Elyse Fitzpatrick

No Fluff, No Bricks, Just Good News

elyse

Spending a Year with You

Over the past few decades, I’ve done a lot of writing. As a matter of fact I’ve written 23 books (with one more due out next Spring) since 1998 when “Women Helping Women” first came out.  As thankful as I am for those books and the opportunities to write them, I’ll admit that I’ve missed interacting with you, my audience.

 

So…I’ve declined a book offer (though I may revisit it later!) and decided that for the next year or so, I’m going to focus more on connecting with you again. This will look like my spending a bit more time on social media–which as a senior citizen gives me hives–and a lot more time blogging. I hope to hear from you often and will try to be more personal with you.

 

I’m also planning to create a podcast of my own. Not that I’m going to jump off Front Porch with the Fitzes, just that I want to spend a little more time talking with you about the things that interest you and interest me, too. Sometimes we’ll just visit about life in SoCal and at other times I’ll ask a counselor friend or two on for a deep dive into helping people.

Here’s where you come in: If you’ve got something you’d like to see me blog or podcast about, then leave a comment and I’ll try to get to it. Also if you have any thoughts about what to call my podcast, let me know that, too!

There you go! As they said in Poltergeist, “I’m baaacccckkkk!”

Episode 92: Jim Ost, Memory Lane, and Peace

In this episode Joel and Jessica’s youth pastor, Jim Ost (@jimost), joins us to share stories about Jess and Joel when they were teenagers. We take a hilarious trip down memory lane and hen he closes us out with a devotional on peace in the middle of hard times.

Passages from “Because He Loves Me”

Because He Loves MeBecause He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

Elyse M Fitzpatrick

 

Entire passages from pages 25-35

 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.[1]

 

 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.[2]

 

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God[3]

 

 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” [4]

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.[5]

 

 I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” [6]

 

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[7]

 

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,[8]

 

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. [9]

 

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord[10]

 

 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous[11]

 

37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’[12]

 

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [13]

 

For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him. [14]

 

 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” [15]

23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,[16]… 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [17]

 

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” [18]

 

3 He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [19]

 

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.[20]

 

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.[21]

 

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [22]

 

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

he shall be high and lifted up,

and shall be exalted. [23]

 

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.[24]

 

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?[25]

 

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” [26]

 

 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.[27]

 

4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.[28]

 

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”[29]

 

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’[30]

 

31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. [31]

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.[32]

 

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”[33]

 

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”[34]

 

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?[35]

 

42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”[36]

 

43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.[37]

 

45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.[38]

 

48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”[39]

 

7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who stands next to me,”

declares the Lord of hosts. [40]

 

 

50 And they all left him and fled.

 

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?[41]

 

55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.[42]

 

61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”[43]

 

17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”[44]

 

38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’[45]

 

63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. [46]

 

14 As many were astonished at you—

his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— [47]

 

 

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”[48]

 

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.[49]

 

4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”[50]

 

14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”[51]

 

15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. [52]

 

20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. [53]

 

16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

 

So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.[54]

 

 

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all. [55]

 

 

43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” [56]

 

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people? [57]

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. [58]

 

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”[59]

 

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[60]

 

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”[61]

 

. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.[62]

 

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [63]

 

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.[64]

 

39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” [65]

 

34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.[66]

 

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight[67]

 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.[68]

 

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.[69]

 

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [70]

 

 

47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”[71]

 

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [72]

 

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.[73]

 

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life[74]

 

59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.[75]

 

9 And they made his grave with the wicked

and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth. [76]

 

 

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.[77]

 

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.[78]

 

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins[79]

 

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[80]

 

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.[81]

 

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”[82]

 

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).[83]

 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?[84]

 

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [85]

 

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).[86]

 

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” [87]

 

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,[88]

 

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”[89]

 

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.[90]

 

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [91]

 

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.[92]

 

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[93]

 

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.[94]

 

3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.[95]

 

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.[96]

 

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”[97]

 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[98]

 

 

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. [99]

 

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”[100]

 

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.[101]

 

4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. [102]

 

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. [103]

 

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.[104]

 

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and makes intercession for the transgressors. [105]

 

 

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. [106]

 

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [107]

 

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.[108]

 

. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. [109]

 

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. [110]

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 1:3–6.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 5:19.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 3:22–23.

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ge 12:3.

[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 2:5–7.

[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ge 3:15.

[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 1:27–28.

[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 1:30–32.

[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 2:6–7.

[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 2:10–11.

[11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 5:19.

[12] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 21:37.

[13] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 9:6.

[14] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:2.

[15] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 3:22.

[16] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 3:23–24.

[17] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 3:38.

[18] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 4:18–19.

[19] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:3.

[20] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 1:11.

[21] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 10:38.

[22] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 3:14–15.

[23] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 52:13.

[24] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 16:16–17.

[25] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 14:9.

[26] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 16:23.

[27] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 2:5–7.

[28] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 13:4–5.

[29] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 13:21.

[30] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 14:27.

[31] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 14:31.

[32] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 14:1.

[33] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:38.

[34] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:39.

[35] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:40.

[36] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:42.

[37] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:43.

[38] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 26:45.

[39] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 22:48.

[40] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Zec 13:7.

[41] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:32.

[42] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 14:55.

[43] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 14:61–62.

[44] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 18:17.

[45] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 21:38.

[46] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 14:63–65.

[47] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 52:14.

[48] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 18:37.

[49] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 15:16–19.

[50] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:4–6.

[51] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:14.

[52] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:15–16.

[53] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 15:20.

[54] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:15–18.

[55] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:4–6.

[56] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 23:43.

[57] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:7–8.

[58] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:10.

[59] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:26.

[60] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 27:46.

[61] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:28.

[62] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 23:45–46.

[63] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:28–30.

[64] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 6:8.

[65] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 15:39.

[66] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 19:34.

[67] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 1:6–8.

[68] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 2:8.

[69] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:33.

[70] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 4:7–8.

[71] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Lk 23:46–47.

[72] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Co 5:21.

[73] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 5:6–8.

[74] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 5:9–10.

[75] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 27:59–60.

[76] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:9.

[77] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Col 3:3.

[78] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mk 16:6.

[79] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:1.

[80] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:4–5.

[81] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 6:8–10.

[82] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:15.

[83] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:16.

[84] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:34–35.

[85] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:38–39.

[86] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:16.

[87] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:25.

[88] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 15:3.

[89] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:26.

[90] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 15:4–5.

[91] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:29.

[92] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 1:9.

[93] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:34.

[94] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Jn 2:1.

[95] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Col 3:1.

[96] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:6–7.

[97] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:15.

[98] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 2:9–12.

[99] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:30.

[100] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Re 11:15.

[101] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Re 19:11–13.

[102] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Col 3:4.

[103] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Re 22:1–5.

[104] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 8:31–33.

[105] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 53:10–12.

[106] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 1:11–14.

[107] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 3:14–19.

[108] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Jn 4:8–10.

[109] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 15:27–28.

[110] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 3:21.

Good News for Weary Women: What’s It All About?

Good News for Weary Women Book Trailer

Are you exhausted?

Women today really do feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. Every morning we are greeted with a long list of to-dos: get the kids up and out the door on time, have a meaningful quiet time, put in a full day at the office, spend an hour at the gym, prepare a healthy and delicious meal (organic and locally grown, of course), and make sure the sink sparkles before you go to bed. Oh, and don’t forget to look great and smile while you’re doing it. These are all good things to do, of course.

But a serious problem occurs when we start to feel as if our worth is measured by how well we’re doing with our to-do lists. And the messages we receive at church, on Facebook, and from the media only perpetuate these unrealistic expectations, creating a relentless cycle of exhaustion and worry.

As I’ve has traveled this country, I have seen increasing evidence of this weariness epidemic invading our churches and communities. And I have good news for women everywhere: there is hope! God doesn’t judge us by our to-do lists. Instead, He calls us to faith in the work Christ has already done. Free yourself today from the endless stream of bad advice and discover the true rest God offers.

I Just Don’t Understand!

I’m not very comfortable with mystery. I don’t like saying, “Sorry, no clue.” I really hate admitting that, even though I have a Master’s Degree in Biblical Counseling, I’m frequently at a loss for words when people ask me the “why” questions. Sure, I have general categories, and because I believe that the Bible is actually God’s revelation of truth, I am confident about those categories…but I honestly don’t have answers for the “why this particular thing (and not that)?” question. In other words, God hasn’t let me in on his secret plans.

In the Old Testament there is a very interesting verse. After outlining the commandments that the people were to obey, and describing the blessings and curses implicit within the covenant between God and Israel, the Lord said,

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).

In His kindness, the Lord has revealed Himself to us. The invisible God who is incomprehensible to mankind has shown Himself through His creation (Romans 1:19-20). All we have to do is look around and we can learn something about Him. We see the order, the specificity, the grandeur, the sophistication of all that is, and we know that there is a God of immense wisdom, power and love. As David proclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

But that’s not all He’s done to reveal Himself to us. He actually became one of us, so that we could see and touch Him. Jesus Christ claimed that anyone who had seen Him had literally seen God. Think of that. These are His words, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). If you want to know what God is like, look at the life of His Son. But that still doesn’t answer our “why?” question, does it?

Yes, we can learn from creation, we can learn from the life and testimony of Jesus, and we can learn from His Word (Proverbs 2:6). Even though all this is true and I fully believe it, I still have to admit that there are plenty of things about life that I just don’t understand. And I bet it’s the same for you.

You and I aren’t asking any questions that haven’t been asked before. Let me give you two examples: one from the Old Testament and one from the New. The first one comes from the book of Job, the quintessential sufferer. In the midst of his great misery, Job demands, “I will say to God, ‘…let me know why you contend against me’” (Job 10:2). Job is asking the “why” question but surprisingly (and discomfortingly) God didn’t answer his queries. What God did do is change the subject and ask him, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you will make it known to me” (Job 38:2-3). God refused to be questioned by Job even though God loved him and said that he was a righteous man. Job had to get comfortable with mystery: the “secret things” belong to God.

The second example comes to us from the life of Jesus Himself, in fact, directly from His own mouth. In His humanity as He was suffering on the cross, He asked the “why?” question. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). If you want to wrestle with the mother of all “why?” questions, that one that will keep you occupied forever. Not even Jesus was comfortable with the mystery that He was experiencing in that moment, and yet, even in His darkness, He continued to walk by faith and not by sight. He bowed Himself before His Father’s prerogative to have a secret wisdom, a wisdom that Jesus couldn’t fathom at that moment.

Thankfully, God has given us all the answers that we need and the rest of our questions have to be silenced by our faith. We want answers, but the Lord tells us to trust and say,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4).

Yes, there are some answers but there are also many secrets. He is God. We are not, let us rest in Him.