A Moment of Hope

by Marilynn Chadwick When people meet my now 97-year-old dad, they often ask me, "What's his secret?" "How does your dad look so young and stay so sharp?" Daddy would be the first to tell you that part of his secret is that he had a great wife. He was married to my mom for nearly 70 years. My mother was nearly bedridden for the last ten or so years of her life. A ruptured appendix and complications from a subsequent surgery robbed a once robust grandmother of her ability to walk. Some of her ability to think and talk faded, but enough of her razor-sharp mind remained to make conversation possible, though difficult. Daddy insisted upon caring for her at home, with the help of nurses' aids to help him with wheelchair transfers and daily care. If you asked them, Mom and Dad would each say they "married up." Mom would always tell us three girls how lucky she was to find Daddy. And Dad said he was just glad his "turn in line" with the other young men who wanted to date Mom finally came. To which Mom would answer back, "Well I was hoping you would ask me out!" In her last years, Dad would look at my mom, lying in the bed after he had just brushed her hair, and say to me, "Doesn't she look pretty?" Few could imagine the daunting challenges Mom and Dad faced on a daily basis just to live at home. Dad would do all of the grocery shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry. On top of that, he would perform medical procedures for her each day. Catheters, baths, diapers. There were also occasional trips to the emergency room and hospitalizations because of infections. Dad's caregiver role began after Mom's ruptured appendix. Even then, he managed the daily cleaning of Mom's open abdominal wound for weeks after her emergency surgery. Sometimes, his bad back would flare up, but he would keep at it. In good times and hard times, Mom and Dad honored their wedding vows. That just by itself is a legacy of honor which they have passed on to David and me, to our children, and their children. A legacy of honor must be tended to and cared for so that it can grow and mature for generations to come. ___________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick …continued from yesterday Honor is sorely lacking in many of our homes. Marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate. Sadly, the percentage of wives leaving their husbands has risen dramatically. I believe this topic of honor is timely. We'd first do well to remind ourselves that at its core, honor is a biblical concept, woven throughout the pages of Scripture to characterize our relationship with God and with each other. The Bible defines honor in the most precious of terms, conveying not only value and respect, but also extreme costliness. It's sometimes used interchangeably with the word for wealth. So to honor someone is to treat that person as having the utmost worth. I, too, can use a refresher course myself in how to show my husband how special he is to me. You'd think that after over four decades of marriage, I'd have this one down. David and I have had a wonderful life together. We love and respect each other and we enjoy spending time together. We've always remained faithful to one another. But now and then, if I'm honest with myself, I've been guilty of taking my husband for granted. Maybe you have, too. The mystery and the wonder of marriage—we can let it slide past us if we're not watching. We can forget to be thankful when the familiar becomes comfortable. To honor our husbands means to recapture a little of the awe. I want to explore how to become more mindful about how to honor my husband, but also how to reclaim honor in our culture in general. From men to women and women to men. From young to old and old to young. I will share some of the practical ways I've learned to communicate to David that I truly do honor him as the most special person in my life. I will also include some valuable tips from friends in my life. My husband's father, the late Dr. Howard Chadwick, used to tell David, "The best gift you can give your children is a strong marriage." And so I remind those of you who are moms: The best gift you can give your children is to love and honor your husband. Our husbands are not simply an afterthought sandwiched in between life with kids, chores, workouts, and activities. We need to be strong, faithful, and above all, intentional if we want our marriages not just to survive but to thrive. Our marriages are worth it. So are our husbands. It's time to have an honest conversation about honor. Why does it seem to be in such short supply these days? The culture around us is groaning, desperately in need of honor. My hope is that together, we could spark a movement of honor that would spill over into a hurting and broken world. It's hard work, but the rewards are worth it. I hope you'll join me for this journey. _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick …continued from yesterday I emphasized the importance of honoring men in an editorial I once wrote for our local newspaper after the passing of the legendary University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith. Along with great basketball, Coach Smith taught his players, including my husband, much about honor. David says that next to his own father, Smith was the most significant man in his life. Though the excerpt below is primarily about men as fathers, it begs the question as to why the lack of honor toward men today: Good dads these days are hard to find. Just watch any television show. Dads are spoofed, maligned, caricatured, and generally disrespected. The message? It's just not cool to be a dad. If the same treatment were given to moms, you'd spark a revolt. But that's the nature of dads. The good ones don't whine. They don't show off. They put the needs of their families ahead of their own. And as Coach Smith modeled for us all, good dads embody self-sacrifice. In short, good dads are that reservoir of safety and unconditional love for which all kids hunger. Quite likely, they're a major factor in determining the outcome of a young person's life. The statistics aren't pretty. Kids without dads are more likely to end up pregnant out of wedlock, in prison, poor, or dead. And bad dads may be worse than no dads, leaving scars inside and outside that can last a lifetime. But I'm seeing a resurgence of dad-hunger out there. I think people today are literally dying for good dads. Perhaps Coach Smith's legacy will inspire dads to be better. Smith knew it wasn't simply about winning and losing but rather "how you play the game." His life reminds us that good guys are very cool. And just maybe, more guys will want to become good dads. Lord knows we need them. The responses to my editorial surprised me. Had I touched a nerve? Handwritten notes and emails poured in from a variety of readers—male and female, young and old. A prominent defense attorney even shared the memory of his own father, now deceased, reminiscing about what an honorable man his dad was in his eyes. A federal judge, a bank president, the local head of a government agency, a former mayor. Each told me about the honorable men in their lives. One even confided his heart's desire to be a man of honor within his own family. Several young moms, all who happened to be at home with small children, wrote in to praise their husbands for their hard work and for being such good husbands and fathers. Others posted on social media that they were challenged by my reminder to simply be thankful for the honorable men in their lives. The responses made me wonder. What has happened to honor these days? Are we a culture that's thirsty for honor? It certainly made me think… …to be continued tomorrow. ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick …continued from yesterday Whatever happened to honor? Honor is a topic that has either been grossly overvalued to the point where people are demanded to treat other humans as demi-gods or it has been undervalued to the point where disrespect and disdain is casual, flippant, and normalized. I don't know about you, but I can tell when honor is missing. To be disrespected or dishonored in some cultures around the world is so insulting that it's grounds for fighting. Some even justify the use of violence to defend one's honor or the honor of one's family. What started out as an urban slang expression for disrespect, "diss," has become so common as to transcend culture or age. Most any child can tell you what it means to diss somebody, or worse yet, to be dissed. Sadly, we live in a time when dishonor is so common that it feels almost normal. Over the years, I've noticed that honor, especially in marriage, seems to be disappearing. More than once I've overheard a group of wives criticizing their husbands to each other. Sort of a group-gripe fest. And why not? It's open season on men these days. You don't have to watch television or movies too long before you see an example of "man bashing." I find this trend disturbing. Maybe it's because I live with a servant-hearted husband who is not only the love of my life, but also my best friend. Perhaps it's because I have two grown sons and a son-in-law, all of whom are honorable young men. Or maybe it's because I grew up with a wonderful dad. For whatever reason, I'm bothered by how trendy it has become over the years to diss men, especially husbands and fathers. Seems like we've gotten too cool to appreciate the good guys anymore. I want my life to help restore the legacy of honor… …to be continued tomorrow. ______________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick My new friend began our conversation quite innocently by asking me to pray for her marriage. We were both young wives adjusting to life in a new city. I didn't know her very well, but over the next few minutes, I would learn way more than I wanted to know about her personal life. And about her husband. She launched into a litany of all the ways he had disappointed her. She then proceeded to describe in detail how far short he fell in her eyes as a man. Before too many minutes had passed, this poor guy began to fall short in my eyes as well. Many years have come and gone since that conversation. So why do I still remember it so well? Well, for one thing, I never could quite look at that guy in the same way again. His reputation, at least from my end, had been damaged by his wife's words. I made a mental note to myself to never, ever talk so casually to someone else about my husband's shortcomings. And I tried not to be on the receiving end of that kind of toxic spill again. Now please don't get me wrong. It's not that David and I don't have our own flaws or that we've never struggled in our marriage. We're human too. Marriage is hard work and forces us to come to grips with our sin and selfishness like nothing else. No doubt, there are times in life when it may be appropriate to share your marriage struggles with a good friend or a wise counselor. But it was the disrespectful picture that my friend had painted of her husband that felt so wrong. So dishonoring. And because this is a series on honor, I've been taking a long, hard look at the whole concept of honor and its importance in marriage and in our culture in general. Honor can be defined as the "value or worth we give to someone because of their good quality or character." Honor conveys dignity, honesty, and integrity. To honor someone is to treat that person with admiration or respect. Over the next two weeks, let's dig into this important topic of honor together… …to be continued tomorrow. ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

By Marilynn Chadwick Honor is not a subject you hear much about these days. If anything, we've become much more accustomed to disrespect and dishonor. The urban slang for disrespect, or "dis," has made its way into everyday language. Most any child can tell you what it means to "dis" someone. Or worse, to be "dissed." Honor. Simply put, the word means to treat someone with respect or admiration. It has to do with qualities like honesty, integrity and dignity. The biblical version of honor is much weightier. Lofty. It speaks to the precious worth of the person being honored and is related to words like glory, worship or prize. Most of us yearn to be treated with respect. We benefit not only from receiving honor but also from giving it to others. God set the bar low so that even a child can show honor. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Ephesians 6:2,3). You might call this the "the training wheels of honor" (Exodus 20:12). When children honor their earthly parents, they begin to grasp what it means to honor their heavenly Father. Perhaps it's time to recapture this age-old virtue. We can start by honoring God. But let's do so with a sense of expectancy. For God Himself makes this bold promise: "Those who honor me, I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30). In Genesis 2:18, God created us to be our husband's helper, or ezer, a source of rock-like strength and support. But we can also choose to use that ezer strength to work against our husband, robbing him of strength and confidence. I've wondered whether we've lost sight of the importance of respect. Perhaps a lack of honor could be at the core of many divorces. Honor doesn't just happen. It goes against the grain of our culture. Disrespect, on the other hand, takes very little energy. It's the path of least resistance. Honor is a narrow road. It requires strength and intentionality. I've never forgotten this tidbit of common-sense wisdom from a dear friend who had been married for over sixty years. It went something like this: "Don't be afraid to be the one who loves the most." The same could be said of honor. Don't be afraid to be the one who honors the most. As we have been learning to honor our husbands and restore honor in the home, I want to leave you with this challenge. Dare to take the first step by honoring your husband even before he honors you. ________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick "I don't enjoy going to lunch with my work friends anymore," my young friend confided over coffee. "The conversation always turns into husband bashing." Her own marriage wasn't perfect, she admitted. "I'm a very transparent person," she smiled. "So I try to be real. But I don't want to dishonor my husband. And I want my friends to know I truly love being married to him." As we talked, she came to the conclusion that it was okay for her to be honest with her friends about some of her own marriage struggles. She could share a few of the positive ways she and her husband have discovered to work through their issues. But she resolved to do this in a manner that would honor both Christ and her husband. I loved my friend's heart for her husband and for the Lord. Knowing her as I do, she'll be a winsome witness to her friends about what it means to have a godly marriage. And more importantly, what it means to follow Christ. That conversation was just one of many I've had with women of all ages while writing Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Husband. I yearn to help wives reclaim the lost art of honoring their husbands. Perhaps it's time to take a fresh look at this age-old virtue. We can start by honoring God. "Those who honor me, I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30). Then, let's explore practical ways to honor our husbands. Remember, the world is watching us. And deep down, I believe they're thirsty for honor—especially honor in marriage. The tone I set in our home when I honor my husband inspires our children to honor him and each other. It feels good to get respect. To be honored. But it also feels incredibly good to honor someone else. We find that as we give honor, we get it back. But giving honor, especially in a world which has largely forgotten this concept, doesn't come easy. It takes practice. I've learned that home is a wonderful laboratory for cultivating honor. My hope is that the culture of honor we create will spill over into the culture around us. I believe our world today is thirsty for honor. ________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick Dream big together! It's the next tip for learning to honor our husbands. I honor my husband when I share his dreams. When I work to help him accomplish his dreams, my dreams are also fulfilled. Not too long into our marriage, I realized that God's economy is different from mine. When doing things God's way, I often get back the very thing I give away. I help David reach his goals and dreams. Then he helps me reach mine. A wonderful rhythm develops. A mutuality. Together, we've also learned that when we give our life away, especially to the lost and broken of this world, God pours grace and honor back into our own lives. As you dream big and pursue adventure together, you often find heroes in the most unlikely places. Ordinary people living quiet, faithful lives—in my book, these are the real heroes. A while back, David and I adventured to our nation's capital. We met with influential men and women faithfully serving our country. We took tours of the capitol, awed by the courageous faith of our Founding Fathers. Their names are written in history—their impact will last for generations. But for me, the real hero showed up—of all places—in a taxi cab. Our driver was a gentle, friendly man with an east African accent. I noticed the prominent cross on his dashboard. He talked about his 33 years driving a cab. His three kids had all graduated from fine colleges, he boasted, with that dad-kind-of-pride. All had prestigious jobs working in DC. "You must have done some pretty good parenting," I commented. "What's your secret?" "My secret," he laughed, "is America." "In America, if you're willing to work hard, you can reach your dream." "There are some who might disagree," I replied. "Hmmm," he paused, "then they have never lived in another country." See, he had fled the severe persecution of Christians in Eritrea. He went on to say quietly, "People here don't know what it's like to not have freedom." When he was a much younger man, he had been educated as an accountant back in Eritrea. But since coming to America, he has worked as a cab driver. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. He was well past his prime. As David and I were on our own adventure as a result of dreaming big together, I knew we'd been with a true hero that day. Someone who dreamed big and provided freedom for his family. And a man of honor. _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick Peace is a priority in our home. A peaceful home refreshes and blesses the family. Today's world is busy and noisy. How can I lighten my husband's load and his heart? Help him have fun? I've learned that simple habits, like taking a day off together each week, honor him by allowing him to be refreshed. We're also intentional about family vacations. Doing so has allowed us to sustain our busy schedules. We find we can then return to the fray strengthened and with renewed enthusiasm. But sometimes, peace doesn't come without a fight. If I'm serious about "waging peace," it helps to know my enemy. You know what I have found is the quickest way to rob peace in the home? Worry. Anxiety can drain my energy and quench calm faster than just about anything. What's more, it's contagious. When the kids were small, if I became worried, they seemed to absorb my anxiety and become fretful. Worry is also exhausting. I agree with a friend who coined this acronym for W-O-R-R-Y: Worry Only Robs Rest from You. Worry says loud and clear that I don't trust God. But when I refuse to be anxious, when I trust God and remain peaceful, I create a climate of peace. I have to confess I grew up as a world-class worrier. There were times early in our marriage when fear held me in its grip. Fear of storms, fear of intruders, fear of illness, fear of flying. You name it—I probably wrestled with it. But I've learned to be ruthless. Through the promises in God's Word, lots of prayer, and putting my faith into action, I have wrestled most of my fears to the ground. I'm not completely worry-free, but I can tell you I no longer feel like a prisoner to fear. These twin invaders, fear and anxiety, can wreak havoc on a home and a marriage. God doesn't treat fear and worry as small things. He tells us to cast all your anxiety on him "because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). He commands us to "have no fear." To "be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6 NKJV). As with any stubborn problem, the first step is to confront anxiety head-on and call it out for the enemy that it is. We may find that our repentance is soon followed by times of refreshing and revival. And a peace that passes all understanding! Wage peace in the home! Don't worry! Or as I would tell my daughter Bethany as she was growing up, "It'd be better to be dead than to live in dread." I think this fight for peace honors our husbands, and makes life more fun in the process. ___________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick If you were to ask me what's the single most important thing you can do to honor your husband, I would simply say: Pray for him. Pray like you mean it. Pray like you believe God works through your prayers. And make prayer for your husband a priority. I have seen many wives' prayers encourage husbands who are already following Jesus. And I have seen prayer soften the hearts of men who have rejected God. I am mystified as to why prayer works when words fall short. I just know it does. Prayer is a weapon that can be used to usher in powerful things for your husband's life and for your life as well. Pray with confidence, knowing if you are asking for something according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14). My dear friend Jane prayed for years for her husband to accept Christ. He continued to resist the gospel. My friend was wise. She refused to nag. But she did set aside 15 minutes to pray for her husband every morning. I don't know how long Jane prayed for him. But, some time later, I watched in amazement as her husband walked forward to accept Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in our city. During the invitation, I happened to glance to my right. I was startled to see this man who had stiff-armed God! There he was, wife by his side, resolutely heading to the front of the arena where he gave his life to Jesus Christ once and for all. The ripple effect of that one influential man's devotion to Christ was powerful. The impact he had on his family and community is evident to this day. All because of the quiet witness and faithful prayers of a strong wife. Like my husband always says, "If you don't love Jesus and you have a praying wife or a praying mother, look out—you're toast!" Pray consistently. Pray fervently. Pray like you mean it. Then watch as God moves in the heart of your husband and your home. __________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick Deep within the heart of every good woman lives a warrior. Her fierce love can make even the most timid woman do courageous things. Watch out for a woman who is fighting for someone she loves. I have discovered that honoring my husband in today's culture requires me to fight for him. We have an enemy. Not just of our soul, but also of our marriage. In addition to waging a war with the devil, our battle for a strong marriage is also against our own selfish tendencies. Sometimes the best way to fight to honor our husbands is by going against the grain of our flesh. As I do this, I resist a worldly mindset that degrades and disrespects marriage. My friend Ange is from Rwanda. Gentle and soft-spoken, Ange is a shining example of a woman who honored her husband by fighting for him. Ange was in high school when the horrific Rwandan genocide broke out in 1994. She and Emanuel fled on foot. Soldiers attacked their refugee camp. Ange and Emanuel got separated as they ran for their lives. She searched frantically for him, hiding in the forest with no clean water, food, or shelter. Ange made her way to Kenya. She looked everywhere for Emanuel. Eventually she enrolled in Bible college while she continued her search. For eight years! Even her closest friends tried to persuade Ange to accept that Emanuel was dead—and to remarry. But Ange sensed the Holy Spirit was whispering to keep on fighting and to believe that Emanuel was still alive. Her lifeline became, "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame" (Romans 5:3-5). While listening to a radio program which helped find missing family members after the war, she heard the amazing news that Emanuel was alive. "It was like a dream!" she exclaimed. "I stayed up all night praising and thanking God!" After eight long years, Ange and Emanuel were finally reunited—all because of a wife who kept fighting for her husband. I can best fight for my husband and honor our marriage most powerfully by fighting my flesh and by interceding for him in prayer. Choose to do the same. The fight is worth it! ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick "Let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Ephesians 5:33). I have been inspired by what the Bible teaches us about honor. As a result, I have tried to be more intentional about showing honor to David. However, I've come face to face with an important realization: Honor demands far more from me than simply submission. Please understand. I fully appreciate submission in marriage as part of the biblical framework of love and respect. But to truly honor my husband, I have to set the bar much higher than submission. Honor requires self-sacrifice. Humility. It challenges me to bridle not just my words, but also my thoughts. It makes me bite my tongue. Honor confronts me with my sin. It forces me to see everything that gets in the way of me giving my best. I can choose to build up my husband or to break him down. This plays out with the words I speak to him and the words I speak about him. I must use my words to encourage his leadership to flourish within our family. For example, the words I speak to our children influence what they think about their dad. Same with outsiders. Careless words can tarnish his reputation in the eyes of others. Proverbs 14:1 reminds us that a wise woman "builds her house," but a foolish one "tears it down." As wives, we sometimes forget the weight our words carry. Showing respect is vital to any healthy marriage. But when it comes to honoring our husbands, it helps to understand that no two marriages or men are exactly alike. Words and actions that make my husband feel honored and respected might go right over the head of your husband. But this truth is consistent, if I want to honor David, I have to become honorable myself. Same holds true for you. So in this way, honor conforms all of us to the image of Christ. Honor requires a strong walk with the Lord. I guess you could say that to truly honor my husband, I must give my best to cultivate a heart of honor. Honor, even more than submission, is an imposing benchmark. It's a sublimely powerful target. For if I take aim and hit the bullseye of honor, I am probably covering all the other virtues that make for a strong marriage. Honor him by giving him your best! ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick Honor may be best expressed through word and deed, but it begins in my mind. What I think about my husband determines whether my words and actions will honor him. In fact, what we believe about our husbands can make or break our marriages. We must believe the best. For me, this means that as a wife, I value and respect David, believing in him even more than he believes in himself. I can choose how I think about my husband. Either with a lens of criticism and cynicism or with a lens of respect and honor. Do I respect him? Appreciate him? Do I focus on his strengths and downplay his weaknesses? Do I take time to reflect on the many ways he sacrifices for our family? Am I there for him to support and strengthen him, especially when he feels weak? In short, am I thankful for him? Over the years, I've noticed a common theme in the marriages I've grown to admire. The spouses seem to be intentional about interpreting each other in a positive light. The wives speak about their husbands with respect. The husbands find ways to honor their wives. It's clear they treasure and appreciate their partner. In short, they believe the best about each other, and it shows. Turns out there's some research to back up this observation. Author and longtime Gallup poll associate Marcus Buckingham surveyed thousands of married couples to discover the traits at the core of good marriages. He found something intriguing. The common thread running through happy marriages was this: In the most successful marriages, each partner rated the other person higher than that person rated him or herself. Choose to honor. Make the intentional decision to be transformed by renewing your mind (Romans 12:2). Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Believe the best about your husband and watch as honor increases in your marriage. ___________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick It's important to understand honor as a biblical concept, shedding light on our God-given roles as husband and wife. In college, I was an atheist with strong feminist leanings. After I became a follower of Christ, it was God's Word which opened my eyes to His beautiful and somewhat mysterious plan for marriage. Everything God created was good. But He looked at Adam and said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." Something was missing. So God said: "I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). God created woman from man—from his same substance: "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs …Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man…" (Genesis 2:20-24). Marriage was God's gift to humanity. Eve was Adam's companion, but the Bible also calls her his helper. In Hebrew, "helper," or ezer, means "to support." It's a combination of two roots: "to rescue, to save," and "to be strong." The word ezer in the Bible most often refers to God as the helper, usually in times of danger or battle. Are you an ezer to your husband? The word ezer is also closely related to the word for rock. I honor David when I'm strong like a rock in my walk with the Lord. Strengthen your heart with the Word of God, prayer, spiritual disciplines, and biblical community. In the process, I hope you'll see that being a strong woman of God, while also submitting to your husband's spiritual leadership, go hand in hand. As wives, we respond best to our husbands' spiritual leadership when we trust God and his design for our marriage. When you grasp what it means to be an ezer, you begin to get an image of your role as a rock, not a doormat. Your challenge is to become strong so that you are a source of strength for a husband who will sometimes be weak. I've learned that an important part of showing honor to a strong husband like David is to be his "rock of support" when everything around him feels like it's crashing down. Think about what it means to be strong like a "rock" for our husbands, families, and communities. Lord knows we need more women who are willing to live strong as ezers in this hurting and broken world. ___________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by Marilynn Chadwick What is honor and why is it important? To honor someone is to treat them with admiration or respect. Honor conveys dignity, honesty, and integrity. Several years ago my husband's beloved college basketball coach, North Carolina's legendary Dean Smith, passed away. Next to his own father, David says Coach Smith was the most significant man in his life. Even superstar Michael Jordan called Coach Smith his "second father." Why? Because along with great basketball, Coach Smith taught his players about life. When I first met my basketball player-turned-preacher husband, I was a University of Georgia girl and a die-hard football fan. Basketball, not so much. But I loved David, and I grew to love basketball. Soon after we got married, Coach Smith sent me a handwritten note welcoming me to the "Carolina Family." He always remembered my alma mater and my college major. He knew our children by name. Seriously. Who does that? After Coach Smith's passing, I was able to write an editorial honoring my husband's legendary basketball coach. Responses to my article, some from well-known leaders in our community, caused me to wonder if our culture is thirsty for honor. Public reaction to Dean Smith's passing seemed to convey a nostalgic yearning for role models, for dads, for men of honor. In fact, a prominent defense attorney in our community sent me a handwritten note sharing how his own dad had been such an honorable man. A federal judge and a bank president both weighed in on the subject of honor. Young moms wrote to tell me about their "amazing husbands" and vowed to be more intentional to honor them. Had I touched a nerve? Maybe it's because honor is lacking in our homes. Families today are in trouble. Studies show that 70% of divorces are now initiated by women. Honor was God's idea in the first place—especially in marriage. No wonder we're thirsty for this sometimes-forgotten virtue. What would happen if we sparked a movement of honor in our homes, our communities, and our world? Over the next two weeks, we will explore honor from a biblical point of view; specifically addressing wives. I want to give every wife 8 practical tips on how you can begin to honor your husband and create a culture of honor in your home. My dream is that together, we really could see a movement of honor that would spill over into a hurting and broken world. ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick Remember the definition of honor: "to regard with great respect, to prize, to admire, to give special recognition, to demonstrate high respect or great esteem for someone." What a rich and powerful word! I have spent the past two weeks giving husbands tools for how they can honor their wives. We wrap up our journey today. I pray these "8 Greats" give you practical ways to interact with your wife and bring honor into your marriage. By the way, next week Marilynn will do the same with you wives: 8 Great ways to honor your husbands. We see the theme of honor interwoven throughout the Bible (Exodus 20:12, Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 3:7). It is clearly important to the heart of the Father. Let's look back on the "8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife." Trust Her Gut Be a Man of God Encourage Her Gifts Respect Her Opinion Ask This Question Often: "How is Your Heart?" Share Your Heart Be a Guardian and Gardener Use Words Wisely I believe that if you lead the way and start to put these tools into practice, you will see a culture of honor increase in your marriage and your family. Romans 12:10 says, "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." It's the one place in the Bible where we are called to compete with one another: in giving honor! Imagine what will happen if you and your wife begin to try and outdo one another in honor. Love will increase. The home will get healthier. Jesus will be glorified. The goal of marriage is to see two very different, unique, special individuals become one. As two become one, biblical marriage becomes the most beautiful reflection of the love between Jesus Christ and the bride. Let's reclaim honor in our marriages! It is essential to accomplishing this goal of two becoming one and seeing the Gospel of Jesus displayed through our lives. _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick Marilynn and I have coined what we call "8 Greats" for different areas of our lives that require practical, biblical wisdom. We are spending two weeks looking at 8 great ways husbands can honor their wives. Husbands, today's tool is this: use words wisely! Words are powerful. Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." Words can do damage or they can bring healing (Proverbs 12:18). In fact, Proverbs 16:24 says, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." I want to see a generation of men rise up who know how to rightly use their words. To be wise voices who bring perspective and healing. Do you remember hearing the ridiculous phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"? What a lie! Words hurt. They sting. And are long remembered. Speak words of life to your beloved. Things like, "I am so honored to be your husband." Then, say this publicly before others and it will really get you brownie points. Tell her, "I am never leaving you." "Thank you for marrying me." "I am so grateful for all you do for me." If you have never said anything like this before to your bride, try it today! Take one or two of these examples I have given you and use them. Watch what happens! Where you have felt distance, there will be closeness. Where disappointments have been commonplace, hope will return. Then watch as you two become one! _________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick Husbands, I am spending these two weeks focused on you. I want you to walk away with 8 great, practical ways to honor your wives and help your marriage be all that God wants it to be. We live in a world where marriages are falling apart. But God has given us tools to cultivate strong and lasting marriages. He wants to see healthy homes that are glorifying God together! Here is today's tool for you, husbands: Be a guardian and a gardener. You are a GUARDIAN. Called by God to protect your home from evil influences. From people to social media to television shows to movies to music, there are destructive forces in the world that want to destroy your family and defile the name of God. You must ask yourself regularly, "Does this bring glory to God the Father or does it curse his name?" If it doesn't praise Jesus and bring glory to the Father, call it out and cut it off! Lukewarm Christianity is not acceptable in God's eyes. In fact, Revelation 3:15 says, "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." God is very serious about holiness. As the guardian of your home, husbands, build and walk your family's wall. Watch for danger. Make sure it's protected at all times. When something is not right, speak up! Fight for your family's health and safety. And give your wife the freedom to do so as well. You are also a GARDENER. Sprinkle healthy nutrients into your family's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Tend to the needs of each person's heart. Make sure grace is in place. Make sure love conquers all. Forgive. Ask for forgiveness. Speak words of encouragement and hope. Show a spirit of perseverance. Be the spiritual leader of your home. What does this mean? Simply initiate spiritual health and wholeness in your home. Initiate prayer. Lead the way in having your family worship together both in the home and at church. And as your wife sees you doing this, she will feel honored and you'll become one! _________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick We are looking at 8 great ways husbands can honor their wives. I want every husband to have a large assortment of tools that he can use to strengthen closeness with his wife. Today's tool: share your heart! As you practice asking yesterday's question to your beloved, "How is your heart?" make sure you share your heart with her as well. There is nothing that a wife hates more than to feel like she is being transparent with a husband who seemingly doesn't struggle with a thing. Husbands, don't stuff your feelings. It's not good for you, it's not good for your health, it's not good for your marriage. It stifles honor! Genesis 2:18 says, "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a helper fit for him.'" The word here for helper is "ezer." Your wife is designed to be your helper. But she can't be that for you if you don't let her. Tell her what you need. Expect her to respond with help. You two are meant to complement each other. The Bible is full of verses that speak to the power of two and of living out the Gospel with another. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow." Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." You two are stronger together than you are apart. Ask her to share her heart. Share yours. Pray for one another. Yes, even if it feels uncomfortable. Nothing is easy when you first begin, but over time you will find it much easier to share with one another and pray for each other. And the most amazing reality will occur; the two become one! _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick I am sharing "8 Greats" for how you, husbands, can honor your wives. Each day, I am giving men a new tool for your toolbox. God wants to give you simple solutions. We know this because Jesus says in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." If this is true, which we know it is, then we have to take him at his word. He came to set captives free (Isaiah 61:1). Here is today's tool. Ask your wife this question often: "How is your heart?" After all, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life." Everything flows from your heart. If your heart is broken or crushed, it will affect the rest of your life. Jesus furthers this teaching in Mark 7:20-23. He knew that what is inside a person will ultimately be what defiles them. "Evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness." Husbands, you may very well be the instrument God uses to unclog the well of your wife's heart by asking this simple question. Try to figure out what is going on in your beloved's heart. It may take some time, but remember, she is worth it. Listen to what she says. Take note. Then spend time together praying into what she shares. Pray Scripture over her that aligns with where her heart feels broken or crushed. Is coveting stuffed inside? Read Psalm 90:14. Envy? Try Proverbs 14:30. Slander? Read Proverbs 16:24. And so on and so forth. This will wash her with the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26). Asking this question, "How is your heart?" and responding with tenderness and the truths of God's word will honor your wife. It will draw you two closer together as one flesh: the goal of all marriage! ___________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick We are taking two weeks to look at 8 great ways that husbands can honor their wives. When honor is in the foundation of a marriage, God is honored. Both people thrive. And the family gets healthier. In God's original intent for marriage, a husband and wife become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). A reflection of his nature and character occurs. A demonstration of the love Jesus has for the church - his bride. Because a husband and wife are one flesh, God often uses a wife to speak into his will for the husband. A wife's insights are to be heard and cherished. The tool for today: respect her opinion. Wives need to be heard, honored, and respected. A wife's voice should be valued and prized. She, too, is made in the image of God and carries perspectives of his heart. You, as a husband, are called in Ephesians 5:25-27 to love your wife. To give yourself up for her. To cleanse her by giving her a consistent depiction of Jesus. I once told my wife Marilynn, "I'd be wiling to die for you." She quickly responded, "That's great! Just make sure you also are willing to live for me as well." Great point! Husbands should listen to what their wives have to say and consider their suggestions. This will help her feel loved. There are many different ways to say, "I love you" to your wife with more than mere words. Sometimes it's through loving touch. Other times by listening to her heart and dreams. It's by building memories and having fun together. And, at times, it's by respecting her opinion. Choose to seek out her opinion and respect it. Value it. Cherish it. Ask her for it. On matters great and small. If what she is suggesting aligns with what is the obvious right thing to do, do it. This is a great way to increase closeness, intimacy and oneness. _______________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick I want to see biblical manhood reflected in the church. I want husbands to know how to honor their wives, creating strong marriages. I want to see strong, healthy families who love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. I believe a strong family starts with a strong marriage. And a strong marriage starts with humble men who know how to honor their wives. We are looking at 8 great ways for husbands to develop a culture of honor with their wives. Here is the next tool: encourage her gifts! Your wife has a call from God that he has given her to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10). There is a call from God inside of her that only she can do. It is different from yours. Help her find out what that work is. Then, help her do it. Study her. Watch what she loves to do. Ask her what she loves to do. Maybe start with some simple questions like, "What brings you life?" or "What sucks the life out of you?" Then take some time to dream with her. See what God has put inside of her. And then help her accomplish it. For example, my wife Marilynn loves to learn. I have always known that. So, when she approaches me with opportunities for further learning and study, I want to do whatever I can to support her in making that happen! In the 1980s, I watched her earn a Masters in Counseling from a local university. Within the last year, she received a Master's in Christian Practice from Duke University – and, yes, summa cum laude in both degrees (I'm bragging, but so proud!). I have also loved seeing her use these gifts in teaching, which is her primary passion. Husbands, as you set your wife up to win and encourage the flourishing of her gifts, it helps you become closer and closer. And yet another tool to foster honor and for two to become one! _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick A toolbox packed full of different tools gives someone the confidence to step into a variety of situations and bring a solution. If you only have a "hammer" and you find a situation that needs a "screwdriver," you will not get very far. Over the next two weeks, we are exploring 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife. I want to give you, husbands, tools to strengthen your marriage. My prayer is that God strengthens your marriage as you put these "8 Greats" into practice in your home. Today's tool: be a man of God! This is an absolute must for all husbands. You are to be an earthly example of Jesus to your bride. True biblical manhood is a blend of tough and tender. In the Bible, David is referred to as a man after God's own heart. A humble worshiper and a valiant warrior. A beloved shepherd and a giant slayer. As you strengthen your relationship with Jesus, growing in your biblical manhood, your wife will trust you more and more. Your daily pursuit of God will bring honor to her. She will want to honor you as you honor Jesus. In turn, your marriage will bring honor to the Lord. When a husband's faith is lived out in the home as a humble worshiper, a forgiven forgiver, and a strong leader with bridled power (Galatians 5:25), the wife will experience the blessing of his pursuit of Jesus. A wife can easily appreciate and honor a husband who lives under the control of the Holy Spirit, who crucifies the lusts of the flesh, who is self-controlled, and who lives a disciplined life. This is also so important in seeing a man and a woman become one. ____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

by David Chadwick I want to teach you principles for developing biblical love and honor within a marriage. I love pithy statements that help to easily remember things. Marilynn and I have found the term "8 Great" to be a very easy way to remember Godly principles for different areas of life. Over the next two weeks, I want to share 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife. Each day, I am going to give you, husbands, a new tool that you can put in your tool belt. Different situations require different tools and my prayer is that you will become more equipped to lead and love your wife with HONOR. Here is the first tool: trust her gut! It's almost as if wives have been given an early warning radar system by God. They can sense danger for their husbands from a mile away. Genesis 2:24 says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." As two become one, a wife's heart increasingly feels for her husband's heart. And wants his heart to be completely protected. I have so many examples of times I can look back on and see that Marilynn was exactly correct in her intuitions about certain situations and people. If I had listened to her more carefully, I could have avoided some pain. My Marilynn's prayer walk is deep and rich. I can trust she is hearing God's voice (John 10:27). And like God, I know she is FOR me (Romans 8:31). Husbands, listen to your wife. Honor her warnings. It will greatly aid in you both becoming one. __________________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

Honor. Such a powerful word. To honor is defined as this: "to regard with great respect, to prize, to admire, to give special recognition, to demonstrate high respect or great esteem for someone." In historical biblical culture, the word "honor" carried tremendous weight. Even today, there are cultures around the world that place a high value on honor. In God's original intent, honor is a tool to bestow on one another, to bless, to prefer someone else over ourselves. Unfortunately, in the modern American Christian culture, people seem to gravitate to one of two extremes regarding honor. It's either overused or missing in action, not used at all. Neither extreme is biblical. Biblical honor does not demand artificial respect to cover up someone's deeper insecurities or evil agendas. Biblical honor does, however, create an atmosphere of respect, rooted in the Word of God, where leadership is revered and everyone can flourish. From the call to honor parents in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) to Paul's desire that all Christians honor one another (Romans 12:10) to husbands commanded by Peter to honor their wives (1 Peter 3:7), honor is interwoven throughout all of Scripture. For the next two weeks, we are going to look specifically at how husbands can and should honor their wives. If you are single, take notes and begin to train your mind and your heart, even now, with things that could bless a future marriage. If you are married, start to put these principles into practice in your daily lives. The goal is for two to become one (Genesis 2:24). And honor is a great tool God has put in the hands of husbands to help this take place. _____________ This series is adapted from the book, 8 Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick. To download your free PDF copy of this book, please visit our website by clicking here!

Faithful friends are hard to come by and the ones you find are worth keeping. Paul had a faithful friend named Epaphroditus who he describes in detail in Philippians 2:25. I pray that Paul's description helps to show you what characteristics to look for in your friendships. Epaphroditus was a brother, a fellow worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger. And today we will look at the fifth and final characteristic where Paul calls Epaphroditus "your minister to my needs" (verse 25). Epaphroditus was a minister of the church at Philippi, sent to Paul in a Roman prison to meet his needs. Please note that Epaphroditus did not come with what he thought Paul needed. He had not made a predetermined list of what he believed Paul should have. He went to Rome in humility to find out from Paul what his actual needs were. Then he committed to try and meet them. That's what good and close friends do. They come to you and listen. They try to hear your heart and then meet your needs. They do not have an agenda for your life. They want to see you succeed and thrive. In fact, one of Paul's teachings in Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs." Good friends don't come and pontificate or preach. They come to listen. Sometimes you don't even need to say anything! You listen. Then respond. This was Epaphroditus to Paul. He was a minister of Jesus who was sent by the Philippian church to care for Paul's needs. But first he understood them. He even risked his life in coming to serve Paul (verse 29). But that's how much he loved Paul. How we all need friends like this!

Faithful. This word is defined as "steadfast in affection or allegiance, loyal, constant, devoted." Paul describes his faithful friend Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. He uses five terms to describe him. A brother. A fellow worker. A fellow soldier. And today's description: your messenger! Paul calls Epaphroditus in these verses "your messenger" (verse 25). The Philippian church sent him to encourage Paul with a gift. We don't know what the gift actually was but their message must have helped Paul feel encouraged in his prison trial. How do you strengthen a friendship? Become a messenger! Being the bearer of encouragement helps you become a faithful friend. Give someone hope. Send someone a Bible verse. Write out a prayer. Or maybe send a text of hope. Even better, a handwritten note! Send him or her a song that will be encouraging. Or maybe go out and buy a gift. Ask the Lord to show you what your friend needs. A book? A devotional? A key chain? Or get even more creative. Maybe you read an encouraging story that reminds your friend. Cut it out and send it to him or her! AND then if you really want to go the extra mile, deliver it to him or her personally! Tell your friend, "I was thinking of and praying for you and this came to mind. I pray it gives you hope." These are things that people have done for me over the years and each time it happens, it helps me! It encourages my soul just like it did for Paul! Being a messenger of hope will draw you closer and closer to your friend and encourage his or her heart. Messengers who come to us personally in times of need become great and close friends. Be that kind of friend to someone today!

Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Do you know what I have found to create the deepest of bonds between faithful friends? Even more than being a brother or a fellow worker? Someone who is a fellow soldier! It is the third term Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. A faithful friend who is a fellow soldier understands that we are at war. There is a battle raging for souls until Jesus returns. A fellow soldier counts the cost of what is happening and sees the eternal victory. A fellow soldier is poised and ready for battle. A fellow soldier identifies enemies and threats and seeks to protect those around them. These traits make for a truly faithful friend. Interestingly, Epaphroditus became ill while visiting Paul in the Roman prison. We don't know exactly what the disease was, but it was serious. It almost cost Epaphroditus his life! But God had mercy on him (verse 27) and spared him. Nothing will draw you closer to another than to go through a huge crisis together. And fight together for the victory. Epaphroditus cared for Paul in prison, not knowing if he was going to die and Paul cared for Epaphroditus in a near death illness, not knowing if he was going to die. They both learned how to fight for one another and contend for a breakthrough! The fight against evil in this world is real. When you battle together with someone in spiritual warfare, fighting against the wiles of the enemy, and eventually overcome the problem, you tend to remain close to that person forever. Look at people in your church as your "fellow soldiers." Recognize that you are in a war. And as you fight and win together, you might just find another faithful friend!

Faithful friends are hard to come by! They are the rare ones who weep when you weep and rejoice when you rejoice (Romans 12:15). They bear your burdens (Galatians 6:2). They challenge you to grow out of your sin and move into righteousness (Proverbs 27:6). Paul had a faithful friend named Epaphroditus. He described him very intentionally in Philippians 2:25. First, as a brother. And secondly as "my fellow worker." What does this mean? As a fellow worker, both Paul and Ephaphroditus both shared in the common labor of loving and serving Christ. They worked together first in Philippi and then as Paul was in a prison in Rome. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." James 2:17 says, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Ephesians 2:10 says that we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works." Clearly work and actions are really important to God. And having a friend on the same page to work with and to work for the Lord makes for a special friendship! When you are working with someone on a common mission to serve Jesus, it draws you closer together. That's why sports teammates often remain friends for life. In some cases, they only play together for a few years in college (like I did with my UNC teammates), but they end up being friends forever. The common game trials and experiences draw the team together for life. Paul and Epaphroditus labored together to plant the Philippian church. To reach souls for Jesus. To serve the needy. These experiences bonded them for life. Get involved in a church. Find a project that brings people to faith in Jesus. Or serves the needs of the poor. Or cares for the sick. You will surely develop "my fellow worker" relationships, friendships that will last forever because you have labored together for the kingdom!

How many of you have a faithful friend? Someone who loves you, champions you, and desires God's best for your life. Or maybe you are blessed enough to have two, three, or even more! Faithful friends are hard to come by and can only be proven through seasons of both trials and victories. The apostle Paul had a friend like this. His name was Epaphroditus and you'll find their story in Philippians 2:25-30. Paul described him in verse 25 as his "brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need." Epaphroditus came from Philippi to bring Paul a gift of encouragement when Paul was in prison, most likely in Rome, around 62 AD. Paul genuinely loved and respected Epaphroditus. Paul used five terms to describe their friendship, the first one being "my brother" (Philippians 2:25). A faithful friend feels almost like a family member, and in some cases can even be better than a family member! Although not biologically related, upon their salvation, Epaphroditus and Paul shared the same royal blood lineage of Jesus. My family brother, Howard, was a dear friend for years until he passed away a couple of years ago. Our family connection made us naturally close. But his love for Jesus was what made our connection especially impactful. It was our royal blood connection that made our love for one another even deeper and something that will last for eternity. Paul and Epaphroditus did not have the same family, but they shared a common love and commitment to Jesus. They were members of the family of God. They both knew God as their "Daddy" in heaven. We all need an Epaphroditus! Friends in the church like he was to Paul. Brothers and sisters in Christ who can spur us on as we run this race. With God as our Daddy, Jesus as our big brother, the family of God is the most powerful agent of hope to the world! When you have a friend like Epaphroditus was to Paul, you have a friend indeed!

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website. by David Chadwick We have looked at some hidden heroes from the Bible this week. People who are probably not as known, but had a significant impact on the storyline of the Bible. But I want to wrap up this week with another couple of bad guys. These are two individuals who tried to thwart all of the good in God's story. Yet, in spite of their efforts, God was still able to work it out for his good. Zimri and Cozbi. Two bad guys who were enemies to God's heroes. Their story is found in Numbers 25. On the way to the Promised Land, the Midianites tried to entice the Israelites toward adultery and sexual infidelity. They began to worship the gods of Baal. Satan has known for all of time that if you can't destroy a nation from the outside, through invasion, then destroy them from within. Destroy their values. Morals. Principles. And that is exactly what the Midianite women did with the Israelite men. A man from Israel named Zimri and a woman from the Midianites named Cozbi openly flaunted their sin among the Israelites. They even went into Zimri's tent right next to the tabernacle, to sleep with one another. Phinehas, who had a zeal for God's holiness and righteousness, was so fed up with the open defilement against God's laws that he went in and killed them both. He was actually rewarded by God for his holy fervor with a perpetual priesthood because he practiced God's righteousness and holiness. I find it interesting that God openly named these two godless sinners. Don't let it shock you. All of our names are either written in God's book of life or not. Every name in the world is known by God. And those who sin without being forgiven by Jesus will have a public reading of their names one day in judgment. It's a sobering thought for all to consider! Is your name in the Lamb's book of life? Don't wait to surrender your life to Jesus. When he saves you, you become one of his favorites and as he writes your name in the Lamb's book of life, you are forever forgiven.

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website. by Marilynn Chadwick The "Doctrine of the Trinity" is a powerful tool to refute many heresies. Now you know why the Apostles Creed, with its strong affirmation of the Trinity, was written in the second century to combat the rise of false teaching in the early church. The scope of God's created order is a mystery too great to fathom. But in a paradoxical way, the Trinity helps us know God more intimately. In the Trinity we see the unity of the triune God—One God in Three Persons. We begin to comprehend God in relationship with the Trinity, with the world, and with us. The Trinity also helps us understand the realities behind the names of God—"God the "Father," "God the Son," and "God the Holy Spirit." The influential 13th century theologian Thomas Aquinas tells us the name "God" refers to the whole of the Trinity. Teaching the doctrine of the Trinity helps us embrace what theologians refer to as a "Trinitarian culture." The early Church developed a vibrant Trinitarian culture which influenced their reading of Scripture, their prayer life, and their worship. Simply put, the Trinity helps us understand the interplay of the Trinity. When we pray, we are praying to the Trinity. When we worship, we are worshiping the Trinity. When we witness, we are emboldened and animated by the Trinity. The Good News of the Gospel is carried forth into the world in word and deed as we learn what it means to walk in the Spirit. A Trinitarian-culture-in-action invites us to pray, study God's Word, worship, and serve God in the world. Our works should naturally flourish when this doctrine is rightly taught, contemplated, and practiced. Might we see a resurgence in the miracles of Pentecost—healings, miracles, and redeemed souls—like those which occurred in the early church and are manifested in the Global South and Far Eastern churches even today? Our cultivation of "Trinitarian wisdom" helps us better understand One God in Three Persons. A robust Trinitarian faith enlivens our understanding of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the creative and multiplying work of each—in the world, in the universe, and in our small souls. We see God is not simply a mysterious mixture of three Beings. Rather, each has a personality—separate, yet One. Prayer becomes prayer to the Trinity. We worship the Trinity. We are saved by, through, and in the Trinity. Life in the Spirit is life in the Trinity. Thoughts of a triune God slow us down. The doctrine of the Trinity prods us to humbly contemplate these matters, "too wonderful for us" (Ps 131:1; 139:6). The Trinity is a mystery, a "simple yet difficult" doctrine and one which points to realities beyond our ability to understand. We are invited to enter into the experiential knowledge of the Trinity. Aquinas called the Trinity a "gift of God" which prepares us to contemplate him in the joy of heaven. Much fruit has been born out of Trinitarian wisdom in the historical church. Might we pray for this wisdom, along with a vibrant Trinitarian culture, to become more present in ours?

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website. by David Chadwick How to wait well. It's something we all must learn when Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives. I believe as we cultivate strength in our ability to wait well, we are developing eternal qualities as we await our soon and coming Savior. Today, I want to urge you to learn to wait excitedly and expectantly! These are two adverbs that should describe our attitudes toward Jesus's Second Coming. Jesus is coming back! We must all turn our gaze toward heaven and prioritize the skill of learning how to wait well for our soon and coming King. Be excited! Why? Because when Jesus returns, he will usher in a brand new kingdom. His kingdom is unshakeable (Hebrews 12:28). It will be a place where all things will be made new. All means all! Every part of this broken, selfish, polluted world will be made new. We will live in a sinless world! And live forever. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore…" (Revelation 21:4). No more enemies! No more death! No more pain! No more heartbreak! No more betrayal! Doesn't that excite you? Be excited. But also be expectant. Jesus's return could happen any day now. Any moment. The early church theologians called it the doctrine of immanence. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). We should say every day, "Yes, Lord, I'm ready. If you come today, I'm ready." And I believe with all my heart that Jesus will be excited and expectant to meet you as well! His bride. The one he loves with all of his heart. The object of his affection. The reason he endured death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). As he greets you, I'm sure he will say to those who have placed their trust in him, "Well done!"

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website. by David Chadwick This week, I will give you five final key doctrines of the Christian faith. These truths are foundational to our faith. They are essentials. We cannot add to them or take away from them. Today we focus on glorification – the final step in our redemption after justification and sanctification (Romans 8:29-30). It's when we all receive our eternal, material, perfected, glorified bodies. They will be like ours here, but without sin, flaws, disease, and imperfections. What a glorious day that will be! The Bible says that we move from glory to glory as we are transformed to live and look more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). Ultimately, we will appear with Christ in glory one day (Colossians 3:4). As God's children, we have not yet seen what will be, but when he appears again we shall be like him (1 John 3:2). Jesus was given his glorified resurrection body after he died on the cross, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven. He was given an eternal, material, flesh and blood body. How do we know this? Because the disciples saw him after this happened. When he came to the disciples after being raised from the dead, Jesus offered Thomas the opportunity to touch his nail scarred wrists and feet. This implies he both had an eternal body and that body had scars! Could it be that one day at the wedding feast of the Lamb, Jesus will serve us with those visible scars? And we will see these scars on his body forever? Always reminding us of his grace and the price he paid for us? How special would that be! Our glorified bodies will be perfect in every way. Free from sin, decay, disease, hurt, pain, shame. Stop and imagine that for a moment! And let it prompt you to worship our risen Lord Jesus!

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website. by Marilynn Chadwick In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (ESV) It's been said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. For me, the beginning of every new year is the perfect time to launch a new habit. Forming a habit is much like an experiment. An experiment gives me permission to try something on for size. If I'm pleased with the results, I can repeat the steps. If not, I can toss it aside. Simple as that. If you were to ask me my single most important habit, I would say, hands down, it's the daily reading of Scripture. Saints of old like Charles Spurgeon and George Mueller pointed to Scripture reading as the secret to their legendary faith. They combined Scripture reading with prayer—thereby turbo-charging their prayers. Starting today, I invite you to join me for what I like to call "The 21 Day Experiment." We'll devote just fifteen minutes each day to reading one chapter from the Gospel of John. It's a good place to start, since John has exactly twenty-one chapters. This simple experiment could change your life. I know it changed mine. Many years ago, when I was a new believer, I heard about a former atheist and newspaper reporter who told of her dramatic transformation after reading the Gospel of John—as a skeptic, not as a seeker. Her story captivated me, since just one year earlier, I had been an atheist who happened to be a journalism major in college. The reporter said her "experiment" opened her eyes to the reality of Christ. Instead of confirming her conviction that the Bible was a "dead book," she became a totally devoted follower of Jesus. What's more, she challenged fellow skeptics to set aside 21 days to read John's Gospel. Miraculously, many of those same friends were also born again. I like to conduct my own version of "The 21 Day Experiment," adding a few ground rules: Set aside 15 minutes each day to prayerfully read one chapter of John's Gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to "highlight" a verse from your reading. I call this my "watchword." Write your "watchword" on a card (I use a 3x5 note card). Then list a few prayer needs on the back of the card. Simply pray that verse over each need. Find other times to reflect on the verse and pray. I keep my card handy for when I'm stuck in traffic, folding clothes, waiting in line, or going for a walk. During today's reading of Chapter 1, I noticed Jesus anew as the Creator. John writes: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3 NIV). I was also struck by references to the word "life." "In him was life and that life was the light of mankind" (John 1:4 NIV). I've decided John 1:4 will be my "watchword" today. This theme of "life" has prompted me to ponder God's astounding gift. I encourage you to stick with this experiment. Don't evaluate until the END of the 21 days. You can even say to yourself, "Well, nothing seems to be happening today, but I will postpone judging its impact until after 21 days." Over the years, without fail, each time I have repeated this 21 Day Experiment, God has spoken to me in a special way. I am praying the same will be true for you. This Moment of Hope was adapted from the book Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick. Please click here to order a copy of this book and find additional resources from Marilynn and David Chadwick.

by David Chadwick Jesus came for many reasons. From the cradle to the cross. To bring life. To destroy the works of the devil. To bring light. To judge. Finally, he came to preach the gospel! In Mark 1:38, Jesus said, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." Jesus gives us yet another reason why he "came out" of the beauty of heaven to enter the mess of this world: to preach the gospel. To preach the kingdom of God. Preaching is a valuable asset to the soul of any believer. To encourage, exhort, challenge, and strengthen. It is imperative for all who follow Jesus to find a gospel-centered and kingdom-oriented church where the preacher unabashedly preaches God's Word and truth. We are not to be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Preaching is also one of the ways that God calls lost souls to be saved. How will people know the good news of Jesus unless there are preachers willing and able to preach? Romans 10:14-15, "And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" Verse 15 goes on to say how blessed are the feet of those who proclaim the good news of the gospel. How beautiful Jesus's feet must have been! And think of missionaries who go into really hard places, where the gospel has never been preached before, risking their own lives because they know the value of eternal souls for Jesus. Their feet are immeasurably beautiful as well. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find preachers who will boldly and courageously stand before a congregation and say, "Thus says the Lord." But they are there. Find one. Settle in that body. Pray for the preacher: his protection, boldness, and commitment to Christ. And stand by him as he stands for Jesus and the preaching of the gospel. And pray for places where you, too, can proclaim the gospel. Places where you can be sent to be Jesus's voice of truth. Where your feet are beautiful as well! Jesus CAME to preach the gospel. He wants you to do the same!

by David Chadwick You can't have good news without first having bad news. You can't come to bring light unless there is darkness. Jesus came to the cradle and the cross. He came to give abundant life and to destroy the works of the devil. He came to bring light. He also came to bring judgment. This reason for Jesus's coming is a bit more solemn, but nevertheless is true and needs to be noted during the Christmas season. He could never have offered mercy without first bringing judgment. Jesus told us that his message would divide people, even family members (Matthew 10:34). Among friends. Within society and culture. Think especially of the persecuted church worldwide. It has already happened. It will continue to happen. Jesus told us it would. Look at the following Bible verses. Jesus said in John 9:39, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." And in Matthew 10:34, he says, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Jesus came to bring judgment upon this world so that the blind will see and those who think they see will become blind. What does this mean? It's referring to spiritual sight. Jesus came to open up people's spiritual eyes so they can walk in truth. He also came so that people who walk in darkness--evil and sin--will be judged. We live in a world where it seems that people get away with anything and everything that's sad, bad, and evil. But one day Jesus will bring perfect justice! As for division with family and friends, please know during this Christmas season that Jesus knew it would happen. It's one of the reasons that he came. One day, he will make all things new. He will overcome all evil. In heaven, there will be no division. Only perfect unity. In the first coming, he came in love, but in the second coming, he will come in judgment and justice. His love and judgment fit perfectly together. Until then, we have the church. The family of God on earth. And for those cast out by an unbelieving family, there's a new set of brothers and sisters in Jesus's church. That's the power of the Christmas story.

by David Chadwick "I came." This statement sets Jesus apart from all of the other religions in the world. He came and was born into a cradle so that he could reclaim victory through the cross. He came to give us life and to destroy the works of the devil. And according to John 12:46, he came into the world as light, so that whoever believes in him could come out of darkness and into his marvelous light. Jesus does not want us to walk in darkness. He wants us to walk in the light as he is in the light. Ephesians 5:8 describes those who put their faith in Jesus, "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Without Jesus's light in us, we are walking in utter darkness. Prone to sin, the lusts of our flesh drive us to pursue the stuff of this world that will never last nor satisfy. When Jesus invades our lives, our purpose becomes to glorify him every day. He gives us power to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). That power allows us to be strengthened by him for whatever we may face (Phil. 4:13). Because of his light, we can now live our lives in extended worship, praising him at all times, and knowing that praise should continually be in our mouths (Psalm 42:1). Jesus came so that we would walk in light. Not wandering in darkness, wondering the purpose of life. Not stepping in Satan's traps to kill, steal and destroy us. We now walk in hope for we know that every day of our lives belongs to him. And his light will one day lead us home to heaven. That's another reason why HE CAME from heaven to earth. Jesus Christ. The light of the world. Merry Christmas to all!

by David Chadwick Emmanual. God with us. The hope of glory. Jesus came to us when we couldn't come to him. Through Adam and Eve's rebellion, sin entered the world and separated us from God, but he came to rescue us! In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Another powerful "I came" statement made by our Savior and King. Why Jesus left heaven to come to earth. In this verse, Jesus tells us why he chose to leave the splendor of heaven to enter the squalor of this world. He wanted to give us abundant life. And, according to 1 John 3:8b, "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." By conquering the enemy, he could offer his children abundant life. On the cross, Jesus reigned victorious over sin and death. For those of us who love Jesus, the devil has lost his power over us. The blood-bought believer stands blameless and pure, unable to be accused by the wiles of the enemy. Satan, the liar, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But we now have eternal life! Where Satan steals, Jesus is the restorer of what's been stolen. Where Satan kills, Jesus gives life. Where Satan destroys, Jesus is the rebuilder of the broken walls and restores what's been destroyed. Jesus came to give us LIFE and to give it to us ABUNDANTLY. True life. In the Spirit. Joy. Peace. Purpose. Like never before. Beyond anything we could ever imagine. When you abide in Jesus, his new life flows in and through you. That's Jesus's greatest Christmas gift to all who believe in him. It's another major reason HE CAME…

by David Chadwick "I came." It's the phrase that makes the Gospel of Jesus Christ unlike any other of the world's religions. The name Emmanuel. God with us. He came. He left the splendor of heaven and chose to willingly live in the squalor, sin, and brokenness of this world. Through his life, death and resurrection, we can be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life (John 3:16). Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Jesus is the only God figure who can look at humanity and say, "I came." Let's start by going back to look at the importance of the Trinity, three distinct persons in the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Without it, the Incarnation makes no sense. Because our God is Triune, the Father sent his Son into the world, empowered with the Holy Spirit. This is an essential tenet of the Christian faith. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humanity as a whole became lost. When they willingly chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, sin corrupted mankind for generations to come. All people for all times. We ALL have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). We were conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5). At the moment of conception, we have a bent toward the same rebellion and sin that tempted Adam and Eve. Like him, we are lost in our sin and headed to hell. But God. The Father, who is just and holy, knew our condemnation. But also being rich in perfect love, chose to send his Son, Jesus into the world. The Savior of the world. The perfect and righteous Lamb of God came to seek the lost and to die on a cross to save us from our sin. Even in our sin, his great love chases us down! The cross and cradle both show us how Jesus came. Jesus first came as a baby in a manger to die on a cross, the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. The shadow of the cross will forever mark the manger. One day, he will come as a lion and his return will restore all of creation. Don't forget this Christmas why Jesus came. That he came. When realized, Christmas becomes even more beautiful and meaningful.

by David Chadwick Anna the prophetess is today's hidden hero. She is one of my favorite heroes in the Christmas story. Like Simeon, Anna's story is also found in Luke 2, starting in verse 36. I love that God chose to give such a significant role of prophetess to a woman like Anna. She is another devout character in the Christmas story who heard from the Lord and spoke truth in the temple area. Anna was the daughter of Phanuel. He must have been a Godly man to produce such a wonderful woman like Anna. The Bible describes her as being "advanced in years." She married as a virgin and lived with her husband for seven years until he died. She then spent the rest of her life as a widow until the age of 84. After her husband died, Anna spent all of her time in the temple, "worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day" (Luke 2:37). Anna was in the temple when Simeon blessed Jesus. Upon hearing of the Messiah's birth, Anna "began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). She, like Simeon, began to give thanks to God. Anna must have known in her spirit that the Messiah had arrived! Anna was thrilled to speak about Jesus to all who would listen to her that this baby Jesus was the one who would bring redemption to Jerusalem. The hidden heroes of the Christmas story make the story come more alive for me. None of them knew what a significant role they would play in the coming of Jesus. They weren't seeking the spotlight. In fact, some of them, like Adam, really messed up. But the grace of God's story is evident in them all. None of these characters were perfect, but they made themselves available to God to be used by him. As for Anna, she was humble and servant-hearted. Kind and gentle. And God used her mightily to advance his kingdom. Like all of these hidden heroes, God used each of them so powerfully to help tell the greatest story ever told. A story we all get to be a part of even today!

by David Chadwick Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." God loves for his children to search out the hidden treasures of his story. This week, I am sharing five of my hidden heroes from the Christmas story with you. Simeon is today's hidden hero. He was a righteous and devout man and the Bible says, "the Holy Spirit was upon him." His story is found in Luke 2:22-38. Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he met Jesus. He was earnestly "waiting for the consolation of Israel" and for the coming of the Messiah. Can you imagine the anticipation Simeon must have carried every day as he aged knowing that he would one day see the King of Kings and Lord of Lords face to face? When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus on the 8th day after his birth for circumcision, Simeon was the one who blessed Jesus. "In the Spirit," Simeon knew that Jesus was the one for whom he had long been waiting. In Luke 2:29-32, after meeting the Christ child, Simeon said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, accordinging to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Simeon knew that he could now depart in peace and be with his Lord. The light to the Gentiles had finally come! Have you noticed that, like Simeon, all of the hidden heroes in the Christmas story are described as people of great devotion? Sovereignly chosen by God, I think, because of their Godly character and deep devotion to the heart of God. May we all long for Jesus's second advent, second coming, as Simeon did for his first! He will be the consolation of Israel…and ours as well!

by David Chadwick Zechariah was yesterday's hidden hero in the Christmas story. It only seems right to include his wife, Elizabeth. Her story is found alongside her husband's story in Luke 1:5-25. Elizabeth, like Zechariah, was very old and beyond child bearing years. She desperately desired a baby. After the angel appeared to Zechariah, he expressed doubt about this child and was silenced by the Lord. Somehow, he must have been able to tell her about the angel's message to him through writings and sign language. Being a righteous and Godly woman, Elizabeth was a daughter of a priest in the lineage of Aaron. Aware of the significance of the child she carried, she spent the remaining five months of her pregnancy quiet and hidden. While Zechariah was silenced by the Lord, Elizabeth chose hiddenness alongside her husband as they ushered this very special child named John the Baptist into the world. During these five months of hiddenness, what do you think Elizabeth did? I believe she prayed, praised, and thanked God. She whispered faith and life over him. Perhaps she even spoke words of hope over what he'd become. It is apparent God wanted a time of reflective silence surrounding the birth of this child named John the Baptist. He would not let even one word of unbelief come out of Zechariah's mouth. Only words of faith, hope, life, blessing, and belief must have flowed from the lips of his mom. John was born in Luke 1:57. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, her cousin, to tell her of her own angelic visitation, the baby Jesus in Mary's womb caused John, at 6 months gestation, to leap inside of Elizabeth's womb. What a moment that must have been! The forerunner of Jesus's life and ministry and the Messiah himself met in their mom's wombs. By the way, did you know that the Greek term for "child" in these verses is blepos? The same word Jesus used to invite the little children/blepos to come to him. Life must begin at the moment of conception. The relationship John the Baptist and Jesus had began in the womb. The way that John was carried in Elizabeth's womb is what makes her one of my hidden heroes in the Christmas story.

by David Chadwick Hidden heroes in the Christmas story. These may be more well-known names, but their significance in the Christmas story has a hiddenness that must be sought out. Zechariah is today's hidden hero in the Christmas story. His story is-found in Luke 1:5-25. Zechariah was a righteous, blameless, and Godly person. He was a priest in the temple. As noted in Proverbs 16:33, the Jews believed that drawing straws was under the sovereign hand of Almighty God in decision-making. In the case of Zechariah, straws were drawn for him to serve in the temple. He was selected, which implied God's sovereignty. Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth, were childless. Like many fathers do, Zechariah desperately wanted a son. He was older in years and the hopes of having a son seemed increasingly impossible. One day, in the silence of his temple service, he begged God for a child. The angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that a child was coming. Upon hearing this news, Zechariah expressed disbelief, so the angel closed his mouth. This child who would be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth would be John the Baptist. And I am convinced that John the Baptist was SO important to both the Christmas story and God's overall narrative that God chose to silence Zechariah's mouth as the child developed in his wife's womb so that no doubting or negative words were able to be heard. As a side note, do you think babies can hear words of unbelief in the womb? Do you think they can cause negative emotions within? It is powerful to think about the importance of those months in the womb for fetal development, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually! How do you think Zechariah communicated the news to Elizabeth? Maybe he ran home with sign language and a writing tablet! But she surely understood. Zechariah didn't speak again until the birth came. He named his son John as instructed by the angel. He didn't give him a family name, which was what was most often done, but the name God wanted. John means "grace." The moment he wrote the name on a tablet, his voice returned. And he praised God. I can only imagine how wonderful of a father he must have been to John. His son became the first cousin and good friend of Jesus, and the forerunner to declaring the coming life and ministry of Jesus!

by David Chadwick Hidden heroes. It's a topic that has become near and dear to my heart. To find the people of the BIble who may be lesser known and dig out the treasures of their story. We are jumping back into some more of the Bible's hidden heroes. This time, we will look at heroes specifically tethered to the wonder of the Christmas story. In these cases, these are heroes who may be more well known, but I am referring to them as hidden heroes because they have significant, but more hidden roles in the Christmas story. Adam. Today's hidden hero. The genealogy of Jesus found in Luke 3:23-37 traces Jesus back through Joseph, all the way to Adam. Adam, alongside Eve, was the one of the two who ate the fruit of rebellion in Genesis 3 and corrupted the world. Eve was offered the fruit by Satan and chose to partake, and Adam did not stop her. Some would say he was passive and silent in the face of temptation. He was not a vigilant steward of God's instructions nor was he a protector of Eve in the face of Satan's luring and cunning behavior. Some have suggested that Adam will not be in heaven because he's not listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame of Faith. His name is not listed among other Old Testament heroes who looked forward to the day of Jesus. Only God truly knows. Why is Adam a hidden hero in the Christmas story? Let's take a look at Romans 5:12-19. Paul bookends the story of salvation in this passage of Scripture. Sin came into the world through Adam. "Death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Romans 5:14). The free gift of grace through Jesus brought justification for many. Through Adam's disobedience, many were made sinners, but through Jesus's obedience, many would be made righteous (Romans 5:18). Where Adam disobeyed and the world fell into corruption, Jesus, the second Adam, perfectly obeyed the will of God and brought redemption to the world. Where the first Adam failed, the second Adam succeeded. Everyone in the world is either in Adam or in Christ. The way of Adam leads to eternal death. But the way of Jesus leads to eternal life. Jesus came as the second Adam to save us and give us the gift of eternal life (Luke 19:10). Understanding the first Adam's role in the Bible should give a whole new meaning to him being one of my hidden heroes in the Christmas story. And Adam gives us the reason Jesus had to come into this world in Bethlehem.

by Marilynn Chadwick Children are generally asking two questions: "Do you love me?" and "Can I have my own way?" They seem to thrive on love and limits. So, David and I would regularly say, "Yes, I love you" and "no you can't always have your own way." Focused attention, eye contact, lots of snuggles, a listening ear. There are many ways to say I love you. Limits are important too. Here's a little secret: If it's necessary to correct your children, give them consequences that are actually beneficial to them. For example, early bedtime; cleaning the bathroom; finishing a book instead of watching television; doing 50 jumping jacks to get the wiggles out. You get the point. I also learned as the kids reached middle school to go easier with eye contact. Chill out. Don't bear down too hard in serious conversations. That's probably why our best talks—especially the hard ones—happened while driving in the car. They'd tell me most anything I wanted to know if I didn't intrude. Conversations in the van seemed to turn into spiritual lessons—I dubbed our drive time "e-van-gelism." Faith is both caught and taught. I encouraged our kids to be on the lookout for signs of God at work—in big ways and small ones. We dared our kids to dream big and trust God with the results. But mostly, I wanted them to be able to hear God for themselves—to discern His voice from all the others.They didn't know it, but I continually watched to see if they were shaping their views according to what they were learning at home or what the world was telling them. We also tried to help our kids experience the laboratory of answered prayer. We included them in our faith journeys. When we were hoping for a third baby, we encouraged the older two to join us in prayer. It took years of waiting, but they prayed relentlessly. I finally told God I was going to be "really upset if you let these little kids down." And they were thrilled when their persistent prayers were answered with the arrival of their little brother! It really doesn't matter where I travel. It's the same in any culture—rich or poor. We can never underestimate the power of a strong and loving home. Home is where humans thrive and grow best. It's where children should be nurtured. Instructed. Protected. It's where they catch the faith. And where they're free to dream. Especially when the home is built on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ. When a woman is both warrior and nurturer to her household, when she seeks the Lord with all her heart, when honor and respect are present, a home can produce children who are likely to change the world. This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.

by Marilynn Chadwick Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1b NIV). I want to take a minute to encourage you as a parent to take care of yourself. This goes back to our earlier discussion about building your spiritual house. Your relationship with Jesus is the foundation. Your marriage is next. Children love knowing their parents have a healthy marriage. And that they are strong as individuals. Your strength in the home will set a climate that somehow encourages your children to dream big. I remember one time our daughter asked me, "Mom, do you enjoy us?" Wow. I had to pause and reflect. In that moment, I knew I had gotten to a fragile point where I was not creating habits to help me sustain the joy of motherhood. I became more mindful to enjoy my children, and our family, rather than just "enduring them." A thankful heart is a happy heart and makes for a happy home where children, and their dreams, can grow tall. Remember, mothering is a marathon, not a mile run. So pace yourself. Are you taking care of your "temple"? Getting enough exercise, good food, and pure water? Do you have good friendships? Prayer partners? Now I sound like a mother, don't I? But it really is so important for us, as moms, to guard our mental and emotional health. Malachi 2 warns us to "guard ourselves in the spirit" as a protection against so many things, including divorce. So, be alert and watchful for the purpose of prayer (1 Peter 4:7). Then "throw off what hinders and the sin that entangles us," as Hebrews 12:1 encourages. Watch as God strengthens you and sustains you again and again. This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.

by Marilynn Chadwick My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 NIV). Train your children to hear God's voice. Find creative ways to teach them God's Word. Songs and memory verses are great. But they also need to learn how to apply biblical principles to the problems they encounter in the world. Toss out opportunities for them to think biblically. This will also help them listen for God's calling on their life—their dreams. A very astute older friend whose children were grown once gave me some advice I have always taken to heart. "I helped my kindergartners deal with the problems they faced on a kindergarten level. Then, each successive year, I taught them to learn to look at life from a biblical worldview for that age level. So by the time they were in high school, they were well-practiced at confronting a secular world view." And, I would add, our children learned to see the people around them who did not believe in Jesus as friends to be won for Christ. Not enemies to be avoided. Regardless of the educational direction your children take, whether secular school, Christian school or homeschool, they need to hear God's voice. They need regular, ongoing, consistent communication about Jesus and God's Word. I felt comfortable with our children being out in the world once I sensed that they had learned to hear God's voice for themselves. They accepted Jesus at an early age and were learning how to apply God's truth. I was always involved in their schools and their friendships, and set clear boundaries. At times, our rules were stricter than those of their friends—and that was okay. As I mentioned earlier, we included our children in our own faith walk. We encouraged them to pray for some of the issues we faced as a family. Children are realists. They pray in specifics and notice when prayers are answered. They're also honest about the pain of unanswered prayers. Jesus loves children for lots of reasons, including their unfiltered honesty. As our oldest grandchild Anna Grace once reminded me, "Jesus loves children because we are so fun to play with!" This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.

by Marilynn Chadwick If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday (Isaiah 58:10 NIV). Whenever possible, David and I included our children in serving others. In fact, some of our most fond memories as a family were going to our sister church in uptown Charlotte and volunteering with their ministry. We would regularly feed the homeless and worship with their congregation. They became like family to us. It was one of the highlights of our kids' childhood. When Michael was around eight, I took him with me to work with some moms and children from a different fragile community in the Charlotte area where I volunteered. One little boy, also named Michael, happened to have a handicap. He couldn't walk on his own and had to be carried around by an adult. Our Michael wondered how he could help. The program director told Michael the little boy simply needed a special kind of orthopedic crutches in order to walk on his own. Michael persisted until I called our orthopedic doctor friend, who just "happened" to have some of those very crutches available. Michael made sure the other little Michael received those crutches. I told him the little boy's mom had been praying for some crutches for her son. To which Michael replied, "Cool…I answered a prayer." I agreed. It is very cool to find ways that we can actually be the answer to someone else's prayer. I know I keep saying the same thing again and again, but with good reason. We find life as we give it away to others. From my experience, this is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Find ways to serve with your kids. Teach them to give their lives away to others. Watch as God develops eternal fruit in their hearts by cultivating a life that is "others focused." This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.

by Marilynn Chadwick Let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24 AMP). We are in a two week series of how to raise great kids. Even if you are not a parent, there is a good chance that you play a role in someone else's life who is younger than you. I pray these parenting tips will give you tools to lead the next generation. Every dreamer needs a team. Build a strong team around your child who will inspire them. Bring grandparents, coaches, friends, teachers and church leaders into your circle of friends. They can be some of your biggest allies in helping your children reach their dreams. Prayer partners are also key, along with the parents of your children's friends. It really does take a village. I supported our children's teachers and coaches and volunteered whenever possible. Coming from a family of educators, I deeply admired the many adults who poured their lives into our children. I prayed for them, encouraged them, even befriended them. But there were also times when I had to go to bat for our children. On a couple of occasions, I asked a teacher or coach to consider giving a second chance or a harder challenge to one of our children. In each case, I knew the child was ready. And in each case, the teacher or coach agreed, so I was glad I spoke up. I want to add a brief word here about what I call "dream killers." David and I were more intentional about protecting our children against dream killers than we were against drugs. Children usually recognize the stupidity of drugs. But they may not always see the subtlety of a dream killer. Dream killers can come in the form of peers or even adults at times. This is sometimes called "the crab-pot syndrome." When one crab tries to crawl out of a pot, the others will pull him back down. Not everyone will see your child's dream as clearly as you can. Again, that's why David and I prayed fervently for God to guard our children's dreams. To use those dreams to draw our children close to him, and then to open doors for their calling to make an impact for Christ on this broken and hurting world. This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick (Eugene: Harvest House, 2017). Click here to download a free PDF copy of Woman of Valor. If you enjoyed today's Moment of Hope feel free to forward this email or share this link with a friend so they can sign up to receive a Moment of Hope every day.