Step into the Wonderful World of 3D Christian Living

We are about to enter the world of 3D.

As with every three-dimensional adventure, plan to interact with an immersive environment that creates a sensory experience.

A lifelike scene.

An enhanced encounter.

This is not an illusion, artificial simulation, or virtual reality.

But amazing wonders we get to see, hear, and touch.

3D Up Close and Personal

3D aspects of width, height, and depth bring the spiritual realm up close and personal…

with God himself.

So let’s put on our 3D glasses and look at the story in chapter 3 of Joshua.

After the death of Moses, Joshua’s commissioned as leader. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. Time came to enter the Promised Land.

God’s people set out and arrived at the Jordan river where they lodged for three days. They needed to get to the other side but not take the long way home. 

The Lord gave specific instructions. The priests were to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord (His presence) to the brink of the water. The people were commanded to follow at a distance in order to “know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (verse 4 ESV).

Joshua told them to consecrate themselves for the Lord would do wonders among them (verse 5). When the soles of the priests’ feet rested in the waters, the waters (at flood stage) would stop flowing and stand in a heap (verse 13).

3D Christian Living

Dimension (1). Obedience to God’s commands, plan, and way.

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Need Wisdom? Ask Google or Ask God

What situation in our life needs God’s wisdom and divine discernment?

But, is it just me or do you search for answers from a number of places, especially on the internet?

“Just Google it.”

With a wealth of information at our fingertips, it’s easy to look for all the answers we need.

Maybe we complete educational webinars on various subjects. Perhaps we watch online videos with step-by-step instructions for a home improvement project.

And there’s no shortage of how-to knowledge at our disposal. Like how to diagnose our health symptoms or discover the right medicines to take. Or tips for fixing a clogged sink or dealing with a difficult child.

Our Need for God’s Wisdom

In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon realizes his need for wisdom. Asking, he desired God’s how-to instructions and asked for a discerning mind to distinguish between right and wrong.

The NIV says, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

You see, Solomon not only asked for a discerning mind, but he also asked for a discerning heart. We tend to believe wise thinking originates in our minds, the control center for learning. Yet we see in the Scripture how true discernment begins in the heart.

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Choosing Authentic Means Choosing Brave

Her eyes widened as she moved her chair closer to the table.

The crowded coffee shop had not deterred her from being open and honest. Now, it was my turn.

This young girl in her twenties tried to conceal her surprised expression. “I thought you wouldn’t understand, Karen. I imagined your childhood and life near perfect.”

Oh, how wrong her sentiments. Truth is, we held much in common. We both experienced a troubling upbringing, one affecting our life as adults.

When a parent abandons a child physically or emotionally, they leave behind a broken life and heart.

As I opened up to my coffee-shop friend, pain from my past spilled out as tears. In the most vulnerable way, I conveyed how I spent part of my childhood with one parent absent and the other present, but just in the physical sense.

The emotional support a child so desperately needs to give health and wholeness to her soul, remained at zero.

My friend and I shared a similar story. Since Christ is our common denominator, He used our story to spur one another on in the faith. Not only through “me too,” but also through “here is how Jesus helped me overcome and gain the victory.”

An authentic voice helps others and holds the power to heal us.

When we authentically share our story, our dreams, our soul-wounds, our heart-cries, and even our faith-struggles, something powerful happens.

Authenticity makes us comfort ambassadors.

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Dear Modern Martha: You are a Daughter Not a Slave

Please welcome my friend, Katie Reid. Today she shares with us from her new book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done.

I recently read Katie’s book during every spare moment I found in my schedule. Why? Because I’m a Martha. Perhaps, you are too.

Like Katie, I felt sad and even discouraged at the bad rap Martha often gets in sermons and church circles.

Not only because I’m a doer, but also because I enjoy sitting at the feet of Jesus…too. Find encouragement in this post, buy and read Katie’s book.

Dear Modern Martha:

For years you’ve lived like a slave, trying to please your Master. You’ve worked hard…striving to be enough, trying to earn favor, and stay in good graces.

You’ve tried to obey and you’ve tried to honor Me.

Your try-hard soul is weary from hustling to measure up. You get frustrated when you fall short and discouraged when you fall down. You are fed up with this “never enough” lifestyle.

I invite you to get off of the treadmill of toil. There is a better way to live. And it doesn’t require more discipline, more effort, or more sweat.

It starts with a change of heart. And then a name change. Since you are in Christ, you are no longer a slave, My child. You are a daughter. My Daughter.

Everything I have is yours.

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Expect God-things to Happen Every Day

Expect?

Yes, I expect from many sources. I hold expectations in my marriage. Or, for dreams to exceed my expectations. For employers to love my skills. And for readers to relate to my writing.

Perhaps you expect in your life too.

However, I confess: believing for the divine to occur every day is not easy for me.

Because the concept is hard for humans to wrap our heads around.

You see, we live and operate in the flesh, in the natural world.

Supernatural stuff only seems right for the movies or a book…or for heaven.

But what if divine, God-things are meant for us here on this earth? And what if the Lord intended for us to look for displays of His works in our day-to-day routine?

Psalm 105 in The Message describes it:

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…(Verses 1-6a).

Maybe we tell others of all the great things God has done for us. And we praise the Lord for every deed or blessing from His hand.

Yet, don’t miss the second vital part. The divine happens today and continues into tomorrow and the next day and the next.

This passage gives us 3 ways to expect the divine in our life.

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Hope Lives Closer Than You Think

I pointed out the window to a community in the country.

“My friend lives there.”

Jenny and I traveled early morning hours to attend a conference near the town I grew up in.

It’s interesting to know where friends or people we meet live and work and worship.

But what if we knew where hope lives?

Because life’s hurts, heartaches, and injustices often leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

Or, our dreams hunger for fulfillment.

Hope lives closer than you think.

Google defines hope, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” All humans hope.

• I hope to lose weight.
• My friend carries many hopes in her heart.
• The pastor said not to give up hope.
• We hope our brother pulls through this illness.

Yet, sometimes things happen differently than we wanted.

Hope exists in many forms. But when we cling to false hopes, they soon fizzle and leave us empty-handed.

Women often come to me—a pastor’s wife—looking for authentic hope. Did I pray enough? Where is God? Will He come through for me?

These are women in tough places. Hearts broken by tragedy. Languishing dreams with no pillow to lay their heads. And I nod saying, “Me too.”

Finding Where True Hope Lives

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2 Steps to a Steady Heart When We’re All Shook Up

All shook up.

I recently took our Dachshund, Sadie, to the veterinarian for yearly shots and a physical. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, all sixteen pounds of Sadie started shaking.

Often, she tries to make a beeline for the exit. And Sadie stays all shook up until we arrive home.

Decades ago, a song by Elvis conveyed a time when he was all shook up. By what? you may wonder.

A closer look at the lyrics and the mystery is solved. Falling in love shook up Elvis Presley.

Needless to say, his famous words relayed a kind of shook up we view in a good and positive light. Oh how Sadie wished for anything but the animal hospital.

All Shook Up

On the down-side, life gives us plenty of not-so-good reasons for when we are all shook up. I’ve experienced each one of these on my list below. Perhaps you have too.

• We lose a job.
• Our dear loved one passes away.
• Our child turns wayward and it turns our world upside down.
• We or family members receive a troubling medical diagnosis.
• Broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our inner joy and peace.
• Because of unmet dreams we sob into our pillow at bedtime.
• An injury inflicted upon our soul seems to never go away.

Each of these and others leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear.

2-step Plan for When We’re All Shook Up

Yet, in twenty short words, God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. It’s not by combing through lyrics to a love song. But this Scripture offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.

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Life’s Drive-through Window Lacks Hope

The drive-through window of life remains understocked with real hope.

Less than a mile from my family’s neighborhood, the same fast-food restaurant provides drive-through service at two different locations in opposite directions.

At the end of our road, we must make a decision.

Do we turn right or left?

To the right stands a newer version of the business established in the 1940’s.

But the same problem exists with both.

My son arrived home to discover an incorrect order. He’d ordered lunch, paid and waited. Yet later found his bag filled with breakfast items. The scent of sausage instead of chicken frustrated him.

Since my husband and I have had similar experiences, I check everything before driving away. Opening each bag, wrapper, or container. It assures I’m leaving with what I expected…what I wanted.

And I never want to wait. I want service and I want it pronto (the culture in which we live). Impatience tempered with social manners. Please! I’m in a hurry!

Life’s Drive-through Window 

In the same way, life’s crossroads force me to park and stay a while. They keep me bewildered about whether to go right or left and wondering if I’ll leave the next place with what I expected, all the items I wanted. So, I grow weary in the waiting.

Here’s the problem with life’s drive-through window.

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Looking for Something? Hope? Peace? Or?

Looking for something?

Because we look for things everyday.

When our husband questions the whereabouts of black dress socks or a t-shirt (hopefully not to wear together).

Or our teen wonders where the car keys are.

We try to locate our cell phone.

Maybe it’s the pen we need to jot down an important note.

Perhaps our toddler misplaces her favorite toy (this makes for a traumatic day).

And the needed spice for dinner’s main dish is somewhere in this kitchen.

But not only are we in need of tangible stuff to function in our daily routine. Our souls look for the intangible items that make life full and meaningful.

Here’s 8 things we often look for and what God’s Word says about each.

Looking for Hope? 

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5

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Fiercely His: Fighter Journal and Challenge

Transform your life by being Fiercely His. I know you’ll enjoy my guest blogger, Shannon Geurin, as she has a challenge for us and a new journal. Welcome, Shannon.

Fiercely His

I should have been happy. My husband made a more than decent income which allowed me to quit my nursing job to stay home with our two rambunctious, spirited daughters. Our life seemed perfect, Instagram worthy even. Back then, if #familygoals would’ve been a thing, it certainly would have been our hashtag. So, why was I in such a funk?

Yet the humdrum of my day to day was starting to suffocate me and I couldn’t see the fruits of my labor. Isn’t that just like motherhood sometimes? Wake, change diaper, eat, nap, play, eat, nap, change diaper, eat, bedtime. Repeat.

I was literally shaping the young lives of two humans. A monumental role at best. But my life had become mundane. I was so wrapped up in being the good mother, making sure their every need was met that I failed to remember my first love. And I failed to remember that I was His daughter first, and that being His daughter meant that I had every tool necessary to be the Godly mom I was meant to be. It was something I couldn’t do on my own. I needed His identity in order to do it right.

Maybe You Can Relate

Maybe you feel overwhelmed as a Mom. You’re not sure if you were cut out for this role.

Maybe you’re not a Mom but feel you’re not good enough.

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