Stories

Choosing A Planted Soul

January 12, 2023 By Angela Walden

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

When Winter Comes

In our North American part of the world, the height of winter is approaching. Temperatures have dropped to icy depths and varieties of precipitation keep us indoors. The trees are bare. The grass is withered. All nature has a stillness to it. No doubt, winter can be dreary in this dormant state. Depending on your geography, you may not experience the physical conditions of winter, but we all encounter a spiritual state of winter at one time or another. Life circumstances may press on all sides and feel like a burden. You may face a problem you see no way out of. Or there may be no problems, but life feels lackluster or you simply cannot see what is next. Perhaps there is grief for loss of a loved one or an unmet expectation. Some seasons of uncertainty or waiting may leave prayers feeling like they are going unheard, and despite earnest efforts in seeking God, there may be times when God still feels distant. Any of these circumstances can leave our spiritual life feeling barren and stagnant. It is tempting to wonder what we are doing wrong or to believe feeling this way is wrong. On the contrary, the barren seasons of life are some of the most powerful God can use to teach us to turn to Him. Creation itself demonstrates there is life even in the dead of winter!

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands. "

Psalm 138:7-8

The Winter Bulb

Consider a flower bulb. There are many different varieties including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, etc. What they all have in common is that they actually need a cold winter to prosper and bloom. God designed bulbs, not only to withstand, but to rely on cold temperatures to trigger a biochemical process where hormones tell the bulbs when to grow and flower. Thanks to the internal breakdown of starches into glucose, water in the cells of the bulb may even freeze but the cells will not be harmed. What could God be showing us in this miraculous and eye-opening natural miracle?

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

They still bear fruit in old age;

they are ever full of sap and green... "

Psalm 92:13-14

What It Means For Us

When it comes to our relationship with God and the health of our souls, we have a choice to make every single day. A choice of perspective that affects how we will turn to God in facing what is before us. One option is to believe we are buried by our circumstances and that the burden or suffering has no purpose. This option is a dead end only resulting in hopelessness. An alternative option is to believe we are planted rather than buried and that this season has a purpose to bring about future growth! Like a bulb, we sometimes need the quiet, difficult barren seasons to change us inside in preparation for what God has in store for us. God uses these times to teach us to better recognize His voice, to reflect on strongholds in our life that need to be removed, or to practice more unconditional trust in Him. If not for the cold, we would have no need to draw near to the warmth of His Eternal Light.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit. ”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

What Will You Choose?

So do you see yourself as planted or buried? Winter is where the process of growing begins. Whatever you feel about where you are spiritually at this moment, we all have that potential in our souls to allow God to grow us. Just as the choice is ours to accept salvation through Jesus, so the choice is ours to continue accepting God’s life and growth inside to change us. The choice is new every single day. There is no limit to what God can do in and through us when we allow Him to change and grow us! Take a moment to consider what you chose today and what you would like to choose tomorrow. Post a Scripture that reminds you to choose growth somewhere easily visible each day. Our team is praying for your continued discipleship and wishes you a Happy New Year!

God With Us: A Study of Immanuel

December 16, 2022 By Angela Walden

His Name Shall Be Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Isaiah 7:14

Perhaps the most important reminder of Christmas is resting in the promise that God is with us. Always has been and always will be (Psalm 139:1-18). Immanuel or “God with us” is first mentioned in Isaiah 7:14 then fulfilled in Matthew 1:23, always referring to Jesus - not necessarily as a literal name to bear but indicating His role in bringing God’s presence to man.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

A Consistent Presence

Consider the great lengths He has gone to in order to be with us. When He first created man and woman in their innocence, He walked in the Garden with them. When sin separated us from Him, He provided meticulously detailed instructions for building a tabernacle so that in His holiness He might dwell with the Israelites in the Old Testament. But, halfway is not enough for our loving Father. His abundant love for us set in motion the thorough and deeply costly plan of reconciliation that made full communion possible. When God dwelled with us in the flesh for the first time through His son Jesus, He did so in a manger. In His earthly lifetime, he physically sat at tables to eat with us and sailed in boats to weather storms with us. Now, He dwells in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Indeed, God has never left us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

John 14:26

A Remarkable Plan of Redemption

The birth of Jesus alone illustrates the remarkable uniqueness of God choosing not only to dwell with us but to do it in so intimate a way in becoming human Himself. For God to come into the world as a human baby born in a dirty stable was to choose the most humbling, approachable form possible. No other religion comes close to claiming similar. “Gods” of other religions tend to maintain an arm’s length policy, an “otherness” - as if by definition separation is required. Holiness does demand separation from that which is unholy, but our loving Father would not be satisfied to leave us there. He made a way to close the gap of holiness and bring us in to to be with Him in holiness - through His one & only Son. His presence with us is no longer limited by the restraints of a human body or our ability to be righteous enough. It is active and ever-present in our circumstances, thoughts, and heart should we choose to receive it through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). May this reminder of God’s constant presence give you peace, joy and comfort this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas from the LMW family to yours!

Gratitude: The Path To True Joy

November 22, 2022 By Angela Walden

Finding Joy When We Do Not Feel It

¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. ¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:15-18

How often do we find ourselves discontented? It is a feeling we all share from time-to-time. Its sneaky occurrence is not limited to any particular time of year, but I believe we are reminded of it most when the the holiday season approaches, as it does now. The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, amidst all the other traditions and meanings, bid us to cultivate gratitude and joy. Perhaps in a good season of life, when all is going as we’d like it to, we more effortlessly feel such things. We know we should feel thankful or joyous. But, in challenging seasons of life, it can sometimes be difficult to find joy. We know from 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 that we need joy to refresh and renew our spirit from the burden of everyday life. So how do we find joy when we do not feel it?

¹Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

²Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Psalm 95:1-2

Gratitude Is Key

The key is gratitude. Gratitude unlocks our hearts for God to work in them to show us a place where real joy may be experienced and abided in. When we cultivate gratitude in our hearts, it always leads to worshipping God for His goodness and mercy. C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “Praise is the mode of love which always has some element of joy in it.” Ultimately, praise produces joy in our hearts (Psalm 95:1-2). We see this pattern over and over again in the Word, most often in the Psalms. It is a progression of the heart’s posture. A heart capable of thanksgiving is primed for praise. When we praise, we are reminded of how great God is and, in doing so, surrender our circumstances. Only here are we capable of finding real, lasting joy. Paul and David are particularly strong examples of the correlation between gratitude, praise, and joy. Each display within their lives God’s provisions that we have access to as believers to overcome whatever circumstances we face. And not just “make it through,” but to overcome with a joy that is more steady and permanent than the temporal happiness the world falsely promises.

²³This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:23-24

Gratitude Leads To Joy

Gratitude is the call to action. Praise is the goal. Joy is the inevitable result. Gratitude leads to praise leads to joy (Psalm 118:23-24). Let these simple steps become practical application that we may reflect on to lead our hearts abundantly through life and into the coming holiday season. Praying gratitude and joy over you, from the LMW family!

November 18, 2021 By LMW

The Believer and Civil Government

Our new series-- What the Bible Says about Civil Authority, begins with this clear text from Romans 13.

What is the relationship between the believer and the state? The question has been debated down through the centuries. Simply stated, God expects the genuine believer to have a testimony of doing what is right while a citizen of this earth. We will begin with two points:
1. Government is to be submitted to (v.1).
2. Government is established by God (vv.1-2).

Believers are to be subject to civil authorities. It does not matter how the civil authorities were appointed or by whom. It may have been by a senate, an army, or the people. The authority, whether just or unjust, whether legitimate or illegitimate, is to be obeyed.

However, the sphere of authority is to be noted. The government has authority only within the civil realm. For example, when Paul commands wives to obey their husbands, they are required to obey them as husbands, not as masters or as kings. Children are to obey their parents as parents, not as sovereigns. So it is in the case of government leaders.

When the laws of civil government conflict with the explicit commandments of God, then Christians must say, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

When a ruler claims divine rights, Christian believers must answer "no," for the ruler is going beyond the civil authority delegated to him by God. But the Christian believer is to say "yes" to all civil matters not conflicting with the commandments of God. Because, government is ordained by God; that is, the existence, the authority, the position, the offices of government are ordained by God. It is God's will that government exists and that persons have the authority to rule within the state. There are three institutions ordained by God: the family, the church, and the government.

The institutions and their authority are ordained by God, and humans are responsible for how they carry out their functions. Each of the three institutions has leaders who are faithful and do an excellent job, and each has leaders who are totally disobedient to God and do a terrible job. The fact to remember is that government is ordained by God, and rulers are answerable to Him.

Next week we will continue looking at Romans 13.

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Stay Close to the Lord and Those Who Serve Him

November 4, 2021 By LMW

“I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back-not to mention that you owe me your very self.I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
 Philemon 1:20-25 NIV

We continue the theme from the last lesson: the six people mentioned at the end of Philemon.

Aristarchus, was a faithful companion, one who was always there when needed. He is always seen with Paul and other believers, joining them in their great trials and sufferings. Here are five things we know about Aristarchus:

He was a member of the Thessalonian church
He was one of the believers attacked by the violent mob in Ephesus.
He went with Paul to minister in Asia
He is seen traveling with Paul to Rome after Paul had been arrested and was being transferred to Rome as a prisoner.
He is seen as a fellow prisoner with Paul in Rome while Paul was awaiting trial on the charge of treason. Apparently, he too was being charged with the same crime.

The point is that he was a real companion, a companion who stood by the side of his fellow believers through thick and thin. He would never think of deserting his dear friends or the Lord, no matter how difficult the task or terrible the trial. He would face imprisonment and suffer death before he would be a turncoat. He was a good man to have around when facing trials, for he would stand by the side of his friend even if it meant imprisonment and death.

Demas is a sad story. He turned away from Christ back to the world. His life is written in tragedy- a life that serves as a warning to other believers- a life that shows the utter necessity of walking in Christ daily. At first, he is seen as a fellow laborer. Later he is just a name, with no comment at all-perhaps suggesting the detection of some loss of spirit and energy in the work for the Lord. Finally, in second Timothy, he is Demas who “loved this present world” and forsook the Lord’s work.

Luke gave all to follow Christ-all that the world had to offer. He was the physician who was beloved by Paul and the church. Apparently, his medical treatment of believers was diligent, compassionate, warm, and personal. He had an effective ministry for Christ among the believers.

We close this series on Philemon with an encouragement to read it and know God’s Word for yourself. Our next series will be What the Bible Says about Civil Authority.

October 28, 2021 By LMW

Refreshing the Hearts of God’s People

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker- also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier- and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:1-7 NIV

We pick up our Weekly Scripture Study, with a short Pauline epistle. Nestled between Titus and Hebrews comes a small letter: Philemon. A church met in this man’s home. Paul wrote him to ask that he receive a former slave, Onesimus, back into his fellowship as if it were Paul coming.

Paul usually opened his letters by establishing his apostleship, but in this letter, Paul reminded Philemon that he was in prison for preaching the gospel. Paul then addresses Philemon.

Philemon was so committed to Christ that he was counted “beloved” by Paul himself. Philemon was working so faithfully for Christ that Paul could acknowledge his labor and count him as a fellow-laborer, as working as diligently as Paul himself in the cause of Christ.

Philemon demonstrated his commitment by opening his home. Remember that the early church did not have church sanctuaries to meet in; they met in homes of faithful and committed believers. Philemon loved Christ so much that he was willing to open his home night after night and week after week for believers to worship and study God’s Word together. What would it look like for you to open your home, (or yard) to regularly invite people over?
What would it take to overcome the tiredness and the housecleaning (or leaf raking) required? Philemon’s kind hospitality was such that it refreshed the hearts of God’s people. We have the privilege of doing likewise.

Are there ways you could be practicing hospitality of your time or space?

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