A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick The final characteristic of false teachers is found in Jude 1:12,13, which says they are "hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear; shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever." These are serious warnings. False teachers don't feed God's sheep. They fleece God's sheep for their own benefit. They are "waterless clouds." Have you ever seen a cloud that looks like rain, but never rains? So is a false teacher. Promising rain that never comes. Promising things that never happen. It could look something like this, "If you give to me financially, you will get rich." This is a false teaching! You lose your hard-earned money and they get rich! They are "wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame." If you have ever been at the beach after a wild storm, you have most likely seen the debris, logs, seaweed, and yucky foam that gets left on the shore. So it is with false teachers. They leave a mess in the aftermath of their leadership and shepherding. Their falsehoods destroy people and divide churches. They are "wandering stars." But you're probably thinking, stars shouldn't wander! You're right! They are supposed to be fixed in orbit. Not false teachers! They make a huge splash like a meteor or comet, but then go dark. They don't last over the long haul. Not to mention, they don't point people to Jesus, the only North Star of objective truth! He is the only truth and the only way for people to follow. Jesus and his fixed truths will bring us home to the Father. A true shepherd will always point to Jesus and Jesus alone! I pray that the church at large will grow in our ability to rightly discern truth from error and that we will know how to correctly spot a false teacher in an upside down world where truth is harder and harder to find.

by David Chadwick Wheat and tares are growing up side by side and will continue to do so until Jesus's return (see Matthew 13). It is not our job to determine who is wheat and who is a tare regarding the eternal destiny of people's souls. However, we are called to examine fruit. We are to be shrewd as serpents, while remaining innocent as doves. The fourth characteristic of a false teacher is that they emulate characteristics of biblical figures who walked in extreme error. Jude 1:11 describes false teachers by saying they "walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion." What does this mean exactly? Let's briefly take a look at each story. God made it very clear that forgiveness only came through the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Abel obeyed and came with a shed blood sacrifice from his herd, but Cain offered a sacrifice by his works from the ground and God did not accept it. False teachers preach a false gospel that we are saved by works. They deny the sufficiency of the cross and preach a message that should be accursed according to Galatians 1:8. Balaam, in Numbers 22-25 and Numbers 31, was encouraging the corruption of the Israelites into all sorts of evil practices for his own profit. The love of money and sin of covetousness overtook him and caused him to do wicked things. False teachers get wealthy by asking people to give them money and promising financial blessings in return. They are motivated by personal prestige, privilege, and personal gain. False teachers want to fleece God's sheep, not feed them. Finally, in Numbers 16, Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron because of personal selfish ambition (James 3:16). This is another characteristic of a false teacher. This is an individual who intentionally comes in to lure the people unto himself with evil, selfish ambition and vain conceit. He wants to build his own personal platform at the expense of the one leading, often creating factions and divisions. In conclusion, preaching salvation through works, preaching because of a love of money, and preaching with personal ambition intended to divide are earmarks of false teachers. Be alert and aware!

by David Chadwick Wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are widely underused and undertaught attributes of a Christian. In my humble opinion, these are pillars of maturity. Without them, you will remain tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceitful scheme (Ephesians 4:14). The next sign of a false teacher is found in Jude verse 4. They "deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ." They do not uphold the truth of the biblical doctrine of the Incarnation. False teachers openly deny the divinity of Jesus that Scripture clearly teachers. They also fudge on the importance of Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary. To even hint that Jesus is a created being rather than God goes against one of the key tenants of the faith: Jesus is God! John 1 says that Jesus, the Word, was in the beginning, with God, and was God. Philippians 2:5-11 says that while Jesus was in the form of God, he took on the form of a servant. He came to earth in human form, bearing the likeness of man, to stand in our place where we could not live perfectly. These truths are incredibly important to the Christian faith. False teachers also deny the Trinity. They fail to recognize the one true God in three Persons. Yes, this concept is certainly a mystery, but it is clearly seen throughout the Bible. One example you can go read is in Matthew 3:16-17 during the baptism of Jesus. The Father says Jesus is his only Son and then the Holy Spirit descends on him. Jesus is absolutely God! Only God can forgive our sins and Jesus offered forgiveness for sins on several occasions. Look at the story with the paralytic on the roof (Matthew 9:2). Read about his resurrection to his disciples (John 20:22-23). He received Thomas's words when he called Jesus "my Lord and my God." Throughout the centuries, there is no new heresy under the sun. So, learn to discern them correctly. And let me say it again in case you haven't heard: Jesus is God. The Incarnation of Jesus is an absolute for Christian theology. The Trinity is essential to Christian doctrine. If you hear someone saying that either thing is not important, red flag! It is a false teacher!

by David Chadwick There has never been a more important time to discern correctly about false teaching. Our world is rampant with deception, often within the church. I have heard countless stories over the years of pastors, Bible study teachers, even small group leaders saying truly bizarre things to the people of God. It is no small thing to play a role in stewarding the heart of another person on their faith journey. Therefore, let's look at the second sign of a false teacher according to the book of Jude: They have open boundaries on sensuality and human sexuality. Jude 1:4 says that they "pervert the grace of our God into sensuality…" One specific example of something like this would be a pastor who tells a young woman that he sees himself marrying her when he is already married. Or targets a woman for sexual infidelity. How horrific! God's boundaries for sexual morality are explicitly clear in his Word. It is solely to be between a man and a woman within the boundaries of a committed, heterosexual, monogamous relationship (Genesis 2:24). It's something Jesus affirmed (Matthew 19:4-6). Sexual purity is God's will for your life (1 Thessalonians 4:3). False teachers intentionally push these boundaries. They will not speak to fornication before marriage or adultery outside of marriage from the pulpit. Or multiple partners in marriage. They avoid talking about the sinful reality of same-sex relationships. They dance around the tragedy and irreversible harm of gender transition and dysphoria. The Bible is clear on all of these subjects. God's people and especially his teachers are called to be faithful to the text. If the person speaking into your spiritual life or shepherding your heart is not doing this, he or she could be a false teacher. Be alert! Woe to anyone who has sought to rewrite the Bible to accommodate his or her own personal desires. God cannot and will not bless a church that carries these wrong views. You must be vigilant to not dance in the deception. Guard your heart from perversion. For from your heart flows the wellspring of your life (Proverbs 4:23).

by David Chadwick Our church has been doing a verse by verse study through the book of Jude. The book of Jude is all about contending for the "faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). It also gives the church very serious warnings of the dangers of false teaching. Over the next week, I want to lay out five warning signs of false teachers. More specifically, I want to help you learn to rightly discern false teachers from pure ministers of the gospel. I hope these specific indicators will help you grow in wisdom and discernment. Every book in the New Testament, except Philemon, warns of false teachers. It must be very important to God or he would not have persistently warned us of their danger. The first warning sign of a false teacher is this: they creep into your church unnoticed (Jude 1:4). They are like hidden reefs that live underwater in the unseen ocean, but end up sinking countless ships (Jude 1:12). They come in with bells and whistles and are often very attractive to the body with their speech and demeanor, but they have an agenda. After drawing men and women unto themselves, they begin to teach wrong things. Every church, leadership and members alike, should be aware of the wicked agenda of false teachers. In order to do so, it is imperative to have a right understanding of the Bible and sound doctrine. With that said, don't be quick to throw stones and deem other ministers of the gospel as false teachers unless it is overtly and inextricably understood to what has been clearly outlined through the Bible and throughout church history. We must be so careful that we do not hastily call all disagreements about the non-essential tensions of the Christian faith as being heretical. There are mysteries in the Christian faith that must be humbly wrestled out until Jesus's return, believing that love and unity are God's greatest desire for the children of God. However, in the essentials of the faith, there is no wiggle room for error. Whether it is with a congregant or a pastor in the pulpit, there are some things where right is right and wrong is wrong! Don't let false teaching get a foothold in your church. It can be both divisive, dangerous, and destructive.

by David Chadwick This week, as we wrap up our mini English lesson of pondering prepositions, I hope that you will never look at these small words the same way. I pray that they have shaped your prayer life and will continue to shape your view of God as you abide in him. Let's finish with this final preposition: AROUND. God's presence is all around us. Psalm 139 says he is everywhere and we cannot hide or flee from his presence. Not only that, but Hebrews 12:1-2 says there is a cloud of witnesses around us. Who is in this "cloud of witnesses?" These are the faithful believers who have gone before us to eternity. For me, this would include my mom and dad, my big brother Howard and other loved ones. Who would this be from your life? According to the Bible, they are now cheering us on as we finish our race. They could also be the saints listed in Hebrews 11, those in the Old Testament who walked by faith and anticipated one day the coming of the Chosen One of God, Jesus. That would mean that such saints as Abraham, Enoch, Daniel, and other giants of the faith are in our cloud of witnesses cheering us on to life's finish line. Additionally, Hebrews 1:14 says that angels are "ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation." Their job is to worship and serve God and to care for his elect, his kids, while we are on earth. Are they also in our cloud of witnesses? I think so. So, biblically speaking, we are surrounded by God's presence, by a cloud of witnesses which includes our loved ones, Old Testament saints, and ministering angels. Wow! There is a thin veil that separates this visible, physical, temporal world and the invisible, spiritual, eternal world. Sometimes I can almost feel my dad's presence cheering me on to the finish line. Could it be that God graciously allows him to be one of the ones cheering me on in times of need? I sure like to think that could be the case! How would your day change if you pondered the AROUND preposition all day long? If you really knew there were angels, loved ones and biblical saints surrounding you? If you really knew there were people cheering you on to your life's finish line? I think it would make this race called life both more joyful and peaceful. More relaxing and eventful. Take heart, dear friends. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

by David Chadwick This week, we are looking at how something as simple as an English preposition is a powerful tool when it comes to explaining the nature and character of God. These tiny little worlds that we use so often can also give us strategies for how to pray. Here is the next preposition to ponder: over. The sovereign Almighty God of the universe is watching OVER us. In some translations of Psalm 121:5, God's Word says that the Lord watches OVER us. Psalm 121:8 goes on to say, "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." God never slumbers and sleeps. Isn't that great news? The eternal God of the universe never sleeps so that we can sleep in perfect peace! In fact, Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Do any of you struggle with sleepless nights? Or maybe you or someone in your family has night terrors? Is your sleep restless? If so, I want to pray that you will be set free from this torment in Jesus's name. If God truly is in control and has all authority and dominion OVER his creation, that means he can set you free. He is in heaven, watching OVER you and me, sitting on his throne, ruling the universe with his perfect grace and truth (John 1:14). He is the peace bringer and the peace giver! No matter what we may face in our day to day lives, the sovereign Lord who lives in us is in control. He knows what he is doing. We need to fear nothing and can fully trust him with everything. God is in control. His children will never be forsaken. We know that his kingdom is unshakeable. If this is true, why fear? Pray confidently knowing that he is IN you and WITH you. He goes BEFORE you and BEHIND you. He is ON your side and working FOR you. And he is OVER everything! No matter what we may face today or forever.

by David Chadwick This week, for some of you, probably feels like a flashback to elementary English lessons. My hope is to use practical teachings to motivate you in the spiritual practices. Some of the prepositions in the English language are both powerful descriptors of God's presence and great prompts for how to pray. Today's prepositions to ponder: "on" and "for." What comes to your mind when you hear these two words? For me, I immediately think about the glorious truth from Psalm 118:6 that God is ON our side. And then in Romans 8:31 which says, "If God is FOR us, who can be against us?" Think about that for a moment. If you have placed your trust in Jesus, you are on team Jesus and a part of the kingdom of light. This team that you are now on is fighting against team Satan and the kingdom of darkness. If you were to really pause and consider this call to a spiritual battle, how would your days look differently? Would you be more alert? Would you forgive quicker? Would you repent more often? Trust with greater depth? The Holy God of the universe is actually on your side! He is FOR you in every situation you face. Your closest friend is also a warrior King named Jesus who will fight for you at every turn. These truths should bring radical transformation and endless hope to our lives. Like many truths in Scripture, this is another mind-boggling truth to grasp and comprehend. Let me say it again. Jesus is on your side. He is for you. He is giving you the strength for whatever you may face. As these truths permeate our hearts, our prayer lives should increase. Our prayers should be victorious. We should expect to win the battles we face. We should pray for anything and everything knowing that God is ON our side and FOR us.

by David Chadwick Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, is IN you. He is also WITH you. While God is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), he is also omnipresent, meaning his very nature and character is everywhere. He is eternal and exists outside of time. Because of this, he goes before us and behind us. Our next prepositions to ponder are "before" and "behind." Jesus Christ goes before you every single day. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." He fights our battles for us (Exodus 14:14). This means that before we ever arrive on the scene of a battle, God has already confronted our enemies and has defeated them. The God of all creation knows our tomorrows, the weeks ahead, the years to come, and the time he will call us home. This is the blessed assurance about which the old hymn speaks and it should prompt us to praise our Savior forevermore! God is also behind us. He knows the enemy, the devil, loves to catch us off guard. To attack when we aren't looking. To blindside us when we aren't expecting it. But God is behind us. God is our blindside! He protects us from the things we can't see. Lions always attack the stragglers in the herd of the wildebeests. The assurance of our salvation and of God's omnipresence should prompt us to fully yield and fully surrender to his plan! When you pray, pray with confidence. Pray with assurance. Pray with conviction. You are partnering with heaven to see God's kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). God has already gone before you. He has cleared the path and made a way where there was no way. He is always working even when we cannot see it. He is behind you, overseeing you against all the enemy's wiles to attack when you least expect it. The God of the universe is also a deeply personal God. He is both all powerful and all personal!

by David Chadwick Every good English teacher knows and teaches the importance of prepositions. Do you remember learning them as a child? They are the connecting words that describe the relationship between a noun or pronoun and the other words in a sentence. Over the next week, I want us to ponder five-plus prepositions that will strengthen how we pray and also ponder Jesus's love for us. Today's prepositions are the words "in" and "with." John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Friends, as we abide in Jesus and his Word abides in us, we can ask him anything. Peace in the midst of a storm. Hope in the midst of despair. Courage in the midst of fire. If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Not only is he in you, he is also with you. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says that he will be with us always, to the end of the age. As you face today, remember that the Lord of the universe is in you and with you. His power is your power. His strength is your strength. His presence is your protection. He stands in you and with you no matter what you face. Whether there is a Goliath you are facing, a mountain (Mark 11:22-25), or a mulberry bush that needs to be uprooted and thrown into the heart of the sea (Luke 17:5-6), all you need is a mustard seed of faith. Plant that seed of faith in your heart and watch it grow. Jesus lives IN you and is WITH you. This truth should strengthen your prayer life and prompt you to pray with confidence and assurance. Because of Jesus, and the truth of these simple words of "in" and "with" you, you have all the power and authority you will ever need to face anything and everything!

by David Chadwick Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Pause for a moment and think about this. BEFORE the world was ever created, God had a design with you in mind. What an amazing thought! This truth comes after Ephesians 2:8-9, which says that it is by grace we have saved, not a result of works. Paul goes on to say that each of us who has received the gift of eternal life by grace through faith is seen as God's trophy! You are his child. He looks at you as his pride and joy. He has placed on you his celestial mantle to be lovingly gazed upon by him at regular intervals. According to Paul, God has certain works that are uniquely assigned to us. Think about that throughout your day. That truth should really make you feel special. Now, think of how that can be lived out in your family, with your friends, in your neighborhood, in your city, and throughout the world. You live where you live by God's sovereign design. There are certain tasks that God has designed for you to accomplish in your unique location for the glory of God. Here is one final thought: these works God has designed solely for you to do were chosen by God for you to do in eternity, not just before the world was ever created, but before you were even created. You are so special to the Lord. He loves you so much. Pray. Seek the Lord. Ask him for greater insight into who you are and how he has made you. As my father used to say, "Son, what do you love to do? And what does the world need most? At the intersection of those two things lies your calling." I pray that each one of you will recognize what God has called you to and walk in it!

by David Chadwick There is a place for works in the life of a believer. We have been saved by grace through faith, but because of that salvation, we have now been called to good works. Even the smallest acts of kindness and the tiniest displays of obedience are noticed by Jesus and will be rewarded in heaven one day. Jesus clearly taught this in Matthew 10:42. He said, "And whoever gives one of these littles ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." Take note of Jesus's heart for "the little ones." He certainly had such a heart for those young in their faith, but especially loved the young children! To put it even more bluntly, he was really ticked off at his disciples for trying to prevent kids from getting to him because the kingdom of heaven belonged to them (Matthew 19:14). In Jesus's economy, the smallest act of kindness - something as simple as a cup of cold water - yields an eternal reward. Always remember that Jesus sees everything we do. Even small acts of kindness are seen, noted, and will eventually be rewarded in heaven. The rewards will come at the bema seat in heaven after we die. The bema seat is also referred to as the judgement seat. Knowing that we will give an account for our works should motivate all of us to do more good works. As you hear me say so often, "Be the church! Just go!" It doesn't have to be complicated. Just do something! The message of Jesus certainly is rooted in grace. But the Bible says that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). So as you lean on the grace and mercy of Jesus, cultivate the fear of the Lord as well. None of us should want to sit at the bema judgment seat one day without any rewards, even small ones. Today, look for ways throughout your day to give a moment of hope to someone. Maybe it's with your words, or a kind gesture, or just a simple smile. Each time, remember that there is a place for works and that one day you will be rewarded.

by David Chadwick There is a place for good works in the life of a Christ follower. But only if it is laid on the foundation of grace. Grace is the bedrock of our salvation. However, works must follow in the life of a Christian. But what kind of works should we do? Take a moment and look at Matthew 25:31-45, the parable of the sheep and the goats. It is an end times parable that suggests some different acts of kindness that Jesus wants us to be about as we await his return. First, notice that these acts that are done to "the least of these my brethren" are also done to Jesus (Matthew 25:40). This seems to imply that Jesus desires for us to be especially kind to our fellow Christians who may be hurting. Galatians 6:10 appears to suggest the same principle. It says, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Our good works aren't just acts of kindness, they are opportunities to display the gospel. As you see, while doing good to everyone is important, Christians are adjured to prioritize and show particular care for fellow Christians within "the household of faith." Perhaps this reflects Jesus's words in John 13:34 that the world will know that Christians truly belong to him by the way we love one another. If we are not walking in unity, the lost world remains confused by what they see. More specifically, Matthew 25 lays out some more specific ways for Christians to show good works: feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the prisoners in prison. If you are looking for simple ideas, here is a great place to start. Someone once said that the proof is in the pudding. That's what Jesus is saying here. The proof that you really love him and really are one of his sheep comes by doing these good works. The proof that you are a goat comes by NOT doing these things. Your good works will follow your faith. They must if you truly love Jesus!

by David Chadwick If we are solely saved by grace through faith, where then do works fit into the life of a follower of Christ? The message of Jesus is different from every other world religion in that it is a message of undeserving, radical, powerful grace. James clearly states that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). Is this a refutation of Paul's teaching? Absolutely not! The Bible cannot contradict itself. Let's take a moment to unpack this. We are not saved by our works, but according to Scripture, our salvation is proved through our works. Works are the evidence that salvation has really and readily taken place in our hearts. Or said another way, we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. If someone truly has Jesus ruling and reigning over his or her life, Jesus will be conforming him or her more and more into the image and likeness of himself (Romans 8:29). As this happens, we become more and more like the man we follow. He changes us from the inside out. As we become more like him, we desire to live for him and yearn to see his life reflected in our life. In addition to looking, acting, and speaking like Jesus, we will go around sharing the gospel with others just like he did. We will both declare and demonstrate his message. We will speak the hope to the hopeless. We will share the way to be saved. We will care for the needy. Be generous to those who do not have as much as we do. We will pray for the sick. Like Jesus, we will work hard in all we do to bring people into heaven. Our aim will be to see his will be done. His kingdom come. We do all of this because we know the gracious gift of salvation that we have received and we want others to see that we belong to Jesus and live for his glory alone.

by David Chadwick Are we saved by grace through faith or by grace, faith, and works? One cannot be justified, made righteous, and forgiven before God by both. Being saved by grace and being saved by your works are two diametrically opposed concepts. In fact, if you really think about it, faith is only available to us because of grace. Grace is a free gift that can never be earned. Salvation by works, stating that we must earn our salvation by our good merit, is actually the opposite of salvation through faith. Abraham was clearly justified by faith in Genesis 15:6. Paul goes on to say in Romans 4:2 that "if Abraham had been justified by works he has something to boast about, but not before God." Now look at Ephesians 2:8,9 which says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Dear friends, if we could work our way into heaven, God would never hear the end of it from us. We would boast about it forever. Why is it so important to wrestle out this tension when it comes to grace versus works? Well, it's important because to those who believe it's because of our works that we are saved, I always ask, "How good is good enough? How many good works are enough to get you into heaven? How will you ever really know?" The truth is, there is no eternal security in a belief that works will save us. This belief creates a constant, incessant worrying this side of eternity. You will live in the swirling tension of wondering if you have done enough. And ultimately that will leave you wondering if you would actually go to heaven if you died right now. It's an endless trap. The best biblical example for the fact that it is grace, not works, that saves us is the thief on the cross. Jesus guaranteed him paradise in eternity immediately after he put his trust in Jesus. Jesus says in Luke 23:43, "Today you will be with me in paradise." God's rich grace and mercy is not dependent on our works. Salvation comes solely by grace through faith. This is the marvelous news of the gospel! I beg you, come and follow Jesus! Join me this week as we explore the place of works in a Christian's life. But as we do, know that it can only have a place if laid on the foundation of Jesus's grace.

by David Chadwick Live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). Finally, grieve not the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Or as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, "Do not quench the Spirit." I find today's exhortation to be the pinnacle point of a life that is full of the Holy Spirit because it forces all of us to yield to a power bigger than ourselves. It demands that we take God out of the boxes in which we place him. In order to live a life that does not quench or grieve the Spirit, we must remain pliable, malleable, humble, open to change, willing to both repent and surrender. Without these characteristics, we risk putting ourselves in the all-knowing, all-powerful position that only God is intended to have. If the Spirit of God is living inside of our hearts and if we are one with Christ, then we must give ourselves fully to his ways. If we choose to live in a way that is contrary to his holiness and his will, he lives in us so we will automatically grieve him. The Holy Spirit is a person. He is our friend. And we can hurt his heart. Even make him cry. When you do this, if you truly follow Jesus, you will immediately sense it within. You will know his sadness, for it will become your sadness. You just know when you've disappointed him. Over time, if you continue to live in sin and quench the Spirit inside of you, his voice will become harder to hear. His power will no longer be available to you. Spend time each day seeking the Spirit's will in all areas of your life. Make your relationship with him your life's greatest desire, your most fervent want to. If there is anything in your life contrary to his will, confess it and repent of it. Breathe out all impurities every single day. Receive God's grace anew by confession (1 John 1:9). Then, reconnect the relationship! Hear and obey the Spirit in a fresh way. Know the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). He wants to live in and through you! FOREVER!

by David Chadwick This week, we are examining what it looks like to live a life yielded to the Silent Sovereign, also known as the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls us to live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14), and to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? Well, it's actually pretty simple. As you pray, listen to the Spirit's promptings in your heart. Take note of what comes to your mind and pray in unison with these promptings. Pray God's Word as you read it. You're never safer than when you are praying something in unison with God's Word. In order to do this, you must find times of silence during your day to hear God's voice and to know how to pray. Then, as he highlights certain things on your heart, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Throughout your day, remain in constant communion with the Father, sharing your heart with him and praying for the things that he puts on your heart. You may be in your car, on a football field, sitting with a child or grandchild, taking an elevator up to a meeting, or shopping in a grocery store. You can pray anywhere! Keep praying. Even when it is silent. Even when you don't know how to pray. Don't be concerned. The Bible even tells us that there will be times where we have groanings too deep for words. When that happens, the Spirit is interceding on your behalf before the Father in heaven and praying the exact words you need to pray (Romans 8:26). The bottom line is this: when the Spirit leads you to pray, pray! Continually. Repetitively. Quietly. Loudly. With words. With groanings too deep for words. But don't stop praying and believing. Your faith will grow and grow. And your life in the Spirit will become stronger and stronger. I pray that the body of Christ will be ignited in these coming years to pray. And that as we do, we will experience a unity like never before. A unity that will see answers to prayers, miracles, healings, and a love for one another that will shock the unbelieving world! To God alone be the glory.

by David Chadwick Live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And today: be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). The Spirit will speak to you in a variety of ways. But as we learned earlier this week, if you are one of God's sheep, you will hear the voice of Jesus through the Holy Spirit (John 10:27). But what does this look like? Well, you may "hear" the Holy Spirit in many different ways. First, it could be through other people's voices who you love and trust. Parents, mentors, pastors, Bible study leaders may be used by the Lord to help communicate truth to you. Secondly, it could be through a gentle nudge in your heart. You may feel a quiet prompting to pick up the phone and call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Or you may feel an unsettledness about saying "yes" to a certain job. God may highlight another country to you over and over again using repetition to cause you to take note of something you may not have otherwise noticed. Thirdly, it could be through a blatant closed door where it is obvious God is shouting "no" in your ear! You might get fired from a job or experience a terrible break up. Often extreme situations are God's way of guiding you and leading you by his Spirit. Finally, recognize that sometimes the Spirit says, "No" to something. But other times, the enemy is against you and the Spirit will lead you through the opposition. If you are being led by the Spirit, you will know the difference, much like Paul did in the book of Acts. Sometimes the Spirit opened doors for Paul and other times Satan hindered him. But because he was led by the Spirit, he never delayed and walked faithfully in his calling. And he was always victorious. The bottom line is this - when you are being led by the Holy Spirit and you know God's next step for you, OBEY! Do what he says to do. Go where he says to go. I pray that you will be led by the Spirit and stay in tune to his voice, obeying him at every turn. After all, delayed obedience is disobedience. So follow his lead!

by David Chadwick We are called to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). But we are also called to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Ephesians 5:18–21 goes on to say that as we are filled with the Spirit, we are to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." When John the Baptist walked the earth, he preached that there would be someone (Jesus) who would come after him who would baptize with fire. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said to his followers, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." When Jesus came, his baptism provided both purity and power. He was able to offer the world both cleansing of sins and a burning passion because of the Holy Spirit. Baptism suggests total immersion. Every part of your body, soul, and spirit now covered and submitted to your Creator when you decide to follow Jesus. Being baptized means you are now consumed, overwhelmed, and under the authority of the Holy Spirit who now lives in you. You are to be fully surrendered. Not one area of your life should be outside of the control of God. Many scholars refer to the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. But the filling of the Holy Spirit should happen continually and repetitively over the course of one's life. In fact, the verb in the Greek in the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit suggests a continual, regular, and daily infilling of God's great power in you. A Christian life, full of the Spirit, will bring increased joy, unity, thankfulness, and honor to the body of Christ. And the Holy Spirit should now control your life in obedience to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick This week, I want us to take a look at the Holy Spirit, also known as the Silent Sovereign. Do any of you enjoy going on a long walk? Walking is a gift from God. Whether you walk to get from one location to another, to pray, to exercise, or to enjoy God's beauty or creation, walking is something that everyone does in the natural realm. But did you know that walking is also a significant part of a Spirit-led and Spirit-filled life? Galatians 5:16 says, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Those of us who abide in Jesus have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, to now live inside of us. The Holy Spirit speaks to us constantly and tells us how we need to walk. He guides us in the will of the Father. Jesus said in John 10:27 that his sheep listen to his voice, know him, and follow him. Listening should produce a life of obedience, something we can only do as we walk by the Spirit. Let me share a key with you in understanding how to walk by the Spirit. The Greek verb stoichomeo is a military term. It suggests soldiers walking in unity to the commands from their sovereign leader. They walk in military formation, obeying every command from their general, and taking each step in unity with the soldier next to them. The same should be true for those of us who are in the army of Christ. Walking in the Spirit means we must perfectly obey the voice inside of us. We must align our desires with the desires of our commander in chief. We must yield our will to his will. Walking in the Spirit also suggests that we must walk in unison or unity with other soldiers in the body of Christ so that we can remain unified against our common enemy. This call to a life in the Holy Spirit has both personal and corporate implications. It's a call both to personal obedience and to corporate unity. We must pursue both for the glory of God!

by Marilynn Chadwick I wonder why we keep buying the same old lies. If someone else treated a woman as badly as she sometimes treats herself—overwork, eating disorders, addiction, lack of rest—they'd be convicted of abuse. The real war on women may require that we take an honest look in the mirror. And stand up to the devil who planted those lies in the first place. If we truly want to understand what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman of valor, if we want to lead with kindness—perhaps we should begin by learning how to be kind to ourselves. It's been said that a woman never knows how much work she can do until she sees how much has to be done. This may be true. But it would appear that many women today lack the internal boundaries to see how much work is too much until it's too late. I wonder if the problem runs deeper than just exhaustion. Deeper than image, or people pleasing, or the desire to measure up, or to be thin, or beautiful, or rich, or fill in the blank. Because at their very core, I believe women are wrestling with a spiritual problem. This takes us back to the most important task we have on earth—learning to abide in Christ (John 15:7). Let's not lose sight of the fact that it was her "fear of the Lord" that was central to the character of our Proverbs 31 woman. Her deep faith in the Lord energized her life (Proverbs 31:30). That's why our foundation must be built on the solid rock of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Wherever Jesus is preached, the status of women goes up. It was Jesus who brought true freedom in a culture that regarded women as inferior. He entrusted the message of his resurrection to a woman, appearing first to Mary Magdalene "from whom he had driven out seven demons" (Mark 16:9). Years ago, I got to see firsthand how Jesus transformed the lives of women in a remote village in Ethiopia. Our missionary friends had shared the gospel with this group of people a decade earlier. When the villagers accepted Jesus, our friends immediately noticed two things: Men stopped beating their wives. And women planted flowers outside their huts. They also became more tender mothers to their children. Things like better education, hygiene, and health care soon followed. It's vital that women learn to balance our nurturer and warrior roles. When we do that, the people around us flourish. If the warrior side, or the "fight," is taken out of a woman, those in her care are left vulnerable. But equally damaging results occur when a woman's nurturer side is stifled. God longs to meet the deepest needs of our heart. His grace is sufficient—if only we'll regularly spend time in his Presence. Sometimes victory comes when you learn to rest in Christ. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28,29 ESV). Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick To nurture someone is another way to be kind. Especially when it comes to little children. The words nurture and nourish come from the Latin word meaning "to nurse." To nurture someone is to help them grow, develop, or succeed. I think back to the days of nursing our three children and I'm still awed that I was able to provide practically all the nourishment needed by those babies for their first year of life. To me, breastfeeding was nurturing and nourishment all rolled up into one. I've enjoyed traveling in what some call "developing" nations and feel a kindred spirit with the common-sense mamas who live in these countries. They nurse their babies, wear them attached in a sling while they work, and view children as their greatest source of wealth. Over the years, I've met all kinds of women who care for their families in all types of households all over the world. But the word nurture most comes alive for me when I think back to a little tent home in a slum in India—and the unlikely woman of valor who nurtured her family inside. Men, women, and children of all ages squeezed into the patchwork tent that was both home and church for Pastor Raju. He was a ragpicker by trade. Daily, he sifted through the garbage dump to find rags, plastic, bits of this-and-that to sell. Raju was a member of the Untouchable Caste. Courageous pastors like Raju were why the gospel was spreading rapidly in this heavily persecuted region of India. Raju was small and wiry with a firm grip and a wide grin. He was fiery and passionate that morning as he reminded his congregation that they were the "head and not the tail" in God's eyes. Warmth and singing filled the tent. We were welcomed as the "honored guests" and David was to preach the message that morning. Raju preached the Gospel with courage and boldness. But it was Raju's wife who captured my heart. She had turned their tent into an inviting home. Her kitchen was just a shelf and a one-burner hot plate in the room that was also bedroom, living room, and church. After the service, she prepared tea along with a single roll of Ritz crackers, served to us by their children. Raju beamed as he introduced his family. A handful of boys and girls greeted us with shining faces and firm handshakes. They had been well-nurtured there in that little one-room tent beside the garbage dump. How was this possible? This tiny woman of valor had found a way to nurture these smiling children. She and her husband had given them physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment. Looking into their faces, I sensed they would somehow find their way in this harsh and difficult environment. Raju's wife was both nurturer and warrior for her little family, living proof that a woman of valor can live in a tent as well as a palace. Her children were a testimony that it doesn't take money or education to nurture a child—just love. This was the legacy of the ragpicker's wife. This was her kingdom. And her husband and children were her crown. Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick Religion has not always been kind to women. But women also seem bent on exhausting themselves. Today's woman seems restless. I think St. Augustine could easily have been talking to us when he made this famous statement in his Confessions: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Religion may not have been easy on women. But Jesus has been supremely kind. That's why I keep pointing out our enemy, the devil, as the real perpetrator of the war on women. Hurting women has been his game plan from the start. Jesus made a spectacle out of our foe and all his minions (Colossians 2:15). That's why abiding in Christ—drawing our strength from him—must be our passion. Through Jesus, we can stand firm as women of valor, balancing the nurturer and warrior roles that make us strong and kind. It's also vitally important that we understand God's true character. That He is our all-powerful warrior, protector, and defender. That he is infinitely kind, chesed. Teaching others about God's kindness begins with teaching ourselves. I have a friend who once took the time to spell out for me, in detail, how she had learned to take a really good nap. Over the years, she has fine-tuned her art of nap-taking, so I laughingly call her the "connoisseur of the perfect nap." Whenever I talk about my friend's nap method, people always seem eager for details. Now, this particular friend was a hard worker and very productive—a high-capacity leader and well-respected author. So I found myself eager to know her secret. Here's what she told me: First, set your alarm for one hour. Your shoes and socks must be off. Then you need to get all the way under your sheets—yes even if you made your bed perfectly that morning. Finally, get a good book. Start reading and let yourself fall asleep naturally. The alarm will awaken you, so you don't have to worry about oversleeping. Voila! And there you have it. The perfect nap! Taking a nap might seem trivial. But staying well-rested is not. I hope you see by now that adequate rest is a necessity, not a luxury. God did not create us to be machines, built to work seven days a week. Without rest, our mental and physical health will suffer. Without rest, our relationships suffer. And sometimes even our ability to love can grow cold. Think about whether you are kind to yourself. Is it hard for you to receive God's love? Are you exhausted? If so, Jesus wants you to find your rest in him. I encourage you to explore practical ways to rest your mind, your soul, and your body. This may mean spending more quiet time with him, reclaiming your Sabbath, or being intentional about your weekly day off. And sometimes it may be as simple as learning how to take a really good nap.

by Marilynn Chadwick I'm one of those people that gets misty-eyed over our men and women in uniform. My dad is a World War II era submarine veteran. Our family tree is dotted with soldiers back to the Revolutionary War, when our ancestor, Captain Simon Hunt, was one of the 80 minutemen who led the charge against the British with the "shot heard round the world." Soldiers fight for our freedom. They display courage and discipline. But for me, war is all about heart. A woman of valor is ready to fight the fight of faith and to fight for those she loves because she has heart. The word heart is used in the Bible over 700 times. The heart is viewed as the seat of the will, the emotions, and even the entire personality. Heart can go hand in hand with kindness—as we see in the word kindhearted. The heart is also connected to courage. A woman of valor is one who has courage in the face of danger. In the Bible, the words heart and courage are sometimes used interchangeably. For example, Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Instead of "take heart," several translations tell us to "take courage." Deborah was a great leader who had heart. An Old Testament judge and prophet, she was part nurturer and part warrior. Deborah leaves us with a wonderful picture of what it means to lead with kindness. Widely honored for her wisdom, Deborah was the first judge to be called a prophet. She spoke God's words to his people. She called them to obedience, convicted them of sin, and pointed them to God. We can be certain that Deborah had trained her heart to hear the voice of God. In Deborah's day, Israel was in great trouble. They had strayed from the Lord and followed idols, so he sold the people into the hands of their enemies. For twenty years, they had been cruelly oppressed by the Canaanites and their 900 iron chariots. As a result, they had fallen into great despair. Even their roads were unsafe, so people left their villages and retreated to the walled cities, where they hid in fear. There was not even an army of fighting warriors to protect Israel. That is, until Deborah stepped on the scene. She told how "villagers in Israel would not fight…until I, Deborah arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7 NIV). Notice Deborah didn't refer to herself as a prophet or a judge, but as "a mother in Israel." A mother with a heart for her people. A mother ready to spring into action. Deborah was a nurturing leader. And she sounds like a good mother to me. In the end, after Israel's overwhelming victory, the final line of her story tells us "The land had peace forty years" (Judges 5:31). I wonder if God is calling forth today's women to lead with strength and kindness. Women who nurture and nourish their own children. Who rise up and see potential in broken-down communities. Who call warriors to courage. Who give visions of victory. Who spell out sin and call for repentance. Women like Deborah, who "mother" others to greatness. Is God calling you to be one of those women?

by Marilynn Chadwick Kindness actually makes people happier. Such were the findings of a Stanford University study. Subjects who did five kind actions each week were happier than those who did not. And those who performed five acts every day were the happiest of all. The study found that happiness is greater when the acts of kindness are directed toward those we know as opposed to strangers. I guess you could say kindness, like charity, begins at home. The Proverbs 31 woman of valor instructed others. I like the way the International Children's Bible puts it: "She teaches others to be kind" (Prov. 31:26 ICB). I would like to think her teaching about kindness started at home by teaching her own children to be kind. I believe kindness is the solution to bullying and other aggressive behaviors. Children, and even adults, may not see clearly the dangers of bullying. Some don't even understand its definition. With our own children, I found it helped to explain bullying to them. I think we should protect all children of all ages from bullying. Bullies don't fight fair. In my mind, two against one is bullying. Older against younger is bullying—especially if that older one is an adult. And an adult can sometimes bully a child. If a more powerful person is picking on a weaker one, it's always bullying. I wanted our children to learn how to fight their own battles—especially when evenly matched. But I encouraged them to tell us if they were bullied. And if I ever caught them bullying someone else—well, let's just say they caught the wrath of mom! The Bible tells us to defend the weak (Psalm 82:3,4). So we can teach kindness to our children by exploring ways they can come to their aid when someone younger, or weaker, or outnumbered is being bullied. I'm reminded of some Texas school children who discovered that by forming a "swarm" around the child being bullied, they could get the bully to leave. Teaching our kids about kindness helps bully-proof them. We want to stop them from bullying or being bullied. And by encouraging them to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, we are creating a kinder culture.

by Marilynn Chadwick The Proverbs 31:10 "woman of valor" is kind, and she teaches others to be kind. But we must also consider the kindness of God. Because until we get that one right, we'll never walk in true freedom. Throughout history, we have seen how women (and all people, for that matter) have done terrible things to themselves and to each other when their view of God is off. We have a good role model in the woman of valor in Proverbs 31. Her wholehearted devotion to God was not from terror, but rather from a reverential awe that filled her with confidence. Such strong faith was the reason she could face her future with hope—and why she could "laugh at the days to come" (Proverbs 31:25 NIV). She knew God intimately. She had experienced him as loving, merciful, and kind. So she was able to lead and teach others with this same kindness: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26 ESV). The Hebrew word chesed, translated "kindness" in this verse, is used throughout the Old Testament to describe God. Chesed, often translated "loving-kindness," includes other aspects of God's character, such as his love and mercy. There's hardly an English equivalent that captures all that is wrapped up in chesed. Scholars agree that chesed is one of the most important words in the entire Old Testament. For not only is it central to God's character, it's also tied to his covenant with his people. As one scholar put it, "the covenant may be thought of as the relationship through which chesed flows." A covenant is sort of like a contract, only more relational and more binding. God's covenant was his way of guaranteeing his undying love and his unbreakable promises. In short, the covenant was proof of God's loving-kindness. "'With everlasting kindness [chesed], I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord your Redeemer" (Isaiah 54:8 NIV). The Lord is good and "his love [chesed] endures forever" (Psalm 107:1 NIV). Christians believe that when Jesus came to earth, his death and resurrection marked the beginning of a new kind of covenant. Through the shedding of his blood, God provided forgiveness of our sins and a free gift of grace for all who would accept it. If this method of salvation sounds too easy, think of all it cost God. What good news it is that Jesus now gives this invitation of salvation by grace to exhausted women—and all weary souls everywhere: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV). Loving-kindness seems to be a lost virtue in today's world. Sadly, it's missing from many of the discussions about what it means to be a woman today. Chesed actually adds to a woman's strength, instead of making her weak, as some would have us believe. We must not forget that chesed is how God treats us as women. Even when the culture is cruel, or the devil is on his rampage, or when women treat themselves and each other poorly, God covers us with his chesed. Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick I will readily admit I love superhero movies. Today's superhero movies have given us quite a rush of female superheroines splashed across our screen—a far cry from the helpless damsel in distress of years past. Perhaps these fit, strong females will provide our daughters with better role models and higher self-esteem? Better think again. Just when we suspected these hard-hitting heroines were saving us from our outdated images of women, this new breed of female superhero might be making things worse. A recent study shows that instead of giving women healthier views about themselves—and especially about their body images—the new superheroines may be doing just the opposite. Researchers are concerned about the impact of powerful females who have perfect bodies and perform impossible tasks (defeating bad guys and saving the world—all while wearing sexy costumes and spiked heels). Instead of feeling empowered, women who watched these superhero images reported a dramatic drop in self-esteem and dissatisfaction with their own body images and physical appearances. Thus, while the roles for women have evolved from the helpless victim to mighty protector, these superheroines may be undermining rather than improving women's perceptions of themselves and their bodies. There seems to be no end to the pressure upon women today to be perfect, much of it self-imposed. Social media has only fueled this flame. Women now have the added challenge of keeping up with the unrealistic digital world of their social media friends. No wonder the major emotion people report while on social media is envy. At their very core, I believe women are wrestling with a spiritual problem. Which takes us right back to the most important task we have on earth—one that is foundational to becoming a woman of valor: training our heart to hear God's voice. Let's not lose sight of the fact that it was her "fear of the Lord" that was central to the character of our Proverbs 31 woman of valor. Her deep faith in the Lord energized her life. That's why our foundation must be built on the solid rock of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick You'd think women would have learned by now that sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. For example, the torturous custom of foot binding, which plagued China's women for over a thousand years, was perpetuated by women. Originally a symbol of female wealth and refinement, foot binding eventually became a symbol of beauty. The smaller the foot—with a three-inch foot being the ideal—the better chance the woman had of getting married. In order to fit into the tiny lotus shoes, women had to literally suffer the breaking of bones in their feet, beginning when they were toddlers. They kept their feet bound for life. Though now illegal, foot binding survived for a thousand years because of women's emotional investment in the practice. Or think back to the corsets worn by women in the 1800s in Europe and America. Women in the Victorian era prized unnaturally tiny waists. So they subjected themselves and their daughters to the painfully binding contraptions, which had to be tightly laced at the back. Over time, their ribs were displaced, and their lungs and other organs were compressed against the spine or shoved down into the lower abdomen. This made it hard to breathe, so ladies sometimes fainted. Thus, the "feminine swoon" also became popular. Here's what one newspaper columnist wrote about wearing a corset: "It is difficult to imagine a slavery more senseless, cruel or far-reaching in its injurious consequences than that imposed by fashion on civilized womanhood during the last generation. The tight lacing required by the wasp waist has produced generations of invalids." But we are not exempt. Today's women are tormented by the harshly thin, female-driven supermodel body image. Eating disorders are skyrocketing. Young girls in America are now dieting by as early as age ten. Perhaps you've heard of the "thigh gap." Ask your teenage daughter, because she probably has. ABC news did a report on the alarming trend among high-school-aged girls, perpetuated by Internet images. Standing up straight with feet together and knees touching, teens (and women) want to see gaps between their thighs even if they know it takes poor nutrition habits and over-exercising to get there. When asked the reason for thigh gaps, a panel of young women admitted it was a status symbol—further proof that skinny frames are their ideal measure of beauty. Oddly, it is women—not their boyfriends or husbands—who pressure each other to strive for dangerously thin bodies. Anorexia and bulimia, once confined to mostly young women, are now showing up in two other groups: young girls and older women. Anorexia has reached epidemic proportions among middle-aged women. Eating disorders now have the highest fatality rate of any mental illness. Women are literally starving themselves to death to become thin. The loving kindness of our Mighty God can set women free from their self-imposed prison. At its core, this prison is the work of the devil. Remember, "the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8 NIV). Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick I still marvel when I think about how God gave women the added privilege of being life-givers and co-creators of the entire human race. Eve was the first woman. Her name literally means "mother of all the living" (Genesis 3:20). I love Eve's response after giving birth to the first human ever born to a woman: "Look, I have created a new human, with the help of the Eternal" (Genesis 4:1 VOICE). Another translation puts it this way: "I produced a man" (Gen 4:1 TLV). We're not only able to bear children, but also to nurture them. What's more, we have the ability to nurture others who are not necessarily our own children. We see that played out in the life of Deborah, the prophet, judge, and "mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7). Throughout Scripture, we find examples of this beautiful nurturer and warrior combination that God has mysteriously woven into the heart of a woman. But the Bible warns us of the "enmity," or hostility, between Satan and the woman after the Fall (Genesis 3:15). It makes sense, then, that the devil would try to lure the woman away from God's original design, twisting her ezer strength into a rock—not of support, but of hardness. Distorting her courage into brazen ambition. And if he can derail her nurturer side—killing the kindness in a woman's heart—he will have unleashed a creature who is destructive to her family, to the culture around her, and ultimately to herself. The hostility between Satan and women has played out again and again on the stage of human history. Wherever we see women being mistreated, we can be sure the devil is lurking behind the scenes, manipulating others to cause women harm. In the past, and even today in some parts of the world, women have been regarded as property, beasts of burden, or worse, as slaves. They've been caricatured as weak, overly emotional, or unintelligent. Beaten down, ignored, and oppressed, women are vulnerable to the same tactics the enemy has used for centuries. And when the devil can't get someone else to oppress the woman, he downloads lies that destroy her from within. This disarms her ability to nurture others. When a woman believes the enemy's lies, not only are those around her at risk, but she will eventually harm her own soul. That's why kindness begins when we first receive the kindness of God for ourselves. Only then do we have kindness to share with those around us. That's why it's vital that women learn to balance our nurturer and warrior roles. When we do that, the people around us flourish. Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by Marilynn Chadwick A woman of valor who can find?...The teaching of kindness is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:10,26 JPS). Disney got it right. The scariest villains are often women. Think about it. Cinderella's wicked stepmother overworked the poor girl and locked her in an attic before she was finally rescued by her handsome prince. The evil Maleficent cast her jealous spell on Sleeping Beauty. Snow White battled a wicked queen who was envious of her beauty. And don't forget Cruella De Vil [cruel devil] who kidnapped an entire litter of Dalmatian puppies, intending to use their fur to make into coats. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, whose famed fairy tales actually had to be sanitized before they were suitable for children, were said to have portrayed a few mothers as villains. But the public outcry against mothers mistreating their own children forced the Grimm brothers to recast the mothers as evil stepmothers instead. When I was a small child, the wicked woman that terrified me most—hands down—was the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Years later, I can still hear that green-faced, old witch cackling, "My Little Pretty" as she taunts her captive, Dorothy. A woman devoid of what Shakespeare called "the milk of human kindness" is a fearsome creature—especially to a child. Maybe that's because as children, we instinctively open our hearts to women. From birth, we're trained to look to our mothers for nurture and protection. Kindness is central to the Proverbs 31 "virtuous women," better translated, "woman of valor." "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26 ESV). A woman of valor is not only kind; she "teaches others to be kind" (verse 26 ICB). The simple dictionary definition of kindness points to words such as "gentle or considerate." But the Bible gives kindness a much stronger meaning. Kindness is listed among the fruit of the Holy Spirit that are present in the life of a believer (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word chrestos, translated "kindness," is described as a "grace that pervades one's whole nature" and is the opposite of harshness or severity. Christ's yoke, or what he asks us to do, is chrestos, having nothing harsh or galling about it (Matthew 11:30). Looking at the full portrait of the Proverbs 31 woman, we see that her kindness only adds to her strength. She is both leader and teacher. She speaks words of wise instruction to her family and others. But her leadership is always wrapped in kindness. God created women to be strong and kind—part warrior and part nurturer. From Creation, he designed the woman to be the helper, or ezer—a source of rock-like support for her husband (Genesis 2:18). God equipped us with courage and strength. But he has added to that strength by making us capable of being kind and sharing that kindness with those around us. Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

by David Chadwick Kindness. It is a word that our modern society seems to undervalue and it is a "missing in action" concept in the Christian world. This week, my exhortation has been to reclaim kindness. We have talked about remembering how important kindness is, we have talked about how to reclaim it, how to increase a life of kindness and show it to others. Today, I want to call all of us to action to live out kindness from this moment forward. Kindness does not come naturally. It has to be remembered, reclaimed, increased, demonstrated to all, and lived out every day. Unfortunately, in this broken world, human nature is driven to take care of ourselves first and sometimes no one else at all. Some of us will expand care beyond ourselves and into our family, but the majority of natural instinct is to take care of self and to self-protect. But when Jesus invades a heart, kindness MUST follow. After all, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It may be as simple as this truth: Grow closer to Jesus and more kindness will flow in and through you. Jesus is the epitome of kindness and displayed it throughout his life here on earth. He always saw people through the eyes of kindness knowing they were like sheep without a shepherd. When we encounter the love and kindness of Jesus, it must flow through us to others. To whom do you need to show kindness today? Someone in your family? Maybe it's to a friend? Someone in your workplace? Maybe even to an enemy? As we wrap up, I would challenge you with this question: If kindness is not in your life as a follower of Jesus, can you honestly say that your life is in him?

by David Chadwick Do you know what I think gives the best illustration of kindness in the entire Bible? The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. It is one of my favorite accounts in all of Scripture. Let's look at it together. If you know biblical history, you know that the Samaritans were derided by the Jews in Jesus's day. They were absolutely hated. Despised even. They were considered the half-breeds of society. When the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, many Jews married Gentiles who had been imported into the land. These unions produced the Samaritans, called such because of where they lived (Samaria). Jews had terribly racist attitudes toward the Samaritans and it permeated their entire culture. Yet in this story of the Good Samaritan, a man was beaten by brigands and left for dead on the side for the road. Here is what makes this story so incredible. It was not a priest or a Levite - the professional religious people - who were the heroes of this story. The hero was a Samaritan! The one who was most despised in those days was the one who ended up caring for the broken man on the side of the road. The Samaritan man not only stopped to help the battered and bruised individual, he put him up in a room and offered to pay for all of the expenses that would be incurred in the future. This man understood the kindness of the Lord! He was the hero of the story. Kindness, it transcends human divisions and schisms. It loves outside of human prejudice. It sees ALL people as individuals created in God's image. Be kind! To whom? Everyone! All in this world are your neighbors. Yes, even those who hate you and have hurt you. And even your enemies! Let God's kindness evaporate all of your prejudice as you realize how much he has loved you in spite of your mess. You will begin to see everyone around you as people created in his image. Intended to be used for his glory. As you love one another, you are actually loving Jesus! Think about that, as you are kind to those around you.

by David Chadwick I want to urge all of us toward kindness during these times. Remember it. Reclaim it. And then today's tip: increase it! If you want to increase the weight you are lifting at the gym, what do you have to do? You have to add a little more each day. Over time, you will be able to lift heavier and heavier weights. The same holds true with kindness. Practice increasing in kindness a little each day and watch what happens. Begin by thinking about the ways that people have been kind to you. As you do, kindness will grow in your heart! Then think about the unmerited favor that someone has given you. In doing this, you will desire to give unmerited favor to others. How about an undeserved gift? Have you ever been given one? I remember when I was in seminary and I found out that someone had anonymously paid for my last year of education. To this day, I have no idea who it was! But it was a surprise display of kindness that allowed me to enter my first church completely debt free so I could fully focus on ministry. There is truly nothing like an anonymous financial gift to display kindness to someone else. List as many illustrations as you can from your personal life of times when kindness was shown to you. After you make your list, you must first remember to thank God first. After all, he was behind all of these displays of kindness. Once you have your list, I want you to think about a few ways to show this same kindness to someone else this week! Financially. Verbally. With a simple smile. A gift. Your presence. Let your increasing kindness multiply and, as you move into next week, try to think of more ways to give it away. Over time, your kindness muscles will grow stronger and stronger! Remember, if you follow Jesus, kindness is not optional. Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." This is the gospel in action.

by David Chadwick How do we reclaim kindness? A term that is missing in action both in secular culture and among Christ followers. I strongly believe we are in times where those of us who profess Jesus as Lord must exercise kindness. But how? Our world is so hostile and volatile. What do we even do? I'm glad you asked. We must begin with observing the nature and character of God. God demonstrates his kindness to all of creation (Psalm 145:9). In fact, many theologians refer to his kindness as "common grace," which means that even the wicked get to experience some of it. Those who rebel against the Lord still get to breathe his air, eat his food, and enjoy all of his goodness in this world. Remember, as I mentioned to you yesterday, it is also the kindness of the Lord that brings people into repentance (Romans 2:4). While we were still sinners - enemies of God - Jesus still came and died for us (Romans 5:8). This is the most profound belief of the Christian faith. The God of creation chose to come down to the squalor of this earth in human form to provide a way back to him. To this day, there has never been a more majestic display of love than this - seeing God come down to fight for a restoration of the relationship that was broken because of sin! The kindness that God displayed in his quest to restore creation back to its original intent should draw those of us who profess faith in Jesus to a life of holiness and godliness. It should make us want to repent of anything that we know God hates. Spend some time thinking today about God's kindness to you. He did not give you what you deserve - an eternity in hell! Rather, because he is rich in grace, mercy and kindness, he chose to forgive you of your sins and offer you the gift of eternal life! Thank him for this rich kindness. Both today and forevermore.

by David Chadwick I believe kindness is one of the things that is missing in action in today's society. Where has it gone? Generally speaking, kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. If you were to look around, I bet you would agree with me that these traits are hard to come by right now. Biblically speaking, kindness is also a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus expects it to be present in the lives of his followers. God's definition of kindness runs far deeper than any cultural understanding. Micah 6:8 says we are to "love kindness." Zechariah 7:9 says to "show kindness and mercy to one another." Colossians 3:12 says we should "put on kindness." 1 Corinthians 13:4 says that "love is patient and kind." Jesus said in Matthew 24:12 that the evidence of the end times will be that the love of many will grow cold. Can you see this happening? It is becoming increasingly common in our world to see the heart of humanity growing increasingly cold. But in the kingdom of heaven, kindness is not merely a "feel good" emotion. The deep kindness of the Lord provokes a willingness to serve others - yes, even those who are ungrateful and difficult. Kindness gives us the power to do hard things. In fact, Romans 2:4 says that it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. Think for a moment about the magnitude of power behind the kindness of the Lord! His kindness is so incredible that it is powerful enough to provoke lasting change in our lives! I want this week to serve as a kindness check for all of us. Begin to check your hearts and examine yourselves to see where kindness may be lost, where your hearts may be growing cold. Then, I want to encourage all of us to reclaim kindness as a normal part of the vocabulary for Christ followers. Kindness should not be an afterthought. It should not be a missing in action trait of Christians. We should exercise kindness as a regular, daily part of our lives. Let's start tomorrow by learning how to reclaim kindness!

by David Chadwick Substance abuse is the final topic we are going to look at in our series "From the Cross." It is usually thought of as people's misuse of things like alcohol, drugs, and pornography. But I would argue that there are a multitude of "substances" that can be abused. For today's purposes, I am defining substance abuse as the misuse of any worldly pleasure in order to cope and be able to function from day to day. Substance abuse is a lot like idolatry. People can have addictions to all sorts of things: power, money, shopping, success, the need to be liked by others, gambling, smartphones, and even food. Notice the word "substance." It is something that gives you a rush or something you need to get through your day. A substance gives you identity and meaning. It is the worship of something in creation that takes the place of the Creator. So how do you gain victory over "substance" abuse? What is the answer to this problem? First, recognize that the substance you crave is an idol and call it as such. Confess it. Own it. Acknowledge it. This puts you back in your rightful place under the Lordship of Jesus as you acknowledge that a created object has taken the rightful place that only your Creator should have! When you admit something, that is the first step in healing. Secondly, hate what the addiction to this substance has done to your life. It has controlled you. It has mastered your will. Third, and this one is key, you must replace your love for whatever substance has a hold on you with a greater love. In my opinion and experience, the only love I know that is stronger than a substance is the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus. We must come face to face with his love. Jesus did not give us hell that we deserved, which is his mercy. But instead, he gives us eternity in heaven and so many blessings that we don't deserve, which is his grace. As you contemplate the wonderful cross, you pour contempt on your pride. Your desire to please Jesus becomes greater than your desire for any addiction, false gods, substances, or idols. An encounter with Jesus will crush your contemptuous rebellion against God and his authority in your life. If you follow Jesus, you are now a worshipper of the one, true God. Jesus now holds the seat of honor and authority in your life. You are called to seek first his kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Your flesh and the lusts of your earthly passions have been crucified (Galatians 2:2). You are now free to love Jesus and others with all that is in you! This is God's will for your life!

by David Chadwick We are looking at the many strongholds that have come from the cross after our local church congregation confessed different hurts and sins during the Easter season. Control is today's topic. Control is the delusion that we are in charge of our lives. It leaves people with an illusion of power that they were never meant to have. Only God is in control! The irony of control is that so often the most controlling people are actually the least self-controlled. They spend all of their emotional energy trying to control everything around them and neglect the only Biblical instruction to control, which is the call to have self-control (Galatians 5:23). In order to speak accurately about this topic of control, we must first realize that we are called to make wise decisions in accordance with God's Word. Throughout Scripture, God calls us to live with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. As followers of Jesus, we should desire to be faithful unto the Lord in every area of our lives! Regardless of our efforts to be faithful and responsible, how much do we really control? I love this saying: Man proposes, God disposes. Or like Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." God is the one who ultimately brings about results. He has the overreaching providence to work out his plans for his world (Genesis 50:20). Everything that happens is always moving God's ultimate plan toward what is needed for our good and for his glory (Romans 8:28). As God said to Job at the end of his ordeals, he says to us, "Where were you when I created the world?" At the end of the day, we must simply do the best we can. I used to tell my kids, "Do your best and give God the rest." We should make good decisions and live as responsibly as possible, but we must trust God with the outcome! Only God controls everything. He is the only one who oversees the world. That is the essence of faith. We know that he will never forsake his children. God has a plan. He oversees his plan. We must trust him in his plan. Release everything to him. We are called to obey him and then trust him. In the end, we must remain confident that he alone is in control and our lives belong to him! This truly is the pathway to freedom.

by David Chadwick "Fear" was written down multiple times by people at our Service of Darkness this past Easter. Because of how many times it was addressed, I wanted to cover it a second time in this series. Fear. This is the foreboding feeling that something bad may happen. Did you know that God frequently tells us not to fear in the Bible? "Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). "Fear not, for I am with you…" (Isaiah 43:5). "Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed…" (Joshua 1:9). "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God…" (Isaiah 41:10). So many examples in Scripture of being told not to fear. And yet this is a crippling, common emotion that too many people choose to embrace and let dictate their entire lives! It is one of the first negative emotions introduced to mankind after the Fall in Genesis 3. After sinning, Adam responded to the Lord God by saying, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." The building blocks of Adam's guilt created a house of shame in which fear walked right in! Stop for a moment and remember God's original intent. He originally intended for creation to be orderly and peaceful, an environment where fear could not exist. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve perfectly trusted God in all things and lived in shalom - perfect peace and wholeness! After eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they essentially declared themselves to be God and fear entered the world. The antidote for fear is God's presence. His presence allows us to live both surrendered to and arrested by tremendous faith! Repeatedly in God's Word, faithful people are adjured, "Do not be afraid, for God is with you." When Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised that he would be with his children forever, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). This means he promised to leave his presence indwelling in the hearts of all who believe in him! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in the hearts of anyone who professes faith in Jesus (Romans 8:11). Fear must flee. The eternal God of this universe in Jesus faces all your problems with you. Why fear?

by David Chadwick Shame is the negative feeling of worthlessness. It fuels thoughts like, "I am of no value. I am worthless. I am a bad person. I will never amount to anything." First, let's take note of the difference between guilt and shame. Guilt, yesterday's topic, believes, "I have done something wrong." Shame believes, "I AM wrong." If guilt wants to plague you because of your actions, shame wants to destroy your entire identity. You could even think of it like this: guilt provides the building blocks with which shame can build the house. Once you find yourself living in shame, you will find that depression, despair, anxiety and so many other strongholds can walk right through the door and reside in your heart! Shame is one of the first negative emotions mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 3:7). It came right after Adam's and Eve's fall. They felt guilty, but that quickly turned to shame as they became aware of their nakedness and felt the urgent need to cover themselves with animal skins. Did you know that "covered up" is actually the Hebrew word for atonement? Before the concept of atonement was fully realized, they killed an animal and used its skin to cover themselves, foreshadowing the need for the shedding of blood for the remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22). I find it absolutely fascinating that long before Jesus ever came into this world, Adam and Eve immediately felt the need for atonement following their act of sin. Jesus came and shed his blood, not only to forgive your sins, but also to give you a new identity. His life, death and resurrection came to heal not only our actions and behaviors, but our entire personhood! His salvation covers both sins of omission and commission. The evil things that we do intentionally and the good things we fail to do. Jesus can release you from all shame, making you a brand new person. He adopts you into his family, where you become an inheritor of all he owns. Upon salvation, his perfect blood now pulsates through your royal veins! Your inheritance is now to live in HIS house, his dwelling place, forever. He is preparing that place for you right now for eternity. Shame wants you to forget this truth! Its purpose is to cripple your life. Satan uses shame to render you ineffective for ministry and to keep you shackled to your former life and ways. Jesus came to set us free (Galatians 5:1). He wants to crush the enemy's lies (John 8:44) so that we are fully able to give our lives away (Mark 10:45). Dear friends, don't live in shame. Walk in your new identity, new purpose, new hope! It's the only way to live! It's the only path to freedom.

by David Chadwick Guilt is a stronghold that many people bring to the foot of the cross. Guilt is the stomach churning feeling that you have done something wrong. Christian apologists deduce that this negative emotion is one of the main emotions that helps to prove the existence of God. In order for there to be guilt, there must be a moral law within a human being that he or she thinks has been broken. "Conscience" is another word people use to describe this tension that exists between guilt and innocence. And everyone worldwide possesses this conscience at some level or another. Paul actually talks about moral law in Romans 1 in the context of the existence of God. Paul emphasizes that where there is a moral law - decisive commitments to what is right and wrong - there must be a moral law giver, God himself. Guilt comes as a result of the Fall in Genesis 3. No guilt existed in the Garden of Eden pre-Genesis 3. Adam and Eve operated in perfect union with God. They always obeyed God and followed his will. They were instructed to eat from the tree of life, but to stay away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would be deviating from God's moral law. Adam's and Eve's intentional, willful, and sinful decision to eat of this tree sent mankind on a terrible trajectory bent toward making decisions based on personal desires and will rather than God's will. At that moment, all of humanity assumed the responsibility for determining what was good and evil. This is a responsibility we were never supposed to have! Adam's and Eve's decision took them away from the true life that God originally offered them. Because of this, God said they would surely die - both physically and spiritually. Guilt is one of the strongest evidences of the spiritual death that entered our world through sin. Without Jesus, mankind lives under permanent condemnation, especially from the devil. Even for Christ followers, Satan loves to taunt us with jeers that God could never love someone like us. He reminds us repeatedly of how worthless we are for rebelling against God and leaves us soaking in one thing: guilt. How can we untangle ourselves from this guilt? Go to Jesus! He came to earth to pay for our sins, but also to eradicate and eliminate guilt from our hearts. Jesus absorbed all of our guilt on the cross. We are now forever forgiven! Did you know there is now NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)? Jesus washes your sins away and will never come back and remind you of them. When you feel guilt and condemnation as a follower of Jesus, it's never coming from Jesus! It's from the enemy. When guilt tries to sneak up on you, use it to your advantage. Let it drive you to the cross where your guilt is replaced by Jesus's grace. And be set free!

by David Chadwick Selfishness is engrained in the heart of every human being. We are all selfish in one way or another. Isn't selfishness at the heart of all sin? A bent toward self. A desire to want what we want when we want it. What happened in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve rebelled against God and his authority, was rooted in selfishness. I tend to think selfishness and pride are synonymous. A need to be #1. Always needing to be right. A belief that the world revolves around me. It is a mindset that leads to destruction! The solution to selfishness is this: You must be born again (John 3:3). That is what Jesus said so clearly. You are incapable of experiencing the bounty and beauty of the kingdom of God unless you have been born again. Your selfishness must die and be crucified on the cross with Jesus. Then, and only then, can you be raised to a new life that commands a pursuit of living a life that is bent toward serving Jesus and others. It is a supernatural event. It's something that only the Holy Spirit can do. But it CAN be done. It really IS possible. The journey toward SELFLESSNESS is a process. Remember, dying on the cross took several days. Sometimes we forget that everything is not a quick fix. But as we daily choose to die to self and daily choose to live for Christ, our self becomes weaker and Jesus becomes stronger in us. Selfishness dies and serving rises! That's what Paul meant when he said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that when we are in Christ, we are a new creation. This means we have been born again in the Spirit! The old has passed away. It's dead. Crucified with Jesus on the cross. And the new has come! Jesus's resurrection life is now inside of us and has made us new. This new life changes our hearts, gives us a new vision for God's kingdom, and invites us to play a significant role in his story as a new creation! God's antidote to selfishness is being born again! And when the entire created order has been born again, the kingdom of God will have come back to earth from heaven! It will happen one day! Begin to prepare yourself now for the new heavens and the new earth by ridding your life of selfishness! From selfish to servant. Free from self to serve. That is the result of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick Broken marriages are plaguing people both inside and outside of the church. Divorce statistics are staggering, even among those who call themselves Christians. There is no greater pain in the hearts of Christians than a marriage that falls apart. No one walks down the aisle on their wedding day and thinks to themselves, "One day, we will end up divorced." Most every couple truly believes that they will remain together "until death do us part." Unfortunately, we live in a broken world with broken people who have broken wills and desires. Divorce, though hated by God (Malachi 2:16), is an unfortunate reality in our world. Let me see if I can tenderly share some reminders for those of you who have experienced a broken marriage. First, let me quickly interject here that your first step in being able to move forward after a divorce is to remember that while God hates divorce, he does not hate divorcees. He loves you deeply! In fact, the Bible calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). God is a God of compassion and I can promise you that he hurts with you and for you in your pain! As do I! Secondly, please know that divorce is not the unpardonable sin. God knew it would happen in this broken world. His loving, forgiving grace is available to all. Remember that because of Jesus, God sees you as a new creation. He puts your past in the past. He draws near and heals the brokenhearted, binds the wounds of those who are hurting, and gives new hope to all who trust in him. Third, learn what you need to learn from your divorce. What did you do wrong? What could you have done better? Then, as you are walking out some of the pain from your own loss, find a way to give your life away. Healing will come as you give your life away (Isaiah 58:10). Maybe you will even figure out a way to take what you have learned and help others walking through divorce (2 Corinthians 1:4). Finally, learn what it takes to "divorce proof" your marriage. How? State your vows to one another regularly. Spend time together. Become one another's best friend. When you do, you'll find that while it is easy to leave your spouse, it's impossible to leave your best friend. In fact, the divorce statistics for couples who practice these disciplines is practically nil! Remember, God brought you together. Work hard to stay together! And as many of you have heard me say, always keep the back door locked from the outside!

by David Chadwick One of the greatest heartaches that I hear from congregants is concern for their wayward children. Many people have prodigal sons and daughters who either don't know Jesus or have run far from God. Parents fear for their children's eternal salvation. A wandering child who has rejected the faith leaves a believing parent in so much angst. If this is your story, what should you do? First, keep believing! Keep praying for the salvation of your prodigal son or daughter! There is something extraordinarily powerful about a parent's prayers for a child. Remember, you are connected to them by a covenant. 1 Corinthians 7:14 speaks to the mysterious grace that comes to a home with a believing spouse. Because of your faith in Jesus, you should have every expectation that God is chasing down your children as much as you long for them to be chased down. As I have jokingly said from time to time to those wandering in the faith, "If you have a praying and believing mom, you might as well go ahead and give up. You're toast! You can either choose to believe in Jesus now or it will inevitably happen down the road." Secondly, keep modeling your faith to your children. Let them know how important Jesus is to you in both your words and actions. It could be that you send them a Bible verse from time to time or let them know you are praying for them. Or it may be that you let them see how you serve others or give your money or life away. It could even come through a warm cup of coffee you share with them when possible. I always say that faith is more often caught than taught, especially by children. Let them see Jesus in and through you. Finally, don't give up. Remember what Yogi Berra said, "It's not over til it's over." Your job is to keep scattering seeds of faith. Keep praying. Keep persevering. Keep modeling your faith to them. And keep believing that one day Jesus will arrest their hearts so you can spend eternity with them. After all, you're in sales and God's in management. Trust him with the outcome and in the meantime, keep practicing the art of faith! After all, faith is the atmosphere of heaven! And true faith always leads to freedom.

by David Chadwick No one knows the future except God. He controls all (Psalm 24:1). The earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it all! Genesis 1:1 reminds us that with one word, he created the world and began to write his story! And one day he will end his story (Revelation 22). One day, all of time will be fulfilled and God will make his new heaven and new earth, a home without sin or blemish. This is God's world. He created it. He controls it. He knows everything…including the future! Uncertainty of the future is another sin pattern that hangs people up. Many in our congregation nailed this to the cross right before Easter, 2025. I believe Jesus knew this would be hard for people, which is why he taught his disciples to pray like this, "Give us today our daily bread." He knew that there was no point in worrying about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). Tomorrow would have enough worries of its own and wisdom would call us to simply ask the Lord to meet us day by day. We must trust God for all that we may need today. He will provide it! He promised that he would! Developing this confidence in the Lord and learning how to trust him with our future should leave us confident in the most uncertain circumstances… yes, even death! Some psychological analysts have estimated that 90% of all problems are rooted in fear, especially the fear of death. But death holds no power in the life of a believer in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:55-58). When our lives are in Christ, what happens to him happens to us! Because he died and was raised to a new life, we, too, will be raised to a new life! As someone once said, "We don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future." Our lives are in the Father's hands. He holds every second of our lives in his majestic, celestial hands. In him alone we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Therefore, we need to fear nothing…especially the future! Now enjoy today to the full!

by David Chadwick Personal offense. The inability to forgive someone who has hurt you. This hangup can keep people in shackles for a lifetime! The first step in breaking free from personal offense is to recognize that it is going to happen in life. We live in a broken world with broken people. Inevitably, we will step on each other's toes. Only when we truly come to grips with the reality that we owe a billion dollar debt because of our sins can we freely forgive the debt of someone who has hurt us. To escape the prison of bitterness is the ultimate prison break. Bitterness not only defiles you, but those around you. It contaminates relationships and robs you of purity. See Hebrews 12:16, which says, "It's ultimately for YOUR benefit to forgive! So how does this look? What steps need to be taken to forgive? You may need to practice forgiveness over and over again toward the person or persons who have hurt or betrayed you. Usually, forgiveness is not a one time practice. Can you understand more why Jesus taught Peter to forgive 70 times 7? It is because it often takes a repetitive, daily outpouring of God's grace on you toward the person who has hurt you. Take a moment. Picture your offender or the offensive situation. I know this can be really painful, but pause for a moment and try. Now, picture Jesus. The nails through his hands. The crown of thorns on his head. The mockery toward him. The pain he endured. Now take the grace that he showed you and imagine pouring it out on your offender. Over time, bitterness will become weaker and eventually abate! Finally, remind yourself that Jesus forgave his offenders from the cross (Luke 23:34). While he was dying for our sins, preparing to take his last breath, he chose to forgive those who had placed him on the cross. Yes, it's very hard to forgive those who have hurt us, but it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. You can't do it in your own strength, which is what makes it all the more powerful. We must allow Jesus to forgive through us! The One who forgave his offenders now resides in those of us who believe. Let his supernatural, forgiving power flow through you! Walk in freedom, no longer chained by bitterness. Live as Jesus has called you to live! And finally be set free. After all, forgiveness is primarily for your benefit!

by David Chadwick Family conflict is our next burden that was brought up and laid at the foot of the cross. Few live this life without it! It could be with a sibling, an absent or abusive dad, a controlling mom, a crazy cousin, or a demanding aunt or uncle. So, how do we handle this? First, realize that family conflict has been going on since the beginning of time. Right after the Fall in Genesis 3, do you remember what happened? A family conflict! Cain hated his brother so much that he murdered him. For starters, you can count your blessings that your situation has not resulted in death! Now keep reading the rest of Genesis. Conflict between Ishmael and Isaac, a brawl between Jacob and Esau, and then between Jacob and his sons. How about Joseph with his brothers? More conflict! And that is just in the book of Genesis! If you keep reading through Exodus, you'll see Moses's tension with his brother Aaron, at times his sister Miriam, and even with his wife! This is not a new problem, so don't be surprised! Second, you must recognize that family conflict is rooted in sin. The Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all (Jeremiah 17:9). As much as possible, live at peace with one another (Romans 12:18), but realize that sometimes sin patterns keep that from happening. You don't get to pick your family like you do your friends. While you can't control others, you can control yourself and you can determine how you are going to interact with and respond to unhealthy people. It's okay to distance yourself from sinful dynamics that are detrimental to your own health or the health of your family. It's fine to distance yourself from destructive people. For instance, if a family member is an addict, you may need to examine yourself to see if you are being manipulated to remain codependent with them at the expense of your own health. Sometimes in unhealthy familial dynamics, the healthy individual ends up carrying the burden and weight of the situation. You become the problem when you're trying to solve the problem! You must guard yourself against that! In all things, you must choose love. Even when it feels someone is an enemy, remember that Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Before coming into the faith, we, too, were enemies of God and while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:1-11). You can never go wrong when you operate in love. Just make sure your love is not being manipulated for someone else's gain, which only leaves you in more pain. Today's Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove the effects of family conflict and replace it with LOVE (1 Corinthians 13) and CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD (Proverbs 14:26).

by David Chadwick Health issues are another thing that many people in our church brought up to lay at the foot of the cross last Easter. This is such a big and nagging problem. We have found ourselves living in a world that is full of sickness and brokenness. We all have only one body that is given to us on this side of eternity. We are one person with three parts: body, soul, and spirit. We must care for all three parts of our being as we live in this broken world. I believe care for the temple is one of the most overlooked and under taught topics in the western church. If we believe in Jesus, we must hunger after shalom, which means wholeness or peace, in every area, including physical health. Nagging physical problems are very prevalent in our society. Joint pain, inflammation, brain fog, coughs, colds, and so forth. In facing ailments, we must first recognize that God has designed our bodies to be incredibly resilient and to be able to heal themselves if we give them the proper context to do so. So, practically speaking, give your bodies the best opportunity to heal. Look at what you are eating and drinking. Are you eating real foods or food-like products? Are you drinking enough water or consuming nothing but sodas and alcohol? Are you staying away from foods that cause inflammation? Then, make sure you are moving your bodies. Find ways to get your heart rate up, to stretch, and to strengthen yourself. Some of the "experts" I have read say that 20-30 minutes of walking per day can go a long way in keeping the body healthy. After taking inventory of your rhythms, we must all realize that sooner or later, each one of us will die. The statistics are concrete. 1 out of 1 person will die! So you must walk confidently in Christ, believing that your sins are forever forgiven and death holds no power over you. Paul said that to live is Christ and to die is gain. You will conquer death and walk in victory if your life is in Christ and Christ is in you! You will live in a perfect resurrection body, forever healed, and forever glorifying your Savior. So you should never fear death (1 Corinthians 15)! Now, live in peace. Pursue shalom. Enjoy every second with family and friends. Live every moment in Christ, the lover of your soul. Forgive quickly. Love deeply. Then, as this body ages and becomes weaker, you will simply find yourself looking forward to your eternal resurrection body! Today's Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove fear of health issues and replace it with SHALOM…wholeness for my health (John 14:27).

by David Chadwick Financial problems are another real angst in people's lives. I would say that financial problems are typically what I would call a fruit issue more than a root issue. Usually the problems arise because of something going on at a deeper heart level. It could be worry, bad stewardship, lack of personal responsibility and discipline, fear, laziness, or just a pure attack from the enemy. Whatever the root issue is, debt and financial tensions can really overwhelm the human heart! Did you know that financial problems are mentioned in the Bible—especially in the book of Proverbs? Clearly God knew that we would need guidance in this area. As a side note, if financial management is something that you are struggling with, I would strongly encourage you to seek out people who are trained to help in this area. Our church offers this kind of financial help through one of our elders, Michael Ballard. I know many other churches who offer this as well. Here are a few practical tips. First, you must be aggressive in budgeting and self-control. List your income and assets. Then your debts. Be really honest with yourself. After that, create a plan to get rid of debt and start to build up savings. You may have to downsize some areas of your life like unnecessary shopping or dining out. You must determine not to let debt be your God! Secondly, giving helps! The tithe has been found to be an enemy of debt and financial mismanagement. Malachi 3:8-10 and Luke 6:48 seem to suggest that generosity opens the windows of heaven for GOD to supply you with his abundance as you attack the debt problems in your life. As my wife loves to say, "Sow a seed to your need!" Something happens when you sacrifice in your greatest place of pain. Surrender always paves the way for salvation and miracles. Here is the bottom line: God wants to be God in your life. When you feel a desire to be generous, God doesn't want you to first ask the god of debt if you are allowed to be generous. Be persistent and remain committed to kill the god of debt in your life. It really can be done! We have seen it! It may take time, energy, and discipline but the end result of being out of debt makes the fight so worth it! Today's Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove financial problems and replace it with ABUNDANCE to be able to freely give to those around me (Proverbs 11:24).

by David Chadwick Unresolved anger is our seventh burden that was laid at the foot of the cross during our Service of Darkness at Moments of Hope Church. This is a big one. Hurts and pains over the years can pile up and greatly impact the human heart. When things happen in our past that aren't yet solved or resolved, they can haunt us. So what do we do? For me, I have learned that I must begin with the fact that God allowed or permitted the pain to come to me. He is bigger than my circumstances! Even Satan in Job 1 had to ask permission from God to attack Job, who was God's special servant. Satan is a creature. God is the creator. Nothing can happen outside of God's control and perfectly ordained plan. Look at Luke 22. The same truth applies. Satan had to ask Jesus for permission to sift Peter like wheat. And Jesus granted it. This can be a hard truth to grapple with, but if you sit in it long enough, I believe you will find solace that there is a sovereign hand forming and shaping each step of the story for our good and God's glory. God's providence rules all. So, with painful memories and unresolved hurt, I often ask Jesus things like, "Why did you permit this? What are you trying to show me? What do I need to learn? How do you want to conform me more to your image and likeness?" I go on to look for areas of confession and repentance. I may ask him, "Do I need to confess arrogance or pride? Are there places in my life that need to be submitted to you once again?" Then I seek to search my heart for times in my life when I may have hurt others the way that I am feeling hurt. I become reminded of when Jesus flooded my heart with his undeserved grace and mercy to heal my sins. Then I try to extend that same grace and mercy to others. Finally, I try to see the good that's come out of the situation or hurt. And then thank God for it all. Healing grace, over time, helps heal unresolved anger. Did you know that only one consonant, the letter "d" separates anger from danger? As we learn to release our anger to God, we become enveloped by the love and safety of the Father. For the sake of our eternal souls, we must release all of our pain and unresolved anger into the hands of our loving, gracious, kind, and merciful and good Daddy in heaven. Today's Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove the danger of unresolved anger and replace it with the safety of FORGIVENESS (Matthew 6:14).

by David Chadwick Stress is one of the most common emotions mentioned in our society. Everyone seems so stressed out these days. Our modern society runs at a pace that often feels frantic, chaotic, and overly busy. The pressures of life pile and pile until people feel paralyzed by the weight of the world. They come at us from all directions: job, finances, family, and friends, etc. Let me share with you one of the statements that has guided me through so many stresses over the years: God is God and I am not and most of my problems come when I get those two things confused. In fact, Twila Paris sang a song back in the 90s called "God is in Control." I would encourage you to go listen to it and remind yourself of this truth! Only when you truly understand the sovereignty of God can you fully release the stress in your life. He really is in control. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God." This is step one. Hush. Be still. Quiet yourself. And really pause and KNOW that God is God. Not only is this verse true, but all of the verses in Scripture are active and alive and available to you today (Hebrews 4:12). God loves you and is in complete control of HIS world. Why start to worry now? Memorize Scripture so that when the stresses of life come, which they inevitably will, you can repeat back to yourself what is true as dark thoughts begin to creep into your mind. Finally, cast all of your cares back onto Jesus! 1 Peter 5:7 says that we are to cast our cares on the Lord because he cares for us. Then, contemplate the cross. It's the most compelling evidence of God's love. When stressful thoughts try to invade your mind, identify them, take them captive and make them obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). After that, you must cast any stress back onto Jesus's strong, mighty, sovereign shoulders. Remind him that he promised to carry all of these burdens for you (Matthew 11:28-30). And then pause and feel the weight come off of you as the peace that surpasses understanding guards your heart and mind. You are meant to have a load that is easy and a burden that is light. He is the one who promises to carry all of our problems! Today's Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove my stress and replace it with PEACE (Colossians 3:15). ___________ For more insight on today's topic check out Moving Beyond Anxiety by David Chadwick. In his book, David shares 12 ways you can overcome life's fears and worries—all of which come straight from Scripture. Order or download your free PDF by clicking here.