, we now have a LIVING hope each and every day (1 Peter 1:3). This gives us the greatest hope of all: We will now live forever with him (Titus 2:13). Death is no longer the final answer (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). It has lost its sting! We have this hope as an anchor to our soul (Hebrews 6:19). Jesus is with us. We will never be alone. Make your anchor of hope stronger by practicing the five disciplines we have talked about this week. I pray your life flourishes with hope until you meet Jesus face to face.

by David Chadwick We are on day four of looking at what it takes to develop a life of hope. I want us to be a people of hope. Expectant. Fruitful. Full of life. Did you know Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life"? Without hope, our hearts get sick. Some have said over the years that happiness is only true happiness when it's shared. I would add that hope is only truly attained when it's been given away. A principle of God's Word that teaches us this is to sow a seed to your need. How does this principle apply to hope? Well, if you need hope, find someone who is struggling with something, a situation perhaps worse than your present situation who needs hope, and go give them hope. It's even more powerful when you choose to give to the area of YOUR greatest need. Maybe you have a financial need? Try giving money away to someone in greater need. Maybe you're struggling to get pregnant? Go serve with a crisis pregnancy ministry. Are you in need of a job? Go serve those who are homeless and jobless. Give your life away. Give people words of encouragement. Bible verses. Prayers. Financial gifts (and do so anonymously, not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:3-4). As you have freely received so much from Jesus, freely give it away to others (Matthew 10:8). If you want more hope in your life, go give hope away to someone who needs it. Then watch and see how hope will increase in your life.

by David Chadwick We all should seek to develop a life of faith, hope, and love. But how? This week, we are looking specifically at cultivating a life of hope. What stirs up hope? How do we remain hopeful? First, remember your own story. Remind yourself of your history with God. Times where he provided for you, taught you, led you, or healed you. Secondly, read biblical stories. Study the accounts of heroes in the Bible who were people of hope and let them encourage you. Today's tip? Read biographies of Christians who lived by hope and saw hope secured. The list is inexhaustible. Saints through the ages who stood firm against all odds. From early church fathers to the Reformers to missionaries to modern day saints in today's culture, there are stories everywhere of God's hope being revealed. Take Jim Elliott, for example. He felt called to fly to the Auca tribe to share the Gospel of Jesus. He was murdered violently by those he tried to reach. Instead of becoming bitter, his wife went back to the very people who killed her husband and shared Jesus with them. This should invoke hope in your hearts! How about Amy Carmichael? An Irish missionary who went and rescued temple children in India and opened an orphanage to care for them. She dedicated her life to providing hope to children in distress. Listen to stories like these. Read biographies of saints through the ages who have lived by God's principles and promises. Find movies that reflect victory through persistent hope. Watch how their lives of hope changed the world! If you're in a time of waiting or suffering or even persecution, remember stories like these! They will help form a reality of hope in your life! Stories you'll never forget.

by David Chadwick A life of faith, hope and love is characteristic of the Christian walk. How do you cultivate a life of hope? Yesterday, we talked about remembering your story. How important it is to keep account of your story with God and to reflect on it often. Today, I want to encourage you to read biblical stories. Look at different biblical accounts where people stood in hope. Take Abraham and Sarah, for example. They waited in hope for 25 years, clinging to the promise of a baby long before they saw the fulfillment of the promise. David took on Goliath with a slingshot and a heart full of hope. He trusted in God more than he feared Goliath. How about Paul? He spent years murdering Christians and persecuting those who claimed to follow the one, true God. God appears to him and he is radically saved. What wonderful hope this should bring to our hearts to see radical salvation from darkness to marvelous light! And always remember Jesus. In three days, his Father transformed his ugly death into a glorious victory through his resurrection from the dead. These are just some examples. Comb through the pages of Scripture and find more examples of biblical characters' hope. They are everywhere! Use the hope you see demonstrated in their lives to stir up hope in your life. Watch as your own hope increases!

by David Chadwick Last week, we looked at what it takes to develop a life of faith. This week, I want to talk about how to develop a life of hope. Hope is one of the things that God's Word says will remain forever. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Hope is a crucial discipline to develop. Otherwise, we will inevitably find ourselves in hopelessness and despair. Depression and despondency. Today's tip for stewarding a life of hope? Remember your story. Each one of us has a testimony. Our lives are made up of stories. As followers of Jesus, these stories should point to time after time where God saved us and transformed us. These stories should invoke hope! Write them down if needed. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." Our testimony and the stories that speak to our history with God are things we can use to battle the schemes of the enemy. Take a moment and look back into your past. Remember all of the times that God came through for you. Do you remember a time where you waited for a long time for an answer and God came through? How about a surprise blessing that came after a long season of nothing? A financial provision that showed up when you had a need? List as many of them as possible. Then claim this truth: If Jesus did it once, he can do it again. Hope increases as you remember God's faithfulness in the past. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Remember that truth both now and forever!

by David Chadwick This week we are looking at how to develop a life of faith. The only definition of faith found in the Bible is found in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen." How do we develop a life of faith? We increase our faith and believe for more than what our human minds can conceive. We learn to have faith like a child. We learn to walk in authority and with faith like the centurion who knew Jesus could "just say a word" and change everything (Matthew 8:8). We continue to cling to faith even when life is dark. And today? How do we wrap up this conversation on developing a life of faith? We walk confidently knowing our sins are forgiven. Because of faith, we know we will one day live eternally because of Jesus's life, death and resurrection. Not by our works, but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are either saved by our works (that we can see) or by grace through faith (that we can't see). The unique name of Jesus brings power no other name can bring. It's either "do" or "done." Either we are saved through something that we "do" right or we are saved by something God has "done" for us. "Done" demands faith to believe. "Do" and our measly works do not demand faith. "Do" is completely dependent on what we see with our natural eyes - our visible works. As believers in Jesus, we believe that Jesus is God. That he was raised from the dead (Romans 10:9) and that it is because of his perfect life sacrificed for us that we are saved. How do we get into heaven? It is all by faith. By God's work through Jesus on the cross. It's a free gift. We just have to believe it is true and accept it. Faith. Like a child. Total dependence. It moves God's hand. Just say the word. Nothing is impossible with God! Watch him work! For without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

by David Chadwick We are practicing developing a life of faith. To be people of faith, we must increase our faith beyond what our human minds can comprehend. We must come before our Daddy God with faith like a child. We must learn our authority and walk in it. Today's point: we must be prepared to stand in faith even when life is dark. Life certainly does have hard times. When everything seemingly doesn't make sense. When it feels like we are walking in a fog. Jesus told us this would be the case. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Sometimes we look through a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Life can feel like a fog. We don't know the next step. But we look at God's Word. We stare at his promises. And we believe he is with us and for us. And we take the next step forward. And the next one. And the next one. Day by day. Trusting. Believing. This, too, is faith! Believing even when we cannot see. Standing on God's promises and trusting he is with us even if he feels far away and we can't see the next step. Trusting that his goodness is unshakable even when life feels lousy and we are ready to give up. Jesus knows what we are going through. He promised never to leave nor forsake us. Those are promises that aren't dependent on circumstances or feelings. Trust even when life stinks. The fog is dense. You don't know the next step. When you do, that's another evidence of true faith.

by David Chadwick We are learning how to develop a life of faith. To strengthen muscles that can be used to stand in victory no matter what is happening around us. We need to increase our faith and cultivate faith like a child. And we must operate in our authority and "just say the word" when presented with situations that need faith to arise. Just say the word. What do I mean by this? It's what the centurion said to Jesus in Matthew 8:8 when he wanted his beloved servant healed. The centurion was familiar with earthly authority because he would command 100 Roman soldiers to do this or that and they would obey him. As a man of earthly authority, the centurion knew Jesus carried authority over everything and approached him with tremendous faith. A key to faith as well: to believe Jesus's authority over everything else at work. Somehow, some way, Jesus wants us to know this authority that he carried. And to use it ourselves. In Luke 10:17-20, we see that 72 people who Jesus sent out to do ministry returned with a great and exuberant awareness that "even the demons are subject to us in your name!" Jesus went on to say, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." Isn't that same authority given to the 72 for us as well? The centurion told Jesus, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed" (Matthew 8:8). Note his humility. His total dependence on Jesus. Just say the word. Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith (Matthew 8:10). Would he marvel at your faith as well? Step out of your comfort zone. Practice a boldness Jesus would marvel at. Believe him at his word.

by David Chadwick All throughout Scripture, we see that Jesus loved children. He regularly used children and the characteristics and personality traits of a child to serve as a standard for how to follow and trust God. In Luke 18:17, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." In Matthew 18:5 he said, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me." Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." According to Jesus's teachings, do you see how in so many ways we should become increasingly childlike as we grow older? The world tries to snatch our innocence, pervert our purity, and rob the childlike faith we are supposed to have. If it's going to be, it's up to me. Take hold of your life by the bootstraps! But Jesus calls us all to a life of faith. He wants us to increase our faith beyond what we think is possible with our mere human minds. He also wants us to have faith like a child. Faith like a child can be likened to a child's dependence on a loving parent. Picture a nursing child. Fresh out of the womb. Vulnerable. Completely dependent on mom for sustenance of life. Reliant on someone else for food, love, protection, and direction. Or a child lifting up his hands to be picked up and protected. Loved. Cared for. This is the same picture of us with our Abba. We are fully dependent on our Daddy God. The Bible constantly refers to him as Father so we can see our dependence on him. For example, Psalm 103:13 says, "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." Dependence. Arms lifted up in worship and surrender. Faith like a child. This is another way to develop a life of faith.

by David Chadwick The only definition of faith found in the Bible is found in Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen. Assurance is defined as "being certain in the mind." Conviction is "a strong persuasion or belief." As you can see, Biblically, faith is being certain of what you hope for and having a strong persuasion that what you can't see can actually happen. Note that we can't see faith. But it is an integral part of practicing a life full of the Spirit. In fact, faithfulness is one of the fruits of the spirit. How we learn to steward a life of faith and being faithful is directly attached to our hope, which we will look at next week. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Faith is the atmosphere of heaven. It is the rarified air that we will naturally breathe in eternity one day. It's the mark of a life that is dependent on God's promise and presence. When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, he tells them to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). When we operate in faith, we are believing God for a glimpse on earth of what heaven is like. How can you begin to practice a life of faith? Begin by asking God for his perspective on situations – big and small. Start to exercise a certainty of what you hope for. To believe against all odds, even if you can't see or feel it. Even if the outcome on this side of eternity is overshadowed by the brokenness of this world, you have spent time and energy developing a heart of faith that can never be taken away from you. Faith will increase miracles. Remember in Matthew 9:22 when Jesus turned to the woman who had been bleeding and said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." She was instantly healed. Start today to live by faith. Walk by faith. Believe in faith. And watch as God meets your faith with his power, peace and presence.

by David Chadwick We are wrapping up a two week look at how to have courage in culture. I have sought to impart principles to you that will help you stand when facing difficult situations. Remember to decide beforehand where your allegiance lies and remain submitted to Christ and Christ alone. Know God's truth and be able to express it in love. Expect to have resistance and when you do, train yourself to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Remind yourself regularly that there is no age limit to following Jesus, and the mission he has called you to is between your two feet. Remember that you serve a heavenly Boss who is able to promote you as you humble yourself before him and his truth. Finally, remember other success stories. Daniel was not the only success story in the Bible of someone standing for God's truth. Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were Daniel's three young friends who were cast into the Babylonian captivity with him. They, too, were probably teenagers. Yet they stood for godliness, holiness, purity, and truth. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for their beliefs. But a fourth person was with them in the fire – somewhat of a theophanic, preincarnate appearance of Jesus himself before he came to Bethlehem as a baby. Jesus rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fire and they came out without even smelling like smoke. Their faith was noticed by the king. They, too, were exalted because of their faithfulness. These stories of victory go beyond Daniel and even Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Think of Nehemiah before Artaxerxes, the cupbearer of the king, who was given permission by the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed walls. Or Esther who became the queen over the entire Medo-Persian Empire, which had overthrown Babylon. Her courage saved the Jewish nation from Haman's evil genocide attempt. All got involved in politics and spoke truth to power. They all lived godly lives and were honored accordingly! If God can use all of these people in Scripture to stand courageously in the midst of godlessness, he can certainly use you. Choose today and for the rest of your life to be courageous in culture! And watch God use you, for his glory, forever and ever. Amen!

by David Chadwick We have two more principles to look at for how to stand courageously in culture. You must know your decision before you make it. Walking in truth, you must be able to speak the truth in love. Expect resistance and when it happens, choose to love your enemies. It paves the way for God to use you powerfully as you stand for Jesus. It doesn't matter your age, your mission field is between your two feet. Your boss is Jesus and you report to him and him alone! So how else do you stand for courage in culture? Stand knowing you just may be promoted! This may sound strange, but in God's Kingdom, you are lifted up to a place of honor as you humble yourself before his throne, his ways, and his truth (James 4:10). Jesus humbled himself by taking on human flesh, becoming a servant, and dying on a cross. But through this obedience, the Father lifted him up so that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that he is Lord (Philippians 2:5-11). Daniel experienced this. He rose from a teen immigrant to the second most powerful person in the entire Babylonian empire. By being faithful to God in every way, he became a close confidant of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2) and future kings thereafter. Please note the importance of this principle, though. The promotion happened after Daniel stood up for his faith and for God's truth. He spoke the truth in love to people of power. He left the results to God. He cared about being truthful and faithful to his God. He was told to bow to false gods and idols. He refused. And God eventually lifted him up. Every day, Daniel worked hard. He worked smart. He was winsome. He got along with others (look at the eunuch over the princes in chapter 1!). He was successful. And his one, true heavenly boss noticed and gave him raises and promotions. More authority and influence. Cancel culture is not always the end result. Sometimes, your decision to be faithful to the Lord in the midst of a secular, hostile environment causes those around you to take note, appreciate you, benefit from your teamwork, value your loyalty, and will, in turn, give you a promotion! Christians then become not Christ against culture, but Christ in culture, salt and light, influencing culture toward God, not vice versa.

by David Chadwick Always remember who your true boss is! It's the next principle I want to give you to have courage in culture! In a world that wants you to compromise your convictions, at the end of the day, remember that your life is yielded to Christ and Christ alone. And one day you will be held accountable for your life to him and him alone. It is important to know what you believe before facing a situation where you must stand. You must know the truth and be able to speak it in love. Expect resistance and pray for your enemies. Know that there is no age limit to stand courageously and approach every situation between your feet as a mission field. Then, remember God is your boss! "God is my true boss!" is a whisper you should speak to yourself all day long. "I am answerable to him alone." Your desire must be to please him at all costs. No matter what your earthly boss may tell you to do, if it contradicts what your heavenly boss says, you must choose to obey God, not man. Look at Daniel. Notice how he was willing to stand up against the most powerful man in the world, King Nebuchadnezzar. He was able to do this because he knew that his true boss in heaven was the one to whom he was most accountable. That conviction allowed him to be faithful to God no matter what. Note too that even when he was thrown into the lion's den, God was with him. Protecting and overseeing him. He will do the same for you as well. If standing for truth costs you your job, so be it! If you get canceled by cancel culture, celebrate it! The pupil is not above the teacher (Matthew 10:24). If it happened to Jesus, and we are his followers, we should expect it to happen to us from time to time. Jesus said it would. And always remember this great truth: When you stand for truth, your reward in heaven from your true Boss will be great!

by David Chadwick The definition of courage is "the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty." You must decide to be a person of courage long before you face a difficult situation. You must know the truth and know how to speak the truth in love. When speaking the truth, you need to expect resistance. It is the sign that you are taking new ground for the Kingdom of light. As the resistance comes, pray for your enemies who may persecute you in the process. God calls everyone, no matter what age they are, to walk in courage. What else must you do to have courage in culture? Know that your mission field is between your feet. Wherever you are. Trusting God has you there at that moment for his purposes. If God is sovereign over all (and he is!), he has a call upon your life. A purpose and a plan, even in the midst of chaos, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11—a promise given to the Jews while they were living in the Babylonain culture!). He strategically puts people in different places to accomplish his will. With Daniel, for example, God put him in Babylon as a teen and kept him there all his life. Yet he remained faithful to serve God at all stages and in each place where he was put. His love for God was never defined by how old he was. He was always faithful and, amazingly, was continually lifted up to places of honor as he walked in humility (James 4:10). This truth should give parents tremendous hope that your children and teens can resist the temptations of this world and stand for Jesus. And still be honored for doing so! No matter where you find yourself, your mission field is right where you are positioned. If you're seven years old, you have a mission. If you're 45 years old, you have a mission. If you're 84 years old, you have a mission! You can accomplish God's will wherever you may be in the culture where you live, no matter how Babylonian your culture might be. If God wants you in a different job, or place, he will put you in a different job. Until that point, be salt and light each and every day, wherever he has placed your two feet. For that place is your mission field!

by David Chadwick Last week we began to look at a series of ways to stand courageously in culture. I believe we are in uncertain times where we must be actively preparing for hard situations long before we face them. As we continue to explore how to have courage in culture, I want to remind you today that there is NO age limit to courage! Anyone who has the Holy Spirit residing inside of him or her has the same power that rose Jesus from the grave (Romans 8:11). There is not a biggie size Holy Spirit for adults and a junior size for children. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in you and empowers you to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8). The book of Daniel begins when he is a young teen and ends when he is about 95 years old. Throughout his entire life, Daniel remains faithful to God. There are habits of courage he developed as a young boy that were strengthened and cultivated over the course of his life. By the time he was of ripe old age, he continued to stand. And if you look at Daniel's entire life, he influenced the four greater emperors/kings of that day (Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar 2, Darius and Cyrus). From 13 or so to 95 or so, Daniel remained faithful to his God. And two great Babylonian kings and two more powerful Persian kings all exalted him into positions of power and influence. Courage is never defined by someone's age or stage of life. Courage is only defined by the truth of God's Word. It's the absence of fear and the presence of faith, which sets people free. Whether you are nine or 99 years old, you can walk in courage! Wherever God has placed you in life, be faithful! Love God and choose to live for him every single day. And then watch as God is faithful to complete the work he began in you (Philippians 1:6). Observe that when you are humble to your Lord, he will exalt you (James 4:10). Raises, promotions, and influence can happen for the faithful follower of Jesus—even in a cancel culture that hates truth and people who stand for it.

by David Chadwick To finish this week's principles on how to have courage in culture, here is another truth: Love your enemies. We know we must decide beforehand what we believe, we must know the truth, we must speak the truth in love, and we must expect resistance. But we also must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us when this resistance occurs (Matthew 5:44). Jesus modeled agape love – unconditional love – because he knew how needed that would be in a culture that knows nothing about true love. A culture that only knows performance based acceptance. To continue to stand with a heart of flesh and not a heart of stone, we must understand how to love unconditionally, expecting nothing in return. A culture that does not believe in absolute truth and God's immutable grace will resist the message of Jesus. And when you speak the truth to this kind of culture, even in love, a godless culture will often be at enmity with you. They will try to cancel you, intimidate you, and silence your voice. Jesus knew all of this would happen, which is why he said to love your enemies. To pray for those who would hurt us. To not respond to evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). I would like to think that Jesus's command to love our enemies is especially true when living in a Babylonian culture as a follower of Jesus. I truly believe unconditional love is still the strongest force in the universe. It still has the power to make an enemy a friend – even while living in Babylon. Daniel did just that. He pursued those who wanted to kill him with love. And this love allowed him to rise in influence. Look at his relationship with Nebuchadnezzar throughout the book of Daniel. It is a beautiful testimony to how God can use one young boy's decision to stand courageous throughout his life to influence an entire nation! If God did it once, he can do it again! If God did it for Daniel, he can do it for you.

by David Chadwick George Washington used to say, "The best way to prevent a war is to prepare for it." In an increasingly godless culture, we must prepare ourselves to stand and have courage. We must decide beforehand what we believe to be true. We must know that truth inside and out. We must speak the truth that we know in love. How else can we stand with courage in culture? Expect resistance. This is a tough one. No one likes to experience hard times. People who don't like us as Christians don't like our message about Jesus. But it's important to remember that because we live in a broken world, Jesus said that we will have trouble (John 16:33). When you speak the truth in love, you should expect resistance from people. Satan is called "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Often, his followers are referred to as "children of darkness" (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6). There are a good number of people in this world who love darkness. They are being used by the ruler of this world to do his evil bidding. These are people who, like those who lived in the Babylonian culture, believe that anything goes, that there is no truth, and that there is no authority outside of themselves. They want to live life on their own terms and be their own god. When you shine a light into the darkness and into unspiritual eyes, people often wince and strike back in anger. Truth is an offense and calls people into accountability for their godless behaviors. This is exactly what happened to Daniel. When he refused to stop praying to God and pray to the Babylonian god called Bel, it offended the godless Babylonians. They wanted Daniel dead. But Daniel did not care. He would not stop praying to God. He loved him too much, with all his heart. Jesus warned his followers to beware when all people speak well of you (Luke 6:26). It probably means you are not standing for anything. And always remember this immutable truth: the only way to never be criticized is to never stand for anything!

by David Chadwick We are taking two weeks to look at how to have courage in culture. We must decide beforehand what our answer will be before we ever have to stand for truth. We must also know the truth, standing as people of conviction whose lives back up what we say we believe. What else must we do to be people of courage in a godless culture? We must speak the truth in love. It is not enough to know the truth, even though that is very important, as we learned yesterday. We must find non-hostile and loving ways to share our deepest convictions with a broken, hurting, and often offended world. The answer is not to cower in the face of opposition. It is to stand – full of confidence and compassion. Full of conviction and kindness. Determined to remain truthful and loving. When Paul adjured the Christians in Ephesus to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15), he knew that love must be a driving force in releasing the message of Jesus. He goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 13:1 that if we have all of the gifts, but don't have love, we are just a "noisy gong or clanging cymbal." Someone once said that how you say something may be more important than what you say. If you angrily speak the truth, many will close their ears and refuse to listen. It will turn them off and they, in turn, will turn you off. But when you speak the truth respectfully to someone, listening to their views, not condemning them, practicing reflective listening, and really loving them as a fellow image bearer of God, you will be more likely to have an audience who is willing to hear of God's truth living inside of you. My dear friend, as we live in these days full of cowardice, be a person of courage. Walk confidently knowing that your life may be the reflection of Jesus that someone longs to see. Know God's truth in his Word. And speak the truth in love. See if it doesn't begin to change hearts toward Jesus. It is another way to have courage in culture.

by David Chadwick We must have courage in our culture. How can we? Are there some biblical insights that can help us do so? Yes, there are! And we are going to look at them this week. Long before we are ever presented with a tough situation in which we must stand for Jesus, we must know what we believe and decide beforehand how we would navigate resistance and opposition. Before you are ever confronted with a temptation–like a potential affair, or an illegal shortcut to make more money, or even slandering someone behind their back—you need to know God's opinion, his truth, about the situation. That adultery, stealing, and slander are all wrong in God's sight as revealed in his Word. We must know the truth! It's another important way to be courageous in culture. You cannot stand for the truth if you don't know the truth. Look at the biblical example of Daniel in the first chapter of the book written by him. He had been thoroughly schooled in Hebrew culture and beliefs. They were deeply embedded in his heart. Therefore, when confronted with eating the king's meat and wine, which had been offered to pagan idols, he had already decided not to do so and be defiled. He knew Jewish food laws. He knew God's command to be kosher. To survive the godlessness of this culture, where truth is relative and even non-existent, you must know the truth of who Jesus is. Do you believe he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)? Do you understand that salvation comes through him and him alone? Do you know his voice? Do you follow him (John 10:27-28)? You must also understand God's Word. Is it hidden deep in your heart? Is Scripture a second language for you? You must also believe what you have read. It must be deeply printed in your soul. To know, like Daniel, what defiles you in God's sight. When you know Jesus and his truth, you can have courage in culture!

by David Chadwick Courage. Defined as "the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty." Throughout Scripture, God tells his followers to take courage, to be people of courage, to not fear, to stand in the face of opposition. Over the next two weeks, we are going to look at how God would instruct us to have courage in culture. How to prepare ourselves to stand for Jesus in these uncertain times. How to remain so fixed on what is before us and the eternal reward that we have through Jesus, that nothing can shake us! So, how do we have courage in culture? You must decide beforehand. You must have your answer already made long before you are faced with a hard situation. The story of Daniel gives a biblical account of this kind of courage. Daniel was exported at the age of 13 or so from Israel to Babylon during the Babylonian captivity. The Babylonian culture was godless in every way – much like our present western culture. Babylon was a polytheistic society, filled with New Age star-gazing and horoscopes, sexually profligate, prideful, and ridden with selfish ambition. It was a culture driven by capture and expansion, using humiliation to force foreigners into submission and servitude. Daniel and his three close friends were all teenagers when taken into captivity. They were the best and the brightest young men in Hebrew culture. Babylon's leadership knew the way to capture a culture was to take the youngest into captivity and force them to adopt all aspects of their Babylonian ways. Daniel had no choice but to go into captivity. But before he left Jerusalem, he had already decided and proposed in his heart not to adopt the philosophies and godlessness of the Babylonian culture (Daniel 1:8). He knew before he ever set foot in Babylon that he would not worship the Babylonian gods. We must do the same thing. No matter what age you may find yourself to be, and before you ever leave your house and go into the world, decide now, today who is your God. Decide now, today, that the godlessness of woke theology is not biblical. And you will never comply with its godlessness. It is the first and most important way to begin to have courage in culture.

by Marilynn Chadwick We live in troubling times. No wonder many wrestle with anxiety. Let's be honest. There's no shortage of things to worry about. So how do we build courage to help us face the things we fear? One way I've learned to calm my anxious heart is by watching for signs of God at work all around me. "Keeping watch," I like to call it. John Wesley believed it was important to be on the lookout for God and encouraged his early followers to practice the "discipline of watching." Here are three ways we can pray for God to open our eyes and increase our courage: Open my eyes to Your WORD. I find it helps to get alone with the Lord and take my fears to him. Here's my simple prayer: Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word (Psalm 119:18 TLB). I ask God to reveal promises that speak to my concerns. As one friend puts it, "I glance at the problem, but gaze on God's promise." God's Word ignites faith (Romans 10:17 NIV) and faith is the antidote to fear. Open my eyes to Your POWER. When traveling through a Middle Eastern refugee camp, I saw firsthand how God is doing amazing things in dangerous places. Several refugees even shared they had seen Jesus in dreams and visions! Though many had lost everything, their faces were alive with hope. Somehow, their joyous faith calmed my own anxieties as I thought, "If God can work in a war zone, surely he can deal with my daily problems." Open my eyes to Your BIG PICTURE. Let's reflect on the biblical account of the massive enemy army that surrounded the prophet Elisha. His young assistant was terrified until Elisha calmed him down with these words: "Don't be afraid," he told him. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!' The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:8-17). Dear friend, be encouraged as you think about those invisible warriors—God's angel armies—ready to do battle on your behalf. And don't forget to be on the lookout for signs of God at work in the ordinary. If you want to increase your courage, remember to keep watch!

by Marilynn Chadwick "Make a wish." "Wish upon a star." "I grant you three wishes." These are all lines from some of my favorite fairy tales. A wish is exciting. Magical. But often out of our reach. Webster defines a wish as a "a strong desire to have or do something—usually unattainable." In John 5, we read about a crippled man with a wish that looked unattainable. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight long years. Life had passed him by. Jesus noticed the man lying by the pool called Bethesda (which means "site of mercy"). The disabled would often gather around this pool. Rumor had it that people sometimes got healed when they bathed in the water. "Do you want to get well?" Jesus asked the man (John 5:6 NIV). Seems like a rather insensitive question to ask a crippled guy at a healing pool who had been desperately trying to get well for thirty-eight years. Or had he? Let's take a closer look. The word Jesus used here for "want" is thelo, which means "to will, wish, or desire." It not only describes a wish but also a pressing on to action. Simply put, thelo executes. "Do you want to get well?" Notice the man never really answered Jesus' question. Instead, he gave a couple of excuses. He had no one to help him get into the water. Every time he tried to get near the pool someone else got there first. Jesus' response? A startling command: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8). Look at what happened next. "At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked" (John 5:9). Could the crippled man sense that Jesus had already healed him when he stood up and took that staggering first step? What was there about Jesus that ignited the faith to stand up after thirty-eight years as an invalid? That guy went from passive to active, hopeless to faith-filled, discouraged to courageous in an instant! "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8). Could Jesus be saying something similar to us? Sometimes our act of faith—after we've prayed and prayed and prayed about a problem—is to "stand up, pick up our mat, and walk." Even if we've asked before. Even if the answer has been slow in coming. Even if we've been disappointed. Even if we are afraid. What is the Lord saying to you through his Word? What is your big ask? Do you have the courage to take Jesus at his Word? Today could be your breakthrough!

by Marilynn Chadwick There is strength in getting alone with God. Time with the Lord increases our courage. Jesus knew this full well. The Bible tells us he "withdrew often" to be alone with the Father (Luke 5:16). 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 doors in our life so that we have the time and space we need 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, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house. His only daughter, a girl of about twelve, lay 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 8:41-50 NIV). "When Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's mother and father" (Luke 8:51). In other words, Jesus shut the door. He shut some things 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. We see another shut door in 2 Kings 4:18-37. A young boy suddenly 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. The prophet prayed fervently and the boy was restored to life. Yet another miracle behind closed doors! So when you are worried, weary, or when you need fresh courage, that may be the time to strengthen yourself in the Lord. Remember to go to your room and shut the door to be alone with God. But take heart. Some of God's greatest miracles occur behind closed doors.

by Marilynn Chadwick God loves us when we are weak, but he delights in making us strong. The Bible is filled with stories of how God empowers broken men and women to conquer their enemies, pull down strongholds, move mountains, and accomplish his work on earth. Gideon sure felt less than courageous. He referred to himself as the "least" in a family whose clan was the "weakest" in his tribe. But God sent an angel who greeted the tired and broken man with these encouraging words. God told him, "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor" (Judges 6:12 ESV). It took a little persuading, but God gave amazing strength and courage to this unlikely hero who defeated enemy armies and returned Israel to her former glory. "The angel of the Lord" is a term reserved for a very special kind of messenger. Most scholars believe "the angel of the Lord" describes an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. Read a little further. You'll notice that instead of "the angel of the Lord," this visitor is actually referred to as the Lord himself. The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?" (Judges 6:11-14). This was a defining moment for Gideon. He asked for a sign to see if this was really the Lord. He made an offering of meat and meal, which the Lord touched with his staff. The offering burst into flames, so Gideon knew it was the Lord. He was terrified, certain he would die because he had seen the Lord. But God assured Gideon he would not die. So he built an altar to the Lord and called it, "The Lord is Peace" (Judges 6:24). God then asked Gideon to do a very hard thing. He told him to tear down the altar to the rival god Baal at his father Joash's home. Gideon took ten servants and did as the Lord had told him. "But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night" (Judges 6:27). "Who could have done such a thing?" the men of the town asked the next day. They discovered it was Gideon. So they went to Joash and said, "Your son Gideon knocked over Baal's altar… Hand him over, so we can kill him!" Gideon's father replied, "Are you trying to take revenge for Baal? If you are, you will be the ones who are put to death. If Baal really is a god, let him take his own revenge on someone who tears down his altar." That same day, his father changed Gideon's name to Jerubbaal, explaining, "He tore down Baal's altar, so let Baal take revenge himself." (Judges 6:30-32 CEB). This marked the beginning of Gideon as a leader of Israel against her enemies. He is listed among the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, a chapter many call the Hall of Fame of Faith: And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Hebrews 11:32-34 NIV). Walk in courage. Let Christ's power be made perfect in you in times where you feel weak and less than. His grace really is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

by Marilynn Chadwick We've been exploring practical ways to increase our courage. We see in 1 Samuel 30:1-7 how King David strengthened himself after a devastating attack by the Amalekites. David first got alone and "strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam 30:6b ESV). He sought God's wisdom. Then he courageously obeyed God's instructions. In the Hebrew language, the words "strength" and "courage" are interchangeable. So when David "strengthened himself in the Lord," he also gained new courage to fight his battles. The brave warrior gathered his men and set out to attack the Amalekites—with God's assurance of victory. And sure enough, David brought back all the women and children that had been captured, as well as all the property. He had experienced God's power in battle before, so he was certain God could be trusted again. David's courageous obedience resulted in a thrilling victory. In both Hebrew and Greek, the original Bible languages, the words for listen and obey are virtually the same. So 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. What's more, obedience to the voice of God increases both strength and courage. But sometimes, God asks us to do hard things. What about you? Do you sometimes avoid stepping into the fray—as I've been known to do? Especially when he asks me to do something that calls for courage and self-sacrifice. Remember, we have an advantage over King David when it comes to hearing God. For one thing, as believers in Christ, we have the gift of his Holy Spirit who dwells in us. So we have access to God's voice in a much more intimate way. And second, we 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! Learning from King David, we must sometimes withdraw and 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—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 NIV). 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? Increase your courage? Perhaps he is asking you to do a hard thing today.